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PODCAST

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)

When It Was Cool

For all shows including our archived content visit our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/wiwcool Pro wrestling history. WWE, WCW, NWA, AEW, NXT, NJPW, TNA, Impact, ROH, AWA, ECW, and the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) is a pro wrestling historian who has produced the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show for over 15 years at Wrestling Observer. This is the free version of some of the pro wrestling podcasts we produce at When It Was Cool. There is much more

sports wrestling

All Episodes

53:28

The McMahon and Owens Family, More Lucien Marc - 1000...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/08/06

I am back with what is essentially a part two of last week's 1000 Hour's podcast as I look more at the original first family of wrestling- John McMahon, James Owens, Peter Owens, and Ed Cox. Plus, the trilogy of Col. James H. McLaughlin verses John McMahon concludes. What was real and what wasn't between the two biggest stars of the 1870's? Lucian Marc meets the real Andre Christol, and he isn't happy... or so the story goes. More works, scams, fakes, and bears as we continue our look into the

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40:26

94 Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - July 1984...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/07/30

My long form history of pro wrestling series is a month-by-month break down of the history of pro wrestling. Currently, we are up to July 1984 (which I cover in my DragonKingKarl Stern's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book) and one of the major events in the rise of WWF/WWE takes place - Black Saturday, when Championship Wrestling from Georgia went off the air replaced by WWF programming. It did not go well. Plus, Rick Martel as AWA champion, New Japan, Mid-South has a huge show, and much more!

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59:52

Why Does Lucien Marc Only Have Three Fingers? - 1000...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/07/28

I return with my podcast series on the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900) with a packed show today. Most of it is spent discussing the first, first family of wrestling. Wrestling families are part of its culture: The Von Erichs, The Armstrongs, The Welches, The Funks, The Briscos, The Windhams, etc. But the original first family of wrestling were the four members of John McMahon's family: John McMahon, James Owens, Peter Owens, and Ed Cox. There are multiple American (World) championships

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02:07:41

Who Killed WCW? - A Wrestling With the Dawg Special...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/07/23

On the 386th edition of Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast at FlairFlop.com, Eric Allen and Joe Drilling of OnTheStick.com joins the Dirty Dawg Darsie to review the four-part Vice series entitled "Who Killed WCW?" The three cats discussed why WCW was popular back in the day, the Jerry Springer show, Hulk Hogan and his creative control, bad management skills of Eric Bischoff, how WCW dropped the ball on Goldberg, Vince Russo's writing style, and so much more! Please support WhenItWasCool.com!

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49:06

Misawa vs Funk, Six Pack Book, and More

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/07/16

I have a packed show for you today discussing the final shows of Southeastern wrestling before it became Continental with Bob Armstrong, Lord Humongous, Ron Fuller, Boomer Lynch, and more. Some more from 1932 Madison Square Garden, a review of the great new book Six Pack and my thoughts on Tito Santana, and the last member of the final four of the GKT is decided by you the listener between Terry Funk and Mitsuharu Misawa!

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57:39

Germany, France, and Europe Influence Wrestling

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/07/14

I am back with my 1000 Hours series which focuses on the history, origin, and evolution of pro wrestling in America. A listener has asked about Germany, France, and Europe in the pioneer era of wrestling. France, in particular, was hugely important in pro wrestling's popularity in the United States with Prof. Thiebaud Bauer bringing his French style of Greco-Roman and turning it into a true entertainment spectacle. Wilhelm Vandervecken and Wilhelm Heygster of German and many other Europeans impacted

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48:11

Sting vs Kurt Angle, MSG, End of 1984 SECW

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/07/09

I have a great show for you this week starting off with a fun entry into the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament - The GKT, where you the listener voted between Sting and Kurt Angle. Next up we go back to 1931 Madison Square Garden where Dick Shikat upset the order of things by shooting on people. The show rounds out with a look at December 1984 in Southeastern wrestling where a small crew are doing memorable things, Lord Humongous is in town, Arn Anderson is on his way out, Jerry Stubbs is Mr. Olympia

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54:08

Inoki vs Tanahashi, Southeastern 1984, and more!

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/07/02

It is a PACKED edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast today as I talk about the latest match in the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament where you, the listener, have voted on who would win in their primes between Antonio Inoki and Hiroshi Tanahashi. I then travel back to 1931 for more history from Madison Square Garden and Jim Londos, then the second half of the show is entirely focused on Southeastern Championship Wrestling in 1984 which was a changeable time for them. The Forgettable

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57:24

The Man Who Derailed McLaughlin - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/06/30

I return with the 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses exclusively on the pioneer era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. I am looking back today at 1875 and 1876 which was dominated by the American heavyweight champion Col. James H. McLaughlin, pro wrestling's first major star. McLaughlin won pro wrestling's first big championship tournament in 1870 in Detroit and had dominated until, out of nowhere, a relative unknown Michigan wrestler named Jacob H. Martin showed up and held

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50:55

Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - June 1984 -...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/06/25

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast I continue my Long Form History of Wrestling series with a look at June 1984. WWF has bought out the Georgia territory and it's first venture into national cable television didn't quite go as planned. There is both a new NWA and AWA World champion and now a new IWGP champion as well. Plus, Sgt. Slaughter and the Iron Sheik have their famous Boot Camp match. All that plus Arn Anderson and Jerry Stubbs, and much more!

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01:03:57

Omega vs Funk, MSG, July 1984 Observer

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/06/18

On this week's show we have a ton of classic pro wrestling discussion on a variety of topics. The latest match in the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament and the voters are split on a match between Kenny Omega and Terry Funk- but we have a winner! More from 1931 New York wrestling and Madison Square Garden. Then the second half of the show takes a look at the first of three July 1984 issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter including the death of Vince McMahon, Sr, Andy Kaufman, and Ric Flair

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53:02

John McMahon Shot, Davy Crockett, and More - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/06/16

Hour 49 of the 1000 Hours podcast series is a packed one. The 1000 Hours series is my detailed, heavily researched look at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, or pro wrestling before the time of Frank Gotch. On today's episode I am asked about Davy Crockett, whose obituary following his death at the Alamo claimed he was a wrestler. What is the reality of that claim? Plus, we discuss the shooting of pioneer legend John McMahon whose working of matches caught up to him in San Francisco. Tons to talk

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57:44

Misawa, Lesnar, the Classic Fan Problem

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/06/11

On this episode of my DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast I take a look at the results of the latest match in the final eight of the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament pitting Brock Lesnar against Mitsuharu Misawa. These two would have had an incredible match in their primes and I discuss it along with your voting results. The bulk of the show is spent discussing the 1980s-1990s pro wrestling and how the lapsed wrestling fan is a real thing and how the problem is only increasing including all the

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46:10

1931 Londos at Yankee Stadium, 1980s Southern...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/06/05

On this episode I continue the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden podcast series with a detour to Yankee Stadium in 1931 where Jim Londos teams up with the William Randolph Hearst empire to hopefully draw one of the largest crowds in history up to that date. Well, they tried anyway. Then I transition to more talk about the glory era of pro wrestling in the southern United States with more discussion of Jerry Jarrett's Memphis wrestling empire, Ron Fuller's Continental Wrestling, and

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45:51

Return of the Terrible Turk - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/06/02

Wrestling historian Karl Stern first covered the pioneer era wrestling special attraction Yousof Ismael- The Terrible Turk, on hour five of the 1000 Hours podcast series, but the Terrible Turk deserves a follow up as requested by one of our listeners. Now Karl tells you the latest information he has uncovered about the original Terrible Turk who came to America in 1898, beat the best in the country (including the American champion), then died on his way back to Europe... and how much of it was

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54:42

Who Was Homer Lane?

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/05/28

The early pioneer era has given us some very interesting people to learn about so far. Uzile Prickett, Col. McLaughlin, G.W. Flagg, and now let's meet Homer Lane. Homer Lane was one of the early American champions. A multi-time American champion as a matter of fact. He was also a straight up carny. Yes, even before 1870 pro wrestling had its workers as we have learned, and Homer Lane was one of them. He was also probably part of pro wrestling first (?) trust/syndicate/booking office along with John

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32:35

Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - May 1984:...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/05/21

Wrestling historian Karl Stern returns with a detailed look at the month of May 1984 in pro wrestling history. It was one of the most significant months ever: Kerry Von Erich wins the NWA World title from Ric Flair in the largest show in Texas history, Ric Flair regains the title in Japan, Rick Martel becomes AWA World champion, Vince McMahon Sr dies, Andy Kaufman dies, and much more. If you are a fan of classic old school pro wrestling history then this is a great jumping on point. DragonKingKarl

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49:39

The Real Story of the 1870 Detroit Tournament - 1000...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/05/21

I have recently spent many hours digging through hundreds of pages of 1870 newspapers from Detroit, Chicago, Ontario, and beyond chronicling the real story of the biggest tournament in history of American pro wrestling in the pioneer era. The 1870 Detroit International tournament awarded an ornate championship belt to its winner Col. James H. McLaughlin, but McLaughlin did not become the American champion, at least not yet, but I give you that story too. Also, McLaughlin may have killed Barney

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52:00

GKT Continues and Return to the 1980s

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/05/14

Karl Stern returns to his roots on this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show by discussing 1980s Southeastern and Continental wrestling. What made it so great? What are some of the myths about it? What did Ron Fuller get wrong recently on his podcast? Plus, the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues with discussion of Kurt Angle and Rikidozan plus a look at the final eight! A ton of pro wrestling history with historian and author Karl Stern!

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47:21

Pioneer Era in Australia and Death of a Star - 1000...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2024/05/07

The latest in the 1000 Hours Podcast series looking back at the pioneer (pre-1900) era of pro wrestling takes a look at the pioneer era of wrestling in Australia. Believe it or not, there was pro wrestling in the 1800s in Australia and one of America's top stars died there. The incredible story of the death of Clarence Whistler has been often told but the details are a bit incorrect. On this episode we will look at what is really known about how and why Clarence Whistler died while wrestling in

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