Dorkside of the Ring

This week on the show we discuss the fallout from All Out, which, I think has to be one of the best PPV’s in the last decade, if not all time. We run down some interesting stuff that occurred on this day in pro wrestling history, and review a Monday Night Raw that some say was the catalyst for the “Attitude” era. If you want to see Michael Hickenbottom in stuffed biker shorts, be sure to seek it o...

This week on the show, we briefly hit on some "On This Day..." before giving a quick rundown on the special "Friday Night's Main Event" that acted as the go home to IYH: Ground Zero. We will get back to that next week, but the bulk of the show we talk about all of the pro wrestling we watched LIVE this week. We caught AEW Dark: Elevation, Dynamite AND Rampage this week from the UWM Panthers Arena...

Hey gang! This week on the show we are dealing with a pro wrestling landscape that is changing by the day! The changes are both in the current day product as well as in the Retro Raw Review from 1997. What an exciting time to be a fan. We are on the precipice of something big if the internet rumors are to be believed. We talk about the Mattel Creations New Generation Arena that got funded on Frida...

This week on the show it's a singles match as Mat is tackling the show solo style as Adam is on vacation. All the normal segments are covered, but it's a little strange without Adam's wit and insight. The Retro Raw Review is heading on a crash course to IYH: Ground Zero, and was a very pivotal episode in the shows history. Rocky Maivia sides with the Nation of Domination, and, although its not nam...

This week on the show we find ourselves knee deep in the go home Raw to SummerSlam 1997! Things are getting heated between The Hart Foundation and the rest of the WWF. Faction warfare seems imminent, and we a re here for it. Then we have a Super-Sized edition of “Into the Dorkness” because it is SDCC time. So many cool figures were announced. We try to touch on all of it, but for a more in-depth l...

Well things are heating up in our trek down the trail is 1997 WWF. The Hart Foundation has laid down the gauntlet in the form of stipulations in each of their Summer Slam matches. Anvil is even putting his goatee on the line. (do any of these get paid off, I don't think so). We also have a decent amount of news this week, including the first trickle of SDCC pre-orders. We cant wait for the Sgt. Sl...

This week on the show it feels like we are in a bit of a holding pattern. Not as far as the effort we put in, but the wrestling world as a whole. But that is all about to change! AEW is on the road starting this week and WWE is right behind. ROH has their Best in the World PPV right around the corner as well! It's a fun time to be a fan. The news is also a bit lacking as we wait for SDCC and all o...

On the show this week we have a great show planned! We are a bit light on the pro wrestling history and the figure news (SDCC is right around the corner), but we make up for it with a really good Retro Raw Review as we see Los Boricuas debut and things really start heating up ahead of The Canadian Stampede. We also have lots to talk about in the “Whatchu Watchin?!” segment as we get into all of th...

This week on the show we kick things off with some “On This Day” that features a PPV event that was the first one attended by both Adam and myself as youngsters, The 1996 King of the Ring from the Mecca in Milwaukee. This is known as the night Austin 3:16 was created, but we saw some other great matches as well. The Retro Raw Review is focused on the upcoming Canadian Stampede, but we also get a F...

The show this week kicks off with a chat about one of the most controversial characters in the pro wrestling business, New Jack, who passed away suddenly a couple days after last weeks show. Whether you loved or hated the man, one thing is for sure, he was a polarizing figure. We then turn our attention to the fact that May 19th is a very important day in pro wrestling history. Everything from And...

On the show this week, we conclude the biggest wrestling week of the year by recapping both nights of WrestleMania! We also touch base on the Raw after ‘Mania (dud) and NXT’s first show after moving to Tuesday nights. On the Retro Raw Review, we are in Johannesburg, South Africa (as well as Muncie, IN), but the show is mired in technical difficulties from a commentary standpoint. There’s not a ton...

That's right! WrestleMania week is upon us. Check last week's show for a bit of a preview! It's only Wednesday as we recorded this but we are already in the thick of things. "On This Day..." is very heavy on litigation this week and low on title changes, Mat had a brutal time putting together the "Retro Raw Review" due to the move over to Peacock, but we get it done. Several cool new things make t...

Hey, gang! We have a great show lined up for you this week. We are hot on the heels of WrestleMania 13 as we continue on our weekly journey through the WWF circa 1997. Bret Hart has turned his back on the American fans, and The Undertaker is holding down the top spot in the company. Not a ton in the way of figure news, so "Into the Dorkness" is a little thin, but we more than make up for it when w...

This week on the show we kick things off with some “On This Day”. We’re talking about Vader winning the WCW title from Sting, the release of Beyond The Mat, WrestleMania X8 and more. The “Retro Raw Review” is the go home show to WrestleMania 13, and features a real departure of Bret Hart’s babyface character. Lots of RSC talk as we travel “Into The Dorkness” (Ultimate SCSA anyone?) We then dive in...

This week on the show we take a look at the past weekends big AEW Revolution PPV. Say what you want about the ending, which we had lots to say, but that was a great show. On the Retro Raw Review, things have changed drastically since last week. Gone are the RAW letters in the entrance. We now have a stage, pyro, and the Titan Tron! We are also less than two weeks from WrestleMania 13. Into The Dor...

This week on the show we kick things off like we always do with some pro wrestling history talk that includes the NWA’s WrestleWar PPV, and the launch of the WWE Network. Then, ECW invades Monday Night Raw as we discuss the 2/24/97 episode that included appearances by Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer, Raven and all the other ECW staples. "Into the Dorkness" ends with a bang when Adam brings a jaw droppi...

This week on the show we get right into it with a somewhat somber "On This Day In Pro Wrestling History" where we talk about a couple guys that we lost way too soon. The Retro Raw Review is focused on the Feb. 13th 1997 "Thursday Raw Thursday" special and it is a pivotal episode in the landscape of WWF. The world title is forfeited, and the IC changes hands. This has a major impact on the PPV that...

This week's show we are in different locations: Mat is in the studio with Covid, so Adam is joining the show from parts unknown. We make the most of it and still hit on all the segments you know and love. The Retro Raw Review is a bit of a strange one, as it's actually a Toronto house show that was taped a few days prior, although all the storylines are still in play as we head into Thursday Raw T...

This week on the show we are coming off the 1997 Royal Rumble and quickly heading toward Wrestlemania 13. The Retro Raw Review is such an entertaining episode. Bret Hart “quits”, Monsoon makes an appearance and Austin is in full “Stone Cold” mode. We then have a heaping helping of figure news that sees the AEW Unrivaled series 4 reveal, new Pops and more. We then discuss the recent episodes of NXT...

On the show this week we have tons of ROH Final battle results "On This Day In Pro Wrestling History" as well as some historical facts about Low Ki that we didn't know going in. The Retro Raw Review is pretty good as we head toward the 1997 Royal Rumble. We discuss the current crown jewel in Mat's collection as we talk about the new arrivals. We also cover lots of ground in the "Whatchu Watchin?!"...

This weeks show is packed with tons of topics! Mat goes solo for the bulk of it as Adam is soaking up the sun in Tampa on vacation. There is some great stuff in the "On This Day" segment including Slammy Awards and the reveal of The Black Scorpion. "Into the Dorkness" includes more figure news than we have had in the last couple weeks combined. The "Retro Raw Review" contains the fallout from IYH:...

On the show this week we hit all of the segments you know and love! We reminisce about the first ever Intercontinental Champion and WWE hall of famer Pat Patterson, as news broke of his passing the morning of this recording. His in-ring career was a bit before our time, but his knowledge of the business has been passed down and can be seen in todays product for sure. Little light on the news this...

This week we have a jam-packed show for you! Lots of championships changing hands in the “On This Day…” segment. The Retro Raw Review is the go-home to Survivor Series 1996 and is really good. It features some of the earliest segments of Steve Austin really grasping the “Stone Cold” persona. Then we go “Into the Dorkness” as we discuss the recent figure reveals from Mattel at this year’s virtual R...

This week on the show we start thing off with a few birthday’s “on this day in pro wrestling history” as well as a Superstar that passed away on the day we recorded. (RIP Tracy Smothers) In that same segment we talk about the birth of Halloween Havoc and the death of WWE ECW house shows. The “Retro Raw Review” is focused on the imminent collision between Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin at th...

This week on the show we are feeling the effects of IYH: Buried Alive! The Raw after this show, which we go through in detail on the Retro Raw Review, had the feeling of a turning point for the company. It seems like HHH is finally clawing his way out of the doghouse, and Bret Hart returns to address his future. He’s staying in WWF forever! (or at least for another 13 months) We have quite a bit o...