The Beginner's Guide To British Wrestling

[David Mantell]

On 6/11/2026 at 7:07 PM, David Mantell said:

James Mason Vs Steve Grey.

 

The other clean match and the match if the night- in fact I wish this was the final.  James gets to show off all his young technical skill against one of the greats.   I would love to do a blow by blow of this but as I say I'm on holiday and the pool beckons tomorrow.  Mason wins, having survived a surfboard at one point, landing feet first from a monkey climb, crawls out of a Boston Crab and concerts it to a  folding press. Magical stuff from a Young Man destined for (mostly non American)  big things

I think this match deserves better. It's only eight minutes long but it was James Mason's coming of age moment.

From the start. James handstands to lever out of a side headlock, then has Grey down for a 1 count when he tries to twist out of a headlock of Mason's own. Grey tries bridging out and cuts the pin count to 1 before wedging his way out. Grey gets an armbar but James does a two stage roll through. He tries a whip of his own but Grey rolls upright in one move. Grey handstands in Mason's next armbar and uses a foot to pick off the hold and take an armbar himself on young James.  When Grey converts to a whip, Mason comes back off the ropes with a sunset flip into double leg nelson for 2 before Steve double ankle smashes his way out. Grey goes for the arm but Mason is quicker and gets a single leg into toehold, weakening the knee as he goes. Grey spins him off and Mason takes a somersault bump to go with the leg whip. Up at 6, James again gets the sunset flip into double leg nelson but Steve rolls backwards with the momentum and gets James' legs, pushing him back for a folding press of his own. James spins him off but Steve goes with it and cartwheels back upright.James develops an armbar into a back hammerlock, turns Grey into the guard and cross presses him for several one counts but Grey keeps getting an arm free.  So James gets a doubl3 Interlock into armlever but Grey kicks him off and side chancery throws him, takes a single leg and applies a folding single leglock. From there he gets the other leg in a matching leglock and gets both wrists and leans back to complete the surfboard but James gets an arm free and escapes. He's still selling and Grey whips him but James surprises him with a side folding press for 2.  Grey kicks out but James gets a backslide for another two count. He gets another armlever off a double Interlock and tries for the arm lift but Grey forearm smashes his way out.  James gets yet another 2 count,  this time with a flying tackle but Grey comes back with a snapmare into chinlock.  James turns round in the hold arm straightens the arm into another armbar forcing Steve to take a hard somersault bump to untwist the arm.   But Grey rolls backwards and gets in a crafty ground position dropkick.  Yet again James gets the sunset flip into double leg nelson for 2 -  this time Grey uses his heel to bash his way out.  Grey tries a  double leg takedown into folding press but James easily crawls out.  From a double Interlock James gets a side chancery into side headlock into chinlock into lengthways press (now that's a rare conversion!) for a one count.  James looks ready to try again but Grey doubl3 knees him in the head and posts him. Grey gets a monkey climb but Mason makes a feet first landing!  He tries a dropkick but Grey catches his legs in mid flight and pulls him down for a Boston Crab but James not only flips him over but hooks both legs for the Davey Boy at Summerslam 92 folding press to get the pin, the win and the place in the World title final.

Eight minutes of glorious technical wrestling with the one Grey kick and one Grey forearm smash being the only concessions to brawling.  A TBW becomes a Young Master.

 

[David Mantell]

On 4/5/2015 at 8:20 AM, ohtani's jacket said:

Kid Chocolate vs. Johnny England (4/3/79)

Shorter, less eventful bout notable only for the fact that England was now rocking a massive afro.

 

 

 

I'm guessing it's the second bout because England has quite thick longish hair here, not exactly an Afro tho (his curl were veering that way by 1981 and the Sammy Lee match).  Also because we see the blue World of Sport studio plus globe insignia and and I seem to recall that came in about 1979 when I was 5, replacing the yellow look.

We JIP in Round 2.  Kid tries an arm but England gets a cobra clutch first, bu5 oddly uses it to throw Kid who takes the bump.  Kid tries to flip out of smother throw but again bumps instead.  England fares better, twice coming upright after going over on both hands and looking smug about it.  John gets the best of a double Interlock tes5 of strength but Kid bridges to avoid a pin and powers back.  John also does a fine bridge and contemptuously pushes Kid down.  Kid widens John's legs to fell him and catches him with a headbutt as he gets up then gets double legs into a folding press for the opening fall.  

