When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture by DragonKingKarl

One of the most interesting personalities in the 1800 pioneer era of pro wrestling was the arch-rival (and sometimes friend) of William Muldoon. I introduce you to Clarence Whistler. In the early 1880s he gave William Muldoon the fights of his life. He was rough, dirty, and vicious. Yet, somehow, he would occasionally work with Muldoon as a partner as pro wrestling in America took form in the post-Civil War period. Clarence Whistler would not see his 30th birthday and would be buried on the other side of the world. Some of the claims about Whistler are quite fanciful. Let's take a look at pioneer pro wrestling legend: Clarence Whistler. This is hour 18 of 1000 hours.

Join us as we take a look at the history of pro wrestling pre-1900 or prior to the Frank Gotch era of wrestling. How did modern entertainment style pro wrestling begin and evolve? This series explores it's history and personalities. 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 28.\\

We continue our chronological exploration of the history of pro wrestling at MSG in New York City. We continue into the 1920s and have been discussing the saga of Tex Rickard and how he had taken over the pro wrestling scene. However, he runs into legal trouble and it threatens not only pro wrestling but boxing as well. Also, the Zbyszko brothers continue their run as top stars and the NYSAC continues to be a problem.

Professor Theobaud Bauer was one of the most successful pro wrestlers of the pioneer era. He traveled from coast to coast and was easily one of the most famous professional wrestlers of the 1800s. He was also, apparently, quite the despised human being, for when he died the Los Angeles newspapers virtually celebrated his death. Theobaud Bauer may be the most interesting wrestling pioneer we have looked at yet, perhaps for all the wrong reasons. This is hour 17.

Join us as we take a look at the history of pro wrestling pre-1900 or prior to the Frank Gotch era of wrestling. How did modern entertainment style pro wrestling begin and evolve? This series explores it's history and personalities. 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 27.

This episode was requested and sponsored by Eric Darsie of the Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast and he asked if there is any evidence for pioneer era (pre-1900) pro wrestling in Africa. Africa is hard enough to get modern era pro wrestling news out of so I didn't expect to find much, however, there does appear to have been pro wrestling in Africa during the era. I expected to find it in either Egypt or South Africa but what I found was an interesting history and style of wrestling throughout the continent that exists even to this day! This is hour 16.

This week from When It Was Cool Wrestling host Karl Stern visits the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to look at the life and career of multiple time world champion and owner of the AWA Verne Gagne. Verne Gagne was a contemporary of Lou Thesz and a major rival. Verne Gagne was one of the biggest stars on television during T.V's earliest days. However, his reluctance to change with the times resulted in the catastrophic downfall one of the three largest pro wrestling companies of the era.

More pre-1900 pro wrestling stories on this edition of 1000 Hours including some more information about pioneer era wrestling in Alabama that I've found. The primary focus of this episode comes from the mouth of one of the pioneers of wrestling themselves. Late in life (in his 70's), champion pioneer wrestler G.W. Flagg wrote a detailed letter to a newspaper about his wrestling match with another champion, John McMahon. It goes into detail about Civil War camp pro wrestling and gives us a first hand account of what we have been talking about during this series, confirming and clarifying a lot. Let's hear straight from a pioneer of wrestling legend on this episode of 1000 Hours. This is hour 14.

Join us as we take a look at the history of pro wrestling pre-1900 or prior to the Frank Gotch era of wrestling. How did modern entertainment style pro wrestling begin and evolve? This series explores it's history and personalities. 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 25

Let's have some fun this week looking back at a retro pro wrestling magazine. These shows have proven very popular and this time we are looking at the WWF Magazine from September 1992 (31 years ago!) featuring Papa Shango on the cover. Papa Shango is making life miserable for the Ultimate Warrior and WWF magazine tells us all about it. Plus, more neon than you can shake a stick at with Randy Savage. A new shady character has shown up in the WWF and we find out what is known about Razor Ramon. Plus, Curt Hennig, Rick "The Model" Martel, and The Undertaker!

1000 Hours Podcast is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Pre-1900 pro wrestling. In this episode, sponsor Eric D. wanted to know about the pioneer era of wrestling in the state of Minnesota. While Minnesota would become a hotbed of wrestling from the 1940s through the 1980s with Verne Gagne's AWA, Minnesota also had a rich history in the pioneer era as well including major events for two of the biggest stars of the time: "The Solid Man" William Muldoon and the original "Strangler" Evan Lewis. This is hour 13 of 1000 hours.

This was a request from this episodes sponsor, Jason. He asked what the pioneer era of wrestling (pre-1900) was like here in Alabama. Great question... because I have no idea. Pro Wrestling really didn't explode here until the 1940s but I knew there was some pro wrestling to here prior. So, let's dig into research. What I discovered was an established scene in the Birmingham area and the man whom it revolved around was M.J. Dwyer. Who is that? I discovered a lot about M.J. Dwyer and discuss it on this episode. (Spoiler alert: We run across Dwyer again in a few episodes!) This is hour 12.