{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox television | image = On-the-Mat-Series-Key-Image.jpg | creator = Steve Rickard | executive_producer = | producer = Ernie Leonard<br />Michael Scott | director = John Lye | presenter = Steve Rickard<br />Ernie Leonard<br />Barry Holland | camera = Multicamera setup | runtime = Approximately 24–25 minutes per episode<br/>(30 minutes with commercials) | starring = All Star Pro-Wrestling roster | country = New Zealand | location = Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton, New Zealand | company = South Pacific Pictures<br />Television New Zealand | network = TV2 (1975–1984) | first_aired = {{start date|1975|7|3|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|1984|7|23|df=y}} | num_seasons = 9 | num_episodes = | opentheme = | related = }} '''''On the Mat''''' is a professional wrestling television programme for the National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated All Star Pro Wrestling (ASPW), or simply NWA New Zealand, that aired on Television New Zealand's TV2 from 1975 to 1984. One of the most popular and the longest-running weekly sports series in the history of New Zealand, the show featured some of the country's top wrestlers and international stars from throughout the world during the 1970s and early 1980s.
''On the Mat'' characterized the "golden age" of professional wrestling in New Zealand and made household names of promoter Steve Rickard, John da Silva, Robert Bruce and others during the 1970s. Much of the show's popularity was based on native New Zealanders and foreign wrestlers working together against their common enemies or, sometimes, being pitted against each other. Several New Zealand wrestlers such as Tony Garea, Peter Maivia, Siva Afi and The Sheepherders, partly from their television appearances, were brought over to the United States where they became major stars during the 1980s wrestling boom. Likewise, wrestlers from the National Wrestling Alliance, Stampede Wrestling, the World Wide Wrestling Federation and other foreign promotions were regulars on the show.
As a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was defended on the show on several occasions, both between North American wrestlers and against New Zealanders, by legendary champions such as Harley Race and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Similarly, NWA storylines and feuds were played out on the programme that would usually not have been seen in the US. In 1983, for example, the show aired what was a controversial ending to a best 2-of-3 falls match between Ric Flair and Mark Lewin in Auckland which saw the NWA World title momentarily change hands but was then returned to Flair via reverse decision. A year later, another NWA title change took place between Flair and Harley Race in Wellington and Geylang, Singapore though these would not be officially recognised by the NWA for several years.
Its cancellation in the early-1980s signalled the decline and eventual close of All Star Pro-Wrestling by the end of the decade. Apart from the short run of ''The Main Event'' made for TV3 in 1990, locally produced and televised professional wrestling would remain absent in New Zealand until the appearance of Impact Pro Wrestling's ''IPW Ignition'' and Kiwi Pro Wrestling's ''Off the Ropes'' in the mid-2000s.
==Show history==
===Background=== {{main|Professional wrestling in New Zealand}} In the years following the Second World War, professional wrestling in New Zealand became extremely popular reaching a high point in the 1950s. The death of longtime Dominion Wrestling Union promoter Walter Miller in 1959, however, caused the promotion to go into a slump as appearances from foreign wrestlers dwindled to only a small few each year. Steve Rickard, one of its rising stars, continued to run the DWU for two years before starting his own promotion, All Star Pro-Wrestling, in 1962. Another New Zealand wrestler, John da Silva,<ref name="Adams">Adams, Yvette. ''More Than Meets The Eye: A True Story Based on the Life and Times of the Best Blind Wrestler the World Has Ever Seen''. Southbank, Victoria: Griffin Press, 2006. (pg. 151, 208) {{ISBN|0-9757770-0-9}}</ref> started a short-lived rival promotion called the Central Wrestling Association which operated up until the 1970s.
During the next decade, Rickard and da Silva were able to develop new stars such as Al Hobman,<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref><ref name="NewZealandTitle">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/nz-h.html |title=New Zealand Heavyweight Title |year=2003 |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|publisher=Puroresu Dojo |access-date=9 June 2010}}</ref> Tony Garea, Peter Maivia,<ref name="Solomon">Solomon, Brian. ''WWE Legends''. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006. (pg. 142–143, 145, 162, 195–196, 199) {{ISBN|0-7434-9033-9}}</ref> and The Sheepherders.<ref>Myers, Robert. ''The Professional Wrestling Trivia Book''. Boston: Branden Books, 1999. (pg. 58) {{ISBN|0-8283-2045-4}}</ref> They were also eventually able, along with Australia-based American promoter Jim Barnett, bring back more foreign stars to the Australasian region.<ref name="Morton">Morton, Gerald W. and George M. O'Brien. ''Wrestling to 'Rasslin: Ancient Sport to American Spectacle''. Bowling Green, Ohio: Popular Press, 1985. (pg. 72) {{ISBN|0-87972-324-6}}</ref> New Zealand was often visited by Australian wrestlers Ron Miller and Larry O'Day of World Championship Wrestling, Robert Bruce from Scotland, Canadians Gordon Nelson and George Gordienko,<ref name="BCTitle">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/allstar/nz-be-h.html |title=British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Title |year=2003 |work=Wrestling-Titles.com|publisher=Puroresu Dojo|access-date=9 June 2010}}</ref> and French wrestler André the Giant.<ref>Krugman, Michael. ''André the Giant: A Legendary Life''. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009. (pg. 7) {{ISBN|1-4165-4112-8}}</ref>
American wrestlers became especially popular with the public during the early 1970s. One of the biggest US tours occurred in 1972 when Big Bad John, Bulldog Brower, Les Wolff, King Curtis Iaukea, Spiros Arion, Mark Lewin, Thunderbolt Patterson, Sweet Daddy Siki, Tarzan Tyler, Dewey Robertson and Haystacks Calhoun wrestled throughout New Zealand. Calhoun and his wife were often seen and talked about in the national media. The couple made numerous television appearances, press interviews and visited schools.<ref name="Cameron">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/americans.html |title=Americans add flavor to New Zealand |author=Cameron, Dave |date=November 1972 |work=Wrestling Revue |publisher=Puroresu Dojo|access-date=9 June 2010}}</ref> That same year, the Rickard-Barnett partnership ended when Barnett sold his share of Big Time Wrestling, an Australian wrestling programme that had briefly aired in New Zealand,<ref name="NZOS">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/on-the-mat-ep-1980/background |title=Background |author=Gough, Shanan |author2=Adam Simpson |date=2 March 2010 |work=Television: On the Mat |publisher=NZ On Screen|access-date=9 June 2010}}</ref> and returned to work in the United States. Rickard then decided to promote wrestling events full-time with All Star Pro-Wrestling. Rickard's later affiliation with the National Wrestling Alliance ensured the arrival of many wrestlers from North America and elsewhere for the next several years.<ref name="Webb">{{cite news |title=No holds barred as wrestler Rickard marks 80th birthday |author=Webb, Kathy |work=The Dominion Post |date=9 April 2009 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2832612/No-holds-barred-as-wrestler-Rickard-marks-80th-birthday }}</ref>
===Early history=== With the influx of new talent, both from New Zealand and abroad, Steve Rickard considered creating a weekly television series, much like Britain's ''World of Sport'', to showcase these wrestlers to a national audience and capitalize on the popularity of his promotion's live events and from foreign wrestlers then touring the country. According to Rickard, the promotion sold-out the Wellington Winter Show Buildings ten weeks in a row and still had to turn away hundreds more.<ref name="Webb"/> Prior to the introduction of television in New Zealand in 1960, wrestling had been extremely popular through live radio broadcasts. In the later years of the "television era" of the 1970s and 80s, television stations commonly aired professional wrestling, such as ''Hollywood Wrestling'' or ''Wrestling at the Chase'', as a source of inexpensive yet popular programing.<ref name="Byers"/>
Encouraged by successful wrestling shows in Australia and the US, Rickard recorded a film pilot at a cost of $500 using matches from one of his shows at the Wellington Winter Show Buildings in 1973. This included a midget wrestling match and another with American wrestler Harley Race. Rickard initially approached TV1 and used the pilot to "pitch" the idea for a New Zealand-based professional wrestling programme. The network showed little interest in the show and eventually passed on the idea. When TV2 was established two years later, however, Rickard managed to get a meeting with then programme director Kevan Moore. A deal was quickly made and Rickard worked with South Pacific Pictures to develop and produce this new wrestling programme.<ref name="NZOS"/><ref name="Gough">{{cite web |url=http://www.thesellnetwork.com/misc/Globalisation.pdf |title=The Globalisation of Professional Wrestling and its affect on the New Zealand Wrestling Scene |author=Gough, Shanan |date=12 June 2010 |publisher=TheSellNetwork.com |access-date=2 August 2010 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717030820/http://www.thesellnetwork.com/misc/Globalisation.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Tim Bickerstaff, a popular New Zealand radio personality and television sports writer, was involved in filming early episodes of the show.<ref name="Bickerstaff">{{cite web |url=http://www.xtrasite.co.nz/sport/bickers/past/990219.html |title=Pro Wrestling – Believe It Or Not |author=Bickerstaff, Tim |date=19 February 1999 |publisher=Xtrasite.co.nz |access-date=2 August 2010 |archive-date=3 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603195403/http://www.xtrasite.co.nz/sport/bickers/past/990219.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
''On the Mat'' debuted as a half-hour late night series on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 3 July 1975.<ref name="LOTM">{{cite book|last1=Mancer|first1=John|title=Steve Rickard's Life On the Mat|date=1979|publisher=Rugby Press|location=Auckland|isbn=978-0-9597553-4-3|page=142|edition=1st}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=WRESTLING ON TV2 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750630.2.32.13 |work=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz |issue=33882 |publisher=The Press |date=30 June 1975}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Points of Viewing |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750703.2.39.12 |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz |issue=33885 |publisher=Press |date=3 July 1975}}</ref> The show was hosted by colour commentator Ernie Leonard along with Steve Rickard as the play-by-play announcer. Many of the top stars in New Zealand and from around the world during the 1970s and early-1980s appeared on the show during its 9-year run.<ref name="Webb"/><ref name="Byers">{{cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/131232/Into-the-Indies-03.09.10:--NWA-On-the-Mat.htm |title=Into the Indies 03.09.10: NWA On the Mat |author=Byers, Ryan |date=9 March 2010 |work=Columns |publisher=411mania.com |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="Venter">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/misc/nickventer01.html |title=Pro-Wrestling's NZ Golden Age |author=Venter, Nick |date=15 February 2006 |work=Wrestling Columns |publisher=OnlineWorldofWrestling.com |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="Mazer">Mazer, Sharon. ''Professional Wrestling: Sport and Spectacle''. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1998. (pg. x) {{ISBN|1-57806-021-4}}</ref>
The show became an overnight sensation, both in New Zealand and internationally, and was one of the country's highest rated shows of all time.<ref name="Samways">{{cite news |title=Sideswipe: New Kiwi wrestling show |author=Samways, Ana |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=25 September 2009 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sideswipe/news/article.cfm?c_id=702&objectid=10599421 }}</ref> For much of its history, ''On the Mat'' was centred around a core group of native stars headlined by Wellington-based wrestlers Steve Rickard, John Da Silva and Robert Bruce<ref name="Ward">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/entertainment/tv-reviews/3211855/Kiwi-grapple-and-grunt-show-has-all-the-right-stuff |title=Kiwi grapple and grunt show has all the right stuff |author=Ward, Nick |date=1 July 2010 |work=Stuff |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="CT">{{cite news |title=Wrestling with make-up |work=Capital Times |date=30 June 2010 |url=http://www.capitaltimes.co.nz/article/3160/Wrestlingwithmakeup.html }}</ref><ref name="Livingston">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/150558-new-zealand-wrestling-rises-again |title=IPW Hits Armageddon |author=Livingston, Aaron |date=4 April 2009 |work=Pro Wrestling |publisher=Bleacher Report |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> who became household names by the end of the 1970s.<ref name="Venter"/> Another Pacific star, King Curtis Iaukea, was the main "heel" wrestler for many years<ref name="Venter"/><ref name="Ward"/> as were Australia's Ron Miller and Larry O'Day. Other foreign wrestlers to appear on the programme included Pat Barrett, Dick Beyer, Man Mountain Link, Les Thornton, Leo Burke, Ripper Collins, Rick Martel, Tiger Jeet Singh, Ali Vizeri and Abdullah the Butcher.<ref>Shabazz, Julian L. D. ''Black Stars of Professional Wrestling''. Clinton, South Carolina: Awesome Records, 1999. (pg. 13) {{ISBN|1-893680-03-7}}</ref><ref name="Afi">Afi, Siva. ''Reign of Fire: My Testimony from the Depths of Hell I Rose Into the Majesty of God Almighty''. Lulu.com (pg. 20–21) {{ISBN|1-4357-2653-7}}</ref>
Peter Maivia and Siva Afi were also very popular during this period and they became the focus of the show within several years. Rickard promoted both Maivia and Afi to appeal to the Polynesian market in New Zealand much in the same way Vince McMahon, Sr. did with Bruno Sammartino and Italian Americans in New York during the 1960s. In 1978, Afi defeated John da Silva in a tournament final to capture the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship on 23 April 1978. It was the first time a Samoan wrestler had held the New Zealand championship since 1964.<ref name="Titles"/><ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref name="Afi"/> A year later, Miavia won the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship from Ripper Collins in Auckland.<ref name="Titles"/><ref name="BCTitle"/>
At the start of the show's off-season each year, Rickard and his wrestlers spent the three months on international tours overseas in the Middle East, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Hawaii.<ref name="Webb"/>
===Height in popularity=== ''On the Mat'''s success greatly increased attendance for live events throughout the country. Imported talent coming as far away as the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia to challenge local wrestlers, particularly ones that fans could identify with and relate to, kept viewers tuning in each week.<ref name="Gough"/> The show's popularity also brought the first television exposure to New Zealand stars and, due in part to their TV appearances for ''On the Mat'', Peter Maivia, Tony Garea and The Sheepherders were all brought to the US where they became major stars in the NWA and the World Wide Wrestling Federation in the 1970s, and later in the World Wrestling Federation during the 1980s wrestling boom. WWWF stars such as Don Muraco, Toru Tanaka, Mr. Fuji<ref name="Solomon"/><ref name="Afi"/> and Rocky Johnson also appeared on the show while touring the country.
Original storylines, apart from the NWA, were also featured in the show. Robert Bruce, who had originally come to New Zealand as a fan favourite, "turned heel", reformed as a "face" then returned to being a heel within the span of a few weeks. His antics gained himself and others national attention<ref>{{cite news |title=Wrestler, acting agent Bruce dies aged 65 |author=Ihaka, James |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=2 March 2009 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10559577 }}</ref> and enraged crowds so much that he was actually stabbed by an irate fan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Robert Bruce: 'Bad guy' of wrestling spent his life helping others |author=Ihaka, James |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=3 March 2009 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wrestling/news/article.cfm?c_id=490&objectid=10559601 }}</ref> Rickard's two sons were also involved in the promotion. One episode in 1980 featured a tag team match with Ricky Rickard as a participant, his brother Tony Rickard refereeing the match and their father Steve Rickard commentating. The show sometimes featured celebrity guests, most notably, radio personality Billy T. James.<ref name="Byers"/>
On 17 March 1981, Barry Holland officially took over Ernie Leonard's position as head announcer so Leonard could work full-time behind the scenes in his role as producer. Returning from a period of touring Southeast Asia and Africa, Steve Rickard announced the show was being aired in Kenya, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Malaysia as well as the arrivals of Abdullah the Butcher, Bret Hart, and possibly "The Original Sheik" Ed Farhat. Also on that episode, Rickard read aloud a letter sent to him by Larry O'Day in which the Australian wrestler taunted Rickard over breaking the leg of his son earlier that year and publicly accepted O'Day's challenge to a match for the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship.<ref name="Byers"/> A month after the death of Peter Maivia, the 6 July 1982 edition of "On the Mat" was a tribute show in his memory and the promotion broadcast two of his matches.<ref name="WAWLI">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclassics.com/wawli/New211-220.htm |title='Laughing Killer' They All Loved |date=3 July 1982 |work=THE NEW WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) PAPERS No. 211-2001 |publisher=WrestlingClassics.com |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>
===Involvement with the NWA=== An official member of the NWA since 1972, many of its top stars were featured on the programme when they visited New Zealand. As a result, NWA storylines and feuds not only became part of the show but were usually not seen by fans outside the country. This was especially true of title defences for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, defended on the show on several occasions, involving both foreign and native New Zealand wrestlers.
Peter Maivia very nearly won the title from then reigning champion Harley Race in Western Springs Stadium in 1979,<ref name="Solomon"/> winning the bout via disqualification, and there was a serious concern the estimated 10,000 fans in attendance<ref name="Gough"/> would riot if Maivia did not address the crowd to explain why the NWA did not allow title changes based on a disqualification win.<ref name="Gough"/><ref>''Auckland Star'', 28 February 1979, p. 31.</ref> A 30-minute NWA title match between Race and Rick Martel took up an entire episode of ''On the Mat''. After returning to the US, Race would later send a tape of this match to promoters before he entered a territory.<ref name="Meltzer">{{cite web |url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/12320/124/ |title=MON. UPDATE: TNA move to Monday, UFC deal; Awesome high flyers match signed; Great TV commercial |author=Meltzer, Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |author2=Stephen Ackroyd |date=15 February 2010 |work=Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online |publisher=F4Wonline.com |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>
Another controversial match occurred in 1983 when Mark Lewin seemingly won the NWA title from "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a best 2-of-3 falls match in Auckland. Although he scored the winning pinfall, and was given the belt, the decision was reversed by referees due to Flair having been tossed over the top rope moments before. Although this was not an illegal move in New Zealand, the bout was under NWA regulations and referees were forced to disqualify Lewin. In a post-match brawl, Lewin knocked out Flair with the belt and left the ring with it.<ref name="Cawthon">{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/jcp83.htm |title=JCP 1983|author=Cawthon, Graham|work=Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW: Ring Results|publisher=TheHistoryofWWE.com|access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> The following year, the NWA World title changed hands between Ric Flair and Harley Race in Wellington, New Zealand and Geylang, Singapore<ref name="Wrestling-Titles1">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-h.html |title=National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title |date=5 June 2010|work=Wrestling-Titles.com|publisher=Puroresu Dojo|access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> though it would be several years before the NWA eventually recognised them.<ref name="Hornbaker">Hornbaker, Tim. ''National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling''. Toronto: ECW Press, 2007. (pg. 209–210, 219) {{ISBN|1-55022-741-6}}</ref>
