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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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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
  • Captain Caveman (1977)
    Apr 19 2026

    Today on our retro TV review we take a look at the world's first superhero- Captain Caveman! Captain Caveman not only had his own stand alone series but also crossed over with the Flintstones and shared a show with them at one point. Based on two Hanna-Barbara characters previously discussed on our Wacky Races podcast, Captain Caveman also shared a lot of elements (as well as the basic plot of his shows) with Scooby-Doo. Today, let's look back at this Saturday morning cartoon classic.

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    27 mins
  • June 10, 1986 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Review
    Apr 14 2026

    This week, I continue to take a look back at 1986 from my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon. I take a deep dive into the June 10, 1986 issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter where he looks at major stories involving Billy Jack Haynes leaving the Pacific Northwest territory for the WWF, major problems in Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling, and the upcoming NWA Great American Bash Tour.

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    47 mins
  • The Last Match of William Muldoon - 1000 Hours
    Apr 12 2026

    We continue in the final decade of the pioneer era of pro wrestling and the biggest star of the pioneer era, William Muldoon, has his last pro wrestling match in New York. Another veteran pioneer wrestler, John McMahon, has his last match as well. Still earlier pioneers like Col. James H. McLaughlin and Homer Lane continue to wrestler periodically, but it is now the era of Evan 'Strangler' Lewis and Farmer Burns is on the rise as well. The 1890s were an incredible era in pro wrestling history that set the stage for what American pro wrestling would become in the 1900s.

    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 128.

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    48 mins
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