Retro Wrestling Episode #41 w/special guest Mad Man Pondo: Deathmatches, Comedy, $5 Wrestling & Horror Icons!

On this episode of Retro Wrestling, Gene Jackson is joined by one of the true originals of hardcore and deathmatch wrestling, Mad Man Pondo.In a wide-ranging, no-filter conversation, Pondo walks through his incredible career, from his early days breaking into the business to becoming one of the most recognizable names in deathmatch wrestling. Along the way, he shares unforgettable stories from Memphis, Japan, JCW, ICW, $5 Wrestling, and beyond.Topics include:How Pondo knew from childhood he was destined to be a pro wrestlerHis early Memphis and USWA experiences, including working with Jeff Jarrett and the MoondogsLocker room rib stories, cookies with Bengay, and surviving being “the new guy”The rise, magic, and misunderstood legacy of $5 WrestlingBalcony dives, stop signs, and the chaos of KAW at the New Daisy TheatreWorking with ICP and JCW, including matches with Terry Funk and unforgettable moments with Vanilla IceThe infamous scaffold barbed wire net bump with JC Bailey and why it wasn’t about moneyHerb Abrams’ UWF, Bruno Sammartino, and Captain Lou Albano stories that sound unbelievable… but are true!Transitioning into stand-up comedy and why wrestling prepared him for itA deep dive into Pondo’s books, including Memoirs of a Madman and the upcoming Pondo vs. the Horror IconsThis is a career-spanning conversation filled with laughter, honesty, hard lessons, and stories that only Mad Man Pondo can tell.👉 Subscribe for more classic wrestling interviews and deep dives from the Retro Wrestling Archive.This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit retrowrestlingarchive.substack.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★