Episode 63: Vision Quest

In Episode 63 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Vision Quest, Greg:

Looks at the podcast's 2024 in review, including this year's Top 5 cities.

Laughs about a match he attended in 1987 that ties into Episode 21, The Wrath of Khan.

Discovers what Sylvester Ritter was doing Christmas night 1976.

Ponders all the new information Beau James gave us in Episode 61 about the start of Ritter's career.

Welcomes wrestling historian Tony Richards to the show to discuss the 2024 WON HOF campaign and how to approach the revival in 2025.

Tony also fills us in on his research into Dork Funk Sr., and his long-term plans in regard to wrestling.

We look at the Christmas gifts Houston Wrestling gave to its fans in Dec. 1978.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/ 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

Episode 62: And Then Things Got Weird 

In Episode 62 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, And Then Things Got Weird, Greg:

Looks at television for the Mid South Wrestling Association for October 1983.

Speculates about the booking situation and reviews what we know about fall in the South.

Tries to make sense of the North American title turmoil.

Laughs about the solid wrestling ability of Max the Missing Link.

Watches probably the best little person mixed match ever wrestled.

Celebrates a Mike Jackson win.

Waits patiently for Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express. 

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/ 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

In Episode 61 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Hey, Junior, Where's My Cowboy Movie At?, Greg:

Welcomes Tennessee wrestler and historian Beau James to the show.

Beau talks about how he met Sylvester Ritter, the time Ritter lived with him and what the Junkyard Dog was like as a real person.

Greg and Beau lament the idea of "workrate" being the most important barometer of wrestling success.

Beau talks about Jimmy Valiant's popularity in Tennessee and the Crockett territory.

Beau shocks Greg when he talks about when he thinks Sylvester Ritter had his first match. 

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/ 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

In Episode 60 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Southwest Takeover, Greg:

Welcomes Las Vegas resident and rasslin podcast Roman Gomez to the show to talk about Southwest Championship Wrestling.

Greg and Roman review an episode taped Dec. 29, 1982 in the Junction in San Antonio.

They discuss the changes coming in wrestling and the need to let go of studio matches.

Greg, of course, pays tribute to announcer Steve Stack, and carpenter El Santo Negro aka Billy Two Eagles aka Relampago Leon, the lion who moves like lightning.

They look at lineups from Championship Wrestling from the same week, comparing the TV product of SWCW an WWF.

The marvel at the heel incoherence of Adrian Adonis and Roman asks, "is he on something."

And, yes, we close with said Adonis interview, for the goat ropers in the back.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/ 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

In Episode 59 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Seasonal Variances, Greg:

Reveals his newest, earliest Houston Wrestling program, from May 1948.

Talks about the Billy Varga collection he bought and the range of programs from 1948 to 1958.

Marvels at the Houston main event and the storyline for Danny McShane vs Miguel "Black" Guzman.

Talks about Whiskers Savage and the newcomer hyped to the next Whiskers, Farmer Jack.

Revisits the story of how Argentina Rocca came to North American, how he left Texas on bad terms and how Morris Sigel got revenge.

Looks at Billy Varga's family history in wrestling.

Doubles up with the lead story from Fort Worth 10 days later about Rocca's debut and the double main of Guzman vs Bomber Kulky and McShane vs Mike Sharpe.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/ 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

In Episode 58 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Seasonal Variances, Greg:

Takes a look at the Mid South Wrestling Association for Sept. 1983.

Compares five years of MSWA to the TV show The Wire, and discusses how we look for the one we like less.

Says goodbye again to Ted DiBiase.

Laughs at Bill Watts use of the Road Warriors.

Welcomes Jim "the Hammer*" Neidhardt and Nicolai Volkoff, as one of them bid a not-fond farewell to Boris Zurkoff. *Or so Reiser called him.

Hypes his appearances on Stick to Wrestling and Shut Up and Wrestle. 

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/ 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

In Episode 57 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Professor Talks JYD, Greg:

Welcomes his first guest to the show, New Orleans native and JYD original fan, the Professor Ricardo Coleman. 

Greg and Ricardo talk about the historic nature of Sylvester Ritter's wrestling career.

They explain how wrestling differed in New Orleans before and after JYD, especially where in town the matches were held and who was in the audience.

They look at the unusual personalities of Bill Watts and Ernie Ladd and how that mixed to create the iconic character and his alter ego, Stagger Lee.

They discuss a Mount Rushmore of JYD villains and how the story of who opposed JYD is like a lesson in Black history.

They discuss JYD's first couple of years in the WWF and how big a star he was there in 1985 and 1986.

They question is the workrate issue is holding back Black wrestlers, who had to work a certain style, from getting into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

Greg's note: I said Ernie Ladd and Ray Candy were on the 1978 Dome show with Bill Watts and Terry Funk. The Funk-Watts Dome show was 1976. Paul Orndorff vs Bruiser Brody and Dusty Rhodes vs Superstar Graham were underneath Candy vs Ladd. 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Ricardo's French Quarter Tour business Hottest Hell Tours. Go to https://www.hottesthell.com/ to book an incredible tour of New Orleans. 

In Episode 56 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Morris Sigel for the WON HOF, 2024 Edition, Greg:

Takes a second look at the Hall of Fame candidacy of Houston promoter and Texas Booking Agency head Morris Sigel. 

Traces his journey from hardware accountant to head of Houston Wrestling and his formation of the Texas wrestling circuit. 

Notes the names of the top wrestlers he either discovered, started or helped find their stride: Verne Gagne, Buddy Rogers, Argentino Rocca and Gorgeous George, among others. 

Discovers the connection between Sigel and the end of the territory war between Lou Thesz and Sam Muchnick, and the bonding of Thesz to the new NWA cartel. 

Revisits the 1950s Texas wrestling war. 

Talks about Sigel's influence on Paul Boesch's Hall of Fame promoting career and notes how all the distinguishing characteristics of the Boesch era come from the Sigel era, which is twice as long.

If you want to see my Morris Sigel for the WON HOF talking points, message me on social media or email me at [email protected]. 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

In Episode 55 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Talks more about the Hall of Fame candidacy of Sylvester Ritter aka the Junkyard Dog. 

Picks up at the beginning of Year One and talks about the timing of when Ritter must have trained. 

Wonders if there are still earlier matches than Ritter's first known match of Nov. 11, 1976 vs Mike Boyette. 

Talks about how Ritter's trainer Sonny King left him behind in Carolina, but Ritter still found a way into the business. 

Follows Ritter around the south as he goes from Carolina to Louisiana/Oklahoma to Memphis to Knoxville to Gulf Coast to Gulas. 

Notes how quickly Ritter goes from indies to a tag title in a major territory (one year) to a solo title in a major territory (two years) to being the historic star of a territory (three years). 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day." 

Episode 54: The College Edition

In Episode 54 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Talks about the Junkyard Dog and his candidacy for the Wrestling Observer Newletter's Hall of Fame. 

Looks at Sylvester Ritter's life before wrestling, including his two year trying to break into professional football. 

Finds an ad for the earliest known match for Sylvester Ritter, only to learn someone else had tagged the ad first. 

Learns about and laughs about the wrestling history term, "You got Getz'd." 

Discusses the idea of workrate and stereotypical wrestling styles of yesteryear and how the two are not always compatible. 

Compares the careers of Paul Orndorff and JYD. 

Lobbys for JYD's HOF inclusion and announces a very special guest to explore the matter further next month. 

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Power Play Sports Collectables. Thank you for the Houston Wrestling lot! Check them out on eBay or at https://powerplaysportscards.com/.