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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

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All Episodes

24:49

Predator (1987)

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

2023/06/08

Today Karl and Tonya revisit the 1987 action sci-fi classic Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and almost Jean-Claude Van Dam (seriously). We have very different opinions of this movie. Karl thinks it's the best G.I. Joe movie he's ever seen and Tonya was not so impressed. A fun show discussing the first movie of the Predator franchise.

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37:22

Long Form History of Wrestling - October 1983

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

2023/06/06

Our deep dive into pro wrestling history continues as we look back in depth at October 1983. Wayne Farris joins the Midnight Express, lots of notes on David Von Erich, the Midnight Express and Rock and Roll Express meet for the first time, Hulk Hogan takes on the NWA World champion, Ernie Roth dies, notes on Don Bass and Roger Smith, and the Last Battle of Atlanta. Be sure to pick up my new book: DragonKingKarl Stern's 1983 Pro Wrestling Omnibus at Amazon!

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39:07

Mitshuaru Misawa Biography Special

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

2023/05/29

Today, host Karl Stern takes a look at the life and career of one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time, All-Japan Pro Wrestling legend Mitsuharu Misawa. Misawa blazed an unforgettable path in pro wrestling, accumulating some of the greatest matches ever seen. From his days as the second Tiger Mask to his time as the Ace of All-Japan Pro Wrestling and later NOAH to his untimely death in the ring, Mitsuharu Misawa was one of the greatest in-ring wrestlers of any generation.

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39:28

History of Wrestling at MSG - Stecher verses Caddock

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

2023/05/23

I continue my series on the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden as we dive into the World War I era. Most of the top heavyweights are away at war and the championship picture becomes shaky. Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Joe Stecher, and Wladek Zybszko are still in the title picture. Following the war we get one of the biggest showdowns to date: Joe Stecher vs Earl Caddock which still exists on film.

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48:41

Steve Doll and Silo Sam

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

2023/05/16

A special this and that episode of WIWC Wrestling with Karl Stern today and I love these type shows were we can talk random wrestling stuff. A short 'From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter' this week on the death of late era territorial star Steve Doll, most well known as half of the Southern Rockers tag team and later Well Dunn in the WWF. Then we have some fun doing a deep dive into the life and career of Big Jon Harris AKA: Silo Sam. I'll try to tell you more about him than you ever

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44:07

WWF February 1991 Magazine Review

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

2023/05/09

The WWF magazine, you've got to love it. It was honestly nothing more than an extortion scheme to get you to pay $2.50 (TWO FIFFY!) for their merchandise catalog which was awash with painters caps, teddy bears, and terrible t-shirts. This issue had articles on the previous year's Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, and a whole lot of full on bloated Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior. Also, my favorite tag team of all time the Legion of Doom! It's more testosterone than you can shake a very crooked

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40:45

Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Podcast - IX 1983...

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

2023/05/02

We dive now into September 1983 and the time is getting near for Hulk Hogan to jump to the WWF. First, however, NWA Starrcade looms where the NWA World title will go back from Harley Race to Ric Flair so Flair is doing the job tour to set up challengers. Flair will lose the Missouri title to David Von Erich, lose clean to Bob Armstrong, and lose to Pedro Morales in Puerto Rico. Sgt. Slaughter continues to rise in WWF as does the Masked Superstar. The era of change draws near.

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32:02

History of Wrestling at Madison Square Garden -...

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

2023/04/25

A very famous era for pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden is the focus of today's show. The 19-teens would see the death of the unbeaten World heavyweight champion Frank Gotch and the split of the world championship into various factions. Among them is Joe Stecher who has his match with the famous Masked Marvel. Ed "Strangler" Lewis becomes more prominent in our story. Plus, John Olin, the Zbyszko's, and more discussed on today's show. Support us on Patreon!

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29:03

Grunt: The Wrestling Movie (1985) Retro Movie Review

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

2023/04/11

This week I am taking a break from our regular rotation of classic wrestling podcasts to take a look back at one of the worst pro wrestling movies ever: Grunt (1985). This abomination of a film is not only bad by movie standards but is terrible by pro wrestling standards. The film features several pro wrestlers in roles as, well, wrestlers including Adrian Street, Dick Murdoch, Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer (unmasked no less), Chavo Guerrero (as a Georgia babyface), Danny Spivey, Steve DiSalvo, and

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47:16

WWF Magazine Review - December 1993

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

2023/03/28

This week on our rotation of classic pro wrestling shows host Karl Stern takes a look back at the December 1993 issue of the WWF magazine featuring Razor Ramon (Scott Hall), plus features on Ludvig Borga (Tony Halme), the Lex Express and much more! Also included is the WWF merchandise catalog with foam fingers and teddy bears in your favorite WWF wrestlers gear for some reason. Promotional consideration paid for by the following...

