Chris Newman 2
The creative mind and wit of Chris Newman has made a unique contribution to the Talk Wrestling forum and Wrestling Heritage website over many years.
​
A 1960s holiday to the Isle of Wight where he encountered Dr Death for the first time was the beginning of Chris's romance with professional wrestling.
Chris's entries for Poets in the Corner are
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The "Wayne Bridges" of Paris aka Kent
​
​
Wrestling Rose
Wrestling Rose, Wrestling Rose,
Professional Wrestling – Kept Him On His Toes
While Ed’ Was In It
He Loved Every Minute
Whether Lose Or Win It
That Wrestling Rose.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
​
(Chorus)
Wrestle On, - Wrestle On,
Though So Sadly, Those Days Have Gone
But They Were Glorious
And Victorious
As Diamond Or Devil
That Wrestling Rose.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
​
(2nd Verse)
Wrestling Rose, Wrestling Rose,
Bumps, Slams & Elbows - Or A Bloody Nose
He’d do Whatever Was Asked
Wrestle Bare-Face - Or In A Mask
It Was Always - A Blast
To Our Eddie Rose.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
​
(Final Chorus)
He Wrestled On - He Wrestled Bright,
Whilst These Days, Two Books He’d Write
Of Champs Or Ringers
Those Memories Linger
At His Typing Fingers
♦ THAT WRESTLING ROSE ♦
__________
With thanks to Nat King Cole & original songwriters the Sherman Brothers -
for the inspiration.
And with Hearty Congratulations to Eddie Rose on the Publication of
“Worn Out Bodies” which I’m currently greatly enjoying.
(Chris Newman July 2015)
​
When I was only Ten
It was a Very Good Year
A Very Good year for Mick and for Jack’
The Audience they’d pack
Each other they’d attack
Again & again
When I was only Ten.
​
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
​
And when I was Eleven
It was a Very Good Year
At the old Ryde Town Hall
We’d be having a ball - at Dr Death versus Hayes
They were wonderful days – In Wrestling Heaven
When I was only Eleven.
♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣
​
As I went into my Teens
It was a very Bad Year
A very bad year
For then finding out
What Wrestling was about
Not all that it seems - it broke all my dreams
As I went into my teens.
​
♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠
​
When I was twenty-five
It was a Very Good Year
I found Wrestling again
Like an old long lost friend
When I happened to go
To the old So’ton Show
Rikki brought it alive
When I was twenty-five.
​
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
​
When I was three tens and eight
It was a Very Good Year
A very good year
For Wrestling in town
When Kendo’s around
The Samurai still great
We were there no mistake
When I was three tens and eight.
​
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
​
Now - the best days are gone
There’s been some very sad years
Some very sad years – until the re-runs
So the memories live on –
And we carry it on - oh my how they shone
Though the best days are gone.
​
♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣
​
Now I’ve reached sixty two
And I’m sharing with you
Those memories still there – unlike my hair
For me and for you
We take our cue -Wrestling Heritage we view
Now I’ve reached sixty two.
​
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
​
The End
{Whimsical orchestral music to close and tail off as per the Sinatra version and the same orchestral arrangement as original track between some of the verses. Ol’ Blue Eyes is back again. In fact like the Wrestling itself - he never really went away}.
So with yet another musical wrestling tribute - I hope you enjoyed it.
Chris Newman Summer 2014.
​
He wrestled his debut in 64
Wearing a mask and bearing a sword
A Samurai image was his thing
Threw ceremonial salt around the ring
​
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Plenty of opponents were in for a shock
From this new masked wrestler on the block
A star was born as he beat so many
One notable scalp was Count Bartelli
​
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
A mighty wrestler in solo or tag-team
Nagasaki wrestled - beating the cream
A villainous heel at first it seemed
To see Kendo unmasked
Most wrestling fan’s dream
​
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
But no one could do it - so it befell to his task
For Kendo Nagasaki
To voluntarily unmask
​
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Filmed for T.V. it caused a sensation
For wrestling fans throughout the nation
For awhile his features he’d no longer hide
He’s won many fans over
Firmly on side
​
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
But it wasn’t the same without the disguise
So he restored the striped mask
That surrounded his eyes
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Continuing his assault on wrestlers he’d attack
Once again in the hood
The magic was back
​
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
We look on his glory
With respect and with glee .....
​
..... Happy Anniversary Kendo Naga - saki
​
The Wayne "Bridges of Paris" aka Kent
Chris Newman wrote this in celebration of his first visit to the Wrestlers Reunion in Kent, with the occasional reference to Heritage members Lofty Waterman, David Mantell, and Bill Smith.
Where Would I Like To Be
On A Sunday & Out On The Spree
At Wayne's Pub The Bridges -Wrestle Union -You See
I Leave So’ton Airport - On Thee Nine 0 ' Three
​
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
Looking For Lots Of Fun
I Wonder If Kendo Will Come?
Will That Bring Old Lofty & David Mantell
A Lively Debate - Could Break Loose As Well
​
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
I Wonder Will Bill - Make The Day?
He May Want To Have His Say
Especially If Crabtree's - Showeth Their Snout
Bill Will Just Get Up & Chase Them Both Out
​
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
They'll Be Chat Of Heavies And Catch
And Speak Of - This - Or That Match
And Talk Of A Contest That's A Show Or A Shoot
Either-Way The Grapplers - Get Paid In Some Loot
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
The Train Rattles To Farningham Road
We'll Then Take The Frog & Toad .......
In A Short Walk To Memories - So Long Ago
That's Where I'll Be With Thee.
​
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
(Last 2 Verses)
In The Garden County Of Kent
That's Where They'll Say We All Went
A Few Beers A Bite And Time Thats Well Spent
And "Mick's" Loss To "Peter" That Wasn't Bent.
​
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
But Wrestling Can Never Be Wrong
Men In Masks, Lady Wrestlers In Thongs
They All Wrestled Fierce - With Courage So Strong
To The End Of My Little Song.
(Finish)
(Chris Newman early August 2015).
___________________________________________
Footnote:- This version of “Under The Bridge’s Of Paris”
Is based around the Dean Martin version, as in straight
Verses with little variation. Deano’s interpretation was great but
Eartha’s (Kitt) even better. However her version had an
Extended Middle Eight ...which didn’t lend itself to the
simplicity of the story I wanted to relay.
