h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'd have thought that Les Kellett deserved a mention

There! You've just mentioned him. Tell us more...

Brilliant wrestler - won the world middleweight title waaay back. Funniest guy on the circuit. Specialised in looking half dead then coming back strongly at the end. Did a cool falling back onto the ropes then sidestepping his opponent move. Probably the physically toughest around - one story has him coming to fight with an infected hand (i believe he was a farmer in real life). The hand was so swollen that he couldn't go in to fight, so in the dressing room he asked his opponent to stamp on his hand to get rid of the pus. Went on to win the fight...

Arrrgghh! OMG! That last bit made me wince in my chair. What a hard-nut! I'm going to look him up on google...

Can remember seeing Les Kellett wrestle Leon Arrass (aka the late actor Brian Glover)at Bedworth Civic Hall And Les was up to all of his usual tricks.True to the style of the performance,Arrass got a bit "fed up" with Kelletts antics and just said to him:"You don't like me,do you?"Briught the house down in fits of laughter as well as a big smile to Kelletts face.Pity there weren't more like Les on the circuit.

I remember one old annecdote in which Arrass, supposedly from Paris, slapped a hammerlock on his hapless opponent and was heard to comment in the broadest Yorkshire accent in sports-entertainment:

"Now then, how's ya like that?"

Very Gallic, you have to admit...

Must admit that I'd forgotten Leon Arrass came "from Paris."Sounds par for him,though.Probably plenty more aneddotes like that flying around,not just about Les Kellett and Leon Arrass,but also the majority of the wrestlers who were on the circuit at the same time.

Another Les Kellet 'special' was letting his opponent land a fore-arm smash then as they readied themselves for another, he would start to stagger as if half-conscious. The second blow never landed as Les just wasn't where he was supposed to be. His opponent always looked astounded, but the audience, who had seen it all before, rolled with laughter. If Les was feeling mean towards the other fellow, the look of astonishment was followed with one of pain as Les either smashed him or tipped him backwards for a Pindown.

In the 1960s and 70s the programme to be watching on Saturday afternoon was the ITV Wrestling with Kent Walton's commentary.

Oh the memories ...... Les was a farmer and, as I recall had several operations on his back at least four if I remember rightly and still entered the ring, complete will 'Bobby Charlton' combe over hair.
Nans Saturday afternoons were never the same after it was axed from the small screen....but her finger nails grew back!

It was renowned for the little old ladies in the front row. Other names that have returned to mind are Mick McManus, Bert Royal and Jackie (Coogan?).

I've just remembered - Jackie Pallo.

The spelling is probably wrong, but my man keeps going on about Vic Falconer. Any info on him?

Actually that was supposed to be mam! I'm not gay, honest! (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)

Vic Falconer was Bert Royal's younger brother, they used to wrestle as a tag team under the name of the Royal Brothers.

Vic retired from the ring after a series of operations on his back.

's funny, my nan never had fingernails until the wrestling was taken off the tele either and just what did happen to Kent Walton? he was to wrestling what Murray Walker was for F1

true about Murray Walker as well

how about Big Daddies brother Brian Crabtree the referee now there was 'little and large'
I mean he was 26'26'26' 'ankles knees and neck' .....oh my!... does anyone remember Steve Logan it was always a grudge match between 'Steve and Les'....and that sparks another memory from 'Nan' when ever a contestant 'bent the rules' can I can almost hear her saying ...'OOOO the Beast!', I often wondered why the TV was still working I honest thought she was going to hit the set...........and the 'Hells Grannies' (the little old ladies) at ringside......... its a nice thought s were designed just for them..............

happy days

Another wrestler who could be a bie of a "clown" was Billy "Tornado" Torontos.As soon as he got in the ring,he used to charge round dementedly with his arms flying all over the place.

Another set of brothers who graced the ring in the 1970's were Tibor and Peter Zsakac.(Don't know if I've spelt the surname correctly.)Tibor was noted for his backhand chop to the throat to finish off his opponents as I recall.

Another popular Polish grappler I remember was Johnny Czeslaw who's catchphrase was "Swine You Are!" when his opponent caught him by surprise with a move.

Anyone remember the very bloody match that was Rollerball Rocco Vs Marty Jones?

And dont forget Billy 2 rivers with the tomahawk chop i can remember the whole family arround the black and white tele on a saturday afternoon my dont time fly lol

*waves* @ Rebel Hi


Rocco V Jones .......that was another one that nearly had nan committing GBH on the TV set wasnt one of them bleeding from a cut on the forehead? ...........I do know that Marty Joned had some of the thickest glasses I had ever seen at the time

...how about Jim Breaks nasty habit of making wrists 'CLICK!' ..he had some good battles with Zoltan Boschek (not sure of spelling)

hi jon yes rollerball rocco me mum loved him always doing some thing nasty lol.

who was the deaf and dumb one he was very good

but my favourite fights were always when big daddy and giant haystacks used to make the ring shudder