40 years ago two spandex-clad giants came to Harrogate.
The names Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks conjure up scenes of smoky ballrooms and chants of ‘easy easy easy’.
Harrogate’s opulent Royal Hall has hosted ballet, theatre and opera in its 120-year history — but for many people, it’s memories of big blokes wrestling that they cherish the most.
The Stray Ferret uncovered an advert for a tag team contest that involved Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, which took place on a Monday night in February 1982.
Tickets cost £1.50 but it was £2 for ringside seats, a chance perhaps for the ladies to whack the wrestlers with their handbags.
Other household names such as Les Kellett, Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus and Kendo Nagasaki were also regular performers at the Royal Hall throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
The opulent Royal Hall regularly hosted wrestling. Credit – Jim Counter
“20 stone bull-necked brute”
Big Daddy, who was born Shirley Crabtree, was billed on the card as “children’s favourite, a hero of our time”.
The Halifax man was 6ft 6″ tall and had a record-breaking 64″ chest.
But even he was dwarfed on the night by his ring nemesis Giant Haystacks, who was billed as 6ft 11″ scaling a gigantic 40 stone.
Haystacks reputedly ate three pounds of bacon and a dozen eggs every morning to maintain his strength. Paul McArtney and Frank Sinatra were fans.
Legend in Harrogate goes that after the match, Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks went for a drink at the cocktail bar in the Traveller’s Rest pub, but they both had to duck through the entry and just about filled the place on their own.
Also on the Royal Hall card in 1982 was Castleford wrestler, the “20 stone bull-necked brute” Mal King Kong Kirk.
But in a sad twist, he died in the ring after a trademark Big Daddy Splash and it was said Daddy was never the same man afterwards.
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Good memories
We asked members of the Facebook page Harrogate, Past, Present And Future if anyone had memories of the night in 1982.
Paul Mitchell said the fans went home happy after Big Daddy’s team won:
“Yes I remember, Giant Haystacks was disqualified before the bout started, so Big Daddy won”.
Jill Rimmel said she used to go to the wrestling at the Royal Hall with friends from work.
“There was a lady that sat ring side with her handbag that lashed out at the wrestler’s, so funny. I could have been there that night, good memories.”
Susan Aspey added:
“My mum used to work at the Royal Hall and I used to go and watch the wrestling sometimes. Jimmy Two Rivers was a favourite there as well.”
Harrogate man’s dream of making it as a professional wrestler
High-flying Harrogate professional wrestler Joe Wade will go to extreme lengths to defeat his opponents in the ring.
“I’m willing to throw myself off tall buildings to win a match. I’m not worried about not being able to walk in the morning.”
The 20-year-old former Rossett School pupil has been wrestling for five years, mostly for Leeds-based promotions RISE and Tidal. Growing up, WWE wrestling stars such as Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio “were like superheroes” to him.
Joe was 13 when he decided he wanted to wrestle only to find out he had to be at least 15 before he could sign up for wrestling training in Leeds. He then spent two years learning gymnastics, karate, and boxing to help prepare him.
He is still honing his skills in the ring but hopes to one day wrestle in one of the big promotions in America or Japan.
Is wrestling ‘fake’?
For as long as wrestling has existed, it’s been criticised for being a “fake” sport.
The jibes are nothing new to Joe as wrestling runs in his family. His great-grandad George Wade was a referee who worked alongside British wrestling legend Big Daddy.
Even though matches and storylines are scripted, Joe said many people don’t respect the skill involved with being a wrestler which he said is frustrating.
He added:
“I always hear the same BS about how wrestling is fake. Yet I’m sat here with a list of injuries.
“I had a fracture in my lower spinal cord. I’ve had many elbow issues, but it comes with the territory”.
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‘Wrestling is everything’
2020 was shaping up to be a busy year for Joe until covid took away the thing he loves doing the most.
“Wrestling is just everything, so it’s been awful.”
He’s used the time away from wrestling to develop and tweak his ring character on social media app Tik Tok. When shows resume in the summer, he’ll return with a darker, edgier persona.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think. So I’m coming back with a whole new attitude.”
“I was the generic ‘flippy kid’, but there are loads of those now.”
Life goals
By day Joe works at an office in Leeds and he’s also going to university in York in September to study psychology.
But he hopes wrestling can one day be his full-time job. His dream is to perform in Japan, where the sport is especially popular.
When shows do return, he is most looking forward to hearing the roar of the crowd as he performs his high-flying moves on a villainous character.
“I like being the good guy, the plucky underdog. I love fighting the bigger guys.”