33 episodes

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

Mat Memories From Madison Square Garden John Arezzi/Ritchie Garcia/Tim Puttre

    • Sport
    • 5.0 • 1 Rating

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

    Episode 31 - May 20th 1974 with SPECIAL GUEST George Napolitano

    Episode 31 - May 20th 1974 with SPECIAL GUEST George Napolitano

    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

    • 1 hr 11 min
    Episode 30 - Killer Kowalski vs. Bruno Sammartino and that wild night discussed by Cary Silkin and John Arezzi

    Episode 30 - Killer Kowalski vs. Bruno Sammartino and that wild night discussed by Cary Silkin and John Arezzi

    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

    • 56 min
    Episode 29 April 1st, 1974 Bruno Sammartino vs. Nikolai Volkoff with John Arezzi and Cary Silkin

    Episode 29 April 1st, 1974 Bruno Sammartino vs. Nikolai Volkoff with John Arezzi and Cary Silkin

    Here is Episode 29 of Mat Memories from Madison Square Garden - where we review the April 1st, 1974 house show from the mecca of all arenas. We welcome former owner of Ring of Honor - Cary Silkin as a co-host of the show beginning with this episode. Cary has a rich history - and attended most of the MSG shows in this era. He's a great storyteller and we are happy to have him with us for each episode going forward!
    WWWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden – Monday night April 1, 1974 bell time 8:30 (22,090; sell out)
    The scheduled Butcher Brannigan vs. Manuel Soto match did not take place
    Jumbo Tsuruta pinned Johnny Rodz
    Otto Von Heller fought Jose Gonzalez to a 20-minute time-limit draw
    Larry Zbyszko defeated Ed Sullivan at 7:29
    WWWF Tag Team Champions Dean Ho & Tony Garea defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji via disqualification
    WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino pinned Nikolai Volkoff at 13:09
    Gorilla Monsoon pinned Don Leo Jonathan at 14:07
    Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Stan Stasiak at 7:15
    Pedro Morales pinned Larry Hennig at 11:04
    Host - John Arezzi
    Co-Hosts - Tim Puttre and Cary Silken
    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

    • 1 hr 9 min
    Episode 28 - March 4th 1974 Bruno Sammartino vs. Nikolai Volkoff

    Episode 28 - March 4th 1974 Bruno Sammartino vs. Nikolai Volkoff

    Here is Epsisode 28 of Mat Memories From Madison Square Garden, reviewing the house show I attended at the Mecca of all arenas on March 4th, 1974.
    WWWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden – Monday Night March 4, 1974 bell time 8:30pm (22,091; sell out)
    The scheduled bout between Don Leo Jonathan and Ed Sullivan did not take place
    Donna Christianello & Women’s Champion the Fabulous Moolah defeated Peggy Patterson & Barbi Dahl in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match
    Mr. Fuji defeated Johnny Rodz at 10:14
    Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated Jose Gonzalez at 8:59
    Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Capt. Lou Albano (sub. for Stan Stasiak) via count-out at 4:35 when Albano left ringside
    WWWF Tag Team Champions Dean Ho & Tony Garea defeated Larry Hennig & Stan Stasiak (sub. for Mike McCord) in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0; fall #1: the champions won via disqualification at 14:20; fall #2: the champions won at 8:25
    Pedro Morales defeated Otto Von Heller at 7:51
    WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino fought Nikolai Volkoff to a curfew draw at 53:07
    Host - John Arezzi
    Co-Host, Producer - Tim Puttre
    Writer and Researcher - Ritchie Garcia
    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
    Copyright: 2024
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 47 min
    Episode 27 - Bruno Sammartino vs. Don Leo Jonathan!

    Episode 27 - Bruno Sammartino vs. Don Leo Jonathan!

    Tim Puttre and I review the first title defense for newly re-crowned champion, Bruno Sammartino at Madison Square Garden.
    WWWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden – Monday night January 14, 1974 bell time 8:30 sellout crowd (22,147)
    Butcher Brannigan defeated Mike Pappas at 11:15
    Otto Von Heller defeated Tony Altimore at 9:55
    Jose Gonzalez & Manuel Soto defeated Pancho Valdez & Joe Turco in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at 18:40
    Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Mr. Fuji via disqualification at 9:41
    Nikolai Volkoff defeated Gorilla Monsoon at 4:00
    WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino pinned Don Leo Jonathon at 17:44
    WWWF Tag Team Champions Dean Ho & Tony Garea defeated Larry Hennig & Mike McCord in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at 18:20
    Pedro Morales defeated Stan Stasiak at 14:45
    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
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 39 min
    Episode 26 - Bruno wins the title from Stasiak!

    Episode 26 - Bruno wins the title from Stasiak!

    Here is episode 26 of Mat Memories From Madison Square Garden.  A very special episode that reviews the night Bruno Sammartino re-captured the WWWF Heavyweight Title to begin his 2nd reign as champion.  Bruno beat Stan Stasiak before a delirious crowd at the sold out Garden. John Tolos also makes his first appearance ever at the "new" MSG.  A historic show!  Former owner of Ring of Honor - Cary Silkin joins us to discuss the show and those memories from this era of wrestling, still near and dear to us.  
    WWWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden – December 10, 1973 (22,000)
    El Olympico pinned Tony Altimore at 7:15
    Jose Gonzalez pinned Joe Turco at 10:35
    WWWF Tag Team Champion Dean Ho defeated Pancho Valdez at 11:05
    Don Leo Jonathan defeated Manuel Soto at 14:45 when the match was stopped due to blood
    John Tolos fought Victor Rivera to a 20-minute time-limit draw
    Pedro Morales defeated Larry Hennig in a lumberjack death match with the Boston Crab
    Bruno Sammartino pinned WWWF World Champion Stan Stasiak at 12:14 to win the title after three consecutive body slams; prior to the bout, Sammartino was escorted to the ring by Arnold Skaaland and the Grand Wizard escorted the champion
    WWWF Tag Team Champion Tony Garea pinned Mike McCord at 12:35
    Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Blackjack Lanza at 7:15 
    Host - John Arezzi
    Co-Host - Tim Puttre
    Special Guest - Cary Silkin
    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 2023
     
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 26 min

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