The Beginner's Guide To British Wrestling

[David Mantell]

On 7/30/2024 at 12:54 AM, David Mantell said:

 

Can't find any previous reviews of this. A definite stepping stone from Collins after completely having Jim Breaks ' number, coming back from the loss to Grey and then becoming European Welterweight Champion to now beating the more experienced and heavier Johnny Kidd 2-0. ( He may be 18 but he has transcended TBW status to become, in Kent Walton's words, "a young master of his craft."

(Although Kent Walton seems to forget Dynamite Kid did the last step at 18 before Collins.  Also although ITV never acknowledged it, Collins was temporarily separated from his British title, jobbing it to veteran crumb heel Cyanide Sid Cooper on an untelevised house show the night after the Euro title win was filmed before heading across La Manchester for his first FFCP tour. He got it back that autumn and held on until he had to vacate in 1989 after beating Finlay for the British Heavy Middleweight title.)

No rounds, best of three falls We join the action about 4 mins in with Collins unfolding a crossface into arm armbar.  JK goes for a horizontal twist out and tries to widen Danny's stance but he falls forward on one hand and bounces back to a standing start.

Johnny gets a leg and tries to trip Danny down but he just hops out the way of the trips.  

Nice first pint by Collins, he goes for a mid ring sunset flip, Kidd rolls through and tries for a folding press but Danny preforms a toupee on him (he's obviously been swotting up on his Catch Francais ready for Euro title defences for Delaporte.) Kidd cartwheels back to a standing start and tries to legdive round into another Sunset Flip position but Danny does the Davey at SS92/Leo Burke fold down for a pin.

A great pair of near pins,  Collins comes off the top turnbuckle and leapfrogs Kidd but Johnny jumps on Danny's shoulders from behind to get Collins in an upright flying scissors. He goes to the victory roll but Collins folds down the legs to arrest the momentum for a pin attempt.  Kidd flips Collins off him and locks over his legs when he rolls back for a bridging folding press but Danny gets his head free and crawls out.

The second straight fall sees the tables turned as Kidd similarly arrests Collins's momentum and Collins goes for the flip off and locking down with his own bridging folding press but unlike Kidd he holds on for the three count. 

A world title was the best logical step for Danny, there was talk of a claimant from Panama City looking to defend against him.  In the event Danny went to Brian Dixon, moved up the weights and avenged several earlier beatings by, as above mentioned, taking Fit Finlay's British Heavy Middleweight title in 1989, the year after TV, before beating Owen Hart in a corker to become World Middleweight champion (the version last claimed a decade earlier by Adrian Street although the CWA had its own version since 1985 and Mal Sanders and Keith Haward had feuded over a version in SunCity SA in 1982.)

Damn, was planning to review this one at the weekend, but it seems I've already done it.
Never mind, I've got a great alternative lined up.

[David Mantell]

On 8/28/2023 at 12:32 PM, David Mantell said:

All Star typically puts a clean bout on as bout number 4 of a 5 bout bill.  Here is a typical example from Oct 2013.  One drawback to the lack of rounds is that in order to pace themselves, the wrestlers have to have clapping breaks to lead the fans in cheering.  Being the C21st versions of the good sportsmanly tehcnical blue eyes, Dean Allmark and Tony Spitfire encourage the fans to cheer each other.

( @El McKell as promised #1 of 2)

I frequently like to post the above Southport match as an example of the state of the Great British Clean Match in the C21st.  The only downside is that, having already posted it a couple of times early on, I feel like I've already covered it off.  So here instead for the blow by blow treatment is another bout from the same period a few weeks away at the Epsom Playhouse.

 

Unlike Southport, the Epsom video cuts straight to the action. They link up and Deano turns horizontally to convert a half Interlock into a standing armbar. Tony immediately positions himself for a cartwheel out.  He rolls forward, does a 180° spin on his behind and unpicks the wristlever with his foot á la Steve Grey, then horizontally swivels again to drop toehold Deano into the mount then rolls across him to apply a grovit on the mat. But Dean rolls round with his back to Tony's torso to reverse the grovit.  Tony stands up in the hold, feigns trying a waistlock counter then whips Dean overarm forcing a somersault bump, Still holding the wrist himself he rolls back to make another armlock. Deano stands and uses a rope assisted somersault to escape the hold, then  gets Tony's arm and deftly turns to get the wristlever again, forcing Spitfire to position for the rollout.  But Deano reverses the direction of torque forcing Tony to take a backwards roll and bump. Deano tries to bend the arm into a Jim Breaks Arm Submission position.  But Tony stands up (note his World Of Sport logo bicep tattoo!) and tries to hook Dean's head before Allmark forces him down again.  Dean goes back to work with the arm submission, even applying it backwards, until Tony gets up and this time gets a headlock. They hit the ropes in the hold, Tony is thrown off on the first rebound but on the second rebound he floors Dean with a bodycheck.  Allowing Dean up in compliance with the no follow downs rule, he gets a headlock and cross buttock throw into guard Headlock on the mat.  Dean turns into an upright kneel and then into a headstand in the hold and falls backward across Spitfire to escape the Headlock and get one of his own with his legs pointed securely away.  Tony uses a similar headstand in the hold to simply uncork himself.  The two exchange sportsmanship and start over. Tony offers a half interlock but then falls backwards and gets the crossed headscissor on Allmark. H3 turns round to get at Dean's legs and after pulling his hands away lifts him off ground by the knees. His power goes and Deano, still in the crossed headscissor tries a quick double kneepress and gets 2.  As they try to lock up, Dean gets a legdive, floors Tony, scissors his ankle and adds a wristlock on top.  He then switches to a side chancery hold (while maintaining the ankle scissor.) . Tony meanwhile has an incipient half bodyscissors in place with his free leg.  He forces the foot down to join the other ankle and complete the bodyscissors.  Dean tries to switch back to the wristlever but Tony gets it free - worse he is forced to ditch his own ankle lock to focus on prising Tony's bodyscissors open. Tony keeps the hold and turns Dean Allmark into the double leg nelson. But Dean leans forward, grabs both Tony's wrists from behind to make the surfboard setup but can't haul his man up in the hold.  He turns over and tries getting a double leg nelson but Tony resists being turned over and they start over. A collar and elbow becomes a Tony full armlock, driving Dean to his knees.  Tony makes a back hammerlock with Dean in the mount.  He half leg Nelsons Dean's other arm to turn his man into the guard and get a cross press for 2 from referee Frankie Sloan (cousin and then tag partner of Robbie Brookside.) and still has a wristlock on the arm he was hammerlocking earlier.  Deano springs up in the hold but Tony headlocks him (before he can roll out).  They hit the ropes and Deano gets free, drops to slow Tony to pass over but gets mown down with a Tony bodycheck on the third rebound. Mindful of the no follow down rule, Tony lets Deano up then takes him back to the mat with a side headlock.  Dean turns him sideways into a folding press but at 1 Tony regains his gravity and rolls back.  So Dean gets a headscissors  Tony turns it unto the upright position. Despite Dean obstructing with an elbow. Tony uses a headstand to uncork the hold and kneel on the scissors to form an incipient Indian deathlock.  Dean sits up but Tony gets a double underhook on him.   Dean gets a leg free and outstretched but Tony tries for a front hammerlock so Dean counters with a small package attempt for 2. They start over.  Dean switches from the double interlock to a rear waistlock and rides out Tony's escape attempts until Spitfire prises off one arm and wristlocks it in the guard.   Deano kips up and briefly gets a countering wristlock but Tony switches to a headlock and bounces them both  off the ropes.  Deano ducks under the rebound, leapfrogs the next one and cross buttock presses Tony but is caught with a ground position dropkick as he moves in.  Tony t gets a bodyslam but this time it's his turn to be caught by a ground position dropkick followed by a cross buttock into armlock.  Tony counters with a legdive into toe and ankle hold.  He loses his grip but manages to make a full Indian Deathlock instead.  A couple of times Dean's shoulders touch the mat for 1. Tony turns into the same front underhook from earlier - and again maintaining an existing leglock as he does so!  He tries to switch to some form of armlock but Deano rides out on top, gets a half nelson then a full nelson.  Tony gets into the seated then standing position.  He detaches the hands to make a backwards full interlock then backs Deano into a corner and throws him but Deano rolls through and upright.  They pause to encourage the crowd and shake hands before fully interlocking.  Tony gets the test of strength advantage but Deano forms a bridge. After Tony trying to break it with a couple of headbutts to stomach, Deano kips up and takes the advantage, having Tony in a double arm press for two before Tony pushes one arm up.  He counters a second attempt but pushing up his other arm and a third attempt with a bridge.  Dean loads himself on twice but does not break the bridge.  The third time, Tony has got his knees on an Monkey Climbs Deano. Both men are flat on the mat, each getting an arm up for two 2 counts from Sloan. On the third, both men bridge then Tony rolls into a double kneepress but Dean rolls him the rest of the way round with a double leg nelson.  They flip back and forth in "La Bascule" double leg Nelsons then a two way leg press before calling it a stalemate and getting up to soak in the crowd applause and shake hands.  They lock up again and Tony manages to get a Posting on Deano and follows in but Deano leapfrogs him in the corner (catching him slightly on the way over.)   He then handstands on the opposite top turnbuckle - although reminiscent of Masambula's pinfall celebrations, this is actually a trap move similar to the Johnny Saint/George Kidd/Rene Ben Chemouel/Vasilios Montopolous "Ball".  Tony pauses for thought before getting Dean in a powerslam position but it's not secure and Deano slips out behind  and gets a folding press for 2.  He gets a wristlever, a weakener before Tony can roll out and then a rear standing armhank.  He switches from there back to straight arm lever then a side headlock on the mat (sadly there is a cut in the video so we don't see how he did this) switching to a front facelock then the first forearm smash of the match before getting a posting but Tony takes it well, absorbing the impact on his knee and coming back with a sunset flip and takedown into double leg nelson for 2. Deano springs out and gets double legs into an inverted front folding press but Tony bridges out, turns Dean around into a front-facing rear waistlock position and then round into a backslide position but Deano gets the better of it and gets the backslide, securing it with a handstand, but can only hold it for 2.  Deano gets another forearm smash into posting but again can't get the full impact as Tony rear leapfrogs him and bodyscissors him  back into a somewhat clumsy sideways-held double leg nelson for 2 (I think it was meant to be held in top with a bridge!). Now it's Tony's turn to try the forearm smash and posting but Deano in turn takes the impact well, leapfrogs his man, crouches down, briefly gets caught himself in a double leg nelson for 2 but then gets free and grabs a double arm,  tricking Tony into rollin backwards right into a folding press with bridge for 3. Dean Allmark wins with the one required pinfall.  They shake hands and embrace.

If anything an even better match than the Southport bout (which has a bit less wrestling and a bit more crowd working, but has a more old school ring with red and blue corners which is more persuasive when showing to lapsed fans that old British Wrestling is alive and well)  Two guys in the 2010s giving me as much fine detail as any two no nonsense shooters in the early 70s.  Fantastic stuff.

[JNLister]

After a huge conversion project, I’ve now replaced the very outdated search tool at itvwrestling.co.uk with a dedicated database at database.itvwestling.co.uk (also accessible through a link on the main site.) It covers 1955-1988 and is fully browsable and searchable, with YouTube links where available. You can click on almost anything to get chronological lists of:
 

• Matches of a particular wrestler (and a win-loss record). In theory it should group together results from a wrestler who used multiple names or where there are spelling mistakes/variations in the listings.
• Matches from a venue.
• Matches from a particular episode.
• Matches for a specific title.
• Matches in a specific tournament.

There’s also an option to see listing with match results displayed or hidden.

One important note is that I can’t guarantee everything is completely correct as I had to develop automated processes for turning the (very inconsistently written and formatted) listings into database form. I’ve tried to fix most issues, but the main things to watch out for are two wrestlers being listed as the same person (eg I need to fix this with Peter & Jon Cortez) and cases where the wrestler ‘scores’ are correct but the wrong person has been the winner (this involved an extremely complex algorithm for the computer to understand who wins with particular combinations of scores.) I will be fixing any errors I hear about or spot, but it’s a process that needs to be done in batches rather than one at a time as I find them.

The main itvwrestling.co.uk continues as normal with the listings, which include additional details such as match and show notes, show times, post 1988 listings, listing from non-ITV channels, and bonus information and articles.

 

[David Mantell]

Sounds good!

20 minutes ago, JNLister said:

It covers 1955-1988

Will it/could it be extended in the future to cover the Reslo, Screensport and Grampian/STV material on the site?

(and the 2016-2018 "WOSW" TV show, come to that?)

[David Mantell]

On 10/23/2025 at 2:17 PM, David Mantell said:

 

2h 30min 10 secs in there is a mention of researchers going to Zambia a few years ago to search for Doctor Who episodes and instead finding loads of British Wrestling.

( @Dav'oh see, it WAS being sold all over Africa/Asia)

I've left a comment requesting more information.

 

@JNLister do you have any information on exactly what wrestling footage was found in Zambia?

(if not, suggestion - you may have the formal research credentials to contact these people and formally ask.)

[David Mantell]

It's been a while since we got bang up to date with a Rumble Wrestling match so here goes with a TBW clean match in the tradition of Peter Bainbridge Vs Gary Clwyd and Bernie Wright Vs Young David. By the way please excuse the decidedly non old school ring - Rumble has a big cage match on the show and their Traditional ring doesn't fit the cage.  (And should you query the presence of cage matches on old school shoes I will hurriedly muffle my agreement and point you in the direction of cage matches on early 90s Reslo or on All Star shows between Kendo and Rocco during the same period.)  They make up for the decidedly un-British looking ring with a real old time venue from the ITV era, the Woodville in Gravesend.

Craig is the one in the headband with the shorter hair,  Charley has the "Honey and lime" tights.  They shake hands and lock up with Charley getting an early grovit take down which Craig reverses in to one of his own.  Charley breaks it open and makes a  hammerlock of it.  Craig moves to a rear waistlock which Charey. reverses only for Craig this time to get the grovit.  Charley tries for a reversal but Craig rolls out.  They get a good round of applause and lock up again.   From here Charlie gets an armbar which Craig rolls through to get an wristlever of his own .  Craig tries an overhead reversal but Charlie twists through to maintain the hold. Charley hits a forearm smash and bodyslam.  Craig misses a retaliatory blown and Charley gets him with a side suplex. He gets a flying forearm smash across the ring and an underhook suplex for a 2 count.  Charley misses another charge and Craig nails him with a dropkick and monkey climb, a flying forearm smash of his own and another undrhook suplex for 2.  Charley gets an armbar into a Fireman's Carry but Craig turns 90 degrees into a sunset flip into double leg nelson. The centre of gravity shift back and forth before Craig turns Charlie 90 degrees into a further nelson position andd tries for a side folding press for 2.  Craig gets another armbar and converts to an armhank, turns round in the hol to face his man, grabs his other arm and rolls him over in another side folding press - a fine move that sadly only gets a 2. For his next trick he converts from the start of an armbar into a backslide for another 2.  The pair have a brief exchange of forearm smashes before Charley lands a flying forearm smash.  They exchange kneelifts they Charley gets a flying forearm, a backroll and dropkick.  Charley gets caught in the ropes and really referee Anton Green should have stepped in but he allows Craig his somersault dive and 2 count.  Some more forearm smashes and chops  break out  Charley gets a posting but Craig retaliates with a shoulderblock flooring both men for a double knockout. 

