🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #16 – Excitement in the Air, Volume Two (New Year’s Show)
One ring.
One city.
A thousand stories.
And a brand-new year.
Ringside in Rose City kicks off the New Year with a deep dive into Excitement in the Air – Volume Two, Mike Rogers’ secondcollection of long-form wrestler interviews, featuring voices that helped shape Portland wrestling, the Pacific Northwest, and the business worldwide.
As always, Lisa Hughes opens the show, spins the wheel, and keeps the episode moving—introductions, transitions, trivia, and all—while Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers break down the stories behind the stories.
This episode explores:
• Ivan Koloff – From Red McNulty to Cold War villain, the power of mystique, health struggles, and the reality behind his brief WWWF title reign
• Bad News Allen – Intimidation vs. kindness, race in wrestling, promoters, Dynamite Kid, and refusing to play a degrading role
• Billy White Wolf / Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie – A career spanning decades, cultures, continents, and controversy
• Don Jardine – One of the saltiest interviews ever conducted, with brutally honest opinions on promoters, partners, and the business
• Don Wyatt – Faith, family, wrestling’s changing style, and walking away at the right time
• Bobby Jaggers – Blood, bar fights, Florida stories, Puerto Rico, ribs, and life as one of wrestling’s great heels
• Mad Dog Vachon – Riots, caskets, chains, Lonnie Mayne, and one of the greatest publicity photos ever taken
• Lanny Poffo – Poetry, Boston heat, ribs, and the birth of “The Genius”
• Rip Rogers – Portland booking brilliance, Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper, Puerto Rico, and life as a legendary trainer
• Steve Rosano – One of the most powerful and difficult interviews in the series, examining the real cost of hardcore wrestling
• Dory Funk Jr. – Vancouver, Gene Kiniski, NWA politics, championships, and carrying the title with quiet authority
Plus:
🎲 K-Abe Curveballs – New Year’s trivia where wrestling knowledge takes a back seat to chaos
📚 Book talk, Portland memories, road stories, and the philosophy behind what makes wrestling believable
This is not just a recap—it’s a reflection on careers,consequences, creativity, and change, told by the people who lived it.
Welcome to the New Year.
Welcome back to the territory.
This is Ringside in Rose City— wrestling…wrestling the way it should be.
NW Favorites: The Heart of Portland Wrestling Episode #5Episode 5 highlights three standout stars who defined theNorthwest’s middle-to-upper card — wrestlers who brought credibility, excitement, and emotional investment to Portland Wrestling without being the territory’s absolute megastars.
Host Frank Culbertson covers:
🔹 Les Thornton — the technical master and “man of 1000 holds” who brought British style, legitimate toughness, and multiple title reigns to Portland.
🔹 Johnny Kostas — a world-traveling enigma with a dozen identities and a reputation for toughness, athleticism, and mystery everywhere he went.
🔹 Steven Little Bear — the fiery babyface who stepped into Lonnie Mayne’s spot, beat Bull Ramos for the NW title, and became one of the most beloved stars of the early 1970s.
These weren’t the megastars — they were the wrestlers whocarried Portland’s cards, anchored the semi-main events, and earned the crowd’s respect night after night.
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 #15 – Christmas at the Portland Sports Arena
One ring. One city. A thousand stories.
And this week… Christmas in the Rose City.
On this special holiday edition of Ringside in Rose City,Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers unwrap decades of Christmas night wrestling at the Portland Sports Arena, tracing how Don Owen turned December 25th into one of the most unpredictable—and unforgettable—nights on the wrestling calendar.
From Wednesday night capacity crowds to Tuesday specials,Sunday matinees, and the final Christmas cards before the territory closed, this episode dives deep into how Portland Wrestling celebrated the holidays the only way it knew how: with grudges, chaos, and unforgettable moments.
