When superstars like John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, and The Rock debuted, you might not have been able to predict their entire career trajectory but you had a pretty good idea where they were going to end up and how successful they were going to be.

I don't think anyone who saw Memphis era K-Krush, or even Smackdown era R-Truth could have predicted he'd be in the world title scene in two different companies, spend time as a beloved heel, or that his last ten years would involve him being everyone's favorite airheaded wrestler. But he did all that and more.

Hopefully, he'll pop up back in TNA or AEW for a nostalgia run before he retires for good but, for right now,* it looks like his wrestling days may be over, so please enjoy this series of episodes. Each is between 55 and 94 minutes and features some of his best promos be they the intensely serious TNA speeches or the ridiculous skits with The Judgment Day in WWE.

I will miss every aspect of R-Truth's characters. Except, possibly, the 24/7 championship.

* - this post was made in the week between when R Truth was released from WWE and when WWE rehired him , leading to what will hopefully be an eventful additional season of R Truth as an edgy and more focused wrestler than we'd previously seen him in WWE

101. Get Rowdy (1999-2001)  
 
Our introduction to R-Truth comes from his brief stint in NWA’s Memphis territory. After a couple of matches he gets snatched away by WWE. This is not the hilarious comedy wrestler WWE fans came to know and love, This was an athletic rapper who did a lot of acrobatics in and outside of the ring. He looks like he’s headed up the mid-card but he got cut during the middle of the dreaded WWE/WCW/ECE InVasion storyline.
We also see our first R-Truth Intergender match. It’s going to be years before we see another but the prototype here was a blast.
 
1. AJ Styles (NWA Champ) vs R-Truth (as K-Krush) from NWA Wildside 11.06.1999.

2. R-Truth (as K-Krush) vs Brian Christopher (as Grandmaster Sexay) from Memphis Championship Wrestling 02.19.2000.

3. Road Dogg and R-Truth (as K-Kwik) vs The Radicalz from Smackdown 11.16.2000.

4. Taz & Kaientai vs R-Truth (as K-Kwik) and Too Cool from Raw Is War 01.15.2001.

5. R-Truth (as K-Kwik) vs Taz from Sunday Night Heat 1.21.2001.

6. Matt Hardy (WWE European Champ) vs R-Truth (as K-Kwik) from Smackdown 06.14.2001.

​7. Jacqueline and R-Truth (as K-Kwik) vs Haku and Ivory from Jakked 06.16.2001.
 
MAIN EVENT: BILLY KIDMAN (WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP) vs R-TRUTH (as K-KWIK) from SUNDAY NIGHT HEAT 07.15.2001

108. Trouble In Paradise (2011, 2012)

When The Awesome Truth implodes, R-Truth hits a lull in his career until he forms another tag team with future world champion, Kofi Kingston. They have a brief but fun run as tag champs here.
 
1. John Cena & The Rock vs Awesome Truth at Survivor Series 2011.

2. R-Truth vs The Miz from Raw 01.23. 2012.

3. Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs Epico & Primo from Raw 02.20.2012.

​4. Kofi Kingston & R-Truth (WWE Tag Champs)  vs Jack Swagger & Dolph Ziggler at Over The Limit 2012.
 
MAIN EVENT: KOFI KINGSTON & R-TRUTH (WWE TAG CHAMPS) vs TEAM HELL NO at NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2012

109. R-Truth Is For The Children (2012-2016)

This is peak clueless R-Truth. After some charming matches from the short-lived but entertaining kids' WWE show, Saturday Morning Slam, R-Truth begins cutting promos for matches he isn't in, and preparing for the wrong sort of match when he is actually booked in them.
 
1. William Regal vs R-Truth from Saturday Morning Slam #13.

2. R-Truth vs Cesaro from Saturday Morning Slam #33.

3. R-Truth & Xavier Woods vs The Real Americans at a House Show 03.28.2013.
 
MAIN EVENT: THE MIZ & MIZDOW vs DOLPH ZIGGLER & R-TRUTH (as R-ZIGGLER) from SMACKDOWN 09.24.2014

110. US Champ 24/7 (2019)

I think everyone was pleasantly surprised at R-Truth's second run as the US Champ. He was only in five title matches but they were all excellent. Then he spent more time than anyone as the 24/7champ. That was less excellent but occasionally fun.
 
1. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE US Champ) vs R-Truth from Smackdown 01.29.2019.

2. R-Truth (WWE US Champ) vs Rusev from Smackdown 01.29.2019.

3. R-Truth (WWE US Champ) vs Andrade vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown 02.26.2019.

4. R-Truth (WWE US Champ) vs Andrade vs Rey Mysterio vs Samoa Joe from Smackdown 03.05.2019.

​5. Samoa Joe (WWE US Champ) vs Andrade vs Rey Mysterio vs R-Truth at Fastlane 2019.
 
MAIN EVENT: R-TRUTH’S BEST OF 24/7 TITLE MATCHES

111. No Judgment Day (2020-2024)

R-Truth really wanted to be in Judgment Day. Judgment Day really didn't want anything to do with R-Truth. This was basically a re-tread of his run with Goldust as The Golden Truth but the jokes here were funnier and the matches better, so we skipped over The Golden Truth entirely to get to this superior storyline.
 
1. R-Truth vs JD McDonogh in a Miracle On 34th Street Fight from Raw 12.18.2023.

2. Awesome Truth vs Judgment Day from Raw 01.01.2024.

3. The Miz vs JD McDonough from Raw 01.08.2024.

​4. Awesome Truth vs Judgment Day from Raw 01.15.2024.
 
MAIN EVENT: ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH 2024.

112. The Ron Cena Retirement Tour (2024, 2025)

This seems to be the end of R-Truth's WWE wrestling career. Once he wrapped up his Judgment Day story with the surprise title run as part of the reunited Awesome Truth, he disappeared for a while, resurfacing to try and take down WWE Champ, John Cena. It looked to be a reigniting of R-Truth's character but, alas, he was let go by WWE shortly after his shot at the WWE title.
 
1. Awesome Truth & #DIY vs Judgment Day from Raw 02.19.2024,

2. Six Pack Ladder Match For The WWE Smackdown Tag Championship.
A-Town Down Under vs Awesome Truth vs #DIY vs Judgement Day vs New Catch Republic vs New Day at Wrestlemania 40.

3. Awesome Truth (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs #DIY from Raw 04.22.2024.

4.Awesome Truth (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs Judgement Day from Raw 06.24.2024.
 
MAIN EVENT: JOHN CENA (WWE CHAMP) VS R-TRUTH (as RON CENA) in a SURPRISE TITLE VS CAREER MATCH from SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT 05.24.2025

Wrestling is a work. It's sports entertainment with predetermined results. It's a soap opera famously designed for late twentieth century male-identified fans of steroid-riddled beefcakes. It's silly. It, like all sports, is 90% garbage, 10% amazing. It's way better than fat old white guys wearing tacky clothes on a liesurely walk through manicured grass while occasionally hitting a ball with a stick, or that other ball with a stick sport where a bunch of steroid-riddled non-beefcakes stand around in the sun (or the moon if it's a night game) waiting for someone to hit the ball in their general direction so they can maybe catch it or something.

Look, it makes just as much sense as soccer or lacrosse or underwater foosball. When it's great, it's Ping Pong Parkour Great, and when it's bad, it's insufferable golf with sweatier men.

I've watched A Lot of it. First in the eighties. All of my friends were into wrestling during the Hogan-centric era. All of them. Kids would act out The Interviews, not even the matches, The Interviews during recess, probably realizing they were more likely to grow up into Gene Okerlund or Tony Schiavone than Bret Hart of The Ultimate Warrior.

In the 90s, I lived with a family who got really into The Rock, Steve Austin, and Rey Mysterio, and I got hooked back in for a couple of years.

Poetry slam took over most of my life in the 21st century, but I would hear people talk about certain names that I would remember, and I would go on Youtube or DailyMotion and seek out the match and see if it still had any emotional resonance. And sometimes it did.

I am going to Seriously Condense wrestling history into a few seasons. Each season will contain YEARS of storylines. Maybe that sucks some of the drama out when you don't have to wait a full year for a feud to peak and resolve, but I want this list to MOVE. It will be mostly WWE (which is the product I grew up on) and some WCW. And eventually ROH, Impact, and AEW (which didn't even exist when I came up with this idea).

The first season, Rock And Wrestling starts off with a Pilot Episode that doesn't really fit with the rest of the season but includes a bunch of famous matches from before I was born. Some of those matches are historically important, some of them just introduce characters who will come back much later but who you should probably see some of their Ancient Work.

I have edited all of these episodes together for my own personal use. I won't ever be sending these files out to people (because copyright is important) but a few of us meet every week on Discord and watch these reimagined episodes.

Pilot Episode: All-American Wrestling

Welcome to the weird and contagious word of watching wrestling. We begin with the end of The Longest Reigning Champion in Wrestling History’s second reign. Our story for this episode is the rise of Hulkamania as we first see the man Hulk stole his gimmick from, Superstar Billy Graham, win, defend, and then lose his title to a bland collegiate athlete. Said bland collegiate athlete will defend the title in a match with Jimmy Snuka, whose moves will inspire at least one entire generation of wrestlers, many of whom will claim to have seen this match in person. Then we get into a formulaic groove for the WWE where an evil foreigner will win or challenge for the title, only to be defeated by blond-bald headed, blue-eyed, steroid-dependent unreliable narrator, Hulk Hogan. This episode also features a Death Match, which is the same as a Street Fight, in that it’s more violent than a regular match, and it’s expected to be bloody. There’s also a match in a Steel Cage, where the ring is surrounded by chain link, and a Stretcher Match, where the only way to win is to incapacitate your opponent so badly that a team of medics can put him on a stretcher and take him to the back without him being able to get up and return to the ring. We also have our first match from Japan with Japanese commentary.

Remember what Bob Backlund looks like because he’ll be back next season as an unhinged, weirdo manager. Also, Pat Patterson will be back eventually as a backstage official and one of Vince McMahon’s stooges. Jerry Lawler will soon be one of WWE’s most famous commentators.

At the beginning of this episode, the WWE was known as the WWWF before evolving into the WWF but for consistency’s sake, I will always refer to it as the WWE.


1. Bruno Sammartino (WWE Champ) vs Superstar Billy Graham. 

2. Superstar Billy Graham (WWE Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes in a Texas Death Match.  

3. Fabulous Moolah & Beverly Shade vs Kandy Malloy & Peggy Lee. 

4. Andre The Giant vs Hulk Hogan. 

5. Superstar Billy Graham (WWE Champ) vs Bob Backlund. 

6. Terry Funk vs Jerry Lawler in an Empty Arena Match. 

7.  Andre The Giant vs Killer Khan in a Mongolian Stretcher Match. 

8. Pat Patterson vs Sgt Slaughter in a Street Fight. 

9. Bob Backlund (WWE Champ) vs Jimmy Superfly Snuka in a Steel Cage Match. 

10. Dynamite Kid vs Tiger Mask. 

11. Bob Backlund (WWE Champ) vs The Iron Sheik. 
​
MAIN EVENT: THE IRON SHEIK (WWE CHAMP) vs HULK HOGAN.

Season 1, Episode 1: Starrcade (1983, 1984)

Before there was Wrestlemania, WCW (then known as Jim Crockett Promotions) aired the first-ever wrestling Pay-Per-View event, Starrcade: Flare For The Gold. It had wrasslin, pomp, circumstance (but not the song “Pomp and Circumstance…that’s Randy Savage’s entrance music in the WWE) and felt like An Event. I’ve edited it down to its best matches, and also included matches from the following year’s Starrcade: The Million Dollar Challenge.

Like referring to the WWWF and WWF as the WWE, which it eventually became, I’ll also be referring to all of the NWA and Jim Crockett Productions matches as WCW, since that what it was called when it went bankrupt.

The Hulk Hogan of the WCW is Ric Flair. Also blue-eyed and blonde (but more haired), his drug of choice was fame and cocaine, which made him a problematic person but a better wrestler and more dependable human being than Hulk Hogan. We start this episode with the end of the 1970’s superstar, Harley Race’s run as the company champ. Three amazing athletes: Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and Tully Blanchard will dominate matches in both WCW and WWE for the rest of the season.

Abdullah The Butcher is a violent, bloody wrestler who serves as an occasional featured performer in this season. He’s like WCW’s much creepier and unhinged Andre The Giant.

We get a fantastic dog collar match in this episode where two wrestlers are chained together by dog collars around their neck to keep them from running away from each other. This match features two wrestlers much more known for their time in WWE but their match here is probably each of their best and most impressive bouts in this Headcanon.

There’s no real theme to this episode, other than introducing some of the major players for the rest of this season and beyond.
​
1. Abdullah The Butcher vs Carlos Colon from Starrcade 1983. 

2. Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Greg The Hammer Valentine in a Dog Collar Match from Starrcade 1983. 

3. Brisco Brothers (WCW Tag Champs) vs Ricky Steamboat and Tully Blanchard from Starrcade 1983. 

4. Harley Race (WCW Champ) vs Ric Flair in a Steel Cage from Starrcade 1983. 

5. Wahoo McDaniel (WCW US Champ) vs Superstar Billy Graham from Starrcade 1984. 

​6. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes for 1 Million Dollars from Starrcade 1984. 
​
THE MAIN EVENT: RICKY STEAMBOAT vs TULLY BLANCHARD from STARRCADE 1984. 

Season 1, Episode 2: The Brawl That Began It All (1984, 1985)

Just before the Pay-Per-View era for WWE, they aired a series of specials on MTV to attract a young audience to their show. They pulled in stars like Cyndi Lauper, Ozzy Osborne, Alice Cooper, Mr T, and more to serve as managers or entourage. They also opened their events with famous musicians singing America The Beautiful. But in this episode, Mean Gene Okerlund, their intrepid announcer, does an a capella version of The Star Spangled Banner. It’s not quite on-par with Aretha Franklin’s performance in a few episodes.

I’ve included several womens matches in this episode not because they’re great but because WWE had a massive misogyny problem. I mean, it still does, but it was Really Really Bad in the 1980s. 

The worst part of this episode, though is a segment where Rowdy Roddy Piper assaults Jimmy Superfly Snuka. It’s an important moment in WWE wrestling, and I have included a match where Snuka, with the assistance of one of the Bloodline Ancestors, gets his revenge.

On a much lighter note, we see a living GI Joe character battle the foreign heel in a typical Rah-Rah-Rah America match. The founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling wins the WWE Martial Arts Championship, which was never again seen in American wrestling. Andre The Giant battles another giant, Big John Studd in a match where the only way to win is to slam your opponent, and the prize is $10,000. A paltry sum compared to the last episode's million dollar challenge.

While many of these matches are from Wrestlemania 1, we’re going to skip the horrible and boring main event, and replace it with both a one-on-one match between Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan, and also another Rah-Rah-Rah ’Murica match where The Soviet Union is represented by Nikolai Volkoff.

There’s some wonderful levity as Bobby The Brain Heenan and Jimmy Hart both serve as annoying and detestable managers who eventually get their come-uppance. Sometimes while wearing bright red briefs.

1. Sgt. Slaughter vs The Iron Sheik in a Boot Camp Match from the USA network, June 1984. 

2. Antonio Inoki vs Charlie Fulton from the WWE on MSG network, July 1984. 

3. Fabulous Moolah (WWE Womens Champ) vs Wendi Richter from The Brawl To End It All, 1984. 

4. Andre The Giant vs Big John Studd at Wrestlemania 1.

5. Wendi Richter (WWE Womens Champ) vs Lelani Kai at Wrestlemania 1.

6. Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs Roddy Piper from the WWE on MSG Network, February 1985. 

7. Wendi Richter (WWE Womens Champ) vs The Fabulous Moolah from Saturday Night’s Main Event #1.

8. Junkyard Dog vs Terry Funk from Saturday Night’s Main Event #3.

​9. Roddy Piper and Bob Orton vs Jimmy Snuka and The Tonga Kid (aka The Bloodline Ancestors) from the WWE on MSG Network.   
​      
MAIN EVENT: HULK HOGAN (WWE CHAMP) vs NIKOLAI VOLKOFF in a FLAG MATCH from SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT #2.

Season 1, Episode 3: Hard Times, 1985


This episode is named for one of the most famous promos of all time. While Ric Flair was always bragging about limousine riding, high flying excess, Dusty Rhodes talks about being a real person having to go through hard times but working through them to get to the good times. 

The mid-80s were Hard Times for WCW, there are certainly some matches worth watching but a lot of the shows featured screwy finishes and subpar wrestling and none of the stories were particularly engaging past the superficial Rich Dude vs Working Man angle or Wrestler Randomly Betrays Other Wrestler. This episode features talking heads behind news desks setting up stories and then breaking down the results.

One of the highlights of this episode is a couple of matches featuring Magnum TA, who was set to be the next big star (a role that ended up going to Sting) but was involved in a car accident that ended his in-ring career and turned him into a popular commentator for a few years. Here he battles Kamala (RIP), a regrettable racist stereotype character that wouldn’t fly today. James Arthur Harris, the man behind the face paint, did his best to turn this character into something worth remembering, and while he is now in the Hall Of Fame, his career is rough to watch through a non-racist lens. We also see Magnum in our first I Quit match, where the only way to win is to make your opponent either pass out or surrender.

1. Magnum TA vs Kamala at The Great American Bash 1985. 

2. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Nikita Koloff at Great American Bash 1985. 

3. Tully Blanchard (WCW TV Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes in a Steel Cage at Great American Bash 1985. 

4. Abdullah The Butcher vs Manny Fernandez in a Mexican Death Match at Starrcade 1985. 

5. Magnum TA vs Tully Blanchard in an I Quit Steel Cage Match at Starrcade 1985. 

6. Minnesota Wrecking Crew (WCW National Tag Champs) vs Wahoo McDaniels and Billy Jack Hynes at Starrcade 1985. 

​7. The Koloff Brothers (WCW World Tag Champs) vs Rock & Roll Express at Starrcade 1985. 
​
MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs DUSTY RHODES at STARRCADE 1985. 

Season 1, Episode 4: The Matches For The Masses (1985)

Our first tournament-based episode is mostly taken from the 1985 Wrestling Classic. Wrestlemania 2 is mostly a clunker not worth watching. It’s much more fun to see Randy Savage battle the odds, trying to win a tournament that ends up not actually leading anywhere.

I peppered this card with a series of skits from the Halloween Episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event and give it a classic Rock & Wrestling Era ending after the silly but entertaining main event. The wrestling in this episode is the best so far, mostly thanks to Randy Savage, Dynamite Kid, and Ricky Steamboat. 

I was never a huge fan of Brutus Beefcake but his tag team with Greg Valentine was a blast to watch, and I might not have seen any of their matches if not for this project.

We also have the worst, darkest match of this season as Wendy Richter ends up on the losing end of The Original Screwjob because Vince McMahon never liked paying women large sums of money unless it was hush money to cover up his sexual assaults. 

Bonus entertainment: Ray Charles sings “America The Beautiful” to open the show with just a tad more prestige than having Gene Okerlund warble "The Star Spangled Banner".

1. Ricky Steamboat vs The British Bulldog (as Davey Boy Smith) from The Wrestling Classic.

2. Wendy Richter (WWE Womens Champ) vs The Fabulous Moolah (as The Spider) from the WWE on MSG Network.

3. Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat from The Wrestling Classic.

4. Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs Roddy Piper from The Wrestling Classic.

5. Randy Savage vs Dynamite Kid from The Wrestling Classic.

6. Ricky Steamboat vs Hercules from Wrestlemania 2.

7. Junkyard Dog vs Randy Savage from The Wrestling Classic.

8. The Dream Team (WWE Tag Champs) vs The British Bulldogs from Wrestlemania 2.

9. The Fabulous Moolah (WWE Womens Champ) vs Velvet McIntyre from Wrestlemania 2.

10. Jake Roberts vs Ricky Steamboat from The Big Event.

11. Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs Terry Funk from Saturday Night’s Main Event #4.

​12. The Dream Team (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Rougeaus from The Big Event.
​
MAIN EVENT: HULK HOGAN (WWE CHAMP) vs KING KONG BUNDY in a STEEL CAGE MATCH from WRESTLEMANIA 2.

Season 1, Episode 5: Skywalkers (1986)

There’s a lot to love in this weird little WCW episode. Legion Of Doom is in two amazing gimmick matches that we won’t ever see again: A Double Russian Chain Match where two sets of wrestlers are chained together for a bloody brawl, and a Scaffold Match where all four participants climb a tower and fight on a thin scaffold, the losers being whoever fall off.

We get our first quality time with Jim Cornette as a detestable manager in the aforementioned scaffold match where he gets an injury that he’s still justifiably complaining about over forty years later.

There’s also two Dusty Rhodes/Tully Blanchard matches. One in a steel cage. The other is a First Blood Match. They’re both amazing. 

It’s not often that I set a tag team match as The Main Event but this steel cage brawl is a tough one to follow up, so it gets the honors. Also, I wanted a tag team match to follow up the Scaffold Match, as the Scaffold Match is historically important with some wild happenings but, as a wrestling match, it's pretty limited due to being held on a friggen scaffold.

There’s a lovely anomaly match in this episode featuring a tag team called The Sheepherders. They’re a violent Australian tag team who had bloody tag team matches and were incredibly entertaining. In a few episodes, they show up in WWE as The Bushwhackers, a silly team of two guys who like to lick things and wrestle mostly in comedy matches for children. It’s a WEIRD evolution. While I haven’t included many Bushwhackers matches, they did show up enough that I wanted to take the opportunity to include at least one pre-WWE match where you get to see them really wrestle.

1. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Ron Garvin at NWA World Championship Wrestling 1985.

2. The Legion of Doom (as The Road Warriors) vs The Koloff Brothers in a Double Russian Chain Match at Great American Bash 1985.

3. Tully Blanchard (WCW TV Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes in an Unsanctioned Cage Match at Great American Bash 1985.

4. The Fantastics (USW Tag Champs) vs The Bushwhackers (as The Sheepherders) at NWA Jim Crockett Sr Memorial Cup 1986.

5. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes in a Steel Cage at NWA Jim Crockett Sr Memorial Cup 1986.

6. Big Boss Man (as Big Bubba) vs Ronnie Garvin in a Street Fight at Starrcade 1986.

7. Dusty Rhodes (WCW TV Champ) vs Tully Blanchard in a First Blood Match at Starrcade 1986.

​8. The Legion Of Doom (as The Road Warriors) vs The Midnight Express in a Scaffold Match at Starrcade 1986.
​
MAIN EVENT: ROCK & ROLL EXPRESS vs MINNESOTA WRECKING CREW in a STEEL CAGE MATCH at STARRCADE 1986.

Season 1, Episode 6: The Cream Of The Crop (1987)

Some of the best promos from the 1980s show up in this episode, which also features several returns to Piper’s Pit, Roddy Piper’s talk show, where we get the setup for this episode’s main event.

Everyone’s favorite giant from The Princess Bride turns into a villain so Hulk Hogan can have a "monster" opponent. The commentary teams can keep telling us that Andre has never been slammed, even though we not only saw him get slammed in our first episode, we saw him get slammed by Hulk Hogan!

We even get more Bloodline Ancestors as Sika and Haku start to show up.

Ricky Steamboat wrestles two fantastic matches in this episode but has a dud of a “dragon” in his Snakepit Match vs Jake Roberts and his snake, Damien.

Sensational Sherri debuts for us here. She is one of the most important managers of this season but before she had that role, she was an excellent womens champion who got almost no TV matches, so we sneak in a bout from a tour of France so we can get a sense of who she is as a wrestler before she becomes a wild, devious manager.

Bonus entertainment: Aretha Franklin opens up the episode with her rendition of “America The Beautiful”.

1. Sika vs Special Delivery Jones from WWF Canal +.

2. 20 Man Battle Royal from from Saturday Night’s Main Event #10.​
Andre The Giant, Ax, B Brian Blair, Billy Jack Haynes, Blackjack Mulligan, Butch Reed, The Genius (as Leapin Larry Poffo), Haku, Hercules, Hillbilly Jim, Honky Tonk Man, Hulk Hogan, Jim Brunzell, Koko B Ware, Nikolai Volkoff,  Paul Orndorff, Ron Bass, Sika, Smash 

3. Ricky Steamboat vs Jake Roberts in a Snake Pit Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event #7.

4. The Hart Foundation (WWE Tag Champs) vs Tito Santana & Dan Spivey from Saturday Night’s Main Event #7.

5. Harley Race vs Junkyard Dog for WWE King Of The Ring title from Wrestlemania 3.

6. Randy Savage (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Ricky Steamboat from Wrestlemania 3.

6. Jake Roberts vs The Honky Tonk Man from Wrestlemania 3.

​7. Sensational Sherri (WWE Womens Champ) vs Velvet McIntyre from WWF on Canal+.
​
MAIN EVENT: HULK HOGAN (WWE CHAMP) vs ANDRE THE GIANT from WRESTLEMANIA 3.​​

Season 1, Episode 7: The Humble Rumble (1987, 1988)

Some super multi-person matches dominate this episode that features both the first ever Survivor Series and the first ever Royal Rumble.

The Survivor Series was a night where all of the matches featured teams of five wrestlers tagging in and out to get as many combinations of opponents as possible. This was used to cross stories together, settle feuds without singles matches, and even set up future feuds. There were two excellent matches during their first tournament in 1987.

In 1988, we got our first Royal Rumble. After this one, most would be 30-wrestler chaos machines where wrestlers draw numbers in a lottery. Two wrestlers start out in the ring, and a new person enters every two minutes. A wrestler is eliminated not by pinfall but by being thrown over the top rope. They are allowed to roll under the bottom rope, or sneak through the middle ropes but if they go over the top rope and their feet touch the ground, they’re out. This first-ever televised rumble had just twenty men, and didn’t include the story elements and beats that would be used in future bouts. It’s still fun to watch.

There’s also an absolutely killer tag team match where WWE invents a womens tag team title, straps it on to two of their undervalued women wrestlers and put them in the ring with the Japanese sensations that they dub The Jumping Bomb Angels, who put on the best womens showing we’ll see until Bull Nakano shows up next season.

1. The Honky Tonkers vs The Savage Animals from the inaugural Survivor Series 1987.
Honky Tonk Man, Ron Bass, Harley Race, Hercules, and Danny Davis vs Randy Savage, Brutus Beefcake, Jake Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, and  Jim Duggan

2. Hulkamaniacs vs The Giants Of Wrestling from the inaugural Survivor Series 1987.
Hulk Hogan, Bam Bam Bigelow, Don Muraco, Paul Orndorff, and Ken Patera vs Andre The Giant, King Kong Bundy, Rick Rude, Butch Reed, and The One Man Gang.

3. Randy Savage vs Bret Hart from Saturday Night’s Main Event 13.

​4. The Glamour Girls (WWE Womens Tag Team Champs) vs Jumping Bomb Angels from the inaugural Royal Rumble 1998.
​
MAIN EVENT: THE INAUGURAL ROYAL RUMBLE 1988
B Brian Blair, Bret Hart, Boris Zhukov, Butch Reed, Danny Davis, Don Muraco, Dino Bravo, Harley Race, Hillbilly Jim, Jake Roberts, Jim Brunzell, Jim Duggan, Jim Neidhart, Junkyard Dog, Nikolai Volkoff, One Man Gang, Ron Bass, Sam Houston, Tito Santana, and Ultimate Warrior.

Season 1, Episode 8: War Games (1987)

Not to be outdone by the WWE, WCW ups the stakes of the Survivor Series concept by having their five-on-five match in a Steel Cage. Two wrestlers start out and every two minutes, a new member of a team enters until all ten men are in the ring. No one can be pinned or eliminated until everyone is in the cage and wrestling, and then it’s a free-for-all until someone is pinned or submits.

We also have our first trios match, which is just a tag team match with three people instead of two.
 
The Flair/Windham match is our first without commentary. There are going to be very few matches without commentary in this Headcanon as bouts have a whole different feel when they lack narration.

1. Legion Of Doom (as The Road Warriors) vs The Four Horsemen in a War Games Match from The Great American Bash 1987.
Legion Of Doom (as The Road Warriors), Nikita Koloff, Dusty Rhodes, and Paul Ellering vs Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Andersen, Tully Blanchard, and JJ Dillon

2. Eddie Gilbert, Larry Zbysko, and Rick Steiner vs Sting, Jimmy Garvin, and Michael Hayes from Starrcade 1987.

3. Lex Luger (WCW TV Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes from Starrcade 1987.

4. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Barry Windham on NWA World Wide Wrestling.

​5. Barry Windham (WCW Western States Champ) vs Larry Zbysko from the Western States Championship Tournament 1987.
​
MAIN EVENT: RONNIE GARVIN (WCW CHAMP) vs RIC FLAIR in a STEEL CAGE MATCH at MID-SOUTH WRESTLING.

.Season 1, Episode 9: The War To Settle The Score (1988)

For our first time, an Authority Figure pops up to further a story. WWE President Jack Tunney steps in after Hulk Hogan loses an insanely weird match to Andre The Giant, who then hands the title to Ted Dibiase. Tunney rules that none of them can claim the title and sets up a tournament to determine a new champion.

Demolition debuts as WWE’s answer to the Legion Of Doom from WCW.

We then travel to Europe again to get another womens match on the card and to see how dangerous Sensational Sherri can be.

This is also the era where Honky Tonk Man was the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion, a record that wasn’t broken until 2024. His matches aren’t great, so we won’t be seeing too many but you should get an idea for what kind of champ he was before his historic loss.


1. Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs Andre The Giant on The Main Event 1988.

2. Ted Dibiase vs Jim Duggan from Wrestlemania 4.

3. Honky Tonk Man (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Brutus Beefcake from Wrestlemania 4.

4. Randy Savage vs One Man Gang from Wrestlemania 4.

5. Strike Force (WWE Tag Champs) vs Demolition from Wrestlemania 4.

6. Randy Savage vs Ted Dibiase for the WWE Title from Wrestlemania 4.

7. Sensational Sherri (WWE Womens Champ) vs Rockin' Robin on Canal+.

​8. Rick Rude vs Koko B Ware from Saturday Night’s Main Event 16.
​
MAIN EVENT: RANDY SAVAGE (WWE CHAMP) vs ONE MAN GANG on SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT 16.

Season 1, Episode 10: Bunkhouse Stampede (1988)

A gimmick sandwich bookended by two great Ric Flair matches. He first takes on Hawk from Legion of Doom in a surprisingly good match considering Hawk is mainly known as a tag team wrestler, and then Flair main events against Sting for the first time.

The Bunkhouse Stampede is a fun stipulation where eight men enter a steel cage wearing regular clothes instead of wrestling gear, and are allowed weapons as they eliminate each other by either throwing a competitor over the top of the cage or through the cage door. The elimination style is dumb looking and convoluted but the violence and storytelling are fun.

​On the other hand, the Tower Of Doom is a mess. It’s a three-story steel cage where you have to fight from the top level down to the bottom and escape through the door. Different wrestlers are stationed on different levels. It’s chaos. I can think of three times the stipulation was used and two of them are some of The Worst Wrestling Matches Ever. This one isn’t bad, it’s just confusing.


1. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Hawk at Bunkhouse Stampede 1988.

2. Steel Cage Bunkhouse Stampede from Bunkhouse Stampede 1988.
Dusty Rhodes, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Barbarian, Warlord, Ivan Koloff, Animal, and Tully Blanchard

3. The Midnight Express (WCW Tag Team Champs) vs The Fantastics on World Wide Wrestling TV.

4. Tower Of Doom Match from Great American Bash 1988.
Legion Of Doom, Steve Williams, Ron and Jimmy Garvin vs Al Perez, Ivan Koloff, Kevin Sullivan, IRS,  and The Russian Assassin

5. Barry Windham (WCW US Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes from Great American Bash 1988.
​
MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs STING from CLASH OF CHAMPIONS.

Season 1, Episode 11: The Megapowers (1988)

Without question, the best and most popular storyline of the 1980s was the friendship and eventual betrayal of the two fan-favorite wrestlers in the WWE. It begins here as Randy Savage’s girlfriend/manager/valet runs to get Hulk Hogan when Randy is in trouble and the two wrestlers become The Megapowers. 

Their main feud in this episode sees them have multiple matches against members of Ted Dibiase’s Megabucks stable.

We also see the absurd fall of The Honky Tonk Man, the rise of The Ultimate Warrior, and Jake Roberts and Rick Rude have a fantastic rematch after their stinker of a battle at Wrestlemania 4.

The Survivor Series not only serves as an endpoint for the Megapowers/Megabucks feud, it also has one of the longest and most wrestler-filled Survivor Series matches ever as, instead of ten men, ten tag teams battle it out in one ring.

We also learn that Andre The Giant is afraid of snakes, which is going to come up several times for the rest of the season. 

1. Randy Savage (WWE Champ) vs Andre The Giant from Saturday Night’s Main Event 18.

2. Hulk Hogan vs Haku from Saturday Night’s Main Event 17.

3. Honky Tonk Man (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Jim Duggan on Wrestlefest 1988.

4. Bret Hart vs Bad News Brown on Wrestlefest 1988.

5. Jake Roberts vs Rick Rude from Saturday Night’s Main Event 17.

6. Honky Tonk Man (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Ultimate Warrior from SummerSlam 1988.

7. Demolition (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs The Hart Foundation from SummerSlam 1988.

8. Megapowers vs Megabucks from SummerSlam 1988.

9. Ten Team Tag Team Survivor Series Match from Survivor Series 1988.
The British Bulldogs, The Hart Foundation, The Powers Of Pain, The Rockers, and The Young Stallions vs The Bolsheviks, The Brain Busters, Los Conquistadors, Demolition, and The Rougeaus

MAIN EVENT: SUPER MEGAPOWERS vs SUPER MEGABUCKS in a SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH from SURVIVOR SERIES 1988.
Hulk Hogan, Hercules, Hillbilly Jim, Koko B Ware, Randy Savage vs  Big Boss Man, Haku, One Man Gang, The Red Rooster, Ted Dibiase

Season 1, Episode 12: Chi-Town Rumble (1988)

There’s not too much to say about this episode. There are only five matches but they’re all solid and pretty long. 

The main event here is probably Lex Luger’s greatest match. We’ll certainly see him again for quite a few seasons but Flair brings out the absolute best in him in this Starrcade match from 1988.


1. The Brain Busters (as The Four Horsemen) (WCW Tag Champs) vs Sting & Nikita Koloff from Starrcade 1988.

2. Russian Assassins vs Junkyard Dog & Ivan Koloff from Starrcade 1988.

3. IRS (as Mike Rotunda) (WCW TV Champ) vs Rick Steiner with Kevin Sullivan in a Shark Cage from the Chi-Town Rumble.

4. Barry Windham (WCW US Champ) vs Bam Bam Bigelow from Starrcade 1988.
​
MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs LEX LUGER from STARRCADE 1988.

Season 1, Episode 13: The Affray Over The Valet (1988, 1989)

Part two of our Megapowers trilogy mostly focuses on the role Elizabeth unwittingly plays in their destruction.

Other highlights important events include The One Man Gang being rechristened as Akeem The African Dream in a weirdly racist jab at Dusty Rhodes, a rare King of The Ring defense, our second Royal Rumble, and The Brain Busters showing up in the WWE just one episode after we saw them as The Four Horsemen in WCW.

Throughout this episodes are skits from Prime Time Wrestling, a long-running WWE show where Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon showed off their humorous (not quite funny but definitely humorous) relationship when they weren’t doing commentary with each other. It’s weird and oddly wholesome, and I felt it should be represented along with their evolution as an announce team.

1. Hulk Hogan vs The One Man Gang (as Akeem) from Saturday Night’s Main Event 19.

2. The Ultimate Warrior (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Honky Tonk Man from Saturday Night’s Main Event 19.

2. Mr. Perfect vs Koko B Ware from Saturday Night’s Main Event 19.

3. Haku vs Harley Race for the WWE King of The Ring from Royal Rumble 1989.

​4. Royal Rumble Match from The Royal Rumble 1989.
Andre the Giant, Arn Anderson, Ax, Bad News Brown, The Barbarian, Big Boss Man, Big John Studd, Brutus Beefcake, Bushwhacker Butch, Bushwhacker Luke, Greg Valentine, Hercules, Honky Tonk Man, Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts, Koko B Ware, Marty Jannetty, Mr Perfect, One Man Gang, Randy Savage, Red Rooster, Rick Martel, Ron Bass, Ronnie Garvin, Shawn Michaels, Smash, Ted Dibiase, Tito Santana, Tully Banchard, Warlord

5. Brain Busters vs The Rockers on the WWE on MSG Network 1989.
​
MAIN EVENT: THE MEGAPOWERS vs THE TWIN TOWERS from THE MAIN EVENT 2.

