Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show

This week our 1976 Territory Review Series rolls on as we head to the northeast portion of the United States for the World Wide Wrestling Federation territory. With the expert analysis of my special co-host analyst, Steve Gennerelli, we begin the year in January as the story between Superstar Billy Graham and WWWF Champion, Bruno Sammartino continues in what will be a very hot year for both men! Not only will Bruno face Graham in 1976, but in the first five months along, he will also be challenged by Ivan Koloff, “The Big Cat” Ernie Ladd and a huge moment in wrestling history in April of 1976! In one of the most dramatic moments we have ever covered—and a true turning point in WWWF History—comes on April 26, 1976, at Madison Square Garden. In what many historians regard as one of the most consequential matches of the decade, Stan Hansen unleashed his devastating lariat on Bruno Sammartino. The champion bled heavily; the referee stopped the contest. The neck injury that resulted would sideline Bruno for weeks and force him to wrestle with a protective brace for the rest of his reign. It wasn’t just a match—it was the beginning of the end of an era, even if fans at the time didn’t fully realize it. Gennerelli’s deep knowledge of the WWWF booking sheets and Richards’ storytelling flair turn these moments into vivid, you-are-there radio theater. What makes this particular release special is the chemistry between Richards and Gennerelli. Steve has been a staple on the show—whether recapping the final months of 1975 WWWF or lending his encyclopedic recall to mailbag episodes. As the designated WWWF Analyst, he brings the kind of granular detail that only a true student of the territory can: the way certain angles played differently in Boston versus Philadelphia, the quiet contributions of undercard talent like Kevin Sullivan (already paying his dues in enhancement matches), and the subtle shifts in crowd psychology that told McMahon the product was evolving. If you’re a longtime fan who remembers flipping through Pro Wrestling Illustrated in the checkout line, or a newer viewer curious about how the Northeast territory became the launching pad for Hulkamania, today’s release is essential listening (or watching on YouTube). Head over to Tony Richards’ Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel channel, Substack, or your favorite podcast platform and step into the Tunnel. With Tony Richards and Steve Gennerelli at the wheel, you’ll emerge on the other side with a deeper appreciation for why 1976 wasn’t just another year in wrestling—it was the year the old guard started to feel the future breathing down its neck. Welcome back to 1976, friends. The Time Tunnel is open.

What a BIG show we have for you today! In the broadcasting business, especially with the music formatted stations, we used to have a term when we “went outside the rules” or “played a song or songs not on the authorized playlist”, we called that “breaking format”. It was just a term for going outside the norm and doing something outside the box or beyond the regullar programming. Well we are “breaking format” today and doing something a little different. I kick off the show with a visit with a first-time guest on the show, John Mayor McCall who has been doing a podcast for the last three years centered on the Memphis Territory in the 80s and 90s. John recently accounced that these next 4 or 5 shows will be the last and before he does that, I wanted to have him on the program here at The Rance for a conversation. He’s such a good dude, I dont think you are going to want to miss this. Then, I also recently had my wrestling buddies, Steve Gennerelli and Brian R. Solomon over to the Bunkhouse for a roundtable discussion about Wrestlemania 42. We talk all things Wrestlemania, from the basics of the brand, to what have become fans’ expectations for the show, how the show started and many of its changes through the years and we discuss this weekend’s line-up from Smackdown to Raw and the Two-Day Card over the weekend match by match. We will also run the down this year’s Hall of Fame inductees and provide plenty of analysis and commentary around those. Its a little something different and we had a whole lot of fun doing it and I hope you’ll enjoy it as well. We will return to 1976 next week with a little layover this week in Las Vegas!

On Friday, March 20th, 2026, our Pro Wrestling Community lost one of the all time greats, Dennis Condrey of The Midnight Express, passed away at his home in Nirth Alabama at the age of 75. I don’t have to introduce this episode by telling you all about the attributes and wonderful talents of Dennis, by now you have undoubtedly heard and seen many wonderful tributes and salutes to his storied career, including the emotional delived by his partner\manager Jim Cornette and my own feature article on his life and career here in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel. If you haven’t had a chance to read and review that piece, you can access it here. This show will be a retrospective of sorts with four different friends stopping by The Ranch today to talk about Dennis and what he meant to them. First of all, there’s Greg Anthony from Dyersburg, Tennessee, who runs wrestling shows each week in Dyersburg and Ripley at the building known as the Herb Welch Wrestleplex. Greg shares his connection to Dennis and how Dennis shaped his own life and career in the businsss. Then. there is my longtime frined, Michael St. John of Talking Memphis Wrestling, who also was a television announcer for Nick Gulas both in Nashville and Chattanooga, and Jerry Jarrett in Memphis. Michael was a co-worker with Dennis and also the recipient of one of Dennis’ famous ribs. Next, our Tennessee Historian and Analyst, Tim Dills will be here to document muct of Dennis’ career with Phil Hickerson as the Bicentennial Kings from 1975 to 1979 and we will also talk about his tag team with David Schultz and the infamous angle that was first done in Tennessee that later became famous in Mid-South Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions. Last, Ron Fuller the owner, promoter and booker of Southeastern Championship Wrestling will be here to visit about Dennis and Phil Hickerson in the Knoxville end of his promotion and the inception of The Original Midnight Express in the Pensacola Territory, the famous angle with Norvell Austin and the armstrong Family that made The Original Midnight Express a 3-Man team using the “Freebird” Rule. We are all set to pay our respects to Dennis Condrey today in a little longer show than usual, but Dennis deserves it! I think one of things that is special about our show giving respect to Dennis is that he was one of our own here in the Tennessee Territory.. He started here, became a star here and went out to achieve fame and fortune from here along with other hometown guys, Bobby Eaton and Jim Cornette as the greatest tag team of all time, The Midnight Express. I hope you enjoy today’s show in honor of Dennis Condrey.

