Between the Sheets

@btsheetspod

Weekly podcast with @KrisZellner.bsky.social and @davidbix.bsky.social going over a week in wrestling history as it was covered at the time.

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Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· 5d

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social feed: Center Stage Chronicles covering July 1991! "WE WANT FLAIR!" chants echo throughout arenas nationwide as Ric Flair's excommunicated from WCW...and then WCW leadership freaks out and tries to rehire him. Plus LOTS more! redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #27: July 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of July 1991 in World Championship Wrestling and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:

- The entire show is bookended by Ric Flair being fired at the beginning of the month and then WCW basically offering him the booking position at the end of the month.
- Ric Flair refusing to drop the title not just to Lex Luger but Barry Windham as well, as they were trying to get Flair to do business before he left.
- Flair's departure totally screwing up the production going into the Great American Bash PPV.
- The way Flair's departure was treated on TV as a complete shoot which was so foreign to how wrestling was presented on TV in that era.
- The total confusion of what Barry Windham was supposed to be.
- Axl Rose starting a riot at a Guns ’n’ Roses concert in St. Louis.
- Fans at house shows being very upset over no-shows, especially Ric Flair.
- The awesomeness of The Geto Boys.
- The end of the Desperados after all that damn TV time.
- “Boyz n the Hood” and “Point Break” being released on the same weekend and the impact “Boyz” had on the west coast's rise in pop culture.
- A full rundown of the Great American Bash PPV, including why it wasn't as bad as people want to think it was.
- The supposedly buried Brian Pillman being all over TV and in main events all the time while the supposedly overpushed Dustin Rhodes isn't in those spots.
- The first-ever Lollapalooza tour.
- Mike Tyson and Jeffrey Dahmer getting arrested on the SAME DAMN DAY.
- The end of WCW Pro Wrestling New York, as WCW they switches affiliates in NYC from WPIX to WCBS and Pro NY is replaced by Worldwide.
- MTV and who they pushed to the moon that didn't reach the expected level of success.
This is just a taste of what we talk about on the show as we have a complete and total blast here!!!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· 11d

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon show: Our Destination Cancellation Epilogue covering how the 2014-2015 TNA nonsense was addressed in 2026 in Vince Russo and David Sahadi's books plus Twitter drama! New Dixie lore and LOTS more! Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation Epilogue
It's Friday. You know what that means: Our epilogue to the Destination Cancellation series using the new #content about the period we covered that was released in 2026! Specifically, we focus on Vince Russo's "Total Non-stop Agony" book, David Sahadi's "Backstage Pass" book, and the Twitter nonsense that resulted from the "Dark Side of the Ring: TNA episodes. Topics of discussion include:
- Russo's surprisingly mostly honest-seeming book, starting with how he was secretly brought back to TNA as a consultant in late 2013.
- Was the secrecy because of potential DIRTSHEET BACKLASH?
- Russo's thoughts on [redacted TNA creative team member who's since been cancelled].
- Russo getting pissed off that his pre-tape ideas never made it onto Impact, resulting in "more lame-ass, mean-nothing, fake wrestling matches on the show."
- Russo switching back and forth between "!@#$%^&" and "f***" for censoring variations of the word "fuck" without any real rhyme or reason. While not censoring "shit."
- Russo's frustration with Eric Bischoff's weekly critiques of Impact after Eric went home.
- Russo's side of the Mike Johnson email fiasco and how it got him dropped as a consultant.
- John Gaburick claiming that Dixie Carter sent Russo an email telling him not to go on Jim Ross's podcast even if they never discussed TNA, and then Russo offering to let TNA log into his computer using Team Viewer so they can see he never got the email.
- David Sahadi confirming that Spike TV ordered Dixie to keep Russo away from TNA creative and felt betrayed by the email gaffe revelation.
- Dixie being overheard by a Destination America executive at a hotel bar insulting him...before Impact even started airing on the network.
- People in TNA blaming Court Bauer for the Spike TV cancellation story getting out.
- Vince Russo's vinyl collection and top 25 albums list.
...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· 15d

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social covering 1990! Jesse Ventura quits the WWF, Sgt. Slaughter returns to WWF TV while still on AWA TV, the Legion of Doom debuts on WWF TV while touring NJPW, Koji Kitao departs NJPW, GWF rumors, Stan Lane won't go to Florida, and lots more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· 17d

