Rex. [Photo: @WrestlingIsKing on Twitter]In his first three years in wrestling, he claimed the Light Heavyweight Championship and the British Commonwealth Tag Team Titles with Marty Jones. Tweet. Former NWA World Tag Team Champion. 10. The 1974 PWI Rookie of the year was trained and introduced to the WWWF by Bruno Sammartino. In 1986, he won the The Best Gimmick of the Year award from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter a prize that has been held by the likes of The Undertaker and Goldust. Credits for information on this site are given Wrestled his last match in Nashville, Tennessee, teaming with his son-in-law. Legendary British wrestling anti-hero Mick McManus. He was a top draw in Australia and in Europe when he headed to America to join the company. Discover 100 Huge Hits of the 60s & 70s by Various Artists released in 2007. Both men clashed on many occasions with no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Square Garden. We use ads to keep our content free for you. Then, in June 1971, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! Cinemas were closing in large numbers and there was good reason to believe that the small screen would destroy the cinema entirely. For some, it was obvious because there's a lot offootage available, but for some others, very little stuff could be found. From Barbados former Mr. Universe, a bodybuilder wrestler in the 60s and 70s and teamed with Rocky Johnson. However, at the end of the decade, he could not get rid of his "Sammartino's Protg" label, and he turned heel, to eventually leave in 1981. The hardcore wrestling pioneer trained many wrestlers who became original ECW icons such as Rob Van Dam, Raven and his nephew Sabu. Wrestled in AWA. Wrestled for NWA Vancouver and AWA from 1960 to 1972, Japanese female wrestler. Policy. Monsoon lost the match, but he once again proved he could hold his own against the largest wrestlers in the business at the time, being himself a 6'5", 400-pounder. 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) He was in movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, and played Bomber in TV series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. 1961-09-29 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) Apr 21, 2020. He was often a top contender to the WWWF Championship, and he battled Bruno Sammartino on several occasions in high-profile matches. Although after thirty years of being a performer, he was able to transition into becoming a talent scout for the WWE. His glam rock looks and in-ring ability instantly attracted attention from the fans and cemented his place as a top heel. All rights reserved. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. Different versions of this character would form in the years to follow, showing the personas longevity, but none lived up to the original. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. vintage everyday: British Wrestling Posters, Andre The Giant Vs. Iron Sheik #wwe #wwf #wrestling #prowrestling, Food Fight - All the ladies | Mister Edwards, wrestling poster, morecambe by maraid, via Flickr. 6 Antonio Inoki Billy started his career in the 1950s, where he established himself as a wrestling bad guy. There was simply too much going on throughout the world to accurately reflect the best music of the 70s. It was at its peak of popularity when the television show World of Sport was launched in the mid-1960s, making household names out of Adrian Street . New Zealand wrestler. This is the most complete dead wrestlers list on the Internet. Wrestled in Germany, France, Japan and AWA. When he joined the WWWF in 1977, he quickly made his way into the world championship picture as a top heel. Share. On November 29th, 1998, he would sadly die of lymphoma at his home near Manchester, England. Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. Billy the Kid born John William Guillot in Waco, Texas in 1936. People in the '60s dressed up for most occasions. He started wrestling at the age of fifteen and went on to become one the worlds top midget wrestler over a 30 year period, during which time he won the NWA World Midget Championship twice. "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith 39 May . Wrestled his last match for FMLL teaming with. Sadly, many of the biographies and details of these wrestling heroes (and villains) have either been lost or passively excised due to political correctnesswhich is a shame, for these men (and and a few women) were athletes and acrobats who excelled at the sport. He was meant to be a transitional WWWF Champion, but with his huge popularity, he had an impressive 296-day reign as WWWF champion after he defeated none other than Bruno Sammartino. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. Raised in Texas. Wrestled in the WWWF from 1964 to 1969. Jamaica Kid in a publicity shot. Formed in 1952 Joint Promotions was a syndicate of a handful of promoters based around the country. Top 10 hit-makers After asking for your nominations, we asked you to vote in our poll to determine just who was the best producer of the 1960s. Also later on in his career he wrestled as Enforcer Luciano in NWA Hollywood. Wrestled for WWF from 1999 to 2000, 2004 and 2010. Known as Sammy Berg. Gorgeous George gained epic mainstream popularity, followed in the Second Golden Age in the 1980's and 1990's by the likes of Ric Flair, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Sting, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle, and Triple H. Ric Flair Saturday Night was all about the WWF Main Event! Looking for the very latest wrestling news, gossip and facts? He was a master of in-ring psychology and an ace on the mic who could generate heat like no others. He became one of the most infamous heels ever in the late '70s when he injured many babyface wrestlers with his signature swinging full nelson he didn't release after the bell. The 20 Great Lost Albums of British Rock, 1968-72. After one of his shows on December 2nd, 1997, he died from a stroke. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Former printer William Matthews nickname, Rugged South London Tough Guy, was hardly catchy yet he was one of the sports biggest draws. A major star of Midget Wrestling Littlebrook was born in England in 1929. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. The past few years have seen a rapid rise in interest in underground British rock music of the late 60s . He was even put in rare face-against-face matches when he challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Title on a few occasions in the mid-60s. Wigan-born Davey Boy Smith started out on World of Sport at 15, known as Young David. Before long, he would be touring as far away as France, Japan, and eventually North America. His potential and ability have been often overlooked despite his influence on wrestling. Here, Matthews would go by Steve Regal a name he had used going back to 87, and a name he had seen in an American wrestling magazine in use by another wrestler named Mr. British grappler Darren William Regal Matthews is one of the most well-regarded wrestlers in the business, though he never was able to land on his feet at the top of the professional wrestling mountain, where many believe he could and should have been. 9. In June, he defeated Ted DiBiase to win the WWF North American Championship, and in September, he merged that title with the South American version to become the first ever Intercontinental Champion. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Click here to watch Killer Kowalski battling Pedro Morales. He, however, was a considerable draw himself. Old School Wrestling: 10 Things Sorely Missed! It featured geometric edges that became a hit all over the world while super out-there for the time. After his face run, he ended his stint with WWWF as a heel, but it was not before earning the 1975 PWI Match of the Year award against Bruno Sammartino and to win a long feud against Jay Strongbow. He became good friends with fellow wrestler Andre the Giant and has a career as a movie actor. This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. This is a list of oldest surviving professional wrestlers. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Profile aside, however, there were many reliable independent promoters and, although statistics do not exist, it seems quite credible that on any one night the independent shows presented would outnumber the Joint Promotion shows, albeit many being in small halls and clubs. 10. Copyright is owned by the creators of text and photographs. Most recently wrestled on October 22, 2022, at Niigata Pro Wrestling event in Niigata, Japan, where he teamed with, Last wrestled at the 2022 C-K Autumnfest in Kenova, West Virginia, where he teamed with, DeNucci wrestled his last match at a PWS card in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, teaming up with, Last wrestled at the 2019 Expo Lucha convention in San Diego, California, teaming up with. You play to your strengths in this game and my strength is as a bald, rough-looking Yorkshireman, he said. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. While gender equality was an elusive dream in many fields, women were well represented in popular music, and the best female singers are legends. Best known as a top showjumper who occasionally flicked a V-sign, Yorkshires finest, 78, also grappled in the 1970s. As with everything in the Wrestling Heritage pages this is an evolving project taken forward by our Heritage community. Now, with no more introduction, let's travel back in time when pro wrestling was absent from the mainstream media and when it caused actual riots on many occasions. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. Dynamite famously also teamed up with Davey Boy Smith as The British Bulldogs. Widely respected for his integrity and personal principles, Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 60's and 70's. Born and raised in a small Italian town, Bruno Sammartino's childhood was quite tough. Like everything on Wrestling Heritage this is a developing project and we welcome additions and corrections. Peter Thornleys version of the character remained a household name throughout Britain, but most Americans and Japanese fans associated the character mostly with Kazuo Sakuradas version. With Cold War fears lessening slightly compared to the previous decade, spy movies still often focused on Russian defectors, nuclear annihilation, and East German intrigue. He later quit because of back pain and died in a auto accident in 1995. He portrayed a Japanese samurai with a relatively unknown past: Kendo Nagasaki. Clark was to finish the mid-1960s as the second most famous drummer in the . Fashion Square in Santa Ana in the 1960s long before it became what is now Mainplace Mall. Not entirely content with only being placed in tag bouts to make his partner Big Daddy look good, Matthews moved over to All Star Wrestling. 1 on the Billboard 100 in 1977. In fact, he was so known to the British public that the Queen and former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher were said to be fans! After testing his trade in carnivals and holiday camps, Darren soon gained exposure working for ITVs World of Sport, like many others on this list. Chris Adams first entered professional wrestling in 1978 with no proper formal training. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. Father of Bret "The Hitman" Hart, and the late wrestler Owen Hart. In London and the urban conurbations of northern England it was not unknown for independent wrestlers to work two, even three programmes in one night. We have taken a lot of time and careful attention to detail in bringing you our free to use and access Wrestler's Database. 15 episodes 1975-1984 Dickie Davies Self - Presenter 7 episodes 1974-1985 Neil Durden-Smith Self - Commentator 3 episodes 1974-1985 Johnny England Johnny England Brian Crabtree Self - Wrestling Ring Announcer 3 episodes 1981-1985 Tommy Billington Self - Wrestler 3 episodes 1981-1983 Gilbert Singh Self - Wrestler 3 episodes 1981 Little Tokyo went on to win the NWA World Midget Champion three times equaling Lord Littlebrooks achievement. He had a 57-year wrestling career, winning championships across multiple countries in different promotions such as Championship Wrestling from Florida and Southwest Championship Wrestling. When it debuted, everyone in the world was like, "That's it! Zbyszko slowly climbed the ladder in singles competition until he won the WWWF Tag Team Championship along with Tony Garea, for a 105-day reign. In the '70s, this was hands-down the most romantic song on the radio. The Promoters A-Z lists many of those promoters who made it all happen between 1930 and 1988. With an HPI of . You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Over the years, the United Kingdom has produced some of the very best in professional wrestling. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. Click here to watch Johnny Valiant teaming up with his brother Jimmy in 1974 and click here to watch him and his other brother Jerry in the late '70s. Prestons unchoreographed no-sells to McManus strikes led to McManus reacting and throwing legitimate strikes to get the referee to disqualify him during the match, thus giving Preston the unscheduled technical victory. As long as you work hard and strive to improve yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. When they formed their alliance they left out in the cold many other promoters who were not invited to the party. Throughout his whole career, Killer Kowalski was a top heel everywhere he wrestled, and he cemented his status when he ripped off an opponent's ear in the ring. In 1978 DeNucci enjoyed his second reign with Dino Bravo as his partner, and they held the belt for 104 days. It's amazing to see how things in our corner of the Golden State have changed and transformed over time. And, when we take a look at everything he did in 1980 and after he left, he is clearly one of the most misused talents in WWE's history. Something went wrong, please try again later. Instead, he relied on his judo background. The fact that Jones was responsible for training a young William Regal speaks to this. Thankfully, during a golden age of wrestling, photographer David Maciejewski documented the legends of the ring from 1966 to 1974from which some these pictures have been culled. If his nine-day reign was short, Stasiak can at least say he was one of the only six WWWF champions of the '70s and to have been a top heel of his time. In fact, he was more than a pro wrestling top draw; he was, with his size, an attraction wherever he went. David Smith (27 November 1962 - 18 May 2002) was an English professional wrestler. It was a detective/cop show starring Jack Lord. 1 contender to Bruno Sammartino's WWWF Championship, but he always fell short, and he greatly contributed to put the champ over in the process. Whenever not on tour overseas, Rocco would continue to compete for All Star Wrestling back home in Britain for the remainder of his career, which would last into the early 90s. If it was not really his fault, it was still the birth of a legend. There's no Buddy Rogers WWWF footage available but click here to watch a little gem from the '50s between him and Johnny Valentine. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. Graham also managed to put the hand on the short-lived WWF International Tag Team Championship. He immediately became the No. Get the latest wrestling news and takes direct to your inbox. The Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. Another World of Sport favorite, Martin Austin Ruane, as Giant Haystacks, became a massive star in 1975 after teaming up with previously mentioned Big Daddy as one of the most dominant tag teams in British Wrestling history. 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Beforebeing released from his WWE contracton January 5th, 2022, which ended his 22-year tenure with the company, Regal had an even bigger role behind the scenes as theWWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting, playing a significant role in building the future stars of WWE. This rivalry would continue throughout 1982 and extend to the WWWF, where Mark briefly competed against the likes of Bob Backlund and even Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea, captivating audiences with a faster, higher-flying style than many had ever witnessed before. His reputation is tarnished for many due to several violent interactions with fellow wrestlers andmean-spirited ribbing, though he leaves behind an incredible legacy in the ring. With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. Worthington 'E' Ind Coope Double Diamond Draught (launched 1962) Whitbread Tankard (launhed 1957) Watneys Red Barrel It is said that his disillusion with his career direction led to a return to the Texas independent scene in late 99. In a way, the espionage genre did not develop much from the '60s to the '70s. Voice of World Class Championship Wrestling. Martin Austin Ruane (October 10, 1946 - November 29, 1998) was an English professional wrestler of Irish descent. Knowing every heel tactic in the tag team action environment, he became the manager known as "Luscious" Johnny V who introduced Demolition to the WWF and who worked with The Dream Team (Greg Valentine / Brutus Beefcake) among others. They would work together as a team in many matches during the final years of the channel ITVs coverage of British wrestling. H/T Buzzfeed and Vintage Everyday. Brookside was introduced as a man that Shane McMahon had personally seen take down six men by himself in a fight at a local pub! Former British Middleweight Champion and British Welterweight Champion. Wrestled his last match on his 80th birthday against Bobo Brazil Jr. at a CCW card in Marion, Ohio. 1. Sadly, his fame and glory in the British circuit were cut short. List of oldest surviving professional wrestlers, Oldest wrestlers to ever perform 70 and over, British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship, List of premature professional wrestling deaths, "Seattle promoter Harry Elliott dead at 101", "Gary Will: Deceased Pro Wrestlers A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past", "Betty Wagner, first wife of WWE Hall of Famer Gorgeous George, dead at 98", "Deepest condolences to @nicklaroberts and family on the passing of her mom Lorraine Johnson at age 90. 13. One of the most beautiful and athletic women wrestlers during the '50s and '60s she and Penny Banner were women's world tag-team champions with looks and talent to spare. I also considered the longevity with the WWWF, a point not very important after the early '80s and the death of the territories concept. He won the WWWF US Championship in 1971, but he had to drop it one month later, when he became the WWWF World Heavyweight Champion on February 8, 1971. [Photo: huckmag.com]Street played by his own rules, and, according to his peers, was known to be able to hurt you in the ring if needed! But the mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world away from todays slick, toned stars. Both were combat sports, millions of fans believed both were competitive, contests were split into rounds, combatants were introduced by a Master of Ceremony wearing a dinner jacket, and referees were smartly dressed, usually in white shirts. The best British wrestlers: From Big Daddy to Mick McManus, what became of our wrestling stars The mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world. The '60s: With Josh Hamilton, Julia Stiles, Jerry O'Connell, Jeremy Sisto. Owns Pro Wrestling America. Like their predecessors, the best '70s spy movies are a mix of American grit, British suave, and Cold War realpolitik. From Wrestleview.com Jay Briscoe has passed away. He battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the WWWF. Electricity Steve Regal. When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. He was so popular that the fans wanted him to wrestle against opponents who were not exclusively African American in the racial segregation era in USA. Tag team: Little Bruiser and Billy the Kid, September 23 1972. So I decided to explore an unknown zone for me and to tackle an era I didn't witness, the '60s and the '70s. We have taken a lot of time and careful attention to detail in bringing you our free to use and access Wrestler's Database. Retired wrestler Saraya-Jade Bevis, better known as Paige, has won the Divas Championship twice and was also its the youngest winner. Please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing. This is a list of the most important ones. During his time there, he would become a four-time TV Champion. In the end, there can be only one! However, like many on this list, his potential was not pursued to its extent as he tragically died in 2001 at the age of 46 due to being shot to death after a dispute with his former roommate. Out of traveling carnivals, circus acts and sheer ambition, these wrestlers started a sport that was followed by hundreds of thousands across America, Canada and England. Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom spans over one hundred years but became popular when the then new independent television network ITV began showing it in 1955, firstly on Saturday afternoons and then also in a late-night midweek slot. *Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin postal code, destination postal code and time of acceptance, and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. LEGENDS 1980s; Alan Dennison Alan Garfield Alfred Hayes Bert Assirati Big Daddy Billy Robinson Bruno Erlington Count Bartelli Geoff Portz Giant Haystacks Ian Campbell Jackie Pallo Jim Collins Jim Hussey Jimmy Breaks Kendo Nagasaki King Kong Kirk Les Kellett Les Thornton Lord Littlebrook Brother of. By Lee Dorrian. Marty Jones perhaps might be the least known of the names mentioned on this list but is one of the best all-around grapplers of the bunch. The voice of the Tetley tea ads, the father-of-two died of a brain tumour in 1997, aged 63. He built his reputation with a hardcore side that disappeared in the early '80s due to health issues. Known as the "Living Legend" of sports entertainment, Bruno Sammartino wrestled for 18 years and captured America's imagination. This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 00:57. From an early age, Lamonte had a great interest in wrestling deciding at eight to become a wrestler, telling his mother Im gonna be a dirty one. Trained by Lord Littlebrook, Lamonte made his debut in 1963. He was referred to as the man you love to hate!. Goldberg and William Regal When Things Went Wrong in El Paso, Canadians in Wrestling 13 Individuals With a Rich History in the Sport. Oldest Canadian Wrestler. In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. Although his father was against his son becoming a professional wrestler he would go as far as having Mark banned from his gym in Manchester, England Rocco would "learn the ropes" from many veterans from the age of 16 while his father was out on tour. He worked for Joint Promotions and frequently wrestled on ITVs World of Sport. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. He was a muscular 6 feet, 6 inches. He was also a great brawler so he had everything to deliver many classic encounters, which he did with panache, especially in 1972 when he was named the PWI Wrestler of the Year. If there were some great female wrestlers back in the '60s and in the '70s, none of them could overshadow her, and that's why she's the only woman featured on the current list. Honorable mention: Verne Gagne, Bill Miller, Karl Gotch, Dick the Bruiser, Reggie Lisowski, Wilbur Snyder, Buddy Austin, Bobo Brazil, Sailor Art Thomas, Lorenzo Parente, Light Heavyweight (Mexico): Welcome to professional wrestling in the 1970s, where anything goes and grapplers weren't participating in sports entertainment. Antonio Inoki With his rising popularity, he eventually won the WWWF Tag Team Championship on two occasions. Despite he never broke out of the tag team division, he was very over with the fans, and he was one of the best technical wrestlers of his time. He was built to become a legend, and he was just that. No matter where he wrestled, Koloff generated heat like no other with his Russian gimmick, all that right in the middle of the Cold War. Short hair became a go-to in the 60s. He died of cancer in 1990, aged 53. Contentofthissitemustnotbereproducedwithoutthepermissionofthesiteowners;theriotsquad@hotmail.com. In the '50s, '60s, and '70s, female solo singers were ever-present on radio, TV and the pop charts -- as they should have been! News. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget. He was ahead of his time, innovating a level of athleticism unlike most before him. The Liverpool-born wrestler initially performed in a tag team called The Golden Boys alongside William Regal (then known as Steven Regal). He was 69. El Santo - National Champion, Welterweight (Mexico): The former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion last wrestled. Wrestled his last match at a show that was independently produced by. Wrestled his last match at a show in Guadalajara, Mexico teaming with his grandson, Arturo Gaona and Bucanero I defeating Babe Sharon, Comando I and Luis Chavir. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Coventry Live. Many prestigious titles and awards are under his belt, and he won Wrestling Observers Match of the Year in 1982 with Tiger Mask on August 5th in Tokyo, Japan.