AWA Unleashed
”The Voice of Minnesota Wrestling” and former AWA Ring Announcer/Broadcaster Mick Karch, former AWA Director/Producer ”Polish” Joe Ciupik and Chris Tubbs recap the glory days of the historic and influential American Wrestling Association.
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Episodes
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Tuesday May 24, 2022
This week, we have the honor of being joined by Princess Little Cloud herself, Dixie Jordan. We got into a lot of fun topics including what was it like being trained by the Fabulous Moolah? How were the women wrestlers treated by the promoters and male wrestlers? Would she get into the business today and more.
.Brought to you by our friends at Sotastick. It's the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Lift Bridge Brewery has the official beer of AWA Unleashed! The best brewery with the best beer for the best fans! Check out their inventory for the booze and swag! http://liftbridgebrewery.com/
Catch us at our first live show Sat. June 11 at Lift Bridge Brewery before the Midwest All-Star Wrestling card! Doors at noon, live podcast at 2:00pm, wrestling at 3:30pm! Get tix -> bit.ly/3OdPVg6
Tuesday May 17, 2022
Tuesday May 17, 2022
This episode features one of the things that made the AWA so awesome and that's tag teams! What did Verne think about tag teams, and did wrestlers like being in teams or would they rather go solo? What teams would have been good together but never happened, and who really hated each other but you couldn't tell?
Teams include Larry Hennig & Harley Race, Jimmy & Johnny Valiant, The High Flyers, Jerry Blackwell & Ken Patera, Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Raschke, Buddy Rose & Doug Somers, and more.
Brought to you by our friends at SotaStick. It's the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Lift Bridge Brewery has the official beer of AWA Unleashed! The best brewery with the best beer for the best fans! Check out their inventory for the booze and swag!
http://liftbridgebrewery.com/
Catch us at our first live show Sat. June 11 at Lift Bridge Brewery before the Midwest All-Star Wrestling card! Doors at noon, live podcast at 2:00pm, wrestling at 3:30pm! Get tix -> bit.ly/3OdPVg6
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
This week it's a sensitive topic, and that's how black wrestlers were booked in the AWA compared to other territories. Why are we talking about black wrestlers and not minorities as a whole, and did Verne make it a point to treat them fairly?
Did wrestlers talk about how they were treated, why did/didn’t Verne play into the stereotypes? Names include "Big Daddy" Gene Lipscomb, Sailor Art Thomas, Rufus R. Jones, Tony Atlas, "Hacksaw" Butch Reed, Larry Cameron and more.
Brought to you by our friends at SotaStick. Sotastick is the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Lift Bridge Brewery has the official beer of AWA Unleashed! The best brewery with the best beer for the best fans! Check out their inventory for the booze and swag! http://liftbridgebrewery.com/
Catch us at our first live show Sat. June 11 at Lift Bridge Brewery before the Midwest All-Star Wrestling card! Doors at noon, live podcast at 2:00pm, wrestling at 3:30pm! Get tix here: bit.ly/3OdPVg6
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
This week we have the chance to catch up with the widow of the legendary Bruiser/King Kong Brody, Barbara Goodish.
What were the early years and travels and life like on the road? What made the friendship/partnership with Stan Hansen special and why it remains so to this day. Why couldn't he be "Bruiser" Brody in the AWA, and his no-nonsense approach to not being swerved by promoters.
Plus Mick hand picking his interview, did he leave wrestling at the arena, what should his legacy be and more.
Brought to you by our friends at SotaStick. Sotastick is the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Lift Bridge Brewery has the official beer of AWA Unleashed! The best brewery with the best beer for the best fans! Check out their inventory for the booze and swag!
http://liftbridgebrewery.com/
Catch us at our first live show Sat. June 11 at Lift Bridge Brewery before the Midwest All-Star Wrestling card! Doors at noon, live podcast at 2:00pm, wrestling at 3:30pm! Get tix -> bit.ly/3OdPVg6
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
In the second of two parts, we get into the life and career of we talk about the life and career of one the most well known and beloved stars in the AWA and beyond, Curt Hennig.
How he never forgot his roots; and attending Twin Cities indie shows regularly, his “Perfect” persona in the WWE and the video build-up and vignettes. Plus Mick and George talk about the Memorial Service, and his dad Larry delivering the eulogy.Brought to you by our friends at SotaStick. It's the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Lift Bridge Brewery has the official beer of AWA Unleashed! The best brewery with the best beer for the best fans! Check out their inventory for the booze and swag!
http://liftbridgebrewery.com/
Catch us at our first live show Sat. June 11 at Lift Bridge Brewery before the Midwest All-Star Wrestling card! Doors at noon, live podcast at 2:00pm, wrestling at 3:30pm! Get tix -> bit.ly/3OdPVg6
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
In the first of two parts, we get into the life and career of we talk about the life and career of one the most well known and beloved stars in the AWA and beyond, Curt Hennig. When did Mick and George start to hear that Larry’s son might be interested in the business? What were their first impressions?
We get into the Hennig/Gagne feud, his legendary one hour draw with Nick Bockwinkel. Curt’s talks with his dad Larry, Curt's conversations with Mick at the Showboat regarding his future and more.
Brought to you by our friends at SotaStick. It's is the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Lift Bridge Brewery has the official beer of AWA Unleashed! The best brewery with the best beer for the best fans! Check out their inventory for the booze and swag!http://liftbridgebrewery.com/
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
This week we finish our two part series and get more behind the scenes stories with former AWA Cameraman/Producer "Polish" Joe Cuipik. This week he talks with Mick Karch, George Schire and Chris Tubbs about the "Wrestlerock Rumble", the Team Challenge Series, being kayfabed by Verne Gagne, when King King/Bruiser Brody sided with him, Word Association and more.
Brought to you by our friends at SotaStick. Sotastick is the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
This week we get some real good behind the scenes stories with former AWA Cameraman/Producer "Polish" Joe Cuipik. In this first of a two part interview he talks with Mick Karch, George Schire and Chris Tubbs about getting into the business with no experience, having a problem being in the correct spot for a shot, memorable conversations with Jimmy Snuka, the worst night of production he ever experienced and more.
Brought to you by our friends at SotaStick. Sotastick is the place to go for your Minnesota sports themed novelty shirts, hats, and whatever you want. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/ and use the promo code UNLEASHED for 15% off!
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
You've got questions, and we've got answers (sort of.) So it's time for another no DQ and A, where your questions are the show. Mick and George each answer several listener submitted questions for the second edition of our mailbag. Did anybody see The Crusher driving down University Ave. in St. Paul? Who were bookers for the AWA over the years? Curt Hennig's injury vs. Wahoo, forgettable matches, Dennis Bockwinkel and more.
If you have any questions for our next No DQ and A, email mickkarch@gmail.com or gschire@comcast.net.
Brought to you by our friends at Sotastick. Check out their website https://sotastickco.com/, and use the promo code "UNLEASHED" for 15% off!
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Who are the most beloved heroes in the history of the AWA? Those that fans really got behind and cheered for to overcome adversity?
This week Mick Karch and George Schire make a list of those that fit the definition of a "babyface." What makes a good one, and why did some of the most hated villains become some of the most loved babyfaces? Some of the names include Wilbur Snyder, Masked Dr. X, Red Bastien, Tito Santana, Mad Dog Vachon and Rick Martel.