The week in review is a compilation of the research, writing, audio and video output 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, July 12th, 2026:
Monday, July 13th, 2026:
Issue 454: 7 Stages of the Territory Era, Stage 5 Consolidation: July 1966
Tuesday, July 14th, 2026:
Wednesday, July 15th, 2026:
Thursday, July 16th, 2026:
Issue 457: The Life and Career of Terry Gordy, ONE Thing I Learned About Mighty Igor Vodik
Friday, July 17th, 2026:
Issue 458: The Life and Career of Jesse Ventura, ONE THING I Learned About Edouard Carpentier
Saturday, July 18th, 2026:
Issue 459: The Life and Career of Ann Casey, ONE Thing I Learned About Geeto Mongol
Special Premium Content for Our Paid Subscribers
Tuesday, July 14th, 2026:
My latest entry into the Tracking the World Champions Series, this feature covering the 6th month of Gene Kiniski’s first year as NWA World Champion. Unlike the scientific, respected Thesz, Kiniski presented himself as “Canada’s Greatest Athlete”—a brash, powerful heel who relied on brute strength, suplexes, backbreakers, and calculated rule-breaking to dominate opponents and infuriate crowds. His imposing physique, football background with the Edmonton Eskimos, and arrogant persona made him an ideal traveling champion for the territorial era. He drew money by being hated while still delivering credible, hard-hitting performances that protected the prestige of the NWA’s premier singles title.
Tracking The World Champions: Gene Kiniski NWA World Heavyweight Title - July 1966
The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show
In this episode, I am joined once again by Tennessee wrestling historian Tim Dills for a detailed review of the first six months of 1976 in the powerful Gulas-Welch Tennessee Territory.
We explore the behind-the-scenes workings and motivations of the new UWA promotion challenging the established order in Nashville, the heated and emerging Jerry Lawler vs. Tommy Rich feud that would become one of the territory’s biggest draws, the colorful program pitting The Bicentennial Kings against The Fabulous Fargos (including Jackie and Roughhouse), and much more!
Wednesday, July 15th, 2026:
Tony’s Media Appearances This Past Week:
Talking Memphis Wrestling:
I was on the show this passed Wednesday evening. The Host Randy Hales, along with Michael St. John, Pat Trammel and Dr. Rusty Robinson. Thier show usually airs on Tuesday nights, but because of the special “Death of TNA” episodes about Jeff jarrett aired on Tuesday nights, they moved their show to Wednesday nights in order to watch and review the series. They were kind to invite me on the show last week live from Waterloo and then this past Wednesday evening to talk about my induction into the Tragos-Thesz Hall of Fame in the 2026 Class in Waterloo, Iowa. I hope you can check out this show and also put it into your favorite podcast listens and views every Tuesday night.
The History of Texas Wrestling, Episode #4 and #5
Episode 4
Episode 4 covers the establishment of wrestling in West Texas, towns like El Paso, Amarillo and Lubbock come on line. We cover 1925 to 1936 in this episode including Cal Farley, Dutch Mantell, Sled Allen, Cyclone Mackey, Salvador Luetteroth, Ben Sheman, The Masked Marvel, Vic Weber and much much more!
Episode 5
Episode 5 finds us still in Amarillo, Texas covering the years of 1930 through 1941. A long list of territory pioneers pass through or are trained in Amarillo by Dutch Mantell. Roy Welch, Charlie Carr, Pat Malone, Sailor Moran, Gene LeBell, Dory Detton, Joe Gunther, Rod Fenton and many many more. We cover the death of the legendary Dutch Mantell in 1941, who had become such a powerful figure that professional wrestling went dark in West Texas for 5 years from 1941 through 1946 after he died,
Thank You for Reading, Listening and Watching
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share the history of pro wrestling territory era in each content vehicle of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel. We publish the Week-In-Review each Sunday as a digest for our community members. If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
Remember, premium investors 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 Investors who contribute and invest in the work I do to preserve the history of the territory era.