Tag Archives: Interview

Episode 22: World Politics

KFR host Scott Bowden continues his look at Jerry Lawler’s AWA World championship win 30 years ago with guests Prince Kevin Lawler and the man who crowned the King, legendary Memphis promoter Jerry Jarrett.

Scott and Kevin also pay tribute to their mutual friend Nik Niknahad, aka Mr. Clyde and Ali Ben Khan on Memphis TV, who recently passed away.

The Original Double J will provide fascinating insight into the politics of the wrestling world in the ’70s and ’80s as the Tennessee promoter worked tirelessly to get the King of Memphis a run with the NWA championship. Jarrett will also reveal why he turned down Sam Muchnick’s offer to give Lawler a short reign as King of the World a la Tommy Rich, and he will also share his true feelings about Unfortunate Bruce Prichard™ and news about his upcoming podcast.

It’s a king-sized episode as the 1st Annual JerryFest™ continues on the KFR podcast, so don’t you dare miss it, my friend.

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 21: Area King Crowned

In honor of the 30th anniversary of Jerry Lawler’s AWA World title win, host KFR host Scott Bowden discusses the King’s chase of the World heavyweight championship—the Memphis territory’s overarching storyline for well over a decade.

On this week’s Stinkn’ Rednecks segment, Bowden and longtime fan David Delahoussaye discuss why Lawler was so over as a sport hero for kids growing up in the area in the ’70s and early ’80s, and why the King’s quest for the World title meant so much to his fans.

And in the first part of a revealing interview, Kevin Lawler recalls the highs and lows that came with being the son of one of the most controversial stars in wrestling, and he explains why Nick Bockwinkel was the true World champion in the eyes of Memphis fans.

All this and more on episode 21 of  KFR, the REAL World champion of Memphis wrestling podcasts.

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 20: ¿Que Es Mas Macho?

The ICW invasion continues on the KFR podcast as “The Hustler” Rip Rogers returns for the second part of a no-words-barred interview.

The ICW outlaw will reveal secrets about life on the road with ICW, the story behind the bizarre radio ads and how they were part of the spending problem that ultimately led to the demise of the promotion, and the romantic story coming soon to theaters nowhere, “Macho Man Meets Ms. Elizabeth.”

Larry Flynt’s favorite f*ckin’ professional athlete will also provide a firsthand account on what really went down between Savage and Bill Dundee—besides the Superstar—at the height of ICW’s invasion of Jerry Jarrett’s Memphis territory.

Plus, host Scott Bowden goes back in time (not literally, mind you) to present rare WHBQ promos from Al Greene and Jackie Fargo from 1975 that led to sellout crowd of 11,700 fans, with 5,000 more turned away. All this and not much else on episode 20 of the KFR podcast.

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 18: ICW Invasion

Freak out! Scott Bowden is back, right alongside ringside and ready to go with another BIG day of the KFR podcast! This week, KFR is invaded by one of the most infamous performers in the short-but-memorable history of International Championship Wrestling: the leader of the Slapowitz Syndicate, Izzy Slapowitz.

Over the course of nearly 90 minutes, Izzy will reveal how he went from being a boisterous wrestling fan backing the bad guys in Brooklyn to a heat magnet as a manager in the Bible Belt of Tennessee and Kentucky. Izzy will also share his memories of working in Memphis alongside the ICW band of outlaws, including his own “Devil’s Duo” as well as “The One Man Gang” Ronnie Garvin, ICW World champion Randy “Macho Man” Savage, “Hustler” Rip Rogers, Bob Orton Jr., and The Miser (Angelo Poffo).

The former braided pawnbroker will also share stories about Bill Dundee and The Dream Machine (Troy Graham), and Izzy explain why he felt uncomfortable with the shoot promos the ICW stars cut on Jerry Jarrett’s crew. You’ve heard the Jarrett side of the ICW invasion in Memphis—now you get the story from one of the men who lived it! Doing the thing!

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 17: Fifty-One Shades of Grey

Scott Bowden is back with another piping hot edition of the KFR Podcast! Joining Bowden and the Great Brian Last™ will be Jerry Grey, who has emerged as one of the greatest storytellers in all of professional wrestling on the 6:05 Superpodcast…the Mothership!

Tonight, the Golden Boy shares his comic misadventures in the wild-and-wooly world of ’80s Memphis wrestling,  featuring Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Hart, “Ravishing” Rick Rude and his lovely valet, Angel, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Sabu The Wild Ladies’ Man from Borneo, and more!

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 16: Jeff Jarrett

Welcome to a Hall of Fame-worthy episode of Kentucky Fried Rasslin’!

