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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2022 12:45:10 GMT -5
pps The Southern and Southwest promotions were NWA members, but were less powerful than the Midwest and Northeast promoters, due to smaller population centers. They tended to be more of their own little Balkan states, within the NWA empire. The Fuller-Welch family controlled a lot of the Southern territories, either directly or through shares in other promotional offices. Texas was kind of its own little world, as was Oklahoma and the Gulf Coast. Again, you had smaller populations, with a few key cities and a lot of smaller towns. To look at the divide, consider wrestler Ricky Starr. he did his ballet gimmick in the Northeast, Chicago, Los Angeles and St Louis, but always wrestled as a collegiate-trained mat technician in Texas. Flamboyant gimmicks weren't as popular in Texas and the emphasis was more on hard hitting action and blood. The Southern territories were more about the local heroes and feuds, like Whitey Caldwell and Ron Wright, in Knoxville, or Sputnik Monroe and Jackie Fargo, in Tennessee. Jim Barnett is an interesting figure in these discussions, when we get into the 60s-early 80s. He was the promoter in the Detroit and Indiana region and is credited with creating studio-based tv wrestling, rather than shooting at the arena. This allowed for closer filming of the action and a more exciting program, which was then used to entice people to buy tickets to the live events. Barnett sold his interest to the Sheik, for Detroit, and Bruiser & Snyder for Indiana. He then started up World Championship Wrestling, in Australia, which was hugely successful. He was often in senior positions in the NWA and helped broker the peace between the Sheik and Indianapolis, leading to crossover matches between Bruiser and The Sheik, He sold his interests in Australia and came back to the US. He was then brought in to help stabilize Atlanta, after Ann Gunkel was pushed out and started the rival All-South promotion, in Atlanta, after her husband's death. Barnett bought into the NWA-affiliated side and was instrumental in getting them on WTBS (which broadcast both shows, for a time). This positioned Georgia to sort of be a national promotion, when WTBS expanded on cable, making Georgia Championship Wrestling its highest rated show and THE place for the NWA members to send talent to be seen on national tv. It was his ousting, by Ole Anderson, that led to Vince McMahon Jr buying up his shares and the Briscos', leading to Black Saturday. He then worked in the WWF offices, for a time, until they fired him for trying to orchestrate a takeover of the business. He then went back to work with Crockett and Turner Broadcasting, until his death. I’ll share some other stuff from the article (not all at once), and if you want to clarify, add or debunk anything, I’d be happy to read that. On an unrelated note, seeing reports of Rock VS Reigns for the Undisputed Championship at WM XXXIX. I don’t know if I am in a minority, but I have zero interest in that bout, whether its for a title or just a non-title spectacle. I love both men (Reigns is my hero!), but I just don’t feel the excitement of it. I want to see a current wrestler challenge Reigns. I don’t mind spectacles. Prior to WM X8, I was extremely hyped for Hogan/Rock, a match that seemed a fantasy a year prior, but I just don’t feel any enthusiasm for Rock VS Reigns.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2022 12:52:07 GMT -5
Just met Lex Luger, he was very cool to chat with!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2022 12:53:44 GMT -5
I’m pleased for you. Good to see you in this thread.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2022 13:14:42 GMT -5
I’m pleased for you. Good to see you in this thread. Thanks! I do enjoy this thread, but I don’t feel nearly as knowledgeable as others here, so I don’t usually post. I do have great memories of watching wrestling in the 80s and especially 90s though!
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 3, 2022 14:08:33 GMT -5
Just met Lex Luger, he was very cool to chat with! Yeah, I had heard that after Elizabeth's death and the legal fallout, plus money problems and his health issues (especially his back), that Luger had really mellowed and kind of grown, as a person. He did a Kayfabe Commentaries feature or two (I think Timeline, might have been a Youshoot or another) and have seen other interviews and he comes across far more likeable than in his active years and in his memoir.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2022 16:09:22 GMT -5
Just met Lex Luger, he was very cool to chat with! Yeah, I had heard that after Elizabeth's death and the legal fallout, plus money problems and his health issues (especially his back), that Luger had really mellowed and kind of grown, as a person. He did a Kayfabe Commentaries feature or two (I think Timeline, might have been a Youshoot or another) and have seen other interviews and he comes across far more likeable than in his active years and in his memoir. Yeah, he seemed to be in a really good place.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2022 6:25:34 GMT -5
Here’s the magazine entry on Studio Wrestling and Buffalo Athletic Club/NWF:
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 4, 2022 7:45:34 GMT -5
Yeah, the NWF was an interesting little segment, though never a major component of wrestling, compared to its neighbors. It was there that Ox Baker caused the huge riot, with his heart punch, where the crowd started storming the ring and he & Johnny Powers had the run to the locker room....
That's Big Cat Ernie Ladd, getting the heart punches. Ladd turned babyface and Powers became a heel (which matched behind the scenes, as he was known as a jerk).
