Tag: dragonking karl classic wrestling show

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The true crime story of Jose Gonzalez

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image: NotiCel

We all know the story of the killing of Bruiser Brody. In this latest true crime deep dive, I focus in on his killer (Jose Gonzalez) instead of rehashing the whole story once again.

The popular version of that story is that Gonzalez murdered Brody in a shower by stabbing him and then was not convicted due to a corrupt court system in Puerto Rico. The motive: either Brody wouldn’t do a job, it was a money issue, or it was revenge by Brody bullying Gonzalez in the past.

But is that all really true? Let’s look at Jose “Invader 1” Gonzalez on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: April 1982 in pro wrestling

Posted on by Karl Stern

We are up to April 1982 on this week’s DragonKingKarl longform history of pro wrestling with tons of interesting stuff happening at that point of time.

Jerry Lawler has his famous first match against Andy Kaufman in Memphis; Andre The Giant won what is now called the G1 Climax in New Japan; it was the 26th anniversary of Arena Mexico; the Midnight Express were doing their thing in Memphis; Ric Flair was feuding with Butch Reed; Hulk Hogan was feuding with Nick Bockwinkel, and Harley Race won another World title, but not the one you might be thinking of.

Let’s look back at April 1982 in the wide world of pro wrestling.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: March 1982

Posted on by Karl Stern

I continue with my longform history of pro wrestling podcast series with a look at March 1982.

Bob Backlund was WWWF champion and feuding with both Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis, Ric Flair was facing many different opponents including a memorable series with Butch Reed, and Nick Bockwinkel reigned as champion over the AWA.

Plus, I discuss Jerry Lawler, Harley Race, David Von Erich, Japan, and much more.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Steamboat vs. Angle

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image: WWE

This edition of the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) features two of the best workers in modern history: Ricky Steamboat and Kurt Angle.

Between the two, they have a library of some of the best matches of the last 40 years so what happens when they collide? The listeners voted and we have a winner, so let’s talk about the careers of Steamboat and Angle and see how they turned out.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: AJ Styles vs. Booker T

Posted on by Karl Stern

The votes are in and you have chosen a winner in match 26 of round one of The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: AJ Styles vs. Booker T in a clash of two modern era wrestlers.

Styles started off in the Georgia indies, got a small break in WCW, but really came into his own in TNA. It seemed he might forever be a minor league superstar until he broke out in NJPW including becoming the IWGP World champion before finally coming to WWE.

Booker T was one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of the 1990s in Harlem Heat, but eventually took off as a singles star in WCW. Like Styles, he also had major career moments in TNA and WWE.

Who will win? Listen to the latest DragonKingKarl show to find out!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1996

Posted on by Karl Stern

I had press passes to the UFC Ultimate Ultimate tournament 1996 in Birmingham, Alabama, a show that featured Don Frye, Tank Abbott, Ken Shamrock, Kimo, Gary Goodrich, and others.

I met and talked to all of them, as well as Dan Severn who was at the show with one of his trainees and a fellow pro wrestler.

On this podcast, I discuss the show, the first confirmed worked fight in UFC history, and the famous photo I took of the aftermath. Plus, get some stories about “Big” John McCarthy, Dave Meltzer, Mike Tenay, and more.

Let’s get it on!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: American Gladiators

Posted on by Karl Stern

American Gladiators was a weird hybrid athletics show that combined a game show with basically pro wrestling style entertainment. There were even crossovers between the two, and American Gladiators was clearly marketed toward pro wrestling fans. On this retro episode, Karl Stern takes a look back at this quirky game-sport.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Antonio Inoki vs. Harley Race

Posted on by Karl Stern

It’s time for match 22 in round 1 of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament, a fun way to do some pro wrestling biographies.

On this edition, we have a very close match-up: Antonio Inoki vs. Harley Race. Inoki was the ace (and founder) for New Japan Pro Wrestling for many years. In storyline, he also was the World Martial Arts Champion, defeating not just every major pro wrestler of the day but several other combat sports athletes including Muhammad Ali in their famous draw.

Then, there’s Race, the eight-time NWA World Champion and, by reputation, the toughest barroom brawler around.

Enjoy this GKT edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show and check out previous editions of the tourney in the archives.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 4

Posted on by Karl Stern

The fourth part of my historical look at the NWA World heavyweight title covers the legendary Ric Flair era with the belt.

Who was really promised what? Why Ronnie Garvin? This episode looks at the most famous era of the National Wrestling Alliance World heavyweight championship including the switch from the 10 pounds of gold to the big gold belt.

Previous editions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Lawler-Idol hair vs. hair match

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image: Scott Bowden

Straight out of 1986-87, this week’s DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show takes a deep dive into the Jerry Lawler vs Austin Idol hair vs hair match that took place in a steel cage. 

I had such fun putting this show together and I encourage fans of both classic and modern wrestling to listen to this one, especially those who don’t yet understand why we keep harping on good promos and continuity.

This show is a masterclass in how to do an angle the right way with some of the best promos you’ve ever heard as well as peak Tommy Rich.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Spring 1981 in pro wrestling

Posted on by Karl Stern

The spring of 1981 saw Harley Race continue his run as NWA World champion, Ron Fuller losing his smile and going home, Junkyard Dog cranking it up in Louisiana, Hulk Hogan battling Jerry Lawler in Memphis, a big name wrestler appearing on a game show, Sgt. Slaughter becoming a force in WWF, Don Muraco heading to WWF, and Dusty Rhodes and Andre the Giant forming a impressive tag team.

In this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I look at all that and more that was happening in the pro wrestling scene in 1981 as the scene was heating up.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at Dave Meltzer’s Andre The Giant bio

Posted on by Karl Stern

One of Dave Meltzer’s first mega obituaries is the subject of this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show.

When Andre The Giant died while attending his father’s funeral in France, Dave wrote a near book length synopsis of his life in the February 8, 1993 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, packed full of tons of trivia about Andre.

Also on this episode, I do a quick bio of Joe Dusek of the Dusek Family Riot Squad who died around the same time.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Georgia Championship Wrestling retro TV review

Posted on by Karl Stern

Our latest classic wrestling TV review looks at Georgia Championship Wrestling from February 23, 1980, which includes Terry and Dory Funk and another ridiculous Terry promo, Mr. Wrestling II, Austin Idol, Tommy Rich, Gordon is disappointed in Harley Race, and the Masked Superstar.

It’s another blast of retro pro wrestling action — this time from GCW!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1937 in pro wrestling; Bobby Heenan

Posted on by Karl Stern

We continue our longform history of pro wrestling series on this episode, but we also must take time to remember the legendary Bobby Heenan.

This episode covers the year 1937 in pro wrestling with names like Everette Marshall, Bronko Nagurski, and Lou Thesz, and then at the end of the show we talk about the greatest manager in pro wrestling history — Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 5

Posted on by Karl Stern

Karl Stern’s history of pro wrestling series continues into the 1880s and this show gets into some really interesting characters like William Muldoon, Viro Small, and Clarence “The Kansas Demon” Whistler. Wait until you find out about Whistler. Your modern heels know nothing.

Topics covered on this episode:

  • The mailbag is dead for now so Karl jumps straight into the longform history of pro wrestling series with part five.
  • Viro Small was one of the first national African American wrestlers at a high level. Small also did some boxing and new details about Small’s life are talked about.
  • The rise of “The Solid Man of Sport” William Muldoon is discussed.
  • Richard K. Fox buys the National Police Gazette.
  • Muldoon makes himself a career rival in Clarence “The Kansas Demon” Whistler.
  • A lot of new information about one of the most interesting figures in wrestling history — Clarence Whistler. He was an original heel and maybe one of the greatest heels ever. He also may or may not have eaten a champagne bottle one time.

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