Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk

Episode 76: The Television Title Tournament  

In Episode 76 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Television Title Tournament, Greg:

Reviews television from the Mid South Wrestling Association from Feb. 1984. 

Wonders why wrestling promoters could never get tournament brackets formatted correctly. 

Talks about how weird it was for a Mid South fan to read about Hacksaw Duggan being a Kevin Sullivan-aligned heel in Florida. 

Praises Mr. Ito, the debut of the Rock-n-Roll Express and the tag team of Butch Reed and Buddy Landel.

Prepares for the heel turn of Mr. Wrestling II.  

Considers if Terry Taylor is the epitome of the wrestling truism about heels being nice guys in real life but babyfaces really being jerks. 

Adds more context to the Amarillo decision to book its own world champion in the early 1960s. 

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 75: Time Tunnel Crossover 

In Episode 75 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Time Tunnel Crossover, Greg:

Welcomes Tony Richards back to the show. Greg and Tony ...

Discuss the Amarillo territory, touching on the originals and top stars of the west Texas territory. 

Look at Doc Sarpolis and his influences in wrestling, 

Talk about Tony's Dory Funk Sr. project. 

Draw a line from Funk to Ken Lucas to Ricky Morton and the Rock-n-Roll Express.

Revisit the 1973 accident that kept Dory Funk Jr. from dropping the NWA title to Jack Brisco. 

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 74: The Rich Full Life of a Bad Guy

In Episode 74 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Rich Full Life of a Bad Guy, Greg:

Unearths a 1966 Saturday Evening Post article about Cowboy Bill Watts and his heel turn in the WWWF.

Discusses his complicated feelings for Watts, the person, and love for Watts, the wrestling promoter. 

Talks about the May 14, 1982 Houston Wrestling reboot. 

Plays the what Corny got right, what Corny got wrong game with the May 14 show. 

Gives a sneak peak into the creative stuff going on now. 

Updates the Houston Wrestling annuals project.

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 73: Classic Characters

In Episode 73 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Classic Characters, Greg:

Welcomes historian and author Steven Johnson to the show to discuss his new book, "The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Classic Characters." 

Steve and Greg also ...

Talk about Paul Boesch, Gorilla Monsoon, Bob Orton Sr., Fritz Von Erich and many other stars. 

Celebrate the place in the business of "enhancement" wrestlers. 

Discuss the role of the historian in wrestling.

Explain the work Steven and Tim Hornbaker did and are doing to preserve the archives from the defunct Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.  

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 72: The 3rd Anniversary Show

In Episode 72 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The 3rd Anniversary Show, Greg:

Celebrates another year of doing the podcast. 

Notes the milestone of TV reviews as well. 

Looks unsuccessfully for episode 226. 

Welcomes Terry Taylor and his perfect debut to MSWA. 

Enjoys the heating up of Mid South after a fall of decline. 

Ends with a story about the time he wrestled Bugsy McGraw. 

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 71: Gino's Edition

In Episode 71 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Gino's Edition, Greg:

Welcomes Lizzy Flanagan to the show for the first time. 

Greg and Lizzy: 

Discuss her upcoming book, "I Am Your Champion, The Life and Death of Wrestler Gino Hernandez. 

Explore how a 20-something who did not grow up allowed to watch wrestling could become a fan of old school rasslin. 

Joke about how Lizzy went looking for the Von Erichs and found Gino fandom instead. 

Talk about Dynamic Duo teams and the various Gino's feuds. 

Play the What If game. 

Confront the conspiracy theories about Gino's death. 

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 70: Tulsa Wrestlefest

In Episode 70 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Tulsa Wrestlefest, Greg:

Welcomes Shawn Sparks aka Sparks3rdCoast to the show for the first time. 

Greg and Shawn: 

Look at the July 28, 1985, Mid South Wrestling Association show at Tulsa's Fair Meadows Raceway. 

Enjoy the Fantastics vs Jerry Grey and Eddie Gilbert match but not as much as the women in the Tulsa crowd. 

Discuss the two year journey of the Fantastics and Jake Roberts to becoming top stars in the region.

Consider Jake's recent comments about how he "stole the show" at Wrestlefest. 

Defend Bill Watts (hoo boy) against Jake's allegations that Watts stole a payday from another worker by putting himself in the "main event" six man tag.  

Talk about the biggest stars in Oklahoma wrestling history and note that the two of them on the card are almost the same age. 

Praise the monster truck entrance of Hacksaw Duggan and Dick Murdock. 

Greg wraps it up by looking at a WWF card three days later in Oklahoma City. 

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 69: Better Dead Than Red 

In Episode 69 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk,  Better Dead Than Red Show, Greg:

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

Plays some audio from the anti-Russian tirades of Bill Watts.

Discusses, again, how the current mindset about Nicolai Volkoff's pre-WWF run is wrong. 

Notes where MSWA is still slow and where things are beginning to pick up. 

Discusses the wardrobe choices for Watts and Mr. Wrestling II. 

Revisits the discussion about the Terry Taylor intro videos and how he may have a different female fanbase than Magnum T.A. 

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 68: The 43rd Anniversary Show 

In Episode 68 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The 43rd Anniversary Show, Greg:

Talks about the lead up to Morris Sigel and Houston Wrestling's 43 Anniversary show June 5, 1959. 

Looks at three programs from May 1959 that lead up to the big show. 

Praises the decade long feud between Bull Curry and Danny McShane. 

Corrects the timeline on when and how George Wagner becomes Gorgeous George, and what Dizzy Davis had to do with it. 

Reviews the results from the anniversary show. 

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 67: The Golden Era Begins

In Episode 67 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Golden Era Begins, Greg:

Welcomes Winter Place podcast host and IWC friend Mark Coale to the show for the first time. 

Greg and Mark:

Take a broad view of what Greg calls the Golden Era of the Mid South Wrestling Association, from the day Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express arrive until the day Bob Sweeten returns, or Nov. 83 to summer 1985.

Discuss the exit of the Junkyard Dog, the various and amazing take team matches and the star turns of Hacksaw Duggan, Terry Taylor and Jake Roberts. 

Play the "who's your secret favorite awful JYD replacement" game and discuss who might have worked in that spot.

Look at the WWF invasion of Texas in December 1984. 

Take a side trip into Dallas wrestling and politics in 1984/85. 

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."