Tag: dragonkingkarl classic wrestling show

Image: WWE

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we deep dive into October 1982.

Kung Fu Billy Graham is making the rounds this month, Nick Bockwinkel regains the AWA World title from Otto Wanz, Bullet Bob Armstrong makes his famous heel turn on Ron Fuller during an NWA World title match against Ric Flair in Mobile, and Alabama setting up the hottest year ever for Southeastern Championship Wrestling. Plus: New Japan, Bockwinkel has two belts in Memphis, and much more!

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In August of 1995, Tracy Smothers and Ricky Morton were top stars in both Smoky Mountain Wrestling and USWA when an incident occurred.

Smothers and his girlfriend allegedly beat up the girlfriend of Ricky Morton and she pressed charges against them. Despite the fact that Smothers and his girlfriend were arrested on felony assault charges, it was Morton who Jim Cornette fired. Why? Well…you’ll see. Oh how this story would have played out in 2021. What a mess.

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Image: WWE

On our cycle of shows we return now to From the Pages of the Observer — where Karl Stern takes a look at a Dave Meltzer biography, obituary, or history piece.

This episode looks at the death of the Junkyard Dog. For a brief window of time, JYD was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world — a regional megastar who went national during the expansion of the WWF. But just as quickly as he rose to stardom, JYD came crashing down and ultimately died at the age of 45 in a car accident.

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Or… how Boring Funk Jr. learned to take the press slam and like it. It’s one of the most popular shows of our classic wrestling rotation — the retro review!

We return to Puerto Rico and the year 1987 to see an amazing match between LOS HERMANOS FUNKS vs.The Road Warriors! Plus, a senior citizen battles Kareem Muhammad in a steel cage. What is a Chicky Starr and how he could have possibly prevented a murder by winning a match, and Carlos Colon vs. Hercules Ayala in a barbed wire match.

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This week’s episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show covers September 1982 in pro wrestling.

This month sees El Santo’s last match as he retires in front of 25,000 fans in Mexico, The Midnight Express roll through Memphis, The Road Warrior (singular) debuts in Georgia, Otto Wanz defends the AWA World title around the loop, Ric Flair is supposed to defend the NWA World title in Mexico but doesn’t, Bob Backlund vs. Jimmy Snuka, and Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle begin as NWA World Tag Team Champions. That and much more!

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On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, it’s another edition of From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter discussing the death of Louie Spicolli.

Spicolli wrestled for WWF, WCW, AAA, and ECW, among others. At the time it happened, his death was a major story related to the rampant drug deaths in pro wrestling. It’s a story that’s largely been forgotten over time but is worth revisiting to see the contrast in that era versus now.

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On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I cover August 1982 and one of the strangest World title changes in history — Otto Wanz winning the AWA World Championship from Nick Bockwinkel.

Plus, Jerry Lawler feuds with Kamala, Bob Backlund feuds with Bob Orton, Jr., Ric Flair in Memphis, World Class Star Wars, a huge show in Mexico City, the death of Bearcat Wright, and more.

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The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballots should be coming any day now, so Karl discusses this year’s ballot on this massive show.

Who is new? Let’s talk about CM Punk. Randy Orton hate, and Sgt. Slaughter of course. Plus, Big Daddy, a few who have no chance, a breakdown of the Hall of Fame statistics including peak performances, and the odd case of Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard and J.J. Dillon, plus much more.

This is the final part of one of Karl’s most popular shows of the year. Be sure to check out parts one and two.

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The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballots should be coming any day now, so Karl discusses this year’s ballot on this massive show.

Who is new? Let’s talk about CM Punk. Randy Orton hate, and Sgt. Slaughter of course. Plus, Big Daddy, a few who have no chance, a breakdown of the Hall of Fame statistics including peak performances, and the odd case of Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard and J.J. Dillon, plus much more.

This is part two of one of Karl’s most popular shows of the year. Part one can be heard here. Part three will be uploaded on Thursday.

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The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballots should be coming any day now, so Karl discusses this year’s ballot in this massive show.

Who is new? Let’s talk about CM Punk. Randy Orton hate, and Sgt. Slaughter of course. Plus, Big Daddy, a few who have no chance, a breakdown of the Hall of Fame statistics including peak performances, and the odd case of Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard and J.J. Dillon, plus much more.

It’s one of the most popular shows of the year. This episode is part one, with parts two and three airing tomorrow and Thursday.

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On this week’s installment of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show, we go back into the pages of the Observer and look at two obituaries written by Dave Meltzer: long-time AWA president Stanley Blackburn and the cultural icon from England — Big Daddy.

Big Daddy is one of the most divisive wrestling personalities ever. This is borne out by Dave’s surprisingly sparse piece, so we turn to some other sources to hash out his story.

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