Sad news we lost Bronco Barnes recently. Bruce was a very talented New Zealand mat star in the 1970’s. He had been living in Tonga for many years and always kept in touch. Recently he sold his house in Tonga and decided after a world trip to come back to his homeland and live at Mosgiel near Dunedin. He told me brought a house in Mosgiel several years back, as his great grandfather had landed in Dunedin by sailing ship back in history. Originally Bruce came from Temuka and was brought up on a farm, where he was a champion sheep shearer.
He got his start in wrestling by working for Ernie Pinches, a big promoter in Auckland, while working at Auckland airport. He proved a colorful character and wrestled with many partners in tag matches. I well recall the night Andre the Giant came here in 1971 and Ernie Pinches was pretty worried which opponent would be good for Andre. The problem was solved when Ernie decided to put Andre and “Kiwi” Johnny Frazer against three local wrestlers. That was a first for New Zealand wrestling with two wrestlers going against three. The YMCA in Auckland was packed to the rafters when the 490 pounds Frenchman, who had only previously wrestled in England and Canada, entered the ring to face three opponents. The sight of Bronco Barnes dangling off the end of the 7 foot 4 inch Andre’s outstretched arms was something to behold. Talking with Bronco over the years that was a highlight in his wrestling career, as Andre went on to be a world super star and a sensation in America and Japan.
Bronco had many tag partners but he loved working with Killer Karl Cox from Texas, and the Russian Ivan Kolloff. Here is a piece I wrote in an English wrestling publication. “Badboy Bronco Barnes is rapidly becoming one of the top villains in New Zealand rings. The ex-sheepshearer recently stepped up into main event class when he partnered the giant Ivan Kolloff to beat the team of Antonio Pugliese and Frank Lipanovich.“ They both wanted him to go to the United States to wrestle but he liked his day job in Auckland.
Bronco was friendly with the late King of Tonga and he told me the King called him by his christian name.
