CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA, INC.
Duke Keomuka
Mike Graham
Dusty Rhodes

JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS, INC.
Jim Crockett, Jr.
David F. Crockett
George Scott

FARHAT ENTERPRISES, INC.
Eddie Farhat

FOOTHILLS ATHLETIC CLUB, LTD.
Stewart E. Hart

FUNDAMENTALS, INC.
Rip Hawk represented Mike London

GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING, INC.
James E. Barnett
Paul Jones
Ole Anderson

GULAS WRESTLING ENTERPRISES, INC.
Nick Gulas
Tom Renesto

HEART OF AMERICA SPORTS ATTRACTIONS, INC.
Bob Geigel
Pat O'Connor

HOLLYWOOD WRESTLING OFFICE
Mike LeBell

KIM ILL PRO WRESTLING FOUNDATION
Kim Ill

LEROY MCGUIRK CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING, INC.
LeRoy McGuirk

NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING ASSN., INC.
Seiji Sakaguchi
Hisashi Shimma
Ken Tajima

NEW ZEALAND PRO WRESTLING ASSN., INC.
Steve Rickard

NORTHWEST WRESTLING PROMOTIONS
Gene Kiniski

PACIFIC COAST ATHLETIC CORP.
Roy Shire

SOUTHWEST SPORTS, INC.
Jack Adkisson
David Adkisson
Kevin Adkisson
Kerry Adkisson
Bronko Lubich

ST. LOUIS WRESTLING CLUB, INC.
Sam Muchnick

TUNNEY SPORTS, LTD.
Frank Tunney

FRED WARD PROMOTIONS, INC.
Fred Ward
Ralph Freed

Special guests attending were Tench Coxe, partner of the law firm, Troutman, Sanders, Lockerman and Ashmore and the attorney for the NWA, and the World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race.   Other guests included Dick Murdock, Peter Maivia, Victor Jovica, Kit Fox, Brian Blair, Red Bastien and Sandor Kovacs.

Those members not in attendance were as follows:
JARRETT-WELCH WRESTLING CO. - not represented
MISSISSIPPI WRESTLING ENTERPRISE - not represented
OWEN SPORTS, INC. - proxy given to Gene Kiniski
SOUTHEASTERN WRESTLING - proxy given to Jim Barnett
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING - proxy given to Jim Barnett

President Geigel announced that his office had raised $10,000 for the Kansas City Leukemia Foundation pursuant to the request of that organization and stated that he thought this had been very good for public relations.   The wrestlers on the particular card had gone into the audience and solicited fans and had been glad to do so.   Four guests from the Kansas City Leukemia Foundation were present and introduced by the President.

Herr Edmund Schober, whose office is in Hannover, Germany, where he promotes wrestling, addressed the group.   He discussed a tournament which he runs in Hannover every year at which wrestlers from all over the world are present, and asked that the NWA encourage participation by wrestlers in the United States.   It was suggested to Herr Schober that he contact the booking office which was then handling the booking of any wrestler in which he was particularly interested and they would see what they could do for him.

At this point, all guests were excused and the closed meeting of members took place.

Jim Barnett opened the closed meeting by giving his treasurer's report, indicating that the NWA was in good condition financially.

A report was then requested from the general counsel, Tench Coxe.   He reminded the members of their obligation to observe the Consent Decree as a condition to membership in the NWA.

The meetings of the standing committees were announced and each was informed to be ready to report back to the membership at the session on Saturday.   A discussion occurred in regard to the abolition of the Grievance Committee as being obsolete.   After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously resolved that the Grievance Committee be abolished and the By-Laws be amended accordingly.   Accordingly, Article V, Section 8, entitled "Grievance Committee" is abolished and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

"Section 8.   Litigation and Disputes.

The Grievance Committee is hereby abolished.   The functions of the Grievance Committee having to do with membership are transferred to the Membership Committee.   Any other functions formerly handled by the Grievance Committee are vested in the Board of Directors."

A standing committee to be referred to as the Committee on Litigation and Disputes was then appointed by the President.   He stated that the purpose of this committee is to look into the status of litigation in which the NWA is involved and disputes among the members for the purpose of protecting the interests of the NWA in such interests.   The members appointed to such committee were Messrs. McMahon, Crockett and Adkisson.   Tench Coxe was directed to make himself available to that committee at its request.

A discussion then took place in regard to the exchange of "second layer talent" among members for the purpose of developing such talent, as well as increasing the gates for the promoters involved.

Next there was discussed the question of use of "World Champion" by various organizations involved in professional wrestling.   It was pointed out that this was in many instances a source of great confusion and loss of integrity by the promoters involved.

Next there followed a discussion in regard to the television of promotional matches by cable television, particularly as it related to Channel 17 in Atlanta.   Mr. Barnett stated that cable cannot be stopped and that he hoped to reduce any confusion which may have been created by his show appearing on cable by stating that the "champions" on his show were Georgia champions.

Harley Race expressed his gratitude for the treatment that he had received as World Champion from the various members.

The election of officers took place.   Bob Geigel was elected President; Mike LeBell First Vice President; and Nick Gulas Second Vice President.

The election of directors took place.   The same board of directors was elected as for the previous year, consisting of Messrs. Adkisson, Barnett, Crockett, Funk, Geigel, LeBell, McMahon, Owen and Ward.

The meeting was then adjourned until 10:00 Saturday morning.

The Saturday session opened with a report of the Membership Committee, which announced that all new members had been elected to membership.   Since M&M Promotions had been engaged in litigation, it was recommended that it be required to indemnify the NWA, its agents and the World Champion against any costs which might be incurred arising out of the actions of M&M prior to its admission to membership.   The report of the Membership Committee was unanimously adopted and the new members were admitted to the meeting.   The new members are: M&M Promotions of Canyon, Texas; Capitol Sports of San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Peter Maivia of Polynesia.

The Committee on Litigation and Disputes gave its report, indicating that there were no unusual problems.   It was announced that the lawsuit between McGuirk Enterprises and George Culkin, both of whom are members, has been settled and that the discovery phase of the Gunkel lawsuit was about to begin.

Mr. Barnett gave the report of the Finance Committee.   The Finance Committee recommended that the dues stay the same, and that a member be suspended if dues were not paid by January 1st of the year following their due date of September 1st of the previous year.   If a suspended member later wanted to rejoin, he must reapply and pay the $500 initiation fee.   The Committee also recommended that the NWA Champion be paid a $100 minimum for each appearance and that the NWA be paid a $50 minimum for its assistance in regard to each appearance.   These are minimums only and the Champion is still to be paid 10% and the NWA 3%.   The recommendations of the Finance Committee were unanimously approved.

The report of the TV Committee was given by Mike LeBell.   He stated that cable was increasing and that promoters would simply have to learn to live with the appearance of outside shows on cable in the various towns in which they promoted.   There was additional discussion in regard to the number of "champions" appearing on television and the confusion which resulted from this.   There was also discussion in regard to limitation of commercial time per telecast and the need to follow the FCC rules in this regard. The report on the Light Heavyweight Champion was given by Salvador Lutteroth.   His name is Alfonzo Dantes and he has been performing primarily in Mexico.   Mr. Lutteroth emphasized that in Mexico too many "champions" had been designated and that this practice was detrimental to the business.

A report on the Junior Heavyweight Champion was given by LeRoy McGuirk.   He stated that he planned to hold a tournament in various towns around the country, particularly in the south, to establish a Junior Heavyweight Champion and asked for suggestions from the membership as to who might be qualified for this position.

Next, the President gave his report, indicating that he knew of no unusual problems.

A lengthy discussion ensued as to the site for the 1980 annual meeting and the date on which it should be held.   It was determined that Reno would be the appropriate site and that the Board of Directors should select a date after polling the membership.

At the suggestion of Stewart Hart, the general counsel was directed to check to determine whether any arrangement could be made with the appropriate authorities to assist in the passage back and forth across the Canadian border of wrestlers who were performing in various towns in which he was the promoter.

A discussion took place in regard to the development of new talent.   The sons of Jack Adkisson were introduced.   Various members indicated ways in which they thought the NWA should be doing more to improve the profession and particularly the development of new talent.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

James E. Barnett, Secretary

NEXT MONTH: 

Wrestling at the Chase, circa 1981