Season 1, Episode 14: Steamboat Ricky (1989)

While Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage put on the most popular 1980s storyline over in the WWE, Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat put on three of the best rated and remembered matches of the decade. They had a fourth match that was merely excellent so it doesn’t get remembered as often.

While they’re all fairly long, I think they deserve to be watched all in one episode. To break it up, I’ve also included Paul Heyman’s arrival in WCW. He goes by Paul E Dangerously and he shows up with the team he dubs The Real Midnight Express, which includes one of The Midnight Express’s founding members. He challenges Jim Cornette’s Original Midnight Express to a match we’ll see here. While the tag team match is fantastic, I’m mainly including this for the interactions between Heyman and Cornette, both of whom will go on to be some of the most important and controversial people in wrestling history. Their controversies, though, are rooted in relatable human flaws as opposed to the controversies around rapist-thug-and-contender-for-The-Worst-American-Who-Ever-Lived, Vince McMahon. As such, seeing them on screen is almost always fun, even when they’re being jerks.


1. Jim Cornette & The Midnight Express vs Paul Heyman (as Paul E Dangerously) & The Midnight Express on NWA television.

2. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Ricky Steamboat at the Chi-Town Rumble.

3. Sting (WCW TV Champ) vs Iron Sheik at Wrestlewar 1989.

4. Ricky Steamboat (WCW Champ) vs Ric Flair in a 2/3 Falls match at Clash of Champions 6.

​5. Jim Cornette & The Midnight Express vs Paul Heyman (as Paul E Dangerously) & The Midnight Express at Chi-Town Rumble.
​
MAIN EVENT: RICKY STEAMBOAT (WCW CHAMP) vs RIC FLAIR at WRESTLEWAR 1989.

Season 1, Episode 15: The Megapowers Explode

After the ending of the last WWE episode’s main event, Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan are on a collision course for the title at Wrestlemania. Poor Miss Elizabeth is forced to either be neutral or choose between her long-term, emotionally abusive, boyfriend (in real life, she and Randy Savage had been married for years at this point) or the lazy, ego-maniacal steroid model who seemed much more interested in being around her than in helping his old tag team partner.

The rest of the episode features the incredibly talented tag team division of the late 80s, as well as our first glimpse of Owen Hart as The Blue Blazer.


1. Mr Perfect vs Owen Hart (as The Blue Blazer) at Wrestlemania 5.

2. The Twin Towers vs Rockers at Wrestlemania 5.

3. The Brain Busters vs Strike Force at Wrestlemania 5.

4. Jake Roberts vs Andre The Giant at Wrestlemania 5.

5. Demolition (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Brain Busters from Saturday Night’s Main Event 21.

6. Tito Santana & The Rockers vs Rick Martel & The Rougeaus from SummerSlam 1989.

7. Demolition (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Brain Busters from Saturday Night’s Main Event 22.

8. The Brain Busters (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Rockers from Saturday Night’s Main Event 24.

​5. Ultimate Warrior (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Rick Rude at Wrestlemania 5.
​
MAIN EVENT: RANDY SAVAGE (WWE CHAMP) vs HULK HOGAN at WRESTLEMANIA 5.

Season 1, Episode 16: Sensational Backlash (1989)

In modern WWE wrestling, Wrestlemania is followed by an event called Backlash that includes rematches from Wrestlemania, as well as matches that naturally evolved out of Wrestlemania’s events. While it didn’t exist in the 1980s or early 90s, this episode has the feel of one of those events. 

Randy Savage dumps his sweet, real-life wife as manager and hires the entertainingly weird and devious Sensational Sherri to replace her. This leads to a storyline, which we’ll be ignoring, where Savage teams up with “Zeus”, actor Tiny Lister, who stars as a villain in the Hulk Hogan movie, No Holds Barred. This led to a ton of bad matches, so we’re going to skip them entirely. Just be prepared that Zeus has a cameo in this episode that doesn’t go anywhere.

We’ll be following Hulk into another storyline that germinates here.

The Main Event for this episode is a ridiculous one without too much story behind it, which is a nice diversion as the end of this season gets more soap-opera-y.

1. Rick Rude (WWE Intercontinental Champion) vs Jim Duggan at Saturday Night’s Main Event 21.

2. Randy Savage vs Jim Neidhart at Saturday Night’s Main Event 21.

3. Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs The Big Boss Man at Saturday Night’s Main Event 21.

4. Rick Rude (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs The Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam 1989.

5. The King’s Court vs The 4x4s in a Survivor Series Match at Survivor Series 1989.
Dino Bravo, Earthquake, Greg Valentine, and Randy Savage vs Bret Hart, Hercules, Jim Duggan, and Ronnie Garvin.

6. The Rockers vs The Rougeaus from WWE at Sky One, 1989.
​
MAIN EVENT: THE RUDE BROOD VS RODDY’S ROWDIES IN A SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH AT SURVIVOR SERIES 1989.
Jacques Rougeau, Mr Perfect, Raymond Rougeau, and Rick Rude vs Bushwhacker Butch, Bushwhacker Luke, Jimmy Snuka, and Roddy Piper

Season 1, Episode 17: Glory Days (1989)

Spinning out of episode 15, the new crazy heel in WCW is Terry Funk. He is on a path to take out Ric Flair but he has to go through Ricky Steamboat first. And poor Ricky has to deal with the famously irrational and disloyal Lex Luger, the US Champ, instead of getting another shot at Flair’s belt.

Next season, WCW is going to have a ton of crossover with New Japan Pro Wrestling. We get our first taste here as The Great Muta comes to America hungry for his first WCW title. Sting is a great opponent for him here. These two will have occasional matches against each other way all the way to the 2020s when The Great Muta retires.

One of the worst types of gimmick match in wrestling history is the Tuxedo Match where two usually non-wrestlers put on formal wear and the only way to win is to strip it off the opponent. Every Tuxedo Match in history is bad but 1989’s Tuxedo Street Fight between Jim Cornette and Paul Heyman (as Paul E Dangerously) is the only one that is, at least, entertaining. Enjoy.


1. Ricky Steamboat vs Terry Funk from Clash Of Champions 7.

2. Sting (WCW TV Champ) vs Great Muta at Great American Bash 1989.

3. Paul Heyman (as Paul E Dangerously) vs Jim Cornette in a Tuxedo Street Fight at Great American Bash 1989.

4. Lex Luger (WCW US Champ) vs Ricky Steamboat at Great American Bash 1989.

5. Legion Of Doom (as The Road Warriors) vs The Bloodline Ancestors in a War Games Match at Great American Bash 1989.
Steve Williams, The Midnight Express, and The Legion Of Doom (as The Road Warriors) vs The Fabulous Freebirds and The Samoan SWAT Team

MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs TERRY FUNK at GREAT AMERICAN BASH 1989.

Season 1, Episode 18: Poetic Injustice (1989, 1990)

We begin to both wrap up some loose threads from this season, as well as set up the WWE Season Finale. The main story here is the rise of The Ultimate Warrior. He’s a terrible wrestler but an entertaining foil for Hulk Hogan. But not quite as entertaining as The Genius, who becomes the second Poffo brother (Randy Savage being the first) to defeat Terrible Terry Six Moves in a title match.

We had the Brain Busters crossover from WCW in the last couple of episodes. Dusty Rhodes does the same here. It’s a bit weird to see him go from Hard Times wrestler in classic wrestlers’ attire to the polka-dot bespeckled American Dream but he pulls it off, somehow.

The Main Event for this episode is a fantastic Royal Rumble filled with multiple stories. There is a continuity error in this episode as The Rumble definitely takes place before the Ultimate Maniacs match but the Rumble made for a better main event, so I switched them around.
 

1. Rick Martel vs Tito Santana in a Lumberjack Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event 23.

2. The Ultimate Warrior (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Andre The Giant at Saturday Night’s Main Event 24.

3. Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs The Genius at Saturday Night’s Main Event 24.

4. Dusty Rhodes vs The Big Boss Man at Saturday Night’s Main Event 24.

5, Randy Savage vs Jim Duggan at Saturday Night’s Main Event 25.

6. The Ultimate Maniacs vs Mr Perfect and The Genius at Saturday Night’s Main Event 25.

​7. The Rockers vs The Hart Foundation at Saturday Night’s Main Event 26.

​MAIN EVENT: ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE 1990.
Andre The Giant, Ax, Bad News Brown, The Barbarian, Bret Hart, Dino Bravo, Dusty Rhodes, Earthquake, Haku, Hercules, The Honky Tonk Man, Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts, Jimmy Snuka, Jim Neidhart, Koko B Ware, Marty Jannetty, Mr Perfect, One Man Gang (as Akeem), Randy Savage, The Red Rooster, Rick Martel, Rick Rude, Roddy Piper, Shawn Michaels, Smash, Ted Dibiase, Tito Santana, The Ultimate Warrior, and The Warlord

Season 1, Episode 19: Future Shock (1986, 1990)

This episode starts out with a bit of a flashback. Season 2 is going to have a shift as Ric Flair is replaced by Sting as the face of WCW, and The Ultimate Warrior will replace Hulk Hogan for a bit in WWE. Before their parallel rises to the top of their respective companies, Sting and The Ultimate Warrior were tag team partners. Here, we see the two of them as The Blade Runners taking on Ted Dibiase and Dr Death Steve Williams before we get back to 1989. 

We get another look at The Great Muta here in a fun tag match with a malfunctioning electrified steel cage. (There’s a small fire in the middle of the match) Also, The Skyscrapers tag team, managed by future WWE Authority Figure, Teddy Long, includes Mean Mark Callus who will show up in the WWE next season as The Undertaker. His greatest rival, Mick Foley, debuts here, too, as Cactus Jack.


1. The Blade Runners vs Ted Dibiase & Steve Williams from the UWF in 1986.

2. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) & Sting vs The Great Muta (WCW TV Champ) & Terry Funk in a Thunderdome Match at Halloween Havoc 1989.

3. Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack Manson) vs Norman The Lunatic at WrestleWar 1990.

4. The Rock & Roll Express vs The Midnight Express at WrestleWar 1990.

​5,. Legion of Doom (as The Road Warriors) vs  The Skyscrapers at WrestleWar 1990.

WCW SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT:  RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs STING at WRESTLEWAR 1990.

Season 1, Episode 20: Everybody’s Got A Price (1990)

Two stories weave in and out of this WWE Season finale, which serves as a last kiss from the 1980s. Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior keep crossing paths as the new monster in the WWE, Earthquake, and his partner, Dino Bravo, both go after the Intercontinental and WWE Championships. The other story is that Ted Dibiase has created a new title, The Million Dollar Championship and he and Jake Roberts go to war over the title, which will completely change not only Jake Roberts’s career trajectory but also that of The Big Boss Man and Virgil next season.

The source material for a few of these skits and episodes are the weekly Superstars shows, which I could only find VHS sources for, so they are of varying quality. 

As the seasons go on, I like to include a retiring wrestler in the main event of the final episode. I couldn’t really do that at the end of Season One. However, this is the last time we’ll see Andre The Giant in a wrestling ring, and he gets a great sendoff in this episode, despite the fact that he was in so much pain that he couldn’t wrestle for a couple of years before this match. We’ll see him a couple of times next season but he’ll be outside of the ring to further stories, rather than in the ring.


1. Ted Dibiase (Million Dollar Champion) vs Lee Peak on Superstars of Wrestling.

2. The Ultimate Warrior (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Dino Bravo from The Main Event 3.

3. Ted Dibiase (Million Dollar Champion) vs Jake Roberts from the WWE at MSG Network.

4. Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs Dino Bravo from Superstars of Wrestling.

5. The Colossal Connection (WWE Tag Champs) vs Demolition at Wrestlemania 6.

6. Randy Savage & Sensational Sherri vs Dusty Rhodes & Sweet Sapphire at Wrestlemania 6.

7. The Rockers vs The Powers Of Pain from the WWE at MSG Network.

​8. Ted Dibiase (Million Dollar Champ) vs Jake Roberts at Wrestlemania 6.
​
WWE SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: HULK HOGAN (WWE CHAMP) vs THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR (WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMP) at WRESTLEMANIA 6.

Season 1 of the Headcanon was pure Hulkamania in the WWE, and Flair For The Gold in WCW. The two blonde haired, blue-eyed strong men ran rampant over almost everyone .(Kudos to Andre The Giant, Randy Savage, Randy's Brother {The Genius}, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and Ronnie Garvin for getting some wins last season over wrestling’s Golden Geese.)

While Hulk Hogan pretended to be a good guy, even though he often cheated and was a sore loser, Ric Flair was always up front about being a jet flyin’, limousine ridin’, kiss stealin’, wheelin;’ and dealin’ son of a gun. And even though we saw both of them lose their titles at the end of last season, neither of them is going away anytime soon. They’re not even staying out of the title scene for long.

We begin this season with The Ultimate Warrior experiment in WWE. Captain Cocaine shakes the ropes for a while and faces some classic villains before he and the title break up and have more interesting stories. Sting gets screwed over, too, but like Flair and Hogan, he’ll be involved in gold belt hot potato.

While some of the mainstays from Season One continue to dominate the scene, the steroid-riddled promos about vitamins, warriors, maniacs, hard times, and Space Mountain, along with the A-B-C match formats where the hero used the same stale and unimpressive move to somehow annihilate his previously healthy opponents had to go.

It took time. Time and evolution (not Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista; although they eventually contributed). Technical wrestling improved, storylines became more complex, and more room was made at the top for a wider variety of heroes and heels with fewer career-jobbers making their way on TV.

This season sees The Four Horseman Era continue in WCW while their undercard trains to be the future of the WWE. Meanwhile WWE becomes more than just the Hogan/Savage/Warrior show, as Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and The Undertaker make their presences known.

We also introduce Eastern Championship Wrestling, a territory in NWA (WCW was an NWA territory last season), which starts off as a WWE senior citizen circuit before morphing into the violent, bloody cult of Paul Heyman’s Extreme Championship Wrestling.

The middle of this season sees one of the three Gaping Creative Droughts that occurred in wrestling during my lifetime. And, yet, they still contain some spectacular matches. 

Sorbet Episode: A Not So Gentlewomens' Intermission (1986-1990)

Before we get back to WWE and WCW, and before we introduce ECW into the mix, another wrestling company deserves at least one episode in our chronology. The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling inspired an incredible Netflix show, and had a decent, if often turbulent run on television over the course of four syndicated seasons. There are some amazing spots in this episode but there are no amazing matches. I doubt any reach above a two-and-a-half on the Meltzer star scale. But the characters are fun, and Rob Sturma described it as "Wrestling Hee-Haw", which is an accurate description of the dad-joke sketches that absolutely saturated the show. I have kept that feel in this episode not because the jokes are good but because they're only slightly worse than some of the wrestling so I felt like I should let this be an accurate experience of the TV show, if it were pay-per-v...sorry...premium live event length. Oh, and if you can't stomach terrible stereotypes, you're going to want to stay a million miles away from this, it is wildly 1980s offensive.


1. Salt & Pepper vs Sarah & Mabel.

2. Corporal Kelly & Attache vs The Southern Belles.

3. Colonel Ninotchka vs Little Feather.

4. Hollywood & Vine vs Mount Fuji.

5. Spanish Red & Jungle Woman vs The Cheerleaders.

6. Dementia vs Little Egypt.

7. Ivory (as Tina Ferrari), Ashley Cartier & Little Fuji vs Angel, Hollywood & Vine.

8. 20 Woman Battle Royal.
Palestina, Headhunter Mina, Headhunter Mika, Envy, Adore, Chainsaw, Spike, Attache, Hollywood, Vine, Colonel Ninotchka, Spanish Red, Mathilde The Hun, California Doll 1, California Doll 2, Little Feather, Ivory (as Tina Ferrari), Ashley Cartier, Little Fiji, Olympia, Mt Fuji, Scarlet The Southern Belle, Tara The Southern Belle

9. Attache vs Amy The Farmer's Daughter.

MAIN EVENT: IVORY (as TINA FERRARI) and ASHLEY CARTER vs HOLLYWOOD & VINE.

Season 2, Episode 1: Arrogance (1990)

While we bid adieu to Hulkamania running wild at the end of last season, it's not dead. The 80s wrestlers didn't just disappear as 1990 rolled in. So here we see the old guard start to wind down as slightly younger wrestlers like Mr Perfect, Texas Tornado (Kerry Von Erich from WCW), Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker all make their way to the top of the WWE wrestling cards. We also get a great buildup to a decent feud and a terrible but amusing match as Rick Martel's fragrance takes on Jake Robert's vision.

Warrior’s WWE Championship run may be a tad underwhelming but while he was shaking the ropes with the big belt, Mr Perfect was putting on the matches of the year as he defended the workhorse belt, the WWE Intercontinental title. We’ll see him wrestle three times in this episode, each match a little different from the other. His third match involves the sub-feud where Bobby Heenan makes repeated jokes about The Big Boss Man’s mom.

1. Mr Perfect (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Tito Santana from Saturday Night’s Main Event 27.

2. Demolition (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs The Hart Foundation in a 2/3 Falls Match at 
SummerSlam 1990.

3. Mr. Perfect (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Texas Tornado at SummerSlam 1990.

4. Ultimate Warrior (WWE Champ) vs Rick Rude in a Steel Cage at SummerSlam 1990.

5. Million Dollar Team vs The Dream Team at Survivor Series 1990.
Ted Dibiase, Honky Tonk Man, Greg Valentine, and The Undertaker vs Dusty Rhodes, Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, and Koko B Ware

6. Mr Perfect (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Big Boss Man at The Main Event 4.

7. Visionaries vs Vipers at Survivor Series 1990.
Rick Martel, Hercules, Paul Roma, Warlord vs Jake Roberts, Jimmy Snuka, Marty Jannetty, Shawn Michaels

MAIN EVENT: ULTIMATE WARRIOR (WWE CHAMP) vs TED DIBIASE at THE MAIN EVENT 4.

Season 2, Episode 2: Capitol Combat (1990)

Oh no. Between seasons, our hero of the new generation, Sting, got injured and Ric Flair ended up getting his belt back. This allows us with nice opportunity to mirror the end of last season as Sting is all healed up by the end of this episode and ready to retake the title from Flair.

The big story in this episode, though, is the debut of Vader, who will spend this and next season absolutely destroying everyone in his path in WCW and WWE.

This is also one of the golden eras of WCW’s tag team division so be prepared for a ton of multi-wrestler matches.

1. The Fabulous Freebirds vs The Rock & Roll Express in a Strap Match at Capital Combat 1990.

2. The Steiner Brothers (WCW Tag Champs) vs Doom at Capital Combat 1990.

3. Ric Flair (WCW Champ) vs Lex Luger in a Steel Cage at Capital Combat 1990.

4. Vader vs Tom Zenk at Great American Bash 1990.

5. Doom (WCW Tag Champs) vs Rock & Roll Express at The Great American Bash 1990.

MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs STING at THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH 1990.

203: American Nationalism Run Amuck, 1991

Much of this season is The New Generation (TM by WWE) trying to wrestle the main event scene from the 1980s superstars. That's fully on display here as Sgt Slaughter returns and the main event features Hogan hogging the spotlight again.

We're going to skip most of the Sgt Slaughter in the 90s era, as it was hugely cringey at the time and has only gotten worse in the intervening decades. Instead, we'll focus on Warrior's best ever feud, the one with Randy Savage.

The other feud we'll be focusing on for the next few episodes is Ted Dibiase vs Virgil, which is rooted in their tag team match with the father and son duo of Dusty and Rhodes and Goldust  (as Dustin Rhodes), who will both soon return to WCW.
​
1. The Orient Express vs The Rockers at The Royal Rumble 1991.
​
2. The Ultimate Warrior (WWE Champ) vs Sgt Slaughter at The Royal Rumble 1991.

3. Mr Perfect vs Roddy Piper from WWE on MSG Network.

4. Ted Dibiase and Virgil vs Dusty Rhodes and Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes) at Royal Rumble 1991.
​
MAIN EVENT: ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH 1991.
Bret Hart, Dino Bravo, Greg Valentine, Paul Roma, The Texas Tornado, Rick Martel, Saba Simba, Bushwhacker Butch, Jake Roberts, Hercules, Tito Santana, The Undertaker, Jimmy Snuka, The British Bulldog, Smash, Hawk, Shane Douglas, Animal , Crush , Jim Duggan, Earthquake, Mr. Perfect, Hulk Hogan , Haku , Jim Neidhart , Bushwhacker Luke, Brian Knobbs, The Warlord, Tugboat 

204: International Incidents, 1991

This is the first of our episodes that truly showcases Japanese wrestling in more than just a single match. I think if I’d seen this when I was younger, I might have been more of a WCW fan when I was growing up. There’s a great mix of athleticism and strong style that just didn’t show up in American wrestling until this point. Masa Saito, Jushin Thunder Liger, Masahairo Chono, and Tatsumi Fujinami all blew my mind when I saw them wrestle for the first time. It’s also nice to see that Itsuki Yamasaki of last season’s Jumping Bomb Angels is actually named here while the WWE commentary pretended they couldn’t pronounce her name or tell her and her tag team partner apart.

This episode is also the only time we’ll see Rey Mysterio Sr, whose nephew will go on to be one of the most famous American wrestlers of all-time. Konnan will be remembered as a pretty decent manager.

The back half of this episode takes place in Japan, and it was a struggle to find a complete and solid version of the event that had English Commentary, so please forgive me if it’s not as crisp as the rest of the episode. I did include the Bam Bam Bigelow & Vader vs Doom match with its original Japanese commentary.

1. Miki Handa & Miss A vs Itsuki Yamasaki & Mami Kitamura at WrestleWar 1991.

2. Steiner Brothers vs Konnan & Rey Mysterio Sr at Starrcade 1990.

3. Stan Hansen (WCW US Champ) vs Lex Luger in a Texas Lariat Bout at Starrcade 1990.

4. Steiner Brothers vs Masa Saito & Great Muta at Starrcade 1990.

5. War Games Match at WrestleWar 1991.
Larry Zbysko and The Four Horsemen vs Brian Pillman, Sting, and The Steiner Brothers

6. Doom vs Bam Bam Bigelow & Vader at Starrcade in Tokyo.

5. Jushin Thunder Liger vs Akira Nogami at Starrcade in Tokyo.

6. Four Horseman vs Masa Saito & Masahiro Chono at Starrcade in Tokyo.

7. Barry Windham vs Brian Pillman in a Taped Wrist Match at SuperBrawl 1991.

8. Great Muta vs Sting at Starrcade in Tokyo.

MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs TATSUMI FUJINAKI (NJPW CHAMP) at STARRCADE IN TOKYO.

Season 2, Episode 5:  Blind Justice (1991)

This is a wild smorgasbord of a show featuring terrible gimmick matches that paid off long running feuds (the Blindfold Match), mediocre matches that are historically or storyline important (Undertaker vs Snuka and Virgil vs Ted Dibiase), some lesser-known bangers (Bret Hart vs Ted Dibiase and British Bulldog vs Berserker) and two classics rounding off the show. Perfect vs Hart was a rare passing of The Intercontinental torch moments that is nearly, well, perfect.

The career ending match is one of the best Ultimate Warrior matches, period. It’s also a weird event because the winner of the match was soon fired from the company, and the loser was back in the ring wrestling again a few months later. 

Jake Roberts gets the saddest storyline here. After getting his eyesight back and having his revenge on Rick Martel, Earthquake enters the picture and they replay the Jake Roberts/Andre The Giant feud but with Earthquake taking it Much Further.

1. Legion Of Doom vs Orient Express from The Main Event 5.

2. Hart Foundation (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Nasty Boys at Wrestlemania 7.

3. Jake Roberts vs Rick Martel in a Blindfold Match at Wrestlemania 7.

4. Undertaker vs Jimmy Snuka at Wrestlemania 7.

5. Ted Dibiase vs Virgil at Wrestlemania 7.

6. Jake Roberts vs Earthquake from WWE on MSG Network.

7. Main Event Battle Royal from Saturday Night’s Main Event 29.
The Barbarian, Big Boss Man, The British Bulldog, Earthquake, Greg Valentine, Haku, Hercules, Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts, Jim Duggan, Jimmy Snuka, Kato, Marty Jannetty, Mr Perfect, Paul Roma, Shawn Michaels, Tanaka. The Texas Tornado, Tugboat, The Warlord

8. Bret Hart vs Ted Dibiase from Saturday Night’s Main Event 29.

9. British Bulldog vs Berserker from UK Rampage 1991.

10. Mr Perfect (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Bret Hart from SummerSlam 1991.

MAIN EVENT: ULTIMATE WARRIOR vs RANDY SAVAGE in a CAREER ENDING  MATCH at WRESTLEMANIA 7.

Season 2, Episode 6: The Chamber Of Horrors (1991)

Another bizarre ensemble of matches. Fujinaki and Flair have their rematch from the last WCW Main Event, Ron Simmons almost becomes the first ever Black singles champion in WCW history (he gets there eventually but not in this episode). We see our first Russian Chain match since early last season. And we have the trainwreck-terrible-but-entertaining Chamber Of Horrors Match: a Steel Cage match where the object is to put one of your opponents in an electric chair and activate it.

This is truly a wild episode.

1. Steiner Brothers (WCW Tag Team Champs) vs Lex Luger & Sting at SuperBrawl 1991.
​
2. Arn Anderson (WCW TV Champ) vs Bobby Eaton at SuperBrawl 1991.

3. Tatsumi Fujinaki (NWA Champ) vs Ric Flair (WCW Champ) at SuperBrawl 1991.

4. Nikita Koloff vs Sting in a Russian Chain Match at Great American Bash 1991.

5. Lex Luger vs Barry Windham in a Steel Cage Match for the WCW Championship at Great American Bash 1991.

7. Chamber Of Horrors Match at Halloween Havoc 1991.
Sting, El Gigante, The Steiner Brothers vs Abdullah the Butcher, Scott Hall (as The Diamond Studd),  Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack), Vader

8. Steve Austin (WCW TV Champ) vs Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes) at Halloween Havoc 1991.

MAIN EVENT: LEX LUGER (WCW CHAMP) vs FAROOQ (as RON SIMMONS) in a 2/3  FALLS MATCH at HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1991.

Season 2, Episode 7: Match Made In Heaven (1991)

The majority of this episode is related to Randy Savage’s wedding to Miss Elizabeth (whom he had been married to in real life for several years). It’s a brief ceremony and then a reception where Jake Roberts and The Undertaker ruin everything, and we get our first glimpse of Psycho Sid in WWE.

Also, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! Ric Flair has jumped ship to the WWE, too, and he still has the WCW Championship with him! He and his manager, Bobby Heenan, appear to be gunning for Hulk Hogan, stooping to such shenanigans as helping The Undertaker in his first ever title match!

Plus, we reach the end of the Virgil/Dibiase feud, and Legion of Doom fulfills the prophecy by finally becoming WWE Tag Champs.

1. Bushwhackers vs Natural Disasters at SummerSlam 1991.

2. Ted Dibiase vs Virgil for the Million Dollar Championship at SummerSlam 1991.

3. Nasty Boys (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Legion Of Doom at SummerSlam 1991.

4. Million Dollar Team vs Hitman Squad at Survivor Series 1991.
The Mountie, Ted Dibiase, Ric Flair, Warlord, vs Bret Hart, The British Bulldog, Roddy Piper, Virgil

5. Ric Flair vs Tito Santana from Battle Royal at Albert Hall.

MAIN EVENT: HULK HOGAN (WWE CHAMP) vs THE UNDERTAKER at SURVIVOR  SERIES 1991.

Season 2, Episode 8: Battle Bowl (1991, 1992)

It’s time for more fun with The Lethal Lottery where WCW creates tag teams at random for a tournament where the winners are thrown together in a two-ring Royal Rumble knockoff. This creates some fantastic ring combinations that you won’t see anywhere else such as Ricky Steamboat in the ring against Mick Foley.

We then go back to Tokyo for some more fantastic crossover bouts with New Japan Pro 
Wrestling. Trigger warning: Japanese commentary.

Once again, the back half of the episode is from Japan and the video quality is not on-par with the first half of the episode.

1. Steve Austin & Rick Rude vs Van Hammer & Doink (as Big Josh) at Starrcade 1991.

2. Bill Kaamier & Jushin Thunder Liger vs DDP & Mike Graham at Starrcade 1991.

3. Ricky Steamboat & Todd Champion vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) & Buddy Lee Parker at Starrcade 1991.

4. Vader & Mr Hughes vs Rick Steiner & Adam Bomb (as The Nightstalker) at Starrcade 1991.

5. Battlebowl Battle Royal at Starrcade 1991.
Vader, Buff Bagwell, Jimmy Garvin, Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes), Bill Kazmaier, Jushin Thunder Liger, Steve Austin, Richard Morton, Todd Champion, Abdullah The Butcher, Firebreaker Chip, Thomas Rich, Ron Simmons, Ricky Steamboat, Mr Hughes, Scott Steiner, Lex Luger, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Sting

6. Enforcers vs Michionshi Ohara & Shiro Koshinaka at NJPW Super Warriors Tokyo Dome 1992.

7. Dusty Rhodes & Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes) vs Masa Saito & Kim Duk at NJPW Super Warriors Tokyo Dome 1992.

8. Lex Luger (WCW Champ) vs Masahiro Chono at NJPW Super Warriors Tokyo Dome 1992.

MAIN EVENT: STING & GREAT MUTA vs THE STEINER BROTHERS at NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING SUPER WARRIORS TOKYO DOME 1992.

Season 2, Episode 9:  Fair To Flair (1991, 1992)

Bobby Heenan has been on fire this season. The wrestlers he manages seem to always be in the title mixes, his now-cringey insult humor certified him as one of the all-time most irritating (but in a good way) announcers, and he is the person credited with bringing Ric Flair into the WWE. 

The announcer and Flair gigs intersect here as Heenan gives one of the best commentary 
performances of all-time during the Royal Rumble match. It’s a tour-de-force that capitalizes on the energy we saw during his Big Boss Man feud.

The fallout from the last WWE episode’s title match creates two epic matches here. More 
importantly, after all he suffered  earlier in this season, Randy Savage unretires! He didn’t lose a step during those 30 seconds he was retired, and has a fantastic feud with Jake Roberts here.

1. Randy Savage vs Jake Roberts at This Tuesday In Texas.

2. Ric Flair vs Texas Tornado at UK Rampage 1991.

3. Undertaker (WWE Champ) vs Hulk Hogan at This Tuesday In Texas.

4. New Hart Foundation vs New Orient Express from Royal Rumble 1992.

MAIN EVENT: ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH 1992.
The Barbarian, The Berzerker, Big Boss Man, The British Bulldog, Col. Mustafa, Greg Valentine, Haku, Hercules, Hulk Hogan, IRS, Jake Roberts, Jerry Sags, Jim Duggan, Jimmy Snuka, Nikolai Volkoff, Psycho Sid (as Sid Justice), Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Rick Martel, Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, Shawn Michaels, Skinner, Smash (as Repo Man), Ted DiBiase, The Texas Tornado, Tito Santana, The Undertaker, Virgil, The Warlord

Season 2, Episode 10: The Dangerous Alliance (1992)

Again, this is kind of a gold buried under crap era for WCW, as it's slowly morphing from NWA to the official WCW. This episode, in particular, aligns with the earlier WWE matches from this season as 70s, 80s, and 90s stars are all represented pretty equally.

The Light Heavyweight title is given its first chance to shine here. It will soon become The Cruserweight Championship, the title that kept WCW interesting during the WWE Retiree-Age that’s on the horizon.

We also see a villainous stable with wrestlers like Steve Austin and Rick Rude that are united by their manager. Yeup, they’re the early 1990s Paul Heyman guys, The Dangerous Alliance.

1. Jushin Thunder Liger (WCW Lightweight Champ) vs Brian Pillman at SuperBrawl 1992.

2. Barry Windham and Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes) vs Steve Austin and Larry Zbysko at SuperBrawl 1992.

3. Rick Rude (WCW US Champ) vs Ricky Steamboat at SuperBrawl 1992.

4. Lex Luger (WCW Champ) vs Sting at SuperBrawl 1992.

5. Brian Pillman (WCW Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Tom Zenk at WrestleWar 1992.

6. Tatsumi Fujinama and Takayuki Iizuka vs The Steiner Brothers at WrestleWar 1992. 

MAIN EVENT: STING’S SQUADRON vs THE DANGEROUS ALLIANCE in a WAR  GAMES MATCH at WRESTLEWAR 1992.
Sting, Barry Wyndham, Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes), Ricky Steamboat, Nikita Koloff vs Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Arn  Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbysko

Season 2, Episode 11: Damaged Goods (1992)

The tail end of the Randy Savage/Jake Roberts feud leads to a split where Jake Roberts goes off to battle his former co-conspirator: The Undertaker, while Randy Savage goes after the current champion: Ric Flair. Flair incites the feud through a series of promos where he claims to have been Miss Elizabeth’s first real boyfriend, whom he dumped just before she met Savage. It’s a wild angle.

We also get to see the continued rise of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, who will be the faces of the company by the end of the season.

1. Jake Roberts vs Randy Savage at The Main Event 5.

2. Undertaker vs Bret Hart from WWE on MSG Network.

3. Shawn Michaels vs Tito Santana at Wrestlemania 8.

4. Jake Roberts vs Undertaker at Wrestlemania 8.

5. Roddy Piper (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 8.

6. Owen Hart vs Skinner at Wrestlemania 8.

7. British Bulldog vs IRS at UK Rampage 1992.

8. Bret Hart (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Rick Martel at UK Rampage 1992.

MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WWE CHAMP) vs RANDY SAVAGE at WRESTLEMANIA 8.

Season 2, Episode 12: Beach Blast (1992)

This is a little window of WCW that I never opened until creating this episode. It was a pretty bad time for the brand, as Ric Flair was absolutely ruling over at WWE and nobody at WCW, not even Sting, had quite the momentum of their WWE counterparts. So this show is all about fun.

Future Goth King of Wrestling in WCW, ECW, and TNA: Raven, wrestles as Scotty Flamingo. Sting and Mick Foley have a hardcore match well before it was fashionable, and Rick Rude takes on Ricky Steamboat.

The highlight, though, is the weird set of circumstances where Sting was supposed to get a rematch for the title with Vader but was injured during a Coal Miner’s Glove Match (where a heavy glove is put on a pole, and whoever gets it first can use it as a weapon) with Jake Roberts. 

Jake gets bitten in the face by his cobra but Sting is somehow so injured that he can’t have his rematch (it’s not explained what his injury is or how he got it) so he is replaced in the title match by Ron Simmons (the future Farooq from WWE) who becomes the first ever Black World Champion in wrestling history.

Interesting side note: Jake Roberts, who once wrestled so wasted that his match had to be 
canceled, and was also a part of the blindfold match with Rick Martel from a few episodes ago, claims the Coal Miner’s Glove Match was the worst thing he’s ever been a part of. I’m including it purely because it’s the only time I can remember Jake Roberts and Mick Foley sharing the screen.

1. Brian Pillman (WCW Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Raven (as Scotty Flamingo) at Beach Blast 1992.

2. Sting vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Beach Blast 1992.

3. Greg Valentine vs Buff Bagwell at Beach Blast 1992.

4. Sting (WCW Champ) vs Vader at Great American Bash 1992.

5. Rick Rude (WCW US Champ) vs Ricky Steamboat in an Iron Man Match at Beach Blast 1992.

6. Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff vs Brian Pillman & Jushin Thunder Liger at Great American Bash 1992.

7. Sting vs Jake Roberts in a Coal Miner's Glove Match at Halloween Havoc 1992.

MAIN EVENT: VADER (WCW CHAMP) vs FAROOQ (as RON SIMMONS) from WCW  MAIN EVENT.

Season 2, Episode 13: Perfectly Savage (1993)

Randy Savage continues to be the highlight reel for the Old Guard, as Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart creep into the main event scene. Here, he loses his partner Ultimate Warrior (probably fired again) and needs to find a new tag team partner to battle Ric Flair and the debuting Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon), so he chooses Flair’s corner man, Mr Perfect.