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon deep dive: Part 7/7 (sort of) of our series on the 2014-2015 TNA spiral/TV drama! MVP's scapegoated for Hernandez contract mess, Dixie's infamous "DUMMY" email, Pop TV announcement, and lots more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation (Part 7)
It's Friday. You know what that means: The last of SEVEN installments covering TNA's 2014 cancellation by Spike TV through the end of their run on Destination America in 2015. Part 7 covers the weeks of July 6 to December 21, 2015, and topics of discussion include:
- EVP Andy Barton, who worked for Dixie Carter before TNA, leaving the company.
- TNA having to pull several weeks of Beat Down Clan segments from TV because Shawn Hernandez hadn't actually gotten his release from Lucha Underground and John Gaburick, whatever his actual job was, somehow didn't know he needed a copy of said theoretical release.
- TNA blaming MVP for the Hernandez mess for some reason and firing him over it.
- The realization that MVP has been doing some version of the BDC/Hurt Business/Hurt Syndicate archetype for over ELEVEN YEARS.
- Almost everyone undergoes contract restructuring to pay-per-appearance. But hey, they're adding house shows again!
- Dixie Carter's interview with Sports Illustrated.
- Dixie's infamous email calling Discovery Networks President Marc Graboff a "Adummy," which she accidentally sent to numerous Discovery executives.
- TNA's first tour of India is announced! And eventually cancelled!
- Will the new General Manager of Destination America un-cancel the wrestling shows? (No.)
- TNA Director of Touring Mike Krewson quitting as the company claims to be adding a bunch of house show dates.
- Pop TV officially announces that TNA Impact is joining the network, complete with network president Brad Schwartz going off about how they're going to rebuild Impact's viewership back up to Spike TV levels. (They would not.)
- Mike Tenay's contract expires.
- The reveal that we're adding the 2026 Destination Cancellation Epilogue next week, sourcing Vince Russo's new book, David Sahadi's book, and the recent Twitter drama about the Spike TV cancellation.

...and so much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· 22d

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social covering 1993! Heavy attempted Vince/WWF image rehab, Eddie Gilbert cuts a shoot promo on USWA TV/quits/is fired, Vader & Sting trade the WCW World Title on a tour of the UK & Ireland, Kevin Sullivan stabs W*ING Kanemura on SMW TV, & more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Ep. #550: March 15-21, 1993

Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was March 15-21, 1993, the last of our “backlog” shows. Topics of discussion include:

WCW’s tour of the UK and Ireland, where they changed the WCW World Heavyweight Title twice in a week with Big Van Vader flipping the belt back and forth, plus why this really didn't get talked about much on TV.

Ric Flair goes “Up Close” with Eric Bischoff on TV, talking about his return to WCW and Barry Windham being NWA World Heavyweighht Champion.

The Cole Twins get a fan club.

The Big Bossman returns to All Japan while Hulk Hogan is on his way to New Japan.

New Japan’s faction warfare and how fun that was.

The birth of Michinoku Pro Wrestling.

The three major promotions in Mexico receive their David Awards.

Chuck Wepner shows up at a New Jersey indie show to referee the most 1993 New Jersey indie match you could possibly think of.

Arn Anderson works three house shows in SMW the same week that Chris Candido makes his debut as The Avenger.

Kevin Sullivan brutalizes W*ING Kanemura on SMW TV in a famously gruesome moment.

Bert Prentice sings live on Memphis TV. Sort of.

Eddie Gilbert cuts a shoot promo about his position in the USWA and is basically done with the promotion as a result in true Eddie fashion.

Vince McMahon misses Monday Night Raw’s first visit to Poughkeepsie to receive the Michael Landon Award, so Rob Bartlett joins Gorilla Monsoon as Bobby Heenan “Not Vince McMahon,” and that doesn't go too well.

All this and so much more on a damn fun episode of BTS!

Timestamps:
0:00:00 WCW
0:57:20 Int’l: AJPW, NJPW, FMW, Michinoku Pro debut show, NOW, PWC, W*ING, AJW, JWP, LLPW, Dino Bravo funeral, AAA, CMLL, Juan Herrera, Arena Naucalpan, UWA, & Tijuana
1:46:53 Classic Commercial Break
1:55:05 Halftime
2:40:18 Other USA: WIN, IWF (Mansfield), UWS/Chuck Wepner, WWWA (PA), NGWA, SMW, USA (AL), USWA, GWF, Big D, CWUSA, & Wrestling Fury/MidwestWA
4:02:49 WWF

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· 25d

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon show, part 6/7 covering the beautiful disaster that was 2014-2015 TNA! Jeff and Karen Jarrett return, Destination America adds ROH without tipping off TNA, James Storm + Mickie James = 🚂, and more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

RING OF HONOR
ROH
WRESTLING

ON

DESTINATION AMERICA

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 AT 8/7c!

Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation (Part 6)
It's Friday. You know what that means: The sixth of SEVEN installments covering TNA's 2014 cancellation by Spike TV through the end of their run on Destination America in 2015. Part 6 covers the weeks of May 25 to June 29, 2015, and topics of discussion include:
- Destination America adds Ring of Honor as Impact's lead-in and lead-out on Wednesday nights...without telling TNA.
- ROH being the exact same show that aired over the weekend on Sinclair Stations and NESN, complete with outdated house show plugs.
- TNA kind of sort of but not really threatening Dave Meltzer with a defamation lawsuit for reporting that Destination America canceled Impact, prompting Dave to get into more detail than usual about his attempts to reach Dixie Carter for comment AND also publish the memo Discovery sent out about the cancellation.
- Billy Corgan losing his mind on Twitter, claiming that Dave got "worked by a sloppy angle."
- Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment suing TNA for unpaid wages.
- TNA taping several weeks' worth of post-PPV TV before the PPV. Again.
- The Dixie Carter reality show pilot.
- Dave Meltzer making it very obvious that he has a direct line to Spike TV's Kevin Kay.
- Increasingly depressing office conference calls with TNA talent.
- James Storm throwing Mickie James in front of an oncoming train on Impact.
- We figured out who Eric Tompkins is!
- Jeff and Karen Jarrett returning to TNA to kick off what turns into the TNA vs. GFW feud...which was left off of the formats for Impact to keep it a secret even though it got out over a day in advance.
...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jul 13

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social covering 2003! Kurt Angle delays neck surgery, DEAN BALDWIN! does extra work on Raw, Yuji Nagata-Manabu Nakanashi goes 60 minutes, the final show of XPW's original run, Lollipop "accidentally" gets stripped on the NWA-TNA PPV, and much more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Ep. #549: March 7-12, 2003

Kris and David return to discuss the (almost-)week that was March 7-12, 2003. Topics of discussion include:

Kurt Angle delaying his neck surgery and dropping the WWE Heavyweight Title to Brock Lesnar at a SmackDown taping in Pittsburgh weeks before WrestleMania so they can have their title match at Mania proper.

We also go into the rash of neck injuries that ravaged WWE in the early 2000s.

The Triple H-Booker T feud with its constant racial overtones.

Just why did The Rock wrestle Hurricane on Raw instead of Booker T?

Triple H vs. Maven totally tanking the ratings on Raw and why that happened.

Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi going the full 60 minutes on a big New Japan show in Nagoya.

Dave Meltzer giving his thoughts on the epic Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa match at Budokan on 3/1, which aired on Nippon TV during our week.

The 1970s NJPW feel of Zero-One in this era.

XPW running a big show at the Golden Dome in Monaca, PA promoted by Shane Douglas in what would turn out to be the last show in the original incarnation of the promotion.

Brad Siegel being forced to resign from Turner Broadcasting.

The supposedly retired Vince Russo is still helping TNA with creative the shock of all shocks.

Lollipop “accidentally” gets exposed, showing off her new implants on the week’s NWA-TNA PPV.

All of this and so much more on a really stout episode of Between the Sheets.

Timestamps:
0:00:00 WWE
1:34:00 Int’l: AJPW, NJPW, NOAH, WJ, Zero-One, Capture, IWA Kokusai, Michinoku Pro, Osaka Pro, Toryumon, WEW, WMF, GAEA, EWP, All-Star (UK), Stampede, CMLL, Super Calo/Tepic, IWRG, Monterrey, Reynosa, Tijuana, & IWAPR
2:35:24 Classic Commercial Break
2:39:52 Halftime
2:18:44 Other USA: USA Pro, CZW, Chikara, XPW, MarylandCW, NWA Wildside, MXPW, IWAMS, USACW, Rev Pro, Portland, & Brad Siegel
4:05:41 NWA-TNA

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jul 11

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon show, part 5/7 covering TNA's disastrous 2014-2015! Taz quits, more pay issues, Billy Corgan's hired for some reason, Dave Meltzer buries the lede when Destination America cancels Impact, and more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation (Part 5)
It's Friday. You know what that means: The fifth of SEVEN installments covering TNA's 2014 cancellation by Spike TV through the end of their run on Destination America in 2015. Part 5 covers the weeks of April 20 to May 18, 2015, and topics of discussion include:
- Taz officially quits over being paid late.
- More depressing stories of production crew not only getting paid late, but also getting shorted on their actual paychecks.
- An incredibly weird and very WCW-ish story about TNA's relationship with RDS, its French-Canadian TV partner.
- Billy Corgan of all people is hired as Senior Producer of Creative and Talent Development.
- BILLY CORGAN of all people talks about exploring storylines that examine race and transgender issues.
- The planned but not announced tour of China gets cancelled.
- Destination America cancels more shoulder programming, this time in the form of Impact Unlocked.
- Thanks in large part to ad sales difficulties, Destination America cancels TNA Impact effective September 2015 in an all-time example of lede-burying by Dave Meltzer when he breaks the story.
- Destination America executives think that the Friday of Memorial Day weekend is a major party holiday for some reason...?
- Dixie Carter spewing nonsense on The Steve Austin Show.
- SIMON INOKI CONTENT.
...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jul 6

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social covering 1986, a Patreon pick! WCCW Parade of Champions, Freebirds officially jump from WCCW to the UWF, SNME with Jake DDTing Steamboat on the floor, Andre the Giant-Akira Maeda "shoot" incident, Harley Race jumps to the WWF, and much more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

See link for screen reader-compatible description.

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jul 3

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon: Part 4 of our 7-parter on TNA's disastrous 2014-2015! Awful Destination America debut w/ terrible lighting & Jeremy Borash hating life, Taz no-shows, DA cancels shows within weeks, & more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation (Part 4)

It's Friday. You know what that means: The fourth of SEVEN installments covering TNA's 2014 cancellation by Spike TV through the end of their run on Destination America in 2015. Part 4 covers the weeks of December 1, 2014 through April 13, 2015, and topics of discussion include:

Should TNA focus more on UK tours? Or does the new deal with Destination America throw a monkey wrench into that?

Budget cuts abound and are very noticeable with the lighting going to hell starting with the Destination America debut show.

Dixie Carter swears that the new TV deal is better than the one with Spike TV because there will be so much more TNA programming on Destination America.

Dixie can't stop praising Vince Russo for some reason.

Destination America decides that Impact should be on Friday nights because of SmackDown moving to Thursday or something.

The dismal ticket sales for most of the Manhattan Center TV tapings, with nights one and two drawing less than half a house each.

TNA's first show on Destination America being a miserable experience where nobody can see anything with the horrible lighting plus Jeremy Borash looks like he's hating life throughout.

Impact's moving back to Universal Studios Orlando!

Samoa Joe leaving TNA.

TNA signs TV deals with The Fight Network in Canada and Sony Six in India that would become very important long-term.

Destination America quickly sours on TNA and cancels most of the shoulder programming within weeks.

Various people aren't getting paid on time and Taz no-showed a voiceover session as a result.

...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 29

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social covering 2013, a Patreon pick! The first "modern" WrestleMania weekend complete with Wrestlecon and assorted indie shows, WWE and the feds raid bootleggers, an absolutely hideous episode of TNA Impact, NJPW Invasion Attack, and much more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

See link for screen reader-capable version.

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 26

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon: Part 3 of our 7-week odyssey looking at 2014-2015 TNA drama! Bound for Glory in Tokyo and its continuity issues, CM Punk maneuvering, Destination America announcement, and much, much more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation (Part 3)

It's Friday. You know what that means: The third of SEVEN installments covering TNA's 2014 cancellation by Spike TV through the end of their run on Destination America in 2015. Part 3 covers the weeks of September 22 to November 24, 2014, and topics of discussion include:

DIXIE CARTER SAYS EVERYTHING IS FINE.

TV for after Bound for Glory is being taped before Bound for Glory, so multiple titles have to be left off of the PPV so as to not piss off the Japanese fans.

Mahabali Shera and Josh Matthews sign with TNA.

Talent on pay-per-appearance deals are fucked. Sound familiar?

TNA makes a play for CM Punk through "an intermediary."

Impact ratings might kind of sort of actually be up?

DIXIE SWEARS THAT THE NEW TV DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS COMING.

What exactly was John Gaburick's job or jobs? What were his qualifications?

Our beloved "Wrestling with Death" on WGN America.

