Between The Sheets

Kris and David are guestless this time out as we discuss the week that was April 26-May 2, 2001. Topics of discussion this week include:The WWF's plans for their version of WCW, with Jim Ross meeting with prospective talent such as Rob Van Dam, as well as WCW contracted talent. We also have possible announcers discussed, including the potential return of Jerry Lawler to the WWFE fold.A busy week in the WWF proper, as we have not only the regular TV shows, but also the Backlash PPV featuring Steve Austin and Triple H becoming the new tag champs, which meant they owned all the major titles at the time. We also have the DUCHESS OF QUEENSBURY, Steve Blackman getting in on “Chains of Love,” Shane McMahon taking yet another insane bump, Lita and Chyna starting up their Women’s Title “feud” of sorts, Stone Cold and Hunter joining Howard Stern for the Crazy Cabbie vs. Angry Black boxing exhibition, and tons more.The international scene, where we talk about Antonio Inoki's meeting with Mike Tyson, Rey Misterio

Kris and David are joined by John Philapavage (@JohnPhilapavage) to discuss the (almost-)week that was April 19-24, 1996. Topics of discussion include:Brian Pillman being released from the hospital after his serious car wreck.Bret Hart's future in the WWF.The post-WrestleMania German tour featuring Scott Hall and Kevin Nash's final run and Sunny having to go home early because of The Clique.Akira Taue winning the Champion Carnival in AJPW.AAA and CMLL battling it out in the press with their house organ magazines.The infamous ECW “lesbian angle” as Beaulah and Kimona “kiss” at Hostile City Showdown at the ECW Arena.Jeff Jarrett wins the Unified Title from Jerry Lawler on USWA TV.An update on Hulk Hogan's status in WCWWCW Monday Nitro features COFFEE!!!!And so much more!!!! So you know the drill....LISTEN NOW!!!!!!!Timestamps:0:00:00 Brian Pillman0:22:47 WWF1:22:05 Japan: AJPW, NJPW, UWFi, WAR, FMW, PWC, Tokyo Pro, AJW, & JWP1:59:29 Latin America: AAA, CMLL, IWRG, & WWC2:17:16 Classic Commer

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was April 12-18, 1999.We start off by talking about Davey Boy Smith, as this was when he was stuck in a Calgary hospital in severe pain from a spinal infection and got fired by WCW. We talk about all the issues that he had leading up to this and what his future held.From there, we go to WCW proper for a wild week with a very newsworthy Nitro full of big matches and angles then a Thunder that was appropriately Thunder-esque. We also have all the wild drama that is par for the course in WCW in this era, featuring Arn Anderson having a pretty rough week, Eric Bischoff speaking on WCW Live, bad morale in the company and so much more.International is next, as Vader wins the Champion Carnival tournament in AJPW, Atsushi Onita goes back to school, Yuki Kondo becomes the King of Pancrase, and tons more.Then we go back to the United Status, where Paul Heyman speaks to the Torch about ECW's mounting financial issues while they are actually doing some decent h

Kris and David are joined by one of our Patrons, Tyler Gignac (@Tyler_Gignac) to discuss the week-plus that was April 3-10, 1993, a show that he requested with a $100 pledge on our Patreon page. And it’s our 400th show, to boot!We start the show with the WWF and WrestleMania IX in Las Vegas, where we talk about the differences in how the show was marketed compared to how it has been in recent years. We then go over the show itself, featuring the shocking finish of Hulk Hogan, dubious black eye and all, leaving with the WWF Championship, as well as the debut of Jim Ross as the lead announcer, plus all of the matches in depth at the failed “world’s largest toga party.”. We then talk about the post-Mania plans and all sorts of other news and views from the week.We then go international, where the Champion Carnival is firing up in AJPW, NJPW and WAR run some shows together, the UWFi has a big show, Universal Lucha Libre starts fading away in the early days of Michinoku Pro, AJW runs Dream Slam II, AAA is doing bi

Kris and David are joined this week by Beau James (@KingOfKingsport) to discuss the week-plus that was March 29-April 7, 1988. We start off in Jim Crockett Promotions, where we discuss the impending arrival of the Midnight Rider and tell the truth on what really happened there, the debut of the NWA Main Event show on TBS and how it was great at first…then not so much a few months later, breaking up Lex Luger and Barry Windham too quickly, and lots more.Then we go international, where we talk about Stan Hansen regaining popularity in AJPW after the “NOBODY POTATOES ME!” angle, the saga of Tom Magee, Akira Maeda reforming the Universal Wrestling Federation, andhot angles in Stampede Wrestling, among other things.Next, we go to the territories where we talk about Buck Robley taking charge in Southern Championship Wrestling, Ron Wright being awesome in USA Wrestling, Eddie Marlin and Tommy Gilbert doing a hot angle on Memphis TV, various promotions in a state of flux, and much more.The WWF closes the show as we d