Until the brawling took over in the final minute this was a good promising scientific matchup with Craig especially coming up with some fine moves. I hope we see more of him on here in the future.

P.S. If anyone's still worried about the ring, Rumble have started putting up another show with the Old School ring back in business.  And guess what was on the bill?  Another Craig Vs Charley match!  Another fine scientific bout (mercifully without the brawl) this time with a winner - Charley.

 

 

 

 

 

[David Mantell]

Speaking of Rumble, I'm pleased to report that they have decided to eradicate the American concept of Champion's Privilege from their shows and will be changing titles on a disqualification like in the old days.

[David Mantell]

Six months before his retirement and Fit  Finlay is on a final British/European run.  Six months after this he teams with son Fit Finlay Jr (actually Fit Finlay III) to beat former squeaky clean TBWs Robbie Brookside and Danny Collins 8n Germany after the former sabotaged his EWP World title shot at Cannonball Grizzly (Paul "PN News"Neu.  In the meanwhile here his is one a final run at good old Butlins holiday camp chain.

He's tagging with Robbie "the Body" Dynamite (Rob Berzins) who had mellowed out here and turned blue eye but spent much of the Noughties as heel nemesis of fellow 2001 Staffordshire Contingent member Dean Allmark after turning on him in 2002 and subsequently spending the decade feuding with him over Mike Marino's old British Mid Heavyweight title. (Dyno and Deano would continue to wrestle each other even after.the Body changed his ways, surprising audiences by coming out and having a clean match.

As for the opponents, Rampage "Bad News" Brown (a name steal,not an outright tribute) was a long running heel (and occasionally blue eye) for All Star who was twice British Heavyweight Champion for All Star, as well as working for every Americanised promotion in the country including the 2018 WOSW TV show, a shot at TNA British Bootcamp and even a couple of unremarkable WWE stints.  Perhaps you all already know him. He's partnering a visiting American, Sizzling Steve Walters, doing an Arrogant Yank gimmick.  There's a link between this and the old time ITV bout I'm posting next.  

This being Butlins, the MC is one of their dreaded Redcoats. No he doesn't bloody shut up, does he? Referee is wrestler Frankie Sloan.  Redcoat shows his age by saying Finlay is from WWE although there are surely plenty of parents and grandparents among the Happy Campers who recall seeing him on ITV with Princess Paula. He comes to the ring to his German theme tune "Belfast" by Boney M.  

Steve and Robbie start off, Steve gets a rear waistlock but Rob breaks it open to get an armbar. Steve raises it up to turn it into a top wristlock, swivel round and turn back into an armbar of his own.  Robbie rolls forward, resting in the guard before completing the kip up.  He th3 backwards cartwheels, underhooks Walters and backdrops him.  The heels tag and Brown and former heel compadre Dynamite lock up.  Brown corners and batters Robbi3 who posts him and bodychecks him in the corner. Brown gets an elbo2 in and comes back with a slam and guillotine elbowsmash. Robbie armdrags him, gets an armlever, twice passes it overhead, tags Finlay who takes i5 over and forces a high whip and bump on Brown.  Both heels flee to ringside. Finlay threatens to do a sliding dropkick!   The Redcoat leads the family audience in a chant of Chicken - so that's camp dinner sorted for that night!🍗. Walters comes in but is reluctant to lock up.  Finlay gets pressure points and a trip to get the Californian in a kneeling position, finishing him with one last chop. Unlike his younger self, Finlay obeys the no follow down rule (enforced or not) lets the man back up.  He floors him with a forearm smash and and cleanly lets him get up,  He gets a wristlever bu5 Walters being an American doesn't really know how to roll out so F8nlay deveps the hold into a front facing hammerlock then takes him down with a chinlock.  Again Finlay, going against a career of heeling, lets his man up - and pays for it when Walters drives him into the corner.  The heels try to double team but Robbie comes in pushing Waters over Brown.  Finlay tries smashing Walters' head in the corner but Walters gets the advantage and does it to Finlay who rolls out Walters tries the sliding dropkick.  There is an out of shot ringside brawl an d Waters is rolled in the worse for it. Dynamite comes in to apparently rescue Finlay from an attack by Brown but referee Sloan stops him.  The heels roll Finlay in, Walters gets a 2 count (being an American he just covers) and a pretty decent side chancery throw and another 2 count.  Walters whips Finlay but puts his head down and gets it kicked then gets thrown to ringside as the blue eyes tag.  Robbie gets a dropkick to ringside on Walters .  From her3 it gets more brawly, Walters using an illegal knee to tag Brown who likes in the forearms and stomps in the corner.  Dynamite leapfrogs Brown but is forearm smashed and stomped.  Waters tags in, gets a chinlock, smashes away, gets a 2 count. Walters is back and the heels double team Dynamite for another 2 count.  Brown posts Dynamite but Robbie headbutts him, climbs to the top rope and gets a magnificent sunset flip into double leg nelson for 2. The heels double team Dynamite and Finlay who must have pulled this trick a thousand times himself gets lured in and led back to his corner by referee Sloan.  And so the heel double team continues - Brown eventually getting a first Public Warning for an upward slingshot of Dynamite throat first into the middle rope.  Brown tries a quick cover for two, toehold Dynamite to stop him tagging, himself tags Walters who gets a guillotine elbowsmash.  Walters also gets a public warning - these care being issued individually despite this being a one fall contest.  Brown posts Robbie but misses a charge leaving both legal men on the mat.  Finlay makes the hot tag, beats down both heels, does his old 1980s Fireman's Carry And Backdrop on Walters but Brown rescues him and the Redcoat leads the crowd in chants of Cheater.  The blue eyes gets the better of it - Dynamite topés Brown at ringside while Finlay bouts Walters off, climbs the post but Walters pulls him off but then misses his own flying heat but and Finlay finies him with a reverse piledriver - another old 1980s favourite of his long before anyone called it a tombstone.  Rob returns and the good guys who spent most their respective careers as bad guys celebrate. So do the crowd including a couple of typically Butlins pom pom girls.  

Finlay spends a night playing Big Daddy. Better in terms of pure than it should have been especially with a visiting American in the mix.  Faultless as family entertainment.

Anyway, speaking of an American in a British tag match ...

 

 

[David Mantell]

... Here comes another one!  Thirty years earlier, Crusher Brannigan in 1982, fresh from facing Big Daddy and Akira "Kwick Kick Lee" Maeda at the 1982 FA cup final, teams with Daddy's nemesis Stax himself. The blue eye opponents' are themselves big guys and  Steve's dad Frank, aka Wild Angus, himself teamed with the Giant against Big Daddy at the previous year's cup final match, the bout that set up the Daddy/Haystacks Wembley Arena clash.  "Mc" Hoy and Stax also have transatlantic experience, mainly in Stampede.   

