Tales From The Territories - NWA Detroit - Big Time Wrestling - Full Episode 6/30

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Big Time Wrestling (also known as NWA Detroit) was a professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
In the aftermath of World War II, Harry Light established the Harry Light Wrestling Office as a vehicle for promoting professional wrestling in Detroit.
In 1948, Light founded the National Wrestling Alliance along with Al Haft, Paul George, Orville Brown, Sam Muchnick, and Tony Stretcher.
The six promoters agreed to divide the United States into regional territories within which they would not compete with one another and to recognise a single World Heavyweight Champion who would travel the country wrestling in each territory.
By the 1950s, Light - along with his business partners Jack Britton and Bert Ruby - controlled professional wrestling in Detroit and Big Time Wrestling on Channel 7 was one of the most popular programs airing in Detroit.

Light retired in 1958 and passed away in 1971, with control of the territory passing to Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle. Barnett and Doyle formed a holding company, the Barnett-Doyle Corporation, and secured investment from backers such as Frank Tunney.
Barnett and Doyle were originally "outlaw" promoters but the territory later rejoined the National Wrestling Alliance.

In 1964, Barnett and Doyle sold professional wrestler Ed "The Sheik" Farhat and his father-in-law Francis Fleser the promotion (along with the rights to promote wrestling in the Cobo Arena) , for $50,000, forming "World Wide Sports" as a holding company.
Farhat booked himself as the promotion's top wrestler, winning the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) 12 times. 
By the 1960s, the promotion was airing two to three television programs per week and staging weekly house shows at the Cobo Arena.
In the early-1970s, the promotion faced competiton from Dick the Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder's newly established All Star Championship Wrestling promotion, which utilized talent from the Indiana-based World Wrestling Association.

After several wrestlers defected to A.S.C.W., Big Time Wrestling responded by bringing in talent from other NWA territories. A.S.C.W. stopped promoting in 1974 and Dick the Bruiser joined Big Time Wrestling, facing The Sheik in a series of brawls.
During the 1970s, Big Time Wrestling helped popularize hardcore wrestling.
Notable performers included, Fritz Von Erich, Mighty Igor, Dusty Rhodes, Ernie Roth, The Sheik, Ray St. Clair, George Steele, The Stomper, Johnny Valentine, • Killer Kowalski, Ernie Ladd, Lord Athol Layton, Mark Lewin, Tony Marino and The Blimp

The promotion's fortunes began to decline in the mid-1970s due to a combination of the 1973–75 recession, "no-shows" by wrestlers, and audiences becoming tired of the same old booking.
 As audiences dwindled, events were relocated to the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, and then again to the Lincoln Park Community Center just outside of Detroit.
The promotion was wound-up in 1980.

#Tales From The Territories