Midwest Wrestling
Pro-Wrestling has a storied history in the Midwestern region of the United States. In the late nineteenth century, professional wrestling was largely a circus attraction. There was a pecking order of wrestlers: the novelty (often a strongman or freak), the shooter (a competent amateur) and the hooker (an amateur armed with various submission holds illegal in competitive wrestling). The system often had these wrestlers working exhibitions with one another and challenging a local stud, which fans would pay to come into the tent to witness. Many of the most notable early professional wrestling legends cut their teeth in this system. It existed well into the twentieth century and often famous professional would return to touring with a troupe between big matches. In the Midwestern United States, where amateur wrestling has long thrived, this attraction was turned into a box office gold by savvy promoters.
The promoters developed a new system. Celebrated amateur wrestlers and the toughest farm boys signed with managers, who marketed them and built them up to challenge a World Champion (though there was never really a single undisputed world champion). Top matches became vacation attractions for fans and at that time Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska, though less than one hundred and fifty miles apart, were the two biggest centers for professional wrestling. As it grew, Chicago, Illinois, the nearest large city, became the new home to marquee matches between the top talent. If there was a big attraction, it was often taken to Chicago. Paddy Carroll and later Jack Curley were successful professional wrestling and boxing promoters and ran the city strongly for a quarter century. Then problems began and Curley headed east and so did many of the money matches for the next twenty years. Professional wrestling still had money in it and there were still promoters who turned Detroit, Michigan, Kansas City, Missouri and Wichita, Kansas into well-established markets and Omaha and Des Moines remained key markets as well. However, it was Tom Packs in St. Louis that became the real powerhouse in the Midwest throughout the next two decades.
In the 1930s, the Midwest had a shot at pulling the major money back over the Appalachian Mountains and out of the Northeast. New York City and even Boston were hurting and the industrialized cities of the Midwest were on the rise. St. Louis promoter Tom Packs managed the NWA (Association, not Alliance) champion and he controlled the Midwest with an iron fist. However, Packs' approach made him enemies who united against him. During the mid-30s, the so-called "Little Trust" was formed with Billy Sandow, Al Haft out of Columbus, Ohio; Adam Weissmueller out of Detroit, Michigan and the up-and-coming Fred Kohler out of Chicago, Illnois. It was a short-lived syndicate, but it led to some significant developments in the Midwest. It gave Weissmueller and Kohler the edge in their respective cities. However, Sandow remained an unstable partner as he sold the "Little Trust's" championship to Packs and Paul Bowser, yet soon after created the "National Wrestling Alliance" name and created a champion in opposition to Packs' champion.
In Wichita, promoters (and brothers) Billy Sandow and Max Baumann developed relationships with various promoters - Kansas City's George Simpson and Orville Brown (who headed the well-respected MWA); Des Moines' Paul "Pinkie" George (who had been left out to dry by Packs); Omaha's Max Clayton; Minneapolis' Tony Stecher and eventually Packs' own matchmaker Sam Muchnick. Although the waters were rocky through the late 1930s and early 1940s, when World War II ended, pro-wrestling was on the edge of a "Golden Age" due to the arrival of television in American homes. Packs had made some poor business decisions and his power base was strained. After George, Stecher and Clayton joined some Midwestern boxing promoters to create a cartel in the region for that sport, they decided to come together with pro-wrestling promoters to create a cartel.
On July 18, 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance was formed by six promoters in Waterloo, Iowa. Promoters representing St. Louis, Detroit, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Columbus and Des Moines joined forces. This organization became crucial in the 1950s when professional wrestling was transformed by the rise of television. Over the next eight years, the Alliance would accept the membership of dozens of promoters throughout North America and reject the memberships of others and dramatically shape the landscape of pro-wrestling in North America.
Even before the NWA was formed, television began building a following in post-war America. Pro-wrestling became one of the first hit shows for many local affiliates of the national broadcasting companies. This new media created a generation of stars who mastered it quickly and eclipsed the older generation who could not adapt. Fred Kohler had two semi-national TV shows coming out of Chicago that established many legends who would go on to have major influence due to this wide-spread appeal. Kohler became a real powerhouse with this TV, his top stars and his booker, he almost went under. This allowed Eddie Quinn to move in and nearly take over the city. Kohler created new ties and reclaimed Chicago before another fall led him to break away from the NWA and run independently for a short time under the banner International Wrestling Alliance for a short stint.
These kinds of promotional wars and challenges the NWA authority became common place. As the TV wrestling era had boomed, numerous stars had been created and many people understood this new media. Some like the American Wrestling Alliance under Johnny Doyle and Jim Barnett ran in direct opposition in some major markets. Although they eventually left. Verne Gagne, however, ran more cautiously and edged his way into markets where the NWA affiliate was dying. Through this strategy, his company, the American Wrestling Association was able to build into a major promotion with a respectful relationship with the NWA establishment. One of the Gagne's partner, Dick the Bruiser, had a group out of Indianapolis called the World Wrestling Association that had a similar relationship until he started challenging The Sheik's NWA affiliated Big Time Wrestling in Detroit. Although these sorts of conflicts plagued the Alliance, they maintained a level of stability under the leadership of Sam Muchnick.
In 1975, long-time NWA president and St. Louis promoter Sam Muschnick retired. The National Wrestling Alliance went into a decline from which it would never recover. Power struggles and political manuevering saw some promoters leaving and the AWA took over much of the NWA's role as the premier force in the Midwestern United States. This allowed the changes of the 1980s to occur with little organized opposition. The Central States (Kansas City) promotion was trying to keep control and eventually took over long-time NWA capital, St. Louis in 1982. However, promoters in the Carolinas and Texas were trying to gain control of the NWA reigns. As this was going on, Vince McMahon began moving across the United States and making his WWF the national pro-wrestling product. Between 1983 and 1987, the pro-wrestling landscape had changed more than one could have imagined. Many of the NWA strongholds had been gobbled up by Vince McMahon, the AWA's talent had been poached and only Jim Crockett Promotions (which essentially ran the NWA) remained a viable threat. Again pro-wrestling had crossed back over the Appalachian Mountains and the long, proud pro-wrestling tradition in the Midwest became a memory.
After this time, the remains were pathetic. Gagne's skeleton crew continued to run shows around the AWA stomping grounds, Eddie Sharkey's Pro-Wrestling America offered the same thing in the same area. Larry Matysik ran an independent out of St. Louis, but eventually turned to the WWF. Dick the Bruiser and The Shiek continued to run their respective markets with often frightening results into the 1990s. The pro-wrestling of the Midwest that made legends of the old hookers is long gone, the NWA as a powerful organization is long gone and the type of TV wrestling that changed it all is gone as well.
Chicago in Southern Illinois is perhaps the most crucial city in the early years of organized
professional wrestling. The name of the game was making money and to make money, promoters needed to bring in the paying
fans. New York City and Boston always had the advantage of dense population and more money potential. Many of the first
big matches before the turn of the century were held in Chicago. Paddy Carroll was the first man to promote the sport
successfully in Chicago, but it was a different man who really made Chicago a wrestling town. Jack Curley came from San
Francisco, California to work in Chicago, he also wrote for local newspapers and eventually found work with Carroll in 1893.
Throughout the 1890s, Curley raised his stock promoting boxing in Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri. As the century turned,
so did Curley's promotional interests. Boxing was eventually outlawed in Chicago, so he turned to professional wrestling
and continued to promote in Illinois and Missouri. Curley was a force in both boxing and pro-wrestling by this point. He
was a key member in the Jack Johnson-Jim Jefferies bout and the Johnson-Jess Willard fight where the controversial black
champion lost his title. Curley though was a true powerhouse in pro-wrestling's early years when he promoted Frank Gotch,
George Hackenschmidt and Dr. Benjamin Roller as his main attractions in the Midwest and took his act to Europe.