His decision to have Mr Perfect as a partner is a long road that takes place almost exclusively on Prime Time Wrestling. No longer a newsdesk show with Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan. Vince McMahon now chairs a discussion group with assorted wrestlers and managers. This episode features Bobby Heenan, Mr Perfect, Hillbilly Jim, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

The oddest part of this sequence is that Randy Savage is the champion in this episode until the main event where, suddenly, no one appears to be the champion. Savage lost the title to Flair during an unimpressive match, and then Flair lost the title to Bret Hart (who loses the Intercontinental Championship in this episode) in an untelevised House Show.

This is not the only time something like this happens with Bret Hart in the early 90s.

1. Randy Savage (WWE Champ) vs Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam 1992.

2. Bret Hart (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992.

3. Randy Savage (WWE Champ) vs Shawn Michaels at UK Rampage 1992.

4. British Bulldog (Intercontinental Champ) vs Shawn Michaels at Saturday Night’s Main Event 32.

MAIN EVENT: RANDY SAVAGE & MR PERFECT vs RIC FLAIR & SCOTT HALL (as RAZOR RAMON) at  SURVIVOR SERIES 1992.

Season 2, Episode 14: Eastern Championship Wrestling (1993)

Our first ECW episode! Eastern Championship Wrestling is a small indie company in Philadelphia that changed wrestling forever. A ton of retired WWE wrestlers, a band of 
dissatisfied WCW wrestlers, future WCW and WWE wrestlers, and some homegrown talent, under the direction of Paul Heyman (sometimes still Paul E Dangerously) turned a crowded poolhall into a violent revolution in sports entertainment.

There are some impressive reconstructions that make ECW’s quality look as crisp and polished  as the WWE and WCW. I don’t like them. ECW episodes should look like they were produced with amateur lighting and recorded by someone in the audience with a cheap camera. So that’s what they’re going to look like in this Headcanon.

The audio in this has one very quiet match.

For the rest of this Headcanon, I’ve gone through and normalized all the audio. Unfortunately, I haven’t touched this file in several years, and I no longer have the sources, so I can’t fix it without spending many hours relocating sources, re-editing etc. Pretend this is just because of the general low quality of early ECW recordings (which it kind of is).

1. Jimmy Snuka (ECW TV Champ) vs JT Smith at Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular.

2. Terry Funk vs Eddie Gilbert in a Texas Chain Match at Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular.

3. Malia Hosaka vs Molly McShane at NWA Bloodfest 1993.

4. Jimmy Snuka (ECW TV Champ) vs Terry Funk in a Steel Cage Match from ECW Hardcore TV.

6. Sabu (ECW Champ) vs Taz at NWA Bloodfest 1993.

7. Taz vs Tommy Dreamer at NWA Bloodfest 1993.

MAIN EVENT: TERRY FUNK (ECW CHAMP) vs SHANE DOUGLAS vs SABU at THE NIGHT THE LINE WAS CROSSED.

Season 2, Episode 15: 1-2-3 Raw (1993)

We’ve been able to speed through the 80s and early 90s because both WCW and WWE were mainly pay-per-view focused companies where their weekly shows featured clips of pre-recorded matches, squash matches with local talent, and filler material. WWE had at least three weekly shows but they mainly featured the same content slightly reworked.

That all changed when Raw was introduced. A live or recently recorded show that usually 
included at least one match between two superstars. It changed the way they told stories, it changed the promos and skits from being manager-based to wrestler-based, and it flooded the industry with more content. It’s kind of amazing that it took nearly a decade before they duplicated this with Smackdown.

This first episode is carried by Bobby Heenan’s personality, and a couple of ongoing storylines involving Mr Perfect, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and Marty Jannetty. But we also have the story that really revolutionized Raw: the introduction of XPac as The 1-2-3 Kid, a local talent jobber who quickly ascends to one of the main reasons people tuned in to the weekly show.

Oh, also, Bret Hart doesn’t have the title in this episode because he lost it in an absolutely 
unwatchable match at Wrestlemania 9 where he was cheated out of the title by Yokozuna, who was then immediately beaten by Hulk Hogan. There really isn’t a decent Hogan match during this era, so we’re just going to pretend he’s already gone.

1. Ric Flair vs Tito Santana from Raw.

2. Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) vs XPac (as The Kid) from Raw.

3. Shawn Michaels (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Marty Jannetty from Raw.

4. Mr Perfect vs Ric Flair in a Loser Leaves Town Match from Raw.

5. Bret Hart vs Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) from Raw.

6. Shawn Michaels (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Marty Jannetty from Raw.
​
7. Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) vs XPac (as the 1-2-3 Kid) from Raw.

8. Bret Hart vs Mr Perfect at King Of The Ring 1993.

9. Ted Dibiase vs XPac (as The 1-2-3 Kid) from Raw.

​MAIN EVENT: BRET HART vs BAM BAM BIGELOW at KING OF THE RING 1993.

Season 2, Episode 16: Supershow (1993)

Back to WCW and back to Japan for a bit. Chono vs Muta is great, of course, but this is our only Headcanon glimpse at The Hellraisers, which was Legion of Doom with Animal switched out for Kensuke Sasaki, and the red shoulderpads switched out for green shoulderpads. They were equally as amazing as LoD.

We get a couple of Mick Foley matches here, one where he battles Paul Orndorff, who was a big star in the 80s but whose matches weren’t interesting enough to make Headcanon. Foley brings out a violent side of him here that I wish we had seen when Orndorff was battling Hulk Hogan.

Also, Ricky Steamboat continues to be one of the most entertaining wrestlers of all-time whether he’s in an underwatched classic with future William Regal, or if he’s under a hood, tagging with Tom Zenk to take on Steve Austin and Brian Pillman. 

The Vader/Foley match is NOT the one in Germany where Foley loses his ear but it is a gloriously violent match worthy of being our main event.

1. Mahariso Chono vs The Great Muta from Japan Supershow 1993.

2. The Hellraisers (NJPW Tag Champs) vs The Steiner Brothers from Japan Supershow 1993.

3. Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) vs Paul Orndorff in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at SuperBrawl 3.

4. Vader vs Sting in a Leather Strap Match at SuperBrawl 3.

5. Hollywood Blonds (WCW Tag Team Champs) vs Dos Hombres in a Steel Cage at Slamboree 1993.

6. The Superpowers vs Masters Of The Power Bomb at Beach Blast 1993.

7. Ricky Steamboat (WCW TV Champ) vs William Regal at Fall Brawl 1993.

MAIN EVENT: VADER (WCW CHAMP) vs MICK FOLEY (as CACTUS JACK) in a TEXAS DEATH MATCH at HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1993.

Season 2, Episode 17: Weaseling Out (1993)

This is a weird card. For starters, why would I have a main event where Crush, who only appears one other time, and it’s as the third member of Demolition, battles Tony Roy, who I couldn’t pick out of a police lineup? Well, it’s because during their match, Gorilla Monsoon makes a cameo and physically throws Bobby Heenan out of the WWE. I kind of wanted it to be the final moment of the season but the timing didn’t quite work out.

Much like the Brain Busters earlier, The Steiner Brothers take a brief leave of absence from WCW to absolutely batter the talent in the WWE tag team division. The human highlight reel of 1993, The 1-2-3 Kid, also has a couple more excellent matches here. And while the Yokozuna title defense against The Undertaker can hardly be called good wrestling, it has an insane ending that needs to be seen.

1. Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) vs Ted Dibiase at SummerSlam 1993.

2. The Steiner Brothers vs The Heavenly Bodies at SummerSlam 1993.

3. Bret Hart vs Doink at SummerSlam 1993.

4. Bret Hart vs Jerry Lawler at SummerSlam 1993. 

5. Bam Bam Bigelow & Headshrinkers vs Tatanka & Smoking Guns at SummerSlam 1993.

6. The Bad Guys vs The Worst Guys at Survivor Series 1993.
Marty Jannetty, Randy Savage, Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon), and X-Pac (as 1-2-3 Kid) vs Adam Bomb, IRS, Kevin Nash (as Diesel), and Rick Martel

7. Yokozuna (WWE Champ) vs Undertaker in a Casket Match at Royal Rumble 1994. 

8. Shawn Michaels vs XPac (as The 1-2-3 Kid) from Raw.

​MAIN EVENT: CRUSH vs TONY ROY from RAW.

Season 2, Episode 18: Crossing The Line (1994)

ECW! ECW! Eastern Championship Wrestling comes to a quick and decisive end. It goes from the tiny territory within the NWA umbrella to its own entity, Extreme Championship Wrestling, shortly after the main event in this episode.

Mick Foley’s inclusion in the promotion created a ton of buzz but Shane Douglas’s speech at the end of this episode was an industry changer.

Foley’s match with Funk here is nowhere near on-par with their epic matches in Japan and WWE. In fact, you can barely see any of the action because of the poor camera work. But the closing moments of the match are iconic.

1. Jimmy Snuka vs Kevin Sullivan at When Worlds Collide 1994.

2. Peaches and Tommy Cairo vs Sandman and Woman in a Singapore Cane Match at When Worlds Collide 1994.

3. Sabu vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) at Hostile City Showdown 1994.

4. The Funk Brothers vs Public Enemy in a Barbed Wire Match at Heat Wave 1994.

5. Terry Funk vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) at Hardcore Heaven 1994.

ECW SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: SHANE DOUGLAS vs TOO COLD SCORPIO for THE NWA  CHAMPIONSHIP from ECW HARDCORE TV.​

Season 2, Episode 19: Return Of The Flair (1994)

The Dirtiest Player In The Game returns home to spice things up for the final WCW episode of the season.

It was also tempting to push matches around so that Flair’s return was the beginning of Season 3 but another blonde guy from the WWE will have to take that place instead. It is nice to have our WCW season finale be a nostalgic reminder that Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat are two of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the business, particularly when they’re battling each other.

1. Vader (WCW Champ) vs Ric Flair in Title vs Career Match at Starrcade 1993.

2. Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes), Brian Pillman & Sting vs The Deadly Alliance in a Thundercage Match at SuperBrawl 4.

3. The Nasty Boys (WCW Tag Champs) vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) & Max Payne in a Street Fight at Spring Stampede 1994.

4. Bunkhouse Buck vs Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes) at Spring Stampede 1994.

5. Vader vs Big Boss Man (as The Boss) at Spring Stampede 1994.

WCW SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs RICKY  STEAMBOAT at SPRING STAMPEDE 1994.

Season 2, Episode 20: King Of Harts (1994)

Wrestlemania 10 was pivotal for WWE. No more Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart was truly The Best There Was And The Best There Ever Will Be, especially in his feud with his exceptionally talented younger brother. Plus, The Clique [Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash (as Diesel), Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon), Xpac (as the 1-2-3 Kid), and Triple H (as Hunter Hurst Helmsley)] is at the top of the card for a good time, if not a long time. 

We get our first glimpse of Alundra Blayze vs Bull Nakano here, too. Expect to see them square off many times in many promotions next season.

Our Season Finale Main Event pits the two members of The Clique who will later move to WCW and help propel them to the #1 wrestling company, and then later propel them into bankruptcy, against each other.

1. Owen Hart vs Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 10.

2. Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Shawn Michaels in a Ladder Match at Wrestlemania 10.

3. Yokozuna (WWE Champ) vs Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 10.

4. Alundra Blayze (WWE Womens Champ) vs Lelani Kai at Wrestlemania 10.

5. Owen Hart vs XPac (as The 1-2-3 Kid) at King of the Ring 1994.

4. Bret Hart (WWE Champ) vs Kevin Nash (as Diesel) at King Of The Ring 1994.

5. Owen Hart vs Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) at King of the Ring 1994.

6. Alundra Blayze (WWE Womens Champ) vs Bull Nakano at SummerSlam 1994.

SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: KEVIN NASH (as DIESEL) (WWE  INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMP) vs SCOTT HALL (as RAZOR RAMON) at SUMMERSLAM 1994.

​

The first two seasons of the Headcanon brought us from the rise of Hulkamania to the crowning of Bret Hart as the face of the WWE (then WWF). Season 3 is split into two parts, like a modern TV series with a rough shooting schedule.

Like last season, there’s a sorbet episode, which is going to take us to Japan for two hours of Deathmatch wrestling featuring mainly Japanese wrestlers but Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Mike Awesome will all pop up in the episode to get absolutely destroyed by pyrotechnics and barbed wire.

Once the first half of the season starts in earnest, it’s a Hulkamania resurgence as Terrible Terry Six Moves arrives in WCW and we finally get to see Hogan vs Flair. It’s an all sports-entertainment affair with Terry but the undercard has some spectacular matches with Ricky Steamboat, Steve Austin, Triple H, Randy Savage, Bull Nakano, Alundra Blayze, Eddie Guerrero, and William Regal. And if you’re thinking those are all wrestlers who had better runs in WWE, you’re not wrong (except maybe about Ricky Steamboat).

WWE continues to push The New Generation but has some serious problems with terrible 
booking, bad matches, and a saturation of the product as they begin putting on monthly pay-per-views despite a thin roster. We’re just watching the good stuff, so we’ll be quickly leaping through the mid-90s here despite all the potential content.

Meanwhile, ECW gonna ECW, introducing a ton of talent who are going to make their way through WCW to the WWE.

In fact, while it’s not the final match of the episode, the break between halves of the season occurs as Stunning Steve Austin departs WCW and has an ECW match in the final episode of this season. He will immediately show up in WWE during the next half season, first as The Ringmaster, and then he will very quickly evolve into the Stone Cold Steve Austin who ran rampant at the turn of the millennium.

Sorbet Episode: FMW, Ring Of Torture (1990s)

We’ve seen some truly talented wrestlers from Japan pop up in WCW with amazing moves and incredible power. They’re not in this episode. This excursion to Japan features only barbed wire, explosions, and blood. It’s Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling. If you like Hardcore Wrestling, this is the 90s organization you want to learn more about.

1. Bad Nurse Nakamura, Miwa Sato, and Shark Tsuchiya vs Combat Toyoda (as Mother-In-Law) and Megumi Kudo in a Barbed Wire Death Match at Super Dynamism 1995.

2. Mike Awesome vs Super Leather.

3. Atsushi Onita vs Terry Funk in a No Rope Exploding Barbed Wire Time Bomb Death Match at Genten 4th Anniversary Show 1993.

4. Hayabusa (FMW Champion) vs Masato Tanaka at Neo FMW 1998.

5. WING Kanemura vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) in a Barbed Wire Barricade Spider Net Glass Crash Death Match at Fighting Creation 1996.

6. Atsushi Onita, Katsutoshi Niyama, and Mr. Gannosuke vs Hideki Hosaka, Mr. Pogo and Mike Awesome (as The Gladiator) in an No Ropes Barbed Wire Current Sea Mine Explosion Double Hell Death Match at Atsushi Onita Memorial Retirement Tour - Final Chapter 1994.
​
MAIN EVENT: MEGUMI KIDO vs COMBAT TOYADA in an NO ROPES BARBED WIRE  CURRENT BLAST DEATH MATCH at FIGHTING CREATION 1996. ​

Season 3, Episode 1: Everything Old Is New Again (1994)

Bobby Heenan’s personal disdain for Hulk Hogan gives me thrills in this episode that builds up to the inevitable Hogan/Flair match. Hogan had a ton of matches in the WCW in 1994 and 1995, but we’re going to only include the overbooked madness of the main event in this episode, and his surprise heel turn in the next half season.

The fun part of this episode is watching Steve Austin and the future Triple H have great early matches. Neither of them will be around for long, so enjoy their brief time wrestling WCW stars before the Season 5 InVasion angle.

1. Steve Austin (WCW US Champ) vs Ricky Steamboat at Bash At The Beach 1994.

2. William Regal (WCW TV Champ) vs Marc Mero (as Johnny B Badd) at Fall Brawl 1994.

3. Arn Anderson vs Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes) at Halloween Havoc 1994.

4. Steve Austin (WCW US Champ) vs Ricky Steamboat from Clash Of Champions 28.

5. Vader vs Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes) from Clash Of Champions 29.

6. Alex Wright vs Triple H (as Jean-Paul Levesque) at Starrcade 1994.

7. Johnny B Badd (WCW TV Champ) vs Arn Anderson as Starrcade 1994.

MAIN EVENT: HULK HOGAN (WCW CHAMP) vs RIC FLAIR in a STEEL CAGE  RETIREMENT MATCH at HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1994

Season 3, Episode 2: The Great Undertaking (1994)

I can’t make fun of the overbooking of the Hulk Hogan Main Event from the last episode without counterbalancing it with the incredibly overbooked casket match between Undertaker and Yokozuna. This is a rematch from last season where every villain in the WWE came out to shove Undertaker into a casket. This time, Chuck Norris is put at ringside to keep the villains at bay but a few manage to come through the other side of the arena and we have another wild free-for-all. Not quite as epic as last season’s but still ridiculous.

We also have a rematch between the Hart brothers, making this sort of a Backlash event from Wrestlemania 10. This match also has some outside shenanigans but it’s one of the best blue-cage matches from the 1990s.

1.Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Owen Hart from Raw.

2. Bret Hart (WWE Champ) vs X-Pac (as 1-2-3 Kid) from Raw.

3. Alundra Blayze (WWE Womens Champ) & Heidi Lee Morgan vs vs Bull Nakano & Luna Vachon from Raw.

4. Bret Hart (WWE Champ) vs Owen Hart in a Steel Cage from SummerSlam 1994.

5. The Million Dollar Corporation (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs X-Pac (as the 1-2-3 Kid) and Bob Holly from Royal Rumble 1995.

6. Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Jeff Jarrett at Royal Rumble 1995.

MAIN EVENT: YOKOZUNA (WWE CHAMP) vs UNDERTAKER in a CASKET MATCH at SURVIVOR SERIES 1994.​

Season 3, Episode 3: November To Remember (1994, 1995)

I hope you got your fill of wacky storylines in the last two episodes because this one is just 
violent, bloody ECW. With a few exceptions, everyone from this card ends up with successful careers in WCW, WWE, or both.

1. Dean Malenko vs Taz from ECW Hardcore TV.

2. Shane Douglas (ECW Champ) vs Farooq (as Ron Simmons) at November To Remember 1994.

3. Dean Malenko (ECW TV Champ) vs Taz at November To Remember 1994.

4. Public Enemy (ECW Tag Team Champs) vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) & Mikey Whipwreck at November to Remember 1994.

5. Dean Malenko vs Ray Odyssey at Holiday Hell 1994.

6. Chris Benoit vs Hack Meyers from ECW Hardcore TV.

7. Tommy Dreamer vs Stevie Richards at Heatwave 1994.

8. Chris Benoit vs Al Snow from Double Tables 1994.

9. Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) vs Sandman in a Texas Death Match from ECW Hardcore TV.

MAIN EVENT: PUBLIC ENEMY (ECW TAG CHAMPS) vs TAZ & SABU from DOUBLE  TABLES 1994.

Season 3, Episode 4: No Jacket Required (1994/1995)

The Bret Hart grudge over a stolen jacket is one of my favorite short term rivalries in WWE history. His opponent, PCO, will disappear from our radar for Decades before resurfacing as a powerhouse in other promotions.

The other matches are high quality wrestling, minimal storytelling as WWE was at one of its creative nadirs at this point. Apparently, McMultipleFelon was distracted by all the time he had to spend in court for his various crimes against humanity.

We also see Bret battle Hakushi. We only get to see Hakushi a handful of times in WWE but I’ve created a Headcanon storyline that will get us a couple of glimpses in him in Japan as well.

A couple of these matches are from Raw, which was having a bit of a resurgence in 1995.

1. Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog from Raw.

2. Bret Hart vs Hakushi at In Your House.

3. Road Dogg (as The Roadie) vs X-Pac (as The 1-2-3 Kid) at In Your House 2: Lumberjacks.

4. Kevin Nash (as Diesel) (WWE Champ) vs Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 11.

5. Bret Hart vs PCO (as Jean-Pierre Lafitte) at In Your House 3: Triple Header.

6. Hakushi vs The 1-2-3 Kid at SummerSlam 1995.

MAIN EVENT: JEFF JARRETT (WWE INTERCONTENTAL CHAMP) vs SHAWN MICHAELS at IN YOUR HOUSE 2: LUMBERJACKS.

Season 3, Episode 5: Uncensored (1995)

Much of this era of WCW was centered around making Hogan, Flair, Savage, Jim Duggan, The Nasty Boys, and Brutus Beefcake the Kings of The Assisted Living Facility. We're skipping those matches. Apart from Savage/Flair who continued to have a fantastic feud, the 1980s WWE guys were just lumbering bores with silly storylines. Sting was fun to watch. 

I'm going to try and get as many undercard people in as I can here, though, as they were putting on the better matches before they were inevitably fired and popped up in WWE. 

1. Sting & Randy Savage vs Earthquake & Big Boss Man (as Big Bubba Rogers) at SuperBrawl 5.

2. Nasty Boys vs Harlem Heat in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Uncensored 1995.

3. Arn Anderson (WCW TV Champ) vs Alex Wright at Slamboree 1995.

4. Ric Flair vs Randy Savage at Great American Bash 1995.

5. Alex Wright vs Brian Pillman at Great American Bash 1995.

6. Sting (WCW US Champ) vs Haku (as Meng) at Great American Bash 1995.

​MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR vs RANDY SAVAGE in a LUMBERJACK MATCH at BASH AT 
THE BEACH 1995​

Season 3, Episode 6: In Your House (1995)

1995 was a particularly bad year for the WWE. The roster was thin, there were more pay-per-view events that year than there were good matches. It was a disaster. I’ve really moved a bunch of matches around the timeline to keep the episodes from this era being Bret, Shawn, Bret, Bret, Shawn, Bret, Shawn, Shawn, Bret.

We start off with a match from Japan that might be the best of the matches between Blayze and Nakano. There is no commentary, so it’s a bit weird to watch, but they put on a great show. 

Everything else is pretty basic good wrestling without great storylines. I’ve tried to spice the episode up a bit by putting in some of the commercials from that year, as the WWE’s marketing department was doing better work than the writers of the shows.

1. Alundra Blayze (WWE Womens Champ) vs Bull Nakano at Super Woman Great War 1994.

2. Bret Hart vs Hakushi from Raw.

3. Kevin Nash (as Diesel) (WWE Champ) vs Psycho Sid at In Your House 2: Lumberjacks.

4. Bull Nakano (WWE Womens Champ) vs Alundra Blayze from Raw.

5. The Body Donnas vs The Underdogs at Survivor Series 1995.
Rad Radford, Skip, The 1-2-3 Kid, and Tom Prichard vs Barry Horowitz, Bob Holly, Hakushi, and Marty  Jannetty

6. Kevin Nash (as Diesel) (WWE Champ) vs Bret Hart at Royal Rumble 1995.

MAIN EVENT: SHAWN MICHAELS (WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMP) vs SCOTT HALL (as RAZOR RAMON) in a LADDER MATCH at SUMMERSLAM 1995.

Season 3, Episode 7: Hardcore Heaven (1995)

More violent fun from Paul Heyman's House Of Bouncing Checks!

I remember Luna Vachon as such a fun character in WWE but she wasn’t involved in that many matches so I’m delighted to see her in two matches here. They’re both intergender matches involving Stevie Richards, who will have an awful gimmick in WWE next season.

1. Shane Douglas (ECW Champ) vs Tully Blanchard at Double Tables 1995.

2. Raven vs Tommy Dreamer at Three Way Dance 1995.

3. Terry Funk vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) at Hostile City Showdown 1995.

4. 2 Cold Scorpio (ECW TV Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero at Three Way Dance 1995.

5. Terry Funk vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Scramble Bunkhouse Death Match at New Japan’s Bound To Break 1995. 

6. 2 Cold Scorpio vs Taz from ECW Hardcore TV.

7. Stevie Richard & Raven (ECW Tag Team Champs) vs Tommy Dreamer & Luna Vachon at 
Hardcore Heaven 1995.

8. Stevie Richards vs Luna Vachon in a Steel Cage at Heatwave 1995.

MAIN EVENT: PUBLIC ENEMY vs THE GANGSTAS in a STEEL CAGE MATCH at  HEATWAVE 1995.

Season 3, Episode 8: Seasons Beatings (1995, 1996)

More jumping around the WWE timeline as Alundra Blayze moves into a feud with Bertha Faye that will cause them both to leave the company. We also have two unusual Survivor Series matches.

The big news is the arrival of two new WWE wrestlers, fresh from WCW. Dustin Rhodes returns, now as Goldust, the most unusual 90s superstar, and Vader arrives and just begins destroying everyone and everything in his path. I believe this is the only time WWE has introduced a new Monster Heel character by having them show up and knock the previous Monster Heel character out of action.

1. Alundra Blayze (WWE Womens Champ) vs Bertha Faye at SummerSlam 1995.

2. Triple H (as Hunter Hurst Helmsley) vs Henry Godwin in an Arkansas Hogpen Match at In Your House 5: Season’s Beatings.

3. Bret Hart (WWE Champ) vs British Bulldog at In Your House 5: Season’s Beatings.

4. Wildcard Match at Surivor Series 1995.
Ahmed Johnson, The British Bulldog, Shawn Michaels, Psycho Sid vs Owen Hart, Scott Hall (as Razor  Ramon), Shane Douglas (as Dean Douglas), Yokozuna

5. Vader vs Savio Vega from Raw.

6. Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Goldust at Royal Rumble 1996.

7. The Whipplewomen vs House Of Blayze at Survivor Series 1995.
Bertha Faye, Aja Kong, Tomoko Watanabe, Lioness Asuko vs Alundra Blayze, Kyoko Inoue, Sakie  Hasagawa, Chaparita Asari

8. Shawn Michaels vs Owen Heart at In Your House 6: Rage In A Cage.

MAIN EVENT: VADER vs YOKOZUNA from RAW.​

Season 3, Episode 9: World Cup Japan (1995, 1996)

While the WWE's Kliq Days are numbered, over in WCW (and, simultaneously, ECW), we start to see the rise of The Radicalz, some of the best wrestlers to come out of the 90s WCW. This episode focuses mainly on the future WWE Radicalz taking on Japanese wrestlers. There’s also a Japanese match where Hakushi, a Japanese wrestler who spent time in WWE, battles The Great Muta, a Japanese wrestler who spent time in WCW. It's a cool metaphor match where Hakushi is a monk who traveled to America and has returned to Japan to destroy the demon, Muta, who is bent on destroying Japanese wrestling.

I went back and forth on including the Flair/Savage match. We’ve already had several, and this one isn’t The Best. It’s good but has a ton of shenanigans. In the end, I decided to include it because this is a drout time for WCW but also because it gets referenced in the next half season when WWE goes after WCW for having their aging stars. It wasn’t good enough to be the Main Event, though.

1. Bull Nakano & Akira Hokuto vs Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki at World War 3 1995.

2. Jushin Thunder Liger vs Chris Benoit at Starrcade 1995.

3. Koji Kanemoto (IWGP JR Heavyweight Champ) vs Alex Wright at Starrcade 1995.

4. Shinjiri Otani vs Eddie Guerrero at Starrcade 1995. 

5. Nasty Boys vs Public Enemy in a Hardcore Match at SuperBrawl 6.

6. Marc Mero (as Johnny B Bad) (WCW TV Champ) vs DDP at World War 3 1995.

7. Konnan (WCW US Champ) vs One Man Gang from WCW Worldwide.

8. Randy Savage (WCW Champ) vs Ric Flair in a Steel Cage Match at SuperBrawl 6.

MAIN EVENT: THE GREAT MUTA vs HAKUSHI (as JINSEI SHINZAKI) at BATTLE  FORMATION AT THE TOKYO DOME.

Season 3, Episode 10: Transitional Era (1995)

What a great time to be an ECW fan. A ton of the most talented, hungriest, WCW wrestlers were getting passed over in order to continue shining the spotlight on Hogan, Savage, Flair, Sting, and the rest of the aging 80s superstars. But the WWE wasn't yet convinced that they were future superstars, so Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Mick Foley, Dean Malenko, and Steve Austin all mix it up with ECW's homegrown talent like Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, and Mikey Whipwreck (I think Raven belongs to Everywhere since he has bounced back and forth between every major promotion in the late 20th/early 21st century.) Some of ECW's best-ever matches take place here, and we end on one of their few-ever 5 Star matches, which really belonged on the last show, but I like it as the closing match here.

The audio on this card is unbalanced which is what happens when you record events at high school gyms and pool halls. I did not attempt to fix it.

For me, the highlight of this episode is seeing Steve Austin drop in for a beer between his Stunning WCW run and his Stone Cold rise to power in WWE.

1. Psicosis (Mexican Welterweight Champ) (Mexican Trios Champ) vs Rey Mysterio at November to Remember 1995.

2. Mikey Whipwreck (ECW Champ) vs Steve Austin at November To Remember 1995.

3. Sabu vs Hack Meyers at November To Remember 1995.

4. Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk vs Raven and Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) at November To Remember 1995.

5. Rey Mysterio vs Psicosis in a Mexican Death Match at November To Remember 1995.

6. RvD vs Axl Rotten at House Party 1996.

SEMI-SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: EDDIE GUERRERO (ECW TV CHAMP) vs DEAN MALENKO at HOSTILE CITY SHOWDOWN 1995

Intermission Between Semi Seasons:

The doorway to The Attitude Era and The Monday Night Wars is now wide open. Steve Austin is in the WWE, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash are on their way out of the WWE. While still not acknowledged as anything other than an announcer, things start to get weird as Vince McMonster starts to get more and more involved in storylines.

One of the highlights of this season is Bret Hart, who has been a wrestling highlight since Season One but has only really had one interesting storyline: My Brother Is Mean To Me. Over the course of this semi-season, he evolves into a completely justified villain who will do whatever it takes to win a title…since that’s what everyone else is doing. The Hart Foundation Story is our coda to this season, and they’ll be the top villainous stable in the WWE portion of Season Four.

In WCW, this season sees the arrival of Nash and Hall, which can only mean one thing: New World Order. We begin this semi-season with “You know who I am but you don’t know why I’m here.” We end with the NWO spray-painting the WCW Heavyweight belt. NWO is going to lift WCW to new heights before crashing it down into oblivion. A lot of the dreck near the end is no fun to watch, so we’ll be skipping it, but the setup and the first few months of NWO are wrestlecrap gold.

​The other fun part of this season is the evolution of Mick Foley. Foley was a fun little side attraction from WCW in Seasons 1 and 2. Then he made his way, as Cactus Jack, into ECW and put on some amazing hardcore matches. In this semi-season he pops up in WWE as Mankind, has a series of fun, broody matches with The Undertaker before putting on an absolute classic with Shawn Michaels. All the while, he’s still putting in the occasional performance as Cactus Jack in ECW. 1996 was wild. 

Season 3, Episode 11: Tony Stark's Favorite Episode (1996)

One of the most divisive Wrestlemania main events in the history of pay-per-view is the Iron Man match (where two competitors have sixty minutes to get the most pinfalls or submissions) between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Was it filled with impactful moves and intriguing storytelling? Yes. Was the result correct? Absolutely. Was it excruciating to sit through an hour long match with zero pinfalls or submissions? Kind of. Would the match have been more universally loved if it was half as long and had at least a couple of finishes? Definitely. But it’s still one of the best Iron Man Matches of all time, and an important part of wrestling history.

The Backlot Brawl is not one of the best matches ever at Wrestlemania but it’s the first cinematic match in the Headcanon. I had previously included the King Of The Road Match from WCW but it’s not really fun to watch, so I ended up cutting it. This match, somewhat based on the OJ Simpson Bronco chase from about a year earlier, isn’t great. It’s a bit problematic near the end. But it was definitely entertaining, especially as it wound its way around other matches at Wrestlemania.

And say hello to The Ringmaster, fresh from the ECW at the end of last season. By the time we get to his first match, they’ve already rechristened him as Stone Cold Steve Austin. Gimme a Hell Yeah.

1. Bret Hart (WWE Champ) vs Kevin Nash (as Diesel) at In Your House 6: Rage In The Cage.

2. Roddy Piper vs Goldust in a Backlot Brawl at Wrestlemania 12.

3. Steve Austin vs Savio Vega at Wrestlemania 12

4. Undertaker vs Kevin Nash (as Diesel) at Wrestlemania 12.

MAIN EVENT: BRET HART (WWE CHAMP) vs SHAWN MICHAELS in an IRON MAN MATCH at WRESTLEMANIA 12.

Season 3, Episode 12: The Outsider (1996)

We’re officially in the Nitro Era of Raw, barreling towards the introduction of the NWO. We open up with Alundra Blayze making a historic statement by putting the WWE Womens belt in the trash because WWE barely used her and had zero women except for her, Bull Nakano, and Bertha Faye. WCW then benched her and barely used her because they had zero women except for Alundra Blayze and….checks notes…Bull Nakano. Not even a Bertha Faye in sight. We also meet Mongo (RIP)’s dog, Pepe, one of the lesser- known members of the WCW announce team.

Konnan’s run as WCW’s US Champ was easily the best part of his career. We see him in a couple of matches with other future legends in this episode. Also, William Regal and Fit Finlay have the sort of match you’d expect to see out of Gunther and Drew McIntyre in modern times. They were a very underrated part of this era of WCW.

The big news? Scott Hall (the former WWE star known as Razor Ramon) interrupts a match and begins his war against WCW. This is one of the most important storylines in wrestling history.

1. Ric Flair vs Eddie Guerrero from Nitro.

2. Randy Savage (WCW Champ) vs The Big Show (as The Giant) from Nitro.

3. Konnan (WCW US Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero at Uncensored 1996.

4. The Mauler vs Steve Dalton from Nitro.

5. William Regal (as Lord Steven Regal) vs Fit Finlay (as The Belfast Bruiser) at Uncensored 1996.

6. Ric Flair and Randy Savage vs Arn Anderson and Eddie Guerrero at Slamboree 1996.

7. Legion Of Doom vs Sting and Booker T at Uncensored 1996.

8. Konnan (WCW US Champ) vs Jushin Thunder Liger at Slamboree 1996.

MAIN EVENT: THE BIG SHOW (as THE GIANT) (WCW CHAMP) vs STING at  SLAMBOREE 1996.

Season 3, Episode 13:  Just Another Night (1996)

Prime ECW in 1996 presents a ton of future Hall Of Famers from WCW and WWE. Chris Jericho puts on a banger against Mick Foley but also gets completely annihilated by his future AEW announce partner, Taz. Thirty years later, Jericho will be feuding with Taz’s son.

Rey Mysterio and Juventud Guerrera put on a clinic.

Sabu and Rob Van Dam have a couple of great gimmick matches.

We close out with Mick Foley's final ECW match against his former tag team partner, Mikey Whipwreck.

1. Chris Jericho vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) at Big Ass Extreme Bash Night 1 1996.

2. Rey Mysterio (WWA Welterweight Champ) vs Juventud Guerrera at Big Apple Blizzard Blast.

3. Sabu vs Rob Van Dam in a Stretcher Match at The Doctor Is In.

4. Too Cold Scorpio (ECW TV Champ) vs Sabu at Cyberslam 1996.

5. Taz vs Joel Hartgood at Cyberslam 1996.

MAIN EVENT: MICK FOLEY (as CACTUS JACK) vs MIKEY WHIPWRECK at BIG ASS  EXTREME BASH NIGHT 2 1996.

Season 3, Episode 14: Good Friends, Better Enemies (1996)

While he’s still going to pop up in ECW, Mick Foley arrives in the WWE as “the deranged 
Mankind” and immediately begins a feud with The Undertaker .

This is also the last time we’ll see the real Diesel and Razor Ramon in WWE for a very long time.

​1. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs Bob Holly (as Sparky Plugg) from Raw.

2. Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) vs Vader at In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies.

3. The Undertaker vs JBL (as John Hawk Bradshaw) from Raw.

4. Shawn Michaels (WWE Champ) vs Diesel in a No Holds Barred Match at In Your House7: Good Friends, Better Enemies. 

5. The Undertaker vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) at King Of The Ring 1996.

6. Shawn Michaels (WWE Champ) vs The British Bulldog at King Of The Ring 1996.

MAIN EVENT: CAMP CORNETTE vs SHAWN MICHAELS (WWE CHAMP), PSYCHO  SID, and AHMED JOHNSON at IN YOUR HOUSE 9: INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT.​

Season 3, Episode 15: Where The Big Boys Play (1996)

The title of this episode is somewhat ironic. It was the WCW tagline of the time, and the announcers said it ad nauseum. Kevin Nash and Scott Hall use the phrase mockingly whenever they cross paths with Eric Bischoff. Also, this is the episode where we really delve into the WCW Cruiserweight Division, which is going to be the highlight of WCW wrestling pretty much from here until WCW gets bought out by the WWE.

We have three Dean Malenko matches, and three Rey Mysterio matches on this card, and they’re all great. Malenko even pulls a great match out of Disco Inferno.

Chris Benoit and Kevin Sullivan had a lot of real life drama at this point in their careers as Benoit ends up marrying Sullivan’s girlfriend, who Sullivan had written a storyline about how she left him for Chris Benoit which caused her to leave him for Chris Benoit. It didn’t end well for any of them.

Our main event is the most important match in WCW history, and one of the most important matches in wrestling, period. Is it because of the wrestling? No. The wrestling is ok. But the story changes the industry forever.

1. Sting (WCW US Champ) vs William Regal (as Lord Steven Regal) at Great American Bash 1996.

2. Dean Malenko (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio at Great American Bash 1996.

3. Chris Benoit vs Kevin Sullivan in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Great American Bash 1996.

4. Rey Mysterio vs Psicosis at Bash At The Beach 1996.

 5. Dean Malenko (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Disco Inferno at Bash At The Beach 1996.

6. Dean Malenko (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro.

MAIN EVENT: THE OUTSIDERS & THE THIRD MAN vs RANDY SAVAGE, LEX LUGER,  STING at BASH AT THE BEACH 1996.

Season 3, Episode 16: 316 (1996)

Austin 3:16 becomes a catchphrase and a best selling t-shirt in this episode, and that’s the bottom line because history says so. This is the show that made Stone Cold a legend. Not even for the matches, which were okay, but for the promo he cut after winning the King Of The Ring title. 

This is the event that most people mark as the beginning of WWE’s Attitude Era.

1. Steve Austin vs Marc Mero at King Of The Ring 1996.

2. Vader vs Jake Roberts at King Of The Ring 1996.

3. Shawn Michaels (WWE Champ) vs Marty Jannetty from Raw.

4. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs The Undertaker in a Boiler Room Brawl at SummerSlam 1996.

5. Steve Austin vs Jake Roberts at King Of The Ring 1996.

MAIN EVENT: SHAWN MICHAELS (WWE CHAMP) vs VADER at SUMMERSLAM 1996.​

Season 3. Episode 17: Buried Alive (1996)

Buried Alive matches are pretty much the goofiest stipulation in modern wrestling. Here we have the first one ever. It’s all downhill from here. I don’t believe I’ve included another one in the entire chronology. It makes sense that if you’re going to include one, it’s going to be from the pages of The Undertaker vs Mankind feud.

We also see how WWE regimmicks ECW wrestlers, as Al Snow and 2 Cold Scorpio do battle as Leif Cassidy and Flash Funk. Luckily, they still wrestle well, even under the dumb gimmicks.

1. Steve Austin vs Triple H (as Hunter Hurst Helmsley) at In Your House 11: Buried Alive.

2. Shawn Michaels (WWE Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) at In Your House 10: Mind Games.

3. Al Snow (as Leif Cassidy) vs 2 Cold Scorpio (as Flash Funk) at In Your House 12: It’s Time.

4. Goldust (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Marc Mero at SummerSlam 1996.

5. Survivor Series Match at Survivor Series 1996.
Doug Furnas, Philip Lafon, The Godwinns vs Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Marty Jannetty, and Al Snow

6. Bret Hart vs Steve Austin at Survivor Series 1996.

MAIN EVENT: UNDERTAKER vs MICK FOLEY (as MANKIND) at IN YOUR HOUSE 11:  BURIED ALIVE.​

Season 3, Episode 18: The Royal Screwjob (1996, 1997)

The Original Screwjob took place back in Season 1 when Vince McMahon and The Fabulous Moolah colluded to steal the belt from Wendi Richter, who then left the industry. Next season is the most famous Screwjob, The Montreal Screwjob, where Vince and multiple accomplices steal another belt from an outgoing champion. This season’s Screwjob, The Royal Screwjob, is not perpetrated by Vince (apart from probably co-writing it) but by Steve Austin whose actions in The Royal Rumble screw Bret Hart out of a chance at the title at Wrestlemania. This pushes Bret to leave behind his babyface persona and lead his family in a battle between Canadian wrestlers and American wrestlers. It’s some of his best character work of all-time.

The episode starts with a Headcanon decision I made. At the end of last season we saw The Great Muta “kill” Hakushi in Japan. In the last episode, we saw The Undertaker get buried alive by Mankind. This match imagines The Undertaker and Hakushi meet up in the afterlife and battle for the chance to return to the mortal plane. It’s an oddly paced Japanese match where Hakushi wears the outfit splattered with his blood from the Great Muta match and The Undertaker wears…well…what he always wore in the 90s.

1. The Undertaker vs Hakushi at Michinoku Pro Dioxine From Sasuke.

2. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs Steve Austin from Raw.

3. Bret Hart vs Owen Hart from Raw.

4. Undertaker vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) at Survivor Series 1996.

5. Steve Austin vs Vader from Raw.

6. Royal Rumble at Royal Rumble 1997

Crush, Ahmed Johnson, Fake Razor Ramon, Phineas I. Godwinn, Steve Austin, Bart Gunn, Jake Roberts, The British Bulldog, Pierroth Jr, Rikishi (as The Sultan), Mil Máscaras, Triple H, Owen Hart, Goldust, Cibernético, Marc Mero, Latin Lover, Faarooq, Savio Vega, Road Dogg, Bret Hart, Jerry Lawler, Kane (as Fake Diesel), Terry Funk, The Rock, Mankind, 2 Cold Scorpio (as Flash Funk), Vader, Henry O. Godwinn, The Undertaker​​

Season 3 Episode 19: Shawn Michaels Loses His Smile (1997)

As The Attitude Era looms, storytelling becomes much more important, which means more promos. There are two and a half epic ones in this episode alone. Bret Hart effectively turns heel, Shawn Michaels surrenders the WWE Championship, and then Bret Hart speaks on Canadian family values. It’s a lot of talking but it’s good talking.

Much of this episode is taken up by determining a new WWE Champion going in to Wrestlemania, and of The British Bulldog and Owen Hart having their Rockers split. It was great TV and helped propel everyone on this episode (except for Furnas and LaFon) into superstars.

Plus, the debut of Chyna!

1. Owen Hart & The British Bulldog vs Doug Furnas & Philip LaFon at In Your House 13: Final Four.

2. Steve Austin vs The Undertaker from Raw.

3. Owen Hart vs The British Bulldog for The European Championship from Raw.

4. Steve Austin vs Bret Hart vs Vader vs The Undertaker for The WWE Championship at In Your House 13: Final Four.

5. Goldust (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Triple H (as Hunter Hurst Helmsley) from Raw.

WWE SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: OWEN HART (WWE INTERCONTINENTAL  CHAMP) vs THE BRITISH BULLDOG (WWE EUROPEAN CHAMP) from RAW.

Season 3, Episode 20: Hog Wild (1996)

The rise of the NWO gets running here. First, they interfere in a completely unrelated match and by the end of the episode they have their own corrupt referee, and the WCW Heavyweight title which is rebranded the NWO Heavyweight title.

For storytelling purposes, since we’ve seen a series of their matches, I’ve included the Alundra Blayze (rebranded as Madusa) vs Bull Nakano match but it is a pale imitation of their WWE and Japanese work.

The rest of the matches are bangers from one of WCW’s all-time best pay-per-views.

1. Lex Luger (WCW US Champ) vs Big Boss Man (as Big Bubba Rogers) from Nitro

2. Alundra Blayze (as Madusa) vs Bull Nakano at Hog Wild 1996.

3. Ric Flair, Mongo, and Chris Benoit vs Randy Savage, Lex Luger, and Sting from Nitro.

4. Chris Benoit vs Dean Malenko at Hog Wild 1996.

5. Ric Flair (WCW US Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero at Hog Wild 1996.

6. The Outsiders vs Lex Luger & Sting at Hog Wild 1996.

SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: THE BIG SHOW (as THE GIANT) (WCW CHAMP) vs HULK HOGAN  at HOG WILD 1996.

The Attitude/NWO era of wrestling really revs up this season. Swerving storylines, corrupt referees, announce teams barely paying attention to the matches that they’re calling, employees taking revenge on their bosses a bit too far…. If I were including the headlining matches of this era, everything would be Steve Austin, Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and the NWO. I’m not doing that to you, though.

While there are some matches that involve the NWO, I’m skipping almost all of their Main Event matches. They were a slog to watch. Bad stories, lazy wrestling, unsatisfying conclusions. It’s a pity. I didn’t even include their one great angle: Sting in the rafters, watching down over WCW and NWO, only to swoop down and try to play hero for the WCW. I left it out of the chronology because his matches with Hulk Hogan from this era are excruciatingly bad from beginning to end. So you will see him occasionally in the rafters, and in a small handful of matches but not the BIG MATCHES that were supposed to be Events but ended up being patchy, broken wind.

There is a LOT of Steve Austin and Vince McMahon. Not all of it. Probably not even half of their material. But enough to really give you a feel for what it was like watching their feud over several years.

There will also be a ton of Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Kane, and The Hart Foundation. We’ll even see Bret Hart, poster boy for WWE get screwed out of his title, and show up in WCW in the next episode. The WCW episodes we see will be filled with Cruiserweight matches and the rise of Goldberg. Goldberg’s Streak was the one constantly good thing in this era of WCW, aside from Chris Jericho’s amazing promos. We also have our last ECW episode in this season. Don’t worry, though, Paul Heyman and his crew will continue to pop up in other seasons until the end of time.

Pilot Episode: AJW Super Women
​
I’m very sorry about the representation of women in this entire season. WCW eventually got around to building a three women division around Alundra Blayze, similar to that in the WWE. They gave her the title, then she lost the title, then she retired, then they closed the division. All in about five televised matches.

Meanwhile, at the WWE, there were zero actual womens matches. Sure, there were women, some who stepped in the ring but they used Chyna, and Terri Runnels (aka Marlena) purely as valets in this season, and Sunny and Sable were there only to take their clothes off and behave as though men were the most important things in the world to them.

As an attempt to balance the scales a little bit, we’re going to have our sorbet episode be only wrestling matches featuring women. Not tee-hee, aren’t we so sexy, wet t-shirt, pudding match women, nor the well-intentioned but not athletically impressive GLOW-style wrestling. This is Japanese women who could put on matches with the likes of Brock Lesnar and Goldberg and you’d think, realistically, there was at least a chance they could win.

We’ve seen some of them in WWE during our Seasons 2 and 3 but they’re unleashed in Japan, putting on killer matches that don’t even need commentary to be impressive watches.

1. Akira Hokuto & Suzuka Minami (WWWA Tag Team Champs) vs Kyoko Inoue & Manami Toyota in a 2/3 Falls Match.

2. Bull Nakano (WWWA World Champ) vs Aja Kong in a Steel Cage.

3. Manami Toyota (IWA World Champ) vs Toshiyo Yamada in a Hair Vs Hair Match.

4. Aja Kong & Bull Nakano vs Akira Hokuto & Shinobi Kandori.

MAIN EVENT: DEFINITELY NOT A SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH.
Devil Masami, Dynamite Kansai, Mayumi Ozaki & Plum Mariko vs Las Cachorras Orientales (Akira Hokuto, Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda) & Suzuka Minami

Season 4, Episode 1: New World Order (1996)

Last season ended with Hulk Hogan and The Outsiders obliterating WCW talent and declaring themselves The Future Of Wrestling, despite being centered on someone more associated with Wrestling’s Past.

While they did eventually collapse in on themselves like a house of out-of-shape, antique cards with substance abuse problems, they did have a strong run in the beginning. Not Hogan but the rest of the crew.

What really buoyed them was the WCW cruiserweight division which was chock full of future WWE Hall of Famers who hit their peak but were still relegated to the undercard while Hogan, Piper, and some of their lazier friends lightly pawed at each other in the poorly choreographed main events.

In this episode, we see some of the more athletically inclined NWO members battle a rejuvenating Four Horsemen but mostly we see some killer cruiserweight matches.

1. The Four Horsemen vs The Dungeon Of Doom from Nitro.

2. Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit at Fall Brawl 1996.

3. Rey Mysterio (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Super Calo from Nitro.

4. WCW vs NWO in a War Games Match at Fall Brawl 1996.
Buff Bagwell, Kevin Nash, Konnan, XPac (as Syxx) vs Chris Benoit, Mr Perfect (as Curt Hennig), Ric Flair, Mongo McMichael

5. Chris Jericho vs XPac (as Syxx) at Halloween Havoc 1996.

THE MAIN EVENT: REY MYSTERIO (WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP) vs DEAN MALENKO at HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1996.

Season 4, Episode 2: Cruiserweight Rules (1996)

Sticking with the Cruiserweight Division of WCW, we get a dozen amazing matches, usually featuring luchadores or Japanese wrestlers. Plus, our first silly gimmick match of the season as Chris Jericho gets screwed by a crooked NWO referee, so challenges him to a match where he battles the ref with one hand behind his back. It’s very silly but well done.

Ultimo Dragon, Juventud Guerrera, La Parka, Hector Guerrero, Ciclope, and Akira Hokuto debut for us in this episode. We’ll be seeing them all again, multiple times. Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and Eddie Guerrero mostly put on killer ECW matches last season, they are going to absolutely dominate WCW in this one.

1. The Four Horsemen vs The Faces Of Fear at Halloween Havoc 1996.

2. Ultimo Dragon (NJPW J-Crown Champ) vs Rey Mysterio at World War 3 1996.

3. Dean Malenko vs Chris Jericho from Nitro.

4. Chris Benoit vs Scott Steiner from Nitro.

5. Nick Patrick vs Chris Jericho with one hand tied behind his back at World War 3 1996.

6. Brad Armstrong vs Buff Bagwell from Nitro.

7. Chris Benoit vs Hector Guerrero from Nitro.

8. Rey Mysterio vs Ciclope from Nitro.

9. Juventud Guerrera vs La Parka from Nitro.

10. Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero from Nitro.

11. William Regal (as Steven Regal)(WCW TV Champ) vs Psicosis from Nitro.

12. Aludra Blayze (as Madusa) vs Akira Hokuto for the WCW Womens Championship at Starrcade 1996.
​
MAIN EVENT: ULTIMO DRAGON (NJPW J-CROWN CHAMP) vs DEAN MALENKO (WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP) at STARRCADE 1996

Season 4, Episode ​3: Cold Day In Hell (1997)

Our first WWE episode of the season begins with…ECW? Yea, Paul Heyman’s Little Indie That Could invades Raw to show the mainstream some of the characters they’ve been missing by not watching the poorly-lit high school gymnasium and poolhall VHS tapes from ECW. It’s great to see what these matches look like with better production. I also enjoy that it’s ECW star vs ECW star. There are no angles with WWE yet, unless you count heel-commentator Jerry Lawler.

Around those ECW bouts are some of WWE’s best matches from 1997, including the first match ever voted into WWE’s Hall Of Fame Matches: Steve Austin and Bret Hart’s double turn classic from Wrestlemania 13 featuring our first look at Ken Shamrock, who serves as special guest referee.

1. Stevie Richards vs Little Guido from Raw.

2. Taz vs Mikey Whipwreck from Raw.

3. Steve Austin vs Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 13.

4. Ahmed Johnson and The Legion of Doom vs The Nation of Domination at Wrestlemania 13.

5. D-Von Dudley vs Tommy Dreamer from Raw.

6. Undertaker vs Mankind at In Your House 14: Revenge of Taker.

7. Vader vs Ken Shamrock at In Your House 15: A Cold Day In Hell.

MAIN EVENT: BRET HART vs STEVE AUSTIN at IN YOUR HOUSE 15: A COLD DAY IN HELL.

Season 4, Episode ​4: Radical Ascendance (1996, 1997)

More cruiserweight action! More luchadores! 

We also have some main eventers having matches here as DDP starts to climb the ladder of WCW success, The Outsiders have at least one actually good tag team match,and XPac (as Syxx) shows he hasn’t lost a step since he was the high flying 1-2-3 Kid last season.

Whenever I use the word “Radical” in an episode title, I’m not referring to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but to a group of prominent WCW cruiserweights who eventually grew tired of their lack of opportunities and left for WWE: Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn.

1. Rey Mysterio vs Jushin Thunder Liger at Starrcade 1996.

2. Chris Benoit vs Jeff Jarrett at Starrcade 1996.

3. Eddie Guerrero vs Alex Wright from Nitro.

4. DDP vs Mark Starr from Nitro.

5. Dean Malenko vs Eddie Guerrero from Nitro.

6. The Outsiders (WCW Tag Champs) vs The Steiner Brothers at Souled Out 1997.

7. XPac (as Syxx)(WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero in a Ladder Match at Souled Out 1997.

8. Konnan, La Parka, and Villano IV vs Cicople, Super Calo, and Juventud Guerrera at SuperBrawl 7.

9. Prince Iaukea (WCW TV Champ) vs Rey Mysterio at SuperBrawl 7.

MAIN EVENT: THE OUTSIDERS (WCW TAG CHAMPS) vs THE BIG SHOW (as THE  GIANT) and LEX LUGER at SUPERBRAWL 7.

Season 4, Episode ​5: Have A Nice Shotgun Saturday Night! (1997)

Shotgun Saturday Night was a late night wrestling show that Vince McMahon thought was the next logical evolution of WWE. It was definitely modeled after ECW, and filmed in poorly lit night clubs and mall basements around New York, instead of stadiums and arenas. It lasted eight weeks before it devolved into a show filled with recaps of Raw with a few unaired matches filmed before or after Raw events. 

The back half of this episode features excellent matches that went on to become major storylines that produced even better matches. One of these matches even has one of the guys from The Nation of Domination (who we saw earlier this season) spread his wings in the singles scene. Meet, The Rock.

1. Goldust vs Rikishi (as The Sultan) from Shotgun Saturday Night.

2. Bret Hart vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) from Shotgun Saturday Night.

3. Triple H (as Hunter Hearst Helmsley) vs The Undertaker from Shotgun Saturday Night.

4. Steve Austin vs Goldust from Shotgun Saturday Night.

5. Triple H (as Hunter Hearst Helmsley)(WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs The Rock (as Rocky Mahavia) from Raw.

6. Triple H (as Hunter Hearst Helmsley) vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) at King of The Ring 1997.

MAIN EVENT: OWEN HART and THE BRITISH BULLDOG (WWE Tag Champs) vs  STEVE AUSTIN and SHAWN MICHAELS (WWE CHAMP) from RAW.

Season 4, Episode ​6: Nitro (1997)

Rey Mysterio is the MVP of WCW’s 1997. He has another set of spectacular matches here, as many of the former Cruiserweights level up to the US title scene.

There really aren’t any storylines in this episode. We’ll see several Randy Savage vs DDP  matches but the story is really just “They don’t like each other” with a bunch of dumb misogynist things floating around it, so we skip the promos and story and just watch them batter each other, which they were both excellent at.

1. Rey Mysterio vs Super Calo from Nitro.

2. Chris Jericho & Eddie Guerrero vs Faces of Fear from Nitro.

3. Rey Mysterio vs Juventud Guerrerra from Nitro.

4. Dean Malenko vs Ultimo Dragon from Nitro.

5. Alundra Blayze (as Madusa) vs Malia Hosaka from Nitro.

6. Rey Mysterio vs Ultimo Dragon at Spring Stampede 1997.

7. Akira Hokuto (WCW Womens Champ) vs Alundra Blayze (as Madusa) at Uncensored 1997.

8. Eddie Guerrero (WCW US Champ) vs Dean Malenko at Uncensored 1997.

9. XPac (as Syxx)(WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro. 

10. Dean Malenko (WCW US Champ) vs Yuji Nagato from Nitro.

​MAIN EVENT: RANDY SAVAGE vs DDP at SPRING STAMPEDE 1997.

Season 4, Episode ​7: Ultimate Jeopardy, Pigfuckers (1996 - 1999)

Alas, we have reached the end of our time with ECW. I am probably missing out on some 
underrated matches and storylines that resonated with ECW fans but by the end, ECW had stopped producing new stars, and the stars they had created either fled to WCW or WWE so they could actually get paid for their work or they stagnated in the company. 

This episode begins with the announcement that ECW is being taken off weekly television soon because the channel they were on, TNT, got the rights to WWE Raw. Paul Heyman doesn’t take it very well, hence the name of this episode.

1. Sandman (ECW Champ) vs Konnan at ECW House Party 1996.

2.They Dudleys (ECW Tag Champs) vs The Eliminators at Barely Legal 1997.

3. RvD vs Lance Storm at Barely Legal 1997.

4. Super Crazy vs Tajiri at Guilty As Charged 1999.

5. RvD vs Tommy Dreamer at November to Remember 1997.

6. Sabu vs Sandman in a Tables & Ladders Match at November to Remember 1997.

7. Taz (FTW Champ) vs Bam Bam Bigelow at Heat Wave 1998.

MAIN EVENT: SANDMAN vs SABU in a STAIRWAY TO HELL MATCH at HOUSE  PARTY 1998.

Season 4, Episode ​8: Blayze of Glory (1997)

This is the swan song for the hardest working woman in 90s wrestling, Alundra Blayze. She might pop up again for a nostalgia moment or two but in 1997, she retired from being overlooked by her wrestling bosses and ended up becoming a professional monster truck driver.

We get two NWO/WCW matches: one a typical multi-man affair, the other a tag team match that includes NWO Japan, which means The Great Muta is back! Other than that, it’s luchadores, Randy Savage, and DDP using only the slightest narrative framework as an excuse to put on some excellent grapplefests.

1. Alundra Blayze (as Madusa) vs Luna Vachon at Slamboree 1997.

2. The NWO vs Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, and Kevin Greene at Slamboree 1997.

3. Randy Savage vs DDP at Great American Bash 1997.

4. Super Calo, Juventud Guerrerra, and Hector Garza vs La Parka, Ciclope, and Damien 666 from Nitro.

5. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Ultimo Dragon at Bash At The Beach 1997.

6. Randy Savage vs DDP (as La Parka) from Nitro.

7. NWO Japan vs The Steiner Brothers at Bash At The Beach 1997.

8. Juventud Guerrera, Hector Garza, and Lizmark Jr vs La Parka, Psicosis, and Villano IV at Bash At The Beach 1997.

9. Ric Flair vs Roddy Piper at Bash At The Beach 1997.

​MAIN EVENT: AKIRA HOKUTO (WCW WOMENS CHAMP) vs ALUNDRA BLAYZE (as MADUSA) at BASH AT THE BEACH 1997.

Season 4, Episode ​9: Canadian Stampede (1997)

Apart from the opening match, this entire card is from one pay-per-view. Probably the best wrestling pay-per-view of all time: Canadian Stampede.

The five-on-five main event is definitely the highlight but there’s also the resurrection of the Light Heavyweight Division to compete with WCW’s cruiserweights. Was it successful? Hell, no. But it did bring us some great matches, most of them featuring Taka Michonoku.

1. Shawn Michaels (WWE Champ) vs Steve Austin at King Of The Ring 1997.

2. Triple H (as Hunter Hearst Helmsley) vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) at Canadian Stampede.

3. Taka Michonoku vs Great Sasuke at Canadian Stampede.

4. Undertaker vs Vader at Canadian Stampede.

MAIN EVENT: STEVE AUSTIN, LEGION OF DOOM, GOLDUST, and KEN SHAMROCK vs  THE HART FOUNDATION at CANADIAN STAMPEDE.

Season 4, Episode ​10: Souled Out (1997)

We’re halfway through the season, and apart from Savage and DDP, we’ve been avoiding most of the “main eventers” of WCW. In this episode, we meet the future headliner of the company as Goldberg arrives to begin his undefeated streak, which will take us into next season. While his matches ended up being very formulaic, he tries out some interesting techniques before he figured out his Two Moves Of Doom.

The War Games Match between WCW and NWO is very “of the Attitude Era” but it uses some entertaining wrestling before arriving at the chaos.

This is likely to be the last time Scott Hall will be in the main event. I think from this point 
forward, he’s mostly just cannon fodder.

1. Goldberg vs Hugh Morris from Nitro.

2. Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro.

3. Harlem Heat vs The Steiner Brothers at Fall Brawl 1997.

4. Alex Wright (WCW TV Champ) vs Ultimo Dragon

5. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero at Fall Brawl 1997.

6. Adam Bomb (as Wrath) and Chris Kanyon (as Mortis) vs Faces of Fear at Fall Brawl 1997.

7. Team WCW vs Team NWO in a War Games Match at Fall Brawl.
Chris Benoit, Mongo McMichael, Mr Perfect, and Ric Flair vs Buff Bagwell, Kevin Nash, Konnan, and Syxx

8. Booker T vs Lex Luger from Nitro. 

9. Eddie Guerrero (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio in a Title Vs Mask Match at Halloween Havoc 1997.
​
MAIN EVENT: SCOTT HALL vs SCOTT STEINER from NITRO.

vSeason 4, Episode ​11: Raw Is War (1997)
​
More Canadian domination, as well as Mick Foley being utilised outside of Spooky Matches vs The Undertaker.

1. Owen Hart (WWE Intercontinental Champ) and the British Bulldog (WWE European Champ) (WWE Tag Champs) vs Steve Austin and Mick Foley (as Dude Love) from Raw.

2. The Undertaker (WWE Champ) vs Bret Hart at SummerSlam 1997.

3. Triple H (as Hunter Hearst Helmsley) vs Mick Foley (as Dude Love as Mankind) in a Steel Cage Match at SummerSlam 1997.

4. Owen Hart (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Steve Austin at SummerSlam 1997.

5. Shawn Michaels vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) from Raw.

6. Taka Michonoku vs Jerry Lynn from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: BRET HART (WWE CHAMP) vs THE UNDERTAKER from RAW.

Season 4, Episode 12: Perfect Flair (1997)

Flair vs Perfect was a lovely endpoint for Flair’s 1991-1993 run in the WWE. It’s nice to see it pop up back here and make both of them more relevant again.

We also see a rare (for this season) Hulk Hogan match, as he actually puts some effort into a TV match with DDP. 

Steven Don’t-Call-Me-William-Yet Regal also gets a chance to show off his tag team chops as The Blue Bloods make a lovely, violent appearance.

There’s also a small miracle when Goldberg, of all people, somehow manages to get a good match out of Disco Inferno. I'm kidding. The match is forgettable but ends in storyline-important interference.

1. Ric Flair vs Mr Perfect (as Curt Hennig) at Halloween Havoc 1997.

2. Randy Savage vs DDP at Halloween Havoc 1997.

3. Fit Finlay vs Chris Benoit from Nitro.

4. Hulk Hogan (WCW Champ) vs DDP from Nitro.

5. Disco Inferno (WCW US Champ) vs Goldberg from Nitro.

6. Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro.

7. Perry Saturn (WCW TV Champ) vs Scotty Riggs from Nitro.

8. Ultimo Dragon vs Yuji Nagato at World War 3 1997.

9. The Steiner Brothers vs The Blue Bloods at World War 3 1997.

10. Eddie Guerrero (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio at World War 3 1997.

MAIN EVENT: MR PERFECT as (CURT HENNIG)(WCW US CHAMP) vs RIC FLAIR at 
WORLD WAR 3 1997.

Season 4, Episode ​13: The Montreal Screwjob (1997)

This episode is almost entirely the same set of superstars as the last episode with one giant twist, It’s Kane! It’s Kane! It’s gotta be Kane! The Undertaker’s brother’s arrival set up a lot of cool story ideas that mostly fizzled out but his debut, which is also the first ever Hell In A Cell Match, was epic.

Unfortunately, the end of this episode is the last time Bret Hart is in WWE for a while, as Vince McMahon is outed as The Worst Boss In Wrestling By A Wide Margin. It’s a shame because Bret had been a great wrestler for years but had only been an interesting character for a few months at this point.

1. Owen Hart vs Vader at In Your House 16: One Night Only 1997.

2. The British Bulldog (WWE European Champ) vs Shawn Michaels at In Your House 16: One Night Only 1997.

3. Triple H vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) from Raw.

4. Shawn Michaels (WWE European Champ) vs The Undertaker in Hell In A Cell at In Your House 17: Badd Blood 1997.

5. Kane vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) at Survivor Series 1997.

MAIN EVENT: BRET HART (WWE CHAMP) vs SHAWN MICHAELS at SURVIVOR SERIES 1997.

Season 4, Episode ​14: Thunder (1997, 1998)

Don’t feel too bad for Bret, though, he’s already in WCW, main eventing this episode. While his original story is a crass reference to The Montreal Screwjob (which became a trope in both wrestling companies that has never been fun to watch), he quickly flips to a feud with Ric Flair and, as expected, puts on much better matches than Hogan did when he arrived.

The worst and most difficult part of editing this era of WCW wrestling together is that, during these exciting luchadore and cruiserweight matches, the announcers tend to ignore the action to prattle on about the stale NWO storylines that always ended with matches that stank like fresh turds. In this episode, I couldn’t cut around the fact that, during a six-luchadore spotfest, the announcers spend most of the match talking about how one of them is going to wrestle non-wrestler, Eric Bischoff. Bischoff is known for doing three good things during his decades long career in wrestling, and one of them was retiring.

On a more fun note, Raven from ECW transfers into WCW and assembles a flock to do his bidding against other wrestlers. This proved to be possibly the best long-term storytelling in WCW history.

1. Fit Finlay vs Dean Malenko from Nitro.

2. La Parka and Psicosis vs Rey Mysterio and Juventud Guerrera from Nitro.

3. Chris Benoit vs Kidman from Nitro.

4. Rey Mysterio, Hector Garza, Juventud Guerrera vs La Parka, Psicosis, Silver King from Nitro.

5. Eddie Guerrero (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Dean Malenko at Starrcade 1997.

6. Perry Saturn vs Chris Benoit at Starrcade 1997. 

7. Mr Perfect (as Curt Hennig) (WCW US Champ) vs DDP at Starrcade 1997.

8. Chris Benoit vs Dean Malenko from Nitro.

9. Goldberg vs Jerry Flynn from Nitro.

10. The Steiner Brothers (WCW Tag Champs) vs The Ousiders from Nitro.

11. Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Chavo Guerrero, and Lizmark Jr vs La Parka, Silver King, Psicosis, and El Dandy at Souled Out 1998.

​MAIN EVENT: RIC FLAIR (WCW CHAMP) vs BRET HART from SOULED OUT 1998.

Season 4, Episode ​15: Degeneration X (1997, 1998)

The Light Heavyweight Division finally gets a title and a champion but we have to sit through obnoxious and racist commentary from Jerry Lawler to get there.

​Road Dogg and Billy Gunn both kind of got lost somewhere near the end of Season 3 and neither of their personas were much loved by fans. In this episode, they team up and become one of the most quotable tag teams of all time. For whatever reason, Mick Foley is their first target, even though they are a tag team and he is just one person (ok, with three different personalities but only one physical body).

1. Taka Michonoku vs Brian Christopher for the WWE Lightweight Championship at In Your House 19: Degeneration X.

2. The Rock (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Steve Austin at In Your House 19: Degeneration X.

3. Shawn Michaels (WWE European Champ) vs Ken Shamrock at In Your House 19: Degeneration X.

4. Legion of Doom (WWE Tag Champs) vs New Age Outlaws from Raw.

5. Road Dogg vs Mick Foley (as Dude Love) from Raw.

6. Legion of Doom vs DX from Raw.

7. New Age Outlaws vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: SHAWN MICHAELS (WWE EUROPEAN CHAMP) vs OWEN HART from RAW.

Season 4, Episode ​16: Model Behavior (1998)

I don’t know if any wrestling fans could have predicted that Rick Martel, mostly known for his heel work in WWE at the beginning of our Season 2, was going to have a comeback in 1998 that would involve him in multiple title matches. It was a pleasant surprise, as he had several matches that were way better than WCW’s main event fare. 

Goldberg continues his streak here, and Booker T has several stellar solo matches as he evolves from Harlem Heat’s best talker to superstar.

Our main event sees Raven’s Flock ascending into the title scene for a bit.

1. Booker T (WCW TV Champ) vs Rick Martel at Souled Out 1998.

2. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) and Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko and Chavo Guerrero from Nitro.

3. William Regal (as Steven Regal) vs Goldberg from Nitro.

4. Ultimo Dragon vs Kidman from Nitro.

5. Hugh Morris vs Goldberg from Nitro.

6. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) and Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit from Nitro.

7. Rick Martel (WCW TV Champ) vs Booker T at SuperBrawl 8.

8. Booker T (WCW TV Champ) vs Perry Saturn at SuperBrawl 8.

9. Goldberg vs Brad Armstrong at SuperBrawl 8.

10. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Juventud Guerrera in a Title vs Mask Match at SuperBrawl 8.

11. DDP (WCW US Champ) vs Chris Benoit at SuperBrawl 8.

12. Booker T (WCW TV Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero at Uncensored 1998.

13. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Dean Malenko at Uncensored 1998.

MAIN EVENT: DDP (WCW US CHAMP) vs CHRIS BENOIT vs RAVEN at UNCENSORED 1998.

Season 4, Episode ​17: The Three Faces Of Foley (1998)

Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker, and The Rock vs Steve Austin are two of the most iconic feuds in wrestling, and it’s great to see both of them represented here. The real story, though, is that within a fun but underwhelming Royal Rumble, Mick Foley entered three times, once as each of his personalities. 

1. Shawn Michaels (WWE Champ) vs The Undertaker in a Casket Match at Royal Rumble 1998.

2. Royal Rumble Match 1998
8-Ball, Ahmed Johnson, Chainz, D-Lo Brown, Faarooq, The Godfather (as Kama), Goldust, Henry O. Godwinn, The Honky Tonk Man, JBL (as Blackjack Bradshaw), Jeff Jarrett, Ken Shamrock, Kurrgan, Marc Mero, Mark Henry, Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack), Mick Foley (as Dude Love), Mick Foley (as Mankind), Mosh, Owen Hart, Phineas I. Godwinn, The Rock (as Rocky Maiavia), Savio Vega, Steve Austin, Steve Blackman, Terry Funk (as Chainsaw Charlie), Thrasher, Tom Brandi, Vader

3. Taka Michonoku (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Pantera from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (as ROCKY MAIVIA)(WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMP) vs STEVE AUSTIN from RAW

Season 4, Episode ​18: Spring Break of 1004 Moves (1998)

The Flock storyline is the most interesting storyarc in late 90s WCW, but the best promos all came from Chris Jericho. He has one of his all-time best, at the expense of Dean Malenko, in this episode after absolutely squashing everybody’s second favorite Rocker, Marty Jannetty (third favorite if we include Al Snow).

This episode begins at a club where the wrestling ring is set up in a pool, which makes for some fun visuals that enhance the usual WCW wrestling. Mainly, we get several good Jericho matches, several great Booker T matches, an intensification of Goldberg’s streak, and a great title vs title match between Sting and DDP.

1. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Juventud Guerrera in a Title Vs Mask Match at SuperBrawl 8.

2. Goldberg vs Lodi from Nitro.

3. Scott Steiner vs The Big Boss Man (as Ray Traylor) from Nitro.

4. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Juventud Guerrera from Nitro.

5. Mr Perfect (as Curt Hennig) vs Bret Hart at Uncensored 1998.

6. Sting (WCW Champ) vs DDP (WCW US Champ) from Nitro.

7. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Marty Jannetty from Nitro.

8. Booker T (WCW TV Champ) vs Chris Benoit from Nitro.

9. Goldberg vs The Big Boss Man (as Ray Traylor) from Nitro.

10. Goldberg vs Perry Saturn from Nitro.

11. Ultimo Dragon vs Chavo Guerrero from Nitro.

12. Booker T (WCW TV Champ) vs Chris Benoit from Nitro.

MAIN EVENT: BOOKER T (WCW TV CHAMP) vs PSICOSIS from NITRO.

Season 4, Episode ​19: Tyson’s Fury (1998)

Mike Tyson gets slotted into the Shawn Michaels/Steve Austin feud in a realistic way that 
manages to improve the story, rather than distract from it.

We also have a couple of matches involving the glorious pairing of Mick Foley and Terry Funk reliving their hardcore deathmatch days from Japan and ECW.

1. Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) vs Terry Funk (as Chainsaw Charlie) in a Hardcore Match from Raw.

2. Taka Michinoku (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Essa Rios (as Aguilar) at Wrestlemania 14.

3. Triple H (WWE European Champ) vs Owen Heart at Wrestlemania 14.

4. The Rock (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Ken Shamrock at Wrestlemania 14.

5. The New Age Outlaws (WWE Tag Champs) vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) and Terry Funk (as Chainsaw Charlie) in a Dumpster Match at Wrestlemania 14.

6. The Undertaker vs Kane at Wrestlemania 14.

WWE SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: SHAWN MICHAELS (WWE CHAMP) vs STEVE 
AUSTIN at WRESTLEMANIA 14.

Season 4, Episode ​20: The Streak (1998)

Each season of the Headcanon ends on a historic match. Usually the retirement of a famous wrestler or a title change that heavily influenced the industry. This episode has a truly FeelGood finale for long-term WCW fans as Goldberg puts his streak on the line against NWO champion, Hulk Hogan. 

1. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Chavo Guerrero from Nitro.

2. Fit Finlay (WCW TV Champ) vs Chris Benoit at Slamboree 1998.

3. Cruiserweight Battle Royal at Slamboree 1998.
Billy Kidman, Chavo Guerrero, Damien666, Dean Malenko (as Ciclope), El Dandy, El Griot, Evan Karagias, Johnny Swinger, Juventud Guerrera, Lenny Lane, Marty Jannetty, Psicosis, Silver King, Super Calo, Villanos 4

4. Chris Jericho (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Dean Malenko (as Cicople) at Slamboree 1998.

5. Goldberg (WCW US Champ) vs Perry Saturn at Slamboree 1998.

6. Billy Kidman vs Juventud Guerrera from Nitro.

7. Booker T vs Chris Benoit from Nitro.

8. Goldberg (WCW US Champ) vs La Parka from Nitro.

9. Booker T vs Chris Benoit at Great American Bash 1998.

10. Goldberg (WCW US Champ) vs Scott Hall from Nitro.

11. Eddie Guerrero vs Chavo Guerrero at Great American Bash 1998.

SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: HULK HOGAN (WCW CHAMP) vs GOLDBERG (WCW US CHAMP) from NITRO.

This season begins with the downfall of WCW. Many fans finally grew tired of the Main Event geezers putting on terrible matches based on insultingly dumb storylines. Over time, even the Cruiserweight Division, still the best thing about WCW, grew stale as their talent migrated over to WWE.

As a result, there are very few WCW episodes in this season. Instead, I’ve used a Channel 
Changing effect to represent flipping back and forth between WCW and WWE. This is because, while WCW was flailing and about to be bankrupt, WWE didn’t get its creative mojo back until the back half of the season. They also suffered from bad chaos booking, particularly during their Vince Russo era. You can actually see WWE get better and WCW get worse when Russo moves from one company to the other. He’s not as personally repugnant as some actual criminals in the industry but, man, he really ruined wrestling wherever he went.

We’ll focus on the dwindling good WCW matches and the influx of talent that occurs in WWE, particularly when Steve Austin had to have surgery and was written off TV and pay-per-views for an entire year. This allowed a slew of new wrestlers to "invade" from WCW, ECW, and even GLOW.

There’s also one of the best Tag Team Wrestling eras in history here as The Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz, The Brood, The Acolytes, and more introduce tables, ladders, chairs, and excitement into a division that had suffered greatly since the late 80s.

Season 5 Sorbet Episode:  CMLL Homenaje A Dos Leyendas 2000 - Juicio Final

WCW’s highlight reel for last season and this season are almost entirely made up of Luchadore Matches. Personally, I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to actual Mexican Luchadores who didn’t cross over into American companies. But I did some research for 2000, and it’s pretty unanimously agreed that this pay-per-view is one of, if not The, Best Luchadore Events from 2000. I did not edit this in any way, this is just a pay-per-view showcasing some amazing matches from CMLL. The title translates to CMLL Tribute To Two Legends 2000 - Final Judgement.

The two legends in question are El Santo, one of the all-time most famous luchadores, and Salvador Lutteroth, who founded CMLL.

1. Ricky Marvin vs Sangre Azteca in a 2/3 Falls Match.

2. Toreno Cibernetico Match (similar to a Survivor Series Match).
Arkangel de la Muerte, Dr O'Borman Jr., Mr Mexico, Rencor Latino, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero,  Violencia, and Zumbido vs Antifaz del Norte, Astro Rey Jr, Máscara Mágica, Olímpico, Safari, Starman, Tigre Blanco, and Tony Rivera

3. Brazo del Plata, Emilio Charles Jr, Mr Niebla vs Los Capos in a 2/3 Falls Trios Match.

4. Máscara Año 2000, Scorpio Jr, and Shocker vs Perro Aguayo, Rayo de Jalisco Jr, and Tarzan Boy in a 2/3 Falls Trios Match.

MAIN EVENT: ATLANTIS vs VILLANO 3 in a MASK VS MASK MATCH​

Season 5, Episode 1: Hell In A Cell B’Gawd (1998)

Last season we saw Mick Foley perform as three different characters in the WWE, even doing filmed promos where the three characters interacted. In this episode we get a glimpse of things to come as he performs a match against Terry Funk where they both play themselves. No characters, just a brawl between two people we’ve seen wrestle with and against each other under various guises. It’s a fun start to the season.

While it may seem odd not to have the actual Hell In A Cell match that made Mick Foley an all-time legend as the Main Event, it’s just impressive to see him, mere minutes after a spotfest that nearly (and probably should have) ended his career, then run down the ramp and interfere in another match. Honestly, that moment is the reason our Main Event is even in this episode as the match itself is fine but there isn’t much that could follow Mankind/Undertaker in the cell. It’s one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history.

1. Mick Foley vs Terry Funk from Raw.

2. Kai En Tai vs Taka Michonoku and JBL (as Bradshaw) at Over The Edge 1998.

3. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Dude Love) at Over The Edge 1998.

4. The Undertaker vs Kane from Raw.

5. Too Much vs Al Snow and Head at King Of The Ring 1998.

6. XPac vs Owen Hart at King Of The Ring 1998.

7. The Undertaker vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) in Hell In A Cell at King Of The Ring 1998.

THE MAIN EVENT: STEVE AUSTIN (WWE CHAMP) vs KANE at KING OF THE RING  1998.

Season 5, Episode 2: Gold-Berg Gold-Berg (1998)

Ok, now that Goldberg has the belt, what does WCW do with him? They don’t appear to really know. Our first WCW match of the season is Hart vs Benoit, which is about as good as WCW wrestling is going to get. We also see DDP do his best to get into the main event scene, and Perry Saturn and Raven continue their feud from last season.

Towards the end of the episode, we switch over to WWE to see Shawn Michaels become  commissioner, and we get our introduction to the WWE Hardcore Championship as The Main Event.

1. Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit from Nitro.

2. Juventud Guerrera vs Billy Kidman at Bash At The Beach 1998.

3. Goldberg (WCW Champ) vs Mr Perfect (as Curt Hennig) from Nitro.

4. Bret Hart vs DDP from Nitro.

5. Perry Saturn vs Raven and Kanyon at Road Wild 1998.

6. Chris Jericho (WCW TV Champ) vs Go…ld…berg? at Fall Brawl 1998. 

7. Perry Saturn vs Raven at Fall Brawl 1998.

8. Goldberg (WCW Champ) vs DDP at Halloween Havoc 1998.

9. Bret Hart (WCW US Champ) vs DDP from Nitro.

10. The Rock (WWE Champ) vs XPac from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: MICK FOLEY (as MANKIND)(WWE HARDCORE CHAMP) vs BIG BOSS  MAN from RAW.

Season 5, Episode 3: Brothers Of Destruction (1998)

Ken Shamrock wasn’t in the WWE for an incredibly long time but he put on a ton of bangers while he was there. In this episode alone, we see him in a Lion’s Den Match, an Intercontinental Title Match, and a beefy boy slapdown with Dan Severin.

I’m not the biggest Jeff Jarret fan but he has a great Hair vs Hair Match here with XPac. We also get a ladder match for the Intercontinental Title and our first glimpse at Kane and The Undertaker as The Brothers Of Destruction who have an entertaining but wildly inconsistent history of matches. 

1. The Rock (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Ken Shamrock at King Of The Ring 1998.

2. The Nation Of Domination vs DX from Raw.

3. The New Age Outlaws (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Brothers Of Destruction from Raw.

4. Ken Shamrock vs Dan Severin from Raw.

5. Gangrel vs XPac from Raw. 

6. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs Kane in a Hell In A Cell Match from Raw.

7. Ken Shamrock vs Owen Hart in a Lion’s Den Match at SummerSlam 1998.

8. Jeff Jarret vs XPac in a Hair vs Hair Match from SummerSlam 1998.

9. The Rock (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Triple H in a Ladder Match at SummerSlam 1998.

MAIN EVENT: STEVE AUSTIN (WWE CHAMP) vs THE UNDERTAKER at SUMMERSLAM 1998

Season 5, Episode 4: Socko Zamboni (1998)

There’s a few pivotal moments of Raw history in this episode. Vince McMahon is hospitalized after a run-in with Stone Cold. Mick Foley tries to cheer him up by creating Mr. Socko and inviting a sweet, non-psychotic clown, who we will see again this season. Then Steve Austin shows up and beats McMahon with a bedpan.

Later, The Brothers Of Destruction take out Steve Austin for McMahon but it’s unclear which of them should be champ, which leads to bad things for McMahon, including Steve Austin arriving in a Zamboni to beat him up again.

Both Edge and Christian debut for us in this episode, with Christian getting a title in his very first match. They are a tag team for most of this season, originally called The Brood, so I will be referring to them as The Brood any time they are involved in a tag team match, even if it happens in 2025.

1. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs Ken Shamrock from Raw.

2. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs The Undertaker from Raw.

3. Edge vs Owen Hart from Breakdown 1998.

4. The Rock vs Ken Shamrock vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) in a Steel Cage Match at Breakdown 1998.

5. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs XPac from Raw.

6. Taka Michonoku (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Christian at Judgment Day 1998.

7. D-Lo Brown (WWE European Champ) vs XPac at Judgment Day 1998.

8. Ken Shamrock (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) at Judgment Day 1998.

MAIN EVENT: STEVE AUSTIN (WWE CHAMP) and THE ROCK vs BROTHERS OF  DESTRUCTION from RAW

Season 5, Episode 4B: Vince McMahon’s Deliverance (1998)
​
This special episode features no wrestling matches but includes the entire Raw storyline where Steve Austin kidnaps and tortures Vince McMahon. It’s 38 minutes long

Season 5, Episode 5: Butts In Seats (1998, 1999)

Poor Tony Schiavone will never live down being fed the line “That ought to put butts in seats” when referring to Mick Foley winning the WWE title on Raw. You know what, though, fuck this season’s version of Tony Schiavone. He and his compatriots spend entire cruiserweight and midcard matches completely ignoring the action to talk about whatever lazy geezer was hogging the main event scene with a dumb storyline and poor quality matches. I hope he and his compatriots are properly embarrassed by how awful their commentary was from 1998-2000.

This is mainly a cruiserweight episode with a Meat vs Meat match with Fit Finlay and Scott Putski and a horrible, horrible, horrible ending to Goldberg’s streak. 
​
1. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Juventud Guerrera from Nitro.

2. Juventud Guerrera (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Billy Kidman at World War 3 1998.

3. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro.

4. Chris Jericho (WCW TV Champ) vs Konnan from Nitro.

5. Fit Finlay vs Scott Putski from Nitro.

6. Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro.

7. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Juventud Guerrera vs Rey Mysterio at Starrcade 1998.

8. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero from Nitro.

9. Goldberg (WCW Champ) vs Kevin Nash at Starrcade 1998.

10. Triple H vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (WWE CHAMP) vs MICK FOLEY (as MANKIND) from RAW.

Season 5, Episode 6: The Fingerpoke Of Doom (1999)

The first match in this episode was pretty much the nail in the coffin for WCW. Yes, it went on for another two years but it was never the same after this farce, which actually took place on the same night as the Butts In Seat quote from the last episode. When I first did my Headcanon, I completely stopped including WCW after this match. I have since though better of that, and included the few good matches that happened after The Fingerpoke Of Doom, and you’ll see them scattered throughout this mostly WWE season.

Gillberg was a ridiculous Goldberg parody, that I think is only funny once, so this will be his sole appearance in the Headcanon. We also have The Corporate Rumble, which was a battle to determine who would be the 30th entrant in The Royal Rumble, which is also in this episode.

The I Quit Match has an uncomfortable ending as The Rock hits Mick Foley with ten unprotected chair shots, as there were no concussion protocols at this time. It is otherwise, a very good match.

1. Kevin Nash (WCW Champ) vs Hulk Hogan from Nitro.

2. Ken Shamrock (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Steve Blackman from Raw.

3. Road Dogg (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Al Snow from Raw.

4. Gillberg (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Luna Vachon from Raw.

5. The Corporate Rumble from Raw
Big Boss Man, Billy Gun, Chyna, Kane, Ken Shamrock, Road Dogg, Test, Triple H, Vince McMahon,  XPac 

6. Al Snow (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Bob Holly at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

7. Mick Foley (as Mankind)(WWE Champ) vs The Rock in an I Quit Match from Royal Rumble 1999.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH at ROYAL RUMBLE 1999
Al Snow, The Big Boss Man, Billy Gunn, The Blue Meanie, Chyna, D-Lo Brown, Dan Severn, Droz,  Earthquake (as Golga), Edge, Gangrel, Gillberg, The Godfather, Goldust, Jeff Jarrett, Kane, Ken  Shamrock, Kurrgan, Mabel, Mark Henry, Owen Hart, The Road Dogg, Steve Austin, Steve Blackman,  Test, Tiger Ali Singh, Triple H, Val Venis, Vince McMahon, XPac 

Season 5, Episode 7: McMassacre (1999)

I’m going to try, as much as possible, to not include much more McMahon family drama in this season. After this episode, where Steve Austin faces Vince in a Steel Cage, their storyline got really stale. Then Vince repeats the storyline with The Rock, then he repeats is again with Triple H. When Shawn Michaels comes back, he repeats it again with Shawn. Then with Hulk Hogan. 

It’s very much a case of diminished returns. 

The real story of this episode, though, is the heating up of The Rock’s feud with Mankind. Almost all their matches were delightful to watch. The ending of the previous episode’s I Quit Match was a little cringey but the Empty Arena and Last Man Standing matches here are excellent.

1. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) and Juventud Guerrera vs Rey Mysterio and Psicosis at Souled Out 1999.

2.The Rock (WWE Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) in an Empty Arena Match at Halftime Heat.

3. Steve Austin vs Vince McMahon in a Steel Cage Match at St Valentines Day Massacre.

4. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs The Rock in a Last Man Standing Match at St Valentines Day Massacre.

5. Val Venis (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Road Dogg from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: MICK FOLEY (as MANKIND) vs THE ROCK in a LADDER MATCH for  the WWE CHAMPIONSHIP from RAW.

Season 5, Episode 8: Luchadores Unmasked (1999)

The cruiserweight division continues to be the best part of WCW, and in this episode we see one luchadore lose his mask, as well as seeing Eddie Guerrero unmask multiple luchadores (though we do not see their faces on camera) in one of the few actually funny skits in WCW Nitro history.

A couple of the WCW Main Eventers have some great matches, here too, so there’s no channel changing to WWE.

1. Rey Mysterio vs Blitzcreig from Nitro.

2. Scott Steiner (WCW Champ) vs DDP at SuperBrawl 9.

3. Goldberg vs Bam Bam Bigelow at SuperBrawl 9.

4. The Outsiders vs Konnan and Rey Mysterio in a Hair vs Mask Match at SuperBrawl 9.

5. Bret Hart vs Booker T from Nitro.

6. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Mikey Whipwreck at Uncensored 1999.

7. Rey Mysterio vs Bam Bam Bigelow from Nitro.

8. Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit from Nitro.

9. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Psicosis from Nitro. 

MAIN EVENT: GOLDBERG and RICK STEINER vs SCOTT STEINER and BUFF  BAGWELL from NITRO.

Season 5, Episode 9: Beer Bath and Beyond (1999)

Another all-time best moment from Raw sees Steve Austin drive a Coors Light Truck into the arena and shoot a hose full of beer at The Corporation during one of their extremely long promos that I’ve mostly not included in this season. We do have a rare channel change from WWE to WCW here, as Haku vs Jerry Flynn is one of Haku’s late career highlights and, of course, it’s hard to go wrong with Rey Mysterio vs Billy Kidman, masked or unmasked.

For WWE, it’s the usual suspects in the Main Event scene but with the added bonus of seeing The Big Show take on Mankind in a Boiler Room Brawl! 

1. The Rock (WWE Champ) and The Big Show vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) and Steve Austin from Raw.

2. Steve Austin vs The Big Show from Raw.

3. Shane McMahon (WWE European Champ) vs XPac at Wrestlemania 15.

4. Haku (as Meng) vs Jerry Flynn from Nitro.

5. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro.

6. The Rock (WWE Champ) vs Steve Austin in a No DQ Match at Wrestlemania 15.

7. Mick Foley (as Mankind) vs The Big Show in a Boiler Room Brawl at Backlash 1999. 

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMP) vs STEVE AUSTIN  (WWE CHAMP) in a BURIED ALIVE MATCH at BACKLASH 1999.

Season 5, Episode 10: Bad Attitude (1999)

It would be unfair of me to cast so much shade on WCW without also acknowledging that WWE had a string of sucky TV shows and PPVs during 1999 as well. Of course, I won’t inflict you with those, either, so this episode sees some channel changing going back and forth to pick the good stuff from the detritus.

The Hardy Boyz debut for us in this episode and go straight for The Brood, which will be one of their longest-ever feuds. Then we’re off to WCW for some cruiserweight action, as well as some of the last appearance of The Radicalz before they jump ship to WWE.

1. Michael Hayes and The Hardy Boyz vs The Brood from Raw.

2. Rey Mysterio Jr (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) and Billy Kidman vs Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko from Nitro.

3. Juventud Guerrera (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio vs Psicocis vs Blitzcreig from Nitro.

4. DDP (WCW Champ) vs Goldberg from Nitro.

5. Psicosis (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio from Nitro.

6. DDP (WCW Champ) vs Sting from Nitro.

7. Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko vs Raven and Perry Saturn from Nitro.

8. The Triad vs Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn at Bash At The Beach 1999.

MAIN EVENT: THE UNDERTAKER (WWE CHAMP) vs STEVE AUSTIN from RAW.

Season 5, Episode 11: Fully Loaded (1999)

​There's a lot of fun in this episode, including WWE remembering they have a women's division! While Ivory vs Torrie is certainly not a five-star match, it is wrestling (as opposed to an exploitative match) worth of more than the paltry few minutes it received.

Al Snow continues to delight in the Hardcore scene, and while we do see his dog, Pepper, debut in this match, I promise we will neither see Pepper's unfortunate end nor the infamous Kennel From Hell Match attached to Snow's feud with The Big Boss Man.

Ken Shamrock and Steve Blackman had a few non-traditional matches in this era. The Iron Circle Match is not their best but it's entirely unlike anything else we'll see this season. We also have a Tag Team Gauntlet match for the first, but definitely not last, time in the Headcanon.

1. Al Snow (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Big Boss Man at Fully Loaded 1999.

2. The Acolytes (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Hardy Boyz from Raw.

3. Al Snow (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs D-Lo Brown from Raw.

4. Triple H vs The Rock in a Steel Cage Match from Raw.

5. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs The Undertaker in a First Blood Match at Fully Loaded 1999.

6. Ken Shamrock vs Steve Blackman in an Iron Circle Match at Fully Loaded 1999.

7. The Rock vs Triple H in a Strap Match at Fully Loaded 1999.

8. The Hardy Boyz vs The Brood vs Prince Albert and Mabel (as Viscera) vs The Acolytes vs The Hollys in a Tag Team Gauntlet Match at SummerSlam 1999.

9. Al Snow (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Big Boss Man at SummerSlam 1999.

10. Ivory (WWE Womens Champ) vs Torrie Wilson at SummerSlam 1999.

MAIN EVENT:  STEVE AUSTIN (WWE CHAMP) vs TRIPLE H vs MICK FOLEY (as MANKIND) at SUMMERSLAM 1999.

Season 5, Episode 12: Unholy Alliances (1999)

The Undertaker and The Big Show team up as The Unholy Alliance in this episode. It’s a short-lived but terrifying tag team. Even more impressive than The Brothers of Destruction.

Earlier this season we saw Chyna in two rumbles that were otherwise full of men but this marks her first singles competition against a man, something she will keep up for the rest of this season.

1. Chris Benoit (WCW US Champ) vs DDP at Road Wild 1999.

2. Ken Shamrock vs Steve Blackman in a Lion’s Den Match at SummerSlam 1999.

3. Test vs Shane McMahon in a Greenwich Street Fight at SummerSlam 1999.

4. Kane and XPac (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Unholy Alliance at SummerSlam 1999. 

5. Mick Foley (as Mankind)(WWE Champ) vs Triple H from Raw.

6. Chris Jericho vs Road Dogg from Smackdown.

7. Bob Holly vs Chyna from Smackdown.

8. The Brood vs The Hardy Boyz from Smackdown.

9. Triple H vs The Big Boss Man in a Lion’s Den Match from Sunday Night Heat.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK & SOCK CONNECTION vs THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE in a  BURIED ALIVE MATCH from SMACKDOWN.

Season 5, Episode 13: This Is Your Life (1999)

Another channel changing episode. This episode begins with Mankind’s classic celebration of The Rock that leads to The Rock & Sock Connection. Mainly, though, Vince McMahon puts Triple H through a gauntlet where he had to win 3/5 gimmick matches against people famed for that particular gimmick, so Kane in an Inferno Match, Mankind in a Boiler Room Brawl, The Rock in a Strap Match, The Big Show in a Chokeslam Challenge and, to a much lesser extent, Mabel and Phinneas Godwinn in a Casket Match (I guess The Undertaker was busy).

Sting and Hulk Hogan manage, somehow, to have an even more insulting match than The 
Fingerpoke Of Doom in this episode. I included it because it not only shows what an absolute joke Hulk Hogan was in the late 90s but that even Sting, who had great runs in Impact Wrestling and AEW several decades after his latter-day WCW matches, was involved in some unforgivably garbage matches.

1. Rey Mysterio vs Dean Malenko from Nitro.

2. Triple H vs The Big Show in a Chokeslam Challenge from Smackdown.

3. Billy Kidman vs Juventud Guerrera from Nitro.

4. Kane vs Triple H in an Inferno Match from Smackdown.

5. Chris Benoit (WCW US Champ) vs Bret Hart in a non-title Owen Hart Memorial Match from Nitro.

6. Triple H vs Mabel (as Viscera) and Phinneas Godwinn (as Mideon) in a Casket Match from Smackdown.

7. Perry Saturn vs Eddie Guerrero at Halloween Havoc 1999.

8. Triple H vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) in a Boiler Room Brawl from Smackdown.

9. Sting (WCW Champ) vs Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc 1999.

10. Triple H vs The Rock in a Strap match from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK vs MICK FOLEY (as MANKIND) vs THE BIG SHOW vs  TRIPLE H vs KANE vs THE BRITISH BULLDOG for THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP at  UNFORGIVEN 1999.

Season 5, Episode 14: Good Housekeeping (1999)

Is The Good Housekeeping Match (Jarret’s final ever WWE bout) the best thing he ever did? Maybe. He’s spent the last couple of episodes portraying misogynist trash in skits where he hit The Great Moolah (who was in her 70s) and other women over the head with his guitar in his buildup to his Intercontinental Match with Chyna, where they were each allowed to use common household cleaning items as weapons. It shouldn’t have worked but both Jarrett and Chyna went above and beyond to make this completely entertaining. Too bad that Jarrett held up Vince McMahon for a ton of money to do this match, making him persona non grata, even when WWE ended up buying WCW. In a roundabout way, this match is responsible for Jeff Jarrett founding Impact Wrestling in 2001.

There’s also a Ladder Match between The Brood and The Hardy Boyz that’s going to begin our quick trek to the first ever TLC match in a couple of episodes.

1. The Hardy Boyz vs The Brood from Smackdown.

2. Jeff Jarrett (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chyna in a Good Housekeeping Match at No Mercy 1999.

3. The Brood vs The Hardy Boyz in a Ladder Match at No Mercy 1999.

4. Mick Foley (as Mankind)(WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Val Venis at No Mercy 1999.

5. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs Steve Austin in a Falls Count Anywhere at No Mercy 1999.

6. The Hollys (WWE Tag Champs) vs Mick Foley (as Mankind) and Al Snow from Smackdown. 

7. The Hollys and Too Cool vs The Brood and The Hardy Boyz in a Survivor Series Match at Survivor Series 1999.

MAIN EVENT: CHYNA (WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMP) vs CHRIS JERICHO at SURVIVOR SERIES 1999.

Season 5, Episode 15: Radical Invasion (1999, 2000)

While not in a match, the last episode saw Steve Austin getting written off of TV and PPVs for nearly a year. How would they be able to fill in the undeniable hole he left in their main event scene? Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, and Perry Saturn leave WCW for WWE. The Dudley Boyz and Taz leave ECW for WWE. Jaqueline, who we saw way back in Season 2, as Tina Ferrari, in GLOW, joins WWE. And, Kurt Angle, who won Olympic Gold with a broken fricken neck, also arrives. All of them debut in the WWE here and they’ll quickly ascend to the Main Event Scenes.

1. The New Age Outlaws (WWE Tag Champs) vs Head Cheese from Raw.

2. Kurt Angle vs Shawn Staziak at Survivor Series 1999.

3. Too Cool vs Val Venis and The British Bulldog from Raw.

4. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) in a Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2000.

5. Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Gangrel from Smackdown.

6. Taz vs Kurt Angle at Royal Rumble 2000.

7. The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz in a Tables Match at Royal Rumble 2000.

8. Dean Malenko vs XPac from Smackdown.

9. Taz vs Kurt Angle vs The Rock in a Non-Title Match from Smackdown.

10. Jacqueline (WWE Womens Champ) vs Luna Vachon from Raw.

11. The New Age Outlaws (WWE Tag Champs) vs Eddie Guerrero and Perry Saturn from 
Smackdown.

12. The Dudley Boyz vs The Godfather and D-Lo Brown from Raw.

13. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs Chris Benoit from Smackdown.

14. Rikishi vs The Big Show from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: TRIPLE H (WWE CHAMP), CHRIS BENOIT, PERRY SATURN, DEAN  MALENKO and XPAC vs MICK FOLEY (as CACTUS JACK), THE ROCK, RIKISHI and  TOO COOL from RAW.

Season 5, Episode 16: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, Oh My (2000)

The main event for this episode is the first ever TLC Match, which was, at the time, celebrating The Dudley Boyz’s table matches, The Hardy Boyz’s Ladder Matches, and The Brood’s Conchairtos. 

1. Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Kurt Angle at No Way Out 2000.

2. The Brood vs The Hardy Boyz at No Way Out 2000.

3. Rikishi and Too Cool vs The Radicalz at No Way Out 2000.

4. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Catus Jack) in Hell In A Cell at No Way Out 2000.

5. Steve Blackman vs Jeff Hardy from Smackdown.

6. The Dudley Boyz (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Rock in a Tables Match from Smackdown.

7. Kurt Angle (WWE Intercontinental Champ)(WWE European Champ) vs Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit in a Multiple Titles, Multiple Falls Match at Wrestlemania 16.

MAIN EVENT: THE DUDLEY BOYZ (WWE TAG CHAMPS) vs THE BROOD vs THE  HARDY BOYZ in THE INAUGURAL TLC MATCH at WRESTLEMANIA 16.​

Season 5, Episode 17: Hardcore Attitude (2000)

In this episode, Hardcore Champion Crash Holly created the 24/7 rule, where the Hardcore Title can be challenged for, at any time, provided the challenger has an official referee with them. This leads to some goofy matches that inspired the 24/7 belt a couple of decades later. 

The Main Event is our first 60 Minute Iron Man Match since the Hart/Michaels match back in Season 3. 

1. The Dudley Boyz vs Eddie Guerrero and Essa Rios from Smackdown.

2. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs Taz (ECW Champ) in a Non Title Match from Smackdown.

3. Test (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Crash Holly from Smackdown.

4. Dean Malenko (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Scotty Too Hotty at Backlash 2000.

5. Crash Holly (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs The Mean Street Posse from Smackdown.

6. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs The Rock in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Backlash 2000.

7. Crash Holly (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs The Mean Street Posse from Raw.

8. The Brood (WWE Tag Champs) and Kurt Angle vs Rikishi and Too Cool at Judgement Day 2000.

9. Eddie Guerrero (WWE European Champ) vs Dean Malenko (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Perry Saturn at Judgement Day 2000.

10. Crash Holly (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs The Mean Street Posse from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (WWE CHAMP) vs TRIPLE H in an IRON MAN MATCH at  JUDGEMENT DAY 2000.

Season 5, Episode 18: Last Man Standing (2000)

Our first WCW matches in ages takes place here, as a trios ladder match featuring six wrestlers who haven’t previously appeared in this Headcanon put on an absolute clinic.

We also add to our inter-gender matches as Lita and Trish Stratus get involved with the Hardy Boyz feud with T&A. And Rikishi and Val Venis have one of the most unexpectedly impressive cage matches in WWE history.

1. Three Count vs Jung Dragons in a Ladder Match at New Blood Rising.

2. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs Chris Jericho from Raw.

3. Triple H (WWE Champ) and Chris Benoit (WWE European Champ) vs The Rock and Chris Jericho from Raw.

4. Trish Stratus and T&A vs Lyta and The Hardy Boyz at Fully Loaded 2000.

5. Val Venis (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Rikishi in a Steel Cage at Fully Loaded 2000.

6. Triple H vs Chris Jericho in a Last Man Standing Match at Fully Loaded 2000.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (WWE CHAMP) vs CHRIS BENOIT at FULLY LOADED 2000.

Season 5, Episode 19: TV-14 (2000)

Did the six man ladder match from the last episode wake up the WCW Main Event scene? We get two great matches from the non-cruiserweights to open up this episode. 

We also see the arrival of Stevie Richards and Right To Censor, a group of anti-exploitation wrestlers that eventually feature The Godfather becoming The Goodfather and Val Venis dropping his porn-star-in-a-towel gimmick. They have, easily, the worst entrance music in wrestling history.

This episode also establishes Mick Foley as the new Authority Figure in the WWE, as he was retired from action a few episodes ago.

1. Goldberg vs Scott Steiner at Fall Brawl 2000.

2. Kevin Nash (WCW Champ) vs Booker T in a Steel Cage Match at Fall Brawl 2000.

3. Trish Stratus and T&A vs Lita and The Hardy Boyz from Sunday Night Heat.

​4. The Godfather vs Bull Buchanan from Smackdown.

5. Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit in a 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match at SummerSlam 2000.

6. Test vs The Godfather from Raw.

7. The Brood (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz in a TLC Match at 
SummerSlam 2000.

8. Bull Buchanan vs The Godfather from Smackdown.

9. Shane McMahon (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Steve Blackman at SummerSlam 2000.

10. The Brood (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Hardy Boyz in a Steel Cage Match at Unforgiven 2000.

11. Triple H vs Kurt Angle at Unforgiven 2000.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (WWE CHAMP) vs THE UNDERTAKER vs CHRIS BENOIT  vs KANE at UNFORGIVEN 2000.​

Season 5, Episode 20: Stone Cold Vengeance (2000)

As you can guess by the title, this episode sees Steve Austin return after several episodes. 

Commissioner Mick Foley sets out to determine the identity of the person who ran Austin over, yielding surprising results. 

Jacqueline and Lita have the first ever women’s hardcore match in the WWE, and our main event sees six superstars in one Hell In A Cell match. It’s a bonkers way to end the season.

1. Jacqueline (WWE Womens Champ) vs Lita in a Hardcore Match from Raw.

2. Triple H vs Chris Benoit at No Mercy 2000.

3. Eddie Guerrero (WWE Intercontinental Champ) and Chyna vs Right To Censor from Raw.

4. Kane and Kurt Angle vs The Rock (WWE Champ) and Rikishi from Raw.

5. The Rock (WWE Champ) vs Kurt Angle at No Mercy 2000.

6. Ivory (WWE Womens Champ) vs Trish Stratus vs Molly Holly at Armageddon 2000.

SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: KURT ANGLE (WWE CHAMP) vs THE ROCK vs  STEVE AUSTIN vs THE UNDERTAKER vs TRIPLE H vs RIKISHI in a HELL IN A CELL  MATCH.

​

WCW disappears forever this season. We spend a chunk of time watching the WWE battle a watered down remnant of WCW, and a few famously loyal ECW alums who team up to
“invade” the WWE. This could have been a cool, long-term storyline. Instead, it quickly turns into McMahon vs McMahon vs McMahon vs McMahon, and the ECW/WCW Alliance becomes major WWE stars like Steve Austin and Kurt Angle padding out the dwindling team of non-WWE superstars. It was a six month storyline that we’re going to squish into four episodes.

If you miss WCW, don’t worry, this season sees Jeff Jarrett and his father open their own
NWA territory called TNA (it was called Impact for many years, and I’m only going refer 
to it as Impact in this Headcanon). It had similar professional production, a problem with too many lazy geezers in the main event scene but a damned impressive undercard. Instead of a cruiserweight division, they created the X-Division with the tagline “It’s not about weight limits, it’s about no limits.” This division made superstars of AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and many others. The X Division is the absolute star of this season of Impact episodes.

At the same time, we get a replacement for ECW in the form of Ring Of Honor. Low budget, bad lighting, paper thin storylines. Instead of blood, guts, and chaos, thought, it has some of the best pure athletes of the era including AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Daniel Bryan, Christopher Daniels, and the Briscoes. Yea, there’s a ton of crossover in early Impact and Ring Of Honor, which allows us to see multiple sides of some underrated wrestlers like Lo Ki and The Amazing Red in this season.

​There’s no Big Moment at the end of this season, as it begins with destruction and ends
with growth, which is not usually how these seasons go.

Season 6 Sorbet Episode: UnFnBelievable (2001 - 1003)

I mentioned that ROH will scratch your ECW, low-budget production itch, but if you’re absolutely hankering for blood and violence, our sorbet episode has you covered.

Combat Zone Wrestling is a violence and weapon-focused independent wrestling company founded in the late 90s. It’s famous for its death match tournaments and use of light tubes as weapons. Many famous WWE, ROH, and AEW wrestlers did a stint in CZW before graduating to the more corporate wrestling companies.

1. Jun Kasai and Nick Mondo vs Johnny Kashmere and Justice Pain in a Fans Bring The Weapons Tag Match at UnFnBelievable.

2. The H8 Club (CZW Tag Champs) vs The Briscoes at H8 Club: Dead?

3. Messiah vs Nick Mondo at This Time It’s Personal.

4. Nick Mondo vs Wifebeater in a 200 Lightbulbs Barbed Wire Match at Zandig’s Ultraviolent Tournament Of Death.

5. M-Dogg 20 vs Josh Prohibition in a Tables & Ladders Match at Ultraviolent Freedom Of Expression.

6. Justice Pain (CZW Heavyweight Champ) vs CM Punk at Ultraviolent Freedom Of Expression.

7. Ian Rotten vs Necro Butcher in a Fans Bring The Weapons Match at Ultraviolent Tournament Of Death 2.

8. Nick Mondo vs Zandig in a 2/3 Falls Light Tube Log Cabins Match at Ultraviolent Tournament Of Death 2.

MAIN EVENT: NICK MONDO vs IAN ROTTEN in a 200 LIGHT TUBES AND BARBED  WIRE MATCH at ULTRAVIOLENT TOURNAMENT OF DEATH 2.

Season 6, Episode 1: A Current Affair (2001)

2001 has a strong first few months for the WWE. The Royal Rumble pay-per-view is chock full of great matches. The Chyna/Ivory match isn’t great but it sets up their match at
Wrestlemania.

The big story of the beginning of 2001 was Vince McMahon’s affair with Trish Stratus and how it put his real wife, equally soulless monster, Linda McMahon, into a vegetative state. Much of the storyline is crass and not worth watching but I’ve included the big plot points here, as it does lead to an important match between Stephanie and Trish. I have, for the sake of those wrestling fans with human empathy, completely skipped any of the storyline that included Vince abusing Trish. What he does to the character of Linda is cruel and emotionally abusive but what he made the actual human being, Trish Stratus, do for the sake of this storyline is as disgusting as the real-world accusations against him are.

Nobody needs to see that part.

1. Lita (WWE Womens Champ) vs Jacqueline vs Trish Stratus vs Ivory from Smackdown.

2. The Brood (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs The Dudley Boyz at Royal Rumble 2001.

3. Chris Benoit (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chris Jericho in a Ladder Match at Royal Rumble 2001.

4. Ivory (WWE Womens Champ) vs Chyna at Royal Rumble 2001.

5. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Triple H at Royal Rumble 2001.

THE MAIN EVENT: THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH AT ROYAL RUMBLE 2001.
Albert, Al Snow, The Big Show, Billy Gunn, Bob Holly, Brian Christopher (as Grandmaster Sex-ay),  Bull Buchanan, Crash, Drew Carey, Farooq, The Godfather (as The Goodfather), Haku, The Honky  Tonk Man, JBL (as Bradshaw), Jeff Hardy, Kane, Man Hardy, Perry Saturn, R-Truth (as K-Kwik),  Raven, Rikishi, The Rock, Scotty 2 Hotty, Steve Austin, Steve Blackman, Taz, Test, The Undertaker, Val Venis, William Regal​

​

Season 6, Episode 2: Road To Wrestlemania X7 (2000, 2001)

This episode contains the absolute last of the pay-per-views in WCW history. Intertwined with WWE’s last pay-per-view before what’s probably the most popular Wrestlemania of all-time. There’s not a ton of storyline. We do see the winner of a tag team ladder match get a shot at the cruiserweight title in WCW, Steve Austin finally gets his revenge match against Triple H for that whole vehicular assault storyline from last season, and Stephanie McMahon and Trish battle it out in the ring after the shenanigans from the last episode. Don’t think the Stephanie and Trish match is a feminist revolution, though. The ending is still decided by a man’s interference.

1. The Natural Born Thrillahs vs The Filthy Animals vs The Boogie Nights at Halloween Havoc 2000.

2. Raven (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs The Big Show at No Way Out 2001.

3. Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero vs XPac at No Way Out 2001.

4. Three Count vs Jung Dragons vs Evan Karagias and Jamie Noble in A Ladder Match at Mayhem 2000.

5. Stephanie McMahon vs Trish Stratus at No Way Out 2001.

6. Chavo Guerrero (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs The Hurricane (as Shane Helms) at Sin 2001.

7. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs The Rock at No Way Out 2001.

8. Jason Jen vs Kwee Wee at Greed 2001.

9. Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo vs The Filthy Animals for the WCW Cruiserweight Tag  Championship at Greed 2001.

MAIN EVENT: STEVE AUSTIN vs TRIPLE H in a 3 STAGES OF HELL MATCH at NO  WAY OUT 2001.​

Season 6, Episode 3: Wrestlemania X7 (2001)

Wrestlemania X7 is definitely in contention for the best Wrestlemania ever. Not every match was a classic but no match was bad. I’ve taken the best of the matches and combined them with the previous week’s Raw, which saw McMahon family drama surrounding the bankruptcy and purchase of WCW. It makes for an incredible show. I only had to leave out one of the show’s absolute bangers, which I’m going to tack on to the beginning of the next episode.

The worst match on this show is the gimmick battle royal, which is a sweet goodbye to the
80s, as I’m pretty sure, apart from Sgt Slaughter, that we never see the participants or the announcers for this match again in this Headcanon.

1. Ivory (WWE Womens Champ) vs Chyna at Wrestlemania X7.

2. William Regal vs Molly Holly and Crash Holly from Raw.

3. Raven (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs The Big Show vs Kane at Wrestlemania X7

4, Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs William Regal at Wrestlemania X7

5. Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit at Wrestlemania X7.

5. Vince McMahon vs Shane McMahon in a Street Fight at Wrestlemania X7.

6. The Dudley Boyz (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Brood in a TLC Match at
Wrestlemania X7.

7. The Gimmick Battle Royal at Wrestlemania X7
Brother Love, Bushwhacker Butch, Bushwhacker Luke, Doink The Clown, Duke Droese, Earthquake,  The Gobbledy Gooker, The Goon, Hillbilly Jim, Iron Sheik, James E. Cornette, Kamala, Kim Chee, Michael Hayes, Nikolai Volkoff, One Man Gang, Repo Man, Sgt. Slaughter, Tugboat

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (WWE CHAMP) vs STEVE AUSTIN atWRESTLEMANIA X7.

Season 6, Episode 4: Two Man Power Trip (2001)

Steve Austin’s heel run following Wrestlemania X7 is often regarded as a misstep. His role in the upcoming Invasion angle doesn’t quite work despite some lovely skits he does with Kurt Angle. But before The Invasion, he and Triple H teamed up to take the top four belts in the company to make a super tag team that would have absolutely wrecked the WWE and dominated The Invasion. Unfortunately, Triple H got injured in their first big defense and they lost the titles and the storyline.

Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit had a series of bangers in a row, a Submission Iron Man Match, the 2/3 Falls Match that I’ve included here, and a Three Stages Of Hell Match. They were all great but fairly similar, so I’m choosing the one that I liked the best out of the three of them.

WWE was truly ruling the industry at this point and making very few mistakes. It’s a shame that the upcoming Invasion idea tanked so hard.

1. The Undertaker vs Triple H at Wrestlemania X7.

2. Rhyno (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Raven at Backlash 2001.

3. Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Triple H from Smackdown.

4. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs The Rock in a Steel Cage Match from Raw.

5. Matt Hardy (WWE European Champion) vs Eddie Guerrero vs Christian at Backlash 2001.

6. The Brothers Of Destruction (WWE Tag Champs) vs Two Man Power Trip at Backlash 2001.

7. Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit in a 2/3 Falls Match at Insurrextion 2001.

MAIN EVENT: TWO MAN POWER TRIP (WWE TAG CHAMPS) vs CHRIS BENOIT and  CHRIS JERICHO from RAW.

Season 6, Episode 5: InVasion (2001)

WWE’s InVasion angle is much maligned for a variety of valid reasons: It went on too long. Many of the biggest stars from WCW sat out their contracts and didn’t participate. Steve Austin’s heel turn didn’t make sense or really work. Also, and this is the big one for me: the invasion had started over a year previously. Five of the biggest WCW stars (Jericho, Benoit, Guerrero, Malenko, and Saturn) were already in the WWE. Six of the biggest ECW stars (Taz, The Dudley Boyz, Stevie Richards, Rhyno, and The Blue Meanie) were already in the WWE. Hell, even the most impressive GLOW wrestler, Jacqueline, was already in the WWE. The invasion was well underway before The InVasion technically began.

I’ve pared down six months of mostly unsatisfying storyline into four episodes, including the long promos, and a few matches that happened during the invasion but weren’t technically a part of The InVasion. I think it works in the condensed form. It also ripples on for a few episodes when the big names from WCW eventually run out their contract time and end up joining WWE after The InVasion angle technically wrapped up. This first episode contains the events leading to and including the first Invasion pay-per-view, which was easily the most exciting part of the entire storyline.

1. Kurt Angle vs Shane McMahon in a Street Fight at King Of The Ring 2001.

2. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit at King Of The Ring 2001.

3. Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Brood vs The Dudley Boyz vs
The Hardy Boyz in a TLC match from Smackdown.

4. Chris Jericho and Kane vs Mike Awesome and Lance Storm from Raw.

5. XPac (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Scotty 2 Hotty from Raw

6. Team WWE and Team WCW vs Team ECW from Raw.
The Big Show, Billy Gunn, Bob Holly, Chris Kanyon, Chuck Palumbo, Farooq, JBL (as Bradshaw),  Mark Jindrak, Sean O’Haire, Shawn Stasiak vs Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Justin Credible,  Lance Storm, Mike Awesome, Raven, Rhyno, Rob Van Dam, Taz, and Tommy Dreamer

MAIN EVENT: JEFF HARDY (WWE HARDCORE CHAMP) vs RVD at INVASION.

Season 6, Episode 6: AlLiance (2001)

The first of two WWE vs The Alliance multi-man matches has lower stakes and fewer 
superstars but at least the rosters for the teams make sense here. Apart from Jericho  realistically being a WCW guy, everyone is competing for the company they’re most famous for working with. The ending is Pure Chaos.

There’s much valid critique of how WWE fumbled Booker T later on in his stint in the  company but the beginning of his run was filled with high quality matches with some of the WWE’s biggest superstars and it seemed like he was going to be right up there with Benoit, Guerrero, Angle, and Edge as the next generation’s headliners. Not so much. At least this episode has him in a killer headliner before he sinks down to the comedy midcard.

1. Team WWE vs Team Alliance at Invasion.
Chris Jericho, Kane, Kurt Angle, Steve Austin, and The Undertaker vs Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, DDP,  D-Von Dudley, and Rhyno

2. Booker T (WCW Champ) vs Kurt Angle from Smackdown.

3. Lance Storm (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Edge at SummerSlam 2001.

4. XPac (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Tajiri (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) at SummerSlam 2001.

5. Jeff Hardy (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs RvD in a Ladder Match at SummerSlam 2001.

6. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs Kurt Angle at SummerSlam 2001.

MAIN EVENT: BOOKER T (WCW CHAMP) vs THE ROCK at SUMMERSLAM 2001.

Season 6, Episode 7: RePrisal

Kurt Angle vs Stone Cold was a weird set of featured matches for a story arc that was supposed to be about the WWE being invaded by WCW and ECW. Unfortunately, their matches were easily some of the best from the era.

We also have our first glimpse of a Christian vs Edge feud that will go on for more than two decades, and almost always be excellent.

The Main Event is a lovely cap-off to the Rock/Jericho frienemy angle.

1. The Dudley Boyz (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Hardy Boyz vs Lance Storm and The Hurricane vs The Big Show and Spike Dudley at Unforgiven 2001.

2. Edge (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Christian at Unforgiven 2001.

3. RvD (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Chris Jericho at Unforgiven 2001.

4. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs Kurt Angle at Unforgiven 2001.

5. Lita vs Molly Holly from Raw.

6. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Steve Austin from Raw.

7. Christian (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Edge in a Ladder Match at No Mercy 2001.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK (WCW CHAMP) vs CHRIS JERICHO at NO MERCY 2001.

Season 6, Episode 8: DiVision (2001)

The InVasion all comes down to this episode as Austin, Angle, Jericho, and RvD are all suggested as being traitors to their InVasion teams. At this point, neither side makes any sense at all, it’s pretty much each a team of WWE stars with a couple of pity members from either ECW or WCW. As usual, the angle gets squashed in McMahon vs McMahon nonsense.

Still, the final Survivor Series Match is a satisfying ending to the saga, and leads brilliantly into the new era of WWE.

1. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs RvD vs Kurt Angle at No Mercy 2001.

2. Kurt Angle (WCW US Champ) vs Christian from Smackdown.

3. RvD (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs The Rock from Smackdown.

4. Chris Jericho (WCW Champ) vs The Rock from Raw.

5. DDP vs The Big Show from Smackdown.

6. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) and Kurt Angle vs The Rock (WCW Champ) and Chris Jericho from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: TEAM WWE vs TEAM ALLIANCE in a SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH at 
SURVIVOR SERIES 2001.
The Big Show, Chris Jericho, Kane, The Rock, and The Undertaker vs Booker T, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon, and Steve Austin

Season 6, Episode 9: A Flair For The Dramatic (2001, 2002)

WOOOOOO! Ric Flair is back. Not as a wrestler, as the new co-owner of the WWE. He and McMahon are initially fun foils, though the gag quickly sours, as it’s just another Vince McMahon fight against someone he owns a company with, which has been the major WWE storyline for several years at this point.

This is the end of the Amazing Main Event Title Match Era, as the superstars of the late 90s and 2000-2002 fade out before the WWE had a strong replacement. The stars were there to put on great matches but the stories were bad and the wrestling in the main event scene floundered for a bit, even falling into the basement where WCW dwelled in the last couple of years, so get excited for WWE’s midcard to start rapidly improving.

1. The Dudley Boyz (WCW Tag Champs) vs The Hardy Boyz (WWE Tag Champs) in a Steel Cage Title Unification Match at Survivor Series 2001

2. Edge (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs William Regal at Vengeance 2001.

3. RvD (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs The Undertaker at Vengeance 2001.

4. Trish Stratus (WWE Womens Champ) vs Jacqueline at Vengeance 2001.

5. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs Kurt Angle at Vengeance 2001.

6. The Rock (WCW Champ) vs Chris Jericho at Vengeance 2001.

7. Steve Austin (WWE Champ) vs Chris Jericho (WCW Champ) at Vengeance 2001.

​7. Ric Flair vs Vince McMahon in a Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2002.

MAIN EVENT: CHRIS JERICHO (WWE CHAMP)(WCW CHAMP) vs THE ROCK vs KURT ANGLE from RAW.

Season 6, Episode 10: The Era Of Honor Begins (2002)

Do you miss the ECW episodes? Me, too. But we have a replacement! It’s not Extreme Bloody Chaos, though. It’s high-quality wrestling from the future Hall of Famers of WWE and AEW. 

Baby Daniel Bryan Danielson debuts here, as does Baby AJ Styles. They’re already incredible at this point in their careers. So what makes Ring Of Honor equivalent to ECW? The poor-quality lighting, the bare-bones writing, the lack of a real budget, and their notoriety coming from devout wrestling fans trading VHS tapes and DVDs because ROH didn’t have a TV deal or the ability to put on pay-per-views yet.

We open with Eddie Guerrero on his rehab tour back to the WWE. He was greatly missed in the big leagues, and his very brief stint in ROH was enough to get him back there quickly.

Lo Ki also debuts here. He was an incredible star in ROH and Impact Wrestling’s early days but, sadly, was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-him flop in WWE, probably through not fault of his own. He really seemed like he might be the star of these organizations until Styles, Bryan, Samoa Joe, and CM Punk ascended.

1. Eddie Guerrero vs Super Crazy for the IWA Puerto Rico Intercontinental Championship at Era Of Honor Begins.

2. Lo Ki vs Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) vs Christoper Daniels at Era Of Honor Begins

3. Brian Kendrik (as Spanky) vs Jay Briscoe at Round Robin Challenge 2002.

4. Lo Ki vs Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) at Round Robin Challenge 2002.

5. Brian Kendrik (as Spanky) vs Paul London at Road To The Title 2002.

6. Lo Ki vs AJ Styles at Night Of Appreciation 2002.

7. Doug Williams vs Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) at Road To The Title 2002.

8. Lo Ki vs The Amazing Red at Road To The Title 2002.

MAIN EVENT: AJ STYLES vs CHRISTOPHER DANIELS at ROAD TO THE TITLE 2002.

Season 6, Episode 11: Marathon Matches (2002)

Only three matches in this episode. The Rumble is not an all-time classic but it has some 
wonderful moments and does its job setting up The Road To Wrestlemania.

Jericho and The Rock have another banger, and then we “change channels” again to catch the hour-ling, four man battle to be the first ever ROH Champ. It’s a great match despite featuring neither AJ Styles nor Daniel Bryan Danielson.

1. The 2002 Royal Rumble Match.
Al Snow, Albert, The Big Boss Man, The Big Show, Billy Gunn, Booker T, Christian, Chuck Palumbo, DDP, Farooq, The Godfather, Goldust, The Hurricane, JBL (as Bradshaw), Jeff Hardy, Kane, Kurt Angle, Lance Storm, Matt Hardy, Maven, Mr Perfect, Perry Saturn, Rikishi, RvD, Scotty 2 Hotty, Steve Austin, Test, Triple H, The Undertaker, Val Venis

2. Chris Jericho (WWE Champ) vs The Rock at Royal Rumble 2002.

MAIN EVENT: BRIAN KENDRICK (as SPANKY) vs CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs DOUG WILLIAMS vs LO KI at CROWNING A CHAMPION.​

Season 6, Episode 12 Totally New Attitude (2002)

Impact Wrestling was originally known as TNA and, without a real TV deal, featured weekly pay-per-views at discount prices. Jeff Jarrett was the money behind this NWA territory. While his main event scene was immediately stale and full of forgettable matches, he was inspired by WCW’s cruiserweight division, and created The X Division.

The X Division made AJ Styles a legend. The combination of this division and Jarrett’s deep pockets made Impact a lesser-WCW show. It was certainly better than the final days of WCW but it wasn’t quite as legendary as the 80s and early 90s WCW.

One of the surprise highlights of this episode is R-Truth as K-Krush, later Ron Killings, who cuts a hell of a promo before destroying WCW alum, Norman Smiley.

You’ll notice that Lo Ki from ROH is also all over this episode.

1. The Flying Elvises vs AJ Styles, Jerry Lynn, Lo Ki at TNA #1.

2. R-Truth (as K-Krush) vs Norman Smiley from TNA #5.

2. AJ Styles vs Lo Ki vs Jerry Lynn vs Psicosis for the Impact X Championship at TNA #2.

3. Sabu vs Malice in a Ladder Match at TNA #5.

4. AJ Styles & Jerry Lynn (NWA Tag Champs) vs The Disciples Of The New Church at TNA #4.

5. Christopher Daniels vs Elix Skipper vs Jerry Lynn vs Kid Romeo vs Lo Ki vs Tony Mamaluke at TNA #4.

6. Ken Shamrock (NWA Champ) vs R-Truth (as Ron Killings) at TNA #8.

7. AJ Styles (Impact X Champ) vs Lo Ki at TNA #5.

8. The Flying Elvises vs Amazing Red and the Spanish Announce Team at TNA #8.

​MAIN EVENT: AJ STYLES (IMPACT X CHAMP) vs JERRY LYNN vs LO KI at TNA #8.​

Season 6, Episode 13: The Next Big Thing (2002)

Ladies and gentlemen, you may remember WCW manager, ECW president, WWE commentator, and InVasion agitator, Paul Heyman. He is now the advocate for the most  impressive WWE athlete, Brock Lesnar, who appears here to destroy everyone. He doesn’t 
even have a match in this episode. He’s just here to murder.

Kurt Angle and Edge begin one of the most memorable feuds of 2002. Eddie Guerrero is back, and so is Chris Benoit! Oh, and the NWO. Their return was a wetter fart than The InVasion angle, so we’re going to skip all of their matches except one, and that one is one of the greatest Wrestlemania non-main event bouts ever, Hulk Hogan vs The Rock. It’s on-par with the Rock’s very good matches but it’s easily the best Hulk Hogan Match since our Season 2, maybe Season 1.

Ric Flair vs Undertaker isn’t on the same level but it is another fun battle between two huge stars from different eras. Two stars who teamed up to kick Hogan’s butt back in Season 2.

Another fun moment is that the episode starts with the Briscoe brothers, future ROH and
AEW Hall of Famers that we saw in our sorbet episode, having their first match against each other shortly after one of them turns 18! Baby Briscoes aren’t quite as terrifying as their later iterations but they’re clearly talented and put on a hell of an opener here.

1. Mark Briscoe vs Jay Briscoe from Honor Invades Boston 2002.

2. William Regal (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs RvD at Wrestlemania 18.

3. The Undertaker vs Ric Flair in a No DQ Match at Wrestlemania 18.

4. Billy Kidman (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Tajiri at Backlash 2002.

5. Maven (WWE Hardcore Champ) vs Al Snow from Raw.

6. Kurt Angle vs Edge at Backlash 2002.

7. Eddie Guerrero (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs RvD in a Ladder Match from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK vs HULK HOGAN at WRESTLEMANIA 18.​

Season 6, Episode 14: Get The F Out (2002)

We’ve finally reached the time when the WWF was legally forced to change its name and  officially became the WWE. Lesnar gets his first couple of matches in this episode, including a tag match where he and his Advocate, Paul Heyman, took on The Hardy Boyz.

The most fun angle in this show is the Hair vs Hair shenanigans from Judgment Day.

The Main Event is part of one of many stop/start attempts to push Jeff Hardy into the MainEvent Scene. What better way to do it than to put The Undertaker through his first ladder match.

1. Lo Ki (ROH Champ) vs AJ Styles at Honor Invades Boston 2002.

2. Jazz (WWE Womens Champ) vs Trish Stratus at Backlash 2002.

3. Brock Lesnar vs Jeff Hardy at Backlash 2002.

4. Kurt Angle vs Edge in a Hair vs Hair Match at Judgment Day 2002.

5. Triple H vs Chris Jericho in Hell In A Cell at Judgment Day 2002.

6. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman vs The Hardy Boyz at Judgment Day 2002.

MAIN EVENT: THE UNDERTAKER (WWE CHAMP) vs JEFF HARDY in a LADDER MATCH from RAW​.

Episode 615: Totally Nonstop AJ Styles (2002)

AJ Styles is all over both ROH and Impact for the foreseeable future. He’s in roughly half the matches in this episode but so is Jerry Lynn. The two of them compete in a Three Stages Of Hell Match with a Falls Count Anywhere, a No DQ, and a Ten Minute Iron Man. All three matches are solid and show how impressive both of them are. Amazing Red and The Spanish Announce Team each appear twice, once as a unit, and then separate.

Our third R-Truth match has him defending the title against Lo Ki, and our main event brings in XPac from the WWE. He won the X Division title in a pretty blah match so we skipped it. His defense against AJ Styles was fun, even if it does include a run-in from fellow WWE refugee, Too Sexay Brian Christopher as part of a storyline we will not be following.

1. Jerry Lynn vs AJ Styles in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at TNA #10.

2. The Amazing Red and The Spanish Announce Team vs Kid Kash, Shark Boy, and Slim J at TNA #9.

3. Jerry Lynn vs AJ Styles in a No DQ Match at TNA #10.

4. Jerry Lynn vs AJ Styles in a 10 Minute Iron Man Match at TNA #10.

5. Kid Cash vs Amazing Red at TNA #11.

6. Lo Ki (Impact X Champ) vs Jerry Lynn vs AJ Styles in a Ladder Match at TNA #11.

5. R-Truth (as Ron Killings) (NWA Champ) vs Lo Ki at TNA #15.

6. America’s Most Wanted (NWA Tag Champs) vs The Spanish Announce Team at TNA #16.

7. Amazing Red vs Elix Skipper vs Joel Maximo vs Jose Maximo vs Kid Kash at TNA #18.

8. America’s Most Wanted (NWA Tag Champs) vs The Hot Shots at TNA #18.

MAIN EVENT: XPAC (as SYXXPAC) (IMPACT X CHAMP) vs AJ STYLES at TNA #18.​

Season 6, Episode 16: Ruthless Aggression (2002)

Vince McMahon announces the end of The Attitude Era by calling for more “ruthless aggression”, a phrase repeated by rookie unknown, John Cena, when he challenges Kurt Angle on Smackdown. The other major rookie of the moment, Brock Lesnar, starts his angle as The Silent Legend Killer (Randy Orton is coming next season and makes The Legend Killer his gimmick, but Lesnar mostly keeps his mouth shut as he destroys Flair here, and goes on to commit more carnage for the rest of this season).

1. Paul London vs Michael Shane at Unscripted 2002.

2. RvD vs Chris Jericho at King Of The Ring 2002.

3. Trish Stratus (WWE Womens Champ) vs Molly Holly at King Of The Ring 2002.

4. Kurt Angle vs Hulk Hogan from King Of The Ring 2002.

5. Brock Lesnar vs Test at King Of The Ring 2002.

6. Kurt Angle vs John Cena from Smackdown.

5. Brock Lesnar vs Ric Flair from Raw.

6. Bubba Ray Dudley and Spike Dudley vs Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero in an Elimination Tables Match at Vengeance 2002.

MAIN EVENT: THE UNDERTAKER (WWE CHAMP) vs KURT ANGLE vs THE ROCK at VENGEANCE 2002.​

Season 6, Episode 17: Deterioration X (2002)

Shawn Michaels is back! Returning from his supposedly career-ending injury, he looks to pick things up right where they left off. It doesn’t really go that way.

There’s also another WWE debut as Rey Mysterio debuts to take on one of his cruiserweight rivals from the WCW days.

1. The Amazing Red vs Ikuto Hidaka at Glory By Honor 2002.

2. RvD (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Brock Lesnar at Vengeance 2002.

3. Billy & Chuck (WWE Tag Champs) vs Hulk Hogan & Edge on Smackdown.

4. RvD (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Jeff Hardy (WWE European Champ) in a Title Unification Ladder Match from Raw.

5. Chavo Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

6. Edge vs Chris Jericho in a Steel Cage from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: TRIPLE H vs SHAWN MICHAELS at SUMMERSLAM 2002.

Season 6, Episode 18: Fights Without Honor (2002)

This episode’s debut happens over in ROH as Samoa Joe announces himself. He’s part of one of  ROH’s sillier storylines where Christopher Daniels is running an organization that doesn’t want to shake hands at the end of matches. That’s it. That’s their gimmick. But Samoa Joe can make any gimmick work.

Lesnar continues his path of destruction through Hulk Hogan and The Rock. And the Smackdown Six: Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle, Edge, and Chavo Guerrero start to percolate into the Main Event scene.

1. Lo Ki vs Samoa Joe in a Fight Without Honor at Glory By Honor 2002.

2. Edge, John Cena, Rey Mysterio vs Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle from Smackdown.

3. Brock Lesnar vs Hulk Hogan from Smackdown.

4. Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio at SummerSlam 2002.

5. Edge vs Eddie Guerrero at SummerSlam 2002.

6. Chris Benoit (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs RvD at SummerSlam 2002.

7. The Rock (WWE Champ) vs Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2002.

8. Triple H (WCW Champ) vs RvD at Unforgiven 2002.

MAIN EVENT: KURT ANGLE vs CHRIS BENOIT at UNFORGIVEN 2002.

Season 6, Episode 19: Typically Nonsensical Action (2002)

A dark cloud has formed over our exciting X-Division NWA territory as Vince “I Killed WCW And I Will Kill This, Too” Russo takes over booking, amps up the misogyny, the swerves and other things that fans outright rejected. He makes an appearance halfway through this episode, and we change channels to ROH where we get a great six man match, and then Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles clash for the first time. It’s a banger.

1. America’s Most Wanted (NWA Tag Champs) vs Disciples Of The New Church at TNA #20.

2. AJ Styles (IMPACT X Champ) vs Jerry Lynn vs Kid Cash at TNA #21.

3. R-Truth (as Ron Killings)(NWA Champ) vs Jeff Jarrett at TNA #22.

4. Jerry Lynn (IMPACT X Champ) vs The Amazing Red at TNA #22.

5. Sports Entertainment Extreme vs Amazing Red and The Spanish Announce Team at TNA #26.

6. Samoa Joe and The Prophecy vs Doug Williams, Homicide, Lo Ki at All Star Extravaganza 2002.

IMPACT/ROH SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: DANIEL BRYAN DANIELSON (as THE AMERICAN DRAGON) vs AJ STYLES at ALL STAR EXTRAVAGANZA 2002.​

Season 6, Episode 20: Rise Of The Smackdown Six (2002)

We closed out last season with a six person Hell In A Cell Match. This season will end with 
just two men in the cage but those two men are Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker, and they annihilate each other.

The Smackdown Six are the stars of the episode, though, as we see them in multiple combinations here. This is going to continue well into next season.

1. Masato Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani vs Lo Ki and Steve Corino at All Star Extravaganza 2002.

2. Edge vs Eddie Guerrero in a No DQ Match from Smackdown.

3. Chris Benoit vs Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

4. Edge vs Kurt Angle from Smackdown.

5. Rey Mysterio vs Chris Benoit from Smackdown.

6. Kane (Raw Tag Team Champ) vs Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley vs Chris Jericho and Christian vs Jeff Hardy and RvD from Raw.

SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: BROCK LESNAR (WWE CHAMP) vs THE UNDERTAKER in a HELL IN A CELL MATCH at NO MERCY 2002

The Age of Backstage Shenanigans, Directors Of Authority, and General Managers runs amok across both WWE and, its closest competition, Impact, while Ring Of Honor remains the house of great wrestling and terrible storytelling. 

There is a lot of old WCW blood taking power in WWE and Impact as well, as Eric Bischoff co-manages the WWE with Steve Austin, and Dusty Rhodes's run as the Director of Authority in Impact gives way to a...*prolonged sigh*...Vince Russo era. There's something awful about even the idea of Vince Russo in a position of power in a company that can't keep the belt off of Honkey Tonk Junior, Jeff Jarrett. But, somehow, by the end of the season, Vince Russo ends up being a...good...guy? It ends surprisingly well, considering how terrible the company was when he took over.

Sorbet Episode: Are You Adequately Prepared To Rock? (2003, 2004)

Be prepared to see a bunch of these faces from Pro Wrestling Guerilla popping up in Ring Of Honor and Impact in the next couple of seasons, and in WWE and AEW further down the line. CM Punk, who we already know, makes a brief appearance. Our two main eventers begin a decades long feud here that might have ended recently, as one of the participants may have injured himself into retirement. If not, I expect we'll see at least a few more matches between the two.

Not all the matches have commentary but those that do sound like two stoners watching the match on tape and making very tired jokes as they regurgitate the style of announcing in the late 80s early 90s. It’s somewhat endearing for one episode but I wouldn’t be able to endure an entire season of it.

1. Super Dragon vs Joey Ryan in a Guerrilla Warfare Match at An Inch Longer Than Average.

2. Chris Hero and CM Punk vs The Iron Saints at Tango and Cash Invitational.

3. Double Dragon vs The X-Foundation at Tango and Cash Invitational.

4. Super Dragon vs Scorpio Sky in a Guerrilla Warfare Match at Kee_ The _ee Out Of Our _ool.

5. Adam Pearce (PWG Champ) vs Frank Kazarian in a Loser Leaves Town Steel Cage Match at The Reason For The Season.

MAIN EVENT: SAMI ZAYN (as EL GENERICO) vs KEVIN OWENS (as KEVIN STEEN) at FREE ADMISSION (JUST KIDDING!!!)

Season 7, Episode 1: Tag Team Turmoil (2002)

The Smackdown Six Era is still in full swing with Benoit, Angle, Edge, Rey Mysterio, and The Guerreros still absolutely dominating the WWE with their excellent matches. Tossing Lesnar and The Big Show into the various story angles spices everything up. 

Our only matches from the Raw side of the table are our payoff match from last season’s Bookdust storyline, and a six man match from Survivor Series.

1. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit vs Los Guerreros from Smackdown.

2. Chris Jericho and Christian (WWE Raw Tag Champs) vs Bookdust at No Mercy 2002.

3. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit vs Edge and Rey Mysterio for the Inaugural Smackdown Tag Championship at No Mercy 2002.

4. Brock Lesnar vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

6. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit (WWE Smackdown Champs) vs Los Guerreros at Rebellion 2002.

7. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs The Big Show at Survivor Series 2002.

8. Jeff Hardy, Bubba Ray Dudley, and Spike Dudley vs Rico and Three Minute Warning in a Tag Team Elimination Match at Survivor Series 2002.

9. Trish (WWE Womens Champ) vs Victoria in a Hardcore Match at Survivor Series 2002.

MAIN EVENT: KURT ANGLE and CHRIS BENOIT (WWE SMACKDOWN CHAMPS) vs REY MYSTERIO and EDGE at SURVIVOR SERIES 2002.

Season 7, Episode 2: Totally Ntense Athleticism (2002)

We’re building up to ROH having their own episodes but in the meantime we have four strong matches featuring future WWE and NJPW Hall of Famers: Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, and Daniel Bryan, and two future AEW Hall of Famers: Jay Briscoe and Christopher Daniels.

On the TNA side of this episode, we dig through the dregs of the Vince Russo era and find some excellent multi-man matches, only one of them involving Russo’s offensive stable of the moment: Sports Entertainment Xtreme.

1. The Prophecy vs Jay Briscoe and The Amazing Red at Scramble Madness 2002.

2.Homicide vs Samoa Joe at Scramble Madness 2002.

3. AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels at Scramble Madness 2002.

4. Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) vs Doug Williams in an Iron Man Match at Scramble Madness 2002.

5. The Disciples Of The New Church (NWA Tag Champs) vs America’s Most Wanted at TNA #27.

6. The Amazing Red and The Spanish Announce Team vs David Young, Jimmy Yang, and Shark Boy at TNA #29.

MAIN EVENT: AMERICA’S MOST WANTED vs TRIPLE X at TNA #29

Season 7, Episode 3: Hungry Hungry Hippos (2002)

Named for a random RvD joke from a fun, throwaway skit, this episode continues the reign of The Smackdown Six while also introducing us to one of Eric Bischoff’s greatest ideas: The Elimination Chamber.

The Elimination Chamber is basically a War Games match where the competitors are placed in pods inside the cage until they’re released at two-minute intervals to join the match. Unlike War Games, there are no teams, it’s every wrestler for themselves. There have been absolute bangers over the ensuing decades but the first one is arguably still the best one they have ever booked.

1. Jamie Noble (WWE Cruiserweight Champ) vs Billy Kidman at Survivor Series 2002.

2. Edge and Rey Mysterio (WWE Smackdown Champs) vs Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle vs Los Guerreros at Survivor Series 2002.

3. Chris Jericho and Christian (WWE Raw Tag Champs) vs Bookdust vs Lance Storm and William Regal vs The Dudley Boyz at Armageddon 2002.

4. Los Guerreros (WWE Smackdown Champs) vs Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle from Smackdown.

5. Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero vs Edge vs Kurt Angle from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: BOOKER T vs CHRIS JERICHO vs KANE vs RVD vs SHAWN MICHAELS vs TRIPLE H in the inaugural ELIMINATION CHAMBER.

Season 7, Episode 4: New Angles (2002)

It’s getting boring to mention the Smackdown Six but here they all are again except instead of Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman gets subbed into various tag teams.

We also saw the return of Shawn Michaels at the end of last season, and he won a title in the last episode. His defense here is an epic match with his one-time tag team partner and fellow Clique Veteran.

1. Los Guerreros (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs Billy Kidman and Chris Benoit from 
Smackdown.

2. Bookdust (WWE Raw Tag Champs) vs Chris Jericho and Christian from Raw.

3. Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero at Armageddon 2002.

4. The Big Show (WWE Champ) vs Kurt Angle at Armageddon 2002.

5. Los Guerreros (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs Billy Kidman and Edge from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: SHAWN MICHAELS (WCW CHAMP) vs TRIPLE H in a 3 STAGES OF HELL MATCH at ARMAGEDDON 2002.

Season 7, Episode 5: Sports Entertainment Xtreme (2002, 2003)

Another ROH/TNA megacard. CM Punk debuts in the chronology. And we have our first look at Jeff Jarrett as NWA Champ. I’m pretty sure this isn’t his first reign, and we will be skipping over most of his matches as there’s only so many times you can watch a guy Honky Tonk Man another guy over the head with a guitar to win before it gets old. His bout with Styles here is a great one, though. 

1. Paul London vs Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) at Night Of The Butcher 2002.

2. Colt Cabana vs CM Punk at Night Of The Butcher 2002.

3. Xavier (ROH Champ) vs Paul London at Final Battle 2022.

4. The Amazing Red vs Jorge Estrada at TNA #30.

5. Triple X (NWA Tag Champs) vs Disciples Of The New Church at TNA #31.

6. X Division #1 Contender Gauntlet Match at TNA #32.
David Young, Jimmy Rave, Jerry Lynn, Joel Maximo, Jose Maximo, Paul London, Shark Boy, Tony  Mamaluke

7. Raven vs Sandman in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at TNA #32.

​MAIN EVENT: JEFF JARRETT (NWA CHAMP) vs AJ STYLES at TNA #33.

Season 7, Episode 6: Maple Syrup Candy Asses (2002, 2003)

The Rock returns to cut some promos here (he’ll be back in the ring soon) and immediately turns heel.

The Victoria/Trish Stratus storyline continues to be better and less problematic than almost any previous women’s storyline.

We also continue to see Brock Lesnar pull some of the best matches out of The Big Show in wrestling history. And we’re not even close to the best of their matches yet.

We also get a delightful look at how talented Scotty 2 Hotty was when not saddled with Brian Christopher, as he takes on XPac for the Light Heavyweight Championship.

1. Victoria (WWE Womens Champ) vs Trish Stratus vs Jacqueline at Armageddon 2002.

2. The World’s Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle) and Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit and Edge from Smackdown.

3. Brock Lesnar vs The Big Show at Royal Rumble 2003.

4. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Chris Benoit at Royal Rumble 2003.