Frank and Mike break down Christmas cards spanning 1968through 1991, including:
🎁 Title changes on Christmas night, including the Von Steigers shocking fans and “ruining Christmas” by taking the Northwest Tag Titles
🎁 Coal Miner’s Glove wars, Battle Royals, cage matches, and scientific classics
🎁 The rise of future stars like Billy Jack Haynes, Tom Zenk, Bret Sawyer, Chris Adams, and Mike Miller
🎁 Rare Sunday afternoon Christmas shows, canceled TV tapings, and oddball start times
🎁 The unforgettable Rip Oliver–Billy Jack Haynes Santa Claus angle, one of the most legendary swerves in Portland history
🎁 The final Christmas cards as Portland Wrestling winds down—still packed with talent, but without the TV lifeline that once fueled the territory
Along the way, the episode spotlights how Christmas crowdswere different, why Don Owen booked riskier finishes on holidays, and how certain matches served as “placeholders” while others quietly shaped long-term feuds.
🎄 Lisa Hughes sets the festive tone throughout—opening the show, keeping the wheel spinning (or not), guiding the Christmas envelope reveal, and adding holiday flair as onlyshe can. From Santa cameos to eggnog-fuelled studio moments, Lisa remains an essential part of the Ringside experience.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a Christmas episode without Kayfabe Curveballs, holiday trivia, unexpected celebrity “judges,” and stories that blur the line between wrestling history and holiday myth.
It’s nostalgic.
It’s chaotic.
It’s Portland Wrestling… wrapped in tinsel.
Merry Christmas from Ringside in Rose City. Step into thearena, hit play, and celebrate the holidays the Portland way. 🎄🎁
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 Wrestling
Episode 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.
And this week… one epic, extra-long, 90-minute dive into the voices that built the Pacific Northwest.
Frank Culbertson & a very congested but tough-as-nails MikeRodgers crack open the envelope marked “Excitement in the Air — Volume 1.”
What follows is a journey into three decades of Mike’s interviews with the wrestlers who defined the territory.
These are the conversations that shaped Ring Around theNorthwest, preserved history long before podcasts existed, and connected Mike directly with the legends themselves — from world champions to outlaws, technicians to territorial gods.
📖 Bull Ramos – The Breakout Heel Who Broke Arms and Box Offices
The three-day drive from Houston to a territory he “didn’t even know existed.”
Fritz Von Erich sending him north because “Portland needs akiller heel.”
Breaking Lonnie Mayne’s arm on night one… and instantlybecoming a main-event sensation.
The hilarious story of Dutch Savage’s stinky-finger prankinvolving salmon eggs.
Bull loved the territory, loved the crowds, and made history— even if he thought coming here “was a mistake.”
😡 Dutch Savage – The Most Salty, Explosive Interview Mike Ever Did
Dutch comes in hot, and never cools down:
The rib that almost ended Mike’s interview before it began.
Tales from Dutch’s days in Hawaii, wrestling bears, and working with Ed Francis and Lord Blears.
A nuclear-level blow-up with Don Owen involving a napkin, a buyout, and insults that scorched the table.
Why Dutch thought Bull Ramos was one of the greatest heelshe ever faced — maybe the greatest.
This is Dutch at full volume: blunt, fiery, hilarious, and utterly unforgettable.
🏆 Lou Thesz – The World Champion in Full “Hooker Philosopher” Mode
Why he hated tag team wrestling but respected Dory Funk Sr.
His deep admiration for Don Leo Jonathan, and why hebelieved DLJ could’ve been unbeatable with two years of pure hooking training.
A spontaneous Portland match in 1981 against Gene Kiniskiafter Don Owen asked, “Do you have your gear?”
His old-school approach to finishes: “If there’s a disagreement, we take it to the ring and see what happens.”
Classic Lou — direct, sharp, and living history.
💥 Killer (Bad News) Brooks – Wheelbarrows, Snakes & Portland’s Only Babyface Run
The legendary wheelbarrow promo with Piper, Rose, andWiskowski — one of Portland’s most iconic segments.
Why turning babyface in Portland was the strangest twist ofhis career.
The rib from Race Bannon involving a snake in Piper’s car that nearly sent them both off the highway.
💪 Scott Norton – Green as Grass, Strong as an Ox
His disastrous first match
The infamous Al Madril clothesline incident that almost ended in a fight.
Don Owen wanting to fire him on day one…
…and then later begging him to stay.
