After finishing school at the age of fifteen, Saint followed his father's footsteps and became a factory worker. By this time he was already an amateur boxer. One day Saint's mother went to the hair salon, and her hair was cut by Billy Robinson's mother. They introduced the two and Saint started training at Robinson's father's gym. During June 1958, Johnny Saint was defeated by Colin McDonald in Saint's debut match. On 5 May 1973, Johnny Saint wrestled Jim Breaks for the British Lightweight Championship. Saint lost in the 5th round due to referee stoppage, due to a laceration on his forehead. On 3 November 1976 Johnny Saint won his first World Lightweight title and would be featured in the World of Sport in England, though was underrated in America due to his strait-laced attitude to wrestling.
Retirement and return
On 10 October 1996 Johnny Saint defeated Naohiro Hoshikawa at a Michinoku Pro Wrestling event in what was billed as Saint's retirement match. In 2001. Saint formally vacated his World Lightweight title. On 27 November 2007, more than 10 years after he retired, Saint returned to the ring for LDN Wrestling defeating Johnny Kidd. Saint wrestled a further eight matches for LDN, including two bouts against three time LDN British Heavyweight Champion 'Gentleman' Jon Ritchie, in which Saint put up a considerable fight before being defeated by the heavier champion. He was defeated by Mike Quackenbush at Chikara's Tag World Grand Prix 2008 by KO after he did not get up from the referee's ten count after he suffered a knee injury while performing a knee breaker. Saint made his debut in America at Chikara's King of Trios Tournament on 27 March 2009 with Mike Quackenbush and Jorge "Skayde" Rivera in "The Masters of a Thousand Holds" team. The team would win their opening round match against "Incoherence", but would lose their quarter-final round match against "Team Uppercut", which consisted of Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, and Dave Taylor. Saint returned to Chikara on 30 July 2011, losing to Johnny Kidd in a match contested under World of Sport rules. The following day Saint, teaming with Mike Quackenbush, pinned Kidd, teaming with Colt Cabana, in a tag team match. He wrestled his last match In Italy in 2015. In March 2016, Saint worked as a guest trainer for WWE in their Performance Center. The following December, Saint announced he was starting a six-month stint as a trainer for WWE. On 7 June 2018, it was announced that Saint would be the general manager of WWE's United Kingdom division.
Professional wrestling style and persona
Saint’s nickname "The Man of a Thousand Holds" came from his largely submission based grappling style, frequently using wrist locks, roll-up pins and bridges to counter his opponents' offence, he would also utilise a Lady of the lake hold as his finishing move.
