This week on Regional Rasslin’, guest Jammie Ward joins us to dive into more Georgia Championship Wrestling in July 1982, as the territory expands into separate northern and southern touring groups! The Fabulous Freebirds wage war with Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen, with a vicious locker room ambush adding fuel to an already explosive rivalry between the World and National Tag Team Champions. Roddy Piper puts his money behind Don Muraco’s campaign to eliminate Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Rich, but the American Dream has other plans.. including serving as special referee at the Omni! Mr. Wrestling II and the Masked Superstar trade mind games, with a shredded robe pushing their bitter feud toward a lumberjack showdown. Meanwhile, Tommy Rich and Paul Orndorff both set their sights on Ric Flair’s NWA World Heavyweight Championship, with a coin toss determining who gets the first opportunity. We also discuss Brad Armstrong’s Rookie of the Year honors, the Wild Samoans, Buzz Sawyer, Omni Results, and the action unfolding on television and around the territory. Plus, listener John Walker shares his vivid memories from the July 30th Marion, Ohio show including a fan pulling a knife on the Samoans! It's more than 90 minutes of good times, great memories, and stories for days!

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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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This time on Regional Rasslin’ we return to more St. Louis Wrestling History, Guest Phil Adams joins Ray Russell on the journey through the latter months of 1953 and all of 1954. Television continues to shape the territory as stars like Buddy Rogers, Johnny Valentine, Bill Longson, Ray Eckert, and Don Leo Jonathan battle for position beneath reigning NWA Champion Lou Thesz. We examine Thesz’s major title defenses, the continued importance of the Kiel Auditorium, and the sharp decline in attendance at St. Louis’ regular arena events. During the long 1954 off-season, television becomes the primary vehicle for developing dependable names like Cyclone Anaya, Ronnie Etchison, Ralph Garibaldi, and Joe Millich. We’ll also track Guy Brunetti’s surprising late-year surge and the territory’s reliance on draws, no contests, and frequently repeated matchups to keep its featured wrestlers protected. Plus, we venture outside St. Louis to explore Leon Balkin’s fascinating history in Evansville and the city’s growing connection to Sam Muchnick’s booking office.

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It's a new Regional Rasslin, as Guest Richard Vicek joins Host Ray Russell to discuss two more eventful years in Chicago Wrestling Club history, beginning with the rise of Nick Bockwinkel, Strong Kobayashi and the popular team of Red Bastien and Hercules Cortez. We discuss Cortez’s tragic death, the emergence of Bobby Heenan’s Blackjacks and Chicago’s increasingly violent main events. In 1972, Dick the Bruiser and the Crusher’s bloody war with the Blackjacks became the promotion’s hottest feud. We also follow the growing momentum of Ivan Koloff, Billy Robinson, Dusty Rhodes and Wahoo McDaniel. The centerpiece is the ambitious Soldier Field spectacular featuring Verne Gagne, André the Giant and a steel-cage bloodbath refereed by Jersey Joe Walcott. Plus, Superstar Billy Graham arrives as Chicago wrestling moves toward a new era.

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Guest Roman Gomez is back to join host Ray Russell to discuss two weeks of AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN from September 3rd & 10th, 1985! Rick Martel defends the AWA World Title against Terry Gordy. Greg Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel renew their rivalry, while Ray Stevens and Sgt. Slaughter act as their cornermen. AWA Tag Champs The Road Warriors "sing" before they sit down with Larry Zbyszko "In This Corner". Plus, AWA Light Heavyweight Champ Steve Regal vs. Buck Zumhofe, The Long Riders want another title shot, Jimmy Garvin sets his sights on Martel, Curt Hennig introduces Tom Zenk as his new partner, Boris Zhukov in action, we get a mat classic from Verne Gagne’s retirement match vs. Bockwinkel, a look back at Martel’s title win vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, we discover the identity of "The Blue Max", an early Nailz sighting, Jim Londos in 1985(?), and we get some buildup to SuperClash ’85.

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Another milestone edition of Regional Rasslin' as we reach episode #150! Guest Gene Jackson returns to join Ray Russell as they close out July 1985 in the Memphis Territory! In perhaps the most fun CWA episode yet, the duo share laughs and discussion on the latest in the Memphis world! Find out what happens when Steve Keirn (accidentally) rips off an entire cage wall during a Steel Cage match vs. The Sheepherders! Plus, Jerry Lawler dethrones BOTA for the Southern belt, Phil Hickerson regains the International Title from Terry Taylor, Big John Harris "runs" off Buddy Wayne, The Master Blaster squashes poor David Hasking (twice), Koko Ware is doing 'The Bird', Jarrett & Tojo remember the way they were, Michael Hayes pops in, & much more! The Renesto booking continues on! Come for the history lesson, stay for the fun!

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