I also find the use of the word interim to make the whole situation more interesting. Such interim champions are found in today's UFC (MMA) promotion. It's usually a way to promote another champion while the first one is out injured or suspended by the athletic commission. What's new is old.

Les Herbert / Les Herberts:

Here he is. I'll put another photo in the names to faces topic (provided that doesn't ruffle any more feathers).

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Dave had so many great memories of his time in the UK, the wrestling scene there, and the many wrestlers he befriended.

The reason there was no tournament held in 1957 or 1967 is that the RAH Wrestling season began after summer each year and concluded as summer began the following year. The 1956 tournament and second 1966 tournament took place during the 1957 & 1967 wrestling "seasons" respectively.

Hi Chris, I think that was a listing I posted elsewhere. I managed to add a few more details. Here you go: ROYAL ALBERT HALL TROPHY YEAR             WINNER                                            DEFEATED 1956               DENNIS MITCHELL [GBR]            Jose Olivera              29th Feb 1957               no tournament held 1958               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                Bill Verna                   21st May 1959               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                John Da Silva           27th May 1960               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]    Ray Hunter or Ray Apollon 18th May 1961               BILLY ROBINSON [GBR]               Joe Cornelius           24th May 1962               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                Bruno Elrington        10/20 Jun 1963               JOHN DA SILVA [NZL]                   Josef Zaranoff          17th April 1964               GORDON NELSON [CAN]             Steve Veidor             17th June 1965               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Bruno Elrington        9th June 1966               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Ian Campbell            13th April 1966 (Dec)    TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                Bruno Elrington        14th Dec 1967               no tournament held 1968               WOLFGANG STARCK [GER]       Jim Hussey               17th April 1969               BRUNO ELRINGTON [GBR]         Tibor Szakacs           2nd April 1970               GEORGE GORDIENKO [CAN]     Bruno Elrington        22nd April 1971               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Mal Kirk                      28th April HRH PRINCE PHILLIP TROPHY aka INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT TROPHY 1963               TIBOR SZAKACS [HUN]                John Da Silva           22nd May VIEWSPORT TROPHY 1972               STEVE VEIDOR [GBR]                  Tibor Szakacs           26th April WORLD OF SPORT TAG TEAM TROPHY 1972               IGNATIUS BORG & TONY BORG           Zoltan Boscik & Peter Szakacs                                                                                                     26th April Other KO tournaments: 1954 also an 8-man tournament on April 28th with BERT ROYAL defeating STEVE LOGAN in the final (middleweights?) 1969 also a 4-man tournament on Dec 10th, with SEAN REGAN defeating BRUNO ELRINGTON in the final 1978 also a 6-man tournament on January 18th, with LEE BRONSON defeating JOHN WILSON in the final 1981 also a 4-man tournament on April 22nd, with MARK ROCCO defeating MARTY JONES in the final (1 fall)

Memories are a source. Something found "on the internet" is not necessarily a source. Nostalgia is not history but both are valuable. Hope this cheers you up Anglo.

thank you

I would say Dr Death would have to be one of the smallest billed heavyweights of the era. But if the fans bought him as such then that is a credit to his ability. Were the other Dr Deaths the same size as Lincoln?

It's always good to offer a source so we can try to verify information from a second (or third) point. I can't find any verified bookings after 1971 in Ray's files or the BNA. Ray has one billing for 1973 but no result.

Good question Hack I have wondered the same.

We have Thesz results for 11, 13, 14 so one of the other days that week.

Thanks MM I didn't have this one. Yes 21st at Middlesbrough. I believe 19th was Nottingham.

It appears he is tightening his stomach and extending his lats in the group photo.

The People newspaper did an expose in 1965.

"Australian wrestler Big John Mitchell" - any chance you meant John Marshall?

He looks similar in both photos.

Just to note, Mel Riss' belt is slightly different than the others.

such as?