The classic Don payoff speeches: “I had to put tiles in thebathroom… the electric bill went up $3…”
🎲 K-Fabe Curveballs – Christmas Edition
Charlie Brown mac & cheese math
Bird-counting nightmares from “The 12 Days of Christmas”
A big Joe Turner jam leading into earthquake trivia
And yes — Mike finally gets one right.
Chaos, confusion, Christmas cheer… classic Curveballs.
💼 Red Bastien, Ricky Hunter, Don Leo Jonathan & More
Red Bastien, one of wrestling’s kindest souls and a connector of generations
Ricky Hunter, who instantly won the respect of the Northwest
Kurt Von Steiger, Nick Kozak, and the lost art of enforcing tag ropes
Don Leo Jonathan, including the night Andre the Giant accidentally fell on him and changed his life
And a rare, perfectly kayfabed interview with Stan Stasiak, who gave Mike exactly nothing about winning the WWWF title
History. Humor. Heart. All in one episode.
Grab a warm drink (Mike certainly needed one), settle in, and enjoy this 90-minute tribute to the interviews that kept the Northwest alive.
Hit play and feel the excitement in the air.
Spotify Description — Episode 2
Episode 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.
🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #12 – The Top 10 Matches in Portland Sports Arena History
One ring. One city. A thousand stories.
And this week… the ten stories that shaped an entire era.
In Episode #12 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers crack open a long-awaited envelope—one they wrote themselves months ago—and finally tackle a monumental topic:
The Top 10 Most Historically Important Matches of the Portland Sports Arena Era.
Not the biggest money-draws.
Not the wildest crowds.
But the matches that shaped the territory.
And this list delivers.
🔟 Dobermans, Double Cages & Pure Chaos
Rip Oliver vs. Matt Bourne (1981)
The infamous Doberman Cage Match—two cages, two dogs, and one terrified arena. Buddy Rose saves the entire spectacle by coaxing the dogs into “chasing” him. A match so strange even Don Owen would’ve never booked it… because he didn’t.
9️⃣ Violence, Blood & the Kangaroos
Jesse Ventura & Bull Ramos vs. The Royal Kangaroos(1976)
One of the wildest matches ever held in Portland—three men juiced, action inside and outside the ring, and so legendary it was still being talked about in Kansas City nine years later.
8️⃣ When Bull Ramos Became a Star
Bull Ramos vs. Terry Funk (1973)
Dory Funk Jr. is injured, Terry steps in, and Bull beats him clean. A shocking result that instantly elevates Ramos into world-title contention. Portland fans believed he could win it all.
7️⃣ The Ultimate Specialty Match Clash
Bull Ramos vs. Dutch Savage (1972) – Strap Match + Coal Miner’s Glove Combo
Bull’s specialty. Dutch’s specialty. Combined.
Dutch wins in a dramatic finish, leaving Ramos literally hanging in midair—one of the most unforgettable visuals in Portland history.
6️⃣ AWA Gold in Portland? Believe It.
The Von Steigers vs. The Vons (1971)
AWA World Tag Team Title change… in Portland? It happened. It’s rarely acknowledged, never cleanly explained, and still one of the territory’s most fascinating title mysteries.
🎵 K-Fabe Curveballs Return
Frank torments Mike with trivia about librarians, The Breakfast Club, Swedish Christmas TV, Jiminy Cricket, and a surprise cameo from Mama Wayne—complete with the real story of Mike discovering her in the back of Ed Moretti’s pickup truck.
Yes, really.
5️⃣ The Blueprint for Modern Wrestling
Dynamite Kid vs. Curt Hennig (1983)
A world-class series that put Portland on the global map. Meltzer raved. Tape traders hunted the footage. Pure wrestling magic.
4️⃣ Champ vs. Challenger at the Extravaganza
Ric Flair vs. Billy Jack Haynes (1985)
A 45-minute draw on Don Owen’s 60th Anniversary show. Piper, Rose, Slaughter, Hennig, The Southern Rockers—this entire card was stacked, and Flair vs. Billy Jack was the crown jewel.
