We are kicking off the month of January with a weekly review of the territories in the year of 1985. Here is my historical “Stages of Growth of the Territory Era”:

My framework for understanding and analyzing the history and growth of Professional Wrestling are the 7 Stages of The Territory Era:

Stage One: Conception (1925 to 1935)

Stage Two: Formation (1935 to 1945)

Stage Three: Innovation and Expansion (1945 to 1955)

Stage Four: Investigation (1955 to 1965)

Stage Five: Re-Consolidation (1965-1975)

Stage Six: Fragmentation (1975-1985)

Stage Seven: Disintegration (1985-1995)

1985 is the first year in the last stage of the territory era, and we will review what is remaining of tbe system. The WWF was the death star of the system with it’s “national expansion”, as it started erasing the geographic lines that had defined the territories as it’s leader, Vince McMahon set out to prove his company could “color outside the lines” and ex[and beyond it’s previous borders. Join Steve Gennerelli and I as we walk through the year of 1985 as the stage of disintegration of the territory era begins.

I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter on Substack and each episode of our podcast show. Thanks for your support! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share with folks you think might like to be a free Substack subscriber!

Remember, Premium subscribers get access to exclusive and special content such as some special issues including a multi-part deep dives on wrestling territories, wrestler bios and championship title histories, special audio and video interviews on territory pro wrestling and more available in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel for Premium Subscribers. Being a Premium Subscriber also means you support me in my efforts to document Pro Wrestling History through my research, writing, books, vidoes and podcasts. And…I have something very special planned for our Premium Subscribers on the Podcast side of things in 2026! A Premium Investment is only $5 per month or $50 per year. Details soon here in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel.

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:34) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: The Territory Era Podcast
• (00:03:17) - The Future of Pro Wrestling: The WWF
• (00:07:13) - Reviewing The WWF in 1985
• (00:09:46) - 1984
• (00:13:37) - Jim Crockett Promotions' Mistake in Not Expanding
• (00:23:21) - What We Missed With The Briscoes
• (00:27:15) - Jerry Briscoe on Hulk Hogan's National Expansion
• (00:32:36) - Vince McMahon's Decision To Sell TBS To Crockett
• (00:41:07) - Bruno Hogan in the WWF in 1985
• (00:49:35) - Terry Funk Coming to the WWE
• (00:55:30) - Randy Savage: The Greatest of All Time
• (00:59:52) - 1985
• (01:06:51) - WWF Championship Wrestling From Florida in 1985
• (01:09:09) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: Ending The Roy Welch Family Legacy, and
• (01:13:57) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel: 400 Subscribers!

We’ve counted down the first 50 from 100 to 51, now its time to get to my list of the 50 Best Wrestlers of 1975. This list is my list/ I’ve taken into consideration other lists avaailable of ranked wrestlers for the year, along with my own research notes from our podcast shows throughout the year as well as extra study into territories and wrestlers i didn’t know very much about in order to be fair as possible/

I took into consideration:

• The Territory or territories the wrestler worked in and the significance and importance of that territory

• The programs and matches they had during the year

• The position on cards they held throughout the year

• How much time they spent as singles wrestlers vs being in tag teams during the year

• What championships they held and the importance of that title in drawing money on the cards and in the buildings

• How significant was the wrestling to that terriory, how dependant was the territory on them to draw money

• How significant was 1975 to their overall career? Was thier career trajectory swing up, peaked or on the down swing?

• And a few other things, but that was the main criteria I took into consideration

I freely admit my own biases and preferences did come into play in this process, however I did try to maintain awareness of those biases and suspend them and honestly, i felt like I made some tough calls as far as assignments on the list.

Here it is, my Top 50 Best Professional Wrestlers for the year of 1975!

• (00:00:02) - Podcast
• (00:00:35) - Top 100 Wrestlers of the Year 1975
• (00:09:30) - Top 25 Wrestlers in WWE 1975
• (00:20:33) - Ric Flair Won His First Singles Title in 1975
• (00:29:18) - Ken Mantel
• (00:35:20) - Rocky Johnson's Greatest Moments
• (00:40:27) - Waldo Von Erich in the WWF
• (00:50:35) - Baron Von Reschke
• (00:58:51) - Billy Robinson
• (01:07:32) - Dusty Rhodes
• (01:12:52) - Abdullah The Butcher
• (01:17:50) - Top 100 Wrestlers of All Time
• (01:28:08) - Jerry Briscoe and Bobo Brazil
• (01:34:34) - Top 25 Masked Wrestlers in Mexico
• (01:43:02) - Top 20 Wrestlers of 1975
• (01:52:06) - The Making of Pero Ag
• (01:59:46) - Ron Fuller
• (02:06:49) - Giant Baba vs Jumbo Saruta
• (02:15:06) - Mil Mil Mask
• (02:19:26) - Terry Funk at #7 in the Top 10
• (02:24:48) - Top 5 Wrestlers in 1975: Andre the Giant
• (02:32:09) - AWA World Championship Book
• (02:34:04) - The Top 3 Wrestlers in 1975
• (02:44:50) - The Top 100 Wrestlers of All Time Countdown

It’s out with the old year and in with the new…New Year’s Eve 2025 that is..and this holiday, I am counting down my Top 100 Wrestlers of 1975 right here in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel.

Today’s show starts at Number 100 and we count down to Number 51! Tomorrow on New Year’s Day, we run through the Top 50…all the way down to my pick for the Number 1 wrestler for the year of 1975. Get your favorite beverage and maybe a snack and sit back, relax and check out my list. I’d love to hear your thoughts or maybe even your own list for The Top 100 Wrestlers for the year 1975!

• (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Podcast
• (00:05:38) - Living on a ranch with my mom's death
• (00:11:48) - The Top 100 Wrestlers in 1975
• (00:16:41) - Top 100 Wrestlers of the Year 1975
• (00:22:58) - Top 10 WWF Superstars of 1975
• (00:31:39) - Kentaro Oki and Bobby Duncomb
• (00:36:45) - Bob Backlin Dead at 89
• (00:44:46) - Ken Patera
• (00:47:00) - NWA Super Destroyer and Jimmy Snuka at #88
• (00:54:15) - George the Animal Steel at #82
• (01:02:15) - Ranking The Top 100 Wrestlers in the World For 1975
• (01:06:02) - Killer Kowalski at #79
• (01:12:36) - Legendary Names of The UWA
• (01:19:13) - Bob Armstrong on Wrestling Hall of Fame Voting
• (01:26:01) - Red Bastine In Dallas
• (01:37:27) - Cyclone Negro's International Heavyweight Championship
• (01:38:42) - Blackjack Mulligan
• (01:44:06) - Russia Kimura vs Ken Lucas
• (01:53:33) - El Gran Marcus
• (01:55:44) - Top 100 Wrestlers in 1975: Jose Lothario, Dust