Portland Wrestling

🎙️ Episode 12: “Geronimo,Cordoza, Ivanhoff, and Red Fox”They weren’t headliners. They weren’t champions. Some barely lasted a single night in Don Owen’s House of Action. But they all laced up their boots and stepped into the ring in Portland.In this episode, we shine a light on four names you’veprobably never heard of:Geronimo — a short run in 1971, never winning a match but part of the long tradition of Native gimmicks.Pablo Cordoza — three matches in 1972, all losses, then gone without a trace.Serge Ivanhoff — maybe really Ivan Crnkovic, a Canadian part-timer who got one match in Portland under a new alias.Billy Red Fox — one match, one draw, and a mystery that lingers.These are the fleeting names, the wrestlers who slippedthrough the cracks but still belong to the story of Portland Wrestling.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers — available now on Amazon.📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday!🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling history fix.🔔 Don’t miss the next deep cut from the archives of Portland Wrestling.Because even in obscurity… there’s always a story.

The Mid-Card Chronicle – Episode 1Featuring the Dependable Talents Who Made Every Card CompleteMain events get remembered. Champions get photographed. But every wrestling territory—especially Portland—was built on something just as important: the wrestlers who anchored the middle of the card and made the stars shine. Mid Card Chronicle #1In the debut episode of The Mid-Card Chronicle, host FrankCulbertson shines a spotlight on three dependable talents who helped define Portland Wrestling:• Rocky Montero – A former boxer whose tough, believable style turned him from heel to fan favorite during his Northwest run.• Art Crews – A wrestler who reinvented himself from classic babyface to wild-eyed heel during two very different Portland eras.• Abudda Dein – The mysterious character portrayed by Rocky Iaukea, whose theatrical interviews and championship success made him a memorable late-era presence.These weren’t always the headline names—but they were thewrestlers who showed up, worked hard, and helped every card succeed.Because without the middle… there is no main event.📚 Based on research from The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers.🎙 New episodes of The Mid-Card Chronicle drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #25 – Voices of Portland WrestlingOne ring.One city.A thousand stories.And this week… you’ll hear them for yourself.In Episode #25 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rogers do something a littledifferent. Instead of just talking about the wrestlers of the Pacific Northwest, they let the voices of the territory speak directly to you.When Lisa Hughes spins the wheel and reveals the envelope, it lands on a topic tied directly to Mike’s acclaimed book series Excitement in the Air: Voices of Northwest Wrestling. This time, the show digs into the interviews behind those books — the real recordings with wrestlers who lived the history of Portland Wrestling.Lisa takes on a special role this episode, cueing up a series of archival audio clips as Frank and Mike react, analyze, andsometimes laugh at what they hear.Some of the interviews are fantastic.Some are… a little rough.And one is simply heartbreaking.But together they capture something that statistics and match results never can — the personalities behind the business.Along the way, Frank and Mike break down an often-overlookedpart of Portland Wrestling television history:🎤 The Importance of the InterviewOn Portland TV, matches were only part of the show. The interview segments in the Crow’s Nest were where feuds were built, angles exploded, and fans learned why the next Saturday night mattered.The guys discuss:• Why interviews were essential to selling house shows across Oregon and Washington• How wrestlers used interviews to promote upcoming towns like Eugene, Salem, or Lebanon• Why surprise confrontations in the Crow’s Nest kept fans glued to the screen• The difference between a great wrestling interview… and a terrible one• And why some wrestlers were unforgettable talkers while others struggled in front of the microphoneYou’ll hear the good, the awkward, the funny, and thepainfully real — the kinds of moments that only happen when wrestlers speak without a script.This episode is part wrestling history, part time capsule,and part behind-the-scenes look at how the territory era truly worked.Because sometimes the best way to understand PortlandWrestling… is to listen to the people who lived it.Step into the arena.This is Ringside in Rose City —Wrestling wrestling the way it should be. 

In the final chapter of Northwest Favorites: The Heart ofPortland Wrestling, host Frank Culbertson closes the series with three unforgettable figures whose careers span different eras, styles, and legacies — yet each helped define what Portland Wrestling truly was.💥 Mark Lewin — A world-traveled star whose Portland chapter came late in a remarkable 30-year career. From early success in Vancouver to battles with the Von Steigers andBeauregard, Lewin brought experience, toughness, and a long legacy everywhere he went.🐋 Don Leo Jonathan — One of the greatest big men in wrestling history and a true Northwest icon. His Portland run included Coliseum main events, NWA World Title matches against Gene Kiniski, and legendary bouts celebrated for their power and intensity. A giant with grace, intelligence, and global respect.🐾 Moondog Ed Moretti — A charismatic, beloved Northwest fixture whose story is as personal as it is historic. From early Bay Area roots to homesteading in Portland, winning tag titles, and helping shape the region’s wrestling scene for decades, Moretti embodied the soul of the territory.As this series comes to an end, we honor the wrestlers whoweren’t always the superstars — but were the fan favorites and fierce rivals who defined an era.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.⭐ Next Week: A brand-new series begins —The Mid-Card Chronicle: Featuring the dependable talents who made every card complete.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next chapter in Portland Wrestling history.

This week, we don’t spin the wheel — Lisa punches thebutton.Episode #24 brings a very special guest into the squared circle as legendary Ed “Moondog” Moretti joins Frank Culbertson and Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rogers for a deep, revealing, and often hilarious conversation about a life in professional wrestling.From building a backyard ring in Daly City…To learning from the Guerreros at the San Jose YMCA…To refereeing in the Cow Palace…To wrestling André the Giant in Oregon…To touring Japan and working with Stan Hansen, Bruiser Brody, Dory Funk Jr., Harley Race and more…Ed walks us through it all — territory by territory, bump bybump.You’ll hear stories about:His first match with Road Warrior HawkWorking brutal cage and chain matches in VancouverTag title runs in PortlandWrestling Rocky Johnson (and seeing a young Dwayne Johnson backstage)Teaming with Mike Miller and battling Ricky VaughnTouring Japan and learning the hard way about stiffnessThe chaos of territory politics in Tennessee and Kansas CityChris Colt: bizarre, brilliant, unforgettableThe Portland dressing room during the Grappler transitionAnd yes… the legendary CAC award speech that went just alittle longPlus, a wild round of Kayfabe Curveballs where science, space travel, Hogan’s Heroes, and Mike Rogers’ memory all collide —and Ed proves he may know more than any of us expected.This is territory wrestling history told by someone who lived it.Honest. Funny. Raw.If you love Portland Wrestling, All Star Wrestling, the Japanese tours of the ‘80s, or the real stories behind the business — thisepisode is as real as it gets.🎙️ Ringside in Rose CityOne Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.Wrestling…Wrestling the way it should be.

Episode 13 explores four wrestlers who each broughtsomething unique to the Northwest — from youthful fire, to rugged toughness, to historic greatness, to heartfelt family legacy. Together, they represent four decades of the Portland Wrestling story.Host Frank Culbertson spotlights:🔥 Ricky Santana — the high-energy spark who helped revive the territory in the late ’80s, capturing multiple tag titles and the Northwest Heavyweight Championship before becoming a major star in Puerto Rico and working behind the scenes for WCW and WWE.💼 Ron Starr — the tough-as-nails journeyman who debuted in Portland by beating Buddy Rose and quickly became one of the territory’s top heels. A former NWA World JuniorHeavyweight Champion whose intensity made every match feel real.🏆 Luther Lindsay — one of the greatest wrestlers ever to appear in the Northwest. A multi-time NW champion, respected by Stu Hart, admired by Lou Thesz, and ultimately honored in WWE’s Hall of Fame (Legacy Wing). A true pioneer whose influence still echoes today.👢 Kenny Mayne — the father of Lonnie Mayne, whose emotional 1970 return at age 55 — stepping into the ring beside his son — remains one of the most heartfelt chapters inPortland Wrestling history.These men weren’t always the megastars — but they were the fan favorites and fierce rivals who defined an era.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Northwest Favorites: The Heart of Portland Wrestling – #12Episode 12 takes a deep dive into three very different careers — a brilliant but troubled natural, a fiery heel who became a legend just north of the border, and a smooth technician who would go on to train some of wrestling’s biggest stars.Host Frank Culbertson covers:🎭 Matt Borne — the intense, gifted second-generation star whose Portland roots shaped a career that took him from Mid-South to WWF to Japan, and ultimately into theunforgettable Doink the Clown persona. A raw, emotional talent whose life was as dramatic outside the ring as inside it.💎 Tim Flowers — “Diamond Timothy Flowers,” the unpredictable, sharp-edged heel who wasn’t booked strongly in Portland but became a major star and successful promoter in Vancouver. Wild, charismatic, and fiercely respected by those who knew him.🔧 Tom Prichard — the polished technician who captured multiple Portland tag titles, wrestled Ric Flair for the NWA World Title, starred in the WWF, and later became one ofwrestling’s most influential trainers, helping groom future megastars.These weren’t the megastars — they were the fan favoritesand fierce rivals who defined an era and gave Portland Wrestling its identity.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube — new episodes every Friday.

Episode 10 dives into three wildly different careers that helped power Portland Wrestling’s identity during the territory’s most memorable eras.Host Frank Culbertson breaks down:💥 Dynamite Kid — one of the most explosive wrestlers ever to work in Portland. From shocking turns with Buddy Rose to legendary matches with Curt Hennig, Dynamite’s 1983 run delivered some of the hottest action anywhere in the country.🐖 Carl Styles — the Southern gentleman with the glass-eye storyline, the pigs, the rooster, and the surprising rise. In just a few months, he became a fan-favorite babyface who captured both the TV and Northwest titles.🎭 Jesse Barr — the versatile worker who built his career across the U.S., wrestled as Jimmy Jack Funk in WWF, and returned home to become a key heel in Portland during theterritory’s final years.Three different journeys. Three unique impacts. Oneunforgettable territory.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Episode 9 explores three powerful personalities who shapedthe territory in very different eras — the fiery babyface, the world champion, and the mud-covered villain fans never forgot.Host Frank Culbertson spotlights:🔥 Jay Youngblood — the dynamic young star who helped stabilize the roster during a major talent exodus, captured the Northwest title five times, and delivered some of the territory’s hottest feuds before rising to national fame.🌎 Gene Kiniski — “Canada’s Greatest Athlete,” an NWA World Champion whose rare Portland matches — including a late-career showdown with Lou Thesz — added prestige andunpredictability every time he appeared.☠️ Baron Von Krupp — the vicious heel who debuted by flattening Man Mountain Mike, terrorized the territory alongside Kurt Von Steiger, and became part of one of Portland’s wildest moments when Dutch Savage dragged him into a mud puddle and sent him back to the ring dripping head to toe.These weren’t megastars — they were the fan favorites andfierce rivals who defined an era in Portland Wrestling.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers byhistorian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Episode 8 spotlights three unforgettable performers whohelped shape Portland Wrestling from the middle and upper-middle of the card — the wrestlers who brought emotion, excitement, and personality to every show.Host Frank Culbertson breaks down:🔥 Brett Sawyer — the fiery young babyface who shocked the territory by winning a battle royal for the vacant Northwest title, becoming a 3-time champion and one of the mostpopular stars of the early ’80s.🎤 John Tolos — the charismatic, sharp-tongued veteran whose booming voice and magnetic interviews made him a standout everywhere he went. A world-traveled star who always made Portland TV feel bigger.💪 Tom Zenk — the ultra-charismatic babyface Curt Hennig insisted Portland needed. Pushed hard by Don Owen, Zenk tore through the roster, captured gold, and left a strong markbefore moving on to national success.These weren’t the megastars — they were the fan favoritesand fierce rivals who defined an era.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Episode 7 dives into three powerful figures who shaped thePacific Northwest’s wrestling identity across multiple eras — the veterans, the world-travelers, and the raw-boned brawlers who helped define Portland Wrestling’s heart and soul.Host Frank Culbertson spotlights:🥋 Haru Sasaki — one of the longest-tenured wrestlers in Portland history. Sneaky, expressive, and beloved as a heel, Haru wrestled an estimated 5,000 matches for Don Owenand held multiple tag titles alongside legends like King Curtis and Mr. Fuji.🌎 John Quinn — a rugged powerhouse who battled Bruno Sammartino, dominated Vancouver, toured Europe as a top villain, and always made an impression when he passed through Portland to wrestle names like Lonnie Mayne, Dean Higuchi, and Ed Francis.🤠 Sam Oliver Bass — the big, raw-boned brawler whose name was changed so fans could chant “S.O.B!” Bass rose fast, beating Jimmy Snuka for the Northwest Heavyweight Title and delivering intense main events before moving on to national success.These men weren’t megastars — but they were the fanfavorites and fierce rivals who defined an era in the Northwest.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Episode 6 spotlights three wrestlers who helped define theupper-middle tier of Portland Wrestling — the dependable stars, hometown favorites, and fierce villains who carried the territory from night to night.Host Frank Culbertson breaks down:🔹 Jerry Oates — the smooth, athletic babyface who broke a long-standing pattern by capturing the NW title in 1978 and teaming with a young Jesse Ventura.🔹 Art Barr — Portland’s own, transformed into the wildly popular “Beetlejuice” before becoming a major star in Mexico as The American Love Machine.🔹 Mike Miller — the rugged brawler who rose through the ranks, became a key member of Rip Oliver’s Clan, held multiple singles and tag titles, and later reinvented himself as a fan-favorite babyface swinging his 2x4 “Lucille.”These weren’t megastars — they were the men fans came to see every week, the backbone of the territory.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers byhistorian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Episode 4 dives into three wildly different personalitieswho helped define Portland Wrestling from the mid-card to the semi-main event level — the wrestlers fans loved, hated, and never forgot.Host Frank Culbertson spotlights:🎤 Scotty the Body (Raven) — the sharp-tongued, quick-witted heel who talked his way into Portland Wrestling and became one of the territory’s most entertaining personalities. A three-time NW champion and future ECW icon.🔥 Al Madril — the veteran fans watched grow from rookie to master manipulator. Charismatic, crafty, and a natural heel, Madril was a Northwest staple for more than a decade.🤠 Tex McKenzie — awkward, unorthodox, and impossible not to cheer for. Despite his clumsy style, Tex drew crowds everywhere he went and became one of the Northwest’s most beloved big men.These weren’t the megastars — they were the performers who kept the territory alive with personality, unpredictability, and heart.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers byhistorian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

NW Favorites: The Heart of Portland WrestlingEpisode 3 dives into three of the most memorable villains inPortland Wrestling history — the intimidating, wild, and fiercely believable heels who helped define the territory just beneath its superstar tier.Host Frank Culbertson covers:💀 Killer Brooks —a rugged, chaotic brawler who debuted the same night as Roddy Piper, teamed with him, feuded with him, and became one of the only territories to ever cheer him as a babyface.🪓 Rasputin (Black Angus) — a monstrous presence with long hair, a choking strap, and a reputation for terrifying toughness. He battled Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, and even captured the Northwest title.☠️ The Skull — one of Portland’s most unforgettable villains, teaming with Tony Borne, feuding with Lonnie Mayne, and cutting promos so bizarre and compelling that Vancouver promoter Sandor Kovacs called him “the biggest drawVancouver ever had.”These weren’t the megastars of Portland Wrestling — theywere the semi-main event staples, the heat magnets, the characters fans never forgot.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers byhistorian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Spotify Description — Episode 2Episode 2 of Northwest Favorites: The Heart of PortlandWrestling spotlights three influential stars who helped define the territory from the mid-card to the semi-main event level — the wrestlers who weren’t national megastars, but who were absolutely essential to Portland’s identity.Host Frank Culbertson explores:🔹 Billy White Wolf— a respected athlete and multi-time NW champion who blended power, skill, and charisma long before becoming Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey.🔹Rocky Johnson — a polished veteran who brought instant star power and delivered memorable clashes with Buddy Rose, Stasiak, and the top names of 1981–82.🔹Ed Francis — a former World Junior Heavyweight champion whose return to Portland in the ’70s led to unforgettable tag battles with the Royal Kangaroos.These men weren’t the territory’s absolute superstars — theywere the heartbeat just beneath that level, the performers fans connected with and came to see week after week.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

Episode 1: Ed Wiskowski, Bobby Jaggers & John NordNorthwest Favorites: The Heart of Portland Wrestlingkicks off with three of the most important “second-tier” stars in territory history — the wrestlers who weren’t national superstars, but who carried Portland Wrestling on their backs week after week.Host Frank Culbertson spotlights:💥 Ed Wiskowski — master of reinvention, unforgettable heel, and one half of one of the greatest teams in Northwest history.💥Bobby Jaggers — gritty, emotional, and authentic… a four-time NW champion who connected with Portland fans like few others.💥John Nord — the explosive brawler whose late-80s intensity gave the territory some of its last great moments.These were the co-headliners, the fan favorites, and the fierce rivals who defined the Portland Sports Arena era.Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.Follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Friday.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #23 – Fantasy LandOne ring.One city.A thousand stories.But this week… we step into Fantasy Land. Frank thinks he’s in control. Lisa spins the wheel.The envelope says “Fantasy Land.”Actually… every envelope says Fantasy Land.Because this time, Mike Rogers is taking over.What if Portland Wrestling history had just tilted slightly in a different direction? What if certain wrestlers had made the trip? What if Don Owen picked up the phone at just the right moment? What if a feud that should have happened… actually did?This episode is pure armchair booking — but grounded in reality. No Bruno. No Steamboat. No impossible territory-hopping. Just realistic, era-appropriate “what could have been” scenarios that might have changed Portland Wrestling history.• Tommy Siegler in 1975 to freshen up a stagnant undercard• Rick McGraw bringing sparkplug intensity• Bobby Fulton teaming before The Fantastics were complete• El Grand Apollo with main-event potential• Buddy Wolf and Steve Strong strengthening the mid-card heel ranks• Kim Duk (Tiger Chung Lee) adding size and danger• Crazy Luke Graham stabilizing a shaky 1985• Chick Donovan — how did he never wrestle here?• The Interns• Gordman & Goliath• The Von Brauners vs. The Von Steigers in a German-vs-German war• A blind draw tag team tournament featuring Rose, Snuka, Ramos, Gino, Sheik — and yes… Eric Froelich• Ted Oates rushing in to save brother Jerry• Gino Hernandez turning vicious against Jay Youngblood• Tony Garea shocking the Kangaroos• Wahoo McDaniel in a brutal strap match with Bull Ramos• Bobby Duncan’s heel cowboy run• Joe LeDuc — as BOTH a terrifying heel and a lumberjack babyface• The Mongolian Stomper unleashed with Haru Sasaki• The Midnight Express invading in 1989 to face the Southern RockersThis episode is full of layered booking ideas, creative twists, surprise turns, and the kind of “why didn’t that happen?” moments that only longtime fans can truly appreciate.And of course…🎲 Kayfabe Curveballs returns, featuring:• Andre the Giant and Honeycomb cereal• Gunsmoke vs. Bonanza• The Boston Pops “Typewriter Song”• And Mike’s legendary typewriter days producing Ring Around the NorthwestLisa keeps the show moving (and the beer flowing), Frank reacts in disbelief, and Mike proves he might just have missed his calling as a territory booker.It’s history.It’s imagination.It’s Portland Wrestling the way it could have been.Step inside the arena.This is Ringside in Rose City.📝 Fantasy Arrivals & What-If Feuds🏆 Tag Team What-Ifs🔥 Main Event Scenarios

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #22 – Voices, Ribs, and the Missing TapeOne ring.One city.A thousand stories.And this week… we keep digging.After last week’s deep dive into Excitement in the Air:Voices of Northwest Wrestling – Volume Three, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers return to finish what they started — spotlighting even more overlooked names, locker room legends, and unforgettable stories from Portland andVancouver wrestling history.For this episode, Lisa Hughes doesn’t even need to spin the wheel. The topic was too good to leave unfinished, but Lisa was sure to crack her whip…🔎 Featured Voices This Week:• Eric “Red” Donovan – From masked teams to Albanycourtroom chaos… including a hairpin incident that led to lawsuits and a wild Vic Christie rib involving ladies’ undergarments.• C.W. Bergstrom – The final Northwest Champion of the Don Owen era and the unlikely man holding the title when Portland Wrestling closed its doors.• Butts Gerard – CFL lineman, Wide World of Sportsbelly-flop champion, and survivor of one of the most brutal locker room altercations ever described on this show.• Bobby Kincaid (Bobby Bass) – From Ma Bass’ southernterritory to Portland’s undercard… and a brass knuckles mishap involving Chris Colt that sent teeth flying.• Johnny Eagle – The “Houdini of Wrestling,” trained in England to make opponents quit, not just pin them — and later a key figure in Pacific Coast Championship Wrestling.• Joey Jackson – “Gorgeous” Joey, trained by The Grappler, who told Don Owen his debut match was his very first match ever… and somehow survived the conversation.• Mike Miller – From greasy-heel beginnings to Northwest Champion and Christmas Night main eventer. Achilles tears, Harley Race “medical treatment,” Stu Hart dinner table stories, and one of the territory’s most complete career arcs.• Frank Dusek – Mid-card arrival during Portland’s hottest era who fought his way into main events… and later became part of the wrestling office in Dallas and Mid-South.• Mike Shaw (Klondike Mike / Norman the Lunatic / BastionBooger) – From Calgary success to infamous WWF gimmicks, plus a limo story you won’t believe.• Mike Webster – A main-eventer who chose grad schoolover wrestling glory after seeing what the business did to aging bodies.• Jeff Costa (The Lobster Man) – Yes, lobster claws. Yes, political campaigns. Yes, Eric Frolich praise that stuns even Frank.• Art Crews – From bland babyface to intense heel…and later a controversial voice on the Oregon Boxing & Wrestling Commission fighting for balance between wrestlers and promoters.🎲 KayFabe CurveballsThis week’s trivia segment delivers:• 1830 “medicine” that turns out to be ketchup• The Spanish meaning of “Alamo”• And a real-life Oregon Wrestling Commission meeting involving a mysteriously altered tape — Portland’s own “18½ minute gap” moment.Yes… that story actually happened.This episode isn’t just nostalgia.It’s locker room truth.Commission politics.Career turning points.And the strange, hilarious, and sometimes dangerous world behind the curtain.Lisa closes it out in style, as always — because in Rose City, the stories never stop.Step into the arena.This is Ringside in Rose City —wrestlingwrestling the way it should be.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #21 – Excitement in the Air: Voices of Northwest Wrestling, Volume ThreeOne ring.One city.A thousand stories.And this week… the voices that carried the Northwest.In Episode #21 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers crack open Excitement in the Air: Voices of Northwest Wrestling – Volume Three, the latest installment in Mike’s acclaimed interview series capturing the real stories of the wrestlers who lived, worked, and bled in the Pacific Northwest.As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, reveals the envelope, and keeps the episode moving—before dropping another unpredictable round of K-Fabe Curveballs, where trivia, pop culture, and wrestling history collide.Rather than racing through a checklist, Frank and Mike focus on what makes Volume Three special: not just big names, but important voices—the wrestlers who filled cards, shaped locker rooms, survived the road, and carried the business through changing eras.This episode highlights interviews including:• Tony Borne – One of the rarest interviews in wrestling history, covering his legendary toughness, massive Mexico draws, battles with Lou Thesz and Eric Pederson, and a career that spanned decades without ever chasing the spotlight• Haru Sasaki – A Portland mainstay whose quiet professionalism contrasted sharply with the stereotypes of the era, from tag gold with Mr. Fuji to unforgettable stories like being handcuffed to a ring post after the lights went out• Carl Styles – Glass eye angles, booking creativity, ribs, blind gimmicks, and a Portland run that became the best stretch of his career• John Buff – Carnival wrestling, AT shows, masked teenagers, betting crowds, and a side of wrestling history most fans have never heard• Brad Anderson – Growing up as Gene Anderson’s son, being smartened up late, protecting the Anderson name, and working Portland as the territories were closing• Jerry Oates – Southern style meets Northwest trust, becoming the first new babyface champion in years, and earning Don Owen’s confidence• Buddy Marino / Omar Atlas – Venezuela to the Northwest, Calgary stories, Stu Hart’s kitchen, injuries, and surviving the road• Vinny Valentino – A humble voice with a meaningful story, missed opportunities, and life after wrestling• Rick Drazen – “Headlock” finishes, bodybuilding fame, Hollywood work, and designing the Gold’s Gym logo• Bulldog Bob Brown – Why he thrived elsewhere, his honest opinions, and what territory turnover really meant• Mike Masters – Full nelsons, Buddy Rose’s army, near-misses, and what might have been• Earl Maynard – Mr. Universe, global success, Portland and Vancouver runs, and still looking incredible decades laterAlong the way, Frank and Mike discuss:• Why interviews matter more than match results• How memory, ego, and time shape wrestling stories• The difference between “top guy” and “important guy”• And why Northwest wrestling history is richer than most fans realizePlus, Lisa Hughes brings the chaos with Curveballs that veer from comic books to politics to music—ending with one of the most personal Portland Wrestling stories ever shared on the show.This isn’t just about a book.It’s about preserving voices before they’re lost.Step into the arena.This is Ringside in Rose City— wrestlingwrestling the way it should be.

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #19 – From Armory to Arena: October 1968 and the Birth of the Portland Sports ArenaOne ring.One city.A thousand stories.And this week… the moment everything changed.In Episode #19 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers turn back the clock to October 1968, the mostuncertain—and most important—month in Portland wrestling history. This is the story of how Don Owen was forced out of the Portland Armory, scrambled for survival, and somehow transformed a North Portland bowling alley into the legendary Portland Sports Arena.As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, reveals the envelope (“Brunswick A-2 Pin Setters”), and later unleashes one of the most memorable editions of K-Fabe Curveballs yet—this time with a very personal, very Lisa-centric twist.🏟️ The End of the ArmoryFrank and Mike explore the final days of wrestling at thePortland Armory:• Crowds topping 4,000• The famous Crow’s Nest• Lonnie Mayne swinging—and falling—from above the ring• Lou Thesz vs. Eric Pederson drawing so well Don Owen watched paying fans walk away• And the brutal reality of losing a venue with almost no notice🏗️ A Desperate MoveWith no permanent home, Don Owen ran Memorial Coliseum at a loss while racing against time. Five weeks later, he gambled everything on an abandoned bowling alley in North Portland—spending $10,000, hauling in bleachers, lights, and a ring, and hoping fans would follow.They didn’t… at first.Until chaos, controversy, and a wrestling commission incident turned headlines into sellouts.🥊 The First Cards at the ArenaFrank and Mike break down the October 12 and October 19,1968 cards, including:• The debut of The Von Steigers• Lonnie Mayne & Beauregard as tag champions• Luther Lindsay’s quiet importance to the territory• The rise of Tony Borne as the people’s champion• Don Leo Jonathan’s return• Early appearances by Cowboy Kirk, Shag Thomas, Sandy Barr, Luigi Macera, Frank Shields, and others• How Don Owen used disqualifications, draws, and chaos to build long-term storiesThis episode shows how Portland wrestling established its pecking order, rewarded believability, and trained fans to expect the unexpected.🩸 The Commission, the Crackdowns, and CreativityThe show also revisits:• Wrestling commission overreach• Suspensions that shut the promotion down• The ban on blood• And how those restrictions directly led to the creation of the infamous Breakfast Club angle🎲 K-Fabe Curveballs: Lisa Hughes EditionWeather clips, Portland TV memories, pop culture, and alegendary dance-floor story involving Ric Flair all collide as Lisa takes full control of Curveballs—and steals the show.This is not just a recap of matches.It’s the origin story of the Portland Sports Arena—and the proof that wrestling survives through adaptation, chaos, and stubborn belief.Step into the arena.This is Ringside in Rose City—Wrestlingwrestling the way it should be.