Nikita Koloff is considered one of the great pro wrestlers of the mid 1980s and early 1990s. He is most remembered for his signature move "The Russian Sickle" and his feuds with Magnum T.A, The Road Warriors and The Four Horsemen. His many accomplishments include wining the second annual Crockett Cup with "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes know as the Super Powers. He also won the NWA World Six Man Tag Team Titles with "The Russians" Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruchev, the NWA World Tag Team Titles, the NWA U.S. Title and the NWA World Television Title. Nikita was awarded the Frank Gotch Award in 2006 and was inducted in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008. He has also written three books: Breaking Chains, Wrestling with Success: Developing a Championship Mentality, and A Tale of the Ring and Redemption. He hosts a podcast titled: It's Time to Man Up! which you can find anywhere you get your podcasts.  

During the podcast, we discuss Nikita growing up in Minnesota, getting started in Pro Wrestling, travel experiences, Chemistry when working with wrestlers, being a member of the Russians, big events like Starcade and The Great American Bash, Working in the NWA and AWA, and what Nikita is doing now.

You can find out more about Nikita Koloff at www.koloff.net as well as on his social media platforms.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikita.koloff.31 

Twitter: @NikitaKoloff1

Instagram: nikitakoloff1

Dan is a ground pounder on the business side of the world of Professional Wrestling. Dan worked for many years with "The Greatest Wrestler on God's Green Earth" Harley Race in Harley's World League Wrestling promotion (WLW) out of Eldon, MO. He also has worked with Major Baisden, who owned and operated the National Wrasslin League (NWL) out of Kansas City, MO and St. Louis, MO until 2018. Dan discusses his upbringing, schooling, how he got into the wrestling business, Wrestlers he has had interaction with, Indie Wrestlers that have the "It Factor" to move up to WWE, AEW or ROH. We also discuss what Dan is doing now. 

You can follow Dan Gier on the following Social Media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dan.gier.18

Twitter: @mcbigd1

In Part 2 of our podcast with George Schire, we continue our discussion about his interaction with managers, big wrestling cards he attended, challenges and difficulties in collecting pro wrestling results from events pre-internet, difference in pro wrestling today and being awarded the James C Melby Wrestling Historian Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2013. 

In part 1 of a two part podcast, I talk to well known Pro Wrestling Historian George Shire. In part 1, George talks about how he grew up  in Minnesota and how pro wrestling influenced his life. He also discusses his interactions with pro wrestlers and how he promoted his first pro wrestling at his hometown High School Gymnasium. 

Paul "The Butcher" Vachon is considered a an icon in the tag team division .He started in pro wrestling in 1955 and went on to win with numerous singles and tag team titles with his brother, Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon in all the major territories. He is best known for competing in the AWA, NWA and Stampede Wrestling promotions. He wrestled until his retirement in 1987. He is a member of the Cauliflower Alley Club, inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2004) and the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2010). He is also the author of the four books, the most recent titled: Wrestling in the Past; Life in and out of the ring.

You can find Paul's book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Past-Life-Out-Ring/dp/1475070683/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1604101566&sr=8-4

You can also follow Paul "The Butcher" Vachon on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/paulthebutchervachon

Bill Apter is a legend in the Pro Wrestling Magazine world. Bill started as a writer in 1970 working for Mr. Stanley Weston (who he considers his mentor). He also worked as a photographer and reporter. Bill worked his way up and eventually became the senior editor for Mr. Weston's publications. Bill is best known for writing, photographing and publishing for Pro Wrestling Illustrated. We discuss how he got started in the business of pro wrestling, stories about Buddy Rogers, promotions he covered, the COW belt, leaving PWI (Pro Wrestling Illustrated), his induction into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (2012) and what Bill is doing now. His book "Is Wrestling Fixed? I Didn't Know It Was Broken!" is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Is-Wrestling-Fixed-Bill-Apter-audiobook/dp/B01COQ6FSS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Is+Wrestling+Fixed+I+didnt+know+it+was+Broken&qid=1601601119&s=books&sr=1-1 

You can follow Bill on Twitter: @apter1wrestling 

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.apter 

Website: 1wrestling.com

In this episode, we talk with one of the legends of tag team wrestling Jumpin Jim Brunzell. Jim is a two time AWA World Tag Team Champion as one half of the High Flyers with Greg Gagne, a two time Mid Atlantic Heavyweight Champion and was one half the WWF tag team know as the Killer Bees with B Brian Blair. Jim talks about how he grew up in a military family and how he played for the Minnesota Gophers as a walk on athlete. He also discusses about Vern Gagne's Wrestling camp and the famous class of 1972 which he was a part of. Jim also talks about wrestlers he worked with and promotions he worked for like the AWA and WWF. We also discuss managers and broadcasters Jim enjoyed working with. Finally, we talk about the difference in pro wrestling today versus when he started, his book Matlands, his induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Class of 2013 Frank Gotch Award and what Jim is doing now. I encourage you to read Jim's book titled MatLands. Click on this link if you are interested in purchasing the book: https://www.blurb.com/b/6298514-matlands. I welcome your comments in the message window on the anchor websitehttps://anchor.fm/brian-ferguson3. Enjoy!!! 

In the this episode, we continue our conversation with the "High Flyer" Greg Gagne. Greg talks about the jobbers he worked with, working with  up and coming talent the AWA in the late 1980s (Wayne Bloom, Mike Enos, The Nasty Boys and Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty), managers, broadcasters, other promotions he worked for, real heat with anyone outside the ring, his other jobs in pro wrestling, differences in the presentation from when he started in the business compared to today, how wrestlers were paid, Big Card events he was involved in and what Greg is doing now. 

During the first ever episode, I will be talking to Greg Gagne. Greg is a two time AWA International Television Champion and one half of the two time AWA World Tag Team Championship Team the High Flyers. I will be discussing with Greg about what it was like growing up in a wrestling family, his experience going through his fathers pro wrestling camp, travelling experiences with other wrestlers and chemistry with other wrestlers.