Mat Memories From Madison Square Garden

Written by: John Arezzi/Ritchie Garcia/Tim Puttre
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  • Summary

  • From August 30th, 1971 through the summer of 1977 Pro Wrestling Historian and Author John Arezzi attended EVERY show at the famed arena, Madison Square Garden, often called the Mecca of pro wrestling. From his beginnings as a 14 year old wrestling fan, shooting photos and 8mm film footage at the matches, He then became the President of the Fred Blassie Fan Club. John eventually evolved to one of the very few credentialed photographers allowed backstage and given ringside press access. On this podcast (which will be released 50 years to the day of each Madison Sq. Garden wrestling show he attended), Arezzi shares his Mat Memories of that event. From the matches, to the backstage atmosphere, John looks back in time in this truly unique show. The show is co-hosted by the former owner of RING OF HONOR - Cary Silkin, and John's longtime friend and radio producer Tim Puttre. The show is researched and written by another long time friend and associate, Ritchie Garcia. Host: John Arezzi Co-Hosts: Cary Silkin and Tim Puttre Co-Producer, researcher and writer: Ritchie Garcia Copyright 2024: Mat Memories from Madison Square Garden JOIN THE PATREON PAGE FOR THIS PODCAST AND EXPERIENCE 50 YEARS OF HISTORY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF WRESTLING HISTORIAN AND CO-AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLING BOOK MAT MEMORIES HERE: https://www.patreon.com/JohnArezzi Subscribe to the show's YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ProWrestlingSpotlight Follow John Arezzi Here: https://twitter.com/johnarezzi https://instagram.com/johnarezzi https://www.facebook.com/groups/prowrestlingspotlight https://www.facebook.com/JohnArezzisMatMemories Order a signed and numbered copy of John Arezzi's best selling memoir "MAT MEMORIES, My Wild Ride in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and with the Mets" here: https://py.pl/1SjMeX
    2022 Alexander Media Services, LLC
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Episodes
  • June 24th, 1974 Blassie, Bruno, Baba and more. With Evan Ginzburg and Cary Silkin

    June 24th, 1974 Blassie, Bruno, Baba and more. With Evan Ginzburg and Cary Silkin
    Jun 28 2024
    On this special episode of Mat Memories from Madison Square Garden, Cary, Tim and I welcome wrestling historian - Evan Ginzburg. On June 24th, 1974 Evan attended his very first wrestling show, and we are happy to have him on this episode to talk about that night. And the card, which was a great one! WWWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden Monday Night June 24, 1974, 8:30 bell time (22,093; sell out) Jose Gonzalez defeated Tony Altimore at 6:15 WWWF Tag Team Champions Johnny & Jimmy Valiant defeated Dean Ho & Tony Garea in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-1; fall #1 – the champions won; fall #2 – the challengers won; fall #3 – the champions won. No time given Haystacks Calhoun & Larry Zbyszko defeated Otto Von Heller & Killer Kowalski at 17:14 when Calhoun pinned Von Heller Giant Baba defeated Gorilla Monsoon via count-out at 16:34 Pedro Morales defeated Black Gordman at 4:16 WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0; fall #1 – Sammartino & Strongbow won via disqualification; fall #2 – Sammartino pinned Blassie (Blassie’s last wrestling match at MSG) Co-Hosts - John Arezzi and Cary Silkin Special Guest - Evan Ginzburg Moderator - Tim Puttre Writer / Researcher - Ritchie Garcia Patreon Executive Producers - Anthony Pires and Joseph Holloway JOIN THE PATREON PAGE FOR THIS PODCAST AND EXPERIENCE 50 YEARS OF HISTORY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF WRESTLING HISTORIAN AND CO-AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLING BOOK MAT MEMORIES HERE: https://www.patreon.com/JohnArezzi Subscribe to the show's YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ProWrestlingSpotlight Follow John Arezzi Here: https://twitter.com/johnarezzi https://instagram.com/johnarezzi https://www.facebook.com/groups/prowrestlingspotlight https://www.facebook.com/JohnArezzisMatMemories Order a copy of John Arezzi's best selling memoir "MAT MEMORIES, My Wild Ride in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and with the Mets" here: https://a.co/d/4TXWVAv Copyright 2024 Alexander Media Services, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • May 20th 1974 Bruno vs. Kowalski Rematch!

