Greetings From Allentown

This week features a loaded episode of WWF All American Wrestling from February 23, 1986! - Why this particular show had so many big matches - Randy Savage kicks off his IC title reign and his strong case for best of all IC champs - Terry Funk shows and tells us the importance of family - The diminishing returns of bringing back Mr. T for WrestleMania 2 - Mr. Wonderful treads water - Spicing up the Lanny Poffo act of 1986 through song - The inherent problem with using boxing in the wrestling world - Making sense of the “WWF on Tour” announcements Plus: - A public service announcement about restaurant etiquette when in large groups - Connecting the Philippines revolution ousting Ferdinand Marcos back to wrestling - In light of Paul Orndorff’s ’86 induction, looking at other University of Tampa Hall of Famers - So many fragrance ads along with one for a failed computer system - The Andre the Giant of thumb wrestling Email: [email protected] Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week we take a trip to the Carolinas for some Jim Crockett Promotions action with Mid Atlantic Wrestling from November 1981! - Mid Atlantic as a star laden territory - Roddy Piper as top guy fending off challenger Ricky Steamboat - Defending Bob Caudle as a host of weekly wrestling TV - Sandy Scott tries to attract big names to the territory by offering a specific prize in a vague contest - Framing Sgt. Slaughter as an all-time great - What exactly would you call Jimmy Valiant? - The much more athletic 1981 Jake Roberts Plus: - Local promos for a show that may or may not have happened - A brief history of the studio where this show was taped, WPCQ in Charlotte - Similarities between a song by The Police and the fight song of a Major League Baseball team - A 1995 WWF gimmick idea using one of the early 80s JCP jobber names - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] www.twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

In honor of the 2nd season of GLOW dropping on Netflix, this week Greetings From Allentown takes a look at the original G.L.O.W. from the 1980s with their pilot episode! - How G.L.O.W. was different from traditional wrestling promotions and its cult-like popularity - Thoughts on the Netflix series GLOW - Matilda the Hun wants meat and she knows how to get it - WWE Hall of Famer Ivory: the bridge between G.L.O.W. and the Attitude Era - Critiques of David McLane as a play by play announcer - Salt and Pepper take me back to my childhood with their fighting - An incredible moment where someone goes through a table(!) - Americana: a preview of Trump’s America? - The unique production elements during the broadcast Plus: - Travel adventures in Atlanta, GA with long baseball games and confusing rental car keys - A few quality raps and some bizarre promos on topics like food and men in Africa, apple pie, and eating banana splits - Don’t mess with casino security - Hollywood shocks by working blue - A lengthy YouTube Comment Theater where many commenters tell everyone about how they used to make love on themselves Email: [email protected] Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

It is that 70s show this week with the initial visit to the decade for a look at WWWF Championship Wrestling from October 29, 1977! - The Grand Wizard makes his case for 1977’s Manager of the Year while running down Arnold Skaaland - The forgotten moment that made the Manager of the Year trophy presentation stand out - “Exclusive” audio of the breakup of the championship tag team of Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf - Why Dusty Rhodes couldn’t and wouldn’t be the WWF’s top guy for the 1984 national expansion - The unusual buildup of Bob Backlund in ’77 and how he differed from previous top guys in the promotion - Dewey Robertson as a pure wrestler in his pre-Missing Link days - A different kind of Vince McMahon on commentary: quiet and subdued - Fun with enhancement talents and odd looking results - A single heckler gives Backlund advice - Larry Sharpe: Pretty boy? Plus: - Meditations on the music of 1977 - Thoughts on the Panama Canal treaty - What the Zembo Mosque means to certain wrestlers - The return of YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Episode number 69 gets extreme with a look at ECW Hardcore TV from October 10, 1997 (ECW 233 on the WWE Network) - Breaking down one of the most (in)famous ECW matches ever between Beulah McGillicutty and Bill Alfonso - Examining whether ECW could have been sustainable in the long term - Figuring out the motivations and background for the Justin Credible character - November to Remember ’97 and its similarity to JCP’s Starrcade ‘87 - Lance Storm’s hideous tail and its potential impact on US/Canada relations - Why the Mr. Monday Night gimmick had an expiration date - Paul Heyman as Vizzini the bald Sicilian from The Princess Bride - An accusation of “match plagiarism” as “move inflation” runs amok Plus: - Thoughts on CM Punk and his MMA experience - Common ground between wrestling and pornography - Actual praise for a specific music dub on the WWE Network Email: [email protected] www.twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week we go back three decades for a look at the WWF Superstars of Wrestling from October 22, 1988! - An examination of the attack on Hulk Hogan by the Big Bossman on the Brother Love Show - The WWF in the fall of 1988: out with the old and in with the new - Reasons why Haku was a logical choice for “King” - What kind of wrestler would you want to be: one known for matches or one who is known for everything but the matches? - The simple argument for why the Brain Busters WERE a good fit in the WWF - Comparing two Akeems head to head for 1988-89 - Tito Santana runs into a string of bad luck - Explaining the difference between the Warlord and the Barbarian - A revelation by Bad News Brown Plus: - Running around downtown Nashville like Henry Hill at the end of Goodfellas - A true tale of hustling drunk guys for money on the golf course at age 7 that ends with a life lesson - Dan Quayle walks into a trap - Singing the Hulkamania Prison Blues - Famous men named Pork Chop - Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura banter galore! Email: [email protected] Twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week we head to Las Vegas, Nevada for an episode of AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN from May 9, 1987! - How one ends up doing an AWA show from this era - Examining what Curt Hennig’s 1987 might have looked like had he jumped to the WWF - A TV show idea for Larry Zbyszko - Theorizing on Sensational Sherri’s working style - Rod Trongard can’t keep his shaded eyes on the prize - Nick Bockwinkel doesn’t give a crap anymore - The one man who may have benefitted from Curt Hennig’s and the Midnight Rockers’ respective decisions during the year - The racist symbol that somehow made its way onto ESPN - Looking at Jerry Sags and Brian Knobbs as separate enhancement talents Plus: - How Eric Bischoff got his foot in the door of professional wrestling - What was that damn noise when sports channels went to commercial in the 1980s? - Playing the AWA Front Row Empty Seat Watch game - The current state of the site of the Las Vegas AWA shows “The Showboat” Email: [email protected] www.twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Get funky like a monkey for a look at WCW Prime from March 11, 1996! - The ridiculousness of the Doomsday cage match at Uncensored but did the heels actually accomplish their goal? - Finding the perfect gimmick for John Tenta in WCW - The Berlyn gimmick and Alex Wright: a victim of circumstance and oversized egos - Why Men at Work and the Barrio Brothers should have joined forces - The impossible situation of The Renegade - Sting's new role: NASCAR interviewer? - Critiquing Dave Taylor’s gear - The alternate universe where The Gambler is the WCW World Television champion Plus: - Spicing up the bowling commercial - How NOT to tell a deaf person that the fire alarm is going off - What Peter did in his last ever - There are many men named Manny Fernandez and why is Dusty Rhodes concerned about one of them? Email: [email protected] www.twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week the show jumps back into WWF’s “mini-Attitude Era” of 1991 with a look at WWF Superstars from November 23! • Examining the entire cobra bite saga with Jake Roberts and Randy Savage, with great camera work and perhaps Vince McMahon’s last great call • The Mad Men-inspired theory of WWF’s suddenly crazy storylines in 1991 • How Shawn Michaels is kind of like a John Travolta character • Former blood enemies teaming up: how much time needs to pass before this can be accepted? • Breaking down the WWF run of Big Bully Busick • Hulk Hogan invokes God as he faces his Gravest Challenge • So what exactly was the nature of Jack Tunney’s relationship with Elizabeth? • The Undertaker gets audio treatments to close out his promos Plus: • Why it’s a good thing that Ric Flair’s “real world title” belt was censored • Goofy Survivor Series team promos aplenty • Wanting to be an Executive Consultant • Medicating a cat in the year 2018: we’ve come a long way, baby! • The return of YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] www.twitter.com/GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Be fair to Flair and check out Greetings From Allentown for a look back at WCW Main Event from April 2, 1995! - WCW in early 1995: the meeting of good comedy and bad continuity - The formation of the Blue Bloods: great vignette or the greatest vignette? - Ric Flair does a time buy to clear his name and set the record straight about some recent actions - Questioning the makeup of the “WCW Executive Committee” - Sgt. Craig Pittman in the big shadow of Sgt. Slaughter - Brian Pillman confounds with his finisher - Executing a “short sell” of the WCW Tag titles Plus: - How to properly smoke a pork shoulder - A brief history of 1-900 numbers in the United States - Nick Bockwinkel as a regular Jay-Z in the boardroom - The infamy of the Duchess of York Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week Greetings From Allentown heads to the Land of 10,000 Lakes (and Dropkicks) for a look at AWA All Star Wrestling from April 6, 1986! - A comprehensive breakdown of the infamous WrestleRock Rumble rap video ranking the performance of each vocalist - Common threads between rap music and professional wrestling - The last vestiges of the Pro Wrestling USA leads to pleasant surprises in the promo - The AWA in 1986: teetering on the brink but still solid in-ring - Jerry Blackwell as the badass babyface - Young Leon White (Vader) as a plucky underdog(?!) - The “storied” history of the AWA Americas title as told by its Wikipedia page - The common thread between AWA Scott Hall and nWo Scott Hall Plus: - Who are these random people in the WrestleRock Rumble video? - Favorite non-wrestling podcast of all time - There’s no shame in being a one hit wonder and the greatest Simpsons parody song - Travel and entertainment advice for Las Vegas, Nevada! - The full New Hampshire experience Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Much like Marty McFly, we go back to 1985 for a look at WWF All Star Wrestling from August 31, 1985! - Late ’85 WWF gets a freshening up and a more coherent direction than a year earlier - Early Elizabeth and noticeable differences in how she acted and commentary talked about her - Breaking down the candidates for the Manager of the Year contest - The different chemistry of the early Gorilla Monsoon/Jesse Ventura commentary team - Terry Funk is everything you want and need him to be - Uncle Elmer is everything you don’t want or need - Defending Paul Orndorff’s 85/86 babyface run - The incoherent Captain Lou Albano draws comparisons to an ill-fated Goodfellas character Plus: - The bizarre story of how the naming of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania came to be - An all-jobber tag team match and how something is always off about Lanny Poffo - Gene Okerlund and Mr. Fuji evoke memories of Karate Kid - A story of disposable razors and a bad blade job - Commercials for things like other wrestling promotions, modular homes, and for WWF LJN figures Email: [email protected] Facebook.com/greetingsfromallentown Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Placetobenation.com/amazon

In this very special episode of Greetings From Allentown “Best of the Heel Turns, Volume 1”, Peter looks back at three big turns done on earlier episodes of the podcast. - Andre the Giant turns on Hulk Hogan with a build beginning with the big man’s return from a Jack Tunney imposed suspension (Episode 4) - Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty attempt a reconciliation after months of bickering in the Barber Shop, but the Heartbreak Kid has other plans (Episode 5) - In the greatest example of the student taking on the teacher, Larry Zbyszko snaps on Bruno Sammartino after finally getting a match against the Living Legend (Episode 14) Please note: This episode was finalized before the passing of Bruno Sammartino at age 82. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week Greetings From Allentown goes back 31 years to Jim Crockett Promotions for a look at NWA Worldwide from June 13, 1987! - Despite having red hot crowds, how some cracks were starting to show in the foundation of JCP that wasn’t readily apparent at the time - The ’87 Four Horsemen: underappreciated historically compared with the quartet before and after - Dusty Rhodes vs Tully Blanchard for $100,000 leads to a very sad, cinematic moment in the locker room - The batshit crazy schedule for Jim Crockett Promotions in early 1987 - Tommy Young’s poor officiating and comparing his response with other officials who famously blew calls in sports - Jim Crockett Jr. oozes with charisma as he explains the rules for the new War Games: The Match Beyond - Where the case for Jim Cornette as greatest manager of all time should start - The Rock and Roll Express and the curious case of the missing tag title belt - Two great Arn Anderson promos, as if there is any other kind Plus: - Is Peter a “bad wrestling fan” for missing almost all of WrestleMania weekend? - A great fictional moment from that weekend in June 1987 - The ORIGINAL Crockett Cup and the league that used it as it’s championship trophy - Trying to make sense of a Nikita Koloff promo - Defending different applications of the figure four leglock - NHL playoff preview! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

In the spirit of WrestleMania season, the "Adams Division" (Peter Winson of Greetings From Allentown & Steve Bennett of the Sports-Casters) reunites to discuss and rank WrestleManias 1 to 14. Featuring: Top matches, hidden gems and personal recollections of attending the biggest wrestling show of the year!

This week Greetings From Allentown is uncooked, uncut, and uncensored with a look at WWF Monday Night RAW from March 8, 1993! - Trying to be fair to Rob Bartlett as a color commentator and comedian - Virgil and El Matador Tito Santana: friends to the end - Rick Martel hassles the RAW girls while dressed like he’s going to christen a sloop - Hulk Hogan sings a song from a car commercial then on TV - Shawn Michaels: bad promo or just a really big Bruce Springsteen fan? - Re-imagining the Michaels-Tatanka WrestleMania 9 match in a way that would help both guys - Bob Backlund fans out in force in New York City - Getting the voodoo gimmick wrong with Papa Shango Plus: - Vince McMahon lets us know what’s coming up next on USA Network and it’s not “Silk Stalkings” nor “Murder, She Wrote” - The laziness of the first Gilligan’s Island theme song - Wondering about the influence of All Japan on WWF in 1993 - Yelling “Bonzai!” leads to a discussion of Daniel LaRusso’s choice of car from Karate Kid 1 - A strange as for Hasbro figures with the voice of a wrestler then in WCW - Breaking down the original commercials! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

It’s WrestleMania season so this week features a look at the build to the Ultimate Challenge at WrestleMania 6 with WWF Superstars from March 10, 1990! - A passionate tirade against the Ultimate Warrior’s promo style and general bigotry - Reasons why the Ultimate Warrior would want to protect Hulk Hogan in advance of their match - Earthquake is down with the brown (tights) - “Boxcar” Greg Valentine tries his best with new black hair and a guitar - Who would have fetched more on the free market: Warlord or Barbarian? - Newly babyface Big Bossman: still kind of a dick - Bad News Brown takes a stab at a Boston accent - Is Akeem a character from a children’s book? Plus: - A big St. Patrick’s Day in 1990 at the Boston Garden with hockey and a WWF house show - Hulk Hogan’s recurring issues with mirrors - Jake Roberts gives us a chilling vision of things to come - Robert Goulet in popular culture - The return of YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Bring some attitude to the 21st century for a look at WWF Metal from March 3, 2001! - Starting the build to Rock-Austin II and contrasting with other babyface WrestleMania main events - The distinction between WWF Metal and WWF Jakked - Samoa Joe drifts through WWF TV in 2001 with blond hair - Essa Rios: The Cal Ripken of the syndicated shows - The psychosis of Vince McMahon in early 2001 - Breaking down the Radicalz as Eddie Guerrero gets loud - Another installment in the heated rivalry between Memphis and Canada Also: - Looking back at Chaotic Wrestling’s Cold Fury 17 show last week - Struggling to say “X-Pac” - The Rock had an internet browser? - Ranking cities in the state of Texas - A salute to Snickers, a WWE sponsor then and now - Explaining signs at wrestling events in that era

Grab some Halloween candy and head to the front lines of the Monday Night War with a look at WCW Monday Nitro from October 30, 1995! - The case for WCW Monday Nitro being a more consequential show than Monday Night RAW - What was Hulk Hogan doing with the The Giant and The Yeti and why it had to be on pay-per-view - The evolving nature of the Four Horsemen - Playing what-if with a “time travelling” Eddie Guerrero - The John Tenta gimmick of the day and an idea for a sports-related faction - The importance of Lex Luger for Nitro - How the laughter of a child may have driven Sabu out of WCW - Meng: the best friend any man could have Plus: - Eric Bischoff strings the audience along with promises of highlights - Spending time in a hotel bar overrun with….a youth hockey team? - Jimmy Hart doing an oblique Dino Bravo tribute - New segment: Today in history! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week features a look at WWF Superstars of Wrestling from June 24, 1989! - Breaking down the No Holds Barred music video from soup to nuts - Ravishing Rick Rude gets a rude awakening of his own as Jesse Ventura smells a conspiracy - Dusty Rhodes weighs in on the benefits of animal waste - Looking for help for another take on Jim Duggan, this time as the King - The strange run of “Widow Maker” Barry Windham in 1989 WWF - The battle between the WWF and WCW over the city of Nashville - A defense of the Brain Busters as a fit in the WWF - Hulk Hogan’s concern with nukes falling into the wrong hands - The victories of enhancement talent Chris Curtis Plus: - Hilarious bickering between Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura - Funny celebrity tombstones - Brother Love amuses himself with name pronunciations - The logic behind voting Bruno Sammartino #1 in the GWWE PTBN project - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

In a Place to Be Nation special, Peter Winson (Greetings From Allentown) and Steve Bennett of the critically-acclaimed Sports-Casters podcast team up to break down Steve’s PTBN Greatest WWE Wrestler ever ballot! A look at omissions, the purpose of the #100 spot, and much more

Strap yourself in for a ride on the Muddaship for a look at WCW Saturday Night from May 25, 1996! Taking stock of WCW at the time and their upward trend being accelerated by the nWo Randy Savage goes on a rampage and no level of security can stop him Pondering how a heel Steiner Brothers team would have played out in 1996 The Gambler’s important role in this year’s NJPW WrestleKingdom card A random Hulk Hogan vignette doesn’t mention his greatest acting role of all The life and times of WCW Executive Committee member Chip Burnham How to mimic Lord Steven Regal for your own personal enjoyment Holding a grudge against Booker T Plus: Who would be in an all time “Village People” stable made up of pro wrestlers A recap of the Atlanta Braves game that kept WCW Saturday Night to one hour on that night The worst “hot take” of all time How to apologize to Dave Meltzer Comparing the WCW Monday Nitro theme song with various RAW themes The return of YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

O Canada! This week the show goes north of the 49th parallel for a look at WWF Maple Leaf Wrestling from November 10, 1984! - An appraisal of where the WWF expansion was in November 1984 and a theory why the American B-show would be taped in Canada - A thrown together tag match leads to an incredible reaction from the crowd in Ontario - Mismatched managers all over the show - Junkyard Dog as much-needed babyface insurance - Sammartino vs Vachon! Not what you were hoping for, unfortunately - Iron Sheik speaks directly to those of Iranian descent in the local promo - Bobby Heenan still introducing himself to the WWF audience - Why just about every enhancement talent on the show is Canadian - The bizarre WWF career of the Tonga Kid - A very rare Piper’s Pit featuring deep thoughts from Angelo Mosca Plus: - Goodfellas references galore, such as how Angelo Mosca is like Paul Sorvino as Paulie - Lots of singing: Mosca, Nikolai Volkoff, and the audience - Johnny V makes a rare United States Football League reference - The rivalry between Canada and the Soviet Union in hockey - The tyranny of play by play man Jack Reynolds, with a drinking game built around his favorite phrase Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Strap yourself in and deal with the craziness of WCW on the Main Event from June 30, 1991! - The end of Ric Flair’s original WCW run with a fiery promo comparing himself to another legendary athlete - Defending the P.N. News gimmick because pieces are there for it to work and why it did fail - The Desperados: Bad vignettes ever or the worst vignettes ever? - The Six Man Titles: As 1991 WCW as it gets - Contrasting the failed Rock and Roll Express breakup with that of the Rockers later in the year - Instances of Dusty Rhodes booking malpractice - Steve Austin and the TV title: how it was the best thing for his development - Gary Michael Cappetta ruins the main event with constant interruptions Plus: - Pondering what Ric Flair missed by not being on the WCW Bruise Cruise in the fall of 1991 - More problems with the Nature Boy’s haircut - A re-enactment of ordering the 1991 WCW Great American Bash on PPV - A Diamond Dallas Page catchphrase that is still used on New York Yankees broadcasts to this day - Reflections on Year 1 of Greetings From Allentown! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

On this episode of Greetings From Allentown, Peter takes a look at WWF Wrestling Challenge from July 14, 1991! - The bizarre psychology of the Summerslam main event “The Match Made In Hell” - Sgt. Slaughter: the only man who could have pulled off the Iraqi sympathizer that well - Issues with Col. Mustafa as an Iranian pretending to be Iraqi - Virgil music mashups! - Mr. Perfect disses the town in the local promo - Reasons why this Bret Hart push was different than the previous ones - What to do when the enhancement talent has the same name of one your best friends - Ted DiBiase gives a lesson in TV history - What the Beverly Brothers theme sounds like Plus: - Looking back at the Super Bowl and using a former NFL head coach to express frustration - Judging cities by their breweries - Awkwardness in marriage proposals - Gorilla Monsoon buries a jobber because of his bad teeth - Jim Neidhart as a color man - Meditating on the importance of the barber shop in African-American culture Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Get in the zone for some WWF Action Zone from April 30, 1995! - The debut of Hunter Hearst Helmsley: facing a Level 78 sex offender in Buck Zumhofe - Pros and cons of the In Your House PPV concept - Ted DiBiase as a manager: did he help anyone? - Intrigue over Jeff Jarrett’s Intercontinental Title - Reviewing reasons why Bob Holly was not paired with Scott Hall at the first IYH PPV - Bob Backlund is on spring break! - Changing one’s tune about Todd Pettengill - Wondering where Sid recorded his promo Plus: - Thoughts on various breakfast cereals - Passionate feelings about the music scene of 1995 - Why the LAPD should have talked to Jean-Paul Levesque in June 1994 - The greatest Dr. Dre lyric sequence - Vinnie Vegas Corner: Super Bowl edition with game props Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week features a look at the CWA Memphis Wrestling from April 1, 1989! - The importance of Memphis as a unique territory and incubator of future stars - Enjoying the commentary stylings of Ronnie P. Gossett IV - Master of Pain: the pre-Undertaker gimmick that is similar to “Bikertaker” - Robert Fuller and persistence: insults Scott Steiner then asks him to do his bidding - Actually kind of enjoying Jeff Jarrett for a change - Breaking down Jerry Lawler’s clothing before his introduction of his new running buddy Lord Humongous (Sid) - Sorting out the Mason-Dixon Connection Plus: - Inspired by Lord Humongous’ mask, a story of why those masks fell out of favor with hockey goaltenders - There are too many places near Evansville, Indiana that start with “Owens” - Fractions of a penny in American culture - Remembering the Cola Wars Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week features a look at the WWF Superstars of Wrestling from June 13, 1987! - Looking at the various happenings of May/June 1987 in the WWF and how a couple are connected to each other - The brilliance of building The Honky Tonk Man to an unthinkable upset IC title win - Ricky Steamboat awkwardly contributes a public service announcement and recalling other PSAs that aired on WWF TV - How the referee in the Steamboat/Honky Tonk Man match screwed up - A suggestion of a celebrity to bring juice to the Hillbilly Jim/King Kong Bundy angle with the minis - JYD returns and he’s bigger than ever! - Inspired booking of opponents for the British Bulldogs - Scott Casey passes Lanny Poffo in the super enhancement power rankings Plus: - A lone complaint about the WWF ice cream bars - Demolition Ax and his recurring bit with Gene Okerlund - Vince McMahon’s odd reaction to seeing footage of Jesse Ventura in the movie “Predator” - Pondering what Bruno Sammartino is thinking on commentary as Vince McMahon gushes over a canine - Vinnie Vegas Corner: NFL Conference Championship edition! - A quick review of the motion picture “I, Tonya” Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week WCW takes center stage with a look at WCW Saturday Night from June 26, 1993! - WCW in 1993: Flashes of goodness overshadowed by mini-movies and other failed ideas - Trying to make sense of the Paul Roma/Four Horsemen era - Checking in with Teddy Long, who seems to have more connections than anybody knew - How Maxx Payne got his gig in WCW - Flair For The Gold sets up a new feud….between Dusty Rhodes and the Assassin - Defending the city of Cleveland against its portrayal in the Cactus Jack “Lost in Cleveland” skits - Ricky Steamboat as the face in peril: exactly what God intended - Jesse Ventura goes soft in front of the Hollywood Blonds Plus: - Reviewing the Atlanta Braves game from this same date on TBS - Thoughts on the Sid imbroglio with the AIW promotion in Ohio - Where I would have gone if the Masters of the Powerbomb gave me plane tickets to go away - Vinnie Vegas Corner: NFL Divisional Playoff edition! - YouTube comment theater: Cancelled for the week due to lack of any funny or witty comments Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Make a New Year's resolution to listen to Greetings From Allentown starting with this peek at WWF Superstars from April 16, 1994! - The tax man attacks Tatanka and “tribal elder” Chief Jay Strongbow: Would the headdress have been subject to gift taxation in kayfabe per the laws of the time? - Examining the nature of IRS’ character and how it relates to Vince McMahon’s own political views - Jerry Lawler and Vince McMahon humorously break down the authenticity of Lex Luger’s all-American character - Owen Hart uses a word commonly heard in wrestling promos in its actual context - Plotting a different path for Earthquake if he stayed in WWF thru 1994 - Making sense of Men on a Mission and their clichéd version of rap Plus: - Frustration with researching Duke “The Dumpster” Droese - Searching for Shawn Michaels’ smile with no luck - Vinnie Vegas Corner: Wild Card Playoff edition! - YouTube comment theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Send off 2017 in style with a look at how the WWF ended 1983 and the Bob Backlund era in the 12-31-1983 episode of Championship Wrestling! - Bob Backlund loses the WWF title: how the finish came to be, why the Iron Sheik was the right guy, and why there was no recovering from Backlund’s post-match promo - A tale about Tony Garea’s #1 fan in Boston - Explaining time-travelling Gene Okerlund and Roddy Piper - The early exploits of Steve Lombardi - Comparing Paul Orndorff to…..NBA star Al Horford(?!?) - Magnificent Muraco cuts a local promo for the ages on Pat Patterson - How this edition of Victory Corner with Tito Santana might have been improved Plus: - Blaming Arnold Skaaland for not having a firm managerial hand - Commenting on Lord Alfred Hayes’ outfit for his formal WWF TV debut - The power of Samoan headbutts in 1983 - New Year’s resolutions by the wrestlers! - YouTube comment theater! ** Vote for PWO-PBTN for best podcast network in the Sheety Awards! ** http://www.sheetsandwich.com/official-polling-2017-sheety-awards/ Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Take a break from the holidays and settle in for some NWA/WCW goodness with a look at NWA Pro from May 12, 1990! - Ongoing issues in WCW: a new booker, an injured Sting, Robocop, and unhappy Ric Flair - What is going on with Ric Flair’s hair and is it the inspiration for a Simpsons character? - Inside the negotiations to bring Sid Vicious into the Four Horsemen - Lance Russell: bringing sanity during uncertain and stressful times - Barry Windham fails a lie detector test - How being unmasked liberated Doom to pursue greatness - Mean Mark learns hard lessons on selling against Road Warrior Animal - Reflecting on the late Tom Zenk Plus: - The hilarity of Ole Anderson’s outfit with suspenders - Johnny Ace is a member in good standing of the Jimmy Garvin Appreciation Society - Oddly prominent advertisements on WCW TV - A possible connection between Norman and Braun Strowman - The return of YouTube comment theater! ** Vote for PWO-PBTN for best podcast network in the Sheety Awards! ** http://www.sheetsandwich.com/official-polling-2017-sheety-awards/ Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

It’s not Arsenio from LA, it’s not Oprah from Chicago, it’s not Joe Franklin from Secaucus! This week it’s a look at WWF Prime Time Wrestling from June 17, 1991! - A brief history of the Prime Time format that featured a studio audience, meditating on the lives of those in the audience, and wishing to be a part of that - The fall of the Tugboat and Vince McMahon’s attempt to join the great play by play calls in sports history - Virgil and “Virgilina”: a round of applause for an American hero - Reasons for Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s over the top patriotism - Gary Strydom cuts a “promo” at the WBF Championship - Jake Roberts works with an unlikely ally against Earthquake - Bobby Heenan channels Ted Knight’s character from the 1980s sitcom “Too Close For Comfort” Plus: - The return of the “Andre to English” dictionary! - Lord Alfred Hayes does something very unusual to pick up women - Sean Mooney asks important questions on play by play about cemeteries and the Ted DiBiase/Sensational Sherri relationship Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week 1989 WWF is in the spotlight as we take a look at WWF Wrestling Spotlight from December 16, 1989! - The Sensational Queen Sherri has a freakout: assaulting Ian Mooney and climbing cages - Gorilla Monsoon as the Pat Buchanan of wrestling announcers and imagining Gorilla running a supermarket - Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake tell a fanciful tale of an alleged motorcycle trip to the North Pol - Al Burke: the Renaissance man of late 80s enhancement talents - Bad News Brown invokes President George H.W. Bush, Pope John Paul II, and Hollywood Hogan in asking for title shots - The bizarre commercial airing immediately before the Jake Roberts match - Why 1989 was a bad year to be a Bolshevik both in kayfabe and in real life Plus: - Explaining away what seems to be a spoonerism by Zeus - The true meaning of the timekeeper ringing the bell constantly during an angle - Trying to understand Lord Alfred Hayes’ use of the English language - Jesse Ventura (accidentally?) books a match for WrestleMania VI - YouTube Comment Theater and a Not Vinnie Vegas Corner! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

This week we re-visit the year 1986 for a look at Jim Crockett Promotions with an episode of NWA Worldwide from March 29, 1986! - The great missed opportunity of JCP in 1986, why it went down that way and why 1987 was too late - Paul Jones, Jimmy Valiant, and the Manchurian Candidate - Breaking down the Pez Whatley attack on Jimmy Valiant, including theories on why Pez was carrying scissors - Joe “Nighthawk” Coltrane’s promo goes on and on and on and on - If Arn Anderson wants to destroy your left arm, he’s going to destroy your left arm - Jimmy Garvin does a comedic bit using the telephone - The Midnight Express: equal opportunity squash artists - Dusty Rhodes and Tully Blanchard have interesting things to say about each other - The more interesting teams from the 1986 Crockett Cup tournament - David Crockett can’t even get excited about a Ronnie Garvin squash Plus: - How doing this podcast has changed what I value and the way I watch wrestling - Earnestly fact-checking Jimmy Valiant’s assertion about Pistol Pez Whatley - Judging people by their use of “Wahoo McDaniel” - Considering the mechanics of the real-life Baby Doll and Sam Houston relationship - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Grab a turkey leg and sneak away from the family to take in some WWF Superstars from December 1, 1990! - The Undertaker talks on WWF TV for the first time but no one can settle on if he is Kane the Undertaker, Cain the Undertaker, or just plain ol’ Undertaker - Examining the Gobbledy Gooker: what they were trying to accomplish and different steps they could have taken to make it work - A rundown of the Texas Tornado’s IC title reign and wondering if it is the worst singles title reign in pre-1992 WWF history - Theorizing on a faux pas leading to the end of Tugboat’s 1990 push - The nuanced acting of Wrestling Superstar Virgil - Fact-checking Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s remarks on Operation: Desert Shield and Iraq - A bizarre exchange on commentary about Superfly Jimmy Snuka - Why Power and Glory was likely doomed from the start Also: - Earthquake leaves a voicemail for Hulk Hogan - Feeling bad while researching Akio Sato - Taking in the varied crowd at an independent wrestling show - A real life TV invasion angle from 30 years ago - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown Placetobenation.com/amazon

Get ready for Thanksgiving with a special holiday-themed edition of WCW Prime from November 20, 1995! - Dusty Rhodes is hyper on color commentary even by his lofty standard: talking to turkeys, shoutouts to the ring crew, and identifying as Jewish(?!?) - What exactly is the turkey doing behind Dusty Rhodes? - Early WCW Eddie Guerrero and regrets about missing the key part of his career - The biggest problem with the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame - Bart Sawyer: From Bart Simpson to the Scorpion King - Mr. Wonderful deals with an internal crisis as anyone else would: by calling for a psychic - Trying to make sense of Ric Flair’s color and gear choices Also: - Classic commercials and discussion of 1-800-Collect, video game Vectorman, Ovaltine, and Time Life music infomercials - Pitching a movie based on the madcap adventures of WCW Prime hosts Chris Cruise and Dusty Rhodes - Yet another Dungeon of Doom promo leaves the viewer scratching their head - Surprise at how fun the 1995 World War 3 PPV was - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

This week it’s time for a look at WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event, FOX-style from February 8, 1992 - The motivations for FOX to jump into the wrestling game at that point and examining their usual Saturday night schedule from that winter - Sid Justice is a man for all seasons: acting, talking, wordsmith, speechwriter, philosopher - Deconstructing Sid’s case for being the number one contender and whether it actually holds water - Anger at the WWF re-recording commentary on the sacred 1992 Royal Rumble to try and change history - An appreciation of the original theme for The Mountie - Jim Duggan’s key role in rehabbing Sgt. Slaughter all the way back from Iraqi turncoat to American patriot - Roddy Piper’s IC title reign and why this is a case where babyface vs babyface made sense for WrestleMania VIII against Bret Hart Plus: - A theory on why the Barber Shop segment had to end when it did - The Genius opens the door for some Gilligan’s Island talk - Being annoyed at a recurring part of NHL games this season - YouTube Comment Theater! Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GFAllentownPod Facebook.com/GreetingsFromAllentown

Grab your Members Only jacket because Greetings From Allentown is headed back to March 7, 1981 for a look at WWF All Star Wrestling featuring Sgt. Slaughter’s Cobra Clutch Challenge! - Breaking down one of the greatest WWF angles ever as Pat Patterson finally accepts the challenge from Sgt. Slaughter after many weeks of buildup; also paying tribute to Slaughter’s incredible versatility - A musical tribute to Angelo “King Kong” Mosca’s time as a color analyst on Maple Leaf Wrestling - The red hot S.D. Jones (yes!) has his hands full with the Hangman - Vince McMahon hangs poor Freddie Blassie out to dry on a promo - Moondog King and his brief taste of glory - Yoshiaki Yatsu and figuring out what was in it for both WWF and New Japan with their partnership - Tony Garea comes to the rescue, sort of Also: - How much money would Patterson have if he had been paid the $10,000 and invested it wisely? - Who is this Black Demon running away from the Cobra Clutch Challenge? - Imagining Dominic DeNucci as a 1970s sitcom character - Recalling the 1980 Olympic boycott and the diverse group of nations that stayed away from Moscow that summer

Buckle up because it’s time for da Prime! WCW Prime that is, from August 19, 1996. - Dusty Rhodes explains it all: Clubberin’, the nWo, Craig Pittman’s push, not taking bumps, and anything else on his mind - The origins of the Prime Network in the Los Angeles area and how it evolved over time - Why WCW Prime was such a unique show - Scott Norton and a theory of why he was always stuck on the nWo B-team - Marking time in 1996 by observing the color and length of Sting’s hair - Recalling the Dean Malenko drinking game - Konnan’s “Mexican Heavyweight Title” - Kurasawa: The Lex Luger of Japan? Also: - Why Peter has not eaten at McDonald’s since 1996, which turns into a rant about the Frosty at Wendy’s and coffee in hotel rooms - The delightful chemistry between Dusty and Chris Cruise - Tom Emanski and the endorsement of Fred McGriff - A poor choice of words about the 1996 Atlanta Olympics - YouTube Comment Theater!

Greetings From Allentown gets extreme this week with a look at ECW Hardcore TV from February 25, 1998. - Why ECW was important to me at that point in time and the bizarro universe the entire promotion seemed to operate in - Taz as an alternative to Stone Cold Steve Austin and his feud with Bam Bam Bigelow - A moment of silence turns into an all-boys high school assembly - Suggesting a different theme song for Shane Douglas - Discussing the in-house ads for ECW: Extreme Warfare Volume 2 and Born To Be Wired - The importance of limiting the size of Justin Credible’s entourage - Sunny keeps a secret from Chris Candido yet again before his match with former partner Lance Storm - New Jack: terrifying and hilarious at the same time Also: - What the hell is Brakkus doing in the ECW Arena? - Recounting various fan chants heard over the years - Imagining Bam Bam Bigelow playing golf - Scoring Tom and Jerry episodes on points - A brief and sheepish Vinnie Vegas Corner

On this episode of Greetings From Allentown, Peter takes a look at WWF Wrestling Challenge from March 12, 1989. - Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan duel on promos, with the Macho Man intense as ever and Hogan talks about being “crucified” - A breakdown of the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers theme song with the little heard French portion - Why it wasn’t a good idea to have the Rockers and Strike Force swap matches at WrestleMania V - An Andre the Giant interview forces the return of the “Andre to English” dictionary - Akeem’s critical role in the Twin Towers team - The problem with WWF Womens’ champion Rockin’ Robin Also: - Childhood memories of the Dukes of Hazzard - John Ziegler: enhancement talent/National Hockey League President? - An idea for modern WWE merchandise for the hot stable - A plea for an earlier start time for Wrestlemanias for the sake of fans in Europe - An abbreviated Vinnie Vegas corner and the return of YouTube Comment Theater!

Close the windows because the Heat is on: WWF Halftime Heat from January 31, 1999! - Why Vince McMahon would have called the Rock-Mankind empty arena match even if Jim Ross was healthy - The true winner of the empty arena match - The difference in how head injuries were viewed in 1999 versus today - Shane McMahon as an announcer: the most annoying man in the world - Chyna’s heel turn and examining it from a kayfabe perspective - An appreciation of late 90s Big Bossman and the evolution of the character - A look back at the fun “UFC-style” matches between Ken Shamrock and Owen Hart from summer 1998 - Triple H becomes a misogynist in putting down Chyna Also: - A recollection of the most boring NHL game the host attended, which was on the same date as this show - A personal story about the Will Smith song “Miami” turns into a rant - Low blow after low blow after low blow - What was the actual halftime show of Super Bowl 33 that anyone watching this would have missed - The reluctant return of Vinnie Vegas Corner!

Get off that top rope because Bill Watts is large and in charge for WCW Saturday Night from June 20, 1992! Included: - The good and bad of the changes made by Bill Watts upon his arrival - Johnny B. Badd: One of the greatest WCW character creations - Checking in with Scott Steiner, Shoney’s restaurant franchisee - The greatest hits of enhancement talent Bob Cook - Cactus Jack’s voice sounds a bit like a guy named Foley, but not Mick - What Greg Valentine and former MLB pitcher Jack Morris have in common - Dusty Rhodes gets profane - Tony Schiavone is totally sick of Jesse Ventura’s crap - Finding another problem with Terry Taylor: his whiny voice Also: - A plea from the host for any El Dandy matches announced by Dusty Rhodes - One animal in nature that Arn Anderson cannot defeat, based on his own remarks - The changes in the Steve Harvey-hosted version of Family Feud and potential parallels to wrestling - WCW inadvertently honoring Pride Month? - The debut of a new segment honoring Vinnie Vegas

