Today I discuss the December 8, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter which covers NWA Starrcade 1986, the show where Magnum TA should have won the NWA World heavyweight title but following his career ending car accident, he was replaced by Nikita Koloff in a better-than-expected match. Plus, The Road Warriors battle the Midnight Express on a scaffold and Jim Cornette suffers an injury. Also discussed is the tragic car accident with UWF wrestler John Tatum which resulted in a death and his arrest.

Episode 2010 (September 28, 2026)

It's time to travel back and visit some sitcom families from the 80s, 70s, and earlier. The Bradys, the Bunkers, the Bundys and even some families that had last names from elsewhere in the alphabet!

But, as usual, before the main event we've got to answer the mixtape challenge wherein last episode Mike asked for tapes with songs that asked a question. Did you come up with a list of your own? Listen to see if any of yours made their tapes!

Today we crank up the time machine and travel back to the fall of 1986 and cover October from my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus and discuss the details of the career ending car accident suffered by top NWA star Magnum TA (Terry Allen). Magnum TA's car accident prompted the babyface turn of Nikita Koloff and changed the booking for the upcoming Starrcade '86 and set the NWA on a new course. Plus, the Hulk Hogan verses Paul Orndorff feud continues in the WWF, massive TV tapings for their new shows and tons of notes from the AWA, Japan, World Class, Continental, Memphis, and more.

Karl Stern: Professional Wrestling Historian: Author of DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus takes a deep dive into the retirement of the most famous pro wrestler of the 1800s in the United States, William Muldoon. I take a look into Scott Beekman's new biography of William Muldoon for notes of interest I may have missed in the Pioneer Pro Wrestling Omnibus and now, I believe we can paint an interesting picture of the how's and why's of The Solid Man's retirement from pro wrestling and what he did next which made him even more famous.

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 148.

Today I look back at the November 3, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter which first reported details from the career ending car accident of Magnum TA. Magnum TA was being pushed to win the NWA World heavyweight title at the upcoming NWA Starrcade according to the late promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. The career ending car accident changed the course of pro wrestling history. Plus, this was a heavy news week for many other areas as well and we discuss all of that here on this show.

Episode 2009 (September 14, 2026)

School was back in session last episode so it's only natural that Mike and Joseph cover after school TV watching this time out. Ultraman, Gilligan's Island, Star Blazers - the guys watched a lot of different things covering various genres. Did they watch one of your favorites? Listen to find out! And of course there's the "Mix-Tape Challenge" wherein they share their playlists of songs that tell a story. Most importantly, the audio issues that plagued the previous episode have been corrected and the previous audio engineer has been sacked.

Aaron Gartlan presents SECW Action News Podcast. Over the few weeks pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern 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.

Gartlan Law- Aggressive Advocacy. Life Changing Results. Visit Dothan Personal Injury Lawyers - Gartlan Injury Law

Blackjack Mulligan was a major pro wrestling star in the 1970s into the 1980s and his sons Barry and Kendall Windham also joined him as wrestlers. Married into the family was Mike Rotundo who, of course, spawned Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. In 1989 Blackjack Mulligan and Kendall Windham were indicted in a million-dollar counterfeit money scheme and ultimately were sent to prison for around two years. I have gone back and combed the newsletters and newspapers of that story and present it to you here today.

Aaron Gartlan presents SECW Action News Podcast, and this week pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern takes a look at a crime that took place years after SECW and Continental Wrestling had ended but involved two people who wrestled for Continental Wrestling. In August of 1995, Tracy Smothers and Ricky Morton were top stars in both Smoky Mountain Wrestling and USWA when an incident occurred. Tracy Smothers and his girlfriend allegedly beat up the girlfriend of Ricky Morton, and she pressed charges against them. Despite the fact that Tracy Smothers and his girlfriend were arrested on felony assault charges it was Ricky Morton who Jim Cornette fired. Why? Well... you'll see. Oh, how this story would have played out in 2021. What a mess.

Gartlan Law- Aggressive Advocacy. Life Changing Results. Visit Dothan Personal Injury Lawyers - Gartlan Injury Law

Free week 2026 is here! It only happens once a year but this week, all the shows we release are free! This episode concludes my series on the history of the National Wrestling Alliance World heavyweight championship and follows the belt into the independent era. This series was completed before the Billy Corgan NWA era began and, at some point, I will do an episode on it also, but this show follows the championships fall from being a major independent championship to a lineage where it is hard to even remember most of the names.