Best Ricflair Podcasts (2025)

1
The Birth of Sports Entertainment is 1870 - 1000 Hours 54:20

2h ago54:20

54:20

Thank you for joining me for my podcast series all about the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch. We are presently going through the pages of my book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling and have arrived in 1870 and the earliest version of 'sports entertainment' is dev…

1
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - April 1985 - Fallout from WrestleMania 1 48:36

4d ago48:36

48:36

I return to my long form history of pro wrestling series and look back at April 1985 from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus. The first WWF WrestleMania has ended. Hulk Hogan graces the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The AWA remains strong, but Jim Crockett Promotions has nothing to answer the onslaught of the WWF. Ther…

1
Hart Foundation Case for the WON HOF, MSG History, Big Tokyo Dome Section 52:34

11d ago52:34

52:34

On today's podcast, I continue my look at acts which have not yet been voted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame with a focus on the tag team of The Hart Foundation. While Bret Hart is already in, the Hart Foundation as a tag team is not! Then we travel in time back to the mid-1930s for a look at what was happening at Madison Square…

1
Return of the Mail Bag! 1:00:36

18d ago1:00:36

1:00:36

After many years, the mailbag question and answer show returns to the DragonKingKarl Show! We have a great set of questions and topics for this show including Ric Flair jumping from WCW to WWE, Bill Mercer and other territorial era announcers, Bob Backlund, Eric Bischoff and the fate of WCW, inducting matches into the Hall of Fame, and much more!…

1
Drunker Than a Musicians Dog - 1000 Hours 52:52

20d ago52:52

52:52

My 1000 Hours Podcast covers the pioneer era of pro wrestling and presently we are going through my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus. Col. James H. McLaughlin rules the American wrestling landscape. John McMahon and Homer Lane are trooping across the country and pro wrestling is gain popularity from coast to coast. The…

1
Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - March 1985 - WWF WrestleMania I 1:03:32

25d ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Today my show returns to one of the most epic months in pro wrestling history, March 1985. WWF WrestleMania took place at the end of the month, however, during first weeks of the month Dr. D David Shultz gets fired (for real this time) from WWF, Hulk Hogan drops talk show host Richard Beltzer on his head and injures him, and Hulk Hogan and Mr. T ge…

1
Iron Sheik in the WON HOF, Tokyo Dome, More! 45:43

1M ago45:43

45:43

On this episode, I take a look at the Hall of Fame case for former WWF Champion and one of the craziest characters in pro wrestling history - The Iron Sheik. I look at the qualifications for the Iron Sheik and the Observer Hall of Fame plus my personal story of booking the Iron Sheik once. Then I look back to the mid-1930s to Madison Square Garden …

1
Monster Classical and Geological Hippodrome - 1000 Hours 1:04:27

1M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

1000 Hours Podcast takes a look back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling. With information pulled from my latest book, DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling. On this episode, hour 68 of our series, we continue our look at the post 1870 Detroit International Tournament era. New York is growing …

1
Bob Armstrong in the WON HOF, Tokyo Dome, MSG, More! 46:15

2M ago46:15

46:15

On today's show, our Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame candidate discussion moves to 'Bullet' Bob Armstrong. Bob Armstrong (and family) was among my favorites growing up. Bob Armstrong was the hometown hero of my regional wrestling promotion Southeastern Championship Wrestling and later as The Bullet in Continental. Does he belong in the W…

1
Col. James H. McLaughlin the Undisputed Champion - 1000 Hours 56:20

2M ago56:20

56:20

Hour 67 of the 1000 Hours Podcast takes a look back at the very first 'undisputed' champion in pro wrestling. As I continue a study through my latest book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling, we have just studied the 1870 Detroit International tournament which set up the recognized rules of…

1
Steamboat and Youngblood, Tokyo Dome, More! 57:34

2M ago57:34

57:34

On this week's show, I discuss the life and mysterious death of Jay Youngblood and whether he and Ricky Steamboat as a tag team should be in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Also, the entire Mid-Atlantic area and the incredible tag team scene of that time. Then I take a look at a 1994 Tokyo Dome featuring Hulk Hogan and a Brutus Beef…

1
Midnight Express, Look at Young Deaths in Wrestling 50:26

2M ago50:26

50:26

This week, I will again be going through a booklet of old DragonKing Newsletters I recently found again. I continue with a look back at the early days of the Midnight Express and look back at the era when it was a trio of Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose, and Norvel Austin. There are also multiple articles we will look back at cover the epidemic of young…

1
The Most Monumental Moment of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours 54:25

2M ago54:25

54:25

1000 Hours podcast discusses the pioneer (pre-1900) era of professional wrestling which I wrote about in my latest book the DragonKingKarl Pioneer Era of Wrestling Omnibus. On today's podcast we cover the most monumental moment of the pioneer era of wrestling - the 1870 Detroit International Tournament. This tournament set many of the rules for pro…

1
Midnight Express History, Joe Stecher, More! 57:26

2M ago57:26

57:26

And now for something different... I have recently found a booklet in my possession I had forgotten about. After closing down the original DragonKing Press Newsletter, I briefly (for 10 issues) launched a volume two. I have now made the DragonKing Newsletter Vol. 2 available as a Kindle book and we will spend a few weeks going through it. Today, we…

1
1985 Begins! - Long Form History of Wrestling 57:43

2M ago57:43

57:43

I begin my methodical look back at pro wrestling in 1985 with January 1985 from my book DragonKingKarl's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book. Hulk Hogan is the WWF champion and had been for a year, he is also a huge star in Japan. Ric Flair is the NWA World champion and looking forward to a big year. Rick Martel is the AWA World champion and is fe…

1
Bull Curry in the WON HOF, MSG, Tokyo Dome, more! 50:45

3M ago50:45

50:45

On this week's classic wrestling show I look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame case for Wild Bull Curry, a name in pro wrestling before I was a fan, let's look back at his career. Also on this show, we return to Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY following the Jack Pfefer scandal, then we go to the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo Japan …

1
Ole Anderson and the WON HOF, more 49:05

3M ago49:05

49:05

On today's show the main topic of discussion is changes in pro wrestling and society over the past 30 years, how pro wrestling culture ebbed and flowed during that time, and just how great was early 1990s WCW? From a financial standpoint, terrible, but there was also a lot of fun to be found. Then I examine the case for Ole Anderson, as a singles w…

1
The Life and Crimes of Uzile Prickett - 1000 Hours 1:05:03

3M ago1:05:03

1:05:03

I continue to take listeners through my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling and we have reached the 1860s, the era right before the Detroit International Tournament, the event which would effectively kick off pro wrestling in America, sort of. Today, I get to revisit one of m…

1
The Von Erichs in the WON HOF, MSG Jack Pfefer Scandal, Tokyo Dome, More 50:27

3M ago50:27

50:27

Today I take a look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame case for the Von Erich brother trio of David, Kevin, and Kerry Von Erich. Amazingly, the only Von Erich in the Hall of Fame is Fritz, should this be the case? Also on this show, more from the Jack Pfefer scandal in New York wrestling, plus a really cool show from the Tokyo Dome i…

1
The Players Are on the Field - 1000 Hours 48:25

3M ago48:25

48:25

As I continue to work through my latest book, DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling on this podcast, we arrive to the era right before the Detroit International Tournament which would set the rules largely for the coming first era of pro wrestling in America. Just before the Detroit tournam…

1
Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson in the WON HOF, Tokyo Dome History, more! 52:44

4M ago52:44

52:44

On this week's show, I take a look back into the 1930s for more history from Madison Square Garden in New York as the fallout from Jack Pfefer's exposing pro wrestling continues, a rare hybrid-shoot style show takes place at the Tokyo Dome in 1992, and then we discuss the case of Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson with J.J. Dillon in the Wrestling Ob…

1
Crisis in Infinite Fandoms 53:21

4M ago53:21

53:21

I round out the year of 2024 by taking a look at the concerning fan bases of multiple pop culture fields including pro wrestling. Over the past few years, wrestling fan bases have seemingly been at war with each other. Fans of WWE hating fans of AEW and vice versa. Even the pro wrestling media has been feuding. Has it always been this way? I will e…

1
Wrestling Gets Organized - 1000 Hours 54:42

4M ago54:42

54:42

The 1000 Hours Podcast is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Karl Stern, author of the DragonKingKarl Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus is the host. We continue to work our way through the book and are now up to just prior to the 1870 Detroit International Tournament. Pro wrestling starts to get more organized during this era. Harry Hill c…

1
Saturday Retro Wrestling Podcast - Mr. Olympia Biography Special 48:22

4M ago48:22

48:22

Today, we take our time machine back 8 years for a show that might seem random but isn't. As I explain in the newly recorded intro, later this week we are introducing a new podcast on our network called Southeastern Championship Wrestling Action News by Aaron Gartlan who will be covering the existing Southeastern and Continental shows. So, to set t…

1
America's First Wrestling Star Revisited - 1000 Hours 1:00:14

5M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Today I continue with my 1000 Hours podcast series which covers pre-1900 pro wrestling. Now that my new book is out (available at Amazon here- https://amzn.to/3OLWrwf ) we are working our way through the it with additional commentary and thoughts. So, we return to before the American Civil War and find that American pro wrestling's roots actually b…