3️⃣ The Match That MADE Bull Ramos
Bull Ramos vs. Lonnie Mayne (1972)
Bull breaks Lonnie’s arm in front of a stunned arena, nearly triggers a riot, and instantly becomes one of the most feared men in the territory.
2️⃣ A Coliseum Classic
Gene Kiniski vs. Don Leo Jonathan (1968)
Not technically in the Sports Arena—but historically essential. A 4,600-fan sellout. A believable world title threat. And a match that proved Portland was ready for a new era.
1️⃣ The Biggest Match in Portland History
Buddy Rose vs. Roddy Piper (1980) – Loser Leaves Town
The top feud of the territory. The top talents of 1980.
Piper loses… and his career explodes onto the national stage.
The match that changed everything—both for Portland Wrestling and for Roddy Piper
Frank and Mike close out with book talk, gift suggestions,holiday cheer, and a nod to the books every Portland fan should own:
Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, Katy Bar the Door, OhYeah: History of Hawaii Wrestling, and more.
This episode is history, chaos, memories, and mayhem—served the Portland way.
Step into the arena. Hit play. Relive the matches that built a legacy.
Episode 1: Ed Wiskowski, Bobby Jaggers & John Nord
Northwest 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#11 – Thanksgiving in Salem: Turkeys, Tag Teams, and Total Chaos
One ring. One city. A thousand stories.
And this week… a thousand helpings of stuffing, blood, and coal miner’s gloves.
For Episode #11 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers sit down on Thanksgiving Day—plates piled high, Lisa holding a carving knife, and the studio smelling like heaven—to spin the wheel. Every envelope is the same. Every topic gobbles.
Welcome to Thanksgiving Wrestling in Salem.
Portland never ran on Thanksgiving…
But Salem?
Salem turned Turkey Day into absolute mayhem.
Frank and Mike serve up a full holiday platter of stories,results, and legendary oddities from 1940 to 1990, including:
🦃 The Early Years
Dude Chick, cowboy champion and Gene Autry stunt-double, tearing it up in 1940.
Free turkeys for the ladies. Cornish game hens for the midget wrestlers.
How boxing, wrestling, and chaos collided in the Luther Lindsay vs. The Hangman 20-round glove fight.
🦃 The Loaded ’70s
The 1971 Three-Man Thanksgiving War: Savage, Morrow & Bo vs. The Kangaroos + Rocky Montero.
The 1973 $500 battle royal where Snuka “flopped” onto Ripper Collins for the win.
1975’s overloaded menu: Savage, Norman Charles, Snuka, Ramos, Eagles, Ports, Boyd, Vachon—and a coal miner’sglove match nobody saw coming.
Youngblood, Goldie Rogers, and Tony Russo (barefoot brawler and 10-second Tony Bourne conqueror).
🦃 The Chaotic ’80s
Six-man cage matches, Backstreet Survival Matches, and the TV Title defended on a show not on TV.
Jerry O pinning Matt Bourne (!)
Jimmy “Siva” Afi’s Portland days…and his career detour working for Tom Peterson’s furniture store.
The infamous 1987 Thanksgiving where Sandy Barr wrestled Rip Oliver at age 49 (even though it felt like 75).
🦃 The Wild Late-Territory Era
The 1988 armory ads featuring…Hulk Hogan punching Andre the Giant (but in Salem? Not so much).
Five “Super Main Events” (or was it six?) including:
Logger Match – Rip Oliver vs. The Grappler
I Quit Match – Beetlejuice vs. Jonathan Holliday
Coal Miner’s Glove – Steve Dahl vs. Scotty the Body
And the 1990 20-Man Survivor’s Bash—a 10-man team vs. an 8-man team because… territory wrestling.
And of course…
No Thanksgiving episode would be complete without K-Fabe Curveballs, where Mike swings and misses at Swanson TV dinner trivia, chipmunks, poem history, and a jazz track tied to Sandy Barr by way of Chris Bilbao. You couldn’t script this with a straight face if you tried.
Whether it’s turkeys, tag teams, cage matches, or Cornishgame hens…
Thanksgiving in Salem had it all.
Dig in, hit play, and loosen your belt. This episode is stuffed.
Episode 10: Lanny Poffo, JJ Dillon, and Al Tomko
The final chapter of On to Better Things: The PortlandChapters closes with three fascinating stories—each one showing a different side of Portland Wrestling’s reach and legacy.
Host Frank Culbertson looks back at three men who left their mark in very different ways:
Lanny Poffo (Lanny Holiday) — Before the poetry, before “The Genius,” there was the young high-flyer in Portland who once teamed with Buck Zumhofe to beat Roddy Piper in a handicap match. With his father Angelo by his side, Poffo’s Portland days were short but formative—another stop on the road to a WWE career and a lasting legacy alongside his brother, Macho Man Randy Savage.
JJ Dillon — Best known as the mastermind of The Four Horsemen, Dillon wrestled across the globe—and yes, even in Oregon. In 1983, he made his brief Portland stop, wrestling Stan Stasiak and Chris Adams before heading back east. A short visit in the ring from one of wrestling’s most respected minds.
Al Tomko (Leroy Hirsch) — Wrestler, promoter, commentator, and even pet product entrepreneur, Tomko was a true original. From wrestling under an alias in 1969 to running the Vancouver territory in the 1980s, he was part of the Northwest’s DNA—even when his style (and commentary)left fans scratching their heads.
Together, they close out the story of those who passedthrough Portland on their way to better things.
But the story doesn’t end here…
Coming next: Northwest Favorites: The Heart of PortlandWrestling
Subtitle: The Fan Favorites and Fierce Rivals Who Defined an Era.
A brand-new series celebrating the wrestlers who stayed—the hometown heroes and unforgettable villains who were Portland Wrestling.
Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and ApplePodcasts—and stay tuned for the premiere of Northwest Favorites: The Heart of Portland Wrestling.
🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #10 – “So What’s the Big Deal With Him?”: The Stars Who Didn’t Shine in Portland
One ring. One city. A thousand stories.
And this week… a thousand question marks.
In Episode #10 of Ringside in Rose City, Frank Culbertson and Mike Rogers spin the wheel and land on one of wrestling’s most fascinating, misunderstood, and head-scratching topics: the wrestlers who arrived in Portland with massive reputations… and fizzled out fast.
Some were champions elsewhere.
Some were magazine cover gods.
Some were pushed as monsters, legends, or future megastars.
But in Portland?
It just didn’t click.
Frank and Mike dig into:
Bulldog Bob Brown – A top guy in Vancouver… but a “creamy-textured” curiosity in Portland.
Baron Mikel Scicluna – A WWWF headliner who lasted barely a month before a Lose-or-Leave match sent him packing.
Stan “The Big K” Kowalski – Confused for Killer Kowalski and booked like neither.
Tor Kamata – A ladder-match pioneer who couldn’t climb Portland’s card.
Gino Hernandez – A future Texas icon who found the Portland main event scene too crowded to break into.
Mike George – A Kansas City standout stuck in the opening matches.
Tully Blanchard – Yes, that Tully Blanchard… gone in four weeks.
Jules Strongbow – WWF fame didn’t translate when he hit the Sports Arena.
Gary Royal – A great worker whose Portland run ended in controversy and consequences.
Brad Anderson – Second-generation pedigree but late-territory timing.
The Guerrero Family (Chavo, Hector, Armando)– Why did none of them catch fire in a territory that should have been perfect for them?
Along the way, Mike and Frank peel back the curtain on:
Why certain talents simply didn’t fit Portland’s “actionwrestler” style
How magazine hype shaped fans’ expectations pre-internet
How body types, timing, booking, and territory politics allplayed a role
Why Portland pushed Native American and African-Americanwrestlers—but not Hispanic stars
And of course…
It wouldn’t be Ringside in Rose City without K-Fabe Curveballs, where Mike battles questions on Thanksgiving turkeys, circus peanuts, Pat Patterson quotes, and—yes—the Queen of England weighing in on Mike’s lone Battle Royal.
It’s funny. It’s geeky. It’s nostalgic.
