This week on Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson, Gene sits down with one of the most fascinating figures in wrestling history, “The World’s Strongest Man” Ted Arcidi for a long form conversation covering bodybuilding, powerlifting, WWF, movies, television, and the wild ride that took him from setting world records to stepping inside the wrestling ring.

Best known to wrestling fans as “Mr. 705” after becoming the first man to officially bench press over 700 pounds, Ted discusses:

• Breaking world records in powerlifting
• Training and competing during the golden era of strength sports
• Transitioning from bodybuilding and lifting into professional wrestling
• His time in the WWF during the mid-1980s boom period
• Working alongside Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, and many of wrestling’s biggest stars
• The reality of being pushed as a powerhouse attraction during wrestling’s national expansion
• Traveling the territory system before the wrestling business completely changed
• Stories from behind the scenes during one of wrestling’s hottest eras
• And the physical and mental discipline it took to compete at such an elite level

This is a fascinating deep dive into the life of a man who has lived in multiple worlds: strength sports, bodybuilding, professional wrestling, and entertainment and succeeded in all of them.

Follow Ted Arcidi on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ted.arcidi.2025

Subscribe to Ted Arcidi’s YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@TedArcidiYouTube

🎧 Subscribe to the Retro Wrestling Archive Network for more classic wrestling interviews, retro reviews, deep dives, and wrestling history content.

#TedArcidi #WWF #Bodybuilding #Powerlifting #HulkHogan #VinceMcMahon #RetroWrestling #WrestlingPodcast #80sWrestling

On this special episode, Brian Tramel and Steve Crawford look back at the life and career of Phil Hickerson, one of the toughest, most believable, and most underrated performers to ever come through Memphis wrestling.

From his early run as a rugged Southern brawler teaming with Al Green, to his legendary partnership with Dennis Condrey as part of the Wrecking Crew, Hickerson built a reputation as a guy who could fight, bleed, talk, and make everything he did feel real. Brian and Steve discuss Phil’s place in the Memphis territory, his wild arena brawls, his run-ins with names like Jerry Lawler, Tommy Rich, Eddie Gilbert, Harley Race, and the future Sting and Ultimate Warrior, plus his later transformation into P.Y. Chu-Hi.

The show also covers what made Hickerson so respected by fans and wrestlers alike: his timing, his toughness, his believable promos, and his ability to make everyone he worked with look better. It’s part career retrospective, part Memphis wrestling history lesson, and part tribute to one of the last great old-school Southern wrestling originals.

A salute to “Big” Phil Hickerson — a Jackson, Tennessee tough guy who left a lasting mark on Memphis wrestling.

 Dustin Starr joins STS again for a new episode of “Shootin’ The Shiznit.” On Episode 294 Dustin & BT sit down to talk about language, wrestling on CW 30, big news, Cody & Brandi, backstage at AEW, Justin Roberts and more! 

Episode #8 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View Continental Wrestling Podcast takes Gene Jackson and Robb Helt back to Continental Championship Wrestling from August 31, 1985, and this week the footage looks better, the matches hit harder, and Continental continues building some of the hottest issues in Alabama territory wrestling.

This episode kicks off with Dick Slater stopping by the desk with Gordon Solie, but the real action starts when the Nightmares defend their Southeastern Tag Team Titles against Brickhouse Brown and Nick Patrick. The Nightmares are once again a textbook heel tag team constant switches, slick timing, cheap shots, and enough tag team psychology to make you wish there were complete house-show tapes of these guys every week.

From there, things get heavier as Continental revisits the question:

“Where’s Johnny?”

After weeks of the Nightmares taunting Tommy Rich over Johnny Rich’s absence, Johnny finally returns and reveals just how serious his injuries were. The episode touches on the real-life stabbing incident that nearly cost him his life, with Tommy Rich making it clear how grateful he is that Johnny is still here.

Then things get even more interesting when Norvell Austin arrives in Continental. At first, he comes in running his mouth and demanding respect but after the Nightmares turn on him, Norvell suddenly finds himself on the receiving end of a brutal beating. That sets the stage for Norvell Austin and Brickhouse Brown to form a new team and go after the Southeastern Tag Team Titles.

The big takeaway? Continental is starting to feel locked in.

The Nightmares are great. Adrian Street is great. The Armstrong/Fuller issue is heating back up. Tommy Rich and The Flame still have unfinished business. And even the undercard gives you guys like Bill Ash and Roy Lee Welch beating the hell out of each other like it matters.

If you love old-school Southern wrestling, rare Continental footage, Gordon Solie, the Armstrongs, Tommy Rich, the Nightmares, Adrian Street, and Gene & Robb breaking it all down with equal parts history, sarcasm, and genuine appreciation… this episode is absolutely for you.

The Retro Wrestling Re-View Power Pro Wrestling Podcast rolls on with Episode #6 as Gene Jackson, Robb Helt and Brian Tramel head back to TV5 Studios to break down the May 23, 1998 episode of Power Pro Wrestling — and this one might be the most gloriously chaotic episode yet.

This week the crew discusses:

• The rematch between BJ Awesome and Spellbinder, and whether Sir Mo may actually be in better shape than people remembered
• Brandon Baxter continuing his mission to make Randy Hales’ life miserable while delivering another top notch promo while wearing a muscle shirt and “daisy dukes”
• Tony Falk declaring war on women after his recent divorce problems… because, BY GAWD, they’re all gonna pay!
• Derrick King continuing his hopeless pursuit of Jackie (and taking an insane HBK bump over the top rope out onto the floor in the process!
• Kid Wikkid getting more TV time than seemingly anyone else in the company and attempting to build “The Wikkid Crew”
• Lance Jade vs Bobby Bronz in a Young Guns contender match
• Bill Dundee battling Kid Wikkid while Billy Joe Travis continues sticking his nose into everything
• Jerry Lawler and Stacy vs Brandon Baxter and Paul Diamond in a main event that completely falls apart into absolute studio wide Memphis madness

Plus:

Robb’s ongoing campaign against Billy Joe Travis…(along with a new t-shirt)
Producer Smokey doing his usual behind-the-scenes magic…
and the guys debating whether Power Pro is giving us wrestling… or simply giving us EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE as Robb tries his best to process it all. 

If you love old-school Memphis wrestling, late-90s insanity, bizarre angles, and hilarious wrestling discussion, this is exactly your kind of podcast!

Welcome to the premiere episode of Arc of an Angle, a new LIVE from the Archive! series where host Robb Helt is joined by Gene Jackson & Scottie Wince to take a deep dive look at one complete wrestling storyline from beginning to end.

This first series goes back to World Class Championship Wrestling in 1988 for the beginning of the long running Eric Embry vs. Skandor Akbar / Devastation Incorporated feud, the angle that helped carry WCCW through its final days and into the eventual USWA era.

In Episode #1, Robb sets the stage for where World Class stood in the fall of 1988: shrinking crowds, lost syndication, the Von Erich promotion in serious trouble, and Jerry Jarrett stepping in as the company was barely hanging on. From there, the guys watch the earliest pieces of the Embry/Akbar story begin to unfold at the Sportatorium.

This episode covers:

• World Class struggling in late 1988
• Jerry Jarrett purchasing WCCW
• Eric Embry before the full babyface turn
• Skandor Akbar recruiting and attacking babyfaces
• Kendall Windham getting caught in Devastation Incorporated’s crosshairs
• Iceman King Parsons, Botswana Beast, Jimmy Jack Funk, Percy Pringle, Kerry Von Erich, and more
• The early signs of Embry being pulled into the fight
• Why the Sportatorium atmosphere still mattered, even when the crowds were down
• And Robb’s firsthand memories of being in the building as this angle began

This is not just a quick recap, it’s the beginning of a week by week breakdown of how an angle was built, how the pieces connected, and how one storyline helped briefly breathe life into a dying territory and reshape the final chapter of World Class Championship Wrestling.

If you love territory wrestling, WCCW, the Sportatorium, Eric Embry, Skandor Akbar, Devastation Incorporated, and deep dive wrestling history, this is the start of a series you’ll want to follow from the beginning.

The Rick Del Santo Classic Wrestling Talk Podcast joins the Retro Wrestling Archive Podcast Network with a great old school interview featuring the original “Dirty White Boy”, Jimmy Powell.

