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.

In our debut episode of On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters, host Frank Culbertson explores three wrestlers whose time in Portland was just the beginning.Adrian Adonis: Before the WWF spotlight, Keith Franks came through Portland, sharpened his skills, and left fans with some of the territory’s most memorable matches.Terry Allen: A young hopeful trained under Sandy Barr, who later returned as Magnum T.A. to headline against Ric Flair before his career was tragically cut short.Chris Adams: The Englishman who brought judo to the ring, introduced the superkick, and trained a future “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.These are the Portland chapters—brief runs, breakout moments, and the stepping stones to wrestling history.Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episodes drop every Friday.

Ringside in Rose City: One Ring, One City, A Thousand StoriesThe wait is over! Join Portland Wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, storyteller Frank Culbertson, and producer Lisa Hughes as they launch a brand-new podcast exploring the history, legends, and mysteries of Don Owen’s Pacific Northwest territory.But here’s the twist: Mike and Frank won’t know the topic until Lisa spins the wheel and reveals what’s inside the envelope. From there, it’s pure knowledge, stories, and surprises—unscripted and unpredictable.In the debut episode, the wheel lands on “Top Ten Tag Teams in Portland Wrestling”—a wild ride through decades of alliances, betrayals, and unforgettable duos who set the Portland Sports Arena on fire.If you grew up watching Portland Wrestling, love wrestling history, or just enjoy hearing untold stories from the golden era of the territories, this podcast is for you.🎙️ Ringside in Rose City is unlike any wrestling podcast out there—part history lesson, part storytelling, and part live trivia challenge.📅 New episodes every Thursday.🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ Portland Wrestling Obscurities – Episode 13“Ribs, Masks, and the Last of the Shadows”They weren’t legends. Some might not have even been real.From rib names like Matt Burns and Kay Fabian, to the mysterious Spoiler, to one-time entries like Bill Jones, The Gladiator, and John Brown—this final episode closes the book on the most obscure names to ever step (or maybe stumble) into Don Owen’s House of Action.For thirteen episodes we’ve remembered the forgotten, shined a light on the barely remembered, and honored the names that history nearly left behind.But don’t worry—the journey isn’t over. Coming up next: Onto Better Things: The Portland Chapters—a brand-new series spotlighting the wrestlers who came through Portland before breaking out on an even bigger stage.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers—available now on Amazon.📅 All episodes streaming now.🎧 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.🔔 Don’t miss the start of the next chapter: On to Better Things.

🎙️ Episode 11: “The One-Win Wonder, the Vanishing Act, and Seabiscuit’s Namesake”Not every wrestler in Don Owen’s House of Action wasdestined for the spotlight. Some debuted with a spark, others left with a whisper, and a few… barely left a record at all.In this episode of Portland Wrestling Obscurities:Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered, host Frank Culbertson digs into four names who passed through the Portland Sports Arena and left only faint traces behind:Bruce Brown — Debuting in Vancouver in 1977 with awin over Jack Bence, only to lose to Jimmy Snuka in Portland. A career that faded almost as quickly as it began.Tom Ryan — A one-and-done, losing to Haru Sasaki inJune 1975. Was “Tom Ryan” even a real wrestler—or just a name in the results sheet?Paddy O’Neil — His career highlight was his very first match, and his only recorded win. He wrestled just two years, leaving behind one of the strangest résumés in Northwest history.Red Pollard — A Canadian prelim wrestler who brieflystopped in Portland in 1972, then vanished from the business. Forever confused with the jockey who rode Seabiscuit.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers—available now on Amazon!📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.🎧 Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling history fix.🔔 Follow us so you don’t miss the next forgotten name from Portland’s squared circle.Because even the faintest shadows tell a story.

🎙️ Episode 10:“Sawyers, Shotguns, and Shadows”Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely RememberedSome names barely made a mark in Don Owen’s House ofAction—but they still left us with stories worth telling. This week we look at four of the most mysterious, fleeting figures to ever set foot in the Portland Sports Arena.Terry Sawyer – Ten weeks in 1978, feuding with KurtVon Steiger and losing to Bull Ramos and The Iron Sheik. Later billed elsewhere as Buzzsaw Sawyer, but here? Just another name lost in the shuffle.Mike Gibrowski – Or did he even exist? A name in theresults sheet that may have been a misprint—or a forgotten stand-in. Portland history’s own phantom.John Holmes – One match in 1986 against MoondogMoretti, remembered by no one—including Moretti himself. A rib? A ghost? Maybe both.Dick Chaney – Three matches spread over four years, but his name alone made him a target for ribbing. A “shotgun dropkick” and a bullseye on his back gave him an oddly fitting legacy.These weren’t champions. They weren’t icons. But they remind us that wrestling history is built on more than main events—it’s built on every name, big or small, that ever climbed into that ring.📚 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 shadows of the squared circle.

🎙️ Episode 9: “Steele, Ryan, and the Prince”Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely RememberedNot every wrestler in Don Owen’s House of Action left with gold, glory, or fame—but they all left with a story.Ray Steele– The British heel who came to Portland in the early ‘70s and couldn’t buy a win, yet found a second life under a mask as Dr. X.Paddy Ryan– A veteran workhorse who drew money for Dean Silverstone’s Superstars of Wrestling, but barely made a dent in Portland.Prince Kumali– A towering Guyanese talent who wrestled worldwide, but in Portland? He never found the win column.Three men. Three short Portland runs.And three reminders that even the briefest appearances are still part of wrestling’s rich tapestry.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers—available now on Amazon.📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.🎧 Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling history fix.🔔 Follow us so you never miss the forgotten names that made the Northwest what it was.Because even in the shadows—there’s always a story.

🎙️ Episode 8: “Mysteries, Manilows, and Missed Opportunities”Some wrestlers leave behind titles and legacy. Others leave behind question marks.This week on Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered, Frank Culbertson takes you through four of the strangest cases to ever hit the Rose City ring:Joe Atkins – a wrestler who may not have even existed.Terry Bradshaw – no, not the quarterback, but a Barry Manilow lookalike who lost every match.Mike Hennessy – the hair-match victim of Buddy Rose who walked away to join the military.Wayne Bridges – a British star who Portland fans barely got to see.From phantom wrestlers to overseas legends, these are the names history almost forgot—but we’re bringing them back to the spotlight.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers—available now on Amazon!📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.🎧 Listen and follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.🔔 Subscribe so you never miss the forgotten names behind the curtain.

🎙️ Episode 7: “Feathers, Mennonites, and the Unsung Journeyman”Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely RememberedThey weren’t champions. They weren’t headliners. But they stepped into Don Owen’s House of Action—and for a brief moment, they mattered.In this episode:🪶 Jerry Goodvoice – A Teton-Sioux wrestler who reluctantly wore feathers and bright colors, becoming part of Don Owen’s long tradition of booking Native wrestlers.🎨 Bob Harmes – Billed as the “Magnificent Mennonite—Canada’s Handsomest Athlete.” A wrestler, teacher, and painter whose art was displayed in New York, London, and Hong Kong.🌎 Don Serrano – A journeyman trained by Argentina Rocca who wrestled for over 30 years, including a quiet stint in Portland and tag team gold in Puerto Rico.Three men. Three stories. Each proof that wrestling history isn’t just about the stars—it’s about the footnotes, too.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers – available now on Amazon!📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling history fix.🔔 Follow so you never miss the forgotten names from the Portland Sports Arena.

🎙️ Episode 6: “Regan, Vachon, and Ruffin—Ghosts of the Arena”In Portland Wrestling, some names burned bright. Others barely flickered.This week on Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered, we spotlight three men whose time at the Sports Arena was short—but whose stories reach far beyond those few matches.Sean Regan – Two Portland draws in 1973, but a European star, Canadian champion, NWA title challenger, and later a South African author and activist.Jon Vachon – The mysterious “partner” of Butcher Vachon. A puzzle of names, impostors, and a short-lived Portland run.Jack Ruffin – Man of many aliases. From teaming with Igor Volkoff to upsetting Jimmy Snuka, to unmasking Angelo Poffo in ICW. A career cut short by tragedy.Three men. Three fleeting shadows. And one more reason Portland’s wrestling history is unlike anywhere else.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers—available now on Amazon.📅 New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.🎧 Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling history.🛎️ Don’t miss the next name pulled from the shadows.

🎙️ Episode 5 –"Masks, Magazine Covers & Middleweight Gold"They didn’t main event. They didn’t hold Portland belts. But their stories?Absolutely worth remembering.This week, host Frank Culbertson uncovers the stories of three wrestlers who passed through Don Owen’s House of Action with barely a whisper—but left fascinating footprints in the wrestling world.📍 Joe Palardy — A 10-day Portland stint… followed by a World Middleweight Title win in Mexico just months later. Blink and you missed him here—but he made waves elsewhere.📍Tony Orford — A British grappler with rugby roots and Lucha Libre magazine fame, who wrestled from Europe to Mexico to the Pacific Northwest—before fading into mystery.📍Monte Zuma (El Olympico) — A masked WWWF star renamed with a rib-worthy gimmick in Portland. Why the change? And why the quick exit? The answers lie inthe shadows.Whether they were on the cover of a lucha magazine or getting squashed at the Sports Arena, these guys were here—and now, they're remembered.📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers – available now on Amazon.📅New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday🎧Listen & follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever youget your wrestling fix.🔔Subscribe so you don’t miss a single forgotten name.

🎙️ Episode 4 – “The Calypso, the Cannon, and the Prodigal Son”Three wrestlers. Three fleeting runs in Portland. But each left behind a story worth remembering.Join host Frank Culbertson as he uncovers the overlooked tales of grapplers who didn’t hold titles or headline Don Owen’s House of Action—but still left their mark on the canvas.🌍 Calypso Kid (Lenny Hurst)– A British technician with experience across Mexico, Canada, and the UK. His 10-month Portland run may have been modest, but globally, he was a respected tag champion—and a key influence on Rick Martel.⚡ Thunderbolt Cannon – With a name like lightning, you'd expect a storm. But Cannon’s Portland stop was brief and forgettable. Still, his years in Stampede and life beyond wrestling reveal the quiet grind of territory journeymen.👑 Mitsuo Momota – Son of the legendary Rikidozan, Momota came to Portland in 1975 for seasoning. He left without a win—but went on to help found both All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Wrestling royalty, even indefeat.These men didn’t make the posters… but they’re part of the history.📚 Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers – available now on Amazon📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday🎧 Listen & subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, orwherever you get your wrestling fix🔔 Tap follow so you never miss the forgotten names behind the curtainBecause even in the shadows—there’s always a story.

🎙️ Episode 3 – “Draws,Drifters, and a Dance with the Yakuza”They weren’t here long, but their stories run deep.Host Frank Culbertson takes us back into the shadows of Don Owen’s House of Action to revisit four wrestlerswhose time in Portland was brief—but whose careers (and chaos) stretched far beyond the Sports Arena.👊 Vic Rosettani – Athree-match Portland stint masks a long and respected career across Ontario andCalgary’s Stampede Wrestling. Quiet, dependable, and worthy of more attention.🦴 Bud Rattal – Nearly two decades in the game, ending inPortland in 1970 with a handful of matches and a handshake goodbye. The ultimate journeyman.🧢 Tony Russo – Beat a young Jay Youngblood in his debut, then faded into enhancement duty. One win, five losses, five draws—but still remembered.🩸 The Terminator (Rick Hazzard) – One week, one title reign, and a near-death experience involving the Yakuza in Japan. A true obscurity with a wild story to tell.These aren’t just names—they’re the footnotes that deserve their spotlight.📚 Based on TheEncyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers – available now on Amazon📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday🎧 Listen & follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix🔔 Subscribe so you never miss the wildest stories from the wrestling margins

The legends get remembered. The others? They vanish into the fog of time.But Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered is here to change that.In Episode 2, host Frank Culbertson shines a spotlight on three men whose time in the Portland Sports Arena was short—but unforgettable to those paying attention.🪓 Mike & Pat Kelly – Identical twins with a lumberjack gimmick and the kind of territory grit you don’t see anymore. Two Portland matches. Eight tag title reigns. A tragic ending you won’t believe.👨‍👦 Dave Kochen – Second-generation star who followed his father “Wild Bill” into the ring. One strong month in Portland. A quiet legacy across the Midwest.💥 Ron Pope (The Magnificent Zulu) – Chiseled physique, chaotic reputation. Two Portland losses, one hospitalizing brawl, and a career that flared and vanished.These aren't the guys with merch tables and legends contracts.These are the names behind the curtain—the glue guys, the tough hands, the mysteries that deserve their moment.📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers – available now on Amazon.📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.🛎️ Subscribe and follow so you don’t miss the next forgotten chapter.Because even in the shadows… there’s always a story.

The bell rings one last time… for now.In the 10th and final installment of the original One Match Wonders series, we dig deeper than ever into the forgotten corners of Portland Wrestling—uncovering names that barely left a trace, and legends who stopped by just once.🔎 Featured in this episode:Bob Brooks – A complete mystery. One match. No trail.Gene Martelli – Wrestled a respected vet to a draw… and vanished.Eric Redman – An appearance with no backstory, no follow-up, and no known record.The WCW Invasion (1989) – A loaded night of superstars including Ric Flair, Sting, Luger, the Road Warriors, and more—most of whom never wrestled in Portland again.We’re wrapping the series, but this isn’t the end—One Match Wonders is evolving into something bigger. Stay tuned after the episode for a special announcement on what’s coming next.🔔 Subscribe and follow for updates on our next chapter.🎤 Because even one night in the ring is a story worth remembering.

