Tag Archives: Classic Wrestling

Episode 244: Big, Green, and Ugly

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING John and Steve are joined by  returning guest Jon Boucher, and we discuss the goings on in the WWF during the Winter of 1983. All three member on the panel grew up in the Northeast during this era, so they have a lot to share.

–Bob Backlund gets a replacement championship belt after Superstar Billy Graham destroyed the old one. .
–Big John Studd’s bodyslam challenge continues, but with more worthy challengers.
–Magnificent Muraco regains the IC title and is positioned for another big run in the territory.
–Related, Pedro Morales will soon be gone. He had a memorable run as the WWF’s Number Two babyface, but he’s nearing the end.
–The Strongbows vs Fuji and Saito series keeps dragging along.
–Ivan Koloff returns to the place where he was once world champion after a long absence.

Plus there’s classic audio and we tackle the question of how world champions rebound after losing the title, 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 243: They Aged Like Sushi

This week STICK TO WRESTLING takes a look at the Issue of Inside Wrestling dated February 1983! Listen to this conversation and you will hear our comments on:

–The pros and cons of the old wrestling magazines. There were plenty of cons.
–Barbed Wire Matches: Those sure looked like fun in the magazines!
–Jimmy Snuka writes a letter to the fans!
–Babyface columnists and heel columnists.
–The absurdity of the “Hot Seat” interviews.
–The fun but absurd “Matt Brock” character.

Plus Johnny Mac talks about procuring fake IDs in the 80’s and being very smart about it, 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 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 240: We Want Wrestling

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Thomas Bane, and we discuss listeners questions from the year of 1998 in pro wrestling! On the docket:

–1998 was the year of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Did we see his rise coming and did we think he’d be the mega star he became?
–What was the exact moment that we as fans sensed that the tide had turned in the Monday Night War, and it appeared that the WWF was going to come out on top?
–After Wrestlemania, Mick Foley turned heel and challenged Stone Cold for the title as Austin’s first program. Was heel Dude Love the correct choice?
–If Steve Williams had not been injured in the Brawl For All, would his scheduled feud with Steve Austin be a memorable one that we would still be talking about today?
–In January 1998, Nitro became the first show to go to 3 hours. Is that too long for a wrestling program?
–Who should have broken Goldberg’s winning streak?

Plus Johnny Mac shares his favorite Hulk Hogan story, 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 239: Uncool Horsemen

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we take questions from our listeners on the year that was 1993. How did thirty years go by so quickly? Among the questions we answered:

–Monday Night RAW debuted in 1993. Is this the most important show in wrestling history?
–Was Ric Flair’s return to WCW a step back for the company?
–Was Hulk Hogan’s return at Wrestlemania 9 booked correctly, or for the benefit of Hogan’s ego?
–What one available wrestler would have most benefitted Smoky Mountain Wrestling?
–Was the addition of Paul Roma the thing that finally made the Four Hosemen seem uncool?
–Should Ric Flair’s return to WCW been used as an opportunity to elevate Barry Windham?

Plus we discuss the insane alternative universe where Dusty Rhodes is the top star of Smoky Mountain Wrestling, 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 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by longtime Portland Wrestling fan and popular returning guest Frank Culbertson as we discuss and review Portland Wrestling from 1982! We discuss:

–Rocky Johnson apparently leaving without notice for the WWF.
–Brett Sawyer gets his first major push as PNW champion.
–Buddy Rose has a run in the WWF and Rip Oliver replaces him as the new lead heel.
–Longtime announcer Frank Bonnema passes.
–Billy Jack debuts and has “future superstar” written all over him.
–Ric Flair makes his first run ever in the territory as NWA champion.

This is the final STICK TO WRESTLING of 2022, 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 237: Kerry’s Number One

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest host Chris Tabar as we celebrate the Fortieth Anniversary of the 1982 WCCW Star Wars Christmas Night show at Renion Arena in Dalas, with Ric Flair defending the NWA title in a Cage Match against Kerry Von Erich in the main event. This truly was an epic and historic night of wrestling, and we review it for you!

–Buddy Roberts is “stuck at the airport in Denver” leaving The Freebirds’ Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy at a disadvantage, but David Von Erich saves the day.
–The show featured a Pole Battle Royal Match, with a surprise winner.
–The Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich match had the ultimate “big fight” feel, and we tell you about it.
–Michael Hayes is the special referee for this match,and he brings Terry Gordy to guard the cage door. Kerry is surrounded by allies! What could possibly go wrong?
–Bill Mercer describer Michael Hayes’ refereeing as “amatuerish”. That’s certainly one way of putting it.
–We analyze the Flair vs Kerry match itself, and it’s truly one for the ages in every respect: storytelling, action, and the reaction from the fans at the end. When all was said and done this promotion had a blindingly bright 1983 ahead of it.

Plus we have lots of audio for review and educational purposes AND we go far longer than usual, 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 236: Disco Robin Hood Suit

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Super Producer and popular returning guest Lou Kipilman as we take mailbag questions on the year of 1982! On the discussion docket:

–Who was pro wrestling’s MVP in 1982?
–What was our favorite matches of 1982?
–Was the Jerry Lawler / Andy Kaufman feud the most powerful of the year?
–Why was the “circus called the WWF” so accepted in the Northeast?
–What promotion had the best year?
–Who was the best manager of 1982?

Plus we take shots at Bob Backlund’s highly questionable 1984 fashion choices, 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 235: Cadillac Station Wagons

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we discuss to goings on in World Class Championship Wrestling from the Fall of 1982!

–Kerry Von Erich’s ascent to national superstardom is almost complete.
–The Freebirds have arrived as babyfaces, and the territory is about to explode.
–David Von Erich is back home after his run in Florida.
–There are superstar babyfaces up and down the roster, but the heel side is rather thin. This situation will soon correct itself.
–Bugsy McGraw’s “Three Stooges” character is not paying dividends.
–Can Fritz Von Erich prove that Ric Flair had a bounty out on Kerry Von Erich?

Plus there’s pleny of great classic audio on this episode, 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 233: Buddy’s Uncomfortable Kisses

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by popular returning guest Chris Berg as we talk wrestling events from Thanksgiving, 1982! On this week’s pod:

–The final Greensboro Thanksgiving show that is not called “Starrcade”.
–The annual tag team tournament at the Atlanta Omni, with a surprise winner.
–The saga of Bruce Walkup.
–A rare WWF Thanksgiving show at a major arena on this holiday.
–Jimmy Valiant’s other bad, endless feud.
–Kevin Sullivan’s heel turn in Florida.

Plus we share an uncomfortable stories about what’s written on Ali Hassan’s trunks and Boris Zurkov’s post-wrestling career, 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