Tag Archives: John McAdam

Podcast

Episode 66: The Day I Had To Bury My Dog

This week Stick To Wrestling is co-hosted by John McAdam and David Bixenspan as we continue STW’s Summer Series (Summer doesn’t end until September 20th, kids), and this is Part Two of our discussion of The Summer of 1984 in wrestling where we cover the following promotions and what was going on in them:

MID-SOUTH: Junkyard Dog jumps to the WWF and gets a brutal burial on television by Bill Watts.

FLORIDA: Dusty Rhodes exits and takes some friends with him but not before one last grandstand, pinning Ric Flair at the Lords Of The Ring in the Orange Bowl.

AWA: Rick Martel wins AWA title in May, mostly defending vs Nick Bockwinkel. Crusher & Baron Von Rashke win tag titles in May, Road Warriors come in and win them in August. The final days of the Bobby Heenan era.

GEORGIA: Nuked by Black Saturday, but still in the game with the Ted Dibiase vs Ron Garvin feud on top. They were using guys like Ole Anderson, Brad Armstrong, and Bob Roop in main events.

MEMPHIS: The New Fabulous Ones are here, but the Original Fabs are back as well. That’s OK, Eddie Gilbert would soon turn.

And more! Give Stick To Wrestling sixty minutes and we’ll give you a WICKED GOOD podcast every week.

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

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Podcast

Episode 65: Schmoolah

This week Stick To Wrestling is co-hosted by John McAdam and David Bixenspan as we continue STW’s Summer Series (Summer doesn’t end until September 20th, kids) where we discuss The Summer of 1984 in wrestling. This week’s topics:

–The Brawl To End It All, and Wendi Richter getting a megapush.
–Roddy Piper feuds with Jimmy Snuka after the infamous “Piper’s Pit” beatdown.
–Bob Backlund leaves the WWF with barely a whimper. –Vince McMahon is signing anyone with a pulse, which didn’t work for everyone.
–Dusty leaves Florida and comes to Mid-Atlantic as booker. Really, in hindsight this was a giant story.
–Tully Blanchard goes from being a big fish in a small pond to one of the top stars in the Carolinas.
–Dusty shows his brilliance when he creates a character named Nikita Koloff.
–Gino Hernandez takes a year off from wrestling and returns to enjoy the greatest run in his career.
–Freebirds are tweeners feuding with Akbar’s guys, but are on their way out. For now.
–Chris Adams is now managed by Gary Hart.
–Mike Von Erich wins the American title. Yakkedy Sax should have been playing in the background.

And more! Give Stick To Wrestling sixty minutes and we’ll give you a WICKED GOOD podcast every week.

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

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Podcast

Episode 64: We’re So Sorry, Uncle Delbert

This week on Stick To Wrestling, our Summer Series continues as John McAdam and Sean Goodwin talk about the NWA’s 1986 Great American Bash Tour!  We discuss:

–The wisdom of booking the tour in football stadiums.
–Country music, and the fans’ reaction to it.
–Did the NWA have too many championships?
–How incredibly OVER the Rock & Roll Express were…for now.
–Road Warrior Hawk as a singles wrester challenging Ric Flair.
–The Magnum T.A. vs Nikita feud, and the “Best Of Seven Series” for the U.S. title.
–How we would have booked the tour and subsequently, Starrcade ’86.
And more, plus there’s a story about Johnny Mac getting attacked by cockroaches at the old Riverfront Stadium. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

STICK TO WRESTLING! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a wicked good podcast every week.

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

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Episode 63: Even With A Broken Arm…

Stick To Wrestling’s Summer Series continues as John McAdam and Sean Good win are joined by Brad Breitzman, and we discuss the territories in the Summer of 1979!

GEORGIA: Bobby Heenan arrives in Georgia and dominates, managing Masked Superstar, Blackjack Lanza, and Killer Karl Kox. Ole Anderson and Ivan Koloff are the lead heels, while Tommy Rich is emerging as a superstar and a contender for the NWA title.

MID-ATLANTIC: Jimmy Snuka turns heel, is managed by the returning Buddy Rogers, and wins the U.S. Title. Ric Flair shockingly turns babyface and is going around the horn teaming with former arch-rival Ricky Steamboat.

FLORIDA: Dusty Rhodes finally wins the NWA title from Harley Race but loses it five days later when Terry Funk appears out of nowhere to “break” Dusty’s arm right before the second title switch. Don’t worry, Booker Dusty makes sure Wrestler Dusty loses via DQ. Manny Fernandez arrives and gets his first big push in a major promotion, whileJim Garvin is also getting a big push as Killer Karl Kox’s protege.

