Conrad Thompson
{{About|This article is about the American mortgage broker|the musician|MC Conrad}}
{{short description|American mortgage broker and podcast host}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Conrad Thompson
| image =
| caption =
| alt =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|6|27}}
| birth_place = Guntersville, Alabama, U.S.{{Cite web|date=2017-11-15|title=How Conrad Thompson became a wrestling podcasting mogul|url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/2017/11/how_alabamas_conrad_thompson_b.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=al|language=en}}
| organization = [https://www.savewithconrad.com/ Save With Conrad]
| title = {{indented plainlist|
- Founder of Save With Conrad
- Founder of Starrcast
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Megan Fliehr|2018}}
| relatives = {{Ubl |Ric Flair (father in-law) | Charlotte Flair (sister in-law) | David Flair (brother in-law) | Reid Flair (brother in-law) | }}
}}
Conrad Channing Thompson (born June 27, 1981) is an American mortgage broker, professional wrestling promoter,[https://nypost.com/2022/05/31/ric-flair-deserves-chance-to-find-peace-with-final-match/ Ric Flair deserves chance to find closure in final match — even with risks - NY Post.com] and podcast host{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/arn-anderson-unable-detail-his-wwe-departure-says-he-doesn-t-want-be-where-he-s-not-wanted|title=Arn Anderson Unable To Detail His WWE Departure, Says He Doesn't Want To Be Where He's Not Wanted {{!}} Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-25}} who presents and co-hosts numerous wrestling oriented podcasts, and promotes the Starrcast wrestling convention.
Podcasting
=Beginnings=
Thompson's interest in podcasting began after meeting ECW wrestler Shane Douglas, whom 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/24514346/all-how-conrad-thompson-mortgage-guy-alabama-became-power-broker-pro-wrestling-podcast-empire-starrcast|title=How Conrad Thompson went from Alabama mortgage broker to pro wrestling power player|date=August 29, 2018|website=ESPN.com}}[https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/390673 Conrad Thompson Runs a Successful Mortgage Brokerage and Pro-Wrestling Podcast Empire. The Two Are Not Mutually Exclusive. - Entrepreneur.com]
=Ric Flair and ''Wooooo! Nation''=
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. 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 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/2018/04/wrestling_podcast_king_conrad.html|title=Alabama's Conrad Thompson signs deal for WWE show|date=April 16, 2018|website=al}}
Starrcast
Starrcast is a professional wrestling fan convention promoted by Thompson.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180820/4-day-wresting-podcast-convention-coming-to-hyatt-regency-schaumburg|title=4-day wresting podcast convention coming to Hyatt Regency Schaumburg|date=20 August 2018|accessdate=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093927/https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180820/4-day-wresting-podcast-convention-coming-to-hyatt-regency-schaumburg|archive-date=2018-08-21|url-status=live}} The event typically runs for four days – from Thursday to Sunday – and features wrestlers, wrestling personalities and podcast hosts,{{cite web|url=http://www.sescoops.com/macauley-culkin-ddp-starrcast/|title=Macaulay Culkin, DDP, and Others Announced For Starrcast|date=May 11, 2018|accessdate=May 16, 2018|last=Carey|first=Ian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517152924/http://www.sescoops.com/macauley-culkin-ddp-starrcast/|archive-date=2018-05-17|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.starrcast.com/p/welcome.html|title=HOME|website=www.starrcast.com|access-date=2018-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713031221/http://www.starrcast.com/p/welcome.html|archive-date=2018-07-13|url-status=dead}} interviews, fan activities, and meet-and-greets.{{cite web|url=https://www.fite.tv/article/fite-schedule-starrcast-announced/|title=FITE schedule for STARRCAST online viewing announced|work=Fite.TV|author=Fite.TV|date=July 9, 2018|accessdate=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821031915/https://www.fite.tv/article/fite-schedule-starrcast-announced/|archive-date=2018-08-21|url-status=live}}
On July 31, 2022 as part of Starrcast V, Thompson - under the Jim Crockett Promotions banner - promoted his first ever wrestling card with Ric Flair's Last Match, featuring his father-in-law wrestling in his final professional wrestling match.{{cite news|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/159059/new-jim-crockett-promotions-trademark-filings-four-horsemen-reunion.html |title=New Jim Crockett Promotions Trademark Filings, Four Horsemen Reunion |first=Steven |last=Fernandes |website=PWInsider.com |date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=June 4, 2022}}
Personal life
Thompson resides in Huntsville, Alabama, where he still operates his mortgage company.{{Cite web |url=https://www.savewithconrad.com/ |title=Save With Conrad |website=Save with Conrad}} He married Megan Fliehr in 2018, becoming an in-law to Ric Flair and his children Ashley (Charlotte Flair) and David.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article195052554.html|title=Ric Flair announces his daughter's engagement to a guy wrestling fans know well|publisher=The Charlotte Observer|website=charlotteobserver.com|first=Mark|last=Price|date=January 17, 2018|accessdate=January 28, 2020}}
Awards and accomplishments
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Gordon Solie Award (2023){{cite web |last1=Sharp |first1=John |title=How an Alabama podcaster got inducted into a pro wrestling hall of fame |url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/07/how-an-alabama-podcaster-got-inducted-into-a-pro-wrestling-hall-of-fame.html |website=AL.com |access-date=July 28, 2023 |language=en |date=July 26, 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=9514963|name=Conrad Thompson}}
{{Ric Flair}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Conrad}}
Category:American sports podcasters