===Cancellation=== By the early 1980s, though the show was still popular, it became increasingly more difficult for Rickard to bring in top quality wrestlers from overseas. The World Wrestling Federation's national expansion under Vince McMahon in the US resulted in the decline of the National Wrestling Alliance and made the top American stars less available to travel outside the US.<ref name="Venter"/> Rickard and World Championship Wrestling had also long shared the transportation costs of bringing in foreign wrestlers into the Pacific, however, the close of WCW in 1978 resulted in Rickard taking on the full cost himself. Even local stars such as Peter Maivia and Siva Afi, despite their popularity in New Zealand, left the country to compete in the US.<ref name="Gough"/>
The high costs of running the show, in addition to a worsening economy in New Zealand, forced Rickard to cancel the show in 1984. The final episode aired on 23 July 1984, and featured Samoan Joe, Larry O'Day, Mel Fortuna, Tony Rickard and Rip Morgan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crazy capers in What's Up, Doc? |work=New Straits Times |date=23 July 1984 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8aNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6o8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6722,4818732&dq=samoan-joe+-samoa-joe&hl=en }}</ref> He and All Star Pro-Wrestling attempted a couple of tours during the next two years but the show's cancellation eventually saw the close of his promotion.<ref name="Venter"/>
==Production== The show usually aired on a late night timeslot each week on Tuesdays and was approximately 24–25 minutes in length (produced for a 30-minute time-slot) per episode. The first 14 episodes were taped in Auckland, and in Hamilton for a short time, before settling in at the Canterbury Court Stadium in Christchurch. The final season in 1983–84 was shot at the Auckland YMCA. The show was not only a ratings success, it also helped promote live events which sold out town halls and other venues throughout the country on a weekly basis. By the time the show ended, Rickard estimated he had promoted shows in 135 New Zealand cities and towns.<ref name="Venter"/>
===Episode format=== Each episode opened with a video of the All Star Pro-Wrestlers competing in various matches as well as the show's theme song, before going to an introduction and the opening match. An episode typically featured two to three matches (and sometimes footage from a recent live event or match from overseas) as well as post-match interviews and vignettes from wrestlers regarding their upcoming matches or current storylines. Celebrity guests were often invited to the show where they were later interviewed by one of the hosts such as comedian and radio personality Billy T. James in 1980. The show typically ended after the main event (the final match on an episode) and closed similar to the opening credits.
===Memorable episodes=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" !Episode||Date||Rating||Notes |- |''On the Mat'' Debut |3 July 1975<ref name="LOTM" /> |N/A |{{small|The first ever ''On the Mat'' episode.}} |- |Harley Race NWA World Title defence |1979 |N/A |{{small|Sivi Afi unsuccessfully challenged Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.}} |- |''On the Mat'' with Billy T. James |29 July 1980 |N/A |{{small|New Zealand comedian and actor Billy T. James was a celebrity guest and later interviewed by host Ernie Leonard.}} |- |Peter Maivia Tribute Show |6 July 1982 |N/A |{{small|Tribute in memory of Peter Maivia.<ref name="WAWLI"/>}} |- |Ric Flair NWA World Title defence |3 March 1983 |N/A |{{small|Mark Lewin defeats Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship but is reversed via referee decision.<ref name="Cawthon"/>}} |}
==On-air personalities==
===Champions===
====NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship==== {{main|NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship (New Zealand version)}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |-style="background: #EEEFF;" |'''Wrestler:''' |'''Defeated:''' |'''Date:''' |'''Place:''' |'''Event:''' |'''Notes:''' |-style="background: #EEEEFF;" |John Da Silva |Bulldog Brower |1975 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Robert Bruce |John Da Silva |1975 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |John Da Silva |Robert Bruce |1976 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Don Muraco |John Da Silva |1977 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |King Curtis Iaukea |Don Muraco |1977 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Rick Martel |King Curtis Iaukea |26 May 1977 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref name="SLAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestling/martel.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970816220142/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestling/martel.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 1997 |title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Rick Martel |work=SLAM! Wrestling Bios |publisher=SLAM! Sports |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Ali Vaziri |Rick Martel |1977 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Tommy Seigler |Ali Vaziri |1977 |N/A |N/A |The championship is vacated when Seigler leaves New Zealand in 1978.