David Mantell

I wanted to review this earlier as part of a set of John Kenny posts to all three of the British, French and German threads. But I seem to have already viewed it so never mind. I'll let Kenny* do The Bump* and we can still compare him in three different territories. . . . . * Spot the early 70s kitsch pop reference!

Both sides of John Kenny in one match at his may have been his turning point from no nonsense clean technician to vicious heel. We start with the sight of Orig slapping a hold on co presenter Bryn Fon. They settle down into discussing the matches on the show. Saint and Kenny shake hands and they're off. Saint gets a headlock into wristlever. Kenny rolls forward flips back and kips up and finally unpicks the wristlever with a foot and takes one of his own, quickly switching to front chancery. Saint feigns tugging loose before straightening Kenny's arm and going for a high whip but Kenny takes it well, rolling upright. He gets a standing side headlock into cross buttocks into side headlock in the guard, but Saint wedges out. Kenny gets a rear waistlock but Saint gets one arm in a wristlever and switches to rear snapmare into rear seated chinlock but Kenny bars the holding arm and develops it into a kneeling back hammerlock. Saint stands up and ducks down several times until he lures Kenny into ducking with him and unpicks the hammerlock with his foot from behind then gets a wristlever into hammerlock of his own, throws him in the hold and applies a headscissors. Kenny turns into the upright position, turns to 90 degrees and forward flips to kip out. He gets a single legdive and leglock. Saint widens his legs and turns to behind Kenny to slip out. Kenny gets a font facing wristlock so Saint falls backwards to unhook it with his foot and gets his own wristlever, switching to front chancery. Kenny grabs the arm and forces a high whip but Saint lands even more neatly than .Kenny did earlier. Kenny gets a side chancery and throws Saint with the help of the ropes but Saint takes it well and lands upright. The first sign of heelishness from Kenny, he points and complains to Saint. They interlock and Kenny gets a top wristloc into front wristlock. Saint takes several horizontal turns to reverse the hold and pull Kenny down into the guard. He weakens the arm with a kneedrop and stands back for a count. Kenny is up with a butt to the chest that floors Saint. He gets a standing full nelson, Saint uses the extra power of his own legs to break open and reverse the hold. Kenny powers out, gets a standing full nelson of his own then quickly switches to side chancery throw into Headlock And Strangle (sleeper) . Saint baits Kenny with his usual self-hold into taking his hand for an Interlock into wristlever into back hammerlock in the mount with weakeners applied. He turns his man over into a crosspress but Kenny keeps an arm up so Saint gives up. Kenny is up at 5 and gets a side headlock but Saint quickly breaks it into a top wristlock. Kenny pulls him down into a kneeling side headlock converting to a standing wristlever. Saint rolls forward, gets a wrist of his own and high whips Kenny. This time, Kenny gets a bump. Kenny gets a quick rear waistlock into rear double leg takedown into single toehold. He pulls Saint up by the leg intending to smash Saint's kneecap into the mat but Saint stans up in that moment, legdives and leglocks Kenny. He delivers a single leg weakener and releases. At this point, Kenny's heel turn kicks in, he smashes Saint in the back and illegally follows in by smashing his head on the mat, earning a private warning from referee Brian Dixon. They shake hands then Saint forces a bump with an over-arm whip then rolls on Kenny's arm to tighten it in an armlock with Kenny in the guard before switching to an armscissor. He weakens Kenny's shoulder with a knee then pulls him up and goes for a posting. Kenny reveses but Saint takes the impact well and goes through Kenny's legs for his "Russ Abbot" sequence - full finger Interlock then step over each arm in succession, turn a budget a headlock into leapfrog into rear scoot through the legs then baiting Kenny into a legdive so he steps over him entirely and goes for a side folding press! Kenny kicks out at 2, but the science there as he scores a concealed closed fist punch, flooring Saint. He kicks the fallen Saint in the head several times, slamming the kicked head in the mat and headlocking it so Dixon calls for a break. Kenny refusescto release so Saint elbows his way out and lands the first forearm smash of the contest. Kenny again illegally punches his way out of a Saint pressure points hold and throws him off the ropes but Saint ducks down and then rolls over Kenny on the next rebound and dropkicks him. He whips him into the ropes and gives him a high backdrop. Saint goes for a flying tackle, Kenny initially catches him but goes down under the weight. He kicks out of a crosspress at 2. Saint leapfrogs Kenny and goes for the ball. Kenny takes a protruding arm but is rolled in for a 2 count. Kenny snapmares Saint but Saint lands feet first, goes behind and gets a side folding press on Kenny for the win. I'm not saying that this was Kenny's official heel turn but it's a convenient yardstick for how he was modifying his act away from the gentleman who faced Robbie Brookside in 1985 to the Permed and moustachioed ruffian who faced Flesh Gordon in France and Doc Dean in Germany. The first 7-8 mins were pure classic Johnny Saint. The final 3 minutes were how Saint dealt with rulebreakers like Rocco and Finlay.

Someone in Belgium had a go at doing a vintage French Catch blog nine years ago. They only managed four posts but it's interesting nonetheless https://nostalgiecatch.blogspot.com/

Several year after 1985, the year Flesh tagged with Angelito (see above) and John Kenny wrestled cleanly against a young Robbie Brookside on Screensport (see British thread), here a heel Kenny is fed to France's biggest Bon. English commentary by Orig Williams. Flesh in the same superhero getup he wore on Reslo. Kenny starts with a headlock into side chancery.into rear snapmare and bodycheck. He tries another but Flesh ducks down and. on the rebound, dropkicks the Gypsy out the ring . Flesh pulls him in and gets another dropkick., but misses a third. Kenny gets leg and neck weakeners. He gets down and dirty with stomps. Flesh kicks out of a cross press . Kenny gets a standing full nelson and continues the battering. Kenny gets another standing full nelson and tries to use it to slam Gordon's head in an exposed turnbuckle but Gordon puts his feet on the ropes, breaks one side and uses the other to flip over and return the battering, smashing Kenny's head into various corners. Kenny gets his heat back with a bodycheck. He goes for a posting but Flesh reverses. Kenny gets a boot up followed by an elbowdrop but misses with a second one. Kenny gets a wristlever, shoots his man into the ropes and catches him on the rebound with a dropkick. He finishes off with a long suplex, flying tackle and armdrags for the one required pin. A heavier Flesh than 1985, clearly a full heavyweight but still a credible babyface, a long way from the tubby bald moustachioed bloke of later decades.

Most of the first half of the clip is taken up by a lengthy Ringerparade. We first seen Rasputin and Klaus Kauroff in the carpark looking quite amicable then cut to said parade with all manner of familiar faces including referee Jeff Kaye. A bit of a fight breaks out between some of the wrestlers. Then two minutes or so before the end we get some match highlights, George Burgess under his old 70s identity Jamaica Kid Vs uncensored N bomb dropper Colonial Brody. Some bits of good action including a neat escape from headscissors into side headlock from Brody and a great bridge from George. In the end he gets a flying tackle on Brody but is exhausted so the Colonel not only kicks out at 2 but easily upturns him to get his own pin and the bird from the crowd. Referee Mick McMichael was at the time busy competing in the Golden Grappler and Grand Prix belt tournaments back home across the North Sea.

There wasn't much, I grant you, but .. Exhibit A Exhibits B and C: And yes, this was Dave Larsen alright. Camping it up, treating the BH as his pet ... Good old Dave. I don't think this is him though: This was 1981, only a year after the supposed dying-out completed. Bit early for a renaissance

For those who are interested ... https://www.discogs.com/release/4505708-Brian-Maxine-Ribbon-Of-Stainless-Steel

Not previously reviewed on here and I did check under Ivan for all permutations of his surname. On paper heel versus heel, the arrogant King of Wrestling Vs as OJ said, a Red (although this is Britain and there was a Labour government in power both then and now and after the war the CPGB had two MPs so if anything the danger was of a left leaning audience, say in a hugely militant unionised coal mining town somewhere - wrongway cheering him, maybe even start singing the Red Flag or the International e) Ivan has his red hammer/sickle jacket on like he's a fan of the New York Dolls'new image for 1975 or more likely he's been reading about another Ivan - Koloff - in imported wrestling magazines. Round 1'and Maxine gets in a throw while fixing his headgear but rolls up nicely. Ivan gets an arm lock into hammerlock. Maxine manages to somehow reverse it through twists and turns on he mat, Ivan falls back into a bridge, swivels round on his skull and gets a drop toe hold into single toehold. He locks Maxine's legs in a figure four position held with a single ankle lock. Maxine turns himself over to get out. Ivan gets a half nelson, Brian makes it into an armbar but Ivan cartwheels off, The two heels shake hands like two blueceyes having a clean match. Ivan again cartwheels out, this time from a side chancery. Maxine is looking a little frustrated but he remembers himself as ndvclaps. Ivan gets a headlock but Maxine straightens the arm. Ivan gets a through the legs single legdive but Maxine boots him in the behind to the ropes. Ivan cartwheels away from the leg flip Maxine has waiting for him.Maxine again claps and shakes Ivan's hand. This is all a bit fishy, we know Maxine is not an habitual good sport. Ivan rear snapmares him, Maxine tries to cartwheel but can't and takes the bump on his rump as intended. This ruffles the King's feathers and he starts wagging a finger, then making closed fist gestures which upsets referee Max Ward who warns him against even threatening to punch. Maxine gets a standing full nelson, Ivan breaks one side to reverse it, so does Brian, so Ivan does the arms-last slide out escape. He mutters something then remembers himself and shakes Ivan's hand. Brian gets a legdive but Ivan puts himself in the figure four toehold to roll out. He gets a front chancery, Brian make it a high whip but Ivan rolls through and up. Maxine gets an armbar into back hammerlock, In uses his free arm to armdrag Maxine down and into an armlock in the guard. He stands and high whips Maxine with the arm but this time Maxine manages the cartwheel out and dies a little Fargo/Buddy Rogers strut to celebrate and annoy the crowd who feel this is second time lucky. Ivan throws him but again Maxine cartwheels to safety and again he does his little strut. Maxine gets a side headlock and takes Ivan down in the guard. Ivan wedges and bridges out- note how he finishes these escapes in a kneeling rather than standing position. Brian gets a legdive and standing leglock, Ivan widens Brian's stance with a legspread so Maxine releases, helps Ivan up and shakes his hand. Ivan gets a wrist and high whips Brian who tries the cartwheel but slips just as the bell goes. He's not happy but a grinning Ivan shakes his hand some meekly accepts. Something is cooking in Maxine 's mind under the veneer of clean wrestling, but while it lasts we can enjoy the technical exhibition. Round 2 Maxine gets a side chancery throw into rear chinlock. Ivan gets up on his limbs and straightens the arm into a standing arm lever into standing back hammerlock. Maxine uses Ivan's counter from earlier and hooks thecfreearm to make a hammerlock of his own - somehow hecalso hammerlocks the other arm. He now has a double rear wristlock, part of the Surfboard. He releases onecsrm and keeps a wristlever on the other. Ivan underhooks him but Maxine throws him, but Ivan rolls out easily. Ivan throws Maxine who again counters out and rebounds through Ivan's legs, gets double legs but is spun out. Maxine sells his back. Ivan rolls him into an over the knee backbreaker but Maxine rolls through and come with an arm. Ward is unhappy and calls for a break. Double finger Interlock into a Maxine Japanese stranglehold reversed by Ivan. Maxine almost gets another reversal but Ivan shimmies out and reapplies the hold. Maxine tries the same shimmy escape but is caught in a wristlock through the crotch by Ivan and he opts for a rope break. The two Maxes have an argument but the wrestlers shake hands. Maxine gets a side chancery throw for 4:and another into a rather messy double chin lock. He takes it to the mat where Ivan wedges and bridges out, again ending up on his knees. Ivan gets a semi Japanese Stranglehold into high whip and Maxine takes the bump. They cross cross, Maxine crouches down but Ivan crouches next to him, Brian tries to half nelson him, Ivan armdrags and cross presses him but Runs Out Of Mat as Bria's legs hit the ropes. Brian gets a rear waistlock, Ivan armdrags him over into an armlock in the guard. Maxine gets a headscissors but Ivan uses his kneeling bridge to escape. Maxine gets a legdive and legspread but the bell goes. He not only helps his man up but back to his corner giving him water and a toweling as the seconds who are supposed to handle all that look on. Eventually Ward orders him to his corner Nice comedy spot, part of Maxine faking being a gent. More importantly that's two good rounds of technical wrestling. How long can it keep up? Round 3: At the first crack of the round - Maxine goes straight for the corner and gets two side chancery throws, the second before Ivan is fully up, for which Max reprimands him. What if Max had not sent him to his corner- would he have jump-started Ivan? Brian side chancery throws Ivan twice , again early on the second one. Brian has clearly dropped the nice guy pretence and tries stomping Ivan but Ward gets SERIOUSLY shirty with him and bodychuhim in the corner. Max throws Ivan and gets him in a bearhug. , throws him in the air and catches him with a forearm smash that connects to the lower stomach. He gets a snapmare into double knee press for the opening fall. He had to improvise a bit due to Ward but ultimately his gameplay worked. We see a shot of his new album with Fairport Convention (not Ribbon Of Stainless Steel as Kent earlier claimed- that is the album title.) Round 4 Now no more Mr nice king, Brian gets a headlock and some dubious looking grinding with the knuckles. He switches to side chancery, not noticing Ivan has the ropes until Ward warns him off. He gets a posting for 5, tries for another but Ivan parries it and gets a nice legdive into side folding press but has trouble keeping Brian's shoulders down. Brian tries a crossed headscissors but Ivan just slides out like more wrestlers should. Now it's Ivan's turn to get dirty. He forearm smashes Maxine before he can get up. Max Ward let's it go for retaliation. He gets a snapmare and Maxine gets an illegal punch concealed by Penzecoff's torso. He follows will a legal stomach forearm and a front chancery but Ivan forces it open for a high whip and Maxine has to somersault and take a hard bump. Again Ivan catches Brian a wee bit early and forearm smashes him down. He side Chancery throws him and stomps him again from an early start but it's all one move so Ward le s it go. He gets another couple overly lifts and forearms and another stomp and finally Ward intervenes, pulling Ivan off. Penzecoff gets a public warning, the first of the match. Then to rub it in. Brian revives his shaking hands routine. Ivan takes the hand with the other hand and kicks Brian in the stomach. The brawl is on (sigh of relief from OJ!) although Maxine gets a throw in among the forearms. Ivan gets a leg and levers Maxine intona corner. Ward warns him off but Ivan lifts Brian in the corner trapping him in the ropes. Ivan gets a dropkick on the trapped Brian and pulls on the ropes to tighten them. Ward frees Maxine but he is still selling the leg pain. He gets a Headlock into forearm smash, a side chancery and gives Ivan some of his infamous sawing action, stopping only to prop up Ivan on his knees before continuing. Ivan reaches for Maxine's head., gets up and gets a snapmare into a reverse grovit. He armdrags presses Brian, gives him some sawing action of his own, puts a knee across the throat cutting off the air and for that is pulled off by Ward. Maxine goes wild smashing Ivan with a throw thrown in. He corners and batters Ivan (no, a 70s British crowd doesn't count up the blows like can 80s WWF crowd!) Ivan slips out between Brian's legs and Brian hurts himself hitting the ring post by mistake. Ivan further capitalises with an arm wrench around the ropes and a kick as the bell rings. We are now into heel Vs heel with Ivan as the sympathetic heel. Round 5 and Maxine offers a handshake but Ivan wants no part. Maxine gets a front facelock into rear snapmare. Maxine chokes Ivan on the ropes triggering another argument between the two Maxes. Maxine finally gets a public warning of his own. He elbows and throws Ivan and they cross cross until Ivan scores with a dropkick. He gets double legs into a front folding press for the equaliser, getting in a sneaky forearm after the bell. Round 6, the final and decider. They exchange forearms and Ivan gets a far cross buttock throw. Maxine cuffs him off and throws him twice, a mild bump each time. Ivan comes back with a forearm plus kneelift, another forearm, a posting, a brace of forearms in the corner. Ivan goes for another posting but Maxine neatly legtrios him and gets a single leg toehold submit for the 2-1 win. To celebrate Maxinets his guitar in the ring and threatens to do a gig a la the HonkyTonk Man ( who would wrestle for All Star and TWA 25 years later.). Penzecoff, the sympathetic heel, gets two big cheers. @ohtani's jacket, the second half is yours, the first half is mine. Three rounds of splendid technical work (despite the brewing storm) and three rounds of wildness.

