Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
13th April, 1970
A New Era For The Heavyweights
British Heavyweight Championship
As a consequence of Bill Robinson fleeing to America Joint Promotions had declared the British heavyweight title vacant. Many were surprised to find Cheshire’s Steve Veidor (rather than Gwyn Davies) face Yorkshire’s Albert Wall in the vacant championship contest at Nottingham. Veidor had been living in London for some years and so at least we can assume southern fans were pleased to see it was a North v South battle, whilst northerners were content that this was an all northern clash and the heavyweight title was destined to remain in the north of England, as it had done since the rule of Bert Assirati. So in one sense at least everyone was happy. Except Gwyn Davies.
It was certainly a case of contrasting styles, with the agility and athleticism of the younger Veidor being the one to capture the imagination and appreciation of the fans. Albert Wall didn’t gain the nickname Rocky without reason; he was a strong, rugged powerhouse. This was going to be a hard night for glamour boy Veidor,
Surprisingly it was Veidor that appeared the more aggressive in the opening rounds, but his energy was always countered with strength sapping moves from the powerful Yorkshireman. Whenever Veidor was down Wall’s “crowding” of Veidor on the mat roused the displeasure of the crowd and a private warning from referee Joe Hill.
Five rounds down and into the sixth with no score. Time to liven things up. Veidor cartwheeled across the ring to rebound off the ropes and launch a flying tackle. The eruption of the expectant crowd was abruptly interrupted as Wall caught the flying Veidor, cross buttocked him and followed through with a press to take the opening fall. the fans were not happy.
Once in the lead Wall moved up a gear, became more aggressive and earned a public warning for his efforts. Round nine and Wall’s famed flying head butt was brought into play. Veidor took a number of long counts until sufficiently recovered to launch himself at Wall’s chest. Momentarily the world stopped as the men struggled and the fans willed Veidor to overpower his adversary. Of course he did, the two men fell to the mat. “One, two, three” counted Joe Hill. The fans were happy. It was still all to play for and Veidor appeared to be taking the upper hand. Nothing would be easy, of course, and fairy tales didn’t always happen in wrestling.
Wall secured a back hammer on Veidor, lifted him high, and dropped the arm on the top rope. That didn’t go down well with the masses. Veidor hardly had time to rise before Wall grabbed him and hoisted his body in a straight arm lever for the inevitable deciding submission.
A new champion was born. Not a popular one, but a worthy one, begrudgingly acknowledged by the Nottingham fans.
26182
Page added 12/04/2026
Wrestling Heritage 