Wrestling at the Chase

"Wrestling at the Chase" was a professional wrestling television series that aired in St. Louis, Missouri, traditionally on Saturday nights. It was promoted by the St. Louis Wrestling Club, which was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance.

The show was the brainchild of Sam Muchnick, president of the St. Louis Wrestling Club, and Harold Koplar, who owned KPLR and the old Chase-Park Plaza Hotel. The two were together on an airplane in 1958 and wondered how they could put wrestling into St. Louis area homes.

eries run

The series began on May 23, 1959 and ran until September 10, 1983. KPLR-TV, Channel 11 produced and televised the matches, which were held at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis' Central West End; conveniently, the KPLR studios were in an adjacent connecting building. The show produced approximately 1,100 episodes, and is considered one of the pro wrestling industry's most historic programs.

Commentators

Play-by-play commentators included Don Cunningham, Joe Garagiola, George Abel and Larry Matysik. Ring announcers included John Curley, Eddie Gromacki and Joe Garagiola's brother Mickey Garagiola.

Notable participants

The show featured many of the most famous wrestlers in the NWA. Participants included Ric Flair, Harley Race, Dick the Bruiser, Bruiser Brody, Gene Kiniski, Lou Thesz and Ted DiBiase.

WWF tapings held at the Chase

In December 1983 and January 1984, a few episodes of the show were produced from WWF tapings held at the Chase. The first of these shows featured Hulk Hogan's return match after three years in the AWA.