Episode 237: Kerry’s Number One

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest host Chris Tabar as we celebrate the Fortieth Anniversary of the 1982 WCCW Star Wars Christmas Night show at Renion Arena in Dalas, with Ric Flair defending the NWA title in a Cage Match against Kerry Von Erich in the main event. This truly was an epic and historic night of wrestling, and we review it for you!

–Buddy Roberts is “stuck at the airport in Denver” leaving The Freebirds’ Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy at a disadvantage, but David Von Erich saves the day.
–The show featured a Pole Battle Royal Match, with a surprise winner.
–The Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich match had the ultimate “big fight” feel, and we tell you about it.
–Michael Hayes is the special referee for this match,and he brings Terry Gordy to guard the cage door. Kerry is surrounded by allies! What could possibly go wrong?
–Bill Mercer describer Michael Hayes’ refereeing as “amatuerish”. That’s certainly one way of putting it.
–We analyze the Flair vs Kerry match itself, and it’s truly one for the ages in every respect: storytelling, action, and the reaction from the fans at the end. When all was said and done this promotion had a blindingly bright 1983 ahead of it.

Plus we have lots of audio for review and educational purposes AND we go far longer than usual, 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 236: Disco Robin Hood Suit

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Super Producer and popular returning guest Lou Kipilman as we take mailbag questions on the year of 1982! On the discussion docket:

–Who was pro wrestling’s MVP in 1982?
–What was our favorite matches of 1982?
–Was the Jerry Lawler / Andy Kaufman feud the most powerful of the year?
–Why was the “circus called the WWF” so accepted in the Northeast?
–What promotion had the best year?
–Who was the best manager of 1982?

Plus we take shots at Bob Backlund’s highly questionable 1984 fashion choices, 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 235: Cadillac Station Wagons

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we discuss to goings on in World Class Championship Wrestling from the Fall of 1982!

–Kerry Von Erich’s ascent to national superstardom is almost complete.
–The Freebirds have arrived as babyfaces, and the territory is about to explode.
–David Von Erich is back home after his run in Florida.
–There are superstar babyfaces up and down the roster, but the heel side is rather thin. This situation will soon correct itself.
–Bugsy McGraw’s “Three Stooges” character is not paying dividends.
–Can Fritz Von Erich prove that Ric Flair had a bounty out on Kerry Von Erich?

Plus there’s pleny of great classic audio on this 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 234: Leave That Salt Alone

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Jayce Naccarato as we review the WWWF show that took place at Madison Square Garden from June 30, 1973. It is the first Madison Square Garden show that was ever broadcast on cable. On the discussion table:

–Chief Jay Strongbow vs Mr. Fuji was a match betrween two wrestlers who barely moved and the crowd was into it regardless.
–Thanks to the New York State Athletic Commission, El Olympico has to wear a baby bonnet on his head while he wrestles.
–Georgiette Krieger allows the evil spirits to remain in the corner.
–Moondog Mayne and Dottie Downs are prime examples of how people aged much more quickly fifty years ago.
–Captain Lou Albano takes his bi-annual beatdown.
–The Pedro Morales vs George Steele main event was surprisingly good.

Plus we bring up the “Haggard Housewives” scene from Goodfellas, 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 233: Buddy’s Uncomfortable Kisses

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Chris Berg as we talk wrestling events from Thanksgiving, 1982! On this week’s pod:

–The final Greensboro Thanksgiving show that is not called “Starrcade”.
–The annual tag team tournament at the Atlanta Omni, with a surprise winner.
–The saga of Bruce Walkup.
–A rare WWF Thanksgiving show at a major arena on this holiday.
–Jimmy Valiant’s other bad, endless feud.
–Kevin Sullivan’s heel turn in Florida.

Plus we share an uncomfortable stories about what’s written on Ali Hassan’s trunks and Boris Zurkov’s post-wrestling career, 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 232: Minimal Screwjob Talk

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Game Changing Wrestling’s Own Emil Jay as we review the 1997 Survivor Seires on it’s 25th Anniversary month.

