WCW Pro | |
---|---|
Created by | Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling |
Starring | See World Championship Wrestling alumni |
Country of origin | USA |
Production | |
Camera setup | Multicamera setup |
Running time | 60 minutes per episode |
Release | |
Original network | Syndicated (1986 - 1998) TBS (1994 - 1998) |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
Original release | 1986 – 1998 |
WCW Pro was a televised wrestling show presented by World Championship Wrestling. Along with WCW WorldWide, it was part of the WCW Disney tapings. The rights to WCW Pro now belong to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
WCW Pro started off as Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, one of two official weekly syndicated wrestling programs presented by Jim Crockett Promotions (the other was World Wide Wrestling, which in its final form was named WCW WorldWide). It started airing since 1958
After the merger of JCP and Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1985, the show was renamed NWA Pro Wrestling in 1986. It was later renamed WCW Pro Wrestling in December 1990 after Turner Broadcasting bought JCP in 1988.
In 1990, WCW Pro Wrestling was picked up by WPIX-TV in New York City and WGN-TV in Chicago. These two shows were localized versions of the show, with Tony Schiavone and veteran Chicago Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse hosting WGN's WCW Pro Chicago, while Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously hosted WPIX's WCW Pro New York. These local versions featured the same matches as the national version of the show, with local spots inserted. In mid-1991, the New York version moved to WCBS-TV where the show aired in a late-night Saturday slot. However, after only a few weeks, the local version was dropped and WCBS replaced it with the national version of the show. In April 1992, WCW Pro was replaced in New York altogether by WCW WorldWide, the show that WCW Pro New York replaced 2 years earlier on WPIX, which stayed on WCBS for the next five years. WCW Pro Chicago was simulcast on WGN's national feed due to the show's localization getting past the syndication exclusivity law. Sometime in 1991, Brickhouse would leave commentary on the Chicago version to host his own segment on the program, "Brickhouse Bonus." Larry Zbyszko took over Jack's old spot on commentary.