1
The Bible of the Pioneer Era - 1000 Hours 1:03:50

5M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

The pioneer era of pro wrestling is the era of the origin and development of pro wrestling in the United States which ends in 1900 or pre-Frank Gotch. On this, hour 61 of our series, we begin a walk-through of my new book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Wrestling Omnibus. We dive even deeper into the stories in the book discuss the pioneer era of …

1
Detective Comics Issue 43 - Batman in Order Podcast - 20th Appearance of Batman 24:41

5M ago24:41

24:41

The 20th appearance of Batman took place in issue 43 of Detective Comics which was released in 1940. In this issue, Batman and Robin take on a corrupt mayor and police force in a mid-America town. Join us on our Patreon page for the continuing Batman in Order podcast series following all the chronological appearances of Batman in order. When It Was…

1
Observer Hall of Fame 2024 Winners 57:54

5M ago57:54

57:54

On my flagship pro wrestling show this week we look at the new 2024 class of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Among the new members are Roman Reigns and the Young Bucks and we will discuss them, as well as the other inductees. Also, should any new pioneer era wrestlers be inducted next year? I have a couple of suggestions since I lit…

1
1886: A Year of Change - 1000 Hours 47:19

6M ago47:19

47:19

My pioneer era podcast returns this week with a look back at 1886. 1886 was a year of change in professional wrestling. Clarence Whistler had been one of the top stars of the last few years but died while on tour of Australia in late 1885. Col. James H. McLaughlin had returned to wrestling after multiple retirements and a young and dangerous wrestl…

1
Pioneer Era Omnibus Book Launch! 54:55

6M ago54:55

54:55

It is the official book launch of my new 700-page monster research project on the pioneer era of United States pro wrestling. The DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer era of Pro Wrestling is now available as a print book and on Kindle! I am joined by my wife Tonya from the When It Was Cool website who sits do…

1
More Milo to Londos - 1000 Hours 51:09

6M ago51:09

51:09

This is my 1000 Hours Podcast series which focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, or pre-1900 wrestling. My new book, DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Wrestling Omnibus is coming out this next week and, on this episode, hour 59 of 1000 Hours, I want to look at one of the oldest books to talk about the pioneer era. A book called From Milo to Londo…

1
Monsters of Wrestling - Happy Halloween! 1:03:25

6M ago1:03:25

1:03:25

It's time to celebrate Halloween and pro wrestling is a great place to do that. Pro wrestling has long had its share of monsters and supernatural creatures. This week, I want to pull one out of the archives where I just talk about the monsters and menaces of wrestling for a while. If you've heard this show before, I hope you will listen to it again…

1
From Milo to Londos Fact verses Fiction - 1000 Hours 49:36

7M ago49:36

49:36

The 1000 Hours Podcast from Karl 'DragonKingKarl' Stern is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The era before Frank Gotch. Frank Gotch did not just appear out of a void and create pro wrestling for the masses in the early 1900s. Frank Gotch built on over 50 years of a thriving and, at times, hugely popular pro wrestling business. Much of wh…

1
2024 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Ballot Show (Part 1) 1:06:17

7M ago1:06:17

1:06:17

It's that time of year again, Dave Meltzer has sent out the 2024 ballots for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. This is my most popular show of the year (two parts with part 2 airing next week) and we have a lot to discuss this year. Will the multitude of tag teams introduced over the last few years get in? What about the Young Bucks? …

1
The Real Terrible Turk and More William Muldoon - 1000 Hours 56:43

7M ago56:43

56:43

On hour 57 of 1000 Hours, the podcast series about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, historian and author Karl Stern has new information about the original Terrible Turk provided by an expert on the matter, Phil Lions. Phil has given us some great details not previously published about pro wrestling's first major special attraction. Then, we look m…

1
More Muldoon - 1000 Hours 52:16

7M ago52:16

52:16

I have a tremendous show for you today on our 1000 Hours series which is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900). For some time, we have been focusing on the era of Col. James H. McLaughlin, John McMahon and his family, and Andre Christol. Moving forward into the 1880s we get into the era of William Muldoon and his archrival (and some…

1
Don't Lose This Show! 4:48

8M ago4:48

4:48

Don't let this be the last episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audo Show you hear! While 1000 Hours (The Pioneer Era of Wrestling Podcast) will remain free (due to sponsorships) the Tuesday DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show is moving exclusively to our Patreon Page and to Wrestling Observer. Don't miss out on classic pro wrestling h…

1
GKT Finals, MSG History, Wrestle Speak 54:29

8M ago54:29

54:29

I have a great show for you today with a variety of pro wrestling history topics. The finals of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament (GKT) is here and you the listener have voted. Who wins between the finalists Antonio Inoki verses Mitsuharu Misawa? How did we end up with an all Japanese finals and more! Plus, more history from the 1930s at Madison Squa…

