Kent Walton (1917 - 2003)

Real Name - Kenneth Walton Beckett

Lifespan - 8/22/1917 - 8/24/2003

Occupational Background - Actor, Sports Commentator, Disc Jockey, Gameshow Judge, Film Producer

Promotional Background - ITV's World of Sport (`55-`88)

Peak Years - 1970s

Place in History - Since the advent of television, announcers of all sorts have provided play-by-play for pro-wrestling.  They run the gamut from over-the-top personas with goofy catchphrases who were mainly getting themselves over to straight men who called the action like a genuine contest.  Those closer to that more serious side tend to be remembered more fondly.  While Lance Russell, Jim Ross and Gordon Solie would all be prime examples, Kent Walton has a prestige all his own.  During his 33 years of calling British wrestling on ITV's "World of Sport," Walton's voice became the soundtrack of British wrestling.  Furthermore, the sport was presented much more seriously and much more like a contest than it was anywhere that those aforementioned worked.  Like those legends, Kent Walton had his distinctive lines, "Welcome grapple fans," being the most memorable.  Walton was born in Cairo and grew up in Canada, which accounts for his distinct accent.  He studied acting and while he did pursue theater and film, he found his true calling in the mid-1950s calling sporting events on ITV.  When he learned he would be calling pro-wrestling, Walton did his homework and when the program became a staple on Saturdays, he was the man at ringside calling the action.  He typically flew solo during the more than 2,000 shows he called, although he did work with Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus and others from time-to-time.  While the 1955-1965 era were a little less regular in terms of pro-wrestling being on TV, when the "World of Sport" format became constant by 1965, the sport really took off.  Anywhere between 7 to 10 million viewers tuned in weekly to see the wide variety of pro-wrestlers.  While many celebrities, politicians and even royalty were admitted fans and pro-wrestling did have its periods of popularity, it was mainly a blue-collar sport that never could have rivaled the the cultural significance and national passion for football.  This exposure did allow a few generations of pro-wrestlers to become TV stars, so that they could tour the country and make a good living similar to the impact of early television wrestling in the United States.  With that, Kent Walton was vital in getting over talent, rivalries, maneuvers and the whole style.  Finding the balance between entertainment and sport was key to success and Walton's approach did this masterfully.  As the years wore on, Joint Promotions' focus shifted to being focused on entertainment with Big Daddy being their featured star.  While there was a boom with Daddy on top, the product's long-time balance feel out of sync and ITV eventually began airing All-Star Wrestling and WWF wrestling as well.  Walton continued to call action, although, like many great announcers he struggled to make sense of the nonsense that became more commonplace.  In 1988, ITV scratched pro-wrestling all together and save commentating for a set of tapings done in Scotland, Kent Walton never called pro-wrestling again.  British pro-wrestling is such a distinct style and watching it can be challenging for the unfamiliar fan, but thankfully the straightforward play-by-play of Kent Walton provides a context to help anyone.  His influence in the British pro-wrestling is undeniable and perhaps no announcer has ever had a greater influence on the sport and its success.