Episode 262: WWF, Spring 1983

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we review the WWF of forty years ago, in the Spring of 1983! We talk Bob Backlund, Jimmy Snuka, Magnificent Muraco, Andre The Giant, Rocky Johnson, Captain Lou Albano, Superstar Billy Graham, Sgt. Slaughter, Fred Blassie, The Samoans, Big John Studd, Tito Santana, Iron Mike Sharpe, The Grand Wizard (of wrestling, of course), Ivan Koloff, The Strongbows, Ray Stevens, Tony Garea, Buddy Rogers, early WWF expansion, Vince McMahon’s falling out with the magazines, and much more.

Plus there’s lots of RARE audio from this era, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 261: Five Years Of Stick To Wrestling

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we celebrate the podcast’s fifth anniversary with popular guest Brad Breitzman, as we discuss what was happening in the AWA 40 years ago in the year of 1983! On this week’s podcast:

–What was the fallout of the AWA’s Super Sunday show, where the Hulk Hogan vs Nick Bockwinkel match ended with the Dusty Finish.
–Did Verne Gagne really offer the AWA title toHulk Hogan at this show?
–Was Greg Gagne only a successful pro wrestler because his Dad was a promoter?
–What was the impact of Hulk Hogan and Gene Okerlund leaving this promotion?
–Who besides Hulk Hogan and Nick Bockwinkel could the AWA used as their champion in 1983?
–How did Ken Patera and Crusher Jerry Blackwell end up being “sheiks”?

Plus we pay tribute to the late Iron Sheik, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 260: 1989 Was Not Just A Taylor Swift Album

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING popular guest Jim Valley returns and we answer questions from our listeners, including:

–Why would the NWA crown Gene Kiniski as it’s World Champion after he dropped a series of matches in the WWWF while challenging Bruno?
–Many wrestling families claim to be the “first family of wrestling” but who do you we think is most worthy of that moniker?
–What was our favorite year of pro wrestling and what events from that year make it our favorite?
–Is Superstar Billy Graham the most influential wrestler of all time?
–Why would the NWA crown Gene Kiniski as the World Champion after he dropped a series of matches in the WWWF challenging Bruno? (Were there other credible alternatives for the NWA?).
–Would ECW have been more successful if they’d toured more and changed their style to fit the area they were in?

Plus Johnny Mac responds to those who say it was a mistake to take the WWWF title off of Superstar Billy Graham “so early”, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 259: A Unique Tribute

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we celebrate the life and career of Superstar Billy Graham. This will be a unique tribute because we have audio of Superstar’s phenomenal run in the WWWF in the years of 1977 and 1978. In addition, John and Steve not only researched and read about the Graham Era, but as native Northeasterners they lived through it. Start your Memorial Day Weekend the right way by downloading and listening to this episode today!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 258: Not Yet Hardcore

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we discuss the pilot episode of ECW, back when it was Eastern Championship Wrestling, and more! On the podcast:

–Jimmy Snuka returns! But he’s now a heel. Was that a good idea?
–Hunter Q. Robbins appeared on this episode, and he somehow was not the worst manager on the program.
–Eddie Gilbert’s repuation as a booker got worse and worse by the week.
–“Jason, The Sexiest Man On Earth” was a magnificent gimmick.
–The positive and negative aspects of the television production.
–Was ECW ever profitable?

Plus Johnny Mac tells a story about an incoming phone call from The Metal Maniac, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 257: Top Ten Wrestlers of 1983

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we are once again joined by the most charming man in Charm City, John Fell! We each give our own rundown of the Top Ten Wrestlers of 1983. We talk Nick Bockwinkel, Bob Backlund, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Jimmy Snuka, The Von Erichs, Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Greg Valentine, Magnificent Muraco, Iron Sheik, Dusty Rhodes, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter, The Freebirds, Hulk Hogan, Ted Dibiase, Jerry Lawler, and more!

Plus Johnny Mac has another one of his baseball to wrestling comparisons, , so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 256: Wrestling Awards, Part 2

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING John and Steve are once again joined by the King of Baltimore himself, John Fell! This is the first of three episodes where we honor the best (and worst) wrestlers, promotions, and moments of 1983! We talk Ric Flair, Sgt. Slaughter, Nick Bockwinkel, Adrian Adonis, George Steele, Bob Orton Jr, Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, Roddy Piper, Bruiser Brody, Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Snuka and more.

Plus John Fell continues to roll over the Grand Wizard, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 255: 1983 Wrestling Awards, Part 1

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING John and Steve are joined by the King of Baltimore himself, John Fell! This is the first of three episodes where we honor the best (and worst) wrestlers, promotions, and moments of 1983! We talk Jake Roberts, Bob Backlund, Kevin Sullivan, Curt Hennig, Adrian Adonis, Hulk Hogan, Bobby Jaggers, Ted Dibiase, Sgt. Slaughter, Angelo Mosca Jr, Roddy Piper, Paul Ellering, Bruiser Brody, Buddy Roberts, Ole Anderson, George Steele, Brett Sawyer, and more! Download and listen to this WICKED GOOD podcast!

Plus there’s a special “Extra Innings” segment with Thomas Bane where we discuss the NFL Draft, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 254: Handing Over The Wheel

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined once again by Brian Solomon, the man behind the “Shut Up And Wrestle” podcast! When asked by Brian what the show was going to be about, Johnny Mac told him he could do whatever he wanted and this is the finished product. On this week’s docket.

–Brian was in the room during many creative meetings at WWE, and he tells us about it.
–Related…politics in wrestling? Say it ain’t so!
–The WWF’s puzzling decision regarding the main event at Summeslam ’93.
–Steve Austin’s sudden departure from the WWF in 2002.
–More discussion of the Bruno Sammartino vs Larry Zybysko feud.
–Pro wrestling’s transition from a business model based on ticket sales to what it has become today.

Plus we share personal anecdotes about meeting the legendary Lou Thesz, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Episode 253: Please Don’t Shout

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we talk 1983 AWA Wrestling with lots of rare audio! Discussions on this week’s episode include:

–Greg Gagne had been a wrestler for ten years and grew up in a wrestling family, yet John and Steve have to explain to him that babyfaces aren’t supposed to be whiny.
–We finally figure out who should have replaced Hulk Hogan as the AWA’s top babyface.
–The AWA may not have done a lot of long term planning, but they had big plans for Jerry Blackwell. We tell you about them.
–Mad Dog Vachon, the AWA’s neighborhood bully.
–A pro wrestling television broadcast; the perfect place to have Verne Gagne recommend a local to raise one of your horses.
–Vince McMahon ALLEGEDLY had a mole in the AWA’s locker room. We tell you it allegedly was.

It’s a longer than usual episode, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network