Tag Archives: Wrestling

Episode 74: Nat Loubet says you can leave The Ring magazines laying around

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin review the February 1982 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated!

–Was Bob Backlund’s WWF title actually saved by the referees?
–Ken Patera, Man on the Run…FROM HIMSELF.
–We talk about “The Hotseat”, a regular interview feature in the Apter Mags.
–How the magazines had to cover their tracks after Mr. Wrestling II’s scheduled but aborted turn.
–We discuss how the Apter Magazines and the promotions worked to a mutual benefit.
–Steve Farhood analyzes Dusty Rhodes’ emotional state by the food he orders in a restaurant.
–Did Vince McMahon ever making overtures toward hiring Bill Apter?
–We talk about Dan Shocket’s heel turn.
–In the 70’s Bruno Sammartino and Mil Mascaras were frequently on the cover of the magazines, and we discuss why.
–The NWA discusses the “lax violation of it’s rules”.
–Masked Superstar, SUSPENDED!
–Which of the Apter Mag writers were real, and which were fictional?
–And then there’s the advertisements in these magazines. Hoo boy. Plus Johnny Mac discusses his sordid history as a youngster with fake Ids.

What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

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

Episode 73: They’re not booing. They’re saying “DUUUUUUDES”

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by Jammie Ward, and we review Halloween Havoc ’89, thirty years later. Both John and Jammie attended the show and can provide a unique perspective. We discuss:

–The NWA had four consecutive outstanding Pay-per-view events before this one. Could they run the streak to five?
–Who got the biggest pop on this show?
–Should Lex Luger have been in the main event instead of The Great Muta?
–How did The Skyscrapers wind up feuding with the Road Warriors?
–What were our initial thoughts on Brian Pillman?
–What was it like when Doom made their first appearance, having never been on television before?
–Why was the promotion jobbing Jim Cornette and The Midnight Express?
–Can Stick To Wrestling provide a first-hand, full, detailed, moment by moment description of everything, smell of the air, sounds of the fans, as the Dynamic Dudes are announced? Of course we can!

Plus Jammie shares a story about standing on a chair at the show, the chair collapsing while Lex Luger laughed at him and offered no assistance. What are you waiting for, DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

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

Episode 72: Really Big Guys Who Pretend To Fight

This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by Tony Caro, coming to you all the way from Thailand! We do one more week of mailbox questions, featuring:

– Starrcade ’87- if it did well on PPV, how does that change history?

– Pat Patterson was the only wrestler to get four championship matches in one run against Bob Backlund. Who else could have pulled this off?

– It’s 1988. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard remain in the NWA. What happens next with them?

– 90’s indy promotions; which was our favorite?

– Kevin, David, and Kerry Von Erich- how would they have fared if their Dad had not been a promoter?

– The Andersons- who was the best?

– NWA POWERR- what do we think?

– What if Randy Savage went to the AWA instead of Memphis in 1983?

– Junior Heavyweights- why did they not get over in the United States?

Plus we show our contempt for the way WCW booked Bret Hart on the 20th anniversary of him winning the United States title, also known as booking him to fail. What are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

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

Episode 70: The Lance Von Erich Casting Call

This week STICK TO WRESTLING continues it’s October of Inquiries where we answer questions from our listeners! We’re joined by Keith Valentine and we discuss:

–If Ricky Vaughn wasn’t available, who might World Class Championship Wrestling have cast in the Lance Von Erich role?
–The NWA’s disastrous flirtation with Randy Savage in 1989, and the biggest reason why the promotion needed him.
–How did the old WWWF decide which manager to pair with the heels, and what was up with Fred Blassie managing Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, and Adrian Adonis instead of The Grand Wizard?
–What if Sgt. Slaughter didn’t leave the WWF in 1984?
–Who was better: The Assassin or Masked Superstar?
–The upcoming (presumably) Tyson Fury vs Braun Strowman match, and previous boxer vs wrestler showcases.
–What was the deal with Owen Hart’s brief appearance in WCW in 1991?
–How would we have booked the Road Warriors at Starrcade ’85.
–Who would have made a better NWA champion; David Von Erich or Magnum T.A.? Plus we discuss the controversial “Hell in a Cell” finish, the debut of AEW Dynamite, and Johnny Mac’s reaction to the first hint of Captain Lou Albano’s 1984 babyface turn.

And more! What are you waiting for? Get off your duffs, then DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

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

Episode 69: The Wrestling Genie

For the entire month of October, Stick To Wrestling will be taking questions from our listeners! This week John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by Breaking Kayfabe’s Barry Rose and we discuss:

–Who never won the NWA title but would have had a good run with it?
–What if Ricky Steamboat had stayed in the NWA instead of heading to the WWF?
–Which New Japan or All Japan wrestler could have made it big the United States?
–What makes a good referee and who were the best refs?
–Who should have made the jump to the WWF when they expanded nationally but didn’t?
–Should Sting have won the NWA title at the first Clash of the Champions?
–Who would have been a better booker for Georgia in 1983?
–What 90’s wrestlers would have made the best NWA champions?

And more! Plus we get asked what we would choose if a genie granted us each three wrestling wishes. Sean plays it straight, while naturally John and Barry take a fast ride down Pervert Lane.

What are you waiting for? Get off your duffs, then DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THIS BAD BOY!

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

Episode 67: 19009099900 – These Digits Were Burned Into Our Brains

Sean Goodwin makes his triumphant return to Stick To Wrestling, and he and John McAdam are joined by Brandon Rice! Our discussion this week centers around the NWA’s September 12, 1989 Clash Of The Champions event that aired live on WTBS!

-Everything Terry Funk said was true- he almost lost his arm due to an infection..
-What was the long term plan for The Great Muta?
-Muta taking THREE losses at Starrcade ’89? Why?
-Why the plastic bag angle should never have happened.
-We give Tommy Rich tons of credit for his performance in match vs Lex Luger- he deserves it. We also question why he was given this spot.
-Lex Luger is peaking. Ah, what could have been with competent booking.
-Cornette was firehosing Rotondo’s credentials.
-What Johnny Mac would have done with Dr. Death, Steve Williams. – The sky was limit for Brian Pillman, and Ric Flair sees it.
-The Freebirds have their final great match.
-How can there be a bad and boring segment with a 24 year old Missy Hyatt and a 25 year old Nancy Sullivan be boring and awful? Let the NWA show you.
-Scott Stiener…he’s the #1 pick in the draft at this point. Unpolished but the high ceiling is clearly there.
-And of course, the NWA Hotline. PLUS Sean sees a weird in-ring thing have never seen before!

What are you waiting for, DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.