When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)
For all shows visit our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/wiwcool Pro wrestling history. WWE, WCW, NWA, AEW, NXT, NJPW, TNA, Impact, ROH, AWA, ECW, and the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) is a pro wrestling historian who has produced the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show for over 15 years at Wrestling Observer. This is the free version of some of the pro wrestling podcasts we produce at When It Was Cool. There is much more available to Patreon supporters and there are over 2500 shows available for subscribers. Enjoy these free shows for a deep dive into pro wrestling history and we hope if you enjoy these shows you will become a Patreon supporter and gain access to many others. Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Frank Gotch, William Muldoon, Lou Thesz, Bruno Sammartino, Strangler Lewis, Farmer Burns, Bob Armstrong, Ron Fuller, Jerry Lawler, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, and hundreds more are discussed.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 53 minutes
- Episodes
- 118
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Germany, France, and Europe Influence Wrestling
I am back with my 1000 Hours series which focuses on the history, origin, and evolution of pro wrestling in America. A listener has asked about Germany, France, and Europe in the pioneer era of wrest…
Sting vs Kurt Angle, MSG, End of 1984 SECW
I have a great show for you this week starting off with a fun entry into the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament - The GKT, where you the listener voted between Sting and Kurt Angle. Next up we go back to 19…
Inoki vs Tanahashi, Southeastern 1984, and more!
It is a PACKED edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast today as I talk about the latest match in the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament where you, the listener, have voted on who would …
The Man Who Derailed McLaughlin - 1000 Hours
I return with the 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses exclusively on the pioneer era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. I am looking back today at 1875 and 1876 which was dominated b…
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - June 1984 - WWF Takes Over, Boot Camp Match, More
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast I continue my Long Form History of Wrestling series with a look at June 1984. WWF has bought out the Georgia territory and it's first v…
Omega vs Funk, MSG, July 1984 Observer
On this week's show we have a ton of classic pro wrestling discussion on a variety of topics. The latest match in the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament and the voters are split on a match between Kenn…
John McMahon Shot, Davy Crockett, and More - 1000 Hours
Hour 49 of the 1000 Hours podcast series is a packed one. The 1000 Hours series is my detailed, heavily researched look at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, or pro wrestling before the time of Frank …
Misawa, Lesnar, the Classic Fan Problem
On this episode of my DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast I take a look at the results of the latest match in the final eight of the GKT: Greatest Kayfabe Tournament pitting Brock Lesnar against…
1931 Londos at Yankee Stadium, 1980s Southern Wrestling, more
On this episode I continue the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden podcast series with a detour to Yankee Stadium in 1931 where Jim Londos teams up with the William Randolph Hearst empi…
Return of the Terrible Turk - 1000 Hours
Wrestling historian Karl Stern first covered the pioneer era wrestling special attraction Yousof Ismael- The Terrible Turk, on hour five of the 1000 Hours podcast series, but the Terrible Turk deserv…
Who Was Homer Lane?
The early pioneer era has given us some very interesting people to learn about so far. Uzile Prickett, Col. McLaughlin, G.W. Flagg, and now let's meet Homer Lane. Homer Lane was one of the early Amer…
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - May 1984: Kerry Von Erich Wins NWA Title, Vince Sr Dies, Georgia Falls
Wrestling historian Karl Stern returns with a detailed look at the month of May 1984 in pro wrestling history. It was one of the most significant months ever: Kerry Von Erich wins the NWA World title…
The Real Story of the 1870 Detroit Tournament - 1000 Hours
I have recently spent many hours digging through hundreds of pages of 1870 newspapers from Detroit, Chicago, Ontario, and beyond chronicling the real story of the biggest tournament in history of Ame…
GKT Continues and Return to the 1980s
Karl Stern returns to his roots on this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show by discussing 1980s Southeastern and Continental wrestling. What made it so great? What are some of the my…
Pioneer Era in Australia and Death of a Star - 1000 Hours
The latest in the 1000 Hours Podcast series looking back at the pioneer (pre-1900) era of pro wrestling takes a look at the pioneer era of wrestling in Australia. Believe it or not, there was pro wre…
Bray Wyatt Documentary, Bruno Sammartino, more
Karl is back with a look at the new WWE Network Bray Wyatt documentary which dives into his career, characters, and family which include classic era wrestlers Mike Rotundo, Blackjack Mulligan, and Ba…
Wrestling Presidents - 1000 Hours
Pro wrestling historian and author Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) returns with the 1000 Hours podcast series which looks at pre-1900 pro wrestling. On this episode, a listener has requested a look at th…
MSG History, Bruno Sammartino, and more!
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern continues his look at wrestling history at Madison Square Garden in New York in the year 1931, he also continues his look…
Strangler Lewis, Bruno Sammartino, and More
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, historian Karl Stern takes a look at a great retro article from a 1972 wrestling magazine asking the question if Ed "Strangler" Lewis was…
Great Lakes Wrestling in the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours
The pioneer era (pre-1900) of pro wrestling flourished in the Great Lakes area. While initially the northeast, especially New York and Vermont were the early hotspots, by 1970 Detroit, Chicago, Cleve…