Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show Episode 87Three Territories, 1976

Hey everyone, Tony Richards here!

Episode 87 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show takes us back to the territory era with three great territories in 1976.

Segment 1:From Tokyo, Japan, Fumi Saito joins the show to take us back to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1976.

Segment 2:We look at the NWA Tri-State office in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the Bicentennial y...

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show Episode 86

Episode 86 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show continues our 1976 territory reviews as we head to the Pacific Northwest.

Segment 1: We look at Don Owen’s Portland Territory in 1976 with two of the finest experts on the territory — author and historian Mike Rodgers and his collaborator Frank Culbertson. There are no two better people to walk us through the buildings, the talent, and the business of Portland that year.

Segment 2: We hop across the border to the Vancouver Territory. Steve Verrier joins the s...

Episode 85 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is all about the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame 2026 ballot.

We go down the ballot with plenty of expertise, advocates for their favorites, and deep historical and career reviews to help voters make their decisions this year.

Segment 1:

Our Hall of Fame panel looks at the Historical and Non-Wrestler categories. Steve Gennerelli, Greg Klein, and Brian R. Solomon join me for this discussion.

Segment 2:

Allan Blackstock makes his first appearance on the show from Great Britain to discuss...

Episode 84 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is a different kind of night — The “What If” Episode.

Segment 1:

We go back 40 years to the car accident that ended Magnum TA’s career. Jimmy Garvin joins the show as we look at the hot program the two of them had just started. What if that accident never happens? Where does the program go? Does it build into a World Title series between Magnum and Jimmy? How does Precious fit into the story? This one gets intriguing in a hurry.

RIP Ricky Sexton

S...

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show – Episode 83
The Detroit Territory, 1976

Hey everyone, Tony Richards here!Episode 83 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show takes a trip to the Detroit territory and Big Time Wrestling in 1976.

We open with a short congratulations to one of our family members and AWA analyst, George Schire. The George Tragos–Lou Thesz Hall of Fame Board announced this past weekend that George will be honored with the James C. Melby Award for 2027 at Hall of Fame weekend in
Waterloo, Iowa. Well deserved.

Segment 1:
I welc...

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show Episode 82

Hey everyone, Tony Richards here!

Episode 82 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is another history-packed episode with three strong segments.

Segment 1:

We welcome Bob Smith of The Outdated Wrestling Hour and Outdated Entertainment Hour. Bob was also a staff member at Pro Wrestling Illustrated, worked on the first PWI 500, and played in B.B. King’s band. It should be a fascinating visit.

Segment 2:

I go back to the 1966 West Texas Territory, this time covering the Tuesday ni...

Episode 81: A Farewell for Superstar Bill Dundee

This week's special episode features Dr. Tom Prichard, Randy Hales, and Pat Trammell of Talking Memphis Wrestling. Together we share stories, personal remembrances, and words of tribute for Bill Dundee.

It is the only segment on this week’s show — a full episode dedicated to remembering one of the great personalities of Memphis and the territory era.

Thank you for being part of this community as we honor the people who built this business.

Do us and territory wrestling fans a favor, subscribe, like, give...

Episode 80 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is a special one, with a trip to Japan and a heartfelt look back at our friend Jerry Oates.

Segment 1:We travel to Japan as wrestling historian Fumi Saito joins us from Tokyo. Fumi looks back at Giant Baba’s All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1976, the year Jerry and Ted Oates won the All Asia Tag Team Championship.

Segment 2:Two of our regulars, Georgia wrestling analyst Bobby Simmons and Gulf Coast expert Michael Norris, join me to share their friendship and memories of Jerry Oates. We la...

Episode 79 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show welcomes two first-time guests to the show — and we also pause to remember three wrestlers we’ve lost recently.

Segment One: I pay tribute to Paul LeDuc, one of the Canadian Lumberjacks along with his kayfabe brother Jos LeDuc. Then we welcome Lucha Libre historian and enthusiast Roy Lucier for his first appearance on the show. Roy and I discuss wrestling in Mexico as we cover the EMLL and UWA promotions in 1976.

Segment Two: I offer a heartfelt tribute to Jerry Oates, a Southern territory legend and...

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show Episode 78

Hey everyone, Tony Richards here!Episode 78 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is another loaded episode with three strong segments.

Segment 1:Steve Gennerelli and I open the show with a salute and review of the career of Dolly Parton, the Hall of Fame singer-songwriter who recently passed away at the age of 80. We share our thoughts and pay tribute to one of the greats.

Segment 2:Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Florida analyst Howard Baum is joined by former Florida referee and office e...

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show Episode  77

Episode 77 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is another history-packed episode with three great guests and deep conversations.

Segment 1: Steve Gennerelli joins me as we go deep into the 7 Stages of the Territory Era framework. Steve and I discuss how the framework was created, its roots, and the original thoughts and ideas behind it. We talk about how it continues to evolve as new information comes to light. Then we focus specifically on Stage 7: Disintegration (1985–1995) — the critical ten-year period when the territory system colla...

Episode 76 is a special one: The Dory Funk Jr. Tribute Show.

We honor the life and career of “The Champ” with four powerful segments and an incredible group of guests.

Segment 1:Historian George Schire joins me to discuss the career of Dory Funk Jr. For the first time ever, we walk through my personal scorecard framework that supports the statement that Dory Funk Jr. was the greatest NWA World Heavyweight Champion of all time. Follow along and score it yourself.

Segment 2:One of Dory’s longtime friends, tag-team partners, and op...

Hey everyone, Tony Richards here!

Episode 75 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is packed with three strong segments and drops this morning in all the usual places.

Segment 1:Tennessee wrestling historian Tim Dills joins me as we finish the second half of 1976. We dig into the failure of the UWA, some fascinating records from the Tennessee Athletic Commission, and the growing tension that would lead to the split of the Tennessee Territory in 1977. Plenty more territory history along the way.

Segment 2:I travel back through the Time Tunnel to West Texas...

Hey everyone, Tony Richards here!Episode 74 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is focused on one of the most important gatherings in our industry — the Cauliflower Alley Club and their annual meeting taking place in Las Vegas this August 2026.

We’ve got a fantastic lineup of guests this week:•  New CAC board member and Director of Assistance Paige Sutherland• 

James Melby Award winner for journalism, author, and historian Dan Murphy• 

Ron Hutchinson Trainers Award winner Rip Rogers

Together we dig into the history, the mission, and the continued importance of the Caulif...

Episode 73 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is loaded with three big segments and drops this morning at 5am Central / 6am Eastern.

Segment 1:

I welcome back World Class Championship Wrestling historian and expert Lance Peterson. Lance shares his thoughts on the recent Curse of the Von Erichs documentary — honest analysis, historical context, and insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

Segment 2:

We continue The Life and Career of Dory Funk Sr. as 1966 kicks off. The first card of the new year takes us to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I dig into...

It's another loaded episode of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel!On Episode 72, Steve Gennerelli joins me as we step back into 1976 for a deep dive into the WWWF. We break down the dramatic Bruno Sammartino broken neck angle, the heated return match against Stan Hansen, and the massive impact it had on the territory. Plus, we examine the historic Inoki vs. Ali mixed wrestler-versus-boxer match and share more key insights into the WWWF during that pivotal year.

I’m also excited to launch a brand-new recurring segment: The Life and Career of Dory Funk Sr.! We kick th...

Episode 71: Tennessee Territory 1976 – The Gulas-Welch Territory in the First Half of the YearIn this episode, host Tony Richards is joined once again by Tennessee wrestling historian Tim Dills for a detailed review of the first six months of 1976 in the powerful Gulas-Welch Tennessee Territory.

We explore the behind-the-scenes workings and motivations of the new UWA promotion challenging the established order in Nashville, the heated and emerging Jerry Lawler vs. Tommy Rich feud that would become one of the territory’s biggest draws, the colorful program pitting The Bicentennial Kings against The Fabulous Fargos (including Jack...

We continue our 2026 Tragos-Thesz Hall of Fame Series with Episode 70, dropping this morning , July 8th — just days before the big Hall of Fame weekend in Waterloo.Joining us is Ron Fuller, who will be accepting the 2026 Lou Thesz Award on behalf of the Welch/Fuller Family. Ron shares heartfelt memories of his family’s legendary contributions to the business, stories from his own career, and his pivotal role promoting Southeastern Championship Wrestling in 1976. We dive deep into the family legacy that helped shape so many territories.

Our second guest is the noted wrestling historian George Schire. We disc...

We proudly launch our brand-new 2026 Tragos-Thesz Hall of Fame Series with Episode 69 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, featuring 2026 Impact Award winner and legendary referee James Beard and Jack Brisco Red Belt Award winner “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin!James was a cornerstone official in World Class Championship Wrestling’s glory years at the Sportatorium and later in the WWF. Jimmy Garvin brings his iconic in-ring perspective from his legendary runs across the territories, including his deep Texas roots and time with the Freebirds. In this conversation we cover career highlights, behind-the-scenes stories from Dallas, and what these well-deserved honors...

