Kendo Nagasaki will become one of the oldest wrestlers ever when he steps into the ring for the final time this month, as his final match ever is announced.
The British grappler, who wowed fans on World of Sport in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, announced he was stepping into the ring one final time in an interview last month.
A spokesperson for the legendary British wrestler spoke with the Daily Mail recently. They revealed that Kendo Nagasaki is selling his mansion to fund his charity, while also letting slip that he is training for a return to the ring.
This would mark his 60th anniversary in wrestling, with Kendo Nagasaki’s debut match taking place at Willenhall Baths in the West Midlands on the 13th of November, 1964. His first opponent was “Jumping” Jim Hussey. While a top-class professional in his own right, nowadays he is best known as the father of Mark “Rollerball” Rocco.
Kendo Nagasaki was one of the most secretive wrestlers of all time. He kept his identity secret, with very few people knowing he was being portrayed by Crewe’s Peter Thornley. Mysteries about his person weren’t answered for decades, including the bizarre way he lost one of his fingers.
In his book “Kendo Nagasaki ans the Man Behind the Mask“, Peter Thornley (who portrays the character) claims he won that match by knockout.
The 83-year-old hasn’t wrestled since 2008 with LDN Wrestling. Kendo Nagasaki wrestled three tag team matches in this time, with the last one seeing him win the LDN Tag Team Championships! He was supposed to have a singles match during that time, but the deal fell through and he went into retirement.
16 years later he is having one final bout for LDN wrestling, almost exactly 60 years after he made his debut in wrestling. LDN Wrestling announced on Facebook that Kendo Nagasaki would be wrestling at their British & Proud event on November 24th at Fairfields Hall in Croydon.
No opponent has been announced for the legendary wrestler, nor has any other information about the match been revealed. However, they have clarified that he will be wrestling, making the 83-year-old the oldest British wrestler in history.
You can book tickets for the event by checking out this link.
Kendo Nagaski On The Reason For His Return To Wrestling
Kendo Nagasaki is wrestling his last match at the age of 83, simply because he can.
The wrestling legend was interviewed by BBC Radio Stoke about his comeback match, and asked why he wanted to step back into the ring at the age of 83.
“Because I can.” Kendo Nagaski said bluntly. “I’ve gone to various clubs… what they learn nowadays is what they call ‘show wrestling’.”
“They do what you see on the televison. They don’t know ‘catch wrestling’. I can go into a gym and say ‘come here, let me show you this’, and they don’t know whats happening to them.”
“You’d be surprised how few of these people that do what we call ‘professional wrestling’. Even in my day, there was a limited number who knew how to put these real, serious holds on.”
“I can put a hold on you that you’d just scream the house down. I won’t do it today, but I can do. And these people know that.”