AWA: The highly unusual tag team of Verne Gagne and Mad Dog Vachon are the tag team champions, while Jesse Ventura feuds with Paul Ellering. With Jim Brunzell temporarily off to the Carolinas, Greg Gagne is getting a major singles push as a challenger to Nick Bockwinkel.

MEMPHIS: Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee went around the horn with two brash youngsters named Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy before Lawler turns heel. Also teaming: the sibling duo of Terry and Eddie Boulder, brother!

MID-SOUTH WRESTLING: This promotion was gaining momentum, drawing over 15,000 to the Superdome twice. Bill Watts and Mr. Wrestling II were the lead babyfaces, and superstars such as Andre The Giant and Dusty Rhodes were making special appearances.

There’s more, including a special birthday shoutout. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

STICK TO WRESTLING! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a wicked good podcast every week.

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

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Podcast

Episode 62: Stop Your Sobbing

On this week’s Stick To Wrestling podcast we continue our Summer Series as we take a look at the Summer of 1979 in the WWF as John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by fellow old school WWF fanatic Randy Barrier. On the table this week:

–Pat Patterson wins the North American title, and then “wins” the Intercontinental Title.

–Swede Hanson gets a main event in Madison Square Garden, Pat Patterson gets an unprecedented four match series against Bob Backlund, and Roddy Piper gets the shaft. John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot.

–“Millions Sob As Volkoff Attacks Bruno”. That really was on the cover of “The Wrestler” magazine after Volkoff did exactly that in the Summer of 1979.

–The Greg Valentine vs Chief Jay Strongbow feud, which started with Strongbow writhing in agony with a broken leg at ringside while the matches went on as scheduled with the heels taunting him.

–The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979…but things just weren’t the same. What went wrong?

Plus, Randy provides a firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Strongbow in 1971.

What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! STICK TO WRESTLING! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a wicked good podcast.

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

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Episode 61: No One Was More Respected

The term “legend” often gets tossed around casually, but Harley Race was truly a legend. This week Stick To Wrestling is joined by Brandon Hefner as we pay a 60 minute tribute to one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.

–In early 1986 Harley appeared on WTBS and shot an angle with Magnum T.A. It was his final appearance on WTBS until 1991, and we tell you why. It’s pretty crazy.

–A few months later, in a shocking event, Harley started with the WWF. It seemed like an odd fit, but of course Harley made the most of it.

–There were three towns wrestlers just didn’t miss: New York, St. Louis, and Houston. Harley missed two consecutive Houston shows, fracturing Houston promoter Paul Boesch’s relationship with the NWA. We give the details and a possible explanation.

–We touch upon the Harley Race / Larry Hennig team.

–The first real “world title unification” match was the 1978 Harley Race vs Superstar Billy Graham match from the Orange Bowl in Miami. We share our thoughts on that match and on unification matches in general.

–Starrcade ’83: Why Harley Race was the most logical pick to hold the title for five months to build up one of the biggest shows of all time, and how the show could have fallen apart if not for Harley Race. Also, we discuss how the cracks in the NWA’s foundation were apparent as early as 1983.

–George Gulas gets carried to an excellent 45 minute draw with Harley Race, so Nick Gulas had a nice backstage surprise waiting for Harley…followed by one that wasn’t as nice.

And more! Give STICK TO WRESTLING sixty minutes and we’ll give you a wicked good podcast every week! It’s the best classic wrestling podcast on God’s green Earth!

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

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Episode 60: When Your Spirit Exits Your Physical Body At The Royal Rumble

Stick To Wrestling’s Summer Series continues as John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by Max Levy, aka Tamalie! We discuss pro wrestling’s Summer of 1994, with the main talking points being:

–The Gangstas arrive in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and get a “peace offering” from a certain Stick To Wrestling host.

–The Heavenly Bodies v Thrillseekers match at Night of Legends, one of the bloodiest bouts ever and how what happened that morning completely de-railed The Thrillseekers push.

–The next night in Johnson City where Ricky Morton’s hair was on the line against Tammy Fytch’s. We talk about how the crowd reacted to the screwjob.

–Speaking of screwjobs, how about that NWA title tournament that was held at the ECW arena? We talk about how the NWA title had already outlived it’s usefulness 25 years ago but don’t worry, it’s still around today.

–The unthinkable happens as Hulk Hogan becomes the face of WCW and it’s world champion.

–We have wrestling’s first national brother vs brother feud as Bret Hart and Owen Hart go at it.

–The pure insanity of the storyline that surrounded The Undertaker proves that no, THAT guy didn’t kill pro wrestling. 

Plus John talks about eleven grueling days on the road as part of Smoky Mountain Fan Week in the Summer of 1994. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

STICK TO WRESTLING, the only wicked good wrestling podcast around! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a slice of pro wrestling heaven!

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

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Episode 59: Make A Million Dollars, Just Use The Z-Man Correctly

Stick To Wrestling’s Summer Series continues as John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by Randy Smith. We discuss the NWA’s Summer of 1989, with the main talking points being:

–Why Terry Funk couldn’t win anything but TV squashes before his big PPV bout vs Ric Flair.
–TV did not do the Great American Bash post match brawl with Flair and Sting vs Funk and Muta justice.
–Ricky Steamboat won’t sign that extension? No problem, just have Lex Luger feud with Tommy Rich. Puh-leeze.
–The Varsity Club- it ended too soon.
–The match between Ricky Steamboat and Lex Luger from July 22, 1989 is one of the most talked about non-televised, house show only matches ever. We tell you why.
–They pulled the plug on the talented Eddie Gilbert’s turn and left him without a role.
–The greatness that was the feud between James E. Cornette and Paul E. Dangerously.
–The Great Muta was aptly named.
–Mike Rotondo’s odd transition from a charmless bully to a happy sailor.
–McAdam thinks that if he were booking WCW, he would have made a million dollars with Tom Zenk. He really said that.

Plus, John talks about the special line somewhere between Philadelphia and Baltimore. What are you waiting for- DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

STICK TO WRESTLING, the only wicked good wrestling podcast around! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a slice of pro wrestling heaven!

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

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Episode 58: The Whole Reason I Came Here Was To Get Away From That F…

On this week’s STICK TO WRESTLING John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by Thomas Bane, and we discuss the WWF thirty years ago, in the Summer of 1989. We talk about:

— Zeus, who got three extremely high profile main events despite not even being a wrestler. The locker room was not happy about this.
— Dusty Rhodes, who debuted with the WWF and got over despite being given a terrible gimmick. The locker room was not happy with Dusty’s emergence.
— Terry Taylor, who did not get over with a terrible gimmick.
— Dino Bravo, who supposedly had Jacques and Raymond Rougeau looking over their shoulders. We’ll tell you why.
— Barry Windham, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard, who were all major stars as members of The Four Horsemen in the NWA a year earlier. None were major stars in the WWF.
— Roddy Piper, who returns to the WWF after being courted by the NWA.
— Andre The Giant, who could barely walk but was still wrestling full time.
— Tony Schiavone, who was not good in the WWF.
— Bad News Brown, who could have had a major run as a babyface.
— Jimmy Snuka, who returned to the WWF after a four year hiatus. This was a major shock and a potential liability, braddah.
Plus a pro wrestler scares poor ol’ Johnny Mac half to death in a bathroom. What are you waiting for?

DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! STICK TO WRESTLING! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a WICKED GOOD podcast!

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

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Episode 57: Good Thing Sean Opened The Box Early

Put something in front of John McAdam and Sean Goodwin and they will have an interesting conversation about it. On this show we each open a box sent to us by the fine folks at www.HotBoxCards.net and talk about what’s in there. Topics discussed:

–John meets Dory Funk Jr and his lovely wife Marti.

–He’s always meeting people! The story of John meeting Dutch Mantel at Gordon Scozzari’s ill fated Lowell, MA taping.

–In what way should JCP have used ECW’s model?

–In 1986, Tully Blanchard was the Michael Jordan of being a pro wrestling heel.

–Why he got the nickname “Softball Sid Eudy”.

–Guess who popped big(ger) crowds for his early 1991 run vs Ric Flair?

–Tatanka gets a big push. Outback Jack gets a big push. Let’s not let Vince McMahon go to the movies or watch them on cable any more.

–The top five wrestlers of the 80’s? That question is no longer unanswered.

–Pushing smaller wrestlers at the top of the card.

–Who is the hottest woman in wrestling history?

Plus Johnny Mac finds a CD he’s been searching out for years and he gets a very odd surprise. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY!

STICK TO WRESTLING! Give us sixty minutes and we’ll give you a WICKED GOOD podcast!

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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