WWF Championship Wrestling
WWF Championship Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It aired from 1971 to August 30, 1986, and was the original television show of the WWF. Originally produced under the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) banner, Championship Wrestling featured all the stars of the WWF, interviews and championship matches. It was the flagship program of the WWWF/WWF's syndicated programming until it was replaced by Superstars of Wrestling in 1986. Select episodes are available for streaming on the WWE Network. History Run in syndication This was the first WWF program to be shown on national broadcast television. Vince McMahon built the syndicated network in part by persuading local stations to pay for the rights to air the program. Stations like KPLR-TV in St. Louis and KHJ-TV (now KCAL) in Los Angeles reportedly paid $100,000 to air the show. In its early years, the show was taped at the Philadelphia Arena and later at the Allentown Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Typically, three weeks of television were taped in one night. The final taping in Allentown took place on June 19, 1984, with the episodes airing June 30, July 7, and July 14. The tapings then moved to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York until the final taping took place on August 5, 1986, with the final episode airing on August 30. The final taping featured the coronation of King Harley Race. The following week, WWF Superstars of Wrestling replaced Championship Wrestling as the WWF's new flagship syndicated program. In contrast to Championship Wrestling, the tapings for Superstars of Wrestling moved around the country and took place at larger arenas. Announcers Bill Cardille (1971-1972) (1976) (Bill Cardille subbed for Vince McMahon for 3 weeks in the summer of 1976) Vince McMahon and Antonino Rocca (1972-1976) Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino (1976-1980) Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson (1980–1983) (Bruno Sammartino occasionally substituted for Patterson) Vince McMahon and "Mean" Gene Okerlund (1984) Vince McMahon and Tony Garea (1984) Vince McMahon and "Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino (1984–1986) (Jesse "The Body" Ventura occasionally substituted for Sammartino) Ray Stevens and Andre the Giant both guested as announcers alongside McMahon. The longtime ring announcer was Joe McHugh, who did the ring announcing and introductions of everyone on staff at the beginning of every broadcast since the 1970s. When the WWF relocated their tapings in 1984, he was replaced by Howard Finkel. Buddy Wagner preceded McHugh in the mid-70s when the cards were taped at the Philadelphia Arena. Interviewers The interviewer position was filled mostly by McMahon with Pat Patterson also assisting in some cases, until the hire of Gene Okerlund in 1984 which gave him the full-time slot of interviewing wrestlers backstage or at ringside. Jack Reynolds, Freddie Miller, Kal Rudman, and Ken Resnick also did interviews alongside Okerlund until the show's cancellation in 1986. Vince McMahon (1972–83) Pat Patterson (1980–83) Gene Okerlund (1984–86) Freddie Miller (1984–85) Jack Reynolds (1984–85) Kal Rudman (1984–85) Ken Resnick (1986) Theme