Episode 10 dives into three wildly different careers that helped power Portland Wrestling’s identity during the territory’s most memorable eras.

Host Frank Culbertson breaks down:

💥 Dynamite Kid — one of the most explosive wrestlers ever to work in Portland. From shocking turns with Buddy Rose to legendary matches with Curt Hennig, Dynamite’s 1983 run delivered some of the hottest action anywhere in the country.

🐖 Carl Styles — the Southern gentleman with the glass-eye storyline, the pigs, the rooster, and the surprising rise. In just a few months, he became a fan-favorite babyface who captured both the TV and Northwest titles.

🎭 Jesse Barr — the versatile worker who built his career across the U.S., wrestled as Jimmy Jack Funk in WWF, and returned home to become a key heel in Portland during theterritory’s final years.

Three different journeys. Three unique impacts. Oneunforgettable territory.

Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #20 – GIANT Episode: Andre the Giant in the Northwest

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… we go bigger than we’ve ever gone before.

Episode #20 of Ringside in Rose City is a GIANT episode in every sense of the word, as Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers finally tackle one of the most mythologized figures in wrestling history:

As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, reveals the envelope, and sets the stage for what quickly becomes one of the most ambitious deep dives in series history.

🏟️ Andre’s Real Portland Legacy (1974–1984)

Andre’s story in the Northwest is filled with legends…
but Episode #20 is about separating fact from folklore.

Frank comes in armed with “facts” from old newspapers andfan memories:

Was Andre really 7’7”?
Did he eat five roasts a day?
Did he wrestle 10 midgets at the Sports Arena?

Mike Rogers does what Portland’s historian always does—hebrings it back to reality, explaining who Andre really was, how he was booked, and why his Portland tours mattered so much.

Together, Frank and Mike trace Andre’s Northwest runs yearby year, including:

• His first arrival in 1974 and the incredible buzz createdby film footage before he even debuted
• Why Portland used Andre differently than most territories
• The genius of two-out-of-three fall tag booking that always saved Andre’s “big moment” for the finish
• Battle Royals, special attractions, and sold-out spot shows across Oregon and Washington
• Strange match results, bizarre newspaper exaggerations, and unforgettable gimmick moments
• Andre’s appearances in Salem, Eugene, Medford, Seattle, Longview, Hermiston, Roseburg, and beyond
• The rise of key opponents like Killer Krupp, Buddy Rose, Jesse Ventura, Chris Taylor, and Bad News Brooks
• Andre’s national explosion—Shea Stadium, The Tonight Show, The Six Million Dollar Man, and more

👋 Special Shout-Out

The episode also includes a special nod to longtime friendof the show:

Joe Sousa — eat your vegetables!

🎲 K-Fabe Curveballs: Animal Groups Edition

Lisa returns mid-show with one of the most entertainingCurveballs yet, where Mike must answer questions about:

• Kangaroos
• Flamingos
• And the legendary “San Francisco Treat”… the San Francisco Battle Royal

Complete with one of Mike’s greatest personal stories fromwrestling fandom’s pre-internet days.

This is not just an Andre episode.
It’s a Portland Wrestling road-trip history.
A myth-busting marathon.
And a celebration of how one giant helped define an era.

Step into the squared circle.
This is Ringside in Rose City —

Wrestling…

 wrestling the way it should be.

Episode 9 explores three powerful personalities who shapedthe territory in very different eras — the fiery babyface, the world champion, and the mud-covered villain fans never forgot.

Host Frank Culbertson spotlights:

🔥 Jay Youngblood — the dynamic young star who helped stabilize the roster during a major talent exodus, captured the Northwest title five times, and delivered some of the territory’s hottest feuds before rising to national fame.

🌎 Gene Kiniski — “Canada’s Greatest Athlete,” an NWA World Champion whose rare Portland matches — including a late-career showdown with Lou Thesz — added prestige andunpredictability every time he appeared.

☠️ Baron Von Krupp — the vicious heel who debuted by flattening Man Mountain Mike, terrorized the territory alongside Kurt Von Steiger, and became part of one of Portland’s wildest moments when Dutch Savage dragged him into a mud puddle and sent him back to the ring dripping head to toe.

