The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
The Houdini of the mat: Dundee world champion wrestler
TV programme will look at life of grappler George Kidd
The son of former Dundee world champion wrestler George Kidd has revealed that he did not want his father to go through with his final bout at the city’s Caird Hall in March 1976.
In the next episode of STV series The People’s History Show which airs on Monday at 8pm, George Kidd Jnr reveals he was concerned that two of his father’s ribs had been broken in his previous fight, and he didn’t want him to get hurt again.
However, the legendary grappler insisted on taking to the ring because he “had his fans and he felt indebted to them for supporting him for all those years”.
Born in Dundee’s Hill Street in 1925, George rose to become lightweight wrestling world champion, a title he held for 26 years after defending it 49 times.
Since his death in january 1998 aged 92, the former Clepington Road Primary School pupil has been honoured with a plaque marking his induction to the Scottish Wrestling Hall of Fame.
The memorial detailing his achievements adorns a wall of the Caird Hall, a venue where George also had his first paid bout, and where he made his name as one of the biggest British stars in the business in a career which spanned more than 30 years.
Next week’s programme looks back at the Dundee great – known as the Houdini of the mat – and features interviews with former wrestler Len Ironside, ICW star Chris Renfrew as well as George’s son.
George Kidd Jnr said: “I think (my father) was an absolutely remarkable person, a one off.
“Of that there can be no doubt. He was unique. George’s footwork in the ring was fantastic.” Len Ironside said: “George Kidd, for those who don’t know him, is perhaps the most respected wrestler to ever come from, not only Scotland, but Britain.
“He was a world phenomenon that unified all of the world lightweight titles and made him a legend.
“He was a proud Dundonian and when he went into the wrestling arena he always represented Dundee and Scotland as well. He became a national hero.”
Glasgow Caledonia University sports historian Dr Fiona Skillen said: “George was only 5ft6in tall, so quite a small guy and only weighed about 10 stone.
“Generally wrestlers are big, bulky guys. So he was using different techniques to be successful.
“That’s what should be celebrated. the fact he went against popular expectation and challenged the perceptions of what a wrestler should be.”