We have now gone through the pages of my book DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus and finished the timeline of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. So, today is a good time to pause and answer any listener questions this week and I have several of them discussing William Muldoon, Col. James H. McLaughlin, Evan ‘Strangler’ Lewis, John McMahon, Harry Hill, Prof. Theibaud Baur, and much more.
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Tag: karl stern
DragonKingKarl: When Farmer Burns beat the original Strangler Lewis
Join me on the podcast dealing with the pioneer era of pro wrestling.
Taken from the pages of my book DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon, we are detailing the events of the last decade of the pioneer era of pro wrestling, the 1890s. Martin ‘Farmer’ Burns has been on the rise and the star of the moment of the brutal Evan ‘Strangler’ Lewis, the original ‘Strangler’ of pro wrestling. So, when the two finally meet for the American heavyweight championship, it was supposed to have ushered in a big new era in pro wrestling history, and it did, just not the way anyone expected. Evan ‘Strangler’ Lewis’ reputation as the most real wrestler in America took a tumble with this match and it changed pro wrestling forever.
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DragonKingKarl: 1986 and 1987 were incredible years!
My latest book, DragonKingKarl’s 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus is now available for order, and it is a massive near 600-page book detailing ever major event, story, and happening in pro wrestling for 1986 and 1987. On today’s podcast I touch on just a few highlights and deep dives explored in the book from the real attendance for 1987’s WWF WrestleMania III to both the 1986 and 1987 NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial tag team tournaments. Let’s also not forget the AWA had WrestleRock in 1986 and Japan, Canada, and Mexico had some incredible moments.
Plus, sadly, the drug death epidemic began hitting pro wrestling hard during this period and there were multiple tragic accidents as well including Magnum T.A.’s career ending car wreck, and that only scratches the surface.
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DragonKingKarl: Wrestling’s first business slump was in 1886
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: William Muldoon vs. Donald Dinnie in 1883
The 1000 Hours podcast series focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling history. You do not have to listen to the shows in order, jump in at any point!
Today, we are in 1883 and the biggest star of the pioneer era- William Muldoon is about to face one of the greatest all around athletes of the time and Scottish legend Donald Dinnie. The two men did not get along, and Muldoon feels like he has been double crossed by Dinnie and it leads to a big show down in Portland, Oregon. That and much more on hour 83 of 1000 Hours!
The information in this episode is taken from my latest book: DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus, available at Amazon.
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WOL: AJ Lee return, Karl Stern talks Pioneer Era wrestling
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including the latest on the return of AJ Lee to WWE, Raw thoughts from Monday night, Hologram’s clone, plus Karl Stern joins us to talk his awesome Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus! A fun show as always so check it out~!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: Muldoon & Whistler get into a fist fight
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 Podcast: H.M. Dufur’s first reign as American Champion
This is hour 76 our podcast series looking back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling.
We pick up in 1880. H.M. Dufur has recently defeated James Owens as American heavyweight champion and on this episode, we cover most of his first reign as champion. The collar and elbow scene was changing and William Muldoon is still rising in the Greco-Roman world but is seriously being held back by the New York City Police Department. Pro wrestling is really ramping up in this era and I am excited for us to learn about it. This episode is taken from my latest book: DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon here.
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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Midnight Express history, Downtown Bruno’s controversial book
And now for something different on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I have recently found a booklet in my possession I had forgotten about.
After closing down the original DragonKing Press Newsletter, I briefly (for ten issues) launched a volume two which I have now made available as a Kindle book so we will spend a few weeks going through it.
Also on this show, we talk about the early history of the Midnight Express, Joe Stecher, and the highly controversial book by Downtown Bruno (Bruno Lauer) entitled ‘Wrestling with the Truth.’
Come and join me for some great pro wrestling history!
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After Dark: Bryan and Karl talk drones, pyramids, Bigfoot, more!
The long-awaited radio debut of After Dark Radio was a disaster as we were booted off our connection multiple times — coincidence or conspiracy? I guess we’ll find out next week. BUT THE ENTIRE FILE IS HERE. Karl Stern joins us to talk a number of topics including drone invasions, phantom fogs, the construction of the pyramids, Bigfoot, and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 2024 Observer Hall of Fame ballot, part two
It’s time for the second of our two annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot shows with more discussion on the historical era, modern era, Japan, Mexico, and the non-wrestler ballot.
This year’s ballot has a lot to consider. We discuss Junkyard Dog, Bill Goldberg, The Von Erichs, The Steiners, and many more. This is usually our most downloaded show every year. Give me your thoughts on who should — or should not — go into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame!
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Part one can be heard here
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WON Hall of Fame ballot discussion show, pt. 2
I continue with part two of my popular annual look at this year’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot.
I break down the ballot and discuss my thoughts on each candidate. This year, there are a few rule changes (discussed in part one) and the addition of several tag teams.
This episode, we continue looking at the historical and modern era candidates and several of those aforementioned teams including an absolute no-brainer.
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Dracula in pro wrestling
We venture into the night on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show.
There have been vampires in pro wrestling in the past: Gangrel and The Brood, Kevin Thorn (Mordecai), Vampiro, Vince McMahon (har, har, har), but has the head vampire himself, Dracula, ever appeared as a character in the squared circle?
He has been elusive, I’ll say that. Apart from CM Punk dressing up as the evil vampire lord once at a WWE house show, I had a hard time tracking down Dracula himself. But, let’s give it a try as I kick off a month-long celebration of Halloween by looking for Dracula in pro wrestling.
Wear your garlic.
DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Buddy Rogers vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
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.
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A long-form look at March 1983
I am back with another long-form look at a specific month in pro wrestling, highlighted by Ric Flair circling the globe in a single day.
In this look at March 1983, I use notes from the early Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus tons of research by many wrestling historians via When It Was Cool’s Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling zone.
Bob Armstrong is a heel in Alabama, Mr. Olympia is a star in two territories, plus Nick Bockwinkel, Bob Backlund, Dusty Rhodes, the aforementioned Flair story, and much more!