Regional Rasslin' returns with a SPECIAL EDITION as Alabama superfan Aaron Gartlan returns to relive the Dothan TV debut of Southeastern Championship Wrestling, culminating with the historic October 18, 1980 television episode featuring the debut of the all-new Southeastern promotion in Alabama, as Ron Fuller and crew take over WTVY Studios in Dothan! Featuring Bob Armstrong, Eddie Mansfield, Don Carson, Dennis Condrey, Ricky Gibson, Charlie Cook, Tony Charles, Mongolian Stomper, The Tennessee Stud, & more! Plus, Aaron shares insight and details to many of the talents, the era, Charlie Platt, and much more!

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Get ready as Florida superfan Harold Strassler joins us on this week’s Regional Rasslin’ as we wrap up Tampa’s final two shows of December 1979 (including a big Christmas card) and we'll ring in 1980! We follow the action into the first part of January, focusing primarily on the Tampa cards and television as Oliver Humperdink’s crew keeps Dusty Rhodes, Manny Fernandez, and Mike Graham fighting on multiple fronts. A controversial clash between Florida Champion Manny Fernandez and Southern Champion Leroy Brown sparks a wild aftermath that knocks Dusty out of a scheduled main event. Dusty’s war with Bugsy McGraw escalates into bullrope battles, while Eddie Graham steps into the ring to help settle the score. The new year brings Ernie Ladd into the mix, and even a Texas Death Match leaves room for controversy when Bugsy and company head for the hills! Meanwhile, Stanley Lane and Bryan St. John face the Briscos and an assortment of partners, Super Destroyer begins to make a name, Johnny Valiant leaves as fast as he arrives, plus we discuss stars like Don Diamond, Gordon Nelson, Mike Miller, Rip Oliver, Luis Astea, Ron Slinker, Don Serrano, and a young Terry Taylor. From Humperdink getting his comeuppance against Bubba Douglas, to Manny Fernandez's ascension, to television interviews and match footage keeping the rivalries boiling, we explore the stories carrying Championship Wrestling from Florida into a brand-new decade!

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Guest Steve Crawford is back from being “on assignment”, as he joins Host Ray Russell to continue the discussion of Henry Rogers’ Malden, Missouri wrestling territory. In Part 2, thanks to Henry’s daughter Dianna, we give answers to questions we were left with from the 1960s. From there, we follow the promotion from 1970 through 1975. Rogers filled his Saturday night cards with local regulars like Buddy Chandler, Bobby Guy, and Bo and Tuffy Taylor while bringing in wrestlers from surrounding territories. Mario Galento became a fixture in Malden, where the papers even announced plans to film scenes for a movie featuring Galento in the starring role(?). We look at the murder of wrestler Bearcat Jones, as well as the young wrestlers passing through, including Pez Whatley, Larry Latham, Bill Ash, and a future David Shultz working as “Rhode Island Red”. There were masked men, bloody feuds, stretcher matches, hair matches, and stipulations that grew stranger by the year. We also follow Rogers’ shows beyond Malden and his connections with other promoters. By 1973, the arena was being billed as “Little Madison Square Garden” and the “blood capital” names that tell you plenty about the show Rogers was selling to the local fans!

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