A Guide To 1961

After intermittent broadcasts of professional wrestling over the past five years, 1961 was the first year that a regular broadcast spot was arranged on Saturday afternoons with a break in the summer.  This was done under a new television contract with Heart of England Broadcasting Group and The Crown Collaborative, an alliance of promoters from Great Britain and Ireland officially wanted to uphold the Admiral-Lord Mountevans Committee rules, but in truth, it was a promotional cartel created to divide control of the industry among a select group of promoters—and it did so with ruthless efficiency.

The Crown Collaborative Regions:
S.C. Foster International Promotions - North East, major cities including Leeds, Newcastle, Middlesborough, York and Hull
Cyrankiewicz Promotions - North West, major cities including Manchester, Preston, Bradford and Liverpool
Joyce Bye Matchmakers - London and the Home Counties.

Between two and three matches were broadcast each week with Harold William-Walker calling the action. It was during this year that the FA Cup Final Special became the biggest day of the wrestling calendar.

The rules for matches were typically:

• Matches had rounds similar to boxing or UFC, these would typically be 6 - Five Minute Rounds or 10 – Five Minute Rounds. Championship matches would often be 12 - Five Minute Rounds.
  
• The majority of matches would be Best of Three Falls, Falls were won by submission or pinfall. A knockout or DQ would automatically end the match
• If the referee was unhappy with the behavior of a wrestler he could give them a Public Warning, three public warnings result in a Disqualification.
• Tag Matches were rare, they did not have rounds, but were still contested over Best of Three Falls.

The Champions as of 1 January 1961 were:

World Titles

Heavyweight (various, not contested in Great Britain & Ireland)
Heavy-Middleweight: Mbaye Sarr (Federation of Mali)
Light-Heavyweight: (various, not contested in Great Britain & Ireland)
Lightweight: Takashi Morimoto (Japan)
Ladies: Geneviève Ginger (USA)

British Empire (later renamed Commonwealth)

Heavyweight: Count Garibaldi (England)
Mid-Heavyweight: Crash Puller (Canada)
Heavy-Middleweight: Sebastian Venter (Union of South Africa)
Welterweight: Archibald 'Archie' Brooks (Australia)
Lightweight: Duke Campbell (New Zealand)

European Titles

Heavyweight: François Delacroix (France)
Middleweight: Günter Stahl (West Germany)
Welterweight: Carlo Mancini (Italy)
Bantamweight: Raúl Serrano (Spain)

British Titles

Heavyweight: Reginald ‘Reggie’ Thornton (England)
Heavy-Middleweight: Victor 'The Viper' Rowe (Scotland)
Welterweight: VACANT
Lightweight: Patrick 'Paddy' O’Malley (Ireland)

Life in Britain in 1961 was characterised by a mix of social change, economic challenges, and cultural developments. The country was still adjusting to the aftermath of World War II, with a strong sense of community amidst ongoing rebuilding efforts. The Labour government, led by Harold Wilson, focused on modernisation and social reform while navigating the decolonisation of former colonies. Daily life increasingly revolved around television, with popular shows gaining traction, and the National Health Service provided access to healthcare despite challenges. Sports like cricket and football flourished, while the vibrant music scene hinted at the impending British Invasion. Overall, 1961 was a time of transformation, shaping the future of British society.