May 16, 2019. Mar 04, 2020. like Saxonwolf I always wanted Kendo and Adrian Street to win too, there was always a few at Newcastle City hall who rooted for them. Has Kendo been beaten, unmasked, roughed up, did he take Canada by storm. [2] He was one of the biggest draws of all time in British Wrestling, especially in the mid-1970s and the turn of the 1980s/1990s.[7]. Sign up to our newsletter. Create New Account. The programme was repeated on BBC Four on 15 July 2013 and 10 June 2015. He returned in May 2000 to accept the Wrestler of the Millennium trophy in a ceremony at Hanley's Victoria Hall. [2] This run ended in December 2001 with a formal retirement match, a Four Corners bout, again at the Victoria Hall, in which he faced and defeated Mason, Doug Williams and Dean Allmark. May 15, 2019. His name was Kendo Nagasaki. In June 2007, he signed a deal with London-based LDN wrestling. British Wrestling - The unmasking of Kendo Nagasaki - YouTube Want to tell us about something going on where you live? When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. [2] Over the next few years, Ryan continued to manage King Kendo (with Dale Preston taking over the role from Clarke who had also retired in 1993) in feuds with various old enemies of the real Nagasaki. Kendo Nagasaki was born on October 19, 1946 in Stoke on Trent, England as Peter Thornley. He has received strict instructions not to look at the man in the back seat and definitely not to speak to him. Thereafter he made sporadic wrestling appearances. They also recalled their memories of watching Kendo fight. Kendo Nagasaki, a man who has earned fame by beating other men until they cry for mercy, is walking around Finsbury in north London in search of a place where he can have his photograph taken. [22] His identity had previously been publicly revealed during a 2002 court case over a land dispute with his neighbour.[8]. Just as Kendo observes when guests at the Nagasaki Retreat reach the ‘Pathway Bench’, every single pebble in the path which has been traversed on the way there represents a challenge having been successfully overcome. Peter William Thornley (born 19 October 1941)[4] is an English retired professional wrestler who was best known for the ring character Kendo Nagasaki. The un-defeated fighter re-staged the scene from 1977 when he appeared at the King’s Hall, in Stoke, last night. [2][7] During the late 1960s, Nagasaki would feud with Billy Robinson and also with a young Jean Ferre. Something went wrong, please try again later. [13], In January 1989, George Gillette died of AIDS and Lloyd Ryan officially became Kendo's new manager. During his final ITV appearance, Nagasaki and Barrett defeated the 'Golden Boys' tag team of Robbie Brookside and Steve Regal when the masked man hypnotised (kayfabe) Brookside to attack Regal. Reply. As a young lad, Kendo Nagasaki and Adrian Street were the "villains" that I wanted to see win. What about his fights with the other masked man, the fantastic SuperHawk. The unmasking is good in some ways, but it’s like the secret is out. Thornley wore a mask for most of his career, the one significant exception being several months following a December 1977 televised voluntary unmasking ceremony. Johnny Kidd. He’s one of a kind. [2] He then went on to tour Canada and the United States during 1972 working for wrestling legend Stu Hart. “It’s good we get to know about him now and everything he’s doing for the charity. [2] However, in September 1978, he retired on doctor's orders from the ring and began a new career in rock management.[2]. Kendo Nagasaki’s cause of death was associated with cardiac issue, stemming from his pacemaker … British Wrestling 1970-1990. Are you OK Our Friend. [2][7], Bartelli had been Nagasaki's mentor and tag team partner until they had a storyline falling out over Nagasaki's rough tactics in the ring. In December 1986, Thornley made his masked return to the ring at the London Hippodrome in a ladder match with Clive Myers,[2] and by September 1987 he went on to become the WWA World Heavyweight Champion after defeating Wayne Bridges. I was also the same with Mark Rocco . In December 1975, again facing Big Daddy (as he was by then only named) on television, Nagasaki was successfully unmasked (although he nonetheless went on to win the bout), starting a violent feud between the two. He remained silent, and the programme also featured clips of him wrestling and the famous "unmasking" ceremony in Wolverhampton, 1977. He had swept all before him. Your information will be used in accordance with our, Dean 'Deano' Allman was one of the wrestlers at the event, Some of the other wrestlers at the King's Hall event, Lee Rigby’s mum Lyn and his sister Courtney with Kendo Nagasaki at Manor Court Hall, near Oakamoor, Kendo Nagasaki reveals he's bisexual in new tell-all book about growing up in this area to become a wrestling megastar, Heroic grandfather commended for saving neighbour's life after fire, Police investigating after reports of a dog being beaten in the street, Armed police called amid reports of street stabbing, Violence erupted close to Audley Health Centre where a number of youths had congregated last night, Teen treated for stab wound after 'altercation' breaks out in North Staffordshire street, Police made one arrest following the incident in Audley but he has since been released without charge, The 19 violent, controlling and abusive men every woman in Stoke-on-Trent should know about, They have been in court because of their horrific crimes, Kveta Hangonyiova was standing by the side of the A50 after her car had broken down, Dozens of Covid home test kits dumped and set on fire by 'moronic' kids in Stoke-on-Trent park, It is believed the children had been issued with the kits from their school, The sad state of Hanley's Debenhams as store closes early, The store closed its doors for the final time today, The missing people in Stoke-on-Trent whose loved-ones need your help, Staffordshire Police have issued three appeals in recent weeks but one man has been missing for months and another for years, Biker taken to hospital after motorcycle crashes with van on A519, Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the scene, Inadequate Stoke-on-Trent care home to shut as residents moved out 'immediately', Haversham House, in Trentham, has been operating for 35 years, 'We're devastated' Staff speak out as Hanley Debenhams opens for last time today, It is the end of an era for Stoke-on-Trent's retail scene, Girlfriend beater walks from court after trying to strangle partner, Aaron Shelley has previous convictions for domestic violence, New Alton Towers record as thrill-seeker rides Nemesis 64 times in one day. He said: “I enjoy coming to Stoke-on-Trent because the people really engage with the wrestling. In December 1971, he appeared for the first time with manager "Gorgeous" George Gillette at Dumfries. Nonprofit Organization. In December 1975, Nagasaki was unmasked on television by Shirley "Big Daddy" Crabtree. Facebook. May 15, 2019. The masked icon of the 1970s and 80s drew … This was two years before he had an official ceremonial unmasking at the Civic Hall Wolverhampton in what was one of the most anticipated and most watched moments in ITV's In November 1964 Thornley had his first professional contest against "Jumping" Jim Hussey at Willenhall Baths. Families battle to keep out rats in Stoke-on-Trent street plagued by fly-tippers, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is carrying out a week of action in the Portland Street area of Hanley, One of Stoke-on-Trent's best-known hotels bought by new owners, The Sneyd Arms, in Tunstall, is currently closed, Coal network ruled out as stench source at 'smelly' North Staffordshire landfill, The quarry operator previously claimed the smell could be coming from another source, Stoke-on-Trent nursery goes pink to raise money for mum-of-four battling breast cancer, Nicole Thorley was diagnosed with the disease in August last year. [23] his longtime personal assistant Lawrence Stevens. And Ian Wilshaw, aged 51, from Newcastle said: “I remember watching him at the Victoria Hall in 1975. I'm guessing this was taken when Kendo was wrestling unmasked and it wasn't going too well? A simple yes or no is all I ask here – unless you are willing to disclose more for a discerning Chap readership. And Kendo, whose real name is Peter Thornley, proved why he is such a hit with his fans. [1], Until the publication of his autobiography in 2018, Thornley and his close associates frowned on the use of his legal name, preferring that his out-of-character self be referred to as "Yogensha" (Japanese for seer). [1][24] However, Thornley later faced legal issues with the estate (relating to the above-mentioned land dispute) which threatened its forced sale, as a result of which he asked Lyn Rigby, who was a permanent resident in the House, either to buy or to rent the site. The anonymous man was a silent Japanese warrior, a physical powerhouse, and a fighter whom no-one could defeat. or. Thornley's autobiography Kendo Nagasaki and the Man Behind the Mask was published in 2018, in which he discussed for the first time publicly about being the person behind the Kendo Nagasaki persona. The name derives from the modern martial art of Japanese fencing (Kendo), and Nagasaki is the name of a city on the south-western coast of Kyūshū, site of the second use of the atomic bomb, as well as an ancient family name in Japan. Press alt + / to open this menu. “It’s Kendo’s mystique and character. In his autobiography, Thornley says that he is bisexual, and he has spoken in related interviews about the issues faced by gay and bisexual sportsmen of his era. Kendo agreed to sit for a Blake portrait for the BBC Arena programme, Masters of the Canvas in January 1992.[17]. Public. Then in October he was scheduled to wrestle Yorghos in a singles match in Wolverhampton, but refused to face him again, instead teaming with Blondie Barratt to defeat Hakan and Travis to win the LDN Tag Team Championship. Over here in the U.K. But for last night’s spectacle, he recreated one of TV wrestling’s greatest moments – when he was unmasked in the ring by manager George Gillett at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall. Sports League. Since then, he was said to be looking for a young wrestler to pass his "powers" on to. [6], Away from the ring, Thornley has been a successful business entrepreneur and also had a career in rock management for around a decade from the late 1970s to the late 1980s, managing Cuddly Toys and Laura Pallas. 2007 he appeared at LDN `` Legends Showdown '' in Broxbourne written book... S one of WOS ’ s doing for the first time with manager `` gorgeous '' Gillette! A year ago after Peter invited them to visit Moorcroft when Peter heard about what were. Unmasking at the King 's Hall in 1975 — and then “ officially ” 1977!, who grew up in Crewe, now lives at Moorcroft Hall in Stoke, last night time with ``... 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Trying to achieve with the other masked man, the fantastic SuperHawk a ceremony at Hanley Victoria!
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