Kris and David are joined by Nathan K (one of our Patrons) to discuss the week that was April 2-8, 2005 in a show that Nathan dropped $50 on the Patreon for, letting him pick the week and sit in for a segment. Topics of discussion include: WrestleMania 21 (AKA WrestleMania Goes Hollywood) which featured John Cena and Batista being crowned as the WWE and World Champs, respectively, plus Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels having a classic, Akebono and Big Show doing a little Sumo, the first Money in th...
Apr 07, 2025•5 hr 3 min
Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was March 27-April 1, 2003. Topics of discussion include: Mirko Cro Cop destroying Bob Sapp in a K-1 fight and all of the fallout, including the potential ramifications for Sapp's popularity in Japan. Satoshi Kojima winning the "weakest" Champion Carnival in AJPW history. Jerry Jarrett and Vince Russo having issues in TNA. Nathan Jones and the reasons why WWE wouldn't let him wrestle on TV. John Cena starting to get the shove. Kurt Angle a...
Mar 31, 2025•5 hr 47 min
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and our good buddy Charles to discuss the month of March 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance. We talk about Ric Flair and Lex Luger going around the horn in rematches from Wrestle War and how close we came to a NWA Title change, plus Michael Hayes’s suspension and the greatness of the Freebirds hosting NWA Pro. Sting starting to show back up on TV, Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express getting pissed at Jim Herd, MINNESOTA WRECKING CREW #2, and so much mo...
Mar 29, 2025•2 hr 55 min
Kris and David are joined by Black Label Pro's Mikey Blanton ( @blpmikey ) to discuss the week that was March 19-25, 1992. Topics of discussion include: Kerry Von Erich getting arrested in Dallas and what that means for his job in the WWF. A mysterious voice from prison is coming to get the Big Bossman. Mean Gene boards Ric Flair's "yacht" to discuss the scandalous photos of him and Miss Elizabeth. Leon Spinks wins gold in FMW. Super World Sports is on death's door right as The Undertaker makes ...
Mar 24, 2025•3 hr 49 min
Kris and David are back for EPISODE #500!!! of Between the Sheets, where we discuss the partial week that was March 13-16, 1998. Topics of discussion include: The aftermath of Syxx/Sean Waltman being fired by Eric Bischoff solely to mess with Kevin Nash, including how Nash reacted to this during a candid Prodigy chat hours before WCW Uncensored. The Uncensored PPV proper, featuring Mean Gene scolding Dean Malenko after his loss to Chris Jericho, a horrible Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage cage match main...
Mar 17, 2025•5 hr 51 min
Kris and David are joined by Beau James ( @kingofkingsport ) to discuss the week that was March 6-12, 1988. Topics of discussion include: The Fantastics making their debut in JCP and how it was badly needed at the time for everyone involved. Some really tremendous promos on World Championship Wrestling. Stan Hansen being reborn in AJPW via his feud with Genichiro Tenryu, especially after the “NOBODY POTATOES ME!” match just before our week. Dump Matsumoto's retirement match airs on Fuji TV, givi...
Mar 10, 2025•6 hr
Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the partial week that was February 23-27, 1996. Topics of discussion include: Vince McMahon extensively talking to Wade Keller and Dave Meltzer on the record and being quite candid in talking about the Ultimate Warrior returning to the WWF, the "suspension" of Razor Ramon, Diesel looking at leaving for WCW, and competing against “Ted Turner.” Raw featuring the Nacho Man and the Huckster on Larry Fling Live. Steve “Dr. Death” Williams not being booked fo...
Mar 03, 2025•5 hr 10 min
Kris and David are joined by Robert O'Connor ( @ghostofquinones ) to discuss the week that was February 19-25, 2004. Topics of discussion include: Eddy Guerrero's first week as WWE Champion and how it has boosted SmackDown business so far. Eddy’s championship celebration on SmackDown as well as Brock Lesnar's ACTING~! chops as he pines for his title that he lost and demands a match against Bill Goldberg. Raw in Omaha with Christian turning mega heel on Trish Stratus, Stone Cold hyping up Eric Bi...
Feb 24, 2025•6 hr 19 min
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of February 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance. We go over TWO big shows during the month in the form of Clash of the Champions X: Texas Shootout and Wrestle War '90: Wild Thing, going over both in-depth from an in-ring ring and behind the scenes point-of-view. We also talk about why Tully Blanchard's negotiations with the NWA fell apart, TV ratings records being broken week after week, Ric Flair resigni...
Feb 20, 2025•3 hr 14 min
Kris and David are finally joined by their dear friend, the debuting John Pollock ( @iamjohnpollock / @iamjohnpollock.bsky.social ) for the bookend segments of the show to discuss the week-plus that was February 10-17, 1987. Topics of discussion include: The Battle of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, as Angelo Mosca andJim Crockett Promotions run a matinee at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario on the same day as the WWF runs a nighttime card at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens advertised as R...
