French catch

[David Mantell]

Quote

Tuesday is French Catch Day: Tom! Lang! Mercier! Sanniez!

 

Tiny Tom vs Cowboy Lang 7/3/82

 

MD: This is one we thought we had at some point and that might be out there but we never did find it until now. We come in 10 minutes JIP and go another 10 and it was quite good actually. Delaporte is the ref and of course he was perfect for this scenario. What i liked about it though is that there was a decent amount of wrestling between the comedy spots. They went hand to hand repeatedly and Lang especially had some nice stuff including a roll back wristlock takedown and a roll through double arm where he tied Tom up. Tom was more apt to use roughneck tactics, step on the toes or toss Lang out. I bet if we had the first ten there'd be even more wrestling and this would be even better.

 

The comedy absolutely hit. A lot of it are spots you've seen before like Delaporte catching Tom out of a pin attempt kick out or Tom being pushed off on a figure four and crotching Delaporte. High class stuff but Delaporte's reactions pushed it all over the top. Right at the twenty minute announcement they went home with it with Lang winning on an airplane spin (though making sure to dizzily wave to Delaporte before falling on Tom). And everyone was happy with what they got.

 

Marc Mercier vs Albert Sanniez 7/3/82

 

MD: How good is even old Sanniez? Let me put it this way. If this had been the first Catch match we came across, instead of Cesca vs Catanzaro, we would have thought that young Marc Mercier was one of the best wrestlers in the world. Sanniez is just that good. We had a few matches of his throughout the footage but not nearly as many as we would have liked so it's great to see him here, even if a lot of the goal was to put a spotlight on Guy's 20-21 year old kid. 

 

The first ten minutes of this was Sanniez really putting him through his paces with a lot of great wrestling, hold after hold, with Mercier having all the counters you'd want, including up and overs and everything else. At the ten minute mark, Mercier did a cartwheel out of a throw and Sanniez got annoyed and clocked him and the match opened up. Lots of little moments of personality here where he'd feign that he didn't use a closed fist. Mercier was rough around the edges but he had a wild sort of abandon which made some things look better and some worse. Sanniez went for a flip bomb at one point and Mercier didn't make it over and landed in a nasty way. 

 

They'd ground things back down with quick pin exchanges or other bits of wrestling before going back to the moves and it was all quite good. Mercier took a nasty bump over the top and sold it big until his comeback, which didn't quite connect for me. Just lack of experience and an unwillingness to look vulnerable. If he had gotten leaned on just a bit longer it would have meant all the more. But in general, this was good and I'm putting most of that on Sanniez.

 

SR: It's a look at late career Albert Sanniez and young Marc Mercier. God what a size mismatch this was. Mercier towered over the old veteran. But all that be damned, they did some really good wrestling here. Mercier is a perfectly competent young athletic guy and Sanniez is too much of a master to not go hard into some slick exchanges. Some really good stuff early on. For some reason we haven't seen many highly technical matches in the colour footage, maybe they didn't make TV, maybe they weren't archived, maybe no one could do them anymore, so this was a bit of a flashback to the glory days of lightweight catch. Sanniez ended up dropping Mercier on his head with an ill fated attempt at a powerbomb and it seemed they lost their way a bit at that time. The bout fizzled along with Sanniez being seemingly too proud to let Mercier outwrestle him and the bout failed to build steam. There were some sick manchettes and both guys threw punches, so it's not like it was a bad bout or anything, but it made me want to go back and check out the matches from the glory days. This had a good ending though with Mercier hitting a missile dropkick of all things and then at least getting a good win over the old coot.

 

Labels: Albert Sanniez, Cowboy Lang, French Catch, Marc Mercier, Tiny Tom

Reviews to follow. We've featured a large chunk of the the Mercier- Sanniez match on here in the past which I shall bump up before doing my own review (possibly re-review in the case of Mercier-Sanniez). but Mercier himself seems to think that the match took place in 1978 - that's what he has it labelled as on the FFCP's YouTube account.

[David Mantell]

Just now, David Mantell said:

@Matt D wrote: 

If this had been the first Catch match we came across, instead of Cesca vs Catanzaro, we would have thought that young Marc Mercier was one of the best wrestlers in the world.

Of course in my case my first taste of Marc was his unsuccessful shot at Marty Jones in 1988, so I knew the score with Marc back in the day when I was 14.  I think I shall either bump that one up too or else do a new review over on the British thread.

[Phil Lions]

24 minutes ago, David Mantell said:

Mercier himself seems to think that the match took place in 1978 - that's what he has it labelled as on the FFCP's YouTube account.

INA's own listing aside, Tiny Tom and Cowboy Lang weren't around in France in 1978 so Mercier is 100% wrong about the year.

[David Mantell]

On 8/27/2024 at 12:35 AM, David Mantell said:

Marc Mercier vs. Alex Sanniez (1978)

 

Mercier was a young French talent who appeared on WoS once facing Marty Jones. He had a car accident in 1989 that forced him to retire and later became a promoter reactivating the defunct FFCP promotion in 2006. Here he was a skinny second year man, and if you're familiar with Euro wrestling you'll know that skinny means skinny. This was quite a decent bout and I thought Sanniez did a great job of keeping it tight. But again there was no finish, perhaps deliberately so to only upload part of the footage.

On 8/27/2024 at 12:35 AM, David Mantell said:

 

 

ALBERT Sanniez was going heel at this time and turning into a Jim Breaks style Horrid Little Man. Mercier was 20 years old and still had a TBWvibe to him, his kid brother Pierre even more so There's a definite feel of Jim Breaks Vs Danny Collins here with Mercier as the spectacular young whizzkid- all scisseax Volees,  crucifix/further nelson takedowns, reverse snapmare s and other flashy tricks - and Sanniez as the increasingly stroppy dirty wrestler getting shown up by the kid.

I guess the clip you watched cuts off the same point as this does.

This is my previous review of Mercier - Sanniez. I might write on a longer review as I recall it's quite a good technical mat h.

.No luck with Jones Vs Mercier, I shall have to do that from scratch..  

[ohtani's jacket]

Jones vs. Mercier wasn't very good. Marty seemed to lose a clip after the outstanding match against Bull Blitzer (Steve Wright) in '86. I don't think he was ever the same. I'm not a big fan of the Owen match, however, so YMMV. 

[David Mantell]

1 hour ago, ohtani's jacket said:

Jones vs. Mercier wasn't very good. Marty seemed to lose a clip after the outstanding match against Bull Blitzer (Steve Wright) in '86. I don't think he was ever the same. I'm not a big fan of the Owen match, however, so YMMV. 

I'll argue those. mainly the Mercier one, on the British thread when I get to them. The crowd take longer to warm to Mercier than to .Owen and both labour somewhat under Jones's rather jingoistic "Eng Er Land!!!" crowd working which is one thing against a heel like Finlay Bull Blitzer or Jean .Paul Auvert but a bit irritating in the case of Johnny Foreigner who happens to be a gentleman and a skilled technician like Owen or Marc.

[David Mantell]

The midget match first,  set at Alphaville a charity kids' establishment we've seen on here before.  The manager gets interviewed by Couderc. Cowboy Lang (dark hair, moustache) has a full nelson on, Tiny Tom (ot Teeny Tom as Couderc calls him) bouts his legs on the ropes. Delaporte calls for a break so Lang lets him drop.  This starts the first of many arguments between Tom and L'Arbitre.  Lang has Tom in a front facelock which Tom escapes somehow (between them the two Rogers prevent us seeing how - Delaporte obstructs the hard cam while Couderc calls away the shot for a while.). Tom slaps Delaporte while in a hold and really gets beaten up by the full grown referee.  The two stom each others hands and Tom gets into arguments with Delaporte.  This goes round round until Lang gets ejected to ringside. Lang sneaks to the other side, re-enters the ring and blindsides Tom with an atomic drop while he is still arguing with the ref (demanding a KO count).  Tom suplexes and cross presses Lang who kicks out at 2 , sending Tom flying into Delaporte who throws him back to Lang who kicks out at 2 leading to another Tom/Delaporte argument.  Tom eventually gets an Avertisement.  He gets tied I the ropes and Lang ducks through Delaporte's legs to get him.  Delaporte picks Tom up like a child to get him free.  Lang throws Tom outside. Back in,  Lang gets a rear legdive on Tom who kicks him into Delaporte's crotch, hurting him.  Tom gets a headlock, they go off the ropes and Lang uses the "something in the air" distraction spot to Manchette Tom.  This goes on far too long as Lang continues to convince Tom and the referee that something has fallen from the roof. They run the ropes, ducking each others charges until Tom's hand gets stamped on. More criss-cross until Lang gets an aeroplane spin and giddily gets the pin. They shake hands afterwards. It makes a change from stomping. Some kid gets interviewed between bouts.

Too much repetitive comedy.  There's only so many times you can find a hand being stamped amusing.

[David Mantell]

Okay, here goes with the serious bout, the uncropped Marc Mercier Vs Albert Sanniez.  From 1982, not 1978 apparently although check out a comment by Kent Walton on the Mercier Jones match when I post my review to the British thread. 

Marc, the less experienced and younger man has a clear size advantage over Sanniez who as a heel became a French version of Jim Breaks, not so much in terms of verbals but in the general vibe of being a Horrid Little Man.

