Celebrating Wigan Wrestlers

Wigan was the home of many of the great British professional wrestlers of the twentieth century. Those who are old enough will remember the likes of Jack Dempsey, Billy Joyce, Mel Riss, Billy and ERnie Riley and dozens more. Let's keep their memory alive on the Wigan forum.

We will start things rolling with an anniversary. On this day 14th December) in 1954 in a match between two masked wrestlers The Dark Owl defeated and unmasked Le Masque at the Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn. Le Masque removed his hood and revealed the face of Manchester's Bill Coverdale. The Dark Owl is believed to have been Wigan's Ernie Riley. He worked as the Dark Owl until January, 1958 when Ernie was forced to remove his mask by another masked wrestler, Count Bartelli of Crewe. According to Bartelli Ernie's dad, Billy, had previously worked as the Dark Owl too.

Ernie was three times British light heavyweight champion over a seventeen year period from 1952 until 1969.

Ah a breath of fresh air just came through the door, Welcome Wrestling person, I used to watch it on telly in Black and white as Les Kellet staggered about the ring pretending to be mortally injured and then , Soon after would pick up his opponent, lift him in the air and slam him down on the canvas for a full 10 seconds count, Happy day, pure showmanship, no one got hurt but highly entertaining

Good Afternoon grapple fans ...(Kent Walton) loved it when the grannies struck off with their brollies.
Mick McManus. Big Daddy. Giant Haystacks. Kendo Nagasaki. Adrian Street. .

I used to watch it on Saturday's too, and those grannies use to make some noise

Billy two rivers, and the two brothers from Bolton, can't remember their names.

Peebee,The Royle brothers

Millions of people and enjoyed the wrestling on Saturday afternoons with all the characters Even though it was just a show plenty believed it was real.I only went once to the Monaco to watch it live and a little old lady did get up and attacked the villain,I think it was Les Kellet with her brolly,obviously a set up,but the crowd went wild.Francis Sullivan and Ernie?Riley used to supply the bouncers at the Monaco,they were mainly Wigan wrestlers and there was never much trouble.Peebee the Royal brothers were on the bill and also Johnny Eagle when I went to the Monaco

Can't believe nobodies mention Jakie Pallo, the man you loved to hate!

Remember when Adrian sreet beat up Jimmy saville he ripped savilles hair out , saville fancied himself ,but he never got in the ring again after the beating

Got a few relatives on wrestling heritage site from st helens and wigan ,
Just letting you know Adrian street hated saville it was for real

Roy Wood.He worked at the Monaco

Thanks for the welcome grapple fans. It's good to see there is still much interest on this forum in traditional British wrestling. Just a few days ago, 10th December, was the anniversary of the last regular ITV show of British wrestling. That was in 1988, which means wrestling has been off the air for longer than it was broadcast (1955 - 88). Don't be too hard on these fellas Tomplum. It wasn't intended to hurt anyone, but it was a tough business and accidents did happen. Don't be so sure all those battling grannies were a set up, there were some angry grannies out there. Pleased to hear you have relatives on the Wrestling Heritage website surfer_tom.

Wrestling heritage
My uncle was Dr death in the north west ,his wife did a interview with the local paper ,she said he came home black and blue that was caused by the women around the ring because he was the baddie,you probable know who he was he also wrestled Randolph
Turpin after he finished boxing,

The two brothers from Bolton were actually Bert and Vic Faulkner, sons of Lou Faulkner who had also been a wrestler earlier.

Ì don't see any mention of Babe Beech from Tonker land, thought I would get it in before Tonks.

Bent legs
Babe beech his dad ike beech played rl for st helens for a couple of seasons then went over to wrestling

Ike Beech and his brother Billy Beech both wrestled.

Did you have relatives in
Bolton st scholes tuddy

I went out with the Wrestler 'ROMEO JOE' Critchley's daughter Elaine for a while. Early 1970's. They had the chip shop in Gidlow lane. She was a really nice girl. She worked in an Estate Agents in Wigan. and every week they had adverts in their window for the forthcoming films at the COURT CINEMA. For putting the Ad. in the window. The company got two free tickets. The owner gave Elaine the tickets. So that's were we went every Friday night..Happy days

If bentlegs is referring to Ike's son, Ted, he is certainly on the Wrestling Heritage site, sharing the same tribute page as Ike and Billy.

surfer tom,

Yes I did, Auntie Polly, she was my Grandma's sister.






surfer

Tuddy
Auntie Polly, and auntie Bella my grandmother's
Sisters met them both ,God bleed em

Did Polly live at thirty one and Bella have the Running Horses at Aspull?

Davey
Think Jack had running horse your right auntie Polly lived at 31 next door beech, 23 me

Bella's son had the running Horses.

Today, 19th December, would have been the birthday of Bob Silcock, born in 1912. Bob started wrestling in 1933, sometimes wearing a mask as either Red Mask or Blue Mask. His son, Bill, also wrestled, and some may have memories of their stall on Wigan Market.

Today would have been the birthday of Wigan wrestler Brian Burke, born in 1932. Brian was a trainee of Billy Riley and wrestled from 1956 until 1975. In November, 1958, he wrestled Jack Dempsey at the Royal Albert Hall.

Were they both from Riley's Gym, I know Dempsey trained there later on.

Yes Tuddy, Brian Burke was at Riley's Gym.

On this day in 1960 Wigan's Billy Joyce (Bob Robinson) retained the British Heavyweight title when defending against Ernest Baldwin at Cossington Street Baths in Leicester.

Two Wigan lads fighting for a title on this day, 7th February, in 1966.
Mel Riss defeated Jack Dempsey by two falls to one in the sixth round at the King’s Hall, Derby, to win the British welterweight title

Mel riss was his real name winstanley

Was Giant Haystacks from Wigan or Leigh.?

Yes, Harold Winstanley.

Giant Haystacks was born in Camberwell to Irish parents. Family moved to Salford when he was three and lived there as an adult. Not aware of any Wigan or Leigh connection.

Man Mountain Benny

Bill Benny lived in Manchester but was born near Redruth in Cornwall.

Wrestling Heritage already includes Joe Heaton. Joe, sometimes going by the name Jose Cadiz, was a wrestler of the 1940s, so it's unlikely to find many memories.

His son would very much like to learn more about his father, so if you can help please post.

23 April 1958
Dempsey Outfoxes McManus
Jack Dempsey defeated Mick McManus at Kensington’s Royal Albert Hall to win the British welterweight title.

23 April 1962
War of the Roses
At the St George’s Hall in Bradford a War of the Roses as Wigan’s British Light Heavyweight title holder, Ernie Riley, retained the title despite being held to a draw by Bradford’s Eric Taylor.