This week, we’re firing up the Time Tunnel and heading straight into the heart of the Carolinas and Virginia territory for a full-hour celebration of Jim Crockett Promotions in 1976 – America’s Bicentennial year, when the red, white, and blue was flying high and the squared circle in the Mid-Atlantic was on absolute fire. Joining me is one of the sharpest wrestling historians around when it comes to the JCP territory: Todd Goss!Todd knows this era inside and out – the arenas, the angles, the promos, the blood, the sweat, and the unforgettable crowds that packed the Greensboro Coliseum, Charlotte Coliseum, Richmond Coliseum, and every armory in between. We’re going to flashback to a year that helped shape the future of the business, when a young “Nature Boy” Ric Flair was just beginning to strut his stuff and legends like Wahoo McDaniel were proving why they were must-see TV every Saturday afternoon.The Major Wrestlers Who Defined JCP 1976

• Ric Flair: Still early in his “Nature Boy” journey but already a heat magnet and multiple-time NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion. Flair was trading the title back and forth with Wahoo in one of the greatest rivalries the territory ever saw.
• Wahoo McDaniel: The ultimate babyface hero – tough, no-nonsense, and ready to chop anyone in half. Wahoo held the Mid-Atlantic title multiple times in ’76 and was the man the fans rallied behind
• Gene & Ole Anderson (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew): Arguably the greatest tag team of the era. They were NWA World Tag Team Champions for much of the year, defending against all comers with their signature roughhouse style.
• Dino Bravo & Tim Woods (Mr. Wrestling): The duo that actually dethroned the Andersons for the World Tag titles in a huge upset before the epic back-and-forth began.
• Blackjack Mulligan: The dominant NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, running roughshod over challengers like Paul Jones and Rufus R. “Freight Train” Jones.
• Angelo Mosca: Long-reigning Mid-Atlantic TV Champion who brought the chaos.
• Rufus R. Jones: The beloved “Freight Train” who was right in the middle of the hottest six-man tag wars.
• Plus newcomers who would become huge: Greg Valentine (billed as Johnny Valentine’s “brother,” already breaking boards with that bionic elbow) and the mysterious Masked Superstar (Bill Eadie) debuting late in the year.

We’re talking blood feuds, lumberjack matches, hair-vs-hair stipulations, and the kind of old-school heat that made JCP one of the hottest territories in the entire NWA. Todd and I will break down the big matches, the TV angles that hooked the fans every week on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, and how 1976 set the stage for the explosive growth that would come later in the decade.Whether you lived through these Saturday afternoon TV tapings or you’re discovering this era for the first time, this episode is a must-listen for any fan who loves real territorial wrestling history.Tune in this week to the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show as I sit down with Todd Goss for a complete 1976 JCP time capsule – the wrestlers, the feuds, the angles, the matches, and the Bicentennial spirit that made it all unforgettable.Let’s take the ride back through the Time Tunnel together.

• (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast
• (00:01:34) - Fighting Legends: Jim Laundis and More
• (00:04:32) - WWE Championship Wrestling
• (00:10:09) - Paul Jones vs Terry Funk
• (00:16:26) - George Scott vs Rich Homie
• (00:22:31) - Interview
• (00:23:58) - Was Jack Briscoe the First NWA Champion to Wrestle on
• (00:25:48) - Dusty Had Trouble Getting Over In The Crockett territory
• (00:28:30) - The IWA Was A Different Kind Of Wrestling
• (00:34:57) - Charlie Babb on The IWA
• (00:41:17) - Chris Blackwell in the Minneapolis
• (00:41:56) - Ali Anoki vs Rocky Marciano
• (00:43:18) - The Murnick Family
• (00:47:03) - Andre the Giant vs Blackjack Mulligan
• (00:52:12) - The Mass Superstar in WWE
• (00:54:40) - Greg Valentine Worked For The IWA In Florida (2008)
• (01:00:56) - Ruffien Flair vs Paul Jones
• (01:02:17) - Mr. Wrestling vs Rick Valentine
• (01:07:04) - Terry Briscoe on The IWA World Championship Match
• (01:12:26) - Former WWE World Champion Harley Harley on His Time as Champion
• (01:16:29) - Jack Briscoe vs Nick Bachwinkle
• (01:19:55) - Jim Crockett Promotions: A Good Year
• (01:22:24) - Tony Atlas on His Career
• (01:24:42) - TRAVEL THROUGH THE TIME TUNELESS
• (01:27:41) - Deadly Weapon Soap

From Territories to Towns, Personalities to Buildings – Every Era Comes Alive Again

In this special bonus episode of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, I am joined by two legendary wrestling media veterans: former WWE Magazine editor and historian Brian R. Solomon, and Bob Smith of the iconic London Publishing Group. Drawing on their deep media experience — along with the host’s own background in radio and television — the trio delivers a fascinating deep-dive into the profound influence of television pioneer Ted Turner on professional wrestling. From the birth of Georgia Championship Wrestling to early Superstation days that brought wrestling into millions of American homes to the creation of WCW and the cable-television revolution that forever changed the industry, this episode uncovers how one man’s bold vision turned pro wrestling into a national phenomenon. A must-listen for wrestling historians, media fans, and anyone who wants to understand the real story behind the rise of modern wrestling television.

• (00:00:02) - PODCAST: Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (00:00:34) - Ted Turner's Passing
• (00:04:13) - Bob Turner on Ted Turner
• (00:11:12) - Wrestling on UHF Stations
• (00:16:38) - Ted Turner's Obituary
• (00:22:13) - Georgia Championship Wrestling
• (00:27:38) - Jim Barnett on World Championship Wrestling
• (00:33:00) - Bob Barnett on Ted Turner and His Controlling Style
• (00:37:05) - What If Bill Watts and Ted Turner Would Have teamed up?
• (00:44:30) - Paul Heyman on Ted Turner's Wrestling
• (00:50:55) - Ted Turner and Ric Flair
• (00:55:38) - Vince McMahon on The Monday Night Wars With Ted Turner
• (01:01:03) - Steve Austin on Hulk Hogan's Declining Power
• (01:03:43) - Top 10 Greatest Heel Turns
• (01:09:28) - Final Thoughts on Ted Turner
• (01:11:15) - Favorite Moments of Wrestling on TBS
• (01:15:30) - Bob Downey on Ted Turner
• (01:21:23) - Grizzly Up Soap Company
• (01:22:54) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel

The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Territory History Show returns with Episode 60 and the debut of an exciting new series: “Towns of the Tennessee Territory.”

This week I am joined on the show by special guest Sean Dulaney — the leading historian and author of the acclaimed The History of Professional Wrestling in Evansville book series — for the series premiere. Together we spotlight the town I used to go to on Wednesday night for Gulas-Welch Company wrestling, Evansville, Indiana, one of the most important stops on the classic Memphis/Tennessee territory circuit.

Drawing on Dulaney’s deep archival research, the episode explores Evansville’s territorial-era legacy: the major promoters, unforgettable nights at the Evansville Coliseum, the stars who regularly passed through town, and the city’s unique place in the broader Tennessee territory story. This new series will run alongside the popular ongoing 1976 Territory Review Series, giving fans always distinct deep dives into the golden age of regional wrestling each week.

Don’t miss the launch of “Towns of the Tennessee Territory” — available now on all major podcast platforms, YouTube, and the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Substack.

Step into the Time Tunnel and discover the towns that built the territories!

• (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: Territory History Podcast
• (00:00:52) - Kentucky Derby: My Picks and More
• (00:05:15) - History of Evansville, Indiana
• (00:08:29) - Sean Delaney At Herb Simmons Fan Fest
• (00:16:01) - WWE in Evansville
• (00:22:30) - Balkan on His Time in Evansville
• (00:32:44) - Evansville Wrestling in the 70s
• (00:42:56) - Phil Golden on Jarrett's Owensboro Incident
• (00:52:00) - George on The Von Brauners
• (00:57:13) - Dr. Ralph Wilson
• (01:07:33) - A Taste of WWE in Evansville
• (01:08:07) - Billy Gibbon at FanFest 4
• (01:14:53) - The IBEW Hall. That's it, man. Have a nice evening
• (01:15:01) - Pro Wrestling History of the Tennessee Territory
• (01:17:55) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel