Message #12382

[James Lofton]

A huge nail in the territory's coffin was how they were never really able to expand from their base at the Sportatorium. Not knocking the venue as it was historic and should have been turned into a museum instead of being torn down, but there was too much competition then(WWF, NWA, AWA, smaller affiliated territories,etc.) and expansion was huge during that 80s boom. Crockett was buying up every little territory and swallowing it whole and WWF was untouchable. World Class just couldn't get past being "small potatoes" and it destroyed them. In the late 80's, AWA was reduced to bussing in senior citizens from retirement communities to fill a few rows at their events, and during that same time frame people stopped going to that Sportatorium.

In hindsight, Gagne and Von Erich should have considered merging in 87 when both were really struggling but still had a small chance. It would have created one big federation in midwest territory spanning Texas to Minnesota and this might have caused some smaller promotions to join. They would not have overtook WWF or NWA but could have maintained that third position and might have done something with it. Had this happened, could have entered a bidding war for UWF with Crockett which would caused a huge influx of talent in 87.

Downside to that scenario though.....they would have did exactly what Crockett did which was bankrupt himself trying to compete with WWF. I never understood the desire to overtake Mcmahon when you have a solid company with a massive fan base already. NWA was a success in the midwest, east coast, and south. Rest of the country watched on tv. I understand wanting to expand but not at the cost of losing your already established audience. Starrcade 87 a huge blunder. Not just because of Mcmahon making cable companies choose which almost destroyed Crockett overnight, but by moving the event to Chicago which pissed everyone else off. NWA never had the same "feel" to it after that fiasco.

World Class(and AWA) were losing their audiences in droves and definitely needed to be more proactive to the unfolding events.