Favorite Territory

[KnockOut]

Here in Atlanta we used to have a show that came on every Saturday called Superstars Of Wrestling hosted by Joe Pedicino. It aired from 8:00 PM until 3:00 AM and they would give you an hour from different territories. The show would usually break down with a combo of these promotions:

WWF
Crockett
Mid-South/UWF
World Class
Memphis
Continental
AWA
Georgia
Puerto Rico
Portland

I was always partial to Crockett, Watts and for some reason Continental. Alabama never had top talent but as a kid it was always one of the shows I enjoyed the most. I never cared for the AWA or Portland, liked Memphis and Dallas and thought Puerto Rico was awful.

[Cbear]

I have to go with Paul Boesch's Houston Wrestling since that is what I grew up on. Paul was an NWA affiliate until the end when there was a falling out. At that point Nick Bockwinkel had even bought into the promotion. But, the NWA really wasnt the focal point of the promotion as we would get the NWA title defended maybe once a year. As a kid, I was in attendance live when Jack Brisco defeated Harley Race for the NWA title in 1973. We used to go quite a bit to the live matches growing up and it was fun. You could meet alot of the wrestlers and I shot tons of pictures from ringside, literally from under the bottom rope. Cant find my photo albums anymore All the big names came through as Boesch was one of the most respected promoters and known as a fair payoff man, you would not get screwed on money. Just a few names off the top of my head...... Johnny Valentine, Wild Bull Curry, Gene Kiniski, Mad Dog Vachon, Mongolian Stomper Archie Gouldie, The Funk Family (Sr, Jr, Terry), Freebirds, Wahoo McDaniel, Fritz Von Erich, Black Jacks, Fantastics, Sheepherders, Jose Lothario, El Santo, Mil Mascaras, Chavo Guerrerro, Dusty Rhodes, Andre the Giant, Superstar Billy Graham, Jack Brisco, Harley Race, Don Jardine The Spoiler, Nicolai Volkoff, Chief Peter Maivia (Rocks grandpa), Rocky Johnson (Rocks dad), Brusier Brody, The Shiek, Abby, Ernie Ladd, Stan Hansen and at least on one show we had Bruno Sammartino and Nick Bockwinkel. It was a different time, great access, all the stars came through and Paul had a very fan friendly policy.

[Cbear]

Growing up, the Apter mags ruled even though they were just puff pieces for the most part but it was the photos of the matches that grabbed your attention. For some reason, the Florida territory always caught my attention though I never got to see it on tv. Dusty was always in wild bloody fueds with someone down there. When I was a kid it was before the national expansion so you didnt get to see rasslin from other areas. Houston Wrestling was on local channel 39 and to my knowledge it was their longest running program ever. Cable wasnt big yet in my small town--these were still the days of exterior antennaes on you home. When cable grew, thats when Ted Turners TBS was young and showing Georgia Championship wrestling whch was the Crockett promotions. And thats when things started to shrink to WCW/WWF and the territories started to shrink and die.

[KnockOut]

I've still got 2 huge boxes full of Apter mags from the 80s and early 90s. PWI, Inside Wrestling, The Wrestler, Wrestling Superstars, etc. I still thumb through them from time to time.

Houston wasn't around when I started watching, or at least not that I remember. This would have been about '84, '85.

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

I grew up on Mid South/UWF so Id have to go with them. So many stars cut their teeth in Mid South. I remember as a child my dad taking me to many matches. Great stuff.

Id watch any wrestling I could, NWA was my favorite national brand, altougn WWF got the nod at times. As far as local brands Mid South and World Class were the only two I was able to catch on a regular basis.

[Prometheus]

Georgia championship wrestling. Nothing has ever come close for me.

[Cbear]

I grew up on Mid South/UWF so Id have to go with them. So many stars cut their teeth in Mid South. I remember as a child my dad taking me to many matches. Great stuff.

Id watch any wrestling I could, NWA was my favorite national brand, altougn WWF got the nod at times. As far as local brands Mid South and World Class were the only two I was able to catch on a regular basis.

Bill Watts was one hell of a booker and Mid South was awesome. He made stars of Junkyard Dog, Steve Williams, Ted DiBiase, Jake the Snake Roberts, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and plenty more. Bills booking always was believable; keep it simple and make the fueds realistic. Every now and then they got stupid such as JYD being blinded (thats an old rasslin gimmick angle) but it worked to draw big money. Do you remember when Akbars team burnt up Hacksaws face?

[Cbear]

Georgia championship wrestling. Nothing has ever come close for me.

Southern rasslin was the best and GCW brought in the best of the day who were stars but became superstars. Flair, Dusty and all those guys in their prime. Damn good stuff.

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

Bill Watts was one hell of a booker and Mid South was awesome. He made stars of Junkyard Dog, Steve Williams, Ted DiBiase, Jake the Snake Roberts, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and plenty more. Bills booking always was believable; keep it simple and make the fueds realistic. Every now and then they got stupid such as JYD being blinded (thats an old rasslin gimmick angle) but it worked to draw big money. Do you remember when Akbars team burnt up Hacksaws face?

I remember Akbar and his team burning people, but not specifically Hacksaw. The most brutal match I seen in Mid South was the Fantastics vs the Sheephearders in a barbed wire match.

The Rock N Roll Express and Midnight Express also got their starts in the Mid South. So many stars learned the ropes there.

THe only complaint I have about Mid South is that nearly every main event would never end in the tv time. Or you knew there would be a quick run in. Other than that they had great match making, believable feuds, and just good matches.

[split decision]

Being way up here in Canuckistan, I'd have to weigh the pros and cons of Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling and Calgary Stampede Wrestling.