George Kidd (wrestler)
| Born | 1925 Dundee, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Died | January 5, 1998 Dundee, Scotland |
| Residence | Dundee, Scotland |
| Spouse(s) | Hester MacLachlan (m. 1949) |
| Children | George |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Billed height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Billed from | Dundee, Scotland |
| Debut | 1946 |
| Retired | 1976 |
George Kidd (1925 - 5 January 1998) was a Scottish professional wrestler and TV broadcaster.
George Kidd was born in Dundee, Scotland, one of three brothers. He spent his childhood in the Hilltown area and attended Clepington Primary and Stobswell Secondary School. Kidd later left an apprenticeship to join the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in 1943 and served as a mechanic during World War II.
In 1946, after leaving the army, Kidd started to work as a professional wrestler. At only 5' 6", weighing in at less than 10 stone (64 kg), Kidd had the odds stacked against him. Yet he was able to enjoy great success during his career by developing an elaborate, clever, and sometimes whimsical so-called ”British” style of wrestling. Kidd’s first paid match took place in 1946 at the Caird Hall in Dundee, where he was “booked” (professional wrestling term for being hired for one match) by promoter George de Relwsykow. In only a four-year span, he went on to conquer numerous championship titles, making a name for himself internationally.
In May 1947, Kidd defeated Tony Lawrence in the capital city of Edinburgh, and became the Scottish Lightweight champion.
In 1948, Kidd won the British Lightweight Title, defeating Jack Dempsey. He surrendered it to Alan Colbeck in 1949.
In 1949, Kidd added the European Lightweight title to his record competing in Paris.
In 1951, Kidd eventually defeated French wrestler to win the World Lightweight Title. He held onto it for 26 consecutive years, defending it 49 times.
Kidd was admired for his ability to counter or escape from the most intricate holds, earning himself the nickname of “the Houdini of the mat”. Kidd was also a devout practitioner of Hatha Yoga, which helped him develop flexibility and mental sharpness instead of focusing only on muscle bulk, which in turn helped him defeat stronger and heavier opponents. Kidd was also a showman who knew how to focus on his in-ring skills instead of gimmicks to entertain a crowd. His technical savvy coupled with a fierce competitive spirit allowed him to out-wrestle some of the most praised names in the professional wrestling business.
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