Hardcore Haven

There's a lack of rules in the ECW. There's a lack of structure. But that doesn't mean there has to be a lack of...respect! That's the issue being faced by certain sets of rivals in this show from May 11th, 1996 - A MATTER OF RESPECT. We watched along, and you can hear along with our watch along if you...listen on! Sabu takes on Rob Van Dam, 2 Cold Scorpio chops it up with Shane Douglas, Chris Jer...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 158 and 159 of ECW, from May 7th & 14th, 1996 - joing via satellite! Discussed: Luke's scooter accident and the importance of helmets, penile implants and media literacy, how to count to "1", Joey Styles' Dad's suit, 2 long matches that we received very differently, the movie "Airheads" as modern classic, Sabu's government name, Kathy...

Well, we're back. And we're back with a big one.  Introducing Dr. Marque Allen - San Antonio-based sports medicine practitioner, renowned foot and ankle specialist, and at one time... Raven's roommate? Not only do we delve into the highs and lows of sharing an abode with the flockmaster himself, but we also dive deep into Marque's position as ECW's de facto medical authority. And it all started on...

Sure, we talk about wrestling on this watchalong of 1996's Hostile City Showdown. But we also talk about Matt Damon, cheese grater technology, and a whole lot more! We reccomend you actually watch along with this watchalong, otherwise it might just be unlistenable. You can be the judge, though, because as a gift to you we're making this one available to EVERYONE for a limited time for FREE - not j...

Sit back and watch along as ECW brings it's extreme brand of wrestling to the Lost Battalion Hall in Queens, NY for a show that sees the debut of D-von Dudley, Chris Jericho in an excellent rematch against Taz, Mikey Whipwreck taking on Sabu, a huge tag team elimination main event, and more jobbers and shenanigans than you can shake a Kendo stick at. It's an absolute MASSACRE*.   Don't say we neve...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 156 and 157 of ECW, from April 23rd and April 30th, 1996. Discussed: the debuts of ... some real stars (Supernova and "Dangerous" Devon Storm), a deep dive on Harvest Gods, what it was like to see AEW live in Saskatoon, our new t-shirts, the celebrity obsession of Philly's own Gino's Steaks, some unfortunate fanfic, and Kimona's much-...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 155 and 156 of ECW, from April 9th and April 16th, 1996. Guest: Isabel Zaw-Tun!  Discussed: Canadian fame and basement apartments, the perils of watching "the wrong episode", the future of currency, podcast predilictions, hypothetical dating shows, the fashion of wrestling, swinger vibes and gimmicked chokers, oh and 2 whole episodes...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 153 and 154 of ECW, from March 26th and April 2nd, 1996. Discussed: Chris Jericho's first ECW match and Cactus Jack's last ECW match (and final dance number), being a regular restaurant patron, thoughts on Forbidden Door (Brendan was there!), and much heckin' more.  Support us on Patreon!   https://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven/ IG &...

Something magical happens every 25 episodes here on Hardcore Haven.  At episode 25, we got to chat with the man who's sorry, sorry, NOT sorry - Matty In The House himself, Matt Dematt.  For our 50th episode, we got into the details of music licensing on New York cable with another living legend, Mike Esterman.  And for our 75th episode, or fortuitously timed as a bonus in between that and episode...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 151 and 152 of ECW, from March 12th and March 19th, 1996. Discussed: the night Dave Meltzer got depressed, using the shared work printer, Dennis Miller pastiche, the Loose Cannon as Bart Simpson dynamic, gout revelations, and much more besides.  Support us on Patreon!   https://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven/ IG & Twitter: @hcorehavenp...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 149 and 150 of ECW, from February 27th and March 5th, 1996. Support us on Patreon!   https://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven/ IG & Twitter: @hcorehavenpod Contact us:  hardcoreahavenpod@gmail.com Luke on Twitch:  http://www.twitch.tv/pukelennock/ Logo by  Raymond Biesinger Theme song by RANX

We're back, baby!   From our watchalong on Discord, it's 1996's CYBER SLAM.   Witness Brian Pillman work the sheets, Mikey Whipwreck show where his loyalties lie, The Pitbulls in their namesake match, 2 Cold and Sabu take it to the limit, and Luke and Brendan test the limits of their tech! It's a watch-along, so you can watch along too! Just fire up the show from wherever you can and bask in the c...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 147 and 148 of ECW, from February 13th and 20th, 1996. Discussed: interpromotional rivalries, "legal" lawsuits, method acting, Goodie Mob, surprise appearances, head tattoos, respecting the booker man, Bam Bam Biglow, Brian Pillman, the definition of smark, hydration, and much more.  Luke's cat's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/779bc695 S...

It's another watch-along - live from our new Discord server . There was or was not a big storm in the Northeast, and ECW was back in Queens for only the second time ever - and Luke and Brendan are along for the ride. See! The Eliminators get a stylist. Hear! Stevie Richards spout legal jargon. Watch! As Cactus Jack and Woman respectively goad the crowd into different reactions based on their opini...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 145 and 146 of ECW, from January 30th and February 6th, 1996. We've got newsworthy revelations from a screeing of Wrestling With Shadows, the death of kayfabe, and other non-ECW distractions. Oh yeah, and all the titles are going all over the place! Sit back, grab a jar of Fluf and enjoy the show.   This week's guest is comedian Georg...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 143 and 144 of ECW, from January 16th and 23rd, 1996. Massive revelations from Ms. McGillicutty! Rob Van Dam breaks an Axl in his debut! The Franchise brings the grammar lessons and Saturn and Kronus open a third wave coffee shop! All this and more on the show that will kill us one day.  Support us on Patreon!   https://www.patreon.co...

It's another drunken watch-along as we here at Hardcore Haven say goodbye - along with the ECW Arena faithful - to the Public Enemy. We also say hello to Rob Van Dam (and The Bad Crew in a different tone of voice), watch The Sandman take on Konnan, Sabu take Stevie Richards from pillar to post, Taz squash Hack, 2 Cold take on Mikey in a TV title rematch (the plot thickents), and mostly muse about...

While the ECW is invading New York and positioning themselves for an historic 1996, the WWF is unveiling the New Generation with a Royal Rumble full of... well, the old gen! Watch along with us as and guest James Avramenko as Bret Hart and The Undertaker have the slowest match ever, Goldust and Scott Hall grapple over the IC belt, Double J gives Ahmed Johnson 6 minutes he'll never forget, and we t...

For the first time ever, the ECW is in New York F*****' City!  We've got more highlights of Holiday Hell from the Lost Battalion Hall than we really needed! Missy Hyatt lays the smack down, of sorts; 2 cold and Mikey underestimate each other; Taz has a whole new attitude; The Gangstas return to usher The Public Enemy outta here; Bruiser Mastino (fka Mantaur) is one and done; all this plus a shallo...

It's the ECW invasion of New York! Well, Rego Park, at least, in Queens. It's the ECW invasion of Queens!  Witness: the debuts of The Blue Meanie, Missy Hyatt, and ...Bruiser Mastino (fka Mantaur); the bloody return of the Gangstas; a couple total slogs, let's be honest, go figure; a surprising title change (or two?). This one almost broke us. Please send help. Featuring: superstar musician Ellen...

There was an elaborate plan hatched. Luke and Brendan would be able to record from the same location over the holidays! It would be a holiday special! It would also be a review of the holiday episodes of ECW from 1995 ...so everything would turn out great.  Turns out reconfiguring our recording setup after all this time caused technical problems. Also? The holidays are a very busy time and it's ha...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 137 and 138 of ECW, from December 5th & 12th, 1995. Steve Austin challenges for the ECW title, cuts his hair, and challenges again! A gigolo and a doctor walk into the ring - does anybody care? Damien Kane and Lady Alexandra bring the Bad Crew within an inch of relevence! Funk checks his Casio watch, and it's time to retire!  Support...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 135 and 136 of ECW, from November 21st & 28th, 1995. The Public Enemy skip out for the big time...or do they? Steve Austin ain't so stunning! Taz doesn't suplex, he perplex(es)! Luke's Aunt gives the New York thing a shot! All this and a whole lot more. Please listen to this or we will be sad.  Support us on Patreon!   https://www.pat...

An ECW original returns! Another ECW original turns heel! The Public Enemy get a dance-off send-off but they don't need it! All this and so much more on our increasingly inebriated watch-along of 1995's November To Remember, live from the ECW Arena. Hear the full watch-along episode right where ya think:  https://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven Theme song by Booji Bomb. Logo by Raymond Biesinger.

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review episode 133 and 134 of ECW, from November 7th & 14th, 1995. The Sandman runs roughshod over the undercard! A new tag team grins its way to victory! Cactus Jack brings the house down...with a boring match! It's all leading up to November To Remember... but will it be?  Support us on Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven/ IG & Twitter...