Definitely among the most successful (and also the weirdest) British wrestlers of all time, Kendo Nagasaki was a mainstay of ITVs World of Sport, which was the home of British pro wrestling for many years. World of Sports wrestling segments featured the likes of Big Daddy Shirley Crabtree, Jackie Pallo, Johnny Kwango, Mick McManus, Giant Haystacks and others still. British wrestling was enormously popular in the 1960s and 70s. Reputedly, even the Queen was an avid viewer. However, despite a myriad of colourful, and sometimes bizarre, characters, none was more elusive, more mysterious or more intriguing than Kendo Nagasaki... Nagasaki is perhaps wrestlings finest example of a guy living his gimmick 24/7. He never spoke in interviews and would occasionally even appear on chat shows without saying a word. His unique appeal and enigmatic charisma meant that the fans could project their own impressions onto Nagasaki as they watched him wrestle. After he finally broke his legendary silence, the man behind the mask was quoted as saying that he is merely a physical vessel for Nagasaki, who is, apparently, the spirit of a 16th century samurai from Japan. When he eventually unmasked, Kendo Nagasaki chose to do it at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 1975, in spectacular fashion. Before a beguiled capacity crowd, Nagasaki, flanked by two of his robe-clad acolytes (most of which were real-life devotees of Kendo), struck the ring with a katana blade and knelt down in a classic samurai pose. Once the ring had been purified with salt and his followers were lying at his feet, the mask was removed, revealing an occultist pentagram tattoo on his freshly shaven head and a pair of red, almost demonic, eyes. The mask was then ritually burned as Kendo held his blade in the air and stared menacingly at the crowd. It was one of the most dramatic unmaskings ever seen in professional wrestling. Peter Thornley, the man behind the character, continues to use the Nagasaki persona for faith healing to this day. He captured the imaginations of wrestling fans in Britain, America and Canada and has inspired at least one copycat over the years. No one in wrestling history has ever shown more dedication to kayfabe. For that fact alone, Kendo Nagasaki deserves a spot on this list. Mil Mascaras, AKA The Man of a Thousand Masks, initially took his cue from Mexican stars like Santo and the original Blue Demon, although he would eventually surpass both in terms of international fame and recognition. Mascaras popularized lucha libre outside of Mexico and was an early pioneer of high flying, spot heavy wrestling. His colourful costumes and exotic persona guaranteed him plenty of exposure in the wrestling magazines of the day and thus, a measure of fame in the US and Japan. In his native Mexico, Mascaras is also a film star and has even appeared on postage stamps. A massive draw in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s, Mascaras continues to wrestle to this day. Although his style is inherently selfish and never less than utterly self-serving, Mascaras always gives the fans what they paid to see (provided they paid to see Mascaras, that is). Whatever his in-ring shortcomings may be, Mil Mascaras impact on wrestling is undeniable. It would be impossible to compile this list without including The Man of a Thousand masks.
I am a professional author and lifelong comic books/pro wrestling fan. I also work as a journalist as well as writing comic books (I also draw), screenplays, stage plays, songs and prose fiction.
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- CQ
Mil Mascaras, AKA The Man of a Thousand Masks, initially took his cue from Mexican stars like Santo and the original Blue Demon, although he would eventually surpass both in terms of international fame and recognition. Mascaras popularized lucha libre outside of Mexico and was an early pioneer of high flying, spot heavy wrestling. His colourful costumes and exotic persona guaranteed him plenty of exposure in the wrestling magazines of the day and thus, a measure of fame in the US and Japan. In his native Mexico, Mascaras is also a film star and has even appeared on postage stamps. A massive draw in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s, Mascaras continues to wrestle to this day. Although his style is inherently selfish and never less than utterly self-serving, Mascaras always gives the fans what they paid to see (provided they paid to see Mascaras, that is). Whatever his in-ring shortcomings may be, Mil Mascaras impact on wrestling is undeniable. It would be impossible to compile this list without including The Man of a Thousand masks.