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Vince McMahon vs. The World


KrisZ

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Ohio was an interesting expansion for the WWF. These primary metros:

 

2,859,644 Cleveland (14)

1,980,140 Cincinnati (22)

1,345,450 Columbus (29)

951,270 Dayton (43)

614,128 Toledo (61)

 

That's a helluva a territory on it's own.

 

Looking at when they seemed to go in:

 

11/13/83 Cincinnati

03/19/84 Dayton

05/24/84 Columbus

06/xx/84 Toledo

10/04/84 Cleveland

 

Not entirely sure why it took them so long to run Cleveland. It's clearly the jewel of Ohio. Perhaps Vince waiting to get the right major arena. They did run Akron as early as *January* in 1984, and it's part of the metro that 30-40 miles away. That's not a great distance: my comute is 40 or so miles given the round about way I have to go. One could argue they were running Akron and waiting for the building they wanted.

 

Crockett certainly tried to come in and did have some good-to-decent gates. But going to the general theme: Ohio was a non-WWF territory that the WWF successfully added to its territory in the Hogan Era. Whether another promotion game in and did business isn't terribly relevant: McDonalds expanding across the country from a small, California franchise to a national one isn't lessened by KFC doing something similar. At the end of it, McDonalds was vastly bigger, while KFC ended up being bought by Pepsi so they could pump beverages. :)

 

These all overtime became good WWF cities for the past 25 years. Not always great, was WWF business goes up and down. But one couldn't argue with the point that the WWF expanded successfully into Ohio in the Hogan Era to add those fans to the WWF Base.

 

John

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Here's another data dump to add to the thread for future reference.

 

These were the top Metros in the US in the 1990 Census. I chose 1990 rather than 1980 because:

 

* Expansion was in the middle of the decade

 

* this is where the country was headed rather than where it had been

 

If you're expanded business, you want to grab (i) Big and (ii) Growing. Which makes 1990 data more reasonable: it's where the WWF and Hogan were headed.

 

Could get more anal on this by adding in growth % for the decade, but I don't think it's that critical.

 

19,549,649 New York (1)

14,531,529 Los Angles (2)

8,239,820 Chicago (3)

6,727,050 DC/Baltimore/N VA (4)

6,253,311 SanFran / San Jose / Oakland (5)

5,892,937 Philly (6)

5,455,403 Boston (7)

5,187,171 Detroit (8)

4,037,282 Dallas / Fort Worth (9)

3,731,131 Houston (10)

 

3,192,582 Miami / Fort Lauderdale (11)

2,970,328 Seattle / Tacoma (12)

2,959,950 Atlanta (13)

2,859,644 Cleveland (14)

2,538,834 Minneapolis / St. Paul (15)

2,498,016 San Diego (16)

2,492,525 St. Louis (17)

2,394,811 Pittsburg (18)

2,238,480 Phoenix (19)

2,067,959 Tampa/St. Petersburg (20)

 

1,980,140 Denver (21)

1,980,140 Cincinnati (22)

1,793,476 Portland (23)

1,607,183 Milwaukee (24)

1,582,875 Kansas City (25)

1,481,102 Sacramento (26)

1,443,244 Norfolk (27)

1,380,491 Indianapolis (28)

1,345,450 Columbus (29)

1,324,749 San Antonio (30)

 

1,285,270 New Orleans (31)

1,224,852 Orlando (32)

1,189,288 Buffalo / Niagara Falls (33)

1,162,093 Charlotte (34)

1,157,585 Hartford (35)

1,134,350 Providence (36)

1,072,227 Salt Lake (37)

1,062,470 Rochester (38)

1,050,304 Greensboro (39)

1,007,306 Memphis (40)

 

985,026 Nashville (41)

958,839 Oklahoma City (42)

951,270 Dayton (43)

948,829 Louisville (44)

937,891 Jacksonville (45)

865,640 Richmond (46)

863,518 West Palm Beach (47)

861,424 Albany (48)

855,545 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (49)

852,737 Las Vegas (50)

 

846,227 Austin (51)

840,140 Birmingham (52)

836,231 Honolulu (53)

830,563 Greenville (54)

755,580 Fresno (55)

742,177 Syracuse (56)

708,954 Tulsa (57)

666,880 Tucson (58)

639,580 Omaha (59)

638,466 Scranton (60)

 

614,128 Toledo (61)

600,895 Youngstown (62)

595,081 Allentown (63)

591,610 El Paso (64)

589,131 Albuquerque (65)

587,986 Harrisburg (66)

587,884 Springfield (67)

585,960 Knoxville (68)

543,477 Bakersfield (69)

528,264 Baton Rouge (70)

 

513,117 Little Rock (71)

506,875 Charleston (72)

489,483 Sarasota (73)

485,270 Wichita (74)

480,628 Stockton (75)

 

Stopping at 75 as it's the first obvious breaking point after we drop under 500K. There are some useful metros below that, but we're also reaching the point that it confirms a lot of what we already know further up the list:

 

513,117 Little Rock (71) = a city that warrant some looking into

506,875 Charleston (72) = another CrockettLand problem for the WWF

489,483 Sarasota (73) = another part of FL engulfed in the WWF

485,270 Wichita (74) = another part of the plains expanded into by the WWF

480,628 Stockton (75) = more of CA added

 

I may have missed a metro or two when copying it out of the Census PDF. Let me know if any jump out.

 

More in the next post...

What's interesting about Charleston is that the WWF took over the old Mid-Atlantic building and post-Crockett WCW moved into the "bigger" Arena which was (at the time) the McAllister Fieldhouse where The Citadel plays basketball. From memory that seats a bit less than 7,000 max for wrestling. County Hall - or the King Street Palace when Vince ran the place - is in a really bad part of town (it no longer exists actually) and I doubt you could get more than 3,500 people in their without obliterating the fire code (the building has since been converted into a housing project).

 

I'm trying to remember when Vince first ran down here, but I honestly have no recollection. I would be shocked if it was before 88 and honestly it may have not even been til 89 or 90. Trying to remember when NWA/WCW moved into McAllister is tough too. I know they used to run St. Andrews High School Gym semi-regularly before that and they ran the Citadel football stadium at least once I THINK in 86.

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Yeah let's hit Columbus because of all the shows on the Northern tours by Ole, they would pimp Columbus the most.

 

MAY 4, 1984 – COLUMBUS, OH

(Les Thatcher – Promoter)

> Les Thornton and Tim Horner went to a draw

> The Spoiler d. Sweet Brown Sugar

> Brad Armstrong d. Ted DiBiase by CO

> The Road Warriors d. King Kong Bundy & Masked Superstar

> Lights Out Match: Jake Roberts d. Ron Garvin

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - May 24, 1984

SD Jones defeated Tiger Chung Lee

Greg Valentine defeated Salvatore Bellomo

Tony Garea defeated Pat Patterson

Ivan Putski defeated Mr. Fuji

Roddy Piper defeated B. Brian Blair

WWF IC Champion Tito Santana defeated Paul Orndorff via count-out

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Shiek via count-out

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - June 27, 1984

Mr. Fuji defeated Spike Huber

Greg Valentine defeated B. Brian Blair

Roddy Piper defeated Rocky Johnson via count-out

Bob Orton Jr. defeated Terry Daniels

Iron Sheik defeated Sgt. Slaughter via disqualification

Andre the Giant defeated Jerry Valiant

Paul Orndorff defeated Ivan Putski via count-out

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - July 19, 1984

Mr. Fuji defeated Terry Daniels

Bob Backlund fought Bob Orton Jr. to a draw

Greg Valentine defeated B. Brian Blair

Sgt. Slaughter defeated Iron Sheik via disqualification

Judy Martin defeated Penny Mitchell

Roddy Piper defeated Rocky Johnson

Salvatore Bellomo defeated Rene Goulet

 

AUGUST 17, 1984 – COLUMBUS, OH

(Ole Anderson – Promoter)

> Steve Travis and the Italian Stallion went to a draw

> Jerry Oates & Tim Horner d. Steve Brinson & the Big O

> 666 d. Dale Veasey

> Brad Armstrong d. Bob Roop by DQ

> Ron Garvin versus Crusher Blackwell ruled a NC

> Ron Garvin d. Ted DiBiase

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - August 1984

Princess Victoria & Velvet McIntyre defeated Leilani Kai & Despina Montagues

Don Muraco defeated Billy Travis

Kamala defeated Salvatore Bellomo

Mr. Fuji defeated Tiger Chung Lee

Sika & Samula defeated the Moondogs via disqualification

WWF IC Champion Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton Jr.

Andre the Giant defeated Iron Sheik

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - September 17, 1984

Ken Patera defeated Billy Travis

Kamala defeated Rick McGraw

Andre the Giant defeated Paul Orndorff via count-out

Roddy Piper defeated Ivan Putski

Junkyard Dog defeated Roger Ruffin

Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, & Buddy Roberts defeated Bob Orton Jr. & the Moondogs

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - October 16, 1984

David Sammartino defeated Moondog Rex

Tonga defeated David Schultz

Paul Orndorff defeated Samula

Rene Goulet defeated Billy Travis

Brutus Beefcake defeated Tony Garea

Sgt. Slaughter & Junkyard Dog defeated Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff

 

NOVEMBER 24, 1984 – COLUMBUS, OH – OHIO CENTER

(Ole Anderson – Promoter)

> Masao Ito vs. Jacques Rougeau

> Brad Armstrong & Jimmy Valiant d. The Hollywood Blonds

> National TV Title: Ronnie Garvin d. Bob Roop © by DQ

> Ole Anderson & Thunderbolt Patterson vs. The New York Assassins

> NWA World Heavyweight Title: Tommy Rich d. Ric Flair © by countout

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - November 1984

Bob Orton Jr. defeated Billy Travis

Mike Rotundo defeated Steve Lombardi

Blackjack Mulligan defeated Jerry Valiant

Ken Patera defeated SD Jones

Mr. Wrestling II defeated Terry Gibbs

Paul Orndorff defeated Rocky Johnson

WWF IC Champion Greg Valentine defeated Tito Santana via disqualification

Blackjack Mulligan and Big John Studd co-won a 16-man battle royal

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - December 15, 1984

Mr. Fuji defeated Billy Travis

Mr. Wrestling II defeated Jerry Valiant

Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo defeated the Moondogs

Junkyard Dog defeated Ken Patera via disqualification

Blackjack Mulligan defeated Big John Studd via disqualification

Tito Santana fought WWF IC Champion Greg Valentine to a draw

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - January 6, 1985

Bret Hart defeated Buddy Rose

Mr. Wrestling II fought Les Thornton to a draw

David Sammartino defeated the Spoiler

Bob Orton Jr. defeated Ivan Putski

Tito Santana defeated WWF IC Champion Greg Valentine via count-out

Wendi Richter defeated Judy Martin

Big John Studd & Ken Patera defeated Andre the Giant & Blackjack Mulligan via disqualification

 

JANUARY 12, 1985 – COLUMBUS, OH

(Les Thatcher – Promoter)

> The Italian Stallion d. Chick Donovan

> The Hollywood Blondes d. Brian Adidas & Ron Ritchie

> Ron Garvin d. Ox Baker

> Tommy Rich d. Bob Roop

> Ole Anderson & Thunderbolt Patterson d. Bill & Scott Irwin

> Tag Team Battle Royal: Brian Adidas & Ron Ritchie (Winners)

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - January 27, 1985

SD Jones fought Les Thornton to a draw

Jerry Valiant defeated Steve Lombardi

Brutus Beefcake defeated Mr. Wrestling II

Junkyard Dog defeated Paul Orndorff via disqualification

WWF IC Champion Greg Valentine defeated Tito Santana in a lumberjack match

Ivan Putski defeated David Schultz

Andre the Giant & Blackjack Mulligan defeated Big John Studd & Ken Patera in a Texas Tornado match

 

Tito/Greg and Mulligan/Studd carrying a four show run in Columbus....man

 

FEBRUARY 22, 1985 – COLUMBUS, OH – FAIRGROUNDS

(Les Thatcher – Promoter)

> Ole Anderson & Thunderbolt Patterson d. Scott Irwin & Mr. Kareem Muhammad

> Lumberjack: Tommy Rich d. Bob Roop

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - March 10, 1985

David Sammartino defeated Barry O

Mr. Wrestling II defeated Rene Goulet

Velvet McIntyre & Desiree Peterson defeated Penny Mitchell & Peggy Patterson

Bob Orton Jr. defeated George Wells

Don Muraco defeated Ivan Putski

Tito Santana defeated Brutus Beefcake

Junkyard Dog defeated WWF IC Champion Greg Valentine

 

MARCH 30, 1985 – COLUMBUS, OH – OHIO CENTER

(Ole Anderson – Promoter)

> National TV Title: Bob Roop © vs. Thunderbolt Patterson

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - May 12, 1985

Tony Garea defeated Steve Lombardi

Mr. Wrestling II defeated Moondog Spot

Les Thornton defeated Rick McGraw

Tony Atlas defeated Terry Gibbs

Jim Neidhart defeated SD Jones

Paul Orndorff defeated Jerry Valiant

WWF Women's Champion Wendi Richter defeated the Fabulous Moolah

Rocky Johnson defeated Matt Borne

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Don Muraco

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - June 9, 1985

Gama Singh defeated Bobby Colt

The Missing Link defeated Rick McGraw

B. Brian Blair defeated Matt Borne

Paul Orndorff fought Bob Orton Jr. to a draw

George Steele defeated Terry Gibbs

Tony Atlas defeated Jerry Valiant

Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - July 7, 1985

Tiger Chung Lee fought Swede Hanson to a draw

George Steele defeated Moondog Spot

The British Bulldogs defeated Rene Goulet & Les Thornton

Terry Funk defeated Mr. Wrestling II

Junkyard Dog defeated Jerry Valiant

WWF Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik

 

JCP @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – July 18, 1985

Brett Sawyer d. Bob Roop

Thunderbolt Patterson d. Mike Davis

The Midnight Express d. Italian Stallion & Pez Whatley

National Heavyweight Title: Black Bart © d. Ronnie Garvin

Dick Slater battled Kevin Sullivan to a no contest

Texas Death: Buzz Sawyer d. Arn Anderson

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Magnum TA d. Ric Flair © by DQ

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - State Fairgrounds - August 13, 1985 (50,000)

Admission was free with the purchase of a $4 Ohio State Fair ticket

The Missing Link defeated SD Jones

Junkyard Dog defeated Les Thornton

Paul Orndorff defeated Iron Sheik

Don Muraco defeated Tony Atlas

WWF Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo defeated Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Big John Studd via count-out

 

JCP @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – August 17, 1985

Italian Stallion d. Tommy Lane

Krusher Khruschev d. Mike Davis

Pez Whatley d. Kevin Sullivan

Terry Taylor d. Black Bart

The Midnight Express d. Brett & Buzz Sawyer

NWA World Tag Titles: The Rock n Roll Express © d. Ivan & Nikita Koloff

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - September 1985

The Spider Lady defeated Linda Gonzalez

B. Brian Blair defeated Ron Shaw

Jim Brunzell defeated Barry O

The Missing Link defeated Swede Hanson

Adrian Adonis defeated Jose Luis Rivera

Junkyard Dog & George Steele defeated Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff

WWF IC Champion Tito Santana defeated Roddy Piper via disqualification

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - November 1985

David Sammartino defeated Moondog Spot

Pedro Morales defeated Barry O

The British Bulldogs defeated the Spoiler & Iron Mike Sharpe

Bob Orton Jr. defeated Lanny Poffo

Paul Orndorff defeated Roddy Piper via disqualification

WWF IC Champion Tito Santana defeated Terry Funk

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - December 15, 1985

Included Randy Savage, Jim Brunzell & B. Brian Blair

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - October 21, 1986

Dick Slater defeated Steve Regal

Honkytonk Man defeated Barry O

Ricky Steamboat defeated Bob Orton Jr.

Jake Roberts defeated George Steele via disqualification

Tito Santana defeated Don Muraco via disqualification

 

Long drought in results there.

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - November 16, 1986 (3,000)

Ricky Steamboat defeated WWF IC Champion Randy Savage via disqualification

Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - December 30, 1986 (8,000; sell out)

Blackjack Mulligan won a bunkhouse battle royal

Roddy Piper pinned Adrian Adonis

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - January 29, 1987

Brad Rheingans defeated Barry O

Koko B. Ware pinned Tiger Chung Lee

Hercules defeated Sivi Afi via submission

Blackjack Mulligan defeated Jim Neidhart

Davey Boy Smith pinned Bret Hart

Kamala defeated Hillbilly Jim

WWF IC Champion Randy Savage & Honkytonk Man defeated Ricky Steamboat & George Steele via disqualification

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - March 11, 1987 (8,000; sell out)

Wrestling Challenge taping:

Prime Time Wrestling - 4/20/87: Outback Jack pinned the Raider with a bulldog at 1:30

Hillbilly Jim defeated Brian Costello via submission with the bearhug at 1:40

Prime Time Wrestling - 3/16/87: WWF Women's Tag Team Champions Judy Martin & Leilani Kai defeated Velvet McIntyre & Angie Minelli at 9:37 when Kai pinned Minelli after a powerbomb from Martin

Tom Magee defeated an unknown

The Can-Am Connection defeated Kamala & Sika

WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (w/ Jimmy Hart & Danny Davis) defeated Paul Roma & Jim Powers; the match was redone after the finish was botched

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated King Kong Bundy (w/ Bobby Heenan) at around the 5-minute mark

3/22/87 - included WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan as a guest of the Snake Pit:

WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (w/ Jimmy Hart & Danny Davis) defeated Paul Roma & Jim Powers in a non-title match when Bret pinned Powers with the Hart Attack; after the bout, the champions and Davis continued to attack their opposition

Koko B. Ware pinned Johnny K-9 with the Ghost Buster

King Kong Bundy (w/ Bobby Heenan) pinned Mario Mancini with a splash; after the bout, Mancini was taken out on a stretcher

The Can-Am Connection defeated Terry Gibbs & Iron Mike Sharpe when Martel pinned Gibbs with a slingshot splash into the ring

Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Jim Young via submission with the full nelson

3/29/87 - included Jake Roberts as his own guest of the Snake Pit:

Tito Santana (w/ The British Bulldogs) fought Greg Valentine (w/ Johnny V, Brutus Beefcake, & Dino Bravo) to a double disqualification when all the participants began brawling at ringside; replays of the brawl showed that Brutus Beefcake had little to do with the incident - showing dissention in the Dream Team

King Harley Race (w/ Bobby Heenan) pinned Rick Hunter with a cradle suplex; after the bout, Race further beat down on Hunter when he failed to bow properly

Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Dave Wagner & Rick Renslow

Adrian Adonis (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Cpl. Kirchner with a splash off the top

Ricky Steamboat pinned Jimmy Jack Funk with a karate chop off the top; after the bout, George Steele celebrated the win alongside Steamboat and several children

4/5/87 - included Blackjack Mulligan as a guest of the Snake Pit:

The Islanders defeated Al Navarro & Iron Mike Sharpe when Tama pinned Navarro with a splash off the top

Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Sivi Afi with the Shake, Rattle, & Roll

Billy Jack Haynes defeated the Gladiator via submission with the full nelson

Kamala (w/ Mr. Fuji & Kimchee) pinned Sam Cody with a splash off the top; after the bout, Cody was taken out on a stretcher (Fuji's first match managing Kamala after being given his contract by the Grand Wizard)

Ron Bass pinned Joe Mirto with an elbow drop

Greg Valentine (w/ Johnny V & Dino Bravo) defeated Jerry Allen via submission with the figure-4

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - April 27, 1987

Ron Bass d. Jerry Allen

Bob Orton Jr. d. Outback Jack

Rick Martel defeated Nikolai Volkoff via disqualification

Tom Zenk fought Don Muraco to a draw

Jim Duggan defeated Iron Sheik

WWF IC Champion Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts, & Billy Jack Haynes defeated Randy Savage, Hercules, & Honkytonk Man in an elimination match

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - May 24, 1987

Outback Jack defeated Steve Lombardi

Ron Bass defeated SD Jones

The Islanders defeated Don Muraco & Bob Orton Jr.

The Can-Am Connection defeated Kamala & Sika

Brutus Beefcake defeated Johnny V

WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation defeated The British Bulldogs in a steel cage match

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - June 21, 1987

Jake Roberts & Brutus Beefcake defeated King Kong Bundy & Hercules via disqualification

Hillbilly Jim fought Paul Orndorff to a draw

Iron Sheik defeated Dick Slater

One Man Gang pinned Paul Roma

Randy Savage defeated Blackjack Mulligan

Butch Reed defeated Jim Duggan via disqualification after Duggan hit the referee

Junkyard Dog, Davey Boy Smith, & the Dynamite Kid defeated Danny Davis, WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation

Ken Patera defeated Bob Orton Jr.

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated King Harley Race in a Texas Death match

 

NWF @ Columbus, OH – Fairgrounds – August 8, 1987 (7,000)

Abdullah the Butcher vs. Bruiser Brody

 

Big crowd but in all fairness it was a fair crowd but interesting to note.

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – August 13, 1987

Red Demon vs. Brad Rheingans

Paul Roma vs. Tiger Chung Lee

Frenchy Martin vs. Outback Jack

Scott Casey vs. Iron Mike Sharpe

Magnificent Muraco & Bob Orton Jr. vs. Jacques & Raymond Rougeau

Dino Bravo vs. Brutus Beefcake

Superstar Billy Graham vs. Butch Reed

WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title: The Honky Tonk Man © vs. Jake Roberts

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - September 20, 1987

Sam Houston defeated Tiger Chung Lee

Jose Estrada defeated Jerry Allen

The Dino Warrior defeated Barry Horowitz

WWF Women's Champion Sensational Sherri defeated Velvet McIntyre

Demolition defeated Jacques & Raymond Rougeau

Randy Savage defeated Hercules

The One Man Gang defeated George Steele via disqualification

WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man defeated Ricky Steamboat (sub. for Jake Roberts)

 

JCP @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – October 11, 1987 (2,437)

The Kodiaks d. Italian Stallion & Kendall Windham

Black Bart d. Jimmy Valiant

Terry Taylor d. Ron Simmons

UWF Tag Titles: The Lightning Express © d. The Sheepherders

Barry Windham d. Dick Murdoch by DQ

The Midnight Express fought Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes to a draw

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ronnie Garvin © d. Ric Flair

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – October 24, 1987

The Glamour Girls vs. Olympia Hartauer & Velvet McIntyre

Ultimate Warrior d. Steve Lombardi

Brady Boone vs. Danny Spivey

WWF World Tag Titles: The Hart Foundation © vs. The Killer Bees

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. King Kong Bundy

Paul Orndorff vs. Rick Rude

WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title: The Honky Tonk Man © vs. Randy Savage

 

JCP @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – January 10, 1988 (2,300)

Brad Armstrong d. Jim Lancaster

Jimmy Garvin d. Al Snow

Road Warrior Hawk d. Ivan Koloff

The Barbarian battled Barry Windham to a no contest

Lex Luger d. Arn Anderson

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © d. Michael Hayes

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - July 1988

Scott Casey defeated Iron Mike Sharpe

The Ultimate Warrior defeated the Menace

The Big Bossman defeated Sam Houston

Bad News Brown defeated Jim Neidhart

Rick Rude defeated Jake Roberts via count-out

Brutus Beefcake defeated WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man via disqualification

WWF World Champion Randy Savage defeated Ted Dibiase

 

NWA @ Columbus, OH - November 12, 1988 (2,500-3,000)

Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose defeated two unknowns

Steve Williams pinned Eddie Gilbert

NWA TV Champion Mike Rotunda fought Nikita Koloff to a draw

NWA Tag Team Champions the Road Warriors defeated the Italian Stallion & Ron Simmons

Sting defeated NWA US Champion Barry Windham via disqualification

Lex Luger & Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane

NWA World Champion Ric Flair pinned Dusty Rhodes

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - November 1988

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated The British Bulldogs via disqualification

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – December 30, 1988

Danny Davis vs. Lanny Poffo

Conquistador #1 vs. Paul Roma

Haku vs. Harley Race

The Brainbusters vs. The Rockers

Ron Bass vs. Brutus Beefcake

The Honky Tonk Man vs. Tito Santana

WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title: Ultimate Warrior © vs. Akeem

 

NWA @ Columbus, OH - Fairgrounds Coliseum - March 26, 1989 (1,800)

Eddie Gilbert defeated Russian Assassin #2

NWA Tag Team Champions the Road Warriors fought Steve Williams & Dan Spivey to a no contest

The Iron Sheik defeated Steve Casey via disqualification

The Great Muta defeated Rip Rogers

Rick Steiner defeated Bob Bradley

Sting defeated Butch Reed

NWA US Champion Lex Luger defeated NWA TV Champion Mike Rotunda

NWA World Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair

 

NWA @ Columbus, OH - April 23, 1989 (700)

Shane Douglas defeated George South

The Samoan Swat Team defeated Mike Justice & Bob Emory

NWA US Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner defeated the Iron Sheik

Bob Orton Jr. defeated Dick Murdoch

The Great Muta defeated Eddie Gilbert

NWA TV Champion Sting defeated Dan Spivey

NWA World Champion Ricky Steamboat & NWA US Champion Lex Luger defeated Ric Flair & Michael Hayes

 

Ouch

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – July 17, 1989

The Genius vs. Paul Roma

Koko B. Ware vs. The Warlord

Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect

The Brainbusters vs. The Bushwhackers

The Honky Tonk Man vs. Jimmy Snuka

Brutus Beefcake vs. Randy Savage

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH – Ohio Center – September 11, 1989

Paul Roma vs. Boris Zuhkov

Tim Horner vs. Barry Horowitz

Sam Houston vs. Barry Windham

Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect

Ronnie Garvin vs. Greg Valentine

The Rockers vs. Jacques & Raymond Rougeau

WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title: Ultimate Warrior © vs. Andre the Giant

 

NWA @ Columbus, OH - November 20, 1989 (2,500)

NWA Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner fought Doom to a no contest

Tom Zenk defeated the Iron Sheik

Kevin Sullivan defeated Alex Porteau

NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Bobby Eaton via disqualification

 

WWF @ Columbus, OH - December 1989

Paul Roma pinned Iron Mike Sharpe

Dino Bravo defeated Jim Neidhart

Jake Roberts defeated Ted Dibiase via disqualification

Mr. Perfect pinned Jimmy Snuka

WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated Arn Anderson & Haku

Randy Savage pinned Jim Duggan after hitting him with Sensational Sherri's loaded purse

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Is there *anything* Austin could possible have done to match that?

This thread has made a stronger case for Hogan than any I've ever seen in the eternal debate. Still, it's awfully tough to compare the two since they were in such completely different circumstances. If the WWF had someone in 84-86 who was as insanely popular with the general public and oddly innovative with his gimmick and presentation as Austin was in 98-99, Vince would have had a decent chance of pulling off the same stunts he did. But, they did have someone that popular and relatively innovative right there already with Hogan, so the argument is kinda moot.

 

Yeah, that's what we're saying. Vince pulled off the equiv of the stunts he did with Austin a decade before with Hogan. As mentioned in the other thread (don't know if Kriz pulled it over here), we can draw links to almost all of the business/revenue channels of Vince in the Austin Era to similar foundational business/revenue channels in the Hogan Era.

 

The one thing that I can point to that's *possibly* new in Austin's era is the monetizing of television programing. I don't know what/if Vince made money directly off SNME, The Main Event and USA programing, or at which point he did. On the opposite end, we know the Vince made a ton of money off WWF/WWE programing in the late 90s and especially in the past 10 years as tv has turned from simply being something to promote house shows and PPV to being a revenue and profit generator.

 

But...

 

WCW hit the jackpot on the before Austin took off and the ratings war turned.

 

So if the argument is that Hogan didn't invent monetize TV programing on in anyway (not sure), then the reality is that Austin didn't invent it either. WCW did... or possibly Vince did earlier in the decade when Raw started doing good ratings for USA before the Monday Night Wars. Might not have been a ton of money, but starting down that path.

 

We do know WCW went through the roof on it, to the point that *all* of us hardcore wrestling business analysts talked about WCW focusing on TV over PPV. Part of the was the egofuck of wanting to beat Vince. But another part of it, that some were slow to catch onto, was that once successful in the ratings, Nitro became a cash cow for TW-Turner, and a good chunk of the was sent down the company ladder to WCW.

 

Hogan was the revolution. Perhaps some elements of the revolution existed before him, as some like to point to World Class as doing some of the things that Vince later did. But it's the equiv of early revolutionary sparks in Russia. They ended up being a footnote in history relative to Lenin, the Bolshevik's and especially Stalin.

 

John

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Let's look at Hogan and when he made his debuts by market size in the territories that wasn't part of WWF before he came there.

 

Chicago = July 13, 1984 (The thing about Chicago was they would run it a week before AWA would run it and AWA was still very strong in the market as they were running the Rosemont Horizon while Vince was running the UIC Pavilion but that all changed after the AWA's November show. Look at the decline.

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – November 3, 1984 (18,301)

Brad Rheingans d. Steve Regal

Jimmy Garvin d. Steve O

Mr. Saito d. Baron Von Raschke

Nick Bockwinkel fought Curt Hennig to a draw

The Fabulous Ones d. The Road Warriors

Lights Out Match: Crusher Blackwell d. Bruiser Brody

Tag Team Battle Royal won by Crusher Blackwell & King Kong Bundy

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – December 16, 1984 (8,500)

Steve Regal d. Tom Zenk

Cowboy Lang & Little Coco d. Little Tokyo & Lord Littlebrook

Curt Hennig d. Luke Graham

Curt Hennig battled Mr. Saito to a no contest

Crusher Blackwell & Jim Brunzell battled Bruiser Brody & Sheik Adnan Kaissey to a no contest

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © d. Jimmy Garvin by DQ

Da Crusher & The Fabulous Ones d. The Road Warriors & Paul Ellering

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – March 31, 1985 (9,600)

Billy Robinson d. Tom Zenk

AWA Lt. Heavyweight Title: Steve Regal © d. Buck Zumhofe

Bob Backlund d. Larry Zbyszko by DQ

The Hi-Flyers d. Kendo Nagasaki & Mr. Saito

Da Crusher battled King Tonga to a no contest

Jimmy Garvin d. Baron Von Raschke

AWA World Tag Titles: The Road Warriors © d. Curt & Larry Hennig

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © d. Nick Bockwinkel

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – May 25, 1985 (5,000)

Steve O fought Steve Regal to a draw

Ray Stevens d. Buck Zumhofe

Larry Zbyszko d. Baron Von Raschke

Nick Bockwinkel d. Brad Rheingans

Da Crusher battled Butch Reed to a no contest

The Hi-Flyers d. Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts by DQ

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © d. Buddy Roberts subbing for King Tonga

Crusher Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter d. Road Warrior Animal & Paul Ellering

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – June 21, 1985 (4,000)

Brad Rheingans fought Billy Robinson to a draw

Ray Stevens d. Steve O

Nick Bockwinkel fought Greg Gagne to a draw

Americas Heavyweight Title: Sgt. Slaughter d. Larry Zbyszko ©

Terry Gordy, Butch Reed, & Buddy Roberts d. The Bruiser, Da Crusher, & Baron Von Raschke

Michael Hayes d. Rick Martel

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - June 28, 1985 (7,000)

Moondog Spot defeated Bobby Colt

Mad Dog Vachon defeated Rene Goulet

The Missing Link defeated Tony Garea

Jim Neidhart defeated SD Jones

WWF Tag Team Champions Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Jim Brunzell (sub. for Barry Windham) & Mike Rotundo

Junkyard Dog defeated WWF IC Champion Greg Valentine via disqualification

Mike Rotundo won a battle royal

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – Rosemont Horizon – July 20, 1985 (3,000)

Wild Bill Irwin d. Drew Tossell

Cowboy Lang & Little Coco d. Lord Littlebrook & Little Tokyo

Boris Zuhkov d. Steve O

Billy Robinson d. Baron Von Raschke

Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts d. Da Crusher & Buck Zumhofe

Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens d. Greg Gagne & Sgt. Slaughter by DQ

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © d. Michael Hayes

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – August 18, 1985 (6,000)

Scott Irwin d. Rob Rechsteiner

Curt Hennig fought Larry Zbyszko to a draw

Steve Regal d. Buck Zumhofe

Wild Bill Irwin d. Baron Von Raschke

Brad Rheingans d. Boris Zuhkov by DQ

The Fabulous Freebirds d. Crusher Blackwell, Larry Hennig, & Rick Martel by DQ

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © d. Billy Robinson

Boot Camp: Greg Gagne & Sgt. Slaughter d. Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens

 

Notice that Flair brought a bump and then they had Super Clash the next month at Comiskey which drew 20,347 and that show brought a little spike but also WWF started running the Rosemont as well which really got the Chicago war going. Look at the attendance numbers here as they were going hard against each other.

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – November 3, 1985 (9,500)

Leon White d. Scott Irwin by DQ

Handicap Match: Stan Hansen d. Jerry O & Rob Rechsteiner

Greg Gagne, Scott Hall, & Curt Hennig d. Jimmy Garvin, Steve Regal, & Larry Zbyszko

Sgt. Slaughter d. Bill Irwin

The Road Warriors d. Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts

Battle Royal won by Road Warrior Animal

 

Wrestling Classic - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - November 7, 1985 (12,000)

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – International Amphitheater – December 1, 1985 (8,000)

Leon White d. Scott Irwin by DQ

Scott Hall d. Bill Irwin

Larry Zbyszko d. Kevin Kelly

Handicap Match: Sgt. Slaughter d. Chris Markoff & Boris Zuhkov

Paul Ellering fought Buddy Roberts to a draw

Strap Match: Crusher Blackwell d. Michael Hayes

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © d. Terry Gordy

AWA World Tag Titles: The Road Warriors d. Jimmy Garvin & Steve Regal © by DQ

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - December 13, 1985 (12,400)

Hercules Hernandez vs. Lanny Poffo

The Killer Bees vs. Les Thornton & Tiger Chung Lee

Don Muraco defeated Ricky Steamboat via disqualification

Terry Funk vs. Junkyard Dog

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan & Paul Orndorff defeated Roddy Piper & Bob Orton Jr.

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – January 10, 1986 (13,000)

Bill Irwin d. Kelly Kiniski

Scott Irwin d. Baron Von Raschke

Nord the Barbarian & Boris Zuhkov d. Earthquake Ferris & Marty Jannetty

Nick Bockwinkel d. Larry Zbyszko by DQ

AWA World Tag Titles: Jimmy Garvin & Steve Regal © d. Scott Hall & Curt Hennig

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Sgt. Slaugther d. Stan Hansen © by DQ

Steel Cage Match: Crusher Blackwell & The Road Warriors d. The Fabulous Freebirds

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – International Amphitheater – February 23, 1986 (7,000)

Leon White d. Doug Somers

Col. DeBeers d. Buck Zumhofe

The Midnight Rockers d. The Alaskans

No DQ Match: Larry Zbyszko d. Nick Bockwinkel

Scott Hall, Curt Hennig, & Brad Rheingans d. Mongolian Stomper, Nord the Barbarian, & Boris Zuhkov

The Road Warriors d. Bill & Scott Irwin

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Stan Hansen © battled Sgt. Slaughter to a no contest

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – March 23, 1986 (5,500)

Scott Irwin fought Brad Rheingans to a draw

The Midnight Rockers d. Earthquake Ferris & Doug Somers

Bruiser Brody d. Rick Renslow

AWA World Tag Titles: Scott Hall & Curt Hennig © d. Col. DeBeers & Buddy Rose

Texas Death: Nick Bockwinkel d. Larry Zbyszko

The Road Warriors d. Nord the Barbarian & Boris Zuhkov by DQ

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Stan Hansen © d. Rick Martel by countout

 

WrestleMania II - April 7, 1986 Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon (9,000)

 

I didn't have attendance numbers for the WWF shows in 1986 but they ran main events of Orton/Orndorff in a cast match for January, Tito/Savage for Feb & March and then WM II. April 27th would tell a big story though.

 

AWA @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – April 27, 1986 (1,800)

Brad Rheingans d. Col. DeBeers by DQ

The Midnight Rockers d. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers

Sherri Martel d. Candi Divine by DQ

AWA World Tag Titles: Scott Hall & Curt Hennig © d. Bill Irwin & Ryuma Go

Catch Wrestling Rules: Larry Zbyszko d. Scott LeDoux

Bruiser Brody, Nord the Barbarian, & Boris Zuhkov d. Greg Gagne, Mike Rotundo, & Leon White

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel d. Stan Hansen © by DQ

 

WWF followed with a show on May 9th with Hogan vs. Adonis on top

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – June 8, 1986 (1,700)

Earthquake Ferris fought Alan West to a draw

Madd & Super Maxx d. Steve O & Brad Rheingans

Shawn Michaels d. Buddy Rose by DQ

Marty Jannetty d. Doug Somers

Sherri Martel d. Princess Jasmine

Scott Hall & Curt Hennig d. Col. DeBeers & Boris Zuhkov

Scott LeDoux d. Larry Zbyszko

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Stan Hansen © battled Nick Bockwinkel to a no contest

 

WWF fires back with Hogan vs. Muraco on July 11th.

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – July 19, 1986 (1,500)

Earthquake Ferris d. Jake Milliman

Brad Rheingans fought Boris Zuhkov to a draw

Ali Khan d. Curt Hennig by DQ

Madd & Super Maxx d. Rick Gantner & Alan West

The Midnight Rockers d. Mr. Go & Doug Somers

Col. DeBeers d. Scott Hall by countout

Crusher Blackwell d. Larry Zbyszko by DQ

Nord the Barbarian d. Nick Bockwinkel

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - August 2, 1986 (6,500)

Brickhouse Brown defeated Steve Lombardi

Harley Race defeated B. Brian Blair

Junkyard Dog defeated Iron Sheik in a dog collar match

Billy Jack Haynes defeated Paul Christy

Jim Brunzell defeated Nikolai Volkoff

WWF IC Champion Randy Savage defeated George Steele via disqualification

Adrian Adonis defeated Tito Santana via count-out

King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd defeated Mike Rotundo & Dan Spivey

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - August 30, 1986

Billy Jack Haynes vs. Jimmy Jack Funk

Lanny Poffo vs. Hercules

Pedro Morales vs. Dory Funk Jr.

King Tonga vs. Harley Race

The Killer Bees vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake

Ricky Steamboat vs. Don Muraco

Junkyard Dog vs. Adrian Adonis

Paul Orndorff defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via disqualification

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – September 7, 1986 (1,000)

Stoney Burke d. Rick Gantner

Earthquake Ferris d. Tom Stone

Curt Hennig battled Larry Zbyszko to a double countout

Crusher Blackwell, Greg Gagne, & Jimmy Snuka d. Ali Khan, Boris Zuhkov, & Sheik Adnan Kaissey

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Curt Hennig d. Nick Bockwinkel © to win AWA Title when Larry Zbyszko hit Bockwinkel with nunchakus

Later announced, Curt returned the AWA Title to Bockwinkel because Hennig could not accept winning it in an unjust manner.

AWA World Tag Titles: The Midnight Rockers d. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers © Decision later reversed as the wrong man (Somers) was pinned

 

As you can tell by now after April 27th, the war for Chicago ended as the AWA was eviscerated then relegated to the UIC Pavilion drawing between 1,000 to 2,000 while WWF was running Rosemont drawing close to 10,000. The AWA lost 11,200 fans in 3 months.....amazing.

I'm going to revisit this one as Crockett entered the fray soon afterwards.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - October 3, 1986

Lanny Poffo fought Steve Regal to a draw

The Killer Bees defeated Jimmy Jack Funk & Roger Kirby

Hercules defeated Cousin Luke

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Orndorff via count-out

Iron Sheik defeated Cpl. Kirchner

Jake Roberts defeated George Steele via disqualification

WWF IC Champion Randy Savage defeated Ricky Steamboat via disqualification

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – International Amphitheater – October 26, 1986 (1,000)

Earthquake Ferris d. Brian Knobbs

Col. DeBeers battled Curt Hennig to a no contest

Jimmy Snuka d. Boris Zuhkov

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel © d. Larry Zbyszko by DQ

Crusher Blackwell & The Midnight Rockers d. The Blaster, Buddy Rose, & Doug Somers

Battle Royal won by Curt Hennig

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - October 26, 1986

Lanny Poffo defeated Frenchy Martin

SD Jones defeated Steve Regal

Nick Kiniski defeated Barry O

Jake Roberts fought Tito Santana to a draw

Don Muraco defeated Junkyard Dog

King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd defeated Big & Super Machine

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Orndorff in a steel cage match

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – November 26, 1986 (400)

Yuri Gordienko & Alexis Smirnoff d. Steve O & Billy Robinson

Leon White d. Boris Zuhkov

Greg Gagne d. Larry Zbyszko by DQ

The Midnight Rockers & Despina Montagus d. Buddy Rose, Doug Somers, & Sherri Martel

Crusher Blackwell d. Col. DeBeers

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Curt Hennig d. Nick Bockwinkel © by DQ

 

It got even worse for the AWA..........that is terrible

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - November 30, 1986 (4,500)

The Hart Foundation fought Jacques & Raymond Rougeau to a 20-minute time-limit draw

WWF IC Champion Randy Savage vs. Jake Roberts

Roddy Piper vs. Don Muraco

 

JCP @ Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Horizon – December 14, 1986

Tim Horner d. Shaska Whatley

Brad Armstrong fought Jimmy Garvin to a draw

Wahoo McDaniel d. Rick Rude by DQ

The Rock n Roll Express d. Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khruschev

The Road Warriors d. The Midnight Express

Bunkhouse Stampede won by The Road Warriors

The Super Powers d. Tully Blanchard & Ric Flair

 

Crockett makes his debut here and I don't have a number.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - December 27, 1986 (15,000)

Scott McGhee defeated Frenchy Martin

Tito Santana defeated Hercules

Arnold Skaaland defeated Stoney Burke

Butch Reed defeated Dick Slater

The Hart Foundation defeated Jacques & Raymond Rougeau; the time limit for the bout was extended to 30 minutes after the previous month's encounter went to a 20-minute time limit draw

Sivi Afi defeated Steve Lombardi

Paul Roma defeated Iron Mike Sharpe

Jerry Allen defeated Jack Crouger

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Kamala via disqualification

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - January 23, 1987

Mike Rotundo defeated Iron Mike Sharpe

Brad Rheingans defeated Barry O

Blackjack Mulligan defeated Nikolai Volkoff

Tiger Chung Lee defeated Sivi Afi

Hercules defeated Koko B. Ware

Honkytonk Man defeated George Steele

WWF Tag Team Champions Davey Boy Smith & Da Crusher (sub. for the Dynamite Kid) defeated The Hart Foundation when Crusher pinned Bret with a roundhouse punch

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Kamala in a No DQ match

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - February 20, 1987

Paul Roma defeated the Assassin (Randy Culley)

Honkytonk Man defeated Scott McGee

Butch Reed pinned Pedro Morales

Jake Roberts fought King Kong Bundy to a double count-out

Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Dino Bravo & Johnny V

Hercules pinned Billy Jack Haynes

King Harley Race pinned Junkyard Dog

The Killer Bees defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation in a non-title match

WWF IC Champion Randy Savage pinned Ricky Steamboat

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - March 19, 1987 (7,391)

Jim Duggan defeated Iron Mike Sharpe

Rick Martel defated Greg Valentine via disqualification

Dick Slater defeated Jimmy Jack Funk

Dino Bravo defeated Brad Rheingens

Tom Zenk fought Brutus Beefcake to a 20-minute draw

Da Crusher (sub. for Junkyard Dog), George Steele, & Jake Roberts fought Paul Orndorff, King Harley Race, & Honkytonk Man to a double disqualification

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ Billy Jack Haynes) pinned Paul Orndorff (sub. for Hercules) (w/ Bobby Heenan & Andre the Giant) in a non-title match

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – March 21, 1987 (9,500)

Tim Horner d. Ricky Lee Jones

Bobby Jaggers d. Thunderfoot

Arn Anderson d. Baron Von Raschke

The Rock n Roll Express d. Ivan Koloff & Vladimir Petrov

Tully Blanchard d. Dusty Rhodes by DQ

The Road Warriors d. Manny Fernandez & Rick Rude by DQ

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © battled Nikita Koloff to a no contest

 

Big win for Crockett there as Hogan/Orndorff was still a strong program and they took them down in a smaller building no less.

 

UWF @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – April 8, 1987 (3,200)

Chavo Guerrero d. Terminator Rigs

The Viking d. Terminator Wolf

The Missing Link d. The Terminator

Savannah Jack d. Iceman Parsons

UWF TV Title: Eddie Gilbert © d. Sam Houston by countout

UWF Tag Titles: Chris Adams & Terry Taylor © d. Rick Steiner & Sting

UWF Heavyweight Title: Steve Williams d. One Man Gang © by DQ

The Fabulous Freebirds d. Angel of Death, Bill Irwin, & The Viking

 

Watts wasn't so lucky.

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – April 24, 1987

Brad Armstrong d. The Barbarian

Tully Blanchard d. Tim Horner

Ivan Koloff d. Baron Von Raschke

Bunkhouse Match: Ole Anderson d. JJ Dillon

Manny Fernandez & Rick Rude d. The Rock n Roll Express

Nikita Koloff & The Road Warriors d. Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, & Lex Luger

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © d. Dusty Rhodes by DQ

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - May 2, 1987

Outback Jack defeated Jimmy Jack Funk

Ron Bass defeated Pedro Morales

The Can-Am Connection defeated Don Muraco & Bob Orton Jr.

Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Greg Valentine & Dino Bravo

Jim Duggan defeated Iron Sheik

Koko B. Ware defeated Danny Davis

Tito Santana fought Butch Reed to a 20-minute draw

WWF IC Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage in a steel cage match

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – May 24, 1987 (9,000)

Eddie Gilbert fought Tim Horner to a draw

Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts d. Rick Steiner & Sting

Chris Adams battled Terry Taylor to a DDQ

2 out of 3 falls: The Rock n Roll Express d. The Midnight Express

UWF Heavyweight Title: Michael Hayes d. Big Bubba Rogers © by DQ

Manny Fernandez & Vladimir Petrov d. Brad Armstrong & Barry Windham

Russian Chain Match: Nikita Koloff d. Ivan Koloff

Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Six-Man Titles: Dusty Rhodes & The Road Warriors © d. Tully Blanchard, Ric Flair, & Lex Luger

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - June 5, 1987 (8,700)

Lanny Poffo pinned Frenchy Martin at 8:58

Ron Bass pinned Scott Casey at 7:23

Sika pinned Cpl. Kirschner at 7:45

Ken Patera pinned King Harley Race at 7:14

WWF Women's Champion the Fabulous Moolah defeated Debbie Combs

Tom Zenk & Rick Martel defeated Demolition via disqualification at 9:30

Hercules pinned Billy Jack Haynes in a chain match at 6:45

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man with the legdrop at 7:37; since Honky's title win had not aired, he did not come to the ring with the IC title nor was he introduced as champion

 

Crockett still holding strong here against Hogan.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - July 5, 1987

George Steele defeated Danny Davis

Junkyard Dog won a $50,000 20-man battle royal; other participants included: Hillbilly Jim, Koko B. Ware, Tito Santana, B. Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Cpl. Kirchner, Outback Jack, Lanny Poffo, Rick Rude, One Man Gang, Ron Bass, King Kong Bundy, Nikolai Volkoff, the Shadows, Demolition, Kamala, and Sika

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – July 19, 1987

Ivan Koloff d. Todd Champion

Sting d. Rick Steiner

Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts d. The Mod Squad

Black Bart d. Chris Adams

The Lightning Express d. Angel of Death & Big Bubba Rogers

Lex Luger battled Road Warrior Hawk to a no contest

Nikita Koloff d. Arn Anderson

The Rock n Roll Express d. The Midnight Express by DQ

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - August 8, 1987 (14,967)

Brady Boone pinned Jose Estrada

Lanny Poffo pinned Iron Mike Sharpe

WWF Women's Tag Team Champions Leilani Kai & Judy Martin defeated Angie Minelli & Theresa DuBois

Rick Martel pinned Tama at 17:11; after the bout, Martel was double teamed by both Islanders

King Harley Race pinned Scott Casey

Rick Rude pinned Tony Garea (sub. for SD Jones)

Koko B. Ware defeated Danny Davis via count-out at 4:46

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned Randy Savage (w/ Danny Davis & Miss Elizabeth) at 7:49; Mr. T was the special referee for the bout

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – August 16, 1987 (8,700)

Ivan Koloff d. Italian Stallion

Sting d. Black Bart

Ron Simmons d. Sean Royal

Barry Windham d. Rick Steiner

The Rock n Roll Express d. The Midnight Express

Steve Williams d. Eddie Gilbert

War Games: Dusty Rhodes, Ronnie Garvin, Nikita Koloff, & The Road Warriors d. The Four Horsemen & JJ Dillon

 

Hogan/Savage just dominates War Games here which was only a month old gimmick and very hot off of TV.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - September 18, 1987

Bob Orton Jr. defeated Jerry Allen

Hercules defeated Don Muraco

Koko B. Ware defeated Nikolia Volkoff

WWF Women's Champion Sensational Sherri defeated Velvet McIntyre

Paul Roma & Jim Powers defeated Greg Valentine & Dino Bravo

Rick Martel & Tito Santana defeated the Islanders

Superstar Billy Graham defeated Butch Reed

Paul Orndorff defeated King Kong Bundy in an Old Fasioned Whipping Match; Bobby Heenan was handcuffed to Ken Patera for the duration of the bout

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – September 20, 1987 (5,000)

Jimmy Valiant d. Sean Royal

Barry Windham d. Black Bart

Rick Steiner fought Ron Simmons to a draw

UWF Tag Titles: The Lightning Express © d. The Jive Tones

Terry Taylor d. Shane Douglas

Eddie Gilbert d. Sting

Steve Williams d. Ivan Koloff

Lex Luger d. Dusty Rhodes by DQ

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © battled Ronnie Garvin to a no contest

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - October 10, 1987 (14,686)

David Sammartino defeated Tiger Chung Lee

Spike Huber & SD Jones defeated the Shadows

Randy Savage pinned Hercules

WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man pinned Ricky Steamboat

Dan Spivey defeated Outback Jack

Demolition defeated The Killer Bees

The One Man Gang defeated Koko B. Ware

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Killer Khan

 

WWF has fully regained their foothold.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - November 1, 1987 (6,025)

Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Jerry Allen

Jim Brunzell defeated Danny Davis via disqualification

Dan Spivey pinned Scott Casey

Ron Bass pinned SD Jones at around the 3-minute mark

Killer Khan defeated George Steele via count-out

The One Man Gang pinned Billy Jack Haynes with a splash

Butch Reed pinned Superstar Billy Graham

Bam Bam Bigelow pinned King Kong Bundy at around the 5-minute mark

Rick Martel & Tito Santana defeated the Islanders in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at around the 10-minute mark; since Martel & Santana's title win had yet to air, they were not recognized as tag team champions

WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man defeated Randy Savage via disqualification

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – November 26, 1987 (8,000)

Jimmy Garvin, Michael Hayes, & Sting fought Eddie Gilbert, Rick Steiner, & Larry Zbyszko to a draw

UWF Heavyweight Title: Steve Williams © d. Barry Windham

Scaffold Match: The Rock n Roll Express d. The Midnight Express

NWA World TV Title vs. UWF TV Title: Nikita Koloff © d. Terry Taylor ©

NWA World Tag Titles: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard © d. The Road Warriors by DQ

Steel Cage Match for the US Heavyweight Title: Dusty Rhodes d. Lex Luger ©

Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair d. Ronnie Garvin ©

 

This was Starrcade but look at the pattern, they drew better in May for a regular house show.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - November 29, 1987

Sam Houston defeated Barry Horowitz

The Ultimate Warrior defeated Iron Mike Sharpe

Jim Duggan defeated King Harley Race

Brutus Beefcake defeated Dino Bravo

Paul Orndorff defeated Rick Rude

WWF Women's Tag Team Champions Judy Martin & Lelani Kai defeated the Jumping Bomb Angels

Demolition defeated Ken Patera & Billy Jack Haynes

The One Man Gang defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via count-out

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - December 26, 1987 (12,000)

Hillbilly Jim defeated Ron Bass

Hercules defeated Junkyard Dog

Danny Davis pinned Sam Houston

Don Muraco (w/ Superstar Billy Graham) pinned Butch Reed

The British Bulldogs defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov

Ted Dibiase pinned Jake Roberts

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned the One Man Gang; Nick Bockwinkel was the special referee for the bout; after the match, Hogan was attacked and busted open by Ted Dibiase & Virgil

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – December 30, 1987 (3,500)

Jimmy Garvin d. Eddie Gilbert

Ron Simmons d. Johnny Ace

Barry Windham d. Larry Zbyszko by DQ

Nikita Koloff fought Dick Murdoch to a draw

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © d. Sting

Bunkhouse Stampede won by Road Warrior Animal

 

Big dropoff from Starrcade and them pissing off the fans with the shitty Roadies finish was probably a factor.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - January 16, 1988 (10,700)

Lanny Poffo pinned Sika

The Ultimate Warrior pinned King Harley Race at 2:58

Sam Houston pinned Danny Davis with a bulldog at 7:19

WWF Women’s Tag Team Champions Leilani Kai & Judy Martin defeated the Jumping Bomb Angels at 14:18

Ken Patera, Billy Jack Haynes, & Jim Duggan defeated Demolition & Mr. Fuji when Duggan pinned Fuji

Bam Bam Bigelow & Don Muraco (w/ Superstar Billy Graham) defeated the One Man Gang & Butch Reed at 12:44 when Bigelow pinnd Reed after Graham tripped Reed from the floor

Ted Dibiase defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via disqualification at 11:35 when Hogan hit the challenger with a chair

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – February 14, 1988

JT the Spider d. Catfish Charlie

Tully Blanchard d. Ricky Santana

Jimmy & Ronnie Garvin, & Barry Windham fought The Midnight Express & Dick Murdoch to a draw

Mike Rotundo d. Nikita Koloff

Dusty Rhodes d. Larry Zbyszko by DQ

Ladder: Road Warrior Hawk & Paul Ellering d. The Powers of Pain

Steel Cage: Lex Luger d. Arn Anderson

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - February 15, 1988

Steve Lombardi pinned Brady Boone

Outback Jack pinned Iron Mike Sharpe

Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov defeated Jacques & Raymond Rougeau

Koko B. Ware defeated Dino Bravo via disqualification

WWF Women’s Tag Team Champions the Jumping Bomb Angels defeated Leilani Kai & Judy Martin

Ricky Steamboat fought Rick Rude to a double count-out

Brutus Beefcake pinned Greg Valentine

Hulk Hogan & Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Andre the Giant & Ted Dibiase after Hogan hit the leg drop on Dibiase

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - March 12, 1988

David Sammartino defeated Barry Horowitz

Paul Roma & Jim Powers defeated the Conquistadors

Rick Rude defeated Ken Patera

The Islanders defeated The British Bulldogs

WWF Women’s Champion Sensational Sherri defeated Rockin Robin

Jake Roberts fought Hercules to a double count-out

Randy Savage, WWF Tag Team Champions Rick Martel & Tito Santana defeated WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man, Bret Hart, & Jim Neidhart in a steel cage match

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – March 19, 1988 (7,000)

Ivan Koloff d. Shane Douglas

Rick Steiner d. Kendall Windham

The Midnight Express d. Jimmy & Ronnie Garvin

Arn Anderson fought Barry Windham to a draw

Lex Luger d. Tully Blanchard by DQ

NWA World TV Title: Dusty Rhodes d. Mike Rotundo © by DQ

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © d. Sting

Lumberjack: The Road Warriors d. The Powers of Pain

 

They are bouncing back some here with Roadies on top.

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – April 16, 1988 (3,500)

The Powers of Pain vs. The Road Warriors

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © d. Sting

 

Or maybe not.

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – May 14, 1988 (2,800)

Bugsy McGraw vs. Rick Steiner

The Fantastics vs. The Sheepherders

Mike Rotundo d. Jimmy Garvin

Nikita Koloff battled Al Perez to a no contest

The Road Warriors d. The Midnight Express

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Sting d. Ric Flair © by DQ

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - May 15, 1988 (8,500)

George Steele defeated Jim Neidhart via count-out

Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated The Killer Bees

The One Man Gang pinned Bam Bam Bigelow at 8:55

Haku & Sivi Afi defeated Don Muraco & Hillbilly Jim when Afi pinned Jim

Jake Roberts fought Rick Rude to a double count-out

Koko B. Ware pinned Bobby Heenan

Ted Dibiase defeated WWF World Champion Randy Savage via count-out at 15:09

 

DiBiase/Savage doing some good business here.

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - June 12, 1988

Brady Boone vs. Steve Lombardi

Jacques & Raymond Rougeau vs. Paul Roma & Jim Powers

Bret Hart fought Bad News Brown to a draw

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Hercules

WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition vs. Tito Santana & Rick Martel

WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man vs. Brutus Beefcake (Jimmy Hart barred from ringside)

WWF World Champion Randy Savage vs. Ted Dibiase

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - July 9, 1988 (6,500)

Steve Williams pinned Al Perez

Ron Garvin fought NWA TV Champion Mike Rotunda to a no contest

Jimmy Garvin pinned Kevin Sullivan in a blindfold match with a small package; after the bout, Sullivan attacked Garvin and chased after Precious

The Russian Assassin (Angel of Death) pinned Kendall Windham

Rick Steiner fought Tim Horner to a draw

Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated the Sheepherders

Sting & Nikita Koloff defeated Ivan Koloff & Dick Murdoch

NWA US Tag Team Champions Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers defeated Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane in a handicap bunkhouse match

Lex Luger defeated NWA US Champion Barry Windham via count-out in a Texas Death Match

Dusty Rhodes & the Road Warriors defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair, NWA Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard in a steel cage match; pre-match stipulations stated the victors would win the vacant NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - July 24, 1988

Bad News Brown pinned Jim Neidhart

Dino Bravo defeated Ken Patera via forfeit after Patera was attacked an injured during their arm wrestling contest and was unable to wrestle

Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated the Conquistadors

Rick Rude pinned Jake Roberts

The Big Bossman pinned Sam Houston

Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Lanny Poffo

Brutus Beefcake (w/ George Steele dressed as a woman) defeated WWF IC Champion Honkytonk Man (w/ Peggy Sue) via disqualification

Andre the Giant pinned Jim Duggan

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - September 16, 1988

Iron Mike Sharpe (sub. for Steve Lombardi) pinned Tommy Angel (sub. for Brady Boone) after loading his wristband with a foreign object

The Big Bossman pinned Jim Powers with the sidewalk slam after about 30 seconds

Mr. Perfect pinned Jim Powers with a powerslam

King Haku defeated Koko B. Ware

The Powers of Pain defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov

Jake Roberts pinned Rick Rude with an inside cradle after Rude was distracted by Cheryl Roberts at ringside

Hulk Hogan pinned Ted Dibiase with the legdrop

 

WCW @ Chicago, IL – International Amphitheater – September 30, 1988 (4,000)

Dennis Condrey, Eddie Gilbert, & Randy Rose d. The Terminators & Thor

Lumberjacks w/bats for the WCW Heavyweight Title: Steve Regal © d. Col. DeBeers

Bam Bam Bigelow battled Terry Gordy to a double countout

 

Windy City Wrestling was an upstart indy who was rising in the area at this time.

 

JCP @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - October 2, 1988 (5,250)

Ron Simmons defeated Rip Morgan

NWA TV Champion Mike Rotunda defeated the Italian Stallion

Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane fought Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes to a draw

Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers defeated the Sheepherders

The Russian Assassins defeated Ivan & Nikita Koloff via disqualification

Sting defeated NWA US Champion Barry Windham via disqualification

NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought Lex Luger to a draw

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - October 28, 1988

B. Brian Blair defeated Iron Mike Sharpe

Paul Roma defeated Danny Davis

King Haku defeated Jim Brunzell

The Big Bossman defeated Ken Patera

Greg Valentine defeated Scott Casey

Jake Roberts (w/ Cheryl Roberts) defeated Rick Rude

WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated The British Bulldogs

WWF World Champion Randy Savage fought Andre the Giant to a double count-out

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - November 20, 1988 (4,500)

Randy Rose & Dennis Condrey defeated Jonnie Stewart & the Mighty Thor

Ron Simmons defeated Steve Williams via disqualification

NWA TV Champion Mike Rotunda defeated the Italian Stallion

Ivan & Nikita Koloff defeated the Russian Assassins

Rick Steiner defeated NWA US Champion Barry Windham via disqualification

Sting & Lex Luger fought NWA World Tag Team Champions Hawk & Animal to a double count-out

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - November 25, 1988

Jim Powers defeated Conquistador #1

The Red Rooster defeated Koko B. Ware

Bad News Brown defeated Jim Brunzell

Jim Duggan fought Dino Bravo to a no contest

Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated The Hart Foundation

Honkytonk Man defeated WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior via count-out

WWF World Champion Randy Savage defeated Andre the Giant via disqualification

 

AWA @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – December 13, 1988 (1,700)

Chavo, Hector, & Mando Guerrero d. Cactus Jack & The Rock n Roll RPM’s

WCCW Lt. Heavyweight Title: Eric Embry d. Jeff Jarrett ©

Jimmy Valiant d. Wayne Bloom

Iceman Parsons d. Brickhouse Brown

Derrick Dukes, Ricky Rice, & Wendi Richter d. Badd Company & Madusa Miceli

AWA TV Title: Greg Gagne d. Ronnie Garvin © by countout

Lingerie Battle Royal won by The Terrorist

Boot Camp: Sgt. Slaughter d. Col. DeBeers by DQ

WCCW Tag Titles: The Samoan Swat Team © d. Steve Cox & Michael Hayes

Indian Strap: Wahoo McDaniel d. Manny Fernandez

Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden battled The Rock n Roll Express to a DDQ

AWA World Heavyweight Title vs. World Class Heavyweight Title: Jerry Lawler © d. Kerry Von Erich ©

 

Hey it's Super Clash III.

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - December 28, 1988 (2,987)

Paul E. Dangerously, Jim Cornette, Eddie Gilbert, Ron Simmons, and Russian Assassin #2 did not appear as scheduled

The Broncos defeated the Commandos

Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose defeated Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers

Abdullah the Butcher pinned Bam Bam Bigelow after hitting him with a foreign object

NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought NWA TV Champion Rick Steiner to a draw at the 30-minute mark

Lex Luger, Sting, & Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA US Champion Barry Windham & NWA Tag Team Champions the Road Warriors when Luger pinned an interfering Paul Ellering

Larry Zbyzsko won a Bunkhouse Stampede by last eliminating Bobby Eaton

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - December 30, 1988 (11,000)

Steve Lombardi pinned Jim Powers

Scott Casey pinned Iron Mike Sharpe

Sam Houston defeated Conquistador #1 (Rivera)

The Hart Foundation fought Jacques & Raymond Rougeau to a draw

WWF Women’s Champion Rockin Robin pinned Sensational Sherri

Ted Dibiase pinned Hercules after Virgil interfered

Andre the Giant defeated Jake Roberts via disqualification

Hulk Hogan defeated the Big Bossman via count-out at 9:34

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - January 20, 1989 (6,200)

Tim Horner pinned Danny Davis

Ron Bass pinned Sam Houston

Tito Santana fought Mr. Perfect to a draw

The Big Bossman defeated Hulk Hogan via disqualification at 11:51

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated The Rockers at 13:29

Hercules defeated Virgil

WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior defeated King Haku

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - February 18, 1989 (19,000; 17,900 paid; sell out)

Ron Garvin pinned Boris Zhukov with a crossbody off the top

Big John Studd fought Akeem to a double count-out at 6:05

Rick Rude pinned Brutus Beefcake by using the ropes for leverage

Mr. Perfect pinned Hercules at 11:14 when Perfect lifted his back out of a back suplex into a bridge from Hercules

WWF World Champion Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) pinned Bad News Brown in a non-title streetfight at 4:53 after a chairshot to the stomach; both men were heels but Savage received the louder reaction

Bret Hart defeated Honkytonk Man via disqualification at 10:27 after Honky used Jimmy Hart's megaphone as a weapon

The Bushwhackers defeated Jacques & Raymond Rougeau at 12:48

Hulk Hogan defeated the Big Bossman in a steel cage match at 8:46 after handcuffing Bossman to the cage bars and escaping over the top

 

Chi-Town Rumble - Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - February 20, 1989 (8,000)

Kendall Windham vs. Steve Casey

Pay-per-view bouts:

Michael Hayes pinned Russian Assassin #1 with the DDT

Sting pinned Butch Reed (w/ Hiro Matsuda)

Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane, & Jim Cornette defeated Randy Rose, Jack Victory (sub. for Dennis Condrey), & Paul E. Dangerously in a loser leaves town match

Mike Rotunda (w/ Kevin Sullivan) pinned NWA TV Champion Rick Steiner (w/ Scott Steiner) to win the title when Steiner pinned himself as he had a sleeper applied

Lex Luger pinned NWA US Champion Barry Windham (w/ Hiro Matsuda) to win the title by lifting his shoulder out of a back suplex and bridge by Windham

Ricky Steamboat pinned NWA World Champion Ric Flair (w/ Hiro Matsuda) to win the title with an inside cradle as Flair attempted the figure-4 after avoiding Steamboat's flying bodypress

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - March 17, 1989 (9,100)

Mr. Perfect pinned Ron Garvin

Brutus Beefcake pinned Rick Rude

The Rockers defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard

WWF Women’s Champion Rockin Robin pinned Judy Martin in a non-title match

WWF World Champion Randy Savage defeated WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior via count-out in a non-title match

Greg Valentine defeated Jim Neidhart

WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated the Powers of Pain via disqualification in a non-title match

 

Savage/Warrior > Steamer/Flair

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - April 15, 1989 (3,000)

Shane Douglas defeated George South

Bob Orton Jr. defeated Mike Justice

The Great Muta defeated Bob Emory

Rick Steiner defeated Butch Reed

The Road Warriors defeated NWA Tag Team Champions Steve Williams & Mike Rotunda

NWA TV Champion Sting defeated Dan Spivey

Ric Flair & Michael Hayes defeated NWA World Champion Ricky Steamboat & NWA US Champion Lex Luger when Hayes pinned Luger after hitting him with brass knuckles

Maximum Overdrive defeated the Tokyo Bullets

The Road Warriors, NWA US Tag Team Champions Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner fought Bob Orton Jr., Dan Spivey, Kevin Sullivan, & NWA Tag Team Champion Steve Williams to a draw

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - May 19, 1989 (16,000)

Koko B. Ware vs. the Warlord

Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect

Brutus Beefcake vs. Greg Valentine

Jimmy Snuka (sub. for Jake Roberts) vs. Ted Dibiase

The Rockers vs. Jacques & Raymond Rougeau

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ Miss Elizabeth) vs. Randy Savage

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - May 28, 1989 (2,533)

Ranger Ross defeated the Tokyo Bullet

Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated Jack Victory & the Raider

Mike Rotunda defeated Scott Steiner

NWA TV Champion Sting defeated the Great Muta via disqualification

The Road Warriors fought the Samoan Swat Team to a no contest

Ricky Steamboat defeated Butch Reed

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - June 1989

Ranger Ross pinned the Tokyo Bullet

Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated Jack Victory & the Raider

Mike Rotunda defeated Scott Steiner

Dick Murdoch defeated Bill Irwin via disqualification

The Samoan Swat Team fought the Road Warriors to a double count-out

NWA TV Champion Sting defeated the Great Muta by disqualification when Gary Hart interfered

Ricky Steamboat defeated Butch Reed

WCW US Champion Lex Luger defeated Michael Hayes in a Badstreet Match

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - June 24, 1989 (4,300)

Included Zeus as a guest of the Brother Love Show

The Genius pinned Jim Powers

Jimmy Snuka pinned Honkytonk Man

Barry Horiwitz pinned the Blue Blazer

Hillbilly Jim defeated Andre the Giant via disqualification

King Jim Duggan pinned Haku

Rick Martel pinned Tito Santana

The Warlord pinned Bret Hart

The Bushwhackers defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - July 11, 1989 (3,042 paid)

Due to inclement weather, Eddie Gilbert, Scott Steiner, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane & Jim Cornette were unable to appear

Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated the New Zealand Militia when Ace pinned Morgan

Scott Hall pinned Bill Irwin

Mike Rotunda pinned Dick Murdoch

Norman pinned Steve Casey

Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey defeated Johnny & Davey Rich

Rick Steiner defeated the Great Muta via disqualification when Muta sprayed green mist in his face

Steve Williams won a battle royal by last eliminating Terry Gordy

NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin defeated Ranger Ross & Randy Rose

Sting defeated Terry Funk via disqualification when Norman interfered

NWA US Champion Lex Luger pinned Ricky Steamboat

The Road Warriors defeated the Samoan Swat Team at 7:02 when Hawk pinned Fatu after the sandwich lariat

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - August 6, 1989

Tim Horner vs. Greg Valentine

Paul Roma vs. Barry Windham

Jim Neidhart vs. Dino Bravo

Dusty Rhodes vs. the Big Bossman

The Bushwhackers vs. the Powers of Pain

The Rockers defeated Jacques & Raymond Rougeau in a 60-minute marathon match; after both teams tied falls, the bout went into overtime; despite the time limit, the deciding fall in overtime took place at around the 45-minute mark

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Andre the Giant

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - August 20, 1989 (3,600)

The Ding Dongs (Richard Sartain & Greg Evans) defeated Big Al Greene & Trent Knight at 7:45 when Knight was pinned after Ding picked up Dong and dropped him with a legdrop-style onto the opponent

Ron Simmons pinned Brad Anderson (Gene Anderson's son) at 5:25 with a spinebuster

Brian Pillman pinned Norman the Maniac (w/ Teddy Long) at 5:05 with a crossbody off the top after Norman collided with Long

Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Jack Victory & Rip Morgan at 11:15 when Scott pinned Morgan (probably after hitting the Frankensteiner)

Steve Williams pinned Bill Irwin at 3:45 when Irwin attempted a slam into the ring but Williams fell on top for the win

NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin defeated Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (w/ Jim Cornette) at 12:24 when Garvin pinned Eaton with the DDT after Hayes tripped Eaton

Sting defeated the Great Muta (w/ Gary Hart) via disqualification at 9:11 when Hart interfered as Muta was caught in the Scorpion Death Lock; the bout was to have determined the rightful holder of the vacant TV title

NWA US Champion Lex Luger pinned Tommy Rich at 11:15 by grabbing the tights for leverage

NWA World Champion Ric Flair pinned Terry Funk (w/ Gary Hart) at 18:58 after Funk ran into his own branding iron, placed in the corner by Hart; after the bout, both the Great Muta and Sting became involved in a brawl

The Road Warriors defeated the Samoan Swat Team in a steel cage match at 9:43 when Hawk pinned Samu following a clothesline off the top rope

 

WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - September 16, 1989 (12,500)

Koko B. Ware vs. the Genius

Hercules vs. Bad News Brown

Tito Santana vs. Haku

Ron Garvin vs. Greg Valentine

The Bushwhackers vs. the Powers of Pain

Jim Duggan vs. Ted Dibiase (King’s Crown match)

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ Miss Elizabeth) defeated Randy Savage

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – September 17, 1989 (2,522; 1,859 paid)

Sting and Terry Funk were both no shows due to injuries

Greg Evans pinned Larry Williams with an elbowsmash off the top at 8:15

The Cuban Assassin pinned Richard Sartain at 6:00 after a backbreaker

Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated the New Zealand Militia at 9:00 when Douglas dropkicked Ace on top of Rip Morgan for the pin

Butch Reed pinned Scott Hall with his feet on the ropes at 11:00

Rick & Scott Steiner fought Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey to a double count-out at 15:21

NWA US Champion Lex Luger pinned Tommy Rich at 13:39 when Rich tripped on the ropes while attempting a suplex, with the champion falling on top for the win; this bout was unscheduled and took place because of the high profile no shows

Dick Murdoch (sub. for Sting) defeated NWA TV Champion the Great Muta via disqualification at 5:30 when Gary Hart interfered

NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Dick Slater (sub. for Terry Funk) in a Texas Death Match at 18:33 after hitting Slater with a chair, behind the referee’s back, during the rest period between falls; Slater won the first fall after ramming Flair’s head into a steel chair in the corner, held by Gary Hart; Slater won the second fall with a neckbreaker; Flair won the third fall with the figure-4; Flair won the fourth fall after applying the figure-4 on the floor

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion – October 22, 1989

US Heavyweight Title: Lex Luger © vs. Steve Williams

NWA World Tag Titles: The Fabulous Freebirds © vs. The Road Warriors

Steel Cage for the NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © vs. Terry Funk

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - November 7, 1989

Greg Evans defeated Larry Williams

The Cuban Assassin defeated Richard Sartain

Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated the New Zealand Militia

Butch Reed defeated Scott Hall

Rick & Scott Steiner fought Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey to a no contest

NWA US Champion Lex Luger defeated Tommy Rich

Dick Murdoch defeated NWA TV Champion the Great Muta via disqualification

NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Dick Slater

 

Survivor Series 89 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - November 23, 1989 (15,294)

Thanksgiving Night

Boris Zhukov pinned Paul Roma

Pay-per-view bouts - included Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura on commentary; featured Gene Okerlund attempting a locker room interview with WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake in which Sensatinal Sherri distracted them long enough for Randy Savage and Zeus to attack both men:

Dusty Rhodes, Brutus Beefcake, Tito Santana, & the Red Rooster defeated the Big Bossman (w/ Slick), Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart), Bad News Brown (sub. for Akeem), & Rick Martel in an elimination match at 22:04; Martel pinned Santana at 9:44 with a roll over and grabbing the tights for leverage; Bad News was counted-out at 15:27 when he walked out of the match after accidentally being struck by the Bossman; Beefcake pinned Honky at 17:26 with a high knee to the face; Beefcake pinned Martel at 20:15 with a roll up after the referee caught Martel trying to hold onto the ropes following a sunset flip into the ring by Beefcake; Bossman pinned the Rooster with the sidewalk slam at 21:00; Rhodes pinned Bossman with a crossbody after avoiding a clothesline; after the match, Bossman hit both Beefcake and Rhodes with his nightstick before handcuffing Rhodes to the middle ring rope and assaulting him with the weapon; moments later, Beefcake cleared the ring with his cutting shears; during the bout, the woman who would later be known as Sapphire was seen in the crowd cheering for Rhodes' team

Randy Savage (w/ Sensational Sherri), Dino Bravo (w/ Jimmy Hart), Greg Valentine, & the Canadian Earthquake (sub. for Barry Windham) defeated Jim Duggan, Bret Hart, Ron Garvin, & Hercules in an elimination match at 22:25; Earthquake pinned Hercules with the sit-down splash at 3:56 after Bravo threw Hercules into the corner; Duggan pinned Valentine at 7:31 with the running clothesline after Valentine avoided one from Garvin; Bravo pinned Garvin with the side suplex at 11:18; Savage pinned Hart with the flying elbowsmash at 19:07 following a shoulderbreaker by Bravo; Duggan was counted-out after Sherri pulled down the top rope and Earthquake attacked him on the floor; after the bout, Duggan cleared the ring with his 2X4 (Earthquake's in-ring debut)

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts, & WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated Ted Dibiase (w/ Virgil), Zeus, & the Powers of Pain (w/ Mr. Fuji); Zeus was disqualified for choking Hogan and pushing the referee; the Warlord pinned Ax with an elbow drop after Ax was tripped by Fuji; the Powers of Pain were disqualified after executing a spike piledriver on Hogan; Dibiase pinned Roberts with a fist drop and putting his feet on the ropes after Roberts hit the DDT on Virgil; Hogan pinned Dibiase with the legdrop after Hulking up following a back suplex

Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect (w/ the Genius), & Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka, & the Bushwhackers; Snuka pinned Jacques with the Superfly; Piper pinned Raymond with a piledriver; Perfect pinned Butch with a roll up as Butch was playing to the fans; Rude pinned Luke with the Rude Awakening; Rude and Piper fought to a double count-out; Perfect pinned Snuka with the Perfect Plex as Snuka attempted a backdrop; after the match, Snuka attempted to hit the Superfly on the Genius but Perfect pulled his manager to safety

WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior, Jim Neidhart, & The Rockers defeated Andre the Giant, Haku, Arn Anderson, & Bobby Heenan (sub. for Tully Blanchard); Andre was counted-out after following a number of clotheslines from the Warrior as the match began; Haku pinned Neidhart with a kick to the back of the head after Neidhart nailed Anderson to the floor; Heenan pinned Marty Jannetty following a number of stomps after a double team attack by Anderson and Haku; Shawn Michaels pinned Haku with a crossbody off the top after Haku missed a crossbody off the middle turnbuckle; Anderson pinned Michaels with the spinebuster; Warrior pinned Anderson with the press slam and splash after Anderson collided with Heenan; Warrior pinned Heenan with a shoulder block and splash (Anderson's last match in the WWF)

 

NWA @ Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion - December 1989

Johnny Ace defeated Jack Victory

Brian Pillman defeated Mike Rotunda

Tom Zenk defeated Bill Irwin

Sid Vicious defeated NWA World Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner

WCW US Champion Lex Luger defeated Steve Williams

Sting defeated NWA TV Champion the Great Muta via disqualification

The Road Warriors defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin

NWA world Champion Ric Flair defeated Terry Funk in a steel cage match

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Well look at what the AWA was offering up on their Thanksgiving competition show with Blackwell vs. Hayes and the annual battle royal on top. Hogan vs. Savage will smoke that one everytime.

Thing is, while I can see the thought process given that it's Savage vs. Hogan...the AWA show did better than 10k as well, nearing 13 if I remember the number right. I've seen the newscasts talking about almost 30,000 fans out watching wrestling in the Twin Cities on Thanksgiving night that year.

 

...which makes me think that the attendance numbers being off the charts (for both events) for this shouldn't be over-analyzed. Thanksgiving as a wrestling night in the Twin Cities had simply become a tradition for a lot of fans, and that year there were two big shows that they decided to take advantage of.

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WWF @ Richfield, OH - Coliseum - August 8, 1986 (7,000)

Billy Jack Haynes defeated Terry Gibbs

Dick Slater defeated Iron Mike Sharpe

Ricky Steamboat defeated Jake Roberts

Hercules defeated Brickhouse Brown

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated King Kong Bundy & Bobby Heenan in a handicap match

Dory & Jimmy Jack Funk defeated Iron Sheik & Nikolai VolkoffThe Haiti Kid defeated Butch Cassidy

Pedro Morales defeated WWF IC Champion Randy Savage via count-out

who missed their flight to set up this one?

 

 

Actually the WWF did these heel vs. heel bout sometimes. this would have been around the time they did Sheik/Volkoff vs. hart Foundation at the Boston garden, too.

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Yeah he was going to Ventura but he got hurt so he ended up with Studd.

They did do one Ventura-Hogan match in Bloomington. There's a handheld of it. I don't know if they had any other bouts before Jesse got sick.

 

EDIT--going back in this thread, I found this one which is probably it, which means it falls outside of the time frame noted in this discussion:

Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - March 17, 1985 (5,500)

Jesse Ventura defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan

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Hogan was the revolution. Perhaps some elements of the revolution existed before him, as some like to point to World Class as doing some of the things that Vince later did. But it's the equiv of early revolutionary sparks in Russia. They ended up being a footnote in history relative to Lenin, the Bolshevik's and especially Stalin.

 

John

I guess the biggest argument for Austin is that his insane success allowed WWE to go public, which enabled them to become a monster unlike any wrestling company before them. We're ten years removed from Wrestlemania 17, and the company hasn't had a ton of home runs since then, but they're still sitting on a lot of cash with no debt. Austin allowed them to set up an infrastructure where they remain very profitable while PPVs are at historic lows and attendance isn't great. He completely changed the ballgame from an economic view.

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To get across how much stuff is buried in the WON's that Graham hasn't gotten to yet, here are the attendance numbers for the AWA/WWF shows in the Twin Cities from right before the first WWF show through the close of the original version of the WON:

 

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – May 13, 1984 = 15,248 "announced" / "probably double actual attendance"

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – June 10, 1984 = 8,000 "announced" as 12,871

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - June 17, 1984 = 11,000

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – July 15, 1984 = 8,500

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - July 22, 1984 = 5,900

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – August 13, 1984 = 5,600

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - August 26, 1984 = 11,500

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – September 9, 1984 = 3,000

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - September 23, 1984 = 5,400

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – September 30, 1984 = 7,900

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – October 21, 1984 = 17,000

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - October 28, 1984 = 8,000

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – November 22, 1984 = 16,000

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - November 25, 1984 = 3,000

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – December 25, 1984 = 13,000

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - December 29, 1984 = 13,000

 

 

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – January 13, 1985 = 10,500

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - January 29, 1985 = 3,000

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – February 22, 1985 = 10,500

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - February 24, 1985 = 3,000

WWF @ Minneapolis, MN - Met Center - March 17, 1985 = 5,500

AWA @ St. Paul, MN – Civic Center – March 24, 1985 = 5,500

 

Kris didn't bring over all the WWF shows, focusing on Hogan cards. Some of Graham's dates for those shows did have figures. Also, at times you'd get a Mr. Mike and a Meltzer figure. I leaned towards Mr. Mike. Also, if he wen't "11-12K", I would split the difference with 11,500.

 

Numbers are up and down. The AWA hit a very bad spot, then rebounded with the October show and a nice run. There was the sense in early 1985 from Mr. Mike that they were hitting another dry spell, and with the exception of the coming show in April, the balance of the year is bleak.

 

WWF was up and down as well. The key for them, almost certainly, was to get a beach head, attack Verne's talent base, and if not knocking them out quickly, keep hitting body blows and wear them down.

 

John

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I guess the biggest argument for Austin is that his insane success allowed WWE to go public, which enabled them to become a monster unlike any wrestling company before them. We're ten years removed from Wrestlemania 17, and the company hasn't had a ton of home runs since then, but they're still sitting on a lot of cash with no debt. Austin allowed them to set up an infrastructure where they remain very profitable while PPVs are at historic lows and attendance isn't great. He completely changed the ballgame from an economic view.

I don't think there's any evidence that Vince couldn't have gone public in the 80s. He simply didn't think of it, and at the time owning the whole thing himself was the bigger egofuck.

 

Really, I don't think the concept of "fleecing stockholders who have no voting right and power of any note" was a concept that really took off in the mid-80s. It was more of a 90s thing. Viacom is this giant clusterfuck of a stock scam where Rudstone holds a small chunk of the stock, but an overwhelming amount of the voting control. Despite that, the stock has gotten re-leverage time and again as the empire has expanded. Hardly the only one, and someone more connected with the financial and stock industry could probably go into it more.

 

The WWE going public really isn't the boon to Vince as was the massive increase in revenue *without* the expenses getting out of control. The stock is paper wealth to Vince. Unlike say Paul Allen and Bill Gates, Vince hasn't been unloading small (or large) chunks of the stock over time. In fact, the company has bought back chunks overtime, like the Viacom and NBC pieces.

 

There may be a tax benefit to sucking money out of the company as a dividend rather than as salary or as bonuses, but I'm not entire sure that the company needs to be *public* for him to get that tax benefit. I work for a private company, and we just dividended a chunk of case to the shareholder.

 

There arguable are other benefits the WWE gets from being public. Overall, I don't think they're as important as taking the company $80M to $100M a year revenue company to a $400 to $500M company. $50M in profit last year even while paying out $80M in dividends?

 

But again, if Vince & Hogan handn't expanded across the country, opening up the business to all sorts of revenue channels other than simple "Come Out To The Garden On Tuesday", what company is there for Austin to grow?

 

John

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But again, if Vince & Hogan handn't expanded across the country, opening up the business to all sorts of revenue channels other than simple "Come Out To The Garden On Tuesday", what company is there for Austin to grow?

True, but the Austin era allowed them to strengthen those channels to the point where they can terrible PPV buys and mediocre attendance and still do really well financially. That wasn't an option in 1996. Either the traditional revenue streams were good, or the company was in trouble.

 

Not that I'm even saying Austin should be ahead of Hogan. They both did as well they could have done in their spots. But lets not forget where WWE was when Austin was rising up the card, and where it was when he left.

 

In 1997, WWE was the decidedly "cold" brand. WCW was cool. Uncensored 97 did a better buyrate than Wrestlemania 13. RAW ratings were in the low 2s. The NWO was the hottest act in the business. People were saying Bischoff was the new Vince McMahon, and Vince was the new Verne Gagne. They took the water coolers out of Titan Towers to save money. 88 straight weeks. Bischoff had the money to outspend them on stars, and even celebrities like Rodman.

 

Yet Austin was strong enough to buck all of that and propel WWE into the greatest run a company has ever had. On 2/23/97, RAW did a 3.2. On 2/22/98, it did a 5.5. Wrestlemania 13 did 230,000 buys. Wrestlemania 14 did 730,000, and that wasn't just Tyson, because the rest of the shows jumped big.

 

Look at this stretch of house shows in early 99. Not RAWs or PPVs, just house shows.

 

WWF @ East Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena - January 17, 1999 (18,740; sell out)

WWF @ Cleveland, OH - Gund Arena - January 30, 1999 (matinee) (19,663; sell out)

WWF @ Pittsburgh, PA - January 30, 1999 (16,589; sell out)

WWF @ Philadelphia, PA - CoreStates Center - January 31, 1999 (16,417; sell out)

WWF @ Greensboro, NC - Coliseum - February 5, 1999 (18,129)

WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - February 7, 1999 (16,399; sell out)

WWF @ Ft. Lauderdale, FL - National Car Rental Center - February 13, 1999 (16,724)

WWF @ St. Louis, MO - Kiel Center - February 19, 1999 (17,261)

WWF @ Washington DC - MCI Center - February 26, 1999 (17,923; sell out)

WWF @ Boston, MA - FleetCenter - February 27, 1999 (17,428; sell out)

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Great numbers jdw, AWA was still very strong at their homebase until it started falling in late 85 and into 86 where it would nosedive later in the year. It also makes a case for Hansen's drawing power as champion as well as Martel was a stronger draw.

Hansen didn't draw flies as AWA champ. His program with Slaughter in St. Paul drew terribly.

 

Martel didn't draw well in most markets by the end of his reign, either. Garvin and Hayes were too similar as challengers and not seen as most fans as viable thraets to the title, and Martel having troubles beating them hurt his credibility during the "Hogan is indestructable" era that was all over TV.

 

I think the AWA took a huge hit when Garvin and Regal won their tag titles from the Road Warriors. Althuogh Attendance was down already, Garvin/Regal to Hall/Hennig to Rose/Somers was a real sign things had gone south in AWA land. The tag division was always very strong over the long haul, and these combos reeked of "just thrown together based on the talent that was left".

 

In fairness, I liked the Garvin/Regal win over the LOD in hindsight...very well done, good way to segue over to LOD-Freebirds while freeing up the title, which had to come off the LOD at that point even though there was nobody around to beat them credibly. Using "the impossible" upset there was good. At the time, however, I was like everyone else, calling bullshit on the switch and mentally de-valuing the tag titles. I know I wasn't the only one.

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Why not give Gordy & Hayes the titles, they were one of the best teams in the world in the fans eyes at that point and at least transition the belts over to a babyface team they could get ready. AWA's booking killed them just as much as Hogan & WWF did that's for sure but Greg Gagne sure won't admit that.

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Why not give Gordy & Hayes the titles, they were one of the best teams in the world in the fans eyes at that point and at least transition the belts over to a babyface team they could get ready. AWA's booking killed them just as much as Hogan & WWF did that's for sure but Greg Gagne sure won't admit that.

Gordy's attendance was spotty at best. He no-showed matches with Martel for the title (one in Chicago had Buddy Roberts get the shot), and hayes ended up subbing for him in several matches against Blackwell IIRC. Gordy/hayes is the only combo that would have matched up with the LOD with any credibility, and with Gordy not reliable, they didn't take the chance.

 

"When the credible becomes impossible to acheive, do the opposite." Sort of describes Garvin/Regal winning the belts instead of Hayes/Gordy, I think.

 

As previously noted, Garvin/Regal winning the titles in hindsight was a good call. In real time, it was horrible. Unfortunately real time is what counted and it hurt Verne bad.

 

Plus the Freebirds didn't draw well in the AWA at all. people hated them (especially Hayes), but it almost seemed like a "hate you so much we wish you would go to another area" mentality. Very HonkyTonk Man-as-IC Champ-ish, IMO.

 

The AWA had a big problem keeping guys around that would have bolstered the reign of Martel. Butch Reed was planned for a program but was out almost as fast as he came in. the program with Garvin was fine, but following it up with a similar program vs. Hayes was a big mistake. Then, more Bockwinkel, good matches but it was his third time through in a few places without a ton of space between the matches.

 

As for Hansen, I have no idea why he didn't draw better. He was booked decently, I thought, and his opponents were the natural challengers for the strap...Slaughter, Blackwell, Martel, Bockwinkel, Hennig, building towards hall at some point. I dunno.

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Gordy was touring All-Japan a good bit in 1985 as well so there was that. Yeah I always got the feeling from watching AWA back then that the East Coast reacted better to the Birds than the AWA traditional cities then.

 

Butch Reed left AWA due to drug issues from what I've heard and the fact that Verne wasn't the friendliest to black wrestlers. Why not go with Zbyszko for a run with Martel, Larry had good heat then.

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Gordy was touring All-Japan a good bit in 1985 as well so there was that. Yeah I always got the feeling from watching AWA back then that the East Coast reacted better to the Birds than the AWA traditional cities then.

 

Butch Reed left AWA due to drug issues from what I've heard and the fact that Verne wasn't the friendliest to black wrestlers. Why not go with Zbyszko for a run with Martel, Larry had good heat then.

They did some Larry-Martel matches in Winnipeg. One match made tape out of I think two or three. It's alright but not great, IMO. Keep in mind Larry was a mid-carder at best up until mid-late 1985. As an AWA fan, I didn't buy him as a credible challenger to Martel at all, at the time he was getting his title shots. He had lost as much as he had won since his debut in the AWA in 1984 (Dusty Rhodes, an import for the June 1984 St. Paul Battleroyal, squashed him in a singles bout on that same card).

 

Zbyszko-Martel around the horn would likely have drawn worse than Martel-Hayes did.

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Butch Reed left AWA due to drug issues from what I've heard and the fact that Verne wasn't the friendliest to black wrestlers.

This reminds me of a Verne Gagne story Dave Meltzer told on his message board recently:

 

They brought in Sgt. Slaughter who was super hot in WWF in 1984. Sarge was over at first, but something was missing and he was going down fast, but he had a great contract and had to keep getting pushed. Verne, who hated African-American wrestlers, was talked into bringing in Tony Atlas. On Atlas' debut in Minneapolis, he got twice the reaction of the fading Sarge, the biggest of any face on the show. Verne's reaction: "I tried, but the problem is, blacks can't get over in Minnesota."

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Look at this stretch of house shows in early 99. Not RAWs or PPVs, just house shows.

I understand that.

 

My point has been:

 

0 Fans = WWF in Florida before Hogan

Lots of Fans = WWF in Florida with Hogan

 

Those numbers for Austin are good. But he didn't take the WWF from not running in Florida (and IL, IN, OH, etc) to running in those states successfully.

 

There are some cities where Austin helped the WWF finally do business. But does it rate to what Hogan was adding:

 

Hogan added to the WWF:

 

14,531,529 Los Angles (2)

8,239,820 Chicago (3)

6,253,311 SanFran / San Jose / Oakland (5)

5,187,171 Detroit (8)

3,731,131 Houston (10)

3,192,582 Miami / Fort Lauderdale (11)

2,970,328 Seattle / Tacoma (12)

2,859,644 Cleveland (14)

2,538,834 Minneapolis / St. Paul (15)

2,498,016 San Diego (16)

2,492,525 St. Louis (17)

2,238,480 Phoenix (19)

2,067,959 Tampa/St. Petersburg (20)

1,980,140 Denver (21)

1,980,140 Cincinnati (22)

1,793,476 Portland (23)

1,607,183 Milwaukee (24)

1,582,875 Kansas City (25)

 

Austin added:

 

4,037,282 Dallas / Fort Worth (9)

2,959,950 Atlanta (13)

 

And even in Dallas, while they weren't super "successful" in Dallas under Hogan, they were up to this:

 

1989: 4 shows in Dallas + one big crowd in Austin

1990: 4 shows in Dallas + 4 in Austin

1991: 3 shows in Dallas + 3 in Austin

1992: 1 show in + 1 in Austin

 

That's ignoring their earlier "failed" attempts.

 

They basically pulled out of Dallas and Forth Worth when Hogan left. They still did 5 shows in Houston, which shows that they didn't pull completely out of Texas.

 

One of the points I've tried to get across that the process of going into cities isn't simply to get house show attendance. It's to build the fan base, which is key when you've expanded the "products" the WWF sells. House Shows were just one of the products.

 

Not saying he was the guy anchoring those shows. He *was* achoring the TV being blasted into Texas, and the PPV's being offered there, etc.

 

John

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