WWE Then and Now

Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at WWF Survivor Series 1995 and In Your House V: Season’s Beatings (103 min.)

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 01:24:05 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor and “Raw Hits and Misses” author Jon Mezzera and Frank Peteani wrap up their journey reviewing 1995 WWF by looking back at Survivor Series and In Your House V. They lightly review the undercards of each show, but focus on Bret Hart vs. Diesel from Survivor Series. From In Your House V, they focus on Owen Hart vs. Diesel and Bret Hart vs. The British Bulldog. Amongst other topics, discussion is had on Diesel’s transformation after losing to Bret, as well as his turn from tweener to heel. They then reflect on the year that was 1995, recapping Diesel’s title run, as well as the placement of babyfaces and heels. They can’t help sneaking a little baseball talk at the end. Frank makes an announcement about the show and his status with PWTorch.

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Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at both WWF In Your House III: Triple Header and IV: Great White North (150 min.)

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:09:34 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor and “Raw Hits and Misses” author Jon Mezzera and Frank Peteani resume their journey reviewing 1995 WWF, taking on the In Your House III & IV PPVs. At III the key matches are Razor Ramon vs. Dean Douglas, Bret “Hit Man” Hart vs. Jean-Pierre Lafitte, and Diesel (WWF Champion) & Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental Champion) vs. The British Bulldog & Yokozuna (Interim WWF Tag Team Champions. Bulldog stood in for Owen Hart). At IV Fatu (eventual Rikishi) took on Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Triple H), Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid challenged The Smoking Gunns for the WWF Tag Team Championship, Razor Ramon challenged Dean Douglas for the Intercontinental Championship, and Diesel defended the WWF Championship against The British Bulldog. Several key things happened around this time including the Undertaker being injured by Mabel and Shawn Michaels getting beat up at a bar by several marines.

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VIP PODCAST 8/15 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at WWF In Your House II and Summerslam ’95 including Michaels vs. Jarrett, Diesel vs. Sid, Bret vs. Yankem, Razor vs. Michaels, more (179 min.)

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 19:00:54 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor and “Raw Hits and Misses” author Jon Mezzera and Frank Peteani resume their journey reviewing 1995 WWF by breaking both the In Your House II and Summerslam PPVs. In Your House II features a great Intercontinental Championship match between Shawn Michaels and Jarrett. Summerslam features the eventual Kane’s debut as Isaac Yankem, DDS. vs. Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Razor Ramon challenging Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship, and Diesel defending the WWF Championship against King Mabel. Many topics are discussed including:

Brief thoughts on Hulk Hogan’s passing to open the show
Bill Watts brief tenure in WWF
Racism in WWF
Many “occupational” gimmicks used in WWF
The abrupt departures of Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie after In Your House II
The original plan for the WWF Tag Team Championship match at Summerslam
Owen Hart nearly getting fired
Wade’s reporting on Hakushi not bumping for babyfaces and not adjusting his style
Vince’s pushing of tag teams
The teasing of Razor turning heel
The odd interference by Lex Luger in the main event and the lack of interference by newly turned heel British Bulldog
The idea of trying to swerve the audience then the way they do now

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VIP PODCAST 6/25 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at the 1995 WWF King of the Ring PPV including King of the Ring tournament matches, Bret vs. Lawler, Diesel & Bam Bam vs. Sid & Tatanka, more (124 min.)

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 03:08:48 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor and “Raw Hits and Misses” author Jon Mezzera and Frank resume their journey reviewing 1995 WWF by breaking down the much-criticized King of the Ring PPV. They discuss the decision to have Mabel win the tournament and its opportunity cost. They run alternate scenarios not only for the King of the Ring tournament, but for the main event in which Diesel was coming off an injury. Prior to discussing the show, they talk about some happenings between In Your House and this show, which includes Chris Benoit briefly working for WWF, Dustin Rhodes in negotiations with the company, and the announcement about WCW’s upcoming show which turned out to be Monday Nitro.

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VIP AUDIO 5/28 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at the initial WWF In Your House PPV including Bret vs. Hakushi, Bret vs. Lawler, Diesel vs. Sid, house giveaway, more (127 min.)

Wed, 28 May 2025 21:55:02 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor and “Raw Hits and Misses” author Jon Mezzera and Frank resume their journey reviewing 1995 WWF by breaking down the first In Your House PPV. Bret Hart faced Hakushi and later Jerry “The King” Lawler, which ultimately set up the Kiss My Foot match at King of the Ring. Diesel defends the WWF Championship against Sid. Many topics are discussed including this being the beginning of the more frequent WWF PPV cycle, was the heel & babyface ledger truly out of balance as most people think it was in 1995, garbage finishes in the main event on an initial offering of a new PPV, and more.

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VIP AUDIO 4/30 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Martin review 1995 ECW Hostile City Showdown including Sandman vs. Douglas, Guerrero vs. Malenko, Public Enemy vs. Pitbulls, Funk vs. Cactus Jack, more (112 min.)

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:29:02 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch VIP Analyst Todd Martin joins Frank to review ECW’s Hostile City Showdown from 1995, Frank’s first time reviewing an ECW show. They open discussing the situation that occurred on the previous show, Three Way Dance, in which Sabu no-showed, and how it was handled by Paul Heyman. They then review the event match by match, which featured a phenomenal match between Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko for the ECW TV Championship, and discuss many topics including what fans wanted from ECW, how Paul Heyman handled talent as opposed to other promotions, and how the Guerrero vs. Malenko match began a change in how their shows were presented.

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VIP AUDIO 4/9 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera review 1995 WWF WrestleMania XI including Bret vs. Backlund, Diesel vs. Michaels, LT vs. Bam Bam, celebrities, more (119 min.)

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 19:52:09 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor Jon Mezzera joins Frank Peteani to continue their review of the 1995 WWF, focusing on WrestleMania XI held in Hartford, Conn. This event featured Diesel defending the WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart competing against Bob Backlund in an “I Quit” match, and N.Y. Giants legend and NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor facing Bam Bam Bigelow. They briefly discuss the episode of Raw following WrestleMania, where Shawn Michaels gives his bodyguard Sid the “night off.” They also touch on Wade calling out sports reporters for their coverage of the Taylor vs. Bam Bam match.

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VIP AUDIO 4/2 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Barber review 1995 WCW Uncensored including Dusty vs. Bully King of the Road, Nasty Boys vs. Harlem Heat Falls Count Anywhere, Hogan vs. Vader Strap Match, more (127 min.)

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:05:14 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor Zach Barber makes his debut on Pro Wrestling Then and Now to review WCW Uncensored 1995. They first discuss WCW and WWF increasing their PPV lot, and then review the show. It featured the infamous King of the Road match between Dustin Rhodes and Blacktop Bully that got both men fired along with Mike Graham, who was responsible for the match. Other matches included Martial Arts (Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Meng), a Boxer vs. Wrestler (Johnny B. Badd vs. Arn Anderson), a Falls Count Anywhere (Harlem Heat vs. The Nasty Boys), a Strap Match (Hulk Hogan vs. Vader), and more. The debut of the Ultimate Warrior knockoff Renegade happened here as well. They review the poorly received show and reference Wade Keller’s write up from Newsletter edition #326 amongst other readers.

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VIP AUDIO 3/21 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Maitland review 1995 WCW SuperBrawl V including Wright vs. Roma, Sting & Savage vs. Avalanche & Rogers, Hogan vs. Vader, more (129 min.)

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:47:20 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch.com contributor Chris Maitland of the “Wrestling Coast to Coast” Dailycast returns to Pro Wrestling Then and Now to review the 1995 edition of WCW SuperBrawl, which featured seven matches out of which six had interference finishes and one had the infamous “Dusty finish” (Nasty Boys vs. Harlem Heat for the WCW Tag Team Championship). U.S. Champion Vader challenges Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Championship with Ric Flair in the stands and the promotion all but tells you there would be interference. Frank is hard on the show and highlights a lot of the very fair criticism Wade wrote in his newsletter at the time (edition 322).

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VIP AUDIO 2/27 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & LeClair review Episodes 3 & 4 of WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event including Santana vs. Savage, Steamboat vs. Fuji, Hogan & Andre vs. Studd & Bundy, more (130 min.)

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 04:04:13 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch contributor Brandon LeClair returns to Pro Wrestling Then and Now to review episodes 3 & 4 of WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event. Episode 3 featured follow-up of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper interfering in Uncle Elmer’s wedding, which led to a six-man tag match featuring Piper & Jesse “The Body” Ventura & “Cowboy” Bob Orton vs. Elmer & Hillbilly Jim & Cousin Luke. Terry Funk wrestles Junk Yard Dog on episode 3 and then challenges Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship on episode 4. There’s Halloween comedy amongst other skits. There’s a lot of discussion of why the product was presented as such during this period as compared to other eras including today. What do we appreciate about later eras and even today vs. the product back then?

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VIP AUDIO 1/28 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at the 1995 WWF Royal Rumble including Razor vs. Jarrett, Diesel vs. Bret, Royal Rumble match, more (130 min.)

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:46:24 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch contributor Jon Mezzera joins Frank Peteani to review the 1995 Royal Rumble PPV. Razor Ramon defends the Intercontinental Championship against Jeff Jarrett. Newly turned babyface WWF Champion Diesel defends his title against Bret “Hit Man” Hart. NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor gets into an infamous confrontation with Bam Bam Bigelow. The Royal Rumble itself finds Shawn Michaels and The British Bulldog starting #1 and #2 and going the distance. Many topics are discussed including talent usage, the pace and time of the rumble match, alternate scenarios, and more.

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VIP AUDIO 1/14 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Radican look back at the 1990 WWF Royal Rumble including Beefcake vs. Genius, Garvin vs. Valentine, Rumble match, more (117 min.)

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:39:24 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch columnist Sean Radican makes his first appearance on the show to look back at the 1990 Royal Rumble. His viewing habits from the 1990 are discussed along with his thoughts on WWF production and presentation of stars then vs. now. They get into a little sidebar about what happened recently with Chris Charlton’s remarks on a New Japan Pro Wrestling broadcast before reviewing the show at hand. The matches featured include Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake against the Genius with a confusing finish, a submission match between “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine where they annoyingly attempt multiple pins, and the Royal Rumble match itself. This is remembered for the confrontation between then-WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and then-Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior. They discuss alternate scenarios such as Mr. Perfect winning or Warrior, but ultimately (no pun intended) understand why Hogan won this match.

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VIP AUDIO 12/16 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Velasquez look back at WCW Starrcade 1994 including Duggan vs. Vader, Wright vs. Levesque, Hogan vs. Butcher, Savage PPV debut, more (117 min.)

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:26:28 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Jesse Velasquez of the Top Rope Nation podcast and Top Rope Nation Unplugged returns to talk WCW Starrcade 1994. The card featured Hacksaw Jim Duggan defending the U.S. Championship against Big Van Vader, 19-year-old “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright vs. a young Paul Levesque in his French Jean-Paul Levesque persona, and Hulk Hogan defending the WCW Championship against his long-time friend Ed Leslie as The Butcher. “Macho Man” Randy Savage loomed as he would either shake Hogan’s hand or slap him in the face. They discuss the state of WCW at the time as they were utilizing the “80s WWF formula.” If you didn’t know any better, were you more enthusiastic about them or WWF as they were pushing new “top stars” like Diesel, Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels with mainstays like Bret “Hit Man” Hart and the Undertaker? They even sneak in a little American football talk at the end. Jesse is a Vikings fan while Frank is a Giants fan. Find out who’s happy these days.

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VIP AUDIO 12/11 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Wolf look back at WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event Episodes I & II including Hogan vs. Orton, Richter vs. Moolah (episode I); Hogan vs. Volkoff, Uncle Elmer wedding (episode II), more (132 min.)

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:49:44 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch.com VIP subscriber and listener David Wolf returns to break down the first two Saturday Night’s Main Event episodes from May and October of 1985. They discuss the placement and significance of the show at the time, why the reboot in 2006 might have failed, and does it have a chance to succeed when it returns in 2024. Both shows are reviewed in their entirety, which were heavy on interviews and segments including Piper’s Pit (episode I) and the Body Shop (episode II). Hulk Hogan defends the WWF Championship on both shows with the first defense being against “Cowboy” Bob Orton and the second against Nikolai Volkoff. The story of “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff’s babyface turn is heavily featured across both episodes. Uncle Elmer’s legitimate wedding to Joyce Stazko takes place on episode II with a reception to close out the show. In addition, they discuss multiple DQ and count out finishes and if they were a problem at the time.

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VIP AUDIO 11/20 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at WWF Survivor Series 1994 including Backlund vs. Bret, Teamsters vs. Bad Guys, Undertaker vs. Yokozuna, more (103 min.)

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:00:35 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch.com VIP contributor Jon Mezzera joins Frank Peteani to look back at Survivor Series 1994. This is the audio version of the show, which debuted on the PWTorch YouTube page. The card includes the infamous match where Bret Hart loses the WWF Championship to Bob Backlund in a “Throw in the Towel” match, the run-back Casket Match between the Undertaker and Yokozuna, and the Bad Guys (Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid, British Bulldog, Headshrinkers) vs. the Teamsters (Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart) where Shawn and Diesel had their fallout. They run alternate scenarios for the WWF championship had Bob Backlund not been available, and come to a conclusion about his use.

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VIP AUDIO 11/13 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Martin look back at WCW Halloween Havoc 1994 including Pretty Wonderful vs. Stars & Stripes, Dustin Rhodes vs. Arn Anderson, Hogan vs. Flair in a cage, more (122 min.)

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 20:47:42 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch VIP analyst Todd Martin returns to “Then and Now” to discuss the 1994 edition of WCW Halloween Havoc. They review the entire show, which is heavily centered on the retirement match between Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair in a steel cage where Flair must retire if he loses. Focus topics include the general overall change in WCW and enthusiasm for the product in the fall of 1994, the quality of the undercard of PPVs built around Hogan in the main event, and the lack of decisive finishes on this show. Plus Frank makes an announcement about the format of “Pro Wrestling Then and Now” moving forward.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 8/19 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: (Pt. 2 of 2) Peteani & Furlow look back at WCW Fall Brawl 1994 including Regal vs. Badd, Duggan vs. Austin, Vader vs. Guardian Angel, Vader vs. Sting, more (70 min.)

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:36:38 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: In part two of the latest Pro Wrestling Then and Now, Kylin Furlow and Frank Peteani discuss WCW Fall Brawl, the follow-up to Bash at the Beach discussed in part one. They break down the entire card, which includes a rematch of Lord Steven Regal vs. Johnny B. Badd for the TV Championship, a triangle match between Vader, the Guardian Angel, and Sting whose rules were not clear to the audience, an awful U.S. Championship title change from Steve Austin to “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, and the main event WarGames match between Dusty and Dustin Rhodes and the Nasty Boys vs. The Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck, Arn Anderson, Terry Funk, and Col. Robert Parker).

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 8/19 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: (Pt. 1 of 2) Peteani & Furlow look back at WCW Bash at the Beach 1994 including Regal vs. Badd, Austin vs. Steamboat, Hogan vs. Flair, more (89 min.)

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:07:50 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: In part one of the latest Pro Wrestling Then and Now, long-time PWTorch.com VIP reader and listener Kylin Furlow returns to Then and Now to discuss not one, but two shows from 1994 WCW. In part one they discuss Bash at the Beach, where Hulk Hogan debuted in WCW and challenged Ric Flair for the WCW Championship. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat challenged “Stunning” Steve Austin for the U.S. Championship. Those matches along with the rest of the card are broken down, plus there’s discussion about Wade’s rating of the show including his thoughts on Steve Austin back in this period.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 8/7 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Parks look back at WWF Summerslam 1994 including Bret vs. Owen, Razor vs. Diesel, Luger vs. Tatanka, Undertaker vs. Undertaker, more (104 min.)

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:25:56 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch.com columnist Greg Parks returns to “Then and Now” to reflect on the 1994 edition of WWF Summerslam. They review the entire card, which featured a Match of the Year candidate in Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart in a steel cage for the WWF Championship and a Worst Match of the Year candidate in the Undertaker vs. Undertaker main event. Also discussed are the pivotal year in general that was 1994, “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s role as a host and commentator in general around this time, the state of the women’s division then vs. now, the negative effect of the Million Dollar Corporation, turning Tatanka heel as opposed to Lex Luger, and more.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 7/3 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Mezzera look back at WWF King of the Ring 1994. Bret vs. Diesel, Razor vs. Owen (KOTR Final), Piper vs. Lawler, more (107 min.)

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 22:36:02 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch.com contributor Jon Mezzera returns to Pro Wrestling Then and Now to look back at the WWF King of the Ring PPV from 1994. They discuss the entire card, which features Bret Hart defending the WWF Championship against Intercontinental Champion Diesel, Owen Hart winning the King of the Ring tournament defeating Razor Ramon in the final (with the help of his returning brother-in-law Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and proclaiming himself the “King of Harts”), and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler in the main event. Talking points include but are not limited to:

Was Owen wearing the crown and robe and proclaiming himself “King of Harts” too comedic and did it hurt Owen in the long run?
Was the tournament too predictable?
Why was Art Donovan’s commentary so awful?
Were there too many “lame” finishes?
If they did some of the matches on TV would they have gotten more time?
How do we grade Neidhart’s involvement in the Bret vs. Diesel match to set up what he did in the Razor vs. Owen final?
Why did Vince go with then 40-year-old Roddy Piper vs. then 45-year-old Jerry Lawler in the main event on a show where they pushed the New Generation?

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 5/22 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Velasquez look back at WCW Slamboree ‘94. Cactus Jack & Sullivan vs. Nasty Boys, Windham vs. Flair, Austin vs. Badd, Sting vs. Vader, more (102 min.)

Wed, 22 May 2024 19:36:07 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Jesse Velasquez from Top Rope Nation and host of TRN Unplugged joins Frank Peteani to look back on WCW Slamboree 1994. The top matches are Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan vs. The Nasty Boys for the WCW Tag Team Championship in a Broad Street Bully match, Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham for the WCW World Championship, Sting vs. Vader for the vacant International Championship, and Stunning Steve Austin vs. Johnny B. Badd for the U.S. Championship. They also get into the changeover in booking from Dusty Rhodes to Ric Flair, what WCW could have looked like had Hulk Hogan not arrived and who might have gotten pushed, and more.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 4/22 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Wolf look back at WCW Spring Stampede ‘94. Sting vs. Rude, Austin vs. Muta, Flair vs. Steamboat, more (121 min.)

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:07:37 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch VIP subscriber David Wolf joins Frank Peteani to discuss WCW Spring Stampede 1994, a show in which WCW was on the brink of a major change with the potential signing of Hulk Hogan. The entire card was reviewed, which included “Stunning” Steve Austin vs. The Great Muta for the U.S. Championship, Sting vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude for the WCW international Championship (a confusing title to explain), and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat challenging heel-ish Ric Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. They talk about the frustration of bad finishes in the title matches even though the show was overall enjoyable, and a comparison of Wade Keller’s star ratings as opposed to Dave Meltzer’s in the Observer. Many sidebar topics are discussed throughout the podcast including comparisons to this week’s AEW Dynasty PPV and AEW in general, what-ifs like would Steve Austin had been a big star in WCW had Hulk Hogan not arrived, comparisons of Steamboat vs. Flair on this show to their Chi-Town Rumble match from 1989, expectations for wrestling TV/PPVs in 1994 vs. today, and much more.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 1/25 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Wells look back at the 1994 WWF Royal Rumble. Undertaker vs. Yokozuna, Bret & Owen vs. Quebecers, Royal Rumble match proper, more (119 min.)

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 20:38:59 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor Kelly Wells returns to “Then and Now” to look back at the 1994 Royal Rumble event with Frank Peteani. They talk about the craziness of the angle run between Yokozuna and the Undertaker in their casket match for the WWF Championship, Owen Hart turning on his brother Bret, Bret and Lex Luger co-winning the Royal Rumble, and the implications of that moving forward. They throw in some discussion on current events including whether the WWE needs the Rock at this year’s WrestleMania.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 1/19 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Arias look back at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8. Okada vs. Naito, Tanahashi vs. Nakamura, Shibata vs. Goto, Devitt vs. Ibushi, more (113 min.)

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:35:51 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: PWTorch contributor Marcus Arias makes his debut on the show to look back at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 8 from 2014. They open discussing the news of Kazuchika Okada leaving New Japan and speculate on his likely destination. Cases are made for WWE and AEW. They tie it into Wrestle Kingdom 8, where Okada was in the early stage of being on top in the promotion. In addition, they talk about the infamous fan vote that saw Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship get voted as the main event over Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. This is “where it all began” for Naito, and they discuss the journey that finally saw him get his moment at this year’s Wrestle Kingdom. The rest of the card is reviewed, which includes Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto and Prince Devitt vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. These were Devitt’s final days in New Japan before leaving to become Finn Balor in WWE, as well as Kota’s final days in the junior division.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 1/11 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Wells look back at the 1989 Royal Rumble. Duggan & Hart Foundation vs. Bravo & Rougeaus, Warrior and Rude posedown, Rumble match proper, more (127 min.)

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:57:42 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Longtime PWTorch contributor Kelly Wells, host of “PWT Talks NXT” and “NXT Eight Years Back,” returns to Then and Now to look back at the 1989 Royal Rumble, which saw Big John Studd as the victor. They discuss that decision and the stories looped into the Rumble match, including Jake “The Snake” Roberts and his feud with Andre the Giant, as well as the much-remembered story between Hulk Hogan and Randy “Macho Man” Savage which culminated at WrestleMania V. They have some rabbit hole discussions, including one about awfully dubbed-in music on Peacock and the effects of wrestling in prime time on the product in general.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 11/20 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Fann & Furlow review 1998 WWF Survivor Series. WWF Championship tournament featuring Austin, Rock, Mankind, Undertaker, more (98 min.)

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 03:43:11 +0000

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

SHOW SUMMARY: PTTorch columnist Rich Fann and longtime VIP subscriber Kylin Furlow join Frank to review the 1998 Survivor Series. They go over the overlying story of the tournament to crown a new WWF Champion that appeared to be designed to be won by Mankind but ended up being won by the Rock via the Montreal Screwjob finish. They discuss Big Boss Man and Shane McMahon’s roles in the “scheme” to ultimately keep the title away from “Stone Cold ” Steve Austin. They talk about how today’s audience would respond, especially on social media, and the use of the Montreal finish one year later.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 11/2 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Wolf review the 1985 WWF Wrestling Classic including Hogan vs. Piper, JYD vs. Savage, Steamboat vs. Davey Boy, more (123 min.)

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 20:31:31 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Longtime PWTorch VIP subscriber David Wolf makes his debut on “Pro Wrestling Then and Now” to discuss the WWF Wrestling Classic from 1985. This show is personal to both David and Frank as they discuss how they started watching the WWF around the same time, and this was one of the first shows they watched. It’s a 16-man tournament that features “Macho Man” Randy Savage in his early days of the WWF, the Iron Sheik, Junkyard Dog, and many more. It also had a WWF Championship match between Hulk Hogan and frequent rival “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. They discuss the stark difference in wrestling presentation from then to now, plus what was accepted on commentary by Jesse “The Body” Ventura that would in no way work in today’s world. There are several sidebars, and these two big New York Mets fans finish discussing the Rangers winning the World Series following the Mets 2023 blueprint.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 10/25 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Martin review WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 including Sting vs. Bret, Hogan vs. Warrior, DDP vs. Goldberg, more (117 min.)

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 20:12:47 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Longtime PWTorch VIP analyst Todd Martin returns to Then and Now to look back on Halloween Havoc 1998. Frank and Todd discuss the entire card, which featured the much maligned rematch between Hollywood Hogan and Warrior, Bret Hart (also a maligned character) defending the U.S. Championship against the Wolfpac version of Sting, Scott Hall (and his awful drinking gimmick) taking on Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page challenging Goldberg for the WCW World Championship, and more.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 9/29 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Girardi review WCW Fall Brawl 1998 & WWF SummerSlam 1998. Team WCW vs. NWO Wolfpac vs. NWO Black & White in WarGames, Triple H vs. Rock, Austin vs. Undertaker, more (143 min.)

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 02:57:48 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Frank’s longtime friend Justin Girardi returns to absolutely lash out at the debacle that was WCW Fall Brawl 1998. They compare it to Summerslam 1998, which was a much better show a few weeks earlier. Talking points are as follows:

How WCW was on the decline with a roster loaded with starts while WWF was on the rise with a limited roster.
The Ric Flair-WCW situation in 1998 where both parties sued each other. Would Ric have worked in the WWF in 1998? Should he have shown up on this PPV to please the crowd?
A small tangent on Jeff Jarrett.
Full reviews of Fall Brawl 1998 with a comparison to SummerSlam 1998
Should Chris Jericho and Goldberg have had a match in WCW?
The tastelessness of the angles with Buff Bagwell and Scott Hall happening on the same show.
The ridiculousness of booking three teams to face each other in a WarGames match where it was every man for himself, the winner gets a championship match against Goldberg, and how the match could end before all participants entered. How does that make sense?
The contradiction of Eric Bischoff wanting WCW to be different from WWF, and then he does the smoke entrance with Warrior.
An alternative idea for what the WarGames match could have been.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 8/4 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Parks review WWF SummerSlam 1993. Razor vs. DiBiase, Perfect vs. Michaels, Bret vs. Lawler, Luger vs. Yokozuna, more (101 min.)

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 15:58:06 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch columnist Greg Parks returns to Pro Wrestling Then and Now to discuss WWF SummerSlam 1993, which featured the most celebrated count out victory of all time by Lex Luger over Yokozuna. They discuss their feelings overall on WWF 1993 and their viewing habits of wrestling back then versus now, and then review the card in its entirety. They discuss the strange booking decisions throughout the show, especially the aforementioned count out win by Luger over Yokozuna. Why did they build up Luger so much with a Lex Express bus and a song and have such a special entrance if he wasn’t going to win the WWF Championship? Frank reveals he’s been waiting 30 years to complain about this match.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 6/22 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Furlow discuss WWF King of the Ring 1998 including Rock vs. Shamrock, Undertaker vs. Mankind, Austin vs. Kane First Blood Match, more (121 min.)

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 22:27:36 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Long-time PWTorch VIP member Kylin Furlow returns to look back on the entire card of the 1998 WWF King of the Ring PPV. This show features one of the more famous matches in the history of the company, where Mankind faces the Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match and takes the famous dive off the top of the cage. The Rock faces Ken Shamrock in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin defends the WWF Championship against Kane in a First Blood match, where Kane said he would set himself on fire if he lost. They start by going through the history of King of the Ring dating back to 1985 and go over the PPV offerings from 1993 to 2002.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 5/17 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now: Peteani & Maitland discuss WCW Slamboree 1993: A Legends Reunion, including Legends matches, Austin & Pillman vs. Steamboat & Zenk, Windham vs. Anderson, Bulldog vs. Vader, more (145 min.)

Wed, 17 May 2023 19:05:10 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Chris Maitland of the PWTorch Dailycast’s “Wrestling Coast to Coast” joins Frank for the first time to look back on WCW Slamboree from 1993. This show was voted for by you, the PWTorch VIP audience. They discuss where WCW was in 1993 and potential similarities in today’s AEW. They then run down the entire show, which featured legends from the NWA, AWA, and more, as well as the first inductees of the WCW Hall of Fame. There are three matches involving legends, including Blackjack Mulligan, Dick Murdoch, Jimmy Snuka, Jim Brunzell, and more. Heel Barry Windham defends the NWA Championship against babyface Arn Anderson. Big Van Vader defends the WCW Championship against “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 4/7 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now (Pt. 2 of 2): Peteani & Mezzera & Hazelwood continue reviewing WrestleMania 19 from 2003. Michaels vs. Jericho, Triple H vs. Booker, Hogan vs. Vince, Rock vs. Austin III, Lesnar vs. Angle (79 min.)

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 22:12:20 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: In part two of the latest Pro Wrestling Then and Now, Jon Mezzera, Bruce Hazelwood, and Frank Peteani continue their look back on WrestleMania 19 from 2003. They review the remaining five matches including the great match between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho, Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship, Booker T vs. Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship, The Rock vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon. Highlighted topics include:

The decision to have Michaels win.
“That promo” between Triple H and Booker T in the buuld-up.
The good and bad of 49-year-old Hulk Hogan vs. 58-year-old Vince McMahon
The well-told conclusion of the Rock vs. Austin story and how much the Rock gave “on the way out.”
Kurt Angle working the match with Brock leading to his downfall.
The surprising talking point coming out of WrestleMania in Bruce’s school at the time,.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 4/7 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now (Pt. 1 of 2): Peteani & Mezzera & Hazelwood discuss WWE happenings and review WrestleMania 19. Mysterio vs. Hardy, Undertaker vs. A-Train & Big Show, Trish vs. Victoria vs. Jazz, Los Guerreros vs. Benoit & Rhyno vs. Team Angle (89 min.)

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:47:32 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: In part one of a two-part episode of Pro Wrestling Then and Now, “Doc” Bruce Hazelwood from the PWTorch Dailycast’s “PWT Talks NXT” and Raw Hits & Misses author Jon Mezzera join Frank to discuss current WWE events and begin their look back on WrestleMania 19 from 2003. Topics include:

Current WWE events including the fallout from WrestleMania and the sale of WWE to Endeavor.
When Cody Rhodes could get a rematch with Roman Reigns and is he the right to dethrone him, or is Bruce’s long-standing contention of Jey Uso being the guy the way to go? What are the other options?
WrestleMania 19 being an underrated show and how it was somewhat of a “greatest hits” and how different eras were acknowledged.
The first four matches of the show.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 3/16 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now (Pt. 2 of 2): Peteani & McMahon review WWF WrestleMania 14 from 1998. Owen vs. Triple H, Rock vs. Shamrock, Undertaker vs. Kane, Austin vs. Michaels with Tyson as enforcer, more (97 min.)

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 02:45:31 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: In part two of a special two-part episode of Pro Wrestling Then and Now, PWTorch Dailycast “All Elite Aftershow” co-host Mike McMahon joins Frank to look back on WrestleMania 14 from the Fleet Center in Boston, Mass. Mike was in the building and offers an in-person perspective. They review the entire card, which featured babyface Owen Hart challenging Triple H (w/Chyna handcuffed to Sgt. Slaughter) for the European Championship, Ken Shamrock challenging The Rock (w/Nation of Domination) for the Intercontinental Championship, The Undertaker vs. Kane (w/Paul Bearer) in their long awaited match, and (appropriately on 3:16 Day) “Stone Cold” Steve Austin challenging Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship with Mike Tyson as the special outside enforcer. Discussion points include:

The state of the tag team division in 1998
Criticism of Triple H’s in-ring style. Also his introduction of X-Pac the following night on Raw being the first big “Raw after WrestleMania.”
The DX band
Owen Hart’s run as a babyface
Should Ken Shamrock have won the IC title, and should The Rock have won King of the Ring in 1998?
The disappointment of the Undertaker vs. Kane match
Did Steve Austin need to get that win over Bret Hart he never got?

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 3/16 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now (Pt. 1 of 2): Peteani & McMahon review WWE Raw overall from 1993-1997 (76 min.)

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 23:07:26 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: In part one of a special two-part episode of Pro Wrestling Then and Now, PWTorch Dailycast “All Elite Aftershow” co-host Mike McMahon joins Frank Peteani for the first time to discuss his personal journey of watching WWF/E Monday Night Raw from the beginning. Discussion points include:

The show and its place relative to what wrestling television was like overall in 1993.
Advertising what was on the shows coming up in comparison to Raw today as well as how AEW advertises Dynamite and all their programming.
The production of Raw back then and the high cost and how they mitigated it. Tied into that were the ways Vince made it feel live.
The major stories in the beginning including Mr. Perfect beating Ric Flair in a loser leaves WWF match, Hulk Hogan returning with Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake and their deal with Ted DiBiase and I.R.S., the 1-2-3 Kid beating Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels feuding with Marty Jannetty, Lex Luger winning the Yokozuna body slam challenge on the Intrepid, the Randy Savage-Crush summit, and more.
An overall look of the show from 1994-1997 including debate over when the Attitude Era truly started.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 2/3 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now w/Frank Peteani: Peteani & Fann & LeClair review WWE Royal Rumble 2003. Steiner vs. Triple H, Angle vs. Benoit, Rumble match, more (147 min.)

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 19:44:36 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: It’s the first three-person show for Pro Wrestling Then and Now, where Frank has PWTorch columnist Rich Fann and PWTorch.com contributor Brandon LeClair to discuss the 2003 WWE Royal Rumble PPV. Brandon attended the event in person as a young boy and gives his account of what it was like in the building (Fleet Center in Boston, Mass., now known as the TD Garden) throughout the show. They run through the entire show, which features the Royal Rumble match won by Brock Lesnar, the much-maligned World Heavyweight Championship match between Scott Steiner and Triple H, and the critically acclaimed WWE Championship match between Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. Other topics discussed include:

Initial reactions to Lanny Poffo’s passing.
A comparison of the roster split then and now.
Clean wins vs. shenanigan finishes and why they’re better overall
The use of the #1 and #2 entrants in the rumble then compared to what took place in recent rumbles.
Brandon tells a story involving John Cena, and then Frank and Rich tell stories of them meeting wrestlers.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 1/4 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now w/Frank Peteani: Peteani & Chase review WWF Royal Rumble 1998. Rock vs. Shamrock, Undertaker vs. Michaels, Rumble, more (130 min.)

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:54:02 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Stephanie Chase, host of her own YouTube show and writer for Digital Spy, joins Frank for the first time to look back on the 1998 Royal Rumble. They break down the entire show, which featured “The Rock” Rocky Maivia vs. Ken Shamrock for the Intercontinental Championship, Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels in a casket match for the WWF Championship, and the Royal Rumble match itself. Several other topics come up including:

The comparison of WWF then and AEW now where a new “main event scene” was developing as it is in AEW now.
The characterization and career of Dustin Rhodes through the years spanning from his beginnings as “The Natural” through Goldust to where he is now.
The Rock and Ken Shamrock working with each other at the stages of their career in January of 1998, and Shamrock’s place in wrestling history.
The use of Legion of Doom in a humiliating way to put over the New Age Outlaws.
The story of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin weaved throughout the night and into the Royal Rumble, and how the roster depth affected who took part in the match.
The use of the “three faces of Foley”
Somewhat of a “down the rabbit hole” discussion on Shawn Michaels including his place in history and what would have happened if he didn’t get hurt at this show amongst other things.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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VIP AUDIO 12/12 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now w/Frank Peteani: Peteani & Martin review WCW Starrcade 1997. Malenko vs. Guerrero, Hennig vs. DDP, Bischoff vs. Zbyszko, Sting vs. Hogan, more (135 min.)

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 02:08:46 +0000

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SHOW SUMMARY: Todd Martin joins Frank Peteani to look back on WCW Starrcade 1997, the PPV with the infamous finish between Sting and Hollywood Hogan for the WCW Championship. The entire card is discussed, which featured Curt Hennig defending the U.S. Championship against Diamond Dallas Page, Eric Bischoff vs. Larry Zbyszko with Bret “Hit Man” Hart as the special referee for control of Nitro, Lex Luger vs. Buff Bagwell, and more. Todd was in attendance and discussed what he remembers about the show in person. Sidebar topics discussed include:

The comparison of WCW then and AEW now in terms of Tony Khan pushing his younger “core” talent as opposed to Eric Bischoff.
Issues with how much talent was sitting on the sidelines, especially with Dean Malenko wrestling a match days after his wife had given birth.
Kevin Nash’s no-show as well as others on this show.
The presentation of heels and babyfaces in general.
How an NWO and WCW show would have looked had they gone with Nitro being the “NWO” show and Thunder belonging to WCW.
A full look at the build of Sting vs. Hogan, whom might have been in on the “fast count that wasn’t,” what were the alternatives to the finish, and the aftermath.
Was this the beginning of the end of WCW?
How Todd and Frank both don’t like red eye flights

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

DIRECT LINK: VIP AUDIO LINK

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VIP AUDIO 11/30 – Pro Wrestling Then and Now w/Frank Peteani (Pt. 2 of 2): Peteani & Droste review WWE Survivor Series 1997. Bret vs. Shawn and the background of the Montreal Screwjob (87 min.)

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 03:25:13 +0000

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

SHOW SUMMARY: Ryan Droste of the Top Rope Nation podcast returns to break down Survivor Series 1997. In part two, Ryan and Frank discuss the infamous WWF Championship match between Bret “Hit Man” Hart and Shawn Michaels, which became known as the Montreal Screwjob. They not only discuss the match, but go back and march through the timeline of events that eventually fueled the issues between Bret and Shawn, going back as far as 1992. In addition, Ryan dispels the notion that this was all a work and Bret was in on it.

Warning: Some language on this show may be NSFW.

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