Tony Richards
The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show is dedicated to researching, educating and discovering pro wrestling history from the territorial-era. Our host and guests share a passion for the performance art of professional wrestling as it was presented in the era of the territories and booking offices from 1930 through 1990.
4d ago
This week we reach the pinnacle of 1975 in the Championship Wrestling from Florida Territory on an exciting night in Miami Beach at the Convention Center on December 10th! It’s the night where Jack Brisco had been advertised to defend his NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Dory Funk, Jr. Fans in Miami thought it would be another mat classic with two of the best wrestling technicians of this or any eraa met once again in combat. Surprise filled the air when it was announced that Funk, Jr was unable to make flight connections to be there and that younger brother Terry Funk would be taking his place in the match. Howard Baum, our regular Florida Territory analyst and commentator joins me aling with our special guest Don DeLeon, who was the photographer that night at the Convention Center. Having backstage access, DeLeon was the first human being to witness Terry Funk come into the dressing room that night after beating the best wrestler in the world and now holding the NWA World Title belt and that distinction for himself. Join Howard and I as we welcome Don to our show and have a special and unique conversation at The Richards Ranch about that historic night 50 years ago in Miami Beach.
6d ago
My personal thoughts and remembrances of Ricky Romero, Jr, who passed away this past Thursday, December 11th in Amarillo, Texas. Ricky, Jr was a member of our group who didn't post or comment very much but was always very proud of my work and supported and helped me privately to a great degree. I will miss him tremendously.
Dec 10
This week, we wrap up the year of 1975 in the great state of Texas! We begin our show in the Dallas Big Time Wrestling Territory as our good friend and analyst Greg Klein joins us once again to travel the roads to all the towns and building in the Dallas loop! The arrival of The Mongolian Stomper and the classic show down in the Sam Houston Coliseum with the Man of 1,000 Masks, Mil Mascaras. All the matches, angles and feuds that close out the year of 1975 with Fritz Von Erich, Red Bastien, Joe Blanchard, Paul Boesch and others! Then, I head out to West Texas with a new guest on our show, my friend Dan Black, who grew up in the Amarillo territory and has some great memories to share. We talk about the debut of The Silver Streak from a very famous wrestling family in West Texas, the Western States Title run of Frank Goodish, the arrival and angle of the masked Super Destroyer and his program with Terry Funk. We will also discuss the Poffo Family, Angelo, Lanny and Jim Pride. Thank you for going on this amazing ride of miles and miles of Texas on this week’s Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show!
Dec 3
Here it is! Episode 34 of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Show and this week, we wrap up the year of 1975 in the Gulas-Welch Tennessee Territory with my Tennessee Historian and Analyst Tim Dills! Tim and I tour around the huge territory covering matches in Nashville, Chattanooga, Birmingham, Memphis and others! All the matches, angles,storylines and stars including The Mongolian Stomper finally meeting his Waterloo and leaving for Texas. Bob Armstrong, Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler triangle that ends up with Lawler turning heel and the seeds of the beginnings of the Lawler-Dundee feud that will last for decades are sown! These terrific fun things and much, much more. Tim and I are joined at the beginning of our show by Kevin McCann, historian and author to discuss his book on the legendary heel, Rowdy Red Roberts who dominated rings in the Tennessee Territory with his ongoing decades-long deud with all the Welch Brothers, Tex Riley and others. We are excited to have Kevin on the show to talk about his first book and one about one of the forgotten but most wonderful heels in Pro Wrestling History. Join us and learn all about the life and career of Rowdy Red Roberts!
Nov 26
On this week’s episode, we present our 2025 version of our Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Thanksgiving Spectacular Show! Eminating from The Richards Ranch in Western Kentucky, our show today is packed with Thanksgiving Memories! We cover Thanksgiving Shows from Tennessee, the AWA in Minneapolis, Amarillo, Charlotte, Norfolk, Atlanta, Kansas City and Miami! Our guests on the show are George Schire, Jerry Oates, Bobby Simmons and Mike George. Everything from Abdullah and The Sheik in a steel cage, a Mask vs The Georgia Title Match, A match involving Ernie Ladd and Bobo Brazil tag team, Bob Geigel’s booking, referees in wrestling, bookers, Jerry & Ted Oates vs Dutch Mantell and Ron Bass, The Destroyer, the Jerry Oates and Mike George Tag Team, Driving home to St. Joseph from Miami in a Thanksgiving snowstorm and much, much more!
Nov 19
Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 32, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, I welcome regular WWWF Analyst and Commentator, Steve Gennerelli. On this week’s episode, we wrap up the year of 1975 with discussion on more classic Bruno Sammartino Title Defenses wotking with some of the hottest heels in the business, Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame class member in 2025, Spiros Arion, Waldo Von Erich, Ivan Koloff and even Captain Lou Albano was still getting a lot of heat in 1975. The tag team championship will change hands as The Blackjacks’ short run as champions comes to an end as Blackjack Mulligan is needed elsewhere. Those topics and much, much more!
Nov 12
Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 31, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, I welcome Michael Norris, Pro Wrestling Historian for the Gulf Coast Wrestling Territory! On this week’s episode, we discuss more of the history of the territory including Michael’s favorite feud of all time and more of the happenings in the various towns and buildings across South Alabama, Mississippi and the panhandle of Florida. You will enjoy this episode on one of the least covered territories of the territory era in professional wrestling, the Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling territory!
Nov 5
Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Presents: Personalities, Territories, Towns & Buildings Episode 30, this week on the Time Tunnel Wrestling History Show, I welcome Steve Verrier, author of Wrestling in the Pacific Northwest, the Gene Kiniski biography and co-author of the Wilbur Snyder biography! On this week’s episode, we discuss the booking office, territory and promotion of Vancouver, British Columbia. Largely owned by former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Gene Kiniski, we discuss the personalities, towns, buildings, angles, television product and legendary matches that took place in Vancouver throughout the year of 1975. You will enjoy this episode on one of the most overlooked territories of the territory era in professional wrestling, the Vancouver territory! Plus Tony answers these questions sent into the show: 1. Tony, other than Gordon Solie and Lance Russell I'm territory days who in your opnion who was good wrestling announcers in the day? 2. What wrestlers have been forgotten that we need to remember? 3. What are your thoughts on multi-time world champions, such as 14-time world champion and such? 4. I would like to hear about the All South and how they challenged Crockett promotions in NC and SC and what the internal challenges were? Did you know the promoter even backed one or two of them? 5. Tony, What are your thoughts about David Von Erich as NWA World Champion?