Episode 4 of Fannin’s Flashbacks is LIVE! On this episode, Jim sits down with the man truly responsible for getting him into the business, Les Johns. College friends that bonded over their love of wrestling, they talk about how Les calling the IWA hotline and leaving a critique of the show ended up with Ian Rotten calling at 3 am to yell at him about the critique. That phone call grew into Les Johns, Ben Rich, and Jim becoming involved in IWA Mid South and bringing shows to Lexington. The release date of this episode (11/7/25) is the 28th anniversary of that debut show in Lexington (11/7/97). So the day before his 49th birthday, Jim celebrates the 28th anniversary of entering the wrestling business. Les and Jim discuss going to ECW fan cons, the 1997 Final Four to watch their Alma mater UK, Starrcade 1995 & 1996, and the 1996 King of the Ring. Where was Jim when Stone Cold Steve Austin was born and debuted the catchphrase Austin 3:16? You have to listen to find out! All that & so much more this week on Fannin’s Flashbacks!

Be sure to follow Jim on X – @JFannin73
Subscribe to his Youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@sportsfannin

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Episode 3 of Fannin’s Flashbacks is LIVE! On this episode, Jim sits down with multiple times over former IWA Midsouth Light Heavyweight champion American Kickboxer. Despite knowing each other for close to 30 years, this podcast & leading up to the recording is the most Jim & AKB have ever talked. They start the conversation with Kickboxer’s start in the business, his training, meeting Les Thatcher, proper training, starting in IWA Midsouth, the Tarek/Kickboxer matches actually being the draw for Jim & his friends to make the trip from Lexington every week and listen to Kickboxer actually make Jim speechless for the first time in his life with an answer about acknowledging what happened in IWA and having gratitude for it. All that & so much more this week on Fannin’s Flashbacks!

Be sure to follow Jim on X – @JFannin73
Subscribe to his Youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@sportsfannin

Buy Frank Mullins’ (American Kickboxer) book:
Gypsies are Real. Wrestling is Pre-Determined (not fake)
December 1, 2025. by Frank Mullins (Author), Lauren Huston (Editor)

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Episode 2 of Fannin’s Flashbacks is LIVE! On this episode, I sit down with “The Whole Reffin Show” Brent Blades who served as the IWA senior official from 2000-2003. We talk about starting out in the front row at IWA shows at the old Kmart building and how many eventually got involved on shows, the world famous piss bucket, the infamous snow storm in Morris that wrecked the attendance for CM Punk vs. Eddie Guerrero in 2002 at my old high school, the tomfoolery on the drive thru the show from Indianapolis, how eerily similar our actual wrestling records are in IWA, midnight bingo, midnight bowling, and everything in between. You’d never guess who argued for Brent to make his first payday in the wrestling business, gotta listen to find out who!

Be sure to follow Jim on X – @JFannin73
Subscribe to his Youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@sportsfannin

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Youtube – SportsFannin channel – Fannin’s Flashbacks Episode 2
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