It’s Portland wrestling the way it should be.
Step into the arena. Hit play. And get ready for storiesyou’ve never heard—and some you’ll never un-hear.
Episode 9: Curt Hennig, The Equalizer, and Sky Hi Lee
From the son of a legend to a towering Hollywood star, this episode of On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters spotlights three wrestlers who each took very different paths—but all passed through Portland on their way to something bigger.
Host Frank Culbertson revisits three fascinating careers that began or evolved in the Pacific Northwest:
💫 Curt Hennig — Before he was “Mr. Perfect,” Curt Hennig was a rising young star in Portland. From his 1982 debut to his legendary series of matches with Dynamite Kid—called the best in the country by Dave Meltzer—Hennig’s time here shaped the technical precision that made him one of wrestling’s greatest performers.
💥 The Equalizer (Dave Sullivan) — Trained by The Grappler, The Equalizer was already 33 when he debuted in 1990, but he quickly made an impression. After a run in WCW as the dyslexic “Evad Sullivan,” he found himself sharing the ring with Ric Flair, Sting, and Hulk Hogan. A classic Portland story—big heart, big frame, and bigger personality.
🎬 Sky Hi Lee (Tyler Mane) — Standing 6’10”, this giant trained under Stu Hart and Red Bastien before breaking into Portland in 1986. His wrestling career didn’t last long, but it opened the door to Hollywood. Under his real name, Tyler Mane, he went on to star in X-Men, The Scorpion King, and Halloween. From Don Owen’s territory to blockbuster films—talk about better things.
Three wrestlers. Three careers. All connected by the same place: Portland Wrestling.
📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes every Friday.
🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #9 – From Portland to the WWF: The Forgotten Launchpads of Legends
One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.
And this week… a thousand miles to superstardom.
On this episode of Ringside in Rose City, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson spin the Wheel of Topics and land on a stunner — the wrestlers who passed through Portland before exploding onto the national stage of the WWWF and WWF. The household names you know… and the ones you never realized got their start right here in the Pacific Northwest.
Mike and Frank dig into:
Antonio Inoki – before Japan’s biggest legend was an icon, he wrestled under a mask in Portland as “Mr. Komodo,” learning the ropes before shocking the world by beating Bob Backlund in a title match WWE refuses to recognize.
Red McNulty (Ivan Koloff) – the Irishman with an eyepatch who became the “Russian Bear” and the man who ended Bruno Sammartino’s seven-year reign.
Pat Patterson – the Northwest’s own creative genius, from wild brawls in Portland to the “phantom” Intercontinental Title win in Rio that never happened—but changed wrestling forever.
Don “The Magnificent” Muraco – debuting here as the skinny Don Morrow before transforming into the musclebound Intercontinental champ who dropped Snuka off the cage in MSG.
The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) – before they were the foundation of the Bloodline, they were Portland regulars in the mid-’70s, undefeated and untamed.
Larry Zbyszko, Greg Valentine, Adrian Adonis, Lanny Poffo, and even Jake “The Snake” Roberts — all cut their teeth in Don Owen’s ring before going worldwide.
Plus: Kayfabe Curveballs returns with Lisa Hughes throwing Mike off his game on topics from candy corn to The Brady Bunch — and an unforgettable story about saving a pristine Dodger jersey from a blood-soaked brawl with Diamond Timothy Flowers.
It’s a time-traveling look at how Portland quietly built the stars who’d soon headline the Garden, main-event WrestleMania, and define the golden age of wrestling.
🎧 Ringside in Rose City – hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson, produced by Lisa Hughes.
📅 New episodes every Thursday.
📲 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.
🏷️ Ringside in Rose City – One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.
🎬 A Yaskey Production.
On To Better Things: The Portland ChaptersEpisode 8: Don Muraco, Rocky Venturo, and Pat Patterson
From the skinny kid making his debut to the man who changed wrestling forever—this episode of On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters traces three incredible careers that all ran through Portland.
