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14th April, 1956
Count Bartelli v Dark Owl
Many readers will be well aware of the tremendous clash at the Victoria Hall in Hanley on 5th March 1966. That was the night a bloodied Count Bartelli was finally beaten by the young pretender, Kendo Nagasaki.
But could this battle of two unbeaten masked men be a repeat of a contest just ten years earlier? Well, almost, although the result of the contest was one distinct difference the blood, the referee, the titanic struggle and the adoration of Bartelli were familiar.
As in 1966 Bartelli was the local hero attempting to resist the carefully crafted undefeated challenger to his number one masked man crown. The fight was the climax of a series at the Victoria Hall in Hanley. Four top heavyweights were involved, the winner of one match moving forward to accept the challenge of another. Bartelli had defeated Ernest Baldwin on 17th March (technical knock our, round six) , and Ali Rissa Bey on 31st March (submission round three).
It was a journey where the destination was 14th April, 1956, Count Bartelli against Dark Owl at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, an unlimited rounds, fight to the finish contest. The referee for the match was to be Stan Rylands, the same man who would referee the Nagasaki and Bartelli match ten years later.
Both wrestlers were given a huge “build up” in the local press, Dark Owl the more so because he was the lesser known of the two. The emphasis was on his extensive travels and unbeaten three year run through Germany, Finland, Turkey, and India. Promotion of Bartelli focused on his style and long record as an unbeaten masked man, making reference to his defeat of the Masked Marvel and Jack Beaumont. A touch of nonsense with the claim he had wrestled in every country except America and received 250 fan letters a week.
With the pre match publicity, popularity of Bartelli, reputation of both men and a guaranteed unmasking it was no surprise that the Victoria Hall was packed to it’s capacity of 2,800 (to be reduced to 1,500 in the 1990s). The newspaper reported 4,000 fans were unable to gain entrance to the hall. .No doubt many were, but this does sound hard to believe. The match was broadcast live over the Hospital Radio Service, commentator John Byatt, so at least none of the sick had to join that queue!
Round one and it was Bartelli on the offensive at the start, quickly grasping Dark Owl in an arm-lock. It took a while until Dark Owl somersaulted his way out and immediately shoulder charged Bartelli to put him down for a count of six. Attacking Bartelli’s left leg he twice tried unsuccessfully to secure a Boston Crab.
By the twenty minute mark Bartelli appeared visibly tired from a relentless Dark Owl onslaught.
With the crowd behind him Bartelli dug into his reserves and catapulted Dark Owl through the ropes. Blood from Bartelli’s nose was now visible and discolouring his mask. Dark Owl returned to the ring and managed to apply his speciality reverse surf board lock, which almost always secured a submission. Bartelli refused to submit and managed to escape from the hold not once but three times. Following the third escape he swung Dark Owl round, seemingly going for a pinfall but quickly changing to his speciality dislocation lock, to which Dark Owl submitted, giving victory to Count Bartelli.
There was no doubt that the crowd were thrilled by Bartelli’s win but there was a great deal of appreciation for the Dark Owl. The victor removed the mask of the vanquished to reveal Ernie Riley, son of Billy Riley, who had also occasionally wrestled as Dark Owl, Both men praised their opponent whilst the promoter mentally counted the profit, rubbed his hands, and planned the return match.
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