Episode 9: 1982: Farewell to the Gulf Athletic Club

In Episode 9 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Continues to re-examine the career of AWA world champion Nick Bockwinkel, this time looking at his 1982 travels and matches.

Discusses the changes in wrestling and in Houston Wrestling in 1982, as Gulf Athletic Club is replaced by The Best of Texas Wrestling, Inc.

Nails down the exact time of the switch from a Paul Boesch solo promotion in Houston to a partnership among Boesch, his nephew Peter Birkholz, Bill Watts and Bockwinkel.

Looks in detail at Bockwinkel's matches in Houston in 1982, including against DIck Slater, Junkyard Dog, Tommy Rich and Tony Atlas.

Source material for this episode is Mark James' book of programs, "Houston Programs 1982-1983," and Birkholz's book, "When Wrestling Was Rasslin'." About half of the Houston matches discussed this episode are widely available to view, on Youtube and elsewhere, so check them out! 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his work. You can buy "The King of New Oreans: How the Junkyard Dog Became Pro Wrestling's First Black Superstar" and "The Paper Tigers: The Untold True Story About How Five Guys From the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day" on Amazon.