Tag Archives: 1983

Episode 295: Going Down In Flames

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue to discuss the WWWF’s national expansion and take a close look at what was going on in the promotion in February 1984! We converse about:

–The soon to be legendary weekly “Piper’s Pit” segment comes to life.
–It’s early in Hulk Hogan’s reign, but he’s on tour wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
–Jimmy Snuka gets in trouble in St. Louis with the Missouri State Athletic Commission.
–Speaking of Snuka, there apparently was major, real life heat between he and Bob Backlund. We tell you about it.
–Did Bill Eadie leave the WWF unexpectedly? Did the WWF then use a “fake” Masked Superstar?
–We are introduced to Bret Hart, whom we had never even heard of coming into 1984.

Plus there’s lots of rare audio from this era and we keep a scorecard of wrestlers the WWF has hired away from the other territories, so what hat are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good episode!

STICK TO WRESTLING, give us 60 minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 294: The Expansion Has Launched

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take mailbag questions on the WWF’s national expansion!

–What would the wrestling business have looked like had the first Wrestlemania flopped?
–What if there was more cooperation between the NWA promoters? Could they have survived, or even won the war?
–Were there any wrestlers that the WWF wanted but couldn’t get?
–Who would have been a great fit in the WWF but never ended up there?
–Could Ken Patera gotten King Kong Bundy’s spot at Wrestlemania 2 had he not encountered legal difficulties?
–Would the non-WWF promoters have been smarter focusing on their home turf instead of expanding?

What are you waiting for? Download and listen to listen to this wicked good episode!

STICK TO WRESTLING, give us 60 minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 291: Wrecking Ball

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue our discussion of the WWF’s national expansion and we take a close look oat the radical changes the WWF underwent during January 1984. We discuss:

–The Iron Sheik has made the jump from a mid-level heel in the southern territories to the one of the elite positions in pro wrestling. Sometimes, timing is everything.
–Gene Okerlund has arrived, causing us all to turn down the volume on our television sets.
–The WWF introduces it’s first new manager in over ten years, a little known wrestler by the name of Roddy Piper.
–Bob Backlund enlists the help of another little known wrestler by the name of Hulk Hogan to help him against Captain Lou Albano and The Samoans. The Backlund / Hogan alliance did not last very long.
–Jimmy Snuka’s stock had already peaked, we just didn’t know yet. There was another small detail regarding Snuka that we were unaware of.
–John Studd had been with the WWF since 1982 and it was time for him to move on…except it wasn’t. The entire game really was changing right in front of out eyes.

Plus Johnny Mac tells the story about the day he learned that Bob Backlund had lost the WWF title, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to listen to this wicked good episode!

STICK TO WRESTLING, give us 60 minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned weekly pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 286: Jack’s Stupid Little Brother*

*That’s a compliment. Jerry Brisco was a great heel playing that role.

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we present Part Two of out review of Starrcade ’83! On the discussion table:

–Why was Angelo Mosca getting so much spotlight?
–It was a shock when Jack and Jerry Brisco turned heel, but they were perfect in the role.
–Ricky Steamboat’s one weakness.
–The internet’s overreaction to Gene Kiniski’s refereeing.
–Was Hulk Hogan really supposed to appear on this show?
–They were booking the United States championship quite poorly.

Plus we have a “for review purposes” segment with Todd Goss, who was fourth row ringside for the event, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode for a wicked good time!

STICK TO WRESTLING, give us 60 minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 285: Everything I Don’t Like Is Vince Russo

This week on the 40th Anniversary of Starrcade ’83, we review and pay tribute to this legendary show! On the discussion table:

–What if Harley Race no showed this event, as per Vince McMahon’s request? Could this event have been salvaged?
–The world is becoming a smaller place and the fans are starting to notice copycat gimmicks and angles…like Downtown Charlie Brown.
–The Roddy Piper vs Greg Valentine was both brutal and a classic.
–Lots and lots of blood on this show!
–The promotion did a lot to give Starrcade ’83 the feel of a truly major event.
–How would Kevin Sullivan and his gimmick fit into the old Mid-Atlantic territory?

Plus a family traveled 180 miles for this event and Johnny Mac tells you why he’s not impressed, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode for a wicked good time!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 284: Watching Monitors In The Cold

This week STICK TO WRESTLING reviews the World Class Championship Wrestling “Star Wars” show from Thanksgiving Night, 1983 and we’re joined by Lance Peterson, who attended the show live! We discuss:

–Did the Von Erichs vs Freebirds feud go on for too long? The box office says no.
–The Sunshine vs Precious was incredibly original, and almost every other promotion tried to copy it. Also, it wasn’t very nice of Bill Mercer to ambush Jimmy Garvin at his house like that!
–Mike Von Erich makes his debut on this show. Was this a good idea?
–Lance tells us about another debut that was not televised.
–Kevin Von Erich and Terry Gordy really brought out the best in one another.
–The Kerry Von Erich vs Michael Hayes “Loser Leaves Town” match had a very important detail presented.

Plus Lance talks about attending the red carpet premiere of “The Iron Claw”, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode for a wicked good time!

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 282: Jumping In The Wrong Car

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take questions from the STW Universe about the WWF in 1983. We answer:

–Vince McMahon tried to get Harley Race to skip Starrcade ’83 and jump to the WWF. Did Vince try that with Ric Flair? What if he succeeded in getting Ric ro skip Starrcade?
–Were there any hints that Hulk Hogan was coming in prior to his arrival?
–What angles or programs did we want to see, but they never happened?
–Why did Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson dislike one another?
–What was the deal with Don Kernodle’s ridiculous non-push?
–Could feuds with Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff have revitalized Bob Backlund?

Plus Johnny Mac shares an odd story about attending a WWF TV taping in 1991, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode for a wicked good time!

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 281: Experiencing Experiences

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue our review of the WWF during the Fall of 1983! We talk Bob Backlund, Andre The Giant, Tony Atlas, Iron Sheik, Paul Orndorff, Sgt. Slaughter, Captain Lou Albano. Rocky Johnson, Tito Santana, Fred Blassie, Iron Mike Sharpe, Ivan Putski, Big John Studd, Buddy Rogers, Masked Superstar, Chief Jay Strongbow, Mad Dog Maganoff, Magnificent Muraco, Eddie Gilbert, The Samoans, Pat Patterson, Arnold Skaaland, Adrian Adonis, David Schultz, Gene Okerlund, and more! Plus there’s rare audio of the WWF from this era!

Plus there’s rare audio of the WWF from this era and a “For Review Purposes” bonus segment, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode for a wicked good time!

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 280: Stay Sick

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we present Part Two of our look at the WWF during the Fall of 1983!

–This period represents more than the end of the Bob Backlund era. It’s the end of the old WWF / WWWF as we knew it.
–We pay tribute to the late, great, Grand Wizard of Wrestling.
–The Masked Superstar injures Bob Backlund’s protege, and Bob seeks revenge. We have to laugh when we look back at who that protege was.
–There was only one way a heel won a Cage Match in the old WWF, and we discuss how Magnificent Muraco defeated Jimmy Snuka.
–There was only one way a heel won a Strap Match in the old WWF…or so we thought. Jimmy Snuka and Magnificent Muraco threw us a curveball!
–Buddy Rogers’ Corner has been replaced by Victory Corner, hosted by Robert DeBord. Mr. Debord has something in common with the city of Las Vegas and it’s not what you might think.

Plus there’s rare audio and an even more rare occasion where Johnny Mac praises one of Bob Backlund’s interviews, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode for a wicked good time!

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 279: And Now The End Is Near

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we begin our review of the WWF during the Fall of 1983! We talk Magnificent Muraco, Bob Backlund, Buddy Rogers, Sgt. Slaughter, Captain Lou Albano, Rocky Johnson, Andre The Giant, Masked Superstar, Tito Santana, The Samoans, The Grand Wizard, Tony Atlas, and even Michael Hayes!

Plus there’s rare audio of the WWF from this era and a “For Review Purposes” bonus segment, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this episode for a wicked good time!

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