The week in review is a compilation of the research, writing, audio and video content of Tony Richards and the team at the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel.
This Past Week’s Issues of Our Daily Wrestling History Newsletter, The Daily Chronicle:
One Territory Era chapter every day: personalities, territories, towns & buildings that built pro wrestling.
Sunday, October 4th, 2026:
Issue 537: 1976 Flashback: Q4 Analysis: NWA Tri-State Territory, Tulsa, Oklahoma Office
Monday, October 5th, 2026
Issue 538: 7 Stages of the Territory Era, Stage 4 Investigation: October 1956
Tuesday, October 6th, 2026:
Wednesday, October 7th, 2026:
Thursday, October 8th, 2026:
Issue 541: The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Case for June Byers
Friday, October 9th, 2026:
Issue 542: The Life and Career of Gentleman Chris Adams, ONE Thing I Learned About Reggie Parks
Saturday, October 10th, 2026:
Issue 543: The Life and Career of Judy Martin, ONE Thing I Learned About Diana Hart
Special Premium Content for Paid Subscribers
This week my published research has been focused on the month of October of 1956. This special Premium feature sligns with that as we take a look at the schedule of the NWA World Champion in October 1956, Whipper Billy Watson.
By the first week of October 1956, Whipper Billy Watson had been NWA World Heavyweight Champion for 203 days. He had taken the title from Lou Thesz on March 15 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, by count-out, with Jack Dempsey as the special referee, in front of a reported house of about 15,000. Thesz had carried the Alliance championship through most of the early 1950s.
Friday, October 9th, 2026:
Tracking The World Champions: Whipper Billy Watson, NWA World Heavyweight Champion, October 1956
The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show
Wednesday, October 7th, 2026:
This week on The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, our tour through the territories in 1976 continues as we focus in on Big Time Wrestling in the Detroit, Michigan Territory.
Episode 83 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show takes a trip to the Detroit territory and Big Time Wrestling in 1976.
We open with a short congratulations to one of our family members and AWA analyst, George Schire. The George Tragos–Lou Thesz Hall of Fame Board announced this past weekend that George will be honored with the James C. Melby Award for 2027 at Hall of Fame weekend in Waterloo, Iowa. Well deserved.
Segment 1: I welcome longtime Detroit television announcer Terry Sullivan to discuss the Detroit Territory in 1976.
Segment 2: A short, heartfelt tribute to Bart Batten, one of the Batten Twins tag team, who passed away on October 1st. I also give a little profile of the in-ring career of Klondike Bill — more than a ring truck driver.
Segment 3: Brian Solomon, author of Blood and Fire, the biography of The Original Sheik, returns to the show. Brian and I discuss what was happening in the Sheik’s life and territory in 1976.
To close, I recap the other territories The Sheik traveled to and wrestled in during 1976. It’s the Detroit Territory, all in one episode.
Hit play, leave a review, we love to interact with your comments and keep riding with us through the Time Tunnel!
SHOW CLIP: In this short clip of this week’s show, I discuss with Brian Solomon why the territories will never return.
Tony’s Media Appearances This Past Week:
As The Official Historian for the Brisco and Bradshaw Show, I am continuing the greatest docuseries ever produced on The History of Texas Wrestling in with Episode 17!
Gerry, JBL and I discuss the power shifts that happen in Texas Wrestling setting up the Funk and Von Erich eras in not only Texas Wrestling but also throughout the world!
On this show, we have these great stories:
The closing of the Amarillo Territory
The debut of Kevin Von Erich
San Antonio leaves the Dallas Booking system
Joe Blanchard launches Southwest Champtionship Wrestling
Southwest Championship Wrestling gets a spot and then loses that spot on USA Network
Houston’s Paul Boesch builds his own Kingdom and leaves the Dallas booking system and aligns first with Southwest Championship Wrestling, then leaves and affiliates with Mid-South Wrestling
The impact of The Great Kabuki and The Fabulous Freebirds
Red Bastein leaves as booker of Dallas and is replaced by Gary Hart
Gary Hart leaves World Class on Christmas Night 1982 and is replaced by Ken Mantell
The tragic Death of David Von Erich
Kerry Von Erich becomes the Texas Superstar and NWA World Champion
and much much more
Thursday, October 8th, 2026:
The History of Texas Wrestling, Episode 17:
SHOW CLIP: Here’s a clip of the show where the boys discuss the tragic death of David Von Erich:
WATCH HERE:
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.