WWF Championship Wrestling

WWF Championship Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It aired from 1978 to 1986 and was the original television show of the WWF. Originally produced under the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) banner, Championship Wrestling featured all the stars of the WWF, interviews and championship matches.

History

Run in syndication

This was the first WWF program to be shown on national broadcast television. Vince McMahon built the syndicated network in part by persuading local stations to pay for the rights to air the program. Stations like KPLR-TV in St. Louis and KHJ-TV (now KCAL) in Los Angeles reportedly paid $100,000 to air the show.^[1]

In its early years, the show was taped at the Philadelphia Arena and later at the Allentown Agricultural Hall in Allentown, PA. Typically, three weeks of television were taped in one night. The final taping in Allentown took place on June 19, 1984, with the episodes airing June 30, July 7, and July 14. The tapings then moved to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York until the final taping took place on August 5, 1986, with the final episode airing on August 30. The following week, WWF Superstars of Wrestling replaced Championship Wrestling as the WWF's new flagship syndicated program. In contrast to Championship Wrestling, the tapings for Superstars of Wrestling moved around the country and took place at larger arenas.

Notable title changes

• December 10, 1983 (taped November 15): Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson defeated the Wild Samoans for the WWF Tag Team Championship in a No Disqualification match.
• May 26, 1984 (taped April 17): Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch defeated Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson for the WWF Tag Team Championship.
• July 13, 1985 (taped June 17): Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo regained the WWF Tag Team Championship by defeating Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik.

Notable moments

• January 22, 1980: Bruno Sammartino and Larry Zybysko wrestled in a match billed as "the student VS the teacher." After Sammartino got the better of Zybysko several times in this scientific contest, Zybysko attacked Sammartino and busted him open with a chair leading to a cage match in the Showdown at Shea in August that year.
• June 18, 1983 (taped July 31): Jimmy Snuka dives over the top rope onto Don Muraco, something, which at the time, was never before seen.
• January 7, 1984 (taped January 3): Hulk Hogan made his official return to the World Wrestling Federation by appearing on this show after spending the past 3½ years working for New Japan Pro Wrestling and the AWA.
• February 4, 1984 (taped January 24): The interview segment Piper's Pit hosted by Rowdy Roddy Piper debuted.
• August 24, 1985 (taped July 30): Randy Savage introduced his new manager, Elizabeth.

Announcers

• Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson (1980–1984)
• Vince McMahon and Gene Okerlund (1984)
• Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino (1984–1986)

Theme music

Probably the most well-remembered theme music of "Championship Wrestling" is "Scheherazade" by jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. This instrumental piece was used during the late 1970's. From 1984 to 1986, an instrumental version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was used, with footage of Hulk Hogan winning the WWF title from the Iron Sheik. Other theme music included "Cruise Control" by the Dixie Dregs (1980 season) and "One Fine Morning" by Canadian jazz-rock ensemble Lighthouse (1974–1975).

References