Author: Karl Stern
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: All eyes on the Tokyo Dome
This week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show looks back to the 1930s and all the drama surrounding Madison Square Garden. Then, we travel back in time to one of my favorite Tokyo Dome shows — the night Stan Hansen knocked one of Big Van Vader’s eyeballs out. Finally, during the second half of the show, we…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The historical importance of 1886
My pioneer era focus on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show returns this week with a look back at 1886 — a year of change in professional wrestling. Clarence Whistler had been one of the top stars of the last few years, but died while on tour of Australia in late-1885. Col. James H. McLaughlin had…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: October 1984
Image: Rasslin’ History I take the wrestling time machine back to October 1984 on today’s DragonKingKarl Show. Here’s a look at just a few things that happened: WWF continued to grow and invade territories Hulk Hogan was running a program against “Big” John Studd after Jesse Ventura’s career ended due to illness The AWA remained…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: My new Pioneer era book has arrived
This week marks the official launch of my new 700-page monster research project on the pioneer era of United States wrestling: the DragonKingKarl Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling. The book is available now in either print form or Kindle on Amazon. On this week’s DKK Show,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: More ‘From Milo to Londos’
Image: WWE On this episode of my 1000 Hours subseries on the Pioneer Era, I wanted to look at one of the oldest books to talk about that time called From Milo to Londos which gave us a lot of information and also some misinformation. If you’re here, buy my new DragonKingKarl Pioneer Era Pro…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Omega vs. Funk, MSG, July 1984 Observer issues
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we have a ton of classic pro wrestling discussion on a variety of topics. The latest match in my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) is here and the voters are split on a match between Kenny Omega and Terry Funk…but we have a winner! I also have more from…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Was Davy Crockett actually a pro wrestler?
Hour 49 of the 1000 Hours podcast subseries on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show is a packed one. The subseries is my detailed, heavily researched look at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, or pro wrestling before the time of Frank Gotch. On today’s episode, I answer a question about Davy Crockett whose obituary following…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Misawa vs. Lesnar GKT & the classic wrestling fan problem
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at the results of the latest match in the final eight of my GKT (the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) pitting Brock Lesnar against Mitsuharu Misawa. These two would have had an incredible match in their primes and I discuss that along with your…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Jim Londos headlines Yankee Stadium in 1931
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I continue with my history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden with a detour to Yankee Stadium in 1931 where Jim Londos teamed up with the William Randolph Hearst empire to — hopefully — draw one of the largest crowds in history up to that…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pioneer era legend The Terrible Turk
I first covered pioneer era wrestling special attraction Yusuf Ismael, aka The Terrible Turk, on an early episode of my 1000 Hours pioneer era-focused subseries here on the DragonKing Classic Wrestling Show, but the Terrible Turk deserves a follow up as requested by one of our listeners. Now I tell you the latest information I…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Why May 1984 was a huge month in wrestling
On a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I have a detailed look at the month of May 1984 in pro wrestling history. It was one of the most significant months ever: Kerry Von Erich wins the NWA World title from Ric Flair in the largest show in Texas history followed by Flair regaining the title…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The true story behind the 1870 Detroit International tournament
I have recently spent many hours digging through hundreds of pages of 1870 newspapers from Detroit, Chicago, Ontario, and beyond chronicling the real story of the biggest tournament in history of American pro wrestling in the pioneer era: the Detroit International tournament. On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I reveal what I found. The…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A return to 1980s Southeastern & Continental
I return to my roots on this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show by discussing 1980s Southeastern and Continental Wrestling. What made it so great? What are some of the myths about it? What did Ron Fuller get wrong recently on his podcast? Plus, the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues with discussion of Kurt Angle…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The pioneer era in Australia
The latest entry into my 1000 Hours series on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show looks at the pioneer era of wrestling in Australia of all places. Believe it or not, there was pro wrestling there in the 1800s, and one of America’s top stars actually died there. The incredible story of the death of Clarence…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Bray Wyatt documentary
Karl is back with a look at the new WWE Network Bray Wyatt documentary which dives into his career, characters, and family which include classic era wrestlers Mike Rotundo, Blackjack Mulligan, and Barry and Kendal Windham. This was a very good documentary that fills in a lot of gaps about the death of Wyatt. Also,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Legitimate wrestling Presidents
Pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) returns with the 1000 Hours podcast series which looks at pre-1900 pro wrestling. On this episode, a listener has requested a look at the facts versus mythology about United States Presidents who have legitimately wrestled. We have already previously covered Abraham Lincoln in episode one but here…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: MSG history, Bruno Sammartino
On 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: ‘Strangler’ & Sammartino
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at a great retro article from a 1972 wrestling magazine asking whether Ed “Strangler” Lewis was the greatest wrestler of all time. I then continue taking a look at Dave Meltzer’s biography of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The pioneer era in the Great Lakes region
The pioneer era (pre-1900) of pro wrestling flourished in the Great Lakes area of the United States. While initially the Northeast, and especially New York and Vermont were early hotspots, cities like Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and the entire Great Lakes region became very important in pro wrestling by 1870. The 1870 Detroit International tournament was…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: April 1984 in pro wrestling
WWE Today, wrestling historian Karl Stern returns with another in-depth look at a month in pro wrestling history. Karl looks back at April 1984 — and a lot was going on. The WWF was accelerating its national expansion by stealing the AWA’s TV spot on the West Coast, Jumbo Tsuruta is still the AWA World…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Sting vs. The Rock, Bruno Sammartino obituary
AEW On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we hit on several different topics and listener favorites. We take a look at the next match in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Sting vs. The Rock. We begin a massive biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The pre-Hackenschmidt era of Russian wrestling
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I continue my 1000 Hours research on the pioneer era of wrestling. A sponsor of the show requested some research on wrestling in Russia before George Hackenschmidt. Interestingly, wrestling in Russia came relatively late in the pioneer era and Hackenschmidt (seen above) became its biggest star. But,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Road Warriors, MSG history
This 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The strongmen of the pioneer era
Strongmen 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 prototypical strongmen and bodybuilders were also featured alongside and inside professional wrestling. This 1000 Hours episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: GKT continues, more MSG history
Welcome to a revamped edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, perhaps version 2.0 or a reboot or whatever you might like to call it. On this episode, I present the next match in my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT): Antonio Inoki vs. Steve Austin. The votes are in and we have a winner. I then…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Barney Smith is Dead
I 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The life & times of Blackjack Mulligan
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: March 1984
On a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present the 100th installment in my long-form history of pro wrestling series. This week, join me in looking back at March 1984 which had the fallout from the shocking death of David Von Erich in February, Ric Flair and Harley Race pulling off a secret NWA World…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Barney Smith mystery
On a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present hour 36 of 1000 Hours, my series all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. On this episode, we do a lot of research including some new tidbits about Col. James H. McLaughlin (seen above) which leads us back to our most enduring mystery: did McLaughlin…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: More on Charles, King of the Wrestlers
On this episode of my 1000 Hours focus on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, I go back even further to the pre-pioneer era just before the U.S. Civil War. This week, I uncover more about the first known self-promoted pro wrestling star: Charles, The King of Wrestling. If you missed last week’s initial look,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: History of wrestling at MSG
Pro 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The first American wrestling star
On this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the show 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 war? The answer is yes! Well, some at least.…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Bruiser Brody vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
AEW In my rotation of classic pro wrestling topics here on the DragonKingKarl Show, we are back to my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. In this round, we have two very different pro wrestlers from two different eras, but both are legends in Japan: Bruiser Brody vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi. The listeners have voted and we have a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: G.W. Flagg & John McMahon
On another DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I return to further discuss the pioneer era of pro wrestling in my 1000 Hours subseries which focuses on pro wrestling pre-1900 or before the era of Frank Gotch. This week, I look back at the career of two pioneers: G.W. Flagg and John McMahon. These were two men…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The life & times of Nick Bockwinkel
WWE On 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Greek George and the Champion of the South
My pioneer era of pro wrestling discussion continues with hour 32 of the 1000 Hours focus series on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Double Action Wrestling magazine review
Here’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”…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Of Bauer and bears
My 1000 Hours podcast series explores the pioneer era of professional wrestling, namely pro wrestling before 1900 or the era of Frank Gotch. Gotch didn’t appear out of a vacuum as a history of over fifty years of pro wrestling had already been sown in the United States and further back than that in Europe.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: February 1984 & the death of David Von Erich
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present the 99th installment of my long-form history. I am now up to February 1984 — a month that was 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The end of Madison Square Garden II
All good things must end and in this edition of the my history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden series, the second version of MSG meets its fate and pro wrestling almost does as well. The battle between Jack Curley and Tex Rickard fizzles to an anti-climactic end, but with Rickard still in control…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: From William Muldoon to Roman Reigns
On this hour of my 1000 Hours focus on 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A boxer & a wrestler walk into a bar
My latest look back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling takes a look at John McMahon, whom we have previously discussed — a man who apparently liked his drinks. According to newspapers at the time, one of the first boxer vs. wrestler matches may not have taken place as a betting event for spectators,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1984 & 1985
Celebrating the release of my new book, DragonKingKarl’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show looks back at these two massively important years in pro wrestling history. Some highlights: Hulk Hogan wins the WWF World title, the WWF national expansion begins in earnest including the takeover of the WTBS time slot, the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Meet the first pioneer era influencer
If 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 Fox, via his National Police…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The history of Dusty Rhodes, pt. 3
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present the conclusion of the near-book length Dusty Rhodes biography by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This is part of my “From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter” subseries where I look back at some of Meltzer’s biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. Part…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A must-read book for pioneer era fans
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I delve into my 1000 Hours series focusing on the pioneer era of pro wrestling This week, I take a look at a much-overlooked book on the pioneer era (and beyond) called Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America by Scott Beekman, a college educator…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The history of Dusty Rhodes, pt. 2
WWE On our rotation of classic pro wrestling themes we are back around to “From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter” — a show where we look back at some of Dave Meltzer’s biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. Today we continue a three-parter on Dave’s massive Dusty Rhodes obituary. It is basically…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Zbyszko brothers
1000 Hours is my sub-podcast series on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show about the pioneer era of pro wrestling: defined as before Frank Gotch and before 1900. This week’s show was a requested topic by Eric, the sponsor of this episode. He wanted to know about the Polish influence on wrestling. In the 1970s, especially,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The history of Dusty Rhodes, pt. 1
On the DragonKing Karl rotation of classic pro wrestling themes, we are back around to “From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter” where I look back at some of Dave Meltzer’s biographies and history pieces in historic Observer newsletters. Today, I begin a three-part series on the massive Dusty Rhodes obituary — basically a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pioneer era wrestling beyond NYC
On a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we look at pioneer era wrestling outside New York City thanks to a request from listener Andrew. I dug 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 both well and…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 2023 Wrestling Observer HOF discussion, pt. 2
AEW Welcome to the second installment of my annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion — one of my most popular shows of the year. Check out part one and then delve into this episodes where I continue to discuss nominees like Roman Reigns, the Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 2023 Wrestling Observer HOF discussion, pt. 1
Welcome to my annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion for 2023 — traditionally one of my most popular shows of the year. This year, it’s a two-part show, discussing the likes of Roman Reigns, the Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Daddy, Roy Welch, Bob Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, the Von Erichs,…
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DragonKing Dark: 1939’s Son of Frankenstein
On this week’s DragonKing Dark, I look back at 1939’s Universal monster movie Son of Frankenstein where the son of the original Dr. Frankenstein comes to claim his family estate. He then discovers the monster has been saved by Igor (played by Bela Lugosi of Dracula fame) and is being used as a weapon against…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Main Event Wrestling magazine review
As I wrap up work on my upcoming DragonKingKarl Stern’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book, I wanted to review a magazine from that timeframe on this week’s show. 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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The mystery of Barney Smith
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, it’s another episode in my 1000 Hours series. Hour 21 focuses on the mystery of Barney Smith. While his current status of being alive or dead isn’t a mystery (he lived 150 years ago), the question is whether Col. James H. McLaughlin (seen above) killed him. In the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: January 1984
WWE Today, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern begins looking back at the year 1984 in pro wrestling. January 1984 was a huge and historically important month as Hulk Hogan wins the WWF Heavyweight title from Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The AWA is beginning to get its talent raided by…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The history of the American Heavyweight title
This week’s DKK Classic Wrestling Show is a 1000 Hours edition focusing on pioneers of pro wrestling and taking a look back at one of the earliest and most important championships of the pioneer era: the American Heavyweight title. It was a time when it seemed like every wrestler billed themselves as “champion of America”…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Zbyszkos at MSG
On this week’s DragongKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I continue my chronological exploration into the history of pro wrestling at MSG in New York City. We continue into the 1920s and discuss the saga of Tex Rickard and how he had taken over the pro wrestling scene. However, he ran into legal trouble and it threatens…
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DragonKing Dark: The Alaska Triangle
On this week’s DragonKing Dark, I discuss the mysterious Alaska Triangle where supposedly nearly 20,000 have gone missing. There are also reports of UFOs and UAPs and even its own native Bigfoot-like creature — the Wendigo. Planes have vanished without a trace and even a high-level U.S. Congressman has gone missing. A TV series was…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Kenny Omega vs. Great Muta
WWE In our rotation of classic pro wrestling shows we are back around to the GKT: The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. We ask the question: If pro wrestling were real (not a shoot but the characters as presented on TV were real) who would win? This episode we have two wrestlers from two different generations who…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pioneer era wrestling in Africa
This week’s episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show was both requested and sponsored by Eric Darsie who asked if there is any evidence for pioneer era (pre-1900) pro wrestling in Africa. Africa is hard enough to get modern era pro wrestling news out of, so I didn’t expect to find much. However, there does…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: Verne Gagne
This week from When It Was Cool Wrestling, host Karl Stern visits the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to look at the life and career of AWA owner and multi-time World Champion Verne Gagne. Gagne was a contemporary of Lou Thesz and a major rival. He was one of the biggest stars on television…
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DragonKing Dark: How newspapers historically covered UFO sightings
If the headlines of today’s newspapers sudden screamed, “The United States in Possession of Alien Spacecraft,” the world would go crazy. The 24-hour news cycle would leap on the story until the next crisis came along or was invented. It would be, well, big news. Yet, it has already happened. Thanks to the archives of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Magazine from September 1992
Let’s have some fun on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show looking back at a retro pro wrestling magazine. These shows have proven very popular and this week, we are looking at WWF Magazine from September 1992 (31 years ago!) featuring Papa Shango on the cover. He is making life miserable for the Ultimate Warrior…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: Pioneer Era Minnesota wrestling
The 1000 Hours Podcast is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Pre-1900 pro wrestling. In this episode, sponsor Eric D. wanted to know about the pioneer era of wrestling in the state of Minnesota. While Minnesota would become a hotbed of wrestling from the 1940s through the 1980s with Verne Gagne’s AWA, Minnesota…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: December 1983 in pro wrestling
WWE On this edition of the Long-Form History of Pro Wrestling series, host Karl Stern wraps up 1983 by looking at December. Ric Flair has newly regained the NWA World Heavyweight title — but the big news is the end of the long reign of Bob Backlund as WWF Champion as the Iron Sheik famously…
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DragonKing Dark: Who is the Harvard alien hunter?
For several years now, you may have been periodically reading headlines like “Harvard Professor Believes Object Traveling Through Solar System is Alien Spacecraft” or recently, “Harvard Professor Discovers Remains of Alien Technology on Earth.” So who is this Harvard professor? He is Avi Loeb and he is, in fact, a Harvard professor. But what’s his…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: John Pesek & the history of wrestling at MSG
In this 14th installment of my history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden series, I look at one of the toughest and scariest shooters ever in wrestling history who you seldom hear about but should: John Pesek. I discuss how a pioneer era wrestler shockingly and bafflingly helped change the rules of wrestling in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The first Japanese pro wrestler
Matsuda Sorakichi was the first Japanese star in America. He faced all the top names of his era including Evan “Strangler” Lewis, Duncan C. Ross, Edwin Bibby, Tom Cannon, and others. Though on the small side, he gave the top wrestlers of the day all they could handle and was highly respected by the best…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Brock Lesnar vs. Andre the Giant
One of the biggest possible matches — both literally and figuratively — takes place on this installment of the DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. What would happen if prime Brock Lesnar wrestled prime Andre the Giant? Two of the most amazing special attraction wrestlers meet in this round with the winner advancing to meet Mitsuharu Misawa.…
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DragonKing Dark: Corruption of the peer review process
We need to be able to trust the gatekeepers of science. Science and scientific ideals are at the center of modern political warfare and science should be held to the course of political winds. We need science to be firm and accountable. But what happens when the very process that oversees acceptable science becomes corrupted? …
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Jack Carkeek goes to prison
It’s time for another entry into the 1000 Hours series which looks at the pioneer era which describes wrestling prior to the Frank Gotch era around the year 1900. This series looks to uncover the lost origins and evolution of modern entertainment style of pro wrestling. Jack Carkeek was a well-known top level wrestler during…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Adrian Adonis biography review
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we’re heading to the library to talk the fantastic new “Flowers for Adrian: The Life and Death of Adrian Adonis” book by John Ellul looking at the life and career of the pro wrestling star. This book is tremendously well-written and researched and is probably my favorite pro…
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DragonKing Dark: The Devil in the details
DragonKing Dark continues to explore the greatest mysteries of the universe (and, perhaps, beyond). This week, I take a look at Satan or, the Devil. It’s almost irrelevant if you believe in the Devil or not because billions of others do and those people make up large portions of the government you are under, the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pioneer era wrestler John McMahon
On this week’s DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show, I introduce my 1000 Hours series which looks at the pioneer era which describes wrestling prior to the Frank Gotch era around the year 1900. This series looks to uncover the lost origins and evolution of modern entertainment style of pro wrestling. Famous names among the pioneer era…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Inside Wrestling from April 1988
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, let’s take a look back at a retro Apter mag: the April 1988 issue of Inside Wrestling. This issue features a look at the storyline run-up to the Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant feud where Ted DiBiase tried to buy the WWF World title from Andre. Also…
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DragonKing Dark: The mysteries of the origin of life
How did life begin? The prevailing scientific consensus presents us with a primordial soup a few billion years ago which coalesced into life. But wait: the science is not as settled as you might believe. There are problems with that model and some leading scientists are challenging it. What even is “life?” Even that definition…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: November 1983
On this installment of my DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show longform history of pro wrestling series, I am up to November 1983 which is hugely important because we have NWA Starrcade — a show that was highlighted by Ric Flair regaining the NWA World title from Harley Race in a steel cage match. That show wasn’t…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The original Trust Busters
A very interesting era greets us on this edition of my history of wrestling at MSG series on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. We are moving away from Earl Caddock into the Ed “Strangler” Lewis era and there are those out there who are not pleased with the wrestling trust. Marin Plestina is giving the…
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DragonKing Dark: UFOs everywhere
You can’t turn on the news these days without being inundated by news about UFOs (or UAPs as they are now branded). The military is seeing them, Harvard professors are seeing them, the public is seeing them — it’s madness! Had this happened in the 1950s, you would have been branded a lunatic. Now, however,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The origin story of The Midnight Express
It’s time for another DragonKingKarl mega-show as my “Saga of” series takes a look back at a tag team many consider the greatest of all-time: the Midnight Express. But if you think the Midnights are only Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton or Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane, or if you think Jim Cornette has always…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Hulk Hogan vs. Abdullah the Butcher ’82
It was a dream match of the 1980s: the monster squashin’ “Incredible” Hulk Hogan vs. Abdullah the Butcher. While Abdullah never ended up as a Hogan opponent in WWE, the two did face off in their long careers but just three times during the course of one week in 1982. This is that story. (sub…
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DragonKing Dark: Going darker
The newly revamped DragonKing Dark begins our new podcast journey looking at the mysteries of the universe, the unexplained and the unknown. And we aren’t just going to take your word for it. We are going to examine these mysteries and ask ourselves what the evidence says. Are we being misled and what inputs are…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The many tales of Manny Fernandez
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present the saga of Manny Fernandez — an old school wrestler who has told a lot of tales. Fernandez has the reputation of being, how can I put this, a perpetual liar. I am going to examine three of the most-often repeated tales: He was a Navy…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at Lord Humongous
On this week’s DragonKing Karl Show, I present my biggest Saga of Wrestling special — clocking in at over three hours – covering the career of the wrestling character Lord Humongous in every detail. Based on the character by the same name from Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, the monster brute terrorized Memphis, SECW, Continental,…
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DragonKing Dark: The scandals of WWE’s Vince McMahon
On this week’s DragonKing Dark, my run through the 100 darkest moments in pop culture series concludes with a trio of scandals involving WWE head honcho Vince K. McMahon. I look at the alleged assault of Rita Chatterton, the 1990s steroids trial, and last summer’s exposed hush money scandal which temporarily saw him removed from…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Continental Wrestling’s self-destruction
You may have heard rave reviews about the time Eddie Gilbert and Paul Heyman came to book the newly-purchased Continental Wrestling Federation. David Woods bought the company from Ron Fuller and turned over the creative reigns to the then-young, hot creative minds Gilbert and Heyman. The newsletters gushed over the creative direction, but the reality…
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DragonKing Dark: The strange story of Fishbone
Fishbone quickly became one of the most influential and inventive bands in all of popular music during the 1980s. However, the bizarre story of band member Kendall Jones threatened to derail this eclectic group. Not only did he allegedly join a cult but another band member, determined to save him from himself, launched a plot…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Ric Flair jumps to WWF with NWA title belt
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I cover the entire story of Ric Flair quitting WCW to jump to WWF in 1991 while still WCW/NWA World Champion. A few questions that are answered: Karl discusses what the NWA was during that time. Could Flair have jumped as still NWA World Champion and not WCW…
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DragonKing Dark: The trials of Slick Rick
Have you ever seen a show with fellas on the mic with one minute rhymes that don’t come out right? Well, pioneering rapper Slick Rick had a lot of things that didn’t come out right. The biggest of which was the U.S. government who hated him and sought him out at every turn. The story…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of David Von Erich
The story of David Von Erich is a powerful one. He was young and destined for greatness, perhaps even the heir apparent to the NWA World title. But then an ill-fated trip to Japan for a tour with All-Japan Pro Wrestling ended his story. On this week’s DragonKingKarl, I will examine his last few months…
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DragonKing Dark: The mysterious death of Thomas Ince
Thomas Ince was the father of the Western movie genre. During his career in the pioneer days of filmmaking, he produced around 800 movies and also was the first person to build their own movie studio. So how did he end up on my ongoing list of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Hulk Hogan & the AWA World title
Join me on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show as I look in-depth at the history of Hulk Hogan before he became WWF World Champion for the first time in 1984. However, did he hold a World championship before that while he was in the AWA? Well, it’s complicated. What is the real story? Did…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The last great Memphis angle
Straight out of 1986-87, this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show takes a deep dive into the Jerry Lawler vs. Austin Idol steel cage hair vs. hair match which also included Tommy Rich and Paul Heyman. I had so much fun putting this show together and I encourage not only fans of classic wrestling to listen…
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DragonKing Dark: The tragic death of Chadwick Boseman
Continuing my 100 darkest moments in pop culture history on DragonKing Dark, we look at the shocking and tragic death of actor Chadwick Boseman. He rose to worldwide prominence as Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe movies, including his own critically acclaimed solo film. The world was shocked when, unknown to virtually everyone, he…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: September 1983
Karl Stern talks Harley Race, Ric Flair & Sgt. Slaughter. My deep dive into pro wrestling longform history continues. We stop into September 1983 and the time is getting near for Hulk Hogan to jump to the WWF. Sgt. Slaughter (seen above) continues to rise there as does the Masked Superstar as the era of change…
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DragonKing Dark: The night Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear
This week’s show focuses on an infamous sports moment. My 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series continues on DragonKing Dark. In 1997, one of the most bizarre moments in boxing, sports and pop culture took place when during the second Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield fight, Tyson viciously bit the ear of Holyfield…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Joe Stecher at MSG
The history of wrestling at Madison Square Garden series continues. A very famous era for pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden is the focus of this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. The Nineteens would see the death of the unbeaten World heavyweight champion Frank Gotch and the split of the title into various factions. Among…
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DragonKing Dark: The Mel Gibson rants
Karl Stern continues with the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history. Look, ok: Mel Gibson is a very good, and famous, actor. I like numerous Gibson movies: Mad Max, Lethal Weapon, Braveheart, Passion of the Christ, and on and on it goes. But there have been enough maniacal outbursts for anyone to wonder what exactly…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Kurt Angle vs. Mankind
Karl Stern’s Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues. Round two of my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament nears its conclusion — a fictional tournament which asks the question that if pro wrestling were real (not a shoot but the characters as presented on TV were real), who would win? In this match-up, we have Kurt Angle vs. Mankind. You…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of Whitney Houston
Karl Stern’s run through the 100 darkest pop culture moments continues. Whitney Houston was one of the most recognized and successful voices in any era of music with chart topping hit after chart topping hit. However, a toxic relationship and a reality show with hip hop artist Bobby Brown brought attention to darker problems lurking…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: ‘Grunt’ movie review
Karl Stern reviews a terrible wrestling movie from 1985. This week, I am taking a break from our regular rotation of classic wrestling podcasts to take a look back at one of the worst pro wrestling movies ever: 1985’s Grunt: The Pro Wrestling Movie. This abomination of a film is not only bad by movie…
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DragonKing Dark: The crimes of Jared Fogle
Karl Stern’s Dark 100 series continues. Note: Listener discretion advised You probably didn’t expect the face of evil to look like a geek eating a footlong did you? Yet, here he is: Jared Fogle. Why this goof became pop culture famous is beyond me, I mean, sure, literally for eating sandwiches and losing weight, but…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of Abismo Negro
Karl Stern looks at the strange circumstances around the 2009 death. In 2009, a strange series of events led to the death of luchador Abismo Negro. Negro, who had also wrestled for both WWE and TNA, was battling drug issues at the time and in the middle of the night, he had a mental breakdown…
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DragonKing Dark: The Robert Blake murder trial
The Dark 100 continues. Actor Robert Blake was best known for his role in the 1970s TV crime drama Baretta. His star faded and in 2002, he became pop culture famous yet again but for an undesired reason — he was accused and arrested for shooting his wife to death in the parking lot of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Magazine from December 1993
Get the 1993 scoops on Razor Ramon, Ludvig Borga & Lex Luger. “Promotional consideration paid for by the following….” On our rotation of classic pro wrestling shows, this week takes a look back at the December 1993 issue of WWF Magazine. As you can see, the cover story was about Razor Ramon and how long…
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DragonKing Dark: The Lance Armstrong scandal
Karl Stern’s run through dark moments in pop culture history continues. Lance Armstrong is far and away the most famous cyclist that has ever lived, dominating the Tour de France and many other world class cycling events. He was pop culture famous in the United States and beyond. However, that much domination, especially in sports,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: August 1983
Karl Stern’s longform history of pro wrestling continues. On the latest DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, my longform series on the history of pro wrestling is up next in the rotation. We are up to August 1983 where we discuss Ken Patera in Memphis, Harley Race continuing his record-breaking reign as NWA World Champion, the annual…
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DragonKing Dark: The strange funeral of Graham Parsons
Karl Stern’s deep dive into pop culture infamy continues. My journey through the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series continues on this week’s DragonKing Dark and this week, our show has a twist. Yes, it was a tragedy that 26-year-old singer/songwriter Graham Parsons died. Like many music deaths, it was likely caused by…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Zbyszko brothers at MSG
Karl Stern’s history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden continues. I continue my series looking at the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City. At this point, we are up to the 1910s where both Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko are having a run. Both were world champion wrestlers in…
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DragonKing Dark: The Chris Brown scandals
Karl Stern discusses the controversial music artist. My look through the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history begins winding down and this week, we take a look at the domestic violence scandals of music artists Chris Brown. Brown has been hugely successful, award-winning and one of the most influential and important artists of the…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Dory Funk Jr. vs. Sting
Karl Stern’s fantasy pro wrestling tournament continues. AEW In my rotation of classic pro wrestling shows, this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show comes back around to my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. On this episode, we have a battle of two past NWA World Champions in Dory Funk Jr. vs. Sting. It’s a battle of two different…
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DragonKing Dark: The dark side of World Class Championship Wrestling
Karl Stern looks at the dark days of WCCW. My 100 darkest moments in pop culture history rolls on as this week, we return to the world of professional wrestling with, arguably, the first place many people think of when it comes to a lot of young deaths in wrestling: the Dallas, Texas-based World Class…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: What’s so special about 1983?
