Articles by J.W. Braun

This week, we look back at an issue of The Wrestler that went to press in April 28, 1988 that sold for $1.75 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. Let’s go straight to the Ratings so we can orient ourselves.

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in April of 1987 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. With a cover featuring all the superstars in the WrestleMania IV tournament, we get full coverage of the event. Plus, we learn Dino Bravo may be a fraud. Let’s get to it.

This week we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press just after WrestleMania IV and the first Clash of the Champions that sold for $2.25 in the U.S. and $2.95 in Canada. Just to get you all oriented, we’ll kick things off with Ratings, where Hulk Hogan has tumbled down to #8, with PWI explaining why in Ratings Analysis…

This week we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press in April 2, 1988 that sold for $1.75 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. Fresh off WrestleMania IV and the first Clash of the Champions, let’s get right to the ratings and the roll call of champions.

Greetings all. Today we step away from the weekly magazine recaps to look back at March 27, 1988 when two wrestling shows went head to head, courtesy of Scott Keith’s reviews and selected comments from others. We begin with the WrestleMania IV before moving on to the first Clash of the Champions.

This week we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press on the eve of WrestleMania IV and the first Clash of the Champions that sold for $2.25 in the U.S. and $2.95 in Canada. Just to get you all oriented, we’ll kick things off with Ratings…

This week, we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press in late February of 1988 and sold for $1.75 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. With a cover featuring Randy Savage and Elizabeth, we’re teased with stories about the Macho Man, Road Warrior Animal, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, and Greg Gagne. So let’s make like Ricky and Robert and rock ‘n’ roll!

Let’s begin with The Ratings just so we know where everyone’s at. In fact, if we accept number 15 as the worst position, Dino Bravo is appropriately ranked in the WWF.

This week we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press in February of 1988 that sold for $2.25 in the U.S. and $2.95 in Canada. With the issue coming together just days after Hogan lost the WWF championship, the magazine speculates that Hulkamania might be coming to an end. Let’s get right to the Top Ten lists, with one tag team scoring a perfect 100 in the Cumulative Ratings column, indicating they’ve been on top for the last ten issues. Also, look who’s rated number one in the WWF by virtue of being the only men’s singles champion!

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in February of 1987 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada and get bonus coverage from the next issue as well. With a cover featuring Hulk Hogan, we learn all about his shocking loss ending his four year championship run, with a special interview with Jack Tunney to sort it all out. And if you think you know the whole story, you’re wrong. (Oh, and there’s also an article that accidentally gives away the winner of the upcoming WWF championship tournament scheduled for WrestleMania IV.) Let’s get to it.

This week, we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press in late January of 1988 that sold for $1.75 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. (If fact, in response to WWF Magazine’s price hike, Inside Wrestling goes out of its way to say, “Still only $1.75”.) With a cover featuring “The Million Dollar Man,” we’re also teased with stories about The Road Warriors vs. Warlord & Barbarian, The Midnight Rockers vs. The Midnight Express, and Fritz Von Erich. So let’s make like Hawk and rush our way through this.

First, let’s get right to The Ratings, with the WWF ratings beginning to align with the tournament we’d go on to see at WrestleMania IV. (Also, if you compare these ratings to May or June of 1987, you can see the WWF greatly improved what was becoming a weak roster thanks to new guys coming in throughout the summer and fall, with the WWF striking gold on several acquisitions.)

Greetings all. Today we step away from the weekly magazine recaps to look back at January 24, 1988 when two wrestling shows went head to head, with reviews courtesy of Scott Keith and selected comments from others. We begin with the first Royal Rumble before moving on to the third Bunkhouse Stampede.

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in January of 1987 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. With a cover featuring Andre, we’re teased with stories about the Ultimate Warrior, the One Man Gang, and the Survivor Series. Are you ready?

Before we get into the magazine proper, I want to address a question from Darryl Stewart regarding Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Inside Wrestling, and The Wrestler. He asks, “What are the Most Popular and Most Hated were based on? The volume and type of fanmail they received for/about each wrestler? Their attempt to gauge the level of sound each generated in the arenas?” Here’s Senior Editor Bill Apter to explain how all the various ratings were compiled: “That was one of our most popular features, and most fans took the ratings very seriously, as did the promoters and wrestlers. Sometimes they were taken too seriously. This is how it worked: for the ratings for each company, once or twice a week, I would spend many hours on the telephone calling most of the wrestling offices around the United States to gather information and run through a preliminary list of ratings I had already prepared, talking with guys like Gorilla Monsoon, Verne Gagne, Stu Hart, and J.J. Dillon. They’d tell me if there were plans for someone to be on their way up or on their way down, or suggest I eliminate a name altogether. So those ratings were all a work. For the most popular and most hated rankings, we did look at sales figures based on who was on the cover and read all the letters we got, so the ratings were based heavily on that. The hardest category was the Overall Top 10 because each of the major federation world champions would take offense if he wasn’t the number one guy.” (Can you imagine talking to Monsoon about the WWF’s top ten? “Don’t commit his name to memory,” he’d probably say about someone. “He won’t be around here long.”)

This week, we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press on New Years Day, 1988 and sold for $1.75 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. With a cover featuring Hulk, Andre, and DiBiase, we’re teased with a scandal that has rocked wrestling’s foundation! But before we go any further, let’s look at the official ratings from January 1, 1988 so you know who’s where…

Greetings all. Today we step away from the weekly magazine recaps to look back at Thanksgiving Day 1987 when two wrestling shows went head to head, courtesy of Scott Keith’s reviews and selected comments from others. We begin with Starrcade before moving on to Survivor Series.

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in December of 1987 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. With a cover featuring Jake “The Snake” Roberts, we’re teased with stories about Hogan, Demolition, and Strike Force. So let’s make like Tito and ándale arriba!

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in November of 1987 that, thanks to inflation, sold for $2.95 in the U.S. and $3.95 in Canada. With a cover featuring “The Million Dollar Man” and Virgil, we’re teased with stories about DiBiase, Hulk Hogan, Honky Tonk Man, and coverage of a battle royal. So let’s make like Outback Jack and light this one up.

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in November of 1987 that sold for $2.25 in the U.S. and $3.00 in Canada. With a cover featuring Randy Savage, we’re teased with stories about Macho vs. Honky Tonk Man, Bam Bam Bigelow, Rick Rude, and the year in review. So let’s make like Honky and shake, rattle, and roll!

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in October of 1987 that sold for $2.25 in the U.S. and $3.00 in Canada. With a cover featuring Bam Bam Bigelow, we’re also teased with stories about Randy Savage, Strike Force, and Koko B. Ware. So let’s make like Macho and jump into the danger zone!

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in August of 1987 that sold for $2.25 in the U.S. and $3.00 in Canada. With a cover featuring Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, we’re also teased with stories about Ted DiBiase, George Steele, and Ron Bass. So let’s make like Miss Betsy and whip this one out.

This week, we look back at a very special issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated that went to press in early August of 1987 and sold for $2.95 in the U.S., $3.50 in Canada, and £1.50 in the U.K. Celebrating one hundred issues of PWI, this one takes a nostalgic look back from the magazine’s debut in 1979 to the summer of 1987. So let’s make like Dusty and wine and dine with kings and queens and sleep in alleys with pork ‘n’ beans.