Category: Dragon King
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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…