USA TODAY SPORTS

Under the Ring

Sports EN ↓ 100 episodes

Under the Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations is a weekly interview program discussing careers, issues, matches and all the fun from the multi-billion dollar pro wrestling industry. The people behind the personas you see each week on TV are unique and connect with audiences locally and worldwide. This podcast will go behind the curtain and under the ring and bring you their perspectives.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.usatoday.com

Author

USA TODAY SPORTS

Category

Sports

Podcast website

www.usatoday.com

Latest episode

Dec 4, 2024

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Episodes

Under The Ring: Eric Bischoff on MLW One Shot, WWE business and Netflix, Ted Turner and more 04.12.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by former WCW president Eric Bischoff. He's appearing at MLW One Shot Thursday at Melrose Ballroom in Long Island City, Queens, New York City for their show which is live on YouTube. Bischoff discusses doing this show and what he wants to accomplish. He also discusses various topics in the wrestling business, including WWE's ch...

Under The Ring: The Now on starting Awesome Championship Wrestling on Jan. 4 in Poughkeepsie, why they're starting this promotion and what the feedback's been so far. 11.11.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by Vik Dalishus & Hale Collins, The Now, who are starting a new promotion called Awesome Championship Wrestling, with a debut show Poughkeepsie Rumble on Jan. 4 at the MJN Center (former Mid-Hudson Civic Center) in Poughkeepsie. We talk about what it's like to organize something like this and why Poughkeepsie and why now.

Under The Ring: Jaida Parker on facing Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT No Mercy, what it's like going from women's soccer to NXT, how she creatively put together who she is. 29.08.2024

This week, we're joined by Jaida Parker, who will face NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez for the title at NXT Mercy Sunday in Denver. Jaida discusses the training process behind who she's become in the ring and the creative process behind who she's become on screen.

Under The Ring: Brock & C.W. Anderson on teaming up, the legacy of the Andersons, debuting at MLW 27.08.2024

This week, we're joined by Brock & C.W. Anderson, who have started teaming over the last year, seeking to continue the Anderson tradition from Brock's father Arn Anderson, as well as Gene, Ole & Lars Anderson over the years. The modern-day Anderson are wrestling at MLW's Summer of the Beasts at 7 p.m. Thursday at Melrose Ballroom in Long Island City, Queens. They discuss what makes a good...

Under The Ring: Nic Nemeth on beginning anew in TNA, wrestling Josh Alexander in an ironman match at Emergence, thoughts on the TNA-NXT crossover 26.08.2024

This week, we're joined by TNA World Heavyweight Champion Nic Nemeth, the former Dolph Ziggler, ahead of his 60-man ironman match against Josh Alexander at TNA Emergence August 30 on TNA+ in Louisville, Kentucky. We talk about his starting anew in TNA and wrestling after 19 1/2 years in WWE, as well as his thoughts on the recent talent crossovers between WWE's NXT brand and TNA.

Under The Ring: Kris Statlander on wrestling at Wembley Stadium Sunday at All In, her rivalry with Willow Nightingale, her thoughts on the AEW women's division 23.08.2024

This week, we're joined Kris Statlander ahead of her match on All In: Zero Hour at Wembley Stadium where she teams with Stokely Hathaway to take on Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii. Statlander talks about performing on that big card and also what a unique match that is and how it leads into her one-on-one match in Chicago at All Out on Sept. 7 in Chicago. She also shares her thoughts on the c...

Under The Ring: Johnny Gargano on SummerSlam coming to Cleveland, what happened to his dad's business, how the indies and NXT prepared him for WWE. 25.07.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by one-half of the WWE tag team champions DIY, Johnny Gargano. He discusses being tag team champions with best friend Tommaso Ciampa. He also discusses the ways that NXT and his stint on the indies in places like Evolve and PWG helped shape him into the performer he is today. Also, Johnny's father's restaurant, Gargano's Restau...

Under The Ring: Keith Elliot Greenberg on writing about wrestling, what it was like to write biographies for some of wrestling's biggest stars, what kind of impact WrestleMania III had, his next book 08.07.2024

This week, we're joined by prolific wrestling writer Keith Elliott Greenberg, who discusses what it's like to be a writer in the wild world of pro wrestling. Greenberg wrote the biographies of Ric Flair, Superstar Billy Graham and Classy Freddie Blassie, so he discusses the process on something like that. His next project is about WrestleMania III and its impacts on pro wrestling, so we get a prev...

Under The Ring: Je'Von Evans on headlining NXT Heat Wave for the title, moving from the indies to the WWE, being unique and bouncy 01.07.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by the Young OG, Je'Von Evans. The 20-year-old NXT newcomer is already in his first NXT premium live event PPV, coming up Sunday in Toronto when he challenged NXT champion Trick Williams, alongside Shawn Spears and All Ego Ethan Page. He discusses what the journey's been like from the independent circuit to WWE, who his influen...

Under The Ring: Orange Cassidy on Forbidden Door, facing Zack Sabre Jr., what to do when opponents counter him putting his hands in his pockets 17.06.2024

This week, we're joined by Orange Cassidy of AEW, who will face New Japan's Zack Sabre Jr. at AEW x New Japan: Forbidden Door on Sunday, June 30 on pay per view from Long Island's UBS Arena in Elmont. Orange explains what his approach to facing a technical master the level of Zack Sabre Jr. is and also gives his thoughts on other potential crossover opponents.

Under The Ring: Larry Dallas on AAA Triplemania on Triller, crossovers in pro wrestling, announcing Lucha Libre and studying it 10.06.2024

This week, we're joined by one of the English voices of AAA Lucha Libre, Larry Dallas. Larry will be calling Triplemania XXII this year. The second leg of Triplemania will be held in Tijuana on June 15. The first leg happened April 27 in Monterrey and the final leg will be August 17 in Mexico City. Larry discusses the challenge of calling a Lucha Libre show for an English-speaking audience and som...

Under The Ring: Lola Vice on facing Shayna Baszler at NXT Underground, crossing over from Valerie Loureda in MMA to WWE, what classic series she'd love to do a remake of with The Rock 06.06.2024

Today on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by NXT's Lola Vice, who faces Shayna Baszler in an NXT Underground match at NXT Battleground on Sunday in the first pro wrestling card held at the UFC Apex. The card streams on Peacock. Lola Vice, known as her given name, Valerie Loureda in her combat sports days, talks about how her MMA career helped her in becoming a pro wrestler...

Under The Ring: Author Brad Balukjian on his new book The Six Pack, knowing and working with Iron Sheik, bringing literary journalism to pro wrestling 03.06.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by the author of the new book "The Six Pack: On the Open Road in Search of WrestleMania," Brad Balukjian. Brad's new book takes a literary and journalistic approach to piecing together an important time in pro wrestling history - the dawn of Hulkamania and the explosion of the WWF. His journey starts with a book project he was...

Under The Ring: George Napolitano on photographing pro wrestling, his incredible history of traveling to cover pro wrestling, having contacts everywhere 13.05.2024

This week, the guest is renowned wrestling photographer/writer George Napolitano, whose work has been seen in magazines, in books and everywhere else across 50+ years covering pro wrestling. Napolitano discusses traveling to the different territories, as well as what his relationships were like in wrestling from The Rock to Superstar Billy Graham to Paul Heyman and more.

Under The Ring: Brian Myers on TNA Under Siege, being in The System and TNA, his legacy of training at Create a Pro 01.05.2024

Today on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by Brian Myers of TNA Wrestling's The System, who face Broken Matt Hardy and Speedball Mountain at Under Siege on TNA+ Friday night in Albany. Myers talks about teaming with Moose and Eddie Edwards and Alisha Edwards and what kind of fit TNA is for him at this part of his career. He also discusses the different roles he's played in...

Under The Ring: Brian Anthony on his last match, his career in Northeast Wrestling and why he's retiring 22.04.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by Mr. Northeast Wrestling, Brian Anthony. Brian is competing in his final match at Northeast Wrestling's Hat City Havoc II in Danbury, Connecticut on Saturday, April 27. He discusses his recent injuries and why he is stepping away from the ring and discusses some of the most memorable moments from his 20-year career.

