King of Pro Wrestling Podcast

Thoughts on AEW's Blood & Guts show from the opening match to the final blood soaked screenshot. I'm going over what worked for me, what didn't, and where I think things might go from here. Plus some thoughts on people who can't seem to get past Jungle Boy's size, the finish of the Blood & Guts match, and the use of weapons in the cage. All that and some quick bites on AJPW Champion Carnival, NJPW Takagi vs. Ospreay, and more!

Thoughts on AEW's Blood & Guts show from the opening match to the final blood soaked screenshot. I'm going over what worked for me, what didn't, and where I think things might go from here. Plus some thoughts on people who can't seem to get past Jungle Boy's size, the finish of the Blood & Guts match, and the use of weapons in the cage. All that and some quick bites on AJPW Champion Carnival, NJPW Takagi vs. Ospreay, and more!

In this episode we pick up pretty much where we left off in Chapter I. Genichiro Tenryu is the new AJPW Triple Crown Champion, but his feud with Jumbo Tsuruta continues. How does it end and where do we go from there are the big questions we answer in this outing. The Four Pillars of Wrestling also make their first appearances in our story and we chart Mitsuharu Misawa’s life up until May of 1990. What elements of his upbringing drove him to wrestling greatness? What obstacles did he overcome? And who helped him along the way? All of these things and much more are covered in Chapter 2 of King’s Road: A 90s All Japan Retrospective. In addition to the context and background information discussed, we also take a look at the following four matches: Tenryu vs Tsuruta 10/11/89 - Triple Crown III Tenryu vs Tsuruta 4/19/90 - Final Outing Tiger Mask II & Toshiaki Kawada vs Fuyuki & Yatsu 5/14/90 - The Mask Comes Off Misawa, Kobashi, & Taue vs. Jumbo, Kabuki, & Fuchi 5/26/90 - New Generation Emerges Missing Pieces - Genichiro Tenryu left AJPW after his defeat in April of 1990 at the hands of Jumbo Tsuruta to be the spokesmodel for Megane Super - an eyeglass maker in Japan. However, the company seemed to have a dual motive in hiring Tenryu as they would launch a wrestling company shortly thereafter - Super World of Sports. The SWS was founded with the motto “Straight and Strong”. Megane threw a ton of money around to recruit wrestlers - mostly from All Japan - in an attempt to form a legitimate threat to the other big two - NJPW & AJPW. They even had a short-lived partnership with the WWF and promoted 3 shows at the Tokyo Dome with Vince McMahon’s company. SWS would not last and became a victim of both the economic downturn in Japan and perhaps their own overreach. Tenryu would go on to found another company - Wrestling and Romance, better known as WAR. Eventually he found his way back to All Japan and enjoyed quite a bit of success in his late 40s and early 50s capturing both the IWGP Heavyweight title and then the AJPW Triple Crown twice more. Horst Hoffman was a journeyman wrestler in the truest sense of the word. Born in Germany, he spent most of his early career wrestling in his homeland and honing his considerable technical skills. Hoffman caught the notice of fellow European Billy Robinson and found his way to the AWA for a time where he competed in upper mid-card and main event matches. Hoffman has been described as a shooter and his eventual exposure to a wider audience provided all the evidence one needed to apply that appellation. When he made his Japan debut in 1972 for International Wrestling Enterprises, it’s possible that an 11 year old Misawa first became acquainted with him, though he would go to even wider exposure in Japan when he began wrestling for AJPW in 1975. He competed at the highest level for the promotion notching victories over the Destroyer and Pat O’Connor and engaging in main event contests with Jumbo Tsuruta and Giant Baba. His final recorded All Japan tour came in 1977 when he teamed with Billy Robinson in the precursor to the Real World Tag League. They finished in the middle of the pack with 7 points. A minor figure in pro wrestling history by today’s standards, he was no less incredible in the ring and is highly esteemed by his peers and fans alike. If nothing else, he provided inspiration to a young Misawa when he needed it most and an older Misawa would pay a suitable tribute by adopting his ring colors and tights. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:10:00 Tenryu as champ 00:11:00 10/11/89 Tenryu v Tsuruta Triple Crown 00:17:00 Where next for Tenryu? 00:17:42 4/19/90 Tsuruta v Tenryu Triple Crown 00:24:00 Sayonara Tenryu 00:24:26 Where do we go from here? Tiger Mask 00:26:18 Mitsuharu Misawa 00:34:43 5/14/90 Tiger Mask II & Toshiaki Kawada vs Fuyuki & Yatsu - The Unmasking 00:36:21 What do I say? 00:36:54 5/26/90 Misawa, Kobashi, & Taue vs. Jumbo, Kabuki, & Fuchi - The New Generation Emerges 00:51:19 Next time on… & Endnotes Special thanks and shoutouts to Matt Charlton (@ShiningWizardDs), Hisame (@Hi5ame), Cary Silkin (@rohcary), and Filsinger Games (@filsingergames & filsingergames.com). Be sure to check out: ROLL UP - The Official Filsinger Games Podcast: https://filsingergames.com/rollup-podcast/ Uncharted Territory: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncharted-territory/id1537337233 & Last Stop Penn Station: https://laststoppennstation.com You can find me on Twitter @kopw72. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, comments, criticisms, advice, and everything in between. Thank you so much for listening and supporting this endeavor. Stay tuned for Chapter 3 - Gaijin & the Triple Crown coming soon!

