Back in the good old St. Louis Wrestling Club days, and before the advent of cable television in my community (1981), my knowledge of the wrestling world was essentially limited to what I heard from Larry Matysik on Channel 11 every Sunday at 11:00 am and what I could read in the “Apter Mags” at the drugstore. I understood that the NWA Champion traveled from territory to territory defending his belt (the “ten pounds of gold” as Larry Matysik called it). I understood that some areas of the country were “AWA” or “WWWF” (though I did not understand how or why). And finally, not being a total “mark” I understood that matches were worked, but had no clue as to booking or how the workers were instructed to do their job. This months’ article takes a look back from a young “mark’s eye view” of the world, circa 1979. The format of the article is “What I Knew......and Didn’t Know”. 

What I Knew #1: Harley Race and Pat O’Connor were frequently featured in matches on Wrestling at the Chase (WATC) and at the Kiel Auditorium. Harley Race was a perennial Missouri State Champion, headlining major feuds and getting many a NWA title shot (and title reign). 

What I Didn’t Know #1: Both Harley Race and Pat O’Connor were part owners of the St. Louis promotion, along with majority owner, spokesman, and decision-maker Sam Muchnick. This resulted in many Missouri Title reigns and main events for Harley. To be fair, Race deserved everything he earned. He constantly filled the seats and put on a fantastic show. The other NWA promoters must have agreed with Sam, resulting in many title reigns. 

What I Knew #2: I had heard and read of the NWA Championship Committee. Being the “smart” that I was, I figured it was a bunch of hooey. I guessed somebody, somewhere decided who got the belt and that it was a fairly smooth process. 

What I Didn’t Know #2: Championship decisions as to who would wear the belt were actually made by the member NWA promoters in a formalized process. For many years, it was a fairly smooth process, getting more contentious later in the NWA years. For example, there was a big push for David Von Erich to get the strap, before his untimely death in Japan (see a later point for more on the Von Erichs). 

What I Knew #3: The Von Erich boys were nice, clean-cut fan favorites. They were polite and courteous to Larry during interviews and scientific in the ring. They could and would brawl, but only once the heel had started it. They loved the fans and the fans loved them back.