Tag: classic wrestling
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 2
In part two of my look at the history of the NWA World heavyweight title, I start with the decision in 1948 to form the National Wrestling Alliance, why Orville Brown was the first NWA World champion, why he was set to face Lou Thesz who also held an NWA World title, and everything you…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: USWA 1991 TV review
This week’s retro TV review looks back at the September 21,1991, edition of USWA Wrestling…or, as it should have been called, The Eric Embry Hour. I found this one on YouTube. It features the Dirty White Boy, Dutch Mantel, Jeff Jarrett, Tom Pritchard, and other southern luminaries as the battle between Texas and Tennessee is…
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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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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…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling: Marathon leftovers, Q&A
Karl Stern returns to the regular format of questions and answers and begins catching up on questions generated during the July marathon. Questions, corrections, and conversations include: When Tommy Rogers isn’t Tommy Rogers The wonderfully horrible job Sports Illustrated did with their ranking of wrestlers Marathon follow-ups on Canek, Marty Jannetty, and Sgt. Slaughter An incredible article…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon Finale: Jim Neidhart
The final day of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon is finally here. And for the last show, host Karl Stern takes a listener request deep cut looking at the lesser successful member of the Hart Foundation, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. Neidhart did have a wrestling career prior to the Hart Foundation working in Memphis, Mid-South, Florida, and of…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Iron Mike Sharpe
Host Karl Stern again takes a look at another iconic enhancement wrestler from the 1980s in second-generation wrestling star Iron Mike Sharpe. If you were a fan of WWF Superstars or WWF Wrestling Challenge in the 1980s, you likely saw many matches with the big screaming Canadian and Canada’s Greatest Athlete, Iron Mike Sharpe. But Sharpe got…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Bobby Heenan
On today’s July Classic Wrestling Marathon show, host Karl Stern takes a look at the greatest pro wrestling manager of all time, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Heenan had a quick wit and was a tremendous bump taker. He knew his role better than anyone, and played the part of a sports agent who was intent on destroying…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Lance Russell
On the latest edition of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon, Karl Stern takes a look at one of the greatest announcers of all time: legendary Memphis wrestling announcer Lance Russell. Russell was more than just a play-by-play announcer, and was every bit as important a character to Memphis TV as Jerry Lawler or Bill Dundee was. It was Russell’s smooth…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Norvell Austin
This show was a lot of fun for Karl Stern to research and put together. It all started from a research project Karl is doing on Sputnik Monroe. Knowing Norvell Austin only from his time as part of the Midnight Express and the PYT’s, Karl discovered just how important a cultural figure Austin was. Oh…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Sgt. Slaughter
Yo Joe! You had to know that host Karl Stern was going to include Sgt. Slaughter in his list of favorite wrestlers for this year’s July Classic Wrestling Marathon. Karl is a massive G.I. Joe collector and pro wrestling fan, and Sgt. Slaughter was a major character in both! Slaughter was a top star in the…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Photo Credit: Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman On today’s July Classic Wrestling Marathon Show, host Karl Stern takes a look at another of his personal favorite wrestlers in “Dr. Death” Steve Williams. As far as tough guys go, Williams certainly had the reputation for being just that. A standout football player and wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, Williams…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Shane Douglas
For many years he was the face of ECW, having long reigns as ECW world champion and ECW TV champion. But in the many times ECW has since been attempted to be resurrected, Shane Douglas has seldom been front and center of it. Douglas is a controversial, outspoken personality. He started out training in the Northeast…
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Masked Superstar/Demolition Ax
Today, host Karl Stern takes a look at the career of Bill Eadie, best known under two gimmicks, the territory traveling Masked Superstar and later as the face-paint wearing Demolition Ax. Eadie was a world traveler who competed for the NWA, WWF, and top New Japan championships over the course of a long career. Starting out…