All-Star Wrestling
Pro-wrestling was a variety of local promotional “territories” until 1948 when they combined
under the name NWA (National Wrestling Alliance), unifying the promotions under the
World Heavyweight Champion title usually held by wrestler Lou Thesz. (Thesz had
invented such moves as the powerbomb and the belly-to-back waistlock suplex).
In 1960, some breakaway promotions formed a rival organization headed by popular TV-friendly wrestler Verne Gagne called the AWA (American Wrestling Association). The AWA was based out of Minnesota and their promotional territories extended all over the mid-west including Denver. All-Star Wrestling was the television show that tied all the territories together. It was broadcast here in Denver at 7:00 PM, Saturday nights on Channel 2.
The Crusher (known for his devastating full-nelson)
The Denver Auditorium Arena, where this event was held, was demolished in 1990 and remodeled into today’s current Temple Buell Theater, part of the Denver Performing
Arts Complex (the second largest performing arts center in the world).
And aside from the AWA and NWA wrestling events, the Auditorium Arena was also
where you went to see Roller Derby.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 at 6:50 am and is filed under Vintage Ads. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Bruce Walker August 1st, 2011 at 10:19 am
Used to watch these guys on TV all the time as children, went to the live shows occasionally.
Verne Gagne was in the news a few years ago. He was in a senior home with Alzheimers. Another resident, also with ALZ, who had previously attacked other residents, attacked Gagne, who lifted him up and threw him on the floor, resulting in the man’s death. According to the news story, the staff said that after five minutes, Gagne had no recollection of the incident.
Gagne was a great showman, and an amazing athlete.