Big Time Wrestling (Northern California): Q4 1974
Here's a special look at Big Time Wrestling (Roy Shire; Northern California) in the 4th quarter of 1974. From time to time we will look at territories that I don’t normally cover on this blog; think of them as “Uncharted Territories”.
Here is the roster for the quarter. Wrestlers are listed in descending order by their average SPOT Rating during the quarter. Directly below their week-by-week SPOT Ratings is a list of their Frequent Partners and Frequent Opponents (if applicable):
TALENT ROSTER
The top stars in the territory at this time were babyfaces Pat Patterson, Peter Maivia, and Raul Mata, and heels Moondog Mayne, Karl & Kurt Von Brauner, and Mr. Saito. The Von Brauners were managed by Gerhardt Kaiser.
Further down the cards we have babyfaces Earl Maynard, Mr. Wrestling (Tim Woods), Reno Tuufuli, and Billy White Cloud (aka Chief White Cloud/Pedro Columbo) and heels Kinji Shibuya, the Alaskan (Jay York), the Brute (Mike “Bugsy McGraw” Davis), Ricky Hunter, and Killer Kirk (aka Malcolm/Mal Kirk).
Shire had a smaller roster than most territories, and generally ran one show per night. As you can see by the “Bookings per week” statistic on the Roster chart, records for this territory are fairly incomplete, with most of the roster only having 2-3 “known” bookings per week. So we are likely missing a significant number of house shows from this territory. While there is the possibility they didn’t run a full slate of shows and had more “off days” than other territories, we’re definitely missing a good deal of cards regardless.
Furthermore, the main events for many of the shows were six-man tags involving the top 8 or so wrestlers on a rotating basis. This would explain why you see so many “Frequent Opponents” for each of the Main Eventers; they’re wrestling each other most every night in six-mans, with singles matches occupying the main event slots infrequently.
OTHER WRESTLERS NOT LISTED IN THE SPOT RATINGS
NATIONALLY KNOWN STARS
John Tolos
PART-TIMERS OR JUST PASSING THROUGH
George Wells, Jack Randall, Mablo Cordoza, Mighty Igor, Nick Adams (wrestling bear Terrible Ted’s trainer/handler; Nick did not make either of his advertised bookings), Pepper Martin, Pork Chop Cash, and Terry Garvin
FOUR-LEGGED WRESTLERS
Terrible Ted
Ted’s average SPOT Rating here was a .80
It should be noted that while Ted was advertised for a few shows in December, the bear did not actually make these dates. A newspaper article reported that the truck driving the bear was involved in an accident on the way to the first show he was booked for in Sacramento; a later article reported that the accident left the “with injuries so serious that he had to be put to sleep.” There is some question as to whether this is true (in fact, the “accident” itself may have been a cover story). Perhaps this will be the subject of a future episode of my Wrestling History Mysteries podcast.
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CHAMPIONS & KNOWN TITLE CHANGES
NOTE: Title histories are sometimes not “linear”; title changes can be acknowledged in one market but not others, or perhaps acknowledged in others at a later date. Also, the concept of titles being “held up” can sometimes refer to a town-specific angle to build to a rematch and may not be acknowledged in other markets. This represents my best effort to accurately portray title histories using the tools now available. While I do try to put these histories together on my own, I often refer to wrestling-titles.com and wrestlingdata.com
UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
Moondog Mayne was the champion at the beginning of the quarter. Peter Maivia won the title on October 12th in San Francisco. It’s possible the title change was repeated in Las Vegas on 11/26, as an article promoting the following card in Vegas on 12/30 states that Maivia had “won” the title on the previous card in the city.
WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES
Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia were the champions at the beginning of the quarter. Results from the 11/30 card in San Francisco state that Moondog Mayne & the Brute won the titles on that show, but Patterson & Maivia continue to be billed as champions throughout the territory, including on the next show in San Francisco on 12/28 (with results explicitly stating that Patterson & Maivia “retained” the titles on that card).
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Here is the calendar of known house shows for the quarter.
