Big Time Wrestling: Wikis

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Big Time Wrestling was one of the most successful regional professional wrestling promotions during the 1960s. It was owned and operated by the legendary wrestling icon, and one of the biggest pioneers of hardcore wrestling, The Shiek. He is also the uncle of one of the most iconic hardcore wrestlers ever, Sabu. The Shiek is one of those who originally started hardcore wrestling in North America. He is also the one who invented and introduced the Fireball.

"Big Time Wrestling" (produced and videotaped at WNEM-TV in Bay City, Michigan under the moniker "World Wide Sports") was syndicated for local television stations throughout much of Michigan and Ohio. Bob Finnegan and Ernie Roth(as announcer when not portraying Sheik's manager "The Weasel") anchored the weekly wrestling exhibition,sometimes as separate announcers or as a team in the 1960s. Lord Athol Layton later hosted the program into the 1970s with Finnegan as ring announcer.

During the course of the program during local commercial breaks, a live or videotaped 60 second commercial promoting the local wrestling venue would be aired with Bob Finnegan holding the microphone "hard selling" the wrestling card in a sensationalized manner...sometimes to his dismay when rudely interrupted by a certain "villian" wrestler taking potshots at his or her opponent...a practice which continues today on other televised wrestling exhibitions.

Sometimes the program would be broadcast live on a local station promoting the "card" itinerary for that particular evening. An example would be a typical live Friday evening broadcast in the 1960s on the former WKTR-TV in Kettering,Ohio(now public station WPTD in Dayton) under the alternative title "Arena Wrestling." Although the program was actually done live in the WKTR studios instead of an arena which the title implied,it was promoting the local Friday evening card at a local sports arena..hence the alternative title. Since the program was live,commercials for its sponsor were done live as well..most of the time with the same villian wrestler rudely interrupting the commercial's continuity with the same barrage of threats and/or potshots while shoving a coconut cream pie in the announcer's face..as the program was sponsored by a local supermarket.

It was (at that time) standard procedure at the end of the program with a live announcer making the disclaimer: "The preceding wrestling exhibition was presented solely for the entertainment of our audiences."