Conrad Thompson
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Conrad Thompson | |
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| Spouse |
Megan Fliehr (m. 2018) |
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Conrad Thompson is an American mortgage broker and professional wrestling podcast host who presents and co-hosts the wrestling-themed podcasts, Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff, What Happened When with Tony Schiavone, Grilling JR with Jim Ross, The Arn Show with Arn Anderson,[1] The Kurt Angle Show with Kurt Angle, & My World with Jeff Jarrett.
Podcasting
Beginnings
Thompson's interest in podcasting began after meeting ECW wrestler Shane Douglas, who Thompson met after pledging a significant amount of money to a crowdfunding drive for a documentary about ECW. After a positive experience with Douglas, Thompson later approached wrestling manager Jim Cornette with an offer of $1,500 in exchange to come to his house and tell stories for a couple of hours. Before long word spread, and with Douglas and Cornette vouching for him, numerous wrestling personalities agreed to meet and be interviewed by Thompson.[2]
Ric Flair and Wooooo! Nation
| This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (July 2019) |
In 2013, Thompson met Ric Flair while he was appearing at a local event. Flair and Thompson hit it off, exchanged contact information and became friends. This led to Thompson occasionally travelling with Flair, meeting yet more wrestling personalities backstage at wrestling events, including Cody Rhodes. When CBS approached Flair about starting his own podcast, Flair asked Thompson, who had radio experience advertising his mortgage business to co-host. Flair's show (called Wooooo! Nation) followed a guest-driven format and Thompson met a great many professional wrestling personalities during this time, including Bruce Prichard. Eventually, Flair tired of podcasting, and Prichard agreed to launch a new show with Thompson.
Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard
Something to Wrestle eschews a more traditional podcast format, which Thompson describes as, "Be under an hour, don't curse, don't play music, don't play all your ads up front." Thompson calls these, "the standard rules of podcasting" and routinely disregards them on the show, explaining that, "I'm just a fan. But I also am the target demographic. If it's not something I'd listen to or be into, I don't do it." Typically the show revolves around a particular wrestling event or timeline such as a pay-per-view, memorable storyline angle or a wrestler's run in a certain promotion, with Thompson asking questions and Prichard giving his view on the subject. In 2018, Thompson and Prichard signed a deal with WWE to broadcast Something else to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard on the WWE Network.[3]
Ad Free Shows
On March 30, 2020, Ad Free Shows was launched.[4] The service offers interviews, early access to free shows, video of the free audio-only podcasts, & other bonus content that is behind a paywall through Patreon.
Starrcast
Starrcast is a professional wrestling fan convention promoted by Thompson.[5] The event typically runs for four days— from Thursday to Sunday – and features wrestlers, wrestling personalities and podcast hosts,[6][7] interviews, fan activities, and meet-and-greets.[8]
Personal life
Thompson resides in Huntsville, Alabama where he still operates his mortgage company.[9] He married Megan Fliehr in 2018, becoming Ric Flair's son-in-law in the process.[10]
References
- ^ "Arn Anderson Unable To Detail His WWE Departure, Says He Doesn't Want To Be Where He's Not Wanted | Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ "How Conrad Thompson went from Alabama mortgage broker to pro wrestling power player". ESPN.com. August 29, 2018.
- ^ "Alabama's Conrad Thompson signs deal for WWE show". al. April 16, 2018.
- ^ AdFreeShows.com [@adfreeshows] (March 30, 2020). "WE'RE LIVE!!! https://t.co/5v6Q3sv3sk" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "4-day wresting podcast convention coming to Hyatt Regency Schaumburg". 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-08-21. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ Carey, Ian (May 11, 2018). "Macaulay Culkin, DDP, and Others Announced For Starrcast". Archived from the original on 2018-05-17. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ^ "HOME". www.starrcast.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
- ^ Fite.TV (July 9, 2018). "FITE schedule for STARRCAST online viewing announced". Fite.TV. Archived from the original on 2018-08-21. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ^ "Save With Conrad | Conrad Thompson | Conrad the Mortgage Guy | Wrestling Podcast | Something to Wrestle | Grilling JR | 83 Weeks | WHW". Save with Conrad.
- ^ Price, Mark (January 17, 2018). "Ric Flair announces his daughter's engagement to a guy wrestling fans know well". charlotteobserver.com. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 28, 2020.