Wrestling Heritage

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One of the saddest aspects of professional wrestling was the way that the men who had given enjoyment to thousands over decades just drifted away. Dwindling bookings until they disappeared without ceremony. Remembered only when fans asked, “What happened to?….”

Fortunately, for Count Bartelli, things were different, and rightly so, because he was one of the post war greats to whom both enthusiasts and colleagues owed so much. For him there was a celebrated retirement.

By 1986 our interest in wrestling had long gone. Until one Saturday morning, listening to BBC Radio, our attention was drawn to an unusual news story – certainly unusual for the likes of the BBC. That evening Count Bartelli would be making his final ring appearance at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, a venue which had witnessed so many Bartelli milestones, including his 1966 unmasking. This was a moment of historical importance. As long time admirers of Bartelli we could say it came ten years too late, but that would be churlish.

Count Bartelli had entertained wrestling fans for no less than 47 years, and unlike many wrestling facts, that one is accurate. The kid that wrestled Johnny Summers in his debut at Chester in 1939 was about to call it a day.

The date was set, Saturday 18th January,1986, a show promoted jointly by a former Crewe boxer, Pat Brogan, and Brian Dixon. Bartelli and Dixon’s professional association went back to 1970 when the wrestler worked on some of Dixon’s earliest tournaments. They had met a few years earlier when Dixon worked as a second at Liverpool Stadium.

The Victoria Hall was packed, which by 1986 was something of a rarity for a wrestling tournament. Local dignitaries and former wrestling stars that included Jack Atherton, Jim Hussey, Alf Cadman, Roy St Clair, Al Miquet, Bobby Ryan and Don Mendoza were on hand to say goodbye, as was a family member from Devon. The Staffordshire Sentinel reported that coaches had been hired to bring fans from Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

The Count’s farewell opponent was Tarantula. A tribute to the man himself that he should be selected for this occasion. Tarantula told Wrestling Heritage, “I remember it well. It was a great night and a privilege to be wrestling the Count in his final match. I remember the great wrestlers who turned up to salute his illustrious career, the Royal brothers and many more. There was a wall of noise when the Count made his ring appearance and the boos for me. It didn’t last too long although there was plenty of action in the bout  The Count went over to the delight of Vera his number one fan and the crowd.”

Bobby Ryan, former British and European champion and another man forever associated with the Victoria Hall, was also present and has good memories of the night. “There was nowhere like the Victoria Hall; wrestling every Saturday except for the two weeks of the Potteries holiday. But this night was something extraordinary, there was a special atmosphere in respect of Geoff. It was a full house, they came from all over the country. Many of the guys made their way to Hanley that night, not because they had to, but out of respect and to give Geoff the send off he deserved. There were many others who wanted to come along, but were working that night.”

The match was broadcast on Screensport, a pan-European satellite television channel, which in those pre SkyTV days could have added no more than a few thousand viewers in Britain (twenty millions around the world according to the channel). Nevertheless, this was a special occasion, and it was marked in a way that few others merited. Prior to the match Screensport inserted a pre-recorded piece in which Count Bartelli reflected on his long career, going back to Singapore in the 1940s, his rivalry with Kendo and Albert Wall, and paid tribute to Jack Atherton, who had introduced him to Riley’s gym. We couldn’t have been the only fans to smile when he referred to Derbyshire’s Hans Streiger as “Some Anglo-German wrestler that had been brought in. And goodness knows how he could fight for the Commonwealth title.”

With Blondie Barratt having disposed of Wayne Martin and Pat Barratt putting John Kowalski to sleep the fans were eager for the one they had come to see. Like the professional he was Bartelli waited patiently before making his entrance to the ring through a carpet of rapturous fans. A veteran of the ring he stood, smiled and relished the moment. Billed as a one fall match it was a contest that couldn’t possibly live up to the occasion.

Tarantula managed to draw blood but it took just over seven minutes for the 18 stones of tattoos to succumb.

The Count was then presented with gifts from co-promoter of the show, Pat Brogan, the Lord Mayor of Stoke-On-Trent, the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyne, the Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich, enthusiast Eli Collins and his faithful fan Vera Wilkinson. Following the match Bartelli presented a crying Vera with the red satin dressing grown bearing his name.

Bobby Ryan took the microphone and gave a short speech to acknowledge the achievements of this man who he admired greatly. Having explained the significance of wrestling’s ten bell-salute (Geoff was well and truly alive but this was a colossal loss for wrestling) Bobby then began the ten chimes.

With all ceremony complete Count Bartelli made his way to the dressing room for the last time as the sound system of the Victoria Hall blasted out Louis Armstrong and “What A Wonderful World.”

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