90-year-old Newbury wrestler Wally shows us the ropes

A local man has shared his story of his life in the ring — and what he sees as the future of wrestling.

Walter ‘Wally’ Grover came to Newbury in the mid-1950s and retired from the sport 30 years ago.

But after losing his wife more than three years ago, Mr Grover stepped back into the ring last year — at 90 years of age.

Mr Grover has worked under many names as a wrestler, referee and ring manager, including ‘Al Saxon’ and ‘Kamikaze’.

His career highlights include introducing the Queen to an 8,000-strong audience at the Royal Albert Hall and almost making it in America.

Speaking about how he got into wrestling, Mr Grover said: “I was at the Corn Exchange watching a show, nothing to do with wrestling, and got talking to a guy.”

One thing led to another and he soon began touring various venues, meeting industry giants such as Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Pat Roach, Kendo Nagasaki and Johnny Kincaid.

He says everyone he knew was self-employed; he worked as a taxi driver to subsidise his passion.

But the years have taken their toll on Mr Grover despite all his hard work and training, as he explains: “I’ve broken everything you can possibly break.

“When you throw a bloke, if he doesn’t land with his heels down and on his shoulders, with his hands on his backside, he’ll snap his coccyx (tailbone) and he’ll be disabled for life.”

Mr Grover played his last professional match at the Corn Exchange in Newbury in 1986.

Sharing his views on the state of wrestling today, he added: “I’m working with these new guys now and I’m a bit lost. They don’t know how to do the business.”

He says sourcing venues to perform in has become increasingly difficult in recent years.

Mr Grover plans to retire after Christmas as he “doesn’t want to be made to look a fool.”

But he is still keen to hear from any venues in Newbury, Thatcham and the surrounding area willing to host a match until then.