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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

55:40

July Question and Answer Show!

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

2025/07/08

You've got the questions, and I have the answers! We have several great topics and questions to discuss on this edition of the show including the Roddy Piper movies Hell Comes to Frogtown and Body Slam, masked wrestlers of the territorial era, Mr. Wrestling II and his legal mystery unearthed, Jake Roberts, Sting, Rick Rude, Sonny King, early 1990s WCW feuds, and much more! The extended Patreon version with extra questions answered and discussed is here. #wrestling, #WWE, #AEW, #NJPW, #TNA, #NXT,

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53:03

There is a New Champion - 1000 Hours

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

2025/07/06

The 1000 Hours podcast series focus exclusively on the pioneer era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. This episode of the show is sponsored by Andy C. with information taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon. We finish up the 1870s on this episode as we see pro wrestling riding a wave of popularity. H.M. Dufur wins the American title from James Owens, plus William Muldoon is rising to the top in the Greco-Roman world, plus tons

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47:51

The Late 1990s Were Wild

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

2025/07/01

Today I want to look back at the late 1990s in pro wrestling history. The 1990s were a wild time and the late 1990s saw the rise of the NWO, WCW passing WWE in popularity only to implode, and the hard-hitting Japanese scene making the late 1990s one of the most interesting times in pro wrestling. It was an era of The Rock, Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, the NWO, ECW, and so much more. The extended Patreon edition of the show is here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/133011104

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01:01:19

Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - July 1985 -...

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

2025/06/24

My Long Form History of Wrestling Series continues with a detailed look back at July 1985. July 1985 was a big month in pro wrestling history featuring the first ever WWF King of the Ring Tournament and a red-hot NWA Great American Bash. The Rock and Roll Express begin their reign as NWA World tag team champions plus the WWF get a new Intercontinental champion in Tito Santana! The information in this episode comes from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon.

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52:08

The Pioneer Era Erupts - 1000 Hours

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

2025/06/22

This is hour 74 of the 1000 Hours podcast series looking back at the pre-Frank Gotch era of pro wrestling in the United States. This podcast is taken from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. This episode is packed with big happenings. The late 1870s saw the peak of the first Greco-Roman era of wrestling while Collar and Elbow was struggling. John McMahon and Col. James H. McLaughlin, the two biggest names of the time, have their

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43:39

The Early 1990s

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

2025/06/17

Today we are headed back to the early 1990s to discuss the state of pro wrestling at the time. While business was just about as bad as it could get, there were still plenty of great storylines and personalities at the time. The early 1990s saw Hulk Hogan gone from WWF and the rise of Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and others. WCW was a complete corporate mess but there was still great wrestling with Sting, Big Van Vader, Ron Simmons, Cactus Jack, and more! I also look at the PWI Top 500 during the early

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50:41

June Question and Answer Show!

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

2025/06/10

It is time for one of my favorite shows to record, our monthly question and answer show where, you the listener ask any pro wrestling history related question or suggest a topic. On this show, I field questions about historical brass knux championships, history of world championships splitting off from the NWA World title, legacy wrestling characters, Jim Londos, the big blue steel cage, and more! The extended Patreon edition with extra questions answered are on Patreon here -

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54:12

And Now They Have Swords - 1000 Hours

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

2025/06/08

1000 Hour is my continuing podcast series about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The pioneer era is the time before Frank Gotch, roughly 1850 to 1900. It was an era of wild showmen and tough real wrestlers. This episode continues our chronological journey through the pioneer era of wrestling via my book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus. This week we are in the 1870s and the wrestling bears are still causing trouble, every newspaper has a different idea who the American champion

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01:04:52

Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - June 1985 -...

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

2025/06/03

My podcast today takes a detailed look back at June 1985 in pro wrestling history. The text is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. In June 1985 pro wrestling's first action figures become available, a set of AWA action figures by Remco toy company and WWF figures by LJN. In addition to that, Sgt. Slaughter sort of wins a title in the AWA, there is finally some life in Jim Crockett Promotions because of Magnum TA, and Japan is red hot! This is the extended Patreon

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56:14

Gordman and Goliath in WON HOF, MSG, Tokyo Dome, and...

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

2025/05/27

It is a regular gravy edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast, and I dive deeper into the list of those on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot who have not yet been voted in. The very famous tag team of Black Gordman and Great Goliath have not yet been voted in, should they? Also, more 1930s Madison Square Garden history with a huge double cross incoming and a look at another mid-1990s Tokyo Dome show with a massive tag team match. The extended Patreon edition is

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50:15

Along Came the Bears - 1000 Hours

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

2025/05/25

Hour 72 of 1000 Hours podcast is here and today I discuss the invasion of bears into 1870s pro wrestling. Yes, you read that right... bears. Many may think that wrestling bears was a curiosity of the 1940s through the 1980s, yet the height of bear wrestling was actually in the 1800s. One, or possibly two, French circus troops toured America with wrestling bears. Two of those bears became famous, or infamous, for mauling and killing people. Not only did one bite off Lucien Marc's finger, but they

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46:35

New Q & A Show Talking New Japan History, JBL, and...

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

2025/05/20

Our new question and answer podcasts take several questions from our listeners today that cover a huge chunk of pro wrestling history. The history of New Japan Pro Wrestling has been a complicated one and I try to unravel a little bit of it here today. I also field questions about the era when JBL was WWE champion and much more! Join me for a look back at the history of professional wrestling through the questions submitted by our listeners. Support us on Patreon for an extended edition of this show

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48:32

Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - May 1985...

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

2025/05/13

It's time for the latest installment in my Long Form History of Pro Wrestling podcast series and this episode is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus looking at the pro wrestling world in May 1985. The WWF machine continues to grow following the success of WrestleMania 1. However, despite what you may think, the AWA remains strong and is even out drawing the WWF in spots. The final days of Southeastern is here before they transform into Continental and more from Japan

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49:51

The Horse Lifting Incident - 1000 Hours

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

2025/05/11

This edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast which is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus finds us in 1878, and things continue to take an entertaining turn. The collar and elbow wrestlers have a new champion, and he isn't exactly setting the world on fire. The Greco-Roman wrestlers are basically being run out of town, but their fortunes are about to change. Then along comes the bears... and horses. Well, you'll just have to listen. Pro wrestling was wild in the

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01:09:05

Mongolian Stomper in WON HOF, MSG, Tokyo Dome History...

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

2025/05/06

Join me today for a look at another Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame nominee- The Mongolian Stomper! I grew up watching the Stomper on Southeastern Wrestling, but he worked a different sort of character in Stampede. I'll discuss if any of those belong in the Hall of Fame. Plus, we continue our look back at 1930s wrestling at Madison Square Garden, and more 1990s Tokyo Dome pro wrestling history!

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48:21

New Q&A talking Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, WCW, Ric...

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

2025/04/29

This was a really fun question and answer show as I had numerous questions and topic suggestions submitted. I have several follow-ups on Ric Flair in the WWF, winning the Royal Rumble and his later return to WCW. Also, I discuss Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker, early 1990s WCW, as well as other questions. Support us on Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/wiwcool

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54:20

The Birth of Sports Entertainment is 1870 - 1000 Hours

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

2025/04/27

Thank you for joining me for my podcast series all about the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. We are presently going through the pages of my book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling and have arrived in 1870 and the earliest version of 'sports entertainment' is developing. After having been brought over from France, French wrestlers are putting on a showy exhibition style of wrestling called Greco-Roman, but not the

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48:36

Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - April 1985 -...

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

2025/04/22

I return to my long form history of pro wrestling series and look back at April 1985 from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. The first WWF WrestleMania has ended. Hulk Hogan graces the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The AWA remains strong, but Jim Crockett Promotions has nothing to answer the onslaught of the WWF. There are multiple events in Japan with both New Japan and All Japan. Things are changing and the WWF is leading the charge. Check out our Patreon for an

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52:34

Hart Foundation Case for the WON HOF, MSG History,...

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

2025/04/15

On today's podcast, I continue my look at acts which have not yet been voted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame with a focus on the tag team of The Hart Foundation. While Bret Hart is already in, the Hart Foundation as a tag team is not! Then we travel in time back to the mid-1930s for a look at what was happening at Madison Square Garden and the big name of Danno O'Mahoney enters the scene. Plus, and extensive look at a 1990s Tokyo Dome card during the midst of the mixed martial

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01:00:36

Return of the Mail Bag!

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

2025/04/08

After many years, the mailbag question and answer show returns to the DragonKingKarl Show! We have a great set of questions and topics for this show including Ric Flair jumping from WCW to WWE, Bill Mercer and other territorial era announcers, Bob Backlund, Eric Bischoff and the fate of WCW, inducting matches into the Hall of Fame, and much more!

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233 results

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