The Retro Wrestling Archive Podcast Network

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.” ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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- ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

***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! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

***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! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★