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Jim Barnett

From: Oklahoma City, OK

Birthday: Jun 9th

Feds Worked For: NWA, WCW, WWF, International Wrestling Alliance (Australia), World Championship Wrestling (Australia), World Wrestling Association (IN)

Affiliates: Fred Kohler

Other Facts: -Graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City in 1942
-While employed by NWA promoter Fred Kohler of Chicago, worked as a road agent for Verne Gagne, Pat O'Connor, Sonny Myers, and Hans Schmidt
-While working for Kohler, he was a major player when wrestling was on television on the Dumont Network in Chicago
-Essentially invented studio wrestling.
-Was the first to realize the power of television and its relationship to professional wrestling. In the wake of the 1950s Quiz Show Scandals, Congress began amending FCC regulations so only genuine contests could be presented on TV. Wrestling was to be included in this and was on the chopping block. Barnett collected large sums of money from the regional promoters and made a very generous 'donation' to some members of Congress to make sure wrestling got a pass. Without Jim Barnett, wrestling television would have ceased to exist in September 1960.
-Was able to get Kohler's "Wrestling from the Marigold" syndicated across the U.S. and thus was born the 1st national wrestling TV show
-Received the 1st wrestling manager's license ever issued by the Illinois Athletic Commission on November 16, 1955
-Was the promoter during the glory days of wrestling in Chicago, Indiana, Georgia and Australia
-Saw an open market in Australia as far as wrestling was concerned and booked many American wrestlers on his events
-Barnett ran one of the classiest promotions in wrestling history treating his talent good and enforcing a suit & tie dress code
-Always personally came to the dressing room before shows to motivate the wrestlers
-Became a member of the NWA in August 1969 after 20 successful years as a wrestling promoter
-After purchasing the Atlanta Territory, Barnett became secretary of the NWA and possibly its most powerful promoter
-Was one of the leading executives during the WWF's expansion under Vince McMahon.
-Was Ted Turner's closest confidante when Turner got into the wrestling business and worked for WCW for much of the 1990s.
-Barnett was portrayed in a very negative manner in recent books by Jim Wilson and Ole Anderson
-Employed actor Lee Majors as a driver in the 1950s.
-Passed away on September 18, 2004 at the age of 80 after a long battle with cancer
-Posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996
-Posthumously inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2005
-Posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing in 2019

Supplemental Information

Upcoming Events

There are currently no upcoming appearences.

Complete Calendar

Spotlight in History

1978 Assassin 1 def. Jose Lothario for the TSW Louisiana Title
1985 Butch Reed def. Dick Murdoch for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
2000 Rocco Valentino def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
2017 Dusty Gold def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Title
2017 Riker def. Prince Mahalli for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2017 B. F. F.s (Drake Gallows & Sam Stackhouse) def. The Resistance (Wesley Crane & Skyler Fayden) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the NAW Tag Team Champions
2022 Mr. Nasty became the UWE Apex Champion
2022 Guard (Anarchy [2nd] & Mercenary) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
2023 Mike Gunnz became the NAW Openweight Champion

