Tag: Don Owen

Portland Wrestlecast: A talk with Nick Wayne’s grandfather ‘Moondog’ Ed Moretti

Posted on by Jim Valley

There’s a new book out — The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestling from the House of Action — and on this episode of the Portland Wrestlecast, I talk to both author Mike Rodgers and “Moondog” Ed Moretti, former wrestler and the grandfather of current AEW star Nick Wayne. 

We talk about Ed’s family, seeing them on AEW TV, his career, ribs like the time Andre the Giant farted on Buddy Rose, fun road stories, and, of course, the book.

From wrestlers you knew came through Portland like Roddy Piper to wrestlers you didn’t know came through the territory like Jake Roberts, the book is over 500 pages of information and history.

This show has a lot of fun and wrestling history. Check it out.

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Portland Wrestlecast: The WON Hall of Fame case for Don Owen

Posted on by Jim Valley

The following is a free show. Just click the red button below to listen.

It’s Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame season and if Portland Wrestling promoter Don Owen doesn’t make it in this year, he’ll fall off the ballot.

On this special episode of The Portland Wrestlecast, historian Matt Farmer and I talk about the merits of Owen as a candidate.

First, he has the longevity. Starting as a kid working for his father, Don was involved in promoting for about 65 years, more longevity than anyone else on the ballot. You may be surprised to learn that his consistently biggest crowds were in the 1950s and 60s. In addition, Don was influential in many legendary careers including the original Gorgeous George. 

While you may have seen Portland Wrestling in the 70s or 80s, there is a lot more to Owen’s history as a promoter. Even if you’re not a voter, you’ll still learn a lot about his longevity, drawing history and influence by listening to this show.

Please listen and cast your vote as you see fit. 

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Portland Wrestlecast free show: The biggest crowds & shows in territory history

Posted on by Jim Valley

Editor’s Note: This is a free edition of the Portland WrestleCast.

With a huge crowd for Sunday’s NXT TakeOver: Portland, this week’s episode of the Portland WrestleCast looks at some of the biggest wrestling crowds in Portland from 1968 to present day WWE.

After looking at a some of the key events from the modern era, we go back to the last big Memorial Coliseum sellout that Portland Wrestling ever drew as 2020 marks the 35th anniversary of the Owen Family 60th anniversary extravaganza show. A sold out crowd that night saw Ric Flair, Billy Jack Haynes, the Road Warriors, Sgt. Slaughter, and more. Two months after the first Wrestlemania, Roddy Piper returned a hero as he faced Buddy Rose.

We have clips from a Don Owen TV interview where he’s simultaneously honest and talking kayfabe. Plus, Piper talks about issues in 1985 that we still talk about today.

Finally, legendary Portland Wrestling announcer Don Coss returns as a guest to talk about behind the scenes happenings and his memories of the event. 

If you’re new here, this show looks back at the Portland, Oregon, wrestling territory during its legendary run, powered by Don Owen. If you like what you hear, consider subscribing for this show, the Pacific Rim podcast which focuses on Japanese wrestling, Wrestling Observer Radio, Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan & Vinny, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and more.

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Portland Wrestlecast: Don Owen and the WON HOF, Carl Styles part two

Posted on by Jim Valley

**Editor’s Note: This is a free show. Just click the red button below to listen.

On this week’s Portland Wrestlecast, I look at how longtime Portland booker Don Owen came within just two votes from being inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. I’m still shocked, but we have to talk about the 2019 “campaign” that was anything but and what to do next year to get him inducted.

We then transition to part two of my interview with Carl Styles, the centerpiece of some very entertaining booking by Len Denton and Roddy Piper that wasn’t what Portland fans were used to back in 1989.

We talk about Piper, The Grappler, “Beetlegeuse” Art Barr, and Billy Jack Haynes who had returned to Owen and Portland Wrestling after his short-lived Oregon Wrestling Federation went out of business. The booking in Portland had changed and Styles was right in the middle of it. You can also help Styles pay for some medical bills via his GoFundMe page.

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