Tag Archives: 1970’s

Podcast

Episode 148: What If Bruno Had WHAT?

STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by popular guest John Jance, and we enter into an alternative universe. Bruno Sammartino was seriously injured in 1976, and told promoter Vince McMahon Sr that he wanted out. Bruno cut way down on his dates right after losing the WWWF title to Superstar Billy Graham and was completely out of wrestling by the end of 1981. But what if Bruno has Ricflairitis, a condition one suffers from when they can’t walk away from the business? We discuss that and the butterfly effect it would have had.

–When does Vince Jr. finally pull the title from Bruno?

–What effect would this have had on the careers of Superstar Billy Graham and Bob Backlund?

–When would Bruno finally have to retire?

–What impact would this have had on David Sammartino’s career? Would it have hurt Bruno if the fans knew he was old enough to have an adult son?

–How often did Bruno wrestle after dropping the title to Graham? The answer may surprise you.

Plus John Jance shares a story about corresponding with a young Dave Meltzer and how not everything was a secret back in the day, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good bad boy!

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 136: Victor Rivera’s Alternate Universe

Two very historic 50th Anniversaries are coming very soon: Ivan Koloff winning the WWWF title from Bruno Sammartino, and Pedro Morales winning the title three week’s later from Koloff.

This week’s guest on STICK TO WRESTLING was present at Madison Square Garden for both these historic occasions, and many more. Making his first appearance on the show is the legendary John Jance!

We also discuss:

–What is was like for John Jance being at Madison Square Garden the night Bob Backlund won the title from Superstar Billy Graham.

— John Jance’s recollections of seeing the Bruno Sammartino vs Pedro Morales match at Shea Stadium in 1972.

–The story of how John Jance discovered that Hulk Hogan was coming to the WWF.

–Who John Jance would have preferred seeing as champion instead of Pedro Morales.

–Where John Jance was during the 1976 Shea Stadium show. He wasn’t there, but he has a cool story anyway.

–Where John Jance was getting his wrestling news in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. He had a far better source than the Apter Mags.

Plus Johnny Mac very briefly reacts to the happenings on January 6th (this was recorded a few days later) so what are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO this wicked good bad boy!

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 134: The WWF MVPs, Part One

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Steve Generalli, a knowledgeable longtime WWF fan. In the first segment of a two part series, we talk about the Most Valuable Players of the Bob Backlund era, year by year. We cover:

–Bob Backlund, and how he was a huge success as Bruno Sammartino’s successor.

–Bruno Sammartino, as he disappears when Backlund wins the title and re-appears when the time is right.

–Ivan Koloff, and why he was so valuable as a challenger.

–Peter Maivia, and the turn that made him a main eventer.

–Greg Valentine, and how his first WWWF run made both he and Bob Backlund bigger stars.

–Pat Patterson, and how his four match series vs Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden was so brilliantly booked.

Steve and I give you the top five on our WWF MVP ballot for 1978, 1979, and 1980, so what are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO this wicked good bad boy!

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 131: Pat Patterson’s WWF Run

The week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Ron Lemieux! It’s a wicked good hour as we talk about the late, great Pat Patterson and what it was like to see him in the WWF. We discuss:

–The brilliant booking where Patterson won the North American title from Ted Dibiase, and how he then deployed that same strategy in his attempt to win the WWF title from Bob Backlund.

–The angle that turned Patterson babyface, where the Grand Wizard literally tried to sell Pat to Captain Lou Albano.

–Pat becoming a part time wrestler and a full time announcer.

–How his legendary feud with Sgt. Slaughter started with a slow burn and eventually exploded, ending with his series of Alley Fights with Slaughter. These were some of the best matches in WWF history and still hold up today.

–Patterson’s subsequent feuds with Angelo Mosca and Ivan Koloff.

–His slide into full time retirement as a wrestler, but remaining one of the most important people in the business.

Plus Ron refers to Angelo Mosca as a “big galoot”, AND we talk about the best and worst Red Sox free agent signings of all time, so what are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO this wicked good bad boy!

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawbone podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 117: Artificial Charisma

This week Steve Generalli returns to Stick To Wrestling and we talk the year of 1979 in the WWWF, which became the WWF that year. We dig into:

–Victor Rivera returning as a heel.

–The return of Bulldog Brower after a “team of doctors” declared him stable enough to compete.

–Greg Valentine’s debut, and him introducing the figure four leglock to the Northeast and breaking Cheif Jay Strongbow’s leg with it.

–The oddball pushes given to Roddy Piper and Bad News Allen Coage.

–The Valiants adding a third brother to the mix.

–A preliminary guy named Bob Fulton who would go onto big things.

And much, much more! Plus Johnny Mac goes on a non-wrestling related rant, so what are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO this wicked good bad boy!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 90: Minority And Unpopular Opinions

This episode will remind you of the classic film “Full Metal Jacket”, which felt like two separate movies.

The first half of this episode is the second part of our talk with Bob Parsons, where we touch upon:

–Could JCP have been saved by getting a booker other than Dusty Rhodes?

