Ringside in Rose City #53 — The Best, the Cringiest…and the Ugliest?

Ringside in Rose City #53 — The Best, the Cringiest…and the Ugliest?Year Two of Ringside in Rose City is officially underway—and apparently one year of credibility was enough.Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers begin Episode 53 seriously enough, as Lisa Hughes spins the Ringside Wheel and sends them into the greatest moments in Portland Wrestling history.There’s Buddy Rose’s unforgettable babyface turn, with fans flooding the ring and lifting him onto their shoulders. The legendary wheelbarrow overflowing with championship belts. The eight-man tag that helped launch Roddy Piper versus Buddy Rose. Bull Ramos breaking Lonnie Mayne’s arm. Mad Dog Vachon bringing a coffin to the Crow’s Nest. Mayne taking a saw to the television light post. Ripper Collins destroying Dutch Savage with repeated Opu Drops. Dutch coming to Beauregard’s rescue. Roddy Piper transforming Art Barr into Beetlejuice—and the emotional final days of Don Owen’s Portland Wrestling.Then things begin to deteriorate.Frank and Mike turn to some of the cringiest moments in Portland Wrestling history—from interviews that went horribly wrong and Rip Oliver’s unfortunate dental incident to Ginger versus Veronica and the unforgettable Grappler–Scotty the Body sing-off.And then Lisa takes complete control.Who were the most handsome wrestlers in Portland Wrestling history?And, because apparently we're actually doing this...Who were the ugliest?Somewhere between Rick Martel and Mad Dog Vachon, whatever remained of the show's credibility disappears.CARD SHARK also returns with three programs designed to test just how deep Mike’s wrestling knowledge really goes. We visit San Antonio in 1959 during a Texas wrestling war, encounter one of the strangest promotions we’ve ever discussed in 1974 Arizona, and finally come home for the last night of wrestling at the Portland Armory in September 1968, when more than 3,000 fans packed the building for the end of an 18-year era.And this week's Card Shark gives us the perfect opportunity to recommend a terrific new wrestling history book:The Texas Rasslin’ Wars of the 1950s by Greg Klein, edited by Greg Oliver.If you think wrestling politics are complicated today, wait until you read about Texas in the 1950s—promoters changing alliances, fighting over cities and wrestlers, jumping from one side to another, and then sometimes jumping right back again.It's a fascinating look at one of professional wrestling's wildest territorial battles, and a book we highly recommend.Need one more reason to pick it up?Two words: Jack Pfeffer.Episode 53 starts with some of the greatest moments Portland Wrestling ever produced.By the end, we're discussing 10-cent beer, Mike singing Popeye the Sailor Man, and whether Mad Dog Vachon belongs on Lisa's list.Welcome to Year Two.Ringside in Rose City is hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers, author of The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers and the Excitement in the Air series, available on Amazon.New episodes drop every Thursday.One ring. One city. A thousand stories.Wrestling... wrestling the way it should be.