Karl Stern looks at one of the most important years in pro wrestling history. 1983 was one of the most important years in the history of professional wrestling. Here’s some examples: The building of the WWF national expansion The fall of the territories The eventual birth of the major yearly event Hulkamania The fall of…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of boxer Tommy Morrison
Karl Stern’s Dark 100 looks at the late Rocky V star & real-life boxer. On this week’s DragonKing Dark, I continue on my path through the 100 darkest moments in pop culture series. Tommy “The Duke” Morrison was a rising boxing star in the late 1980s into the early 1990s who famously held a version…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of Andrew ‘Test’ Martin
Karl Stern dives into the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we delve into the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter as Dave Meltzer wrote about the passing of WWE star Andrew “Test” Martin at just 33 years old. Starting in 1998 and for nearly a decade afterward,…
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DragonKing Dark: The Johnny Lewis ‘Sons of Anarchy’ tragedy
Karl Stern examines the sad end for the young actor. This week’s dip into the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history focuses on an actor from one of the more popular cable shows in recent memory. Johnny Lewis played the fan-favorite character Half Sack on the popular Sons of Anarchy TV series, portraying the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Wrestling Superstars from fall 1983
Karl Stern returns with another classic magazine review. Just in time for the release of my new book, DragonKingKarl’s 1983 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, let’s review the Fall 1983 issue of the Apter magazines’ quarterly special: Wrestling Superstars. This issue focused heavily on Georgia Championship Wrestling who was going through some things in 1983. Yes, the “Last Battle of…
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DragonKing Dark: The Michael Richards/Kramer comedy club scandal
Karl Stern’s 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series rolls on. On this week’s DragonKing Dark, my series on the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history continues with a very popular individual in pop culture. Michael Richards played the quirky character Cosmo Kramer on the megahit TV sitcom Seinfeld. Kramer was a fan…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: July 1983 in pro wrestling
Go back in time with Karl Stern to the summer of ’83 in the world of wrestling. My longform history of pro wrestling series picks back up with a detailed look at every major event and news story from July 1983 including a shadow break-off NWA group threatening to form with Southwestern Wrestling, ICW, Georgia…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of Edgar Allan Poe
Karl Stern’s look through the darkest moments in pop culture history continues. My ongoing spin through the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series continues and this week, it is dark in many ways. The master of dark literature, Edgar Allan Poe, died under the most mysterious of circumstances. The famous writer was found…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: MSG’s first Italian pro wrestling superstar
Karl Stern’s deep dive through pro wrestling history at MSG continues. We continue our roll through the early 1900s in my deep dive look into the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden. From 1910 to around 1912, MSG found its first Italian superstar which drew heavily from the large Italian fanbase in the…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: The Rock vs. AJ Styles
Karl Stern’s fictional tournament rolls on. NBC The DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show returns with the latest installment in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament where we discuss The Rock vs. AJ Styles in a battle of two surefire Hall of Famers. Dwayne Johnson may be the far more famous of the two, but Styles is an…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of Ernest Hemingway
Karl Stern’s darkest moments in pop culture series continues. Ernest Hemingway literally changed the entire genre of popular literature. Preceded by the flowery and verbose language of the previous era, Hemingway wrote in a more straightforward style, often holding back and allowing silence of action to speak loudly in a story. His novels are still…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The battle between Jim Wilson & Jim Barnett
Karl Stern delves into the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for an interesting legal feud. This “From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter” edition of the DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show is less of an obituary for Jim Wilson, who was a rather minor footnote in wrestling history, and more of an extensive…
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DragonKing Dark: The story behind Eric Clapton’s ‘Tears in Heaven’
Karl Stern’s run through the darkest moments in pop culture history continues. In this week’s installment of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history, I take a look back at the March 20, 1991, death of classic rock legend Eric Clapton’s four-year-old son, who died from falling out a high-rise window in New York.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: PWI from January 1984
Karl Stern looks through the pages of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. On this week’s DragonKing Karl, I return with another retro wrestling magazine review, this time looking at the January 1984 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated — graced by cover boy Rick Martel and whether the AWA was too tough for him. Also inside the magazine:…
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DragonKing Dark: The Payne Stewart plane crash
Karl Stern’s path down the darkest 100 moments in pop culture continues. In 1999, television viewers tuned into the story about an out of control jet plane flying across the country from Florida toward Canada. The unresponsive plane was tailed by military jets across the country, failing to make contact with any ground control. Military pilots…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The 201 greatest pro wrestlers of all time
Karl Stern discusses his recently-released list. On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I discuss my list of the 201 greatest pro wrestlers of all-time, so the debates can begin and spoilers can roam free. On this episode, I discuss the top names on the list and then dive deeper to talk about the names that…
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DragonKing Dark: The Auburn University tree killings
Karl Stern’s Dark 100 rolls into the new year. The latest edition of my 100 darkest moments in pop culture history takes a look at a football rivalry gone too far in my home state of Alabama: the Auburn University tree killings. Why does the killing of a set of trees in downtown Auburn rank…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform look at June 1983
Hulk Hogan becomes the first IWGP tournament champion. @HulkHogan On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a longform look at the world of pro wrestling in June 1983 — an epic and historic month. Among the things I talk about: Southwest Wrestling is doing weird things Hulk Hogan wins the inaugural IWGP tournament…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1908-1911 Madison Square Garden history
The first true World heavyweight champion is crowned. This episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show continues my long series detailing pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City with this week’s focus on 1908 through 1911. In this episode, George Hackenschmidt defeats the American champion Tom Jenkins to become recognized as…
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DragonKing Dark: The 7th Heaven controversy
Karl Stern’s Dark 100 lands on the strange stories around an actor on the popular TV show. I continue with my Dark 100 series on the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history with a stop at 7th Heaven — a sappy, moralistic drama series which ran for ten seasons (!) on the CW Network.…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Steve Austin vs. Eddie Guerrero
Karl Stern’s Greatest Kayfabe Tournament series continues. My Greatest Kayfabe Tournament series (aka the GKT) continues with a round two match-up featuring “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Eddie Guerrero. You, the listener, voted for the winner and we will discuss it. Plus, this match actually took place six times in real life and I’ll take…
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DragonKing Dark: The 2000 Paralympic Games basketball cheating scandal
Karl Stern’s run through the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history continues. Inarguably, one of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history took place at the 2000 Paralympic Games where, brace yourself, Spain competed in basketball with players representing themselves as intellectually disabled who weren’t. Yes, you read that right. They also won the gold…
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DragonKing Dark: The 2000 Paralympic Games basketball cheating scandal
Inarguably, one of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history took place at the 2000 Paralympic Games where, brace yourself, Spain competed in basketball with players representing themselves as intellectually disabled who weren’t. Yes, you read that right. They also won the gold medal and outed themselves once it hit the newspapers. The International Paralympic Committee…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The life and career of Killer Kowalski
On this week’s DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show, we return to the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to take a look back at Dave Meltzer’s very detailed career and life history of the man who trained Triple H (Paul Levesque) and held multiple major titles during his career: Walter “Killer” Kowalski. A big drawing…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at January 1990’s Inside Wrestling
It’s time for another classic pro wrestling magazine review as this time, we revisit the fall of 1989 with the January 1990 edition of Inside Wrestling — part of the “Apter mag” family. Featuring Sting and Ric Flair on the cover, this issue also features a breakdown of then-current champions, ratings, stories on the Rock…
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DragonKing Dark: The sports trading card bust of the 1990s
Continuing my 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series, I examine the sports trading card bust of the 1990s. Generations of sports fans, especially with baseball, collected trading cards. In the past, these cards often also increased in value, especially for rookies who eventually became big stars. Enter the speculators who were then fed…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look back at May 1983
Karl Sten’s longform history of pro wrestling series continues with a news-packed episode. Matt Borne is busted in Ohio for sexual assault of a minor — and that isn’t even the biggest news. Nancy Argentino is killed, allegedly by Jimmy Snuka, in a hotel room the same night that Eddie Gilbert breaks his neck in…
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DragonKing Dark: The 1972 Olympics
My 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series on DragonKing Dark continues as I examine the terrorist assault and murder of eleven Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany. Germany, wanting to put the stain of the past behind them, had strongly pushed the “smiling Olympics” and despite warnings, failed to…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The history of wrestling at Madison Square Garden continues
One of the biggest matches so far in my series looking at pro wrestling history at Madison Square Garden takes place this episode as Tom Jenkins faces Frank Gotch. Did you know the legendary Gotch never won a match at MSG? I talk about that and more plus yet another giant Turk shows up squashing…
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DragonKing Dark: The Lindbergh baby kidnapping & murder
On March 1, 1932, one of most sensational crimes ever to grip America occurred: the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and murder. The son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, aged 20 months, disappeared from his crib and was, apparently, held for ransom, which was paid. However, just over two months later, the child’s body was discovered in…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Antonio Inoki vs. Kazuchika Okada
The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues as we take a look at the histories of two of the greatest Japanese pro wrestlers ever: Antonio Inoki and Kazuchika Okada. Two different generations and two different styles. Inoki, recently departed, was one of the greatest trinity of wrestlers ever in Japan. At 35 years old, Okada is already…
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DragonKing Dark: The tragic death of pro baseball player Ray Chapman
The only Major League Baseball player to be killed during a game was Ray Chapman and it happened in 1920. The story is tragic, even beyond what was likely an accident. “Likely” because, well, the player who threw the pitch had a reputation for hitting batters, on purpose. And after hitting Chapman with the fatal…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WON Hall of Fame ballot discussion show, pt. 3
Join me on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show for my final look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot for 2022. In this finale, I discuss the Other Countries candidates, the non-wrestler list, and talk about all the new tag teams on the ballot including the Robert Gibson paradox. Be sure to…
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DragonKing Dark: The 2022 Halloween special
It’s time for the 2022 DragonKing Dark Halloween special, hosted by Dirty Dawg Darsie. On this 90-minute episode, the Dawg is joined by Kid Zombie & The Desert Rat of When It Was Cool, and Joe Drilling & Eric Allen of On The Stick to talk all things spooky! Wrestling Halloween stories, UFO encounters, a Roanoke Dogman encounter…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WON Hall of Fame ballot discussion show, pt. 2
I continue with part two of my popular annual look at this year’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot. I break down the ballot and discuss my thoughts on each candidate. This year, there are a few rule changes (discussed in part one) and the addition of several tag teams. This episode, we continue…
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DragonKing Dark: 1988’s Beetlejuice
It’s the ghost with the most! This week on DragonKing Dark, we continue our month-long celebration of Halloween as Tonya and I take a look back at the 1988 horror comedy Beetlejuice. An all-star cast battles with the afterlife in this late 1980s classic, fun for everyone on your Halloween playlist that has actually aged…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WON Hall of Fame ballot discussion show, pt. 1
Our most popular shows of the year are back: the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion. On this opener, I talk about this year’s rule changes, the many new tag teams, discussion about Sgt. Slaughter and many others. Part one of three has arrived.
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DragonKing Dark: 1982’s Poltergeist
We continue celebrating Halloween all month long and this week, myself and Tonya from WhenItWasCool.com discuss the classic 1982 horror movie Poltergeist. Into the pop culture lexicon entered the eerie phrase: “They’re here!” And beyond the storyline itself, the movie was followed by the tragic death of its young star. Poltergeist gave birth to multiple…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Frankenstein in pro wrestling
This week on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show we talk about the Frankenstein Monster in pro wrestling! Yes, the creature has popped up a few times in wrestling, most famously in Los Angeles and Memphis. We tell you all about that today — and we talk about the shoot fight Frankenstein had with Andre…
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DragonKing Dark: Reviewing the Jeffrey Dahmer Netflix show ‘Monster’
On this week’s DragonKing Dark, we take a look at a real-life monster. A new and controversial Netflix series called Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is currently one of the most popular streaming series of the year. Myself and Tonya from When It Was Cool have watched it and this week’s show is our review.…
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DRAGONKINGKARL, DRAGONKINGKARL CLASSIC WRESTLING SHOW, KARL STERN
We venture into the night on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. There have been vampires in pro wrestling in the past: Gangrel and The Brood, Kevin Thorn (Mordecai), Vampiro, Vince McMahon (har, har, har), but has the head vampire himself, Dracula, ever appeared as a character in the squared circle? He has been elusive,…
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DragonKing Dark: 1984’s ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’
I interrupt our 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series for the month of October as we are celebrating Halloween all month long. For this kickoff, I am joined by my wife, Tonya, from When It Was Cool to discuss one of the most iconic horror movies ever: 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at May 1993’s WWF Magazine
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at another classic era pro wrestling magazine: WWF Magazine from May 1993 featuring Hulk Hogan on the cover. This issue was put together shortly before WrestleMania 9 and came out shortly after, so they spend a lot of time skirting around the show. There…
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DragonKing Dark: The Fatty Arbuckle scandal
Who was Fatty Arbuckle? Besides having a hilarious name, he was the center of the first big Hollywood scandal. Yes, the sad tale of Arbuckle is a cautionary tale for the movie industry still to this very day. He was a silent movie era star until his career was destroyed by an allegation that he…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look back at April 1983
On this week’s DragonKingKarl, I continue my look at the history of pro wrestling by taking a look at every major event that happened in April 1983. It appeared like Hulk Hogan won the AWA World title from Nick Bockwinkel….but not so fast. Bockwinkel also battled Jerry Lawler all month. Ric Flair continued to defend…
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DragonKing Dark: The Jackie Coogan Law
You know your life has taken a bad turn if the government has to name a law after you. That’s exactly what it was for child actor Jackie Coogan, who, after gaining huge success in various Charlie Chaplin films, went on to even greater notoriety as Uncle Fester from The Addams Family. So, what is…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The continued history of wrestling at MSG
We close out the 1800s in my continued look at pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden by looking at the only pro wrestling show held there in 1898 before it resumed in 1900. Ernest Rober has returned and we find out that he is the hand-picked champion for William Muldoon. We also discover clues as…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Buddy Rogers vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
The next match in the DragonKingKarl GKT, aka the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament, is here! I discuss the lives and careers of the original “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers and New Japan legend Hiroshi Tanahashi. Both men were among the best wrestlers and most charismatic stars of their eras. It’s the figure four leg grapevine vs. the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Remembering Gary Albright
Gary Albright was a big, burly, legitimate amateur wrestler from Nebraska. He got his start working for Stu Hart out of the Stampede promotion and was married into the famous Anoa’i family of wrestlers. With those credentials, Albright naturally found success in Japan, especially with the early shoot/semi-shoot leagues and later with All-Japan. Unfortunately, Albright…
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DragonKing Dark: The Little Rascals/Our Gang curse
I continue our series of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history by taking a look at the supposed curse of The Little Rascals/Our Gang group of actors. Did many of them meet an untimely demise? We will discuss. One thing is certain, however: Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer’s story does not end well. On this…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Bill Dundee biography
On today’s show, Karl Stern is here to discuss the career of Memphis pro wrestling legend “Superstar” Bill Dundee. Was Dundee really from Scotland? Did he really join the circus and movie to Australia and become a pro wrestler? All of these questions and more are answered in this look at a man who did…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Inside Wrestling December 1987 magazine review
I am back with another classic pro wrestling magazine review. On this episode, I take a look at a 1987 Weston family (Apter mag) magazine Inside Wrestling, which is among my favorites because of the extensive ratings and the Roll Call of Champions. Plus, there are stories on Lex Luger, Dusty Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, Randy…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of INXS’ Michael Hutchence
My ongoing look at the 100 darkest moments in pop culture continues. Michael Hutchence of INXS was found dead in his hotel room in 1997 and you may think you know the reason why. But did you know that most of what you think you know about his death is probably wrong and taken out…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A long-form look at March 1983
I am back with another long-form look at a specific month in pro wrestling, highlighted by Ric Flair circling the globe in a single day. In this look at March 1983, I use notes from the early Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus tons of research by many wrestling historians via When It Was Cool’s Ultimate History…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of George Michael
We continue our series of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history by taking a look at the death of one of the greatest vocalist of the 1980s-2000s, George Michael. Starting his career with the duo Wham!, Michael rose to even greater success as a solo pop star during the late 1980s into…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of Prince
I continue the DragonKingDark look at 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history with the death of pop music legend, Prince. He died just over six years ago of a fentanyl overdose. Since then, fentanyl has been a scourge in American society, responsible for numerous overdose deaths. He was one of the most…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at MSG continues
My series on the history of pro wrestling in Madison Square Garden picks up in the new building in New York City: Madison Square Garden II. William Muldoon is promoting suspicious boxing, suspicious wrestling, and mostly himself. Then, we get the arrival of possibly the most instantly over pro wrestler in history. You think Goldberg…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of Chris Cornell
The series continues: 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history, as we follow up on the story about Chester Bennington with the death of Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the Dog frontman Chris Cornell. The stories have a lot of similarities. Both battled depression, both were of the same era and musical genre.…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Lou Thesz vs. Bruiser Brody
The next match in the ongoing Greatest Kayfabe Tournament has been voted on by you, the listener. In this episode, we look at one of the greatest wrestlers in history in Lou Thesz and one of the greatest brawlers and wildmen in history in Bruiser Brody. The two have some history together, but Thesz was…
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DragonKing Dark: Death of Chester Bennington
Continuing our 100 darkest moments in pop culture series we take a look at the tragic death of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington. Bennington was one of a series of high profile musicians who died very young after a life of battling mental illness and addiction. The tragic story of Chester Bennington touched many in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Gorilla Monsoon WON obituary
My rotation of classic pro wrestling history topics continues on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. On a “From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter” edition, we look back at Dave Meltzer’s biography on the death of Gorilla Monsoon which subscribers can read here. Not only was Monsoon a notable commentator during the Hulkamania era…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of Naomi Judd
We continue our series of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history by looking at the recent death of country music star Naomi Judd. Judd was 76 years old and all of The Judds’ hit songs were behind them, so in terms of affecting pop culture, one might argue that this one doesn’t…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro Wrestling Illustrated from January 1983
In my rotation of retro pro wrestling podcasts on the DragonKingKarl Wrestling Show, I am adding old magazine reviews. The newsstand pro wrestling magazines were a staple of wrestling from the 1950s through the 1990s and especially peaked in the 1970-80s. Before the Internet and before newsletters were so widely distributed, the wrestling magazines are…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of John Denver
In my continuing series on the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history, I look back at the 1997 death of folk and country music star John Denver who was killed in an experimental aircraft crash at the age of 53. While Denver’s career as a hit maker was probably over, he was still a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Yeti biography
I bet you didn’t expect this. Yes, Karl Stern vs. The Yeti. I saw the debut of The Yeti in WCW and am also a fan of giant tall wrestlers. I may be the only one, but this gimmick was something that straight out of Memphis wrestling, only it was on national TV. Ron Reis…
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DragonKing Dark: Warner Bros. destroys DC Comics
I continue my series of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history and this week, I look at the destruction wrought by Warner Bros. against the iconic characters of DC Comics. Characters who have been around since the 1930s have been rendered generationally irrelevant by a terrible connected universe of movies, bad castings,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Ultimo Dragon biography
This week’s biography lands on one of my favorite wrestlers: Ultimo Dragon. I was already a big fan of his before he showed up on WCW television as a new international junior heavyweight. The photo of him as the J-Crown champion survives in pop culture as a meme of achievement. Dragon has had standout matches…
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DragonKing Dark: Badfinger
We continue our series of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history with a band that started off with a string of hit songs, signed to The Beatles’ record label, with songs written by The Beatles with many people believing they might BE the new Beatles. But a rash of “whatever could go wrong…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at Maple Leaf Gardens
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look back at the history of pro wrestling at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. Before the Tunneys, the Queensbury Athletic Club set the stage for one of the most famous pro wrestling venues in the world. This is their story.
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DragonKing Dark: Honey Boo Boo
We continue our series of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history and this week, I am your father who is very disappointed in you. No, this week nobody died. No tragedy has befallen a cast member (aside from a few arrests) but I discuss the general state of a show which was…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: One Man Gang/Akeem biography
The following is a free show. Just click below to listen. On a new biography episode of the DragonKing Classic Wrestling Show, I look back at the territorial era monster One Man Gang who later had his gimmick changed to the regrettable Akeem in WWF. Starting out with the outlaw promotions and then Angelo Poffo’s…
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DragonKing Dark: The OJ Simpson case & trial
Where were you when JFK was assassinated or when Elvis died or when a man landed on the moon? How about when the OJ Simpson verdict came down? The NFL football star and actor was accused of murdering two people, including his ex-wife. This case has been discussed a million times (or more), but here…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Earthquake/John Tenta biography
This is a free show. Just click below to listen. John Tenta (aka WWF’s Earthquake, WCW’s Avalanche and Shark) wrestled at LSU and then became a sumo competitor where he was a standout Westerner. But, he soon became disgruntled and switched to pro wrestling, first in Japan and then in the U.S., becoming a star…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: February 1983 in pro wrestling
The longform history of wrestling podcast series from DragonKingKarl continues as we take a detailed look back at February 1983 in pro wrestling. Ric Flair travels around the world (literally) defending the NWA World title. The Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes) wins, then has to give back the NWA World title in Florida. Several AWA results…
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DragonKing Dark: The coverage of the JonBenet Ramsey murder
Continuing our look at 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history, I continue to examine the rise in popularity of true crime documentary/TV channels/podcasts. On this DragonKing Dark, I look back at the murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey. We aren’t going to dive into the details of the crime beyond the basics because…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at MSG from 1880-1883
As part of my series looking at the history of pro wrestling at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” I conclude with all the wrestling events held at the first Madison Square Garden (Gilmour’s Garden) which featured the biggest act of the time in William Muldoon. It’s so amazing looking back on the New York wrestling…
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DragonKing Dark: Adam Walsh & the birth of true crime content, pt. 1
Continuing our 100 darkest moments in pop culture history, we begin a three-episode run of tragic events that gave rise to the true-crime genre of documentaries, podcasts, and TV channels. The murder of Adam Walsh was a tragedy beyond comprehension. Yet, born out of that horrible event many incredibly good things came including the Center…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Bret Hart vs. Giant Baba
The next match in the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) takes place and you the listeners have voted. Who will win when multi-time WWF Champion Bret Hart faces All Japan legend Giant Baba? Plus, a detailed look at the career and legacy of Bret Hart in Japan.
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DragonKing Dark: The Harvey Weinstein scandal
My ongoing series examining 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history continues with a look at the movie scandal that spawned the #MeToo movement and the many crimes of producer Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein was a powerful movie producer in Hollywood who is accused of numerous heinous sexual assaults against a large number of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Owen Hart WON obituary
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we take a look at Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter obituary for Owen Hart the week he was killed in a tragic fall in Kansas City, MO during the live WWE Over The Edge pay-per-view. Hart’s death still stands as one of the most tragic moments in the history of…
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DragonKing Dark: The Bill Cosby scandal
Bill Cosby was “America’s Dad.” He was a mega-popular comedian and actor with his NBC TV sitcom The Cosby Show holding the spot as the biggest television show of the late 1980s. Then, it all came crashing down a few years ago when allegations of rampant sexual misconduct and assault began to surface which ultimately…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWA Indianapolis retro review from May 1984
This week’s DragonKing Karl show focuses on some low-rent wrestling as WWA Indianapolis is about the dirt worst “major” pro wrestling show from the territory era I think I have ever seen. Dick The Bruiser literally gave zero sh*ts about his wrestling show. We have generic knockoffs of Abdullah The Butcher, Michael Hayes, and a…
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DragonKing Dark: Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan
Our Dark 100 series looking of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history continues with a look back at the 1994 sports scandal involving U.S. Olympic skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. Harding was accused of being involved in a physical assault of Kerrigan in order to increase her Olympic medal chances. The attack…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The longform history of pro wrestling in January 1983
My longform pro wrestling history series lands in January 1983 and we now have issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to help us along as well. A lot will happen very quickly in 1983: Jimmy Snuka is hugely popular and seems to be ascending to the WWF title picture, but Nancy Argentina will change all…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of WCW
Continuing our 100 darkest moments in pop culture history, I return to the world of sports entertainment (pro wrestling) to find out how one company became the most profitable and successful wrestling company in the world and then sank over half of genre with it. The death of WCW is an amazing account of how…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at MSG, 1878-1879
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we return to the early days of Madison Square Garden in New York City and look at two early years’ worth of MSG matches featuring James Singley, William Heavyside, Prof. William Miller, Charles Murphy, Wilhelm Heygster, John McMahon, Edwin Bibby, and Andre Christol. Plus, Gilmore’s Gardens…
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DragonKing Dark: Milli Vanilli hoax
We continue our look at 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history by looking at the late 1980s pop music act Milli Vanilli, who were busted as lip synching imposters after a hugely successful album and even a Grammy win. But, were Milli Vanilli the bad guys or victims? Don’t most live acts…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch involved in accident involving fatality
Tammy “Sunny” Sytch has reportedly been involved in a car accident in Florida that has claimed the life of a 75-year-old man. Sytch has been in the news repeatedly over the last few years for multiple DUI’s and other offenses, and media reports say this fatal accident may have also included alcohol. I am going to answer…
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DragonKing Karl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Terry Funk vs. Triple H
Round two of the DKK Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues to ask the question: if wrestling were real (not a shoot but if the characters as presented on TV were real), who would win? Two legends collide this episode with multi-time world champions Terry Funk vs. Triple H. Both are legendary brawlers having been involved in…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of NHL player Bill Masterton
The NHL is a fast, high-impact, and sometimes violent sport. But you may be surprised to learn that only one hockey player has ever died as a direct result of the game. In 1968, Bill Masterton became the only NHL player to date to die as the result of injuries suffered during a game. His…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Rick Rude’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter biography
In April 1999, 40-year-old Rick Rude was found dead in his home. Generally speaking, super fit 40-year-olds don’t just die of natural causes. So what happened to the former WWF Intercontinental champion? In this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I look at that week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter and how Dave Meltzer discussed the life, death,…
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DragonKing Dark: The murder of SNL star Phil Hartman
Another tragedy from the cast of Saturday Night Live is our stop this week on the DragonKing Dark 100 darkest moments in pop culture history series. This week, we take a look at the domestic violence murder of comedian Phil Hartman. Hartman was a popular SNL cast member, voice actor, and comedian who was killed…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Saga: The origin of the Midnight Express, part 2
I return with another DragonKingKarl mega-show in our Saga series, continuing to look back at a tag team many consider the greatest of all time: the Midnight Express. As I wrote last week, if you think the Midnight Express is only Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton or Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane or if you…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of John Belushi
Continuing our series of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history, we take a look back at the death of young comedic star and a Saturday Night Live original, John Belushi. Belushi was a star still on the rise with multiple hit movies and an iconic stint on SNL. However, drugs gained a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Saga: The origin of the Midnight Express, pt. 1
Another DragonKingKarl mega-show in our “Saga” series takes a look back at a tag team many consider the greatest of all time: the Midnight Express. But if you think the Midnight Express is only Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton or Stan Lane, or if you think Jim Cornette has always been part of the formula, think…
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DragonKing Dark: The Mitchell Report
100 darkest moments in pop culture history continues with another black eye for Major League Baseball – the Mitchell Report. This 2007 report was officially titled The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball. It’s…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The longform history of pro wrestling in December 1982
On the new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I talk everything that happened in December 1982 in pro wrestling. That list includes the infamous Jack Veneno vs. Ric Flair NWA title match; why a Jacques Rougeau by any other name is still Jacques Rougeau; Bob Backlund vs. “Superstar” Billy Graham redux, World Class Star Wars, Jerry…
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DragonKing Dark: What happened to Glenn Miller?
If you know any big band swing music, then it is probably by Glenn Miller and his orchestra. Some of the most recognizable instrumental hits were arranged and recorded by the biggest pop star of the early 1940s, Glenn Miller. He was every bit as big of a star as Elvis or The Beatles in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1983 found footage SECW
Today’s review is awesome! The Armstrong Alley YouTube channel has newly discovered footage from Alabama’s Southeastern Championship Wrestling in the spring of 1983. Armstrong Alley found someone with a previously undiscovered tape out of Montgomery that features, among other things: More legendary heel Bob Armstrong, a Buck Robley coming out of a box angle, The Midnight Express,…
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DragonKing Dark: Las Vegas concert massacre
On this episode of DragonKing Dark, we continue our series on 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history. This week we look back at the 2017 Las Vegas concert massacre that took place on the strip in Las Vegas targeting a large country music festival. 61 people died during the attack. It remains…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at MSG in 1877
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we travel back in time to the pioneer era of wrestling — 1877 — to see the first actual non-tournament pro wrestling cards at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. At this point, MSG was still known as Gilmore’s Garden but these shows were drawing sizable crowds for…
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DragonKing Dark: The death of actor & comedian Robin Williams
My series looking at 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history continues with the death of actor and comedian Robin Williams. A comedic genius who first came to national attention on the Happy Days spinoff series Mork and Mindy, Williams followed this up with a stellar career both as a comedic and dramatic…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Abdullah The Butcher vs. Keiji Mutoh
Round two of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show continues with two very different pro wrestlers: the bloodletting Abdullah The Butcher vs. the blood-spilling Keiji “The Great Muta” Mutoh. Will the versatility of Mutoh be able to overcome the girth and brutality of Abdullah? You, the listener, voted, and we have…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look back at WCW’s Renegade
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we look at the late Renegade of WCW fame, using his Wrestling Observer Newsletter obituary as a guide. Formerly known as Rio Lord of the Jungle, Richard Wilson was brought into WCW by Hulk Hogan and the creative team when they failed to get Ultimate Warrior (Jim Hellwig)…
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DragonKing Dark: The ‘Twilight Zone’ movie disaster
The Dark 100 rolls on. In July 1982, actor Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed by a helicopter crash while filming a scene for “The Twilight Zone” movie. The accident revealed numerous shortcuts and safety protocols that were bypassed which contributed to the tragedy. The Twilight Zone movie disaster is one of our…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: CWA Memphis October 19, 1985 review
This week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show features a look back at a weird time in the fall of 1985 where Southeastern/Continental Wrestling took over Memphis for a few weeks. This included Mr. Olympia (Jerry Stubbs) coming in as a fake Masked Superstar, Scott and Steve Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, Mr. Class (Ken Timbs), The Heavenly Bodies…
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DragonKing Dark: The story of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez
Our next installment in our 100 darkest moments in pop culture history involves the story of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez was an elite level football player whose off the field exploits landed him in prison and later dead. Despite being one of the best players on his national championship winning…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: November 1982 in pro wrestling
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I cover everything that happened during the month of November 1982 in pro wrestling. This includes, of course, Thanksgiving night back when it was the biggest night of the pro wrestling year. Our discussion includes Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Bob Backlund, Nick Bockwinkel, Stagger Lee (aka…
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DragonKing Dark: How ‘Seduction of the Innocent’ went after the comic industry
Free speech. Censorship. Right thinking. Moral policing. All of these terms are hot button topics to various political and social groups. The more that things change, the more they stay the same as in 1954, a holier than thou psychiatrist took on the comic book industry with his infamous book, “Seduction of the Innocent”. No…
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DragonKing Dark: The video game crash of 1983
Continuing our 100 darkest moments in pop culture series, this week’s DragonKing Dark takes a look back at the video game crash of 1983. It was a moment in time where subpar games were being produced en masse as a cash grab during a home video game boom. Juan Nunez wrote a tremendous article about this…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The history of pro wrestling at MSG, part 1
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, it’s the debut of a new series looking at the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Perhaps the most famous arena in the world, MSG has changed quite a bit over the years and we will talk about the venue’s different owners…
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DragonKing Dark: Napster Kills the Music Business
Nothing is free. Everything has a cost, including music. Our series of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history continues with an entry you might not expect. In the late 1990s through early 2000s, file sharing services like Napster and Limewire were all the rage. People justified stealing music by pointing out the…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Ric Flair vs. Kenny Omega
This week on the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament), we get a battle of the eras. The legendary 20-plus time World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs. former AEW, AAA, Impact, and IWGP World Champion Kenny Omega. Both men are in the Observer Hall of Fame. Omega is divisive among modern fans. Many think he is one of the greatest…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of Giant Baba
Dave Meltzer’s Giant Baba obituary from the February 8th, 1999, Wrestling Observer Newsletter may be one of his most massive obituaries in his history. The size of a small book, the story of Baba is woven into many of the most important stories of pro wrestling history, especially that of Japan. We all know Dave is a…
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DragonKingKarl True Crime Wrestling Stories: The case of Mr. Wrestling 2, pt. 1
Welcome to the first of a three-part series focused on Mr. Wrestling 2 as part of my true crime stories from the world of professional wrestling — a series that is not for the kids or faint-of-heart as we will be discussing some very heavy themes. This focuses on a little-known assault story involving Mr. Wrestling…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: AWA Remco 80s figures
On a special DragonKingKarl Show, I look back at the old AWA Remco action figure series from the 1980s: the first mass market pro wrestling action figure series. Next week: I present three shows in three days in a special true crime series.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro wrestling in October 1982
Image: WWE On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we deep dive into October 1982. Kung Fu Billy Graham is making the rounds this month, Nick Bockwinkel regains the AWA World title from Otto Wanz, Bullet Bob Armstrong makes his famous heel turn on Ron Fuller during an NWA World title match against Ric Flair…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Bruno vs. Andre
The second round of the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) continues with the 50th match in the series: Bruno Sammartino vs. Andre the Giant! You have voted and the results are in. Who won in our fictional tournament that asks: If wrestling were real (not a shoot but the characters as presented were real) who would…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: True crime – Morton vs. Smothers
In August of 1995, Tracy Smothers and Ricky Morton were top stars in both Smoky Mountain Wrestling and USWA when an incident occurred. Smothers and his girlfriend allegedly beat up the girlfriend of Ricky Morton and she pressed charges against them. Despite the fact that Smothers and his girlfriend were arrested on felony assault charges,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Revisiting Junkyard Dog obituary
Image: WWE On our cycle of shows we return now to From the Pages of the Observer — where Karl Stern takes a look at a Dave Meltzer biography, obituary, or history piece. This episode looks at the death of the Junkyard Dog. For a brief window of time, JYD was one of the most…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWC Aniversario 1987 retro review
Or… how Boring Funk Jr. learned to take the press slam and like it. It’s one of the most popular shows of our classic wrestling rotation — the retro review! We return to Puerto Rico and the year 1987 to see an amazing match between LOS HERMANOS FUNKS vs.The Road Warriors! Plus, a senior citizen battles Kareem Muhammad…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: September 1982 in pro wrestling
This week’s episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show covers September 1982 in pro wrestling. This month sees El Santo’s last match as he retires in front of 25,000 fans in Mexico, The Midnight Express roll through Memphis, The Road Warrior (singular) debuts in Georgia, Otto Wanz defends the AWA World title around the loop,…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Brock Lesnar vs. Roddy Piper
Image: WWE The votes are in for this second-round matchup! You have voted and we have a winner as two of the biggest heels of all time meet up: The monster, the beast, former UFC champion, and multi-time WWE champion Brock Lesnar vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. It may seem like Piper is physically outgunned in this…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of Louie Spicolli
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, it’s another edition of From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter discussing the death of Louie Spicolli. Spicolli wrestled for WWF, WCW, AAA, and ECW, among others. At the time it happened, his death was a major story related to the rampant drug deaths in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Superstars, new rap
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present to you another, hopefully laugh-filled, retro wrestling review. This week, we travel back to May 1994 when the then-WWE was really struggling to come up with something. Scandal had eroded public popularity and troubles were everywhere. So, they tried to freshen things up with a Puerto…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: August 1982 in pro wrestling
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I cover August 1982 and one of the strangest World title changes in history — Otto Wanz winning the AWA World Championship from Nick Bockwinkel. Plus, Jerry Lawler feuds with Kamala, Bob Backlund feuds with Bob Orton, Jr., Ric Flair in Memphis, World Class Star Wars, a huge…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Chris Jericho vs. Jushin Liger
Round two of our GKT Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues, pitting Chris Jericho against Jushin Thunder Liger. Though these two are contemporaries, they have actually wrestled far fewer times than you might imagine and only once in a singles match. Liger has been a favorite of mine since his debut and Jericho, I believe, is actually…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 2021 WON HOF ballot discussion, part three
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballots should be coming any day now, so Karl discusses this year’s ballot on this massive show. Who is new? Let’s talk about CM Punk. Randy Orton hate, and Sgt. Slaughter of course. Plus, Big Daddy, a few who have no chance, a breakdown of the Hall of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 2021 WON HOF ballot discussion, part two
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballots should be coming any day now, so Karl discusses this year’s ballot on this massive show. Who is new? Let’s talk about CM Punk. Randy Orton hate, and Sgt. Slaughter of course. Plus, Big Daddy, a few who have no chance, a breakdown of the Hall of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 2021 WON HOF ballot discussion, part one
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballots should be coming any day now, so Karl discusses this year’s ballot in this massive show. Who is new? Let’s talk about CM Punk. Randy Orton hate, and Sgt. Slaughter of course. Plus, Big Daddy, a few who have no chance, a breakdown of the Hall of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Deaths of Big Daddy and Stanley Blackburn
On this week’s installment of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, we go back into the pages of the Observer and look at two obituaries written by Dave Meltzer: long-time AWA president Stanley Blackburn and the cultural icon from England — Big Daddy. Big Daddy is one of the most divisive wrestling personalities ever. This is borne…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Florida Wrestling August 1984 review
I turned 13 on this date. Kevin Sullivan was running around Florida in the midst of all his devilish madness, Blackjack Mulligan was there to save us all. A mysterious man in the most ridiculous wrestling outfit ever was trying not to get it dirty while Dory Funk Jr. cracked whip (literally). Florida in the summer…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The true crime story of Jeff Gaylord
I didn’t start doing these pro wrestling true crime podcasts to be funny but then, there’s Jeff Gaylord: pro wrestling star and bungling bank robber. I had always heard that Gaylord was a little, well, not so bright. As it turns out, that was accurate. I lost count of how many banks he robbed along the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Saga of Hulk Hogan vs. Abdullah the Butcher
It was a dream match of the 1980s. The monster squashin’ Incredible Hulk Hogan vs. Abdullah the Butcher. While Abdullah the Butcher never ended up as a Hulk Hogan opponent in the WWF, the two did face off three times. Yes, Hulk Hogan and Abdullah the Butcher were in the ring together just three times…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: July 1982 in pro wrestling
After a massive June 1982 (see last episode), the train keeps rolling this month. The Fabulous Freebirds win the NWA National Tag Team titles in Georgia, NWA World Champion Ric Flair faces WWF Champion Bob Backlund at the Omni in Atlanta, The Midnight Express are in Memphis, another big Superdome show with Junkyard Dog and Mr. Olympia,…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Hogan vs. Misawa
Image: WWE Round two of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament has begun! The question was asked — if pro wrestling was real (not a shoot, but the characters as presented on TV were real) who would win? You have voted in this matchup and we have a winner! One of the biggest stars in wrestling history Hulk Hogan vs. the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of Brian Pillman
Image: WWE On this episode, we take a look back at one of Dave Meltzer’s most famous obituaries: a piece about his friend Brian Pillman. An amazing and in-depth piece from someone who knew Pillman personally and watched his spiral out of control, not only as we fans did, but from the inside. Brian Pillman…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Wrestling Challenge 1986 review
This week’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show is a fun-filled review of a very 1986 WWF Wrestling Challenge program hosted by Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan. Today’s show features: YOUTUBE COMMENTS, The Dream Team showing personality for once, creepy Lanny Poffo, Billy Jack Haynes, Randy Savage, The Hart Foundation, Tito Santana, Pedro Morales,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: True crime – Matt Borne
Matt Borne was well known in the pro wrestling business to have legal issues. He was arrested multiple times for a variety of crimes. WWE even once sued him to stop him from promoting himself as Doink on indie shows due to his string of arrests. Borne had serious heat with Jim Duggan over an…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: June 1982 in pro wrestling
Image: WWE June of 1982 is a massively important month in the history of pro wrestling. The WWF as we know it is born as Vince McMahon buys Capitol Sports from his father. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka leaps from the top of the steel cage. And Rocky 3 is released in theaters, which is pivotal in the…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Frank Gotch vs. Undertaker
Image: WWE The final match of round one of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament brings us to our strangest matchup yet. From one end of the spectrum to the other. From the early 1900s we have the undefeated Heavyweight Champion of the world: Frank A. Gotch. With his toe-hold he is a feared and seldom defeated…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Observer’s Fritz Von Erich obituary
The latest DragonKingKarl Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling podcast looks at the Wrestling Observer’s obituary for Fritz Von Erich, the patriarch of the Von Erich family. This biography not only covers Fritz Von Erich and his career and death, but it covers the entire saga of the Von Erich family and is one of the most famous…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: SECW June 9, 1984 review
Today on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show, we hop in our time machine and travel back to the June 9, 1984 edition of Southeastern Championship Wrestling out of the Dothan, Alabama TV studio. We see the original RAT Patrol (Scott Armstrong & Johnny Rich & Tonga Kid), plus Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs as a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: May 1982
We take a deep dive into May 1982 when 21,000 people turned out to the Superdome in New Orleans to see the Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia battle The Samoans. Plus, the Buzz Sawyer vs. Tommy Rich rivalry was raging on in Georgia, Jimmy Garvin won the Florida title, Hulk Hogan was chasing AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Saga of Manny Fernandez
Today’s show is a new DragonKingKarl Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling special — The Saga of Manny Fernandez. Manny is an old-school wrestler who has told a lot of tales. He has the reputation of being — how can I put this, a perpetual liar. I am going to examine three of the most often repeated tales…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Jim Londos vs. Rikidozan
As the first round of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament nears completion, we have a battle of the greatest live attendance draw of all time (Jim Londos) vs. the greatest TV draw of all time (Rikidozan). Both are legends from different eras. You voted and we have a winner! Join DragonKingKarl (Karl Stern) as he discusses the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Florida wrestling in August 1985
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I put a spotlight on southern wrestling as we visit the Florida wrestling territory as it begins its fall after the death of Eddie Graham. It was still a viable territory at this point with NWA World Champion Ric Flair coming to town to face Wahoo McDaniel…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The deaths of Plum Mariko & Stan Stasiak
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show, I look at two very different biographies from a classic edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter as Dave Meltzer looks at the in-ring death of Japanese female wrestler Plum Mariko (possibly the first in-ring death ever in Japan) and the death of former WWWF champion Stan Stasiak.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WCW WorldWide retro review
It’s time to have some fun again — this time I hop in the time machine and travel back to February 22, 1992 for WCW WorldWide Wrestling. HOLY CRAP THEY’VE MADE P.N. NEWS & EL GIGANTE A TAG TEAM. If you think it can’t get any better than that well, yo baby yo baby you are…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The true crime story of Jose Gonzalez
Image: NotiCel We all know the story of the killing of Bruiser Brody. In this latest true crime deep dive, I focus in on his killer (Jose Gonzalez) instead of rehashing the whole story once again. The popular version of that story is that Gonzalez murdered Brody in a shower by stabbing him and then was…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: April 1982 in pro wrestling
We are up to April 1982 on this week’s DragonKingKarl longform history of pro wrestling with tons of interesting stuff happening at that point of time. Jerry Lawler has his famous first match against Andy Kaufman in Memphis; Andre The Giant won what is now called the G1 Climax in New Japan; it was the…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Dusty Rhodes vs. Mankind
The next match in the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) takes place today with two legends — three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes vs. three-time WWF World Champion Mankind (Mick Foley). The King of the Bunkhouse Stampede vs. the Hardcore Legend. Who will win? You the listeners voted and we have a winner, so let’s talk…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Deep South Wrestling retro review
I got this show off YouTube and it doesn’t have an exact date (it literally says 1988 maybe 1987). Anyway, this is The Assassin Jody Hamilton’s promotion out of Atlanta featuring a guy who LITERALLY can’t count to three as an announcer and a lineup of Southern regional castoffs, also-rans, and Great Value-brand wrestlers. We have…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Deaths of Bill Miller and Jerry Graham
From the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer published obituaries of two wrestling “doctors” — Dr. Bill Miller and Dr. Jerry Graham. Miller and Graham were two very different personalities. Miller was quiet, reserved, and intelligent, while Graham was outrageous, riotous, and somewhat insane. An interesting look at two very different wrestling stars of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Freebirds at war
On this week’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I review an episode of Southeastern Championship Wrestling from April 1982 featuring The Freebirds at war in Alabama — the feud between Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes and a must-hear promo between the two. Plus, Larry Hamilton and all the cool stuff happening here in 1982!
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The true crime story of Buck Zumhofe
Buck “Rock and Roll” Zumhofe was a staple of the 1970s-80s pro wrestling scene. While largely a mainstay in the AWA and winning their World Junior title several times, he also worked in both World Class and WWF regularly. However, he was also a convicted sex offender and everybody knew it as he spent a stint…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: March 1982
I continue with my longform history of pro wrestling podcast series with a look at March 1982. Bob Backlund was WWWF champion and feuding with both Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis, Ric Flair was facing many different opponents including a memorable series with Butch Reed, and Nick Bockwinkel reigned as champion over the AWA. Plus, I discuss Jerry…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Steamboat vs. Angle
Image: WWE This edition of the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) features two of the best workers in modern history: Ricky Steamboat and Kurt Angle. Between the two, they have a library of some of the best matches of the last 40 years so what happens when they collide? The listeners voted and we have a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Georgia Championship Wrestling retro review
We revolve back around to the Spotlight on Southern Wrestling series as we review a rather unremarkable episode of Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1984 that took place just weeks before the infamous Black Saturday WWF takeover. What was happening just before the stock owners turned on each other? We talk about The Road Warriors, Nikolai Volkoff,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Deaths of Herb Abrams and Buddy Fuller
This week on From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter we take a look at Dave Meltzer’s obituaries on Buddy Fuller (father of Ron and Robert Fuller) and the colorful and controversial pro wrestling promoter Herb Abrams. Both of these men had an impact on pro wrestling history in very different ways. Fuller, a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Portland Wrestling retro review
Today’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show features a review of a territory I haven’t watched a lot of: Portland Wrestling. This November 1980 episode featured a young Buzz Sawyer under a different name, a young Eric Embry under a different name, Lord Jonathan Boyd with a different look, Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver, and an interesting masked…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The true crime story of Bob Sweetan
We begin our series on pro wrestling true crime this week by looking at the story of the late “Bruiser” Bob Sweetan. Sweetan was a journeyman wrestler who worked many territories from the the central U.S. to the southwest U.S. He even had national exposure as “Mr. Piledriver” when Southwest Championship Wrestling was on USA…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Enter the Dragon review
I have loved Enter the Dragon and Bruce Lee my whole life. This is the first time I have watched Enter the Dragon in many years and this was so much fun to watch and review. Then I go on some hilarious sidebar tangents. I hope you enjoy this show as much as I enjoyed…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: February 1982 in pro wrestling
Ob episode 64 of the DragonKingKarl Longform History of Pro Wrestling series, we are covering February 1982. Jimmy Golden wins a van, the AWA World Champion tours Japan, something historic happens at the Kiel in St. Louis, WWF Champion Bob Backlund is feuding with Jesse Ventura, Jerry Lawler is feuding with Dutch Mantel, NWA Champion Ric Flair…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: John Cena vs. Sting
Image: WWE The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues this week with one of our most interesting matches ever. John Cena vs Sting. From two different eras but two wrestlers very similar in many ways. Both were, at times, the franchise players for their promotions. Neither were technical masters but both were exceptionally popular with fans. You…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: CWA Memphis Bill & Buddy Show review
This week on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show we have another spotlight on Southern pro wrestling with a look at a TV show from CWA Memphis wrestling from April 5, 1986 where — much to the dismay of Jerry Lawler and Dutch Mantell — Bill Dundee and Buddy Landel took over the TV studio for…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The F4W diss rap
This week’s DragonKingKarl Show is not family friendly. Sorry, but sometimes I need to say something with an exclamation point. I’ve been around F4W Online before Dave Meltzer even arrived and now, we have a johnny-come-lately who has been passively aggressively messing with me for some time. After his latest little jab, I ain’t taking…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The life of Big John Studd
From the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, I take a look back at the obituaries, biographies, and history pieces written by Dave Meltzer. On this episode, I discuss the life and career of Big John Studd via Dave’s obituary from the March 27, 1995, Observer. He was a memorable TV character from the Hulkamania era…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWC Aniversario 1985 review
Today’s episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show features a fun retro review of the 1985 WWC (Puerto Rico) Anivesario Show which recently appeared on YouTube. The show includes a wild barbed wire tag team match between The Sheepherders (the future Bushwhackers) and The Invaders. Plus, Abdullah the Butcher faces Carlos Colon, an NWA World…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: January 1982
This week kicks off our discussion of the year 1982 in pro wrestling by taking a look at January when Ric Flair was NWA World Champion, Bob Backlund was WWF World Champion, and Nick Bockwinkel was AWA World Champion. Additionally, 1982 kicks off a really strong couple of years for Southeastern Wrestling, Jerry Lawler was…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Funk Jr. vs. Vachon
Match number 27 in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament takes place this week and pits two contemporaries against each other: NWA World champion Dory Funk Jr. vs. AWA World champion Mad Dog Vachon. The two actually met several times in real life and — surprisingly — it appears one is undefeated against the other. Let’s talk about…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Southern wrestling spotlight
Tuesday’s show kicks off a new series as I will be reviewing an episode of a classic southern pro wrestling promotion and what better place to start than with the first episode of Ron Fuller’s full-fledged Southeastern Championship Wrestling. Airing throughout Alabama and in parts of Florida, we get introduced to Fuller, Bob Armstrong, Eddie…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of Eddie Gilbert
From the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, we go over Dave Meltzer’s obituary of Eddie Gilbert on today’s episode. Gilbert was a good southern style brawler wrestler and studied the wrestling business. By his late 20s he had already booked in Memphis, Watts’ UWF, Continental, WCW, and the early days of ECW. He was…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Mid-Atlantic retro TV review
This week on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show we take a look back at Mid-Atlantic Jim Crockett pro wrestling from May 1986. The episode features Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant, Hector Guerrero & Manny Fernandez as a tag team, Jim Cornette and The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) doing battle with The James Boys/Gang (Magnum…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of wrestling hillbillies
We continue our down home country month with Karl Stern taking a look at famous pro wrestling hillbilly gimmicks, including the incredible story of Elvira Snodgrass, a pioneer in women’s wrestling who partnered with her hillbilly husband Elmer. Elvira was married several times, had a car wreck. and literally cut her own arm off to…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: December 1981 in pro wrestling
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show, we finish going through the year of 1981. NWA World Champion Ric Flair tours Florida, Bob Backlund battles Don Muraco in the WWF, and Bruiser Brody & Jimmy Snuka win the annual All Japan tag team tournament. Plus, Sports Illustrated does a story on Andre the Giant,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Death of Jerry Blackwell
Today we return to the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for another biography/obituary from Dave Meltzer. This time we look at the Mountain From Stone Mountain — Jerry “Crusher” Blackwell. Blackwell was a big star in the AWA and remained loyal to them for most of his career, though he did also have success…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The first WWF Buried Alive match
For your Halloween week enjoyment. let’s talk about a spooky match: the first-ever Buried Alive match at 1996’s WWF In Your House between Undertaker and Mankind. Mankind was being managed by Paul Bearer at the time and both men were exceptionally good…despite the match being ridiculous. The match itself also featured appearances by Hunter Hearst…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: ECW TV pilot review
Now for something really scary. Oh boy, maybe you were a fan of the counterculture ECW promotion back in the 1990s, I know I was. Well, be glad the original pilot episode never aired. It is very indierific. We have Sandman before he was a hardcore legend and was just a surfer dude, assorted northeast…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WCW Uncensored 1996 Doomsday Cage match
Now for something really scary! In 1996, Hulk Hogan, running on fumes with the red and yellow Superman gimmick, decided it would be a good idea to just destroy all the heels in one match and even import a few. So, Hogan grabbed partner Randy Savage and a three-story cage gimmick was built. The Dungeon…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Sid Vicious as Lord Humongous
We all know Sid Vicious. He looked like a million bucks, was as champion in both WWF and WCW, and was a major player during the 1990s. However, he began his career as one of the men to play the Lord Humongous character, starting in Memphis then going to the Continental Wrestling Association. On this week’s DragonKingKarl…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: AJ Styles vs. Booker T
The votes are in and you have chosen a winner in match 26 of round one of The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: AJ Styles vs. Booker T in a clash of two modern era wrestlers. Styles started off in the Georgia indies, got a small break in WCW, but really came into his own in TNA.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 2020 Observer HOF ballot discussion
It’s time for historically our most popular show of the year. Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) has been a voter in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame for over a decade and every year discusses the ballot on his podcast. If you’ve ever wondered about the wording, criteria, and structure of the ballot — all is…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour | 80s angles
On an Old Tyme Wrestling Hour edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I look at the massive decline in WWE’s pop culture popularity and a new documentary that takes a look at the life of former lucha and WCW star Vampiro. Then, Kid Zombie (aka Matt Mann) joins me to discuss some of our…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Minus Five Stars – Hogan vs. Warrior
Our retro wrestling review today continues our look at Wrestling Observer MINUS FIVE STARS rated matches. We travel back in time to WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 on this episode. WCW had been on a hot run in 1998 but cracks were beginning to show and a big chip fell off when Hollywood Hulk Hogan tried to…