[The Compendium] 21 January 1961 | Episode 3

Episode: 3
Original Broadcast Date: 21 January 1961 | Taped: 18 January 1961
Presented by: S.C. Foster International Promotions on behalf of The Crown Collaborative
Bridlington, Spa Royal Hall, England
Attendance: 1,351

Commentator Harold William-Walker, MC was Sylvester Rice, while the referee was Derek Whitehead.

Welcome & The Rules

Harold William-Walker was in the ring with an impressive trophy. It was announced that the trophy would be contested over five matches, three singles matches, one tag team and a Battle Royale. Winning a Singles match would be worth three points, 1 for a draw and none for a loss. Winning a tag match would be worth five points, 1 for a draw and none for a loss. Winning the Battle Royale would be worth six points, with 1 point for the runner up.

[1] Stan Hateley (163, Derby, England) beat Gyula Czibor (169, Kaposvár, Hungary) in Lightweight Great Britain v The World One Fallf, Subs. Or K.O. Six 5-Minute Rounds Match (Half-Nelson Cradle 4:47 Rd 3, full match shown).

The first round opened with both men showcasing their technical prowess. Hateley quickly locked in a wristlock, forcing Czibor to work his way out with a smooth reversal into a hammerlock. Czibor grounded Hateley, but the Derby native used his legs to shift the momentum, executing a headscissors takedown. Both wrestlers stayed cautious, avoiding risky moves, as they navigated a pure grappling showcase. The round ended with neither man gaining the upper hand, but the audience was already captivated by the technical display.

As the second round began, Czibor gained control with a sharp arm drag, transitioning into a firm armbar to keep Hateley on the mat. Hateley responded by rolling through and countering into a side headlock, using his strength to keep Czibor contained. Czibor's mat experience shone through as he wriggled free and managed a waistlock takedown, holding Hateley down with a body scissors. The round ended in another stalemate, with both competitors demonstrating flawless technique but no fall yet in sight.

In the third round, Hateley switched gears and took a more aggressive approach. After a series of quick exchanges, he trapped Czibor in a single-leg takedown, forcing the Hungarian to scramble for an escape. Czibor attempted to reverse into a headlock, but Hateley countered swiftly with a Half-Nelson Cradle, using the momentum to roll Czibor onto his back. Czibor fought hard to escape, but Hateley held firm, and the referee counted the three as the round neared its end. The crowd erupted in applause as Hateley secured the decisive fall at 4:47, ending a hard-fought technical masterclass in just three rounds.

Great Britain - 3 The World - 0

[2] Terry Raptor (201, Ontario, Canada) beat Neil McBridge (198, Glasgow, Scotland) in a Heavy-Middleweight Great Britain vs. The World One Fall, Subs. Or K.O. Six 5-Minute Rounds Match (Knockout, Big Boot 3:21 Rd 4, full match shown).

The match instantly erupted into chaos. McBridge, known for his rough-and-tumble style, wasted no time, charging at Raptor and backing him into the corner with heavy forearm shots. Raptor fought back with stiff punches of his own, and the brawl was on. The first round saw both men trading vicious strikes, with the referee struggling to maintain any semblance of order as they ignored grappling in favour of wild fists and kicks. The bell to end the round was almost drowned out by the roaring crowd, fully immersed in the brutal contest.

In the second round, the intensity ramped up. McBridge continued to push forward, raking Raptor’s eyes and slamming him into the turnbuckles. Raptor retaliated by dragging McBridge to the mat and landing heavy elbows to his back, the Canadian’s raw power shining through. The action spilled outside the ring, with both men brawling around the ringside area, slamming each other into the guardrails as the referee began a slow count. The match looked more like a street fight than a wrestling contest, as the two competitors battered each other with reckless abandon before staggering back into the ring just before the count of ten.

The third round was a blur of violence. McBridge caught Raptor with a big knee to the midsection, sending him crashing to the mat. He tried to follow up with a leg drop, but Raptor rolled out of the way, and McBridge hit the canvas hard. Seizing the moment, Raptor unloaded a series of clotheslines, each one hitting with more force than the last. The crowd could sense the momentum shifting as Raptor took control, tossing McBridge around the ring like a ragdoll. The Scot tried to rally with a series of desperate headbutts, but Raptor shook them off, his eyes locked with fury.

In the fourth round, Raptor went for the kill. McBridge attempted to mount one final comeback, but Raptor caught him coming off the ropes with a thunderous Big Boot, dropping McBridge instantly. The impact was so fierce that McBridge was out cold before he hit the mat. The referee immediately stepped in, waving off the match as McBridge lay motionless. Terry Raptor stood tall, victorious by knockout at 3:21 of the fourth round, in a wild, brutal brawl that left the crowd buzzing with excitement.

Great Britain - 3 The World - 3

[3] Harry Noon (234, Manchester, England) and Ali Tabriz (254, Iran)in a Heavyweight Great Britain vs. The World One Fall, Subs. Or K.O. Six 5-Minute Rounds Match (Draw, Highlights, 9:14 shown)

From the opening bell, Noon looked to establish dominance with his technical grappling, repeatedly tying up Tabriz with well-executed holds and a powerful ground game. Tabriz, known for his immense power, countered by using his weight advantage to push Noon into the ropes, delivering stiff forearms and body shots that echoed through the arena.

In the second and third rounds, the momentum swung back and forth as both fighters sought the upper hand. Noon delivered a punishing series of uppercuts in round two, visibly staggering Tabriz, but the Iranian powerhouse recovered quickly, returning fire with a crushing spinebuster that nearly secured him the win.

The highlights then cut to the sixth and final round which became a battle of endurance, with both men throwing everything they had left in their arsenal. Noon looked for his signature sleeper hold, while Tabriz sought to end things with a devastating powerbomb, but the clock ticked down and Noon was able to reverse the power bomb into the sleeper, but Tabriz hung on and was saved by the time keeper's bell.

Great Britain - 4 The World - 4

Next Week

The final two matches will be a Tag Contest featuring The Masked Mexican Mauraders and a ten man Battle Royale!