When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture by DragonKingKarl

In 1974 one of the most popular superheroes of the golden age made his long-awaited return to pop culture. DC Comics had already started publishing the adventures of Captain Marvel in the pages of the Shazam! comic book. Now that hero, in a slightly altered form, took to the TV screens on Saturday mornings in 1974. Billy Batson, a socially conscious teenager in this version, travels the country with a totally not creepy old duded called "Mentor" in a camper van... I swear this is actually going somewhere wholesome... helping other youngsters in need. Jackson Bostwick stars (originally) as Captain Marvel.

On today's podcast, we go through the pages of the February 24, 1986, Wrestling Observer Newsletter which gives an update on the death of Gino Hernandez and the first revelation that it involved drugs. There are a lot of notes about the upcoming WWF WrestleMania 2 including William 'The Refrigerator' Perry backing out? Dave does not seem to like Mr. T one single bit. That and tons more as we build toward the March 2026 release of my new book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, a 600 plus page monster book with the most important thing that happened in pro wrestling every day of those two years.

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast covering the pioneer era of pro wrestling we enter a new era. Evan Lewis is now The Strangler. Crowds find him barbaric and national opinion has swung from pro wrestling being a con game to it being a brutal sport. Concurrent with the rise of Strangler Lewis is the fall of William Muldoon. Near the same time, Muldoon, nursing a nagging hand and arm injury announces his first of many retirements and the original 1870 Detroit International champion Col. James H. McLaughlin again leaves the sport to return to the railroad. Things are changing.

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.

I continue the countdown to my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus (releasing in March 2026) and today I take a look back at the February 17, 1986, issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where the first coverage of the death of Gino Hernandez was reported. Initial reports were very different than what ended up reveled through the investigation, and we examine it as it happened. Plus, tons of January-February 1986 news and notes as well.

You wanted more retro TV and movie reviews, and we are going to give them to you! One of my all-time favorite shows. In 1973 the Six Million Dollar Man debuted and, like many of the TV shows from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s you know most of what you need to know from the show intro- Steve Austin, a man barely alive. We can rebuild him. Better than before. Better, faster, stronger. Based on the Cyborg novels, astronaut Steve Austin becomes a super powered government agent who ends up fighting space probes, androids, and Bigfoot. Enjoy!

The return of the DragonKingKarl question and answer show! I have a huge mailbag full of questions today dealing with a variety of pro wrestling history questions including topics and on the evolution from VHS to DVD to streaming and the problems with streaming, poor wrestling spots, John Cena retirement and place in wrestling history, the Jarrett's, the WON Hall of Fame, greasy heels and more!

Today's show is packed with very important events in the history of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The first event we will talk about may have even changed the course of history. When Clarence 'The Kansas Demon' Whistler died while on tour of Australia he was considered by many newspapers to be the real and true World champion of pro wrestling. His death is full myth and misinformation, and we will cut through the fog of time to get to the truth. Also on this show, Evan Lewis earns his nickname as The Strangler and in the same instance become the first real heel that wrestling had ever seen.

The extended Patreon edition is here.

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 119. This is hour 89.

1986 is one of my favorite years in pro wrestling and that is why I am really excited about my latest booking coming out this March covering 1986 and 1987 in pro wrestling history. WWF launches two great TV shows: Superstars and Challenge. Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA are red hot with Dusty Rhodes chasing NWA World champion Ric Flair and the rise (and tragic fall) of Magnum TA. The AWA is still hanging in there with new World Champion Stan Hansen. On this episode I take a look at the first newsletter of the year, the January 13, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The Herculoids were one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons when I was a kid in the 1970s. While the original run was before my time, The Herculoids, from Hanna-Barbara, ran often in repeats. A flying dragon with laser eyes, a dinosaur that shoots rocks out of its horn, ghost blob things, and a giant rock ape! What's not to love!

Today I take a detailed look back at February 1986 from my upcoming book (March 2026) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a very historic month in pro wrestling history. The tragic death of World Class wrestler Gino Hernandez shocks the pro wrestling world. Plus, NWA Superstars on the Superstation, The Bullet battled Mr. Olympia over their masks, the Honky Tonk Man gimmick is born, a famous tag team wrestler is arrested for a fatal car accident, the first pro wrestling video game, and huge, tall tales spun by the Von Erich family.

The extended Patreon edition of the show is here.