Ringside in Rose City – Episode 50: September 1969 – Mayne, Kirby & a Territory Searching for Its Next Rivalry

September 1969 finds Portland Wrestling in an unusual place.

Lonnie Mayne and Rip “The Ruffian” Kirby have become the rivalry carrying the territory—but behind them, Don Owen's promotion is searching for its next major babyface, its next major heel, and the storyline that can take Portland Wrestling into the fall.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers continue their month-by-month journey through the Portland Sports Arena era, as the Mayne-Kirby war gets bloodier, stranger and increasingly difficult to contain.

The biggest moment comes in a Fight to the Finish for the Northwest Heavyweight Championship. Sandy Barr and Shag Thomas refuse to referee after what they've already endured in previous Mayne-Kirby battles, so Stan Stasiak steps in. Mayne eventually smashes Kirby's head into the ring post so violently that Stasiak stops the match—and Lonnie Mayne becomes Northwest Heavyweight Champion without ever pinning Rip Kirby.

But that only creates more questions.

Why is Stan Stasiak suddenly spending so much time refereeing instead of wrestling? Why is he openly complaining in the newspapers about not receiving top billing? Is Lonnie Mayne finally becoming a babyface—or is he still a heel who just happens to be fighting somebody the fans hate even more? And with Tony Borne, Haru Sasaki, Johnny Kostas, Buddy Marino, Billy White Wolf and Earl Maynard moving through the picture, who is actually ready to become Portland's next major attraction?

As Mike puts it, Mayne versus Kirby essentially carries the entire month. And by September's end, the territory clearly needs a fresh infusion of talent and new rivalries.

Card Shark also returns, and Lisa has some particularly good cards waiting for Mike—including the very first Portland Sports Arena show Mike ever attended and a loaded 1983 Portland lineup.

Then comes a 1993 AAA card from the Los Angeles Sports Arena featuring Rey Misterio Jr., El Hijo del Santo, Octagón, La Parka, Jake Roberts, Eddie Guerrero, Art Barr, Konnan, Luis Spicolli—and one name especially familiar to longtime listeners of the show: Vandal Drummond, . Mike immediately recognizes Vandal as a clue that the mystery card may be from Los Angeles and reflects on how impressive it was for him to receive an opportunity on a card loaded with that level of international talent. And yes, Vandal, we know you listen—we made sure you got into the show.

Mike also shares a great Luis Spicolli and Owen Hart story involving Stu Hart's 80th birthday show, Michael Lano, a cramped Chevy Vega and a little bit of wrestling carny language.

Then Lisa breaks out the grass skirt, lei and coconuts for another Island Interlude, and September 1969 in Hawaii is absolutely loaded. King Curtis Iaukea, Pedro Morales, Giant Baba, Gene Kiniski, The Sheik, Pampero Firpo, Ripper Collins, Nick Bockwinkel, Jerry Brisco, Peter Maivia, Billy White Wolf and the Von Steigers are among the stars filling some remarkable cards.

One night features Gene Kiniski against Giant Baba, King Curtis winning the North American Championship from Pedro Morales, and the Hawaiian debut of The Sheik—whose match against Pampero Firpo lasts exactly zero minutes after The Sheik attacks him with a stool before the bell and gets himself fined and suspended.

It's championship changes, bloody feuds, confusing booking, Card Shark chaos, a shout-out to Vandal Drummond, Lisa's Hawaiian wardrobe—and another month in which Portland Wrestling proves that sometimes the most fascinating history comes when a territory is trying to figure out what comes next.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Cream of the Crop – Episode 3: Dutch Savage & Bull Ramos

Professional wrestling has always been built around a simple idea: create a villain so dangerous and so despised that fans will pay money just to see somebody stop him.

In 1972, Portland Wrestling found that man.

His name was Bull Ramos.

But Portland already had somebody waiting for him: Dutch Savage. And for much of the decade, these two men would fight for championships, supremacy—and the paying customers who couldn't wait to see them do it again.

In Episode 3 of The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, Money Draws, and Territory Legends, we revisit one of the rivalries that helped define Portland Wrestling in the 1970s.

Dutch Savage arrived in Portland full-time in 1970 after wrestling across the country and beyond. With his unmistakable look, charisma and devastating jumping piledriver, Savage became one of the Northwest's biggest stars. Seven Northwest Heavyweight Championships and 12 Northwest Tag Team Championships followed—but the championships alone don't explain Dutch Savage. People paid to see him.

