Explore every episode of the podcast Portland Wrestling

In 1969, Portland Wrestling had a problem.

The promotion had moved from the old Portland Armory into the Portland Sports Arena, but the crowds weren't what they had been. The money wasn't what it had been.

Don Owen needed a spark.

He found two.

Roger “Rip” Kirby and Beauregard.

Kirby arrived in Portland that spring alongside Pat Patterson. Patterson soon left. Kirby stayed—and within months became one of the most hated men in Northwest wrestling.

Athletic, arrogant and dangerous, Kirby terrorized opponents with the wooden post holding one of Portland Wrestling's television lights. Then one night, Lonnie Mayne had seen enough.

He came to the ring with a saw.

Host Frank Culbertson was there that night as a young fan and remembers watching Mayne literally saw down the post as the Portland Sports Arena erupted.

The rivalry became a bloody war. Kirby took Mayne's Northwest Heavyweight Championship, and something remarkable happened along the way:

Portland fans started cheering for Lonnie Mayne.

Then came the final ingredient.

“The Sensation of the Nation” Beauregard.

Flashy, outrageous and one of the finest talkers of his era, Beauregard understood that television wasn't simply there to show wrestling—it was there to sell personalities and sell tickets. He dressed as historical characters, bragged about imaginary famous relatives and even used Portland Wrestling television to promote his own record, Testify.

When Beauregard returned to Portland and joined Rip Kirby, the pieces finally came together.

On one side stood Kirby and Beauregard.

Across from them stood Tony Borne and Lonnie Mayne—two men who had spent years as two of Portland Wrestling's greatest villains.

And the fans made their choice.

They chose Borne and Mayne.

This episode of The Cream of the Crop explores how two tremendous heels helped transform two other heels into heroes—and, in the process, helped change the fortunes of Portland Wrestling.

It's also a personal episode for Frank, with memories of seeing the Kirby-Mayne angle unfold firsthand and of the day Beauregard's leather jacket somehow ended up in his grandfather's Portland leather shop.

For a 10-year-old wrestling fan, that was pretty close to meeting royalty.

Rip Kirby was in Portland for only seven months. Beauregard stayed longer. Neither achieved the national fame of some of the wrestlers still to come in this series.

But The Cream of the Crop isn't about who became the most famous.

It's about who mattered in Portland.

Who sold tickets.

Who created emotion.

Who made people cheer—and who gave them somebody to hate.

In 1969, Rip Kirby and Beauregard lit the fuse.

And stay to the end for a preview of next week's episode, when Portland Wrestling enters the rock-and-roll era with Steve Doll, Scott Peterson, Rex King and the Southern Rockers.

And Jody Day, if you're listening... that one is for you.

The Cream of the Crop is based on Mike Rodgers' Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, along with additional historical interviews and research.

New episodes drop every Friday.

The legends. The money draws. The main eventers.

The Cream of the Crop.

This week, the Ringside Wheel gets the night off.

No mystery envelopes. No Card Shark. No Kayfabe Curveballs.

Because tonight, we don't have to talk about Portland Wrestling history.

We get to talk to someone who lived it.

Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers welcome “Gorgeous” Joey Jackson to Ringside in Rose City for a trip inside the final years of Don Owen's legendary territory.

Joey takes us from growing up as a wrestling fan in Louisiana to training in Houston under Len Denton—the Grappler. Then came the phone call that changed everything: Portland needed a heel, and Denton recommended a kid who had never wrestled a professional match.

Joey arrived on a two-week trial.

He stayed for nearly five years.

We hear how Don Owen reacted to Joey's very first match, how Don unexpectedly turned him into “Gorgeous Joey Jackson,” and why the comb, mirror and long curly hair proved far more effective at making Portland fans angry than simply trying to be another tough guy.

Joey shares stories about Don Owen, Rip Oliver, the Grappler, Art Barr, Ricky Santana, Chris Colt, Ed Moretti, Brian Adams, Roddy Piper, Billy Jack Haynes, Scotty the Body, the Southern Rockers and many more.

He remembers wrestling Art Barr in Art's first professional match, teaming with the Super Ninja, becoming part of Chris Colt's Mafia, working the competing OWF promotion, traveling to Japan for WING, and eventually appearing for WCW.

And yes, we finally get Joey to tell us a Chris Colt story that Mike couldn't get into Excitement in the Air, Volume Three.

It involves Ed Moretti.

It involves Chris Colt.

And it involves spit.

We'll leave it there.

There's even a special moment for longtime listener and Portland Wrestling scrapbook keeper Jody Day, a devoted Steve Doll fan, when Joey explains what it was really like trying to keep Steve down in the ring:

Apparently, Steve Doll was a bit of a “bandy rooster.”

But this isn't only a trip into the past.

Joey is still in professional wrestling today—promoting shows, running a wrestling school, developing young talent and applying lessons learned from Mid-South and Portland Wrestling to a new generation.

Because match results can tell us who wrestled.

They can tell us who won.

They can tell us where the show took place.

But they can't tell us what happened in the car on the way to the next town, what Don Owen was really like, what was said in the dressing room, or how wrestlers learned their craft from the people around them.

For that, you need someone who was there.

This week, Gorgeous Joey Jackson takes us there.

Ringside in Rose City is hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers and the Excitement in the Air series, available on Amazon.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

Wrestling... wrestling the way it should be.

The Cream of the Crop #7 — Stan Stasiak & The Iron Sheik: Two Roads to the World Championship

Two wrestlers. Two generations. Two very different journeys through Portland.

And both eventually reached the same summit.

In Episode 7 of The Cream of the Crop, host Frank Culbertson tells the stories of Stan “The Crusher” Stasiak and The Iron Sheik—two men whose paths through the Pacific Northwest could hardly have been more different, yet both would eventually become World Heavyweight Champion.

For Stasiak, Portland became a second home.

Arriving in 1965, he developed from the imposing heel known as “The Crusher” into one of the territory’s most enduring stars. Seven Northwest Heavyweight Championships. Eight Northwest Tag Team Championships. Battles with Tony Borne, Lonnie Mayne, Bull Ramos and Rip Oliver. Partnerships with everyone from Dutch Savage and Buddy Rose to a young Billy Jack Haynes.

And, of course, there was the Heart Punch.

But in 1973, Stasiak accomplished something very few wrestlers ever do: he defeated Pedro Morales to become WWWF World Heavyweight Champion, holding the championship for ten days before losing it to Bruno Sammartino.

Ten years later, another wrestler who had passed through Portland found himself in a remarkably similar position.

Before the flag, the famous interviews and the larger-than-life personality, Portland fans saw The Iron Sheik while the future legend was still taking shape. His Northwest stay lasted only about nine months, but it included victories over Jimmy Snuka, Jerry Oates and Skip Young, a partnership with Bull Ramos, and a Northwest Tag Team Championship.

Portland also saw something that could later be overshadowed by the character: The Iron Sheik could really wrestle.

Then, in 1983, Sheik defeated Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship before dropping it to Hulk Hogan.

Pedro Morales → Stan Stasiak → Bruno Sammartino.

Bob Backlund → The Iron Sheik → Hulk Hogan.

Two short championship reigns separating four enormous chapters in wrestling history.

Were Stasiak and Sheik transitional champions? Absolutely.

But maybe it’s time to stop treating “transitional champion” like an insult.

Someone has to be trusted to beat the champion. Someone has to be credible enough to hold the championship. And someone has to be trusted to hand it to the man who will lead the next era.

Stan Stasiak and The Iron Sheik were trusted to be those men.

And for Frank, the Stasiak story is also personal—going all the way back to being seven years old at the Portland Armory and saying two words to the man who instantly became his favorite wrestler:

“Hi, Stan.”

Next Friday, The Cream of the Crop returns to 1968 and the early days of the Portland Sports Arena, when two villains helped provide the heat a new building desperately needed:

Rip Kirby and Beauregard.

The Cream of the Crop is hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on Mike Rodgers’ Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, available on Amazon.

New episodes drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your wrestling fix.

The main eventers. The money draws. The territory legends.

The Cream of the Crop.

Ringside in Rose City #53 — The Best, the Cringiest…and the Ugliest?

Year Two of Ringside in Rose City is officially underway—and apparently one year of credibility was enough.

Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers begin Episode 53 seriously enough, as Lisa Hughes spins the Ringside Wheel and sends them into the greatest moments in Portland Wrestling history.

There’s Buddy Rose’s unforgettable babyface turn, with fans flooding the ring and lifting him onto their shoulders. The legendary wheelbarrow overflowing with championship belts. The eight-man tag that helped launch Roddy Piper versus Buddy Rose. Bull Ramos breaking Lonnie Mayne’s arm. Mad Dog Vachon bringing a coffin to the Crow’s Nest. Mayne taking a saw to the television light post. Ripper Collins destroying Dutch Savage with repeated Opu Drops. Dutch coming to Beauregard’s rescue. Roddy Piper transforming Art Barr into Beetlejuice—and the emotional final days of Don Owen’s Portland Wrestling.

Then things begin to deteriorate.

Frank and Mike turn to some of the cringiest moments in Portland Wrestling history—from interviews that went horribly wrong and Rip Oliver’s unfortunate dental incident to Ginger versus Veronica and the unforgettable Grappler–Scotty the Body sing-off.

And then Lisa takes complete control.

Who were the most handsome wrestlers in Portland Wrestling history?

And, because apparently we're actually doing this...

Who were the ugliest?

Somewhere between Rick Martel and Mad Dog Vachon, whatever remained of the show's credibility disappears.

CARD SHARK also returns with three programs designed to test just how deep Mike’s wrestling knowledge really goes. We visit San Antonio in 1959 during a Texas wrestling war, encounter one of the strangest promotions we’ve ever discussed in 1974 Arizona, and finally come home for the last night of wrestling at the Portland Armory in September 1968, when more than 3,000 fans packed the building for the end of an 18-year era.

And this week's Card Shark gives us the perfect opportunity to recommend a terrific new wrestling history book:

The Texas Rasslin’ Wars of the 1950s by Greg Klein, edited by Greg Oliver.

If you think wrestling politics are complicated today, wait until you read about Texas in the 1950s—promoters changing alliances, fighting over cities and wrestlers, jumping from one side to another, and then sometimes jumping right back again.

It's a fascinating look at one of professional wrestling's wildest territorial battles, and a book we highly recommend.

Need one more reason to pick it up?

Two words: Jack Pfeffer.

Episode 53 starts with some of the greatest moments Portland Wrestling ever produced.

By the end, we're discussing 10-cent beer, Mike singing Popeye the Sailor Man, and whether Mad Dog Vachon belongs on Lisa's list.

Welcome to Year Two.

Ringside in Rose City is hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers and the Excitement in the Air series, available on Amazon.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

Wrestling... wrestling the way it should be.

The Cream of the Crop #6 — The Grappler: The Man Behind the Mask

Seven-time Northwest Heavyweight Champion. Eleven-time Northwest Tag Team Champion. Main-event wrestler. Masked villain. Booker. Teacher. Troublemaker.

The Grappler.

For the first time on The Cream of the Crop, one man gets the entire spotlight as host Frank Culbertson tells the story of Len Denton—the wrestler who was repeatedly told he was too small to make it, only to become one of the most important figures in the final era of Portland Wrestling.

And this time, The Grappler helps tell the story himself, through archival interview audio recorded with Len Denton.

We go back to the beginning: spending nearly everything he had to learn the wrestling business, being given his notice on his very first day in Amarillo, getting advice from Abdullah the Butcher, and eventually finding the identity that changed his career forever—a mask, an orthopedic boot, and the name The Grappler.

From there, Denton learned from some of wrestling’s greatest minds, including Bill Watts, Harley Race, Ric Flair and Buck Robley, eventually becoming a booker himself before arriving in Portland in 1987.

And Portland Wrestling needed him.

The territory was struggling. The old formula was growing stale. The Grappler brought new talent, new ideas and a willingness to push Don Owen in directions Portland Wrestling hadn't traditionally gone.

Along the way, he helped develop wrestlers including Art Barr, Brian Adams, Joey Jackson, The Bruise Brothers and Scotty the Body. He helped modernize Portland television alongside Roddy Piper. He helped create angles designed around one fundamental question:

What makes people care enough to buy a ticket?

Then there are the stories that could only happen in Portland Wrestling.

The Grappler bets Don Owen that he can sell out the Portland Sports Arena—and does it, with 600 more fans turned away at the door. Don responds by complaining about the people who couldn't get in.

Grappler wants more money. Don refuses. So while Don is paying his telephone bill, Grappler goes to Japan and runs up $1,200 in international collect calls.

Don fires him.

And replaces him with Roddy Piper.

Who promptly asks The Grappler to help him book the territory.

And then there’s The Breakfast Club—John Nord, milk, Cheerios, a wrestling ring and an idea Don Owen absolutely did not want happening on his canvas.

This is the story of a wrestler who understood the old-school wrestling business while recognizing that Portland had to change. A man who could wrestle, book, teach, create stars, develop angles, sell tickets—and occasionally drive Don Owen completely insane.

Because Len Denton's Portland legacy isn't simply about the championships he won.

He learned how to become a main-event wrestler.

Then he learned something even harder:

How to make other people main-event wrestlers.

Len Denton — The Grappler.

Beat me if you can.

The Cream of the Crop is hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers and Excitement in the Air, Volume Three by Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, available on Amazon.

New episodes drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Next week: Two Portland Wrestling stars who eventually climbed all the way to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship—Stan “The Crusher” Stasiak and The Iron Sheik.

Ringside in Rose City #52 — ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW! | October 1969

52 episodes. 52 trips through Portland wrestling history. One full year of Ringside in Rose City.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers celebrate the ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Ringside in Rose City—and there may be no better month to mark the occasion than October 1969.

