Between The Sheets

It’s Monday, and you know what that means: A new Between the Sheets with J.D. Oliva joining Kris and David to discuss 1989! Topics of discussion include:Saturday Night’s Main Event featuring the return of ZEUS.The WWF debuts in England with the famous London Arena show that aired live on Sky One as part of their latest European tour.Jim Troy getting fired after his fight with Koko Ware on the same tour.Steve Beverly giving his suggestions to remedy WCW’s early weak points, some of which sound oddly familiar in 2025.Bret Hart’s discussions with WCW that didn’t go anywhere.Antonio Inoki getting stabbed during a speech.A Florida independent promotion is trying to go public. Again. But this time it’s the PWF.The dying days of Continental TV.Memphis attendance bottoming out.Tim Brooks’ NAWA holds its first TV taping at the Longhorn Ballroom and soundly outdraws what the USWA had been doing at the Sportatorium.All that and much more this week, with J.D. doing a great job in the guest chair.Timestamps:0:00:00 WWF1:1

Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was October 1-7, 2007. Topics of discussion include:Nigel McGuinness winning the ROH Title from Takeshi Morishima and why it happened when it did.Larry Sweeney's role in ROH and how it could've been even better.A wacky Dixie Carter conference call to hype up the first ever two hour episode of TNA Impact, which was wall to wall, full-on insanity topped off by a great review from Bryan Alvarez in F4W.The saga of Leticia Cline and how she found her way back to TNA.The official end of Dream Stage Entertainment.The first ever Antonio Peña Memorial Show in AAA.El Hijo del Santo hooks up with the World Boxing Council in to promote shows in Mexico.The Dream Reunion convention, naturally, turning into a nightmare.John Cena tearing his right pectoral muscle and having to relinquish his WWE Championship, thus sending the following Sunday’s No Mercy PPV into a state of flux.Raw, ECW, Smackdown, and No Mercy all have a wild and wooly week in the realm of WWE TV.T

It's time for another episode of Center Stage Chronicles as Kris Zellner is back with Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month of September 1990 in the world of the National Wrestling Alliance and in pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:The weird saga of Barry Windham in late 1990.The debuts of the New York and Chicago-centric versions of NWA Pro Wrestling.The Black Scorpion's domination of all of the TV shows.RUNNING THE GAUNTLET beginning on the TBS shows.Clash of the Champions XII: Mountain Madness popping an amazing, record-breaking TV rating, plus a full rundown of the show.Rocky King becoming LITTLE RICHARD MARLEY.The Master Blasters and Maximum Overdrive both debuting on TV…and then POOF! A member of each team disappears.The beginning of the Doom’s feud with Arn Anderson & Ric Flair.The 1990 MTV Video Music Awards....nuff said...Jake “Body By Jake” Steinfeld becoming a big deal in pop culture.The debut of Fox Kids’ Saturday morning lineup.Vanilla Ice hittin

Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was September 22-28, 1996. Topics of discussion include:WWF In Your House: Mind Games goes down in Philadelphia, headlined by the legendary Shawn Michaels title defense vs. Mankind, plus the first ECW "invasion" of the WWF with Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer, AND The Sandman causing some trouble during the PPV opener.Monday Night Raw the next night in Hershey featuring Jim Ross's infamous "shoot promo” where "Razor Ramon returned" and Taz making his first appearance in the WWF as part of the "invasion."We also talk about the genesis of the WWF/ECW angle, why it was happening, and how it affected Dennis Coralluzzo’s NWA New Jersey promotion.AJPW’s foreign talent morale not in a good place as the Can-Am Express are getting ready to to go to the WWF.NJPW and WCW hold a tournament om Ja[am featuring some interesting matches and a serious injury to Ric Flair.Terry Funk creates the Funk Masters of Wrestling stable in FMW.Problems mounti

Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was September 14-20, 1988. Topics of discussion include:A very thorough look at the day-to-day dealings between Jim Crockett Promotions and Turner Broadcasting regarding the sale of JCP and the possible acquisition of World Class as well.An episode of World Championship Wrestling that never aired in real time because of the Atlanta Braves, but finally surfaced years later on WWE Network.The aftermath of Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard's departures from JCP to the WWF.Tommy Rich's heel turn in Jerry Blackwell's Southern Championship Wrestling gives the promotion a boost in ticket sales.The AWA tapes a few months’ worth of TV in Nashville, Louisville, and Memphis featuring some interesting happenings as the AWA, CWA, and WCCW build to Superclash III.Eddie Gilbert working a Bob Geigel Central States show booked by his father Tommy while "injured,” which spells the beginning of the end for him in Continental.Top Gun getting a shot at Ric Flair'

Kris and David are back this week as we discuss the week that was September 11-17, 2000. Topics of discussion include: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Debra Marshall get married in Las Vegas.Eddie Guerrero invades the Playboy Mansion.Stephanie McMahon bumping like crazy on Raw.Tazz "quits" the WWF in a weird angle.AJPW and NJPW kicking their interpromotional feud up another level as Toshiaki Kawada shows up at a NJPW show.Nicole Bass getting arrested for biting a cop.ECW canceling some house shows.A gigantic and totally ridiculous WCW section featuring David Flair and Stacy Keibler's "wedding" on Nitro, Vince Russo's concussions, Paul Orndorff suffering a serious neck injury at Fall Brawl Mike Awesome’s alliance with Gary Coleman, and so much damn more.The WCW section is an all-timer, so you can't miss this show!!Timestamps:0:00:00 WWF1:27:58 Int’l: AJPW, NJPW, NOAH, BattlARTS, BJPW, DDT, FMW, IWA Kokusai, Osaka Pro, SPWF, Wrestle Dream Factory, AJW, Arsion, GAEA, JWP, CMLL, GWAS, IW

Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was August 31-September 6, 1993. Topics of discussion include:The 1993 NWA Convention, featuring Dennis Coraluzzo wanting dates on the champion, Tod Gordon/ECW and Jim Cornette/SMW applying for membership, and forcing WCW's hand to remove the NWA name from the titles on their television shows.Sid Vicious walks out on WCW over steroid testing…and then comes right back without having to take a test.The newsletter panic over Dustin Rhodes possibly becoming not just WCW World Heavyweight Champion, but Unified WCW World Heavyweight Champion.Shane Douglas becoming a part-time wrestler and full-time teacher.Ted DiBiase becoming a world tag team champion in his first match back in AJPW.New Japan going to battle with Leon White over the Big Van Vader name."Mr. Danger" Mitsuhiro Matsunaga making his FMW debut.The Torch running a special feature that goes in-depth on Tod Gordon and ECW.“WWA President” Dennis Coralluzzo showing up on SMW TV.McMemphis running

Kris and David are joined by Scott Passner as we discuss the week that was August 23-29, 1992, a week that Scott requested with a $50 pledge on our Patreon page so he could join us for the WWF section. Topics of discussion include:SummerSlam ’92 and the build to the Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior match, which was pretty nonsensical until Pat Patterson returned, seemingly salvaging it in the process.WBF BodyStars getting cancelled, signaling the end of the WBF.The last show that Dave Meltzer attended on his 2+ week Japan tour.All sorts of lucha goodness.USWA and the WWF cement their working agreement with Jimmy Hart’s return to Memphis TV.Lots of wackiness as usual in the GWF.Erik Watts making his WCW debut.Paul E. Dangerously getting featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's gossip section.Cactus Jack interviewing Jake “The Snake” Roberts in a great segment on WCW Saturday Night that seemingly attempts to retcon a year-old storyline.…and a LOT more, as this ended up being a stacked show.Timestamps

Center Stage Chronicle is back as Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month of August 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:The status of guaranteed contracts possibly coming to an end in the NWA.THE PEARL, The New Fantastics, Hector Guerrero, Ivan Koloff, Terry Taylor, and many others make debuts/returns as this month has all kinds of names making appearances.Sting having two different convention appearances end in some form of controversy.Jim Herd and Ole Anderson beefing over the usage of older talent.“Mean” Mark Callous, Paul Orndorff, and more leave the NWA.Speculation about The Black Scorpion starts kicking up.“Young Guns II,” “Air America,” “My Blue Heaven,” and more hit the theatres.Extreme's “Pornograffiti,” Prince's “Graffiti Bridge,” Alice In Chains' “Facelift,” and more ht the stores.The TV series adaptation of “Ferris Bueller” debuts on NBC.Iraq invades Kuwait and the Desert Storm Con

Kris and David are joined by Phil Schneider (@philaschneider) to discuss the week that was August 20-26, 1984. Topics of discussion include:The evolving nature of Jim Crockett Promotions with Dusty Rhodes fully installed as the new booker.Ole Anderson's Championship Wrestling from Georgia trying to find its footing as it starts taping TV at Techwood.Dory Funk Jr. switching places with Dusty, taking over the book in Florida at the peak of Kevin Sullivan's schtick, including Blackjack Mulligan trying to save The Lock.Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich feuding in Memphis on the heels of the WFIA Tag Team of the Year angle.The aftermath of the Junkyard Dog leaving Mid-South.Gary Hart returning to World Class as a babyface, feuding with Skandor Akbar.Southwest running "stripper matches" with actual legit wrestlers Susan Greene and Evelyn Stevens.The Road Warriors winning the AWA World Tag Team Titles.Dave Meltzer's love of Portland Wrestling and hatred of the WWF, especially after Vince bought Stampe

Kris and David are back to discuss the (almost-)week that was August 14-19, 1997. Topics of discussion include:Hardcore Heaven '97, ECW's 2nd ever PPV.....and boy, what a disaster this show was in so many ways. We go over all the details on and off camera including all of the "big surprises" on the show.WCW's volatile title situation as they are changing left and right.Sting making J.J. Dillon look like a fool yet again on Nitro.CMLL Japan not having a strong start.The tragic death of Plum Mariko and how it should've been prevented.Promo Azteca and CMLL talent jumping around.WWC Anniversario shows featuring the end of the Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher feud.An update on Steve Austin's neck injury.Rick Rude links up with Shawn Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley on Raw in the unofficial birth of D-Generation X.Rocky Maivia explains why he joined the National of Domination in his first ever heel promo on national television.All of this and so much more on a slam packed episode

We took a week off from the main show, and you know what that means: We’re keeping you busy with some older Between the Sheets Patreon content that we’ve now made available for free. This time, we decided to assemble the entire “FUCK SABU!” trilogy (originally Patreon episodes #43-#45), covering Sabu’s wild 1995, into one file for everyone to check out as a taste of what our Patreon-only deep dives are like. This is a great example, too, as we notice some very interesting things that the newsletters didn’t pick up on at the time, like Chris Benoit’s surprisingly obvious involvement in orchestrating the whole scenario.Want more content like this? Then sign up for the $5.00/month ($50.40/year if paid annually upfront) tier on our Patreon page and check out the back catalog that spans almost 9 years. This month, for August, the deep dive that we’ve started on is more 1995 content, covering Bill Watts’ brief stint booking the WWF. Also, don’t forget: From this point forward, regardless of if we’re doing a month-l

Kris and David are back this week to discuss the week that was July 30-August 5, 2006. Topics of discussion include:WWE bringing back Jeff Hardy and the message that sent at the time about their stance on drug issues among top talent.Raw featuring the wacky "Orton Knows Best" skit with Larry Sweeney, Mick Foley talking about Christy Canyon, and more craziness.ECW on Syfy at the Hammerstein Ballroom, featuring CM Punk's TV debut and Batista vs. Big Show being booed out of the building, resulting in Batista losing his mind.SmackDown featuring the debut of MVP and Diva Search contestants taking pies to the face.Toshiaki Kawada returns to AJPW after a year-long absence.Cibernetico not quite being ready to go technico in AAA.CMLL doing major business every Friday at Arena Mexico with a gaggle of top stars at their disposal.Vampiro announcing the birth of RXLL.Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe going 60 minutes in quite the weekend for ROH.TNA possibly expanding to two hours on Spike.Why did all of the inter

Kris and David are back to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Between the Sheets, and there’s no better way to do that than to look back at the week July 23-29, 2015, the week where we recorded and released our first episode.(Note: Other than the Halftime segment, this episode was recorded before Hulk Hogan passed away.)Topics of discussion include:WWE firing Hulk Hogan after the contents of his racist rant contained in one of the sex tapes featuring him with Bubba the Love Sponge's wife were reported by the National Enquirer.Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling holding its first pilot TV taping in Las Vegas, which would be later be repurposed as TNA-branded PPV's.The weird relationship between GFW and TNA during a period where TNA was putting on very blah shows and taping TV far in advance.The changes to the structure of NJPW's G1 Climax tournament, extending it to a weeks-long tour, complete with full rundowns of the early shows.Alberto el Patron and Myzteziz (Mistico) having a legit war of

This month on Center Stage Chronicles, Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month that was July 1990 in not only the National Wrestling Alliance but also pop culture. Topics of discussion include:2 Live Crew releasing “Banned in the U.S.A.” to piss off their critics even more.“Blossom” debuting on NBC, “Dream On” debuting on HBO, and “Northern Exposure” debuting on CBS.The Great American Bash in Baltimore, featuring Sting finally winning the NWA World Heavyweight Title from Ric Flair, the in-ring debuts of El Gigante and Big Van Vader, the Freebirds going glam, the Southern Boys vs. Midnight Express U.S. Tag Title match tearing the house down, and so so much more.Andrew Dice Clay crying on “The Arsenio Hall Show.”Ric Flair injuring his knee days after the Bash PPV and Harley Race replacing him on house shows. Howard Stern's "Summer Show" debuting on WWOR-TV in New York.Jim Herd getting tired of Flair-Sting matches.Exactly why Ric Flair vs. Dustin Rhodes di

Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was July 16-22, 1998. Topics of discussion include:Steve “Dr. Death” Williams vs. Quebecer Pierre and Scorpio vs. 8-Ball in Brawl for All.Mrs. Yamaguchi-san getting saved by Val Venis.Triple H compelling a "fan" to flash her breasts on Raw, causing Jerry Lawler to lose his mind…at a time when “puppies” was not yet in his vocabulary.Akira Maeda's final match against a fellow Japanese wrestler in RINGS.Vampiro quitting CMLL, claiming Dr. Wagner Jr. shot on him during an otherwise normal match.IWRG debuting on ESPN 2 in Mexico, but not in the United States, despite the rumors and speculation at the time.La Parka and Pierroth’s legendary mask match in Nuevo Laredo.The first OCESA Ruleta de la Muerte show.Big Dick Dudley starting a riot at an ECW show in Staten Island.The Rock working a Memphis Power Pro show at the Mid-South Coliseum.ABC World News Tonight looking at pro wrestling's ongoing popularity boom.Jay Leno agreeing to work with WCW as WC

Kris and David are guestless this week as we discuss the week that was July 9-15, 2010. Topics of discussion include:TNA trying to bring in Paul Heyman, which fizzles out because they wouldn't meet his demands. They continue with their planned ECW invasion angle anyway, though…A full rundown TNA's Victory Road PPV and the Impact which followed, which had all sorts of Vince Russo insanity.Dixie Carter meeting with the wrestlers, which was always a hoot.NOAH doing poorly in Tokyo as their popularity continues to slide.Dragongate being the best promotion in Japan at this time.AAA Mega Champion Dr. Wagner Jr. showing up at a Nuevo Laredo show featuring his son…as well as CMLL talent, which sends shockwaves across the lucha libre community.WWC Anniversario featuring Carlito and other big outside names.“THE SEAN DAVIS PROJECT”Chasyn Rance getting arrested for doing Chasyn Rance things.CZW runs a Trent Acid Memorial Show.Jerry Lawler sues Corey Maclin for being the face of Highspots’ classic Memphis compilat

Kris and David are joined by Beau James (@kingofkingsport) to discuss the week that was July 1-10, 1992. Topics of discussion include:Bob Backlund returning to the WWF after 8 years in exile.A fake Sensational Sherri working WWF house shows?!?The WWF cutting back on U.S. house shows.A protest at a WWF house show in Poughkeepsie regarding Titangate.Barry Horowitz's controversial entrance music in All Japan.Hulk Hogan possibly signing with New Japan.Rey Misterio Jr. making his AAA debut at a TV taping in Veracruz.Bouncin' Beulah gets an award on SMW TV.Max Andrews threatening to sue the USWA over the GWF invasion angle.Ricky Morton returning to Memphis as a babyface.Brian Christopher wins an “Oscar.”John Tatum's short run as booker for the GWF, complete with a bevy of local actors make their debuts.AAA taping TV in Los Angeles, complete with a full in-person rundown from Dave Meltzer.Bill Watts now being in full control of WCW and wanting to make Omni shows a big deal again.Dave Meltzer polls his re

Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month that was June 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance and in Pop Culture. Topics of discussion include:Ric Flair's battles with The Junkyard Dog.A wild night in Columbia, South Carolina for Jim Cornette.Cactus Jack Manson quits the NWA.A full rundown of Clash of the Champions XI: COASTAL CRUSH.Sid Vicious plays some softball.Thunderbolt Patterson and Mr. Wrestling II making their short lived returns.Ric Flair hangs with President George H.W. Bush.Stan Hansen killing jobbers.Total Recall, Another 48 Hrs, Dick Tracy, Robocop, & Days of Thunder hit the theaters.The New Kids on the Block phenomenon.2 Live Crew getting arrested in Florida.Mariah Carey releasing her debut album.The end of the NBA on CBS.Roxette dominating the charts.A night of no-hitters on ESPN.All of that and so so much more on an extremely fun episode of CSC.---To support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly them

Kris and David are joined by Al Getz (@algetz.bsky.social) to discuss the week that was June 25-July 1, 1985. Topics of discussion include:The syndicated TV ratings among various wrestling promotions, with Mid-South reigning supreme…sort of.JCP running their first show in Los Angeles, which bombs hard.David Crockett returning to TV after being attacked by Nikita Koloff.Dusty Rhodes being Whiskey Bent and Hell-bound.Jim Cornette and The Midnight Express making their JCP/WTBS debut.Antonio Inoki and Fritz Von Erich closing on a talent booking deal.Lady Maxine making her debut in Florida.Bota the Witch Doctor running wild in Memphis.Verne Gagne wanting to lock his wrestlers in with contracts.News on the WWF’s deals with NBC and CBS.Bob Backlund possibly suing the WWF.Roddy Piper's return from vacation as he meets Uncle Elmer on Piper's Pit.Piper also trying to beat up a fan in Philly.Terry Funk gloriously beating the hell out of Mel Phillips on TV.Tons of clips this week on a strong episode of BTS!!!!Tim