About The Exhibit

RINGSIDE: MEMORIES OF WORLD CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING

Before the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) nationalized the wrestling business in the mid-1980s, pro wrestling was divided into regional territories. Many of these territories, particularly in the South and Southwest, were extremely important to the communities where they were based. And from 1982 until 1986, no regional promotional was more important to its community or more successful than World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), operated by Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson) and featuring the talents of his sons David, Kevin, Kerry, Chris, and Mike.

Unlike other territories, which were built around unbeatable local strongmen or vicious rule breakers, WCCW thrived because its fans sold out the Reunion Arena, the Will Rogers Center (where Cirrus Bonneau took these pictures), and the famed Dallas Sportatorium to cheer for the all-American Von Erichs and boo the villains who were booked to oppose them.

An attempt to expand nationally in 1986 failed and the company went out of business in 1990, but WCCW’s fate was sealed long before that by the untimely death of David Von Erich, who was touted as a future National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) world champion, as well as severe injuries to Kerry Von Erich, who had briefly held the world championship in 1984.

These photographs were taken by Fort Worth photographer Cirrus Bonneau at Will Rogers Center in 1982 and 1983. They are part of UTA’s Cirrus Bonneau and Ana Beaulac Photograph Collection.