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1933 was an eventful year in Germany. Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor, the German Parliament was set on fire, Hitler declared the Third Reich, non-Nazi political parties were forbidden. As the year drew to a close a happier event, the birth of Axel Dieter, destined to become one of Germany’s greatest pro wrestlers.
After wrestling as an amateur at the Heros, one of the most prestigious wrestling clubs in Berlin, Axel Dieter started his journey to the top of professional wrestling in 1955.
Having been trained by Bela Barothy and Axel Cadier his first tournament was in Krefeld, soon to be followed by more of the German tournaments that were held on successive nights for up to four weeks.
His first overseas trips were to Spain and Austria and in 1958, and shortly afterwards he travelled to Britain where he wrestled many of the top stars including Gordon Nelson, Billy Joyce, Mike Marino, Billy Howes and Alan Garfield. Leaving Britain in 1960 he travelled to Venezuela and the Caribbean, where he settled for two years.
Axel Dieter stood 6’2” tall and was a muscular 16 stone, and wrestled the best that Britain could offer during his short tours in 1963, 1964, 1965 ans 1966. Something of a record when he wrestled Ezzard Hart on television in 1963, an almost unheard of first round knockout win. At the Royal Albert Hall Axel faced Farmer John Allan, and suffered defeats against Al Hayes and Johnny Yearsley.
For more than ten years Axel based himself in Barcelona, travelling extensively throughout the wrestling world. During his career Axel wrestled throughout western Europe as well as South America, the Middle East, and the far east.
In 1966 Axel appeared in British rings in another guise. Clad all in blue, the Legionnaire Axel took the name of erstwhile masked man Ken Davies, albeit maskless and wearing Foreign Legion gear. This new guise should not have come as a surprise. Four years earlier historian Charles Mascall had written that Axel had served for two years, from 1953 to 1955 in the French Foreign Legion, a move caused by his frustration at breaking into professional wrestling.
Axel retired from full time wrestling in 1987, continuing his interest in the sport through refereeing and promoting. He made a one-off appearance in 1997, wrestling Pat Roach in a Legends match. In 2004 he toured Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, and Nigeria coaching and promoting a group of German and Austrian wrestlers
Axel’s son, Axel Dieter Jr., continued the family tradition in the pro wrestling rings of Germany.
Axel Dieter Barthel, born 14th December 1933, died 28th September, 2015.
Page added 28/10/2025
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