Episode 5: Nick Bockwinkel, The Real World Champion

Episode 5: Nick Bockwinkel, The Real World ChampionIn Episode 5 of Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk, Greg:Talks about how he came to appreciate Nick Bockwinkel, despite his lack of enthusiasm for mid-1980s AWA television. Looks at Bockwinkel's first reign as AWA World Champion, which lasted 1,714 days and included much more than just AWA matches. Talks about the first Sunday wrestling show in Houston, Texas, which took place at The Summit on Sunday, May 29, 1977, and how Bockwinkel had to do double duty when Harley Race shows up late. Continues to chart the AWA title defenses in Houston throughout the rest of the decade, including several more Summit shows. Traces Bockwinkel's 1970s path through other territories, including Atlanta, Southwest, Hawaii and Toronto. Gives updates on King James Buremoh aka Oladipo aka Ladi the African Tiger and the "reunion" of the Texas Outlaws in Baton Rouge in 1982. Looks at Southwest Championship Wrestling in summer and fall of 1981. Greg Klein's Old School Rasslin Talk is sponsored by Greg and his work. You can buy "The King of New Oreans: How the Junkyard Dog Became Pro Wrestling's First Black Superstar" and "The Paper Tigers: The Untold True Story About How Five Guys From the Streets of Philadelphia Became Professional Baseball Players for One Day" on Amazon.