Our deep dive into the secret history of pro wrestling continues as Johnny Powers goes from top guy to top promoter in this chapter of the "first" national wrestling promotion. At the same time, Matt gets nostalgic about a "backyard" wrestling company that was just teenagers fighting on some random Brooklyn beach.

From Buffalo, To Cleveland, To Tokyo and beyond we look at the rise of Powers and Pedro Martinez' first joint effort, Powers putting on the first "Super Bowl" of Wrestling at Municipal Stadium, to Powers returning to heel form and setting off a riot, plus how Antonio Inoki won his first world championship nearly a decade before the IWGP would find it's way into the Lion's Den

Resources

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=739&page=8

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1972-schedule-scores.shtml

https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ohio/cleveland/cleveland-history.html

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/pittsbuffclev/pitts12.htm

https://www.clevescene.com/news/wrestling-legend-ox-baker-whose-1974-match-caused-a-riot-in-cleveland-dies-at-80-4395064

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=163319

https://web.archive.org/web/20220218164234/https://buffalonews.com/news/pedro-martinez-famed-buffalo-wrestling-promoter-dies/article_b6f6b5d6-6b7a-5463-bc42-fa599e7dee37.html

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/PedroMartinez.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzQhKyCBwIs

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=85954

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=739&page=4

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=007490

https://www.wvxu.org/2023-07-18/50-years-and-counting-cleveland-shows-its-still-a-champ-in-the-world-of-wrestling

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=18;t=029935

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=9;t=036913

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=013217

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=163879;p=1

https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/nwf.html

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/pittsbuffclev/pittsbuffclev.htm

https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/NWF_North_American_Heavyweight_Championship

https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/hottest-wrestling-feuds-60s-70s/

https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2023/01/08/mat-memories-a-farewell-to-johnny-powers/

https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/the-life-and-times-of-legendary-golden-adonis-johnny-powers/article_547cdb6e-9380-11ed-994b-3b40a3d1cfa5.html

https://www.postandcourier.com/staff/mike_mooneyham/pro-wrestling-superstar-johnny-powers-was-pioneer-risk-taker/article_8fd28936-5b08-5f8a-a37c-731d3b77ba1d.html

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The story of the International Wrestling Alliance takes us to 1964 and 1965 this week as Johnny Powers goes from up-and-coming wrestler to main eventer to the hottest free agent in wrestling, much like someone else we know.

He also...refuses to do jobs.

All of this plus a secret Crockett-McMahon Wrestling War of the mid-60's, payola scams, and Johnny Powers in his own words on Historically Speaking!

Resources

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1303&page=4&s=1100

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=243&page=4&search=Johnny+Powers

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=9320&page=4&s=500

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=293461

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=53623

https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/13/archives/lonny-starr-dead-disk-jockey-at-whn.html

https://www.wnew1130.com/music-2/staff/q-r-s-t/lonny-starr/

https://www.nyprowrestling.com/results/1960s/1964.html

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/53943655/

https://usaradiomuseum.com/category/payola-2/

Capitol Revolution, Tim Hornbaker

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Fun times in Cleveland seems like a misnomer, but this week we head to The Land and get a look at some of the secret wrestling history that played into Bruno Sammartino becoming WWWF Champion!

This plus Bruno's path to the title, Buddy Rogers final act in Capitol Wrestling, Johnny Powers and how he connects to not only these two, but our story, the comparisons between this situation and the Montreal Screwjob, Bruno and Buddy being the proto-CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, along with Powers being an early model of who Cody Rhodes would become.

https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ohio/cleveland/cleveland-history.html

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/pittsbuffclev/pitts12.htm

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=027360

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=010574

https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=shows&sort=ort&land=3&stadt=18®ion=4&arena=80&jahr=0&showart=0&ansicht=0&seite=11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wrestling_Federation

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/pittsbuffclev/pitts6-2.htm

https://www.cleveland.com/pdextra/2010/07/l-l-l-l-lets_get_ready_to_reme.html

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=381

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/pittsbuffclev/pitts15.htm

https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/former-nwf-promoter-johnny-powers-passes-away-at-79-years-old/

https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2023/01/07/johnny-powers-dead-at-79/

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=18;t=024833

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/pittsbuffclev/pitts11.htm

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This week, we look at how the National Football League, their rivals, the American Football League, and the Department of Justice set the stage for not only Johnny Doyle and Jim Barnett's last act as a tandem in the United States but for Vince McMahon and Toots Mondt to keep Buddy Rogers as their World Heavyweight Champion without the NWA and the Federal Government looking breathing down their necks.

Resources

https://www.realtime1960s.com/post/dick-the-bruiser-in-scuffle-with-alex-karras

https://www.realtime1960s.com/post/blood-smeared-dick-the-bruiser-pins-alex-karras-in-grudge-match

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=070505

https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-bruiser-aftermath-art/6565553/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-bruiser-karras-fight/6565432/

https://www.instagram.com/realtime1960s/p/CrjxWflvku6/

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=041492

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2015/11/19/dick-bruiser-worlds-most-dangerous-wrestler/75993686/

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/picture-gallery/sports/history/2014/05/19/23-photos-former-hawkeye-alex-karras/9304487/

https://www.aseaofblue.com/2013/8/14/4570622/kentucky-football-tales-from-the-dark-side-charlie-bradshaw-part-three

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=1;t=134997

https://muchnick.net/nwa-doj.pdf

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We return to the Johnny Doyle saga as he's now partnered with Jim Barnett to slowly take over the United States with their revolutionary brand of pro wrestling in the wake of the NWA's Consent Decree and an investigation by the Department of Justice.

Despite Barnett and Doyle's former partnerships with Fred Kohler, Vince McMahon, and Toots Mondt, don't expect those partnerships to be sustained as Barnett and Doyle would see unlikely allies amidst their renegade siege across the United States.

https://x.com/GreatBrianLast/status/1088227713129857024

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/Doyle.html

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/BarnettDoyle2.html

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=005650

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=150402

https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/memories-of-studio-wrestling.518890/

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=047958

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=9;t=034940

https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/jim-barnett/

https://mikemooneyham.com/2004/09/26/barnett-an-unforgettable-figure/

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/RoyShire.html

https://houseofdeception.com/Roy_Shire.html

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/sanfrancisco/sanfrancisco6-2.htm

https://www.geocities.ws/percivalafriend/friend060407.htm

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=384427737661137&set=pcb.384427794327798

https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/big-time-wrestling-san-francisco/

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/wwa-ind/wwaind2.htm

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Our look at the first national wrestling promotion brings us to when the NWA was at the peak of its powers but would see Toots Mondt's lack of success at the track and at the gate, kneecapping of nationally televised cards, and the Federal Government create major cracks that would not only lead to the IWA in 1975 but to the creation of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Resources

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/NevadaTerritory.html

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/Doyle.htmlhttps://www.legacyofwrestling.com/BarnettDoyle2.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NWA_%22Beat_the_Champ%22_Television_Championship

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=005650

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/Doyle.html

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=005650

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=150402

https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/memories-of-studio-wrestling.518890/

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=047958

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=9;t=034940

https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/jim-barnett/

https://mikemooneyham.com/2004/09/26/barnett-an-unforgettable-figure/

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/RoyShire.html

https://houseofdeception.com/Roy_Shire.html

http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000353

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/sanfrancisco/sanfrancisco6-2.htm

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We continue our look at Pedro Martinez and his road to the International Wrestling Alliance and the role he played in New York Wrestling in and out of the city, a look at NWA's power structure, a mini-wrestling war, and we finally talk about Toots Mondt getting punched out at MSG.

Subscribe to learn more the secret history about pro wrestling and how we went from the carnivals to AEW and WWE on Netflix and Max!

Resources

Tim Hornbaker: National Wrestling Alliance

Keith Elliot Greenberg: Too Sweet

Jim Wilson: Choke Hold

https://web.archive.org/web/20220218164234/https://buffalonews.com/news/pedro-martinez-famed-buffalo-wrestling-promoter-dies/article_b6f6b5d6-6b7a-5463-bc42-fa599e7dee37.html

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/PedroMartinez.html

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/NYBookingOffice.html

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=278011

https://www.nyprowrestling.com/articles/results/19540215msg.html

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In the second edition of our season, George Scott gives Eddie Einhorn his answer, we meet the man who would partner with Einhorn, learn how a Genovese boss fought a referee, and more!

Resources

https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2010/02/24/announcer-martinez-was-instrumental-in-iwa-video-world/

https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ohio/cleveland/cleveland-history.html

https://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/pittsbuffclev/pitts12.htm

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=739

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/PedroMartinez.html

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=270234

https://www.nyprowrestling.com/results/1950s/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gary_dunaier/7208150938/in/album-72157629752038594/

https://www.whenitwascool.com/history-of-wrestling-1952

https://forgottenrollerrinksofthepast.com/parkcircle.html

https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/newyork.html

https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/NewYorkTerritory.html

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=2113&page=4&s=200

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=2113&page=4&search=madison+square+garden

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In the open of our first full season, we look at the thesis statement for our project and the man responsible for our subject matter, Eddie Einhorn.

References!

EINHORN LINKS

https://seamheads.com/2014/03/01/an-interview-with-white-sox-owner-eddie-einhorn/

http://www.wrestlingepicenter.com/RIP/Einhorn.html

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1tsr3U9VUXRacn4VXHP5Qe9hMFrqkHxMo&authuser=0&acrobatPromotionSource=GoogleDriveNativeView

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcN2kI7zvfc&t=10s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oayh-uBvAcQ

RINGLEY

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=1;t=124546

GEORGE SCOTT

https://www.midatlanticwrestling.net/resourcecenter/interviews/rip_hawk/rip_hawk_05.htm

https://www.midatlanticwrestling.net/resourcecenter/interviews/superstar/superstar01.htm

https://www.midatlanticgateway.com/2019/06/best-of-tv-nc-1975.html

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=136889

https://www.midatlanticwrestling.net/almanac/history/1975_03.htm

https://www.midatlanticgateway.com/2016/08/murdock-remembers-george-scott.html

https://www.starnewsonline.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2023/02/25/ric-flair-and-wilmington-nc-plane-crash-photos/11302564002/ 

https://midatlanticwrestling.net/resourcecenter/interviews/thatcher/george_scott.htm

https://www.midatlanticwrestling.net/resourcecenter/interviews/superstar/superstar02.htm

http://www.wrestlingclassics.com/wawli/New191-200.htm

http://wrestlingclassics.com/cgi-bin/.ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=043125

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