When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture by DragonKingKarl

Tiny Lister... Oh, what can we say about Tiny Lister? He was a character actor playing the heavy tough guy roles in many movies, then Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan came up with a movie of their own- No Holds Barred and cast Lister in the role of antagonist to Hulk Hogan's character. Then they crossed it over into the WWF. Then it gets weird.

On this pro wrestling biography by Karl Stern, we take a look at The Yeti! A seven foot tall mummy (apparently NOT a Yeti or YET-TAY as Tony Schiavonie would say). Ron Reis would have an absolute identity crisis in WCW. He would be a Big John Studd knock-off, an Abominable Snowman dressed as a mummy, an Abominable Snowman dressed as a ninja, and a grunge slacker. Yeah, this one is going to be fun.

DragonKingKarl continues his recent biographical series, today looking at Sean "X-Pac" Waltman. Karl saw Waltman's entire wrestling career, reading about his earliest days in PWA, watching him in Global, and then seeing him explode onto the scene in WWF. X-Pac excelled despite not being stamped out of the big man clone machine. He took a high flying style, mixed it was martial arts, and had a great career. Karl makes the argument he may be the best of a certain type of wrestler.

Join pro wrestling historian Karl Stern as he discusses the life and career of one of his favorite wrestlers Steve Dr. Death Williams! A legend in the Mid-South for Bill Watts and later one of the best Americans in Japan during the peak of the glory days of All-Japan Pro Wrestling. A legit wrestler who crossed over into a pro wrestling great and superstar in Japan.

Join pro wrestling historian Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) for this final look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot for 2022. In this episode we discuss the "other countries" candidates, the non-wrestler list, and discuss more about all the new tag teams on the ballot including the Robert Gibson paradox. Join us for more in-depth pro wrestling history discussion.

The character of the Mummy has made many appearances over the years in pro wrestling. From the famous Benji Ramierz to the more cartoonish Mummies in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Memphis, and beyond. Join Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) as he celebrates Halloween by looking at this monster inspired character. Visit WhenItWasCool.com.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame discussion podcast is one of our most popular podcasts of the year. Wrestling historian and chronicler Karl Stern breaks down the ballot and discusses his thoughts on each candidate. This year, there are a few rule changes (discussed in part one) and the addition of several tag teams. This episode we continue looking at the historical and modern era candidates and discussing several of those tag teams including an absolute no-brainer.

Our most popular show of the year is back. The 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame discussion. Host Karl Stern talks about this year's rule changes. Also discussed are the many new tag teams on this year's ballot. Plus, discussion about Sgt. Slaughter and many others. Part 1 of 3. 

This week on the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show we talk about the Frankenstein Monster in pro wrestling! Yes, the creature has popped up a few times in pro wrestling, most famously in Los Angeles and in Memphis and today we tell you all about how the Frankenstein Monster came to be in wrestling and about the shoot fight he had with Andre the Giant. No kidding.

On this episode host Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) takes a look at the monster Big Van Vader. Leon White originally debuted in the AWA as a former NFL football star, but after going to Japan and being given the gimmick of the space monster Big Van Vader, his career opened up internationally in a big way, including a riot against Antonio Inoki, almost losing an eye against Stan Hansen, world titles in Mexico, Japan, Europe, and the United States. Big Van Vader was a giant star literally and figuratively.