5. XPac (WWE Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Scotty 2 Hotty from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH 2003.
Albert (as A-Train), Batista. Bill DeMott, Booker T, Brock Lesnar, Bull Buchanan, Charlie Haas, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Jericho, Christian, Christopher Nowinski, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Goldust, Jeff Hardy, John Cena, Kane, Matt Hardy, Maven, Rey Mysterio, Rikishi, RvD, Rosey, Shawn Michaels, Shelton Benjamin, Tajiri, Test, Tommy Dreamer, Umaga (as Jamal), The Undertaker

Season 7, Episode 7: The New Year Of Honor (2003)

Our first all-ROH card of this season is familiar faces continuing to grow into the best wrestlers in the industry. It culminates in the First Anniversary Show and the best defense from early ROH champion, Xavier, who’s not as fondly remembered as many of his peers from the era but who had several really good matches against the right opponents.

1. AJ Styles and Lo Ki vs The Prophecy at Revenge On The Prophecy.

2.Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) vs Samoa Joe at Revenge On The Prophecy.

3. BJ Whitmer vs Colt Cabana vs Homicide vs Paul London in a Four Corners Match at Revenge On The Prophecy.

4.Jay Briscoe vs Matt Briscoe at One Year Anniversary Show.

5.Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) vs Samoa Joe at One Year Anniversary Show.

6. AJ Styles vs Lo Ki vs Paul London at One Year Anniversary Show. 

​MAIN EVENT: XAVIER (ROH CHAMP) vs PAUL LONDON at ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW.

Season 7, Episode 8: The Doctor Of Thugonomics (2003)

Scott Steiner’s year in WWE was rough. He was immediately plopped into the main event scene where he and Triple H put on a series of matches that were embarrassingly bad, given how talented each of them are. They just had zero chemistry. And while most of his storylines in WWE have aged as badly as his latter-day WCW stories, he did have a decent scrap with Batista.

Apart from the debut of Brian Kendrick (aka Spanky from ROH) in this episode, it’s the usual Smackdown heroes putting on the best matches. Importantly, “the usual Smackdown heroes” now includes John Cena.

1. Batista vs Scott Steiner from Raw.

2. Los Guerreros (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs World’s Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle) from Smackdown.

3. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Chris Benoit in a Non-Title Match from Smackdown.

4. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar from Smackdown.

5. World’s Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle) and Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit from No Way Out 2003.

6. Chris Jericho vs Jeff Hardy at No Way Out 2003.

7. Brock Lesnar vs Paul Heyman in a Steel Cage from Smackdown.

8. Rey Mysterio vs Jamie Noble vs Tajiri from Smackdown.

9. Matt Hardy (WWE Cruiserweight Champ) vs Brian Kendrick in a Non Title Match from 
Smackdown.

​MAIN EVENT: KURT ANGLE (WWE CHAMP) vs BROCK LESNAR from SMACKDOWN.

Season 7, Episode 9: TNECW (2003)

A quarter of a century after ECW died, it’s still not buried. In 2003, the veterans of violence were all over Impact and ROH. In this episode, Raven and Sandman are reunited, and Raven climbs into the main event scene.

Apart from that, it’s still all about the X Division.

1. AJ Styles vs Sandman at TNA #34.

2.Jerry Lynn vs Super Crazy at TNA #35.

3. Kid Kash (Impact X Champ) vs Amazing Red at TNA #35.

4. Raven vs Sandman in a Clockwork Orange House Of Fun Match at TNA #35.

5. Kid Kash (Impact X Champ) vs Amazing Red vs Johnny Storm at TNA #36.

6. Triple X vs America’s Most Wanted for the NWA Tag Championship at TNA #36.

7. Juventud Guerrera and Konnan vs Jason Cross and Jerry Lynn at TNA #37.

8. Kid Kash (Impact X Champ) vs Amazing Red vs Trinity at TNA #37.

MAIN EVENT: AJ STYLES vs RAVEN in a LADDER MATCH at TNA #37

Season 7, Episode 10: The Quiet End (2003)
Pinpointing when The Attitude Era officially ends and when Ruthless Aggression begins is much debated. While the term “Ruthless Aggression” was introduced during the end of last season, I find it sort of slides around. I think you can label anytime where The Smackdown Six are at the top of the card as Ruthless Aggression. But this is the last episode where you can reasonably argue about it being The Attitude Era as we see the final Steve Austin match for two decades. It wasn’t announced beforehand, and nobody knew it was the final match until the next episode of Raw where Austin was “fired” (he was back a month later as the co-general manager of Raw). It was a great match to go out on.

We have our first Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho match here. Their feud is years long and almost consistently excellent. This is a great starting point.

The Hulk Hogan/Vince McMahon match is surprisingly entertaining. It technically led to another feud between Vince McMahon and Mr. America (Hulk Hogan in a patriotic superhero costume) but the less said about that wrestlecrap, the better. For my money, this is the last time Hogan was interesting as a wrestler.

1. Victoria (WWE Womens Champ) vs Jazz vs Trish Stratus at Wrestlemania 19.

2. Team Angle (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs Los Guerreros vs Chris Benoit and Rhyno at Wrestlemania 19. 

3. Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 19.

4. Hulk Hogan vs Vince McMahon at Wrestlemania 19.

5. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 19. 

​MAIN EVENT: THE ROCK vs STEVE AUSTIN at WRESTLEMANIA 19​

Season 7, Episode 11: Expect The Unexpected (2003)

Just that crop of ROH guys doing their usual excellent matches. No cool storylines, no interesting promos, nothing very gimmicky. It’s just that The Usual happens to be very good.

1. Chad Collyer vs Matt Stryker at Expect The Unexpected.

2. CM Punk vs Raven at Expect The Unexpected.

3. Doug Williams vs Christopher Daniels at Night of Champions 2003.
4. AJ Styles and The Amazing Red (ROH Tag Champs) vs The Briscoes at Night Of Champions 2003.

5. Paul London vs Daniel Bryan Danielson (as The American Dragon) in a 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match at Epic Encounters 2003.

6. Homicide vs CM Punk at Round Robin Challenge 2. 

MAIN EVENT: SAMOA JOE (ROH CHAMP) vs DOUG WILLIAMS at ROUND ROBIN CHALLENGE 2.

Season 7, Episode 12: Stretchering The Truth (2003)

In small doses, The Hurricane is an excellent gimmick. Here, he gets an actual title shot, which is, of course, just a setup for a completely different angle. That, a women’s match, and an Intercontinental title match are the only things buffering the continuing onslaught of The Smackdown Six And Friends.

1. Triple H (WCW Champ) vs The Hurricane from Raw.

2. John Cena vs Chris Benoit from Smackdown.

3. World’s Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle)(WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs Los Guerreros at Backlash 2003.

4. Rey Mysterio vs The Big Show at Backlash 2003.

5. World’s Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle) vs Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri in a Ladder match at Judgment Day 2003.

6. Jazz (WWE Womens Champ) vs Trish Stratus at Insurrextion 2003.

7. Christian (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Booker T at Insurrextion 2003.

MAIN EVENT: BROCK LESNAR (WWE CHAMP) vs THE BIG SHOW at JUDGMENT DAY 2003.

Season 7, Episode 13: Truly Nevermore Again (2003)

Raven’s promos were iconic during his Impact run, even if I find them a little dweeby.
The real story is the continuing feud between Kid Kash, The Amazing Red, and Trinity, which might be the most underrated feud in Impact history.

1. Kid Kash (Impact X Champ) vs Jerry Lynn at TNA #39.

2. Jerry Lynn and The Amazing Red vs Chris Sabin and Jonny Storm vs Jason Cross and Shark Boy vs Triple X at TNA #40. 

3. Trinity vs Kid Kash at TNA #42

4. Triple X (NWA Tag Champs) vs Jerry Lynn and The Amazing Red at TNA #41.

5. CM Punk vs Jason Cross vs Kid Romeo vs Paul London at TNA #46.

6. Kid Kash (Impact X Champ) vs Amazing Red at TNA #43

7. Triple X (NWA Tag Champs) vs America’s Most Wanted at TNA #42.

8. Chris Sabin vs Jason Cross vs Jimmy Rave vs Shark Boy at TNA #43.

9.Justin Credible, Slash, and The Amazing Red vs Triple X at TNA #46.

MAIN EVENT: JEFF JARRET (IMPACT CHAMP) vs RAVEN at TNA #43

Season 7, Episode 14: Bad Blood (2003)

Tajiri’s unlikely insertion into The Smackdown Six after The Big Show demolished Rey Mysterio out of Smackdown while Chavo Guerrero had to take time away, was brief but fantastic. 

Less fantastic is the entire career of Rodney Mack, a wrestler managed by former WCW manager, former referee, and future manager of Smackdown, Theodore Long. In 2003, his gimmick was The White Boy Challenge, where he would, you know, challenge a white guy to come out and beat him in less than five minutes. They were usually dull but the Spike Dudley bout is far and away the best of them, and worth the watch.

We also see Rey return, and Evolution is finally given something interesting to do. Implode!

1. Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs World’s Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle) from Smackdown.

2. Rodney Mack vs Spike Dudley in a White Boy Challenge Match from Raw.

3. Goldberg vs Lance Storm from Raw.

4. Triple H (WCW Champ) vs Ric Flair from Raw.

5. Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker vs The Big Show and The FBI from Smackdown.

6. Matt Hardy (WWE Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

7. Goldberg vs Chris Jericho at Bad Blood 2003.

8. Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair at Bad Blood 2003.

9. Triple H (WCW Champ) vs Kevin Nash in a Hell In A Cell Match at Bad Blood 2003.

MAIN EVENT: BROCK LESNAR (WWE CHAMP) vs THE BIG SHOW from SMACKDOWN.

Season 7, Episode 15: Frontier Of Honor (2003)

Samoa Joe continues to stomp all competitors as the Ring of Honor Champion. 

CM Punk has his first epic Dog Collar Match here, as well. I think it’s a long while before we see the second one.

Homicide steps up to the top of the ROH card in this episode where he’ll have a brief but engaging stint as an absolute killer who looks strong even when he loses.

Also, after seeing them mainly battle each other, The Briscoes finally team up here to challenge for the ROH Tag Titles.

1. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Zebra Kid at Frontiers Of Honor 2003.

2. AJ Styles vs Paul London at Night Of The Grudges 2003.

3. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Homicide at Do Or Die 2003.

4. CM Punk vs Raven in a Dog Collar Match at Death Before Dishonor 2003.

5. Trent Acid vs Homicide in a Fight Without Honor at Wrestlerave 2003.

6. AJ Styles and Amazing Red (ROH Tag Champs) vs The Briscoes at Death Before Dishonor 2003.

MAIN EVENT: SAMOA JOE (ROH CHAMP) vs PAUL LONDON at DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 2003. ​

Season 7, Episode 16: Toothless Aggression (2003)

Chris Benoit starts wearing his “Toothless Aggression” shirt in this episode. It’s the only humorous thing I really remember him doing, apart from some skits with Kurt Angle.

This is the usual Smackown Six and Friends run rampant card with some quick Raw peeks at Chris Jerico vs Shawn Michaels, and the breakdown of Kane and RvD. Also, the first ever woman in the Impact Hall Of Fame, Gail Kim, debuts for us here, already the WWE Womens Champ. Don’t blink, though, her WWE tenure was brief.

1. Chris Benoit vs Rhyno from Smackdown.

2. Gail Kim (WWE Womens Champ) vs Molly Holly from Raw.

3. Rey Mysterio (WWE Cruiserweight Champ) vs Nunzio from Smackdown.

3. Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs World’s Greatest Tag Team from Smackdown.

4. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels from Raw.

5. Chris Benoit vs Matt Hardy from Smackdown.

6. The Big Show and World’s Greatest Tag Team (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ), Kurt Angle, and Zach Gowen.

7. Kane vs RvD from Raw.

8. Eddie Guerrero vs Chris Benoit for the US Championship at Vengeance 2003.

MAIN EVENT: BROCK LESNAR (WWE CHAMP) vs THE BIG SHOW vs KURT ANGLE at VENGEANCE 2003. 

Season 7, Episode 17: Ultimate X (2003)

The Ultimate X stipulation is one of Impact’s best inventions. This first one isn’t great, as they hadn’t quite figured out how to set up the space and book it, but it’s fun to see them experiment with it.

D-Lo Brown pops over from the WWE, and has a briefly solid run. I like him in Impact much more than I liked him in The Fed.

As has been the case since we started following Impact, though, a majority of the great matches have AJ Styles in them.

1. Amazing Red (Impact X Champ) vs Chris Sabin vs Jerry Lynn at TNA #46.

2. AJ Styles vs D-Lo Brown at TNA #48.

3. Chris Sabin (Impact X Champ) vs Shark Boy at TNA #49.

4. D-Lo Brown vs Julio Dinero at TNA #49.

5. Triple X (NWA Tag Champs) vs America’s Most Wanted in a Steel Cage Match at TNA #51.

6. CM Punk vs Shane Douglas in a Clockwork Orange House Of Fun Match at TNA #52.

7. AJ Styles (Impact Champ) vs Frank Kazarian at TNA #52.

8. Chris Sabin (Impact X Champ) vs Frank Kazarian vs Michael Shane at the inaugural Ultimate X Match at TNA #59.
​
IMPACT SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: AJ STYLES (IMPACT CHAMP) vs RAVEN at TNA #60.​

Season 7, Episode 18: The Real Brock Lesnar (2003)

The less said about the Vince McMahon/Zach Gowen feud the better. It’s not that it didn’t age well, it’s that it sucked and was offensive when it appeared 22 years ago. Gowen himself is a talented wrestler but a terrible actor/promo deliverer. Here he gets massacred by The Real Brock Lesnar (newly turned back into a heel after a very brief face run), who then goes on to destroy Kurt Angle.

The Parking Lot Brawl as the semi-main event for this episode is a nice break from the WWE visuals at the time, and includes a less-offensive-than-usual rap from John Cena. Not inoffensive. Less offensive than usual.

The main event is only the third Iron Man Match we’ve seen from the WWE, and it’s probably the best.

1. Brock Lesnar vs Zach Gowen from Smackdown.

2. Eddie Guerrero (WWE US Champ) vs Chris Benoit vs Rhyno vs Tajiri at Summerslam 2003.

3. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Brock Lesnar at Summerslam 2003.

4. Rey Mysterio (WWE Cruiserweight Champ) vs Tajiri at Summerslam 2003.

5. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs The Undertaker from Smackdown.

6. Eddie Guerrero vs John Cena in a Parking Lot Brawl from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: KURT ANGLE (WWE CHAMP) vs BROCK LESNAR in an IRON MAN MATCH from SMACKDOWN.

Season 7, Episode 19: Better Friends, Stiffer Enemies (2003)

The newer, darker (as in the lights are much dimmer) ROH continues to showcase excellent matches with minimal storylines. They just look a bit more professional now. Apart from a Jim Cornette cameo, this is a promo free show, full of hand-shaking and face-kicking. The featured debut in this episode sees future WWE, Impact, and NWA Hall of Famer, Mickie James, appear as Alexis Laree.

1. BJ Whitmer vs Colt Cabana vs Dan Maff vs Homicide at Death Before Dishonor 2003.

2. Mickie James (as Alexis Laree) vs Sumie Sakai at Wrestlerave 2003.

3. Christopher Daniels vs Xavier at Better Friends, Stiffer Enemies.

4. Homicide vs Steve Corino in a No Holds Barred Match at Better Friends, Stiffer Enemies.

5. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Jay Briscoe at Tradition Continues.

6. The Backseat Boyz vs Special K vs The Carnage Crew vs The Next Generation Hart Foundation vs The Spanish Announce Team in a Scramble Cage Tag Match at Main Event Spectacles.

ROH SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: AJ STYLES vs DANIEL BRYAN DANIELSON (as BRYAN DANIELSON) at MAIN EVENT SPECTACLES.​

Season 7, Episode 20: Birth Of The Legend Killer (2003)

Much of the Raw Era this season draws from includes a storyline where Eric Bischoff and Steve Austin are forced to co-exist at co-managers of Raw. It’s a bad storyline. Not quite as bad as Vince McMahon vs Stephanie McMahon and Zach Gowen and Mr America over on Smackdown, but pretty close. As a result, I didn’t include much of it. But the final moment of it was a Survivor Series Match that was excellent, and also feeds into the rise of Randy Orton as The Legend Killer. But the final moment of the match is Steve Austin taking a bow and leaving some Steveweisers in the ring as he officially retires from wrestling. Something he didn’t do after his final actual match a few episodes ago.

While we continue following the amazing wrestling angles from Smackdown, and watch Kane demolish Shane McMahon, the real story here is Randy Orton finally getting a gimmick to match his talent: The Legend Killer. Val Venis is NOT a legend but it is right before his match that we see Orton cut a promo that will lead him to wipe out four actual legends in this episode: The Fabulous Moolah, Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels, and Steve Austin. Not a bad start.

1. Randy Orton vs Val Venis from Raw.

2. Kane vs Shane McMahon at Unforgiven 2003.

3. Randy Orton vs Shawn Michaels at Unforgiven 2003.

4. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) and John Cena vs Kurt Angle and The Undertaker from 
Smackdown.

5. Tajiri vs Rey Mysterio at No Mercy 2003.

6. Chris Benoit vs Albert (as A-Train) at No Mercy 2003.

7. Kurt Angle vs John Cena at No Mercy 2003.

SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: TEAM BISCHOFF vs TEAM AUSTIN in a SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH at SURVIVOR SERIES 2003.
Chris Jericho, Christian, Mark Henry, Randy Orton, and Scott Steiner vs Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, RvD, and Shawn Michaels

We get our first heavily ROH season here, as Daniel Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, CM Punk, Austin Aries, and a slew of future NXT/AEW stars dominate the indie scene. At the same time, Impact’s weekly pay-per-views dip in quality until they are eventually cancelled and replaced by a weekly TV show and monthly pay-per-views. We only have two Impact episodes this season, but they’ll pick back up again in Season 9.

WWE is still mainly The Smackdown Six and Evolution storylines from Raw. We do see some cruiserweight matches, and Shelton Benjamin’s intercontinental run, but it’s mainly Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Batista, Triple H, Randy Orton, Ric Flair, and Shawn Michaels in pretty much every possible combination. There are no major retirements this season, so we just end on one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all-time featuring two of the aforementioned stars of the season.

And while Triple H is in the midst of his Reign Of Terror in the WWE, Samoa Joe absolutely dominates Ring Of Honor, which continues to have effectively minimal storytelling and fantastic matches featuring the future of WWE & AEW. 

And while he doesn't have any matches this season (but don't worry, he'll be dropping by again next season), it's really fun to see Ricky Steamboat pop back up as an ethical referee in Ring Of Honor.

Season 8, Episode 1: Raw Leftovers (2003, 2004)

Bill Goldberg, the unbeatable, unstoppable WCW machine had a terrible first run in the WWE. Vince "It's Important We Bury Everyone Who Ever Worked For Anyone Other Than Me" McMahon couldn't let Goldberg ride the fan momentum to the top, so he lost a bunch of matches that the audience really wanted him to win. It was a huge bummer. His match against Shawn Michaels, though, was a nostalgic popfest.

And while there's a ton of nostalgia for the DX-era in this episode, we also get to see Christian and RvD's stocks continue to rise, and even get a fun Survivor Series match between the two of the most famous wrestlers to come out of OVW.

1. Team Lesnar vs Team Angle at Survivor Series 2003
Brock Lesnar, Albert (as A-Train), Big Show, Matt Morgan & Nathan Jones vs Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Hardcore Holly, JBL (as Bradshaw) & Jon Cena

2. Goldberg (WCW Heavyweight Champ) vs Shawn Michaels from Raw.

5. Christian (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs RVD in a Ladder Match from Raw.

4. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs Chris Benoit from Smackdown.

5. World’s Greatest Tag Team vs Los Guerreros from Smackdown.

6. RvD (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Randy Orton at Armageddon 2003.

MAIN EVENT: TRIPLE H (WCW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP) vs SHAWN MICHAELS from RAW.

Season 8, Episode 2: Pure Honor (2003, 2004)

ROH, still absolutely filled-to-the-brim with future Hall of Famers, was in the midst of The Year Of Samoa Joe. Once he had the title, it seemed like it was going to be his forever. This meant that they needed their version of The Intercontinental or TV Title. Thus was the Puro Championship born. And who better to have the first battle for it than AJ Styles and CM Punk?

This is a killer 2004/5 ROH card but if you take out AJ Styles, it's also a killer 2022 AEW card.

1. Steve Corino vs Homicide in a Barbed Wire Match at War Of The Wire.

2. John Walters vs Xavier in a Fight Without Honor at Final Battle 2003.

3. The Briscoes (ROH Tag Champs) vs Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan Danielson at The Battle Lines Are Drawn.

4. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Lo-Ki vs BJ Whitmer vs Dan Maff at ROH Second Anniversary Show.

5. CM Punk vs AJ Styles for the inaugural ROH Puro Championship at Second Anniversary Show.

MAIN EVENT: SAMOA JOE (ROH CHAMP) vs JAY BRISCOE (ROH TAG CHAMP) in a STEEL CAGE MATCH at AT OUR BEST.

Season 8, Episode 3: Viva La Raza (2004)
​
The Legend Killer's feud with Mick Foley was probably the apex of Orton's gimmick. We get the setup for it here as Orton taunts Foley, Foley has a concerning response in their Raw match, and then they duke it out in a very fun Rumble.

Eddie Guerrero finally making it into the championship title scene is also a heartwarming moment.

1. Triple H (WCW Heavyweight Champ) vs Shawn Michaels in a Last Man Standing Match at Royal Rumble 2004.

2. Randy Orton (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) from Raw.

3. Rey Mysterio (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Chavo Guerrero at No Way Out 2004.

4. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero at No Way Out 2004.

MAIN EVENT: ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH 2004.
Albert (as A-Train), Big Show, Billy Gunn, Booker T, Charlie Haas, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Christian, Ernest Miler, Goldberg, The Hurricane, JBL (as Bradshaw), John Cena, Kane, Kurt Angle, Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Matt Morgan, Mick Foley, Nunzio, Randy Orton, Rene Dupris, Rhyno, Rico, Rikishi, RvD, Scott Steiner, Shelton Benjamin, Spike Dudley, Tajiri
​

Season 8, Episode 4: Into The Abyss (2003, 2004)

Impact's answer to Mankind or Kane debuts in this episode, and he's  a silent delight. Juventud Guerrera stops in for a cup of coffee, as does Teddy Hart and Terry Funk (not in the same match). Seeing Funk and Punk in the same ring is fantastic. 
​
1. Juventud Guerrera vs Teddy Hart at TNA #61.

2. Chris Sabin vs Frank Kazarian at TNA #61

3. Raven vs Shane Douglas in a Hair vs Hair Match at TNA #63.

4. Chris Sabin vs Juventud Guerrera for the Impact X Championship.

5. AJ Styles vs Abyss at TNA #72.

6. Michael Shane (Impact X Champ) vs Chris Sabin vs Christopher Daniels vs Lo-Ki at TNA #79.

7. AJ Styles (NWA Tag Champ) vs Abyss in a Tables Match at TNA #86.

8. The Gathering vs Terry Funk & Raven at TNA #85.

MAIN EVENT: JEFF JARRETT (NWA CHAMP) vs AJ STYLES in a STEEL CAGE MATCH at TNA #94.

Season 8, Episode 6: ROH Reborn (2004)

It's not Reborn in my book, it's just the continued butt-kicking legend era of ROH.
​
1. AJ Styles (ROH Puro Champ) vs CM Punk at At Our Best.

2. Daniel Bryan Danielson vs Homicide at ROH Reborn.

3. The Briscoes (ROH Tag Champs) vs The Havana Pitbulls at ROH Reborn.

4. Brian Kendrick (as Spanky) vs Homicide

5. Daniel Bryan Danielson vs CM Punk at ROH Reborn.

MAIN EVENT: THE BRISCOES (ROH TAG CHAMPS) vs SECOND CITY SAINTS at ROH REBORN.

Season 8, Episode 7: Running The Gamut* (2004)

I love a good Gamuntlet episode of Raw. Whoever the Authority Figure is at the time decides to determine a title or a top contender by throwing a bunch of wrestlers into a series of matches where whoever wins the final match wins the prize. This one, featuring Shelton Benjamin and Rey Mysterio is non-stop excellence. And, for the first time in our chronology, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit are the top two champions in the company, defending their titles in a pair of scorchers.

1. Evolution (WWE Tag Champs) vs Chris Benoit (WCW Heavyweight Champ) & Shawn Michaels from Raw.

2. Shelton Benjamin vs Charlie Haas from Smackdown.

3. Shelton Benjamin vs Billy Gunn from Smackdown.

4. Shelton Benjamin vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

5. Rey Mysterio vs The Big Show from Smackdown.

6. Eddie Guerrero (WWE Champ) vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

7. Chris Benoit (WCW Heavyweight Champ) vs Shawn Michaels vs Triple H at Backlash 2004.

MAIN EVENT: EDDIE GUERRERO (WWE CHAMP) vs JBL at NO MERCY 2004.

*- "Running The Gauntlet" is an incorrect term. A gauntlet is a glove. One does not "run a gauntlet", they "throw down a gauntlet" in order to challenge someone. One "runs  a gamut" meaning that they complete a full challenge.

Season 8, Episode 8: Generation Next (2004)

Seeing CM Punk share a ring with Terry Funk a few episodes ago was exhilarating. And now he's sharing a ring and a decently long storyline with Ricky The Dragon Steamboat? *chef's kiss*

While they don't actually wrestle at any point, their frienemyship was one of the rare interesting storylines in the early days of ROH.

1. The Briscoes, Jimmy Rave & John Walters vs Generation Next at Generation Next.

2.  CM Punk vs Ricky Steamboat at Generation Next.

3. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Homicide at Generation Next.

4. Matt Stryker, Jimmy Rave & John Walters vs Generation Next at ROH World Title Classic.

MAIN EVENT: SAMOA JOE (ROH CHAMP) vs CM PUNK at WORLD TITLE CLASSIC.

Season 8, Episode 9: Back To The Bash (2004)

Intergender feuds were practically non-existent after Chyna left the WWE, so it was shocking to see Jacqueline answer Chavo Guerrero's open Cruiserweight challenge. Everything else on the card is pretty expected, the Guerrero/JBL feud continues, and Cena and Benoit each get a Brother Of Destruction to wrestle.

1. Chavo Guerrero (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Jacqueline from Smackdown.

2. John Cena (WWE US Champ) vs The Undertaker from Smackdown.

3. Chris Benoit (WCW Heavyweight Champ) vs Kane at Bad Blood 2004.

4. Jacqueline (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Chavo Guerrero with one hand tied behind his back at Judgment Day 2004.

5. Eddie Guerrero (WWE Champ) vs JBL in a Texas Bullrope Match at The Great American Bash 2004.

6. Chavo Guerrero (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio at The Great American Bash 2004.

MAIN EVENT: JBL (WWE CHAMP) vs EDDIE GUERRERO in a STEEL CAGE MATCH from SMACKDOWN.

Season 8, Episode 10: Survival Of The Fittest (2004)

Because there still aren't really stories attached to the Ring of Honor feuds, apart from "I'm mad at this person because I want to wrestle them," it's hard to keep writing descriptions for their episodes where it's just a solid bunch of wrestling from the most talented people in the industry at the time, many of whom are still the most talented people in the industry twenty years later. That's pretty much all there is to say about this episode, though.

1. The Briscoes vs Generation Next vs The Prophecy vs Second City Saints in an Ultimate Endurance Match at ROH World Title Classic.

2. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Austin Aries vs Colt Cabana vs Daniel Bryan Danielson vs Homicide vs Marc Briscoe at Survival Of The Fittest.

3. Alex Shelly (ROH Puro Champ) vs Doug Williams at Death Before Dishonor 2004.

MAIN EVENT: THE PROPHECY vs SECOND CITY SAINTS in a CHICAGO STREET FIGHT at DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 2004.

Season 8, Episode 11: The Rabid Wolverine (2004)

It's emotionally challenging to separate the feeling of being so incredibly happy for the seemingly nice guy/hard worker Chris Benoit who spent a decade in the business being underestimated and somewhat restricted before finally achieving a world title, and feeling guilty for celebrating the success of someone who went on to murder his family and himself. It doesn't get easier with time. 

Were this a chronology based on personal merit, there'd be no Benoit matches, no Hogan matches, no Ultimate Warrior, no Shawn Michael before he gave up cocaine for Lent, and absolutely no Vince McMahon as commentator, authority figure, or wrestler. Unfortunately, all of the above names were involved in some of the most important storylines or best technical matches of their time, so I've included them. 

This was Benoit at the height of his career, where he was, quite simply, one of the best wrestlers in the industry, finally being given his moment at the top.

1. Randy Orton (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Edge at Vengeance 2004.

2. Chris Benoit (WCW Heavyweight Champ) vs Triple H at Vengeance 2004.

3. Eddie Guerrero vs Kurt Angle at SummerSlam 2004.

4. Evolution vs Chris Benoit (WCW Heavyweight Champ), Edge (WWE Intercontinental Champ) & Chris Jericho from Raw.

5. Molly Holly vs Victoria at Vengeance 2004.

6. Billy Kidman vs Paul London from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: CHRIS BENOIT (WCW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP) vs RANDY ORTON at SUMMERSLAM 2004

Season 8, Episode 12: Bringing Back The Thunder (2004)

It's been a while since we've seen Jushin Thunder Liger. Here he gets slotted in with three of ROH's all-time most famous wrestlers for a hell of a tag team match. 

1. The Prophecy vs The Second City Saints in a Street Fight at Death Before Dishonor 2.

2. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Daniel Bryan Danielson at Midnight Express Reunion.

3. Generation Next vs Second City Saints in a NO DQ Match at Weekend Of Thunder.

MAIN EVENT: SAMOA JOE (ROH CHAMP) & JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER vs DANIEL BRYAN DANIELSON & LO KI.

Season 8, Episode 13: Stratisfaction (2004)

WWE has come a long way with women's wrestling since the early seasons of this chronology. But they still have a long way to go before Stephanie McMahon single-handedly revolutionized women's wrestling *hacking sarcastic cough* to the level it is in 2025. This episode includes the first time a women's match headlined Raw. (Only fifteen more years before women headlined Wrestlemania!) The leadup was no better or worse than most mid-card feuds at the time but it's not necessary to watch. The match itself was brief but fun to watch.

Apart from Trish vs Lita, the only unusual name for this episode is Spike Dudley, who had a resurgence as the Cruiserweight champ. 

1. Chris Jericho vs Christian in a Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Unforgiven 2004.

2. Randy Orton (WWE Champ) vs Chris Benoit from Raw.

3. Kurt Angle vs Eddie Guerrero from Smackdown.

4. Randy Orton, Chris Benoit & Shelton Benjamin vs Evolution from Raw.

5. Spike Dudley (WCW Cruiserweight Champ) vs Billy Kidman vs Chavo Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio at Survivor Series 2004.

6. Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Shelton Benjamin at Taboo Tuesday 2004.

7. Randy Orton vs Ric Flair in a Steel Cage from Raw.

MAIN EVENT: Trish Stratus (WWE Womens Champ) vs Lita from Raw.

Season 8, Episode 14: Beat The Clock (2004, 2005)

​The first (and maybe only) Beat The Clock tournament in the chronology. Eric Bischoff prepares for The Elimination chamber by having each competitor wrestle on an episode of Smackdown. Whoever gets the fastest win gets to be the final entrant. If you lose, your opponent replaces you in the chamber.

I’m a little sad that the first appearance of future Hall-Of-Famer Christy Hemme debuts here as a timekeeper who keeps changing her outfit but that’s just the way things were in 2004.

1. Chris Jericho vs Christian in a Beat The Clock Challenge from Raw.

2. Randy Orton vs Maven in a Beat The Clock Challenge from Raw.

3. Edge vs Eugene in a Beat The Clock Challenge from Raw.

4. Shelton Benjamin (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Christian at Survivor Series 2004.

5. Chris Benoit vs Viscera in a Beat The Clock Challenge from Raw.

6. Batista vs Rhyno in a Beat The Clock Challenge from Raw.

7. Shelton Benjamin (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Triple H in a Non-Title Beat The Clock Challenge from Raw.

8. JBL (WCW Heavyweight Champ) vs Booker T vs Eddie Guerrero vs Undertaker at Armageddon 2004.

MAIN EVENT: ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCH: BATISTA vs CHRIS BENOIT vs CHRIS JERICHO vs EDGE vs RANDY ORTON vs TRIPLE H at NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION 2005.

Season 8, Episode 15: Leather Anniversary (2004, 2005)

The third Anniversary party for ROH features all the heavy hitters and future Hall-of-Famers who dominate this era of ROH. This also begins a seemingly unending series of matches between Homicide and Daniel Bryan Danielson.​

1. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs CM Punk at All Star Extravaganza 2.

2. Homicide vs Daniel Bryan Danielson in a Tap Out Match at It All Begins 2005.

3. CM Punk vs Brian Kendrick (as Spanky) at Third Anniversary.

4. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Austin Aries at Final Battle 2004.

6. Alex Shelly vs Jack Evans at Third Anniversary.

7. Daniel Bryan Danielson vs Homicide in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Third Anniversary.

MAIN EVENT: AUSTIN ARIES (ROH CHAMP) vs SAMOA JOE at THIRD ANNIVERSARY.​

Season 8, Episode 16: Quads Out For Vinnie (2004, 2005)

Hate him or tolerate him, this is one of my favorite Vince McMahon moments in wrestling. After a botch at the end of The Royal Rumble, Ol' Stompy Legs tantrums his way down the ring, jumps in and blows out one of his quads, and then has to sit on the mat barking instructions until he decides to leave the ring under his own power, blowing out his other quad. Narcissistic moron.

1. Chris Benoit vs Edge in a Steel Cage Match at Raw.

2. Rey Mysterio & RvD (WWE Smackdown Tag Champs) vs Booker T & Eddie Guerrero from Smackdown.

3. Evolution vs Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho from Raw.

4. Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: ROYAL RUMBLE 2005.
Batista, Booker T, Charlie Haas, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Christian, Daniel Puder, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Gene Snitsky, Hardcore Holly, John Cena, Jonathan Coachman, Kane, Kenzo Suzuki, Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Rene Dupree, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Scotty 2 Hotty, Shawn Michaels, Shelton Benjamin, Simon Dean, The Hurricane, Viscera

Season 8, Episode 17: Turning Point (2004)

We've finally reached the end of Impact's weekly PPV experiment. The more spread out PPVs meant, generally, better quality PPVs. This is a smorgasbord of fun matches including our first Monster's Ball match, our first Jeff Hardy in Impact match, an R Truth title defense, an appearance by DDP, and perhaps the best-ever Impact cage spot that didn't involve Kurt Angle.​

1. Team Canada vs Team NWA TNA #96

2. R Truth (NWA Champ) vs AJ Styles vs Chris Harris vs Jeff Jarrett vs Raven in a King Of The Mountain Match TNA #100.

3. The Naturals (NWA Tag Champs) vs America’s Most Wanted in a Steel Cage at TNA #107.

4. Jeff Jarrett (NWA Champ) vs Jeff Hardy at TNA #114.

5.Abyss vs Monty Brown vs Raven in a Monster’s Ball Match at Victory Road 2004.

6. Petey Williams (Impact X Champ) vs AJ Styles at Victory Road 2004.

7. DDP vs Raven at Turning Point 2004.

8.  Petey Williams (Impact X Champ) vs Chris Sabin at Turning Point 2004.

IMPACT SEASON FINALE MAIN EVENT: AMERICA’S MOST WANTED vs TRIPLE X in a STEEL CAGE MATCH at TURNING POINT 2004.

Season 8, Episode 18: Thumb War (2005)

The downfall of Evolution was all about Thumbs. Thumbs up for a good match. Randy Orton got a thumbs down after winning the WWE title, and then they booted him from the group. This time, Triple H and Ric Flair try to bamboozle Batista and he gives them the thumbs down during a contract signing and goes on to battle Triple H for the title. Unfortunately, apart from a Hell In A Cell match that we'll get to later, they're matches against each other were long and boring, so we'll be skipping them.

​Instead, the Smackdown Six + Cena continue to run rampant, putting on the best matches in the WWE. But we do get a Raw-centirc banger as the main event as Shawn Michaels helps elevate Edge to the A-level of the company.

1. Randy Orton vs Christian from Raw.

2. Booker T vs Eddie Guerrero from Smackdown.

3. Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

4. John Cena vs Kurt Angle at No Way Out 2005.

5. JBL (WWE Champ) vs The Big Show in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match at No Way Out 2005.

MAIN EVENT: SHAWN MICHAELS vs EDGE from Raw.

Season 9, Episode 1: The Masterlock Challenge (2005)

This season begins with the rise of Chris Masters, a chiseled heel with a penchant for putting people in Full Nelsons. He's going to spend the season slowly climbing the card.

We also welcome our first new tag team that isn't just a combination of existing solo Smackdown stars who are put together just to eventually break up. MNM has a fun red carpet entrance and a definitive look and personality that will carry them into the title scene much faster than Chris Master's rise in the singles scene.


1. Chris Masters vs Stevie Richards from Raw.

2. Shelton Benjamin (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chris Jericho vs Christian from Raw.

3. Kurt Angle vs Eddie Guerrero from Smackdown.

4. Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio (WWE Tag Champs) vs MNM from Smackdown.

5. JBL vs Booker T vs Kurt Angle vs Big Show from Smackdown.

6. MnM (WWE Tag Champs) vs Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio from Smackdown.

7. Shelton Benjamin (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chris Jericho at Backlash 2005.

MAIN EVENT: EDGE vs CHRIS BENOIT in a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH at BACKLASH 2005.

Season 9, Episode 5: Manhattan Mayhem (2005)

Sami Zayn debuts in our chronology as the masked luchadore(?), El Generico. We get a couple of solid early Jay Lethal matches, and our first dog collar match in many seasons.
​
1. Roderick Strong vs Sami Zayn (as El Generico) at ROH Stalemate.

2. Jay Lethal (ROH Puro Champ) vs Brian Kendrick (as Spanky) at ROH Stalemate.

3. Austin Aries (ROH Champ) vs James Gibson at ROH Stalemate.

4. BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs (ROH Tag Champs) vs Generation Next at Manhattan Mayhem.

5. Jay Lethal (ROH Puro Champ) vs Samoa Joe at Manhattan Mayhem.

6. Jimmy Rave vs CM Punk in a Dog Collar Match at Manhattan Mayhem.

MAIN EVENT: AUSTIN ARIES (ROH CHAMP) vs ALEX SHELLEY at MANHATTAN MAYHEM.

Season 9, Episode 5: The Money’s On The One Night Stand (2005)

ECW! EC...W? Paul Heyman's funhouse is back in an only slightly watered down fashion as WWE tests the waters for an ECW relaunch by pitting the old school ECW stars against the current crop of WWE guys, some of whom happen to also be old school ECW stars. It's not precisely an INvasion but it's much more fun and successful than the actual INvasion. 

1. Chris Benoit vs Gene Snitsky from Raw.

2. Chris Benoit vs JBL from Raw.

3. Lance Storm vs Chris Jericho at One Night Stand 2005.

4. Super Crazy vs Tajiri vs Little Guido from One Night Stand 2005.

5. Chris Bennoit vs Eddie Guerrero from One Night Stand 2005.

6. Mike Awesome vs Masato Tanaka at One Night Stand 2005.

MAIN EVENT: THE DUDLEY BOYZ vs SANDMAN and TOMMY DREAMER at ONE NIGHT STAND  2005.​

Season 9, Episode 6: Old Grudges, New Frontiers (2005)

Since they don't do complex storylines, it's rare that a feud or wrestler gets stale in Ring Of Honor.  There's a lot of wrestler combinations that we've seen several times having another tussle in this episode, and it's still great. Honestly, if every week was Daniel Bryan Danielson versus a shoe, and Samoa Joe versus a garden hose, I would still probably watch every match.

1. Austin Aries (ROH Champ) vs James Gibson from Final Showdown 2005.

2. Daniel Bryan Danielson vs Homicide in a Steel Cage Match at Final Showdown 2005.

3. CM Punk vs Jimmy Rave in a Steel Cage Match at Nowhere To Run.

4. Austin Aries (ROH Champ) vs Daniel Bryan Danielson at Nowhere To Run.

MAIN EVENT: SAMOA JOE (ROH PURO CHAMP) vs JAMES GIBSON at NEW FRONTIERS.

Season 9, Episode 8: The Return of The 1-2-3 Man (2005)

After floundering in his final WWE run, Sean Waltman (aka 1-2-3 Kid, aka Syxx, aka X-Pac, aka SyxxPac) returns to Impact to wrestle under his given name for a change. He's a great addition to the X Division. 

Abyss continues to be a wonderful monster, rarely putting on a match that's less than entertaining.

1. AJ Styles vs Abyss in a Steel Cage Match at Lockdown 2005.

2. Samoa Joe vs Chris Sabin at No Surrender 2005.

3. King Of The Mountain Heavyweight Title Match at Slammiversary 2005.
AJ Styles (Impact Champ), Abyss, Monty Brown, Raven, XPac (as Sean Waltman)

4. Jeff Jarret & Rhyno vs Raven & Sabu at Sacrifice 2005.

5. AJ Styles vs XPac (as Sean Waltman) at No Surrender 2005.

6. Christopher Daniels (X Division Champ) vs Pety Williams at No Surrender 2005.

7. Jerry Lynn vs XPac (as Sean Waltman) at Sacrifice 2005.

MAIN EVENT: SAMOA JOE vs AJ STYLES at Sacrifice 2005.

Season 9, Episode 9: Summer of Punk, The Beginning (2005)

CM Punk is the most chanted phrase in wrestling history. We've been seeing him rise through the ranks of Ring Of Honor, and have some matches in Impact, but here he wins the championship the night AFTER it's announced that he's leaving for the WWE. It's pandemonium, will he leave with the belt?

Also, WWE's Matt Hardy got fired between seasons because, while injured, he discovered his long-time girlfriend, Lita, was having an affair with his friend and often-tag-team-opponent, Edge. It wasn't a story, it was real life drama. And when he complained about it on social media, Vince McMahon fired him. So he has a brief stint in ROH to keep hie reputation strong before WWE eventually hired him back.

1. Austin Aries (ROH Champ) vs CM Punk at Death Before Dishonor 3.

2. Austin Aries vs Homicide vs James Gibson vs Samoa Joe in a Four Corners Survivor Match as Sign Of Dishonor.

3. CM Punk (ROH Champ) vs Jay Lethal at Sign Of Dishonor.

4. Matt Hardy vs Christopher Daniels at Fate Of An Angel.

MAIN EVENT: CM PUNK (ROH CHAMP) vs RODERICK STRONG at ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.
​

Season 9, Episode 11: Dirty Dom's Daddy Drama (2005)

In the mid 2020s, Dominik Mysterio has risen to be one of the top heels in wrestling. In 2005, he was a rosy-cheeked child who cheered on his father, Rey. But Eddie Guerrero revealed to the world that Dominik may have been raised (reysed?) by Rey Mysterio but that he was actually Eddie Guerrero's son. This upped the drama in their constant feud and resulted in the absolutely ridiculous match in this episode where Eddie and Rey fought in a Ladder Match where the briefcase contained custody papers, making the boy's future dependent on the results of a wrestling match. 

Shawn Michaels, meanwhile asks Montreal who their daddy is, as he cuts two absolutely killer promos in this episode before putting on a ridiculously fun match against Great Grandpa Hogan.

In other melodramatic news, Matt Hardy returns to WWE to have his revenge on Edge and Lita.

1. Chris Masters vs Rosey from Smackdown.

2. Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero in a Custody Of Dom Ladder Match at Summer Slam.

3. John Cena (WWE Champ) vs Chris Jericho at Summer Slam.

4. Hulk Hogan vs Shawn Michaels at Summer Slam.

5. Kurt Angle vs Shelton Benjamin from Raw.

6. Shawn Michaels vs Chris Masters at Unforgiven.

MAIN EVENT: MATT HARDY vs EDGE in a STEEL CAGE at UNFORGIVEN.

Season 9, Episode 12: Unbreakable (2005)

ECW isn't just occasionally running rampant in WWE this season, with Raven as the Impact Champ, and Sabu and Rhyno running around, Impact also has an extreme infestation.

The main event can't technically be called a Survivor Series Match, since that's trademarked by WWE but, let's be honest, a 4x4 elimination tag match is precisely what a Survivor Series match it.

1. Abyss vs Sabu at Unbreakable 2005.

2. Raven (Impact Champ) vs Rhyno in a Raven’s Rules Match at Unbreakable 2005.

3. Christopher Daniels (Impact X Champ) vs AJ Styles vs Samoe Joe at Unbreakable 2005.

4. Abyss vs Jeff Hardy vs Rhyno vs Sabu in a Monster’s Ball Match at Bound For Glory 2005.

5. AJ Styles (Impact X Champ) vs Christopher Daniels in an Iron Man Match at Bound For Glory 2005.

MAIN EVENT: SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH at GENESIS 2005.
Alex Shelley, Christopher Daniels, Roderick Strong & Samoa Joe vs Austin Aries, Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley & Sonjay Dutt

Season 9, Episode 14: Homecoming Homecoming USA (2005)

After a few years airing on Spike TV, Raw returns to the USA channel with a killer set of episodes to draw in a new audience. We also continue the Taboo Tuesday experiment, where people could use the WWE website to vote for what stipulations they wanted to see, or who would face off in championship matches. It was a fun little experiment that created a couple of excellent bouts.

We also see the debut of Missssssssssssster Kennnnnnnnnuhdeeeeee (Kenuhdeee) in our chronology, which is also, sadly, our final ever match with Eddie Guerrero.

1. Carlito (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Ric Flair from Raw.

2. Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels in an Iron Man Match from Raw.

3. Edge vs Matt Hardy in a Loser Leaves Town Ladder Match from Raw.

4. Ric Flair (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Triple H in a Steel Cage Match at Taboo Tuesday.

5. Eddie Guerrero vs Mr. Kennedy from Smackdown.

MAIN EVENT: JOHN CENA (WWE CHAMP) vs SHAWN MICHAELS vs KURT ANGLE at TABOO TUESDAY 2005.

Season 9, Episode 16: The Eddie Guerrero Tribute Show (2005)

If you were to ask me what the saddest moment in wrestling history was, I'd say it was a tie between the on-air death of Owen Hart (which I left out of the chronology because it's gutting to watch, even though the actual death was not on camera) and the announcement of Eddie Guerrero's death on an episode of Raw. This was the only time I remember all three of the major wrestling companies acknowledging one wrestler's death and dedicating an episode to them. In fact, the entire final quarter of this season is filled with episodes about Eddie, after his death.

By far the hardest part to watch is how utterly broken Chris Benoit looks. Especially knowing of his own impending tragedy.

This episode contains both the Raw and Smackdown tribute matches and then pivots to the Survivor Series, which has some great matches with unfortunate names.

1. Kurt Angle vs Shelton Benjamin from Raw.

2. Shawn Michaels vs Rey Mysterio from Raw.

3. Chris Benoit vs Triple H from Smackdown.

4. Chavo Guerrero vs JBL from Smackdown.

5. Triple H vs Ric Flair in a Last Man Standing Match at Survivor Series 2005.

MAIN EVENT: TEAM RAW vs TEAM SMACKDOWN in a SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH at SURVIVOR SERIES 2005.
Batista, Bobby Lashley, JBL, Randy Orton & Rey Mysterio vs Carlito, Chris Masters, Kane, Shawn Michaels & The Big Show

Season 9, Episode 20: The Guerrero Rumble (2006)

We close off the season with one last major Guerrero story as he pranks Rey Mysterio from the grave. We actually have two battle royal matches in this episode, as well as the beginning of Ric Flair's unlikely turn to hardcore wrestling at the tender age of 350.

1. WCW Championship Battle Royal at Smackdown.
Bobby Lashley, Brian Kendrick, JBL, Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Nunzio, Orlando Jordan, Paul Burchill, Paul London, Psicosis, Rey Mysterio, Road Warrior Animal, Simon Dean, Super Crazy, Sylvan, Vito, William Regal

2. Edge (WWE Champ) vs Ric Flair in a TLC Match at Raw.

MAIN EVENT: ROYAL RUMBLE 2006.
Big Show, Bobby Lashley, Booker T, Carlito, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Chris Masters, Eugene,  Goldust, Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, Jonathan Coachman, Kane, Matt Hardy, Orlando Jordan, Psicosis, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio,  Ric Flair, Road Warrior Animal, RvD, Shawn Michaels, Shelton Benjamin, Simon Dean, Super Crazy, Sylvan, Tatanka, Trevor Murdoch, Triple H, Viscera

Season 10, Episode 5: Blood Generation (2006)

Now we start to see some new faces as wrestlers from Wrestling NOAH in Japan, CZW, and Dragon Gate start to filter in. This era of international cross-promotion is the prototype that AEW will use when they get up and running.

1. Nigel McGuinness (ROH Puro Champ) vs Claudio Castagnoli at Best In The World.

2. KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji vs Bryan Danielson & Samoa Joe at Best In The World. 

3. Blood Generation vs Generation Next at Dragon Gate Challenge.

4. Do Fixer vs Blood Generation at Supercard Of Honor. 

MAIN EVENT: DANIEL BRYAN DANIELSON vs RODERICK STRONG at SUPERCARD OF HONOR.

​

Season 10, Episode 10: ReCW (2006)

The resurgence of ECW as a brand is fairly brief but mostly fun. CM Punk spends his time in ECW climbing the ladder to WWE proper. As the old school ECW guys end up doing a lot of job work to the WWE mid-card.

1. Brian Kendrick & Paul London (WWE Tag Champs) vs The Pitbulls at Great American Bash 2006.

2. Umaga vs Shawn Michaels from Raw.

3. Mike Knox & Test vs Sandman & Tommy Dreamer from ECW.

4. CM Punk vs Justin Credible from ECW.

5. The Undertaker vs The Great Khali in a Last Man Standing Match from Smackdown.

6. Sabu vs Paul Heyman & Big Show (ECW Champ) from ECW.

7. DX vs Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon & The Big Show in Hell In A Cell at Unforgiven 2006.

8. Lita (WWE Womens Champ) vs Trish Stratus at Unforgiven 2006.

MAIN EVENT: EDGE (WWE CHAMP) vs JOHN CENA in a TLC MATCH at UNFORGIVEN 2006.

​

Season 10, Episode 15: Motor City Madness (2006)

Naomichi Marafuji, the GHC Champ from Pro Wrestling Noah shows up to mix things up with the top-tier ROH stars.

1. The Briscoes vs Davey Richards & Matt Sydal at Anarchy in The UK.

2. Samoa Joe vs Roderick Strong at Glory By Honor 2006.

3. Naomichi Marufuji (GHC Champ) vs Nigel McGuinness at Glory By Honor 2006.

4. Daniel Bryan Danielson (ROH Champ) vs KENTA at Glory By Honor 2006.

MAIN EVENT: THE BRISCOES vs HOMICIDE & SAMOA JOE at MOTOR CITY MADNESS 2006.​

When I originally started this project during the pandemic of 2020, the intention was to focus on WWE storylines while also showing the WCW/ECW/ROH/Impact stories that fed into the WWE storylines. So you'd know who Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, etc. were before their first appearances in WWE.

As I fleshed out my ideas for seasons, though, I realized there were too many great WCW matches that I'd never bothered with because I didn't know the wrestlers because they'd never crossed over into WWE. So I had the first two seasons pretty much split evenly between WWE and WCW. 

ECW has some fun stuff, and is hugely important to the evolution of wrestling but it didn't have the quality production or the consistently good matches of the other two companies, so I only infused a few episodes.

Eventually, both WCW and ECW were bought out by the WWE, and there's an entire season of almost all WWe matches. Then, Ring of Honor and Impact/TNA showed up. While Ring Of Honor originally was filmed in high school gyms with poor lighting and probably just one or two camers, their matches were fantastic, so slotting them in to the vacant WCW slots made sense. But then Impact had a pay-per-view ever week and had almost WWE-quality production with a ton of rising, homegrown stars to balance out their Should Be Retired WWE Dinosaurs, so they also got slotted in, and it felt like a golden age.

While Impact and ROH still exist, Impact has slowly been transitioning into a WWE farm league, and ROH is actually owned by AEW and used as a legitimate farm league.

AEW, meanwhile had a brief window where it totally eclipsed WWE in match quaity and star power in a way that even WCW hadn't achieved during the Monday Night Wars. While that era started last season, it dominates this season as the dementia riddled tyrant of the WWE, Vince McMahon made bad decision after bad decision leading to one of WWE's many lean times. Luckily, WWE's resurgence is on the horizon but most of this season is AEW, and it's a joy to watch.

2200. The Monster In Us All, 2021

This season's sorbet episode is an odd one. It's shot like an indie film and it features a pseudo-intellectual narrator telling the tales of these wrestlers who were dissatisfied with the creative in their respective companies coming together to fight each other over ridiculously embellished metaphor. The criticism I saw for the company's two major show is that EC3 saw Fight Club too many times but didn't uite understand what it was about. It's a valid criticism. While I would never want to watch this style of wrestling storytelling on a regular basis, it was an important and creative moment for an industry trying to recover from the 2020 pandemic.

Announcers: The Narrator, Angelo Parker, Mark Menard

1. William vs Parrow
2. Moose vs Matt Sydal (as The Vision)
3. EC3 vs Matt Cardona
4. Parrow vs Gentleman Jervis
5. John Skyler vs Westin Blake
6. Matt Taven vs William
7. EC3 vs Braun Stroman (as Adam Scherr)

2201. First Dance

There are some fantastic matches in this episode, including one of the better Jade Cargill matches as she fought her way through an impressive undefeated streak, despite unimpressive wrestling skills. The real story, though, is pretty simple: CM Punk is back.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Tazz, Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Justin Roberts

1. Rusev (as Miro) (AEW TNT Champ) vs Eddie Kingston
2. Dean Ambrose (as Jon Moxley) vs Satoshi Kajima 
3. Britt Baker (AEW Womens Champ) vs Krist Statlander
4. Young Bucks (AEW Tag Team Champs) vs Lucha Bros in a Steel Cage
5. Jade Cargill (AEW TBS Champ) vs Kiera Hogan
6. Chris Jericho vs MJF
​7. CM Punk vs Darby Allin

2202. Grand Slam, 2021

This is probably the only season where we start off with two AEW episodes. Their TV output during 2021 and 2022 was just outstanding. Pretty much every episode of television that they put out had at least one ppv-level match. They were aflush with talent, and while their storytelling left a lot to be desired, their booking, their talent, and their match quality were far superior to WWE.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Tazz, Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Justin Roberts

1. Casino Battle Royal For Womens Championship Match
Abadon, Anna Jay, Big Swole, Diamante, Emi Sakura, Hikaru Shida,  Jade Cargill, Jamie Hayter, Kiera Hogan, KiLynn King, Leyla Hirsch, Nyla Rose, Penelope Ford, Rebel, Red Velvet, Riho, Ruby Soho, Skye Blue, Tay Conti, The Bunny, Thunder Rosa
​
2. FTR vs Darby Allin & Sting
3. Kenny Omega (AEW Champ) vs Christian (Impact Champ)
4. Britt Baker (AEW Womens Champ) vs Ruby Soho
5. Supercliq vs Lucha Express & Christian
6. Kenny Omega (AEW Champ) vs Daniel Bryan (as Bryan Danielson)

2203. Gish, 2022

NWA started to build a little bit of post-pandemic momentum thanks to their continued focus on their womens' division and borrowing some AEW and ROH talent to battle their band of ex-WWE stars. I prefer their era of making stars out of rejected WWE midcarders to WCW's era of recycling WWE main eventers who were bordering retirement. 

1. OKG (NWA Tag Team Champs) vs Damien Sandow (as Aaron Stevens) & JR Kratos
2. Mickie James (Impact Knockout Champ) vs Kiera Hogan
3. Tyrus (NWA TV Champ) vs Cyon
4. Chris Adonis (NWA National Champ) vs Judais
5. La Reblion (NWA Tag Team Champs) vs The End
6. Kamile (NWA Womens Champ) vs Melina
7. Trevor Murdoch (NWA Champ) vs Mike Knox
8. The Briscoes vs The Cardonas
9. The Hex (NWA Womens Tag Team Champs) vs Pretty Empowered
10. Matt Cardona (NWA Champ) vs Nick Aldis

2204. Rampage The Foundation, 2021

More solid wrestling. We finally see Omega lose the last of his many belts that he won last season, as CM Punk continues to have solid matches with AEW's homegrown talent, rather than his fellow WWE refugees.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Tazz, Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Justin Roberts

1. CM Punk vs Powerhouse Hobbs
2. Penelope Ford vs Anna Jay
3. Dean Ambrose (as Jon Moxley) & Edde Kingston vs Suzuki-Gun
4. MJF vs Darby Allin
5. Lucha Bros (AEW Tag Champs) vs FTR
​6. Kenny Omega (AEW Champ) vs Hangman Page

2205. Day One, 2022

2022 is kind of a crap year for WWE. The fake fall of Vince McMahon (not a storyline, a real life event) gave a sense of promise that fizzled out and ended up with Vince returning to water down the product some more. Of course there are still some great matches but there are some disappointing storylines in this season, and they start here. Also, there are no promos or skits from The Bloodline, and yet they still dominate this show.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, Pat McAfee, Jimmy Smith, Kevin Patrick, Mike Rome

1. The Usos (WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champs) vs New Day
2. RKBro (WWE Raw Tag Team Champs) vs Street Profits
3. Big E (WWE Champ) vs Brock Lesnar vs Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins
4. Becky Lynch (WWE Raw Womens Champ) vs Liv Morgan
5. Big E vs Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins
6. Roman Reigns (WWE Universal Champ) vs Seth Rollins

2206. Winter Remix, 2021

The late 2021/2022 era AEW was rock star central. CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, MJF, Eddie Kingston, Christian, Chris Jericho, Sting, and The Elite all hanging out and mixing it up is fantastic. And in this episode we get to see the debut of Taz's son, Hook, who seems destined to surpass his father's fame in the ring.

​Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Justin Roberts
​
1. Hook vs Fuego Del Sol
2. Daniel Bryan (as Bryan Danielson) vs Rusev (as Miro)
3. Britt Baker (AEW Womens Champ) vs Tai Conti
4. CM Punk vs Eddie Kingston
5. Inner Circle vs Men Of The Year & American Top Team
6. MJF vs Dante Martin for the AEW Dynamite Diamond Ring
7. Hangman Page (AEW Champ) vs Daniel Bryan (as Bryan Danielson)

2207. Course Changes, 2022

AEW showing ppv quality matches on TV is incredibly common. Since its inception, its had more TV matches in this chronology than ppv matches. The same is not remotely true of the WWE. But 2022's early pay-per-views were almost top to bottom awful due to Vince McMahon's declining mental health. Occasionally, a TV match seemed to escape his clutches and was good in spite of itself, and that's almost the entirety of this episode, with the addition of a generational dream match between Becky Lynch and Lita.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, Kayla Braxton, Mike Rome, Samantha Irvin

1. Chad Gable vs Randy Orton
​2. New Day vs Los Lotharios
3. Charlotte Flair (WWE Smackdown Womens Champ) vs Naomi
4. Randy Orton vs Seth Rollins
5. Bobby Lashley (WWE Champ) vs Brock Lesnar vs AJ Styles vs Seth Rollins vs Riddle vs Austin Theory in an Elimination Chamber

6. Becky Lynch (WWE Raw Womens Champ) vs Lita

​2208. New Year's Smash, 2021/2022

We have a couple of squash matches in this card from late 2021/early 2022, as well as some dream trios like CM Punk, Sting, and Darby Allin, and Adam Cole and reDRagon. Also, a stellar rematch as Hangman Page puts the title on the line against Bryan Danielson for the second time. 

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz, Ricky Starks, Mark Henry, Justin Roberts

1. Malakai Black vs Griff Garrison
2. The Pinnacle vs CM Punk, Sting & Darby Allin
​3. Hook vs Bear Bronson
4. Sammy Guevara (AEW TNT Champ) vs Cody Rhodes
5. Jade Cargill vs Thunder Rosa
6. Adam Cole & reDRagon vs Best Friends
7. Cody Rhodes (AEW TNT Champ) vs Ethan Page
8. Hangman Page (AEW Champ) vs Daniel Bryan (as Bryan Danielson)

2209. New Year's Evil, 2022

Time to put on your Jams and your Max Headroom shades, it's NXT Splatoon, Vince McMahon and Bruce Pritchard's terrible experiment to prove that neither of them had any idea what made NXT work before they put their wrinkly paws on it. While they didn't quite kill it with their incompetence, it was certainly a giant step down from the Black & Gold era. There's a few wrestlers so talented that they couldn't quite be buried under bad bookins, and these are their stories from the beginning 0f 2022. There aren't really any promos because whoooof, they were even less inspired and intriguing than the matches. 

Announcers: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph, Kayla Braxton

1. AJ Styles vs Grayson Waller
2. Imperium vs MSK & Riddle
3. Carmelo Hayes (NXT North American Champ) vs Roderick Strong (WWE Cruiserweight Champ)

4. Roderick Strong  vs Gunther
5. Tomasso Ciampa (NXT Champ) vs Bron Breakker
6. Raquel Rodriguez (as Raquel Gonzales) vs Cora Jade
7. Creed Brothers vs Grizzled Young Veterans
8. Dolph Ziggler vs Tomasso Ciampa
9. Carmello Hayes (NXT North American Champ) vs Cameron Grimes
10. Grayson Waller vs LA Knight in a Last Man Standing Match

2210. Back To The Beach, 2022

The end of 2021/beginning of 2022 was an amazing time to be an AEW fan. Every week there was at least one four or five star match on Dynamite or Rampage. The tag team division was absolutely on fire, and the young pillars of AEW: MJF, Darby Allin, Jungle Boy, and Sammy Guevara have incredible up-punching matches with the top veterans: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, and Dustin Rhodes.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Justin Roberts

1. Lucha Bros (AEW Tag Team Champs) vs Jurassic Express
2. Sammy Guevara (AEW TNT Champ) vs Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes)
3. Britt Baker (AEW Womens Champ) vs Riho
4. Jurassic Express (AEW Tag Team Champs) vs Dark Order
5. Nick Jackson vs Trent Baretta
6. Cody Rhodes (AEW TNT Champ) vs Sammy Guevara in a Ladder Match

2211. Because KO Said So, 2022

One semi-interesting story forks into two phenomenal return matches as Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins lose a shot at the tag team belts at Wrestlemania and, after doing battle with each other, each end up with a legendary opponent returning to WWE after a long absence.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, Pat McAfee, Jimmy Smith, Samantha Irvin

1. Alpha Academy (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs RKBro vs Seth Rollins & Kevin Owens 
2. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Champ)  vs Ricochet
3. Dominik & Rey Mysterio vs The Miz & Logan Paul
4. Seth Rollins vs Kevin Owens
5. Becky Lynch (WWE Raw Womens Champ) vs Bianca Belair
6. Cody Rhodes vs Seth Rollins
​7. Steve Austin vs Kevin Owens

2212. Lights Out, Go To Sleep 2022

Hangman Page's TX Death Match with Lance Archer might be Archer's greatest AEW match but the true story of this episode, like the last AEW episode is the feud between CM Punk and MJF. The best talkers in the game are building up to their finest hour. Plus we see some excellent tage team matches and Mr. Pockets, Orange Cassidy has an absolute belter with Adam Cole, bay bay.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Justin Roberts

1. Adam Cole vs Orange Cassidy in a Lights Out Match
2. CM Punk vs MJF
3. Jurassic Express (AEW Tag Team Champs) vs Private Party
4. FTR vs CM Punk & Jon Moxley
5. Young Bucks vs Roppongi Vice
6. Hangman Page (AEW Champ) vs Lance Archer in a TX Death Match

2213. Faces Of The Revolution, 2022

All killer, no-filler as The Pillars, The Punk, The Elite, and the two spooky stables of AEW go all-out against each other in this set of fantastic matches.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur, Justin Roberts

1. Sammy Guevara (AEW TNT Champ) vs Andrade vs Darby Allin
2. The House Of Black vs Pac, Penta El Zero, Erick Rowan
3. Chris Jericho vs Eddie Kingston
4. Jurassic Express (AEW Tag Team Champs) vs Young Bucks vs reDRagon
5. Face Of The Ravolution Ladder Match
Christian, Orange Cassidy, Wardlow, Keith Lee, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks

6. CM Punk vs MJF in a Dog Collar Match

2214. TV Timeout, 2022

This season has had very few and far between WWE episodes. While Triple H's cleansing of the brand is in the future, there's a couple more episodes to go with no one's favorite sex-offending-billionaire-with-dementia at the helm. This is mostly still Bloodline, RKBro, and Becky Lynch. We're going to entirely skip Edge's time with The Judgement Day, but we get to see the Finn Balor-led Judgement Day "debut" near the end of this episode.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, Samantha Irvin

1. The Bloodline vs Drew McIntyre & RKBro 
2. Becky Lynch vs Asuka
3. Drew McIntyre vs Shamus
4. Bobby Lashley (WWE US Champ) vs Tomasso Ciampa
5. Kevin Owens vs Chad Gable
6. The Viking Raiders vs New Day in a Vikings Rules Match
7. Edge vs Damien Priest
8. Roman Reigns (WWE Universal Champ) vs Matt Riddle

2215. St Patrick's Day Slam, 2022

Wrestling's top gentleman jumps ship from NXT to AEW here, as William Regal begins assembling The Blackpool Combat Club, who will spend years dominating every competitor. We also have some fun multi-man matches and a hell of a main event as Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa go toe-to-toe in a steel cage.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Shiavone, Taz, Exaclibur, Justin Roberts

1. Daniel Bryan (as Bryan Danielson) vs Dean Ambrose (as Jon Moxley)
2. Matt Hardy, Andrade & Isaiah Kassidy vs Sting, Darby Allin & Sammy Guevera
3. Hangman Page (AEW Champ) vs Adam Cole
4. Sammy Guevera (AEW TNT Champ) vs Scorpio Sky
5. Adam Cole & reDRagon vs Hangman Page & Jurassic Express
6. CM Punk vs Dax Harwood
7. Britt Baker (AEW Womens Champ) vs Thunder Rosa in a Steel Cage

2216. The Wheeler In Motion

​The Blackpool Combat Club starts to recruit more members, Hook and Danhausen each need a storyline to remain interesting so their paths intersect here, and Samoa Joe returns to Ring Of Honor to wreck house like it's 2004.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur, Chris Jericho, William Regal, Mark Henry, Justin Roberts, Bobby Cruz

1. Jay Lethal vs Dean Ambrose (as Jon Moxley)
2. Daniel Bryan (as Bryan Danielson) vs Wheeler Yuta
3. Andrade vs Darby Allin
4. FTR (AEW Tag Team Champs) vs Young Bucks (ROH Tag Team Champs & AAA Tag Team Champs)

5. Wheeler Yuta (ROH Puro Champ) vs Dean Ambrose (as Jon Moxley)
6. Hook vs JD Drake
7. Jurassic Express (AEW Tag Team Champs) vs reDRagon
8. Swerved In Our Glory vs Team Taz
9. Minoru Suzuki (ROH Champ) vs Samoa Joe

2217. Back To Backlash

Our final WWE main roster episode of the season takes no prisoners. The Zay/Knoxville match is a silly spotfest but everything else is brutal right up until the best ever Roman Reigns/Brock Lesnar match. This is everything their Wrestlemania 38 match should have been but wasn't.

​Announcers: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

1. RKBro vs Street Profits vs Alpha Academy
2. Sami Zayn vs Johnny Knoxville
3. Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes in Hell In A Cell
4. Charlotte Flair (WWE Smackdown Womens Champ) vs Ronda Rousey in an I Quit Match

5. Roman Reigns (WWE Universal Champ) vs Brock Lesnar

​2218. The Penultimate Challenge

While AEW's focus is definitely more on matches than storylines, we do get the bare minimum requirements to set up this season's finale. One of the fun highlights of this episode is two good-natured friendly matches in a row, as CM Punk and Dustin Rhodes square off, and then the two members of the ROH Tag Champs, FTR, go head to head in a tournament qualifying match and it DOESN'T end up breaking up the team.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Tazz, Excalibur, Mike Henry, Justin Roberts

1. Hangman Page (AEW Champ) vs Adam Cole in a TX Death Match
2. CM Punk vs Goldust (as Dustin Rhodes)
3. Cash Wheeler vs Dax Harwood
4. Sammy Guevara (AEW TNT Champ) vs Scorpio Sky in a Ladder Match
5. Riho vs Yuka Sakazaki
6. Adam Cole vs Dax Harwood
7. Jeff Hardy vs Darby Allin

2219. Dirty Dawgs

Our second and final NXT episode from the Splatwon.0 era has a decent balance of veterans putting over new talent, and also new talent putting over other new talent. It's fun to see a Dolph Ziggler match, a Robert Rhoode match, and a Mandy Rose match again, and I had no idea until I started watching this era of NXT (which I skipped while it was happening) that there were three good Grayson Waller matches in all of human history.

Announcers: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph, Samantha Irvin

1. Bron Breakker (NXT Champ) vs Dolph Ziggler vs Tomasso Ciampa
2. Kay Lee Rey & Iyo Sky (as Io Shirai) vs Katy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter
3. Bron Breakker vs Robert Roode
4. Cameron Grimes vs Roderick Strong vs A-Kid
5. Kay Lee Rey & Iyo Sky (as Io Shirai) vs Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo
6. Carmelo Hayes vs Santos Escobar
7. Gunther vs Bron Breakker
8. Tag Team Gauntlet Match
Legado Del Fantasma, Josh Briggs & Brook Jensen, The Creed Brothers, Pretty Deadly, Grayson Waller & Sanga

9. Mandy Rose vs Roxanne Perez
10. Grayson Waller vs Nathan Frazier
11. Tomasso Ciampa vs Tony D'Angelo

2220. Anarchy In The Arena, 2022

The story of this season has been the return of CM Punk and his rise to the title scene, and in this final episode we get to see him in his first title match in a decade. If that's not enough for you, the tag team dream match of the ages happens when The Young Bucks face The Hardys. Oh, and we get Danhausen and Hookhausen's first ever matches in AEW. Very nice. Very evil.​

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur, William Regal, Ricky Starks, Justin Roberts

1. Danhausen vs Tony Nese
2. Death Triangle vs. House Of Black
3. Samoa Joe vs Kyle O'Reilly
4. Daniel Bryan vs Matt Sydal
5. Young Bucks vs Taylor Rust & Jon Cruz
6. HookHausen vs Mark Sterling & Tony Nese
7. Young Bucks vs Hardy Boyz
8. Death Triangle vs House Of Black
9. Thunder Rosa (AEW Womens Champ) vs Serena Deeb
10. Jericho Appreciation Society vs Blackpool Combat Club
​11. Hangman Page (AEW Champ) vs CM Punk

This is a really fun season that includes very few WWE episodes. While WWE was the fastest off the blocks during the pandemic, their storytelling was erratic and their matches were super repetitive. Apart from the Bloodline, the feuds were dull, and some of their best talent moved to AEW. 

This gave AEW and Impact some time to shine, and we even got some hopeful glimmers of Ring Of Honor before it folded due to bankruptcy (don't get too sad, it gets relaunched as a sort of minor league AEW pretty quickly next season).

Our big ending last season was Stiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! The sixty-something year old hero from the WCW days, and the grizzled veteran champ from the early 2000s and 2010s TNA/Impact era was back on TV as a wrestler in AEW. While he wasn't The Big Star that he was in WCW, he was an absolute madman wrestling some incredible daredevil matches this season. He wasn't upper card but he was definitely the highlight of the mid-card.

What are the season long stories to pay attention to? Kenny Omega bringing AEW to Impact, and then bringing Impact back to AEW, the nostalgia factor of Sting in AEW Mickie James in Impact and The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase in NXT, the Bloodline story doesn't dominate this season as it will in the near future but it percolates away in the background.​

2101. Winter Is Here

The pandemic era is still running wild in AEW, which is a shame because these matches deserved a bigger audience. We're on the cusp of Kenny Omega's double title run, The Young Bucks hold the tag gold, and Japanese wrestlers kick down The Forbidden Door and start to become regular performers in Tony Khan's Live Action Fantasy Wrestling Federation. 

Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur, Justin Roberts

1. Kenny Omega & Kenta vs Dean Ambrose (as Jon Moxley) & Lance Archer in a Hardcore Match
​
2. Hikaru Shida, Mei Suruga, & Rin Kadokura vs Veny, Maki Itoh, & Emi Sakura
3. Young Bucks (AEW Tag Champs) vs Inner Circle
4. Hikaru Shida (AEW Womens Champ) vs Ryo Mizunami
5. The Young Bucks (AEW Tag Champs) vs Death Triangle
6. Team Taz vs Darby Allin & Sting in a Street Fight​