Tag Archives: 1980’s

Podcast

Episode 370: We Expected Him To Kick Out

Hulk Hogan passed away on July 24, 2025. On that day, the Stick To Wrestling podcast was fortunate to quickly assemble a special tribute episode honoring The Hulkster.

We were lucky to be joined by a great group of guests who shared their stories, memories, and thoughts about what Hulk Hogan meant to them, and to the world of wrestling.

We hope you enjoy this heartfelt tribute to one of professional wrestling’s most iconic figures.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 369: Bumblebee

This week on a special edition of STICK TO WRESTLING we revist the WWWF from 1978 with rare audio featuring Bob Backlund, Dusty Rhodes, Superstar Billy Graham, Mil Mascaras, Ivan Koloff, Captain Lou Albano, Ken Patera, Peter Maivia, Gorilla Monsoon, Tony Garea, Fred Blassie, Dino Bravo, Grand Wizard, and more!

This vintage footage can’t be heard anywhere else, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Podcast

Episode 367: Rubber Chicken

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING, we party like it’s 1985 — because it is the 40th anniversary of the original Great American Bash! We break it down like Dusty Rhodes booking a scaffold match:

— Nikita Koloff was barely out of wrestling school. But thanks to Ric Flair he looked like a monster who’d been wrecking babyfaces since the Nixon administration.
— Buddy Landel had the talent, the timing, and a baby-girl pink robe that screamed “I’m better than Flair and I know it”.
— Around this time Arn Anderson ditched the beige and became must-see TV.
— Jim Crockett Promotions had a loaded card…and no national distribution. This show screamed closed-circuit, but Crockett missed the bus.
— Paul Jones: legend in the ring, meh as a manager. We revisit his heel turn in 1979 and ask the tough question: who would want his “army” on an actual battlefield?
— Magnum T.A. had one job: apply the belly-to-belly suplex to Kamala. But could he actually execute the move to this giant of a man? The suspense was real, and JCP actually nailed the buildup.

Plus Johnny Mac shares his tragic tale of not attending this legendary show- all that was missing was bad directions from a random North Carolina gas station attendant- 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Podcast

Episode 366: 1985 Wrestler Of The Year

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Episode 365: Just Put On The Tie-Dye

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Max Levy, who is known as the legendary “Tamalie” by the online wrestling community! We take questions from the STW Universe, including:

–Who were Bob Backlund’s missing challengers?
–Why did it take so long for women’s wrestling to get more spotlight?
–What might have become of Stan Lane had he not been selected to join the Midnight Express? –Did the stars treat the jobbers well?
–When Ken Patera was released from prison in 1987, should the WWF have given him a “Nailz” type gimmick?
–Did you ever want to become a professional wrestler?

Plus we take more shots at ChatGPT’s inaccuracies, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling 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 364: Ushering In The Great Tag Team Era

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING it’s Part Two of our deep dive into the WWF of forty years ago, June 1985! We talk Hulk Hogan, Bobby Heenan, Jesse Ventura, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, Bruno Sammartino, The Hart Foundation, Ken Patera, Fred Blassie, Jimmy Snuka, Paul Orndorff, Greg Valentine, Wendi Richter, Bob Orton Jr, Tito Santana, Brutus Beefcake, Magnificent Muraco, Nikolai Volkoff, King Kong Bundy, Barry Windham, Junkyard Dog, Captain Lou Albano, Jim Brunzell, Iron Sheik, The British Bulldogs, Ricky Steamboat, Big John Studd, Mike Rotondo, George Steele, Brian Blair, Lanny Poffo, Johnny V, Tony Atlas, Barry O, Johnny Rodz, and more!

Plus there’s lots of great rare audio of local promos from the top WWF stars, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling 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 363: Normal People In Boston

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING, we turn the clock back forty years to June 1985 and dive deep into the WWF of that era. On the table for discussion:

–After nearly two decades in the WWWF, Johnny Rodz says farewell.
–Ken Patera is sentenced to thirty months in prison and seems genuinely blindsided.
–What really caused Roddy Piper’s sudden, weeks-long disappearance?
–He’s not on TV just yet, but Randy Savage has officially arrived in the WWF.
–Jimmy Snuka and the WWF part ways after three chaotic years.
–Jesse “The Body” Ventura debuts his “Body Shop” talk segment.

PLUS: Rare audio from this era that you won’t hear anywhere else, 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 rawboned, weekly classic pro wrestling 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 362: Events That Don’t Exist

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we put ChatGPT to the test! First, we asked it to book an NWA Supercard for June 8, 1985, at the Philadelphia Civic Center. Then, we had it counter with a rival WWF Supercard in the same city on the same night. The results? Let’s just say things got interesting.

On the discussion table:
–ChatGPT has its strengths, but we’re here to point out a few of its glaring weaknesses.
–Why Johnny Mac rejected Terry Funk as Ric Flair’s challenger for the NWA Title, and also said “no thanks” to Randy Savage challenging Hulk Hogan for the WWF strap.
–The computer booked a wild, bloody match that would have had the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission clutching their pearls.
–Credit where it’s due: ChatGPT booked a fantastic main event for the WWF card.
–The A.I. booker was insistent on featuring a match between two grizzled veterans and we’ll reveal who. –
-Magnificent Muraco’s got a rough night ahead. We’ll tell you who he’s facing.

Plus Johnny Mac whines about his upcoming 60th Birthday, so what 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Podcast

Episode 361: Memorial Day Mayhem

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we review the results of multiple shows that took place on Memorial Day weekend, 1985!

–Ric Flair has a surprising challenger in a surprising place on this weekend. He also has an odd tag team partner.
–The Mid-Atlantic territory is keeping it’s crew busy, while World Class Championship Wrestling and Mid-South Wrestling exchange some talent.
–You’ll never guess who is in the main event at the Memphis Mid-South Coliseum.
–The AWA runs a big card that is hampered by some no-shows.
–Randy Savage is finishing up his run in Memphis, and you might be amazed about who he does the honors for on his way out.
–Canada may not recognize Memorial Day, but there’s a big show in Montreal regardless.

Plus we spend far too much time discussing Buzz “The Avalanche” Tyler, so what 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Podcast

Episode 359: Pull Someone Else Over

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take a deep dive into the WWF of forty years ago, May 1985! We talk Hulk Hogan, Bobby Heenan, Magnificent Muraco, Roddy Piper, The Hart Foundation, Wendi Richter, Randy Savage, Andre The Giant, Fred Blassie, Jesse Ventura, Barry Windham & Mike Rotondo, Ricky Steamboat, Big John Studd, Greg Valentine, Mad Maxine, Paul Orndorff, Rocky Johnson, Iron Sheik, Jimmy Snuka, Gene Okerlund, Jimmy Hart, Fabulous Moolah, Junkyard Dog, The British Bulldogs, Brutus Beefcake, Bob Orton Jr, Captain Lou Albano, Tito Santana, Mr. Fuji, Pedro Morales, Ken Patera, Nikolai Volkoff, Tony Atlas, The Missing Link, Dr. Jerry Graham, and more!

Plus there’s rare audio, discussion of “sold” wrestling shows, and Oprah Winfrey talk, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good podcast today!

STICK TO WRESTLING…give us sixty minutes (well, more than that this week) and perhaps indeed we’ll give you a rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS