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#7527: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1972-11-19, WRGB, 59 min.

ALL STAR WRESTLING
was a WWWF television presentation quickly creating a great following for fans. These television broadcasts consisted of top tier or mid card opponents. The telecasts were taped and neatly edited into one hour programs which were syndicated on many television stations across the country.

The official WWWF logo from 1963 to 1979.

NOTE:
Wrestling From Washington was a twice-weekly wrestling show produced by the Capital Wrestling Corporation owned by Vincent McMahon Sr. Bill Malone was the original host but was replaced by Morris Siegal (1956-1959). In 1959, Ray Morgan became the host and remained until 1970 when McMahon moved the operation to Hamburg, Pennslyvania. Vincent K. McMahon Jr. (McMahon's son) then became the program host.

In New York WRESTLING first aired on WNEW, Channel 5, television on Thursday evenings from 9pm to 11pm with Marty Glickman at ringside from New York City.

Beginning June 21, 1956 to October 8, 1964 WRESTLING FROM WASHINTON took over this time slot. Matches came from the Capitol Arena in D.C.
Archived in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc. are over 30 broadcasts related to above matches airing during the time period February 8, 1962 to October 12, 1963 with Ray Morgan presiding at ringside.

The World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was formed on January 24, 1963. On April 25, 1963, Buddy Rogers was awarded the new WWWF World Heavyweight Championship, supposedly winning an apocryphal tournament in Rio de Janeiro. He lost the championship to Bruno Sammartino a month later on May 17, 1963, after suffering a heart attack shortly before the match. To accommodate Rogers' condition, the match was booked to last under a minute.

Sammartino would retain the title for seven years, eight months and one day (2,803 days), making his the longest continuous world championship reign in men's wrestling history. Although Sammartino was the face of the WWWF, wrestlers such as Superstar Billy Graham and Bob Backlund were also hugely popular.

The WWWF gained notoriety in the 1970s by holding their biggest shows at Shea Stadium or Madison Square Garden and doing strong business across the entire Northeast metlopolis. They leveraged former, but still popular, wrestlers such as Captain Lou Albano, "Grand Wizard of Wrestling" Ernie Roth and "Classy" Freddie Blassie to act as managers for Sammartino's heel (villainous) opponents. At this time, only babyface (fan favorite) wrestlers were allowed to have long championship reigns, such as Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund, who all retained for more than one year each. The heel champions, such as Ivan Koloff and Stan Stasiak, were used to "transition" the championship from one wrestler to another, and they generally kept the title for no more than a single month-long program before dropping it to the next babyface. Graham was the only heel character to keep his championship for longer than one month, as the WWWF felt it needed time to build Backlund up as championship material.

Unlike most of the NWA territories, the main event would occur in the middle of the arena show cards, allowing the company to build upon the match's finish in order to sell tickets to the next event; reliable, popular workers such as Chief Jay Strongbow would then wrestle at the end of the show to send the crowd home happy, as evidenced in this November 19, 1972 TV Audio Air Check, winning his match in only 25 seconds.

WWWF held their then major event Showdown at Shea three times at Flushing, New York's Shea Stadium in 1972, 1976 and 1980. Bruno Sammartino main evented the 1972 and 1980 events, in 1972 wrestling Pedro Morales to a 75 minutes time limit draw and in 1980 defeating Larry Zbyszko in a Steel cage match. The main event of the 1976 event was a Boxer vs Wrestler fight between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki which ended in a draw (See ATA#18077A for the original HBO Special Event complete audio air check broadcast of this fight which was televised four times on HBO, June 27, July 1, 6, and 7th. At that event Bruno Sammartino retained the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship against Stan Hansen, also highlighted on the Ali HBO Special as well as a match between Andre the Giant and heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner.

Toots Mondt left the WWWF in the late sixties, and Vincent J. McMahon assumed complete control of the organization in 1971.

This very early extant WWWF TV broadcast sponsored by
Capital Wrestling Corporation with a young Vince McMahon Jr presiding at ringside and conducting interviews with many of the wrestlers performing on this broadcast is rare.

Match number 1
The Spoiler victorious over Charlie Fulton in 4 minutes 52 seconds.

Match number 2
Chuck O'Connor victorious over Dick (?) Cometti.

Vince McMahon conducts half time interviews with Lou Albano, Chief Jay Strongbow, The Spoiler, who predicts victory against Tony Garea next Monday night at the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany (admission tickets $3.00). Garea talks with McMahon and predicts victory.

Mach number 3
Tony Garea victorious over Bobby Paul in 7minutes & 48 seconds.

Match number 4
Sonny King and El Olympico vs Black Jack Slade and Bobby Burns who lose in in a tag team match in 7 minutes & 45 seconds.

Match number 5
Chief Jay Strongbow victorious over Joe Turco in an amazing 25 seconds of the match.
Vince McMahon interviews Strongbow. and signs off till next time.

Music and voice over credits are heard for this ALL STAR WRESTLING presentation presented through CAPITAL WRESTLING CORPORATION .
Pre-recorded for the entertainment of viewers.

Wrestlers on this broadcast include The Spoiler, El Olympico, Joe Turco, Chief Jay Strongbow, Bobby Burns, Chuck O'Connor, Charlie Fulton, Sony King, Bobby Burns, Bobby Paul, Black Jack Slade, and manager Lou Albano. Ring announcer is Joe McHugh Time keeper is Bill Sands. Referee is Lou Super.

Commercials, include Sammy Davis Jr. for U.S. Airforce, Joan Crawford for MDA, and Bing Crosby for the Arthritis foundation.

NOTE: Most complete ALL STAR WRESTLING television broadcasts prior to 1977 have been wiped and are sadly lost to history with the exception of over 80 existing audio air check recordings originally recorded off the air and archived in the library of Archival Television Audio, Inc.

#7528: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1974-07-28, WRGB, 59 min.

"All Star Wrestling" was a WWWF television show which consisted of top-tier or mid-card opponents. Telecast in most markets weekly on Saturday mornings, 11:00am to Noon, the telecasts were taped and neatly edited into one hour programs which were syndicated. Matches were held mostly at the Hamburg Field House in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Host, interviewer and blow by blow announcer: Vince McMahon Jr.

On this early telecast there are five matches. Ring announcer is Joe McHugh. Freddie Blassie takes a bow at ringside.

Tag team match number 1:
S.D. Jones and Mike Wayne vs Killer Kowalski and Nikolai Volkoff who win in 6 minutes, 43 seconds.

Match number 2:
Lee Wong vs Strong Kobayashi who is declared the winner.

At halftime Vince McMahon Jr. interviews Haystacks Calhoun, Dean Ho, and Tony Garea discussing upcoming three out of five, two hour time limit tag team match against the Grand Wizard, Killer Kowalski, and the Valiant Brothers (Handsome Jim and Luscious John) whom McMahon also interviews and their manager Lou Albano.

Match number 3:
Ruja Woods vs winner of this match, John Tolos in 2:06 minutes.

Match number 4:
Tag team match - Thomas Marion and Ed Sullivan vs winners Larry Zbyszko and Haystacks Calhoun in 7:21. Vince McMahon Jr. discusses the match in progress at ringside with Bruno Sammartino.

Match number 5:
Gentleman Jim and Ruben Ayala in a tag team match vs the tag team champions of the world the Valiant Brothers who win in 7:32.

Vince McMahon invites his TV audience to tune in again next week for All Star Wrestling

#5512: TOMORROW SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, THE

1975-11-06, WNBC, 60 min.

