Topical Wrestlers' Names

Here's a rare hot of wrestler Odd Job with his shiny steel hat. Would have been expensive to make. Maybe spray-painted cardboard?

Anglo Italian

5d

What to do about Spencer Churchill?

Well Spencer Churchill was his name, born 1929. Was he named after the politician? Related? Coincidence?

Spencer doesn't seem to have been in the top 100 most popular names of the time

Mark Rocco took his name from the sixties film Rocco and his Brothers.

I think the "Sayama" surname made "Sammy" an easy choice, and yes, his name and look was based on Bruce Lee, even down to the yellow jump suit, similar to the one that Bruce Lee wore in the film, "Game of Death".

I think it's fair to say that Sammy Lee chose his English name in the likeness of Bruce Lee.

What to do about Spencer Churchill?

Well!-They put him in with BARRY DOUGLAS at SPA HALL-BRIDLINGTON!

Here!....

MAIN MASK

I wonder if he had the versatility to change his routines when he went top of the bill as Nobby? I wonder if they put him in with Masambula or Kid Chocolate!

I saw Paul Luty a couple of times. Can't say he made a big impression, not a particularly favourable one. He was very much a bruiser, a rule bender, but didn't seem to have as much technique as, say, the younger Mal Kirk.

Great stuff, Main Mask and Powerlock, thanks for your memories of Paul Luty. What was he like when you saw him, Hack?

These three threads - Topical, Historical and Geographical - are just a nice way of grouping all sorts of wrestlers that otherwise would have no connection whatsoever.

But out of the listings come nuggets of memories like you chaps have shared today.

Well that's not how it read Anglo Italian, says he started as Nobby. Yes, as I said I did see Paul Luty in the sixties, and thinks Main Masks description is generous.

I Recall seeing PAUL LUTY Wrestle Live at Least Twice at WRYTON STADIUM

In BOLTON!-And at My BELOVED BELLE VUE!

I seem to Remember him being Somewhat 'Cumbersome'!!

MAIN MASK

In your sad desperation to trap me, Hack, you have misunderstood what I wrote. We are all know he was a sixties wrestler. That’ s why I asked if anyone saw him wrestle.

I stated that he then started wrestling as Nobby for a very short while.

Now then, can you come up with a original one of your own?

So, did anyone ever see Paul Luty wrestle?

Anglo Italian wrote

I think Paul Luty started wrestling under the name of his tv persona, Nobby Garside. But only for a very short while

Luty before Garside. On TV as Luty.

I think Paul Luty started wrestling under the name of his tv persona, Nobby Garside. But only for a very short while.

Not a wrestler we have ever investigated on here, in spite of his tv fame in 1972.

I don't think he appeared on tv wrestling?

M.C. Lee Bamber had his name bestowed upon him by Brian Dixon because Dixon thought he looked like Bamber Gascoigne.

Robbie Brookside

Didn't we once have a poster with Christine Keeler?

Another One for The List ANGLO!......

1967 BRITISH T.V. Series........THE CHAMPIONS!!

ALEXANDRA BASTEDO......WOW!

1973 Show at The ACE OF CLUBS in LEEDS!!

MAIN MASK

He used both but transitioned to Odd Job after doing Bond. probably helped bring the punters in.

Did he wrestle as Oddjob? Or the Great Togo?

Have I missed it, or are we missing Oddjob?

"Black Knight in King Arthur.

Historic but Fiction."

Very good, Ron. He is now upgraded from limbo.

But he is on the HISTORICAL list because that's where the historic ones go.

I'm not Sure JAMES if I should be Saying Many Thanx for That!#?

MM

Black Knight in King Arthur.

Historic but Fiction.

I will accept your decision Anglo

main Mask

It's your topic. Do use my entries and try to see if we can ever satisfy this promoter

The BLACK KNIGHT was Tommy Hooton , unmasked by Bartelli.

Hurrican Smith wrestler also the name of a Western from 1950

Jamaica Kid for geographical names

Maybe I have found some idea of how the UK wrestlers worked in France.

