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We have been asked to make space available for fans of Eddie's to write in with memories of his matches etc and we think this is a great idea, so feel free and we will publish them. Contact us on the feedback form on the Updates page. We look forward to hearing from you.

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We received this story a few weeks back and thought it was good enough to put on the site.

My friend jackie and I used to love to go to the wrestling every friday night at Liverpool, we used to pay 50p to get in and that got us a seat up in the gods somewhere, not that we sat in them much, our favourite was KUNG FU, we thought he was so good looking, we used to run from our seats when we knew he was ready to come out of the short tunnel that lead from the dressing room and jostle for a place to get a glimpse of him before he went into the ring then we would run down and stand in the aisle at the front to get a good view ..but more often than not a steward would tell us to go and sit down, but being know it all teenagers we just went and stood around the other side, cheering and shouting encouragement to our hero,i dont think he even noticed us jumping around like lunatics though!!! christmas was a couple of weeks or so away so jackie and I decided we would get eddie a christmas present so we went half each on a bottle of HI KARATE aftershave , we thought this was the best choice as it had chinese symbols on the box, we wrapped it up and couldnt wait for his next bout so we could present him with it, or that was the plan, we tossed a coin to decide who would give him the card and who would give him the aftershave, after watching him wrestle that night we hurtled down to the ringside and pushed our way through the crowds and managed to get either side of him as he walked back to the dressing room, I was shouting to my mate to hand him the card but she just stood gawping so I had to take it from her and hand them both over to him, I managed to mumble something about having a nice christmas, my cheeks burned bright red and my heart was thumping, I was so excited that I had managed to get close enough to my wrestling hero to give him a card and present, it was all we talked about for at least a week after!! we then decided we would save up from our 13.50 a week wages and go to the next away bout if we could find where it was going to be but our plans were well and truly scuppered when my dad found a load of bus time tables and told us there was no way we were going anywhere further than the pier head on a bus on our own, we were gutted ..so we had to make do with watching him in the liverpool stadium, I often wondered if he got to take the aftershave with him as lots of fans were giving him stuff and the stewards were taking it fom him and helping carry it to the dressing rooms, we thought we were the bees knees that night having the good fortune of getting that close!! I remember my sister collected quite a few autographs. Billy two rivers, adrian street, masambula, count bartelli. gwyn davies, rollerball rocco.. there was nearly world war three when she found out my brother had swapped it for a fishing rod!  The lad my brother did a swap with further added insult to injury by tearing individual autographs from her precious blue faux leather bound book and selling them for 25p each

(Thanks to Yvonne for this story)

Updated:  9th Decemberr 2007.

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I thought I would share a couple of unspectacular but significant memories of a great wrestler. I first saw Eddie wrestle on a small independent show in a supporting match. He was then announced as 'Judo' Eddie Hamill from Belfast and his opponent was  Monty Swann, an experienced and underrated wrestler from Ellesmere Port. Their match was a superb wrestling bout of the highest order, easily the best contest of the evening and one of the best that season. I already knew how good Monty Swann was but this young lad Eddie Hamill matched him move for move for seven or eight highly skilful but hard fought rounds. I cannot remember who was the winner that night but it certainly was 'Professional Wrestling'.

I noted then that this young man was someone to keep an eye on and I was right!
My other memory is one we may all be allowed to share (perhaps it has already been on and I missed it) via 'The Wrestling Channel' and its 'World of Sport' coverage.When Eddie first appeared on TV as Kung Fu his very first match in 1974 was against Clive Myers (I don't think he was billed as 'Iron Fist' in those days). It was a contest between two men of very similar styles (Myers was by then developing his oriental style) and I cannot remember ever seeing a better wrestling match on TV. Sometimes these contests do not work but this one was an absolute classic! After that they were matched together quite often, but for me that very first TV contest was easily the best. Wonderful stuff and certainly everyone knew that a new star has arrived on the scene! Two unspectacular memories but they do serve to underline the one unforgettable fact that we all remember about Kung Fu. You looked at the bill for the next show and you knew that if Kung Fu was billed, you were at least guaranteed one outstanding contest.

He never let you down!   Thanks Eddie!

David from Bath.

Footnote:  Eddie remembers this bout very well, during this match, he was blocking a lot of moves from Ironfist and as Clive tried to deliver a kick, Eddie blocked it with his hands only to suffer from two dislocated thumbs.  He carried on to the end as if nothing had happened.

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Updated 22nd July 2006.

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I always looked forward to the wrestling at The Kelvin Hall in Glasgow as we would have the pleasure of seeing the top names in the country here.  This was the best venue in Scotland and it was run by ex-boxer Peter Kennan, who always gave the crowd value for money.  My favourite wrestler, The Amazing Kung Fu was on the bill against Scotland's own, Frank Cullen. We all knew it would be a great match as both wrestlers were very popular here. It was a good clean fight until Kung Fu was thrown out of the ring and banged his head on the table, he got back into the ring and the referee checked he was ok to continue with the match.  From then on, he did every foul move he could on Cullen from not breaking the hold to punching him when the ref was not looking.  This was the first time I had ever heard him being booed by the crowd and they were totally behind Cullen now, who was just bewildered by the change in Kung Fu's wrestling. The match was stopped as it was evident that something was wrong. The crowd realised that the bang on his head was to blame for this and he left the ring to cheers and applauds.  Next time he wrestled at the hall, he was very much back in favour.

Ross from Greenock.

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Updated 26th May 2006.

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I would go regularly to the Colston Hall in Bristol and saw some great matches especially between Kung Fu and Mark Rocco, there was always a needle match between them, and I think I know how it started.  After one bout where Rocco had done all the foul moves he could think of on his opponent, Eddie jumped into the ring after the bout had finished, in his street clothes, and offered to fight Rocco there and then.  As the ref stepped in to break it up, Eddie took his shirt off and then as he was handing his watch to the second, Rocco grabbed the watch out of the second's hand, puts it on the canvas and stamps on it. He then smashed it on the metal corner post, sending bits of it flying everywhere.  Other wrestlers had to jump in to the ring to keep them apart.  Of course, next week was a needle match between Kung Fu and Rocco.  After Eddie had beaten Rocco the next week, he was presented in the ring with a new watch bought from a collection donated by the punters.  It is something I will never forget and I wonder if Eddie still has the watch today.

Allen from Bristol.

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WHO IS THAT MASKED MAN?

It was a cold Saturday in early January 1975, it was coming up to 4pm and as
was the ritual since as long as I could remember, I was settling down to
watch the wrestling.

I had grown up with the likes of “LES KELLET”,” JUDO PETE ROBERTS”,
“STEVE LOGAN”,”MICK MC MANUS” etc. But somehow I was getting just a little bored in past months, wishing I was at the cinema instead, watching “BRUCE LEE” kung fu kick the baddies!

Sipping my drink, I heard the MC say introducing “KUNG FU”
I spluttered at the sound of the name, and for the first time in ages was
willing the bell to ring for round one!
My eyes caught my first look of that mask, that costume and those moves!
Here was a kung fu hero right here in my living room, oh boy!

Poor old “SID COOPER” he didn’t know what to do, as the straight finger jabs
and lighting feet struck him again and again!!
“THE AMAZING KUNG FU “had well and truly arrived!

I remember thinking after the bout, that wrestling on Saturdays was NEVER
going to be quite the same again!

A point proven correct every time “THE AMAZING KUNG FU “ was on the bill!!

I must admit my favourite singles matches were always the ones up against MARK ‘ROLLERBALL’ ROCCO.  Tag matches? I always liked “AMAZING KUNG FU and IRONFIST”. I always thought the one on Welsh Cable TV, when they fought  “DAVE FIT' FINLAY” and “ROCKY MORAN” was one the best!

Thanks for the memories Eddie.

Graham (Ellis)

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Updated:  April 23rd 2006.

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