Tag Archives: 1980’s

Episode 150: Addressing That Rumor

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined once again by popular guest Will Rickard, as we pay homage to the card where Tommy Rich winning the NWA forty long years ago. We talk about:

–Tommy Rich held the NWA title for five days, and did not get to appear on WTBS with the actual belt. Was this good for Tommy’s career?

–NWA President Jim Crockett Jr flying back from Japan once he heard of the unexpected switch.

–How did this switch come about? We’ve all listened to different versions, Will and Johnny Mac tell you what they’ve heard.

–We talk about all of the wrestlers that appeared on the card, including Andre The Giant, Ted Dibiase, The Freebirds, Mr. Wrestling II, Mongolian Stomper, Robert Gibson, a young Jim Duggan, and more.

–We address THAT rumor.

Plus Johnny Mac and Will Rickard share memories of their favorite prelim wrestlers growing up, 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

Episode 149: Let’s Discuss A Forty Year Old List

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined once again by popular guest Brad Breitzman, as we discuss a Top 50 list put out by Wrestling World in the Spring of 1981. We talk about:

–Gene Kiniski, who had been in semi-retirement for twelve years, being ranked #43.

–How do you rank a wrestler like Andre The Giant?

–They didn’t include the NWA, WWF, or AWA champions, and Nick Bockwinkel was ranked #1. Was Wrestling World tipped off that Nick was about to regain the AWA title?

–Who was egregiously missing from this top fifty?

–Why is the Pacific Northwest / Portland territory excluded?

Johnny Mac and Brad probably probably put more time discussing this list than the author did creating it, 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

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

Episode 143: The Miraculous Buddy Roberts Comeback

This week STICK TO WRESTLING presents Part Two of our 1980 Wrestling Awards with popular guest Jammie Ward! Discussed on the show:

–We don’t just tell you who 1980 Wrestler of the Year is, we give you a Top Five.

–How Buddy Roberts went from being almost out of the business to becoming one of the Fabulous Freebirds.

–1980 Match of the Year, from both in-ring and box office views. –

-Feud of the Year is pretty obvious…or is it?

–Announcer of the Year, and how hard is to choose between Gordon Solie and Lance Russell.

–Four years after his feud with Ernie Ladd, the WWF finally brings in another titan for Andre The Giant to feud with.

And more, plus Johnny Mac and Jammie both select a “Wrestler of the Year”that wasn’t even in the other one’s top five, 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

Episode 142: He’s Only 54, Why Not Make Him World Champ?

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular guest star Jammie Ward as we present Part One in a two part series discussing the 1980 Year End Awards. Where can you hear discussion about who should have gotten awards for things that happened over forty years ago? Stick To Wrestling, of course! We talk about:

–Who deserved “most underrated” and “most underrated”.

–What was the best promotion in 1980?

–Who was the best on interviews?

–1980 Rookie of the Year; an easy choice.

–Who deserved “Announcer of the Year” in 1980?

–We talk about the best babyfaces and the best heels of 1980.

Plus John recommends the last NXT Takeover show, 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

Episode 140: Buck Zumhoff On A Sandwich

This week Vincent Waller returns as the guest on STICK TO WRESTLING and we answer questions from our listeners! Inquiring minds want to know:

–What happens if Snuka is arrested and charged with the death of Nancy Argentino? How would this impact the WWF and pro wrestling in general?

–What if Mr. T drops out of Wrestlemania after getting attacked by David Schultz at Madison Square Garden? Is the event a success without a big celebrity in the main event and all the media attention?

–What happens if Iron Sheik refuses to cooperate with Hulk Hogan?

–What happens if Ted DiBiase doesn’t go to the WWF and instead ends up with the NWA in 1987? –When did WCW jump the shark?

–What if after winning the WWF Title Andre does not sell to Ted DiBiase?

Plus we talk Boston Sports Guy Bill Simmons and we discuss condiments, 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

Episode 137: The Other Superfly

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by Brandon Hefner as we discuss two cards that happened forty years ago, one Championship Wrestling from Florida show and one Championship Wrestling from Georgia card. Of course the shows themselves are great conversation starters. We discuss:

–How Ted Dibiase, Terry Gordy, Dick Slater, Tony Atlas, and Mike Graham all could have carried the NWA world championship.

–The short term team of Ole Anderson and Assassin #1, two of wrestling’s all time greatest heels.

–How Steve Olsonoski was not exactly Captain Charisma.

–Kevin Sullivan’s brilliant and unexpected heel turn in 1981.

-Why Battle Royals suck and two ring Battle Royals are even worse.

–The subtle hint that foretold Sir Oliver Humperdink’s turn back to being a heel.

Plus we share the story of how Dick Slater beat the snot out of then college and future NFL star John Matuszak, who was six-foot-eight and weighed two hundred eighty pounds. This happened WHEN SLATER WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, 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

Episode 135: The WWF MVPs, Part Two

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

–Captain Lou Albano, and how if managers qualified for the MVP he might have won it in 1982.

–Magnificent Muraco’s arrival in 1981, and how he looked like the next Superstar Billy Graham.

–Pedro Morales becoming the rock-solid number two babyace in the WWF.

–1983 feeling like reruns with tried and true stars like Sgt. Slaughter, Magnificent Muraco, The Samoans, and more coming back.

–Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito being absolute heat machines in the territory.

–How Greg Valentine’s return in 1981 looked like the end for Bob Backlund.

And more, plus Steve and I give you the top five on our WWF MVP ballot for 1981, 1982, and 1983, 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

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

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