Talkin' Off The Top Rope Episode #1: Meet the "Grizzled Vet" 2026-06-03 13:57

The debut episode of Talkin’ Off The Top Rope introduces fans to host “The Grizzled Vet” Michael McCurdy as he officially host an affiliate show for the Retro Wrestling Archive Podcast Network with a show built around conversation, memories, and the people who keep wrestling history alive. For Episode #1, Michael is joined by Gene Jackson, who helps turn the spotlight around and lets listeners get to know the man behind the microphone. Michael talks about his 31 years around the wrestling business, his early days as a fan, growing up in a small town in Northern California, discovering Portland Wrestling, Saturday Night’s Main Event, World Class Championship Wrestling, the AWA, Jim Crockett Promotions, and the wrestling magazines that opened up an entire world beyond what was available on local television. Michael also shares how names like Jimmy Garvin, Roddy Piper, The Freebirds, The Von Erichs, Larry Zbyszko, The Trooper, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan helped shape his fandom, along with the thrill of old magazines, tape trading, early internet wrestling newsletters, and the hunt for wrestling history before everything was just a click away. If you love wrestling interviews, old-school fandom, territory memories, wrestling magazines, tape trading, podcast history, and hearing from someone who has spent decades around the business, this debut episode is the perfect introduction to “The Grizzled Vet” Michael McCurdy. FOR TONS OF EXCLUSIVE RETRO WRESTLING CONTENT: Check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com/retrowrestlingarchive Check out www.retrowrestlingarchive.club for all of our social media, merch stores, and everything related to our content and podcasts