It’s here! Our 2025 Christmas Super Show from the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel!

This year we are focusing on the 3 world championships in the world during 1975. My first guest is Steve Gennerelli and we reflect and discuss Bruno Sammartino’s year of 1975 as the WWWF Champion. Bruno has even been declared the wrestler of the year in some historian circles for the year of 1975. Steve and I discuss this and more in Bruno’s championship year of 1975.

Next up, my friend George Schire stops by the Richards Ranch and we discuss the world title in the American Wrestling Association, the AWA. Verne Gagne had been the champion since 1968. Why did he hold the title for so long? Why was the time right in Verne’s mind to end his reign and pass the title to Nick Bockwinkel in November of 1975? George and I discuss these things and more during out visit about the AWA Championship.

Terry Funk won the NWA World Championship in Miami, Florida on December 10th, 1975 winning it from Jack Brisco. Funk had to immediately assume the schedule of the World Champion, which would be taking him to the Central States Territory. Jerry Oates, my next guest was the first challenger on December 11th at Memorial Hall. When did Jerry find out he was wrestling Terry and not Jack? What did Jerry and Terry say to each other? Did they talk before the match or after the match or both? Jerry and I talk about these things and more during our visit about Terry’s first defenses of the NWA Title.

And Gerry Brisco joins me at the Richards Ranch to talk about his brother, Jack Brisco and his reign as NWA WOrld Champion from 1973 to 1975, We discuss Jack’s collegiate career, breaking in for LeRoy McGuirk in Oklahoma, Jack’s first television match, his NWA Title run, the title change with Giant Baba in 1974 and when he decided he wanted to give up the NWA Title and late on, give up pro wrestling and retire. Its a fabulous discussion with all four of my guests on this year’s 2025 Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Christmas Super Show!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:37) - Christmas Super Show
• (00:01:40) - Story with Briscoe and Bradshaw
• (00:06:08) - WWE Christmas Special
• (00:08:00) - 1975
• (00:09:13) - Bruno Sammartino's Most Frequent Opponents
• (00:15:10) - Bruno vs Jack Briscoe
• (00:23:25) - Bruno Briscoe on Being the WWF Champion
• (00:26:11) - WWE Legend: Bruno Bockwinkel
• (00:27:53) - Bruno vs Ivan Koloff
• (00:31:16) - Did Spiros Aragon Need A Manager?
• (00:33:49) - Do You Think Bruno's Second Reign Was Better Than His First?
• (00:42:07) - Interviewing George Shire
• (00:44:03) - AWA World Championship in 75
• (00:45:09) - Verne Luthez
• (00:52:38) - The AWA Champion Transition
• (01:00:12) - The AWA Championship Belt Stealing
• (01:03:36) - Bobby Heenan Loses A Family Member
• (01:06:12) - St. Paul Championship Change Hands
• (01:12:55) - The NWA World Heavyweight Championship
• (01:18:10) - Verne's Decision To Give the Title to Nick Duncombe
• (01:25:21) - Nick Bockwinkle on Vern Ward's AWA Championship
• (01:30:22) - A Little About Vern Ganya
• (01:34:15) - Nick Bachwinkel on His First Christmas
• (01:36:38) - Terry Funk vs Jerry Oates
• (01:37:29) - Terry Funk on His NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
• (01:42:59) - Terry Briscoe on His First World Championship Match
• (01:48:09) - Matt Terry on His Match With Jack Briscoe
• (01:50:09) - Bob Geigel Talking About Getting the NWA World Title
• (01:53:44) - Terry Jones on Struggles Getting Over
• (01:58:16) - Jack Briscoe vs Terry Goggle
• (02:04:37) - Harley Jackson on His Return
• (02:08:54) - Terry or Jack vs Harley
• (02:10:48) - Tony Dunphy on His Career in 76
• (02:14:44) - Jerry Briscoe on Terry Funk's NWA World Heavyweight
• (02:16:30) - Jerry Briscoe on Roy Welch's Legacy
• (02:22:30) - Jack Briscoe on His Decision to Go Scientific Wrestling
• (02:29:31) - Jack Briscoe on Dropping the NWA World Title
• (02:34:43) - Jack Backlin on Vince McMahon's Offer for the NWA Championship
• (02:39:55) - Terry Funk vs. Steve Kern
• (02:46:58) - Jack Briscoe on His Time With the WWE
• (02:52:48) - The Funks vs The Rock
• (02:53:39) - Jack Foley on Terry Funk's 14 Month Run
• (02:54:38) - Neville Briscoe on His Brother Jack
• (02:54:59) - WWE Legends: The Welch Family
• (02:56:14) - Christmas Special
• (02:57:57) - Christmas Wish

This is a special bonus episode in your stocking for Christmas Week as I am joined by our WWWF Analyst and Storyteller, Steve Gennerelli!

The Mongolian Stomper (Archie Gouldie) was one the Top 10 heels in all of Pro Wrestling in 1975. He held both versions of the NWA Southern Title in the first half of the year in 1975 in Florida and in the second half of the year in Tennessee, then wrapping up the year as Texas Brass Knuckles Champion working and being booked out of Dallas at the end of 1975.

He seemed perfect as a heel for Bruno Sammartino in the WWWF, why did that never happen? Well Steve Gennerelli has the story on why that program never materialized!

Also, a famous World Champion Japanese Wrestler appeared in New York at Madison Square Garden for the first time ever in 1975! Who was it? Steve and Tony have the story as well as the Stomper story in this special Christmas Bonus Stocking Stuffer episode of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel history podcast! Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Richards Ranch and the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel, from our home to yours!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:34) - The Mongolian Stomper
• (00:07:58) - Dr. Jerry Graham's WWE Run
• (00:14:53) - Antonio Inoki Wrestling The First Time In Japan
• (00:20:14) - A Taste of Wrestling: Howard Baum and Donald De Leon
• (00:23:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel

This week we reach the pinnacle of 1975 in the Championship Wrestling from Florida Territory on an exciting night in Miami Beach at the Convention Center on December 10th! It’s the night where Jack Brisco had been advertised to defend his NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Dory Funk, Jr. Fans in Miami thought it would be another mat classic with two of the best wrestling technicians of this or any eraa met once again in combat. Surprise filled the air when it was announced that Funk, Jr was unable to make flight connections to be there and that younger brother Terry Funk would be taking his place in the match.

Howard Baum, our regular Florida Territory analyst and commentator joins me aling with our special guest Don DeLeon, who was the photographer that night at the Convention Center. Having backstage access, DeLeon was the first human being to witness Terry Funk come into the dressing room that night after beating the best wrestler in the world and now holding the NWA World Title belt and that distinction for himself. Join Howard and I as we welcome Don to our show and have a special and unique conversation at The Richards Ranch about that historic night 50 years ago in Miami Beach.

• (00:00:02) - Tony Richards on the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast
• (00:05:18) - Florida Pro Wrestling Legends
• (00:06:59) - Florida Championship Wrestling in 1975
• (00:09:19) - 1975
• (00:11:25) - Don Was Ringside When He Was 16
• (00:18:09) - Photographing WWE Superstars
• (00:24:25) - Big John Stud On His First Night
• (00:25:31) - The First Night In The WWE Dressing Room
• (00:31:12) - Meet Don Bradly
• (00:31:48) - Talking To The Mongolian Stomper
• (00:32:20) - Terry Briscoe Wins The World Title
• (00:35:27) - What Was the Atmosphere in Miami in the 1970s?
• (00:37:12) - Miami Beach Auditorium
• (00:40:29) - Wrestling in Miami vs Fort Lauderdale
• (00:44:11) - Terry Funk Wins the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
• (00:48:42) - Terry Rhodes on the Fans in North Carolina
• (00:52:34) - Terry Funk Walked Away From the Title to Be With Vicky
• (00:55:04) - Don DeLeon on Eddie Graham's IWA In Florida
• (01:00:39) - Don Blankenship on Wrestling
• (01:06:06) - Bob Roop on His Friendship With Terry Funk
• (01:09:04) - Eddie Graham's Success in Wrestling
• (01:14:33) - Who were some of the regulars at the Miami Beach Arena?
• (01:17:21) - Don Hardy On His Last Appearance
• (01:20:29) - Don Deleon On The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel
• (01:21:27) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Social Media Channels
• (01:23:39) - Christmas Pro Wrestling Special