(I should have liked to have seen that scoreless first round if Round 2is anything to go by!)

Round 3.  Comedy spot - John who was raging angrily after the bell - slams Kid's head into all four corners to no effect. Kid needs just one corner to get results.  Kid gets a bit naughty and starts pulling John off the canvas to throw him down.  The ref Peter Szakacs ets it go because England is blatantly stalling and eventually gives England a count of 7 to get him up the proper way.  John tries an illegal punch but hurts his hand on Kid's head.  He has more joy with a couple of postings and back of shoulders forearm s ash and some illegal stomps and some more postings.  He gets a pair of gorilla presses and drops to the front for 8 then puts on an abdominal stretch which becomes a Zoltan Boscik 3 in 1 Special for an equalising submission.

He then refuses to release and gets a public warning for it.  But it is some work in progress for a second submission.

Round 4.  Kid gets to work with headbutts. England goes outside to the ring apron to stall, Kid flips him in by the head.  England gets a single legdive takedown and leglock, Kid contemplates and delivers a heel smash to the cranium but England carries on work with the leg, splashing the knee several times (nearly getting another public warning) and leaving Chocolate limping on his right leg.  England gets that Second And Final Public Warning for following a headbutt to the stomach with some more illegal stomps.  John gets a fireman's carry and contemplates throwing Kid to ringside for a knockout. Problems - he's two  Public Warnings down and a throw to ringside from immediately adjacent to the ropes will bring a third PW and disqualification.   He decides to get round the rules by making it look like a double knockout by going over the ropes himself, hoping to be the  one to make it back in time.  Very crafty but takes quite a bump of his own account.  The count reaches 10.  England recovers a second too late and scurries back like the Hare seeing the Tortoise  crossing the finish line,  claiming a KO win.  Certainly Kid got the worst of it but Szakacs confirms it's a double knockout. Nice try England but it didn't quite come off.

Good short blue eye Vs villain match.  England -unlike Tejero on the French Catch thread - actually got som3 good moves in rather than be a carpenter and make 53 good guy lok good.  Interesting take on the knockout finish, I expect OJ won't approve but I thought it quite an imaginative finish, England caught in his own snare.

 

[David Mantell]

On 6/9/2015 at 1:39 AM, ohtani's jacket said:

Alan Kilby vs. Colonel Brody (3/5/87)

What's a South African colonel doing being valeted by a black French woman? I'd love to say that was a political statement but somehow I doubt it. You've got to love Walton mentioning Brody was born in England. Why don't you just tell everyone that he's Magnificent Maurice, Kent? You know you want to. They barely aired any of this, but I doubt we missed out on much.

Regarding OJ's first point it's just as well that none of Walton, the audience and ITV executives had seen Brody's N-bomb dropping behaviour on German home video circa 1985 which may possibly have sown the seed for fellow German tournament scenester Ed Wisowski's Colonel DeBeers gimmick in the AWA the next year.  Perhaps Miss Petite Fleur was an attempt to back away from that kind of dark heat. Talking of Germany/Austria , Brody has the Vienna Cup he won the previous year 1986 with him.  Alan also has a familiar face seconding him, his equally hearing challenged second Jimmy Napper, with whom he chats in sign language between rounds.

Round 1:  A couple of lockups end with Kilby against the ropes and Brody getting in a crafty knee as he breaks.  Bald Brody complains about a hairpull (file under The Best, the Old Jokes are). When the situation is reversed, Alan asks the crowd if he should deal similarly and Brody is quick to take advantage.  Kilby is up against the ropes but he ducks a descending heel of hand from Brody who ends up falling out of the ring.  Kilby flips him in and dropkicks him out.  Someone very audibly shouts something homophobic at Brody - a reference to his former "mean moody"  Magnificent Maurice gimmick?  We finally get some science as Brody gets a semi Japanese Stranglehold., forcing Kilby to the guard on the mat.  Kilby forces his way upright but Brody takes him back down  The first good reversal as Kilby straightens the barring arm into a rear wristlock. Brody the cowardly heel dives for a rope escape.. iIt makes little difference anyway as the bell goes.  

