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Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (2025) Ballot and More!
For many years I have vote in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame at the request of the editor Dave Meltzer who includes me in the ‘Wrestling Historian’ category of the annual voting. Over last year, I have tailored my DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show podcast to analyzing and discussing the ballot. This year, I decided to do something different: I would let A.I. analyze the ballot and give me its picks. Read More.
Film Review: Lead Belly: The Man Who Invented Rock and Roll (2021)
Official synopsis: George Harrison famously claimed: "No Lead Belly, no Beatles." Revered by countless musicians, the first record Janis Joplin ever bought was by Huddie Leadbetter: Lead Belly, who was born in poverty and went on to become King of the 12-string guitar and the greatest folk singer in the world according to Woody Guthrie. Hundreds of artists have covered his songs from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, and Led Zeppelin. Interviews and performances by Janis Joplin, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, B.B. King, Alan Lomax, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, and Odetta. Read More.
Film Review: Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza (1966)
Official synopsis: Weary of the rigid codes of the underworld, gambler Tokijiro wanders Japan in search of freedom. But escape proves to be impossible when an obligation to a gang boss leaves him with no choice but to kill a man. To atone for his crime, he vows to take care of his victim’s widow and young son. But the gang won’t rest until they’ve killed the entire family — including the man who stands in their way. Read More.
From Ancient Greco-Roman Demi-God to One of the Strongest Characters in the Marvel Universe: Who is Hercules!
Hercules is one of the longest-standing mythological heroes adapted into Marvel Comics. Introduced in the Silver Age, Marvel’s Hercules is inspired by the legendary Greek demigod but reimagined as a boisterous, brawling, and charismatic hero. Over the decades, he has fought alongside the Avengers, challenged Thor, and brought both comic relief and raw strength to the Marvel Universe. Read More.
The Trail of Tears and Waterloo, Alabama: History, Memory, and the Annual Commemorative Motorcycle Ride
The phrase “Trail of Tears” names a brutal policy and a long human story: the forced removals in the 1830s that displaced tens of thousands of Native people from their ancestral lands in the American Southeast to “Indian Territory” west of the Mississippi. That removal included multiple routes, many detachments, and enormous suffering and loss. In northwestern Alabama, Waterloo Landing on the Tennessee River became an important waypoint for detachments and a place of memory. Since the early 1990s, thousands of motorcyclists have ridden into Waterloo each autumn in a formal, organized commemoration that mixes ceremony, public education, and local stewardship of the site. Read More.
Film Review: Underworld Beauty
Official synopsis: Released from prison, a gangster immediately sets out to make things right with his friend and collaborator Mihara who was severely injured in the jewelry heist that went awry. Now he finds himself going to war with the people he pledged fealty to. Read More.
Remember When It Was Cool? The Death of Small Town America: Rural Economic Decline: The Overlooked Struggles of Rural America
I was a cop for almost 32 years, most of that time was spent in small town rural America. I am retired now but for over three decades I saw firsthand the downward spiral of small-town life. Ravaged by a 1990’s recession, the massive plague of both the opioid and methamphetamine epidemic followed by four years of failed Joe Biden economic policies which have now been followed by a political narrative that everything is good and getting better. Our current President has said so many times… only it isn’t. Getting better, that is. Not around here. Read More.
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti: This is something different! Spaghetti has, for centuries, been a favorite food around the world. This is spaghetti with a twist! Chicken, a tomato sauce, and lots of cheese! So, say ‘cheese!’ to Tonya’s Diner at When It Was Cool and get this incredible recipe. Get the recipe.
First! Captain America Issue 1 (1941) A New Podcast Series from When It Was Cool!
The debut of the new First! podcast series from When It Was Cool. This series takes a look back at first issues, first appearances, and pop culture firsts contained in comic books. We will be looking at comics from the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Modern Age of comics. Today we look back to one of the earliest patriotic heroes and the most successful of them all- Captain America! Today, Captain America has multiple movie appearances including in the successful Marvel Avengers franchise, but all started out in 1941 with Captain America punching a certain real life historical bad guy right in the face!
Check out the Golden Age Captain America graphic novel here.
Free First Chapter from DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus Book: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling
I have been researching the pioneer era of professional wrestling for a long time. While the bulk of my wrestling research (and fandom) is tied to the 1980’s, my favorite time period to read about and research is the pioneer era. I define the pioneer era as roughly everything pre-Frank Gotch or roughly pre-1900. Read More.
When It Was Cool’s Karl Stern as guest on Hannibal TV discussing pioneer era pro wrestling, early 1990s WCW, Wrestling Observer and WWE Hall of Fame, and much more!
Hell on Earth: When It Was Not Cool: The Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys Video
Join Karl and Tonya on this video we shot last year of the horrible Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys. Many of you who follow our When It Was Cool Podcast know that Tonya’s father was placed here when he was a child. It was later determined that the State of Florida beat, tortured, and killed numerous children there and hid their bodies in a graveyard deep in the woods almost a mile away. Check out our educational video on this little publicized injustice. Watch Here.
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201 Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time List: Who Are the Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time
Compiled By: Karl Stern Sourcing Data from over 30 Historians, Vetted Greatest Wrestler of All Time Lists, Major Media Rankings, Cumulative Lists, and Major Vetted Halls of Fame. This list is not my opinion. The only input I had into ranking this list was doing the math and averaging the results and putting it together in a readable format. This, according to multiple respected pro wrestling historians, major media rankings, published books, and vetted rankings are the 201 greatest pro wrestlers of all time, with bonus points given for major vetted Halls of Fame and Wrestler of the Year Awards. Read More.
