The Beginner's Guide To British Wrestling

[David Mantell]

23 minutes ago, David Mantell said:

six-man tag

Triple tag matches, they were called over here.

[David Mantell]

 

Bit of a quickie. Probably the first case of All Star putting on ex W(W)WF talent. Irish Pat Barratt was a star on ITV in the Sixties before going to America in the Seventies for some years, a sojourn that involved replacing Victor Rivera mid reign in 1975 as Dominic DeNucci's WWWF World Tag Team Championship partner. Here he makes a splash on ASW's Sattelite Wrestling show, putting out John Kowalski (by now minus the blond hair) in a few minutes with a sleeper.

[David Mantell]

Grand Prix Belt seminfinal.  TThwn current TBW Vs twenty something ex TBW.  Logan is by now a sharp operator, his rolls out of Ian's armbarcarecsharpmand swift, so is his pushing up from arm presses on the mat. Ian keeps the arm while Steve tries all sorts of tricks to escape or reverse it, none of which quite come off for hiim until Logan gets headscissors and Ian has tofree his hand  release to snap open the scissorhold.  Logan gets a full nelson into snapmares into further nelson press for two one counts- his transitions are really sharp and snappy. McGregor gets the arm back in a top wristlock, trying for a grapevine.  Logan rolls then gets a fireman's carry but Ian starts putting on an armlock up there so Logan dumps him on a top turnbuckle. Logan gets a rear waistlock into kneeling front chancery into side chancery into cross press for some 1 counts. McGregor gets loans arms then strikes with a lean back dropkick. Ian gets a snapmare into headlock. Logan breaks it up then curls the arm back again into a hammerlock into double wristlock, riding his man to the mat.  He switches to shoulder press for 2.  McGregor gets a side chancery and chop to the neck, then a monkey climb., but somewhere in this Logan gets a wrist lever which he keeps until the bell.

Round 2 Logan gets a standing full nelson into armlock.  He throws Ian to the mat but Ian stands so Logan come off the middle rope to throw Logan. Ian tries positioning but Logan throws him again. Logan has McGregor in the armbar, the knee holding it in place.  Ian gets a great cross buttock press but McGregor still has the hold.  Logan again gets the headscissors and twists with it. Logan turns into the upright and uses a foot to power his roll forward out of the scissors and straight into a side headlock, but Logan scissors him again. He lets go as McGregor exerts more pressure with thecside headlock - "He MUST keep his head away" notes Kent.   Ian still has the headlock until Logan jams him in the stomach. Logan posts him to the corner, catches him on the rebound with a rear chancery throw and bodycheck. He backs out of a full nelson and comes off the ropes with a sunset flip into double leg nelson folding press for the first fall.

Round 3., Ian gets a legdive and leglock. Logan tries grabs to the head, widening Ian's legs, going for the wrist and the head again, but the leglock stays. He turns himself into the Gotch toehold position but Ian manages to get it on securely and go for the arms for a surfboard  but  gives up the leglock to focus on the double arms. Putting a knee in the shoulder blades.  He switches to a single arm and gets a posting. (a mistake, reckons Kent Walton.)  Logan forearms him and knees him in the  stomach. McGregor gets a headlock, Logan lifts him up but Ian while up there gets a headscissor and takes his man down.  Logan turns into the upright then the other side position.  McGregor still has the headscissor. Logan tries a bridge plus snapout. Then he tries a headscissor of his own which finally does the trick. They agree to stalemate. Logan gets a chest headbutt and forearm smash, side chancery into side headlock and bodycheck. He gets a rear chancery throw into double knees press for three one counts.  He gets a legdive, flying elbowsmash and ground double top wristlock. McGregor straightens it into an armbar and rolls to tighten the hold. He forces a high whip and gets a bodyscissors.  . Logan tries for three pin attempts, on the third using a foot to pull the bodyscissors down and off! He grapevines each leg. McGregor tries some prelim escapes but the bell goes.

Round 4.  McGregor takes a side headlock, Logan throws him off. He rebounds with a not very powerful bodycheck. Logan feigns a full nelson and dishes out a heel of hand to stomach. a headbutt and a knee then one more butt to the stomach which floors McGregor for 9. Logan delivers a rear snapmare an elbowdrop and a crosspress for two. They collide in the ring. Ian is up before, he whips Logan into the ropes. As before Logan comes back with a sunset flip but McGregor crawls through and flips it over into a bridging folding press  for the equaliser - and a beauty it is!