"The Tomorrow Show" with Tom Snyder is NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

October 15, 1973-January 28, 1982. This broadcast featured a discussion on professional wrestling. An hour-long talk show hosted by Tom Snyder. Network television's first entry into late-late-night programming on weeknights Monday thru Thursday, usually broadcasting on tape 1 AM to 2 AM. "Tomorrow" was expanded to 90 minutes on September 16, 1980.

#6331: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1975-11-08, WSBK, 59 min.

"All Star Wrestling" was a WWF television show which consisted of top-tier or mid-card opponents. The telecasts were taped and neatly edited into one hour programs which were syndicated. All matches were held at the Hamburg Field House in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Host & narrator was Vince McMahon Jr.   

This television audio air check was broadcast on Channel 38 WSBK Boston, Saturday afternoon, November 8, 1975, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.

WWWF All Star Wrestling 11/8/75 (WSBK Boston feed airdate) (taped 10/8/75-original airdate 10/25/75)
Intro
Vince McMahon opening
-commercials
Joe McHugh intro
Pete Sanchez vs. Jack Evans
-commercials
Johnny Rodz vs. Randy Poffo
-commercials
Promos for Boston 11/29 - Vince McMahon interviews Bruno Sammartino / Superstar Billy Graham & Grand Wizard
-commercials
Ivan Koloff vs. Gentleman Jim & Ed White
-commercials
Kevin Sullivan vs. Mike Thomas
-commercials
Pat McGuinness vs. Bugsy McGraw
Vince McMahon closing


NOTE: 
Vince McMahon interviews Bruno Sanmartino who discusses his recent loss to Billy Graham and upcoming scheduled rematch.

#7544: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1975-12-14, WRGB, 57 min.

"All Star Wrestling" was a WWF television show which consisted of top tier or mid card opponents. The telecasts were taped and neatly edited into one hour programs which were syndicated. All matches were held at the Hamburg Field House in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Host & ringside commentators are Vince McMahon Jr. and Antonino Rocca.

NOTE: Interesting flub by Vince McMahon opening up the telecasts when he states "Welcome to CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING." Correctly the show we are watching is ALL STAR WRESTLING.   

A new musical opening is introduced at the beginning and at the end of the program. 

WWWF All Star Wrestling 12/14/75 (WRGB Albany feed airdate) (taped 10/29/75-original airdate 11/8/75)
Intro
Vince McMahon & Antonino Rocca opening
-commercials
Joe McHugh intro
Tony Parisi & Louis Cerdan vs. Frank Monte & Johnny Rodz
-commercials
Crusher Blackwell vs. Sylvano Sousa
-commercials
Promos for Albany 12/26 - Vince McMahon interviews Tony Parisi & Louis Cerdan / Spiros Arion, Superstar Billy Graham & Grand Wizard
-commercials
Bruno Sammartino vs. Baron Mikel Scicluna
-commercials
Spiros Arion & Bugsy McGraw vs. Pat Barrett & Dominic DeNucci
-commercials
Kevin Sullivan vs. Pete Reeves
Vince McMahon & Antonino Rocca closing

#7561: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1976-06-06, WRGB, 59 min.

"All Star Wrestling" was a WWF television show which consisted of top tier or mid card opponents. The telecasts were taped and neatly edited into one hour programs which were syndicated. All matches were held at the Hamburg Field House in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Hosts and commentators are Vince McMahon and Antonino Rocca.

Interviews include those with Bruno Sammartino, Haystacks Calhoun and Kevin Sullivan. In match #4 between Jose Gonzalez and Ivan Putski teaming up to wrestle Ivan Koloff and Billy Graham, who are both disqualified at the end of the match, a huge free for all evolves with Ivan Putski yelling to the crowd with venom.

NOTE: Included are commercials. Muhammad Ali discusses his upcoming wrestling / boxing match with Antonino Inoki.

