99St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 22, 1983, p. 74.
100Ibid.
101Globe and Mail, May 10, 1983, p. 55.
102National Wrestling Alliance meeting minutes from the 1983 annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
103Barnett and Anderson’s difficulties are detailed in the book Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling by Ole Anderson with Scott Teal (2003).
104LeBell’s resignation was confirmed by NWA president Bob Geigel in a letter to members dated November 22, 1983.
105National Wrestling Alliance meeting minutes from the 1983 annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
106Ibid.
107Ibid.
108Vincent K. McMahon became the president of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation with the purchase. Notably, the company saw its charter revoked on December 10, 1984. Michael Le Bell v. Vincent Kennedy McMahon, Titan Sports, Inc. Capital Wrestling Corporation, and Does 1 to 20, inclusive, Case No. C-568-506, Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles.
109Letter from McMahon to Geigel dated August 31, 1983.
Chapter 7
110The program on WAKR (channel 23) appeared on Saturday afternoons at 1:30.
111The Akron show was held on February 26, 1983, at the Copley High School Gym. Akron Beacon Journal, February 24, 1983, p. 18.
112As a result of this action, Georgia Championship Wrestling filed suit against Titan Sports. It was filed in the United States District Court Southern District of Ohio Western Division, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Inc., v. Vincent McMahon, Sr., et al, case number C-3-84-564.
113The Ring’s Wrestling magazine, November 1983, #106, p. 50.
114Cincinnati Enquirer, December 11, 1983, p. 167.
115An article about Cannon was featured in the Detroit Free Press, January 16, 1983, p. 245.
116Windsor Star, March 28, 1987, p. B1.
117Correspondence with Steve Dini, September 2016.
118The Ring’s Wrestling magazine, November 1983, #106, p. 50.
119King of the Ring: The Harley Race Story by Harley Race and Gerry Tritz (2004), p. 107.
120Linda McMahon interview. Raw Magazine, March 2000.
121Finkel was described as “an announcer and public relations official with Titan Sports Inc.” Syracuse Post Standard, April 15, 1981.
122In a 1983 article, promoter Joe Meriggi was quoted as saying, “We signed with Ed Cohen [and the WWF]. He makes the matches and books the shows.” Wilmington News Journal, July 6, 1983, p. 34. A 1984 article called Cohen a “spokesman” for Titan Sports. San Bernardino County Sun, June 24, 1984, p. 55. In March 1983, Cohen appeared as a guest on “Buddy Rogers’s Corner,” a WWF-TV segment, as the organization’s charity coordinator.
123Ibid.
124Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 1983, p. 16.
125Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website, www.sec.state.ma.us.
126Kietzer wrote a letter to the Wrestling Observer about the situation. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, October 22, 1984, p. 12.
127“George Scott: WWF’s Biggest Booker,” by Greg Oliver, November 2001, Slam! Wrestling website (slam.canoe.com/wrestling).
128Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, November 19, 1985, p. 25.
129Backlund: From All-American Boy to Professional Wrestling’s World Champion by Bob Backlund and Rob Miller (2015).
130Ibid., p. 443–446.
131McMahon was reportedly paying KPLR-TV $2,100 per week and five percent of the gross from his live shows in St. Louis. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 21, 2003, p. 1.
132St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 30, 1983, p. 17.
133Ibid.
Chapter 8
134The segment was featured during the weekend of December 31, 1983–January 1, 1984.
135Minneapolis CityBusiness, September 10, 1986, p. 16.
136Inoki was counted out after being accidentally knocked out. He was originally supposed to beat Hogan in the IWGP final. The date of the bout was June 2, 1983.
137Hogan detailed his problems with Gagne in his autobiography, Hollywood Hulk Hogan by Hulk Hogan (2002), p. 106–107. He also recounted McMahon Jr. discussing future plans for the WWF at his home in Minnesota.
138My Life Outside the Ring: A Memoir by Hulk Hogan, Mark Dagostino (2009), p. 103–104.
139Minneapolis CityBusiness, September 10, 1986, p. 16.
140Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 18, 1984, p. 4D.
141Sports Illustrated, March 25, 1991.
142Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 12, 1990, p. 13.