The mystery envelopes are back. Lisa is back in control of the Ringside Wheel. And Portland Wrestling is about to enter a month that helps shape the territory for years to come.

Rip Kirby and Lonnie Mayne take their already-brutal rivalry to another level, with Kirby finally dethroning Mayne for the Northwest Heavyweight Championship after a bloody battle that leaves Mayne carried from ringside.

Then “The Sensation of the Nation” Beauregard returns to Portland after nearly a year away—and immediately becomes the missing piece on the heel side of the territory. His return reignites unfinished business with Mayne and helps launch Kirby & Beauregard against Mayne & Tony Borne, a rivalry that will carry Portland Wrestling forward.

And at Memorial Coliseum, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. comes to Portland to defend the championship against Rip Kirby. Frank and Mike also remember Funk following his passing and discuss his legacy as one of professional wrestling’s great scientific wrestlers.

Along the way, there’s plenty more from October ’69: Billy White Wolf, Buddy Marino, Johnny Kostas, Stan Stasiak, Earl Maynard, Fred Baron—and somehow Lonnie Mayne racing motorcycles, because apparently professional wrestling wasn’t dangerous enough.

Kayfabe Curveballs returns for the anniversary celebration, where Mike faces questions involving Hidden Valley Ranch, rhubarb and a 200-foot buffet—and we even get another Buddy Rose and Ed Moretti story.

And when those ukuleles start playing, it’s time for another Island Interlude and a trip back to Hawaii.

But Episode 52 is about more than one month in 1969.

For an entire year, Ringside in Rose City has explored the champions, main eventers, forgotten names, interviews, feuds, buildings, newspaper advertisements, strange finishes and unforgettable stories that made Portland Wrestling such an important part of the Pacific Northwest.

One year down—and we’re nowhere near a thousand stories yet.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson with Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, available on Amazon.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

The Cream of the Crop #5 — Two Ways to Draw a Crowd: Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka & Ripper Collins

Before Madison Square Garden. Before the steel cage. Before millions of wrestling fans knew the name Superfly, there was Portland.

And standing across the ring from the young Jimmy Snuka was one of professional wrestling’s great old-school heels: Ripper Collins.

In Episode 5 of The Cream of the Crop, Frank Culbertson looks back at two wrestlers who represented completely different ways to become a wrestling attraction.

Snuka looked like the future—explosive, athletic and charismatic. Portland recognized his potential early and gave him a place to develop into the star the rest of the wrestling world would eventually know.

Collins had already mastered a very different art: making people hate him. From filing his teeth during interviews to the brutal Opu Drop, Collins knew exactly how to make an audience desperate to see somebody shut him up.

Their paths first crossed in Hawaii in 1973. Months later, both arrived in Portland, where those early encounters developed into a heated rivalry involving the Northwest Heavyweight Championship, disqualifications, title changes, a hair-versus-hair match—and Ripper Collins putting on a mask after losing his hair.

One man made people buy a ticket because they wanted to see him win.

The other made people buy a ticket because they wanted to see him lose.

Different methods. Same result. People in the building.

Two ways to draw a crowd.

One made you cheer. One made you angry. Both made you care.

That’s what legends do.

The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, the Money Draws, and the Territory Legends.

New episodes drop every Friday.

Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers, with additional material from Oh Yeah! The History of Hawaiian Wrestling, also by Mike Rodgers. Both are available on Amazon.

Next week: The Grappler gets the spotlight all to himself.

Ringside in Rose City #51 — Guest Shots: Portland Wrestling Memories

This week, we put away the results sheets and step inside the memories of the Portland Sports Arena.

Frank Culbertson and Mike Rodgers welcome three special guests, each with a different connection to Portland Wrestling and a different generation of stories to tell.

Rich Patterson takes us back to his first night inside the Sports Arena in 1971, unforgettable moments involving Roddy Piper, Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver and Billy Jack Haynes, and the remarkable story of how he helped save the Buddy Rose tape collection—hundreds of tapes that might otherwise have disappeared forever.

Jody Day remembers discovering Portland Wrestling as a young fan in the 1980s, walking into the Sports Arena for the first time, the Andre the Giant mural, Steve Doll and the Southern Rockers, The Breakfast Club, and what it was like getting to know some of the wrestlers while still trying to understand the mysteries of kayfabe.

Then longtime wrestling broadcaster and historian Jim Valley joins us for another perspective on Portland Wrestling, including memories from both sides of the microphone.

Along the way, there are stories about bloody matches, the Crow's Nest, Santa Rip, moldy videotapes, milk and Cheerios, favorite wrestlers, saved programs and scrapbooks—and the little moments that made the Portland Sports Arena unlike any other wrestling building.

We also take time to remember Jerry Oates, who passed away September 4 at the age of 78. Mike shares memories from his interview with Oates and looks back at Jerry's important Portland run, including his Northwest Heavyweight Championship and tag-team partnership with Jesse Ventura. We remember a wrestler who described his career simply: he always gave 100 percent—and a man Ole Anderson once told was probably “too nice” for the wrestling business.

Because you can look up who won a match.

You can find the attendance.

You can read the results.

But that doesn't tell you what it felt like to be there.

History tells us what happened. Memories tell us why it mattered.

Three guests. Three perspectives. A tribute to Jerry Oates. And a whole lot of Portland Wrestling memories.

Ringside in Rose City
One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes every Thursday.

Wrestling... wrestling the way it should be.

The Cream of the Crop – Episode 4: Billy Jack Haynes & Rip Oliver

Sometimes you don't have to wait very long to discover your greatest rival.

For Billy Jack Haynes, it took exactly one night.

On October 29, 1982, the Portland native trained by Stu Hart walked into Portland Wrestling for the first time. Before the night was over, he had already battled Rip “The Crippler” Oliver to a draw—and begun a rivalry that would weave through nearly a decade of Portland Wrestling history.

In Episode 4 of The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, Money Draws, and Territory Legends, we move into the 1980s and two men who took very different paths to the top.

Billy Jack was the hometown hero. He had the physique, intensity, sincerity and devastating full nelson that immediately connected with Portland fans. Rip Oliver was already becoming the territory's dominant villain—the leader of The Clan who would eventually capture an incredible 12 Northwest Heavyweight Championships and 16 Northwest Tag Team Championships.

And then Rip Oliver dressed up as Santa Claus.

Near Christmas 1982, Santa entered the Portland Sports Arena carrying candy for the fans. When Billy Jack approached, Santa reached into his bag, pulled out a tire iron and clobbered him with it. Underneath the Santa suit was Rip Oliver.

Merry Christmas, Portland Wrestling style.

It was ridiculous. It was personal. And it worked. The hometown hero against the leader of The Clan became one of the rivalries that would help carry Portland Wrestling into a new era.

Billy Jack's career soon carried him far beyond Portland, but perhaps the greatest evidence of his drawing power came at Portland Wrestling's 60th Anniversary Extravaganza in 1985. With Roddy Piper, Buddy Rose, the Road Warriors, Sgt. Slaughter, Rick Martel and the Hennigs all on the card, Billy Jack Haynes versus Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship went on top. More than 12,000 fans packed Memorial Coliseum for the sellout.

While Billy Jack pursued opportunities around the wrestling world and eventually reached WrestleMania III, Rip Oliver stayed in Portland. He became a champion, leader, booker and one of the pillars of the territory throughout the decade.

Then professional wrestling did what professional wrestling does.

On Christmas night 1989, after years of fighting each other, Billy Jack Haynes and Rip Oliver became partners, teaming inside a cage. Months later, a garbage can and a misunderstanding changed everything again. Billy Jack turned against Rip and the Portland fans—and suddenly the longtime hometown hero was the villain while Rip Oliver, after spending most of his Portland career as a heel, became the hero.

Enemies. Champions. Partners. And enemies all over again.

Billy Jack Haynes and Rip Oliver spent nearly a decade seemingly unable to escape each other—and that's exactly why they belong among Portland Wrestling's main eventers, money draws and territory legends.

They were The Cream of the Crop.

And next Friday, we bring another great Portland rivalry back into the spotlight: Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Ripper Collins. One became one of the most recognizable stars professional wrestling ever produced. The other became one of the Pacific Northwest's most memorable villains.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.

New episodes of The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 50: September 1969 – Mayne, Kirby & a Territory Searching for Its Next Rivalry

September 1969 finds Portland Wrestling in an unusual place.

Lonnie Mayne and Rip “The Ruffian” Kirby have become the rivalry carrying the territory—but behind them, Don Owen's promotion is searching for its next major babyface, its next major heel, and the storyline that can take Portland Wrestling into the fall.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers continue their month-by-month journey through the Portland Sports Arena era, as the Mayne-Kirby war gets bloodier, stranger and increasingly difficult to contain.

The biggest moment comes in a Fight to the Finish for the Northwest Heavyweight Championship. Sandy Barr and Shag Thomas refuse to referee after what they've already endured in previous Mayne-Kirby battles, so Stan Stasiak steps in. Mayne eventually smashes Kirby's head into the ring post so violently that Stasiak stops the match—and Lonnie Mayne becomes Northwest Heavyweight Champion without ever pinning Rip Kirby.

But that only creates more questions.

Why is Stan Stasiak suddenly spending so much time refereeing instead of wrestling? Why is he openly complaining in the newspapers about not receiving top billing? Is Lonnie Mayne finally becoming a babyface—or is he still a heel who just happens to be fighting somebody the fans hate even more? And with Tony Borne, Haru Sasaki, Johnny Kostas, Buddy Marino, Billy White Wolf and Earl Maynard moving through the picture, who is actually ready to become Portland's next major attraction?

As Mike puts it, Mayne versus Kirby essentially carries the entire month. And by September's end, the territory clearly needs a fresh infusion of talent and new rivalries.

Card Shark also returns, and Lisa has some particularly good cards waiting for Mike—including the very first Portland Sports Arena show Mike ever attended and a loaded 1983 Portland lineup.

Then comes a 1993 AAA card from the Los Angeles Sports Arena featuring Rey Misterio Jr., El Hijo del Santo, Octagón, La Parka, Jake Roberts, Eddie Guerrero, Art Barr, Konnan, Luis Spicolli—and one name especially familiar to longtime listeners of the show: Vandal Drummond, . Mike immediately recognizes Vandal as a clue that the mystery card may be from Los Angeles and reflects on how impressive it was for him to receive an opportunity on a card loaded with that level of international talent. And yes, Vandal, we know you listen—we made sure you got into the show.

Mike also shares a great Luis Spicolli and Owen Hart story involving Stu Hart's 80th birthday show, Michael Lano, a cramped Chevy Vega and a little bit of wrestling carny language.

Then Lisa breaks out the grass skirt, lei and coconuts for another Island Interlude, and September 1969 in Hawaii is absolutely loaded. King Curtis Iaukea, Pedro Morales, Giant Baba, Gene Kiniski, The Sheik, Pampero Firpo, Ripper Collins, Nick Bockwinkel, Jerry Brisco, Peter Maivia, Billy White Wolf and the Von Steigers are among the stars filling some remarkable cards.

One night features Gene Kiniski against Giant Baba, King Curtis winning the North American Championship from Pedro Morales, and the Hawaiian debut of The Sheik—whose match against Pampero Firpo lasts exactly zero minutes after The Sheik attacks him with a stool before the bell and gets himself fined and suspended.

It's championship changes, bloody feuds, confusing booking, Card Shark chaos, a shout-out to Vandal Drummond, Lisa's Hawaiian wardrobe—and another month in which Portland Wrestling proves that sometimes the most fascinating history comes when a territory is trying to figure out what comes next.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Cream of the Crop – Episode 3: Dutch Savage & Bull Ramos

Professional wrestling has always been built around a simple idea: create a villain so dangerous and so despised that fans will pay money just to see somebody stop him.

In 1972, Portland Wrestling found that man.

His name was Bull Ramos.

But Portland already had somebody waiting for him: Dutch Savage. And for much of the decade, these two men would fight for championships, supremacy—and the paying customers who couldn't wait to see them do it again.

In Episode 3 of The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, Money Draws, and Territory Legends, we revisit one of the rivalries that helped define Portland Wrestling in the 1970s.

Dutch Savage arrived in Portland full-time in 1970 after wrestling across the country and beyond. With his unmistakable look, charisma and devastating jumping piledriver, Savage became one of the Northwest's biggest stars. Seven Northwest Heavyweight Championships and 12 Northwest Tag Team Championships followed—but the championships alone don't explain Dutch Savage. People paid to see him.

Then came Bull Ramos.

On January 8, 1972, Ramos made his Portland debut against a man promoted as perhaps the only wrestler tough enough to face him: Lonnie Mayne. Bull broke Mayne's arm. The fans went crazy, and as Ramos later remembered it, his road from there was “paved with gold—sellout after sellout.”

Soon Bull was standing across the ring from Dutch Savage.

Ramos defeated Savage for the Northwest Heavyweight Championship in April 1972 and dominated the title picture for much of the next year and a half. But this wasn't a rivalry built around one match or one summer. Dutch Savage and Bull Ramos battled throughout much of the decade, becoming one of Portland Wrestling's classic hero-versus-villain combinations.

And behind that rivalry was remarkable chemistry.

Hear the story of Dutch using salmon oil to send Bull into a genuine rage during a match—and the even better story of the two eventually becoming friends and going salmon fishing together, only for Dutch to burn through Bull's fishing line after Bull spent an hour and a half fighting a 40-pound salmon.

Inside the ring, they convinced thousands of fans they hated each other. Outside the ring... apparently things weren't always much safer.

Years later, Ramos recalled Don Owen telling fans that Bull had made him more money than any wrestler in the world. Dutch Savage became synonymous with Pacific Northwest wrestling. One became one of Portland's greatest heroes. The other became one of its greatest villains.

And when you put them together, fans believed.

That's why Dutch Savage and Bull Ramos belong in The Cream of the Crop.

And next Friday, the series moves into another generation and another unforgettable Portland rivalry: Billy Jack Haynes and Rip “The Crippler” Oliver. The hometown powerhouse against the leader of one of Portland Wrestling's most dominant groups.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.

New episodes of The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – The Greatest Northwest Champions

Who was the greatest Northwest Heavyweight Champion of the Portland Sports Arena era?

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers tackle a debate they've been having for years—and discover pretty quickly that they don't agree nearly as much as they thought they did.

More than 110 wrestlers challenged for the Northwest Championship, and Mike has documented more than 540 championship matches. But championships alone don't tell the story. Frank and Mike build their rankings around title reigns, successful defenses, championship opportunities, quality of opposition—and that one statistic you can never completely measure: how much a wrestler meant to the fans.

The countdown brings out some of Portland's biggest names: Lonnie Mayne, Roddy Piper, Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Billy Jack Haynes, Rick Martel, Ed Wiskowski, Jay Youngblood, Rip Oliver, Buddy Rose, Bull Ramos and plenty more.

Some disagreements are small. Others require Lisa to put on the referee shirt.

Was Brett Sawyer one of Portland's greatest champions—or does Mike have him nowhere near the Top 15? Does Rip Oliver's record 12 championships and 47 title defenses make him the obvious choice? How much should longevity matter? How much should the quality of the opponent matter? And can charisma outweigh the statistics?

By the time they reach number one, Frank and Mike aren't even crowning the same wrestler. Frank makes the case for Buddy Rose, while Mike plants his flag firmly behind Bull Ramos—and both have plenty of ammunition.

The episode also pauses to remember John Anson, a familiar name from one of Portland Wrestling's strongest eras, following news of his passing.

Then Lisa grabs the passports for the debut of a brand-new Ringside segment: Passport to Piledrivers! First stop: Canada, where Frank tests Mike's knowledge of masked wrestlers from north of the border. But there's a theme behind the questions—all roads lead to former Portland wrestler Rocky Della Serra, who worked under several masked identities during his career.

The segment also shines a spotlight on Rocky's new book, Wrestling With a Rocky Life, filled with stories from his travels, his many wrestling identities, and a lifetime spent inside the business. Frank calls it one of the best wrestling books he's read and highly recommends it—and listeners can also go back and hear Rocky's recent appearance on Ringside in Rose City.

Statistics, memories, disagreements, a tribute to a member of the Portland Wrestling family, a trip across the Canadian border—and one championship debate that may never truly be settled.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Cream of the Crop – Episode 2: Buddy Rose & Roddy Piper

Some rivalries sell tickets. Some create champions. And every once in a while, two wrestlers find each other at exactly the right moment—and create something that comes to define an era.

In Episode 2 of The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, Money Draws, and Territory Legends, we turn to perhaps the greatest rivalry Portland Wrestling ever produced: “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

Buddy Rose arrived first. From his Portland debut in 1976, Rose proved he understood professional wrestling at a different level. He could make fans despise him one moment and laugh at him the next, while becoming an 11-time Northwest Heavyweight Champion and 13-time Northwest Tag Team Champion. Through parts of the next 13 years, Rose became almost synonymous with Portland Wrestling.

Then, in October 1978, came Roddy Piper. He didn't immediately walk into the main events, but Piper possessed a weapon few could match—his voice. By February 1979, he was Northwest Heavyweight Champion, and soon the pieces were in place for a rivalry that would ignite the Portland Sports Arena.

Rose knew how to make fans hate him. Piper knew how to make them believe in him. Together, they created magic.

Their feud produced unforgettable interviews, packed houses and intensely personal battles. In April 1980, Piper defeated Rose and took his hair. Five months later, Rose got his revenge by defeating Piper in a Loser Leaves Town match, sending Piper out of Portland and toward the next chapter of a career that would eventually make him one of professional wrestling's biggest stars.

But their Portland story wasn't finished. Piper returned in 1985 and found Buddy waiting for him again. Rose would also leave another remarkable legacy: some of the Portland Wrestling footage that survives today exists because Buddy embraced home video technology and recorded the history he was helping create.

Separately, Buddy Rose and Roddy Piper were extraordinary. Together, they were unforgettable. One became the perfect villain. The other became the perfect hero. Portland Wrestling had them both at exactly the right time.

It was lightning in a bottle—and more than 45 years later, we're still talking about it.

And next Friday, The Cream of the Crop continues with another rivalry Portland fans would never forget: Dutch Savage and Bull Ramos. One was already becoming a Northwest legend. The other arrived looking like he had come to destroy everything in his path.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 48: August 1969 – Blood, Wire & a New Northwest Champion

August 1969 was a month when Portland Wrestling caught fire—and at the center of it all were Lonnie Mayne and “Ruffian” Rip Kirby.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers continue their month-by-month journey through the territory as a heel-versus-heel rivalry unexpectedly becomes the hottest attraction in the Northwest. Don Owen lets the feud simmer rather than running it every week, and when Mayne and Kirby finally collide, the results are brutal: bloody battles, packed houses, a Northwest Heavyweight Championship change, and eventually a ring surrounded by wire to keep the two men from escaping each other.

Kirby emerges as the new Northwest Heavyweight Champion, while Mayne finds himself in the unusual position of being a villain against most of the roster—but increasingly cheered whenever he faces Kirby. Meanwhile, Stan Stasiak moves back into title contention, and Portland's thin heel roster creates an unexpected opportunity for Haru Sasaki, who goes from the preliminaries to battling Mayne and Tony Borne in the main events.

There are plenty of strange detours along the way: Johnny Kostas repeatedly being advertised and repeatedly failing to appear, Buddy Marino's supposedly “famous and clever” Skin the Cat, Stasiak moonlighting as a referee, Shag Thomas preparing to trade wrestling for the classroom, and newspaper descriptions that could sell a wrestling match—or occasionally make Frank and Mike wonder what the writer was thinking.

Then it's time for an Island Interlude, as Lisa Hughes breaks out the grass skirt, flower lei and coconut bra and sends the show to Hawaii. The August cards feature Dory Funk Jr. defending the NWA World Championship against King Curtis Iaukea, Pedro Morales battling Gorilla Monsoon, the arrival of Kurt and Karl Von Steiger, the surprise return of Pampero Firpo, and the mysterious Masked Men #1 and #2—whose identities apparently remained a mystery.

And Card Shark returns as Lisa reaches into her collection of old wrestling programs and challenges Mike to identify the territory, city and year from nothing but the wrestlers on the card. As usual, Mike's encyclopedic memory gets a workout—and Lisa enjoys every second of it.

By month's end, the Mayne-Kirby war is far from finished. Tony Borne is back in the middle of things, Sasaki has joined Kirby's side, and a disqualification leaves everybody brawling and the rivalry headed straight into September.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Cream of the Crop – Episode 1: Tony Borne & Lonnie Mayne

Welcome to The Cream of the Crop: The Main Eventers, Money Draws, and Territory Legends, a brand-new journey through the biggest stars in Portland Wrestling history.

These aren't simply the wrestlers who appeared on the cards. These are the names that went at the top of the poster. The champions, personalities, heroes, and villains who packed the Portland Sports Arena, filled Memorial Coliseum, sold tickets, and became the faces of an entire territory.

And there may be no better place to begin than with Tony Borne and Lonnie Mayne.

Long before Buddy Rose and Roddy Piper became synonymous with Portland Wrestling, Tony Borne was setting the standard. A nine-time Northwest Heavyweight Champion and 19-time Northwest Tag Team Champion, Borne combined wrestling ability, psychology, personality, and an uncanny understanding of how to make a crowd react. Then he saw something special in a young wrestler named Lonnie Mayne.

When Don Owen was reportedly ready to move on from Mayne, Borne stepped forward with a simple idea: “Put the kid with me.” That decision helped change Portland Wrestling history.

Together, Borne and Mayne captured the Northwest Tag Team Championship an incredible 11 times, battled some of wrestling's biggest names, and became one of the defining teams of the territory. Then came the breakup. Teacher versus student. Partner versus partner. Their rivalry became so hot that Portland Sports Arena wasn't big enough, sending their matches to Memorial Coliseum before crowds of 7,000 and 8,000 fans.

They would eventually reunite, but their story became about far more than championships. It was about friendship, mentorship, rivalry, charisma—and two men whose careers became forever intertwined.

Tony Borne and Lonnie Mayne were partners and rivals. Teachers and students. Heroes and villains. Most importantly, they were money draws and main eventers.

They were The Cream of the Crop.

And next Friday, the series continues with two men whose rivalry helped change Portland Wrestling forever: “Playboy” Buddy Rose and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 47: We Haven't Mentioned These Guys Yet – Part 2

There are the legends everybody remembers—and then there are the wrestlers whose names can suddenly unlock a memory you haven't thought about in fifty years.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers pick up the conversation that became too big for one episode. We Haven't Mentioned These Guys Yet – Part 2 digs even deeper into the wrestlers who passed through Portland—some for only a handful of matches, others for longer runs, and more than a few who went on to fascinating careers elsewhere.

Among the stories are Bill Watts, who wrestled exactly one Portland match before becoming one of wrestling's legendary promoters; Prince Kumali, whose Northwest appearances were his only North American wrestling run; Randy Morse, the big man who toured Japan and survived a frightening accident at the Portland Sports Arena; and Sailor White, who eventually found championship success in the WWF as one of the Moondogs.

Mike also makes the case for one of Portland Wrestling's great missed opportunities—masked babyface Super Hawk, a talented luchador with an impressive career in Mexico who Mike believes could have become something special if Don Owen had given him a bigger push. The conversation also revisits Super Ninja, The White Avenger, Clay Spencer, and the wonderfully ridiculous story of Terry Gibbs losing a Loser Leaves Town match... only to return later that very night under a mask as The Georgia Jaw Jacker.

Then it's back to wrestling's earlier years with Luis Martinez, Larry Chaney, and Tarzan Tyler, as Frank and Mike uncover stories of championships, friendships, tragedy, unusual gimmicks, and even a possible historical connection to the loaded boot that would eventually become synonymous with The Grappler.

And of course, Card Shark returns. Lisa deals Mike three mystery wrestling cards, including a loaded 1962 Los Angeles card and a 1977 Detroit lineup. But the real surprise comes with the final card: a 1989 Pacific Coast Championship Wrestling show in Oregon City that just happened to feature a young announcer named Frank Culbertson behind the microphone. Somehow, Mike fails to recognize the most important wrestling card in human history. Lisa, meanwhile, just keeps dancing.

It's an episode built around one of the things that makes wrestling history so much fun: not every wrestler becomes a legend, but every wrestler adds another page to the story. And on Ringside in Rose City, Frank and Mike believe every page is worth reading.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 12: The Final Chapter... and the Beginning of a New Journey

Every great series reaches its final chapter.

After twelve episodes exploring the unforgettable attractions who made Portland Wrestling unlike any other territory, The Attraction Archive comes to a close. But before saying goodbye, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers celebrate one final collection of unique personalities whose paths to Portland came through football, boxing, women's wrestling, little person wrestling, and even television.

This farewell episode features Angelo Mosca, one of the greatest players in Canadian Football League history who successfully transitioned to professional wrestling; former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jersey Joe Walcott, whose brief Portland wrestling appearance became one of the territory's most unusual stories; Betty Nicoli, an AWA Women's World Champion whose accomplishments reached far beyond her Northwest appearances; and little person wrestling attractions Dirty Morgan, Tiny Atlas, and Pepe Gomez, performers whose fascinating careers perfectly capture the spirit of The Attraction Archive.

As Frank and Mike close the book on dozens of attractions and hundreds of stories, they reflect on the giants, pioneers, curiosities, future world champions, and unforgettable personalities who helped make Portland Wrestling special—even if they weren't always the names at the top of the card.

But the journey is far from over.

Next week marks the premiere of an exciting new series: The Cream of the Crop. The spotlight shifts from the special attractions to the men who defined Portland Wrestling—the main eventers, the money draws, and the territory legends. From Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper, Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Tony Borne, Lonnie Mayne, The Grappler, and Bull Ramos, to many more of the biggest stars ever to step inside the Portland Sports Arena, this new series will explore the wrestlers whose names topped the posters, sold the tickets, and built one of professional wrestling's greatest territories. If The Attraction Archive celebrated the unforgettable side stories, The Cream of the Crop is all about the main event.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City and The Cream of the Crop drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 46: Who We Haven't Talked About – Part 1

Not every wrestler was a main event star. Some were future champions finding their footing. Some arrived at just the wrong time. Others left behind memorable careers that deserve another look.This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers shine the spotlight on the wrestlers who helped shape Portland Wrestling but rarely receive the attention they deserve. It's the first installment of a new series celebrating the forgotten names, fascinating careers, and unexpected stories that filled out the cards at the Portland Sports Arena. Among the wrestlers featured are Abbud Dein, the son of King Curtis Iaukea whose mysterious interview style made him one of the most unique personalities of the late 1980s; Alexis Smirnoff, the Russian villain whose Northwest stay ended almost as quickly as it began; Art Crews, who returned to Portland transformed from a bland babyface into one of the territory's most entertaining heels; Barry Orton, uncle of Randy Orton and member of wrestling's legendary Orton family; and Avalanche, later known as PN News, whose enormous size made him an unforgettable part of Portland's final years. Frank and Mike also revisit the careers of Billy White Cloud, Brian Adias, Dennis Stamp, Gene Kelly (Gene Lewis), Jeff Portz, Hiro Ota (Yasu Fujii), Ivan Zarnoff, Mike York, Mr. Seki (Mr. Pogo), and Pierre LeGrand, sharing stories that range from bizarre gimmicks and famous wrestling families to championship runs, memorable feuds, and career paths that took these wrestlers around the world.Along the way, Mike uncovers little-known facts, recalls unforgettable matches, and explains why even the wrestlers who spent little time in Portland played an important role in building one of wrestling's greatest territories. Before the conversation is over, Frank and Mike realize they've barely scratched the surface—setting up the first-ever "to be continued" episode in Ringside in Rose City history.Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.One ring. One city. A thousand stories.New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 11: World Champions, Trailblazers, and Wrestling's Lasting Mysteries

Some wrestling attractions became legends because of championship victories. Others broke barriers that reached far beyond the ring. And a few left behind mysteries that historians are still trying to solve.

This week on The Attraction Archive, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers explore four fascinating figures whose stories demonstrate just how diverse the world of Portland wrestling truly was.

The episode begins with Ivan Koloff, the man who shocked the wrestling world by ending Bruno Sammartino's historic WWWF Championship reign. Mike traces Koloff's early Northwest appearances under the name Red McNulty, his later returns as an international superstar, and the personal conversations that revealed the thoughtful, faith-driven man behind one of wrestling's greatest villains.

Next, the spotlight turns to Sue Green, whose extraordinary career began while she was still in high school. After receiving permission from the Governor of Texas to wrestle professionally as a teenager, Green went on to enjoy a remarkable career that extended well beyond the ring, eventually becoming the focus of the acclaimed documentary Out in the Ring.

The journey continues with Joey Russell, whose career alongside the legendary Sky Low Low highlights the close-knit world of little person wrestling during its touring heyday. Then Frank and Mike dive into one of wrestling history's enduring puzzles: Pepe Morales. Was he actually Sonny Boy Hayes competing under another name? The historical evidence is compelling, but the mystery remains unsolved, making for one of the most intriguing stories in the Attraction Archive.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 45: July 1969 – New Champions, New Rivalries, and a Legendary Hawaiian Card

The summer of 1969 is heating up, and so is Portland wrestling.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers continue their month-by-month journey through July 1969, a pivotal month that saw changing championships, growing rivalries, and clear signs that Don Owen was preparing to reshape the territory. Attendance concerns, shifting storylines, and a changing roster all point toward a promotion on the verge of a major turning point.

The episode follows the escalating battles between Lonnie Mayne, Tony Borne, Buddy Marino, Crusher Stan Stasiak, Roger "Rip" Kirby, and Dean Higuchi, as the Northwest Tag Team Championship changes hands twice in just a matter of weeks. Along the way, Frank and Mike break down the storytelling behind the matches, debate controversial referee decisions, discuss Don Owen's booking philosophy, and examine why the territory was beginning to reinvent itself during the summer of 1969.

Listeners will also hear fascinating stories about forgotten spot shows, the mysterious Oregon Championship, women's wrestling in Washington, colorful newspaper coverage, and the wrestlers who quietly kept the Northwest territory running from town to town.

As always, Lisa returns with another entertaining edition of Kayfabe Curveballs, sending Mike well outside his wrestling comfort zone with trivia inspired by Tennessee, Mountain Dew, and a few unexpected detours that lead to stories involving Ric Flair, Triple H, Portland Wrestling, and the Oregon State Athletic Commission.

The episode closes with another visit to Hawaii Wrestling, where Frank and Mike examine one of the most incredible cards of 1969—a lineup featuring Pat Patterson, Ray Stevens, Ripper Collins, Pedro Morales, Gene Kiniski, Gorilla Monsoon, King Curtis Iaukea, Nick Bockwinkel, Dory Dixon, and more. It's a reminder that while Portland had an outstanding roster, Hawaii was presenting some of the greatest collections of wrestling talent anywhere in the world.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 10: International Legends, Future Champions, and Wrestling's Smallest Giants

The Attraction Archive travels around the wrestling world this week, from legendary Japanese stars and future world champions to one of the most accomplished women ever trained by Sandy Barr and a fascinating collection of little person wrestling attractions whose careers spanned decades.

This episode begins with Kinji Shibuya, one of the territorial era's greatest villains. Although billed as Japanese throughout his career, fans may be surprised to learn he was actually born in Utah. Mike Rodgers explores Shibuya's remarkable career, his time as one of wrestling's biggest stars during the 1960s, and his memorable appearances in Portland alongside names like Haru Sasaki, Jesse Ventura, Bull Ramos, Jimmy Snuka, Don Leo Jonathan, and Dutch Savage.

Next comes one of the most unusual championship stories in Portland wrestling history. Tatsumi Fujinami, already an international superstar, wrestled only two matches in Portland—but somehow managed to win the Northwest Heavyweight Championship in one and lose it in the other, creating one of the shortest and most unique title reigns the territory ever witnessed.

The spotlight then turns to Velvet McIntyre, another graduate of Sandy Barr's wrestling school. Although she wrestled only twice in Portland, she went on to capture both the WWF Women's Championship and the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship, including a career-defining victory over The Fabulous Moolah.

The episode concludes with a look at several memorable little person attractions—Pee Wee Adams, Sonny Boy Hayes, and Little Brutus—whose careers stretched from Portland to some of wrestling's biggest stages, including Shea Stadium, while helping preserve one of wrestling's most unique traditions.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 44: Ring Around the Northwest Hall of Fame – Part 2 & Remembering Siva Afi

The Hall of Fame vault is open once again.

Frank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers continue their journey through years 12 through 22 of the Ring Around the Northwest Hall of Fame. Rather than simply reciting the complete classes, they stop to explore the careers, contributions, and personal stories of selected inductees who helped shape wrestling throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Among those receiving the spotlight are Tiger Daula, Al Madril, Frankie Lane, Kyle O’Reilly, Rasputin, Verne Siebert, Gordon Hessel, Richie Magnet, Dr. John Bonica, Adrian Adonis, Art Barr, The Gray Mask, Frank Shields—also known as Bull Bullinski, Tito Carrion, Sgt. Slaughter, Scotty Mac, Sweet Daddy Siki, Red Bastien, Matty Suzuki, and Enrique Torres. Their stories range from world championships and major rivalries to opening-match longevity, medical innovation, personal friendships, and careers that might otherwise be lost to time.

Lisa also deals another round of Card Shark, challenging Mike to identify classic wrestling cards from San Francisco, Dallas, and Florida. With only the match lineups as clues, Mike works to uncover the territory, city, year, and history behind each event.

The episode then takes a heartfelt turn. Just as recording concluded, Frank and Mike learned that Siva Afi had passed away at the age of 77. Mike looks back on Afi’s journey from New Zealand to Hawaii, Portland, and the WWF; his major victories and one-hour draw with Ric Flair before 12,000 fans in Hawaii; and a personal memory of seeing him during the years he worked at Tom Peterson’s. Frank and Mike close the tribute by offering their condolences to the Afi family.
Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

🎙️ The Attraction Archive #9 – The Greatest of All Time, Future Champions, and Wrestling Originals

Some wrestlers earned championships.

Some earned fame.

And a select few earned something even greater—the respect of generations of wrestlers who simply called them the greatest.

In Episode #9 of The Attraction Archive, Frank Culbertson explores another remarkable collection of Portland Wrestling attractions, featuring perhaps the greatest professional wrestler who ever lived, one of the Northwest's most successful women champions, an unforgettable wrestling original who proudly called herself a "Gidget," and two pioneers of little person wrestling whose careers helped define an entire era.

When wrestling legends were asked one simple question—"Who was the greatest professional wrestler of all time?"—the answer was often the same:

Lou Thesz.

From an unforgettable 1969 classic against Luther Lindsay to an impromptu match with Gene Kiniski after arriving in Portland as a special referee, Thesz proved why he remains one of the most respected figures in wrestling history. You'll also hear his heartfelt admiration for Don Owen, offering a rare glimpse into the mutual respect shared by two true legends.

Standing just 4'11", Jeanne Antone refused to let anyone define her.

Instead, she created her own category.

Calling herself a "Gidget"—too small to be considered average-sized and too tall to compete as a little person wrestler—Antone carved out a unique identity while entertaining fans throughout the Northwest. It's one of the most charming and original stories in wrestling history.

Long before capturing the WWF Women's Tag Team Championship, Princess Victoria was learning her craft under Sandy Barr in Portland.

Her early Northwest appearances became the launching pad for a championship career, proving once again that Portland Wrestling was where many future stars first learned to shine.

Sometimes history leaves behind only fragments.

Farmer Jones remains one of wrestling's great mysteries—a performer whose documented Portland career lasted only one appearance but whose name continues to surface in wrestling records across North America. It's another reminder of why preserving wrestling history matters.

Few names in little person wrestling carry more prestige than Sky Low Low.

Over a remarkable 41-year career, he wrestled more than 900 matches, became a three-time World Midget Champion, performed before royalty, and earned a place alongside Little Beaver as one of the two greatest little wrestlers of all time.

His story is nothing short of extraordinary.

The Attraction Archive continues to celebrate the stars you know...

...the legends you may have forgotten...

...and the remarkable personalities who helped make Portland Wrestling unlike anywhere else in the world.

Because every attraction...

has a story worth telling.

🎙️ New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Based on the historical research of Mike Rogers and The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, available now on Amazon.

A great wrestling match could bring fans back next week.

A great interview could sell out the building.

In this special episode of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and historian Mike Rogers return to the legendary Crow's Nest, where some of Portland Wrestling's greatest interviews—and a few unforgettable train wrecks—helped shape the territory.

This time, the microphones belong to an incredible lineup of wrestling personalities, including:

• Andre the Giant, Rocky Johnson, and Bret Sawyer setting the stage for a blockbuster Tuesday night card.
• Roddy Piper delivering one of the most unforgettable—and controversial—promos of his Portland career.
• Buddy Rose turning the intensity up to eleven as only the Playboy could.
• Rick Martel, Matt Borne, Lonnie Mayne, Mike Miller, Steve Doll, Scotty the Body, Ricky Vaughn, Bret Sawyer, Rocky Johnson, and many more.

Frank and Mike don't just play the interviews—they break them down, explaining what was happening behind the scenes, why certain promos worked so well, and why others... well... probably should have ended about thirty seconds sooner.

The episode also includes one of the true highlights in Ringside in Rose City history, as Rich Patterson joins the show after answering Lisa's unexpected phone call. Rich shares the remarkable story of recording rare Portland Wrestling interviews as a ten-year-old in 1972, preserving audio that very few fans have ever heard. His memories—and his passion for preserving wrestling history—make this a must-listen for every Northwest wrestling fan.

And speaking of fan favorites...

Yes, Steve Doll gets another well-deserved spotlight. We know superfan Jody Day is probably already standing and applauding—and if anyone dares suggest Steve Doll doesn't belong in the conversation, Jody has likely prepared a ten-minute rebuttal complete with exhibits, witness testimony, and a closing argument. Around here, defending Steve Doll isn't just a hobby... it's practically a full-contact sport!

If you've ever wondered why Portland Wrestling interviews are still talked about decades later, this episode provides the answer. Some sold matches. Some created unforgettable feuds. And some became legendary simply because they were so entertaining.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive #8 – Legends, Champions, and Stories Worth Remembering

Some attractions appeared only once.

Some became world champions.

And some left a legacy so great that one appearance in Portland was all it took to become part of wrestling history.

In Episode #8 of The Attraction Archive, Frank Culbertson explores another remarkable collection of wrestlers whose influence stretched far beyond the Northwest. This week's journey features two of the most respected performers to ever lace up a pair of boots, one of the greatest women wrestlers of her generation, and two memorable stars from the world of little person wrestling.

Ask veteran wrestlers, promoters, or historians to name the greatest performers of all time, and one name is guaranteed to come up: Ray Stevens.

Although his Portland Sports Arena career consisted of just a single appearance, Stevens' reputation is legendary. Discover why his partnerships with Pat Patterson and Nick Bockwinkel are still considered among the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling history—and why so many insiders simply call him one of the best to ever step into a ring.

Calm.

Confident.

Brilliant.

Nick Bockwinkel never needed to shout to command an audience. Long before becoming AWA World Heavyweight Champion, he had already established himself as one of Portland Wrestling's finest competitors. This episode revisits his Northwest success and his memorable championship defense against a young Curt Hennig, a true meeting of two wrestling generations.

Born into one of wrestling's pioneering families, Debbie Combs transformed early promise into an extraordinary career. From her Portland appearances against Liz Chase to championship battles with Sherri Martel, Debbie went on to become a three-time NWA World Women's Champion, proving she belonged among the elite women of her era.

Standing just 4-foot-4 but carrying the heart of a champion, Chief Lone Eagle brought athleticism, determination, and an unforgettable personality to little person wrestling. His journey—from amateur wrestling in Newfoundland to Portland Wrestling and beyond—is one of the hidden gems of wrestling history.

Sometimes a wrestling career lasts decades.

Sometimes it lasts only a handful of matches.

Tiny Tom wrestled just five times in the Northwest, yet his story remains one worth remembering. His brief career and tragic passing at only 27 years old serve as a reminder that every wrestler, no matter how short their time in the spotlight, helped shape wrestling's rich history.

The Attraction Archive isn't just about the biggest stars.

It's about preserving the stories, celebrating the careers, and remembering the people who made professional wrestling the unique world it has always been.

Because every attraction...

has a story worth telling.

🎙️ New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Based on the historical research of Mike Rogers and The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, available now on Amazon.

The summer of 1969 has arrived, and Portland Wrestling is changing before the fans' eyes.

The Von Steigers are gone. New stars are stepping into the spotlight. Championships are changing hands, rivalries are intensifying, and Don Owen is clearly reshaping the territory for the months ahead. June proves to be one of the most pivotal months of 1969, as familiar names begin to fade and the next generation starts making its mark.

Join Frank Culbertson and historian Mike Rogers as they return to the Portland Sports Arena to relive another unforgettable month in Northwest wrestling history.

This episode features:

• A tribute to former Portland wrestler and promoter Jerry Gray, whose career stretched from the territories to promoting his own successful wrestling cards in the Northwest
• Lonnie Mayne & Tony Borne capturing and defending the Northwest Tag Team Championship while Mayne continues his reign as Northwest Heavyweight Champion
• Buddy Marino's incredible month, earning title shot after title shot and proving he belonged among Portland's elite
• The continued rise of Dean Ho, as he steps into the role of one of Portland's top fan favorites
• The arrival of Roger "Rip" Kirby, whose athletic style quickly makes him one of the territory's brightest new stars
• The final Portland appearances of Pat Patterson before his return years later
• Why Salem's famous stage wall may have been one of the busiest "weapons" in professional wrestling

Plus...

🌺 Island Interlude returns with another incredible trip to Hawaii, featuring dream matches involving Pedro Morales, Gorilla Monsoon, Nick Bockwinkel, Billy Robinson, Gene Kiniski, Karl Gotch, King Curtis Iaukea, Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson, Dory Dixon, Rocky Montero, and many more. If there was a hotter wrestling territory anywhere in June 1969, we'd like to see it.

And of course, there are plenty of laughs along the way, including:
• Mike's unforgettable referee story involving Jerry Gray
• Why Tony Borne may have found the greatest loophole in wrestling history... by simply buying a ticket.
• Frank's tale of accidentally making Little Nasty Boy even "smaller" during a ring introduction.
• Another spirited debate over Stan Stasiak, the Full Nelson, and whether Mike would have awarded Lonnie Mayne a cage match victory.

June 1969 wasn't just another month in Portland Wrestling.

It was the beginning of a new chapter.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Based on the research of historian Mike Rogers and The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, available now on Amazon.

🎙️ The Attraction Archive #7 – Wrestling's Hidden Architects

Some wrestlers became legends because of what they did inside the ring.

Others changed wrestling history because of the people they influenced.

In Episode #7 of The Attraction Archive, Frank Culbertson explores another remarkable collection of Portland Wrestling personalities whose impact reached far beyond their win-loss records. From the patriarch of one of wrestling's most famous families to the scout who helped shape the future of Portland Wrestling, these are the stories behind some of the sport's most influential figures.

Long before Randy Savage became "Macho Man" and Lanny Poffo became "The Genius," there was Angelo Poffo.

Discover the remarkable story of a wrestling veteran whose Portland appearances were separated by an astonishing 26 years—a gap that may be the longest ever between appearances in the same territory. It's a fascinating look at a family whose wrestling legacy spans generations.

Some of wrestling's biggest stars may never have arrived in Portland without Red Bastien.

Mike Rogers shares why Red's recommendations helped bring names like Buddy Rose and possibly Roddy Piper to the Northwest, forever changing the direction of Portland Wrestling. Add in Red's unforgettable stories, legendary laugh, and a memorable series of 5:00 a.m. phone calls to Mike, and you'll understand why Red was one of wrestling's most beloved ambassadors.

Two accomplished women whose careers connected Portland to the national wrestling scene.

From Liz Chase's early days alongside Princess Victoria and Wendi Richter to Judy Martin's championship success as one-half of the Glamour Girls, this episode explores how even brief Portland appearances became part of much larger wrestling careers.

No... not that Butch Cassidy.

Meet the little person wrestler whose reputation for being incredibly tough led to unforgettable matches with Jim Cornette years later. Sometimes the best wrestling stories are the ones that sound almost too unbelievable to be true.

A 31-year wrestling career...

A one-week World Championship reign...

And another reminder that wrestling history is filled with performers whose stories deserve to be remembered just as much as the biggest stars.

The Attraction Archive isn't just about famous names.

It's about discovering the forgotten connections, remarkable careers, and fascinating personalities that helped make Portland Wrestling unlike any other territory.

Because sometimes...

The most interesting stories belong to the people you thought you'd never heard of.

🎙️ New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

📚 Based on the research of historian Mike Rogers and The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, available now on Amazon.

Episode 41 – Ring Around the Northwest Hall of Fame: The First 11 Years

Some wrestlers became world champions. Others became household names. And some quietly built the foundation of Pacific Northwest wrestling one match at a time.

In this special episode, Frank Culbertson and historian Mike Rodgers open the Ring Around the Northwest Hall of Fame vault and revisit the first eleven Hall of Fame classes, exploring the wrestlers, promoters, announcers, and personalities whose impact shaped Portland and Vancouver wrestling for generations.

Along the way, you'll hear stories about:

• Why Gorgeous George changed professional wrestling forever
• The incredible careers of Ripper Collins, Sandy Barr, The Skull, Steve Doll, Rick Martel, Bearcat Wright, and many more
• How Hall of Fame selections were made—and why championships weren't the only measure of greatness
• Forgotten stars whose contributions deserve to be remembered
• Behind-the-scenes stories from Mike's 30 years publishing Ring Around the Northwest

Plus, Lisa Hughes presents another Hall of Fame edition of Kayfabe Curveballs, where Mike somehow finds himself answering questions about Bat Masterson, Annie Oakley, Cowboy Lang, and Hall of Fames that have absolutely nothing to do with wrestling.

And yes... before anyone asks... we made sure to spend time talking about Steve Doll. We know one of our favorite listeners, Jody Day, is always standing by to defend Steve's honor, and we're pretty sure she'd have driven to the studio if we'd skipped him. Consider this episode officially Jody-approved!

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive – Special Edition: Andre the Giant's Northwest Legacy

Some wrestlers become champions. Some become legends. And then there was Andre the Giant—a once-in-a-lifetime attraction whose arrival alone was enough to fill an arena.

In this special edition of The Attraction Archive, host Frank Culbertson dedicates the entire episode to the eleven-year Northwest career of one of the most recognizable figures in sports and entertainment history. From his first appearance in Portland in 1974 to his final tour in 1984, Andre wasn't simply another wrestler on the card—he was the event.

Follow Andre's remarkable journey through Portland Wrestling as he dominated battle royals, headlined unforgettable cards, and shared the ring with some of the biggest names of the territorial era, including Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper, Jesse Ventura, Chris Taylor, Don Leo Jonathan, and the Sheepherders. Along the way, hear the fascinating stories behind the booking that made Andre a legendary attraction, the infamous Buddy Rose dressing room prank, and the unforgettable moments that left generations of Northwest fans in awe.

More than a wrestling biography, this special episode explores why Andre the Giant became one of the greatest box-office attractions professional wrestling has ever known—and why, decades later, fans who saw him walk through the curtain at the Portland Sports Arena have never forgotten the experience.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

May 1969 marks a turning point in Portland Wrestling. Thefamiliar faces are still there, but change is in the air. The Von Steigers are nearing the end of their Northwest run, Don Owen is looking to freshen the territory, and the arrival of Pat Patterson and Roger "Rip" Kirby signals that a new era may be about to begin.

Join Frank Culbertson and historian Mike Rodgers as theybreak down another fascinating month at the Portland Sports Arena, where disputed finishes, championship controversies, and creative booking kept fans guessing from bell to bell. Along the way, they examine Don Owen's biggest challenges in 1969 and how the promotion worked to keep Portland wrestling fresh.

This episode also features:

• The beginning of the end for the Von Steigers in Portland
• The debut of Pat Patterson and Roger "Rip" Kirby
• Buddy Marino, Lonnie Mayne, Tony Borne, Luther Lindsay, Stan Stasiak, and more
• Salem's wild title controversy and another near-riot finish
• Longview's very first Battle Royal
• A look at Rocky Mountain Wrestling and Lonnie Mayne's appearances in Salt Lake City
• Another Island Interlude, featuring Hawaii's incredible roster with Billy Robinson, Dory Dixon, Pedro Morales, Nick Bockwinkel, King Curtis, Ripper Collins, Buddy Austin, and more

Plus, Lisa Hughes returns with another edition of KayfabeCurveballs, where Doritos, Popeye, squirrel paws, Disneyland, and wrestling trivia somehow all belong in the same segment.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Fridayon Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Some attractions filled arenas because of championships. Others because of famous family names. And some became part of wrestling history through the unique roles they played behind the scenes.

In Episode 5 of The Attraction Archive, host Frank Culbertson explores another fascinating collection of performers whose stories remind us that wrestling history is about much more than wins and losses.

Discover the story of Larry Hennig, the respected veteran who teamed with his son Curt Hennig long before "Mr. Perfect" became a household name. Learn about Ricky Romero, the patriarch of a wrestling family whose legacy stretched across multiple generations. Meet Frank Valois, a veteran wrestler whose unique place in wrestling history came from serving as one of Andre the Giant's earliest traveling companions as Andre conquered territories across North America. Revisit the contributions of Paula Kay, one of the women helping reintroduce women's wrestling to Portland in the mid-1970s. And finally, remember Bobo Johnson, an often-overlooked pioneer whose story deserves a lasting place in wrestling history.

From legendary wrestling families and historic pioneers to one of the most unusual connections in wrestling lore, these are the stories of the attractions who helped shape Portland Wrestling in ways both large and small.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historical research of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Episode 40 – Portland Sports Arena: May 1969

The Portland wrestling landscape begins to shift in May of1969. The dominant Von Steigers are nearing the end of their Northwest run, new stars are arriving, and Don Owen is searching for the spark that will carry the territory into the future. Meanwhile, controversy seems to follow everychampionship match, as disputed decisions, held-up titles, and commission rulings leave fans wondering who the real champions are.

Join Frank Culbertson and historian Mike Rodgers as theydive into a month filled with chaos, including the arrival of Pat Patterson and Roger "Rip" Kirby, the ongoing battles between Lonnie Mayne, Tony Borne, Buddy Marino, and Luther Lindsay, and some of the most unusual finishes Portland wrestling had seen to that point.

Plus:

• The final days of the Von Steigers' reign in the Northwest
• Salem's wild title controversy and near-riot atmosphere
• The first-ever battle royal in Longview
• Pat Patterson's surprisingly brief Portland stay
• Stan Stasiak's puzzling booking during a critical transition period
• A look at Rocky Mountain Wrestling and Lonnie Mayne's appearances in Salt Lake City
• Another trip to Hawaii, featuring Billy Robinson, Dory Dixon, Pedro Morales, Nick Bockwinkel, King Curtis, Ripper Collins, and one of the strongest rosters anywhere in wrestling in 1969

And of course, Lisa Hughes returns with another edition of Kayfabe Curveballs, where Doritos, Popeye, squirrel paws, and professional wrestling somehow end up in the same conversation.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Fridayon Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 4: Olympic Giants, Future Stars, and Wrestling Pioneers

Some attractions drew fans because of their size. Othersbecause of their personality. And some because they were making history right before the audience's eyes.

In Episode 4 of The Attraction Archive, host Frank Culbertson explores five remarkable attractions whose careers took verydifferent paths but all left their mark on Portland Wrestling history.

Discover the story of Chris Taylor, the Olympic wrestling standout whose incredible size and athletic credentials made him one of the most unique attractions of the 1970s. Follow the early career of Taylor Made Medina, better known to WWF fans as Tori, whose wrestling journey began in Portland before reaching a national audience. Learn about SandyParker, a true pioneer whose accomplishments helped break barriers in professional wrestling and whose appearance in Portland helped reintroduce women's wrestling to the territory after a twenty-year absence. Then step back into the colorful world of little-person wrestling with Cowboy Cottrelland longtime fan favorite Billy the Kid, two performers who became familiar attractions to Northwest wrestling audiences.

From Olympic competition and future WWF stardom togroundbreaking achievements and unforgettable characters, these are the stories of the attractions who made Portland Wrestling a place where fans never knew what they might see next.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historicalresearch of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Ringside in Rose City #39 The Northwest Almost Champions: The Men Who challenged for the NWA World Title

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.

The NWA World Heavyweight Championship was the mostprestigious prize in professional wrestling for decades. The champions areremembered. The title reigns are celebrated. But what about the men who stood across the ring from them and came within one match of changing history?

This week, Frank Culbertson and historian Mike Rogers take adeep dive into nearly four decades of NWA World Championship matches contested throughout Don Owen's territory—from Salem in 1952 to Portland in the late 1980s.

Along the way, they uncover the stories of the challengerswho made fans believe that maybe, just maybe, this would be the night the title changed hands.

Featured in this episode:

• The remarkable Northwest championship history of LouThesz, Pat O'Connor, Gene Kiniski, Dory Funk Jr., HarleyRace, Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, and Ric Flair
• Why Luther Lindsay remains one of the most respected and important challengers in wrestling history
• The incredible championship résumé of Tony Borne, Portland's ultimate gatekeeper
• Don Leo Jonathan's unforgettable battles with Gene Kiniski
• The sustained title pursuits of Lonnie Mayne, Dutch Savage, and Buddy Rose
• The protected status of Jimmy Snuka and why he never lost to an NWA champion in the Northwest
• The one and only NWA title appearance by Buddy Rogers in Don Owen's territory
• The surprising story behind Roddy Piper's victory over Ric Flair
• How cable television changed wrestling and transformed what it meant to be world champion

Frank and Mike also explore the unique role of the territorychallenger—the local stars who never held the NWA World Championship but became legends by making fans believe they could.

Plus, another edition of Card Shark sends Mike acrosswrestling history, from Seaside to Phoenix to Omaha, testing his memory of territories, arenas, wrestlers, and championship eras.

The champions may have carried the belt, but the challengerscarried the dreams of the fans. This is their story.

Join us at ringside.

Ringside in Rose City — Wrestling, the way it should be.

New episodes drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,and YouTube.

Based on the research of historian Mike Rogers and the Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers and Katie Bar the Door: The History of Portland Wrestling, available on Amazon.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 3: Legends, Valets, andWrestling's Greatest Mysteries

The word attraction meant many things in professionalwrestling. Sometimes it meant a legendary international star. Sometimes it meant a memorable personality at the center of a heated feud. And sometimes it meant a performer whose story became stranger than any wrestling storyline.

In Episode 3 of The Attraction Archive, host Frank Culbertson explores another fascinating collection of special attractions who helped make Portland Wrestling unlike any other territory.

Learn about Giant Baba, the future founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling, whose appearance in Portland may have helped shape wrestling history. Discover the incredible career of Masa Saito, one of Japan's toughest and most respected competitors. Revisit the memorable 1990 feud between Veronica Lane and Ginger, a storyline filled with shark cages, brass knuckles, and classic Portland Wrestling drama. Then journey into the unique world of the little wrestlers with The Haiti Kid and Coconut Willie, two attractions whose careers included WrestleMania appearances, remarkable accomplishments, and mysteries that continue to intrigue wrestling historians today.

From international legends and future Hall of Famers tounforgettable personalities and larger-than-life stories, these are the attractions that kept fans talking long after the final bell rang.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historicalresearch of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City #38
April 1969: Jersey Joe, Bloodbaths, and the End of an Era

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.

This week, Frank Culbertson and historian Mike Rogerscontinue their journey through Portland Wrestling history as they arrive in April 1969—a month filled with championship changes, Memorial Coliseum super cards, boxing legends, battle royals, and more blood than Salem doctors probably wanted to deal with.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Jersey Joe Walcottarrives in the Northwest as a special referee, guest attraction, and even steps into the ring himself. The Von Steigers continue their reign of terror, while Luther Lindsay, Shag Thomas, Lonnie Mayne, and Tony Borne battle through some of the most violent matches of the year.

Along the way, Frank and Mike discuss:

• Jersey Joe Walcott's surprising wrestling connections
• The Von Steigers vs. Thomas & Lindsay rivalry
• Lonnie Mayne's climb back to championship gold
• Earl Maynard's arrival in the Northwest
• Women's wrestling stars Jeane Antone and Betty Nicolai
• Why Salem newspaper ads warned fans with heart problems to stay home
• The mysterious Al Hobman, "King of Australian Wrestling"
• The strange and tragic story of Firpo Zabysco
• Fundraisers, spot shows, battle royals, and the realities of territory wrestling

Plus, another visit to Hawaii brings an absolutely stackedcollection of dream matches featuring Gene Kiniski, King Curtis Iaukea, Pedro Morales, Nick Bockwinkel, Don Leo Jonathan, Mr. Fuji, Peter Maivia, and many more.

As April comes to a close, one thing becomes clear: thePortland roster is beginning to change. Familiar faces are leaving, rivalries are winding down, and Don Owen is about to need fresh talent to keep the territory moving forward.

It's a fascinating snapshot of a territory at a crossroads—and another deep dive into the history that made Portland Wrestling special.

And yes, Mike somehow finds a way to work Holcomb,Washington, onto his wrestling travel bucket list.

Join us at ringside.

Ringside in Rose City —

Wrestling

Wrestling, the way it should be.

The Attraction Archive – Episode 2: Giants, Pioneers, andUnforgettable Attractions

Not every attraction came with a championship belt, and notevery wrestling legend spent years in Portland. Sometimes all it took was a brief appearance, a unique personality, or a larger-than-life presence to leave a lasting impression.

In Episode 2 of The Attraction Archive, host Frank Culbertson explores four very different attractions who helped makeprofessional wrestling memorable for generations of fans.

Discover the fascinating career of Great Goliath, theinternational star whose brief 1978 Portland stop concealed a remarkable wrestling legacy. Learn about Joyce Grable, one of the women who helped keep women's wrestling thriving during the territorial era. Meet Sabrina, wrestling's "Wonder Woman," whose career lasted less than a year but left an impression far beyond its length. And revisit the incredible story of Little Tokyo, one of the most recognizable attraction wrestlers in history and a performer whose popularity spanned decades.

From championship gold to unforgettable characters, theseare the stories of the performers who brought something special to every card they appeared on.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and based on the historicalresearch of Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Ringside in Rose City #37 – “They Worked Here?”

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… the stories get unbelievable.

When Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, the envelope reads:

“They Worked Here?”

And suddenly Frank Culbertson and Portland Wrestlinghistorian Mike Rogers are diving into one of the most fascinating questions in wrestling history:

How many future legends, world champions, icons, andwrestling immortals passed through Portland Wrestling before they became famous?

The answer?

Way more than you think.

Before They Became Legends

This episode explores the surprising Portland appearancesof:

• Antonio Inoki – wrestling prelim matches in Portland before becoming one of the most important figures in wrestling history
• Jumbo Tsuruta – making a single Portland appearance years before becoming a Japanese legend
• Tully Blanchard – here for barely a month before exploding into stardom
• Gino Hernandez – loaded with charisma, but trapped in a roster too stacked to fully break through
• Larry Zbyszko – years before Shea Stadium and his legendary Bruno Sammartino feud
• Magnum T.A. – learning the business in Portland before headlining against Ric Flair
• Carlos Colón – long before becoming Puerto Rico’s biggest wrestling icon
• Chief Jay Strongbow – back when he was still Flyin’ Joe Scarpa
• The Barbarian – appearing as the almost mythical “Tonga John”
• Austin Idol – the one Mike Rogers still believes got away too soon
• Pampero Firpo – wild, dangerous, intelligent, and unforgettable
• Skandor Akbar – before becoming one of wrestling’s great managers
• Reggie Parks – future creator of some of wrestling’s most iconic championship belts
• Paul Boesch – before becoming one of wrestling’s most respected promoters
• And even The Mighty Igor, Billy Red Cloud, Cyclone Negro,Duke Keomuka, and many more

Portland Wrestling Was the Crossroads

One of the biggest themes in this episode:

You never knew who you were watching.

Some wrestlers were:
• Future world champions
• Future promoters
• Future legends
• Or future main eventers still trying to figure things out in prelim matches

And Portland?

It was often one stop on the journey before everythingchanged.

Mike, Jim Valley, and Tonga John

The episode also features one of the all-time great MikeRogers stories involving:
• Mike
• Wrestling Observer’s Jim Valley
• Haku
• The Barbarian
• And the mystery of Tonga John

Let’s just say:
When Mike and Jim Valley worked up the courage to ask Haku a serious wrestling history question…

Haku answered with one thumb point.

Honestly, Jim Valley surviving that interaction may be oneof the greatest accomplishments in wrestling journalism.

Card Shark Returns

And yes…

Lisa once again deals out another round of Card Shark,featuring:
• World Class
• Memphis
• WWF house shows
• Steve Doll superfan Jody Day’s wrestling scrapbook collection
• And Mike Rogers continuing to somehow identify wrestling cards like a human version of Pro Wrestling Illustrated from 1987

It’s getting a little unsettling at this point.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to Jody Day for sharing pieces from her incredible wrestling memorabilia and scrapbook collection for this episode. Her passion for Portland Wrestling history—and especially anything involving Steve Doll—helped make this episode possible.

This episode isn’t just nostalgia.

It’s a reminder that wrestling history doesn’t happen all atonce.

Sometimes legends begin in prelim matches.
Sometimes future icons are barely noticed.
And sometimes the answer to “Wait… THEY worked here?” is absolutely yes.

Step into the arena.

This is Ringside in Rose City —

Wrestling

Wrestling the way it should be.

 Introducing: The Attraction Archive

Bigger Stories. Bigger Personalities. Bigger Than EverBefore.

The archive is open…
and Portland Wrestling is about to get larger than life.

After the success of Mid-Card Chronicles, host FrankCulbertson launches an all-new deep-dive podcast series designed to spotlight the wrestlers, attractions, spectacles, and unforgettable personalities that didn’t just fill out a wrestling card…

They sold the tickets.

And unlike the fast-paced 5–7 minute Chronicle episodes, TheAttraction Archive expands the format into a richer, more cinematic experience— with longer episodes, deeper storytelling, more historical context, and the kind of behind-the-scenes wrestling history fans have been asking for.

These aren’t quick snapshots anymore.

These are feature presentations.

Episode #1 – Giants, Legends, and Attractions That Drewthe Crowd

The debut episode of The Attraction Archive openswith four unforgettable names from Portland Wrestling history:

Man Mountain Mike

A 600-pound spectacle whose very presence changed the energy inside the building. Battle royals, giant reactions, and the night his destruction helped launch the terrifying Baron Von Krupp.

Pepper Gomez

A true wrestling star with roots stretching back to the 1950s Northwest scene, connecting Portland to Seattle, Texas, San Francisco, Pedro Morales, Peter Maivia, and the golden age of territory wrestling.

Wendi Richter

Before MTV. Before Rock ’n Wrestling. Before becoming one of the biggest women’s wrestling stars of the 1980s… she stopped in Portland as an NWA Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Joyce Grable.

Cowboy Lang

One of the most beloved and recognizable special attractionsin wrestling history — and the source of one of Mike Rogers’ funniest and most unforgettable personal wrestling stories.

More Than Matches

This series explores:
• The attractions that made fans buy tickets
• The legends who could instantly change the atmosphere in a building
• The women who broke barriers
• The giants, novelty acts, traveling stars, and unforgettable personalities who made Portland Wrestling feel different from every other territory

Because sometimes…

The attraction was the main event.

A New Era of Storytelling

With expanded runtimes, richer narration, deeper research,and a stronger documentary-style format, The Attraction Archive is designed to be the most immersive Portland Wrestling audio series yet.

If Mid-Card Chronicles was about the glue that held wrestling together…

The Attraction Archive is about the names fans never forgot.

Based on the research and historical records from TheEncyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rogers, available now on Amazon.

New episodes of The Attraction Archive drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Open the archive.

The attractions are waiting.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #36 – The OWF: The Promotion That Almost Changed Portland Wrestling

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… the story of the wrestling war that almost changed everything in Oregon.

When Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, the envelope sendsFrank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rogers back to 1988 and the rise—and collapse—of the Oregon Wrestling Federation.

Billy Jack Haynes had the name.
The publicity.
The TV deal.
The building.
And for one brief moment…

It looked like Portland Wrestling might finally have realcompetition.

The Birth of the OWF

The OWF launched with:
• A sold-out debut crowd in Oregon City
• TV on Fox 49
• Big newspaper coverage
• A 30,000 square foot arena
• And Billy Jack Haynes promising something bigger and more modern than Portland Wrestling

Frank and Mike break down:
• Billy’s ambitious plans
• Why he called himself the “Pete Rose of Professional Wrestling”
• And what Don Owen was likely thinking as a competitor suddenly appeared in his territory for the first time in years

The Roster – Familiar Faces and New Names

The OWF brought together:
• Billy Jack Haynes
• Rip Oliver
• Black Stud Williams (Ray Candy)
• Hercules Haggerty (Tugboat)
• Corporal Kirschner
• Brian Adams
• Mike Miller
• Coco Samoa
• JT Southern
• Johnny Ace (John Laurinaitis)
• And even future names like The Terminator and Tiger Chung Lee

Some were rising stars.
Some were veterans.
And some were just trying to survive another territory.

Real Stories From the Locker Room

This episode goes beyond match results.

Mike shares firsthand stories and interviews from:
• Mike Miller
• Joey Jackson
• And The Grappler

Including:
• Wrestlers jumping promotions for promised money
• The frustrations of working only one night a week
• Stiff matches with Hercules Haggerty
• Why some wrestlers quickly left the OWF
• And how Don Owen quietly waited for the competition to collapse

As the Grappler explains:

“You don’t mention the other promotion on TV. All that does is put them over.”

Old-school wrestling psychology—inside and outside the ring.

From Sellouts to Empty Buildings

The story of the OWF changes fast.

What begins with excitement slowly turns into:
• Smaller crowds
• Repetitive booking
• Missing wrestlers
• Financial problems
• Unpaid talent
• Canceled shows
• And confusion over championships, tournaments, and even who was still employed

By the final cards…

The dream is barely holding together.

Don Owen Fights Back

While Billy struggled, Don Owen and The Grappler countered with loaded Portland Wrestling cards featuring:
• Buddy Rose
• Matt Borne
• The Assassin
• Steve Doll & Scott Peterson
• Avalanche
• Colonel DeBeers
• Curt Hennig
• Jimmy Jack Funk
• And more

This episode compares the two promotions week-by-week—showing exactly why one survived… and the other didn’t.

Hogan, Magazines, and What Could Have Been

Mike also shares the unforgettable story of attending BillyJack’s gym appearance with Hulk Hogan—a massive event that drew thousands and even led to Mike’s photographs appearing on the cover of a national wrestling magazine.

For a moment…

The OWF really felt like it might work.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to Rich Patterson for digitizing the original OWF opening audio used in this episode… and to superfan Jody Day for helping preserve and share this piece of Northwest wrestling history. Your work helped bring this story back to life.

The OWF lasted only months.

But for wrestling fans in Oregon…

It remains one of the biggest “what ifs” in Portland Wrestling history.

