MERCHANT OF MENACE
The first time Adrian Street adopted the look that would change the face of wrestling, people couldn’t believe their eyes.
Five years into his career, he had grown bored by the way other wrestlers presented themselves – just trunks and boots in the same old colours – and wanted to inject some personality into the sport. But once his colleagues in the dressing room caught a glimpse of that new look – long blonde hair, bronzed body and a baby blue velvet gown with silver lamé – they said he’d be out of his mind to go out there looking like that. This was Britain in 1962: a time when wrestling meant working-class men beating each other up without fanfare.
Convinced that his newfound showmanship would win the crowd’s admiration, Adrian ignored the warning. But the jeers rained down on him within seconds of entering the arena. “Ooh Mary, isn’t she cute?” shouted one spectator. “Give us a kiss!” roared another. “When I was a coal miner, I’d always get guys having a go
