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When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)

By: When It Was Cool
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About this listen

 For all shows including our archived content 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. Enjoy these free shows for a deep dive into pro wrestling history and retro pop culture. 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. This feed now also features selected retro pop culture reviews from our Patreon website.WhenItWasCool.com Art Combat Sports & Self-Defense Wrestling
Episodes
  • Long Form History of Wrestling - February 1986 - Death of Gino Hernandez and More

    Long Form History of Wrestling - February 1986 - Death of Gino Hernandez and More
    Jan 6 2026

    Today I take a detailed look back at February 1986 from my upcoming book (March 2026) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a very historic month in pro wrestling history. The tragic death of World Class wrestler Gino Hernandez shocks the pro wrestling world. Plus, NWA Superstars on the Superstation, The Bullet battled Mr. Olympia over their masks, the Honky Tonk Man gimmick is born, a famous tag team wrestler is arrested for a fatal car accident, the first pro wrestling video game, and huge, tall tales spun by the Von Erich family.

    The extended Patreon edition of the show is here.
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    55 mins
  • Space Ghost (1966) Retro TV Review

    Space Ghost (1966) Retro TV Review
    Jan 5 2026

    Now, on Monday's we are putting up retro pop culture shows from When It Was Cool to supplement our many pro wrestling history shows! Today, we look back at one of my favorite Hanna-Barbara superhero characters- Space Ghost! Yes, Space Ghost had a renaissance in the early 2000s with his Cartoon Network talk show but before that he was a straight up space hero!
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    24 mins
  • Muldoon and Sorakichi Head to Court - 1000 Hours

    Muldoon and Sorakichi Head to Court - 1000 Hours
    Jan 4 2026

    Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, two of the biggest stars of the era head to court for very different reasons. First, William Muldoon is arrested and hauled to court for slapping a security guard upside the head and calling him a dirty loafer for daring to tell Muldoon to move along. While the Muldoon trial was largely humorous, we see the dark side of Japanese wrestler Matsada Sorakichi who, freshly married, has already began abusing his wife. Amongst all the legal happenings there is actual pro wrestling going on as Col. James H. McLaughlin continues his return and faces a very violent man. The content for this episode is taken from my latest book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available on Amazon.

    YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get another hour of 1000 hours we need a new Patreon supporter at any level or a cash donation via the front page of WhenItWasCool.com to either PayPal or CashApp (Please put "1000" in the note). As soon as it is received, I will produce a new hour. Presently, we are funded up to hour 116.
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    58 mins
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