Here's a niche topic, but let's see if anyone has any thoughts.
I am wondering which wrestlers were fans of wrestling?
I am enjoying enormously reading our Broughton Ranger's reminiscences this spring. It's clear he managed to enjoy the likes of War Eagle and Billy Howes - and we have never fathomed yet why he has chosen his forum name on here ... in honour of Kim Kendo? It's brilliant for us fans to have these ongoing insights and we have had a fair few exchanges over the years. But not many wrestlers manage to get inside our minds to to share our enjoyment and express their own. Until now.
Fair enough, we always jump on them for the inside tack!!! Our fault.
At the other end of the spectrum we have the dear departed Wayne Bridges, determined to the end to keep stumm. His angle never seemed to be one of showing enjoyment of wrestling, focused so intently on keeping the secrets. It's strange considering he was such an artist.
Bob Kirkwood smiles his way through every chat wondering what the fuss is all about.
Butts Giraud focused on his work. Very laudible, professional. Almost seemed to have no time to enjoy it all.
I know that the likes of Syd and Torontos and Czeslaw loved watching other bouts. But I don't know what their motivation was. Could wrestlers be seen watching other bouts at your venues?
Quite a few, like the Royals and Rocky and Clayton, seemed to turn their backs on wrestling like it was just a job. Fair enough. It was.
But after all that, which wrestlers do we know from the Heritage years who were fans and were pleased to let it be known?
And that Black Mask --- do you mean Black Angel?
Yes, I know Charlie was conscientious. He head-counted the audience and made the whole show look real and important. But he overlooked that nerds like me were watching him. All the other emcees remained ringside - Harry Roth winced through every throw and hold.
Missed the explanation, so that's why I use the bkendo
Anglo Charlie was very concienous you surprise me you thought anti fan however not too clever leaving seat as you describe,although he was heavily involved back of house for Dales
Regarding fans becoming Wrestlers in the late sixties lots of lads were fans in the sense they liked watching however there were others who were ardent fans who were fast tracked later on with terrible results,awful to watch.Early seventies a super fan from Yorkshire joined the ranks called the Doc any memories.I think Iv told the story of the promoter who billed Kendo when Kendo was in Canada and the guy who was to him ducked and volunteers were asked for and the remark well now well cut your finger off.Well I remember so well the promoter saying it'll be more money and the two volunteers shouting I'll be Kendo I'll be Kendo,until the finger remark was made but the resulting lack of no one being Kendo was down to one of lads seeing the audience regulars from Bolton and Walkden who'd suss immediately. So Little Hulton British legion got the black mask instead.
Even though I do retain a great soft spot for him - especially after seeing him in dynamic 1957 action in Paris - the biggest anti-fan for me was Charlie Fisher.
He would disappear immediately after the intros and return magically to his MC's seat at the start of the round where a score was to take place.
This was awful.
At the Civic Hall in Wolves wrestlers often stood on the balcony watching other matches particularly if it was intense
Sat at the back , I watched Tiger Bobby Ryan open against Colin Bennett at Liverpool , After he had changed Ryan stood behind me with an overcoat on and watched the rest of the show . Don't think anyone bothered him for an autograph either. He seemed to be lapping up the show.
Not sure if it's out there on YouTube, but when Finlay beat Jones for the World Mid-Heavyweight Title on TV (at Bradford IIRC), standing in one of the stairways watching intently was Rocky Moran.
At St James Hall, downstairs at the back, just before the door that led to the stairs up to the dressing rooms(Phew !),was a standing space before the stairs down to the blue corner of the ring.
As a young one putting the bolts in the roller doors for George, he would take me in there in time to see the top of the bill and the fourth and last contest.
I don't know if it was someone new or very well liked on the top of the bill that drew them but there would often be 2 or 3 wrestlers watching.
Not every week, but quite often.
Did they watch because they enjoyed it ? or to see someone new ? or to pick up new moves?
I don't know and I never asked.
It was enough at that time that I could see the wrestling.
If I had my time over again , I would do things differently.
But then wouldn't we all ?
The recently deceased Frank Robb was often seen watching the action at St James Hall , I would think Frank would have come under this