Barry Keene was without doubt one of the finest wrestlers I ever saw in 60 years of watching wrestling contests. The smaller boys like Barry, Brian "Buddy" Coyle, "Jumping" Joe Andrews, and "Wild" Don Scott, all worked for Ernie Pinches in the South Pacific Wrestling Association in Auckland. Having spent time in England and Europe, […]
For a very small country we are proud of the fact that no fewer than ten World's heavyweight Wrestling Champions have paid us a visit (I wrote this story in 1973 so it does not include the more recent Champions like Rick Flair, Harley Race, Jack Brisco and Giant Baba). At the turn of the […]
Sad to report the passing of one of England's great professional wrestlers "Judo Al Hayes". Al was an icon of British wrestling from the 1950's to the 1970's. Later he went to the U.S.A. to wrestle successfully for some years before joining the W.W.F. as an on-air personality. He became known as Lord Alfred Hayes, […]
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 […]
In the late 1930s, New Zealand mat fans had hopes of seeing world champion Bronko Nagurski in a title match in New Zealand against their own champion Lofty Blomfield. Nagurski, it is understood, had agreed to come to New Zealand for the largest guarantee ever offered a boxer or wrestler in the Southern Hemisphere Plans […]
The Mexican Middleweight Roberto Pena came to New Zealand in 1965 and stayed here for some time. His beautiful wife Sierra accompanied him, and acted as his second, and tended to him in the corner between rounds. Sierra became the centre of attention out here as fans craned their necks to get better view of […]
In the early days of New Zealand wrestling, it was virtually impossible to break into the sport here. Walter Miller, the American promoter and booker, liked to bring a team of American's over to meet Lofty Blomfield and later Ken Kenneth. But New Zealand talent was just not used. Some boys went overseas and did […]
After demolishing Colin Wilson in Auckland recently, Shane Cameron, one of our greatest heavyweight prospects, took off to the U.S.A. for 10 days where he sparred with Mike Tyson. Accompanying him were Don Mann from The Warriors and trainer Danny Codling. Danny did a fine job of interviewing Mike on a one to one commentary, […]