Podcast
The Mount Rushmore of Wrestling
Hosted by Eric Nelson · EN
Ever wondered who the true faces of professional wrestling are?
Join Eric Nelson and Nate Merz as they grapple with the ongoing wrestling debate: Who deserves a spot on the Mount Rushmore of Wrestling?
Each episode, these passionate fans, armed with research and unwavering opinions, will dissect the careers of wrestling legends and build their cases for the ultimate wrestling pantheon.
Prepare for fiery takes, deep dives into wrestling history, and guaranteed disagreements! This show is for die-hard wrestling fans who love a good debate--subscribe and join in the fun!
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
061 The Mount Rushmore of Animals in Wrestling
Feb 2001:48:05Tap to summarizeThis week on The Mount Rushmore of Wrestling, we went full Steve Irwin (too soon?) Marlon Perkins (too late?) National Geographic (too litigious?) wildlife documentary.From psychologically weaponized reptiles to beloved avian sidekicks, we built our definitive Mount Rushmore of actual non-human animals in wrestling history.No Road Warrior Animal. No Dave "The Animal" Bautista. Not even Mr. Iguana.Just real animals, real chaos, and real human emotion. About animals. Come sink your teeth into this episode!**SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERSBobby Heenan's wildlife rantBoogeyman’s scariest moments: WWE Top 10, Oct. 24, 2021 - YouTubeWWE Hall of Fame: Koko B. WareFrankie's FindAGraveKoko B. Ware on Frankie's deathJake the Snake Roberts and DamienJake The Snake Roberts on the Many Different Versions of DamienEarthquake squashes DamienJake Roberts on Earthquake crushing Damien!All of Eric's links on Matilda:DEBUT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCAXFUIQcNoHEENAN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtwrFx1OWQEDOGNAP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfrkEBewv94 PLEA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HOnkI1Q9wU UPDATE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lOqef0ekUcUPDATE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-zrQTt_dfkPROMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XT_npqvWXc PRESS CONF: https://youtu.be/HG75o0NZLgc?si=9_vQsJYjO1v72eh9&t=259UECKER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP-zbOU7ErgPROMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdeDQqnSE9c DOLL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkpugDOKc9cA special feature on rats* A gorilla and a weasel talking about rats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPlQebt9HAw * Jim Cornette and Percy Pringle talking about rats at the Sportatorium: https://youtu.be/LMXTkDdjwig?si=mGV8oD5EEkDZrn1j&t=1545 (end at “ready to see rasslin’”)**WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA & EMAILWebsite: https://themountrushmoreofwrestling.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/123rushmoreInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/123rushmoreX: https://x.com/123rushmoreYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@123Rushmore Email: 123@themountrushmoreofwrestling.com
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060 The Mount Rushmore of Wrestlers in Movies
Feb 701:50:22Tap to summarizeWhen pro wrestling and Hollywood collide, the results can be… ugly. But when it works, it creates iconic characters, endlessly quotable lines, and moments that live forever in pop culture.In this episode of The Mount Rushmore of Wrestling, Eric and Nate debate the four greatest movie performances by professional wrestlers—not just cameos, but roles that worked, mattered, and didn’t embarrass the business.They also welcome Chris Owens, the foremost Andre the Giant historian, for an all-time deep dive into The Princess Bride, Andre’s physical limitations, and why Fezzik might be the most important crossover role a wrestler has ever had.Do YOU have time to bleed? Of course not! But do you have time to listen? We certainly hope so.The Big DebatesWhat separates a great wrestler in a movie from a great movie performance?Do cameos count—or should they be disqualified entirely?Which performances helped wrestling… and which hurt it?As always, the arguments are passionate, informed, and very loud.
