Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk

Episode 99: USA 217 

In Episode 99 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, USA 217, Greg:

Looks at Jan. 1993 television for Austin Idol's USA Wrestling program out of Dothan's TV 18 studios. 

Laughs about how everyone puts Idol over like he is Poochie from the Simpsons.

Questions if a TV studio show is the way to go in 1993. 

Praises Joey Maggs, the Bullet and Scott Armstrong. 

Throws some shade at Idol, Larry Santos, Simply Divine and the foreign menaces. 

Questions if USA would have been better off in 19...

Episode 98: The Texas Rasslin' Edition  

In Episode 98 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Texas Rasslin' Edition, Greg:

Opens a delayed discussion about his new book The Texas Rasslin' War(s) of the 1950s.

Makes a list of the 10 things he learned or are his takeaways from the year he spent researching and writing the book. 

Heralds the Jack Pfefer Collection at the Father Ted Hesburgh Library at University of Notre Dame and its unparalleled contribution to wrestling history. 

Talks about his new-found interest in Tommy "You...

Episode 97: The Jerry Grey tribute 

In Episode 97 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Jerry Grey Tribute, Greg:

Welcomes Bob Cook to the show. 

Bob and Greg discuss "Golden Boy" Jerry Grey as a friend, a mentor, a worker and a promoter. 

Bob talks about his Mighty Yankees tag team with Jerry and their matches against Bad Company and Graham & Keirn. 

Greg notes Jerry's path through the territories and his evolution as a promoter. 

Bob laughs about the Memphis rib Jerry played on him. 

G...

Episode 96: The Fourth Anniversary Show 

In Episode 96 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Fourth Anniversary Show, Greg:

Celebrates four years of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk.

Thinks about how his life has changes and how the show has changed his life. 

Goes back to basics with some Paul Boesch and Houston Wrestling talk. 

Nails down (finally!) the date Gulf Athletic Club becomes Best of Texas Wrestling Inc. and when Bill Watts buys into the program. 

Debuts some new collection gems, including the book...

Episode 95: June Gloom

In Episode 95 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, June Gloom, Mississippi, Greg:

Looks at the television for June 1984 in the Mid South Wrestling Association. 

Counts the weeks until JYD leaves. 

Says goodbye to Ito, Poffo and Mr. Wrestling. 

Wonders why they keep putting Sonny King in the ring with awful workers. 

Questions the debuts of Jay Youngblood and the Fantastics. 

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2024/10/11/guest-column-elect-morris-sigel-to-the-observer-hall-of-fame/ 

Greg Klein...

Episode 94: One Night Only in Lucedale, Mississippi

In Episode 94 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, One Night Only in Lucedale, Mississippi, Greg:

Celebrates the anniversary of his first match, April 16, 1993, in Lucedale, MS. 

Talks about breaking into the wrestling business in 1993.

Remembers the scoundrels who broke him in. 

Goes through six Super Pro Wrestling posters from spring 1993 for shows in five cities in AL and MS. 

Lists some of the early episodes to look for if you want to hear more about his wrestling car...

Episode 93: The Dennis Condrey Tribute 

In Episode 93 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Dennis Condrey Tribute, Greg:

Welcomes Tony Richards back to the show. 

Greg and Tony:

Pay tribute to Dennis Condrey, north Alabama legend and worker extraordinaire. 

Tony discusses Condrey's early days in wrestling and his roots in the Tennessee territories. 

Both men explain why Condrey and Eaton is the best version of the Midnight Express. 

Look at other tag teams Condrey was in, especially with Phil Hickerson and David Schul...

Episode 92: the Gorilla Position

In Episode 92 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Gorilla Position, Greg:

Welcomes Brian Solomon back to the show. 

Greg and Brian:

Discuss Brian's wresting fandom, his WWE career and his preference for early 1990s wrestling to the late 90s stuff. 

Talk all things Gorilla Monsoon, including his somewhat forgotten 1960s in-ring career, his importance to Black Saturday and his relationship with Vinnie McMahon. 

