🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #36 – The OWF: The Promotion That Almost Changed Portland Wrestling

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #36 – The OWF: The Promotion That Almost Changed Portland WrestlingOne ring.One city.A thousand stories.And this week… the story of the wrestling war that almost changed everything in Oregon. When Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, the envelope sendsFrank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rogers back to 1988 and the rise—and collapse—of the Oregon Wrestling Federation.Billy Jack Haynes had the name.The publicity.The TV deal.The building.And for one brief moment…It looked like Portland Wrestling might finally have realcompetition.The Birth of the OWFThe OWF launched with:• A sold-out debut crowd in Oregon City• TV on Fox 49• Big newspaper coverage• A 30,000 square foot arena• And Billy Jack Haynes promising something bigger and more modern than Portland WrestlingFrank and Mike break down:• Billy’s ambitious plans• Why he called himself the “Pete Rose of Professional Wrestling”• And what Don Owen was likely thinking as a competitor suddenly appeared in his territory for the first time in yearsThe Roster – Familiar Faces and New NamesThe OWF brought together:• Billy Jack Haynes• Rip Oliver• Black Stud Williams (Ray Candy)• Hercules Haggerty (Tugboat)• Corporal Kirschner• Brian Adams• Mike Miller• Coco Samoa• JT Southern• Johnny Ace (John Laurinaitis)• And even future names like The Terminator and Tiger Chung LeeSome were rising stars.Some were veterans.And some were just trying to survive another territory.Real Stories From the Locker RoomThis episode goes beyond match results.Mike shares firsthand stories and interviews from:• Mike Miller• Joey Jackson• And The GrapplerIncluding:• Wrestlers jumping promotions for promised money• The frustrations of working only one night a week• Stiff matches with Hercules Haggerty• Why some wrestlers quickly left the OWF• And how Don Owen quietly waited for the competition to collapseAs the Grappler explains:“You don’t mention the other promotion on TV. All that does is put them over.”Old-school wrestling psychology—inside and outside the ring.From Sellouts to Empty BuildingsThe story of the OWF changes fast.What begins with excitement slowly turns into:• Smaller crowds• Repetitive booking• Missing wrestlers• Financial problems• Unpaid talent• Canceled shows• And confusion over championships, tournaments, and even who was still employedBy the final cards…The dream is barely holding together.Don Owen Fights BackWhile Billy struggled, Don Owen and The Grappler countered with loaded Portland Wrestling cards featuring:• Buddy Rose• Matt Borne• The Assassin• Steve Doll & Scott Peterson• Avalanche• Colonel DeBeers• Curt Hennig• Jimmy Jack Funk• And moreThis episode compares the two promotions week-by-week—showing exactly why one survived… and the other didn’t.Hogan, Magazines, and What Could Have BeenMike also shares the unforgettable story of attending BillyJack’s gym appearance with Hulk Hogan—a massive event that drew thousands and even led to Mike’s photographs appearing on the cover of a national wrestling magazine.For a moment…The OWF really felt like it might work.Special ThanksA special thank you to Rich Patterson for digitizing the original OWF opening audio used in this episode… and to superfan Jody Day for helping preserve and share this piece of Northwest wrestling history. Your work helped bring this story back to life.The OWF lasted only months.But for wrestling fans in Oregon…It remains one of the biggest “what ifs” in Portland Wrestling history.Step into the arena.This is Ringside in Rose City Wrestlingwrestling the way it should be.