Sad news, overnight, that Scott Hall passed away. He had developed blood clots, in hospital, following hip surgery, and the complications led to him having three heart attacks, and being placed on life support, which was switched off over the weekend. He wasn't part of our Heritage years, but he was a major figure in Wrestling, in WWF/WWE/WCW/AWA, etc., and wrestled over here a number of times.

Hearing reports that Japanese wrestler, Shozo Kobayashi has died. He was a visitor to these shores in the late 1960's. I think he would have been 81 years old. He faced many of our lads, here in the UK, in Germany, Japan and the USA, and was a frequent opponent for Billy Robinson, Pete Roberts, Steve Wright, Ian Campbell, Geoff Portz, Bruno Elrington, Tony Charles and others.

Wrestling overseas on this day, Peter Deakin had a creditable draw, with Hermann Iffland, in Krefeld, Germany, on this day in 1959. On our TV screens, on this day in 1962: - Bill Howes v Norman Walsh Johnny Eagles v Abe Ginsburg Ken Cadman v Malcolm Sample Jim Hussey v Reg Williams

Working overseas, on this day, Steve Wright defeated Manuel Lopez in Munster, Germany, on this day in 1972. On our TV screens, on this day in 1964: - Billy Joyce v Jan Kovacs Bob Steele v Eric Sands

Working overseas on this day, our lads, Tony Cassio and Al Fontayne, drew with Emilio Lamban and Tony Oliver, in Barcelona, Spain, on this day in 1965. On our TV screens, on this day in 1967: - Masumbula (W. Africa) v. Les Kellett (Bradford) Clayton Thomson (British Middleweight Champion, Scotland) v. Mick McMichael (Doncaster) Mike Eager (Sheffield) v. Ted Heath (Kippax)

Working overseas, on this day in history, the excellent Dynamite Kid teamed with Bret Hart, and fought to a no contest draw, against Bad News Allan and the Cuban Assassin, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on this day in 1983. On our TV screens, on this day in 1967: - Heavyweight - Mike Marino (Anglo-Italian) v. Josef Zaranoff (Leningrad) Lightweight - Johnny Williams (Wales) v. Alan Miquet (British Lightweight Champion, Brixton) Middleweight - Barry Cannon (Yorkshire) v. Mick McManus (South Area Champion, New Cross)

Wrestling overseas, on this day in history, the one and only Billy Robinson took the win against Buddy Austin in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii, on this day in 1969. On our TV screens, on this day in 1966: - Jackie 'Mr. TV' Pallo (Highbury) (KO) v Peter Szakacs (Budapest) Syed Saif Shah (Lahore, Pakistan) (W) v Johnny Alan (Halifax) Johnny Kwango (West Africa) v 'Tug' Holton (Waterloo)

Wrestling overseas, on this day in history, Chris Adams beat Mike Masters, in Salem, Oregon, USA, on this day in 1982. On our TV screens, on this day in 1967: - Heavyweight - Bill Robinson (Manchester) v. Gwyn Davies (Wales) Welterweight - Alan Miquet (Huddersfield) v. Jeff Kaye (Leeds) Mid-Heavyweight - Bill Howes (Bolton) v. Tony Charles (Bristol)

Looks like we didn't do an "on this day" for May 23rd, so here goes. Wrestling overseas, on this day, Bert Assirati beat big George Gordienko (wrestling as "Flash Gordon"), in Mumbai, India, on this day in 1953. On our TV screens, on this day in 1970: - Jon Cortez (1) v Julien Morice (0) Pat Roach (W) v Ray Hunter Brian Maxine (1) v Ted Heath (0)

Wrestling overseas today, Bert Assirati defeated Sardar Khan, in Mumbai, India, on this day, back in 1953. On our TV screens, on this day in 1969: - Les Kellett (KO) v Bobby Graham Jon Cortez (1) v Zolton Boscik (1)

Wrestling overseas today, Adrian Street, Esq., was in fine form, beating US Wrestler, Dusty Rhodes, in West Palm Beach, Florida, on this day in 1983. On our TV screens, on this day in 1964: - Joe Cornelius (W) v Earl Maynard Modesto Aledo (Spanish lightweight champion) v Ted Hannan (W) Peter Rann v Ken Joyce (W) Monty Swann v Ray Fury (Southern area light-heavyweight champion) (W)

Local lad wrestling overseas today is Judo Chris Adams, who won against Kengo Kimura in Utsunomiya, Japan, on this day in 1981. On our TV screens, on this day in 1966: - Mick McManus (KO) v Alan Dennison Bert Royal and Vic Faulkner (Bolton) (W) v Daniel Aubriot and Gil Cesca (Paris) Rikki Starr (W) v Steve Logan

Working overseas on this day, our own Pete Roberts draw with Indio Guajaro, in Frankfurt, Germany, on this day in 1976. On our TV screens, on this day in 1964: - Gwynn Davies v Georges Gordienko (W) Colin Joynson (1) v Bobby Steele (1) Johnny Czeslaw v Ernie Riley (W)

Wrestling overseas today, Judd Harris lost to Otto Wanz in Bremen, Germany, on this day in 1978. On our TV screens, on this day in 1964 (FA Cup Final Day): - Mick McManus/Steve Logan v Vic Faulkner/Bert Royal (The Royals) Gomez Maxmilliano v Johnny Czeslaw Joe Murphy v Al Nicol Al Miquet v Jim Breaks

Wrestling overseas today is the one and only Adrian Street, esq., who beat beat Mark Fleming, at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, on this day, back in 1984. On our TV screens, on this day in 1964: - Jan Kovacs (W) v Jim Olivera Terry Downs v Stephan Milla (draw) Terry Nylands v Keith Williamson Billy Two Rivers (W) v Reg Williams

Working overseas today, 18th Judo Al Hayes beat Les Roberts (as "Dingo the Sundowner")r in Odessa, Texas, on this day in 1972. On our TV screens, on this day, in 1964: Jackie Pallo (W) v Sid Cooper Honeyboy Zimba v (W) Tug Holton Julien Morice (W) v Tony Skarlo Also billed: Ron Oakley v Clayton Thomson (W)

Just seen on another Wrestling message board that John Da Silva passed away on the 8th of this month. A real wrestler (and boxer) who made the jump to the professional game and became a globe trotter. By all accounts, a genuinely nice bloke, who ended up trying to help wayward youngsters. Here is further information on his life, taken from the Kiwi Pro Wrestling web site: Born 11/6/34 in Pukekohe, South Auckland, New Zealand. Youngest son of Domingo Da Silva and Edith Da Silva nee Edith Davey, a First World War bride from Kentish Town, London, England. The family were of a mixed race: Portuguese, African, English and French Tahitian. Grandfather Da Silva arrived in New Zealand as a whaler in 1860. The earliest Da Silva's were born on Great Barrier Island, off the Coromandel Penninsula and became champion axemen, competing throughout New Zealand and Australia in the 1920's. John Da Silva began amateur wrestling in 1953 and won every class from beginners to senior New Zealand champion in his first year. He defeated Abe Jacobs in the NZ Championship in Wellington, 1953 and remained NZ Champion in the Heavyweight division for the following five years. He also won the Auckland Heavyweight Amateur Boxing Title in 1955. Throughout his amateur career which included the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia and the 1958 British Empire Games in Cardiff, Wales, he never had his shoulders pinned or lost by a fall. He turned professional in 1958 after the British Empire games and wrestled in many countries for the following 19 years. Defeated British Empire Champion Ken Richmond, England, twice in 1958: (1) British Empire Games Cardiff, Wales. (2) London Games Tournament. Held both Auckland Heavyweight Title in Boxing and New Zealand Heavyweight Wrestling at the same time in 1955. Lost on points to: Ivan Vykhristiouk, Russia, at 1956 Melbourne Olympics and H. Nouri from Iran. Ranked 5th in the world in 1956. Height: 6ft 3in Weight: 17 stone. In his own words (from November 2007): "...I started amateur wrestling at the Auckland, New Zealand YMCA in 1953. I won the NZ Championship in my first year and retained the Heavyweight Title for five years. The training conditions were primitive at the time but very rewarding under Mr Bert Cook who was of Tongan and Turkish descent. I turned professional in 1958 after the Empire Games in Cardiff, Wales and wrestled firstly for Dale Martin Promotions, London, Kaiser Promotions, Germany, Dara Singh Promotions, India and New Japan Promotions, Tokyo. Over a 10 year period I wrestled in most of New Zealand's cities and towns. Most of my bouts were overseas matches: England, Germany, France, India, Japan, Singapore, Scotland, Ireland, Lebanon, Australia, Canada, USA and Hawaii. I fought many local and overseas wrestlers including Robert Bruce, Steve Rickard, Al Hobman, Dara Singh, George Gordienko, Primo Canera, Pat O'Conner, Harley Race, 'Whipper' Billy Watson, Roy Heffernan, Billy Robinson and Herman Iffland. My toughest opponents were: (1) George Gordienko, Canada. (2) Herman Iffaland, Germany. (3) Billy Robinson, England. My best wrestling memory was wrestling in the main Event at the Royal Albert Hall, London before royalty where I was presented a trophy by the Duke of Edinburgh. My worst memory was attending a funeral of a wrestler killed by gangsters in Germany. Since retiring from professional wrestling in 1977 I have run rehabilitation programmes for youth who have broken the law. I was awarded the QSM for my work of over 30 years in this area. I retired in 2005 and now live in Port Whangapara, Great Barrier Island which population numbers only 45..."

British lad working overseas today is Ian "Mr. Scotland" Campbell, who ended up with a time limit draw with Lou Plummer in Indianapolis, USA, on this day, in 1957. On our TV Screens, on this day back in 1964: - Billy Howes v Norman Walsh (DQ) Jackie Pallo (KO v Johnny Eagles Dennis Mitchell (1) v Johnny Allan (1)

Earning a crust overseas on this day back in 1976, Johnny Eagles beat Johnny Boyd in Seaside, Oregon, USA. On our TV screens, on this day back in 1964: - Johnny Yearsley (W) v Warnia Zarzecki Eddie Capelli (1) v Eric Sands (0)