TNA finally announces a new TV deal with Destination America effective January 7, 2015.

Dave Meltzer's patience erodes as he predicts what will be named the official "greatest moments in TNA history."

The very low-key end to the nine year TNA on Spike TV era.

...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 22

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social covering 1998, a Patreon request! WrestleMania XIV in detail, a small child gets maimed at an ECW house show, Flash Flanagan & Troy Haste get into a legit fight with each other in the crowd at an IWAMS show, NWA membership roster, & more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Ep. #546: March 24-29, 1998

Kris and David ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! with the main show, and we are making up for lost time with our Patreon picks, so this week we are discussing the (almost-)week that was March 24-29, 1998, a show that was requested by BTS Patron Michael Otts with his $25 pledge. Topics of discussion include:

Wrestlemania XIV in Boston, featuring Mike Tyson as a ringside enforcer for the Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels main event. We talk about the match and how injuries affected it, plus Tyson's involvement and whether or not Tyson shot his own angle after the show to explain his association with Austin.

We also talk about why Earl Hebner didn't work the show and why Shawn dedicated the main event to him.

Plus Pete Rose and Gennifer Flowers’ wacky involvement in the show, the birth of LOD 2000, Sable working her first match, and so much more from a very newsworthy Mania.

Akira Taue's injury in AJPW and how that affected the booking of the Champion Carnival tournament.

Victor Quinones mending fences with Paco Alonso in CMLL.

A wild scene at an ECW house show where ayoung child got hit with a piece of a table.

Who are the members of the NWA in March 1998, anyway?

Chris Cruise doing angles as a heel character in New Dimension Wrestling.

Flash Flanagan and Troy Haste getting into a legit fight in the crowd at an IWA Mid-South TV taping in Louisville, leading to an arrest.

Bill Goldberg as a member of the Four Horsemen?!?!?

Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash having serious problems on WCW Thunder.

All of this and so much more on a really fun episode of BTS, we’re so happy to be back in the swing of things again!

Timestamps:
0:00:00 WWF
2:07:33 Classic Commercial Break
2:13:19 Halftime
2:51:12 Int’l: AJPW, NJPW, BJPW, FMW, Wrestle Yume Factory, RINGS, GAEA, JWP, CMLL, & Promo Azteca
3:15:27 Other USA: ECW, NDW, WZWA, NSWA, IWAMS, & Memphis Power Pro
3:56:07 WCW

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 19

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon: Part 2 of our 7 week look at TNA collapsing in 2014-2015! @golianopoulos.bsky.social's epic "Can TNA Get Over?" feature at Grantland, BFG announced for Korakuen, EVERYTHING IS FINE, & more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation (Part 2)

It's Friday. You know what that means: The second of SEVEN installments covering TNA's 2014 cancellation by Spike TV through the end of their run on Destination America in 2015. Part 2 covers the weeks of September 1 to September 15, 2014, and topics of discussion include:

• TNA officially announces that Bound for Glory will be a tape delayed show from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, but decides not to run a TV taping while in Japan, so they end up scheduling the post-PPV TV tapings for weeks before the PPV. TNA, everybody!
• Vince Russo buries Spike TV in bizarre, inaccurate fashion in an interview with Pro
Wrestling Report, drawing sharp rebukes from Spike TV spokesman David Schwarz.
• Dave Meltzer reports in the Observer that one network that TNA is talking to "is stronger than Spike but doesn't have the matching demographics of Spike." So we try to figure out which network that probably was.
• Friend of the show Thomas Golianopoulos publishes an epic feature article at
Grantland.com titled "Can TNA Get Over?" that looks at the state of the company in depth while interviewing all of the relevant people (and Joey Ryan for some reason).
• A.v. Styles playing his departure from TNA perfectly.
• How the hell did Ray Deadly not protect Dixie Carter better on the infamous second rope
powerbomb through a table?
• Impact being moved to Wednesdays on such short notice that TNA didn't have enough time to edit the news into the last Thursday night
show.
• Vince Russo has been writing his book about
TNA for HOW long?
• Exactly how indefensible Dixie's reaction to the Jeff Jarrett/Karen Angle romance was.
• Russo losing his mind over THE INTERNET WRESTLE-ING COMMUNITY and their STAR RATINGS FOR FAKE WRESTLE-ING MATCHES.
• Dave Meltzer's in-depth analysis of the Grantland article.

...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 15

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social feed: We're making the 1st ep. of our new 7-week Patreon series, Destination Cancellation, about the 2014-2015 TNA spiral, available for free! And this version also includes an intro previewing next week's return of the free show! redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

See link for screen reader compatible show description

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 12

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon: We start DESTINATION CANCELLATION, a 7 week series on TNA's 2014-2015 woes. Secret Writer Vince Russo somehow sends an email meant for Mike Tenay to Mike Johnson and ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 8

New(-ish) @btsheetspod.bsky.social (recorded 3 months ago) covering 1989! Educating and regulating, Ricky Steamboat as NWA World Champion in AJPW, Lance Russell leaves Memphis for the NWA/WCW, Invader #1 returns to the WWC after his acquittal, and much, much more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 6

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon: We finish up our 3-part look at the "Clique Curtain Call" and surrounding events! How much was Triple H REALLY "buried?" What does Shane Douglas think of The Clique? And much, much more! Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

It’s Friday. You know what that means: The third and final part of our latest Patreon deep dive, covering the 1996 departures of Razor Ramon/Scott Hall and Diesel/Kevin Nash from the WWF for WCW, the infamous “Clique Curtain Call” that concludes their run, the resulting fallout, and contemporaneous insight into The Clique from Torch Talk interviews. Part 3 covers the weeks of June 3 to November 4, 1996, which contain the larger fallout from the titular "Curtain Call," especially Shawn Michaels' apology to the locker room and the "punishment" of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, plus insights into The Clique from Louie Spicolli and Shane Douglas's 1996 Torch Talk interviews. Topics of discussion include:

Davey Boy Smith's extreme anger over the Curtain Call.

Shawn apologizing for his messed up "priorities."

The specifics of Hunter's "punishment," including being pulled from all of the summer pay-per-view shows, as well as how his "punishment" may have had more to do with his reluctance to sign a new, long-term contract.

Louie Spicolli's insights into The Clique as a former traveling partner of Scott Hall.

Hunter really doesn't like the influx of former WCW talent.

Sean Waltman negotiating his release from the WWF.

Hunter's "punishment" basically just lasting a few months, and how the non-push of Steve Austin during the summer suggests that there may not have been many plans for Hunter in the first place.

Shane Douglas's extensive thoughts on The Clique in his Torch Talk, HA-HA.

...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 1

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social feed: Center Stage Chronicles covering May 1991! SuperBrawl rundown including the debuts of Oz, Johnny B. Badd, and the Diamond Studd, bad Nielsen ratings, Terry Funk on "Quantum Leap," the WWF trying to book the Omni, and much more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #25: May 1991

Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of May 1991 in the world of World Championship Wrestling and pop culture at large. Topics of discussion include:

The WWF trying to get dates at The Omni at a time when WCW was having some major issues drawing crowds at house shows.

The wrestlers having a meeting about being overworked, hoping that their schedule will ease up soon.

Rickey Henderson breaking the MLB stolen base record while Nolan Ryan throws his 7th no-hitter on the same day.

TV season finales featuring “Night Court,” “A Different World,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Full House,” “In Living Color,” and the series finale of “Dallas.”

The complete greatness of the video hyping up the Steiners vs. Lex Luger & Sting at SuperBrawl.

Terry Funk appears on a wrestling themed episode of “Quantum Leap.”

Reports of Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki coming in…with manager Big Daddy Dink?!?!?

Madonna's "Truth or Dare" and Bris Bosworth’s “Stone Cold” hit the big screen.

The TV ratings for WCW become dire, but they aren't alone in that.

EMF, Seal, Smashing Pumpkins, and Jodeci all release their debut albums in the United States.

President George Bush takes Queen Elizabeth to a baseball game.

A full rundown of SuperBrawl, featuring the debuts of Johnny B. Badd, OZ, The Diamond Studd, and much more on a really fun PPV.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as we have so much going on during the month of May. I thought this was a tremendous show and I hope you agree!!!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 1

