By James Morton
Also known as Lady Satan
Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections
The Emmeline Pankhurst of Wrestling
Sue Brittain was a warrior inside and outside the ring. Throughout her career Sue Brittain fought for Women’s Rights battling with the bureaucracy of local councils who had banned female wrestling. Around the country female wrestlers of the 1960s and 1970s encountered u the resistance of local councils, many of whom prevented them from appearing in their towns, often at the last minute..
Women’s wrestling had been banned in London since the 1930 and her biggest win came in 1979 when helped by the Equal Opportunities Commission she won a two day hearing against the GLC to allow her to appear at Wimbledon Town Hall to defend her BWA title against Jane St John. She won that bout in Round 6 with a Boston Crab. After the bout had taken place an Appeal Tribunal promptly reversed the decision and women’s wrestling was again banned. Wrestler Al Marshall called her the ‘Emmeline Pankhurst of wrestling’.
Sue began her career in borrowed boots when a wrestler failed to appear at Whitley Bay and was knocked out by Maria Rivoldi who became a regular opponent. In 1970 she and her husband Ron Farrar set up the British Wrestling Alliance and that year she won the British Wrestling Alliance women’s title. Except for a short period when she was defeated by Akala Jan in Bradford before regaining the title a fortnight later she held this from 1970 until she retired in 1981. The title then passed to Lady Dawn. Apart from all female matches Sue took part in mixed matches, and held the BWA Mixed Tag Team title with Mike Demain.
In 1985 Sue was coaxed out of retirement, but in a very different guise. For two years she assumed the role of Lady Satan, undefeated and unmasked. Harold Weller of Action Promotions said, “Satan was from the old-school of wrestling to win – nothing else; she was as hard as nails. No other BWA woman could cope with the vast experience of Lady Satan, who knew every trick in the book.”
An uncompromising heel, citing family commitments Brittain declined invitations to wrestle in Europe and America where Ring magazine placed her in their Top 10 rankings.
Sue Brittain, born 21st May, 1936, died on the 28th April, 2013.
Page added: 31/05/2020
660
Wrestling Heritage 