143Sports Illustrated, March 25, 1991.
144Wrestling Observer Newsletter, January 1984, p. 1, 4–5.
145Ibid., p. 17–18.
146The Ring’s Wrestling magazine, November 1983, #106, p. 50.
147The King of New Orleans: How the Junkyard Dog Became Professional Wrestling’s First Black Superstar by Greg Klein (2012).
148The WWF was featured on WNOL (channel 38) in New Orleans and KLRT (channel 16) in Little Rock.
149Watts talked about this issue in his autobiography, The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story by “Cowboy” Bill Watts and Scott Williams (2006), p. 210–212.
150Dallas Morning News, June 26, 1983, p. 2B.
151Dallas Morning News, February 11, 1984, p. 33. Also see Wrestling Observer Newsletter, March 1984, p. 1–2 and April 1984, p. 2–5.
152Famed sportswriter Jerry Izenberg of the Newark Star-Ledger stated that McMahon “revolutionized an industry.” Newark Star-Ledger, May 31, 1984, p. 93.
153Gagne later said, “I had a fine relationship with McMahon’s father.” Minneapolis CityBusiness, September 10, 1986, p. 16.
Chapter 9
154By the 1980s, blacklisting by promoters was more of an intimidation technique than a legitimate practice. A reporter in 1985 mentioned that an “informal blacklist” of WWF performers had “been bantered about.” Arizona Republic, April 5, 1985, p. 69.
155Wrestling Observer Newsletter, March 1984, p. 23.
156San Francisco Chronicle, March 21, 1984, p. 66. Also Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 1984, p. 11–12.
157Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 15, 1984, p. 7B.
158Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 18, 1984, p. 60.
159Minneapolis CityBusiness, September 10, 1986, p. 16.
160Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 7, 1984, p. 1A, 5A.
161Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 15, 1985, p. 1A, 9A.
162Episode of World Championship Wrestling on WTBS, aired May 5, 1984.
163Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling by Ole Anderson with Scott Teal (2003). McMahon reportedly purchased the company for $750,000. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 21, 2003, p. 3.
164Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 31, 1984.
165Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 7, 1984.
166St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 10, 1984.
167In a local newspaper advertisement, the Adams–Garvin feud was billed as “Pro Wrestling’s Hottest Rivalry!” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 11, 1984, p. 25.
168Wrestling Observer Newsletter, May 1984, p. 3, 5.
169A newspaper advertisement billed the show as “Stars War 1984.” Louisville Courier-Journal, July 22, 1984, p. C19.
170Wrestling Observer Newsletter, December 1983, p. 1.
Chapter 10
171The Best of Times by Jerry Jarrett with Mark James (2011), p. 205–207.
172Los Angeles Times, January 29, 1984, Calendar Section, p. 67.
173Footage appeared on Superstars of Wrestling over the weekend of July 7–8, 1984.
174Moolah traded the championship with Yukiko Tomoe, Susan Green, and Evelyn
Stevens.
175Philadelphia Daily News, August 3, 1984, p. 41.
176Hulk Hogan made a special appearance on MTV as a guest VJ in the summer of 1984. Detroit Free Press, September 27, 1984, p. 35.
177Financial Post, April 5, 1986, p. 13.
178Greenwich News, March 1, 1984, p. 22.
179Gettysburg Times, March 4, 1985, p. 12.
180Minneapolis CityBusiness, September 10, 1986, p. 16.
181The correspondent was Mick Karch of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, March 1984, p. 7.
182Wrestling Observer Newsletter, February 4, 1985, p. 7.
183Details of this deal can be found in Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling by Heath McCoy (2007) p. 203–204.
184Calgary Herald, September 16, 1984, p. D7.
185WWF’s World Championship Wrestling episode broadcast Saturday, July 14, 1984.
186Atlanta Constitution, July 17, 1984, p. 11B.
187Palm Beach Post, October 15, 1984, p. B16.
188Philadelphia Daily News, August 3, 1984, p. 41.
189Atlanta Constitution, July 27, 1984, p. 11P.
Chapter 11
190Sun-Sentinel, July 23, 1984, p. B1.
191Palm Beach Post, March 15, 1985, p. 1.
192The title change occurred on July 23, 1984, in Birmingham.
193Bruiser sold his interest in the Chicago promotion to Verne Gagne around January 1983. The longtime “front” promoter Bob Luce ran his last show on February 12, 1983, at the International Amphitheatre with all AWA talent. The next show, on April 16, was held at the UIC Pavilion.
194Wrestling’s Main Event, December 1984, p. 60.
195Jarrett mentioned the TV taping in his autobiography, The Best of Times by Jerry Jarrett with Mark James (2011), p. 207.
196Jack Reynolds, who also worked for Eddie Einhorn’s IWA in the 1970s, was the first announcer for Pro Wrestling USA in 1984. He was quickly hired by Titan Sports, and Reynolds was a commentator on All-Star Wrestling, Maple Leaf Wrestling, and Prime-Time Wrestling in 1984–85. During the summer of 1985, he was replaced on Prime-Time Wrestling (co-hosted by Jesse Ventura) by Gorilla Monsoon. The annual cost of featuring Pro Wrestling USA on WPIX was $440,000. Sports Illustrated, April 29, 1985, p. 38.
197Wrestling Observer Newsletter, November 12, 1984, p. 7.
198The syndicated show included promos (interviews) for local live events.
199Wrestling Observer Newsletter, November 12, 1984, p. 23–24.
200Wrestling Observer Newsletter, October 22, 1984, p. 24.
201Kansas City Times, December 12, 1984, p. E1.
202Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 12, 1985, p. 24.
203St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 2, 1972, Parade Section, p. 14.
204Minneapolis CityBusiness, September 10, 1986, p. 16.
205Baton Rouge State-Times Advocate, June 12, 1985, p. 20.
Chapter 12
206Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, October 26, 1947, p. 7.
207The WWF show in Dallas on December 28 was staged at the State Fair Coliseum. Tickets were $13.25, $11.25, and $9.25. Dallas Morning News, December 28, 1984, p. 14B, and Dallas Morning News, December 29, 1984, p. 2B.
208Des Moines Register, January 21, 1985, p. 22, and Philadelphia Daily News, January 30, 1985, p. 74.
209Schultz was reportedly fired on February 11, 1985, in Los Angeles for trying to “jump” Mr. T. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, March 4, 1985, p. 17.
210Philadelphia Daily News, February 22, 1985, p. 101.
211Philadelphia Daily News, December 11, 1984, p. 88.
212Fort Lauderdale News, April 29, 1985, p. 51.
213Courier-News, March 30, 1985, p. 12.
214Los Angeles Times, June 7, 1985, p. E7.
215Sports Illustrated, April 29, 1985, p. 38.
216Gettysburg Times, March 4, 1985, p. 12.
217Los Angeles Times, June 7, 1985, p. E1.
218Los Angeles Times, November 25, 1984, Calendar Section, p. 4.
219New Orleans received the pay-per-view broadcast via Cox Cable, and 3,000-plus households purchased the WrestleMania broadcast for $10. However, technical problems hampered the showing. New Orleans Times-Picayune, April 4, 1985, p. 84.
220It was reported that Titan Sports spent $16 million in 1984 and brought in only $11 million. Unknown article, reprinted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 15, 1985, p. 4. However, according to papers filed in a trademark infringement case with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office dated December 18, 2013, the WWF grossed $29,596,974 in 1984. http://tsdr.uspto.gov/caseviewer/pdf?caseId=77626242&docIndex=15&searchprefix=sn#docIndex=15
221New Japan was responsible for paying “nearly $500,000 as an annual booking contract fee” to the WWF in 1985. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, March 4, 1985, p. 13. Inoki’s contract with McMahon reportedly ended in September 1985, and he was not interested in renewing. He didn’t feel WWF wrestlers fit their style in Japan with the exception of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, #1, 1985, p. 2.
222Sports Illustrated, April 29, 1985, p. 38.
223The first WrestleMania grossed “in the $6 million range,” including souvenirs and video cassettes. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, April 15, 1986, p. 6.
224St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 2, 1985, p. 5C.
225St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 1, 1985, p. E1.
226Abilene Reporter-News, May 31, 1985, p. 1A, 12A.
227Detroit Free Press, March 15, 1985, p. 32.
228Burlington Free Press, September 22, 1985, p. 14C.
229Ibid.
230Washington Times, November 21, 1985, p. 3C.
231Arizona Republic, April 5, 1985, p. 69.
232Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 28, 1985, p. 192.
Chapter 13
233Orlando Sentinel, September 22, 1985, p. 6.
234Sun-Sentinel, October 8, 2004, p. 35.
235The Trentonian, February 15, 1985.
236Pittsburgh Press, May 28, 1985, p. D5
237Pittsburgh Press, June 2, 1985, p. D2.
238Slaughter was originally supposed to team with Jerry Blackwell, but the latter was prevented from wrestling by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission because of high blood pressure. The show, billed as Star Wars ’85, had four no-shows in addition to Blackwell: Terry Funk, Ray Stevens, Stan Lane, and Tommy Rich. Funk was filming a new TV show, Lane had a knee injury, and Rich was double-booked — he headlined a show that same day in Marietta, Georgia. The Meadowlands show drew 18,600 fans.
239The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story by “Cowboy” Bill Watts and Scott Williams (2006), p. 183.
240Shreveport Times, July 23, 1985, p. 4-C.
241Tulsa World, February 8, 1985.
242Shreveport Times, July 23, 1985, p. 1-C.
243An article in December 1984 referenced Gunkel’s attempt to land a major TV outlet like ESPN or WGN. It was said her business partner was Terry Funk. Atlanta Constitution, December 3, 1984, p. 1A.
244Detroit Free Press, July 18, 1985.
245Indianapolis Star, April 12, 1985, p. 19.
246Los Angeles Times, June 7, 1985.
247Blanchard and Behrend were partners in the company Behrend-Blanchard Center State Productions Inc., officially formed in Texas on March 3, 1981.
248The tour drew about $400,000, but it is unclear how much World Class cleared after expenses. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 1985, #7.
249Bruiser Brody was reportedly a middleman between Jack Adkisson and Antonio Inoki in this deal. Brody expected to be compensated for his role in bringing the two sides together. Adkisson trained Brody in pro wrestling. Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling’s Rebel by Larry Matysik
and Barbara Goodish (2007).
250Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 1985, #8, p. 3.
251Arizona Republic, April 5, 1985, p. 69.
252Savage’s brother Lanny Poffo also went to the WWF and debuted the same day. The brothers were not acknowledged as such in the WWF.
253Portland Oregonian, May 19, 1985, p. E-18.
254Statesman Journal (Salem, OR), May 23, 1985, p. 14. Reportedly, the May 21 Portland show was the same date as a Piper booking in Los Angeles for the WWF, which he no-showed. It was reported that Piper was told by higher-ups not to appear on the Owen show, but he did anyway. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 1985, #6, p. 6.
255Portland Oregonian, May 19, 1985, p. E-18.
Chapter 14
256Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling’s Rebel by Larry Matysik and Barbara Goodish (2007).
257Johnson’s comments appeared in Bob Verdi’s column in the Chicago Tribune and were reprinted in the Spokane Chronicle, June 20, 1985, p. D1.
258Chicago Tribune, August 16, 1985. Wolf also called Hogan the “biggest superstar in wrestling today.”
259Boston Herald, August 25, 1985, p. 44.
260Boston Herald, August 30, 1985, p. 83.
261Hattiesburg American, September 1, 1985, p. 86.
262Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 1985, #11, p. 1.
263The date has also been listed by sources as July 8, 1985.
264Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 1985, #7, p. 6.
265In many cases, even on regular JCP shows, events that featured Flair saw ticket prices increase compared to those without him.
266Lexington achieved an audience of 8,000 and a record $90,000 gate. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 1985, #9, p. 2–3.
267Prior to the turn, Flair had been a fan favorite in the Mid-Atlantic region, mostly wrestling heels like Nikita Koloff, Tully Blanchard, and Buddy Landel. On the road, Flair wrestled a number of babyfaces and often performed as a rulebreaker. Among his opponents were Magnum T.A., Dusty Rhodes, Wahoo McDaniel, and Sgt. Slaughter. Because of his popularity, even after turning heel, Flair was cheered in the Mid-Atlantic area.
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