When It Was Cool Wrestling (DragonKingKarl)

Theobaud Bauer is Dead and There Was Much Rejoicing - 1000 Hours

Sep 27, 2023

Professor Theobaud Bauer was one of the most successful pro wrestlers of the pioneer era. He traveled from coast to coast and was easily one of the most famous professional wrestlers of the 1800s. He was also, apparently, quite the despised human being, for when he died the Los Angeles newspapers virtually celebrated...

Pioneer Era Wrestling in Africa - 1000 Hours

Sep 24, 2023

This episode was requested and sponsored by Eric Darsie of the Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast and he asked if there is any evidence for pioneer era (pre-1900) pro wrestling in Africa. Africa is hard enough to get modern era pro wrestling news out of so I didn't expect to find much, however, there does appear to have...

That Time H.M. Dufur Got Shot in the Face - 1000 Hours

Sep 20, 2023

Henry Moses Dufur was one of the greatest, most important, and most well-known pro wrestlers of the pioneer era. He started wrestling before he was a teenager and by the time he was in his thirties was pretty well established as one of the best ever. Then one day he got shot in the face. Yes, directly in the face while...

From the Pages of Wrestling Observer - Verne Gagne

Sep 19, 2023

This week from When It Was Cool Wrestling host Karl Stern visits the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to look at the life and career of multiple time world champion and owner of the AWA Verne Gagne. Verne Gagne was a contemporary of Lou Thesz and a major rival. Verne Gagne was one of the biggest stars on...

G.W. Flagg Writes a Letter - 1000 Hours

Sep 13, 2023

More pre-1900 pro wrestling stories on this edition of 1000 Hours including some more information about pioneer era wrestling in Alabama that I’ve found. The primary focus of this episode comes from the mouth of one of the pioneers of wrestling themselves. Late in life (in his 70’s), champion pioneer wrestler G.W....