Hardcore Haven

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 101 and 102 of ECW, from March 28th and April 4th, 1995.  It's all about the pathway to the THREE-WAY DANCE! It's all about this being our 50th episode - what a milestone! And it's all about our guest: ECW's music licensing expert, long-time friend of Paul Heyman, and booking agent to the stars Mike Esterman! He shows up around 1:1...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 99 and 100 of ECW, from March 14th and 21st, 1995.  We're in person for the first time ever! This one comes to you from the HH Dungeon (aka Luke's basement) and features a horrendous background hiss! (Sorry about that) The dancers are in place for a three-way! Things heat up between Cactus Jack and Terry Funk! The Pitbulls diversif...

It's time for Luke Pennock & Brendan Flaherty to review 1995's shocking RETURN OF THE F***ER, live from the ECW Arena. Get the full episode here:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/56110721 Mysteries abound on this edition of Hardcore Haven - Extremium Edition as we cover the special show whose name gives away the finish itself (so we have censored it in the interest of discretion). Who's in the box?...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 97 and 98 of ECW, from February 28th & March 7th, 1995.  It's all about the fallout from RETURN OF THE F***ER (which we reviewed over on Patreon). Someone is back from ECW's past and nothing will ever be the same! Or something. It's a lot of replays and recaps, let's face it. Well, replays for us. But still.  Also discussed: Luke's...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 95 and 96 of ECW, from February 14th and 21st, 1995. The Sandman gets concussed! Shane Douglas's career discussed! RIP Eddie Gilbert: we hardly knew ye.  Also discussed: our thoughts on AEW All Out (come on, we had to!), ska gimmicks and affording Rancid, Airbourne's upcoming gig at Hellfest, Valentines for the whole class, Our Lad...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 93 and 94 of ECW, from January 31st and February 7th, 1995.  The ECW brings extreme to Orlando! A new "monster" debuts! Cactus Jack issues a deadly challenge! The biggest match is shown - in slideshow form!  Also discussed: being part-Godzilla, keepin' it sealed, whether people remember Razor Ramon is also Scott Hall, underfunded s...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 91 and 92 of ECW, from January 17th & 24th, 1995.  ECW travels to the Sunshine State! Al Snow brings the... flakes! Fights are filmed and feuds are furthered! (Really not a big "news" time, but we bring it nonetheless...) Also discussed: being behind on pods, Pocari Sweat as bathtaker's Gatorade, shooting b-roll in the 'burbs, Ronn...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 89 and 90 of ECW, from January 3rd & 10th, 1995. New year, new...us? Raven takes flight! A new Giant looms large! Shane Douglas makes his Broadway (nightclub) debut! A new challenger appears!  Also discussed: many tangents - but none more oddly satisfying than "Mrs Doubtfire: The Musical." Get it in your ears!   https://www.patreon...

Take a look back at '94 with us, as we head into ECW's 1995 and beyond! We dive into Dave Meltzer's award categories and assign winners for each. Who's the best wrestler? Who had the worst gimmick? We. Have. Opinions.  This one gets weird, ya knuckleheads. https://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven/ Follow the show on IG & Twitter @hcorehavenpod Follow Luke on Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/pukelennock/...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 87 and 88 of ECW, from December 20th and 27th, 1994.  Chris Kringle makes his ECW debut! Sandman enters to "Enter Sandman"  - for the first time?! The Pitbulls welcome us to the Pit! Ring in the holidays and 1995 along with ECW and us! Also discussed: the perils of being in a band, Luke's listening habits, the fraught reality of th...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 85 and 86 of ECW, from December 6th and 13th, 1994. We're on the road to Holiday Hell! Flyin' Brian Pillman makes a special appearance! Sherri Martel makes a questionable fashion choice! Everyone cuts at least one promo!  Also discussed: fax polls, the Fast/Furious as WCW to Marvel's WWE (now there's an analogy!), animals and child...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 83 and 84 of ECW, from November 22nd & 29th, 1994.  The saga of the Television Title continues! Jim Powers - of all people - challenges for the ECW belt! The Public Enemy definitely commit a capital crime! Also discussed: boomer bullshit and going clear, the folly of unnecessarily lying, in-flight movies and bad Austrian accents, t...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 81 and 82 of ECW, from November 8th & 15th, 1994.  Ron Simmons has a lot to say! Stunning Steve Austin may or not show up in the ECW Arena! Sandman smokes 4 cigarettes at once!  Also discussed: the ultimate Mike & Ike prank, the meaning of "Even Flow", the real Yonkers motto, the lyrics to the ECW theme song based on what they soun...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review 1994's illustrious November to Remember! If you don't listen to this it'll be a regret you'll never recall not feeling before. (gotta be a better way to say that...) Find the full version at: http://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven/   Ron Simmons debuts in ECW and challenges for the title! The Sandman bids farewell! Taz gets "work" chloroforme...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 79 and 80 of ECW, from October 25th & November 1st, 1994. We're on the road to November to Remember 1994! The "fans" weigh in on Sandman's retirement! Jason is in love with his title belt! The first-ever "November Rain" montage showers down on us!  Also discussed: the steel of Hamburg, the proclivities of Air Bud, the sketch comedy...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 77 and 78 of ECW, from October 11th and 18th, 1994. Tommy Cairo tends his garden! Matt Borne - sorry, Borne Again - brings 2 Cold Scorpio into his hell! Cactus Jack takes Sabu pillar to post (among other objects)! The Sandman announces his retirement from wrestling! Also discussed: nightmare travel stories, the evolution of Esperan...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 75 and 76 of ECW, from September 27th & October 4th, 1994.  Hack Myers gets too many opening matches! Someone's been taken to the one and only hospital! Kayfabe will never be the same again!  We also get into the hit podcast Michelle As Well, how to book your own interaction with Pulsar the robot from Rocky IV, rosemongers at the d...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 73 and 74 of ECW, from September 6th & 20th, 1994. The EXTREME era dawns! Cactus & Mikey unite! The debut of Chris Kanyon! Also discussed: the folly of Fozzy, Tommy Dreamer as Mr Brightside, the dubious truths of Carver W Reed, how to throw a Japanese press conference (without really trying), the Jon Taffer robot party over at Puls...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 71 and 72 of ECW, from August 23rd and 30th, 1994. We get promos galore, an epic round of caning, the debuts of DEAN MALENKO, CHR*S BENO*T, DOINK, and the run-up to the industry-altering NWA championship tournament. Everything's about to change! Or, at least the branding. But first, Luke's track is missing for the first chunk and B...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review 1994's illustrious HARDCORE HEAVEN! Available in full at https://www.patreon.com/hardcorehaven/ The chairs are a-flyin' as Terry Funk and Cactus Jack attempt to usher ECW into an era of "hardcoredom". Meanwhile, there's a "baseball brawl" that has almost nothing to do with baseball, a stiff Sabu vs 2 Cold Scorpio match, multiple guys named...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review episodes 69 and 70 of ECW, from August 9th and 16th, 1994.  These are the episodes leading up to and directly after HARDCORE HEAVEN '94, which we talk all about on Patreon later this week.  911 gets put over harder than a tipping cow! The Spiders debut and also exit! The NWA Championship tournament is announced, and nothing could possibly g...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review ECW episode 67 and 68, from July 16th and August 2nd, 1994.  Hack Myers gets way too much screen time! Mr Hughes gives us an epic retrospective! Jason gets his first pinfall in ...ever?!?! The Bad Breed - WE INTERRUPT THIS SHOW DESCRIPTION TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY POSTED TWO BONUS EPISODES IN THE PAST MONTH AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review the ECW home video exclusive HEAT WAVE '94: The Battle For the Future - exclusively for our Patreon backers, and nobody else! Sabu and Shane Douglas battle for the future of professional wrestling! The Funk Brothers and the Public Enemy dress in loose cotton (that's gonna get caught on the barbed wire, dudes). Tommy Cairo and The Sandman ta...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review ECW episodes 65 and 66, from July 12th & 19th, 1994, which took place before and after HEAT WAVE '94.   We get up close and personal with Hack Myers (the "hopeless hoodie"), Chad Austin turns heel, Tommy Dreamer defies the doctors, and Stone Cold Steve Austin Powers' world gets a bit more...fleshed out. Also discussed: the season 2 rule, th...

It's time for Luke Pennock and Brendan Flaherty to review ECW episodes 63 and 64, from June 28th and July 5th, 1994. Stevie Richards debuts! Four men battle in a steel cage, and nobody cares! Phi Delta Slam bring the frat fracas from Florida! We also talk about whether people have sex on their wedding night(s), what even "shop meat" might be, the excellence of Kurtwood Smith and Chris Elliott, the...