Bix Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 They actually ran Steele-Davis in a cage as a headliner in major markets, including a Meadowlands show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdw Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Waco Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdw Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bix Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Why did they run Flair-Funk in a cage after the blowoff, to make up for the Texas Death Match not happening due to Funk's arm infection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Yeah I would think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Liska Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdw Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdw Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Liska Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 What was the pilot that Hogan had in 84? There was talk that if it made it then he could be as big as Mr. T and could leave wrestling behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Goldie And The Bears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjh Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdw Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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