In part two of my look at the history of the NWA World heavyweight title, I start with the decision in 1948 to form the National Wrestling Alliance, why Orville Brown was the first NWA World champion, why he was set to face Lou Thesz who also held an NWA World title, and everything you need to know about the car wreck (pictured above) that nearly killed Brown and derailed that big unification match.
Enjoy this look at the the early days of the NWA title and be sure to listen to part one in case you missed it.
This week’s retro TV review looks back at the September 21,1991, edition of USWA Wrestling…or, as it should have been called, The Eric Embry Hour.
I found this one on YouTube. It features the Dirty White Boy, Dutch Mantel, Jeff Jarrett, Tom Pritchard, and other southern luminaries as the battle between Texas and Tennessee is starting to heat up. However, Bill Dundee just flat out no-shows.
Oh dear lord, this week’s retro wrestling TV review this week is not to be missed.
What happens when you let George Gulas (seen above, left) run a TV wrestling show out of a tiny room? Well, daddy, you get UWA from 1984 which includes the greatest fan ever: Mr. Higgenbothem and his cowboy hat who is tarred of all these dirty wrasslers, a big fat dude in an airbrushed t-shirt and blue jeans and THAT’S HIS GEAR.. and his name is…Peaches. Plus, we get a knock off David Schultz and we can afford one of the Bounty Hunters.
This is probably the most ridiculous show you’ll ever see. If you think WWE is bad now, George Gulas says hold my beer.
Just like Mark Morrison in ’96, the DKP has returned!!!!
After a month out of action, wrestling’s most eclectic podcast is back and it’s gone back to it’s roots. ROB NAYLOR joins Alan for a fun ol’ chat about wrestling! Alan and Rob reminisce about the good times and look forward to a great future whilst touching on all corners of the wrestling globe.
4L tells Naylor what 2017 wrestling he needs to watch and Naylor tells 4L about what old wrestling has been floating his boat. We pretty much guarantee you this is the only podcast in the world which will discuss Jerry Blackwell, Konosuke Takeshita and Scotty Davis in one show. We are so very glad to be back!!! CHECK IT!!!
From the outside, it could be easily mistaken for a warehouse or barn if not for the adorned signage or the large western-themed mural on the east facade.
Opened in December 1950 on the Stampede grounds in Calgary’s Victoria Park neighbourhood just outside of downtown, the Stampede Corral was intended to be a means to an end when it was constructed. The neighbouring Victoria Arena was showing its age and the popular Calgary Stampeders hockey team needed a bigger place to play.
Thus, the Corral was born and when hockey moved across the street, so did the professional wrestling shows that were also a staple of the old arena.
In the decades since, the Corral has arguably become best known for two things: the intimidating high boards that were a fixture during hockey games, and the building’s place in wrestling history. For over 30 years, it was Calgary’s primary venue for concerts, ice hockey, wrestling, and other major events, holding that mantle until the Olympic Saddledome opened across the street on the grounds were Victoria Arena once stood.
History isn’t without a sense of humour as plans are in motion for the Saddledome to be eventually also be replaced by a new arena built across the street.
Plans are in motion to finally close the doors on the old Corral after the better part of seven decades. As announced last year, the long-term plan is for the Stampede to knock down the building to expand the BMO Centre’s conference capacity. When the money is available to put that plan into action, the Corral will close it doors for good. With an uncertain future for the historic building, WWE came to town last month for potentially one of the final wrestling shows in the Corral’s long and storied history.
Records are a tad sketchy but Heath McCoy’s excellent history of the Stampede promotion, Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, notes that the Corral briefly ran professional wrestling shows from local promoter Darby Melnyk. He sold his territory to Klondike Wrestling promoter Stu Hart in May 1951 and the first show that followed was in September (according to WrestlingData.com and CageMatch.net) with Jim Henry beating Roy McClarty in the main event.
Since then, the building has hosted several hundred wrestling shows over the years with roughly 100 of them being major events with international stars.
Located smackdab in the middle of Stampede Park, the exhibition grounds that host the world-famous Calgary Stampede, the Corral was ideally-suited for large scale wrestling events. Over time, Hart began to utilize the coincident forces of the fairground crowds and the big venue to blow off major angles with supershows during the Stampede itself.
The promotion became known as Stampede Wrestling in 1967, but the July events date back to at least 1956 – online records are a bit spotty – and over time all the biggest names in the professional wrestling world came to town for matches in the Corral. Among those that came to town included Fritz Von Erich, Whipper Billy Watson, Lou Thesz, Pat O’Connor and Bruno Sammartino. Gene Kiniski clashed with Archie “The Stomper” Gouldie in 1968 in a legendary bout. Dory Funk fought Abdullah the Butcher in 1970. Harley Race defended his NWA World Championship in three consecutive years (1978-80), while AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel tangled with Bret Hart in 1981 and 1982.
The arrival of the Calgary Flames in 1980 was the beginning of the end for the Corral. While the NHL club spent three seasons there, their arrival led to immediate plans for a new building in tandem with the development of a bid for the 1988 Winter Olympics. The Saddledome opened in 1983 and as its doors opened, the wrestling shows moved along with the hockey team.
It was an odd sight when Stampede partnered with the then-WWF on Saddledome shows in the mid-’80s. After Stampede folded, the Saddledome was home for wrestling in Calgary, the building’s three decks of seating, jumbotron, and fancy sloping roof a stark contrast to the exposed rafters, steep single lower bowl, and low ceiling at the Corral. The Saddledome was a building built for luxury, while the Corral was seemingly built for intimidation; the entrance gates to the building feature iron bars and the simple concourse features black and white pictures of stern faces from Calgary’s pre-NHL hockey heyday.
The decline of Calgary as an important Canadian city for WWE events has led to a minor resurgence in pro wrestling at the Corral. Rather than running house shows in a sparsely-populated Saddledome for what’s likely a hefty building fee, WWE has opted for the last three years to run the Corral and cram fans into the smaller building. The result has been louder wrestling crowds than the city’s seen in years, even if the WWE product has attracted a much larger amount of small children than the Corral is used to hosting.
The Corral was rocking for WWE’s most recent visit and while it might not have been Dory Funk and Abdullah the Butcher clashing in the main event, it was still wrestling and harkened back to a day where a seat in the building on a Saturday night was the hottest ticket in town.
Until plans are finally set in stone to demolish it, the Corral soldiers on into the unknown much as it has for the past seven decades, and every wrestling event at the storied building could be its very last.
On this episode we look at the era of Ed “Strangler” Lewis and some really interesting stuff that happened during the early 1920s, including a big shoot match between an Olympic silver medalist and a mystery opponent known only as The Unknown!
It’s pro wrestling at its finest, only this wasn’t the 1980s — it was the 1920s. Plus, we look at some early MMA action too.
Topics covered on today’s show:
What’s coming up for the July Classic Wrestling Marathon?
The reigns of Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Stanislaus Zbyszko, and Wladek Zbyszko.
One of my favorite shoot matches of all time, this one is right out of the 1980s NWA. An Olympic silver medalist issues a challenge to the World Heavyweight Champion because he’s real and wrestling is fake, you know? Well, the promoters said okay, but first you must defeat THE UNKNOWN! What happens next is very interesting.
We enter 1905 and finally get a true World Heavyweight Champion of professional wrestling on today’s episode of Karl Stern’s longform look at the industry’s history — but not without significant shenanigans.
Topics covered on this week’s episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling show:
American Champion Tom Jenkins loses to Frank Gotch.
Tom Jenkins gets involved in a worked matches scandal with George Hackenschmidt.
Tom Jenkins regains the American title amid cries of fakery.
Tom Jenkins meets the European Champion George Hackenschmidt to determine the champion of the world.
Frank Gotch dominates the North American wrestling scene except for…
The bizarre match between Fred Beehl and Frank Gotch featuring an early wrestling high spot.
Host Karl Stern wraps up the 1800s in the latest of his ongoing longform series of the history of early professional wrestling wth some really interesting stories involving one of the most colorful characters of the pioneer era: the Terrible Turk.