Never mind, i've reviewed the above instead. @ohtani's jacket can review it too as he just got some random stuff in place of this match previously.

The first half was posted above: And here is the second half: The Mechants come to the ring on a bike seven years before Summerslam 92, except the only have one bike it doesn't look like much of a bike either. Definitely not a Harley, more likely a moped. I suppose Delaporte wanted to keep down costs.EF has a Hawk hairdo tho, it late got bleached blond. He also tries out a Hawk clothesline but ends up armdragged and dropkicked all over the ring by Flesh. Kato's one concession to being Bruce Lee is doing a chopping pose. He ends up getting the same treatment from the skinny young Superhero before Angelito tags in. Angelito gets taken down in a Top wristlock battle but kips up and does the traditional French back somersault to a better leverage position. Kato switches to a whip but Angelito only takes a mild bump. Kato pulls him down and gets headscissors, Angelito tries wedging out then succeeds in headstanding out. Fred tags back in, Angelito gets a side headlock but Angelito does the Mike Marino escape. He back somersaults to another better position in another top wristlock battle then cartwheels away. Both sides tag. Flesh gets a headlock into armbar but Fred fouls out. Fred uses lots of Punches Arbitre International Otto Weisz does nothing about it. It all becomes more brawly from then on. Angelito misses a top rope move. Flesh gets thrown to ringside. So is Angelito, hecgets helped back by seconds. Rocky scores the first fall on Flesh, Weisz gives a catch-up count that looks like a crooked fast count. Deuxieme Manche: mostly heel stuff (brawling, dirty wrestling, double teams) apart from. A few more good armdrags from Flesh. A good backdrop taken and followed up with a dropkick by Angelito. Otherwise it's still heel heat until Angelito gets some nice Scisseaux Volees and lands feet first from Kato's monkey climb attempt.Ksto ends up at ringside. Both sides tag. Flesh can take whip bumps easily and kip up from them. He gets a headscissors but Elliot stomps his buddy free. Kato does the same to help le Rocky keep a headscissors. Flesh kips up out and monkey climbs Elliott. Other than this the heels keep in irregulairr control., Rocky gets an Avertisement. He needs Kato's help to throw off an Angelito flying headscissors. . Lots of stalling by Les Mechants. Flesh gets a full nelson on Frederico, Fred reverses, Flesh gets it back. And lots of heel heat up to the end of the first clip. Angelito and Fred are reversing each others' full Nelson's when Angelito suddenly switches to crucifix into further nelson for the equaliser. Clip 2: La Belle. After some celebraing, complaining and an action replay... More Double Nelsons. Angelito gets thrown out the ring. He comes back and pitches Fred over the top.The crowd count to 10 and think Les Bons have Won, but L'Arbitre says Non. Eventually it all gets underway. Young Flesh gets a snapmare and rear double legs takedown. Flesh gets headlock into arm hank on each side. Angelito kicks Kato out off the ring The heels stall a lot. Flesh gets legdive, leglock and weakeners on Fred. The Bons get a public warning but they are on a roll. Angelito gets more legwork in on Frederico. Les Bons get a second and Final Avertisement for still more double teaming. These Bons just don't learn. And it gets worse for them. Flesh gets a high powerslam, splash and crosspress to seemingly get the winner , Weiss won't count it, gets into a shoving match with Les Bons andc DQs them! Cue chants of Aux Chiottes L'Arbitre and crowds up and rioting like it's South London. The heels get a trophy, pose quickly and beat a hasty retreat to the locker room. Les Bons get a staying ovation despite the loss. Fast and fun, some real curate's egg bits of skill in among the heeling and crowd working.

Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks Elliot F and Grim R are one and the same.

Some people might not have like that match ending, though ...

Okay, here's one more Robbie as a heel in Germany/Austria bout from the Heumarkt '97. Neidhart takes time out from the Harts Vs USA feud to team with the Wildcat and get DQ'd against the locals. Afterwards Robbie cuts an angry promo (In German I think) and Franz calmly challenges the heels to a return bout.

Another, longer Mitzi Mueller docu. Includes life at home with a young Brian Dixon and a very young Laetitia. Talking of early appearances, watch out for Princess Paula years before she even met Dave Finlay. Heel Hellcat Haggarty is great, a 70s version of Klondyke Kate. Also note WRESTLING ENTERPRISES on the corner pads - this is rare early footage of the promotion that became All Star. Entry Of The Gladiators (aka the Clown song) is the ring entry music just like Joint's RAH shows and the CWA. Colour film stock is rather faded and could do with remastering. Watch out for the kitschy 70s decor if it ever does get that treatment.

This looks from the flickery picture like it has been camera converted by a bootlegger - somewhere in the process the colour signal has been lost (possibly an early primitive b/w camcorder.) Rocco has trunks but is already evolving down the path of being the Rocco we would know. He has the moustache. JIP Round 3: We first see Rocco kick out of a pin then get a headlock to side channcery. Jowett straightens and scissors the arm. Rocco takes bumps from both the whip and a throw. Jowett gets a rather lopsided folding press but tidies it for 2. Rocco keeps on trying to grapple as Terry gets up and is warned by referee Ernie Baldwin. They uneasily shake hands. Jowett goes for a backslide but Runs Out Of Mat. Rocco kips up and they run the ropes. Rocco drops down but Jowett stops running and kicks Rocco on the ground - more in jest than real aggression but Rocco takes it seriously and complains to both Jowett and Baldwin, making this the first example we've got of Rocco's infamous temper! Rocco atomic drops Jowett and suplexes and monkey climbs him. He gets a side chancery throw for 4 and tries for a double underhook suplex but Jowett reverses it into a seated back hammerlock/armlever combination.He armdrags Rocoo and backslides him but again R.O.O.M.'s. Rocco shakes hands and runs the ropes but Jowett ignores him and jobs on the spot.Once again Rocco is complaining. He gets a headlock.into grovit into forearm smash flooring Terry. He gets another forearm, legdive and leg weakener before the bell goes. Round 4: Rocco gets a headlock into back hammerlock. Jowett fires off a (formerly illegal) back elbow counter.He gets a snapmare and throw but Rocco lands feet first. Rocco gets a headlock into further nelson. This time it's his turn to ROOM (I like that acronym.) Rocco gets a front chancery but Jowett grabs the arm and whips Rocco who takes the bump.Rocco gets rear double legs into reverse double leg nelson into a folding press but Terry gets a George Kidd/Rene Ben Chemoul/Johnny Saint ball. Jowett gets a wristlever but Rollerball rolls out and gets a top wristlock. He takes his man down but Terry gets a headscissors.Rocco kips out and gets a rear chinlock but Baldwin calls a break for discontinuous movement. Rocco smacks Jowett who goes for a single leg but again Baldwin breaks them up. Jowett cranks the back of Rocco's neck to level him for a forearm smash. Rocco gets a headlock and pounds on Terry's head with the fist edge. He gets a forearm, legdive and leg weakener but again Baldwin rules no continuous movement. Rocco gets two kneelifts but is reprimanded for a follow down blow and gets a first public warning. He gets almost a full nelson but Jowett counters with a fireman's carry takedownn. Rocco gets a side folding press but another ROOM situation occurs.Rocco gets a standing inverted rear waistlock but Terry easily backdrops him for 1. He tries an armstrtch but loses his grip. Rocco gets a suplex and a snapmare, a side chancery throw and a vicious kneedrop for 9 and kneelift for 7 then a full nelson into snapmare He tries for a cross buttock, doesn't quite make it but gets an armbar for his troubles and drops a knee on it. He armdrags and arm weakeners Jowett for 5 and the same sequence again for 6 then gets an armbar and another weakeners for 5. The bell saves Jowett from a figure four top wristlock but Rocco's strategy going into the break is clear. Round 5. Rocco continues with the left arm getting an armbar into rear armhank. Sending that Jowett is looking for a trip he dismounts (he was a horse rider after all) and lands another weakener. He gets that figure four top wristlock he was trying before the bell and converts to a Semi Japanese Stranglehold, the unwinds and pulls in a bodycheck.He gets the Semi Japanese Stranglehold again and tries another bodycheck but Jowett is ready and backdrops him. This is the start of a real blue-eye rally as he whips and posts Rocco so he lands Tree Of Woe style upside down and bounces off. He throws Rocco for a bump and dropkicks him out of the ring. Jowett flips him in, bodychecks him, but Rocco kips up, inverted waistlocks his man and powerslams and kneepresses him for the one required fall. A clue as to the identity of the bootlegger - a male voice from the room where the camera copying is being done says says "I did my best " and a Scottish female voice says 'Never mind". A star on the rise. I also liked the story with the arm although it was not involved in the finish.

