Championship Wrestling on WBTV 3 in Charlotte, NC

This show was taped in the WBTV channel 3 studio on Wednesday night November 6, 1968. The show was hosted by Big Bill Ward also had been airing on sister station WBTW 13 in Florence, SC since January 1967.

September 7, 1968 in Charlotte, NC

These matches were taped Wednesday night September 4, 1968 at the WBTV 3 studio in Charlotte, NC. Gene Kiniski may very well have wrestled on more of the JCP studio shows than any other NWA World Heavyweight Champion in the 1960's and early 1970's. Note: this show aired two hours earlier than usual because CBS was doing live 4:00 p.m. coverage of a U.S. Open Tennis match .

Championship Wrestling on WBTV 3 February 24, 1968

      This tv taping took place on Wednesday night February 21, 1968 in the studio of WBTV 3 in Charlotte, NC. Hiro Matsuda lost to Johnny Weaver when he was disqualified because of the outside interference of the Missouri Mauler. Also of note, that was Bob Nandor vs Missouri Mauler.

Championship Wrestling on February 10, 1968

Taped Wednesday night February 7, 1968 at the WBTV 3 studio in Charlotte, NC.

Championship Wrestling on WRAL 5 in Raleigh, NC

Saturday July 13, 1968. The wrestlers you see in the photos are George "Two-Ton" Harris and George Becker.

Tribute to Promoter Paul Winkhaus

Promoter Paul Winkhaus was associated with Jim Crockett Promotions from the early 1960's until shortly before his death in 1974. His primary towns were Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC. The first two images appeared in the February 25, 1968 edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Tribute to Promoter Paul C. Winkhaus

         Mr. Paul C. Winkhaus became the promoter of the weekly wrestling events in Asheville, NC in July 1963. He promoted his first show in the City Auditorium there on July 24, 1963 after purchasing the wrestling office of Chief O. B. Saunooke. Mr. Winkhaus also promoted at the Greenville, SC Memorial Auditorium. I have not yet been able to determine the exact date he started promoting there. The Greenville paper has Herbie Freeman as the promoter there in 1960 and Wally Dusek as promoter from 1961 to as late as August 1963. Mr. Winkhaus passed away in Ohio on Thursday November 14, 1974.

March 14, 1968 in Gastonia, NC

November 28, 1968 in Greensboro, NC

Richmond,VA - May 3,1968

Dobson,NC - Oct.24,1968

The high school shows were certainly money makers for Jim Crockett Promotions.The local sponsor furnished the building, had tickets printed,sold them and used off duty law enforcement officers for security. This was the first high school show in my area. After packing as many people in the gym as possible, hundreds were turned away. As you can see in Johnny Weaver's records, it was the biggest show he wrestled on that week.

Championship Wrestling - WGHP 1968

During the 1968-69 tv season,Championship Wrestling with host Charlie Harville returned to it's Saturday evening timeslot of 6:30. This ad is from September 28,1968.

Comments & Answers

These comments,questions and answers appeared in the Greensboro newspaper.

Rip Hawk & Swede Hanson - Atlantic Coast Tag Team Champions