Bumps & Thumps

In this episode, we talk with one of the legends of tag team wrestling Jumpin Jim Brunzell. Jim is a two time AWA World Tag Team Champion as one half of the High Flyers with Greg Gagne, a two time Mid Atlantic Heavyweight Champion and was one half the WWF tag team know as the Killer Bees with B Brian Blair. Jim talks about how he grew up in a military family and how he played for the Minnesota Gophers as a walk on athlete. He also discusses about Vern Gagne's Wrestling camp and the famous class of 1972 which he was a part of. Jim also talks about wrestlers he worked with and promotions he worked for like the AWA and WWF. We also discuss managers and broadcasters Jim enjoyed working with. Finally, we talk about the difference in pro wrestling today versus when he started, his book Matlands, his induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Class of 2013 Frank Gotch Award and what Jim is doing now. I encourage you to read Jim's book titled MatLands. Click on this link if you are interested in purchasing the book: https://www.blurb.com/b/6298514-matlands. I welcome your comments in the message window on the anchor websitehttps://anchor.fm/brian-ferguson3. Enjoy!!!

During the first ever episode, I will be talking to Greg Gagne. Greg is a two time AWA International Television Champion and one half of the two time AWA World Tag Team Championship Team the High Flyers. I will be discussing with Greg about what it was like growing up in a wrestling family, his experience going through his fathers pro wrestling camp, travelling experiences with other wrestlers and chemistry with other wrestlers.

Bill Apter is a legend in the Pro Wrestling Magazine world. Bill started as a writer in 1970 working for Mr. Stanley Weston (who he considers his mentor). He also worked as a photographer and reporter. Bill worked his way up and eventually became the senior editor for Mr. Weston's publications. Bill is best known for writing, photographing and publishing for Pro Wrestling Illustrated. We discuss how he got started in the business of pro wrestling, stories about Buddy Rogers, promotions he covered, the COW belt, leaving PWI (Pro Wrestling Illustrated), his induction into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (2012) and what Bill is doing now. His book "Is Wrestling Fixed? I Didn't Know It Was Broken!" is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Is-Wrestling-Fixed-Bill-Apter-audiobook/dp/B01COQ6FSS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Is+Wrestling+Fixed+I+didnt+know+it+was+Broken&qid=1601601119&s=books&sr=1-1

You can follow Bill on Twitter: @apter1wrestling

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.apter

Website: 1wrestling.com

Paul "The Butcher" Vachon is considered a an icon in the tag team division .He started in pro wrestling in 1955 and went on to win with numerous singles and tag team titles with his brother, Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon in all the major territories. He is best known for competing in the AWA, NWA and Stampede Wrestling promotions. He wrestled until his retirement in 1987. He is a member of the Cauliflower Alley Club, inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2004) and the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2010). He is also the author of the four books, the most recent titled: Wrestling in the Past; Life in and out of the ring.

You can find Paul's book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Past-Life-Out-Ring/dp/1475070683/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1604101566&sr=8-4

You can also follow Paul "The Butcher" Vachon on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/paulthebutchervachon

In Part 2 of our podcast with George Schire, we continue our discussion about his interaction with managers, big wrestling cards he attended, challenges and difficulties in collecting pro wrestling results from events pre-internet, difference in pro wrestling today and being awarded the James C Melby Wrestling Historian Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2013.