FREE SHOW! Portland Wrestlecast: Carl Styles vs. Portland’s bullies

FREE SHOW! In the late 1980s, Portland Wrestling completely changed its presentation that was virtually unchanged for decades. Booker Len Denton modernized the product by adding things like entrance music, improved production values, and theatrical storylines.

Carl Styles benefited from those changes. In the past, he probably would have arrived as a heel in Portland and been the generic mean muscle man standing behind The Grappler. With this new approach, Carl became the kind-hearted heel who was bullied by The Grappler’s Wrecking Crew for having a glass eye.

As the bullying continued and the fans’ frustration grew, eventually Carl couldn’t take any more and finally stood up for himself against The Grappler. The late 1980s were a unique time in Portland. Roddy Piper drew upon his creativity to help Don Owen as he and Len Denton booked Portland like it was never seen before. 

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