Between The Sheets

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was May 15-21, 1989. Topics of discussion include:The shockwaves sent throughout the WWF when Dusty Rhodes signed with the company and how that could affect the morale of the locker room.Roddy Piper's power play to return to the WWF and how he used Jim Herd for leverage.The coronation of King Duggan.The Rockers and the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers fight over entrance music.Why is All Japan so popular in Tokyo?New Japan vs. USA vs. Russia doing major business.Masakatsu Funaki rebelling in the UWF by using “fake moves.”Ricky Rice and Teijho Khan's adventures in Calgary.Rip Rogers taking over the book in the WWC.Captain Lou Albano's new TV gig.A wild week in Jerry Blackwell's Southern Championship Wrestling.Action Jackson and Baby Sis in Memphis.Frank Dusek firingHarold T. Harris in a great TV angle in Dallas.Tom Zenk quitting (queeting?) the AWA.Big TV syndication issues for WCW.Terry Funk and a young Eddie Guerrero have a memorable TV match.

Kris and David are joined by J.D. Oliva (@JD_Oliva) as we discuss the week that was May 8-14, 1997. Topics of discussion include:USA Network moving Monday Night Raw/Raw is War to a 9 PM - 11 PM time slot for the fall season and what that could mean to both the WWF and WCW.Kevin Sullivan starts his hiatus as WCW's booker and all of the ramifications that decision could have for the promotion.Kevin Greene and Reggie White are prominently featured on Nitro to hype their matches at Slamboree.Atsushi Onita returns to Japan after meeting with Vince McMahon and tells the media of his "plans."Rick Rude reboots his ECW run without the mask and has an…eventful night at the ECW Arena.Brian Christopher gets fired from the USWA for a few days.The WWF presents In Your House: A Cold Day in Hell, featuring Ken Shamrock's first match in the company as he works Vader in a brutal shoot style affair.Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels have a memorable moment on Raw…kind of, as they go long and it climaxes off the air.Lo

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the (almost-)week that was May 2-7, 1996. Topics of discussions include:Why exactly Diesel and Razor Ramon do any TV jobs on their way out of the WWF.Barry Buchanan and Dwayne Johnson sign WWF developmental contracts.A wild promo tabloid TV style-interview on Raw with an unnamed women in silhouette accusing Shawn Michaels' of breaking up her marriage.FMW running their annual Kawasaki Stadium show on 5/5, the first time that they did so without Atsushi Onita on the card, and how much credit Megumi Kudo should get for the show being a success..The UFC winning a major court battle in Detroit.Tons of wacky U.S. indie results, including a mystery show in NYC.Dave Meltzer's thoughts on the first televised Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu match on ECW TV and how it compares to how he reviews matches now.Jeff Jarrett becoming the top heel in the USWA.Sting and Lex Luger having issues on Nitro.Eric Bischoff telling his side of the story of Marc Mero/Johnny B. Badd's departure

Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor (@NINaylor) to discuss our memories of the career of "Macho Man" Randy Savage.We go over our earliest memories of Savage and then talk about his greatness in ICW, Memphis, WWF, and WCW. We also talk about our favorite matches and angles plus our favorite incarnations of Macho Man character, as well.This was a damn fun show and we hope to do more like this in the future!!To support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly themed shows, go to our Patreon page at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets and become an ongoing Patron. Becoming a Between the Sheets Patron will also get you exclusive access to not only the monthly themed episode of Between the Sheets, but also access to our new mailbag segment, a Patron-only chat room on Slack, and anything else we do outside of the main shows!If you’re looking for the best deal on a VPN service—short for Virtual Private Network, it helps you get around regional restrictions as well as browse the

Kris and David are joined by Matt Griffin (@MattTheMouth) as we discuss the week that was April 24-30, 2002. Topics of discussion include:Jerry Jarrett’s then-unnamed startup national wrestling promotion is set to run weekly PPVs, and we talk about that business model as well as if it could've ever been sustainable.Jerry Jarrett's thoughts on Vince Russo and if he wanted him involved or not.The announcement of wacky show booked by Road Warrior Animal featuring Japanese imports and all sorts of older names at a baseball stadium in Atlantic City.Mark and Jay Briscoe quitting CZW.Eddie Guerrero appears as the WWF Intercontinental Champion on IWC and ROH shows during the same weekend, even defending the title against CM Punk’s IWC Title on the former show.We use a DVDVR Road Report being as source material for the first time, as our week has an NWA Virginia show headlined by Matt as "Mr. Delicious" Jacey North that Dean Rasmussen and Phil Rippa attended.A total debacle of an XWF tour of Texas that