-WWWF All Star Wrestling 6/6/76 (WRGB Albany feed airdate) (taped 4/21/76-original airdate 5/1/76)
Intro
Vince McMahon & Antonino Rocca opening
Promo for Shea 6/25 - Vince McMahon interviews Bruno Sammartino
-commercials
Joe McHugh intro
Bobo Brazil vs. Pete Austin
-commercials
Louis Cerdan vs. Skandor Akbar
-commercials
Vince McMahon ringside interview with Haystacks Calhoun & Kevin Sullivan
Johnny Rivera vs. Jose Estrada
-commercials
Ivan Putski & Jose Gonzalez vs. Ivan Koloff & Superstar Billy Graham
Promo for Shea 6/25 - Vince McMahon interviews Muhammad Ali
-commercials
Haystacks Calhoun & Kevin Sullivan vs. Johnny Rodz & Rocky Tomayo
Vince McMahon & Antonio Rocco closing

#18077A: HBO WRESTLING SPECIAL EVENT: MUHAMMAD ALI VS ANTONIO INOKI: BRUNO SANNMARTINO VS STAN HANSEN, ANDRE THE GIANT VS CHUCK WEPNER

1976-07-07, HBO, 54 min.

HBO SPECIAL BROADCAST of an exhibition contest promoted at Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadow Queens, NY. A Top Rank Production.

-WWWF from Shea Stadium on HBO 7/7/76 (taped 6/25/76)
Vince McMahon intro
Bruno Sammartino vs. Stan Hansen - WWWF World Championship match
Andre the Giant vs. Chuck Wepner - wrestler vs. boxer
Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali - wrestler vs. boxer

First match is for the WWWF championship. It is fought within a steel cage. Bruno Sammartino vs Stan Hansen who fails to continue to fight after 10 minutes 19 seconds of the bout. Vince McMahon and Antonino Rocca call the match.

Second contest is between New Jersey Heavyweight Champion, Chuck Wepner and undefeated Wrestling champion Andre the Giant who is victorious winning in the third round (1 minute & 15 Seconds). Vince McMahon and Antonino Rocca call the match.

Final attraction for those in attendance at Shea Stadium is viewing on a large screen an event that occurred live on June 26, 1976.

Attendees at Shea Stadium view (pay by view admission) on the big screen from Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan heavyweight champion of the world Muhammad Ali take on Japanese wrestling champion Antonio Inoki who has been staging exhibition fights against champions of various martial arts, in an attempt to show that pro wrestling is the dominant fighting discipline.

Broadcast at 12:30am on its final HBO TV CABLE re-run, July 7, 1976.
Rounds number 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13, & 15 are telecast.
The fight is a draw! Fans are upset as is Ali.

HBO signs off the air.

NOTE: While Bruno Sammartino vs Stan Hansen and Andre the Giant vs Chuck Wepner matches are uploaded to you tube it is shown not with the ringside commentary of Vince McMahon and Antonino Rocca.

NOTE: There are a few moments in the broadcast where audio speed is compromised for only a few seconds.

HBO is the oldest and longest continuously operating subscription television service in the United States. HBO pioneered modern pay television upon its launch on November 8, 1972.

November 27, 1972
THE FIRST WRESTLING MATCH TELEVISED ON HBO, PRIOR TO GOING NATIONAL IN SEPTEMBER 1975.

Time
8:30pm Wrestling Live from Madison Square Garden
Pedro Morales vs. Ray Stevens
Verne Gagne vs. Buddy Wolf
Black Gordman vs. Sonny King
Tony Garea vs. Chuck O'Connor
Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka vs. Gorilla Monsoon & Chief Jay Strongbow

It was the first television service to be directly transmitted and distributed to individual cable television systems, and was the conceptual blueprint for the "premium channel," pay television services sold to subscribers for an extra monthly fee that do not accept traditional advertising and present their programming without editing for objectionable material. It eventually became the first television channel in the world to begin transmitting via satellite—expanding the growing regional pay service, originally available to cable and multipoint distribution service (MDS) providers in the northern Mid-Atlantic and southern New England, into a national television network—in September 1975.

-WWWF from Shea Stadium on HBO 7/7/76 (taped 6/25/76)
Vince McMahon intro
Bruno Sammartino vs. Stan Hansen - WWWF World Championship match
Andre the Giant vs. Chuck Wepner - wrestler vs. boxer
Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali - wrestler vs. boxer

#8250: HBO WRESTLING

1976-10-30, HBO, 120 min.

Vince McMahon calls the matches of the World Wrestling Federation. Bouts include Johnny Rodz vs. Manuel Soto, Pete Sanchez vs. Kevin Sullivan, Gashouse Gilbert vs. Bobo Brazil, Jose Gonzalez vs. Tor Kamata, Stan Hansen vs. Ivan Putski, Baron Scicluna vs.Victor Rivera, World Wrestling Federation champion Bruno Sammartino vs. Nicolai Volkoff, Executioner I and II and Bruiser Brody vs, Chief Jay Strongbow, Billy White Wolf, and Andre the Giant in a triple tag team match.

Matches took place on October 25th, 1976.

#8251: HBO WRESTLING

1976-10-30, HBO, 120 min.

Gordon Solie and Vince McMahon call the matches on this early HBO WRESTLING SPECIAL. 

 #8251: HBO WRESTLING 
1976-10-30, HBO, 120 min.
Announcers for these HBO matches presented monthly were Gordon Solie and Vince McMahon.
 
This broadcast has eight matches.
1-Johnny Rodz vs Manuel Soto
2- Pete Sanchez vs Kevin Sullivan    
3- Gashouse Gilbert vs Bobo Brazil  
4- Jose Gonzsalez vs Tor Kamata
5- Stan Hansen vs Ivan Putski         
6- Baron Scicluna vs Victor Rivera
7- Bruno Sammartino vs Nicolai Volkoff
8- Executioner 1 & 2 and Bruiser Brody vs
Chief Jay Strongbow, Billy Whitewolf and 
Andre The Giant. (Triple tag team match).

#8252: HBO WRESTLING

1977-01-22, HBO, 150 min.

Professional Wrestling from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Bouts include Johnny Rodz vs. Greg Gagne, Gashouse Gilbert vs. Don Serrano, Baron Miguel Sicluna vs. Pat Patterson, Manuel Soto and Dominick Dinucci vs.Tor Kamata and Nikolai Volkoff, WWF champion Bruno Sammartino vs. challenger Ken Patera in a championship match, tag-team champions Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf vs. Executioners I and II in a tag-team championship match (2 out of 3 falls), Ivan Putski vs. Bruiser Brody, Stan Stasiak vs. Bo Bo Brazil. Vince McMahon calls the matches.

#8253: HBO WRESTLING: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPECIAL #1

1977-03-07, HBO, 142 min.

Vince McMahon calls 10 matches of this Special broadcast presentation.  WWWF live wrestling from Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

This HBO live feed air check has no commercials. The opening five minutes is missing. Otherwise a complete 2 hour and 22 minute archived broadcast including HBO sign-off. 


Bouts include Jose Gonzalez vs. Don Kent, Johnny Rodz vs. Gino Hernandez, Executioner II vs. Carlos Rocha, Executioner I vs. Ivan Putski, Gas House Gilbert vs. Larry Zbysko, Champion Bruno Sammartino vs. challenger Ken Patera in a championship match, Jan Nelson vs. Bo Bo Brazil, Pete Doherty vs. Dusty Rhodes, Tony Garea vs. Baron Miguel Sicluna, tag-team champions Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf vs. challengers Tor Kamata and Stan Stasiak in a tag-team championship match. 

Ring announcer: Howard Finkel.

Referee: John Stanley. Guest Referee: Gorilla Monsoon. 

WWWF MSG Show (Mar '77 #1)
Date: Mon, Mar 7th 1977
United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	Promotion: WWWF
	 
Star Matches for MSG Show (Mar '77 #1)
no.	10 Matches - 20 minute time limits	
1	Don Kent	-    Draw	- Jose Gonzales		 		
2	Gino Hernandez	Def.	Johnny Rodz		 		
3	Larry Zbyszko	Def.	Doug Gilbert		 		
4	Bobo Brazil	Def.	Jan Nelson		 		
5	Carlos Rocha	Def.	Executioner #2		 		
6	Ivan Putski	Def.	Executioner #1		 		
7	Tony Garea	Def.	Baron Mikel Scicluna		 		
8	Dusty Rhodes	Def.	Rocky Tamayo		 		
9	Billy White Wolf (C) & Chief Jay Strongbow (C)	Def.	Stan Stasiak & Tor Kamata		 	WWWF International Tag Team Titles
10	Bruno Sammartino (C)	Def.	Ken Patera		Referee: Gorilla Monsoon 	WWWF World Heavyweight Title

#8254: HBO WRESTLING

1977-03-28, HBO, 140 min.

Vince McMahon calls the matches. 
Joined in progress. Bouts include Johnny Rodz vs. Jay Nelson, SD Jones vs. Jose Gonzalez, Carlos Rocha vs. Baron Miguel Sicluna, Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Executioner # II, Little John and Billy The Kid Vs. The Hillbilly Kid and The Hattie Kid,
Baron Von Raschke vs. Bruno Sammartino in a championship match, Tony Garea vs. Gashouse Gilbert, Tor Kamata vs. Dusty Rhodes, Larry Zbysko and Ivan Putski vs. Ken Patera and Stan Stasiak, Billy White Wolf vs. Executioner # I.  

NOTE:
Variations in sound quality at times.

#8255: HBO WRESTLING

1977-05-16, HBO, 134 min.

Vince McMahon calls the matches of the World Wrestling Federation from Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Bouts include, joined in progress, Carlos Rocha victory vs. Jan Nelson, Ron Mickolaczk (Debut at Madison Square Garden) victory vs. Gashouse Gilbert, Baron Von Raschke vs. Ivan Putski, fight to a draw,  George "The Animal" Steele vs. victor Bruno Sammartino, Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Ken Patera, fight to a draw, World Heavyweight champion "Superstar" Billy Graham victorious vs. Gorilla Monsoon in a world title match, Indian Billy White Wolf victorious vs. "Rocky" Tamayo, Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko take the first two matches, victorious, vs. Stan Stasiak and Nicolai Volkoff in a tag-team title match. 

NOTE: These early SPECIAL HBO WRESTLING telecasts were scheduled approximately once every month with ring "color commentator" announcer, Vince McMahon who interviews Billy Graham.

13 records found for Bruno Sammartino

#7527: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1972-11-19, WRGB, 59 min.

#7528: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1974-07-28, WRGB, 59 min.

#5512: TOMORROW SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, THE

1975-11-06, WNBC, 60 min.

#6331: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1975-11-08, WSBK, 59 min.

#7544: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1975-12-14, WRGB, 57 min.

#7561: ALL STAR WRESTLING

1976-06-06, WRGB, 59 min.

#18077A: HBO WRESTLING SPECIAL EVENT: MUHAMMAD ALI VS ANTONIO INOKI: BRUNO SANNMARTINO VS STAN HANSEN, ANDRE THE GIANT VS CHUCK WEPNER

1976-07-07, HBO, 54 min.

#8250: HBO WRESTLING

1976-10-30, HBO, 120 min.

#8251: HBO WRESTLING

1976-10-30, HBO, 120 min.

#8252: HBO WRESTLING

1977-01-22, HBO, 150 min.

#8253: HBO WRESTLING: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPECIAL #1

1977-03-07, HBO, 142 min.

#8254: HBO WRESTLING

1977-03-28, HBO, 140 min.

#8255: HBO WRESTLING

1977-05-16, HBO, 134 min.