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059 The Mount Rushmore of John Cena (Part 2)
Dec 1201:08:42Tap to summarizeThe Doctors of Podanomics are back to wrap up their convo on the Mount Rushmore of John Cena! What match did Eric try sneaking up the side of his mountain? How did Nate take the news? Which of Cena's possibly greatest all-time opponents gets a nod, and which match does Eric think is Cena's greatest of all time? You can't see us, but you can hear us, so listen up, fools!**BOB COOK GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-cooker-bob-cook-recover**SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERSFULL MATCH: Randy Orton vs. John Cena | WWE Title WWE Iron Man Match: Bragging Rights 2009
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058 The Mount Rushmore of John Cena (Part One)
Dec 1101:09:16Tap to summarizeHis time is up, but our time is NOW! Time, that is, for Nate and Eric to discuss the Mount Rushmore of John Cena. Over his 23-year WWE career, yes, he's had his ups and downs in the ring--and with the crowd--but the ups were HUGE, and we're here to discuss them. Which matches were not just high quality, but high drama, high stakes, high crowd involvement, and probably even surprised us in some way? These are the matches that might make the cynical fan think, "I didn't know he had it in him!" Well guess what: He did, and we can see them. This is a two-parter leading up to John Cena's last match vs. GUNTHER at Saturday Night's Main Event on Dec. 13; enjoy this episode and keep an eye out for part two.***BOB COOK GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-cooker-bob-cook-recover ***SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS: CM Punk - WWE Raw 06-27-11 Epic Promo PipebombThe Rock and John Cena agree to meet at WrestleMania 28: WWE Raw"F You Cena, You Can't Wrestle, Boo Yay Boo Yay": https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/playback/vod/GMO_00000000375171_01/65b3abd2-ea3b-3119-a358-7c145de2260a
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057 The Mount Rushmore of Tag Team Matches
Nov 2702:26:03Tap to summarizeHappy Thanksgiving! Your two favorite turkeys talk about the most amazing two on two matches--some might call tag team matches--in pro wrestling history. The context, the drama, the players, the historical significance, the matches we still talk about today because they're the standard bearers of the sub-genre of tag team wrestling within the genre-genre of professional wrestling. For whom would you need to overseas to watch their best matches? Or have ordered a low-buyrate pay-per-view? Or been alive 70-plus years ago? Or been a smelly ROH fan 18 years ago? (Hey, we were both that.) Tag, you're in--listen and find out!**SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS:From the New York Times itself: https://www.nytimes.com/1957/11/20/archives/wrestling-ends-in-riot-at-garden-2-policemen-hurt-as-fans-storm.html Future friend of the show Javier Ojst writes this: https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/1957-msg-riot/ Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (THE HOLY DEMON ARMY) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi (June 9, 1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2OLvGT5ROU El Hijo del Santo & Octagon vs. Eddy Guerrero & Love Machine Art Barr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603U_62GeSg No Mercy 2002: Tag Team Championship Promo - YouTubeFULL MATCH: Briscoes vs Kevin Steen & El Generico LADDER WAR! 9/15/2007 ROH Man UP | Hidden ClassicsManami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Mayumi Ozaki & Dynamite Kansai 2/3 Falls Match (AJW 11/26/92) match
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056 The Mount Rushmore of Referees
