British wrestling icon who 'ripped out Jimmy Savile's hair' dies

31 July 2023 , 18:53

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Adrian Street with his father during his days as a wrestler (Image: Mirrorpix)

One of Britain's most famous wrestlers, Adrian Street, passed away earlier this month at the age of 82.

'Exotic' Street died on July 24 at Cwmbran's Grange University Hospital, having suffered a stroke earlier in the month that left him with a bleed on the brain. His family announced the news on Monday, with wife Linda confirming he developed colitis whilst recovering from surgery, which later became sepsis.

Street, who was 81, became renowned for his flamboyant ways, and would often clip his hair in pigtails before stepping into the ring. He would also try to kiss opponents when in trouble of matches, often to avoid getting pinned.

His wrestling career, which got underway in 1957 when he was just 17, became iconic and saw him make appearances in the UK, the US, South American and Europe. And yet one of his most famous moments came in 1971 when he was booked to face Jimmy Savile, with the creative team scripting a drawn contest - a potential outcome than angered Street.

Recalling the incident in 2013 to WalesOnline, Street said: “The promoters were trying to put Savile across as a bit of tough guy in those days and they were trying to get other proper wrestlers to throw their matches with him – it was all part of some big stupid gimmick. And when I found out I was up against him next, I wasn’t very happy, not least because I’d just beaten world lightweight champion George Kidd at Nottingham Ice Rink the night before. In fact, I’d put him in hospital.”

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It would prove to be Savile's last ever bout though, with Street deliberately savage with his moves and blows: “His cronies were telling me, ‘Don’t underestimate Jim, he’s trained with the Royal Marines’, but I was having none of it," he continued. "I kicked his legs from underneath him so he hit the deck, then I picked him up by his hair, held him upside down and dropped him on his skull.

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“Then, when I looked down at my hands, I realised they were covered in hair – Savile’s. I’d torn huge clumps out of his scalp. I absolutely crucified the bloke and when I spoke to my wife afterwards, she said I’d looked like a hungry fox going after a chicken. Savile never returned to the wrestling ring after that and I never clapped eyes on him again.”

After retiring from regularly performing, Street managed a wrestling academy in Florida, but the building used was damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Around 10 years later, he wrestled his final match in America and then returned to live in Wales.

In 2019, a documentary of Street's life and career was produced by director Joann Randles. It was titled You May Be Pretty, But I Am Beautiful: The Adrian Street Story.

Fraser Watson