Description

Billy Riley (1896–1977) was an English catch wrestler and coach. He founded Riley's Gym, later known as the Snake Pit, in Wigan in 1948. He trained Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, and other wrestlers who became foundational figures in catch wrestling, professional wrestling, and modern MMA.

Teachers (3)

• Wi
  Willie Charnock

  linkCatch Wrestling 2

  Probable

  Riley trained under Willie Charnock, Peter Burns, and Waino Ketonen; documented in wrestling history but details are sparse

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Riley trained under Willie Charnock, Peter Burns, and Waino Ketonen; documented in wrestling history but details are sparse

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Billy Riley (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• Pe
  Peter Burns

  linkCatch Wrestling 2

  Probable

  Riley trained under Willie Charnock, Peter Burns, and Waino Ketonen; documented in wrestling history but details are sparse

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Riley trained under Willie Charnock, Peter Burns, and Waino Ketonen; documented in wrestling history but details are sparse

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Billy Riley (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• Wa
  Waino Ketonen

  linkCatch Wrestling 2

  Probable

  Riley trained under Willie Charnock, Peter Burns, and Waino Ketonen; documented in wrestling history but details are sparse

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Riley trained under Willie Charnock, Peter Burns, and Waino Ketonen; documented in wrestling history but details are sparse

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Billy Riley (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Karl Gotch

  linkCatch Wrestling 3

  Confirmed

  Gotch trained at Billy Riley's Snake Pit in Wigan, acknowledged as the center of catch wrestling; well-documented in wrestling history

  sports_kabaddiThe Snake Pit badge (1955-1960)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Gotch trained at Billy Riley's Snake Pit in Wigan, acknowledged as the center of catch wrestling; well-documented in wrestling history

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "He learned catch-as-catch-can and professional wrestling at the Snake Pit under Billy Riley and Billy Joyce"

  — Karl Gotch (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Sources