Tag Archives: AWA

Episode 389: Making Jersey City An Unsafe Place

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a close look at the WWWF from fifty years ago as we review 1975!

— Bruno Sammartino having a Murderer’s Row of challengers: Superstar Billy Graham, Ivan Koloff, Ernie Ladd, Bobby Duncum, Waldo Von Erich, George Steele, and more.
— We talk about one of he worst main events in Madison Square Garden history.
— Ivan Putski debuts and the fans in the Northeast eat it up.
— The IWA invades the New York metropolitan area, or at least tries to.
— The tag team title scene takes an unexpected twist.
— Antonino Rocca makes his debut as the color man in the announcer booth. The fans sure wished they had subtitles back in 1975.

Plus we share a hilarious story about Chief Jay Strongbow getting the key to the city of Stubenville, OH, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 357: Verne Was Great, Vince Was…

This week on Stick to Wrestling, we dive deep into the AWA with special guest and AWA aficionado Brad Breitzman! We’re asking the tough questions:

–Could Hulk Hogan realistically have stayed in the AWA?
–What about the Road Warriors—was there ever a chance they’d stick around?
–How over was Otto Wanz during his run as AWA Champion?
–Should Ken Patera have gotten a shot at the top? If so, when?
–Was it smart to use Jumbo Tsuruta as a transitional champ?
–What would Rick Martel and Tito Santana have looked like as AWA Tag Team Champions?
–How should we feel about The Crusher and Baron Von Raschke winning the belts in 1984?

Plus, Johnny Mac unleashes a ton of thoughts on how the AWA could’ve survived into the 1990’s so what are you waiting for? Hit play and get ready for another wicked good classic wrestling deep-dive!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes, and we’ll give you a wicked good and rawboned wrestling podcast that pulls no punches.

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 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 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 276: Wine Coolers

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a look at the first ever episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event! Among the discussion topics:

–The mainstream celebrities and front and center for this one, as we see Cyndi Lauper, Mt. T, and Hulk Hogan within seconds of the event’s start.
–This aired on Mother’s Day weekend, and Hulk Hogan says “this is a special match for my Mother, Brother”.
–Paul Orndorff finally turns babyface after being in limbo since Wrestlemania.
–Did the WWF make the right choice when selecting Wendi Richter as the star of their women’s division?
–Fred Blassie is starting to look old…too old.
–Who could have imagined a babyface Lou Albano and a babyface George Steele just a year earlier?

Plus Greg Gagne’s claims of the AWA getting a similar show on CBS are debunked, Johnhy Mac shares memories of watching this event, AND we have a new “For Review Purposes” segment, as it aired, 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 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 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

Episode 223: Are You Tired Of Us Yet?

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by popular guest Brad Breitzman as we discuss the goings on in the AWA in the year of 1982! We discuss:

–Hulk Hogan’s run as the promotion’s top babyface.

–Bobby Heenan’s long run as the AWA’s top manager, including the details of his return there in 1979 after managing in Georgia.

–Larry Hennig’s return, and Curt Hennig’s ascent.

–The brilliant way the AWA pushed Greg Gagne.

–The AWA’s expansion to San Francisco, with Ray Stevens and Pat Patterson in tow.

–Had Nick Bockwinkel’s run as AWA champion gone on too long?

Plus Johnny Mac complains about what some random You Tube commenter had to say about him, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this podcast today!

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

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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