Best Ricflair Podcasts (2025)

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September Q&A Show! 44:44

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4h ago44:44

44:44

Tons of great questions and topics submitted by our Patreon supporters this month. A wide range of pro wrestling history questions including a few great ones on the pioneer era of pro wrestling plus other topics including: The Wrestler movie, Gulf Coast wrestling area, and much more! These questions and answer shows work best when we get lots of go…

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The Rise of Catch as Catch Can Wrestling - 1000 Hours 54:23

4d ago54:23

54:23

On hour 80 of my 1000 Hours podcast series covering the pioneer era of pro wrestling, we continue in my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus further into the 1880s. For years now, Collar and Elbow had been the dominate style until the more flashy Greco-Roman style passed it in popularity. Now, there is a new rougher and mo…

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - October 1985 - A Wedding and World Champion vs World Champion 52:32

10d ago52:32

52:32

On this weeks show I continue my long form history of pro wrestling series taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. I take a deep dive into October 1985 where Vince McMahon buries Uncle Elmer during his own (real!) wedding! Plus, both the NWA and AWA World champions are in Japan at the same time and wrestle, as well as, …

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1996 in Pro Wrestling History 53:33

7d ago53:33

53:33

Join me today for a look back at one of the most significant and impactful years in pro wrestling history - 1996! WCW was exploding in popularity with the formation of the NWO, the heel turn of Hulk Hogan, and much more. WWF was trying to find the right combination to fight the rise of WCW and putting on some incredible matches. I have grabbed a co…

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Muldoon and Whistler Get into a Fist Fight - 1000 Hours 56:30

18d ago56:30

56:30

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 in…

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1992 When Ron Simmons Became World Champ, Scandals and more! 49:20

13d ago49:20

49:20

Welcome to my pro wrestling history podcast where, this week, I am going to look back at 1992 when Ron Simmons defeated Big Van Vader for the WCW World championship in an angle that also involved Sting. Plus, we dive into that same issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter for a breakdown of the latest scandal revelations concerning the…

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The William Muldoon Tour Begins - 1000 Hours 55:18

23d ago55:18

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On this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, author and historian Karl Stern takes a look back at 1881 in pro wrestling history including the evolution of William Muldoon from New York City Police officer to touring pro wrestling champion. Also, a physical description is given for an early champ…

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The Last Newsletters of the 1990s 44:40

28d ago44:40

44:40

I am back this week with a new podcast looking back at the 1990s. Recently, I took a look at the first pro wrestling newsletters of the 1990s to get a feeling for where the 1990s era begin, and it began in a very low place. Today, we look at the last newsletters of the 1990s, from 1999 to discover that the WWF / WWE is flying high and WCW is trying…

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August Q and A Show! 46:11

1M ago46:11

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Today is my birthday! And what better way to celebrate than with a packed mailbag and this month is probably our best yet with questions ranging from the pioneer era up to the 1990s! We have a few new great pioneer era finds via wrestling historian Jason Campbell to discuss, plus more 1990s talk, interesting twist on second generation wrestler ques…

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Why Study the Pioneer Era of Wrestling? - 1000 Hours 1:09:27

1M ago1:09:27

1:09:27

The 1000 Hours podcast this week answers a sponsor's question: Why should we study the pioneer era of pro wrestling? What relevance does it have to the modern era? Well, I am glad you asked. The mythology of the pioneer era and men like William Muldoon, Evan Strangler Lewis, Farmer Burns and others is often misunderstood as the origin of mixed mart…

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A Look at the Beginning of the 1990s Through the Newsletters 48:40

1M ago48:40

48:40

What did the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s look like in pro wrestling? What did it look like in real time through the lenses of the pro wrestling newsletters? There was a real business and fan shift going from 1989 into 1990, pro wrestling was getting smaller, scandal ridden, and less popular but how did the pro wrestling media co…

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Death of Hulk Hogan (2025) Podcast Special 30:23

2M ago30:23

30:23

Join pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern as he talks about the complicated history and legacy of pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who passed away on July 24, 2025, at his home in Florida. Hulk Hogan, who began his pro wrestling career in the late 1970s, became one of the most famous pro wrestlers in history and a major pop culture star as…

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1992: The Best-ish of Times, The Worst-ish of Times 53:14

2M ago53:14

53:14

As I continue my look back at the 1990s, I make a stop in one of the strangest eras of pro wrestling history- 1992. The pro wrestling business has cratered. Ticket sales are terrible, PPV is struggling, TV rating are nothing impressive, and the business is scandal ridden. However, there were still plenty of great wrestlers. WCW, in particular, had …

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H.M. Dufur's First Reign as Champion - 1000 Hours 52:03

2M ago52:03

52:03

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…

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106 Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - August 1985 - WWF Grows, NWA Tries, AWA Hanging On 1:04:40

2M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

I am back with the latest long form history of pro wrestling series from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book taking a detailed look at August of 1985. On this show we discuss the continued growth of the WWF, Jim Crockett Promotions is coming on strong, the AWA continues to hang on, plus news from the young Continental wres…

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July Question and Answer Show! 55:40

3M ago55:40

55:40

You've got the questions, and I have the answers! We have several great topics and questions to discuss on this edition of the show including the Roddy Piper movies Hell Comes to Frogtown and Body Slam, masked wrestlers of the territorial era, Mr. Wrestling II and his legal mystery unearthed, Jake Roberts, Sting, Rick Rude, Sonny King, early 1990s …

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There is a New Champion - 1000 Hours 53:03

3M ago53:03

53:03

The 1000 Hours podcast series focus exclusively on the pioneer era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. This episode of the show is sponsored by Andy C. with information taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon. We finish up the 1870s on this episode as we see pro wrestling riding a…

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The Late 1990s Were Wild 47:51

3M ago47:51

47:51

Today I want to look back at the late 1990s in pro wrestling history. The 1990s were a wild time and the late 1990s saw the rise of the NWO, WCW passing WWE in popularity only to implode, and the hard-hitting Japanese scene making the late 1990s one of the most interesting times in pro wrestling. It was an era of The Rock, Steve Austin, Bill Goldbe…

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - July 1985 - King of the Ring, Great American Bash, More! 1:01:19

3M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

My Long Form History of Wrestling Series continues with a detailed look back at July 1985. July 1985 was a big month in pro wrestling history featuring the first ever WWF King of the Ring Tournament and a red-hot NWA Great American Bash. The Rock and Roll Express begin their reign as NWA World tag team champions plus the WWF get a new Intercontinen…

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The Pioneer Era Erupts - 1000 Hours 52:08

3M ago52:08

52:08

This is hour 74 of the 1000 Hours podcast series looking back at the pre-Frank Gotch era of pro wrestling in the United States. This podcast is taken from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. This episode is packed with big happenings. The late 1870s saw the peak of the first Greco…

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The Early 1990s 43:39

3M ago43:39

43:39

Today we are headed back to the early 1990s to discuss the state of pro wrestling at the time. While business was just about as bad as it could get, there were still plenty of great storylines and personalities at the time. The early 1990s saw Hulk Hogan gone from WWF and the rise of Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and others. WCW was a complete corpora…

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June Question and Answer Show! 50:41

3M ago50:41

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It is time for one of my favorite shows to record, our monthly question and answer show where, you the listener ask any pro wrestling history related question or suggest a topic. On this show, I field questions about historical brass knux championships, history of world championships splitting off from the NWA World title, legacy wrestling characte…

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And Now They Have Swords - 1000 Hours 54:12

4M ago54:12

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1000 Hour is my continuing podcast series about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The pioneer era is the time before Frank Gotch, roughly 1850 to 1900. It was an era of wild showmen and tough real wrestlers. This episode continues our chronological journey through the pioneer era of wrestling via my book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling O…

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - June 1985 - Action Figures, AWA, Hulk Hogan, More! 1:04:52

4M ago1:04:52

1:04:52

My podcast today takes a detailed look back at June 1985 in pro wrestling history. The text is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. In June 1985 pro wrestling's first action figures become available, a set of AWA action figures by Remco toy company and WWF figures by LJN. In addition to that, Sgt. Slaughter sort of w…

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Gordman and Goliath in WON HOF, MSG, Tokyo Dome, and more 56:14

4M ago56:14

56:14

It is a regular gravy edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast, and I dive deeper into the list of those on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot who have not yet been voted in. The very famous tag team of Black Gordman and Great Goliath have not yet been voted in, should they? Also, more 1930s Madison Square Garden h…

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Along Came the Bears - 1000 Hours 50:15

4M ago50:15

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Hour 72 of 1000 Hours podcast is here and today I discuss the invasion of bears into 1870s pro wrestling. Yes, you read that right... bears. Many may think that wrestling bears was a curiosity of the 1940s through the 1980s, yet the height of bear wrestling was actually in the 1800s. One, or possibly two, French circus troops toured America with wr…

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New Q & A Show Talking New Japan History, JBL, and Tons More! 46:35

4M ago46:35

46:35

Our new question and answer podcasts take several questions from our listeners today that cover a huge chunk of pro wrestling history. The history of New Japan Pro Wrestling has been a complicated one and I try to unravel a little bit of it here today. I also field questions about the era when JBL was WWE champion and much more! Join me for a look …

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - May 1985 (AWA Remains Strong, WWF Growing Stronger) 48:32

4M ago48:32

48:32

It's time for the latest installment in my Long Form History of Pro Wrestling podcast series and this episode is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus looking at the pro wrestling world in May 1985. The WWF machine continues to grow following the success of WrestleMania 1. However, despite what you may think, the AWA r…

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The Horse Lifting Incident - 1000 Hours 49:51

4M ago49:51

49:51

This edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast which is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus finds us in 1878, and things continue to take an entertaining turn. The collar and elbow wrestlers have a new champion, and he isn't exactly setting the world on fire. The Greco-Roman wrestlers are basically being run out of …

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Mongolian Stomper in WON HOF, MSG, Tokyo Dome History and More! 1:09:05

5M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

Join me today for a look at another Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame nominee- The Mongolian Stomper! I grew up watching the Stomper on Southeastern Wrestling, but he worked a different sort of character in Stampede. I'll discuss if any of those belong in the Hall of Fame. Plus, we continue our look back at 1930s wrestling at Madison Squar…

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New Q&A talking Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, WCW, Ric Flair Return to WCW, and More! 48:21

5M ago48:21

48:21

This was a really fun question and answer show as I had numerous questions and topic suggestions submitted. I have several follow-ups on Ric Flair in the WWF, winning the Royal Rumble and his later return to WCW. Also, I discuss Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker, early 1990s WCW, as well as other questions. Support us on Patreon - http://www.patreon.co…

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The Birth of Sports Entertainment is 1870 - 1000 Hours 54:20

5M ago54:20

54:20

Thank you for joining me for my podcast series all about the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. We are presently going through the pages of my book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling and have arrived in 1870 and the earliest version of 'sports entertainment' is dev…

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - April 1985 - Fallout from WrestleMania 1 48:36

5M ago48:36

48:36

I return to my long form history of pro wrestling series and look back at April 1985 from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. The first WWF WrestleMania has ended. Hulk Hogan graces the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The AWA remains strong, but Jim Crockett Promotions has nothing to answer the onslaught of the WWF. Ther…

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Hart Foundation Case for the WON HOF, MSG History, Big Tokyo Dome Section 52:34

5M ago52:34

52:34

On today's podcast, I continue my look at acts which have not yet been voted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame with a focus on the tag team of The Hart Foundation. While Bret Hart is already in, the Hart Foundation as a tag team is not! Then we travel in time back to the mid-1930s for a look at what was happening at Madison Square…

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Return of the Mail Bag! 1:00:36

6M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

After many years, the mailbag question and answer show returns to the DragonKingKarl Show! We have a great set of questions and topics for this show including Ric Flair jumping from WCW to WWE, Bill Mercer and other territorial era announcers, Bob Backlund, Eric Bischoff and the fate of WCW, inducting matches into the Hall of Fame, and much more!…

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Drunker Than a Musicians Dog - 1000 Hours 52:52

6M ago52:52

52:52

My 1000 Hours Podcast covers the pioneer era of pro wrestling and presently we are going through my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus. Col. James H. McLaughlin rules the American wrestling landscape. John McMahon and Homer Lane are trooping across the country and pro wrestling is gain popularity from coast to coast. The…

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - March 1985 - WWF WrestleMania I 1:03:32

6M ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Today my show returns to one of the most epic months in pro wrestling history, March 1985. WWF WrestleMania took place at the end of the month, however, during first weeks of the month Dr. D David Shultz gets fired (for real this time) from WWF, Hulk Hogan drops talk show host Richard Beltzer on his head and injures him, and Hulk Hogan and Mr. T ge…

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Iron Sheik in the WON HOF, Tokyo Dome, More! 45:43

6M ago45:43

45:43

On this episode, I take a look at the Hall of Fame case for former WWF Champion and one of the craziest characters in pro wrestling history - The Iron Sheik. I look at the qualifications for the Iron Sheik and the Observer Hall of Fame plus my personal story of booking the Iron Sheik once. Then I look back to the mid-1930s to Madison Square Garden …

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Monster Classical and Geological Hippodrome - 1000 Hours 1:04:27

6M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

1000 Hours Podcast takes a look back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling. With information pulled from my latest book, DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling. On this episode, hour 68 of our series, we continue our look at the post 1870 Detroit International Tournament era. New York is growing …

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Bob Armstrong in the WON HOF, Tokyo Dome, MSG, More! 46:15

6M ago46:15

46:15

On today's show, our Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame candidate discussion moves to 'Bullet' Bob Armstrong. Bob Armstrong (and family) was among my favorites growing up. Bob Armstrong was the hometown hero of my regional wrestling promotion Southeastern Championship Wrestling and later as The Bullet in Continental. Does he belong in the W…

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Col. James H. McLaughlin the Undisputed Champion - 1000 Hours 56:20

7M ago56:20

56:20

Hour 67 of the 1000 Hours Podcast takes a look back at the very first 'undisputed' champion in pro wrestling. As I continue a study through my latest book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling, we have just studied the 1870 Detroit International tournament which set up the recognized rules of…

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Steamboat and Youngblood, Tokyo Dome, More! 57:34

7M ago57:34

57:34

On this week's show, I discuss the life and mysterious death of Jay Youngblood and whether he and Ricky Steamboat as a tag team should be in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Also, the entire Mid-Atlantic area and the incredible tag team scene of that time. Then I take a look at a 1994 Tokyo Dome featuring Hulk Hogan and a Brutus Beef…

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Midnight Express, Look at Young Deaths in Wrestling 50:26

7M ago50:26

50:26

This week, I will again be going through a booklet of old DragonKing Newsletters I recently found again. I continue with a look back at the early days of the Midnight Express and look back at the era when it was a trio of Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose, and Norvel Austin. There are also multiple articles we will look back at cover the epidemic of young…

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The Most Monumental Moment of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours 54:25

7M ago54:25

54:25

1000 Hours podcast discusses the pioneer (pre-1900) era of professional wrestling which I wrote about in my latest book the DragonKingKarl Pioneer Era of Wrestling Omnibus. On today's podcast we cover the most monumental moment of the pioneer era of wrestling - the 1870 Detroit International Tournament. This tournament set many of the rules for pro…

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Midnight Express History, Joe Stecher, More! 57:26

7M ago57:26

57:26

And now for something different... I have recently found a booklet in my possession I had forgotten about. After closing down the original DragonKing Press Newsletter, I briefly (for 10 issues) launched a volume two. I have now made the DragonKing Newsletter Vol. 2 available as a Kindle book and we will spend a few weeks going through it. Today, we…

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1985 Begins! - Long Form History of Wrestling 57:43

7M ago57:43

57:43

I begin my methodical look back at pro wrestling in 1985 with January 1985 from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book. Hulk Hogan is the WWF champion and had been for a year, he is also a huge star in Japan. Ric Flair is the NWA World champion and looking forward to a big year. Rick Martel is the AWA World champion and is fe…

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Bull Curry in the WON HOF, MSG, Tokyo Dome, more! 50:45

8M ago50:45

50:45

On this week's classic wrestling show I look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame case for Wild Bull Curry, a name in pro wrestling before I was a fan, let's look back at his career. Also on this show, we return to Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY following the Jack Pfefer scandal, then we go to the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo Japan …

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Ole Anderson and the WON HOF, more 49:05

8M ago49:05

49:05

On today's show the main topic of discussion is changes in pro wrestling and society over the past 30 years, how pro wrestling culture ebbed and flowed during that time, and just how great was early 1990s WCW? From a financial standpoint, terrible, but there was also a lot of fun to be found. Then I examine the case for Ole Anderson, as a singles w…

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The Life and Crimes of Uzile Prickett - 1000 Hours 1:05:03

8M ago1:05:03

1:05:03

I continue to take listeners through my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling and we have reached the 1860s, the era right before the Detroit International Tournament, the event which would effectively kick off pro wrestling in America, sort of. Today, I get to revisit one of m…

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The Von Erichs in the WON HOF, MSG Jack Pfefer Scandal, Tokyo Dome, More 50:27

8M ago50:27

50:27

Today I take a look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame case for the Von Erich brother trio of David, Kevin, and Kerry Von Erich. Amazingly, the only Von Erich in the Hall of Fame is Fritz, should this be the case? Also on this show, more from the Jack Pfefer scandal in New York wrestling, plus a really cool show from the Tokyo Dome i…