Wrestling show takes over local airwaves

     "Buffalo" Jim Barrier hasn't put on a live wrestling show with his Buffalo Wrestling Federation since January.

      But the wrestling promoter and auto-electric shop owner believes his exposure has grown by leaps and bounds with his weekly television show on Cox Cable, Channel 48.

      "You get a lot more exposure on TV," said Barrier, whose show runs at 11 p.m. Fridays.

      It's about to grow even more.

      Barrier said advertiser Victor Posner, who owns and operates Riviera Cabinets, has decided to broadcast the show in four additional markets: San Diego, Minneapolis, Miami and Madison, Wis. Barrier said the shows are scheduled to begin broadcast in the next six weeks.

      "My goal is to get a national TV deal," Barrier said. "We'll move on from there."

      The format of the television show is similar to the World Wrestling Federation's Saturday-morning Livewire program, with Barrier serving as a host setting up clips of live action. The live action was taped from various BWF performances in the last few years and includes name wrestlers such as Honky Tonk Man and The Godfather.

      "It's an action-packed show," Barrier said. "It's Vegas to the core. You never know what's going to happen."

      Barrier said his show has received a 20 percent higher local viewership than the national Extreme Championship Wrestling programs, which also air Friday nights on The Nashville Network on Cox Cable, Channel 29. It has also been broadcast on the Nellis Air Force Base channel and in Pahrump.

      Despite the success of the TV show, Barrier isn't ignoring those fans looking to attend a live wrestling match. He's still looking for the right location to stage live shows after leaving the Silver Nugget in North Las Vegas.

      "It was hard to get people to go to North Las Vegas," Barrier said. "And we didn't have any security problems at all. I'd still be there if people were coming."

      Barrier expects his live shows, which could possibly return as early as November, will benefit from the television exposure.

      "We'll have a lot more audience because people who started watching the TV show will now come down to the live shows," Barrier said. "They didn't know about it before.

      "I don't want people to think I'm done. I'm far from done. I just have to find the right spot, and I think the TV exposure will even help with that, too."

      Until then, BWF wrestlers will continue to work and train at Barrier's wrestling school.

      "When we find a place, we're going to roll with it," he said. "I'll find a place that wants the show and then I'm going to make them happy it's there."