Look at his relationship with Bobby "the Brain" Heenan. 

Wonder about a WWF with Gori...

Episode 91: Every Dog Needs a Bone to Chew On

In Episode 91 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Every Dog Needs a Bone to Chew On, Greg:

Reviews the television for the Mid South Wrestling Association from May 1984. 

Notices the sweeps month programming. 

Tries to balance his dislike of Joel Watts as an announcer with his admiration for what Joel does well and his accomplishments at age 20. 

Laughs about how much Boyd Pierce puts Joel over. 

Continues to be stunned by the crowds of girls now...

Episode 90: A Decided Highlander

In Episode 90 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, A Decided Highlander, Greg:

Welcomes author Ian Douglass to the show for the first time. 

Greg and Ian discuss his newest book, about Scottish influence in professional wrestling. 

Delve into his stories about writing autobiographies for Steve Keirn, Mike Rotundo, Bugsy McGraw and more. 

Discuss the history of Black wrestling and how to record subject matter that uses terms that are offensive or no longer used today. 

Greg retells his Bugsy McGraw stor...

Episode 89: Two Refs Enter, One Ref Leaves

In Episode 89 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Two Refs Enter, One Ref Leaves, Greg:

Looks at an angle in Dallas in 1954 as referees Otto Kuss and Jim Blood take issue with one another. 

Talks about the dating of team matches in wrestling. 

Reviews the lack of success of the first team match in Houston. 

Looks forward to the Mid South Wrestling Association reviews in 1985 and talks about the spring and summer of tag team main events in Houston.

Episode 88: Two IIs on One

In Episode 88 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Two IIs on One, Greg:

Reviews the Mid South Wrestling Association's TV shows for April 1984. 

Notices how hard the promotion is working to keep the crowds up following the Last Stampede. 

Declares the Magnum T.A. project complete and T.A. a full-fledged headliner.

Enjoys the babyface AF performance by Terry Taylor. 

Wonders why Butch Reed and Buddy Landel would rather embarrass Stagger Lee instead of unmask him. 

Laughs at t...

Episode 87: The Two Ring Battle Royal

In Episode 87 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Two Ring Battle Royal, Greg:

Welcomes a panel to the show to discuss to top 10 wrestling cities in North America in the 20th century. 

Joining Greg on the show are: 

Steven Gennarelli, a WWWF fan and expert, who is a popular co-host on John McAdam's Stick to Wrestling Podcast. 

Tony Richards, business coach and wrestling historian, who chairs the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel on YouTube and sends out a daily Pro Wre...

Episode 86: The Christmas Wrestling Stocking

In Episode 86 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Christmas Wrestling Stocking, Greg:

Opens up this year's Christmas presents.

Celebrates the draft of The Texas Rasslin' War(s) of the 1950s. 

Looks at the newest, oldest Houston Wrestling program he owns. 

Finds a Texas Rasslin' program from the middle of the war. 

Discusses the rise of the women mid-war and how Moolah and Mae were on opposite sides. 

Reads the Christmas gifts from Paul Boesch and the gang...

Episode 85: The HOF Reaction episode  

In Episode 85 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The HOF Reaction, Greg:

Reacts to another year of disappointing results from the voters in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame elections.

Mentions one inductee he thinks is not like the others. 

Wonders if we are all being trolled by induction by fiat choices.

Laments four lost votes leading to JYD being four votes short. 

Resolves to fight another day. 

Talks about San Antonio as a wrestling city, incl...

Episode 84: Everybody Loves Paul Boesch?  

In Episode 84 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Everybody Loves Paul Boesch?, Greg:

Takes on the wrestling truism that everyone loves Houston Wrestling promoter Paul Boesch. 

Goes through the list of people we know said negative things about Paul. 

Talks about the Jack Pfefer collection and the many letters Paul sent in his early years. 

Finds a 1964 letter from Pfefer where he decides Paul is a punk. 

Traces the fallout, as other people in the office react to Pfefer's offen...

