Tag: GKT

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of insider wrestling terminology, GKT finals

Posted on by Karl Stern

I have a great DragonKingKarl podcast for you today with a variety of pro wrestling history topics.

  • The finals of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) are here and you, the listener, have voted. So who won between Antonio Inoki vs. Mitsuharu Misawa? How did we end up with an all-Japanese final? Get all that and more in this episode.
  • Plus, I talk more history from the 1930s at Madison Square Garden and the later days of Ed “Strangler” Lewis’ time as champion in New York.
  • Finally, wrestling lingo is in the news so I take a look at the history of insider wrestling terminology. It is older than most people think.

So, Hippodromers, join me for a great show packed with pro wrestling history!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Sting vs. Kurt Angle, MSG in 1931, more Southeastern

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image: TNA Wrestling

I have a great DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show for you this week starting off with a fun entry into the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament where you, the listener, voted between Sting and Kurt Angle.

Then, we go back to 1931 at Madison Square Garden where Dick Shikat upset the order of things by shooting on people.

The show rounds out with a look at December 1984 in Southeastern Championship Wrestling where a small crew are doing memorable things. Lord Humongous is in town, Arn Anderson is on his way out, Jerry Stubbs is Mr. Olympia again, and Pat & Randy Rose are the top tag team.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Omega vs. Funk, MSG, July 1984 Observer issues

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we have a ton of classic pro wrestling discussion on a variety of topics.

The latest match in my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) is here and the voters are split on a match between Kenny Omega and Terry Funk…but we have a winner!

I also have more from the 1931 New York wrestling scene and Madison Square Garden.

In the second half of the show, I take a look at the first of three July 1984 issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter including the death of Vince McMahon Sr., Andy Kaufman, and Ric Flair regaining the NWA World title from Kerry Von Erich in Japan.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Misawa vs. Lesnar GKT & the classic wrestling fan problem

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at the results of the latest match in the final eight of my GKT (the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) pitting Brock Lesnar against Mitsuharu Misawa.

These two would have had an incredible match in their primes and I discuss that along with your voting results.

However, the bulk of the show is spent discussing 1980s-90s wrestling, how the lapsed wrestling fan is a real thing, and how the problem is only increasing including all the dynamics of why there really is a new generation of pro wrestling fan.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Sting vs. The Rock, Bruno Sammartino obituary

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we hit on several different topics and listener favorites.

  • We take a look at the next match in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Sting vs. The Rock.
  • We begin a massive biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that not only took up one issue but two.
  • We start an article from an early 1970s wrestling magazine on Ed “Strangler” Lewis.

It’s a fun and history packed edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, so check it out. Let’s talk some wrestling history.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Bruiser Brody vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Posted on by Karl Stern

In my rotation of classic pro wrestling topics here on the DragonKingKarl Show, we are back to my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament.

In this round, we have two very different pro wrestlers from two different eras, but both are legends in Japan: Bruiser Brody vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi.

The listeners have voted and we have a winner.

I talk about the careers of these two legends, plus one listener even matched this up in WWE2K. Who won? Listen and find out.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Kenny Omega vs. Great Muta

Posted on by Karl Stern

In our rotation of classic pro wrestling shows we are back around to the GKT: The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament.

We ask the question: If pro wrestling were real (not a shoot but the characters as presented on TV were real) who would win? This episode we have two wrestlers from two different generations who are actually very similar: Kenny Omega vs. The Great Muta (Keiji Mutoh).

The listener votes are in, let’s talk about them!

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Dory Funk Jr. vs. Sting

Posted on by Karl Stern

In my rotation of classic pro wrestling shows, this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show comes back around to my Greatest Kayfabe Tournament.

On this episode, we have a battle of two past NWA World Champions in Dory Funk Jr. vs. Sting. It’s a battle of two different generations and our closest results yet as the fans vote on who wins.

Let’s talk about the careers and styles of Dory Funk Jr. and Sting on this week’s show.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: The Rock vs. AJ Styles

Posted on by Karl Stern

The DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show returns with the latest installment in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament where we discuss The Rock vs. AJ Styles in a battle of two surefire Hall of Famers.

Dwayne Johnson may be the far more famous of the two, but Styles is an incredible wrestler with tremendous longevity on his side. 

Of course, we discuss biographical information along the way, but remember: the listeners have voted to determine their winner.

Let’s get into it on the next DragonKingKarl show.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Steve Austin vs. Eddie Guerrero

Posted on by Karl Stern

My Greatest Kayfabe Tournament series (aka the GKT) continues with a round two match-up featuring “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Eddie Guerrero. 

You, the listener, voted for the winner and we will discuss it. Plus, this match actually took place six times in real life and I’ll take you through the results.

Plus, there is much discussion about the careers of both men on this week’s DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Antonio Inoki vs. Kazuchika Okada

Posted on by Karl Stern

The Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues as we take a look at the histories of two of the greatest Japanese pro wrestlers ever: Antonio Inoki and Kazuchika Okada.

Two different generations and two different styles. Inoki, recently departed, was one of the greatest trinity of wrestlers ever in Japan. At 35 years old, Okada is already in the WON Hall of Fame and nobody is questioning why. You the listeners have voted and we have a winner! Now let’s talk about these two Japanese wrestling legends.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Buddy Rogers vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Posted on by Karl Stern

The next match in the DragonKingKarl GKT, aka the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament, is here!

I discuss the lives and careers of the original “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers and New Japan legend Hiroshi Tanahashi. Both men were among the best wrestlers and most charismatic stars of their eras. It’s the figure four leg grapevine vs. the high fly flow and you have decided a winner.

Let’s talk about Buddy Rogers vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi on this week’s DragonKingKarl Show.

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DragonKing Karl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Terry Funk vs. Triple H

Posted on by Karl Stern

Round two of the DKK Greatest Kayfabe Tournament continues to ask the question: if wrestling were real (not a shoot but if the characters as presented on TV were real), who would win?

Two legends collide this episode with multi-time world champions Terry Funk vs. Triple H. Both are legendary brawlers having been involved in some of the most famous matches ever.

Can the former NWA and ECW World Champion beat the former multi-time WWE Champion?

Click below to find out.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Ric Flair vs. Kenny Omega

Posted on by Karl Stern

This week on the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament), we get a battle of the eras. The legendary 20-plus time World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs. former AEW, AAA, Impact, and IWGP World Champion Kenny Omega.

Both men are in the Observer Hall of Fame. Omega is divisive among modern fans. Many think he is one of the greatest wrestlers in history, while others think he represents everything wrong with the modern era of wrestling. Can the legendary Ric Flair defeat him in this tournament and defend the honor of old school wrestling? You have voted — and we have a winner.

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DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Bruno vs. Andre

Posted on by Karl Stern

The second round of the GKT (Greatest Kayfabe Tournament) continues with the 50th match in the series: Bruno Sammartino vs. Andre the Giant!

You have voted and the results are in. Who won in our fictional tournament that asks: If wrestling were real (not a shoot but the characters as presented were real) who would win? This matchup features two of the biggest legends in history! Plus, assorted pro wrestling talk.

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