Tag Archives: Classic Wrestling

Episode 43: 1981 WWF Meets The Man In The High Castle

This show was a bit of a departure for us, where John and Sean welcome Jammie Ward back as our guest, and we discuss two entirely different subjects: Wrestlemania, and 1981 WWF. On the table:

-How last year’s Wrestlemania gave poor John PTSD.
-What the first Wrestlemania in 1985 was like for all of us.
-The letdown that was Wrestlemania 2.
-There were two big problems with Johnny Mac’s girlfriend watching Wrestlemania 3 with he and his friends. –Jammie’s memories of attending Wrestlemanias Iv and V live.
-Toronto fans are a different breed, Chicago fans are a pain in the ass.
-An alternative universe where Magnificent Muraco wins the WWF title in 1983.
-Seanny expresses joy over the greatness of 1981 Don Muraco.
-Buddy Rose: All-time great worker.
-Jammie’s reaction to the 1981 Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine match where the WWF title was held up.

And more. It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a monumental podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Plus there are TWO separate “This Is Spinal Tap” references! What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 42: 1981 WWF, And That Goofy “Title Change”

Part Four of John McAdam and Sean Goodwin discussing 1981 WWF with our guest Steve Generalli! Covered in this discussion:

–Battle Royal Night in the WWF and why it stunk.
–Texas Death Matches also stunk in the old WWF.
–The impact of the Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito team in the WWF, and the overall tag team scene.
–How a match on a 1981 Madison Square Garden show had an Eddie Einhorn I.W.A. Connection.
–The Pedro Morales vs Magnificent Muraco feud and the history between the two.
–Yeah, Tony Atlas was really, really strong.
–Dusty Rhodes loved the nightlife, he got to boogie, on the disco ’round, oh yea.

And more. It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a formidable podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 41: The Top 100 Wrestlers of 1984

John McAdam and Sean Goodwin talk about the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s list of the Top 100 Wrestlers for the year of 1984.  We discuss Ric Flair, Dynamite Kid, Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Riki Choshu, Ricky Steamboat, Davey Boy Smith, Butch Reed, Paul Orndorff, Adrian Adonis, Masa Saito, Randy Savage, Kerry Von Erich, Ted Dibiase, Don Kernodle, and more!

It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool!  Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a sweet podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 40: Where Is Moondog King? He Got Hit By A Car.

John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are once again joined by popular guest Scott Cornish! We’re back taking a deep dive into 1981 WWF, and we cover the following:

–A 1981 show held in Utica, NY, attended by Scott himself.
–A 1981 show at Holy Cross Stadium in Worcester, MA, attended by John, featuring one of the best matches he’s ever seen live.
–The joy of buying programs at the nightly events.
–The mystery of Moondog King disappearing and Moondog Spot taking his place.
–Pat Patterson’s career winding down.
–The fallout from Andre The Giant breaking his leg.
–Curt Hennig getting his start in WWF prelims in 1981.
–The legacy of Captain Lou Albano donning the tights and getting in the ring.
–We get sidetracked and start telling Dick Murdoch stories.
–Was Sgt. Slaughter 1981 Wrestler of the Year?
–Why the managers did not remain at ringside at Madison Square Garden.
–Gorilla Monsoon’s retirement and his one match comeback.
–S.D. Jones’ 1981 WWF return and push, along with his “freeze and blink” offense.

Plus, STW March Madness is coming! Head over to our Facebook group for more info! It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a sweet podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 39: Hulk Hogan’s A Stooge

John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are once again joined by popular guest Thomas Bane!

We take a look at:

–We discuss the passing of Dick Beyer, aka The Destroyer and what a huge role he played in creating wrestling in Japan. Yes, I said creating.
–We also have a long talk about the death and legacy of King Bong Bundy.
–Wait, Jesse Ventura tried to stage a walkout at Wrestlemania 2 so that the WWF would have to recognize the wrestlers as a union? And Hulk Hogan stooged him out? How could Vince have handled this? Hear the details on this episode.
–Bundy left the WWF right before Wrestlemania 4 in 1988. We question his timing.
–Was the NWA ever interested in bringing Bundy in after his WWF departure?
–What would Bundy’s Japan prospects have looked like?
–The origin of the Ric Flair vs Shane Douglas spat.
–Was Bundy better with Bobby Heenan or Jimmy Hart?
–Ted Dibiase, most disappointing manager ever.
–Who were the good babyface managers?
–Irish Terry Gunn…we actually talk about him.
–Should Killer Khan have been a bigger deal in the WWF?
–Why did Pedro Morales defend the Intercontinental Title against half of the tag champions? We have the answer.
–We do a deep dive into how the Sgt. Slaughter vs Pat Patterson started, and how they could have done it better.
–The Bob Backlund vs Stan Hansen Cage Match at MSG was a disappointment. What happened?

It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a sweet podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 38: Binghamton, NY Knows Too Much About Greg Valentine

John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are once again joined by longtime WWWF / WWF fan Steve Generalli, who is perfect for this show since we focus on 1981 WWF Wrestling, among other things!

We take a look at:
–The Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine one hour draw that was recently released on WWE Network, a match many of us have been dying to see for over forty years. We have differing opinions on the quality of this bout.
–Remembering the late, great Pedro Morales.
–Sam Muchnick yelling at Vince McMahon Sr.
–A look at Hulk Hogan’s first run in the WWF.
–Were Tony Atlas and S.D. Jones supposed to win the WWF tag titles?
–A general look at the greatness that was early Sgt. Slaughter.
–Stan Hansen finally returns after an absence of almost four years.
–The Moondogs…we didn’t like them.
–Bulldog Brower…we didn’t like him either.
–The Hulk Hogan vs Tony Atlas feud.

Plus, a story about the time Larry Sharpe tried to pull a dine and dash on one of us and John McAdam is finally acknowledged as the king of bringing up people’s wonderful personal qualities.

It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a sweet podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 37: Chi Town Rumble Turns 30!

John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are once again joined by superfan, superpodcaster and superauthor Jeff Bowdren! One day after the thirtieth anniversary of the 1989 NWA Chi-Town Rumble Pay Pay view we take a deep dive into one of the greatest PPVs in history.

We discuss:

–How horribly mispushed Ricky Steamboat was and how, despite being an elite worker, the fans rejected him.
–Was Steamboat’s return to his home promotion a surprise?
–Why the finish to the Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat at this show was arguably the greatest of all time.
–John’s theory on why George Scott was such an awful booker in 1989.
–Hiro Matsuda, The Invisible Manager.
–Was the main event of this show the greatest match of all time?
–How one can tell for certain if a match is going to a one hour draw.
–The Road Warriors turning twice in less than four months, and what a disaster it was.
–The 1989 version of the Varsity Club: Steve Williams, Mike Rotondo, and Dan Spivey. This should have been big.
–How this was the final night of Barry Windham being truly great.
–Mike Rotondo defeating Rick Stiener to regain the NWA TV title. At the time it was a major shock, but we tell you why they did it.
–Did the promotion go out of their way to undermine the red-hot Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton, and Stan Lane trio?
–Why Dennis Condrey did not appear on this show as scheduled.

Plus, a story about the time Jeff Bowdren offended Bonnie Steamboat! It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a sweet podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 36: The Hammer

It’s Valentine’s season. We talked about Johnny Valentine on the last show so why not talk about Greg Valentine this week?

John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are once again joined by longtime Carolinas fan Mike Gunter who provides tremendous first-hand perspective on Greg Valentine’s career.

We discuss:

-The Greg Valentine vs Wahoo McDaniel feud and how it tied into Johnny’s feud vs Wahoo.
-Greg Valentine’s run in the WWF in 1979. His run against Bob Backlund and his feud vs Chief Jay Strongbow.
-The start of the Ric Flair vs Greg Valentine feud and how Valentine brutally breaks Ric’s nose for real.
-Greg Valentine’s run in the WWF and how John thought Greg WOULD have won the WWF championship in 1981.
-The legendary Greg Valentine vs Roddy Piper feud that led to not just the brutal Dog Collar match at Starrcade ’83 but the series on the road afterward.
-The ad on TV that said Hulk Hogan was coming in to see his buddy Ric Flair win the title!
-Greg’s arrival as a superstar back to the WWF in 1984 and his decline to “just another guy” status.
-Greg as a member of the Four Horsemen in 1988? WHAT? This was a real possibility.
-But wait! An amazing and hilarious story about Greg Valentine buying stereo equipment and accessories from Mike at a strip mall in 1979!

It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a heart-stirring podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 35: Valentine’s Day

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Mike Gunter and we focus on Johnny Valentine’s career. Mike grew up in the Carolinas watching Johnny Valentine, and he carries a unique perspective into his career. This week we talk about:

–Mike being IN ATTENDANCE for a Johnny Valentine vs Wahoo McDaniel match and he describes how brutal it was.
–The plane crash that ended Johnny’s career, and what would have become of the rest of his career had that not happened. Mike also provides perspective of what the media coverage of the event was like in the area.
–Tim Woods was in that plane with a bunch of heels. What he did to cover that up was amazing, and we discuss it.
–Johnny Valentine’s feuds with Bearcat Wright and Paul Jones.
–What Johnny Valentine did when he was stuck in Argentina with no money and no way to get home.
–The story of Johnny Valentine getting fired in Florida.
–And of course, Johnny Valentine’s obsession with ribs, some of which were far from harmless.

Plus there’s brief tribute to the late, great Frank Robinson!

It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool! Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a breathtaking podcast – STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Episode 34: The Internet Is Broken

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we celebrate Super Bowl Week by discussing…the Super Bowls of Wrestling! This week we discuss:

-The 1971 Fred Blassie vs John Tolos feud that drew over 30,000 at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
-The crazy story about how The Samoans (Afa and Sika) got into the wrestling business.
-The first show billed as “The Super Bowl of Wrestling”, a three ring circus with a midget tournament.
-A close look at the 1978 Miami Orange Bowl version of the “The Super Bowl of Wrestling”.
-How the NWA title was presented at Madison Square Garden.
-The buildup of the Harley Race vs Superstar Billy Graham match and how they got Graham over as a main eventer prior to the event.
-The Miami show drew 12,000, which was a massive disappointment. What happened?
-The unfortunate storyline that was used to build up the Rocky Johnson vs Killer Karl Kox match, but at least John gets to baptize wrestling fans in general.
-Johnny Mac shares an unfortunate story about Sputnik Monroe. He also reveals a shockingly good match available on WWE Network. -Was Jack Brisco a good interview?
-A close look at the Dusty Rhodes vs Ken Patera match, and how wrestling was completely different ten years later when it comes to a match like this.
-Debunking the myth that Florida had TV in New York.
-Plus we talk about Smoky Mountain’s “Super Bowl of Wrestling” that John attended.

Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a lit podcast. Forget that other stuff, STICK TO WRESTLING because it’s the only WICKED GOOD podcast out there.

Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.