When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
203 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsLooking for pro wrestling history? WWE, WCW, NWA, AEW, NXT, NJPW, Impact, ROH, AWA, ECW, and much more. Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) is a pro wrestling historian who has produced the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show for over 10 years at Wrestling Observer. He is currently putting together the massive Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling Zone at When It Was Cool. This is the free version of some of the pro wrestling podcasts we produce at When It Was Cool. The vast majority of it is available early to Patreon supporters and there are over 1000 shows available for subscribers. Enjoy these free shows for a deep dive into pro wrestling history and we hope if you enjoy these shows you will become a Patreon supporter and gain access to many others.
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Episodes
MSG History, Bruno Sammartino, and more!
April 14, 2024 16:14 - 45 minutes - 29.9 MBOn this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern continues his look at wrestling history at Madison Square Garden in New York in the year 1931, he also continues his look back at Dave Meltzer's epic biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, plus tons of news and notes. More pro wrestling history than you can shake a preverbal stick at!
Strangler Lewis, Bruno Sammartino, and More
April 09, 2024 16:18 - 48 minutes - 32.1 MBOn this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, historian Karl Stern takes a look at a great retro article from a 1972 wrestling magazine asking the question if Ed "Strangler" Lewis was the greatest wrestler of all time. Then we continue taking a look at Dave Meltzer's biography of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus much more!
Great Lakes Wrestling in the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours
April 07, 2024 17:07 - 54 minutes - 35.6 MBThe pioneer era (pre-1900) of pro wrestling flourished in the Great Lakes area. While initially the northeast, especially New York and Vermont were the early hotspots, by 1970 Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and the entire Great Lakes region became very important in pro wrestling. The 1870 Detroit International tournament was a real ignition point for the popularity of pro wrestling nationwide and the Detroit Opera House became a shrine for the genesis of American pro wrestling. Join historian ...
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - April 1984 (Patera and Saito Arrest)
April 02, 2024 16:49 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBWrestling historian Karl Stern returns with another in-depth look at a month in pro wrestling history. Today he looks back at April 1984 and a lot was going on. The WWF was accelerating their national expansion by stealing the AWA's TV spot on the west coast, Jumbo Tsuruta is still the AWA World champion, and a new monster named Lord Humongous is challenging Jerry Lawler in Memphis, but the big news of the month happened in Waukesa, WI when Mr. Saito and Ken Patera fought multiple police off...
Wrestling in the Biblical Era - 1000 Hours
March 31, 2024 16:14 - 53 minutes - 36.2 MBIt's Easter Sunday and by serendipity, Eric, the sponsor of this episode of 1000 Hours, asks for the research topic to be wrestling in the Bible. Well, one of the most famous stories in the Bible both for Christians and Jews is the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel, or a man, or God himself (the story is complicated). Of course, by the time we get to the Christian era the Romans are in charge and wrestling is very much a big deal. Also, I finally have an excuse to talk about Milo of Cr...
Sting, The Rock, Strangler Lewis, Bruno Sammartino
March 26, 2024 15:17 - 54 minutes - 36.8 MBOn this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show with Karl Stern we take a look at the next match in the GKT: Sting verses The Rock, we begin a massive biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino, and we start an article from an early 1970's wrestling magazine on Ed "Strangler" Lewis. A fun and history packed edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, check us out and let's talk some wrestling history.
Pre-Hackenschmidt Russian Wrestling - 1000 Hours
March 24, 2024 16:40 - 59 minutes - 40.1 MBThe sponsor of today's 1000 Hours podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, has asked for research on wrestling in Russia before George Hackenschmidt. Interestingly, wrestling in Russia came relatively late in the pioneer era and George Hackenschmidt became its biggest star but there were others. Today we look at the early stars of Russian wrestling and how it originally developed as an import from Poland and France. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long ...
GKT Bracket, Road Warriors, MSG History
March 19, 2024 21:12 - 57 minutes - 40.2 MBThis week pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look at more wrestling history from Madison Square Garden in New York with more on Jim Londos as the world champion, the remaining bracket for the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) is discussed, a 1980's wrestling magazine article on The Road Warriors in Japan, and the life and death of Rex King from the Southern Rockers/Well Dunn tag team. All this and more wrestling history from DragonKingKarl.
The Strongmen of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours
March 17, 2024 15:25 - 1 hour - 49 MBStrongmen and pro wrestling go hand in hand. Who can forget the muscled up 1980s? Yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. In the pioneer era of wrestling, your proto-strongmen and bodybuilders were also featured alongside and inside professional wrestling. On this episode of 1000 Hours, the podcast all about the pioneer era of wrestling, historian Karl Stern takes a look at such pioneering strongmen and their relation to pro wrestling such as Eugen Sandow, Louis Cyr, and ...
New and Improved DragonKingKarl
March 12, 2024 00:18 - 53 minutes - 39.6 MBWelcome to season 2, reboot, 2.0, whatever you want to call it. Pro wrestling historian Karl Stern has revamped his long running classic wrestling podcast. On this episode the next match in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) takes place: Antonio Inoki verses Steve Austin. The votes are in and we have a winner. Karl then takes a look back to the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY as the 1930's begin and we find out if Jim Londos was really such a big dea...
The Evils of Wrestling - 1000 Hours
March 08, 2024 02:34 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBThe 1000 Hours podcast series is hosted by wrestling historian Karl Stern and looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The more things change, the more they stay the same and on this episode we look back at just before the American Civil War see how wrestling, for a few year period, went from being a noble sport that men were look up to as participating in, and instead changed to a vice, a sport that drunkards, cheats, and gamblers participated in. We also look at how the media has ...
Barney Smith is Dead - 1000 Hours
February 27, 2024 17:05 - 57 minutes - 36.8 MBI mean, Barney Smith was probably dead under the best of circumstances. He went to the finals of American pro wrestling's first ever major championship tournament in 1870 but, as we have been researching for a long time now, there seemed to be no clear evidence he died at the hands of Col. James H. McLaughlin in that 1870 tournament. Now, however, two well-known wrestling historians, Jason Campbell and Mark Hewitt, have independently found a source fourteen years after the tournament that al...
From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter - Blackjack Mulligan
February 20, 2024 17:27 - 41 minutes - 26.6 MBOn this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast we travel back to 2016 for Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter biography of Blackjack Mulligan. Mulligan was a big, tough, cowboy heel and babyface who also booked around the country. He was a top star in the AWA, Jim Crockett Promotions, WWF, Florida, and more. He was also quite the out of the ring character who had street fights with Andre the Giant, Ole Anderson, and Dick Murdoch, got sent to prison for a couple of y...
Pioneer Era Wrestling in France - 1000 Hours
February 19, 2024 17:04 - 50 minutes - 33.5 MBThis episode of 1000 Hours is brought to you by Andrew who recently read an article about showmanship in wrestling in the 1800's in France. The French and the English seemed to have the biggest impact on pioneer era pro wrestling in America and, no question, they had a penchant for the dramatic as we have already discovered with Prof. Theobaud Bauer, King of Wrestling Charles, and others. Today's show is a fascinating look at the origins of some of the theatrical aspects of wrestling pre-1...
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - March 1984 (Race, Tsuruta, Flair)
February 13, 2024 14:34 - 53 minutes - 34.2 MBThis is the 100th installment in the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling podcast series from author and wrestling historian Karl Stern. On this episode we look back at March 1984 following the death of David Von Erich the wrestling world is still in shock. Ric Flair and Harley Race pull off a secret NWA World title change on the other side of the world. Jumbo Tsuruta tours America as AWA World champion, and Hulk Hogan settles into his run as WWF champion. A very exciting time in the history...
Bounty on Barney - 1000 Hours
February 11, 2024 15:02 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBIt's hour 36 of 1000 Hours, the podcast all about the pioneers of pro wrestling. On this episode we do a lot of research on pioneer era wrestling including some new tidbits about Col. James H. McLaughlin which leads us back to our most enduring mystery- did Col. McLaughlin kill Barney Smith? If yes, then why is there not a shred of evidence to support it aside from Barney Smith disappearing from the record, and if not, then why does the story even exist? It's time to resolve the Barney Smith...
Inside Wrestling Magazine Review Podcast - August 1984
February 06, 2024 17:36 - 47 minutes - 30.4 MBOn this edition of When It Was Cool Wrestling with host Karl Stern, we take a look back at a classic Apter magazine from 1984 - Inside Wrestling! This magazine would have been on newsstands in early summer 1984 with stories on Jimmy Valiant and Junkyard Dog, Larry Zbyszko, Magnum TA, Mr. Wrestling II, and lots of talk on The Road Warriors who were National tag team champions at the time and red hot. Also, ads on everything from getting fat to getting thin to witchcraft. A fun show.
More on the King of the Wrestlers Charles - 1000 Hours
February 05, 2024 19:12 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBOn this episode of 1000 Hours, the podcast about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, historian and author Karl Stern returns to the pre-pioneer era just before the United States Civil War to uncover more about the first known self-promoted pro wrestling star Charles the King of Wrestling. The pre-pioneer era was a fascinating time period in American history and from it we now see the seeds of what would become American showman style pro wrestling. This is hour 35. This series explores i...
History of Wrestling at MSG Series - You Know That's Fake Right?
January 30, 2024 16:04 - 47 minutes - 32 MBPro Wrestling historian Karl Stern continues his look at the history of professional wrestling in a rotating series of classic pro wrestling podcasts. Today's theme returns to the history of wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, one of the most famous arenas in the world. We are up to 1928 in the series (which can be found here) and the New York State Athletic Commission is fed up with all this fakery and orders matches in New York to stop billing themselves as contests de...
Pre-Pioneer Era in America - 1000 Hours
January 28, 2024 17:09 - 57 minutes - 38.4 MBOn this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer (pre-1900) era of pro wrestling, historian Karl Stern digs even deeper to look at the era before the Civil War. Was there organized professional wrestling in the years leading up to the Civil War. The answer is yes! Some. The seed is certainly there. Now, the million-dollar question... was it too worked? The answer to that may actually be... yes and we may have discovered the FIRST promoted pro wrestler in America. ...
G.W. Flagg and John McMahon - 1000 Hours
January 21, 2024 21:38 - 56 minutes - 37.4 MBPro wrestling historian Karl 'DragonKingKarl' Stern returns to further discuss the pioneer era of pro wrestling in the 1000 Hours series which focuses on pro wrestling pre-1900 or before the era of Frank Gotch. On this episode, he looks back at two pioneers: G.W. Flagg and John McMahon who only met once, and it was during the Civil War, and their careers afterward. Plus tons of other research from that era. This is hour 33. This series explores it’s history and personalities. YOU CONT...
From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer - Nick Bockwinkel
January 16, 2024 17:32 - 54 minutes - 36.5 MBOn this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show we return to the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to look at Dave Meltzer's biography on the legendary AWA World heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel was the glue that held the AWA together and was also part of two of the greatest tag teams in history with Ray Stevens and Pat Patterson. One of the best promos in wrestling history, Nick Bockwinkel, is an all time legend.
Greek George and the Champion of the South - 1000 Hours
January 14, 2024 13:41 - 57 minutes - 38.1 MBThe pioneers of wrestling era discussion continues with hour 32 of the 1000 Hours podcast with host, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern. On this episode the eventual manager of Evan "Strangler" Lewis, Greek George, is promoting wrestling in Pensacola, FL where we meet the Champion of the South. Who was he and was this a work or a shoot? Tons of notes on pre-1900 pro wrestling and tons of research on the pioneers of wrestling. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is suppo...
Double Action Wrestling Magazine Review - October 1986
January 09, 2024 10:30 - 57 minutes - 38.4 MBHere's a fun review of an off-brand pro wrestling magazine from back in October 1986. Neither Apter nor Napolitano magazine, this is issue one of Double Action Wrestling which featured terrible blurry and outdated photos, stories on Hulk Hogan and The Funks, and a slew of highly questionable advertisements. Join pro wrestling historian Karl 'DragonKingKarl' Stern as he looks back at this classic pro wrestling magazine.
Of Bauer and Bears - 1000 Hours
January 07, 2024 19:29 - 54 minutes - 35.8 MBThe 1000 Hours podcast series explores the pioneer era of professional wrestling, that is to say, pro wrestling before 1900 or the era of Frank Gotch. Gotch didn't appear out of a vacuum, a history of over fifty years of pro wrestling had already been sown in the United States and further back than that in Europe. Names like William Muldoon, Col. James H. McLaughlin, Jim McMahon, and H.M. Dufur were the original wrestling stars of America. In this episode, host Karl Stern takes a look at o...
