Tag: dragonking karl classic wrestling show

DragonKingKarl: Wrestling’s first business slump was in 1886

Posted on by Karl Stern

Join me as I dive back into the pioneer era of pro wrestling.

This episode is taken from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. We are now up to 1886 in the book and pro wrestling is in its first business slump. William Muldoon claims that wrestlers are now making less than six percent of the money they made just a few years ago. Meanwhile, Evan ‘Strangler’ Lewis looks to turn things around as he continues to dominate and Jack Carkeek continues to rise as well! Plus, the World Catch champion is getting tired of being ignored!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: Muldoon & Whistler get into a fist fight

Posted on by Karl Stern

1000 Hours is my series on the pioneer era of pro wrestling history and is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon.

On this episode, hour 79, we take a look back at the very successful exhibition tour put on by World Greco-Roman champion William Muldoon along with his troupe of wrestlers including Clarence Whistler. Clarence, however, kept beating up poor Andre Christol and finally William Muldoon had to step in which led to a public brawl between the two.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: And now, they have swords

Posted on by Karl Stern

Today’s show is part of my 1000 Hours subseries focusing on the pioneer era — the time before Frank Gotch, roughly 1850 to 1900. It was an era of wild showmen and tough real wrestlers.

This episode continues our chronological journey through the pioneer era of wrestling via my book, the DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus. This week, we find ourselves in the 1870s and the wrestling bears are still causing trouble, every newspaper has a different idea who the American champion is, and the two biggest stars of the time, John McMahon and Col. James H. McLaughlin, had the first two of their trio of matches… and then somebody dragged out a sword.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: June 1985

Posted on by Karl Stern

My podcast today takes a detailed look back at June 1985 in pro wrestling history. The text is taken from my book DragonKingKarl’s 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus.

In June 1985 pro wrestling’s first action figures become available, a set of AWA action figures by Remco toy company and WWF figures by LJN. In addition to that, Sgt. Slaughter sort of wins a title in the AWA, there is finally some life in Jim Crockett Promotions because of Magnum TA, and Japan is red hot!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: More Muldoon

Posted on by Karl Stern

I have a tremendous show for you today on our 1000 Hours series, which is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900).

For some time, we have been focusing on the era of Col. James H. McLaughlin, John McMahon and his family, and Andre Christol. Moving forward into the 1880s we get into the era of William Muldoon and his archrival (and sometimes business partner) Clarence Whistler. The two men had a very complicated relationship and toured the country wrestling each other. Then, for some reason, it got real, and the two split up. Muldoon sets up in San Francisco for a long time and becomes a major star there too.

On this, hour 56 of 1000 Hours, let’s dive deeper into William Muldoon.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: MSG history, Barry Windham

Posted on by Karl Stern

I am back with a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast today and I talk about the upcoming finals to the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament, including why it is so Japanese heavy and the quality difference between Japanese and US wrestling. Is there really a coverage bias in the newsletters historically, or is Japan just that good?

Plus, more history from Madison Square Garden including a possible shooting match. Finally, I look at an off-brand pro wrestling magazine from 1987 and more!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Wrestling Superstars from fall 1983

Posted on by Karl Stern

Just in time for the release of my new book, DragonKingKarl’s 1983 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, let’s review the Fall 1983 issue of the Apter magazines’ quarterly special: Wrestling Superstars.

This issue focused heavily on Georgia Championship Wrestling who was going through some things in 1983. Yes, the “Last Battle of Atlanta” was happening, but there was discontent within the NWA that was brewing.

I also delve into the features on Tommy Rich, Buzz Sawyer, Larry Zbyszko, the Iron Sheik, and much more.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at MSG in 1877

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we travel back in time to the pioneer era of wrestling — 1877 — to see the first actual non-tournament pro wrestling cards at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

At this point, MSG was still known as Gilmore’s Garden but these shows were drawing sizable crowds for the day. James Owens, Charles Murphy, William Miller and Prof. Thiebaud Bauer all competed there. There was even a championship belt at stake.

