Missouri Wrestling Revival

Click HERE to order from Crowbar Press.

Click HERE to read the article
from Deem’s hometown newspaper.

Please note:
“The STRAP: A Complete History of Sam Muchnick’s Missouri State Championship” is available directly from Crowbar Press.

For a limited time with no extra charge, every copy of the book ordered through the Crowbarpress,com website will include a photo of one of the Missouri champions wearing or holding the title belt. Photo included will be our choice and taken from those in stock.

All books will be shipped via Media Mail (U.S.), Priority Mail, or International Priority Mail (Canada/overseas).

The STRAP:
A Complete History of Sam Muchnick’s
Missouri State Championship
The definition of a biography is “the account of someone’s life written by someone else.” This book isn’t about “someone’s” life, but author Roger Deem does bring life to the story of the Missouri championship belt, the “crème de la crème” of professional wrestling’s title belts, second only to the world heavyweight title. Deem covers everything about the title, from the creation of the belt in 1972 to its demise with the death of the St. Louis Wrestling Club in 1987.

Held by legendary superstars like Harley Race, Terry Funk, Ric Flair, Jack Brisco, Ted DiBiase, Bob Backlund, Dick Murdoch, Kerry Von Erich, David Von Erich, and many others, the Missouri title was what every wrestler who appeared in St. Louis hoped to win, and each titleholder has been given a section of their own.

But this book isn’t only about the title. It’s a look at the history of the St. Louis wrestling promotion itself during the time the title was in use; the genius of promoter Sam Muchnick; the behind-the-scenes manipulations that determined who would be given the opportunity to hold the title, or have it taken away; and the problems that beset the promotion both from within and without.

Several of the wrestlers who held or wrestled for the title — Kevin Von Erich, Ted DiBiase, Jerry Brisco, Bob Backlund, Ric Flair, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Harley Race, and Ken Patera — as well as others close to the promotion, weigh in on the subject by sharing their memories of the times, and, in many respects, the most important contribution to the story come from Larry Matysik, someone who never wrestled, but was a key figure in the offices of the St. Louis Wrestling Club.

Also included are: listings and descriptions of every match wrestled when the Missouri title was at stake, the television matches in which the champion wrestled on the famous “Wrestling at the Chase” television program, reprints of the “Wrestling” arena program covers, and over 150 photos and images of the wrestlers and the events that took place during that time.

Deem attacks the subject from the viewpoint of a fan who was on the outside of the wrestling business looking in and a photographer on the fringe who made friends with many of the personalities who graced the wrestling ring in both Kiel Auditorium and the St. Louis Arena.

Relive the memories of the days when St. Louis was the wrestling capital of the world and the Missouri heavyweight title was the goal of every wrestler.

— SPECIAL FEATURES —
More than 150 b&w photographs
FOREWORD written by LARRY MATYSIK, wrestling promoter and key figure in the old St. Louis Wrestling Club
Classic photos of each of the champions wearing or holding the title belt
The origins of the Missouri championship from the days of the Central States title
A complete listing of all title defenses
A complete listing of every match the champions had during their reign as champion
Listings of NWA world title changes and the effect they had on the Missouri title
Cover images of key issues of the “Wrestling” program sold in the St. Louis arenas
Comments from many of the champions and those who were in St. Louis during the time

— COMMENTS by the people who were there! —
Wrestlers and Promoters

• Bob Backlund
• Bob Geigel
• Bruiser Brody
• Dick Murdoch
• Dory Funk, Jr.
• Gordon Solie
• Harley Race
• Jack Brisco
• Jerry Brisco
• Ken Patera
• Kevin Von Erich
• Larry Matysik
• Ric Flair
• Rip Hawk
• Ted DiBiase
• Terry Funk
• Lou Thesz Fans, Journalists, Historians, Photographers

• Butch Fletcher
• Chris Charboneau
• Craig Buchman
• Darla Staggs
• Diane Devine
• George Schire
• Harry White
• Jim Fossell
• Libnan Ayoub
• Mark Nulty
• Mitch Hartsey
• Roger Deem
• Steve Munari
• Tim Hornbaker
• Victor Failoni
— CHAPTER TITLES & CONTENTS —
Author’s Note
Preface
Contributors
Foreword by Larry Matysik
The Wrestling Capital of the World: Sam Muchnick’s St. Louis
Before the Beginning
The Central States Championship: Harley Race
A Straight Line in No Direction: The Tournament
The First Missouri State Champion: Harley Race
Clash of the Titans: Johnny Valentine
A Serious Dose of Hell: Terry Funk
A Revised History Revised: Gene Kiniski
Back in the Saddle Again: Harley Race
Sweet Revenge: Dory Funk, Jr.
Back to the Future: Harley Race
A New Generation Ascends: Bob Backlund
On the Comeback Trail: Jack Brisco
A Dark and Stormy Night: Dick Slater
Bumping a Future Star: Ted DiBiase
Catch a Rising Star: Dick Murdock
Man of the People: Dick the Bruiser
By Hook or By Crook: Dick Murdock
No Escape: Dick the Bruiser
A Right to Reign: Dick Murdock
The Young Gun: Kevin Von Erich
The Power and the Glory: Ken Patera
The Second Coming: Ted DiBiase
Return of the King: Jack Brisco
Coming Full Circle: Ken Patera
One Final Victory Lap: Dick the Bruiser
The Best Man Always Wins: Harley Race
Dark Days: Kerry Von Erich
One Small Step, One Leaping Giant: Crusher Blackwell
Ascent!: Harley Race
A New World King & Vacant State Title: Missouri State Title Tournament
Out of Many, One: Ric Flair
Heir to the Throne: David Von Erich
The Persistent Titleholder: Harley Race
By Any Means Necessary: Crusher Blackwell
The First Shall Be Last: Harley Race
End of the Road: Missouri Championship Retired
Afterword
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Index

MWR fans be sure join us at Proving Ground Pro Wrestling February 9^th for a stellar card featuring a night of several of the top stars in the Midwest.

Also to be appearing will be the author of The STRAP: A Complete History of Sam Muchnick’s Missouri State Championship, Roger Deem.  Purchase your book and get it autographed from the famed photographer himself.