Roanoke, VA's "All-Star Wrestling" program debuted live from the studios of WDBJ-7 in mid-1960. The popular program ran for nearly seven years until an ugly on-air incident led to its cancellation by the station.
Johnny Weaver told us that WDBJ pulled the show following an ugly on-air racial incident between Ike Eakins and Luther Lindsay. This took place in early January, 1967.
For nearly six months, Roanoke promoter Pete Apostolou was without television wrestling to support his weekly cards in Roanoke, as well as surrounding towns including Salem and Lynchburg, VA. Gates suffered during this time.
Roughly six months later though, in July of 1967, Apostolou was able to get the Raleigh version of "All-Star Wrestling" (later known as "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling") on to another Roanoke station, WSLS channel 10. Taped in the studios of WRAL channel 5 in Raleigh, the show was hosted by Bob Caudle. For many years, well into the 1970s, WSLS ran the old familiar Roanoke All-Star Wrestling logo over the Raleigh opening. It featured two cartoon wrestlers and the announcement that the program was presented by the Roanoke Sports Club.
