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FORMER AWF PROMOTER PAUL ALPERSTEIN PASSES AWAY

Paul Alperstein, who promoted the mid-1990s version of The American Wrestling Federation and appeared on air as the owner of the company on it's TV series, has passed away, PWInsider.com has learned. He was 58 years old.

Alperstein, who lived in Skokie, Illinois, was the sole backer for the AWF when it launched in 1994 and began syndicating it's TV across the United States.

The promotion was built around the idea of incorporating old school pro wrestling with a strong enforcement of the rules along with the introduction of four minute European style rounds. The promotion's TV included "turnbuckle cams" and allegedly, fans who were basically paid extras so they would react the proper way to the characters on the series.

Tito Santana was crowned it's first champion and the roster included Sgt. Slaughter, The Road Warriors, Jim Brunzell (as Commissioner), Bob Orton, Koko B. Ware, Greg Valentine, Tony Atlas, Chris Adams and other recognizable names that had worked on a national level in the 1980s.

The promotion would go on to tape around 30-35 episodes between 1995 and 1996. In September 1996, it would purchase TV time in a number of major markets with the idea of eventually touring. The promotion acquired timeslots (some were barter deals while others were specific purchases of TV time) on a number of major broadcast stations, including WCBS-TV in New York City, KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, WBBM-TV in Chicago, KYW-TV in Philadelphia, KBHK-TV in San Francisco and WLVI-TV in Boston, among others. There were some international TV distribution deals as well.

The business plan was to use that TV exposure as the platform to eventually run house shows and do three to four live PPVs a year. While the promotion eventually did a few house shows on the West Coast, financially the numbers to recoup the investment were never there and it quietly shut down operations.

The first round of TV tapings were later released on DVD under the title "Warriors of Wrestling." Santana retained physical ownership of the AWF title and on occasion, has since defended it on independent appearances.

In the years following The AWF, Alperstein worked in the restaurant field.

We are told that Alperstein had been dealing with multiple sclerosis. He had suffered several strokes several years ago and had not been in the best of health. He is survived by his father and two sisters.

On behalf of everyone associated with PWInsider.com, we'd like to issue our deepest condolences to Alperstein's family and friends.

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