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| Acronym | GWF |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 1991 |
| Defunct | September 1994 |
| Style | American Wrestling |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas |
| Founder(s) | Max Andrews Joe Pedicino |
| Owner(s) | Max Andrews (1991–1994) Joe Pedicino (1991–1992) Northstar Promotions (1992–1994) |
Global Wrestling Federation was an Americanprofessional wrestling promotion based inDallas, Texas. It started in June 1991 and folded in September 1994. At one time its shows were presented on theESPN television network. Often the promotion provided programming five days a week, airing at 4 p.m. Eastern.
The GWF was the last pro wrestling promotion to be seen on ESPN regularly. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the network began to emphasizetalk shows in the mid-afternoon hours, supplanting pro wrestling.
It was announced thatESPN Classic would start showing re-runs on August 5, 2013.[1] Episodes are available on theWWE Network.
Max Andrews andJoe Pedicino were the original GWF promoters. The kayfabe reason for the promotion creation established on the first episode of GWF of ESPN noted that the promotion was theUSWA becoming “globalized” putting over talent such as the British Axl Rotten and Rasta the “Voodoo Man.” The organization was a mix of established names and newcomers, many of whom would launch their national careers after appearances on the daily ESPN show. The original stars included the Patriot (Del Wilkes), Scott Levy (Raven ofECW,WCW,WWE andTNA), the Handsome Stranger (Marcus Bagwell of WCW) andCactus Jack. In late 1991,"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert entered the promotion and took over much of the creative direction of the show introducing The Dark Patriot (an evil version of the Patriot played by his brother,Doug Gilbert), John Hawk (John Bradshaw Layfield),Jerry Lynn, and the WinnerBarry Horowitz (a character created by Gilbert and announcer Craig Johnson).Booker T andStevie Ray also wrestled in the promotion as did theLightning Kid (later known as the 1-2-3 Kid, Syxx, and X-Pac in WCW and WWE).
The GWF began airing weekly shows in the local Dallas andFort Worth metroplex television market from theDallas Sportatorium, which was billed for a short time asThe GlobalDome. Although their main weekly show's name wasMajor League Wrestling (not to be confused withthe future promotion of the same name), as it was often referred to as, the GWF had also used other names for it, such asSupercard (also used by theUSWA at one point) andMain Events. The promotion's announcers were Jon Horton (as Craig Johnson), Scott Hudson, Steven Prazak (as "Steven DeTruth"), and Joe Pedicino, withBoni Blackstone as ringside interviewer. Scott Hudson left the announcer's table and in his place was "The Expert"Bruce Prichard (Brother Love of WWF/WWE). In one storyline, Prichard and Horton argued in an expletive filled exchange only to reveal that Prichard was orchestrating many of the nefarious activities of the heels.
The Cartel was the first stable formed in the GWF and was the top heel stable in 1991. It consisted ofCactus Jack,Scotty Anthony,Rip Rogers andMakhan Singh. They feuded with the top baby-faces at the time inSteve Simpson,Chris Walker andthe Patriot. They never won any titles but their presence was always felt at each event. Rogers was the spokesperson for the group and did most of their interviews, but Foley and Levy were allowed to shine occasionally on the mic. They talked of having a "boss" but would not name him. After a few months of this, they named the boss as GWF Commissioner Max Andrews and then the stable disbanded.
The original GWF was notable for many of its wrestling broadcast innovations, most importantly, the acknowledgement of other promotions within the broadcast (including past promotions such as World Class Championship Wrestling). Competitors' former championships were mentioned, as were departures of wrestlers to other promotions. The promotion also aired behind-the-scenes footage and news segments with features from around the sport.
Following a massive cutback of budget, Pedicino and Johnson left the promotion.
Due to a pay dispute, booker Eddie Gilbert and his brother Doug (working under a mask as the Dark Patriot), left the GWF in 1992. Eddie Gilbert took with him theGWF North American Heavyweight Championship belt. He made a few defenses of the title in theUnited States Wrestling Association as the GWF World Heavyweight champion, despite being stripped of the belt and not being recognized as such by the GWF.
In the wake of this temporary fold, the promotional rights to the GWF were purchased by Northstar Promotions, which was formed by Grey Pierson, Robert Keeler, and Wayne Whitworth.[2] Soon after, many formerWorld Class Championship Wrestling stars began appearing, including Chris Adams,Kerry Von Erich and Iceman Parsons, among others. Doyle King, David Webb, and other guest announcers (including former World Class announcersBill Mercer andMarc Lowrance) were brought in as the show became more of a theatrical presentation. Mercer, a veteran of Sportatorium wrestling since the 1950s, hosted a weekly segment on many memorable events that took place in the venerable Dallas arena. In late 1992, shortly after the Bungee Match, Keeler and Whitworth left Northstar and Pierson took the reins.
The local television shows boasted that it was also being aired over a fictitious global television network as Northstar introduced many interesting and bizarre characters. In one of its more interesting angles, GWF hired a "psychiatrist" for the wrestlers who was actually Dr.Allan Saxe, a political science professor at the nearbyUniversity of Texas at Arlington.
