On the final episode of Charting the Territories, Al Getz and Jon Boucher are joined by Chad Olson plus a surprise guest. They discuss the second stage of Bobby Shane's pro wrestling career and his emergence as a major star before his untimely death in 1975. They also discuss "what might have been" had Shane not passed. Also, Jon and Chad play Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia one last time, but this time it's a TEAM CHALLENGE SERIES with special guests Mike Sempervive, Kris Zellner, John McAdam, Ian Douglass, John LaRocca, Todd Rosiak, Cary Silkin, and an 11-year old husky named Titan.
This month's episode begins with some INCREDIBLE personal news from Jon Boucher! Then, he and Al Getz are joined by Chad Olson for the entire episode. The podcast delves into the first six years in the pro wrestling career of Bobby Shane. They also set up the big Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia challenge for next month's final episode. And there's a twist!
This month, Al Getz and Jon Boucher discuss some of the little persons prevalent in pro wrestling in the early 1970s. They're joined by author David Gibb and focus on Lord Littlebrook, recapping his life and his journey from circus performer in England to the 'manager' of the premier troupe of little persons in the U.S. and Canada, with some humorous and salacious stories along the way. David also challenges Jon to a round of Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia.
This month's podcast begins with an announcement from Al Getz about the future of Charting the Territories. Then, Al and Jon Boucher talk about women's wrestling in the early 1970s, going over many of the notable ladies who graced wrestling rings at the time, with a focus on Kansas-based Betty Niccoli.
This month Al & Jon look at the early pro wrestling career of "Superstar" Billy Graham, from his earliest documented matches in Stampede to his time in Southern California and then all the way to Japan, it a look at THE Superstar before he was A superstar.
This month, Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at some of the early stops in the career of Greg Valentine, charting his path in the early 1970s on his way to stardom. Plus, Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling against "The King of Old School" STEVE CORINO!
This month, Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the life and wrestling career of "Hangman" Bobby Jaggers, They focus on his runs in the Gulas territory, Western States (Amarillo), and Northern California (Shire) in 1974-75. He might be the only person in history ever to work for Nabisco and with (Larry) Zbyszko. Plus Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia against ChatGPT (is Jon smarter than a computah, daddy?) and all our regular features.
This month, Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at two wrestlers who found great success in the territorial era as foreign heels named Hans. First, they look at Hans Mortier, focusing on his '69-'70 run in East Texas as Lord Charles Montague. Then, they look at Hans Schmidt and his many documented challenges for the NWA World Heavyweight title between 1952 and 1970. Plus, Jon plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia against his first non-human challenger (?) and all the regular features.
This month, Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at Abdullah the Butcher and Paul "Butcher" Vachon, focusing on the territories they wrestled for in 1970 and 1971. ThIs leads to a discussion of the Montreal wrestling war that began in '71. Plus, Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia against a very surprising opponent. Plus lots more!
This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the WWWF in 1971, including one of the most shocking title changes in wrestling history! They discuss the circumstances around Ivan Koloff defeating Bruno Sammartino, plus some of the other big stories in the promotion during the year. Jon also faces Mike Sempervive in the biggest Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia battle to date; it's the year-end spectacular, the grandaddy of 'em all, it's CHARRTCADE!
This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher discuss the Pittsburgh wrestling territory in 1971, including a look at Newton Tattrie, who purchased the promotion from Bruno Sammartino in '71.. They also look at the roster, the towns they ran, the biggest feuds, and a lot more about the territory and how it operated. Plus a Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia showdown between past winners Chad Olson and Mike Sempervivie, with the winner to face Jon next month!
This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher discuss the NWF (Cleveland/Buffalo) wrestling promotion in 1971, including deeper looks into the lives of Luis Martinez and Java Ruuk (Johnny Rodz). Plus Jon buys Al some Bobby Shane memorabilia off eBay, and competes against Mike Sempervive in Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia!
This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at the Gulas-Welch territory in 1971 operating in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and the surrounding areas.. They look at the lives (and police blotters!) of Big Bad John and Tojo Yamamoto, plus Jon is challenged by noted wrestling author Ian Douglass in a round of Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia.
This month Al Getz and Jon Boucher look at pro wrestling in Hawaii in 1971, and discuss their time in Waterloo IA at the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame Induction weekend, where Al received the Jim Melby Award. From Mad Dog Mayne to Sammy Steamboat to "The Gladiator" Ricky Hunter, they discuss many of the wrestlers who spent 1971 on the island, plus all the regular features including a Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia battle that goes down to the last second!
This month Al and Jon look at The Sheik's Big Time Wrestling in 1971, based in Detroit. Running down not only Sheik and Bobo but all the other wrestlers who competed in the area, including The Stomper (Guy Mitchell aka Jerry Valiant) and George "Crybaby" Cannon. Jon plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia against this month's challenger, Roy Lucier, plus lots more!
This month Al and Jon look at East Tennessee in 1971, including the Knoxville and the Tri-Cities promotions. Al offers up his personal experiences as a wrestling manager in the region, plus they discuss Ron Wright and Whitey Caldwell. Jon plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia against this month's challenger, from Ring of Honor, Ian Riccaboni, plus lots more!
This month Al and Jon look at the Pacific Northwest in 1971. Dutch Savage, Beauregarde (with the "e"), Moose Morowski, and more. We also hear about the 2024 Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame induction weekend from Chad Olson, this month's trivia challenger. Plus airport shirts, cartwheel champions, famous people named Sam from Kingfisher OK, and lots more!
This month Al and Jon look at the Indianapolis-based WWA in 1971, plus talk about their "turf war" for Detroit with The Sheik. Also, Jon goes for six wins in a row at Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia, Al interviews Brad Balukjian about his new book The Six Pack: On the Open Road in Search of WrestleMania, and tons more!
This month Al and Jon look at Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1971. They run down the roster and discuss Louie Tillet and Rene Goulet. Jon also faces a challenge from John McAdam in this month's Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia. They also discuss Ole Anderson and compare Ole's reputation as a booker to that of Tillet, plus Al discusses ways to 'measure' which towns in a territory have stronger lineups. All this and lots more!
This month's episode looks at Sam Muchnick's wrestling promotion in St. Louis in 1971. Is it or isn't it a territory? What's a territory? Al and Jon run down the roster, shining the spotlight on Dr. Big Bill Miller and Sweet Daddy Siki. Plus Jon Plays Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia against a new challenger. All this and lots more!