List of World Championship Wrestling attendance records

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The Omni, one of the most popular wrestling venues in Southeastern U.S. during the "Territory-era", set a number of attendance records in the 1980s and 1990s. Arn Anderson has called The Omni the equivalent of Madison Square Garden for Southern wrestling fans.[1]

The following is a list of World Championship Wrestling attendance records. Founded as Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) in 1931, it was one of the first professional wrestling promotions in the United States. Upon joining the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 1951, the Crockett family controlled the NWA's "Mid-Atlantic wrestling territory" which included the Carolinas and Virginia, and was long regarded as one of the organization's most powerful members. Jim Crockett Jr. became the face of the NWA as he battled Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1980s wrestling boom but was ultimately forced into bankruptcy.

After the sale of JCP to Ted Turner in 1988, the company was rebranded as World Championship Wrestling (WCW). For the next six years, WCW saw record-low attendances under the management of Turner executive Jim Herd. In 1995, WCW experienced a resurgence under Eric Bischoff following the creation of WCW Monday Nitro, debut of The Outsiders and "heel turn" of Hulk Hogan, and subsequent formation of the New World Order. A new rivalry with the WWF, known as the "Monday Night War", was a major force driving the 1990s wrestling boom. WCW's pay-per-view events and Nitro's live television episodes during this period would surpass almost all of the previous records set by JCP during the 1970s and 80s. Outside the U.S., WCW partnered with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) to promote the Japan Supershows (also known as Starrcade in Tokyo Dome) between 1991 and 1994, which set a number of attendance records in Japan. In 1995, both companies co-hosted the two-day Collision in Korea pay-per-view (PPV) event at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea. With a combined crowd of 355,000, it is the highest attended wrestling event of all-time.[2][3][4]

The list is dominated by WCW's flagship Monday Nitro television program, which aired from various arenas and locations across the world during its 5-year run. Only seven of the attendances listed are exclusively WCW/JCP events, with JCP's Great American Bash '85, Great American Bash '86 and Great American Bash '87 being the only house show events on the list. All but four of the events included have been held in the United States where WCW was based, while three have been held in Japan and one in the North Korea.

Events and attendances[edit]

Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
NJPW / WCW Collision in Korea (Day 2)
April 29, 1995 		Pyongyang, North Korea May Day Stadium 355,000 (combined) Antonio Inoki vs. Ric Flair [3]
NJPW / WCW Collision in Korea (Day 1)
April 28, 1995 		Pyongyang, North Korea May Day Stadium Shinya Hashimoto (c) vs. Scott Norton for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [4]
NJPW / WCW Starrcade in Tokyo Dome
March 21, 1991 		Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome 64,500 Tatsumi Fujinami (c - NJPW) vs. Ric Flair (c - NWA) in a Champion vs. Champion match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Heavyweight Championships [5]
NJPW / WCW Starrcade in Tokyo Dome
January 4, 1992 		Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome 60,000 Sting (WCW) and The Great Muta (NJPW) vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) [5]
NJPW / WCW Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka Dome
May 1, 1994 		Fukuoka, Japan Fukuoka Dome 53,000 Antonio Inoki vs. The Great Muta [6]
WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 147)
July 6, 1998 		Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Dome 41,412 Hollywood Hogan (c) vs. Bill Goldberg for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [7][8]
WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 173)
January 4, 1999 		Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Dome 38,809 Hollywood Hogan vs. Kevin Nash for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [7][9]
WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 169)
December 7, 1998 		Houston, Texas Reliant Astrodome 32,067 Bill Goldberg (c) vs. Bam Bam Bigelow for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [10]
WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 171)
December 21, 1998 		St. Louis, Missouri Trans World Dome 29,000 Bill Goldberg (c) vs. Scott Hall for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [10]
JCP Great American Bash
July 6, 1985 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 27,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Nikita Koloff for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with David Crockett as special referee [11]
WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 121)
January 5, 1998 		Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Dome 26,773 Lex Luger vs. Randy Savage [10]
JCP Great American Bash (Day 20)
July 18, 1987 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 25,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Road Warrior Hawk for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [12]
JCP Great American Bash (Day 4)
July 5, 1986 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 23,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Ricky Morton in a steel cage match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [12]
WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 91)
June 9, 1997 		Boston, Massachusetts FleetCenter 22,000 The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) (c) vs. Ric Flair and Roddy Piper for the WCW World Tag Team Championship [13]
WCW Slamboree
May 9, 1999 		St. Louis, Missouri TWA Dome 20,510 Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Kevin Nash for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [14]

Historical[edit]

Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1930s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. JCP Ed Lewis vs. Mayes McLain
February 11, 1935 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 5,000 Ed "Strangler" Lewis vs. Mayes McLain in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [15][16]
2. JCP Dick Shikat vs. Jim Henry
October 26, 1934 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 4,500 Dick Shikat vs. Jim Henry in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [17][18]
3. JCP Cowboy Luttrall vs. Jim Henry
January 14, 1935 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 4,000 Cowboy Luttrall vs. Jim Henry in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [15][19]
JCP Tiny Roebuck vs. Tor Johnson
April 15, 1935 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium Tiny Roebuck vs. Tor Johnson in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [15][20]
