29 March 1871
Open for Business
The official opening of London’s Royal Albert Hall.
29 March 1938
Wrestling Comes To Aberdeen
Professional wrestling, described as Free-style, made it’s debut in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Grappling
29 March 1946
Anniversary Peaches
Jan Blears said he ate a tin of peaches every 29th March from this year on because they were fed to him by sailors after they rescued him from the Ocean after his ship The Tjsisalak, had been sunk when torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.
29 March 1955
Colbeck and Kidd Stalemate
George Kidd’s luck ran out at the Caird Hall in Dundee. Challenging Alan Colbeck for the latter’s European welterweight title the match ended in a draw, leaving Colbeck with the belt.
29 March 1957
Dempsey Wins
At Ipswich Jack Dempsey beat Carlton Smith 2-1 to keep the British welterweight title
29 March 1966
Colbeck Niggles Mick
Six weeks earlier at the Huddersfield Town Hall Alan Colbeck had relied on a disqualification verdict over Mick McManus to retain the European welterweight title. The bout ended with an angered McManus disputing the decision as he had Colbeck seemingly beaten with a Boston Crab only to have been told the referee had disqualified him seconds earlier. So once again Huddersfield fans assembled for the return contest, again with the title at stake.
McManus started the match in his familiar aggressive style. Never one to shirk a fight Colbeck responded accordingly and seemed on the verge of disqualification when he kicked McManus through the ropes. Danger over, Colbeck regained composure to take the first fall in round four with a leg snatch and folding press. A series of forearm smashes followed by a folding press gave McManus the equaliser in round five.
McManus had the advantage in round seven but his over enthusiasm led to strict words from referee Emile Poilve. While McManus was receiving his admonishment Colbeck recovered, grabbed McManus by the leg and applied a single leg Boston to gain the winning submission and keep the title.
29 March 1984
Finlay Overcomes Judo Pete
Dave Finlay retained the World Mid Heavyweight title against Pete Roberts in Bristol.
29 March 1984
Death of Jack Wentworth
Read our tribute to Jack Wentworth
30 March 1926
Birth of Ernie Riley
Read our tribute to Ernie Riley
30 March 1949
Dale Retains Title
Jack Dale retained the British middleweight title against challenger Les Stent at the Chelmsford Corn Exchange.
30 March 1959
Dempsey Wins War of the Roses
It was Easter Monday and at Manchester’s Belle Vue the British welterweight champion Jack Dempsey was in celebratory mood as he retained the British title against challenger Alan Colbeck.
30 March 1961
Wrestling Fans Were All-In
Chairs and fists flew when fighting broke out amongst thirty ringsiders in Dunstable. The anger of the fans was roused by wrestler Ski Hi Lee. During the scuffle Ski Hi was stubbed with a lighted cigarette on his back whilst another fan smashed a chair over his head.
30 March 1976
A Rare Defeat
Some of Wild Angus’ most ferocious bouts were with the masked man, Nagasaki. Without doubt Nagasaki came out on top in most of their contests, but there were many that ended with honours even and a few with both exhausted wrestlers counted out by the referee. One of the most sensational contests between the two took place at Wolverhampton in March, 1976. There was confusion and frenzy as Nagasaki ran from the ring and Angus was declared winner by a knock-out. This was the semi-final of a knock-out tournament. In the final Angus defeated another masked man, The Ringer, who was revealed to be Jack Rowlands.
30 March 1978
Rocco Keeps Belt
Mark Rocco beat Kung Fu at the Digbeth Civic Hall in Birmingham to retain the British heavy middleweight title.
30 March 1982
Grey Puts A Brake on Breaks
Steve Grey retained the British lightweight title by defeating Jim Breaks in Hemel Hempstead.
30 March 2004
Death of Stan Garside
Read our tribute to Stan Garside
30 March 2006
Death of Adolf Dabrowski
Read our tribute to Adolf Dabrowski
30 March ?
Birth of Monty Swan
Read our tribute to Monty Swan
31 March 1931
Birth of Frank Robb
Read our tribute to Frank Robb
31 March 1933
No Objections
“The Imperial Troupe of Lady Wrestlers” continued their tour and were well received at The Ring, West Hartlepool. News reports referenced their gaily-coloured bathing costumes, skill and lightness of foot. The usual mat was covered with a thick carpet for the occasion and it was stated there was nothing in the performance to which anyone could object.
31 March 1939
Not So Much A Wizard Now.
Read Not So Much A Wizard Now
31 March 1940
Birth of Maurice Hunter
Read our tribute to Maurice Hunter
31 March 1949
Demolition Man
Bert Assirati knocked out Bob Langevin of Canada after twenty minutes to retain the British Empire Heavyweight title. Langevin had taken the lead with a submission after 16 minutes with a rolling body scissors. Four minutes later and it was lights out for the challenger with a double elbow from which the challenger failed to beat the count.
31 March 1983
Dennison Wins
At the Victoria Leisure Centre in Nottingham Alan Dennison retained the British welterweight title against Jim Breaks.
01 April 1928
Birth of Ronnie Knigh
Read our tribute to Ronnie Knight
01 April 1930
Birth of Jack Land/Karl Von Kramer
Read our tribute to Karl Von Kramer
01 April 1932
Birth of Tommy Tucker
Read our tribute to Tommy Tucker
01 April 1933
Oakeley Win
Atholl Oakeley defeated Dave Armstrong when the challenger submitted in the fourth round at the Scottish Stadium in Glasgow. Oakeley retained the British Heavyweight title in the show that was said to be the first All-In show in Scotland.
01 April 1939
Lancashire Ban
Lancashire County Council introduced an outright ban on female wrestling and a Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday ban on all boxing and wrestling.
01 April 1967
Bartelli’s First British Title Clash
Having been working without a mask for less than a year this was almost certainly the first opportunity for Count Bartelli to wrestle for a British title. The venue was the Victoria Hall in Hanley, and Peter Bettany was present to report, “On 4th March, 1967 Count Bartelli had defeated the then champion, Billy Robinson, when Robinson was unable to continue following one of the Count’s arm snatches. This was a non-title bout and Bartelli challenged Robinson to a return match with the championship at stake. Robinson put his belt on the line against Bartelli on 1st April and this time won by 2 falls to 1 submission to retain his title. I was privileged to be there for both contests and still have the programs.”
01 April 1970
No Smiles for Colbeck
Alan Colbeck retained the European welterweight title against Mick McManus at the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester. This was a return contest following on from their previous title match on 29th January when the referee declared a No Contest verdict following an injury to Colbeck,
01 April, 1976
Surprise Selection for Russia
Nottingham Judoka, already on the short-list for the Olympic Judo Team, was selected as a member of a British team to compete in Russia on 14th April, as a wrestler! Lawrence, who had practised judo for sixteen years had already surprised many by competing in the British Open Wrestling Championships in Manchester and winning the lightweight Sambo class. Sambo style is a cross between judo and wrestling; he was warned that Freestyle and Greco-Roman style would prove more challenging.
01 April 1979
Death of Harry Fields
Read our tribute to Harry Fields
01 April 2016
Death of Geoff Portz
Read our tribute to Geoff Portz
01 April 2010
Death of Mickey Gold
Read our tribute to Mickey Gold
02 April 1934
Birth of Leon Arras
Read our tribute to Leon Arras
02 April 1954
Euro Clash in Glasgow
Norman Walsh defeated Ron Johnson in Glasgow in a match billed for the European Junior Heavyweight title.
02 April 1958
Wrestlers Wanted
Newcastle wrestler Walter McRae advertised for new recruits to a gym he was opening in Dean Street, Newcastle. Among those who enrolled were Frank Robb and Laurie Coulton.
02 April 1960
Dempsey Beats Pallo
Jack Dempsey retained the British welterweight title in Kings Lynn against Jackie Pallo.
02 April 1961
Dean Spills The Beans
Sunday Newspaper, The People, began a wrestling expose by little known heavyweight wrestler Alf “Man Mountain” Dean.
02 April 2023
Death of Max Crabtree
Read our tribute to Max Crabtree
03 April 1908
Gotcha!
It took just over two hours for George Hackenschmidt to submit and surrender the world heavyweight title to Frank Gotch.
03 April 1933
A Reprieve in Oxford, for now.
The council rejected a recommendation to refuse the use of the Town Hall for All-In wrestling and voted to allow wrestling in the town to continue pending further discussion following the next show. One councillor compared wrestling favourably to bull-fighting, whilst another said there was far more blood to be seen in a boxing match. Only two members had actually seen wrestling, and both opposed the ban. It was decided to attend the following night’s show before discussing the matter further.
03 April 1933
Onwards and Upwards.
Progression was made in the development of professional wrestling in Nottingham. For the first time in the town the Nottingham Sports Club presented a stand-alone wrestling show of four matches without any boxing. Top of the bill was Karl Pojello and Frans Saenen, with supporting contests Dave Armstrong v Carver Doone, Wild Boar Wilkie v White Owl and The Question Mark v Carl Ferdinand.
03 April 1957
Unhappy Ending In Croydon
Wrestling was held for the first time at Croydon Civic Hall and things did not go to plan. During the main event between Bert Assirati and Milo Popocopolis hooks simultaneously flew from the four corner posts and the top rope collapsed. The wrestlers wrestled on using the lower two ropes but soon afterwards Popocopolis complained he had hurt his back on one of the lower ropes and the match was ended. The fans were far from happy and booed loudly as the MC announced it was time for them to go home.
03 April 1959
War of the Roses
In Glasgow at the Govan Town Hall Lancashire’s Jack Dempsey defeated Yorkshire’s Alan Colbeck to keep the British welterweight title.
03 April 1963McManus Not Good Enough
Alan Colbeck retained the European welterweight title against Mick McManus in Hastings.
03 April 1978
Breaks Goes for Gold Over The Golden Ace
In Bradford local champion Jim Breaks beat Wigan’s John Naylor to retain the British lightweight title.
03 April 1981
Death of Ben Sherman
Read our tribute to Ben Sherman
03 April, 1955
Death of Laurent Gerstmans
Read our tribute to Laurent Gerstmans
04 April 1922
Birth of Bob Sherry
Read our tribute to Bob Sherry
04 April 1924
Birth of Pedro the Gypsy
Read our tribute to Pedro The Gypsy
04 April 1932
Birth of Ted Hannon
Read our tribute to Ted Hannon
04 April 1938
A French Folly
Doncaster’s Harold Angus took his European middleweight championship title to France and came back with nothing. At the Salle Wagram in Paris he was beaten by Roger Mollet in 19 minutes 16 seconds.
04 April 1950
Cadier Keeps Title
Alex Cadier retained his European Heavyweight title against Frank Mantovitch at Harringay Arena.
04 April 1962
Cheering fans and righteousness were not enough.
Dr Death unmasked the White Angel in Tooting to reveal Al Hayes.
Read our report
04 April 1976
The End of the Pier Show
At the Pier Pavilion in Cleethorpes Vic Faulkner retained the British welterweight title against challenger Jim Breaks.
04 April 2002
Death of Frankie Hughes
Read our tribute to Frankie Hughes
04 April 2012
Death of Rajendra Singh
Read our tribute to Rajendra Singh
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