Count Bartelli was someone I could listen to for hours,the Count wasa FAN if the game he lived it and loved it ,IV stood at the back of many a hall watching bouts with Geoff he admire guide and advise if required by any new to the ranks worker.Some discussion of late has been how the comandment Thou shall protect the game was interpreted by individual wrestlers,Geoff's view was respect the fans they're you're paymasters.Now this love of the game was a two edged sword I think Geoff went on too long for his health,but the lure of the lights and roar of a crowd was a powerful addiction.I personally always felt sad when I saw someone go on too long and this was the case with Geoff his playing to the gallery before landing the chop was devalued as he got older because the lightning speed of announcement of move and delivery were lengthened making the whole thing look wrong,timing is all in Pro wrestling like comedy but old comedians don't lose it workers do and it becomes pantomime like parody.I would have never questioned Geoff why he carried on because I knew,but wished he retired whilst still top dog.He suffered the indignity of being told to lose to lesser men sometimes by straight falls Ibwitnessed several instances where I felt embarrassed where he virtually pleased for different outcome but always respected the profession.There was no edge to Geoff hence the title of the post,but there was always total commitment if a real nice guy,he endured seeing changes that he vehemently felt detrimental but just got on with it,how I wished I'd asked more questions.
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Hard not to love Ct Bartelli for his sheer enthusiasm and generosity.
Hard also to fathom why, as a millionaire, he would have wanted that punishng full book of bouts all around the country through the seventies and into his own seventies nearly.; he had travelled far less when younger. The lure of the limelight as Bkendo describes must have been irresistible. I mean, to travel to the south coast to lose to a lesser wrestler ...
It's a great shame that there was no opening as manager for the sixties greats. They missed a trick. They could have got involved in all sorts of ways. But the most they could hope for was to be an MC like Charlie Fisher and Martin Conroy.
Having been on here many years and also originally only being aware after 1970 that Bartelli had been unmasked in a famous match, learning about the man has become a fantastic story. On the one hand he was very much just a Wryton Man with protection of his gimmick and thus managed to clock up I would say a near 20 years undefeated. Respected in the game his invincibility allowed him to do some work with Relwyskow and Morrell and to a small extent Dales.
There is not really a place where British Wrestling History is officially written , and I suspect there never will be , because Wrestling Heritage has come along and had a crack , and what a good crack it has been.
Had there never been this site I am not so sure Bartelli would have held such a great place in History. Yes probably among the workers , but of course there were many more fans than workers. I know Bkendo1 has a keen interest in Wryton history and I can see similarities with Bartelli holding some clout with Wryton like McManus did in Dales.
The Bartelli story , all of it keeps coming back as a fascination all the way from Geoff Conda. He provided an anchor through several decades whilst the Ghoul had less than ten years with what was to become "Joint" and then faded in the Indies. Van Wurden had a smaller run as Green Asp , we had visitors like Zebra Kid and Outlaw. Good shorter term men like Mask and Black Mask , but for Bartelli to choose a replacement of enormous popularity even added to his contribution. Bartelli had the knowhow and influence to get Kendo top teaching and also the ability to spot such a prospect. This is all out in the open now.
Bartelli stayed on too long , no doubt doing all he could not to let the wrestling he had known decline , he fought the decline tooth and nail and it is very evident how much younger guys looked up to him.
My additional respect for him is that it did not have to be real , it did not have to have regular claret dished out by the likes of Assirati to whoever he bestowed it upon , the game was hard enough and a good man like Bartelli , it seems was a perfect man to work with.
I liked Bartelli back in the day , I liked his bouts , but I am talking the days after he had unmasked. I always wondered how he could have been quite so great. Only borderline full Heavyweight. But something about the man , I accepted it , I was not an insider , those who say he was great , I believe them.
I do think he now has a special place in History. It's a great story.
Nice to hear that. He was not alone with going on "a bit too long".