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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

47:52

The Last Match of William Muldoon - 1000 Hours

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

2026/04/12

We continue in the final decade of the pioneer era of pro wrestling and the biggest star of the pioneer era, William Muldoon, has his last pro wrestling match in New York. Another veteran pioneer wrestler, John McMahon, has his last match as well. Still earlier pioneers like Col. James H. McLaughlin and Homer Lane continue to wrestler periodically, but it is now the era of Evan 'Strangler' Lewis and Farmer Burns is on the rise as well. The 1890s were an incredible era in pro wrestling history that

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47:08

May 29, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Review

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

2026/04/07

With the release of my new book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available on Amazon, I continue a deep dive into those two years to look at the stories between the stories. Wrestling Observer Newsletter Dave Meltzer begins the May 29, 1986 issue by stating that there isn't 'any big news this week' which allows us to look at a lot of stuff that doesn't get regularly discussed. Buddy Rose and Doug Somers have won the AWA World tag team titles from Curt Hennig and Scott Hall, 'Cowboy'

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42:36

Master of the Flying Guillotine

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

2026/04/05

Bullshido at its finest! The 1976 post-Bruce Lee era Master of the Flying Guillotine is one of my favorite Kung-Fu movies. It is utterly ridiculous. Featuring a one-armed Kung Fu master who is the target of an evil Kung Fu master. The evil Kung Fu matches shows up at an incredibly ridiculous Kung Fu tournament and starts killing every one-armed person there! This movie features everything you love about wacky Kung Fu movies: bizarre tournament to the death, evil Kung Fu heels, traps, and more

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55:49

Longform History of Wrestling Podcast - April 1986 -...

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

2026/03/31

On this installment of my Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Series, I cover one of the business months in pro wrestling history. Taken from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, April 1986 featured multiple giant supercards including WWF WrestleMania 2 featuring the debut of the Big Blue Steel Cage and NFL Football players in a battle royal, the first ever NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament, and AWA WrestleRock '86. This is literally one of

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57:39

William Muldoon the Con Man - 1000 Hours

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

2026/03/29

This week on my 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses exclusively on pre-Frank Gotch era pro wrestling, we finish out the 1880s and enter the last decade of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Taken from my popular book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus, we look at the final days of William Muldoon as a pro wrestler. Muldoon began losing interest in pro wrestling after the more entertainment based Greco-Roman wrestling declined in popularity, replaced by the rougher and more vicious

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48:02

April 4, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Review

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

2026/03/23

This week on the DragonKingKarl podcast I take a look back at the April 4, 1986 issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter by Dave Meltzer which discusses the lead up to WWF WrestleMania 2. The Observer looks at the training that Mr. T and Roddy Piper were going through leading up to their boxing match. Also, an update on the various NFL stars who are expected to be in the celebrity battle royal. In addition, more details are discussed on the upcoming NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team

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23:16

Blue Falcon and Dynomutt (1976) Retro Cartoon Review

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

2026/03/22

A superhero combination that exists within the Hanna-Barbara and Scooby-Doo universe. Blue Falcon is clearly a parody of Batman and I suppose Dynomutt (the Dog Wonder) is a parody of Robin the Boy Wonder but is more Inspector Gadget than anything. When I was a young kid I loved it whenever the Blue Falcon would show up. He crossed over into the Laugh-A-Lympics, Scooby-Doo, and his own Hanna-Barbara show. He even returned a few years ago for a direct to DVD Scooby-Doo special. Today I take a look

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23:16

Blue Falcon and Dynomutt (1976) Retro Cartoon Review

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

2026/03/22

A superhero combination that exists within the Hanna-Barbara and Scooby-Doo universe. Blue Falcon is clearly a parody of Batman and I suppose Dynomutt (the Dog Wonder) is a parody of Robin the Boy Wonder but is more Inspector Gadget than anything. When I was a young kid I loved it whenever the Blue Falcon would show up. He crossed over into the Laugh-A-Lympics, Scooby-Doo, and his own Hanna-Barbara show. He even returned a few years ago for a direct to DVD Scooby-Doo special. Today I take a look

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49:58

1986 and 1987 Two Incredible Years!

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

2026/03/17

My latest book, DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus is now available for order, and it is a massive near 600-page book detailing ever major event, story, and happening in pro wrestling for 1986 and 1987. On today's podcast I touch on just a few highlights and deep dives explored in the book from the real attendance for 1987's WWF WrestleMania III to both the 1986 and 1987 NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial tag team tournaments. Let's also not forget the AWA had WrestleRock in 1986 and

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49:35

The Return of William Muldoon - 1000 Hours

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

2026/03/15

William Muldoon got about a 25-year head start on Frank Gotch's gimmick of returning from 'retirement' multiple times and about a 100-year head start on Terry Funk. William Muldoon had begun suffering from nagging hand and arm injuries and a severe downturn in the popularity of pro wrestling, especially French Greco-Roman style of which he was the dominate master. Evan 'Strangler' Lewis and the rise of Catch-as-Catch-Can wrestling was beginning to dominate the scene. All the ingredients are starting

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53:05

March 3, 1986, Wrestling Observer Newsletter

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

2026/03/10

Today, I continue preparations for the debut of my latest book: DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a detailed look back at the March 3, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This issue of the Observer discusses such stories as World Class Championship Wrestling pulling out of the NWA and crowning their own world champion. Plus, the hype for WWF WrestleMania II, Saturday Night's Main Event, Yoshiaki Yatsu trying to get into the Olympics, and Florida's Battle

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39:16

Star Wars The Ultimate Timeline Review Part 1 - The...

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

2026/03/08

I recently ran through every Disney+ Star Wars offering in timeline order starting with The Acolyte (currently the series farthest back in Star Wars history) through Revenge of the Sith, and yes, that means I watched every season and episode of The Clone Wars. As a huge Star Wars fan my whole life (I saw A New Hope in theaters when I was in second grade and was hooked), all the recent Star Wars stuff on Disney+ both helped the story take on richer meaning but also brought a ton of problems with it

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01:23:52

Pro Wrestling in Pop Culture and Embarrassing Wrestling

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

2026/03/03

This week I am working on finishing up my new book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus so this week I am presenting a show that I don't believe many people heard before. These two shows were recorded for a special project and this week I am letting everyone hear them. The first half of the show discusses pro wrestling's place in pop culture, especially back in the 1980s, and the second half of the show talks about times that pro wrestling either did completely embarrassing angles or

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51:52

Strangler Lewis is a Heel - 1000 Hours

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

2026/03/01

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series we discuss the continued rise of Evan 'Strangler' Lewis and how crowds in the late 1800s turned on this man. The vicious tactics of the original Strangler Lewis bumps up against the code of conduct of the era's sporting culture. Plus, William Muldoon says he is retired but is really? The wild 1880s continue on the 1000 Hours Podcast with Karl Stern. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours

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58:36

February 2026 Question & Answer Show!

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

2026/02/24

You have the questions and I (hopefully) have the answers. No matter what era of pro wrestling history, from the pioneer era to the 2000s nothing is off limits. Today's show takes a number of questions and topic suggestions including the recent retirements of John Cena and Hiroshi Tanahasi and opponents they had in common, Jim Londos place in wrestling history, theme music, Bubba Ray Dudley and a few retro pop culture questions as well.

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25:33

Godzilla vs Cosmic Monster (1974) Retro Movie Review

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

2026/02/22

Oh no! There goes Tokyo! From 1974 it's Godzilla vs The Cosmic Monster. The Cosmic Monster is actually Mechagodzilla but we aren't supposed to know that (despite the art work on the poster). Anyway, this is everything I love and hate about Godzilla movies. A largely ridiculous and boring plot about aliens or something. Some women show up and sing a song, then finally monsters fight. It's every Godzilla movie ever. Let's talk about it.

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01:07:25

Long Form History of Wrestling - March 1986 - Harley...

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

2026/02/17

Today we pick back up the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Series taken from my upcoming book (next month!) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. Pro wrestling in America is building toward three big shows- WWF WrestleMania 2, the first NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament, and AWA Wrestle Rock '86. One pro wrestler takes great exception to the WWF incursion into his town when Central States co-owner Harley Race wrestles on one side of town and then drives to the other to

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57:50

Pro Wrestling's First Business Slump was in 1886 -...

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

2026/02/15

Join me as I dive back into the pioneer era of pro wrestling. This episode is taken from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. We are now up to 1886 in the book and pro wrestling is in its first business slump. William Muldoon claims that wrestlers are now making less than six percent of the money they made just a few years ago. Meanwhile, Evan 'Strangler' Lewis looks to turn things around as he continues to dominate and Jack Carkeek

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25:52

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan...

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

2026/02/13

It's Friday the 13th once again and you know what that means! It means Karl and Tonya have to sit through an increasingly terrible watch through of all the Friday the 13th Movies and we are, unfortunately up to part 8 which is the worst of the bunch so far where Jason, presumably, takes Manhattan... except he really didn't. It does, however, feature the worst character in the history of the series MEAN UNCLE GUY! I understand it only gets worse from here but join us aboard this very sketchy (air

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54:37

1987 NWA Crockett Cup's Most Bizarre Match!

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

2026/02/10

I have a really fun pro wrestling history show for you today. As I continue work on my upcoming book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, I have been watching tons of pro wrestling from that era. Recently, I decided to watch the entire uncut 1987 NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial tag team Cup tournament. The tournament itself was packed with deep cuts and weird tag teams that make very little sense but most astounding of them all was the otherwise unremarkable four-man combination of Steve

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