On this special episode of Greetings From Allentown, Peter pays tribute to the storied career of the late Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Included: - Heenan’s feuds with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant that stretched for years and Bobby’s instrumental role in making WrestleMania 3 as big as it was - The Brain’s wheelings and dealings with his charges and those he helped elevate - His 2004 WWE Hall of Fame induction speech and how it compares with other HOF speeches both in WWE and in other sports - Heenan as a superlative comedian - Gorilla and Bobby: A Plan B for two different shows - A musical tribute to the Brain’s sublime call of the 1992 Royal Rumble

Raise the stars and stripes as this week features a look at WWF All American Wrestling from November 13, 1983! - The early format of WWF All American Wrestling and how it evolved with the sneaky use of wrestlers from other promotions - Sorting fact from fiction on the career of the Fabulous Moolah - The life and times of Ken Jugan - Tony Garea and Iron Mike Sharpe renew their rivalry in “The Last Battle of Allentown” - Bob Backlund helps Eddie Gilbert rehab an injury and things get weird - Hulk Hogan is all over the map in late 1983 and forms a tag team with the highest ego rating ever - The origins of the phrase “Katy bar the door” Also: - Saying goodbye to the Grand Wizard and his glorious attire - Multiple references to 1960s star Luis Martinez - So many plugs for Victory magazine, including what may have been Lord Alfred Hayes’ first WWF on-camera appearance - Iranian shenanigans in the Middle East in 1983 - YouTube comment theater!

Get ready for some explosive talk show action for this episode of Greetings From Allentown looking at WWF’s TNT (Tuesday Night Titans) from August 16, 1985. - A brief history of Tuesday Night Titans, issues with the name, and how the 1984 version of the show was like a modern day WWE problem - The original opening song to TNT: what it was originally supposed to be used for, and a later sporting event where it served as the theme - Terry Funk starts and finishes a barroom brawl after being insulted by Lord Alfred Hayes - A bounty on Mr. Wonderful leads to the first ever Paul Orndorff/Phil Collins mashup - Tony Garea and his hair tell us all about New Zealand but mostly about the sheep population - Corporal Kirchner is coming….but was he already there? - Jim Neidhart complains about future wrestling fans on the internet without even realizing it Also: - The missed opportunity of Vince McMahon playing a true Johnny Carson role - Sympathy for England getting screwed in the 1986 World Cup - Research about Tony Garea leads to a sense of profound sadness - A bit of prior history between Al Hayes and the Funk family - Projecting the perfect TNT guest from late 80s WWF - Recommending a NFL Wins Pool for you and four friends, barely in time for the season to begin

Saturday Night’s alright for fighting as this week features a look at Saturday Night’s Main Event from January 4, 1986 in part 2 of the Fortnight of (Terry) Funk - Terry Funk’s history with Hulk Hogan which dates to the early 1980s and all the way to Sun City in Africa - Jesse Ventura calls out Brent Musberger and Vin Scully as he works a match and does commentary on the same show - Calling out Mr. Fuji for blatantly misrepresenting the Japanese people - George “The Animal” Steele and why he was a critical figure in the first few years of Saturday Night’s Main Event - Corporal Kirchner: It’s 4:20 somewhere! - Iron Sheik promos: unselfish in his patriotism - The beauty of the original music used in the show Also: - A quick rundown of the ill-fated 1985-86 season of Saturday Night Live, which was preempted for this show. - Referee Dean Malenko: Man of 1000 holds but doesn’t remember the rules for pinfalls - Hulk Hogan and his alternate uniform system - Cousin Luke as the #9 hitter in the lineup - Discussion of the USA For Africa supergroup, the “We Are The World” video, and Bruce Springsteen’s hair therein - A lengthy YouTube Comment Theater!

Clear off all the tables and keep your head on a swivel because Greetings From Allentown kicks off a Fortnight of (Terry) Funk with a look at NWA Pro from May 20, 1989! - Excerpts from Terry Funk’s book giving insight to how he saw his role for this run in the NWA/WCW and why the tone of his feud with Ric Flair was changed midstream - The legendary Lance Russell is full of wisdom and also disgust for the heels - Terry Funk interrupts the Rookie Challenge match as only he can - Breaking down the six different kinds of “wrestling mists” as The Great Muta busts out the green kind - Lex Luger’s righteous indignation toward his top ten ranking by the NWA board - How Dick Murdoch’s honesty toward management sunk his 1989 run - The battle of (Eddie) Gilbert and (Kevin) Sullivan: Clash of the southern bookers - Ron Simmons turns up yet again and why Randy Rose is back so soon - A sudden realization about the relative attractiveness of Terry Gordy Also: - A comparison of Terry Funk and baseball legend Nolan Ryan - The pizza choices of Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas as the Dynamic Dudes - Nashville, TN: Where tables injure legends - Travel tips for a weekend in Baltimore!

The forecast for this week’s Greetings From Allentown calls for Sunny skies with a look at WWF Mania, rebranded temporarily as The Sunny Show, from March 9, 1996. - A fair-minded look at the career of Tammy Lynn Sytch and her key role in launching the WWF’s online presence - Shawn Michaels’ run to WrestleMania 12, his connection with Sunny, and the peculiar thing he was into back then - An appreciation of old commercials for bizarre merchandise - Ranking the Bret Hart WWF World title reigns from worst to best - Breaking down the Billionaire Ted skits piece by piece, with things that were funny, things that were slanderous, and things that backfired completely - Taking several minutes to slam JBL as a wrestler, character, broadcaster, and human being in general - The definition of “diminishing returns”: The Ultimate Warrior’s 1996 run - Goldust toeing the line of homophobia in Piper’s Pit - Bret Hart as environmentalist: recycling perfectly good finishes - A struggle to find a theme song this week leads to a strangely produced number