For all shows 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 available to Patreon support ...
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All Hail The King! Join WWE Hall of Famer and pro wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler each week as he looks back at his incredible pro wrestling career — spanning five glorious decades — as well as commentaries on the current product. There might even be a few superstar guests that could stop by! Subscribe to the podcast to get new episodes every Friday!
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"Dirty" Dutch Mantell (aka Zeb Colter) has done it all from being a wrestler, WWE manager and a part of creative teams from IMPACT/TNA to Puerto Rico and all points in-between. Now, this wily desperado shares his stories from his 45+ years in pro wrestling along with co-host John Poz.
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Join Rex Luther as he and legendary wrestler Superstar Bill Dundee welcome Austin Idol,Tommy Rich,. Dr D David Shultz, and Lucky P Larsen. The truth about Flair, racism, Stone Cold and The Rock. We remember Dundee hitting the ring to save the day in sequined jumpsuits and movie star sunglasses, but now listen as he shares what was really going on. Many times the talk returns to wrestling's longest and most captivating feud against Jerry the King Lawler. Some of those putdowns and punches had ...
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Pat McNeill & Jim Valley provide alternate commentary for the best (and worst) pro wrestling events of all time. Now, the original watchalong show has escaped the paywall, and is free for everyone. Fire up the WWE Network and enter the wayback machine with our intrepid podcasting legends. From the WWF to WCW to the original ECW, we promise wrestling fans we'll boldly go where we've all been before!
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John Hastings and Dylan Gott, two idiots/pretty good comedians, breakdown the entire career of a legendary, or terrible, professional wrestler and you hopefully listen to it. New Episode every Sunday! iTunes; apple.co/2dFD1VD Stitcher; http://bit.ly/2eqTkKd
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2024 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Ballot Show (Part 1)
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It's that time of year again, Dave Meltzer has sent out the 2024 ballots for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. This is my most popular show of the year (two parts with part 2 airing next week) and we have a lot to discuss this year. Will the multitude of tag teams introduced over the last few years get in? What about the Young Bucks? …
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The Real Terrible Turk and More William Muldoon - 1000 Hours
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On hour 57 of 1000 Hours, the podcast series about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, historian and author Karl Stern has new information about the original Terrible Turk provided by an expert on the matter, Phil Lions. Phil has given us some great details not previously published about pro wrestling's first major special attraction. Then, we look m…
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I have a tremendous show for you today on our 1000 Hours series which is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900). For some time, we have been focusing on the era of Col. James H. McLaughlin, John McMahon and his family, and Andre Christol. Moving forward into the 1880s we get into the era of William Muldoon and his archrival (and some…
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Don't let this be the last episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audo Show you hear! While 1000 Hours (The Pioneer Era of Wrestling Podcast) will remain free (due to sponsorships) the Tuesday DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show is moving exclusively to our Patreon Page and to Wrestling Observer. Don't miss out on classic pro wrestling h…
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I have a great show for you today with a variety of pro wrestling history topics. The finals of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) is here and you the listener have voted. Who wins between the finalists Antonio Inoki verses Mitsuharu Misawa? How did we end up with an all Japanese finals and more! Plus, more history from the 1930s at Madison Squa…
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What Kind of Fan Are You? MSG History, More.
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On my show this week we need to talk shop for a bit. The wrestling landscape is changing, actually, it has changed drastically over the last five years especially. The wrestling fan has also changed considerably. When I first started providing shows for Wrestling Observer and Figure Four over 15 years ago the classic wrestling podcast listener was …
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The Truth of William Muldoon... Mostly. - 1000 Hours
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As my research into the pioneer era of pro wrestling continues, I am now into the 1880s which is the era dominated by 'The Solid Man' William Muldoon. What is the reality of William Muldoon? Should he be held in higher esteem than the dominate wrestler of the 1870s, Col. James H. McLaughlin? What was Muldoon's deal? He started out as a policeman in…
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Wrestling 1984 Magazine, MSG History, GKT Finals Set
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This week on my podcast I mention the passing of one of my favorites, Sid Vicious, plus we look at more history from Madison Square Garden as Ed Strangler Lewis returns, the finals of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament are set as Sting takes on Antonio Inoki, plus we dive into a 1984 pro wrestling magazine for a look at the Von Erichs, Ted DiBiase, an…
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I am back with my continuing series The Long Form History of Pro Wrestling and on this episode, I cover August 1984. Hulk Hogan and the WWF continue to steam roll over everybody and essentially steal California from the AWA by buying their TV spot out from under them. But the other promotions aren't dead just yet. Georgia rises from the ashes to at…
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My 1000 Hours series is all about the pioneer era of wrestling which is pre-1900 or the era before Frank Gotch and on this episode, I have a wild, entertaining, and hilarious set of stories about Luicen Marc, the French Greco Roman champion. We have talked about him previously; a bear bit his finger off and he masqueraded around as fellow French ch…
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MSG History, GKT Talk, Barry Windham's Mustache, More
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I am back with a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast today and I talk about the upcoming finals to the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament- The GKT including why it is so Japanese heavy, the quality difference between Japan and the U.S. in wrestling and is there really a coverage bias in the newsletters historically or is Japan just that good. Plu…
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The McMahon and Owens Family, More Lucien Marc - 1000 Hours
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I am back with what is essentially a part two of last week's 1000 Hour's podcast as I look more at the original first family of wrestling- John McMahon, James Owens, Peter Owens, and Ed Cox. Plus, the trilogy of Col. James H. McLaughlin verses John McMahon concludes. What was real and what wasn't between the two biggest stars of the 1870's? Lucian …
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94 Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - July 1984 - Black Saturday and More
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My long form history of pro wrestling series is a month-by-month break down of the history of pro wrestling. Currently, we are up to July 1984 (which I cover in my DragonKingKarl Stern's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book) and one of the major events in the rise of WWF/WWE takes place - Black Saturday, when Championship Wrestling from Georgia wen…
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Why Does Lucien Marc Only Have Three Fingers? - 1000 Hours
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I return with my podcast series on the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900) with a packed show today. Most of it is spent discussing the first, first family of wrestling. Wrestling families are part of its culture: The Von Erichs, The Armstrongs, The Welches, The Funks, The Briscos, The Windhams, etc. But the original first family of wrestling w…
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Who Killed WCW? - A Wrestling With the Dawg Special with Intro by DragonKingKarl
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On the 386th edition of Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast at FlairFlop.com, Eric Allen and Joe Drilling of OnTheStick.com joins the Dirty Dawg Darsie to review the four-part Vice series entitled "Who Killed WCW?" The three cats discussed why WCW was popular back in the day, the Jerry Springer show, Hulk Hogan and his creative control, bad management …
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I have a packed show for you today discussing the final shows of Southeastern wrestling before it became Continental with Bob Armstrong, Lord Humongous, Ron Fuller, Boomer Lynch, and more. Some more from 1932 Madison Square Garden, a review of the great new book Six Pack and my thoughts on Tito Santana, and the last member of the final four of the …
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Germany, France, and Europe Influence Wrestling
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I am back with my 1000 Hours series which focuses on the history, origin, and evolution of pro wrestling in America. A listener has asked about Germany, France, and Europe in the pioneer era of wrestling. France, in particular, was hugely important in pro wrestling's popularity in the United States with Prof. Thiebaud Bauer bringing his French styl…
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Sting vs Kurt Angle, MSG, End of 1984 SECW
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I have a great show for you this week starting off with a fun entry into the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament - The GKT, where you the listener voted between Sting and Kurt Angle. Next up we go back to 1931 Madison Square Garden where Dick Shikat upset the order of things by shooting on people. The show rounds out with a look at December 1984 in Southea…
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Inoki vs Tanahashi, Southeastern 1984, and more!
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It is a PACKED edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast today as I talk about the latest match in the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament where you, the listener, have voted on who would win in their primes between Antonio Inoki and Hiroshi Tanahashi. I then travel back to 1931 for more history from Madison Square Garden and Jim Londos,…
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The Man Who Derailed McLaughlin - 1000 Hours
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I return with the 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses exclusively on the pioneer era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. I am looking back today at 1875 and 1876 which was dominated by the American heavyweight champion Col. James H. McLaughlin, pro wrestling's first major star. McLaughlin won pro wrestling's first big championship t…
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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - June 1984 - WWF Takes Over, Boot Camp Match, More
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On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast I continue my Long Form History of Wrestling series with a look at June 1984. WWF has bought out the Georgia territory and it's first venture into national cable television didn't quite go as planned. There is both a new NWA and AWA World champion and now a new IWGP champion as well. P…
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Omega vs Funk, MSG, July 1984 Observer
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On this week's show we have a ton of classic pro wrestling discussion on a variety of topics. The latest match in the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament and the voters are split on a match between Kenny Omega and Terry Funk- but we have a winner! More from 1931 New York wrestling and Madison Square Garden. Then the second half of the show takes a loo…
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John McMahon Shot, Davy Crockett, and More - 1000 Hours
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Hour 49 of the 1000 Hours podcast series is a packed one. The 1000 Hours series is my detailed, heavily researched look at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, or pro wrestling before the time of Frank Gotch. On today's episode I am asked about Davy Crockett, whose obituary following his death at the Alamo claimed he was a wrestler. What is the realit…
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On this episode of my DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast I take a look at the results of the latest match in the final eight of the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament pitting Brock Lesnar against Mitsuharu Misawa. These two would have had an incredible match in their primes and I discuss it along with your voting results. The bulk of the show i…
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1931 Londos at Yankee Stadium, 1980s Southern Wrestling, more
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On this episode I continue the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden podcast series with a detour to Yankee Stadium in 1931 where Jim Londos teams up with the William Randolph Hearst empire to hopefully draw one of the largest crowds in history up to that date. Well, they tried anyway. Then I transition to more talk about the glory era …
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Wrestling historian Karl Stern first covered the pioneer era wrestling special attraction Yousof Ismael- The Terrible Turk, on hour five of the 1000 Hours podcast series, but the Terrible Turk deserves a follow up as requested by one of our listeners. Now Karl tells you the latest information he has uncovered about the original Terrible Turk who ca…
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The early pioneer era has given us some very interesting people to learn about so far. Uzile Prickett, Col. McLaughlin, G.W. Flagg, and now let's meet Homer Lane. Homer Lane was one of the early American champions. A multi-time American champion as a matter of fact. He was also a straight up carny. Yes, even before 1870 pro wrestling had its worker…
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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - May 1984: Kerry Von Erich Wins NWA Title, Vince Sr Dies, Georgia Falls
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Wrestling historian Karl Stern returns with a detailed look at the month of May 1984 in pro wrestling history. It was one of the most significant months ever: Kerry Von Erich wins the NWA World title from Ric Flair in the largest show in Texas history, Ric Flair regains the title in Japan, Rick Martel becomes AWA World champion, Vince McMahon Sr di…
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The Real Story of the 1870 Detroit Tournament - 1000 Hours
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I have recently spent many hours digging through hundreds of pages of 1870 newspapers from Detroit, Chicago, Ontario, and beyond chronicling the real story of the biggest tournament in history of American pro wrestling in the pioneer era. The 1870 Detroit International tournament awarded an ornate championship belt to its winner Col. James H. McLau…
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Karl Stern returns to his roots on this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show by discussing 1980s Southeastern and Continental wrestling. What made it so great? What are some of the myths about it? What did Ron Fuller get wrong recently on his podcast? Plus, the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues with discussion of Kurt Angle and …
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Pioneer Era in Australia and Death of a Star - 1000 Hours
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The latest in the 1000 Hours Podcast series looking back at the pioneer (pre-1900) era of pro wrestling takes a look at the pioneer era of wrestling in Australia. Believe it or not, there was pro wrestling in the 1800s in Australia and one of America's top stars died there. The incredible story of the death of Clarence Whistler has been often told …
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Bray Wyatt Documentary, Bruno Sammartino, more
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Karl is back with a look at the new WWE Network Bray Wyatt documentary which dives into his career, characters, and family which include classic era wrestlers Mike Rotundo, Blackjack Mulligan, and Barry and Kendal Windham. This was a very good documentary that fills in a lot of gaps about the death of Wyatt. Also, in the show we conclude the Bruno …
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Pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) returns with the 1000 Hours podcast series which looks at pre-1900 pro wrestling. On this episode, a listener has requested a look at the facts verses mythology about United States Presidents who have legitimately wrestled. We have already previously cover Abraham Lincoln in episode one…
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On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern continues his look at wrestling history at Madison Square Garden in New York in the year 1931, he also continues his look back at Dave Meltzer's epic biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, plus tons of news…
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Strangler Lewis, Bruno Sammartino, and More
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On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, historian Karl Stern takes a look at a great retro article from a 1972 wrestling magazine asking the question if Ed "Strangler" Lewis was the greatest wrestler of all time. Then we continue taking a look at Dave Meltzer's biography of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Obse…
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Great Lakes Wrestling in the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours
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The pioneer era (pre-1900) of pro wrestling flourished in the Great Lakes area. While initially the northeast, especially New York and Vermont were the early hotspots, by 1970 Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and the entire Great Lakes region became very important in pro wrestling. The 1870 Detroit International tournament was a real ignition point for…
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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - April 1984 (Patera and Saito Arrest)
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Wrestling historian Karl Stern returns with another in-depth look at a month in pro wrestling history. Today he looks back at April 1984 and a lot was going on. The WWF was accelerating their national expansion by stealing the AWA's TV spot on the west coast, Jumbo Tsuruta is still the AWA World champion, and a new monster named Lord Humongous is c…
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Wrestling in the Biblical Era - 1000 Hours
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It's Easter Sunday and by serendipity, Eric, the sponsor of this episode of 1000 Hours, asks for the research topic to be wrestling in the Bible. Well, one of the most famous stories in the Bible both for Christians and Jews is the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel, or a man, or God himself (the story is complicated). Of course, by the time w…
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Sting, The Rock, Strangler Lewis, Bruno Sammartino
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On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show with Karl Stern we take a look at the next match in the GKT: Sting verses The Rock, we begin a massive biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino, and we start an article from an early 1970's wrestling magazine on Ed "Strangler" Lewis. A fun and history packed edition of the Drag…
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Pre-Hackenschmidt Russian Wrestling - 1000 Hours
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The sponsor of today's 1000 Hours podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, has asked for research on wrestling in Russia before George Hackenschmidt. Interestingly, wrestling in Russia came relatively late in the pioneer era and George Hackenschmidt became its biggest star but there were others. Today we look at the early st…
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This week pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look at more wrestling history from Madison Square Garden in New York with more on Jim Londos as the world champion, the remaining bracket for the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) is discussed, a 1980's wrestling magazine article on The Road Warriors in Japan, and the life and death of Rex King …
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The Strongmen of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours
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Strongmen and pro wrestling go hand in hand. Who can forget the muscled up 1980s? Yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. In the pioneer era of wrestling, your proto-strongmen and bodybuilders were also featured alongside and inside professional wrestling. On this episode of 1000 Hours, the podcast all about the pioneer era of wre…
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The Evils of Wrestling - 1000 Hours
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The 1000 Hours podcast series is hosted by wrestling historian Karl Stern and looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The more things change, the more they stay the same and on this episode we look back at just before the American Civil War see how wrestling, for a few year period, went from being a noble sport that men were look up to as p…
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I mean, Barney Smith was probably dead under the best of circumstances. He went to the finals of American pro wrestling's first ever major championship tournament in 1870 but, as we have been researching for a long time now, there seemed to be no clear evidence he died at the hands of Col. James H. McLaughlin in that 1870 tournament. Now, however, …
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Pioneer Era Wrestling in France - 1000 Hours
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This episode of 1000 Hours is brought to you by Andrew who recently read an article about showmanship in wrestling in the 1800's in France. The French and the English seemed to have the biggest impact on pioneer era pro wrestling in America and, no question, they had a penchant for the dramatic as we have already discovered with Prof. Theobaud Baue…
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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - March 1984 (Race, Tsuruta, Flair)
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This is the 100th installment in the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling podcast series from author and wrestling historian Karl Stern. On this episode we look back at March 1984 following the death of David Von Erich the wrestling world is still in shock. Ric Flair and Harley Race pull off a secret NWA World title change on the other side of the wo…
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It's hour 36 of 1000 Hours, the podcast all about the pioneers of pro wrestling. On this episode we do a lot of research on pioneer era wrestling including some new tidbits about Col. James H. McLaughlin which leads us back to our most enduring mystery- did Col. McLaughlin kill Barney Smith? If yes, then why is there not a shred of evidence to supp…
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Inside Wrestling Magazine Review Podcast - August 1984
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On this edition of When It Was Cool Wrestling with host Karl Stern, we take a look back at a classic Apter magazine from 1984 - Inside Wrestling! This magazine would have been on newsstands in early summer 1984 with stories on Jimmy Valiant and Junkyard Dog, Larry Zbyszko, Magnum TA, Mr. Wrestling II, and lots of talk on The Road Warriors who were …
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More on the King of the Wrestlers Charles - 1000 Hours
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On this episode of 1000 Hours, the podcast about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, historian and author Karl Stern returns to the pre-pioneer era just before the United States Civil War to uncover more about the first known self-promoted pro wrestling star Charles the King of Wrestling. The pre-pioneer era was a fascinating time period in American …
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History of Wrestling at MSG Series - You Know That's Fake Right?
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Pro Wrestling historian Karl Stern continues his look at the history of professional wrestling in a rotating series of classic pro wrestling podcasts. Today's theme returns to the history of wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, one of the most famous arenas in the world. We are up to 1928 in the series (which can be found here) …
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