On 2nd March 1959, Hunter and Hayes wrestled at the Palais des Sports, Paris.

On 6th March, they appeared again at the same venue.

I feel sure that in between they would have wrestled at Strasbourg or in the provinces, without returning home.

"...Cheri Bibi - just need assurance he wrestled in UK..."

As far as I can see:-

February 23rd, 1963, Cheri Bibi vs Mike Marino at Hackney Empire.

October 15th, 1965, Cheri Bibi and Eric Husberg vs Al Hayes and Bob Kirkwood, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Now THAT One 'Passes Muster'!!

MM

Robby Baron then, neh!

Three Barons:

ANGLO!-You are getting a Bit Naughty Now!!

I didn't Say it was PAUL LINCOLN's IDEA-I merely Stated That

LINCOLN-'Resurrected' the Monicker-WILD MAN of BORNEO!!

Can you find Me an Example of Another Wrestler in your Parameter

Of 40 Years who used This Name??

And I can Split Rabbits too if you like-In The 1960's Series-There was ONLY

ONE BARON.....NOT Two!!

So Only HALF a Pure Entry Actually!!

MM

Cheri Bibi was the hero of a popular series of books by Gaston Leroux [Phantom of the Opera] in the 1920s.

Hi Main Mask

We just don't know who came up with the name Wild Man of Borneo for the wrestler. You cannot just state that Paul Lincoln had the idea, we don't know. George Kidd came up with Doctor Death, so he was creative. Could have been him or Hunter or absolutely anyone. The man wrestled as Gunga Singh well into the sixties if it's splitting hairs you want to do. And in the case of the Wild Man both splitting hairs, and even worse, nit-picking, would be quite frightening. My hand is hesitating over my breast pocket....

Powerlock now receives a Public Warning. No sooner have I reiterated the 40-year rule than you go an put an Historical here in the Topicals. This can be rescinded if you are a good boy and place Guy in the History section.

I thought Cheri Bibi was a drink. So for eligibility, someone will need to enlighten us as to who the original was before the wrestler?

Let me get us back on track with a pure entry based on a sixties tv show: The Barons.

Was there much 'popping over' or did a wrestler get signed up for 3 or four bouts over a weekend ?

Adrian I have a poster with BB Johnson billed as from Borneo June 1950 at Leeds —shows it was by promoters considered a more exotic place that the Windies and years before the Wildman.

Guy Lombardo 1950s wrestler, American big band leader from the 1920s onwards

Thanks SW

@James Morton it looks like Cheri Bibi wrestled here, for Paul Lincoln, in the early to mid-1960s.

Our own Bob Anthony (The Wrestling Beatle!) defeated Cheri Bibi in a tournament semi final, in Paris in 1961, and our own Johnny Czeslaw defeated Cheri Bibi in Paris, also in 1961.

Tony Charles defeated Cheri Bibi in Paris in 1962, 1963 and 1964.

Hunter and Hayes defeated Cheri Bibi and Eric Husberg in Paris in 1963.

It must have been a great life, late 50's to early 60's, when most people never went further than our own seaside coastline, and you were asked, "do you fancy popping over to Paris and wrestle for 20 minutes?".

Did Cheri Bibi ever wrestle here ?If so he could go in literary

WILD MAN OF BORNEO was Early 1960's-Resurrected by........

PAUL LINCOLN!!-Previously Wrestled as GUNGA SINGH!

Hardly Won a Bout!#?

MM

Hack disputed his yellow card and the magnanimous and virtuous referee rescinded it. (But I'll get him next time he steps out of line.)

I said that anything more than about 40 years earlier was no longer topical, but historical. So by exclusion, they can't really be on both lists. Or can they?

We allow fiction, so Batman and Le Bourreau de Béthune are ok.

We are including all professional wrestlers as long as they appeared in the UK. "Even independents" (phrase dedicated to Hack.) In the case of pre-1922 wrestlers, this includes the previous UK.

I really don't know what you are beefing about James, you have always been a clean and technical contributor so far. You have no need to bend the rules like this. I don't know how much longer the referee is going to put up with all this.

I do agree about the Wild Man from Borneo. The name had lapsed into obscurity and was gloriously revived by some literate soul mid-sixties. We'll never know who can claim that credit.

I'm going to start arguing with the referee - not that it will do me any good. You didn't say they could not be on more than one list. I don't suppose one in fifty attendees went to see Wildman because of Kipling but the exotic place he came from.

Please set out the rules clearly. Mountevans or otherwise. Or I shall join the Indies.

VAR review complete. Hack's yellow card is rescinded. This time. (I've got my eye on you, think on...)

Boston Blackie, American radio and film detective of the 1940s/50s

Anglo is becoming very handy with his warnings. Based on the books. Isn't that what I said Anglo. Public warning. And be thankful it's not a disqualification. I'm in a good mood tonight.

Now then James,

I am afraid that after the grief of Mustapha Nasser, you have fallen foul of the rules again.

Bourreau of Béthune's a good one - but he's already on the historical list.

I already invited Main Mask to start a list of Geographical Wrestlers' Names: he's lost his atlas so you can do it and stick in all the Klondykes you can think of. And Monsieur Montreal.

The Wild Man "of" Borneo is far more juicy, but being an 1800s creation of Rudyard Kipling, he is scarcely topical. But he is historical in a literary sense. So, along with Tom Thumb, Jean Ferré, said Bourreau and Robin Hood if John Shelvey ever comes up with a wrestler to substantiate his claim (clearly thrown down after a glass too many of Jacob's Creek), the Wild Man can indeed go on ze other list. Well done, after missing five penalties - you've scored!

Well Anglo

Just to get you started

As you say Klondyke Kate,Jake, Bill and add Yukon Eric, Monsieur Montreal, Bourreau of Bethune, Wildman of Borneo

More foreign rings than British but I'm sure you can improve on them

If Johnny Saint was inspired by the fictional character it must have been the book because the TV series only started in 1962. Maybe Simon Templar based himself on Johnny Saint.

Johnny Saint embraced Simon Templar even in his autograph.

I think The Artful Dodgers were formed in 1969 directly as a result of the popularity of the Oliver Twist film the previous year.

Ok, I did't know that. He's in!

I think if we go after 1988 there will be loads of (to me, at least) obscure ones, so let's keep it to anything pre-1988.

Somewhere, dear Main Mask, you mentioned Klondyke Kate. As I wondered why you didn't plump for Bill or Jake, I thought I'd suggest that you start a topic: Geographical Wrestlers' Names.

Well ANGLO-KARATE KID was an Original FILM Trilogy-

N'Est-Ce Pas? + Further Films too!!

And you HAVE Included DOCTOR BLOOD??-An Obscure Horror

One Off!!??

MM

Please!

We have to set some limits. But at least the programme is again interesting for the new occupants in Oakwood Lane.

If we put in Karate Kid we'd have to put Judo Al Hayes and all the rest, wouldn't we?

Another One for you ANGLO!- I give you.......

KARATE KID!!

Here........

MAIN MASK

Was Ivan the Terrible Penzy? He's for the historical list, innit?

Does Bert Royal qualify? Kent told us he turned pro in Coronation year; but Kent always shaved five or ten years off the wrestlers' ages; and we have since spotted Bert in 1948. Maybe inspired by the Royal Wedding?

In attempt to link two strands together, by the mid 1980's it seems as though Max may have thought his monikers for repackaged wrestlers as topical, but in reality they came across as historical.

Now there's a conundrum Anglo Italian. Nothing to do with this thread. In 1987 Dale Martin listed at. Oakwood Lane, Leeds. Okay, by 1987 all of Joint had meshed together under Max. But this was the address of the Relwyskow family. My understanding is that Relwyskow & Green continued to exist independently and never succumbed to Max.

More for your List ANGLO!-

I give you Below 'IVAN THE TERRIBLE' at VICTORIA HALL in HANLEY and....

WEE TOM THUMB!!!

I had a One-to-One Chat with TOM Last AUGUST-Nice Guy!

Here on My Original Programme for BURY ST. EDMUNDS in 1989-he Gains

A 2-1 'Win' Over JOHNNY KIDD?!-What?#!!#?

Note on The HANLEY Programme ROLLERBALL ROCCO Tagging WITH

MARTY JONES!!-Against BOBBY RYAN and....COUNT BARTELLI!!!!

MAIN MASK

Agree about the 'Deception' bit ANGLO!-It seems more than ever in These Twilight

Years of T.V. Wrestling that 'Anything' was Possible?!

Actually BEARCAT WRIGHT was a Hard 'Uncompromising' Wrestler against 'Lower

Light' Opponents!-I have him on DVD against I think PETER WILSON!-In which he

'Sold' Absolutely Nothing!!-NOT that ANY Offence from WILSON ever Manifested

Itself!-But against say MARTY JONES-BEARCAT' Appeared Very 'Outclassed'!

MM

Think on, Public Warnings can also be issued for dissent!

Looks like this topicality thing really took off in the eighties. On your same bill is Rasputin. I'll not put him on the list as historical, rather than topical.

BEACAT is an unfortunate spelling there. And I can't help but wince every time I see the non-Iron Man Steve Logan. I understand this may have been his real name, but he should have had a new ring name in that case. It all just reeked of trying to deceive 1980s punters.

Well ANGLO!-It wasn't Just KUNG FU who was 'AMAZING'!-

I give you........The MASKED SPIDERMAN!!

Here he is at The SPA HALL in BRIDLINGTON in 1986 against Credible

Opposition in MIKE 'FLASH' JORDAN!-And again in 1987-My Original

Programme for The TOWN HALL in WEMBLEY- where he Tackles.....

THE ROCKER!!

Notice I've thrown in ELEPHANT BOY-Just for you!

And Yes!-Before you start waving around your YELLOW Cards again!-

I KNOW he's already on your Above List!!

MAIN MASK

These latest suggestions are getting more and more borderline.

A piece of music, indeed. Ok, Young Apollo's in.

But cowboys and injuns were from a hundred years before and perhaps more historical than topical? Same applies to Genghis Khan and El Greco. Maybe I should just change the title to include "historical." Historical is fine, but I was really getting at how wrestling moved in time with the times.

Was Dr Blood inspired by the 1961 film?

Bruce Welch definitely named himself after the Shadow.

Public Warning Rescinded ANGLO!-I know you'd already Listed QUASIMODO!

I was merely providing a Photo in Support!

You must have seen him Live-With his Swinging Pendulum Piledriver Finisher?

MM

Wild Tarzan , Tarzan Bill Hunter.

It seems Young Apollo was a 1939 piece of Music

Cowboy Jack Cassidy and other Cowboys. Various Indians such as Sitting Bull etc.

MUSTAPHA NASSER

Thanks Hack. So far Carver Doone had seemed the most unlikely choice, though he was at least a baddie. But naming yourself after a singer or a painter seems very very odd.

Secong Public Warning to Main Mask! After Scarface, Quasimodo was also already on our list! But you redeem yourself by sharing what must be one of the greatest wrestler photos. Having him on the same bill as Dr Adolf Kaiser is somewhat surprising. It's a great bill, though, with stimulating description. I'll take a stab at 1961 and one of Quasi's very first UK appearances. Two bald pates in opposition would have been quite a thing at that time.

Your French photo of Pancho also perplexes me. He looks rather plump. I recall him much much slimmer. Any thoughts, anyone?

Bullwhip Griffin - a 1967 comedy western

El Greco - artist, 1966 film about his life

Elephant Boy - film

Ray Charles - singer

(More of a side topic)

During the Second World War, many of the wrestlers would be billed with their military rank:

March 3rd, 1943 – Accrington, England

[Accrington Town Hall]

Sgt Charles Green vs Jack Pye

Sgt Hill vs Sgt Beresford

Bill McDonald vs Eddie Flash Barker

Sgt Vic Hesselle vs Sgt Bob Silcock

Referee: Jack Bennett

Everybody was a Sergeant on this one, but there were many other ranks displayed.

Before he became Tally-Ho, Peter Kaye used the moniker Stubby

Yes! ANGLO-The Hideous QUASIMODO!-I saw him Live a Few Times-Notably at

WRYTON STADIUM in BOLTON!

Also We have PANCHO ZAPATTA with his MEXICAN Bandit Moustache!......

Here......

MM

Yes. Main Mask, I had mentioned Scarface below. I must say that photo shows a pretty decent scar. Now I'm befuddled because I thought the scar was much smaller. Was the photo tweaked?

For all four of yours, Hack, can you please enlighten us as to their topicality?

As in most of our lists, there has to be a barrier somewhere. I considered John Elijah as having taken his name from the prophet. In the end, I decided he didn't make the cut. Unlike Scarface Laval ☺

I'll chip in with

Bullwhip Griffin

El Greco

Elephant Boy

Ray Charles

Also ANGLO-We have SCARFACE LAVAL and The Sinister GEHGHIS KHAN!....

Here.....

MM

Hey ANGLO!....I'M SPARTACUS!!-Ha,ha!!

MM

Ah yes, Sir Atholl was a fan of Lorna Doone, thanks Saxonwolf. The third film came out in 1934, the first talkie; I suspect the wrestler already had his name at that time.

Lorna Doone must have been huge to generate so many films a hundred years ago; hard for us to comprehend now. And Carver Doone was a right old villain. So certainly a very very topical inclusion.

Carver Doone seems a very odd choice - what was that all about?

Scarface Laval was another French visitor who captured my imagination on his fleeting 1970 visit. He had the tiniest of scars on his left cheek, haha. Not in Al Capone's league.

So The Ghoul was a Boris Karloff film, right? And as the same time, The Green Hornet, wasn't he a UK wrestler?

One of the nails in my wrestling coffin was when I saw, about 1980, The Power Rangers top of the bill at my local hall. I didn't know who they were or what they were based on, but knew they weren't for me and I pretty much packed in attending.

I suppose Mighty John Quinn just about qualifies?

Jack Dempsey , the Ghoul , Carver Doone , King Kong Kirk , Kojak Kirk , Quasimodo

I'm updating the opening list to include all suggestions.

And Spartacus appeared - - - - - - just after the Film!!! Quelle surprise.

I remember the controversial Rollerball film coming out and reports about just how dangerous these roller marathons were. But I never really understood; and carried on autograph hunting.

I have added Big Daddy, too.

And two teams inspired by the popular Elliot Ness tv series. My mother loved that.

Must be loads more.

Didn't we have Spartacus at one time

Les Blousons Noirs caused a bit of head scratching for some of us.

ANGLO!-ADRIAN STREET got The Name for his Tag Team from an Independent

1930 HOWARD HUGHES Film- 'HELLS ANGELS'!

Prior to Adopting This FAB Monicker BOBBY and ADRIAN when Tagging Each

Wore Different Ring Gear!

Wrestling in SHEFFIELD One Evening-They found Themselves with Time on Their

Hands-So went to see The Film THE BLUE MAX!

It Reminded ADRIAN of The 1930 Film and he Suggested to BOBBY-'What a Great

Name for Our Team'!

At The Time Neither of Them had heard of The AMERICAN Biker Gangs!!

Source: ADRIAN STREET Himself!

MAIN MASK

Rollerball Rocco from a popular film.

There were a few Mr Universes , genuine as well.

In a similar vein to Skinheads and Hell's Angels, we had The Rockers (Tommy Lorne and Pete La Paque), although "Mods and Rockers" were a thing of the 60's, and Tommy and Pete might have been better off being simply, "The Bikers".

Ted Heath?