Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco)

Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco) was a Territory pro wrestling promotion operating in the United States, based in San Francisco, California, USA.

The BTW SF promotion was founded on October 1, 1960 by Roy Shire, and it ceased operations on May 23, 1981.

Initially an outlaw promotion run by Roy Shire, the American Wrestling Alliance ran against the territorial system of the NWA, in direct competition with NWA San Francisco ran by Joe Malcewicz. During the initial territorial war, Shire gained ground with his use of televised wrestling, something which Malcewicz hesitated to approach. With the famous Cow Palace as its base, the televised show of National All-Star Wrestling, and it’s philosophy of high spots and realistic matches, Shire would end up driving his competition out of business.

As his TV show was renamed Big Time Wrestling, the name became more synonymous than the original AWA acronym, causing the promotion to change its name. Shire would join the NWA in 1968, remaining a member until the promotions demise in 1981, retiring from promoting after a heart attack and several health issues. Big Time Wrestling’s TV presence would be canceled in 1979, causing revenue to drop sharply, and eventually Shire succumbed to the expanding presence of the other AWA in wrestling— the American Wrestling Association.

Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco): Info