Sanniez gets a side headlock takedown to the mat but Mercier wedges out and kips upright.   Marc cartwheels out of Sanniez's throw. He dives through Sanniez's legs, gets double legs, goes for an early Boston Crab but Sanniez leg throws him off but Mercier again cartwheels out. Sanniez gets a top wristlock, throws the taller Mercier and has him in the top wristlock still in the guard. Mercier kips up but Sanniez pulls him back down, dragging him to the centre of the ring. Mercier is up again and over with the power advantage so Sanniez uses a trip to get him back down. Sanniez again drags his man to the centre and throws him. keeping the hold nicely. Mercier kips up, backflips in characteristic French style to a better position and then high whips Sanniez, forcing a bump.  Sanniez gets back the top wristlock. He switches to side headlock to top wristlock on the other arm in a neat transaction sequence. Albert once again throws Marc down. Mercier powers up again but another Sanniez trip sees to that.  Marc powers up and does another back somersault, possibly narrowly missing getting the French style  Scisseaux Volees takedown. He twists to reverse the wristlever that remains of the top wristlock. Sanniez grabs a side headlock and switches sides. Mercier gets one of his own but Sanniez breaks it open right back into that top wristlock again!  He takes his man down. Mercier kips up and this time gets the Scisseaux Volees and takes Sanniez down (confirming my suspicion that the two earlier somersaults were failed attempts to get this hold.)Sanniez after some struggle, twice kips out only to be twice clamped back in again due to Mercier keeping a wristlock to reel him back in.  Sanniez changes tack and uses his legs to uncork the scissor. They double finger Interlock, Sanniez pulls Mercier's arms downwards and switches to kneeling side headlock. Mercier pulls upright and extracts his head leaving a standing back hammerlock.  Sanniez gets Mercier's spare arm, throws him and comes out back with an armlock in the guard.  Mercier turns round into the guard and pulls upright taking control of the armlock and making another back hammerlock. Sanniez stands up attempts a fireman's carry but Mercier underhooks him and makes it almost into a side folding press but Sanniez gets a leg free. It's enough for Mercier to slip free if the armlock despite Sanniez's desperate attempt to take it back. Mercier forces Sanniez into the ropes, giving an extra little shove before releasing. Sanniez is unhappy and complains. They finger Interlock and Sanniez gets a full nelson from it.  Mercier uses downward arm force both sides to break and reverse the hold.  Sanniez tries legspreading Mercier but the younger man's size advantage means he easily keeps his balance.  So Sanniez instead uses a short sharp downward arm force but it only breaks one side and when Sanniez goes behind to reverse, Mercier follows suit to reapply.  Next Sanniez tries the downward arms into back roll but Mercier catches Sanniez's legs on the turn and from there regains the full nelson as the somersault completes. Sanniez tries the go behind again, Mercier rears into him and floors him but Sanniez kicks him into the ropes and leg flips him on the rebound.  Sanniez bodychecks the bigger man (!) as they come off the ropes but Mercier leapfrogs and dropkicks him.  Mercier gets a standing side headlock.  going down to kneeling, then seated position.  Sanniez tries some sort of handstand escape- unfortunately the camera switches to Couderc at ringside and by the time it cuts back, Mercier is back in control - we never find out how but Couderc says a toupie variant was being attempted.  Sanniez uncorks his head and makes a hammerlock of what is left.   Mercier gets his head between Sanniez's legs and gives him a mighty backdrop.  Mercier gets a standing side headlock and cross buttock into side headlock on the mat. He resists a Sanniez reverse crossface attempt and a side folding press counter attempt.  Sanniez pulls up and throws Mercier off but he rebounds with a bodycheck and then with a bulldog into side headlock on the mat.  Sanniez tries an atomic drop but Mercier flips back and dropkicks him from behind.  They finger Interlock and Sanniez pulls down until Mercier has a knee on the mat. He forces up into a back to back position and rolls over Sanniez to face him. Sanniez switches to a front piledriver that doesn't quite come off then a leglock and possible folding press Mercier boots him off and flips him on the rebound (Couderc calls it a "Planchette Japonaise but it's not quite a full monkey climb.) Sanniez gets two side chancery throws but Mercier catches him on the second with a ground dropkick. He cartwheels out of a Sanniez throw. Sanniez on the other hand takes a Mercier throw by rolling British style.  Another finger Interlock and Sanniez gets an armbar and kicks it, flooring Mercier and getting Sanniez some crowd heat.  He floors Mercier with two Manchettes.  Once Mercier is up, he gets a third then a headlock into go behind and a Smash along the spine.  Mercier gets a single leg on his way up but Delaporte disallows it. Sanniez gets in a shit as Mercier breaks, annoying Delaporte and the crowd.  He gets Marc with a blow as the ying man gets up but he responds with an almost punch and an actual Manchette of his own. It looks like the technical portion of the bout is over and we are into brawling. Mercier lands three Manchettes. They finger Interlock, Sanniez unpicks one side, twists out of the other and lands a chop flooring Mercier. He next lands a blatant closed fist punch which enrages both the crowd and Delaporte.  Sanniez side chancery throws Mercier and Frankensteiners him down into a folding press but it turns into a Bascule stalemate of back and forth leg Nelsons.  Sanniez eventually gets the standing folder position but Mercier goes up on his head,Sanniez resists arm presses , turns his man over with his legs and gets his own folding press but again this descends into back and forth Bascule stalemate.  Sanniez tries the folder ineclast time and is leg thrown by Mercier, staying down for 4.  Mercier makes fist gestures and Sanniez complains of being punched. Delaporte isn't too sure but has a quiet word with young Marc nonetheless. Sanniez gets a wristlock and takes Mercier down with what looks suspiciously like a hair pull.  He doubles up on the wristlock and disputes Delaporte and the crowd's objections.  Sanniez shouts abuse at one particularly vocal audience member (to whom Delaporte subtly directs Sanniez's attention!)  Sanniez kicks Mercier's arm. Mercier kips up but Sanniez again pulls him down by the hair! Mercier lands in the ropes and Delaporte calls for a break so Sanniez drags him to the middle of the ring. He gets a nasty kick into Mercier's arm before releasing.  Delaporte reads him the riot act but still no Avertisement. Mercier gets an arm and switches to the other arm and throws Mercier. He drags his man to the centre of the ring in the garden with a wristlock on, deflecting two attempted Mercier boots out. Mercier kips up, steps over the wristlever, breaks it, hits the ropes but Sanniez ducks and two rebounds later takes him down with a cross buttock throw. Mercier bridges out of a pin attempt. They get up and finger interlock.  Sanniez gets a wristlever and trip to get Mercier down in the guard. He sees off grabs to his chin.   Mercier kips up but Sanniez pulls him down and makes an armhank of it.  Sanniez kips backwards and forwards to break free.  Sanniez again uses the hairpull to take down from a wristlever. He shrugs off grabs to his chest flesh.  Mercier cycles and kips up and gets a leg up for the Scisseaux Volees but Sanniez pushes it off.  He still has a wristlever. Mercier tries the same trick with the same result. He kips up again but Sanniez pulls him down.  Before Delaporte has time to reprimand, Mercier gets the break he wanted with the step over move and gets an underarm into backslide but only gets a 1 count.  He whips Sanniez into the ropes and goes for a backdrop on the rebound.  Sanniez counters with a sunset flip but Mercier leg chops out. Both men are selling the wear and tear, staggering around clutching their heads as Couderc goes into silly singing - Ding Dang Dong. Sanniez lands a powerful Manchette which has Mercier down for eight.  He whips Marc into the ropes and gets a heel of fist on the rebound then as many kicks as he can claim as continuous motion on the fallen Mercier, then some more for luck despite Delaporte's protests then pulls his man up for a Manchette.  Delaporte has a serious word with Sanniez about attacking a fallen opponent but this just antagonizes Le Mechant to land an extra stomp, pull him up by the hair and land a hand  heel blow, an illegal punch and another heel. Finally Delaporte gives him that Avertisement he so long deserved. Apparently this is a Deuxieme, I'm not sure when Le Premiere was and even Couderc is a little nonplussed.  Sanniez land another mighty Manchette and throws Le Gosse Du Guy to ringside. A second and Couderc help Mercier up as Sanniez and Delaporte cross their arms and their words. L'Arbitre protects Mercier until he is back in the ring, still selling his back from the landing outside. Sanniez is back in with a Manchette ASAP. He snapmares and Manchettes Mercier who Manchettes back seven times until the older man drops tomone knee to Couderc's amusement. An eight Manchette sends Albert into the ropes.  Mercier throws Sanniez who takes the bump and a nine count. Mercier wades in as Sanniez still holds the ropes. Delaporte gently warns him off, as Kent Walton would say, allowing for retaliation.  Both men waves fists at each other until Delaporte intervenes.  Mercier gets some borderline legal jabs, a Manchette and a posting, flooring Sanniez. He threatens Sanniez with windmill punch gestures which Couderc compares to Don Quixote, waits for Sanniez to charge and throws him twice.  They finger Interlock and Mercier forces a high whip and bump. They exchange Manchettes until Sanniez falls out of the ring.  He comes back into a Mercier side chancery throw and you g Marc nips up to the top turnbuckle and scores a fine missile dropkick.  He then gets an actual proper Planchette Japonaise (as opposed to the simple flips both men did earlier) . Sanniez gets a backdrop but Mercier gets a ground dropkick then flips backwards into a cross press for the winning fall.The local Mayor enjoyed it.  