One Match Wonders – Volume 5 | “Who Was That Guy? Names, Faces, and One-Night Stays”They weren’t household names—but they were there.In this episode of One Match Wonders, we investigate three mysterious wrestlers who each made one single appearance at the legendary Portland Sports Arena. But behind those brief appearances are stories that span continents, territories, and decades in the wrestling business.🕵️‍♂️ Was “Rich Miller” actually Frenchy Martin?A name no one recognized leads to a wrestling mystery solved through newspaper archives and territory tracking.💪 Jerry Monti – The unsung hero known as the “measuring stick” in San Francisco. He wrestled one match in Portland in 1975, but helped define new talent for years.🌍 Denny Alberts – A journeyman who crisscrossed nearly every territory in North America. His Portland match was a stop on a much bigger journey.🎧 One Match Wonders tells the stories of the forgotten faces of Portland Wrestling—one match at a time.🗓️ New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers📍 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen

🎙 One Match Wonders – Volume 4Portland Wrestling History You’ve Never Heard Before!In Volume 4 of One Match Wonders, host Frank Culbertson takes you deep into the archives of the Portland Sports Arena to highlight three more wrestlers whose time in the spotlight was brief—but far from forgettable.💥 Jumbo Tsuruta – Just one year into his legendary career, the future Japanese icon steps into the Portland ring for a single, unforgettable bout with Dutch Savage.🤼‍♂️ Raul Mata – A seasoned veteran and Mexican wrestling standout, Mata appears in Portland for one match—part of the first-ever bounty hunter series targeting the Royal Kangaroos.🏹 Keith Hart – The only Hart brother to ever wrestle in Portland under Don Owen’s banner, Keith makes a one-night stop on his journey to Hawaii, locking up with Cocoa Samoa.Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Pacific Northwest wrestling or just discovering the hidden history of the squared circle, this series pulls back the curtain on the forgotten faces that helped shape the territory.📅 New episodes every Tuesday and Friday🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.

One Match Wonders – Volume 2 We’re back for round two of deep cuts from Portland Wrestling history! This volume of One Match Wonders dives even deeper into the forgotten wrestlers who made just one appearance at the iconic Portland Sports Arena during the Don Owen era (1968–1991). In Volume 2, you’ll hear about journeymen, international stars, future legends, and mysterious names who stepped through the ropes for a single night under the Portland lights. Why did they only wrestle once? What was happening behind the curtain? We explore it all. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday Inspired by The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by Mike Rodgers – now available on Amazon. Subscribe and relive the hidden history of Northwest wrestling!

One Match Wonders is your ringside pass to the forgotten corners of Portland Wrestling during the Don Owen era (1968–1991). Hosted by Frank Culbertson, each 4-5 minute episode shines a light on wrestlers who appeared only once at the legendary Portland Sports Arena. These aren’t the household names—they’re the mysteries, the legends on their way out, the stars who never got started, and the journeymen who passed through the Pacific Northwest for just one night. Twice a week, we remember the names you forgot… or never knew at all.In this debut episode, we shine a spotlight on three legendary names who each made just one appearance at the Portland Sports Arena — but left behind unforgettable legacies: Dr. Jerry Graham, Dennis Condrey, & Al HobmanGive us 4 minutes! Whether you're a longtime fan of Don Owen's House of Action, or just discovering the golden days of Portland Wrestling, this short podcast uncovers the hidden stories of wrestlers who made just one appearance—but are far from forgettable...all in four minutes!

🎙️ Obscurities | Volume 1: Ray Glenn, Johnny Heideman & The Cuban AssassinIn professional wrestling, the spotlight decides who gets remembered—and who fades into the shadows.But what about the wrestlers who came and went, leaving behind little more than match results and half-remembered promos?Welcome to the pilot episode of Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered, the podcast that dusts off the lost names of Portland Wrestling and gives them the recognition they never got—until now.In Volume 1, host Frank Culbertson dives into the stories of three men who walked the aisle at the Portland Sports Arena... but never stayed long:🇬🇧 Ray Glenn – The dependable British journeyman who never made headlines but made everyone else look good.🛠️ Johnny Heideman – The 28-year veteran who never won a title, but never stopped wrestling.🐺 The Cuban Assassin (Angel Acevedo) – A wild-eyed villain who scorched through Portland in January of 1985… and then vanished.Whether you're a hardcore Pacific Northwest wrestling historian or just love a good underdog story, this series pulls the curtain back on the men who made the stars look like stars.📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestling by Mike Rodgers – available now on Amazon.📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday.🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.🔔 Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss a name—no matter how forgotten.Because even in the shadows… there’s always a story.