Six Million Dollar Man (1973) Review
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
Release Date: 01/25/2026
February 24, 1986, Observer Newsletter Review: Death of Gino Hernandez Continued, WrestleMania 2 Update
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
On today's podcast, we go through the pages of the February 24, 1986, Wrestling Observer Newsletter which gives an update on the death of Gino Hernandez and the first revelation that it involved drugs. There are a lot of notes about the upcoming WWF WrestleMania 2 including William 'The Refrigerator' Perry backing out? Dave does not seem to like Mr. T one single bit. That and tons more as we build toward the March 2026 release of my new book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, a 600 plus page monster book with the most important thing that happened in pro wrestling every day of...
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The Rise of Lewis, The Fall of Muldoon - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
Today on my 1000 Hours podcast covering the pioneer era of pro wrestling we enter a new era. Evan Lewis is now The Strangler. Crowds find him barbaric and national opinion has swung from pro wrestling being a con game to it being a brutal sport. Concurrent with the rise of Strangler Lewis is the fall of William Muldoon. Near the same time, Muldoon, nursing a nagging hand and arm injury announces his first of many retirements and the original 1870 Detroit International champion Col. James H. McLaughlin again leaves the sport to return to the railroad. Things are changing. YOU CONTROL THIS...
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February 1986 Wrestling Observer & Death of Gino Hernandez
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
I continue the countdown to my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus (releasing in March 2026) and today I take a look back at the February 17, 1986, issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where the first coverage of the death of Gino Hernandez was reported. Initial reports were very different than what ended up reveled through the investigation, and we examine it as it happened. Plus, tons of January-February 1986 news and notes as well.
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Six Million Dollar Man (1973) Review
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
You wanted more retro TV and movie reviews, and we are going to give them to you! One of my all-time favorite shows. In 1973 the Six Million Dollar Man debuted and, like many of the TV shows from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s you know most of what you need to know from the show intro- Steve Austin, a man barely alive. We can rebuild him. Better than before. Better, faster, stronger. Based on the Cyborg novels, astronaut Steve Austin becomes a super powered government agent who ends up fighting space probes, androids, and Bigfoot. Enjoy!
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The Death of Clarence Whistler and Lewis Becomes the Strangler - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
Today's show is packed with very important events in the history of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The first event we will talk about may have even changed the course of history. When Clarence 'The Kansas Demon' Whistler died while on tour of Australia he was considered by many newspapers to be the real and true World champion of pro wrestling. His death is full myth and misinformation, and we will cut through the fog of time to get to the truth. Also on this show, Evan Lewis earns his nickname as The Strangler and in the same instance become the first real heel that wrestling had ever...
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This First Wrestling Observer of 1986
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
1986 is one of my favorite years in pro wrestling and that is why I am really excited about my latest booking coming out this March covering 1986 and 1987 in pro wrestling history. WWF launches two great TV shows: Superstars and Challenge. Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA are red hot with Dusty Rhodes chasing NWA World champion Ric Flair and the rise (and tragic fall) of Magnum TA. The AWA is still hanging in there with new World Champion Stan Hansen. On this episode I take a look at the first newsletter of the year, the January 13, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer...
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Long Form History of Wrestling - February 1986 - Death of Gino Hernandez and More
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
Today I take a detailed look back at February 1986 from my upcoming book (March 2026) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a very historic month in pro wrestling history. The tragic death of World Class wrestler Gino Hernandez shocks the pro wrestling world. Plus, NWA Superstars on the Superstation, The Bullet battled Mr. Olympia over their masks, the Honky Tonk Man gimmick is born, a famous tag team wrestler is arrested for a fatal car accident, the first pro wrestling video game, and huge, tall tales spun by the Von Erich family. The extended Patreon edition of the show is ....
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Muldoon and Sorakichi Head to Court - 1000 Hours
When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)
Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, two of the biggest stars of the era head to court for very different reasons. First, William Muldoon is arrested and hauled to court for slapping a security guard upside the head and calling him a dirty loafer for daring to tell Muldoon to move along. While the Muldoon trial was largely humorous, we see the dark side of Japanese wrestler Matsada Sorakichi who, freshly married, has already began abusing his wife. Amongst all the legal happenings there is actual pro wrestling going on as Col. James H....
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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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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,...
info_outlineYou wanted more retro TV and movie reviews, and we are going to give them to you! One of my all-time favorite shows. In 1973 the Six Million Dollar Man debuted and, like many of the TV shows from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s you know most of what you need to know from the show intro- Steve Austin, a man barely alive. We can rebuild him. Better than before. Better, faster, stronger. Based on the Cyborg novels, astronaut Steve Austin becomes a super powered government agent who ends up fighting space probes, androids, and Bigfoot. Enjoy!