First session: Brannigan gets a headlock and hiptoss on McHoy   The future Steve Casey (not the 30s one nor Steve Dane the American) tries for a further nelson so Crusher goes for a long press but Steve turns him over.  Crusher turns him back but Steve escapes via the underarm, stays ahead of Brannigan's attempts to ride him and finally forces a rope break.  Steve gets a standing side headlock and Crusher backdrops him, slapping his fallen opponent to get early heat.  Not for th3clast time this match, Kent Walton harps on about how that sort of thing is Allowed In American All In Rules But Not Over Here, Dearie- Me, No!  Brannigan corners McHoy with heelishness aforethought but the young Scot gets th3 better of it and has the  big American collared.  He strides off to the c3ntre ring, daring the Real  American to face him cleanly.  Steve brushes off attempts to cuff him but the American gets an armbar.  Steve doesn't go with a whip, unusually Stax tags in and goes to work elbowsmashing his sometime partner Angus's kid a couple of times, complying for now with the no followdowns rule as Steve tags Ray.  (Two British blue eyes both named after American World champions from the 1930s/1940s.  How about that?) Steele is ready fo4 a fight, even getting a private warning from the referee for closed fists.  Stax gets the better and blasts him down in th3 back.  He gets pressure points but Ray elbows out  Steele gets a Headlock but Stax illegally concealed punches the good guy and tags Brannigan back.  He gets a chop and a front facing double wristlock into bearhug with backhammer, chops and elbows his man in the corner but is caught in a standing full nelson, snapmare and foot drop. McHoy tags in and gets a snapmare and Legdrop Of Doom (Hogan was in his AWA run at this time)  a forearm, a knee, a forearm from Steele whom he mistakenly tried to tag, a rear snapmare from McHoy and a dropkick. Steele tags in and elbows Crusher to stop him tagging. He locks up and forearm smashes and posts the American. Crusher picks up Steele off 5h3 mat triggering another rent from Kent about American rules. Steve tags in and posts Brannigan who takes an upside down corner bump. He posts and monkey climbs Brannigan. The good guys take turns tagging in and dropkicking Brannigan, first Steele then Steve then Steele again who collars. forearms, snapmares his man and dropkicks and tags McHoy who whips, flying tackles and gets the opening pin on Brannigan.

Second session.  Haystacks tries to start but the referee will not have it.  Brannigan takes a posting and endures a forearm smash battle with the young Scot but comes off the ropes with a kick, a legdive and an American Figure Four Leglock - best known in this country at the time for being used by Clayton Thompson in the 60s and 70s.  He gets the equalising submission.  

Third Session: McCoy gets up and protects the leg from Crusher but Haystacks blasts him from the apron.  That earns him a first Public Warning but also a much needed tag, only the third one of the heel side all match. Haystacks chops and stomps down in the kid he will face solo next year in Oldham.  He throws him to Steele who tags in - a battle of former and future British Heavyweight Champions.  Stax gets a headbutt, Steele gets three flying forearm smashes. Stax gets Steele up in a Fireman's Carry ready for a backdrop.  Steele appears to get a, crucifix, trying to get a Further Nelson takedown and manages it but the Giant lands on top of him, injuring his ribs badly, resulting in a TKO. Sorry for ruining your Xmas, OJ.  Ruins the audience's summer too as they boo. 

Less of a family friendly ending than thirty years earlier. Haystacks used sparingly and Brannigan keeps to the better bits of what he knows. The blue eyes put up a good performance and often look like pulling the upset but Stax is thecstart being kept strong here, even if he does very nearly fall for a very daring move at the finish.

 

[David Mantell]

A vintage bout that's not had any reviews previously.  It's blue eye Vs heel but don't hold that against it.  From November 1980 (I may well have caught it - I would have been six years old) , rufty-tutfy Soul Man Bond takes on a lighter British Light Heavyweight Champion Marty Jones.  A bi5 of a snafu at the start with incorrect captions for Rollerball Rocco and Pete Roberts.

Round 1:  after a false start hits the ropes, Jones gets an arm at but the bigger Bond rolls through and unhooks the wristlock and takes one of his own.  Jones rolls forward and back and takes thecarm with an underarm.  He switches to front facelock, Bond breaks it open and whips but Jones rolls away nicely.  Jones gets a legdive into Toe And Ankle and develop it into a leglock. Bond tries for a crossface but Jones shrugs it off.  He switches to anklescissor. This time Bond gets the crossface but Jones prises it open.  He shrugs off another crossface attempt and gets a sort of inverted Indian Deathlock.  From there he goes back to the toe and ankle and thence back to the wristlock.  He makes a hammerlock of it but this time it's Bond who smartly rolls away.  Bond takes an arm and gives it some weakening shakes, Jones rolls it straight but falls back into the armlock in guard from the stronger man who proceeds to make a top wristlock of it, leaning his weight on.  Jones bridges and turns to take Bond's arm then switch to side chancery then changes arms for a grovit.  He switches to side chancery into rear snapmare throw into chinlock but Bond comes back to get an arm.  It hits the ropes, forcing a break.  Jones gets round the back with a standing full nelson.  Bond twice breaks for a reverse but Jones both times doubles on him to regain the hold.  Bond rears, forearm smashes and gets just 2.  Jones gets a drop toehold into anklescissor and adds a crossface, then switches to quarter nelson then armbar.  Jones overheads the arm and makes it into a backhammer.  He secures the other arm and switches to further nelson, getting a 1 count but Bond is getting his shoulder up so Jones releases.  They start over with a Bond full nelson into snapmare but Jones again rolls up nicely - a good rollout by both men in this bout. Jones does another one off a Bond throw.  He steps over an interlock side and high whips Bond but he also rolls through splendidly and gets a wristlock. headbutting the hand.  He works on bending the weakened wrist.  The bell goes and he releases it. He won't be so quick for the bell later on.

Round 2.  They lock up and hit the ropes.  This time Bond is not so quick to release and referee and fellow Dave, Reece, has to pull him off.  They lock up again and Bond gets a slap, the first needle of the bout.  Another lockup and Jones nearly has Bond over the ropes but decides not to risk a public warning.  Bond isn't happy.  He armbars Jones who rolls through, Fireman's Carries Bond, dumps him on the corner and returns a slap for Bond's earlier one.  Bond's response is a hefty headbutt, flooring Jones.  He gets a kick before Jones is up and gets privately warned by the referee.  Bond gets an armlock and forces Jones down, shaking off a Jones grapevine.  Jones vaults over him French style and levers him down in a ground top wristlock.  Bond tries a headscissors - Jones avoids but has to sacrifice the top wristlock to do so. He tries getting another slap in at Bond who ducks out the way.  Kent is worried that the science may go out the window and a Bond chop shows why.  Bond does get a front facelock but before Jones is up and Reece calls him off.  Jones lifts Reece out of the way but thinks better and apologises- this isn't France!  Jones double interlocks, kicks one hand out and armdrags Bond.  He works on the wristlever in the guard.  Bond gets up but Jones side headlocks him and bodychecks the heavier man down.  Bond gets a butt to the stomach and smash to rear of neck, flooring Jones and gets a front facing armbars just as his man is up - quick but just about legal.  Jones gets in behind and tries for the chin so Bond armdrags him down into a guard armlock.  Jones kips up, leapfrogs Bond while still in the wristlock and snapmares his man!  Bond is going for rougher stuff now with two forearm smashes and a headbutt flooring Jones. A smash to the back of shoulders and and another front facing armlock of Bond, but Reece rules this too early and orders a break. Jones, clearly annoyed, gets an armlock and shakes it.  The bell goes but he doesn't release until Bond forearm smashes him.   Reece orders them apart.   It's been a good mostly scientific two rounds but as Kent says, needle is creeping in. Curiously Kent gives Jan 73 as Marty's pro debut - after the Hornets Vs Dangermen tag.  I guess even Kent Walton can make mistakes.

Round 3. They lock up and go to the corner but Bond gets the better of it.  He just gets a close headbutt in before the release and Reece is unhappy, giving him another private warning.  Jones gets an arm and then a kick to the legs, flooring Bond.  He gets another kick as Bond gets up then on the next rise a legdive and single leg Boston Crab but Bond can easily resist.  Jones releases but kicks his man in the back.   While down, Bond gets a single leg , floors Jones, applies weakeners and has Jones down for 4. Jones comes back with a kick and a headlock but Bond gets a backdrop on a rope running Jones. He tries for another but Jones gets a sharp kneelift.  Jones charges again but Bond gets a slam. double kneepress and opening pinfall.