Round 5. McGregor gets a heädlock, Logan grabs an inverted side waistlock for an over the knee backbreaker.  Ian gets double legs and a folding press but Logan crawls out.  Logan gets a wristlever, whips McGregor into the ropes and catches him with a dropkick, reverses a posting and catches him again on the rebound with a forearm smash. He gets a side chancery and bodycheck but McGregor gets a cross buttock and press for 2. Logan gets a loose throw for 5, McGregor tries the same double legs into folding press but again Logan crawls out. Logan gets side headlock into side chancery I to low power hiptoss into armlock - a transition sequence of four moves in under a second!  - and twists the Arn into a semi Japanese Stranglehold (the Million Dollar Dream). McGregor forces upright and so Logan loosens the cold, gets in two mighty shoulderblocks and turns his man into a back hammerlock on the mat. He resists long enough so Logan releases and Ian is up at 8.  Logan elbowsmashes Ian's arm and further weakens it with a high forward Whip that not only makes Ian take a bump but also stretches the arm further.  Logan goes sfor the arm again with a lean back dropkick straight on the bicep itself!   He gets a stomach jab and McGregor gets double knees to Logan's head.  Logan gets side heädlock into an armbar, driving his free arm into the joint. He lands an elbow on the back tricep where his free arm was sawing away. He yanks the arm and fires a forearm smash at Ian.  The bell goes.

Round 6 and final.  Quick handshake. McGregor gets the wristlock, slingshot into ropes -  and catches his man with a neat dropkick.  McGregor gets a front chancery, Logan reaches for the knee counter but cannot get the grip.  He gets the knee  finally, lifts and drops to break the hold.  Finger Interlock and McGregor gets an arm and a posting but Logan springs up in the corner, back leapfrogs Ian but is taken down behind in a folding press for a pin attempt but Logan crawls out. He throws McGregor into the ropes and young Ian comes back with a flying tackle but .Logan gets the better of it, secures a bodyslam and cross press for the three.

That gives him the 2-1 win and a place in the final against Marvellous Mike Bennett. Bennett would win the tournament and belt, the final payoff of his 1985-1986 heel push. A belt, not the belt he was after a year and a half earlier when he started his pursuit of Danny Collins and the British Welterweight Championship.

Good technical bout, only flaw is a certain amount of pausing and hesitation while thinking what to do next by both men. The falls were all great with McGregor's bridging folding press consolation equaliser the absolute gem of the match.

[David Mantell]

On 8/24/2023 at 10:49 AM, David Mantell said:

Indeed there is footage of the Hells Angels and the Dennisons against each other.  Not sure if I already posted it but what the heck, I'll post it again

As promised to @ohtani's jacket, here it is.  ^^^

[David Mantell]

On 10/9/2013 at 3:32 AM, ohtani's jacket said:

Brian Maxine vs. Clayton Thomson (5/11/77)

 

I wish Walton had never pointed out Maxine's nose to me. It's kind of gross seeing a guy who has no cartilage. This was another odd Thomson comeback match. Walton was trying to put a hard sell on us that Thomson was as good as George Kidd, the oft talked about, never seen, light heavyweight champion of the world. Thomson was undoubtedly better in his young days (he's better in the earlier WoS footage we have of him), but not so flash in this comeback.

What made the match odd was that Maxine attacked Thomson from behind before the start of round two and as they were scrapping Max Ward caught a back elbow in the face. Ward called for a DQ, got out his little book from his back pocket and gave Maxine a booking football style. The whole thing lasted about a round and a half, maybe a quarter, though Maxine got tremendous heat for it as usual. I love the spot he does where he backs the ring announcer into the corner and then climbs the turnbuckle to prevent him from announcing the result. Some guy leapt out of the crowd and tried to pull him off Mike Judd, the ring announcer. Then Maxine got on the mic and cut a promo while everyone booed him. So you see WoS isn't always like hushed tones at the cricket.

One thing that was taken very seriously in classic British Wrestling was ref bumps. They were rare enough to start with and when it was an honest accident the match would be halted while a substitute referee was brought down eg the first Haystacks & Kirk Vs Jones and Logan bout in 1987.

Attacking a referee on purpose was shocking stuff unlike America where heels did it with impunity or France where Les Bons cheerfully slapped around the miserable and suspect referees.  This was partly down to the IBA ruling that the referee had to be seen to be in charge at all times. Sometimes as with Jeff Kaye against Mike Bennett a referee who was an ex wrestler would put the tights back on to sort out the miscreant heel. Other times as here the ref would just throw the book at the heel.

With cricket and with clean British wrestling the hushed tones get broken when a good piece of play is pulled.  So it is with anything that's just not cricket, people go into shock at the sheer foulness then they form lynch mobs to redress the wrong.

At least OJ isn't complaining about THIS one having a screwy finish!

[David Mantell]

I'm surprised this bout hasn't been reviewed before. Two TBWs having a fine scientific contest. You'd think there would be a glowing account from me or a hatchet job from OJ.

Ring mat is also a surprise, they've dug out an early 80s design with the World of Sport emblem for a 1986 TV Taping for the standalone show. 

Round 1: Ian side chancery throws Brooks (who looks a LOT like Ricky Morton here) who snaps right up, cheekily tapping McGregor's wrist as he does so.  McGregor gets two 1 counts from side takedown folding press. Both very sharp off the button with their moves Brooks gets an underarm wristlock switching to standing arm lever by pulling it over his head. Ian cuffs it open and snapmares his man forward into a chinlock on the mat.  Brooks equally snaps out pulling the arm straight into a standing wristlever. McGregor gets up on his feet and side chancery throws Brooks but the latter stil has the hold. McGregor turns into the guard and stands up from there to work on the armlock upright and front facing. Hecreaches down and gets a crotch hold and slam but Brooks still has the hold and pulls his man back down with him. He gives the wrist a wrench. McGregor tries the standing position again and throws Brooks from there. McGregor cross presses Brooks but can't get the shoulders and anyway Brooks STILL  has that arm!  Brooks slips out and kips up, once again in the standing armbar which Brooks converts to a hammerlock in the bowing position. McGregor kneels back down to relieve the pressure so Brooks kneels down with him. McGregor gets back up and straightens the arm back into a wrist lever overhead. McGregor tries the crotchhold again and this time employs more of a throwing kind of slam to finally break that wristlock. Brooks is up at four, McGregor gets a standing side headlock and Brooks pushes him off the ropes, drops as he rebounds off the opposite ropes and is leaped over then up and fires a dropkick. McGregor is down but gets a leg and a leglock to take his man down with him.  The leglock becomes an ankle scissor but Brooks regains his wristlock from earlier forcing Ian to release. They get up and Brooks side chanceries McGregor. He snapmares and rear chinlocks McGregor then converts the chinlock to a backwards neck crank. McGregor reaches up to try prise it open. Brooks stands up and converts the crank to a side headlock then switches arms. McGregor breaks it open into a top wristlock and throws Brooks in it., result in a figure four top wristlock on the mat. Brooks rolls backwards so McGregor stands up and passes the arm over his head to make a standing wristlever then cranks it, making Brooks cry out. He fires off a forearm smash and McGregor slips into the pre standing armlift position. Brooks fires a second forearm and McGregor drops the hold to retaliate (and pull up his srmpad). He lunges at Richie's stomach, throws him off the ropes and leapfrogs him and underhook for a cross buttock throw but Brooks spins round with the momentum and gets him into a backslide and kneels and leans forward to secure the opening fall in just Round 1!!!

Round 2:  McGregor gets an underarm armlock. Brooks tries to join hands to throw him but McGregor shrugs it off.  Brooks backflips and takes Ian down in the hold which is now his armlock but the Scots lad gets a headscissors. Brooks snaps out but has to give up the arm to do so. They lock up and Ian twice underarm throws Richie. McGregor double legs and gets a folding press and bridge but Brooks easily crawls out. McGregor gets full nelson into side chancery into further nelson and gets four successive two counts, keeping the arm portion even after Richie rolls out to make a half nelson in the mount, switching to a grovit then whipping his man off the ropes  and back elbowing him on the rebound.  He throws him again off the ropes but Richie comes off with a flying tackle for a 2 count.  This gets a lot of applause. McGregor gets a single leg and toe & ankle hold but Brooks boots him off sending him spinning until he takes a hefty bump on the mat.  They stand and Ian gets an arm roll into double locked arm lever. He stans and throws his man in the hold.  He puts a knee in the shoulder joint and gets a one handed chinlokmwith inecsrm while still gripping the wrist with the other arm, gets him upright and high whips hard and forwards on the stretched shoulder, wrenching the joint as well as getting the bump. Finger interlock and Ian starts going for the straight armlift again before scoring another high whip and bump (but without the shoulder wrenching forwards motion this time.)  Another one handed finger interlock and Brooks goes for a front chancery but Ian makes it into an armhank.  Brooks pulls through the legs to flip him man over and sticks on a bridging foot press on the folding press but only gets 2. Nice Round of applause. McGregor gets a waistlock takedown into a folding press but Brooks crawls away.  Brooks posts Ian and bodyslams him for 9 then double legs and gets a Boston Crab but drops a leg to make it a single leg crab. McGregor crawls through the leg, puts a foot on Richie's head and slaps down on the knee to transmit the impact then gets a grovit on the mat from there roll his man into a small package but the bell stops him getting the equaliser.

There then follows a decidedly buzz killing trailer for Samoa Joe on ROH with annoying Nu Metal music that really dates this. There then follows some adverts including a really disturbing one for the NSPC . You have been warned. (You might also consider donating!)

But anyway, back to the good stuff.

Round 3:  McGregor takes a headlock but Brooks bounces him off the ropes. Ian is ready with a shoulderblock and then gets the side headlock back. Again Brooks throws him off into the ropes and then catches him with another fine dropkick for 8. Brooks posts McGregor and slam him. He whips him again to the ropes and throws him for a bump. Then another posting and a side slam onto a knee. He tries for an atomic drop but McGregor rolls through, gets a leg but can't get the shoulders down for an equaliser, but does get a headscissors out of it. It takes a while but eventually Brooks gets McGregor in the upright position andd kips up out.  Brooks whips McGregor into the ropes again but tis time Ian comes back with a sunset flip and FINALLY gets the equaliser. Mostly he is applauded despite a few hostile En-Ger-Land type Brooks fans.

Round 4: Brooks lunges and side chancery throws McGregor. He underhooks him and ties for a DDT but McGregor blocks the impact so Brooks works on the arm. McGregor stands, kicks off the armlock and whips Brooks into the ropes and gets a hard boot to the stomach for eight. Then another posting but Brooks backward leapfrogs his man and gets a folding press from behind leaning back for 2. Brooks tries the atomic drop from earlier but again McGregor counters with the hook leg and headscissors.He gets 2 and Brooks has to snap out of the scissors but Brooks stays down on his knees to pull McGregor into a backslide. McGregor tries rolling through but can't and Richie Brooks has the 2-1 win in round 4.

A great fast paced match with a definite build towards the ending in that final round.  Despite this, both men would end up as villains in notorious heel tag teams. Ian was already flirting with heelish on TV in 1987 and by 1993 was in the Wild Jocks with Drew McDonald. "Golden Apollon" Richie Books gradually lost his shine during his feud with Danny Collins (including the infamous DQ win for the British Heavy Middleweight title in Croydon 1990, avenged a few months later) and by 1993 he and Sheffield Boys partner Tarzan Boy Darren Ward were heeling it up against the likes of The Liverpool Lads and Dynamite Kid & Animal Legend of Doom (Dave Duran). But that was in the future.  This time, the two kids put on a scientific masterclass.

[David Mantell]

Serious question - are Bobby Gaetano and Mammouth Siki one and the same?  They look similar although Gaetano looks a size smaller, but he might have dropped some weight between 1979 and 1981.

This was Marty Jones's coronation as World Mid Heavyweight Champion, a title he would lose/regain twice to Fit Finlay in 1984 then lose to Steve Wright's alter ego Bull Blitzer in 1987 before then regaining from Owen Hart and holding for 12 years until finally losing it to Legend of Doom Johnny South in April 1999 in Bristol.

A thought both are good guys there seems to be some needle, Jones not liking Gaetano using headbutts.  Both Marty and Bobby use the French style headscissors as counter to armbars, Marty can also do a plausible Gilbert LeDuc toupee throw. Gaetano does his own version of the British style cartwheell out of an armbar, going over on the top of his head.

The falls come thick and fast rather like a French Catch A Quatre, first Bobby then both of Jones, all as I recall folding press variants.

At the end Mike Marino's mate former referee Lou Marco plus his widow Renee come in and present Marty with the belt. Bobby makes a nice speech in broken English about how everyone has been kind and friendly towards him.

 

[David Mantell]

2 minutes ago, David Mantell said:

Serious question - are Bobby Gaetano and Mammouth Siki one and the same?  They look similar although Gaetano looks a size smaller, but he might have dropped some weight between 1979 and 1981.

Apparently not.  Siki was also known as Cesar Viltardc and he and Gaetano actually teamed up, it says here:

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=11884&page=4

[David Mantell]

It's Monday morning,and I feel like watching a good KNOCKOUT. Or two.  So here's 1 of 2.

No previous reviews on here of the bout. Kincaid has been abroad for some time so he's largely dropped any technical wrestling from his style which for Kendo is tantamount to a note from his mum saying he is excused technical wrestling also. Which is a pity as when he has to do a round or two of it, he's pretty good (cases in point the recently posted Rex Strong 1978, plus Pete Roberts 1978, Lee Bronson early 1977).  Kincaid gets to work with headstomps, forearm smashes and typing Kendo in the ropes. Against a different opponent Kincaid would be the heels (and this is the same venue where two years later Kincaid and Dave Bond wrestled the Carribbean Sunshine Boys one and only TV tag match and nearly triggered a rare riot, soma lot of those people were cheering Kincaid this evening.) Now and again there are flashes of technical work like Kincaid rolling out of a Nagasaki top wristlock. Soon afterwards he takes Nagasaki down into a leg scissors which Kendo attempts to counter with a crossface.  and Kincaid respond by giving the locked leg a yank. Kincaid switches to toe and ankle but Nagasaki gets the ropes and takes his man down in a side chancery hold. He is still dominant when the bell goes.

Round 2 and Kincaid has had time to recover. Nagasaki works him in the corner but gets a public warning for his efforts He has his man down in a sleeper after having endured one himself for much of the previous round. Kincaid lifts him in a fireman's carry but Nagasaki regains his footing. Unfortunately for him, that includes one foot through the ropes so he has to break. Kincaid scores a headbutt which Nagasaki sells magnificently like the American Greg Valentine. Kincaid earns his own first public warning by following down.  Kendo sells another headbutt and Kincaid gets a grovit on but in the ropes. The referee wants a clean break but the crowd want the mask off Kincaid pulls on the mask, referee Joe D'Orazio pulls on Kincaid's hair Joe wins and the mask survives. Kendo gets a grovit and Kincaid gets a legdive and a pushing match enues. Kendo ends up in a neutral corner forcing a break so he shoves Kincaid off. They spar menacingly but without contact for some time. Just before the bell Kincaid gets a wrist, twists horizontally and switches to a legdive into toe and ankle and gets a few weakeners in during the final seconds.