Gotch-Hackenschmidt had a huge gate, huge attendance, but by many accounts was a huge disappointment that killed Chicago
for many years. So, Curley traveled to New York City with a new stable of talent and never looked back. Joe Coffey and Ed
White inherited operations after Curley's departure. In 1934, a past-his-prime "Strangler" Lewis put over megastar Jim
Londos in front of over 35,000 and had a record-setting gate. Chicago had rearrived on the landscape and promoters wanted
a piece. Ed White's ties with promoter Billy Sandow gave him an edge, but a third promoter named Fred Kohler was on the
rise. Coffey's death and White's retirement in the early 1940s, allowed Kohler to inherit the city completely and take it
into the "Golden Age."
Fred Beell
Orville Brown
Bobby Bruns
Farmer Burns
Primo Carnera
Charles Cutler
Dusek Riot Squad
Gino Garibaldi
Frank Gotch
George Hackenschmidt
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Jim Londos
Bobby Managoff
Danno O'Mahoney
Ole Olsen
Everett Marshall
Dr. Benjamin Roller
Oki Shikina
Ruffy Silverstein
Ray Steele
Swedish Angel
Sandor Szabo
Lou Thesz
George Zaharias
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Omaha on the eastern edge of Nebraska was one of the first true centers of professional wrestling. Back
when the pro ranks were not too far removed from the amateur ranks, wrestling states like Nebraska were hotbeds for
producing high-quality wrestlers and hosting some of the biggest matches of the day. From 1880 to 1890, Omaha's population
doubled twice and then some, the meat packing industry was taking off and attracting European immigrants. They brought a
rich wrestling tradition with them and many top notch wrestlers came from that tradition like John Pesek, the Duseks and
most notably Joe Stecher. Boxing and wrestling were both popular attractions at circuses and carnivals and Omaha became a
crucial city in this line of work. When professional wrestling became a serious revenue source for promoters, they began
focusing on population center like Omaha. Two notable matches in the 1910s were Joe Stecher defeating Charlie Cutler and
Earl Caddock defeating Stetcher. This soon shifted to the cities and Omaha lost its central spot. The Midwest remained a
viable market, but the East Coast was were the action was through the 1930s. Then Midwest promoters began trying to pull
the market back their way as a new generation came up. Max Clayton was the Omaha promoter by this point and was one of
the key players in the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance, but was not a founding member. He and the Duseks were
obligated to remain aligned with the National Wrestling Association and it took a year before they became full-fledged
members. Despite their sway, television shaped professional wrestling and a stigma developed amongst amateurs. Ironically,
Gorgeous George, the most influential figure of the television era was a Nebraska wrestler himself before donning his
golden locks and prissy demenour. This brand of pro-wrestling was just too much for the Nebraska diehards and from then
forward, it eventually became a tough market.
Johnny Barend
Freddie Blassie
Martin "Farmer" Burns
Earl Caddock
Charlie Cutler
Dusek Riot Squad
French Angel
Frank Gotch
Hans Hermann
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Skull Murphy
John Pesek
Antonino Rocca
Buddy Rogers
Wilbur Snyder
Joe Stecher
Des Moines in central Iowa was one of the early capitals of professional wrestling. Like Nebraska, Iowa
was a wrestling state. Unlike Omaha though, Des Moines did not have a major economic attraction. Instead, it was the
center of a farming state that never had population boom, but rather grew steadily along with Davenport, Cedar Rapids and
Council Bluffs (which bordered Omaha). All these were good spots for professional wrestling and promoters focused on
them for a long time. Notable wrestlers came out of Iowa, Martin "Farmer" Burns being the first, his disciple Frank Gotch
became the biggest star of his day and Earl Caddock followed with great success as well. Iowa's rich wrestling heritage
carried through the years when professional wrestling went through a metamorphosis in the big cities and in the East. By
the 1940s, promoter "Pinkie" George had control of the city, but the top talent in the midwest was being hogged by
St. Louis kingpin Tom Packs. After being left out in the cold by Packs, George helped begin a loose affiliation with
promoters called the "National Wrestling Alliance." Orville Brown became the first Alliance champion in 1944. Four years
later, this group expanded become a more significant organization and George was the made the president.
Freddie Blassie
Jim Browning
Bobby Bruns
Earl Caddock
Dusek Riot Squad
Don Eagle
French Angel
Gorgeous George
Jim Londos
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Everett Marshall
Bronko Nagurski
Gus Sonnenberg
Joe Stecher
Ray Steele
Wladek Zbyszko
Columbus in central Ohio was a key industrial city that was ripe for professional wrestling in the early
twentieth century. Albert Haft had been a middleweight wrestler in 1910s and took to promoting with big ambitions. In
the 1920s, Haft was bringing the best heavyweights in the sport to Columbus. Perhaps more significant in the long run
was Haft's policy of heavily pushing light heavyweights, as a former lighter weight wrestler himself. Many of these men
like Jack Reynolds, Hugh Nichols, Joe Turner and most importantly, Paul Bowser became key promoters throughout the United
States. When Jack Curley's "Big Six Trust" was weakened these men took over professional wrestling in their respective
markets and many aligned with the National Wrestling Alliance when it formed. During this time however, pro-wrestling was
controlled by the "Trust" and Haft continually tried to break into New York City (the goldmine for pro-wrestling promoters)
and was always kept out by Curley. He and Paul Bowser, who became the promoter in Boston, tried to force their way in at
one point, but lacked the star power. They also had an interest in Chicago, but that never took either. When Curley’s top
star, Jim Londos, left him in 1932, Haft was among those who backed Londos in an attempted takeover of the New York City
scene. Curley cleverly made a deal with key promoters to undermine this new group that planned to use the "Greek Adonis"
as a bludgeoning tool. Haft was one of those left out of the "Trust" that Curley formed to restore order. Haft continued
as the politics in New York City did significant damage to the city. While this was going on, outside territories were
growing and forming their own groups. It became fashionable to establish a governing body and a regional "World" champion
and the "Midwest Wrestling Association" was Haft’s contribution.
Al Haft was the main man in Ohio and became a key figure in the shift that pro-wrestling witnessed in the 1940s that
would shape the "Golden Age of Pro-Wrestling" with the growth of television. As the East Coast promoters aged, Haft became
a real power broker and was a key member in the "National Wrestling Alliance," which would put him on the inside after
years of being on the outside. The power of pro-wrestling shifted from the East Coast to the Midwest and by the 1950s,
Haft had one of the premier promotions in the nation. Around this time, Jack Pfefer moved into Toledo, Ohio to cash in on
this hot market. While men like Charley Marotta, Cliff Maupin and Larry Atkins had coexisted with Haft, Pfefer was not
that type. The two men had a colorful past as enemies and allies during the wrestling wars. However, Pfefer’s
long-standing relationship with Buddy Rogers, propensity for novelty acts (women, “midgets” and tag team main events) as
well as his connections around the pro-wrestling world made his Toledo promotion an instant threat to Haft. Not long after,
Rogers had a falling out with Pfefer and jumped to Haft’s group, forcing Pfefer to move on as he frequently did. Haft
continued into the 1960s and made his exit as Ohio’s economic hard times began. Although he his own beliefs about
promoting that were in contrast to the NWA management, he was a member until the bottom fell out for Columbus in the late
1960s.
