Tag Archives: 1981

Episode 242: Revisiting Larryland

There was so much more to discuss regarding the Bruno Sammartino vs Larry Zybysko feud after last week’s well recieved episode, so Steve and John discuss it! This week on STICK TO WRESTLING:

–Larry Zybysko never returned to the WWF after his 1980 run. Larry claims he was blackballed due to demanding more money at the Shea Stadium show, yet he remained booked in the WWF until the beginning of 1981. We break down what we think may have happened.
–Was Vince Sr. actually powerful enough to get Larry completely blackballed from the wrestling business?
–What was Larry Zybysko doing between the end of his 1980 WWF run and the beginning of his 1983 Georgia run?
–There was money to be made if Larry Zybysko returned to the WWF in 1982 or 1983. Couldn’t something have been worked out?
–The WWF seemed to be having more angles starting around this time. Was there a reason for that?
–Was what happened at the end of the Bruno vs Zybysko Shea Stadium match a hint of a new wrinkle in this storyline?

We don’t just discuss Larry Zybysko on this episode, but we do discuss a proposed WWF championship scenario that a WWF wrestler from this era discussed with Johnny Mac 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 rawbone wrestling podcast!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 186: The Best and Worst of 1981

STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by Jeff Bowdren, and we talk about the Best of Wrestling in 1981!

–Who was Wrestler of the Year?

–What was the Best Feud of 1981?

–Who was Best on Interviews?

–Which was the Best Promotion?

–Who was 1981’s Best Babyface and Best Heel?

–What was 1981’s Best Match? I

t’s a special New Year’s Eve edition of the STICK TO WRESTLING podcast, the final edition of 2021, 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 wicked good and rawboned podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 185: You Guys Are Totally Embarrassing Me

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular guest Jeff Bowdren as we discuss the 1981 Year End Awards from Pro Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We discuss the Most Embarrassing. Most Popular, Best Babyface, Best Heel, Biggest Shock, Worst Feuds, and more to commemorate the Year of 1981.

Plus Johnny and Jeff talk about the top SONGS of 1981, 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 wicked good and rawboned podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 177: We Don’t Need You, Fred

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular guest host Jammie Ward, as we discuss what was going on in the WWF forty years ago during the Fall of 1981! We discuss:

–The WWF title being held up in New York State only in an absolutely crazy scenario following a Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine match.

–Bruno Sammartino wrestling in his “retirement” match. He was still active six years later.

–Killer Khan breaks Andre The Giant’s leg…in a Rochester, NY hotel room, apparently.

–Pedro Morales surprisingly regains the Intercontinental Title.

–Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura invade the WWF with Fred Blassie as their manager. Ventura later complained that they didn’t need a manager, hence the episode’s title.

–Both Dusty Rhodes and Mil Mascaras are making appearances, but have limited roles.

Plus Johnny Mac tells you what crazy lengths he went to in order to find out the result of the Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine match, so what are 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 wicked good and rawboned podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 174: The 1981 Year In Review

STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular guest Steve Generelli as we review the year in wrestling that was 1981! We discuss:

–The NWA championship changing hands multiple times, and Ric Flair starting his domination of the title that would last ten years.

–Verne Gagne retires as champion, and Nick Bockwinkel is awarded the AWA title.

–Andre The Giant, the biggest attraction in the sport, has a hotel room accident that leaves him with a broken ankle that put him out of action for months.

–Roddy Piper, The Freebirds, Ken Patera, and Jimmy Snuka all invade Georgia.

–Hulk Hogan debuts in the AWA after he completes filming Rocky III.

–Sgt. Slaughter comes to the Mid-Atlantic area and wins the U.S. Title.

–Sam Muchnick announces his retirement.

Plus there’s bonus content! After an hour of wrestling content we discuss The Sopranos and the film The Many Saints Of Newark, so what are 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 wicked good and rawboned podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 171: Dusty Did Not Sandbag Flair

September 17 is the 40th Anniversary of Ric Flair winning his first NWA title and we celebrate the day by having popular co-host Brandon Hefner return to STICK TO WRESTLING! Among the things we discuss:

–Was the average fan surprised when Flair won?

–Who would have been the alternative choices to having Flair as NWA champion?

–Would Charlotte have been a better choice as the city Flair won the title in?

–Did Eddie Graham and Dusty Rhodes try to undermine Flair’s title reign?

–Which promoters wanted Flair as champion, and which did not?

Plus we talk about Michael Hayes ‘ being announced as appearing at the Boston Garden in 1983 and the place coming unglued, so what are 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 wicked good and rawboned podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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 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 44: Wahoo, Where Are You?

The final segment of John McAdam and Sean Goodwin discussing 1981 WWF and other things with our guest Brandon Hefner! Covered in this convo:

–How the WWF could have booked a 1981 Wrestlemania / Shea Stadium type supershow.
–Why Bob Backlund was SO over at Madison Square Garden.
–Why no Bob Backlund vs Larry Zybysko feud?
–Wrestlers and promoters fibbing to each other.
–Who was the best non-champion in the WWF?
–What if Superstar Billy Graham returns a year earlier, with the tye-dye look instead of Kung Fu Billy?
–And the big question…why was Wahoo McDaniel not a big star in the WWF in the late 60’s?

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

Plus there’s a story about Brandon having a guy offer to sell his drugs during a wrestling show at the Keil Auditorium…when he was ten years old! What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

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

Episode 43: 1981 WWF Meets The Man In The High Castle

This show was a bit of a departure for us, where John and Sean welcome Jammie Ward back as our guest, and we discuss two entirely different subjects: Wrestlemania, and 1981 WWF. On the table:

-How last year’s Wrestlemania gave poor John PTSD.
-What the first Wrestlemania in 1985 was like for all of us.
-The letdown that was Wrestlemania 2.
-There were two big problems with Johnny Mac’s girlfriend watching Wrestlemania 3 with he and his friends. –Jammie’s memories of attending Wrestlemanias Iv and V live.
-Toronto fans are a different breed, Chicago fans are a pain in the ass.
-An alternative universe where Magnificent Muraco wins the WWF title in 1983.
-Seanny expresses joy over the greatness of 1981 Don Muraco.
-Buddy Rose: All-time great worker.
-Jammie’s reaction to the 1981 Bob Backlund vs Greg Valentine match where the WWF title was held up.

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

Plus there are TWO separate “This Is Spinal Tap” references! What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

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