French catch

[Phil Lions]

2 hours ago, David Mantell said:

Thanks for this lot. Good to see there was an organised fandom in France.  Maybe we can find some from the mid 80s with VCRs.

I wouldn't call it an organised fandom. It was just one French superfan, who eventually got into the business as a promoter/announcer, briefly published his own catch magazine and was also a correspondent for a couple of U.S. wrestling magazines. Most importantly though, he was in contact with a few other wrestling historians from other countries and they would regularly send each other stuff (this was back in the 1960s-80s). Some of that correspondence has been preserved and it's a great source of info.

[David Mantell]

1 minute ago, Phil Lions said:

I wouldn't call it an organised fandom. It was just one French superfan, who eventually got into the business as a promoter/announcer, briefly published his own catch magazine and was also a correspondent for a couple of U.S. wrestling magazines. Most importantly though, he was in contact with a few other wrestling historians from other countries and they would regularly send each other stuff (this was back in the 1960s-80s). Some of that correspondence has been preserved and it's a great source of info.

We should have him on here.

[Phil Lions]

Just now, David Mantell said:

We should have him on here.

That'd be difficult to do, on the account of him no longer being alive.

[David Mantell]

4 hours ago, Phil Lions said:

That'd be difficult to do, on the account of him no longer being alive.

Oh dear., still there were others, from the fans from the Trente Glorieuses through to kids who grew up watching Flesh Gordon and Prince Zefy against everyone from Jessy Texas and Marquis/Travesti Man/Monsieur Jacky Richard to Scott Ryder and Cybernic Machine.

[HeadCheese]

Does anybody know if this match is on uploaded or any if the more color French Catch on water matches are available. I know that there is greyscale pool matches, theres more even going to this year. Its a really interesting tradition.

 

 

[David Mantell]

On 8/22/2025 at 6:00 AM, HeadCheese said:

Does anybody know if this match is on uploaded or any if the more color French Catch on water matches are available. I know that there is greyscale pool matches, theres more even going to this year. Its a really interesting tradition.

 

 

We've reviewed quite a few of these from the 70s and 80s.  Unlike in Britain where in the Winter local councils would drain public swimming pools, board them over and put wrestling and other entertainments on in the "Baths Halls", in France they would just leave the water in the pool and put in a floating ring.  The French just saw this as a normal natural place to hold wrestling shows, but some other people on here disagree and see them as cheap gimmicks. This has led to some heated debates on here.

Occasionally in the summer when the weather was seriously good, some places took it further and set up floating rings in the duck pond of a public park or, as here, in a harbour.

Generally Catch A L'Eau was not a consistent dunking fest as this highlight reel implies. There would be long no-nonsense sequences inside the ring like any other wrestling show.

[David Mantell]

On 8/21/2025 at 7:10 AM, David Mantell said:

Have finally got to have a proper watch of the match.  I wouldn't necessarily describe it as a technical bout. Sure the guy behind the BH mask knows his armdrags and there were a few good little spots including I think Mores doing the characteristically French reverse snapmare (backwards flipping over ones opponent to get behind and apply a standing back hammerlock.)  But there weren't too many complex ongoing chain sequences as such. Later on it got more brawly and dirty wrestling  The two Masked Mechants make an interesting pair, rather like Kamikaze and Der Henker  even The Spoiler and King Kendo in England
 

A few more Interesting points.

1) La Bete puts on an armhank and tiers it with his legs so it becomes a figure four armhank.

2) One of Les Bons uses the flying scissors takedown, as counter to armbar, on la Bete.  In France this generally worked to the point where it was done instead of a rollout on the mat.  In BritIan, wrestlers would throw the headscissors off.  Here, the takedown attempt looks like giving BH, presumably a Frenchman,real trouble until he goes to his corner and gets secret Brit Zarak to hUl the Bon off him!

3) A noticeably older looking Le Petit Prince helps out Couderc on colour commentary. He sounds quite, impressed with La Bet.e, all t.hings considered.

4) Crowd encourage the bons with chant of Allez Les Verts although only one. DiSanto actually wears green trunks (Mores wears navy blue)

[Phil Lions]

For those interested, I've posted the next part of my French Catch Timeline (1956-1962). It's available here: https://bit.ly/FrenchCatchTimeline

Catch becomes a regular fixture on TV. New stars emerge. The Claude Darget controversy. The European Alliance is formed. The promotional alliances in France shift (a few times). L'Ange Blanc and the other masked wrestlers debut. Lawsuits and shoot challenges. Business is booming. Masked wrestlers and Dr. Kaiser are banned from TV. A new promotion enters the fray. Catch is taken off TV (twice). And more.

[ohtani's jacket]

Great stuff, Phil. Undoubtedly, my favorite era for catch. I was surprised by Adolf Kaiser being cancelled. 

[David Mantell]

Old Catch veteran Jacky Richard, now in his Travesti Man persona, takes on top rookie from Brittany, Jann Caradec  fellow Celtic Orig Williams is on English commentary. Travesti is at the dirties from the start cooking and hair pulling with one decent snapmare. Caradec managed to throw him out of the ring, armdrag him   He later forces a whip and hard bump. Caradec kips out of Richard's headscissors and turns a headlock into a hammerlock. He bridges out of the heavier man's cross buttock throw and press.  Travesti wins with a powerslam and splash.  Squash match but with some good moves from underdog  Caradec.

 

 

[David Mantell]

32 minutes ago, ohtani's jacket said:

Great stuff, Phil. Undoubtedly, my favorite era for catch. I was surprised by Adolf Kaiser being cancelled. 

I seem to recall he was around in the early 70s.

[David Mantell]

Another veteran Vs youngster match. Grim Rocker, face painted Spanish mate of future Legend of Doom Johnny South and whom I believe I am correct in saying is the former Elliot Frederico Le Rocky Du Ring of early 80s French TV Catch seen feuding with the Gordon/Bordes tag team c. 1983-1985 on Antenne 2, takes on Jean Phillipe de Lonzac, a promising kid we've seen on here before.

Grim gets the better of a top wristlock battle and armdrags JP to the mat three times.  The fourth time JP goes for the flying headscissors, misses but gets a bodycheck, guillotine elbowsmash and splash for 2, Al moves one associates more with Superheavyweight monsters, not a young kid. Grim gets a standing side headlock into cross buttock into mat side headlock sequence. JP forces up but the Rocker bodychecks him down. JP straightens a side headlock into a straight arm behind the back then grabs his ownside  headlock. Grim throws him to the ropes but JP cartwheels back past him and resumes the headlock, then gets an armdrag. JP gets the headlock again and holds on as Grim charges to the ropes and crotches himself on the middle rope. He gets a side chancery throw and  flying headscissors and dropkick. Grom reports to brawling, a fist an axehandle, a kick a chop, etc. a bodycheck, a posting or 2.   He pulls JP up on his knees. and kicks him around.  Finally he gets a long suplex and another splash for the win. Demolition job mostly.

 

 

 

[David Mantell]

From latterday to even more latterday. Bernard Van Damme ("Rob who?  I was ripping off Jean Claude!"). wrestler and promoter of Eurostars takes on Murat Bosphorus from Turkey in that packed IWSF tTV show from 2007.  Belgium Vs Turkey. (I refuse to let Erdrogan make me call it Turkiye, but enough about politics .)

Bernard gets an early rear waistlock but Murat breaks it open. BVD rolls out British style and gets a standing back hammerlock.  The Turk considers a rear snapmare but ultimately opts for a fireman's carry takedown into an armlock. Rob backwards rolls up and gets a. drop toehold on Murat into a folding press for 2.  They have a full finger Interlock test of strength. Van D gets an armbar of his own. Murat opts for a bodyslam cover but Bernard keeps the hold and comes up with Bosphorus in the guard still in a wristlock. Murat twists out horizontally  Bernard gets another armbar, Murat reverses it and throws him off.  Murat gets another arm. It gets a bit brawly until  Bernard gets a reverse flying elbowsmash, slam but misses a top rope move.  The Turk gets a suplex for 2. and shoves Bern down and throttles him. Rob gets a sunset flip for 2  Murat gets an over the knee backbreaker for 2. He starts posing with BVDs belt so the referee puts it back and Murat covers Van D for 2.the Turk complains but it's his own fault really. Rob gets a flying forearm off the top corner for 2.  He leaps at Murat but the Turk gets him with a powerbomb for 2. Murat goes for a superplex but BVD pushes him off and gets a Superfly splash for the win.

