WIth This Ring #79

With This Ring #79: Backlash 2001
After the highs of WrestleMania X-Seven we reach Backlash, which is…not as good. However, we are in Chicago allowing us to compare live wrestling show experiences in both 2001 and 2026. So enjoy one of the very few shows in the brief post Monday Night Wars pre-Invasion period that is always so highly thought of. Among our topics:
Cindy’s thoughts on Spring Break X
Ryan seeing Vic the Icepick Capri twice over the weekend,
Jerry Lynn winning the Light Heavyweight title in his surprise debut…on Heat.
The Dudley Boys settling into PPV opener acts.
The amazing X-Factor Uncle Kracker theme music.
A very entertaining hardcore title match featuring a shopping cart.
The appropriate silliness with the Duchess of Queensbury match, allowing William Regal to make various faces.
Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit being the right choices for two guys to wrestle a half hour.
Shane McMahon does another giant leap. 
A long main event that while it’s for all the gold, doesn’t seem too important.
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #78

We have made it to WrestleMania X-Seven. Cindy and Ryan look at one of the most highly-regarded WrestleMania’s ever, WrestleMania X-Seven from the Astrodome in Houston. Taking place just a week after the sale of WCW, the pinnacle of the Attitude Era, does this show stand the test of time? We’ll discuss this and so much more!
Quick run down of the sale of WCW and how Vince McMahon reigns supreme.
The Chris Jericho/William Regal feud centering on Jericho besmirching Regal’s tea. 
Some of the lower matches on the card stalling a bit, but at least being quick energetic matches.
The goofiness of the Hardcore title match, including golf carts. 
Test’s foot getting stuck in the rope.
Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle having a well put together if not hastily built match.
The show going on quite the hot streak of 5 matches to end it.
The culmination (at least for 2 hours) of all of Mr. McMahon’s asshole-ness.
TLC II being an instant classic with everyone involved going all out, including each team’s second.
WWF embracing nostalgia and having the Gimmick Battle Royal, including the return of Mean Gene and Bobby Heenan.
Undertaker and Triple H having a great match, that would have been even better without showing a crucial replay. 
Steve Austin and the Rock having another instant classic with one of the best Attitude Era main event style matches, ending with the shocking Austin heel turn, although the crowd isn’t reacting that way.
We look at the next two weeks of Raw where it is full steam ahead with the Austin heel turn, featuring a further beat down of the Rock, allying with Triple H and then attacking the Hardy Boyz and Lita. 
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #77

With This Ring #77: No Way Out 2001
Cindy and Ryan have rumbled onto the road to WrestleMania, but first, No Way Out 2001! One of the all-time well regarded B-shows. We look at the main event scene and what we will get as we continue towards WrestleMania. Topics include:
We look at even more between Vince/Trish and Stephanie leading to a very surprising match at the PPV.
Big Show coming back to be put right back in the hardcore division.
A highly athletic Intercontinental Title forgotten classic (because of one of the competitors.)
We go into the long and winding Triple H/Stone Cold rivalry and their classic Three Stages of Hell match.
We look at the King feuding with the RTC and wanting to see the Kat naked…and how this would soon lead to the King leaving, Paul Heyman showing up on Raw and basically confirming ECW is dead.
Another classic in Rock/Kurt Angle, even with a pointless Big Show appearance,
The slow build to Austin/Rock, although the confusing point where they decided to put in Debra. 
Vince McMahon embarrassing Trish on numerous shows, including the infamous bark like a dog segment and Paul Heyman’s classic line during that segment.
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #76

With This Ring #76: Royal Rumble 2001
Cindy and Ryan are back in the saddle and looking at 2001. We look at an all-time show, starting off a hot streak of great shows. We talk about how the Trish Stratus/Vince McMahon relationship as it continues to dominate the World title scene. We talk about the re-boot the WWE would do in early January, usually the first Raw after Monday Night Football, setting the course for the Royal Rumble after a typically slow Christmas and New Year shows. Topics we talk about include: 
Kurt Angle and Steve Austin having a damn good wrestling match as the main event of Raw until, we all have to remember how important Triple H is.
We start with the show proper with a rarity for this era: a straight-up, non-gimmick, really strong tag team match between the Dudleys and Edge and Christian. 
We talk quite a bit about Drew Carey and the Drew Carey show and Drew Carey’s Improv All Stars and how Drew gets involved in this show, with such an impressive showing where he would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. 
We talk about the Canadian Chrisses having a good, but now in hindsight kind of squeamish match.
A ridiculous Chyna/Ivory “match” where doing a flip and making minimal contact with 120 pound Ivory somehow breaks Chyna’s neck.  
Triple H/Kurt Angle having a pretty good match, which is split into a Trish/Stephanie/Vince segment and then follows with their strong World title match. 
A great Rumble, featuring an all-time performance by Kane, Drew Carey, the Rock going 40 minute, Big Show’s unsuccessful fat farm stay, Stone Cold getting bloodied before he even enters and the return of HAKU!
All this and much more. Enjoy!

With This Ring #75

With This Ring #75: Armageddon 
Cindy and Ryan are back again to wrap up the year 2000. In this episode we cover the quick turnaround from Survivor Series to Armageddon and the very half-hazard build to the main event, which seems to be just put the big 3 matches from last month into one big match this week. Does it work? We’ll discuss all this and more:
We start with the re-emergence of Vince McMahon and him demanding a divorce from Linda and the Rock making fun of all his opponents.
We discuss the new direction for Dean Malenko and his infatuation with Lita.
William Regal making fun of Alabama.
Chris Jericho continues his feud with Kane.
We see the end of the title reigns of both the RTC and Billy Gunn, marking the end of Billy as any serious type of single’s threat.
The APA is back, hooray!
The 6 Way living up to its hype and how much can 1 match carry a show?
Christmas Raw, with an Angle Family Christmas.
Stone Cold feuding with Stephanie and getting a World title match.
Vince McMahon and a budding relationship with Trish Stratus.
All this and much more. Enjoy!

With This Ring #74

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! As is tradition in wrestling, that of course means it is Survivor Series time. Ryan and Cindy continue their trek at Survivor Series 2000.
When we last left we were among accusations that the Rock had told Rikishi to hit Steve Austin with his car, and newly crowned WWF Champion Kurt Angle looked to be heading to a feud with Triple H.
We start by talking about the sudden change in direction, with Triple H benign the mastermind of hitting Steve Austin and the Undertaker becoming #1 contender. 
We look at Molly Holly debuting against T&A and Trish Stratus along with Ivory RTC women’s title run.
We look at the return of the Radicalz and Road Dogg dressing even more ridiculous than ever. 
The Chris Jericho/Kane coffee feud. 
Rock/Rikishi having a really fun hate filled match. 
Kurt Angle taking on Undertaker in his snake themed pants.
TWIN MAGIC! 
A long, long brawl with Triple H and Steve Austin and the new Survivor Series tradition: ATTEMPTED MURDER!We then go to Smackdown for the 2nd annual Smackdown food fight!
All this and much more. Enjoy!

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!