The Random Wrestling Review

Wrestlemania 27 is perhaps most notable for it being the night that The Rock hosted the show following his return to WWE after 7 years away. He was overseeing a card that included The Miz defending the WWE Title against John Cena, Triple H battling Undertaker in a no holds barred contest and Jerry Lawler looking for revenge against long-time nemesis, and regular commentary partner, Michael Cole. A...

As the Wrestlemania series rumbles on we re-release this episode originally recorded in April 2022 for completeness. Wrestlemania 26 was the night that Shawn Michaels put his career on the line against The Undertaker's streak as the two did battle in a rematch of their classic from the previous year. In addition, John Cena and Batista battled it out for the WWE Title, Bret Hart gained a manner of...

This week on the Random Wrestling Review, the band are back together, as the original hosts of the show, Tinky, Tom and Old Man discuss a show that they were all in attendance for- Wrestlemania 25. This show is of course particularly remembered for the classic confrontation between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, but would the event hold up on the whole, or would it be the definition of a one-m...

Back for a 2nd year, the RWR Match Hall of Fame is a list of matches that have been recognised among the best covered by our podcast thus far. In 2022, for the inaugural induction, 9 matches made the threshold of voting to be included in the first class of inductees. This year, the criteria for selection is harder to obtain due to an increased size of panel, and with more matches on the ballot in...

Wrestlemania 24 would see Ric Flair defeated in his career threatening match with Shawn Michaels, and though The Nature Boy would compete again in the ring for other promotions, this was his last stand in a WWE ring. On top of that major happening, Undertaker would challenge Edge for the World Heavyweight Title, Randy Orton defended his WWE Title against both Triple H and John Cena, and Floyd Mayw...

This week we look at how likely it really is that WWE will put Wrestlemania on in the UK, and what the potential stumbling blocks might be. We also talk about AEW's All In show at Wembley Stadium in August and whether, with no matches announced and a tonne of tickets sold, not to mention All Out taking place a week later, AEW might not serve up a card worthy of such an occasion. This episode of RW...

For Wrestlemania 23, the WWE was 'All Grown Up' and returning to the Detroit area for the first time since 1987. The show would achieve the highest numbers of pay-per-view buys for a Wrestlemania at the time, on the back of 'The Battle of the Billionaire's where Donald Trump's representative, Bobby Lashley, took on Umaga representing Vince McMahon in a hair vs. hair bout. Also on the show, Underta...

The Game makes its triumphant return to the Random Wrestling Review, but now as a stand alone bonus episode, not unlike the subject of this one- the Money in the Bank. For this one, Matt and Alex have to name all the participants who have ever competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match- all 101 of them (from the first, at Wrestlemania 21, all the way to the recent Money in the Bank PLE in Lond...

The Random Wrestling Review's Wrestlemania series soldiers on and this week we bring you Wrestlemania 22, a night headlined by Triple H vs. John Cena for Cena's WWE Title, while underneath Undertaker would defend his undefeated streak against Mark Henry and Shawn Michaels battled with Vince McMahon in a no-holds barred match. Also featuring Rey Mysterio's bid to win the World Heavyweight Title in...

This Saturday night, CM Punk returns to AEW after 9 months out following the controversial happenings around last year's All Out pay-per-view, and at the same time the company debuts a new weekly Saturday night show- Collision. In this bonus episode, Tinky, Matt & Tom give their thoughts on Punk coming back, the prospect of a money spinning bout with Kenny Omega in the future, and the chances...

In which WWE 'goes Hollywoood' serving up a series of movie parodies, a card stacked with potential great matches, and even some actual Hollywood stars (well, Adam Sandler was in the front row). On the night, WWE crowned two new Champions-both Batista and John Cena taking the final step up the ladder to equal footing as Raw and Smackdown's lead babyfaces. In addition, Kurt Angle battled Shawn Mich...

In a slight departure from the usual, Tom Smith and Stephen Corriander review the 1989 movie 'No Holds Barred' starring Hulk Hogan and Tom 'Tiny' Lister, known in the wrestling ring as Zeus for this bonus episode. Other wrestling names that fans will know that were involved were Bill Eadie (Demolition Ax), Stan Hansen, Gene Okerlund, Jesse Ventura, Howard Finkel and referee Joey Marella. This epis...

The one where it all begins...again, and where Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero stood tall at the end of the night, both as World Champions in WWE- we take on the emotion, and difficulty watching on the show, plus our assessment of their respective matches, with Benoit battling Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match, and Eddie Guerrero taking on Kurt Angle. Additionally, The Undertake...

As the Wrestlemania series on The Random Wrestling Review continues, we have reached 2003 and the 19th edition of the 'The Showcase of the Immortals', which is handy, as we have already covered it! 2 years ago we sat down to review a night which saw Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle headline the show, The Rock and Steve Austin do battle for their 3rd time at Wrestlemania, Triple H defend the World Heavy...

Since the previous year's event, WWE had been through the WCW/ECW invasion and come out the other end, only to face the return of Hulk Hogan and the NWO. That return would result in one of the biggest matches in Wrestlemania history- Hogan vs. The Rock. However, the match between two icons didn't make it to the main event of this show, as Triple H, also returning after a long term injury, faced Ch...

In a special bonus episode of The Random Wrestling Review, we discuss WWE's decision to re-introduce the World Heavyweight Title alongside the belts already held by Roman Reigns, and the related topic of the draft/roster split which WWE have recently also brought back. We discuss whether any of this is a good idea, how the draft can be done well and whether we have any faith whatsoever that it wil...

One week after purchasing their main competition, WCW, WWE put on one of the most celebrated (and celebratory) events in its history, the 2001 edition of Wrestlemania- X-Seven. Headlined by the 2nd 'Mania contest between the two biggest stars in the business- The Rock defending the WWE Title against 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, it also had an undercard to die for. Triple H vs. The Undertaker, TLC 2...

In the latest bonus episode, we sit down to talk movies- more specifically movies that are either about wrestling, or feature wrestlers of some kind. Tom, Matt and Tinky run down their personal choice of top 5's with films featuring Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Jesse Ventura, Big Show, Jerry Lawler, Batista and others.   

With both 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and The Undertaker being out of action, WWE was in a difficult position going into Wrestlemania 16- Mick Foley's planned retirement had to be delayed, The Rock was cast into the lead babyface position and the McMahon family became a bigger part of the story than ever as the two members of The Rock N Sock Connection were joined by Triple H and The Big Show in a 4...

Just 6 weeks ago we asked whether Sami Zayn should have defeated Roman Reigns in his big match at Elimination Chamber and here we are again- another major show, another victory for The Tribal Chief- but should Cody have taken the win instead? And, what was behind the decision to have Roman go over? Was this Triple H's plan all along, or did the merger between WWE and UFC, that was announced the da...

The Random Wrestling Review reaches the 15th edition of Wrestlemania on its voyage through all of the Wrestlemanias. This one occurred deep into the Attitude Era and presented the culmination of the legendary feud between Steve Austin and Vince McMahon, as Austin challenged McMahon's hand picked Corporate Champion, The Rock. Underneath, this show saw a Triple H double turn of sorts, during his mat...

Following a tweet by Stephen Corriander (@ProWMoments) recently, where he declared Kenny Omega's superiority in-ring to Shawn Michaels, which received an amazing amount of backlash, we thought we'd revisit the debate! Along the way we'll discuss how you even go about judging something like this, whether 'the best ever' is a thing possible to comprehend, and what factors would go in to judging such...

Austin. Tyson. Michaels. It's time for Wrestlemania XIV, one of the most important shows in the history of WWE, a night where Steve Austin hit the top of the mountain, winning his first WWE Title by defeating Shawn Michaels in the night's main event. Underneath, Undertaker and Kane had their first ever match against one another after months of build, the Intercontinental Champion, The Rock, defend...

Just a few short weeks back, this year's Royal Rumble took place with mixed reviews for the two over-the-top-rope Rumble matches. After so many years of the WWE's traditional January pay-per-view, what is there left to do for the glorified battle royal? Have the surprises become stale? Are there too many surprises? Does the fact that there are now 2 rumble matches every years make it less special?...

With WWE deep into their losing streak in the Monday Night wars against WCW Monday Nitro, the company arrived at Wrestlemania- a night plunged into chaos by Shawn Michaels' announcement in February that he was unable to compete due to a knee injury and a lost smile. As a consequence, WWE shuffled the deck and presented a card which would see Bret Hart and Steve Austin continue their rivalry in the...