McMahon’s formula was a mixed bag of success.  In certain areas, where perhaps things were on the decline (like California), McMahon drew large houses and huge gates.  However, in other areas, McMahon didn’t draw well initially, and only won out due to a war of attrition.  While McMahon invaded many areas in 1984, he didn’t invade Houston.  At the time, Mid South Sports was peaking due to an influx of Memphis stars like the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, Bill Dundee, the Midnight Express, Terry Taylor and others, an influx of Memphis style booking by Bill Dundee, and the emergence of Magnum T.A. and Hacksaw Jim Duggan as lead babyfaces.  Up until the summer time, long time area lead babyface Junkyard Dog was among the stars.  Even when crowds were down, Dog could be counted on to bring people in the building.  But in the summer time of 1984, Dog became less and less visible in the Mid-South area, branching out and making appearances in Georgia, Mid-Atlantic, World Class, and other areas.  McMahon had to know that JYD, even after a substantial weight gain that greatly hindered his “quickness,” would be a huge asset to the WWF…..and possibly their ticket into southeast Texas and Louisiana. 

In September 1984, Junkyard Dog signed with the WWF, and immediately was pushed on their broadcasts.  It was a matter of time before the WWF would try to come into town, bully their way onto Houston Wrestling television, and try to run Mid-South sports out of business.  While their success would eventually happen, the first showdown was anything but successful. 

In early 1985, Gene Okerlund’s voice was heard announcing on local television spots that the WWF was making their debut at the Summit.  Coming to the Summit???  None other than Houston legend Junkyard Dog.  Surprisingly, Dog acknowledged his past in Houston, and Okerlund even talked to him about past bouts in Houston.  While never acknowledged as having a history on the air, some wrestlers would acknowledge their past in local spots with Gene Okerlund, especially those with a past with the AWA.  The Dog told us Houston fans that he was excited to return to “his city,” and that he wanted to see us come out and support him and the WWF. 

Ticket sales were not going so well, so the WWF had Hulk Hogan make a special appearance in Houston at a Toys R Us store in Humble, Texas to hype the card.  Hogan showed up in a limousine, and for an 11 year old kid like me, he was indeed larger than life.  At his physical peak (no commentary on how he achieved that peak), Hogan stood head and shoulders above anyone there, and drew an estimated 1,000 fans to the store (my father asked as we were leaving how many autographed pictures were distributed as one was given to each person, and the attendant stated “well over 1,000).   

The showdown was set.  Mid-South sports would run the Sam Houston Coliseum on one Friday night, and the WWF would run the Summit on the next Friday night.  Mid-South loaded up their card, featuring Duggan, Dibiase, the Rock ‘n’ Rolls, Steve Williams, and many more stars.  The card at the Coliseum drew very well.  Now, seven days until Houston found out who was better. 

The WWF did draw fairly well for their first appearance at the Summit, but not well enough.  It would be a while before they would be back. (early 1986 with Hogan vs. Savage which drew a huge crowd of over 14,000)  For the time being, Houston Wrestling survived the competition. 

That would not be the only defeat Vince McMahon and the WWF would suffer at the hands of “Houston Wrestling in 1985.   KHTV 39, one of the independent television stations that is now a WB affiliate turned down Vince McMahon’s request for television time, because Houston Wrestling was its highest rated program of the week.  In fact, for a long time, Houston Wrestling was the number one show in its timeslot in the city of Houston, regularly beating out Saturday Night Live, and other programming on the then “Big Three” networks.  McMahon eventually gained television on KRIV 26 in Houston, and after gaining national exposure via Saturday Night’s Main Event, would make huge inroads in America’s fourth largest city.  But for a time, Mid-South Sports would reign supreme. 

Epilogue:  After the NWA’s 1988 failure, the WWF became the only promotion on Channel 39, and would remain so until WWF Superstars of Wrestling and Wrestling Challenge would leave syndication in the Houston area in 1996.  But there would still be great days for the WWF.  The World Wrestling Federation’s greatest day ever (before November 2-3’s record breaking ticket sales for WrestleMania 18) would be in Houston, Texas on April 1, 2001 for WrestleMania 17.  Texas man Steve Austin defeated the Rock for the second time in three years to regain the WWF title in front of nearly 68,000 fans who paid a record $3.4 million dollar gate.  To this day, the WWF still does well in Houston, recently selling out the controversial post 9.11 Smackdown. 

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