The Rise of Catch as Catch Can Wrestling - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Release Date: 09/14/2025
September Q&A Show!
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Tons of great questions and topics submitted by our Patreon supporters this month. A wide range of pro wrestling history questions including a few great ones on the plus other topics including: The Wrestler movie, Gulf Coast wrestling area, and much more! These questions and answer shows work best when we get lots of good questions and that is exactly what I have for you on this show!
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The Rise of Catch as Catch Can Wrestling - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
On hour 80 of my 1000 Hours podcast series covering the pioneer era of pro wrestling, we continue in my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus further into the 1880s. For years now, Collar and Elbow had been the dominate style until the more flashy Greco-Roman style passed it in popularity. Now, there is a new rougher and more dangerous style on the field: Catch-as-Catch-Can! 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...
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Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - October 1985 - A Wedding and World Champion vs World Champion
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
On this weeks show I continue my long form history of pro wrestling series taken from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. I take a deep dive into October 1985 where Vince McMahon buries Uncle Elmer during his own (real!) wedding! Plus, both the NWA and AWA World champions are in Japan at the same time and wrestle, as well as, tag team with each other. Plus, the Mike Von Erich saga continues.
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1996 in Pro Wrestling History
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Join me today for a look back at one of the most significant and impactful years in pro wrestling history - 1996! WCW was exploding in popularity with the formation of the NWO, the heel turn of Hulk Hogan, and much more. WWF was trying to find the right combination to fight the rise of WCW and putting on some incredible matches. I have grabbed a copy of the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Almanac for guidance, so let's see what was so special about 1996.
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Muldoon and Whistler Get into a Fist Fight - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (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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1992 When Ron Simmons Became World Champ, Scandals and more!
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Welcome to my pro wrestling history podcast where, this week, I am going to look back at 1992 when Ron Simmons defeated Big Van Vader for the WCW World championship in an angle that also involved Sting. Plus, we dive into that same issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter for a breakdown of the latest scandal revelations concerning the WWF (WWE). A packed episode with tons of pro wrestling insider information about a very volatile time in pro wrestling history.
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The William Muldoon Tour Begins - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (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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The Last Newsletters of the 1990s
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
I am back this week with a new podcast looking back at the 1990s. Recently, I took a look at the first pro wrestling newsletters of the 1990s to get a feeling for where the 1990s era begin, and it began in a very low place. Today, we look at the last newsletters of the 1990s, from 1999 to discover that the WWF / WWE is flying high and WCW is trying to regroup, yet again, from a failed reset. Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, Vince Russo, Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and many others are discussed through the pages of the insider newsletters of 1999. The extended Patreon version is .
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August Q and A Show!
When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
Today is my birthday! And what better way to celebrate than with a packed mailbag and this month is probably our best yet with questions ranging from the pioneer era up to the 1990s! We have a few new great pioneer era finds via wrestling historian Jason Campbell to discuss, plus more 1990s talk, interesting twist on second generation wrestler question, the NWA, and much more! There is an extended Patreon version of the show here -
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Why Study the Pioneer Era of Wrestling? - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling (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_outlineOn hour 80 of my 1000 Hours podcast series covering the pioneer era of pro wrestling, we continue in my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus further into the 1880s. For years now, Collar and Elbow had been the dominate style until the more flashy Greco-Roman style passed it in popularity. Now, there is a new rougher and more dangerous style on the field: Catch-as-Catch-Can!
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 100.