JCP Jim Browning vs. John Katan
January 17, 1936 		Richmond, Virginia City Auditorium Jim Browning vs. John Katan in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [21]
JCP Dr. Len Hall vs. John Katan
January 31, 1936 		Richmond, Virginia City Auditorium Dr. Len Hall vs. John Katan in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [22]
JCP Dr. Len Hall vs. Ernie Dusek
February 14, 1936 		Richmond, Virginia City Auditorium Dr. Len Hall vs. Ernie Dusek in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [23]
JCP Dr. Len Hall vs. Gus Sonnenberg
May 29, 1936 		Richmond, Virginia City Auditorium Dr. Len Hall vs. Gus Sonnenberg in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [24]
4. JCP Cowboy Luttrall vs. Eli Fischer
March 4, 1935 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 3,500 Cowboy Luttrall vs. Eli Fischer in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [15]
JCP Cowboy Luttrall vs. Tiny Roebuck
March 18, 1935 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium Cowboy Luttrall vs. Tiny Roebuck in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [25]
5. JCP Jim Henry vs. Ivan Vakturoff
September 24, 1934 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 3,000 Jim Henry vs. Ivan Vakturoff in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [17][26]
JCP Jim Henry vs. Marshall Blackstock
November 23, 1934 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium Jim Henry vs. Marshall Blackstock in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [27]
JCP Gus Sonnenberg vs. Little Beaver
July 19, 1935 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium Gus Sonnenberg vs. Little Beaver in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [28]
JCP Scotty Dawkins vs. Cy Williams
June 25, 1936 		Bristol, Tennessee Cumberland Arena Scotty Dawkins vs. Cy Williams in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [29]
JCP Ernie Dusek vs. George Koverly
July 10, 1936 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium Ernie Dusek vs. George Koverly [30]
JCP Ernie Dusek vs. Jim Coffield
March 11, 1938 		Richmond, Virginia City Auditorium Ernie Dusek vs. Jim Coffield in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [31]
JCP Jim Londos vs. Chief Little Beaver
December 6, 1939 		Norfolk, Virginia City Auditorium Jim Londos (c) vs. Chief Little Beaver for the World Heavyweight Championship
6. JCP Cowboy Luttrall vs. Gus Sonnenberg
September 2, 1935 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 2,800 Cowboy Luttrall vs. Gus Sonnenberg in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [32]
7. JCP Jim Henry vs Willie Middlekauff
September 10, 1934 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 2,500 Jim Henry vs Bill Middlekauff in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match with special referee Jess Willard [17][33]
JCP Gus Sonnenberg vs. Bull Martin
August 30, 1935 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Gus Sonnenberg vs. Bull Martin [34]
JCP Ernie Dusek vs. Len Hall
March 20, 1936 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Ernie Dusek vs. Len Hall [35]
8. JCP George Widchecki vs. Andy Mantell
November 1, 1934 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 2,000 George Widchecki vs. Andy Mantell [17]
JCP Gus Sonnenberg vs. Herbie Freeman
September 4, 1935 		Greensboro, North Carolina Sportrena Gus Sonnenberg vs. Herbie Freeman in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
JCP Cliff Olsen vs. Ernie Dusek
December 3, 1937 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Cliff Olsen vs. Ernie Dusek [36]
JCP Ernie Dusek vs. Cliff Olson
April 1, 1938 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Ernie Dusek vs. Cliff Olson in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [37]
JCP Roland Kirchmeyer vs. Pat McClary
January 26, 1938 		Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Auditorium Roland Kirchmeyer vs. Pat McClary in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
JCP Ernie Dusek vs. Cliff Olson
February 4, 1938 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Ernie Dusek vs. Cliff Olson in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [38]
JCP Ernie Dusek vs. Jim Clintstock
July 8, 1938 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium Ernie Dusek vs. Jim Clintstock in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [39]
JCP Dick Shikat vs. Roy Graham
October 20, 1938 		Raleigh, North Carolina Memorial Auditorium Dick Shikat vs. Roy Graham [40]
JCP Gus Sonnenberg vs. Cowboy Luttrall
December 13, 1939 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Gus Sonnenberg vs. Cowboy Luttrall in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
JCP Gus Sonnenberg vs. Jack Hader
December 15, 1939 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Gus Sonnenberg vs. Jack Hader [41]
9. JCP Jim Browning vs. Henry Graber
January 15, 1936 		Greensboro, North Carolina Sportrena 1,800 Jim Browning vs. Henry Graber in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
JCP Ernie Dusek vs. Mike Mazurki
March 13, 1936 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium Ernie Dusek vs. Mike Mazurki [42]
JCP Ghafoor Khan vs. Dick Lever
March 29, 1938 		Columbia, South Carolina Township Auditorium Ghafoor Khan vs. Dick Lever in a Mud match [43]
10. JCP Everett Marshall vs. Emil Dusek
September 7, 1934 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Auditorium 1,500 Everett Marshall vs. Emil Dusek in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [44]
JCP Dick Shikat vs. Tiny Roebuck
June 3, 1935 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium Dick Shikat vs. Tiny Roebuck in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [45]
JCP Roland Kirchmeyer vs. Legs Langevin
February 2, 1938 		Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Auditorium Roland Kirchmeyer vs. Legs Langevin in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
JCP Leo Savage vs. Dobie Osborne
July 28, 1938 		Raleigh, North Carolina Memorial Auditorium Leo "Daniel Boone" Savage vs. Dobie Osborne in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [46]
JCP Casey Berger vs. Pete Peterson
August 18, 1938 		Raleigh, North Carolina Memorial Auditorium Casey Berger vs. Pete Peterson in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [47]
Top 5 most-attended shows in the 1940s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. JCP The French Angel vs. Jack O'Brian
September 5, 1946 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium 3,800 The French Angel vs. Jack O'Brian [48]
2. JCP The French Angel vs. Bob McCoy
October 4, 1940 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium 3,500 The French Angel vs. Bob McCoy [49]
JCP The French Angel vs. Ben Morgan
September 23, 1940 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium The French Angel vs. Ben Morgan [50]
JCP Johnny Long vs. Marvin Hutchins
