French catch

[David Mantell]

On 10/26/2024 at 12:14 PM, David Mantell said:

Some English commentary versions of videos I've already posted.

On 10/1/2024 at 11:28 PM, David Mantell said:

I'm tempted to post this to the British thread as these are two Brits and two ITV veterans to boot but this took place in France for a French promoter so according to my rules this counts as French wrestling, the same as the French TV bouts of Bert Royal Vs Tony Oliver in the early 60s and Pete Roberts Vs Dave Bond in 1978 also both count as French.  Also because it follows on a theme I recently brought up of TBWs being sacrificed to bigger nastier heels -  Raymond O'Reilly Vs Hakan in Rumble recently (how's that for alliteration?) or Ian McGregor Vs Skull Murphy on mid 80s ITV. Here is another example.

McCoy was still considered the next Johnny Saint at this point although he had resigned his British Lightweight Championship and left All Star under a cloud after his dad King Ben was sacked after a tag match against Kendo Nagasaki and Blondie Barrett in July 1990 (long story going back to the sixties and animosity between Kendo and Benn's trainer Ernie Baldwin.). He got some World title matches with Johnny Saint on Reslo (with his ex boss Brian Dixon refereeing) and had he not quit in 1993 to go into the roofing trade (just as Kendo was retiring the second time) might well have become the new World champion in the late 90s some time.

He does get to do a lot of his counters and reversals on Scrubber but Daly just sandbags it all before going for a Knockout win after a splash.  If Kid could have tripped Daly and got him down on the mat, things could have got really interesting.

Add Knockouts - To anyone who STILL doesn't believe they were considered more prestigious than pins or submissions in Britain/Europe, please note that Daly could have stayed put after the splash and got a three count but instead stood up and got a ten count because a Knockout win made a more emphatic statement of DESTROYING an opponent than a pinfall win.

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Something I didn't notice before - Flesh Gordon leads fans in chants of Papa Doux Mais Mais, the chant synonymous with his tag partner nearly a decade earlier, Walter Bordes. 

Clearly Pappa Doux Mais Mais was just becoming a generic thing to shout at wrestling shows.  There were people in Dudley last Saturday chanting "easy easy" 17 years after Big Daddy died.

[David Mantell]

 

On 5/2/2024 at 1:29 PM, ingridguerci94 said:

On 4/20/2024 at 9:10 AM, David Mantell said:

Transmitted 11th March 1979, filmed 5 months earlier:

It is fascinating to witness Richard and Angelito joining forces. Back in 1971, each of them had at least one remarkable fight that left a lasting impression. Their collaboration now promises to bring the same level of excitement and skill that marked their individual battles in the past.

Angelito's one night stand (or swim) as a Mechant and as tag partner of regular archenemy over 20+ years  "Blouson Noir/Marquis/Travesti Man/Monsieur" Jacky Richard back when he was plain heelJacky Richard in trunks and boots. What sort of heel does Angelito make and how do he and JR fare as a team?

To answer the second question, not too badly considering they lose 2-1, they get on with the job and there is no real acknowledgement of their more normal antipathy.  As for the first, Angelito is your extravagant cocky Lanny Poffo heel  who has the skill and grace but rubs your nose in it. He has all his regular technical moves which he exchanges with Les Bleus.  He also uses his skill with the ropes to avoid ending up in the water, slingshotting himself back in the ring. Richard meanwhile plays the roughhouse heel mainly reliant on brawling. Angelito gradually factors in more dirty wrestling as the match wears on.

At one point Khader Hassouni, who has obviously been studying the George Kidd/Johnny Saint style since his world title match with Saint on 1977 FA Cup Final World Of Sport, does the Kidd/Saint(/Vasilis Montopoulis) ball. Poking out extremities for Richard to grab. Angelito who knows this trick tags in and does a ball of his own, only for Hassouni to kick him in the pants (which should actually have got him an Avertisement but it's Sherrif Delaporte reffing.)

Angelito concedes a neat folding press opening fall to Hassouni and Corne gets knocked in the water while Richard pins Hassouni.  The bad guys go on a dunking rampage, throwing both Bons and Delaporte in. Delaporte is a strong swimmer but a fierce man and he deals out justice his own way, first working with Les Bons to get Richard pinned for a decider then press slamming Angelito in the drink before collaring Richard and chucking him in too then repeatedly knocking both back in as they try to reboard the ring. Good guys and Good guy ref raise hands in victory.

[David Mantell]

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