Back in the very early 1930's a young Wanganui, and later Auckland policeman, by name of Kingsley Elliott, was slowly climbing up the world wrestling ladder.
Wrestling was a very popular sport among members of the police force throughout New Zealand, and in 1931 many policemen were looking forward to wrestling in the amateur contests before the main professional bout. Wellington had a particularly good wrestler in Constable George Deacon, who had many successful contests.
King Elliott, the young Aucklander, went back to the United States with Tom Alley in 1930, and had some professional bouts with several wins. They went by ship, which was the way you travelled in the 1930's.
When he arrived in Victoria, Canada on December 0 1930 he went straight to the school of the great Virgil Hamlin, a master coach, in Portland, Oregon, where for two months he went through a strict course of training. Leaving there, he went to Seattle, where he won two matches, and then moved on to grapple in Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville, Indianapolis, St Louis, Kansas City, and Dallas, Texas.
The young Aucklander won nearly all his bouts, and was regarded as a first-class grappler. His early weight of about 190lbs meant he could move freely about the ring, as compared to the super dreadnoughts who came out here and were not so agile.
King came back to compete in his home land in 1931, where each winter a selected team of American's would come and display their talents to "Kiwi" wrestling fans. King won some matches in New Zealand in 1931 beating Rocky Marshall at New Plymouth, Jack Higgins, and twice beat the flying Finn Alex Lundyn.
He cut his season here short and headed back to the United States, where he said he wanted to toughen up before meeting the top class talent that was brought to New Zealand.
King Elliott came here in 1931, 1932, 1935, 1936 and 1946, and in between spent much time in Australian rings, where he was a huge favourite. The following piece is from the Wellington Programme headed – "King Elliott is Good. Has taken Sydney By Storm."
Next to Al Karasick, the most popular wrestler to visit Australia this year has been the young King Elliott, the "Hurricane Tackler," who has packed out wherever he has appeared. Elliott is a vastly different matman from when he was last here. He is now a highly polished and spectacular wrestler whom the Sydney papers describe as a "marvellous grappler." Elliott is worth seeing. He is a New Zealander who has made good in U.S.A. and taken Sydney by storm. He is the goods is this young King Elliott.
Russian Lion Tom Lurich has had a number of close shaves during the present season at Leichhardt, but he got the shock of his life a fortnight ago, when young King Elliott held him to a draw. Elliott took the initial fall in the third round, and it was not until the final session that the Russian squared accounts.
In 1936 in a match in Invercargill the Southland paper had the following heading: "Octopus Clamp Squashes Elliott."
"Razzling" fans were treated to some real highlights of the mat game when Lofty Blomfield and King Elliott clashed for the New Zealand Heavyweight title. Elliott looked to have a mortgage on the title when the bout had gone half the journey. He was then well ahead on points with one fall up his sleeve, when Lofty came to light with his renowned octopus clamp. That was the end of Elliott for the evening.
King Elliott settled in the United States and after his spell here in 1946 we never saw him again, and I have no idea what became of him. Like Pat O'Connor, another good Kiwi wrestler, he ended his days in the United States.
