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Yorkshire’s Ray Stevens was a familiar figure on the independent circuit from the late 1960s onwards, a regular worker for Cyril Knowles and other northern promoters. Like so many others it was a night at the wrestling that got Ray hooked. His older brother regularly went along to the fortnightly shows in Halifax. One night Ray went along with him and was mesmerised by the local favourites on the bill that night, Max, Brian and Shirley Crabtree. Max and Albert Wall were to remain the two wrestlers that Ray admired the most.
From that time on Ray was determined to become a wrestler himself and trained hard at the Hilltop Amateur Wrestling Club until given the chance to prove himself in the professional rings by the independent promoters. With Romeo Joe Critchley already well known he dropped his family name of Peter Critchley in favour of Ray Stevens, reminiscent of the American heavyweight of that name.
Promoter Cyril Knowles gave Ray his first opportunity in the professional ring, a match against another wrestler making his debut, fellow Yorkshire man Al Marshall. Ray recalled to Wrestling Heritage that the money he received for that match didn’t even cover his petrol money, but he didn’t care; he was a wrestler and that was all that mattered. Within a short time he was working for numerous independent promoters around the country.
It wasn’t long before Ray came to the attention of Joint Promotions and was signed up to work for them in 1971, and was now sharing a ring with the likes of Johnny Saint,Mark Rocco, Peter Preston and John Foley. Ray’s televised bout against Ian McGregor can still be viewed on YouTube.
Ray loved his wrestling, and gives specific mentions of the times he enjoyed working with Johnny Saint, Roy St Clair and Kid McCoy. With Joint Promotions the pressure was always on to travel further afield which did lead to conflict. Although a busy worker over many years Ray, like most others, wrestled on a part time business. With an eye on a more secure future he and his brother went into partnership with a bakery business. They did well and the business thrived. Ray had to prioritise and devoted his time to the business. “I loved wrestling, but to be a star you have to devote all your time to it. I did not have the time.”
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