Along Came the Bears - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Release Date: 05/25/2025
The Late 1990s Were Wild
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Today I want to look back at the late 1990s in pro wrestling history. The 1990s were a wild time and the late 1990s saw the rise of the NWO, WCW passing WWE in popularity only to implode, and the hard-hitting Japanese scene making the late 1990s one of the most interesting times in pro wrestling. It was an era of The Rock, Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, the NWO, ECW, and so much more. The extended Patreon edition of the show is here -
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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - July 1985 - King of the Ring, Great American Bash, More!
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
My Long Form History of Wrestling Series continues with a detailed look back at July 1985. July 1985 was a big month in pro wrestling history featuring the first ever WWF King of the Ring Tournament and a red-hot NWA Great American Bash. The Rock and Roll Express begin their reign as NWA World tag team champions plus the WWF get a new Intercontinental champion in Tito Santana! The information in this episode comes from my book available at Amazon.
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The Pioneer Era Erupts - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
This is hour 74 of the 1000 Hours podcast series looking back at the pre-Frank Gotch era of pro wrestling in the United States. This podcast is taken from the pages of my latest book available from Amazon. This episode is packed with big happenings. The late 1870s saw the peak of the first Greco-Roman era of wrestling while Collar and Elbow was struggling. John McMahon and Col. James H. McLaughlin, the two biggest names of the time, have their three-match series. William Muldoon is on the rise and the wild story of the fake Andre Christol! The extended Patreon version is here - YOU CONTROL...
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The Early 1990s
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Today we are headed back to the early 1990s to discuss the state of pro wrestling at the time. While business was just about as bad as it could get, there were still plenty of great storylines and personalities at the time. The early 1990s saw Hulk Hogan gone from WWF and the rise of Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and others. WCW was a complete corporate mess but there was still great wrestling with Sting, Big Van Vader, Ron Simmons, Cactus Jack, and more! I also look at the PWI Top 500 during the early 1990s both the top and bottom of the rankings! The extended Patreon version of the show is here...
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June Question and Answer Show!
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
It is time for one of my favorite shows to record, our monthly question and answer show where, you the listener ask any pro wrestling history related question or suggest a topic. On this show, I field questions about historical brass knux championships, history of world championships splitting off from the NWA World title, legacy wrestling characters, Jim Londos, the big blue steel cage, and more! The extended Patreon edition with extra questions answered are on Patreon here -
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And Now They Have Swords - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
1000 Hour is my continuing podcast series about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The pioneer era is the time before Frank Gotch, roughly 1850 to 1900. It was an era of wild showmen and tough real wrestlers. This episode continues our chronological journey through the pioneer era of wrestling via my book . This week we are in the 1870s and the wrestling bears are still causing trouble, every newspaper has a different idea who the American champion is, and the two biggest stars of the time: John McMahon and Col. James H. McLaughlin have the first two of their trio of matches... and then...
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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - June 1985 - Action Figures, AWA, Hulk Hogan, More!
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
My podcast today takes a detailed look back at June 1985 in pro wrestling history. The text is taken from my book . In June 1985 pro wrestling's first action figures become available, a set of AWA action figures by Remco toy company and WWF figures by LJN. In addition to that, Sgt. Slaughter sort of wins a title in the AWA, there is finally some life in Jim Crockett Promotions because of Magnum TA, and Japan is red hot! This is the extended Patreon edition with breaking news about the son of a former WWF star and Hall of Famer arrested for multiple felony charges in Georgia, plus a look at the...
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Gordman and Goliath in WON HOF, MSG, Tokyo Dome, and more
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
It is a regular gravy edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast, and I dive deeper into the list of those on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot who have not yet been voted in. The very famous tag team of Black Gordman and Great Goliath have not yet been voted in, should they? Also, more 1930s Madison Square Garden history with a huge double cross incoming and a look at another mid-1990s Tokyo Dome show with a massive tag team match. The extended Patreon edition is .
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Along Came the Bears - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Hour 72 of 1000 Hours podcast is here and today I discuss the invasion of bears into 1870s pro wrestling. Yes, you read that right... bears. Many may think that wrestling bears was a curiosity of the 1940s through the 1980s, yet the height of bear wrestling was actually in the 1800s. One, or possibly two, French circus troops toured America with wrestling bears. Two of those bears became famous, or infamous, for mauling and killing people. Not only did one bite off Lucien Marc's finger, but they also wrestled from coast to coast injuring several including Prof. Thiebaud Bauer. Join me for some...
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New Q & A Show Talking New Japan History, JBL, and Tons More!
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Our new question and answer podcasts take several questions from our listeners today that cover a huge chunk of pro wrestling history. The history of New Japan Pro Wrestling has been a complicated one and I try to unravel a little bit of it here today. I also field questions about the era when JBL was WWE champion and much more! Join me for a look back at the history of professional wrestling through the questions submitted by our listeners. Support us on Patreon for an extended edition of this show -
info_outlineHour 72 of 1000 Hours podcast is here and today I discuss the invasion of bears into 1870s pro wrestling. Yes, you read that right... bears. Many may think that wrestling bears was a curiosity of the 1940s through the 1980s, yet the height of bear wrestling was actually in the 1800s. One, or possibly two, French circus troops toured America with wrestling bears. Two of those bears became famous, or infamous, for mauling and killing people. Not only did one bite off Lucien Marc's finger, but they also wrestled from coast to coast injuring several including Prof. Thiebaud Bauer. Join me for some really incredible stories from the origin and evolution of pro wrestling.
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 93.