Round 4. Bond gets a semi Japanese Stranglehold, yo-yos his man out and pulls him into a forearm smash (legal) and kneelift as he goes down (questionable.). Bond catches Jones on his way up with a grovit to match Jones's earlier one but Marty somehow spins out.  He charges and floors Bond, whips and stomach buts him. flooring him.  Bond gets a bit back and lifts his man for a slam but Jones gets off behinds, backs him in the ropes and rolls him into a front folding press for 2.   Bond goes too early for a headlock, Jones reverses it into a back hammerlock but the referee still breaks it up.    Bond gets a wristlever into standing back hammerlock, Jones drops down but Bond keeps the hold and gets the other arm for a further nelson, again like Jones did earlier.  He gets a couple of 1 counts but Jones can keep his shoulders up as well as Bond could earlier.  Jones gets a good stiff posting which Bond really sells.  After a 6 count he gets a leg but Jones pounds him off for another 6 count.  Up, Bond gets Jones on the ropes but this time will not break. Jones turns the tables and has Bond in the corner but with Reece sandwiched between them and he feels it when Jones butts Bond!  Reece has some serious words with both men!  Bond gets a wristlever but Jones will not roll with the whip.  He tries to bash his way out with three forearms but Bond yanks him to the mat in a guard armlock.  Jones kicks him off and lashes at his knee from the mat.  He collars and smashes his man on the back of the neck, flooring him for 6.  Bond gets a wrist and the two end up on the ropes but Reece pulls it apart.   Jones gets a legdive and weight dropping weakeners.  Bond is up at 7 but needs another 3 count in the corner to be ready.  Jones tries for the leg again but Bond is in first with a grovit into a chinlock. Again he won't release but Jones is equally too keen to fight his way out. This will have consequences ... 

Round 5 ... and Bond has finally been given a public warning but as the bell goes, Marty Jones gets one too!  His temper leaves him equal to his heel opponent for PWs plus he needs an equaliser this round for a 2F/S win.  Eager to score, Jones floors and snapmares Bond for a crosspress and 2 count.  Bond gets a leg on the mat but Jones kicks him off. They are both up at 4. Bond forearms and posts Jones. A second one and Jones scuttles through backwards (like James Mason did to Robbie Brookside in the 1999 tag I posted to the German thread this morning) dropkicks his man twice and gets a double legs into front folding press for that equaliser.  

Round 6.  Bond has lost his lead and is still selling the dropkicks like they hit him hard in the mouth.  Reece tries to get them to shake hands but Jones gets cold feet on the idea.  Jones gets a cross buttock throw for 7, Bond gets an armlever and kick to the stomach.  He goes for an armhank but Jones slides out- he tries for a front facelock but Reece calls for a break.  He gets a slam but Jones catches him with a ground placed dropkick, posting. slam of his own and crosspress for 2.  Bond tries for something on the mat but Reece orders him off.  Jones es floors his man with two knees.  Bond comes back with two headbutts.  He whips Jones to the ropes but he comes back with a sunset flip and double leg nelson for 2.  Again Bond goes for a leglock on the mat, Reece with have none of it and Jones shoves him off.  (Perhaps it's only Jones's retaliation in these situations that prevents Reece giving Bond a second public warning.). Back up and standing, Bond gets a side headlock.  He gets a body check out the second time Jones hiptosses him down and makes a crosspress for 2.  Reece disallows a Bond headlock on the mat.  They both stand and exchange forearm smashes.  Bond  puts Jones's arm in a hammerlock position and turns away from Reece to try get a concealed punch but Reece follows him round. forcing Bond to settle for another forearm smash.  They exchange these then Jones gets a dropkick Bond gets behind and  a nice trip into sideways folding press but only gets a 1 out of it.  He gets another semi Japanese Stranglehold and headbutt.  Jones gets a similar nice side folding press from behind but rolls through too far for any count.  Bond gets a forearm smash that sends Jones out to ringside.  Bond tries to block Jones' return but he comes in with a missile dropkick.  Bond is up at 9 but down into a snapmare into cross press for 2  The seconds tick down Jones gets a headlock with Bond breaking it open into an armbar into back hammerlock as the bell goes. This time Bond releases instantly. It's a 1-1 draw and he won't risk that being changed to a DQ loss  for him.  They jaw at each other and uneasily shake hands - then Reece makes one final breakup to leave things on a sweet note.

The MC raises the bout for being a hard competitive contest, rare for a blue eye Vs heel match. Normally only clean matches get the "Wrestling at its best" accolades.  There was enough needle and roughness to keep most of You Lot happy and it stayed just about technical for me.  Call that a draw also.

 

[David Mantell]

Okay, this an the next match are to make it up to those of you dissatisfied by the camcorder footage on the French thread.  From November 1986, the Birmingham Steve Logan, having lost out to Alan Kilby for the vacant British Light Heavyweight Championship a couple of years earlier (see next post!)  faces up to him again two years later. These two bouts should be real palette cleansers of technical clean matches. Astonishingly neither one has been reviewed on here before. 

Round 1.  After a false start hitting the ropes, Alan gets a side headlock flicking between that and front chancery.  He moves to side chancery and Steve gets a leg in retaliation.  Eventualy Logan's legdive gets the better of the situation. Kilby goes down and Steve switches legs to work on the other knee, getting a toe and ankle.  He shrugs off Kilby's attempts to boot him off and to grab a wristlock.  Eventually Logan backs off.  Kilby in turn gets a legdive and weakeners.  Logan counters with a crossface.  He tries to turn out but Kilby secures a Gotch toehold. He looks to be trying for a surfboard (and Logan does bait him with the odd arm) but instead switches to a side headlock, forsaking the legs.  Kilby side chancery throws Steve who rolls through elegantly.  They get a half Interlock and Steve offers the other half but Kilby declined and goes for a wristlever instead.  He gives the arm a weakening shake then a high whip, forcing a bump and a 4 count.  Logan is up and goes from collar and elbow to side headlock to front chancery.  He walks his man back to near the ropes to give himself the maximum amount of mat forwards and gets a good long side chancery throw on Kilby. Logan goes for a charge but aborts because Kilby is not fully up.  The bell rings and they shake hands.  

Round 2 and Kilby gets a top wristlock. Logan tries to throw him and eventually manages to hoist him in a fireman's carry. He adjusts his grip but ends up placing him on the corner - Kent reckons Logan was looking for a slam but I think a fisherman's suplex would have done just as well. Either way, Logan gives up and they start over.  Kilby gets an Indian Deathlock (Walton calls it a "figure four leglock with bar" - I only use the figure four name on here to refer to the American Figure Four Leglock most of you would automatically think of).  He shoves off Logan's attempts to sit up and disentangle the hold.  Logan gets a grip on a foot in the end forcing Kilby to reach down to counter - so Logan gets the arm and puts on an armlock into back hammerlock, forcing Kilby to relinquish to get the mobility he needs to combat this new hold. Having secured the hammerlock, Logan uses his knees to keep his grasp while securing the other arm in an armbar.  With both arms this secured, Logan turns his man into the guard and gets a couple of crosspresses for one each but Kilby's strength is too much for a pin at this point. Logan gives up and gets the double interlock he wanted earlier.  He tries and fails to break each side with a knee so instead fires a lean-back dropkick.  Kilby is up at 5 and gets a front chancery and kneelift, a side chancery throw into Legdrop of Doom.  Logan shoves Kilby away from down on the mat.  Kilby retaliates with a shoulderblock and elbowsmash to the back of the shoulders.  Kilby gets two wrist levers, as before jerking the limb each time. The bell goes but being deaf. Kilby can't hear it so goes for a posting but stops when the referee intervenes.  Logan accepts the situation (a common problem for Kilby). they shake hands and Kilby goes back to his corner for a sign language chat with his second Jimmy Lapper who was also deaf.  

