Dave Meltzer and I are back with our Friday episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the big news from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter. But before that, we interviewed Marc Mero about his new book. We talked about his early wrestling days as Johnny B. Badd, leaving for WWF in 1996, his relationship with his ex-wife Rena Lesnar, and his current days as an inspirational speaker.
Here were some of the things we covered after the interview:
John LaRocca and I are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast — our last podcast together before WrestleMania 41 as I will be in Las Vegas for the F4W convention.
However, that doesn’t mean we won’t have an episode next week. In fact, we hope to have two episodes from Las Vegas next week and hope to also livestream them on YouTube, so make sure you’re subscribed to the F4WOnline YouTube channel.
We kicked off this show by giving out our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before going into our Top Five topics which included:
Early WWE WrestleMania 41 predictions
NXT Stand and Deliver
The Young Bucks’ return to AEW
Kenny Omega’s unserious promo to start AEW Dynasty
The anticipation for the sixth season of Dark Side of the Ring on Vice TV continues to build with all of the episodes titles and descriptions being revealed Thursday.
In late-January, the topics were first announced with the following giving even more insight into what’s in store for viewers:
Mick Foley: Hell in a Cell: “From the first terrifying fall off the cage to the impact he still feels today, Mick Foley relives a wrestling match, “Hell in a Cell ’98,” moment by moment.”
Blood, Fire and the Original Sheik: “The Sheik, whose violent career spanned fifty years, is revealed by his family and the few who survived his hardcore bloodbaths.”
Tony Atlas: Too Much, Too Soon: “With the physique of an Adonis and endless charisma, Tony Atlas makes his mark as one of wrestling’s first Black stars but racism, addiction and ego keeps Mr. USA from the top.”
Becoming Muhammad Hassan: “Just three years post-9/11, Marc Copani sees the highs and lows of wrestling when he’s given the chance to portray Muhammad Hassan, a villainous Arab-American character for the WWE.”
‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert: “Skilled as a performer in the ring and as a booker, who created storylines behind the scenes; ‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert was a ticking timebomb of talent and self-destruction.”
Big Van Vader: “With an iconic look and skills few of his size could match, Big Van Vader stood out as a wrestling monster but controlling his anger became a bigger battle in and out of the ring.”
The Scream Queen: Daffney: “With her piercing scream, Shannon Spruill becomes a cult star as Daffney in the squared circle; outside the ring, Daffney fights a much more punishing battle with bipolar disorder.”
The Original ‘Superstar’: Billy Graham: “Often imitated, never duplicated, Billy Graham breaks the mold for what a wrestler could be but steroid abuse and battles with the McMahons keeps Graham from the spotlight.”
Ludvig Borga: Hellraiser From Helsinki: “A Finnish wrestling bad guy turned real-life racist politician, Tony Halme’s time in the WWF as Ludvig Borga is only the start of his chaotic and destructive life.”
Truth, Lies and Billy Jack Haynes: “An 80s wrestling star, Billy Jack Haynes’ life of violence and mystery leads to his current situation; behind bars and charged with the second degree murder of his wife.”
The new season kicks off Tuesday, March 25th on Vice TV at 10 PM Eastern.
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, I answer the question of whether I really am a court certified expert on pro wrestling.
Yes, I am! I tell you how it came about, who was involved, and more.
On this week’s show, there is more 1933 Madison Square Garden history and I begin a look at the history of pro wrestling at the Tokyo Dome in Japan which starts in 1989. Enjoy my love for Big Van Vader, Masahiro Chono, Buzz Sawyer, and the Russian wrestler invasion!
Vader has been announced for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class, first reported by Bleacher Report.
He joins The Undertaker as the other inductee already announced.
Real name Leon White, Vader passed away at the age of 63 in 2018.
After spending most of 1993 as WCW World Champion, he was voted Wrestler of the Year, Best Heel, and as having the Best Wrestling Maneuver (his moonsault) in that year’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards. In 1999, he would win Most Improved.
Vader’s career spanned four decades and included three runs with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, another three with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, and he was twice AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion as well.
He made an immediate impact upon arriving in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1987. His debut match saw him challenge Antonio Inoki in Sumo Hall after Inoki had already defeated Riki Choshu that night. Vader needed less than three minutes to disperse of Inoki, causing fans in the building to riot.
NJPW would be banned from running events in the venue as a result of the aftermath, although the ban would be lifted in early 1989.
Vader signed with WCW in 1990. In addition to his three runs with the company’s world title, he also won the United States Championship on three occasions. He headlined many big events for the company, including against Ric Flair at Starrcade ’93.
Vader worked for WWE from 1996 until 1998, but his time with the company was not as successful as his WCW and NJPW runs. His most notable match while with the company took place at SummerSlam ’96 when he challenged Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship.
He was voted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996.