February 1984 (Death of David Von Erich) - Long Form History of Wrestling
January 03, 2024 01:10 - 54 minutes - 36.1 MBThis is the 99th installment of the long form history of pro wrestling series by pro wrestling historian Karl Stern. In this chronological look at the history of pro wrestling, Karl is up to February 1984 which is infamous due to the shocking and unforeseen death of David Von Erich just before he was scheduled to begin a tour for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Taken from his new book: DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, this is one of the most detailed looks at February 1984 ever und...
The Iron Claw (2023) Movie Review Podcast
December 27, 2023 00:45 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBKarl and Tonya review the 2023 pro wrestling biopic The Iron Claw. This is a dramatized retelling of the tragic story of the Von Erich family which endured tragedy after tragedy including the young deaths of multiple brothers, a domineering father, and more. Karl and Tonya look at how the film did in communicating the horrific events of the Von Erich family and Karl takes a look at some of the real facts which the movie fictionalized. We both loved this movie so come and join us for an exten...
History of Wrestling at MSG: The Fall of the Second Madison Square Garden
December 19, 2023 18:48 - 50 minutes - 33.3 MBAll good things must end and in this edition of the History of Wrestling at Madison Square Garden the second Madison Square Garden meets its fate and pro wrestling almost does as well. The battled between Jack Curley and Tex Rickard fizzles to an anti-climactic end but with Rickard still in control of MSG and now, building a new gigantic 20,000 seat third Garden, he is still the man to deal with. Enter: Jesse McMahon who shakes up boxing and his son Vince McMahon (the elder) who will shake u...
Can You Bear Another Episode - 1000 Hours
December 17, 2023 10:53 - 1 hour - 44.2 MBThe pioneers of pro wrestling podcast returns and our sponsor for this episode, Andy, wishes to know more about the history of bear wrestling. Does it have pioneer era origins? As it turns out, bear wrestling was very much a thing in the pioneer era. We even find our old friends, the working shysters team up of Theobaud Bauer and Prof. William Miller involved in bear exploits. This is not an episode I thought I would be doing in the pioneer series but here we are and I'm impressed at just ho...
1000 Hours Podcast - From Muldoon to Roman
December 10, 2023 17:45 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBOn this hour of 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, I think it is important to step back for a moment and ask the very legitimate question... what does the pioneer era really have to do with pro wrestling? Wasn't it just untrained conmen with large mustaches traveling the country tricking people into a betting scam? What does it really have to do with modern entertainment style pro wrestling? Today, I take you on an unbroken journey from William Muld...
A Boxer and a Wrestler Walk Into a Bar - 1000 Hours
December 05, 2023 15:34 - 57 minutes - 38 MBDragonKingKarl Stern's latest look back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling takes a look at John McMahon, whom we have previously discussed. John McMahon, apparently, like his drink. According to newspapers at the time one of the first boxer verses wrestler matches may not have taken place as a betting even for spectators, but instead, in a barroom because McMahon had too much to drink. Then started running his mouth. Then, well, you know. Find out what happened next plus tons of other notes...
What's So Special About 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling?
November 28, 2023 10:40 - 51 minutes - 33.7 MBCelebrating the release of my new book: DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, I will take a look back at these two massively important years in pro wrestling history. Hulk Hogan wins the WWF title, the WWF national expansion begins in earnest including the takeover of the WTBS time slot, the death of David Von Erich, Starrcade 1984 & 1985, massive Thanksgiving Day shows, Pro Wrestling USA, the injury of Mike Von Erich, WWF WrestleMania I, Mr. T, the John Stossell slap, and much m...
The Ludicrous Tale of Richard K. Fox - 1000 Hours
November 26, 2023 16:12 - 1 hour - 43 MBIf I told you that today's look back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling involved a bear eating a kid and a funeral invaded by corpse eating cats you might think me ridiculous. Well... welcome to the world of Richard K. Fox: Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Influencer. It was Richard K. Fox via his National Police Gazette publication that distributed championship belts, promoted matches, and popularized the famous wrestlers of the era. It's impossible to compare him to a modern conterpart. He was n...
