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Many wrestlers have alternative professions, but Frenchman Jean Morandi is the only pastry chef we know of, working at the prestigious Midland Hotel in Manchester. Those delicate hands could do many nasty things to opponents during the years that light heavyweight Jean was a popular wrestler in British rings.
Jean was a resistance fighter during the Second World War and was awarded the Croix de Guerre, an award for bravery. He fled to Britain and after training as a parachutist served in the Allied Forces Special Services Branch.
Having already wrestled as an amateur Jean Morandi turned professional shortly after the end of the war and was to become a regular feature of wrestling bills on both sides of the English Channel for more than twenty years. Like many others he learned the trade on the wrestling booths of Matt Moran and the technical aspects at the Manchester YMCA. One man who told us of the great influence Jean had on him, and introduced him to professional wrestling was Lou Ravelle.
It was to be a career that lasted twenty years, and by increasing his poundage as the years passed Jean wrestled them all, from lightweight Johnny Stead to heavyweight bruiser Jean Morandi. Although he lived in Britain and wrestled in this country regularly he was a frequent traveller and well known in France, Spain and Germany.
Another wrestler who remembers his encounter with Jean Morandi is Tony Bates, “Regrets? The only regret is that I didn’t duck when Jean Morandi hit me in the mouth with a forearm smash and knocked my three front teeth out.”
Our last sighting of Jean Morandi was in 1967.
Page added 05/02/2024
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