Originally posted by cwh47 on June 23, 2006:
 
International Championship Wrestling premiered on Saturday February 1st, 1975 at 5:00 p.m. in our area on WXII channel 12 in Winston-Salem, NC. This original version of the show would air in that time slot for approximately 8 months. Several other versions of the show would air on WXII through the summer of 1977 in a late night/early morning time slot on Saturday or Sunday.
 
Here is the cast from Feb. through Sept. 1975. During this period it seems like we saw a rerun about every fourth week. I am not absolutely sure of the exact number of original episodes taped during the Einhorn version of the IWA. My guess would be less than 32.
 
IWA President: Robert F.Hatch
Matchmaker: Ron Martinez
Host: Jack Reynolds
Co-host:Tex McKenzie (Cowboy Bob Ellis and Lou Thesz, 1 each)
Ring Announcers: Doug Weathers, Ron Martinez (Jack Reynolds called him Rick Martin, Tex called him Ronnie Martin).
Referee's: Charlie Smith, Billy Osborne, and Tommy Young
Timekeeper: Charlie Babb (Charlie was also a part-time referee and appeared at least once as the attending physician.
 
_ During the spring of 1975 Luscious Larry Hieniemi (Jack Reynolds pronounced it "Hi-nuh-meenie") wore red trunks and black boots while wrestling. In the summer he came out wearing the Anderson colors and boots and became Lars Anderson once again.By the fall of 1975 he was billed as Larry Hieniemi again.
 
_ George Cannon mamages The Mongols and Eric The Red.
 
_Pez Whatley joins the IWA roster.
 
_Kurt Von Hess joins the stable of Al Costello which also includes Hartford and Reginald, the Love Brothers.
 
_After Ox Baker leaves the IWA, Dick the Bulldog Brower appears on tv wearing the North American Heavyweight belt. Jack Reynolds says Brower is the newly crowned champion but I don't think he ever mentions anything about who Brower beat for the title.
 
 
_Ernie Ladd started out as a good guy in the IWA. In the spring he turns bad guy, puts on the Crown and becomes the King of wrestling once again using the taped thumb to help win matches.
 
_ Mighty Igor allows his manager Ivan Kalmikoff to use a sledgehammer break a cinderblock while it is sitting on top of his (Igor's) head.
 
_Terry Mekka (Gordy) wrestles Ernie Ladd on tv. Terry Gordy would have only been about 14 years old in 1975. I guess he was just big for his age.
 
_ The Islanders, Afa and Sika would later become the Wild Samoans.
 
_ Victor Rivera, Carlos Colon and Miguel Perez make appearances on the IWA tv show in 1975.
 
_ Rip Hawk,Tex McKenzie,Jack Reynolds,Cowboy Bob Ellis,Ivan Koloff,Thunderbolt Patterson and Ernie Ladd left the IWA before the end of the summer of 1975.
 
During the Einhorn version, the show aired at 5:00 p.m. on WXII, Saturday. Around October of 1975 the show moved to 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. From there the time slot varied from late night/early morning on either Saturday or Sunday, sometimes both.
 
The original version of the IWA in 1975 taped in different arenas. I don't ever remember it being mentioned on tv what particular arena they in that night.
 
In 1976 they taped in the channel 36 studio Charlotte with Charlie Babb as host.
 
There is a show from 1977 available with Glenn Scott as host and Johnny Powers and Big Bad John doing color commentary on matches taped at the Winston-Salem Coliseum. I believe that Glenn Scott and co-hosts taped their studio portion at WXII channel 12 in Winston-Salem.  
 
 
Originally posted by Baltimore Jack on June 24, 2006:
 
CWH lists IWA President Robert F. Hatch. Here is a photo of him from an issue of IWA Wrestling Parade, their event/arena program.
 

 
And a photo of TV host Jack Reynolds:
 

 
TV Listings from IWA wrestling program:
 

It's too bad for Einhorn that he attempted to do this in the 70's and not in the 80's.   If he would of combined with Vince Jr., they could of possibly killed Professional wrestling much faster that Jr. did.