Count Bartelli

[Hack]

The Royalty In Crewe article on Count Bartelli tells the story of a very kind and humane man. I know that he was certainly one of the most generous and kind wrestlers I met. Other fans have told me their own stories over the years of a kind and compassionate man. Do any readers of this forum have any memories of Count Bartelli?

[paul Mitchell]

Geoff was really a great in the ring and without doubt a true gent out of it, i remember well watching a young Ray Steele against Jean Louis Breston at the rear of of the Kings Hall Belle Vue and the Count was very impressed with Ray, he was however less impressed with how the business was going.our paths crossed on many promotions and he was always helpful to  a relative newcomer. Geoff was of the old school who believed in never giving less than 100%.

[Anglo Italian]

Absolute gent from an 'umble autograph 'unters's perspective.

I lost a bit of faith when I discovered the elephant he upended had three arthritic feet ....

Still a great wrestler in his sixties.

And we never did penetrate the nature of his relationship with Nagasaki.

[Eddie Rose]

I fully agree with Paul Mitchell regarding Count Bartelli. Not only was he a truly great wrestler and entertainer, Bartelli was a delight to work with and to travel with. He was an intelligent, witty, sunny personality with a wealth of stories and advice for younger wrestlers. Few wrestlers approached his stature, a career of over a period of forty years in the ring.

Talking about stature; Bartell used to arrive at the hall looking a pretty average but thick-set guy. He then used to work out on his horshoe-like apparatus for half an hour and emerge a true heavyweight with all his muscles 'pumped up'. Added to which he walked very much on his toes giving an impression of height and bulk. Sheer class.

Lastly, are you the famous Paul Mitchell from Salford with whom I had a number of cracking bouts for promoters like Panther and Cassidy? I remember you landing straddled across the top rope, a move that did little for the Mitchell family jewells! Good on you, Paul!

Eddie Rose

[Boston Crab]

He always seemed to have time for the fans. I remember him spending ages signing autographs.

This story about going to see him at home. Did it really happen?

[Riot Squad]

Blimey Boston Crab, of course it happened. We all know that wrestling is a business where you can't believe everything you see but we don't make up our stories!

Wrestling Heritage is a tribute site to all those people that gave us so much enjoyment many years ago. We try to keep a balance between preserving the spirit and integrity of professional wrestling whilst treating our readers with respect. This means that the site is as factually accurate as we can make it (to the best of our knowledge).

The visit to Count Bartelli's home was as enjoyable as it sounds and the discussion as accurate as our memory and notes allow. We are pleased to see a couple of wrestlers support our views on the sort of man he was. Not only did the visit take place but Count Bartelli even paid the train fare.

Thanks for posting Boston Crab.

[Boston Crab]

Sorry, didn't mean to be disrespectful. Thanks for answering.