This week on the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, I am excited to present the first of our Mailbag Shows for 2026! Our great viewers, listeners and members of our various communities have submitted questions that we have curated for the show. Steve Gennerelli, our WWWF Analyst and Time Tunnel family member is here to assist with the fun. Come along for this week’s show as we dive deep into the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Mailbag to answer the questions our community members want to know!

We are in the middle of our “1985 Territory Review” Series! Its a a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. In order to add context on where 1985 falls in the spectrum of the territory era of professional wrestling, here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”: Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935) Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945) Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955) Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965) Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975) Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985) Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995) 1985 is the first year in the last stage of the territory era, and we are reviewing what is remaining of the system as the Disintegration Stage gets started. By the time we reach the halfway point in this stage, 1990, only a bare thread of the vast network of wrestling territories will remain. By the end of the Disintegration Stage, 1995, only one territory, in Memphis, is barely breathing, and by 1997 would be gone. Portland Wrestling is a territory that didn’t get a lot of magazine coverage during the territory era and its owners, The Owen Family, were quite content with that. They were wrestling promoters going back another generation to Herb Owen, who carved out a wrestling territory using Portland, Oregon as the center office and extending out through the state of Oregon, as well as parts of Washington as well. Herb’s son, Don Owen took over after Herb retired and was an early member of the National Wrestling Alliance. The territory drew steady money, kept a small roster of talent and featured the traveling NWA World Champion a couple of times per year. They ran every Saturday night in Portland and sometimes added an additional show on Tuesday nights. This business model lasted multiple decades and was still drawing some decent money heading onto 1985. The Wrestling Supershow concept was sweeping through the territory booking offices and Portland was no exception, adding the Extravaganza shows in 1985 and doing some big business. Aided with help from former Portland superstar and now WWF employee, Roddy Piper, Portland Wrestling stayed relevant to its local fanbase, successfully holding the WWF at bay in Oregon, also with Piper’s promise not to work on any shows opposite Don Owen. Today, I am joined by the foremost Portland Wrestling Historian, Mike Rodgers along with Frank Culbertson and we travel in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel back to review the year of 1985 in Portland Wrestling!

Our podcast focuses in on a by-gone era of regional booking offices of wrestling talent in historic towns and legendary buildings around the world. Jimmy Ault aka Frankie Cain aka The Clubfoot Inferno aka The Great Mephisto and on and on was one unique individual. Born in Columbus, Ohio in the early 1930s, Cain grew up mostly destitute and in extreme poverty, often homeless and starving. He learned how to survive on the streets, working gimmicks and cons just to stay alive with the other street kids he hung around. He learned learned how to box, became a “smoker” and became a traveling carnival worker . At one point, he learned how to become a wrestling shooter and was indoctrinated into the business in Al Haft’s Columbus promotion where he saw the guy he still considered the greatest professional wrestler he ever saw, a guy who called himself, “The Great Mephisto.” Cain then set about traveling through almost every territory of the 20th century during the territory era becoming beloved by Cowboy Clarence Luttrall, Roy Welch and others. He became teenage friends with Eddie Gossett (Graham) while living near Chattanooga, Tennessee traveling the roads and talking about their dreams together when they made it in the wrestling business. Frankie Cain was probably the last living person in the wrestling business who dated back to Jim Londos’ time in professional wrestling. Later in life, Cain became friends with Crowbar Press publisher, Scott Teal while the two were attending a Gulf Coast Wrestlers’ Reunion Event. After gaining Cain’s trust, Teal began to record and document Frankie’s memories both in audio and video form and published some of them in his “Whatever Happened To?” newsletter while also making Frankie a regular columnist. After Teal stopped doing the newsletter and starting publishing books, the two took their conversations about Cain’s life and published a two-volume set of books documenting the life of Franke Cain. In the last few days, Frankie Cain passed away and today, I am proud to welcome Scott Teal to the Richards Ranch to pay tribute to the life and career of his close, personal friend, Frankie Cain. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

One of the negative aspects involved in following or being a fan of any form of entertainment is when we lose talented performers in the very early stages of really promising careers. One such notable example is Gino Hernandez, known by the moniker “The Handsome Halfbreed”. Hernandez made his pro wrestling debut in 1975 in the markets of San Antonio and Houston and almost immediately started rising through the ranks. In the 9th year of his rocketing rise, his life was cut short. Joining me for this special episode of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is Lizzy Flanagan. Lizzy is one of our young, enthusiastic historians and authors who has written a biography on the life and death of Hernandez entitles, “I Am Your Champion” published by McFarland Press and is now available. We discuss Gino Hernandez’ debut and his rise to success including his opportuninty to work with one of South Texas biggest babyfaces of all time, Jose Lothario, his close relationship with the Blanchard Family in San Antonio and his outstanding tag team run with Tully Blanchard, his run in Houston, his relationship with the Von Erichs, his move into one of the hottest promotions at the time, World Class Championship Wrestling, his tag team with Chris Adams and more. We discuss the circumstances around his lifestyle in Dallas at the time of his death, his wife and family and yes, we dispel the rumors of Paul Boesch being his biological father. Its all in this special bonus episode commemorating the 40th anniversary of the loss of one of pro wrestling’s brightest and biggest stars, Gino Hernandez. We hope you will take this ride back in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel with Lizzy Flanagan and myself as we go back to 1975 and travel forward to February 1984.

We are kicking off the year of 2026 with a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. Here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”: My framework for understanding and analyzing the history and growth of Professional Wrestling are the 7 Stages of The Territory Era: Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935) Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945) Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955) Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965) Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975) Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985) Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995) 1985 is the first year in the last stage of the territory era, and we will review what is remaining of the system. Verve Gagne and Bernie Karbo had been buying points in the NWA Minneapolis Booking Office and Territory starting in the late 1950s and by 1960 were ready to pull away from the National Wrestling Alliance to start a new wrestling federation. At the time, the NWA had been under investigation by the Department of Justice for monopolistic business practices and were eager to have another group in existence to show they weren’t the only game in town. After several years of prosperity and building one of the largest geographic areas fully controlled by one office in the entire North American continent, by 1985, things had begun to change. After losing Hulk Hogan to the WWF in late 1983, Gagne was still trying to find a new champion to carry the AWA banner forward into a new era. Rick Martel was the champion for most of th eyear before the decision was made to switch the title to Stan Hansen. All in all, in 1985, the AWA was still drawing very healthy crowds and staying very much in competition with the other entities that were “going national.” 1985 would prove to be a pivotal year leading into the future. My friend and noted historian, George Schire joins me on the show to review the year in the AWA that was 1985.

We are kicking off the month of January with a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. Here is my historical “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”: My framework for understanding and analyzing the history and growth of Professional Wrestling are the 7 Stages of The Territory Era: Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935) Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945) Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955) Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965) Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975) Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985) Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995) 1985 is the first year in the last stage of the territory era, and we will review what is remaining of tbe system. 1984 was a blockbuster year for World Class Championship Wrestling with the low point being the death of David Von Erich and the high point being in May when Kerry Von Erich winning the NWA World Heavyweight Title from Ric Flair at the huge stadium show in Dallas. Lance Peterson is my special co-host as we quickly review the end of 1984 and roll through the year of 1985 for both the Von Erich Family and the World Class wrestling promotion. Lance was both a fan and a super supporter of the promotion. He attended both television tapings at the Sportatorium and some of the biggest Star Wars shows in ‘85. As both the WWF and Jim Crockett Promotions had national expansion in the games plans, World Class was expanding internationally to Israel. Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams are the hot heel tag team in the territory facing the ever popular Von Erich Family. After Kerry winning the NWA’s biggest prize the year before, Head of the family and the company, as well as a former Preisdent of the NWA, Fritz Von Erich contemplates pulling out of the Alliance and having his own company world champion. These stories and more unfold in the year 1985 and Lance Peterson and I cover them all on today’s episode 43 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show.

