Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show – Details, episodes & analysis

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 28, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, I welcome Lib Ayoub, the author of “It’s All About the Belt”, The World Heavyweight Title Belts of the American Wrestling Association 1960-1990. In the second half of the show today, I answer questions in our first Q&A segment.

Questions for this week’s Q&A:

What the Tony Richards’ Origin Story with Pro Wrestling?

What were the “Peak Years” of the Territory Era?

What World Title Changes Would You Have Wanted To Be There Live For?

Can You Give A History of Wrestling In San Antonio, Texas?

Can You Talk A Little About The Relationship Between Doc Sarpolis and Dory Funk, Sr?  

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:35) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast
• (00:04:37) - New Book Review
• (00:06:58) - Wrestling's Championship belts
• (00:10:11) - Replica AWA Rings
• (00:15:34) - The First AWA Champion's Belt With Snake Skin
• (00:18:21) - NWA US TV Championship Belt
• (00:21:27) - The Police Gazette Belt
• (00:25:46) - The AWA World Championship
• (00:27:37) - The Inmate Championship Belt
• (00:32:31) - Jerry Lawler On The AWA Championship Belt
• (00:36:33) - The Incentives Section of Your Book
• (00:39:47) - The History of the AWA World Championship
• (00:45:23) - Roy Welch Should Be Inducted Into The Wrestling Hall of Fame
• (00:50:10) - Fooled by the AWA Championship belts
• (00:51:32) - Tony Richards Origin Story
• (01:00:51) - Tony Richards Creates Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (01:02:04) - What Were The Peak Years of Wrestling?
• (01:13:25) - Sam Mushnick vs National Wrestling Alliance: Stage 3
• (01:21:48) - What World Title Change Match Would You Have Wanted To Attend?
• (01:26:19) - Dori Funk Senior
• (01:33:04) - Texas Wrestling in the 1940s
• (01:42:16) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast

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

On this week’s episode, we discuss the promotion owned by Dick The Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder, the World Wrestling Association. What was the television like? And the towns, such as the home base of Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as Champaign, Illinois, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Bloomington, Hammond, Lafayette, Gary, Indiana and sharing Chicago, Illinois with the AWA.

We are going to dig into the history of the territory as well as the WWA World Champion for most of 1975, Ox Baker and the WWA World Tag Champs, Sgt Jaques Goulet and Pvt LaBeouf, The Legionnaires. Dave lets us in on some of Dick The Bruiser’s simple booking philosophy that kept the WWA rolling in dollars and television viewers throughout the mid-1960s and all through the 1970s.

You will enjoy this episode on one of the least talked about territories of the territory era in professional wrestling, the WWA!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:56) - FYIs
• (00:04:19) - A Tribute To Territory Era Commentators
• (00:07:49) - WWE From Indianapolis
• (00:09:51) - Bruiser vs Dave Dynasty
• (00:13:43) - In the Elevator With My Mother
• (00:13:53) - Dave Dark on Starting a Wrestling Podcast
• (00:18:48) - WOJO on Jerry Graham Jr.'s Death
• (00:23:50) - Bruiser Miller on His Controversy
• (00:28:27) - Bruiser vs Vince McMahon
• (00:33:58) - Bruiser's Indianapolis Studios
• (00:37:56) - Bruiser the Clown on Indiana
• (00:40:40) - Nick The Bruiser on His CHAIN
• (00:45:07) - Bruiser vs Sheiks in Indianapolis
• (00:48:30) - St. Louis Wrestling Legends reminiscing about Dog the Bruiser and
• (00:51:58) - Bruno Sammartino
• (00:56:14) - Bruiser vs Luther in Detroit
• (00:58:24) - Legionnaires vs The Crusher
• (01:02:23) - Paul Christie on His WWE Days
• (01:04:58) - Bob Bruiser on His Booking Plans
• (01:09:21) - BRUISER AND CROSSES
• (01:11:45) - WWE 125
• (01:15:43) - Pepper Gomez's Run With the WWE Championship
• (01:18:21) - Bruiser's Last Match of 1975
• (01:22:56) - Dave On Nostalgic Dave Dynasty
• (01:26:08) - Interviewing Raven on My Podcast
• (01:28:22) - 1975

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 27, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, we review several names on this year’s Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Ballot.

I asked three of our regular guests and experts to come on the show to discuss who they believe should be elected to this year’s Hall of Fame Class. Steve Gennerelli, Brian R. Solomon and Greg Klein graciously accepted my invitation and are at the Richards Ranch for this great and thorough discussion and, of course, I have my own favorite that I am advocating for in this year’s voting.

Come along for the ride as we discuss:

• Gorilla Monsoon

• The Junkyard Dog

• The Grand Wizard

• Roy Welch

• Morris Sigel

• George Scott

• Wild Bull Curry

and a couple of others!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:34) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (00:03:40) - The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Vote
• (00:06:02) - Dave Meltzer on the WWE Hall of Fame
• (00:07:36) - The Wrestling Hall of Fame Ballot
• (00:13:01) - The 605 Super Podcast Hall of Fame
• (00:14:34) - The WCW Ballot
• (00:16:00) - Guilla Monsoon in the WWE Hall of Fame
• (00:19:01) - The Wrestling Hall of Fame
• (00:26:27) - The Worst Commentator In WWE History
• (00:29:29) - Steve Austin on Vince McMahon's Road Agents
• (00:34:37) - Honoring Gorilla Monsoon
• (00:39:31) - Dave Meltzer on the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
• (00:44:05) - Gorilla in the WWE
• (00:52:09) - What Killed New Orleans? The Junkyard Dog
• (00:59:10) - Oli Criticizes Tommy Jones' 1990
• (01:03:38) - Junkyard Dog: The History of Wrestling
• (01:06:50) - The Iron Sheik Should Be in the WWE Hall of Fame
• (01:14:29) - Junkyard Dog's WWF Run
• (01:21:47) - The Grand Wizard Is In
• (01:28:01) - The Grand Wizard vs Bul Curry
• (01:31:21) - The Wizard In WWE
• (01:36:47) - Honorizing Roy Welch
• (01:46:16) - Morris Siegel and Roy Hall of Fame
• (01:54:54) - Paul Bosch Owned Houston Wrestling
• (01:59:16) - COWBOY BOSS EXCLUSIVE
• (02:02:10) - June Byers for Women in Wrestling
• (02:08:52) - Wrestlers in the South: Cynical
• (02:11:49) - Final Vote for the WWE Hall of Fame
• (02:13:20) - Siegel vs Sylvester Siegel
• (02:14:14) - George Scott Should Be In The Wrestling Hall of Fame
• (02:17:31) - The Pro Wrestling Observer's Hall of Fame
• (02:18:49) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 30, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, I welcome Steve Verrier, author of Wrestling in the Pacific Northwest, the Gene Kiniski biography and co-author of the Wilbur Snyder biography!

On this week’s episode, we discuss the booking office, territory and promotion of Vancouver, British Columbia. Largely owned by former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Gene Kiniski, we discuss the personalities, towns, buildings, angles, television product and legendary matches that took place in Vancouver throughout the year of 1975.

You will enjoy this episode on one of the most overlooked territories of the territory era in professional wrestling, the Vancouver territory!

Plus Tony answers these questions sent into the show:

1. Tony, other than Gordon Solie and Lance Russell I'm territory days who in your opnion who was good wrestling announcers in the day?
2. What wrestlers have been forgotten that we need to remember? 
3. What are your thoughts on multi-time world champions, such as 14-time world champion and such?
4. I would like to hear about the All South and how they challenged Crockett promotions in NC and SC and what the internal challenges were? Did you know the promoter even backed one or two of them?
5. Tony, What are your thoughts about David Von Erich as NWA World Champion?

• (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: History Podcast
• (00:01:24) - Audio Version of OUR Show Now Available
• (00:02:36) - The WFIA Podcast and The Hollywood Squares
• (00:06:13) - The WWE Hall of Fame Selection
• (00:12:50) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (00:14:16) - Rod Fenton
• (00:22:38) - Vancouver and British Columbia
• (00:34:06) - Vancouver's dominant wrestlers in the mid-70s
• (00:40:34) - George Gordienko Was Blacklisted in the United States
• (00:48:35) - Jack Briscoe Came Through Vancouver Wrestling in 75
• (00:56:05) - Was Cross-Promotion Possible In Oregon?
• (00:58:58) - Gene Kaniski Was Never Promoter or Owner of a Wrestling
• (01:06:56) - Ron Maurier On All-Star Wrestling
• (01:14:27) - Vancouver's Wrestling
• (01:16:20) - Tony DiBienna on Wrestling
• (01:19:15) - Vancouver Wrestling
• (01:21:39) - My List of 31 Wrestling Announcers
• (01:30:54) - What Wrestlers Have Been Forgotten?
• (01:35:25) - Remembering Forgotten Wrestlers
• (01:39:19) - George Shire on Multi-Time World Champions
• (01:49:07) - Would David Flair Have Left the National Wrestling Alliance?
• (01:57:05) - The WWE World Championship
• (02:04:18) - All South Wrestling vs Crockett Promotions
• (02:13:51) - Tony Richards

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 26, we go to Jim Crockett Promotions Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in the year 1975.

