Tag Archives: 1980’s

Episode 336: I’m Not A Loser

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a look at the WWF during the month of December, 1984! This episode highlights key figures from that era and offers a look at the storylines and personalities that defined the promotion at the time.

We talk Bruno Sammartino, Bobby Heenan, Junkyard Dog, Captain Lou Albano, Mil Mascaras, Jimmy Snuka, Bob Orton Jr, Jack & Jerry Brisco, Hillbilly Jim, Nikolai Volkoff, Adrian Adonis, Roddy Piper, Billy Jack Haynes, David Schultz, Andre The Giant, Iron Sheik, Mean Gene Okerlund, Tito Santana, Barry Windham, Kamala, Tonga Kid, Tony Atlas, Blackjack Mulligan, David Sammartino, Big John Studd, Greg Valentine, Ken Patera, Rocky Johnson, Fred Blassie, Angelo Mosca, Brutus Beefcake, Dick Murdoch, Paul Orndorff, Bret Hart, and more!

Plus there’s lots of great and rare audio from this era, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 335: The Million Dollar…Yeah, Riiiight.

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we honor the 40th Anniversary of Starrcade ’84 with Biran Rodriguez as the guest! On this discussion table this week:

–Who could possibly think one million dollars in 1984 money was actually at stake in the main event? The supposed prize was presented in a way that made it difficult to take seriously. Fans back then were asked to suspend disbelief, but the exaggerated stakes of the match led to questions about the believability of such a high reward in a worked sport like pro wrestling.
–The Ricky Steamboat vs Tully Blanchard match was fantastic, but there was fallout. The impact of the match on both men’s careers and the company’s future is analyzed, with a look at what happened next, particularly in terms of how it fit into the larger booking picture of the time.
–Gordon Solie nicknames a tag team “The Scandinavian Connection”. Huh?
–Why slow motion replays are a terrible idea in a worked sport. It often exposes the artifice of the action and ruins the illusion of competition.
–As the head booker for much of the NWA’s programming, Dusty Rhodes’ creative decisions at Starrcade ’84 are put under the microscope. The discussion highlights both his brilliant storytelling and some of the decisions that could have been better, offering insights into how his booking shaped the show.
–Why babyface turns in wrestling are often carry a fatal flaw.

This episode honors one of the most significant events in wrestling history while dissecting the good, the bad, and the questionable decisions that came with it. It’s a celebration of Starrcade ‘84, but also a candid discussion of its legacy in the world of pro wrestling, so what are you waiting for? Download this WICKED GOOD podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 334: I’ll Go When Practice Is Over

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we enter into Part Two of our discussion of the 2024 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame candidates with John McAdam, Steve Generelli, and Nolen Lake!

We talk John Cena, Paul Orndorff, The Anderson Brothers, Enhancement talent, Greg Valentine, The Young Bucks, Britney Spears, Ric Flair, Roman Reigns, Lex Luger, the Heisman Trophy, Buddy Rose, Spiros Arion, Unibrows, The Steiner Brothers, Umaga, Kevin Sullivan, Bullies, Howard Finkel, Austin Idol, Underrated tag teams, C.M. Punk, and more!

Plus Nolen shares an incredible life story about surviving a heart attack that his doctors said should’ve killed him, a story that goes beyond wrestling and adds a real human touch to the show. So what are you waiting for? Download the latest episode and join us for a WICKED GOOD podcast! We’ll give you sixty minutes of pure wrestling analysis, and whatever else comes with it.

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 332: Would WCW Still Be Around If…

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take questions from the STW Universe, including:

–Jim Cornette and The Midnight Express in the WWF…what would that have looked like?
–What originally got us hooked on wrestling?
–Could a Ric Flair vs the Four Horsemen feud have worked?
–What if JCP had just stayed in on the east coast?
–Could WCW still be around if TNN / Spike been more flexible back in 2001?
–What if Vince McMahon were charged in concealing the death of Nancy Angentino?

Plus Steve predicts a bounceback win in the World Series for the New York Yankees, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 331: I Don’t Watch While You Teach

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we discuss the 1984 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, straight from the recently released book of 1984 Observers!

We talk Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Dynamite Kid, Bob Backlund, Bruiser Brody, Riki Choshu, Roddy Piper, Sataru Sayama, Kerry Von Erich, Sgt. Slaughter, Kerry Von Erich, Road Warriors, Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Snuka, Chief Jay Strongbow, Ted Dibiase, Michael Hayes, Iron Sheik, Magnum T.A., Jim Cornette, Butch Reed, Tito Santana, Mr. Wrestling II, Jimmy Hart, Brian Blair, Big John Studd, and more!

Plus we discuss the ups and downs of Hall of Fames, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 329: The King Of New Orleans

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we hang out with Greg Klein, the author of the Junkyard Dog biography “The King Of New Orleans”! On this discussion table:

-What went into creating and writing the biography.
–Greg growing up watching wrestling in Houston.
–Bill Watts’ futile attempts at replacing Junkyard Dog.
–Did Mid-South fire guys for losing bar fights? Was Bob Orton an example of this?
–Brad Armstrong’s run as North American champion.
–Mid-South not being part of the National Wrestling Alliance.

Plus Johnny Mac announces his divorce from Twitter, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 328: Mean Gene’s Scene

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a look at the WWF during the month of October, 1984!

We talk Bobby Heenan. Barry Windham, Greg Valentine, Billy Jack Haynes, Hulk Hogan, Tonga Kid, Junkyard Dog, Roddy Piper, Gene Okerlund, Tito Santana, Andre The Giant, Iron Sheik, Adrian Adonis, Kamala, Wendi Richter, Brutus Beefcake, Sgt. Slaughter, Jack Reynolds, Chief Jay Strongbow, Big John Studd, Captain Lou Albano, Nikolai Volkoff, Bob Orton Jr, Angelo Mosca, Rocky Johnson, Mr. Fuji, Judy Martin, Ivan Putski, Dick Murdoch, Lord Alfred Hays, David Sammartino, Fabulous Moolah, Jesse Ventura, George Steele, Ken Patera, David Schultz, and more.

Plus there’s lots of great and rare audio from this era, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 327: Smirking, Shirtless Jimmy Golden

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we watch three episodes of pro wrestling from 1984! A episode of Memphis Wrestling, an episode of Southeast Championship Wrestling, and an episode of Southwest Championship Wrestling!

We talk Jerry Lawler, Randy Savage, Tonga Kid, Mr. Wrestling II, Rick Rude, Blackjack Mulligan, Manny Fernandez, Jimmy Golden, Joe Blanchard, Kevin Sullivan, Jimmy Hart, Brett Sawyer, King Kong Bundy, The Sheepherders, Dutch Mantell, Austin Idol, Eddie Gilbert, Porkchop Cash, Jerry Jarrett, Randy Rose, Eric Embry, and more!

Plus we keep talking about Bob Backlund’s suits, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 326: The Episode We’ve Been Threatening

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a look at the earliest days of Pro Wrestling USA, and focus on Bob Backlund’s appearances there. Bob had recently parted ways with the WWF, and he had plenty to say about his former employer. We share the audio with you and discuss it! Plus we also have audio from Nick Bockwinkel, Jimmy Hart, Jerry Lawler, and more.

Plus we’re introduced to the term “belligerent antinomians”, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 327: Three Winos In A Parking Lot

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a look at the WWF during the month of September, 1984!

We talk Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Bruno Sammartino, Bobby Heenan, The Freebirds, Junkyard Dog, Jesse Ventura, Sgt. Slaughter, Andre The Giant, Ken Patera, Adrian Adonis, Greg Valentine, Fred Blassie, Irton Mike Sharpe, Paul Orndorff, Captain Lou Albano, Dick Murdoch, Chief Jay Strongbow, Wendi Richter, Pat Patterson, Kamala, Brutus Beefcake, The Samoans, Iron Sheik, Cyndi Lauper, Ivan Putski, David Schultz, Jack & Jerry Brisco, Angelo Mosca, and more!

Plus there’s lots of great and rare audio from this era, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode right now!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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