Also known as John Elisha
Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections.
The Bear of Walthamstow
Quiz question, your starter for ten …. What have the model Twiggy, swimmer Duncan Goodhew, musician Mike Oldfield and wrestler John Elijah got in common?
Want a bit more time or another clue? Okay add comedian Eric Morecambe and clues aardvark, penguin, cheetah, bear and camel.
Well, here we go with another of those quirky facts you come across on the website that reaches parts other websites don’t reach.
In 1984 two British zoos, London and Whipsnade launched an “Adopt An Animal” scheme. More than two thousand people, including the celebrities named above, adopted an animal and paid towards it’s food for the year. Walthamstow heavyweight John Elijah adopted a Kodiak bear named Wilbur, which was appropriate of course, because he was Bearman John Elijah.
John Elijah was known as Bearman right from the outset, and Wrestling Heritage was one of the first to interview him during his first year as a professional. That professional debut came in July, 1970, in a contest with Portsmouth’s Bob Kirkwood. Kirkwood was to become a fairly frequent opponent in those early days. Prior to turning professional John had learned the trade at the Sparta Amateur Wrestling Club, which he joined in 1964 aged sixteen.
One Biblical name wasn’t enough for the 17 stone Bearman, who on occasions was billed as John Elisha. He shared wrestling with a job in the carpet trade, which he moved on to after working in the advertising business, and one forum contributor famously commented that he looked like he had a roll of lino under each arm as he approached the ring.
Surprisingly John appeared at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall only a few months after turning professional, losing by the only fall to Pete Roberts in December, 1970. In total John appeared eight times at the Royal Albert Hall.
Television exposure also came quickly for John. That was in September, 1971, and the opponent? Bob Kirkwood. Of his first four televised contests Kirkwood was the opponent three times, with the Bearman winning the second and third. Well the Portsmouth Adonis did a good job in mentoring the young John. John appeared on television 47 times, opponents including Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and John Quinn, with his final appearance a draw with Prince Mann Singh in November, 1988.
Career highlights were challenging Bruno Elrington in Bognor Regis for the southern Area championship and wrestling Big Daddy in a clean almost technical bout on television. That year he wrestled Big Daddy many, many times. One amusing story recalled by fans is that of John assuming the role of a masked man. On entering the hall the way his walk made the identity of the masked man obvious and he was greeted with calls of “Hello John.”
John’s career extended well into the 1990s, a quarter of a century of wrestling. He even worked occasionally in the second half of the decade for John Fremantle’s Premier Promotions, with our last documented appearance in Eastbourne in December, 2000.
His style, relying on power holds, failed to excite fans, but he certainly had a niche as one of those valuable supporting wrestlers who were the foundation of the business. During a long and busy career he earned respect from promoters as a reliable and dependable wrestler, and genuine affection from fans around the country.
Page added 10/05/2026
26723
Wrestling Heritage 