These weren’t megastars — they were the fan favorites andfierce rivals who defined an era in Portland Wrestling.

Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers byhistorian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #19 – From Armory to Arena: October 1968 and the Birth of the Portland Sports Arena

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… the moment everything changed.

In Episode #19 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers turn back the clock to October 1968, the mostuncertain—and most important—month in Portland wrestling history. This is the story of how Don Owen was forced out of the Portland Armory, scrambled for survival, and somehow transformed a North Portland bowling alley into the legendary Portland Sports Arena.

As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, reveals the envelope (“Brunswick A-2 Pin Setters”), and later unleashes one of the most memorable editions of K-Fabe Curveballs yet—this time with a very personal, very Lisa-centric twist.

🏟️ The End of the Armory

Frank and Mike explore the final days of wrestling at thePortland Armory:
• Crowds topping 4,000
• The famous Crow’s Nest
• Lonnie Mayne swinging—and falling—from above the ring
• Lou Thesz vs. Eric Pederson drawing so well Don Owen watched paying fans walk away
• And the brutal reality of losing a venue with almost no notice

🏗️ A Desperate Move

With no permanent home, Don Owen ran Memorial Coliseum at a loss while racing against time. Five weeks later, he gambled everything on an abandoned bowling alley in North Portland—spending $10,000, hauling in bleachers, lights, and a ring, and hoping fans would follow.

They didn’t… at first.

Until chaos, controversy, and a wrestling commission incident turned headlines into sellouts.

🥊 The First Cards at the Arena

Frank and Mike break down the October 12 and October 19,1968 cards, including:
• The debut of The Von Steigers
• Lonnie Mayne & Beauregard as tag champions
• Luther Lindsay’s quiet importance to the territory
• The rise of Tony Borne as the people’s champion
• Don Leo Jonathan’s return
• Early appearances by Cowboy Kirk, Shag Thomas, Sandy Barr, Luigi Macera, Frank Shields, and others
• How Don Owen used disqualifications, draws, and chaos to build long-term stories

This episode shows how Portland wrestling established its pecking order, rewarded believability, and trained fans to expect the unexpected.

🩸 The Commission, the Crackdowns, and Creativity

The show also revisits:
• Wrestling commission overreach
• Suspensions that shut the promotion down
• The ban on blood
• And how those restrictions directly led to the creation of the infamous Breakfast Club angle

🎲 K-Fabe Curveballs: Lisa Hughes Edition

Weather clips, Portland TV memories, pop culture, and alegendary dance-floor story involving Ric Flair all collide as Lisa takes full control of Curveballs—and steals the show.

This is not just a recap of matches.
It’s the origin story of the Portland Sports Arena—and the proof that wrestling survives through adaptation, chaos, and stubborn belief.

Step into the arena.
This is Ringside in Rose City—

Wrestling

wrestling the way it should be.

Episode 8 spotlights three unforgettable performers whohelped shape Portland Wrestling from the middle and upper-middle of the card — the wrestlers who brought emotion, excitement, and personality to every show.

Host Frank Culbertson breaks down:

🔥 Brett Sawyer — the fiery young babyface who shocked the territory by winning a battle royal for the vacant Northwest title, becoming a 3-time champion and one of the mostpopular stars of the early ’80s.

🎤 John Tolos — the charismatic, sharp-tongued veteran whose booming voice and magnetic interviews made him a standout everywhere he went. A world-traveled star who always made Portland TV feel bigger.

💪 Tom Zenk — the ultra-charismatic babyface Curt Hennig insisted Portland needed. Pushed hard by Don Owen, Zenk tore through the roster, captured gold, and left a strong markbefore moving on to national success.

These weren’t the megastars — they were the fan favoritesand fierce rivals who defined an era.

Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #18 – Mount Rushmore of Portland Wrestling (Sports Arena Era)

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… the debate every Portland Wrestling fan has had at least once.

In Episode #18 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers finally tackle one of the most passionate, personal, and controversial topics in territory history:

The Mount Rushmore of Portland Wrestling—specifically the Portland Sports Arena era (1968–1991).

As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, reveals the envelope, and keeps things moving—before gleefully adding chaos with a Mount Rushmore-themed edition of K-Fabe Curveballs.

Before naming a single face on the mountain, Frank and Mikedo what most debates skip:
they define the criteria.

This is not about national fame.
It’s not about title counts alone.
And it’s definitely not about who would win a real fight.

Instead, the discussion centers on:
• Drawing power in the Portland Sports Arena
• Longevity and loyalty to the territory
• Believability and storytelling
• Promo credibility
• Trust from Don Owen
• Elevating others
• Connection to Portland’s identity
• Historical impact and lasting legacy

From there, Frank and Mike examine 13 serious Mount Rushmore candidates—each with a legitimate case, each with real flaws, and no easy answers:

• Dutch Savage
• Playboy Buddy Rose
• Bull Ramos
• Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka
• Roddy Piper
• Lonnie Mayne
• Stan Stasiak
• Tony Borne
• Rip Oliver
• Billy Jack Haynes
• Rick Martel
• The Grappler (Lynn Denton)
• Steve Doll

Some defined entire eras.
Some burned hot and brief.
Some were trusted workhorses.
Some changed how Portland wrestling felt.

Frank and Mike break down each candidate through stats,memory, booking philosophy, and lived experience—challenging assumptions fans have carried for decades and separating emotional attachment from territorial reality.

Along the way:
🎲Frank challenges Mike with Mount Rushmore trivia
🎲A legendary hotel-room robbery story resurfaces
🎲Promo styles, finishes, and feuds are dissected
🎲And the difference between who fans loved and who carried the business becomes crystal clear

By the end of the episode, the list is narrowed…
arguments collide…
positions shift…

…but the final four faces on Portland Wrestling’s MountRushmore?
You’ll have to listen to find out.

This isn’t just a list. It’s a love letter, a debate, anda challenge to every Portland Wrestling fan.

Step into the arena.
Join the argument.
This is Ringside in Rose City

—  wrestling….

wrestling the way it should be.

Episode 7 dives into three powerful figures who shaped thePacific Northwest’s wrestling identity across multiple eras — the veterans, the world-travelers, and the raw-boned brawlers who helped define Portland Wrestling’s heart and soul.

Host Frank Culbertson spotlights:

🥋 Haru Sasaki — one of the longest-tenured wrestlers in Portland history. Sneaky, expressive, and beloved as a heel, Haru wrestled an estimated 5,000 matches for Don Owenand held multiple tag titles alongside legends like King Curtis and Mr. Fuji.

🌎 John Quinn — a rugged powerhouse who battled Bruno Sammartino, dominated Vancouver, toured Europe as a top villain, and always made an impression when he passed through Portland to wrestle names like Lonnie Mayne, Dean Higuchi, and Ed Francis.

🤠 Sam Oliver Bass — the big, raw-boned brawler whose name was changed so fans could chant “S.O.B!” Bass rose fast, beating Jimmy Snuka for the Northwest Heavyweight Title and delivering intense main events before moving on to national success.

These men weren’t megastars — but they were the fanfavorites and fierce rivals who defined an era in the Northwest.

Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #17 – Foggy Memories

One ring. One city.A thousand stories.
And this week… the names that make fans say, “Yeah… I kind of remember that guy.”

On this episode of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers dig into the forgotten, overlooked, andunder-appreciated wrestlers who helped build Portland Wrestling from the opening bell to the final fall—without ever making the Top 10 lists.

As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, reveals the envelope, and keeps the conversation moving as the topic lands on “Foggy Memories”—a deep dive into the wrestlers who filled out the cards, tested newcomers, protected the main events, and quietly kept the territory running night after night.

This episode explores the concept of the “carpenter”—thedependable pros who:
• Set the tone in opening matches• Tested young talent on the way up• Gave veterans a safe, solid opponent• Took losses when it was time to move on• And made the stars look like stars

Frank and Mike break down careers, booking patterns, andforgotten stories involving names like:
• Crazy Chuck Carbo – the alligator-wrestling gimmick,disqualifications, and a perfectly booked rise-and-fall
• Tito Montez – the ultimate carpenter and Arizona legend
• Ivan Kamaroff – a former champion quietly closing out a long career
• Pierre LaGrande – size, potential, and the puzzle promoters couldn’t quite solve
• Steve Bolos, Bill Howard, Fred Baron, Gene Kelly /Gene Lewis, Vinny Valentino, Steve Lawler, Jerry London,Barry Orton, Eddie Mansfield, Kim Song, Chung Lee, and more

Along the way, the episode uncovers:
🎯 Why draws mattered🎯 How booking protected talent 🎯 The difference between a “jobber” and a professional 🎯 Why not everyone was meant to be Buddy Rose or Roddy Piper
🎯And how wrestling history gets confusing when names, gimmicks, and aliases collide

Plus, Lisa brings the chaos once again with Kayfabe Curveballs, where wrestling trivia, pop culture, and real life blur—leading to wild detours, unexpected stories, and one more reminder that this show is as much about memory as it is about matches.

And a special shout out to Joe Sousa!

These aren’t the headliners.These aren’t the legends.But without them… there is no Portland Wrestling.

Step back into the fog.

This is Ringside in Rose City.

Episode 6 spotlights three wrestlers who helped define theupper-middle tier of Portland Wrestling — the dependable stars, hometown favorites, and fierce villains who carried the territory from night to night.

Host Frank Culbertson breaks down:

🔹 Jerry Oates — the smooth, athletic babyface who broke a long-standing pattern by capturing the NW title in 1978 and teaming with a young Jesse Ventura.
🔹 Art Barr — Portland’s own, transformed into the wildly popular “Beetlejuice” before becoming a major star in Mexico as The American Love Machine.
🔹 Mike Miller — the rugged brawler who rose through the ranks, became a key member of Rip Oliver’s Clan, held multiple singles and tag titles, and later reinvented himself as a fan-favorite babyface swinging his 2x4 “Lucille.”

These weren’t megastars — they were the men fans came to see every week, the backbone of the territory.

Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers byhistorian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #16 – Excitement in the Air, Volume Two (New Year’s Show)

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And a brand-new year.

Ringside in Rose City kicks off the New Year with a deep dive into Excitement in the Air – Volume Two, Mike Rogers’ secondcollection of long-form wrestler interviews, featuring voices that helped shape Portland wrestling, the Pacific Northwest, and the business worldwide.

As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, and keeps the episode moving—introductions, transitions, trivia, and all—while Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers break down the stories behind the stories.

This episode explores:

• Ivan Koloff – From Red McNulty to Cold War villain, the power of mystique, health struggles, and the reality behind his brief WWWF title reign
• Bad News Allen – Intimidation vs. kindness, race in wrestling, promoters, Dynamite Kid, and refusing to play a degrading role
• Billy White Wolf / Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie – A career spanning decades, cultures, continents, and controversy
• Don Jardine – One of the saltiest interviews ever conducted, with brutally honest opinions on promoters, partners, and the business
• Don Wyatt – Faith, family, wrestling’s changing style, and walking away at the right time
• Bobby Jaggers – Blood, bar fights, Florida stories, Puerto Rico, ribs, and life as one of wrestling’s great heels
• Mad Dog Vachon – Riots, caskets, chains, Lonnie Mayne, and one of the greatest publicity photos ever taken
• Lanny Poffo – Poetry, Boston heat, ribs, and the birth of “The Genius”
• Rip Rogers – Portland booking brilliance, Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper, Puerto Rico, and life as a legendary trainer
• Steve Rosano – One of the most powerful and difficult interviews in the series, examining the real cost of hardcore wrestling
• Dory Funk Jr. – Vancouver, Gene Kiniski, NWA politics, championships, and carrying the title with quiet authority

Plus:
🎲 K-Abe Curveballs – New Year’s trivia where wrestling knowledge takes a back seat to chaos
📚 Book talk, Portland memories, road stories, and the philosophy behind what makes wrestling believable

This is not just a recap—it’s a reflection on careers,consequences, creativity, and change, told by the people who lived it.

Welcome to the New Year.
Welcome back to the territory.
This is Ringside in Rose City— wrestling…wrestling the way it should be.