Post by draganta on Jan 15, 2024 0:15:47 GMT -5
In 1980, Don Owen wakes up from an incredibly disturbing dream- that of the financial ruin of the company his father had built, of the downfall of the proud tradition of pro wrestling in the Pacific Northwest, and further, of the eventual rise and monopoly of the entire industry by the son of capitol wrestling owner, Vincent J. McMahon.
Shaken by this vision and determined to avoid it, Owen makes an appointment with his finance department and behind the scenes, begins making moves. First, with contacts in Oregons athletic commission he tracks down those in the organization who have expressed distaste for wrestling, and, the vision of the possible future pressing him on, begins a charm offensive, doing everything short of bribery to change their minds. The offensive works, and any movement within the athletic commission to snuff out pro wrestling in Oregon is effectively dead.
Pleased with this, Owen is surprised when, at the financial meeting he had arranged, his accounting department gives him a shock: the organization is flushed with cash from a mysterious benefactor, enough to keep the company in business for years to come, with enough left over for several lifetimes.
Owen goes on the offensive.
knowing that Portland Wrestling is a small fish in the vast territorial ocean of the United States, and forewarned by his vision of the future of the coming insolvency and decline into irrelevance of the National Wrestling Alliance, Owen makes moves to assure himself of not only his companies future, but the future of pro wrestling on the West Coast.
Owen establishes satellite offices in Boise, Reno, and Sacramento, leap frogging from those into purchasing the San Francisco, LA, and Las Vegas booking offices. He establishes wrestling in Honolulu, strike a careful detente with the Maivia family to split the islands in two.
By 1981 Owen has effectively expanded his control to the entire West Coast, from Washington State to Nevada. Owen is generous- while the Portland office maintains over all control, he allows smaller promotions to continue running his towns, with the caveat that he takes a 45 percent cut of the house and that they recognize his champion as their World Champion.
Finally, Owen makes his biggest move. On January 35th, at the annual NWA convention in St. Louis, Owen announces that, effective immediately, Portland Wrestling is withdrawing from the National Wrestling Alliance. Owen is diplomatic- while they are now running on their own, Owen chooses to attempt to work with the NWA board whenever possible.
Owen, not wanting to burn bridges, makes sure his talent will continue to be able to get bookings in NWA Territories if they so choose- knowing full well that they are all signed to generous contracts as employees of Don Owen sports INC., with a generous pay and benefits package and the ability to continue to take independent bookings, so long as they do not interfere with the running of Portland Wrestling.
All of which does not escape the notice of one Vincent Kennedy McMahon, who, carefully watching and finding Don Owen a more formidable potential obstacle than he had expected, adjusts his plans accordingly, continuing to undermine Verne Gagne’s AWA by signing Gagne's stars out from under him. He is especially interested in their new breakout star - a blonde Superman named Hulk Hogan.
Finally, with the new size and scope of his territory in mind, Owen makes one last change, changing his promotions name from merely Portland Wrestling, to Universal Championship Wrestling, acknowledging “playboy” Buddy Rose as his first World Champion.
And thus, the Wrestling Wars have begun.
Shaken by this vision and determined to avoid it, Owen makes an appointment with his finance department and behind the scenes, begins making moves. First, with contacts in Oregons athletic commission he tracks down those in the organization who have expressed distaste for wrestling, and, the vision of the possible future pressing him on, begins a charm offensive, doing everything short of bribery to change their minds. The offensive works, and any movement within the athletic commission to snuff out pro wrestling in Oregon is effectively dead.
Pleased with this, Owen is surprised when, at the financial meeting he had arranged, his accounting department gives him a shock: the organization is flushed with cash from a mysterious benefactor, enough to keep the company in business for years to come, with enough left over for several lifetimes.
Owen goes on the offensive.
knowing that Portland Wrestling is a small fish in the vast territorial ocean of the United States, and forewarned by his vision of the future of the coming insolvency and decline into irrelevance of the National Wrestling Alliance, Owen makes moves to assure himself of not only his companies future, but the future of pro wrestling on the West Coast.
Owen establishes satellite offices in Boise, Reno, and Sacramento, leap frogging from those into purchasing the San Francisco, LA, and Las Vegas booking offices. He establishes wrestling in Honolulu, strike a careful detente with the Maivia family to split the islands in two.
By 1981 Owen has effectively expanded his control to the entire West Coast, from Washington State to Nevada. Owen is generous- while the Portland office maintains over all control, he allows smaller promotions to continue running his towns, with the caveat that he takes a 45 percent cut of the house and that they recognize his champion as their World Champion.
Finally, Owen makes his biggest move. On January 35th, at the annual NWA convention in St. Louis, Owen announces that, effective immediately, Portland Wrestling is withdrawing from the National Wrestling Alliance. Owen is diplomatic- while they are now running on their own, Owen chooses to attempt to work with the NWA board whenever possible.
Owen, not wanting to burn bridges, makes sure his talent will continue to be able to get bookings in NWA Territories if they so choose- knowing full well that they are all signed to generous contracts as employees of Don Owen sports INC., with a generous pay and benefits package and the ability to continue to take independent bookings, so long as they do not interfere with the running of Portland Wrestling.
All of which does not escape the notice of one Vincent Kennedy McMahon, who, carefully watching and finding Don Owen a more formidable potential obstacle than he had expected, adjusts his plans accordingly, continuing to undermine Verne Gagne’s AWA by signing Gagne's stars out from under him. He is especially interested in their new breakout star - a blonde Superman named Hulk Hogan.
Finally, with the new size and scope of his territory in mind, Owen makes one last change, changing his promotions name from merely Portland Wrestling, to Universal Championship Wrestling, acknowledging “playboy” Buddy Rose as his first World Champion.
And thus, the Wrestling Wars have begun.