Round 3. Nagasaki gets a wrist and high whip but Kincaid rolls out smoothly and up to a standing stare without any discernible bump. Kendo gets a bearhug but Kincaid gets one of his own. Kendo releases, chops his way out and tries his Kamikaze Crash finisher but Kincaid converts it to a crucifix takedown but is unable to transfer to a further nelson pin attempt. Kendo chops down Kincaid and scores some pretty good moves including a backdrtwhich Kincaid really takes a bump on but a flying tackle is caught neatly by Kincaid and turned into a bodyslam for the opening fall. Crowd goes mad like Luger and Windham beating the Horsemen at Clash 1 in 1988.  Like that crowd, they're in for a crushing disappointment. 

Round 4.  Kincaid corners Nagasaki to work on the mask. Referee finally convinces Kincaid to release. Nagasaki back on the attack with chops and blows.  Kincaid does the tie up in the ropes spot common in France, Germany and Reslo but rarely done on ITV.  After one charge the referee warns him off. Kendo frees himself and gets a flying kneelift and tries again for the Kamikaze Crash and this time gets it and a KNOCKOUT. Kendo is the winner KO-1.

Question - in what way is Kincaid "protected" here? He is built up and knocked down. Or rather OUT.   

 

 

[David Mantell]

KNOCKOUT 2 of 2. 

Again not previously reviewed on here. This was a rescreening on ESPN, with a lead screen showing a very odd picture of Grasshopper looking like French Angel Maurice Tillet from the 1940s. 

No rounds here, best of three falls not that this will matter. Grasshopper wears a navy gi with white collar and red waist sash but on blurry video it looks like 1982 pop star gear (say Adam Ant circa Friend of Foe, the boy out of Dollar or a couple of Duran) but in bare feet and bald. He rolls nicely off a side chancery and a wristlever. Finlay, hands on hips, knows he's going to have some hard work if he doesn't want grief from Paula. He puts an arm under the armpit for a couple of high whips and this time forces bumps.   Grasshopper tries some wristlevers of his own and Finlay rolls out of them nicely. Clearly in the late 80s his technical skills were not lost, merely neglected.  He finally gets bumped with an underarm rope assisted throw.  Frustrated, Finlay goes to his corner for a chat with Paula. (Pleasingly she carries a green towel colour coded to match her husband's green/white tights. ) Finlay gets a Japanese stranglehold and drives his man to his knees to avoid being thrown. Once his man is weakened, he loosens-and then reels him in for a bodycheck. Finlay tries to follow down but referee Jeff .Kaye reprimands him. Grasshopper gets a legdive and legspread weakener. Finlay rope a dopes some headbutts on Grasshopper who comes back with a sunset flip. Finlay retaliates with a punch to the head which Kaye doesn't quite clearly see.  Grasshopper discards his jacket. Finlay gets two uppercuts and a posting but Grasshopper gets a toupee (in 80s Britain and throws Finlay leaving him fuming. Grasshopper gets a posting but Finlay gets a slam. Finlay stomps his opponent and gets a First Public Warning. He goes for another chat with Paula who is threatened with expulsion from the venue if she carries on like this. . Finlay dodges a chop and seeks refuge in the corner. Finlay gets a concealed punch (Kaye checks. finds a fist but cannot confirm) and a hard throw.  He puts on a grovit on his fallen man but the referee warns him off. He press slams his man from a fireman's carry. He strikes a forearm smash and then a long suplex into chinlock but Grasshopper gets the locking arm and makes it into a hammerlock into armbar into two postings. He does a monkey climb but Finlay gets a good feet first landing (some more of his skill.)  He gets in a concealed kidney punch then a kidney forearm blow for Kaye's benefit.   He gets a posting,  gets reversed  on a second one but dodges a Grasshopper bodycheck in the corner and inverted waistlocks his man for a piledriver. Grasshopper escapes with a chop to the knees then follows with more chops and slamming Finlay's head to the corner. He gets a snapmare but Finlay catches him off the ropes with a kneelift.  Finlay gets another piledriver and Grasshopper stays down for 10. KNOCKOUT.

As with Kincaid, I must ask. In what way is Grasshopper protectied by this?  There Knockouts areas definitive a way to win as two pinfalls or submissions.

[David Mantell]

On 1/1/2014 at 12:45 PM, ohtani's jacket said:

Bert Royal vs. Roy St. Clair (5/26/76)

These two were good wrestlers, but when Bert Royal is the leading personality in the match you know you're in for a long afternoon. Surprisingly, they didn't pull out all the stops despite it being a Royal Albert Hall show. I've seen both guys give better performances in lesser matches than this, particularly St. Clair. It was also terribly predictable. I just knew the one fall required would come in the fourth round having watched a ton of WoS. Bit of a disappointment, though I'm not really surprised since neither guy was a titan of British wrestling in my book.

The RAH, only venue in the world to have hosted Joint, All Star, WCW and WWF/WWE . If Joseph Dixon ever gets All Star as it is now booked at Wembley Arena that would be a second venue.  British wrestling steps out of the small halls and theatres and goes for somewhere Territory Monthly Show sized. This is the same  show as the Kendo & George Vs McManus and Logan comedy match. Now one for the purists like me. 

The battle of the older brothers. Royals Vs Saints from 1971 is a favourite tag match of mine. They lock up and Bert gets an arm, transitioning to a headscissors. Roy just about gets his head loose when Bert flips him withis his legs.Up and Roy gets an arm and starts to twist.  Bert takes control, trips Roy and gets armlever dominance. They get up and Bert transitions to a Hammerlock. Roy counters with a backdrop and Bert counters that with a sunset flip.  A double leg nelson doesn't hold and Roybspins out of a headscissor throw.  Roy gets an armbar deep by the armpit and forces a  sonersault nd a hard bump. Bert stands up so Roy switches to figure four topp wristlock and forces his man back down. So Bert goes all the way down to roll Roy but he keeps the hold. Bert gets a headscissors but Roy shakes it off. Kent observes Roy is using more his power to get ahead than skill.  Bert tries kip ups. He tries a legspread, Roy sidesteps itim.  Bert tries to do an armbar with his feet. Roy tries a poor crosspress, gives up. Bert goes full nelson to snapmare to further nelson shoulder press then releases and gets a toe and ankle.  Roy gets a side headlock , throws his man down, gets a Legdrops and a 7 count, Bert goes through Roy's legs, gets double legs for a Boston Crab but is shook off and cartwheels away. Bert gets rear waistlock, turned into side headlock into further nelson for some one counts. Reset and finger interlock. Roy gets an arm and double overhead twist. He tries to force an armroll but the bell goes.

Round 2.  Royal gets a snapmare and twisting foot motion. Bert gets a good throw and bump off the ropes.  Roy stays down for 8. Bert capitalises with another throw.  Roy gets a sunset flip but Bert's feet go in the ropes. Bert gets a wrist, rolls on it to tighten. Various weakeners then a figure four top wristlock Bert tries a crosspress. Gets double wrists on the mat,pins a bicep down. Converts to an arm scissors. Roy briefly scissors Bet's other arm. Bert finishes this long duration armlock with a high whip throw and bump. BArief cut section. Roy gets a full nelson. Bert breaks one side open but Roy regains. The bell goes.

Round 3.   Bert gets double legs, folds up Roy's legs and has a suspension backbreaker. Poor old Roy's head gets banged about a lot until he sits up and pushes Bert into a double leg nelson. Royal gets feet under Roy's arms, pulls him down into the backbreaker then down further into a double leg nelson, switches to non armbar then double armbar. Roy goes for the back of the neck but Bert throws him.  Roy  gets a smash to the back of Bert's neck. Roy gets snapmare and front chinlock. Bert  rises to kneel and  gets Roy up in a fireman's carry. Roy rolls backward into a further nelson but Bert's feet hit the ropes. Bert gets semi Japanese Stranglehold, collapsed one knee of Roy's to force him down. Gets a surfboard. Roy reaches back for Bert's chin and uses it to roll backwards and get a kneeling full nelson. Bert stands and breaks but Roy spins behind to regain. The same escape and counter escape then a backrolls escape and reclaim. Bert gets behind for a full nelson of his own and Roy escapes but Bert drops down into a front folding press!  Roy rolls him off into a double arm stretch. Bert rolls back and standing while holding a leg. He goes for another folding press but gives up after a 1 count.  Bert dropkicks Roy who is up at 9. Roy shoves him over. Roygets double wrists Bert sharply breaks it and gets a side chancery throw.  Bert posts Roy.  Follows in but . Roy elbowsmashes the back of Bert's neck. Double finger interlock. Bert gets Roy into double knees press but Roy bridges out. Roy gets a monkey flip but Bert has the double leg nelson so Roy turns for a folding press but is spun out but Bert's legs. Roy gets a legdive and leglock.  Folds it into a Frank Gotch toehold. Bell goes. 

Round 4. Roy gets two side chancery throws then a LOOONG throw, almost a knockout. Roy gets a snapmare and legdrop. Roy posts Bert but Bert cushions the posting well as slips through Roy's legs only to be caught by a sudden kneelift.  Roy moves in for a leg but Bert catches him with a knee of his own.He goes for a legdive but Roy moves in first with a backslide attempt for 2. Bert sidesteps a Roy charge and as he rebounds off the ropes, rolls him up in a folding press for the one required fall.

More of a clinic that a shining pyrotechnic display (now how about their brothers Vic Faulkner Vs Tony StClair for that?)  A few moments of real genius - the roll off a surfboard backwards into a full nelson, the sudden folding press during a full nelson exchange.  Round 4 especially sparkled, a time when often good matches get demob happy and finish with a forearm exchange and flying tackle - this one actually upped the ante of technical work in the final seconds.  On the other hand, particularly in early rounds some holds are worked in long and procrastinating detail like German wrestling pre Steve Wright.  For more advanced fans, not so good for trying to make a new convert of someone.

[PeteF3]

To be perfectly frank about it, I'm not sure how many more times we have to explain that we American-pilled viewers can see a categorical difference between being put down for the count of 10 by a finisher or a high-impact move, and bumbling through the ropes and falling to the floor "injured." I don't care if they go in the record books as the same result: one is one wrestler imposing his will on and vanquishing another with their trademark hold, the other is a fluke and an example of why actual MMA is much better in a cage than in a ring. 