The first half was classic technical Catch Francais. The second half was a French version of Jim Breaks Vs Young David 1979 (minus the verbals) with Sanniez as the poisonous Jim Breaks heel and Mercier like Smith as the naive curly haired kid who gets one up on him.

[ohtani's jacket]

1947.1.15 Henri Deglane vs. Yvar Martinson
1947.2.10 Henri Deglane vs. Charles Rigoulot
1947.5.19 Henri Deglane vs. Yvar Martinson
1947.11.3 Henri Deglane vs. Hans Buesing
1948.12.6 Henri Deglane vs. Jim Burnett
1949.11.21 Henri Deglane vs. Frank Valois
1950.1.23 Frank Sexton vs. Henri Deglane
1950.9.24 Henri Deglane vs. Al Cabrol

There was nothing too revelatory about Deglane in these clips. He tended to work a hard, clean match against top French talent like Martinson and Rigoulot, and more heated bouts with foreigners. There were a few exciting pull-aparts after the bout, and Deglane worked some fun boxing spots with Cabrol. He was older than dirt, but fairly solid for a guy right at the end of his career. I was impressed by Frank Sexton, who came across as flashy and stylish, and greatly surprised by Frank Valois. That clip ran about six minutes and was a hard fought bout. My image of Valois was from the Andre bout, so I wasn't expecting such a suave and skilled worker. That Andre bout was from 20 years later, so it's hardly a shock, but the clips definitely left me wanting to see more Valois whereas before I thought he was skippable.. 

[David Mantell]

On 6/14/2025 at 8:15 PM, David Mantell said:

Well done to @Phil Lions for acknowledging the Modern Era and the 2007 boom in Catch in France, by the way.

To underscore the point here are those two loveable rascals Flesh and Zefy, 20 years after beating Marquis Jacky Richard and Jessy Texas on FR3, taking on Horacio the pirate whom we've met before (in a frilly sailor top that looks suspiciously like a ladies' blouse) and a new heel from Italy Kaio - not to be confused with Kato Bruce Lee from circa 1983 but a young Italian heel with his country's tricolore painted as a stripe across one eye, on whatever channel this was on.

We join the action in progress, each side takes a fall then celebrates by knocking the opposition to ringside and getting a yellow card/Avertisement for their efforts. Zefy gets round the no exciting the public rule by doing a Walter Bordes style war dance which is just to rev himself up, honest guv.  The crowd get their Aux Chiottes L'Arbitre chant in after the ref refuses Zefy's rope break for a posting.  There's a fairly long section where Zefy does a giant swing on Kaio then keeps the double legs and it's not clear if he's going for another swing, a slingshot or a Boston Crab.  The finish has Gordon at ringside using someone's crutch to immobilise Horacio snake handler style while Zefy, after some effort, does a top rope superplex on Kaio for the win.  Zefy doesn't otherwise do much of his high flying stuff. The odd dropkick and that's it.

We've seen this venue with its big and red hot crowd before. Yes Phil, this was definitely the good times.

Was just looking at this clip and noticed the watermark is for Images Plus Television. Who were they?

[Phil Lions]

1 hour ago, David Mantell said:

Was just looking at this clip and noticed the watermark is for Images Plus Television. Who were they?

A local television station in Épinal, France. Currently known as Vosges Télévision. Created in 1990.

 

[David Mantell]

5 hours ago, Phil Lions said:

A local television station in Épinal, France. Currently known as Vosges Télévision. Created in 1990.

 

Interesting.  Are there lots of these is France?  Maybe that's how Eurostars/IWSF was televised.

[ohtani's jacket]

1950.2.17 Jean Jourlin vs. Vic Hessle
1950.3.3 Jean Jourlin vs. Vic Hessle
1950.10.20 Jean Jourlin vs. Vic Hessle
1951.1.12 Felix Lamban vs. Vic Hessle

Vic Hessle was the father of Bert Royal and Vic Faulkner. We already had a tag match of his from the archives, but this is a chance to see him in singles action. He was a top guy for Goldstein for around a decade. For that reason, perhaps, several of the clips run around 6-6 minutes long. Just as Dory Funk Sr wrestled more like Terry than Junior, Hessle is more reminiscent of Vaulker than Royal. He's a highly charismatic brawler, who is constantly moving and doing something of interest. I think he'd be a favorite of Matt. Just when you think he wasn't as skilled as his boys technically, he works the mat with Lamban and looks pretty good. I haven't finished all of the footage yet but he struck me as a highly versatile and entertaining performer. I would put him in the same category as Jack Dale and Tommy Mann.

The value of these clips is seeing the Catch world expand, and filling in the pre-1956 gaps. The 1950s is my favorite era for catch, and it would appear that Hessle was a bigger player in that era than I imagined. 

[ohtani's jacket]

1951.2.16 Vic Hessle vs. Georges Freymond
1951.3.30 Vic Hessle vs. Jack LaRue
1951.10.5 Vic Hessle vs. Deo Crasti

The more Hessle I watch, the more impressed I am. This guy was a phenomenal brawler and fantastic at selling. He's so intense and such a tough bastard that it seems like every opponent hates his guts. The animosity in the Crasti match was so intense it felt real. He works holds too, and man do they look like they hurt. And he bumps like a madman too. He nearly broke his neck doing an injury finish (of all things.) Every now and again, there are flashes of Faulker and Royal. His finisher is incredible and looks like it devastates his opponent's leg. The LaRue clip is excellent, but the Crasti clip is one of the best pieces of business I've seen in a long time. Some of the best fights in the catch collection, IMO. 

[David Mantell]

Quote

Franz Van Buyten vs Luc Verhaugue 10/2/82

 

MD: Van Buyten is just amazing. This was a joy to watch. He's one of the greatest babyfaces of all time. I watched this and I was more sure of it than ever. Certainly one of the best sellers. This went around twenty and was for a European title. They mentioned how Van Buyten was a former world champion. Verhaugue was French but I don't know a ton else about him. Part of the crowd was for him just because he was France but his actions turned most of the rest (along with Van Buyten's selling and the early exchanges).

Verhaugue was the aggressor from the get go with the initial holds, but Van Buyten, after working his way through them, had technical reversals and answers, be it a monkey flip or an up and over headscissors. That frustrated Verhaugue and he went dirty, never really looking back. Van Buyten sold and sold and sold until he finally tried to get up on the ropes to escape. The ref (apparently a work football ref who was going to become more and more of a mess as the night went on) had admonished Verhaugue up to this point with warnings but he hadn't done quite enough and here he tried to get Van Buyten off the ropes. That infuriated the crowd and some of them started to yell at the ref at ringside. That actually distracted the ref allowing for more cheating by Verhaugue which is something I've never seen before.

Van Buyten was finally able to use one of his trademark transitions, pulling Verhaugue over the top while he had him in a hold and started firing back. When the ref got in his way, he made him join in on it, getting both in the corner and doing his running charge to set up a ten punch. The ref stayed on him and he pulled the ref's shirt off and got DQed. But overall it was a great babyface performance by Van Buyten with Verhaugue doing his part as the aggravated aggressor.  

 

SR: I'm used to seeing Van Buyten wrestling against monsters, so it's almost odd to see him wrestling someone who looks like a regular person. Verhague was tall, but other than that looked like a regular guy. This was bread and butter Van Buyten stuff - some simple, tight wrestling, before Verhague quickly starts working him over. If you've seen your share of van Buyten matches you can probably guess exactly what happens along the way. Verhague looked good clubbering someone with basic blows but didn't have a very deep skillset. When you are fighting who sells as good as van Buyten you don't really need much more. It worked on the crowd, as once again a big woman got mad at the heel ref and wanted to have a go at him, with only a much skinnier side referee there to hold her back. Van Buyten ends up making his signature comeback and then beats up the ref for the DQ. We get an angry Van Buyten yelling into a mic after the match. Feels odd regular of an occurance this was for Van Buyten. You really get the sense he probably had this exact match with 500 different local bad guys, and everytime it ended with a big woman getting out of her chair and a referee having his shirt torn. 

 

Raspoutine/Firmin vs Johnny Goude/Rino Peducci 10/2/82

 

MD: Second match on the show. It was a lot. Exhausting in the amount of stuff here. Very fun to see Firmin (the butler) in this role. He was acknowledged for who he was and he did ok really. Obviously we knew he could bump but he was a good underhanded heel. This version of a Rasputin was a light heavyweight and could move and bump as well. Lots of cheating in the corner with the tag rope too. That sort of thing. and lots and lots of help from the ref who now was totally out to get the crowd and the stylists. 

It was a bit much because Goude (a Belgian) and Peducci (Italian) seemed quite skilled and part of me did, in fact, want to see them in a more conventional match. But it was hard to fault just how entertaining this was for almost every second, even if so much of the heat was on the ref. They'd do bits where they tied up the heels and charged at them in the ropes and he'd get in the way on the third attempt and do a little strut in his purple jacket (for his shirt had been destroyed). Some other really fun comedy bits like grabbing both Firmin's mustache and Raspoutine's beard and then having the partner come off the top with a double stomp on them. Goude even did some dives. It got pretty wild overall with the fans furious at the ref and them doing spot after spot after spot. At one point Raspoutine took ten headscissor takeovers in a minute span and then sold like he was dead and the ref had to bring him back to life. It's the most "spot monkeys" clip outside of luna catch and I don't think I can ever let anyone see it. This ended more or less like you'd expect with all the heels and the ref piled up on each other as the stylists counted and then with them getting the actual win but the ref throwing it out only to end up as a battering ram to be used on the heels. The last image is the stylists whacking everyone with the victory flowers. Madcap and worth watching once but I'm glad not every match in the footage was like this. 

SR: Firmin, is it the same guy who was with Robert Duranton like 20 years earlier? How odd to see a noble valet tagging with the rugged Rasputin. Looking at the guys in this, you'd think it might turn out to be some local shitshow because who on earth has ever heard of the likes of Johnny Goude, Rino Peducci and the French version of Rasputin? But somehow French TV never disappoints and this is another really good match. Someone must've done a remarkable job to keep enforcing the quality even way into the 80s, because these guys did complicated, athletic, fast paced exchanges as well as pretty much anyone else we have seen so far. In, fact things veered outside of the standard stuff and into interesting territory here and there. Such as the way Goude would use the leapfrog to set up a dropkick over the ropes, or Firmins slick body scissor counter to a slingshot splash of all things. Goude even ended up hitting a plancha to the outside. And Peducci, for his pasty look, had a no-hands kip up that was as good as anyones. So they start with a bunch of fun wrestling, and then things veered into the usual heatseeking to pad the time to 30 minutes. Heels weren't mindblowing but good enough. Once again the ref is evil, and he has this goofy disco shirt and would do a Fargo strut everytime he foiled something the babyfaces tried. It was just goofy enough to be entertaining as usual. At one point Goude hit like 10 huracanranas to Raspoutine, who sold this as a KO. It seems Raspoutine is counted out but they revive him and the match continues for more simple crowd pleasing stuff. Johnny Goude, whereever you are, you convinced me with your one TV appearance that you were a fine fine wrestler. This was a lot of fun, although it played out in the usual. You notice that these euro guys always did the same crowd pleasing spots and rarely ventured into new territory. Maybe it's because this show was a touring act, maybe they just didn't think to try new things, but it is noticable that they would do some of the same spots that you'd see 10 years earlier. 

Fuller reviews to follow in due course.  A few general thoughts first.

Good to see one of these FR3 broadcasts from 1982. It looks different from what was on TF1 and A2.  A much smaller venue about the size and capacity of  the WTBS Tech wood Drive studio with a slanting wood panel ceiling.The overall vibe is similar to the 1987 Karl Krammer versus Ted Jones bout.  Not really you big time Paris venues like the Cirque D'Hiver.or Elysee Montmartre , more smaller time matches in a small town venue, possibly a discotheque or small civic theatre.   I'm still not sure about its suitability for TV or live wrestling but I wouldn't mind living there.

The commentator is a newbie but he has a wrestler helping him out. To add to it the MC is doing his own commentary, Butlins style, even telling the fans what to chant at the wrestlers.

Sadly I don't think Raspoutine is Johnny Howard/Sean Doyle.  I thought it might be him minus the hair bleach but the more I watch of this the less it looks like him (mannerisms etc.). A pity as he worked the German tournaments and if it was him it would mean another wrestler who worked all three Stronghold Euro territories. Pity.

 

[David Mantell]

Franz Van Buyten Vs Luc Verhague.

The back seat driver of the commentator is one Monsieur Gide, a veteran wrestler.  We first see Franz and Luc locking up with a top wristlock.  Luc throws Franz in the hold three times, maintaining it all the way through.  Franz finally breaks it by somersaulting over and flipping Luc with a foot. Luc gets the hold again and takes Franz down in the guard. Franz uses the traditional French flying headscissors takedown as a counter.  Luc uses a kíp up to escape.  Luc gets a side headlock into wristlever.  

And there the science ends.  Luc used back smashes and  an illegal closed fist.   He corners Franz, gets another illegal fist but this time L'Arbitre sees it and warns Luc.  Luc gets a snapmare into pressure point.   Luc knocks fFranz about with Manchettes etc., getting the odd clubbing. Apart from a few Rear chinlocks   and throttgoes from here into full brawl mode with still the odd chinlock or other holds.

Luc gets an Avertisement but that is nothing compared to what comes. Franz lifts Luc across his shoulder several times.  He tries to throw Luc out but the referee grabs Luc's leg  to stop it.  Luc goes over on take 3.  He then ties Luc up in the ropes looking to bodycheck him but the ref will not stomach it.   Relations gradually sour between Le Bon and L'Arbitre ending withe a stand up fight where the ref's shirt gets torn off and Franz gets DQ'd .  An angry ref cuts a promo at ringside.   He and Franz scrap some more.

Good early stages before it always goes haywire.  Wild crowd including a scary fat old lady.  

[Phil Lions]

7 hours ago, David Mantell said:

Good to see one of these FR3 broadcasts from 1982. It looks different from what was on TF1 and A2.  A much smaller venue about the size and capacity of  the WTBS Tech wood Drive studio with a slanting wood panel ceiling.The overall vibe is similar to the 1987 Karl Krammer versus Ted Hughes bout.  Not really you big time Paris venues like the Cirque D'Hiver.or Elysee Montmartre , more smaller time matches in a small town venue, possibly a discotheque or small civic theatre.   I'm still not sure about its suitability for TV or live wrestling but I wouldn't mind living there.

This didn't air on the main FR3 channel. It was a regional broadcast only. It aired on FR3 Nord Picardie in the Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions of France. That channel is actually France's oldest regional channel, having started in 1950.

There's another match, a midgets match from 1986, coming up soon that also aired on the same channel.

[David Mantell]

3 hours ago, Phil Lions said:

This didn't air on the main FR3 channel. It was a regional broadcast only. It aired on FR3 Nord Picardie in the Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions of France. That channel is actually France's oldest regional channel, having started in 1950.

There's another match, a midgets match from 1986, coming up soon that also aired on the same channel.

Are you saying it was a regional opt out or was there one master FR3 alongside all the local branches?

I look forward to the 1986 footage, it plugs that particular gap.

[David Mantell]

Anyway, the tag match. Raspoutine and Firmin Vs JJohnny Goude of Belgium and Rino Peducci of Italy.

Monsieur L'Arbitre makes his return with a chip on his shoulder and a purple satin frill fronted shirt, the sort  worn by an evening cabaret artist in the bar of a cheap Blackpool hotel singing old 60s songs to pensioners.

This may not be the same Rasputin as in the UK and Germany/Austria but apart from FVB, Firmin is the other familiar face on this broadcast.  Former manservant to Robert Duranton in the sixties, former Monsieur L'Arbitre in the early 70s, now a lighter weight wrestler in his own right. According to Bob Plantin recently, that's what he started out as .

The biggest giveaway that this isn't Johnny Howard/Sean Doyle is the lack of raging temper that made him such a fiery character.  This Raspoutine wearsca similar hooded robe.He looks like a Neanderthal version of Billy Jack Haynes.

By this point it's been 17 years since major league Catch Italiano died off and the territory has mostly been dark apart from two brothers in Piedmont who ran a training school and ocasional runs of shows, some of which in the early 80s are alleged to have been shown on pirate TV. (Things stayed that way until the WWF showed up in 1988).  Rino looks older and balder so he could have got his start in the old Italian scene then moved abroad after the collapse like people like Bruno Asquini presumably did.

