Oct 14, 2018 masked wrestler kendo nagasaki reveals he has been living as a secret bisexual for 50 years and has been with a male partner since his wife died in 1993. Kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask offers a fascinating, revealing, noholdsbarred account of peter thornleys extraordinary life its a mustread. When worldfamous wrestler and man of mystery kendo nagasaki was unmasked on a televised match in wolverhampton back in 1977, 14. Her chapter in the book tells the extraordinary tale her difficult life, and how everything fell into place when she met kendo nagasaki. Kendo would have murdered the bastard but he cant go running down the street with his samurai sword. Kendo nagasaki now hes unmasked, peter thornley is. Kendo nagasaki is a professional wrestling stage name, used as a gimmick of that of a japanese samurai warrior with a mysterious past and even supernatural powers of hypnosis. Peter thornley academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. Kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask by peter. The plumber ended up in court and the legend survived. Wrestling legend kendo nagasaki has recreated his most famous unmasking in the ring 41 years after the original event.
Wrestler, real name peter thornley, drew audiences of 14million in his heyday. Kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask is a revealing book about the mystery surrounding the famous masked wrestler. Jul 05, 2008 the mysterious kendo nagasaki is unmasked. I am a professional author and lifelong comic books pro wrestling fan. For those who would seek the same clarity, poise, and empowerment, he cites buddhism as the foundation of achieving all this. This was two years before he had an official ceremonial unmasking at the civic hall wolverhampton in what was one of the most anticipated and most watched moments in itvs world of sport. In the spirit of the season, the kendo nagasaki foundation thanks all at the good turns society for a wonderful event, great company, and continuing to remind us that taking a lighthearted approach to life is immensely healing, especially when good people of good humour join together to help others. Masked wrestler kendo nagasaki reveals he has been living as.
Autobiographies often mark a turning point in the authors life. Unmasked in 1977 in front of 12 million tv viewers, kendo nagasaki real name peter thornley later left the ring to run a care home. Masked wrestler kendo nagasaki reveals he has been living as a secret bisexual for 50 years and has been with a male partner since his wife died in 1993. This was a ceremonious event, the mask was removed and then placed in a silver basin and burned by gorgeous george gillott. These galleries have been collected by kendo s fans far and wide. Nagasaki had a reputation as being a samurai and would often employ the use of a kendo stick on his unlucky opponents. Peter william thornley born 19 october 1941 is a retired english professional wrestler who was best known for the ring character kendo nagasaki. The name derives from the modern martial art of japanese fencing kendo, and nagasaki is the name of a city on the southwestern coast of kyushu, site of the second. The kendo nagasaki book and its contribution to charity.
As the video describes, this year was a special event, as attending were lyn and ian rigby, accompanied by daughter courtney. The character of nagasaki was a japanese samurai with a mysterious past and reputed powers of healing and hypnosis. He was a masked wrestler who was a judo black belt and had been taught some martial arts also in korea. In yatess documentary, nagasaki admitted, via subtitles, that he had experienced an unhappy. Thornley gave occasional interviews as kendo nagasaki, usually. To buy either the hardback or the paperback book now from the nagasaki web. A book about a boy who grew up as peter and became kendo nagasaki. If youre new to the kendo nagasaki phenomenon, have a look at.
Kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask and millions of other books are available for. The house and lodge properties have been made available by the kendo nagasaki foundation, and as refurbishment on the house continues apace, the lodge has yet to be begun, and we look forward to pauls help and raising the funds required to make it happen, and helping as many families and veterans as possible, as soon as possible. Now it is nice to know who is behind the mask and what a life he had and what lead to him becoming kendo. Kendo nagasaki reveals hes bisexual in new tellall book. Wrestling legend kendo nagasaki was unmasked yesterday as the man in a bitter land dispute with his neighbours. In december 1975, kendo nagasaki was unmasked on television by big daddy. Count bartelli was an established face wrestler who had been undefeated for 18 years when nagasaki first joined forces with him and between them they would form one of the most formidable tag teams in. I now have two heroes to admire, kendo nagasaki and peter thornley. Pictures drawn by atomic bomb survivors paperback by. Kendo nagasaki went on to tour canada and north america during 1972 working for wrestling legend stu hart.
This was two years before kendo nagasaki had an official ceremonial unmasking ceremony at the civic hall wolverhampton in what was one of the most anticipated and. Macdonald became nagasakis manager in 2007 under the name of atlantis chronos goth. Giant haystacks won his fight with kendo nagasaki but was disqualified for tearing off nagasaki s sacred mask, and while it is hard to paint an accurate picture of an essentially private man who. Hey david, i wanted to ask you about british pro wrestling legend kendo nagasaki peter thornley. Kendo nagasaki was born on october 19, 1946 in stoke on trent, england as peter thornley. He is an actor, known for send in the girls 1978, world of sport 1964 and itv wrestling 1985. Kendo nagasaki was one of the biggest draws of all time in british wrestling, especially in the mid 70s to mid 80s period november 1964.