In this episode we pick up pretty much where we left off in Chapter I. Genichiro Tenryu is the new AJPW Triple Crown Champion, but his feud with Jumbo Tsuruta continues. How does it end and where do we go from there are the big questions we answer in this outing. The Four Pillars of Wrestling also make their first appearances in our story and we chart Mitsuharu Misawa's life up until May of 1990. What elements of his upbringing drove him to wrestling greatness? What obstacles did he overcome? And who helped him along the way? All of these things and much more are covered in Chapter 2 of King's Road: A 90s All Japan Retrospective. In addition to the context and background information discussed, we also take a look at the following four matches: Tenryu vs Tsuruta 10/11/89 - Triple Crown III Tenryu vs Tsuruta 4/19/90 - Final Outing Tiger Mask II & Toshiaki Kawada vs Fuyuki & Yatsu 5/14/90 - The Mask Comes Off Misawa, Kobashi, & Taue vs. Jumbo, Kabuki, & Fuchi 5/26/90 - New Generation Emerges Missing Pieces - Genichiro Tenryu left AJPW after his defeat in April of 1990 at the hands of Jumbo Tsuruta to be the spokesmodel for Megane Super - an eyeglass maker in Japan. However, the company seemed to have a dual motive in hiring Tenryu as they would launch a wrestling company shortly thereafter - Super World of Sports. The SWS was founded with the motto “Straight and Strong”. Megane threw a ton of money around to recruit wrestlers - mostly from All Japan - in an attempt to form a legitimate threat to the other big two - NJPW & AJPW. They even had a short-lived partnership with the WWF and promoted 3 shows at the Tokyo Dome with Vince McMahon's company. SWS would not last and became a victim of both the economic downturn in Japan and perhaps their own overreach. Tenryu would go on to found another company - Wrestling and Romance, better known as WAR. Eventually he found his way back to All Japan and enjoyed quite a bit of success in his late 40s and early 50s capturing both the IWGP Heavyweight title and then the AJPW Triple Crown twice more. Horst Hoffman was a journeyman wrestler in the truest sense of the word. Born in Germany, he spent most of his early career wrestling in his homeland and honing his considerable technical skills. Hoffman caught the notice of fellow European Billy Robinson and found his way to the AWA for a time where he competed in upper mid-card and main event matches. Hoffman has been described as a shooter and his eventual exposure to a wider audience provided all the evidence one needed to apply that appellation. When he made his Japan debut in 1972 for International Wrestling Enterprises, it's possible that an 11 year old Misawa first became acquainted with him, though he would go to even wider exposure in Japan when he began wrestling for AJPW in 1975. He competed at the highest level for the promotion notching victories over the Destroyer and Pat O'Connor and engaging in main event contests with Jumbo Tsuruta and Giant Baba. His final recorded All Japan tour came in 1977 when he teamed with Billy Robinson in the precursor to the Real World Tag League. They finished in the middle of the pack with 7 points. A minor figure in pro wrestling history by today's standards, he was no less incredible in the ring and is highly esteemed by his peers and fans alike. If nothing else, he provided inspiration to a young Misawa when he needed it most and an older Misawa would pay a suitable tribute by adopting his ring colors and tights. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:10:00 Tenryu as champ 00:11:00 10/11/89 Tenryu v Tsuruta Triple Crown 00:17:00 Where next for Tenryu? 00:17:42 4/19/90 Tsuruta v Tenryu Triple Crown 00:24:00 Sayonara Tenryu 00:24:26 Where do we go from here? Tiger Mask 00:26:18 Mitsuharu Misawa 00:34:43 5/14/90 Tiger Mask II & Toshiaki Kawada vs Fuyuki & Yatsu - The Unmasking 00:36:21 What do I say? 00:36:54 5/26/90 Misawa, Kobashi, & Taue vs. Jumbo, Kabuki, & Fuchi -

Night 2 of WrestleMania is in the books and I have some thoughts. What worked? What didn't? I'm feeling good and ready to share my opinions on the matches, angles, production values, and everything in between.

