MAY 1979
FAIRMONT HOTEL - SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
San Francisco promoter Roy Shire walked out to the podium in the world-famous luxury hotel, the Fairmont.
Shire was in a suit and tie for the occasion.
Shire took a sip of water from the glass sitting on the table on which the podium sat.
Shire: Greetings. I am promoter Roy Shire of Big Time Wrestling based out of San Francisco.
First, I want to thank promoters from around the world for choosing me to make this historic announcement.
This is arguably the biggest announcement our great sport has ever seen.
On July 21st, just two short months from now, a pro wrestling card the likes wrestling fans have never seen, will take place in two wrestling hotbeds and air on closed circuit TV at theaters and arenas in select cities around the country.
The two places where this event will be held are the Omni in Atlanta, Georgia and the Checkerdome in St. Louis, Missouri. These two cities were carefully chosen by a select group of promoters. There were several cities which wanted to be a part of this event. It was a tough decision, but the two sites chosen were picked because of their rich wrestling history.
All of the matches on this card will be inter-promotional bouts. This is a one-time happening the likes of which we will never see again in this sport.
And I am pleased to announce three matches have already been signed.
First, we are gonna have a battle of legends as Verne Gagne of the American Wrestling Association dons the tights against hard-nosed Fritz Von Erich from World Class Championship Wrestling. It will be the Von Erich Iron Claw vs. the Gagne Sleeper. Who will prevail in what promises to be an exciting bout between two all-time greats.
Also on the card, a young, fast-rising star who has 'future World Champion' written all over him, is in for his toughest test to date as 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair does battle with the 'King of Memphis' Jerry Lawler. This match looks to be a real barn-burner and can young Flair overcome wily veteran Lawler?
Finally, the third match signed for the card is for the World Wrestling Federaton Championship. Bob Backlund will defend the title against wildman Bruiser Brody. To say it will be a contrast in styles would be an understatement.
Backlund is the consumate technical wrestler who was also a collegiate wrestling champion. He is a master of the craft of scientific wrestling.
Brody, on the other hand, is a man known for his wild, brawling, take-no-prisoners, bloody wrestling style.
Who will win what promises to be a very intriguing match-up and can Backlund retain the title against Brody and his wild, unorthodox style.
In the weeks to come, we'll be announcing more matches for this historical event. The three matches already announced would be main evets anywhere in the world. Dream matches are becooming a reality thanks to the hard work and dedication of promoters from all over who conceived this grand event and are now seeing it come to fruition.
Fans, you can already feel the excitement building for history in the making. Wrestling has never seemn anything like this.
Information on tickets for the two site locations and the closed-circuit broadcasts will be announced soon.
In all my years in this great sport I have never witnessed anything like what is unfolding before us right now.
Be a part of pro wrestling history by getting your tickets for the Inter-Promotional Dream Card.
I'm Roy Shire. Thank you for your time.
With that, Shire turned and walked out of camera range, leaving the camera focused on the empty podium. Then, the following words appeared on the screen:
BE A PART OF PRO WRESTLING HISOTRY ON JULY 21, 1979!
With that, the wheels had been set in motion for the biggest pro wrestling event of all-time.
Could all the promoters involved keep it together for two months? Or would bitter in-fighting sabotage everything?
