It's just been reported that Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco has passed away at the age of 69. I am aware that he's had health issues the past couple of years - dementia, I believe - but the news still leaves me so very saddened (and shocked) to hear this. An all-time great (much like his father) who will be sorely missed by the wrestling community and someone whose legacy will endure thanks to the many the memories and matches he gave us throughout his prolific career.
Thanks, both - totally agree - Dave/Melvin :D
I agree. Tommy Billington's matches were always the best, especially when they were against Rocco. So it was such a tragedy to see how Dynamite ended up. We all know how pro-wrestling works but how many outside of it realise how dangerous it is and the life-changing injuries that can befall the wrestlers. I have little doubt that even Rollerball's dementia was probably caused - at least in part - by his all action style and the way he put 110% into every bout. RIP two great wrestlers, neither of whom managed to reach the age of 70...
Dynamites work in Japan is wonderful, but Mark brought it back to the UK. Mind you the Rocco v Dynamite matches are true classics.
I saw him very early on (in his first 6-7 i think). He was on as his dad was. Very clean jobber. Who was to know what he would become. The best Brit in Japanese, and boy, did he bring it back........
Not sure how I missed this in summer, but the guys/girls above have said it all. Mark raised British wrestling a level with high-risk moves, including once performing a flying tackle on Marty J, who was on the concrete floor, from the centre of the ring. I'm not kidding when I say that it seems like only a few years ago that Mark was a young man. RIP...
Lovely article obviously written by someone that obviously knows the business...
Here's a nice and very detailed tribute to Mark from the Manchester Evening News:
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-lad-who-came-homes-18741839
Rocco was one of the first wrestlers I saw at the colston hall in Bristol. He was such a great wrestler and his matches against Marty Jones were the best. He was always entertaining RIP Rollerball
Terrible news but blessed release from cruel illness.Mark was without doubt a true legend he had it all,the tenacity courage agility were evident early when Colin so abley trained him,the ringcraft skill and innovation came later,this coupled with charisma and the values of his late dad made him the real deal.i will greatly miss this genuinely nice guy RIP .
Very sad news indeed. His rivalry with Marty Jones was the stuff of legend, those bouts were full blooded and more often than not pretty brutal, and in the late '80's Rocco also feuded with fellow heels Kendo Nagasaki, Fit Finlay, Skull Murphy and the Mongolian Mauler. Nobody slept when this man was on.
RIP Mark Rollerball Rocco, a true wrestling legend.
Also hope more matches not yet on the internet will become available
Both Mark and Zoltan were the real deal; tough, technical, tenacious and their name on the bill meant you were guaranteed to see at least one humdinger on your visit to the show. They will be fondly remembered and hopefully their matches will live on through the Internet for many years to come.
Rollerball Rocco was one of the wrestlers that I recall as having made a real impact on British professional wrestling back in the 1970s and 80s, when I was watching wrestling as a boy/teenager. His ring presence and personality were bold, and stood out compared with many other wrestlers at the time. He was also a wrestler that understood that distinctive ring attire was a useful part of becoming a household name among wrestling fans: you only had to glance at the ring on TV to know that Rocco was in the ring. He wrestled hard and fast, interacted with the audience, and always gave his opponent a difficult time in the ring: good pro wrestling entertainment. I now realise he was a precursor of what was to become much more normal in wrestling in later years.
Mark Rocco, Wayne Bridges & Mighty John Quinn, all my boyhood heroes passing away. R.I.P. Gentlemen. The pleasure and entertainment you gave us is unsurpassed.
Mark Rocco, Wayne Bridges & Mighty John Quinn, all my boyhood heroes passing away. R.I.P. Gentlemen. The pleasure and entertainment you gave us is unsurpassed.
So very sad to hear of the death of this great wrestler. I saw him at Morecambe in one of his first ever bouts and realised even then he was something special. His bouts with Marty Jones, one of which I saw at Preston Guild Hall, really made the ring rock! Rest in Peace.
Taken from Twitter:
Jono Rocco @jonnyrocco1 31 July
Our dad and wrestling legend Mark Hussey (Rollerball Rocco ) died peacefully in his sleep this morning he was a fighter till the very end. Love you dad always...
One of the true greats, I'm sure many younger wrestlers took up the game because they wanted to be like Rocco.
Best match I saw was a chain match against Danny Collins, vicious but enjoyable.
Maybe one of the few bad guys a lot of people did not seem to mind winning, that is maybe what made him so good.
Very sad end to his life, R.I.P. Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco.
Thank you for the terrific memories, we will never forget your contribution to British Wrestling.