Week of Sun 10-11 to Sat: 10-17

10-11 1980 Jake Roberts def. Ken Mantell for the MSW Louisiana Title
10-11 2008 Pork Chop def. Jesus Rodriguez for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
10-11 2008 Romo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
10-11 2008 The New Varsity Club (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
10-11 2009 3rd Rail def. Sage for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
10-11 2014 The Old School Studs (Randy Price & Gary Tool) def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Tag Team Titles
10-11 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
10-11 2020 Gemini [2nd] def. Thorne the Hunter for the ASP 5-Star Title
10-11 2025 GBA (Drake Gallows, Bang Bang Bennett, & Colton Kinnamon) def. Team Holy Hell (Father Padge & Terry Pantera) for the BCW Tag Team Titles
10-11 2025 Michael H def. Stephen Nitro for the NAW Heavyweight Title
10-12 1986 Kevin Von Erich def. Black Bart for the WCCW World Title
10-12 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Brian Adias def. Shaun Simpson & Skip Young (substituting for Steve Simpson) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
10-12 2013 J. R. Orullian def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Title
10-12 2013 Justin Adams & Running Wolf def. The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
10-12 2014 The Bash Brothers (Ethan Cole & Trey Cole) def. The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
10-12 2018 Paul Puertorico def. Xavior for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
10-12 2019 Sam Stackhouse became the UWE Apex Champion
10-12 2019 Jon Cross def. Alex Royal for the UWE Heavyweight Title
10-12 2024 Super Star def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-12 2024 POTUS (Drake Gallows & Mr. Nabors) became the RDW Tag Team Champions
10-12 2024 Andrew Bridge def. Colton Kinnamon for the RDW Iron Man Title
10-12 2024 Ricky Wingrave/Keystone Rick def. Red James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
10-12 2025 Phantom Star def. Sgt. Todd for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-12 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Phantom Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-13 1970 George Scott def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
10-13 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Rocky Johnson for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-13 1982 Jim Duggan def. Mike Sharpe, Jr. for the MSW Louisiana Title
10-13 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Luc Lapointe for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
10-13 2012 Jermaine Johnson def. Damien Morte for the IZW Impact Division Title
10-13 2018 Bishop Nasty & Riker def. The Villains (Wesley Crane & Steven Cruze) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
10-13 2018 J. D. def. Alex Royal for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-13 2018 Fuel def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
10-13 2018 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
10-13 2023 Red James became the RDW Heavyweight Champion
10-13 2023 Wrestlers of Mass Destruction (Curt Gannon & Leo Fox) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
10-13 2023 Gun Metal Gray became the AIWF Cruiserweight Champion
10-13 2023 Kevin James Sanchez became the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
10-14 1978 Assassin 1 def. Jose Lothario for the TSW Louisiana Title
10-14 1985 Butch Reed def. Dick Murdoch for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
10-14 2000 Rocco Valentino def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
10-14 2017 Dusty Gold def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Title
10-14 2017 Riker def. Prince Mahalli for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-14 2017 B. F. F.s (Drake Gallows & Sam Stackhouse) def. The Resistance (Wesley Crane & Skyler Fayden) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
10-14 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the NAW Tag Team Champions
10-14 2022 Mr. Nasty became the UWE Apex Champion
10-14 2022 Guard (Anarchy [2nd] & Mercenary) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
10-14 2023 Mike Gunnz became the NAW Openweight Champion
10-15 1954 Joe Christie def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-15 1973 Tank Morgan became the TSW North American Champion
10-15 1981 Junkyard Dog & Mike George def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-15 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
10-15 1988 Jeff Jarrett def. Eric Embry for the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Title
10-15 2002 Brandon Bishop def. Se7en for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-15 2002 The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) def. Pimpology (Jeffrey Parker & Kool Ade) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
10-15 2002 Li'l Joe def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
10-15 2005 A. J. Styles became the CWE Heavyweight Champion
10-15 2017 Drake Gallows def. Dean Lambert for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
10-15 2017 Erica def. Phoebe for the MSWA Ladies Title
10-15 2022 Dove Puro became the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
10-15 2022 Cappucino Jones def. Dove Puro for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-15 2022 Dove Puro def. Cappucino Jones for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-16 1961 Red McKim def. Corsica Joe for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
10-16 1965 Jack Brisco def. Don Kent for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
10-16 1987 The Sheepherders (Luke Williams & Butch Miller) def. The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
10-16 2021 Black Flag Brigade (Brett Irons & Anarchy [2nd]) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
10-16 2021 Koko def. Tommy Dean for the UWE Apex Title
10-16 2021 Big Smooth def. Cruze for the UWE Heavyweight Title
10-16 2022 Brandon Groom became the BPW Oklahoma Champion
10-16 2022 Brandon Groom became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
10-16 2023 Judgment Day (Finn Balor & Damien Priest) def. Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso for the WWE World Tag Team Titles
10-17 1977 Dr. X & became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
10-17 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
10-17 2009 Drake Gallows def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
10-17 2009 Maniac Mike def. Larry the Cowboy Guy for the BYEW Caution Title
10-17 2009 Chris Chaos def. Maniac Mike for the BYEW Caution Title
10-17 2009 Maniac Mike def. Chris Chaos for the BYEW Caution Title
10-17 2009 Chris Chaos def. Maniac Mike for the BYEW Caution Title
10-17 2015 Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse def. La Famiglia (Thomas Knight & Wade Argento [substituting for Luke Grayson]) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
10-17 2015 Double D def. Damon Windsor for the IZW Impact Division Title
10-17 2020 J. J. Hefley became the BPW 365 Champion
10-17 2020 El Greengo Loco def. J. J. Hefley for the BPW 365 Title
10-17 2020 Jerry Storm def. El Greengo Loco for the BPW 365 Title
10-17 2025 Morgan Levay became the CAPW Women’s Champion
10-17 2025 Will Chambers became the CAPW Heavyweight Champion

10-14

Talon Oct 14th Today!
Nikolai Volkoff Oct 14th Today!
Terry Daniels Oct 14th Today!
Franco D'Angelo Oct 14th Today!
Beau Betten Oct 14th Today!
Kay Noble Oct 15th
Jeff Gaylord Oct 15th
Karl Von Stroheim Oct 15th
Brandon Warhawk Oct 15th
Jastin Taylor Oct 15th
Missy Hyatt Oct 16th
Miss Sheila Oct 16th
Zak Mason Oct 16th
K. J. Orso Oct 16th
Moses Manson Oct 17th
Jessy [2nd] Oct 17th
Aaron Helms Oct 17th
Jenna Love Oct 17th
Carrion Arcane Oct 18th
Issac Outre Oct 18th
Garcia Oct 18th
Jack Hull Oct 18th
Luke Richmond Oct 18th
Russ Rogers Oct 18th
Johnny Walker [2nd] Oct 18th
John Nord Oct 18th
Kendall Hayes Oct 19th
Robbie Awesome Oct 19th
Dimitri Alexandrov Oct 19th
Boyd Pierce Oct 19th
Christy Oct 19th
Ed Sharp Oct 20th
Chavo Guerrero, Jr. Oct 20th
Morgan Mercy Oct 20th
Devan Scott Oct 21st
Bushwacker Butch Oct 21st
Tom Jones Oct 22nd
George Knight Oct 22nd
Porkchop Cash Oct 22nd
Red Eagle Oct 23rd
Bobby Lambert Oct 24th
Ray Durán Oct 24th
Daniel Powers Oct 24th
Bill Dundee Oct 24th
Phil Shark Oct 25th
Paige Turner Oct 25th
Double D Oct 25th
Sheriff Schultz Oct 25th
Halo Oct 26th
Troy Graham Oct 26th
Anthony Wayne Oct 26th
Eddie Williams Oct 26th
Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th
AWOL Oct 27th
Miss Linda Oct 27th

1978 Assassin 1 def. Jose Lothario for the TSW Louisiana Title
1985 Butch Reed def. Dick Murdoch for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
2000 Rocco Valentino def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
2017 Dusty Gold def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Title
2017 Riker def. Prince Mahalli for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2017 B. F. F.s (Drake Gallows & Sam Stackhouse) def. The Resistance (Wesley Crane & Skyler Fayden) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the NAW Tag Team Champions
2022 Mr. Nasty became the UWE Apex Champion
2022 Guard (Anarchy [2nd] & Mercenary) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
2023 Mike Gunnz became the NAW Openweight Champion

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