How Big Daddy & Giant Haystacks Made… and Slayed British Wrestling
Fri Feb 06 2026
Author Steven Bell returns to break down the real story behind his new book Big Daddy vs Haystacks and the rivalry that took over British wrestling (and television). He explains how Big Daddy (aka Shirley Crabtee, Jr) and Giant Haystacks (aka Martin Ruane) became massive pop-culture icons, why their feud pulled in millions of viewers every week, and how years of tension finally exploded in their legendary Wembley Arena showdown – one of the most watched wrestling matches in UK history! Steven reveals how the rivalry was stretched out on TV for years, what
really happened in the ring at Wembley, and why that match became both the high point and the turning point of the British wrestling boom. He also gets into their connections to WWE – why Big Daddy never crossed over, how Giant Haystacks later surfaced in the States as “Loch Ness,” and what their brief American runs exposed about the clash between British wrestling and the American style. Plus, Steven shares behind-the-scenes stories from Stampede Wrestling, including what Bret Hart really thought of Haystacks during his time in Canada, and how those Stampede matches helped shape the legend, and the mythology of Giant Haystacks outside the UK.
Pre-order Big Daddy Versus Giant Haystacks: A Super Heavyweight Story: https://a.co/d/05JwG1qg
An exclusive, limited stock of signed copies is now available! DM Steven Bell @steven_bell1985
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Author Steven Bell returns to break down the real story behind his new book Big Daddy vs Haystacks and the rivalry that took over British wrestling (and television). He explains how Big Daddy (aka Shirley Crabtee, Jr) and Giant Haystacks (aka Martin Ruane) became massive pop-culture icons, why their feud pulled in millions of viewers every week, and how years of tension finally exploded in their legendary Wembley Arena showdown – one of the most watched wrestling matches in UK history! Steven reveals how the rivalry was stretched out on TV for years, what really happened in the ring at Wembley, and why that match became both the high point and the turning point of the British wrestling boom. He also gets into their connections to WWE – why Big Daddy never crossed over, how Giant Haystacks later surfaced in the States as “Loch Ness,” and what their brief American runs exposed about the clash between British wrestling and the American style. Plus, Steven shares behind-the-scenes stories from Stampede Wrestling, including what Bret Hart really thought of Haystacks during his time in Canada, and how those Stampede matches helped shape the legend, and the mythology of Giant Haystacks outside the UK. Pre-order Big Daddy Versus Giant Haystacks: A Super Heavyweight Story: https://a.co/d/05JwG1qg An exclusive, limited stock of signed copies is now available! DM Steven Bell @steven_bell1985 Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy 👍Please Like, Subscribe, and hit the🔔to stay updated on new episodes! More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichofozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 X/Twitter: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho 🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices