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On today's podcast, we go through the pages of the February 24, 1986, Wrestling Observer Newsletter which gives an update on the death of Gino Hernandez and the first revelation that it involved drugs. There are a lot of notes about the upcoming WWF WrestleMania 2 including William 'The Refrigerator' Perry backing out? Dave does not seem to like Mr. T one single bit. That and tons more as we build toward the March 2026 release of my new book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus, a 600 plus page monster book with the most important thing that happened in pro wrestling every day of those two years.

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast covering the pioneer era of pro wrestling we enter a new era. Evan Lewis is now The Strangler. Crowds find him barbaric and national opinion has swung from pro wrestling being a con game to it being a brutal sport. Concurrent with the rise of Strangler Lewis is the fall of William Muldoon. Near the same time, Muldoon, nursing a nagging hand and arm injury announces his first of many retirements and the original 1870 Detroit International champion Col. James H. McLaughlin again leaves the sport to return to the railroad. Things are changing. 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 120.

I continue the countdown to my latest book DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus (releasing in March 2026) and today I take a look back at the February 17, 1986, issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where the first coverage of the death of Gino Hernandez was reported. Initial reports were very different than what ended up reveled through the investigation, and we examine it as it happened. Plus, tons of January-February 1986 news and notes as well.

You wanted more retro TV and movie reviews, and we are going to give them to you! One of my all-time favorite shows. In 1973 the Six Million Dollar Man debuted and, like many of the TV shows from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s you know most of what you need to know from the show intro- Steve Austin, a man barely alive. We can rebuild him. Better than before. Better, faster, stronger. Based on the Cyborg novels, astronaut Steve Austin becomes a super powered government agent who ends up fighting space probes, androids, and Bigfoot. Enjoy!

Today's show is packed with very important events in the history of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. The first event we will talk about may have even changed the course of history. When Clarence 'The Kansas Demon' Whistler died while on tour of Australia he was considered by many newspapers to be the real and true World champion of pro wrestling. His death is full myth and misinformation, and we will cut through the fog of time to get to the truth. Also on this show, Evan Lewis earns his nickname as The Strangler and in the same instance become the first real heel that wrestling had ever seen. The extended Patreon edition is here. 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 119. This is hour 89.

1986 is one of my favorite years in pro wrestling and that is why I am really excited about my latest booking coming out this March covering 1986 and 1987 in pro wrestling history. WWF launches two great TV shows: Superstars and Challenge. Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA are red hot with Dusty Rhodes chasing NWA World champion Ric Flair and the rise (and tragic fall) of Magnum TA. The AWA is still hanging in there with new World Champion Stan Hansen. On this episode I take a look at the first newsletter of the year, the January 13, 1986, issue of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Today I take a detailed look back at February 1986 from my upcoming book (March 2026) DragonKingKarl's 1986-1987 Pro Wrestling Omnibus with a very historic month in pro wrestling history. The tragic death of World Class wrestler Gino Hernandez shocks the pro wrestling world. Plus, NWA Superstars on the Superstation, The Bullet battled Mr. Olympia over their masks, the Honky Tonk Man gimmick is born, a famous tag team wrestler is arrested for a fatal car accident, the first pro wrestling video game, and huge, tall tales spun by the Von Erich family. The extended Patreon edition of the show is here.

Today on my 1000 Hours podcast series which focuses on the pioneer era of pro wrestling, two of the biggest stars of the era head to court for very different reasons. First, William Muldoon is arrested and hauled to court for slapping a security guard upside the head and calling him a dirty loafer for daring to tell Muldoon to move along. While the Muldoon trial was largely humorous, we see the dark side of Japanese wrestler Matsada Sorakichi who, freshly married, has already began abusing his wife. Amongst all the legal happenings there is actual pro wrestling going on as Col. James H. McLaughlin continues his return and faces a very violent man. The content for this episode is taken from my latest book: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available on Amazon. 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 116.

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show 1000 Hours podcast series we finally get not one but TWO matches between the two biggest stars of the pioneer era of pro wrestling. William Muldoon had not previously wrestled Col. James H. McLaughlin mainly because Muldoon was not a fan of collar and elbow wrestling nor did McLaughlin consider Greco Roman his style. But Muldoon has now been largely disgraced on the west coast and crowds aren't what they used to be so the two finally had two matches... which were flops. 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 111.

The year is 1884 and the first national pro wrestling star, Col. James H. McLaughlin has been semi-retired for quite a while working as a train engineer. He had been the American heavyweight champion and won pro wrestling's first major tournament in Detroit, MI in 1870 setting the course for pro wrestling going forward. Now, he suddenly returns and wins the World Mixed-Styles championship! His return to glory wouldn't last for long, however. Plus, the sponsor of this episode, Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast, has a question: What is the strangest or most inexplicable thing to happen during the pioneer era of wrestling? Well, the answer is strange indeed. Please check out my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available at Amazon. This is the extended Patreon version of the show. 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 107.

The 1000 Hours podcast series looks back at the pioneer era of pro wrestling, the era before Frank Gotch. On this episode, pro wrestling historian Karl Stern takes a look into the 1880s as William Muldoon wraps up his tenure in California with a debacle of a worked match against Clarence Whistler that turned into a double cross. Whistler was supposed to go to a draw against Muldoon but decided to take it the distance. Muldoon then gives up on the west coast and heads back to New York but first stops in the wild west town of Tombstone, AZ. This match marked a real shift in the pioneer era of wrestling, and the history of pro wrestling would forever change. 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 104.

My 1000 Hours podcast series is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus and covers the pre-1900 era of pro wrestling. In this episode, William Muldoon, Clarence Whistler, and Donald Dinnie are in a feud. Worked or shoot? There is evidence of both. Clarence Whistler gets injured yet again. Donald Dinnie goes to jail for putting on a worked pro wrestling match. Meanwhile, an old name from the past creeps back into the story... Col. James H. McLaughlin is plotting his return. 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 104.

1000 Hours is my series on the pioneer era of pro wrestling history and is taken from my latest book DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus available from Amazon. On this episode, hour 79, we take a look back at the very successful exhibition tour put on by World Greco-Roman champion William Muldoon along with his troupe of wrestlers including Clarence Whistler. Clarence, however, kept beating up poor Andre Christol and finally William Muldoon had to step in which led to a public brawl between the two. 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 100

On this edition of the 1000 Hours Podcast, the podcast all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling, author and historian Karl Stern takes a look back at 1881 in pro wrestling history including the evolution of William Muldoon from New York City Police officer to touring pro wrestling champion. Also, a physical description is given for an early championship belt, plus the death of former American champion James Owens at the age of 30. 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 100.

The 1000 Hours podcast this week answers a sponsor's question: Why should we study the pioneer era of pro wrestling? What relevance does it have to the modern era? Well, I am glad you asked. The mythology of the pioneer era and men like William Muldoon, Evan Strangler Lewis, Farmer Burns and others is often misunderstood as the origin of mixed martial arts, Catch wrestling, and belongs to that world. While there are elements which do belong in that world, make no mistake, ninety percent of what happened back then influenced and began what we now recognize as worked American entertainment style pro wrestling. Please also check out my book on the pioneer era of wrestling: DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus. The expanded Patreon edition is available here. 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 98