On November 29th, 1998, he would sadly die of lymphoma at his home near Manchester, England. 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) News. As might be expected, Jones is now a trainer for several British-based wrestling promotions and, in recent years, even mentored multiple members of the current NXT UK roster. Along with his accolades, he was one of the first to incorporate a female valet into his act. He died in 2013 at 93. Although after thirty years of being a performer, he was able to transition into becoming a talent scout for the WWE. After one of his shows on December 2nd, 1997, he died from a stroke. Gori Guerrero - World Champion He died, aged 52, in 1998. Father of Bret "The Hitman" Hart, and the late wrestler Owen Hart. Wrestled as The Minnesota Farm Boy from 1957 to 1966. Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. With two different partners (Professor Tanaka and Mr. Saito), he managed to have five reigns as Tag Team champion, for a total of 932 days. Extreme Record Collecting: Confessions of an analog vinyl snob, A long, rambling blog post about my Nico obsession (+ some astonishing, seldom seen TV performances). A comeback bout with Hulk Hogan was axed in 1995 after Haystacks, born Martin Ruane, contracted cancer. Clark was to finish the mid-1960s as the second most famous drummer in the . So, I took in consideration the impact, the popularity, the legacy and the "it" factor when I could. Musician and wrestled in the Pacific Northwest. By Lee Dorrian. The Promoters A-Z index has been split into sections. 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Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s1 of 18. [Photo: IMDB]His enormous stature was not lifelike as he stood an astonishing 6 feet, 11 inches (1.11m) tall and weighed 685 lbs (311 kg). Mark Rocco was a fourth-generation British wrestler. After his face run, he ended his stint with WWWF as a heel, but it was not before earning the 1975 PWI Match of the Year award against Bruno Sammartino and to win a long feud against Jay Strongbow. Joint Promotions was a collection of promoters who became all powerful by using their collective force to create a stranglehold over all those who worked for them. WWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting, playing a significant role in building the future stars of WWE. while others continued to bill Byers as the title holder. Not entirely content with only being placed in tag bouts to make his partner Big Daddy look good, Matthews moved over to All Star Wrestling. 1. The 60s & 70s beer guide; Beers from the past; Beers from the past. However, the highlight of his career was the first ever babyface vs. babyface championship match, at the legendary main event of "Showdown at Shea 1972" against Bruno Sammartino. He was very agile and resilient for a man his size; he battled several 60-minute time limit draws against the greats of the time, such as Bruno Sammartino. Although he never got a chance to appear in many mainstream promotions, he indeed laid his legacy in his home country. Patera made a name for himself as a dominant strongman wrestler who had a successful weightlifting career behind him. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. With adopted names like Little Bruise, Sky Low Low, Billy The Kid, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook and Little Tokyo, men (and a few women) who might have eked out a living in the circus started a spectator port. Although some of the wrestlers we detail below broke through to major promotions during their time in the business, often, they arent given the recognition they deserve. The wrestler who popularized the superkick: Gentleman Chris Adams back in the late 80s. 20. Before long, he would be touring as far away as France, Japan, and eventually North America. Welcome to professional wrestling in the 1970s, where anything goes and grapplers weren't participating in sports entertainment. Where would we be without films like "Grease" and "The Godfather"? David Smith (27 November 1962 - 18 May 2002) was an English professional wrestler. However, he never got his break in what was, at the time, the top promotion in the world, WWE. Those I ranked are only the tip of the iceberg because other legends and pioneers existed before them. aaaaaahhhAndre the Giant one of my chidhood heroes, Davey "The British Bulldog" Smith November 27, 1962- May 18, 2002 Smith, who shot to fame wrestling as the British Bulldog in the World Wrestling Federation, was trained by the legendary Stu Hart. Chris Adams first entered professional wrestling in 1978 with no proper formal training. However, like many of his colleagues, his career and achievements have been sadly overlooked. Admittedly, we've had a lot of fun putting this wrestler information together and we hope you enjoy reading it too! Owns Pro Wrestling America. Oldies duets largely focused on romantic relationships, and for many, the greatest love songs are those featuring two great 50s, 60s, and 70s artists singing directly to each other the more believable the chemistry, the better! Now retired, Lord Littlebrook resides with his son in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Fuji's tag team partner at the time. These promoters were commonly known as the independent or opposition promoters. Wrestled in the WWWF from 1964 to 1969. For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. Click here to watch Luke Graham in the ring; it's probably not a WWWF footage, but that's all I could find. He was so popular that the fans wanted him to wrestle against opponents who were not exclusively African American in the racial segregation era in USA. Cast Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring. He was a master of in-ring psychology and an ace on the mic who could generate heat like no others. In 1982, Dynamite Kid had an instant classic with Tiger Mask for the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Sandor Szabo 60 October 16, 1966 Heart Attack; Primo Carnera 51 June 29, 1967 Cirrhosis of Liver . 10. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He died of cancer in 1990, aged 53. This ultimately proved to be a waste of his ability during a time when he didnt have many years left in the squared circle as a performer. The former NWA World Champion Jack and the former Stooge Jerry both began in the late '60s and had careers that spanned decades, including winning the NWA Tag Team Championship several times during their career. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. He was so pushed on television that he was unbeaten for twenty years. Beforebeing released from his WWE contracton January 5th, 2022, which ended his 22-year tenure with the company, Regal had an even bigger role behind the scenes as theWWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting, playing a significant role in building the future stars of WWE. The 10 best music producers of the '60s By Simon Arblaster ( Future Music ) published March 04, 2016 MusicRadar users have voted, so here's the countdown. A staple of the Joint Promotions and All Star Wrestling promotions in Britain throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Marty made his wrestling debut in 1972. The last surviving wrestler from the "Pioneer Era" (1900s1940s) was American wrestler Angelo Savoldi (born April 21, 1914, died September 13, 2013, aged 99years, 145days). Wrestled in his last match defeating Frenchy Roberre at a. Wrestled his last match in a tag team match with his son, Wrestled his last match at the VerdugoMania 3rd Anniversary show in Tonala, Jalisco, Mexico, teaming with Jaque Mate Jr., Rafaga, and Rayman in a loss to the team of, Wrestled his last match in an event in Mexico City, Mexico, teaming with, Wrestled his last match for Battleground Championship Wrestling in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, teaming with. But the female in the wrestling industry was Betty Wagner, the valet of Gorgeous George who lived to 98 years old in 2011. On an interesting side note, Santino Marella's name is a tribute to Monsoon, who's real name is Robert Marella. Copyright is owned by the creators of text and photographs. Mick McManus was a man small in stature, though he induced much fear! UK hitmakers The Dave Clark Five were one of the foremost 'British Invasion' acts. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages. As of 2017, there are 42 living veterans from the "Golden Age of Wrestling" (1950s1970s) over 75 years old. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Oldest female, mainly wrestled as Princess White Dove. He continued wrestling until the late 1980s, when he was enshrined into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Adrian Street with his valet and wife, Miss Linda. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Billy started his career in the 1950s, where he established himself as a wrestling bad guy. Wrestled in the Central States and was a light heavyweight champion. In 1968 he was crowned 'WWWF Champion' in a tournament but would hold it (and his all-time record reign) for an unprecedented eight years without being defeated. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. Oldest surviving Mexican women wrestler. He later quit because of back pain and died in a auto accident in 1995. 1961-09-29 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) On February 20, 1978, Bob Backlund reached the top of the mountain when he won the WWF Championship against "Superstar" Billy Graham in what was declared "The Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. He held the new championship 233 days, then he hung his boots a couple years after his historic reign. Click here to watch the only excerpt I found of Backlund winning the WWWF Championship and click here to watch him against Pat Patterson in a cage match in 1979. The Grammar Guru thinks the sixties were a decade of great fashion. Electricity Steve Regal. Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? Wrestled his last match for Italian Championship Wrestling in Brescia, Italy, teaming with Manuel Majoli to defeat Mr. Frost. 3. Brother of. Oldest Canadian Wrestler. Bobo Johnson also wrestled under the name the Brown Panther. Best known for his tag performances with Louie Louie and later Rocky Johnson, Bobo was one of the earliest Black midget wrestlers alongside Haiti Kid. Jack Ernest Gutteridges alter-ego had an 11-year grudge with McManus and developed moves such as the cross-shoulder backbreaker. The contest ended after an hour-and-16 minute time limit draw in front of a crowd that went nuts after the officials declared they had to comply with a curfew. Britain only had two channels in 1960, BBC . However, like many on this list, his potential was not pursued to its extent as he tragically died in 2001 at the age of 46 due to being shot to death after a dispute with his former roommate. Wrestlers like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks thrilled kids with their bouts, not to mention a remarkable number of their usually peaceable grandmothers. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. Wrestled in AWA. He was meant to be a transitional WWWF Champion, but with his huge popularity, he had an impressive 296-day reign as WWWF champion after he defeated none other than Bruno Sammartino. He was ahead of his time, innovating a level of athleticism unlike most before him. Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. He was a muscular 6 feet, 6 inches. Click here to see Patera injuring Billy White Wolf after the match and click here to see the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund. Keg bitters on draught. Brookside was introduced as a man that Shane McMahon had personally seen take down six men by himself in a fight at a local pub! He later found fame as an actor on TV and in films such as Kes and Alien 3. Kendo Nagasaki was an inspiration to many cultural gimmicks to come, and many wrestlers have named him as an inspiration behind their work. Something went wrong, please try again later. Story Saved. He died aged 76 in January 2013. Click here to watch history being made when Ivan Koloff defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF; and click here if you want to see The Russian Bear in a cage match again vs. Sammartino, in 1975. [Photo: dailymail.co.uk]McManuss main catchphrase was Not the ears! He would win his first singles championship from none other than Mark "Rollerball" Rocco in November 1976 when he defeated him for the British Light Heavyweight Championship, a Joint Promotions title he would go on to hold five times. As with everything in the Wrestling Heritage pages this is an evolving project taken forward by our Heritage community. Referee, and British Wrestlers Reunion President until BWR ended in January 2022 after 30 years. If there were some great female wrestlers back in the '60s and in the '70s, none of them could overshadow her, and that's why she's the only woman featured on the current list. The theme to the show was created by Morton Stevens and is recognized easily by millions of people even now, more than 40 years later. Click here to watch Mr. Fuji in rare singles action taking on Pedro Morales and click here to see him in some tag team action. Tag team: Little Bruiser and Billy the Kid, September 23 1972. It is said that his disillusion with his career direction led to a return to the Texas independent scene in late 99. This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 00:57. French-Canadian wrestler. Last known match took place in Carnoustie, Scotland. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. The top 100 of the 1960s is an expanded version of a top 15 list that ran last July, a few months after we began our Lost Factor calculations. Click here to watch Bobo Brazil taking on his nemesis, The Sheik. Think about Yokozuna or Big Daddy V but wearing a farmer boy outfit and carrying a horseshoe necklace from 1955 to the late '70s. Known as Sammy Berg. He only spent one year with the company in the '70s, but what a year it was! While never wrestling across the pond in the WWF, Jones did a stint in NJPW in the early 80s, where he faced off against the original Tiger Mask and also participated in tag team matches alongside and against well-known international names at the time, such as Antonio Inoki and even Andre The Giant. Cowboy Bob Bradley and Joey Russell, February 23 1968. Looking for the very latest wrestling news, gossip and facts? In 1986, he won the The Best Gimmick of the Year award from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter a prize that has been held by the likes of The Undertaker and Goldust. The inaugural WWE Champion lost the title 21 days later against Bruno Sammartino, and he suddenly vanished for a while. In fact, he was more than a pro wrestling top draw; he was, with his size, an attraction wherever he went. There are five songs, from "Mockingbird" to "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own," that I learned because they were remade over the next decade or so. He was built to become a legend, and he was just that. The best wrestlers (Sky Low Low, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook, Little Tokyo) mixed great physical prowess with acrobatic skills to give their fans edge-of-the-seat thrills and entertainment, with just a hint of comedy. Excellent and Psycho Mike. He even found time to release the single True Love in 1975 and still has stables in Bingley. 1 contender to Bruno Sammartino's WWWF Championship, but he always fell short, and he greatly contributed to put the champ over in the process. No matter where he wrestled, Koloff generated heat like no other with his Russian gimmick, all that right in the middle of the Cold War. He would have memorable feuds against the Von Erichs alongside Gino Hernandez as the Dynamic Duo in the World Class Championship Wrestling promotion, where he joined in 1983. He, however, was a considerable draw himself. In WWE, he was recognized as one of the companys best and most reliable workers. He retired in 1982, worked in public relations, bought a pub and became a porcelain expert. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. An example is Kazuo Sakurada, a Japanese wrestler who used the gimmick in the late 80s. to these sites/people. The iconic villain had a mysterious past, Samurai skills, supernatural powers and a cheap red face mask. Click here to watch Johnny Valiant teaming up with his brother Jimmy in 1974 and click here to watch him and his other brother Jerry in the late '70s. From Wrestleview.com Jay Briscoe has passed away. All this respectability was presided over by the governing bodies, the British Boxing Board of control for the boxers and Joint Promotions for the wrestlers. Former. ALL STAR WRESTLING IN THE 50's, 60's, 70's and 80'S (BCTV ) Fit Finlay David "Fit" Finlay began his wrestling career in 1974, though his first mainstream exposure came when he debuted as the Belfast Bruiser in WCW in 1996. Contentofthissitemustnotbereproducedwithoutthepermissionofthesiteowners;theriotsquad@hotmail.com. He has written for websites such as Mersey Sports Live and is now taking his degree in sports journalism from John Moores University into the wrestling business. Kowalski, who opened a pro wrestling school after he retired in 1977, trained none other than Triple H and many others. This is a list of the most important ones. We use ads to keep our content free for you. Matthews trained as a shooter (a wrestling term that describes a wrestler with a legitimate fighting background), and he often defended prize money against members of the public. He was 67. The Wrestling Heritage A-Z of Wrestling Promoters catalogues hundreds of those who did make it happen, including (despite the misleading title) female promoters Kathleen Look, Jessie Rogers and Anne DeRelwyskow.