Episode 83: The Museum of Television Episodes  

In Episode 83 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Museum of Television Episodes, Greg:

Reviews possibly the best month of Mid South Wrestling Association television in its entire history, March 1984, including the countdown  and go home for the Last Stampede. 

Looks at all the action, interviews and angles that set up the biggest box office month and second biggest Superdome show in MSWA history. 

Marvels at how annoying Jim Cornette has become and just how satisfying it is — even for a fan of the...

Episode 82: Two Cool Cats, Part Two, Morris 

In Episode 82 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Two Cool Cats, Part Two, Morris, Greg: 

Starts the 2025 campaign for Morris Sigel and the Junkyard Dog Sylvester Ritter to go into the Pro Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. 

Talks about the start of the Texas wrestling circuit and how Morris Sigel becomes involved in Houston Wrestling. 

Compares Sigel's run in Houston to his protege Paul Boesch. 

Talks about the innovations Sigel and his matchmakers brought to the state.

Lis...

Episode 81: Two Cool Cats, Part One, Sylvester 

In Episode 81 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Two Cool Cats, Part One, Sylvester, Greg: 

Starts the 2025 campaign for Morris Sigel and the Junkyard Dog Sylvester Ritter to go into the Pro Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. 

Talks about the historic nature of JYD's push in Mid South, his importance in Houston and New Orleans, the downtown neighborhood of Treme and for the WWF expansion plans. 

Looks at JYD's year one in detail again and traces how quickly Ritter goes from...

Episode 80: The Breaking Kayfabe Takeover 

In Episode 80 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Breaking Kayfabe Takeover, Greg: 

Welcomes Barry Rose to the show for the first time! 

Barry gives an update about Breaking Kayfabe with Bowdren & Barry. 

Greg and Barry break kayfabe on food, movies, wrestling, relationships and life itself.

They discuss the Match of the Week: Feb. 25, 1983 from the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas as Chavo Guerrero challenges AWA world champion Nick Bockwinkel in a non-title match. 

They marvel at the wonde...

Episode 79: The Hesburgh Visit

In Episode 79 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Hesburgh Visit, Greg: 

Announces his next wrestling book. 

Talks about his visit to Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library to look at the Jack Pfefer Collection. 

Explains the process of doing research at the world class sports research library. 

Details what he was looking for and what he found and did not find. 

Pulls out a few of the artifacts from the visit. 

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam W...

Episode 78: Escape from Piedras Negras

In Episode 78 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Escape from Piedras Negras, Greg: 

Talks Hesburgh prep. 

Sets the stage for Sterling "Dizzy" Davis as a worker and as a carny and places him in the Texas Wrestling War(s) lineup. 

Reads an article from the Texas Historical Society about the 1976 jailbreak from Piedras Negras prison, across the river from Eagle Pass, that is orchestrated by Davis.

Updates some Mid South booking and JYD history issues.  

Discusses fall publication schedules. 

...

Episode 77: The Complicated Life & Legacy of Hulk Hogan

In Episode 77 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Complicated Life & Legacy of Hulk Hogan, Greg: 

Announces a special trip. 

Talks about the recent wave of deaths, obviously including WWF champion Hulk Hogan. 

Thinks about Hogan's place in American wrestling in the 1980s, 1990s and as an all-time great.

Explains his family connection to Hogan's rise, and his feelings on the ups and downs of Hogan's two decades on top. 

Talks about the con man behind the...

Episode 76: The Television Title Tournament  

In Episode 76 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Television Title Tournament, Greg:

Reviews television from the Mid South Wrestling Association from Feb. 1984. 

Wonders why wrestling promoters could never get tournament brackets formatted correctly. 

Talks about how weird it was for a Mid South fan to read about Hacksaw Duggan being a Kevin Sullivan-aligned heel in Florida. 

Praises Mr. Ito, the debut of the Rock-n-Roll Express and the tag team of Butch Reed and Buddy Landel.

Prepares for the heel...

Episode 75: Time Tunnel Crossover 

In Episode 75 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Time Tunnel Crossover, Greg:

Welcomes Tony Richards back to the show. Greg and Tony ...

Discuss the Amarillo territory, touching on the originals and top stars of the west Texas territory. 

Look at Doc Sarpolis and his influences in wrestling, 

Talk about Tony's Dory Funk Sr. project. 

Draw a line from Funk to Ken Lucas to Ricky Morton and the Rock-n-Roll Express.

Revisit the 1973 accident that kept Dory Funk Jr. from...

Episode 74: The Rich Full Life of a Bad Guy

In Episode 74 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Rich Full Life of a Bad Guy, Greg:

Unearths a 1966 Saturday Evening Post article about Cowboy Bill Watts and his heel turn in the WWWF.

Discusses his complicated feelings for Watts, the person, and love for Watts, the wrestling promoter. 

Talks about the May 14, 1982 Houston Wrestling reboot. 

Plays the what Corny got right, what Corny got wrong game with the May 14 show. 

Gives a sneak peak int...

Episode 73: Classic Characters

In Episode 73 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Classic Characters, Greg:

Welcomes historian and author Steven Johnson to the show to discuss his new book, "The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Classic Characters." 

Steve and Greg also ...

Talk about Paul Boesch, Gorilla Monsoon, Bob Orton Sr., Fritz Von Erich and many other stars. 

Celebrate the place in the business of "enhancement" wrestlers. 

Discuss the role of the historian in wrestling.

Explain the work Steven and Tim Hornbaker did and are...

Episode 72: The 3rd Anniversary Show

In Episode 72 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The 3rd Anniversary Show, Greg:

Celebrates another year of doing the podcast. 

Notes the milestone of TV reviews as well. 

Looks unsuccessfully for episode 226. 

Welcomes Terry Taylor and his perfect debut to MSWA. 

Enjoys the heating up of Mid South after a fall of decline. 

Ends with a story about the time he wrestled Bugsy McGraw. 

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://slamwr...

Episode 71: Gino's Edition

In Episode 71 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Gino's Edition, Greg:

Welcomes Lizzy Flanagan to the show for the first time. 

Greg and Lizzy: 

Discuss her upcoming book, "I Am Your Champion, The Life and Death of Wrestler Gino Hernandez. 

Explore how a 20-something who did not grow up allowed to watch wrestling could become a fan of old school rasslin. 

Joke about how Lizzy went looking for the Von Erichs and found Gino fandom instead. 

Talk about Dynamic Duo t...

Episode 70: Tulsa Wrestlefest

In Episode 70 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Tulsa Wrestlefest, Greg:

Welcomes Shawn Sparks aka Sparks3rdCoast to the show for the first time. 

Greg and Shawn: 

Look at the July 28, 1985, Mid South Wrestling Association show at Tulsa's Fair Meadows Raceway. 

Enjoy the Fantastics vs Jerry Grey and Eddie Gilbert match but not as much as the women in the Tulsa crowd. 

Discuss the two year journey of the Fantastics and Jake Roberts to becoming top stars in the region.

Co...

Episode 69: Better Dead Than Red 

In Episode 69 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk,  Better Dead Than Red Show, Greg:

Looks at the December 1983 television for the Mid South Wrestling Association. 

Plays some audio from the anti-Russian tirades of Bill Watts.

Discusses, again, how the current mindset about Nicolai Volkoff's pre-WWF run is wrong. 

Notes where MSWA is still slow and where things are beginning to pick up. 

Discusses the wardrobe choices for Watts and Mr. Wrestling II. 

Revisits the discussion about the Terry...

Episode 68: The 43rd Anniversary Show 

In Episode 68 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The 43rd Anniversary Show, Greg:

Talks about the lead up to Morris Sigel and Houston Wrestling's 43 Anniversary show June 5, 1959. 

Looks at three programs from May 1959 that lead up to the big show. 

Praises the decade long feud between Bull Curry and Danny McShane. 

Corrects the timeline on when and how George Wagner becomes Gorgeous George, and what Dizzy Davis had to do with it. 

