Category: Dragon King
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Magazine from September 1992
Let’s have some fun on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show looking back at a retro pro wrestling magazine. These shows have proven very popular and this week, we are looking at WWF Magazine from September 1992 (31 years ago!) featuring Papa Shango on the cover. He is making life miserable for the Ultimate Warrior…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: Pioneer Era Minnesota wrestling
The 1000 Hours Podcast is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Pre-1900 pro wrestling. In this episode, sponsor Eric D. wanted to know about the pioneer era of wrestling in the state of Minnesota. While Minnesota would become a hotbed of wrestling from the 1940s through the 1980s with Verne Gagne’s AWA, Minnesota…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: December 1983 in pro wrestling
WWE On this edition of the Long-Form History of Pro Wrestling series, host Karl Stern wraps up 1983 by looking at December. Ric Flair has newly regained the NWA World Heavyweight title — but the big news is the end of the long reign of Bob Backlund as WWF Champion as the Iron Sheik famously…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: John Pesek & the history of wrestling at MSG
In this 14th installment of my history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden series, I look at one of the toughest and scariest shooters ever in wrestling history who you seldom hear about but should: John Pesek. I discuss how a pioneer era wrestler shockingly and bafflingly helped change the rules of wrestling in…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The first Japanese pro wrestler
Matsuda Sorakichi was the first Japanese star in America. He faced all the top names of his era including Evan “Strangler” Lewis, Duncan C. Ross, Edwin Bibby, Tom Cannon, and others. Though on the small side, he gave the top wrestlers of the day all they could handle and was highly respected by the best…
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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Brock Lesnar vs. Andre the Giant
One of the biggest possible matches — both literally and figuratively — takes place on this installment of the DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament. What would happen if prime Brock Lesnar wrestled prime Andre the Giant? Two of the most amazing special attraction wrestlers meet in this round with the winner advancing to meet Mitsuharu Misawa.…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Jack Carkeek goes to prison
It’s time for another entry into the 1000 Hours series which looks at the pioneer era which describes wrestling prior to the Frank Gotch era around the year 1900. This series looks to uncover the lost origins and evolution of modern entertainment style of pro wrestling. Jack Carkeek was a well-known top level wrestler during…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Adrian Adonis biography review
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we’re heading to the library to talk the fantastic new “Flowers for Adrian: The Life and Death of Adrian Adonis” book by John Ellul looking at the life and career of the pro wrestling star. This book is tremendously well-written and researched and is probably my favorite pro…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pioneer era wrestler John McMahon
On this week’s DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show, I introduce my 1000 Hours series which looks at the pioneer era which describes wrestling prior to the Frank Gotch era around the year 1900. This series looks to uncover the lost origins and evolution of modern entertainment style of pro wrestling. Famous names among the pioneer era…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Inside Wrestling from April 1988
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, let’s take a look back at a retro Apter mag: the April 1988 issue of Inside Wrestling. This issue features a look at the storyline run-up to the Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant feud where Ted DiBiase tried to buy the WWF World title from Andre. Also…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: November 1983
On this installment of my DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show longform history of pro wrestling series, I am up to November 1983 which is hugely important because we have NWA Starrcade — a show that was highlighted by Ric Flair regaining the NWA World title from Harley Race in a steel cage match. That show wasn’t…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The original Trust Busters
A very interesting era greets us on this edition of my history of wrestling at MSG series on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. We are moving away from Earl Caddock into the Ed “Strangler” Lewis era and there are those out there who are not pleased with the wrestling trust. Marin Plestina is giving the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The origin story of The Midnight Express
It’s time for another DragonKingKarl mega-show as my “Saga of” series takes a look back at a tag team many consider the greatest of all-time: the Midnight Express. But if you think the Midnights are only Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton or Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane, or if you think Jim Cornette has always…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Hulk Hogan vs. Abdullah the Butcher ’82
It was a dream match of the 1980s: the monster squashin’ “Incredible” Hulk Hogan vs. Abdullah the Butcher. While Abdullah never ended up as a Hogan opponent in WWE, the two did face off in their long careers but just three times during the course of one week in 1982. This is that story. (sub…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The many tales of Manny Fernandez
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present the saga of Manny Fernandez — an old school wrestler who has told a lot of tales. Fernandez has the reputation of being, how can I put this, a perpetual liar. I am going to examine three of the most-often repeated tales: He was a Navy…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at Lord Humongous
On this week’s DragonKing Karl Show, I present my biggest Saga of Wrestling special — clocking in at over three hours – covering the career of the wrestling character Lord Humongous in every detail. Based on the character by the same name from Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, the monster brute terrorized Memphis, SECW, Continental,…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Continental Wrestling’s self-destruction
You may have heard rave reviews about the time Eddie Gilbert and Paul Heyman came to book the newly-purchased Continental Wrestling Federation. David Woods bought the company from Ron Fuller and turned over the creative reigns to the then-young, hot creative minds Gilbert and Heyman. The newsletters gushed over the creative direction, but the reality…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Ric Flair jumps to WWF with NWA title belt
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I cover the entire story of Ric Flair quitting WCW to jump to WWF in 1991 while still WCW/NWA World Champion. A few questions that are answered: Karl discusses what the NWA was during that time. Could Flair have jumped as still NWA World Champion and not WCW…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of David Von Erich
The story of David Von Erich is a powerful one. He was young and destined for greatness, perhaps even the heir apparent to the NWA World title. But then an ill-fated trip to Japan for a tour with All-Japan Pro Wrestling ended his story. On this week’s DragonKingKarl, I will examine his last few months…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Hulk Hogan & the AWA World title
Join me on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show as I look in-depth at the history of Hulk Hogan before he became WWF World Champion for the first time in 1984. However, did he hold a World championship before that while he was in the AWA? Well, it’s complicated. What is the real story? Did…