08 March 1954
This Sausage Wasn’t All In
Heavyweight wrestler Robert Duranton was fined £6, £1-1s costs in Liverpool and £10 compensation to the proprietor of the Lime Street Cafe in Liverpool. Duranton pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding the proprietor but not guilty to causing damage. The cause of the ruction was that Duranton was told there were no more sausages left but he then saw other customers being served sausages.
08 March 1957
Mann Keeps Title
Tommy Mann defended the British middleweight title against Alan Colbeck in Leicester
08 March 1960
Can Oakeley Rise Again?
Atholl Oakeley, the former wrestler and promoter who had left the business in the mid 1950s announced that he planned to start promoting heavyweight wrestling in the autumn by bringing over wrestlers from the United States. As far as we know his plans came to nothing.
08 March 1968
Closure of The Book
Following seven years of competition Paul Lincoln Management had been effectively swallowed up by Dale Martin’s parent company in January, 1966, and the formation of a new subsidiary, Paul Lincoln Promotions. On 8th March, 1968, the Paul Lincoln Management, listed as Entertainment Promoters of 56, Old Compton Street, London, W1, was officially wound up.
08 March 1984
Finlay Keeps Title
Dave Finlay retained the World Mid Heavyweight title against Marty Jones at Govan Town Hall in Glasgow
08 March 1987
Death of Felix Miquet
Read our tribute to Felix Miquet
08 March 2020
Death of Wayne Bridges
Read our tribute to Wayne Bridges
09 March 1931
Never Too Old To Learn.
Former wrestler Peter Bannon was fined 10 shillings (50p) at Burnley Police Court for disorderly behaviour when fighting on a bus. Bannon said he was an old man, he was 65, and people took liberties with him. Both protagonists were well known to the court and it was said Bannon had 39 previous convictions. Whilst acknowledging Bannon’s past history was not a creditable one the judge did say, “You are getting an older man. Sometimes it takes a number of years to get sense into people. The magistrates hope you are getting more sensible, and to have an idea of what good behaviour is. You will be fined 10s, including costs, or seven days.” Bannon said that he had the money and would pay, but requested the fine could be postponed a week, which it was.
09 March 1943
Birth of Deep River
Read our tribute to Deep River
09 March 1946
Conda Wins SEAC Title
At the Great World Arena in Singapore Jeff Conda defeated Dropkick Johnny Peters to win the South East Asian Command Gold Belt.
09 March 1949
Kidd Wins
George Kidd defended the British lightweight title against Alan Colbeck at the New St James Hall in Newcastle.
09 March 1954An Unmasking of a Minor Kind.
A bit of an oddity in Burton Upon Trent. An unheralded supporting match between Jack Atherton and The Masked Marvel ended with a KO win for Atherton after just 45 seconds. The Marvel removed his mask and was Tim McCoy.
09 March 1957
Baldwin KO’s Mancelli
Ernest Baldwin knocked out Tony Mancelli in the fourth round at the Victoria Hall in Hanley to retain the British heavyweight title.
09 March 1964
A White Rose Triumph It was a case of a win for Yorkshire over Lancashire at the St George’s Hall in Bradford when Geoff Portz beat Billy Joyce to win the British heavyweight title. Referee was Ernest Lofthouse. With fifteen rounds to go things not surprisingly started quietly in the first round. Blood was drawn, literally, in the second with blood flowing from Portz’s nose. Portz seemed to be on top of things in the third and an aeroplane spin and slam got the fans excited as they anticipated a body slam and fall. Disappointment followed as not only did Joyce rise to his feet he snatched the challenger’s legs and took the first fall with a folding press. Joyce was a master of niggling the crowd with his hard tactics that didn’t quite break the rules. Round five was a good round for Portz as he delivered a series of forearm smashes and the round ended with Joyce looking tired. Round six and the fans were rewarded as Portz followed through a body slam to equalise the match. Round seven and Joyce’s knee appeared injured by the slam. That didn’t prevent a few cunning moves before Portz was able to grab that leg in a lever. Joyce submitted, Portz relinquished the hold and Joyce relinquished the title.
