Episode 46: The 1985 Territory Review, Continental Championship Wrestling

We are kicking off the year of 2026 with a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. Here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”: My framework for understanding and analyzing the history and growth of Professional Wrestling are the 7 Stages of The Territory Era: Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935) Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945) Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955) Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965) Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975) Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985) Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995) 1985 is the first year in the last stage of the territory era, and we are reviewing what is remaining of the system. After buying the Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling office and territory from his family member, Lee Fields in the late 1970s, Ron Fuller had brought the territory back from almost nothing to a thriving enterprise. He changed the name of the promotion to Southeastern Wrestling and in the first year, he gave back money to the fans due to not having enough of a crowd to wrestle in front of, to purchasing Birmingham and all of Northern Alabama to add to South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Even with all this success, Fuller knew the wrestling game was changing in 1985. After a meeting with his partners, brother Robert Fuller, cousin Jimmy Golden and close friend, Bob Armstrong, the decision was made to change the brand from Southeastern to Continental, in order to reflect a more national enterprise, should be opportunity present itself to expand beyond the territory’s borders. For the first time here on the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, we have a territory owner, who can tell us the thoughts and motivations at the time of making the decisions that shaped the territory in 1985, while facing the encroachment of both invaders from the North and old friend and allies from the South. This is the story of Continental Wrestling in 1985 with our new co-host for today’s show, The Tennessee Stud, Ron Fuller. Chapters (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Podcast(00:00:53) - 1985 Territory Review(00:03:47) - A Surprise Birthday Party for 82-Year-Old Mother(00:08:23) - Bumps and Thumps: Gino Hernandez's Passing Anniversary +(00:12:32) - Regional Review: Continental Championship Wrestling(00:13:32) - Tennessee Stud Ron Fuller on His Promotion in 1985(00:18:11) - Vince McMahon Selling Knoxville To Jim Barnett(00:26:37) - Southeastern Championship Wrestling's Brand Change(00:32:34) - Gordon Campbell on WWE's TBS(00:36:07) - Adrian Street Was One of The Lord Humongous's Assist(00:41:23) - Bob Armstrong on His Turn on Jimmy and Continental(00:47:01) - "The Bullet" On His British Wrestling Background(00:47:49) - Les Paul on Working For Tony Charles(00:51:40) - Kevin Sullivan vs New Guinea Headhunters(00:55:58) - Jimmy Golden on The Knife Throw(01:01:43) - Kenny Knoxville on His Traditional Nights(01:07:02) - Ronald Jones on Knoxville, Chattanooga(01:09:57) - 1.8 Million Tickets Sold in 1985(01:12:46) - Ron Welch on Continental Championship Wrestling 1985(01:15:15) - A Taste of 1985(01:17:20) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Facebook Group