Written and Produced by Tony Richards
December 31st in the Time Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Ryan Sakoda 1972
Happy Birthday:
Matt Cross (45)
Danny Burch (44)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Eugene Tremblay 12-31-1946 at the age of 64
Ed “The Bull” Gantner 12-31-1990 at the age of 31
Woody Strode 12-31-1994 at the age of 80
Frank Valois 12-31-1998 at the age of 77
Tank Patton 12-31-1998 at the age of 52
Donna Marie Dieckman 12-31-2012 at the age of 79
Henry Rogers 12-31-2012 at the age of 82
Dwayne Peal\Buddy Wayne 12-31-2015 at the age of 81
Mike Pappas 12-31-2022 at the age of 81
Elkin James\Sweet Daddy Siki 12-31-2024 at the age of 91
Dear Pro Wrestling History Enthusiast,
Here at the end of 2025, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you, all our supporters here at The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel. This entire project has been an idea I have been in love with for a long, long time. It’s lifeline stretches way back into the late 1980s. I wanted to do something that would provide value to people such as yourself, people who value the history of this great business, we all love so much.
I waited over 30 years until the convergence of the right season of life for me, the right amount of interest from a large group of dedicated people and the delivery systems of technology to all line up. In 2023 I started researching seriously for my first book on pro wrestling, Dory Funk, Sr: The King of the Texas Death Matches. So, I started that process, not having written a book on anyone’s life previously, with the exception of my own, for teaching examples and encouragement for those who needed to hear that a poor boy from the sticks of Western Kentucky could be successful, and so could they. In 2024, I got brave and launched The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Facebook Group.
In doing that, I discovered there were more people than I thought we were looking for pro wrestling history to be presented with respect and honor. So, with that in mind, earlier this year, I launched the Pro Wrestling Substack, with a daily newsletter dedicated to Pro Wrestling History, the very newsletter you are reading right now, The Daily Chronicle. Not only did it give me daily discipline to sharpen up my writing skills, but it also showed me people were committed enough to take a chance on me and read my research into pro wrestling history. In a couple of months, I refined the scope to covering the territory era, from its first seeds to its final ashes. This was attractive enough to people they wanted to support me and the work I’m doing. It wasn’t about the money; it was about your belief and trust in me to do a good job and to keep on doing it.
I signed on with Gerry Brisco and John Bradshaw Layfield to do two extensive biographical series on huge titans of the Territory Era, Jim Barnett and Roy Welch, both which again been very well received by you, the pro wrestling history enthusiast. I met and built relationships some of the most noted and thorough historians and analysts in the world today to join me each week in documenting the territory era throughout own podcast show.
I am not bragging or being boastful. I’m just simply giving a rundown of all we’ve been able to do this year because of you and your support. While I enjoy doing this whole heartedly, if not for you, what’s the point? You are the energy that keeps this engine running. For that, I wanted to tell you about my extreme gratitude for your support. Having you along for this ride through the Time Tunnel with us is amazing fun and I can’t wait to share with you some of the awesome things we have for you in 2026.
All my best regards to you, your family and loved ones. I hope you got everything you desired from 2025, and if you didn’t, just know I am with you and fully supportive for you to accomplish it for yourself in 2026.
Let’s do it together.
Happy New Year and thank you from The Richards Ranch,
Tony
P.S. Don’t forget about The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel New Year’s Show! Counting down my list of the Top 100 Wrestlers of 1975 on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day!
Thank You for Reading
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
Remember, premium investors get access to exclusive and special content such as some special issues including a multi-part deep dives on wrestling territories, wrestler bios and championship title histories, special audio and video interviews on territory pro wrestling and more available in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel for Premium Investors.