Post by strategistjbstevens on Aug 10, 2023 22:49:09 GMT 1
Here's a quick post summarizing the British wrestling scene in the mod with bios on three of the top wrestlers in the UK.
Promotions
Majesty Wrestling was started in 1948 by Harry Billingsley. He'd promoted small carnival shows in the 1930s and first half of the 1940s, and he saw an opportunity to form the first major promotion in the UK. After several years of meetings with government officials, he got support for his project, and he opened Majesty Wrestling. Billingsley was able to get the government to pass several new laws and regulations that made it harder for others to promote wrestling, and many small promotions were shut down. Majesty Wrestling operated its own training school, although for its first decade it mostly stole the best wrestlers from the other promotions. By the start of the 1960s, Majesty Wrestling had a complete monopoly on wrestling in the UK.
In 1971, a new promotion would open. Robert Morse, a millionaire investor, funded the promotion, which was run by Eli Gibbs, Ewan Chapman, Hendrix Barnes, and Mel Hudson. Gibbs, Chapman, & Barnes were skilled wrestlers who felt that they and many others were underutilized in Majesty Wrestling, and Hudson was a retired wrestler who had been fire by Billingsley following a reign as the first United Kingdom Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. They signed away a lot of wrestlers, and that's continued to this day as they recently signed British wrestling icon Rex King. Now, both promotions are at each other's throats, but it's helped to liven up what had been a stagnant wrestling scene.
Wrestling Stars of Britain
Rex King: A divisive figure in British wrestling, Rex King dominated Majesty Wrestling for most of the 1960s. He'd debuted in 1949, and he joined Majesty Wrestling in 1952. King learned to play the politics game, and he worked his way up the card until winning the United Kingdom Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in 1959. He holds it for 301 days before losing it to Archibald Thomas. King won the belt back in 1962, this time holding it for 441 days before losing it to Rudy Ward. King stayed around the main event scene, but he surprisingly didn't chase the title again until 1966, when Ward was in his second reign. He won it, and his third reign would last for 1,827 days.
King finally lost to title to Hamish Inglis in 1971. but Inglis would soon vacate the title to join New Era Wrestling. King wouldn't compete for the belt. Instead, he began wrestling less, In 1973, King took a hiatus from wrestling, and he was spotted in promotions around the world shaking hands with notable promoters. King then signed with New Era Wrestling in 1975, and he quickly won the NEW World Championship. Now 45 years old, King is slowing down, but his star power and popularity is still unmatched in Britain and he's the biggest asset to New Era Wrestling.
Rudy Ward: Known as "The Brute of Britain", Ward would debut in 1955 for a small promotion run by his father Isaac. When Isaac's promotion was shut down in 1959, Rudy was hired by Majesty Wrestling. His size and scary look helped make him a top heel, and in 1963 he beat Rex King to win the United Kingdom Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. He would later lose the belt to Jacke Bennett after 289 days, but he beat Brandon MacKenzie to recapture the belt in 1965. This reign lasted 279 days, before he lost it to Rex King. Although the feud was good, Ward wasn't given much to do afterwards, and he started sliding down the card.
In 1970, Ward left with other wrestlers to join New Era Wrestling. His name value helped the promotion a lot in its early days. He was the first NEW British Champion, holding the belt for 553 days. In 1975, Ward won the NEW World Champion from Jakub Brennan, and his reign lasted 273 days before he lost it to Rex King. Behind the scenes, Ward is actually responsible for bringing King into NEW, as the two are friends. Ward is slowing down fast, and he's planning to retire to an agent position backstage.
Jackie Bennett: The first major babyface of Britain, Bennett began wrestling in 1946 and he'd signed with Majesty Wrestling in 1948. Bennett would rise to the main event scene rather slowly, due to his size of 5'8 and weight of 165 pounds being somewhat smaller than most main eventers for the time. His charisma and drawing ability was unmatched and undeniable, and he won the championship in 1954. His reigns were often short, but over the next ten years he'd become a four time champion with a total of 631 days among those reigns. Bennett didn't stay in Majesty Wrestling though, as he would leave after a dispute in 1959 over Majesty Wrestling already phasing him out in favor of Rex King. Bennett went to America, where he had a noted feud with Buddy Watson in Washington State Wrestling and 50th State Wrestling.
Bennett briefly returned to Majesty Wrestling in 1964 for one last title reign in order to put over Vic Stevens. Bennett then left and went to Japan, wrestling for Roaring Lion Wrestling. He acted as a coach for the younger wrestlers, and as a show of respect he would become the EWA Junior Empire Champion in 1970. Bennett returned to Britain in 1973 to help his friend Hugo Evans after Hugo's brother died. Hugo convinced Jackie to join NEW, and Jackie would do that. Jackie has been teaming with Hugo and helping him get over. He had a 364 day reign with the NEW British Championship, and he's hinted at turning heel to go after the World Championship. Bennett is 46, and while he's slowly winding down his career, he could likely go on for several more years.
Promotions
Majesty Wrestling was started in 1948 by Harry Billingsley. He'd promoted small carnival shows in the 1930s and first half of the 1940s, and he saw an opportunity to form the first major promotion in the UK. After several years of meetings with government officials, he got support for his project, and he opened Majesty Wrestling. Billingsley was able to get the government to pass several new laws and regulations that made it harder for others to promote wrestling, and many small promotions were shut down. Majesty Wrestling operated its own training school, although for its first decade it mostly stole the best wrestlers from the other promotions. By the start of the 1960s, Majesty Wrestling had a complete monopoly on wrestling in the UK.
In 1971, a new promotion would open. Robert Morse, a millionaire investor, funded the promotion, which was run by Eli Gibbs, Ewan Chapman, Hendrix Barnes, and Mel Hudson. Gibbs, Chapman, & Barnes were skilled wrestlers who felt that they and many others were underutilized in Majesty Wrestling, and Hudson was a retired wrestler who had been fire by Billingsley following a reign as the first United Kingdom Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. They signed away a lot of wrestlers, and that's continued to this day as they recently signed British wrestling icon Rex King. Now, both promotions are at each other's throats, but it's helped to liven up what had been a stagnant wrestling scene.
Wrestling Stars of Britain
Rex King: A divisive figure in British wrestling, Rex King dominated Majesty Wrestling for most of the 1960s. He'd debuted in 1949, and he joined Majesty Wrestling in 1952. King learned to play the politics game, and he worked his way up the card until winning the United Kingdom Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in 1959. He holds it for 301 days before losing it to Archibald Thomas. King won the belt back in 1962, this time holding it for 441 days before losing it to Rudy Ward. King stayed around the main event scene, but he surprisingly didn't chase the title again until 1966, when Ward was in his second reign. He won it, and his third reign would last for 1,827 days.
King finally lost to title to Hamish Inglis in 1971. but Inglis would soon vacate the title to join New Era Wrestling. King wouldn't compete for the belt. Instead, he began wrestling less, In 1973, King took a hiatus from wrestling, and he was spotted in promotions around the world shaking hands with notable promoters. King then signed with New Era Wrestling in 1975, and he quickly won the NEW World Championship. Now 45 years old, King is slowing down, but his star power and popularity is still unmatched in Britain and he's the biggest asset to New Era Wrestling.
Rudy Ward: Known as "The Brute of Britain", Ward would debut in 1955 for a small promotion run by his father Isaac. When Isaac's promotion was shut down in 1959, Rudy was hired by Majesty Wrestling. His size and scary look helped make him a top heel, and in 1963 he beat Rex King to win the United Kingdom Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. He would later lose the belt to Jacke Bennett after 289 days, but he beat Brandon MacKenzie to recapture the belt in 1965. This reign lasted 279 days, before he lost it to Rex King. Although the feud was good, Ward wasn't given much to do afterwards, and he started sliding down the card.
In 1970, Ward left with other wrestlers to join New Era Wrestling. His name value helped the promotion a lot in its early days. He was the first NEW British Champion, holding the belt for 553 days. In 1975, Ward won the NEW World Champion from Jakub Brennan, and his reign lasted 273 days before he lost it to Rex King. Behind the scenes, Ward is actually responsible for bringing King into NEW, as the two are friends. Ward is slowing down fast, and he's planning to retire to an agent position backstage.
Jackie Bennett: The first major babyface of Britain, Bennett began wrestling in 1946 and he'd signed with Majesty Wrestling in 1948. Bennett would rise to the main event scene rather slowly, due to his size of 5'8 and weight of 165 pounds being somewhat smaller than most main eventers for the time. His charisma and drawing ability was unmatched and undeniable, and he won the championship in 1954. His reigns were often short, but over the next ten years he'd become a four time champion with a total of 631 days among those reigns. Bennett didn't stay in Majesty Wrestling though, as he would leave after a dispute in 1959 over Majesty Wrestling already phasing him out in favor of Rex King. Bennett went to America, where he had a noted feud with Buddy Watson in Washington State Wrestling and 50th State Wrestling.
Bennett briefly returned to Majesty Wrestling in 1964 for one last title reign in order to put over Vic Stevens. Bennett then left and went to Japan, wrestling for Roaring Lion Wrestling. He acted as a coach for the younger wrestlers, and as a show of respect he would become the EWA Junior Empire Champion in 1970. Bennett returned to Britain in 1973 to help his friend Hugo Evans after Hugo's brother died. Hugo convinced Jackie to join NEW, and Jackie would do that. Jackie has been teaming with Hugo and helping him get over. He had a 364 day reign with the NEW British Championship, and he's hinted at turning heel to go after the World Championship. Bennett is 46, and while he's slowly winding down his career, he could likely go on for several more years.