Judge for yourselves:

Wikipedia said 98. Whatever. WCW went to Channel 5 in 1999-2001 Point is they jilted ITV and ran off with Superchannel which keeled over on them. Before that Regal promo.

Just mentioned the above match on the Hulk Hogan Dead At 71 thread. Apart from this we have him tagging with the France-based Mammouth Siki and a tiny bit of early 70s docu footage of a young Hansi with dark hair. Plus I just turned up THIS from 1986. Hansi is working heel here against a young Franz Schumann, although some fans are still cheering for him. Hansi beats up Franz, Franz retaliates and Hansi is urinated that fans cheer for Franz when he is just as dirty. Hansi double-crosses on a handshake, they both like up the yellow cards, 2 each, Franzl gets a cross buttock press on Hansi, a ringside brawl, the big blond man gets a win with a powerslam. If the match with Kirk reminds me of Daddy's mid 70s bouts with John Elijah.then this is like Daddy Vs Kendo Nagssaki circa 1975 or the two Stax Daddy Vs Veidor & Tibor matches with the big blond man acting rough. Jeff Kaye is the referee by the way.

Just realised that last reference will go over the heads of people not familiar with German Catch. I'm on about the blond one, btw

WCW was not on ITV anymore by 1997, it was lured away in 1995 by Superchannel, a pan-European NBC affiliate which keeled over in 1998, so I would take this story with not just a pinch of salt but a large sack labelled SAXA ... Sarah "Rockin' Robbins started wrestling in Britain aged 12. James Mason started at 14. Lots of kids were already getting their first push over here at 17, typically beating Jim Breaks for a Lightweight/Welterweight title (both Bulldogs. Danny Collins.). It's still a thing over here in the 2020s eg the three Bryant Brothers.

From latterday to even more latterday. Bernard Van Damme ("Rob who? I was ripping off Jean Claude!"). wrestler and promoter of Eurostars takes on Murat Bosphorus from Turkey in that packed IWSF tTV show from 2007. Belgium Vs Turkey. (I refuse to let Erdrogan make me call it Turkiye, but enough about politics .) Bernard gets an early rear waistlock but Murat breaks it open. BVD rolls out British style and gets a standing back hammerlock. The Turk considers a rear snapmare but ultimately opts for a fireman's carry takedown into an armlock. Rob backwards rolls up and gets a. drop toehold on Murat into a folding press for 2. They have a full finger Interlock test of strength. Van D gets an armbar of his own. Murat opts for a bodyslam cover but Bernard keeps the hold and comes up with Bosphorus in the guard still in a wristlock. Murat twists out horizontally Bernard gets another armbar, Murat reverses it and throws him off. Murat gets another arm. It gets a bit brawly until Bernard gets a reverse flying elbowsmash, slam but misses a top rope move. The Turk gets a suplex for 2. and shoves Bern down and throttles him. Rob gets a sunset flip for 2 Murat gets an over the knee backbreaker for 2. He starts posing with BVDs belt so the referee puts it back and Murat covers Van D for 2.the Turk complains but it's his own fault really. Rob gets a flying forearm off the top corner for 2. He leaps at Murat but the Turk gets him with a powerbomb for 2. Murat goes for a superplex but BVD pushes him off and gets a Superfly splash for the win. Early stages of this were pretty good technical wrestling, I think I shall check out some more Bernard Van Damme sometime soon.

Another veteran Vs youngster match. Grim Rocker, face painted Spanish mate of future Legend of Doom Johnny South and whom I believe I am correct in saying is the former Elliot Frederico Le Rocky Du Ring of early 80s French TV Catch seen feuding with the Gordon/Bordes tag team c. 1983-1985 on Antenne 2, takes on Jean Phillipe de Lonzac, a promising kid we've seen on here before. Grim gets the better of a top wristlock battle and armdrags JP to the mat three times. The fourth time JP goes for the flying headscissors, misses but gets a bodycheck, guillotine elbowsmash and splash for 2, Al moves one associates more with Superheavyweight monsters, not a young kid. Grim gets a standing side headlock into cross buttock into mat side headlock sequence. JP forces up but the Rocker bodychecks him down. JP straightens a side headlock into a straight arm behind the back then grabs his ownside headlock. Grim throws him to the ropes but JP cartwheels back past him and resumes the headlock, then gets an armdrag. JP gets the headlock again and holds on as Grim charges to the ropes and crotches himself on the middle rope. He gets a side chancery throw and flying headscissors and dropkick. Grom reports to brawling, a fist an axehandle, a kick a chop, etc. a bodycheck, a posting or 2. He pulls JP up on his knees. and kicks him around. Finally he gets a long suplex and another splash for the win. Demolition job mostly.

I seem to recall he was around in the early 70s.

Old Catch veteran Jacky Richard, now in his Travesti Man persona, takes on top rookie from Brittany, Jann Caradec fellow Celtic Orig Williams is on English commentary. Travesti is at the dirties from the start cooking and hair pulling with one decent snapmare. Caradec managed to throw him out of the ring, armdrag him He later forces a whip and hard bump. Caradec kips out of Richard's headscissors and turns a headlock into a hammerlock. He bridges out of the heavier man's cross buttock throw and press. Travesti wins with a powerslam and splash. Squash match but with some good moves from underdog Caradec.

A few more Interesting points. 1) La Bete puts on an armhank and tiers it with his legs so it becomes a figure four armhank. 2) One of Les Bons uses the flying scissors takedown, as counter to armbar, on la Bete. In France this generally worked to the point where it was done instead of a rollout on the mat. In BritIan, wrestlers would throw the headscissors off. Here, the takedown attempt looks like giving BH, presumably a Frenchman,real trouble until he goes to his corner and gets secret Brit Zarak to hUl the Bon off him! 3) A noticeably older looking Le Petit Prince helps out Couderc on colour commentary. He sounds quite, impressed with La Bet.e, all t.hings considered. 4) Crowd encourage the bons with chant of Allez Les Verts although only one. DiSanto actually wears green trunks (Mores wears navy blue)