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PODCAST

When It Was Real

Step into the squared circle of yesteryear with When It Was Real, the ultimate throwback podcast for fans of the golden era of professional wrestling. Each week, this deep-dive audio experience transports listeners to the gritty, unfiltered days of the 1970s World Wide Wrestling Federation, when larger-than-life characters and blood-and-guts rivalries captivated fans and made wrestling feel real. Hosted by two of wrestling’s most passionate historians, When It Was Real is your ringside seat to the

sports wrestling

All Episodes

96:55

When It Was Real - Episode 60 - Capital Centre -...

When It Was Real ·

2026/04/23

🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 60 🔥The Wrestling Wayback Machine is fired up once again as Nikita and Benny take you back to April 23, 1983, in Landover, Maryland—where the giants walked tall and the action hit HARD! Step into a night where legends collided and the stakes were sky-high… 💥 André the Giant vs. John Studd – a true battle of behemoths that shook the ring to its core! 🏆 Don Muraco vs. Rocky Johnson – the Intercontinental Championship on the line in a clash of power, pride, and pure

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93:39

When It Was Real - Episode 59 - Madison Square Garden...

When It Was Real ·

2026/04/16

The Wrestling Wayback Machine is rolling ALL THE WAY BACK to April 14, 1975… 📍 Madison Square Garden… the MECCA of professional wrestling! This week, Nikita and Benny take a deep dive into one of the most intense nights in WWWF history… 💥 HEADLINER: Champion vs. Former Friend turned BITTER ENEMY 🇮🇹 Bruno Sammartino ⚔️ vs ⚔️ 🇬🇷 Spiros Arion 🔥 in a brutal GREEK DEATH MATCH 🔥 Once allies… now fueled by betrayal, pride, and pure hatred—this wasn’t just a match… it was WAR. But that’s not

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91:59

When It Was Real - Episode 58 - Madison Square Garden...

When It Was Real ·

2026/04/09

🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 58 🔥Step inside the most legendary arena in wrestling history—Madison Square Garden—and rewind the clock to April 6, 1981… when the lights were brighter, the stakes were higher, and wrestling felt REAL. This week, Nikita and Benny fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine and drop you right into a night packed with pure, hard-hitting history: 👑 The WWF Championship hangs in the balance as Bob Backlund, the reigning king of the World Wrestling Federation steps into a

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48:53

When It Was Real - BONUS EPISODE - Desiree Petersen!

When It Was Real ·

2026/04/04

Nikita and Benny wish everyone a Happy Easter! This is actually an interview from our former sister podcast (Classic Pro Wrestling With The WFIA) from the Fall of 2025. Our guest is the lovely Desiree Petersen, former WWF Women's Tag Team Champion. Although she wasn't in the business very long, Desiree most definitely made her mark in the world of professional wrestling!

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96:07

When It Was Real - Episode 57 - Madison Square Garden...

When It Was Real ·

2026/04/02

🔥 MSG. 1979. PURE WRESTLING MAGIC. 🔥The Wrestling Wayback Machine lands in the legendary Madison Square Garden on March 26, 1979—and business is about to pick up! 🏆 WWWF Champion Bob Backlund vs. Greg Valentine The All-American battles “The Hammer” in a hard-hitting main event for the gold! 💥 But that’s just the beginning… This STACKED card features legends at their peak: Bruno Sammartino Ivan Koloff Ivan Putski Peter Maivia Dick Murdoch Dusty Rhodes 🎙️ Join Nikita & Benny as they

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104:09

When It Was Real - Episode 56 - Philadelphia Spectrum...

When It Was Real ·

2026/03/26

🚨 THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT 🚨Step inside the legendary Philadelphia Spectrum and witness one of the most STACKED cards of the late ‘70s! On Episode 56 of When It Was Real, Nikita and Benny fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine and take you back to March 25, 1978 — a night where legends collided and history was made. 🔥 DOUBLE MAIN EVENT 🔥 🏆 Bob Backlund makes his VERY FIRST Spectrum title defense against “The Iron Greek” Spiros Arion 💪 “Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino goes to war once again with

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94:24

When It Was Real - BONUS Episode - Heroes of Wrestling

When It Was Real ·

2026/03/26

Here is one of our favorite episodes for your listening pleasure! The 1999 Heroes of Wrestling event still evokes controversy, over a quarter century later! Get the straight scoop from Nikita, who was there!

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74:00

When It Was Real - Episode 55 - Madison Square Garden...

When It Was Real ·

2026/03/19

The Wrestling Wayback Machine fires up once again on Episode 55 of the When It Was Real Podcast!* This week, Nikita and Benny land in the mecca of professional wrestling — Madison Square Garden — on March 24, 1980, for one of the most electric nights in wrestling history.The spotlight shines on the first Madison Square Garden showdown between teacher and student as the Living Legend Bruno Sammartino faces his former protégé Larry Zbyszko in a bitter and deeply personal battle that would ignite one

en

80:42

When It Was Real - BONUS EPISODE - The Underdogs Of...

When It Was Real ·

2026/03/14

Here's a special bonus episode to get you through the weekend! In this episode, Nikita and Benny talk about those guys we watched on the losing end every Saturday morning! They'd get that one flurry of offense in, only to be put to the mat for the 3 count in short order. But even though they lost, we loved them anyway!

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82:27

When It Was Real - Episode 54 - Madison Square Garden...