June 3, 1946 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium Johnny Long vs. Marvin Hutchins in a Boxing match [51]
JCP Frank Sexton vs. Kola Kwariani
July 18, 1946 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium Frank Sexton (c) vs. Kola Kwariani in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [52]
3. JCP The French Angel vs. Gus Sonnenberg
October 2, 1940 		Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Auditorium 3,000 The French Angel vs. Gus Sonnenberg in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
JCP Jim Londos vs. Joe Savoldi
March 27, 1940 		Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Auditorium Jim Londos (c) vs. Joe Savoldi in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the World Heavyweight Championship
JCP Jim Coffield & Johnny Long vs. Earl Wampler & Jack O'Brien
April 29, 1946 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium Jim Coffield and Johnny Long vs. Earl Wampler and Jack O'Brien with special referee Tony Galento [53]
JCP Primo Carnera vs. Wladyslaw Talun
August 7, 1947 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium Primo Carnera vs. Wladyslaw Talun in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [54]
JCP Ray Villmer vs. LaVerne Baxter
June 28, 1948 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium Ray Villmer vs. LaVerne Baxter
4. JCP The French Angel Tournament
June 16, 1940 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 2,500 11-man round robin tournament [55]
JCP The French Angel vs. Sam Menacker
September 25, 1940 		Charleston, South Carolina College of Charleston Gym The French Angel vs. Sam Menacker in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
JCP Frank Sexton vs. Joe Savoldi
August 29, 1946 		Richmond, Virginia Richmond Stadium Frank Sexton (c) vs. Joe Savoldi in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship [56]
5. JCP 6-Man Battle Royal
June 17, 1946 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Armory Auditorium 2,000 6-man Battle Royal [57]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1950s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. JCP Great Bolo vs. Larry Hamilton
January 26, 1959 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 11,807 The Great Bolo vs. Larry Hamilton in a Texas Death match [58]
2. JCP Great Bolo vs. Mike Clancy
November 17, 1958 		Charlotte, North Carolina Park Center 11,704 The Great Bolo vs. Mike Clancy in a Grudge match [58]
3. JCP Great Bolo vs. Mike Clancy
December 8, 1958 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 10,777 The Great Bolo vs. Mike Clancy [58]
4. JCP Great Bolo vs. George Becker
April 21, 1958 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 10,693 The Great Bolo vs. George Becker in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [58]
5. JCP Great Bolo vs. Ernie Dusek
September 15, 1958 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 9,812 The Great Bolo vs. Ernie Dusek in a Loser Leaves Town match [59]
6. JCP Great Bolo vs. Danny McShain
April 6, 1959 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 9,700 The Great Bolo vs. Danny McShain [60]
7. JCP Great Bolo vs. Argentina Rocca
June 16, 1958 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 9,241 The Great Bolo vs. Argentina Rocca with special referee George Becker [61]
8. JCP Mr. Moto & Duke Keomuka vs. The Great Bolo & Larry Hamilton
August 3, 1959 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 7,722 Mr. Moto and Duke Keomuka (c) vs. The Great Bolo and Larry Hamilton for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship [62]
9. JCP Great Bolo & Larry Hamilton vs. George Becker & Enrique Torres
November 9, 1959 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 6,919 The Great Bolo & Larry Hamilton vs. George Becker & Enrique Torres in a Texas Death match [63]
10. JCP Mr. Moto vs. Chuck Wiggins
April 20, 1951 		Richmond, Virginia Atlantic Rural Exposition 5,600 Mr. Moto vs. Chuck Wiggins [64]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1960s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. JCP Dory Funk Jr. vs. Lee Henning
February 24, 1969 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 11,397 Dory Funk Jr. (c) vs. Lee Henning for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [65]
2. JCP The Bolos vs. The Kentuckians
February 18, 1963 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 11,000 The Bolos (The Great Bolo & The Mighty Bolo) vs. The Kentuckians (Big Boy Brown & Tiny Anderson) [66][67]
3. JCP Buddy Rogers vs. The Brute
January 30, 1961 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 10,644 Buddy Rogers vs. The Brute in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match [68]
4. JCP Great Bolo & Larry Hamilton vs. Paul Anderson & Haystack Calhoun
January 18, 1960 		Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum 9,982 The Great Bolo and Larry Hamilton (c) vs. Paul Anderson and Haystack Calhoun in a No Disqualification "Winner Takes All" match for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship [69]
5. JCP Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver
November 23, 1967 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 9,017 Gene Kiniski (c) vs. Johnny Weaver in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [70][71]
6. JCP Art Thomas, George Becker & Johnny Weaver vs. George Harris, Aldo Bogni & Bronko Lubich
December 26, 1968 		Winston-Salem, North Carolina Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,000 Art Thomas, George Becker and Johnny Weaver vs. George Harris, Aldo Bogni and Bronko Lubich in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
7. JCP The Kentuckians vs. Aldo Bogni & Bronko Lubich
July 15, 1965 		Winston-Salem, North Carolina Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,800 The Kentuckians (Big Boy Brown & Tiny Anderson) vs. Aldo Bogni & Bronko Lubich in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match
8. JCP Aldo Bogni & Bronko Lubich vs. George Becker & Johnny Weaver
July 3, 1965 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 8,706 Aldo Bogni and Bronko Lubich (c) vs. George Becker and Johnny Weaver in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship [71]
9. JCP Johnny Weaver & Haystacks Calhoun vs. The Bolos
July 2, 1964 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 8,442 Johnny Weaver & Haystacks Calhoun vs. The Bolos (The Great Bolo & The Mighty Bolo) [71]
10. JCP George Becker & Johnny Weaver vs. The Minnesota Wrecking Crew
November 28, 1968 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 8,417 George Becker and Johnny Weaver (c) vs. The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson) in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship with special referee Joe Louis [71]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1970s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. MACW NWA United States Heavyweight Championship Tournament
November 9, 1975 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 15,076 16-man tournament for the vacant NWA United States Heavyweight Championship [72][73]
2. MACW Dory Funk & Dory Funk Jr. vs. The Brisco Brothers
November 23, 1972 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 13,000 Dory Funk and Dory Funk Jr. vs. The Brisco Brothers (Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco) [70][73]
3. MACW Jack Brisco vs. Wahoo McDaniel
November 27, 1975 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 12,102 Jack Brisco (c) vs. Wahoo McDaniel in a No Disqualification match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [72][70][73]
4. MACW Harley Race vs. Dick Murdoch
July 2, 1978 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 11,267 Harley Race (c) vs. Dick Murdoch for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [73]
5. MACW Paul Jones vs. Angelo Mosca
January 31, 1976 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 11,187 Paul Jones (c) vs. Angelo Mosca for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship [73]
6. MACW 22-Man Battle Royal
November 25, 1976 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 11,063 22-man Battle Royal [70][73]
7. JCP George Becker & Johnny Weaver vs. The Blond Bombers
March 27, 1971 		Hampton, Virginia Hampton Roads Coliseum 11,000 George Becker and Johnny Weaver vs. The Blond Bombers (Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson)
8. MACW Harley Race vs. Johnny Valentine
July 3, 1975 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 10,000 Harley Race (c) vs. Johnny Valentine for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship [73]
9. MACW Minnesota Wrecking Crew vs. Ric Flair & Greg Valentine
October 30, 1977 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 9,723 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson) (c) vs. Ric Flair & Greg Valentine in a Hair vs. Title match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship [73]
10. MACW Minnesota Wrecking Crew vs. Paul Jones & Dusty Rhodes
September 28, 1975 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 9,600 The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson) (c) vs. Paul Jones and Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Tag Team Championship [73]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1980s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. JCP Great American Bash
July 6, 1985 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 27,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Nikita Koloff for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with David Crockett as special referee [11]
2. JCP Great American Bash (Day 20)
July 18, 1987 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 25,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Road Warrior Hawk for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [12]
3. JCP Great American Bash (Day 4)
July 5, 1986 		Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 23,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Ricky Morton in a steel cage match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [12]
4. JCP Bunkhouse Stampede
February 27, 1987 		Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Civic Arena 16,600+ Dusty Rhodes defeated Big Bubba in a Steel Cage match [74]
5. JCP Ric Flair vs. Sting
January 31, 1988 		Atlanta, Georgia The Omni 16,002 Ric Flair (c) vs. Sting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [75]
6. MACW Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge
November 22, 1984 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 16,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with special guest referee Joe Frazier [76]
JCP Starrcade '86: Night of the Skywalkers
November 27, 1986 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum Ric Flair (c-WC) vs. Nikita Koloff (c-US) in a Champion vs. Champion match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and NWA United States Championship [77]
JCP Great American Bash (Day 31)
July 31, 1987 		Miami, Florida Orange Bowl Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal) and Paul Ellering vs. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, and Tully Blanchard) and The War Machine in a WarGames match [12]
7. WCW Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk
September 3, 1989 		Atlanta, Georgia The Omni 15,500 Ric Flair (c) vs. Terry Funk in a Texas Death match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [78]
8. MACW Starrcade '83: A Flare for the Gold
November 24, 1983 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum 15,447 Harley Race (c) vs. Ric Flair in a Steel Cage match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with special guest referee Gene Kiniski [70]
9. JCP Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes
October 24, 1986 		Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Civic Arena 15,000 Ric Flair (c) vs. Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [77]
JCP Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham
March 14, 1987 		Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum Ric Flair (c) vs. Barry Windham for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [74]
JCP Great American Bash (Day 1)
July 2, 1987 		Landover, Maryland Capital Centre Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff and The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) vs. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) in a Steel Cage match [12]
10. JCP Ric Flair vs. Ron Garvin
August 9, 1987 		Atlanta, Georgia The Omni 14,100 Ric Flair (c) vs. Ron Garvin for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship [74]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 1990s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. NJPW / WCW Collision in Korea (Day 2)
April 29, 1995 		Pyongyang, North Korea May Day Stadium 355,000 (combined) Antonio Inoki vs. Ric Flair [3]
2. NJPW / WCW Collision in Korea (Day 1)
April 28, 1995 		Pyongyang, North Korea May Day Stadium Shinya Hashimoto (c) vs. Scott Norton for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [4]
3. NJPW / WCW Starrcade in Tokyo Dome
March 21, 1991 		Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome 64,500 Tatsumi Fujinami (c - NJPW) vs. Ric Flair (c - NWA) in a Champion vs. Champion match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Heavyweight Championships [5]
4. NJPW / WCW Starrcade in Tokyo Dome
January 4, 1992 		Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome 60,000 Sting (WCW) and The Great Muta (NJPW) vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) [5]
5. NJPW / WCW Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka Dome
May 1, 1994 		Fukuoka, Japan Fukuoka Dome 53,000 Antonio Inoki vs. The Great Muta [6]
6. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 147)
July 6, 1998 		Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Dome 41,412 Hollywood Hogan (c) vs. Bill Goldberg for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [7][8]
7. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 173)
January 4, 1999 		Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Dome 38,809 Hollywood Hogan vs. Kevin Nash for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [7][9]
8. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 169)
December 7, 1998 		Houston, Texas Reliant Astrodome 32,067 Bill Goldberg (c) vs. Bam Bam Bigelow for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [10]
9. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 171)
December 21, 1998 		St. Louis, Missouri Trans World Dome 29,000 Bill Goldberg (c) vs. Scott Hall for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [10]
10. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 121)
January 5, 1998 		Atlanta, Georgia Georgia Dome 26,773 Lex Luger vs. Randy Savage [10]
Top 10 most-attended shows in the 2000s
No. Promotion Event Location Venue Attendance Main Event(s)
1. WCW WCW Nitro U.K. Tour 2000! (Day 3)
March 12, 2000 		Manchester, England Manchester Evening News Arena 16,318 The Mamalukes (Johnny the Bull and Big Vito) (c) vs. The Harris Brothers (Ron Harris and Don Harris) for the WCW World Tag Team Championship [79][80]
2. WCW Souled Out
January 16, 2000 		Cincinnati, Ohio Firstar Center 14,132 Sid Vicious (c) vs. Chris Benoit for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with special guest referee Arn Anderson [80]
3. WCW Spring Stampede
April 16, 2000 		Chicago, Illinois United Center 12,556 Diamond Dallas Page vs. Jeff Jarrett for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship [80]
4. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 227)
January 24, 2000 		Los Angeles, California Staples Center 12,106 Kevin Nash vs. Sid Vicious for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship [80]
5. WCW WCW Nitro U.K. Tour 2000! (Day 1)
March 10, 2000 		Birmingham, England National Exhibition Centre 11,812 Ric Flair vs. Curt Hennig [80]
6. WCW WCW Millennium Tour
February 12, 2000 		Oberhausen, Germany Oberhausen Arena 11,000 Sid Vicious (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship [80]
7. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 226)
January 17, 2000 		Columbus, Ohio Value City Arena 10,646 Diamond Dallas Page vs. Buff Bagwell with special referee Kimberly [80]
8. WCW WCW Nitro U.K. Tour 2000! (Day 2)
March 11, 2000 		London, England London Docklands Arena 10,450 Ric Flair and Lex Luger vs. Booker T, Buff Bagwell and Curt Hennig in a Handicap match [80]
9. WCW WCW Millennium Final
November 16, 2000 		Oberhausen, Germany Oberhausen Arena 9,800 Sting (c) vs. Kevin Nash for the European Cup with special referee Axel Schulz
10. WCW WCW Monday Nitro (Ep. 231)
February 21, 2000 		Sacramento, California ARCO Arena 9,408 Hulk Hogan vs. Lex Luger [80]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

General

  • Freedman, Lew (2018). "Attendance at Wrestling Matches". Pro Wrestling: A Comprehensive Reference Guide. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, LLC. ISBN 978-1-4408-5350-0.
  • Hornbaker, Tim (2018). Death of the Territories: Expansion, Betrayal and the War that Changed Pro Wrestling Forever. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1773052328.

Specific

  1. ^ Anderson, Arn; Thompson, Conrad (December 24, 2020). "ARN #68: Arn in the WWF 88-89". YouTube.com (Podcast). The Arn Show. Event occurs at 44:50.
  2. ^ "Wrestling History: 1991-1995". PWI-Online.com. Pro Wrestling Illustrated. 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  3. ^ a b c Meltzer, Dave. "April 11, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter". f4wonline.com. Wrestling Observer. Retrieved April 7, 2016. The all-time pro wrestling attendance record would be for shows on April 28 and April 29, 1995 at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea. The announced crowds for those shows were 165,000 and 190,000, although the real numbers were about 150,000 and 165,000. The first show was headlined by Scott Norton vs. Shinya Hashimoto and the second by Antonio Inoki vs. Ric Flair. While there were tickets sold, most of the people attending got in free, and were pretty much ordered to attend, so it's not really a fair comparison.
  4. ^ a b c Keller, Wade (April 28, 2015). "WCW FLASHBACK - "Collision in Korea" 20 yrs. ago today: Flair & WCW crew head to N. Korea with New Japan Pro Wrestling". PWTorch.com. Pro Wrestling Torch.
  5. ^ a b c d Meltzer, Dave (January 10, 1992). "Huge Billy Graham interview, Inside Edition on WWE, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. [WCW/New Japan Supershow II], which will air as an edited pay-per-view in mid-March in the United States, was said to be nowhere near the level of the initial combined show last March. The show drew a turnaway crowd of 60,000 fans. A few thousand seats that were used at the March show (which drew 64,500)
  6. ^ a b Meltzer, Dave (May 9, 1994). "Charles Austin receives gigantic judgment after suffering paralysis following Rocker's match, Tiger Mask returns, tons more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. [T]he announced crowd of 53,500 fans paying an estimated $3 million. [...] Complete results of the 13-match show, which drew what will almost assuredly be the second largest crowd to attend pro wrestling in 1994 and 15th largest recorded crowd of all-time
  7. ^ a b c d Henry, Justin (May 20, 2018). "10 Highest Non-WWE Attendances In American Wrestling History (Part Four)". Cultaholic.com.
  8. ^ a b Stroud, Brandon (March 29, 2019). "The Best And Worst Of WCW Monday Nitro 7/6/98: Dome Arigato". Uproxx.com.
  9. ^ a b Byers, Ryan (August 17, 2019). "Ask 411 Wrestling: What if Smackdown Fails on Fox?". 411mania.com.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "WCW MONDAY NITRO: 1998". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  11. ^ a b Cornette, Jim. "HOW THE BASH GOT BASHED". Fighting Spirit Magazine. No. 166. United Kingdom: Uncooked Media.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Cawthon, Graham (23 February 2023). "GREAT AMERICAN BASH TOURS". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  13. ^ Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "WCW MONDAY NITRO: 1997". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  14. ^ Pantoja, Kevin (October 18, 2016). "Random Network Reviews: Slamboree 1999 featuring Goldberg vs. Sting & DDP vs. Nash". 411mania.com.
  15. ^ a b c d Hornbaker, Tim (January 1, 2008). "Charlotte Wrestling Results - 1935". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  16. ^ Griffin, Harry (February 12, 1935). "Strangler Lewis Draws New High Mat Crowd. FORMER CHAMP LURES MOB OF FANS. Beats Mayes McLain in Two Straight Falls; Osborne, Middlekauff Win". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 18. The top notch exhibition was witnessed by the largest crowd that ever saw a wrestling match here. The gathering was estimated at more than 5,000.
  17. ^ a b c d Hornbaker, Tim (December 23, 2007). "Charlotte Wrestling Results - 1934". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  18. ^ "Dick Shikat Beats Jim (Goon) Henry; 4,500 Enthsiastic Fan See Former Heavyweight Rassling Champion Throw Henry Once and Get Decision in Second Fall - McArthur and Holmburg Triumph". The Charlotte Observer. October 27, 1934. p. 8. One of the largest crowds ever to see a wrestling match here witnessed the exhibition with enthusiasm that provoked the widest smiles of promoters, who estimated the crowd to number around 4,500.
  19. ^ "Cowboy's Name Tops List Of Mat Villains; Outroughs Mighty Goon Before Huge Crowd - Cochran Disqualified, Stromberg Winner". The Charlotte News. January 15, 1935. p. 11. While some 4,000 fans, the second largest crowd to witness a rassling program here, cheered and jeered to the limit of human voice and lungs, the leering, rowdy Texan took the first and third falls to capture the toughest wrestler title of this section.
  20. ^ Thompson, Hayti (April 16, 1935). The Charlotte Observer. p. 18. The largest crowd since Jim Crockett brought wrestling to this town estimated at 4,000, packed the Armory to see their favorite punch his way to victory over the Ugly Duckling after losing the first fall in 18 minutes and 53 seconds. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ "Browning Defeats Katan; Wild Matches That Thrill Big Crowd. Katan Unable To Return After Browning Injures Leg; Joe Savoldi to Appear Here Next". Richmond Times-Dispatch. January 18, 1936. p. 11. A crowd of nearly 4,000 fans saw the first wrestling match of 1936 and cheered the announcement that Jumping Joe Savoldi, drop-kicking star of the mat, and famous as a football star at Notre Dame, would appear on next card.
  22. ^ "Hall Defeats Katan". Richmond Times-Dispatch. February 1, 1936. p. 11. Close to 4,000 fans saw the show.
  23. ^ "Dr. Len Hall Upsets Dusek At Auditorium; Rival Who Challenged Joe Louis Is Disqualified". Richmond Times-Dispatch. February 15, 1936. p. 13. Dr. Len Hall defeated Ernie Dusek two out of three falls at the City Auditorium last night before a crowd of 4,000 fans, but he owes the decision to Referee Benny Bortnick, who disqualified Dusek for unnecessary roughness after 11 minutes of grappling in the third fall.
  24. ^ "Hall Defeated By Sonnenberg". Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 30, 1936. p. 11. Sonnenberg came back after dropping a fast first fall to Doc Len Hall to take the next two and win the feature match of the wrestling card at the City Auditorium last night before a crowd of some 4,000 fans.
  25. ^ Durden, Chauncey. "Cowboy Believes Good Indian Is A Dead One". The Charlotte News. p. 13. March 19, 1935
  26. ^ Durden, Chauncey (September 25, 1934). "Russian Falls Before Jim 'The Goon' Henry; Wild Crowd Sees Henry In Best Performance Against Vactoruff - Middlekauff Pins McArthur In Semi-Final". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 12. The Goon was in rare form as referee Jim Belliveau gave the more than 3,000 fans an added attraction as he rassled with Henry several times.
  27. ^ Littlejohn, Fritz (November 24, 1934). "Jim, The Goon, Wins Over Blackstock In Wrestling Feature; Big Villain Takes First and Third Falls, Leaving Marshall Apparently Unconscious After Deciding Flop - McArthur, Holmberg Triumph". The Charlotte Observer. p. 10. In the same auditorium where on Thursday night Soprano Grace Morre captivated 1,500 persons, another Tennessean last night won the acclaim of twice that many when Rassler Marshall Blackstock of near Chattanooga won one fall from Jim (the Goon) Henry.
  28. ^ "Sonnenberg's Flying Tackle Beats Bad, Bad Little Beaver. Donovan Tosses Middlekauf; Rough Bouts Feature of Stadium Card". Richmond Times-Dispatch. July 20, 1935. p. 10. Gus Sonnenberg brought his flying tackle to Richmond for the first time last night and used it to throw Little Beaver in straight falls in the feature boat [sic] at the Stadium before a crowd of 3,000 fans.
  29. ^ "Capacity Crowd Cheers Dempsey on Appearance Here. RASSLERS BEHAVE WITH EX-CHAMPION WATCHING ACTIONS; Dawkins Beats Williams in Main Event and Johnny Plummer Is Easy Victor Over Hogan". Bristol Herald Courier. Bristol, Tennessee. June 26, 1936. p. 8. Jack Dempsey, the most colorful figure in the history of fistiana, proved last night that he is still the greatest attraction in professional sports when he was greeted by a roaring crowd of 3,000 at Cumberland arena.
  30. ^ "Dusek Winner In Rough Bout; Dempsey Takes Several Pokes at Koverly". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. July 11, 1936. p. 10. It was "Dusek's Wild" at the City Stadium last night as 3,000 wildly shouting fans watched Ernie Dusek, of the four wrestling Dusek brothers, throw George Koverly after 22 minutes of exciting grappling.
  31. ^ "Duseks Score Two Victories, 1 Loss, 1 Draw". Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 12, 1938. p. 17. A crowd of close to 3,000 saw the "riot squad" in action and in the closing match, which saw Ernie beat Jimmy Coffield in straight falls, switched their allegiance from the Nebraskan to give the Kansan many cheers.
  32. ^ Thompson, Hayti (September 3, 1935). "SONNENBERG IS WINNER OVER LUTTRALL. Gets Bout by Foul; Cowboy Plants Fist to Gus' Weak Heart for Fall". The Charlotte Observer. p. 18. COWBOY LUTTRALL, Texas' gift to the rasslin' game, last night went out by the foul route in his feature brawl with Dynamite Gus Sonnenberg, former heavyweight world's champion, as approximately 2,800 fans encored for more.
  33. ^ Littlejohn, Fritz (September 11, 1934). "2,500 SEE HENRY LICK MIDDLEKAUFF. FANS SEE BEST MAT PARTY OF YEAR. Florida Football Player Loses to The Goon; Jess Willard Referees". The Charlotte Observer. p. 16. SOME 2,500 or 3,000 fans, the biggest wrestling party since the days when Irish Horan used to broadcast the free ducats, last night came out to see Cowboy Jess Willard referee and were treated to the best performance the burpers have ever staged.
  34. ^ "Sonnenberg Beats Bad Bull Martin; Butts Villain From Ring in Auditorium Feature". Richmond Times-Dispatch. August 31, 1935. p. 10. Gus Sonnenberg butted Bull Martin out of the ring to win the feature wrestling bout at the Auditorium last night before a crowd estimated at 2,500.
  35. ^ "Dusek Winner Over Len Hall". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. March 21, 1936. p. 13. Twenty-five hundred fans saw the matches last night.
  36. ^ "Cliff Olsen Gets Draw With Dusek". Richmond Times-Dispatch. December 4, 1937. p. 16. Cliff Olsen and Ernie Dusek, two of the better known figures in the wrestling industry, grappled 90 minutes to a draw at the City Auditorium last night before a crowd of around 2,000, largest attendance Promoter Bill Lewis has enjoyed since his sojourn to California last summer.
  37. ^ "Bob Gregory Is Victor Over Farino". Richmond Times-Dispatch. April 2, 1938. p. 18. Proving his ability in a thoroughly business-like manner, Bob Gregory downed Lou Farino in 16 minutes of one of the featured matches on last night's wrestling card at the City Auditorium before an estimated crowd of 2,000 fans.
  38. ^ Williamson, Dick (February 5, 1938). "Dusek Pins Olsen, Who Claims "Short Count'". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 13. A crowd of more than 2,000 turned out to see Ernie and Cliff renew a rivalry which included two draw verdicts in their previous clashes.
  39. ^ "Dusek Downs Clintstock At Stadium". Richmond Times-Dispatch. July 9, 1938. p. 13. Ernie Dusek eked out a victory over Jim Clintstock in the main event of the first outdoor wrestling card of the season when he won the first and third falls of the two out of three fall bout before a crowd estimated at 2,000 last night at the stadium.
  40. ^ Barrett, Charles (October 21, 1938). "FANS GET THEIR WISH, GRAHAM GETS MUSSED; Shikat Manhandles Raleigh's No. 1 Villain in Feature of Mat Program". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. p. 8. Over 2,000 fans turned out for the fights.
  41. ^ "Sonnenberg Wins From Hader". Richmond Times-Dispatch. December 16, 1939. p. 17. Gus Sonnenberg won the feature match on the weekly wrestling card at the City Auditorium last night, taking two straight falls from Jack Hader before a crowd of 2,000 spectators.
  42. ^ "Dusek Defeats Mike Mazurki". Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 14, 1936. p. 12. Dusek's victory was very unpopular with the 1,800 fans that witnessed the matches.
  43. ^ "Khafoor Khan Wins in Mud On Mat Bill". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. March 30, 1938. p. 8. This match, fought in a ring filled with almost 5,000 pounds of soggy mud, featured the weekly wrestling card and drew a house estimated at around 1,800 fans.
  44. ^ "Dusek Again Is "Villain," Loses 2 Falls to Marshall". The Richmond News Leader. September 8, 1934. p. 14. Emil Dusek played his familiar "villain" role last night in the feature wrestling bout at the city auditorium and a crowd of some 1,500 rabid fans cheered wildly as he succumbed to Everett Marshall, title contender from Colorado, in the last two of three falls.
  45. ^ Thompson, Hayti (June 4, 1935). "SHIKAT TOSSES TINY ROEBUCK AT ARMORY". The Charlotte Observer. p. 18. A small-sized gallery of some 1,500 customers braved angry weather to see the three-match program.
  46. ^ "DANIEL SAVAGE SCORES IN RALEIGH MAT DEBUT". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. July 29, 1938. p. 14. Over 1,500 fans, largest crowd to attend the series, turned out for the program.
  47. ^ "THERE ARE NO VICTORIES IN MAIN MAT BATTLES". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. August 19, 1938. p. 14. Over 1,500 fans turned out for the program.
  48. ^ "Ho, Hum --- Angel Wins Another". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 6, 1946. p. 21. The wrestling world's ugly duckling, the French Angel, took only 39 minutes to defeat Roughhouse Jack O'Brian last night at City Stadium, taking the initial fall in 18 minutes and the last in a little over 20 before some 3,800 fans.
  49. ^ "Angel Defeats Bibber McCoy". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 5, 1940. p. 12. Maurice (The Angel) Tillet won over Bob (Bibber) McCoy in the feature bout of the first wrestling card of the winter season last night before 3,500 fans at the City Auditorium.
  50. ^ Touhy, George (September 24, 1940). "Angel Wings Ben In Two Straight; Bear Hug Proves Too Much For 300-Pound Lumberjack - Crowd Of 3,500 Sees Fresh Air Fund Mat Show at Legion Stadium - Sonnenberg, Newman Steal Show". The Charlotte Observer. p. 21. A crowd of 3,500 fans saw the Angel with both tumbles in the same manner - bear hugs followed by body presses.
  51. ^ "Long Puts Cooler On Hutchins". The Charlotte Observer. June 4, 1946. p. 17. BEFORE a crowd estimated more than 3,500, Westler Johnny Long of Baltimore knocked out Marvin Hutchins of Charlotte, boxer-referee, in the featured mat card last night at the Armory.
  52. ^ "Sexton Disposes Of Kwariana In 40 Minutes". Richmond Times-Dispatch. July 19, 1946. p. 19. It took World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Frank Sexton just 40 minutes to dispose of Kola Kwariana's unbeaten Richmond record and thus defend his title last night at the City Stadium before some 3,500 fans, including Governor Tuck.
  53. ^ Wade, Jake (April 30, 1946). "GALENTO REFEREES; COFFIELD, LONG TAKE WILD BOUT". The Charlotte Observer. p. 16. A crowd estimated at 3,000 shelled out a little more than $3,000 to visit the Armory last night and watch Tony Galento referee the headliner of one of the zaniest, wildest and most entertaining wrestling bills seen here in a long time.
  54. ^ "Carnera Pins 'Ironman' In Mat Bout". Richmond Times-Dispatch. August 8, 1947. p. 22. Despite threatening weather, a crowd of nearly 3,000 spectators (2,700 of them paid admissions) turned out last night to watch Primo Carnera, former world's heavyweight boxing champion, pin "Ironman" Talun in straight falls in the feature bout of Bill Lewis' weekly wrestling card.
  55. ^ "Sonnenberg Bumped By Big Ben Morgan; Former Heavyweight Champion Conquered as Towering Texan Wins Purse and Bout Next Week With the Angel - 2,500 Fans See Big Card In Stadium Ring". The Charlotte Observer. September 17, 1940. p. 33.
  56. ^ "Savoldi No Match For Frank Sexton". Richmond Times-Dispatch. August 30, 1946. p. 20. Jumping Joe Savoldi was disposed of last night in short order at the City Stadium before a crowd of around 2,500.
  57. ^ "Royal Goes Big With Mat Fans". The Charlotte News. June 18, 1946. p. 11. The big attraction of the bill, which drew nearly 2,000 spectators, was the wrestling royal, six grapplers in the ring at the same time.
  58. ^ a b c d Farmer, Matt (January 7, 2009). "1950's Attendances (Updated 11/11/10)". WrestlingClassics.com.
  59. ^ "Dusek Defeated By Masked Man". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. September 16, 1958. p. 21. A crowd of 9,812 saw the hooded Bolo remain unbeaten.
  60. ^ "Great Bolo Easy Victor Over Claw". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. April 7, 1959. p. 20. The Great Bolo won two straight falls over Danny (The Claw) McShane at the Coliseum Monday night before 9,700 wrestling fans.
  61. ^ "Rocca Triumphs". Asheville Citizen-Times. Asheville, North Carolina. June 17, 1958. p. 16. A crowd of 9,421 attended.
  62. ^ "The Japs Won Amid ... Flowers, Blood And Mystery". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. August 4, 1959. p. 16. Flowers, blood and an Oriental mystery potion. All these helped make an eventful night for 7,722 wrestling fans at Memorial Stadium last night.
  63. ^ "Becker Duo Mat Victor". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. November 10, 1959. p. 28. George Becker and Enrique Torres defeated the Great Bolo and Larry Crusher Hamilton in the featured Texas death match before 6,919 wrestling fans at the Coliseum Monday night.
  64. ^ "Moto Puts 'Sleeper' To Chuck Wiggins". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. April 21, 1951. p. 13. According to Promoter Bill Lewis, the crowd was the largest in Richmond's wrestling history going well over 5,000.
  65. ^ "Thomas' Team Wins Feature At Coliseum". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. February 25, 1969. p. 10. Sailor Art Thomas, George Becker and Johnny Weaver took the first and third falls to whip Homer O'Dell, Hiro Matsuda and the Missouri Mauler in the featured six-man tag wrestling match Monday night at the Coliseum before 11,397 fans.
  66. ^ "Bolos Take Mat Battle". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. February 19, 1963. p. 21. The Bolos took the first and third falls over the Kentuckians, Big Boy Brown and Tiny Anderson, before 11,000 wrestling fans Monday night at the Coliseum.
  67. ^ "Bolos Defeat Kentucky Pair". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. February 19, 1963. p. 24. The Great Bolo and Bolo used their heads to pound the Kentuckians into submission in two of three falls last night and win the feature of a coliseum wrestling card that attracted 11,000 fans.
  68. ^ "Rogers Still Mat Champ". The Charlotte Observer. January 31, 1961. p. 20. Buddy Rogers treated a Coliseum crowd of 10,644 to a spectacular wrestling show Monday night and retained his heavyweight title by beating the Brute in two out of three falls.
  69. ^ "World Champs Coming? Bolo, Hamilton Triumph, But Finish Flat On Backs". The Charlotte News. January 19, 1960. p. 7. A turnout just under 10,000 fans watched Paul Anderson and Haystack Calhoun share falls in the roughhouse brawl with the two reigning rowdies - then wind up the affair with a swinging chain.
  70. ^ a b c d e Meltzer, Dave (November 25, 2021). "Dave Meltzer's History of Pro Wrestling on Thanksgiving". F4Wonline.com. Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Online.
  71. ^ a b c d Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Arena histories: Greensboro Coliseum 1962-1969". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  72. ^ a b Chappell, David. "Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Almanac: November 1975". MidAtlanticWrestling.net. Mid-Atlantic Getaway.
  73. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Arena histories: Greensboro Coliseum 1970-1979". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  74. ^ a b c Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Yearly Results: JCP 1987". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  75. ^ Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Yearly Results: JCP 1988". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  76. ^ Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Yearly Results: JCP 1984". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  77. ^ a b Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Yearly Results: JCP 1986". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  78. ^ Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Yearly Results: WCW 1989". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  79. ^ Reynolds, R. D. (2004). The Death of WCW. Toronto: ECW Press. p. 247. ISBN 155490255X.
  80. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "Yearly Results: WCW 2000-01". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.

External links[edit]

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