Wrestling villain plans to unload mansion to fund LGBTQ+ Zen courses
Legendary TV wrestling villain Kendo Nagasaki is planning to sell off his £1.5million, 50-room mansion to fund new LGBTQ+ Zen Buddhism classes – as he also plots a return to the ring aged 82.
The World of Sport superstar – whose real name is Peter Thornley, from Stoke – was famous for his signature ‘Kamikaze Crash’ slam, and appeared in the ring under the guise of a masked ‘Japanese samurai’ and mystical sensei.
But decades after his heyday on the nation’s screens, he now wants to downsize from his huge Stoke-on-Trent home to Blackpool – where he owns a men-only hotel.
He hopes to teach the Lancashire LGBTQ+ community the art of Zen Buddhism at the seaside town, famed for its illuminations.
And he is even training to return to the sport as a pensioner on the 60th anniversary of his first showing – which would make him the oldest professional wrestler.
A spokesperson for Nagasaki told The Sun: ‘Peter is always looking to extend the reach of his Buddhist work, and this is a big motivator for the move away.
Kendo Nagasaki – whose real name is Peter Thornley, from Stoke – was famous for his signature ‘Kamikaze Crash’ slam, and appeared in the ring under the guise of a masked ‘Japanese samurai’ and mystical sensei. Pictured in 2006
Decades after his heyday on the nation’s screens, he now wants to downsize from his huge Stoke-on-Trent home to Blackpool – where he owns a men-only hotel. Pictured in 2005
In 2018, Nagasaki revealed he is bisexual and said he had been in a relationship with a man since the death of his wife Yvette aged 80 in 1993. Pictured: Kendo Nagasaki appearing for the first time with manager George Gillett at Dumfries, Scotland in 1986
‘Moor Court Hall has therefore become less than ideal for Kendo’s charitable work, and he seeks to evolve it into a better-suited venue in Blackpool.
‘Peter is driven to share Zen Buddhism with others who also need its transformative energy.’
They said that the workshops he previously ran at his huge home never recovered after the pandemic.
In 2018, Nagasaki revealed he is bisexual and said he had been in a relationship with a man since the death of his wife Yvette aged 80 in 1993.
He revealed he had had ‘flings’ with men in the 1970s, but had never been able to reveal his sexuality because of his ‘macho bad boy’ persona.
He has been running Blackpool’s Trades Hotel for several decades, with his spokesperson describing it as a ‘sanctuary for gay men’.
The 60-bedroom guest house has three bars, hosting karaoke nights and seasonal events.
After making his television debut on ITV in 1971, Nagasaki quickly became a household name due to his unique appearance.
Nagasaki has been running Blackpool’s Trades Hotel for several decades, with his spokesperson describing it as a ‘sanctuary for gay men’. Pictured in 2005
Wrestler Shirley Crabtree – aka Big Daddy – with fellow British wrestler Martin Ruane, more commonly known as Giant Haystacks in 1981
His fame grew to the extent he was also brought over to Canada to wrestle for the Hart family, but continued to appear on these shores.
The mask formed a central part of the character and perhaps the most famous moment in World of Sport was in 1977 when he took it off in a special ceremony (although Big Daddy had actually removed the mask two years earlier in a match).
Both Daddy and Giant Haystacks were common opponents for Nagasaki and he once even lifted Daddy onto his shoulders and performed his finishing ‘Kamikaze Crash’ slam, which saw him throw an opponent to the floor before rolling shoulder-first over them.
He continued to wrestle throughout the 1980s and early 1990s before going into semi-retirement, with sporadic appearances in the early 2000s.
Speaking to promote his autobiography, he said: ‘I knew about my sexuality as early as 17 but it wasn’t until I was 26 that I started to be really me.
‘By the time I became a TV star back in 1972 I’d had a flings with other men.
‘But there was no way Kendo Nagasaki, the macho bad boy of wrestling could tell his story back then.
Nagasaki continued to wrestle throughout the 1980s and early 1990s before going into semi-retirement, with sporadic appearances in the early 2000s. Pictured in 2005
‘People would never have accepted it but thank goodness we live in different times and I just hope my story helps others be the best they can be – like I have always tried to be – and that my fans understand and stick by me because they mean the world to me.’
The wrestler released his book to raise money for a charity set up by the family of murdered soldier Lee Rigby.
He also allowed the foundation to set up on his country estate.
But the soldier’s mother later claimed that Nagasaki told her she had to ‘buy it, rent it or lose it’ due to his financial difficulties, the Sun reported at the time.