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 Barrett,c. 1963 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ivor Anthony Patrick Barrett (1936-03-11)11 March 1936 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 28 November 2021(2021-11-28) (aged 85) Dublin, Ireland |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Pat Barrett Paddy Barrett Ivor Barrett Bonecrusher Barrett Mr. Wrestling |
| Debut | 1960 |
| Retired | 1987 |
Ivor Anthony Patrick Barrett (11 March 1936 – 28 November 2021), known asPat Barrett, was an Irishprofessional wrestler. During his career, which spanned from 1960 to the later-1980s, he wrestled in countries including Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, appearing with promotions including theNational Wrestling Alliance and theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation.
Barrett started wrestling in 1960 as Paddy Barrett in Ireland and in 1963, he joined theNational Wrestling Alliance in the United States where he joined the sanctioned body of promotions in the U.S., National Wrestling Alliance. He also toured Canada where he created a successful tag team withTim Geoghegan. Barrett and Geoghegan defeated Art Nelson and Ivan Kameroff on 8 November 1965 to win theNWA Canadian Tag Team Championship. They lost their title to John Tolos and Black Terror on 4 January 1966 but defeated them back for the title on 28 February 1966. After Barrett and Geoghegan disbanded their team, Barrett created a tag team withDon Leo Jonathan. On 22 July 1968, they defeatedAbdullah the Butcher and Armand Hussain to win the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship. After the pair separated, Barrett forged a singles career, and feuded with both Jonathan and Geoghegan.
In 1974, he toured Australia where he created a gimmick of "Mr. Wrestling" and was sometimes known as "Mr. Wrestling of Australia". On 5 April 1974, he won a tag team tournament withTony Kontellis and won theNWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship.
In 1975, he joinedWorld Wide Wrestling Federation under his real name. He battledBruno Sammartino on 15 May 1975 for theWWWF World Heavyweight Championship, but lost by count-out. In June 1975,Victor Rivera left WWWF while being theWWWF Tag Team Champion withDominic DeNucci. De Nucci chose Barrett as his replacement partner. De Nucci and Barrett lost the title toThe Blackjacks on 26 August 1975.
He returned to NWA in 1975 and started his second stint with NWA. On 15 August 1977, Pat Barrett andNorvell Austin defeatedJerry Brown andBuddy Roberts to win theNWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship. They re-lost the title to Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts on 22 August. On 25 September, they defeated once again Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts to win the NWA-Mid American Tag Team Championship for a second time. In 1979, he joined the Los Angeles-basedNWA Hollywood Wrestling, and on 8 August, Barrett defeatedBull Ramos to win theNWA Americas Heavyweight Championship. As the NWA Americas Heavyweight Champion, he feuded with Bull Ramos,Walter Johnson,Chavo Guerrero,Johnny Mantell,Roddy Piper,Ron Starr, andPat Patterson. In November, he lost the title to Patterson.
In late 1979, he left NWA Hollywood Wrestling to tour thePacific Islands. On 2 January 1980, Barrett unsuccessfully challengedLee Osbourne for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship but won a rematch for the title a week later. On 15 April 1980, he defeated Kerry Garvin to win thePacific Area Heavyweight Championship. He feuded with Kerry Garvin and Lee Osbourne and defended his title against several wrestlers on the Pacific Islands. In 1981, Barrett toured New Zealand. He created a tag team with the popular New Zealand wrestling starPat O'Connor. He then formed a team withJohn Istaz and won theNew Zealand Tag Team Championship.
In 1984, he made his way to Northern Ireland. He went on to win theIrish Heavyweight Championship and defended it against Irish wrestlers.
In 1985, Barrett retired and became a trainer. On 27 August 2006, Pat Barrett made an appearance for the promotionIrish Whip Wrestling's show which was being held in Dublin, Ireland.
In the 1990s he penned an autobiographical book called "Everybody Down Here Hates Me", which recounts real life stories from his wrestling career.
In 2021, Pat Barrett died in Dublin where he was living at the time.
1This promotion shouldn't be confused withWorld Championship Wrestling, a promotion once owned byTed Turner and later sold toWorld Wrestling Entertainment in 2001.