Night 2 of WrestleMania is in the books and I have some thoughts. What worked? What didn't? I'm feeling good and ready to share my opinions on the matches, angles, production values, and everything in between.

Immediate reaction to Wrestlemania 37 Night 1! What do I think of the main event? What about Bad Bunny? Omos? Cesaro? It's all here. Plus, I talk a walk through the last few days of indie wrestling, especially that showcased on IWTV. It's good to be back and talk a little wrestling. Give it a listen and join the conversation on Twitter @kopw72

Immediate reaction to Wrestlemania 37 Night 1! What do I think of the main event? What about Bad Bunny? Omos? Cesaro? It's all here. Plus, I talk a walk through the last few days of indie wrestling, especially that showcased on IWTV. It's good to be back and talk a little wrestling. Give it a listen and join the conversation on Twitter @kopw72

Todd and Mike join me to preview the upcoming Filsinger Games Perennial 2021 virtual con. We go behind the scenes a bit, discuss the schedule, and even have a couple of exclusive reveals! We also present our top 5 game cards for 2020 from each game line (CotG, Legends, & Indies). Head to filsingergames.com to sign up for the Perennial - $10 for tournament play, $7 for non-tournament participation - and join us on Saturday, January 23rd, for a day filled with the fun of galactic proportions!

Todd and Mike join me to preview the upcoming Filsinger Games Perennial 2021 virtual con. We go behind the scenes a bit, discuss the schedule, and even have a couple of exclusive reveals! We also present our top 5 game cards for 2020 from each game line (CotG, Legends, & Indies). Head to filsingergames.com to sign up for the Perennial - $10 for tournament play, $7 for non-tournament participation - and join us on Saturday, January 23rd, for a day filled with the fun of galactic proportions!

Happy New Year! KoPW Style... What does that mean? I'm not 100% sure but it probably involves vulnerability, humor, charm, and the search for perspective on life, love, & death. Oh, and wrestling! Lots of wrestling! Do I succeed? Who knows? What I do know is this past week has been a cathartic experience. I talk about Brodie Lee, AEW's tribute show, the past year, what's behind us, and what's ahead. Plus, what's on my bookshelf, who do I have to thank, and what are some of the people and things I'm grateful for. All that and a promise to you, listeners. Take my hand and come along for a ride...

Happy New Year! KoPW Style... What does that mean? I'm not 100% sure but it probably involves vulnerability, humor, charm, and the search for perspective on life, love, & death. Oh, and wrestling! Lots of wrestling! Do I succeed? Who knows? What I do know is this past week has been a cathartic experience. I talk about Brodie Lee, AEW's tribute show, the past year, what's behind us, and what's ahead. Plus, what's on my bookshelf, who do I have to thank, and what are some of the people and things I'm grateful for. All that and a promise to you, listeners. Take my hand and come along for a ride...

It's the best time of the year! December releases for Filsinger Games have hit. All three major product lines get something unique - from the fantastic Legends Expansion featuring Dynamite Kid, Adrian Adonis, and Gordon Solie - to name a few - to the Women of the Indies 2020 pack and the mammoth Battle Lines: Kronos set; I've got Todd Joerchel, Mike Melesky, and Battle Lines maestro, Rob Beaubien to chat about all the details of the latest and greatest. Rob gives a deep dive into the set's creation, and we zero in on some of the newest and coolest characters to hit Kronos. Plus, there are some great teases for what's next, including the January virtual con - will you be the promoter to give us a name for what could be a new annual event?

It's the best time of the year! December releases for Filsinger Games have hit. All three major product lines get something unique - from the fantastic Legends Expansion featuring Dynamite Kid, Adrian Adonis, and Gordon Solie - to name a few - to the Women of the Indies 2020 pack and the mammoth Battle Lines: Kronos set; I’ve got Todd Joerchel, Mike Melesky, and Battle Lines maestro, Rob Beaubien to chat about all the details of the latest and greatest. Rob gives a deep dive into the set’s creation, and we zero in on some of the newest and coolest characters to hit Kronos. Plus, there are some great teases for what's next, including the January virtual con - will you be the promoter to give us a name for what could be a new annual event?

The fantastic Matt Charlton joins me for another round. This time we're talking about his latest book, J-Crowned: An Illustrated Guide to Champions of Japanese Wrestling, Vol. 2. When last we spoke, volume 1 was hot off the press, and the pandemic was just beginning. We dive into the past 8 months of living, a little bit of parenthood, and a whole lot of puroresu goodness. The names, the titles, the matches, and more are all a part of our conversation. We hope you enjoy and, as always, find the podcast on Twitter @kopw72 and Matt @ShiningWizardDs. Thanks for listening!

