🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #9 – From Portland to the WWF: The Forgotten Launchpads of Legends

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.
And this week… a thousand miles to superstardom.

On this episode of Ringside in Rose City, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson spin the Wheel of Topics and land on a stunner — the wrestlers who passed through Portland before exploding onto the national stage of the WWWF and WWF. The household names you know… and the ones you never realized got their start right here in the Pacific Northwest.

Mike and Frank dig into:

Antonio Inoki – before Japan’s biggest legend was an icon, he wrestled under a mask in Portland as “Mr. Komodo,” learning the ropes before shocking the world by beating Bob Backlund in a title match WWE refuses to recognize.

Red McNulty (Ivan Koloff) – the Irishman with an eyepatch who became the “Russian Bear” and the man who ended Bruno Sammartino’s seven-year reign.

Pat Patterson – the Northwest’s own creative genius, from wild brawls in Portland to the “phantom” Intercontinental Title win in Rio that never happened—but changed wrestling forever.

Don “The Magnificent” Muraco – debuting here as the skinny Don Morrow before transforming into the musclebound Intercontinental champ who dropped Snuka off the cage in MSG.

The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) – before they were the foundation of the Bloodline, they were Portland regulars in the mid-’70s, undefeated and untamed.

Larry Zbyszko, Greg Valentine, Adrian Adonis, Lanny Poffo, and even Jake “The Snake” Roberts — all cut their teeth in Don Owen’s ring before going worldwide.

Plus: Kayfabe Curveballs returns with Lisa Hughes throwing Mike off his game on topics from candy corn to The Brady Bunch — and an unforgettable story about saving a pristine Dodger jersey from a blood-soaked brawl with Diamond Timothy Flowers.

It’s a time-traveling look at how Portland quietly built the stars who’d soon headline the Garden, main-event WrestleMania, and define the golden age of wrestling.

🎧 Ringside in Rose City – hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson, produced by Lisa Hughes.
📅 New episodes every Thursday.
📲 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.
🏷️ Ringside in Rose City – One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.
🎬 A Yaskey Production.

On To Better Things: The Portland ChaptersEpisode 8: Don Muraco, Rocky Venturo, and Pat Patterson

From the skinny kid making his debut to the man who changed wrestling forever—this episode of On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters traces three incredible careers that all ran through Portland.

Host Frank Culbertson looks back at three names who each left a unique mark on wrestling history:

🔥 Don Muraco — His very first professional match took place in Portland in 1970 under the name Don Morrow. He was raw, lanky, and just starting out—but within a decade, he’d become “The Magnificent Muraco,” a fixture of WWF television and one of the defining villains of the 1980s.

💪 Rocky Venturo (Phil Lafleur / Dan Kroffat) — An underrated talent who arrived in Portland in 1985, he was a smooth, athletic worker who impressed everyone. After earning a title shot against Ric Flair, a knee injury derailed his run—but later, alongside Doug Furnas, he’d find international success as one of Japan’s most respected tag team wrestlers.

🏆 Pat Patterson — A legend in every sense. Patterson worked the Northwest early in his career and returned briefly in 1969 and 1977. From Portland rings to the Royal Rumble, his impact on wrestling stretched far beyond the ring—as a performer, innovator, and mentor.

Three careers that began—or came back—through Portland. Three stories that show how this territory shaped wrestling’s past and future.

📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #8 – Giants, Mountains, and Skyscrapers of Portland Wrestling

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories. And this week… a thousand pounds in every corner.

On this episode of Ringside in Rose City, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson fire up the wheel and land on one colossal topic: the giants of Portland and Pacific Northwest wrestling. From carnival-attraction big men to legit Olympians and future movie villains, this one is wall-to-wall heavyweights.

Mike and Frank dig into:

• Haystacks Calhoun – his battle royals, wild handicap matches, that tiny town of Soap Lake drawing huge crowds, his friendship with Abe Jacobs, legendary MSG stories with Bruno Sammartino, and the time he and Andre ate so much at an all-you-can-eat diner they paid six times the bill out of guilt.

• Man Mountain Mike – the “replacement” super-heavyweight who became a Northwest favorite, teaming with Lonnie Mayne, winning battle royals, and then being absolutely destroyed by Baron Von Krupp in the match that made the Baron and ended Mike’s Portland run.

• Chris Taylor – the 425-pound Olympic star turned pro, his big AWA wins, his impressive heel run in Portland teaming with Ron Bass, six-man tags against Andre, Dutch Savage, and Snuka… and how illness cut short what could’ve been a huge career, especially in Japan.

