Wrestling Gets Organized - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
Release Date: 12/29/2024
A Look at the WWE Encyclopedia!
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
On this last DragonKingKarl show of 2025, I grab a copy of a really cool book I've been looking at for a while - the WWE Encyclopedia. I have versions of this same type of book for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, etc. but I expected the WWE book to be well... full of lies and cheesy. It was full of kayfabe, but it wasn't cheesy and we have a good bit of fun looking at some classic characters featured inside and a few stories that you won't believe!
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McLaughlin verses Muldoon! - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show 1000 Hours podcast series we finally get not one but TWO matches between the two biggest stars of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. William Muldoon had not previously wrestled Col. James H. McLaughlin mainly because Muldoon was not a fan of collar and elbow wrestling nor did McLaughlin consider Greco Roman his style. But Muldoon has now been largely disgraced on the west coast and crowds aren't what they used to be so the two finally had two matches... which were flops. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is...
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WWF Survivor Series 1992 & Smoky Mountain Wrestling
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
Today, I wrap up my months long look back into the early 1990s, a time when the pro wrestling business was in its worst state during my lifetime. Thanksgiving 1992 gave us two interesting shows to discuss. First, WWF Survivor Series 1992 was a very mixed bag with a great main event and a lot of not-so-great stuff, and Smoky Mountain Wrestling had its biggest show to that date during the worst era of business. Join me today as I discuss both these 1992 shows!
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WWF This Tuesday in Texas 1991
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl show, pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern begins wrapping up our months long look at the 1990s by taking a look at a rare one-off pay per view from 1991 which took place on a Tuesday (as the name suggests). WWF This Tuesday in Texas featured Hulk Hogan ending the very short first WWF title reign of The Undertaker. Plus, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, Skinner, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, British Bulldog, The Warlord, Repo Man, Ted DiBiase, Virgil, Tito Santana and more!
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The Return of McLaughlin - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
The year is 1884 and the first national pro wrestling star, Col. James H. McLaughlin has been semi-retired for quite a while working as a train engineer. He had been the American heavyweight champion and won pro wrestling's first major tournament in Detroit, MI in 1870 setting the course for pro wrestling going forward. Now, he suddenly returns and wins the World Mixed-Styles championship! His return to glory wouldn't last for long, however. Plus, the sponsor of this episode, , has a question: What is the strangest or most inexplicable thing to happen during the pioneer era of wrestling? Well,...
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Muldoon Makes a Run For It! - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
The 1000 Hours podcast series looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, the era before Frank Gotch. On this episode, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look into the 1880s as William Muldoon wraps up his tenure in California with a debacle of a worked match against Clarence Whistler that turned into a double cross. Whistler was supposed to go to a draw against Muldoon but decided to take it the distance. Muldoon then gives up on the west coast and heads back to New York but first stops in the wild west town of Tombstone, AZ. This match marked a real shift in the pioneer era of...
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Muldoon, Whistler, and Dinnie - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
My 1000 Hours podcast series is taken from my latest book and covers the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling. In this episode, William Muldoon, Clarence Whistler, and Donald Dinnie are in a feud. Worked or shoot? There is evidence of both. Clarence Whistler gets injured yet again. Donald Dinnie goes to jail for putting on a worked pro wrestling match. Meanwhile, an old name from the past creeps back into the story... Col. James H. McLaughlin is plotting his return. 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...
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Muldoon and Whistler Get into a Fist Fight - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
1000 Hours is my series on the pioneer era of pro wrestling history and is taken from my latest book available from Amazon. On this episode, hour 79, we take a look back at the very successful exhibition tour put on by World Greco-Roman champion William Muldoon along with his troupe of wrestlers including Clarence Whistler. Clarence, however, kept beating up poor Andre Christol and finally William Muldoon had to step in which led to a public brawl between the two. 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...
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The William Muldoon Tour Begins - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
On this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, author and historian Karl Stern takes a look back at 1881 in pro wrestling history including the evolution of William Muldoon from New York City Police officer to touring pro wrestling champion. Also, a physical description is given for an early championship belt, plus the death of former American champion James Owens at the age of 30. 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...
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Why Study the Pioneer Era of Wrestling? - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
The 1000 Hours podcast this week answers a sponsor's question: Why should we study the pioneer era of pro wrestling? What relevance does it have to the modern era? Well, I am glad you asked. The mythology of the pioneer era and men like William Muldoon, Evan Strangler Lewis, Farmer Burns and others is often misunderstood as the origin of mixed martial arts, Catch wrestling, and belongs to that world. While there are elements which do belong in that world, make no mistake, ninety percent of what happened back then influenced and began what we now recognize as worked American entertainment style...
info_outlineThe 1000 Hours Podcast is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Karl Stern, author of the DragonKingKarl Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus is the host. We continue to work our way through the book and are now up to just prior to the 1870 Detroit International Tournament. Pro wrestling starts to get more organized during this era. Harry Hill comes onto the scene, and he will play a major role in the development of pro wrestling. The early players are coming onto the board, so let's discuss them! This is hour 63 of 1000 Hours.
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 85.