Tag Archives: Shut Up and Wrestle

Podcast

Episode 196: Ian Douglass

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #196 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian welcomes author Ian Douglass to the show! Ian is the writer of such books as A Decided Novelty and Bahamian Rhapsody, plus the biographies of Steve Keirn, Dan Severn, Bugsy McGraw, Brian Blair and Hornswoggle, and more.

It’s a discussion that covers wrestling in the Bahamas, the early history of black professional wrestling, working with some of the legends of the past, and plenty of other fascinating stuff.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 195: The NWA World Champions Series, Part 5 – Pat O’Connor

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #195 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! It’s part five of the NWA Word Champions Series, with special guest Herb Simmons.

NWA champ from 1959 into 1961, Pat O’Connor took the title out of its Dick Hutton doldrums, and was the bridge between the golden age of the ’50s and the more tumultuous 1960s, when the sovereignty of the title would be challenged.

The birth of the AWA! Pat wrestles Luca Brasi! Pat passes on Ric Flair! Grumpy Lou Thesz! All that and more!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 194: Scott Keith

We go in the internet wrestling wayback machine this week for episode 194 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with special guest Scott Keith!

If “RSPW”, “Usenet”, “Wrestleline” or “Smark Retro Rants” mean anything to you, then this is the episode for you. Brian and Scott take a deep dive into early internet wrestling culture, and how much the internet wrestling community has changed in thirty years, and a whole lot more.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 193: Joel Gertner

Well, well, well… It’s time for Episode #193 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian’s guest is none other than the quintessential studmuffin himself, Joel Gertner.

Brian and Joel get into their shared background as wrestling fans growing up in Brooklyn in the ’80s and ’90s. Lots of talk about the New York wrestling scene in those days–and oh yeah, some ECW talk as well.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 192: From the Archives – Maureen Marella

“My husband used to say to me, the only ones you got to worry about is me and you. So don’t ask me anything about the business. And I never did. I said OK. When the phone rang, and he was in his office, I closed the door. I didn’t wanna know nothing.”

In July 2023, Brian R. Solomon interviewed Maureen Marella, the widow of Gorilla Monsoon, for his book, Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon. It was the only interview she would ever give.

Although Mrs. Marella was never able to officially be a guest on the podcast due to her passing last February, this week Brian is dipping into his archives to share that 2023 book interview. It provides unique insights and memories from a woman who was true wrestling royalty.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 191: The NWA World Champions Series, Part 4 – Dick Hutton

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #191 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! It’s part four of the NWA Word Champions Series, with special guest Mike Chapman.

Despite being the hand-picked successor to Lou Thesz and NWA World champion from 1957-1959, Dick Hutton is the least discussed titleholder from the classic NWA World title era. This week, we do him justice with a look into his life, career and accomplishments.

Plus, more on Thesz, some talk about Danny Hodge, and even a little boxing talk!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 190: James Dixon

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #190 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian welcomes author James Dixon to the show to talk about his new book on wrestling in 1992, Titan Shrinking: How Wrestling’s Muscle Lost Its Power.

It’s a deep dive into the WWF (and a little WCW) in that tumultuous year. If you’re a fan of that era, or looking to learn more, this is the show for you.

Bret vs. Davey! Irwin R. Schyster! Nailz attacks Vince! Sid gets suspended! Papa Shango! All that and more this week on Shut Up and Wrestle.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 189: Valerie Marella-Jankowski

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #189 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

Brian’s guest this week, for the first time ever on any podcast, is Valerie Marella-Jankowski, the daughter of Gorilla Monsoon!

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GORILLA MONSOON has finally arrived, and it would not be what it is without Valerie’s participation and support. This week, she’s here to talk about her memories of her dad, and everything he meant to the business.

Plus, Valerie dishes the dirt about the time Ivan Putski killed her hamster. It’s gonna be a happening!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 188: Sean Mooney

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #188 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

Straight out of the WWF Event Center, it’s the one and only Sean Mooney, Brian’s guest this week!

Sean and Brian were unable to connect during the process of IRRESISTIBLE FORCE, Brian’s book on Gorilla Monsoon, but Sean is here this week to talk about his memories of Gorilla, as well as others like Bobby Heenan, Mean Gene, Lord Alfred Hayes and many others he worked with during his memorable run with the WWF of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 187: From the Archives – Shawn Michaels

“I do know that at least at one time in my 21 years of doing this, I was better than absolutely anybody else… Around ’96/97, I don’t think there was anybody better than me at that time.”

We go back into the Brian R. Solomon archives again this week on Shut Up and Wrestle, for a 2006 interview Brian did with the Heartbreak Kid himself, Shawn Michaels!

Recorded at the time of the DX revival, it’s a candid conversation in which Shawn discusses his comeback, his faith, his reputation, changes in the locker room, the Barbershop, the Kliq, and his status among the all-time greats.

Plus, Brian even got him to talk about Playgirl and his “Sexy Boy” theme song, among other things…

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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