Round 3.  Alan gets an arm and a hiptoss into crosspress but Logan keeps getting a shoulder up.  He gets another armlock but a sharp Logan knee to the chest puts paid to that. Logan looks to go for a whip but changes to a front chancery but it is against the ropes so referee Max Ward calls for a break.  Logan gets a posting and a 4 count. Kilby gets a single finger Interlock into high whip but not much of a bump and his follow-up crosspress is easily thrown off.  Logan gets a wristlever, drives an elbow into the bicep and converts to a hammerlock on the already weakened arm with Kilby down in the guard.  As earlier, he lets his knees take control of the hammerlock and goes to work on the other arm turning his man into the crosspress and this time getting as much as 2 before giving up.  Kilby gets a shove, elbowsmash, posting, but falls for a Logan keeps and his attempt at a legdive is preempted by Logan getting an armbar.   Kilby half rolls but only into the guard and Logan who still has the wrist, can drop a knee on the bicep and work further on the wristlock until the bell goes.

Round 4 Logan gets a leg but switches to the arm from before to go back to work, kneeling the bicep and maintaining a guard armlock.  Kilby kips up and deftly reverses the wristlever.  He adds a couple of twists then switches to double legs, gets a forward folding press but Logan crawls out.  Kilby declined running the ropes and instead gets a beautiful transfer from side chancery throw to headscissors.  Logan turns upright with Kilby maintaining the hold in the mount. Kilby bashes Logan's head, in the hold, into the mae and gets back to the sit-up position. Logan tries uncorking the hold with his knees but can't get them in so pulls the legs taut , turns over and goes into a handstand to get the pull to free his head.  He gets a wristlever but Kilby rolls through and spreads Logan's legs with his own then boots him backward for a 5 count. Kilby gets a hiptoss into side headlock plus armscissor on the mat.  He shrugs off a pair of Logan headscissors with two side folding press attempts in between , maintaining the side headlock all the way through until he transitions to a standing front chancery.  He keeps holding of that until the bell goes.

Round 5 and still no score.  Kilby uses a side chancery to position Logan for a forearm smash.  He gets a rear snapmare into crossface Logan keeps forcing it up so Kilby switches to a double underarm Logan tries throwing Kilby forwards then  rears his way out ("Nice butt" says Walton with incredible innocence, especially considering his other career!!!!) and gets a forearm smash and rear snapmare.  He gets some flying elbows and a posting but Kilby reverses a second one and gets an over the knee backbreaker and crosspress for 2.  Kilby gets a bodycheck then runs the ropes but Logan ducks under and catches him in motion with a long cross buttock throw into crosspress for the opening fall.  One up to Logan.

Round 6. Logan gets a full nelson After falling to twist out, Kilby rears out and gets a front chancery. He gets a forearm and Logan gets a knee but it goes in the corner and Ward demands a break.  Logan gets a posting, snapmare and kneedrop for 4, a snapmare and bodycheck but Kilby gets a leg chop and underhook into long suplex and crosspress for 2.   They hit the ropes again and Kilby gets a side folding press for the equalising fall.

Round 7 and Kilby off to a good start with a slam, then a side chancery throw into chinlock into three further nelson press, the first two for 1 and the last not even for that.  Logan gets behind then leapfrogs and superkicks him in one move. He follows with a posting, slam and crosspress but can't get the shoulders down.  Kilby gets a whip into backdrop for 6. Logan gets a single leg takedown and waekeners into a toe and ankle hold, briefly putting his head in to shield from Kilby's attempts to boot him off.  He gets one more weakener before releasing Kilby who is up at 4.  They full Interlock and Logan gets a knee in but as they drop Kilby gets a headlock in and tries a crosspress but gets the same trouble he himself gave Logan earlier.  Both men are very cautious in the late stages with a couple of Interlocks going nowhere because, as Kent observes, they are being so careful they don't produce any moves at all!  Logan breaks off the last Interlock with his knees and Kilby does get a side headlock, resisting a Logan atomic drop, before the bell goes.

Round 8. Final round and off they go, crossing the ring. Kilby drops to the mat and comes up with a butt to the stomach.  He gets a posting and a good long side Chancery throw.  Logan takes another posting well on his knee and comes back with an elbowsmash. Kilby no sells a bodycheck, goes for a cross buttock press near the ropes but both men catch their shoulders on the top rope.  Curiously it is Kilby who is offered a TKO but since he asks for a No Contest it makes no difference anyway.  

A fine scientific match but of course @ohtani's jacket won't like that result. So to make up for that, I rewind back to Logan and Kilby's previous encounter, back in early 1984 when Logan first won the belt ...

 

[David Mantell]

For the second time, Kilby is in a final for a British title after its previous holder won a World Championship. Last time it was the Heavy Middleweight title after Rollerball Rocco beat Joel de Fremery to  become World Champion  . This time it was after the complex feud for both titles between Marty Jones and Fit Finlay ended with Jones regaining the World Mid Heavyweight title on a confusing DQ win (confusing inasmuch as as it was not clear why Finlay was disqualified.)  Last time Kilby disposed of King Ben (who eventually did  briefly take this here Light Heavyweight title off Kilby in early 1988) this time young Logan is the other finalist for a belt that his Iron Man Of London namesake once was also a finalist for in 1955 before losing out to Ernie Riley, son of Wigan Snakepit boss Billy Riley.

Round 1 after an initial lock up hits the corner.  Logan gets a side headlock,  Kilby throws him to the ropes and bodychecks him then takes him down via a hiptoss into a side headlock on the.mat.  Logan turns him into a side folding press and gets a 1 count but then powers up right to near standing position. Kilby snapmares Logan who rolls up nicely and then gets a lunge, then a snapmare of his own, absorbs a Kilby bodycheck and whips his man into the ropes.  Kilby comes back with a sunset flip into double leg nelson for 2.before Logan hits him with the double ankle smash and whips him in the ropes Kilby catches him in a cross buttock throw and press for 2 until Logan kicks off. Kilby gets a legdive and begins weakening Logan's knee before scissoring the ankle.  Logan gets a crossface and puts his free leg around Kilby in half a bodyscissors. Kilby releases the leg to counter the crossface so Logan completes the bodyscissors.  Kilby tries undressing the hold but Logan bumps him in an atomic drop in the bodyscissors (the move that gets French fans chanting "Ah Ouais!". The impact does break the crossface and Alan looks to undo the scissors to Logan tries various arm holds to stop him.  They turn over sideways before agreeing to a stalemate. Once up, Kilby gets an arm at. weakener and snapmare and front chancery, but Logan drives him into the ropes and referee Jeff Kaye pulls them apart.  Logan gets a full nelson but then the bell goes.

Round 2. and Kilby gets a side chancery to rear snapmare. He tries another side chancery but Logan gets a leg. Kilby shrugs it off and gets a snapmare into rear chinlock.  Logan snaps it open into an armbar into hammerlock with Kilby down in the mount, twice kneedrops the arm and tightens the hold.  As in the last bou, he lets his knees take over the hold, secure the other arm and turns his man over in the guard with a cross press for 2 and another 2 with the arm straight.  Kilby bridges up so Logan loads his weight on top. Kent predicts the bridge will hold but it collapses.  They start over and  Kilby gets the back of the neck but Logan goes for the leg again and takes his man down, making s double legspread. He has it for a good while before Kilby pulls up a knee and jumps forwards into a side headlock on the mat. Logan starts to get up so Kilby cross buttocks him down.  Logan gets a 2 count with a side folding press for 2.  Logan gets up then slips out the headlock with a side folding press from behind.  Alan rolls out into a mash ash they call a stalemate.  Kilby gets behind for a standing chinlock but the bell goes.