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week-plus that was April 17-25, 1987. Topics of discussion include:The UWF to JCP transition beginning with the first set of JCP-controlled UWF TV tapings and how it the landscape looked about a week after the deal was finalized.Big Bubba Rogers winning the UWF Heavyweight Title from One Man Gang in the first major change.Dave Meltzer attending a JCP house show in San Francisco and giveing his thoughts on the promotion’s future, which were pretty ominous.Akira Maeda doing his first pinfall job in New Japan since he returned in January 1986.Exactly what the NWF’s business model was.PAUL E. DANGERLY has a new team in Memphis.Mike Von Erich's funeral plus Kevin Von Erich addressing the fans at the Sportatorium.Curt Hennig finally turning heel in the AWA.Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant’s house show rematches after WrestleMania III that never end up happening.Jim Neidhart being found not guilty in his criminal trial for assaulting a flight attendant.The Ken Patera

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was April 6-12, 1988. Topics of discussion include:The WWF staying on USA Network even though they were undergoing a leadership change.X-Pac's contract and how it differs from other WWF contracts at the time.Cactus Jack cutting an impassioned promo on Raw that the fans in the building didn't give a shit about.Stone Cold goes corporate....or does he?Mitsuharu Misawa, like Shawn Michaels, is breaking down physically.Paul Heyman suspends Sabu and The Sandman for some of their out of the ring chicanery.Adrian Street's career is in jeopardy after a serious injury.Who exactly owns Music City Wrestling?he reasons why Sid Vicious won't be working for Memphis Power Pro Wrestling.The saga of Ric Flair and the 4/9 episode of Thunder in Tallahassee, Florida, plus how close was he to jumping to the WWF for their 4/26 PPV in Greensboro.WCW wrestlers hanging out backstage at ECW shows and how that got them heat in WCW.Some amazing clips of some wild ep

This week on BTS, Kris and David take a look at the week that was April 3-9, 2000. Topics of discussion include:Ready to Rumble debuts in theaters and does decently at the box office. Plus we have reports from the premiere, which featured a "match" between Vampiro & The Wall.Nitro and Thunder being clip shows as this was the week before the big Bischoff/Russo reboot.New Japan has DOME IMPACT at the Tokyo Dome featuring the last major Shinya Hashimoto vs. Naoya Ogawa Tokyo Dome main event.The awesomeness of Kazunari Murakami.Tatsumi Fujinami announcing his retirement.Jushin Thunder Liger winning the 3rd Super J-Cup tournament.Mike Awesome deciding to leave ECW as all heck breaks loose.Paul Heyman scrambling as he tries to sign talent to "contracts."Shawn Michaels wrestling his "retirement" match in his TWA promotion against Venom (Paul Diamond).Andy Rooney talking about wrestling in his weekly segment on 60 Minutes.Court TV airs its "Wrestling With Death" special.Chyna turns

Kris and David are guestless this week as we discuss the week-plus that was March 28-April 4, 1999. Topics of discussion include:WrestleMania XV: The Raging Climax in Philadelphia, which was one of the biggest pro wrestling events of all-time up to that point.Butterbean destroying Bart Gunn in the last-ever Brawl For All match.Chyna and Triple H reuniting and then Triple H joining The Corporation the same night.PETE ROSE making his shocking return to attack Kane while wearing the San Diego Chicken CostumeSable and Tori having a match for the ages in all of the wrong ways, complete with ringside fans hearing Sable loudly complaining about Tori working too stiff.The Undertaker vs. The Big Bossman in HELL IN A CELL…in a manner of speaking.“Stone Cold” Steve Austin regaining the WWF Championship by defeating The Rock.Stephanie McMahon making her debut as a TV character debut the night after Mania.Vince and Shane McMahon GET DOWN at the WrestleMania Rage Party the night before the PPV.ESPN's Outside the Lines

Kris Zellner is joined by Barry Rose as we discuss the history of Thunderbolt Patterson as well as Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham, a.k.a. The U.S. Express, all from a Championship Wrestling from Florida perspective.We talk about how CWF was vital to their careeers and some of their major moments in the territory among other topics.Barry also talks about his upcoming convention "Glory Days Grapplecon" which takes place on the weekend of April 20th at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, FL.Take a listen, and we hope you enjoy the show!To support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly themed shows, go to our Patreon page at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets and become an ongoing Patron. Becoming a Between the Sheets Patron will also get you exclusive access to not only the monthly themed episode of Between the Sheets, but also access to our new mailbag segment, a Patron-only chat room on Slack, and anything else we do outside of the main shows!If you’re looking for the b

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was March 20-26, 2003. Topics of discussion include:We learn how Curt Hennig died the same week that “Bruiser” Brian Cox passes away.D-Lo Brown suffers a concussion in his first big TNA match.A.J. Styles uses an unfortunate slur on TNA’s weekly PPV. (The same one he used everywhere else.)AJPW starts the Champion Carnival tour with some big foreign names in the tournament.NJPW runs some big shows with Yoshihiro Takayama defending his NWF Heavyweight Title against Scott Norton in the marquee match.World Japan's first tour is officially classified as a disaster.Konnan jumping from the WWC to the IWA in Puerto Rico.Samoa Joe winning the ROH World Title from Xavier and how undervalued Xavier was by the fans in this era.The story of the "ROH Riots."Portland Wrestling returning to TV. Again.An update on the WWE buying the ECW intellectual property rights out of bankruptcy court.John Cena getting hot with his raps.Los Guerreros hustling on the golf

Kris and David are joined by Phil Schneider (@philaschneider) to discuss the week-plus that was March 13-20, 1988. Topics of discussion include:The differences between the WWF and JCP at the time when it came to running angles with blood on TV.WWF Magazine spoiling the WrestleMania IV tournament winner in an issue that came out about a month before the show.Bruno Sammartino going off on current wrestling on a Pittsburgh radio show.THE GASPARS running wild in New Japan.Brian Pillman talking shit on the other Bad[d] Company on Stampede TV.The greatness of WWC in the months before everything changed with Bruiser Brody's murder.Paul E. Dangerously attempting a hostile takeover of Pro Wrestling This Week…with help from George Steinbrenner?Eddie Gilbert burning Randy Hales with a gigantic fireball on Memphis TV.World Class’s shows improving since Michael Hayes took over the book.Badd Company winning the AWA World Tag Team Titles from the Midnight Rockers in Las Vegas.The Oregon wrestling war heats up between Do

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the (almost-)week that was March 7-12, 1996. Topics of discussion include:Dave Meltzer's pilgrimage to the northeast for ECW's Big Ass Extreme Bash shows in Queens and Philadelphia, with very noticeable differences between the two shows both in and out of the ring.Shane Douglas and Brian Pillman heating up their angle on both nights, including “hit the baby.”Rey Misterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera having possibly the greatest match in the history of the ECW Arena in the form of their 2/3 falls match.Mick Foley's final ECW matches, where he put over Chris Jericho…but not Mikey Whipwreck.The creation of the short-lived Junior Four Horsemen stable in New Japan.featuring Jushin Thunder Liger, El Samurai, Wild Pegasus (Chris Benoit), and Black Tiger (Eddy Guerrero).Johnny B. Badd quitting WCW and going on the record the very next day with Wade Keller in a Torch Talk detailing his side of everything that happened.Rick and Scott Steiner returning to WCW unannounc

Kris and David are joined by Beau James (@kingofkingsport) to discuss the week that was February 28-March 6, 1991. Topics of discussion include:Dave Meltzer's thoughts on Sensational Sherri being stripped to her underwear to close the Sgt. Slaughter-Ultimate Warrior cage matches on house shows and the changing image of the WWF in general.Bob Costas pulling out of WrestleMania VII and why that happened.Paul Bearer makes a wacky appearance on Prime Time Wrestling that takes a particularly messy turn when Lord Alfred Hayes shows up.The Ultimate Warrior basically killing off Brother Love in an angle that Vince McMahon and Roddy Piper used to personally mock Bruce Prichard on commentary.THE MARINER attacking Earthquake on TV.The contrast between the foreigners in both AJPW and NJPW at the time, plus how great both promotions were in general.Yoshiaki Fujiwara's PWFG runs its first show.Luchadores getting life insurance thanks to the Box y Lucha commission in Mexico City.Joel Goodhart running one of his big

Kris and David are guestless this week as we discuss the week that was February 21-27, 2000. Topics of discussion include:A rundown of the chaos that was going on behind the scenes at WCW, which was bad enough that both Bill Goldberg and Sting basically wanted nothing to do with it all until there was a permanent booking team in place.Nitro and Thunder having plenty of crazy shit going on including yet another fake La Parka, the Harris Twins getting a huge push for some reason, Buff Bagwell striking out with valets, Kevin Nash having amnesia, and so much more.Kenta Kobashi becoming Triple Crown Champion in AJPW as Mitsuharu Misawa is getting his ducks in a row for a potential split.Big Japan makes a deal with Combat Zone Wrestling to trade talent.Dan Henderson wins the first annual RINGS King of Kings tournament amidst a loaded field.Perro Aguayo makes his grand return to Arena Mexico after being gone for seven years.The sordid details of Jim Thompson — a.k.a. Detroit News wrestling columnist “M.L. Curly” — b

