When You're Ready Boys - Take Hold!

He was born in Canada of Russian extraction and Georges

had one of the fiercest reputations in world wrestling.

On one of the occasions when Relwyskow had taken me

back to Leeds with him I witnessed a strange event. I

often used to return with the promoter for a week long

series of bouts in the North of England. they used a

mini bus to transport the "stars” around. However,

this time only 3 people were going back and they used

a minibus. Gordienko sat at the back pressed hard

against the door. Because of the long journey which

carried on through the night, we often stopped at the

road side all night cafes.

Just outside Carlyle we stopped for a snack. Once we had

finished we all piled into the van. Geordienko took up

his usual position at the back door. Minutes later we

were tearing down the motorway. Unfortunately, whoever

closed the back door of the van had not done so

properly. With the bulk of Georges leaning against it,

the door suddenly burst open. Georges fell out, the

van screeched to a halt, and I witnessed Georges

rolling over in a summersault seven times before

picking himself up, dusting himself off, and climbing

back into the van as if nothing had happened. How he

survived that at such a speed I'll never know. But I

tell you that really is being tough!