1
What Kind of Fan Are You? MSG History, More. 46:59

8M ago46:59

46:59

On my show this week we need to talk shop for a bit. The wrestling landscape is changing, actually, it has changed drastically over the last five years especially. The wrestling fan has also changed considerably. When I first started providing shows for Wrestling Observer and Figure Four over 15 years ago the classic wrestling podcast listener was …

1
The Truth of William Muldoon... Mostly. - 1000 Hours 58:53

8M ago58:53

58:53

As my research into the pioneer era of pro wrestling continues, I am now into the 1880s which is the era dominated by 'The Solid Man' William Muldoon. What is the reality of William Muldoon? Should he be held in higher esteem than the dominate wrestler of the 1870s, Col. James H. McLaughlin? What was Muldoon's deal? He started out as a policeman in…

1
Wrestling 1984 Magazine, MSG History, GKT Finals Set 54:56

8M ago54:56

54:56

This week on my podcast I mention the passing of one of my favorites, Sid Vicious, plus we look at more history from Madison Square Garden as Ed Strangler Lewis returns, the finals of the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament are set as Sting takes on Antonio Inoki, plus we dive into a 1984 pro wrestling magazine for a look at the Von Erichs, Ted DiBiase, an…

1
August 1984 - The Road Warriors and More 39:26

8M ago39:26

39:26

I am back with my continuing series The Long Form History of Pro Wrestling and on this episode, I cover August 1984. Hulk Hogan and the WWF continue to steam roll over everybody and essentially steal California from the AWA by buying their TV spot out from under them. But the other promotions aren't dead just yet. Georgia rises from the ashes to at…

1
Will the Real Christol Please Stand Up? 59:58

8M ago59:58

59:58

My 1000 Hours series is all about the pioneer era of wrestling which is pre-1900 or the era before Frank Gotch and on this episode, I have a wild, entertaining, and hilarious set of stories about Luicen Marc, the French Greco Roman champion. We have talked about him previously; a bear bit his finger off and he masqueraded around as fellow French ch…

1
MSG History, GKT Talk, Barry Windham's Mustache, More 1:04:37

9M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

I am back with a new DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling podcast today and I talk about the upcoming finals to the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament- The GKT including why it is so Japanese heavy, the quality difference between Japan and the U.S. in wrestling and is there really a coverage bias in the newsletters historically or is Japan just that good. Plu…

1
The McMahon and Owens Family, More Lucien Marc - 1000 Hours 53:28

9M ago53:28

53:28

I am back with what is essentially a part two of last week's 1000 Hour's podcast as I look more at the original first family of wrestling- John McMahon, James Owens, Peter Owens, and Ed Cox. Plus, the trilogy of Col. James H. McLaughlin verses John McMahon concludes. What was real and what wasn't between the two biggest stars of the 1870's? Lucian …

1
94 Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - July 1984 - Black Saturday and More 40:26

9M ago40:26

40:26

My long form history of pro wrestling series is a month-by-month break down of the history of pro wrestling. Currently, we are up to July 1984 (which I cover in my DragonKingKarl Stern's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book) and one of the major events in the rise of WWF/WWE takes place - Black Saturday, when Championship Wrestling from Georgia wen…

1
Why Does Lucien Marc Only Have Three Fingers? - 1000 Hours 59:52

9M ago59:52

59:52

I return with my podcast series on the pioneer era of pro wrestling (pre-1900) with a packed show today. Most of it is spent discussing the first, first family of wrestling. Wrestling families are part of its culture: The Von Erichs, The Armstrongs, The Welches, The Funks, The Briscos, The Windhams, etc. But the original first family of wrestling w…

1
Who Killed WCW? - A Wrestling With the Dawg Special with Intro by DragonKingKarl 2:07:41

9M ago2:07:41

2:07:41

On the 386th edition of Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast at FlairFlop.com, Eric Allen and Joe Drilling of OnTheStick.com joins the Dirty Dawg Darsie to review the four-part Vice series entitled "Who Killed WCW?" The three cats discussed why WCW was popular back in the day, the Jerry Springer show, Hulk Hogan and his creative control, bad management …

1
Misawa vs Funk, Six Pack Book, and More 49:06

10M ago49:06

49:06

I have a packed show for you today discussing the final shows of Southeastern wrestling before it became Continental with Bob Armstrong, Lord Humongous, Ron Fuller, Boomer Lynch, and more. Some more from 1932 Madison Square Garden, a review of the great new book Six Pack and my thoughts on Tito Santana, and the last member of the final four of the …

1
Germany, France, and Europe Influence Wrestling 57:39

10M ago57:39

57:39

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 wrestling. France, in particular, was hugely important in pro wrestling's popularity in the United States with Prof. Thiebaud Bauer bringing his French styl…

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