Where Wrestling's Regional History Lives!
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Where Wrestling's Regional History Lives! |
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- Jason Hess Greetings fans, and welcome to another installment
of Houston Wrestling at Kayfabe
Memories!!!
Once again, we are taking a look at one
of the most unique “territories within a
territory” ever, as we examine wrestling life
in Houston in the 1980’s.
In this edition we will examine what has
now been known as “Black Saturday 2.” Rewind: Before we get into what Black Saturday 2 was, a
little history is needed to set up our look at
one of the most disturbing times in Houston
Wrestling history.
Such writers as Tim Dills for Memphis/CWA,
and others have documented how Vince McMahon’s
national expansion efforts hurt the territorial
system, effectively killing it by 1993.
The first major shot that was fired
specifically at a promotion that did not involve
a talent raid was Vince McMahon’s buy out of
Georgia promoter Jim Barnett in 1984.
(Jack and Jerry Brisco were involved as
well) With
Barnett selling a majority interest in Georgia,
including the prized Saturday night timeslot,
McMahon soon debuted WWF programming in July
1984, a date that has come to be known as Black
Saturday. The
reason? There
was literally no advance warning whatsoever.
The week before, stars of Georgia
Championship Wrestling were on the screen. The following week saw Freddy Miller, a mainstay of the old
Georgia promotion, announce that the WWF was on
the air. Fans
were shocked. SuperStation WTBS operators fielded a huge volume of calls
protesting the move.
The move was covered in a “Non-Mark”
way in Pro Wrestling Illustrated, one of the few
times the magazine broke kayfabe in the
1980’s. Even
though Georgia would once again have their
timeslot by 1985, the message was clear:
Vince McMahon was on the warpath, and he
was going to mow everyone down. Fast
Forward: Fast forward to January 1987. The two main territories of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and
Louisiana are fading.
The once powerful World Class
Championship Wrestling had fallen on disastrous
times since seceding from the NWA in February
1986. A
once sure sellout for WCCW was the traditional
“Holiday Star Wars” cards at Reunion Arena
on Thanksgiving and Christmas nights.
1986 was the first year in some time that
the cards failed to sell out.
In fact, they barely drew half full
crowds for the near 20,000 seat Reunion Arena.
Also, Kerry Von Erich was doubtful to
wrestle again ( although he would later return)
after the motorcycle accident he suffered in
June 1986.
Talent had left and was leaving at an
amazing pace.
Gino Hernandez was dead, Chris Adams
defected to the UWF, and Rick Rude left for Jim
Crockett Promotions.
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