Where the Big Boys Play (NWA/WCW podcast)

JerryvonKramer

Old School for Life
I've had permission to post this here by klunderbunker.

Hi all, I used to post here a couple of years ago. Thought I'd share a new podcast I've been doing which is now on iTunes, see below for the first nine shows. I know what you're thinking, "just what the world needs, another wrestling podcast", but this one is a bit different. We're only covering NWA and WCW PPV shows and Clash of the Champions, with maybe some AWA and other stuff mixed in as we move forward -- I see this as being a niche in the market that nobody has bothered to fill, because so many podcasts focus on WWF/E.

We also have an interesting mix of people, I'm from the UK, Chad is from the heart of Crockett-land, near Atlanta, Georgia, and Brian is from Pittsburgh. If you're interested in the old NWA or WCW or just in 80s and 90s wrestling in general, please give it a spin and let me know what you think.

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Where the Big Boys Play Home Page

Where the Big Boys Play is an old-school wrestling podcast focusing mainly on reviewing PPV shows put on by the NWA / Jim Crockett Promotions / WCW hosted by Chad (aka Soup23) and Parv (aka JerryvonKramer), starting with Starrcade 83. On occasion, we will also dip into supercards put on by the AWA and other territories as well as invite guests to take part in roundtable debates. We will not cover old WWF shows because they have already been covered so comprehensively by others.

Where the Big Boys Play #1 – Starrcade 83: Part 1

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After some brief self-introductions detailing their history as wrestling fans, Chad and Parv take a look at the first four matches of the so-called “Grandaddy of them all”, Starrcade 83. Highlights include: being a wrestling fan in the UK, discussion of late-70s dancing babyfaces, lame finishes, assessing Gordon Solie in general, the difference between Carolinas Flair and Minnesota Flair, and Dusty’s mic trouble.

Where the Big Boys Play #2 – Starrcade 83: Part 2

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Chad and Parv continue their analysis of Starrcade 83 by looking at the concluding four matches. Highlights include: extended evaluation of the Great Kabuki’s claw hold, Japanese wrestlers dogging it in the US, more assessment of Solie, picks for MVP, match of the night and worst performance, and we ask “does Harley Race really care?”

Where the Big Boys Play #3 – Final Conflict

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Before moving on to Starrcade ’84, Chad and Parv rewind back to March 1983 for this big show at Greensboro Coliseum — a good example of what a supercard in the pre-PPV era might have looked like and featuring a main event that has been mythologized by smart fans for years. Topics include: assessing Dr Tom Miller as a ring announcer, the concept of face managers including Arnold Skaaland in WWF, the plight of ageing 60s and 70s wrestlers in the 80s, Chad wonders why Gary Hart was known as “Playboy”?, the pod pays homage to the energy of David Crockett, and an unusually in-depth review of the legendary Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle vs. Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood cage match for the NWA world tag titles.

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Where the Big Boys Play #4 – Starrcade 84: Part 1

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Chad and Parv take a look at the first six matches of Starrcade ’84. Highlights include: Kamala’s wife and his payoffs, some thoughts on World Class, the definition of “catch-as-catch-can”, what the hell were the Zambuie Express meant to be? Dusty Rhodes looking the biggest he has EVER looked drapped in a tracksuit jacket, more complaints about the quality of finishes on these early NWA shows, some appreciation of JJ Dillon as a manager, Chad reveals his undying love for “Boogie Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant, and Parv wonders why heels are always intelligent schemers and why faces are always happy-go-lucky “not too bright” types.

Where the Big Boys Play #5 – Starrcade 84: Part 2

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Chad and Parv complete their review of Starrcade 84. Highlights include: Parv speculates over when Minnesota Flair became “Slick Ric”, discussion over the psychology of heel-in-peril sections in tag matches, Ricky Steamboat’s reputation and where it comes from, Chad judges the judges for the mainevent, Dusty’s atheltic background, and our picks for MVP, match of the night and least valuable player.

Where the Big Boys Play #6 – Great American Bash 85: Part 1

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As Chad is out traveling with work, Parv is joined by Brian (aka Smack2k) to talk about the Great American Bash ’85. Show highlights include: Brian’s background as a wrestling fan, the transition from 84 to 85, Parv wonders why Buddy Landel stuck with the “Nature Boy Jr” gimmick for so long, Brian waxes lyrical about his love for The Barbarian, and speculation over how Baby Doll and Sam Houston’s relationship worked.

Where the Big Boys Play #7 – Great American Bash 85: Part 2

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Brian and Parv conclude their round up of the Great American Bash 85. Highlights include: differences between perceptions of the cold war in the 80s in the UK and the US, more talk of the transition from “the Starrcade 83 Flair” to Slick Ric and the weirdness about him being heel vs. Magnum TA around this time but face vs. Nikita Koloff, speculation about Dusty’s secret (legit) dark desires for Baby Doll, the relative position of the US and TV titles in 85, and end of show awards.

Where the Big Boys Play #8 – Starrcade 85: Part 1

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Brian, Chad and Parv unite for the first three-man edition of Where the Big Boys Play to take on the first half of Starrcade 85. In this episode: Chad recounts the memories of his father- and brother-in-law of being at The Omni half of Starrcade 85 and talks about the importance of the Omni to the Atlanta area in general, the gradual transition from Charlotte to Atlanta of JCP / WCW, Sam Houston: stupidest babyface we’ve seen so far?, Brian explains how baldness can make you — or at least Barry Darsow — look bigger, Parv can’t substantiate the rumour that the ring announcer at The Omni is former AWA play-by-play man Rodger Kent, Manny Fernandez’s wild delusions of grandeur, Parv rants about Paul Jones’s lack of managerial acumen, and the missed opportunities of Buddy Landel’s career.


Where the Big Boys Play #9 – Starrcade 85: Part 2

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Brian, Chad and Parv wrap up on Starrcade 85. Highlights include: more talk of Baby Doll’s importance to Tully’s phenomenal 1985, David Crockett shouting “SHE LIKES IT” as Magnum TA steals a kiss, discussion of where the Magnum TA vs. Tully Blanchard “I Quit” match will rank in the eventual DVDR 80s project JCP set, Chad’s manlove for the Boogie Woogie man escalates even further, Brian is taken out by the raging Pittsburgh thunder storm, analysis of Flair and Dusty’s chemistry (or lack of it) and end of show awards.
 
Where the Big Boys Play #10 – NWA Superstars on the Superstation

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Brian and Parv take a look at this TV special from February 1986. Topics include: differences between JCP and WWF in the booking of the tag division, who on earth is Linda Curry?, speculation on why Crockett gave the decrepit Baron von Raschke into the promotion from the AWA at this time, Willie Nelson, Dusty Rhodes and differences between British and American working class values, further talk about Dusty’s dark desires for Baby Doll, more classic moments from David Crockett who is on top form, analysis of Tommy Young’s (kayfabe) performance as a ref, and picks for match of the night, MVP and The Billy Graham award.
 
Where the Big Boys Play #11 – Great American Bash 86: Part 1

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Brian, Chad and Parv travel across 14 different cities over 33 days (well just 3 cities actually) to bring you the first part of their look at the Great American Bash 86. In this episode: speculation over where the 1986 Crockett Cup is now, how well the GAB 86 tour drew across different towns, Parv rails on Tommy Young (yet again), Brian on his experiences as a “bald-headed geek”, the greatest haircut in the history of US wrestling, and the continued devaluing of the TV title.
 
New for Where the Big Boys Play:

A table charting our end of show award picks

The big thing to note there is Tully Blanchard's remarkable run as MVP. We've all picked him at least 3 times each and out of 7 individual cards, he's been in MVP or joint-MVP for 4 of them.

Where the Big Boys Play #12 – Great American Bash 86: Part 2

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Chad and Parv and an increasingly croaky-voiced Brian wrap up the Great American Bash 86. Highlights include: Brian vs. Dave Meltzer on the Nikita Koloff vs. Magnum TA feud, Chad on Dusty Rhodes's Red Man tobacco hat and his possible chewing habits, debate: was Dusty Rhodes placating his own ego with the cage match against Flair?, did Flair and Stan Hansen ever have a match in the 80s?, and end of show awards in which Tully Blanchard continues his quest to be MVP seemingly every show.

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This is the last time I will update this thread. For those of you interested, either subscribe to the iTunes or keep an eye on the main thread over on PWO:

http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?showtopic=16494

We will aim to maintain the schedule of a weekend release and a midweek release every week.
 

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