Fifty Five (55) Years Ago

Hello everyone.

 

In a couple of days, this blogger will celebrate an anniversary of sorts.  It will be this blogger's 55th anniversary of his first wrestling show.  NWA Big Time Wrestling took place at the Cow Palace (pictured above) in Daly City, California right near the city limits of San Francisco.  Hopefully, those reading this won't mind this being posted on Pro Wrestling Asia.  You can say it's one of the reasons of being a pro wrestling fan and doing blogs! 

 

I remembered the day so well.  For a couple of years, this fan watched Big Time Wrestling on Friday nights on local television.  It was a one hour production that took place at the KTVU TV studios in Oakland that was located near Broadway at the time.  The show was used to promote matches, mainly at the Cow Palace.  However, other locations throughout the Bay Area were mentioned for local shows.  It wouldn't be surprising that wrestlers in the Big Time Wrestling - NWA stable would wrestle three to five times per week.

 

Legendary wrestler, and WWE Hall Of Famer, Pat Patterson, was the area's version of the United States Heavyweight Champion at the time.  Patterson, who went on to become the first WWE Intercontinental Champion, would face an old rival.

 

The wrestler was Ray Stevens, Patterson's former and future tag team partner in the NWA and AWA.  Stevens had come off a very serious motorcycle (true) accident and the previous year, he had to vacate the belt.  The match that they would have was called a "Texas Death Match" which today has a different name.  The stipulation was falls did not count.  It was if you could respond and stand by the referee's count of 10 to continue whether in or outside the ring.  Just to keep both wrestlers in line, Promoter Roy Shire assigned 600+ pound Haystacks Calhoun as the special referee.

 

Patterson would win the first fall.  However, Stevens "rebounded" and won the next three falls.  Because of the severe punishment that Patterson took, he did not answer by the count of 10.  The 15,000+ that were in attendance at the Cow Palace that night went bananas as Stevens hand was raised.

 

Big Time Wrestling NWA in Northern California lasted roughly about 20 years (1961-1981).  Unfortunately, because of a lack of a television contract and because of the issues of Mr. Shire, the promotion eventually folded.  The American Wrestling Association came in and had shows in the area until roughly mid 1987.  Then, it would be between WCW and today's WWE.  Every so often, New Japan Pro Wrestling will have a show or two in the area.  Other than that, it's basically small independent companies in the area.

 

Here were the full results of the show on July 11, 1970.  One might recognize several names such as Pedro Morales (a future WWE Heavyweight Champion), Peter Maivia (one of the major reasons for The Rock as well as The Usos) and Freddie Blassie (WWE wrestling manager for several wrestlers).

 

Leo Garabaldi def. Jerry Monti.

Jerry London and Pepper Martin wrestled to a 15 minute draw.

Pedro Morales def. Don Serrano.

Pampero Firpo def. Earl Maynard.

Ciclon Negro, Haystacks Calhoun and Peter Maivia def. Freddie Blassie, Stan Stasiak and The Gladiator.

Ray Stevens def. Pat Patterson (c) and won the Big Time Wrestling - NWA U.S. Heavyweight Championship.