Shirley Crabtree

For other uses of the name Big Daddy, see Big Daddy.

Shirley Crabtree
File:Professional Wrestler Big Daddy.png
Born	November 14, 1930 Halifax, West Yorkshire
Died	December 2, 1997
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Big Daddy The Blonde Adonis Mr. Universe The Battling Guardsman
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (188cm)
Billed weight	26 st 9 lb (170 kg or 375 lb)
Trained by	Georg Hackenschmidt

Shirley Crabtree, Jr., better known as Big Daddy (November 14, 1930 – December 2, 1997) was an English professional wrestler known for his record-breaking 62 inch chest.

Career

Crabtree, a former rugby player for league club Bradford Northern who never made an appearance for the first teams due to his fiery temper often forcing him off the pitch early, would have stints as a coal miner and with the British Army's Coldstream Guards before following in his father, Shirley Crabtree, Sr.'s footsteps and becoming a professional wrestler in 1952.

Crabtree, Jr. became a big hit in the late 1950s and early 1960s with heel gimmicks, calling himself The Blonde Adonis, Mr. Universe and The Battling Guardsman. Crabtree won two titles in the British Wrestling Federation before he quit out of frustration and retired for roughly 15 years.

With the rising popularity of the spectacle on television (World of Sport on ITV), Shirley's brother, Max Crabtree, one of the most powerful wrestling promoters in British history, brought Shirley back to wrestling with All Star Joint Promotions under the persona he would best be remembered for.

Based originally on the character of the same name played by actor Burl Ives in the 1958 screen adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Big Daddy was first given life by Crabtree in 1976, playing the good guy. A firm fan favorite, Big Daddy came to the ring in his signature Union Jack jacket and top hat to a theme tune in the form of "We Shall Not Be Moved" by The Seekers, in 1980 Shirley Crabtree recorded his own version on EMI Records backed by rock guitarist Legendary Lonnie.

Big Daddy feuded with Mick McManus and Giant Haystacks among others and would also be noted as the first man to remove the mask from Kendo Nagasaki during a televised match.

As Big Daddy, Crabtree would often team with many rising stars within the country including Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, and Steven Regal. Crabtree was also instrumental in starting the pro wrestling career of former Judo great Christopher Adams in 1978.

Though Big Daddy's weight and age precluded many more unique wrestling moves; making him a frequent user of many generic wrestling throws, body slams etc. he would be met by cheers whenever he wrestled. Big Daddy's more famous attacks would involve his large abdomen to great effect often using "Belly-Butts" (thrusting his pelvis forward to slam his belly into an oncoming opponent) before finishing off opponents with his "belly-splash" in which he jumped vertically down onto the body of a fallen opponent. These more memorable moves in Daddy's arsenal were often met with chants of "Easy, Easy" from the crowd.

In August 1987, Big Daddy bowed out of the professional wrestling spotlight after a tragic turn of events during the final moments of the match against Mal "King Kong" Kirk. After Big Daddy had delivered his belly-splash, rather than selling the impact of the finishing move, Kirk turned an unhealthy color and was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Despite the fact that the inquest into Kirk's death found that he had a serious heart condition and cleared Crabtree of any responsibility, Crabtree was devastated and nevertheless blamed himself for Kirk's death. He continued to make sporadic appearances into the early 90s, but eventually retired from wrestling to spend the remainder of his days in his hometown of Halifax.

Crabtree died of a stroke in Halifax General Hospital, leaving his second wife of 31 years, Eunice, and six children, after retirement in Halifax, at the age of 67 in December 1997.

Trivia

• Big Daddy had his own comic strip in Buster during the early 80s drawn by Mike Lacey.
• Crabtree's 64 inch chest earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
• Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was publicly linked to being a fan of Big Daddy, as was then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
• Known for wearing his various Big Daddy leotards, Crabtree's original one was emblazoned with just a large "D" and was fashioned by his wife Eunice from their chintz sofa.
• While scouting Britain for talent, Bruce Hart (the son of Stu Hart) observed the "Big Daddy" gimmick and reused it for a wrestler in Stampede Wrestling, Sylvester Ritter, who subsequently became "Big Daddy" Ritter.
• Shirley Crabtree's nephew Eorl Crabtree plays prop position on the Huddersfield Giants team of the rugby league.
• The European version of the multiformat game Legends of Wrestling II featured Big Daddy as an exclusive extra Legendary Wrestler.

Championships and accomplishments

• British Wrestling Federation

• British Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• European Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

External links and notes

• Warned.net Article - Shirley Crabtree
• BBC.co.uk's h2g2 article - The Immortal Legends of British Professional Wrestling