STW

[@marktoomey4020]

Always loved The Model Rick Martel. He is deserving of a Hall Of Fame nod!

[@halfwaydowntheroad]

No doubt. It's long overdue.

[@josephboza7448]

Its like a big fat duh! why isnt he in the hall of fame. Does he not fit with the them they try to get with each class going into the hall of fame.

[@l.j.garcia1042]

Awesome episode. One of my friends was a Strike Force mark and actually cried when they lost the tag team titles to Demolition. LOL I still remember that Rick Martel promo where he said he wasn't a quitter, he was a fighter. He was burying Tom Zenk, but as a kid I had no clue what had happened. So many of my doubts were answered here. Why Tito and Rick never settled their feud on a PPV makes sense now. And totally off subject but now I know why Booker T never used the Harlem Hangover. I always thought that was a badass move but I had no clue he had injured Martel or Saturn with it to the point it got banned. Always enjoy these shows. Keep em coming. Great job.

[@Official_WaltClyde]

One of the most charismatic wrestlers of all time! He should be in the WWE Hall of Fame! His character paved the way for alot of future wrestlers after him.

[@joelmalone7922]

When I was a wee young lad I thought that Rick was so cool. I happen to have Asperger's Syndrome and didn't really talk until I was 3. One day I was at home with my mom and waiting to go to school. My dad would sometimes tape a WWF show for me and I'd watch it at my dear grandparents' house. One of Rick's promos happened to come on and I stood right up. I started to strut like did and even adopted Rick's French Canadian accent. My grandpa quietly entered the family room so he could make sure that it wasn't just his imagination playing a cruel trick on him. When he saw that it definitely was real he ran to pick me up, crying and laughing all the way. Needless to say I finally started talking and it wasn't simply in the manner of the 4 year old that I was. My vocabulary was that of college student and I wouldn't shut up. Within a year I'd be reading and writing. So, in a way, I can thank the wonderful Mr. Martel for me emerging from my thick shell and finally interacting with others as though I'd always had.

[@Metalic1]

Aloha guys! The Metal Maniac here! I have those 2 matches we had on Oahu I. 1999. Thankyou for saying the HIWF. If you want to see how great he still was I have the films! Aloha!

[@michaelhough4215]

Bruce is so dam busy!!! The fact he's doing this for us is special!!! Thank you bruce for the best dam podcast there is!!!

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

I love his run in the 91 rumble

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Me too. My first ppv I saw and was hooked,loved the model.

[@johnytwotimes4072]

The Model was the first heel turn that upset me as a kid but I used to really believe he was a model and I looked for his cologne at Belks when my Mom would take me shopping!

[@paystyles5429]

ARROGANCE

[@johnytwotimes4072]

@@paystyles5429 YES!!!

[@paystyles5429]

Johny Two Times Yeah me too I totally could relate to that story you would have to be a certain age group and wwf fan to truly understand your comment. But the thing that also fascinated me about arrogance is number one it could attract the most attractive women in convertible sports cars if you would wear it but if sprayed in your eyes it acts in the same manner as mace/ pepper spary and totally debilitates you. Made you wonder 😭 But yes martel was a likable heel Im sure u saw the match with him and mike shaw aka Bastion Booger😂😂

[@johnytwotimes4072]

@@paystyles5429 Booger was something else poor Martel

[@JE-ju7fz]

Don't feel bad! In the early 90s, young me walked into a record store and asked if they had "Ain't I great" by Double J.

[@matthewbaumber3554]

Great episode. Martel is a class act and the Model was a great character. Even though he argued with Zenk, he never talked about money, yet he could have argued that he should have been worth more because of his experience and title wins. Also wish they had talked about his longevity in the 1991 Royal Rumble. 53 minutes long, back then, was a big deal.

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

You can tell Vince really respected Martel as a worker and man in general. He let him have time off and he did keep him around until the mid 90s

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Deffo. Hed always have lil breaks and disappear then return as if hed never bn away.lol

[@JohnnyDouchbag-nr5yf]

Because Vince was jealous of his ridiculously good looks

[@chrisgrissom3610]

Underrated performer

[@heisensaul5538]

Very. His work often gets over looked. Which is a shame.

[@hattorihanzo2275]

Top guy in Lutte and AWA. He just couldn't get over to the same degree with kids like me that was Vince's major demographic. We were stupid.

[@Dizzy1980]

It's interesting trivia that Shawn Michaels wrestled both members of Strike Force at consecutive pay per views -- Shawn pinned Tito Santana at Wrestlemania VIII, and then wrestled Rick Martel at Summerslam 1992.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

I forgot about Shawn Michaels wrestling Tito at WM8.

[@Dizzy1980]

@@HereIsWisdom1318 Twas Shawn's first solo Wrestlemania.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:24:40-I laughed so hard at this. I remember as a kid thinking how funny it was that both guys thought they were so good looking that-God-forbid anyone hit their face!

[@1Kelly1481]

That blindfold match was iconic. I would love to see one of these again eventually when live crowds are a thing for the right guys feuding.

[@NumberOneGar]

Mysterio and Seth Rollins!!

[@michaelhough4215]

Sooooo underated!!! Martel was a great wrestler!!!

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

Martel never gets mentioned, he doesn't grant interviews and the WWE never talks about him. He was a great wrestler in both the WWE and AWA.

[@rustykuntz94]

Rick was always a little more secluded than other retired wrestlers. But whoever it was 5/6 years ago when he might have said too much regarding the events around Dino Bravo’s death and now he just doesn’t g era not any media requests.

[@adamofgrayskull7735]

The Model is the most underrated and under decorated wrestler in history ,or was he so good he didn't need a title

[@dreampopwavestudiob7282]

godfather of the boston crab !

[@dougfitzpatrick2527]

I'm pretty sure he held the AWA World Championship, & he held the WWF Tag Titles twice...once in 1981 with Tony Garea, & once obviously with Chico Santana as Strike Force! I do absolutely believe he should of been the IC Champion as The Model however!

[@dreampopwavestudiob7282]

@@dougfitzpatrick2527 he did for almost 2 years

[@Westlyn80]

Deserved two titles. Ic and WWF title

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

I liked for your name!

[@BeeBumper]

Totally underrated. He was there through the early 80s, left for a short time but returned to wwf. He was an awesome in ring performer

[@KaloKross]

i see conrad also watched the martel interview on youtube and got his 80 pages of notes from it

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Conrad blows

[@Super122291]

@@rosemaryfarell5264 blows KFC

[@wrestlingwithdisney]

My question was asked!!! Thanks, guys!!!

[@RealSlimPickens]

The Modeling & Arrogance starts at 2:48

[@Vsvstubbs]

Most underrated wrestler in wwf history

[@ogarstyle]

We need a Nick Bockwinkle and/or Stan Hansen episode!!!

[@hattorihanzo2275]

Doubt we will see either. I don't think Bruce had a professional relationship with either. Did either do runs in Houston?

[@RobwLPOC]

@@hattorihanzo2275 Hansen is Texan so probably at some point he at least wrestled there. Don't know if it would be an episode worth.

[@henrikschmidt3964]

There are some great Bob Backlund stories out there and we got another one here. Thank you.

[@andrewberube8973]

Great tag team with Tony Garea taking on the Moondogs and Mr.Fuji and Mr Saito both managed by Captain Lou Albano

[@Dizzy1980]

1:30:30 I really was looking forward to the 10 man tag at Wrestlemania X. Glad they had it on Raw, but sucks that it was cut from the big event.

[@JoeyMartz]

I was at MSG for Mania X (I was 8).. They didn't tell us (the audience) anything....... After the ladder match I was expecting the 10 man tag..... Then all of the sudden it went right to the bret/yoko match...I was disappointed as Martel was my favorite.... My siblings explained the "captain" excuse one my dad and I got back from the garden. But the Bret/Owen and Razor/Shawn matches made the event legendary.

[@Dizzy1980]

@@JoeyMartz Damn, what a pisser! I was watching on TV and really waiting for that 10 man tag! They finally had it on Monday Night Raw but it wasn't quite the same. I too was hoping for Martel to get one final Wrestemania moment, plus all the others who would've made their Wrestlemania debuts.

[@shadowman2192]

I was such a huge fan of Strike Force. Martel and Santana had fantastic chemistry.

[@scottyb003]

Thanks for the appreciation, and we thank you for what you do too.

[@kingoffarts8352]

I never understood why rick Martell never had a singles title run but Marty janetty did.

[@lexico8165]

I hear u but i wouldn't call 1 week with IC title a run!