Rick sits down with Jimmy for a detailed look back at his unique journey through the wrestling business from breaking in as a teenager, building and renting out his own wrestling ring, working outlaw shows, and eventually getting opportunities with Nick Gulas, Tojo Yamamoto, Deep South Wrestling, World Class, Texas All-Star Wrestling, Southern Championship Wrestling, and Memphis.

Jimmy shares stories about learning the business the hard way, working with legends like Tojo Yamamoto, Terry Gordy, Ripper Collins, Luke Graham, Jeff Jarrett, Tony Anthony, Tommy Rich, Ted Allen, Jody Hamilton, Jerry Blackwell, Joe Pedicino, and many more.

The conversation also covers his run as the Dirty White Boy, the Georgia Power tag team with Ted Allen, working under a mask as a Nightmare, the reality of traveling the territories, payoff stories, booking, old-school wrestling psychology, and why some of the best talents from that era never got the credit they deserved.

If you enjoy honest territory era wrestling stories, Southern wrestling history, and hearing from names who lived the business from the inside, this is a great episode to check out.

 It’s time for a new episode of “Shootin’ The Shiznit.” Brian Tramel sits down again with Dustin Starr for Episode 241. Dustin talks about Championship Wrestling, Scorpio Sky, “big news,” WWE developmental, meeting with TNA, Jason Jordan, leaving the WWE and much more! 

On this special episode of LIVE from the Archive!, we pause to remember and celebrate the life and career of Phil Hickerson, one of the toughest, most believable, and most underrated performers in Memphis wrestling history.

Phil Hickerson was never just “another guy on the card.” Whether he was teaming with Dennis Condry as part of the Bicentennial Kings, working alongside names like Tojo Yamamoto, Frank Morrell, Al Green, and Jerry Lawler, or later reinventing himself as P.Y. Chu-Hi, Phil always brought a level of toughness and credibility that made everything he did feel real.

In this tribute episode, we look back at Phil’s legacy across Memphis, Tennessee, Southeastern, Continental, Dallas, Japan, and the USWA while also talking about the man behind the wrestler, his years as a beloved radio personality in Jackson, Tennessee, and the impact he had on fans, friends, and fellow wrestlers.

Gene & Robb discuss:

• Phil’s early years in Memphis wrestling
• His legendary tag team with Dennis Condry
• The Bicentennial Kings era
• His reputation as a believable tough guy and great worker
• The P.Y. Chu-Hi run with Tojo Yamamoto
• His underrated promo ability
• Stories from those who knew him and worked with him
• His later life and radio career in Jackson, Tennessee
• And why Phil Hickerson deserves to be remembered as far more than just a footnote in Memphis wrestling history

This is a meaningful look back at a true territory-era professional wrestler, a man who could fight, talk, entertain, and make everyone around him better.

Rest in peace, Phil Hickerson.

On this episode of Get Your Bell Rung, host K.G. Landry sits down with Vicki Otis, known to wrestling fans as Princess Victoria, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation that goes far beyond the usual wrestling interview.

Vicki discusses her upcoming book, Fighting the Wrong Side of the Sun: Becoming Princess Victoria, and opens up about the difficult road that led her into professional wrestling. She talks honestly about surviving a traumatic childhood, leaving home at 14, being taken in by the Portland Wrestling scene, and how professional wrestling quite literally saved her life.

The episode covers her early days around Portland Wrestling, training under Sandy Barr, learning from names like Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper, Dutch Savage, Stan Stasiak, The Sheepherders, and others, and eventually becoming one of the first WWF Women’s Tag Team Champions alongside Velvet McIntyre.

Vicki also reflects on the physical toll of the business, breaking her neck in her final match, her complicated relationship with The Fabulous Moolah, the difference between “Moolah the wrestler” and Lillian Ellison the booker, and why she walked away from watching wrestling for years due to how women were presented.

This is an emotional, honest, and inspiring episode about survival, wrestling, trauma, strength, and the people who helped Vicki Otis become Princess Victoria and, more importantly, helped her keep going. (Recorded on 4/20/26)