–Who have we been around that has the greatest mind for wrestling?

–What’s the one match do we wish were available on video?

–What if Southwest Championship Wrestling remained on USA Network?

–How small can a wrestler be while being taken seriously?

Then popular guest Brandon Hefner joins Stick To Wrestling, where we talk about the Mid-South Wrestling episode from April 2, 1981 that was recently uploaded to YouTube. We talk Don Diamond, Jim Wilson, Junkyard Dog, Mid-South’s top-flight undercard talent, the Ernie Ladd and Leroy Brown tag team, Ashura Hara, loaded boot gimmicks, state titles, Frank Dusek, Kelly Kiniski, the end of the masked wrestler era, the unmasking of The 1981 Black Demon, Jimmy Garvin’s size differential vs Leroy Brown, Bill Watts as a commentator, and Erik Watts big decision.

Plus Bob Geigel gets lots of love, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this WICKED GOOD bad boy!

STICK TO WRESTLING, give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed we’ll give you a RAWBONE podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 85: Bruno Sammartino; Human Lawn Dart

This week’s Stick To Wrestling centers around the August 7, 1976 WWWF show from Madison Square Garden. We discuss:

–The reaction toward Stan Hansen after he broke Bruno’s neck.

–Vince McMahon’s as a straightforward 1970’s announcer.

–Why Bob Backlund was selected as the heir to Bruno Sammartino’s throne.

–A young Bruiser Brody’s obvious and immense potential

–Why state athletic commissions STINK.

–The great finish to the Bruno Sammartino vs Stan Hansen cage match.

–Was the year of 1976 the apex of WWWF wrestling in the 1970’s?

–The roles of guys like Johnny Rodz, S.D. Jones, Kevin Sullivan, Johnny Rivera, etc.

–How obvious it was that The Executioners were Killer Kowalski and Chuck O’Connor.

Plus Johnny Mac shares a silly and forgotten Stan Hansen angle. What are you waiting for? Download and listen to the WICKED GOOD BAD BOY.

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes, and perhaps indeed we will give you a RAWBONE podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 84: Way More Than Just “The Rock’s Dad”

This week Stick To Wrestling is joined by Mike Sempervive! We take questions from the Stick To Wrestling Universe and discuss the following:

–Angles that made us angry or sad.

–The wrestlers that had the best chance of replacing Junkyard Dog in Mid-South.

–The best and worst venues where we’ve seen wrestling.

–The women wrestlers from the 70’s and 80’s who could have made it today.

–Jerry Jarrett’s reputation as a payoff man.

Plus we take time to reflect on the career of Rocky Johnson, who was a main eventer in Florida, Georgia, Memphis, Houston, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Portland, plus we talk about his WWF feuds with Roddy Piper and Magnificent Muraco.

Plus we discuss how Stick To Wrestling is the Swede Hanson of Podcasts. What are you waiting for, DOWNLOAD THIS WICKED GOOD BAD BOY!

Stick To Wrestling, give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we will give you a RAWBONE podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Episode 79: Inspirational Wrestler Of The Year

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by popular guest Thomas Bane as we present Part Two of our look back at the 1979 “Apter Mags” awards as published in the Spring 1980 Sports Review Wrestling magazine. This was the last year before the awards were permanently moved to Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

–Did they get it right by naming Greg Valentine as Most Hated Wrestler?
–Comeback Wrestler of the Year did not yet exist, but who would have gotten it?
–Who was the Most Improved Wrestler by Apter Mag standards?
–How did a guy who finished third in the Rookie of the Year balloting in 1977 actually win it in 1979?
–Arnold Skaaland as Manager of the Year? If you say so.
–Of course, we take Inspirational Wrestler of the Year as seriously as one can.

There’s more as we reflect on the career of Junkyard Dog, and we take a look at Starrcade ’89. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

STICK TO WRESTLING- give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed we’ll give you a WICKED GOOD podcast every week!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Episode 74: Nat Loubet says you can leave The Ring magazines laying around

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin review the February 1982 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated!

–Was Bob Backlund’s WWF title actually saved by the referees?
–Ken Patera, Man on the Run…FROM HIMSELF.
–We talk about “The Hotseat”, a regular interview feature in the Apter Mags.
–How the magazines had to cover their tracks after Mr. Wrestling II’s scheduled but aborted turn.
–We discuss how the Apter Magazines and the promotions worked to a mutual benefit.
–Steve Farhood analyzes Dusty Rhodes’ emotional state by the food he orders in a restaurant.
–Did Vince McMahon ever making overtures toward hiring Bill Apter?
–We talk about Dan Shocket’s heel turn.
–In the 70’s Bruno Sammartino and Mil Mascaras were frequently on the cover of the magazines, and we discuss why.
–The NWA discusses the “lax violation of it’s rules”.
–Masked Superstar, SUSPENDED!
–Which of the Apter Mag writers were real, and which were fictional?
–And then there’s the advertisements in these magazines. Hoo boy. Plus Johnny Mac discusses his sordid history as a youngster with fake Ids.

What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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