Best Ricflair Podcasts (2025)

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Patreon Half Off Sale! 3:57

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2h ago3:57

3:57

For the first time in the history of When It Was Cool! Half off every Patreon level! Get instant access to almost 3,000 podcasts, books, and more on pro wrestling history, pop culture, and retro pop culture. Sale ends soon! Save this feed and get TONS of content! https://www.patreon.com/wiwcoolBy When It Was Cool

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1994 AAA / WCW When Worlds Collide Reviewed! 48:21

2h ago48:21

48:21

In 1994 the train wreck that was WCW somehow managed to pull off one of the best PPVs of all-time. In association with Mexico's AAA promotion, When Worlds Collide featured not a single bad match. It featured multiple classic matches including Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr taking on El Hijo del Santo and Octagon. Today, let's revisit this show through…

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Muldoon Makes a Run For It! - 1000 Hours 48:46

32m ago48:46

48:46

The 1000 Hours podcast series looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, the era before Frank Gotch. On this episode, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look into the 1880s as William Muldoon wraps up his tenure in California with a debacle of a worked match against Clarence Whistler that turned into a double cross. Whistler was suppos…

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1991 Steroid Madness, and Details of a Belt 45:36

17h ago45:36

45:36

Today our time machine takes us back to 1991, a time when pro wrestling was about as low as it could go. Business is horrendous across the board. The WWF is plagued by multiple scandals and WCW is drawing less than 1,000 people to some of its hottest areas. In a November 1991 issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, he breaks down all…

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The End of 1985 and a New World Champion 53:46

13d ago53:46

53:46

My on-going series on the history of pro wrestling has now reached the end of 1985. The information for this episode is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. 1985 was a hugely impactful year in pro wrestling history and in December 1985, the AWA crowned a new World champion when Stan Hansen defea…

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Muldoon, Whistler, and Dinnie - 1000 Hours 55:50

15d ago55:50

55:50

My 1000 Hours podcast series is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus and covers the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling. In this episode, William Muldoon, Clarence Whistler, and Donald Dinnie are in a feud. Worked or shoot? There is evidence of both. Clarence Whistler gets injured yet again. Donald Dinnie goes to j…

1
Muldoon and Whistler Get into a Fist Fight - 1000 Hours 56:30

3M 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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The William Muldoon Tour Begins - 1000 Hours 55:18

3M ago55:18

55:18

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

4M 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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H.M. Dufur's First Reign as Champion - 1000 Hours 52:03

4M 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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There is a New Champion - 1000 Hours 53:03

5M 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 Pioneer Era Erupts - 1000 Hours 52:08

5M 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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And Now They Have Swords - 1000 Hours 54:12

6M ago54:12

54:12

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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Along Came the Bears - 1000 Hours 50:15

6M ago50:15

50:15

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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The Horse Lifting Incident - 1000 Hours 49:51

7M 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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The Birth of Sports Entertainment is 1870 - 1000 Hours 54:20

7M 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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Drunker Than a Musicians Dog - 1000 Hours 52:52

8M 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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Monster Classical and Geological Hippodrome - 1000 Hours 1:04:27

8M 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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Col. James H. McLaughlin the Undisputed Champion - 1000 Hours 56:20

9M 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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The Most Monumental Moment of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours 54:25

9M 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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The Life and Crimes of Uzile Prickett - 1000 Hours 1:05:03

10M 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 Players Are on the Field - 1000 Hours 48:25

11M ago48:25

48:25

As I continue to work through my latest book, DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling on this podcast, we arrive to the era right before the Detroit International Tournament which would set the rules largely for the coming first era of pro wrestling in America. Just before the Detroit tournam…

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Wrestling Gets Organized - 1000 Hours 54:42

11M ago54:42

54:42

The 1000 Hours Podcast is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Karl Stern, author of the DragonKingKarl Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus is the host. We continue to work our way through the book and are now up to just prior to the 1870 Detroit International Tournament. Pro wrestling starts to get more organized during this era. Harry Hill c…

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America's First Wrestling Star Revisited - 1000 Hours 1:00:14

12M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Today I continue with my 1000 Hours podcast series which covers pre-1900 pro wrestling. Now that my new book is out (available at Amazon here- https://amzn.to/3OLWrwf ) we are working our way through the it with additional commentary and thoughts. So, we return to before the American Civil War and find that American pro wrestling's roots actually b…

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The Bible of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours 1:03:50

1y ago1:03:50

1:03:50

The pioneer era of pro wrestling is the era of the origin and development of pro wrestling in the United States which ends in 1900 or pre-Frank Gotch. On this, hour 61 of our series, we begin a walk-through of my new book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Wrestling Omnibus. We dive even deeper into the stories in the book discuss the pioneer era of …

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1886: A Year of Change - 1000 Hours 47:19

1y ago47:19

47:19

My pioneer era podcast returns this week with a look back at 1886. 1886 was a year of change in professional wrestling. Clarence Whistler had been one of the top stars of the last few years but died while on tour of Australia in late 1885. Col. James H. McLaughlin had returned to wrestling after multiple retirements and a young and dangerous wrestl…

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Pioneer Era Omnibus Book Launch! 54:55

1y ago54:55

54:55

It is the official book launch of my new 700-page monster research project on the pioneer era of United States pro wrestling. The DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer era of Pro Wrestling is now available as a print book and on Kindle! I am joined by my wife Tonya from the When It Was Cool website who sits do…

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More Milo to Londos - 1000 Hours 51:09

1y ago51:09

51:09

This is my 1000 Hours Podcast series which focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, or pre-1900 wrestling. My new book, DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus is coming out this next week and, on this episode, hour 59 of 1000 Hours, I want to look at one of the oldest books to talk about the pioneer era. A book called From Milo to Londo…

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From Milo to Londos Fact verses Fiction - 1000 Hours 49:36

1y ago49:36

49:36

The 1000 Hours Podcast from Karl 'DragonKingKarl' Stern is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The era before Frank Gotch. Frank Gotch did not just appear out of a void and create pro wrestling for the masses in the early 1900s. Frank Gotch built on over 50 years of a thriving and, at times, hugely popular pro wrestling business. Much of wh…

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The Real Terrible Turk and More William Muldoon - 1000 Hours 56:43

1y ago56:43

56:43

On hour 57 of 1000 Hours, the podcast series about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, historian and author Karl Stern has new information about the original Terrible Turk provided by an expert on the matter, Phil Lions. Phil has given us some great details not previously published about pro wrestling's first major special attraction. Then, we look m…

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More Muldoon - 1000 Hours 52:16

1y ago52:16

52:16

I have a tremendous show for you today on our 1000 Hours series which is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900). For some time, we have been focusing on the era of Col. James H. McLaughlin, John McMahon and his family, and Andre Christol. Moving forward into the 1880s we get into the era of William Muldoon and his archrival (and some…

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The Truth of William Muldoon... Mostly. - 1000 Hours 58:53

1y ago58:53

58:53

As my research into the pioneer era of pro wrestling continues, I am now into the 1880s which is the era dominated by 'The Solid Man' William Muldoon. What is the reality of William Muldoon? Should he be held in higher esteem than the dominate wrestler of the 1870s, Col. James H. McLaughlin? What was Muldoon's deal? He started out as a policeman in…

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Will the Real Christol Please Stand Up? 59:58

1+ y ago59:58

59:58

My 1000 Hours series is all about the pioneer era of wrestling which is pre-1900 or the era before Frank Gotch and on this episode, I have a wild, entertaining, and hilarious set of stories about Luicen Marc, the French Greco Roman champion. We have talked about him previously; a bear bit his finger off and he masqueraded around as fellow French ch…

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The McMahon and Owens Family, More Lucien Marc - 1000 Hours 53:28

1+ y ago53:28

53:28

I am back with what is essentially a part two of last week's 1000 Hour's podcast as I look more at the original first family of wrestling- John McMahon, James Owens, Peter Owens, and Ed Cox. Plus, the trilogy of Col. James H. McLaughlin verses John McMahon concludes. What was real and what wasn't between the two biggest stars of the 1870's? Lucian …

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Why Does Lucien Marc Only Have Three Fingers? - 1000 Hours 59:52

1+ y ago59:52

59:52

I return with my podcast series on the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900) with a packed show today. Most of it is spent discussing the first, first family of wrestling. Wrestling families are part of its culture: The Von Erichs, The Armstrongs, The Welches, The Funks, The Briscos, The Windhams, etc. But the original first family of wrestling w…

1
Germany, France, and Europe Influence Wrestling 57:39

1+ y ago57:39

57:39

I am back with my 1000 Hours series which focuses on the history, origin, and evolution of pro wrestling in America. A listener has asked about Germany, France, and Europe in the pioneer era of wrestling. France, in particular, was hugely important in pro wrestling's popularity in the United States with Prof. Thiebaud Bauer bringing his French styl…

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The Man Who Derailed McLaughlin - 1000 Hours 57:24

1+ y ago57:24

57:24

I return with the 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses exclusively on the pioneer era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. I am looking back today at 1875 and 1876 which was dominated by the American heavyweight champion Col. James H. McLaughlin, pro wrestling's first major star. McLaughlin won pro wrestling's first big championship t…

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - June 1984 - WWF Takes Over, Boot Camp Match, More 50:55

1+ y ago50:55

50:55

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast I continue my Long Form History of Wrestling series with a look at June 1984. WWF has bought out the Georgia territory and it's first venture into national cable television didn't quite go as planned. There is both a new NWA and AWA World champion and now a new IWGP champion as well. P…

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John McMahon Shot, Davy Crockett, and More - 1000 Hours 53:02

1+ y ago53:02

53:02

Hour 49 of the 1000 Hours podcast series is a packed one. The 1000 Hours series is my detailed, heavily researched look at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, or pro wrestling before the time of Frank Gotch. On today's episode I am asked about Davy Crockett, whose obituary following his death at the Alamo claimed he was a wrestler. What is the realit…

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Return of the Terrible Turk - 1000 Hours 45:51

1+ y ago45:51

45:51

Wrestling historian Karl Stern first covered the pioneer era wrestling special attraction Yousof Ismael- The Terrible Turk, on hour five of the 1000 Hours podcast series, but the Terrible Turk deserves a follow up as requested by one of our listeners. Now Karl tells you the latest information he has uncovered about the original Terrible Turk who ca…

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Who Was Homer Lane? 54:42

1+ y ago54:42

54:42

The early pioneer era has given us some very interesting people to learn about so far. Uzile Prickett, Col. McLaughlin, G.W. Flagg, and now let's meet Homer Lane. Homer Lane was one of the early American champions. A multi-time American champion as a matter of fact. He was also a straight up carny. Yes, even before 1870 pro wrestling had its worker…

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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - May 1984: Kerry Von Erich Wins NWA Title, Vince Sr Dies, Georgia Falls 32:35

1+ y ago32:35

32:35

Wrestling historian Karl Stern returns with a detailed look at the month of May 1984 in pro wrestling history. It was one of the most significant months ever: Kerry Von Erich wins the NWA World title from Ric Flair in the largest show in Texas history, Ric Flair regains the title in Japan, Rick Martel becomes AWA World champion, Vince McMahon Sr di…

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The Real Story of the 1870 Detroit Tournament - 1000 Hours 49:39

1+ y ago49:39

49:39

I have recently spent many hours digging through hundreds of pages of 1870 newspapers from Detroit, Chicago, Ontario, and beyond chronicling the real story of the biggest tournament in history of American pro wrestling in the pioneer era. The 1870 Detroit International tournament awarded an ornate championship belt to its winner Col. James H. McLau…

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Pioneer Era in Australia and Death of a Star - 1000 Hours 47:21

1+ y ago47:21

47:21

The latest in the 1000 Hours Podcast series looking back at the pioneer (pre-1900) era of pro wrestling takes a look at the pioneer era of wrestling in Australia. Believe it or not, there was pro wrestling in the 1800s in Australia and one of America's top stars died there. The incredible story of the death of Clarence Whistler has been often told …

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Wrestling Presidents - 1000 Hours 55:29

1+ y ago55:29

55:29

Pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) returns with the 1000 Hours podcast series which looks at pre-1900 pro wrestling. On this episode, a listener has requested a look at the facts verses mythology about United States Presidents who have legitimately wrestled. We have already previously cover Abraham Lincoln in episode one…

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Great Lakes Wrestling in the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours 54:54

1+ y ago54:54

54:54

The pioneer era (pre-1900) of pro wrestling flourished in the Great Lakes area. While initially the northeast, especially New York and Vermont were the early hotspots, by 1970 Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and the entire Great Lakes region became very important in pro wrestling. The 1870 Detroit International tournament was a real ignition point for…

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Wrestling in the Biblical Era - 1000 Hours 53:47

1+ y ago53:47

53:47

It's Easter Sunday and by serendipity, Eric, the sponsor of this episode of 1000 Hours, asks for the research topic to be wrestling in the Bible. Well, one of the most famous stories in the Bible both for Christians and Jews is the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel, or a man, or God himself (the story is complicated). Of course, by the time w…

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Pre-Hackenschmidt Russian Wrestling - 1000 Hours 59:36

1+ y ago59:36

59:36

The sponsor of today's 1000 Hours podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, has asked for research on wrestling in Russia before George Hackenschmidt. Interestingly, wrestling in Russia came relatively late in the pioneer era and George Hackenschmidt became its biggest star but there were others. Today we look at the early st…

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The Strongmen of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours 1:07:59

1+ y ago1:07:59

1:07:59

Strongmen and pro wrestling go hand in hand. Who can forget the muscled up 1980s? Yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. In the pioneer era of wrestling, your proto-strongmen and bodybuilders were also featured alongside and inside professional wrestling. On this episode of 1000 Hours, the podcast all about the pioneer era of wre…

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The Evils of Wrestling - 1000 Hours 1:04:43

1+ y ago1:04:43

1:04:43

The 1000 Hours podcast series is hosted by wrestling historian Karl Stern and looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The more things change, the more they stay the same and on this episode we look back at just before the American Civil War see how wrestling, for a few year period, went from being a noble sport that men were look up to as p…