Step into the arena.

This is Ringside in Rose City

Wrestling

wrestling the way it should be.

Mid-Card Chronicles #11 – The Ones Left Behind

Main events get remembered.
Champions get photographed.
But this week… we look at the wrestlers who proved one hard truth about the territory system:

Talent alone didn’t guarantee your spot.

In Episode #11 of Mid-Card Chronicles, Frank Culbertson closes out the series by focusing on four wrestlers whose careers reveal how quickly momentum could shift in professional wrestling—and how even accomplished performers could suddenly find themselves pushed aside.

Because in Portland Wrestling…sometimes being good wasn’tenough.

John Anson – The Wrestler Replaced

No story in this episode captures frustration quite like JohnAnson.

Again and again:
• Winning tag titles
• Building momentum
• Finding success

Only to suddenly be replaced when bigger names or hotterprograms emerged.

First it was Ron Bass moving on to a bigger feud.
Then Bull Ramos stepping in to take his partner.

And yet outside Portland?

Anson had championship credentials everywhere:
• Detroit
• Los Angeles
• Japan
• Vancouver

A proven champion in one territory…
an afterthought in another.

That’s wrestling.

Frankie Lane – The Connector

Some wrestlers leave a bigger impact than fans realize.

Frankie Lane wasn’t just a solid tag wrestler and dependable heel.

He’s the man who brought a young Jimmy Snuka into Portland Wrestling.

That one decision helped launch one of wrestling’s biggeststars.

But Lane’s own story was layered:
• Tag title runs
• Cowboy heel turns
• In-ring weddings
• Bullrope feuds with Steven Little Bear

And eventually… A violent injury in Alabama that changed everything.

Rip Rogers – Three Weeks That Felt Real

When Rip Rogers returned to Portland in 1980 and defeated Roddy Piper—not once, but twice—it shocked fans.

Because in the territory days…you didn’t expect a wrestler to come in for only three weeks.

But that was the plan.

Rogers was there to:
• Build credibility quickly
• Help transition Piper out
• Complete the story

And because fans didn’t know the ending ahead of time…it worked.

That unpredictability?
That was the magic of the territory system.

Kurt Von Hess – Big Somewhere Else

Few wrestlers better represent the difference betweenterritories than Kurt Von Hess.

In Vancouver:
• A major tag team force
• Multiple title reigns
• Established credibility

In Portland?

Just another wrestler passing through. It’s a reminder that wrestling success was often geographic. One territory could make you a star. Another might barely notice you arrived.

This episode isn’t about failure.

It’s about the realities of wrestling:
• Timing
• Positioning
• Opportunity
• And how fragile momentum could be

Because the middle of the card wasn’t just filled withwrestlers…

It was filled with careers balancing on a knife’s edge.

And while this wraps up Mid-Card Chronicles…

the story of Portland Wrestling is far from over.

Starting next week: The Attraction Archive.

From André the Giant…
to women wrestlers who broke barriers…
to the unforgettable attractions that sold tickets and packed buildings…

The next chapter begins.

Step back into the territory one last time.

This is Mid-Card Chronicles — because without the middle,there is no main event

Ringside in Rose City #35 – March 1969: Chaos, Chains, and the Road to Memorial Coliseum

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… Portland Wrestling completely loses control.

When Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, the envelope sendsFrank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rogers into March 1969—a month where the feuds stop simmering and start exploding.

The crowds are back.
The Portland Sports Arena is packed.
And every major rivalry in the territory is spiraling into violence.

Billy White Wolf vs. Everybody

No wrestler dominates March 1969 quite like Billy WhiteWolf.

Fresh off returning from injury after the Von Steigersshattered his nose, White Wolf spends the month tearing through opponents in brutal Indian Death Chain Matches:

• Kurt Von Steiger
• Karl Von Steiger
• Lonnie Maine

And somehow… he survives all of them.

The chain matches become so violent the newspapers describe them as:
• “Blood splattered”
• “One-sided beatings”
• And even claim White Wolf “almost scalped” Karl Von Steiger

(As always, some language from 1969 reflects a verydifferent era and newspaper style than today.)

At one point, six wrestlers literally drag Kurt Von Steigerback into the ring against his will so White Wolf can continue the match.

That’s not modern wrestling.

That’s territory chaos.

The Unholy Alliance Grows Stronger

While White Wolf is fighting the Von Steigers…

Lonnie Maine and Tony Borne are becoming one of the hottest heel teams Portland has ever seen.

• Banned from buildings
• Constant interference
• Referees knocked unconscious
• Police officers stationed around ringside in Eugene
• Chairs, chains, and flying knee drops everywhere

And through it all…

Lonnie Maine evolves into something even darker.

The papers call him:
• Belligerent
• Bloodthirsty
• Dangerous

And honestly?

For once, the newspapers may have undersold it.

The Territory Starts Expanding

March also feels like Portland Wrestling becoming somethingbigger.

• Packed crowds in Salem and Longview
• Spot shows in Baker City, Pendleton, and Coos Bay
• TV expanding into the Rocky Mountain region
• Big names arriving like Dutch Savage, John Tolos, Buddy Marino, and Edward Carpentier

The territory suddenly feels alive.

And unstable.

Flashy Eric Frolic

Yes… Mike Rogers finally gets to discuss one of his favorites:

Flashy Eric Frolic.

The “flippity-flip” specialist of 1969.

Back handsprings.
Flying dropkicks.
Scientific matches.
And apparently enough athleticism for Mike to compare him to Will Ospreay.

Which may or may not have broken Frank emotionally.

Island Interlude – Hawaii Gets Weird

The trip to Hawaii this month includes:

• Nick Bockwinkel
• Bobby Shane
• King Curtis
• Wahoo McDaniel
• Pedro Morales
• Ripper Collins
• Lord Blears
• And Rocky Montero winning… an Abdominal Stretch Match

Yes.

An actual stipulation match that could only end with anabdominal stretch.

Even Mike doesn’t know what to do with that.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, Frank and Lisapresent Mike with a one-million-dollar bill featuring Lisa in a grass skirt and coconut bra, and Frank on the back of the bill in the same outfit!

As one does.

The Road to April 1st

By the end of March, everything is building toward oneenormous showdown at the Memorial Coliseum:

Luther Lindsay & Shag Thomas vs. The Von Steigers

The tag titles are held up.
The hatred is real.
And nobody trusts anybody anymore.

Exactly how Portland Wrestling liked it.

March 1969 wasn’t clean.
It wasn’t polished.
And it definitely wasn’t under control.

But it was unforgettable.

Step into the arena.

This is Ringside in Rose City —

Wrestling

 wrestling the way it should be.

🎙️ Mid-Card Chronicles #10 – The Ones Who Adapted

Main events get remembered.
Champions get photographed.
But this week… we focus on the wrestlers who adapted, reinvented themselves, and found ways to survive in a business that never stopped changing.

In Episode #10 of Mid-Card Chronicles, Frank Culbertson continues the journey through Portland Wrestling’s dependable talents with four wrestlers who each carved out their place in the territory in very different ways.

Because sometimes success in wrestling isn’t about becoming the biggest star…

It’s about learning how to evolve.

Depending on where you saw him, he might have been:

• Ali Hassan
• Sheik Abdullah
• The Sheik
• Or even Sheik Abdullah Hussein

Same wrestler.
Different presentations.

Hassan arrived in Portland in 1982 and quickly became far more than just another heel. Within months he defeated Brett Sawyer to capture the Northwest Heavyweight Title—holding it for over five months.

That’s not a placeholder champion.
That’s trust.

Along the way he introduced fans to the bizarre and chaotic Iranian Death Match, aligned himself with Rip Oliver, and later battled his former allies in a Loser Leave Town feud.

Some wrestlers never completely leave.

Moose Morowski drifted in and out of Portland Wrestling for years:
• 1969
• 1970
• 1977
• 1978
• 1979
• 1981
• 1983

Sometimes a heel.
Sometimes masked as the Black Avenger.
Always reliable.

Moose represents the classic territory journeyman: the wrestler who could step into any role, at any time, and make the card work.

When Curtis Thompson arrived in Portland in 1990…

He arrived hot.

• Defeating Northwest Champion Scotty the Body immediately
• Building momentum quickly
• Turning heel alongside Ricky Santana
• Capturing the Northwest Tag Team Titles

But like many late-era Portland runs…

It happened fast.
And ended fast.

Before long, Thompson moved on to national television where fans would know him better as: Firebreaker Chip.

When Mike Masters came into Portland in 1981, he entered directly into the orbit of Buddy Rose.

That mattered.

• Wins over Chris Colt, Brett Sawyer, and King Parsons
• Tag matches alongside Buddy Rose and Stan Stasiak
• The classic Don Owen-era Full Nelson finish

Masters looked like a wrestler on the rise. But wrestling careers evolve.

After Portland, he shifted into promoting and training, eventually helping shape future generations of wrestlers.

This episode isn’t just about wins and losses.

It’s about reinvention.
Adaptation.
And finding ways to stay valuable in a business constantly changing around you.

Because in wrestling…

sometimes the most important skill isn’t winning.

It’s lasting.

And while Mid-Card Chronicles rolls on…

something new is coming soon.

📦 In two weeks, Ringside in Rose City begins an all-new series:
The Attraction Archive.

From André the Giant…
to women wrestlers…
to unforgettable special attractions who stormed through Portland for a short time and left lasting memories…

A brand-new chapter is almost here.

Step back into the territory.

This is Mid-Card Chronicles — because without the middle, there is no main event.

🎙️ Mid-Card Chronicles #9 – The Rise, The Moment, The Choice

Main events get remembered.
Champions get photographed.
But this week… it’s about what happens in between.

In Episode #9 of Mid-Card Chronicles, Frank Culbertson explores four very different Portland Wrestling stories—each showing how quickly things can rise… shift… or end.

Because in wrestling…
timing is everything.

🥊 Steve Regal – The Rise That Stopped

When Steve Regal arrived in 1981, there was no slowclimb.

• Immediate wins over top names like Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver,and Stan Stasiak
• Two-time Northwest Heavyweight Champion
• Tag Team success with Matt Borne

He wasn’t mid-card.
He was the guy.

Then… injury.

Momentum stalled.
Partnerships broke.
And after a heated feud with Borne...He was gone.

A fast rise.
A sudden stop.

🔥 George Wells – The Man in the Moment

Some wrestlers are remembered for what they did.

Others… for where they were.

George Wells was right in the middle of one of themost important moments in Portland Wrestling history:

• The legendary 8-man tag that ignited the Piper vs. Rosefeud
• Wins over key names across the territory
• A short but meaningful run during a peak era

He wasn’t the headline.

But he was there…when everything changed.

💥 Frank Dusek – Talent Meets Tension

Frank Dusek walked into one of the most stacked rosters Portland had ever seen.

At first:
• Balanced wins and losses
• A steady climb

Then:
• A heel turn
• Main event opportunities
• Feuds with Buddy Rose and the Sheepherders

And behind the scenes?

Conflict.

A confrontation in the locker room…
and just like that—

It was over.

But not the career.

Dusek moved on…and found success elsewhere.

🎓 Mike Webster – The Choice

Some stories don’t end in the ring.

They end with a decision.

Mike Webster found success in Vancouver—titles, wins,momentum.

In Portland?

A very different role.

But Webster saw something bigger:

• The wear and tear of the business
• The reality of long-term pain
• A future beyond wrestling

So he made a choice.

He walked away.

This episode isn’t about one path.

It’s about four.

The rise that stopped.
The moment that mattered.
The conflict that changed everything.
And the choice to leave.

Because in wrestling…
every career tells a different story.

Step back into the territory.

This is Mid-Card Chronicles — because without the middle,there is no main event.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #33 – Princess Victoria: Fighting the System

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… one of the toughest stories ever told at ringside.

When Lisa Hughes punches the connect button, FrankCulbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rogers welcome a true pioneer into the Rose City ring:

Princess Victoria.

Before the bright lights…
Before Madison Square Garden…
Before the championships…

There was a fight just to get in the ring.

🚫 When Women Weren’t Allowed

From 1954 to 1975, women’s wrestling was banned in Oregon.

Not because they couldn’t wrestle— but because they weren’t allowed to.

Princess Victoria was part of the generation that steppedthrough that door when it finally opened… and proved they belonged.

🥊 From Fan to Fighter

Her story starts in the stands—watching Portland Wrestlingas a kid… and turns into one of the most unlikely journeys in the business:

• Training under Sandy Barr in the toughest possibleenvironment
• Learning the craft the old-school way—six days a week, no shortcuts
• Becoming “little sister” in a locker room filled with names like Roddy Piper, Buddy Rose, and Dutch Savage
• Earning respect the only way that mattered—in the ring

🌎 The Road… and the Reality

Victoria shares what life in the territory system was reallylike:

• Endless miles—sometimes 800+ miles overnight just tomake the next town
• Japan tours, fast-paced styles, and learning on the fly
• The difference between working for promoters like Don Owen and Bill Watts… and the realities of working under others
• And the truth about what wrestlers—especially women—were really paid

This is wrestling without the gloss.

⚖️ The Moolah Reality

Princess Victoria doesn’t hold back when discussing FabulousMoolah—but her perspective is layered.

She separates the two sides:

• Moolah the wrestler – a trailblazer who endured thehardest era and helped open doors for women in the business
• Lillian Ellison the booker – a completely different story, involving control, pay disputes, and a system that many wrestlers felt exploited them

Victoria speaks candidly about both—
respecting the legacy…
while refusing to ignore the reality.

It’s one of the most honest and complex takes on Moolahyou’ll hear—
and a reminder that wrestling history is rarely as simple as it seems.

🏆 The Highest Stage

From Portland…
to Madison Square Garden…

Princess Victoria reached the top of the business as one-half of the WWWF Women’s Tag Team Champions.

And yet…

She found out she was winning the titles just five minutes before the match.

That’s the business.

💥 The Moment Everything Changed

On September 1, 1984…
a wrinkle in the mat.

A move goes wrong.

And just like that—

A career ends.

Victoria shares the raw reality of that night… and how quickly everything can be taken away in professional wrestling.

❤️ More Than Wrestling

This episode goes deeper than the ring.

Victoria opens up about:

• Her childhood and the challenges she overcame
• The support—and protection—of the Portland locker room
• Why fans mattered more than anything
• And how her story continues today through her new book:
Fighting the Wrong Side of the Sun

This isn’t just a wrestling story.

It’s about survival.
Respect.
And earning your place when the system says you don’t belong.

Step into the arena.

This is Ringside in Rose City —

Wrestling

 wrestling the way

it should be.

Mid-Card Chronicles #8 – The Ones Who Chose, Carried, andChanged

Main events get remembered.
Champions get photographed.
But this week… the story is deeper than wins and losses.

In Episode #8 of Mid-Card Chronicles, Frank Culbertson explores a powerful mix of Portland Wrestling talent—those who chose a different path, those who carried the territory at the end, and those who quietly signaled where wrestling was headed next.

Don Wyatt – The Choice

Some wrestling stories aren’t about what happened…
they’re about what didn’t.

Don Wyatt had credibility—titles in Vancouver, strongshowings, even a draw with Jimmy Snuka. But when a bigger opportunity came calling…

He said no.

Not because he couldn’t do it—
but because he understood the cost.

Travel.
Time.
Life outside the ring.

Wyatt represents something rare in wrestling:
a man who chose differently.

Gorgeous George Jr. – The Reaction

Some wrestlers don’t need wins.

Gorgeous George Jr. arrived in Portland with a name that already meant something—and he knew exactly how to use it.

• Instant heat
• Flash, presence, and personality
• Feuds built on emotion, not outcomes

Wins didn’t matter.
Reactions did.

And for six weeks…
he got all of them.

The Harris Brothers – The Final Force

By 1991, Portland Wrestling was nearing the end.

Then came Ron and Don Harris—the Bruise Brothers.

• Six-time Tag Team Champions
• Dominant, physical, impossible to ignore
• Anchors of a fading territory

And then…

Christmas Night 1991.

They put hands on Don Owen.

The crowd didn’t roar.
It went quiet.

That kind of silence?

That’s not indifference.
That’s something real.

S&S Express – The Future Arrives Early

In 1985, Portland tried something different.

Speed.
Energy.
Youth.

Enter the S&S Express—Steve Simpson and Joe Savoldi.

• Second-generation talent
• Fast-paced, modern style
• A glimpse of what tag wrestling was becoming

They didn’t last long.

But they mattered.

Because sometimes the mid-card isn’t just holding thingstogether…

It’s where the future shows up first.

This episode isn’t about one kind of wrestler.

It’s about choices, roles, and timing.

The ones who walked away.
The ones who held things together.
And the ones who hinted at what was coming next.

Step back into the territory.

This is Mid-Card Chronicles — because without the middle,there is no main event.

And hey listeners… before we go…

Don’t forget what’s coming next.

The giants.
The special features.
The unforgettable moments that brought fans through the doors.

Our next series…

Special Attractions.

And trust us…

You’re not going to want to miss it.

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… we look at what came next.

When Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, the envelope doesn’t send us back to a card or a date—it sends us into the future ofwrestling in the Pacific Northwest.

In Episode #32 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rogers revisit Excitementin the Air: Voices of Northwest Wrestling—but this time, the focus is on the next generation. The wrestlers who came after the territory era… and kept the business alive.

The Next Generation – Voices That Carried It Forward

This episode dives into the stories behind:

• Dr. Luther – The Butler rocks! From the Hart Dungeon to Japan’s hardcore scene, evolving into an old-school performer with world-class timing, now shining in a completely different role on national TV
• Kyle O’Reilly – A Northwest original whose technical precision and mindset carried him from local gyms to global stages, including major wins at the highest level
• Bryan Alvarez – From in-ring performer to one of wrestling’s most recognizable media voices, proving there’s more than one path to impact the business. For some reason Mike has to keep reminding Frank to say “Auto” when he mentions Miss Rent To Own…
• Michelle Starr – Wrestler turned promoter, navigating the realities of running shows, locker rooms, and rival promotions in the independent era
• Steve Rizzono – A powerful and sobering story of work ethic taken to the extreme, and the physical toll the business can take
• Adam “Firestorm” Dykes – A talented, respected worker whose story highlights the very real impact of concussions and mental health
• Pat Brady – Intelligent, articulate, and honest—offering one of the rare perspectives of a wrestler who reflects deeply on the cost of the business
• Nick Wayne – A true next-generation star, growing up in wrestling, training from childhood, and reaching national television before even finishing high school
• Christopher Daniels – A bridge between eras, explaining how wrestling evolved from slow builds to fast-paced, action-driven storytelling. And the sworn nemesis of Jim Valley.
• Davey Richards – Intense, disciplined, and unapologetically old-school in mindset, emphasizing that wrestling is built on emotion—not just movement
• ELP (El Phantasmo) – A late bloomer in global terms, turning a Northwest career into major success in Japan and beyond
• The Bollywood Boys – Students of the game who earned their opportunities through respect, preparation, and relentless effort
• Skag Rollins (Todd Royce) – A standout personality who transitioned from strong in-ring work to national success as a comedian

More Than Just Matches

This episode isn’t just about where these wrestlers went…

It’s about:
• How wrestling changed after the territories
• What it takes to survive in the independent era
• And how different paths—wrestler, promoter, historian, performer—can all shape the business

The territory ended in 1991.
But wrestling didn’t.

It evolved.
It adapted.
And this generation made sure it kept going.

Step into the next chapter.

This is Ringside in Rose City —

Wrestling

Wrestling the way it should be.

🎙️ Mid-Card Chronicles #7 – The Ones You Remember Differently

Main events get remembered.
Champions get photographed.
But this week… it depends on when you were watching.

In Episode #7 of Mid-Card Chronicles, Frank Culbertson explores a unique layer of Portland Wrestling history—the wrestlers whose reputations changed over time, depending on when fans saw them.

Because in wrestling…
timing doesn’t just shape careers.
It shapes memory.

🥊 Bulldog Bob Brown – The Force vs. The Caricature

Ask two fans about Bulldog Bob Brown, and you might get two completely different answers.

• In the early ’70s, he was a top-level force in Vancouver—beating names like Don Leo Jonathan, Dutch Savage, and Man Mountain Mike
• A multi-time champion with real credibility
• A wrestler who could anchor any card

But later?

A louder, exaggerated version took over—
and for many fans… that’s all they remember.

In Portland, Brown was used differently—protected, credible,and respected.

Same wrestler.
Different memories.

🔥 Kendall Nagasaki – The Instant Impact Heel

When Kendall Nagasaki arrived in 1984, there was noslow build.

• Immediate wins over key names
• A believable, dangerous heel presence
• Tag gold with Ed Wiskowski during the Mega Maharishi era
• Feuds with Billy Jack Haynes and Bobby Jaggers

He wasn’t there long…
but he filled a role Portland desperately needed.

⚡ Terry Gibbs – The Sudden Turn

Sometimes a run is defined by one moment.

For Terry Gibbs, it was:

• A quiet start in 1980
• A stronger return in 1982 as a needed babyface
• A promising team with Brett Sawyer

And then…

A shocking reveal as the Georgia Jaw Jacker—turning on Sawyer in one of those classic Portland moments that changed everything instantly.

Short run.
Lasting impact.

🎭 Yasu Fuji / Dr. Hiro Ota – Right Place, Wrong Time

Yasu Fuji is a story of evolution—and timing.

• Early success in Vancouver tag teams
• A steady presence in the mid-card
• Reinvention as Dr. Hiro Ota, with size and credibility

By 1978, he was rising…

Then everything changed.

Roddy Piper.
Killer Brooks.
A new main event scene.

Ota didn’t fall off—
the landscape shifted around him.

This episode isn’t about wins and losses. It’s about how careers are remembered…and how quickly perception can change.

Because in wrestling…
who you are depends on when we saw you.

Step back into the territory.

📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers.

🎙 New episodes of The Mid-Card Chronicle drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

This is Mid-Card Chronicles — because without the middle,there is no main event.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #31 – January 1969: When Wrestling Froze

One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And this week… everything comes to a halt.

In Episode #31 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers move into January1969—a month that should have built momentum… but instead was buried under snow, ice, and chaos.

As always, Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, and the envelope reads:
“PSA January ’69.”

What follows is one of the most unusual months in PortlandWrestling history.

❄️ The Month the Territory Froze

This wasn’t just bad weather.

This was:
• The coldest temperatures since 1919
• Snow totals reaching 15+ inches across the region
• Highways shut down
• Entire towns cut off
• And wrestling cards… canceled

A massive New Year’s Day Battle Royal?
Canceled.

Multiple Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Corvallis shows?
Canceled.

And when shows did happen… crowds were sparse, travelwas dangerous, and nothing felt stable.

For Don Owen—who had just invested heavily in the PortlandSports Arena—this wasn’t just inconvenient.

It was financially dangerous.

🥊 Chaos in the Ring

Despite the weather, when the bell rang… things didn’t slowdown.

• The Von Steigers continue to dominate the tag scene—then lose, then regain the titles in rapid-fire fashion
• Luther Lindsay & Shag Thomas emerge as a powerful team—and Battle Royal winners
• Lonnie Mayne returns angry, targeting Luther, the Von Steigers… and just about everyone
• Tony Borne begins his full heel turn, promising to win “any way possible”
• Gene Kiniski appears in a rare non-title match
• And the roster begins to feel… stale, just as major changes loom ahead

🔗 The German Death Match

One of the most bizarre stipulations in Portland history appears this month:

All four wrestlers tied to ring posts by one wrist…forced to fight their way free before the match can even begin.

It’s chaotic.
It’s dangerous.
And it’s classic territory creativity.

🌺 Island Interlude – Hawaii Stays Hot

While Portland froze, Hawaii wrestling was on fire. Frank and Mike head to the islands where:

• Ed Francis returns to the ring
• Ripper Collins headlines major feuds
• Nick Bockwinkel, Mr. Fuji, and Ray Stevens fill stacked cards
• And a tragic real-life moment strikes with the passing of beloved star Jim Hady

Same business.
Different world.

🧊 Survival Over Momentum

January 1969 wasn’t about building momentum.

It was about survival.

• Wrestlers missing bookings
• Promoters losing money
• Fans unable to attend
• And a territory trying to stay alive through forces no one could control

But underneath it all…

The seeds were being planted.

Lonnie Mayne.
Tony Borne.
The Von Steigers.
Luther Lindsay.

February was coming.
And with it… opportunity.

This episode isn’t just about wrestling.

It’s about what happens when real life collides with thebusiness—
and the show somehow keeps going.

Step into the storm.

This is Ringside in Rose City —

wrestling

wrestling the way it should be.

🎙️ Mid-Card Chronicles #6 – The Ones Who Passed Through

Main events get remembered.
Champions get photographed.
But this week… we look at the ones who came through, did the work, and kept moving.

In Episode #6 of Mid-Card Chronicles, Frank Culbertson explores another layer of Portland Wrestling history—the wrestlers whose time in the Northwest was brief, transitional, or quietly important, even if it didn’t last.

Because not every run is about staying.
Sometimes it’s about passing through at the right moment.

🥊 Stan “Crusher” Kowalski – The Name That Carried Weight

When Stan Kowalski arrived in 1973, expectationsfollowed him. Not because of what he did in Portland…but because of the name.

• Rebranded as Crusher Kowalski to avoid confusionwith Killer Kowalski
• A former AWA Tag Team Champion with real credentials
• A veteran presence in a territory that was speeding up

But Portland in 1973 demanded pace—and Kowalski’s run lasted just two months.

Sometimes experience isn’t enough.
Sometimes the fit just isn’t there.

🔥 Skandor Akbar – Before the Legend

Before he became one of wrestling’s most powerful managers…Skandor Akbar was just another mid-card wrestler finding his way.

• Solid wins and steady positioning
• Time split between Portland and British Columbia
• The presence, confidence, and voice already forming

The legend was coming—
but Portland saw him before the rise.

🌏 Tor Kamata – The Short-Term Solution

When Portland needed a top heel in 1975…Tor Kamata looked like the answer.

• Main events with Dutch Savage and Jimmy Snuka
• A global career spanning Hawaii, Japan, and the WWWF
• A resume filled with championships and “firsts”

But in Portland?

Six weeks.
Then gone.

A reminder that sometimes a wrestler’s biggest impact happens somewhere else.

💥 Avalanche (PN News) – The Late-Era Force

By 1987, Portland Wrestling was changing—and Avalanchearrived right in the middle of it.

• A 400+ pound athlete who could actually move
• Battle Royal winner in his Portland debut
• Tag Team Champion with Mike Golden and Buddy Rose
• A heel turn that clicked instantly

He wasn’t just a mid-carder— he was a bridge to the next era.

From Portland…to WCW as PN News…to international success as Cannonball Grizzly.

This episode isn’t about long runs or lasting fame.

It’s about timing.
Opportunity.
And the wrestlers who passed through Portland—
leaving just enough behind to matter.

Because in wrestling…
even a short run can tell a big story.

Step back into the territory.

This is Mid-Card Chronicles — because without the middle,there is no main event.

Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers byhistorian Mike Rodgers