Jim Ross
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has a new editorial on FOX Sports taking a look at Texas wrestling history and what it could mean for the success of Wrestlemania 32. You can read a few excerpts below:
WrestleMania Texas — aka WrestleMania 32 — will pack AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday. Fans from all over the world are descending on the Metroplex to witness a pro-wrestling extravaganza for the ages.
However, this Bigger-Than-Texas grappling love affair is not new to the Lone Star State. Pro rasslin’ has been a part of the entertainment fabric of Texas since the 1920s. The history of how some of the biggest power brokers in the wrestling business who happened to reside in Texas is compelling.
Around 1927, the year Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs for the New York Yankees, New York City transplant Morris Siegel, then 28 years old, began promoting boxing and wrestling events in his new hometown of Houston. This would be the official launch of the genre that would begin to put a headlock on fans throughout the state. Texas would spawn four, separate booking offices, all producing their own syndicated, weekly television broadcasts that would air only in their “territory.” Those territory hubs would include Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Amarillo.
The quartet would be akin to one state having four, fully operational WWEs within its borders.
Tapout
WWE posted the following promotional video, announcing Tapout apparel is now available at JCPenney:
