Tag Archives: WWWF

Episode 259: A Unique Tribute

This week on STICK TO WRESTLING we celebrate the life and career of Superstar Billy Graham. This will be a unique tribute because we have audio of Superstar’s phenomenal run in the WWWF in the years of 1977 and 1978. In addition, John and Steve not only researched and read about the Graham Era, but as native Northeasterners they lived through it. Start your Memorial Day Weekend the right way by downloading and listening to this episode today!

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 224: The Other Bi-Centennial Kings

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined again by popular returning guest Steve Generelli, and we field questions from the Stick To Wrestling Universe on the year 1976. On the slate:

–What if Bruno Sammartino was unable to return to the WWWF after his neck injury? Would the promotion have survived?
–What were our thoughts on the buildup to the Muhammad Ali v Antonio Inoki match, and the match itself?
–What are our thoughts on how was Terry Funk booked as NWA champion?
–How was Harley Race viewed in 1976 after his very brief run as NWA champion?
–Which promotion had the strongest roster?
–What might have happened with Johnny Valentine in 1976 had he not been disabled in a late 1975 plane crash?

Plus John and Steve do an “Extra Innings” segment where they talk baseball from the 1970’s, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this podcast today!

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 200

STICK TO WRESTLING celebrates it’s 200th episode with a podcast that’s over 200 minutes long, with Max Levy, Thomas Bane, and The Great Brian Last taking questions from the Stick To Wrestling Universe! It’s almost four hours of rawboned, wicked good wrestling talk! On the discussion table:

–Toxic Shock Syndrome…was that a coverup for a Mike Von Erich overdose?

–Speaking of overdoses, what would the WWWF have done had Superstar Billy Graham overdosed and died while holding the world title?

–Who should have been Sting’s first opponent as NWA champion?

–What were the best and worst company produced music themes?

–Who would be on the Jimmy Hart’s First Family All-Star Team?

–What led to the decline of managers and tag team wrestling?

And much, much more! This is almost four hours of pro wrestling goodness, so what are you waiting for? Download and listen to this wicked good bad boy!

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty…no, give us over 200 minutes and perhaps indeed, we’ll give you a rawboned and wicked good podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 148: What If Bruno Had WHAT?

STICK TO WRESTLING is once again joined by popular guest John Jance, and we enter into an alternative universe. Bruno Sammartino was seriously injured in 1976, and told promoter Vince McMahon Sr that he wanted out. Bruno cut way down on his dates right after losing the WWWF title to Superstar Billy Graham and was completely out of wrestling by the end of 1981. But what if Bruno has Ricflairitis, a condition one suffers from when they can’t walk away from the business? We discuss that and the butterfly effect it would have had.

–When does Vince Jr. finally pull the title from Bruno?

–What effect would this have had on the careers of Superstar Billy Graham and Bob Backlund?

–When would Bruno finally have to retire?

–What impact would this have had on David Sammartino’s career? Would it have hurt Bruno if the fans knew he was old enough to have an adult son?

–How often did Bruno wrestle after dropping the title to Graham? The answer may surprise you.

Plus John Jance shares a story about corresponding with a young Dave Meltzer and how not everything was a secret back in the day, 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 136: Victor Rivera’s Alternate Universe

Two very historic 50th Anniversaries are coming very soon: Ivan Koloff winning the WWWF title from Bruno Sammartino, and Pedro Morales winning the title three week’s later from Koloff.

This week’s guest on STICK TO WRESTLING was present at Madison Square Garden for both these historic occasions, and many more. Making his first appearance on the show is the legendary John Jance!

We also discuss:

–What is was like for John Jance being at Madison Square Garden the night Bob Backlund won the title from Superstar Billy Graham.

— John Jance’s recollections of seeing the Bruno Sammartino vs Pedro Morales match at Shea Stadium in 1972.

–The story of how John Jance discovered that Hulk Hogan was coming to the WWF.

–Who John Jance would have preferred seeing as champion instead of Pedro Morales.

–Where John Jance was during the 1976 Shea Stadium show. He wasn’t there, but he has a cool story anyway.

–Where John Jance was getting his wrestling news in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. He had a far better source than the Apter Mags.

Plus Johnny Mac very briefly reacts to the happenings on January 6th (this was recorded a few days later) 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 134: The WWF MVPs, Part One

This week STICK TO WRESTLING is joined by Steve Generalli, a knowledgeable longtime WWF fan. In the first segment of a two part series, we talk about the Most Valuable Players of the Bob Backlund era, year by year. We cover:

–Bob Backlund, and how he was a huge success as Bruno Sammartino’s successor.

–Bruno Sammartino, as he disappears when Backlund wins the title and re-appears when the time is right.

–Ivan Koloff, and why he was so valuable as a challenger.

–Peter Maivia, and the turn that made him a main eventer.

–Greg Valentine, and how his first WWWF run made both he and Bob Backlund bigger stars.

–Pat Patterson, and how his four match series vs Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden was so brilliantly booked.

Steve and I give you the top five on our WWF MVP ballot for 1978, 1979, and 1980, 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 117: Artificial Charisma

This week Steve Generalli returns to Stick To Wrestling and we talk the year of 1979 in the WWWF, which became the WWF that year. We dig into:

–Victor Rivera returning as a heel.

–The return of Bulldog Brower after a “team of doctors” declared him stable enough to compete.

–Greg Valentine’s debut, and him introducing the figure four leglock to the Northeast and breaking Cheif Jay Strongbow’s leg with it.

–The oddball pushes given to Roddy Piper and Bad News Allen Coage.

–The Valiants adding a third brother to the mix.

–A preliminary guy named Bob Fulton who would go onto big things.

And much, much more! Plus Johnny Mac goes on a non-wrestling related rant, so what are you waiting for? DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO this wicked good bad boy!

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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

Episode 85: Bruno Sammartino; Human Lawn Dart

This week’s Stick To Wrestling centers around the August 7, 1976 WWWF show from Madison Square Garden. We discuss:

–The reaction toward Stan Hansen after he broke Bruno’s neck.

–Vince McMahon’s as a straightforward 1970’s announcer.

–Why Bob Backlund was selected as the heir to Bruno Sammartino’s throne.

–A young Bruiser Brody’s obvious and immense potential

–Why state athletic commissions STINK.

–The great finish to the Bruno Sammartino vs Stan Hansen cage match.

–Was the year of 1976 the apex of WWWF wrestling in the 1970’s?

–The roles of guys like Johnny Rodz, S.D. Jones, Kevin Sullivan, Johnny Rivera, etc.

–How obvious it was that The Executioners were Killer Kowalski and Chuck O’Connor.

Plus Johnny Mac shares a silly and forgotten Stan Hansen angle. What are you waiting for? Download and listen to the WICKED GOOD BAD BOY.

Stick To Wrestling- give us sixty minutes, and perhaps indeed we will give you a RAWBONE podcast.

Produced by Lou Kipilman

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