What I Knew #4: St. Louis was “the” NWA town of all towns. Sam Muchnick had many many terms as NWA President. We didn’t honor any other titles or organizations. 

What I Didn’t Know #4: Apparently, Sam worked fairly closely behind the scenes with Vince McMahon Sr. (WWWF), Bob Geigle (Central States), Verne Gagne (AWA), Dick the Bruiser (WWA) and other promoters to trade talent and organize cross-promotional matches. Also, apparently Sam received some sort of fee for booking the NWA title. 

What I Knew #5: Sam Muchnick was well-respected in the local St. Louis community. He was regularly covered in the “legitimate” St. Louis newspapers and was treated as a successful local businessman, not a circus or freakshow promoter. 

What I Didn’t Know #5: My impressions were correct, but the truth was actually even deeper. Wrestlers loved working with Sam for many reasons; he was fair with his payoffs, he respected the business, and he could make a career. Working a main event in St. Louis was a professional pinnacle for a wrestler. By the same token, witness the number of big names who never really worked St. Louis; the Sheik, Dusty Rhodes, various masked wrestlers, and various “gimmick” wrestlers. There was a reason these big names did not often work St. Louis. 

What I Knew #6: Sam Muchnick retired at the big Retirement Card on January 1, 1982 in front of a sold-out Arena. Larry didn’t say who was taking over the SLWC (that I remember, maybe he did). The NWA was strong, all the regions were intact, and we assumed it would last for years. 

What I Didn’t Know #6: An ownership committee of Harley Race, Pat O’Connor, Bob Geigle, and, I believe Verne Gagne, bought out Sam Muchnick. 1982 and 1983 went very well, but soon WWF expansion loomed. Feuding amongst the owners led to Larry leaving in 1983 to form his outlaw Greater St. Louis Wrestling Enterprise, and later to work for Vince McMahon, Jr. The NWA was collapsing and the new owners of the SLWC were losing thousands of dollars. 

In closing, the good old days were a great time to be a fan. Now, with the internet and dirt sheets, we can know almost everything about the sport, the competitors, and the behind the scenes dealings. In many ways, I prefer the old days. I enjoyed the matches for the sake of the wrestling, not who refused to job to who, or how member NWA promotions were feuding over the future of the belt. Thanks for reading this installment and I will see you next month!

NEXT MONTH:

Mickey Gariogiola, Larry Matysik, and the Rest of the Gang!