As advertised, we don’t overdo talk of the infamous “Montreal Screwjob” but we take a deep dive into the event itself. On the discussion table:

–No matter what would happened with Bret Hart, Vince McMahon’s on-screen character was already in the middle of a heel turn.
–Mick Foley takes some incredible bumps on this show, but that’s been completely forgotten thanks to Hell in the Cell and the other thing that happened on this night.
–Shawn Michaels had some guts for brawling with Bret in the middle of a very hostile crowd.
–Ken Shamrock seems to be getting set up for a big push.
–Kane: many wrestling fans hated this gimmick.
–Some of the signs in the crowd were absolutely wild.

Plus Johnny Mac shares his first “this isn’t wrestling” moment, 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 and wicked good wrestling podcast!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 231: The NWA’s Chi-Town Defeat

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning co-host Christian Boddie. It’s the 35th Anniversary of Starrcade ’87 so we watched it, researched it, and shared it all with you. The highlights:

–There was Starrcade ’83, Starrcade ’84, Starrcade ’85, and Starrcade ’86. Dusty Rhodes booked this promotion as if he didn’t know Starrcade ’87 was coming. We’ll tell you all about it.
–When the crowd groans after a ref bump, adjust your booking strategy. We’ll tell you all about it.
–An “alleged” heated meeting between booker Dusty Rhodes and Lex Luger? We’ll tell you all about it.
–Starrcade ’87 really needed a great main event, a five star classic. It go a three, maybe a three and a half star. We’ll tell you all about it.
–Missy Hyatt. She lies, then she disappears. We’ll tell you all about it.
–The impossible chess game of booking the Road Warriors. We’ll tell you all about it.

Plus Johnny Mac shares his INSANE five day 1987 “Loaded with so much pro wrestling content but so much other” weekend (again for long time listeners), 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 and wicked good wrestling podcast!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 230: Stylish 80’s Footwear

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Jeff Bowdren from the Breaking Kayfabe with Bowdren and Barry podcast, and we take YOUR wrestling questions, such as:

–Of the world champions on January 1, 1970: AWA champ Verne Gagne, NWA champ Dory Funk, Jr., WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino: which one would fit best as champion of one of the other companies?
–Was Wrestlemania 3 a “coming out party” for the WWF on a national level?
–At the peak of our fandoms, what was your tv wrestling schedule like on a typical week?
–Was Memphis the only territory the Andy Kaufman angle could work in?
–Was Ric Flair’s 1991 / 1992 WWF run booked properly?
–What was the last angle or match you saw before you got “‘smart”?

Plus Johnny Mac discusses his poor fashion decisions from the 80’s AND we talk about videogames, 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 and wicked good wrestling podcast!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 229: They Fired The First Shot

STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by popular returning guest Jammie Ward as we take a look at all things happening in the WWF during the Fall of 1982!

–The Samoans return to the WWF after leaving Georgia Championship Wrestling without dropping the tag team titles and without giving notice. This may have been the first real shot fired in the 80’s wrestling war.
–Magnificent Muraco returns after being away for a very brief time. This led some to believe he would win the WWF title from Bob Backlund.
–Big John Studd arrives in the WWF with Fred Blassie as his manager, offering prize money to anyone who can bodyslam him. We could all sense the upcoming feud with Andre The Giant.
–Eddie Gilbert becomes Bob Backlund’s new protege. Those who watch wrestling know this will not end well for either Eddie, Bob, or both.
–Pedro Morales’ reign as Intercontinental Champion rolls on.
–Tiger Mask comes to visit and delivers some unforgettable matches.

Plus there’s audio clips and Johnny Mac talks about seeing the WWF on consecutive nights, 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 and wicked good wrestling podcast!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 228: Our Boy Jimmy

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Jammie Ward as we talk all things that happened in the WWF during the Fall of 1982! On this week’s podcast:

–The talk segment “Buddy Rogers’ Corner” debuts.
–Related, Jimmy Snuka finally turns babyface.
–The Bob Backlund vs Superstar Billy Graham feud rages around the territory.
–Rocky Johnson makes his WWF debut.
–Bob Backlund faces some new opponents during his trip to Florida.
–The endless Stongbow Brothers vs Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito rolls on and on.

Plus we have audio from the WWF stars and we share some great forty year old memories, , 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 and wicked good wrestling podcast!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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