Cut to Round 3:  Brody uses pressure points to drive Kilby to his knees, slipping his own knee in and getting a 4 count. He posts Kilby. He gets a late knee and slingshots him by the throat off the top rope, each of which earn him a private warning from ref Jeff Kaye.  A forearm smash gets him a six count and a hangman's lift an opening submission.

Cut to Round 5:  Apparently Brody is on his second and final public warning, presumably accrued during round 2 (Kaye alludes to this in round 3 so I think both were in Round 2). Brody gets a single legdive into toehold , trying to turn Kilby for a single leg Boston Crab but Alan boots him off in the skull.  Alan gets to work with a side chancery, mule kick and flying forearm smash. Brody swings at Alan and misses. allowing Alan to get behind. trip Brody and get an equalising pin with a side folding press - about the best technical move so far.

At this point Brody is disqualified.  Presumably for a third public warning but we never get to see what, however Kilby is down on the mat when we come back from an action replay so presumably Brody attacked Kilby between rounds.  

This was originally an opening match for Marty Jones Vs Owen Hart and a Golden Grappler trophy semifinal.  Apart from that great folding press it was mostly a strength bout which is a pity as 8 know both men are capable of better.

 

 

 

[David Mantell]

Astonishingly I can't find an earlier review for this 1978 tournament final, billed as the King Of the Ring, just like the WWF.  Grey was newly crowned British Lightweight champion- a title he held on and off until his 2021 retirement (since when Nino Bryant has held it) occasionally dropping to the latest TBW sensation like Kid McCoy or Tony Stewart..  Rocco had recently lost his British Heavy Middleweight title to Marty Jones in a title v S ti5le match. This sounds promising.

Originally this was supposed to be the second semifinal but Huntsman (Not Aristocrat!) and vicious heel Tally Ho Kaye has been " Disgraced And Disqualified" which sums up the British attitude to DQs. They were not a cheap way out., they were a source of SHAME.   Unless the heel was such a villain that they didn't care about wins or losses, just fouling and hurting them. The sort of miscreant who wears school expulsions and even prison time as badges of pride.  Naylor is in no fit state to wrestle the winner of this match so it gets upgraded to Final.

Round 1. Grey willingly takes a hard bump from a Rocco wristlever  to position himself for a ground position dropkick.  He can also come upright from a throw. We get to see Rocco's own reversing skill as H3 rolls out of an armbar the classic British way.  He gets a top wristlock but Grey pulls it down, gets a foot inside and forces Rocco to take a spinning bump. Grey dodges the rebound from,m a Rocco headlock and bodycheck charge.  They exchange armlocks and Grey gets a back hammerlock but Rocco picks it open with one foot th3 reaches back and gets a neat rear snapmare but Grey takes the bump rolling til upright. Rocco gets a side chancery into underhook suplex into cross press for 2. Grey gets an armdrag and Rocco gets a side folding press for 2.  Rocco picks off one side of a double Interlock and makes the other arm into a hammerlock.  Grey counters with a backdrop but Rocco holds on with a flying headscissor and with motion arrested, convets to a sunset flip and front double leg nelson.  Grey counters with a double ankle smash. Rocco gets a whip into ropes  and bodycheck on the rebound for 6, then a bodyslam and double kneepress for several 2s. He then breaks out the forearm smashes for a 4 and a 6 but happily goes back to science with a snapmare into rear seated chinlock, adjusting sides.  Grey gets Rocco's barring arm straightened into a wrist lever. Rocco picks it off with a foot an snapmares Steve down into the chinlock again but Grey uses the same escape to wristlock.  He briefly tries a straight arm lift but Rocco gets him down. However Grey gets a second ground placed  dropkick.  Rocco gets a cross buttock throw into a side headlock.  He switches to a chinlock then a  crosspress for 2, then an armbar into low armdrags into another crosspress, this time for a couple of 2s.  Rocco gets a stomach lunge. He gets a headlock, arrests a throw, gets a cross buttock of his of but gets headscissored.  He turns it to the upside down position and nearly uncorks the hold with his knees, earning himself some applause - heel or no, that was good!  He gets a full nelson but the bell goes - he slightly shoves Grey off which Grey isn't too happy about. Still a very good scientific first round.  Probably the second most scientific round I have seen from Rocco, second only to his December 1981 World title match with Dynamite Kid. Will it last?  I somehow doubt it.

Round 2.  Rocco off too a start with a front chancery into double underhook suplex into crosspress for a couple of 2s.  Finally he gets into brawling mode, mainly with kicks that come so thick and fast it's hard for referee Max Ward to claim not continuous movement.  He gets two side chancery throws, the secomd of which puts Steve Grey on the ring apron to tumble to the floor.  He is back at 3 but straight into a magnificent Rocco monkey climb.  A second I e gets a bump but Grey absorbs i5 well enough to fire back with a dropkick.  Rocco recovers, whips Grey to the ropes, catches Grey's flyingbtacl3 attempt and gets a face first Piledriver (Tombstone) for six then another one plus double knees for the opening pin. Rocco now in the lead.

Round 3   Rocco gets a stomp, a headbutt for 6 and a forearm for 6., an axe handle. kneelifts chops. Finally he slams the already downed Grey's head in the mat and gets a public warning.  But he continues the roughhouse gameplan- Kent reckons he is going for Steve's back.  After a headbutt he goes for a neck suspension backbreaker across his own back but Grey rolls upwards and flips into a standing front facing position, levering his head free of the grip to get a double Interlock and lean back dropkick.He gets a couple of headsmashes of his own for which Ward  privately warns him but lets go for retaliation.  Rocco is complaining of teeth hit.   He clamps Grey on the ropes, gets a whip and kick to stomach for 7, a slam and double knees for 2, crosspress for another 2. He let's Grey up but gets a grovit. Grey whips him, catches the kneecap in passin. Gets the legbut A Rocco grabs the top rope.  Rocco gets free and lunges for Grey's stomach.  He backdrops and crosspresses Grey for 1s and 2s.  He switches to double kneepress but after 1Grey bridges up, gets a leaning rear chancery, but Rocco shrugs him off to fall down.  Grey is up at 8 but into a posting for 7, a rear forearm smash for 8, another posting and into an over the shoulder backbreaker (on top of all th3vback weakeners) looking for a second straight submission.  But Grey breaks open the grip, slides down and gets a big backdrop for 7.  With the clock winding down, Grey gets a legdive and all four limbs ready for a surfboard but the bell goes before he can hoist Rocco up.  It's halfway through and Grey is still trailing.

Round 4 Rocco gets a butt to the stomach. Side chancery throw and somersault splash, his sheer speed helping him get round the continuous motion rule.  He gets a front chancery I to double underhook but instead of going for a suplex drives in a knee to Grey's chest. It gets a 2 mainly because Rocco brazenly kicks Steve on the mat, causing Ward to abort the count. Grey is barely up when Rocco gets an axehandle for 6, a posting for 5and a boot in the behind for 7, a side chancery takedown into seated chinlock into headlock and strangle.  But Grey is pressed up and levers his head out, taking an armbar with him to help get a posting.  Rocco stays up, gets a kne3 on Grey as he moves in and a front chancery but again Grey gets free and takes a convenient posting arm with him. The posting done, he follows with a dropkick, backdrop and a slightly awkward flying bodypress for the equaliser. One each with two rounds left. 

Round 5. Rocco gets a headlock and some illegal concealed punches. Grey falls and Rocco stomps him, earning himself a Second and Final Public Warning.  Th3 next one, he will share Tally Ho Kaye's "Disgraceful" fate.  Nonetheless Rocco gets some headbutts and Grey gets a spinning kick (nothing too fancy mind) and stomps.  He throws Rocco hard , gets a leg on the ropes. Rocco kicks him off gets a kneelift, catches Grey's flying tackle attempt, slams him upside down into the corner gets anothercslam during which Grey's legs catch the ropes but it looks enough of an accident that Ward lets it go. He gets a whip but Grey responds with an easy kneelift.Rocco nonetheless gets double legs into a single leg Boston Crab for the deciding submission.

Rocco is winner , 1978 King of the Ring and soon wins a tournament to get his British Heavy Middleweight title back. He does give up on moving up the weights, instead moving sideways to become World champion, holding that title on and off for a decade till he retires.

Like I said, that first round is the most scientific I've ever seen of Rocco (still possible rival Round 1 of the Dec '81 Rocco Dynamite  World title match.  The crest stayed just about my preferred side of the Good Wrestling Match/Good Fight schism.  That's two good matches so far this weekend, this and the surprising 1984: Primitiv-Lopez French Catch match.  The German bout however will be at the other end of the speed spectrum from these two.

[David Mantell]

Dynamite Kid was off to Stampede so the British Welterweight title was vacant. Two aging but skills scientific greats, both soon to become referees, are hx bing a quarter final together.  Joyce was European Welterweight champion previously (a title Dynamite also vacated) but, as Kent mentions, despite several close shaves, has never had the British title.  

Round 1  KJ counters an armbar with a kip up, JK with a Steve Grey horizontal mat spin.  KJ does a rollout and while down gets a legspread.  JK twists sideways to easily unhook himself.  Double interlock and JK falls backwards, scissors and arm and makes it into a figure 4 top wristlock on the mat.  KJ stand up and straights thecarm to make an armbar.  JK rolls out but KJ drags him back down into a guard armlock twice.    JK rolls, kips back, cartwheels out and gets a rare whip on a KJ who instead of his usual resisting takes the somersault and lands neatly on his feet.  KJ gets a rear waistlock into front folding press for 2, JK gets a double arm stretch pushing against the shoulders.  he rolls back and risks a folding press unpicking both grips but he does it.  He helps JK up, they shake hands, quickly KJ gets a whip and forces a somersault bump but JK is up by 5.  Double interlock and JK gets a neat drop toehold into ankle scissor.  Ken tries to make an Indian Deathlock of it but to not much effect so referee Max Ward calls for a break and they comply.  KJ gets a Japanese Stranglehold and resists JK's attempt to twist out. The bell stops a second attempt.

Round 2 .  Double interlock into JK side headlock but KJ headstands out.  He does a Mike Marino esque escape from a second one - less corkscrew more spin-ny.  Double interlock again and JK leans back and gets crossed headscissors but KJ slips out easily pulling himself a few inches backwards.  JK gets a standing top wristlock, KJ counters with a perfect French Catch style Scisseaux Volees takedown.  He drags JK away from the ropes by the hold, easily prevents JK kipping out or getting the hold upright.  He does briefly get a kip up but KJ pulls him back down in the hold. He keeps the arm and pulls JK back in again  The third time JK gets the upright kneeling position and pulls his head free but KJ pushes him back in.  The fourth time, JK assumes the upside down position and anklescissors KJ's feet to uncork the headscissor.  KJ gets another full Japanese Stranglehold off a double Interlock. JK tries slipping downwards in it 5en slipping upwards and out but he bell saves him the trouble. 

Round 3 and JK gets a single leg into toe and ankle hold.  KJ widens the legs and boots JK in the stomach so that the lower centre of gravity is too much and H3 falls backwards. JK gets the side chancery but KJ blocks it in his characteristic style.  JK tries and fails again, releases and then suddenly reapplies the side chancery and gets the throw.  KJ gets a shoulderblock and dodged a JK flying tackle but JK leapfrogs him and gets a cross buttock throw and press for three!  First fall to Jeff Kaye.

Round 4. JK gets a single leg into ground leglock.  KJ counters with both a half chinlock and bashing JK's grip with his heel, which works.  They start over and JK gets a headlock but KJ does a more obviously Mike Marino esque twistout.  KJ gets a standing full nelson, twice JK breaks one side but KJ goes behind to reapply.  A slip down/backroll escape ends with KJ reapplying the hold.  A force out and backwards dropkick finally does the trick flooring KJ for 6. JK throws  KJ who rolls upright.  JK tries a dropkick, KJ catches the feet but JK curls through into the Boston Crab position and crawling into the crab escape. then flips KJ over and sits up into a double knee press.  KJ fells him for a double leg nelson but JK folds back into a folding press but KJ crawls forward. It's all too near the ropes so they break. (At which point we get a long advert breaks courtesy of the Fight Network. Fast forward).  Double interlock ends with JK's foot on KJs hand so they break again.  KJ gets double legs and crouches to try his usual banging the head on the mat low waistlock.  JK tries to avoid the bangs with a beautifully done bridge.  Hectries to sit up but gets a headbang.  A second try and he comes forward, overbalances KJ and gets a double kneepress but KJ wedges out.  JK is up at 3.  He gets a hammerlock off a double Interlock but KJ goes through the legs for a rear legdive and fells JK who boots him off into the ropes and tries catch him on the rebound but KJ arrests his own momentum, walks over and casually takes an anklelock on JK. (Memo to Orange bloody Cassidy. THIS is how you do casual -not trying to play footsie with your opponent.). KJ clamps down on the single toehold.  He folds up various other JK appendages and turns him over to make some kind of Indian Deathlock but the bell rings.

Round 5  KJ easily slips out of a partial front chancery and escapes a rear waistlock slipping through the legs and behind to take down JK and turn him over into the reverse double leg nelson. JK easily slips out and gets a toehold but KJ goes up on his head. JK grabs the other foot but it's a stalemate.  KJ again dodges a JK flying tackle and JK needs 7 to get up but then cartwheels cheerfully out of a throw.  JK goes for the neck but KJ whips him but JK lands on his feet.  He tries double legs but aKJ sharply folds him over ina front folding press for the equaliser.  1-1.

Round 6. JK backrolls off a single arm interlock but KJ gets a firmer grip.  KJ gets the standing back hammerlock and keeps hold a while until aJK tries rolling out but is caught in a guard armlock.  JK gets up, goes into a headstand and while upside down gets a headscissors takedown on KJ but Runs Out Of Mat.  He gets an arm and tries for a posting but KJ characteristically sits down to block this! He resists a second time and lets JK drag him by thecarm before getting up and whipping JK to the ropes.  JK comes back with a bodycheck but KJ springs up. JK dives over for a sunset flip and pulls him down with his legs but KJ swings over by his neck and goes forward folding pressing JK and sealing it with a headstand. 

Ken Joyce wins 2-1 and goes through to the semifinals to lose to Steve Grey who draws with other semifinalist Jim Breaks in FA Cup Final day ITV before Breaks wins the rematch and belt at the Royal Albert Hall that summer - only for the wheel to turn full circle as Breaks' new challenger is Dynamite's young cousin Young David aka Davey Boy Smith. 

But that is for the future.  For now, a fantastic technical bout from Ken Joyce and Jeff Kaye and a good antidote to Wanz/Andre 1987.

 

[David Mantell]

You'd be AMAZED who knows all about old British Wrestling - and who nearly got involved themselves ...

 

 

[David Mantell]

Quite a nice vlog from Josh Faulkner  on Mighty John Quinn, even if he neglects to mention the "/My Daddy said all Limeys were Cowards in WW2" speech.

 

[David Mantell]

Some Reslo this week from 1987 and an odd one - Comedian versus Monster:

Round 1:  Corneely/Corneely (we've had a few spellings of his name on here) doesn't do anything comic- or technical - or even aggressive. He just gets the snot pounded out of him. Even when he tries to domcomedybfalls, he's getting too much sympathy for the audience to laugh at him.  After three minutes of this, the bell goes. Chang/Mason sensibly doesn't twist while agead- he makes it a clean round break.

Round 2.  Kevin is very angry and lets rip a whole tirade in his Irish accent. He's sympathisably angry so it doesn't really get any laughs.  Mason collars him and slowly marches him around the ring. Kevin finally gets some offence, bending Chang's fingers back so Chang throws him to the mat and resumes.  Chang gets a double underhook suplex, the first scientific move of the match- and scores a KNOCKOUT.

If you didn't like Corneely's previous comedy, watch this for the schadenfreude of him getting beaten up. Otherwise it's an execution and a vehicle for Chang to build him up for bigger things like his one and only ITV appearance later that year.