When It Was Real ·

2026/03/12

Step into the Wrestling Wayback Machine with Nikita and Benny as Episode 54 of the When It Was Real podcast transports fans back to one of the most electric nights in wrestling history!On Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 PM, live on The Playa Entertainment Network (please like and subscribe!), the guys land at the legendary Madison Square Garden on March 17, 1975—a night when the Cathedral of Professional Wrestling was absolutely rocking. Headlining the card is the second explosive meeting between the

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103:11

When It Was Real - BONUS EPISODE - The Hollywood...

When It Was Real ·

2026/03/07

While you're waiting for the next episode of When It Was Real, please enjoy this episode from our brother podcast "The Twisted Turnbuckle Podcast." This past Thursday's Episode, "Hollywood Squares Part V!", was easily the best Squares episode ever. Besides the usual hosts of Chris DeCarlo, Mike "The Class" DiGregorio, and Benny "The Playa" Scala, this weeks 'Squares' were:Podcaster, author and trainer "Positively" Pat Sims Pro wrestlers Vlad Koloff and "Wildcat" Wendall Cooley Former Big Time

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83:58

When It Was Real - Episode 53 - Happy Anniversary!

When It Was Real ·

2026/03/05

🎉 EPISODE 53 – HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! 🎉 ONE YEAR. 52 trips on the Wrestling Wayback Machine. Countless memories from the days… WHEN IT WAS REAL. On Wednesday, March 4th at 7:30 PM, the celebration goes LIVE on The Playa Entertainment Network — and you do NOT want to miss this one! (Please like and subscribe!) One year ago, wrestling promoter, author, actor, and manager Nikita Breznikov teamed up with pro wrestling author and podcaster Benny Scala — and the journey has been nothing short of

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78:55

When It Was Real - Episode 52 - Madison Square Garden...

When It Was Real ·

2026/02/26

🚨 The Wrestling Wayback Machine is fueled up and ready…Destination: GLORY! 🚨On Wednesday, February 25th at 7:30 PM on The Playa Entertainment Network, Episode 52 of When It Was Real transports you back to the hallowed battleground of Madison Square Garden on February 16, 1981 — when wrestling wasn’t sports entertainment… it was WAR. Standing tall as the embodiment of integrity, WWF Champion Bob Backlund faces his ultimate test against the wild-eyed, cowbell-swinging force of nature known as Stan

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102:51

When It Was Real - Episode 51 -The Great Debate -...

When It Was Real ·

2026/02/19

🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – Episode 51 🔥“The Great Debate – February 20, 1978” The Wrestling Wayback Machine is fired up and headed straight for one of the most controversial nights in professional wrestling history… Was Superstar Billy Graham’s championship reign cut short before its time? Did Vince McMahon Sr. make the right call… or change history forever with one decision? This week, Nikita and Benny crack open the vault and dive deep into the moment that still divides fans nearly 50 years later

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93:40

When It Was Real - BONUS EPISODE - Bruno! (Part II)

When It Was Real ·

2026/02/14

A couple of bonus episodes coming your way for the weekend! I can't imagine anyone would be surprised to learn that our 2 most listened to episodes are the 2 that featured Bruno...Originally aired in early October, here for your listening pleasure one more time!

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92:28

When It Was Real - BONUS EPISODE - Bruno! (Part I)

When It Was Real ·

2026/02/14

A couple of bonus episodes coming your way for the weekend! I can't imagine anyone would be surprised to learn that our 2 most listened to episodes are the 2 that featured Bruno...Originally aired in early October, here for your listening pleasure one more time!

en

95:53

When It Was Real - Episode 50 - Madison Square Garden...

When It Was Real ·

2026/02/12

NOTE: Please excuse the technical difficulties at the beginning of the show...you may have to fast forward a few minutes! But it's worth the inconvenience, we promise!🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 50 🔥 🕰️ Wrestling Wayback Machine engaged… destination: Madison Square Garden, February 17, 1975. The World’s Most Famous Arena is the battleground as reigning WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino collides with his former ally turned bitter enemy Spiros Arion — now reborn as The Iron Greek. This isn’t just a

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79:03

When It Was Real - BONUS EPISODE! - Superstar Billy...

When It Was Real ·

2026/02/07

Here's a pre-Super Bowl Bonus coming your way! Originally aired July 16, 2025, Nikita and Benny take a deep dive into the epic WWWF run of Eldridge Wayne Coleman, known and loved the world over as Superstar Billy Graham. Billy did the unthinkable when he pinned reigning WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino at the Baltimore Civic Center on April 30, 1977. Superstar would be the first WWWF transitional champion to hold the belt for any length of time, defending the title for nearly 10 months before dropping

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84:28

When It Was Real - Episode 49 - The Cobra Clutch...

When It Was Real ·

2026/02/05

🔥 EPISODE 49 – WHEN IT WAS REAL 🔥LIVE this Wednesday, February 4th at 7:30 PM on The Playa Entertainment Network 💥 “The Cobra Clutch Challenge – 45 Years Later!” 💥 Travel back to the moment that changed the World Wrestling Federation forever. The legendary Bob Remus aka Sergeant Slaughter turned pain into patriotism and left an impact that still echoes today. Joining Nikita and Benny is WWF mainstay and master storyteller John Callahan — a former Killer Kowalski student and one of the very

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99:42

When It Was Real - Episode 48 - Double Duncum In Philly!

When It Was Real ·

2026/01/28

Join Nikita and Benny for another episode of "When It Was Real!" This week's episode is titled "Double Duncum In Philly", as a tribute to the late great Bob Duncum. The guys will be covering the epic Philadelphia Spectrum cards from January 12th and February 9th of 1980, with Duncum vs. Backlund as the centerpiece for both.The weather is cold outside, but what better way to escape than with some great hot stove old school wrestling chat! Hop inside the Wrestling Wayback Machine! Destination: When

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