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Post by 1992 on Feb 4, 2011 7:01:05 GMT -5
A while ago I was at Wal-Mart digging through the $5 dollar DVD bin when I spotted the The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling in there and couldn't pass up any wrestling DVD for just $5 bucks. Anyways, I just decided to watch it for the first time tonight, as I was going to sleep, and being from Texas, I was immediately captivated with the story. I watched the first 45 minutes or so, and jumped up to Google the Sportatorium as I had already decided I wanted to go visit it. I was heartbroken to find that it was condemned and torn down in 2003. I continued to research it, and found out more and more, reading stories from older fans who were there live as children, the atmosphere, the smell, the feel, and I gotta say I've never been more...moved by a wrestling story, quite like I was by this one. I honestly just wanted to break down and cry after researching, reading, and hearing so many stories about Fritz, Kerry, David, the legacy, the arena, just all of it... Damn. I put together this little collection of pics that timeline the Sportatorium, I might make a much more in-depth slide show and put it on YouTube in the future, but I thought this would do for now. I know this a little "dramatic" and over-the-top, but I set the pics to a song that I though really fit well. So play it if you'd like/can while scrolling through the pics.        I suppose to keep the thread relevant, anyone have any memories of this place? The WCCW? And general feelings towards it? |
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Post by carly1988 on Feb 4, 2011 7:52:52 GMT -5
The most recognition I got to the Sportatorium was from GWF. WCCW wasnt really broadcast around here so I never got to see it. An old story that I heard though is that the Sportatorium use to have the absolute best fried foods like funnel cakes and corn dogs. They had a "secret recipe" which turned out that they never changed the grease in the fryers. It was all ok until they tore the place down and they said the fryers were filled full of skeletons from rats and mice. Im not sure how true the story is but kinda makes me glad I didnt go there haha.
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Post by Grumpyoldman on Feb 4, 2011 10:13:40 GMT -5
It seemed so much bigger on TV. Looking at the overhead view, it really wasn't that big. To think- not only did they have wrestling there, but Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson & countless other country stars performed there in the past as well.
If you weren't around when WCCW was on, I bet it had the same vibe as the ECW arena.
Such a shame they tore it down. But it was also loaded with asbestos. Not exactly the safest building.
Seeing how you got the DVD for $5 is a real bargain.
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Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai
Main Eventer
Promotional consideration paid for by the following
Joined on: Jul 25, 2005 17:12:49 GMT -5
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Post by Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai on Feb 4, 2011 10:14:59 GMT -5
One of the places with so much wrestling history that I wish it were still there just for sightseeing purposes.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2011 17:53:20 GMT -5
wow a fiver was a great deal for that excellent DVD.
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Post by Mr. Old School™ on Feb 4, 2011 18:17:40 GMT -5
Yeah, when I was growing up, I very rarely saw anything from WCCW. I believe if I remember correctly, the only stuff I saw was in the old wrestling magazines like Pro Wrestling Illustrated and The Wrestler and The Wrestling Eye. I remember reading about the incredible feud between The Von Erichs and The Freebirds. Man, that was awesome.
I also remember seeing lots of stuff on General Skandor Akbar and the guys he managed and all sorts of stuff I didn't see in the WWF, like fireballs and stuff like that.
It's truly a shame they had to tear the place down. It was filled with tons of wrestling memories and now that's all it is.
It's an even bigger shame that SO many of the Superstars from WCCW are now gone..."Playboy" Gary Hart, General Skandor Akbar, Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy, Gino Hernandez, "Gentleman" Chris Adams, Bruiser Brody, Bronko Lubich, Kerry Von Erich, David Von Erich, Chris Von Erich, Fritz Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, Steve Doll, The Junk Yard Dog, "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer, Rick Rude, Prof. Toru Tanaka, Scott "Hog" Irwin, and Toni Adams.
If I missed anyone, I apologize. There are way too many...Most of them should still be here today...
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Post by theryanegan on Feb 4, 2011 18:21:17 GMT -5
Do yourself a favor: Hunt down "Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs and the Rise and Fall of World Class". It's a much better documentary, and the ONLY upside to the WWE release is they could put full matches on.
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Post by 1992 on Feb 4, 2011 19:35:58 GMT -5
Do yourself a favor: Hunt down "Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs and the Rise and Fall of World Class". It's a much better documentary, and the ONLY upside to the WWE release is they could put full matches on. I ironically was coming here to post this... And mention I was trying to snag it offline or from where ever I could. I hear the scene when Kevin revisits Sportatorium directly before it's demolished and takes a final tour with the camera man is completely heartbreaking. And yes Mr. Old School, I immediatly fell in love with Gino Hernandez, Gentleman Chris Adams, Ronnie Garvin(who I'd known of before I viewed this), and most other WCCW superstars who I was first introduced too via this DVD. It's unbelieveable to see how almost all of the talent from WCCW died before their LIVES even peaked. Being a "younger"(if you consider 19 going on 20 younger) wrestling fan is a blessing and a curse. I'll go back and watch documentaries like WCCW, Four Horseman, NWA, AWA, etc. and just think about things I'll NEVER get to see. Periods of wrestling that can never, ever come close to being recreated. And I'm not totally opposed to today's product, how can I be, ECW/WCW/WWE were/are my NWA/WCCW/WWF, etc. but I'm just jealous and borderline bitter that I can't live through things like this. Time frames when wrestling shows held out of a tin building in Dallas were outdrawing major football games. When wrestling was completely respected. |
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Post by heatofthemoment on Feb 4, 2011 19:48:21 GMT -5
Being a "younger"(if you consider 19 going on 20 younger) wrestling fan is a blessing and a curse. I'll go back and watch documentaries like WCCW, Four Horseman, NWA, AWA, etc. and just think about things I'll NEVER get to see. Periods of wrestling that can never, ever come close to being recreated. When wrestling was completely respected. Yeah, that's completely how I feel. I've watched nearly all of the DVD's put out show casing that era, it's so captivating and tragic. The general history of wrestling in the 70's and 80's is really breathe taking. |
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Post by Grumpyoldman on Feb 4, 2011 23:34:26 GMT -5
I recently found a WCCW T shirt with the logo on it. Quite a steal for $20.
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Post by Calcifer Boheme on Feb 5, 2011 19:12:02 GMT -5
The most recognition I got to the Sportatorium was from GWF. WCCW wasnt really broadcast around here so I never got to see it. An old story that I heard though is that the Sportatorium use to have the absolute best fried foods like funnel cakes and corn dogs. They had a "secret recipe" which turned out that they never changed the grease in the fryers. It was all ok until they tore the place down and they said the fryers were filled full of skeletons from rats and mice. Im not sure how true the story is but kinda makes me glad I didnt go there haha. Even if it is true, there's so much time difference between when they stopped using it and when they tore it down, it's likely that the mice and rats were never in it when people actually ate there. Using the same grease for long periods, even decades, isn't harmful at all as long as you keep it clean... Plus, that's not really a secret recipe, plenty of people in the south do it  On to the topic at hand... I never went there, but I watch many TV tapins shot there and it was a place I always wanted to go. Just another wrestling Mecca that no longer exists, as well as the Omni, and likely the MidSouth Coliseum (it hasn't been torn down yet, but it's been closed for a couple of years.) |
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Post by ricflair4ever on Feb 6, 2011 16:56:18 GMT -5
WCCW has always had a special place in my heart. Before my family got cable in 87,my grandfather had it. The very first thing he invited me over to watch with him afterwards was wrestling. He had taped all the shows I couldn't get on regular tv. Back then we got WWF Superstars ,CWA,and we had a grainy syndicated version of AWA. So JCP,WCCW,and UWF/mid south were a pipedream. I would read all about World Class in Apter mags. At least my uncle would tape NWA Worldwide for me to keep up with the Horsemen previously,but no one could bring me the Von Erichs. Until grandpa did. I was hooked and never looked back. When my family got cable ,I taped every episode from then up through USWA and finally Global. Even though I had never saw a WCCW card live and never got to see the Sportatorium in person,I think it was still a huge part of my youth. I am very sad it was torn down,as I always wanted to see it just to say I did. I saw/seen every major venue that I wanted from the glory days except MSG and that one. There will never be another Sportatorium OR World Class wrestling.
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Post by carly1988 on Feb 6, 2011 17:04:07 GMT -5
The most recognition I got to the Sportatorium was from GWF. WCCW wasnt really broadcast around here so I never got to see it. An old story that I heard though is that the Sportatorium use to have the absolute best fried foods like funnel cakes and corn dogs. They had a "secret recipe" which turned out that they never changed the grease in the fryers. It was all ok until they tore the place down and they said the fryers were filled full of skeletons from rats and mice. Im not sure how true the story is but kinda makes me glad I didnt go there haha. Even if it is true, there's so much time difference between when they stopped using it and when they tore it down, it's likely that the mice and rats were never in it when people actually ate there. Using the same grease for long periods, even decades, isn't harmful at all as long as you keep it clean... Plus, that's not really a secret recipe, plenty of people in the south do it On to the topic at hand... I never went there, but I watch many TV tapins shot there and it was a place I always wanted to go. Just another wrestling Mecca that no longer exists, as well as the Omni, and likely the MidSouth Coliseum (it hasn't been torn down yet, but it's been closed for a couple of years.) I dont know much about it honestly it was just a story I heard. I personally dont eat many fried foods unless its comes from home and I know thats not old grease haha. |
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Post by BrIaNMeRcY on Feb 6, 2011 17:52:49 GMT -5
The most recognition I got to the Sportatorium was from GWF. WCCW wasnt really broadcast around here so I never got to see it. An old story that I heard though is that the Sportatorium use to have the absolute best fried foods like funnel cakes and corn dogs. They had a "secret recipe" which turned out that they never changed the grease in the fryers. It was all ok until they tore the place down and they said the fryers were filled full of skeletons from rats and mice. Im not sure how true the story is but kinda makes me glad I didnt go there haha. Even if it is true, there's so much time difference between when they stopped using it and when they tore it down, it's likely that the mice and rats were never in it when people actually ate there. Using the same grease for long periods, even decades, isn't harmful at all as long as you keep it clean... Plus, that's not really a secret recipe, plenty of people in the south do it On to the topic at hand... I never went there, but I watch many TV tapins shot there and it was a place I always wanted to go. Just another wrestling Mecca that no longer exists, as well as the Omni, and likely the MidSouth Coliseum (it hasn't been torn down yet, but it's been closed for a couple of years.) The Mid-South Coliseum is still there. Since it is part of the National Register of Historic Places, it can't be torn down. |
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Post by Lewscher on Feb 6, 2011 19:23:21 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2011 21:29:04 GMT -5
This is why I want the Mattel Legends Von Erich 2 pack so bad. Such an amazing place and a huge part of wrestling history.
Btw, Heroes of World Class is a much better DVD than the WWE vesion. Imo
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Post by Bandalero on Feb 6, 2011 22:14:39 GMT -5
I have both DVDs, Heroes of World Class (get this now!) and The Triumph & Tragedy - and I have to say both are quality DVDs to have in your library.
I was enthralled by the whole Von Erich saga. Like a poster above me, I didn't get WCCW on TV growing up, what I knew of the territory came from kayfabe mags like PWI, Inside Wrestling, and The Wrestler magazines. But the angles and hearts of the fans could be felt in those journals for sure.
I got to see the Sportatorium via GWF in the early 90s on TV, but I'm sure the atmosphere was never the same as when the Von Erich boys would come down that ramp.
I too wish the building was not torn down. It definitely would be a pilgrimage for all wrestling fans to come visit if it was left standing.
I miss those days and that roster.
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I might want to get this cheap sometime 
