World of Sport wrestling is coming back to ITV - but what happened to its former stars?
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British wrestling is finally returning to mainstream television, it has been confirmed.
It was the staple of many a Birmingham resident's Saturday afternoon back in the day.
And the iconic programme will be back on our screens with a one-off World of Sport special on ITV.
It is set to feature legendary WWE commentator Jim Ross, who was the iconic voice of the world's biggest wrestling promotion for the majority of the 1990s and 2000s.
World of Sport previously aired on the channel every Saturday in the UK between 1965 and 1985.
It ran in competition with BBC’s Grandstand and featured an array of sports, but was famous for the ring antics of legends like Kendo Nagasaki and the larger-than-life characters Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks.
But what happened to its former stars?
Big Daddy
Big Daddy - real name Shirley Crabtree - is the face and name you are bound to remember.
He boasted a 64-inch chest and began his in-ring career as the 'blonde Adonis' in the 1950s.
He won the European and British Heavyweight titles before initially retiring in 1966.
He was tempted out of retirement in the early 1970s, when he would become a household name, before tragically dying of a heart attack in 1997.
Outside of wrestling, the gargantuan figure worked as a miner and even enjoyed a stint as a rugby league player.
British Bulldog
The face which is bound to resonate with WWE fans.
Wigan-born David 'Davey' Boy Smith got his start on World of Sport at the tender age of 15.
But he would go on to become a household name across the pond, carving an illustrious career with the WWF, later known as the WWE.
Smith would enjoy clashes with Owen and Bret Hart, as well as the iconic Shawn Michaels, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
He managed to win the WWF Intercontinental, European, Hardcore and Tag Team titles.
Smith died in 2002 after a heart attack.
Kendo Nagasaki
The masked 'Japanese samurai' was instantly recognisable to World of Sport fans.
But he was nothing like his in-ring character.
His real name was Peter Thornley, and he measured in at 6ft 2ins tall and a hefty 15st.
The Kamikaze Crash slam was his iconic finishing manouvre.
He continued to wrestle throughout the 1980s and early 1990s before going into semi-retirement, with sporadic appearances in the early 2000s.
Johnny Saint
Johnny Saint is now 75 years old - and World of Sport fans will be thrilled to hear he is still going.
The performer fought matches as recently as 2009.
And earlier this year, he even appeared on WWE programming and grappled with 47-year-old William Regal, who is the Commissioner of WWE's developmental territory, NXT.
Saint, real name John Miller, started out as a factory worker and amateur boxer before entering wrestling in 1958.
Marc 'Rollerball' Rocco
Real name Mark Hussey, you may remember this performer as the winner of the heavy middlewight title with World of Sport.
Unfortunately, his career was brought to an end in 1991 after he collapsed following a match.
He was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed him with a heart condition that forced him to give up the sport.
But he has not been idle in retirement, you will be pleased to know.
Recently, he featured as a trainer for US promotion TNA on its British Boot Camp reality show meant to find new talent in the UK.
World of Sport Wrestling is staging an event with the cream of the modern UK independent scene and former WWE commentary great Jim Ross calling the action.
Names already confirmed to follow in the footsteps of Rollerball Rocco, Mick McManus, Johnny Saint and co. include 'Liverpool's No.1' Zack Gibson, the 'Masked Mexican' El Ligero and the 'East End Butcher' Sha Samuels.
They will be joined by top grapplers such as 'The Black Country Beast' Dave Mastiff, Leeds powerhouse Rampage Brown, 'The Pound For Pound Best' CJ Banks, Birmingham dynamo Ashton Smith and 'Delicious' Danny Hope.
Meanwhile, three Scots in the shape of the formidable siren Viper, high flyer Kenny Williams and 'The Clown Prince of Scottish wrestling' Grado have also announced their involvement.
An ITV spokesman said: "Commissioned by Helen Warner for ITV and produced by ITV Studios Entertainment, WOS Wrestling will see some of the UK’s top names in the sport compete in a fun-filled afternoon of family sports entertainment.
"The two-hour special will see some of the UK’s finest pro wrestlers compete in front of a live audience across a series of fights; from singles to tag team and eliminations.
"Backstage, viewers will catch up with the wrestlers between fights and at the end of the show one fighter will take home the WoS Wrestling belt."
The event will be recorded in Media City in Manchester on November 1 and the show will air later this year.
Tom McLennan, creative director at ITV Studios Entertainment, is executive producing the show with Simon Marsh.
He said: "World of Sport Wrestling was a major event for millions of families every Saturday afternoon for over 20 years.
"I'm excited about bringing back this iconic brand and celebrating the best British wrestlers in the country."
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