Interesting post, but I have to say, no disrespect to Lofton, but thank goodness for Vince creating "Wrestlemaina" that same year.
Thank goodness also for Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Sting.

If you think that's bad, don't ever watch other AWA matches. I plucked out the cream of the crop. Well, that Martel-Hansen match wasn't bad, but Verne Gagne did not know how to run a wrestling organization. I still chuckle to this day that ESPN used to broadcast this federation weekly. Main eventers would wrestle 20-30 minute matches with jobbers. It was insane. It would be like Hulk Hogan going to the time limit with the Brooklyn Brawler or Randy Mulkey.
The organization just didn't stand a chance up against WWF and NWA. AWA was reduced to senior citizens being shuttled in from rest homes to fill a few rows, and it was over long before then. Gagne should have called it a day when he let Hogan get away and Hulkamania took over the globe less than a year later.
We'll have the Hansen-Martel title match be this week's installment.