With This Ring #66

Ryan and Cindy reach the Granddaddy of them all, WrestleMania 2000. Before getting there though we look at the Rock’s first stint of hosting SNL, and his special guests at the show. We then go to an eventful Raw in Chicago, where most of the WrestleMania card is set up. We have a lengthy discussion of the WWF Aggression CD, before heading to the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim. Further topics discussed:
Ice-T adding a little importance to an uneventful opener. 
The run of the 24/7 Hardcore title and a fun garbage brawl. 
Another nothing happening tag match between the new T&A, Trish Stratus (or her new team of Test and Albert)
The pinnacle of the WWF Tag Team division in 2000 as we get the first (of more to come?) Triangle Tag Team Ladder match
A bit of a cool down with Kat and Terri
Eddie Guerrero being elevated as Latino Heat
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho getting 15 minutes
Pete Rose making his third WrestleMania appearance 
A long, long, long main event, featuring a short Big Show appearance, a slightly out of shape Mick Foley coming up short and who cares about the Rock and Triple H, WE HAVE A MCMAHON IN EVERY CORNER!
 

With This Ring #65

Ryan and Cindy continue their journey through 2000, picking up when the 4 WCW Radicals appeared as guests of Mick Foley on Raw all the way up through No Way Out and then continue on the Road to WrestleMania. Topics include:
How the Radicals first night in the ring went, and how they followed it up with a historic Raw 10 man tag.
Kurt Angle earning his first piece of Championship gold in the build to the show, and his attempt to add to his trophy case.
The Dudley Boys helping to phase out the New Age Outlaws and take control of the Tag division.
Two very unremarkable last minute additions that last 3:30 and 45 seconds respectively. 
Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boys match up for a straight-up tag match, the last time that would actually happen on PPV.
Kane is back with Paul Bearer…but he’s got a new coat!
The Radicalz show off their heel chops against Too Cool and Rikishi, a shocking hot act.
Big Show takes on the Rock to wrestle in the Main Event of WrestleMania and Shane McMahon is back. 
Triple H and Cactus Jack again do battle, this time at Hell in a Cell for Triple H’s title against Mick Foley’s career.
The fallout the night after and the following few weeks to assure us we do not get Triple H vs. The Big Show for the WrestleMania main event.
Enjoy!

With This Ring #64

Ryan and Cindy begin a new year and head to Madison Square Garden for the 2000 Royal Rumble! Topics discussed include
Going over the end of 1999 with the McMahon/Helmsley Era in full swing resulting in Mick Foley being fired and then rehired.
Mankind becoming Cactus Jack at a very special Smackdown from Chicago.
Kurt Angle getting more and more of a push, and the big debut of Tazz in the WWF.
The brutal nature of the Tag Team Table match, definitely showing a new side of the Dudley Boys and continuing the push of the Hardy Boys and Jeff’s penchant for jumping off high spots.
The Miss Royal Rumble Swimsuit competition, featuring bubble wrap and 80 year old puppies.
A very meh triple threat match that if anything, should prove that Chris Jericho is over, even in New York City.
A rushed tag team title match that goes a whole 2:30.
An all-time classic World Title match, with Triple H firmly established as the top Heel
A very middle of road Rumble, with a star-making performance for Rikishi, a good ending with the Rock and Big Show and a whole lot of nothing going on in the middle (Test as the Ironman?!?)
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #63

With This Ring #63: Armageddon 1999
Ryan and Cindy look back at the end of 1999 and go over Armageddon and the year in general. Topics include: 
We open the show talking about the infamous Stephanie/Test wedding and how the main event of the PPV comes from the fallout of that wedding, and the noticeable absence of Test from the main event
We discuss the show opening Tag Team Battle Royal, and how its an effective opening match
We talk about the build-up for Kurt Angle and the re-emergence of Rikishi.
We talk about another “classic” women’s match, a four way evening gown pool match and the winner’s memorable celebration
We look at the build-up of Kane’s relationship with Tori, wrestling X-Pac in a decent cage match,
We discuss Chris Jericho taking on Chyna and what happens as a result
The Rock n’ Sock being on a holding pattern, taking on the New Age Outlaws
With talk about the brief run of main eventer Big Boss Man in 1999
We discuss the very long Vince McMahon/Triple H match and the real and storyline fallout
Mankind is forced to take on Santa Claus in a Boiler Room Brawl
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #62

Ryan and Cindy celebrate the Thanksgiving tradition, Survivor Series 1999! 
The cartoon super-villain ways of the Big Boss Man continues, as he begins feuding with the Big Show because the Big Show’s dad (not Andre) is dying from cancer.
The reformed DX and their difference now as a heel group to protect the World Champ
Mankind shifting from the Rock to Al Snow and the deterioration of his in-ring abilities. 
Having main-event level Survivor Series matches on Smackdown and then not having the new heel faction take part in a Survivor Series match. 
The Survivor Series starting with four pimps against the Dudley Boyz and Acolytes. 
The debut of Kurt Angle and how his character is played.
A confusing Survivor Series match with the classic team of Gangrel and Steve Blackman!
Steve Austin gets run over by a car and the reason behind his year long absence. 
Chris Jericho getting cheered, despite heeling it up against Chyna.
The Big Show dominating his tag match, but not getting his hands on the Big Boss Man.
The World Title match and the surprise third entrant into the match.
We end with a look at the first Thanksgiving Day Smackdown, leading to the first Smackdown food fight.
Enjoy!

With This Ring #60

Ryan and Cindy start their fifth year of podcasting with a very…lackluster Pay Per View showing as we go down hill on the back half of 1999. We go to Charlotte or in one case Hell, for the WWF’s September PPV. Among the many topics:
The return of Vince McMahon proving that in 1999 gone forever meant approximately 7 weeks.
Vince winning the World title as the push Triple H as hard as possible campaign shows no signs of slowing down. 
The referees unionizing and going on strike, for unsafe working condition, forcing SCAB referees. 
Steve Blackman turning his murderous rage to Val Venis and then attempting to go after a conspicuous buxom EMT. 
D-Lo Brown getting a measure of revenge on Sexual Chocolate.
Jeff Jarrett and Chyna having a lackluster match, that luckily gets some personality infused by Mae Young and Fabulous Moolah. 
The New Age Outlaws reunite because…reasons? 
A recap of the epic Big Boss Man/Al Snow feud and the Kennel From Hell that, well IYKYK and if not I recommend the Mick Foley/Kevin Kelly commentary from DVD.
The sudden exit of Ken Shamrock from the WWF and the shock that he never came back for even a cameo.
Chris Jericho’s WWF PPV debut in a good match with X-Pac that suffers from very late crowd heat.
The British Bulldog’s back and bigger than ever! We also talk about the previous Smackdown featuring 5 (!) Triple H matches.
The Six-Pack match kind of just happening for no reason, but it being kind of fun I guess
The night after featuring the infamous This Is Your Life Rock featuring Yurple, Mr. Rocko, and the Rock’s highschool girlfriend offering him a nice piece of that Poontang Pie!
Enjoy!

With This Ring #58

Ryan and Cindy continue their trek through 1999 WWF with the end of an era as the first leg of the Steve Austin/Vince McMahon feud ends at Fully Loaded 1999. In this episode we talk about…
The Triple H/Rock once again feuding in July and fighting in the semi-main event, but how each is in a much different position than they were the year before.
The sanitary method of extracting an opponent’s blood for ink.
We talk about the rare house show title change the night before the show and the ascending Edge.
A title being brought out of retirement by someone going into Shane McMahon’s gym bag.
Cindy’s two favorites: Al Snow Hardcore title matches and Big Show vs. Kane!
The trademark battle for DX.
The rise of King Ass.
How both big matches really highlight the Attitude Era template, with brawling, interference and crowd heat.
We talk about how the main event sets up the main event for SummerSlam and some brief Jesse Ventura talk.
Enjoy the show!

With The Ring #56

Ryan and Cindy continue their trek through 1999 WWF but take a bit of a detour. Due to the horrible incident that happened at Over the Edge 1999 it was decided to skip that show, and instead look back at the Smackdown Pilot, and then selected segments from Raw in May and June of 1999. Among the topics:
How and why Smackdown was being formatted and how a wrestling pilot show looks.
The Corporation/Ministry of Darkness merger and their soon to follow theme song mash-up.  
Talk of how the 1-2 punch of May 3rd and 10 Raw running unopposed helped make the chasm between WWF and WCW grow into the Grand Canyon. 
One of Vince Russo’s favorite tropes factions with silly acronyms, the Union or Union of People You Oughta Respect Shane, UP YORS forms and takes shape
The Stooges beginning their epic feud with the Mean Street Posse, including setting the at the time, mark for most watched wrestling match on cable TV.
The end (for now) of Sable’s run atop the Women’s Division and WWF in general
Shawn Michaels turn as a hot cop and how he helps push along the Corporate Ministry against Austin, Rock and friends
We discuss Over the Edge what happened, why it happened, why the show continued and Raw the next night
We then look at Raw on May 31, where Jeff Jarrett wins the IC title, Triple H injures Mankind and the Higher Power reveals himself to Steve Austin
We then watch the beginning of the next Raw with the reveal of (25 year spoiler alert) Vince McMahon as the Higher Power and how it went over as a fart bomb, but at least it’s given no time to breath and immediately get Linda McMahon’s new CEO announcement to set the stage for the next few weeks 
Enjoy the Show!