Greetings From Allentown

This week starts a two episode journey through the end of the Universal Wrestling Federation as we knew it, but will we feel fine after this final Bill Watts controlled show from April 25, 1987? - Some economic data from the core UWF territory to shine light on the economic troubles hitting their fanbase - The oddities of TV production for a promotion on its last legs - Chris Adams is open about his legal issues and attempts a PSA - The trouble with Terry Taylor's voice - Dr. Death's strange views about the people of Japan - Trying to figure out why the WWF would take Sam Houston over Eddie Gilbert - Gary Young: The Forrest Gump of late-stage UWF? Also: - The mystery of the UWF's magazine - Exploring the notion that Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" album is really about something else - A righteous rant about current WWE RAW production foibles - The perfect Leap Day spent at an old WrestleMania venue - The return of YouTube Comment Theater! Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod F

It’s a leap year so this show features a look at a WWF Superstars from a Leap Day, February 29, 1992! - Jake Roberts puts an end to the Funeral Parlor but can’t keep the Undertaker down - The story of purchasing an El Matador Hasbro - A bizarre turn of events leading to the Money Inc. tag team title win and the Natural Disasters split from Jimmy Hart - Why in the hell are Kerry Von Erich matches making it to TV after his very public arrest? - Inspired by Papa Shango, a quick overview of the origins of voodoo - Rocking out to the Repo Man theme - Why ’92 Hulk Hogan is like a fading sports team dynasty Plus: - An idea for a Tito Santana/Virgil movie celebrating their friendship - The craziness of the 1992 US Presidential primary season - An impassioned defense of the Sid-Hogan WM8 match, excluding the botched finish - TWO VIRGIL PROMOS, but sadly also two IRS promos - A resolution to watch more movies Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAl

Walking through Memphis without the King on hand for this edition of Memphis Wrestling from April 28, 1984! - Jimmy Hart as an oncologist and football coach rolled into one - Randy Savage: the best TV match guy of all time? - The gigantic miss that was the “New Fabulous Ones” of Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert - Jim Neidhart as the best friend you could possibly have - Ravishing Rick Rude struggles with his confidence - Harley Davidson, the proto-Hillbilly Jim - Norvell Austin as an overlooked figure in wrestling history Plus: - A rant about current NXT matches and an impromptu grievance about the Ruthless Aggression documentary - The Japanese adventures of southern “rasslers” - Struggling with the “TV time remaining” match - Dave Brown as VP of the USA or Speaker of the House - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

Things are moving fast on the road to Starrcade ’86 on this edition of Jim Crockett Promotions World Championship Wrestling from November 1, 1986! - The very necessary but ballsy move of Dusty Rhodes to turn hated Russian Nikita Koloff into a beloved babyface - A Four Horsemen planned strike of Starrcade? - Ravishing Rick Rude stumbles over a promo - Disappointment with Jimmy Garvin’s gear - The Battle of Philadelphia: JCP vs the WWF both run Philly on October 18, 1986 - David Crockett is a true taskmaster on the final interview of the show - One surprise about the build to Starrcade 86 Plus: - Another example of how bleeping audio is always funny - Three Musketeers: the Ronnie Garvin of candy? - Similarities between Creedence Clearwater Revival and the 2000s LeBron-led Cleveland Cavaliers - Getting an autograph from a wrestler without actually meeting them - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

In the shadow of the NWO lighting WCW on fire, the WWF keeps chugging along with this edition of Superstars from July 20, 1996! - The quiet building of Stone Cold Steve Austin between his King of the Ring win and start of feud with Bret Hart - A detailed examination of Hunter Hearst Helmsley’s “punishment” for the MSG Curtain Call - The Goon debuts in the WWF with some great costuming - Embarassment is shared over involvement in an e-fed in the early 90s - What has to be done to replace the Ultimate Warrior with Sid - Camp Cornette’s place in the list of awesome trios groups - In Your House: International Incident: hidden gem of a show? Plus: - Dok Hendrix and the singing of the Superstars theme - Taking a car in for service leads to a weekend long odyssey - Another look at Vince McMahon laughs through the years - Pitching a Sycho Sid sitcom Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: twitter,com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

The Horsemen needed help on how to train your Dragon on this edition of World Championship Wrestling from January 21, 1989! - Ricky Steamboat returns to the NWA and has Ric Flair’s number - Eddie Gilbert’s role in Steamboat-Flair as a shining moment - Michael Hayes rides solo and brings to mind a famous movie character from the 90s - Kevin Sullivan’s accent: great accent or the greatest accent? - Jack Victory as the utility masked man - Butch Reed returns leading to a call to question all references to wrestlers’ football careers Plus: - Thoughts on the late Kobe Bryant - Taking a trip to Rhode Island to see (part of) the Royal Rumble - What exactly constitutes a “Gamesmaster”? - More YouTube shenanigans - Vinnie Vegas Corner limps to the finish with Super Bowl LIV Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

A famous edition of Piper’s Pit highlights WWF All Star Wrestling from April 14, 1984! - Roddy Piper invites longtime enhancement talent Frankie Williams on the Pit and has his way with him in memorable fashion - A tribute to the late Rocky Johnson with a story of his youth in Canada - Hulk Hogan’s great entrance to take on Afa the Samoan - Tito Santana’s wide variety of opponents early in his IC title run - Thoughts on the recent Sgt. Slaughter Marines imbroglio - Attempting to ignore Pvt. Terry Daniels by discussing a Norm McDonald movie Plus: - Another medical update, now with actual good news! - Original commercials, including one with baseball player Graig Nettles referencing current events in sports! - The editing of Gary Michael Cappetta on All Star - A quality Bob Backlund interview takes a weird turn at the end - The return of YouTube Comment Theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

You can’t go wrong with a Dangerous Alliance six man match, and that is the feature on this edition of WCW Pro from January 18, 1992! - The issues that held back the Dangerous Alliance that weren’t Bill Watts - A star power rating of 83.33% in the main event - The utterly pointless 1992 El Gigante and his hilarious injury in Japan - Cactus Jack’s bizarre month: falling down stairs, fighting with his sometimes friend, teaming with Buddy Lee Parker, and odd opponents - The WCW Patriots and their planned community of WCW Special Forces - We will always love The Bodyguard Mr. Hughes - Glimpsing Big Josh’s future appeal to children Plus: - Another medical update, now with lots more gross fluid! - Abdullah The Butcher’s bad luck on GFA - Lex Luger gets the Lesnar treatment - The tenuous connection between the 1990 Dallas Cowboys, the 1991 New England Patriots, and Monday Night Football - Celebrating the lack of Van Hammer on the show - Vinnie Vegas Corner for the NFL Conference title games for you to bet against

The unsung heroes are spotlighted on an unusual edition of WWF TNT from May 3, 1985! - Recapping an interesting month of WWF TV - Rusty Brooks makes things happen by going to into business for himself and bullying other guests - Steve Lombardi inadvertently walks into a joke - The Duke of Dorchester goes on a bizarre jag about a Kuwaiti island - Johnny Rodz makes Vince McMahon look like a dumbass - Why Howard Finkel should have hosted Open Mic nights - Commenting on the attire of each guest - David Sammartino puts All Japan Pro Wrestling on high alert with a backdrop driver Plus: - Medical update, now with a new “sponsor”! - A list of famous people from Dorchester, MA and how to deal with unruly Bostonians - The storyline of the movie Gymkata - Vinnie Vegas Corner for the NFL Divisional round for you to bet against my picks Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

It aired on Saturday mornings but is very different from what came before as this edition takes a look at WWE Saturday Morning Slam from September 22, 2012! - The brief not-so illustrious history of Saturday Morning Slam on the CW network - Ever debated TV-14 vs TV-PG? How about wrestling under a TV-G rating? - A look back at 5 great IC champions from the past - How The Miz is like an item in an elementary school bathroom - William Regal as the ideal worker for the restrictions of TV-G - Why Zack Ryder’s gimmick isn’t really a gimmick - Thoughts on Santino Marella as an announcer - A rundown of then-current champions in WWE Plus: - A medical update from the host, and the reasoning behind choosing this show - WWE Network’s obsession with Seth Rollins documentaries Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from February 26, 1983

With WrestleMania 9 in the rearview (sort of), it’s back at the Manhattan Center for Monday Night RAW from April 5, 1993! - Jerry Lawler is failed by crowd control and confronts the Macho Man - The final days of the Beverly Brothers and Mike Enos’ destiny - Bob Backlund’s series of weird 1993 matchups continues - The fickle New York audience turns on their former hero Virgil - Rob Bartlett’s pathetic phoner - The Steiner Brothers: the reality of what people thought Arn and Tully in the WWF was Plus: - Damien Demento’s role in a classic Bruce Willis film - The return of YouTube Comment Theater! - Vinnie Vegas Corner for NFL Week 16! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

The kickoff of a legendary rivalry highlights this edition of WWF Wrestling Challenge from February 11, 1990! - Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels go one on one for the first time with a screwy result - February 11, 1990, a day that changed the WWF in the short term - Revisiting the Big Bossman’s change of heart on working for Slick and Ted DiBiase - Greg Valentine showing glimpses of what was to come later in 1990 - The origin of the racial issues in the Bad News Brown-Roddy Piper feud - Some fun facts about the old Capital Centre arena in Landover, Maryland - Koko B. Ware won more than you thought - Jack Tunney reveals the WrestleMania main event and does some trolling Plus: - Dealing with a health issue arising from eating pizza - Ted DiBiase’s superior networking skills with managers - Speaking out against snitch tagging - Vinnie Vegas Corner for NFL Week 15! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

Things are getting serious heading into Starrcade on this edition of NWA Pro from November 19, 1988! - The Road Warriors finally win the NWA tag titles defeating the Midnight Express - Road Warrior Animal gives the promo of his life….and immediately gets overshadowed - Dusty Rhodes clears the air on whether he has abused steroids (LOL) - Bam Bam Bigelow’s snazzy NWA theme - Paul E. Dangerously states a goal that would not come to fruition until 2019 - The most relatable moment of Rick Steiner’s career - A bizarre tribute to Magnum TA two years after his accident Plus: - A failing snowblower and 22 inches of snow - The music behind the “Catch the Pinfalls” tag - Connecting 1987-88 JCP with the 1985-87 Philadelphia Flyers for God knows what reason - YouTube Comment Theater! - Vinnie Vegas Corner for NFL Week 14! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

It’s back to the WMC-TV studio for a look at Memphis Wrestling from April 2, 1988! - Jerry Lawler and Eddie Gilbert brawl in the parking lot and the clever plot hatched leading to it - The Memphis debuts of Scott Steiner and Tom Brandi - Connecting Memphis manager Ernest Angel with the WWF’s Brother Love - The simple pleasure of Lance Russell calling a match - The parade of Gilberts and the mysterious little girl - The Harris Twins get some help from the lead singer of Sawyer Brown - Brickhouse Brown faces Scotty the Body (the future Raven) Plus: - Taking a different approach to dieting - Missing the days of being able to slam down a phone to end a call - Doug Gilbert’s football career - A wrestler named “Dancing” - The return of YouTube Comment Theater! - Vinnie Vegas Corner for NFL Week 13! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

Part two for episode 143 with a look at the 1992 Royal Rumble, with a detailed look at the 2nd half of the Royal Rumble match: the one booking flaw, pondering a Roddy Piper-Undertaker feud, the Macho Man’s mistake and the attempt to cover for it, and Sid Justice: the greatest genius of all time! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

Part one of two for episode 143 with a look at the 1992 Royal Rumble, quickly reviewing the four matches and a lengthier look at the Rumble match itself! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

Ring in Survivor Series season with this look at WWF Superstars from November 3, 1990! - Young Dustin Rhodes tries to last 10 minutes with Ted DiBiase: diabolical plan, repeat of a successful angle, or both? - Rick Martel as a model heel for the modern product - Bobby Heenan and Brother Love beg for forgiveness - Survivor Series team promos aplenty - So what exactly IS a “Bushwhacker” anyway? - Sgt. Slaughter’s role in the greatest bad match of all time - The first broadcast for the Vince/Savage/Piper troika - Demolition and their new gimp masks Plus: - Lessons learned on a Saturday night in the Boston area - The funniest part about the angle with the Big Bossman’s mother - Local promos for a Bunkhouse battle royal in Boston lead to some interesting references - Vinnie Vegas Corner for NFL Week 11! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

WrestleMania III is on the horizon in this look at WWF Superstars of Wrestling from February 21, 1987! - The Honky Tonk Man appears on Jake Roberts’ Snake Pit and everyone’s fate changes forever - The first Hart Foundation tag title defense on TV against the babyface Islanders - Roddy Piper confirms the rumors of his pending retirement - Extending the wrestling concept of “open contracts” the another sport - Billy Jack Haynes as a dear friend of Hulk Hogan - The forgotten 1987 WWF heel run of Salvatore Bellomo - Audio comparison of the first Honky Tonk Man theme and an early Elvis Presley recording - How important is Savage-Steamboat to the WM3 legacy? - The Can-Am Connection’s busy night in the Meadowlands Plus: - Attending a Chaotic Wrestling show: returning gimmicks, homage to Goodfellas, and Italian dining - Elizabeth cutting loose in an LJN figures commercial - Hulk vs Andre predictions foreshadows the coming fissure in a WWF tag team - Vinnie Vegas Corner for NFL Week 10 (and one NCAA game)! Email: G

Barely under the wire for Halloween is the final show before WCW’s 1991 Halloween Havoc, the October 27, 1991 edition of WCW Main Event! - WCW’s bad luck with the World Series on that date - Imagining a world where Kevin Nash stays as Oz and works Japan exclusively - Madusa in a rare WCW women’s match, and is extremely pissed off for some reason - Another extended appreciation for the great Johnny B. Badd - Van Hammer’s 1991 push: a tribute to a Navy man or just annoying? - The positive social implications of the Ron Simmons push - Football as a driving force in the Luger/Simmons battle - The big reason to never begrudge Mick Foley’s comebacks Plus: - Rebooting the Golden Girls with Missy Hyatt and Madusa - Scenes from a Long Island baptism - Memories of Jim Ross’ old WSB radio show - Vinnie Vegas Corner for NFL week 9! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown