Saturday Night’s alright for fighting as this week features a look at Saturday Night’s Main Event from January 4, 1986 in part 2 of the Fortnight of (Terry) Funk - Terry Funk’s history with Hulk Hogan which dates to the early 1980s and all the way to Sun City in Africa - Jesse Ventura calls out Brent Musberger and Vin Scully as he works a match and does commentary on the same show - Calling out Mr. Fuji for blatantly misrepresenting the Japanese people - George “The Animal” Steele and why he was...
Aug 31, 2017•1 hr 48 min
Clear off all the tables and keep your head on a swivel because Greetings From Allentown kicks off a Fortnight of (Terry) Funk with a look at NWA Pro from May 20, 1989! - Excerpts from Terry Funk’s book giving insight to how he saw his role for this run in the NWA/WCW and why the tone of his feud with Ric Flair was changed midstream - The legendary Lance Russell is full of wisdom and also disgust for the heels - Terry Funk interrupts the Rookie Challenge match as only he can - Breaking down the ...
Aug 24, 2017•1 hr 56 min
The forecast for this week’s Greetings From Allentown calls for Sunny skies with a look at WWF Mania, rebranded temporarily as The Sunny Show, from March 9, 1996. - A fair-minded look at the career of Tammy Lynn Sytch and her key role in launching the WWF’s online presence - Shawn Michaels’ run to WrestleMania 12, his connection with Sunny, and the peculiar thing he was into back then - An appreciation of old commercials for bizarre merchandise - Ranking the Bret Hart WWF World title reigns from...
Aug 16, 2017•1 hr 36 min
This week on Greetings From Allentown, take cover because the Megapowers are going to explode on The Main Event II from February 3, 1989! - How the WWF masterfully built to the split between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage and their use of the Rashomon effect in the leadup to the WrestleMania V match - A rundown of the events leading up to the breakup, laying blame at the feet of all of them - The passion of Vince McMahon reading the intro to the show - A look at what was going on at the ABC televis...
Aug 11, 2017•1 hr 37 min
This week Greetings From Allentown takes its first peek at Jim Crockett Promotions with a look at NWA Worldwide from September 24, 1988! - An overview of the dying days of JCP, struggling to hang on long enough to be sold to Turner - The huge issue that the financial problems caused with long term booking - Dusty Rhodes in late 1988: contender for the most annoying babyface ever - Who is John Ayers and why is he here, and what happened that might explain a big 1989 storyline in kayfabe - Complai...
Aug 03, 2017•1 hr 39 min
We head out to the Bay area for some WWF Superstars of Wrestling action from June 18, 1988! - A look at the Hogan-less WWF of mid-1988, which also lacked Gene Okerlund leading to some forgotten broadcast teams - Harley Race is just severely injured and not dead despite all appearances to the contrary - The best in-ring work Superstar Billy Graham did in his WWF run: selling a figure four leglock - The debut of the Big Bossman and how he is like David Ortiz - Underage Louie Spicolli as spectacula...
Jul 27, 2017•1 hr 48 min
Put on your Mickey Mouse ears and Disney ponchos for a trip to the Disney-MGM Studios for some WCW Worldwide action from May 14, 1994! - A recap of all the fun that was pre-Hogan WCW with babyface Ric Flair leading the way - Lord Steven Regal: Nobody better at simply walking to the ring - How the Marquess of Queensbury Cup series helped both Flair and Regal - Proto-HHH Terra Ryzing and the eerie commentary discussing his future - Trying to imagine Rick Rude as a babyface and his best option for ...
Jul 20, 2017•1 hr 21 min
It’s back to Allentown for a look at the birth of the Rock and Wrestling Connection on WWF Championship Wrestling from June 16, 1984 - The motivations for everyone involved in Cyndi Lauper’s WWF appearances: Cyndi, Dave Wolff, and the WWF. - The seven week build to Lauper’s appearance and how Piper acted differently with her than in other Pit segments of 1984 - The wheelings and dealings of the WWF in mid-1984 invading various territories - Dr. D the bounty hunter and what his 1985 might have lo...
Jul 13, 2017•1 hr 36 min
This week we journey back to May 31, 1986 for some UWF action, Bill Watts style. Included: - Eddie Gilbert lays a perfect trap for fervent anti-Communist Bill Watts by flattering the Cowboy - What quality commentary can add in wrestling for both good matches and bad ones - Thoughts and theories on why the UWF died - Korchenko: Fake Russian turned reality TV star - An unexpected detour to WWC in Puerto Rico to discuss the TNT vs Original TNT feud - Michael Hayes’ failure in his outreach to Dark J...
Jul 06, 2017•1 hr 32 min
Break out your American flag shirts because patriotism fills the air on this episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge from July 11, 1993! Included: - The USS Intrepid Yokozuna Bodyslam Challenge: Bios of the random athletes involved, such as Peter Taglianetti and Scott Burrell, and what the crowd chanted as Luger’s helicopter came in - Lex Luger as Vince McMahon’s “rebound girlfriend” after the breakup with Hulk Hogan - Scott Levy’s one of a kind career arc - Jim Ross’ difficulty in working with funny...
Jun 29, 2017•1 hr 49 min
In this special episode of Greetings From Allentown, the first 1987 WWF appearances by Ted DiBiase are examined. Included: - A brief history of DiBiase and his career across various territories from the mid-70s up to his return to the WWF in May 1987 - The impact of Houston Wrestling and Paul Boesch spurning the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions in favor of working with the WWF and a big reason why that was done - A look at the Houston-only storyline that turned babyface Ted DiBiase into a heel li...
Jun 28, 2017•30 min
It's back to the Golden Age for some WWF Superstars action from November 16, 1991! - The sheer awesomeness of Ric Flair cutting a promo in Hulk Hogan's face at their first meeting on WWF TV - Legal codes to live by if you are an actual Repo Man - The Life and Times of Reno Riggins - Greg Valentine as a babyface: is another Hammer to blame? - The many changes to the 1991 Survivor Series card - The Big Bossman ups his jacket game - The problem that the Natural Disasters faced as "monster heels" - ...
Jun 23, 2017•1 hr 34 min
Take a trip down to Georgia (or wherever they taped this) for some December 1990 WCW action! - Defending Sid Vicious and his love for the great game of softball - Growing weary from Missy Hyatt on commentary and her attempts at humor - Gordon Solie is very disappointed in the Nature Boy's actions at Starrcade - 1990 WCW as the land of missed and wasted opportunities, such as with Brian Pillman - Mr. Hughes: a great trainer against all expectations - What exactly is the selling point on Tom Zenk ...
Jun 16, 2017•1 hr 33 min
Get the flux capacitor ready because this week we take a trip back to November 1985 for some WWF action! Including: - The lovely Elizabeth with a complete departure from everything her WWF character would become - Attempting an "Andre to English" translation of Andre the Giant on commentary - Hulk Hogan faces Rusty Brooks and an unwelcome visitor - Paul Orndorff as a commodity in today's wrestling landscape - The British Bulldogs and their well-traveled 1985 - One thing that shows that Bret Hart...
Jun 09, 2017•1 hr 43 min
Get out your nWo Wolfpac shirt for a look at WCW Worldwide from June 6, 1998. Included: - The crazy level of my commitment to watching WCW in early 1998 - The exact point where WCW turned sour for me, which is likely different from common opinion - A plea to anyone who still defends Chris Benoit, 10 years later - Fit Finlay and his confusing ring gear - It's The End Of Lex Luger As We Know It! - One thing I really liked about Larry Zbyszko as an announcer - Digging the work of Disorderly Conduct...
Jun 02, 2017•1 hr 35 min
There are No Holds Barred this week with a look at WWF Superstars from June 3, 1989! Included: - The experience of seeing No Holds Barred in the theater, the shills on this show, and Hulk Hogan's delusions of grandeur - "King" Hacksaw Jim Duggan: Why he is definitely NOT the ugliest king of all time - Bobby Heenan's 1989 and the incredible thing he got away with on the USA Network that year and how he is the Branch Rickey of wrestling managers - The problem that happens when tag wrestlers go sin...
May 26, 2017•1 hr 51 min
This week is a trip back to February 2, 1980 for WWF Championship Wrestling. Including: - A complete and thorough look at the build to Bruno Sammartino vs Larry Zbyszko with extensive audio clips of the interviews that set up the match - Bruno Sammartino: master of the low key promo and talking people into the arenas with the emotional connection he had with fans - The brilliance of how the Bruno/Larry match progressed with Larry slowly boiling over in anger - Ken Patera's amazing 1980 and his v...
May 19, 2017•1 hr 54 min
Take a trip back to 1997 for the wild and crazy days of WWF Shotgun Saturday Night, from March 15, 1997. - Background of the Shotgun show and stretching the credibility of calling something "New York" as in the city - My love for Brian Pillman's entire career and regrets about what could have been - A description of trying to follow wrestling in 1997 without cable TV and Shotgun's role in that - The importance of Chyna in boosting the Hunter Hearst Helmsley act - Furnas and Lafon: Why couldn't t...
May 12, 2017•1 hr 34 min
Take a trip back to the mini-Attitude Era with a look at WWF Superstars from April 13, 1991. - The trouble with Kerry Von Erich beyond his horrible theme music - Jake the Snake Roberts as babyface bully - Explaining (and defending!) the Berzerker gimmick with a look at the etymology and Icelandic literature(?!?) - The great Sean Mooney hosts an Event Center….with no specific event to plug - The trials and tribulations of Barry O - Bret Hart’s singles push begins, for real this time I swear! - Th...
May 05, 2017•1 hr 43 min
Take a trip down to the Irish McNeil Boys Club in Louisiana for some classic Mid-South Wrestling action from March 30, 1984. - Jim Cornette has been embarassed, and Bill Watts thinks it is funny so now they are at war - Bill Watts' political views and how you have to suppress them when watching this stuff - The debut of Jim Ross as the lead host and also his rendition as JR goes looking for Stagger Lee on Watts' behalf - The Rock and Roll Express set a new standard for "making the babyface save"...
Apr 28, 2017•1 hr 14 min
Take a trip to the (WWF) Action Zone for a look at 1994 WWF in the aftermath of the Survivor Series - The history of the forerunner to Action Zone "All American Wrestling" and the incredibly devious thing Vince McMahon did in the fall of 1983 on that show. - Surviving Todd Pettengill on commentary - Enjoying how Vince not getting any pop culture references Todd makes. - Just how awesome was Owen Hart in 1994? - Why is there a guest ring announcer on this show, who is she, why are they trying to ...
Apr 22, 2017•1 hr 35 min
The show (and host) take a trip to the True North Strong and Free this week with a look at WWF Maple Leaf Wrestling from October 13, 1984. Included: - The importance of Canada in the wrestling world - WWF coming into Toronto and partnering with the Tunneys - Canadian content regulations - The sheer delight of the Jack Reynolds/Angelo Mosca commentary team with many, many clips - Andre the Giant being difficult - Dynamite Kid as revolutionary figure - Davey “Danny” Boy Smith rips and he rhymes! -...
Apr 14, 2017•1 hr 33 min
A look at the aftermath of WrestleMania IV, with a peek at the April 2, 1988 episode of WWF Superstars of Wrestling. - A recap of the Macho Man winning the title and how he's the king of working four matches in a night - How the host managed to convince his parents to order the PPVs directly rather than waiting for a videotape - The all-around weirdness of Rick Rude and the true reason why he never had any sort of feud with Hulk Hogan - A defense of Bam Bam Bigelow's first WWF run and not just b...
Apr 06, 2017•1 hr 18 min
This week it's back to Allentown for a look at WWF from September 25, 1982. Included: - Information on the sale/transfer of the WWF from Vince Sr. to Vince Jr., which was ongoing at the time of this show - Just how awkward Buddy Rogers is in this era - Bob Backlund trying and failing to properly express anguish at his belt being destroyed and coming off like proto-Nancy Kerrigan - Gorilla Monsoon literally buries Superstar Billy Graham in a newspaper column and his reason for not retracting the ...
Mar 30, 2017•1 hr 28 min
This week's show examines the NWA Power Hour from August 18, 1989. Included: Sting vs. Ron Simmons, the Wrestling News Network with Gordon Solie, Ric Flair vs. The Cuban Assassin, Funk's Grill with Teddy Long and Norman the Lunatic, and Lex Luger vs. Tommy Rich. The usual background talk with many tangents such as the Goodwill Games, the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, people who have gone an hour with Ric Flair, and the host has a crisis of confidence in his impersonations.
Mar 22, 2017•1 hr 10 min
A week before the 1992 Royal Rumble, a look at WWF Wrestling Challenge from January 12, 1992. - The Rockers settle their differences in The Barber Shop and Heenan cracks wise - The Undertaker and his amazing first year - Freshening up The Berzerker by using Monty Python humor - The beauty of IRS, Warlord, and Repo Man cutting promos saying that they will win the WWF Title in the Royal Rumble - Jake Roberts and his 1992 disappearing act from the WWF
Mar 14, 2017•1 hr 10 min
A look at the 02-07-1987 episode of the WWF Superstars of Wrestling featuring: - Macho Man Randy Savage: Most interesting man in the world for 1987 - An overview of the British Bulldogs and the Hart Foundation and why Danny Davis failed as a wrestler - The underwhelming debut of Outback Jack - The brilliance of Piper's Pit with Hogan and Andre with all the buildup - My hatred of Brian Blair - Butch Reed dumps a guy on his face
Mar 08, 2017•1 hr 15 min
A look at WCW in one of their (many) darkest days: August 1991. Flair is gone, Scott Steiner is hurt but Bill Kazmeier is here and Ron Simmons is on the way up. El Gigante is here in tag team action. And Firebreaker Chip, fresh from the WCW Special Forces, shows us all how to break up a double clothesline.
Feb 28, 2017•43 min
This episode takes a look at the January 14, 1984 episode of WWF Championship Wrestling. - Bob Backlund: relegated to the background - Sgt. Slaughter: Transitioning into his big 1984 - SD Jones: Forgets the finish of the match! - Jose Luis Rivera: If at first or second you don't succeed, try the same move three times in a row.
Feb 24, 2017•55 min
I am pleased to announce the first episode of a new podcast looking at old episodes of classic wrestling TV! The first show looks at the Sept. 27, 1986 episode of WWF Superstars of Wrestling. On this show: - A look at why Harley Race needed something to freshen him up for the WWF audience at that stage of his career. - The short-lived return of Superstar Billy Graham and Vince McMahon turning into Ed McMahon in excitement over it. - The great Piper's Pit vs The Flower Shop battle - A look at Kam...
Feb 16, 2017•52 min