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the (almost)-week that was February 15-20, 1994. Topics of discussion include:WWF firing Marty Jannetty for at least the fourth time overall and the third time in just two years.Vince McMahon co-hosting Radio WWF with Jim Ross — and it's a doozy.Shinya Hashimoto beating Genichiro Tenryu for the first time as New Japan is red hot.UWFi running a big grandstand angle at a press conference challenging all the big champions in Japan.The very first match between Chris Benoit and Sabu taking place on a NWA New Jersey show.The status of Paul E. Dangerously with both Jim Crockett's WWN and Tod Gordon's ECW.Bob Armstrong returning as SMW Commissioner.The Thrillseekers officially “signing their contracts” on SMW TV.A wild update on the Jerry Lawler statutory rape case in Louisville.Eddie Gilbert running wild on Memphis TV.An update on Hulk Hogan in WCW.A detailed look at WCW SuperBrawl IV, one of the most forgotten PPV's in WCW history in part because it was nev

Kris and David are joined by Pete Stein (for the international sections) to discuss the week that was February 7-13, 1995. Topics of discussion include:WCW adding more PPV events to their schedule.The upcoming Cruiserweight Title tournament that doesn’t happen for another year.Rick and Scott Steiner's impending return, which ALSO doesn't happen for another calendar year.Dave Meltzer's thoughts on the DDP/Evad Sullivan angle.Some great videos on WCW Saturday Night centering on Ric Flair, Sting, and the Hogan/Vader feud.WCW's presence at the New York Toy Fair.A wild time in New Japan featuring one of the greatest TV episodes in NJPW history as they went full ECW, featuring Masa Saito becoming the BULLODAWOODS.Just which Rayo de Jalisco had actually passed away.Victor Quinones running IWA shows in the Dominican Republic.ECW becoming a cult favorite promotion in Japan.The Gangstas’ feud with Bob Armstrong getting hot and heavy in SMW.Sid Vicious turning babyface in Memphis.The National Wrestling C

Kris and David are guestless as we discuss the week that was January 31-February 6, 1988. Topics of discussion include:The Main Event airing live in prime time on NBC featuring Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant for the WWF Championship and DOUBLE DAVE HEBNERS! We also talk about the Nielsen ratings for the show, Honky Tonk Man refusing to do a clean job to Randy Savage, and much much more from this history-making TV special.Ted DiBiase showing up in Boston and Philly the next day wearing the WWF Championship belt and how that was received.New Japan on tour featuring Buzz Sawyer and Owen Hart, and how they were being received.Scott McGhee suffering a stroke that ends his career.Dave Meltzer's rundown of the Lucha Libre scene in 1988.Jerry Blackwell's Southern Championship Wrestling doing some great things in Georgia, plus a look into their feud with Deep South.Ron Fuller makes a big announcement about the future of wrestling in Knoxville.Brother Ernest Angel comes to Memphis.The AWA having issues drawing

Kris and David are guestless as we talk about the week that was January 24-30, 2014, a Patreon request from Sean Doherty who put down the $25 for us to do it. Topics of discussion include:TNA making a deal to return to Universal Studios for TV tapings.MVP being revealed as the top secret “investor” in TNA in the big angle of their United Kingdom tour.Prince Devitt weighing his offer to join WWE at the same time as KENTA has a tryout at the WWE Performance CenterCM Punk walking out of WWE less than an hour before the Raw the night after the Rumble, and we go in-depth about his interview with Ariel Helwani earlier in the weekend that foreshadowed this happening.The Royal Rumble PPV — the next to last PPV before the launch of WWE Network — which had one of the wildest atmospheres of any wrestling show of the era as the fans in Pittsburgh made their feelings known to WWE about their displeasure with the booking of Daniel Bryan.Batista winning the Royal Rumble in his return and the craziness of that moment.The Raw

Since we want everyone to be able to learn from our Patreon series on the 1992 "Titangate" sex and drug scandals in WWE, want to be able to direct everyone to the shows, and don't want to give anyone the idea that we're trying to make money off of the awful new lawsuit against WWE, we're releasing all four Titangate shows for free. Permanently. We're really proud of the work we did on these, and we hope that everyone can learn from them.---Content warning: By necessity of covering this topic, though it is not the sole focus, this episode contains a significant amount of discussion of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse, a non-trivial amount of which is descriptive. If you have any concerns that this content may be triggering or otherwise upsetting to you, then skipping this episode may be advisable.It's July, and you know what that means: The fourth and final part of our Patreon-exclusive deep dive into what became known as Titangate, the overarching collectio