• Avalanche (Paul Neu) – over 400 pounds and bumping like a cruiserweight, winning tag gold in Portland (including as one half of the “Whales on the Beach” with Buddy Rose), moving on to WCW as PN News, and reinventing himself as Cannonball Grizzly in Europe.

• The Tall Division – stories and memories on the skyscrapers of the territory:

  • Don Jardine (The Spoiler) walking the ropes long before The Undertaker

  • Don Leo Jonathan, one of the all-time Northwest greats, his NWA shots, epic battles with Andre, and surprisingly philosophical outlook on life and travel

  • John Quinn, from Kentucky Butcher to Vancouver mainstay

  • Tex McKenzie, awkward as hell but a proven draw

  • Bill Francis, big upside, big chances… and why it never fully clicked

  • Baron Von Krupp, mud puddles, temper, and terror

  • Mike York, part of the Alaskans and uncle to Ricky Morton

  • Sky Hi Lee / Tyler Mane, debuting in Portland and later becoming Sabretooth in X-Men

It’s a super-sized tour through the giants, oddities, attractions, and legit athletes who towered over the ring ropes—and the territory’s history.

🎧 Ringside in Rose City – hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson, produced by Lisa Hughes.
📅 New episodes every Thursday.
📲 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.
🏷️ Ringside in Rose City – One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.
🎬 A Yaskey Production.

Episode 7: Tommy Rogers, Siegfried Steinke, and Larry Zbyszko

From rising stars to rugged brawlers and future legends, three very different wrestlers passed through Portland on their way to wrestling history.

In this episode, host Frank Culbertson explores how the Northwest served as a launching pad—and sometimes a proving ground—for wrestlers who went on to better things.

🌟 Tommy Rogers — In 1982, a young babyface named Tommy Rogers was just five months into his career when he arrived in Portland. Rumors swirled that he was related to the Sawyer brothers, but Rogers made his own name with athletic performances that foreshadowed his later success as one half of The Fantastics—a team that helped define 1980s tag team wrestling.

💥 Siegfried Steinke — A powerhouse from Vancouver with titles to his name, Steinke brought chaos to Portland in the mid-’70s. His “bounty hunter” tag match with Mad Dog Vachon against The Fabulous Kangaroos became the stuff of legend—an all-out brawl that spilled into the crowd and left no chair unturned.

🏆 Larry Whistler (Larry Zbyszko) — In 1973, a young Larry Whistler came through Portland for a handful of matches before becoming the protégé—and later the rival—of Bruno Sammartino. That feud would culminate in front of 36,000 fans at Shea Stadium and make Zbyszko a household name as The Living Legend.

Three unique careers. Three glimpses into wrestling history. All connected by their time in the Northwest.

📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes drop every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #7: The Night the World Came to Portland

“One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.”

In this episode, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson dive deep into the nights when the NWA World Heavyweight Championship came through the Pacific Northwest. From Lou Thesz’s 60-minute draws to Harley Race’s title defenses, and from Jack Brisco’s classics to Ric Flair’s golden reign, we revisit the legends who brought the most prestigious belt in wrestling to Portland.

It’s not just a list of matches—it’s the story of how Portland became a hidden crossroads in wrestling history. Who drew the biggest crowds? Who gave the champs the toughest fights? And how close did a Portland wrestler ever come to taking home the ten pounds of gold?

Plus, Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, and for once, it doesn’t shock, spray, or set anything on fire—just pure wrestling talk… mostly.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your wrestling fix.
📼 Ringside in Rose City — A Yaskey Production.

Episode 6: Bruiser Bob Remus, Edouard Carpentier, and Afa & Sika Anoai

Before the bright lights and the global fame, three very different acts passed through Portland—each leaving behind a story that ties this territory to wrestling history.

In this week’s episode, host Frank Culbertson explores how the Northwest played a part in shaping a drill instructor, a world champion, and the foundation of an entire wrestling dynasty.

Bruiser Bob Remus (Sgt. Slaughter) — In 1974, a big raw-boned brawler named Bob Remus arrived in Portland and struggled to find his footing. A few wins, a few main events, and one major gimmick change later, he became Sgt. Slaughter—a name known around the world.

🌍 Edouard Carpentier — One of wrestling’s most respected world champions made a brief but fascinating stop in Portland in 1969 while touring globally. Known for his aerial athleticism long before it was common, Carpentier’s presence added prestige to the territory and inspired future generations.

🌋 Afa & Sika Anoai (The Wild Samoans) — Long before Roman Reigns, The Usos, and the Bloodline, there were Afa and Sika—the patriarchs of wrestling’s most famous family. They came through Portland in the early 1970s, unbeaten in their final run here before going on to capture the WWWF Tag Team Championship and cement a legacy that still dominates wrestling today.

Three eras. Three stories. All part of the fabric that makes Portland Wrestling unforgettable.

📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes every Friday.

Ringside in Rose City #6 – “Extravaganzas, Coliseum Chaos, and the Mystery of Lisa’s Mace”

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.

Portland didn’t just host wrestling—it celebrated it in style. In this explosive episode, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson break down every Portland Wrestling Extravaganza from 1985–1986, plus a look back at the massive Memorial Coliseum supercards of the 1960s.

From the legendary Don Owen 60th Anniversary show…
To the WWF’s first-ever appearance in Portland…
To the infamous four-minute main event that abruptly ended an era and left fans stunned—this episode covers the triumphs, surprises, and bizarre decisions that shaped Portland’s biggest nights.

And yes—Lisa Hughes no longer has the cattle prod.
But… is that Mace in her hand?
(Welcome to the only wrestling podcast where the producer is more dangerous than the heels.)

🔥 This episode delivers:

• The rise and fall of Portland’s Extravaganzas

• Rare stories from behind the curtain

• Why the final main event caused outrage

• The night WWF stepped into Don Owen’s town

📅 New episodes every Thursday
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix
⚡ A Yaskey Production

Episode 5: Mark Hanna, Jake Roberts, Paul Ellering, and Sailor White

From early promise to short runs and surprising twists, four wrestlers passed through Portland before going on to bigger things—and in some cases, completely different paths.

In this episode, host Frank Culbertson shares the stories of:

💥 Mark Hanna (Steve Olsonoski) — A clean-cut rookie in 1977 who learned his craft in Portland before going on to win the prestigious National Heavyweight Championship in Georgia.

🐍 Jake “The Snake” Roberts — Long before the mind games and DDTs, Jake appeared briefly in Portland in 1978, wrestling on the night fans paid tribute to Lonnie Mayne. Even then, his calm, cerebral presence was unmistakable.

💪 Paul Ellering — Arriving in 1982 as a powerhouse with main-event potential, an untimely injury ended his Portland run after just eight days. But he’d rebound to manage the legendary Road Warriors and even compete in Alaska’s Iditarod.

⚓ Sailor White — A burly, tattooed brawler who worked Portland in the early ’70s before becoming a WWF Tag Team Champion as one of the Moondogs—a tough life, a wild career, and a story that truly fits the word “grit.”

Four names. Four Portland chapters. All proof that this territory produced—and sometimes missed—wrestling’s next wave of stars.

📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes drop every Friday.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 5: Heels, Heat, and a Little Shock Therapy
Hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson
Produced by Lisa Hughes

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.

The wheel lands on one of the most electrifying topics in Portland Wrestling history—the Top 10 Heels—and things get shocking… literally.
When Lisa Hughes accidentally sets off the cattle prod on her own leg, chaos breaks loose, but she recovers like a pro, and the show rolls on!

Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson dive deep into what truly makes a great heel—was it the swagger, the promos, or the ability to make a crowd really hate you? From rule-breaking villains to sneaky fan-favorites, they reveal the ten best bad guys who ever stalked the Portland ring.

And don’t miss a hilarious round of Kayfabe Corner, where Mike tells another wild behind-the-scenes story that only he could know.

📅 New episodes every Thursday
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your wrestling fix
⚡ A Yaskey Production

Episode 4: Dizzy Hogan, Gino Hernandez, and Buzz Sawyer

Before they made headlines across the wrestling world, three future stars passed through the Portland Sports Arena—each leaving behind a short but fascinating chapter.

In this episode, host Frank Culbertson takes a closer look at three wrestlers who went on to better things:

💈 Dizzy Hogan — Long before he was Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Ed Leslie was billed as Hulk Hogan’s brother in Portland. Early wins hinted at potential, but a ceiling on the card and a run-in with booker Buddy Rose sent him packing by 1982.

⭐ Gino Hernandez — Charismatic, confident, and already a champion elsewhere, Gino arrived in 1977 ready to rise. Instead, Portland kept him mid-carded while stars like Buddy Rose, Dutch Savage, and Snuka dominated the top. His story, full of what-ifs, ended tragically at just 29.

🐺 Buzz Sawyer — He came in as a babyface in 1980, scored big wins, teamed with Matt Borne, and held the tag belts with his brother Brett Sawyer. His fiery reputation followed him through the territories—and his Portland run connected him to a young Terry Allen, later known as Magnum T.A.

Three careers, three paths, all shaped in the Northwest before they moved on to bigger stages.

📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes every Friday.