[2][7] During the late 1960s, Nagasaki would feud with Billy Robinson and also with a young Jean Ferre. He returned in May 2000 to accept the Wrestler of the Millennium trophy in a ceremony at Hanley's Victoria Hall. See more of Kendo Nagasaki on Facebook. adrianpollard.shangri-la. Peter, who grew up in Crewe, now lives at Moorcroft Hall in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Powerlock. Amazing moment. Log In. Has Kendo been beaten, unmasked, roughed up, did he take Canada by storm. Elaine Thomas. In his autobiography, Thornley says that he is bisexual, and he has spoken in related interviews about the issues faced by gay and bisexual sportsmen of his era. In December 1975, Nagasaki was unmasked on television by Shirley "Big Daddy" Crabtree. The house was named in honour of Lee Rigby, who was murdered by Jihadists in 2013, with Lee's mother Lyn helping to run the retreat. [2] The unmasking occurred two years before he had an official ceremonial unmasking ceremony at the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton in what was one of the most anticipated and most viewed moments in ITV's World of Sport. 0. May 15, 2019. Mar 04, 2020. like Saxonwolf I always wanted Kendo and Adrian Street to win too, there was always a few at Newcastle City hall who rooted for them. [2] Over the next eighteen months he would appear on various All Star shows, sometimes teamed with Drew McDonald. Related Pages. [8] Thornley never spoke publicly about being Kendo Nagasaki until the publication of his autobiography in 2018 and during interviews to promote the book. Kendo wrestled unmasked for a few years before replacing it without explanation). The character of Nagasaki was a Japanese samurai with a mysterious past and reputed powers of healing[5][6] and hypnosis. “We now have the Lee Rigby House, set up at Moorcroft hall, for bereaved families and veterans to go and relax and forget about everyday stresses. The event took place at the King's Hall in Stoke, Want Stoke-on-Trent news emailed to you direct from our journalists? During his final ITV appearance, Nagasaki and Barrett defeated the 'Golden Boys' tag team of Robbie Brookside and Steve Regal when the masked man hypnotised (kayfabe) Brookside to attack Regal. I’d love to meet him.”. [2] He was one of the biggest draws of all time in British Wrestling, especially in the mid-1970s and the turn of the 1980s/1990s.[7]. Can we really get a clearer picture. Presented here is the complete story of the master himself, Kendo Nagasaki, and the man behind the mask - his first spiritual awareness as a child, his finding judo, his training under sensei Kenshiro Abbe, and his explosive emergence upon … … Now, 40 years after he was ceremonially unmasked by his long-time manager Gorgeous George, Kendo Nagasaki will return to the ring where he will be completely unmasked … All trademarks are property of their respective owners in the US and other countries. Wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki has recreated his most famous unmasking in the ring – 41 years after the original event. Healing Kendo Nagasaki. Facebook. But on … The more they give to you, the more you can give back. “I defeated him – he came out of the fight unmasked. Log In. Kendo Nagasaki is an icon of British culture - as an athlete, he is an unbeaten international star of British professional wrestling, and behind his legendary mask he is an accomplished healer and mystic. Now 77, Thornley is a Buddhist and runs Zen retreats at his estate in Staffordshire. It was very difficult to get any news and even on his return all Gillett ever said when I asked was that he was undefeated. Kendo Nagasaki was born on October 19, 1946 in Stoke on Trent, England as Peter Thornley. He married, and his wife Yvette died in 1990. In December 1986, Thornley made his masked return to the ring at the London Hippodrome in a ladder match with Clive Myers,[2] and by September 1987 he went on to become the WWA World Heavyweight Champion after defeating Wayne Bridges. Unable to afford either option, Rigby and the charity moved out of the estate[25][26], Relationship with character of Kendo Nagasaki, World of Sport — The Unmasking of Kendo Nagasaki, "The Battling Guardsman" Shirley Crabtree, Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Who is that masked man? PURPLE MASK OF KENDO NAGASAKI! KendoNagasakiMystic. He’s the one I grew up with, along with Steven Regal. They also recalled their memories of watching Kendo fight. Wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki has revealed he's been living as a secret bisexual for half a century. But since living in Cheadle, everyone is so lovely and friendly, they just smile.”. Your information will be used in accordance with our, Dean 'Deano' Allman was one of the wrestlers at the event, Some of the other wrestlers at the King's Hall event, Lee Rigby’s mum Lyn and his sister Courtney with Kendo Nagasaki at Manor Court Hall, near Oakamoor, Kendo Nagasaki reveals he's bisexual in new tell-all book about growing up in this area to become a wrestling megastar, Heroic grandfather commended for saving neighbour's life after fire, Police investigating after reports of a dog being beaten in the street, Armed police called amid reports of street stabbing, Violence erupted close to Audley Health Centre where a number of youths had congregated last night, Teen treated for stab wound after 'altercation' breaks out in North Staffordshire street, Police made one arrest following the incident in Audley but he has since been released without charge, The 19 violent, controlling and abusive men every woman in Stoke-on-Trent should know about, They have been in court because of their horrific crimes, Kveta Hangonyiova was standing by the side of the A50 after her car had broken down, Dozens of Covid home test kits dumped and set on fire by 'moronic' kids in Stoke-on-Trent park, It is believed the children had been issued with the kits from their school, The sad state of Hanley's Debenhams as store closes early, The store closed its doors for the final time today, The missing people in Stoke-on-Trent whose loved-ones need your help, Staffordshire Police have issued three appeals in recent weeks but one man has been missing for months and another for years, Biker taken to hospital after motorcycle crashes with van on A519, Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the scene, Inadequate Stoke-on-Trent care home to shut as residents moved out 'immediately', Haversham House, in Trentham, has been operating for 35 years, 'We're devastated' Staff speak out as Hanley Debenhams opens for last time today, It is the end of an era for Stoke-on-Trent's retail scene, Girlfriend beater walks from court after trying to strangle partner, Aaron Shelley has previous convictions for domestic violence, New Alton Towers record as thrill-seeker rides Nemesis 64 times in one day. Barratt wrestled against Yorghos and Hakan in a Ladder match in Hanley in September 2008. Thornley is a believer in Zen Buddhism. [5], In November 1964 Thornley had his first professional contest against "Jumping" Jim Hussey at Willenhall Baths. In December 1975, again facing Big Daddy (as he was by then only named) on television, Nagasaki was successfully unmasked (although he nonetheless went on to win the bout), starting a violent feud between the two. This too would lead to a long running storyline with Nagasaki regularly using his 'powers' to turn Brookside over to his side at live shows. © Valve Corporation. “I never used to go out in Middleton without somebody else because people would cross over the road as they didn’t know what to say to me. Live unmasking of one of WOS’s all time greats. In November 2007 he appeared at LDN "Legends Showdown" in Broxbourne. He represented a team in a match against a team represented by his former manager Lloyd Ryan who had again (kayfabe) fallen out with his charge, this time over Ryan's son, young wrestler Damian Ryan. I was also the same with Mark Rocco . Login / Sign up. The 'Upgraded' Black version with wider MASK BARS. Accessibility Help. Kendo Nagasaki as he was unmasked by Lyn Rigby. He is an actor, known for Send in the Girls (1978), ITV Wrestling (1985) and World of Sport (1964). [1], Until the publication of his autobiography in 2018, Thornley and his close associates frowned on the use of his legal name, preferring that his out-of-character self be referred to as "Yogensha" (Japanese for seer). Email or Phone: Password: Forgot account? Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Gorgeous George did all the talking, taunting hostile audiences with Polari-infused camp banter, dressed in colourful one-piece jumpsuits and an Afro wig. Kendo Nagasaki, a man who has earned fame by beating other men until they cry for mercy, is walking around Finsbury in north London in search of a place where he can have his photograph taken. In the 1970s, when wrestling was followed by millions of fans every week, a mysterious, masked wrestler was to debut on British television screens and quickly become an icon. Then in October he was scheduled to wrestle Yorghos in a singles match in Wolverhampton, but refused to face him again, instead teaming with Blondie Barratt to defeat Hakan and Travis to win the LDN Tag Team Championship. The masked icon of the 1970s and 80s drew … [2] Nagasaki was renowned for his strength; in one televised match he lifted the 26 stone 9 pounds (169 kg) "The Battling Guardsman" Shirley Crabtree later known as 'Big Daddy', up on to his shoulders, then calmly walked to a corner carrying him and finished the bout with his famous Kamikaze Crash, walking out the ring as Crabtree was being counted out. [11] During July 1971, in what was said to be a sensational TV contest with Billy Howes, his mask came off in the heat of the battle. Michael Quinlan. [1][24] However, Thornley later faced legal issues with the estate (relating to the above-mentioned land dispute) which threatened its forced sale, as a result of which he asked Lyn Rigby, who was a permanent resident in the House, either to buy or to rent the site. “We moved down here because it got too busy and I wanted to be more involved with the house and the offices are now based at Moorcroft hall. Reply. The Genesis of Kendo Nagasaki. Just as Kendo observes when guests at the Nagasaki Retreat reach the ‘Pathway Bench’, every single pebble in the path which has been traversed on the way there represents a challenge having been successfully overcome. The un-defeated fighter re-staged the scene from 1977 when he appeared at the King’s Hall, in Stoke, last night. I started watching him when I was about three or four years old and I just remember watching him on TV and wishing I could be someone like him. “It’s Kendo’s mystique and character. His name was Kendo Nagasaki. See more of Kendo Nagasaki on Facebook. Now he’s unmasked and written his book, Peter Thornley is available for After-Dinner Speaking! What really happened. The unmasking is good in some ways, but it’s like the secret is out. [14], In May 2008 his old tag team partner Blondie Barratt teamed with him, along with a handpicked LDN Wrestler named Gregory Cortez in a 6 Man Tag Team match to take on Powers, Brookside and Hakan, who replaced Yorghos who he refused to wrestle. Up until that point, I (like most people) wanted the good guys to win. Peter William Thornley (born 19 October 1941)[4] is an English retired professional wrestler who was best known for the ring character Kendo Nagasaki. Sean Evans said he felt like he’d been on ‘a very heavy night out’ when he got home after doing so many laps of the intense rollercoaster. Wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki has recreated his most famous unmasking in the ring – 41 years after the original event. In March 2001 he again partnered Vic Powers in a charity tag ladder match against James Mason and Walsh. He has received strict instructions not to look at the man in the back seat and definitely not to speak to him. [12], Another tag team with Blondie Barrett would run for several years. [2] In October 1991, he feuded with Giant Haystacks, and at one point was robbed of a World title (said to be the CWA World Heavyweight Championship, actually held at the time by Rambo) after Haystacks deliberately pulled off his mask "forcing" him to abandon the match. He was showing me around Moorcroft and I just thought it was so peaceful and that this was where I wanted to be. Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom (4,728 words) exact match in snippet view article find links to article Haystacks, Jackie Pallo, Big Daddy, Steve Veidor, Dynamite Kid, and Kendo Nagasaki In December 1971, he appeared for the first time with manager "Gorgeous" George Gillette at Dumfries. Johnny Kidd. Sign up to our newsletter. NOW HE'S UNMASKED, PETER THORNLEY IS AVAILABLE FOR EITHER AFTER DINNER SPEAKING OR SPECIAL APPEARANCES.....The book is incredibly comprehensive and... Jump to. Not Now. Thornley/Yogensha, At the height of his career, Thornley discussed the relationship with his character in an interview for TVTimes in 1976 in which he claimed that the Nagasaki character was "the spirit of a samurai warrior who, 300 years ago, lived in the place that is now called Nagasaki" which he had contacted while in "a trance state" during meditation. All Star Wrestling U.K. Sports Event. Fans turned up at the King’s Hall to watch the unveiling during an All Star Wrestling event. A simple yes or no is all I ask here – unless you are willing to disclose more for a discerning Chap readership. [13], In January 1989, George Gillette died of AIDS and Lloyd Ryan officially became Kendo's new manager. Athlete. Here is the article on kendo Nagasaki Written for The Times March 01, 2003 Masked warrior happy to remain incognito By Rick Broadbent THE taxi driver who brings Kendo Nagasaki to the office block opposite Harrods is brimming with frustration. [2] He then went on to tour Canada and the United States during 1972 working for wrestling legend Stu Hart. Search. Public. Kendo Nagasaki at his manor house with Lyn Rigby, mother of murdered Lee (Image: ... when he was unmasked in the ring by George Gillett in 1977 … The anonymous man was a silent Japanese warrior, a physical powerhouse, and a fighter whom no-one could defeat. Create New Account. 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