Tag Archives: 1984

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 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 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

Episode 326: Destroyed By A Hot Dog

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Todd Goss, and we discuss Mid-Atlantic Wrestling from the second quarter of 1984! We review:

–Tully Blanchard is getting a very confusing push. Or is it a non-push?
–The talent pool is way down from the previous year and the booking is a mess, producing feuds that no one wanted to see.
–Ric Flair pulls a no-show in Mexico City, creating a political mess.
–During this timeframe Kerry Von Erich wins the NWA title from Ric Flair. You’d never know it by watching the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling TV show.
–The Freebirds come in and last exactly one night.
–David Crockett and Johnny Weaver were not effective announcers. So where was Bob Caudle? We clue you in.

Plus Johnny Mac talks about his Labor Day weekend woes, 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 325: Since He’s King Kong, You’re Boom Boom

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Brad Breitzman, and we review the year of 1984 in the AWA! On the discussion table:

–Much of the 1983 AWA roster headed east to the WWF, but there’s still plenty of talent left and newcomers would be arriving.
–Nick Bockwinkel first won the AWA title in 1975. That era seemed to have ended in 1984.
–Crusher Jerry Blackwell’s much anticipated babyface turn finally happens.
–Rick Martel is the new face of the AWA. What went right, and what went wrong.
–Why not bring in and build around Bob Backlund? He’s big name in wrestling and a former amateur champion from the state of Minnesota!

Plus Brad accidentally cuts his hand badly as we’re recording, 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 324: Merely An Advisor

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue our review of the WWF during the month of August 1984! We talk Captain Lou Albano, Magnificent Muraco, Chief Jay Strongbow, Jimmy Snuka, Bob Backlund, Iron Sheik, Roddy Piper, Fabulous Mooolah, Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, The Fabulous Freebirds, Nikolai Volkoff, The Samoans, Big John Studd, Adrian Adonis, Jesse Ventura, Dick Murdoch, Mil Mascaras, Wendi Richter, Kamala The Ugandan Giant, The Spoiler, George Steele, Rocky Johnson, Ivan Putski, Tito Santana, Mr. Fuji, Greg Valentine, Mad Dog Vachon, Bob Orton Jr, and more!

Plus there’s lots of rare audio and we fantasy book a Summer 1984 Shea Stadium super show, 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 323: Lost With The Hornet

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we review the WWF during the month of August 1984! We talk The Fabulous Freebirds, Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Jesse Ventura, Kamala The Ugandan Giant, Paul Orndorff, Greg Valentine, Bob Orton Jr, Greg Valentine, Wendi Richter, Iron Sheik, Mad Dog Vachon, The Spoiler, Jimmy Snuka, Adrian Adonis, Bob Backlund, Andre The Giant, Mr. Fuji, Tito Santana, Rocky Johnson, Chief Jay Strongbow, Magnificent Muraco, The Samoans, Ivan Putski, George Steele, Fabulous Mooolah, Big John Studd, Dick Murdoch, Nikolai Volkoff, and more!

Plus Johnny Mac talks the worst moments of his life which took place thirty years ago at Smoky Mountain Fan Week, 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