These are our shorter Biographical portraits which we would like to extend if you can provide information or memories.
The Mighty Yankee
A generic name used by 1970s and 1980s promoters that was unconnected to a specific wrestler for any length of time. Promoter Graham Brook recalled Ian Glassmore, Jim Moran and Eddie Rose billed as the Mighty Yankee. “Fellow promoter Stuart Miller thinking it was a good name so billed Al Miquet versus The Mighty Yankee at a show he was promoting at Nantwich Civic Hall. I remember Eddie Rose being quite surprised when he turned up to find that he was The Mighty Yankee but he said nothing and just got on with the job.” We are told that promoter Max Crabtree also used the name for a variety of wrestlers in the 1980s. The best known of these was the muscular American Steve Disalvo, who didn’t wear a mask. . He stood 6 feet 6 inches tall and looked the part of the “Mighty Yankee” when he visited Britain in 1981. He was an opponent of Wayne Bridges in the eliminators for the vacant World Heavyweight Title and lost in straight falls to Wayne at The Royal Albert Hall. Powerlock told us Steve DiSalvo wrestled in WCW as the Minotaur and WWF as Billy Jack Strong, as well as wrestling in Calgary for Stampede, and AWA for a while.
Harry Yardley
One of the old school, a hard as nails type heavily influenced by all-in great and promoter Athol Oakeley Tamworth’s heavyweight Harry Yardley featured regularly on wrestling bills for more than two decades from the end of the war until the late sixties when he took up refereeing duties. Mostly working for the independent promoters of the north and midlands the posters proclaimed he was the Midlands Area heavyweight champion.
Reg Yates
Popular middleweight Reg Yates turned professional in the early 1960s and quickly became a regular on the plethora of independent shows in the midlands. A frequent opponent of independent stars such as Jim Lewis, Gordon Corbett, Butcher Goodman, Jack Dempsey and Johnny Saint he was signed up for a stint with Joint Promotions in 1970. Thrown in against the big names of Faulkner, Sergeant and the rest Yates was given no breaks and faded from the scene.
Roy Yeates
One of the two Yeates brothers that worked from their Oxfordhire base throughout the midlands, Wales and the West country during the sixties and seventies. Many of their bouts were for the late Cyril Knowles, a man for whom they still have great respect. Roy was the most experienced of the two brothers, but both could be relied on to provide excitement for the appreciative fans.
Tony Yeates
The other half of the Yeates boys, who not surprisingly tagged his wrestling brother. When not wrestling Tony and Roy pursued their other passion, motor cycling. The two brothers performed as stunt motorcyclists for The Mohicans at venues in Britain and abroad.
Akio Yoshihara
Here’s a surprise; a 1960s Japanese wrestler who broke the mould.
None of that scheming underhand stuff here, just scientific wrestling from this 5’11” middleweight who made a number of visits to the UK between 1962 and 1964. He and tag partner Teizo Okado did stick to role with all that bowing at every opportunity, which in itself did seem to annoy fans. Akio worked for both independent and Joint Promotions on occasions, including one televised appearance against Gorilla Reg Ray.He was born in Tokishima Shikiku near Tokyo but moved to Brazil whilst a teenager where he gained a judo black belt and then developed his wrestling style. He takes his place amongst a notable trend of oriental visitors in fact being based in South America.
Mike Young
Lightweight Mike Young hailed from Birmingham and made his professional debut in 1967 against fellow Brum Dave Wade. His career prospects became seriously limited when he moved home to the Isle of Man, continuing to train at the club run by George Barnabus but with wrestling opportunities now severely limited. When not wrestling Mike ran an engineering company on the Isle of Man and spent his spare time reading poetry, horse riding and teaching gymnastics. Usually one of the fans favourites Mike wasn’t afraid of mixing it with the villains and putting his amateur boxing experience to good use.
Terry Young
Harlow’s Terry Young trained at Neil Sands gymnasium in Chelmsford and the Key Glass Wrestling Club. Neil Evans remembers him as a good wrestler, fast and skilfull, against whom he had many good bouts before the two of them formed a tag team called the Essex Jet Set.
Mario Yugueros
Spanish heavyweight, dubbed the Galant White Panther, made a short visit to Britain in December, 1967. Was a victor, via the disqualification route, when he met Hans Streiger on television.
Billy Yukon
He was billed from as Canadian but we would guess that Cannock Chase was the nearest Smethwicks Billy Yukon came to the prairies. A 1960s favourite on the independent circuit Billy Yukon went on to work for Joint Promotions in the late 1960s, under his own name and under the guise of masked wrestlers.
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