A "summary" of points for my Bryan/Nigel AU set during the Territory era, specifically the late 50s-early 70s. Been working on this, researching and watching old wrestling for while, so this will be long and hidden under the read more (and even then, not as detailed as my google doc form). Thank you to anyone who'll take the time to read this 🫡
Bryan's background
Born in a rural logging town in Washington state, family owned a small farm, dad was in logging.
Local wrestling was sequestered to small pubs to entertain the loggers after their long shifts. Kids like Bryan would try to sneak in to watch the shows. Newspapers and radio further fueled his hobby.
Tried to self teach wrestling from misc adults or from watching matches. Left home at 16 for Portland (Pacific Northwest Wrestling territory, NWA affiliate) to properly get into the business. He'd do small spots on TV+smaller house shows for minor promotions.
Gained the opportunity to work at NWA Los Angeles, partially owned by the Lebells and had partnerships with JWA, NJPW, and had luchadores--these were Bryan’s first proper exposures to Japanese wrestling and lucha libre
Analogous to modern Bryan’s time in the NJPW LA dojo; grew an interest in becoming a real shooter, like Lou Thesz
Earns the name “American Dragon” after being booked in hot matches against Japanese wrestlers. It was successful enough for him to be lauded as “America’s own dragon” or “American Dragon”.
Becomes a proper globe trotter. PNW/Hollywood → Stampede → AWA → Joint Promotions (World of Sport/UK). In Japan works IWE (potentially), AJPW, NJPW
Memphis, Mexico, Puerto Rico, India, Germany to name a few more. Later has notable return runs in his best territories like the UK, Stampede, or Japan.
Misc personality things:
Still a ribbing, quirky guy backstage if he’s not reading or being an introvert. Abstaining from drinking or smoking initially got him bullied, but his affable and tough nature made him one of the boys
Can be incredibly humble in terms of fame but has a bit of a know it all attitude–is not self aware about it
Wears a lot of knit shirts and sweaters, long sleeve button ups with suspenders and khakis. All his shirts look too big on him. He's super frugal.
His character of kindness, honesty, hard work, and respect fear that comes from being a real shooter, leads to many people in the industry batting for him. This stems from his general personality and beliefs, but also thanks to being brought into the industry by Don Owens, promotor of PNW, who's famously one of the few honest promotors out there.
Never truly became a mainstay “top” of some promotions despite his skill and experience. He’d hold their top belt for a while or get into highlighted feuds, but he was never an “ace”. It’s mainly due to his size and mat focused work on top of his journeyman lifestyle; instead, became a major player backstage with coaching all over the world.
His main goal in wrestling is the same as it ever was: have fun and travel the world, not too concerned about being a top guy or getting rich or championships
Spent the tail end of his career back in the UK after World of Sport/Joint Promotions folded. After a major pillar in British wrestling collapsed, he wanted to be there to help the scene rebuild and stay alive--it was his favorite territory to work in and wants to give back. Lived in the UK for the rest of his life.
Nigel's Background
Born in Kent, outside of London. Semi rural community, went to a miserable boarding school. Looked forward to the free days when he could take a train to London.
Grew into the Rockers subculture as a teen/young adult. Also a big football guy. A concerning combination for adults around him.
Enjoyed racing along the motorways and into London. Carried a club with him when going to footie.
Good with his hands, be it card tricks, mechanics, or wrestling
Leather jacket, popped collared button up, and jeans.
Still styled his hair obnoxiously with lots of hair gel--cared about his looks when the British wrestling scene wasn't big on aesthetics compared to the Americans.
Always had an interest in wrestling, from the radio to local events. Adults encouraged him to join an amateur wrestling club/gym and weightlifting in hopes of deterring some delinquent tendencies.
It partially worked–he’d still drink, speed, get into scuffles sometimes, but it made him think about protecting his body for the sport
Started to wrestle freelance by the age of 17 on small shows, travelling around the UK on his bike, doing odd jobs and fixing bikes to supplement the wrestling.
Initially aimed for Dale Martin Promotions in south London, but he was still inexperienced and unknown. Some worried the Rockers connection might bring bad business--Nigel sought to prove them wrong and that actually, it can be a draw
Landed in Manchester while on the road and learned about Riley’s Gym (aka the Snake Pit) and truly honed in on his catch wrestling skills. Decides to make his homebase here.
This connection leads him back to Joint Promotions and they start booking him regularly all over the UK--does work for Dale Martin Promotions
Has experience wrestling in Ireland, France, Germany, other parts of Europe, and a couple Japan tours
Incorporated his Rocker style and exaggerated attitude into his wrestling persona. Played into the moral fears of the audience, but sometimes worked face as a hooligan with a heart of gold.
McGuinness last name also gave him heat from certain anti-Irish crowds
Nigel’s main goal is to eventually become an international name and move to America; Britain is fine, but his ambitions were big. The British scene wasn't too passionate booking heavyweights (hence why ppl like Billy Robinson and Lord Alfred Hayes went overseas).
His in-ring career was cut short in the middle of an America tour, due to a major injury compounded with over a decade worth of wear and tear on his body. Despite having big plans to permanently move to America, he made the tough decision to return to the UK where he lived for the rest of his life.
Continued to work in the industry with various roles like commentary, but a cloud of “what-if” follows him
The Bryan-Nigel story
They first meet when Bryan tours the UK for the first time. Lands in Manchester, goes to the Snake Pit to be introduced to how the business works in the UK, and starts training more catch wrestling. Bryan meets other wrestlers here, including Nigel.
Nigel has the same “on first sight” premonition feeling about Bryan and how important he’d be to him
Other wrestlers were tough on Bryan as the new guy and foreigner, jealous at how fast he picked up on things which led to some bookers favoring him over locals. Nigel did his fair share of teasing but nothing super malicious; despite harboring some jealousy, he quickly grew to secretly admire Bryan from afar. Watched every demonstration at the gym and match if they were on the same card
The same anecdote of Nigel trying to ask Bryan for advice but Bryan having no answer plays again here
Quietly, Nigel tries to formulate a plan to get close to Bryan as his connection to America--if they can have a good match, it might be enough for international promoters to book them. Or if he's in Bryan's graces, he might put in a good word for him.
They often hung out backstage, during training or casually outside of wrestling. Proximity was the reason at the start, sharing the same spaces and the wrestlers’ flats were in the same area. But in good time, they became friends and rivals.
Nigel riding his bike with Bryan clinging onto his back would become a normal sight, despite Bryan’s initial trepidation
Bryan starts as a babyface, but turns heel after winning one of the middleweight titles and brings out the arrogant American champion. Boasts that he’s better at British wrestling than Brits themselves.
Originally, Bryan and Nigel weren’t considered to be booked due to their different kayfabe weight classes; a feud based around a title is unfeasible. An exhibition match for fun was suggested.
Their match becomes one of the highlights of the card. Its success led to a whole program between them.
Their kayfabe dynamic starts out: Nigel, as a London tough guy, tries to square up against this snarky American trying to bully his way through their promotion. Bryan rises to the challenge. At first, they work it more comedically; Nigel as the bigger guy underestimates and tries to humiliate the smaller wrestler, but Bryan outsmarts and out-bullies him, makes a fool of the other heel
The repeat outings of this dynamic endears Nigel to some of the audience, showing some sympathy to this troublemaker and he might have some honor buried in him by defending the promotion
The more they work the match, the more competitive and serious it becomes. Nigel outside the ring is impatient to stop being shown as Bryan's lesser.
It's a heel vs heel feud throughout (there's been many successful feuds in British wrestling that were heel vs heel), but by their first match in Liverpool, the crowds were cheering for Nigel
They become a regularly booked match up in the UK. They start touring together in Europe and Japan. Nigel's plan is working, but the more they work together, the feelings between them grow deeper.
Bryan starts promising that he'll "take Nigel back to America with him"--on the surface, it sounds like it's for wrestling. But the underlying romantic implications are clear, and even Nigel wants to fall for it.
They succeed in getting Nigel's papers ready, a place to live together, and a couple tours booked before the big move. Nigel is well received by the American audience and they managed to work their now well-known match to great reception.
Halfway through the tour, Nigel gets his big injury, one that forces him to sit out for a long time. Bryan continues travelling while Nigel sits at home, alone in a new country. The doctors start to doubt Nigel's ability to return to wrestling, compounded with all his old injuries. The situation starts sending Nigel into a spiral.
They decide to split up, with Nigel moving back to the UK to be around support and to heal. He still has connections with Joint Promotions and starts working misc jobs like commentary, but he's changed.
Bryan would seek Nigel out whenever he'd visit the UK; sometimes they'd be good meetings, sometimes it would be a disaster.
When World of Sport/Joint Promotions shutters and Bryan moves to the UK to help the scene, he sets out to fully work things out between them now they live closer. It's a troubled road, but they eventually make amends and be together as a couple.
They both briefly come out of retirement for one last match against each other in a small show for Brian Dixon's All Star Wrestling promotion in the 90s.
