When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
A deep dive into pro wrestling history and retro pop culture, hosted by Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl), a wrestling historian with over 15 years of experience. The show covers major promotions like WWE, WCW, NWA, AEW, and more, discussing legendary wrestlers from various eras. This free feed also includes selected retro pop culture reviews from the Patreon site.
Episodes
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Review (11-03-1986) Magnum TA Accident Podcast
Today I look back at the November 3, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter which first reported details from the career ending car accident of Magnum TA. Magnum TA was being pushed to win the NWA World heavyweight title at the upcoming NWA Starrcade according to the late promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. The career ending car accident changed the course of pro wrestling history. Plu
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2009
Episode 2009 (September 14, 2026) School was back in session last episode so it's only natural that Mike and Joseph cover after school TV watching this time out. Ultraman, Gilligan's Island, Star Blazers - the guys watched a lot of different things covering various genres. Did they watch one of your favorites? Listen to find out! And of course there's the "Mix-Tape Challenge" wherein they shar
True Crime: Mr. Wrestling II Part 1
Aaron Gartlan presents SECW Action News Podcast. Over the few weeks pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern will be posting a 3 part series about the little known assault story involving Mr. Wrestling 2 (Johnny Walker). This series is not for kids as we will be discussing some very heavy criminal themes. Part 1 - Who is Two? This isn't a biography, but rather a look at who was John F. Walker
True Crime: The Blackjack Mulligan and Kendall Windham Case
Blackjack Mulligan was a major pro wrestling star in the 1970s into the 1980s and his sons Barry and Kendall Windham also joined him as wrestlers. Married into the family was Mike Rotundo who, of course, spawned Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. In 1989 Blackjack Mulligan and Kendall Windham were indicted in a million-dollar counterfeit money scheme and ultimately were sent to prison for around two years.
True Crime - Ricky Morton vs Tracey Smothers
Aaron Gartlan presents SECW Action News Podcast, and this week pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern takes a look at a crime that took place years after SECW and Continental Wrestling had ended but involved two people who wrestled for Continental Wrestling. In August of 1995, Tracy Smothers and Ricky Morton were top stars in both Smoky Mountain Wrestling and USWA when an incident occurred.
The History of the NWA World Heavyweight Title - The Indy Era
Free week 2026 is here! It only happens once a year but this week, all the shows we release are free! This episode concludes my series on the history of the National Wrestling Alliance World heavyweight championship and follows the belt into the independent era. This series was completed before the Billy Corgan NWA era began and, at some point, I will do an episode on it also, but this show follow
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2008
Grab your #2 pencils, your Trapper Keeper and head out to the bus stop because it's time to go back to school! Join Joseph and Mike in homeroom for our trip back to the classrooms of our younger days. And as always, we've got the Mixtape Challenge to answer where the guys come up with tapes featuring female names. Billie Jean to Valerie - see if one of your favorite tracks made the cut.
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - September 1986 (Chris Adams, New WWF TV Shows, More!)
Today we travel back in time to September 1986. Taken from my latest book, DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon we look at the outcome of the criminal case against Chris Adams who, not only gets essentially a slap on the wrist, but is stripped of the World Class World title and jumps to Bill Watts' UWF promotion. The new World Class World champion rides into town on
From the Pioneer Era to the Modern Era Unbroken - 1000 Hours
Today I have a very special show for you, and it is a great jumping on point if you have never listened to any of my pioneer era (1800s) podcasts and many long-time listeners will certainly love this one. If the pioneer era of pro wrestling is really the ancestor to modern entertainment style pro wrestling like WWE or AEW and not the predecessor to mixed martial arts like UFC then you should be ab
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2007
Mike and Joseph break out the turntables and cassette players as they dive back into the musical world of the 70s and 80s. First albums, first singles, first concerts - it's all here. Plus, Joseph tells of his exploits at getting free records and driving hours to see concerts multiple days a week. Of course, there's also a Mix-Tape Challenge to cover. New Wave to heavy metal, funk to hard rock - t
William Muldoon Whips John L. Sullivan Into Shape - 1000 Hours
This week on the 1000 Hours Podcast series which about the pioneer era of pro wrestling I discuss one of the most famous boxing matches in history. Pioneer era boxing was on the rise at the same time pioneer era pro wrestling was and the biggest name in pioneer era wrestling was William Muldoon. John L. Sullivan, the pioneer boxing legend, was having some problems, namely, he was a sodden drunkard
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2006
There is nothing wrong with your television. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are now controlling the transmission. We control the horizontal and the vertical... You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the deepest inner mind to - - the outer limits. Yeah, okay, that doesn't work too well for an audio show like a podcast, but you get the idea - it's time to talk s
Trouble Follows William Muldoon - 1000 Hours
I continue my look at the new William Muldoon biography by author Scott Beekman. On this episode we find William Muldoon traveling to San Francisco to continue touring with the play As You Like It with Madame Modjeska and Maurice Barrymore. Muldoon continues to wrestle as well and begins working in San Francisco and other places on the West Coast. However, as always, troubles both legal and otherw
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2005
Oh, no - there goes Tokyo! Joseph and Mike take on the world of tokusatsu and daikaiju and how they both came to love the adventures of Godzilla, Ultraman, and other kaiju brethren. Mothra, Gamera, Rodan, and the Gargantuas are all up for discussion in this episode. But first it's time for the mix-tape challenge of planes, trains, and automobiles and Joseph answers the added challenge of being abl
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - August 1986 - Ric Flair Wins NWA Title, Bama Bash
Today the time machine takes us back to August 1986 from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. In August 1986 Ric Flair won his fifth NWA World title from Dusty Rhodes. WWF was dominating the wrestling scene and doing massive TV tapings for its new shows Superstars and Challenge. The AWA was out of luck, and Stan Hansen defended the AWA
Thrash Metal Show Podcast - Slayer Mailbag
I'm runnin' down the road tryin' to record my show got a Slayer mailbag on my mind. Returning to you yet again with all the production values you have come to expect from the legendary NoFriender, yet ANOTHER new episode of the Thrash Metal Show Podcast hits the internet and this time he is taking questions about Slayer. Let us all sit up and pay attention and sit under the learning tree about one
Muldoon and Hogan Had a Lot in Common - 1000 Hours
On this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, I continue my look at the new William Muldoon book by author Scott Beekman who dives deep into the life and controversies of the Solid Man. In this episode we look back at how William Muldoon got into acting and how his first national tour feel apart and the first signs of trouble between William Mul
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2004
Get ready for Armageddon as the Mix-Tape Challenge goes nuclear! Yep, it's time for some post-apocalyptic themed playlists before things REALLY get going as "kayfabe" reigns supreme when Joseph and Mike go back to the 70s and 80s for an extra long discussion about professional wrestling. From a pint-sized businessman to a parking lot dash from destruction, the guys have some stories to tell and m
Uphill Both Ways Podcast -2003
It's time for some romance! This episode's 'Mix-Tape Challenge' has the guys pressing play on music highlighting the shiny new possibilities of love found. Then, things get bananas as Mike and Joseph go ape for the 'Planet of the Apes' franchise. Movies, books, and more are on the table as we learn that Ape Shall Not Kill Ape.
William Muldoon: Civil War Fraud - 1000 Hours
I we have now reached 100 hours of podcast time about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. After finishing my book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus and the timeline of the pioneer era of pro wrestling, we now move on to new research. Respected author and academic Scott Beekman recently released a book on the life of wrestling pioneer legend William Muldoon, and we begin reviewing th
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