Tag: karl stern

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at MSG continues

Posted on by Karl Stern

My series on the history of pro wrestling in Madison Square Garden picks up in the new building in New York City: Madison Square Garden II. 

William Muldoon is promoting suspicious boxing, suspicious wrestling, and mostly himself. Then, we get the arrival of possibly the most instantly over pro wrestler in history. You think Goldberg got over quick? You’ve heard tales of Danno O’Mahoney? Let me introduce you to the original Terrible Turk. And then, just like that, he died.

Click below to hear about that and more.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Lou Thesz vs. Bruiser Brody

Posted on by Karl Stern

The next match in the ongoing Greatest Kayfabe Tournament has been voted on by you, the listener.

In this episode, we look at one of the greatest wrestlers in history in Lou Thesz and one of the greatest brawlers and wildmen in history in Bruiser Brody.

The two have some history together, but Thesz was from a generation earlier. How did you think Thesz’s mat skill would hold up against the sheer chaos of Brody? Plus, I give you some interesting background bits on both, and the two times they actually shared the ring together.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Gorilla Monsoon WON obituary

Posted on by Karl Stern

My rotation of classic pro wrestling history topics continues on this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show. 

On a “From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter” edition, we look back at Dave Meltzer’s biography on the death of Gorilla Monsoon which subscribers can read here.

Not only was Monsoon a notable commentator during the Hulkamania era of WWF, the man known as Robert Marella was a main event level pro wrestler and owner of percentages of two major pro wrestling companies as well in both WWF and WWC. 

This is the story of Gorilla Monsoon.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKing Dark: The death of Naomi Judd

Posted on by Karl Stern

We continue our series of 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history by looking at the recent death of country music star Naomi Judd. 

Judd was 76 years old and all of The Judds’ hit songs were behind them, so in terms of affecting pop culture, one might argue that this one doesn’t effect the future much. 

I argue differently as her death has brought the very relevant topic of mental illness front and center, right where it needs to be.

Let’s continue this series on DragonKing Dark with a look at the death of Naomi Judd.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro Wrestling Illustrated from January 1983

Posted on by Karl Stern

In my rotation of retro pro wrestling podcasts on the DragonKingKarl Wrestling Show, I am adding old magazine reviews. 

The newsstand pro wrestling magazines were a staple of wrestling from the 1950s through the 1990s and especially peaked in the 1970-80s. Before the Internet and before newsletters were so widely distributed, the wrestling magazines are where you got your news and information about wrestlers outside your regional area. 

To kick things off, let’s take a look at Pro Wrestling Illustrated from January 1983 featuring Ricky Steamboat, Bruiser Brody, Tommy Rich, and more.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Yeti biography

Posted on by Karl Stern

I bet you didn’t expect this. Yes, Karl Stern vs. The Yeti.

I saw the debut of The Yeti in WCW and am also a fan of giant tall wrestlers. I may be the only one, but this gimmick was something that straight out of Memphis wrestling, only it was on national TV. 

Ron Reis was the man under The Yeti outfit but instead of looking like an abominable snowman, he was a mummy. 

None of this makes sense so listen to the show and I’ll unpack it for you. You won’t regret it.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Ultimo Dragon biography

Posted on by Karl Stern

This week’s biography lands on one of my favorite wrestlers: Ultimo Dragon. 

I was already a big fan of his before he showed up on WCW television as a new international junior heavyweight. The photo of him as the J-Crown champion survives in pop culture as a meme of achievement.

Dragon has had standout matches all over the world including in Mexico, Japan, and the United States but, of course, his worst stint was in WWE.

Nevertheless, I love Ultimo Dragon so let’s talk about him on this week’s DragonKing Classic Wrestling Show.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at Maple Leaf Gardens

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look back at the history of pro wrestling at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. 

Before the Tunneys, the Queensbury Athletic Club set the stage for one of the most famous pro wrestling venues in the world. 

This is their story.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: One Man Gang/Akeem biography

Posted on by Karl Stern

The following is a free show. Just click below to listen.

On a new biography episode of the DragonKing Classic Wrestling Show, I look back at the territorial era monster One Man Gang who later had his gimmick changed to the regrettable Akeem in WWF.

Starting out with the outlaw promotions and then Angelo Poffo’s ICW, OMG ended up getting huge pushes in Florida, World Class, Mid-South/UWF (where he was their champion), and ultimately in the WWF where he had a run against Hulk Hogan before settling into a tag team with Big Boss Man. Before he retired, he also had a couple of runs in WCW (where he won the U.S. title) and Japan. 

Let’s talk about the One Man Gang, aka George Gray.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Earthquake/John Tenta biography

Posted on by Karl Stern

This is a free show. Just click below to listen.

John Tenta (aka WWF’s Earthquake, WCW’s Avalanche and Shark) wrestled at LSU and then became a sumo competitor where he was a standout Westerner.

But, he soon became disgruntled and switched to pro wrestling, first in Japan and then in the U.S., becoming a star in WWF as an opponent for Hulk Hogan, as well as a Tag Team champion. He had multiple stints in Japan and in WCW as well. 

He passed away in 2006 at just 42 years old due to bladder cancer.

This is the story of Earthquake.

Click Here To Listen

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of pro wrestling at MSG from 1880-1883

Posted on by Karl Stern

As part of my series looking at the history of pro wrestling at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” I conclude with all the wrestling events held at the first Madison Square Garden (Gilmour’s Garden) which featured the biggest act of the time in William Muldoon. 

It’s so amazing looking back on the New York wrestling scene during this era and how it was so obviously worked and manipulated. Crowds were pretty impressive during these three years and Muldoon used every opportunity to work the press about his matches. 

Enjoy this look at the last shows of MSG I from 1880 through 1883.

Part 1 | Part II | Part III

Right Click To Save

DragonKing Dark: The Harvey Weinstein scandal

Posted on by Karl Stern

My ongoing series examining 100 of the darkest moments in pop culture history continues with a look at the movie scandal that spawned the #MeToo movement and the many crimes of producer Harvey Weinstein. 

Weinstein was a powerful movie producer in Hollywood who is accused of numerous heinous sexual assaults against a large number of actresses, including several to level stars. 

In order to discuss this story, some listeners may find the accusations triggering. Listener discretion advised.

Right Click Save As

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Owen Hart WON obituary

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we take a look at Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter obituary for Owen Hart the week he was killed in a tragic fall in Kansas City, MO during the live WWE Over The Edge pay-per-view.

Hart’s death still stands as one of the most tragic moments in the history of pro wrestling and the story gained huge national and international attention. 

From the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, these are the life and times of Owen Hart.

Right Click Save As

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WWA Indianapolis retro review from May 1984

Posted on by Karl Stern

This week’s DragonKing Karl show focuses on some low-rent wrestling as WWA Indianapolis is about the dirt worst “major” pro wrestling show from the territory era I think I have ever seen.

Dick The Bruiser literally gave zero sh*ts about his wrestling show. We have generic knockoffs of Abdullah The Butcher, Michael Hayes, and a dude so skinny he made Kendall Windham rethink his life.

I wanted to watch this to see pre-Lord Humongous Jeff Van Camp wrestle. He did and was about the best thing on this god-forsaken mess of a show.

Watch the show above and then come back for my recap.

Right Click Save As

DragonKing Dark: The death of WCW

Posted on by Karl Stern

Continuing our 100 darkest moments in pop culture history, I return to the world of sports entertainment (pro wrestling) to find out how one company became the most profitable and successful wrestling company in the world and then sank over half of genre with it. 

The death of WCW is an amazing account of how to literally run off half of the entire fanbase of a very popular pop culture genre with a bad product.

Comic book companies, please take notes.

Right Click Save As