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Dave Taylor was one of the last great British heavyweights. Not surprising, really, as the grappling game was in his veins, being the son of the great Eric Taylor and grandson of the Yorkshire Jack Taylor. Born on 1st May, 1957 and was trained by his illustrious father and grandfather.
Dave “Rocky”Taylor joined the professional ranks in the mid 1970s, making his television debut in 1975 against Paul Mitchell. Shortly afterwards he moved across to the independents which meant lack of further television exposure until 1986 when he returned to the screen as a much more muscular and powerful wrestler than previously.
It’s a sad indictment of the state of British wrestling that Dave found it necessary to spend so much time working abroad. He worked regularly in Germany, though this didn’t prevent him twice holding the British heavyweight title (All Star Promotions version). In the mid 1990s Dave went to the USA, forming a long running partnership with fellow Brit Steve Regal. British wrestlers have always travelled but from the 1980s onwards men of real calibre found it necessary to work abroad to gain the recognition they deserved.
Dave Taylor retired from wrestling in 2012.
Reviewed 28/02/2022
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