[David Mantell]

19 minutes ago, PeteF3 said:

To be perfectly frank about it, I'm not sure how many more times we have to explain that we American-pilled viewers can see a categorical difference between being put down for the count of 10 by a finisher or a high-impact move, and bumbling through the ropes and falling to the floor "injured." I don't care if they go in the record books as the same result: one is one wrestler imposing his will on and vanquishing another with their trademark hold, the other is a fluke and an example of why actual MMA is much better in a cage than in a ring. 

A simple throw over the ropes (except from point blank range) could be just as much a knockout as a finisher. Wrestlers didn't bumble through the ropes of their own accord (well not that often. ) Generally they were thrown or otherwise ejected.  I understood this concept as a small child long before I understood pinfalls.

[PeteF3]

Steve Grey vs. Jim Breaks in the no-rounds match (from I think 1978) is just one match off the top of my head without having to dig through research that ends with Grey literally going to run the ropes (on his own accord) and falling through for the injury/KO finish.

[David Mantell]

6 hours ago, PeteF3 said:

Steve Grey vs. Jim Breaks in the no-rounds match (from I think 1978) is just one match off the top of my head without having to dig through research that ends with Grey literally going to run the ropes (on his own accord) and falling through for the injury/KO finish.

Do you mean this?

That's a heat getting finish.  Yes it's fluky but that's the whole point.  Breaks accepts the win which most of Grey's fellow good guys would have rejected and would have then been recorded as a no contest (we saw how in 2023 one of Nino Bryant's challengers Joe Lando refused the British Lightweight Championship over a similarly fluky win.) . Breaks treats it as a great triumph. The crowd sees this and RIOTS over Breaks' attitude, so smug over his cheap win - and getting the title out of it.

See also Breaks coming up to champion Vic Faulkner in 1977 and spooking him in his corner so that he punches Jim, gets DQd and so loses his title. Kent Walton claimed at the time that hate mail and protest mail had come in by the sackload.

[David Mantell]

On 12/29/2015 at 10:38 PM, ohtani's jacket said:

Tony St. Clair vs. King Kendo (4/12/86)

This was a short tournament eliminator (mercifully.) St. Clair was fine, but the most notable thing about the bout was the ref Frank Casey being mic'ed up and reffing the bout with the kind of thick, colloquial accent you'd never hear from a US ref in a million years. Just when you think it can't get any more British.

Oh I dunno, plenty of WCW and other promotions had referees, wrestlers and even announcers with thick deep "Y'All" accents (Randy Hales springs to mind.)

Bit of background - in early '86 Wayne Bridges had a real life disagreement with Brian Dixon and walked from All Star, taking his ball - or rather his red/white/blue World Heavyweight title belt he beat Jim Harris to win at Wembley '81- with him. All Star still had the original black belt first claimed by Spiros Arion in 1979 so held a tournament on All Star's TV show on Screensport (their audition forca share of ITV coverage.). In one semifinal, Quinn beat Johnny South and this was the other semi.

Tony was British Heavyweight Champion in 1981 when he defected from Joint to Orig Williams and Brian Dixon . In 1982 in this same venue Hanley he defeated Quinn for the black title belt up for grabs here. Wayne Bridges followed across also with the red/white/blue belt he won at Wembley Arena on the undercard of Daddy Vs Haystacks. In early 1983 on Reslo, Bridges confronted StClair and demanded a title unification match The resulting series was inconclusive but after Tony lost his version back to Quinn, Bridges won a title unification bout. However here he has taken his red white and blue ball, er belt, home with him.

Bill Clarke had been doing his Nagasaki tribute act since the mid 70s. After running afoul of the real Nagasaki's lawyers and eventually spending a short sentence in prison alongside promoter Sandor Kovacs for contempt of court after flouting a cease and desist order, Clarke had rebranded as King Kendo but continued to wear the full garb. In 1981 Thornley and Clarke settled matters by having a series of Battles of the Kendo's which saw the real Nagasaki defeat and unmask Clarke night after night. Oddly, this got Clarke some work with Joint Promotions - he teamed with Giant Haystacks in the main event at the Royal Albert Hall and got 2 or 3  TV appearances - he was in a 1982 battle royal won by Daddy and a 1984 2-1 loss to Marty Jones with Jones's enemy, World Mid Heavyweight Champion Fit Finlay in his corner. Clarke also popped up as the Masked Red Devil to lose a Big Daddy tag.  Ironically the real Nagasaki would join All Star as its flagship star later that year just in time for ITV and would remain in that role until late 1993. This is a bit like seeing Randy Hogan work as enhancement talent in WCW 1989 knowing one day five years later the real Hulk Hogan will be WCW's top star.