This week, KFR host Scott Bowden welcomes Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2018, to the show to discuss the former USWA and WCW World champion’s early days in his father’s territory. Double J will discuss his participation in two of the hottest angles—not to mention one of the hottest posters—to ever hit Memphis TV, along with his memories of Tojo Yamamoto, Akio Sato & Tarzan Goto, Tony Falk, Phil Hickerson and Pat Tanaka.

You’ll also discover how the founder of TNA also had a hand in creating Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ (true story)! All this and more on episode 16 of the KFR podcast!

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 15: All The King’s Men

On this week’s KFR podcast, host Scott Bowden begins his look at the angle that led to The Last Sellout: the return of the King to the Mid-South Coliseum on March 3, 1986, which would be the final time Jarrett Promotions sold out the building.

Two of Jerry Lawler’s longtime buddies/teammates who broke into the wrestling business because of the King’s influence join today’s show to discuss their thankless jobs and provide insight into one of the most memorable programs in the territory’s history: Lawler and Dutch Mantell vs. BIl Dundee and Buddy Landel. TV jobber Jim Jamison discusses the trials and tribulations of trainsitioning from the gridiron to the mat with Lawler, and shares his memories of Lance Russell, Jimmy Hart, Jerry Jarrett, and Joe LeDuc.  Jamison also reveals why he loved the job despite its obvious shortcomings and how he almost lost the Memphis gig when he worked a shot as Jim Cornette’s cousin Percy for Houston promoter Paul Boesch for a decent payday and a new haircut.

Jerry Calhoun, the most maligned official in the history of professional sports, discusses his break into the business as well as his thoughts on some of the memorable matches he officiated around the territory in its heyday—including the Last Sellout…and a certain stretcher match on Jan. 29, 1979. Will Calhoun be the unlikely hero who unmasks the Mil Mascaras Monday Night Mystery?! Find out in Espisode 14 of the KFR podcast with Bowden and co-host The Great Brian Last.™

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 14: Memphis Wrestling History 101

Class is in session, as Prof. Jerry Jarrett returns to educate host Scott Bowden on the inner workings of Memphis Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance in the late ’70s.

In this educational interview, the Original Double J reveals all the behind-the-scenes events that led up the alleged booking of Mil Mascaras in Memphis in January ’79 and reveals why his relationship with Salvadore Lutteroth is the key to the entire mystery. Jarrett further expands on the topic of relationships and shares why key members of the Alliance voted to back Jarrett in his war with Nick Gulas over the Memphis territory.

Memphis Wrestling History’s own Mark James raises some interesting counterpoints when he takes the stand to debate the Mil Mascaras Monday Nighy Mystery with Bowden. Will Bowden finally unmask the truth? Find out on this episode of Kentucky Fried Rasslin’.

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 13: Who Was That Masked Man?

On January 29, 1979, a mysterious masked man appeared in the main event in Memphis at the Mid-South Coliseum—nothing new there. What makes the evening in question so intriguing is that no one can agree on the hooded wrestler’s identity—including—including the colleagues he worked with that night, the boys appearing underneath, and promoter Jerry Jarrett.

On Episode 13 of Kentucky Fried Rasslin’, host Scott Bowden examines the evidence, puts Jim Cornette on the stand, and calls a couple of surprise witnesses to unmask the truth. Was it truly the international wrestling superstar Mil Mascaras appearing as a heel alongside Austin Idol to do battle with Memphis legends Jackie Fargo and Jerry Lawler?

Also on this episode, Bowden kicks off a new fan segment, Stinkin’ Rednecks, with the resident artist of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network and longtime Louisville mark, Travis Heckel. Together, they discusses Heckel’s memories of Tuesday nights at the Garden and the amazing array of cool Memphis merch now available at the new KFR store at kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com.

Visit the NEW Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ online store at http://kentuckyfriedrasslin.bigcartel.com/

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Episode 12: Years of Living Dangerously

USWA Monday night wrestling returns with another wild-and-wooly KFR podcast with special guest “Dangerous” Doug Gilbert reuniting with his former manager, Scott Bowden.

Doug discusses growing up in Lexington, Tenn., as the son of sensational ring technician Tommy Gilbert; his brother Eddie Gilbert’s booking philosophy; memories of being terrorized as a boy by the original Sheik; his first angle as a 15-year-old in ’84; working for Crockett as a teenager; why he turned down a shot to work for Vince McMahon in favor of Japan; getting cussed out by Jerry Lawler for our rather inappropriate language during live Memphis TV; and his thoughts on everyone from the King to Terry Funk to Nick Bockwinkel.

Don’t miss Doug Gilbert and Scott Bowden joining forces once again for an no-time limit, no disqualification discussion of all things Memphis!

Follow Scott Bowden on Twitter @TravScottBowden and on Facebook @KentuckyFriedRasslin.

Follow Brian on Twitter at @GreatBrianLast.

Kentucky Fried Rasslin’ is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS