Shut Up and Wrestle with Brian Solomon

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #82 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, Brian is joined by Karl Stern, aka DragonKingKarl, prolific chronicler of pro wrestling and pop culture history. Brian and Karl take a deep dive into the very early history of pro wrestling–HM Dufur, William Muldoon, Frank … Continue reading Episode 82: Karl Stern → The post Episode 82: Karl...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #81 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, Brian is joined by UK podcaster, musician, super-fan and wrestling memorabilia collector Paul Fairbairns in paying tribute to the career and legacy of the late “Exotic” Adrian Street. Brian and Paul look back at Adrian’s unique … Continue reading Episode 81: Remembering Exotic Adrian Street →...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #80 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! Strap in and get ready, because Brian’s guest this week is author, musician, raconteur and madman, Mike Edison! From winning editorship of Wrestling’s Main Event in a stipulation match, to celebrating the genius of Andy Kaufman, to rooting … Continue reading Episode 80: Mike Edison → The post Episode 80...

Hello, humanoids! It’s time for Episode #79 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon, and his guest Jessica Solt, daughter of Bobby “The Brain” Heenan! Pull up a seat, ham n’ eggers, and listen to Jessica talk all about her legendary, beloved and brilliant dad. From his early years in the AWA, to … Continue reading Episode 79: Jessica Solt → The post Episode 79: Jessica Solt appeared first on...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #78 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, Brian is joined by Kurt Beyer, son of Dick Beyer, aka The Intelligent, Sensational Destroyer! Kurt shares his unique experiences growing up in Japan as the child of perhaps the most famous and beloved gaijin wrestler … Continue reading Episode 78: Kurt Beyer → The post Episode 78: Kurt Beyer...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #77 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, Brian is joined by second-generation wrestling promoter and longtime industry insider Mario Savoldi! Mario talks about his legendary dad Angelo Savoldi, their relationship with the McMahons, the history of his IWCCW promotion, plus his new vintage … Continue reading Episode 77: Mario Savoldi...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #76 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, Brian is joined by his former co-worker, long-time former chief WWE photographer John Giamundo, better known as Johnny Photo! John spent 21 years at ringside for WWE doing his best to stay out of Kevin Dunn’s … Continue reading Episode 76: Johnny Photo → The post Episode 76: Johnny Photo appe...

“I don’t look at myself as an icon or as a legend. I look at myself as a national treasure.” For the first time, we go into the Brian R. Solomon archives this week with an interview Brian did with “The American Dream” back in December 2006! From his thoughts on the polka dots, to … Continue reading Episode 75: From the Archives – Dusty Rhodes → The post Episode 75: From the Archives – Dusty Rhodes...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #74 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is beloved WWF journeyman, “Irish” Davey O’Hannon! Davey was gracious enough to share some of his priceless stories of getting into the business and being around some of the all-time legends, not only in … Continue reading Episode 74: Davey O’Hannon → The post Episode 74: Davey O’Han...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #73 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is wrestling author and historian Tim Keenan. Tim was the co-author of Everybody Loves Mickey: The Life and Times of Irish Mickey Doyle, and is here to talk about that, his planned biography of … Continue reading Episode 73: Tim Keenan → The post Episode 73: Tim Keenan appeared first...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #71 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is Abraham Josephine Riesman, author of the brand-new book, Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America. It’s a fascinating look into the history and psyche of the most important and polarizing figure in … Continue reading Episode 72: Abraham Josephine Riesman → The post Ep...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #71 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my special guests are the great character actor Kurt Fuller and actor/director/producer James Roday Rodriguez. Both were gracious enough to talk about their brushes with the world of wrestling, including Kurt’s unforgettable role as the evil … Continue reading Episode 71: Kurt Fuller and Jame...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #70 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is accomplished wrestling historian and long-time old school wrestling fan, George Schire! George grew up on the classic AWA of the ’60s and ’70s, but we also get to so much more in this … Continue reading Episode 70: George Schire → The post Episode 70: George Schire appeared first...

This week, wrestling photographer and raconteur Howard Baum returns to the show to help me pay tribute to the legacy of the great Superstar Billy Graham, whom we lost last week. The Superstar was a one-of-a-kind talent and a once-in-a-lifetime game-changer, and we do our best to do justice to what he meant to the … Continue reading Episode 69: Howard Baum Remembers Superstar Billy Graham → The pos...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #68 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is French-Canadian wrestling historian, writer and producer, Pat Laprade! Tune in for a fascinating conversation on the history of Quebec wrestling, Lou Thesz/Edouard Carpentier, Pat’s upcoming Dino Bravo book with Bertrand Herbert, and a … Continue reading Episode 68: Pat Laprade →...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #67 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is podcaster and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan biographer, Steve Anderson! Steve opens up about his time spent with the Brain, the chemistry with Gorilla, and lots more about one of pro wrestling’s most beloved … Continue reading Episode 67: Steve Anderson → The post Episode 67: Steve And...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #66 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is Jonard Solie, son of the Dean of Wrestling Announcers, Gordon Solie! Jonard talks with me all about his dad’s awe-inspiring legacy as the voice of wrestling for several generations of fans, as well … Continue reading Episode 66: Jonard Solie → The post Episode 66: Jonard Solie app...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #65 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is Bob Smith, former writer for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Inside Wrestling, and The Wrestler! We talked at length about his time in the world of London Publishing, as well as growing up wrestling fans … Continue reading Episode 65: Bob Smith → The post Episode 65: Bob Smith appeared...

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #64 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! This week, my guest is Mary Fries, daughter of “The Wild Bull of the Pampas”, Pampero Firpo! Mary has some wonderful memories of her legendary father, as well as stories about his glory days and what it was … Continue reading Episode 64: Mary Fries → The post Episode 64: Mary Fries appeared first on Shu...

Hello wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #63 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! My guest this week is Mike Clark, who went from a fan in the ’80s to working in the Jack Tunney Toronto office during the WWF’s expansion. Mike’s got so many great stories from the glory days of … Continue reading Episode 63: Mike Clark → The post Episode 63: Mike Clark appeared first on Shut Up And Wres...

Hello wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #62 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! My guest this week is writer and podcaster Phil Schneider of TheRinger.com and The Way of the Blade book and podcast! Phil is a wealth of information, and it was a blast talking with him about old school … Continue reading Episode 62: Phil Schneider → The post Episode 62: Phil Schneider appeared first on...

Hello wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #61 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! My very special guest this week is legend, Olympian, and one of the greatest heels of all time, the one and only Ken Patera. We get into everything from working with Gorilla Monsoon, to Andy Kaufman in Memphis, … Continue reading Episode 61: Ken Patera → The post Episode 61: Ken Patera appeared first on...

Hello wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #60 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! My guest this week is historian and writer Michael Cavacini, author of an upcoming book on the history of TNA/Impact Wrestling! Michael and I take a deep dive into the state of pro wrestling at the turn of … Continue reading Episode 60: Michael Cavacini → The post Episode 60: Michael Cavacini appeared fi...

Hello wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #59 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! My guest this week is long-time Michigan referee, promoter and fan, AT Huck! Join us as we travel back to the glory days of Detroit’s Big Time Wrestling for some raucous memories, as well as the time Huck … Continue reading Episode 59: AT Huck → The post Episode 59: AT Huck appeared first on Shut Up And...

Hello wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #58 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! Razor Ramon. Kane. Papa Shango. Crush. Adam Bomb. 1-2-3 Kid. Tatanka. If you remember these WWF Superstars of the 1990s, then you’ve seen the work of my guest this week, Tom Fleming! Tom was an artist and illustrator … Continue reading Episode 58: Tom Fleming → The post Episode 58: Tom Fleming appeared f...