I won’t get too much into the details, but back before WWE (then WWF; they lost a lawsuit from the World Wildlife Fund) essentially conquered the world of Pro Wrestling, the industry was a lot more localised and, well, territorial. As you might expect from being governed by National Wrestling Alliance‘s Territory System.
Incidentally, the National Wrestling Alliance still exists — and is even trying to revitalise the Territory System — currently owned by well-known rockstar and recipient of polite smiles Billy Corgan.
Image by Kyle Kusch, basementgeographer.com; via Wikimedia Commons.
Used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Even after Pro Wrestling in the US came down to WWF and WCW as the two major promotions, the legacy of Territory System meant that there was still a lot of loyalty to the local favourites of the Territory days and a lot of hostility towards perceived interlopers from elsewhere — mainly the guys coming over from WWF, mainly Hulk Hogan, which was ultimately used as both the real-life and kayfabe justification for Hogan being the NWO’s third man, one of the most shocking moments in Pro Wrestling history…
For reference, this is like if Superman punched Batman into the Sun and joined Lex Luthor and the Joker. Which, honestly, has probably happened at least once…
The zeitgeist of the immediate post-Territories days is perhaps best evidenced by this footage of a WCW fan tearing up what appears to be a Hulk Hogan towel and then throwing up the Four Horsemen sign:
Video via Imgur.
Thanks to Ric Flair being one of the most popular Pro Wrestlers ever and especially popular in Jim Crocket’s Mid-Atlantic promotion (forerunner of WCW), the Virginia-Carolinas-Georgia territories — and maybe even the South in general — was known as Flair Country, and thanks to Flair being a longtime member of the Four Horsemen, also Horsemen Country, something that has never really faded.
Hmmm. So much for not getting too much into the details…
So, anyways, Egeria is basically the Realmgard version of a Southern rasslin’ fan…
Amara sighs from beneath the shade of her parasol. Once again, she’s been dragged along to the latest Wrestling exhibition in Porthaven’s market square. She expected Kat to jump at the chance to watch the buffoonery, though she expected better from her own blood. Egeria has proven shockingly fond of Wrestling to Amara’s endless bemusement and horror.
Amara hasn’t exactly been paying attention, so she doesn’t really know why Egeria seems to have so much contempt for the one in the ring, but she’s certainly letting him have it.
Amara can only assume that his name is something like Admiral Villainous or Marquis de Evil.
“Y’all hush up now, Million-Mark Theodoric von Blesselburg,” Egeria calls to the wrestler preening to the crowd in the ring. “Y’oughta know this here is Altruistic Arundel Appleby Country!”
Formerly a self-absorbed mister, Arundel Appleby was visited by three ghosts the night before Wintermorn and told to change his wicked ways. Now, he has become the generous, open-handed champion of the downtrodden.
As the newly-minted Altruistic Arundel Appleby triumphantly makes his way to the ring, tossing out handfuls of gold coins, Egeria bounces on her heels, happily clapping and cheering.
Amara shields her face with her hand from near-by onlookers and slowly inches away from Egeria, pretending that she doesn’t know her.
“Where you goin’, Cousin Amy?” Egeria asks. “Y’all don’t wanna miss this. This bout’s gonna be a big ol’ slobber-knocker.”
“That sounds utterly disgusting,” Amara offers.
“C’mon, Cousin Amy,” Egeria urges. “Arundel Appleby’s gonna lay a beatdown on von Blesselburg, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”
“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t enjoy this, Amara,” Kat interjects. “You were on the edge of your seat when Wilhelmus Ferox was making his big comeback against Baron von Bad Guy.”
“Ugh,” Amara groans. “You are both lunatics.”
Kat leans in close to Egeria. “Just tell her he thinks she’s inelegant,” she whispers.
Egeria nods.
“Oh, and by the by, Cousin Amy,” Egeria says with a knowing grin. “I been hearin’ a whole lotta talk from von Blesselburg. And, well, I do believe he thinks yer inelegant.”
The colour drains from Amara’s face. Her whole body begins to tremble with indignation.
“He does?” she exclaims.
“Well,” Egeria says with a shrug. “So I been told.”
Amara pushes her way through the crowd until she’s up the very edge of the ring.
“You there, Altruistic Arundel Appleby!” she calls. “I have a request of you.”
The muscular humanitarian graciously bows his head.
“Anything for a lady,” he says.
She points an accusing finger at Million-Mark Theodoric von Blesselburg.
“He has the sheer, unmitigated gall to accuse me of inelegance!” she cries.
“You? Surely not!”
“I know!” Amara says, feeling immensely gratified. “I demand vengeance!”
Once again Altruistic Arundel Appleby bows his head.
“Anything for a lady,” he says.
“Yes!” Amara cries triumphantly as Altruistic Arundel Appleby slams his enemy to the mat. “You’re in Altruistic Arundel Appleby Country now, Million Mark Theodoric von Blesselburg!”
“Golly,” Egeria murmurs. “I didn’t think Cousin Amy would get into it like this.”
And, hey, that’s the end of November. Recap of both the last week and the whole bunch coming tomorrow.
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Reminder the first, part 2: next chapter tomorrow.
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