Welcome everyone to the kick-off episode of our 1976 Territory Review Series! We will start our tour of the territories in ouir bicentennial year in the wrestling capital of the world, St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1976, St. Louis was still going strong in the second year of the Fragmentation Era of the Territory Era in Pro Wrestling. Sam Muchnick had been retired as President of the National Wrestling Alliance for about six months, but in St. Louis, he was still very active and going strong as a promoter locally. Shows at the Kiel Auditorium were drawing between 8,000 and 10,500 for most big shows, they took July off from house shows, experienced a little lull in the Fall but were rolling again by Thanksgiving. The new NWA World Champion, Terry Funk was drawing well in The Gateway City, along with the other major names in the NWA such as other NWA World Champions brother Dory, Jr., Harley Race, and Jack Brisco. Also special supplementation by former NWA World Champion and booker Pat O’Connor as challenger and special referee. The other primary push would be for Bob Backlund, which we will explain during the show.
My two special co-hosts for this trip in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel will be SICW Promoter Herb Simmons and Califlower Aller Board Member, Darla Staggs. Herb is once again presenting Fan Fest IV this year, just outside St. Louis in Fairview Heights, Illinois. We will talk about the wide array of superstars who will appear there as well as this year’s inductees to the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame. Herb will also share his memories of the cards at the Kiel in 1976.
Darla Staggs works tirelessly as a productive member and driving force in the Caulfiflower Alley Club in assisting members of our wrestling community who need assistance. Darla also was a lifelong fan who attended here first Kiel Auditorium card as just a baby, then grew up as a fan going to shows and attending television tapings for Wrestling At The Chaase on KPLR-TV.
Join us as we travel back in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel this week to the historic Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri for Terry Funk World Championship title defenses, epic Funk and Brisco battles and a tag team match that may be one of the greatest of all time in the squared circle in the history of St. Louis Wrestling. And that takes in some ground! Enjoy this awesome ride as we kick off our 1976 Series in the Pro Wrestling Territory History Show!
This week’s episode of Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Episode 56 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:
Episode 52: Brian R. Solomon 2025 Book of the Year Surprise Party Celebration
Episode 53: 2026 Mailbag Episode 1
Episode 54: The Pro Wrestling World of Ian Douglass
Episode 55: The Dennis Condrey Tribute Show
The 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
Episode 48: Jammie Ward and the 1985 Territory Review of Jim Crockett Promotions
Episode 50: Greg Klein and the 1985 Territory Review of Mid-South Wrestling
Episode 51: Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson and the 1985 Territory Review of Portland Wrestling
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.
