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

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

When It Was Cool 20 Episodes Jul 21, 2026

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

The History of the NWA World Title Part 1 - Special Patreon Section on Is the Wrestling Observer Website Failing or Dying
The History of the NWA World Title Part 1 - Special Patreon Section on Is the Wrestling Observer Website Failing or Dying Jul 21, 2026 52:19 Today, I do something I have never done before. The Patreon extra section (about 30 minutes) is at the BEGINNING of the show discussing is the Wrestling Observer Website Failing or Dying? I've been talking with Bryan Alvarez, front page editors, and more this week. Today on the DragonKingKarl show I begin a deep, deep dive into the true history of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World heavyw
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2005
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2005 Jul 20, 2026 01:04:51 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
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - August 1986 - Ric Flair Wins NWA Title, Bama Bash Jul 14, 2026 58:01 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
Thrash Metal Show Podcast - Slayer Mailbag Jul 13, 2026 38:59 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
Muldoon and Hogan Had a Lot in Common - 1000 Hours Jul 12, 2026 50:28 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
September 15, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter
September 15, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Jul 7, 2026 45:43 Today we dive into the September 15, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This was one of the sources I used in my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. In this issue, Dave breaks down the business metrics of The Big Event in Toronto, Canada with a main event of Hulk Hogan verses Paul Orndorff which drew around 70,000 people. Pl
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2004
Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2004 Jul 6, 2026 01:11:07 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
September 2, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Review
September 2, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Review Jun 30, 2026 51:12 Today, we take the time machine back to September 2, 1986, and grab the Wrestling Observer Newsletter out of the mailbox to find out that Hulk Hogan verses Paul Orndorff in Toronto, Canada (AKA: The Big Event) is expected to break all sorts of box office records. Plus, it appears as though Central States Wrestling is about to fall to Jim Crockett Promotions, but Dave Meltzer thinks Bill Watts and
Uphill Both Ways Podcast -2003
Uphill Both Ways Podcast -2003 Jun 23, 2026 59:01 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
William Muldoon: Civil War Fraud - 1000 Hours Jun 21, 2026 50:34 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
Long Form History of Wrestling - July 1986 (Dusty Rhodes Wins the NWA World Title)
Long Form History of Wrestling - July 1986 (Dusty Rhodes Wins the NWA World Title) Jun 16, 2026 56:52 I am now up to July 1986 in my Long Form History of Pro Wrestling series taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon. The NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions are running the Great American Bash series, and Dusty Rhodes wins his third, and final, NWA World heavyweight championship from Ric Flair. Plus, the WWF continues to roll across the United States
2002 - Uphill Both Ways
2002 - Uphill Both Ways Jun 8, 2026 01:03:19 Joseph and Mike hit record on their first new mix-tape challenge before shifting gears and talking about some of their favorite and most remembered toys - covering everything from GI Joe to the Easy Bake Oven! Mike's also been watching some Krofft Supershow and tries to jog Joseph's memory about Wonderbug, Dr. Shrinker, and the other live-action shorts that played on a regular basis.

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