Australian - South Pacific Wrestling Territory
Brief History:
Australia and New Zealand are rich in wrestling history.
New Zealand History and Notes:
Steve Richard's NWA-affiliated promotion in New Zealand was met with resistance in August 1982 from another Alliance member, creating a unique promotional war. The invading party was run by Lia Maivia with grapplers from his Honolulu booking office. To make matters even more interesting, both promotions ran shows on August 19 in Auckland. Maivia, affiliated with John Filipe, rented the Town Hall and, in publicity, planned to present a card featuring Rocky Johnson, Billy White Cloud, Mike Sharpe, Sivi Afi Taogaga, John Fletcher, Ron Marks, Bruno Ball, Wade Okuda, Peter Lauder, Stan Brahne, Tama Liku, Tuapo Mataiti, Farmer Boy Ipo, Gay Lord Sterling, and Beautiful Sakalia. The publicity piece also stated that the show was being held "in memory of High Chief Peter Maivia," who passed away earlier in the year.
Rickard's show featured:
Mark Lewin and Steve Richard, billed as the "Australasian" Tag Team Champions wrestled King Kamaka and Ox Baker to a no contest. Lu Leota b. Bruno Bekkar (DQ) ... Samoan Joe b. Merv Fortune ... Tom Cheung and Ale Tuhinga drew ... (promoter: Steve Rickard)
Known results from the Maivia show:
Rocky Johnson b. "Iron" Mike Sharpe ... Beautiful Sakali b. Peter Lauder ... Ipoh b. Bruno Ball ... John Fletcher b. Ron Marks (DQ) ... (promoters: Lia Maivia, John Filipe)
There is some speculation whether or not the Maivia promotion was still affiliated with the NWA at this time, but nevertheless, the encroachment of Auckland in direct opposition to Rickard presented a problem that needed to be ironed out.
| |
|
