Week Beginning 26th April
26 April 1923
Birth of Ken Joyce
Read our tribute to Ken Joyce
26 April 1924
Birth of Ray Apollon
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26 April 1934
Wrestling Promoters Fined
Promoters Jack and Maurice Bodinetz were fined £25 each for selling tickets to a wrestling show at Shepherd’s Bush without paying the entertainment tax
26 April 1935
Pye Has His Chips
Hopes of championship success were battered for Doncaster’s Jack Pye when he was outclassed by Douglas Clark in a British Heavyweight title match at the Olympia Hall, Bradford in front of 4,000 fans.
The result was hardly in doubt with the powerful defending champion having a two stones weight advantage over Doncaster Panther Pye.
The match was scheduled over six ten minute rounds but Clark needed just four of them. In fairness Pye was the more aggressive of the two in the opening two rounds, but his aggression made little impact and Clark never looked in trouble.
Clark began to take the upper hand in the third round and Pye sustained a cut to his back when he was thrown from the ring. The champion’s onslaught continued in the fourth as Pye wilted. Following an exchange of punches Pye was thought by many to have been counted out, but as he got back on his feet the referee ordered them to continue. Clark immediately unleashed a right hook to the jaw and it was goodnight Jack.
26 April 1962
All Wrestling and Dancing
The Stage theatrical newspaper announced that two new groups had joined the Variety Artistes Federation. They were the Wrestlers Alliance and The Ballroom Dancers Federation, which must have caused a few smiles. Two initial goals of the Wrestlers Alliance were to secure a standard form of contract for their contests and secure a minimum appearance fee for any television appearances; the V.A.F. had recently secured £38 for their members on tv and wanted this applied to wrestlers. It would take two years to achieve this goal.
26 April 1971
A Great Night of Wrestling
At the Nottingham Ice Rink George Kidd held on to the World lightweight title when he knocked out Adrian Street, Andy Robin beat Steve Logan to retain the Commonwealth Mid Heavyweight title and Mick McManus became the new European middleweight champion by his defeat of Vic Faulkner.
McManus surprised everyone by wrestling within the rules, making the running with the earliest attempts to take a fall which paid off in round four when a shoulder press gave him the lead. In round six a Faulkner drop kick stunned the challenger and Faulkner followed it up to take the equalising fall. Round eight and Faulkner stepped up a gear. But the ringside fans must have known they could not dismiss McManus. A series of dropkicks from Faulkner and it took one sidestep from McManus for the champion to land awkwardly. McManus grabbed the challenger’s knee, a single leg lever, a submission and a new European champion.
The contrast of appearance and styles between World lightweight champion George Kidd and challenger Adrian Street could hardly have been greater. An over enthusiastic Street was warned for continuing after the bell at the end of the first round and received further warnings for transgressions in subsequent rounds from referee Joe Hill. Yet it was champion Kidd that took the lead with a shoulder press in round five.
Kidd continued on the offensive in round six, countered by an angry Street who hurled himself at the champion only to be tossed over the top rope and listened to the referee’s count of ten.
McManus’s tag partner Steve Logan wasn’t on best behaviour as he challenged Commonwealth Mid Heavyweight champion Andy Robin. He received a public warning for his efforts in round three before taking the lead with a body slam and press at the start of round five. A second public warning came Logan’s way before a couple of winning falls in 35 seconds of round seven and five seconds of round eight for Robin to keep the title,
26 April 1979
Death of Jim Hipkiss
Read our tribute to Jim Hipkiss
26 April 2013
Death of Billy Catanzaro
Billy Catanzaro is in the A-Z
27 April 1938
And Next The Wrestling, Look Away Now
With the fledgling BBC television channel showcasing Catch as Catch Can wrestling, the Daily Express sports reporter Henry Rose took a look at the match between Earl McCready and Anaconda. Maybe he shouldn’t. “This television is astonishing. This wrestling is nauseating.” He declared the sport neither a fitting or necessary form of entertainment.
27 April 1949
Kidd Defends British Title
George Kidd defended the British lightweight title against Alan Colbeck at the New St James Hall in Newcastle.
27 April 1957
A Gift For The Hospital
At the Victoria Hall in Hanley promoter Arthur Wright presented a cheque for £176 18 shillings and sixpence to Alderman Bennett, Chairman of the Broadcast To Hospitals Fund. The donation was sufficient to provide radio equipment to two wards of the local hospital. As a broadcast to local hospitals was then being made members of the wrestling audience sent messages to friends and relatives.
27 April 1959
A Close Call
Tommy Mann retained the World Middleweight title at Hamilton Town Hall, though was held to a draw by Joseph Ski.
27 April 1979
Ada Is Crowned
Following an indecisive result two weeks earlier for the World Middleweight title (independent promoters) Johnny Palance and Adrian Street tried again at the Liverpool Stadium with Street crowned champion.
27 April 1997
Death of Patrick O’Connor
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27 April 1998
Death of Roy McClarty
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27 April 2011
Death of Sheik Michael Taylor
Read our tribute to Sheik Michael Taylor
28 April 1956
Battle of Two Jim’s
At the Drill Hall in Portsmouth the world welterweight champion Jim Lewis retained the belt when his match against Jack Dempsey ended in a No Contest.
28 April 2002
Death of Lou Thesz
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28 April 2013
Death of Sue Brittain
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29 April 1917
Birth of Milton Reid
Milton Reid is in the A-Z
29 April 1944
Would You Believe It?
Czechoslovakian Emil Koroschenko wrestled the Golden Ace at Newcastle St James Hall and promoter Norman Morrell offered complimentary tickets to any Czechs who wished to attend.
29 April 1948
Dale Keeps Title
Jack Dale retained the British Middleweight title against Joe Hill in Exeter.
29 April 1957
A Close Call for Brit
World Junior Heavyweight Champion Norman Walsh looked in danger of losing his title at the Eldorado Stadium in Leith. The man who almost deprived him of the title was visiting Italian Mario Matassa. Matassa went all out from the start, taking Walsh by surprise, repeatedly throwing him across the ring and taking the first fall in just 64 seconds. Things looked no more hopeful for Walsh in the second as he was held for a long time in a Boston Crab. More aggression from Matassa in the third with the bell saving Walsh from a forearm smash onslaught. Only in the fourth round did Walsh begin to hold his own but he remained one fall behind until the sixth round. As Walsh rebounded off the ropes Matassa misjudged a blow, was cleverly turned by the champion who gained the equalising fall. No further score in the following two rounds until round nine when Walsh gained the winning submission.
29 April 1957
This Wrestling Can Be a Dangerous Business
Police were called to a wrestling fracas in Paris that involved Judo Al Hayes and Ray Hunter.
Hayes was involved in a match with Frenchman Roger De Laporte. The referee stopped the contest when Hayes sustained a disjointed knee. De LaPorte had other ideas and attacked the prostrate Hayes. Ray Hunter jumped into the ring to protect Hayes. Hunter was followed by a French fan who delivered a straight right to De LaPorte and knocked him to the mat. Other spectators then got involved and started to pelt the Frenchman. With all the chaos the police intervened to break up the melee.
29 April 1960
Joyce Teaching Robinson
Billy Joyce defeated his protege Bill Robinson to retain the British heavyweight title.
29 April 1968
Champion of Bradford and Europe
In an all-Bradford clash European lightweight champion Jim Breaks retained the title against Michael Bennett at the St George’s Hall in Bradford.
29 April 1968
Not Eager Enough
At the Ice Rink in Nottingham Alan Colbeck stopped Mike Eagers to retain the European Welterweight title. Colbeck was his usual aggressive self but it was round seven before a fall was scored, and it was the challenger Eagers escaping from a Boston Crab to take the lead with the first pinfall. The unsmiling Colbeck, determined as ever, came back to equalise with a submission in round nine. Disappointingly for the fans it was an abrupt end to the match as Eagers retired and Colbeck retained the title.
29 April 1968
Never In Doubt
George Kidd took falls in rounds three and six to beat Julien Morice at the Nottingham Ice Rink to keep the World lightweight title.
29 April 1978
Rocco Again
British Heavy Middleweight champion Mark Rollerball Rocco retained his title against Kung Fu at Belle Vue in Manchester.
29 April 1978
Only One Saint In This Match
Jim Breaks was disqualified in Hanley and Johnny Saint retained the World lightweight title.
29 April 1998
Death of Timothy Geoghegan
Read our tribute to Timothy Geoghegan
30 April 1927
Birth of Bert Craddock
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30 April 1969
Death of College Boy Charlie Law
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30 April 1981
World Class
Johnny Saint beat Steve Grey in Bristol to retain the World lightweight title
30 April 2003
Death of George Goldie
Read our tribute to George Goldie
01 May 1928
Birth of Joe Cornelius
Read our tribute to Joe Cornelius
01 May 1932
Birth of the Jarrow Viking
Read our tribute to The Jarrow Viking
01 May 1933
More Hot Water
The rapid growth of professional wrestling created tensions for local councils as they debated the morality of this sometimes barbaric sport. This time it was Oxford council who deliberated and took the decision to ban wrestling in the Town Hall.
01 May 1944
Birth of Tiny Greenhill
Read our tribute to Tiny Greenhill
01 May 1945
Birth of Norman Cooper
Read our tribute to Norman Cooper
01 May 1946
Promoter Strife
Norman Morrell was awarded £75 damages against Arthur Wright who he alleged had libelled him in a letter written to Mr Hirst, Manager of Blackpool Tower in October, 1945.
01 May 1951
Gargantua Comes To Town
Promoter Atholl Oakeley brought to Britain the German heavyweight, Kurt Zehe to wrestle Jack Doyle at the Harringay Arena. Zehe was known as Gargantua due to his enormous stature, which was claimed to be 8’4” tall and a weight of some 50 stones. That may have been something of an exaggeration, Oakeley wasn’t known for accuracy, but the boy was certainly big. After all the advanced publicity the bout inevitably proved a huge anti climax and did nothing for the reputation of Oakeley.
01 May 1953
Dempsey Wins
Jack Dempsey defeated Tony Lawrence at the St Mungos Hall in Glasgow to retain the British welterweight title.
01 May 1974
Marino Still Champ
At the City Hall in Sheffield Mike Marino defeated Steve Veidor to retain the British Mid Heavyweight title.
01 May 2002
Death of Hans Streiger
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02 May 1891
Birth of Douglas Clark
Read our tribute to Douglas Clark
02 May 1902
Birth Of Half Nelson Keys
Half Nelson Keys is in the A-Z
02 May 1933
No More Nights At The Alhambra
It was announced that work would commence in two months time to demolish the London Alhambra, scene of many wrestling contests at the turn of the century. In it’s place would be built a palace of amusement called the New Century that would feature almost every indoor entertainment. A boxing and wrestling stadium was planned in the basement of the building.
02 May 1935
Birth of Harry Duval
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02 May 1938
Birth of Peter Preston
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O2 May, 1942
Birth of Roy St Clair
Read our tribute to Roy St Clair
02 May 1953
Dead Heat
At Belle Vue in Manchester a match billed as the European Light Heavyweight title ended with a draw between Vic Hessle and Baptiste Benoy.
02 May 1953
Wrestlers Rush To Aid
Wrestling was held in the Connaught Drill Hall to raise money for a party for around 2,000 of Portsmouth’s Over 70s. Main event was a heavyweight clash between Sandy Orford and Dai Sullivan, with four supporting bouts. The hall was hired free of charge with local businesses contributing to the cause.
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