When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture by DragonKingKarl

Added to our rotation of shows is a new one looking at the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Perhaps the most famous arena in the world, MSG has changed multiple times over the years, and we will talk about the different owners and locations as well. Today, we go back to the original Gilmour's Gardens (soon to be MSG) at the first wrestling star there - Andre Christol and the great tournament of 1875. 

This is our annual show discussing who got elected to the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. This year seemed to have more controversy than usual. One long time historian and voter has vowed to "never vote again" while others have maintained that someone unqualified has now been elected. Let's cut through the chaos and discuss the WON HOF. We may hurt a few feelings along the way but with tribalism and hyperbolic speech running rampant that's to be expected, I guess. Plus, more discussion on Sgt. Slaughter, and who is being added next year that's a must-elect. 

From the DragonKingKarl biography podcast series. It took two show to discuss Lex Luger because his career was so complex. From being "The Next Hulk Hogan" in Florida and the NWA to his days as a 4 Horsemen. Then his failed stint in WWE and return on the first WCW Monday Nitro to all of his post career trouble including the death of Miss Elizabeth. The story of Lex Luger is a wild ride of ups and downs.

So, what did Mr. Wrestling 2 (Johnny Walker) actually do? He was arrested but the newspapers give little indication of him through the court process. On today's third and final part of Pro Wrestling True Crime, we find out the ultimate disposition of John F. Walker's case, what he actually ended up being sentenced for and what that means. We also find out what happened to everyone else involved, including, what happened to them later in life. More about the Black Dhalia, and we reexamine the Jimmy Carter inauguration story in a new light.

We now dig deeper into the criminal rape case against Mr. Wrestling 2 (Johnny Walker) ... or so it seems. In the summer of 1953, a roving gang of juveniles are reeking terror on the beaches of Hawaii. Two gang assaults on teenage girls take place within the span of a few days with anywhere from 2 to 17 males involved. Two people are arrested in connection to each incident and the court process begins. Over the course of a few weeks more and more members are arrested, the last of which is gas station attendant John F. Walker, the future Mr. Wrestling 2.

Over the next three days I will be posting a 3 part series about the little known assault story involving Mr. Wrestling 2 (Johnny Walker). This series is not for kids as we will be discussing some very heavy criminal themes. Part 1 - Who is Two? This isn't a biography, but rather a look at who was John F. Walker? How did he become friends with a President all while being on an offender database in Hawaii? Then we begin the trek through the complex criminal case of Mr. Wrestling 2. This is, far and away, the most detailed examination of this story ever done.

This was previously available to our Patreons at When It Was Cool, it is a pro wrestling mailbag show where wrestling historian Karl Stern answers questions from our Patreon supporters and then you get a hilarious pro wrestling TV review covering the November 1, 1986 episode of WWF Challenge featuring Greg Valentine, Randy Savage, Brutus Beefcake, Lanny Poffo, and more!

On this episode, wrestling historian Karl Stern looks back at the annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine year end awards issue from 1981. Awards went to Ric Flair, Tommy Rich, The Freebirds, Bob Backlund, Andre the Giant, and more. The Apter magazines used to be such fun back in the day.

There are many people who consider this the funniest show review Karl Stern has ever done. I don't know, this was too easy, like shooting fish in a bucket. You had a very drunk Jake Roberts out of control, a King Kong Bundy who was not happy about it. A Jim Neidhart who was not happy about it. About a dozen wrestlers past their prime trying to do a match. This was a train wreck of a pro wrestling show and you will love it.

What were Dave Meltzer, Bryan Alvarez, and wrestling historian Karl Stern like 16 years ago? Well, I have dug up some great audio from my old DragonKing Press Audio Show. I sit down with a young fresh and hilarious Bryan Alvarez to discuss 2005 era topics like TNA, and WWE, as well as this day in wrestling history. Then I sit down with a forty-something Dave Meltzer, not yet the Twitter heel he would become, and you'll enjoy the energy of us talking pro wrestling history and listen to Dave squirm as he gets asked to tell us about himself! It's a fun show from a time when wrestling was fun and we hadn't yet got divided up into clicks which hated one another. There will be more of this so stick around.