When It Was Real

By bennyjscala

Step into the squared circle of yesteryear with When It Was Real, the ultimate throwback podcast for fans of the golden era of professional wrestling. Each week, this deep-dive audio experience transp... more

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FAQs about When It Was Real:

How many episodes does When It Was Real have?

The podcast currently has 60 episodes available.

When It Was Real episodes:

January 24, 2026 When It Was Real - BONUS EPISODE - The Three Amigos!
This episode was originally broadcast on September 17, 2025, but due to the impending inclement weather, here is one of our favorite episodes to distract you from the snow and the ice! Join Nikita and Benny as they welcome "The Three Amigos" - Johnny Rodz, Tony Garea, and Davey O'Hannon! These men graced the squared circle, as well as our TV sets, from the mid-60s well into the 1980's. The Amigos will share stories of their times in the ring, behind the curtain, and on the road...Enjoy and stay safe!
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1h 59min
January 22, 2026 When It Was Real - Episode 47 - Madison Square Garden - January 21, 1980
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – Episode 47 🔥
Step into the Wrestling Wayback Machine as Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala relive one of the most legendary nights in WWF history!
📍 Madison Square Garden – January 21, 1980
🏆 WWF Champion Bob Backlund vs. Ken Patera
Two more championship battles, six additional hard-hitting matches, and wall-to-wall old-school action—this card had everything that made wrestling real.
📺 LIVE Wednesday, January 21st | 7:30 PM
📡 The Playa Entertainment Network
👍 Please Like & Subscribe!
Strap in and travel back to a time when the lights were bright, the stakes were high, and the Garden ruled them all.
🎯 Destination: WHEN IT WAS REAL.
#WhenItWasReal #Episode47 #WWFHistory #MSG #BobBacklund #KenPatera #OldSchoolWrestling #WrestlingPodcast #ProWrestlingHistory #ThePlayaEntertainmentNetwork #WrestlingWaybackMachine
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1h 15min
January 15, 2026 When It Was Real - Episode 46 - Bruno vs. Superstar, The First Run, Count To 10
BRUNO vs. SUPERSTAR 🔥
Before History Was Made… The War Began.
Step into the Wrestling Wayback Machine as Nikita & Benny rewind to the first run of Superstar Billy Graham—including those legendary MSG clashes with Bruno Sammartino on Jan 12 & Feb 2, 1976.

The world title would change hands a year later… but THIS was the preview that shook the Garden.
🎙️ WHEN IT WAS REAL — Live
📅 Wednesday, January 14
⏰ 7:30 PM
📡 The Playa Entertainment Network
Because there was a time when it wasn’t sports entertainment…
WHEN. IT. WAS. REAL.
#WhenItWasReal #BrunoSammartino #SuperstarBillyGraham
#WrestlingHistory #MSG #OldSchoolWrestling
#TerritoryDays #ProWrestling #WrestlingPodcast
#ThePlayaEntertainmentNetwork #WrestlingWaybackMachine
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1h 22min
January 08, 2026 When It Was Real - Episode 45 - Live At The Greek!
🔥 LIVE AT THE GREEK! 🔥
When It Was Real – Episode 45
From riot-level heat on January 7, 1975, at the Hamburg Field House, 🏟️ as Spiros Arion turns heel (with the assistance if “Classy” Freddie Blassie)—and a frustrated Larry Zbyszko in January, 1980, blocked by mentor Bruno Sammartino, until a shocking betrayal that still echoes today…
🎙️ Join Nikita Breznikov & Benny “The Playa” Scala as they fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine and take you back to those halcyon days WHEN IT WAS REAL.
📅 LIVE Wednesday, January 7 | 7:30 PM
📡 The Playa Entertainment Network
#WhenItWasReal #ANightAtTheGreek #ClassicWrestling #ProWrestlingHistory #SpirosArion #FreddieBlassie #LarryZbyszko #BrunoSammartino #OldSchoolWrestling #WrestlingPodcast #TerritoryEra #HeelHeat #WrestlingWaybackMachine

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1h 15min
January 01, 2026 When It Was Real - Madison Square Garden - December 28, 1982
Ring in the New Year the old-school way! 🎆 Join Nikita & Benny for a special New Year’s Eve LIVE episode of When It Was Real, streaming Wednesday, December 31st at 7:30 PM on The Playa Entertainment Network — and don’t forget to like & subscribe!
This week, the guys break down an epic Madison Square Garden card from December 28, 1982 featuring the reigning WWF Champion Bob Backlund vs. arch-nemesis Superstar Billy Graham in a heated Lumberjack Match! Plus, both the WWF Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships are on the line, and Jimmy Snuka vs. Ray Stevens collide in a bout worthy of headlining anywhere in the country.
Make it a weekly tradition — every Wednesday at 7:30 PM — as Nikita and Benny relive the halcyon days… WHEN IT WAS REAL.
#WhenItWasReal #NewYearsEve #WWFClassics #MadisonSquareGarden #ProWrestlingHistory #OldSchoolWrestling #LumberjackMatch #TagTeamTitles #IntercontinentalTitle #PlayaEntertainmentNetwork
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1h 29min
December 25, 2025 When It Was Real - Episode 43 - The Night The Music Died
EPISODE 43 — When It Was Real
“The Night The Music Died”
🎄 Christmas Eve • December 24th • 7:30 PM
📺 The Playa Entertainment Network
One night. One bell. One moment that changed wrestling forever.
Nikita and Benny take their customary deep dive into Madison Square Garden, December 26, 1983, when Bob Backlund’s nearly six-year reign as WWF Champion came crashing down at the hands of The Iron Sheik. What looked like a title change became a turning point in history—the night professional wrestling began its transformation into sports entertainment.
If you ever wondered when it stopped being “real,” this is the night the music died.
👉 Please like and subscribe!
#WhenItWasReal #Episode43 #TheNightTheMusicDIed #WWFHistory #BobBacklund #IronSheik #MSG1983 #WrestlingHistory #SportsEntertainment #ChristmasEvePodcast #PlayaEntertainmentNetwork
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1h 31min
December 18, 2025 When It Was Real - Episode 42 - Madison Square Garden - December 19, 1977
🔥 LIVE this Wednesday, December 17th at 7:30 PM ET on The Playa Entertainment Network! 🔥
Smash that LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE—you don’t want to miss this one!
Step into the Wrestling Wayback Machine as wrestling historian, author, actor, and manager Nikita Breznikov joins forces once again with pro wrestling author, podcaster, and Sunday DJ Benny “The Playa” Scala for a deep dive into one of the most electric nights in WWWF history…
🎟️ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – December 19, 1977
The Garden was rocking as Superstar Billy Graham, the charismatic and flamboyant reigning WWWF Champion, clashed with the incomparable Mil Mascaras—one of the most iconic and influential luchadores of all time! This epic showdown headlined a card packed with action, drama, and unforgettable moments that sent the MSG faithful home buzzing.
Nikita and Benny will break it all down—match by match, moment by moment—bringing you back to a time…
✨ When. It. Was. REAL. ✨
🕢 Tune in every Wednesday at 7:30 PM Eastern as your guides through wrestling’s golden past take you on another historical ride you won’t forget.
#WhenItWasReal #WrestlingHistory #WWWF #MadisonSquareGarden #SuperstarBillyGraham #MilMascaras #ProWrestlingLegends #WrestlingPodcast #PlayaEntertainmentNetwork #NikitaBreznikov #BennyScala #WrestlingWaybackMachine #OldSchoolWrestling #MSG1977 #ClassicWrestling #WrestlingCommunity #RetroWrestling
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1h 33min
December 11, 2025 When It Was Real - Episode 41 - Madison Square Garden - December 17, 1979
7 TITLE MATCHES!
The Most STACKED MSG Card EVER?!
It’s Episode 41 of When It Was Real, and Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala are taking you all the way back to Madison Square Garden—December 17, 1979. One night. Seven championships on the line. The WWF Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships, as well as the. National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and National Wrestling Federation (NWF) Championships. Plus more gold than MSG had ever seen in a single event.
This week, your hosts break down every match from a night many consider one of the greatest wrestling cards of all time. Don’t miss this deep dive into pure wrestling history—WHEN IT WAS REAL.
#WhenItWasReal #MSG1979 #ProWrestlingHistory #WWF #NWA #NWF #WrestlingPodcast #NikitaBreznikov #BennyScala #ClassicWrestling #WrestlingLegends #RetroWrestling #WrestlingFans #ThePlayaEntertainmentNetwork #LivePodcast
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1h 23min
December 04, 2025 When It Was Real - Episode 40 - Fall of 1973!
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL — EPISODE 39! 🔥
“WWWF – FALL 1973”
Join wrestling historian, author, actor and wrestling manager Nikita Breznikov and podcaster/poet laureate Benny “The Playa” Scala as they fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine and blast you straight into the heart of the World Wide Wrestling Federation in the Fall of 1973!
Drama, legends, and locker-room lore included! This was the year that shaped an era — long before the bright lights and corporate polish, this is the gritty, golden age…WHEN IT WAS REAL.
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1h 17min
November 27, 2025 When It Was Real - Episode 39 - Thanksgiving (1982-1983)
🔥 THANKSGIVING WRESTLING CHAOS! 🔥 2 EPIC SPECTRUM SHOWS… 1 LEGENDARY NIGHT! Travel back to 1982 & 1983 as Nikita Breznikov & Benny “The Playa” Scala crack open the Turkey Day time capsule and reveal the stories BEHIND the stories from two unforgettable Philadelphia Spectrum Thanksgiving events!
🦃 Old-school intensity.
🎤 Behind-the-curtain secrets.
💥 Wrestling the way YOU remember it.
Catch Episode 39 – “Thanksgiving!” LIVE Wednesday, Nov 26th at 7 PM ET only on The Playa Entertainment Network! Hop into the Wrestling Wayback Machine and relive that magical era… When. It. Was. REAL!
👉 Please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!
#WhenItWasReal #ProWrestlingHistory #ThanksgivingWrestling #NikitaBreznikov #BennyScala #PlayaEntertainmentNetwork #OldSchoolWrestling #PhiladelphiaSpectrum #WrestlingPodcast #ClassicWrestling #WrestlingWaybackMachine
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1h 46min

FAQs about When It Was Real:

How many episodes does When It Was Real have?

The podcast currently has 60 episodes available.