I was also at Fairfield for that match with Marty and you’re absolutely right, it was off the scale. I have heard rumours there was a little bit of bad blood between the two but who knows! There was no such thing as a dull night when Mark was on the bill, you wouldn’t see anyone reading their program while he was wrestling. Although I met him once very briefly (and he was very amicable and easy going) I never knew him as such yet I feel genuine sadness knowing he’s passed away it feels almost like losing a friend. So sad that his health failed him as he grew older. Dementia is such a cruel disease.
callsignmag wrote
How sad to read that Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco had died. Whenever he was on the bill then you knew you'd get at least one blockbuster fight! And if that happened to be against Marty Jones then you were in for a real treat! I remember one particular bout at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon in around 1978 where you just couldn't believe the violence they were showing towards each other. The whole bout was just years ahead of its time and whenever I saw them both on a bill against each other, I would try to go. Sincerest sympathies to his family. We;ll miss you Mark...
I am very sad to hear this news. He was one of the greatest wrestlers ever. Whenever I have seen him being interviewed he had always come across as a genuinely nice person. RIP Mark.
Rollerball Rocco was the man who brought UK wrestling kicking and screaming out of the doldrums of mid 70s wrestling. It was nt Big Daddy and Haystacks who saved it (far from it) , despite getting all the attention and attracting the kids, it was those below them on the card who kept the reality in check, who gave us real hard and fast utterly believable wrestling - and - Rocco was the trailblazer, the catalyst for those that followed and for real wrestling fans and for most wrestlers starting out the style he helped forge was what we all craved - Rocco v Dynamite, Jones, Cullen, Kung Fu, St Clair, Finlay, Nagasaki, Sammy Lee, Pat Barrett, Fuji Yamada.. the list goes on...These were all great stars but put them in with Rocco and instantly their best bouts were guaranteed and they went down in memory, bouts of legend we will always be talking about. Lesser known stars such as Steve McHoy, Bobby Bold Eagle, Steve Regal....they all owe one to Rollerball for showing them the path ! The only bout I thought never was up to much was Rocco's World title victory over Joel de Fremery - Rocco was clearly in a far superior league to the aging Frenchman- a poor substitute for Sammy Lee...but then the Japanese got the advantage of that later in the battle of the 'tigers'. RIP Mean Machine !
A world class wrestler. R.I.P Rollerball.
Mark put his heart and soul into every match and always entertained us. R.I.P. Rollerball.
Terrible, but not unexpected, news given his declining health in recent years. One thing I noticed was that the official WWE statement referred to him as a "fourth-generation wrestler". Is that true?
Such a shock. Very sad news to lose a life so young. If there had been more wrestlers even half as good as Rocco we would still be watching
RIP Mark Rollerball Rocco. Respected and appreciated by his peers and fans all across the world.
That's very sad news.
The first time that I saw him on youtube, I realised that this was a totally different style to what I was used to.
In my eyes he was a true pathfinder.
RIP Mark.
Rest In Peace Great Champion, Pro Wrestling Fans Across The World Will Always Remember You!!!
Sad Times.RIP "Rollerball"Mark Rocco.He was a first.
I saw some fantastic battles against Marty Jones, he could mix it up anywhere and any style. It seems a long time since he announced his retirement dues to heart problems, i assumed he was older. A great loss.
We have now added a tribute to Mark Rollerball Rocco
Rollerball
He was fantastic from the very first day I saw him. Can't remember the year but his Belle Vue Debut.
RIP Mark
R.I.P. to an all-time great and someone who really does deserve to be called a "Legend".
An absolute innovator in the ring and excited fans all over the world, Mark along with Dynamite, Fit Finlay, Marty Jones and a few more kept us on the edge of our seats and kept us going to the halls when others were driving fans away. Possibly the most exciting and intense wrestler I have ever seen in the ring, I will raise a glass to Mark Rocco and watch a match or two of his tonight,
My sympathies to his family and friends, R.I.P. Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco and thank you.
Such terrible news.R.I.P. Rollerball Rocco.
Very sad news regarding Rollerball Rocco. He really was a pioneer with how he changed televised professIonal wrestling. Gone way too young. Will remember him for his tremendous ring energy, and non stop hard hitting action. RIP Rollerball Rocco.
Rocco had been suffering from dementia for a while, but it's still sad. I love Rocco's Joint Promotions stuff from the 70s and early 80s. His feud with Marty Jones is legendary and should be required viewing by everyone. When people say Dynamite Kid vs. Sayama was the start of juniors wrestling, they're wrong. It began with Jones and Rocco.
I have many happy memories of watching Rocco all over the country and it is to my regret that he wouldn't work for me unless I booked him through Dixon or Williams so it never happened.
He was taught the ropes beautifully by his great dad.
And then he ran with what he knew and tried to make it even better.
This seems perfect human evolution.
Very sad for us, he was so pleased with what we at Wrestling Heritage had done concerning his dad.
Oh no! That's so sad and way too young. He was for me the best ever. So very very saddened to hear this.
RIP Rollerball. Absolute wrestling legend.