Here’s more on the history of pro wrestling in 1877.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The death of Giant Baba

Posted on by Karl Stern

Dave Meltzer’s Giant Baba obituary from the February 8th, 1999, Wrestling Observer Newsletter may be one of his most massive obituaries in his history.

The size of a small book, the story of Baba is woven into many of the most important stories of pro wrestling history, especially that of Japan. We all know Dave is a huge fan of Japanese pro wrestling, so it’s no surprise that this was one of his most well researched and informative stories.

From his time as a student of Rikidozan to his final match and secret sickness, the story of Giant Baba is an incredible one so let’s discuss that on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show.

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DragonKingKarl True Crime Wrestling Stories: The case of Mr. Wrestling 2, pt. 1

Posted on by Karl Stern

Welcome to the first of a three-part series focused on Mr. Wrestling 2 as part of my true crime stories from the world of professional wrestling — a series that is not for the kids or faint-of-heart as we will be discussing some very heavy themes.

This focuses on a little-known assault story involving Mr. Wrestling 2, aka Johnny Walker.

Part 1: Who is Two?

This isn’t a biography, but a look at who John F. Walker was. How did he become friends with a U.S. president all while being on an offender database in Hawaii?

Join me as we begin the trek through the complex criminal case of Mr. Wrestling 2. This is, far and away, the most detailed examination of this story ever done.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWF Superstars, new rap

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I present to you another, hopefully laugh-filled, retro wrestling review.

This week, we travel back to May 1994 when the then-WWE was really struggling to come up with something. Scandal had eroded public popularity and troubles were everywhere. So, they tried to freshen things up with a Puerto Rican ninja, a rap act, Doink 2.0, Ted DiBiase owning a fellow, the oily sax guy from the Lost Boys, and Jeff Jarrett.

Plus, the saga of Gus Kantankerous, the hospital for sad dogs, and yes, I do another rap song.

As Vince McMahon put it, “Oops, there it is.”

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Chris Jericho vs. Jushin Liger

Posted on by Karl Stern

Round two of our GKT Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues, pitting Chris Jericho against Jushin Thunder Liger.

Though these two are contemporaries, they have actually wrestled far fewer times than you might imagine and only once in a singles match. Liger has been a favorite of mine since his debut and Jericho, I believe, is actually historically under-appreciated once you examine his lengthy career.

The votes are in! Who won? Let’s talk about Jericho vs. Liger on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The true crime story of Jeff Gaylord

Posted on by Karl Stern

I didn’t start doing these pro wrestling true crime podcasts to be funny but then, there’s Jeff Gaylord: pro wrestling star and bungling bank robber.

I had always heard that Gaylord was a little, well, not so bright. As it turns out, that was accurate. I lost count of how many banks he robbed along the way, but at some point, a detective got his number and good grief, this guy is a man after my own heart.

On this week’s true crime edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast, learn about the bizarre story of Jeff Gaylord. Sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: May 1982

Posted on by Karl Stern

We take a deep dive into May 1982 when 21,000 people turned out to the Superdome in New Orleans to see the Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia battle The Samoans.

Plus, the Buzz Sawyer vs. Tommy Rich rivalry was raging on in Georgia, Jimmy Garvin won the Florida title, Hulk Hogan was chasing AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel, WWF Champion Bob Backlund battled Bob Orton, Jr., plus Mr. Wrestling 2, Butch Reed, the Von Erichs, Terry Gordy in SECW, and more!

Check out the full year of 1982 wrestling happenings in my Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling zone.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Florida wrestling in August 1985

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I put a spotlight on southern wrestling as we visit the Florida wrestling territory as it begins its fall after the death of Eddie Graham.

It was still a viable territory at this point with NWA World Champion Ric Flair coming to town to face Wahoo McDaniel while Rick Rude was the Southern champion. Plus, Harley Race and Stan Hansen were going to team up to face The Road Warriors at Battle of The Belts.

Also: A young Tony Falk under another name, Mike Jackson, Barry Horowitz as Jack Hart and much more!

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