Tag Archives: Bruno Sammartino

Podcast

Episode 224: The Other Bi-Centennial Kings

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined again by popular returning guest Steve Generelli, and we field questions from the Stick To Wrestling Universe on the year 1976. On the slate:

–What if Bruno Sammartino was unable to return to the WWWF after his neck injury? Would the promotion have survived?
–What were our thoughts on the buildup to the Muhammad Ali v Antonio Inoki match, and the match itself?
–What are our thoughts on how was Terry Funk booked as NWA champion?
–How was Harley Race viewed in 1976 after his very brief run as NWA champion?
–Which promotion had the strongest roster?
–What might have happened with Johnny Valentine in 1976 had he not been disabled in a late 1975 plane crash?

Plus John and Steve do an “Extra Innings” segment where they talk baseball from the 1970’s, 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

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Episode 177: We Don’t Need You, Fred

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular guest host Jammie Ward, as we discuss what was going on in the WWF forty years ago during the Fall of 1981! We discuss:

–The WWF title being held up in New York State only in an absolutely crazy scenario following a Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine match.

–Bruno Sammartino wrestling in his “retirement” match. He was still active six years later.

–Killer Khan breaks Andre The Giant’s leg…in a Rochester, NY hotel room, apparently.

–Pedro Morales surprisingly regains the Intercontinental Title.

–Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura invade the WWF with Fred Blassie as their manager. Ventura later complained that they didn’t need a manager, hence the episode’s title.

–Both Dusty Rhodes and Mil Mascaras are making appearances, but have limited roles.

Plus Johnny Mac tells you what crazy lengths he went to in order to find out the result of the Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine match, so what are 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 wicked good and rawboned podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Podcast

Episode 173: You Don’t Know This Man

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by Thomas Bane as we present Part Two of our look at the 1992 Phil Donahue show where Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, Barry Orton, Dave Meltzer, John Arezzi, and Murray Hodgkin all appear.

This is from the period where the WWF’s sex and drug scandals were at their peak, and we took a look at what got the WWF to this place. There are accusations of steroid use, rampant use of recreational drugs, sexual harassment and sexual assault, and more. We take a look at everything that is being said.

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

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Podcast

Episode 172: Without Taking Us Around The World

On this week’s STICK TO WRESTLING popular co-host Thomas Bane returns and we review the 1992 Phil Donahue show where Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, Barry Orton, Dave Meltzer, John Arezzi, and Murray Hodgkin all appear. This is from the period where the WWF’s sex and drug scandals were at their peak, and we took a look at what got the WWF to this place, Vince McMahon’s strategy, Superstar Billy Graham’s allegations, and much more.

Plus Johnny Mac tells a funny Mel Phillips story, so what are 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 wicked good and rawboned podcast!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 155: Hanging At The Mall With Lord Al

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Neil Shochet! Neil grew up in watching WWF and NWA wrestling in Baltimore, and he and John have some cool stories to share.

–David Schultz making things uncomfortable for Jerry Lawler (and everyone else) at Cauliflower Alley.

–Prank calling Ronnie Garvin.

–Prank calling Kevin Von Erich

–Rip Rogers playing high school football on the same team as John Mellencamp.

–Bruno Sammartino having a bad day.

–A scary airport encounter with Ken Patera

Plus Johnny Mac talks about why he’s never getting on an airplane again, plus we talk Shawn Cassidy,  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

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Episode 148: What If Bruno Had WHAT?

STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by popular guest John Jance, and we enter into an alternative universe. Bruno Sammartino was seriously injured in 1976, and told promoter Vince McMahon Sr that he wanted out. Bruno cut way down on his dates right after losing the WWWF title to Superstar Billy Graham and was completely out of wrestling by the end of 1981. But what if Bruno has Ricflairitis, a condition one suffers from when they can’t walk away from the business? We discuss that and the butterfly effect it would have had.

–When does Vince Jr. finally pull the title from Bruno?

–What effect would this have had on the careers of Superstar Billy Graham and Bob Backlund?

–When would Bruno finally have to retire?

–What impact would this have had on David Sammartino’s career? Would it have hurt Bruno if the fans knew he was old enough to have an adult son?

–How often did Bruno wrestle after dropping the title to Graham? The answer may surprise you.

Plus John Jance shares a story about corresponding with a young Dave Meltzer and how not everything was a secret back in the day, 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

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Episode 136: Victor Rivera’s Alternate Universe

Two very historic 50th Anniversaries are coming very soon: Ivan Koloff winning the WWWF title from Bruno Sammartino, and Pedro Morales winning the title three week’s later from Koloff.

This week’s guest on STICK TO WRESTLING was present at Madison Square Garden for both these historic occasions, and many more. Making his first appearance on the show is the legendary John Jance!

We also discuss:

–What is was like for John Jance being at Madison Square Garden the night Bob Backlund won the title from Superstar Billy Graham.

— John Jance’s recollections of seeing the Bruno Sammartino vs Pedro Morales match at Shea Stadium in 1972.

–The story of how John Jance discovered that Hulk Hogan was coming to the WWF.

–Who John Jance would have preferred seeing as champion instead of Pedro Morales.

–Where John Jance was during the 1976 Shea Stadium show. He wasn’t there, but he has a cool story anyway.

–Where John Jance was getting his wrestling news in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. He had a far better source than the Apter Mags.

Plus Johnny Mac very briefly reacts to the happenings on January 6th (this was recorded a few days later) 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

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Episode 134: The WWF MVPs, Part One

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Steve Generalli, a knowledgeable longtime WWF fan. In the first segment of a two part series, we talk about the Most Valuable Players of the Bob Backlund era, year by year. We cover:

–Bob Backlund, and how he was a huge success as Bruno Sammartino’s successor.

–Bruno Sammartino, as he disappears when Backlund wins the title and re-appears when the time is right.

–Ivan Koloff, and why he was so valuable as a challenger.

–Peter Maivia, and the turn that made him a main eventer.

–Greg Valentine, and how his first WWWF run made both he and Bob Backlund bigger stars.

–Pat Patterson, and how his four match series vs Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden was so brilliantly booked.

Steve and I give you the top five on our WWF MVP ballot for 1978, 1979, and 1980, 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

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Podcast

Episode 121: Punk Rock Wayne

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING, we’re joined by Scott Cornish and we answer your questions!

–What if the NWA landed Sgt. Slaughter in 1985?

–Would we prefer Bill Watts vs Bruno, or Terry Funk vs Backlund?

–Could Rollerball Mark Rocco have been a star in the The U.S?

–Did guaranteed contracts kill the territories?

Plus Scott and Johnny Mac talk about the connections between punk rock and pro wrestling, 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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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