Ringside in Rose City #49– The Greatest Northwest Champions

Ringside in Rose City – The Greatest Northwest ChampionsWho was the greatest Northwest Heavyweight Champion of the Portland Sports Arena era?This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers tackle a debate they've been having for years—and discover pretty quickly that they don't agree nearly as much as they thought they did.More than 110 wrestlers challenged for the Northwest Championship, and Mike has documented more than 540 championship matches. But championships alone don't tell the story. Frank and Mike build their rankings around title reigns, successful defenses, championship opportunities, quality of opposition—and that one statistic you can never completely measure: how much a wrestler meant to the fans.The countdown brings out some of Portland's biggest names: Lonnie Mayne, Roddy Piper, Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Billy Jack Haynes, Rick Martel, Ed Wiskowski, Jay Youngblood, Rip Oliver, Buddy Rose, Bull Ramos and plenty more.Some disagreements are small. Others require Lisa to put on the referee shirt.Was Brett Sawyer one of Portland's greatest champions—or does Mike have him nowhere near the Top 15? Does Rip Oliver's record 12 championships and 47 title defenses make him the obvious choice? How much should longevity matter? How much should the quality of the opponent matter? And can charisma outweigh the statistics?By the time they reach number one, Frank and Mike aren't even crowning the same wrestler. Frank makes the case for Buddy Rose, while Mike plants his flag firmly behind Bull Ramos—and both have plenty of ammunition.The episode also pauses to remember John Anson, a familiar name from one of Portland Wrestling's strongest eras, following news of his passing.Then Lisa grabs the passports for the debut of a brand-new Ringside segment: Passport to Piledrivers! First stop: Canada, where Frank tests Mike's knowledge of masked wrestlers from north of the border. But there's a theme behind the questions—all roads lead to former Portland wrestler Rocky Della Serra, who worked under several masked identities during his career.The segment also shines a spotlight on Rocky's new book, Wrestling With a Rocky Life, filled with stories from his travels, his many wrestling identities, and a lifetime spent inside the business. Frank calls it one of the best wrestling books he's read and highly recommends it—and listeners can also go back and hear Rocky's recent appearance on Ringside in Rose City.Statistics, memories, disagreements, a tribute to a member of the Portland Wrestling family, a trip across the Canadian border—and one championship debate that may never truly be settled.One ring. One city. A thousand stories.New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.