Death of the Territories

by Tim Hornbaker

  The independents were a place for young grapplers to hone their craft before getting their shot in the Big Two — much as they’d done in years past when an up-and-comer would perform in regional outfits before getting his shot in New York or St. Louis. The number of regional independents grew exponentially in the mid-to-late 1980s, and many name performers ended up on the indie circuit looking for jobs. International Championship Wrestling, Deep South Championship Wrestling, Global, Florida Championship Wrestling, World Organization Wrestling, and Windy City Wrestling were just a handful of groups to garner attention in various parts of the country. “Since the WWF took off, there are also a lot of little groups coming out of the woodwork every day,” said John Ort, publisher of Wrestling Eye magazine. “You don’t have to like [the WWF], but they’ve done a lot for themselves — and the rest of the business indirectly, whether they’ve wanted to or not. McMahon is a genius in his own time. You’ve got [to] give the devil his due.”417

  Vince McMahon, without a doubt, meant different things to different people, and to his enemies, he was everything that was wrong with modern day pro wrestling. But to the people who appreciated his hard work and accomplishments, there was no shortage of praise. “I feel that Vince McMahon is [the] best thing that happened to our business,” explained former IC champion Tito Santana. “There’s nobody better than him.”418 Hall of Famer Fred Blassie said, “No one had the foresight this man had. He is the greatest promoter ever. He showed me there’s nothing but money out there.”419 “He took [wrestling] out of the ’50s and ’60s and brought it into the ’80s,” said Jesse “The Body” Ventura in 1985.420 Richard Glover, a senior vice-president of Titan Sports, told a reporter in early 1989 that “Vince McMahon was the first of the TV generation to move into a position of leadership in the business. [He] saw that TV could lead [wrestling] out of being a regional business into a national business. TV could serve as a support for the live events, but it could in and of itself open up new opportunities.”421 Verne Gagne had a front row seat for all of McMahon’s maneuvering and, in 1989, was blunt in his opinion: “[McMahon] disrupted the whole industry and put some of the promoters out of business. It hasn’t been good for the industry; it’s been good for him but nobody else. If McMahon hadn’t done it, Crockett would have.”422

  McMahon’s ascension caused a lot of resentment. “Vince Sr. was a gentleman,” said an anonymous promoter in 1985. “I didn’t like everything he did, but I could live with it. But that Junior is different. He’s dangerous. He goes around telling everybody what a marketing genius he is, but believe me, it’s not marketing — it’s money. His method is just to buy everyone else out.”423 That same year, the legendary Dick the Bruiser was asked about McMahon and the wrestling war. He answered simply, “It’s a business, just a business.”424

  More motivated, more organized, and better equipped than the old-timers, McMahon had invaded each territory one by one with aggressive business tactics and, over time, outgunned local promoters. And his opponents were not choir boys. More often than not they were hard-nosed former wrestlers who were not used to, or susceptible to, being pushed around.

  Truth be told, some of his rival promoters were certainly unscrupulous. Jim Ross, while attending a mid-1980s wrestling conference, overheard angry promoters seriously discussing a plot to kill McMahon. Years later, McMahon told Playboy, “Some of it was probably bravado from a pseudo tough guy. Some of it was real.”425 Revolutionizing a business wasn’t always popular, and McMahon had a pretty clear-minded perspective about it. In a 1991 interview in Sports Illustrated, he said, “Had my father known what I was going to do, he never would have sold his stock to me.”426

  But, as it turned out, McMahon did take over in 1982 and transformed the industry. With annual revenue of more than $100 million, a national touring circuit, 250-plus stations in his syndicated TV network, and an immense pay-per-view following, the World Wrestling Federation stood towering above the rest. The wrestling war continued, but the playing field was perceptibly different, and longtime fans had the choice to accept or reject what the sport had become. The territorial era in professional wrestling was officially over, and there was no way to turn back the clock.

  Endnotes

  Chapter 1

  1Gus Sonnenberg, a former football player, is credited with introducing the flying tackle in 1928–29. Joe Savoldi, another ex–gridiron star, popularized the flying dropkick in 1930.

  2The Trust was formed in 1933 by Jack Curley, Joe “Toots” Mondt, Ray Fabiani, Tom Packs, Paul Bowser, and Ed White, and the group fizzled out three years later.

  3By-Laws of National Wrestling Alliance, Article IX, p. 8, part of the Department of Justice case files, File No. 60-406-0, National Archive at College Park, Maryland.

  4Orville Brown was the first National Wrestling Alliance champion beginning in 1948 and was booked to face National Wrestling Association titleholder Lou Thesz in a unification match in November 1949. However, Brown suffered career-ending injuries in a car accident on November 1, 1949, and the match scheduled for later in the month was canceled. On November 27, Thesz was named the Alliance titleholder, recognized by all members.

  5Fred Kohler letters to Sam Muchnick, October 10, 1950, December 9, 1950, part of the Department of Justice case files, File No. 60-406-0, National Archive at College Park, Maryland.

  6Eddie Quinn letter to Sam Muchnick, dated September 4, 1957. Jack Pfefer Collection at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.

  7Coverage in the Dallas Morning News, beginning January 6, 1953, and continuing into 1954.

  8The Heart of America Sports Attractions Inc. was founded in 1963 and was owned by George Simpson of Kansas City, Gust Karras of St. Joseph, Bob Geigel, and Pat O’Connor. The latter two were still active wrestlers at the time and their ownership was kept secret. Later, Harley Race became a partner.

  9Rogers suffered a broken arm and fractured ankle. His health status in 1963 has been heavily disputed, with some sources at the time claiming he’d suffered a heart attack.

  10The NWA first reached 39 members at the Santa Monica convention in September 1952. The 39 members included both Sam Avey and Leroy McGuirk in Tulsa.

  Chapter 2

  11Capitol Wrestling Corporation Financial Statements (Unaudited) for the Years Ending September 30, 1979, and September 30, 1980, Leopold & Linowes, Certified Public Accountants, Washington, D.C., 20036.

  12Watson was a two-time world heavyweight champion, having captured the National Wrestling Association championship in February 1947, and the National Wrestling Alliance crown in March 1956.

  13Boesch had his local TV on channel 39, KHTV, and because of its success, the station paid production costs. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 21, 2003, p. 1.

  14Boston Globe, June 10, 1983.

  15Des Moines Register, November 7, 1983, p. 22.

  16Boston Globe, June 10, 1983.

  17New Orleans Times-Picayune, December 22, 1982, p. 40.

  18Chicago Tribune, March 13, 1994, p. 1.

  19Toronto Star journalist Greg Quill noted in a 1986 article that he was “warned” by a WWF official not to call McMahon “Vincent Jr.” Toronto Star, August 22, 1986, p. D20.

  20Following Andre’s injury and subsequent surgery, Jim Barnett sent a telegram out to fellow promoters, informing them of his location at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. “He is expected to be out approximately 10 weeks,” Barnett noted. “Suggest friends call him to cheer him up.” Barnett, interestingly, said that Andre was “operated on today for a broken leg.” Stu Hart Collection, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

  21Yonkers Herald Statesman, October 1, 1981, p. 8.

  22The McMahons moved to 3 Driftwood Lane in South Yarmouth. The Cape Cod Coliseum was at 225 White’s Path in South Yarmouth. The Cape Cod Chronicle explained that the venue was “financially beleaguered” in early 1976 and d
etailed the fall of the Cape Cod Cubs, a local hockey club. Cape Cod Chronicle, January 1, 1976, p. 5. Edward Fruean was listed as the owner of the venue. Lewiston Daily Sun, January 28, 1976. McMahon was listed as the owner of the Coliseum. Cape Cod Chronicle, September 6, 1979, p. 17.

  23Linda McMahon was the registered agent for the new corporation. The Cape Cod Coliseum was the address for Titan Sports. The company had an ID number of 001003655. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Website, www.sec.state.ma.us.

  24Details of the sale were outlined in an agreement signed by Vincent McMahon Sr., Robert Marella, Phil Zacko, Arnold Skaaland, and Vincent K. McMahon, dated June 5, 1982.

  Chapter 3

  25Pinkie George and Orville Brown were muscled out by the Heart of America Sports Attractions group. Harry Light was faced with strong competition by Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle, who sold out to Edward Farhat (a.k.a. the Sheik) around 1964–65.

  26National Wrestling Alliance Membership Roster 1976–77.

  27O’Mahoney was originally scheduled to win the March 2, 1936, match against Dick Shikat. However, Shikat took matters into his own hands and began shooting on his opponent, eventually forcing O’Mahoney to submit.

  28The first $100,000 gate in pro wrestling occurred on May 21, 1952, at Gilmore Baseball Park in Hollywood, California. The show was headlined by Lou Thesz and Baron Michele Leone and drew 25,256 paying $103,277.75.

  29His program featured a string of independent workers, including George Strickland, Chico Garcia, Pancho Villa, Killer Kent, Buddy Kellogg, and Buddy Brown. In the main event, Leon Graham beat Glenn Reinhart. Haft enjoyed his 50th anniversary as a promoter in Columbus in January 1967.

  30Detroit Free Press, May 25, 1981, p. 8.

  31More information is offered in Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling by Ole Anderson with Scott Teal (2003).

  32Ibid.

  33GCW syndicated to WLWT (channel 5) in Cincinnati, WKEF (channel 22) in Dayton, WCLQ (channel 61) in Cleveland, and WOAC (channel 67) in Canton.

  34Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 4, 1982, p. 71.

  35International Wrestling League (IWL) was an indie promotion based in Georgia run by Jim Wilson and Thunderbolt Patterson.

  36NWA members agreed to reinstate Farhat at the 1982 convention in Puerto Rico “if he still qualified as an active promoter and paid his dues.” National Wrestling Alliance meeting minutes from the 1982 Annual Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

  37Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling by Ole Anderson with Scott Teal (2003).

  38MACW changed from channel 29 to channel 4 sometime between November 8 and December 13, 1980.

  39Buffalo Courier-Express, unknown date (week of August 30 to September 5, 1981).

  40Los Angeles Times, July 4, 1982, p. C1.

  Chapter 4

  41In 1948, Eaton’s son Robert married Marilyn Knight, the daughter of Goodwin Knight, lieutenant governor of California. Goodwin Knight was elected governor in 1953.

  42Deposition of Philip P. Zacko, March 2, 1984, Bruno Sammartino v. Capitol Wrestling Corporation, Civil Action No. 82-1979, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

  43Correspondence with Jeff Walton, June 2016.

  44Deposition of Michael LeBell, June 12, 1985, Titan Sports, Inc., A Massachusetts Corporation v. Mike LeBell, Case No. CV-85-0282-RMT, United States District Court for the Central District of California.

  45Details of the deal were revealed in Michael LeBell v. Vincent Kennedy McMahon, Titan Sports, Inc., Capital Wrestling Corporation, and Does 1 to 20, inclusive, Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles, Case No. C 568 506.

  46Correspondence with Jeff Walton, June 2016.

  47Ibid.

  48Deposition of Philip P. Zacko, March 2, 1984, Bruno Sammartino v. Capitol Wrestling Corporation, Civil Action No. 82-1979, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

  49National Wrestling Alliance meeting minutes from the 1982 Annual Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

  50Ibid.

  51Letter from James E. Barnett to NWA members dated September 15, 1982. Incidentally, the Braves lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, three games to none.

  52Blanchard was billed as an “associate promoter at the Wrestlethon with Frank Brown.” San Antonio Express, January 12, 1965, p. 19.

  53Southwest Championship Wrestling Inc. was registered before the Texas Secretary of State on October 15, 1979, by Joseph E. Blanchard. The corporate address was 922 Serenade in San Antonio.

  54Paris News, June 29, 1982, p. 14.

  55McGuirk won the world junior heavyweight championship on June 19, 1939, and retained the belt throughout the 1940s. Already blind in one eye, he lost his remaining sight in a car accident on February 7, 1950, in Little Rock, and his career as a pro wrestler ended.

  56Scott’s tenure as a booker for McGuirk was relatively brief, lasting from late 1981 until around March/April 1982. McGuirk’s promotion also changed its name from Tri-States to Midwest Championship Wrestling.

  57Unknown 1981 article entitled “McGuirk Says He Won’t Rehire Five Who Walked Out.” Also Arkansas Gazette, May 11, 1983, p. 27.

  58Wrestling Observer Newsletter, August 10, 1986, p. 1.