<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/> |- |Les Thornton |N/A |January 1978 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Chris Markoff |Les Thornton |1978 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Ron Miller |Chris Markoff |1978 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Jack Claybourne |Ron Miller |April 1978 |Australia |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Toru Tanaka |Jack Claybourne |13 June 1978 |Christchurch, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/article.php?columns_id=1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030624145558/http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/article.php?columns_id=1998 |archive-date=24 June 2003 |title=Official 411 Wrestling Almanac For June (Part 1) |last=Gamble |first=Ron |date=3 June 2003|work=411Mania |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Steve Rickard |Toru Tanaka |22 June 1978 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Toru Tanaka |Steve Rickard |20 July 1978 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Steve Rickard |Toru Tanaka |17 August 1978 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=32771&p=1 |title=This Day In History: Shane Douglas And The Dudley Boyz Win Gold At Hardcore Heaven And More |author=Martinez, Ryan |date=17 August 2008 |publisher=PWInsider.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Mad Dog Martin |Steve Rickard |28 September 1978 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Leo Burke |Mad Dog Martin |1979 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Rick Martel |Leo Burke |19 March 1979 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref name="SLAM"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/46052/this-day-in-history-wcws-last-nitro-before-the-buyout-the-first-and-last-wcw-uncensored-events-and-more.html|title=This Day In History: WCW's Last Nitro Before The Buyout, The First And Last WCW Uncensored Events And More |author=Woodward, Buck |date=19 March 2010 |publisher=PWInsider.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Ripper Collins |Rick Martel |28 May 1979 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Peter Maivia |Ripper Collins |20 August 1979 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/bios/petermaivia2.html |title=High Chief Peter Maivia |author=Slagle, Steve |year=2000 |work=Photos & Bios: The Stories Behind the Stars |publisher=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317011403/http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/bios/petermaivia2.html |archive-date=17 March 2006 }}</ref> |- |Mr. Fuji |Peter Maivia |3 September 1979 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/41139/this-day-in-history-nwa-at-the-omni-wccw-star-wars-cadillac-tournament-battle-of-los-angeles-and-more.html|title=This Day In History: NWA At The Omni, WCCW Star Wars, Cadillac Tournament, Battle Of Los Angeles And More |author=Martinez, Ryan |date=3 September 2009 |publisher=PWInsider.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Rick Martel |Mr. Fuji |N/A |N/A |N/A |The championship is vacated when Martel leaves New Zealand in 1980.<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/><ref name="SLAM"/> |- |Ron Miller |N/A |May 1980 |Australia |N/A |Won in a tournament.<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Larry O'Day |Ron Miller |14 July 1980 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Ron Miller |Larry O'Day |28 July 1980 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Steve Rickard |Ron Miller |29 October 1980 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Jos LeDuc |Steve Rickard |23 April 1981 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Mark Lewin |Jos LeDuc |30 April 1981 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Jos LeDuc |Mark Lewin |9 July 1981 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Steve Rickard |Jos LeDuc |13 August 1981 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Butcher Brannigan |Steve Rickard |17 September 1981 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Steve Rickard |Butcher Brannigan |24 September 1981 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Baron Karl Von Krupp |Steve Rickard |3 June 1982 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Steve Rickard |Baron Karl Von Krupp |1 July 1982 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Ox Baker |Steve Rickard |9 September 1982 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Al Perez |Ox Baker |September 1982 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |King Kamata |Al Perez |7 October 1982 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Al Perez |King Kamata |October 1982 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Pat O'Connor |Al Perez |4 November 1982 |Auckland, NZ |N/A |Title is later vacated.<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Butcher Brannigan | |1983 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Ricky Rickard |Butcher Brannigan |1983 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Larry O'Day |Rick Rickard |1983 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Steve Rickard |Larry O'Day |1983 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Zar Mongol |Steve Rickard |1983 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |- |Steve Rickard |Zar Mongol |1983 |N/A |N/A |<ref name="NewZealandTitle"/> |}
