The British Wrestlers Reunion have now been asked by Sarah Bridges to make the following announcement:-
Sarah would firstly like to thank everyone for their kind tributes that were paid to Bill at the time of his passing which came from wrestlers, promoters and fans from around the World. There has been no need for an autopsy and the cause of Bills death was by natural causes. Bill is now at the undertakers and it has been agreed that he will remain there until such time as the Coronavirus pandemic has passed. Once lockdown has been lifted Bills funeral will then take place, this will allow everyone to pay their respects at his funeral and attend the wake thereafter. Obviously at this time no date can be released but this will be published once we are able to do so.
The British Wrestlers Reunion would ask that everyone continue to give Sarah her privacy at this difficult time. Therefore, if anyone has any further enquiries can these please be directed to Ken Sowden at the Reunion at britwrestreunion@btinternet.com.
We thank you all for your continued support and hope that you all remain healthy and keep safe.
With the death of each wrestler our fragile link with the past becomes ever weaker. The tragic loss of Wayne Bridges, all the sadder because it came without warning to most of us, loses another link to the greats like mentor Marino, promoter Lincoln and his friend McManus. But it's a loss that means more, of course, because Wayne Bridges was a fine wrestler in his own right, one of the last great wrestlers of the Mountevans tradition. In later life he had become a guardian of wrestling's mysteries and will have taken much of wrestling's history to his grave. He and Sarah's hosting of the Reunion has been phenomenal over the years, and without them it is possible none of us would be here keeping the memories alive. R.I.P. Wayne Bridges.
A message from Ken Sowden, organiser of the British Wrestlers Reunion
Wayne Bridges RIP
The British Wrestlers Reunion are deeply saddened to announce the passing yesterday morning of former World Heavyweight Champion and Reunion host Wayne Bridges who died peacefully due to kidney failure in hospital with his wife Sarah at his bedside.
We are all deeply shocked at Bills passing. Bill was without doubt one of the greatest wrestlers this country ever produced and he will be sadly missed by us all.
We would please ask that you respect the families privacy at this very sad time.RIP Wayne Bridges a true legend.
Very sad news indeed. Had the pleasure of speaking with him at the Reunion last year. He wanted John Da Silva's phone number which I got for him. Hope they were able to catch up.
"...He regularly trained at the United, the Ashdown, The Loughborough, The YMCA in Edgeware Road, and Police training headquarters at Hendon, with great Champions such as DENNIS MCNAMARA,DON IRVINE,BILL MOSTYN, GEORGE COLEMAN, DENNIS GARVEY, FRANK WARREN and TONY BUCK who has remained a friend to this day.
Simultaneously, he honed his great physique at the London gym's in the celebrated company of ARNOLD SWARZENEGGER when he lived here. Title followed Title as the almost invincible grappler with the immense strength tore his way through the top Division, until yet again he was chosen to represent his Country at International level, where he fought for Great Britain over 15 times, travelling to France, Germany and many other Overseas Tournaments, his meteoric rise to fame being assisted by JIMMY BROWN and TERRY BLACKWALL.
It was at one of these contests at the United Club, that the immortal Legends :MIKE MARINO and ‘DAZZLER’ JOE CORNELIUS happened to frequent and were immediately struck by the sheer physical presence of this super youngster. They invited him to attend a Professional Show where they were working and Bill became immediately drawn to this new form of wrestling. There followed some training by his hero : MIKE MARINO in the different styles and his amateur days were soon forgotten, when the late great PAUL LINCOLN offered him a job , having his inaugural bout against the same MIKE MARINO, re christened now by Lincoln as WAYNE BRIDGES..."
I think he met Assirati when he was working out at the YMCA Tottenham Court Road on a Saturday morning . Assirati suggested he get amateur experience and he went to the greta Ashdown club in Hornsey for I think a couple of years.
I knew he was an Amateur wrestler (spotted in an Amateur club by Mike Marino), but never knew he represented Great Britain overseas in wrestling , and I definitely didn't know that he was also in the UK Olympic swimming team in the early 60's.
I also didn't know that when he was wrestling in the New York area, he stayed at the home of Vince McMahon senior.
Stunt/body double for Sean Connery in the Bond films, really? (did we know this?)
Can’t quite believe it, the great Wayne Bridges has gone. Devastated, Wayne did so much for the wrestling fraternity and of course the reunions each year. RIP Wayne, one of the greatest.
The British Wrestlers Reunion have now been asked by Sarah Bridges to make the following announcement:-
Sarah would firstly like to thank everyone for their kind tributes that were paid to Bill at the time of his passing which came from wrestlers, promoters and fans from around the World. There has been no need for an autopsy and the cause of Bills death was by natural causes. Bill is now at the undertakers and it has been agreed that he will remain there until such time as the Coronavirus pandemic has passed. Once lockdown has been lifted Bills funeral will then take place, this will allow everyone to pay their respects at his funeral and attend the wake thereafter. Obviously at this time no date can be released but this will be published once we are able to do so.
The British Wrestlers Reunion would ask that everyone continue to give Sarah her privacy at this difficult time. Therefore, if anyone has any further enquiries can these please be directed to Ken Sowden at the Reunion at britwrestreunion@btinternet.com.
We thank you all for your continued support and hope that you all remain healthy and keep safe.
www.britishwrestlersreunion.com
Great wrestler.
R.I.P. Wayne
Great tribute Riots.Sums up the man's Ring career perfectly
We have now added our tribute to Wayne Bridges
https://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/wayne-bridges-r-i-p
With the death of each wrestler our fragile link with the past becomes ever weaker. The tragic loss of Wayne Bridges, all the sadder because it came without warning to most of us, loses another link to the greats like mentor Marino, promoter Lincoln and his friend McManus. But it's a loss that means more, of course, because Wayne Bridges was a fine wrestler in his own right, one of the last great wrestlers of the Mountevans tradition. In later life he had become a guardian of wrestling's mysteries and will have taken much of wrestling's history to his grave. He and Sarah's hosting of the Reunion has been phenomenal over the years, and without them it is possible none of us would be here keeping the memories alive. R.I.P. Wayne Bridges.
A message from Ken Sowden, organiser of the British Wrestlers Reunion
Wayne Bridges RIP
The British Wrestlers Reunion are deeply saddened to announce the passing yesterday morning of former World Heavyweight Champion and Reunion host Wayne Bridges who died peacefully due to kidney failure in hospital with his wife Sarah at his bedside.
We are all deeply shocked at Bills passing. Bill was without doubt one of the greatest wrestlers this country ever produced and he will be sadly missed by us all.
We would please ask that you respect the families privacy at this very sad time. RIP Wayne Bridges a true legend.
Very sad news indeed. Had the pleasure of speaking with him at the Reunion last year. He wanted John Da Silva's phone number which I got for him. Hope they were able to catch up.
Sad news.My sympathies to family and friends.RIP Champ.
Terrible news, so sad, my condolences to his family and friends, R.I.P. Wayne.
Can't believe we have lost Wayne Bridges.....RIP Champ
"...He regularly trained at the United, the Ashdown, The Loughborough, The YMCA in Edgeware Road, and Police training headquarters at Hendon, with great Champions such as DENNIS MCNAMARA,DON IRVINE,BILL MOSTYN, GEORGE COLEMAN, DENNIS GARVEY, FRANK WARREN and TONY BUCK who has remained a friend to this day.
Simultaneously, he honed his great physique at the London gym's in the celebrated company of ARNOLD SWARZENEGGER when he lived here. Title followed Title as the almost invincible grappler with the immense strength tore his way through the top Division, until yet again he was chosen to represent his Country at International level, where he fought for Great Britain over 15 times, travelling to France, Germany and many other Overseas Tournaments, his meteoric rise to fame being assisted by JIMMY BROWN and TERRY BLACKWALL.
It was at one of these contests at the United Club, that the immortal Legends :MIKE MARINO and ‘DAZZLER’ JOE CORNELIUS happened to frequent and were immediately struck by the sheer physical presence of this super youngster. They invited him to attend a Professional Show where they were working and Bill became immediately drawn to this new form of wrestling. There followed some training by his hero : MIKE MARINO in the different styles and his amateur days were soon forgotten, when the late great PAUL LINCOLN offered him a job , having his inaugural bout against the same MIKE MARINO, re christened now by Lincoln as WAYNE BRIDGES..."
I think he met Assirati when he was working out at the YMCA Tottenham Court Road on a Saturday morning . Assirati suggested he get amateur experience and he went to the greta Ashdown club in Hornsey for I think a couple of years.
I knew he was an Amateur wrestler (spotted in an Amateur club by Mike Marino), but never knew he represented Great Britain overseas in wrestling , and I definitely didn't know that he was also in the UK Olympic swimming team in the early 60's.
I also didn't know that when he was wrestling in the New York area, he stayed at the home of Vince McMahon senior.
Stunt/body double for Sean Connery in the Bond films, really? (did we know this?)
Can’t quite believe it, the great Wayne Bridges has gone. Devastated, Wayne did so much for the wrestling fraternity and of course the reunions each year. RIP Wayne, one of the greatest.
Dreadful news.R.I.P.
I feel truly saddened to read this. RIP
Oh no! An absolute great!
Best heel turn ever witnessed.
Great protector of wrestling's secrets.
Great host every year in Dartford.
Linked Paul Lincoln with DMs and the worldwide scene.
Devastating news.
RIP
I am really saddened. A fine man.
Sad news and one of the last great heavyweights of the TV era.