We join in progress. Tony easily throws KK with his legs but Clarke gets an armbar and slams Tony's head in the mat. KK gets pressure points and Tony counters with a bearhug. He breaks the pressure points and scores with a powerful lean-back dropkick. KK responds with a couple of concealed fist and gets a telling off from Scouse referee Frank Casey (who was back after a brief kayfabe suspension from refereeing after viewers complained he was too lenient- and who as a wrestler later became the British Bushwhacker) gives KK a stern ticking off. Tony gets an armbar but Kendo turns it into a sleeper. He knocks Tony to the mat and illegally follows in with blows and a choke on the downed StClair. Tony gets up, armbars KK and fells him with two forearm uppercuts.He gets a snapmare and legdrop but Casey disallows a pin cover for not being part of the same move.  KK chops Tony down and illegally follows down to choke his man and now it's his turn to be blistered by the newly zealous Casey. KK does let his man up but then strikes with an elbowsmash, posting and an illegal knee across the throat (interfering with a opponent's breathing, like closed fists and attacking a grounded opponent was serious heat in Britain)  A concealed fist and elbowdrop get Clarke a first public warning. Kendo gets pressure points but  Tony corners him and bashes away with forearms accidentally knocking Casey down.  Tony gets his own public warning for this while KK slams Tony and cross presses him for two 2 counts. He posts Tony and goes for a second one but Tony cushions himself, fires back with a flying headbutt and a flying tackle for the one required fall and a final against Might John Quinn, the same opponent in the same venue as his first World title win four years earlier.

Verdict, sloppy match but enough crowd heat there to be visceral fun, like an American match

 

[David Mantell]

The final has already been reviewed on here. For those who need reminding, here you go:

On 10/28/2024 at 9:54 AM, David Mantell said:

Quote

On 10/28/2024 at 9:54 AM, David Mantell said:

Tony St. Clair vs. John Quinn (4/12/86)

This is joined in progress. I'm not sure how much is missing, but it's basically an angle as Quinn undoes the corner pad and turns St. Clair into a bloody mess. That was an uncommon sight in British wrestling and something that was never done on television, so you can imagine the kind of heat Quinn got for it. People are standing around the ring legitimately worried for St. Clair's safety and demanding that Frank Casey disqualify Quinn but the decision stands and Quinn claims the vacant heavyweight title. He had a great run in the UK employing the basics of North American wrestling on an audience that been reared to be disdainful of yanks and their all-in style. He wasn't the first as Butts Giraud did the same gimmick before him, but nobody milked it as well as Quinn and it's a shame so much of it was off the air in All-Star.

 

From the same venue 17 years earlier before Health And Safety banned fans from sitting on the stage leaving it free for the promoter to project nice swirly lighting patterns on it.

Some background - in early '86 Wayne Bridges had a real life disagreement with Brian Dixon and walked from All Star, taking his ball - or rather his red/white/blue World Heavyweight title belt he beat Jim Harris to win at Wembley '81- with him. All Star still had the original black belt first claimed by Spiros Arion in 1979 so held a tournament on All Star's TV show on Screensport (their audition forca share of ITV coverage.). StClair beat notorious Kendo Nagasaki impersonator Bill King Kendo Clarke, Quinn beat Johnny South and we were left with this final.

We join in progress.  Quinn doesn't particularly work the British style, he is soon getting a public warning from referee Frank Casey (recently kayfabe-suspended due to complaints from viewers about him being too lenient on villains.). StClair gets a 2 count with a missile dropkick.  Quinn throws him out but rather than try taking to KO win, follows him out and hits him with a (rather comfy-looking plush) chair. A heavily juiced StClair stumbles back into the ring but Quinn works on him with closed fist punches. What with that and the chairshot, I'm beginning to think the anti Frank Casey letter writers had a point. StClair fights back a bit but Quinn nails him with a Duthty bionic elbow and undoes a corner pad and bangs StClair into it. Chuckle Brothers on commentary are going crazy and so is the crowd. StClair still fights back, brother Roy is in his corner and he slams and cross presses Quinn for two. Quinn kicks StClair down, Casey inspects the cut and awards the bout and the belt to Quinn on a TKO. Quinn and StClair continue to have potshots at each other as Roy and a second (in green) tend to Tony. The ring is under siege from fans as Quinn puts the belt on. Chuckle Brother #1 Max Beezely, later an MC on ITV's All Star bouts gets in the ring for a French Catch style post match interview which cuts off before it starts.

Apparently this was the kind of envelope pushing stuff supporters of the Indies loved but the IBA would have blown a fuse over.  Quinn and StClair did have their wild brawl on ITV a year later when they were both DDQ'd and left Kendo Nagasaki and Neil Sands to finish a tag bout as a solo contest, but at least that time, the referee was able to assert control. Clearly Brian Dixon needed a good filter if he was going to stay on ITV once he got a slice of it.

Wayne Bridges settled up with Dixon, brought his tricolore belt back and reunited with Quinn in Autumn (Fall) 1986 before losing the whole crown to the real Nagasaki on ITV a year later

P.S. have added a link to the quoted section of this post back to Dean Allmark vs Mikey Whiplash at the same Hanley venue in 2003 (by which time fans could no longer be seated on the stage.)