Also known as Tony Caine, Mr Flowerpower, Flower Power Caine, Sweet Lord Byron
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There must be something in the Yorkshire water that has enabled the county to produce so many professional wrestlers. Tony Kaye emerged on to the professional scene following three years expert guidance at the Jack Lane Amateur Wrestling Club in Leeds and professional tuition from Cyril Knowles.
After two years of pro tuition it was Knowles that gave Tony the chance to move from the amateur to professional ranks by giving him his first paid contest in 1968 when he was nineteen years old. For three years Tony wrestled in the north and midlands on the opposition circuit alongside the likes of Johnny Saint, Fred Woolley, Al Marquette and Catweazle.
In 1971 he joined Joint Promotions and was soon exchanging holds with established stars that included Al Miquet, Ian Gilmour, Jim McKenzie and Al Nicol. It wasn’t just a change of opponents but a change of name also, as Tony was re-named Tony Caine for his Joint Promotion appearances. Tony told Wrestling Heritage that it was the 1970s and working for the Crabtrees that was the most enjoyable and demanding part of his career.
Max Crabtree encouraged Tony to develop a more flamboyant style, dye his hair blond and wear more colourful costumes, reminiscent of Bobby Barnes in his Beautiful Bobby days. “Let’s hope Caine can wrestle as good as he looks,” quipped Kent Walton when Tony made his television debut against Colin Bennett in 1974. With the colourful persona came new names: Flower Power Caine, Mr Flower Power and Little Caesar.
For Tony they were great times, which he enjoys reminiscing “I’m still living the good life, but nowt to do with wrestling,” Tony told us; and searching for photos, posters and programmes of his wrestling career to pass on to his fifteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren
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