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 get a fortuitus opportunity dropped in their laps with a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live. Plus, news from Japan, the NWA, SECW, AWA, World Class, and...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 4 min
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 and the return of Jim Londos, and a mid-1990s look at the Tokyo Dome and the BVD Martial Arts tournament featuring Antonio Inoki and... Sting! Patreon...
Mar 25, 2025•46 min
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 as a hub for pro wrestling and promoter and former champion Harry Hill is putting together pro wrestling's first syndicate, trust, or promotion featu...
Mar 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min
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 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame? Plus, discussion of 1934 Madison Square Garden where Jim Londos finally gets the title back from 'Pig Farmer' Jim Brow...
Mar 11, 2025•46 min
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 wrestling and crowned Col. James H. McLaughlin as champion. But McLaughlin wasn't yet the official American champion, that was Homer Lane, but McLau...
Mar 09, 2025•56 min
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 Beefcake match that I simply must see! Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/wiwcool
Mar 04, 2025•58 min
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 deaths in pro wrestling that occurred from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. Be sure to support When It Was Cool on Patreon for instant access to ...
Feb 25, 2025•50 min
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 wrestling and has long been the source of myth and misinformation. By listening to today's podcast, you will gain a detailed perspective of the orig...
Feb 23, 2025•54 min
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 talk about the early history of the Midnight Express, Joe Stecher, and the highly controversial book by Downtown Bruno (Bruno Lauer). Come and join m...
Feb 18, 2025•57 min
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 feuding with Jimmy Garvin. Plus, The Road Warriors, Antonio Inoki, and much more! Join me for a detailed look back at January 1985!
Feb 11, 2025•58 min
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 for an early 1990s show putting both New Japan and WCW talent together on the same show.
Feb 04, 2025•51 min
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 wrestler, for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Jan 28, 2025•49 min
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 my favorite and most colorful of the pioneer era pro wrestlers: Uzile Prickett, who won the American championship then set off across the country wreak...
Jan 26, 2025•1 hr 5 min
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 in 1992. Lots of pro wrestling history in this episode!
Jan 14, 2025•50 min
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 tournament, the American championship was born around New York with names you might not yet know but are instrumental in the foundation of pro wrestling in t...
Jan 12, 2025•48 min
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 Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Jan 07, 2025•53 min
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 examine that question and assure you that it is not just the wrestling community having trouble co-existing with different ideas. Please check out my l...
Dec 31, 2024•53 min
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 comes onto the scene, and he will play a major role in the development of pro wrestling. The early players are coming onto the board, so let's discuss ...
Dec 29, 2024•55 min
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 the stage, here is my biography of one of SECW's biggest stars and my personal favorite, Mr. Olympia (Jerry Stubbs)
Dec 14, 2024•48 min
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 begin there with a mysterious character called King of the Wrestlers Charles who is traveling from town to town including New York, Baltimore, New Orle...
Dec 08, 2024•1 hr
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 pro wrestling in the deepest detail ever before attempted. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long as it is supported. In order to get anot...
Nov 24, 2024•1 hr 4 min
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 Cool | creating a Website and Podcast Network | Patreon
Nov 21, 2024•25 min
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 literally wrote the book on the pioneer era of pro wrestling which can be ordered on Amazon at https://amzn.to/40RakQR...
Nov 18, 2024•58 min
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 wrestler named Evan Lewis was earning his nickname of 'The Strangler' and poised to become a major star. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only run as long a...
Nov 10, 2024•47 min
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 down with me to discuss the pioneer era of pro wrestling, why it is so interesting, how it really influenced modern pro wrestling, plus much more. If y...
Oct 29, 2024•55 min
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 Londos. From Milo to Londos gave us a lot of information about the pioneer era, but it gave us some misinformation also. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will o...
Oct 27, 2024•51 min
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 with a new appreciation of the great line that pro wrestling draws between sports and entertainment. From Frankenstein to Vampires and beyond! Suppor...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 3 min
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 what we, as historians, had to learn from until recent times were published books like From Milo to Londos and Fall Guys. But these books were written 3...
Oct 13, 2024•50 min
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? Who is in danger of dropping off the list? Several new names are now on the ballot. So, let's discuss the 2024 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot....
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min
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 more at William Muldoon and his archrival Clarence Whistler. Why did their partnership fall apart and what did their last meeting look like. That and m...
Sep 29, 2024•57 min
