When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture by DragonKingKarl

The 1000 Hours podcast series looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, the era before Frank Gotch. On this episode, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look into the 1880s as William Muldoon wraps up his tenure in California with a debacle of a worked match against Clarence Whistler that turned into a double cross. Whistler was supposed to go to a draw against Muldoon but decided to take it the distance. Muldoon then gives up on the west coast and heads back to New York but first stops in the wild west town of Tombstone, AZ. This match marked a real shift in the pioneer era of wrestling, and the history of pro wrestling would forever change.

YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 104.

Today our time machine takes us back to 1991, a time when pro wrestling was about as low as it could go. Business is horrendous across the board. The WWF is plagued by multiple scandals and WCW is drawing less than 1,000 people to some of its hottest areas. In a November 1991 issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, he breaks down all the information one needed to know about pro wrestling and steroids. Plus, an interesting write-up about how WWF was forced to edit the NWA title belt out of its TV shows and what they did about it.

My on-going series on the history of pro wrestling has now reached the end of 1985. The information for this episode is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. 1985 was a hugely impactful year in pro wrestling history and in December 1985, the AWA crowned a new World champion when Stan Hansen defeated Rick Martel. Plus, a major talent situation unfolds in Japan!

My 1000 Hours podcast series is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus and covers the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling. In this episode, William Muldoon, Clarence Whistler, and Donald Dinnie are in a feud. Worked or shoot? There is evidence of both. Clarence Whistler gets injured yet again. Donald Dinnie goes to jail for putting on a worked pro wrestling match. Meanwhile, an old name from the past creeps back into the story... Col. James H. McLaughlin is plotting his return.

YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 104.

Today I hop in the time machine and travel back to January 1994. There I pick up an issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which covered the previous Decembers incredible WCW Starrcade 1993! The early 1990s has reputation for being the worst era in modern pro wrestling history and, to an extent, that is true. However, there were many diamonds in this rough era and Ric Flair regaining the WCW from Vader after his original opponent Sid Vicious was fired is one of those! Join me as we look back at this great match from a not-so-great era.

Today I hop in the time machine and travel back to January 1994. There I pick up an issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter which covered the previous Decembers incredible WCW Starrcade 1993! The early 1990s has reputation for being the worst era in modern pro wrestling history and, to an extent, that is true. However, there were many diamonds in this rough era and Ric Flair regaining the WCW from Vader after his original opponent Sid Vicious was fired is one of those! Join me as we look back at this great match from a not-so-great era.

The 1000 Hours podcast series focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling history. You do not have to listen to the shows in order, jump in at any point! Today, we are in 1883 and the biggest star of the pioneer era- William Muldoon is about to face one of the greatest all around athletes of the time and Scottish legend Donald Dinnie. The two men did not get along, and Muldoon feels like he has been double crossed by Donald Dinnie and it leads to a big show down in Portland, Oregon. That and much more on hour 83 of 1000 Hours! The information in this episode is taken from my latest book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon.

YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 104.

On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Show, I grab the March 1991 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine which covers the year 1990 in depth. Besides the annual year end awards, the magazine also covers the major events of 1990. 1990 was a hugely transitional year in pro wrestling history. Ric Flair was no longer king of the NWA with Sting now the reigning World champion. Hulk Hogan was out of the WWF title picture as Ultimate Warrior now had that championship. The AWA was still barely hanging on and a major angle in USWA was grabbing attention and a newcomer named Steve Austin was making waves in Texas.

I continue my history of pro wrestling series today looking at November 1985 which is taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. The young death of 'Quick Draw' Rick McGraw stunned wrestling and started a false urban legend. Thanksgiving in 1985 was a huge deal in wrestling and there were major cards by the WWF, World Class, AWA, and the biggest one of all: NWA Starrcade. Also in this month, an off-hand remark in a promo gives birth to the most famous stable in pro wrestling. Join me as well look back at this historic month in pro wrestling history.

My 1000 Hours podcast sub-series is devoted to discussion about the pioneer era of pro wrestling (Pre-Frank Gotch). Currently, we are going through my latest book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Wrestling Omnibus and we have arrived at a fascinating story I had never heard before researching my book. A huge pro wrestling tournament was held in St. Louis, Missouri and was to feature the biggest names of the era. A rival promoter, however, syphoned off several of the stars for an East Coast tournament instead. But, back in St. Louis, one of the wrestlers, Tom Connors, was alleged to have been poisoned by another- Edwin Bibby. This and much more is discussed in this, hour 82 of 1000 Hour podcast.

YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 103.