Tag: 1986

DragonKingKarl: 1986 and 1987 were incredible years!

Posted on by Karl Stern

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 Japan, Canada, and Mexico had some incredible moments.

Plus, sadly, the drug death epidemic began hitting pro wrestling hard during this period and there were multiple tragic accidents as well including Magnum T.A.’s career ending car wreck, and that only scratches the surface.

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DragonKingKarl: A look at wrestling in February 1986

Posted on by Karl Stern

On a new DragonKingKarl Show, I continue the countdown to my latest book — DragonKingKarl’s 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus in March 2026 — by taking a look back at the February 17, 1986, issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

In that issue, we got the first coverage of the death of Gino Hernandez. Initial reports were very different than what ended up being revealed through the investigation, and we examine it as it happened.

Plus, there’s tons of January and February 1986 news and notes as well.

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DragonKingKarl: Pro wrestling in January 1986

Posted on by Karl Stern

In the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we have now exited 1985 in Karl Stern’s monthly deep dive and finished his book, DragonKingKarl’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, in the process.

Now, it’s time to sail into uncharted territory: 1986.

It was a red-hot time in pro wrestling. WWF had established itself as a dominant national brand, but Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA were putting forth some of the best action of the era. A strange tag team title change took place in the AWA , giving two top stars of the future (Scott Hall and Curt Hennig) a major championship.

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