Regional Rasslin' - Territory Talk

This week on Regional Rasslin’, guest Jammie Ward joins us to dive into more Georgia Championship Wrestling in July 1982, as the territory expands into separate northern and southern touring groups! The Fabulous Freebirds wage war with Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen, with a vicious locker room ambush adding fuel to an already explosive rivalry between the World and National Tag Team Champions. Roddy Piper puts his money behind Don Muraco’s campaign to eliminate Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Rich, but the American Dream has other plans.. including serving as special referee at the Omni! Mr. Wrestling II and the Masked Superstar trade mind games, with a shredded robe pushing their bitter feud toward a lumberjack showdown. Meanwhile, Tommy Rich and Paul Orndorff both set their sights on Ric Flair’s NWA World Heavyweight Championship, with a coin toss determining who gets the first opportunity. We also discuss Brad Armstrong’s Rookie of the Year honors, the Wild Samoans, Buzz Sawyer, Omni Results, and the action unfolding on television and around the territory. Plus, listener John Walker shares his vivid memories from the July 30th Marion, Ohio show including a fan pulling a knife on the Samoans! It's more than 90 minutes of good times, great memories, and stories for days!

Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia
Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more.

Give the gift of WrestleCopia: Patreon Gift Membership
Merchandise: WrestleCopia on TeePublic
Direct Support: Donate Through Paypal

Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

Regional Rasslin' returns with a SPECIAL EDITION as Alabama superfan Aaron Gartlan returns to relive the Dothan TV debut of Southeastern Championship Wrestling, culminating with the historic October 18, 1980 television episode featuring the debut of the all-new Southeastern promotion in Alabama, as Ron Fuller and crew take over WTVY Studios in Dothan! Featuring Bob Armstrong, Eddie Mansfield, Don Carson, Dennis Condrey, Ricky Gibson, Charlie Cook, Tony Charles, Mongolian Stomper, The Tennessee Stud, & more! Plus, Aaron shares insight and details to many of the talents, the era, Charlie Platt, and much more!

Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia
Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more.

Give the gift of WrestleCopia: Patreon Gift Membership
Merchandise: WrestleCopia on TeePublic
Direct Support: Donate Through Paypal

Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

Get ready as Florida superfan Harold Strassler joins us on this week’s Regional Rasslin’ as we wrap up Tampa’s final two shows of December 1979 (including a big Christmas card) and we'll ring in 1980! We follow the action into the first part of January, focusing primarily on the Tampa cards and television as Oliver Humperdink’s crew keeps Dusty Rhodes, Manny Fernandez, and Mike Graham fighting on multiple fronts. A controversial clash between Florida Champion Manny Fernandez and Southern Champion Leroy Brown sparks a wild aftermath that knocks Dusty out of a scheduled main event. Dusty’s war with Bugsy McGraw escalates into bullrope battles, while Eddie Graham steps into the ring to help settle the score. The new year brings Ernie Ladd into the mix, and even a Texas Death Match leaves room for controversy when Bugsy and company head for the hills! Meanwhile, Stanley Lane and Bryan St. John face the Briscos and an assortment of partners, Super Destroyer begins to make a name, Johnny Valiant leaves as fast as he arrives, plus we discuss stars like Don Diamond, Gordon Nelson, Mike Miller, Rip Oliver, Luis Astea, Ron Slinker, Don Serrano, and a young Terry Taylor. From Humperdink getting his comeuppance against Bubba Douglas, to Manny Fernandez's ascension, to television interviews and match footage keeping the rivalries boiling, we explore the stories carrying Championship Wrestling from Florida into a brand-new decade!

Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia
Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more.

Give the gift of WrestleCopia: Patreon Gift Membership
Merchandise: WrestleCopia on TeePublic
Direct Support: Donate Through Paypal

Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

Guest Steve Crawford is back from being “on assignment”, as he joins Host Ray Russell to continue the discussion of Henry Rogers’ Malden, Missouri wrestling territory. In Part 2, thanks to Henry’s daughter Dianna, we give answers to questions we were left with from the 1960s. From there, we follow the promotion from 1970 through 1975. Rogers filled his Saturday night cards with local regulars like Buddy Chandler, Bobby Guy, and Bo and Tuffy Taylor while bringing in wrestlers from surrounding territories. Mario Galento became a fixture in Malden, where the papers even announced plans to film scenes for a movie featuring Galento in the starring role(?). We look at the murder of wrestler Bearcat Jones, as well as the young wrestlers passing through, including Pez Whatley, Larry Latham, Bill Ash, and a future David Shultz working as “Rhode Island Red”. There were masked men, bloody feuds, stretcher matches, hair matches, and stipulations that grew stranger by the year. We also follow Rogers’ shows beyond Malden and his connections with other promoters. By 1973, the arena was being billed as “Little Madison Square Garden” and the “blood capital” names that tell you plenty about the show Rogers was selling to the local fans!

Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia
Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more.

Give the gift of WrestleCopia: Patreon Gift Membership
Merchandise: WrestleCopia on TeePublic
Direct Support: Donate Through Paypal

Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

This time on Regional Rasslin’ we return to more St. Louis Wrestling History, Guest Phil Adams joins Ray Russell on the journey through the latter months of 1953 and all of 1954. Television continues to shape the territory as stars like Buddy Rogers, Johnny Valentine, Bill Longson, Ray Eckert, and Don Leo Jonathan battle for position beneath reigning NWA Champion Lou Thesz. We examine Thesz’s major title defenses, the continued importance of the Kiel Auditorium, and the sharp decline in attendance at St. Louis’ regular arena events. During the long 1954 off-season, television becomes the primary vehicle for developing dependable names like Cyclone Anaya, Ronnie Etchison, Ralph Garibaldi, and Joe Millich. We’ll also track Guy Brunetti’s surprising late-year surge and the territory’s reliance on draws, no contests, and frequently repeated matchups to keep its featured wrestlers protected. Plus, we venture outside St. Louis to explore Leon Balkin’s fascinating history in Evansville and the city’s growing connection to Sam Muchnick’s booking office.

Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia
Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more.

Give the gift of WrestleCopia: Patreon Gift Membership
Merchandise: WrestleCopia on TeePublic
Direct Support: Donate Through Paypal

Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

It's a new Regional Rasslin, as Guest Richard Vicek joins Host Ray Russell to discuss two more eventful years in Chicago Wrestling Club history, beginning with the rise of Nick Bockwinkel, Strong Kobayashi and the popular team of Red Bastien and Hercules Cortez. We discuss Cortez’s tragic death, the emergence of Bobby Heenan’s Blackjacks and Chicago’s increasingly violent main events. In 1972, Dick the Bruiser and the Crusher’s bloody war with the Blackjacks became the promotion’s hottest feud. We also follow the growing momentum of Ivan Koloff, Billy Robinson, Dusty Rhodes and Wahoo McDaniel. The centerpiece is the ambitious Soldier Field spectacular featuring Verne Gagne, André the Giant and a steel-cage bloodbath refereed by Jersey Joe Walcott. Plus, Superstar Billy Graham arrives as Chicago wrestling moves toward a new era.

Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia
Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more.

Give the gift of WrestleCopia: Patreon Gift Membership
Merchandise: WrestleCopia on TeePublic
Direct Support: Donate Through Paypal
Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

Guest Roman Gomez is back to join host Ray Russell to discuss two weeks of AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN from September 3rd & 10th, 1985! Rick Martel defends the AWA World Title against Terry Gordy. Greg Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel renew their rivalry, while Ray Stevens and Sgt. Slaughter act as their cornermen. AWA Tag Champs The Road Warriors "sing" before they sit down with Larry Zbyszko "In This Corner". Plus, AWA Light Heavyweight Champ Steve Regal vs. Buck Zumhofe, The Long Riders want another title shot, Jimmy Garvin sets his sights on Martel, Curt Hennig introduces Tom Zenk as his new partner, Boris Zhukov in action, we get a mat classic from Verne Gagne’s retirement match vs. Bockwinkel, a look back at Martel’s title win vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, we discover the identity of "The Blue Max", an early Nailz sighting, Jim Londos in 1985(?), and we get some buildup to SuperClash ’85.

If you're enjoying WrestleCopia and interested in helping us continue to grow, please consider Subscribing to our Patreon to help us cover some of our costs! https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
YOU CAN ALSO GIFT SOMEONE A PATREON MEMBERSHIP (OR ASK THEM TO GIFT YOU ONE) AT https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/gift
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier, and "The ULLLTIMATE Tier", featuring our various VIDEO-CAST Series, Early Show Releases, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure, & more!

HELP SUPPORT THE SELF-FUNDED WRESTLECOPIA BRAND, CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR PAYPAL
WRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia
Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

Another milestone edition of Regional Rasslin' as we reach episode #150! Guest Gene Jackson returns to join Ray Russell as they close out July 1985 in the Memphis Territory! In perhaps the most fun CWA episode yet, the duo share laughs and discussion on the latest in the Memphis world! Find out what happens when Steve Keirn (accidentally) rips off an entire cage wall during a Steel Cage match vs. The Sheepherders! Plus, Jerry Lawler dethrones BOTA for the Southern belt, Phil Hickerson regains the International Title from Terry Taylor, Big John Harris "runs" off Buddy Wayne, The Master Blaster squashes poor David Hasking (twice), Koko Ware is doing 'The Bird', Jarrett & Tojo remember the way they were, Michael Hayes pops in, & much more! The Renesto booking continues on! Come for the history lesson, stay for the fun!

If you're enjoying WrestleCopia and interested in helping us continue to grow, please consider Subscribing to our Patreon to help us cover some of our costs! https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
YOU CAN ALSO GIFT SOMEONE A PATREON MEMBERSHIP (OR ASK THEM TO GIFT YOU ONE) AT https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/gift
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier, and "The ULLLTIMATE Tier", featuring our various VIDEO-CAST Series, Early Show Releases, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure, & more!

HELP SUPPORT THE SELF-FUNDED WRESTLECOPIA BRAND, CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR PAYPAL
WRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia
Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

This week, Regional Rasslin' goes back to the Georgia Wrestling History Project. Guest Rick Fields joins Ray Russell to pick up where they left off, discussing more of the late 1950s with the return of Ray Gunkel, the arrival of Dickie Gunkel, Don McIntyre continues to ride high, plus a pair of new evil foreign menace teams in the Von Brauners & Volkoffs, Fred Blassie, & so much more! Plus, we'll spend the first half of the program discussing the controversial NWA World Title Match between Lou Thesz vs. Edouard Capentier, and how it led to two men claiming the World Championship at the same time, the many regional promotions creating their own "World Champions", and the fallout it caused between the NWA and many of the territories of the time.

If you're enjoying WrestleCopia and interested in helping us continue to grow, please consider Subscribing to our Patreon to help us cover some of our costs! https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
YOU CAN ALSO GIFT SOMEONE A PATREON MEMBERSHIP (OR ASK THEM TO GIFT YOU ONE) AT https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/gift
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier, and "The ULLLTIMATE Tier", featuring our various VIDEO-CAST Series, Early Show Releases, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure, & more!

HELP SUPPORT THE SELF-FUNDED WRESTLECOPIA BRAND, CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR PAYPAL
WRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia
Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

This time on the Regional Rasslin', Jammie Ward joins Ray Russell to talk Georgia Wrestling for July 1982! It's the Fourth of the July at the Omni featuring NWA World Champion Ric Flair vs. WWF Champion Bob Backlund! Plus, Roddy Piper banned from TBS studios but finds a loophole to return to the airwaves, Don Muraco searches for the "big white shark" Dusty Rhodes (who has the 'Eye of the Tiger', if you will), Orndorff vs, Snuka, the Freebirds vs. Wild Samoans, Wrestling #2 vs. Masked Superstar, Ole Anderson, Stan Hansen, Ivan Putski, Tommy Rich, Buzz Sawyer, Sonny King's lollipop, & much more!

If you're enjoying WrestleCopia and interested in helping us continue to grow, please consider Subscribing to our Patreon to help us cover some of our costs! https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
YOU CAN ALSO GIFT SOMEONE A PATREON MEMBERSHIP (OR ASK THEM TO GIFT YOU ONE) AT https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/gift
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier, and "The ULLLTIMATE Tier", featuring our various VIDEO-CAST Series, Early Show Releases, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure, & more!

HELP SUPPORT THE SELF-FUNDED WRESTLECOPIA BRAND, CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR PAYPAL
WRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia
Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade
Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade