Explore every episode of the podcast The Retro Wrestling Archive Podcast Network

**WATCHALONG WITH BRANDON & GENE AT THIS LINK**
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On Episode #14 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View ECW Podcast, Gene Jackson and Brandon Wheeler roll into July 6, 1993, and Eastern Championship Wrestling keeps inching closer to becoming the promotion fans will eventually recognize. It’s still rough around the edges, the continuity is all over the place, and some of the wrestling is a long way from great but the personalities are getting stronger, the stories are getting louder, and ECW is finally developing some momentum.

The biggest match of the night puts the ECW Tag Team Championship against the masks of the Super Destroyers as the Suicide Blondes defend against the former champions. Todd Gordon has finally had enough of Paul E. Dangerously’s chaos and threatens fines and suspensions, while Hunter Q. Robbins III insists the Suicide Blondes are the most popular team in the company only for the “fans” he brings out to immediately say they love the Super Destroyers. (which were actually just two little girls backstage at an ECW show, which is NEVER a good idea)

Regardless, somehow, the Super Destroyers have gone from masked monsters to babyfaces.

Only in early ECW.

Elsewhere, Ivan Koloff battles The Sandman, with Vladimir Koloff getting some microphone time beforehand. Neither the promo or the match itself would set the world on fire, but it will probably make you want to set fire to your television. (or wherever you watch these things)

During the Sandman segment, Rockin’ Rebel throws some sort of green substance from a cup into Peaches’ eyes, leaving her unable to see and eventually sending her for medical attention, the guys can only speculate Kabuki or Muta left a “spit cup” laying around somewhere.

From here, the guys really start to notice what a convoluted mess the ECW footage was at this point from a timeline perspective as far as when things were taped, and when they actually aired. In one segment, Stevie Wonderful is involved in an angle on TV that finally explains how he ended up in a match that happened at Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular THREE WEEKS AGO! We won’t even go into how weird the whole Kevin Christian/Freddie Gilbert thing is on this show with him appearing as both a normal rule enforcing referee and Eddie’s “little brother” Freddie on the same episode. 

Just check out the show….it’s a fun one. We promise, even if for all the wrong reasons. 

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 49 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:
-Hits?
-Misses?
-MVP??
-What do they want to see on next week’s show?
-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/w-p2xj5dt8E?si=u-0FRukpmiYXTS_Q

On Episode #24 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View Power Pro Wrestling Podcast, Brian Tramel is joined by Robb Helt and Scottie Wince while Gene Jackson is sidelined by illness, and the crew heads back to September 26, 1998 for another chaotic hour of Memphis Power Pro Wrestling. There’s Sid Vicious, the Road Warriors, Randy Hales trying to control everything in sight, Brandon Baxter and Stacey getting dragged deeper into Randy’s mess, Brian Christopher continuing to look like the biggest star on the program and Jerry Lawler spending a whole lot of television time talking about Jim Carrey and Man on the Moon while dressed like someone’s grandmother. 

The show wastes no time reminding everybody that this is increasingly becoming The Randy Hales Show. Randy has Brandon Baxter scheduled against Stacey with Jerry Lawler banned from ringside, while seemingly every angle on the program has Randy’s fingerprints somewhere on it. 

There’s also an eight man elimination match with $2,500 on the line, masked men wandering around ringside, and enough stipulations that even the podcast crew has trouble keeping track of exactly what everybody is supposed to be fighting for. Derrick King provides one of the wildest moments of the episode when a ladder comes into play and he takes a huge bump across the top rope.

Buddy Wayne continues pushing Sid’s case while Randy Hales insists that Sid isn’t simply going to walk into Power Pro and get whatever he wants. Randy lays out his terms: Sid will have to go through four opponents of Randy’s choosing before he earns the contract and opportunity he wants. 

At the same time, Power Pro drops another huge name into the mix when Randy announces that The Road Warriors are coming to the Mid-South Coliseum to face Jerry Lawler and a mystery partner. Even BT, Robb, and Scottie immediately perk up at the idea of Hawk and Animal walking back into Memphis. 

And that should be one of the easiest things in the world to sell.

Then we get back to Randy Hales.

One thing the crew agrees on almost completely: Brian Christopher is the star of Power Pro right now.

He looks like a star, carries himself like a star, and gets reactions like a star. Scottie names anything involving Brian as his “hit” of the week, while BT points out that even years later, whenever Brian Christopher appears in old footage, the audience numbers jump. 

By the end of the show, the big pieces for October 3rd are in place: Sid Vicious is coming, The Road Warriors are coming, Randy Hales and Brandon Baxter are headed toward a fight, and Jerry Lawler needs a partner for Hawk and Animal. 

The problem is getting there.

BT, Robb, and Scottie all come away feeling that there are good ideas underneath the clutter, but too much talking, especially Lawler’s extended Hollywood story keeps the episode from firing the way it could.

Still, one thing is becoming impossible to ignore.

Brian Christopher is the guy.

Power Pro may belong to Randy Hales on paper.

But right now, Brian Christopher owns the screen.

"5 Minute Time Limit" is a dynamic wrestling podcast where each guest whether they're wrestlers, industry insiders, or fans—gets exactly 5
minutes to share their thoughts, stories, or hot takes. The strict time limit keeps conversations fast-paced, intense, and to the point, creating an exciting atmosphere where every second counts. Whether it's discussing major wrestling events, feuds, or behind-the-scenes stories, guests have to make their impact before the clock runs out. The format pushes for high-energy, no-fluff discussions, making it a must-listen for wrestling fans who crave concise, insightful commentary. 

This is a special edition “Ask BT Anything!”

He is joined by Scottie Wince, King Davis, Stacy, Brandon Wheeler, Roach, Atomic, Kevin & Duchess of New Jersey.

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 48 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:
-Hits?
-Misses?
-MVP??
-What do they want to see on next week’s show?
-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/E3OIAsKiXEo?si=QPXMGC9HCWf3Cvle

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 47 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?
-Misses?
-MVP??
-What do they want to see on next week’s show?
-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/-1WBFM_vFeU?si=XL1pAipEwVMfprlp

On Episode #9 of Talkin’ Off The Top Rope, “The Grizzled Vet” Michael McCurdy sits down with longtime wrestler, promoter, booker, trainer, and father “Big Ugly” for an in-depth conversation about a life spent in and around professional wrestling from discovering the business as a kid in California to wrestling in Portland, running his own promotion and school, training future stars, and watching his own children carry the family legacy forward.

He talks openly about growing up without much money, spending a lot of time alone, and how wrestling became both entertainment and motivation. Good grades meant wrestling magazines or merchandise. Saturday routines revolved around wrestling tapes. Heroes like The Road Warriors, Ric Flair, Nikita Koloff, and the Four Horsemen became larger-than-life figures in a childhood where wrestling was much more than just television.

Michael and Big Ugly spend time talking about the old tape trading culture, including World of Sport, Memphis, APW, Ohio Valley, Japanese wrestling, Dean Malenko tapes, strange wrestling compilations, and even Incredibly Strange Wrestling. The two discuss how finding new wrestling used to require real effort hunting through video stores, swapping tapes, buying obscure releases, and discovering wrestlers long before everything was one click away.

After a stint in the 82nd Airborne, Big Ugly eventually makes the decision to seriously pursue professional wrestling. He talks about beginning his training with Roland Alexander’s All Pro Wrestling, driving hours between work and training, and learning very quickly that the wrestling business could be every bit as political and mentally challenging as it was physical.

His memories of APW are especially candid. Big Ugly talks about the atmosphere at “The Garage,” his difficult relationship with Roland Alexander, the old school hierarchy among trainees, and the frustration of driving hours only to sometimes be told to clean up and go home. At the same time, he credits Michael Modest as someone who truly wanted to teach and help him improve.

Big Ugly also explains how leaving Northern California opened his eyes to the fact that wrestling was much bigger than any one local scene. Working in Portland introduced him to veterans like The Grappler, Ed Moretti, Dr. Luther, Cuban Assassin, and Manny Fernandez, and taught him a lesson he still gives his students today: get out of your hometown, travel, meet people, work different crowds, and learn how the business operates outside your own bubble.

The conversation also touches on Big Ugly’s philosophy toward wrestling styles. He and Michael talk about comedy wrestling, Incredibly Strange Wrestling, Hoodslam, traditional wrestling, lucha, hardcore wrestling, and the idea that wrestling is basically like Baskin-Robbins, there are different flavors for different people, and not every style has to appeal to everybody.

The episode also gets into Big Ugly’s influence on the Northern California wrestling scene, the importance of traveling outside your home territory, helping younger wrestlers in the locker room, and the long list of NorCal names who eventually went on to national and international success.

For fans of independent wrestling history, Northern California wrestling, Portland Wrestling, APW, SPW, John Morrison, Timothy Thatcher, and the stories of the people who spent decades keeping regional wrestling alive, this is an episode about much more than matches and championships.

It’s about family, sacrifice, teaching, legacy and making sure the stories never die.

Follow the Grizzled Vet Michael McCurdy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581684591623

Follow him on “X” at @vetgrizzled

You contact him at grizzledvet1972@gmail.com

On Episode #120, The gang heads back to February 1, 1992 for an episode of USWA Championship Wrestling that somehow manages to cram “attempted murder”, a fake Richard Lee, Moondog destruction, Eric Embry insanity, Dennis Corluzzo saying things that definitely wouldn’t make television today and the surprising return of the Universal Heartthrob, Austin Idol all into one Saturday morning wrestling show.

Things get violent immediately as The Moondogs make quick work of Chris Frazier and Brian Collins but the bigger story comes from the previous Mid-South Coliseum show, where Richard Lee pulls an old Memphis trick straight out of the Andy Kaufman playbook by sending a bandaged imposter into harm’s way while the real Richard waits for his moment to strike. The guys get a good laugh at Corey Maclin realizing halfway through the chaos that Jeff Jarrett has just piledriven “some kind of dummy or a mummy” instead of Richard Lee It’s exactly the kind of ridiculous but effective Memphis angle that works because everybody commits to it.

Jeff Jarrett responds by promising to get Richard Lee inside a steel cage with no referee in the ring and no Moondogs to save him. Along the way, Jeff somehow turns his promo into a history lesson about German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and flanking maneuvers. Yes, really. The guys immediately wonder whether Jerry Jarrett handed Jeff some notes before he walked through the curtain and how Robert Fuller feels about people making failed attempts at matching his story telling abilities.

Meanwhile, the feud between Eric Embry and “Dirty White Boy” Tony Anthony takes a sharp turn into uncomfortable 90s “Crash TV”. After Dirty White Girl gets involved, Embry and company attempt to humiliate her by ripping at her clothes, leading Tony Anthony to promise revenge in a Texas Handcuff Match. Gene, Josh, and BT discuss both the ticket-selling logic behind an angle like this and just how badly portions of it have aged when viewed more than thirty years later.

But the headliner is Austin Idol.

All show long, Richard Lee insists Idol isn’t coming (which wouldn’t surprise ANYONE). Jerry Lawler says he personally spoke to Idol and promises he is chartering a plane to Memphis. Then, during another Moondog attack, the Universal Heartthrob finally strolls in joining the fray using his metal suitcase as a weapon as this clothes and toiletries spill out all over the ring.

Idol immediately joins the fight and then cuts one of the most ridiculous over the top promos of the year so far. According to Idol, somebody tampered with his private plane in South Florida by pouring water into the fuel tanks, which he describes as nothing less than premeditated attempted murder. Before the authorities can get whoever did it, Idol says he intends to get to them first and promises that he and Lawler are going to make the Moondogs pay, but not before violently shaking announcer Dave Brown and accidently pulling the cord out of the microphone, Dave’s reaction to Idol is worth watching the show for all on it’s own.

Is the story completely absurd?

Absolutely.

Does BT love every second of it?

Also absolutely.

Check it out and let us know what YOU think!

On this episode of Rick Del Santo’s Classic Wrestling Talk Podcast, Rick sits down with longtime wrestler, manager, promoter, and trainer “Broadway” Joe Malcolm for an incredible conversation about breaking into professional wrestling, learning under Professor Boris Malenko, working the old territory system, and crossing paths with some of the biggest names of the 1980s.

Joe starts at the beginning, talking about growing up in New York, discovering wrestling as a kid while watching names like Butcher Vachon and Bulldog Brower, then later becoming hooked on Championship Wrestling from Florida after moving south. Dusty Rhodes, Superstar Billy Graham, Ron Bass, Blackjack Mulligan, Kevin Sullivan and others became part of his weekly routine long before he ever stepped into a ring himself.

The heart of Joe’s early career story is his training under Boris Malenko. Joe explains what old-school wrestling training really looked like, learning how to get into the ring correctly, wiping your feet before entering, stretching, mastering holds, arm drags, snapmares and basic movement before anybody worried about flashy spots. He also recalls training alongside names like Mark Starr and Chris Champion, and interacting with Dean Malenko during those early years.

Joe also talks about the strange reality of being one of Malenko’s students at a time when Boris was blackballed in parts of the wrestling business. According to Joe, Malenko warned his students not to tell promoters who trained them because it could cost them opportunities. Years later, after Malenko’s passing, Joe says people suddenly treated that same background as wrestling royalty.

From there, the stories come fast.

The conversation also digs into Joe’s time in Continental/Southeastern Wrestling, where he worked around names like Tommy Rich, Brickhouse Brown, Adrian Street, Austin Idol, the Fullers, Jimmy Golden and Bob Armstrong. Joe remembers being thrown into a match with Tommy Rich when another wrestler failed to show up and being billed under a completely different name for the night.

And despite all the history already covered, Joe makes it clear at the end that Rick has barely scratched the surface.

For fans of Boris Malenko, Championship Wrestling from Florida, Mid-South Wrestling, Southeastern Wrestling, Continental Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions, Bill Watts, Billy Jack Haynes, Dirty Dick Slater, Tommy Rich, Tully Blanchard, Magnum T.A., Porkchop Cash, Buzz Sawyer, and the old school territory system, this is a deep dive into a career lived right in the middle of it.

“Broadway” Joe Malcolm has stories.

And this episode only scratches the surface.

Check out more great stuff from Rick Del Santo on his YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRickDelSanto

Follow him on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/theprofrickdelsanto

***WATCHALONG WITH THE TEXAS BUNCH AT THIS LINK***
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On Episode #12 of the RWR WCCW Podcast, Robb Helt and Scottie Wince welcome special guest Jammie Ward for a deep dive into the February 5, 1983 episode of World Class Championship Wrestling and this one feels like World Class is finally hitting another gear.

Jammie brings a completely different layer to the discussion. Long before wrestling podcasts and streaming archives, he was following the business through newsletters, tape trading, conventions, and the old school fan networking. He was already reading the Wrestling Observer when the Freebirds turned on Kerry Von Erich, and he remembers getting World Class tapes just a few months after they originally aired. That makes him a perfect guest for an episode built around the growing Von Erich vs. Freebirds war.

That leads to one of the best discussions of the episode: Who was actually the best Von Erich? Kerry looked like a million dollars, Kevin had more promo ability than he sometimes gets credit for, but Jammie argues David was the most complete package. Then the guys take it one step farther and imagine what could have happened if one of the brothers had turned against the family and aligned with the Freebirds.

Here’s the thing: this is where World Class really starts feeling different from most wrestling television of the era. Mercer’s straight faced delivery, the location shooting, the way Hayes talks directly to him instead of cutting a traditional studio promo it makes the whole feud feel more real.

Jammie is also a perfect fit for the non-match portions of this episode. His stories about Dennis Corluzzo, Philadelphia wrestling fandom, tape trading, conventions, early ECW, Memphis trips, and old newsletters turn this into much more than another watchalong. By the end, Robb and Scottie are already talking about bringing him back just to hear more stories.

And then Jammie closes with a classic Corluzzo tale involving a restaurant, a free meal, and Dennis convincing the staff that a table full of wrestling fans were actually Gene Okerlund, Paul E. Dangerously, Tito Santana, Brutus Beefcake, and Eddie Gilbert.

That story alone is worth the price of admission.

This week, the Freebirds gain more gold.

Kevin Von Erich loses the American Title.

And World Class Championship Wrestling is starting to feel like the hottest wrestling territory in America in 1983.

***WATCHALONG W/BRANDON & GENE HERE***
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On Episode #13 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View ECW Podcast, Gene Jackson and Brandon Wheeler close out June 1993 with an episode of Eastern Championship Wrestling that shows just how quickly the promotion is evolving. The crowds are getting hotter, the matches are getting better, Paul E. Dangerously is settling into commentary, Eddie Gilbert is causing chaos all over Philadelphia, and for the first time it really feels like ECW is starting to become something different.

The episode opens with Jay Sulli, Todd Gordon, and Paul E. Dangerously previewing a loaded card featuring the ECW debut of Ivan Koloff and his nephew Vladimir, a grudge match between former tag team partners Larry Winters and Tony Stetson, and ECW Television Champion Jimmy Snuka defending against Pennsylvania State Champion “Ironman” Tommy Cairo. Also, we take another look at the wild Texas Chain Match between Terry Funk and Eddie Gilbert from the Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular.

A major part of the show is the fallout from that chain match. Todd Gordon tries to explain the mysterious referee “Kevin Christian,” only for the story to unravel into the revelation that he is actually another Gilbert brother, “Freddie Gilbert”. Gene and Brandon have plenty of fun with the idea that Todd Gordon, who supposedly grew up with Eddie Gilbert, somehow had no idea another Gilbert brother existed.

Meanwhile, Terry Funk is furious. Funk says he wants Eddie Gilbert and the Dark Patriot either together or one at a time, and he is even willing to put his hair on the line if it means getting the Dark Patriot’s mask. It’s another example of ECW starting to layer stipulations and personal stakes on top of the violence instead of just throwing matches together.

Then things get surprisingly good.

The Larry Winters vs. Tony Stetson grudge match ends up being one of the best matches Gene and Brandon have seen in ECW up to this point. What starts as a fight between former partners quickly spills into the crowd, referees get involved, the intensity keeps climbing, and for once Winters and Stetson feel like two guys who actually hate each other instead of two guys filling television time. They point out that the crowd is louder, the brawling feels more natural, and the entire promotion seems to be inching closer to the ECW people remember.

There is also more of Eddie Gilbert roaming Philadelphia as the ”King of Philadelphia”, complete with crown, cape, and camera crew visiting bars, restaurants, and jewelry stores. There’s even another strange promo from Paul E. Dangerously where he’s doing the promo while laying down in what appears to be a soccer mom’s mini van. 

By the end of the episode, Gene and Brandon agree that while this one may not be quite as strong as the previous couple of shows, it is still miles ahead of the early ECW episodes. The matches move faster, the angles have more direction, the fans are louder, and the promotion is clearly gaining momentum.

And the biggest sign of where things are headed?

Stan Hansen is coming!

For over 50 years, Herb Simmons has been the ultimate guardian of traditional professional wrestling. In this exclusive, deeply emotional interview on the Get Your Bell Rung Pro Wrestling Podcast, the legendary SICW promoter, historian, and longtime Illinois mayor pulls back the curtain like never before. This isn't just a wrestling shoot interview, it’s an intimate look at the man, the husband, the father, and the caretaker of a dying wrestling tradition.

The Man Beyond the Title: A look at the young kid with a dream before the fame, the politics, and the ringside stress. 

The Love Story & 50-Year Marriage: Herb goes deep into how he met his wife, the unseen sacrifices she made behind the scenes, and what true partnership means. 

Preserving the Tradition: The lessons he learned directly from NWA legends Sam Muchnick and Larry Matysik. 

Family & Legacy: What it means to have generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren watching his historic journey. 

Locker Room Secrets: The brutal honesty of what it takes to survive 50 years running a wrestling promotion, and a never-before-told story from his career. 

The Final Chapter: How Herb Simmons wants to be remembered by his family, his wrestlers, and his community when the arena lights finally go down.

Also, for all your current wrestling news and reviews with K.G., Bob Cook, Robbie Idol, and the “Grizzled Vet” Michael McCurdy…subscribe to the Get Your Bell Rung YouTube Channel over at https://www.youtube.com/@getyourbellrungprowrestling and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583941710996

On Episode #23 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View Power Pro Wrestling Podcast, Gene Jackson, Robb Helt, and Brian Tramel are back live on a Saturday morning to cover the September 19, 1998 episode of Memphis Power Pro Wrestling and this one has a little bit of everything: Jerry Lawler vs. Brian Christopher, Jimmy Valiant as special referee, Bill Dundee vs. Kid Wikkid, the beginning of the Randy Hales vs. Brandon Baxter feud, and the sudden arrival of Sid Vicious in Power Pro.

The show kicks off with Lawler addressing the brewing issue with Brian Christopher, comparing it to his own rise past Jackie Fargo years earlier. Lawler says Brian believes he has to knock the King off the throne to become the top dog in Power Pro, but Lawler isn’t ready to step aside (and apparently never would be). The added incentive? If Lawler beats Brian, he gets five minutes in the ring with Randy Hales. And to keep things under control, Lawler brings in a special referee: “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant.

The Sid material is the headline here. Downtown Bruno tries to explain that Sid wants to come to Power Pro and would help the company, but Randy Hales immediately reminds everybody that this is his company and he decides who works there. The Lawler/Brian Christopher story is also front and center, which is a good thing. 

The Randy Hales show continues in full force as a show with eight segments total has Randy Hales involved in SEVEN of them. By the end, everyone agrees this episode has plenty happening: Sid is officially in Power Pro, Lawler and Brian Christopher are still at each other’s throats, Randy Hales is all over the show, Brandon Baxter is back in the mix, and the October 3rd Settle the Score card is starting to take shape.

For fans of Memphis Power Pro Wrestling, Sid Vicious, Jerry Lawler, Brian Christopher, Randy Hales, Brandon Baxter, Stacey, Jimmy Valiant, Bill Dundee, Kid Wikkid, Downtown Bruno, Buddy Wayne, Billy Joe Travis, and late 90s Memphis wrestling chaos, this episode is a must-see.

Sid has arrived.

Randy won’t go away.

And Power Pro is getting crazier by the week!

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling
from Memphis for Episode 45 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:
-Hits?
-Misses?
-MVP??
-What do they want to see on next week’s show?
-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/Cq8In_sfVKM?si=SrKrLqvlOf6-Ri3T

On Episode #64 of Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson, Gene welcomes Pez Whatley Jr. for a conversation honoring the life, career, and legacy of his father, “Pistol” Pez Whatley.

Gene opens the episode by explaining that he's still under the weather health wise, so this episode will be audio only, but he wanted to make sure this interview happened in time to help promote the upcoming 'Pez Whatley Invitational' in Red Bank, Tennessee: a one night tournament created to honor Pez Whatley’s legacy and celebrate Black wrestling excellence. 

From there, the conversation becomes much more personal than a standard career retrospective. Pez Whatley Jr. talks about growing up as the son of a professional wrestler, traveling with his father during the summer, watching him work territories like ICW and Continental, and getting an up close look at a wrestling business that still guarded kayfabe closely.

One of the most important parts of the episode comes early, when Pez Jr. discusses his father’s amateur wrestling accomplishments. He confirms that Pez Whatley was the first African-American wrestler at UT Chattanooga, and adds that father and son also became the first father-son state wrestling champions in Tennessee.

Pez Jr. also provides a fascinating look at what it meant to grow up around the business when kayfabe was still protected. He understood that his father was not literally fighting for his life every night, but he also never viewed wrestling as “fake.” In his words, there is nothing fake about large men throwing themselves around a ring and colliding with one another. The performance may be exaggerated, but the physicality is very real.

There is also some genuinely new insight into the Shaska Whatley character and the exact inspiration for the name itself. That is a piece of the story Gene had never heard before, and it gives some real background to one of Pez Whatley’s most memorable identities.

The conversation gets more serious when Gene asks about the racism Pez experienced during his career. Pez Jr. says it was very real, both among some people within the wrestling business and among fans in certain towns. That part of the interview may be uncomfortable to discuss, but it's important because it puts Pez Whatley’s career into fuller context. He was not just working matches and cutting promos. He was traveling during an era and through places where the dangers outside the ring could often be far more real than anything happening inside of it. 

The emotional center of the episode comes near the end when Gene asks what Pez Jr. wants people to remember about his father outside the ring.

His answer is simple and powerful: Pez Whatley was the best person he ever knew.

That makes the Pez Whatley Invitational feel especially fitting. Pez Jr. says he never imagined someone would someday create a wrestling tournament in his father’s honor, but he's very proud that day has come. in his opinion, Pez deserves it. The fact that others believe strongly enough in his father’s legacy to put in the time and work to honor him means a great deal to the family.

This is not simply an episode about Pistol Pez Whatley the wrestler.

It is about Pez Whatley the father.

The amateur wrestling champion.

The trailblazer.

The heel who could make a crowd furious.

The man who became Shaska Whatley and Willie B. Hurt.

And, most importantly, the man his son still describes as the best person he has ever known.

Head out to the TWE Arena in Red Bank, Tennessee this Saturday September 19. Bell Time is 7:30pm, tickets will be available at the door but can also be purchased in advance at TWETickets.com

On this episode of Huge Pop Entertainment Presents… DROP THE MIC, the crew welcomes one of professional wrestling’s most outspoken veterans, Rip Rogers, for a fast moving, no filter conversation covering nearly 50 years in the business, from the wild territory days and ICW to OVW, WCW, Stampede, training future stars, and what he believes today’s wrestlers have forgotten about how wrestling is supposed to work.

Rip starts at the beginning, talking about getting hooked on wrestling as a seven year old after seeing Dick the Bruiser vs. Cowboy Bob Ellis, then spending his youth in sports and the weight room before eventually finding his way into the business. From there, the stories come quickly, especially once the conversation turns to ICW, where Rip worked alongside Randy Savage, Lanny Poffo, Angelo Poffo, Bob Roop, Bob Orton, Ronnie Garvin, Boris Malenko, George Weingroff, and others.

The centerpiece of the interview is Rip’s philosophy on how professional wrestling should be taught. He explains that his OVW trainees spent the first two hours of class drilling fundamentals, learning formulas, developing psychology, and figuring out how to call matches in the ring. Rip says he would throw guys out there for 90 minutes or even two hours because once they understood the structure, they should know how to work without somebody scripting every moment for them.

Rip is equally passionate about the idea that wrestling is storytelling, not simply a collection of moves. He talks about working different body parts, changing tempos from match to match, understanding where you are on the card, and making sure the opening match does not use every weapon, stunt, and dramatic device before the main event ever gets there.

There is also plenty of territory history. Rip looks back on riding with Randy Savage during the ICW years, competing against established promotions, working for Bill Watts and Ole Anderson, traveling through Portland and Calgary, and seeing the business when wrestlers routinely worked hundreds of matches per year.

By the end of the episode, Rip’s message is pretty simple. If you love professional wrestling, he respects that. Take the good with the bad, try not to take advantage of people, understand the business side, and never assume a full building means everybody made money. Most of all, do the work and stop wishing you had.

It’s loud.

It’s opinionated.

It’s unapologetic.

And with Rip Rogers, that’s exactly how it should be.

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into
Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 44 in their quick RT format ! 

They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?
-Misses?
-MVP??
-What do they want to see on next week’s show?
-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/EcFQ6rkaAGg?si=XCSKe4rh-ZzY_W8I

On this special BONUS EPISODE of Retro Wrestling, Robb Helt sits in for Gene Jackson and welcomes Shawn Ng of the KWK Kayfabe Heroes Action Figure brand to the show to discuss this week's Jamie Dundee/PG-13 action figure controversy as well as the Pat Tanaka/AIW situation. FOR TONS OF EXCLUSIVE RETRO WRESTLING CONTENT: Check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com/retrowrestlingarchive Check out www.retrowrestlingarchive.club for all of our social media, merch store, and everything related to our content and podcasts

On Episode #119 of the RWR USWA Podcast, The Gang is back inside the Retro Wrestling Archive to review the January 25, 1992 episode of USWA Championship Wrestling and this one is another wild chapter in early ’92 Memphis, where the Moondogs vs. Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett war is getting nastier by the week, Richard Lee may have just delivered the promo of the year, and the undercard suddenly comes alive with women’s chaos, strap match fallout, and a big Saturday night card at the Mid South Coliseum.

The centerpiece of this episode is absolutely Richard Lee. After having his entire head set on fire during last week’s Coliseum chaos, Richard comes out bandaged, shaken, and speaking like a man who has been through something horrible. He says he was permanently disfigured, claims he cannot even control the Moondogs anymore, and then proves it as the Moondogs destroy Freezer Thompson and poor Dazzler Hayes (for the third week in a row).

Look, this is exactly the kind of selling Gene, Josh, and Brian want from Memphis Wrestling. They point out that, too often, somebody takes a piledriver on the floor or gets fire thrown at them and shows up the next week with a towel around their neck acting mostly normal. Richard Lee goes the other way. He commits to the bit, sells the injury, changes his voice, brings the bandages, and turns a fireball spot into a full character moment.

The other big surprise is how much life the undercard women’s angle brings to the episode. What starts with Tony Falk and Miss Jennifer turns into C.J., Miss Texas, Dirty White Girl, Dirty White Boy, Bull Pain, and Samantha all getting pulled into the mix. Dirty White Girl’s return gives Tony Anthony an equalizer against C.J., and suddenly the upcoming all-girl battle royal feels like something the guys actually want to see.

By the end, the show sets up a loaded Saturday night card at the Mid-South Coliseum: a tournament for a shot at Kamala, the women’s battle royal, Embry vs. Dirty White Boy for the Southern Title, and another no DQ war between Lawler/Jarrett and the Moondogs. That’s a lot of moving parts for one week of Memphis television and somehow Richard Lee walking out wrapped up like he survived a horror movie still steals the whole thing.

The Moondogs are out of control.

Dazzler Hayes is catching another beating.

And Richard Lee just might be the best thing in Memphis Wrestling right now.

On Episode #63 of Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson, Gene sits down with a guest that a lot of Memphis wrestling fans have wondered about for decades: Brother Ernest Angel. Known for his short but unforgettable run in Memphis and Continental in 1988, Brother Ernest steps back into the spotlight for a rare conversation about how the character came together, why it generated so much heat, working with Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett, Lance Russell, Dave Brown, Bill Dundee, Jamie Dundee, Eddie Gilbert, Missy Hyatt, Doug Gilbert, the Samoans, Maxx Payne, and more.

Gene opens the show by explaining why this interview matters. Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson has always been about finding the people fans haven’t heard from in years, the names who weren’t on every shoot interview, podcast, or convention stage and Brother Ernest fits that mission perfectly. After Gene’s article and promo compilation reminded fans just how entertaining Brother Ernest was, the response made it clear: people still remember him, and they still want to hear his story.

The heart of the episode is Brother Ernest explaining what the character actually was. He makes it clear that they were not mocking God, scripture, or sincere religion. The target was the shady televangelist type that had been all over the news, and Brother Ernest says they were careful not to cross certain lines. 

By the end, this episode is exactly what Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson does best: it brings back a name fans remember, fills in the story behind the character, and gives a performer who hasn’t been heard from enough the chance to explain how it all happened in his own words.

For fans of Memphis Wrestling, CWA, Continental Wrestling, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett, Lance Russell, Dave Brown, Bill Dundee, Jamie Dundee, Eddie Gilbert, Missy Hyatt, Maxx Payne, the Samoans, and unforgettable old school managers who could make fans mad enough to jam a TV station switchboard, this episode is required listening.

Brother Ernest Angel may have only been around for a short time.

But brother, he made every minute count.

On this episode of Rick Del Santo’s Classic Wrestling Talk Podcast, Rick welcomes former GLOW Girl Roxy Astor for a fun, honest, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about her time in the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, how she found her way into the business, what made GLOW so different, and how that wild, campy, colorful wrestling world continues to live on decades later.

Roxy talks about growing up in Auburn, Washington, having no real background as a wrestling fan, actress, or athlete, and then discovering GLOW after moving to Los Angeles. She explains that her performance instincts came more from beauty school than acting class, joking that learning how to talk to clients and make them feel great was its own kind of acting training.

The heart of the episode is Roxy explaining that she did not come into GLOW as a polished actress or trained wrestler. She simply saw something that looked fun, bold, and different, and decided she wanted to be part of it. Once she got there, the pressure was real: training, bumping, running ropes, building a character, learning raps, and getting ready for television with very little room for error.

The conversation also gets into preserving the memory of GLOW. Roxy discusses the documentary, the reunion around Mount Fiji, the AfterGLOW fan party, and her work with Robert Wynn on a play honoring Matilda the Hun, which won Broadway World Awards and served as a promise kept to Matilda during a difficult time.

Look, the final stretch of the episode shows who Roxy Astor is beyond wrestling. Her work with animal rescue takes center stage as she talks about fostering dogs, working with Melita’s Dream Rescue, creating Wrestling is for the Dogs, bringing wrestlers and rescue animals together, raising money, and helping dogs find homes. It is a feel-good ending to a conversation that starts in the bright, strange world of GLOW and lands somewhere very real.

By the end, this episode is more than a GLOW nostalgia interview. It is a conversation about taking chances, finding your character, keeping memories alive, honoring the women who made GLOW special, and using whatever platform you have now to do something good.

Roxy Astor was part of GLOW.

But this episode shows there is a whole lot more glow still coming from her today.

***WATCHALONG W/BRANDON & GENE AT THE LINK BELOW***
https://rumble.com/v7fhcrw-rwr-ecw-podcast-ep.-12-62293-long-live-the-king-of-philly.html

On Episode #12 of the RWR ECW Podcast, Gene Jackson and Brandon Wheeler return after a week away to continue their week by week journey through Eastern Championship Wrestling, reviewing the June 22, 1993 episode of ECW TV. Gene is still fighting off bronchitis, Brandon jokes that the Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular was so exciting Gene lost his voice, and the boys waste no time getting back into the chaos now that ECW has officially crowned “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert as the “King of Philadelphia”.

Coming off the Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular, Gene and Brandon talk about the show being available on Patreon, the fun they had covering it, and how Eddie Gilbert vs. Terry Funk stood out as Brandon’s favorite match from the event. More importantly, they point out how much ECW is already starting to change: the ECW Arena is filling up, the crowd is getting rowdier, and you can see the early pieces of what would become “Extreme” beginning to form right there in South Philadelphia.

The biggest moment of the episode is clearly The Dark Patriot and J.T. Smith. Gene and Brandon spend time talking through the infamous crow’s nest spot, where The Dark Patriot throws J.T. Smith from a high perch and then jumps down on him afterward. They note how far the drop looked, how dangerous it was, and how unusual it was for 1993, well before balcony dives became one of the things fans eventually expected from ECW.

Here’s the thing: this is one of those moments where early ECW starts to feel like something different. It is not fully the ECW fans remember from later in the decade yet, but the ingredients are showing up fast: the hotter crowd, the more chaotic finishes, Paul E. Dangerously’s presence, Eddie Gilbert stirring the pot, the Philadelphia attitude, and now wrestlers being launched from places wrestlers probably should not be launched from.

The episode also continues to establish Eddie Gilbert’s role as the new “King of Philadelphia”. Paul E. Dangerously is now leaning fully into Eddie’s coronation, bragging about the city bowing down to its new king and treating Eddie like the man who finally gave Philadelphia a champion worth celebrating. Naturally, Todd Gordon isn’t buying any of it.

Meanwhile, the undercard remains very early ECW in all its strange glory. You’ve got Don Muraco and Tommy Cairo having an awkward title match, Ivan and Vladimir Koloff showing up as a new Russian threat, Larry Winters and Sandman trying to settle business with Tony Stetson and Rockin’ Rebel, and the Suicide Blondes getting thrown around by the Super Destroyers and Wildman Sal Bellomo before the whole thing turns into another metal trash can filled mess.

Basically, Episode #12 feels like a turning point show. Not because every match is great, and not because ECW has fully arrived yet, but because the identity is getting clearer. The crowd is louder. The violence is escalating. Eddie Gilbert has a crown. Paul E. is everywhere. And The Dark Patriot just threw J.T. Smith out of the crow’s nest, raising the stakes on what fans would come to expect then they made their way to the ECW Arena.

ECW is getting better.

And maybe just a little more dangerous.

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 43 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?

-Misses?

-MVP??

-What do they want to see on next week’s show?

-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode!
https://youtu.be/ad5kTzYj1Ic?si=a8XOGJi9sXIj31z8

On this episode of Get Your Bell Rung Pro Wrestling Podcast, host K.G. Landry sits down with Vladimir Koloff, or perhaps more notably the man behind the monster, Carl Richard Brantley for a wide ranging interview about wrestling, legacy, travel, toughness, and the life behind one of professional wrestling’s most believable Russian heel personas.

This is not just a conversation about a wrestling gimmick. It is a conversation about the weight of carrying the Koloff name. Carl talks about being the second man entrusted with that legacy by Ivan Koloff, following in the shadow of Ivan and Nikita while still building his own chapter in wrestling history. K.G. opens the show by putting that honor into perspective, describing Vladimir as a man who has spent more than 35 years in the wrestling business, traveled through 153 countries, and crossed paths with some of the biggest names the industry has ever produced.

The heart of the interview is the contrast between Carl and Vladimir. Carl describes himself today as a man who lives a simple life, takes care of his 88 year old mother, enjoys calm over chaos, and loves taking care of his livestock, dogs, chickens, and property. But once he steps into the world as Vladimir Koloff, the presence, the history, and the weight of the name are still there.

One of the best parts of the interview is hearing how committed they were to protecting that illusion. Carl talks about people coming up to him and Nikita at conventions saying they thought they were really Russian, and even fans who met them back in the day remembered them staying in character at gas stations, airports, hotels, and restaurants.

The interview closes with Carl reflecting on legends he knew and respected, including the Road Warriors, Kerry Von Erich, Jake Roberts, Ric Flair, Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff, Stan Lane, and Andre the Giant. He speaks with the kind of perspective that only comes from someone who lived inside the business, saw the roads, the locker rooms, the conventions, the politics, the friendships, and the sacrifices firsthand.

This is the story of Vladimir Koloff.

But more than that, it is the story of Carl Richard Brantley, the man who carried a monster’s name, protected a wrestling legacy, and lived a life that sounds almost impossible until you hear him tell it himself.

On Episode #22 of the RWR Power Pro Wrestling Podcast, Gene Jackson, Robb Helt, and Brian Tramel are back live on Saturday morning for another edition of TV5 Power Pro Wrestling, and this one has a lot going on before the first bell even rings. Gene is still under the weather, the crew takes a few minutes to remember “Superstar” Bill Dundee, and then they jump into a Power Pro episode built around one of the most interesting matchups Randy Hales has presented yet: Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Brian Christopher.

The episode opens with a thoughtful discussion about watching 1998 Power Pro through modern eyes. Robb brings up the idea that some of what looks hokey now may have played differently at the time, because fans didn’t have the same constant internet, social media, and endless media overload that exists today. That leads into the bigger point of the week: sometimes the Power Pro chaos feels ridiculous, but when it works, it works.

Once the Power Pro episode begins, Randy Hales makes the big announcement: Brian Christopher vs. Jerry Lawler in the main event. Lawler immediately tries to shut it down, making it clear he is not going to wrestle Brian just because Randy wants him to. That’s the hook of the show. Randy is no longer just trying to embarrass Lawler; now he is trying to use Brian Christopher, Stacy, Brandon Baxter, and anybody else he can drag into the mess.

The best talking segment of the show comes when Randy calls out Brian Christopher and tries to “smarten him up” about Jerry Lawler and Stacy. This is the kind of Power Pro angle that feels like old school Memphis when it clicks. It has jealousy, family tension, outside manipulation, Stacy drama, Randy Hales clearly trying to manipulate the Lawler family, and a match nobody really needed to see for a title, they needed to see it because of the relationship. 

There is still plenty of Power Pro weirdness, too. Billy Joe Travis smashes Lance Jade with what looks like a tiny guitar, the “new Rock and Roll Express” arrives with Jason Gibson joining his Uncle Robert, Kid Wikkid mouths off to Bill Dundee before ducking him, Derrick King steps in, and Randy Hales spends so much television time talking that even when the angle is good, the crew still agrees: it’s too much Randy.

All and all, this show feels like Power Pro is getting back up onto the tracks compared to the previous few weeks with some intriguing storylines starting to developed.

The King doesn’t want the match.

Brian Christopher wants respect.

Randy Hales wants chaos.

And on TV5 Power Pro Wrestling, that usually means everybody gets punched before the credits roll.

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 42 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?

-Misses?

-MVP??

-What do they want to see on next week’s show?

-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !

https://youtu.be/Ms-HlA_E-zo?si=nyDYimEIm0ZTdkGW

***CLICK THE LINK TO WATCHALONG WITH ROBB & SCOTTIE***
https://rumble.com/v7fczao-rwr-wccw-podcast-ep.-11-who-is-the-boss-world-class-12983-review.html

On Episode #11 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View WCCW Podcast, Robb Helt and Scottie Wince, the Texas Bunch are back with another trip into World Class Championship Wrestling, this time covering the January 29, 1983 episode from the Sportatorium in Dallas. After last week’s Christmas Star Wars fallout show helped reset the table, this episode keeps the slow burn going toward the inevitable Von Erichs vs. Fabulous Freebirds explosion.

This week’s World Class TV features the arrival of Yoshiaki Yatsu, David Von Erich making it clear he wants those six man titles back from the Freebirds, Michael Hayes battling Jose Lothario, and King Kong Bundy continuing to build the new version of Devastation Incorporated with The Great Kabuki all while everybody keeps asking one question: who is “The Boss?”

By the end, Robb and Scottie are ready for two things: for the Von Erichs and Freebirds to finally start getting physical, and for World Class to reveal who “The Boss” actually is (Bruce Springsteen? Tony Danza??). The pieces are moving, the Freebirds have real heat, Devastation Incorporated is being rebuilt, and World Class is doing that territory thing where they make you wait just long enough to want the next episode.

The war is coming.

But first, apparently, we need clearance from The Boss.

On this special edition of LIVE from the Archive, Gene Jackson is joined by Robb Helt, Scottie Wince, Jimmy Street of Give Me Back My Pro Wrestling, Brian Tramel, and Brandon Wheeler for a heartfelt tribute to the late, great “Superstar” Bill Dundee, one of the defining names in Memphis wrestling history and one of the most believable, versatile, entertaining performers to ever step into a wrestling ring.

The panel watches and discusses classic Dundee clips that highlight who he was: a world class talker, a snug and believable worker, a master heel, a natural babyface, and a man who could make fans believe every word and every punch.

The heart of the show is the panel explaining why Dundee mattered so much in Memphis. Scottie puts it plainly: if you do a Mount Rushmore of Memphis Wrestling, Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee are number one and number two for a whole generation of fans. BT adds that Dundee, Lawler, and Handsome Jimmy Valiant were the guys fans pretended to be on playgrounds because those were the stars they grew up watching every week.

The Lawler/Dundee discussion is one of the strongest parts of the tribute. Gene points out that both men were just as good on the microphone as they were in the ring, and that their feud drew money across multiple decades. Even when Memphis was struggling, putting Lawler and Dundee back together could heat the territory right back up.

There’s also a lot of appreciation for Dundee’s realism. Whether he was cutting a fired-up promo, throwing punches with Lawler, screaming about being wronged in Mid-South, or standing beside Beverly Dundee with everything on the line, Bill made fans believe him. The panel keeps coming back to that word: believability. That was the gift.

The famous Bill and Buddy Show segment gets the big spotlight late in the episode. Dundee and Buddy Landel take over Memphis TV, put on suits, bring out their own desk, call the match themselves, insult everybody in sight, and somehow create a segment that fans still talk about like it was a six month angle even though the actual “show” was one unforgettable TV segment.

For fans of Bill Dundee, Memphis Wrestling, Jerry Lawler, Lance Russell, Dave Brown, Buddy Landell, Dutch Mantell, Joe LeDuc, Mid-South Wrestling, and the kind of old school wrestling that felt real because the people doing it made it real, this tribute is required viewing.

Thank you, Bill Dundee, for all the years of entertainment.

There will never be another “Superstar.”

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 42 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?

-Misses?

-MVP??

-What do they want to see on next week’s show?

-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !

https://youtu.be/NI3GlxDEa1Y?si=Si1QrHgbWR9NuYF-

On Episode #8 of Talkin’ Off The Top Rope, “The Grizzled Vet” Michael McCurdy welcomes longtime friend, promoter, booker, wrestling historian, commentator, and all around wrestling lifer Joe Sousa for a very personal conversation about growing up through the West Coast territory era, discovering wrestling through his father, preserving memories, finding his voice behind the microphone, and eventually helping build Rumble in the Redwoods into something special.

This one is different because Joe isn’t just another guest. Mike explains right up front that Joe is part of his own story, one of the people who helped him along the path that eventually led to this show and the Retro Wrestling Archive Podcast Network. Their friendship goes back more than 30 years, and that history gives the episode a warm, familiar, “road story” feel from the very beginning.

By the end, this episode is really about connection: fathers and sons, friends who become family, fans who become historians, commentators who become voices of a scene, and small town wrestling shows that become memories people carry with them. Joe Sousa’s story runs through San Francisco, Portland, Humboldt County, APW, WCWC, Cauliflower Alley, and Rumble in the Redwoods, but the throughline is simple: he loves wrestling, he respects the fans, and he wants the stories to be told right.

For fans of Portland Wrestling, San Francisco wrestling, Pat Patterson, Ray Stevens, Roddy Piper, Don Owen, Roy Shire, Rumble in the Redwoods, West Coast independent wrestling, old school commentary, and the people who keep regional wrestling history alive, this episode is a must listen.

Joe Sousa’s story is the real deal.

And that’s why on Talkin’ Off The Top Rope, the stories never die.

Follow the Grizzled Vet Michael McCurdy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581684591623

Follow him on "X" at @vetgrizzled

You contact him at grizzledvet1972@gmail.com

On Episode #118 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View USWA Podcast, Gene Jackson, Josh Briley, and BT Brian Tramel return to review the January 18, 1992 edition of USWA Championship Wrestling but before the boys get into the episode, the show opens on a somber note with the news of “Superstar” Bill Dundee’s passing. Gene, Josh, and BT take a few minutes to talk about what Dundee meant to Memphis wrestling, to their childhood fandom, and to this podcast in particular, where Dundee has been such a major recurring part of the journey.

Once the review begins, this episode turns into one of the most important early 1992 USWA shows so far. The Moondogs, Richard Lee, Jeff Jarrett, Robert Fuller, and Jerry Lawler collide in a wild brawl from Kennett, Missouri, and by the time it’s over, Lawler has stepped directly into the tag team war against the Moondogs. What started as Jarrett and Fuller versus Richard Lee’s chaos suddenly becomes Jerry Lawler and Jeff Jarrett versus the Moondogs, and the boys immediately recognize that this was the start of something huge for the USWA in 1992.

This is one of those episodes where the USWA starts to feel like it has found its next big story.

The Moondogs are destroying people.

Richard Lee is losing his mind.

And Jerry Lawler just smelled money!

Episode #25 of Cassette Wrestling News captures the wrestling world in spring 1992 as the industry continues navigating scandal fallout, promotion instability, and rapid cultural change while CWN itself leans even harder into its mix of news reporting, editorial commentary, parody, and underground fan culture. With Jeff Osborne joined by Sean for much of the episode, the show opens with extended reactions to WrestleMania VIII, widely viewed by the hosts as a mixed show carried almost entirely by the standout performances of Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage and Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper, while the remainder of the card is criticized as average or below expectations. The discussion reflects broader fan sentiment of the era appreciation for individual match quality but growing dissatisfaction with overall WWF presentation and direction. 

A major recurring theme throughout Episode #25 is the widening disconnect between hardcore fans and the mainstream wrestling product. Editorial commentary including guest segments from newsletter figure Evan Ginsberg who questions whether fans continue supporting major promotions out of habit rather than enjoyment, while also highlighting the growing nostalgia for territory-era wrestling and more sport-driven presentation. 

Key news and discussion topics include: 

● Ongoing speculation surrounding Eddie Gilbert’s potential involvement with Titan Sports, and debate over whether Memphis style storytelling could translate into WWF’s nationalized production style 

● Continued instability surrounding Global Wrestling Federation leadership and staffing, reinforcing fears of another promotion collapse 

● Rumors of major roster movement, including Jake Roberts’ movement toward WCW and shifting alignments across multiple promotions 

● Independent wrestling growth, particularly smaller promotions and regional circuits attempting to fill the creative void left by the territory system 

● Reports of injuries and roster shifts in Memphis and USWA markets, alongside strong local fan engagement and continued emphasis on heat-driven brawling style matches Episode #25 also strongly reflects the transitional media environment of the era. CWN devotes time to discussing early online rumor sources particularly early computer network message systems which the hosts criticize as unreliable and prone to misinformation, foreshadowing the future information battles that would define wrestling coverage in the internet age. 

The episode also contains several major CWN “universe” developments, including: 

● Increasing absence of longtime co-host John Seaton, culminating in an on-air retirement announcement framed through CWN’s trademark blend of satire and shoot-style storytelling 

● Continued parody call-ins and character segments, including appearances from recurring CWN personalities and storyline-style internal conflicts 

● Expanded listener interaction, tape trading promotion, and underground wrestling media networking Episode #25 stands as a strong representation of Cassette Wrestling News at its most layered functioning simultaneously as news source, fan editorial, underground media hub, and proto podcast entertainment product. 

More importantly, the episode captures a fanbase in transition: still passionate, increasingly skeptical, and searching for authenticity in an industry moving rapidly toward corporate consolidation and nationalized presentation. 

This transcript is preserved for historical and archival purposes as part of an ongoing effort to document Cassette Wrestling News as one of the earliest and most influential precursors to modern pro wrestling podcasts.

On Episode #62 of Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson, Gene Jackson is joined once again by Brian Tramel for Part Three of the deep dive into Ozark Mountain Wrestling, the Jonesboro, Arkansas based promotion that somehow managed to be local, outlaw adjacent, surprisingly ambitious, deeply personal, and connected to the dying days of the territory system all at the same time.

This final chapter picks up with BT admitting that even he thought Ozark Mountain Wrestling was pretty much done after 1995 only to find out through the research that Bert Prentice and company kept running well into 1996, changed directions, crossed paths with USWA, and eventually morphed toward North American All-Star Wrestling and later Music City Wrestling.

The centerpiece of this episode is the realization that Ozark Mountain Wrestling didn’t just vanish after its biggest Jonesboro show. BT explains that the promotion kept running through 1996, drew real money in certain towns, worked with USWA talent, and eventually became tangled up with the same late territory Memphis ecosystem that Gene and Robb have been covering in the USWA lawsuit series.

The episode also has plenty of classic BT side roads: Dirty Little Dave, outlaw shows in Arkansas, a dirt-floor dressing room, Reggie Montgomery, flea market wrestling, small town pizza economics, local promoters fighting over the same tiny audience, and BT’s own idea for a Jonesboro wrestling venue that would have mixed weekly wrestling with YouTube style distribution and event rentals.

By the end, Part Three becomes less about wrapping up a failed little promotion and more about understanding one of the last strange branches of the territory era. Ozark Mountain Wrestling started as this quirky Jonesboro project built around Bert Prentice, Colorado Kid, local Arkansas talent, and borrowed names but it lasted longer than expected, drew better than expected in spots, crossed paths with USWA, and helped bridge the gap between dying territory wrestling and the independent scene that followed.

For fans of Ozark Mountain Wrestling, Bert Prentice, Colorado Kid, Jonesboro wrestling, USWA, Bill Dundee, Jerry Lawler, Brian Christopher, Bull Pain, Dirty Little Dave, Future Shock, Cactus Jack, Missy Hyatt, Music City Wrestling, and weird little pieces of wrestling history that almost slipped through the cracks, this is the one that ties it all together.

Ozark Mountain Wrestling wasn’t dead after 1995.

It was just getting weirder.

On this episode of Rick Del Santo’s Classic Wrestling Talk Podcast, Rick welcomes Roger Sartain for a deep conversation about Roger’s life in and around professional wrestling, from growing up on the Nick Gulas territory, to breaking into the business in Alabama, working Deep South Wrestling, Southern Championship Wrestling, independent shows across Georgia and Tennessee, and crossing paths with a long list of familiar names from old school wrestling.

Roger starts at the beginning, talking about watching wrestling as a child with his grandfather and being hooked by stars like Jackie Fargo, Lynn Rossi, and Tojo Yamamoto. He also remembers the early Gulas territory names who influenced him, including Bobby Eaton and Arvil Hutto, and explains how that childhood fandom eventually turned into a real desire to get into the wrestling business himself.

The Deep South Wrestling material is especially interesting because Roger explains that he was originally brought along by Richard, only to be asked to referee on TV when another referee didn’t show up. He had never refereed before, but Bill Harris told him he would be fine, and Roger stepped in wearing black slacks, boots, and a referee shirt he happened to have with him.

Roger also gives a lot of credit to the people who helped shape him, especially Jody Hamilton and the Deep South crew. By his own admission, Roger already knew moves and could take bumps before he got there, but Deep South helped teach him how to actually work. That distinction is one of the strongest takeaways from the whole interview.

There’s also plenty of good old-school name discussion. Roger talks about Randy Rose, Wildcat Wendell Cooley, Bullet Bob Armstrong, Action Mike Jackson, Tom Zenk, Terry Gordy, Jack Victory, Rip Morgan, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson, and Jimmy Powell. Some stories are funny, some are blunt, and some are just good examples of what it was like to work independent wrestling in that era.

By the end, this episode feels like exactly what Classic Wrestling Talk does best: giving a platform to someone who may not be a household name to every modern fan, but who lived the business, worked with major names, learned from veterans, traveled the roads, and came away with stories worth preserving.

For fans of Deep South Wrestling, Nick Gulas territory wrestling, Southern Championship Wrestling, Alabama and Georgia independent wrestling, Roger Sartain, Richard Sartain, Jody Hamilton, Bill Harris, Mickey Henry, Randy Rose, Wildcat Wendell Cooley, Bullet Bob Armstrong, Rock ’n’ Roll Express, Action Mike Jackson, Terry Gordy, Jack Victory, Rip Morgan, and real old school wrestling conversations, this episode is a great listen.

Roger Sartain may not have chased the national spotlight.

But he lived the life, learned the business, and earned the stories.

Check out more great stuff from Rick Del Santo on his YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRickDelSanto

Follow him on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/theprofrickdelsanto

On Episode #11 of Beyond Wrestling w/Robb, Robb Helt and Gene Jackson return to the Neutral Corner Lounge for Part Three of the ongoing look at the USWA/XL Sports/Larry Burton/Jerry Lawler/Jerry Jarrett legal mess but this time, they aren’t just working from court documents, timelines, and educated guesses. They’re joined by Tony Myers, who was actually around the USWA during the final stretch, hauled the ring, worked as enhancement talent, saw the backstage atmosphere firsthand, and was even subpoenaed for deposition in the case.

Tony makes it clear right away that he wasn’t trying to paint himself as a major player in the office. He describes himself as the lowest man on the totem pole, the guy holding and hauling the ring but that’s exactly what makes his perspective so valuable. He was close enough to see the weirdness, hear the arguments, run the errands, deal with the money cuts, watch the locker room react, and later get dragged into the legal side of the fallout, without having a need to cover his own ass like many of the players would feel the need to.

The biggest difference in this episode is that Tony Myers lived inside the chaos. Parts One and Two laid out the legal structure and the confusing sale story, but Tony gives the story real insight and context: the boys refusing to sign merchandise papers, Lawler trying to calm everybody down, Burton treating Memphis TV like a movie set, pay getting cut, ring crew problems, and the constant feeling that nobody really knew who was in charge anymore.

But the episode isn’t just legal talk. Actually, some of the best moments are Tony’s Memphis stories: Jamie Dundee impressions, Billy Joe Travis tales, Admiral Benbow misery, Jackie and Luna coming to blows in the dressing room, Viscera calling Larry Burton, and believe it or not, a touching story about Brian Christopher and Jamie Dundee that nearly gets everyone on the screen emotional.

By the end, Robb sums up the key takeaway: Tony’s stories may be wild, funny, and all over the place, but they also support the larger point that the USWA’s final days were even messier than the paperwork could ever make them look.

For fans of USWA, Memphis Wrestling, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Larry Burton, XL Sports, Mark Selker, Tony Myers, Downtown Bruno, Jamie Dundee, Brian Christopher, Bill Dundee, Dave Brown, Corey Maclin, wrestling lawsuits, tape trading, and the real behind-the-scenes wreckage of the last territory, this one is required listening.

Part Three isn’t just about the lawsuit.

It’s about what the collapse looked like from someone on the inside.

On this episode of Get Your Bell Rung Pro Wrestling Podcast, host K.G. Landry welcomes Gene Jackson, wrestling author, podcaster, play by play announcer, archivist, and founder of the Retro Wrestling Archive, for a long form conversation about preserving the pieces of wrestling history that too often fall through the cracks. K.G. opens the episode by putting over Gene’s mission: tracking down forgotten names, territory stories, old footage, newspaper clippings, photos, memories, and the people who helped build wrestling outside the biggest spotlight.

This isn’t a standard “what was your favorite match?” interview. K.G. and Gene dig into why wrestling history matters, how much has already been lost, and why the stories of journeymen, managers, referees, announcers, promoters, photographers, TV crews, and local territory stars deserve to be preserved right alongside the legends.

A quick sidebar, at the beginning of the interview, K.G. referred to Gene as a historian. After the interview, “off air”, Gene said, he didn’t set out to become a “historian”, he admitted he has come to HATE that term and insists that he’s doesn’t like being referred to as a “historian” simply because too many people in the “pro wrestling nostalgia podcast space” in recent years have proclaimed themselves “historians” or have been christened with the title by other people, when they are basically, “just wrestling fans who watched a lot of wrestling and bought a couple of Feinstein’s Shoot Interview tapes. When pressed about details on topics they proclaim to be a “historian” of, most don’t really know s***. They know surface level information from memory, but they aren’t “studying” anything or recording any “history”, they just think it looks cool on their bio. I do a TON of research for my articles and “deep dive” shows and could justify calling myself a “historian” if I wanted to, but at this point, in my mind the title is sorta tainted. But that’s just me, I’m a bit of an a**hole, so it’s probably good we aren’t recording this.” Sorry, it’s a fun take, I had to work that in somewhere, back to the actual interview.

The strongest thread of the episode is Gene’s explanation of how the Retro Wrestling Archive grew out of genuine fandom. He was a fan who loved Memphis, Continental, Mid South, tape trading, obscure footage, and the kind of wrestlers who might not show up on every “greatest ever” list but still mattered to the people who watched them every week.

The Eddie Gilbert discussion is a major highlight. Gene talks about starting the book years earlier, shelving it out it for a number of reasons, then eventually connecting with Doug at the perfect time. What makes that story so meaningful is that the final book was able to include voices like Lance Russell, Jerry Jarrett, Eddie and Doug’s parents, and a few other whom would not have been available if the project had started from scratch years two years ago.

The interview also gets into Gene’s philosophy as an interviewer. He talks about avoiding the same recycled questions, only interviewing people he has a genuine interest in talking to, and listening closely enough to follow up on their answer instead of just moving to the next pre-written question on a list. K.G. connects with that immediately, because Get Your Bell Rung is built around those same deeper, more personal conversations.

By the end, the episode becomes as much about purpose as it is about wrestling. Gene explains that if one of his shows makes someone’s week better, introduces a fan to a wrestler they didn’t know, or helps keep a forgotten story alive, then the work matters. That’s the heart of the Retro Wrestling Archive, and it lines up perfectly with K.G.’s own mission of giving wrestlers a place to tell the parts of their story that most interviews skip.

For fans of Retro Wrestling Archive, Get Your Bell Rung, Memphis Wrestling, Continental Wrestling, Mid South Wrestling, Eddie Gilbert, Doug Gilbert, Tommy Rich, Wolfie D, Jamie Dundee, forgotten territory names, and real conversations about why wrestling history is worth saving, this episode is a must listen.

This is unfiltered wrestling history.

And Gene Jackson is still chasing the stories before they disappear.

It’s time for a new episode of “Shootin’ The Shiznit.” Brian Tramel brings you “THE WTF News Desk.”

BT brings you an insider's perspective to the bizarre happenings in the
squared circle and the octagon. From outlandish storylines to mind-bending maneuvers, THE WTF News Desk is your go-to source for all things unconventional in the fight world.

Check out our LINK OF ALL LINKS to watch the show and listen to our
podcasts!

linktr.ee/STSPOD

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Awards Show Special in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?

-Misses?

-MVP??

-What do they want to see on next week’s show?

-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

***WATCHALONG WITH GENE & ROBB AT THIS LINK***
https://rumble.com/v7es7bo-rwr-continental-wrestling-podcast-ep.-14-11985-chicken-suits-pink-belts-and.html

On Episode #14 of the RWR Continental Wrestling Podcast, Gene Jackson and Robb Helt head back into Continental Championship Wrestling as 1985 starts winding down and the territory begins setting the table for what should be a very interesting 1986. Gene points out that 1985 has already delivered plenty, especially the Nightmares versus Rich Cousins but there’s a feeling that Continental is starting to pick up steam as the year heads toward the finish line.

This week’s episode has better video quality, solid audio, and a lot happening: a loser leaves town lights out issue with The Bullet and Jimmy Golden, a hot tag title match between the Nightmares and the Rich Cousins, the continuing weirdness of Adrian Street, Miss Linda, and Norvell Austin, and the setup for upcoming TV Title Tournament finals and the much hyped Austin Idol vs. Exotic Adrian Street dream match.

By the end of the episode, Gene and Robb both seem encouraged by where Continental is going. The Nightmares/Riches feud is working, Adrian Street is tremendous television, the Bullet angle still has juice, and 1986 is starting to look like the year where this podcast may really hit its stride.

Episode #14 is a good one: better footage, better pacing, a strong tag title change, Linda in disguise, two Bullets, chicken suit humiliation, and Gordon Solie standing behind what is apparently a literal bar!

On Episode #21 of the RWR Power Pro Wrestling Podcast, Gene Jackson, Robb Helt, and Brian Tramel go LIVE on a Saturday morning for another trip back into Memphis Power Pro Wrestling and this one starts with a little Facebook heat, a big Retro Wrestling Archive announcement, and then slides straight into one of the wildest, messiest, most “1998 Memphis” episodes they’ve covered yet.

Before the Power Pro chaos even begins, the guys address a critic who didn’t quite understand the concept of a watch-along podcast, Robb fires back in true Texas Bunch fashion, and Gene announces that Retro Wrestling Archive is joining WSN+, with shows coming to Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, mobile apps, on-demand viewing, and a 24/7 Retro Wrestling Archive stream.

By the end, the weekly wrap-up says it all. Robb’s hit is “the show ending,” Gene’s miss is the cage segment going too far, and BT’s hit is Randy being in the cage and Lawler tipping him over. Everybody agrees this episode is messy, but there’s also something weirdly addictive about it. Power Pro may not be good every week, but it sure isn’t boring.

Basically, Episode #21 is a perfect example of why this show works. The Power Pro episode itself is all over the place, but Gene, Robb, and BT turn the madness into the real main event with live comments, inside Memphis context, random sidebars, great one liners, and enough late 90s wrestling absurdity to make you question whether anybody in that studio knew where the brakes were.

And somehow, that’s the charm……but, hey…..it’s not for everybody. 

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 40 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?

-Misses?

-MVP??

-What do they want to see on next week’s show?

-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/XOgMfRjLGxw?si=br1HeBFyP5dnVY9Y

On Episode #61 of Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson, Gene sits down with Rich Patterson, the man Gene calls the owner of the closest thing there is to a true Portland Wrestling Archive, for a deep conversation about Don Owen’s Portland territory, Buddy Rose’s tape collection, lost footage, territory preservation, Billy Jack Haynes, Rip Oliver, Frank Bonnema, Don Coss, Tom Peterson commercials, Roddy Piper, Chris Colt, Len Denton, and why Portland Wrestling deserves far more respect in the history of the wrestling business.

This episode serves as both a Portland Wrestling history lesson and a launch primer for the new Retro Wrestling Re-View Portland Wrestling Patreon watchalong series with Gene Jackson and “The Grizzled Vet” Michael McCurdy. Gene explains that, growing up in Mississippi and Alabama, he mostly knew Portland through wrestling magazines and traded VHS tapes and his knowledge was mostly limited to the Billy Jack heel turn, some random angles, and scattered footage but Rich’s hard drive opened the door to a much bigger world.

The heart of the episode is the story of Buddy Rose’s tape collection. Buddy started recording Portland Wrestling in 1977, saved hundreds of tapes, and preserved footage that easily could have disappeared forever. The preservation talk is tremendous. Rich tells Gene about the old Quasar tapes, the machine he had to track down, the repairs, the mold damage, and the thrill of finally finding rare Lonnie “Moondog” Mayne footage. Look, for wrestling fans who care about territory history, this is the good stuff. It’s not just “some guy has tapes.” It’s a rescue mission for an entire piece of territory wrestling history.

Basically, this is one of those conversations where every name opens another door. Buddy Rose leads to Piper. Piper leads to Don Owen. Don Owen leads to Tom Peterson. Billy Jack leads to Rip Oliver. Rip Oliver leads to Santa Claus with a crowbar. Frank Bonnema leads to the whole feel of Portland television. And before long, you realize Portland wasn’t some forgotten minor stop, it was a real, long running, talent rich territory that helped shape a lot of the wrestling people still talk about today.

For fans of Portland Wrestling, Don Owen, Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper, Billy Jack Haynes, Rip Oliver, Lonnie Mayne, Frank Bonnema, Tom Peterson, Chris Colt, Len Denton, Art Barr, Scotty the Body, “Mean” Mike Miller, Dave Sierra, Ed Wiskowski, and the lost footage that keeps territory wrestling alive, this episode is required listening.

Portland Wrestling may not have gotten the magazine covers.

But thanks to Rich Patterson, it didn’t get erased.

As mentioned on the show, if you would like to purchase one of Rich's hard drives featuring 500+ hours of Portland Wrestling, you can contact him via email at portlandwrestlingvideo@yahoo.com

On this episode of Huge Pop Entertainment Presents…Drop the Mic, Rocky Della Serra steps into the spotlight for a wide open wrestling conversation packed with stories, personality, and the kind of behind the scenes perspective fans of old school wrestling love.

This episode brings the energy of a classic wrestling talk show: honest memories, locker room style conversation, reflections on the business, and the kind of unpredictable stories that make interviews like this worth hearing from start to finish. Whether you know Rocky from his time around the wrestling scene or you’re hearing his story for the first time, this is a chance to sit back and enjoy a conversation that goes wherever the memories take it.

For fans of classic wrestling interviews, road stories, personalities from the territory and independent wrestling world, and the growing lineup of shows under the Retro Wrestling Archive Podcast Network, this edition of Drop the Mic is another fun listen from Huge Pop Entertainment Presents…

Because sometimes the best wrestling stories don’t come from the main event.

Sometimes they come when somebody finally gets handed the mic.

***WATCHALONG WITH ROBB & SCOTTIE AT THE LINK BELOW***
https://rumble.com/v7ezhg4-rwr-wccw-podcast-ep.-10-12283-bundy-kabuki-and-the-freebird-fallout.html

On Episode #10 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View WCCW Podcast, Robb Helt and Scottie Wince aka “Texas Bunch” jump back into World Class Championship Wrestling for the first televised fallout after Christmas Star Wars 1982. After covering the night Terry Gordy slammed the cage door on Kerry Von Erich and lit the fuse on the Freebirds/Von Erichs war, this episode picks up on January 22, 1983 with WCCW already feeling hotter, sharper, and more historically important than anything the guys have watched so far.

Right away, Robb points out that there appear to be two missing shows between Christmas Star Wars and this episode, but the TV presentation itself suggests World Class may have taken time off or skipped ahead, because Bill Mercer is still heavily recapping what happened at Reunion Arena. Either way, the story direction is clear: Kerry Von Erich has seen the footage, David Manning has opinions about Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy is already hated, and the Freebirds/Von Erichs feud is officially underway.

The main story is the fallout from Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair. Kerry sits down with Bill Mercer, watches the cage match footage, and explains that he doesn’t remember everything clearly after the cage door smashed him in the head. The key point is simple: in Kerry’s mind, Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy cost him the NWA World Heavyweight Title, and now the Von Erichs have a score to settle!

By the end, Robb and Scottie are clearly more excited about where the podcast is headed. The work is better, the crowd is hotter, the Freebird/Von Erich story has direction, Gordy feels like a killer, and World Class is finally becoming the promotion everyone talks about when they talk about 1980s Texas wrestling.

Get ready for a wild ride!

It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 39 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?

-Misses?

-MVP??

-What do they want to see on next week’s show?

-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/v2s8XRLuPCo?si=vTuOBc3EYXi4hPU5

On Episode #117 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View USWA Podcast, the gang continues into the second week of the 1992 USWA season with the January 11th episode of USWA Championship Wrestling and this one is all about Corey Maclin flying solo, Brian Christopher finally taking the full heel plunge, Eric Embry spreading his influence all over the show, and the “International Roughnecks” a.k.a the Moondogs making Corey lose his mind on live television.

The boys kick things off with some network business, new joke sponsor shirts, and a teaser of Corey Maclin absolutely coming unglued later in the show while trying to deal with Richard Lee and the Moondogs. From there, the episode jumps into the fallout from Brian Christopher’s boxing match with Tony Williams, Bart Sawyer continuing the “Bartman” energy, Jeff Jarrett and Robert Fuller taking aim at the Moondogs, and Tony Falk introducing Miss Jennifer in a segment that goes sideways almost immediately.

Episode #117 feels like 1992 USWA is starting to find its direction. Brian Christopher has turned the corner, Eric Embry is suddenly everywhere…again, the Moondogs are getting more dangerous by the week, Robert Fuller is somehow working as a babyface, and Corey Maclin may need hazard pay if Richard Lee keeps bringing those “crazy fools” into the studio.

REST IN PAIN indeed

On this episode of Rick Del Santo’s Classic Wrestling Talk, Rick sits down with Darryl Peterson, better known to wrestling fans as Maxx Payne and later Man Mountain Rock, for a wide ranging conversation about athletics, acting, amateur wrestling, Japan, Memphis, WCW, the WWF, music, and the long road from a rebellious kid in Utah to one of wrestling’s most unique heavy metal characters.

Maxx starts by going all the way back to his childhood love of sports. Before wrestling, he was a football fanatic, a basketball player, a shot-putter, a swimmer, a baseball kid, and eventually a serious amateur wrestler. He talks about clashing with a high school football coach, falling in love with wrestling after first hating it, and growing up in a household where watching sports with his father helped shape the rest of his life.

The strongest part of the interview may be the story of Takedown. Maxx explains that he ignored the early casting calls because he was focused on wrestling, then suddenly found himself reading for the role of Bobich. That movie didn’t just give him an acting credit it changed the direction of his life.

The Japan material is another highlight. Maxx talks about training with Red Bastien, heading to Japan with Chris Benoit, living in the New Japan dojo, doing the brutal daily workouts, and learning from veterans by asking what he did wrong instead of fishing for compliments. He also tells a very funny Dick Murdoch story after slipping off the ropes in Japan, with Murdoch advising him to take two weeks off and quit.

For Memphis fans, there’s some great material on how the Maxx Payne character started coming together. He talks about wanting to be the dark, heavy metal, Alice Cooper style monster of wrestling, then explains how Memphis was brutally hard but also one of the places where he truly learned the business. He gives Jerry Lawler a lot of credit, saying that working with Lawler was easy as long as you listened and knew when it was time to sell.

The WCW and music discussion is fascinating, too. Maxx says the guitar element truly took off in Germany after Dave Finlay and Rip Rogers told him to make it part of the act. That success helped lead to Bill Watts bringing him into WCW, where he debuted in early 1993 and played guitar at SuperBrawl. From there, he tried to create a band made up of wrestlers, with Brad Armstrong originally planned as the singer before Brian Armstrong stepped in.

The Man Mountain Rock section is blunt. Maxx says the WWF “de-rocked” him, that he should have pushed back harder creatively, and that the version of the character he wanted — black, white, skulls, heavy metal, and edge got softened into something he didn’t believe in. He also previews a documentary project using footage he shot during that period, which he says will show the behind the scenes tension from his point of view.

For fans of Maxx Payne, Man Mountain Rock, Memphis Wrestling, WCW, WWF New Generation, New Japan, Chris Benoit, Jerry Lawler, Bill Watts, Red Bastien, Brad Armstrong, Brian Armstrong, and wrestlers who tried to bring something completely different to the table, this episode is loaded.

Maxx Payne wasn’t just a big man with a guitar.

He was an athlete, actor, wrestler, musician, filmmaker, and one of those creative wrestling minds who may have been 30 years ahead of the room he was standing in.

Check out more great stuff from Rick Del Santo on his YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRickDelSanto

Follow him on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/theprofrickdelsanto

On Episode #10 of Beyond Wrestling w/Robb, Robb Helt returns to the Neutral Corner Lounge with Gene Jackson and special guest Scottie Wince of the RWR WCCW Podcast for Part Two of the deep dive into the sale of the USWA, Larry Burton, Jerry Lawler, XL Sports, Mark Selker, and the lawsuit heavy mess that helped bring down wrestling’s last true territory. After Part One ended with the merchandising problem, Part Two digs into the bigger sales pitch: Larry Burton’s three step plan and the part of the story that was never actually proven.

The heart of the episode is the difference between a plan and proof. Burton’s story only works if there is real value at the end of the rainbow specifically, a WWF/Vince McMahon payday. But Robb makes the legal distinction clear: even if McMahon gave an opinion that the USWA might be worth six to eight million dollars, that is not the same thing as saying, “I will buy it for that price.”

That becomes the running theme of the episode: potential is not proof. Robb explains that in litigation, potential future value can quickly turn into speculative fiction if there’s no enforceable commitment, no completed deal, and no hard evidence showing that money was actually waiting on the other side.

Basically, this episode is about peeling back the legend and asking the questions that usually get skipped. Was Burton working Selker? Was Lawler & Burton working together to work Selker? Was Lawler working Burton? Did Burton every really meet with Vince McMahon? Did Burton actually believe he had found hidden syndication money? Did Jerry Jarrett see the storm coming and take the safest way out? And the most obvious question that Mark Selker apparently never asked, if the USWA really had a six to eight million dollar value, why didn’t Jerry Lawler simply sell it directly to Vince McMahon himself rather then sell to to them two million??

That’s the question that hangs over the whole thing.

For fans of USWA, Memphis Wrestling, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Larry Burton, XL Sports, Mark Selker, wrestling lawsuits, territory business, and the strange legal rabbit holes that swallowed up the final days of Memphis studio wrestling, Part Two is where the story gets even murkier.

***WATCHALONG WITH BRANDON & GENE AT THIS LINK***
https://rumble.com/v7evq76-rwr-ecw-podcast-ep.-11-61593-too-violent-for-sports-channel.html

On Episode #11 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View ECW Podcast, Gene Jackson and Brandon Wheeler are finally on the doorstep of Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular, and this June 15, 1993 episode of Eastern Championship Wrestling feels like the real “go home show”. After last week’s heavy Rockin’ Rebel bonus episode, the boys come into this one looking for some forward momentum and ECW actually gives them plenty to work with.

The show is built around the final push for Eddie Gilbert vs. Terry Funk in the Texas Chain Match Massacre to crown the official “King of Philadelphia”, but there’s a lot more happening: Road Warrior Hawk challenging Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka for the ECW TV Title, the Suicide Blondes and Super Destroyers continuing their issue, Sandman and Rockin’ Rebel heading toward their street fight/catfight chaos, and The Dark Patriot (Doug Gilbert) makes his ECW debut stepping into the main event against the living legend, Terry Funk.

The biggest strength of this episode is the Eddie Gilbert/Terry Funk build. Eddie gets multiple segments: the outdoor promo, the crown, the Texas chain demonstration, and the final attack. Funk answers with a promo that makes Philadelphia feel special, telling the fans they are “hardcore fans” before that word becomes permanently attached to ECW’s identity.

The main event with Terry Funk vs. The Dark Patriot gives ECW the kind of finish it wants heading into the big show: Funk fights, Paul E. interferes, Funk goes for the mask, Eddie Gilbert hits the ring with a chair, and then the broadcast cuts away under the idea that the footage was too violent for Sports Channel! It’s a simple trick, but it does a good job making the upcoming chain match feel like something out of control.

By the end, Gene and Brandon both seem encouraged. The show feels better paced, the format feels different, Stevie Wonderful is settling in on commentary, and ECW feels like it is changing fast. The early awkwardness is still there, but now you can see the pieces starting to move toward something bigger.

Super Summer Sizzler is next.

And Eastern Championship Wrestling finally feels like it’s heating up.

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Get Your Bell Rung Pro Wrestling Podcast host KG Landry sits down with professional wrestling writer Vince Russo to discuss his book, Total Nonstop Agony: The Rise and Fall of TNA. But this is far more than a conversation about the wrestling business.

Russo opens up about some of the most difficult and personal chapters of his life, including the loss of his mother and friends such as Daffney. He discusses the emotional weight of grief, how those experiences changed his perspective, and what it means to find peace after devastating loss.

The conversation also turns to faith and how Russo's Christian beliefs have helped him navigate some of life's most difficult moments. He shares how his faith has given him perspective, purpose, and a different understanding of what truly matters.

While Total Nonstop Agony focuses heavily on Russo's time in TNA, he explains that professional wrestling was ultimately a job for him and a means of providing for his family. He discusses his frustrations with critics and the internet wrestling community, particularly those who treat scripted entertainment as something far more serious than he believes it should be.

Russo also speaks candidly about getting older, his concerns about cognitive decline and dementia because of his family history, and his determination to keep his mind active through writing. He discusses the possibility of eventually stepping away from the public eye and reflects on what he wants his life to mean beyond wrestling.

Throughout the interview, KG Landry and Vince Russo connect over shared experiences and the importance of family, health, faith, and recognizing what truly matters in life.

The conversation ultimately comes down to legacy. When Russo reflects on how he wants to be remembered, his answer is not about championships, television ratings, wrestling storylines, or professional accomplishments. He wants the people closest to him to remember one thing above everything else: how much he loved them.

This is Vince Russo like you've rarely heard him before. Honest, emotional, reflective, and completely personal.

Watch, listen, and join KG Landry and Vince Russo for a conversation that goes far beyond professional wrestling.