Episode 80: The Breaking Kayfabe Takeover

In Episode 80 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Breaking Kayfabe Takeover, Greg:

Welcomes Barry Rose to the show for the first time!

Barry gives an update about Breaking Kayfabe with Bowdren & Barry.

Greg and Barry break kayfabe on food, movies, wrestling, relationships and life itself.

They discuss the Match of the Week: Feb. 25, 1983 from the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas as Chavo Guerrero challenges AWA world champion Nick Bockwinkel in a non-title match.

They marvel at the wonder of pizza, except the one type Greg deems the "pizza they serve you in hell".

They discuss Greg's new favorite wrestling parlor game, "did everyone really like Paul Boesch?"

They end with a look at the 1979 basketball film, "The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh" starring Dr. J. Julius Erving.

Plus, Greg announces his next film project and Barry plugs his next convention.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg! Go to https://tinyurl.com/SuperBuds25 to donate to his SuperBuds TV pilot fundraiser.

Go to https://www.tixtree.com/e/glory-days-grapplecon-3-3c855016bd6a to buy tickets to GrappleCon 3 Glory Days.

Episode 79: Escape from The Hesburgh Visit

In Episode 79 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Hesburgh Visit, Greg:

Announces his next wrestling book.

Talks about his visit to Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library to look at the Jack Pfefer Collection.

Explains the process of doing research at the world class sports research library.

Details what he was looking for and what he found and did not find.

Pulls out a few of the artifacts from the visit.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by the Cannabis Culture Film Fest on Sept 5 & 6 at Foothills in Oneonta.

https://filmotsego.org

Episode 78: Escape from Piedras Negras

In Episode 78 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Escape from Piedras Negras, Greg:

Talks Hesburgh prep.

Sets the stage for Sterling "Dizzy" Davis as a worker and as a carny and places him in the Texas Wrestling War(s) lineup.

Reads an article from the Texas Historical Society about the 1976 jailbreak from Piedras Negras prison, across the river from Eagle Pass, that is orchestrated by Davis.

Updates some Mid South booking and JYD history issues.

Discusses fall publication schedules.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by the Cannabis Culture Film Fest on Sept 5 & 6 at Foothills in Oneonta.

https://filmotsego.org

Episode 77: The Complicated Life & Legacy of Hulk Hogan

In Episode 77 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Complicated Life & Legacy of Hulk Hogan, Greg:

Announces a special trip.

Talks about the recent wave of deaths, obviously including WWF champion Hulk Hogan.

Thinks about Hogan's place in American wrestling in the 1980s, 1990s and as an all-time great.

Explains his family connection to Hogan's rise, and his feelings on the ups and downs of Hogan's two decades on top.

Talks about the con man behind the Hulk character and how the scandals he mishandled defined his post-ring legacy.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day."

Episode 76: The Television Title Tournament

In Episode 76 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Television Title Tournament, Greg:

Reviews television from the Mid South Wrestling Association from Feb. 1984.

Wonders why wrestling promoters could never get tournament brackets formatted correctly.

Talks about how weird it was for a Mid South fan to read about Hacksaw Duggan being a Kevin Sullivan-aligned heel in Florida.

Praises Mr. Ito, the debut of the Rock-n-Roll Express and the tag team of Butch Reed and Buddy Landel.

Prepares for the heel turn of Mr. Wrestling II.

Considers if Terry Taylor is the epitome of the wrestling truism about heels being nice guys in real life but babyfaces really being jerks.

Adds more context to the Amarillo decision to book its own world champion in the early 1960s.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day."

Episode 75: Time Tunnel Crossover

In Episode 75 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Time Tunnel Crossover, Greg:

Welcomes Tony Richards back to the show. Greg and Tony ...

Discuss the Amarillo territory, touching on the originals and top stars of the west Texas territory.

Look at Doc Sarpolis and his influences in wrestling,

Talk about Tony's Dory Funk Sr. project.

Draw a line from Funk to Ken Lucas to Ricky Morton and the Rock-n-Roll Express.

Revisit the 1973 accident that kept Dory Funk Jr. from dropping the NWA title to Jack Brisco.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day."

Episode 74: The Rich Full Life of a Bad Guy

In Episode 74 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Rich Full Life of a Bad Guy, Greg:

Unearths a 1966 Saturday Evening Post article about Cowboy Bill Watts and his heel turn in the WWWF.

Discusses his complicated feelings for Watts, the person, and love for Watts, the wrestling promoter.

Talks about the May 14, 1982 Houston Wrestling reboot.

Plays the what Corny got right, what Corny got wrong game with the May 14 show.

Gives a sneak peak into the creative stuff going on now.

Updates the Houston Wrestling annuals project.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day."

Episode 73: Classic Characters

In Episode 73 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Classic Characters, Greg:

Welcomes historian and author Steven Johnson to the show to discuss his new book, "The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Classic Characters."

Steve and Greg also ...

Talk about Paul Boesch, Gorilla Monsoon, Bob Orton Sr., Fritz Von Erich and many other stars.

Celebrate the place in the business of "enhancement" wrestlers.

Discuss the role of the historian in wrestling.

Explain the work Steven and Tim Hornbaker did and are doing to preserve the archives from the defunct Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/

Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his written work. His newest release, "Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein," is on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as are his previous books: The Junkyard Dog biography, "The King of New Orleans" and the historic fiction, sports novel, "The Paper Tigers, How Eight Guys from the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day."