We are in the middle of our “1985 Territory Review” Series! Its a a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. In order to add context on where 1985 falls in the spectrum of the territory era of professional wrestling, here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”:
Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935)
Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945)
Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955)
Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965)
Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975)
Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985)
Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995)
1985 is the first year in the last stage of the territory era, and we are reviewing what is remaining of the system as the Disintegration Stage gets started. By the time we reach the halfway point in this stage, 1990, only a bare thread of the vast network of wrestling territories will remain. By the end of the Disintegration Stage, 1995, only one territory, in Memphis, is barely breathing, and by 1997 would be gone.
In 1985, Jim Crockett Promotions was thriving. In mid-1984, they replaced the booker, Dory Funk, Jr. with Dusty Rhodes from the Florida Territory. Although ‘84 ended in a lukewarm fashion with the terrible finish and future plan blown up from Starrcade ‘84, during the first three months of 1985, Rhodes’ talent changes and new programs were taking hold. Then, the most important catalyst for the growth of JCP happened in the month of March. Jim Barnett, then an employee of the WWF brokered a deal with Jim Crockett, Jr to buy the WWF’s contract for the Saturday night time slot on WTBS, Channel 17 in Atlanta.
With the stroke of a pen on a contract and a check for $1,000,000, Jim Crockett Promotions had national exposure beyond their syndicated television network, which primarily served the JCP loop of towns in the Mid-Atlantic Territory. Crockett, Jr. also made a deal with Ole Anderson and Fred Ward to take over the Championship Wrestling from Georgia company, which mainly included a few rings and the talent roster serving Georgia, Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan. The new WTBS contract also carried a clause giving Crockett the exclusivity for pro wrestling on the TBS channel, knocking off the Bill Watts’ Mid-South Wrestling show from the channel.
In the Summer, Crockett also acquired the Rock and Roll Express from Mid-South along with Buddy Landel and Terry Taylor, while also getting The Midnight Express with Jim Cornette from World Class. The big show concept was also expanded as Rhodes created The Great American Bash for July in Charlotte, drawing a record crowd at the baseball stadium. It was an amazing year of expansion for Jim Crockett Promotions and helping me review the year of 1985 is a new member of our Time Tunnel family, Jammie Ward. With Jammie’s help, we roll through the year, hitting the highs and the lows for 1985 for Jim Crockett Promotions!
This week’s episode of Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Episode 48 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 here on Substack and at our YouTube Channel plus download the audio version of our show on your favorite podcast provider platform.
Here’s the archive of our podcast episodes for 2026:
New Year’s Weekend 1975 Countdown:
1985 Territory Review Series:
Episode 40: Steve Gennerelli and the 1985 Territory Review of The World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
Episode 43: Lance Peterson and the 1985 Territory Review of World Class Championship Wrestling
Episode 44: Tim Dills and the 1985 Territory Review of Memphis Wrestling
Episode 45: George Schire and the 1985 Territory Review of The AWA
Special Bonus Episodes In 2026:
Special Bonus Episode 47: Lizzy Flanagan and the 40th Annniversary of the Passing of Gino Hernandez
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.
