Well, it's been a long seven months but Dean and Liam are finally back on the podcast beat, and it had nothing to do with jail time... honest! Their first episode back is a special look at a very popular question across a variety of topics on social media: which four wrestlers/matches/finishing moves etc would be WCW's 'Mount Rushmore'? The dynamic duo get through as many categories as they can, with more to come on a future episode, no doubt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Nov 12, 2022•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 112
Dean and Liam reach a milestone on the retro series, and it's fittingly a significant episode as Ted DiBiase shows up and proves he can count to five, while Chris Jericho makes his debut Nitro appearance and immediately fails to get sportsmanship over as a gimmick. Not only that, but the Blue Bloods explode, the lesser two Horsemen decide seven days later that they do have a problem with being replaced at WarGames by Sting and Luger after all, and Hollywood Hogan unwittingly spawns an infamous g...
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 111
The entire wrestling community is this week mourning the news that former WCW United States, Television and Tag Team champion Scott Hall has passed away at the age of 63. Hall was not only part of WCW's memorable early 1990s era, but would of course return in 1996 in one of the most memorable surprise appearances in the history of the industry before his New World Order faction with Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan changed the game as we knew it. Dean and Liam take a look back at his career, his influe...
Mar 15, 2022•54 min•Ep. 110
Dean and Liam return from a winter hibernation brought on by a combination of house renovations and more bloody Covid to deliver their first episode of 2022, another Nitro Watchalong during the famous early days of the New World Order. Stick us on alongside the Aug. 19, 1996 episode, or just listen to the podcast free standing as we walk you through all the happenings. And by happenings, we mean a big development for the upcoming WarGames bout, a fun match between Lord Steven Regal and Dean Male...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 109
The final day of the year brings our last episode of 2021, and as with previous years it's a doozy. For the third straight year, Dean and Liam have implored you to ask them ANYTHING related to World Championship Wrestling. And after doing it solo in 2019 and inviting a guest in 2020, this time - for the first time in the show's history - there are two special guests! British wrestling luminaries Justin Richards and Adam 'Muscles' Mansfield return to the show at the very same time to help tackle ...
Dec 31, 2021•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 108
It's the first episode of Monday Nitro following the lengthy stint at Disney and the first since Hollywood Hogan regained the WCW World title at Hog Wild as the show arrives in what Larry Zbyszko calls 'the middle of nowhere' - Casper, Wyoming. Join Dean and Liam through an erratic 90 minutes of wrestling TV littered with PPV rematches and some very peculiar character development. Oh, and Chris Benoit superplexing a seven foot monster in a bout that was much better than it had any right to be. H...
Dec 22, 2021•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 107
An old favourite guest returns to the podcast to help Dean and Liam look back at the infamous WCW debuts of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash... kinda. Superbrawl 1 sees Oz and The Diamond Studd make their bows during a very strange transitional period for the company, but thankfully an utterly weird PPV is saved late on by several strong matches, including the fantastic tag title collision between The Steiner Brothers and the team of Sting and Lex Luger. So, all there is left to say is... "Welcome To O...
Nov 22, 2021•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 106
The WCW roster deals with the aftermath of the New World Order's legendary backstage assault from the previous Nitro in this final episode before Hog Wild on PPV, which is also the last of the Disney/MGM tapings due to the 1996 Olympics. Join Dean and Liam as they watch through the babyfaces standing up in defiance while the heels get even more sinister in their actions as they also vow to take down the NWO. But why does this episode feel like it has been visited by time travellers? Hosted on Ac...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 105
All Elite Wrestling's recent All Out 2021 PPV earned the biggest buyrate for a non-WWE wrestling PPV since WCW produced their inaugural Mayhem show in way back in 1999. And when Dean and Liam shared this trivia with a fellow podcaster they met at Hooked On's All Out watch party, the trio decided to cover Mayhem for an episode. Then, they realised it was a Vince Russo show. Nonetheless, our fearless hosting duo and special guest Richard 'Benno' Benson endured three hours of utterly baffling produ...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 104
Today marks four years since the very first episode of Because WCW looked at the infamous Starrcade 1997 PPV (which also means we have lasted longer than the promotion did after that botched Sting/Hogan main event), and to celebrate our 4th birthday we spoke to a member of wrestling media who knows World Championship Wrestling extremely well - the one and only RD Reynolds! RD tells Dean and Liam about his fandom of NWA/WCW growing up, his most infamous WCW-related WrestleCrap inductions, writing...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 103
Dean and Liam arrive at one of the most iconic editions of Monday Nitro, as Scott Hall and Kevin Nash bring a regularly-scheduled episode to its knees with a sneak attack so rough and severe that wrestling writers would spent the next decade or more attempting to replicate it on a weekly basis, to diminishing returns and diluted effects. Re-live the infamous 'lawn dart' spot and much more as our intrepid duo break down what was great (and also what wasn't that great at all) about one of the game...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 102
Somehow, some way, Because WCW made it to the 100-episode mark. So, Dean and Liam decided to celebrate by bringing on a very, very special guest! Former United States (sorry, CANADIAN) heavyweight champion, Triple Crown title winner and globally-respected wrestler and trainer Lance Storm joins the podcast to discuss his brief-but-memorable tenure as a WCW employee. Storm talks his surprise at how fondly-remembered his three-belt run and World title challenge vs Booker T is 20 years on, under the...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 101
Days after learning of the passing of beloved wrestling legend 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton, Dean and Liam decided to rewatch one of the few shows Eaton main evented: a 1991 challenge of WCW champion Ric Flair on a TV special. Joining the duo is returning former guest Darren Goss of Discovery Wrestling, but before they can get to Flair vs Eaton, first they must endure a ton of World Championship Wrestling in 1991 being, well, World Championship Wrestling in 1991. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...
Aug 09, 2021•2 hr•Ep. 100
The Disney tapings continue in the wake of the New World Order's formation, and Ric Flair is conspicuous by his absence. Fortunately, in Flair's place is new arrival The Leprechaun. Yes, you read that right. Join Dean and Liam as they breeze through a fast-paced two-hour Nitro, which is a blessing considering how much intolerable guff is on this episode until the stars arrive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 99
Eight days after the infamous conclusion of BATB '96, 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan makes his first appearance in the infamous all-black garb. Well, if you ignore his temporary midlife crisis period in late '95. The battle lines are drawn in WCW as the New World Order make their presence known on another episode that really struggles to cope with the new two-hour format and the casual crowd at Disney. Nonetheless, Kidman vs Malenko, Benoit vs Guerrero part 4000 and some fun old-school promos (as well a...
Jul 05, 2021•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 98
Dean and Liam, for the first time in a while, review a classic major WCW show as a two-man act and for the occasion, they covered the second Clash event in the podcast's run so far. Join them as they debate whether Cactus Jack turned babyface at or before this show; whether 2 Cold Scorpio's hideous music video is the craziest WCW ever produced (and they made some doozies); and whether Harley Race firing The Barbarian is the single greatest P45 in professional wrestling history. Or at least, they...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 97
It's the day after Bash At The Beach 1996 and everything has changed on Nitro. Not only is beloved hero Hulk Hogan now a villain in league with The Outsiders, but WCW are filming their Monday night TV show at Disney in broad daylight! An intriguing and unique episode begins the steady move into the promotion's absolute peak. Join Dean and Liam for Sting vs Arn Anderson, Dean Malenko defending the cruiserweight title against Rey Mysterio and perhaps the worst and most ill-advised promo Hall and N...
Jun 03, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 96
It's the end of an era on the Watchalong series, as Dean and Liam cover the final episode of Monday Nitro prior to the arrival of the New World Order and professional wrestling being turned on its head. A mostly-enjoyable run of pre-Hollywood Hogan television finishes up with a decent enough offering, featuring the biggest Ric Flair's Banquet Table(tm) to date and much more on the go-home show six days before the pivotal Bash At The Beach 1996. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
May 20, 2021•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 95
Because WCW continues its chronicles of the company's bizarre obsession of anchoring its flagship year-end pay-per-view offering with a myriad of side concepts as Starrcade finds itself once again piggybacking a Battlebowl and a Lethal Lottery. Nonetheless, this curiously-booked smattering of double duty, triple duty and wholly uninspiring encounters for major singles titles does carry a lot of that famous early-1990s WCW charm. It's also a cherished childhood memory of our guest, Chris 'The Bro...
May 06, 2021•2 hr 26 min•Ep. 94
It took a month, but Nitro are finally starting to figure out how to make their two-hour shows run as smoothly as their mostly-enjoyable 60-minute bursts. Join Dean and Liam as those two no-good outsiders continue to make their presence known, spoiling an intriguing triangle main event for the tag team titles, while the rest of the show features a host of perversely-entertaining style-clashes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 93
We let our special guests pick a pay-per-view or special WCW event to cover when they appear on the show, and many of them pick shows from the early 1990s. Who can blame them? To many of us growing up at that time, it was a true glory period, surpassed only by the nWo's peak months. Our latest third chair was no exception, as Dave Bradshaw - who has written, presented and commentated on pro wrestling all over Europe and on everything from digital TV to the WWE Network - selected WrestleWar, and ...
