Just been watching Mr Rollerball in a bout with Steve Viedor and couldn’t help but notice how well they worked together, how they both gave each other a fair share of the match and made each other look good. Mark could make just about any match look exciting (have I mentioned that I like Rocco, Adrian?...) just look at his bouts with Marty Jones or The Dynamite kid! Others I think worked well were ...
Quinn and Bridges
Nagasaki and Marino
Jimmy Breaks and Steve Grey
And I’m sure many before my time you tell me about.
Any thoughts?
Bob Kirkwood was another who would just work chameleon-like and seamlessly around his opponents' styles.
Catweazle v Dave Shade was another bout that was billed hundreds of times.
For all the times I saw McManus v Colbeck, I wouldn't say they were a match made in heaven.
But McManus v Pallo definitely.
I remember the Lapaque Brothers and other teams of baddies putting the Royals over very well.
Mick McMichael vs just about anyone, a real selfless wrestler, often in those "well mannered" matches with plenty of shaking hands after a fall.
Rocco and Marty Jones
Rocco and the Dynamite Kid
Marty Jones and Dave Finlay
Dave Finlay and Tony St. Clair
If I saw the above one a poster, or in the TV Times listing for Saturday afternoon, I knew I was in for a treat.
😁 Thanks Hack.
One couple that worked well together pre 1970, usually 8 round draws, Johnny Saint and Fred Woolley.
Your smile makes me think you know the answer Frank, but just in case
I recall seeing Les at The Ice Rink, Nottingham, against both Ahmet Chong and Jacobo (on separate occasions). If I recall correctly, both matches concluded with Kellett's famous swing back on the middle rope for leverage followed by a headbutt to the stomach with the unfortunate recipient then rolling around in agony on the canvas and failing to beat the ten count. Both bouts seemed to work well.
In those days, although Graham and Sharron, popped up as regular opponents, Les would work with anyone. Towards the end of his days in the ring, he would only work with Klondyke Jake whom he trusted implicitly. My last booking for the two of them was at The Gala Baths, West Bromwich, with Count Bartelli in the main supporting bout.
All of the above regular bouts. Just goes to prove: Practice Makes Perfect.
All the more respect, therefore, to wrestlers who made great bouts when facing each other for the first time.
So let's add three in Armchair Corner on this site:
- Tony Scarlo as in Cockney Class
- Bruno Elrington as in "Head & Shoulders above the rest"
- Czeslaw in "Polish Polish."
Sure Sharron and Graham knew what to do with/for Kellett. Did a visiting Continental?
When I promoted there were several surefire pairings and these included Andras Swajcsic (sometimes billed as Sandor Rosza) versus Ian St.John. I would add Eddie Rose versus Ian Wilson, Pedro the Gypsy versus either Butcher Goodman or Max Raeger, "Romeo" Joe Critchley versus Melvyn Riss and "Bronco" Jack Cassidy versus Paul Carpentier. Oh, and Kevin Conneely versus either Harry Palin or Woody Waldo.
Prior to promoting, as a punter I found that regular combinations which worked included Les Kellett versus either Bobby Graham or Lee Sharron, Albert "Rocky" Wall versus Gwynn Davies, Jim Breaks versus Johnny Saint and Brian Maxine versus Mick Mc.Michael.
Wasn’t he a footballer Mike? 😁
Gym mates of mine:
Andreas Svajcsik (among many other names) v Ian St John
How could I forget Adrian Street! I am not worthy of such a forum if I cant even remember a legend like that. Adrian Street v Vic Faulkner, hmm, yeah! I'll have some of that.
Breaks and Dennison was a good bout and Davies v Wall
Faulkner and Street
A great one for me was Wild Angus v Ray Glendenning