Host Frank Culbertson looks back at three names who each left a unique mark on wrestling history:
🔥 Don Muraco — His very first professional match took place in Portland in 1970 under the name Don Morrow. He was raw, lanky, and just starting out—but within a decade, he’d become “The Magnificent Muraco,” a fixture of WWF television and one of the defining villains of the 1980s.
💪 Rocky Venturo (Phil Lafleur / Dan Kroffat) — An underrated talent who arrived in Portland in 1985, he was a smooth, athletic worker who impressed everyone. After earning a title shot against Ric Flair, a knee injury derailed his run—but later, alongside Doug Furnas, he’d find international success as one of Japan’s most respected tag team wrestlers.
🏆 Pat Patterson — A legend in every sense. Patterson worked the Northwest early in his career and returned briefly in 1969 and 1977. From Portland rings to the Royal Rumble, his impact on wrestling stretched far beyond the ring—as a performer, innovator, and mentor.
Three careers that began—or came back—through Portland. Three stories that show how this territory shaped wrestling’s past and future.
📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes every Friday.
🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #8 – Giants, Mountains, and Skyscrapers of Portland Wrestling
One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories. And this week… a thousand pounds in every corner.
On this episode of Ringside in Rose City, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson fire up the wheel and land on one colossal topic: the giants of Portland and Pacific Northwest wrestling. From carnival-attraction big men to legit Olympians and future movie villains, this one is wall-to-wall heavyweights.
Mike and Frank dig into:
Haystacks Calhoun – his battle royals, wild handicap matches, that tiny town of Soap Lake drawing huge crowds, his friendship with Abe Jacobs, legendary MSG stories with Bruno Sammartino, and the time he and Andre ate so much at an all-you-can-eat diner they paid six times the bill out of guilt.
Man Mountain Mike – the “replacement” super-heavyweight who became a Northwest favorite, teaming with Lonnie Mayne, winning battle royals, and then being absolutely destroyed by Baron Von Krupp in the match that made the Baron and ended Mike’s Portland run.
Chris Taylor – the 425-pound Olympic star turned pro, his big AWA wins, his impressive heel run in Portland teaming with Ron Bass, six-man tags against Andre, Dutch Savage, and Snuka… and how illness cut short what could’ve been a huge career, especially in Japan.
Avalanche (Paul Neu) – over 400 pounds and bumping like a cruiserweight, winning tag gold in Portland (including as one half of the “Whales on the Beach” with Buddy Rose), moving on to WCW as PN News, and reinventing himself as Cannonball Grizzly in Europe.
The Tall Division – stories and memories on the skyscrapers of the territory:
Don Jardine (The Spoiler) walking the ropes long before The Undertaker
Don Leo Jonathan, one of the all-time Northwest greats, his NWA shots, epic battles with Andre, and surprisingly philosophical outlook on life and travel
John Quinn, from Kentucky Butcher to Vancouver mainstay
Tex McKenzie, awkward as hell but a proven draw
Bill Francis, big upside, big chances… and why it never fully clicked
Baron Von Krupp, mud puddles, temper, and terror
Mike York, part of the Alaskans and uncle to Ricky Morton
Sky Hi Lee / Tyler Mane, debuting in Portland and later becoming Sabretooth in X-Men
It’s a super-sized tour through the giants, oddities, attractions, and legit athletes who towered over the ring ropes—and the territory’s history.
🎧 Ringside in Rose City – hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson, produced by Lisa Hughes.
📅 New episodes every Thursday.
📲 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix.
🏷️ Ringside in Rose City – One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.
🎬 A Yaskey Production.
Episode 7: Tommy Rogers, Siegfried Steinke, and Larry Zbyszko
From rising stars to rugged brawlers and future legends, three very different wrestlers passed through Portland on their way to wrestling history.
In this episode, host Frank Culbertson explores how the Northwest served as a launching pad—and sometimes a proving ground—for wrestlers who went on to better things.
🌟 Tommy Rogers — In 1982, a young babyface named Tommy Rogers was just five months into his career when he arrived in Portland. Rumors swirled that he was related to the Sawyer brothers, but Rogers made his own name with athletic performances that foreshadowed his later success as one half of The Fantastics—a team that helped define 1980s tag team wrestling.
