Also known as The Green Asp
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Wrestling in his native Canada pre World War Two Carl Van Wurden was holder of both the Canadian Middleweight and Light heavyweight titles. His standing in pro wrestling circles can be seen by his three times defeat of Henri Irslinger when the Austrian visited Canada in the summer of 1932. By that time Van Wurden had already been working as a professional for more than a decade.
He came to Britain in 1937 and remained in Britain during the Second World War. Heritage member Bernard tells us that when the Green Asp was unmasked at Newcastle in November 1939 the face revealed was that of Carl Van Wurden. Naturally, the mask was soon back on and the Green Asp continued.
The blond haired Van Wurden wrestled in the World Heavyweight Championship tournament held at Harirngay in 1947. He was unfortunate enough to meet the eventual tournament winner, Bert Assirati, in the opening round, with the inevitable result.
His wrestling career continued until the 1950s, our last documented contest being in September, 1957, wrestling Emil Foy in Wilmslow. Sailing from Liverpool to Boston in 1955 his stated occupation was “Wrestler.”
Carl appeared in the 1953 British comedy, “It’s A Grand Life.” He remained in Britain for the rest of his life, living in Manchester, and later, Blackpool, becoming yet another ex wrestler (and one of the first) to be seen in the television series Coronation Street.
Carl Van Wurden died in Blackpool in 2008.
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