Current W.W.F. Superstar Rick Martel was once a big favourite in New Zealand. The following story tells of his successes in New Zealand rings in the 70's.
In my 30 years of following the matmen I don't recall such a consistent drawing card, one who can pack the 2000 – plus Auckland YMCA for 20 straight weeks. What a record!
His grudge bouts against giant Hawaiian King Curtis were exhausting affairs. Curtis won the Commonwealth Title from Don Muraco only to lose it to the flying feet of Rick Martel.
Martel successfully defended the title against Curtis, Buggsy McGraw and Butcher Brannigan only to lose to King (The Animal) Curtis.
McGraw was forced to leave town after losing to Martel, even the encouragement of his tag-team mate Curtis couldn't help Buggsy who underestimated the brilliant wrestling skill of the Canadian mat Wizard. Martel must go down in New Zealand wrestling history as one of the great ones, no doubt television has played a great part in Rick's popularity as TV shows are produced weekly and Rick is a television idol.
The female fans want to hug and kiss him, want to start up fan Clubs, and he's also a favourite of the male fans too. What a wonderful person.
Rick's tag-team partner was none other than the veteran professional grappler Mark Lewin, one of America's better wrestlers with a wealth of experienc behind him.
Lewin and Martel met while campaigning in Atlanta, G.A. and Mark took the young Canadian under his wing. Rick improved tremendously under Lewin's capable guidance and when Rick returned to Canada the Canadian fans saw a wonderful change in a great performer.
Over the years, Candian wrestlers have made great reputations while performing in New Zealand. Perhaps the greatest Candian, who is still well remembered here, was Earl McCready, who won a British Empire Games medal as an amateur and was also an outstanding professional.
Other great Canadian grapplers to grace New Zealand's shores were George Walker, who spent many years and eventually died here; Roy McLarty and John Katan.
Many old-time fans who saw the great McCready and Walker at their best have commented that Rick Martel would more than hold his own with any of the old-time grappling greats. Surely a great tribute for a rising mat star with the brightest of futures.
Australian promoters where also anxious to acquire Martel's Services and sometimes after a bout in Auckland Rick would board a plane to Melbourne, wrestle there that night, do some television work the next day, then fly back to New Zealand for a bout the following night. This sort of schedule went on week after week, but Martel still found time for an occasional trip to Singapore where 10,000 screaming fans fell in love with Wrestling adonis.
Rick returned to New Zealand in 1979 and will be remembered for his torrid bouts with Mr Fuji who was the Commonwealth champion at that time, but even the scheming Fuji underestimated the young Canadian and Martel once again was commonwealth Champion.
Ripper Collins the master of the heart punch was Rick Martel's next opponent and some of their bouts were exhausting affairs, it was Collins and his heart punch that finally ended Martel's Commonwealth title reign. Since leaving New Zealand Rick has done very well for himself, his most notable successes have been winning the A.W.A. World Title and holding the W.W.F. Tag Title which he has held twice, once with New Zealander Tony Garea and then most recently with Tito Santana.
But whatever you think of Rick Martel he is certainly a great young wrestler and a superstar of the future.