There was a lot of mystery around kendo nagasaki the wrestler when i was growing up watching wrestling. An astonishing lifestory this honest and absorbing autobiography gives a fascinating, revealing, noholdsbarred account of the life of the man behind kendo nagasakis mask, peter thornley, from his challenging origins and early life, to his natural sporting ability which was honed in judo and zen, to training in the worlds toughest catch wrestling gym, to kendos debut and becoming. In april the following year 1978, he appeared as an unmasked wrestler for the first. Click the picture to see the video and preorder this amazing book welcome to the website of the kendo nagasaki foundation. Pringle does crop up again with kendo in a 2 on 1 tag and it looks to me that nagasaki was now ready for his big push. Kendo nagasaki reveals hes bisexual as wrestling legend. Now, 40 years after he was ceremonially unmasked by his longtime manager gorgeous george, kendo nagasaki will return to the ring where he will be completely unmasked and meet with fans. Now the masked japanese samurai kendo nagasaki is celebrating the 50 year anniversary of his grappling debut, which took place at willenhall baths against. Kendo nagasaki books list of books by author kendo nagasaki. He lost by knockout to kendo nagasaki and was unmasked. As you will have seen on our you tube channel, kendo nagasaki 101, on 14th august 2016, the wrestlers reunion held its 25th anniversary event, once more at the bridges pub. You dont have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this book, although the anecdotes from the golden age of uk wrestling are fascinating and often hilarious. Kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask by peter thornley.
Kendos mask symbolises the energies exemplified in the projection of the samurai spirit guide that is kendo nagasaki, and if anything the completeness of yogenshas conscientiousness in his role in of providing the best possible vehicle through which kendo can express himself. Further insights the man behind kendos mask talks about les kellett duration. Former wrestler kendo nagasaki fundraising for the lee. See all books authored by kendo nagasaki, including the grapple manual. World of sport the unmasking of kendo nagasaki youtube. In the book kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask peter tells how his life changed in 1967 when he stopped to eat at a wimpy bar in londons earls court after a bout, and met future manager gorgeous george gillett. Popular hiroshima and nagasaki books showing 125 of 25 unforgettable fire. House of deception history of british wrestling, kendo. At their foundation is the ideology of the medicine buddha, yakushi nyorai, a buddha who embodies all the peaceful and zenbased attributes of other buddhas, but he also. Kendo nagasaki is an excellent example of strength, success, and ability, all expressed to their maximum potential. Nagasaki would capture the cwf heavyweight belt from mike rotundo, winning the belt in january 1984. He writes as if kendo nagasaki is a separate and distinct person who he is very protective of. Kendo reader witten by the celebrated kenshi noma hisashi and published posthumously in 1939, the kendo reader kendo tokuhon is a true kendo classic. Indeed, all the proceeds from this book will go to the work of the lee rigby knfoundation here at moor court.
Kendo nagasakis first professional contest against jumping jim hussey at willenhall baths march 1966. In his heyday kendo nagasaki brutal, silent and with a hint of samurai savagery was the most celebrated british wrestler of them all. It goes to a decent 500 pages, and each one is a fascinating, superbly detailed expose of the life of one of the foremost wrestlers in the upper echelons of the british wrestling fraternity. Click the picture above to see the video and preorder this amazing book. Lee rigby foundation and kendo nagasaki foundation in the. A small section of kendo as photographed by katinka herbert for her book, slam.
Oct 15, 2018 kendo nagasaki reveals hes bisexual in new tellall book about growing up in this area to become a wrestling megastar. Kendo nagasaki made his debut in 1964 when he defeated jumping jim hussey but would reach early fame as the tag team partner of count bartelli. Kendo nagasaki reveals hes bisexual in new tellall book about. Aug 12, 2009 the unmasking of kendo nagasaki british wrestling hq. These web pages comprise a miniwebsite dedicated to kendo nagasaki s healing practises. There has been no mention yet of the amazing kung fu. Peter thornleys autobiography, kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask is a remarkable book for two principal reasons. Kendo writes an insightful foreword to a new photoportrait book published february 1, 2011 by kendo nagasaki renowned professional photographer, katinka herbert, spent 8 years travelling mexico making the arrangements to photograph the luchadores, the acrobatic and visually spectacular masked men of mexican wrestling. He was beaten and unmasked by kendo nagasaki in march 1966. The 500 page book is a rollicking read, commencing in 19th century. Kendo nagasaki was unmasked in front of 14 million viewers in the civic hall, wolverhampton, in 1977. I have read some of your poetry and ive also monitored your actions over the last nine months and ive come to the conclusion that you are a serious observer of the kendo nagasaki phenomenon. In december 1971 kendo nagasaki appeared for the first time with manager gorgeous george gillette at dumfries.
Buy kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask by peter thornley isbn. Here, for the first time in any language other than japanese, we are proud to present the book in its entirety. Now hes unmasked, peter thornley is available for either after dinner speaking or special appearancesthe book is incredibly comprehensive and. How kendo nagasaki helps lee rigbys family bbc news. This channel is dedicated to showing videos all about kendo nagasaki, the iconic masked wrestler, mystic, and healer. Nagasaki returned in 198182 in a few appearances for brian dixon, in which the real nagasaki feuded with notorious nagasaki impersonator king kendo bill clarke in a series of loserlosemask matches which saw clarke defeated and unmasked night after night. Legendary wrestler kendo nagasaki, aka peter thornley, was unmasked by lyn rigby it is perhaps hard to believe in this day and age that 14 million people would tune in. In the book kendo nagasaki and the man behind the mask peter tells how his life changed in 1967 when he stopped to eat at a wimpy bar. When wrestling was finally axed from the itv schedules 10 years ago, it effectively brought the curtain down on the careers of giant haystacks, mick mcmanus, big daddy and the masked man, kendo nagasaki, whom giant haystacks once famously fought. How kendo nagasaki helps lee rigbys family jump to media player the former wrestler has given over part of his estate to a charity run in memory of the murdered soldier. This gave him years and 1 month as an unbeaten masked wrestler. Paul, before we start there are two points that i want to make clear to you. Now the masked japanese samurai kendo nagasaki is celebrating the 50 year anniversary of his grappling.
Kendo nagasaki defeated and unmasked count bartelli at the victoria hall, hanley. The kendo nagasaki foundation is an organisation which was created to fulfil kendo nagasaki s stated aspiration to help anyone and everyone achieve empowerment and enlightenment, and get the very best from their lives, as he has. The unmasking of kendo nagasaki british wrestling hq youtube. Take it from me the outcome was probably not clinical and a title match was set for 1st september at calgary. These web pages comprise a miniwebsite dedicated to kendo nagasakis healing practises. Masked icon kendo nagasaki has been having flings with men since the 1960s.
Peter thornley, formerly known as kendo nagasaki, speaks to skys sarah hewson about his new autobiography. Kendo nagasaki aka peter william thornley the man behind the mask the book although the title of this topic coincides with the title of peter thornleys autobiography, i am sure that that is just shear coincidence. In simon garfields book the wrestling, max crabtree, a promoter, recalled. Images from the 1980s action images backstage with the fans clippings from newspapers in canada 1972 dropkixx academy early 1970s early days gorgeous george handouts hanley 20th sept 2008 manchester book signing. Kendo nagasaki s first professional contest against jumping jim hussey at willenhall baths march 1966. Peter william thornley born 19 october 1941 is a retired english professional wrestler who. Wrestling legend kendo nagasaki to recreate unmasking in. This gave him 18 years and 10 months as an unbeaten masked wrestler. Heroes and villains from the golden age of world wrestling, and nba basketball basics, and more on. Mother of murdered soldier lee rigby speaks of support. I hope and believe ive always shown respect for kendo the wrestler. The man behind kendos mask presents books at his private. Kendo nagasaki i know its an indisputable fact that kendo was a great wrestler and anybody who knows their wrestling could never deny the fact that he was a pretty awesome fighter but my question is were you a fan. Astonishingly for a book that is so revealing and personal, the enigma and mystery of kendo nagasaki remains intact.
Follow kendo nagasaki and explore their bibliography from s kendo nagasaki author page. In december 1975, nagasaki was unmasked on television by shirley big daddy crabtree. A series of attacks and nontitle matchess between haynes and nagasaki began. Kendo s mask symbolises the energies exemplified in the projection of the samurai spirit guide that is kendo nagasaki, and if anything the completeness of yogenshas conscientiousness in his role in of providing the best possible vehicle through which kendo can express himself. Former grappler peter thornley is locked in a legal tussle with neighbour amanda randall. Kendo nagasaki voluntarily unmasked in one of the biggest wrestling segments ever seen in the uk in 198182 kendo returned to the ring, this time under the promotion of brian dixon and in which he feuded with what he considered a kendo imposter in the guise of king kendo.
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