Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson Ep. 32: Guest- Jack Dalton

Step into the world of Southern wrestling as Gene Jackson sits down with veteran grappler Jack Dalton for a wild, unfiltered ride through nearly two decades in the business. From his first untrained match in Iuka, Mississippi, to TV time in the legendary USWA studio wrestling Jeff Jarrett, Jack shares hilarious and jaw-dropping stories from life inside—and outside—the ring.

Hear about tagging with Lee and Billy Ray Hickerson, becoming Fire & Flame in Corey Macklin’s Memphis, the infamous Dustin Starr fireball incident, working the Assassins gimmick alongside Jimmy Hart, and trading blows (literally) with Scott Steiner on the road. Jack also talks about crossing paths with legends like Tracy Smothers, Coco B. Ware, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Abdullah the Butcher, Rikishi, and even Hulk Hogan.

It’s a candid look at the highs, lows, road stories, outlaw shows, and chaotic booking decisions that shaped Jack’s career—all told with the humor and honesty that only Retro Wrestling with Gene Jackson delivers.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome & Jack Dalton introduction
3:15 – First match in Iuka with zero training
9:40 – Training with Lee Hickerson & early USWA run
17:25 – Wrestling Jeff Jarrett & learning the hard way from Buddy Wayne
26:10 – Fire & Flame, Corey Macklin, and the Dustin Starr fireball incident
36:50 – Becoming the Assassins & working the FedEx Forum show with Hogan
45:00 – On the road with the Steiner Brothers, Nash, Hall, and Rikishi
57:40 – Tracy Smothers stories you won’t believe
1:06:20 – Sal Corrente’s broken jaw and the end of a run
1:12:00 – Reflections on a 19-year career

If you love old-school wrestling and outrageous road stories, you don’t want to miss this one!