ADVERTISED LINEUPS FOR ALL KNOWN HOUSE SHOWS
(attendance and/or gate figures listed where available)
10/2/74 San Jose, CA (Civic Auditorium) (Source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner vs Pat Patterson & Raul Mata
Peter Maivia vs Kurt Von Brauner
Mr Saito vs Jerry Monti
Killer Kirk vs Billy White Cloud
10/4/74 Modesto, CA (Uptown Arena)
Kinji Shibuya & Mr Saito vs Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia
Raul Mata vs Karl Von Brauner
Killer Kirk vs Billy White Cloud
10/8/74 Reno, NV (Fairgrounds Pavilion)
Gerhardt Kaiser handcuffed to Peter Maivia: Pat Patterson vs Karl Von Brauner
Peter Maivia & Raul Mata vs Moondog Mayne & Mr Saito
Earl Maynard vs Kurt Von Brauner
Killer Kirk vs Billy White Cloud
10/9/74 Sacramento, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
US title, no stopping for cuts or blood, no disqualification, falls count anywhere: Pat Patterson vs Moondog Mayne
Peter Maivia & Raul Mata & Earl Maynard vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner & Mr Saito
Pork Chop Cash vs Kinji Shibuya
Jerry Monti vs Killer Kirk
GATE: $8,159
10/11/74 Modesto, CA (Uptown Arena)
If Mata wins, he gets 5 minutes with Gerhardt Kaiser: Karl Von Brauner vs Raul Mata
Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Billy White Cloud vs Kinji Shibuya & Mr Saito & Kurt Von Brauner
Plus 1 other bout
10/12/74 San Francisco, CA (Cow Palace)
US title, no rules: Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne
Elimination match, ring enclosed by wire fence: Pat Patterson & Mighty Igor & Raul Mata vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Mr Saito
Earl Maynard vs John Tolos
Billy White Cloud vs Killer Kirk
ATTENDANCE: 8,927
GATE: $37,585
10/16/74 San Jose, CA (Civic Auditorium) (source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner vs Raul Mata & Pat Patterson
Mr Wrestling & Peter Maivia vs Mr Saito & Kurt Von Brauner
Jerry Monti vs Killer Kirk
10/18/74 Las Vegas, NV (Convention Center)
US title: Moondog Mayne vs Earl Maynard
Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner & Gerhardt Kaiser
Mr Saito vs Mr Wrestling
Billy White Cloud vs Killer Kirk
10/22/74 Reno, NV (Fairgrounds Pavilion)
Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner & Mr Saito
Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya
Billy White Cloud vs Ricky Hunter
10/23/74 Sacramento, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
World Tag Team titles: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Karl Von Brauner & Kurt Von Brauner
Earl Maynard vs Moondog Mayne
Raul Mata & Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya & Mr Saito
Billy White Cloud vs Brute
GATE: $6,258
10/25/74 Modesto, CA (Uptown Arena)
No disqualification: Raul Mata vs Karl Von Brauner
Pat Patterson & Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya & Mr Saito
Brute vs Jerry Monti
10/26/74 Richmond, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
Moondog Mayne & Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner vs Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Raul Mata
Mr Wrestling vs Mr Saito
Billy White Cloud vs Brute
10/30/74 San Jose, CA (Civic Auditorium) (source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Pat Patterson & Raul Mata vs Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner
Brute vs Billy White Cloud
Kurt Von Brauner vs Jerry Monti
Mr Wrestling vs Mr Saito
11/1/74 Las Vegas, NV (Convention Center)
US title: Moondog Mayne vs Earl Maynard
Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner & Gerhardt Kaiser
Kinji Shibuya vs Mr Wrestling
Billy White Cloud vs Brute
11/6/74 Sacramento, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
World Tag Team titles: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling & Raul Mata vs Kinji Shibuya & Kurt Von Brauner
Billy White Cloud vs Brute
Earl Maynard vs Ricky Hunter
GATE: $6,258 (it is worth noting that this gate figure, published in the newspaper, is identical to the reported gate from the last show in Sacramento; do with that information what you will)
11/8/74 Modesto, CA (Uptown Arena)
Pat Patterson & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Ricky Hunter
Brute vs Billy White Cloud
11/9/74 San Francisco, CA (Cow Palace)
US title: Moondog Mayne vs Peter Maivia
Pat Patterson & Raul Mata vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Karl Von Brauner
Haystack Calhoun & Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya & Kurt Von Brauner
Earl Maynard vs Ricky Hunter
Billy White Cloud vs Brute
ATTENDANCE: 6,551
GATE: $27,050
11/12/74 Reno, NV (Fairgrounds Pavilion)
Haystack Calhoun & Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Ricky Hunter
Billy White Cloud vs Brute
11/19/74 Stockton, CA (Civic Auditorium) (source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Haystack Calhoun & Pat Patterson & Raul Mata vs Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner & Kurt Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya
Brute vs Jerry Monti
11/20/74 Sacramento, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
World Tag Team titles, no stopping for cuts or blood: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner
Raul Mata & Mr Wrestling & Haystack Calhoun vs Kinji Shibuya & Kurt Von Brauner & Gerhardt Kaiser
Earl Maynard vs Brute
Plus 1 other bout
11/22/74 Richmond, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
Haystack Calhoun & Pat Patterson & Raul Mata vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Ricky Hunter
Jerry Monti vs Brute
11/25/74 Reno, NV (Fairgrounds Pavilion)
Haystack Calhoun & Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya
Jerry Monti vs Brute
11/26/74 Las Vegas, NV (Convention Center)
US title: Moondog Mayne vs Peter Maivia
Elimination match: Haystack Calhoun & Pat Patterson & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner & Gerhardt Kaiser
Mr Wrestling vs Ricky Hunter
Reno Tuufuli vs Brute
11/28/74 Sacramento, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
World Tag Team titles: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner
Elimination match: Raul Mata & Mr Wrestling & Haystack Calhoun vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Kurt Von Brauner & Brute
Kinji Shibuya vs Reno Tuufuli
Pepper Martin vs Ricky Hunter
GATE: $8,762
11/29/74 Modesto, CA (Uptown Arena)
Haystack Calhoun & Pat Patterson & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner & Moondog Mayne
Reno Tuufuli vs Brute
Plus 1 other bout
11/30/74 San Francisco, CA (Cow Palace)
World Tag Team titles: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Brute
Strap match: Pat Patterson vs Gerhardt Kaiser
Haystack Calhoun & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya
Ricky Hunter vs Reno Tuufuli
ATTENDANCE: 8,470
GATE: $33,750
12/3/74 Stockton, CA (Civic Auditorium) (source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner & Gerhardt Kaiser
Plus (presumably) other bouts
12/5/74 Modesto, CA (Uptown Arena)
Gerhardt Kaiser & Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner vs Pat Patterson & Raul Mata & Peter Maivia
Mr Wrestling vs Kinji Shibuya
Plus 1 other bout
12/7/74 Richnmond, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
Pat Patterson & Raul Mata & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Karl Von Brauner & Gerhardt Kaiser
Mr Wrestling & Reno Tuufuli vs Kurt Von Brauner & Brute
12/10/74 San Jose, CA (Civic Auditorium) (source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Karl Von Brauner & Moondog Mayne & Gerhardt Kaiser vs Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Raul Mata
Mr Wrestling vs Kurt Von Brauner
Ricky Hunter vs Reno Tuufuli
12/11/74 Sacramento, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
World Tag Team titles, no rules: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Karl Von Brauner & Moondog Mayne
Raul Mata & Mr Wrestling vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Kurt Von Brauner
Brute vs George Wells
Ricky Hunter vs Reno Tuufuli
GATE: $6,497.50
12/13/74 Modesto, CA (Uptown Arena)
"Hurricane match" (similar to Texas tornado match): Pat Patterson & Raul Mata & Peter Maivia vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
Reno Tuufuli vs Brute
Plus 1 other bout
12/16/74 Reno, NV (Fairgrounds Pavilion)
Elimination match: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia & Raul Mata vs Gerhardt Kaiser & Karl Von Brauner & Moondog Mayne
Mr Wrestling & Reno Tuufuli vs Brute & Kurt Von Brauner
Plus 1 other bout
12/17/74 Stockton, CA (Civic Auditorium) (source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Karl Von Brauner & Gerhardt Kaiser
Moondog Mayne vs George Wells
Mr Wrestling vs Reno Tuufuli
Brute vs Mablo Cordoza
12/26/74 Sacramento, CA (Memorial Auditorium)
US title: Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne
Terrible Ted & Pat Patterson vs Brute & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Alaskan
Raul Mata vs Nick Adams
Kurt Von Brauner vs Jerry Monti
GATE: $10,120
12/27/74 San Jose, CA (Civic Auditorium) (source: The Clawmaster's Archives)
Raul Mata & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Brute
Pat Patterson & Mr Wrestling vs Kurt Von Brauner & Terry Garvin
Reno Tuufuli vs Alaskan
Pepper Martin vs Jack Randall
12/28/74 San Francisco, CA (Cow Palace)
World Tag Team titles: Pat Patterson & Peter Maivia vs Moondog Mayne & Brute
Terrible Ted & Raul Mata vs Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
Mr Wrestling vs Alaskan
Kinji Shibuya vs Reno Tuufuli
Pepper Martin vs Terry Garvin