The fantastic Matt Charlton joins me for another round. This time we're talking about his latest book, J-Crowned: An Illustrated Guide to Champions of Japanese Wrestling, Vol. 2. When last we spoke, volume 1 was hot off the press, and the pandemic was just beginning. We dive into the past 8 months of living, a little bit of parenthood, and a whole lot of puroresu goodness. The names, the titles, the matches, and more are all a part of our conversation. We hope you enjoy and, as always, find the podcast on Twitter @kopw72 and Matt @ShiningWizardDs. Thanks for listening!

Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky are back reppin' Filsinger Games. We discuss the latest Black Friday game announcements including the huge name dropped for Legends of Wrestling's next expansion set. Then we turn back the clock to talk GWF Early Classics and the Classics era of Champions of the Galaxy. It's a deep dive as we go character by character and year by year, to cover the first 3 years of the Galaxian Wrestling Federation's history. We hope you enjoy and make sure to pre-order the latest sets at filsingergames.com and join in the conversation over at the message boards filsingergames.proboards.com

Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky are back reppin' Filsinger Games. We discuss the latest Black Friday game announcements including the huge name dropped for Legends of Wrestling's next expansion set. Then we turn back the clock to talk GWF Early Classics and the Classics era of Champions of the Galaxy. It's a deep dive as we go character by character and year by year, to cover the first 3 years of the Galaxian Wrestling Federation's history. We hope you enjoy and make sure to pre-order the latest sets at filsingergames.com and join in the conversation over at the message boards filsingergames.proboards.com

Back with an epic conversation between yours truly and the Filsinger Games Legends of Wrestling Team! Card gurus Chad and Cory Olson, Tim Dalton, and handbook writer, Stu Lowry, are all on board - albeit in various forms - to chat about their favorite territories, legends, and signings. Plus we go fairly in-depth about card creation - how do you craft a main eventer vs a mid-carder? What mechanics are important? How do you maintain a fidelity to the era while also creating exciting cards? I also get the chance to ask about the team's most desired signings, their favorite wrestling-related books, and their new podcast, Uncharted Territory! Buckle up, it's a long one but well, well worth it. (Editors Note: We had some technical difficulties during the recording process but decided to preserve the bulk of the recording as is. Special thanks to Chad Olson for joining me to record an intro and outro due to some unsalvageable material.)

Back with an epic conversation between yours truly and the Filsinger Games Legends of Wrestling Team! Card gurus Chad and Cory Olson, Tim Dalton, and handbook writer, Stu Lowry, are all on board - albeit in various forms - to chat about their favorite territories, legends, and signings. Plus we go fairly in-depth about card creation - how do you craft a main eventer vs a mid-carder? What mechanics are important? How do you maintain a fidelity to the era while also creating exciting cards? I also get the chance to ask about the team's most desired signings, their favorite wrestling-related books, and their new podcast, Uncharted Territory! Buckle up, it's a long one but well, well worth it. (Editors Note: We had some technical difficulties during the recording process but decided to preserve the bulk of the recording as is. Special thanks to Chad Olson for joining me to record an intro and outro due to some unsalvageable material.)

The Dark Menace himself joins us for this special Filsinger Games episode of KoPW! I loved getting the chance to interview Tom Filsinger, creator of Champions of the Galaxy, as we take a stroll down memory lane to chat about the "Best of" set released to celebrate 50 game editions of CotG! Todd Joerchel rides shotgun and we wrap the show up with coverage of the new George Tragos - Lou Thesz Hall of Fame set headlined by Jack Brisco. There's also some teasers, Best of the Indy's 2020: Tag Team edition, and an announcement for the future. NOTE: We suffered a couple of small technical difficulties during the recording of this episode. All efforts have been made to retain as much of the original conversation as possible while also providing the most seamless listening experience possible.

The Dark Menace himself joins us for this special Filsinger Games episode of KoPW! I loved getting the chance to interview Tom Filsinger, creator of Champions of the Galaxy, as we take a stroll down memory lane to chat about the "Best of" set released to celebrate 50 game editions of CotG! Todd Joerchel rides shotgun and we wrap the show up with coverage of the new George Tragos - Lou Thesz Hall of Fame set headlined by Jack Brisco. There's also some teasers, Best of the Indy's 2020: Tag Team edition, and an announcement for the future. NOTE: We suffered a couple of small technical difficulties during the recording of this episode. All efforts have been made to retain as much of the original conversation as possible while also providing the most seamless listening experience possible.

Another Filsinger Games edition of KoPW is here and what better time than GalactiCon season! It's a different con this year in light of the pandemic, but it might just be the best chance for lots of fans to attend in the virtual space. I'm joined by Todd and Mike to discuss the con, the newest game editions, and so much more! Plus stay tuned at the end for a brief update on the King's Road project.

