Wrestled for Pacific Northwest, WCCW and NWA Georgia. As might be expected, Jones is now a trainer for several British-based wrestling promotions and, in recent years, even mentored multiple members of the current NXT UK roster. This is a list of oldest surviving professional wrestlers.As of 2017, there are 42 living veterans from the "Golden Age of Wrestling" (1950s-1970s) over 75 years old.The last surviving wrestler from the "Pioneer Era" (1900s-1940s) was American wrestler Angelo Savoldi (born April 21, 1914, died September 13, 2013, aged 99 years, 145 days).The title of the oldest verified wrestler of all . The Russian Bear was with the WWWF for only two years, but he claimed the most shocking world championship victory of all times when he defeated Bruno Sammartino on January 18, 1971. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s2 of 18. . In 1982, Dynamite Kid had an instant classic with Tiger Mask for the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He was a top heel and was renowned for bending the rules so the crowd would despise him as much as humanly possible. The long-running debate over the best Muscle Cars from the 60s and 70s finally ends in this article. var vclk_options = { sid: 11669, placement_id: 'faf683dc-a8b9-443c-316a-9c22984f3fe6', version: '1.4' }; This web site exists to provide the information on professional wrestling and is neither affiliated nor endorsed by any pro-wrestling organization. On the top of all that, if that means anything, he was the PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year in 1973 and the Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year in 1979. He would have memorable feuds against the Von Erichs alongside Gino Hernandez as the Dynamic Duo in the World Class Championship Wrestling promotion, where he joined in 1983. Clark was to finish the mid-1960s as the second most famous drummer in the . Owns Pro Wrestling America. 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 retired, ran a care home and, now aged 70, still sells Kendo merchandise online. Also wrestled as The Battling Bohemian and Red Menace. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s. Short hair became a go-to in the 60s. In his later years, he continued to be influential within the British circuit, winning titles such as the Frontier Wrestling Alliances British Heavyweight Championship. In a way, the espionage genre did not develop much from the '60s to the '70s. Kieran Hamilton finds joy in all things wrestling. Even that list was full of instrumentals, early . World-famous fitness guru had a brief pro wrestling career in 1938. It would take a whole book to cover his unique career, but to make it short, he was the face of the company for over 15 years. Once Mia Farrow rocked the style, it was a spiral of everyone and their mother wanting to do the same. The Promoters A-Z lists many of those promoters who made it all happen between 1930 and 1988. Goldberg and William Regal When Things Went Wrong in El Paso, Canadians in Wrestling 13 Individuals With a Rich History in the Sport. But the female in the wrestling industry was Betty Wagner, the valet of Gorgeous George who lived to 98 years old in 2011. 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His first reign, in 1975, lasted 105 days, and he teamed up with Victor Rivera who was later replaced by Pat Barrett. Billy the Kid with Cowboy Bob Bradley (aka Robert Bradley). Oldest living female wrestler. 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. H/T Buzzfeed and Vintage Everyday. At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. Raised in Texas. 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 can also brag to have faced all the greats of the era, such as Bruno Sammartino and Billy Graham. After retiring in 1983, he wrote his autobiography, You Grunt, Ill Groan, and did acting work, getting knocked out by Honor Blackman in a fight scene on The Avengers. He was a real animal in the ring, and his brutality was matched by only few other hardcore legends. 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. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s1 of 18. It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. Born Murray Downs in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Little Bruiser was the only son among four sisters. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. flickr/Orange County Archives. His calculated evil ways made him one of the biggest heels in any company he worked. So from Joy Division to Radiohead, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, we've picked the best British rock bands of all time, listed in ascending order. Click here to watch The Baron teaming up with Frand "The Moose" to face Jay Strongbow and Peter Maivia. Along with his accolades, he was one of the first to incorporate a female valet into his act. He dropped out of West Texas State College in 1953 to take up the fight game. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Growing up with the name Shirley Crabtree in a mill town must have been tough. There always was, and still are, boxing shows operating outside the jurisdiction of the BBBC. 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. In pictures: Mick McManus and the stars of the British wrestling FOLLOWING today's news of the passing of Mick McManus, one of the stars of ITV's World of Sport wrestling, we look back on. He worked for Joint Promotions and frequently wrestled on ITVs World of Sport. A number of bands emerged with an amalgamation of diverse musical influences. He was born Roland Barriault in Sudbury, Ontario on July 22, 1946. Or so Joint Promotions would have the enthusiasts believe. 1 on the Billboard 100 in 1977. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. A former tag partner of Big Daddy, they became huge ring rivals. Coventry Live. Collectors of British & American back issues will find some great stuff here like Beat Instrumental magazine, early 70's glam & pop magazine Music Star, The excellent Zigzag magazine, for blues enthusiast there's Blues Unlimited, Creem, Crawdaddy, Let it Rock . Last wrestled for Lucha Libre Acapulco in, Most recently wrestled on August 6, 2022, for. Voice of World Class Championship Wrestling. Brother of. He retired in 1982, worked in public relations, bought a pub and became a porcelain expert. As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. 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. Little Bruiser ready for a bout in Chicago, September 1 1972. Farmer Pete wrestling in Milwaukee, December 3, 1972. Electricity Steve Regal. In 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. Not all boxing came under the control of the BBBC. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. I hope you enjoyed that ride back to the old school universe, and as usual, your comments are more than welcomeespecially if I missed anyone on the list and/or if you disagree with the order. 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. Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. At that age and size, one bump is likely all he had left in him.. Chris Adams first entered professional wrestling in 1978 with no proper formal training. He was built to become a legend, and he was just that. Still wrestles in independent shows as of December 2022. Former. Gori Guerrero - World Champion Something went wrong, please try again later. The original Nature Boy was the total package back in the day, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick. Click here to watch Andre The Giant winning a battle royal in the mid-70s. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! Buy Wrestling Tickets securely and cheaply online -. In 1968 he was crowned 'WWWF Champion' in a tournament but would hold it (and his all-time record reign) for an unprecedented eight years without being defeated. He was a master of in-ring psychology and an ace on the mic who could generate heat like no others. The Gentleman, as he was known, still did get his due in other less mainstream promotions such as the Global Wrestling Federation, where he won the GWF Heavyweight Championship twice in 1994. Click here to watch history being made when Ivan Koloff defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF; and click here if you want to see The Russian Bear in a cage match again vs. Sammartino, in 1975. British musician and wrestler. Sources say that Gama remained active as a wrestler until 1952. Doncaster-born Gary Cooper took on the TV wizards moniker and came up with many bizarre gimmicks, including licking a lucky toad between rounds. The voice of the Tetley tea ads, the father-of-two died of a brain tumour in 1997, aged 63. However, like many of his colleagues, his career and achievements have been sadly overlooked. The contest ended after an hour-and-16 minute time limit draw in front of a crowd that went nuts after the officials declared they had to comply with a curfew. 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. Worked as Purple Haze. 12:36, 4 APR 2013. And I invented nothing here; he was the 1974 PWI Wrestler of the Year, and he received the PWI award for Match of the Year on four occasions in the '70s. The 48st Londoner was the bearded behemoth grannies loved to hate. 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! Paige. The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. 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! Jack Ernest Gutteridges alter-ego had an 11-year grudge with McManus and developed moves such as the cross-shoulder backbreaker. Extreme Record Collecting: Confessions of an analog vinyl snob, A long, rambling blog post about my Nico obsession (+ some astonishing, seldom seen TV performances). Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s3 of 18. Training under Marty Jones, Matthews made his pro wrestling debut at the age of 15 for a local promotor at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages. With his flamboyant gimmick, combined with his powerhouse in-ring style and his bodybuilder's physique, he was the prototype who established the future WWF wrestlers standards. 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. Oldest in the wrestling industry ever verified. He later would become a regular performer on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Thunder. More of Maciejewskis superb photography can be seen (and purchased) here. French-Canadian wrestler. From her blue eyes to her athletic build and immersive backstory, we are Angela Ziegler Or Mercy, was born in Switzerland. Oldest British wrestler in history, Second oldest worldwide. Little Tokyo went on to win the NWA World Midget Champion three times equaling Lord Littlebrooks achievement. Wrestling was the sort of place you could take your grandmother or aunt. The 20 Great Lost Albums of British Rock, 1968-72. These are the men who became heroes of the ring as Midget Wrestlers during the 1960s and 1970s. An example is Kazuo Sakurada, a Japanese wrestler who used the gimmick in the late 80s. Brazil was the Jackie Robinson of wrestling, opening the door to future generations of African-American wrestlers. It is said that Gustav Fritensk wrestled until the age of 72. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. He was 52. His most notable feud, that lasted for over two decades in and out WWWF, was against Bobo Brazil, and in the process, he became a two-time WWWF US Champion. The best wrestlers (Sky Low Low, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook, Little Tokyo) mixed great physical prowess with acrobatic skills to give their fans edge-of-the-seat thrills and entertainment, with just a hint of comedy. Not the ears! so that opponents would avoid his cauliflower ears. He did it so often that he was named the PWI Most Hated Wrestler in 1977. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . 5 Times The Forbidden Door Opened in Wrestling, 10 Surprising Moments WWE Deceived Their Fans, 11 WrestleMania Matches That Surprisingly Didnt Main Event, Bruce Hart Explains How He Revolutionized Pro Wrestling, 10 Wrestlers Who Turned Scraps to Gold in ECW. The current oldest living in the wrestling industry is Bill Mercer from the United States. Although known nowadays as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, previously, Robbie Brookside had a very successful career as a performer. This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Although after thirty years of being a performer, he was able to transition into becoming a talent scout for the WWE. 0 comments. The fact that Jones was responsible for training a young William Regal speaks to this. He has written for websites such as Mersey Sports Live and is now taking his degree in sports journalism from John Moores University into the wrestling business. 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. If he was officially undefeated for over 15 years, he never touched any WWWF gold in the '70s, proving there's no need to win championships to become a legend. Matthews trained as a shooter (a wrestling term that describes a wrestler with a legitimate fighting background), and he often defended prize money against members of the public. Also later on in his career he wrestled as Enforcer Luciano in NWA Hollywood. He immediately became the No. Billy started his career in the 1950s, where he established himself as a wrestling bad guy. He once was a fierce wrestler, with a heel character back in the '60s. Tweet. Like their predecessors, the best '70s spy movies are a mix of American grit, British suave, and Cold War realpolitik. In fact, he was so known to the British public that the Queen and former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher were said to be fans! Click here to watch Dominic DeNucci in tag team insane action with Victor Rivera against The Blackjacks. After one of his shows on December 2nd, 1997, he died from a stroke. With wrestlers not wrestling exclusively for one promotion, Andre became the most popular wrestler of the decade. Thornley was the original performer who used the Kendo Nagasaki character, but other variations have been used over the years. People in the '60s dressed up for most occasions. You can also click here to watch another poor quality video (Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the WWWF Title). 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. 30 Wrestlers You May Not Know Were Related! 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) The former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion last wrestled. These promoters were commonly known as the independent or opposition promoters. It would be squaring off against the likes of Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask), Keiichi Yamada (Jushin Liger), and Dynamite Kid (more on him a little later), among others, which would earn the British grappler his initial acclaim and start him on the path towards leaving an indelible mark on the profession. Click here to watch Zbyszko turning on his mentor at the end of 1979; then, treat yourself by clicking here to watch their classic cage match in August 1980. Little Beaver was born Lionel Giroux in Saint-Jrme, Quebec in 1935. he began his wrestling career at the age of fifteen and teamed up with fellow Canadian Sky Low Low, the pair going on to become two of the most famous wrestlers in history. Wrestlers fell in two categoriesthe goodies and the baddies, who would either seek the cheers or loud disapprobation of the audience by skill or pantomime cheating. 1 Billy Robinson 2 Dynamite Kid 3 Davey Boy Smith 4 Danno O'Mahoney 5 Mick McManus 6 Steve Casey 7 Jackie Pallo 8 Bert Assirati 9 Billy Joyce 10 Big Daddy 11 Kendo Nagasaki 12 George Kidd 13 Lord Alfred Hayes 14 Adrian Street 15 Douglas Clark 16 William Regal Thanks to photographer David Maciejewski we can see pictures of the 'little' wrestlers before the hype and hoopla of WWF took hold. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. 1960 Summer - Wrestling Revue Men (Heavyweight): Pat O'Connor ( NWA World Champion) Killer Kowalski Antonino Rocca Lou Thesz Edouard Carpentier Don Eagle Buddy Rogers Dick Hutton Don Leo Jonathan Gene Kiniski Women: June Byers ( World Champion) Judy Grable Lorraine Johnson Tona Tomah Rose Roman Kathy Starr Barbara Baker Lee Chona LaClaire The similarities were apparent. Bobo Johnson also wrestled under the name the Brown Panther. Best known for his tag performances with Louie Louie and later Rocky Johnson, Bobo was one of the earliest Black midget wrestlers alongside Haiti Kid. We've officially reached peak love song." "You Light Up My Life" spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. Those I ranked are only the tip of the iceberg because other legends and pioneers existed before them. Directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Antonio Posa - World Champion 10. El Santo - National Champion, Welterweight (Mexico): He had the strength, the technical abilities, the charisma and that mythic "it" factor to draw the audiences. We're a brand new wrestling site dedicated to the most superb of sports - Wrestling! From 1970 to 1973, Pedro Morales left a permanent mark on WWE. Drama. He battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the WWWF. We have taken a lot of time and careful attention to detail in bringing you our free to use and access Wrestler's Database. 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 post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. He would later appear on an April 2007 episode of Raw, losing a no disqualification, 3-on-1 handicap match to Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, and Umaga. Sky Low Low (outside ring) in a tag team with Little Beaver (nearside) versus Mighty Atom, May 5, 1967. The duo, called The Executioners, holds the distinction to have not actually lost the belts since they were stripped after a third Executioner interfered in a match. Apr 21, 2020. Also, the rarer the item the higher the gear score will be within the gears tier range. Both men clashed on many occasions with no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Square Garden. Well known in Los Angeles, Texas and WWWF from 1972 to 1974. Click here to watch a classic match from the mid-70s between Spiros Arion and Bruno Sammartino. He had grueling rivalries against Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund over the WWWF Championship. She took part in a Falls Count Anywhere 2-on-1 Handicap Match against. 1. Rogers mostly worked for Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the promotion that was the ancestor of the new WWWF created in 1963; he then became the first world champion on April 29 the same year. When it debuted, everyone in the world was like, "That's it! 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. [Photo: mirror.co.uk]Nagasaki had superhuman powers, such as the power of healing and the ability to hypnotize. Wrestled in the UK, Asia, Middle East and India. 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. He died in 2013 at 93. From January 1965 to September 85, British wrestling was the hottest it may have ever been. 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 even found time to release the single True Love in 1975 and still has stables in Bingley.
