Masked wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki breaks Guinness World Record to become oldest professional wrestler in history
MASKED wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki has snapped on the lycra one more time to become the oldest professional wrestler in the world.
The hulking 83-year-old silent samurai returned to the ring on Sunday for a long-awaited match, breaking a Guinness World Record.
The 6ft 2in monster – real name Peter Thornley – took part in a three-man tag team bout at Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
He teamed up with wrestling duo Dead Gorgeous, from Bangor, Northern Ireland, comprising brothers Ben and Jordan Nelson.
They wrestled the LDN Wrestling tag team of Sanjay Bagga, DD Crooks and Stevie Fee.
And in a controversial decision in front of the 750-strong crowd Nagasaki was disqualified from the bout for an illegal move.
But the ring villain went on to WIN the match when the audience got to decide the ultimate victor.
Speaking to The Sun afterwards, a buoyant Nagasaki said: “It was a fantastic feeling and it’s truly fabulous to be a Guinness World Record breaker.
“It was hard work in that ring, they’re all young and very enthusiastic, you’ve got to keep them under control, under manners.
“But it was like turning the clock back being out there in front of so many people, it was electric, the roar of the crowd was incredible.
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“I was disqualified in the end for being naughty, but the decision went to the audience who deemed my team the winners, it was a great day of wrestling, everyone will remember it, just like the old days.”
At the end of the show around 250 people lined up to get Nagasaki’s autograph.
He added: “I still feel good, I’m in great condition for my age… who knows you might see Kendo Nagasaki in the ring again in future.”
Nagaski’s ring return marked the 60th anniversary of his first appearance in British professional wrestling.
The ring villain ruled the ring in the 1970s, unnerving opponents behind a sinister striped mask with tales of losing half an index finger during a brutal martial arts ceremony.
During his incredible career, Nagasaki wrestled greats like Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks and Andre the Giant – beating them all.
The villain triggered such anger among fans that he was once stabbed in the back with a fountain pen by a spectator, while another female fan packed a house brick in her handbag and walloped him over the head with it.
Sanjay Bagga, 39, the owner and promoter of LDN Wrestling who staged the event, said: “I’ve got the greatest respect for Kendo as an athlete, as a wrestler and performer, he’s 83 and he’s still pretty agile, how many men his age can move around a ring like that?
“There was a lot of interest in this match and we sold out the venue and put on a great show.”
But Sanjay said the match was the result of a long-time beef between the two men.
He added: “There’s a bit of history between myself and Kendo from 17 years ago and he slagged me off in his book which led us to this big match.
“I didn’t think it would lead to this but the public demanded it and they said the fight between us needed to be resolved.
“We went out there and risked everything. Obviously I’m disappointed to have lost, but what a great match.
“It was a fight-like atmosphere and ended in controversy, I still think I won it, but the crowd got to decide.”