Retro pop culture, classic rock, pro wrestling history, comics, toys, television, movies and podcasts from Karl & Tonya. Home of historian and author Karl Stern's extensive professional wrestling history research.

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FREE! When It Was Cool Newsletter! [Newsletter]

November 8, 2026 — Classic Wrestling, Retro Pop Culture, and a Few Things That Go Bump in the Night!

Hello again, everybody, and welcome to another edition of the free When It Was Cool Newsletter! We've got a lot going on this week, including the resurrection of an old favorite, the return of our pro wrestling biography specials, some brand-new podcasts, a trip into outer space with a certain hockey-masked maniac, and even a few stories from my 32-year career in law enforcement. So, grab your favorite beverage, settle into your comfortable chair, and let's get to it!

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The Return of the DragonKing Dark Podcast: Click Here [Podcast]

DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus Book: Click Here [Link]

11-09-2026: Uphill Both Ways Podcast - 2013 [Podcast]

  • Rip open those newspapers to the funny pages and dive back into the worlds of The Peanuts, The Wizard of Id, Beatle Bailey, Mary Worth (?!?) and Dondi the little WW2 orphan as Mike and Joseph wax nostalgic for the old newsprint strips. What did you like reading as a kid and did it make it into their conversation? Find out in tomorrow’s strip (or, y’know, just listen to this episode!). Plus, as always, there’s a mix-tape challenge to be answered! This go ‘round they list songs that have to do with “time”.

Today's Retro Rewind: Time Travel to the Golden Age of Comics Looking at Batman Issue 1 [Article]

Take a trip back through the WIWC archives with our popular classic articles with a look back at a great golden age comic book - Batman issue 1.

READ IT HERE → Time Travel to the Golden Age of Comics Looking at Batman Issue 1 [Article]

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Uphill Both Ways – Retro Pop Culture Podcast:

Wrestling With the Dawg – Free Episode:

Southeastern Wrestling – Latest Free Podcast:

DragonKingKarl Podcast – Free Episode:

1000 Hours – Wrestling History Podcast: