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, September 13th, 2026:
Monday, September 14th, 2026:
Issue 517: 7 Stages of the Territory Era, Stage 5: Consolidation: September 1966
Tuesday, September 15th, 2026:
Issue 518: The Life and Career of Wilbur Snyder, ONE Thing I Learned About King Curtis
Wednesday, September 16th, 2026:
Thursday,September 17th, 2026:
Issue 520: The Life and Career of Paul LeDuc, ONE Thing I Learned About Jos LeDuc
Friday, September 18th, 2026
Issue 521: The Life and Career of Wild Bill Irwin, ONE Thing I Learned About Ed Don Georg
Saturday, September 19th, 2026:
Issue 522: The Life and Career of Beverly Shade, ONE Thing I Learned About Gerry Brisco
Special Premium Content for Our Paid Premium Subscribers
September 1966 was month 9 of the second year of the strongest 10 year period in the territory era, Stage 5: Consolidation.
September 1966 was one of the most revealing months of Gene Kiniski’s first year as NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Eight months into his reign, Kiniski was no longer simply the man who had defeated Lou Thesz for wrestling’s most prestigious championship. He had become the National Wrestling Alliance’s traveling champion, moving through several territories in a single month and defending the championship against an extraordinary variety of challengers. The schedule demonstrated the fundamental philosophy of the NWA World Championship during the Territory Era: the champion belonged to the entire Alliance rather than to any one territory, and his value was measured by his ability to walk into a promotion, face its strongest available challenger and give that market a meaningful world-title attraction.
Tracking The World Champions: Gene Kiniski, NWA World Heavyweight Champion, September 1966
The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show
Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show Episode 80
Episode 80 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is a special one, with a trip to Japan and a heartfelt look back at our friend Jerry Oates.
Segment 1:
We travel to Japan as wrestling historian Fumi Saito joins us from Tokyo. Fumi looks back at Giant Baba’s All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1976, the year Jerry and Ted Oates won the All Asia Tag Team Championship.
Segment 2:
Two of our regulars, Georgia wrestling analyst Bobby Simmons and Gulf Coast expert Michael Norris, join me to share their friendship and memories of Jerry Oates. We laugh, we reflect, and we get sad at times talking about our friend.
Segment 3:
My last conversation with Jerry Oates for the show — recorded a couple of weeks before his passing — as Jerry discusses his career in 1976.
This is a history-packed and deeply personal episode.
📌 Episode 80 is available now on Castos, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all your usual platforms. Pleas subscribe on your podcast app if you use one and give us a 5-star review to help other territory history fans find out show!
Episode 80: 1976 Territory Review All Japan Pro Wrestling & Jerry Oates Tributev
Tony’s Media Appearances This Past Week:
I was only involved with one other show this week as we continued our long form multi part History of Texas Wrestling Series on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw. That being said, I am a semi-regular panel member on Talking Memphis Wrestling and they are doing a special 3-part series on the Super Star Bill Dundee. These are fabulous tributes to the long-time Memphis wrestler, so I wanted to include the links so you can watch these important shows. We also have them in our My Podcast Guest Appearances playlist on my YouTube Channel:
Talking Memphis. Wrestling Bill Dundee Tribute Series:
September 8th, 2026: Bill Dundee Tribute 1
September 15th, 2026:Bill Dundee Tribute 2
Be sure to catch the 3rd Bill Dundee Tribute shiw this Tuesday LIVE on YouTube, X and Facebook Randy Hales’ social media channels.
Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw Show
As The Official Historian for the Brisco and Bradshaw Show, I am continuing The History of Texas Wrestling in with Episode 14!
Gerry, JBL and I discuss the years of 1955 and the beginning year of the 1966 in West Texas and Amarillo Wrestling.
On this show, we have these great stories:
Art Nelson
Rip Rogers (Eddie Graham)
Gory Guerrero
Ricky Romero
Lorraine Johnson
Nick Roberts
(New Notes)
Killer Karl Kox
Wahoo McDaniel
San Antonio in the 60s
Joe Blanchard
and much much more in this history packed Episode 13 of the History of Texas Wrestling on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw!
Thursday, September 17th, 2026:
Don’t miss Episode 15 coming this week as we explore the stories of the wrestlers from the legendary college in Canyon, Texas, West Texas State! Dropping early on Thursday mornings, Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw! Don’t forget the whole History of Texas Wrestling Series can be found on my YouTube Channel and also on my website:
The History of Texas Wrestling
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.