When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture by DragonKingKarl

I'm runnin' down the road tryin' to record my show got a Slayer mailbag on my mind. Returning to you yet again with all the production values you have come to expect from the legendary NoFriender, yet ANOTHER new episode of the Thrash Metal Show Podcast hits the internet and this time he is taking questions about Slayer. Let us all sit up and pay attention and sit under the learning tree about one of the most important bands in heavy metal history.

On this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, I continue my look at the new William Muldoon book by author Scott Beekman who dives deep into the life and controversies of the Solid Man. In this episode we look back at how William Muldoon got into acting and how his first national tour feel apart and the first signs of trouble between William Muldoon and Clarence Whistler. I also compare the striking similarities between William Muldoon and Hulk Hogan who came along 100 years later. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Please check out my book on the pioneer era of pro wrestling available from Amazon titled DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus.

Today we dive into the September 15, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This was one of the sources I used in my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. In this issue, Dave breaks down the business metrics of The Big Event in Toronto, Canada with a main event of Hulk Hogan verses Paul Orndorff which drew around 70,000 people. Plus, Jim Crockett Promotions (NWA) takes over Central States wrestling, The Machines come to the WWF, and AWA crowd have fallen into the hundreds.

Get ready for Armageddon as the Mix-Tape Challenge goes nuclear! Yep, it's time for some post-apocalyptic themed playlists before things REALLY get going as "kayfabe" reigns supreme when Joseph and Mike go back to the 70s and 80s for an extra long discussion about professional wrestling. From a pint-sized businessman to a parking lot dash from destruction, the guys have some stories to tell and memories about the squared circle to share.

Today, we take the time machine back to September 2, 1986, and grab the Wrestling Observer Newsletter out of the mailbox to find out that Hulk Hogan verses Paul Orndorff in Toronto, Canada (AKA: The Big Event) is expected to break all sorts of box office records. Plus, it appears as though Central States Wrestling is about to fall to Jim Crockett Promotions, but Dave Meltzer thinks Bill Watts and the UWF still stand a chance to be the big number two promotions. AWA is drawing terrible crowds and more. Plus, on a special Patreon overrun edition: Is the Wrestling Observer website failing and dying?

This is the issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter where he reports on the NWA Great American Bash where Dusty Rhodes won the NWA World heavyweight title from Ric Flair for his third and last time. Also, tons of news on World Class, Alabama, and the WWF of course. Also, Dave has more details on Stan Hansen being stripped of the AWA World heavyweight title and taking it to Japan and defending it there.

It's time for some romance! This episode's 'Mix-Tape Challenge' has the guys pressing play on music highlighting the shiny new possibilities of love found. Then, things get bananas as Mike and Joseph go ape for the 'Planet of the Apes' franchise. Movies, books, and more are on the table as we learn that Ape Shall Not Kill Ape.

I we have now reached 100 hours of podcast time about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. After finishing my book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus and the timeline of the pioneer era of pro wrestling, we now move on to new research. Respected author and academic Scott Beekman recently released a book on the life of wrestling pioneer legend William Muldoon, and we begin reviewing that book. Early on, it is revealed that William Muldoon flat out made up his Civil War record and stole the valor of his deceased brother. Learn all about it on this episode of 1000 Hours by author and historian Karl Stern.

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 130.

I am now up to July 1986 in my Long Form History of Pro Wrestling series taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon. The NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions are running the Great American Bash series, and Dusty Rhodes wins his third, and final, NWA World heavyweight championship from Ric Flair. Plus, the WWF continues to roll across the United States, while the AWA is struggling despite having a hot tag team act in the Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty). Plus, news from Japan and much more!

We have previously reviewed a couple of the 1980s Incredible Hulk made for TV movies but today we go back to the original 1978 TV series by way of the NBC streaming app to see episode 1 season 1 where we get the origin and first transformation of the TV Incredible Hulk. This was a really good, high quality, television show and still stands out from most of the TV superhero offerings of the era. Starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk.