Big Time Wrestling (Detroit)

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This article is about the wrestling promotion based in Detroit, Michigan from 1964 to 1980. For the wrestling promotion based in Boston, Massachusetts from 1960 to 1975, see
Big Time Wrestling (Dallas). For the promotion based in San Francisco, California from 1961 to 1981, see Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco). For other promotions of the same name, see Big Time Wrestling
.
Big Time Wrestling
ParentHarry Light Wrestling Office
(1945–1959)[2][1]
Barnett-Doyle Corporation
(1959–1964)[1][2]
World Wide Sports
(1964–1980)[1]
FormerlyNWA Detroit

Big Time Wrestling (also known as NWA Detroit) was a

promotion headquartered in Detroit, Michigan in the United States.[1]

History

Professional wrestling debuted in Detroit in the 1920s when Nick Londos began promoting events in the Detroit Olympia. Londos was succeeded by Adam Weissmueller, then by Louis Markowitz. By the 1930s, multiple promoters were competing in the territory.[2]

In the aftermath of

World Heavyweight Champion who would travel the country wrestling in each territory.[3] By the 1950s, Light - along with his business partners Jack Britton and Bert Ruby - controlled professional wrestling in Detroit[4] and Big Time Wrestling on WXYZ-TV Channel 7 was one of the most popular programs airing in Detroit.[5][6]

In 1959, Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle (supported by backers such as Frank Tunney) formed a holding company, the Barnett-Doyle Corporation, and began promoting in Detroit, buying-out Light. Barnett and Doyle were originally "outlaw" promoters but the territory later rejoined the National Wrestling Alliance.[2]

In 1964, professional wrestler

Cobo Arena) from Barnett and Doyle for $50,000 (equivalent to $491,202 in 2023), controlling it through "World Wide Sports" (a holding company they created). Farhat booked himself as the promotion's top wrestler, winning its top championship NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) 12 times.[7][8][2][9] By the 1960s, the promotion was airing two to three television programs per week and staging weekly house shows at the Cobo Arena.[8] The promotion's TV program was unique in that it would occasionally air local collegiate wrestling
matches alongside worked angles, in a segment called "Am-Pro Wrestling".

Starting in 1971, the promotion faced competition from Dick the Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder's All Star Championship Wrestling, which sourced its talent from their Indianapolis, Indiana-based World Wrestling Association. After several wrestlers defected to ASCW, Big Time Wrestling brought in talent from other NWA territories. However, ASCW ceased operations in 1974, and Dick the Bruiser would later work for Big Time Wrestling—even facing The Sheik in a series of brawls. During the 1970s, Big Time Wrestling helped popularize hardcore wrestling.[10]

The promotion's fortunes began to decline in the mid-1970s due to a combination of the

1973–75 recession, "no-shows" by its wrestlers, and the fanbase tiring of its predictable and formulatic booking.[11] As house show audiences dwindled, events were re-located to ever-smaller venues (from the Cobo Arena to the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, and then to the Lincoln Park Community Center
outside of Detroit). The promotion went out of business in 1980.

Big Time Wrestling was the subject of the 1985 mockumentary I Like to Hurt People.[10][12] Professional wrestling in Detroit remained subdued until the World Wrestling Federation began promoting in the city as part of the 1980s professional wrestling boom.[13]

Championships

Championship Created Abandoned Notes
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) 1953 1980 This version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship was created in 1953 when Verne Gagne was awarded the championship in the Chicago-based Fred Kohler Enterprises. In 1959, the championship was moved to Detroit. The championship was abandoned in 1980 when the promotion closed.[14]
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) 1965 1980 The Detroit version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was created in 1965 when Chris Tolos and John Tolos were awarded the championship. The championship was abandoned in 1980 when the promotion closed.[15]

Alumni

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Big Time Wrestling (BTW)". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-55490-274-3
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-8108-7926-3
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1-77305-065-2
    .
  5. ISBN 0-472-03124-4
    .
  6. ISBN 978-1-77090-269-5
    .
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1-55490-284-2
    .
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-0-9763062-1-4
    .
  9. ISBN 978-1-62368-208-8
    .
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-1-61713-627-6
    .
  11. ISBN 978-1-55022-370-5
    .
  12. ISBN 978-1-77090-296-1
    .
  13. ISBN 978-1-77090-305-0
    .
  14. ^ "NWA United States Heavyweight Title [Detroit]". Wrestling-Titles.com. 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  15. ^ "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Detroit]". Wrestling-Titles.com. 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  16. ISBN 978-1-101-60974-3
    .
  17. ISBN 1-4402-2810-8
    .
  18. ^
    ISBN 978-1-879094-70-3
    .
  19. ISBN 978-1-4165-2729-9
    .
  20. ISBN 978-1-55490-299-6
    .
  21. ISBN 978-1-4516-0467-2
    .
  22. ^ "Matches Murray Cummings".

External links

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