Feb 17, 2025•6 hr 26 min
Kris and David are joined by Al Getz ( @algetz.bsky.social ) to discuss the week that was February 5-11, 1989. Topics of discussion include: Vince and Linda McMahon admitting that pro wrestling was "fake" in front of the New Jersey State Senate as part of their deregulation efforts and all the mainstream media lunacy that followed, including Capt. Lou Albano making a wacky appearance on ABC's “Nightline.” Tony Schiavone leaving the NWA for the WWF, and the repercussions that would come from that...
Feb 10, 2025•6 hr 11 min
Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was January 29-February 4, 2005. Topics of discussion include: The second WrestleReunion going down in Tampa, and what a weekend it was, as legends and current wrestlers competed on a star-studded show, but Lex Luger's antics ended up being the biggest story to come out of it. Dusty Rhodes' status as the head booker in TNA being questionable at best. Hiroyoshi Tenzan's body falling apart at the exact worst possible time. A wacky angle invo...
Feb 03, 2025•5 hr 54 min
We’re back as Kris and David discuss the week that was January 22-28, 2002. Topics of discussion include: Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash officially signing with the WWF, which leads to Vince McMahon going insane on SmackDown, talking about injecting his company with “a lethal dose of poison" in the form of the New World Order. The debut of the famous WWF history video set to Kid Rock's "Lonely Road of Faith" on Raw as Ric Flair begs Vince not to bring back the nWo. Details on the upcomin...
Jan 27, 2025•5 hr 4 min
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and our great friend Charles to discuss the month of January 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance. Topics of discussion include: An update on the Windham family counterfeiting saga. The Rock ’n’ Roll Express return to the NWA. Cactus Jack Manson becomes a force on TV. Joe Pedicino leaves the company. An amazing TV taping in Johnson City, Tennessee. ROOS commercials featuring NWA stars start to air on TV. Ric Flair cancelling his booking on the NJPW Tokyo D...
Jan 23, 2025•2 hr 43 min
On this week's BTS, Kris and David discuss the week-plus that was January 15-23, 1988. Topics of discussion include: Dave Meltzer's speculation on how the WWF does in the TV ratings for The Main Event could lead to them getting a regular prime time slot on NBC. Bobby Heenan and The Islanders "return" Matilda. Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant sign their contract for "The Main Event." Steve "Dr. Death" Williams picks New Japan over Jim Crockett Promotions. Talk of Antonio Inoki facing Koji Kitao at ...
Jan 20, 2025•5 hr 43 min
Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was January 8-14, 1992. Topics of discussion include: A detailed rundown on Jim Herd's resignation from WCW, with all three major newsletters chiming in with unique information regarding this major event in dirtsheet history. Just who is Kip Frey, and why was he chosen to replace Jim Herd? Lex Luger's status in WCW according to Jack Petrik going on the record in Matwatch. The awesomeness of the Dangerous Alliance vs. the world feud on WCW TV. Atsu...
Jan 13, 2025•4 hr 17 min
Kris and David start off the new year looking at the week of January 1-7, 1984. Topics of discussion include: The first major strikes in the War of 1984 are fired as Hulk Hogan, Gene Okerlund, Roddy Piper, and David Schultz all make their WWF TV debut during our week and Dave Meltzer speculates on what the aftermath of that will look like. WWF also taking over KPLR TV in St. Louis with their version of "Wrestling at the Chase,” leaving the NWA office out in the cold…but not for long. Dusty Rhode...
Jan 06, 2025•5 hr 18 min
Kris and David are joined by Chad Austin ( @chadhooverdimer ) to discuss the week-plus that was December 25, 1993-January 4, 1994. Topics of discussion include: The WWF's post Christmas house show run not doing well at the box office. Bret and Owen Hart letting everyone know they "made up" over the holidays. Alundra Blayze making her debut on WWF TV, winning the WWF Women’s Championship tournament finals. Yokozuna as SANTA CLAUS in a wacky skit as well as his fear of caskets. John Nord becoming ...
Dec 30, 2024•6 hr 22 min
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!! Kris and David are joined this week by Beau James ( @kingofkingsport ) and Robert O’Connor ( @ghostofquinones ) for our now-traditional sort “of Christmas Show" as we discuss the week-plus that was December 18-25, 1994. Topics of discussion include: The Rougeau family drama in Montreal as Jacques wants to bring in WCW just a couple of months after "retiring" from the WWF, and how that is causing a major rift with Raymond, his brother who’s still a WWF announcer. WCW's tour of...
Dec 23, 2024•5 hr
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles for yet another episode of Center Stage Chronicles. This month, we travel back to December 1989, talking about the major happenings in the National Wrestling Alliance, including Starrcade ’89: Future Shock. Besides a full rundown of that show, we also have the Dynamic Dudes/Midnight Express saga, Arn Anderson returning to the NWA, the end of Tommy Young's career, and so much more!!!! --- To support the show and get access to exclusi...
Dec 19, 2024•3 hr 17 min
Kris and David are back after a week off to discuss the two weeks that were December 4-17, 1991. Topics of discussion include: The aftermath of This Tuesday in Texas including Jack Tunney announcing that the WWF Championship was vacant. Bret Hart winning the "Wrestler of the Year” award in a short, barely explained segment on Superstars. Ric Flair beating Shawn Michaels on Prime Time Wrestling thanks in part to misguided “help” from Marty Jannetty, accelerating the Rockers’ breakup. Dynamite Kid...
Dec 16, 2024•5 hr 46 min
It's December, and you know what that means: Since Kris and David took the week off, we're bringing you the annual holiday selection of a past Patreon deep dive show a few weeks early. This time, we're bringing you our July 2021 show looking at 2011's "Summer of Punk" in WWE, which ended up being surprisingly topical since news of Punk going to AEW broke around when the show came out. For more than eight years' worth of shows like this, you need to sign up for our Patreon at Patreon.com/BetwenTh...
Dec 09, 2024•4 hr 11 min
Kris and David are guestless as we talk about the almost week that was November 29-December 3, 1998. Topics of discussion include: TV Guide doing a major cover story on pro wrestling, complete with four collectable covers featuring Bill Goldberg, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and The Undertaker, plus the differences in how both companies promoted this on TV. WCW promoting a very classy tribute show to Brian Hildebrand in Knoxville during his second battle with stomach cancer. The Giant getting arres...
Dec 02, 2024•5 hr 6 min
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Charles a.k.a. Loss to discuss the month of November 1989 in the National Wrestling Alliance. We talk about Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout in Troy, New York with a completely detailed rundown of the show including the iconic Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk “I Quit” match, plus Jim Cornette turning on the Dynamic Dudes and tons more. We also talk about the NWA TV ratings going up in a big way, Buzz Sawyer entering the promotion, Sid Vicious puncturi...
Nov 28, 2024•3 hr 16 min
Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was November 20-26, 2005. Topics of discussion include: Vince McMahon announcing a "strict" drug testing policy in the wake of Eddie Guerrero's death and Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore passing out in a hotel lobby while high on Somas. We have a full transcript of the speech given to the talent — because they posted the video on WWE.com! — and the early reactions. Raw and Smackdown tapings in England while the two rosters are at war with each other as part...
Nov 25, 2024•4 hr 21 min
Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was November 13-19, 1992, a Patreon request from Pete Fusco, who threw down a $25 pledge to pick the week of “The Perfect Angle.” Topics of discussion include: A newsworthy WCW Clash of the Champions in Macon, GA as 2 Cold Scorpio makes his debut, Barry Windham turns heel, and there’s a Johnny Gunn/Z-Man video for the damn ages. The Paul E./Madusa saga climaxes at the Clash. Paul Orndorff makes his return to WCW while they talk about his S...
Nov 18, 2024•6 hr 3 min
David is joined by British wrestling historians Allan Blackstock (@allan_cheapshot), Keith Harris (@glasgowkjh), Tony Earnshaw (@RealErnestARS), and Bradley Craig (@BradleyCraigABZ) to talk about the 2024 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame results...sort of. Allan wanted to do a roundtable and didn't have anyone to record/host it, so David volunteered. It came up on short notice, so he dips in and out while multitasking with Allan leading the panel. We start with a deep dive into the "re...
Nov 16, 2024•2 hr 49 min
Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was November 6-12, 1988. Topics of discussion include: The WWF's involvement in distributing the Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Donny Lalonde boxing pay-per-view event and what kind of impact it made on the finances of Titan Sports. A special three-hour episode of Prime Time Wrestling on Election Night featuring the Paris card from a month earlier, and what a show this was. Roddy Piper getting candid in an interview plugging “They Live” with the Bo...
Nov 11, 2024•5 hr 52 min
Kris and David are joined by Robert O'Connor ( @ghostofquinones ) to discuss the week that was October 30-November 5, 2003. Topics of discussion include: Teddy Hart going completely nuts at the 11/1 Ring of Honor show in Elizabeth, NJ and taking over the wrestling internet with his antics. We talk about the show itself — which gets forgotten because of Teddy and the aftermath, despite some great matches — plus all of the fallout, including Teddy’s “open letter” apology and CM Punk burying Teddy ...
Nov 04, 2024•6 hr 50 min
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles on the latest episode of Center Stage Chronicles, as we discuss the road to Halloween Havoc ’89 and tons more. We talk about the struggles that the NWA had with TBS over some heat heavy angles like the plastic bag at the Clash and Scott Steiner getting mugged by Kevin Sullivan and friends. We also talk about the start of the Midnight Express/Dynamic Dudes feud, Bret Hart talking about possibly coming in, the TV ratings starting to c...
Oct 30, 2024•3 hr 16 min
