Wrestling legend to open fun day Kendo Nagasaki will be on hand for the Tunstall Floral and Garden Produce show this week

Iconic wrestling superstar Kendo Nagasaki will be on hand for the Tunstall Floral and Garden Produce show this week.

The former WWA World Heavyweight Champion and All-Star British Heavyweight Champion will be guest of honour at the event at Tunstall Park on Sunday 5 September, being held this year in honour of the centenary of the federation of Stoke-on-Trent.

He will be blessing the ring at 11am for a special wrestling tournament that starts at 12 noon. Masked wrestlers from the British Wrestling Association, in the Kendo Nagasaki tradition, will compete against one another and the loser will be forced to unmask until only the winner is left standing. Admission is free.

In a career spanning the last 46 years, he first achieved fame by unmasking veteran Count Bartelli at the Victoria Hall in 1966, ending his 20 year winning streak. The masked man has competed across the UK, as well as Canada and North America during the 70s, working for wrestling legend Stu Hart, the father of international wrestling star Bret “The Hitman” Hart. He also featured regularly on ITV’s World of Sport during the 70s and 80s.

Councillor Dave Conway, who arranged for the legendary grappler to be the special guest, said: “We are proud to have been able to bring such a well renowned superstar to help with the event.

“We want wrestling fans to turn out and see him and the other wrestlers because we’ve never had a tournament like this before in the park.

“There will never be another wrestler like Kendo Nagasaki so I hope young and old alike turn out to see him.

“Hopefully the weather will be great so people turn out, and myself, Councillor Jean Edwards and Councillor Joy Garner as well as the Tunstall ward Councillors Councillor Megan Ryan, Councillor Majid Khan and Councillor Mohammed Matloob, are really pleased we have been able to get such a legendary wrestler to come to the event.”

“Most people will remember Kendo Nagasaki from wrestling on the TV in the 80’s but he has a much longer legacy and the fact he is from Stoke-on-Trent is even better.”

The event starts 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. There is a chance to see some of the flowers grown in the city over the past year and vegetables that are in each of the competition categories. Also on hand will be the North Staffs Allotments Association, Dolly’s Lane Allotments, the North Staffordshire Bonsai Society, Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, and the Staffordshire Wildlife Association.

Presentation of prizes will take place at 4:00 pm by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Matloob.