Tag Archives: Wrestling

Podcast

Episode 373: Act Like You’ve Seen One Before

This week on Stick to Wrestling we’re turning the clock back to August 1985, and business is booming.

—Andre the Giant in Trouble! The “Eighth Wonder of the World” is heavier than ever, and the strain is showing. Once untouchable, Andre is now fighting a battle not just in the ring, but with his own body as he’s clearly encountering difficulty just getting around. Has the Giant’s time finally caught up with him?
—Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy – Collision Course! Two of the biggest forces in the WWF are on a direct path toward each other. Given what the WWF was selling at the time this really was a dream match to many fans.
—The Rise of “Macho Man” Randy Savage! He’s brash, he’s unpredictable, and in one unforgettable moment, he shocks the wrestling world by choosing a complete unknown to guide his career…a woman who will soon become one of the most famous names in the sport.
—Piper’s Pit: The Decline of a Legend? Once the most must-see segment in wrestling, we look at why Hot Rod’s talk segment is losing steam.
—The Bundy–Heenan–Studd Alliance! Bundy makes it official, joining forces with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Big John Studd, then making a statement with a savage attack on Andre the Giant.
—Corporal Kirchner: Not Sgt. Slaughter’s Second Coming! The comparisons are there, but we set the record straight on why Kirchner is a different soldier altogether.

Plus, we’ve got rare and classic audio including the unforgettable segment where Randy Savage introduces his new manager to the world, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Podcast

Episode 372: Jarred By Gene

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we review the WWF during the month of 1985! We talk Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, Bobby Heenan, Corporal Kirchner, Big John Studd, Ricky Steamboat, Terry Funk, Andre the Giant, Barry Windham, Jimmy Hart, Magnificent Muraco, Captain Lou Albano, Greg Valentine, The Hart Foundation, Nikolai Volkoff, Junkyard Dog, Tito Santana, Mr. Fuji, Brutus Beefcake, Mike Rotundo, Uncle Elmer, British Bulldogs, Bob Orton Jr, Missing Link, George Wells, Gene Okerlund, Iron Sheik, George Steele, Killer Bees, Adrian Adonis, Hillbilly Jim, and more!

Plus there’s lots of great, rare audio and we solve the mystery of the “other” Doug Gilbert, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Podcast

Episode 370: We Expected Him To Kick Out

Hulk Hogan passed away on July 24, 2025. On that day, the Stick To Wrestling podcast was fortunate to quickly assemble a special tribute episode honoring The Hulkster.

We were lucky to be joined by a great group of guests who shared their stories, memories, and thoughts about what Hulk Hogan meant to them, and to the world of wrestling.

We hope you enjoy this heartfelt tribute to one of professional wrestling’s most iconic figures.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Episode 369: Bumblebee

This week on a special edition of STICK TO WRESTLING we revist the WWWF from 1978 with rare audio featuring Bob Backlund, Dusty Rhodes, Superstar Billy Graham, Mil Mascaras, Ivan Koloff, Captain Lou Albano, Ken Patera, Peter Maivia, Gorilla Monsoon, Tony Garea, Fred Blassie, Dino Bravo, Grand Wizard, and more!

This vintage footage can’t be heard anywhere else, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

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Podcast

Episode 368: I Can Be Macho Man?

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING, we dive headfirst into the madness that was WWF in July 1985. Expect high drama, hot crowds, and some fast-paced booking. On the card:

— Randy Savage makes his WWF debut and immediately proves he’s not just some flashy gear and Slim Jim energy: the man radiates future legend.
— The Roddy Piper vs. Paul Orndorff feud heats up faster than a Waffle House griddle, and Bobby Heenan shows up with a gas can and a maniacal grin.
— Tito Santana wins back the Intercontinental Title from Greg Valentine, who responds like any sore loser would: by teasing an unhinged spiral.
— The Ricky Steamboat vs. Magnificent Muraco feud kicks off with Steamboat taking a broken chair to the back, because nothing says “here comes a red-hot feud” like a wood shampoo.
— Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo reclaim the WWF tag titles, but let’s be honest: were they already sliding down the card faster than you can say “U.S. Express”?
— Adrian Adonis returns wearing black leather and using a finisher so confusing it might qualify as performance art.

PLUS, Johnny Mac breaks down the worst night in pro wrestling history (it’s not the Heroes of Wrestling pay per view, but it could have been its spiritual ancestor), 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Podcast

Episode 367: Rubber Chicken

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING, we party like it’s 1985 — because it is the 40th anniversary of the original Great American Bash! We break it down like Dusty Rhodes booking a scaffold match:

— Nikita Koloff was barely out of wrestling school. But thanks to Ric Flair he looked like a monster who’d been wrecking babyfaces since the Nixon administration.
— Buddy Landel had the talent, the timing, and a baby-girl pink robe that screamed “I’m better than Flair and I know it”.
— Around this time Arn Anderson ditched the beige and became must-see TV.
— Jim Crockett Promotions had a loaded card…and no national distribution. This show screamed closed-circuit, but Crockett missed the bus.
— Paul Jones: legend in the ring, meh as a manager. We revisit his heel turn in 1979 and ask the tough question: who would want his “army” on an actual battlefield?
— Magnum T.A. had one job: apply the belly-to-belly suplex to Kamala. But could he actually execute the move to this giant of a man? The suspense was real, and JCP actually nailed the buildup.

Plus Johnny Mac shares his tragic tale of not attending this legendary show- all that was missing was bad directions from a random North Carolina gas station attendant- 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Podcast

Episode 365: Just Put On The Tie-Dye

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Max Levy, who is known as the legendary “Tamalie” by the online wrestling community! We take questions from the STW Universe, including:

–Who were Bob Backlund’s missing challengers?
–Why did it take so long for women’s wrestling to get more spotlight?
–What might have become of Stan Lane had he not been selected to join the Midnight Express? –Did the stars treat the jobbers well?
–When Ken Patera was released from prison in 1987, should the WWF have given him a “Nailz” type gimmick?
–Did you ever want to become a professional wrestler?

Plus we take more shots at ChatGPT’s inaccuracies, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Podcast

Episode 364: Ushering In The Great Tag Team Era

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING it’s Part Two of our deep dive into the WWF of forty years ago, June 1985! We talk Hulk Hogan, Bobby Heenan, Jesse Ventura, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, Bruno Sammartino, The Hart Foundation, Ken Patera, Fred Blassie, Jimmy Snuka, Paul Orndorff, Greg Valentine, Wendi Richter, Bob Orton Jr, Tito Santana, Brutus Beefcake, Magnificent Muraco, Nikolai Volkoff, King Kong Bundy, Barry Windham, Junkyard Dog, Captain Lou Albano, Jim Brunzell, Iron Sheik, The British Bulldogs, Ricky Steamboat, Big John Studd, Mike Rotondo, George Steele, Brian Blair, Lanny Poffo, Johnny V, Tony Atlas, Barry O, Johnny Rodz, and more!

Plus there’s lots of great rare audio of local promos from the top WWF stars, 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 rawboned weekly classic pro wrestling podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Podcast

Episode 358: Bald For Life

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING, we take a bodyslam back in time to the May 5, 1985 edition of World Class Championship Wrestling’s Parade of Champions! Strap in, folks — it’s hotter than Fritz Von Erich’s temper on July day in Texas. We dive into:

–Ric Flair vs. Kevin Von Erich for the NWA World Title! Would another Flair vs Kerry Von Erich rematch have been a better idea? Did we get the wrong Von Erich? Did Kerry’s dog die again? (Just kidding. You know better.)
–The match and payoff that caused Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express to peace out faster than you can say “tennis racquet”.
–“Son, you’re gonna kill him.” The NWA champ gets buried again in a World Class ring, and not in a subtle “he’ll bounce back” kind of way.
–An end of an era. We didn’t know it then, but this was one of the final times the NWA title would be defended in World Class.
–“Muh cur!” Kevin Von Erich’s new $25,000 vehicle gets “destroyed”.
–World Class is still bringing the thunder, drawing over 26,000 fans for this event. You’ll never guess how many fans the WWF drew in Dallas just four days earlier.

PLUS: Johnny Mac reveals his totally healthy, not-at-all-concerning video game habits, so what are you waiting for? Smash that play button with a steel chair shot and get ready for another classic pro wrestling deep-dive!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes, and perhaps indeed we’ll give you a wicked good, suplex-to-the-soul podcast that pulls zero punches (unless, of course, it’s a worked shoot).

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Podcast

Episode 357: Verne Was Great, Vince Was…

This week on Stick to Wrestling, we dive deep into the AWA with special guest and AWA aficionado Brad Breitzman! We’re asking the tough questions:

–Could Hulk Hogan realistically have stayed in the AWA?
–What about the Road Warriors—was there ever a chance they’d stick around?
–How over was Otto Wanz during his run as AWA Champion?
–Should Ken Patera have gotten a shot at the top? If so, when?
–Was it smart to use Jumbo Tsuruta as a transitional champ?
–What would Rick Martel and Tito Santana have looked like as AWA Tag Team Champions?
–How should we feel about The Crusher and Baron Von Raschke winning the belts in 1984?

Plus, Johnny Mac unleashes a ton of thoughts on how the AWA could’ve survived into the 1990’s so what are you waiting for? Hit play and get ready for another wicked good classic wrestling deep-dive!

STICK TO WRESTLING: Give us sixty minutes, and we’ll give you a wicked good and rawboned wrestling podcast that pulls no punches.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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