Category: Dragon King
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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).…