We’re back with our second Mailbag Show of the year — Episode 67 — and I’m joined once again by my great friend and co-host, Steve Gennerelli!This one is pure fan interaction. Steve and I are diving into your questions from the community — everything from deep territorial history, booking decisions, hidden gems from the 70s and 80s, wrestler careers, and those classic “what if” scenarios that we all love to debate.You asked… we’re answering.

Expect plenty of stories, insight, laughs, and that signature Time Tunnel deep dive you’ve come to expect.Whether you’re a longtime territory f...

It's Episode 67 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory Show as we continue pur 1976 Territory Review Series!

I am joined by Greg Klein this week as we we roll into the heart of Texas in 1976 and dive deep into one of the hottest territories in the NWA: Big Time Wrestling out of Dallas. From the roads stretching between Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Austin, a stacked roster of talent was tearing it up night after night in arenas big and small.Homegrown hero and NWA American Champion Fritz Von Erich was the beating h...

In a special celebration episode marking the exact 40th anniversary of one of pro wrestling’s most intense and unforgettable rivalries, host Tony is joined by the two men who lived it: Magnum T.A. and Nikita Koloff themselves!

This landmark episode dives deep into the legendary 1986 Best-of-7 Series for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship that electrified arenas across the Jim Crockett Promotions territory and forever changed the landscape of Mid-Atlantic wrestling. For the first time on the show, Magnum and Nikita sit down together to relive the entire program — from the explosive buildup on television, the...

Episode 65 of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show drops this morning, and I’m excited to bring you an absolute gem of a conversation with my special guest, Michael St. John — Memphis Wrestling Hall of Famer and one of the legendary TV announcers for both Nick Gulas and Jerry Jarrett in the classic Tennessee Territory.

We sit down and pay our respects to the recent passing of Phil Hickerson, dive deep into the great tag teams that defined Tennessee wrestling, talk about the various TV announcers who helped carry the territory on the airwaves, and explore the...

It's Episode 64 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show. Today, I’m thrilled to be joined once again by the one and only Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel analyst and special AWA Historian George Schire. We’re stepping back into the Time Tunnel to review the American Wrestling Association in 1976 — a pivotal year in one of wrestling’s most iconic territories.

In this episode, George and I break down the major storylines, title scenes, and larger-than-life personalities that defined AWA that year. Nick Bockwinkel was firmly entrenched as the AWA World Heavyweight Champion after dethroning Verne Gagne late in 1...

Episode 63 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel is live right now!I’m joined today by Gulf Coast Wrestling Historian Michael Norris, who literally grew up in the territory and even laced up the boots and worked as a wrestler there himself. Nobody knows 1976 Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling like Michael does, and he brings the stories, the details, and the memories straight from the locker room.

We go month-by-month through one of the wildest years in the territory’s history: the explosive return of Cowboy Bob Kelly, the comeback of Eddie Sullivan, the power of Rip Tyler, the...

This week, we’re firing up the Time Tunnel and heading straight into the heart of the Carolinas and Virginia territory for a full-hour celebration of Jim Crockett Promotions in 1976 – America’s Bicentennial year, when the red, white, and blue was flying high and the squared circle in the Mid-Atlantic was on absolute fire. Joining me is one of the sharpest wrestling historians around when it comes to the JCP territory: Todd Goss!Todd knows this era inside and out – the arenas, the angles, the promos, the blood, the sweat, and the unforgettable crowds that packed the Greensboro Coliseum, Charlott...

From Territories to Towns, Personalities to Buildings – Every Era Comes Alive Again

In this special bonus episode of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, I am joined by two legendary wrestling media veterans: former WWE Magazine editor and historian Brian R. Solomon, and Bob Smith of the iconic London Publishing Group. Drawing on their deep media experience — along with the host’s own background in radio and television — the trio delivers a fascinating deep-dive into the profound influence of television pioneer Ted Turner on professional wrestling. From the birth of Georgia Championship Wrestling to early Superstation days tha...

The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show returns with Episode 60 and the debut of an exciting new series: “Towns of the Tennessee Territory.”

This week I am joined on the show by special guest Sean Dulaney — the leading historian and author of the acclaimed The History of Professional Wrestling in Evansville book series — for the series premiere. Together we spotlight the town I used to go to on Wednesday night for Gulas-Welch Company wrestling, Evansville, Indiana, one of the most important stops on the classic Memphis/Tennessee territory circuit.

Drawing on Dulaney’s deep archival r...

This week our 1976 Territory Review Series rolls on as we head to the northeast portion of the United States for the World Wide Wrestling Federation territory.

With the expert analysis of my special co-host analyst, Steve Gennerelli, we begin the year in January as the story between Superstar Billy Graham and WWWF Champion, Bruno Sammartino continues in what will be a very hot year for both men! Not only will Bruno face Graham in 1976, but in the first five months along, he will also be challenged by Ivan Koloff, “The Big Cat” Ernie Ladd and a huge mome...

This week’s episode continues our Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel 1976 Territory Review Series and for this installment of the show, we review one of, if not the strongest, NWA territory at the time, Championship Wrestling From Florida.

Along for the journey is our regular Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Florida Analyst, Howard Baum, from Miami, Florida, whose first full year as a fan was in the year of 1976. Howard’s memories of the matches and the cards of the Miami Bean Auditorium as well as the weekly television are pure gold in every episode. In this special show, we h...

What a BIG show we have for you today!

In the broadcasting business, especially with the music formatted stations, we used to have a term when we “went outside the rules” or “played a song or songs not on the authorized playlist”, we called that “breaking format”. It was just a term for going outside the norm and doing something outside the box or beyond the regullar programming.

Well we are “breaking format” today and doing something a little different. I kick off the show with a visit with a first-time guest on the show, John Mayor McCal...

Welcome everyone to the kick-off episode of our 1976 Territory Review Series! We will start our tour of the territories in ouir bicentennial year in the wrestling capital of the world, St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1976, St. Louis was still going strong in the second year of the Fragmentation Era of the Territory Era in Pro Wrestling. Sam Muchnick had been retired as President of the National Wrestling Alliance for about six months, but in St. Louis, he was still very active and going strong as a promoter locally. Shows at the Kiel Auditorium were drawing between 8,000 and 10,500 for...

On Friday, March 20th, 2026, our Pro Wrestling Community lost one of the all time greats, Dennis Condrey of The Midnight Express, passed away at his home in Nirth Alabama at the age of 75.

I don’t have to introduce this episode by telling you all about the attributes and wonderful talents of Dennis, by now you have undoubtedly heard and seen many wonderful tributes and salutes to his storied career, including the emotional delived by his partner\manager Jim Cornette and my own feature article on his life and career here in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel. If...

This week on my podcast I am exited to welcome a very accomplished and talented friend, the author of ten pro wrestling books, both biographies and historical-focused materials, the author, Ian Douglass.

Douglass is originally from Southfield, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2001, earned a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2005, and completed an MBA at the Quantic School of Business and Technology in 2021. He also graduated from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts (now the Michigan Media Arts Center) in Southfield in 2002.

He be...

This week on the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, I am excited to present the first of our Mailbag Shows for 2026! Our great viewers, listeners and members of our various communities have submitted questions that we have curated for the show. Steve Gennerelli, our WWWF Analyst and Time Tunnel family member is here to assist with the fun.

Come along for this week’s show as we dive deep into the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Mailbag to answer the questions our community members want to know!

Chapters

This week on the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, I am pleased and thrilled to welcome back one of my best friends and esteemed colleagues in the professional wrestling history space, it’s Brian R. Solomon, host of the Shut Up and Wrestle Podcast.

Brian just was announced as the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Book of the Year Award for 2025 for his excellent biography of WWE superstar, announcer, owner and executive, Gorilla Monsoon. Brian is the first two-time winner of the Observer Book of the Year Award, having previously won for his book on The Original Sheik, Ed...

We are in the middle of our “1985 Territory Review” Series! Its a a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. In order to add context on where 1985 falls in the spectrum of the territory era of professional wrestling, here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”:

Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935)

Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945)

Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955)

Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965)

Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975)

Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985)

Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995)

1985 is the f...

We are in the middle of our “1985 Territory Review” Series! Its a a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. In order to add context on where 1985 falls in the spectrum of the territory era of professional wrestling, here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”:

Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935)

Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945)

Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955)

Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965)

Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975)

Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985)

Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995)

1985 is the f...

Our podcast focuses in on a by-gone era of regional booking offices of wrestling talent in historic towns and legendary buildings around the world.

Jimmy Ault aka Frankie Cain aka The Clubfoot Inferno aka The Great Mephisto and on and on was one unique individual. Born in Columbus, Ohio in the early 1930s, Cain grew up mostly destitute and in extreme poverty, often homeless and starving. He learned how to survive on the streets, working gimmicks and cons just to stay alive with the other street kids he hung around. He learned learned how to box, became...

We are in the middle of our “1985 Territory Review” Series! Its a a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. In order to add context on where 1985 falls in the spectrum of the territory era of professional wrestling, here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”:

Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935)

Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945)

Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955)

Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965)

Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975)

Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985)

Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995)

1985 is the f...