Pro Wrestling Stories is proud to share that our Senior Author and Historian, Bobby Mathews, was recently a guest on the acclaimed podcast Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw. Hosted by former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion and three-time NWA World Tag Team Champion Gerald Brisco and WWE Hall of Famer and former WWE Champion JBL, this episode offers a true masterclass in wrestling history, character development, and the impact of often-overlooked figures like “The Spoiler” Don Jardine.
Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Author and Historian Bobby Mathews joins Stories with Brisco & Bradshaw to discuss unsung heroes of professional wrestling, such as “The Spoiler” Don Jardine. Throughout the episode, Gerald Brisco and JBL dig into and validate Mathews’ research for Pro Wrestling Stories on The Spoiler’s rise and lasting influence. Photo Credit: Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw.
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How Gerald Brisco Discovered Bobby Mathews’ Research on Pro Wrestling Stories
What began as a quiet moment of recognition became a pivotal opportunity for Pro Wrestling Stories. Former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion and three-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, and legendary talent scout Gerald Brisco, who spent over three decades as WWE’s chief talent scout discovering future stars like Brock Lesnar, Chad Gable, and Jason Jordan, stumbled upon Bobby Mathews’ comprehensive article on “The Spoiler” Don Jardine while browsing the internet.
“I just read Bobby Mathews’ story on The Spoiler. Don was a great influence on me in my early years. Would love to have Bobby on the podcast this Tuesday to talk.”
For a history website, there is no greater validation than having a living legend, someone who knew the subject being documented, reach out to confirm the accuracy and importance of the work.
Brisco’s endorsement went further. In subsequent correspondence, the WWE Hall of Famer offered high praise for the entire platform and its commitment to accuracy:
“I’m really enjoying Pro Wrestling Stories. Most sites like this are BS—you guys stick with the facts and that makes you guys the best. Keep up the fantastic work.”
Within days, Bobby Mathews was booked to appear on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw for a wide-ranging discussion about Don Jardine, professional wrestling history, and the craft of documented storytelling.
Pro Wrestling Stories Author/Historian Bobby Mathews Joins WWE Hall of Famers on “Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw”
On November 11th, 2025, Bobby Mathews joined two undisputed legends to discuss his acclaimed book, Living the Gimmick, and dive deep into the life and career of “The Spoiler” Don Jardine—one of professional wrestling’s most physically imposing yet underrated performers.
The conversation flows naturally between Mathews’ background as a wrestling historian, his journey into the business, and intimate details about Jardine that only come from extensive research and respect for wrestling’s rich tapestry.
Brisco, who worked with Jardine during his own Hall of Fame career, offered immediate validation of Mathews’ work.
“I was reading your story and, man, that happened. That’s pretty **** accurate! That’s accurate as hell.”
The Making of a Wrestling Mind
Bobby Mathews traces his passion for professional wrestling back to age four, when his father took him to see Ken Lucas versus Harley Race—a formative moment that set him on a lifelong journey.
Mathews would go on to referee for promotions including Music City Wrestling and PowerPro, and even worked small shows throughout the Gulf Coast and Alabama before ultimately channeling his passion into writing and historical documentation rather than in-ring work.
“I’m five-foot-seven and not that athletic,” Mathews explained with characteristic humility. “I could take a pretty good bump, but at some point, you have to figure out I have to have a job so that I can actually live my life.”
Understanding Don Jardine: The Athlete Who Floated
“Spoiler alert!” The Spoiler: Don Jardine over the years. Artwork by Pro Wrestling Stories.
One of the most compelling aspects of the conversation centers on Jardine’s unique athleticism. At 6’7″ and over 300 pounds, Jardine possessed a rare combination of size and agility that allowed him to execute moves that seemed impossible for a man of his stature. Brisco acknowledged this phenomenon: “He was one of those big guys that kind of floated in the ring. I mean, it was so effortless it looked like for Don.”
In one Georgia wrestling tape, Mathews observed Jardine facing the diminutive Tony Charles, noting how Charles spread his feet even wider to appear shorter—a subtle piece of ring psychology that demonstrated the mutual understanding between worker and opponent.
“Tony, who was 5’5 on a good day, right, has not only seen this, but he’s also like spread his feet apart to be even shorter,” Mathews explained. “If you have never been around the business in any way, you don’t see it. If you’ve been there a little bit, you know, you start to smarten up a little bit.”
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The Gary Hart Connection: Repackaging Genius
Legendary wrestling manager, “Playboy” Gary Hart. Photo Credit: NWA.
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the pivotal moment when manager Gary Hart discovered Jardine and transformed his career. Before this partnership, Jardine spent roughly 12 years working as a journeyman, moving from territory to territory every six months, mostly used to put over main event talent without getting significant opportunities himself.
Mathews credits Hart, along with Jardine himself, as the creative minds behind The Spoiler persona, not promoter Fritz Von Erich, as some have suggested. Hart’s genius lay not in flamboyant managerial theatrics, but in character development and presentation—crafting a complete package for his stable of workers. As Mathews noted, “Gary Hart had one of the most underrated minds for the business because he was not that manager who was going to get out there and give you a Jim Cornette moment or a Bobby Heenan moment, but his stuff was unique because he worked as a real manager in a lot of ways.”
The Stiff Worker and Territorial Impact
Brisco and Mathews engage in a fascinating discussion about working style, particularly around the impact that stiff, heavy workers like Jardine and Johnny Valentine had on territories they entered. When these legitimate workers arrived with a snug, physical style, entire territories would tighten up—because workers emulate those at the top of the card.
One particular story encapsulates Jardine’s intensity: after Stan “The Man” Stasiak pulled the infamous “Mabel rib” on Jardine, it took over a year before they crossed paths again. When Stasiak brought up the rib during a car ride, Jardine responded by having him pull over and beating him on the side of the road, with only road companions preventing the situation from escalating further.
Watch the Full Episode: Bobby Mathews of Pro Wrestling Stories on “Stories With Brisco and Bradshaw”
Bobby Mathews’ work on Pro Wrestling Stories fills a critical gap in wrestling historiography. In an era where so much wrestling history is filtered through a modern lens or clouded by unreliable sources, Mathews and our deep panel of trusted writers and historians bring meticulous research, direct source verification, and a genuine love for the business. His appearance on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw provides a platform for these important stories to reach a broader audience and, perhaps more importantly, validates the work through the voices of those who lived it.
You can watch Bobby Mathews’ complete appearance on Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw below, where the conversation ranges from wrestling philosophy to road stories that illuminate why figures like Don Jardine remain essential to understanding professional wrestling’s golden era.
Pro Wrestling Stories is committed to accurate, unbiased wrestling content rigorously fact-checked and verified by our team of researchers and editors. Any inaccuracies are quickly corrected, with updates timestamped in the article's byline header.
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"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan."— Keith Elliot Greenberg
JP Zarka is the founder of Pro Wrestling Stories, established in 2015, where he serves as a senior author and editor-in-chief. From 2018 to 2019, he hosted and produced The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo, brother of WWE legend “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Beyond wrestling media, JP’s diverse background spans education as a school teacher and assistant principal, as well as being a published author and musician. He has appeared on the television series Autopsy: The Last Hours Of and contributed research for programming on ITV and the BBC. JP is a proud father of two daughters and a devoted dog dad, balancing his passion for history and storytelling with family life in Chicago.
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