We are kicking off the month of January with a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. Here is my historical “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”: My framework for understanding and analyzing the history and growth of Professional Wrestling are the 7 Stages of The Territory Era: Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935) Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945) Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955) Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965) Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975) Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985) Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995) 1985 is the first year in the last stage of the territory era, and we will review what is remaining of tbe system. The year of 1984 had seen Championship Wrestling From Florida lose some of it’s biggest stars, including The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes, to Jim Crockett Promotions. Yet, the biggest impact was yet to come in 1985. In January, on Super Bowl Sunday, the territory’s “captain of the ship”, Eddie Graham would take his own life. In today’s podcast show, we will cover thins and more of the year’s events in 1985 with someone whop was there for it all. I am joined, as always by our Championship Wrestling from Florida analyst, Howard Baum and special guest, Bruce Owens. Bruce became a fan in the 1960s, joined the company in 1973, became a close friend of several within the promotion, including Eddie Graham himself. This relationship led Owens to be trained to serve in various capacities, including as referee for some of the biggest events in The Florida territory’s history. He worked with the biggest stars and the biggest matches in every one of the Florida towns in the loop. Even with the departure of Dusty Rhodes in ‘84 and then Eddie Graham, the loyal fans of Florida wrestling were still coming through the turnstiles to suppport shows, includin gthe first “Battle of the Belts” show at the Tampa Sun Dome, which was also carried on a network of television stations in many major cities. Join Howard, Bruce and myself as we go backward in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel to Championship Wrestling From Florida in the year of 1985.

We’ve counted down the first 50 from 100 to 51, now its time to get to my list of the 50 Best Wrestlers of 1975. This list is my list/ I’ve taken into consideration other lists avaailable of ranked wrestlers for the year, along with my own research notes from our podcast shows throughout the year as well as extra study into territories and wrestlers i didn’t know very much about in order to be fair as possible/ I took into consideration: The Territory or territories the wrestler worked in and the significance and importance of that territory The programs and matches they had during the year The position on cards they held throughout the year How much time they spent as singles wrestlers vs being in tag teams during the year What championships they held and the importance of that title in drawing money on the cards and in the buildings How significant was the wrestling to that terriory, how dependant was the territory on them to draw money How significant was 1975 to their overall career? Was thier career trajectory swing up, peaked or on the down swing? And a few other things, but that was the main criteria I took into consideration I freely admit my own biases and preferences did come into play in this process, however I did try to maintain awareness of those biases and suspend them and honestly, i felt like I made some tough calls as far as assignments on the list. Here it is, my Top 50 Best Professional Wrestlers for the year of 1975!

It’s here! Our 2025 Christmas Super Show from the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel! This year we are focusing on the 3 world championships in the world during 1975. My first guest is Steve Gennerelli and we reflect and discuss Bruno Sammartino’s year of 1975 as the WWWF Champion. Bruno has even been declared the wrestler of the year in some historian circles for the year of 1975. Steve and I discuss this and more in Bruno’s championship year of 1975. Next up, my friend George Schire stops by the Richards Ranch and we discuss the world title in the American Wrestling Association, the AWA. Verne Gagne had been the champion since 1968. Why did he hold the title for so long? Why was the time right in Verne’s mind to end his reign and pass the title to Nick Bockwinkel in November of 1975? George and I discuss these things and more during out visit about the AWA Championship. Terry Funk won the NWA World Championship in Miami, Florida on December 10th, 1975 winning it from Jack Brisco. Funk had to immediately assume the schedule of the World Champion, which would be taking him to the Central States Territory. Jerry Oates, my next guest was the first challenger on December 11th at Memorial Hall. When did Jerry find out he was wrestling Terry and not Jack? What did Jerry and Terry say to each other? Did they talk before the match or after the match or both? Jerry and I talk about these things and more during our visit about Terry’s first defenses of the NWA Title. And Gerry Brisco joins me at the Richards Ranch to talk about his brother, Jack Brisco and his reign as NWA WOrld Champion from 1973 to 1975, We discuss Jack’s collegiate career, breaking in for LeRoy McGuirk in Oklahoma, Jack’s first television match, his NWA Title run, the title change with Giant Baba in 1974 and when he decided he wanted to give up the NWA Title and late on, give up pro wrestling and retire. Its a fabulous discussion with all four of my guests on this year’s 2025 Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Christmas Super Show!

This week we reach the pinnacle of 1975 in the Championship Wrestling from Florida Territory on an exciting night in Miami Beach at the Convention Center on December 10th! It’s the night where Jack Brisco had been advertised to defend his NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Dory Funk, Jr. Fans in Miami thought it would be another mat classic with two of the best wrestling technicians of this or any eraa met once again in combat. Surprise filled the air when it was announced that Funk, Jr was unable to make flight connections to be there and that younger brother Terry Funk would be taking his place in the match. Howard Baum, our regular Florida Territory analyst and commentator joins me aling with our special guest Don DeLeon, who was the photographer that night at the Convention Center. Having backstage access, DeLeon was the first human being to witness Terry Funk come into the dressing room that night after beating the best wrestler in the world and now holding the NWA World Title belt and that distinction for himself. Join Howard and I as we welcome Don to our show and have a special and unique conversation at The Richards Ranch about that historic night 50 years ago in Miami Beach.