The last decade or so, womens' wrestling has been nudged out of the magazines. PowerSlam might have a pinup every other month but you almost never see an article about, say A.J Lee.
Even back in the days when I was reading the Apter mags (Inside Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Illustrated.) and their competitors (Wrestling Scene especially) you'd get a short piece every so often and that's it.
I'm holding an edition of Ring Wrestling from 1964 right now. Let's see how many articles there are about the ladies.
So far - 5. 11 pages in total. Not counting a frivolous comedy piece and something about a wrestling Tartar Princess.
Hmm. Wonder why?
That goes some way towards explaining why I decided to hold back certain pics and post all the women's action at the same time. Hope you like them.
Ann Casey doesn't seem to like blondes much.
The Fabulous Moolah gets pummeled by Joan Collins.
Not the Joan Collins, although thinking about it, that would have been awesome.
Jean Bouchet smiles for the camera. seems like a nice girl.
And now she's putting the boot in. Seems to be quite enthusiastic about it too.
Jean gets roughed up by Princess Little Cloud.
Nope. Bugger.
A quick look on WrestlingData.com reveals that she was only around for 15 matches or so.
Olga Martinez doesn't like blondes either. Let's take a moment to consider how strong this woman must be.
Fathia "Chi Chi" Djaileb. Empress Of The Black Dagger. Heading for American rings.
The article mentions that before becoming a wrestler she was a nurse for the Arab Nationalist Movement.
Not by choice either: "I was kidnapped by the movement when I was only 15 years old."
After trying her hand at basketball the young Algerian began wrestling and went on to compete in the UK.
There's archive footage of that match on Youtube. Apologies for potato quality.
At some point The Empress of the Black Dagger began wrestling as Titi Paris, under which name she campaigned for women to be allowed to wrestle in New York. She even had a role in 1980 wrestling flick "Below The Belt" That's her helping battered heroine Rosa at the end of this clip.
I think a little respect is in order.
That's all folks.
Oh...I seem to have stumbled upon your lady wrestler post BigD.
ReplyDeleteMmm, fancy that.
Cheers, ic
In all fairness, about 80% of my traffic is people looking for women wrestlers. So you're in good company.
DeleteScary. We used to go to see the wrestling at Tunbridge Wells assembly halls in the era of Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Catweasel and Mick McManus. The best fun to be had was watching the old ladies down the front walloping the bad guys with handbags and umbrellas whenever they came near the ropes.
ReplyDeleteI think every wrestler in the business during the 60s/70s/80s has a story about being attacked by a crazed fan. Sometimes people got way, way too into it.
DeleteLiverpool Stadium in the 1970s. The actress Luan Peters (playing a judo exponent) was filming a scene in the wrestling ring for a TV programme which, I believe, was never screened. The actress who portrayed her opponent was wearing a very low-cut swimsuit who won the bout by holding Luan in a folding press (no body doubles!) and tickling the soles of her bare feet until she submitted! It was pretty realistic.
ReplyDeleteLuan did subsequently wear a judogi (?) for a TV Times magazine photo shoot. She is mostly associated with the band "5000 Volts" and appeared in "Fawlty Towers".
Liverpool Stadium in the 1970s. The actress Luan Peters (playing a judo exponent) was filming a scene in the wrestling ring for a TV programme which, I believe, was never screened. The actress who portrayed her opponent was wearing a very low-cut swimsuit who won the bout by holding Luan in a folding press (no body doubles!) and tickling the soles of her bare feet until she submitted! It was pretty realistic.
ReplyDeleteLuan did subsequently wear a judogi (?) for a TV Times magazine photo shoot. She is mostly associated with the band "5000 Volts" and appeared in "Fawlty Towers".
It's a shame there's no footage of it online. Maybe the tape is sitting in a vault somewhere.
DeleteI love wrestling and boxing especially female fights,would love nothing better too meet any female fighter
ReplyDelete