Henry Irslinger, the originator of South African wrestling

Do you remember the colourful wrestler-turned-promoter, Henry Irslinger? Henry wrestled all over the world. He held the world’s middle and light heavyweight titles. In Atlantic City, New York, he won the World Middleweight Title in November, 1917. During his fighting years he was also a boxer and boxing promoter while living in the USA and England. It was Henry Irslinger who introduced professional wrestling to South Africa in the late 20s, calling it “All-in Wrestling”. Remember the Masked Marvel, Johannes Van der Walt, back in the 40s?

Then in the 50s there was Mr. X, whose real name was Percy Hall. Not forgetting Willie Liebenberg and Marnie Maritz, who were some of the great South Africans who wrestled against overseas wrestlers, such as Ski Hi Lee, John Henning, Ray Hunter, Gorgeous George, Prima Carnera, Bert Assirati, Bobby Burns and Ray Eckert, just to mention a few of the wrestlers Henry Irslinger promoted.

When Henry Irslinger died in 1955, it was a great loss to South African wrestling, but his one time friend Bull Hefer, took over from him. He brought to South Africa other great overseas wrestlers Don Leo Jonathan, Carlos Rocha, Josef Kovacks , George Gordienko, Andre’ The Giant, and Pat Roche from England, just to mention a few, and they went up against South Africa's best, such as Gerry de Jager (who had spent most of 10 years wrestling in England),The Kalahari Wildman, Vrystaat Frikkie Alberts, Jan Wilkens, Tarzan Jacobs, The Masked Apollo, Jannie Jacobs, Apie Gerber, Manie Van Zyl, and Spider Nel.

During the 1970s South Africa experienced a revival in Professional Wrestling. Oom Bull Hefer was the main wrestling promoter back then, and without television, and with very little radio advertising, he grew the sport to heights unheard of, creating superstars like Tarzan Jacobs, Percy Hall, The Masked Apollo, Frikkie "Vrystaat" Alberts, and the ultimate South African Wrestling sensation Jan Wilkens. Jan Wilkens became the South African Super-Heavyweight champion in the mid-70s when he defeated then champion Percy Hall in a series of matches hosted around South Africa. After staying undefeated for many years, promoter Bull Hefer arranged a crack at the CWA World Heavyweight title, held by Canadian Wrestling Giant Don Leo Jonathan. Jan Wilkens, in a match series, then defeated the Gentle Giant from Canada to wrest the CWA World Heavyweight title, and so become the first South African Wrestler to hold a World Title.

The late, great Andre the Giant

Andre 'The Giant' Rousimoff:

What many South African wrestling fans do not know is that one of the greatest professional wrestlers to ever grace the squared circle visited our shores as a young 23-year-old, long before he became famous in the World Wrestling Federation.

In 1971, Andre participated in what was known as the Golden Ropes Wrestling Tournament, which was held all around the country. This series of shows was held for 3 days at the same venue and attracted thousands of spectators.

He fought against many of our top wrestlers of the time during his tenure, stars such as Percy Hall, Tarzan Jacobs, and the South African wrestling superstar Jan Wilkens, with whom he had many classics at the Showgrounds Hall in the city of Port Elizabeth.