Then came Bull Ramos.

On January 8, 1972, Ramos made his Portland debut against a man promoted as perhaps the only wrestler tough enough to face him: Lonnie Mayne. Bull broke Mayne's arm. The fans went crazy, and as Ramos later remembered it, his road from there was “paved with gold—sellout after sellout.”

Soon Bull was standing across the ring from Dutch Savage.

Ramos defeated Savage for the Northwest Heavyweight Championship in April 1972 and dominated the title picture for much of the next year and a half. But this wasn't a rivalry built around one match or one summer. Dutch Savage and Bull Ramos battled throughout much of the decade, becoming one of Portland Wrestling's classic hero-versus-villain combinations.

And behind that rivalry was remarkable chemistry.

Hear the story of Dutch using salmon oil to send Bull into a genuine rage during a match—and the even better story of the two eventually becoming friends and going salmon fishing together, only for Dutch to burn through Bull's fishing line after Bull spent an hour and a half fighting a 40-pound salmon.

Inside the ring, they convinced thousands of fans they hated each other. Outside the ring... apparently things weren't always much safer.

Years later, Ramos recalled Don Owen telling fans that Bull had made him more money than any wrestler in the world. Dutch Savage became synonymous with Pacific Northwest wrestling. One became one of Portland's greatest heroes. The other became one of its greatest villains.

And when you put them together, fans believed.

That's why Dutch Savage and Bull Ramos belong in The Cream of the Crop.

And next Friday, the series moves into another generation and another unforgettable Portland rivalry: Billy Jack Haynes and Rip “The Crippler” Oliver. The hometown powerhouse against the leader of one of Portland Wrestling's most dominant groups.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.

New episodes of The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – The Greatest Northwest Champions

Who was the greatest Northwest Heavyweight Champion of the Portland Sports Arena era?

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers tackle a debate they've been having for years—and discover pretty quickly that they don't agree nearly as much as they thought they did.

More than 110 wrestlers challenged for the Northwest Championship, and Mike has documented more than 540 championship matches. But championships alone don't tell the story. Frank and Mike build their rankings around title reigns, successful defenses, championship opportunities, quality of opposition—and that one statistic you can never completely measure: how much a wrestler meant to the fans.

The countdown brings out some of Portland's biggest names: Lonnie Mayne, Roddy Piper, Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Billy Jack Haynes, Rick Martel, Ed Wiskowski, Jay Youngblood, Rip Oliver, Buddy Rose, Bull Ramos and plenty more.

Some disagreements are small. Others require Lisa to put on the referee shirt.

Was Brett Sawyer one of Portland's greatest champions—or does Mike have him nowhere near the Top 15? Does Rip Oliver's record 12 championships and 47 title defenses make him the obvious choice? How much should longevity matter? How much should the quality of the opponent matter? And can charisma outweigh the statistics?

By the time they reach number one, Frank and Mike aren't even crowning the same wrestler. Frank makes the case for Buddy Rose, while Mike plants his flag firmly behind Bull Ramos—and both have plenty of ammunition.

The episode also pauses to remember John Anson, a familiar name from one of Portland Wrestling's strongest eras, following news of his passing.

Then Lisa grabs the passports for the debut of a brand-new Ringside segment: Passport to Piledrivers! First stop: Canada, where Frank tests Mike's knowledge of masked wrestlers from north of the border. But there's a theme behind the questions—all roads lead to former Portland wrestler Rocky Della Serra, who worked under several masked identities during his career.

The segment also shines a spotlight on Rocky's new book, Wrestling With a Rocky Life, filled with stories from his travels, his many wrestling identities, and a lifetime spent inside the business. Frank calls it one of the best wrestling books he's read and highly recommends it—and listeners can also go back and hear Rocky's recent appearance on Ringside in Rose City.

Statistics, memories, disagreements, a tribute to a member of the Portland Wrestling family, a trip across the Canadian border—and one championship debate that may never truly be settled.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Cream of the Crop – Episode 2: Buddy Rose & Roddy Piper

Some rivalries sell tickets. Some create champions. And every once in a while, two wrestlers find each other at exactly the right moment—and create something that comes to define an era.

In Episode 2 of The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, Money Draws, and Territory Legends, we turn to perhaps the greatest rivalry Portland Wrestling ever produced: “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

Buddy Rose arrived first. From his Portland debut in 1976, Rose proved he understood professional wrestling at a different level. He could make fans despise him one moment and laugh at him the next, while becoming an 11-time Northwest Heavyweight Champion and 13-time Northwest Tag Team Champion. Through parts of the next 13 years, Rose became almost synonymous with Portland Wrestling.

Then, in October 1978, came Roddy Piper. He didn't immediately walk into the main events, but Piper possessed a weapon few could match—his voice. By February 1979, he was Northwest Heavyweight Champion, and soon the pieces were in place for a rivalry that would ignite the Portland Sports Arena.

Rose knew how to make fans hate him. Piper knew how to make them believe in him. Together, they created magic.

Their feud produced unforgettable interviews, packed houses and intensely personal battles. In April 1980, Piper defeated Rose and took his hair. Five months later, Rose got his revenge by defeating Piper in a Loser Leaves Town match, sending Piper out of Portland and toward the next chapter of a career that would eventually make him one of professional wrestling's biggest stars.

But their Portland story wasn't finished. Piper returned in 1985 and found Buddy waiting for him again. Rose would also leave another remarkable legacy: some of the Portland Wrestling footage that survives today exists because Buddy embraced home video technology and recorded the history he was helping create.

Separately, Buddy Rose and Roddy Piper were extraordinary. Together, they were unforgettable. One became the perfect villain. The other became the perfect hero. Portland Wrestling had them both at exactly the right time.

It was lightning in a bottle—and more than 45 years later, we're still talking about it.

And next Friday, The Cream of the Crop continues with another rivalry Portland fans would never forget: Dutch Savage and Bull Ramos. One was already becoming a Northwest legend. The other arrived looking like he had come to destroy everything in his path.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 48: August 1969 – Blood, Wire & a New Northwest Champion

August 1969 was a month when Portland Wrestling caught fire—and at the center of it all were Lonnie Mayne and “Ruffian” Rip Kirby.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers continue their month-by-month journey through the territory as a heel-versus-heel rivalry unexpectedly becomes the hottest attraction in the Northwest. Don Owen lets the feud simmer rather than running it every week, and when Mayne and Kirby finally collide, the results are brutal: bloody battles, packed houses, a Northwest Heavyweight Championship change, and eventually a ring surrounded by wire to keep the two men from escaping each other.

Kirby emerges as the new Northwest Heavyweight Champion, while Mayne finds himself in the unusual position of being a villain against most of the roster—but increasingly cheered whenever he faces Kirby. Meanwhile, Stan Stasiak moves back into title contention, and Portland's thin heel roster creates an unexpected opportunity for Haru Sasaki, who goes from the preliminaries to battling Mayne and Tony Borne in the main events.

There are plenty of strange detours along the way: Johnny Kostas repeatedly being advertised and repeatedly failing to appear, Buddy Marino's supposedly “famous and clever” Skin the Cat, Stasiak moonlighting as a referee, Shag Thomas preparing to trade wrestling for the classroom, and newspaper descriptions that could sell a wrestling match—or occasionally make Frank and Mike wonder what the writer was thinking.

Then it's time for an Island Interlude, as Lisa Hughes breaks out the grass skirt, flower lei and coconut bra and sends the show to Hawaii. The August cards feature Dory Funk Jr. defending the NWA World Championship against King Curtis Iaukea, Pedro Morales battling Gorilla Monsoon, the arrival of Kurt and Karl Von Steiger, the surprise return of Pampero Firpo, and the mysterious Masked Men #1 and #2—whose identities apparently remained a mystery.

And Card Shark returns as Lisa reaches into her collection of old wrestling programs and challenges Mike to identify the territory, city and year from nothing but the wrestlers on the card. As usual, Mike's encyclopedic memory gets a workout—and Lisa enjoys every second of it.

By month's end, the Mayne-Kirby war is far from finished. Tony Borne is back in the middle of things, Sasaki has joined Kirby's side, and a disqualification leaves everybody brawling and the rivalry headed straight into September.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Cream of the Crop – Episode 1: Tony Borne & Lonnie Mayne

Welcome to The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, Money Draws, and Territory Legends, a brand-new journey through the biggest stars in Portland Wrestling history.

These aren't simply the wrestlers who appeared on the cards. These are the names that went at the top of the poster. The champions, personalities, heroes, and villains who packed the Portland Sports Arena, filled Memorial Coliseum, sold tickets, and became the faces of an entire territory.

And there may be no better place to begin than with Tony Borne and Lonnie Mayne.

Long before Buddy Rose and Roddy Piper became synonymous with Portland Wrestling, Tony Borne was setting the standard. A nine-time Northwest Heavyweight Champion and 19-time Northwest Tag Team Champion, Borne combined wrestling ability, psychology, personality, and an uncanny understanding of how to make a crowd react. Then he saw something special in a young wrestler named Lonnie Mayne.

When Don Owen was reportedly ready to move on from Mayne, Borne stepped forward with a simple idea: “Put the kid with me.” That decision helped change Portland Wrestling history.

Together, Borne and Mayne captured the Northwest Tag Team Championship an incredible 11 times, battled some of wrestling's biggest names, and became one of the defining teams of the territory. Then came the breakup. Teacher versus student. Partner versus partner. Their rivalry became so hot that Portland Sports Arena wasn't big enough, sending their matches to Memorial Coliseum before crowds of 7,000 and 8,000 fans.

They would eventually reunite, but their story became about far more than championships. It was about friendship, mentorship, rivalry, charisma—and two men whose careers became forever intertwined.

Tony Borne and Lonnie Mayne were partners and rivals. Teachers and students. Heroes and villains. Most importantly, they were money draws and main eventers.

They were The Cream of the Crop.

And next Friday, the series continues with two men whose rivalry helped change Portland Wrestling forever: “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 47: We Haven't Mentioned These Guys Yet – Part 2

There are the legends everybody remembers—and then there are the wrestlers whose names can suddenly unlock a memory you haven't thought about in fifty years.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers pick up the conversation that became too big for one episode. We Haven't Mentioned These Guys Yet – Part 2 digs even deeper into the wrestlers who passed through Portland—some for only a handful of matches, others for longer runs, and more than a few who went on to fascinating careers elsewhere.

Among the stories are Bill Watts, who wrestled exactly one Portland match before becoming one of wrestling's legendary promoters; Prince Kumali, whose Northwest appearances were his only North American wrestling run; Randy Morse, the big man who toured Japan and survived a frightening accident at the Portland Sports Arena; and Sailor White, who eventually found championship success in the WWF as one of the Moondogs.

Mike also makes the case for one of Portland Wrestling's great missed opportunities—masked babyface Super Hawk, a talented luchador with an impressive career in Mexico who Mike believes could have become something special if Don Owen had given him a bigger push. The conversation also revisits Super Ninja, The White Avenger, Clay Spencer, and the wonderfully ridiculous story of Terry Gibbs losing a Loser Leaves Town match... only to return later that very night under a mask as The Georgia Jaw Jacker.

Then it's back to wrestling's earlier years with Luis Martinez, Larry Chaney, and Tarzan Tyler, as Frank and Mike uncover stories of championships, friendships, tragedy, unusual gimmicks, and even a possible historical connection to the loaded boot that would eventually become synonymous with The Grappler.

And of course, Card Shark returns. Lisa deals Mike three mystery wrestling cards, including a loaded 1962 Los Angeles card and a 1977 Detroit lineup. But the real surprise comes with the final card: a 1989 Pacific Coast Championship Wrestling show in Oregon City that just happened to feature a young announcer named Frank Culbertson behind the microphone. Somehow, Mike fails to recognize the most important wrestling card in human history. Lisa, meanwhile, just keeps dancing.

It's an episode built around one of the things that makes wrestling history so much fun: not every wrestler becomes a legend, but every wrestler adds another page to the story. And on Ringside in Rose City, Frank and Mike believe every page is worth reading.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 12: The Final Chapter... and the Beginning of a New Journey

Every great series reaches its final chapter.

After twelve episodes exploring the unforgettable attractions who made Portland Wrestling unlike any other territory, The Attraction Archive comes to a close. But before saying goodbye, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers celebrate one final collection of unique personalities whose paths to Portland came through football, boxing, women's wrestling, little person wrestling, and even television.