Orville Brown
Jim Browning
Charlie Cutler
Rudy Dusek
Don Eagle
Gorgeous George
Eddie Gossett (Eddie Graham)
Karl Gotch
Soldier Frank Leavitt (Man Mountain Dean)
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Jim Londos
Everett Marshall
Bill Miller
John Pesek
Frank Sexton
Dick Shikat
Ruffy Silverstein
Joe Stecher
Ray Steele
Ray Stevens
Lou Thesz
Ted Thye
Whipper Billy Watson
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Wladek Zbyszko
Detroit became the automotive capital of the world at the beginning of the twentieth century, but it was
not until the 1920s that the city became home to a regular wrestling promotion. Nick Londes popped the city by running
major shows at the Olympic featuring the top heavyweight stars of the day. After his success, Adam Weissmueller moved in
and ran the Arena Gardens with increasing success himself. His operation was taken over by Louis Markowitz, but again
there were challenges to the number one spot. Detroit had a lot of factory workers who would pay good money for
pro-wrestling and a lot of people were vying for that cash. Jack Pfefer had his hands in the pot for a time, "Strangler"
Lewis promoted for stint, Maury Feldman and Jack Giroux had regular operations and even Chicago kingpin Fred Kohler battled
for outlining markets. Then the war hit and things changed. The market was shaken up and a former assistant to both
Weissmueller and Markowitz would emerge on top. The "Harry Light Wrestling Office" seized control of the Arena Gardens and
began bringing in a wide variety of talent. By 1947, the promotion had television and Light had become the undisputed
victor of the battling that had lasted nearly a decade. The following year, the National Wrestling Alliance was formed.
Light's right-hand man and booker, Bert Ruby, would represent the promotion when they became the Detroit affiliate.
Although this was not the end of battles in Detroit, it supplied the city with an NWA affiliate that would last until 1980.
Orville Brown
Bobby Bruns
Wild Bull Curry
Ivan Kalmikoff
Tarzan Kowalski (Killer Kowalski)
Karol Krauser
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Danny McShain
Danno O'Mahoney
Buddy Rogers
The Sheik of Araby (The Sheik)
Dick Shikat
Ruffy Silverstein
George Zaharias
St. Louis has always been a distinct metropolitian oasis in the desert of massive territories of
pro-wrestling. The city was the home base of Tom Packs from 1922 until his operation collapsed in 1948. The big money
in pro-wrestling had headed east, but there was still ample opportunity in the Midwest. Packs became one of the six
members of Jack Curley's short-lived "Trust." When it dissolved, megastar Jim Londos left Curley and sought backers, Packs,
along with Philadelphia's Ray Fabiani were those backers. They became power brokers in the National Wrestling Association,
which had been the pro-wrestling arm of the National Boxing Association until 1930, had been a major sactioning body and
Packs eventually assumed control of their champion in the Midwest and built St. Louis into the most powerful office in the
region with an alliance with Northeastern promoter Paul Bowser. Eventually, Packs developed a reputation for being greedy
with that power and left several promoters out to dry. A small group united with hopes of driving Packs out of business.
The big turn came when his matchmaker Sam Muchnick left him to start a rival group in the city. Muchnick, aligned with the
people who would make up the National Wrestling Alliance, struggled to get his footing, but after the war, he worked hard
to build his company. With the Alliance on the verge of its offical formation and Muchnick nipping at his heels, Packs
closed up shop in 1948. He had been the man who made St. Louis into a pro-wrestling hotbed, but a new generation was
seizing power. However, his side of the battle would be succeeded by others. After Tom Packs closed up shop in 1948, a
powerful group of promoters came together to buy into his promotion's legacy. The consortium was comprised of Toronto's
Frank Tunney, Montreal's Eddie Quinn and National Wrestling Association stars Bill Longson and Lou Thesz, who was the man
at the helm. Thesz resumed the war for St. Louis with Sam Muchnick, but the National Wrestling Alliance's formation aided
Muchnick in the long run. Although Tunney and Quinn were strong partners, other Association members were jumping to the
Alliance. Eventually, Thesz succumbed and the group quietly merged with Muchnick's. Thesz became the NWA World Champion
and the warring between the sides died off. Although the MVSC remained a separate entity until 1959, it was unofficially
under the Muchnick umbrella.
Paul Boesch
Orville Brown
Vic Christy
Dean Detton
Dusek Riot Squad
French Angel
Michele Leone
Jim Londos
Wild Bill Longson
Bobby Managoff
Everett Marshall
Bronko Nagurski
Buddy Rogers
Ray Steele
Swedish Angel
Sandor Szabo
Lou Thesz
Whipper Billy Watson
Minneapolis, Minnesota was opened by Tony Stecher in 1933 with local football hero Bronko Nagurski making
his pro-wrestling debut. Stecher had been an excellent wrestler in his day, but mainly served as the handler of his
younger brother Joe who was a world class wrestler. After Joe had a nervous breakdown, Tony moved him to St. Cloud, MI and
opened shop in Minneapolis. Nagurski was his main attraction and the city steadily grew under Tony Stecher's guidance.
However, St. Louis promoter Tom Packs, the power broker in the Midwest, was not doing any favors for his neighbors. This
led those neighbors, Stecher included, to break away from Packs. After that 1943 split, Stecher and his associates began
slowly undermining Packs' operation. While Stecher carefully played both sides when the time was right, he and associate
Wally Karbo jumped on board with the Alliance and brought great experience and influence.
George Gordienko
Cliff Gustafson
Abe Kashey
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Bronko Nagurski
Sky Hi Lee
Ray Steele
Lou Thesz
Sandor Szabo
Jim Wright
Kansas City in Western Missouri was the home base of George Simpson in the 1930s. In 1940, home state
hero Orville Brown became the booker and held the MWA championship. Brown moved into the cities of St. Joseph, Missouri
and Topeka and Wichita, Kansas. The latter city had been a significant for many years under Tom Law, Billy Sandow and his
brother Max Baumann. Brown was a real power player in the Midwest and was the brains and brawn behind the Kansas City
office. He was a legit talent with a farmboy charm that made him a popular draw in the region. When the National
Wrestling Alliance formed in 1948, Brown was recognized as the first champion due to him being a widely recognized
champion and being an influential member. Unfortunately, shortly before a match with the other NWA (Association) champion
Lou Thesz, Brown was nearly killed in an automobile accident. He escaped with his life, but he sustained injuries that
ended his in-ring career. Although Brown remained associated with Simpson's office, his influence was gone and it halted
his territory for growing as it had throughout the 1940s. The promotion did well in the 1950s, but Chicago and St. Louis
became the major capitals of pro-wrestling. Brown sold his shares in the company off and it was taken into the age of
television without him.
Buddy Austin
Red Berry
Orville Brown
Bobby Bruns
Vic Christy
Mike DiBiase
Dusek Riot Squad
Bob Ellis
Ron Etchison
The Flying Scotts (George & Sandy)
Bob Geigel
John Paul Henning
Lee Henning
Wladek "Tarzan" Kowalski
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Wild Bill Longson
Mills Brothers (Al & Tiny)
Sonny Myers
Pat O'Connor
Nelson Royal
Kinji Shibuya
Swedish Angel
Enrique Torres
National Wrestling Alliance - Chicago (1949-1962)
Chicago was the second largest city in the United States by the time the NWA formed, it was all Fred Kohler's. The
slick businessman had outlived his competition and secured television in 1946, which he used to build up the city. Kohler
became one of the most powerful promoters with three TV shows (two that were semi-national) that drew great viewership.
One through ABC was getting spent into New York City and that spawned a second on the DuMont Network, which became the most
famous pro-wrestling show of the "Golden Age" as it was seen throughout the Eastern United States. Kohler's influence was
scaring other NWA promoters and he was growing annoyed of the double-standard that he was held to by NWA management.
However, Kohler did not have to bow to the leadership as he had his own distinctive drawing cards, namely his US Champion
Verne Gagne. Although he repeatedly made concessions, Kohler was making aggressive moves. An alliance with New York City
bosses Toots Mondt and Charley Johnston allowed the trio to claim eight major US cities. Then in early 1955, DuMont
cancelled his show and the rug was pulled out from underneath his whole operation. He struggled to stay afloat over the
next few years. This was made worse when Montreal kingpin Eddie Quinn began running the city. The problems were
amplified further when Verne Gagne and many of his established stars left along with his right-hand man Jim Barnett.
Kohler was nearly dead and believing Quinn was being backed by the NWA's top brass, he made a deal with Washington D.C.
promoter Vincent J. McMahon. The alliance proved to be amazingly successful and Quinn was forced out as Kohler's following
steadily grew. In 1961, he held the biggest show of the era when 38,000 people came to Cominsky Park to watch Buddy
Rogers win the NWA Championship from Pat O'Connor. A couple months later, Kohler assumed the presidency of the NWA for a
year. Not long after that things began to decline again and Kohler pulled out of the NWA and started a short-lived rival
company.
Lou Albano
Mitsu Arakawa
Red Bastien
Red Berry
Bobo Brazil
Guy Brunetti
Haystacks Calhoun
Primo Carnera
Moose Cholak
The Crusher
Don Curtis
Dick the Bruiser
Dusek Riot Squad
Chief Don Eagle
The Fabulous Kangaroos
The Fabulous Fargos (Jackie & Donny)
Verne Gagne
George Gallagher
Gorgeous George
Eddie Graham
Jerry Graham
The Great Togo
Gypsy Joe
Gary Hart
Rip Hawk
John Paul Henning
Hans Hermann
Don Leo Jonathan
Duke Keomuka
Killer Kowalski
Stan Kowalski
Sky Hi Lee
Mark Lewin
Jim Londos
Wild Bill Longson
Prince Maivia
Bobby Managoff
Luis Martinez
Danny McShain
Bill Miller
Mr. Moto
Pat O'Connor
Angelo Poffo
Argentine Rocca
Lalo Rodriguez (Ciclon Negro)
Buddy Rogers
Bruno Sammartino
Hans Schmidt
Mike Sharpe & Ben Sharpe
The Sheik
Ruffy Silverstein
Wilbur Snyder
Dick Steinborn
Sweet Daddy Siki
Lou Thesz
Sailor Art Thomas
Johnny Valentine
Johnny Walker (Mr. Wrestling II)
Bearcat Wright
Yukon Eric
National Wrestling Alliance - St. Louis (1948-1982)
St. Louis was the home base of National Wrestling Association kingpin Tom Packs and while opposition in the area around
St. Louis was not entirely unusual, running the city itself in opposition to Packs seemed like an impossible task. However,
Sam Muchnick did just that in the late 1940s. A former sportswriter who could communicate with anyone from famous
athletes to powerful politicians, Muchnick used this abilities to break away from his former boss and start running his own
shows in St. Louis. After Packs sold out, Muchnick was able to get a toehold on the market and eventually local promoter
and National Wrestling Association champion Lou Thesz merged his "Mississippi Valley Wrestling Club" with "Sam Muchnick
Sports Attractions." Although they remained separate for another ten years, when they became the single "St. Louis
Wrestling Club," the two promotions were both under NWA control. Soon after the merger, Muchnick began the celebrated
"Wrestling at the Chase" TV program and became the definitive president of the NWA. St. Louis became known for its
straightforward product with great pro-wrestling without all the theatrics that were becoming increasingly popular. After
Muchnick's retirement in 1982, St. Louis was taken over by a group of promoters and things began to spiral downward for
bothe St. Louis and the National Wrestling Alliance. Booker Larry Matysik broke away and ran independent of the NWA for
a stint before joining the WWF himself in 1984.
Skandor Akbar
Mitsu Arakawa
Buddy Austin
Shohei Baba
Bob Backlund
Ox Baker
Red Bastien
Brute Bernard
Crusher Blackwell
Brian Blair
Freddie Blassie
Nick Bockwinkel
Bobo Brazil
Jack Brisco
Jerry Brisco
King Kong Brody
"Killer" Tim Brooks
Bulldog Brower
Jim Brunzell
Ray Candy
Edouard Carpentier
Scott Casey
Moose Cholak
Ciclon Negro
The Crusher
Don Curtis
Dominic DeNucci
Ted DiBiase
Dick the Bruiser
J.J. Dillon
Kim Duk
Emile Dupre
Bobby Duncum
Dusek Riot Squad
Bob Ellis
Ronnie Etchison
Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Don Kent)
Don Fargo
Jackie Fargo
Ric Flair
Ron Fuller
Dory Funk Jr.
Dory Funk Sr.
Terry Funk
Greg Gagne
Verne Gagne
Bob Geigel
Mike George
Terry Gibbs
Eddie Gilbert
Pepper Gomez
Gordman & Goliath
Gorgeous George
Karl Gotch
Superstar Billy Graham
Eddie Graham
Luke Graham
Great Togo
Gory Guerrero
Ray Gunkel
Hard Boiled Haggerty
Larry Hamilton
Bob "Swede" Hanson
Rip Hawk
Lord Alfred Hayes
Bobby Heenan
John Paul Henning
Lee Henning
Hans Hermann
Gino Hernandez
Danny Hodge
Dick Hutton
Invader (Dick Murdoch)
Bobby Jaggers
Don Jardine (The Spoiler)
Rocky Johnson
Don Leo Jonathan
Rufus R. Jones
Tor Kamata
Duke Keomuka
Kinji Kimura (Kengo Kimura)
Taro Kobayashi (Strong Kobayashi)
Ivan Koloff
Wladek "Killer" Kowalski
Killer Karl Kox
Killer Karl Krupp
Ernie Ladd
Blackjack Lanza
Guy LaRose (Hans Schmidt)
Jerry Lawler
Luther Lindsay
Reggie Lisowski (The Crusher)
Wild Bill Longson
Billy Red Lyons
Peter Maivia
Bobby Managoff
Bob Marella (Gorilla Monsoon)
Luis Martinez
Great Matsuda (Hiro Matsuda)
Wahoo McDaniel
Tex McKenzie
Danny McShain
Mighty Ursus (Jess Ortega)
Bill Miller
Mongolian Stomper
Rocky Monroe (Sputnik Monroe)
Dick Murdoch
Sonny Myers
Leo Nomellini
Oates Brothers (Ted & Jerry)
Chuck O'Connor (Big John Studd)
Pat O'Connor
Paul Orndorff
Bob Orton Jr.
Ken Patera
Thunderbolt Patterson
Angelo Poffo
Lanny Poffo
Johnny Powers
Percy Pringle
Harley Race
Bruce Reed (Butch Reed)
Ron Reed (Buddy Colt)
Dusty Rhodes
Dewey Robertson (Missing Link)
Billy Robinson
Buck Robley
Buddy Rogers
Bob Roop
Bruno Sammartino
Dutch Savage
Dr. Scarlet (Bill Watts)
Hans Schmidt
David Schultz
Baron Scicluna
The Flying Scotts (George & Sandy)
The Sheik
Kinji Shibuya
Sgt. Slaughter
Wilbur Snyder
Pak Song
Ron Starr
Stan Stasiak
George Steele
Ray Stevens
Big John Studd
Kevin Sullivan
Sweet Daddy Siki
Bob Sweetan
Takachio (Great Kabuki)
Terry Taylor
Tenryu
Lou Thesz
"Sailor" Art Thomas
Les Thornton
John Tolos
Enrique Torres
Jumbo Tsuruta
Tarzan Tyler
Johnny Valentine
Greg Valentine
The Valiant Brothers (Jimmy & Johnny)
Khosrow Vaziri (Iron Sheik)
Jesse Ventura
Nicoli Volkoff
David Von Erich
Fritz Von Erich
Kevin Von Erich
Kerry Von Erich
Waldo Von Erich
Baron Von Raschke
Whipper Billy Watson
Bill Watts
Johnny Weaver
Jim Wehba (Skandor Akbar)
Herb Welch
Wild Samoans
Bob Windham (Blackjack Mulligan)
Ed Wiskowski (Col. Debeers)
Tim Woods (Mr. Wrestling)
Bearcat Wright
Yukon Eric
National Wrestling Alliance - Minneapolis (1948-1960)
In 1948, Tony Stecher became a founding member of the NWA and the most experienced one at that. Four years later, he
sold the Minneapolis office to his right-hand man Wally Karbo and his own son Dennis. Throughout the 1950s, Dennis Stecher
built the territory successfully by bringing in top notch talent. Much of the talent had been popularized through Fred
Kohler's Chicago office, which bragged two semi-national TV shows. His biggest star was Verne Gagne, who was so hot that
Kohler put a regional title on him that eventually became a "world" title. Then, Kohler lost TV and Gagne left along with
some of the talent. Gagne toured around for a while before buying Dennis Stecher's share of the Minneapolis office in 1959.
The following year, Gagne and Karbo broke away from the NWA and created a separate entity.
Mitsu Arakawa
The Brunettis (Joe & Guy)
Don Colt (Don Fargo)
Verne Gagne
Gallagher Brothers (Doc & Mike)
Bob Geigel
Hard Boiled Haggerty
Larry Hennig
Hans Hermann
Dick Hutton
The Kalmikoffs (Ivan & Karol)
Gene Kiniski
Sky Hi Lee
Reggie Lisowski (The Crusher)
Roy McClarty
Murder Inc. (Tiny Mills & Stan Kowalski)
Bronko Nagurski
Leo Nomellini
Pat O'Connor
Hans Schmidt
Kinji Shibuya
Wilbur Snyder
Johnny Valentine
Kurt Von Brauner
Fritz Von Erich
National Wrestling Alliance - Detroit (1948-196?)
Harry Light and his booker Bert Ruby seized control of Detroit after the war and the became a loyal NWA affiliate.
Throughout the 1950s, Detroit was largely living in the shadow of Chicago. It was a formidable market, but lacked the
homegrown stars for Light to build around. Instead, he brought in the top stars from Chicago, where they received major
TV exposure. By the mid-50s, Ruby had left to start an outlaw group, "Wolverine Wrestling," which depleted Light's office
greatly. These weaknesses allowed the promotion to fall prey to the promotional pursuits of Johnny Doyle and Jim Barnett
in the 1960s. After they came to town and ran the new Cobo Arena with many of the stars who had become local attractions
for Light. He fought them with wrestlers from other NWA affiliates and maintained his edge long enough to stave off Doyle
and Barnett. By the end of it though, the aging Light had bowed out and the NWA was without a local affiliate until The
Sheik took over in 1964.
Guy Brunetti
Ivan Kalmikoff
Killer Kowalski
The Sheik
John Tolos
Chicago (1959-1960)
Eddie Quinn was one of the top promoters in the pro-wrestling world when he decided to expand his Montreal operation
into Chicago. He had been an NWA member for a few years and even owned stock in the St. Louis promotion. However, Quinn
left the fold and after Chicago boomed, he looked to move into the city with Bobby Managoff managing some high profile
talent. NWA promoter Fred Kohler had lost his TV, his top stars and his booker, which threatened to kill his promotion.
Quinn's efforts had Kohler on the ropes, but then he made a deal with Vincent J. McMahon that turned his company around.
The tide turned on Quinn and he pulled out of the city and refocused on Montreal.
Eduoard Carpentier
Pepper Gomez
Don Leo Jonathan
Gene Kiniski
Killer Kowalski
Karl Krauser (Karl Gotch)
Bobby Managoff
Buddy Rogers
Lou Thesz
American Wrestling Alliance (1960-1964)
Johnny Doyle was a seasoned promoter who had bounced around the pro-wrestling world for many years before hooking up
with Indiana promoter Jim Barnett. Barnett, associated with Chicago's Fred Kohler, was based out of Indianapolis and had
built a successful operation. However, when he joined up with Doyle and they began running in opposition to the NWA, they
began making enemies. Doyle ran Detroit, Michigan; Barnett took Cincinnati, Ohio; and Balk Estes ran Indianapolis and
Columbus, Ohio. Past that, they targetted Los Angeles (where Doyle was first successful), they assisted Roy Shire's San
Francisco operation and ran successful shows in Denver, Colorado and New Orleans, Louisiana as well. They also made
aggressive moves by securing TV in NWA affiliates' markets. They were extremely successful, but were prevented from NWA
membership when they applied for it. This roadblock frustrated them and by 1964, they were looking to get out. They sold
Detroit to The Sheik and Indianapolis to Dick the Bruiser, then left for Australia. Doyle and Barnett had thoroughly
shaken up the establishment and toppled a few NWA affiliates.
Red Bastien
Johnny Barend
Bobo Brazil
Ciclon Negro
Dick the Bruiser
Bob Ellis
The Flying Scotts (George & Sandy)
Verne Gagne
The Gallaghers (Doc & Mike)
Don Leo Jonathan
The Kalmikoffs (Ivan & Karol)
Gene Kiniski
Killer Kowalski
Karl Krauser (Karl Gotch)
Lord Athol Layton
Angelo Poffo
Hans Schmidt
Ray Shires (Ray Stevens)
Wilbur Snyder
Lou Thesz
John Tolos
Johnny Valentine
The Von Brauners (Kurt & Karl)
Fritz Von Erich
AWA - American Wrestling Associaton (1960-1991)
Verne Gagne was one of the premier superstars of the 1950s due to being Fred Kohler's top star on his TV shows. After
wearing the NWA Junior Heavyweight title, Kohler's United States title and then laying a claim to a world title, Gagne
partnered with Wally Karbo and broke away from the NWA. The American Wrestling Association was one of the major
pro-wrestling companies in the United States for three decades. Based out of Minneapolis, the AWA's territory grew to
include Miluwakee, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois as its major cities. Other regular
stops included Green Bay, Wisconsin; Salt Lake City, Utah; Winnipeg, Manitoba; San Francisco, California and Las Vegas,
Nevada over the years. Gagne may have stepped on the NWA's toes in his early years, but eventually he too respected the
boundaries and came to work with promoters throughout the Midwest to maximize his group's success. In the 1960s and 1970s,
the AWA was one of the biggest and best companies in the world. They had great wrestlers, big draws and colorful
characters as well as great TV coverage. Gagne had a great vision of the big picture and set up big shows in the big
cities as well as anyone. By the 1980s, Gagne's roster was deteriorated by the WWF's expansion and his remained talent
looked old and his production looked dated. The times passed the company by and after hanging on for several years and
trying to make alliances with other territories to keep themselves alive, the AWA folded.
Abdullah the Butcher
Adrian Adonis
Skandar Akbar
Adnan Al-Kaissie
Gene Anderson
Lars Anderson
Andre the Giant
Mitsu Arakawa
Tony Atlas
Giant Baba
Bob Backlund
Ox Baker
Red Bastien
The Beast
Bam Bam Bigelow
Jerry Blackwell
Brian Blair
Tully Blanchard
Richard Blood (Ricky Steamboat)
Nick Bockwinkel
Tony Borne
Dino Bravo
Bobo Brazil
King Kong Brody
Tim Brooks
Bob Brown
Big Luke Brown
Jim Brunzell
Boom Boom Bundy
Haystacks Calhoun
Edouard Carpentier
Pork Chop Cash
Carlos Colon
Tony Condello
The Crusher
Barry Darsow
Col. DeBeers
Mike DiBiase
Dick the Bruiser
Bill DromoBobby Duncum
Dusek Riot Squad
Bob Ellis
The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn)
Manny Fernandez
Earthquake Ferris (Honky Tonk Man)
Pampero Firpo
Ric Flair
Stan "Plowboy" Frazier
The Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts)
Dory Funk Jr.
Terry Funk
Greg Gagne
Verne Gagne
Jimmy Garvin
Ron Garvin
Mike George
Bob Geigel
Terry Gibbs
Mr. Go (Ryuma Go)
Pepper Gomez
George Gordienko
Rene Goulet
Billy Graham
Luke Graham
Mike Graham
The Great Kusatsu
The Great Kimura (Rusher Kimura)
Blackie Guzman
Scott Hall
Higo Hamaguchi
Stan Hansen
Hard Boiled Haggarty
Lord Alfred Hayes
Bobby Heenan
Curt Hennig
Larry Hennig
Lee Henning
Hans Hermann
Leroy Hirsch (Al Tomko)
Danny Hodge
Hulk Hogan
The Iron Sheik
Scott "Hog" Irwin
Don Jardine (The Spoiler)
Don Leo Jonathan
Paul Jones
Rufus R. Jones
Junkyard Dog
Tor Kamata
Lani Keoloha (Jimmy Snuka)
Kim Duk
King Tonga (Haku/Meng)
Gene Kiniski
Brian Knobbs
Ivan Koloff
Nikita Koloff
Killer Kowalski
Ernie Ladd
Blackjack Lanza
Jerry Lawler
Jos LeDuc
Ken Lucas
Billy Red Lyons
Chief Peter Maivia
Rick Martel
Masked Superstar
Kokina Maximus (Yokozuna)
The Mercenary (Ron Fuller)
Wahoo McDaniel
Tex McKenzie
Shawn Michaels
Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey)
Mighty Igor
Bill Miller
Tiny Mills
Mister M (Bill Miller)
Mongolian Stomper
Pedro Morales
Angelo Mosca
Dr. Moto (Tor Kamata)
Blackjack Mulligan
Don Muraco
Dick Murdoch
Kendo Nagasaki
The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs)
Pat O'Connor
Bob Orton Jr.
Iceman King Parsons
Ken Patera
Claude Patterson (Thunderbolt Patterson)
Pat Patterson
Paul Pershmann (Buddy Rose)
Roddy Piper
Angelo Poffo
Johnny Powers
Ivan Putski
Harley Race
Rob Rechsteiner (Rick Steiner)
Butch Reed
Dusty Rhodes
Tommy Rich
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
Dale Roberts (Buddy Roberts)
Billy Robinson
Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Rip Rogers
Rock Rogowski (Ole Anderson)
Buddy Rose
Mr. Saito
Tito Santana
Akio Sato
Dutch Savage
Hans Schmidt
David Schultz
George Scott
Bobby Shane
The Sheik
Dick Slater
Sgt. Slaughter (Sgt. Slaughter)
Alexis Smirnoff
Wilbur Snyder
Dick Steinborn
Ray Stevens
Big John Studd
Super Ninja (Shunji Takano)
Super Destroyer (Don Jardine)
Super Destroyer Mark II (Sgt. Slaughter)
Fuji Tanaka
Genichiro Tenryu
The Terrorist (Brian Knobbs)
Lou Thesz
Art Thomas
Tosh Togo
John Tolos
Al Tomko
Tarzan Tyler
Paul "Butcher" Vachon
Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon
Johnny Valentine
Johnny Valentine Jr. (Greg Valentine)
Jimmy Valiant
Johnny Valiant
Khosrow Vaziri (Iron Sheik)
Jesse Ventura
Mighty Igor Vodik
Baron Von Raschke
Fritz Von Erich
Waldo Von Erich
Kurt Von Steiger
Otto Wanz
Bill Watts
Jim Wehba (Skandor Akbar)
Leon White (Vader)
Bob Windham (Blackjack Mulligan)
"Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods
Dr. X (The Destroyer)
Larry Zbyszko
Tom Zenk
International Wrestling Alliance [Chicago] (1962-1965)
After his Chicago-based NWA affiliate nearly bottomed out a second time, promoter Fred Kohler decided it was time to
leave the Alliance and begin working with Jack Pfefer. Pfefer's fake superstars and other novelty acts did get over as he
and Kohler would have liked. Furthermore, their biggest star, Johnny Valentine, left them without a credible champion.
Kohler soon saw the writing on the wall. More importantly his son-in-law saw the writing on the wall and sold a piece of
the promotion to Dick the Bruiser. The superstar brought in stars from his WWA group based out of Indianapolis, Indiana,
but they could not save Chicago. Kohler was desperate to get out, but wanted to prevent Verne Gagne (head of the AWA) from
buying into Chicago. Instead, Wilbur Snyder, The Bruiser's partner, bought in, although eventually the WWA and AWA would
run joint shows there for years to come.
Edouard Carpentier
Jackie Fargo
Johnny Valentine
George Valentine (Buddy Fuller)
Moose Cholak
Dick the Bruiser
Pat O'Connor
Art Thomas
Hans Schmidt
Wilbur Snyder
Harley Race
Bobby Managoff
Angelo Poffo
Big Time Wrestling [NWA - Detroit] (1964-1980)
In the early 1960s, Detroit had been taken to new hieghts under the guidance of promoters Johnny Doyle and Jim Barnett.
After the two had tried to go national and failed, they wanted to get out. Detroit had been run hard when they offered
it to Ed Farhat and his partner Francis Fleisher. Farhat was a popular attraction from the Chicago's TV wrestling as The
Sheik and over next sixteen years, The Sheik became the most successful local draw in pro-wrestling history before riding
his success into the ground. Like his contemporaries from the "Golden Age," he remained on top of his promotion until it
became deterimental and when changes were necessary, it was too late.
Abdullah the Butcher
Mitsu Arakawa
Giant Baba
Ox Baker
Brute Bernard
Fred Blassie
Bounty Hunter (Tim Brooks)
Bobo Brazil
Gino Brito
Killer Tim Brooks
Bulldog Brower
Haystacks Calhoun
Moose Cholak
Ciclon Negro
Ripper Collins
Buddy Colt
Bull Curry
Dominic Denucci
Jim Dillon
The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Don Kent)
Don Fargo
Johnny Fargo (Greg Valentine)
Abdul Farouk (Ernie Roth)
Pampero Firpo
Buddy Fuller
Dory Funk Jr.
Dory Funk Sr.
Terry Funk
Bob Geigel
Eddie Graham
Dr. Jerry Graham
Luke Graham
Rip Hawk
Bobby Heenan
Lee Henning
Gino Hernandez
Danny Hodge
King Curtis Iaukea
The Islanders (Afa & Sika)
Rocky Johnson
Ivan Kalmikoff
New Kangaroos (Al Costello & Tony Charles)
Killer Kowalski
Ernie Ladd
Lord Athol Layton
Mark Lewin
Love Brothers (Hartford & Reginald)
Billy Red Lyons
Luis Martinez
Tex McKenzie
Terry Mecca (Terry Gordy)
Mighty Igor
Mil Mascaras
Bill Miller
Dutch Momberg (Killer Karl Krupp)
Sputnik Monroe
Jim Morrison (J.J. Dillon)
Gorilla Monsoon
Blackjack Mulligan
Pat O'Connor
Jesse Ortega
The Outlaws
(Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch)
Tony Parisi
Thunderbolt Patterson
Angelo Poffo
Lanny Poffo
John Quinn
Dewey Robertson (Missing Link)
Hans Schmidt
Baron Scicluna
The Sheik
Kinji Shibuya
Tiger Jeet Singh
Wilbur Snyder
George Steele
The Stomper (Guy Mitchell)
Sweet Daddy Siki
Art Thomas
John Tolos
Jumbo Tsuruta
Johnny Valentine
Johnny Vallen (Johnny Valiant)
Karl Von Brauner
Waldo Von Erich
Kurt Von Hess
Bearcat Wright
National Wrestling Alliance - Central States (1963-1987)
In the years following the formation of the NWA, the Midwest region drastically changed. The alliance had ties all
over the US, but the power was centralized in the middle of the country. George Simpson and Orville Brown had brought
together several of the independently run markets for many years. Eventually, a group headed by Simpson took over the the
nebulous region in 1963 under the name of "Heart of America Sports." This group included Bob Geigel, Pat O'Connor and
Gust Karras. Eventually, Geigel assumed Simpson's role and began expanding his power base from Kansas, Missouri and Iowa
to run shows in Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Like his friend Dory Funk Sr., Bob Geigel's market had no
business being as prominent as it was. For both the Kansas City and Amarillo offices, the population was spread over a
large area, nearby metropolitian areas already had established NWA members and their roster had a bell-shape to its drawing
power. Those two made a pact and frequently traded talent over the years. Geigel also created a strong alliance with NWA
kingpin Sam Muchnick and that partnership did more to keep Central States a viable entity than any other. Their biggest
locally produced star was Harley Race, who developed into one of the top stars in the business, an NWA champion and a power
player behind the scenes as well. Central States, under the guidance of Geigel, Race and Pat O'Connor, remained a key
territory throughout the 1970s. They lacked the booking power to move into the top echelon, but politically they were one
of the most important. As the decade wore on, the NWA was growing weaker as long-time president Sam Muchnik stepped down
in 1975. The power struggle began pulling the Alliance apart and many strong promoters with major markets began leaving to
escape the politics. This disorder turned into opportunity for the Kansas City office. Between 1978 and 1987, Geigel
reigned for six years as NWA president, but it was largely ceremonial as Jim Crockett Jr. (president during the other three)
and his company were taking over the lead spot in the NWA. Geigel, Race and O'Connor along with booker Larry Matysik took
over St. Louis from Sam Muschnik in 1982. Pro-wrestling was changing though and the Midwestern approach just could not
compete with all the superior products in other regions. The WWF just happened to be the first one to move into the area.
Eventually, Race jumped and the promotion fizzled out after nearly three decades of operation. Geigel tried several
times to get promotions started, but everything failed.
Skandor Akbar
Gene Anderson
Andre The Giant
Mitsu Arakawa
Buddy Austin
Norvell Austin
Crusher Ayala (Hercules Ayala)
Ox Baker
Ron Bass
Red Bastien
Crusher Blackwell
Brian Blair
Larry Booker (Moondog Spot)
Bobo Brazil
Jack Brisco
Jerry Brisco
Bruiser Brody
Killer Brooks
"Bulldog" Bob Brown
Luke Brown
Guy & Joe Brunetti
Jim Brunzell
Haystack Calhoun
Ray Candy
Edouard Carpentier
Don Carson
Scott Casey
Moose Cholak
Ciclon Negro
Ripper Collins
Carlos Colon
Colosso Colosetti
Tiger Conway Jr.
The Destroyer
Dick the Bruiser
Mike DiBiase
Ted Dibiase
Dick the Bruiser
J.J. Dillon
Kim Duk
Bobby Duncum
Cowboy Bob Ellis
Eric Embry
Ronnie Etchison
Don Fargo
Manny Fernandez
Ric Flair
Mr. Fuji
Ron Fuller
Bobby Fulton
Dory Funk Jr.
Dory Funk Sr.
Terry Funk
Verne Gagne
Terry Garvin
Bob Geigel
Mike George
Terry Gibbs
Eddie Gilbert
Pepper Gomez
Gordman & Goliath
Superstar Billy Graham
Luke Graham
Great Kabuki
Gory Guerrero
Larry Hamilton (Missouri Mauler)
Rip Hawk
Lord Alfred Hayes
Michael Hayes
Bobby Heenan
John Paul Henning
Lee Henning
Ray "Hercules" Hernandez
Danny Hodge
Hulk Hogan
Sir Oliver Humperdink
Austin Idol
The Interns
Iron Sheik
Bill Irwin
Bobby Jaggers
Don Jardine (The Spoiler)
Matt Jewell (Bearcat Brown)
Rocky Johnson
Don Leo Jonathan
Rufus R. Jones
Kamala
Tor Kamata
Don Kent
Duke Keomuka
Masao Kimura (Rusher Kimura)
Gene Kiniski
Taro Kobayashi (Strong Kobayashi)
Killer Kowalski
Killer Karl Kox
KO Kox (Bob Sweetan)
Jerry Kozak
Killer Karl Krupp
Ernie Ladd
Buddy Landell
Blackjack Lanza
Guy LaRose (Hans Schmidt)
Luther Lindsey
Hartford Love
Ken Lucas
Billy Red Lyons
Dutch Mantell
Ken Mantell
Gino Marella (Gorilla Monsoon)
Hiro Matsuda
Wahoo McDaniel
Tex McKenzie
The Medics
Bill Miller
Mongolian Stomper
Pedro Morales
Ricky Morton
Blackjack Mulligan
Taro Myaki
Jerry & Ted Oates
Chuck O'Connor (Big John Studd)
Pat O'Connor
Rip Oliver
Paul Orndorff
Bob Orton Jr.
Iceman Parsons
Ken Patera
Pat Patterson
Thunderbolt Patterson
Alex Perez
Roddy Piper
Angelo Poffo
Percy Pringle
Akio Sato
Paul Perschmann (Buddy Rose)
Harley Race
Dr. Ken Ramey
Bruce Reed (Butch Reed)
Ron Reed (Buddy Colt)
Dusty Rhodes
Jose Rivera
Victor Rivera
Jake Roberts
Dewey Robertson (Missing Link)
Buck Robley
Antonino Rocca
Tommy Rogers
Ricky Romero
Nelson Royal
Seiji Sakaguchi
Hans Schmidt
Baron Scicluna
George & Sandy Scott
Bobby Shane
Mike Sharpe
The Sheik
Kinji Shibuya
Ray Shire (Ray Stevens)
Gama Singh
Bob Slaughter (Sgt. Slaughter)
Alexis Smirnoff
Wilbur Snyder
The Spoiler (Don Jardine)
Pak Song
Ron Starr
Stan Stasiak
Ray Stevens
Kevin Sullivan
Super Destroyer Mark II (Sgt. Slaughter)
Superfly (Ray Candy)
Bob Sweetan
Takachio (Great Kabuki)
Terry Taylor
Lou Thesz
Sailor Art Thomas
Les Thornton
Togo The Great
Tonga John (Barbarian)
Enrique Torres
Jumbo Tsuruta
Tarzan Tyler
Butcher Vachon
Mad Dog Vachon
Jerry Valiant
Greg Valentine
Johnny Valentine
Khosrow Varizi (Iron Sheik)
Jesse Ventura
David Von Erich
Fritz Von Erich
Kevin Von Erich
Baron Von Raschke
The Von Steigers (Kurt & Karl)
Jim Wehba (Skandor Akbar)
Ed Wiskowski
Bearcat Wright
Gary Young
Skip Young
World Wrestling Association [Indianapolis] (1964-1989)
Indianapolis, Indiana had been run for years by the capable office of Jim Barnett and Balk Estes. After Barnett's
failed attempts to create a huge national promotion, he sold off his former city to Dick the Bruiser. During
pro-wrestling's "Golden Age," where television made pro-wrestlers nationally recognized, Dick the Bruiser was amongst the
most well-known. He had made a name for himself in a number of territories and now he owned his own. He was a notorious
character in and out of the ring and the Bruiser was always the top star in his own promotion. After buying his company,
Bruiser captured the WWA World Championship from Freddie Blassie. He brought his claim to that non-NWA organization's
title home and made it his native title. His longtime association with Verne Gagne's AWA helped him keep in touch with
young talent and keep himself a nationally exposed star. He often brought in stars he'd known from his prime or ones that
he'd made connections with in the AWA. Many young stars got their start in his promotion, but it was always Bruiser's
group and he was always on top. Detroit became the battleground between The Bruiser and NWA promoter Eddie Farhat (The
Sheik) in between 1971 and 1974. They ran opposing arenas with top notch talent, but eventually the Bruiser pulled back
and focused on his home base of Indianapolis and money city of Chicago until the WWF's expansion pounded his operation into
oblivion.
Mitsu Arakawa
The Assassins
Ox Baker
Fred Blassie
Nick Bockwinkel
Bobo Brazil
King Kong Brody
Crusher Broomfield (One Man Gang)
"Bulldog" Bob Brown
Edouard Carpentier
Moose Cholak
Ciclon Negro
The Crusher
Dominic Denucci
The Destroyer
Dick the Bruiser
Emile Dupree
Bobby Eaton
Cowboy Bob Ellis
The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Don Kent)
Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn)
The Flying Scotts (George & Sandy)
Verne Gagne
Pepper Gomez
Karl Gotch
Dr. Jerry Graham
Gary Hart
Bobby Heenan
Larry Hennig
Don Jardine
Rufus R. Jones
Kimala
Gene Kiniski
Ivan Koloff
Ernie Ladd
Blackjack Lanza
Jerry Lawler
Mark Lewin
Dutch Mantell
Bill Miller
Pedro Morales
Blackjack Mulligan
Dick Murdoch
Chuck O'Connor (Big John Studd)
Pat O'Connor
Bob Orton Jr.
Tony Parisi
Angelo Poffo
Johnny Powers
Harley Race
Len Rossi
Jacques Rougeau
Bruno Sammartino
Dutch Savage
Hans Schmidt
The Sheik
Al Snow
Wilbur Snyder
Big John Studd
Sweet Daddy Siki
Terry Taylor
Lou Thesz
Sailor Art Thomas
Mad Dog Vachon
Johnny Valentine
Valiant Brothers (Jimmy & Johnny)
Nicoli Volkoff
The Von Brauners (Kurt & Karl)
Fritz Von Erich
Baron Von Raschke
Koko Ware
Bill Watts
National Wrestling Allance - St. Louis (1982-1986)
Sam Muchnick had been a cornerstone or the keystone in the NWA for thirty-four years when he retired. The Alliance had
changed greatly since he first resigned as president in 1975, but Muchnick and his home territory of St. Louis was a solid
market. However, it too would change under the guidance of Kansas City promoter Bob Geigel, Pat O'Connor and Muchnick's
protege Larry Matysik. Geigel and O'Connor owned a nearby city and had alterior motives, which frustrated Matysik, who
eventually left the fold. St. Louis still carried great prestige and was able to host the premier talent of the day even
as the NWA structure fell apart. Interestingly, St. Louis was one of the first long-time NWA cities to fall to the WWF
juggernaut.
Chris Adams
Arn Anderson
Ole Anderson
Andre the Giant
Brad Armstrong
Tony Atlas
Crusher Ayala (Hercules Ayala)
Shohei "Giant" Baba
Bob Backlund
Ox Baker
Crusher Blackwell
Tully Blanchard
Nick Bockwinkel
Bobo Brazil
King Kong Brody
"Bulldog" Bob Brown
Jim Brunzell
Ted DiBiase
Dick the Bruiser
Hacksaw Duggan
Kim Duk
Bobby Duncum
The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn)
The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton)
Manny Fernandez
Ric Flair
Dory Funk Jr.
Terry Funk
Bobby Fulton
Greg Gagne
Jimmy Garvin
Ronnie Garvin
Mike George
Eddie Gilbert
Terry Gordy
Tarzan Goto
Superstar Billy Graham
Luke Graham
The Grapplers (Len Denton & Tony Anthony)
Gypsy Joe
Michael Hayes
Billy Jack Haynes
Curt Hennig
Larry Hennig
Ray Hernandez (Hercules)
Hulk Hogan
Austin Idol
Rocky Johnson
Rufus R. Jones
Kabuki
Kamala
Gene Kiniski
Ivan Koloff
Nikita Koloff
Killer Karl Krupp
Krusher Khruschev
Buddy Landell
Blackjack Lanza
Jerry Lawler
Magnum T.A.
Rick Martel
Masked Superstar
Wahoo McDaniel
Shawn Michaels
Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey)
Missing Link
Kareem Muhammad (Ray Candy)
Blackjack Mulligan
Dick Murdoch
Ted & Jerry Oates
Rip Oliver
One Man Gang
Paul Orndorff
Bob Orton Jr.
Iceman Parsons
Ken Patera
Roddy Piper
Mr. Pogo
Harley Race
Butch Reed
Dusty Rhodes
Buddy Roberts
Dewey Robertson
Billy Robinson
Buck Robley
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Tommy Rogers
Mr. Saito
Sheik Adnan
Dick Slater
Sgt. Slaughter
Jimmy Snuka
John Studd
Bob Sweetan
Terry Taylor
Genichiro Tenryu
Les Thornton
Tonga John (Barbarian)
Jumbo Tsuruta
Greg Valentine
Jerry Valiant (Guy Mitchell)
Jimmy Valiant
Jesse Ventura
David Von Erich
Kerry Von Erich
Kevin Von Erich
Baron Von Raschke
Barry Windham
Jay Youngblood
Pro-Wrestling America (1982-1998)
Eddie Sharkey was an AWA undercarder who left the company and eventually left pro-wrestling all together. Then in
the early 1980s, Sharkey began training four bouncers at a bar at which he worked and that developed into promoting. Over
the sixteen years, he became one of the most well-known trainers who turned a wide variety of athletes and weightlifters
into pro-wrestlers who went on to varying levels of success. After some of his trainees went on to great success, Sharkey
was able to secure some name talent and ran one of the better indies. He and Canadian indy promoter Tony Condello
developed a working relationship as both were competing with the dying AWA and the growing WWF. He promoted into the
1990s and continued to break in some decent wrestlers who are active to this day.
Barry Darsaw
Fantastics (Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton)
Sam Houston
Wahoo McDaniel
Medusa Miceli
Ken Patera
Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal)
Rick Rude
Rick Steiner
Mad Dog Vachon
Baron Von Raschke
Tom Zenk
I'd like to thank Tim Hornbaker and his wonderful "National Wrestling Alliance" book. I'd also like to thank Steve Yohe, J. Michael Kenyon, Doc Silverkat, and "clawmaster" specifically for their various contributions via the internet. Thanks to Evan Ginsberg and Mike Lano's "Legends Radio" show. And, of course Royal Duncun and Gary Will's contributions to wrestling-titles.com