Nov 1301:50:29Tap to summarize(Don't forget to rate and review our show, wherever you get our show!)Ah, the pro wrestling referee. Often vilified, rarely vindicated, frequently blamed for not catching the heel wrestlers cheat... but in reality, the unsung heroes--the heartbeat--of professional wrestling. If it weren't for the referee, how would wrestlers know to throw an opponent out of the ring and mug for the hard camera right before a commercial break? Who would throw up the "X" when a wrestler breaks his ankle? Even more, who would ask a wrestler if they want to submit, count them out of the ring, disqualify them for breaking the rules, or count a wrestler's shoulders to the mat--1, 2, 3? Referees play an important role in the drama of a wrestling match. But who were the best of the best? Which referees were trusted with the money-drawing main events? Who were on our television sets for years if not decades due to their skills? Who created their own memorable moments or trademarks? (Or who infringed on trademarks and sold knockoff T-shirts in the parking lot?) Nate and Eric count down their Mount Rushmores of Referees... make a clean break and listen!***SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS:When Earl Hebner Fought Back!The Rock & Earl Hebner Vs DX Part 1 - SMACKDOWN!Tony Schiavone accuses Referee Nick Patrick of being in the NWO! 1996 (WCW)Nick Patrick On Being The nWo Heel RefereeThe greatest run in WrestleMania historyCharles Robinson: WWE's GOAT Referee On Brutal Bumps, His Viral Ramp Run, Iconic Matches, John CenaRed Shoe Unno DiariesJim Cornette on Tommy Young: https://youtu.be/vtVG7ulUMdo?si=Sookunvxvopy6JE-&t=95 Arn Anderson on Tommy Young: https://youtu.be/NBT57Kv_uBk?si=OQjXcpZiAwky2vgi&t=31 Ric Flair on Tommy Young: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DwKVUmO6Tw Shawn Michaels paying tribute to Earl Hebner: https://youtu.be/TTArBJAVZog?si=sELvKXvw5F5uqYQl&t=230 Bret Hart on Earl… oops! https://youtu.be/U9ob-BZnhBQ?si=sSpJI4lEvsGam8XB&t=4309 Steve Austin on if Earl Hebner should go into the Hall of Fame: https://youtu.be/JiUTwJP-7mE?si=u28X9gNg_cyALs2F&t=19
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055 The Mount Rushmore of Scariest Wrestlers
Oct 3102:10:39Tap to summarizeHello, boys and ghouls! (Not sure any ghouls listen to this show.) It's Halloween, so Eric tricked Nate into giving you listeners this treat: It's the Mount Rushmore of Scariest Wrestlers! But as psychotic, blood-thirsty, and stark-raving mad as these wrestlers were, our guests this week are anything but:Barbara Goodish, none other than the wife of Bruiser Brody, joins us to talk about her beloved husband.Brian R. Solomon, author of "Blood and Fire," talks about that book's subject matter, The Sheik.Evan Ginzburg, associate producer of "The Wrestler" and "350 Days," joins us to reminisce about Ox Baker.Tony Richards, all-around historian and host of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel, talks "The Madman from the Sudan," Abdullah the Butcher.If Nate and Eric didn't already scare you out of your pants, these guests will. Tuuuuuuune iiiinnnnnn.... if you dare!!!!!!!!!!! Muahahahahahaha!!!! **SHOW NOTES:"Brody" by Barbara Goodish: https://amzn.to/3LCLy1h"Blood and Fire" by Brian R. Solomon: https://amzn.to/4nz8z2F"Irresistible Force" by Brian R. Solomon: https://amzn.to/43MT5km"Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets" by Evan Ginzburg: https://amzn.to/3LemZI0Tony Richards' Substack - "Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel" - https://tonyrichards4.substack.com/Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyRichards
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054 The Mount Rushmore of Road Trip Buddies
Oct 2401:50:17Tap to summarizeBefore first-class flights, before tour buses, and before chartered planes, professional wrestlers spent hours and hours traveling miles and miles on the road. What would it have been like to be a passenger in those cars? Listening to guys rebook the territory... passing them cans of beer... getting pulled over and the boys being recognized by the cops who suddenly mark out and want to get pictures with their favorite wrestlers... who would make the best road trip buddies in pro wrestling? Nate and Eric discuss, so let us take the wheel while you listen in!Order "Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon" by Brian R. Solomon: https://amzn.to/3WT8fAI**SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERSSteve Austin Shoots on Dallas Page - YouTubeThe Very Best Of Bobby The Brain Heeenan Wrestling Commentary Gold #WWF #WCWSantino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov host a tea party with Sheamus in England: Raw, Nov. 8, 2010Santino Marella On Mispronouncing Names, Stone Cold, The Cobra, Comedy Wrestling, TNASting joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016: Raw, January 11, 2016Jim Cornette at Dairy Queen: https://youtu.be/qVZAa1kxngw?si=Hk_voOzuFN4DIChg&t=80Cornette and Percy Pringle 1: https://youtu.be/o7Cg1N4AMFw?si=V8FYlpHwyAtbPn9b&t=223Cornette and Percy Pringle 2: https://youtu.be/kzMe_6UUod8?si=2-4iGKZn5mtULP0S&t=267JBL tells road stories about him and Ron Simmons: https://youtu.be/R__wy1Z2IF0?si=htCK_CELlBhZj9bu&t=30
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Brian R. Solomon Talks "Irresistible Force," Gorilla Monsoon
Oct 900:22:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Mount Rushmore of Wrestling, Eric and Nate welcome author and wrestling historian Brian R. Solomon—former WWF Magazine and WWE.com writer, current journalist, and host of Shut Up and Wrestle. Brian joins the show to discuss his new book, Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon, a definitive look at one of wrestling’s most respected figures inside and outside the ring.From Gorilla’s unexpected path from the squared circle to the commentary booth, to the stunning revelation that he was once earmarked to take over the WWF from Vince McMahon Sr., Brian shares his deep research, interviews, and personal insights into what made Gorilla Monsoon both a giant in stature and a giant in legacy.The conversation explores:Brian’s lifelong love of writing and wrestlingHow WrestleMania III sparked his fandomThe lost archives of 1960s wrestling footage and how historians preserve the pastWhat might have happened if Gorilla had inherited the companyThe making of Irresistible Force and the surprising “gorilla-isms” appendix fans demandedBrian also opens up about what didn’t make the book—including Gorilla’s old-school values and a telling story from a party at Hulk Hogan’s house.Listen for: Brian's Mount Rushmore of wrestling play-by-play announcers, the secret side of Gorilla Monsoon, and the enduring art of telling wrestling’s greatest stories.Get Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oeNhIsFollow Brian R. Solomon:🎧 Shut Up and Wrestle podcast — wherever you get your podcasts💬 Twitter / Instagram: @BrianRSolomon💻 Patreon: patreon.com/shutupandwrestle
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053 The Mount Rushmore of Play-by-Play Announcers
Sep 2501:32:40Tap to summarizePro wrestling’s play-by-play announcers have shaped how we remember the biggest matches and wildest moments, turning our absurd fascination into lasting memories. From thunderous calls to smooth credibility to down-home honesty, these voices were the soundtrack of wrestling history.On this episode of The Mount Rushmore of Wrestling, Eric and Nate ask: Who belongs on the ultimate monument of play-by-play announcers? Which voices defined eras, elevated stars, and connected fans to the action like no one else? And which near-misses and honorable mentions sparked the fiercest debate? Listen in!**SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS**Jim Ross' Greatest Calls: "Shaking Hands With Satan Himself!"Jim Ross Being A National Treasure For 25 Minutes StraightHeenan Tributes MonsoonGorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan: Laughing CompilationLance Russell Tribute 1926-2017Gordon Solie: WWE Hall of Fame Video Package [Class of 2008]Ric Flair on Solie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOz2Q9f8r1w Kevin Sullivan on Solie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FsrGELy9AM Best of Lance Russell Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTS3JDUwzD0&list=PLrceIZkpzcEtdd-LRQj_NyQV_dGG0a4G5 Jim Cornette and Jerry Lawler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWfwiiQ7eNwTons of Joey Styles links: Shane Douglas: https://youtu.be/6cyPCx80e98?si=7tEyXIo9u-IaW5wf&t=87 to 4:55, kinda longRVD: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qZPhkPeXm5U Stevie Richards: https://youtu.be/lKsXHPJI1E4?si=RVN2QEoN-gXa6QGe&t=11 Jim Ross: https://youtu.be/i-yTV81EfOM?si=jlkxVjM5S57G91DR&t=103 to 2:12"One Night Stand" intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deqJCOsqjqU
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