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467:. Taylor was attempting, mid-match, to unmask Nagasaki and had nearly succeeded when Rocco intervened. Rocco attempted to pull the mask back down, but Taylor forearm-smashed Rocco, causing the mask to come off in his hands. As Taylor and Myers celebrated, Nagasaki fled to the dressing room and returned with another mask. Nagasaki's manager George Gillette blamed Rocco for the unmasking, igniting a major feud that would run on into the early 1990s.
557:. During the event, Rocco also presented a lifetime achievement award to promoter Brian Dixon. Rollerball Rocco was the subject of the 2011 song "Inside the Restless Mind of Rollerball Rocco" by English musician Luke Haines. It is featured on Haines' psychedelic rock concept album about British wrestlers entitled "9 1/2 Psychedelic Meditations on British Wrestling of the 1970's And Early 1980's".
533:. Rocco, who had been suffering from pain in his back and kidneys since a match against Dave Taylor the previous night, was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors found his heart was working at only 30% and diagnosed him with a heart condition which forced him to retire from professional wrestling. He vacated his World championship, which was soon after won by
247:
Born in
Manchester, Rocco grew up in his father's gym where other local wrestlers trained. Although his father was opposed to his being a professional wrestler, going so far as to have his son banned from his gym, Rocco would receive lessons from some of the veterans while his father was out on tour.
439:
In late 1985, Rocco lost his title to Cullen but regained it a few days later. The following year, he faced the challenge of Yamada, now billed by All Star as "Flying" Fuji Yamada. During the second half of 1986, Rocco lost his title to Yamada, regained it and then lost it again. During this feud,
356:
character, Rocco and Tiger Mask's matches were some of the highest-rated in
Japanese television history. The success of this series of matches between the original Black Tiger and original Tiger Mask would be followed with later incarnations of wrestlers to have competed under both the Black Tiger
422:
would later lose to
Dynamite Kid and Marty Jones at the end of the night after Dynamite Kid pinned Finlay. The following week he again challenged the Dynamite Kid challenging him to a 30-minute "iron man" match which resulted in a time limit draw with one pinfall each. This led to a brutal feud
545:
Following the retirement of Cullen in 2002, ten years into an unbeaten reign with Rocco's old World Heavy-Middleweight title he had won from
Brookside in 1992, the following year Rocco and Cullen came together to oversee a tournament to crown a successor, won by future WWE star
1263:
410:
In 1983, Rocco appeared during All Star
Wrestling's national tour of Great Britain and issued an open challenge for a non-title match to any wrestler in the promotion. Accepted by Frank "Chic" Cullen, he was defeated by Rocco although they shook hands following the match.
311:
grudge match, but this was cancelled after Lee returned to Japan due to a family bereavement. Rocco was awarded Joint
Promotions recognition as champion by default that night; later that year he defeated Joel de Fremery at a TV taping in
403:. Crucial to the defection was that Rocco brought his World Heavy Middleweight championship with him. Rocco agreed and made the jump, also working for promoter Brian Dixon, whose Wrestling Enterprises promotion evolved into
407:. When not on tour in Japan or elsewhere overseas, Rocco would continue to work for Dixon for the remainder of his career. Dixon would later comment that Rocco was his best employee, both as a worker and as a loyal friend.
717:
303:, then wrestling in Britain as Sammy Lee. Rocco was scheduled to wrestle Lee for the World Heavy-Middleweight title (recognised as vacant by Joint Promotions) at Wembley Arena that year on the undercard of the famous
427:
for his World Heavy
Middleweight title. Rocco successfully defended the title after he had tied the Dynamite Kid's arms to the cord of the area curtains. He would later defend the title in a rematch against Cullen,
448:
Another televised confrontation between Rocco and Yamada would come in 1987, on opposite sides of a tag match. Yamada and his tag partner in
Britain, "Ironfist" Clive Myers had challenged legendary masked wrestler
251:
Rocco started amateur wrestling at age 16, competing as far away as southern France and
Pakistan, was definitely wrestling professionally by July 1970, being then a regular at Northern venues such as
463:
Following this match, Nagasaki and Rocco would continue to team until a year later at another televised
Croydon tag match, where the team collapsed in spectacular fashion while facing Myers and
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1103:
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for the main European version of the World Heavy Middleweight title. Vacating his British title to concentrate on the World title, Rocco feuded intensely with a returning
1348:
189:(NJPW) during the 1970s and 1980s. A fourth-generation wrestler, he was the son of British wrestler "Jumping" Jim Hussey and the father of boxer Jono "Rocco" Hussey.
