Episode Details

Ringside in Rose City – Episode 45: July 1969 – New Champions, New Rivalries, and a Legendary Hawaiian Card

The summer of 1969 is heating up, and so is Portland wrestling.

This week, Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers continue their month-by-month journey through July 1969, a pivotal month that saw changing championships, growing rivalries, and clear signs that Don Owen was preparing to reshape the territory. Attendance concerns, shifting storylines, and a changing roster all point toward a promotion on the verge of a major turning point.

The episode follows the escalating battles between Lonnie Mayne, Tony Borne, Buddy Marino, Crusher Stan Stasiak, Roger "Rip" Kirby, and Dean Higuchi, as the Northwest Tag Team Championship changes hands twice in just a matter of weeks. Along the way, Frank and Mike break down the storytelling behind the matches, debate controversial referee decisions, discuss Don Owen's booking philosophy, and examine why the territory was beginning to reinvent itself during the summer of 1969.

Listeners will also hear fascinating stories about forgotten spot shows, the mysterious Oregon Championship, women's wrestling in Washington, colorful newspaper coverage, and the wrestlers who quietly kept the Northwest territory running from town to town.

As always, Lisa returns with another entertaining edition of Kayfabe Curveballs, sending Mike well outside his wrestling comfort zone with trivia inspired by Tennessee, Mountain Dew, and a few unexpected detours that lead to stories involving Ric Flair, Triple H, Portland Wrestling, and the Oregon State Athletic Commission.

The episode closes with another visit to Hawaii Wrestling, where Frank and Mike examine one of the most incredible cards of 1969—a lineup featuring Pat Patterson, Ray Stevens, Ripper Collins, Pedro Morales, Gene Kiniski, Gorilla Monsoon, King Curtis Iaukea, Nick Bockwinkel, Dory Dixon, and more. It's a reminder that while Portland had an outstanding roster, Hawaii was presenting some of the greatest collections of wrestling talent anywhere in the world.

Hosted by Frank Culbertson and Portland wrestling historian Mike Rodgers.

One ring. One city. A thousand stories.

New episodes of Ringside in Rose City drop every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.