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"ITV Wrestling"

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Tue 10/10/06 at 09:14
Moderator
"possibly impossible"
Posts: 24,985
Ah, the glory days of Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Young David (Davey Boy Smith aka WWF British Bulldog), John Savage, Kid Chocolate et al.

ITV's wrestling was a site to behold. It wasn't as acrobatic as American Wrestling, or with quite so much drama, but it was all about technique and actual wrestling, where the outcome wasn't decided before the match and the whole thing wasn't scripted.

During the 1980's British wrestling started to change, to make it appeal to a wider audience. This is the time everyone remembers from ITV wrestling, with Big Daddy in a shiny leotard and all the showmanship that went with the big named, often masked, wrestlers.

It was probably due to the World Wrestling Federation that the show was eclipsed and finally cancelled by Greg D**e, but I think it would be time now for a resurgence. I'm sure there are plenty of would be British wrestlers and who wouldn't want to see this form of sport back on TV, where outcomes are decided on the day and the winner is the best wrestler.

So, I say bring back ITV Wrestling. We might even find ourselves a new Big Daddy to champion the sport...
Tue 10/10/06 at 14:03
Regular
"Brooklyn boy"
Posts: 14,935
Ho ho got my edit in just in time :-D
Tue 10/10/06 at 14:00
Regular
"..."
Posts: 9,808
There's 1 Brit in TNA as well...Norman Smilie...
Loads in ROH - Doug Williams, Nigel McGuiness, Jonny Storm, Jody Fleisch...even Spud has made an appearance...
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:58
Regular
"@RichSmedley"
Posts: 10,009
Machie wrote:

> Big Daddy killed someone in the 80ies? Oh my.

If my memory serves me correctly he splashed him in the corner and he collapsed onto the canvas and turned blue and died.

Unknown to anyone he had a heart condition that no one knew about and up to that point his career hadn't upset it, however after this move he had a heart attack and died.

I don't think Big Daddy was prosecuted over it as it was just an accident waiting to happen.
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:55
Regular
"Brooklyn boy"
Posts: 14,935
3, Paul Burchill, Fit Finlay (who used to wrestle on ITV wrestling) and William Regal

There's also Norman Smiley in TNA
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:54
Regular
Posts: 19,415
Big Daddy killed someone in the 80ies? Oh my.

I can remember the Birtish Bulldog but he wasn't that good, are there many (or any) Brits in the WWE?
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:48
Regular
"@RichSmedley"
Posts: 10,009
I remember seeing Big Daddy wrestle and after he came out to "We Cannot Be Moved" the crowd started chanting "easy, easy, easy" as his opponent ran towards him and just bounced off his belly!

I think part of the downfall of British Wrestling was when Big Daddy killed King Kong Kirk during a match in the late 80's and the shockwaves and fallout did a lot of damage to British Wrestling.

Can anyone remember Giant Haystacks wrestling as The Loch Ness Monster in WCW in about 1996?
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:42
Regular
"..."
Posts: 9,808
pb wrote:
> Some people have mentioned that this is what killed of British
> wrestling, too much of a show and not enough decent wrestling,
> but right till the end there were some great wrestlers.

No. What killed Biritsh wrestling was Big Daddy, even in the twighlight of his career being unwilling to put anyone else over. Having his brother as the leading promoter helped his squash all his opposition until the point that the British audience knew no-one else could beat him. No-one likes watching a sport where there is only one winner, look how much the popularity of Formula 1 suffered when Michael Schumacher was running a one-horse race...
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:41
Regular
"Brooklyn boy"
Posts: 14,935
Neither was the 80's and onwards British stuff. I don't think anyone watches the American, Mexican, Japanese etc federations for "real" wrestling because really, that's not what they're offering. Everyone knows the result is pre-determined but instead you just appreciate the wrestler's athleticism and being able to pull off those moves and the story they tell in the ring.

If you want real wrestling watch the olympics or various amateur contests (always did find it amusing how the actual real stuff was called Amateur)
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:39
Regular
"..."
Posts: 9,808
pb wrote:
> Ah, the glory days of Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Young David
> (Davey Boy Smith aka WWF British Bulldog), John Savage, Kid
> Chocolate et al.
>
> ITV's wrestling was a site to behold. It wasn't as acrobatic as
> American Wrestling, or with quite so much drama, but it was all
> about technique and actual wrestling, where the outcome wasn't
> decided before the match and the whole thing wasn't scripted.

If anyone, like me, likes to relive those glory days and/or see what they missed out on, then tune in to The Wrestling Channel (Sky channel 427) from 2 until 7PM every Saturday to catch their Clasic World of Sport offering...(repeats throughout the week, check out Wrestling Channel Website for more information)

> It was probably due to the World Wrestling Federation that the
> show was eclipsed and finally cancelled by Greg D**e, but I
> think it would be time now for a resurgence. I'm sure there are
> plenty of would be British wrestlers and who wouldn't want to see
> this form of sport back on TV, where outcomes are decided on the
> day and the winner is the best wrestler.

Hmm, questionable, seeing as the Classic British wrestling was just as predetermined as anything else and Big Daddy/Giant Haystacks couldn't wrestle their way ouf paper bags...

> So, I say bring back ITV Wrestling. We might even find
> ourselves a new Big Daddy to champion the sport...

*Shudders*. Although, anyone who appreciates the ideals of the British Wrestling scene - holds, counterholds, comedy etc...then you should also check out Ring of Honour on the Wrestling Channel, Colt Cabana, in particular, regulalrly pays homage to classic British Wrestling...
Tue 10/10/06 at 13:38
Moderator
"possibly impossible"
Posts: 24,985
They were pretty bad when it came to technique, but then they were the 'showmen' to the ordinary wrestlers, the ones who got the bums on seats before the general public knew about the good wrestling they were going to watch.

Some people have mentioned that this is what killed of British wrestling, too much of a show and not enough decent wrestling, but right till the end there were some great wrestlers. I mean the wrestling these days from the US is all well and good, but it's not 'true' wrestling, in the sport sense, is it?

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