Let's take a look back at a retro Apter mag- the April 1988 issue of Inside Wrestling Magazine. This issue features a look at the storyline run up to the Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant feud where Ted DiBiase tries to buy the WWF title from Andre. Also in this issue are features on Lex Luger verses Ric Flair, Sgt. Slaughter, Jimmy Jack Funk, some great VHS ads, Michael Hayes, King Kong Bundy, and the Von Erichs! A fun issue plus Roll Call of Champions!

What a great show I have for you today. On the 1000 hours podcast where we talk about the pioneers of pro wrestling I want to look at one of the biggest gimmicks ever to hit pro wrestling: Yusuf İsmail, the Terrible Turk. We will look his background before he came to America and his much lauded American tour which he died returning back to Europe from. Why did he inspire such a rabid response from the press and fans? Why did he inspire so many knock off gimmick for the next 100 years? Who was this Yusuf Ismail and why was he such a sensation? This is hour 5.

We already have a sponsor for hour 6-7 but in order to get an hour 8 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 Patreon or CashApp in the next 72 hours. As soon as it is received I will produce hour 8.

On this installment of the longform history of wrestling series we are up to November 1983 which is hugely important because we have NWA Starrcade which sees Ric Flair regain the NWA World title from Harley Race in a steel cage. That show wasn't even the biggest drawing show that day as many areas had traditional Thanksgiving Shows and this year may have been the peak of that tradition. Plus, more on David Von Erich, Japan, and much more. A giant, historically important month in pro wrestling history.

A very interesting era greets us on this edition of the history of wrestling at MSG series. We are moving away from Earl Caddock into the Ed "Strangler" Lewis era and there are those out there who are not pleased with the wrestling trust. Marin Plestina is giving the trust trouble but runs up against John Pesek. Joe Stecher begins to show signs of future problems that would plague him for the rest of his life. Tex Rickard and Al Haft bump heads. A packed edition of the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden series.

Hour three of the 1000 Hours Podcast where wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look at the pioneer era of pro wrestling. In this episode we travel back to 1885 where pro wrestling champion William Muldoon is put on trial for allegedly attacking a security guard at a theater in New York City. Plus, more on the career of William Muldoon and his place as one of the most prominent figures in early pro wrestling history.

In order to get an hour 3 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 Patreon or CashApp in the next 72 hours. As soon as it is received I will produce hour three.

On this episode we take a look at Dave Meltzer’s obituary for wrestling journeyman Matt Borne who worked numerous territories including World Class, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Georgia, and WCW but was probably most famous as the original heel clown in WWF- Doink. The troubled life of Matt Borne is examined in great detail including his real life feud with Jim Duggan.

Show Transcript - Here

Hour two of the 1000 hours podcast takes a look at the first widely known and studied African-American wrestling star: Viro "Black Sam" Small. Viro Small was born into slavery in South Carolina. After being freed following the Civil War, he traveled north and became a wrestling champion and well known boxer. He survived being shot in the neck but what happened afterward has been lost to history. Plus, some discussion about one of the most important pioneer wrestling stars: William Muldoon.

In order to get an hour 3 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 Patreon or CashApp in the next 72 hours. As soon as it is received I will produce hour three.

On this week's When It Was Cool exclusive When It Was Cool Wrestling Podcast, host Karl Stern remember the Iron Sheik including the time he tried to book him in a match that had never happened before (and never did happen!). Plus, I've been watching a lot of Tiger Mask recently. Was he over hyped? Did Dave Meltzer's love for him give him more credit than he was due? The answer might surprise you!

Abraham Lincoln was honest. So the story goes. And, he honestly was an actual wrestler. Abe Lincoln did, in fact, participate in organized frontier style wrestling during his youth including a famous match against Jack Armstrong. There is another famous match of Lincoln, a loss, which we'll look at in this episode. If you want another hour of pre-1900 pro wrestling talk, then become a Patreon supporter at WhenItWasCool.com or donate via PayPal or Cash App on the front page. This is hour one.