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!

With This Ring #54

With This Ring #54: WrestleMania XV
Tis’ the season, WrestleMania season that is. Ryan and Cindy are back and dive into WrestleMania XV: The Raging Climax! They continue their trek into 1999 and arrive at one of the most Vince Russo shows of all-time. Among the talking points:
Quick check where we last were, with the Rock and Stone Cold locked in for the main event and how the rest of the card was fleshed out around that.
The famous Beer Truck moment with Stone Cold and him later that night beating the Big Show in Show’s TV debut. 
A talk about the Brawl for All, who was Bart Gunn and Doctor Death and why is JR a bad guy now?
Talk about the messed-up undercard including the Outlaw switch.
Ryan rants about the tag title match and how thrown together the teams were for a 3 minute match.
We all have a good laugh at Butterbean knocking Bart Gunn’s head off.
Another risky Mankind bump on a mediocre match at best and a very quick Big Show face turn.
Pete Rose once again trying his hand at an attack on Kane and failing.
Chyna turning face, and then turning heel with Triple H a ½ hour later. 
The greatness of the Mean Street Posse. 
The horribleness of the Undertaker/Big Boss Man Hell in a Cell match
The main event finally delivering a huge mega match feel
Where this WrestleMania stacks up among other shows.
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #53

With This Ring #53: St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Ryan and Cindy feel the love for St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and continue their quest through 1999. We discuss all the build-up and the fact that they made a big spectacle out of a February Pay-Per-View. Topics include:
Half-time Heat being an early version of a cinematic match. 
A quick check on our love life in 1999.
Discussion of the Memphis Pyramid becoming a Bass Pro Shop. 
The Blue Meanie’s lackluster WWF career.
The Hardcore title being won in the Mississippi River.
Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart trying to be a stabilizing force in the Tag division. 
The Intercontinental Title saga with Ken Shamrock, Val Venis, Billy Gunn and Ryan Shamrock.
The annoying combination of Chyna and Shane McMahon, along with Kane, squaring off against D-Generation X.
The Rock and Mankind still managing to keep the crowd’s interest in their fourth straight PPV match. 
The highly anticipated Vince McMahon/Steve Austin cage match and the Giant debut of the Big Nasty Paul Wight. 
Quick discussion of backstage WrestleMania plans and how things ended up shaking out the next night on Raw, due to a ladder match between the Rock and Mankind. 
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #52

With This Ring #52: 1999 Royal Rumble
Ryan and Cindy are kick off their fifth year with a bang, continuing their chronological journey into 1999 WWF. Among the topics discussed:
They catch up on the long break between Rock Bottom and the Royal Rumble including Mankind’s World title win and the competing Fingerpoke of Doom.
They talk about the Corporate Royal Rumble and the feud between Vince McMahon and Steve Austin hitting the ring.
Why are we having a straight up match between the Hardcore champ and the former Hardcore champ?
The debut of Ryan Shamrock and her meet-ups with both Billy Gunn and Val Venis
The diminishing returns of Sable being in the ring.
The brutal nature of the I Quit match between the Rock and Mankind and how it forced a change in style for Mick Foley.
They talk about the Royal Rumble and asks if it is the worst version of the match, at least to this point.
All this and much more, enjoy!

With This Ring #50

Ryan and Cindy are back again, finishing up 1998 WWF, this time looking at final Pay-Per-View of the year, In Your House: Rock Bottomt. Our topics include:
Yet another off month PPV that features little build to most of the undercard matches.
Evolution of the former Nation members D-Lo Brown, Mark Henry and the Godfather
A bizarre changing build to an eventually very boring Headbangers/Oddities match. 
Debra’s positive contribution to Jeff Jarrett
The growth of the Corporate team, adding Ken Shamrock and Commissioner Michaels
Another solid Mankind/Rock match, with an undesirable finish
The conclusion to this chapter of the Undertaker/Steve Austin feud, ending with a Buried Alive match
Ryan and Cindy give a quick recap on 1998
Enjoy the show, happy holidays!

With This Ring #50

Ryan and Cindy are back again going through the back end of 1998 WWF, this time looking at the Survivor Series and the Deadly Game Title tournament. Our topics include:
Almost all of the matches going through the express lane with only 3 matches over 10  minutes
How this maybe one of the clearest examples of Sports Entertainment vs. Wrestling diversions of the era
The Rock’s (and Mankind) evolution to a main-eventer 
Did the Big Boss Man keep screwing up all night?
Shane McMahon’s emergence
A Judge Mills Lane appearance the next night on Raw
Using a shovel as a deadly weapon
Enjoy the show!

With This Ring #49

Ryan and Cindy continue their trip through 1998 and go just up the road to the Rosemont Horizon. Before getting there, however, they look at some of the more noteworthy segments in Raw history, especially a fun night at the local medical facility for Mr. McMahon. They get to the actual show and the less-than stellar in-ring action. Topics include
-last stand for the LOD
-Dustin Runnels' career arc at this point
-The Headbangers getting a World Tag Team title match
-A ridiculous finish to Mankind and Ken Shamrock
-a shocking Mark Henry match
-aa main event that leaves much to be desired.
We finish the night off with a memorable Raw the next night, ending with the crowd cheering an assassination attempt. Enjoy!
 

With This Ring #48

After a fantastic SummerSlam, Ryan and Cindy are back in this edition of With This Ring, talking about the follow-up, In Your House: Breakdown. In this episode they discuss
WWF being at its hottest and then having no Raw for two weeks due to the U.S. Open.
The Rock’s full face turn and the merits of the People’s Elbow as a finisher. 
Steve Austin being a master of disguise to attack Steve Austin. 
A once again underwhelming undercard to start the show with a lot of matches for matches sake. 
A somewhat forgotten great match between Mankind, The Rock and Ken Shamrock in the big blue bar cage.
The risque factor of Val Venis and Terri Runnels
The Triple Threat match between Steve Austin, Kane and the Undertaker and how it does result in Vince McMahon wearing the Smoking Skull belt on Raw
Discussion of Detroit/Toronto/Hamilton geography
The next night on Raw from Detroit featuring a zamboni, steel steps to the ankle and a Big Gulp drink. All that and more!
Enjoy!