Professional wrestling debuted in Detroit in the 1920s when Nick Londos began promoting events in the
Detroit Olympia. Londos was succeeded by Adam Weissmueller, then by Louis Markowitz. By the 1930s, multiple promoters were competing in the territory. In 1948, Light founded the
National Wrestling Alliance along with
Al Haft,
Paul "Pinkie" George,
Orville Brown,
Sam Muchnick, and
Tony Stecher. The six promoters agreed to divide the United States into regional territories within which they would not compete with one another and to recognise a single
World Heavyweight Champion who would travel the country wrestling in each territory. By the 1950s, Light - along with his business partners Jack Britton and
Bert Ruby - controlled professional wrestling in Detroit and
Big Time Wrestling on
WXYZ-TV Channel 7 was one of the most popular programs airing in Detroit. In 1959,
Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle (supported by backers such as
Frank Tunney) formed a holding company, the Barnett-Doyle Corporation, and began promoting in Detroit, buying-out Light. Barnett and Doyle were originally "outlaw" promoters but the territory later rejoined the National Wrestling Alliance. By the 1960s, the promotion was airing two to three television programs per week and staging weekly
house shows at the Cobo Arena. The promotion's TV program was unique in that it would occasionally air local
collegiate wrestling matches alongside worked angles, in a segment called "Am-Pro Wrestling". Starting in 1971, the promotion faced competition from
Dick the Bruiser and
Wilbur Snyder's All Star Championship Wrestling, which sourced its talent from their
Indianapolis,
Indiana-based
World Wrestling Association. After several wrestlers defected to ASCW, Big Time Wrestling brought in talent from other NWA territories. However, ASCW ceased operations in 1974, and Dick the Bruiser would later work for Big Time Wrestling—even facing The Sheik in a series of brawls. During the 1970s, Big Time Wrestling helped popularize
hardcore wrestling. As house show audiences dwindled, events were re-located to ever-smaller venues (from the Cobo Arena to the
Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, and then to the Lincoln Park Community Center in
Lincoln Park, Michigan outside of Detroit). The promotion went out of business in 1980. Big Time Wrestling was the subject of the 1985
mockumentary I Like to Hurt People. Professional wrestling in Detroit remained subdued until the
World Wrestling Federation began promoting in the city as part of the
1980s professional wrestling boom. == Championships ==