Tag Archives: 1970’s

Episode 131: Pat Patterson’s WWF Run

The week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Ron Lemieux! It’s a wicked good hour as we talk about the late, great Pat Patterson and what it was like to see him in the WWF. We discuss:

–The brilliant booking where Patterson won the North American title from Ted Dibiase, and how he then deployed that same strategy in his attempt to win the WWF title from Bob Backlund.

–The angle that turned Patterson babyface, where the Grand Wizard literally tried to sell Pat to Captain Lou Albano.

–Pat becoming a part time wrestler and a full time announcer.

–How his legendary feud with Sgt. Slaughter started with a slow burn and eventually exploded, ending with his series of Alley Fights with Slaughter. These were some of the best matches in WWF history and still hold up today.

–Patterson’s subsequent feuds with Angelo Mosca and Ivan Koloff.

–His slide into full time retirement as a wrestler, but remaining one of the most important people in the business.

Plus Ron refers to Angelo Mosca as a “big galoot”, AND we talk about the best and worst Red Sox free agent signings of all time, so what are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO this wicked good bad boy!

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 117: Artificial Charisma

This week Steve Generalli returns to Stick To Wrestling and we talk the year of 1979 in the WWWF, which became the WWF that year. We dig into:

–Victor Rivera returning as a heel.

–The return of Bulldog Brower after a “team of doctors” declared him stable enough to compete.

–Greg Valentine’s debut, and him introducing the figure four leglock to the Northeast and breaking Cheif Jay Strongbow’s leg with it.

–The oddball pushes given to Roddy Piper and Bad News Allen Coage.

–The Valiants adding a third brother to the mix.

–A preliminary guy named Bob Fulton who would go onto big things.

And much, much more! Plus Johnny Mac goes on a non-wrestling related rant, so what are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO this wicked good bad boy!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 90: Minority And Unpopular Opinions

This episode will remind you of the classic film “Full Metal Jacket”, which felt like two separate movies.

The first half of this episode is the second part of our talk with Bob Parsons, where we touch upon:

–Could JCP have been saved by getting a booker other than Dusty Rhodes?

–Who have we been around that has the greatest mind for wrestling?

–What’s the one match do we wish were available on video?

–What if Southwest Championship Wrestling remained on USA Network?

–How small can a wrestler be while being taken seriously?

Then popular guest Brandon Hefner joins Stick To Wrestling, where we talk about the Mid-South Wrestling episode from April 2, 1981 that was recently uploaded to YouTube. We talk Don Diamond, Jim Wilson, Junkyard Dog, Mid-South’s top-flight undercard talent, the Ernie Ladd and Leroy Brown tag team, Ashura Hara, loaded boot gimmicks, state titles, Frank Dusek, Kelly Kiniski, the end of the masked wrestler era, the unmasking of The 1981 Black Demon, Jimmy Garvin’s size differential vs Leroy Brown, Bill Watts as a commentator, and Erik Watts big decision.

Plus Bob Geigel gets lots of love, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this WICKED GOOD bad boy!

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

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 85: Bruno Sammartino; Human Lawn Dart

This week’s Stick To Wrestling centers around the August 7, 1976 WWWF show from Madison Square Garden. We discuss:

–The reaction toward Stan Hansen after he broke Bruno’s neck.

–Vince McMahon’s as a straightforward 1970’s announcer.

–Why Bob Backlund was selected as the heir to Bruno Sammartino’s throne.

–A young Bruiser Brody’s obvious and immense potential

–Why state athletic commissions STINK.

–The great finish to the Bruno Sammartino vs Stan Hansen cage match.

–Was the year of 1976 the apex of WWWF wrestling in the 1970’s?

–The roles of guys like Johnny Rodz, S.D. Jones, Kevin Sullivan, Johnny Rivera, etc.

–How obvious it was that The Executioners were Killer Kowalski and Chuck O’Connor.

Plus Johnny Mac shares a silly and forgotten Stan Hansen angle. What are you waiting for? Download and listen to the WICKED GOOD BAD BOY.

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes, and perhaps indeed we will give you a RAWBONE podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 84: Way More Than Just “The Rock’s Dad”

This week Stick To Wrestling is joined by Mike Sempervive! We take questions from the Stick To Wrestling Universe and discuss the following:

–Angles that made us angry or sad.

–The wrestlers that had the best chance of replacing Junkyard Dog in Mid-South.

–The best and worst venues where we’ve seen wrestling.

–The women wrestlers from the 70’s and 80’s who could have made it today.

–Jerry Jarrett’s reputation as a payoff man.

Plus we take time to reflect on the career of Rocky Johnson, who was a main eventer in Florida, Georgia, Memphis, Houston, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Portland, plus we talk about his WWF feuds with Roddy Piper and Magnificent Muraco.

Plus we discuss how Stick To Wrestling is the Swede Hanson of Podcasts. What are you waiting for, DOWNLOAD THIS WICKED GOOD BAD BOY!

Stick To Wrestling, give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we will give you a RAWBONE podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 79: Inspirational Wrestler Of The Year

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by popular guest Thomas Bane as we present Part Two of our look back at the 1979 “Apter Mags” awards as published in the Spring 1980 Sports Review Wrestling magazine. This was the last year before the awards were permanently moved to Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

–Did they get it right by naming Greg Valentine as Most Hated Wrestler?
–Comeback Wrestler of the Year did not yet exist, but who would have gotten it?
–Who was the Most Improved Wrestler by Apter Mag standards?
–How did a guy who finished third in the Rookie of the Year balloting in 1977 actually win it in 1979?
–Arnold Skaaland as Manager of the Year? If you say so.
–Of course, we take Inspirational Wrestler of the Year as seriously as one can.

There’s more as we reflect on the career of Junkyard Dog, and we take a look at Starrcade ’89. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

STICK TO WRESTLING- give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed we’ll give you a WICKED GOOD podcast every week!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 74: Nat Loubet says you can leave The Ring magazines laying around

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin review the February 1982 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated!

–Was Bob Backlund’s WWF title actually saved by the referees?
–Ken Patera, Man on the Run…FROM HIMSELF.
–We talk about “The Hotseat”, a regular interview feature in the Apter Mags.
–How the magazines had to cover their tracks after Mr. Wrestling II’s scheduled but aborted turn.
–We discuss how the Apter Magazines and the promotions worked to a mutual benefit.
–Steve Farhood analyzes Dusty Rhodes’ emotional state by the food he orders in a restaurant.
–Did Vince McMahon ever making overtures toward hiring Bill Apter?
–We talk about Dan Shocket’s heel turn.
–In the 70’s Bruno Sammartino and Mil Mascaras were frequently on the cover of the magazines, and we discuss why.
–The NWA discusses the “lax violation of it’s rules”.
–Masked Superstar, SUSPENDED!
–Which of the Apter Mag writers were real, and which were fictional?
–And then there’s the advertisements in these magazines. Hoo boy. Plus Johnny Mac discusses his sordid history as a youngster with fake Ids.

What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

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

Episode 62: Stop Your Sobbing

On this week’s Stick To Wrestling podcast we continue our Summer Series as we take a look at the Summer of 1979 in the WWF as John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by fellow old school WWF fanatic Randy Barrier. On the table this week:

–Pat Patterson wins the North American title, and then “wins” the Intercontinental Title.

–Swede Hanson gets a main event in Madison Square Garden, Pat Patterson gets an unprecedented four match series against Bob Backlund, and Roddy Piper gets the shaft. John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot.

–“Millions Sob As Volkoff Attacks Bruno”. That really was on the cover of “The Wrestler” magazine after Volkoff did exactly that in the Summer of 1979.

–The Greg Valentine vs Chief Jay Strongbow feud, which started with Strongbow writhing in agony with a broken leg at ringside while the matches went on as scheduled with the heels taunting him.

–The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979…but things just weren’t the same. What went wrong?

Plus, Randy provides a firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Strongbow in 1971.

What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! STICK TO WRESTLING! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a wicked good podcast.

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 61: No One Was More Respected

The term “legend” often gets tossed around casually, but Harley Race was truly a legend. This week Stick To Wrestling is joined by Brandon Hefner as we pay a 60 minute tribute to one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.

–In early 1986 Harley appeared on WTBS and shot an angle with Magnum T.A. It was his final appearance on WTBS until 1991, and we tell you why. It’s pretty crazy.

–A few months later, in a shocking event, Harley started with the WWF. It seemed like an odd fit, but of course Harley made the most of it.

–There were three towns wrestlers just didn’t miss: New York, St. Louis, and Houston. Harley missed two consecutive Houston shows, fracturing Houston promoter Paul Boesch’s relationship with the NWA. We give the details and a possible explanation.

–We touch upon the Harley Race / Larry Hennig team.

–The first real “world title unification” match was the 1978 Harley Race vs Superstar Billy Graham match from the Orange Bowl in Miami. We share our thoughts on that match and on unification matches in general.

–Starrcade ’83: Why Harley Race was the most logical pick to hold the title for five months to build up one of the biggest shows of all time, and how the show could have fallen apart if not for Harley Race. Also, we discuss how the cracks in the NWA’s foundation were apparent as early as 1983.

–George Gulas gets carried to an excellent 45 minute draw with Harley Race, so Nick Gulas had a nice backstage surprise waiting for Harley…followed by one that wasn’t as nice.

And more! Give STICK TO WRESTLING sixty minutes and we’ll give you a wicked good podcast every week! It’s the best classic wrestling podcast on God’s green Earth!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 56: They Entered As Boys, And They Left As Men

This week Stick To Wrestling is joined by Howard Baum, co-host of the Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ podcast! Howard was part of the greatest angles of all time, when back in 1984 he presented the New Fabulous Ones an award on the Memphis TV show and all hell broke loose from there.

On this episode John McAdam, Sean Goodwin, and Howard Baum take a look at:

–Adrian Street

–Chick Donovan

–Mil Mascaras

–Duke Keomuka

–Chris Champion

–Bob Backlund

–Memphis wrestling

–The death of Florida wrestling

Plus, 70’s / 80’s children Howard and John moan about today’s youth and cell phones. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

Stick To Wrestling: Give us sixty minutes, and we’ll give you a WICKED GOOD podcast!

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