80's WWF Expansion

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-february-1985-part-one/

February 1985 saw the WWF and MTV present "The War to Settle the Score" which directly set up Wrestlemania, the Hulkster goes to the Grammys in style, several Hall of Famers leave the WWF circus, Vince McMahon's love of a pop song alters WWF booking plans, David Schultz shoots on Mr. T and winds up unemployed, a former World champ is arrested, St Louis nearly undergoes a major ownership shift, Georgia turns to rookies to salvage the promotion, the AWA creates a new title, the Road Warriors nearly start another riot, Verne and a headliner have a falling out, Sgt. Slaughter ends up with a very unique partner to face the Road Warriors in Chicago, Pro Wrestling USA puts on a major card in the WWF's backyard despite the promoters feuding with each other and much more!!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-february-1985-part-2/

Ric Flair crossed many time zones to defend his NWA gold against international stars, one of the icons of the NWA and WCW signs with JCP, Barry Horowitz gets his first push...sort of...., Jimmy Hart and Jerry Lawler have their final showdown, Lawler teams with a notorious heel, a champion walks out of World Class without dropping the strap, the Von Erichs continue their blood feud with Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez, one of the most famous matches in Mid-South history is set up, Houston fans are treated to a loaded card, Jim Crockett loses another headliner to the WWF, a former World champion departs JCP as well, plus the WWF invades many southern towns as JCP tries to fire back by heading into a WWF stronghold. Plus more news, notes and results from February 1985!!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-march-1985-part-one/

Wrestlemania 1 shook the wrestling world to it's core in March of 1985. Plus the WWF signed 3 other contracts worth potentially millions of dollars tp their bottom line. Also covered is the stories of Ted Turner and Vince McMahon butting heads over money and other issues as their business relationship crumbles, an Amazon invades the women's division, a celebrity is injured by Hulk Hogan, an infamous murder suspect nearly becomes part of the Mania event, Mr. T proves to be a lousy guest, the headliners Maina paydays cause some ill feelings, Bruno Sammartino thrashes the some WWF stars while doing public relations for the company, plus more news and notes!
 
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http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-wrestlemania-1/

I proudly present the 6,329th review of Wrestlemania 1 on the internet! It is a necessary evil as I climb through wrestling history month-by-month. Inside I cover the somewhat surprising story the main event tells -something I don't remember grasping in previous viewings over the years. Plus, Wendi Richter continues to deliver poor matches amid major hype, Buddy Rose is good at this whole pro wrestling thing, King Kong Bundy is a lying liar, Special Delivery Jones may have Wolverine-like recuperative powers, JYD manages to get winded from laying on the mat, the WWF rulebook changes match from match, Captain Lou is sedated, Barry Windham's collarbone gives him CTE, an MSG janitor gets his Wrestlemania moment, and more!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-march-1985-part-2/

Part 2 of our look into March 1985 sees the AWA stars bomb in St. Louis, 2 legendary sports broadcasters call the action for a special WWF radio broadcast, Harley Race has a falling out with his business partners, Jim Crockett and Ole Anderson invade the WWF's territory with Vince's former stars, the story of the wrestler who sued a promoter over payoffs, the Road Warriors get physical with fans during a TV taping, Pro Wrestling USA runs a mess of a TV taping as the wrestler's feuds are unclear and WWF angles are pushed, Baltimore fans are treated to a card loaded with JCP and AWA talent, plus more news, notes and results!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-march-1985-part-3/

Part 3 of our look back at the wrestling world in March 1985 sees Bruiser Brody creating waves in Japan, an MMA legend debuts as a teenage pro wrestler, Memphis brings in the AWA champ - just not the one who happens to be legally holding the title, The Freebirds turn heel during an infamous angle in Florida, Gary Hart and Chris Adams have a falling out in Texas, Fritz teases expansion, a Hercules backstage brawl story, subterfuge in San Antonio sees Joe Blanchard lose his promotion, an arson nearly sees a promoter arrested, WTBS becomes a wrestling hub with the fate of the nation's wrestling landscape in the balance, Bill Watts threatens to book the Road Warriors with shooters if they don't listen, Dusty plots a closed circuit counterstrike to Wrestlemania, domestic violence gets a big pop, plus more news, notes and results!!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/starcage-85/

The AWA put on a super card in the weeks following Wrestlemania featuring Sgt. Slaughter and Jerry Blackwell locked in a cage with the Masked Superstar, King Tonga, and Sheik Adnan in a bloody war of attrition. Verne Gagne returned to the ring to team with his son Greg to avenge recent evil doings from Nick Bockwinkel and Mr. Saito. Curt and Larry Hennig go blow for blow with the Road Warriors. The Tonga Kid's rise continues he partners with Jim Brunzell to tangle with cagey vets Billy Robinson and Bobby Duncum. The mid-west's favorite Nazi, Baron Von Raschke partners with Buck Zumhofe as they clash with their sworn enemies Steve Regal and Jimmy Garvin. Bob Backlund and Brad Rheingans bring their grappling A-games into a bout with Larry Zbyszko and Butch Reed, plus more action! Along the way we enjoy some technical gaffes, Bob Backlund managing to have the worst match on the card, good old fashion promotional propaganda, music videos and other fun.
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wwf-torontos-maple-leaf-gardens-4-21-85/

The WWF presents one of their best tag team matches of the era as Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana combine to battle Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake. World Champion Hulk Hogan faces Paul Orndorff, who finds himself in a moral crisis. The undercard is full of a healthy dose of bad matches (Ivan Putski), inane commentary, steroids and Bret Hart trying to steal the show while tangling with George Wells.
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wwf-torontos-maple-leaf-gardens-4-21-85/

The WWF presents one of their best tag team matches of the era as Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana combine to battle Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake. World Champion Hulk Hogan faces Paul Orndorff, who finds himself in a moral crisis. The undercard is full of a healthy dose of bad matches (Ivan Putski), inane commentary, steroids and Bret Hart trying to steal the show while tangling with George Wells.

I remember that tag-team bout between Tito/Stamboat vs. The Dream Team from Toronto. The showed it as the match of the week on CHCH back in the days of Maple Leaf Wrestling. Haven't come across it on Youtube yet.
 
Although I enjoyed World Championship Wrestling on Saturday night under JCP like everyone else, I wonder what would have evolved under Continued WWF ownership. I really enjoyed the guest hosts pointed toward longtime TBS viewers. Once the WWF started filming a program locally for that final month of WWF broadcasts, a really good wrestling show was developing. A true Southern-flavored WWF show might have resulted, with different titles defended and other wrestlers appearing there. Could have been fun.
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-april-1985-part-one/

April 1985 sees a top WWF heel find the error of his ways, a riot breaks out in California, a former NWA champion appears to sign with the WWF-then backs out, a legend appears on TNT and promises to bring in a new heel faction, Hulk Hogan butts heads with the WWF brass over drugs, Vince McMahon looks to fund a sport that is not wrasslin', An NWA legend returned to help his "brother", the National tag team champions implode, Flair fights a Freebird in the Omni, plus more news, notes and results!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-wwf-msg-4-22-1985/

The WWF returns to MSG three weeks after Wrestlemania. Action includes Matt Bourne doing his best to ruin his WWF gig, and jobbers receiving title matches. The announcers blatantly lie about celebrities at the show. A giant of a man batters an AARP member. We find out if Ricky Steamboat can carry Moondog Spot to a good match. Hulk Hogan attends a circus that Vince McMahon isn't in charge of, then Hogan GRAPPLES - he honest to God puts out a tour de force of technical wizardry unseen in the era of Hulkamania. America's honor is defended by the U.S. Express and Tito Santana's war with Greg Valentine continues in the show's finale!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrestling-back-in-the-day-april-1985-part-2/

Part 2 of April in 1985 sees the AWA run a loaded card only weeks after Mania 1 - with the WWF taking them on with a card of their own, Two cagey vets have an infamous "Shoot" with the Road Warriors to teach them a lesson. Two legends return to action in the AWA, Pro Wrestling USA saw a bit of a WWWF dream match take place a few years too late, The Freebirds tape their motion picture debut, Montreal booms as the AWA stars pop another big house, Bruiser Brody causes more headaches, David Schultz makes headlines for another attack away from the ring, Don Owens turns to Ric Flair to try and salvage his promotion and more news, notes and results!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-april-1985-part-3/

The final part of April 1985 sees Nick Bockwinkel head to Memphis to face off with another Hall of Fame heel, a rumored power play in Florida could alter wrestling history, Gary Hart watches one of his creations ruined by bad booking, a new giant gets his first push, World Class gossip suggests they will partner with an act that is selling out stadiums across the USA, Bill Watts takes to the airways to shoot on Sports Entertainment and 20/20, a gimmick change turns a jabroni into a headliner, the WWF is embarrassed in Texas, Jim Crockett makes the biggest move in his business history, plus more news, rumors, and results!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestli...e-day-wwfs-a-m-chicago-tv-special-with-oprah/

In May of 1985, a star was breaking out on the Chicago airwaves as Oprah emerged as an entertainment force. In an effort to snag some ratings from the buzz of "Wrestlemania", Oprah attended a WWF house show in Chicago, and aired parts on her morning show. What followed was some amusing commentary from Winfrey as she admitted did not watch wrestling. The WWF made an odd choice in her announcing partner, which didn't help. Hulk Hogan is asked the WRONG question and sours on Oprah's presence, She attempts to find the softer side of Jesse Ventura. We get a few ethnically questionable remarks, plus we see some WWF headline action with Hulk Hogan, JYD, Tito Santana and other top stars battling in the ring. A unique thing to view for sure....
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-wccw-parade-of-champions-1985/

World Class presents a mammoth tag team battle with the Von Erichs and Freebirds forming a shaky alliance to battle the One Man Gang, Kamala, Rip Oliver, Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez and Dr. Death in a mammoth two ring brawl for big money and bragging rights. Kevin Von Erich also takes on Ric Flair with the NWA World title on the line, the Fantastics tangle with the Midnight Express, Kerry Von Erich fights the One Man Gang, Gary Hart provides some awesome managerial moments and Marc Lowrance delivers some fine bits on commentary. A huge crowd braves the Texas heat to see all this and other action!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestli...he-day-saturday-nights-main-event-1-may-1985/

The first ever edition of Saturday Night's Main Event sees Vince McMahon pull out his celebrity big guns for the first wrasslin' show on network TV in decades! Paul Orndorff is given a hard push to the top of the babyface ranks, The Animal finds a new friend. The Fabulous Moolah pulls rank in the ring. Vince's love for black stereotypes shows up. Plus there's even some wrestling in between the comedy bits, promos, and other ballyhoo!
 
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-wwf-boston-garden-5-18-1985/

Roddy Piper fails to show up for his tag team war with Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Snuka, but that doesn't stop things from being so wild that a mild riot breaks out with the fans at the end of the battle. The Junkyard Dog gets another crack at IC champ Greg Valentine...and the rest of the card is true dreck as a parade of squashes and jobber matches pollute the rest of this Boston card from May 1985.
 
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