One angle at that time included the world's first "Bungee" match in which Steven Dane wrestled against Chaz Taylor 150 feet in the air in a cage. The winner was Chaz Taylor who knocked Steven Dane out of the cage. After the match, "Maniac" Mike Davis attached himself to the bungee cord and was launched into the night sky. When he landed back on the ground, he claimed he had launched himself to the Moon and had returned to Earth with a "Moon rock." Another angle in which announcer David Webb, having "amnesia" following an attack byManny Fernandez, believed that he wasElvis Presley (who performed at the Sportatorium in the late-1950s during theBig D Jamboree days). Another storyline involvedCecil Fielder, who was billed as the first two sport athlete in baseball and wrestling. He didn't wrestle, he was "observing" other wrestlers.
The GWF was shown weekdays on ESPN as well as a one-hour weekly syndicated show presented in 130 markets. One of the main reasons Northstar was successful was the separately edited and broadcast weekly syndicated show for the Dallas market which eliminated the two-week lag time between taping and airing. This allowed the Dallas audience to see the matches live on Friday night and view them 24 hours later on the local Dallas station. The local attendance rose from a low of 94 people to a packed house of over 5,000 within six weeks.
In 1992, the Global Wrestling Federation was sued by thenWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF), because they felt the use of the word "Global" was too close to the word "World."[3]
In February 1993, a memorial wrestling card was held in memory ofKerry Von Erich, who committed suicide on February 18. Von Erich was to have faced the Angel of Death, David Sheldon, that day. Instead, a memorial service was held at the Sportatorium prior to the matches, with former World Class announcerMarc Lowrance making a special appearance to pay his tributes to Kerry (Lowrance was the ring announcer who called Von Erich's NWA World title victory over Ric Flair in 1984). The following April, a memorial tribute card was held at the Dallas Sportatorium, featuring many former World Class wrestlers, referees and other officials. In that card, the main event was the official last match between the Freebirds and the Von Erichs.Kevin Von Erich andChris Adams (who wore Kerry's ring jacket in his memory) facedMichael Hayes andBuddy Roberts, withSkandor Akbar in Hayes and Roberts' corner, andFritz Von Erich in Chris and Kevin's corner (his last appearance in a professional wrestling match). The match ended with Kevin applying the claw on Roberts for the win, while Fritz applied the iron claw on Skandor Akbar. Adams meanwhile was ganged up by Hayes andRod Price when David Sheldon came in to save Adams.Sid Vicious andBooker T also competed on the memorial card.The Ultimate Warrior, who competed in Dallas asThe Dingo Warrior, was scheduled to wrestle, but no-showed.
Bill Mercer,Marc Lowrance, David Manning andBronco Lubich were among the many WCCW officials and personalities who appeared on the memorial card. Manning officiated Kerry's 1984 NWA World title-clinching match against Ric Flair atTexas Stadium nearly 9 years earlier.
Proceeds of this card went to a trust fund established for Kerry's daughters Hollie Adkisson andLacey Adkisson (who is now a model and third-generation pro wrestler known for her time inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling). In 1994, the GWF paid tribute to Kerry again in a month-long series of past matches Kerry was involved in, including some from World Class.
Chris Adams not only played big part in GWF he was also in WCCW as a performer and a trainer. His most known student now a WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin. There was many others he trained over the years two in particular was a masked tag team that looked identical and was only known as Unknown Wrestler 1 & 2. One of the two was hurt in the ring ending his wrestling career late in 91 and the other quit not long after never revealing their identities. Chris had commented about the injured wrestler, saying that it's a great loss to the wrestling world, and that the young man had more heart and love for the business than he as seen in a long time.
Afterwards, the federation centered mostly on Adams, who again ran his wrestling school and was working a feud with both Price and Iceman Parsons; as well as assist in booking various matches. During one 1993 match, Adams accidentally tore the hair weave off the hair of Price, resulting in stitches on his head. Chris' former second wifeToni Adams, whom he brought in to the storyline, was also involved, siding with Price and Parsons; and during one match, she attempted to rubFreebird Hair Cream into Chris' eyes. The former couple also was wrestling in Memphis'United States Wrestling Association promotion, where Toni was billed as Nanny Simpson. Chris and Toni's son Chris Jr., then about 5, also made a few appearances in the ring.
A renewed feud between Adams andJimmy Garvin took place, but the closing of the GWF on September 21, 1994, ended any prospects of a long angle between the two former rivals, and Garvin retired shortly thereafter.
Despite all of these angles, Adams won the GWF North American title twice, defeating King Parsons on December 25, 1993; then beating Rod Price on July 1, 1994, to regain the title he lost three months earlier to Price. It would be Adams' last championship glory, as he would never win another major title again.
In 1994, however, the company would fold.[4] Their last show aired on September 25.
After the GWF folded, promoterJim Crockett Jr. brought the NWA back to the Sportatorium for a tenure lasting less than a year. After several other attempts to keep wrestling going, the Sportatorium was demolished in 2003.
ESPN still holds the rights to the GWF library and airs episodes onESPN Classic. TheWWE Video Library also gained access to GWF content in 2013.[5]