Early stages of this were pretty good technical wrestling, I think I shall check out some more Bernard Van Damme sometime soon.

 

[David Mantell]

On 8/22/2025 at 5:32 PM, David Mantell said:

Grim Rocker, face painted Spanish mate of future Legend of Doom Johnny South and whom I believe I am correct in saying is the former Elliot Frederico Le Rocky Du Ring of early 80s French TV Catch

Judge for yourselves:

 

[Phil Lions]

Man, this one stings a bit. This show below was the return of Bollet and Delaporte to Goldstein's promotion, and in one of his letters Bezy refers to it as "Bollet and Delaporte's Parisian and television return". That wording makes it sound like Delaporte vs. Chemoul may have aired on TV, but we don't have it. Such a bummer. Delaporte vs. Chemoul sounds like a very intriguing mix of styles.

Karamazov = Le Grand Vladimir. His original name in France was Vladimir Karamazoff.

[David Mantell]

46 minutes ago, Phil Lions said:

That wording makes it sound like Delaporte vs. Chemoul may have aired on TV, but we don't have it. Such a bummer. Delaporte vs. Chemoul sounds like a very intriguing mix of styles.

Some people might not have like that match ending, though ...

[Matt D]

We’ll be back next week. Start of school slowed me down this week. I think there are still 5-10 “Shows” left to go through. 

[David Mantell]

On 4/20/2025 at 1:20 PM, Phil Lions said:

October 3, 1988:
Flesh Gordon & Prince Zefy vs. Eliot Frederico & Kato Gipsy

Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks Elliot F and Grim R are one and the same.

[David Mantell]

On 6/5/2020 at 11:34 PM, ohtani's jacket said:

Flesh Gordon & Angelito vs. Kato Bruce Lee & Frederico (aired 7/28/85)

Hmm, this is the ending of Le Primitif vs. The Golden Falcons, followed by the tail end of a Herbie Hancock concert where he's treated like a rock star, and then the news. No sign of the tag match.

The first half was posted above:

Quote

Judge for yourselves:

And here is the second half:

The Mechants come to the ring on a bike seven years before Summerslam 92, except the only have one bike it doesn't look like much of a bike either. Definitely not a Harley, more likely a moped. I suppose Delaporte wanted to keep down costs.EF has a Hawk hairdo tho, it late got bleached blond. He also tries out a Hawk clothesline but ends up armdragged and dropkicked all over the ring by Flesh. Kato's one concession to being Bruce Lee is doing a chopping pose. He ends up getting the same treatment from the skinny young Superhero before Angelito tags in. Angelito gets taken down  in a Top wristlock battle but kips up and does the traditional French back somersault to a better leverage position. Kato switches to a whip but Angelito only takes a mild bump. Kato pulls him down and  gets headscissors, Angelito tries wedging out then succeeds in headstanding out.  Fred tags back in, Angelito gets a side headlock but  Angelito does the Mike Marino escape.  He back somersaults to another better position in another top wristlock battle then cartwheels away. Both sides tag. Flesh gets a headlock into armbar but Fred fouls out. Fred uses lots of Punches  Arbitre International Otto Weisz does nothing about it.  It all becomes more brawly from then on. Angelito misses a top rope move. Flesh gets thrown to ringside.  So is Angelito, hecgets helped back by seconds. Rocky scores the first fall on Flesh, Weisz gives a catch-up count that looks like a crooked fast count.

Deuxieme Manche: mostly heel stuff (brawling, dirty wrestling, double teams) apart from. A few more good armdrags from Flesh.  A good backdrop taken and followed up with a dropkick by Angelito. Otherwise it's still heel heat until Angelito gets some nice Scisseaux Volees and lands feet first from Kato's monkey climb attempt.Ksto ends up at ringside. Both sides tag. Flesh can take whip bumps easily and kip up from them. He gets a headscissors but Elliot stomps his buddy free.  Kato does the same to help le Rocky keep a headscissors.   Flesh kips up out and monkey climbs Elliott.  Other than this the heels keep in irregulairr control., Rocky gets an Avertisement. He needs Kato's help to throw off an Angelito flying headscissors. . Lots of stalling by Les Mechants. Flesh gets a full nelson on Frederico, Fred reverses, Flesh gets it back. And lots of heel heat up to the end of the first clip. Angelito and Fred are reversing each others' full Nelson's when Angelito suddenly switches to crucifix into further nelson for the equaliser.

Clip 2:  La Belle. After some celebraing, complaining and an action replay... More Double Nelsons.  Angelito gets thrown out the ring.  He comes back and pitches Fred over the top.The crowd count to 10 and think Les Bons have Won, but L'Arbitre says Non.  Eventually it all gets underway. Young Flesh gets a snapmare and rear double legs takedown. Flesh gets headlock into arm hank on each side.  Angelito kicks Kato out off the ring The heels stall a lot.  Flesh gets legdive, leglock and weakeners on Fred. The Bons get a public warning but they are on a roll. Angelito gets more legwork in on Frederico. Les Bons get a second and Final Avertisement for still more double teaming.  These Bons just don't learn.  And it gets worse for them.  Flesh gets a high powerslam, splash and crosspress to seemingly get the winner , Weiss won't count it, gets into a shoving match with Les Bons andc DQs them! Cue chants of Aux Chiottes L'Arbitre and crowds up and rioting  like it's South London. The heels get a trophy, pose quickly and beat a hasty retreat to the locker room. Les Bons get a staying ovation despite the loss.

Fast and fun, some cereal curate's egg bits of skill in among the heeling and crowd working.

 

 

 

 

 

[David Mantell]

6 hours ago, Matt D said:

We’ll be back next week. Start of school slowed me down this week. I think there are still 5-10 “Shows” left to go through. 

Never mind, i've reviewed the above instead.  @ohtani's jacket can review it too as he just got some random stuff in place of this match previously.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Zarak & La Bete Humaine vs. Michel Di Santo & Eddy Mores (9/30/81)

I thought this was going to be the drizzling shits, but it actually wasn't that bad. Di Santo and Mores were incredibly game, and whoever was under the La Bete Humaine mask was a pretty good worker.  He had to be, too, since he did the lion's share of the work. I'm assuming that Zarak was Dave Larsen. He was pretty average, but grew on me throughout the bout kind of like a French Rayo de Jalisco Jr. There wasn't a shred of technique, really, but for a heavy metal circus bout it wasn't bad. 

[David Mantell]

1 hour ago, ohtani's jacket said:

There wasn't a shred of technique, really

There wasn't much, I grant you, but ..

Exhibit A

On 8/22/2025 at 11:05 AM, David Mantell said:

Sure the guy behind the BH mask knows his armdrags and there were a few good little spots including I think Mores doing the characteristically French reverse snapmare (backwards flipping over ones opponent to get behind and apply a standing back hammerlock.) 

Exhibits B and C:

On 8/22/2025 at 11:05 AM, David Mantell said:

1) La Bete puts on an armhank and tiers it with his legs so it becomes a figure four armhank.

2) One of Les Bons uses the flying scissors takedown, as counter to armbar, on la Bete.  In France this generally worked to the point where it was done instead of a rollout on the mat.  In BritIan, wrestlers would throw the headscissors off.  Here, the takedown attempt looks like giving BH, presumably a Frenchman,real trouble until he goes to his corner and gets secret Brit Zarak to haul the Bon off him!

 And yes, this was Dave Larsen alright. Camping it up, treating the BH as his pet ...

Good old Dave.  I don't think this is him though:

Quote

heavy metal circus

This was 1981, only a year after the supposed dying-out completed. Bit early for a renaissance