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Classic Pro Wrestling TerritoriesPro Wrestling Before Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan and WrestlemaniaPro wrestling in the 1950's - 80's existed as a collection of territories, each of which had unique champions, personalities, and styles
In this look at pro wrestling's past, we'll engage in an overview of the various areas that housed well-known promotions. Though there may have been hundreds of small, short-lived companies that presented wrestling matches during the second half of the 20th century, there are only 15 specific territories that maintained operations for significant periods of time and that developed a style and group of workers that their fans identified with. More often than not, these regional designations were not used by the promoters themselves, but were instead classifications created by fans who communicated with one another in those pre-Internet days. In 2007, these labels have become a sort of common currency among people interested in this one-of-a-kind era. These companies were also affiliated with one of three promotional alliances: NWA (National Wrestling Alliance); AWA (American Wrestling Alliance); and WWWF (World-Wide Wrestling Federation, later shortened to WWF and now known famously as WWE). Only the NWA was an actual member organization that held annual meetings, elected officers and voted on matters. The other two were just trademark creations to create an aura of legitimacy to the enterprise of pro wrestling. Since wrestling evolved from the carnival world, the business was often an underhanded one, and there have long been rumors of organized crime involvement. The promotions that controlled these geographic regions were not created by a democratic process, but by the nerves and courage of the businessmen or (quite often) ex-wrestlers who maintained control despite opposition. For the promoters to continuously attract and retain wrestlers that fans would pay to see, they had to be willing to risk their finances and be able to change with the current of the times. That volatile change in culture and entertainment preferences of the 1980's and onward was a huge factor in the death of the territory system. Here are the major territories from wrestling's golden age, listed under the umbrella of the alliance their promotions belonged to. Next to each territory label is a roster of states or regions that these companies promoted in, and the promoter(s) of that territory is named. Finally, a short list of the 5 wrestlers whose careers were most closely identified with each area is given. Over the remaining installments of this series, we will take an in-depth look at the personalities and style that made each of these enterprises a unique phenonemon. NWACarolinas (North and South Carolina, Virginia) Promoter - Jim Crockett Top 5 draws: Ric Flair, Anderson Brothers, Wahoo McDaniel, Johnny Valentine, Paul Jones Florida (mainly Central and Southern) Promoter - Eddie Graham Top 5 draws: Dusty Rhodes, Jack Brisco, Barry Windham, Boris Malenko, Eddie Graham Georgia Promoter - Paul Jones Top 5 draws: Mr Wrestling 2, Tommy Rich, Bobby Shane, Masked Superstar, The Assassins Gulf Coast (Northern Florida, Alabama) Promoters Speedy Hatfield, Lee Fields Top 5 draws: Cowboy Bob Kelly, Don Fargo, Wrestling Pro, Jimmy Golden, Billy Spears Texas (Dallas and Houston) Promoters - Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson) and Paul Boesch Top 5 draws: Von Erich brothers, Chris Adams, Jose Lothario, Bruiser Brody West Texas Promoter - Dory Funk Sr., Jerry Kozak Top 5 draws: Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Dick Murdoch, Ricky Romero, Cyclon Negro Tri-States (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi) Promoters Leroy McGuirk, Bill Watts Top 5 draws: Danny Hodge, Bill Watts, Irish Mike Clancy, Ted DiBiase, Ken Mantell Central States (Kansas and Missouri) Promoters Bob Geigel, Sam Muchnick Top 5 draws: Harley Race, Bulldog Bob Brown, Pat O'Connor, Mike George, Rufus R. Jones Southern California Promoter - Cal and Eileen Eaton, Mike and Gene LeBell Top 5 draws: Fred Blassie, Mil Mascaras, John Tolos, Chavo Guerrero, Roddy Piper Northern California Promoter - Roy Shire Top 5 draws: Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson, Rocky Johnson, Pepper Gomez, Paul DeMarco Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) Promoter - Don Owen Top 5 draws: Buddy Rose, Dutch Savage, Jesse Ventura, Lonnie Mayne, Billy Jack Haynes Detroit (Michigan and Ohio) Promoter - Ed Farhat Top 5 draws: The Sheik (Ed Farhat), Pampero Firpo, Bobo Brazil, Bull Curry, Dick the Bruiser Tennessee (Memphis and Nashville) Promoters Jerry Jarrett, Nick Gulas Top 5 draws: Jackie Fargo, Sputnik Monroe, Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Valiant, Tojo Yamamoto WWWF (All Northeastern States until 1980's, nationwide thereafter) Promoters: Vince McMahon Sr. and Jr. Top 5 draws: Bruno Sammartino, Buddy Rogers, Hulk Hogan, Pedro Morales, Antonio Rocca AWA (All Midwestern states and Chicago) Promoter - Verne Gagne Top 5 draws: Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, Mad Dog Vachon, the Crusher, Dr. X (Dick Beyer) Next: Classic Wrestling in San Francisco Prev: Rasslin' as We Knew It
The copyright of the article Classic Pro Wrestling Territories in Wrestling is owned by Bob Miller. Permission to republish Classic Pro Wrestling Territories in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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