After a few weeks of isolation, we're back with another episode. And what better way to return than by discussing the first ever all-women's pay-per-view? A surprisingly unproblematic show that showcases what the women of the WWE can do and all they've been through over the years.
This week we're talking about what is probably the last new match type the WWE created that was actually good. The devil's demonic structure - the elimination chamber. We go back to the very beginning of this match and see how it went from being a blowoff to a culmination of storylines, to making careers, to becoming it's own PPV and evolving throughout wrestling history.
Two of the greatest wrestlers of all time have a rivalry that produces several classic matches. We look at both the in-ring and behind-the-scenes issues that made the rivalry between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker arguably the greatest of all time.
It's a feud that will define an era. Perhaps the best rivalry of both men's careers - we take a deep dive into the 2008 rivalry between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels. Why it was so good both inside the ring and on the microphone - and the ways it subverted traditional wrestling cliches and expectations.
We're back from our holiday break and we're kicking things back off with one of the most legendary wrestlers - still going today! We look at Chris Jericho's beginnings in WCW, through his huge debut in the Attitude Era - and his incredible return in 2007.
The WWE goes overseas to Iraq to perform for US soldiers for the very first time in what will become a yearly tradition. We look at an episode that is filled with patriotic nostalgia and hindsight. And once again, takes a lot of shots at Saddam Hussein.
It's the Thanksgiving tradition: Survivor Series! Today we go way back to the 1990 edition of the show that really leans into the holiday theme. I mean, there's a guy in a turkey costume for Christ's sake. Also The Undertaker debuts.
We got an exclusive opportunity to speak to one-half of the NWA commentary team Joe Galli. He gave us a behind-the-scenes look at NWA Powerrr, why he thinks the show is so appealing, what makes it unique and a preview of what the future of the NWA holds.
The NWA has returned to TV with a nostalgic, hour-long YouTube show set inside a TV studio. We get to the bottom of what makes this show appealing. Plus a preview of our exclusive interview with the voice of the NWA.
Happy Halloween! Today we're analyzing the very short career of one of the spookiest, most bizarre wrestling gimmicks of all time. He's The Boogeyman, he eats worms (and other things) and he's coming to getch'a!
It's the entire reason for David Arquette's infamous WCW World Heavyweight Championship win. It's also one of the most difficult movies we've ever had to subject ourselves to, but we're doing it so you don't have to. It's the 2000 buddy wrestling comedy Ready to Rumble!
Today we're celebrating one year of Turnbuckle Training by looking at some of the worst wrestling matches to ever take place. Bad matches, bad stories, bad gimmicks and bad outcomes - we've got it all! Hollywood Hogan vs. The Warrior - Halloween Havoc 1998 Al Snow vs. Big Boss Man - Unforgiven 1999 David Arquette and DDP vs. Jeff Jarrett and Eric Bischoff - Thunder 4/26/2000 Hulk Hogan vs. Shawn Michaels - Summerslam 2005 Batista vs. The Great Khali - No Mercy 2007 Bret Hart vs. Mr. McMahon - Wr...
Who's that jumpin' out the sky? Today we're talking about the most successful cruiserweight wrestler in the business: Rey Mysterio. From his early days in ECW and WCW, to his rise to the top of the WWE - we're covering all the hits and misses with the ultimate underdog and his special connection to his best friend in wrestling: Eddie Guerrero.
We continue our ECW nostalgia with TNA's Hardcore Justice. An ECW tribute show where they can't say the name of the company, show any of the video or use a lot of people's original names.
WWE gives the ultimate tribute to Extreme Championship Wrestling with this (mostly) authentic homecoming for ECW wrestlers featuring dream matches, classic hardcore brawls and a lot of shoot promos.
Wonderful! Delightful! Dilapidated! All words to describe this week's episode. It's one of the strangest, most innovative and quite frankly best wrestling storylines in the past decade. Take a deep dive into all the lore that is the Broken Hardy universe!
This rivalry blurs the lines of story and real life. When Lita has an affair with Edge, her long-term boyfriend Matt Hardy goes public online and gets fired - only to be rehired months later in a storyline that makes us question what was real and what was fake.
Today we discuss the 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat. Filmmaker Barry Blaustein gets incredible access into some of wrestling's darkest realities - and focuses on three wrestlers, who (at the time) were in varying stages of their careers. We take a look at what things were like back then, and how a documentary like this may have influenced the modern era.
Today we're looking back at the remarkable career of Mick Foley. From his beginnings as a young enhancement talent, to his stints in WCW and ECW, to his career-defining moments with guys the The Undertaker and The Rock, to his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame
The second part of our documentation of the Undertaker and Kane story. Taker finally comes back from the dead and it's fascinating to watch, although not quite the wrestling masterpiece we'd hoped for.
In this episode, we're talking about what is perhaps the longest-running storyline in WWE history. It's also the most convoluted, darkest and strangest. We're going through the biggest matches for The Undertaker and Kane. We'll also be discussing some recent WWE news that has us and much of the wrestling community pretty upset. We'll tell you how it's going to shape the future of this podcast.
The second part of this 4 hour extravaganza. The stars of ROH and New Japan are really showing off why they're a great alternative to the major wrestling companies. Meanwhile, Payton does his best to get Zack to appreciate purer wrestling styles.
We continue our break from WWE with our first foray into the indy wrestling scene. The first half of Ring of Honor's sold-out show in Madison Square Garden - G1 Supercard!
Payton is on vacation, so to celebrate 6 months of Turnbuckle Training - here's the original pilot we recorded way back when. On this episode we discuss Backlash 1999. A show right in the middle of the Attitude Era with a lot of fun, wild matches from some of the period's biggest stars.
This week we're going to look at Total Nonstop Action. A company that started after WCW and ECW folded. It's often the butt of the joke - falling into some of the same trends that WCW fell into in the early 2000s. But this PPV shows that they were, at one time, a decent alternative for people who had grown tired of the WWE.
We've got a supersized episode for you this week. We're talking about "The Grandest Stage of Them All" WrestleMania X-Seven. Quite possibly the greatest incarnation of the show - it's got technical wrestling, brawling and LOTS of hardcore. Also want to apologize about the audio in the beginning. Payton forgot to turn on his mic because he was too excited for WrestleMania!
It's a night that would change the history of professional wrestling. We discuss what happens when real life bleeds into the storyline as well as the shocking lead up and aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob.
Today we're looking at one of the most exciting, yet poorly booked styles of wrestling. See how WCW put cruiserweight wrestling on the map and how it evolved in the WWE. Rey Mysterio vs. Psychosis, Bash at the Beach 1996 Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero, Halloween Havoc 1997 Billy Kidman vs. Tajiri, Raw 10/22/2001 The Hurricane vs. Jamie Noble, King of the Ring 2002 Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio, WrestleMania XIX Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero, No Way Out 2004 Cruiserweight Open, Royal Rumble 2006...
We are right in the middle of the women's wrestling revolution, but boy has it taken us a while to get here. In this episode we go back to show you some of the highs and lows of women in the wrestling business and look ahead to where we might go from here. Matches include: Alundra Blayze vs. Bull Nakano, Summerslam 1994 Chyna vs. Jeff Jarrett, No Mercy 1999 Trish Stratus vs. Lita, Raw December 6, 2004 Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James, WrestleMania 22 Charlotte vs. Natalya, NXT Takeover 2014 Bayley...
As the Royal Rumble draws near, we look back on one of the gretest events in the show's history. From an incredible matchup between the two "Canadian Chris's" to a record-breaking performance by Kane to the bizarre inclusion of Drew Carey - this is the Royal Rumble 2001.