453:
to a tag team match and, having a shared rival in Yamada, Rocco volunteered. Nagasaki and Rocco defeated Yamada and Myers in the main event of a TV taping at the
440:
All Star finally gained a share of ITV's wrestling coverage and so when Rocco finally won the belt back in Lewisham in March 1987, it was televised nationally.
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in a tournament final on 6 December 1978. Rocco lost the championship to Adams a few months later, and regained it towards the middle of 1979.
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on 11 June 1977 and was involved in televised high-profile matches with Marty Jones before losing the title to him on 13 September 1978.
259:. In July 1970 he appeared on the bill with his father Jim Hussey in a match against Ivan Penzecoff at the Granada, East Ham in London.
31:
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between the two, which would lead to many aggressive, bloody encounters, culminating in the Dynamite Kid challenging Rocco to a
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In August 2006, he and his father received a lifetime achievement award at the 15th Southern Wrestlers' Reunion at
1125:
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who had also recently returned from NJPW to a match later that night. Agreeing to a tag team match, he and
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399:
Back home in Britain, Rocco was lured away from the TV/Joint Promotions spotlight by independent promoter
278:
162:
94:
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During the second week of the tour, after defeating Mike Jordan in a singles match, Rocco challenged the
1284:
285:
841:
1318:
1313:
595:
World Heavy Middleweight Championship (3 times - second, third and fourth reigns only of four total)
1056:
991:
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at the age of 69. According to some friends of Hussey's family on a Facebook page, he was battling
589:
567:
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404:
170:
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going back to the late 1970s. One of his last World Heavy Middleweight title defences, against
383:
would recreate their UK feud. In 1989, as Black Tiger, Rocco fought with Yamada's own superhero
1039:
798:
775:
764:
499:
252:
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1057:"Rollerball Rocco Steps Forward As Wrestling Honours Leading Personalities Past and Present"
740:"British wrestling comes together to celebrate incredible legacy - Total Wrestling Magazine"
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The rivalry between the two Tigers continued throughout 1982, as the two feuded over the
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In 1991, Rocco collapsed in the dressing room following a match against Fit Finlay in
206:
show, he feuded with many of the top light heavyweight wrestlers of the era including
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to wrestle a series of matches against Lee/Sayama in Japan. Wrestling under the name
300:
227:
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After Jones vacated the title, Rocco regained the title after defeating then-rookie
483:& Tony St. Clair in a match to crown the first CWA World Tag Team Champions in
424:
415:
388:
325:
317:
308:
211:
710:"Tributes to British wrestling pioneer famed for exciting style ahead of its time"
1077:
9 1/2 Psychedelic Meditations On British Wrestling Of The 1970's And Early 1980's
827:
795:
The Grapple Manual: Heroes & Villains from the Golden Age of World Wrestling
575:
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207:
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World Heavy Middleweight Championship (1 time - first reign only of four total)
30:
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82:
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for a long period of his life, and his health deteriorated in his last days.
973:
511:
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222:(billed in the UK as "Sammy Lee") in England. He and Sayama also feuded in
102:
921:
El Bandito: Orig Williams The Autobiography – Orig Williams, Y Llolfa 2010
685:
530:
321:
86:
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on 6 May before losing it back to Tiger Mask less than a month later in
1075:
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After his series of highly regarded matches, Rocco was contacted by
503:
379:
Rocco made further visits to Japan in the late 1980s where he and
373:
223:
560:
In September 2012, Rocco was named as one of the mentors on the
266:
banner, he became a rising star in the organisation, defeating
1080:(MP3). Haines, Luke. United Kingdom: Fantastic Plastic. 2011.
262:
Making his debut in Dale Martin's London territory under the
550:, to whom Rocco and Cullen personally presented the belt.
284:
Touring North America the following year, he teamed with
1006:"Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco honoured by his British peers"
518:
programme, with Williams providing English commentary.
930:
The Wrestling, Simon Garfield, Faber & Faber 1995
148:
140:
132:
124:
116:
100:
93:
72:
52:
44:
23:
391:. He was also involved in Liger's early training.
610:British Heavy Middleweight Championship (2 times)
1074:"Inside The Restless Mind of Rollerball Rocco".
1102:: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
680:Hussey died on 30 July 2020, in a care home in
613:British Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
840:). United States: TSMradio.com. Archived from
8:
161:(11 May 1951 – 30 July 2020) was an English
865:
863:
861:
859:
496:Fédération Française de Catch Professionnel
1344:Expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan
1296:
1287:
1278:
1145:
1143:
774:by Navdeep Rehill, Grosvenor House, 2013,
648:Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
29:
20:
1354:English expatriate sportspeople in France
629:of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the
16:English professional wrestler (1951–2020)
1349:English expatriate sportspeople in Japan
1258:The Forgotten Legend of Rollerball Rocco
938:
936:
703:
701:
320:, culminating in a World title match in
1151:"World Heavy-Middleweight Title (U.K.)"
1118:"TNA British Boot Camp on Challenge TV"
946:. Johnlisterwriting.com. Archived from
871:"World Heavy-Middleweight Title (U.K.)"
797:. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2005.
697:
368:in a tournament final for the title in
299:In 1981, Rocco had his first feud with
272:British Heavy Middleweight Championship
1095:
573:. In June 2013, he was interviewed on
526:In 1990, Rocco emigrated to Tenerife.
1235:from the original on 30 November 2010
1209:from the original on 14 December 2007
1063:from the original on 8 February 2012.
1055:Plummer, Russell (2 September 2006).
1036:Wrestle Radio U.S.A.: Grapplers Speak
990:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from
903:from the original on 20 February 2012
822:
820:
818:
816:
814:
812:
810:
576:The Art of Wrestling with Colt Cabana
444:Tag team and feud with Kendo Nagasaki
357:and Tiger Mask names in later years.
7:
1183:from the original on 18 October 2011
338:Black Tiger (professional wrestling)
1324:English male professional wrestlers
1157:from the original on 4 January 2010
1084:from the original on 7 October 2020
877:from the original on 4 January 2010
663:WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship
436:during the last weeks of the tour.
362:WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship
1269:Mark "Rollerball" Rocco Gordy List
1177:"British Heavy Middleweight Title"
226:while both under masks, Sayama as
14:
1229:"W.W.F. Junior Heavyweight Title"
1203:"British Light Heavyweight Title"
720:from the original on 31 July 2020
583:Championships and accomplishments
548:"American Dragon" Bryan Danielson
328:that ended in a double knockout.
120:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
1359:WWF Junior Heavyweight Champions
571:TNA Wrestling: British Boot Camp
432:and his former tag team partner
1034:Symkus, Ed and Vinnie Carolan.
290:World Wide Wrestling Federation
1264:SWF Wiki: Mark Rocco interview
1:
988:"C.W.A. World Tag Team Title"
765:Britain's Heroes and Villains
641:Wrestling Observer Newsletter
475:In June 1988, he teamed with
292:, one of his opponents being
238:Professional wrestling career
202:and the later standalone ITV
95:Professional wrestling career
1334:Sportspeople from Manchester
1038:. Toronto: ECW Press, 2004.
708:Hendry, Ben (31 July 2020).
288:and briefly competed in the
1294:Internet Wrestling Database
944:"itvwrestling.co.uk – 1988"
897:"itvwrestling.co.uk – 1982"
214:, "Iron Fist" Clive Myers,
181:and as the original masked
1375:
1059:. BigTimeWrestlingUK.com.
657:World Wrestling Federation
335:
970:"-: the comeback :-"
899:. Johnlisterwriting.com.
833:AOW 152: Rollerball Rocco
620:Pro Wrestling Illustrated
230:and Rocco as his nemesis
28:
1274:Mark Rocco's profile at
873:. Wrestling-titles.com.
770:20 December 2018 at the
471:Tours of mainland Europe
376:, Japan on 26 May 1982.
128:195 lb (88 kg)
1329:British catch wrestlers
1260:by Jonathan Cruickshank
1231:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
1205:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
1179:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
1153:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
830:(Host) (19 June 2013).
344:New Japan Pro-Wrestling
332:New Japan Pro-Wrestling
192:Regularly appearing on
187:New Japan Pro-Wrestling
179:Mark "Rollerball" Rocco
510:in 1991, was aired on
494:for Roger Delaporte's
714:The Press and Journal
364:after Rocco defeated
268:Bert Royal (wrestler)
163:professional wrestler
976:on 14 November 2007.
844:on 21 September 2013
1128:on 24 November 2012
1098:cite AV media notes
555:South Darenth, Kent
350:, against Sayama's
590:All Star Wrestling
565:reality television
492:wrestled in France
405:All Star Wrestling
395:All Star Wrestling
171:All Star Wrestling
1285:Wrestlingdata.com
994:on 16 April 2009.
746:on 2 January 2018
537:in a tournament.
500:Danny Boy Collins
253:Liverpool Stadium
165:who competed for
156:
155:
35:Rocco dressed as
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1339:Masked wrestlers
1300:
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1271:by Kenny McBride
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1124:. Archived from
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972:. Archived from
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742:. Archived from
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625:PWI ranked him #
602:Joint Promotions
535:Robbie Brookside
430:Robbie Brookside
264:Joint Promotions
167:Joint Promotions
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1239:16 September
1237:. Retrieved
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1185:. Retrieved
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1130:. Retrieved
1126:the original
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1014:the original
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948:the original
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848:20 September
846:. Retrieved
842:the original
832:
828:Cabana, Colt
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786:
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748:. Retrieved
744:the original
734:
722:. Retrieved
713:
679:
655:
639:
638:
626:
618:
600:
588:
574:
559:
552:
544:
528:
525:
515:
489:
474:
462:
447:
438:
425:ladder match
416:Dynamite Kid
413:
409:
398:
389:Jushin Liger
378:
359:
351:
347:
341:
326:South London
318:Dynamite Kid
298:
294:Terry Bollea
283:
276:
261:
250:
246:
243:Early career
212:Dynamite Kid
203:
197:
191:
182:
178:
158:
157:
103:Ring name(s)
78:(2020-07-30)
76:30 July 2020
18:
1319:2020 deaths
1314:1951 births
1088:4 September
490:Rocco also
477:Dave Finlay
465:Dave Taylor
366:Gran Hamada
348:Black Tiger
279:Chris Adams
232:Black Tiger
208:Marty Jones
183:Black Tiger
159:Mark Hussey
111:Black Tiger
63:11 May 1951
48:Mark Hussey
37:Black Tiger
1308:Categories
1020:10 January
692:References
682:Warrington
522:Retirement
479:losing to
420:Fit Finlay
353:Tiger Mask
286:Greg Gagne
228:Tiger Mask
175:second BWF
133:Trained by
108:Mark Rocco
83:Warrington
66:Manchester
59:1951-05-11
45:Birth name
24:Mark Rocco
1132:7 October
1010:canoe.com
568:programme
562:Challenge
541:2002–2013
516:New Catch
512:Eurosport
481:Mile Zrno
434:The Cobra
385:alter ego
314:Southport
305:Big Daddy
204:Wrestling
89:, England
68:, England
1233:Archived
1207:Archived
1181:Archived
1155:Archived
1082:Archived
1061:Archived
954:26 March
907:26 March
901:Archived
881:26 March
875:Archived
768:Archived
718:Archived
686:dementia
531:Worthing
322:Lewisham
270:for the
173:and the
87:Cheshire
838:Podcast
724:31 July
633:in 1991
631:PWI 500
458:Croydon
370:Fukuoka
307:versus
149:Retired
39:in 1982
1042:
801:
778:
750:24 May
667:1 time
508:France
210:, the
676:Death
504:Paris
374:Tokyo
224:Japan
141:Debut
1241:2007
1215:2007
1189:2007
1163:2007
1134:2012
1104:link
1090:2017
1040:ISBN
1022:2020
956:2014
909:2014
883:2014
850:2013
799:ISBN
776:ISBN
752:2019
726:2020
255:and
218:and
152:1991
144:1969
73:Died
53:Born
627:298
514:'s
502:in
196:'s
194:ITV
185:in
177:as
1310::
1292:,
1283:,
1142:^
1120:.
1100:}}
1096:{{
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