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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
