When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)

Today, I continue preparations for the debut of my latest book: DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a detailed look back at the March 3, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This issue of the Observer discusses such stories as World Class Championship Wrestling pulling out of the NWA and crowning their own world champion. Plus, the hype for WWF WrestleMania II, Saturday Night's Main Event, Yoshiaki Yatsu trying to get into the Olympics, and Florida's Battle of the Belts card.

I recently ran through every Disney+ Star Wars offering in timeline order starting with The Acolyte (currently the series farthest back in Star Wars history) through Revenge of the Sith, and yes, that means I watched every season and episode of The Clone Wars. As a huge Star Wars fan my whole life (I saw A New Hope in theaters when I was in second grade and was hooked), all the recent Star Wars stuff on Disney+ both helped the story take on richer meaning but also brought a ton of problems with it as well. Let's talk about it.

This week I am working on finishing up my new book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus so this week I am presenting a show that I don't believe many people heard before. These two shows were recorded for a special project and this week I am letting everyone hear them. The first half of the show discusses pro wrestling's place in pop culture, especially back in the 1980s, and the second half of the show talks about times that pro wrestling either did completely embarrassing angles or featured embarrassing characters.

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series we discuss the continued rise of Evan 'Strangler' Lewis and how crowds in the late 1800s turned on this man. The vicious tactics of the original Strangler Lewis bumps up against the code of conduct of the era's sporting culture. Plus, William Muldoon says he is retired but is really? The wild 1880s continue on the 1000 Hours Podcast with Karl Stern. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 122.

You have the questions and I (hopefully) have the answers. No matter what era of pro wrestling history, from the pioneer era to the 2000s nothing is off limits. Today's show takes a number of questions and topic suggestions including the recent retirements of John Cena and Hiroshi Tanahasi and opponents they had in common, Jim Londos place in wrestling history, theme music, Bubba Ray Dudley and a few retro pop culture questions as well.

Today we pick back up the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Series taken from my upcoming book (next month!) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. Pro wrestling in America is building toward three big shows- WWF WrestleMania 2, the first NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament, and AWA Wrestle Rock '86. One pro wrestler takes great exception to the WWF incursion into his town when Central States co-owner Harley Race wrestles on one side of town and then drives to the other to confront Hulk Hogan... possibly with a gun!

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! YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 120.

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast covering the pioneer era of pro wrestling we enter a new era. Evan Lewis is now The Strangler. Crowds find him barbaric and national opinion has swung from pro wrestling being a con game to it being a brutal sport. Concurrent with the rise of Strangler Lewis is the fall of William Muldoon. Near the same time, Muldoon, nursing a nagging hand and arm injury announces his first of many retirements and the original 1870 Detroit International champion Col. James H. McLaughlin again leaves the sport to return to the railroad. Things are changing. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 120.

Today's show is packed with very important events in the history of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The first event we will talk about may have even changed the course of history. When Clarence 'The Kansas Demon' Whistler died while on tour of Australia he was considered by many newspapers to be the real and true World champion of pro wrestling. His death is full myth and misinformation, and we will cut through the fog of time to get to the truth. Also on this show, Evan Lewis earns his nickname as The Strangler and in the same instance become the first real heel that wrestling had ever seen. The extended Patreon edition is here. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 119. This is hour 89.

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, two of the biggest stars of the era head to court for very different reasons. First, William Muldoon is arrested and hauled to court for slapping a security guard upside the head and calling him a dirty loafer for daring to tell Muldoon to move along. While the Muldoon trial was largely humorous, we see the dark side of Japanese wrestler Matsada Sorakichi who, freshly married, has already began abusing his wife. Amongst all the legal happenings there is actual pro wrestling going on as Col. James H. McLaughlin continues his return and faces a very violent man. The content for this episode is taken from my latest book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available on Amazon. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 116.

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show 1000 Hours podcast series we finally get not one but TWO matches between the two biggest stars of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. William Muldoon had not previously wrestled Col. James H. McLaughlin mainly because Muldoon was not a fan of collar and elbow wrestling nor did McLaughlin consider Greco Roman his style. But Muldoon has now been largely disgraced on the west coast and crowds aren't what they used to be so the two finally had two matches... which were flops. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 111.

The year is 1884 and the first national pro wrestling star, Col. James H. McLaughlin has been semi-retired for quite a while working as a train engineer. He had been the American heavyweight champion and won pro wrestling's first major tournament in Detroit, MI in 1870 setting the course for pro wrestling going forward. Now, he suddenly returns and wins the World Mixed-Styles championship! His return to glory wouldn't last for long, however. Plus, the sponsor of this episode, Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast, has a question: What is the strangest or most inexplicable thing to happen during the pioneer era of wrestling? Well, the answer is strange indeed. Please check out my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon. This is the extended Patreon version of the show. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 107.

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 supposed to go to a draw against Muldoon but decided to take it the distance. Muldoon then gives up on the west coast and heads back to New York but first stops in the wild west town of Tombstone, AZ. This match marked a real shift in the pioneer era of wrestling, and the history of pro wrestling would forever change. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 104.

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 jail for putting on a worked pro wrestling match. Meanwhile, an old name from the past creeps back into the story... Col. James H. McLaughlin is plotting his return. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 104.

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. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put “1000” in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 100

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 championship belt, plus the death of former American champion James Owens at the age of 30. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put “1000” in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 100.

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 martial arts, Catch wrestling, and belongs to that world. While there are elements which do belong in that world, make no mistake, ninety percent of what happened back then influenced and began what we now recognize as worked American entertainment style pro wrestling. Please also check out my book on the pioneer era of wrestling: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus. The expanded Patreon edition is available here. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put “1000” in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 98

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 - https://amzn.to/44SMdSf YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put “1000” in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 96.

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 wave of popularity. H.M. Dufur wins the American title from James Owens, plus William Muldoon is rising to the top in the Greco-Roman world, plus tons more from this action-packed era! The extended Patreon version is here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/133516652 YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put “1000” in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 94.

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-Roman era of wrestling while Collar and Elbow was struggling. John McMahon and Col. James H. McLaughlin, the two biggest names of the time, have their three-match series. William Muldoon is on the rise and the wild story of the fake Andre Christol! The extended Patreon version is here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/132041763 YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put “1000” in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 93.