10 Greats From The Golden Age Of British Wrestling

One of the most famous and long-lived of all British wrestlers, the mysterious Kendo Nagasaki was hugely popular throughout British wrestling's golden years. Despite the pure theatre of his voluntary unmasking in 1977 (in which his flamboyant manager, 'Gorgeous' George Gillette, removed his mask to reveal he looked even scarier without it!), his identity remained largely secret until his 2018 autobiography.

Despite all the gimmickry surrounding him (including a name cobbled together from two of the only Japanese words viewers were likely to know) there was a surprising depth to Nagasaki. Wrestler Peter Thornley maintained that he was something akin to a spirit guide or sensei, and would ceremonially allow himself to be taken over by the persona whenever he wrestled, wearing first a black mask and only donning the red one when Nagasaki was fully "present."

His absolute commitment to the role and to the technical business of wrestling made Kendo Nagasaki exciting and unpredictable to watch. He's rightly one of the most famed and influential wrestlers of his period.