Ricky Jackson

Episode 56 April 30 & May 7, 1983 (WCCW 70 & 71) https://soundcloud.com/prowrestlingonly/world-cast-56?in=prowrestlingonly/sets/world-cast The boys ring in the new year with a double-sized double episode! Truth be told, this was unplanned, but Pete had a bit too much New Year's Eve fun (*wink, wink*), so Kelly and Johnny go alone and decide to bash out TWO reviews of WCCW for you lucky listeners. Highlights include... -More Mongol being crappy -Chavo vs Gorgeous Jimmy in a hot little match -More Kamala being awesome -Mike Fucking Reed -More Akbar being weird -Two super hot main events further continuing the Von Erichs vs Freebirs war, but with the Iceman now involved! And fans, for the next two weeks look out for WORLD CAST OF THE CHAMPIONS!!!!

Yeah, sorry for being a drama queen with that post, I was buzzed and feeling nostalgic for the good old days of the early 10s. The list was only one small nail in overall coffin

Yeah, a few more dates for AWA, including Wrestlerock in April, but most of 86 was spent in Montreal

I've wondered the same thing myself, but Martel didn't sign with Vince until late-86, so it had nothing to do with that

Holy shit, great match and even greater post-match beatdown angle. Bockwinkel was amazing here. Loved this one

What the hell happened to this place? Oh yeah, that stupid list

Meltzer mentioned that the taint of TNA took a while to shake off

Episode 55 https://soundcloud.com/prowrestlingonly/world-cast-55 April 23, 1983 (WCCW 69...*giggle*) The last World Cast of 2018 looks at two more massive debuts and one more departure... -Chris Adams arrives from Portland with his hair freshly shaved, and he needs to improve his promo skills post haste -Kamala finally makes it to Dallas and the crowd is in awe (and his opponent is WHO???) -The long and winding road for King Kong Bundy comes to an end -All this plus Kevin vs Gordy in a hot main event! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!!

A McMahon in every corner for Mania!

That was amazing

Great show to end the year. Seth-Dean shitshow was really the only negative

Awful

"This is boring" is finally a chant I can get behind

Fuck Seth Rollins and getting in that high spot after he "injured" his knee

And Becky with the cherry on top

Loved that match

Who says they dont book happy endings anymore?

I haven't looked forward to many non-NXT, non-Evolution WWE shows this year, nor have I watched many since Mania, but there are about five matches on this card that I'm interested in. The problem is there are another seven matches and this could be another slog, but it may not be too bad. Weird time for WWE with Raw being in the toilet but Smackdown having some buzz around Lynch and Bryan. It's been a pretty schizophrenic year for WWE in general with some major highs and major lows, and I really dont know what to expect anymore. That said, I'm going to drink some beers, watch this on the couch, and perhaps reflect on this crazy year for pro wrestling that felt like it hit a peak around All In, but the wave has crashed down in the last few months as we head into 2019

We reviewed that show on World Cast last Xmas, it's a dud. And the Lothario match is definitely lower end

Episode 54 https://soundcloud.com/prowrestlingonly/world-cast-54-the-mysterious-state-fair-coliseum-show-part-2 April 16, 1983 (WCCW 68) The boys resume their look at the ever-so mysterious State Fair Coliseum show, this time featuring... -The debut of THE MONGOL...who is not actually Mongolian in case you were wondering -A (we hate to say it) not very good Jose Lothario match -"In the Bush with the Ugandan Giant"!!! -David vs Gordy in a Handcuff Match -And a crowd full of drunk cowboys, some of whom decide it's a good idea to hit the ring Let's just back to the friggen Sportatorium ASAP

Johnny Rodz vs Pat Patterson 6/28/1980, All-Star Wrestling This gem is on the Network and was brought to my attention by the great Richard Land yesterday. Really fun match with brawling outside and chairs being used. You would get these type of out of nowhere wild brawl matches on WWF TV a few times a year and they are a treasure. Story of the match is Rodz using multiple foreign objects, chairs and other dirty tactics on Pat until going too far with the exposed turnbuckle, which Pat reverses and Rodz ends up eating. Pat finally ends things moments later Not the best Rodz match ever but easy top 5 from what I've seen. Great stuff

That Ciampa/Black/Gargano segment was some great shit

The Bulldogs, and particularly Dynamite, are what hooked me as a fan in 1986. I've always loved Dynamite as a wrestler, so exciting to watch. RIP

Episode 53 https://soundcloud.com/prowrestlingonly/world-cast-53-the-mysterious-state-fair-coliseum-show-part-1 April 9, 1983 (WCCW 67) For the next two weeks the boys explore a show on April 1, 1983 that was randomly taped from the State Fair Coliseum in Dallas. Why was it taped there? Why are all the matches so short? It's one of the great mysteries of modern times, but it does provide a bunch of highlights, such as... -The most total and complete humiliation of a jobber ever witnessed by man -The Iceman vs Michael Hayes in a less than satisfying encounter -The end of the road for the Great Kabuki -And a freakin' AWESOME main event between Ric Flair and Kevin for the NWA title

Definitely unbelievably great timing on the WWE's part to have their TV deals come up for renewal during the peak of the frenzy over locking up content to huge money.