Reviews the results from the anniversary show. 

C...

Episode 67: The Golden Era Begins

In Episode 67 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, The Golden Era Begins, Greg:

Welcomes Winter Place podcast host and IWC friend Mark Coale to the show for the first time. 

Greg and Mark:

Take a broad view of what Greg calls the Golden Era of the Mid South Wrestling Association, from the day Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express arrive until the day Bob Sweeten returns, or Nov. 83 to summer 1985.

Discuss the exit of the Junkyard Dog, the various a...

Episode 66: Jenny's Episode

In Episode 66 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Jenny's Episode, Greg:

Pays tribute to his late mother, Jennifer Evans. 

Notes how she changed his life for the better by helping him pay for wrestling school, thus sending him to Adrian Street rather than a notorious Gulf Coast outlaw.

Updates the biggest star in Houston Wrestling discussion. 

Finds out where the MSWA and UWF music came from. Hat tip to IWC friend, Sparks Third Coast. 

Looks at a Houston Wrestling program from 1976 wit...

Episode 65: Darkest Before the Dawn

In Episode 65 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Darkest Before the Dawn, Greg:

Looks at television for November 1983 in the Mid South Wrestling Association. 

Talks again about the problems with rasslin in the South in the fall and how fall of 1983 is perhaps the rock bottom point in the promotion. 

Coming up next is the tag team of George Weingroff & Tony Torres. 

Picks out two good angles that clearly came from the Watts/Ross roundtable before Bill Dundee arrives as booker. 

Episode 64: Two Ring Battle Royal

In Episode 64 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Two Ring Battle Royal, Greg:

Updates the Sylvester Ritter Year One discussion.

Corrects a fact about Houston's use of the two ring battle royal.

Names to top 30 stars of Houston Wrestling, split into the Morris Sigel and Paul Boesch eras.

Talks about the two biggest stars in Houston Wrestling, based on who Sigel and Boesch said were their biggest stars. 

Check out Greg's column about Morris Sigel on Slam Wrestling. https://s...

Episode 63: Vision Quest

In Episode 63 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Vision Quest, Greg:

Looks at the podcast's 2024 in review, including this year's Top 5 cities.

Laughs about a match he attended in 1987 that ties into Episode 21, The Wrath of Khan.

Discovers what Sylvester Ritter was doing Christmas night 1976.

Ponders all the new information Beau James gave us in Episode 61 about the start of Ritter's career.

Welcomes wrestling historian Tony Richards to the show to discuss the 2024 WON HOF campaign and how to approach the...

Episode 62: And Then Things Got Weird 

In Episode 62 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, And Then Things Got Weird, Greg:

Looks at television for the Mid South Wrestling Association for October 1983.

Speculates about the booking situation and reviews what we know about fall in the South.

Tries to make sense of the North American title turmoil.

Laughs about the solid wrestling ability of Max the Missing Link.

Watches probably the best little person mixed match ever wrestled.

Celebrates a Mike Jackson win.

In Episode 61 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Hey, Junior, Where's My Cowboy Movie At?, Greg:

Welcomes Tennessee wrestler and historian Beau James to the show.

Beau talks about how he met Sylvester Ritter, the time Ritter lived with him and what the Junkyard Dog was like as a real person.

Greg and Beau lament the idea of "workrate" being the most important barometer of wrestling success.

Beau talks about Jimmy Valiant's popularity in Tennessee and the Crockett territory.

Beau shocks Greg when he talks about...

In Episode 60 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Southwest Takeover, Greg:

Welcomes Las Vegas resident and rasslin podcast Roman Gomez to the show to talk about Southwest Championship Wrestling.

Greg and Roman review an episode taped Dec. 29, 1982 in the Junction in San Antonio.

They discuss the changes coming in wrestling and the need to let go of studio matches.

Greg, of course, pays tribute to announcer Steve Stack, and carpenter El Santo Negro aka Billy Two Eagles aka Relampago Leon, the lion who moves like lightning.

...