Search

We offer our script notes before Vinnie fires the director!

 

WWE Goes Nationwide Bringing an End to Regional Promotions

Prior to the early 1980s, pro wrestling was run by regional wrestling promotions, splitting up the country by territories. WWE (WWF at the time) controlled the Northeast region; American Wrestling Association (AWA) ran the Midwest out of Minnesota, and Jim Crockett’s National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), based in North Carolina, dominated the South. There were more but these were the power players.

The gentleman’s handshake or understanding between promoters was that they wouldn’t invade each other’s territories or poach talent away. Vince McMahon, however, had other plans.

After buying the company from his father, Vince started his plan to turn WWF into a national brand. He signed stars from other promotions like when he raided AWA taking Hulk Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Vince became the “Bad Guy” in the wrestling world by breaking long set rules and aggressively pushing his product into other territories.

In what’s now known as “Black Saturday” Vince started showing WWF wrestling on TBS in a spot formerly held by Georgia Championship Wrestling. Ahead of the curve and with a grand vision for what WWE is now, the movie needs to spotlight Vince’s cold-blooded business skills, letting us see all of the backstage drama.

23 66 13
Close

Press esc to close.
Close
Press esc to close.
Close

Connecting to your webcam.

You may be prompted by your browser for permission.