💥 Siegfried Steinke — A powerhouse from Vancouver with titles to his name, Steinke brought chaos to Portland in the mid-’70s. His “bounty hunter” tag match with Mad Dog Vachon against The Fabulous Kangaroos became the stuff of legend—an all-out brawl that spilled into the crowd and left no chair unturned.
🏆 Larry Whistler (Larry Zbyszko) — In 1973, a young Larry Whistler came through Portland for a handful of matches before becoming the protégé—and later the rival—of Bruno Sammartino. That feud would culminate in front of 36,000 fans at Shea Stadium and make Zbyszko a household name as The Living Legend.
Three unique careers. Three glimpses into wrestling history. All connected by their time in the Northwest.
📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes drop every Friday.
🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #7: The Night the World Came to Portland
“One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.”
In this episode, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson dive deep into the nights when the NWA World Heavyweight Championship came through the Pacific Northwest. From Lou Thesz’s 60-minute draws to Harley Race’s title defenses, and from Jack Brisco’s classics to Ric Flair’s golden reign, we revisit the legends who brought the most prestigious belt in wrestling to Portland.
It’s not just a list of matches—it’s the story of how Portland became a hidden crossroads in wrestling history. Who drew the biggest crowds? Who gave the champs the toughest fights? And how close did a Portland wrestler ever come to taking home the ten pounds of gold?
Plus, Lisa Hughes spins the wheel, and for once, it doesn’t shock, spray, or set anything on fire—just pure wrestling talk… mostly.
🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your wrestling fix.
📼 Ringside in Rose City — A Yaskey Production.
Episode 6: Bruiser Bob Remus, Edouard Carpentier, and Afa & Sika Anoai
Before the bright lights and the global fame, three very different acts passed through Portland—each leaving behind a story that ties this territory to wrestling history.
In this week’s episode, host Frank Culbertson explores how the Northwest played a part in shaping a drill instructor, a world champion, and the foundation of an entire wrestling dynasty.
Bruiser Bob Remus (Sgt. Slaughter) — In 1974, a big raw-boned brawler named Bob Remus arrived in Portland and struggled to find his footing. A few wins, a few main events, and one major gimmick change later, he became Sgt. Slaughter—a name known around the world.
🌍 Edouard Carpentier — One of wrestling’s most respected world champions made a brief but fascinating stop in Portland in 1969 while touring globally. Known for his aerial athleticism long before it was common, Carpentier’s presence added prestige to the territory and inspired future generations.
🌋 Afa & Sika Anoai (The Wild Samoans) — Long before Roman Reigns, The Usos, and the Bloodline, there were Afa and Sika—the patriarchs of wrestling’s most famous family. They came through Portland in the early 1970s, unbeaten in their final run here before going on to capture the WWWF Tag Team Championship and cement a legacy that still dominates wrestling today.
Three eras. Three stories. All part of the fabric that makes Portland Wrestling unforgettable.
📚 Based on The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers by historian Mike Rodgers, available now on Amazon.
🎧 Follow On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📅 New episodes every Friday.
Ringside in Rose City #6 – “Extravaganzas, Coliseum Chaos, and the Mystery of Lisa’s Mace”
One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.
Portland didn’t just host wrestling—it celebrated it in style. In this explosive episode, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson break down every Portland Wrestling Extravaganza from 1985–1986, plus a look back at the massive Memorial Coliseum supercards of the 1960s.
From the legendary Don Owen 60th Anniversary show…
To the WWF’s first-ever appearance in Portland…
To the infamous four-minute main event that abruptly ended an era and left fans stunned—this episode covers the triumphs, surprises, and bizarre decisions that shaped Portland’s biggest nights.
And yes—Lisa Hughes no longer has the cattle prod.
But… is that Mace in her hand?
(Welcome to the only wrestling podcast where the producer is more dangerous than the heels.)
🔥 This episode delivers:
The rise and fall of Portland’s Extravaganzas
Rare stories from behind the curtain
Why the final main event caused outrage
The night WWF stepped into Don Owen’s town
📅 New episodes every Thursday
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix
⚡ A Yaskey Production