This farewell episode features Angelo Mosca, one of the greatest players in Canadian Football League history who successfully transitioned to professional wrestling; former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jersey Joe Walcott, whose brief Portland wrestling appearance became one of the territory's most unusual stories; Betty Nicoli, an AWA Women's World Champion whose accomplishments reached far beyond her Northwest appearances; and little person wrestling attractions Dirty Morgan, Tiny Atlas, and Pepe Gomez, performers whose fascinating careers perfectly capture the spirit of The Attraction Archive.

As Frank and Mike close the book on dozens of attractions and hundreds of stories, they reflect on the giants, pioneers, curiosities, future world champions, and unforgettable personalities who helped make Portland Wrestling special—even if they weren't always the names at the top of the card.

But the journey is far from over.

Next week marks the premiere of an exciting new series: The Cream of the Crop. The spotlight shifts from the special attractions to the men who defined Portland Wrestling—the main eventers, the money draws, and the territory legends. From Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper, Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Tony Borne, Lonnie Mayne, The Grappler, and Bull Ramos, to many more of the biggest stars ever to step inside the Portland Sports Arena, this new series will explore the wrestlers whose names topped the posters, sold the tickets, and built one of professional wrestling's greatest territories. If The Attraction Archive celebrated the unforgettable side stories, The Cream of the Crop is all about the main event.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City and The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 46: Who We Haven't Talked About – Part 1

Not every wrestler was a main event star. Some were future champions finding their footing. Some arrived at just the wrong time. Others left behind memorable careers that deserve another look.This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers shine the spotlight on the wrestlers who helped shape Portland Wrestling but rarely receive the attention they deserve. It's the first installment of a new series celebrating the forgotten names, fascinating careers, and unexpected stories that filled out the cards at the Portland Sports Arena. Among the wrestlers featured are Abbud Dein, the son of King Curtis Iaukea whose mysterious interview style made him one of the most unique personalities of the late 1980s; Alexis Smirnoff, the Russian villain whose Northwest stay ended almost as quickly as it began; Art Crews, who returned to Portland transformed from a bland babyface into one of the territory's most entertaining heels; Barry Orton, uncle of Randy Orton and member of wrestling's legendary Orton family; and Avalanche, later known as PN News, whose enormous size made him an unforgettable part of Portland's final years. Frank and Mike also revisit the careers of Billy White Cloud, Brian Adias, Dennis Stamp, Gene Kelly (Gene Lewis), Jeff Portz, Hiro Ota (Yasu Fujii), Ivan Zarnoff, Mike York, Mr. Seki (Mr. Pogo), and Pierre LeGrand, sharing stories that range from bizarre gimmicks and famous wrestling families to championship runs, memorable feuds, and career paths that took these wrestlers around the world.Along the way, Mike uncovers little-known facts, recalls unforgettable matches, and explains why even the wrestlers who spent little time in Portland played an important role in building one of wrestling's greatest territories. Before the conversation is over, Frank and Mike realize they've barely scratched the surface—setting up the first-ever "to be continued" episode in Ringside in Rose City history.Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.One ring. One city. A thousand stories.New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 11: World Champions, Trailblazers, and Wrestling's Lasting Mysteries

Some wrestling attractions became legends because of championship victories. Others broke barriers that reached far beyond the ring. And a few left behind mysteries that historians are still trying to solve.

This week on The Attraction Archive, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers explore four fascinating figures whose stories demonstrate just how diverse the world of Portland wrestling truly was.

The episode begins with Ivan Koloff, the man who shocked the wrestling world by ending Bruno Sammartino's historic WWWF Championship reign. Mike traces Koloff's early Northwest appearances under the name Red McNulty, his later returns as an international superstar, and the personal conversations that revealed the thoughtful, faith-driven man behind one of wrestling's greatest villains.

Next, the spotlight turns to Sue Green, whose extraordinary career began while she was still in high school. After receiving permission from the Governor of Texas to wrestle professionally as a teenager, Green went on to enjoy a remarkable career that extended well beyond the ring, eventually becoming the focus of the acclaimed documentary Out in the Ring.

The journey continues with Joey Russell, whose career alongside the legendary Sky Low Low highlights the close-knit world of little person wrestling during its touring heyday. Then Frank and Mike dive into one of wrestling history's enduring puzzles: Pepe Morales. Was he actually Sonny Boy Hayes competing under another name? The historical evidence is compelling, but the mystery remains unsolved, making for one of the most intriguing stories in the Attraction Archive.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.