Dusty Rhodes - From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Part 3
November 21, 2023 13:21 - 46 minutes - 31.4 MBThe conclusion of the near book length Dusty Rhodes biography following his death by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. On our rotation of classic pro wrestling themes, we are back around to the one we call From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where we look back at some of Dave Meltzer's biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. This one is a three parter on the massive Dusty Rhodes obituary. It is basically a book on the life and times of one of th...
Ringside Wrestling Book on Pioneers - 1000 Hours
November 19, 2023 11:09 - 46 minutes - 29.5 MBOn this edition of 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, host Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) takes a look at a much overlooked book on the pioneer era (and beyond) titled: Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America by Scott Beekman, a college educator who put tremendous research into the topic. Karl was a source cited in the book and discusses some of the interesting facts in the book while still seeking the truth about Col. McLaughlin and Bar...
Dusty Rhodes Part 2 - From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
November 14, 2023 10:49 - 47 minutes - 32 MBOn our rotation of classic pro wrestling themes we are back around to the one we call From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where we look back at some of Dave Meltzer's biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. Today we continue a three parter on the massive Dusty Rhodes obituary. It is basically a book on the life and times of one of the most influential and popular pro wrestlers of all time: Dusty Rhodes.
The Polish Influence of Pro Wrestling - 1000 Hours
November 12, 2023 15:43 - 1 hour - 42.5 MB1000 Hours is a podcast about the pioneer era of pro wrestling- pro wrestling before Frank Gotch, before 1900. This is a requested topic by Eric, the sponsor of this episode. He wants to know about the Polish influence on pro wrestling. In the 1970s especially, various Polish wrestlers were popular as an ethnic draw, but does it go back further than that? When speaking of the Polish influence on pro wrestling two names immediatly come to mind, the brother duo of Stanislaus and Wladek Zbysz...
More McLaughlin Killing Smith Mystery - 1000 Hours
November 08, 2023 10:46 - 57 minutes - 38.3 MB1000 Hours is a podcast about the pioneers of pro wrestling, that is, pro wrestling before Frank Gotch and 1900. Today we further examine a mystery that has been plaguing us. Despite the story of Col. James H. McLaughlin killing Barney Smith in the 1870 Detroit International tournament having tremendous detail in it's telling over the years there seems to be not a shred of evidence uncovered so far that it actually happened. Wrestling historian Karl Stern tries digging deeper in the past to ...
Dusty Rhodes - From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Part 1
November 07, 2023 16:06 - 49 minutes - 33.3 MBOn our rotation of classic pro wrestling themes we are back around to the one we call From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where we look back at some of Dave Meltzer's biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. Today we begin a three parter on the massive Dusty Rhodes obituary. It is basically a book on the life and times of one of the most influential and popular pro wrestlers of all time: Dusty Rhodes.
Pioneer Era Wrestling Outside New York City - 1000 Hours
October 31, 2023 12:59 - 57 minutes - 37.7 MBThis show was sponsored by Andrew and he asked for research on pioneer era pro wrestling in the state of New York outside of New York City. So, host Karl Stern digs into newspapers in Buffalo, Rochester, and surrounding areas to find out that the pro wrestling scene outside of New York City in the late 1800s was well and good including a number of names we have became familiar with including Col. McLaughlin, H.M. Dufur, Theobaud Bauer, and more. This is hour 23. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It...
Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Ballot Discussion 2023 - Part 2
October 25, 2023 09:22 - 1 hour - 54.3 MBWelcome to Karl Stern's annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion for 2023. The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot show is usually my most popular show of the year. This year it's a two-part show discussing, among others: Roman Reigns, Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Daddy, Roy Welch, Bob Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, the Von Erichs, British Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, and many more. Let's talk the 2023 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. Part 2.
Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Ballot Discussion 2023 - Part 1
October 24, 2023 15:22 - 1 hour - 42 MBWelcome to Karl Stern's annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion for 2023. The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot show is usually my most popular show of the year. This year it's a two-part show- today and tomorrow- discussing, among others: Roman Reigns, Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Daddy, Roy Welch, Bob Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, the Von Erichs, British Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, and many more. Let's talk the 2023 Wrestling Observer Ha...
Pioneer Era Wrestling in Mexico - 1000 Hours
October 22, 2023 09:58 - 1 hour - 40.1 MBThe origins of pro wrestling in Mexico is probably not what you think. You may think it was Salvador Lutteroth and EMLL/CMLL or some long forgotten masked star. What if I told you it was actually a Japanese Judoka and a barnstorming rag-tag group of American wrestlers? What if you found out that pioneer era wrestling in Mexico was in, not only with wrestling in America, but also Cuba and the infancy of Ju-Jitsu in Brazil as well? Because it's true. The origin of wrestling in Mexico is not wh...
Main Event Wrestling Magazine Review - November 1984
October 17, 2023 09:52 - 52 minutes - 34.8 MBAs I wrap up the work on my upcoming DragonKingKarl Stern's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book I wanted to review a magazine from that time frame. So, I struck outside the usual Apter mags and decided to review a George Napolitano offering: Main Event Wrestling from November 1984 featuring Hulk Hogan, Kerry Von Erich, Jimmy Snuka, and a ton of Puerto Rican news for some reason. Also a hilarious Kerry Von Erich verses Ric Flair photo and some of, hands down, the wackiest ads we have seen so...
The Mystery of Barney Smith. Maybe Dead. Maybe Not.
October 15, 2023 15:32 - 56 minutes - 37.7 MBWell, I mean he is dead for sure now. He lived 150 years ago but the question is did Col. James H. McLaughlin kill him? In the early 2000s when I first really dug into the pioneers of pro wrestling, I was led to believe that in a famous wrestling tournament in Detroit, MI in 1870, Col. McLaughlin wrestled Barney Smith in the finals and Smith died the day after. There were many specific details to the incident told to me by a historian. Problem is, over 20 years later and with access to all t...
Champion Wrestler Uziel Prickett Had a VERY Bad Idea - 1000 Hours
October 11, 2023 09:33 - 1 hour - 41.2 MB1000 Hours is a podcast all about the pioneers of pro wrestling and on this episode I have found a new one. I had never previously heard of Uziel Prickett, but he was a pioneer era champion wrestler and he had a hard time getting along with others. You see, pro wrestling was in all honesty really a scam meant to fleece gamblers of their money, we all know this by now. Well, Uziel Prickett kept getting found out and nearly beat up for it. Then he had a terrible idea. He would pull this same c...
January 1984 - Long Form History of Wrestling Series
October 10, 2023 15:25 - 44 minutes - 30.2 MBToday pro wrestling historian Karl Stern begins looking at the year 1984 in pro wrestling and January 1984 was a huge and historically important month as Hulk Hogan wins the WWF heavyweight title from the Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The AWA is beginning to get it's talent raided by WWF with, not only Hulk Hogan, but Gene Okerlund, David Schultz, and others coming over. On top of that, Hulk Hogan is still an important part of New Japan Pro Wrestling as well. What do ...
The American Heavyweight title - 1000 Hours
October 08, 2023 10:23 - 1 hour - 39.9 MB1000 Hours is the podcast all about the pioneers of pro wrestling. On this episode, host Karl Stern takes a look back at one of the earliest and most important championships of the pioneer era: The American Heavyweight championship. It was a time when it seemed like every wrestler billed themselves as "Champion of America" in some form or other. But what can we deduce about the actual championship of America that led eventually to Tom Jenkins, Frank Gotch, and becoming tied into the George H...
Clarence "The Kansas Demon" Whistler is Apparently Superhuman
October 04, 2023 15:38 - 1 hour - 40.2 MBOne of the most interesting personalities in the 1800 pioneer era of pro wrestling was the arch-rival (and sometimes friend) of William Muldoon. I introduce you to Clarence Whistler. In the early 1880s he gave William Muldoon the fights of his life. He was rough, dirty, and vicious. Yet, somehow, he would occasionally work with Muldoon as a partner as pro wrestling in America took form in the post-Civil War period. Clarence Whistler would not see his 30th birthday and would be buried on the ...
History of Wrestling at Madison Square Garden Podcast - Zbyszkos and Politics
October 03, 2023 09:34 - 46 minutes - 30.5 MBWe continue our chronological exploration of the history of pro wrestling at MSG in New York City. We continue into the 1920s and have been discussing the saga of Tex Rickard and how he had taken over the pro wrestling scene. However, he runs into legal trouble and it threatens not only pro wrestling but boxing as well. Also, the Zbyszko brothers continue their run as top stars and the NYSAC continues to be a problem.