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.

Episode 33: Stupid Stuff Sticks

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Jammie Ward, and we focus on Barry Windham’s career.

–Why we call this “Stick To Wrestling”. This is CRUCIAL! –What transpired in Jammie’s living room 30 years ago.
–Our impressions of a very early Barry Windham.
–Blackjack Mulligan Jr? Wut? No really, WTF?
–Did Adrian Adonis object to losing the tag titles to Windham and Rotondo?
–What led to Barry leaving the WWF in 1985?
–So Barry left the WWF. Why did he not land in Mid-South or World Class instead of the dying Florida promotion?
–Barry’s ascent to a spot as a member of the Four Horsemen
–What led to Barry’s departure after the Turner NWA purchase in 1989 and how it may have turned Jim Herd into the monster he was.
–The Widowmaker. Yuck. Also, Windham’s 1989 WWF run. It rhymes with “thud”.
–Barry Windham’s ceiling.
–What lead to Barry returning to the NWA in 1990 after he seemingly nuked that bridge. It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool!

Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a mondo podcast. Forget that other stuff, STICK TO WRESTLING!

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

Episode 32: So Was The Legacy Tarnished, Or What?

We like this show! Sean and I just take random questions from our listeners. These are always among the best episodes of STICK TO WRESTLING!

–Johnny Mac talks about his 90’s AOL wrestling relationship with AEW Kingpin Tony “Don’t Call Me Killer or Madeline” Khan, who gets an open invite to Stick To Wrestling.

–What was Saturday wrestling like back in the day? Can it ever come back?

–Portland Wresting memories, comparing the Portland and Memphis territories.

–Did the stupid stuff the AWA did near it’s end tarnish it’s legacy?

–What was it like seeing Randy Savage for the first time?

–What was up with Bill Dundee going on TV and talking about “losing that fight”?

–What’s the best available Boston wrestling you should watch?

–If Vince doesn’t buy Georgia Championship Wrestling, what happens to the Georgia territory?

–Pro Wrestling USA…huh?

–When was peak Gordon Solie?

–What if Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express actually jumped to the WWF?

–What is the worst match you ever saw?

–What does the NWA title history look like if Ric Flair can’t return from the injuries in sustained in a plane crash?

–And finally, how Johnny Mac became a rabid Tennessee Vols fan.

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

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

Episode 31: We Now Know Blood in Wrestling Is Fake

This week on Stick To Wrestling John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by Brad Breitzman, a show favorite who grew up in AWA country and is a former contributor for the Pro Wrestling Torch. Brad shares his fandom of the recently passed Gene Okerlund and his views as an AWA fan in the early 80’s.

There’s more!

-How Gene Okerlund was the man who got Jesse Ventura over, and Bobby Heenan even more over.
-Why Verne Gagne wasn’t a fan of the Apter Mags.
-What a celebrity Gene Okerlund was in AWA country BEFORE he left for the WWF.
-How getting old sucks, and one of the worst parts of it is seeing the heroes you grew up worshiping passing on.
-When we all found out when the blood was real, and when the wrestlers changed identities.
-How Vince McMahon monkey-wrenched WrestleRock ’86. And was Prince going to perform as part of that show? Yes, that Prince.
-Brad tells the grossest non female period blood story ever.
-An old story Paul E. told Johnny Mac about how out of touch Verne was in the late 80’s. Hogan calls the local Minneapolis radio station to say that’s he’d won the REAL “world title”.
Plus: McAdam taunts Alabama football!

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

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

Episode 30: The End Of An Era

This week on Stick To Wrestling John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by noted wrestling humorist Scott Cornish, who was a WWWF fan from the start of the Bob Backlund until the end.

We discuss:

–Why did Bob Backlund lose the title to Iron Sheik? This is the big one, we discuss the details.
–How would we have booked Bob Backlund’s title loss?
–Bob Backlund winning the WWF title in 1978.
–Iron Sheik WON THE WWF TITLE? We give our reactions.
–The 1981 Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine series, what we expected to see from it, and the completely weird finish to their October 1981 match at Madison Square Garden where the title was held up.
–The decline of Bob Backlund, starting in late 1982.
–How Hulk Hogan was introduced and immediately put in the position as WWF champion.
–What a one man tidal wave Hulk Hogan was and how the WWF transitioned from a regional company to a national powerhouse. –What did Arnold Skoaland ever do?
–If Backlund’s WWF title reign was a slice of watermelon, Sean Goodwin got stuck with the rind at the end.
–Bob Backlund as WWF champion was Al Pacino in The Godfather. Yes he was.
— Gonna be a Man In Motion, y’all.
–All of this plus Johnny Mac driving a car from Orlando, FL to Nashua, NH in 1981, St. Elmo’s Fire, John’s annual violation of Vermont’s driving laws, and what he was doing as a sixteen year old at 4:00 AM on October 21, 1981, all wrestling related because we STICK TO WRESTLING!

Stick To Wrestling: Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a wicked good wrestling podcast.

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

Episode 29: The Top Ten Wrestlers Of The 80’s

Johnny Mac and Seanny G are once again joined by Braddy B- Brad Breitzman, who was such a hit last week we had to have him back to continue discussing out 80’s awards-themed show- The Stickies! Brad lived in the AWA region and added great knowledge and perspective to the conversation.

We rank the top ten wrestlers of the 1980’s and share random thoughts and observations on Buddy Landell, Nick Bockwinkel, Bob Backlund, Sgt. Slaughter, Tully Blanchard, Harley Race, Barry Windham, Dusty Rhodes, Nick Bockwinkel, Junkyard Dog, Jerry Lawler, Randy Savage, Curt Hennig, Ted Dibiase, Andre The Giant, Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair.

It’s a very cool discussion. Actually, it’s wicked cool!

Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a killer podcast- STICK TO WRESTLING!

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

Episode 28: The Cocoon Of Negativity

This week on the only WICKED GOOD wrestling podcast John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by longtime fan and friend Brad Breitzman, as we present the first part of our year end awards show- The Stickies! But since our listeners wouldn’t be interested in the Best Of / Worst Of 2018, we do the Best Of / Worst Of the 1980’s. We debate and discuss:

–Most Underrated Wrestler of the 80’s.
–Overrated Wrestler of the 80’s.
–Best Feud of the 80’s.
–Worst Manager of the 80’s.
–Worst Gimmick of the 80’s.
–Best Heel of the 80’s.
–Most Overrated Wrestler of the 80’s.
–Best Heel of the 80’s.
–Biggest Shock of the 80’s.
–Worst Manager of the 80’s. And more!

This episode also references Jerry Aldini AND Tony Clifton, so how can you not listen at least twice? Every week give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a killer podcast- STICK TO WRESTLING!

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