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33:47

Long Form History of Wrestling - August 1983

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

2023/03/21

On this week’s rotation of classic pro wrestling themes we return to the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Series and we are up to August 1983 where we discuss Ken Patera in Memphis, Harley Race continues his record breaking reign as NWA World champion, the annual NWA convention, the Midnight Express, and more!

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48:37

Ron Simmons Biography

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

2023/03/15

Today Karl Stern takes a look at the career of Ron Simmons (AKA: Farooq). Ron Simmons was a very big deal as a college football player but his NFL stint was unremarkable. He was trained by Hiro Matsuda in Florida and debuted there before coming to WCW where he would eventually win the WCW World heavyweight title, form the great tag team of Doom with Butch Reed, and then finish out his career in WWE as Farooq. Let's take a look at Ron Simmons!

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42:38

History of Wrestling at MSG - The Zbyszko Brothers...

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

2023/03/14

We continue our series looking at the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City. We are up to the 1910's now and Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko are having a run there. Both were world champion wrestlers in the early 1900's and have a later wrestling connection through Harley Race. Larry Zbyszko, though not related, took his name from them. Also, we talk about Mort Henderson, who made quite a sensation as the Masked Marvel and his match with Joe Stecher.

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52:05

Terry Gordy Biography Podcast Special

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

2023/03/08

Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy was one of the best natural pro wrestlers ever. A big, strong, country boy from new Chattanooga, TN, Gordy began wrestling in his mid-teens on Chattanooga TV. By his early 20's he was part of one of the hottest acts in pro wrestling: The Fabulous Freebirds along with Michael Hayes (and later Buddy Roberts and others). Along with Hayes and Roberts, Terry Gordy was one of the hottest stars in wrestling in World Class Wrestling. Later, Gordy became a stand out star in Japan before

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01:03:06

What's so Special About 1983?

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

2023/02/28

1983 was one of the most important years in the history of professional wrestling. Upon the events of 1983 were built the WWF national expansion, the fall of the territories, the eventual birth of the major yearly event, Hulk-A-Mania, the fall of Jimmy Snuka, the success of Mid-South wrestling, the best year of Southeastern Wrestling, an era of flux for Memphis, the red hot Von Erich vs Freebirds war in World Class, the 1980s peak of but beginnings of the fall of the AWA, massive shows in Mexico,

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33:37

Farmer Burns Biography Podcast Special

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

2023/02/22

The life and times of Martin "Farmer" Burns. Farmer Burns one of the top wrestling stars in post-pioneer era America. Burns was a contemporary of the original Strangler Lewis and the man who is credited with discovering and training Frank Gotch. Farmer Burns also created and sold the highly influential Farmer Burns physical training course which is still the foundation of many later workout systems. DragonKingKarl presents: The life and times of Martin "Farmer" Burns, one of the 201 Greatest Pro

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47:43

Bruno Sammartino Biography

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

2023/02/18

The life and career of legendary WWWF star Bruno Sammartino is discussed in this special from the Patreon archives of WhenItWasCool.com as part of our 201 Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time series. Bruno Sammartino was famous for many sellouts at Madison Square Garden, he was huge in Toronto and elsewhere. One of the biggest pro wrestling stars ever.

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01:00:22

Andre the Giant Biography

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

2023/02/16

From the Patreon archives of WhenItWasCool.com comes Karl Stern's biography podcast looking at the life and career of Andre the Giant. Andre was one of the biggest pro wrestling stars of all time both figuratively and literally. His incredible career culminated with the famous match with Hulk Hogan at WWF WrestleMania 3. But there was so much more to Andre the Giant than that. Part of our 201 Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time list. Check out DragonKingKarl Stern's new book the 1983 Pro Wrestling

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44:05

Wrestling Superstars Magazine Fall 1983 Issue Review

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

2023/02/14

Just in time for the release of my new book: DragonKingKarl's 1983 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon, let's review the Fall 1983 issue of the Apter magazine's quarterly special Wrestling Superstars magazine. This issue focused heavily on Georgia Championship Wrestling and GCW was going through some things in 1983. Yes, the Last Battle of Atlanta was happening, but there was discontent with the NWA that was brewing underneath. Features on Tommy Rich, Buzz Sawyer, Larry Zbyszko, the Iron

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49:10

Lou Thesz Biography

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

2023/02/10

From the Patreon archieves of When It Was Cool: From a previous time, Lou Thesz suffers from not being from the modern era of television wrestling. Lou Thesz time as the legendary NWA World heavyweight champion came largely before color television so modern mainstream wrestling rankings overlooked him in favor of the more TV famous, however pro wrestling historians certainly know who Lou Thesz is. Long considered the greatest NWA World heavyweight champion of all time, even before that, Lou Thesz

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233 results

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