Round 3:  Logan gets a headlock into side chancery throw into further nelson - a nice sequence but only for a 2.  He gets a few 1s but Kilby keeps getting a shoulder up.  So Logan releases and Kilby gets a side chancery throw and bodycheck buck Logan ducks, leapfrogs and hiptosses Kilby into a crosspress for 2.  Kilby gets a legdive into an Indian Deathlock, Logan twice knocks off the pinioning leg.  so Alan transitions to an improved hold.  This leaves him vulnerable to sit-up attacks from Logan as in the last bout.  Logan rolls Kilby into a folding press but Runs Out Of Mat as their legs hit the ropes. Kaye calls for a break.  Logan gets a half nelson into snapmare down into double kneepress for 1 then a crosspress for 1 before Kilby bridges to throw him off.  Kilby gets a powerful cross buttock throw for four before Logan springs into a button to stomach for three , a forearm smash, a side chancery throw into crosspress for 1. Kilby tried for a waistlock from the mat but Logan shrugs him off and they start over.  Logan gets a rear waistlock into front folding press for 2. Kilby gets a shoulder in, Logan gets a front chancery into forearm smash using the hold to position his man for the blow.  He gives Alan a knee to the stomach and a smash tomthe shoulder blades Kilby collars him just in time for the bell.  During the interval we see Marty Jones at ringside in big glasses and a rugby shirt, not exactly the most flattering image of him ever.

Round 4. Kilby twice collars and forearm smashes Logan then snapmares and Legdrop Of Dooms him.  Logan is up after 6 but side chancery thrown down a long way and splashes him for 2 for a pin count then another 4 for a KO count. Again Alan collars and this time double kneelifts Steve who wandes into the corner but catches Kilby with a superkick for 4 as he follows in. Now it's Logan's turn to do the collar and smash. Followed by a slam and crosspress. Kilby gets an arm up then the other arm up to cut two counts short at 2.  Logan offers a  reset and Kilby gets his butt to stomach and smash to shoulders pair in again followed by a snapmare down into crossface with the elbows and entire lower arms meeting.  Logan tries to grab the fists at the top to undress the hold (and if he could get the power that would be one big gappy "chinlock" to remove his head from!) so realising this flaw in his hold, Kilby switches to a further nelson press, twice for two  before Logan regains his balance, a third time for 1 before Steve shakes the hold off!  They shake hands and the crowd claps. Kilby gets a full nelson, Logan tries rearing out, then sliding out downwards then gripping his own lifted leg for extra leverage then another rearing. None work, the full nelson stays on.  Finally uses a repeated series of rears to hammer Kilby backwards into the ropes for a break.  Kilby again gets the front and back pair of blows, then a slam for 5, uppercut for 6 and side chancery throw into crosspress for 1 with Logan getting his arm up before the bell.  

Round 5 Logan gets a Headlock. (A Q dot in the top right corner signifying an advert break in the next 60 seconds manages to Spoiler what is coming.). Kilby breaks it open into an armbar, passing it overhead to tighten it.  Before Logan can roll out, Kilby switches to side headlock and cross buttocks his man for 4. Logan shoves him down, gets a side chancery throw and comes off the ropes in a bodycheck.  Alan doesn't sell it much but ducks down under the next charge and gets his man in the rebound with a superkick then a backslide ("double arm shoulderpress") for the opening fall.  We get the Wrestling advert break music that went with Jeff Lynne's new 1983 theme for World of Sport, so this was clearly a well kept domestic recording of the original 1985 broadcast.

Round 6. Kilby goes from collar to side headlock to side chancery but can't get the throw.  He turns his man 90' into a grovit position but Logan beats his way free with inside forearm blows the gets a knee in to force Kilby down on his.  Logan whips Kilby into the ropes and gets another knee to the stomach, felling him.  Kilby no gets a snapmare and kneedrop for 4 and gets in an elbow but takes another knee for 4. Logan collars him again and gets a single shoulder charge in the corner -andy more and the bout would no longer be clean - then more elbows and knees into a snapmare and crosspress for 2.  Logan gets behind for a takedown into side folding press for 2, then a forearm, posting and forearm again Kilby gets a posting of his own, a long side chancery throw for 4 but then falls for the same takedown into folder as a minute before, this time Running Out Of Mat as Kilby's feet touch the ropes Kilby gets two knees, Logan a head.  then a side chancery into chinlock  then into a further nelson press which Kilby bridges up from enough to keep his shoulders off the mat.  Kilby gets a whip into boot as the bell goes. This round was  a bit of a brawl, not dirty but a bit of a fight,  hope OJ likes it but I hope things get more technical again

Round 7  Kilby gets double knees for 5:and a slam for 5 and a hiptoss for 5 also then a posting but Logan takes it on the knee, dives through the legs, comes up and like Johnny Saint's "Lady Of The Lake sequence briefly grabs a headlock then releases and goes behind Kilby for another leapfrog and superkick  and posting attempt. Kilby reverses the last one but Logan leaps up on the top turnbuckle and comes off with a flying bodypress for the equalising pin.  Better than than last round which was more hard hitting than technical. Bout returns to form here.   

Round 8.  Logan tries his side folding press yet again- and yet again Runs Out Of Mat.  The ropes also put paid to a forearm smash battle. Logan gets a legdive into single toehold, brushes off Alan's kick off attempts, replying with a knee weakener. Kilby is persistent with the kicks and Logan lets him go, even graciously helping him up by the hand!  They shake hands and start over as Steve gets an armlock and twists. Alan rolls out - Aah THIS is more like it - and gets an arm of his own and a high Irish whip which Logan fails to go for, trading a bump avoided for a serious arm weakener!  He stays down for 7 and Kaye checks the joint but Logan - perhaps thinking of what @ohtani's jacket would say about it  (nearly 41 years later) - decides to wrestle on. Kilby goes for a rear waistlock, Logan drops to the floor to  shrug him off but Kilby lands in just the right position to get a hammerlock on. Logan resists the submission (now how would a title win with a HAMMERLOCK have been, eh?) so Kilby uses Logan's trick of getting the other arm in, using both his legs rather than his arms à la Logan to get the turn of the shoulders into the mat. He does get a couple of one counts but no more.  They get up and Logan is clearly protecting his shoulder. He gets a legdive, Alan gets an armbar on the injured arm but the bell rings at just the wrong moment for Alan.  He now has to worry about how good a pitstop job Logan's seconds can do on his arm. 

Round 9 and it's all about that shoulder. Kilby goes right to work hiptossing Logan on the painful joint.  He gets another Whip and AGAIN Logan fails to take the bump but suffers bicep pain instead.  He throws Kilby -using his other arm! -  leapfrogs and dropkicks him and posts him. A second posting is reversed by Kilby, twisting that arm as he goes, but Logan leaps up tomthe top turnbuckle for another flying bodypress like his equaliser in round 7 but misses and lands right on the shoulder.  Kilby gets a superkick,long suplex. crosspress uthe pinfall for the winner and the title. Unfortunately the YouTube clip cuts out before Marty can present the belt to Kilby.

Thus was the start of a 20 year association on and off between Kilby and the British Light Heavyweight Championship. He would lose and regain it with King Ben in 1988 (fresh off Ben's Golden Grappler trophy win over son Kid McCoy) then by the mid 90s move to All Star and lose it to Skull Murphy in 1995 and Dirty Dan (ex  Danny Boy) Collins in 1996-1997 - the highest up the weights Collins would win a title before his first retirement in 2002 - "Mad Dog" Ian Wilson for the Knight family's WAW in late  1998 before seeing out his final years in Adam Mumford's RBW in 2003-2004, still wearing the belt to the ring until he retired in 2004 aged 60.

As for the bout, well it's got the definitive finish this time unlike the other so that should keep some folk happy (see also the recent two Rumble bouts I posted between Charley Marley and Craig Callahan for a refused TKO no contest finish versus a pinfall win.). I think this bout was let down by Round 6 which was hard hitting but, as Kent would say, Not Enough Wrestling.  The rest of the match was a fine companion piece to the November 1986 bout.

 

[David Mantell]

@William BolognaYet another Wrestle Me vlog piece on British Wrestling, this time focusing on a feud that spanned both Britain and Japan:  Sammy Lee Vs Rollerball Rocco and their Puroresu alter egos Tiger Mask mk1 Vs Black Tiger mk1.

5:28 note the comments about the audience being like a tennis audience, well educated in appreciation of skillful play.  Credit Kent Walton for educating them this. Most of my own style of reading and analysing a match comes from Kent too. It's how we Brit TV babies were brought up.

[David Mantell]

Okay I've lookup the match, it's only a minute longer than what I originally planned (a 1980 Giant Haystacks tag) which I'll save for next week when I've got less time). and our friends the radio DJs praise it to the skies.

Pity @ohtani's jacket doesn't feel the same way:

On 8/12/2013 at 9:08 AM, ohtani's jacket said:

Sammy Lee vs. Mark Rocco (3/31/81)

 

How can a guy as good as Rocco be so shit all the time? This was just awful. Sayama was so over with the crowd, drawing football chant level support, that it would've been a breeze to put together a hot match. After all, all-action, big bumping, show stealing performances were supposed to be Rocco's specialty. Instead, we got this turd-by-comparison, and believe me Sayama wasn't blowing spots either. Bluck.

Okay, let's make our own minds up.  The crowd evidently have, singing "WHATSALOADOFRUBBISH" at Rocco.  .  Apparently, says Kent, Sammy has a considerable female following.

Round 1:  Lee mostly focuses on his spinning kick to start, cornering Rocco th3n letting him have a blast.  Rocco gets a hammerlock but Lee straighten a the arm, rolls forward twice -th3n seconds time going over on his head like the young Dynamite Kid against Alan Dennisson in 1976. He finishes off with a high whip causing Rocco to bump heavily to the delight of all his haters.  Sammy isn't laughing, he glares maliciously at Rocco who responds with a top wristlock.  Sammy does the French style back flip to a better angl3 then a  cross buttock throw for another hard Rocco bump.   Rollerball gets a high finger into side chancery, transitioning to full nelson. Sammy butts out backwards and comes back off the ropes with a flying tackle and cross press but Rocco bench presses Lee out of the ring.Le3 flips in offer the top rope and straight to another spinning kick. Rocco gets a grovit and transitions to double rear arms, perhaps looking afo.  Lee flips forward, catching Rocco in a reverse ground dropkick as he does so.   Rocco kips up and cross buttock presses Lee who keeps the momentum going into a cross buttock throw of his own.  Rocco gets a quick armlock into rear standing hammerlock, driving Lee down to the mat but just short of turning him into th3e guard for a pin.  Eventualy Rocco, frustrated , kicks and pounds on the shoulder joint, getting himself some heat by choking Sammy on the top rope.  He is warned off by referee Dave Reece .  but the dirties have done their job, Sammy is selling his at, rubbing tenderly at the bicep.  Rocco tries to get a posting to land on the shoulder/bicep but Sammy reverse leapfrogs him.  Rocco, unlike other heels, can keep up with Sammy for speed, he is getting his kicks in.  Rocco tries the same precision posting, this time Sammy rolls over the top.  He is also ready for the kick this time, grabbing Rocco's ankle as it comes up and flooring him.   The cdrowd are delighted to see Rocco on the mat rolling around but personally I would have preferred to see Lee keep hold and develop it into a leglock of some sort!  (Advert break on the digital repeat.). Rocco gets even with a concealed punch, kick, snapmares and guillotine elbowsmash.  Lee is up at 8 but whipped into a stomach but. Rocco gets anothe4 snapmare but this time misses the elbowsmash.  Lee fights back with his trademark spinning kick. whip and shoulderblock.  Rocco nervously gets a half interlock into standing full nelson.  Lee tries to slip in an arm for a cross buttock throw but the bell goes.  

Round 2  Lee has an odd, contorted fighting stance with one hand bent a pointing forward.  Rocco gets in with a front facing armbars, getting behind and kneelifting  the joint, the same one as before.  He switches to a concealed punch and kick (Reece is highly suspicious of the former.).  He gets in a blow to the back of the neck then a Randy Savage axehandle, carefully timing it just as Lee gets his knee off the mat so it is -just barely - legal.  Lee is down for 8, slapped down for 2 and reverse pikdriven. He climbs the ropes for a followup but Lee gets up and throws him down.  Rocco leaves th3cring to recover and the crowd sing "nice one Sammy.".  They lock up and Rocco forces Sammy in to an over  the knee backbreaker held with a grovit, then a headbutt held with the hair (Reece is most unhappy with this.).   Lee makes a feet first landing from a Rocco monkey climb and gets his spinning kick in fast as does the fallen Rocco with a chop to the thigh.  He whips and boots Lee in the stomach but misses a guillotine elbowsmash off the top rope.  Lee, up first, gets a whip and shoulderblock.  This time Rocco is up with with a magnificent long suplex.  It keeps his man down for eight.  Rocco tries again and this tim3 gourdbusts Lee on the top rope, earning himself a public warning.    Lee sells it for a long while and as he's allowed up for free without a count (as refs can permit when one man is felled by a foul) he is entitled to that. Rocco tries a third suplex but Lee lands feet first behind, atomic drops Rocco on one knee , posts him and inverted waistlock slams him on to o e knee. He switches to crosspress and gets the opening fall.

Round 3. Angry, Rocco goes for chops - and more chops - all the way down to the mat.  Reece gives him his Second And Final Public Warning. (If you've seen the Wrestle Me vlog, you'll already know where things are heading. If not - Spoilers  and I don't mean Drew McDonald or Don Jardine.).  Rocco gets a side chancery throw and, now knowing he has to be careful, delivers a series of guillotine elbowsmashes just fast enough that they can get passed by Reece as continuous motion.  He does get away with a hairpull but Lee gets on the attack first before Reece can step in, Lee makes a feet first landing from a backdrop and is back in with a spinning kick. Rocco successfully conceals a punch and posts Lee but when Lee comes back off the top rope, Rocco tries to flyswat him with a punch and Reece catches him!  DISQUALIFIED!!!

THE crowd don't share OJ's view of disqualification finishes, they are DELIGHTED to see hated heel Rocco gets his comeuppance.  Neither wrestler is happy, Rocco shouts threats, Lee mouths curses.  

I thought that was pretty decent myself.  The fouls, like with Jones Vs Bond, were kept in their place - even with a DQ finish - and Rocco was actually able to keep up with Lee unlike Cooper, Mulligan, England and even Breaks who ended up as his humiliated stooges for slowness.  And when Saya a returned home for his Tiger Mask push. he brough5va little souvenir with him.  See the two different matchups side by side below in a Japanese YouTube channel video.

 

Okay, for all you Haystacks fans, unless something really exciting gets posted to Rumble's YouTube channel, that 1980 tag match will be rescheduled for next weekend.