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Flashback Friday

Rants

Flashback Friday: WWF Magazine, May 1989

By J.W. Braun on 26th May 2023

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press just before WrestleMania V that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. Let’s dive in.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: PWI, July 1989

By J.W. Braun on 19th May 2023

This week, we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press March 15, 1989 and sold for $2.25 in the U.S, $2.95 in Canada, and £1.50 in the U.K., plus we get bonus coverage from The Wrestling Observer! In this issue, the magazine asks fans to vote for the winners in the first round of a dream tournament they’ve set up, Matt Brock bashes his least favorite World champion, and we get a new number one in the ratings. Let’s get right to the latter…

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Rants

Flashback Friday: Inside Wrestling, June 1989

By J.W. Braun on 12th May 2023

This week, we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press March 3, 1989 that sold for $1.95 in the U.S, $2.50 in Canada, and £1.35 in the U.K. In this issue, we look at a wrestling landscape shaken up by new AWA and NWA champions, plus we’ll get bonus Observer Newsletter coverage. Let’s go straight to the ratings and the roll call of champions, and we’ll take a quick look at the ages of the top five stars in each major wrestling company.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: PWI, June 1989

By J.W. Braun on 5th May 2023

This week, we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press February 17, 1989 and sold for $2.25 in the U.S, $2.95 in Canada, and £1.50 in the U.K. In this issue, we learn that the Megapowers have exploded, that there’s a new AWA World champion, and we get coverage of a dream match in which the British Bulldogs wrestled the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. Plus, I toss in some Wrestling Observer newsletter bonus coverage. So let’s get to it.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: WWF Magazine, April 1989

By J.W. Braun on 28th April 2023

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in February of 1988 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. Inside, we get coverage of the Royal Rumble in Houston and the Megapowers meltdown in Milwaukee! Plus, you can test your knowledge of Elizabeth’s undergarments in this month’s trivia column. Let’s dive in.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: WWF Magazine, March 1989

By J.W. Braun on 21st April 2023

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue featuring Demolition that went to press in January of 1988 and sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. But first, a special message from Jake “The Snake” Roberts.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: The Wrestler, April 1989

By J.W. Braun on 14th April 2023

This week, we look back at an issue of The Wrestler that went to press January 1, 1989 that sold for $1.95 in the U.S., $2.50 in Canada, and £1.35 in the United Kingdom—and I toss in bonus Wrestling Observer Newsletter coverage! With rumblings of a Megapower breakup, we also learn about a power struggle in the NWA, and we get a glimpse of A.J. Styles’s seldom talked about uncle, Karl Styles, in the ratings. (You better give respect cause ain’t nobody breaking this Pacific red neck.) Let’s get busy.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: PWI April 1989

By J.W. Braun on 7th April 2023

This week, we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press December 16, 1988 and sold for $2.25 in the U.S, $2.95 in Canada, and £1.50 in the U.K. In this issue, we learn that a major wrestling promotion has been sold and look at the possible fallout. Also, who’s this youngster with the WWWF’s top managers in 1981?

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Rants

Flashback Friday: Reviewing the Best of Star Trek

By J.W. Braun on 31st March 2023

Apologies, wrestling fans, but today we’re going to look back at something different. I’m in the midst of polishing up a book about Star Trek: Enterprise and need extra time, so I figured instead of taking the week off, I’d give you this: my non-spoiler reviews of my two favorite episodes from each “second-wave” Star Trek show. That covers The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. (Note: I’m going to cheat and count two-parters as one episode.)

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Rants

Flashback Friday: WWF Magazine February 1989

By J.W. Braun on 24th March 2023

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue featuring Hacksaw Jim Duggan that went to press in December of 1988 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: Survivor Series 88 v. SuperClash III v. Starrcade 88

By J.W. Braun on 17th March 2023

As 1988 came to a close, wrestling fans were treated to three pay-per-views in 32 days featuring the top talent from every major promotion in the United States. Let’s do a deep dive, courtesy of Scott Keith’s reviews, a panel of experts, and some comments from those involved with the shows themselves.

