EPISODE · Feb 25, 2026 · 1H 45M
Episode 50: The 1985 Territory Review, Mid-South Wrestling
from Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show · host Tony Richards
We are in the middle of our “1985 Territory Review” Series! Its a a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. In order to add context on where 1985 falls in the spectrum of the territory era of professional wrestling, here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth 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 as the Disintegration Stage gets started. By the time we reach the halfway point in this stage, 1990, only a bare thread of the vast network of wrestling territories will remain. By the end of the Disintegration Stage, 1995, only one territory, in Memphis, is barely breathing, and by 1997 would be gone. One of the strongest territories left in 1985 was Mid-South Wrestling, which started off 1985, much the way 1984 ended, very strong. Bill Watts, due to his over a decade long relationship with Ted Turner, which was established during the Georgia Wrestling War in 1972, had secured a spot for his Mid-South Show on WTBS. Not only was the show performing, but there were talks of Watts and Turner teaming up to promote shows together. But in stepped Jim Barnett and Jim Crockett, worked out a deal to get Jim Crockett Promotions show on WTBS in place of the WWF and also secure exclusive rights to wrestling on the channel, which left Watts out in the cold. This was more than likely the beginning of Mid-South’s decline, as Watts own interest in pro wrestling was slowly waning. Coming off a highly successful year in 1984, wanting to put more time and energy in his family and looking for new worlds to conquer, all made pro wrestling struggle to get Watts’ attention. On today’s show, we take a look back at the year of 1985 as I am joined by frequent guest co-host Greg Klein, who details a lot of Mid-South history on his own show, Greg Klein’s Old School Rasslin Talk. We hope you will come along for the ride as we take the Time Tunnel back to 1985 and Mid-South Wrestling! Chapters (00:00:02) - Podcast(00:00:34) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast(00:05:42) - Time Tunnel: A Guest Appreciation(00:06:48) - An audience in every state in the United States(00:09:15) - The Top 5 States That Listen To Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History(00:10:34) - 1985 Territory Review(00:11:34) - 1985 Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Match(00:12:20) - 1985(00:23:08) - NWA Mid-South(00:23:55) - Brad Armstrong(00:28:40) - Junkyard Dog vs Ric Flair(00:33:23) - UWF on TBS 1985(00:43:56) - The New Starrcade(00:44:30) - Rock and Roll Express vs The Guerreros(00:48:20) - Jake Roberts vs Ted DiBiase(00:53:17) - Dibiase Turn In Mid-South Wrestling(00:57:27) - Dibiase vs Butch Reed(01:06:33) - "The WWF Is Changing The Look of Everything"(01:07:20) - The Announcing Team in 1985(01:12:23) - Jake and the Barbarian in Houston(01:21:24) - The Snowman and the Fantastics(01:24:54) - UWF 1985(01:30:57) - Bill Crockett on The Dusty Angle(01:38:38) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: How to Support The Show(01:43:02) - Ian Douglas Sponsors His Ring In the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame(01:45:04) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Podcast
What this episode covers
We are in the middle of our “1985 Territory Review” Series! Its a a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. In order to add context on where 1985 falls in the spectrum of the territory era of professional wrestling, here is my historical framework entitled: “Stages of Growth 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 as the Disintegration Stage gets started. By the time we reach the halfway point in this stage, 1990, only a bare thread of the vast network of wrestling territories will remain. By the end of the Disintegration Stage, 1995, only one territory, in Memphis, is barely breathing, and by 1997 would be gone. One of the strongest territories left in 1985 was Mid-South Wrestling, which started off 1985, much the way 1984 ended, very strong. Bill Watts, due to his over a decade long relationship with Ted Turner, which was established during the Georgia Wrestling War in 1972, had secured a spot for his Mid-South Show on WTBS. Not only was the show performing, but there were talks of Watts and Turner teaming up to promote shows together. But in stepped Jim Barnett and Jim Crockett, worked out a deal to get Jim Crockett Promotions show on WTBS in place of the WWF and also secure exclusive rights to wrestling on the channel, which left Watts out in the cold. This was more than likely the beginning of Mid-South’s decline, as Watts own interest in pro wrestling was slowly waning. Coming off a highly successful year in 1984, wanting to put more time and energy in his family and looking for new worlds to conquer, all made pro wrestling struggle to get Watts’ attention. On today’s show, we take a look back at the year of 1985 as I am joined by frequent guest co-host Greg Klein, who details a lot of Mid-South history on his own show, Greg Klein’s Old School Rasslin Talk. We hope you will come along for the ride as we take the Time Tunnel back to 1985 and Mid-South Wrestling!
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Episode 50: The 1985 Territory Review, Mid-South Wrestling
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