09 March 1969
Marino and Breaks Triumphant
It was double championship night in Halifax from Ted Beresford’s Globe Promotions. Mike Marino knocked out Dory Dixon to retain the World Mid Heavyweight title and Jim Breaks beat Zoltan Boscik to keep the European lightweight title.
09 March 1977
Shock Disqualification
At Buxton Jim Breaks defeated Vic Faulkner, who was disqualified, to win the British welterweight title.
09 March 2000
Death of Eddie Stratton
Read our tribute to Eddie Stratton
09 March 2020
Death of Gene Riscoe
Read our tribute to Gene Riscoe
09 March 2022
Death of Joe D’Orazio
Read our tribute to Joe D’Orazio
10 March 1938
New and Improved Flash.
As a wrestler Canadian born Eddie Barker was known as Flash. He added a bit more flash when he was signed as a speedway rider by West Ham.
10 March 1949
Ipswich Goes Against the Trend
As wrestling was re-gaining popularity following the post war reforms Ipswich council decided to ban the sport.
10 March 1954
Gentleman Jim beats Just Jim
Gentleman Jim Lewis retained the world welterweight title at the Baths Hall, Scunthorpe by defeating Jim Mellor by two falls to one in the last of six ten minute rounds.
10 March 1978
A Colourful Affair
A Wrestling Enterprises (Independent) show at Liverpool Stadium and Adrian Street defended his World Middleweight title against Ricky Starr.
11 March 1933
Oakeley Wins
Atholl Oakeley retained his British heavyweight title at the New St James Hall in Newcastle when he knocked out Mosey Moont in the last round.
11 March 1934
Birth of Bill Robertson
Read our tribute to Bill Robertson
11 March 1941
Birth of Bob Abbott
Read our tribute to Bob Abbott
11 March 1945
Birth of Ray Plunkett
Ray Plunkett was probably better known in wrestling circles than quite a few of the wrestlers he admired. More than one wrestler has been known to comment that Ray knew more about their whereabouts than they knew themselves. From the 1960s onwards Ray collected and compiled wrestling results which he generously shared with other like minded enthusiasts.
In the 1960s he was part of an extensive group of fans that swapped results on a regular basis, followed in later years by literally hundreds, possibly thousands of hours trawling through library newspaper archives. With newspapers digitised it was a case of online searching to create what must have been the largest database of British wrestling bills and results.
Apart from being an ultimate fan Ray was also well known as a referee and Master of Ceremonies for various independent promoters and Dale Martin Promotions.
11 March 1952
Promoters call Foul
Wrestling promoters claimed a steep increase in the Entertainment tax would have an impact on profits.
11 March 1955
Dempsey Triumph
In a tussle for the British welterweight championship at the Drill Hall in Halifax the holder Jack Dempsey, defeated challenger Eric Sands and needed only eight of the scheduled fifteen rounds. Sands went on an early offensive and had the better of the champion in the opening rounds until Dempsey’s greater aggression led to the opening fall in round four. Assuming Dempsey’s stronger tactics the challenger punished the champion with a series of leg holds which led to an equalising submission in round six. Hopes of a new champion were raised in the seventh as Sands began to possess the match. Alas, it all ended abruptly with a fall in round eight and Jack Dempsey was still the champion.
11 March 1957
Dempsey Wins
A Dale Martin promotion at the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells and champion Jack Dempsey defended the title against George Kidd.
11 March 1960
Billy The Champ
Billy Joyce defended the British heavyweight title against Dave Armstrong at Cossington Street Baths in Leicester.
11 March 1965
Breaks Keeps Belt
Jim Breaks retained the British lightweight title against Mike Bennett at Nottingham.
11 March 1969
Unruly McManus Fails
Clayton Thomson retained the British middleweight title when challenger Mick McManus was disqualified at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls.
11 March 1972
Bartelli Hits A Wall
Commonwealth heavyweight champion Albert Wall retained the title although he was held to a draw by local favourite Count Bartelli at the Victoria Hall in Hanley. Both wrestlers gained a submission.
11 March 1976
Wrestler Fined
Magistrates in Hatfield, Hertfordshire fine Billy Stock £30 for assaulting a fan after he had been disqualified in his match at Welwyn Garden City Community Centre.
11 March 1983
Marty Jones Triumphant
Marty Jones retained the World Mid Heavyweight title against Caswell Martin at Hull City Hall.
12 March 1933
News From India
News from India of Siddi Wastad, a wrestler who lived in the central provinces of India, who was 130 years old, had never been treated by a doctor and prepared all his own medicines when ill. 130 years old? Erm? Even Don Robinson, Cyril Knowles nor Jack Taylor came up with that one.
12 March 1934
Ladies Arrive in Leeds.
The ladies came to Leeds. Six hundred spectators went along to the National Sporting Club in Templar Street to experience Leeds’ first taste of female wrestling. Reports said the spectators were surprised to find Doreen Slattery, Lily Fox, Betty Green and Marjorie Murnum were all slim girls under twenty years old! The two matches, fought under Catch as Catch Can rules, were reported to be conducted in a sportsmanlike manner and were neither unseemly or incongruous. Doreen Slattery (Wigan) beat Lily Fox (Scotland) by two falls to one, and Betty Green (Lancashire) beat Marjorie Murnum (Belfast) by two falls to nil. The women reportedly showed a good understanding of wrestling and the reaction was favourable enough for two more to appear the following month.
12 March 1937
Unseemly Goings On In Rotherham
The Daily Mirror reported a new Sunday entertainment for the men of Rotherham. Following their Sunday lunchtime pint the men were not going home for their Sunday lunch but had found a new diversion. Five times police had been called to scenes of uproar as spectators, said to be fuelled with liquid refreshment were watching open-air wrestling matches between women. The female contestants were said to be tough and partial to throwing the referee about.
12 March 1938
First wrestling on British television.
It was a milestone day for British wrestling. For the first time ever British wrestling was shown on television. The BBC had only been broadcasting for 16 months and programmes could only be received by a few thousand homes around London for three hours a day, four on Saturday and not at all on Sunday. Earl McCready of Canada wrestled Percy Foster of South Africa in a match described as an exhibition of Catch as Catch Can wrestling.Read The Other Side of Wrestling
Read Wrestling and The BBC
12 March 1962
Match Drawn
Belgium’s Jan Brouwers was billed as European Heavy Middleweight champion against Eric Taylor in Leeds. The match lasted the full twelve five minute rounds and ended in a one fall each draw, Brouwers remaining the champion.
12 March 1986
Danny’s A Good Un
Danny Collins surprised two patients at Cheltenham Hospital when he turned up at visiting time, Danny had heard that the two brothers had been injured in a car crash whilst travelling to watch their first live wrestling show at Cheltenham Town Hall. Danny invited them to watch his forthcoming defence of his European welterweight title.
12 March 1986
Grant Calls It A Day
Following an injury in a match against John Elijah Gloucestershire’s Grant McConnon, was forced to call it a day after two months of professional wrestling. Grant’s younger brother Lee, aged 18, said he would continue to wrestle.
12 March 2018
Death of John Kick Kick Kingston
Read our tribute to John Kingston
13 March 1903
Birth of Jack Callaghan Jr
Read our tribute to Jack Callaghan Jr
13 March 1933
Birth of Dwight J Ingleburgh
Read our tribute to Dwight J Ingleburgh
13 March 1934
Birth of Geoff Portz
Read our tribute to Geoff Portz
13 March 1937
Birth of Albert Wall
Read our tribute to Albert Wall
13 March 1952
Joint Promotions – The Start of A New Era
Read The Start of A New Era
13 March 1974
Death of Gene Dubuque
Gene Dubuque is in the A-Z
13 March 1986
Bristol Doubles
There were two title matches in Bristol. At Lightweight Jon Cortez defeated champion Johnny Saint to win the World title. Rollerball Mark Rocco retained the Heavy Middleweight title by defeating Kung Fu.