My new Mid-Atlantic analyst and commentator is the John Hitchcock. John was a fan in the Carolinas starting in the 1960s and became a regular at the Greensboro Coliseum for some of the most legendary cards of all time. In today’s episode, John relates (as best he can) what it was like to actually see the great Johnny Valentine, one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time and how Valentine actually put “the stare” on his one night. His story about his conversation with Wahoo McDaniel about what it was like to work against Valentine. The change from a tag team territory to a singles-driven territory with the arrival of Dan Jardine as The Super Destroyer. The plane crash with Valentine, Flair, Woods, Bruggers and David Crockett, plus the aftermath and how booker George Scott and the Crockett team dealt with the loss of its biggest star. All that and more this week as we flashback to Mid-Atlantic 1975!

• (00:00:02) - PODCAST: Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (00:00:36) - Tony Richards
• (00:01:45) - Jim Crockett Promotions and Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling
• (00:04:37) - John Hitchcock on Front Row, Section D
• (00:05:32) - Johnny Valentine's Plane Crash
• (00:07:23) - Jim Crockett Promotions
• (00:13:41) - Johnny Valentine in the WWE
• (00:19:36) - Paul Jones on His Friendship With Johnny Valentine
• (00:25:16) - John Valentine on His WWE Match
• (00:31:11) - Johnny Valentine and the US Belt
• (00:36:19) - Pedro Morales in the WWE
• (00:38:19) - The Ric Flair Plane Crash Story
• (00:47:12) - Paul Jones on His First WWE Championship
• (00:47:53) - Harley vs Paul Jones
• (00:53:22) - U.S. Heavyweight Championship
• (00:55:20) - Blackjack Mulligan vs Rick Flair
• (00:58:01) - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• (01:03:04) - Paul Jones Gives Jack Briscoe The Paul Jones TV Trophy
• (01:06:46) - Ric Flair and The Horsemen
• (01:12:32) - The Horseman
• (01:15:47) - Who's The Biggest Heel In Jim Crockett Prom
• (01:22:22) - Pro Wrestling Observer's Hall of Fame

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 31, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, I welcome Michael Norris, Pro Wrestling Historian for the Gulf Coast Wrestling Territory!

On this week’s episode, we discuss more of the history of the territory including Michael’s favorite feud of all time and more of the happenings in the various towns and buildings across South Alabama, Mississippi and the panhandle of Florida.

You will enjoy this episode on one of the least covered territories of the territory era in professional wrestling, the Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling territory!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:40) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast
• (00:06:59) - Michael Norris on the History of Gulf Coast Wrestling
• (00:09:26) - Gulf Coast 101: The History Of The territory in 1975
• (00:10:38) - Gulf Coast History
• (00:13:15) - The Mysterious Medics vs Jerry Oates
• (00:20:08) - Kelly Jones
• (00:27:23) - Spears and Ricky Fields in Georgia
• (00:28:36) - Bobby Shane in Mobile
• (00:37:38) - Bob Kelly vs Shane Lee
• (00:44:36) - The Mighty Yankees in NWA
• (00:51:39) - McGurk vs Mantell
• (00:52:41) - Ricky Neal Was billed as Ricky Neal in 1975
• (00:58:49) - Pensacola and Biloxi on TV
• (01:00:53) - The Gulf Coast Six Man Tag Team Championship
• (01:04:25) - Pensacola vs Panama City Wrestling
• (01:09:47) - The Interns vs The Medics in Mobile
• (01:16:54) - Double Main Event at Alabama
• (01:21:25) - Wrestling in the Mississippi
• (01:27:36) - Bounty Hunters vs Frank Dalton
• (01:35:07) - How Much Money Did The Infernos Make In 75?
• (01:42:34) - Roy Welch and Nick Ghoulis
• (01:49:25) - Plowboy Frazier on Roy and Nick
• (01:53:51) - Albert Welch on His Hall of Fame Moment
• (01:58:34) - Roy Welch and Jerry Jarrett
• (02:05:23) - Welch on a Deal
• (02:10:09) - Goodbye Kentucky Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 25, we go to Championship Wrestling from Florida in the year 1975.

My new Florida analyst and commentator is the amazing Howard Baum. Howard’s experience with the Florida Territory started in 1975, so its only appropriate that is where we begin our journey. The Florida Territory was athletic and sports-based and most everything made logical sense. Harley Race was the booker for most of 1975, after the departure of Bill Watts to his home Oklahoma Territory in March of that year. We discuss the match-ups, the babyfaces, the heels, the matches, the angles and the incomporable television show, Championship Wrestling from Florida. Hang on, it’s a great ride as we go back in time to the Sunshine State for Florida 1975!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:36) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: Thank You!!
• (00:02:56) - The History of the Florida Territory
• (00:07:09) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: Championship Wrestling From Florida
• (00:08:38) - Tony vs Dusty Rhodes
• (00:14:34) - Miami Wrestling Legend Dusty Rhodes on His Addiction
• (00:17:29) - Tony Hart on His Dad's Wrestling
• (00:24:56) - The Independence of Professional Wrestling
• (00:30:22) - Tony Robbins on The 70s
• (00:39:14) - Jim McKay On Gordon Soley's Commentary
• (00:46:13) - Dorie Funk vs Jack Briscoe
• (00:47:24) - Eddie Funk in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
• (00:54:04) - Dusty and Cyclone Negro
• (00:56:43) - Hero Matsuda on His NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
• (01:00:11) - Miami vs Tampa
• (01:05:26) - Chris Dundee's Office
• (01:09:48) - Inside The Miami Beach Convention Center
• (01:10:03) - Chris Dundee On Jack Briscoe's Florida Wrestling
• (01:17:21) - Tennessee on Florida Wrestling
• (01:18:52) - No More Promotes
• (01:19:27) - Limited Edition Hard Way Art Promo Poster
• (01:21:46) - Tony Richards

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 32, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, I welcome regular WWWF Analyst and Commentator, Steve Gennerelli.

On this week’s episode, we wrap up the year of 1975 with discussion on more classic Bruno Sammartino Title Defenses wotking with some of the hottest heels in the business, Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame class member in 2025, Spiros Arion, Waldo Von Erich, Ivan Koloff and even Captain Lou Albano was still getting a lot of heat in 1975. The tag team championship will change hands as The Blackjacks’ short run as champions comes to an end as Blackjack Mulligan is needed elsewhere. Those topics and much, much more!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:50) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: Ending 1975
• (00:03:22) - Bob Cottle Passes Away at 95
• (00:06:22) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: WWW F 1975
• (00:09:14) - Gorilla in the WWF in 75
• (00:14:16) - Bobo Brazil Plane Crash Explained
• (00:22:23) - Bruno Sammartino vs Andre the Giant
• (00:30:53) - Bugsy McGraw On Working With Bruno
• (00:32:41) - Dominic Denucci on Working For Vince McMahon
• (00:35:30) - Gorilla Monsoon On Vince McMahon's Selling The WWF
• (00:43:57) - Bruno Sullivan's WWW debut
• (00:47:16) - The Grand Wizard vs Lou Albano
• (00:50:53) - George Scott Booking A US Title Tournament in November
• (00:59:22) - Bruno Sammartino vs The Black Jacks
• (01:01:31) - WWE Legends on The Arena Report
• (01:04:34) - Jerry Blackwell vs Billy Graham in the NWA
• (01:12:16) - Blackjack Mulligan Gets Stabbed By a Wrestling Fan
• (01:14:38) - Terry Funk Wins NWA World Championship in Just Three Months
• (01:20:39) - Bruno Sammartino vs Lou Albano in a Steel
• (01:25:54) - Bob Smith on The Stick to Wrestling Podcast
• (01:28:46) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 24 Author & Historian Brian R. Solomon, Irresistible Force, The Life & Times of Gorilla Monsoon.