Apr 10, 2021•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 92
It's the night after the 1996 Great American Bash (recently reviewed in episode 88), and the battle lines are starting to form in the wake of The Outsiders' attack on Eric Bischoff. Even WCW's resident villains are issuing threats to Hall and Nash - what has become of pro wrestling!? Join Dean and Liam as they once again attempt to speed up Nitro's early struggles in moving from one hour to two with their trademark blend of offbeat shenanigans and genuine insight, as Randy Savage and Ric Flair e...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 91
It was indeed an entire two decades ago on this very day that World Championship Wrestling staged its final live event, the 'series finale' edition of Monday Nitro, from Panama City Beach, Florida. This poignant landmark has prompted Dean and Liam to reflect back on the final few months of the company, whether Eric Bischoff could have truly turned things around with Fusient if he had a TV network to back him and whether WWE could have at the very least done something more meaningful with their n...
Mar 26, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 90
Once again, Dean and Liam look back at a PPV in line with their ongoing Nitro Watchalong series, and it happens to be one of the more enjoyable efforts WCW ever put behind a paywall. The Giant vs Lex Luger, Sting vs Lord Steven Regal, a surprisingly fun battle between The Horsemen and two NFL stars plus the iconic Falls Count Anywhere bout between Chris Benoit and Kevin Sullivan and Rey Mysterio's company debut combine for a memorable three hours, capped by The Outsiders assaulting Eric Bischoff...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 89
Nitro's move to two hours continues to experience some teething pain, as WCW delivers another one-hour episode stretched out the extra length as the hard sell for the 1996 Great American Bash begins. That said, a great old-school tag team main event featuring Sting and Lex Luger defending the tag titles against the Horsemen, plus perhaps the greatest ever match lasting under a minute between Lord Steven Regal and a young Billy Kidman, are highlights on this June edition of the show. Join Dean an...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 88
One week after the shocking Nitro appearance of Scott Hall, WCW broadcast their second two-hour Monday night offering - though it could have easily fit inside the old one-hour timeslot if they removed all the repeated promo videos for the absent Hulk Hogan. Nonetheless, an old-school bout pitting Ric Flair and Arn Anderson against The Rock 'n' Roll Express, a main event of Sting and Lex Luger defending the tag titles against The Steiner Brothers and first-class antics from the likes of Disco Inf...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 87
A new year means new horizons for Because WCW, as for the first time we review a Clash Of The Champions event! The two-hour TV specials had a Saturday Night's Main Event/In Your House vibe, but were eventually replaced by monthly three-hour PPVs. Dean and Liam start with one of the very best Clash shows of the 1990-2001 WCW era, as the 17th edition overall features Sting vs newcomer Rick Rude for the United States title and Dustin Rhodes teaming with a mystery partner to challenge tag champs The...
Feb 06, 2021•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 86
Hey, yo! After an extended Christmas break, Dean and Liam are back with not just any Monday Nitro Watchalong, but the May 27, 1996 episode. As Nitro moves from one hour to two, they mark the occasion with the arrival of one Scott Hall. The company's greatest ever storyline is underway! Tune in for that plus Ric Flair and Woman's glorious cheating tactics, Sting vs Scott Steiner, Lord Steven Regal calling Alex Wright "Junior Adolf" and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 85
After the positive feedback for last year's special festive episode, during which Dean and Liam answered YOUR WCW-related questions, they decided to do it again this year... with a special guest joining their panel. Former two-time guest of the show and editor of famed British wrestling publication Power Slam for its 20-year run from 1994 to 2014, Findlay Martin, offered his expertise and insight as our devoted listeners fired away about everything from how we'd book things differently to what h...
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 84
It's the final Monday Nitro before the entire landscape of the professional wrestling industry would change forever, and it is also the night of perhaps Nitro's best match to date as the on-form Ric Flair battles popular babyface Eddie Guerrero. Join Dean and Liam as they wonder why 1996 Flair isn't celebrated quite as much as other peak periods for The Nature Boy, while the usual storylines featuring Sting, Lex Luger, Randy Savage, The Four Horsemen and The Dungeon of Doom go around in one more...
Dec 08, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 83
