Episode 301: Andre’s Restaurant And Related Regrets

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a deep dive into the WWF’s national expansion, taking a close look at what was going on in “The Fed” in March 1984! We discuss:

–Mr. Fuji delivers one of the greatest heel promos of all time. We are being one hundred percent serious.
–A pro wrestler on the cover of a non-wrestling magazine? Unthinkable coming into 1984, but Hulk Hogan changed that.
–He wasn’t quite at Hulk Hogan’s level of popularity but the newly-turned Sgt. Slaughter was red hot, as was his feud with Iron Sheik.
–Was Andre The Giant starting to get stale?
–Paul Orndorff continues to impress.
–Was Tony Atlas scheduled to win the Intercontinental title?

Plus we announce the STICK TO WRESTLING NCAA basketball pool and the prize the winner will receive, 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 300: Once The Producer, Now The Procurer

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we are joined by The Great Brian Last, and we take questions from the STW Universe! Discussed on the podcast this week:

–Why did WCW lose confidence in Sting after Starrcade 90?
–How would we have booked Ric Flair when he arrived in the WWF in 1991?
–Could the AWA’s Team Challenge Series have actually worked?
–If Eddie Gilbert hadn’t died young, what would his career have looked like?
–If we want to view a wrestling match for pure personal entertainment value, what is our go-to match?
–Can we still watch Chris Benoit matches? Where do we draw the line on separating the art from the artist?

Plus Johnny Mac tells a crazy Ric Flair and Arn Anderson story, 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 298: Thank You, Tito!

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a retrospective look at the 1984 Year End awards!

We talk The Von Erichs, Dusty Rhodes, the Magnum T.A. vs Mr. Wrestling II feud, Sgt. Slaughter, Jim Cornette, Road Warriors, Black Saturday, Roddy Piper, Bob Backlund, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Gino Hernandez, Ric Flair, Andre The Giant, Captain Lou Albano, Hulk Hogan, Wahoo McDaniel, The Crusher, Buck Zumhoff, Louis CK, Vince McMahon’s testicles being caught in a vice, Terry Gordy, Jimmy Hart, Paul Jones, Ole Anderson, Jackie Fargo, Gene Okerlund, Tommy Rich, jobs one doesn’t have to get up early for, The Fabulous Ones, Bobby Heenan, Iceman Parsons, Don Kernodle, Chief Jay Strongbow, Tojo Yammamoto, overweight sheep dogs, Jake Roberts, Thunderbolt Patterson, The Bootyman, Blackjack Lanza, the normalization of the “Brutus Beefcake” name, Missing Link, Ernie Ladd, Ox Baker, Jimmy Hart, Junkyard Dog, Kevin Sullivan, Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Snuka, Master G, Jules Strongbow, overcompensation, Michael Hayes, Al Tomko, Paul Ellering, Baron Von Rashke, Eddie Gilbert, The Samoans, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Bugsy McGraw, Sheik Adnan El-Kaissie, Ivan Putski, Brad Rheingans, Gary Hart, Bill Dundee, Angelo Mosca, Tony Atlas, Jack Reynolds, bad Ole Anderson booking, and more!

Plus Tito Santana tries to explain why there is almost no footage of him winning the Intercontinental Title in Boston, 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 297: The Ballad Of Colonel Fuji

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue taking our deep dive into the WWF’s historically vital national expansion that began in earnest over forty years ago. The entire pro wrestling landscape is changing dramatically, and we’re here to tell you all about it! On this week’s discussion queue:

–Colonel Fuji, Mr. Fuji’s diabolical relative who carried out horrible misdeeds during World War II. This is AMAZING.
–The WWF is finally using Andre The Giant correctly.
–David Schultz has the audacity to question Hulk Hogan’s heritage, and The Hulkster is not happy.
–Sgt. Slaughter has been Pearl Harbored before, and he’s bounced back. He’ll tell you all about it.
–Andre The Giant is a Frenchman, but he’s not above celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. He’ll tell you all about it.
–Jose Luis Rivera’s magical winning streak runs out of magic.

Plus there’s lots of rare audio from this era, so what hat 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 296: Completely Sold Out…Or Was It?

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue taking our deep dive into the WWF’s historically vital national expansion that began in earnest over forty years ago. The entire pro wrestling landscape is changing dramatically, and we’re here to tell you all about it! On this week’s discussion queue:

–So Hulk Hogan is now the WWF champion. What role is left for former WWF champion Bob Backlund?
–The organic and logical Sgt. Slaughter vs Iron Sheik feud is finally up and running.
–Hulk Hogan vs Paul Orndorff is the main event in many of the WWF’s major arenas. How do you book a finish between these two brand new, red hot stars?
–World Class Championship Wrestling aired in Boston and it was extremely popular. Why did they wait so long to promote a show there?
–The WWF has taken over the wrestling spot for a historically significant television station in St. Louis.
–Roddy Piper is still primarily a manager, and his faction came across as invaders from outside the promotion.

Plus there’s lots of rare audio from this era and Sheldon Goldberg makes a special cameo appearance, so what hat 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 295: Going Down In Flames

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue to discuss the WWWF’s national expansion and take a close look at what was going on in the promotion in February 1984! We converse about:

–The soon to be legendary weekly “Piper’s Pit” segment comes to life.
–It’s early in Hulk Hogan’s reign, but he’s on tour wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
–Jimmy Snuka gets in trouble in St. Louis with the Missouri State Athletic Commission.
–Speaking of Snuka, there apparently was major, real life heat between he and Bob Backlund. We tell you about it.
–Did Bill Eadie leave the WWF unexpectedly? Did the WWF then use a “fake” Masked Superstar?
–We are introduced to Bret Hart, whom we had never even heard of coming into 1984.

Plus there’s lots of rare audio from this era and we keep a scorecard of wrestlers the WWF has hired away from the other territories, so what hat 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 294: The Expansion Has Launched

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take mailbag questions on the WWF’s national expansion!

–What would the wrestling business have looked like had the first Wrestlemania flopped?
–What if there was more cooperation between the NWA promoters? Could they have survived, or even won the war?
–Were there any wrestlers that the WWF wanted but couldn’t get?
–Who would have been a great fit in the WWF but never ended up there?
–Could Ken Patera gotten King Kong Bundy’s spot at Wrestlemania 2 had he not encountered legal difficulties?
–Would the non-WWF promoters have been smarter focusing on their home turf instead of expanding?

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 293: It’s Not Like Moving Your…

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we converse with former Pro Wrestling Illustrated writer Bob Smith! On this episode we discuss:

–How Bob got his foot in the door of the world’s most prominent pro wrestling publication.
–The process of getting all of the magazines under the Stanley Weston umbrella from the office and to the newsstand.
–How the magazines protected the business and were an asset to the industry.
–How the wrestlers reacted to some of the stories they were featured in.
–The rise and decline of the magazines’ sales.
–How the magazine’s articles were created.

Plus Bob shares his experiences in writing for a fantasy baseball newsletter, 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 292: This Is Not Entertaining Television

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we continue our review of the WWF during the month of January, 1984. This was one of the most tumultuous and chaotic months in any company in pro wrestling history. On the discussion table:

–Bob Backlund has a new tag team partner, and he’s from Venice Beach, CA.
–Magnificent Muraco vs Tito Santana! That match sure sounds good on paper, but was it in reality?
–The WWF continues to upgrade it’s television production.
–The silliness of three-out-of-five fall tag team matches.
–Little did we know that Tony Atlas was not still an ascending star, he had already peaked.
–The sad demise of Chief Jay Strongbow.

Plus there are weird Carl Yastrzemski analogies to be had, 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