Tales from the Attitude Era

Kurt Angle dismisses the EMTs from Stephanie McMahon's room, tells her he really cares for her, and kisses her to close the show. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani break down the August 24, 2000 edition of WWF SmackDown, the final episode before SummerSlam 2000, live from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. The whole episode builds around one question: will Stephanie pick Triple H or Kurt...

Lita wins the Women's Championship from Stephanie McMahon with The Rock as special guest referee in a main event! Tommy Blacha calls one of the greatest convoluted booked gaga matches of the Attitude Era. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani break down the August 21, 2000 edition of WWF Monday Night Raw, live from the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, six days before SummerSlam 2000. The show opens with...

Mick Foley turns the McMahon family against itself with a Survivor-style vote to decide who faces The Rock. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani break down the August 17, 2000 episode of WWF SmackDown, live from the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts, with SummerSlam just two weeks away. Shane, Triple H, Stephanie, and Kurt Angle open the show by declaring themselves a united family, but Foley...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are back in Providence, Rhode Island to review the August 14, 2000 episode of Raw. With SummerSlam less than two weeks away, the WWF hits the accelerator on all major storylines, delivering a truly iconic moment that changed wrestling history forever. Mick Foley interrupts a sit-in protest by Edge and Christian to drop a bombshell announcement...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani review the August 10, 2000 episode of SmackDown from the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey. The road to SummerSlam takes a major turn when Mick Foley officially books Triple H, Kurt Angle, and The Rock in a massive Triple Threat match for the WWF Championship. --- Just announced! Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patr...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani review the epic August 7, 2000, episode of Raw live from Madison Square Garden. WWF pulls out all the stops for the New York City crowd on the road to SummerSlam. The main event scene is on fire as Mick Foley books two massive matches: The Rock defending the WWF Championship against Chris Benoit in a No DQ match, and a Triple Threat Number One...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are back to review an action packed episode of SmackDown from August 3, 2000 in Birmingham, Alabama. The soap opera drama surrounding the McMahon Helmsley era reaches new heights on the road to SummerSlam. Stephanie McMahon demands space from Triple H after the controversial ending to the previous Raw. Kurt Angle is more than happy to step in...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are back to review the final Raw of July 2000 from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. This episode dives into the crossover between professional wrestling and mainstream pop culture, detailing The Rock appearing at the political conventions and the WWF launching a campaign to get WWE fans to register to vote. Inside the ring, the soap opera drama re...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani break down the final SmackDown of July 2000 from the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. Coming off the momentum of Fully Loaded, this episode is packed with major storyline advancements as WWE builds towards SummerSlam. Mick Foley books a massive card for the Texas crowd, featuring a massive Tables Match pitting Edge, Christian, and Big S...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani review the chaotic July 24, 2000 episode of Raw, taking place just one night after the critically acclaimed Fully Loaded pay per view event. Tommy Blacha opens up about the shifting backstage culture in WWF during the summer of 2000, explaining how corporate analytics and the lack of competition from WCW led management to second guess successf...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani pause their week to week reviews for a very special Q&A episode. Attitudinals submitted their best questions, and Tommy delivers backstage insights from the peak of the wrestling boom. We discuss the turning point of WWF creative feeling too corporate following Fully Loaded, the chaotic energy of the locker room, and the logistics behind t...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani dive into the highly acclaimed July 2000 pay per view event from the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. This episode of Tales from the Attitude Era covers all the action from Fully Loaded, an event that perfectly highlights the transition of new main event stars stepping into the spotlight. We break down the intense triple main event, starting wi...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are back to review the crucial "go-home" episode of SmackDown leading into Fully Loaded . Coming to you from the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, this show perfectly sets the stage for Sunday's pay per view. Kurt Angle takes his feud with the American Badass to a shocking new level by pouring a mysterious smoking chemical all over The Undertake...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani rbreak down the July 17, 2000, episode of WWF RAW from the Pepsi Arena. We dive deep into arguably the most efficient (and longest!) opening segment in RAW history, featuring The Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle, and Triple H. Plus, we analyze The Rock’s brutal backstage assault on Chris Benoit, Edge, and Christian, the shifting character of Val V...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani review a chaotic episode of SmackDown from Oakland, California. Vince McMahon is busy launching the Los Angeles Xtreme for the XFL, leaving the wrestlers to deliver a high-energy show for the WWE fans on the West Coast. The main event features a brutal No DQ match between Triple H and The Undertaker. Stephanie McMahon attempts to interfere, le...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani take a trip to the "Shark Tank" in San Jose for a chaotic July 10, 2000, episode of Monday Night Raw. With Commissioner Mick Foley away on promotional duties in Asia, Degeneration X attempts to regain total control of the show. Meanwhile, one of the most hilariously disrespectful segments in Attitude Era history unfolds as Kurt Angle presents...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to recap a night of massive upsets and "soft reboots." The episode is headlined by a shocker as the Brooklyn Brawler pins Triple H in a handicap match after Chris Jericho provides a timely distraction. We break down the scary, legitimate injury sustained by Hardcore Holly during a stiff match with Kurt Angle, w...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani head to the landlocked city of Orlando, Florida, to recap the July 3, 2000, episode of Monday Night Raw. This episode is legendary for one of the most iconic comedic moments in Attitude Era history: Mick Foley using The Rock’s own catchphrase against him to deliver a massive "It doesn't matter how you feel!". We break down the "soft reboot" of...

This week on Tales from the Attitude Era, former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are in Hartford for the post-King of the Ring fallout! With The Rock away in Hollywood, the show undergoes a "soft reboot" under the leadership of the brand-new Commissioner, Mick Foley. We break down the scary moment in the ring when Kurt Angle landed a chaotic moonsault directly on Hardcore Holly, re...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani head to Worcester, Massachusetts, to recap the massive fallout from King of the Ring 2000! The landscape of the WWF shifts forever as Shawn Michaels steps down and introduces Mick Foley as the new WWF Commissioner. Tommy Blacha provides the backstage perspective on the decision to bring Foley back in an authority role and how a "face" commissi...

On this episode of Tales from the Attitude Era, former WWE writer Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani recap WWF King of the Ring 2000 from the Fleet Center in Boston. The guys discuss the marathon weekend that started with a house show at Madison Square Garden featuring a surprise appearance by Donald Trump and Melania Trump. Tommy Blacha shares what the atmosphere was like backstage during the peak of t...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are in Memphis at the Pyramid Arena to recap the final stop before King of the Ring 2000. The emotional center of the night features hometown hero Jerry Lawler leaving the announce table to join a mixed tag match and save The Kat from a two on one assault by Dean Malenko and Terry . We discuss the massive pop for the King and Tommy Blacha prov...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are joined by Tom Green (WCW Deep Cuts) to recap the final RAW is WAR before King of the Ring 2000! We dive into a wrestling-heavy show from Nashville that features a masterclass in sports entertainment storytelling between Eddie Guerrero and Chyna. We break down the "Puppy Love" segment that saw Eddie win over Chyna with a gift she couldn't r...

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are back in the Windy City (or at least Rosemont) to recap a star-studded June 15, 2000 episode of SmackDown. The headline is the guest appearance of Samuel L. Jackson as Shaft! We break down the surreal crossover segments in Time Square and WWE New York, including the legendary moment where Shaft offers to "protect the booty" of Hardcore Cham...

This week on Tales from the Attitude Era, former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani head to St. Louis to recap the June 12, 2000, episode of RAW is WAR! This show is remembered for a legendary (and unintentional) high-stakes moment involving the Chairman himself. We break down the chaotic Tables Match where a 54-year-old Vince McMahon took a frightening spill off the shoulders of Bubb...