The end days of the promotion were also interesting. Johnny Powers was the star of the territory and he took the title with him, to Japan, where he dropped it to Inoki, who purchased it, in 1973. It then became the New Japan top title, for years, until 1981, when Inoki started the IWGP tournament, which later evolved into the IWGP heavyweight title. From 1982 to 1985, the top title was the WWF International title. They started it in 1982 (though there was an earlier International title, that was used for Antonio Rocca, in 1959), in the WWF, in the US, and then Tatsumi Fujinami won it, while touring the WWF, then took it back to Japan. I sed to follow it in Inside Wrestling, the "Apter Mag" companion title to Pro Wrestling Illustrated, which had a full listing of the major territory singles and tag titles and the current champions. Fujinami was the main title holder, as he was the second star of NJPW, after Inoki. The IWGP singles title began in 1987. Prior to that, it was the tournament title, then defended against the winner of the annual tournament.
In 1979, New Japan introduced the NWF North American title to their audiences, as Powers came in with the belt, while touring Japan and dropped it to Seiji Sakaguchi, who later dropped it to Tiger Jeet Singh. It didn't last long, as it was retired when they started up the IWGP tournament. They also had a North American tag title, at the beginning, which started out in Los Angeles, with Johnny Powers and Pat Patterson, but was defended in New Japan, primarily, though they shared it with the Los Angeles office, as they often sent Japanese stars to work Los Angeles. It lasted until 1979. They then had the WWF International tag titles. The NWF had a world tag title, as did many territories, as the NWA never sanctioned an official world tag title. Detroit, San Francisco and others had their own World tag title, until they closed up, leaving the Mid-Atlantic World Tag-Team titles as the default one.
Powers was also involved in the IWA start-up and used the NWF titles to run shows in North Carolina, encroaching on Crockett's territory. That didn't last long, as Crockett was too strong, in the region.
Powers was later involved in a new NWF, started in 1986, by Robert Raskin (a sports promoter and former coach for the old American basketball Association, which ran as opposition to the NBA, before being absorbed into it), after purchasing the Continental Wrestling Alliance, from DC Drake. It lasted, in one form or another, until 1994, largely because it was one of several Northeastern independents that drew talent from the WWF, when they left the promotion or worked undercard, much like Eastern Championship Wrestling, which became ECW, or Joel Goodhart's Tri-State Wrestling. That was where I first heard of an NWF, as there was a feature on their women's champion, in Wrestling Eye magazine, which covered some of those independents. Heidi Lee Morgan was one of the women who worked there, as did Wendy Richter. Paul Heyman also worked there, a bit, early in his career.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2022 8:15:04 GMT -5
I say it every time, but thank goodness for those Apter mags, the likes of Wrestling Eye and the mags published by the Starlog Group. I may well have been ignorant about other promotions without them.
When the Legion of Doom debuted in the WWF in the summer of 1990, like many who watched lots of wrestling, I was aware of their Road Warriors stints. I’d also read about them. But I try to imagine, what if my ONLY experience of wrestling had been the WWF? I would have accepted the LOD at face value but had no idea of their history.
One of the few good things Vince Russo did was acknowledge other promotions when he edited WWF Magazine and Raw Magazine. Prior to that, I thought it was silly that WWF publications made no reference to other promotions even though I knew the business logic behind it.
I loved those ratings they did in various magazines, although I was disappointed when the Apter mags did away with “Most Popular” and “Most Hated”.
I’m also smiling when I think about how the Apter mags gave the ECW Championship “world title status” in 1997. I know some complained. Well, the ECW Championship seemed to be defended a hell of a lot more than the WCW Championship whenever it was on Hogan, so which is the true world title? I doubt Hogan even knew of the old 30-day rule.
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 4, 2022 9:03:06 GMT -5
I say it every time, but thank goodness for those Apter mags, the likes of Wrestling Eye and the mags published by the Starlog Group. I may well have been ignorant about other promotions without them. When the Legion of Doom debuted in the WWF in the summer of 1990, like many who watched lots of wrestling, I was aware of their Road Warriors stints. I’d also read about them. But I try to imagine, what if my ONLY experience of wrestling had been the WWF? I would have accepted the LOD at face value but had no idea of their history. One of the few good things Vince Russo did was acknowledge other promotions when he edited WWF Magazine and Raw Magazine. Prior to that, I thought it was silly that WWF publications made no reference to other promotions even though I knew the business logic behind it. I loved those ratings they did in various magazines, although I was disappointed when the Apter mags did away with “Most Popular” and “Most Hated”. I’m also smiling when I think about how the Apter mags gave the ECW Championship “world title status” in 1997. I know some complained. Well, the ECW Championship seemed to be defended a hell of a lot more than the WCW Championship whenever it was on Hogan, so which is the true world title? I doubt Hogan even knew of the old 30-day rule. Wrestling Eye was great, as it broke kayfabe on historical stuff and revealed some shoot names; but, also because it covered the indies and some international stuff. That's also where I first heard about pro wrestling in Nigeria and South Africa. The Apter mags were fine, but adhered to kayfabe and used to make up interviews and stories, using photos they took, like the Empty Arena Match, between Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo, in Memphis. They just shot some photos of them in an empty building, with them locking up, but with no actual match (unlike the Jerry Lawler and Terry Funk one, where the camera goes dark as Funk cries out that Lawler has injured his eye. They also did one of Jimmy Garvin & Sunshine working on David Von Erich's ranch, after losing a match to him (which was also filmed, for their tv). Every time I hear the World Class theme, now, I expect it to be a commercial for lawyer Stephen P New..... That came about when Cornette was taking submissions for a theme song for The Drive-Thru. Here is that version.... I kind of liked this one (WARNING....potty mouth ending)
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 4, 2022 9:07:31 GMT -5
ps I was a bit neutral on the Starlog magazines. Since the primary photographer (and, I think, editor) was George Napolitano, the photos and articles were very WWF-centric; which, granted, was hot. However, their Wrestling All-Stars magazine introduced me to some of Stampede's talent, after first seeing a few names in PWI. That was where I saw my first photo of Bret, wearing the North American title belt. It was just before he turned up in the WWF.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2022 9:51:36 GMT -5
ps I was a bit neutral on the Starlog magazines. Since the primary photographer (and, I think, editor) was George Napolitano, the photos and articles were very WWF-centric; which, granted, was hot. However, their Wrestling All-Stars magazine introduced me to some of Stampede's talent, after first seeing a few names in PWI. That was where I saw my first photo of Bret, wearing the North American title belt. It was just before he turned up in the WWF. I felt the Starlog magazines were more sophisticated, despite the kayfabe nature. For instance, I bought one (may still have it somewhere) which was scathing of Hogan’s actions at the 1992 Royal Rumble - and it published a letter from a fan who was displeased at Hogan’s actions. Meanwhile, WWF publications were sticking to kayfabe rigidly even when illogical, talking about how Sid Justice had ‘betrayed’ Hulk Hogan. And there was me thinking the Rumble was every man for himself. Wrestling Eye showed up rarely over here. Much like DC/Marvel comics, it could be inconsistent on the shelves. WWF Magazine and WCW Magazine were always on the shelves, but one month might find only PWI and Inside Wrestling, while the next month might only be WrestleAmerica or Sports Review Wrestling. The kayfabe nature of the interviews makes me smile in retrospect. And the features, too. Sports Review Wrestling had some feature - not sure if it was called “Hotline” or something - where wrestlers would discuss things over the phone, there was me as a kid thinking the publisher had really paid for a phone call between two rivals. I was disappointed to learn that certain writers on the Apter mags weren’t real, such as “Matt Brock” and “Liz Hunter”. I had an image in my head of a grizzled veteran writer, but as “Matt Brock” was really Bill Apter (I think), I was disappointed. I wonder why the Apter mags did that. I understand the logic at times. The UK launched a wrestling magazine called Power Slam (originally Superstars of Wrestling) by a guy called Findlay Martin. Originally, he was pretty much writing everything, but there was a column called “Stateside” by an “Ian Robinson”. I think Martin had claimed that it looked better to advertisers and readers if a magazine had more than one writer, hence the “Ian Robinson” pseudonym, but I am not sure why the Apter mags created fictitious writers.
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 4, 2022 10:14:11 GMT -5
The main bunch at the Stanley Weston magazines (aka the Apter Mags) featured Bill Apter, Stu Saks and Craig Peters, all writing features. The gimmick personas were just to add a different perspective to things, to set them apart from the other magazines. There was also Dan Shocket, who did a heel commentary on wrestling subjects. They also had the apartment wrestling photo layouts, in Sports Review Wrestling or The Wrestler, in the late 70s and early 80s. There was a Los Angeles photographer who shot some of that, Theo Ehret. He was a long time LA sports photographer, and shot a lot of photos of the wrestlers, at the Olympic Auditorium. There was a book collection of his work, with a lot of the apartment wrestling shots, along with the ring shots and posed wrestler photos, called Exquisite Mayhem.... If you go on Amazon, you can see some examples of interior photos, including the women, clothed and topless. Apter also used to feature women's wrestler Susan Sexton, and Australian wrestler, who was his "roommate."
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2022 10:28:55 GMT -5
I’m told Eddie Ellner was at least real, so that’s something!
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 4, 2022 12:03:30 GMT -5
I’m told Eddie Ellner was at least real, so that’s something! He was, taking up Shocket's heel column, after he passed away. Craig Peters used to occasionally post at the Kayfabe Memories site, way back in the early 00s. He said the annual PWI awards were legit, based on actual reader votes. You used to see Apter, periodically, shooting ringside photography, at WCW events.
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