50th State Big Time Wrestling
50th State Big Time Wrestling (sometimes referred to as NWA Hawaii or Mid-Pacific Promotions) was a professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii in the United States that promoted professional wrestling matches throughout Hawaii. The promotion was founded by Al Karasick in 1936 and became a member of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1949. In 1961, Karasick sold the promotion to "Gentleman" Ed Francis. Along with his business partner Lord James Blears, Francis created a "golden age" of professional wrestling in Hawaii that lasted throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, with 50th State Big Time Wrestling becoming one of Hawaii's most-watched programs. In 1979, Francis sold the promotion to Steve Rickard, who one year later sold it to Peter Maivia, who renamed it Polynesian Pro Wrestling (sometimes referred to as Polynesian Championship Wrestling). The promotion came to an end in 1988.
The Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, formerly known as the Honolulu International Center, which was the home of 50th State Big Time Wrestling in the late-1970s. | |
| Founded | 1936 |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Founder(s) | Al Karasick |
| Owner(s) | Al Karasick (1936–1961) Ed Francis (1961–1979) Steve Rickard (1979-1980) Peter Maivia (1980-1982) Lia Maivia (1982-1988) |
| Parent | Mid-Pacific Promotions |
| Formerly | 50th State Big Time Wrestling (1936-1979) Polynesian Pro Wrestling (1980-1988) |