Category: Dragon King
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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…