Five wrestling backstage secrets changed the course of WWE, WCW, and AEW history. From the infamous Curtain Call and the Montreal Screwjob to WCW's Radicalz departures and AEW's Brawl Out, these are the real-life controversies that changed professional wrestling.

Wrestling may be scripted, but what happens behind the curtain can change everything.

In this Cheap Pop Society wrestling documentary, we're breaking down five backstage incidents that shook the wrestling business, changed careers, exposed locker-room tensions, and left lasting marks on wrestling history.

THE FIVE STORIES:

• The Curtain Call (1996): The backstage rebellion that exposed the breaking of kayfabe and affected Triple H's path forward.
• Vader vs. Paul Orndorff: The infamous WCW backstage confrontation and the controversy surrounding Vader's departure.
• The Montreal Screwjob (1997): Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Vince McMahon in one of wrestling's most controversial moments.
• The Radicalz (2000): Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn leave WCW for the WWF.
• AEW Brawl Out (2022): CM Punk's explosive media scrum and the backstage fallout that rocked AEW.

These stories aren't just about fights, walkouts, or controversial decisions. They're about what happened afterward—and how real-life conflict can reshape the wrestling business.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Which backstage incident had the biggest impact on wrestling history? What story should we have included?

Subscribe to Cheap Pop Society for wrestling documentaries, deep dives into wrestling history, legendary rivalries, backstage controversies, WWE, AEW, WCW, ECW, and plenty of Cheap Pop chaos.

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Until next time… keep chasing that cheap pop.

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THE PLANE RIDE FROM HELL: THE FLIGHT THAT CHANGED WRESTLING

On May 5, 2002, a WWE charter flight left London following the company's European tour.

What happened during that flight would become one of the most infamous stories in professional wrestling history.

But the Plane Ride From Hell wasn't simply a story about wrestlers drinking, fighting, and causing chaos.

It exposed a wrestling culture that was rapidly changing.

In this Cheap Pop Society deep dive, we go beyond the legendary stories and examine the events surrounding the flight, the wrestlers involved, the fallout, the allegations, the lawsuits, and the bigger question:

Did the Plane Ride From Hell actually change professional wrestling — or did it simply expose an industry that was already changing?

We'll look at the stories surrounding Ric Flair, Scott Hall, Curt Hennig, Brock Lesnar, Goldust, Michael Hayes, Jim Ross and others while separating documented events from allegations and wrestling folklore.

This is the story of...

THE PLANE RIDE FROM HELL.

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Cheap Pop Society is not affiliated with or endorsed by WWE unless explicitly stated.

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Will Ospreay didn't become AEW World Champion overnight.

From the British independent wrestling scene to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, from the creation of United Empire to AEW, from the spectacular Aerial Assassin to a more complete and mature wrestler, Ospreay's journey has been one of the most fascinating evolutions in modern professional wrestling.

And now, after defeating Kenny Omega at AEW All In: London at Wembley Stadium, Will Ospreay stands at the top of AEW.

But how did he get here?

In this Cheap Pop Society deep dive, we go beyond the match ratings and highlight reels to examine the story behind Will Ospreay's rise.

We explore:

-His beginnings in British wrestling
-His transformation in New Japan Pro-Wrestling
-The creation of United Empire
-His legendary rivalries and matches
-The criticism and pressure that followed him
-The injuries that threatened his career
-His move to AEW
-His evolution from spectacular high-flyer to complete wrestler
-His journey to Wembley Stadium
-His AEW World Championship victory over Kenny Omega
-And whether Will Ospreay has finally become the best wrestler in the world

This isn't just a story about the matches Will Ospreay had.

It's about why he became great.

So the question is...

Did Will Ospreay become the wrestler everyone thought he could be — or did he become something even better?

Let us know in the comments:

Is Will Ospreay the best wrestler in the world right now?

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If you enjoyed this deep dive, LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to Cheap Pop Society, and tell us your opinion in the comments.

Who should be the next wrestler we put under the microscope?

Until next time...

keep chasing that cheap pop.

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WWE created The New Day.

WWE turned them into legends.

So how did WWE lose them?

For more than a decade, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E became one of the greatest and most influential tag teams of the modern era. From their unlikely beginnings and the early days of The New Day to Booty-O's, WrestleMania moments, championship reigns, Big E's rise to WWE Champion, and some of the greatest tag team matches of their generation, The New Day became far more than a WWE tag team.

They became an institution.

But everything changed.

Big E's devastating injury changed the dynamic. The New Day eventually fractured. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods continued on without their third brother. And then came a shocking business decision that ultimately helped send them out of WWE.

After reports of a major contract dispute, Kofi and Austin Creed revealed that WWE had offered them a new deal involving a pay cut of more than 50%.

They chose to bet on themselves.

And at AEW All In 2026, Kofi and Austin Creed shocked the wrestling world by debuting as THE NEW LEVEL alongside Swerve Strickland — and immediately becoming AEW World Trios Champions.

So was this the end of The New Day?

Or was it simply the beginning of something new?

In this Cheap Pop Society documentary, we look at the complete story of The New Day — their rise, their legacy, Big E's injury, the breakup, their WWE departure, the controversial pay-cut situation, and the shocking birth of The New Level.

WWE helped create The New Day.

The New Day became legends.

But sometimes...

legends have to walk through a different door.

QUESTION FOR YOU:

Did WWE actually lose The New Day?

Or did The New Day simply outgrow WWE?

Let us know in the comments.

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AEW is heading back to Wembley Stadium for All In 2026 — and this time, AEW HAS TO GET THIS RIGHT.

Is this the night AEW launches its next era… or another massive opportunity they fail to capitalize on?

In this episode of Cheap Pop Society, I'm breaking down the entire AEW All In 2026 card, including:

-Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
-Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale
-Jon Moxley vs. Nigel McGuinness
-Kyle Fletcher vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada
-Kevin Knight vs. Darby Allin
-Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. The Young Bucks
-Divine Dominion vs. The Brawling Birds
-The Casino Gauntlet Match
-The Multi-Team Trios Championship Match
-The possibility of a HUGE New Day debut

Plus, I'm talking about:

• Is Will Ospreay ready to become THE face of AEW?
• Is Kyle Fletcher AEW's next breakout star?
• Does Willow Nightingale need to beat Mercedes Moné?
• Who should win the Casino Gauntlet?
• Could The New Day debut at Wembley?
• What surprise could steal the show?
• And most importantly… can AEW actually capitalize on Wembley momentum?

AEW doesn't need to prove it can put on great wrestling matches.

It needs to prove it can CREATE MOMENTS.

Because Wembley isn't the finish line.

It's the launchpad!

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What MUST happen at Wembley for AEW All In 2026 to be considered a success?

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Mike Awesome was one of the most underrated big men in professional wrestling history.

Standing 6'6" and weighing nearly 300 pounds, Mike Awesome could do things in the ring that wrestlers half his size couldn't. From his rise as The Gladiator in Japan, to becoming an ECW World Heavyweight Champion, to his legendary wars with Masato Tanaka, Awesome looked like he was destined to become a major wrestling superstar.

Then everything changed.

His controversial departure from ECW. His arrival in WCW. The bizarre gimmicks that followed. His run during the WCW/ECW Invasion in WWE. Injuries. Retirement. And ultimately, the tragic circumstances surrounding his death in 2007 at just 42 years old.

But what REALLY happened to Mike Awesome?

In this Cheap Pop Society documentary, we take a deep look at the life and career of Mike Awesome — separating the facts from the myths and examining how one of wrestling's most physically gifted performers went from world champion to forgotten star.

We'll cover:

- Mike Awesome's rise in FMW as The Gladiator
- His legendary ECW career
- The ECW Championship controversy
- His shocking jump to WCW
- WCW's bizarre handling of his character
- His WWF/WWE run
- The 2005 ECW One Night Stand comeback
- His injuries and retirement
- The final years of his life
- His tragic death in 2007
- The unanswered questions surrounding his story
- Mike Awesome's legacy and the "what if?" of his career

Most importantly, this episode is about remembering the wrestler behind the gimmicks and controversies.

Mike Awesome wasn't just "The Fat Chick Thriller."

He was a world champion, an international star, an incredible athlete, and one of the most unique heavyweight wrestlers of his generation.

This is the story of Mike Awesome.

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For millions of wrestling fans, Dino Bravo was one of the strongest men in professional wrestling. He competed against legends, captured championships, and became a memorable villain during wrestling's golden era.

But on March 10, 1993, everything changed.

Dino Bravo was found murdered inside his Laval, Quebec home after being shot 17 times. More than 30 years later, no one has ever been convicted of the crime.

In this Cheap Pop Society documentary, we examine Dino Bravo's wrestling career, his rise in the WWF, the investigation into his murder, law enforcement's focus on alleged organized crime connections, and the leading theories surrounding one of professional wrestling's most enduring unsolved mysteries. Throughout the episode, we distinguish confirmed facts from allegations and speculation to present a balanced look at the case.

If you enjoy long-form wrestling documentaries, true crime, wrestling history, and deep dives into the industry's biggest mysteries, you're in the right place.

Subscribe to Cheap Pop Society for more documentaries covering:

• Wrestling True Crime
• Wrestling History
• Dark Side of Wrestling
• WWE & WCW Documentaries
• Classic Wrestling Stories
• Forgotten Wrestling Legends

Question of the Day:
What do you think happened to Dino Bravo? Share your thoughts in the comments while remembering that this case remains officially unsolved.

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One locker room. One fatal confrontation. A mystery that still divides the wrestling world.

On July 16, 1988, legendary professional wrestler Bruiser Brody (Frank Goodish) entered a locker room in Puerto Rico before a scheduled match. Minutes later, he was fighting for his life after being stabbed in one of the most shocking tragedies in wrestling history.

In this episode of Cheap Pop Society: Wrestling True Crime, we examine the life of Bruiser Brody, the events leading up to that fateful night, the investigation, the controversial trial, and the questions that continue to surround the case nearly four decades later.

This documentary separates verified facts from long-standing rumors while exploring why Brody's death remains one of the most discussed true crime stories in professional wrestling.

In this documentary:

• The rise of Bruiser Brody
• Wrestling's "Wild West" in Puerto Rico
• The events of July 16, 1988
• Witness accounts
• The police investigation
• The courtroom trial
• The acquittal
• Brody's legacy and lasting influence on wrestling

Whether you're a lifelong wrestling fan or fascinated by true crime, this is one of the most important stories in professional wrestling history.

What are your thoughts on the Bruiser Brody case?
Share your perspective in the comments, and please keep the discussion respectful and focused on the documented history.

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