Today on the show, I am visited by my dear friend and colleague, Brian R. Solomon and we discuss his latest book release, Irresistible Force, which documents and tells the story of Bob Marella, better and more widely known as Gorilla Monsoon. The story of his upbringing, his college career, being discovered and broken into the business, his amazing rise as a killer, monster heel in the mid-1960s, his administrative role in the 1970s and his familiar role as announcer and voice of Wrestlemania in the 1980s. This is a monumental work on a monumental life of a giant of a man. I hope you enjoy my visit with Brian R. Solomon on the show today!

• (00:00:02) - Brian R. Solomon on the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast
• (00:02:18) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (00:03:06) - The Book on Gorilla Monsoon
• (00:07:28) - Gorilla and His Wife
• (00:09:42) - Gorilla Was Connected With the WWF
• (00:16:48) - Gorilla Won the IWA World Championship
• (00:23:04) - Gino Monsoon Was Involved In The Gorilla Program
• (00:29:38) - Andre the Giant's WWF booking
• (00:31:34) - Gorilla on His Time on WWE TV
• (00:34:11) - How Much Difference Was There Between Gorilla Monsoon and Bob Mare
• (00:36:18) - What was the thing that you discovered about Gorilla that really reson
• (00:40:53) - Gorilla Has Diabetes For 25 Years
• (00:45:34) - The Legacy of Jim Howard
• (00:52:09) - Brian Fallon on His New Book
• (00:56:38) - Brian Solomon on Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of
• (00:58:22) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel

On this week’s episode, we present our 2025 version of our Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Thanksgiving Spectacular Show! Eminating from The Richards Ranch in Western Kentucky, our show today is packed with Thanksgiving Memories! We cover Thanksgiving Shows from Tennessee, the AWA in Minneapolis, Amarillo, Charlotte, Norfolk, Atlanta, Kansas City and Miami!

Our guests on the show are George Schire, Jerry Oates, Bobby Simmons and Mike George. Everything from Abdullah and The Sheik in a steel cage, a Mask vs The Georgia Title Match, A match involving Ernie Ladd and Bobo Brazil tag team, Bob Geigel’s booking, referees in wrestling, bookers, Jerry & Ted Oates vs Dutch Mantell and Ron Bass, The Destroyer, the Jerry Oates and Mike George Tag Team, Driving home to St. Joseph from Miami in a Thanksgiving snowstorm and much, much more!

• (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast: Thanksgiving Spectacular
• (00:01:31) - Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee
• (00:05:33) - A Taste of Thanksgiving in the AWA
• (00:06:37) - Thanksgiving Wrestling in the AWA
• (00:14:38) - The Impact of The Good Guy and Bad Guy
• (00:23:17) - Bill Watts on Ending His Matches
• (00:25:32) - Minnesota Wrestling's legendary Minneapolis Auditorium
• (00:31:00) - Khosrow Vasiri Refereeing in the AWA
• (00:37:10) - Bobby Duncomb vs Bull Balinski
• (00:43:56) - Death Match
• (00:49:37) - The German Heel vs. Tony
• (00:52:26) - The Do6 and Tom Andrews
• (00:54:42) - The AWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
• (01:02:40) - Bill Irwin on Vern Gagne's World Light Heavyweight Title
• (01:06:06) - The Road Warriors
• (01:10:50) - Thanksgiving Cards in 75, 65 and 85
• (01:12:46) - Terry Funk
• (01:20:36) - Thanksgiving in 1975
• (01:22:13) - Thanksgiving Wrestling Story
• (01:23:51) - NWA Wrestling Thanksgiving Memories
• (01:27:14) - Thanksgiving on the Air
• (01:29:02) - Jerry Oates on Thanksgiving in Watch Territory
• (01:33:24) - Thanksgiving and Christmas Wrestling
• (01:38:32) - Jerry Gaines on Dutch and Ron Bass
• (01:41:53) - Bob Geigel Was Never Good At Booking
• (01:46:42) - How to Build a Winning Team
• (01:47:09) - Thanksgiving of 75
• (01:52:10) - Bobby Whitlock on Referees
• (01:57:00) - Moondog Maine on
• (02:00:51) - Tony Jones on Working For Watts
• (02:05:45) - Bobo Brazil vs Harley Race
• (02:10:06) - Brody on Working With Dusty and Eric
• (02:13:13) - Jerry and Mike on Thanksgiving Wrestling
• (02:17:31) - A Taste of Thanksgiving
• (02:18:36) - Thanksgiving Wish List