Rick Del Santo's Classic Wrestling Talk Podcast w/Craig Johnson (Jon Horton)

On this episode of Rick Del Santo’s Classic Wrestling Talk Podcast, Rick welcomes former USWA and Global Wrestling Federation announcer Craig Johnson for a wide ranging conversation about wrestling, broadcasting, the Sportatorium, ESPN, the GWF, the USWA, the Von Erich era, Steve Austin, Chris Adams, Joe Pedicino, Scott Hudson, and a life that has taken Craig from pro wrestling commentary to sports production, roller derby, corporate training, and beyond.Craig may not always be the first name fans mention when talking about early 90s wrestling announcers, but as he points out, a generation of fans watched him every day on ESPN during the Global Wrestling Federation years. In this interview, he looks back on how he got there, what he was trying to bring to the broadcast booth, and why calling wrestling like a real sport mattered to him.One of the strongest parts of this episode is Craig’s view of wrestling commentary. He was not trying to be a cartoon announcer or just hype whatever was in front of him. He wanted the wrestlers to feel like athletes with histories, rivalries, and accomplishments. That came from his sportscasting background, and it helped give USWA and GWF broadcasts a different flavor from a lot of wrestling television of the time.The Global Wrestling Federation discussion is especially valuable. Craig gives insight into how GWF was built, what Joe Pedicino was trying to accomplish, how the ESPN exposure shaped the presentation, and how quickly financial realities caught up with the project. He also makes it clear that he still takes pride in what the original GWF team created, which is why the later bungee match and more cartoonish direction still frustrate him.There are also some great memories of Steve Austin, Jeannie, and Chris Adams. Craig talks about how natural Austin’s talent already was, how much heat Jeannie could generate, and how intense the mixed tag feud felt in the Sportatorium. Those segments had real crowd reaction, and Craig understood his job was to help tell that story without getting in the way.The interview also gives fans a broader look at Jon Horton (his given name) the person. Wrestling was only one chapter. Since then, he has worked in television, soccer production, roller derby, improv, training, podcasting, and advocacy. His stories about his kids, kindness, and supporting people who are often overlooked give the episode a thoughtful, human side that goes beyond wrestling nostalgia.For fans of Global Wrestling Federation, USWA Texas, World Class, the Sportatorium, classic ESPN wrestling, and old school sports style commentary, this is a tremendous conversation with a voice many fans remember more than they may realize.Check out more great stuff from Rick Del Santo on his YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TheRickDelSantoFollow him on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/theprofrickdelsanto ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★