British Mid-Heavyweight Championship
The British Mid-Heavyweight Championship was a top British wrestling championship found throughout the country's circuit. The title's history dates back to 1952 and runs to the present day. Officially mid-heavyweights were required to weigh between 14 st 2 lb and 14 st 12 lb (89.81 and 94.35 kg).[1] The title was recognised as official by national TV network ITV for the purposes of their coverage of the UK wrestling scene[2] and by its listings magazine TVTimes in accompanying magazine feature coverage.[3]
Title history
The title was founded in 1953 and remained active until 1981 when it was abandoned following the untimely death of incumbent champion Mike Marino. The title was revived in 2002 and his since become a regular feature on the British independent circuit.[4]
Original title
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Place: | Notes: |
| Norman Walsh | 1 | 1952 | [5] | |
| Arthur Riccaldo | 1 | 1 July 1963 | Won the title after Walsh suffered an injury in their bout[5] | |
| Norman Walsh | 2 | August 1963 | Middlesbrough | [5] |
| Johnny Allen | 1 | December 1964 | Middlesbrough | [5] |
| Norman Walsh | 3 | 1965 | Newcastle upon Tyne | Retired as champion in 1965 after a car accident[5] |
| Geoff Portz | 1 | May 1966 | Newcastle upon Tyne | Vacates the title due to injury in 1966[5] |
| Mike Marino | 1 | December 1966 | Sheffield | Title vacated in August 1981 following Marino's death[5] |
Revived title
The title was revived in 2002 and has subsequently been defended outside the United Kingdom, an unusual occurrence for a British title.[4]
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Place: | Notes: |
| Robbie Dynamite | 1 | April 2002 | ||
| Dean Allmark | 1 | 21 January 2006 | Hanley, Staffordshire | |
| Robbie Dynamite | 2 | 17 August 2006 | Rhyl | |
| Dean Allmark | 2 | 31 August 2006 | Rhyl | |
| Robbie Dynamite | 3 | 30 March 2007 | Telford | |
| Chaos | 2 | 30 August 2008 | Flensburg, Germany | |
| Robbie Dynamite | 4 | 20 September 2008 | Langå, Denmark | |
| Deano (Dean Allmark) | 3 | 8 June 2009 | Rhyl | |
| Robbie Dynamite | 5 | 2 October 2009 | Birkenhead |
See also
References
- ^ Peter Bills, Wrestling, David & Charles, 1983, p. 62
- ^ World of Sport - Wrestling 24 April 1976- Mike Marino acknowledged as British Mid-Heavyweight Champion by ring announcer (Event occurs at 0:19) and by commentator Kent Walton (Event occurs at 1:28)
- ^ These are the champions side panel to George Kidd interview - lists Mike Marino as British Mid=Heavyweight Champion - TVTimes 1977
- ^ a b British Mid-Heavyweight Title
- ^ a b c d e f g Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Europe - Great Britain: British Mid-Heavyweight Title". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 403–404. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
