x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

55:08

Long Form History of Wrestling - February 1986 -...

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

2026/01/06

Today I take a detailed look back at February 1986 from my upcoming book (March 2026) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a very historic month in pro wrestling history. The tragic death of World Class wrestler Gino Hernandez shocks the pro wrestling world. Plus, NWA Superstars on the Superstation, The Bullet battled Mr. Olympia over their masks, the Honky Tonk Man gimmick is born, a famous tag team wrestler is arrested for a fatal car accident, the first pro wrestling video game,

en

23:55

Space Ghost (1966) Retro TV Review

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

2026/01/05

Now, on Monday's we are putting up retro pop culture shows from When It Was Cool to supplement our many pro wrestling history shows! Today, we look back at one of my favorite Hanna-Barbara superhero characters- Space Ghost! Yes, Space Ghost had a renaissance in the early 2000s with his Cartoon Network talk show but before that he was a straight up space hero!

en

57:50

Muldoon and Sorakichi Head to Court - 1000 Hours

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

2026/01/04

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, two of the biggest stars of the era head to court for very different reasons. First, William Muldoon is arrested and hauled to court for slapping a security guard upside the head and calling him a dirty loafer for daring to tell Muldoon to move along. While the Muldoon trial was largely humorous, we see the dark side of Japanese wrestler Matsada Sorakichi who, freshly married, has already began abusing his wife

en

47:23

A Look at the WWE Encyclopedia!

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

2025/12/23

On this last DragonKingKarl show of 2025, I grab a copy of a really cool book I've been looking at for a while - the WWE Encyclopedia. I have versions of this same type of book for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, etc. but I expected the WWE book to be well... full of lies and cheesy. It was full of kayfabe, but it wasn't cheesy and we have a good bit of fun looking at some classic characters featured inside and a few stories that you won't believe!

en

49:24

McLaughlin verses Muldoon! - 1000 Hours

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

2025/12/20

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show 1000 Hours podcast series we finally get not one but TWO matches between the two biggest stars of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. William Muldoon had not previously wrestled Col. James H. McLaughlin mainly because Muldoon was not a fan of collar and elbow wrestling nor did McLaughlin consider Greco Roman his style. But Muldoon has now been largely disgraced on the west coast and crowds aren't what they used to be so the two finally had

en

54:31

WWF Survivor Series 1992 & Smoky Mountain Wrestling

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

2025/12/16

Today, I wrap up my months long look back into the early 1990s, a time when the pro wrestling business was in its worst state during my lifetime. Thanksgiving 1992 gave us two interesting shows to discuss. First, WWF Survivor Series 1992 was a very mixed bag with a great main event and a lot of not-so-great stuff, and Smoky Mountain Wrestling had its biggest show to that date during the worst era of business. Join me today as I discuss both these 1992 shows!

en

34:58

WWF This Tuesday in Texas 1991

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

2025/12/09

On this edition of the DragonKingKarl show, pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern begins wrapping up our months long look at the 1990s by taking a look at a rare one-off pay per view from 1991 which took place on a Tuesday (as the name suggests). WWF This Tuesday in Texas featured Hulk Hogan ending the very short first WWF title reign of The Undertaker. Plus, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, Skinner, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, British Bulldog, The Warlord, Repo Man, Ted DiBiase, Virgil,

en

50:05

The Return of McLaughlin - 1000 Hours

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

2025/12/07

The year is 1884 and the first national pro wrestling star, Col. James H. McLaughlin has been semi-retired for quite a while working as a train engineer. He had been the American heavyweight champion and won pro wrestling's first major tournament in Detroit, MI in 1870 setting the course for pro wrestling going forward. Now, he suddenly returns and wins the World Mixed-Styles championship! His return to glory wouldn't last for long, however. Plus, the sponsor of this episode, Wrestling With the Dawg

en

48:51

New AWA World tag team champions and more!

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

2025/12/02

We have now exited 1985 and finished my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus and sail into uncharted territory- 1986! This is a red-hot time in pro wrestling. WWF has established itself as a dominate national brand, but Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA are putting forth some of the best action of the era. A strange tag team title change takes place in the AWA giving two top stars of the future a major championship in Scott Hall and Curt Hennig! Support When It Was Cool by

en

03:57

Patreon Half Off Sale!

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

2025/11/25

For the first time in the history of When It Was Cool! Half off every Patreon level! Get instant access to almost 3,000 podcasts, books, and more on pro wrestling history, pop culture, and retro pop culture. Sale ends soon! Save this feed and get TONS of content! https://www.patreon.com/wiwcool

en

48:21

1994 AAA / WCW When Worlds Collide Reviewed!

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

2025/11/25

In 1994 the train wreck that was WCW somehow managed to pull off one of the best PPVs of all-time. In association with Mexico's AAA promotion, When Worlds Collide featured not a single bad match. It featured multiple classic matches including Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr taking on El Hijo del Santo and Octagon. Today, let's revisit this show through the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and remember one of the greatest shows of the era!

en

48:46

Muldoon Makes a Run For It! - 1000 Hours

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

2025/11/23

The 1000 Hours podcast series looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, the era before Frank Gotch. On this episode, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look into the 1880s as William Muldoon wraps up his tenure in California with a debacle of a worked match against Clarence Whistler that turned into a double cross. Whistler was supposed to go to a draw against Muldoon but decided to take it the distance. Muldoon then gives up on the west coast and heads back to New York but first stops

en

45:36

1991 Steroid Madness, and Details of a Belt

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

2025/11/18

Today our time machine takes us back to 1991, a time when pro wrestling was about as low as it could go. Business is horrendous across the board. The WWF is plagued by multiple scandals and WCW is drawing less than 1,000 people to some of its hottest areas. In a November 1991 issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, he breaks down all the information one needed to know about pro wrestling and steroids. Plus, an interesting write-up about how WWF was forced to edit the NWA title belt

en

53:46

The End of 1985 and a New World Champion

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

2025/11/11

My on-going series on the history of pro wrestling has now reached the end of 1985. The information for this episode is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. 1985 was a hugely impactful year in pro wrestling history and in December 1985, the AWA crowned a new World champion when Stan Hansen defeated Rick Martel. Plus, a major talent situation unfolds in Japan!

en

55:50

Muldoon, Whistler, and Dinnie - 1000 Hours

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

2025/11/09

My 1000 Hours podcast series is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus and covers the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling. In this episode, William Muldoon, Clarence Whistler, and Donald Dinnie are in a feud. Worked or shoot? There is evidence of both. Clarence Whistler gets injured yet again. Donald Dinnie goes to jail for putting on a worked pro wrestling match. Meanwhile, an old name from the past creeps back into the story... Col. James H. McLaughlin is plotting

en

47:45

Ric Flair vs Vader Starrcade 1993 and More!

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

2025/11/04

Today I hop in the time machine and travel back to January 1994. There I pick up an issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which covered the previous Decembers incredible WCW Starrcade 1993! The early 1990s has reputation for being the worst era in modern pro wrestling history and, to an extent, that is true. However, there were many diamonds in this rough era and Ric Flair regaining the WCW from Vader after his original opponent Sid Vicious was fired is one of those! Join me as we look back at

en

47:45

Ric Flair vs Vader Starrcade 1993 and More!

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

2025/11/04

Today I hop in the time machine and travel back to January 1994. There I pick up an issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which covered the previous Decembers incredible WCW Starrcade 1993! The early 1990s has reputation for being the worst era in modern pro wrestling history and, to an extent, that is true. However, there were many diamonds in this rough era and Ric Flair regaining the WCW from Vader after his original opponent Sid Vicious was fired is one of those! Join me as we look back at

en

53:29

William Muldoon vs Donald Dinnie - 1000 Hours

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

2025/10/26

The 1000 Hours podcast series focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling history. You do not have to listen to the shows in order, jump in at any point! Today, we are in 1883 and the biggest star of the pioneer era- William Muldoon is about to face one of the greatest all around athletes of the time and Scottish legend Donald Dinnie. The two men did not get along, and Muldoon feels like he has been double crossed by Donald Dinnie and it leads to a big show down in Portland, Oregon. That and much

en

01:02:22

1990 The Year in Review

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

2025/10/21

On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Show, I grab the March 1991 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine which covers the year 1990 in depth. Besides the annual year end awards, the magazine also covers the major events of 1990. 1990 was a hugely transitional year in pro wrestling history. Ric Flair was no longer king of the NWA with Sting now the reigning World champion. Hulk Hogan was out of the WWF title picture as Ultimate Warrior now had that championship. The AWA was still barely hanging

en

53:30

Long Form History of Wrestling - November 1985 -...

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

2025/10/14

I continue my history of pro wrestling series today looking at November 1985 which is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. The young death of 'Quick Draw' Rick McGraw stunned wrestling and started a false urban legend. Thanksgiving in 1985 was a huge deal in wrestling and there were major cards by the WWF, World Class, AWA, and the biggest one of all: NWA Starrcade. Also in this month, an off-hand remark in a promo gives birth to the most famous stable in pro

en

233 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN