UWF Fury Hour
Monday night wrestling on SportsChannel America from 1990 to 1991.
via Wikipedia: UWF Fury Hour · see source
UWF Fury Hour aired Monday nights on SportsChannel America from October 1990 to September 1991, as part of the network's Feet, Fists and Fury block alongside kickboxing and boxing. In May 1991, a semifinal match for the SportsChannel Television Championship between Steve Ray and Steve Williams turned into a shoot. Herb Abrams reportedly believed Ray was involved with his wife and paid Williams extra to work Ray over during the bout. Years later, Ray claimed the incident was actually a worked shoot.
After a television hiatus, the UWF struck a deal with Prime Ticket, and new episodes taped at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium began airing as UWF Thunder Hour on Sunday nights starting in July 1992. In March 1995, existing Fury Hour and Thunder Hour episodes were condensed into a half-hour format and aired daily on ESPN2. Those same 24 repackaged episodes later ran on ESPN Classic from 2008 to 2013. Steve Ray attempted to sue ESPN Classic in 2014 over the use of his likeness in those rebroadcasts, but his lawsuit failed. Meanwhile, ESPN Classic Canada broadcast the original one-hour versions of both Fury Hour and Thunder Hour in 2004.
Quick Facts
- Creator
- Herb Abrams
- Camera
- Multicamera setup
- Runtime
- 60 minutes (including commercials)
- Company
- Abrams Productions
- Executive producers
- Lenny Duge
- Starring
- See UWF alumni
- Country
- United States
- Network
- SportsChannel America (1990–1991), Prime Ticket (1992)
Facts from the source article.
Background
The most talked-about moment in UWF Fury Hour history happened during a semifinal match of the SportsChannel Television Championship Tournament that aired in May 1991. Steve Ray faced Steve Williams, but what looked like a regular bout turned into a shoot. The story that went around was that UWF owner Herb Abrams believed Ray was sleeping with his wife, so he paid Williams extra money to rough Ray up for real. Years later, Ray himself said it was actually a worked shoot—meaning the violence was planned but presented as real.
Either way, it gave the show a reputation for being unpredictable. After Fury Hour ended its run on September 23, 1991, the UWF went months without television. Then they signed a deal with Prime Ticket, and new episodes taped at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium started airing as UWF Thunder Hour on Sunday nights in July 1992. That show kept the same roster and feel, just with a new name and network.
In March 1995, both Fury Hour and Thunder Hour episodes were repackaged into a half-hour format and aired daily on ESPN2. Exactly 24 of those repackaged episodes later found a home on ESPN Classic, running from 2008 to 2013. That led to Steve Ray trying to sue ESPN Classic in 2014 over use of his likeness in those rebroadcasts, but he didn't win. Meanwhile, up in Canada, ESPN Classic Canada ran the original one-hour versions of both Fury Hour and Thunder Hour in 2004.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in UWF Fury Hour?
UWF Fury Hour stars See UWF alumni.
Which network aired UWF Fury Hour?
UWF Fury Hour aired on SportsChannel America (1990–1991), Prime Ticket (1992).
How many episodes of UWF Fury Hour are there?
UWF Fury Hour has 69 episodes.
When did UWF Fury Hour end?
UWF Fury Hour last aired on 25 October 1992.
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