Ah, St. Louis, Missouri. A population of 318, 416. Yet for some reason, the pro wrestling world has great history in the Gateway city as we dissect how a city this size could draw a huge crowd on par or even better than other top wrestling markets such as Chicago, New York City or Toronto.
It all started with the “Chase.”
In 1958, a man named Sam Muchnick who was the president of the St. Louis Wrestling Club met Harold Koplar, who owned the old Chase Park Plaza Hotel and KPLR on an airplane as they discussed how to introduce the wonderful world of pro wrestling into St. Louis homes.
The result was “Wrestling At The Chase,” which aired from May 23rd, 1959 to September 10, 1983 on KPLR-TV. Over 1,100 episodes were produced. It featured many big names from the NWA at the time, which included Harley Rice, Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Lou Thesz and many other legends. It was one of the highest-rated shows in St. Louis as it was third behind the local news and St. Louis Cardinals games.
The WWF invades the Gateway City.
In January and February of 1984, Vince McMahon took notice of the “Wrestling At The Chase’s” success by booking events at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel. The first of these shows featured a young Hulk Hogan who had spent the last three years in the AWA.
Also in February 1984, that the Kiel Auditorium hosted an 18-man battle royal which saw Big John Studd eliminating Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant at the same time. Others who participated included Mil Mascaras, Paul Orndorff and Jimmy Snuka. The Kiel Auditorium was second behind New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden as pro wrestling’s most famous arena before it was demolished in 1992.
The Scotty replaces the Kiel Auditorium.
On October 8, 1994, the Scottrade Center (then the Kiel Center) opened its doors. The WWE (then WWF) hosted its first PPV there with In Your House 18: Badd Blood where it drew 21,151 fans. It was also it this very same PPV that Kane made his WWE debut as well as the very first Hell In A Cell event. Since then, it’s hosted countless PPVs which included the 1998 Survivor Series where The Rock won his very first WWE Championship to the 2012 Royal Rumble to the 2014 Survivor Series which saw Sting finally making his WWE debut after spending years in the WCW and TNA. The arena also hosted RAW Is Owen as well as RAW’s historic 1,000th episode which marked the show’s permanent transition to its current three-hour format.
The Future.
Now as the Gateway City gets ready to host WWE Battleground this Sunday as well as WWE Fast Lane next year, lies a new generation of history makers as well as exciting storylines. And in its 21-year existence, the Scottrade Center is well on its way as WWE’s newest go-to venue when it comes to hosting legendary PPVs.
