Tag: AWA

DragonKingKarl: June 16, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter review

Posted on by Karl Stern

This week on the DragonKingKarl classic wrestling podcast, Karl Stern takes a look back at the June 16, 1986, issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter by Dave Meltzer, one of the sources used in his DragonKingKarl’s 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus.

This is an issue with a huge news story discussing the severe motorcycle accident suffered by Kerry Von Erich which ultimately led to the partial amputation of his foot. There’s also Billy Jack Haynes, Roddy Piper, and a major AWA show heading to Denver.

Plus, there’s news on the NWA Great American Bash 1986 tour series.

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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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DragonKingKarl: December 1985 in wrestling history

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image: WWE

Karl Stern’s ongoing series on the history of pro wrestling on the DragonKingKarl Show has now reached the end of 1985.

The information for this episode is taken from his book DragonKingKarl’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. 1985 was a hugely impactful year in wrestling history and in December, the AWA crowned a new World Champion when Stan Hansen defeated Rick Martel. Plus, a major talent situation unfolded in Japan.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: September 1985

Posted on by Karl Stern

On the new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, Karl Stern continues his long form history series with a look back at September 1985.

While the WWF continued to grow and take over more territory in the United States, the AWA remained strong for the moment including putting on a stadium show called SuperClash in Chicago.

Mike Von Erich received the injury and got the surgery that leads to his severe physical downfall, plus updates on Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, The Road Warriors losing the AWA Tag Team titles, and more.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: August 1985

Posted on by Karl Stern

Karl Stern has return with the latest long-form history of pro wrestling series from his book — DragonKingKarl’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus — taking a detailed look at August 1985.

On this show, I discuss the continued growth of the WWF, Jim Crockett Promotions coming on strong, and the AWA continuing to hang on.

Plus, I have news from the young Continental Wrestling, World Class Championship Wrestling, Japan, and much more!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: May 1985

Posted on by Karl Stern

On a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, it’s time for Karl Stern’s latest installment in his History of Pro Wrestling podcast subseries.

Note this episode is taken from his DragonKingKarl’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book looking at the pro wrestling world in May 1985.

In that month, the WWF machine continued to grow following the success of the first WrestleMania. However, despite what you may think, the AWA remained strong and was even outdrawing WWF in spots.

Also, the final days of Southeastern Wrestling arrived before they transformed into Continental, plus more from Japan and Mexico.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The fallout from the first WrestleMania

Posted on by Karl Stern

I return to my longform history of pro wrestling series on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show, looking back at April 1985 from my book DragonKingKarl’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus.

The first WWF WrestleMania has ended, Hulk Hogan graces the cover of Sports Illustrated, the AWA remains strong, but Jim Crockett Promotions has nothing to answer the onslaught of the WWF.

There are multiple events in Japan with both New Japan and All Japan, but things are changing and the WWF is leading the charge.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: October 1984

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image: Rasslin’ History

I take the wrestling time machine back to October 1984 on today’s DragonKingKarl Show.

Here’s a look at just a few things that happened:

  • WWF continued to grow and invade territories
  • Hulk Hogan was running a program against “Big” John Studd after Jesse Ventura’s career ended due to illness
  • The AWA remained strong…for the moment
  • Barry Windham shocked the NWA by joining WWF…and much more!

While you’re here, check out my new book — DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era of Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling — on Amazon.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: August 1984

Posted on by Karl Stern

I am back with another DragonKingKarl podcast with my continuing long-form history of wrestling and on this episode, I cover August 1984.

Hulk Hogan and the WWF continue to steamroll 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 attempt a comeback, the Road Warriors become AWA World Tag Team Champions, and more.

1984 was a turning point in the history of pro wrestling and we are deep in the heart of it with this show.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The life & times of Nick Bockwinkel

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we return to the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to look at Dave Meltzer’s biography on the legendary AWA World heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel.

Bockwinkel was the glue that held the AWA together and was also part of two of the greatest tag teams in history: one with Ray Stevens and one with Pat Patterson.

One of the best promos in wrestling history, Bockwinkel is an all-time legend so let’s talk about his life and career on this week’s show. 

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Hulk Hogan & the AWA World title

Posted on by Karl Stern

Join me on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show as I look in-depth at the history of Hulk Hogan before he became WWF World Champion for the first time in 1984.

However, did he hold a World championship before that while he was in the AWA? Well, it’s complicated.

What is the real story? Did he beat Nick Bockwinkel and stripped of the title? Was he stripped because he went to Japan or WWF? Is it even true? What really happened?

Join me as I run through the whole story on this week’s show.

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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito’s version of AWA Tales from the Territories

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. 

When he was a teenager, Fumi Saito came to the United States as an exchange student in Minnesota. He covered and photographed the American Wrestling Association (AWA) for a Japanese wrestling magazine.

During that time, he became close friends with Adrian Adonis, Road Warrior Hawk, Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Saito, and others. 

As a result, he has a unique, first-hand perspective on the recent AWA episode of Tales from the Territories. He even visited Mr. Saito while he was incarcerated for his role in the Ken Patera/McDonald’s incident. In this case, being in prison may not be what you imagine. 

This is an interesting show. Check it out.

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April 21, 2003 Observer Newsletter: Vince McMahon and the dismantling of territorial wrestling

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

From December 27, 1983, it was evident that pro wrestling was going to be changing greatly, and fast.

Hulk Hogan was the biggest star of the AWA, in the middle of a main event program with David Shults. Gene Okerlund was the company’s cult favorite TV announcer given the name “Mean Gene” by Jesse Ventura. Roddy Piper was the No. 2 singles babyface for Jim Crockett Promotions (behind traveling world champion Ric Flair). They were all in St. Louis, at the famed Chase Hotel, for a TV taping for KPLR-TV for “Wrestling at the Chase,” the longtime flagship show of the NWA. A few days earlier, nobody would have batted an eye about it. But it was not an NWA taping. The promoter of the event was Vince McMahon Jr., who had recently purchased the World Wrestling Federation from his father.

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