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social feed, courtesy of TJ De Santis/The Rounds Podcast: To celebrate the life of our dearly departed friend Jordan Breen, we present a compilation of all 5 appearances that our own @davidbix.bsky.social made on Jordan's Press Row podcast. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Timestamps:
0:00:00 Press Row: Jordan Breen Talks Bellator 149 Ratings, Freakshows with David Bixenspan (Feb 24, 2016)
0:38:34 Press Row: Jordan Breen Talks Mayweather-McGregor, Weird MMA-Wrestling Tie-Ups with David Bixenspan (Jun 01, 2016)
1:23:23 Press Row: Jordan Breen Talks Wrestling-MMA Shenanigans, Ultimate Ken Shamrock with David Bixenspan (Jun 29, 2016)
2:11:43 Press Row: Jordan Breen and David Bixenspan Give an In-Depth Character Sketch of Brock Lesnar (Jul 06, 2016)
3:18:35 Press Row: Jordan Breen and David Bixenspan Discuss the Surreal Build-Up to CM Punk's MMA Debut (Sep 07, 2016)

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Jun 1

The new @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon show, part 2/3 on the Clique Curtain Call and surrounding events, is up, covering the Curtain Call itself, the immediate fallout, Shawn Michaels stripping nude in front of crowds, & much more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

It’s Friday. You know what that means: We’re continuing our latest Patreon deep dive, covering the 1996 departures of Razor Ramon/Scott Hall and Diesel/Kevin Nash from the WWF for WCW, the infamous “Clique Curtain Call” that concludes their run, the resulting fallout, and contemporaneous insight into The Clique from Torch Talk interviews. Part 2 covers the weeks of March 18 to May 27, 1996, including the "Curtain Call" itself, and topics of discussion include:

WWF house show business picking up big time, especially at Madison Square Garden, thanks to all of the top babyfaces feuding with each other.

Diesel turning on Shawn Michaels at MSG.

The Road Warriors getting pissed off when they heard what Hall and Nash were offered and deciding to bolt from WCW before signing their contracts as a result.

Eric Bischoff giving various interviews, half-ass confirming that he'd signed Scott Hall while denying that Kevin Nash was coming in.

Shawn Michaels stripping nude in front of the at In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies among other shows.

Is Blood Runs Cold Hall and Nash's new gimmick? (No.)

The infamous German tour where Sunny was sent home early due to her treatment by The Clique.

Are Men on a Mission joining Hall and Nash in WCW?

The "Clique Curtain Call" at MSG and immediate fallout.

...and much more. Enjoy!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· May 22

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon show's up: Part 1/3 covering the 1996 WWF departures of Razor Ramon & Diesel thru the Clique Curtain Call & the resulting fallout from said curtain call! Razor gives notice by TELEGRAM & much more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

It’s Friday. You know what that means: We’re starting our latest Patreon deep dive, covering the 1996 departures of Razor Ramon/Scott Hall and Diesel/Kevin Nash from the WWF for WCW, the infamous “Clique Curtain Call” that concludes their run, the resulting fallout, and contemporaneous insight into The Clique from Torch Talk interviews. Part 1 covers the weeks of February 26 to March 11, 1996, and topics of discussion include:

Scott Hall giving his notice via TELEGRAM and then immediately being told he was being suspended for failing a recent drug test for cannabis.

Vince McMahon defending the coincidence and the state of WWF drug testing on the record in the Torch with a LOT of Vince-isms.

How, relatively speaking, the "give 90 days notice so you can negotiate elsewhere" provision in WWF contracts back then is a lot more generous than how modern WWE contracts handle leaving and negotiating elsewhere.

The large disparity between the amount of dates you'd have to work in WCW vs. the WWF at the time.

How Hall leaving was considered a lock at first while Nash was initially looked at as more of a 50/50 situation.

Estimates of how much Hall and Nash were making in the WWF and how much they were allegedly offered by WCW to jump, with the latter being surprisingly off the mark at times.

WCW releasing some talent to make room in the budget for Hall and Nash.

Vince McMahon making it very obvious in the Torch that he believes that he is solely responsible for the success of the Razor Ramon and Diesel gimmicks. And setting his sights on Ted Turner, of course.

Wade Keller's feelings about how the WWF can replenish the main event scene with the likes of Mick Foley, Steve Austin, and...Al Snow?

...and much more.

