Saturday 25 May 2013

Mick McManus Passes




Wrestling Legend Mick McManus Passes Away

This week saw the wrestling world mourn a true legend of the grapple game. Londoner Mick McManus was 93 when he passed away of natural causes.

Mick was a man who shone for decades on the UK scene and became a stalwart of the hugely popular World of Sport era that saw multi-millions gather around the TV set to watch their heroes try to beat him each week. He is also rumoured to have made more TV appearances than any other UK wrestler.

Billed as the 'Man you Love to Hate' McManus tore up arenas across the UK and had memorable feuds with every big name of the day. Often dragging even the most clumsy wrestler to an above average match.

McManus was a wrestler who relished his heel character and certainly found himself on the receiving end of many fan attacks and shot from handbag wielding grannies. However he took those assaults as part and parcel of his role and savoured his place on the card.

The world of wrestling took to Twitter /websites and forums to pay their respects to McManus, these tributes highlight just how much respect the man still has within the industry. It has often been said that without people like Mick the industry may never have seen the likes of Kendo Nagasaki, Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco and many of today's up and coming UK/Irish stars of the ring.

The documentary When Wrestling Was Golden: Grapples, Grunts and Grannies (originally shown in December 2012) is being re-broadcast this Sunday May 26th to celebrate the industry Mick worked so hard for. He also features in it of course.


By Phil Allely

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