Greenville Wrestling Host Bill Krieger Passes Away

We've just learned that Bernhard Krieger passed away in Greenville SC on Christmas day, December 25, 2023.  He was 98 years old. Word came to us from Mid-Atlantic Gateway contributor Don Holbrook who came across his obituary online. 

Known as Bill Krieger on WFBC (now WYFF) channel 4 during his on-air days, he briefly hosted "live" professional wrestling in 1961 at the station. He was the sports director for the station at that time.

Back in 2005, Krieger was extremely helpful to me when I spoke to him about the history of wrestling at WFBC.

For more about WFBC as a location for Jim Crockett Promotions TV wrestling, visit the WFBC Studio Wrestling page.

Click here for all posts tagged with Bill Krieger on Studio Wrestling. 

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(Studio Wrestling is part of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.)

Championship Wrestling host Bill Krieger (WFBC Greenville 1961)

Bill Krieger hosted "Championship Wrestling" on WFBC-4 in 1961, featuring all the stars of the early 1960s for Jim Crockett Promotions.

Bob Poole originally hosted from 3/26/60 until WFBC-TV sports director Bill Krieger took over as host in February of 1961. Billy Powell served as color commentator during some of this time with Krieger.

For more information on live Studio Wrestling from WFBC-4 in Greenville, visit the 

WFBC Studio Wrestling page on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Clipping courtesy Don Holbrook.

WFBC Wrestling Host Bill Krieger (1961)

Following a brief experiment in 1956,  Live studio wrestling would return to WFBC-4 on March 26, 1960 with channel 4 personality Bob Poole calling the action on a broadcast taped during mid-week and airing that following weekend.

In February of 1961, WFBC Sports Director Bill Krieger took over for Poole as host of the broadcast. Billy Powell served as color commentator during some of this time with Krieger.

No photos of the ring set up in the WFBC studio are known to exist, but both Krieger and Billy Powell report in separate interviews with the Mid-Atlantic Gateway that it was a very small studio with two small bleachers on two sides of the ring, accommodating roughly 50-60 people.

"Wally Dusek would bring the ring each week and set it up," Krieger told the Gateway. "Some of the big names at that time that I remember wrestling at channel 4 were George Becker, Mike Piadousis, Gorgeous George, Ivan the Terrible, and others. Jim Crockett (Sr.) would come by regularly as we got started, but wouldn't stay for the whole taping."

The second stint of "Live Championship Wrestling"  lasted until December of 1961 when channel 4 began carrying the show taped in Raleigh.

For more information on live studio wrestling held at WFBC (now WYFF) channel 4 in Greenville, SC, visit our WFBC Studio Wrestling page on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives.

Bill Krieger: Sports Director and Wrestling Host (Greenville SC)

Bill Krieger was the sports director at WFBC-4 (now WYFF) in Greenville SC for many years.

In 1961, Krieger also hosted a studio wrestling show taped at WFBC called "Live Championship Wrestling."

No photos of the ring set up in the WFBC studio are known to exist, but both Krieger and Billy Powell report in separate interviews with the Mid-Atlantic Gateway that it was a very small studio with two small bleachers on two sides of the ring, accommodating roughly 50-60 people.

For more information on live studio wrestling held at WFBC (now WYFF) channel 4 in Greenville, SC, visit our WFBC Studio Wrestling page on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives.