Tag Archives: Ric Flair

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 334: I’ll Go When Practice Is Over

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we enter into Part Two of our discussion of the 2024 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame candidates with John McAdam, Steve Generelli, and Nolen Lake!

We talk John Cena, Paul Orndorff, The Anderson Brothers, Enhancement talent, Greg Valentine, The Young Bucks, Britney Spears, Ric Flair, Roman Reigns, Lex Luger, the Heisman Trophy, Buddy Rose, Spiros Arion, Unibrows, The Steiner Brothers, Umaga, Kevin Sullivan, Bullies, Howard Finkel, Austin Idol, Underrated tag teams, C.M. Punk, and more!

Plus Nolen shares an incredible life story about surviving a heart attack that his doctors said should’ve killed him, a story that goes beyond wrestling and adds a real human touch to the show. So what are you waiting for? Download the latest episode and join us for a WICKED GOOD podcast! We’ll give you sixty minutes of pure wrestling analysis, and whatever else comes with it.

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 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 321: Sorry About Your Arm

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Todd Goss, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of Mid-Atlantic wrestling. We discuss what was going on in that territory, including:

–Two drunken Marines who made the mistake of going after Adrian Street and Miss Linda.
–Tully Blanchard as part of Paul Jones’ Army.
–The transition into Dusty Rhodes becoming the territory’s booker.
–How Buzz Sawyer got fired his night in the area.
–The strange saga of Greg Valentine transforming into a babyface.
–The Road Warriors come in and do a bunch of jobs.

Plus Todd and Johnny Mac debate over who the greatest super heavyweight of all time was, 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 318: My Mom Was A Tommy Rich Guy

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Jammmie Ward! With the Fortieth Anniversary of “Black Saturday” coming on Sunday, July 14, we take a look at the Black Saturday event itself (the WWF taking over Georgia Championship Wrestling and the WTBS television slots) and the goings on in World Championship Wrestling, formerly known as Georgia Championship Wrestling, during the year of 1984. We discuss:

–The events that led to Jack and Jerry Brisco selling their Georgia Championship Wrestling shares to Vince McMahon.
–Gordon Solie was a legend, but even legends eventually lose their fastball. By 1984 Gordon was heavily relying on his off speed pitches.
–Should GCW have looked at a change in bookers? Because by 1984 Ole Anderson, as the promotion’s booker, was also heavily relying on his off speed pitches.
–The WWF’s national expansion and the subsequent wrestling war was inevitable. But it wasn’t Vince McMahon who fired the first shot. It was Georgia, and we tell you all about it.
–Not only couldn’t Georgia Championship Wrestling compete with the WWF talent-wise, they couldn’t compete with the other promotions as well, despite having tremendous exposure on national cable. We tell you why.
–Vince McMahon doesn’t drop the ball often, but he did by the way he handled the WTBS television and Ted Turner himself.

Plus we share our experiences living through Black Saturday, expecting to enjoy two hours of Georgia Wrestling but actually getting two hours of WWF re-runs, 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 310: Trumpet Fanfare

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we are joined by popular returning guest Chris Zaucha, and we take mailbag questions regarding the most popular faction in the history of Pro Wrestling- The Four Horsemen! On the discussion table:

–What was the story behind Lex Luger replacing Ole Anderson in the Horsemen?
–Tully Blanchard and Ric Flair were not exactly cozy in 1985. What brought them together?
–Could the Horsemen have worked without J.J. Dillon?
–Who else would have fit in the group?
–What should have been done with the Horsemen after Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard left for the WWF?
–Were the Midnight Express ever considered as potentially joining the Horsemen?

Plus we tell who who was “too much like Arn Anderson” for the Horsemen, so what 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 and Mike Sempervive

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

 

Episode 309: World’s Saddest Babyface

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we review the 1984 Texas Stadium Spectacular, which was forty years ago. The dream came true and Kerry Von Erich became the NWA world heavyweight champion! Discussed on this episode:

–Was David Von Erich supposed to win the NWA title? We actually have a new take on this forty year old mystery.
–On this show the promotion laid the groundwork for the rest of 1984, and well into 1985. We tell you about it.
–Should World Class have had more outside talent on this show?
–We tell you about the wrestler on this show who was trying to turn himself into a traveling attraction, much like Andre The Giant.
–Was this show the absolute apex of World Class Championship Wrestling?
–The Von Erichs chasing the NWA title dates all the way back to Fritz vs Gene Kiniski. We discuss that.

Plus Johnny Mac takes a shot at David Manning, so what 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 299: How’s Your Face?

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we present Part 2 of a retrospective look at the 1984 Year End awards!

We talk Hulk Hogan, Jim Cornette, Andre The Giant, Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes, Mid-South Wrestling, Sgt. Slaughter, the Von Erichs, Ted Dibiase, Roddy Piper, Kevin Von Erich, Vince McMahon, Nikita Koloff, Jack Brisco, British Bulldogs, Verne Gagne, Magnum T.A., The Freebirds, Bill Watts, Ric Flair, Wendi Richter, Tommy Rich, Iron Sheik, Lance Russell, Jesse Ventura, Tully Blanchard, Gene Okerlund, Jerry Lawler, Magnificent Muraco, Kevin Sullivan, Paul Orndorff, Bob Orton Jr, Ole Anderson, Gino Hernandez, Angelo Mosca Sr, Angelo Mosca Jr, Bob Backlund, Central States Wrestling, Mr. Wrestling II, Baby Doll, Master G, Chavo Guerrero, Mr. Fuji, Pro Wrestling USA, Fabulous Moolah, Paul Ellering, Tito Santana, Big John Studd, Brian Blair, Chris Adams, Tonga Kid, Stella Mae French, Bob Roop, and more!

Plus we have a brief Ole Anderson tribute, so what 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 289: Stability Is Good

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by popular returning guest Christian Boddie for Part Two of our Starrcade ’88 review! We discuss:

–The big question: Did the NWA make the wrong decision by not passing the torch and making Lex Luger their world champion at this event?
–Did Dusty Rhodes really want Ric Flair to do a five minute job to Rick Steiner?
–Speaking of Dusty, he really would have remained on as booker if not for making a daring and ill-advised angle with the Road Warriors. It’s discussed on this episode.
–How did Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard leaving for the WWF affect this event?
–Barry Windham was at his absolute peak here. He would soon have a dramatic fall.
–We’re convinced that Lex Luger was promised something in exchange for doing a semi-clean job, and we tell you what we think it was.

Plus we take quesions from the Stick To Wrestling Universe regarding this event, so what are you waiting for? Listen to this wicked good episode!

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

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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