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Adrian Street (Dennis Hutchinson/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

Adrian Street (1940–2023), flamboyant pro wrestler 

by Linnea Crowther

Adrian Street was a professional wrestler known for his flamboyant glam persona. 

Adrian Street’s legacy 

Street was born in Wales, the son of a coal miner, but he left home as a teen to pursue professional wrestling. He initially wrestled under the name of Kid Tarzan Jonathan, but he later developed the persona for which he was best known. “Exotic” Adrian Street was straight out of a 1970s glam rock band, with long, blond hair and glittery makeup, wearing furs, lamé, and platform shoes.  

Street’s wrestling persona extended beyond the visual – he also sang glam rock songs, including “Imagine What I Can Do to You.” When he was in danger of being pinned, he would kiss his opponent in an attempt to throw him off, and he applied makeup to incapacitated opponents. He debuted in the U.S. in 1981, competing in such championships as NWA Hollywood Wrestling, the Mid-South Wrestling Championship, and Southeastern Championship Wrestling.  

Street also had a brief acting career, appearing in 1981’s “Quest for Fire.” He wrote several books, including “My Pink Gas Mask” and “I Only Laugh When It Hurts.” 

Notable quote 

“[T]he only thing that prevented me being absolutely perfect was my overabundance of modesty.” —from a 2014 interview for Media Man  

Tributes to Adrian Street 

Full obituary: People 

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