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was March 22-28, 1995.We start off with the WWF, as WrestleMania XI is around the corner, so we talk about the go-home Raw, which was an interesting show as it featured just one match and was largely a clip show hyping up Mania. We talk about the weird booking at this time, as well, as there were more intriguing matches and angles on TV than the ones featuring the same wrestlers at Mania.Then we go international, where Dave Meltzer is in Japan again, but the focus is on the big All Japan Women show at Yokohama Arena, where Manami Toyota won the WWWA Title from Aja Kong in the main event. Dave also attended other shows, as well and we have the reviews of those, plus all the other news and views from Japan, Mexico, and more.Next we go back to the United States, where we talk about some funky indie shows in the Northeast, John Arezzi trying to get AAA back on American PPV without WCW’s help, Al Snow and Unabomb cosplaying as the Rock ’n’ Roll Express on SM

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was March 15-21, 1991.This is a very different show from our usual, as the majority focuses on Dave Meltzer's big trip to Japan, where he attended the New Japan/WCW "Starrcade ’91 at the Tokyo Dome” show (“Japan Supershow” in the U.S.) featuring Tatsumi Fujinami defeating Ric Flair to become the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion…..sort of. We have all the news and views from that show, including the "controversy" as to just who was the real champion.We also discuss Dave's other tour stops including Universal Lucha Libre, All Japan Women, and the original JWP, with Dave having plenty of interesting thoughts about those shows.On the U.S. indie scene, we talk about Eddie Mansfield getting back into wrestling, the USWA leaving the Mid-South Coliseum, a very interesting look at the production of Texas Champion Wrestling with Gary Hart and Mickey Grant, Billy Jack Haynes going wild in Portland, and more.WCW and the WWF then share a sectio

Note: This episode was recorded before the car accident that Dom was in with Joshua Bishop, Derek Dillinger, and Marino Tenaglia over the weekend. Thankfully, it looks like all four of them are going to be fine.Kris and David are joined by "The Bone Collector" Dominic Garrini (@dgarrinibc) to discuss the week that was March 8-14, 2000. We start off with ECW and their Living Dangerously PPV, featuring the original insane New Jack/Vic Grimes scaffold spot, which was scary as hell, as well as Steve Corino going scorched earth on The Sandman's wife, Scotty Anton making his "debut,” the overall crazy booking and terrible production values of the show, Paul Heyman ranting to the Torch, and lots more in a very entertaining section.Next, we move on to the World Wrestling Federation, where Buh Buh Ray Dudley nearly kills Mae Young on an episode of Raw that also saw the return of Vince McMahon after being off TV since Stephanie’s heel turn in December, as well asthe Mean Street Posse being awesome while

On the newest episode of BTS, Kris and David discuss the week that was March 1-7, 1990.We start with WCW, where injuries are running wild while the promotion is also hit by a major suspension and talent turnover, all while the head booker job is in flux.Then we go international where Barry Windham gets a shot at the Triple Crown at the Budokan, Great Muta has second thoughts leaving the NWA, Mark Calaway debuts as Punisher Dice Morgan in New Japan, and Universal Lucha Libre opens up in Japan, plus there are tours of Kuwait and New Zealand, and much more.Next, we go back to the United States for an update on Joe Pedicino's future post-WCW, Jerry Lawler terrorizing Nate the Rat and Chris Champion on Memphis TV, all sorts of wrestling in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Hustler doing a big exposé on wrestling, and tons more.We then close with the WWF, where we talk about Dave Meltzer attending a TV taping at the Cow Palace, Greg Valentine dying his hair, Ted DiBiase gets his legendary entrance music, Jake th

This week on BTS, Kris and David discuss the week that was February 22-28, 1998.We start off with the WWF, where Vince McMahon has a memorable two-part appearance on “Off the Record with Michael Landsberg,” where he sounds off on many topics in a very entertaining way. We also have news on Mike Tyson, Ahmed Johnson being fired, Goldust impersonating his father on Raw, house show business going up, and so much more.Next we go international, where we talk about AJPW running the Budokan, NJPW getting tired of WCW, the Brennan brothers heating up in AAA, major issues between Promo Azteca, Konnan, and WCW, and a ton more.Then we go back to the U.S., where we discuss a bad week for Sunny, the third annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl, ECW having TV issues in Pittsburgh, lots of wrestlers with legal issues, as well as other results and news.We then close with WCW where we discuss all the major happenings stemming from SuperBrawl VIII as well as the Nitro and Thunder shows following it up, such as Juventud Guerrera l

Kris and David are joined by Daniel Makabe (@danielmakabe) for the first half of the show to discuss the week-plus that was February 15-22, 2003.We start off talking about the sudden end of the revival of Portland Wrestling and all the controversy surrounding the short lifespan of the promotion, which that means lots of insane Oregon State Athletic Commission talk.Next, we go to the indie scene where we talk about Dan's memories of western Canadian indies, the Philadelphia promotional wars of the era featuring 3PW and XPW, Cody Rhodes’s high school wrestling career, Sting's evangelical wrestling parable with Nikita Koloff and Ted DiBiase, the insanity of J.C. Bailey, Tom Howard on “Joe Millionaire,” Joan Lunden reflecting on his disastrous time at the WCW Power Plant, Curt Hennig's memorial service, and much more.Then we go international, where we talk about the K-1 scandals and how they could (but didn’t really) affect PRIDE FC, the bloom wearing off the AJPW rose a year into Keiji Muto's rei

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was February 8-14, 1994.We start with the WWF, where we talk about Vince McMahon's legal issues starting to get media play again in the only major story in a quiet week as Raw was off due to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.Next, we go international, talking about Masashi Aoyagi starting up his own promotion, Royce Gracie being in demand, Akira Maeda wanting to face his old friends again, AAA doing big business in Mexico while helping UWA do better, too, among many other things.Then we go back to the U.S. indie scene, where we talk about some amazing Terry Funk promos in ECW and SMW, Shane Douglas becoming the Franchise in ECW, Sunday Bloody Sunday in SMW, no live USWA in Memphis thanks to bad weather, and so much more.WCW closes the show, as we try to figure out what's really going on with Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, and the head booker position, we go over the news from the latest marathon Worldwide tapings at Disney, and bask in the awkwardn

Kris and David are joined by our dear friend Charles from Wrestling Playlists (@pwoloss) to discuss the week that was February 1-7, 1992.We start off the show talking about local politicians trying and failing to regulate pro wrestling in the state of Florida, including some crazy quotes from the hearing in question and the pros/cons of regulation. The WWF sent a doozy of a lobbyist to the meeting, too. We also talk about the life and career of Buzz Sawyer, who tragically passed away during our week.Next, we go to WCW where we discuss Kip Frey breaking out the checkbook signing and trying to sign all kinds of talent, THE PAULIE AWARDS, and so much more in a fun section.Then we go international, where we discuss AJPW signing Jun Akiyama, NJPW contract season angles, Mike Shaw getting over big as Aaron Grundy in CMLL, Canek losing the UWA Title, Ronnie Garvin beating Carlos Colon for the Universal Title, and much more.We go back to the USA for the indie section next, where Tony Rumble has a falling out with IWC

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week plus that was January 24-February 2, 1987.We start with the WWF, where we talk about the hype for WrestleMania III really starting to ramp up as we have a location for the show, Roddy Piper announcing his retirement, Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan starting their angle on Piper's Pit, and so much more in one of the most newsworthy periods in WWF history.Then we go international, as Riki Choshu is winding down his All Japan run in a big way while talking up a future match with Tatsumi Fujinami, Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow makes his New Japan debut, and we go over all the other news and views from Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.Next, we go to the territories, where we talk about Lex Luger leaving Florida as Kevin Sullivan returns to the territory, Doug Furnas making his wrestling debut in Knoxville, Lance Russell and Dave Brown celebrating their 20th Anniversary in Memphis as a team, Kerry Von Erich returning to the ring in World Class, and lots more.Th

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was January 19-25, 1996, a week picked by Andy Linton on our Patreon with a $25 pledge. If you want to pick a week, check out our Patreon page for more information.We start off talking about the WWF and Royal Rumble ’96, featuring Shawn Michaels winning his 2nd Rumble in a row, Diesel's tweener persona getting more heelish, and lots more from the PPV before going to Raw, where we talk about Vader injuring Gorilla Monsoon in a major angle and so much more.Then we go international, where we talk about some major matches in Japan, as well as Antonio Pena trying to leverage Rey Misterio Jr. and Psicosis into New Japan, Atsushi Onita talking about coming out of retirement, Victor Quinones being gone from IWA Japan, CMLL starting to push Shocker, and much more from both Japan and Mexico.Next is the indie scene, where Paul Heyman makes a big promise to Sabu, the now-defunct SMW is hit by a fan’s lawsuit, Brandon Baxter returns to the USWA by attacking Rand