Also on the show:
The end of the 1800s and the rise of/early careers of Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt
The match that exposed wrestling as being “fake” between Farmer Burns and Strangler Evan Lewis
Farmer Burns “discovers” Frank Gotch
The Terrible Turk takes America by storm, debuts a finishing move that is still used in WWE, and then dies
We are up to the 1880s through the 1890s and in this episode, we take a look at the prime era of Evan Strangler Lewis and his battles with other top names of the era. He is also, apparently, a horrible promo with a great newspaper promo from him.
Also, we see one of our first giants in wrestling as well as the origins of women’s wresting.
Talking points:
Evan “Strangler” Lewis rises to fame and takes on all comers, plus a terrible newspaper promo
Host Karl Stern continues his detailed examination of the history of pro wrestling, continuing in the 1880’s where we continue to see the domination of Col. McLaughlin, the rise of William Muldoon, the death of Clarence Whistler, the rise of Evan Strangler Lewis, and the first Japanese star to tour the United States.
Specifics:
Col. James H. McLaughlin continues to win large sums of money and rack up championships across the United States.
William Muldoon continues his rise to becoming one of the most popular wrestlers of the era and one of the most recognizable names of the pioneer era of wrestling.
The original Strangler Lewis (Evan Lewis) comes on the scene and becomes a top name.
The death of Muldoon’s cheif rivial Clarence Whistler.
The first major Japanese star begins touring the United States.
Subscribers can click below to listen or right click to download:
Your host Karl Stern (also of When It Was Cool) presents the fourth part in a long series covering the chronological history of pro wrestling.
Still in the Pioneer Era, we meet Richard K. Fox, a hugely important figure in wrestling history, and Col. James H. McLaughlin kills another man. Additionally, we get thoughts on newly found 1981 Southeastern wrestling footage and the forgotten greatness of Randy Rose.
On this episode:
Karl takes us through 1981 NWA Southeastern Championship Wrestling footage which turned up on YouTube including the dominace of Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose before they were known as the Midnight Express. Karl discusses how Rose is really overlooked for his part in the history of that team.
The great Kurt Brown supplies an article outing wrestling as fake back in 1844.
Then, we get into the longform history looking at Fox and the National Police Gazette, the birth of Frank Gotch, and the aforementioned McLaughlin continuing his streak of terror and dominace until he runs into James Owens.
The history of pro wrestling’s first major national singles championship: the American heavyweight title.
On today’s episode, host Karl Stern answers a few questions out of the mailbag including wrestling merchandise and Houston wrestling questions. Karl then takes a look at the 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot.
On today’s show:
When did wrestling merchandise begin and when did it take off? Why do heels have merchandise today as opposed to not having it historically?
Who was the mysterious Spoiler 3 in Houston wrestling?
Who is Karl considering for his Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot this year?
Who is he absolutely not considering?
Discussion about the candidacy of Sting, Ultimate Warrior, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Sgt. Slaughter, Gene Okerlund, and Howard Finkel.
Every year, Karl Stern embarks on a month-long journey taking listeners through a daily dose of classic wrestling goodness. This year was no different as the Dragon King did 32 shows over 31 days with focuses on well-known guys like Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, and Jushin Liger, while also spotlighting enhancement workers, wrestlers who paint their face, and even the late, great Muhammad Ali.
Below, you’ll find all of Karl’s July Classic Wrestling Marathon in alphabetical order, available now for subscribers. Enjoy!
The final day of the July Classic Wrestling Marathon is finally here. And for the last show, host Karl Stern takes a listener request deep cut looking at the lesser successful member of the Hart Foundation, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart.
Neidhart did have a wrestling career prior to the Hart Foundation working in Memphis, Mid-South, Florida, and of course Stampede. His career also closely followed another contemporary until his time in the WWF.
Today the marathon concludes with Jim Neidhart, father of current WWE star Nattie Neidhart.
Today also concludes the Super Stern Stick 16gb pro wrestling history flashdrive. The product will be pulled at Midnight U.S. Central Time tonight and discontinued. This is version 6.0 of the flashdrive and it will not be sold again in it’s entirety. There are many audio series, audio documentaries, interviews, question and answer shows and much more on the flashdrive — over 500 in all.
In addition, there is in excess of 500 pdf and text files dealing with pro wrestling history including old fanzines, newsletters, the entire run of the DragonKing Press Newsletter, match clippings, results, and much more. Order today or be left out. You can order at Karl’s website.