Under The Ring: Prince Nana on Swerve Strickland challenging Samoa Joe for the AEW title at AEW Dynasty, on his singing and dancing and on his own unique journey through professional wrestling. 19.04.2024

Today, we're joined by Prince Nana of AEW ahead of Swerve Strickland challenging Samoa Joe for the AEW championship at AEW Dynasty on Sunday in St. Louis on pay per view. Nana discusses his beginnings and his journey in pro wrestling, from training with Johnny Rodz to ECWA and ROH, all the way to managing in the main event of AEW. He also discusses some of his unique style with singing and dancing...

Under The Ring: Rey Mysterio, Natalya, Roxanne Perez, Lyra Valkyria, Vic Joseph at WrestleMania press junket 15.04.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we participated in the WrestleMania XL press junket and spoke to WWE superstars Rey Mysterio and Natalya, NXT superstars Roxanne Perez and Lyra Valkyria and the voice of NXT, Vic Joseph.

Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations: The Warlord on 80s Wrestling Con, the Powers of Pain, what wrestling was like in the 80s and 90s. 08.04.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we’re joined by 80s and 90s pro wrestling star The Warlord. He talks about how he got into wrestling, his longtime friendship and partnership with The Barbarian as the Powers of Pain and what it was like to be part of WCW and WWF in the 1980s and 1990s.

Under The Ring: Hall of Fame and pro wrestling history with Slam Wrestling’s Greg Oliver 03.04.2024

Today, we’re breaking down the WWE Hall of Fame and pro wrestling halls of fame overall with acclaimed author Greg Oliver of Slam Wrestling. We discuss this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class and the ways halls of fame are chosen and what the criteria should be. We also discuss who some huge stars are who may have been lost in history.

Under The Ring: Brett Lauderdale of Game Changer Wrestling on The Collective, on GCW’s rise and who its audience is, working with other companies. 02.04.2024

Today, we’re joined by Game Changer Wrestling promoter Brett Lauderdale to discuss his upcoming series of shows in Philadelphia, partnered with several promotions called The Collective, which is also available on Triller TV+. He shares some of the story of GCW’s rise and why it’s so relevant and what it’s like working with so many other companies, including WWE.

Under The Ring: Mark Briscoe on challenging Eddie Kingston for the Ring of Honor title, honoring his brother Jay's memory, working as a singles wrestler 01.04.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by Ring of Honor Hall of Famer Mark Briscoe. Briscoe will challenge Ring of Honor champion Eddie Kingston at Supercard of Honor on April 5 in Philadelphia. Briscoe speaks about losing his brother and tag team partner Jay Briscoe and how he moved forward. He also talks about working in AEW, being a singles wrestler and what he b...

Under The Ring: Becky Lynch on her biography, 'The Man', facing Rhea Ripley for the title at WrestleMania, being one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling 27.03.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, it's the first woman to ever win the main event of WrestleMania, "The Man" Becky Lynch. Becky speaks about her newly released biography, "The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl," which is now available. She also discusses her match with Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship, as well as her magical run in 2018 and 2019 that led to h...

Under The Ring: Josh Barnett on Bloodsport and the involvement of WWE's Shayna Baszler, the art of wrestling and fighting and the blurred lines of reality shared by wrestling and MMA 22.03.2024

Today, we're joined by pro wrestler and mixed martial artist Josh Barnett, whose GCW Bloodsport X takes place April 4 at Penns Landing Caterers in Philadelphia on Triller TV+. For the first time, his Bloodsport lineup features an active WWE wrestler, a Barnett protege, Shayna Baszler. Barnett talks about how this was put together and what the goals are for Bloodsport. He also reflects on his perso...

Under The Ring: Our panel breaks down WrestleMania XL 18.03.2024

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, Phil is joined by Wrestling Junkie managing editor Nick Tylwalk and Wrestling Junkie columnist Vaughn Johnson to break down WrestleMania XL, which takes place April 6 and 7 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. We discuss all of the big matches, the news surrounding Vince McMahon and WWE, what we've thought of the build, who needs to...

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