With This Ring #73

Ryan and Cindy are back for the start of their sixth year, deep into 2000. We start talking about the big reveal of Stone Cold’s assailant and get into the big show, ending with Olympic glory.
We start talking about the big reveal of Rikishi hitting Stone Cold and how it was either a let-down, or at least out of nowhere. 
We talk about the Dudley Boys Tag Team Invitational and how it is an unique way to get a lot of guys on the card.
The ending, it seems, of the Chris Jericho/X-Pac feud, with the match taking place inside the confines of a steel cage.
We talk about how Eddie Guerrero has gone full heel, taking a shower with the ho’s and how he is now adjacent to the RTC due to their hatred of Chyna and her Playboy issue. 
The (kind of) in-ring return of Stone Cold Steve Austin as he takes out his frustrations on Rikishi and attempts to kill him, before police intervene.
A little levity with Naked Mideon taking on William Regal for the European title. 
The saga of the Los Conquistadors winning Tag Team gold…2 nights in a row!?!
Kurt Angle capping his first year in the WWF with a World title win.
We look at clips of the next few Raws, including Ivory joining the RTC, Edge Christian and Kurt Angle celebrating Edge’s birthday and Rikishi confessing that the Rock was the mastermind behind hitting Steve Austin.
All this and much more. Enjoy!

With This Ring #71 & #72

After a month off, Ryan and Cindy are back for a special double episode, covering both SummerSlam and Unforgiven 2000. With 2 shows lots to cover including:
Big Show coming back from injury, only to be sent to Fat Camp, and getting cut out of No Mercy.
Growing tensions with Triple H/Stephanie and Kurt Angle
The first official TLC match and the unique celebration that followed the next night on Raw.
Shane McMahon taking a giant fall.  
Triple H/Kurt Angle going at it before the match and scary Kurt Angle bump. 
Eddie Guerrero “accidentally” winning the Intercontinental Title from his mamacita.
Eddie trying to stop Chyna from being in Playboy.
An overall bland PPV in Unforgiven with the Hardys/Edge & Christian being the lone stand-out.
The true return of Steve Austin, trying to stun his way to whoever ran him down. 
The move on from USA Network to the new National Network, WE’VE GOT POP!
All this and much more. Enjoy!

With This Ring #70

The summer of 2000 continues on, with Ryan and Cindy traveling to Dallas for Fully Loaded 2000 and a possible changing of the guard in the main event scene…or not. 
We start talking about how this is a unique card, with 3 mid-carders stepping up against established main eventers. 
The escalation of the Trish/Lita feud, with the Hardy Boys and T&A on the side.
The return of Tazz and him facing the ultimate challenge of Al Snow.
The beginning of the Triple H/Stephanie flower confusion and Kurt Angle attacking the Undertaker with a cartoonish wrench.
Rikishi performing an insane splash from the top of the cage.
The underwhelming Undertaker squash of Kurt Angle and a discussion on 2000 Undertaker.
Two great main events, firmly establishing the Canadian Chrises as main event stars. 
We follow up with Raw the night after where we see the Big Show return…and turn heel within the hour. The continuing saga of Triple H/Stephanie receiving flowers and the continued build of Trish and Lita. Then head to Smackdown where more shenanigans continue to strain the Triple H/Stephanie marriage. 
All this and much more. Enjoy!

With This Ring #69

With This Ring #69: King of the Ring 2000
 
Ryan and Cindy roll on, looking at the 2000 edition of King of the Ring. In this edition we once again see a very stacked, although shoddily booked tournament along with some other big time matches. Among the topics we discuss:
Lot of talk about the PPV and tournament in general and how only 3 matches in the entire 32 person tournament lasts past 5 minutes.
How by rebooking only slightly, you could have a much better tournament with the same 8 guys, or subbing two guys from the Fatal 4-Way tag match.
We look at the end of peak Too Cool.
The quick appearance of Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) in WWF and somehow led to a Hardcore Evening Gown match between Brisco and Patterson.
Kurt Angle being the proper choice for King and how it helped give me my AIM screen name.   
The main event being a good enough Sports Entertainment ga-ga match.
The night after-Raw where Vince says he’s going away to be a genetic jackhammer and how it was probably time to lower our McMahons for a little while.
Mick Foley making his comeback and the WWF finally getting a fan friendly authority figure and what it leads to.  
 
All this and much more. Enjoy!

With This Ring #68

Ryan and Cindy roll on, hitting the Judgment Day 2000 PPV. In this edition we go to Louisville for a nice six match card, culminating in a classic Iron Man match. Among the topics we discuss:
Focus on how the upper card is still the McMahon Helmsley Faction taking on the Rock and Friends. 
The evolution of Edge & Christian into full pretty-boy heels and their budding friendship with Kurt Angle to form Team ECK. 
Too Cool and Rikishi taking on the mantle of big show openers. 
The continued growth of Eddie Guerrero along his Mamacita. 
Fun garbage brawl between Shane McMahon and Big Show.
The Intercontinental Title hot potato between Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit, culminating in a Submission match.
X-Pac and Road Dogg, still being confused for main eventers, take on the Dudley Boys in a table match and need Gerald Brisco’s help to gain a victory.
The Rock and Triple H face off in an Iron Man match, with Shawn Michaels and his booty shorts refereeing. 
The psychology of the Iron Man match and how it stacks up against previous Iron Man matches.  
The Undertaker returns and looks a bit different. 
KId Rock lending the Undertaker his new theme music, his performance on Raw and Cindy learning about Joe C.
All this and much more. Enjoy!

With This Ring #67

With This Ring #67: Backlash 2000
 
Ryan and Cindy start the next WWF season much the same way we finished the old one, with the Rock feuding with Triple H and the McMahons. In this edition we go to Backlash, which had 5 singles matches, none of which were Terri vs. The Kat, putting it a tick above WrestleMania from the get go. Among the topics discussed:
The start of the Vince Russo/Eric Bischoff tenure in WCW, and how that led to Mike Awesome, WCW wrestler, defending the ECW title against Tazz, WWF wrestler and how that was displayed on WWF TV.
Chris Jericho’s brief earliest WWF title run. 
The promise of Stone Cold Steve Austin. 
The chemistry between Eddie Guerrero and his Mamacita. 
We again talk about how misplaced X-Pac and Road Dogg are in the tag division. 
Dean Malenko and Scotty Too Hotty having a notable Light Heavyweight Title match.
SHOWESTER MANIA RUNNING WILD BROTHER!
The Rock and Triple H having their usual Sports Enterainment Spectacular in a match that seemed more WrestleMania main event than the WrestleMania main event. 
 
All this and much more. Enjoy!

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!