The Survivor Series: November 24, 1988

From the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio, with Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura before a crowd of 13,500:

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Rants

Flashback Friday: PWI March 1989

By J.W. Braun on 10th March 2023

This week we look back at a special issue of PWI that went to press November 4th, 1988 and sold for $2.95 in the U.S, $3.50 in Canada, and £1.50 in the U.K. In this issue, PWI lists their Achievement Awards, including 1988’s Match of the Year! But first, let’s get right to Ratings, where we have new NWA World tag team champions coming it at number one in the tandem division.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: WWF Magazine January 1989

By J.W. Braun on 3rd March 2023

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue featuring Brother Love that went to press in November of 1988 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. So pack up the babies, and grab the old ladies, and everyone goes!

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Rants

Flashback Friday: A Wrestling Retrospective

By J.W. Braun on 24th February 2023

This week on Flashback Friday, we’re going to do something special and look at wrestling magazine ephemera covering the last 60 years of my favorite sport. So let’s get to it!

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Rants

Flashback Friday: Inside Wrestling, February 1989

By J.W. Braun on 17th February 2023

This week we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press October 27, 1988 that sold for $1.95 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. Plus, I give you bonus coverage from The Wrestling Observer from the same timeframe! This time around, we’re told about a new World Class champ, and we learn about an impending match between two future WWF champions. But first, let’s go straight to the Ratings, where for the first time in over five years, the AWA champion is rated above the NWA champion.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: PWI February 1989

By J.W. Braun on 10th February 2023

This week we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press October 7, 1988 and sold for $2.25 in the U.S, $2.95 in Canada, and £1.50 in the U.K. And we get bonus coverage from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter! But first, let’s get right to Ratings, where Mama Cornette’s favorites have finally snagged the top tag team spot, and The Rock ranks #8 in Florida, despite being only 16 years old and not yet in wrestling. (Cause he’s just that awesome.)

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Rants

Flashback Friday: Inside Wrestling January 1989

By J.W. Braun on 3rd February 2023

Greetings all! Today is the anniversary of the Friday, February 3, 1989 Main Event that aired on national TV featuring the Megapowers breakup. I was there, and when Jesse mentioned “the frozen tundra of Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” he wasn’t kidding. It was about 0 degrees out. And guess what? It’s  nearly the same right now here in southeastern Wisconsin! Anyway, this week we look back at an issue of Inside Wrestling that went to press in October of 1988 that sold for $1.95 in the U.S. and $2.50 in Canada. In this issue, Eddie Ellner names the winner of his contest where fans were asked to write essays describing the most historical wrestling moment in history. But first, let’s go straight to the Ratings.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: PWI January 1989

By J.W. Braun on 27th January 2023

This week we look back at an issue of PWI that went to press September 8, 1988 and sold for $2.25 in the U.S, $2.95 in Canada, and £1.50 in the U.K. Let’s get right to Ratings…

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Rants

Flashback Friday: WWF Magazine November 1988

By J.W. Braun on 20th January 2023

From the pages of WWF Magazine… this week, we look back at an issue that went to press in September of 1988 that sold for $2.50 in the U.S. and $3.25 in Canada. Plus, we get bonus coverage from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter! With a cover featuring the Ultimate Warrior, we’re teased with stories about SummerSlam ’88, Randy Savage, and some guy named Haku who is supposedly the most dangerous man in the WWF. Let’s jump in.

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Rants

Flashback Friday: The Wrestler December 1988

By J.W. Braun on 13th January 2023

This week, we look back at an issue of The Wrestler that went to press September 1, 1988 that sold for $2.75 in the U.S., $3.50 in Canada, and £1.50 in the United Kingdom. Let’s go straight to the Ratings, where a future WWF champion slips in at #10 in the tag teams under a name and gimmick he’d soon discard.

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