WRESTLING legend Kendo Nagasaki brought grappling to the garden as he appeared at an annual flower show.

The former world heavyweight champion introduced a tournament at the Stoke-on-Trent Floral and Garden Produce Show at Tunstall park yesterday.

His appearance at the 61st annual show came as part of the city's centenary celebrations.

It saw the enigmatic Nagasaki, who has remained masked and silent throughout his 46-year career, arrive in a yellow Lamborghini and bless the ring before eight wrestlers took to the arena.

Hundreds of visitors watched as British Wrestling Association grapplers competed – with each loser forced to remove their mask.

Local representatives included Ghent Wakefield from Tunstall and Fenton's Chris Curtis.

Nagasaki, aged 63, pictured, first achieved fame by unmasking veteran Count Bartelli at Hanley's Victoria Hall in 1966.

And manager Atlantis Chronos Goth said he was happy to appear back in the city.

"Kendo has a long, distinguished connection with Stoke-on-Trent and he's pleased to be here for the centenary celebrations," she said.

"His career effectively began here at the Victoria Hall."

Burslem North councillor Dave Conway was instrumental in bringing the silent star to Tunstall.

The City Independent councillor said: "He's a man of mystery and he's always maintained that. He's got a cult following all over the world.

"This is a family day and we wanted to attract more people than just for the flower show.

"We've got to have a better vision for Stoke-on-Trent. We've got to get these characters back."

Wildman John Wilkin, who performed on the wrestling circuit for 15 years in the 1980s and 1990s, said he had met with Nagasaki in the Victoria Hall dressing room on fight nights.

"We need to get wrestling back," he added. "When I started in the 1980s it used to be a sell-out every week – now you're lucky if you get 200 people."

The flower show also proved a success, with a higher number of entries than last year.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council project officer Pauline Withington said there had been more than 500 entries across 116 categories.

"The standard has been very high in all classes, especially the vegetables and chrysanthemums.

"Some people are very keen competitors and go all over the country to enter big shows. Everyone enjoyed it and supports this show taking place in the city.

"We all look forward to working with all the exhibitors every year."

The show, running for the third year in Tunstall, previously ran in Hanley Park and was originally staged at the Victoria Hall.

Show supervisor Sandra Hackwood added: "The floral part is fantastic. I sat and watched the ladies actually produce the displays in the tents yesterday and they're fantastic.

"These people do it as a hobby and they're very talented. The colour when you come in is beautiful.

"We've had new entrants this year, which is very encouraging, and there's been a lot of children entering."

The council's environmental boss Paul Hankey said: "We're really pleased that we've had it in Tunstall again, and that it's again proved a success."