Episode 32: The Farm Accident Heard Round the World, Part 2

In Episode 32 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Revisits the most popular episode of the podcast so far, looking at two new perspectives on the missed Dory Funk Jr. vs Jack Brisco NWA title match in Houston on March 2, 1973.

Looks at Brisco, the autobiography by Jack Brisco from Crowbar Press and explores Brisco's complex feelings about the Funk family. 

Talks about how Brisco had to be rebuilt as a championship contender after missing his title shot.  
 
Reads Brisco's thoughts on Dory Funk Jr's accident and the alleged injuries he suffered.

Explains who Brisco thought was the real King of Houston wrestling. 

Looks at one more perspective on the missed NWA title match, from Dory Funk Sr's other son, Dory Jr's brother, Terry Funk. 

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. 

Episode 31: The Unbelievable Finish

In Episode 31 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Looks at October 1982 in the Mid South Wrestling Association, as one of the biggest angles in territory history takes place.

Talks about the success of Hacksaw Duggan's spear as it becomes his finishing move and is figured into two big title changes.

Welcomes Tony Atlas to MSWA.

Wonders why U.S. crowds never got "the Great Marcus."
 
Shares some information he came across about James "Irish" McNeel and his Boys Club, which you can see https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/09/21/The-designation-of-a-northwest-Louisiana-gym-as-a/1143432964800/. 

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. 

Episode 30: The Adrian Street Tribute

In Episode 30 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Pays tribute to his trainer, Exotic Adrian Street, after learning of Adrian's death.

Looks at Adrian's early career and the influence he had on Glam Rockers and UK history.

Talks about Adrian's days in the territories, from 1981 in L.A. to Alabama in the late 1980s.

Reiterates how many skills and talents Adrian Street had in and out of the ring, including as a famous shooter.

Remembers the best memories of training in the Skull Crusher shed in Gulf Breeze. 

For more about Greg's training and his relationship with Adrian and Linda, check out episodes 2, 3 and 12. 

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. 

Episode 29: The Summer of '69

In Episode 29 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Takes a trip way down south to Harlingen, Texas, to look at matches at the Wrestlethon Auditorium in June and August of 1969. Headliners include "Dirty" Dusty Rhodes, Wahoo McDaniel, Johnny Valentine, Thunderbolt Patterson and Jose Lothario. 

Talks about other things happening in the summer of 1969, such as the decline in attendance in New York. 

Looks at wrestling in Milwaukee in 1969, courtesy of Wrestling News and the Milwaukee Wrestling Yearbook. 

Tells a forgotten story about Johnny Rich's ring. 

Pays tribute to his trainer, Exotic Adrian Street, after learning of Adrian's death, while recording. 

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. 

Episode 28: Mr. II

In Episode 28 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Gives a post-script to the Johnny Rich's Ring story by talking about WrestleMania XI.

Talks about the Dark Side of the Ring episode reaction, including rebutting a couple of things said by famous commentators.

Talks about the minor controversy involving George Culkin and his true feelings for Junkyard Dog. 

Looks at September 1982 in the Mid South Wrestling Association, including the temper of Mr. Wrestling II, the continued dominance of Hacksaw Duggan and Ted DiBiase and a decisive farewell to the One Man Gang. 

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. 

Episode 27: The Dark Side of the Junkyard Dog

In Episode 27 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Reviews the Dark Side of the Ring episode about the Junkyard Dog, aka Sylvester Ritter. 

Talks about producers for various shows and movies contacting him for JYD information and how it helped DSOTR get some of its key interviews. 

Reflects on the rumor that Bill Watts called Ritter the n-word before JYD jumped to the WWF in 1984. 

Says a heartfelt f-you to Jake Roberts for talking trash about anyone else's drug issues or performances at indie shows. (Language warning!) 

Debates if Ritter had found peace late in his life, a theory that is somewhat contradicted by the DSOTR episode. 

Proposes the idea of a donation to Fayetteville State University to help get Sylvester Ritter into FSU's athletic Hall of Fame. 

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. 

Episode 26: Shepard's Episode

In Episode 26 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

In memorial of his younger (step) brother, Greg talks about their shared memories watching wrestling and the days of trying rasslin' moves on your little brother.

Looks at Mid South Wrestling from August of 1982. 

Wonders why Dick Murdock wasn't turned heel in 1982, instead of Ted DiBiase. 

Laughs at Bill Watts explaining the term, "no pain, no gain." 

Discusses Iron Mike Sharp's summer push in MSW(A). 

 Welcomes Hacksaw Duggan to the full-time roster. 

This episode of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is dedicated to Shepard Alex Freedman, 1975-2023. RIP, my brother.  

Episode 25: Road to Huertgen, Forest in Hell

In Episode 25 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Takes an in-depth look at Paul Boesch's World War II book, "Road to Huertgen, Forest in Hell." 

Talks about the role Boesch played in the war, where, and how he was decorated. 

Looks at the two battles from 1944, Boesch describes in the book, including the massive battle in Huertgen Forest. 

Thinks about the comparison between 32-year-old Paul Boesch leading men at war and older Paul Boesch dealing with the boys in the dressing rooms. 

Gives tribute to the long list of those who Boesch references as having died in those 1944 battles. 

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. 

Episode 24: Johnny Rich's Ring

In Episode 24 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Talks about 1995 and the summer he had Johnny Rich's ring in his front yard of his house, which was on state Highway 14W, just outside of Prattville, Ala. 

Reflects about the luckiest break he ever had in the business, which turned out to be an ankle, and how that led to acquiring the wrestling ring.

Talks about working for Donny Martin, aka the Rocking Rebel (Southern version), and the TV squash matches he went under on. 

Explains what it was like to watch a bunch of kids decide they wanted to be wrestlers and then quitting one by one. 

Remembers an attempt to swerve Johnny Rich in regard to giving back the ring, and wonders if it could have led to wrestling disaster.

Gets nostalgic about the summer of 1995 and Friday evening wrestling practice in an outdoor ring.

Traces the best experiences of his career to that break and that ring.   

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. 

Episode 23: Two Programs from Houston

In Episode 23 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:

Looks at two of his oldest programs from Houston Wrestling, one each from its two legendary promoters:

• Friday, Aug. 1, 1958, from the City Auditorium, promoter Morris P. Sigel promoted a main event of Dickie Steinborn defending the Texas Championship against Pepper Gomez. 
• Friday, Feb. 17, 1967, the new Gulf Athletic Club and promoter Paul Boesch presented a main event at the Downtown Recreation Center of Bearcat Wright vs. Karl Von Brauner.
• Boesch also teased a bigger show. Friday, March 3, at the Coliseum. 

Teases his appearance on The Winter Palace's Episode 120, May Day, talking about Eddie Gilbert, a lot of Russians, one buried Cowboy and one distressed announcer from Oklahoma. 

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.