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Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show: Episode 75: Tennessee Territory 1976 pt2, Dory Funk 1966 (Abilene), Randy Hales and MORE

From Territories to Towns, Personalities to Buildings – Every Era Comes Alive Again

Hey everyone, Tony Richards here!

Episode 75 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is packed with three strong segments and drops this morning in all the usual places.

Segment 1:

Tennessee wrestling historian Tim Dills joins me as we finish the second half of 1976. We dig into the failure of the UWA, some fascinating records from the Tennessee Athletic Commission, and the growing tension that would lead to the split of the Tennessee Territory in 1977. Plenty more territory history along the way.

Segment 2:

I travel back through the Time Tunnel to West Texas in 1966, focusing on January in Abilene. The Lawman Don Slatton takes over as the new promoter. After some building problems with the city in 1965, things are smoothed out and the territory is up and running strong by the start of 1966.

Segment 3:

Longtime Memphis hand Randy Hales stops by the Richards Ranch. Announcer, office assistant, Mid-South Coliseum ring announcer, booker, and promoter — Randy sits down to discuss his career in Tennessee wrestling and share stories from one of the most legendary territories of all time.

Three great segments. One history-packed episode.

📌 Episode 75 is available now on Castos, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you listen.

Hit play, leave a review, and keep riding with us through the Time Tunnel!

Your Home for the History of Territory Wrestling!

Here’s the archive of our regular podcast episodes for 2026:

Episode 38: New Year’s Eve 2025: The Countdown of the Top 100 to 51 Best Professional Wrestlers of 1975

Episode 39: New Year’s Day 2026: The Countdown of the Top 50 to 1 Best Professional Wrestlers of 1975

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

Episode 57: Wrestlemania 42 Weekend

Episode 65: A Conversation with Michael St. John

Episode 66: Magnum TA & Nikita Koloff, 40th Anniversary of the Best of 7 Series

Episode 68: 2026 Mailbag Show #2

Episode 69: 2026 Tragos-Thesz Hall of Fame Series 1: James Beard & Jimmy Garvin

Episode 70: 2026 Tragos-Thesz Hall of Fame Series 2: Southeastern 1976, Ron Fuller & George Schire

Episode 73: Lance Peterson and the Curse of The Von Erichs Doc, Dory Funk 1966, Mailbag

Episode 74: Cauliflower Alley Club 2026, Paige Von Hess, Dan Murphy, Rip Rogers

The 1976 Territory Review Series:

Episode 56: Herb Simmons and Darla Staggs and the 1976 Review of St. Louis Wrestling Club

Episode 58: Howard Baum and Steve Keirn and the 1976 Review of Championship Wrestling from Florida

Episode 59: Steve Gennarelli and the 1976 Review of the World Wide Wrestling Federation

Episode 62: Todd Goss and the 1976 Review of Jim Crockett Promotions and Mid Atlantic Wrestling

Episode 63: Michael Norris and the1976 Review: Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling

Episode 64: George Schire and the 1976 Review: American Wrestling Association

Episode 67: Greg Klein and the 1976 Territory Review: Dallas, Texas Territory

Episode 71: Tim Dills and the 1976 Territory Review: Tennessee Territory

Episode 72: Steve Gennerelli and the 1976 Territory Review WWWF Part Two

Towns of The Territories Series:

Episode 60: Towns of the Tennessee Territory: Sean Dulaney and Evansville, Indiana

The 1985 Territory Review Series:

Episode 40: Steve Gennerelli and the 1985 Territory Review of The World Wrestling Federation (WWF)

Episode 41: Howard Baum and Bruce Owens and the 1985 Territory Review of Championship Wrestling from Florida

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 46: The Tennessee Stud, Ron Fuller and the 1985 Territory Review of Continental Championship Wrestling

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 42: Steve Verrier & George Schire The 60th Anniversary of Gene Kiniski NWA World Title Win

Special Bonus Episode 47: Lizzy Flanagan and the 40th Annniversary of the Passing of Gino Hernandez

Special Bonus Episode 49: Scott Teal and A Tribute To Frankie Cain, The Life & Career of The Great Mephisto

Special Bonus Episode 61: Brian R. Solomon and Bob Smith, Tribute to Ted Turner

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.

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