Tag Archives: 1980’s

Episode 100: Plastic

This week Stick To Wrestling is joined by Sean Grande, who is not only a lifelong wrestling fan who grew up walking distance from Madison Square Garden, but is also the VOICE OF THE BOSTON CELTICS! Everyone in the Boston area knows who Sean is. We talk:

–The 1981 angle where the WWF title was held up in New York following the Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine match.

–How the Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden shows were both very different and very similar.

–Why we were surprised that Harley Race challenging Bob Backlund in 1980 was a great draw and a poor match.

–Why the Junior Heavyweight Title never got over in the Northeast.

–The wrestlers we felt had a legitimate chance of taking the title from Bob Backlund

Plus Sean Grande and John McAdam share memories of both being at Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. We didn’t Stick To Wrestling the entire time this week, but the podcast somehow WICKED GOOD regardless. What are you waiting for? Download and listen to this bad boy!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll deliver a rawbone podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 96: December, 1983 (Oh, What a Night)

This week on Stick To Wrestling we take a look back at the wrestling events that were held on December 25, 1983. It’s a significant date because it’s the final night of holiday shows before the WWF expanded nationally. We touch upon:

–The decline of Georgia Championship Wrestling and the dreadful Mr. R angle.

–The AWA ran a major show on this night, and their age problems are showing as the main event is a 49 year old Nick Bockwinkel defends against a 54 year old Mad Dog Vachon.

–Mid-Atlantic Wrestling is also having problems, as they continue to run stale programs from Starrcade.

And of course Johnny Mac takes shot after shot on Ole Anderson’s 1983 booking, and Georgia Championship Wrestling’s general lack of quality control, 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

Episode 93: Unstoppable Forces and Immovable Objects

STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by popular guest Brandon Rice! It’s Wrestlemania Season and and we talk Wrestlemania 2 and Wrestlemania 3.

–What were the original Wrestlemania 3 plans for Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham, King Kong Bundy, Jesse Ventura, and Big John Studd?

–Pro Wrestling quickly became a pay per view staple, but it wasn’t always that way. We discuss this.

–Was King Kong Bundy the best opponent for Hulk Hogan, and was Bundy built up correctly and protected? Of course he wasn’t, and we break it all down for you.

–Was it a good idea having Wrestlemania 2 three separate locations, on a Monday night?

–Any truth to the Nikita Koloff / Wrestlemania 2 rumor?

–Who predicted that Wrestlemania 3 would draw only 40,000, and that the Silverdome would look empty?

–Was Savage vs Steamboat the best Wrestlemania match ever?

–Why did the WWF make a custom “Giant” belt for Andre?

–Where were Paul Orndorff, Kamala, Demolition, and Sika on the afternoon of Wrestlemania 3?

Plus Johnny Mac goes out and puts a jinx on our nation and it’s economy, 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 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

Episode 92: What The World Was Watching

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular guest Brandon Rice. It’s Wrestlemania Season, so we talk about the first one, held in 1985. We discuss:

–We talk about David Schultz trying to pick a fight with Mr. T weeks before the show.

–The Hulk Hogan vs Roddy Piper match on MTV that introduced Mr. T into the angle.

–The wave of pre-show appearances by Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, and them hosting Saturday Night Live the night before the show.

–The riot that almost occurred when the Felt Forum oversold over 1,000 tickets.

–What if Wrestlemania was a flop?

–Where and how did we see the first Wrestlemania?

–Had The Freebirds stayed in the WWF, what role might they have played at Wrestlemania?

–Muhammad Ali was heavily hyped as the referee for the main event, but he actually had a very minor role as the ref outside the ring. What happened?

Plus we hype a pool for a tournament that’s not going to happen! 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 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

Episode 91: Candy Factory

This week Stick To Wrestling has Ricardo Coleman as their guest. Rico grew up in New Orleans as a big fan of Mid-South Wrestling and shares some of his first hand knowledge. We discuss:

–The Mr. Wrestling II vs Magnum T.A. Feud, and how it felt like Magnum was in an abusive relationship.

–Junkyard Dog goes for the ride of his life.

–The real life heat between Cowboy Bill Watts and Jake Roberts.

–Why the WWF sent Gino Hernandez home in 1977.

–Pushing The Nightmare as North American champion in 1985.

–All of the wrestlers Mid-South tried to replace Junkyard Dog with.

–Why Butch Reed didn’t get over after his 1984 babyface turn.

Plus we have a frank conversation about the lack of black competitors in the wrestling business compared to other sports, and Johnny Mac goes on a rant over WWE talking really old guys out of retirement, putting them over, and burying the younger guys in the process. 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 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

Episode 89: Just Say “No” To That Gimmick

This week on Stick To Wrestling we finish up our conversation with Beau James, who shares both wrestling and life experiences growing up and living in Greater Appalachia.

Then we welcome Bob Parsons to the pod! Bob has been a wrestling fan since the 1960’s and he shares tremendous insight on the history of the AWA, Central States, Los Angeles, and more!

We take readers questions, we tackle Terry Taylor’s claims of why he had a strained relationship with Dusty Rhodes, and we even save the AWA!

Plus, Johnny Mac talks about having to take a leak while stuck in a car on a wrestling trip, and how that went sideways. What more could one ask for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS WICKED GOOD BAD BOY!

Stick To Wrestling; give us sixty minutes and we will perhaps indeed 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

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

Episode 82: Culture Club

John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are once again joined by popular guest Jeff Bowdren as we continue to review the Wrestling Observer Awards from 1989. Who was the most obnoxous person in wrestling? Who did the best interviews? Who was the most charismatic? Who was the best brawler? Best flying wrestler? Most overrated (overpushed)? Most underrated (underpushed)? Best promotion? Best Television Show?

Also discussed:

–Who did the Observer culture hate more, Dusty Rhodes or the WWF?

–The NWA, and it’s political games.

–Did Gary Hart sabotage The Great Muta?

–Scotty The Body becomes The Raven.

–The WWF sabotaging a NWA PPV.

–Was 1989 a year where Jerry Lawler did something dumb?

What are you waiting for? Download and listen to this WICKED GOOD BAD BOY!

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you, perhaps indeed, a RAWBONE PODCAST!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 81: 1989 Was Thirty Years Ago

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by popular guest Jeff Bowdren as we a look back at the 1989 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards. We talk Wrestler of the Year, Best Feud, Best Heel, and more!
Jeff Bowdren and John McAdam provided much commentary and analysis in the 1989 Observer Yearbook, so who better to provide a review of the awards?
But wait- this is only Part One of this conversation!
Part Two will be released next week. Happy 2020, everyone!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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