I know that there is a long tradition of stage wrestling going back to music hall days, and for sure Paul Lincoln getting the Grenada contract was a master stroke, but I never liked it that much. Just did not seem "proper". I wonder what the wrestlers thought.

Am I being thick? I don't get it. Is the top photo Garfield?

I think that what I wanted was an air of authenticity and at the time most promotions seemed to provide it. Anglo's list ticks all the right boxes but why the down on Bobby Palmer? I seem to remember him as a believable MC.

@Norfolk Snake. Cracking story. Thanks for posting.

Last year we talked about Ali ring jumping Gorilla Monsoon. I think that as a "work" it was much more popular in the States than here. Usualy with someone famous. Why? I do believe that The Donald had a go. A real (probably drunk) member of the public sounds pretty scarry for all concerned.

Catch as catch can as a pitmans submission wrestling style is an enduring myth and I have to put my hands up here and admit to having helped perpetuate it a bit myself in the past. What probably is true is that Lancashire wrestlers knew how to cause pain and force an opponent onto his back. Certainly that was what I was taught that the double wrist lock was for. But what I would like to ask is what you think of the "carni hooker" narative. Was that also just so much hokum? Rusian I am reposting this as I'm not sure if you spotted it. I realy would like your opinion on the legendary carni hookers.

Catch as catch can as a pitmans submission wrestling style is an enduring myth and I have to put my hands up here and admit to having helped perpetuate it a bit myself in the past. What probably is true is that Lancashire wrestlers knew how to cause pain and force an opponent onto his back. Certainly that was what I was taught that the double wrist lock was for. But what I would like to ask is what you think of the "carni hooker" narative. Was that also just so much hokum?

Saxon Wolf is on the money about those "Bushido" shows. They realy were outstanding and very realistic.

Preston-McManus. Zbyszko-Munn. Hart-Michaels. Nothing beats a screwjob story for us fans, historians, anoraks. None of us will ever know. Least of all me. But if you think it might have been worked - then it probably was.

Some wrestlers were keener Some may have been meaner But for downing a glass Few could surpass The ever popular Anglo Italian star DODGY CORTINA.

Well I'm not sure about the "average" fan Saxon, but he was certainly well known to me. How many members are old enough to remember all this? Bernard, me, not sure who else.

When it comes to history Rusian the only thing you can be sure of is that it's all in the past. But yes, collecting results for a predetermined exhibition seems like a pretty uninspiring thing to do. But hey, that's just me. One of the nice things about W H and the forum is the wide range of interest that members have.

I'll just put my two pennyworth in here and then keep quiet. All In, Professional Free Style, 20th century catch, Catch As Catch Can Rules of 1930, Lord Mountevans. All were, if you like, different "brand names" for essentialy the same "product". Of course, a promoter or group of promoters would want to protect their "brand" and have their own champion. I think that a wrestling style is something different. It implies a set of rules and a way of competing that has developed differently to other styles. Regarding champions I think that part of the problem looking back is that so many of these appointed champions ended up believing their own publicity and of course some could actualy wrestle. There was a willing army of fans and historians keen to perpetuate the mythology. Still is perhaps. Oakeley and Dale had two quite different business plans. One wanted to put on big wrestling extravaganzas at famous venues and the other flood the market with good quality bread and butter shows all over the place. I think that by the time Dale (and Joint) were top dogs Oakeley had had enough anyway and wanted to get on with his sailing holidays and Lorna Doone stuff. I'm sorry, I have responded to half a dozen threads that all started with Bert and Ernie.

I seem to remember that I swollowed the story that Bert had gone off on an extended tour of the Far East, been stripped of the title by Joint, "The Promoters", forces of darkness, whatever, but returned to sweep all before him. It was clearly a lot more complicated. Well, I was pretty young. But this thread has been so interesting. Thanks everyone.

It might be better to ask why so many wrestlers stayed with Joint in the first place? It was a cartel of course but one that for a long time had all of the appearance of a governing body. The ME Rules, the belts, "That Photo", the RAH trophy, the air of legitimacy. All of that plus regular work and the chance to get on TV must have had a certain appeal. Nothing lasts forever and eventually everything that made Joint different just faded or became irrelevant. At least that is how I remember it.

Thanks Hack. I had forgotten about Sarah's blog. It is as you rightly say, well worth a look.

Ken Richmond, perhaps the best amateur this country produced, had a big (ish) part in the film. He was starting to look at a carreer in films and perhaps pro wrestling. The Rank Gong job springs to mind. He may well have been the contact that provided the UK wrestlers. Great shot with world class amateur standing next to one of the true all time greats of the pro game. No help with the mystery wrestler though.

Well if it wasn't arranged it's a hell of a dodgy way of dealing with a KO victim. Especialy one weighing 18 stone !

R.I.P. The link is well worth a click.

The televised ring invasion was well done. Al Hayes was polite and understated, explaining that these honest wrestlers were being denied TV exposure, that Mike Marino was a World Champion that was being ignored by ITV/Joint. Dale's officials looked suitably discomforted. It was all very British and nothing like you would expect from WWF etc. Did Joint follow up to full advantage? That's another matter.