Fan Letters and Information

WrestlingClassics.com

Outback Jack, whose real name was Peter Stilsbury, was brought in from the Australia wrestling scene by Vince McMahon about the time that the "Crocodile Dundee" series of movies was popular (not surprising, as McMahon capitalized on just about every fad or popularity with a wrestler of the type similar to whatever was in vogue).

His finishing move was a sort of reverse clothesline, which was stereotypically labeled the 'boomerang'. Stilsbury wrestled in what I would suppose McMahon thought to be an "Outback" type outfit: dungarees, flannel shirt, alligator (crocodile?) boots. Stilsbury also wore this type of outfit everywhere else he went, on promotions, in real life, and probably to bed.

The character of Outback Jack never really caught on, mostly because Stilsbury had little in the way of draw/mic/selling skills. And when the Dundee fad had run its course, so had Stilsbury's usefulness to Mr.McMahon.

Butch

Via e-mail

I remember Lord Athol Layton referring to him during a TV match up here as "this young kid" (when he was being taken advantage of by one of those mean veteran heels). He was pretty grey around the sideburns, though. He was probably younger than Athol Layton but not by as much as they'd have us believe.

I have a suspicion that in his day Outback might have been a reasonable worker, as he claimed, and that we might well just have seen him long after "his day" before he got to WWF. Just a suspicion.

Jay

Hello, Greg

Greetings to you from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada!

I was just checking out your Outback Jack tribute, which is awesome! I noticed on it that you were looking for information about Jack's matches. On your list of televised matches, there was one that stands out that maybe you didn't ever see. It was March 1988, just after WrestleMania 4, on "WWF Superstars Of Wrestling" and Outback was against "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. DiBiase caught Outback from behind before the bell and completely dominated the match despite a very brief rally by Jack. DiBiase finished off Outback with the "Million Dollar Dream" sleeperhold, and with Outback knocked out, DiBiase stuffed an American $100.00 bill into Jack's mouth, which is what he did to all his defeated opponents for the next several years. I have the match on video, so if you want to see it, I'll gladly make a copy and send it to you.

Oddly enough, about 5 years later, there was a small wrestling promotion here in Nova Scotia called Canadian Wrestling Stars, and featured were lady wrestlers. One of them was a husky (but not fat) woman who called herself "Outback Annie". She came to the ring wearing the customary Australian hat, but did not sport a ring jacket or vest, like Outback Jack's crocodile head (his pet croc "Irving"). Outback Annie had short, dark hair, did not wear make-up and had a large bosom. Her ring outfit consisted of yellow boots, kaki pants, and the top was light gold with one shoulder strap. It was also obvious Annie did not wear protective cups or anything else under the top, as it was practically see-through and her nipples were always erect. Annie was also quite muscular, listed as "an even 200 pounds" during ring introductions. Anyway, getting to the point, one match featured Annie (the babyface, or good girl) against the women's champion of the promotion, the "Queen Of Pain" (the wicked heel). Guess what happened. The Queen attacked Annie before the bell and pummeled her for about two minutes before clamping on her finishing hold, the "Every Girl's Dream" sleeperhold. Annie sank to the ground unconscious, and the referee dropped Annie's limp arm three times, giving the Queen the victory. While Annie lay out cold in the middle of the ring and the crowd of about 500 raining boos and catcalls on the Queen, her valet "Slave Girl" gave the Queen a blue flower, which the Queen proceeded to stuff in Annie's (you guessed it!) mouth. How original! After that, Outback Annie disappeared and the promotion shut down for good.

My question to you, Greg, is, was there ever an "Outback Annie" on the Australian wrestling scene, or a lady that resembles who I described. Something tells me that this was a local woman, but I have never seen her around here, so there is a small chance, I suppose, that she may be from Australia. Please feel free to e-mail me back with any info, or just to chat, I'd like to hear from you. Thanks very much, Greg, and I hope to talk to you soon.

Best Regards,
John Greeley

P.S. Outback Annie's entrance music was "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport", which I believe was
Outback Jack's as well.

Home