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was January 11-17, 1999.We start with a wild WCW section, featuring Nitro, where Janie Engle makes a rare TV appearance while Eric Bischoff faces the wrath of Klondike Bill in setting up the ring, Pepe the stick horse meets his demise, Raven and "Jim" play some backgammon, and more. We also have a weak episode of Thunder and the third annual SOULED OUT pay-per-view, which features Hulk Hogan whipping David Flair pretty fiercely with his weightlifting belt, among other things. We also have all of the other news and views in a very interesting week for WCW.Then we go International, talking about AJPW, where Vader and Kenta Kobashi have a major battle, NJPW has its annual contract renewals, Michinoku Pro is falling apart, AAA is changing the way they book their TV tapings, CMLL is having issues with their American partners, and a whole lot more.Next, we go to the Indie scene, where we talk about a big health scare for Terry Funk, Public Enemy retur

Kris and David are joined by the returning Joe Sposto (@JoeSposto) to discuss the week-plus that was January 2-10, 1995. We start off with the WWF, where we have the 2nd Anniversary of Monday Night Raw featuring WILLIAM SHATNER sassing Jerry Lawler and Howard Finkel vs. Harvey Wippleman in one of the worst matches of all-time, plus the debut of MANTAUR, Diesel cutting one of the worst promos of all time, and so much more. We also talk about Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch being on their way in, and the heat that may have caused, as well as all sorts of other wacky news and views.Then we go International, where we have Tommy Dreamer touring AJPW, New Japan at the TokyoDome featuring the epic failure that was Sting vs. Tony Palmore en route to Sting vs. Antonio Inoki on the same show, and all sorts of other results from New Year’s Week, as everyone was running Korakuen Hall. After that, we go to Mexico, where we have all sorts of drama between AAA and Ron Skoler, a new promotion starting up in the form of PROMELL

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was December 28, 1992-January 3, 1993.We start off with WCW and Starrcade ’92 featuring BATTLEBOWL: THE LETHAL LOTTERY and the finals of the KING OF CABLE tournament. We talk about how the show top to bottom wasn't great, but it was newsworthy and featured a match between Sting and Big Van Vader that is must-see. We also have Hank Aaron showing up with “Cowboy” Bill Watts to present the 1991 Battlebowl ring to Sting, flat world title matches, lots of wacky teams, the greatness of Barry Windham, and much more from that show. Outside of Starrcade, we talk about Big Van Vader regaining the WCW World Title from Ron Simmons in the same city he lost it in, Arn Anderson cutting an amazing promo on Erik Watts on TV, Ric Flair's imminent arrival, and lots more.Then we go international, complete with Dave Meltzer n Japan for a tour, and we get some live reports from Dave, including from shows that you wouldn't expect him to be at. We also talk about C

Kris and David are back with yet another episode of BTS, and this time, we’re discussing the week-plus that was December 19-27, 1996.We start off with the WWF, where we talk about the planning stages of Shotgun Saturday Night, which is coming at a time when they did the worst rating to date for an episode of Monday Night Raw. We also talk about that Raw in detail, as well as Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart shooting angles on house shows where they beat each other up, as well as an interesting Doug Furnas AOL chat among other things.Next is a smallish International section, featuring the end of the UWFi, the return of IWA Japan, Ultimo Dragon defending the J-Crown in Wrestle Dream Factory, Terry Funk battling Fit Finlay in Germany, and much more.Then we go to the rest of North America, featuring a promotional war in Puerto Rico, major issues between ECW and Request TV that endanger the promotion’s prospects on PPV, a USWA Christmas on live TV, the end of the AWF, and a whole lot more.We then close with WCW, featu

Happy [preferred winter solstice-adjacent holiday], everyone! As has become something of a tradition, we’re releasing a past deep dive Patreon special episode of Between the Sheets for free! Well, actually, we’re giving you TWO Patreon specials for free, as this is a supercut of our two shows covering Kip Frey’s few months running WCW! For dozens more deep dives like this, including our six-part ECW on TNN series, our two-part Death of ECW series, other entries in the Paul Heyman Expanded Universe, our four-part WCW sale series, our four-part series on the 1992 WWF “Titangate” scandals, our classic two-part series on John Collins’ doomed MECW startup, and MUCH more, all you need to do is sign up for our Patreon at just the $5/month level ($50.40/year if you pay for a year up front) or higher by going to Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets.----------It's time for a new series of Patreon specials as we dive into attorney Kip Allen Frey's brief run as the Executive Vice President of World Championship Wrestling