Greetings From Allentown

This week it’s back to the early days of Ted Turner-owned World Championship Wrestling with a look at NWA Worldwide from June 24, 1989! - The Great Muta vs Scott Steiner: Where the reality of the situation falls short of expectation - Attempting to improve the Dynamic Dudes - A Las Vegas based Sid Vicious at a locals casino playing the blackjack tables - Lex Luger cares not for your top 10 rankings - Calling BS on the geographical spread of WCW contest winners - Ricky Santana vs Wild Bill Irwin as the “who cares” feud of 1989 - Rick Steiner has some fun with Tommy Young - A neck brace keeps Ric Flair from doing his thing - Teddy Long’s bad evil heel laugh Plus: - Why Great Muta would mostly use the green mist - The unfortunate death of an enhancement talent - Proper consumption of Starburst - Career advice for Ricky Santana - Gripes about Rick Steiner’s real estate website - 1992 sports moments: the last great Indy 500, the Dream Team, and a terrible referee call - YouTube Comment Theater! GreetingsFromAll

Just in time for Turkey Day, the Adams Division Podcast (Peter Winson of Greetings From Allentown & Steve Bennett of the Sports-Casters) reconvene to the discuss and rank Survivor Series shows from 1987 to 1998. Including: a split on the enjoyment level of the ’95 show, how being at a show live helps to remember a show more fondly, good and bad booking, delightfully odd teams, and a lengthy discussion of Ax’s “performance” at the 1990 show!

The devil went down to Georgia and instead of stealing a soul, Vince McMahon presents the WWF on TBS from January 5, 1985! - A brief history of the WWF foray into Georgia with the bumps in the road and the hilarity of how they got bailed out - Drawing on a story from the Old Testament to seek meaning in the Andre The Giant haircut angle - Running down Hulk Hogan matches on weekly TV after winning the world title - Freddie Miller refuses to do multiple takes - Giving thanks for the many musings of Angelo Mosca on color commentary - The irony of the Moondogs finisher - Blackjack Mulligan and an unfortunate incident at the Boston Garden - A rare look at manager-less Greg Valentine Plus: - Tito Santana is worried about groceries - A glimpse at the “bawdy” version of your podcast host - The bizarre game choices of the NBA on TBS from that week - The WWF in the Atlanta Omni: 1,500 wrestling fans can’t be wrong! - Sports moments of 1991 featuring Rocket Ismail, Lonnie Smith, and Magic Johnson Email: Greetingsfrom

The show is again walking in Memphis this week with a look at CWA Memphis Wrestling from May 9, 1987! - Austin Idol vs Jerry Lawler in a cage: hair vs hair and the logical booking to build it up - Tommy Rich is off his rocker (and under the ring) - Poor Soul Train Jones can’t get out of the station - Exposing who stole Rocky Johnson’s line from his promo - “How To Work a 1 on 2 Handicap Match” by Mark Starr - Proto-Barry Horowitz dares to put his hands on the great Lance Russell - Steve Keirn is injured….or is he? - Paul Heyman has his first big star-making turn and predicts the future Plus: - A call for more Chicks - Bam Bam Bigelow has a list of confessions he wants to spill before heading to the WWF - A music video featuring the Midnight Rockers - How to deal with a crowd ready to riot in the Mid-South Coliseum - Looking back at 1990 sports moments from baseball, hockey, and college basketball - Connecting literally everything through the 1988 Survivor Series - YouTube Comment Theater! GreetingsFromAll

It’s time for the comfort food of 1991 WWF with a look at Superstars from September 28, 1991! - Ric Flair detours from his debut match to pick on Roddy Piper and damage is done to the commentary team - Randy Savage deals with his status being on probation - A new idea for rebooting Sgt. Slaughter post-Iraq angle - Jake the Snake explains his turn to the dark side - Bret Hart in Canada and the 1997 match we never got - Vince McMahon: King of the awkward plug - The peculiar case of Mark Thomas, enhancement talent Plus: - A proposal to replace Daylight Saving Time in the US - The craziest sports moment of ’89 for episode 89 - Ric Flair’s “edited” first promo in the WWF - Canada on a hot streak in 1991 - One of the all time great Hollywood casting stories - An honest to God 40 second Berzerker promo! GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown www.prowrestlingonly.com

This week it is ’88 for 88 with a look at a historic episode of Continental Championship Wrestling from April 23, 1988! - “I’d like to talk to Tom”: breaking down the Tom Prichard/Dirty White Boy angle itself, how it was shot, and background of how it came to be - A quick history of Continental/Southeastern Wrestling and the big changes that came after this show - Gordon Solie tries to keep the show on track in spite of the craziness - What I think of when it comes to “Dirty” Dutch Mantell - Eddie Gilbert swiping tapes from the production team - The strangest “inset” promo cut you will ever see - The sad story of Detroit Demolition - Bill Kazmeier has self-esteem issues Plus: - Better days in ’88 for the Los Angeles Dodgers - An alarm clock snafu leads to a long Saturday - The risk in wearing a Jason hockey mask - YouTube Comment Theater! GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown www.prowrestlingonly.com

Thanks to a random YouTube crackdown, the show takes an extreme turn with a look at ECW Hardcore TV from September 26, 1995! - ECW as the rest area of professional wrestling - A glimpse of the future Big Poppa Pump as Taz reaches a low point - Weapons, tables, and run-ins: the quintessential ECW match featuring the Pitbulls, Raven, and Stevie Richards - Steve Austin rolls in with a parody of everyone’s favorite balding blond wrestler - Rey Mysterio Jr. and Psicosis light up South Philly - 2 Cold Scorpio just lights up, period - Woman keeps repeating herself - JT Smith works an old comedy trope Plus: - A confession about a popular movie franchise - Why a big 1987 sports moment wouldn’t have happened in 2018 - Explaining Stevie Richards’ white cutoff jeans - How the theme to the Hardcore TV show became popular a couple of years earlier - Background of the term “shah” GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown www.prowrestlingonly.com

Buckle up for the toboggan ride that is Jim Crockett Promotions 1988 style in the form of NWA Worldwide from February 6, 1988! - Sting introduces himself to the Four Horsemen, who just want to get drunk - Speculating on an infamous Dusty Rhodes angle that was aborted - The brilliant satire of the Varsity Club - A “mistake” from JCP that actually deserves praise - Barry Windham’s “50 home run season” - A very special episode of According to Larry (Z) - Taking issue with Bobby Eaton’s gear Plus: - How a joke on Twitter led to an unlikely interaction with “Big Dave” - A fantastic David Crockett blooper - Three great sports moments from 1986 - Dusty Rhodes as the Yankees pitching coach - YouTube Comment Theater! GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown www.prowrestlingonly.com

Greetings From Allentown stays in 1999 this week for a look at the penultimate episode of WWF Shotgun Saturday Night from August 14, 1999! - The greatness and high expectations of Chris Jericho’s WWF debut - Jesse Ventura returns and it is like he never left - Cranky Michael Hayes delights on commentary - Edge: Is he the Canadian Ricky Schroeder? - Triple H embarrasses himself with a commercial tagline - Tough times for Chaz/Mosh and Ken Shamrock - Tag title switches aplenty - Droz’s pal Key makes his only televised appearance in a match Plus: - Developing a parody character of the Ultimate Warrior - Getting the two Headbangers mixed up like a confused commentator - Celebrating the return of the Body in song - An intergender SummerSlam main event? - A strange thought about hockey fans celebrating goals by the home team in the arena - YouTube comment theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown ProWrestlingOnly.com

Greetings From Allentown returns to da Mothership for WCW Saturday Night from April 10, 1999! - Overcoming prejudices against the phrase “1999 WCW” - The greatest thing Disco Inferno ever did in WCW - The life and times of Jerry Flynn - A personal issue against the new WCW logo - Perusing Rick Steiner’s Georgia real estate listings - The commonality of Konnan and one popular musician - Playing the guessing game for Gene Okerlund’s hotline shills - Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller fight the glass ceiling…and each other Plus: - The trials and tribulations of job hunting in 2018 - Dreaming of an afternoon on the links with Fit Finlay - How the Atlanta Braves fared against the Big Unit Randy Johnson - Prescient statements about Goldberg and Kevin Nash - Sports jerseys galore! - YouTube comment theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown ProWrestlingOnly.com

We head back to the 80s for some Golden Era WWF with a look at WWF Spotlight from January 3, 1987! - Saluting Andre the Giant to set up the big turn - Starting the meteoric rise of the Honky Tonk Man - Who was Jimmy Hart’s best WWF protégé? (No, not Neidhart) - Lanny Poffo vs Steve Lombardi: a chance for Gorilla and Lord Al to do all their comedy bits - Dennis Stamp gets booked! - A distinct Quebecois flavor permeating the show - Koko B. Ware as the great table setter - The Wizard needs to dial down the volume Also: - What’s the deal with Lord Alfred Hayes? - Similarities between two legendary championship teams of the 80s from different sports - Talking China at a brewery and DeNiro at a winery - The best baseball games on the original Nintendo - Commercials from 1987! Email: GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown PlaceToBeNation.com/Amazon

This week it is back to the Sunshine state for some WCW Worldwide from June 25, 1994! - Hulk Hogan arrives and makes changes to his Demandments even as change in WCW takes time - Brian Pillman’s lost 1994 in spite of a new contract - The limitations of Stunning Steve Austin’s in-ring stooging - A proper requiem for the late Frank Andersson - The future Road Dogg picks up an idea from Mr. Wonderful - A very special “According to Larry” - Babyface edition! - Critiquing the Guardian Angel gimmick and recalling a 2007 incident involving the Boston chapter - Kevin Sullivan cares not for non-regional diction Also: - A New Mexico travelogue: coffee, chiles, and the B-52s - WCW Worldwide audio bumpers: the greatest thing ever? - A rant about Nick Patrick’s hair - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown PlaceToBeNation.com/Amazon

This special episode of Greetings From Allentown features a look back at three more heel turns covered on the program: The Megapowers explode, Sid Justice flips out on Hulk Hogan, and Pez Whatley is brainwashed and programmed to attack and cut Jimmy Valiant’s hair. Plus: The story of why this show came to be and how Ahmed Johnson is tangentially related to it! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Time for a long overdue visit to WCW with a look at Worldwide from January 23, 1993! - The shockingly good production of Worldwide in the time period - 2 Cold Scorpio as the man who briefly ruled the world - Evaluating Erik Watts as a football player: was he actually any better at that? - Vinnie Vegas really wants you to know he’s a lefty and isn’t gay - Brad Armstrong and the curse of the solid worker - Recapping Clash of the Champions 22 and the Cactus Jack face turn - Steve Austin: still finding his voice - Callbacks to WWF angles Plus: - Tony Schiavone and Jesse Ventura with some quality bickering - Recalling the Game Boy theme song for the Bo Jackson Hit and Run game - College football interludes a-plenty with talk of the 1991 Fiesta Bowl and the 1993 Cotton Bowl - The problem with trying to have dinner in Cambridge, MA - A Led Zeppelin themed Beer of the Week - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation

Heading down to Louisiana to have a look at Mid-South Wrestling from November 26, 1983 - Why Mid-South is comfortable for a fan of Golden Era WWF - Trades between wrestling promotions! - Mr. Wrestling II: It’s a beautiful day to trash the Poffos - A requiem for the late Jim “the Anvil” Neidhart - The debut of the Condrey/Eaton version of the Midnight Express - Questioning the fashion sense of Krusher Darsow - A re-examination of the Junkyard Dog’s general lethargy Also: - Reflecting on the state of the Cold War in 1983, including the TV movie “The Day After” - A new sports segment! - Making a request of all non-Mexican masked wrestlers - How to organize a proper NFL Wins Pool with your friends - Great moments in Bill Watts non-sequiturs - Beer of the week! Email: GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown PlaceToBeNation.com/Amazon

In the words of famed wrestling promoter Billy Corgan “Shakedown 1979, cool kids never had the time” but this week we go back to that year for WWF Championship Wrestling from May 12, 1979! - The turbulence of the 1970s is summed up in one battle royal promo - Making a case for 1979 being an overlooked consequential year in WWE history - Chief Jay Strongbow returns to sit at ringside and prompts more questions than answers - Bruno Sammartino burying just about all prelim guys on commentary - The delicate nature of the Iranian gimmick in 1979 - Crafting an alternate universe where S.D. Jones main events WrestleMania - Johnny Valiant keeps getting blown off - Comparing young Ted DiBiase with young Tito Santana Plus: - A weekend in Minneapolis: cocktails, steak dinners, baseball, and Surly Brewing - Bobby Fulton not looking so Fantastic against Steve Travis - Johnny Rodz’ facial hair - Ivan Putski can’t wait to go back to New Haven(!?!?) - Original commercials from 1979! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com

Purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka because it’s back to Minnesota for a look at AWA All Star Wrestling from February 18, 1989! - The bizarre circumstances that led to the AWA stripping Jerry Lawler of their “world title” and putting it up in a battle royal - Lawler’s retort to the AWA as aired on Memphis television - A roll call of all 18 participants competing for the title - The latest episode of According To Larry - Comparing Tom Zenk with the season 7 version of Mad Men’s Don Draper - The reverse psychology of telling people to not come to the matches - The weird Greg Gagne coincidence Plus: - How long does it take Larry Zbyszko to mention Bruno Sammartino in the post-match promo? - The most bizarre tape trade in history - Bill Apter: the Samwise Gamgee of the AWA - The utter futility of showing old matches for nostalgia’s sake - More exploration of Sgt. Slaughter’s 1990 Survivor Series team - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebo

In the dog days of summer, the Adams Division Podcast (Peter Winson of Greetings From Allentown & Steve Bennett of the Sports-Casters) reconvenes to FEEL THE HEAT and rank and discuss the first 11 SummerSlam shows from 1988 to 1998. Featuring: Top matches, hidden gems, plenty of cheap shots at Shawn Michaels and much more!

This week features a look at WWF Superstars from June 6, 1992! - Reviewing the oddities of the WWF in 1992 - The trouble with the introduction of Nailz - Papa Shango puts a curse on anyone wanting an entertaining promo - A history lesson on the word “sissy” - Kona Crush: two time impostor - How Bret Hart might have fared has he jumped to WCW in 1992 - The Beverly Brothers borrow and deface some merchandise - Trying to stay cheerful taking about Kerry Von Erich Also: - Vince McMahon Laughter Watch - Nailz vs “Nails” Lenny Dykstra - An irrefutable argument on who the boss was on “Who’s The Boss” - Awkward wrestler promos for the World Bodybuilding Federation! - The advantage of High Energy’s ridiculous pants - Musings on oysters and beer - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: GreetingsFromAllentown@gmail.com Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown PlaceToBeNation.com/Amazon

Time for some good ol’ Southern rasslin’ with a look at Smoky Mountain Wrestling TV from July 23, 1994! - The Gangstas make their debut and scare the bejeesus out of whitey as New Jack gives OJ Simpson a shoutout - Jim Cornette will not shut up - Admiring Ron Wright’s oratory and method of not waving a flag - The disappointment of The Thrillseekers in SMW and the bloody end for Chris Jericho - Tammy Fytch gets very confused about what she wants - The Dirty White Boy blatantly lies to the audience - Imagining Tracy Smothers as a Jeopardy! champion - Why you shouldn’t let Lance Storm give the eulogy at your funeral Plus: - A rant against the #1 song in July 1994 - Ricky Morton’s hair: the most defended mullet in history - Enjoying how Bob Caudle says “Gangstas” - The guy who jumped TO WCW in March 2001 - The Moonlight Graham of WWE - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: Greetingsfromallentown@gmail.com Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon