EPISODE · Apr 8, 2026 · 2H 47M
Episode 56: 1976 Territory Review, St. Louis, Missouri
from Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show · host Tony Richards
Welcome everyone to the kick-off episode of our 1976 Territory Review Series! We will start our tour of the territories in ouir bicentennial year in the wrestling capital of the world, St. Louis, Missouri. In 1976, St. Louis was still going strong in the second year of the Fragmentation Era of the Territory Era in Pro Wrestling. Sam Muchnick had been retired as President of the National Wrestling Alliance for about six months, but in St. Louis, he was still very active and going strong as a promoter locally. Shows at the Kiel Auditorium were drawing between 8,000 and 10,500 for most big shows, they took July off from house shows, experienced a little lull in the Fall but were rolling again by Thanksgiving. The new NWA World Champion, Terry Funk was drawing well in The Gateway City, along with the other major names in the NWA such as other NWA World Champions brother Dory, Jr., Harley Race, and Jack Brisco. Also special supplementation by former NWA World Champion and booker Pat O’Connor as challenger and special referee. The other primary push would be for Bob Backlund, which we will explain during the show. My two special co-hosts for this trip in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel will be SICW Promoter Herb Simmons and Califlower Aller Board Member, Darla Staggs. Herb is once again presenting Fan Fest IV this year, just outside St. Louis in Fairview Heights, Illinois. We will talk about the wide array of superstars who will appear there as well as this year’s inductees to the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame. Herb will also share his memories of the cards at the Kiel in 1976. Darla Staggs works tirelessly as a productive member and driving force in the Caulfiflower Alley Club in assisting members of our wrestling community who need assistance. Darla also was a lifelong fan who attended here first Kiel Auditorium card as just a baby, then grew up as a fan going to shows and attending television tapings for Wrestling At The Chaase on KPLR-TV. Join us as we travel back in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel this week to the historic Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri for Terry Funk World Championship title defenses, epic Funk and Brisco battles and a tag team match that may be one of the greatest of all time in the squared circle in the history of St. Louis Wrestling. And that takes in some ground! Enjoy this awesome ride as we kick off our 1976 Series in the Pro Wrestling Territory History Show! Chapters (00:00:02) - Podcast(00:00:35) - St. Louis Pro Wrestling History(00:06:46) - Tony Richards: My Facebook and Instagram Accounts Suspended(00:09:19) - Facebook: My Daughter's Facebook Account Gets Shut Down(00:11:32) - Eric Westland Remembered on ICW Podcast(00:21:16) - Herb Simmons(00:22:05) - St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame Announcement(00:31:15) - SICW 53th Anniversary(00:32:36) - Rich Engling(00:38:34) - Larry Matazek on His Last Book(00:41:07) - Fan Fest 2013(00:46:53) - Glendon Williams on His Hall of Fame Match(00:53:49) - Butch Reed Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame(00:58:30) - St. Louis Wrestling FanFest 4(00:59:29) - Sam Backstage: Terry Funk in St. Louis(01:08:19) - Sam Hill on St. Louis(01:15:34) - Give and Take in Pro Wrestling(01:21:20) - St. Louis Wrestling FanFest 4(01:22:50) - Terry Funk vs Pat O'Connor St. Louis(01:32:50) - NWA Wrestling in St. Louis(01:40:29) - 1976(01:43:17) - Darla Staggs On The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Podcast(01:44:28) - Cauliflower Alley Legends Association(01:50:34) - St. Louis Wrestling's Legends(01:53:03) - Jack Briscoe In St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame(01:54:19) - Jack Briscoe vs. Dorie Funk(01:55:36) - Terry's St. Louis Championship Run(02:03:53) - Sam Mushnick Was Also the NWA President-St. Louis(02:12:18) - Bruno Sammartino Didn't Sell In St. Louis(02:17:33) - St. Louis Wrestling Legends(02:21:43) - What's A Night at the Keel Auditorium?(02:25:56) - Sam Hill's Season Ticket(02:33:15) - He Bought Cheap Seats For The Cardinals(02:34:40) - St. Louis Wrestling(02:41:44) - TRAVEL IN THE TIME TUNEL
What this episode covers
Welcome everyone to the kick-off episode of our 1976 Territory Review Series! We will start our tour of the territories in ouir bicentennial year in the wrestling capital of the world, St. Louis, Missouri. In 1976, St. Louis was still going strong in the second year of the Fragmentation Era of the Territory Era in Pro Wrestling. Sam Muchnick had been retired as President of the National Wrestling Alliance for about six months, but in St. Louis, he was still very active and going strong as a promoter locally. Shows at the Kiel Auditorium were drawing between 8,000 and 10,500 for most big shows, they took July off from house shows, experienced a little lull in the Fall but were rolling again by Thanksgiving. The new NWA World Champion, Terry Funk was drawing well in The Gateway City, along with the other major names in the NWA such as other NWA World Champions brother Dory, Jr., Harley Race, and Jack Brisco. Also special supplementation by former NWA World Champion and booker Pat O’Connor as challenger and special referee. The other primary push would be for Bob Backlund, which we will explain during the show. My two special co-hosts for this trip in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel will be SICW Promoter Herb Simmons and Califlower Aller Board Member, Darla Staggs. Herb is once again presenting Fan Fest IV this year, just outside St. Louis in Fairview Heights, Illinois. We will talk about the wide array of superstars who will appear there as well as this year’s inductees to the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame. Herb will also share his memories of the cards at the Kiel in 1976. Darla Staggs works tirelessly as a productive member and driving force in the Caulfiflower Alley Club in assisting members of our wrestling community who need assistance. Darla also was a lifelong fan who attended here first Kiel Auditorium card as just a baby, then grew up as a fan going to shows and attending television tapings for Wrestling At The Chaase on KPLR-TV. Join us as we travel back in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel this week to the historic Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri for Terry Funk World Championship title defenses, epic Funk and Brisco battles and a tag team match that may be one of the greatest of all time in the squared circle in the history of St. Louis Wrestling. And that takes in some ground! Enjoy this awesome ride as we kick off our 1976 Series in the Pro Wrestling Territory History Show!
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Episode 56: 1976 Territory Review, St. Louis, Missouri
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