Unusual sights in the ring

Thanks, seems a very unsatisfactory way of doing things as the regular fans would realise something "dodgy" was going on

I saw that type of thing once and the audience was told that so and so was eliminated on the toss of a coin in the dressing rooms.

The 2 that were left fought in the final.

On a related subject, from the 1978 Bedworth bill, I have never understood how a 6 man KO tournament was supposed to work. I know it often happened that one match was a draw so no one went through to the final from that match. However, if each of the three first round matches produces a winner, what happens next?

Morrell was clearly reined back in once Dale Martin's took their seat at the Joint Promotions boardroom table.

Ron's top two bills show the ulterior motive: employ just six wrestlers for the evening. Smacks of those awful Battle Royales.

That really does sound unique Bernard, but sometimes different is not good. Promoters were always trying something.

The only thing that comes close is the "endurance" KO tournaments where the winner stayed on and potentially could wrestle 6 or 7 bouts all up. Wryton tried these in the early 70s, didn't seem like they caught on with punters either.

Yes, I see what you mean about it being Morrell Bernard. A man who was usually so much the defender of wrestling's authenticity and promoter of professional shows. Maybe it's a case of that Yorkshire blood coming through (says a Lancastrian).

Hi Ron.

I was talking about a handicap knock out tournament with 8 men involved.

Not a singles handicap bout ,or a knock out tournament without the handicap system.

Similar period to what Morrell did , here is Jackie Pallo in one. And a much later 2 on 1 involving Haystacks. Nonsense really.

The problem is that these were promoted by Norman Morrell, Hack.

you would think that he would know better after the first one.

It was not very popular.

Thanks Bernard for explaining that so clearly. No, I've not come across such a tournament. I do recall the occasional match where one wrestler was given a one fall lead at the start, but I am thinking about it only once or twice. Have George Kidd v Jim Hussey at the back of my mind but might be wrong. To be honest sounds like the sort of cobblers Max Crabtree would think up.

Well that answers my next question, which was to be did DM or the Indies do it?

I guess not if the brains have never heard of it.

My memory is not good enough to remember if I saw all of these nights, but I do remember parts of the first one on 11/8/1951.

We were told of the draw for the tournament at the beginning, and before each fight Les Kellett came into the ring to announce the handicap for that bout.

Bouts took place, I can't remember exactly who fought who, but the final was to be Sandy Orford v Norman Walsh.

Walsh at that time was no more than a lightheavy weight really, and remember he was the local man.

Les announced that Walsh would get one fall start and Orford had to win in 4 rounds. I think that the rounds were of 5 minutes.

The reason that I remember was that Norman Walsh used every trick in the book to keep out of Orford's clutches, using the ropes and going down on one knee .

In those early days of the Mount-Evans rules, your opponent was not allowed to continue the fight under those circumstances. If you did the referee would immediately break the hold and warn you.

Orford got a fall in round 2 and Walsh successfully evaded his clutches to the end of round4.

Walsh was awarded the win as under the handicap Orford had to win in 4 rounds.

So ended a really awful night for watching.

I never did like those handicap tournaments.

In a later tournament , I recall that Eric Taylor won the final, despite being about 3-4 stone lighter than the rest of the cast.

It's who you know, not what you know in many cases.

Thanks Ron. Still never heard of it. Sounds interesting. Tell more Bernard.

Had a look at this for Bernard and came up with this.

Not that I know of Bernard. Not even sure what one is. Please explain for the uninitiated, as Kent would say)