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!

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!