Wrestling Heritage welcomes memories, further information and corrections
Vivacious Viv
She was always Vivacious Viv.
Viv Martell caused quite a sensation as soon as she began professional wrestling at the age of just fourteen. It wasn’t just her looks but her maturity as a wrestler and eagerness to get stuck in, be it within the rules or out. Indeed Viv was a villain of the ring, often leading to disqualification, which fans found difficult to reconcile with her feminine appearance. Difficult to reconcile maybe, but it certainly made her one of the most popular and sought after wrestlers of the 1970s and 1980s.
Away from wrestling she was Ruth Bell, born in Chester in March, 1957. Whilst still at school Ruth saw her older brother developing an interest in wrestling. His interest led to him becoming heavyweight wrestler Bob Bell, and he began to teach his sister how she too could become a success in the wrestling ring.
Our earliest finding of Viv was in April 1972, at Heywood in Lancashire, where she was threatening to do all sorts of diabolical things to her opponent that night, Mitzi Mueller. Within a few years a black cape and leotard with a dangerously plunging neckline no doubt added to her appeal amongst a section of the audience.
Soon after turning professional Viv declared a desire to wrestle in America. We doubt if she ever made it but she did wrestle all over Britain and made her first trip to Ireland in 1974. Viv was certainly one of the most successful and busiest female wrestlers of the 1970s, working for various promoters, including Orig Williams, Brian Dixon, and Graham Brook.
In regular combat with the likes of Mitzi Mueller, Lena Blair, Hellcat Haggetty, and Blackfoot Sioux Viv was actually a pretty good wrestler, reportedly Brian Dixon told her to “go easy” on Mitzi and not hurt her.” We’ve no idea if that is true but are sure Mitzi could have looked after herself had it been necessary. Despite her success one opportunity that would always be denied Viv and all her female contemporaries was the opportunity to wrestle on World of Sport television, forbidden by Joint Promotions and their tv contract.
With a daughter joining the family the year after her marriage Viv took a short break from wrestling before returning on a less regular basis in the late seventies. Appearances became less frequent in the 1980s with her career brought to an end following the birth of another daughter in 1985.Our last sighting was in July, 1986 at Rhyl Town Hall.
One fan, we are assured only of her wrestling ability, was Bill Smith, who takes up the story. “Often billed as ‘The Sex Symbol’ Vivacious Viv was possibly the biggest attraction in women’s wrestling in the 1970’s. Viv featured in an article in Penthouse Magazine ….. No she didn’t take her clothes off.” The magazine featured a profile of her contest with Blackfoot Sioux at the Villa Marina at Douglas in the Isle of Man.
Sad news received in the wrestling community when Viv Martell died whilst far too young, on 4th January 2020.
Page added 16/04/2023
Page revised 02/07/2026
12693
Wrestling Heritage 