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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

47:36

History of Wrestling at MSG Series - You Know That's...

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

2024/01/30

Pro Wrestling historian Karl Stern continues his look at the history of professional wrestling in a rotating series of classic pro wrestling podcasts. Today's theme returns to the history of wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, one of the most famous arenas in the world. We are up to 1928 in the series (which can be found here) and the New York State Athletic Commission is fed up with all this fakery and orders matches in New York to stop billing themselves as contests despite

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57:59

Pre-Pioneer Era in America - 1000 Hours

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

2024/01/28

On this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer (pre-1900) era of pro wrestling, historian Karl Stern digs even deeper to look at the era before the Civil War. Was there organized professional wrestling in the years leading up to the Civil War. The answer is yes! Some. The seed is certainly there. Now, the million-dollar question... was it too worked? The answer to that may actually be... yes and we may have discovered the FIRST promoted pro wrestler in America. Let's

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56:43

G.W. Flagg and John McMahon - 1000 Hours

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

2024/01/21

Pro wrestling historian Karl 'DragonKingKarl' Stern returns to further discuss the pioneer era of pro wrestling in the 1000 Hours series which focuses on pro wrestling pre-1900 or before the era of Frank Gotch. On this episode, he looks back at two pioneers: G.W. Flagg and John McMahon who only met once, and it was during the Civil War, and their careers afterward. Plus tons of other research from that era. This is hour 33. This series explores it’s history and personalities. YOU CONTROL THIS

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54:30

From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer - Nick...

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

2024/01/16

On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show we return to the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to look at Dave Meltzer's biography on the legendary AWA World heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel was the glue that held the AWA together and was also part of two of the greatest tag teams in history with Ray Stevens and Pat Patterson. One of the best promos in wrestling history, Nick Bockwinkel, is an all time legend.

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57:47

Greek George and the Champion of the South - 1000 Hours

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

2024/01/14

The pioneers of wrestling era discussion continues with hour 32 of the 1000 Hours podcast with host, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern. On this episode the eventual manager of Evan "Strangler" Lewis, Greek George, is promoting wrestling in Pensacola, FL where we meet the Champion of the South. Who was he and was this a work or a shoot? Tons of notes on pre-1900 pro wrestling and tons of research on the pioneers of wrestling. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In

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57:24

Double Action Wrestling Magazine Review - October 1986

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

2024/01/09

Here's a fun review of an off-brand pro wrestling magazine from back in October 1986. Neither Apter nor Napolitano magazine, this is issue one of Double Action Wrestling which featured terrible blurry and outdated photos, stories on Hulk Hogan and The Funks, and a slew of highly questionable advertisements. Join pro wrestling historian Karl 'DragonKingKarl' Stern as he looks back at this classic pro wrestling magazine.

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54:16

Of Bauer and Bears - 1000 Hours

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

2024/01/07

The 1000 Hours podcast series explores the pioneer era of professional wrestling, that is to say, pro wrestling before 1900 or the era of Frank Gotch. Gotch didn't appear out of a vacuum, a history of over fifty years of pro wrestling had already been sown in the United States and further back than that in Europe. Names like William Muldoon, Col. James H. McLaughlin, Jim McMahon, and H.M. Dufur were the original wrestling stars of America. In this episode, host Karl Stern takes a look at one of his

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54:38

February 1984 (Death of David Von Erich) - Long Form...

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

2024/01/03

This is the 99th installment of the long form history of pro wrestling series by pro wrestling historian Karl Stern. In this chronological look at the history of pro wrestling, Karl is up to February 1984 which is infamous due to the shocking and unforeseen death of David Von Erich just before he was scheduled to begin a tour for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Taken from his new book: DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, this is one of the most detailed looks at February 1984 ever

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01:01:03

The Iron Claw (2023) Movie Review Podcast

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

2023/12/27

Karl and Tonya review the 2023 pro wrestling biopic The Iron Claw. This is a dramatized retelling of the tragic story of the Von Erich family which endured tragedy after tragedy including the young deaths of multiple brothers, a domineering father, and more. Karl and Tonya look at how the film did in communicating the horrific events of the Von Erich family and Karl takes a look at some of the real facts which the movie fictionalized. We both loved this movie so come and join us for an extensive

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50:05

History of Wrestling at MSG: The Fall of the Second...

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

2023/12/19

All good things must end and in this edition of the History of Wrestling at Madison Square Garden the second Madison Square Garden meets its fate and pro wrestling almost does as well. The battled between Jack Curley and Tex Rickard fizzles to an anti-climactic end but with Rickard still in control of MSG and now, building a new gigantic 20,000 seat third Garden, he is still the man to deal with. Enter: Jesse McMahon who shakes up boxing and his son Vince McMahon (the elder) who will shake up pro

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01:06:30

Can You Bear Another Episode - 1000 Hours

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

2023/12/17

The pioneers of pro wrestling podcast returns and our sponsor for this episode, Andy, wishes to know more about the history of bear wrestling. Does it have pioneer era origins? As it turns out, bear wrestling was very much a thing in the pioneer era. We even find our old friends, the working shysters team up of Theobaud Bauer and Prof. William Miller involved in bear exploits. This is not an episode I thought I would be doing in the pioneer series but here we are and I'm impressed at just how

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01:03:37

1000 Hours Podcast - From Muldoon to Roman

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

2023/12/10

On this hour of 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, I think it is important to step back for a moment and ask the very legitimate question... what does the pioneer era really have to do with pro wrestling? Wasn't it just untrained conmen with large mustaches traveling the country tricking people into a betting scam? What does it really have to do with modern entertainment style pro wrestling? Today, I take you on an unbroken journey from William Muldoon to

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57:19

A Boxer and a Wrestler Walk Into a Bar - 1000 Hours

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

2023/12/05

DragonKingKarl Stern's latest look back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling takes a look at John McMahon, whom we have previously discussed. John McMahon, apparently, like his drink. According to newspapers at the time one of the first boxer verses wrestler matches may not have taken place as a betting even for spectators, but instead, in a barroom because McMahon had too much to drink. Then started running his mouth. Then, well, you know. Find out what happened next plus tons of other notes from

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51:11

What's So Special About 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling?

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

2023/11/28

Celebrating the release of my new book: DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, I will take a look back at these two massively important years in pro wrestling history. Hulk Hogan wins the WWF title, the WWF national expansion begins in earnest including the takeover of the WTBS time slot, the death of David Von Erich, Starrcade 1984 & 1985, massive Thanksgiving Day shows, Pro Wrestling USA, the injury of Mike Von Erich, WWF WrestleMania I, Mr. T, the John Stossell slap, and much more

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01:04:19

The Ludicrous Tale of Richard K. Fox - 1000 Hours

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

2023/11/26

If I told you that today's look back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling involved a bear eating a kid and a funeral invaded by corpse eating cats you might think me ridiculous. Well... welcome to the world of Richard K. Fox: Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Influencer. It was Richard K. Fox via his National Police Gazette publication that distributed championship belts, promoted matches, and popularized the famous wrestlers of the era. It's impossible to compare him to a modern conterpart. He was no Dave

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46:04

Dusty Rhodes - From the Pages of the Wrestling...

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

2023/11/21

The conclusion of the near book length Dusty Rhodes biography following his death by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. On our rotation of classic pro wrestling themes, we are back around to the one we call From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where we look back at some of Dave Meltzer's biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. This one is a three parter on the massive Dusty Rhodes obituary. It is basically a book on the life and times of one of the most

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46:04

Ringside Wrestling Book on Pioneers - 1000 Hours

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

2023/11/19

On this edition of 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, host Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) takes a look at a much overlooked book on the pioneer era (and beyond) titled: Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America by Scott Beekman, a college educator who put tremendous research into the topic. Karl was a source cited in the book and discusses some of the interesting facts in the book while still seeking the truth about Col. McLaughlin and Barney

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47:49

Dusty Rhodes Part 2 - From the Pages of the Wrestling...

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

2023/11/14

On our rotation of classic pro wrestling themes we are back around to the one we call From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where we look back at some of Dave Meltzer's biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. Today we continue a three parter on the massive Dusty Rhodes obituary. It is basically a book on the life and times of one of the most influential and popular pro wrestlers of all time: Dusty Rhodes.

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01:04:08

The Polish Influence of Pro Wrestling - 1000 Hours

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

2023/11/12

1000 Hours is a podcast about the pioneer era of pro wrestling- pro wrestling before Frank Gotch, before 1900. This is a requested topic by Eric, the sponsor of this episode. He wants to know about the Polish influence on pro wrestling. In the 1970s especially, various Polish wrestlers were popular as an ethnic draw, but does it go back further than that? When speaking of the Polish influence on pro wrestling two names immediatly come to mind, the brother duo of Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko. This

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57:39

More McLaughlin Killing Smith Mystery - 1000 Hours

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

2023/11/08

1000 Hours is a podcast about the pioneers of pro wrestling, that is, pro wrestling before Frank Gotch and 1900. Today we further examine a mystery that has been plaguing us. Despite the story of Col. James H. McLaughlin killing Barney Smith in the 1870 Detroit International tournament having tremendous detail in it's telling over the years there seems to be not a shred of evidence uncovered so far that it actually happened. Wrestling historian Karl Stern tries digging deeper in the past to uncover

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