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Portland Wrestling
Frank
39 episodes
1 day ago
Step inside the Portland Sports Arena and relive the golden age of Pacific Northwest wrestling. From legendary feuds to hidden gems, our podcasts bring you the stories, matches, and larger-than-life personalities that defined one of wrestling’s most unique territories. Each episode dives into the history, characters, and unforgettable moments of Portland Wrestling—from household names who passed through on their way to national stardom, to the one-match wonders and obscurities that only true fans remember. If you love wrestling history, colorful characters, and the untold stories behind the
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All content for Portland Wrestling is the property of Frank and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Step inside the Portland Sports Arena and relive the golden age of Pacific Northwest wrestling. From legendary feuds to hidden gems, our podcasts bring you the stories, matches, and larger-than-life personalities that defined one of wrestling’s most unique territories. Each episode dives into the history, characters, and unforgettable moments of Portland Wrestling—from household names who passed through on their way to national stardom, to the one-match wonders and obscurities that only true fans remember. If you love wrestling history, colorful characters, and the untold stories behind the
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Wrestling
Sports
Episodes (20/39)
Portland Wrestling
On To Better Things: The Portland Chapters Episode 8: Don Muraco, Rocky Venturo, and Pat Patterson

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.

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2 days ago
5 minutes 22 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Ringside In Rose City: One Ring, One City, A Thousand Stories #8 - Giants, Mountains, and Skyscrapers of Portland Wrestling

🎙️ 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.

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4 days ago
57 minutes 39 seconds

Portland Wrestling
On To Better Things: The Portland Chapters - Episode 7: Tommy Rogers, Siegfried Steinke, and Larry Zbyszko

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.

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1 week ago
5 minutes 5 seconds

Portland Wrestling
🎙️ Ringside in Rose City #7: The Night the World Came to Portland

🎙️ 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.

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1 week ago
1 hour 24 seconds

Portland Wrestling
On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters #6 Bruiser Bob Remus, Edouard Carpentier, and Afa & Sika Anoai

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.

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2 weeks ago
4 minutes 48 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Ringside In Rose City: One Ring, One City, A Thousand Stories - Episode #6 The Extravaganzas!

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

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2 weeks ago
58 minutes 39 seconds

Portland Wrestling
On To Better Things : The Portland Chapters - Episode #5

Episode 5: Mark Hanna, Jake Roberts, Paul Ellering, and Sailor White

From early promise to short runs and surprising twists, four wrestlers passed through Portland before going on to bigger things—and in some cases, completely different paths.

In this episode, host Frank Culbertson shares the stories of:

💥 Mark Hanna (Steve Olsonoski) — A clean-cut rookie in 1977 who learned his craft in Portland before going on to win the prestigious National Heavyweight Championship in Georgia.

🐍 Jake “The Snake” Roberts — Long before the mind games and DDTs, Jake appeared briefly in Portland in 1978, wrestling on the night fans paid tribute to Lonnie Mayne. Even then, his calm, cerebral presence was unmistakable.

💪 Paul Ellering — Arriving in 1982 as a powerhouse with main-event potential, an untimely injury ended his Portland run after just eight days. But he’d rebound to manage the legendary Road Warriors and even compete in Alaska’s Iditarod.

⚓ Sailor White — A burly, tattooed brawler who worked Portland in the early ’70s before becoming a WWF Tag Team Champion as one of the Moondogs—a tough life, a wild career, and a story that truly fits the word “grit.”

Four names. Four Portland chapters. All proof that this territory produced—and sometimes missed—wrestling’s next wave of stars.

📚 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.

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3 weeks ago
5 minutes 1 second

Portland Wrestling
Ringside in Rose City – Episode 5: Heels, Heat, and a Little Shock Therapy

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 5: Heels, Heat, and a Little Shock Therapy
Hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson
Produced by Lisa Hughes

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.

The wheel lands on one of the most electrifying topics in Portland Wrestling history—the Top 10 Heels—and things get shocking… literally.
When Lisa Hughes accidentally sets off the cattle prod on her own leg, chaos breaks loose, but she recovers like a pro, and the show rolls on!

Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson dive deep into what truly makes a great heel—was it the swagger, the promos, or the ability to make a crowd really hate you? From rule-breaking villains to sneaky fan-favorites, they reveal the ten best bad guys who ever stalked the Portland ring.

And don’t miss a hilarious round of Kayfabe Corner, where Mike tells another wild behind-the-scenes story that only he could know.

📅 New episodes every Thursday
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your wrestling fix
⚡ A Yaskey Production

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3 weeks ago
59 minutes 50 seconds

Portland Wrestling
On To Better Things - The Portland Chapters Episode #4

Episode 4: Dizzy Hogan, Gino Hernandez, and Buzz Sawyer

Before they made headlines across the wrestling world, three future stars passed through the Portland Sports Arena—each leaving behind a short but fascinating chapter.

In this episode, host Frank Culbertson takes a closer look at three wrestlers who went on to better things:

💈 Dizzy Hogan — Long before he was Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Ed Leslie was billed as Hulk Hogan’s brother in Portland. Early wins hinted at potential, but a ceiling on the card and a run-in with booker Buddy Rose sent him packing by 1982.

⭐ Gino Hernandez — Charismatic, confident, and already a champion elsewhere, Gino arrived in 1977 ready to rise. Instead, Portland kept him mid-carded while stars like Buddy Rose, Dutch Savage, and Snuka dominated the top. His story, full of what-ifs, ended tragically at just 29.

🐺 Buzz Sawyer — He came in as a babyface in 1980, scored big wins, teamed with Matt Borne, and held the tag belts with his brother Brett Sawyer. His fiery reputation followed him through the territories—and his Portland run connected him to a young Terry Allen, later known as Magnum T.A.

Three careers, three paths, all shaped in the Northwest before they moved on to bigger stages.

📚 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.

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1 month ago
4 minutes 31 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Ringside In Rose City Episode #4 - The Scientific Spin

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City – Episode 4: The “Scientific” Spin
Hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson
Produced by Lisa Hughes

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.

The wheel never lies… except when Mike Rodgers reads it. In this week’s episode, Mike grabs the envelope from Lisa Hughes, insists it says “Top Scientific Wrestlers,” and takes off running with it—because that’s his favorite topic!

Frank isn’t so sure, Lisa tries to keep them both in line, and somehow the episode turns into a mix of Babyface Scientific Wrestlers and a wild discussion on the wrestlers who almost came to Portland Wrestling—but never quite made it.

It’s the perfect blend of wrestling history, humor, and chaos that could only happen on Ringside in Rose City.

📅 New episodes every Thursday
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix
⚡ A Yaskey Production

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1 month ago
47 minutes 59 seconds

Portland Wrestling
On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters Episode 3

Episode 3: Tonga John, Brian Adams, and Tully Blanchard

What do The Barbarian, Crush, and a future Four Horseman all have in common? They each passed through Portland Wrestling on their way to bigger things.

In this episode of On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters, Frank Culbertson looks back at three very different careers:

  • A young rookie named Tonga John, who would later rise to fame as The Barbarian in the WWF.

  • Brian Adams, who went from the masked American Ninja in Portland to championships, Demolition, and the Crush persona.

  • And Tully Blanchard, whose brief 1979 stop included teaming with Roddy Piper before cementing his place in wrestling history as one of the Four Horsemen.

Three wrestlers. Three unique Portland chapters. All part of the territory’s reputation as the place where legends got their start.

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!

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1 month ago
4 minutes 14 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Ringside in Rose City – Episode 3: Behind the Mask

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 3: Behind the Mask
🎙️ Hosted by Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson
Produced by Lisa Hughes

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.

This week, the wheel lands on one of the most mysterious traditions in Portland Wrestling—masked wrestlers. From legends who made the hood their calling card, to brief stints by grapplers trying to hide an identity (or reinvent one), we dive into the stories, feuds, and unforgettable moments that masks brought to Don Owen’s House of Action.

With no prep and no notes, Frank and Mike pull back the curtain on:

  • The mystery men who headlined big shows

  • Short-term masked gimmicks that vanished overnight

  • How Portland compared to other territories when it came to hoods and hidden faces

It’s history, storytelling, and a few laughs as the guys test their knowledge against the spin of the wheel.

📅 New episodes every Thursday
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your wrestling fix
⚡ A Yaskey Production

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1 month ago
50 minutes 11 seconds

Portland Wrestling
On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters Episode #2

🔥 On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters 🔥

Host Frank Culbertson, dives into three wrestlers whose Portland chapters were short, but unforgettable.

👊 David Schultz stormed into the Northwest in 1982, refusing to team with Buddy Rose and instead going head-to-head with him in brutal cage and chain matches. With his infamous line—“Don’t go jumping on the Doctor’s bus, because he doesn’t need you people”—Schultz made sure fans never forgot him, even after only four months in Portland.

🔨 Greg Valentine arrived in 1973, still early in his career. From strange beginnings against Ray Glenn, to teaming with Ripper Collins, to testing himself against Jimmy Snuka—Portland was a proving ground that shaped the man who later became “The Hammer” in the WWF.

💥 And then there’s Austin Idol, the one that got away. He got over instantly in 1978 with big wins and fan support, seemed headed for a showdown with Jimmy Snuka, and then—just like that—he was gone. Imagine what Portland fans missed: Idol vs. Buddy Rose… or Idol vs. a young Roddy Piper. The possibilities were endless.

These are the stories that make Portland Wrestling unique—short runs, wild feuds, and missed opportunities that shaped wrestling history.

🎧 Don’t miss Episode 2 of On to Better Things: The Portland Chapters.

Follow now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

New episodes drop every Friday!

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1 month ago
4 minutes 43 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Ringside In Rose City: One Ring, One City, a Thousand Stories Episode #2

🎙️ Ringside in Rose City – Episode 2: The Top Ten Babyfaces in Portland Wrestling

One Ring. One City. A Thousand Stories.

The wheel has spoken! In this episode, producer Lisa Hughes spins us straight into the world of Portland’s most beloved heroes—the Top Ten Babyfaces. From the curtain-jerkers who won hearts to the main-eventers who carried the territory, Mike Rodgers and Frank Culbertson break down who stood tallest in the fans’ eyes.

Expect memories, debates, and deep dives into the wrestlers who made Portland fans cheer louder than ever. And yes—Mike gets tested again on his non-wrestling trivia knowledge. Will he pass, or will Frank finally get bragging rights?

💥 It’s fun. It’s informative. And unlike most podcasts—it’s politics-free. Just wrestling.

📲 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your wrestling fix.

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1 month ago
44 minutes 45 seconds

Portland Wrestling
On To Better Things: The Portland Chapters Episode 1

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.

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1 month ago
4 minutes 24 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Ringside in Rose City: One Ring, One City, A Thousand Stories Episode 1

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.

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1 month ago
49 minutes 13 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered Episode 13

🎙️ 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.

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1 month ago
4 minutes 54 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered - Episode 12

🎙️ 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.

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1 month ago
3 minutes 49 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered - Episode 11

🎙️ 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.

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2 months ago
4 minutes 39 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered Episode 10

🎙️ Episode 10:“Sawyers, Shotguns, and Shadows”
Portland Wrestling Obscurities: Forgotten, Brief, and Barely Remembered

Some 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.

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2 months ago
5 minutes 13 seconds

Portland Wrestling
Step inside the Portland Sports Arena and relive the golden age of Pacific Northwest wrestling. From legendary feuds to hidden gems, our podcasts bring you the stories, matches, and larger-than-life personalities that defined one of wrestling’s most unique territories. Each episode dives into the history, characters, and unforgettable moments of Portland Wrestling—from household names who passed through on their way to national stardom, to the one-match wonders and obscurities that only true fans remember. If you love wrestling history, colorful characters, and the untold stories behind the