====NWA Australasian Tag Team Championship==== {{main|NWA Australasian Tag Team Championship}} {| class="wikitable" |-style="background: #EEEFF;" |'''Team:''' |'''Defeated:''' |'''Date:''' |'''Place:''' |'''Event:''' |'''Notes:''' |-style="background: #EEEEFF;" |Steve Rickard and Mark Lewin |N/A |8 October 1981 |N/A | |Awarded titles.<ref name="Wrestling-Titles">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/allstar/ausa-t.html |title=Australasian Tag Team Title (New Zealand) |year=2003 |work=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo |publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="Profile">{{cite web |url=http://www.oklafan.com/bios/810/profile.html |title=Mark Lewin |work=Bios |publisher=Oklafan.com |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226025006/http://www.oklafan.com/bios/810/profile.html |archive-date=26 December 2009 }}</ref> |- |King Kamaka and Baron Von Krupp |Steve Rickard and Mark Lewin |6 May 1982 |Auckland, NZ | |<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/47326/this-day-in-history-kerry-von-erich-wins-the-nwa-title-zbyszko-and-kowalski-win-world-titles-insurrextion-and-more.html|title=This Day In History: Kerry Von Erich Wins The NWA Title, Zbyszko And Kowalski Win World Titles, Insurrextion And More |author=Martinez, Ryan |date=6 May 2010 |publisher=PWInsider.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Steve Rickard and Mark Lewin |King Kamaka and Baron Von Krupp |27 May 1982 |Auckland, NZ | |<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/><ref name="Profile"/> |- |King Kamaka and Ox Baker |Steve Rickard and Mark Lewin |19 August 1982 |Auckland, NZ | |<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/> |- |Mark Lewin and Al Perez |King Kamaka and Ox Baker |30 September 1982 |Auckland, NZ | |<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/> |- |King Kamaka and General Hiro |Mark Lewin and Al Perez |21 October 1982 |Auckland, NZ | |<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/42349/this-day-in-history-bret-hart-signs-a-20year-contract-with-the-wwf-all-japans-first-show-final-tag-reign-for-los-guerreros-ends-and-more.html|title=This Day In History: Bret Hart Signs A 20-Year Contract With The WWF, All Japan's First Show, Final Tag Reign For Los Guerreros Ends And More |author=Woodward, Buck |date=21 October 2009 |publisher=PWInsider.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> |- |Larry O'Day and Ripper Collins |King Kamaka and General Hiro |1983 |N/A | |<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/> |- |Mark and Chris Youngblood |Larry O'Day and Ripper Collins |1984 |N/A | |<ref name="Wrestling-Titles"/> |}
===Commentators=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Commentators || Dates |- |Ernie Leonard and Steve Rickard |1975–1980 |- |Barry Holland and Steve Rickard |17 March 1981 – c. 1984 |}
===Ring announcers=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Ring Announcer || Dates |- |Burt Durn |1975-c. 1984 |}
==Revival with ''The Main Event''== In 1990, Steve Rickard proposed a new wrestling programme under a similar format and, supported by Isambard Productions, secured a deal with the newly established TV3 to air ''The Main Event'' that year. The show was filmed at ASB Stadium in Auckland and the first episode aired in May. The show's producers attempted to replicate the high production values of the World Wrestling Federation's ''WWF Superstars of Wrestling'', which had premiered on TV2 the previous year to high ratings, but also clashed with the more basic and traditional style of ''On the Mat''.<ref name="Gough"/><ref name="Ward"/>
Airing on a slightly earlier timeslot than ''WWF Superstars'', it was technically not in head-to-head competition, however its attempt to emulate the sports entertainment aspect of the WWF failed to impress neither the critics nor fans. Gus Forearm, a columnist for the ''Sunday News'', wrote "Okay, it is filmed in New Zealand – but it lacks any of the gloss and zap we've become used to, thanks to TVNZ's Superstars of Wrestling show and many of the NWA wrestlers on the show simply don't rate on the Forearm scale of skill".<ref name="Gough"/>
The hiring of John Dybvig, a former US basketball coach and commentator, was the main "heel" announcer who portrayed a stereotypical "loudmouth" American.<ref name="Ward"/> His unpopularity, however, did not come from his on-air persona but rather his lack of knowledge about professional wrestling and is believed to have also hurt the show in the long run.<ref name="Gough"/>
A WWF tour of Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland had drawn over 15,000 people and it was expected that the costs of filming such a high-cost show could be offset by profits made from the gate takings at the ASB Stadium but attendance was much less than expected. In the end, The Main Event was unable to compete with the WWF for ratings and was cancelled after 11 episodes.<ref name="Gough"/>
Like the final years of "On the Mat", Siva Afi was the main star of the programme. Returning from a brief stint in the WWF, it was his first major appearance in the country since 1978.<ref name="Gough"/> On 13 July 1990, he defeated Canadian Stockman for the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship and remained undefeated throughout the series. After The Main Event's cancellation, the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth title was retired after a 60-year history.<ref name="BCTitle"/>
==Legacy== Over 20 years after its cancellation, ''On the Mat'' has remained the longest-running weekly sports series in New Zealand's history. It has since achieved a cult status in New Zealand popular culture and has been an influencing factor among several New Zealand media personalities. Wallace Chapman, co-host of the political interview show ''Back Benches'', has said his "favourite TV moment" was watching ''On the Mat'' as a child.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/cheers-to-50-years/my-favourite-moment-part-4-3530983 |title='My favourite moment is...' (part 4) |author=Television New Zealand |author-link=Television New Zealand |year=2010 |publisher=TVNZ.co.nz |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> Oscar Kightley, a Samoan-born actor and writer, has credited the series for partly inspiring his stories.<ref>{{cite journal |date=July–August 2006 |title=Oscar Kightley: Pacific Storyteller Hits The Bigtime |journal=Pacific Magazine |publisher=PacificBasin Communications |volume=31 |issue=4 |page=84 }}</ref> Several writers for NZPWI.co.nz, including editor-in-chief Dion McCracken, have also claimed to have been fans of the show as children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzpwi.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4453&Itemid=141 |title=Gimme Five: Unforgiven, Punk vs. Orton & Memories Galore! |author=Steve Ogilvie |author2=Dion McCracken |author3=Kirsty Quested |author4=Matt Sparnon |author5=Simon Sweetman |author6=Leigh Leighton |author7=Troy Rawhiti-Forbes |date=11 September 2008 |work=Gimme Five |publisher=NZPWI.co.nz |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> Another childhood fan is New Zealand-born cartoonist Jason Conlan, also known as Pro Wrestling Illustrated's "Mr. J", whose monthly comic strip shares the same name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/10/04/4550495.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518060350/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/10/04/4550495.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 May 2015 |title=SLAM! Wrestling: PWI artist aims to be a top draw |author=Elliott, Brian |date=10 October 2007 |publisher=SLAM! Sports |access-date=9 August 2010}}</ref> Tim Bickerstaff, a one time crew member for ''On the Mat'', recalled working for Rickard in a sports column for XTRA in 1999.<ref name="Bickerstaff"/> Television New Zealand counted ''On the Mat'' among the most notable programmes in its 50-year history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.throng.co.nz/tvnz/notable-shows-past-50-years |title=Notable shows from the past 50 years |author=Television New Zealand |author-link=Television New Zealand |date=1 June 2010 |work=News |publisher=Throng.co.nz |access-date=2 August 2010 |archive-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804213424/http://www.throng.co.nz/tvnz/notable-shows-past-50-years |url-status=dead }}</ref>
It was not until the emergence of the country's three major promotions, Impact Pro Wrestling, Kiwi Pro Wrestling and New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling, that nationally syndicated wrestling returned to New Zealand television with the debut of ''IPW Ignition'' in 2007<ref name="Livingston"/> and ''Off the Ropes'' in 2009.<ref name="Samways"/><ref name="Ward"/><ref name="CT"/> Both shows were also made available to an international audience via internet broadcasting. Also in 2009, in memory of the passing of Scottish-born New Zealand wrestler Robert Bruce, Chris Rattue of The New Zealand Herald named several former ''On the Mat'' stars including Bruce, King Curtus Iaukea, Rick Martel, Steve Rickard, John da Silva, Peter Maivia, Samoan Joe and The Bushwhackers as among his Top 10 favourite wrestlers of all-time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chris Rattue: NZ's 10 favourite wrestlers |author=Rattue, Chris |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=6 March 2009 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/new-zealand/news/article.cfm?l_id=71&objectid=10560235 }}</ref>
In early-2010, two episodes were chosen to be shown on NZ On Screen<ref name="Meltzer"/> and Tammy Davis of ''Outrageous Fortune'' starred in an internet promotional video which spoofed the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzpwi.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6044&Itemid=36 |title=On The Mat on NZ On Screen! |author=Anderson, Scott |date=13 June 2010 |publisher=NZPWI.co.nz |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> On 9 April, Scoop.co.nz reported that On the Mat ranked #3 among the top 10 most watched videos on NZ on Screen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00050.htm |title=NZ On Screen: Top 10 for March 2010 |date=9 April 2010 |work=Top Scoops |publisher=Scoop.co.nz |access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> The episodes were favourably reviewed by 411mania.com shortly after their release and whose author, Ryan Byers, wrote they "were very fun to watch as a curiosity, a look into an old territory that I, as an American, have almost never seen or even heard discussed" and that "these shows created an interest in me in seeing more from the New Zealand territory, if for no other reason than to document some of the forgotten career moments of US wrestlers who heavily toured abroad".<ref name="Byers"/>
In 2024 the rights to the On The Mat name were acquired by the New Zealand wrestling promotion Legacy Pro Wrestling (LPW).
==See also== {{Portal|Television}} *List of professional wrestling television series *Professional wrestling in New Zealand *''IPW Ignition'' *''Off the Ropes''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== *Dybvig, John and Ray Lillis. ''Microphones Up My Nose''. 1st ed. Auckland: Random House, 1993. {{ISBN|1-86941-186-2}} *Mancer, John. ''Steve Rickard's Life On the Mat''. 1st ed. Auckland: Rugby Press, 1979. {{ISBN|978-0-9597553-4-3}}
==External links== * [http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/on-the-mat-1975/series ''On the Mat''] at NZ On Screen * {{IMDb title|id=5226456|title=On the Mat}}
{{Professional wrestling in New Zealand}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:On the Mat}} Category:1975 New Zealand television series debuts Category:1970s New Zealand television series Category:1980s New Zealand television series Category:1984 New Zealand television series endings Category:New Zealand professional wrestling promotions Category:TVNZ 2 original programming Category:New Zealand professional wrestling television series Category:Defunct professional wrestling promotions