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· May 17

Our entire 3-part deep dive into the WWE Network launch is now up for @btsheetspod.bsky.social patrons in both single file and split formats! Big risk taking, how big a story it was rightfully seen as at the time, and much, MUCH more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

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Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· May 11

New Center Stage Chronicles on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social feed covering WCW in April 1991! Sid Vicious is on his way out, Paul E. and DDP appear on MTV together, Jim Ross announces the launch of his radio show, Barry Windham and Brian Pillman wrestle a lot, and more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· May 11

The first 2 of 3 parts of our series on the WWE Network launch are up on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon! Early reports, CES announcement coverage, pissed off cable/satellite companies, unfulfilled promises, and much more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Apr 25

Since it came up elsewhere: One of the great moments in @btsheetspod.bsky.social history, as Evil Mike Tenay grills Stacy Kiebler in the most inappropriate fashion possible, nearly killing @kriszellner.bsky.social and @davidbix.bsky.social in the process

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Apr 25

New on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon: We finish our 4-part series on Jerry Lawler & Stacy Carter's 2001 WWF departures as well as the end of their marriage that quickly followed. And the combined single file version is up, too! Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Apr 14

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon show is part 3 of our series on Jerry Lawler & Stacy Carter's 2001 WWF departures! Wade Keller clearly knows things he can't report yet, ?s Re: Chyna or Paul Heyman pushing the Lawlers out, & more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!

Patreon Ep. #114: The Royal Scam (Part 3)

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means (at least for this week): We're dropping the Patreon show as soon as possible after recording it to make up for lost time! We continue our series on Jerry Lawler and Stacy Carter's 2001 departures from the WWF by venturing into June and July with a show that's largely centered on Wade Keller's Torch Talk interview with Lawler. Topics of discussion include:

Lawler claiming that he found out that his and Stacy's meeting with Hugh Hefner, which wasn't a secret, was somehow interpreted by the WWF office as trying to do a Sable-style end-run around the company despite Jerry swearing that the WWF set up the meeting.

Lawler also blaming Memphis Championship Wrestling promoter Terry Golden (and possibly Kevin Kelly as his emissary in the WWF office) for spreading a lot of rumors that probably contributed to Stacy's firing.

Wade's questioning being so careful, detailed, and lawyerly that it sure seems like he's heard something about the stolen sex tapes/photos rumors by this point.

The politics of the "Attitude Era" WWF women's locker room.

Stacy and Chyna's relationship quickly deteriorating when Stacy got engaged to Lawler at the same time Triple H left Chyna for Stephanie McMahon.

Why aren't we hearing from Stacy throughout this whole mess, anyway?

Lawler's talks with the WWF about he and Stacy returning with Lawler becoming the WCW color commentator alongside lead announcer Scott Hudson.

Lawler's explanation of his Mancow appearance that was widely summarized as him saying that Stephanie McMahon slept with Bruce Prichard and why Lawler's version actually makes sense.

A line of questioning from Wade that, with the hindsight of what he wrote less than three weeks later about Paul Heyman flooding wrestling news websites with emails from burner accounts demanding the ECW be added to the invasion storyline, makes it obvious he suspects Heyman made a similar move to push Lawler out.

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Apr 11

New Center Stage Chronicles on the @btsheetspod.bsky.social feed covering March 1991! Owen Hart's brief WCW run, Buddy Landel does Budro things, Starrcade '91 in the Tokyo Dome/Japan Supershow I with the infamous split of the WCW & NWA World Heavyweight Titles, & more. redcircle.com/shows/f0ecb9...

Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #23: March 1991

Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of March 1991 in the world of World Championship Wrestling and pop culture at large. Topics of discussion include:

Barry Windham kinda sorta teasing leaving the Four Horsemen.

The greatness of Buddy Landel shining through right as he gets fired by the promotion for being Budro.

The NEVER-ENDING Z-Man vs. Terrence Taylor goes on for yet another month.

Bobby Eaton finally turning babyface.

The debut of the Mr. Hughes gimmick.

Marc Mero makes his debut, getting killed by Sid Vicious.

Rodney King gets assaulted by the LAPD in a story that will have a major impact later on.

The greatness of The KLF.

Owen Hart and One Man Gang make their WCW debuts.

“Studs,” hosted by Marc DeCarlo, makes its TV debut in syndication.

The first discussion of Sid Vicious leaving for the WWF being a real possibility.

New Japan and WCW co-promote "Starrcade ’91 at the Tokyo Dome,” featuring the controversial Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami NWA World Heavyweight Title change.

Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Bonaduce doing bad boy things.

The reason why Owen Hart's WCW stint only lasted a few weeks.

We thought this was a great show and we hope you do too!!!

Between the Sheets@btsheetspod· Apr 10

New @btsheetspod.bsky.social Patreon show is part 2 of our look at Jerry Lawler and Stacy Carter's 2001 WWE departures! Lawler returns to Power Pro right before it implodes, Honky Tonk Man enters the fray, sheet speculation, & more. Just $5.00/month or $50.40/year at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets!