17 Facts About Orig Williams

Orig Williams was a Welsh professional wrestler and wrestling promoter.

Orig Williams is recognised as one of the most famous wrestlers to come from Wales.

Orig Williams was born in the small village of Ysbyty Ifan in north Wales in 1931.

Orig Williams was the son of a local quarryman, and was educated at the local primary school.

Orig Williams was accustomed to fighting from a young age, including war evacuees from Liverpool and practising boxing with his village friends.

Orig Williams played for several notable teams around north Wales and the north of England, including Bangor City, Shrewsbury Town, Oldham Athletic and Pwllheli.

Orig Williams later became the player-manager of Welsh team Nantlle Vale, and the club, under his mentoring, became known as a very dirty and overly violent team.

Orig Williams himself was one of the worst members of his team, and would often be red carded and sent off for his repeated fouling.

Orig Williams took advantage of this new fad, and began working as a wrestler and boxer in fairgrounds; though he nearly lost his job as he could not bring himself to take the hat around the spectators, as he believed it was akin to begging.

Orig Williams went with them, spending another 18 months in Asia.

Later in his life, Orig Williams stated that fighting with the Bholu Brothers was the highlight of his career.

Orig Williams believed in hard matches, and often quoted the old saying "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen", during his matches.

Orig Williams appeared in many of his own bills, stating "No point in wasting money for another wrestler".

Orig Williams set up a training gym at his house, and many female wrestlers graduated from his 'Garage' training facility including Tina Starr, Rusty Blair, Carla Sanchez and Bella Ogunlana.

Orig Williams was a Welsh nationalist, but he believed that the people of Wales should broaden their horizons through travel and self-learning to understand their country's own identity better.

Orig Williams had a very positive outlook on the abilities of the Welsh, and was disappointed with the negativity of many of his countrymen.

Orig Williams died from a sudden heart attack in 2009, and was survived by his wife Wendy, and daughter Tara Bethan.