    May 20th 1974 Bruno vs. Kowalski Rematch!
    May 23 2024
    Here is Episode 31 of Mat Memories from Madison Square Garden. A very special episode with a roundtable of former Ring of Honor owner Cary Silkin, Hall of Fame Writer/Photographer George Napolitano and John Arezzi discuss a wide variety of topics from back in the day! Moderated by Tim Puttre. WWWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden – Monday night May 20, 1974 Bell time 8:30 pm attendance (17,103) about 4,000 fans away from a sell-out Larry Zbyszko defeated Mike Conrad at 8:35 Jose Gonzalez defeated Capt. Lou Albano at 14:20 Dean Ho defeated Tony Altimore at 13:01 Pedro Morales defeated Johnny Rodz at 10:29 Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Nikolai Volkoff at 7:26 Peggy Patterson & Women’s Champion the Fabulous Moolah defeated Sharon Brooks & Debbie Johnson in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino pinned Killer Kowalski at 18:14 in a Texas Death Match Co - Hosts - John Arezzi and Cary Silkin Special Guest - George Napolitano Moderator - Tim Puttre Writer / Researcher - Ritchie Garcia Patreon Executive Producers - Anthony Pires and Joseph Holloway JOIN THE PATREON PAGE FOR THIS PODCAST AND EXPERIENCE 50 YEARS OF HISTORY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF WRESTLING HISTORIAN AND CO-AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLING BOOK MAT MEMORIES HERE: https://www.patreon.com/JohnArezzi Subscribe to the show's YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ProWrestlingSpotlight Follow John Arezzi Here: https://twitter.com/johnarezzi https://instagram.com/johnarezzi https://www.facebook.com/groups/prowrestlingspotlight https://www.facebook.com/JohnArezzisMatMemories Order a copy of John Arezzi's best selling memoir "MAT MEMORIES, My Wild Ride in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and with the Mets" here: https://a.co/d/4TXWVAv Copyright 2024 Alexander Media Services, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • April 29th 1974 Killer Kowalski battles Bruno Sammartino in a classic bloody brawl at MSG!

    April 29th 1974 Killer Kowalski battles Bruno Sammartino in a classic bloody brawl at MSG!
    May 2 2024
    Here is Episode 30 of Mat Memories from Madison Square Garden - where we review the wild April 29th, 1974 card that featured the brawl between challenger Killer Kowalski taking on the living legend Bruno Sammartino. Co-hosts John Arezzi and Cary Silkin go into detail on the show which featured rare run ins by wrestlers to break up the battle between a bloody Sammartino and Kowalski! WWWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden – Monday night April 29, 1974, 8:30pm bell time (15,945) Televised on HBO - with Vince McMahon on commentary Jose Gonzalez fought Larry Zbyszko to a 20-minute time-limit draw WWWF Tag Team Champion Tony Garea defeated Mike Conrad at 17:09 Nikolai Volkoff (w/ Freddie Blassie) pinned WWWF Tag Team Champion Dean Ho at 5:22 Robert Fuller pinned Ed Sullivan at 10:39 with a jumping DDT WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino (w/ Arnold Skaaland) fought Killer Kowalski (w/ the Grand Wizard) to a no contest at 24:15 Pedro Morales pinned Mr. Fuji at 10:29 with two body slams after Fuji failed a splash off the top Chief Jay Strongbow & Andre the Giant defeated Otto Von Heller & Don Leo Jonathan in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0: Co - Host - John Arezzi and Cary Silkin Moderator - Tim Puttre Writer / Researcher - Ritchie Garcia Patreon Executive Producers - Anthony Pires and Joseph Holloway JOIN THE PATREON PAGE FOR THIS PODCAST AND EXPERIENCE 50 YEARS OF HISTORY FROM THE ARCHIVES OF WRESTLING HISTORIAN AND CO-AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLING BOOK MAT MEMORIES HERE: https://www.patreon.com/JohnArezzi Subscribe to the show's YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ProWrestlingSpotlight Follow John Arezzi Here: https://twitter.com/johnarezzi https://instagram.com/johnarezzi https://www.facebook.com/groups/prowrestlingspotlight https://www.facebook.com/JohnArezzisMatMemories Order a copy of John Arezzi's best selling memoir "MAT MEMORIES, My Wild Ride in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and with the Mets" here: https://a.co/d/4TXWVAv Copyright 2024 Alexander Media Services, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins

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