It was indeed an explosive contest, both wrestlers colliding in fearsome combat as millions watched at home during the World Of Sport Saturday afternoon ITV ritual.  Such was the violence that Kendo’s head was cut open and the blood and swelling were restricting his breathing, he half pulled the mask off his head in an attempt to continue but with Billy Howes intent on illegally unmasking him,  Kendo pulled off the mask himself and fled into the dressing room area demanding that Howes be disqualified. Letters poured in from the viewers at home,  not only commenting on the extraordinary man they had seen for the first time from their arm chairs but also wanting  to see him again against other top wrestlers. This was the start of innumerable appearances on the small screen for Kendo Nagasaki,  the mystery growing with each bout.  Kendo’s salt ceremony at the beginning of each contest infuriated opponents and fans alike, Kendo has never been averse to making full use of his ceremonial salt whenever a ref’s back is turned.  Although Kendo was hated by and large by the great British public,  he also inspired a strong and loyal following, so much so that a thriving fan club was set up in his name and George became instrumental in replying to letters, sending out signed photos and generally keeping the fans informed of Nagasaki’s ever increasing conquests. The fans were not so keen when George informed them that for most of 1972 Kendo was going to be out of the country fighting in Canada and America. Working for Stu Hart’s Stampede Promotions all over North America, Kendo was just as successful abroad and won the Stampede Heavyweight Championship belt. George was billed at this time as “Lord Sloane of Kensington Gore”, the promoter sensing that this title might well appeal to American audiences. He was right because Kendo and George became a sensation, creating the same havoc on any bill they appeared as they had done across the UK. They returned home in the early days of 1973 and to mark the occasion Kendo knocked out Big Daddy (Shirley Crabtree) in a televised contest to announce his return. 24 stone Big Daddy was gathering a following and reputation for his belly butts and strength moves,  but Nagasaki’s experience won the day. Kendo’s speciality bout finisher was a move called the Kamakazi Crash where he would hoist an unfortunate victim upon his shoulders in one corner of the ring before rolling forward on top of them in a ferocious crushing motion,  bringing his full weight crashing down on their rib cage and stomach - inevitably the bout was over after such power. 

Another newcomer on the scene was also proving a great threat to Kendo,  this was the 6’11” 31 stone Giant Haystacks,  a bearded colossus from Salford,  Daddy and Haystacks became tag partners and immediately set out on a quest to target Nagasaki. They had several titanic clashes

After a hard fought contest and with one submission each on their score card, Big Daddy brought his full bulk down on Kendo in a “big splash”. With the masked man winded and groggy Daddy went for the mask,   undid the ties and pulled it right off - for the first time ever fans in Solihull along with millions more at home got their first clear look at Nagasaki. There was a star tattoo in the middle of his shaved forehead with a pony tail running down the back,  his red eyes staring out in wild panic. Quickly Kendo dived off the ropes and in an amazing flying tackle took Crabtree down for a winning fall, within seconds George was in the ring with another mask but the damage was done. Big Daddy had given the British public their first glimpse of the man they loved to hate, in the few days between the recording and the match going to air the press leaked the news that Nagasaki would be seen minus his familiar stripes, the result was that the viewing figures were enormous. The whole country it seemed wanted to see face that had unexpectedly been revealed on national television by the blonde Yorkshireman, Kendo had still won the match and now there was a score to settle with Big Daddy which went on around the country whenever a promoter could sign them both up for a contest.  Box offices boomed whenever Nagasaki was on the bill, opponents feared him, audiences hated him and promoters loved him for the takings would be terrific.  In the early months of 1977 George revealed that Kendo - along with several other wrestlers - would be taking part in a new television play commissioned by Granada TV called The Wild Bunch that had been written by actor and former wrestler Brian Glover. 

It was centred around a group of promotions girls who would be attending a wrestling tournament to promote a new brand of cigarettes (it was still acceptable in those days for the killer weed to be positively advertised). Kendo was to play the fictional masked superstar Death Angel whilst his arch enemy in the script, Juggernaut, would be played by none other than Giant Haystacks.   Among the all star cast gathered together for the production were respected thespians Michael Elphick, Floella Benjamin and Anna Carteret whilst those also to be seen from the wrestling world included Jim Breaks, Tony Walsh, and Brian Crabtree. What made this appearance so special to all of Kendo’s admirers was that for the first time ever Kendo would speak,  he would still wear the famous mask but his voice had never been heard in public before and it has never been since.  Filmed at the legendary King’s Hall, Belle Vue in Manchester - now sadly demolished - the play was applauded by the critics when it was shown a few months later. Kendo turned in a accomplished performance, but he returned to his silent world as soon as filming had ended. His one concession to breaking this code now over,  Kendo would continue to be heard only through George Gillett. Many followers had never thought they would ever hear Kendo,  but the next move by the victorious twosome was to take the whole of the wrestling world completely by surprise:  Kendo Nagasaki, it was announced, was planning to voluntarily unmask..."