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’s episode of Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Episode 37 should be in your inbox this morning if you are a subscriber here at the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel! You can also see the video version at our YouTube Channel and download the audio version of our show on your favorite podcast provider platform.
Here’s the archive of our podcast episodes so far:
Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings:
Episode 1: 5/10/2025: Steven Johnson, Jim Londos: The Golden Greek of Professional Wrestling
Episode 2: 5/14/2025 Herb Simmons: St. Louis, Missouri Wrestling HOF
Episode 3: 5/17/2025: Scott Teal: Raisin Cain: From The Inferno to The Great Mephisto
Episode 4: 5/21/2025: Bobby Simmons: Georgia Territory Spring 1975
Episode 5: 5/24/2025: Brian Ferguson, Verne Gagne: Inside and Outside the Ropes
Episode 6: 5/28/2025: Jerry Oates: Kansas City Territory Spring 1975
Episode 7: 5/31/25: Evan Ginzburg: Blackboards, Wrestling Rings & Movie Sets
Episode 8: 6/4/2025: Tim Dills: Tennessee Territory April & May 1975
Episode 9: 6/11/2025: Greg Klein: Texas May 1975
Episode 11: 6/25/2025: Steve Gennerelli: WWWF Spring & Summer 1975
Episode 12: 7/2/2025: Dan Murphy on Ed Don George & Fumi Saito on Japan History & 1975 pt 1
Episode 13: 7/9/2025: George Schire, The History of the AWA & 1975
Episode 15: 7/23/2025: Greg Klein: East Texas Wrestling June & July 1975
Episode 16: 7/30/2025: Steve Gennerelli & Jake Hamar: The Hulk Hogan Tribute Show
Episode 18: 8/13/2025: Toronto, Ontario with Wes Maidment and Stampede In Calgary 1975 w/Larry Lane
Episode 19: 8/20/2025: Jerry Oates and Mike George, Kansas City 1975 pt 2
Episode 20: 8/27/2025: Bobby Simmons: Geogia Territory Summer 1975
Episode 21: 9/3/2025: Terry Sullivan: Detroit Territory 1975
Episode 22: 9/10/2025: Steve Gennerelli: WWWF Summer of 1975
Episode 23: 9/17/2025: Herb Simmons St. Louis 1975
Episode 24: 9/24/2025: Brian R Solomon: Irresistible Force: The Life & Times of Gorilla Monsoon
Episode 25: Howard Baum: Florida 1975
Episode 26: 10/8/2025: John Hitchcock Mid-Atlantic Wrestling 1975
Episode 27: 2025 Observer Hall of Fame Show
Episode 28: Lib Ayoub, Its All About The Belt Book and Q&A Session 1
Episode 29: 10/29/2025: Dave Dynasty: WWA 1975
Episode 30: Vancouver, B.C. 1975 with Steve Verrier
Episode 31: Michael Norris: Gulf Coast Territory 1975 Pt 2
Episode 32: Steve Gennerelli World Wide Wrestling Federation Oct-Dec 1975
Episode 35: Greg Klein and Dan Black Texas Oct-Dec 1975
Special Christmas Week Bonus Episode: Steve Gennerelli The Mongolian Stomper in the WWWF in 1975
Thank You for Watching and Listening
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 and each episode of our podcast show. Thanks for your support! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
Remember, Premium subscribers 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 Subscribers. Being a Premium Subscriber also means you support me in my efforts to document Pro Wrestling History through my research, writing, books, vidoes and podcasts. And…I have something very special planned for our Premium Subscribers on the Podcast side of things in 2026! Details soon here in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel.
