Author: Karl Stern
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Fall of 1980
This is part six of our look at the year 1980 in pro wrestling and we are up to the fall. Austin Idol sort of wins a World title in Memphis. The Freebirds are in Georgia. SECW debuts its classic TV show including all of Alabama and the Florida panhandle with Bob Armstrong as the top…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show special: Rest in peace Bob Armstrong
Southern pro wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer “Bullet” Bob Armstrong has died at the age of 80 following a battle with bone cancer. Bullet Bob is a man I met many, many times, worked around at many shows, and grew up watching. His sons Scott, Steve, Brad, and Brian (Road Dogg) all had…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: From the pages of the Observer – Boris Malenko & Art Barr
Today on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, host Karl Stern dives back into the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for Dave Meltzer’s biographies on Boris Malenko (the father of wrestler and future agent Dean Malenko) and Art Barr. The death of Barr was treated as a huge loss for pro wrestling at the…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: The Rock vs. Dick the Bruiser
Round one of the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues as we ask the question: if pro wrestling were real (not a shoot but the characters as presented real) who would win? On this episode. The Rock vs. Dick the Bruiser! You have voted and I have the results. The most electrifying man in sports entertainment and mega-movie…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour
This week, Karl Stern brings you a new Old Tyme Wrestling Hour Podcast. On this episode: the pioneer era of wrestling in Mexico isn’t what I expected. In fact, it appears Asian in origin with links to jiu-jitsu and American frontier wrestling combined into one thing. It gets weird. Also, a man died during a match…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Bruno Sammartino loses title to Ivan Koloff
We continue to celebrate my birthday all week long at When It Was Cool by looking back at the year 1971. Today on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I look back at a match that is still remembered 49 years later for the reaction it invoked. Bruno Sammartino was the WWWF Champion and had been dominant, dispatching…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Minus Five Stars, pt. 1
This week on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I begin our first ‘Minus Five Stars’ reviews of the worst matches in pro wrestling history according to our Dave Meltzer. The first comes from AAA TripleMania 23 in 2015 where the Psycho Circus battled Los Villanos, a match leaturing a dude on a unicycle, latex masks, and a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1996
I had press passes to the UFC Ultimate Ultimate tournament 1996 in Birmingham, Alabama, a show that featured Don Frye, Tank Abbott, Ken Shamrock, Kimo, Gary Goodrich, and others. I met and talked to all of them, as well as Dan Severn who was at the show with one of his trainees and a fellow…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1981 – Flair wins his first World title
On today’s show, we pick up our longform history of pro wrestling series in the late summer of 1981 and cover August and September. Bob Backlund’s reign as WWF Champion continues, Nick Bockwinkel has a largely forgettable feud with Sheik Adnan, and Dusty Rhodes as NWA World Champion has a run through Florida until losing the…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Austin vs. Hansen
The battle for Texas rages in the latest installment of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament, a podcast series at WIWC and Wrestling Observer asking the question: If pro wrestling were real (not a shoot, but the characters as presented were real) who would win? This episode features two of my favorites: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour with Kid Zombie
It’s a new Old Time Wrestling Hour podcast. We have the difficult task of trying to keep things positive on this show and I try my best! I am joined by Matt “Kid Zombie” Mann of Alternative Wrestling Radio and we talk tape trading in the old days, San Francisco wrestling, why he is done…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WCW WrestleWar 1992
We have a retro PPV review of WCW WrestleWar 1992 on this week’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. I recently reviewed the go-home show for this PPV and it was pretty terrible. Well, WCW over delivered with a PPV that was pretty decent from top to bottom with a home run WarGames main event…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The summer of 1981
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl longform history of pro wrestling series we dive deep into June and July of 1981. The Moondogs get a shakeup in WWF when one can’t leave home, Dusty Rhodes wins the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Terry Taylor becomes World Junior Champion, plus Ted DiBiase, Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura, Sgt.…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: El Santo vs. Eddie Guerrero
It’s time for match 23 of round one of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament — and this matchup would be an all-time headliner in Mexico: El Santo vs. Eddie Guerrero. Guerrero’s father’s career was intertwined with that of El Santo, so there is familiarity there. You the listeners have voted and we have a winner! Obviously, this…
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DragonKingKarl Show: The saga of ‘The Bullet’ and ‘The Stud’
Southeastern Championship Wrestling was built around the feud between “The Stud” Ron Fuller and “The Bullet” Bob Armstrong. In late 1982, both men were babyfaces until Armstrong shocked everyone and turned heel, something few thought he could pull off. But, he did and it was incredible. What happened next is wrestling booking at its finest…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WCW Saturday Night retro review
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, Karl Stern reviews WCW Saturday Night from May 16, 1992. This is the week that Turner finally put Jim Herd on the chopping block and the company was about to hire Bill Watts. We get Hercules Hernandez with red pantyhose over his head, the Z-Man, an insufferable…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The WBF
Today we take a look back at another bright idea Vince McMahon had. In an era where the federal government was trying to put him in prison for dealing steroids and the WWF public imagine was at an all time low, Vince decided to promote his own bodybuilding federation full of jacked up dudes. Go…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour with Stevie J
On the new DragonKingKarl Old Tyme Wrestling Hour Podcast, host Karl Stern talks about the current downturn in pro wrestling ratings and popularity and explores what the future might hold. Then we bring in our special guest for this episode — Stevie J from AngryMarks.com, who acts as an impartial sounding board for questions about…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The legacy of Mr. T
The DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show continues to add additional content during this era when many people are confined to their homes. Today, I want to give you something from my WhenItWasCool.com archive — a biography on Mr. T! Mr. T was very important to the national expansion of WWF, appeared in the main event…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: April and May 1981
On this episode of the longform history of pro wrestling series, Karl covers April and May 1981. The months include the quick switch in Georgia of the NWA World title between Tommy Rich and Harley Race. More on the filming of Rocky III, the origins of the IWGP title, Sgt. Slaughter in the WWF, the debut of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Saga of Ric Flair jumping to WWF while WCW/NWA Champion
This is a massive show with tons of stuff — including a lot of things you might not know. Karl Stern covers the entire story of Ric Flair quitting WCW to jump to WWF in 1991 while still WCW/NWA World Champion. Karl discusses what the NWA was during that time. Could Flair have jumped as…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: From the Pages of the Observer – Kerry Von Erich
Between this and my Saga of David Von Erich and the NWA World title I did recently at When It Was Cool, you’ll basically be an expert on the life and times of the Von Erich family. This is Dave Meltzer’s obituary for Kerry Von Erich, who took his own life at age 33, which…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: American Gladiators
American Gladiators was a weird hybrid athletics show that combined a game show with basically pro wrestling style entertainment. There were even crossovers between the two, and American Gladiators was clearly marketed toward pro wrestling fans. On this retro episode, Karl Stern takes a look back at this quirky game-sport.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pandemics then and now
On the new DragonKingKarl Old Tyme Wrestling Hour podcast, host Karl Stern talks about pandemics both now and in the early 1900s and how they affected the pro wrestling business, or alternately titled, Mine Constitution is Superior to Thine. Plus, Karl answers some listener emails and covers a ton of pro wrestling history.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 5
In the final installment in my look at the history of the NWA World title, I cover the indie years and the era where the NWA title floated around among small time promoters. Note that this series was completed prior to the Billy Corgan era but covers everything up to that point. Previous editions: Part 1 | Part…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Antonio Inoki vs. Harley Race
It’s time for match 22 in round 1 of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament, a fun way to do some pro wrestling biographies. On this edition, we have a very close match-up: Antonio Inoki vs. Harley Race. Inoki was the ace (and founder) for New Japan Pro Wrestling for many years. In storyline, he also was…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 4
The fourth part of my historical look at the NWA World heavyweight title covers the legendary Ric Flair era with the belt. Who was really promised what? Why Ronnie Garvin? This episode looks at the most famous era of the National Wrestling Alliance World heavyweight championship including the switch from the 10 pounds of gold to the big gold…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Lawler-Idol hair vs. hair match
Image: Scott Bowden Straight out of 1986-87, this week’s DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show takes a deep dive into the Jerry Lawler vs Austin Idol hair vs hair match that took place in a steel cage. I had such fun putting this show together and I encourage fans of both classic and modern wrestling to…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 3
On the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I continued with the third part of the history of the NWA World heavyweight title. I take a look at the title from the time of Harley Race to the era of Ric Flair, how Race ended up bridging the gap between Dory Funk Jr. and Jack Brisco following Funk’s…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Spring 1981 in pro wrestling
The spring of 1981 saw Harley Race continue his run as NWA World champion, Ron Fuller losing his smile and going home, Junkyard Dog cranking it up in Louisiana, Hulk Hogan battling Jerry Lawler in Memphis, a big name wrestler appearing on a game show, Sgt. Slaughter becoming a force in WWF, Don Muraco heading to WWF, and…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 2
In part two of my look at the history of the NWA World heavyweight title, I start with the decision in 1948 to form the National Wrestling Alliance, why Orville Brown was the first NWA World champion, why he was set to face Lou Thesz who also held an NWA World title, and everything you…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at Dave Meltzer’s Andre The Giant bio
One of Dave Meltzer’s first mega obituaries is the subject of this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. When Andre The Giant died while attending his father’s funeral in France, Dave wrote a near book length synopsis of his life in the February 8, 1993 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, packed full of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 1
The history of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship is rich and reaches back into the 1940s. During many of the last 100 years, the NWA World title was viewed as the most important championship in wrestling. Join historian Karl Stern on this journey through every NWA title change, including much about the early…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour with Dave Wills
On this brand new Old Tyme Wrestling Hour on the Dragon King Karl Classic Wrestling Show, I talk about something I have been working on for a couple of months: the secret history of pro wrestling. The history of pro wrestling isn’t what a lot of people think it is and a lot of the bickering…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Stecher vs. Okada
Match 21 in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament sees two of the greatest wrestlers from different eras face off. From the 1920s-1930s, Joe Stecher takes on the man many say is the greatest pro wrestler of the modern era — NJPW’s Kazuchika Okada. Of course, the GKT is just a fun way of doing two biographies. You,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour
On the new, revamped, and improved Old Tyme Wrestling Hour, host Karl Stern discusses the Twitter feud between Dave Meltzer and Jim Cornette, along with the the faulty misconception many old timers have and the insane tribal mentality that accompanies it. Karl is then joined by Bryan Alvarez for some discussion about building the F4W newsletter, podcasting…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: ICW 1986 TV review
Have I got a special treat for you today: an episode of Joe Savoldi’s International Championship Wrestling from a winter 1986 TV taping. Watch along on YouTube. I call this episode “Daddy Issues” because it is full of sons and fathers and various issues. Cpl. Terry Daniels (apparently promoted from Private) is looking for his deadbeat…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: ‘Learning the Ropes’ retro TV review
We combine both the wrestling ring and a sitcom with a special retro TV review today. This is a review of the 1988 sitcom Learning the Ropes starring NFL star Lyle Alzado and the crew of Jim Crockett Promotions, including Steve Williams, Jimmy Garvin, The Road Warriors, Ric Flair, and many others. While the show…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The start of 1981 in pro wrestling
We enter 1981 by looking at the Omni in Atlanta, Andre the Giant, Barry Windham, All Japan Pro Wrestling, the Sgt. Slaughter and Bob Backlund feud, AWA, Jerry Lawler back on top in Memphis, Harley Race battles Ric Flair in the Mid-Atlantic area, Los Angeles is on its last leg, the original Midnight Express win…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: From the Pages of the Observer
It’s time again for a look back at some obituaries and biographies from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter by Dave Meltzer. On this episode, host and wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look back at the deaths of top junior heavyweight Danny McShain, one half of the Kangaroos tag team Roy Heffernan, and…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Buddy Rogers vs. Bobo Brazil
The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament round one, match 20 pits two people from the same era against each other. In fact, these men wrestled many times and one of those occasional unrecognized NWA World Heavyweight title changes happened once when Bobo Brazil beat Buddy Rogers for the title but returned it to him. How did the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1986 WCCW retro TV review
On last week’s Dragon King Karl show, I reviewed an episode of WWF TV from the first week of July 1986, so I thought we would see what World Class Championship Wrestling from Texas was doing the same week. Well, Kerry Von Erich was wrecking his motorcycle, so that’s what. So, it was Mike Von…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF July 1986 retro TV review
On this week’s DragonKingKarl show, I do a retro TV review from July 7, 1986, for an edition of WWF Prime Time Wrestling. On this broadcast, we got “Big” John Studd and King Kong Bundy, The Machines, a very boring Pedro Morales, the Hart Foundation, the Killer Bees, and the most amazing tag team of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The end of 1980
The last two months of 1980 are discussed as Karl Stern’s longform history of pro wrestling series continues. Memphis is struggling with near all-time low attendance. Where is Jerry Lawler? Ron Fuller buys north Alabama and starts the classic era of Southeastern Championship Wrestling which will include Birmingham. The original Midnight Express start to come together.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: From the pages of the Observer
This month’s installment of “From the Pages of the Observer” takes a look back at Dave Meltzer’s obituaries of three wrestling names from the past. Karl Stern looks at the strange and controversial death of Buzz Sawyer, along with the deaths of promoter Fred Ward and Southern Wrestling legend Tojo Yamamoto.
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Backlund vs. Tanahashi
The Ace of WWWF in the late 1970s into the early 1980s vs. the Ace of New Japan. It’s a clash of styles to be sure and a clash of charismas as well. As the GKT continues, Karl Stern of WhenItWasCool.com and F4WOnline.com takes a look at the careers of Bob Backlund and Hiroshi Tanahashi…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1992 WWF Superstars review
On my second podcast of the week, I review the April 18, 1992, edition of WWF Superstars featuring the Legion of Doom, Repo Man, Rick “The Model” Martel, Bret Hart, “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich, a wacky segment with the Ultimate Warrior, and Money, Inc. in action against an utterly disgusting individual and his partner. It’s…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: USWA 1991 TV review
This week’s retro TV review looks back at the September 21,1991, edition of USWA Wrestling…or, as it should have been called, The Eric Embry Hour. I found this one on YouTube. It features the Dirty White Boy, Dutch Mantel, Jeff Jarrett, Tom Pritchard, and other southern luminaries as the battle between Texas and Tennessee is…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WCW Saturday Night 1993 review
May 22, 1993 might not be a landmark day in pro wrestling history — but on this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, Karl is going to review WCW Saturday Night featuring Kevin Nash as Vinnie Vegas, Rob Van Dam as Robbie V, Sting, Harley Race, Al Green and the Laurinaitis brother you know the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1980 in pro wrestling continued
The longform history of pro wrestling series continues into 1980. Harley Race, Bob Backlund, Verne Gagne, Giant Baba, Ricky Steamboat, and Ric Flair are having great years. Jerry Lawler, not so much. He has broken his leg and business in Memphis is horrible. We discuss all of this and much more as our look at…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: From the Pages of the Observer
In our latest installment of From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer, we take a look back at three biographies/obituaries from Dave Meltzer covering the deaths of Dick the Bruiser, Wilbur Snyder, and Ripper Collins. Dick the Bruiser was one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling history, Snyder was a very successful wrestling star who…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Brody vs. Goldberg
It’s time for one of the hardest hitting and interesting matches so far in round one! Two big monsters battle it out on this edition of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. The wildman Bruiser Brody takes on the WCW World Champion and undefeated Bill Goldberg. We discuss the legend of Brody and just how massive a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: UWF Blackjack Brawl 1994 retro review
Karl Stern is back to review Herb Abrams’ horrendous 1994 Blackjack Brawl PPV — where Herb was out of his mind, the card was packed with main event level wrestlers who did not want to be there, and more! Sid Vicious, Steve Williams, Johnny Ace, Dan Spivey, some muscle dude, this other muscle dude, LUDVIG…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Heroes of Wrestling, 20 years later
You asked for it. You said, “Hey Karl, we like your new burn it to the ground attitude” and “Hey Karl, more snark please.” So what did I do? I watched what is commonly thought of as the worst pay per view in the history of pro wrestling, the 1999 Heroes of Wrestling PPV, a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Halloween Havoc 1992
It’s our final Halloween Havoc review for this year and we go out with a bang! It’s the infamous Spin the Wheel Make the Deal match between a ragged out Jake Roberts and Sting in an utter anticlimactic Coal Miner’s Glove match. Also appearing: The Tag Team of Cast Away Partners, The Dynamic Dude Stallions,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Halloween Havoc 1991
You know you’ve been waiting for this one — the Chamber of Horrors! Thrill as Abdullah the Butcher gets roasted alive, chill as Cactus Jack tries to figure out the on/off switch, be amazed that Razor Ramon is in this match! Plus: Lots of random masked men, Steve Austin, BILL KAZMAIER VS. OZ (!) in NOT…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WCW Halloween Havoc 1990
On my run through various WCW Halloween Havoc pay-per-views throughout the month of October, we hit the 1990 edition of the classic fall tradition. If you missed it, listen to my look at the 1989 HH. This one is packed with hilarity. Various matches, storylines and headscratchers include Terry Taylor as the Black Scorpion, the Fabulous…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WCW Halloween Havoc 1989
The first of four WCW Halloween Havoc reviews for the month of October has arrived on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show. 1989 was the first WCW Halloween Havoc featuring the Midnight Express, Tommy Rich, The Freebirds, The Dynamic Dudes, Doom, The Steiner Brothers, Lex Luger, Brian Pillman, the Skyscrapers, The Road Warriors, and a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1980 in pro wrestling, pt. 2
On this edition of the longform history of pro wrestling series, I continue my deep dive into 1980 including Verne Gagne not being able to give up the AWA world title and putting himself over Nick Bockwinkel, the continued rise of Hulk Hogan, the retirement tour of Jackie Fargo, Roger Smith and Don Bass, the Iron Sheik, The…
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DragonKingKarl From the Pages of the Observer: Deaths of Gene Anderson, Lance Idol & El Gran Davis
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, Karl Stern looks back at three short obituaries pulled from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Gene Anderson was one half of the famous Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Ole Anderson and a well known name on the East Coast. You might have never heard of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Annual WON HOF discussion
It’s time once again for the biggest show Karl Stern does every year — a detailed look and discussion of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot. Karl has been a Hall of Fame voter for many years, and this year’s ballot is interesting due to several names being put back on and a few…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Thesz vs. Stevens
The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues as this matchup pits one of the most legendary in-ring wrestlers of all time (Lou Thesz) against one of the most influential wrestlers of all time (Ray Stevens). Who will win? You the listener voted and we have the winner. We also discuss the careers of both Thesz and Stevens, plus the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Southeastern Wrestling 1982 TV review
This week’s episode takes a look back at the February 20, 1982 edition of Southeastern Championship Wrestling featuring Jacques Rougeau, Jos Leduc, Ric Flair, Ron Fuller, and an absolutely terrible match between Tony Charles and Les Thornton. It’s old school territorial wrestling for you this week on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Mid-South review from March 1986
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, host Karl Stern takes a look back at the March 3, 1986 edition of Mid-South Wrestling. This was the next to last show before the changeover to UWF. Dick Slater and Dark Journey throw the Mid-South TV title off a bridge, Jim Duggan is on fire,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Start of 1980 in pro wrestling
We have hit the 1980s and there is so much more information that we can no longer cover an entire year per episode. So, today we take a look at the first few months of 1980 and talk Mr. Wrestling II, Tatsumi Fujinami, Ron Starr, The Wild Samoans, Dennis Condrey & David Shultz as a…
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DragonKingKarl: From the pages of the Observer – Deaths of Chris Von Erich and Ed Gantner
On this week’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, we begin a new series looking back into the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We will be, from time to time, looking back at Dave Meltzer’s obituaries and biographies. On this episode, we take a look at the deaths of Chris Von Erich and…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Strangler Lewis vs. Bret Hart
The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues (not ironically while in the middle of the real-world G1 tournament). But what if the G1 featured literally the greatest wrestlers in all of history? That’s kind of the idea behind the GKT. We are up to match 16 of round one — and it is a clash of eras.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The first time Heyman shook up a company
Host Karl Stern has a retro wrestling TV review on today’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. From May 1988, we take a look back at the first company that Paul Heyman was hired to turn around. Continental Wrestling was getting long in the tooth and had sold to a new owner. Eddie Gilbert…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Wrestling in pop culture, how can WWE be hip again?
Why is WWE so terminally un-hip? It wasn’t always this way. In the mid-1980s, the WWF was a pop culture house of fire and everyday people knew who Hulk Hogan was. MTV, Mr. T, Cyndi Lauper, movies — it was a perfect story of pop culture relevance. In the late 1990s, DX and the NWO…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1979 in pro wrestling
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look back at the year 1979 in pro wrestling. 1979 was a pretty epic year in wrestling, and Karl looks at Dusty Rhodes (who finally wins the NWA World title), Harley Race, Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, Tommy Rich, and…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: HBK vs. Giant Baba
The GKT — Greatest Kayfabe Tournament — continues, and we have a bizarre matchup this time. It’s a real clash of styles and eras as All Japan king Giant Baba faces off against the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels! This match would have been a train wreck in real life, but what did our voters say? Join host…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The greatest wrestler you never heard of
Who are the greatest pro wrestlers in all of history? You might immediately think of Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Lou Thesz, Frank Gotch, or even Strangler Lewis. But perhaps the best wrestler ever might be someone who is basically an unknown. Let me tell you the story of Alexander Aberg, champion of the Brooklyn International…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Mystery of the assault of Paul Boesch
The mystery of Boesch vs. Washburn. In 1935, pro wrestler Jack Washburn was arrested for using a steel plate inside his knee pad against future legendary pro wrestling promoter Paul Boesch, who was a wrestler at the time. The judge found Washburn guilty. Was this a shoot? What was Washburn trying to accomplish by assaulting Boesch?…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1978 in pro wrestling
Karl “DragonKingKarl” Stern is back for another deep dive into pro wrestling history. On this episode, we take a detailed look at 1978 and cover such names as Superstar Billy Graham, Harley Race, the Funk Brothers, Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase, Bob Backlund, UWA Mexico, Japanese tournaments, and the death of John Pesek. From the home…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Jack Brisco vs. Triple H
The GKT continues! It’s all about the game and how you play it…yeah, Jack Brisco probably isn’t listening to that nonsense, but how did the voters see it? This week, two eras collide when we look at the former NWA World heavyweight champion and one of the most respected (and legitimate) mat wrestlers in history…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: AWA All-Star Wrestling retro TV Review
On today’s retro TV review, Karl Stern takes a look at an AWA All-Star Wrestling episode from August 1981. It features The High Flyers, Hulk Hogan, an awful Johnny Valiant promo, the world’s most awkward wrestler Baron Von Raschke, Tito Santana, Jesse Ventura, Karl’s irrational hatred of Adrian Adonis, and mush mouth Andre the Giant.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Mike Sempervive and Dirty Dawg Darsie
On a special edition of the Classic Wrestling Show, I wanted to present something a little different: an episode of the Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast featuring Mike Sempervive, originally featured on my When It Was Cool podcast network. The When It Was Cool Podcast Network and FlairFlop.com presents the 119th installment of Wrestling With the Dawg…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The most incredible retro TV review ever
Oh dear lord, this week’s retro wrestling TV review this week is not to be missed. What happens when you let George Gulas (seen above, left) run a TV wrestling show out of a tiny room? Well, daddy, you get UWA from 1984 which includes the greatest fan ever: Mr. Higgenbothem and his cowboy hat…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1977 in pro wrestling
1977 was a very eventful year in pro wrestling history: Harley Race won the NWA World heavyweight title from Terry Funk and there were plenty of headlines with Gene and Ole Anderson, Mr. Wrestling II, Superstar Billy Graham, Bob Backlund, the Japanese scene, and more. Come join me on the best pro wrestling history podcast on…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Terry Funk vs. Daniel Bryan
One of the most interesting matches in round one of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament takes place today and you, the listeners, voted and picked a winner. On a new DragonKingKarl podcast, I discuss the careers and history of former NWA and ECW World Champion Terry Funk and his opponent, modern era star, one of the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: NWA retro TV review
NWA JCP retro TV review from July 13, 1985 What a grand show this was as the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express battled and won the NWA World Tag Team titles from The Russians (Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khruschev — the future Demolition Smash). Plus, appearances by Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, and Nikita Koloff, and David Crockett…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Georgia Championship Wrestling retro TV review
Our latest classic wrestling TV review looks at Georgia Championship Wrestling from February 23, 1980, which includes Terry and Dory Funk and another ridiculous Terry promo, Mr. Wrestling II, Austin Idol, Tommy Rich, Gordon is disappointed in Harley Race, and the Masked Superstar. It’s another blast of retro pro wrestling action — this time from GCW!
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1976 in pro wrestling
We continue our longform history of pro wrestling series today by looking back at the year 1976, which had several historically important moments. We look back at the rise of Bob Backlund, Bruiser Brody in WWWF, Bruno Sammartino, a tragedy in Tennessee, and the famous Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki MMA fight and the shows…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Orton vs. Muta
The 12th match in round one of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament takes place today — and you the listener have voted for the winner! This matchup takes two very different wrestlers from two different eras. Randy Orton pits the RKO against the moonsault and shining wizard of the Great Muta/Keiji Muto! You have picked the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Continental Wrestling retro TV review
On today’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, Karl Stern looks at Continental Championship Wrestling from November 22, 1986. The show features Gordon Solie on commentary, Ron Fuller and his battle against Kevin Sullivan and the New Guinea Headhunters, Roy Lee Welch, Tom Prichard, The Nightmares, and Jerry Stubbs & The Dirty White Boy…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Wrestling retro TV review
Host Karl Stern takes a look at this 1982 WWF TV show that features Salvatore Bellomo in his debut, Ivan Putski, Jimmy Snuka, an ill-fated tag team, Bob Orton, SD Jones, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito, Buddy Rose, Tony Atlas, and Pedro Morales (who Vince McMahon dogs out on commentary) as Intercontinental Champion.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro wrestling in 1975
The latter half of 1975 was a very eventful time in pro wrestling. We take a look at the plane crash involving Ric Flair, Johnny Valentine, Tim Woods, and others. There is also a lot going on in Japan involving both Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki. Terry Funk becomes the NWA World Heavyweight Champion by defeating Jack…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Kiniski vs. Abdullah
In the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament, we ask the totally geek question — If pro wrestling were real (not a shoot but real as presented on TV), who would win? Fans vote on the @wiwcool Twitter account and we discuss the match. Of course, this is just a fun way to have two biographies on a show…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: CWA Memphis 1984 retro TV review
On today’s episode, host Karl Stern reviews the December 22, 1984 edition of CWA Memphis Wrestling with hosts Lance Russell and GORDON SOLIE. Yes, that’s right. Jerry Lawler, of course, is on the show. The Nightmares have been unmasked and aren’t happy about it, Jimmy Hart and his stable appear, and Iron Mike Sharpe is…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: ‘Tag Team’ retro TV review
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, host Karl Stern takes a look back at an unsold 1991 television pilot starring Roddy Piper and Jesse Ventura as two pro wrestlers who get fired for not throwing matches (against Pat Tanaka and Akio Sato) and become cops instead. Is it as bad as…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1975 in pro wrestling
Today on our Longform History of Pro Wrestling series, Karl Stern wraps up 1974 on the first half of the show with audio of Mario Galento going on a Memphis area sports radio show and basically breaking kayfabe and shooting on Memphis wrestling and being blackballed. Insane audio. We then begin 1975, including the first of two…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Omega vs. Bockwinkel
It’s time for the latest installment of the GKT — The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. We ask the question: If wrestling were real (not a shoot, but real as presented on television), who would win? This is, of course, really just an excuse to have a couple of biographies and a little fun — and this…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWC retro TV review
On today’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern looks back at this summer 1991 episode of WWC wrestling, which features Abdullah the Butcher, Dutch Mantel, Nikolai Volkoff, Giant Warrior, Ricky Santana, and, of course, Carlos Colon as they battle throughout Puerto Rico in the post-death of Bruiser Brody era.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: CWA Memphis retro TV review
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, Karl Stern reviews the June 6, 1987 episode of CWA Memphis Wrestling. The fallout from the cage attack on Jerry Lawler continues — but a tournament for the vacant Southern Heavyweight Tag Team titles is the focus. The show features Lawler, Bill Dundee, Jeff Jarrett, Billy Travis,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1974 in pro wrestling
On today’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we continue the longform history of pro wrestling series as we enter the mid-1970s. Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki are battling over who is king of Japan, the NWA is still a worldwide powerhouse, and Jack Brisco is the NWA World Heavyweight Champion — except for briefly dropping the title…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Gorgeous George vs. Flair
It’s time for another new matchup in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament! This is our ninth match of round one, and we go 40 years apart to get this episode’s combatants. From 1949 is the bleached blonde TV star (and better wrestler than he is given credit for) — Gorgeous George. His opponent was one of the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Spotlight retro TV review
The DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show today takes a look back at the January 6, 1990 episode of WWF Wrestling Spotlight, which featured The Bushwhackers, several great enhancement wrestlers, Dusty Rhodes, the introduction of Sapphire, hype for the 1990 Royal Rumble with some amazing interviews, Dino Bravo, and a WWF World Tag Team title change. The…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Wrestling Challenge review
This is a review of a WWF Wrestling Challenge show that aired a short time after WrestleMania III that includes the Honky Tonk Man defeating Ricky Steamboat for the Intercontinental title. Plus — Bobby Heenan, Kamala, Sika, Can Am Connection, Brutus Beefcake, Dusty Wolfe, Killer Khan, Junkyard Dog, Steve Lombardi, Superstar Billy Graham, and more! Full…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Life and death of ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund
Legendary Hall of Fame wrestling announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund has passed away at the age of 76. Karl Stern from Wrestling Observer and When It Was Cool takes a look back at Okerlund’s life and career in this brand new biography breaking news special. Okerlund was the prime interviewer for the AWA, WWF, WCW, and then back…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1973 in pro wrestling
The longform history of pro wrestling series continues and this episode we take a look at the year of 1973 in pro wrestling, We cover Bobo Brazil, The Funks, Harley Race, Giant Baba puts himself over huge, Bill Watts, the Dory Funk Jr.-Harley Race-Jack Brisco NWA title controversy and title change, and much more! A…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Sammartino vs. Blassie
It’s round one, match eight in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. This time, we pit two contemporaries from the late 1960s against each other: WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino vs. WWA World Champion Fred Blassie. Blassie has terrorized the west coast, Georgia, and Japan, while Sammartino has become a legend in Toronto and New York. Who will…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1972 wrestling timeline
The Longform History of Pro Wrestling Series continues with a look at the year of 1972 in pro wrestling. On this episode, we talk about Ray Stevens, Nick Bockwinkel, Pat Patterson, Roberto and Manuel Soto, Sonny King, Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, Gorilla Monsoon, Mr. Fuji, and the Atlanta wrestling war kicking off. All this and…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1971 in pro wrestling
Wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look at 1971 in this continuing chronological look at the history of pro wrestling Ivan Koloff shocks the world by beating Bruno Sammartino, El Mongol in Georgia, Pedro Morales becomes WWWF Champion, the Funks are tearing up the wrestling world internationally, the tragic death of AWA World Tag Team title…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Andre vs. The Destroyer
It is time for match seven in round one of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament from the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show. This match pits the legendary Eighth Wonder of the World Andre the Giant against WWA World Champion The Destroyer (Dick Beyer). The votes are in — and now you can listen to who won and learn…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1970 wrestling timeline
The DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show Longform History of Wrestling series returns this week as we head into the 1970s. On this edition, we talk about stars like Andre the Giant, The Missouri Mauler, and The Assassins, along with Verne Gagne carrying the AWA World title to Japan, Atlanta wrestling, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdoch, and much more.
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Piper vs. Mascaras
The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues with match six in round one — and today we have a battle of people who seldom laid down on the job. Plucked straight out of 1984 following the famous Starrcade Dog Collar match and a year before WrestleMania I, we have “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. His opponent is one of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: HOF ballot discussion, pt. 2
This is our second discussion of the 2018 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot. On this edition, host and wrestling historian Karl Stern discusses the Japanese ballot, the UK and other areas ballot, revisits the Mexico ballot, and talks in detail about the non-wrestler candidates — including a passionate and angry rant about Jerry Jarrett.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: HOF ballot discussion, pt. 1
It’s time once again for our annual examination of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot. This year, I split the discussion into two shows so we don’t have to rush things. Part two will be next Tuesday. On this episode, we look at the United States current and historical ballot, along with the candidates from Mexico.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1969 in pro wrestling
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show host, Karl Stern presents episode 40 in the longform history of pro wrestling series as we look at the end of the 1960s. We refer to a couple of old pro wrestling magazines to fill in the gaps for this episode with segments on Dick the Bruiser,…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Vader vs. Brock Lesnar
The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) — Round One, Match Five: Big Van Vader vs. Brock Lesnar. As Jim Ross would say, this one is going to be a slobberknocker! The listeners have voted and we have a winner. On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, we discuss what would happen if Big…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Mid-1960s wrestling timeline
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we continue our longform history of pro wrestling series by traveling into the mid-1960s. As the AWA evolves into a powerhouse promotion and Verne Gagne trades the World title frequently with people like Mad Dog Vachon, Fritz Von Erich, and others, Bruno Sammartino tightens his grip…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: O’Connor vs. Liger
We continue the GKT — Greatest Kayfabe Tournament — today with an interesting clash of styles between Pat O’Connor and Jushin Thunder Liger. O’Connor was a mat wrestling machine and NWA World Champion. Jushin Liger was a revolutionary high-flyer who later developed a tremendous mat wrestling style as well. It’s the past vs. future in today’s tournament matchup. Who…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1963 was a huge year in wrestling
1963 was a hugely eventful year in pro wrestling, especially in Japan and in the life (and death) of Rikidozan. But there was a lot happening in the United States, too. Verne Gagne and the AWA title, Lou Thesz vs. Buddy Rogers for the NWA title, Bruno Sammartino and the formation of the WWWF, plus…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Jericho vs. Superstar Graham
This is a fictional 64-man. single-elimination tournament that asks the question: “What if these wrestlers were real? Who would win?” This is not a “shoot” fight, nor an argument over who the best “worker” is. This tournament is about why we started watching wrestling to begin with — could Chris Jericho the character defeat Superstar…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of Wrestling, 1962-63
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. we continue the history of pro wrestling series and cover up to 1963. We also have another wrestling magazine from this year that fills in some blanks for us. Among the people discussed include Dick the Bruiser, Mike Sharpe Sr., Sputnik Monroe, Verne Gagne, Gene Kiniski,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Savage vs. Misawa
On today’s episode, the World’s Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues with match two of round one. Randy “Macho Man’ Savage (circa 1987) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (circa 1994) in an epic battle to advance to round two and face Hulk Hogan. This one was close. The voting on Twitter (@dragonkingkarl) was neck and neck and ended in a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro Wrestling in the early 1960s
We continue our timeline look at the history of pro wrestling on this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. We are now into the 1960s. Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Verne Gagne, The Crusher, The Bruiser, The Sheik, and others are ruling the wrestling world. Join host Karl Stern as he takes the most detailed…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Hulk Hogan vs. Jerry Lawler
Today begins a new finite podcast series — the Greatest Kayfabe Wrestling Tournament. This is a fictional 64-man, single elimination tournament that asks the question “What if these wrestlers were real? Who would win?” This is not a “shoot” fight, nor an argument over who the best worke” is. This tournament is about what we…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Karl opens the mailbag
Today’s mailbag episode includes discussion on David Von Erich as NWA World Champion, Lou Thesz vs. Rikidozan and the NWA World title, SECW in 1980, and then a look at the June 23rd, 1985 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which includes the debuts of Randy Savage, Brian Blair, Stan Frasier, and Terry Funk in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Sheik, Crusher & wrestling in 1959
On this installment of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern wraps up the 1950s by looking at 1959. We also have a special treat for this episode. In addition to the timeline for that year, Karl has a copy of a wrestling magazine from 1959 which has some interesting articles, including a must-hear article…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of wrestling riots, more
We continue our longform history of pro wrestling series on today’s edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. In part 34, we enter the mid-to-late 1950s and take a look at a famous riot in Madison Square Garden between Dick the Bruiser & Dr. Jerry Graham vs. Antonino Rocca & Edouardo Carpentier that got children banned…
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Karl Stern Classic Wrestling Show: Edouard Carpentier
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, our long form history of pro wrestling reaches the mid-1950s. We talk in detail about the NWA World title reign of Edouard Carpentier which spawned the WWA World title and, in a way, lead to the creation of the AWA World title and why you…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of wrestling into the 1950s
We continue our longform history of pro wrestling series and go deeper into the 1950s on this episode, with the NWA title reign of Lou Thesz and it coming to an end, Rikidozan in Japan, The Sharpe Brothers, and El Santo down in Mexico. Pro wrestling continues to grow across America as the NWA grows in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Catch up with our longform series
This episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show is a catch-up show to allow new listeners to jump on and those who might have fallen behind to catch up. The longform history of pro wrestling series is essentially a college-level series on the history of pro wrestling. We have produced 30 parts so far, covering pro wrestling from…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Early NWA era
On the latest edition of the longform history of pro wrestling series, we journey into the first years of Lou Thesz as NWA World Champion. The NWA is beginning to flex its promotional muscle nationally, and Thesz is out there sweeping up the numerous off-shoot World Championships as promoters fall in line with the NWA. Mexico…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Giant-sized edition
This is a giant-sized edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. Today, you get two shows packed into one. First, if you have been following the longform history of pro wrestling series then you know that the foundations of the National Wrestling Alliance were laid at least ten years earlier. We saw it finally come together last…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Formation of the NWA
In this episode of our continuing series on the history of pro wrestling, we look at the years 1946-1948 and see the build up and the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance. Why were there so many World Champions at this point? How did the NWA really form? Was Orville Brown really the first NWA…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1945 and the end of World War II
The first part of today’s show talks about pro wrestling history in general and why wrestling faces a bigger problem in television entertainment than other shows. With no offseason and no end of story plotting like other scripted shows, pro wrestling is at a disadvantage. Plus, Karl gets into some WWE talk. Then we resume…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro wrestling in 1943 and 1944
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern takes a look at 1943-44 in pro wrestling. How did World War II affect pro wrestling? Steve “Crusher” Casey is a major star and World Champion, which causes the creation of one of pro wrestling’s most interesting championships — the War Time Duration…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1942
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, Karl Stern continues the longform history of pro wrestling series and dives deep into the year of 1942. If you are under the mistaken impression that nothing happened in the 1940s in pro wrestling, you will be surprised as the industry pushes on despite World War II.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1940 and 1941
This edition of the longform history of wrestling series features wrestling historian Karl Stern talking about 1940 and 1941 in pro wrestling. The World title is fractured into many pieces and people like Lou Thesz, Steve Casey, Bronko Nagurski, and Orville Brown are battling for it. World War II is unfolding, pro wrestling is changing, and…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A detailed look at the 2017 WON HOF class
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern talks about the five new members of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Karl also gives his thoughts on AJ Styles going in while still active and WWE Champion. Plus, Karl discusses how he’s come around on Pedro Morales and how differently the HOF looks…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The end of the 1930s
Pictured: Bronko Nagurski On this episode of the show, host Karl Stern continues the longform history of pro wrestling series by discussing 1938 and 1939. Lou Thesz continues to become the top wrestler in the world, Jim Londos remains strong, the World title remains fragmented into numerous pieces, Bronko Nagurski continues to be a popular star,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: More Observer HOF discussion
Let’s have a real discussion about the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame candidates — Bill Goldberg, The Ultimate Warrior, Junkyard Dog, Sgt. Slaughter, and the more mainstream memorable names on the ballot. Some of you will like what I have to say and some of won’t — complete with ridiculous pop culture music comparisons. Is…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Observer HOF ballot discussion
We suspend our longform history of pro wrestling series this week for the latest DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show and instead do our annual Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot breakdown. What do we think about CM Punk? Randy Orton? Will Curt Hennig stay on another year? Who is new to the ballot and who is…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1937 in pro wrestling; Bobby Heenan
We continue our longform history of pro wrestling series on this episode, but we also must take time to remember the legendary Bobby Heenan. This episode covers the year 1937 in pro wrestling with names like Everette Marshall, Bronko Nagurski, and Lou Thesz, and then at the end of the show we talk about the greatest…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The late 1930s World title picture
Pictured: Ed “Strangler” Lewis The late 1930s were a wild time in pro wrestling with the World Heavyweight Championship spread all over the place. Dave Levin, Everette Marshall, Strangler Lewis, Ali Baba, and others were all claiming some version of the World title. On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, host Karl…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The 1930s
Image: A statue of Danno O’Mahoney We travel deeper into the 1930s today as the longform history of pro wrestling series continues. It was a time in wrestling where little is talked about beyond Ed Strangler Lewis.Well, we dive deeper looking at one of the greatest draws in history — Jim Londos, the very earliest seed…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Longform history of wrestling returns
We return to our longform history of pro wrestling series today and take on the early 1930s. This is an era dominated by shoots, double crosses, and numerous World Championships. Today’s episode also covers the infamous Montreal bite match between Henri Deglane and Ed Strangler Lewis.
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DragonKing Dark: The line between life and death
The line between life and death is a favorite topic of host Karl Stern and today he discusses the Victorian fascination with death and how even today we still do not yet understand it. On today’s show you’ll hear the story of a woman who was dead for almost twelve hours but was brought back…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Flashback interview with Dave Meltzer
It’s the final day of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon! I had tried all month to schedule Dave Meltzer for an interview, but there was just too much happening and Dave and I could never make the connection. But I promised you Dave Meltzer and I give you Dave Meltzer! Only the twist is this…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Flashback to the original July Marathon show
Here’s a flashback for you. The very first July Classic Wrestling Marathon show took place on July 1st, 2013, and here it is again. This show was a mailbag episode talking a number of topics including Kerry Von Erich.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Action figures and video games
Image: Karl Stern As the July Classic Wrestling Marathon enters its final days, Karl Stern takes a look at wrestling merchandise and talks wrestling video games, action figures, and much more on today’s show. Karl gives a little history and an update on pro wrestling action figures and the modern Mattel era of figures, plus Karl…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Kamala
By special request, host Karl Stern does an audio biography special on Kamala the Ugandan Giant for today’s show. Kamala’s story is a complicated one to tell in 2017 and it’s a somewhat tragic tale. The man behind Kamala is James Harris and his journey from obscure regional wrestler to main event matches in the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Karl opens the mailbag
Image: Karl Stern On today’s episode, host Karl Stern presents an episode of his Old Time Wrestling Hour Show where he takes mailbag questions. One of the questions asked is a great one about Adrian Street and the later years of his career.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: NWA National title
On today’s show, host Karl Stern takes a look back at the history of a championship that he often heard about but didn’t get to see a lot of back in the day — the NWA National Heavyweight title. The belt was one of the top titles for Georgia Championship Wrestling during the TBS era…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: ECW Hardcore Heaven 1995
Good grief, how did anyone ever think this was good? Well, host Karl Stern explains that context is everything. Make no mistake about it, this show does not hold up well and there are many reasons why. Karl takes you back to the time period and what was going on in the world of wrestling…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Early career of Hulk Hogan
What is the reality of the mythology of the early career of Hulk Hogan? Host Karl Stern and a number of pro wrestling researchers once investigated and researched in detail the early years of Hogan’s career. Did he wear a mask? Who was his true first opponent? Did he quit wrestling for a while and work…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Wrestling historian Seth Hanson
On today’s show, host Karl Stern is joined by pro wrestling historian Seth Hanson. If you are on Twitter or Facebook then it is likely you have seen Seth posting some of his wrestling clipping collection. Karl talks to him about how he got interested in pro wrestling and what some of his favorite areas and…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Final installment with Eric Darsie
Eric Darsie from the Wrestling with the Dawg podcast returns one final time to talk 1990s-2000 era pro wrestling, including stars like Mankind, Steve Austin, The Rock, Chris Jericho, and Shawn Michaels. Eric grew up in a different time period than host Karl Stern. While Karl’s formative years as a wrestling fan were in the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Eric Darsie returns
As the July marathon rolls on, Eric Darsie of the Wrestling With the Dawg podcast returns to talk more pro wrestling history with host Karl Stern on today’s show. Eric was on earlier in the month and will be back again tomorrow as he and Karl discuss the 1990s and 2000s (mixed in with some 1980s).…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Part two with Kris Zellner
Today is part two with Kris Zellner of the Between the Sheets and Exile on Badstreet podcasts. We discuss a variety of topics, including more on Georgia Championship Wrestling, Continental Wrestling, and the giant television block of wrestling that aired on Atlanta TV back during the 1980s with Joe Pedicino.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Part one with Kris Zellner
Today and tomorrow, host Karl Stern is joined by a guest, Kris Zellner of the Between the Sheets and Exile on Badstreet podcasts. Karl and Kris discuss growing up in the south and watching pro wrestling and how it was part of the culture. Kris gives Karl a great history lesson on the boom period…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Wrestlers in the movies
Remember when a pro wrestler being in a movie was a big deal? Well, the days of Jesse Ventura, Hulk Hogan, Terry Funk, and Roddy Piper are behind us and wrestlers frequently appear in films now, including Batista in one of the biggest movie franchises of the last decade! Join host Karl Stern as he…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Early days of internet radio
Image: Karl Stern Have you ever wondered about the origins of pro wrestling audio? On today’s show, host Karl Stern takes you on an off-beat adventure into the pre-internet days of pro wrestling radio and into the internet era where Karl was one of the first in the field producing pro wrestling audio, talking with…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: An interview with Karl, pt. 2
Image: Karl Stern This is part two of the interview WITH Karl Stern conducted by Tonya from When It Was Cool. This episode covers in detail the lawsuit Karl was involved in against WCW and Turner Sports back in the early 2000s that led to a large settlement with a group of wrestlers (but not…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: An interview with Karl
Image: DragonKingKarl.com We are at the halfway point of the July marathon, and for the next two days the tables are turned on Karl as he is the one interviewed. Tonya from When It Was Cool asks a series of classic pro wrestling related questions to Karl and he answers them over the next two…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Ranking wrestlers
Image: DragonKingKarl.com If you put together a list of the 100 greatest pro wrestlers in history how would you do it? What criteria would you use? Drawing power? Then prepare to add people like Hulk Hogan to the top of your list. In-ring ability? How do you subjectively quantify that? How do you rank people…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Early UFC
Image: DragonKingKarl.com On today’s show, host Karl Stern talks about covering the early UFC shows as a press reporter, along with his experiences with people like Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Gary Goodrich, and taking a famous photo of one of the few known worked finishes in UFC history. Learn about the inner workings of the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Modern pro wrestling
Today’s show has more of a modern slant to it. Is host Karl Stern one of those old codgers who hates today’s flip, flopping, and flying style of pro wrestling? Does he back Jim Cornette’s arguments against modern-style pro wrestling? Did pro wrestling go in the right direction? If you are expecting Karl to side…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: WCW Uncensored 1995
Host Karl Stern is back today with a solo show discussing one of the worst pay-per-views ever — WCW Uncensored 1995. Karl recently re-watched this show and the terrors of it were brought back to him. There wasn’t a single good match, people were fired for having an uncensored match on a PPV called uncensored, and a person not…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Part two with Eric Darsie
On today’s episode of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon, Host Karl Stern continues to pick Eric Darsie’s brain about an era he has largely forgotten — the post-Attitude era. They also converse about other past stars like Yokozuna and why Eric liked him so much, plus Karl’s memories of him from his earlier Continental and AWA…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Eric Darsie
On this episode of the July Classic Wrestling marathon, host Karl Stern is joined by Eric Darsie of the Wrestling With The Dawg podcast to discuss a later era of wrestling than Karl normally covers. Eric grew up a generation later than Karl and his golden era was the WWF Attitude Era and the Monday…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: AWA World title
Karl Stern goes solo for today’s show and talks the history of the AWA World Heavyweight title. Karl has done a couple of series on the history of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in the past, but, for the first time, he is tackling the top title for Verne Gagne’s AWA. How and why did the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Part three with Beau James
This show wraps up my conversation with author, wrestler, promoter, and historian “King of Kingsport” Beau James. We continue our look at Continental Championship Wrestling, southern pro wrestling, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, and East Tennessee wrestling. Beau recently appeared on the HBO Vice News show after a story about one of his students went viral and brought a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Beau James returns
This episode continues my discussion with Tennessee wrestling expert Beau James. On this show we talk our favorite pro wrestling company — Continental Championship Wrestling. Beau knows everything there is to know about the Knoxville involvement in Continental and we talk the prime era of that promotion and names like Kevin Sullivan, Ron Fuller, Jimmy…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Beau James
On this episode, we begin a series of conversations with a southern wrestler, promoter, and author. He and one of his wrestlers also went viral recently in a national news story about Appalachian wrestling and politics. He will be featured in an upcoming HBO piece as well. This episode features my friend and southern wrestling historian…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Missing Midnight Express
Happy Independence Day! Today’s episode is a solo show where host Karl Stern talks about the interesting quandary of the Midnight Express in the Hall of Fame. Most people know that Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton, and Stan Lane are in the Hall of Fame as the Midnight Express, but there are actually two other major and original…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Day three with Sempervive
This is the third and final segment of my conversation with Mike Sempervive. In this portion of our conversation we discuss the current state of pro wrestling and why we actually think wrestling is in a new golden age of sorts. How is modern wrestling even better than old school wrestling in some ways? And how…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Day two with Sempervive
This is the second part of my conversation with the Wrestling Observer’s Mike Sempervive where we get into 1980s territorial wrestling, more tag team talk, Tommy Rich, enhancement wrestlers who became name stars, and much more! Among the topics that are discussed: Continuing our talk about 1980s tag team wrestling. The changing look of wrestlers…
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DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Day one begins with Sempervive
It is day one of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon and we kick off the month talking with Mike Sempervive about a variety of topics including Mid-Atlantic wrestling, Dick Slater, Barry Windham, Ric Flair, WWF, tag team wrestling, various territorial promotions, and much more. It’s Sin Sort of Limite! The Karl Stern Classic Wrestling Marathon has been a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Strangler Lewis vs. Joe Stecher
The mid-1920s were a wild and crazy time filled with gimmicks, elaborate storylines, and even a few shoots and double crosses. On this edition of the longform history of pro wrestling series, host Karl Stern takes a look at the rivalry between Ed “Stranger” Lewis and Joe Stecher and how Stecher eventually came to work…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Huge 1920s shoot match
On this episode we look at the era of Ed “Strangler” Lewis and some really interesting stuff that happened during the early 1920s, including a big shoot match between an Olympic silver medalist and a mystery opponent known only as The Unknown! It’s pro wrestling at its finest, only this wasn’t the 1980s — it…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Post-Frank Gotch era
We begin our look at the post-Frank Gotch era and a time dominated by Earl Caddock, Joe Stecher, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, and Wladek Zbyszko on today’s episode. Also, we look at the controversy surrounding the World Heavyweight title and two of the biggest matches of the era, including one that survives on film (Joe Stecher…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Life and Times of Frank Gotch
In this 15th part of our history of pro wrestling series, we take a look at 1916-17 and the final year of the life of all-time legend Frank Gotch. A few of the topics I touched upon: The aftermath of the Manhatten Opera House International tournament The world title chase featuring Earl Caddock, Joe Stecher, Ed…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WrestleManias I-III
On this episode, host Karl Stern takes a look back at the first three WrestleMania shows — WrestleMania I from Madison Square Garden in New York, WrestleMania II from three locations across the country, and WrestleMania III from Pontiac, Michigan and the controversy about the attendance number. Topics covered on this week’s show — How WrestleMania I was make or break and what…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Manhattan Opera Tournament
Pictured: Mort “Masked Marvel” Henderson Good grief Charlie Brown has Karl Stern got a show for you today. If you thought goofy gimmicks and outlandish Memphis-style wrestling was a 1970s southern invention, then let me introduce you to the 1915 Manhattan Opera House International Tournament. This tournament featured masked men, an investigative newspaper, a hypnotist gimmick,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt II
Karl Stern’s longform history of pro wrestling series continues today, this time looking at the big rematch between Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt and the fallout from the biggest match in history up to that point. Who were the big stars following Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt II? Topics covered on this week’s episode — Frank Gotch faces George…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt I
We continue the longform history of wrestling series today as we reach one of the biggest milestones in pro wrestling history — the first Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt match. We also follow up with what happened next. Topics covered on this episode: Mailbag — Why didn’t Gotch drop the title and who would it have…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The first World Champion
We enter 1905 and finally get a true World Heavyweight Champion of professional wrestling on today’s episode of Karl Stern’s longform look at the industry’s history — but not without significant shenanigans. Topics covered on this week’s episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show: American Champion Tom Jenkins loses to Frank Gotch. Tom Jenkins gets involved in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at the Frank Gotch era
On the tenth part of the longform history of pro wrestling series, we cover 1900-1904 today and talk a lot about Frank Gotch, his scam tour of the Yukon, the rise of George Hackenschmidt, Tom Jenkins, and more. But before we begin, the first segment of the show addresses the death of Jimmy Snuka. On this…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro wrestling longform history, pt. 9
Host Karl Stern wraps up the 1800s in the latest of his ongoing longform series of the history of early professional wrestling wth some really interesting stories involving one of the most colorful characters of the pioneer era: the Terrible Turk. Also on the show: The end of the 1800s and the rise of/early careers…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A Longform History of Wrestling Part 8
We are up to the 1880s through the 1890s and in this episode, we take a look at the prime era of Evan Strangler Lewis and his battles with other top names of the era. He is also, apparently, a horrible promo with a great newspaper promo from him. Also, we see one of our first giants…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WON Hall of Fame review
On this episode, host Karl Stern looks at the four inductees into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame for 2016 — Sting, Daniel Bryan, Gene Okerlund, and Col. James H. McLaughlin. Not a lot of time is spent on McLaughlin since we have covered him so in-depth on the last seven shows, so time…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 7
Host Karl Stern continues his series on the chronological history of pro wrestling in the pioneer era on today’s show.. On this episode we see the rise of the original Strangler Lewis, Evan Lewis plus the careers of William Muldoon and Col. McLaughlin wind down and we look at some interesting trivia and notes about…
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DragonKing Dark: Talking comics with Tony from Comic Conversations
No, host Karl Stern didn’t steal the name of another podcast. He is joined by the first ever guest on DragonKing Dark — Tony Galvan from the Comic Conversations podcast to talk about comic books! We haven’t talked about comics in many weeks on DragonKing Dark and much has happened since then so we have an expert on to…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 6
Image courtesy of OnMilwaukee.com Host Karl Stern continues his detailed examination of the history of pro wrestling, continuing in the 1880’s where we continue to see the domination of Col. McLaughlin, the rise of William Muldoon, the death of Clarence Whistler, the rise of Evan Strangler Lewis, and the first Japanese star to tour the…
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DragonKing Dark: Karl opens the mailbag
On this edition of DragonKing Dark host Karl Stern answers listener emails and questions, many of which are about horror movies and Stephen King. It seems our last episode on King really struck a nerve with listeners sharply divided on the famous author. Karl also talks about his Halloween festivities including a trip to one…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 5
Karl Stern’s history of pro wrestling series continues into the 1880s and this show gets into some really interesting characters like William Muldoon, Viro Small, and Clarence “The Kansas Demon” Whistler. Wait until you find out about Whistler. Your modern heels know nothing. Topics covered on this episode: The mailbag is dead for now so…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 4
Your host Karl Stern (also of When It Was Cool) presents the fourth part in a long series covering the chronological history of pro wrestling. Still in the Pioneer Era, we meet Richard K. Fox, a hugely important figure in wrestling history, and Col. James H. McLaughlin kills another man. Additionally, we get thoughts on newly…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling: WON Hall of Fame discussion
On today’s episode, host Karl Stern answers a few questions out of the mailbag including wrestling merchandise and Houston wrestling questions. Karl then takes a look at the 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot. On today’s show: When did wrestling merchandise begin and when did it take off? Why do heels have merchandise today…
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DragonKing Dark: Creepy photography
Since photography became popular in the early 1800s people have used it to document their loved ones, historic events, and places. Sometimes, photography has been used in some pretty creepy and unsettling ways. On this week’s DragonKing Dark, host Karl Stern talks about Victorian era post-mortem photography and more. Karl talks about recent Halloween haunted…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 3
Karl Stern returns with his ongoing look at the history of pro wrestling in the Pioneer era, examining the post-Civil War era, and specifically Theobaud Bauer and the original masked wrestler gimmick. The “Dragon King” also answers a few emails from his ever-flowing mailbag: Early examples of ring entrance music which leads to a discussion about Leroy Brown and Ray Candy.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A Longform History of Wrestling pt. 2
Image: Karl Stern In this continuing audio series on the history of pro wrestling, the first half of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show examines the recently found “Last Battle of Atlanta” match between Tommy Rich and Buzz Sawyer inside an enclosed steel cage from the Omni in Atlanta, GA in October 1983, followed by another steel…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling: A long-form history of pro wrestling pt. 1
Karl Stern begins an open-ended series about the history of professional wrestling, starting with the time before the pioneers of wrestling era even began. What exactly is pro wrestling and how did it come to be? Karl will be taking a deep look at this question and looking at President Abraham Lincoln’s time spent as…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling: Karl Stern opens the mailbag
Host Karl Stern continues to sort through the emails generated during the July marathon of biographies. Topics on this show include follow up on Norvell Austin, plus conversation about the WrestleMania VIII main event that should have been Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan, and much more. On the show, Karl talks about: Why the conventional reasons…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling: Marathon leftovers, Q&A
Karl Stern returns to the regular format of questions and answers and begins catching up on questions generated during the July marathon. Questions, corrections, and conversations include: When Tommy Rogers isn’t Tommy Rogers The wonderfully horrible job Sports Illustrated did with their ranking of wrestlers Marathon follow-ups on Canek, Marty Jannetty, and Sgt. Slaughter An incredible article…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon Finale: Jim Neidhart
The final day of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon is finally here. And for the last show, host Karl Stern takes a listener request deep cut looking at the lesser successful member of the Hart Foundation, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. Neidhart did have a wrestling career prior to the Hart Foundation working in Memphis, Mid-South, Florida, and of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Iron Mike Sharpe
Host Karl Stern again takes a look at another iconic enhancement wrestler from the 1980s in second-generation wrestling star Iron Mike Sharpe. If you were a fan of WWF Superstars or WWF Wrestling Challenge in the 1980s, you likely saw many matches with the big screaming Canadian and Canada’s Greatest Athlete, Iron Mike Sharpe. But Sharpe got…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Marty Jannetty
WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels had an incredible career — easily one of the top ten of all history in pro wrestling — but what about the other half of the Midnight Rockers? Early on, many thought Marty Jannetty might be the standout of the duo and he certainly had the skill. He began his career as Marty…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Bobby Heenan
On today’s July Classic Wrestling Marathon show, host Karl Stern takes a look at the greatest pro wrestling manager of all time, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Heenan had a quick wit and was a tremendous bump taker. He knew his role better than anyone, and played the part of a sports agent who was intent on destroying…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Lance Russell
On the latest edition of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon, Karl Stern takes a look at one of the greatest announcers of all time: legendary Memphis wrestling announcer Lance Russell. Russell was more than just a play-by-play announcer, and was every bit as important a character to Memphis TV as Jerry Lawler or Bill Dundee was. It was Russell’s smooth…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Norvell Austin
This show was a lot of fun for Karl Stern to research and put together. It all started from a research project Karl is doing on Sputnik Monroe. Knowing Norvell Austin only from his time as part of the Midnight Express and the PYT’s, Karl discovered just how important a cultural figure Austin was. Oh…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Sgt. Slaughter
Yo Joe! You had to know that host Karl Stern was going to include Sgt. Slaughter in his list of favorite wrestlers for this year’s July Classic Wrestling Marathon. Karl is a massive G.I. Joe collector and pro wrestling fan, and Sgt. Slaughter was a major character in both! Slaughter was a top star in the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Photo Credit: Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman On today’s July Classic Wrestling Marathon Show, host Karl Stern takes a look at another of his personal favorite wrestlers in “Dr. Death” Steve Williams. As far as tough guys go, Williams certainly had the reputation for being just that. A standout football player and wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, Williams…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Shane Douglas
For many years he was the face of ECW, having long reigns as ECW world champion and ECW TV champion. But in the many times ECW has since been attempted to be resurrected, Shane Douglas has seldom been front and center of it. Douglas is a controversial, outspoken personality. He started out training in the Northeast…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Masked Superstar/Demolition Ax
Today, host Karl Stern takes a look at the career of Bill Eadie, best known under two gimmicks, the territory traveling Masked Superstar and later as the face-paint wearing Demolition Ax. Eadie was a world traveler who competed for the NWA, WWF, and top New Japan championships over the course of a long career. Starting out…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Scott Steiner
Big Poppa Pump. The Big Bad Booty Daddy. One half of the Steiner Brothers. Scott Steiner started off as a super-athlete working smaller promotions, then came to WCW in the early 1990s where he was paired with his brother Rick in one of the most dominant tag teams of the era. After a run in both WCW…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Power and Paint
Apparently, post-nuclear war, mankind will take off their shirts, dawn old football shoulder pads, and paint their faces. They may or may not have weird haircuts. Hockey masks may or may not be included. We will run around the planet chasing gasoline, but above all, else we will look really, really bad ass. In the early 1980s…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Ken Timbs
Who is “Gentleman” Ken Timbs? Today you will find out. Timbs worked many areas during the 1980s, from Georgia Championship Wrestling to Central States to Southwest to Mexico’s EMLL. He was a tag team partner to Eric Embry and had a great program with Lizmark in Mexico. He was also very important in host Karl Stern’s pro wrestling…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Muhammad Ali
The Greatest. Simply the most appropriate nickname for one of the biggest mega-stars ever. Few people in modern history have reached the level of fame that Muhammad Ali did. Ali was a force beyond stardom in the 1970’s. If you were old enough to be aware of sports then Ali was as big as they came. He fought…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Lex Luger, pt. II
This is the second half of the Lex Luger biography, so be sure to listen to episode one first. This second part focuses on the later part of Luger’s WWF tenure, and his entrance into WCW on the first WCW Monday Nitro. His second WCW run is covered and then the chaotic years after the end of WCW. Luger’s…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Lex Luger pt. 1
Today, host Karl Stern is back with a doubleheader, a two-part Lex Luger biography. Show number one covers his early career coming out of the USFL as a pro football player into Florida wrestling and his training with Hiro Matsuda during his early days there. Luger was pushed to the moon from the start and was a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Bam Bam Bigelow
Today, Karl Stern looks at the Beast from the East. Bam Bam Bigelow started out his wrestling career as a highly acclaimed student of the Monster Factory. He soon showed up in Memphis with his manager and trainer Larry Sharpe, where he battled Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee, and all the top stars in Memphis for a short period…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Mil Mascaras
You have probably seen Mil Mascaras before. If not wrestling, then at least on the cover of a magazine or in the WWE Hall of Fame. You have probably read stories about him in your favorite wrestling books, but who is Mil Mascaras really? On today’s episode, Karl Stern takes a look at the career of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Canek
Today on the July Classic Wrestling Marathon, host Karl Stern heads south of the border to Mexico to look at one of his favorite lucha stars, Canek. Canek seems to be one of those stars of lucha libre who many in the United States have heard of but know very little about. While many fans in…
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DragonKingKarl Classing Wrestling Marathon: Ron Fuller
Many people mistakenly believe that the “Tennessee Stud” was Robert Fuller (AKA: Col. Rob Parker) since Robert and his cousin Jimmy Golden were active during the cable TV era and the end of the territories. Together Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden were known as The Stud’s Stable but the original Stud’s Stable had actually existed…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Eddie Gilbert
For today’s July marathon show, host Karl Stern takes a look at one of the most conflicted minds in wrestling history, “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. The son of Tommy Gilbert, Gilbert was a second generation wrestler, who patterned himself after Jerry Lawler and had a brilliant mind for the wrestling business. Like many creative people however, he…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Jushin Thunder Liger
The timing could not have worked out better for this show as, just the day before, Jushin Liger was announced as participating in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament. The tournament this year looks to be one of the most loaded in history with some incredible matches possible. Karl Stern was a huge…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: The Assassin
Today’s show looks at Joe “Jody” Hamilton, best known in professional wrestling as The Assassin. He and Tom Renesto were THE prototype heel tag team that traveled the country feuding with the Kentuckians, but Karl saw none of that. He saw Hamilton as the masked Flame — a fireball-throwing heel in a bright red and yellow outfit who…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: Arn Anderson
“The Enforcer” Arn Anderson is best known for his years spent as a member of the Four Horsemen in the NWA and WCW. He and Ole Anderson formed the second version of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew. He and Tully Blanchard formed one of the best teams of the era. He was best friends with Ric Flair.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas
“Mr. USA” Tony Atlas was a fixture in the wrestling magazines of Karl Stern’s youth. He was massive, and had a likability that made him an excellent babyface. From Georgia Championship Wrestling to the WWF, Atlas was a big star during the time Karl first became a superfan. His career dropped off quickly in the mid-to-late 1980s due to…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: Mike Jackson
Photo of Tony LeDue, Pat Rose, and Mike Jackson by Karl Stern If you watched WTBS-17 Georgia Championship wrestling or NWA World Championship Wrestling later, you saw the fiery underdog Mike Jackson week after week. In fact, many of the enhancement workers you saw on those shows were booked by Jackson. Mike played a very important…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: “Wildfire” Tommy Rich
Tommy “Wildfire” Rich became a near instant star in the early 1980s but almost as quickly as he shot to stardom, he fell from the top going from one of the youngest NWA World Heavyweight champions to a comedy figure in just a few years time. So, what went wrong? Actually, Rich had a better career than most…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: “Hustler” Rip Rogers
He is brash and you do not ever need to wonder what he is thinking; he will tell you in no uncertain terms. He has a grasp of wrestling psychology that few have and he still teaches it today. If you follow him on Twitter, you know that still to this day, he thinks about wrestling and…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: “Bullet” Bob Armstrong
“Bullet” Bob Armstrong was the perfect babyface character for his era. Back in a time when people still believed in babyfaces and hated heels, “Bullet” Bob was a firefighter and former Marine from Marietta, Georgia. He spoke like others spoke, and he acted like you would expect him to act. He had a code of honor.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: Austin Idol
The women’s pet and the men’s regret is the topic of today’s show, Jackson! Even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recognized the incredible promo skills of Austin Idol and raved about him on the mic. When you are recognized as a great promo by probably the greatest promo in the history of the business… well…that’s saying…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling July Marathon: Mr. Olympia Jerry Stubbs
The DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show July 2016 marathon begins today with 32 shows in one month with a theme of “people who made me a fan of pro wrestling”. If you have listened to Karl’s show over the years, you probably already know that this series could only kick off with one man- Mr. Olympia,…
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DragonKingKarl Show: 1983 wrestling world, pinfalls, Jesse Ventura, Free show!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: 1983 was an incredible year in wrestling if you think about it. The wrestling world was about to change forever. The release of the new TEW 2016 got me to thinking back about the year in wrestling in 1983 and I talk about it on this episode. Also I answer…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Ospreay vs Ricochet historically speaking
Photo of Eddie Guerrero and Jerry “Mr. JL” Lynn by Karl Stern Classic wrestling host and wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look at the recent Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet match from NJPW to see what all the fuss is about. How does it fit historically? Is this a bunch of flippy-doos doing something other than pro…
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DragonKingKarl Show: Mailbag featuring World Class, Abdullah the Butcher, Gino Hernandez
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Today’s show takes questions and suggestions from the mailbag with topics including people who made it to the WWF WWE that I worked with years ago, an incredibly great question about hepatitis in wrestling, drug use and drug deaths in World Class wrestling and a special look at Gino Hernandez…
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DragonKingKarl Show: The last NWA Southeastern Championship Wrestling Show
Lord Humongous/Jeff Van Camp photo by Karl Stern On this week’s show, Karl takes a few questions from the mailbag dealing with a wide range of topics including Survivor Series, Sid Vicious, and a couple off-topic questions. Then, Karl tackles the last episode of NWA Southeastern Championship Wrestling in June 1985 as he watches his favorite promotion be put…
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DragonKingKarl Show: Mailbag, new incredibly bad wrestlers, smart fans
This edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show hosted by wrestling historian Karl Stern is a mailbag edition with questions and topics all over the place. There is no one single “big” topic for this episode but some of the conversation includes: The end of the “Super Stern Stick” flashdrive? Changes are coming and…
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DragonKingKarl Show: Mail bag! Continental Wrestling talk and Dawn of Justice RAGE!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Mailbag show… sort of. I take a few mailbag questions but talk a little bit about Continental wrestling. Why I like Lucha Underground and I actually have good things to say about Vince Russo… sort of! Also on this show is my review of Batman vs Superman DAWN OF JUSTICE!…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: WWE SummerSlam 1992 reviewed
****This is a free edition of the show. Please share!**** On this look back at WWF SummerSlam 1992, Karl watches and reviews the entire show: Shawn Michaels, Rick Martel, The Natural Disasters, The Beverly Brothers, The Undertaker, Kamala, The Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect, Randy Savage, The Legion of Doom, Money Inc, and the big main event…
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DragonKingKarl Show: Mail bag! Free! Pioneer era, plus Demolition, WWE HOF
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: FREE EDITION! Tell your friends! Today is a mailbag show with a wide range of questions and topics including: The pioneers of wrestling what referees were in the days of Frank Gotch, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, and Joe Stecher. The conversation also includes how state atheletic commissions played into things during…
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DragonKingKarl Show: Mailbag! WrestleMania 8, Sid Justice, Hulk Hogan
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Mailbag question and answer part two. Second show of the week. On this show, host wrestling historian Karl Stern, answers more questions and addresses topics on old school classic pro wrestling history and more including: WWF WrestleMania 8 and the two botched finishes on the show and the return of the…
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DragonKingKarl Show: Paul Heyman hypocrisy, mailbag, wrestling history
Photo of Mike Jackson selling his “broken shoulder” by Karl Stern This is the first of two mailbag heavy shows with a broad range of questions and topics. Email your questions for the next mailbag show now! On this show, topics and questions include: – Undisputed world heavyweight champions including champions from the past such as…
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DragonKingKarl Show: Wrestling demographics, Strong Style troubles, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, more!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Today’s show is a mailbag show with topics and questions including Shane McMahon’s return to WWE and some interesting scenarios it could set up that might appeal to the largest demographic watching WWE and more about the demographics of WWE and observations. Other mailbag questions and topics include womens wrestling including a look…
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DragonKingKarl Show: The death of Mark Nulty, pro wrestling historians, Canadian Wrestling
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Thinking About Mark Nulty and Classic Wrestling History. On this show I want to take a little time and reflect on the contributions of Wrestling Classics owner and former announcer Mark Nulty to the wrestling history community and just where does pro wrestling history stand? What are we still following…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Q&A, NWA belt, evolution of the pin, Black History Month
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Questions and Answers plus honoring Black History Month by looking at the pioneers of African Americans in pro wrestling. Questions from this edition of the mailbag include pinfall changes from one second to three and how that may have evolved, the make up of the NWA Domed Globe belt and…
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DragonKingKarl Biography Series Radio Show – Mongolian Stomper
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Biography Series – The Mongolian Stomper. I wanted to dedicate an entire biography show to the late Archie “The Mongolian Stomper” Gouldie. He was my first favorite heel character when I started watching wrestling. Normally, I would not expect a lot to be made of the Stomper’s death other than a…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Iron Mike Sharpe, origins of kayfabe, and more!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show – Questions and Answers! The return of the popular questions and answers format. Topics and questions today deal with a variety of things but I have to start off with the death of “Iron” Mike Sharpe. If you grew up watching WWF in the 1980’s like I did then you…
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DragonKingKarl Biography Series Radio Show – Gene Kiniski
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Biography Series: Gene Kiniski. Gene “Big Thunder” Kiniski was one of the most important champions in pro wrestling history. He bridged the gap between two distinct eras of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and he was the face of the 1960’s in pro wrestling. An AWA, WWA, NWA, and Montreal World…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Q & A
The first DragonKingKarl Show of 2016 is a question and answer show so the good DragonKingKarl can clear out some email questions to get the year started off right! Several of them deal with off-topic discussions from recent shows including the ever controversial Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not only that but there is even…
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Dragon King Karl Audio: Lizmark, Star Wars spoilers, a little rock’n’roll
This week’s show is a change of pace to wrap up 2015 with the only wrestling talk being the death of luchadore Lizmark who was a major career rival of Karl’s mentor in pro wrestling, the late Ken Timbs. Timbs and Lizmark had a big feud in CMLL in the late 1980s over one of the major…
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Dragon King Karl Classic Wrestling Audio: WWE Network’s new additions examined
On this week’s show, the conversation is about all the new classic, old-school wrestling shows which have been added lately to the WWE Network. Finally taking advantage of their incredible tape library, WWE has finally added a sizeable amount of classic content to the online network. Included among the newly added material is NWA World Championship…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Your holiday season wrestling gift buying guide!
On this special family-friendly edition of the Karl Stern Show, the Dragon King (and his wife!) talk about buying gifts for the wrestling fan in your life this holiday season. It can be intimidating for a non-fan to buy gifts for a wrestling fan, so Karl’s wife sits down with him to talk about what she looks for,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio: Bruiser Brody biography special
On the latest episode of the DragonKing Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern bring you the latest in a series of wrestler biographies. This week, Karl takes a look at the incredibly popular, mythical, and controversial “Intelligent Monster” Frank “Bruiser Brody” Goodish. Brody was a wild bearded powerhouse who ran roughshod through the United States, Japan, and Puerto…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Biography Special: Abdullah the Butcher
This show is part two of a series of biographies on some of the wild and craziest wrestlers in history. Very few were more wild and crazy than the Madman from the Sudan, Abdullah the Butcher. The WWE Hall-of-Famer’s story is a complicated one. From his days to team with and battling against The Sheik to…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Biography Series: Stan Hansen
Biography Series: Stan Hansen. This part one of a three part series covering some of the greatest brawlers in wrestling history. On this show I look at former AWA World champion, WCW U.S. Champion, and one of the all time legends of Japan – Stan “The Lariat” Hansen.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Biography Series: The Midnight Express
One of the greatest tag teams of all time the Hall of Fame team the Midnight Express. From beginning to end including some members you may have never even known about including Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose, Norvell Austin, Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane, and many more (yes there were more). A look at one of wrestling’s greatest acts…
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Karl Stern Show 10/22: Storytelling series on the monsters of pro-wrestling history!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Storytelling Series: The Monsters of Wrestling! Halloween is coming soon and in honor of it I’m looking at some of the best and worst horror and monster themed wrestlers including Mummies, Zombies, Vampires, Frankenstein-esque Monsters, and more! Among those discussed include The Mummy, The Monster, The Zombie, Lord Humongous, Jason…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show Biography Series: Huracán Ramírez
He’s on the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot and one of the most popular moves of the high flying era is named after him. He was literally a movie character come to life. On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic show, I take a look at lucha libre legend Huracán Ramírez, who he was, and what…
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DragonKing Karl Stern Show 10/8: All mailbag show!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Today’s show is a question and answer show with a variety of topics including pro wrestling’s history on the radio, who could have been the “Hulk Hogan” of the 1970’s had a promotion gone national, a new top contender for the Forrest Gump of wrestling, and a great question about Frank…
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DragonKing Karl Show 9/29: The art of the promo
On today’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show I’m going to look at the art of the promotional interview. What makes a good promo? Who were some of the great promos and why? We will listen to several promos and pick them apart and see what makes them great (or terrible). We will discuss Ric Flair, Dusty…
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DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show: Biography Series on Junkyard Dog
Annual examination of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot. Who am I looking at voting for this year? The dreaded annual “What about Big Daddy?” question. Plus Brock Lesnar, Sting, AJ Styles, and many more to consider.
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New and Improved DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Hall of Fame ballot and more!
Annual examination of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot. Who am I looking at voting for this year? The dreaded annual “What about Big Daddy?” question. Plus Brock Lesnar, Sting, AJ Styles, and many more to consider.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Storytelling: The Bullet and The Stud 1982-84
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Storytelling Series 1: The Bullet & The Stud. The first storytelling series takes a look back to a storyline that ran from 1982-1984 involving the original Tennessee Stud Ron Fuller and his feud both as a babyface and a heel against Bullet Bob Armstrong. Also involved are Jerry Stubbs, Arn…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Biography Special: Ken Patera
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Biography Special: Ken Patera. The powerhouse Olympic weightlifter turned pro wrestler. A champion in virtually every region he wrestled in and a top heel opponent for most of that era’s WWF champions. Today’s show spotlights one of the more under rated stars of the 1970’s and 80’s.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Follow up on last months bios including more Backlund
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Follow up questions and comments on the July marathon including a great set of notes on El Santo, Bob Backlund, and others. Plus conversation about changes to the show, who is the next biography special, and much more!
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Epilogue
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Epilogue… and so today on this bonus show we tie it all together. After 31 days of biographies we talk about the past, present, and future of wrestling.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: The Rock
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: The Rock. One of the biggest wrestling stars in history and probably the biggest mainstream personality ever to come from pro wrestling. Today we are talking about Dwayne The Rock Johnson. From a pro wrestling family to the most hated babyface in wrestling to the biggest star…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Stone Cold Steve Austin
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Steve Austin. It’s Stone Cold day! An era defining mega-star who may have lead the most financially successful era in wrestling history. Wrestling has never been as popular as it was at the peak of today and tomorrow’s subjects. Please consider purchasing a Super Stern Stick flash…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Bill Goldberg
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Bill Goldberg. Who’s Next? It’s Bill Goldberg! A huge star during the Monday Night War era he is the flip side of Steve Austin in WWE. A man with such momentum and so hot that only WCW could screw it up… and they did. Today’s show looks…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Triple H
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Triple H. It’s all about the game (AND how you play it). Today’s show is on the life, career, and legacy of one Mr. Hunter Hearst Helmsley better known as Triple H and one of the big powerplayers behind the scenes in wrestling Paul Levesque.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Shawn Michaels
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Shawn Michaels. You know he’s cute, you know he’s sexy, you know that’s a terrible song right? Shawn Michaels may be one of the greatest in ring performers in history. He was also quite the train wreck during his peak. Today’s show takes a look at the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Bret Hart
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Bret Hart. Today’s person has been covered in an excellent book, multiple documentaries, and interviews but you absolutely can’t tell the history of wrestling (especially in this series over the next three days) without taking a detailed look at the life and career of The Hitman. Join…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: The Undertaker
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: The Undertaker. Today we look at the life and career of one Mr. Mark Calloway AKA: the dead man, AKA: the Master of Pain, AKA: The Punisher, AKA: THE UNDERTAKER! One of the greatest and longest lasting gimmick characters and one not yet covered to death (pun)…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Ultimate Warrior
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Ultimate Warrior! He’s not just any Warrior! He’s not the Average Warrior or the Pretty Great Warrior- he’s the ULTIMATE Warrior! From his days as a bodybuilder to Bladerunner Rock to the DINGO Warrior to the WWF champion. Today’s show covers the strange life and surreal death…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Big Van Vader
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Big Van Vader! You know what time it is! One of the best big men in the business. Yes, we could have talked about Brody (and do on this episode), we could have talked about Bam Bam (Bigelow or Gordy) but I chose Vader because he was…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Four Horsemen
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Four Horsemen. Our first stable of the series featuring Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, James J. Dillon, Ole Anderson, Lex Luger, Barry Windham, Sting, PAUL ROMA, Dean Malenko, HE WHO SHALT’N BE NAMED, and many more. It’s the stable of stables. Let the Horsemen ride! Please consider purchasing…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: The Road Warriors (LOD!)
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: The Road Warriors! NOTE: THERE IS A PRODUCTION MISTAKE ON THIS SHOW- IT IS MIXED BACKWARDS. THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW PLAYS BEFORE THE FIRST. No additional charge for that. Besides it the Legion of Doom, it’s gonna be awesome no matter what. Hawk and Animal…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: The Von Erich family
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: The Von Erich family. A tragic tale of the self destruction of an entire family and territory of superstars. Fritz, Waldo, Kevin, Kerry, Mike, Chris, Lance- all of them, real or imagined Adkisson family members, are covered.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Hulk Hogan
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Hulk Hogan. Don’t skip this show thinking you know all there is to know about Hulk Hogan. This is not a straight up biography. This show focuses on the early days of his career and the reality of when he started and how and against who. This…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Jerry Lawler
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Jerry Lawler. Lawler was easily the biggest regional star during my early years as a wrestling fan. His story was that of a constant chase of the AWA World title which ended in 1988. Fans of this era know him as a color commentator and half of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Ric Flair
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Marathon: Ric Flair. Today’s show is so good I had to do it twice! Actually, a software malfunction erased the first take but hey, IT’S RIC FLAIR! Any show about Ric Flair is worth doing right! So today is all about the life and times and classic matches…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Harley Race
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Harley Race. Harley Race was the toughest son of a gun I watched as a kid. At 30 years old the guy looked like he was 50 and just walked out of a bar fight. 7 (or 8) time NWA World champion. Today’s show is about the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Dusty Rhodes
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Dusty Rhodes. Yes, there has been a lot of Dusty tributes lately and I even did one next month but this show promises something different as it interweaves Dusty’s narrative into that of the other bios this month. I think you’ll enjoy this fresh look at the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Bob Backlund
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Bob Backlund. I both dreaded and looked forward to this show. I personally have no idea what the appeal of Bob Backlund was so I set out to find it and actually learned a lot from doing this show. There’s also a promo that can’t be…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Superstar Billy Graham
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Superstar Billy Graham. The man of the hour, the man with the power, to sweet to be sour is the topic of today’s marathon biography. The charismatic Billy Graham has a heck of a story and I’m here to tell it.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Terry Funk
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Terry Funk! Yes! Yes! Yes! Terry Funk! I ain’t gonna lie, Terry is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time. I loved doing this show and the promos are gonna blow you away with pure insanity. This and the El Santo show have been my…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Andre the Giant
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Andre the Giant! Today’s show is on one of the largest (figuratively and literally) attractions in wrestling history. A man who crossed over into popular culture, became a near mythical figure in and out of the ring, and traveled the world.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: El Santo
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Señores y señoras! Today’s show is on the Mexican national legend El Santo! Told in exciting technicolor for the first time to audenices en los Estados Unidos is the tale of El enmascarado de plata!
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DragonKingKarl July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Bruno Sammartino
The living legend himself is the focus of today’s biography: an amazing man with an amazing story and a great companion show to the Buddy Rogers bio.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Buddy Rogers
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Buddy Rogers. A nice companion show to the Lou Thesz, Gorgeous George, and upcoming Bruno Sammartino show. Find out all about the controversial original Nature Boy. Former NWA and first WWF (WWWF) champion.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Gorgeous George
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Gorgeous George. Gorgeous George was a super famous wrestler and pop culture icon. Everyone knows the name Gorgeous George but… what do you really know about his career? Me? I really knew next to nothing. So today we all get an education on the crazy life…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Jim Londos
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Jim Londos. Today’s show is about one of the most popular wrestlers in history… but almost no one knows about him today. I really enjoyed researching this show and I hope you enjoy it.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Lou Thesz
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Lou Thesz. Bridging the gap from Strangler Lewis to modern wrestling is the legendary Lou Thesz. You can’t tell the history of wrestling without Thesz who is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle weaving eras together.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Ed “Strangler” Lewis
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Ed “Strangler” Lewis. The man who defined an era, the man who inspired Lou Thesz in his career. Today we’re going to talk about the life, career, and influence of Ed “Strangler” Lewis.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Frank A. Gotch
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: Frank Gotch. Is he the greatest wrestler in history? Maybe. I’ll let you be the judge. He is the undefeated undisputed world heavyweight champion and defined an era.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Wrestling Marathon: Col. James H. McLauglin
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon Day 2: Col. James H. McLaughlin. Perhaps you’ve never heard of McLaughlin but you should. He was one of the most dangerous, feared, and highest earning wrestlers ever. He wrestled from the time of Muldoon until the time of Gotch. This is his story.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon: William Muldoon
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: July Classic Wrestling Marathon! Day 1- William Muldoon. William Muldoon could be called the Grandfather of American pro wrestling. He was a wrestler with a career rival, a promoter with ideas to make wrestling more exciting, and the central figure in mid-1800’s wrestling.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Mean Gene, Chris Jericho, Bob Backlund, and much more!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: The final show before the July Classic Wrestling Marathon! This is a mailbag show with such topics as CM Punk and Chris Jericho, Gene Okerlund, Houston Wrestling, Bob Backlund, Ricky Steamboat, and much more!
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Buddy Landel tribute and interview
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Special edition: Tribute to the late great “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel. After a few minute introduction I wanted to play an interview I did with Buddy a few years ago. As he always was when I talked to him he was open, honest, and well aware of who he was…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: This show can only be about Dusty Rhodes.
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: How could this show be about anything other than the American Dream Dusty Rhodes? The man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour! Dusty’s career plus lots of Dusty related questions. It’s a whole show of the plumber’s son.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Tommy Rogers, AWA champions, Bruiser Brody, Vancouver
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Memories of Tommy Rogers of the Fantastics, Bruiser Brody in WWF, Vancouver wrestling, bounties in wrestling, Baron Leone, AWA champion instead of Martel, and much more!