Each week at Saturday Evening Slam we'll feature an old newsletter issue from days gone past. This week's sheet is "Ring Around the World," a newsletter out of Tacoma, WA. It was published bi-monthly by a man named Ken Hamblin. I'm not sure how many issues the newsletter went, but this was issue number 7.
On the second page of Ring Around the World was the want ads section, filled with tape traders and people trying to promote their own newsletters. One of those newsletter guys is none other than Dave Meltzer from Wrestling Observer. The third page has the wrestler ratings. Ric Flair is number one, Nick Bockwinkle is number two, and Bob Backlund was number three. There is also a notes section that explains why Harley Race had dropped so much. It was because he lost all of his titles!
The next page covers some random news and notes. Some of these include Adrian Street being in a movie, Stu Hart bringing Dave Morgan into Calgary, Dick Slater winning the NWA TV title from "young" Mike Rotunda, Steve Williams joining the USFL, and Kerry Von Erich beating Harley Race for the Missouri State Championship. Also, Matt Osbourne has dyed his hair blonde, and Terry Funk's impending retirement (lol).
In Florida Dusty Rhodes reportedly won the NWA Championship from Ric Flair as the Midnight Rider, but he couldn't keep it because he would have to unmask. As we all knew, Dusty Rhodes was banned from Florida at the time.
The Jerry Lawler - Nick Bockwinkle debacle is discussed, as some outlets had reported Jerry defeating Bockwinkle for the AWA Championship, while others say he never beat him at all. The writer, Mike Rodgers mentions that this happens from time to time, but never with a title the magnitude of the AWA Championship.
"Where is Dennis Stamp?" Someone asks. Could this have been the beginning of Stamp not being booked?
There is a list of current wrestling champions on another page. This was necessary at the time because of all the regional promotions happening. It was almost impossible to keep track of every champion in every territory. It's interesting to note that the list of champions even covers Japan and Puerto Rico. That's some fine reporting there for a 1983 publication.
Something else interesting to note is that in this issue WWF's expansion into California is talked about. The WWF had just run two shows in California, one in the San Diego Sports Arena, and the other in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
In San Diego, Andre won an 18 man battle royal. Pat Patterson defeated Jerry Monti. Bob Backlund retained his title against Ray Stevens. Buddy Rose defeated Tony Garea, who currently works for WWE as a road agent, and has since his retirement in 1987.
In Los Angeles, Bob Backlund retained against Buddy Rose, Andre won another battle royal, Don Muraco defeated Pedro Morales, and Jack Armstrong pinned Jesse Hernandez.
The attendance for both cards was 5,000. Was this the beginning of the end for the California territories?
Other notes include a rundown of AWA's All Star Wrestling card, Wally Carbo getting arrested for stealing merchandise, an interview with Timothy Flowers III, a run down of all the TV shows, and a photo gallery that includes pictures of wrestling cards around the United States.
Ring Around the World was definitely a packed newsletter. It'd be interesting to track down Ken Hamblin and ask him about this time period on the newsletter circuit.
The next page covers some random news and notes. Some of these include Adrian Street being in a movie, Stu Hart bringing Dave Morgan into Calgary, Dick Slater winning the NWA TV title from "young" Mike Rotunda, Steve Williams joining the USFL, and Kerry Von Erich beating Harley Race for the Missouri State Championship. Also, Matt Osbourne has dyed his hair blonde, and Terry Funk's impending retirement (lol).
In Florida Dusty Rhodes reportedly won the NWA Championship from Ric Flair as the Midnight Rider, but he couldn't keep it because he would have to unmask. As we all knew, Dusty Rhodes was banned from Florida at the time.
The Jerry Lawler - Nick Bockwinkle debacle is discussed, as some outlets had reported Jerry defeating Bockwinkle for the AWA Championship, while others say he never beat him at all. The writer, Mike Rodgers mentions that this happens from time to time, but never with a title the magnitude of the AWA Championship.
"Where is Dennis Stamp?" Someone asks. Could this have been the beginning of Stamp not being booked?
There is a list of current wrestling champions on another page. This was necessary at the time because of all the regional promotions happening. It was almost impossible to keep track of every champion in every territory. It's interesting to note that the list of champions even covers Japan and Puerto Rico. That's some fine reporting there for a 1983 publication.
Something else interesting to note is that in this issue WWF's expansion into California is talked about. The WWF had just run two shows in California, one in the San Diego Sports Arena, and the other in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
In San Diego, Andre won an 18 man battle royal. Pat Patterson defeated Jerry Monti. Bob Backlund retained his title against Ray Stevens. Buddy Rose defeated Tony Garea, who currently works for WWE as a road agent, and has since his retirement in 1987.
In Los Angeles, Bob Backlund retained against Buddy Rose, Andre won another battle royal, Don Muraco defeated Pedro Morales, and Jack Armstrong pinned Jesse Hernandez.
The attendance for both cards was 5,000. Was this the beginning of the end for the California territories?
Other notes include a rundown of AWA's All Star Wrestling card, Wally Carbo getting arrested for stealing merchandise, an interview with Timothy Flowers III, a run down of all the TV shows, and a photo gallery that includes pictures of wrestling cards around the United States.
Ring Around the World was definitely a packed newsletter. It'd be interesting to track down Ken Hamblin and ask him about this time period on the newsletter circuit.