13 March 2010
Death of Francois Miquet
Francois Miquet is in the A-Z
13 March 2011
Death of Eric Leiderman
Read our tribute to Eric Leiderman
13 March 2013
Death of Toma Hansom
Read our tribute to Toma Hansom
13 March 2015
Death of Keith Waddington
Read our tribute to Keith Waddington
14 March 1933
No Doubt About It.
There was little to surprise fans as British heavyweight champion Douglas Clark convincingly defeated Johanfesson in St Patrick’s Hall, Huddersfield, to retain his title. We take nothing away from Johanfesson but he had neither the poundage, strength or the skill to overcome Clark. Clark proved himself supreme throughout even punishing Johanfesson twice with a gruelling body scissors in a first round that saw both men acting with caution. Things moved up a gear in the second round, or at least they did for Clark. He punished Johanfesson from the start and gained a submission with a body scissors after three minutes 40 seconds. An apparently near crippled Johanfesson needed help to return to his corner. Round three and it was over as soon as it started. Less than a minute and Clark secured Johanfesson in a short-arm scissors and Johanfesson’s cry of submission. Not a bad days work for the champion.
14 March 1938
Cheers for Shirley.Not the Big Daddy obviously, this is 1938. Big Shirley was not the first Crabtree to wrestle, and not even the first Shirley. Dewsbury Rugby League player Shirley Crabtree (who would one day father Big Daddy) made his own wrestling debut at Doncaster. Crabtree took the first fall over Stanislaus Karishelski in round two. In the third round Crabtree was injured following a submission and was forced to retire. It was declared Crabtree had given a good account of himself and showed promise.
14 March 1950
The End of the BWPA
Precisely one year after formation ceased to exist, with an announcement in the London Gazette three days later,
14 March 1952
Walsh Wins
Norman Walsh defended the British Light heavyweight title against Jim Anderson in Leicester
14 March 1953
Walsh Wins Again
Norman Walsh defended the European Cruiserweight title against Robert McDonald in Middlesbrough.
14 March 1956
Goodbye Dark Owl
Count Bartelli was being developed by Wryton Promotions as their main masked man. A run of Bartelli unmasking his rivals continued at Hanley when he defeated Dark Owl by a submission after thirty minutes of a no-rounds contest. Dark Owl unmasked to reveal Ernie Riley, whose father had wrestled as Dark Owl in the 1940s.
14 March 1961
Frenchman Wins Title
Rene Ben Chemoul beat Tommy Mann to win the World Middleweight championship in Hull. All was quiet for the first nine rounds but the crowd woke up when champion Mann took the lead in the tenth with a cross buttock and body press. Round twelve and Mann was fortunate to survive the challenger’s drop kick and then succumbed to a shoulder press. So it was all square in the fourteenth when Mann was posted forcefully into the corner post and crumpled on to the mat. Refree Doug DeRelwyskow counted to ten and Rene Ben Chemoul was the World middleweight champion.
14 March 1963
Having A Laugh
Leicester promoter Jack Taylor took exception to the University students Rag Mag when it claimed wrestling was fixed. A challenge was issued to the Student Union to find a student willing to take on one of his wrestlers. Unsurprisingly no one was available.
14 March 1987
Kilbyand Collins Win
At the Victoria Hall in Hanley Alan Kilby retained the British light heavyweight title against challenger King Ben and Danny Collins held the British welterweight title by knocking out Andy Blair.
14 March 1992
Death of Bill Ogden
Read our tribute to Bill Ogden
14 March 2004
Death of Jim McKenzie
Read our tribute to Jim McKenzie
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Wrestling Heritage 