Rino may be older and balding but he's one hell of a mover, he and Firmin could have a great solo bout. What we get at the start of La Premiere Manche is pretty fast paced, Rino taking Firmin's throws well, darting between his legs, leg-throwing him out of a Boston Crab attempt. Johnny Goude (someone is a Chuck Berry fan!) looks like a cross between Steve Veidor and the young Johnny South in the early 70s.  He and Firmin reverse each others full Nelsons, Goude boots Firmin off a through the legs legdive, flips and leapfrogs him and dropkicks him to ringside.  He drags him back, leapfrogs and dropkicks him out again.  Raspoutine tags in an Goude high whips him for a bump, snapmares him, twice throws him with Scisseaux Volees and dropkicks him to ringside too. Unlike Mr Howard, who would be ROARING with rage, this Raspoutine calmly climbs back into the ring for more.  He gets a top wristlock battle with Rino, whips him for a bump when he kips up then has the same done to him. Rino gets a 2 count with a cross buttock throw and press off the ropes. Firmin tags in and into a top wristlock battle Hectakes Rino down with a high whip into bump. Rino kips up, somersaults over and leg flips Firmin to get an armlock in the guard. He rolls over and boots Firmin in the wrist.  Firmin snapmares him but he ground dropkicks the ex manservant in the head. Rino do the same in response to a whip and bump. Goude tags in, Firmin gets a front facelock but Goude straightens and whips the arm. He repeats this (dodging Firmin's attempts at a headscissors)then slings him, drops under and throws him on the run. Firmin lands next to three referee who somehow ends up standing on him.  Raspoutine tags in, gets caught in a full nelson, manages to break one side and reverse but Good rears out and superkicks him.  Raspoutine takes him down twice with cross buttock throw then a big backdrop, Rino tags in and chops his way out of a lockup Firmin is back and caught by a Rino side chancery hold. Rino rear snapmares and shoulder presses Firmin who turns the press over but Firmin bridges out, until he is halted in the reverse front chancery. Undeterred, Rino flips neatly on to the ring apron. The two have a brief slap fight, Rino vaults the ropes for a flying tackle but is caught in bodyscissors.  He tries for a pin but Firmin props himself up on his elbows. Firmin adjusts the bodyscissors to a rear seated position and makes some dirty grabs at Rino's face that get him heat.  He briefly gets a sleeper in combo with his bodyscissors. The referee is also getting crowd heat. Rino unplugs the scissors, kips up, bounces backwards off the ropes to Firmin's head end, pulls him up a gives him a Manchette, throw, two Scisseaux Volees. Firmin flees the ring and Rino charges after him round the ring and back in again.  Rino has both heels by the chin and Goude climbs his corner bombing both chins. He tags in but Raspoutine, also now in, takes his wrist, steps over his arm and into an armhank, resisting Goude's attempt to get a side folding press. Goude gets his own armhank during one folder attempt but it's not as secure as Raspoutine's.   The not so mad monk gets one shoulder down and grabs a rope to hold Goude down. 

And then the referee suddenly kicks Goude.  Rino is irate and grabs L'Arbitre A stand up row escalates to L'Arbitre slapping Rino. Rino tries to collar him but the heels shield the ref - he is one of them now.  Raspoutine and Goude resume some semblance of a match, the monk knocks Goude down, headlocks and blindside (but why bother?) fouls him. He flings Goude to ringside and Rino comes over to shield him.  Les Mechants et L'Arbitre play kings of the castle over Les Bons at ringside. Firmin tags in as Rino nurses Goude. The Belgian is in a bad way and still the legal man in (even if out of) the ring. Rino can only put his man in and offer encouragement before Firmin chops him down, stomps him and shoved him to the corner for some heel double teaming.  Raspoutine garrotes him with the tag rope. Some dork of a mark in soecs runs into shot to complain and Firmin aims a near miss kick at him just in case.  The heels direct their friend the ref away so he does not have to witness their dirty treatment of Goude including a sharp kick to the crotch. Rino coming in only gives Firmin more to direct the ref towards.  Inevitably the referee misses a hot tag (not that it should count as Rino was on the top turnbuckle) but the Italian leaps across the ring landing on Firmin's shoulders in the heel corner. L'Arbitre pulls Rino off by his thinning hair.  Goude meanwhile is cooked and Firmin drapes himself across him for a pin. Rino tries to accost the ref but the official spots and counts the pin. Rino kicks the prone Firmin but it's too little too late.  Fans riot and bang the ring apron at this.  "C'EST UN SCANDALE!!!" shouts the MC, pouring oil on the flames.  

So then, Deuxieme Manche. Goude is still legal man and fires manchettes and a snapmare at a now tagged Raspoutine.  He tries him in the ropes and twices shouldeblocks him  (French vocab:  "beliere" = shoulderblock. And not Big Daddy's most famous move!). The third time he hits the heel ref who takes it surprisingly calmly, quietly releasing Raspoutine who then traps Goude in the ropes by his arms. L'Arbitre "tries" to pull him out into a powerbomb position that gets Goude even more hogtied.  L'Arbitre has some fun of his own karate kicking the helpless Goude. He gives him a final slap before releasing him.  Goude finally tags Rino who Manchettes Raspoutine into the ropes. He again twice charges and strikes but again bounces off the ref third time.  The ref is standing around pleased with himself so Rino slings him into Raspoutine and he only avoids landing at ringside by scissoring the monk to arrest his own momentum.  This gets Goude an Avertisement. He slugs Raspoutine down and easily absorbs two posting before scoring an equaliser with a flying bodypress off the top turnbuckle. The ref surprisingly make a fair count. 

La Belle. Goude gets to work with about 9 Scisseaux Volees on Raspoutine who collapses.  The MC and crowd give him a KO count of 10 but the ref is preoccupied with helping Firmin revive him.  He gets up but Goude legdives and leglocks him, leaving him with his legs knotted.  Firmin helps him back to his corner and undoes the legs but surprisingly does not tag. Rino does however and drops back from a finger Interlock tons splendid bridge.  Raspoutine tries to crush it but Rino boots him off. Finally Firmin tags in Ringers a side headlock into standing armlock on him but it's Firmin who wins the leverage and gets the throw and an armlock in the guard, driving a knee into Rino's ear (but not across the throat.) Rino kips up but he is in enemy territory and one illegal punch from Raspoutine on the apron downs him again. The referee sees it but only gently chides Raspoutine. The second time, the ref apparently doesn't even see. Raspoutine tags in and both Mechants post Rino.  Raspoutine takes over the armlock then they tag and again double post Rino. Now Firmin has the hold again.  They try the double team again but Rino somersaults backwards and then double monkey climbs the baddies.  He alternately Manchettes them then tags Goude who snapmares each man then dropkicks each to ringside.  Raspoutine gets a foot trapped in the ropes on his return. Firmin and the ref free him. But Goude pitches him out and scores a Mexican Tope on him at ringside, FIVE YEARS before Sting stunned the Starrcade 87 audience with a tope on Rick Steiner.  They brawl at ringside. Goude leaves Firmin for dead but something out of shot blocks him coming back to the ring. It's the ref not letting him in.  Goude gets back in and when Firmin gets on the apron, flying tackles him out again (less spectacularly than  the tope last time) and joins Raspoutine on the floor for more action Dans La Salle.  The monk is left laying in a ringside R's lap when Firmin retrieves him and - ignoring another KO full count from the MC and crowd but not the ref . Firmin is still the legal man so Rino side headlocks him, gets a Scisseaux Volees on Raspoutine and throws them both, maintaining both side headlock and headscissors. He relesses leaving both heels on the mat. Both sides tag. Firmin legdives Goude and kicks his knee. He tags Raspoutine who applies similar treatment to the other leg. Then both heels work both legs but Rino rescues his part and they give the same treatment to Raspoutine then dump Firmin on top. The ref orders Rino out as Goude works on both heels. Rino joins him. The ref smack Rino onn the back and they argue as Goude continues. Rino collars the ref and dumps him on top of the pile like Schurli Blemenschutz at the Heumarkt in the 60s/70s.  Goude stands on the whole pile.  Another crowd KO count not ratified by the ref who gives the Bons their second and final Advertisement.  The heels tag and are big thrown across the ring. Raspoutine is dropkicked out while Firmin is pinned by Rino.   Shockingly, Les Bons have apparently won 2-1. "Bon A Gagne" sing the MC and crowd.   However the ref saves the day for les Mechants, reversing the decision and DQing the good guys for that final 2 on 2.  Yes it's the old We Wuz Robbed finish so later beloved of Flesh Gordon into the 2020s, complete with Aux Chiottes L'Arbitre chant. The peak of French Catch Cynicism.  So Les Bons tie him up, he gets free but they tie up both heels and use him as a battering ram on both. In the end Rino releases Les Mechants lest they spend the night tied to thecring. A fan comes in with a bunch of flowers and gives them to Rino who gives some to Goude and together they wallop the heels and the heel ref. At least his satin shirt survived this one.

Usually a game of two halves on these threads means a technical first half and a dirty or brawling second half.  Here thecsecond was more about pessimistic pantomime with a heel ref. Still, the first 15-20 were good solid tag action before the farce broke out.

[Phil Lions]

2 hours ago, David Mantell said:

Are you saying it was a regional opt out or was there one master FR3 alongside all the local branches?

Yeah. The local FR3 channels had a daily slot of a few hours where they could air whatever they wanted instead of broadcasting the national feed.

[David Mantell]

14 minutes ago, Phil Lions said:

Yeah. The local FR3 channels had a daily slot of a few hours where they could air whatever they wanted instead of broadcasting the national feed.

Same with ITV until 2002.  They could even opt out of hit shows they didn't approve of. Tiswas wasn't shown by LWT until 1980.  A few ITV franchises opted out of WCW but on the other hand Central continued an extra six months up to the end of 1995. A few episodes of the standalone 1987-1988 ITV Wrestling show were preempted in one or two regions, including the final regular episode.

In France as we have discussed, the localised and staggered FR3 broadcasts were a solution to the problem of TV wrestling negatively impacting live attendances on broadcast night. 

[David Mantell]

On 6/21/2025 at 2:57 PM, David Mantell said:

We've talked about this match a fair bit.  Broadcast on Sports Loisirs, a sports package show. The only other bout we have from this slot is Flesh and Zefy Vs Jacky Richard & Jessy Texas, but this in the only INA match although reportedly they broadcast quite a few more going up to November 1987.

This was a Saturday and the speaking clock says just after 1530h.  

Ted Jones sou ds like he should be Welsh but is actually Belgian - with a German flag to prove it.  Karl Von Kramer is most certainly not Carl "Barbarian Karl Kramer" Davies (who made his one and only ITV appearance 5 months later teaming with brother Wolf to job to Big Daddy and Marty Jones) but I don't think he's the 50s/60s one either - I think someone told me it was his son.  Funny looking venue with wooden pillars  and matching ceiling beams.  There is a potted palm plant. Ring has a shiny skirt like it's going out nightclubbing after the matches.  The corners are covered by pillowcase things saying "OFFOY".  Kramer has an old male manager in a Panama hat - we later learn that his name is "FRITZ VON ERICH".   Someone's been reading their American magazines.  He undies the turnbuckle cover and a little bit tries to stop him.  Jones has two dolly birds.   Maybe I imagined it but I'm sure on a previous viewing I saw the two naughty girlies pull poor old Fritz's chair out from under him.  International referee Louis De Flamenca is in a red jacket like a circus ringmaster. 

Most of the bout is slow strength holds and dirtied. Not inspiring to write a blow by blow account.  A Continental version of Bully Boy Muir Vs Collin Joynson.  Jones gets some good cross buttock throws on the bigger Kramer. He dumps him on the ringside. He uses a neat swinging motion to break open a seated chinlock into a standing top wristlock.  He uses an over the shoulder slam to counter an inverted front chancery. At one point Kramer is pounding him on the ropes  and he takes Kramer over one shoulder and Arbitre Louis over the other and throws them both out with him.  

A spectator tries to pull Jones out of the ring, Jones goes out and wallops him.  They don't throw him out, just sit him down, so maybe this was an angle like  Fred Magnier running in during the late 70s Michel Di Santo Vs Michel Chaidne bout and getting a kicking from DiSanto and Delaporte. Karl gets the win and a Euro championship after taking advantage while Jones is being pulled off the ropes. Afterwards we get what Jim Cornette calls an Afterbirth while Jones is beating up both Kramer and L'Arbitre. 

Not the most inspiring end to Alessio's last playlist (he needs to add Flesh/Zefy Vs Richard/Jessy.) but New Catch would see better moments.  

Penny has just dropped.  This is the same venue, in 1987, as the new 1982 match posted yesterday.

[Phil Lions]

Check this out. The most popular television personalities and television shows in France as of mid 1960. This ranking is based on the annual reader poll of one of the "TV Guide" type of French magazines. I don't have the exact number of respondents for that year (yet), but I believe it was in the 20,000s.

Catch at number 6, right before the TV News.

Darget personality number 5, three positions in front of Couderc. It should also be noted Zitrone (1) and de Caunes (4) also did some catch commentary at times.

-------

On an unrelated note, today I made an important discovery/had an important realization about catch TV in Europe. It looks like there was much more of it than we thought, but that's a discussion for a separate topic. Need to finish gathering my research notes first and then I'll share what I'm referring to.