  59Dallas Morning News, November 1, 1982, p. 36.

  60The show in Santa Rosa was held on June 11, 1979, and featured Murdoch, Mulligan, Little Tokyo, Coconut Willie, Manny Fernandez, and El Mongol — all Amarillo regulars. Each of these grapplers, with the exception of Murdoch, was back in Amarillo for a show at the Sports Arena on June 14. See Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 11, 1979, p. 18.

  61Albuquerque Journal, June 12, 1974, p. C1.

  62Albuquerque Journal, February 9, 1978, p. F1.

  63Georgia Corporations Division website. Also see Marietta Journal, October 1, 1982, p. 19.

  Chapter 5

  64Muchnick’s retirement show drew 19,919 people to the Checkerdome and an $110,000 gate, and both figures were the largest of his nearly four-decade career. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 5, 1982, p. 17.

  65Muchnick’s professionalism and the high standards for his promotion in St. Louis were detailed by his longtime assistant Larry Matysik in Wrestling at the Chase: The Inside Story of Sam Muchnick and the Legends of Professional Wrestling (2005).

  66National Wrestling Alliance meeting minutes from the 1982 annual convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

  67Wrestling at the Chase: The Inside Story of Sam Muchnick and The Legends of Professional Wrestling by Larry Matysik (2005).

  68Race won his first NWA world title on May 24, 1973, with a win over Dory Funk Jr. He also defeated Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Giant Baba (twice), and Tommy Rich for the championship.

  69National Wrestling Alliance meeting minutes from the 1982 annual convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

  70The boxer vs. wrestler match occurred on July 1, 1940, in Atlanta, and Dempsey won by KO in the second round.

  71Orlando Sentinel, September 22, 1985, p. 6.

  72Lakeland Ledger, August 21, 1976, p. 3B.

  73St. Petersburg Evening Independent, February 16, 1972, p. 1.

  74Ron and Robert Fuller purchased Gulf Coast Wrestling from the Fields family and renamed their local promotion Southeastern Championship Wrestling (SECW). According to the State of Alabama Corporation Records, Gulf Coast Wrestling Inc. changed to Southeastern Gulf Coast Wrestling Inc. on July 7, 1978. Bob Armstrong was a minority owner in Southeastern with the Fullers, owning 10 percent of the company beginning in 1978. Dothan Eagle, May 19, 2012.

  75The Tennessean, May 8, 1977, p. 168.

  76Details about this situation were offered in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, March 20, 1977. />
  77The station paid Owen’s production costs in Portland. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 21, 2003, p. 1.

  78Deseret News, August 11, 1979.

  79Deseret News, April 9–10, 1982, p. 4B.

  80Chilliwack Progress, December 8, 1954, p. 6.

  81Quinn passed away on December 14, 1964, at the age of 58.

  82Montreal Gazette, July 23, 1982.

  Chapter 6

  83An announcement of the deal was made in the Chicago Tribune, December 14, 1965, p. C4.

  84Los Angeles Times, August 2, 1969, p. B2.

  85Bruiser won his first WWA championship in 1964 and his last in 1985.

  86Louisville Courier-Journal, August 26, 1979, p. B3.

  87Memorandum from Mike Levinton to Blair-represented TV stations dated November 4, 1982.

  88Letter from Gunkel to Barnett dated February 4, 1983. The Global Wrestling office was at 5570 Lake Island Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30327.

  89Letter from Barnett to Gunkel dated February 8, 1983. As noted in the document, carbon copies of the letter were sent to Flair and the NWA board of directors.

  90Letter from Coxe to Mike Levinton of Blair Television dated March 1, 1983.

  91Letter from Barnett to Blanchard dated March 14, 1983.

  92Wrestling Observer Newsletter, July 1983, p. 15.

  93The program was featured during the weekend of July 2–3, 1983.

  94Albuquerque Journal, July 2, 1983, p. 17.

  95Mansfield News-Journal, June 5, 1983, p. 72.

  96There was coverage of the GA–SCW–Global situation in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, July–September 1983.

  97Augusta Chronicle, August 14, 1983.

  98Wrestling at the Chase: The Inside Story of Sam Muchnick and The Legends of Professional Wrestling by Larry Matysik (2005).