Scott's Mailbag
Rants

Ted Turner Does Not Buy Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988

By Scott Keith on 26 October 2024


Scott,

I hope you are well. What if Ted Turner decides not to buy Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988? What was the remaining term of the television contract that JCP had to be on WTBS? JCP loses WTBS, loses PPV, goes bankrupt, some talent goes to the WWF but many are unemployed and potential inexpensive talent or talent that wants a pay check between Japan tours. Turner Broadcasting/WTBS then pays a rights fee to new Atlanta Omni wrestling promoter Herb Abrams to have Eric Embry (or random promoter/generic booker) put on an entertaining 2 hour weekly studio TV plus monthly Friday at The Omni Wrestling that can be viewed on PPV. Without corporate interference, or this is the way the NWA Champion needs to be booked baggage, could this concept have worked for any length of time?

Nope. Without Turner having a personal stake in the promotion, whatever is there dies a quick death.