When It Was Real
Step into the squared circle of yesteryear with When It Was Real, the ultimate throwback podcast for fans of the golden era of professional wrestling. Each week, this deep-dive audio experience transports listeners to the gritty, unfiltered days of the 1970s World Wide Wrestling Federation, when larger-than-life characters and blood-and-guts rivalries captivated fans and made wrestling feel real. Hosted by two of wrestling’s most passionate historians, When It Was Real is your ringside seat to the past: 🎙️ Nikita Breznikov – Noted WWWF historian, author, actor, and former wrestling manager whose encyclopedic knowledge and firsthand experience bring authenticity and color to every tale. 🎙️ Benny “The Playa” Scala – Acclaimed pro wrestling author and podcaster, whose wit and warmth shine through as he recalls the matches, promos, and personalities that shaped a generation. Together, Nikita and Benny guide you through the smoky arenas, unforgettable promos, and dramatic moments that defined the WWWF in the 1970s—when kayfabe was king, the belts were hard-earned, and the crowd reactions were pure electricity. Whether you remember watching Bruno Sammartino defend his title at the Garden, or you’re just discovering the legends of the past, When It Was Real delivers a heartfelt, intelligent, and often humorous look at the era that made pro wrestling a cultural phenomenon. 📻 Tune in every Wednesday at 7 PM Eastern Time for a nostalgic ride on the Wrestling Wayback Machine—because there was a time when it was real.
Episodes
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 86! 🔥
🏟️ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – OCTOBER 24, 1977!
🚨 TEXAS DEATH MATCH! SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM vs. DUSTY RHODES! 🚨
🎙️ LIVE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 AT 7:30 PM ET! 📺 THE PLAYA ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK!
THE MECCA OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING! THE GARDEN! NEW YORK CITY! AND TWO OF THE BIGGEST, BADDEST, MOST CHARISMATIC SUPERSTARS TO EVER STEP THROUGH THE ROPES!
This week, Nikita Breznikov and Ben...
🚨 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 85! 🚨
🔥 MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – OCTOBER 23, 1978! 🔥
📅 LIVE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026 ⏰ 7:30 PM ET 📺 THE PLAYA ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK
🎙️ NIKITA BREZNIKOV & BENNY "THE PLAYA" SCALA
THE GARDEN IS ROCKIN'! THE LEGENDS ARE READY! AND THE GOLD IS ON THE LINE!
Ladies and gentlemen, wrestling fans of ALL AGES...fasten your seatbelts, because the Wrestling Wayback Machine is fired up and ...
Since it's gonna be a long and rainy weekend in many places, here's a bit of extra content...Benny does this show with WhattaDay Joe Lowry every Friday afternoon...If you are a fan of the current product, this might be worth a listen!
🚨 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 84! 🚨
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN… OCTOBER 19, 1981!
The World's Most Famous Arena is packed! The championship is on the line! And two of the toughest men of the era are about to collide in a Main Event that would become one of the most controversial battles in Madison Square Garden history!
This Wednesday night, Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala fire up the Wrestling Way...
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 83! 🔥
📅 LIVE Wednesday, September 30 at 7:30 PM ET 📺 The Playa Entertainment Network
This week, Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine and travel back to Madison Square Garden – September 26, 1977!
🏆 WWWF CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN! 🏆
The flamboyant, charismatic and controversial reigning WWWF Champion “Superstar” Billy Gra...
WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 82! 🔥
🏟️ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – SEPTEMBER 24, 1979
⛓️ THE MAIN EVENT – A STEEL CAGE MATCH! ⛓️ WWF CHAMPION BOB BACKLUND vs. PAT PATTERSON!
This Wednesday night, Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine and head back to the Mecca of Professional Wrestling — Madison Square Garden on September 24, 1979!
And waiting for us inside...
🚨 WHEN IT WAS REAL — EPISODE 81! 🚨
🗓️ LIVE Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30 PM ET 📺 The Playa Entertainment Network
This week, Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine and travel back to the Mecca of Professional Wrestling — Madison Square Garden — on September 22, 1980!
And what a blockbuster card awaits us!
🏆 WWF Champion Bob Backlund vs. Harley Race!
Two...
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 80 🔥 🏟️ PHILADELPHIA SPECTRUM – SEPTEMBER 18, 1982! 🏟️
Fire up The Wrestling Wayback Machine, because this week Nikita and Benny are heading back to the City of Brotherly Love for a blockbuster night of old-school WWF action!
📅 Wednesday, September 9 ⏰ 7:30 PM ET on The Playa Entertainment Network
This week, the Wrestling Wayback Machine lands at the legendary Philadelphia Spectrum on S...
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 79 🔥 🏟️ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – AUGUST 30, 1982 🏟️
📅 LIVE Wednesday, September 2 ⏰ 7:30 PM ET 📺 The Playa Entertainment Network
Hop on the Wrestling Wayback Machine, because Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala are heading back to Madison Square Garden on August 30, 1982 for another unforgettable night from professional wrestling’s glory days!
🏆 FOUR CHAMPION...
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 78 🔥 🏟️ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – AUGUST 29, 1977 🏟️
Fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine because this week, Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala are heading back to the legendary Madison Square Garden for an unforgettable night of old-school professional wrestling!
📅 LIVE Wednesday, August 26th ⏰ 7:30 PM ET 📺 The Playa Entertainment Network
This week’s card fe...
It's a wet weekend (at least here in Florida!), so here's one of our most popular episodes to tide you over till the sun comes out...Nikita and Benny commandeer the Wrestling Wayback Machine back to the Mecca of Professional Wrestling, Madison Square Garden, on May 19, 1980...The main event featured WWF Champion Bob Backlund taking on one of his toughest opponents, former Olympian Ken Patera...Plus an undercard filled with legends ...
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL — EPISODE 77 🔥 🏟️ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN — AUGUST 7, 1976 🏟️
📅 LIVE Wednesday, August 19 at 7:30 PM ET 📺 The Playa Entertainment Network
Step inside the Wrestling Wayback Machine as When It Was Real returns to Madison Square Garden for one of the most brutal and unforgettable nights of the 1970s!
This week, Nikita Breznikov and Benny “The Playa” Scala travel back 50 years to August 7,...
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 76 🔥 🪑 “THE (CHAIR) SHOT HEARD ’ROUND THE WORLD” 🪑
📅 LIVE Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 PM 🎙️ VERY SPECIAL GUEST: LARRY ZBYSZKO!
It remains one of the most shocking, unforgettable moments in professional wrestling history.
Larry Zbyszko was the protégé.
Bruno Sammartino was the mentor...the teacher...the hero...and, to millions of wrestling fans, THE LIVING LEGEND.
Then came...
Today marks the 46th anniversary of the epic Steel Cage Match at Shea Stadium between Larry Zbyszko and Bruno Sammartino. Larry will be our very special guest this Wednesday (August 12th), but to hold you until then, we give you the World Premiere of "Larry and Bruno", written by Benny "The Jet" Scala...Enjoy and have a great weekend!
The Wrestling Wayback Machine returns to the World's Most Famous Arena as Nikita and Benny take you back to Madison Square Garden on August 28, 1978, for another unforgettable night in professional wrestling history!
This incredible card is packed from top to bottom with legendary names and future Hall of Famers, showcasing the World Wide Wrestling Federation at the height of its popularity. Every match delivered the larger-than-li...
WHEN IT WAS REAL – Episode 74 Madison Square Garden – August 1, 1977
The Wrestling Wayback Machine is headed back to the Mecca of Professional Wrestling as Nikita Breznikov and Benny "The Playa" Scala relive another unforgettable night from Madison Square Garden on August 1, 1977!
The main event is an absolute classic as the beloved Bruno Sammartino once again challenges the flamboyant and controversial World Wide Wrest...
WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 73 Madison Square Garden – July 30, 1983 LIVE Wednesday, July 22 • 7:30 PM ET Only on The Playa Entertainment Network
🚨 Destination: Madison Square Garden – July 30, 1983! 🚨
This week, The Wrestling Wayback Machine heads back to the legendary Madison Square Garden, the undisputed Mecca of Professional Wrestling, for another unforgettable night in WWF history!
Join Nikita Breznikov and ...
WHEN IT WAS REAL – Episode 72 🗓️ LIVE Wednesday, July 15 • 7:30 PM ET 📺 Exclusively on The Playa Entertainment Network
🚨 The Wrestling Wayback Machine is fueled up and ready for another unforgettable trip through professional wrestling history!
This week, Nikita Breznikov and Benny "The Playa" Scala return to the Mecca of Professional Wrestling, Madison Square Garden, for the legendary card of July 30, 1979.
The summ...
🔥 WHEN IT WAS REAL – EPISODE 71 🔥
LIVE Wednesday, July 8th at 7:30 PM ET only on The Playa Entertainment Network!
🌡️ JULY...HOT AS HELL! 🌡️
The temperature is rising, and so is the excitement as Nikita Breznikov and Benny "The Playa" Scala fire up the Wrestling Wayback Machine for another unforgettable trip into professional wrestling's golden age!
This week, the guys break down the epic July 16, 1977 card from the Baltim...
Every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM, climb aboard The Wrestling Wayback Machine with Nikita Breznikov and Benny "The Playa" Scala as they transport you back to the golden age of professional wrestling... WHEN IT WAS REAL!
From legendary championship battles and unforgettable rivalries to the larger-than-life personalities who built the business, Nikita and Benny relive the matches, mom...
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