Another Filsinger Games edition of KoPW is here and what better time than GalactiCon season! It's a different con this year in light of the pandemic, but it might just be the best chance for lots of fans to attend in the virtual space. I'm joined by Todd and Mike to discuss the con, the newest game editions, and so much more! Plus stay tuned at the end for a brief update on the King's Road project.

It's finally here. Any longtime followers of KOPW are aware of my love of 90s AJPW and my desire to chart the decade in podcast form. I have finally taken the plunge and present to you the first part of a series diving deep into the King's Road. In this episode we journey through the beginnings of puroresu, the major players at the genesis of AJPW, and the lead up to the pivotal matches that set the table for the 1990s in All Japan. Names like Rikidozan, Lou Thesz, the Destroyer, Giant Baba, Stan Hansen, and, of course, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu. In addition to the prologue we also take a look at three matches: Tsuruta v Hansen 4/18/89 “The Triple Crown” Tsuruta v Tenryu 4/20/89 "First Defense" Tsuruta v Tenryu 6/5/89 "The Blueprint" I hope you will join me for this ride through one of the finest decades in the history of professional wrestling. Missing Pieces - I want to take a moment to discuss some of the pieces left out of the episode. Toyonobori is a name that western audiences may not recognize as much as Rikidozan, but he was a star in the early days of puro - second only to Rikidozan. His team with the JWA founder and battles against him propelled him to the number 2 spot in Japan. After Rikidozan's death, he would lead the promotion as it's top star until a schism that saw him depart to form Tokyo Pro Wrestling. He took along with him one of the hottest young talents of the promotion and promised to make him a star - Antonio Inoki. Within a few years TPW failed and they left for IPW only for Inoki to find his way back to the JWA before forming NJPW. Jumbo Tsuruta was an amateur wrestling talent and even competed in the 1972 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. He did not amass any wins during the Olympic Games. Genichiro Tenryu's sumo background included wrestling for the same stable that Rikidozan had belonged to. He reached the top division of sumo, similar again to Rikidozan, but after friction with his new stablemaster, he left the sport at the relatively young age of 26. Stan Hansen began wrestling in Japan for NJPW in 1977 and became a huge star immediately. His reputation from breaking Bruno's neck preceded him and he was an immediate threat to NJPWs top talent. He abruptly jumped ship to AJPW and it was a jump that had lasting effects on the power dynamics of puroresu. He is considered to be among the most, if not THE most, legendary gaijin of puroresu. Thank so much for taking the time to listen. I don't claim to be perfect or know everything and appreciate any and all comments, criticisms, and dialogue about this fantastic era of pro-wrestling. Thank you to Matt Charlton (@shiningwizardds) & Eddie Kingston (@madking1981) for their inspiration and support on this project - even if they don't know it. Hit me up on Twitter @kopw72 Chapters - 00:00 - Genesis 04:47 - What Is Past... 17:53 - ...Is Prologue 30:24 - The Belts 35:54 - The Triple Crown 43:37 - First Defense 52:46 - The Blueprint 1:01:46 - What's Next?

It's finally here. Any longtime followers of KOPW are aware of my love of 90s AJPW and my desire to chart the decade in podcast form. I have finally taken the plunge and present to you the first part of a series diving deep into the King's Road. In this episode we journey through the beginnings of puroresu, the major players at the genesis of AJPW, and the lead up to the pivotal matches that set the table for the 1990s in All Japan. Names like Rikidozan, Lou Thesz, the Destroyer, Giant Baba, Stan Hansen, and, of course, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu. In addition to the prologue we also take a look at three matches: Tsuruta v Hansen 4/18/89 “The Triple Crown” Tsuruta v Tenryu 4/20/89 "First Defense" Tsuruta v Tenryu 6/5/89 "The Blueprint" I hope you will join me for this ride through one of the finest decades in the history of professional wrestling. Missing Pieces - I want to take a moment to discuss some of the pieces left out of the episode. Toyonobori is a name that western audiences may not recognize as much as Rikidozan, but he was a star in the early days of puro - second only to Rikidozan. His team with the JWA founder and battles against him propelled him to the number 2 spot in Japan. After Rikidozan's death, he would lead the promotion as it's top star until a schism that saw him depart to form Tokyo Pro Wrestling. He took along with him one of the hottest young talents of the promotion and promised to make him a star - Antonio Inoki. Within a few years TPW failed and they left for IPW only for Inoki to find his way back to the JWA before forming NJPW. Jumbo Tsuruta was an amateur wrestling talent and even competed in the 1972 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. He did not amass any wins during the Olympic Games. Genichiro Tenryu's sumo background included wrestling for the same stable that Rikidozan had belonged to. He reached the top division of sumo, similar again to Rikidozan, but after friction with his new stablemaster, he left the sport at the relatively young age of 26. Stan Hansen began wrestling in Japan for NJPW in 1977 and became a huge star immediately. His reputation from breaking Bruno's neck preceded him and he was an immediate threat to NJPWs top talent. He abruptly jumped ship to AJPW and it was a jump that had lasting effects on the power dynamics of puroresu. He is considered to be among the most, if not THE most, legendary gaijin of puroresu. Thank so much for taking the time to listen. I don't claim to be perfect or know everything and appreciate any and all comments, criticisms, and dialogue about this fantastic era of pro-wrestling. Thank you to Matt Charlton (@shiningwizardds) & Eddie Kingston (@madking1981) for their inspiration and support on this project - even if they don't know it. Hit me up on Twitter @kopw72 Chapters - 00:00 - Genesis 04:47 - What Is Past... 17:53 - ...Is Prologue 30:24 - The Belts 35:54 - The Triple Crown 43:37 - First Defense 52:46 - The Blueprint 1:01:46 - What's Next?

My immediate thoughts on AEW's Double or Nothing pay-per-view! What's my reaction to Stadium Stampede? What were my favorite matches? Did the PPV provide much needed enjoyment in a time that had been marked by darkness and tragedy in the wrestling community? (Spoiler alert: YES!) Check it out and hit me up with your feedback over on the Twitter @kopw72 Thanks for listening!

My immediate thoughts on AEW's Double or Nothing pay-per-view! What's my reaction to Stadium Stampede? What were my favorite matches? Did the PPV provide much needed enjoyment in a time that had been marked by darkness and tragedy in the wrestling community? (Spoiler alert: YES!) Check it out and hit me up with your feedback over on the Twitter @kopw72 Thanks for listening!

No intro music, no flash, no script, ho hot takes - just some time spent thinking about Hana Kimura, fatherhood, loss, grief, love, compassion, and community. No anger or hate in here either. Take care and be well. Reach out for help if you need it. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

No intro music, no flash, no script, ho hot takes - just some time spent thinking about Hana Kimura, fatherhood, loss, grief, love, compassion, and community. No anger or hate in here either. Take care and be well. Reach out for help if you need it. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

It's time to dive into some of the DVDs I've been watching during quarantine. First up - "Harley Race: The Greatest Wrestler on God's Green Earth" and the superb "Championship Wrestling from Florida: The Story of Wrestling in the Sunshine State". Ellbow Productions and Highspots.com have done an excellent job on these docs and I give my thoughts on each. What's good? What's not so good? What's great? And should you give them a watch (spoiler: yes!)

It's time to dive into some of the DVDs I've been watching during quarantine. First up - "Harley Race: The Greatest Wrestler on God's Green Earth" and the superb "Championship Wrestling from Florida: The Story of Wrestling in the Sunshine State". Ellbow Productions and Highspots.com have done an excellent job on these docs and I give my thoughts on each. What's good? What's not so good? What's great? And should you give them a watch (spoiler: yes!)

I had the pleasure of speaking to Matt Charlton again for this episode. We chat about his new - and first - book, "J-Crowned: An Illustrated Guide to the Champions of Japanese Wrestling" - the genesis of the project, favorite bits of art, decisions on the flow of the book, favorite matches, and so much more. It's always a joy to chat with Matt and this was no exception. We spent a bit of time at the front of the interview talking about the current lockdowns and circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and while I feel it was a positive and interesting discussion, I know it might not be for everyone - that said, discussion about his book beings around the 19 minute mark. You can order your copy of "J-Crowned" in either electronic or print format at Amazon today! And don't forget to visit Matt on Twitter @shiningwizardds or instagram @shiningwizarddesigns for a commission or to check out his fantastic artwork. And be sure to check out Hybrid Shoot at @hybridshoot on Twitter or hybridshoot.com for more great titles coming soon!

I had the pleasure of speaking to Matt Charlton again for this episode. We chat about his new - and first - book, "J-Crowned: An Illustrated Guide to the Champions of Japanese Wrestling" - the genesis of the project, favorite bits of art, decisions on the flow of the book, favorite matches, and so much more. It's always a joy to chat with Matt and this was no exception. We spent a bit of time at the front of the interview talking about the current lockdowns and circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and while I feel it was a positive and interesting discussion, I know it might not be for everyone - that said, discussion about his book beings around the 19 minute mark. You can order your copy of "J-Crowned" in either electronic or print format at Amazon today! And don't forget to visit Matt on Twitter @shiningwizardds or instagram @shiningwizarddesigns for a commission or to check out his fantastic artwork. And be sure to check out Hybrid Shoot at @hybridshoot on Twitter or hybridshoot.com for more great titles coming soon!

A quick update on the state of KoPW and what you can expect in the future!

A quick update on the state of KoPW and what you can expect in the future!

Back with another episode of Filsinger Games Goodness! I'm joined by Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky to discuss all the first quarter releases including the Best of Mexico set with names like Rey Horus, Laredo Kid, Flamita, and Mil Muertes! We also chat about the Legends Ladies 2 set with the Fabulous Moolah, Mildred Bukre, and more! Of course, that's not even close to being the end, because Mike goes deep into Future Shock: CWF 2116! He answers just about every question put to him and offers some big hints for what's in store in 2117 and beyond! Tune in and check out all of this plus a state of Filsinger Games overview for 2020, Galacticon 2020 notes, Promoter Prime cards, and more! Make sure to visit the message boards for all the latest: https://filsingergames.proboards.com

Back with another episode of Filsinger Games Goodness! I'm joined by Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky to discuss all the first quarter releases including the Best of Mexico set with names like Rey Horus, Laredo Kid, Flamita, and Mil Muertes! We also chat about the Legends Ladies 2 set with the Fabulous Moolah, Mildred Bukre, and more! Of course, that's not even close to being the end, because Mike goes deep into Future Shock: CWF 2116! He answers just about every question put to him and offers some big hints for what's in store in 2117 and beyond! Tune in and check out all of this plus a state of Filsinger Games overview for 2020, Galacticon 2020 notes, Promoter Prime cards, and more! Make sure to visit the message boards for all the latest: https://filsingergames.proboards.com

Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky join Sam again for another slice of Filsinger Games goodness! We're talking about the new Legends V Expansion set that features none other than Big Van Vader and Davey Boy Smith as Headliners! We also cover the Reimagined 2089 set as managers make their first appearance in the CotG universe and the new artwork for the cards. But that's not all! We also welcome Zeke Gould to the show and talk about his numerous signings for the indy side of the game. Who are his favorite signings? How far has he gone to sign talent? What are some funny stories from signings? Zeke is an institution in the Filsinger Games community and we were excited to get a peek behind all the hard work he's put into making sure we have the top talent in the game. Names like Kenny Omega are in the game because of Zeke! It's a packed episode and we're only getting started. Stay tuned for more in the New Year! Now, before Santa Wolf devours all your cookies, download and listen to this episode!

Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky join Sam again for another slice of Filsinger Games goodness! We're talking about the new Legends V Expansion set that features none other than Big Van Vader and Davey Boy Smith as Headliners! We also cover the Reimagined 2089 set as managers make their first appearance in the CotG universe and the new artwork for the cards. But that's not all! We also welcome Zeke Gould to the show and talk about his numerous signings for the indy side of the game. Who are his favorite signings? How far has he gone to sign talent? What are some funny stories from signings? Zeke is an institution in the Filsinger Games community and we were excited to get a peek behind all the hard work he's put into making sure we have the top talent in the game. Names like Kenny Omega are in the game because of Zeke! It's a packed episode and we're only getting started. Stay tuned for more in the New Year! Now, before Santa Wolf devours all your cookies, download and listen to this episode!

Sam is joined again by Todd & Mike from Filsinger Games to wrap-up the annual Galacticon event from last month. Todd also brings a very special interview with the Filsinger Games Legends crew, Chad Olson, Cory Olson, and Tim Dalton, as they report from Waterloo, Iowa (not only the birthplace of your host) site of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame! Hear all about their entry into the world of CotG, the genesis of the Legends line, and some of their favorite stories from GCons past and wrestler signings. Plus we shine a spotlight on one of the most legendary Champions of the Galaxy wrestlers, Spike!

Sam is joined again by Todd & Mike from Filsinger Games to wrap-up the annual Galacticon event from last month. Todd also brings a very special interview with the Filsinger Games Legends crew, Chad Olson, Cory Olson, and Tim Dalton, as they report from Waterloo, Iowa (not only the birthplace of your host) site of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame! Hear all about their entry into the world of CotG, the genesis of the Legends line, and some of their favorite stories from GCons past and wrestler signings. Plus we shine a spotlight on one of the most legendary Champions of the Galaxy wrestlers, Spike!

Sam returns with a special episode and new format spotlighting Filsinger Games' Champions of the Galaxy line! Joined by Director of Ops, Todd Joerchel and author of Future Shock - CWF 2115, Mike Melesky, we talk about all the current Filsinger Games news and go behind the scenes of the latest edition of sci-fi/comic book inspired wrestling action. We chat a bit about the Legends of Wrestling line and upcoming expansion set. Plus, we cover the upcoming Galacticon, a celebration of all things Filsinger Games! This is the first of much more covering the worlds of the universe's most fantastic wrestling card game(s) including Champions of the Galaxy, Legends of Wrestling, and the Indy Wrestling lines as well.

Sam returns with a special episode and new format spotlighting Filsinger Games' Champions of the Galaxy line! Joined by Director of Ops, Todd Joerchel and author of Future Shock - CWF 2115, Mike Melesky, we talk about all the current Filsinger Games news and go behind the scenes of the latest edition of sci-fi/comic book inspired wrestling action. We chat a bit about the Legends of Wrestling line and upcoming expansion set. Plus, we cover the upcoming Galacticon, a celebration of all things Filsinger Games! This is the first of much more covering the worlds of the universe's most fantastic wrestling card game(s) including Champions of the Galaxy, Legends of Wrestling, and the Indy Wrestling lines as well.

We're back to talk about our namesake show: King of Pro Wrestling! Plus tons of discussion about all the rumors swirling around the backstage situation and contract negotiations. We also devote some time to discussing WWE's Crown Jewel and the controversy stemming from it. It's good to be back and we've got more on the way soon! Hit us up on Twitter @KoPW72 and don't foret to hit that subscribe button and leave us a review! Special thanks as always to The Hails for our intro and outro music!

We're back to talk about our namesake show: King of Pro Wrestling! Plus tons of discussion about all the rumors swirling around the backstage situation and contract negotiations. We also devote some time to discussing WWE's Crown Jewel and the controversy stemming from it. It's good to be back and we've got more on the way soon! Hit us up on Twitter @KoPW72 and don't foret to hit that subscribe button and leave us a review! Special thanks as always to The Hails for our intro and outro music!

We are back to talk about the Destruction tour! Plus we've got some interesting news and notes, previews, and the much anticipated return of our Classic Match segment is announced with a match for next episode! All this and more! Special thanks to the Hails for our theme music. Huge shout out to Betsy Frymire for the incredible and much loved logo! And, of course, don't be shy, come find us on Twitter @kopw72, subcribe on iTunes and leave us that review.

We are back to talk about the Destruction tour! Plus we've got some interesting news and notes, previews, and the much anticipated return of our Classic Match segment is announced with a match for next episode! All this and more! Special thanks to the Hails for our theme music. Huge shout out to Betsy Frymire for the incredible and much loved logo! And, of course, don't be shy, come find us on Twitter @kopw72, subcribe on iTunes and leave us that review.

In this episode we have a fun interview direct from Podcast Row at Starrcast with the 2018 PWG BOLA winner, Jeff Cobb. We talk about his work in NJPW, the transition to working the style, what he likes about it, selling, telling stories, Matt Riddle, and what's next! You won't want to miss a fun, honest, and open interview with a passionate performer like the King of Hawaiian Strong Style, Jeff Cobb. Then we move on to an in depth and wide ranging interview with Matt Charlton, the illustrator of Eggshells: Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome by brother Chris Charlton. We talk about his art, his love and passion for pro wrestling, NJPW, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Joshi wrestling, and so much more! Make sure to his that subscribe button so you won't miss any of our upcoming Destruction coverage! As always, a big thanks to the Hails for their awesome music!

In this episode we have a fun interview direct from Podcast Row at Starrcast with the 2018 PWG BOLA winner, Jeff Cobb. We talk about his work in NJPW, the transition to working the style, what he likes about it, selling, telling stories, Matt Riddle, and what's next! You won't want to miss a fun, honest, and open interview with a passionate performer like the King of Hawaiian Strong Style, Jeff Cobb. Then we move on to an in depth and wide ranging interview with Matt Charlton, the illustrator of Eggshells: Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome by brother Chris Charlton. We talk about his art, his love and passion for pro wrestling, NJPW, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Joshi wrestling, and so much more! Make sure to his that subscribe button so you won't miss any of our upcoming Destruction coverage! As always, a big thanks to the Hails for their awesome music!

Here it is: our special All In coverage! We kick off with thoughts recorded at Starrcast, less than 24 hours removed from attending the historic show live. We then move into our thoughts a week later after letting the show sink in a bit. We also tease our NJPW Destruction coverage for next week! And keep your eyes peeled as we'll be delivering special bonus content like interviews and NJPW discussion recorded live from Podcast Row at Starrcast in the coming weeks! Plus we'll have our special interview with Matt Charlton (@ShiningWizardDs) up soon as well! Make sure you hit subscribe, leave us that 5-star review you've been meaning to, & follow us @kopw72 on Twitter to come along for the exciting ride we're on as we endeavour to be THE New Japan Pro Wrestling podcast!