[@justinmartin1831]

Because Marty was in a program with Shawn when he had the belt. It was a way to further their story. Also, having Marty come back unexpectedly to challenge Shawn after a four month absence and beat him and 123 Kid upset win over Razor were both on the same Raw. It set the tone for the show to be unpredictable. I really don't think there was any other reason and their weren't long term plans for Marty to have the belt because he dropped it 3 weeks later.

[@kingoffarts8352]

@Ze TheGame Marty did have a singles run. Granted he was mainly working with enhancement talent not alot of ppvs,but he was on tv in 1992 and 1993. He didn't work with alot of top guys,but his singles run was like rick steiner in wcw in 1991.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

Marty Jannetty’s singles title run doesnt count, but for arguments sake: Marty can beat Shawn and then lose the title back, and it wouldnt hurt him. The Model cant win the IC title and lose it a month later cuz it would make him look weak.

[@matttrussell1733]

My brother and I grew up on Portland wrestling in the 80s,Billy Jack Haynes,Grappler,Beetlejuice,Buddy Rose,Midnight Soldier(Bryan Adams/Crush)Scott Levy(Raven) and more

[@TheBrister]

Kinda disappointed that his 91 rumble performance barely got a mention.

[@chrisgoffe5048]

..strike force was my favorite tag team as a kid ..Rick Martel was and still is my all time favorite wrestler !!

[@Swededude74]

I loved the promo when Rick Martel started of in the Italian language, and after a few seconds he said... "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot, that the most of you people are not as intelligent as I am, speaking two languages just like that." *snap fingers* I have tried so to find that promo again! XD

[@markfroman738]

A wolf in sheep’s clothing!

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

1:19:40 The Blindfold match was ripped off the "Prince of Darkness" match from the Crockett Cup 1988 between Jim Garvin and Kevin Sullivan.

[@richardstanley8711]

Martel's feud with Stan Hanson was awesome.

[@QuiksilverWrestles]

My all time favorite, never gets enough love, and never gets enough credit for being one of the best in ring of all time

[@TheBrister]

In hindsight a Model Rick Martel and Ravishing Rick Rude heel tag team would have been HUGE.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

“Rick Martel, Rick Rude! The RAVISHING MODELS!!”

[@jediknightgeo]

Great all around talent. Shame he got that career ending injury in WCW right when he won the WCW World Television Title. He was really getting over with the fans.

[@mattm7798]

Yeah, I mean it was the tail end of his career, but I could see him continuing for another couple years.

[@1justinswift]

I was bummed out as well, I was a huge fan of The Model!

[@OptimumTaurus]

He was doing some really good stuff with the other people in the TV Title hunt like Booker T. He still had it. It was unfortunate he seemed to be a little more injury prone.

[@sambressi7425]

Great episode! Any chance you can do a Charles Wright profile? Keep up the good work!

[@ilovepengtings4787]

I’m just here for the Stu Hart impression

[@almandot]

That’s a lot of talent. A lot of hall of famers. And the red rooster.

[@rustykuntz94]

Def correct about French Canadians here, especially at that time with the business & the people of Montreal. They LOVED their own & when the WWF ran shows in the 80s with Montreal guys (Patterson, Martel, Dino, Rougeau’s, Pierre the Pirate) it didn’t matter if they were Heels they were getting cheered & they were going over.

[@therealmaskedheel]

Rick really was a better babyface than heel. The Model stuff was good, but he was such a damn good babyface. He is probably the top 3 underrated and overlooked performers of least the last 40 years. I'd say him, Muraco, and Santana are my top 3 in underrated workers.

[@mikedolan6176]

Yes, I am a model!

[@JoshV74656]

One of the more underrated wrestlers from the glory days of wrestling. As a kid I hated this guy, as an adult rewatching stuff on WWE network I appreciate Rick's in ring skills and how he could work a crowd.

[@ChristCoin]

The model is literally one of the greatest wrestlers ever. Not even close. Top 50 ever in ability ever. He played the model character perfectly. It was casting genius by Vince or whomever thought of it

[@78bcat]

If you can find Bobby Heenan's first shoot interview with RF, he is adamant that Verne's biggest mistake happened before he didn't go with Hogan and let him slip away, rather it was around 1982 and not going all the way with Martel...he said that waiting until 1985 missed the boat.

[@Craigers8637]

Love the heel model character, he had the model look and was a great technical wrestler

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

Feb 16 1998 in Tampa Florida was the day before my 10th bday and I lived 20 min from Tampa back then. Too bad I didn't watch wrestling til 2002.

[@waynemoro8650]

Ah I always remember him as The Model. He was very convincing. Brill as a kid to watch

[@Dizzy1980]

1:19:45 In terms of the Blindfold match, the good storytelling was ironically what caused the match itself to stink.

[@kevinmccauley5936]

Aw man! Please get to Captain Lou soon. Most people don't realize what a great heel he was. Nobody made us madder than, "The Guiding Light!". Pre Cindy Lauper, He was pure evil.

[@danielescalera6638]

He told kids that do drugs they'll die and go to jail at the end of a super Mario bro cartoon epsiode

[@josepagan7882]

The Rick Martel I best Remember is teaming with Tony Garea, with the blue trunks and the matching jackets. Great Time in the wrestling business.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:50:07-I feel like Strike Force took the direction that the Can-Am Connection would have taken.

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

The model was Awesome. Deffo should have had an I-C title run. He looked best id say 90-91 in his purple trunks,slick back ponytail.

[@josephross7936]

Maybe you guys should do a terrstory episode. Talk about 10-12 famous wrestling territories back in the day, some wrestler that started or past through there and Bruce give input on what he heard.

[@sodasic]

It’s a travesty that jobbers like Koko B. Ware are in the hall of fame and Rick Martel isn’t.

[@mattm7798]

Great worker, tons of charisma, ok promo but great character and from what I understand, a heck of a nice guy.

[@soulagent79]

First match I ever saw live at a WWF houseshow was Rick Martel vs. Tito Santana.

[@knowyourroleboulevard7119]

Rick Martel would have had the two Intercontinental Championship reigns Tito Santana has had if he were to have been able to get into the WWF in 1983.

[@kevinbudzinski9576]

I remember two of his feuds in WWE, one with Jake the Snake when he blinded him with cologne and the other with Tatanka when he stole his feathers

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

The Super Models tag team with Don Callis would have been good to see too.

[@AWrestlingHistorian]

FACT CHECK: Rick Martel was out with an injury, cancelling his SummerSlam 1990 match against Tito Santana.

[@shadycnetwork]

You got to love it when fans think they know more than the people that were actually there.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

@@shadycnetwork Well, these guys are actually wrong a lot.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

I used to wear my WN V tape out too!

[@chrisortiz8072]

Wasn't happy this one was made.of Rick but needed something to listen 2

[@joelmalone7922]

Thanks Rick!

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

One reason Martel may have been paired with Slick was because he managed The Twin Towers who were Demolition's next challengers after WM5 and Martel still held a grudge against Ax and Smash for taking his tag title and injuring him, especially as fans were now cheering the Demos.

[@JenniferPoco]

sad we never got a proper Rick vs Tito feud blow off on PPV (and no, i don't count the 6 man tag at Summerslam 89).

[@djj1518]

Bruce lol he said the eagle feather is so damn special he dont even know where it is lol thank u Bruce I love it

[@BASEMENTWORKOUT-s2o]

Stu Hart makes another appearance on STW

[@phettywappharmaceuticalsll8842]

I know Bruce is exhausted and drained but the energy is just 🥱

[@craigwilson3532]

I love the model, great heel, had the look n wrestling ability

[@chosento2988]

He was at the Hudson Valley Mall signing autographs at a plain white table with nothing but an envelope of glossy pics but no camera, in the 90s when he was MIA for a bit.... Unfortunately No one.... Nobody knew who he was....Not 1 person. He left in under 2 hours with zero promo material even hinting to who he was!

[@kev0lution]

Martel was always one of the top 5 greatest heels in history. He had the IT factor. He knew how to get the crowed to hate him. The art of REAL sneaky "cheating" is gone. Martel was a genius at telling a story. He and Jake in that blind fold match, hilarious and holds up today. He was a pro at selling. Many fans hate some ways wrestlers sell other wrestlers moves today because its so generic. The reason why the late 80's and 90's were unique was because not only were performers able to pull off fun gimmicks but they had their own unique way of selling. Ric Flair in his later years and HBK both had their own way of selling moves. Its an art and wrestlers today, not many I have seen, stand out. Martel should have had at least 1 PPV to PPV intercontinental title run. I think Bret winning the IC belt from Hennig was one of the greatest matches. In 1992 Bret had an OK feud with Boy Toy Shawn Michaels a couple times. Though the matches were good, I think Martel should have been in those IC matches with Bret, Shawn was still finding his athletic ability as Martel was a veteran. Maybe win it? Of course this is a feud pre-Bulldog vs Hart at Wembley when Bret loses the IC belt obviously. Id let Martel hold it JUST until the next following PPV. Just my opinion. My favorite of all time will always be HBK, but at that time Martel and Bret woulda been more technical...WWE could have had Michaels and Bret wrestle on house shows, letting Shawn and Bret meet for the very first time on PPV for the WWF title. Rick Martel, Legend and Hall Of Famer to me

[@jessesikora955]

I looked more into the Rick Rude/Rick Martel brawl that was mentioned in the questions. It seems to be false information because I found an interview from when Rude passed away where Martel mentions Rude was great guy and they got along very well. He also said he never wrestled him because they were both heels.

[@countrydawn418]

The best Wrestler in Quebec history, in my opinion.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

From what I have seen yes. But I have not seen Pat Patterson in his prime and he had a successful career as well. Also Carpentier, Yvon Robert and Rougeau's uncle and dad were ring legends as well.

[@Casperpks]

Another great episode! Please do a 123 Kid/X-pac episode soon

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

1:07 re. Arrogance - as a babyface Rick Martel had previously been on the receiving end of spray perfume as a foreign object when he feuded with Jimmyn Garvin with Precious and her spray can in the AWA in 1985. So now he was a villain himself, it made sense for him to adopt a tactic used by an old enemy.

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

Good episode

[@kingoffarts8352]

I can't believe they didn't make any mention of road warrior animal.

[@Byzantine41]

Please do a segment on long time heel Greg The Hammer Valentine.

[@sdd619]

1:25 will skip the annoying ad.

[@tommymclaughlin80swrestlin70]

Rick Martel as the AWA world champion then was 10 times better than that stupid model gimmick.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

Not to Rick.

[@elland37]

You didnlt mention Moondog King, just Rex and Spot.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:19:22-I hate when ppl today judge stuff from 39 yrs ago. The blindfold match at WM 7 was awesome, the whole story of it!

[@MrButaqua]

As a kid I used to like Rick Martel and Tony Garrea , strike force , but when he turned into the model was my favorite he should’ve beat Hogan at least a run as WWF champ he could do it all

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

1:18:300-I liked the idea of this “Mariner” character coming in and attacking ppl, most notably when he attacked Earthquake. I thought it was new cuz i never seen something like this before and i thought it was cool cuz this unknown was attacking the “real” wrestlers. Btw, i knew it was Bruti at 11 yrs old.

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

Hated home as a child. But what a heel. Amazing gimmick. He wouldve been a great IC champ.

[@abbdabs67]

great show would love a show on kerry von erich

[@youforget1000thingsaday]

Him vs Bastion Booger is one of my favorite matches. Shit was hilarious.

[@whitetiger8386]

They should do a whole episode on haku what about Jimmy snuka is there a tatanka one

[@infalliblefowl9809]

"Oh my god 470 000 stars in the tokyo dome and one time they were ashikoshi yoki dewey and they had this match and it went 49 minutes" lol, wrestling fans like wrestling, who knew. At least that's what we tell ourselves. Thank god you were around a decade ago in TNA when the internet marks thought they wanted to see guys like AJ Styles & Samoa Joe wrestler.

[@filfil9960]

Where is Oshi-koshi yoki dui?

[@djj1518]

The model I love him

[@ILoveFilm247]

I can't save with Conrad. Apparently, there is like 5 states they don't do anything with.

[@bgorder34]

If you can't get financing from a real bank, you shouldn't be buying a house.

[@Hoozer32]

I listen to 83 weeks and grilling with JR. And of the 3 podcast, am I the only one feeling like Conrad and Bruce don't like each other? They seem short with each other so often.

[@TheNeonParadox]

"Busier than a one-armed paper-hanger." WTF is wrong with you? lol

[@DemetriusOnTheMove]

Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery UNDERRATED

[@PrinceAkkanatan]

THE METAL MANIAC Gets the STW Mention! Ahhh Braddah!

[@davestuddaman8127]

Love me some Martel. But can we get a Von Erich?!!!

[@knowyourroleboulevard7119]

@Duckfu Chickenjudo same. I thought Shawn Michaels had the career that Texas Tornado could have had. I mean two 2nd generation Era wrestlers being the face of the New Generation Era sounded just about right.

[@abcsin6526]

I guess , that episode is in ad free show ...