This is part 7 of a 7-part series in Evolution of Wrestling to provide analysis of the years in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel of 1925, 1935, 1945, 1955, 1965, 1975 and 1985.
My framework for understanding and analyzing the history and growth of Professional Wrestling are the 7 Stages of The Territory Era:
Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935)
Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945)
Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955)
Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965)
Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975)
Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985)
Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995)
1985 is the first year in Stage Seven, Disintegration of The Territory Era of Professional Wrestling
The year 1985 stands as a watershed moment in the history of professional wrestling, marking the accelerating decline of the traditional territorial system and the rise of a national, entertainment-driven powerhouse. For decades, wrestling in North America had been organized around regional promotions, or “territories,” affiliated primarily with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). These territories respected geographic boundaries, exchanged talent, and recognized a single NWA World Heavyweight Champion. However, under Vince McMahon Jr.’s leadership, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) aggressively expanded beyond its Northeastern roots, leveraging cable television, celebrity crossovers, and high-production events to challenge this entrenched system. This expansion created a tension between innovation and tradition, as remaining territories fought to survive amid encroaching competition. While the WWF’s WrestleMania I symbolized the dawn of a new era, active territories like the American Wrestling Association (AWA), Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and others mounted countermeasures, hosting their own supercards and forming alliances. Yet 1985 exposed the vulnerabilities of the old model, foreshadowing the consolidation that would reshape the industry.
