When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture by DragonKingKarl

Today, I continue preparations for the debut of my latest book: DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a detailed look back at the March 3, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This issue of the Observer discusses such stories as World Class Championship Wrestling pulling out of the NWA and crowning their own world champion. Plus, the hype for WWF WrestleMania II, Saturday Night's Main Event, Yoshiaki Yatsu trying to get into the Olympics, and Florida's Battle of the Belts card.

I recently ran through every Disney+ Star Wars offering in timeline order starting with The Acolyte (currently the series farthest back in Star Wars history) through Revenge of the Sith, and yes, that means I watched every season and episode of The Clone Wars. As a huge Star Wars fan my whole life (I saw A New Hope in theaters when I was in second grade and was hooked), all the recent Star Wars stuff on Disney+ both helped the story take on richer meaning but also brought a ton of problems with it as well. Let's talk about it.

This week I am working on finishing up my new book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus so this week I am presenting a show that I don't believe many people heard before. These two shows were recorded for a special project and this week I am letting everyone hear them. The first half of the show discusses pro wrestling's place in pop culture, especially back in the 1980s, and the second half of the show talks about times that pro wrestling either did completely embarrassing angles or featured embarrassing characters.

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series we discuss the continued rise of Evan 'Strangler' Lewis and how crowds in the late 1800s turned on this man. The vicious tactics of the original Strangler Lewis bumps up against the code of conduct of the era's sporting culture. Plus, William Muldoon says he is retired but is really? The wild 1880s continue on the 1000 Hours Podcast with 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 122.

You have the questions and I (hopefully) have the answers. No matter what era of pro wrestling history, from the pioneer era to the 2000s nothing is off limits. Today's show takes a number of questions and topic suggestions including the recent retirements of John Cena and Hiroshi Tanahasi and opponents they had in common, Jim Londos place in wrestling history, theme music, Bubba Ray Dudley and a few retro pop culture questions as well.

Oh no! There goes Tokyo! From 1974 it's Godzilla vs The Cosmic Monster. The Cosmic Monster is actually Mechagodzilla but we aren't supposed to know that (despite the art work on the poster). Anyway, this is everything I love and hate about Godzilla movies. A largely ridiculous and boring plot about aliens or something. Some women show up and sing a song, then finally monsters fight. It's every Godzilla movie ever. Let's talk about it.

Today we pick back up the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Series taken from my upcoming book (next month!) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. Pro wrestling in America is building toward three big shows- WWF WrestleMania 2, the first NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament, and AWA Wrestle Rock '86. One pro wrestler takes great exception to the WWF incursion into his town when Central States co-owner Harley Race wrestles on one side of town and then drives to the other to confront Hulk Hogan... possibly with a gun!

Join me as I dive back into the pioneer era of pro wrestling. This episode is taken from the pages of my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. We are now up to 1886 in the book and pro wrestling is in its first business slump. William Muldoon claims that wrestlers are now making less than six percent of the money they made just a few years ago. Meanwhile, Evan 'Strangler' Lewis looks to turn things around as he continues to dominate and Jack Carkeek continues to rise as well! Plus, the World Catch champion is getting tired of being ignored!

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 120.

It's Friday the 13th once again and you know what that means! It means Karl and Tonya have to sit through an increasingly terrible watch through of all the Friday the 13th Movies and we are, unfortunately up to part 8 which is the worst of the bunch so far where Jason, presumably, takes Manhattan... except he really didn't. It does, however, feature the worst character in the history of the series MEAN UNCLE GUY! I understand it only gets worse from here but join us aboard this very sketchy (air quotes) Cruise Ship (end air quotes) and let's visit one the franchises biggest flops! Warning... there is yet ANOTHER Friday the 13th next month!

I have a really fun pro wrestling history show for you today. As I continue work on my upcoming book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, I have been watching tons of pro wrestling from that era. Recently, I decided to watch the entire uncut 1987 NWA Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial tag team Cup tournament. The tournament itself was packed with deep cuts and weird tag teams that make very little sense but most astounding of them all was the otherwise unremarkable four-man combination of Steve Keirn, George South, Nelson Royal, and Mike Graham. If that sound boring to you... well, it was not!