Where Wrestling's Regional History Lives!
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You are here: Home>Regional Territories>Houston>#6
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Where Wrestling's Regional History Lives! |
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- Jason Hess Greetings, Kayfabe fans, and welcome to another
installment of Houston Wrestling at
KayfabeMemories.com!!!
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 the
“return” of Paul Boesch to Houston
Wrestling. Rewind: Paul Boesch had an elaborate retirement card and
ceremony in August of 1987, signaling his
retirement from active promotion from the World
Wrestling Federation, and Houston Wrestling in
general. He
had turned promotional duties over to Peter
Birkholtz, and his retirement card was a
spectacular mix of legends and (then) current
stars. For
better or worse, Houston Wrestling was decidedly
pro-WWF. The WWF, which up until that point had ran the Summit, a
larger arena, was now running monthly cards at
the smaller Sam Houston Coliseum.
Previous to Boesch’s retirement,
Houston fans saw Sherri Martel begin a one year
title reign, and end a near two year title reign
of Fabulous Moolah.
All the major stars would see continual
action at the Coliseum…but something was
missing. Fast
Forward: The WWF played their cards very smartly however, moving Hulk Hogan into a feud with Ted DiBiase. Known by that time as his most popular gimmick, “The Million Dollar Man,” and complete with bodyguard Virgil (former Memphis wrestler Mike “Soul Train” Jones, name a rib on Virgil Runnels), DiBiase started his feud with Hogan in Houston. In fact, DiBiase actually defeated Hogan by countout on the September 1987 Sam Houston Coliseum card. DiBiase and Hogan later took their feud to the main television shows of Superstars and Wrestling Challenge, with Hogan claiming that he couldn’t be bought. By January 1988, there were some rumblings that things were going to change within Houston Wrestling, although the WWF was still on the air. Finally, Paul Boesch decided to align himself with the NWA. Boesch was even on television during the famous (or infamous) Dusty Rhodes suspension angle in April 1988. Boesch was seen disagreeing with the NWA board of governors over whether Rhodes should have been suspended for hitting Jim Crockett over the head with a baseball bat while coming to the defense of Magnum T.A.. T.A. had been attacked by perpetual Rhodes nemesis Tully Blanchard during an interview on the Saturday WTBS show. More...
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