It’s time for a special edition “Shootin’ The Shiznit” with “Rollin’ Into Mempho.” Brian Tramel is joined by RynoJB to review Championship Wrestling from Memphis for Episode 39 in their quick RT format ! They answer the following questions about the show:

-Hits?

-Misses?

-MVP??

-What do they want to see on next week’s show?

-THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

They reviewed this episode !
https://youtu.be/v2s8XRLuPCo?si=vTuOBc3EYXi4hPU5

On Episode #117 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View USWA Podcast, the gang continues into the second week of the 1992 USWA season with the January 11th episode of USWA Championship Wrestling and this one is all about Corey Maclin flying solo, Brian Christopher finally taking the full heel plunge, Eric Embry spreading his influence all over the show, and the “International Roughnecks” a.k.a the Moondogs making Corey lose his mind on live television.

The boys kick things off with some network business, new joke sponsor shirts, and a teaser of Corey Maclin absolutely coming unglued later in the show while trying to deal with Richard Lee and the Moondogs. From there, the episode jumps into the fallout from Brian Christopher’s boxing match with Tony Williams, Bart Sawyer continuing the “Bartman” energy, Jeff Jarrett and Robert Fuller taking aim at the Moondogs, and Tony Falk introducing Miss Jennifer in a segment that goes sideways almost immediately.

Episode #117 feels like 1992 USWA is starting to find its direction. Brian Christopher has turned the corner, Eric Embry is suddenly everywhere…again, the Moondogs are getting more dangerous by the week, Robert Fuller is somehow working as a babyface, and Corey Maclin may need hazard pay if Richard Lee keeps bringing those “crazy fools” into the studio.

REST IN PAIN indeed

On this episode of Rick Del Santo’s Classic Wrestling Talk, Rick sits down with Darryl Peterson, better known to wrestling fans as Maxx Payne and later Man Mountain Rock, for a wide ranging conversation about athletics, acting, amateur wrestling, Japan, Memphis, WCW, the WWF, music, and the long road from a rebellious kid in Utah to one of wrestling’s most unique heavy metal characters.

Maxx starts by going all the way back to his childhood love of sports. Before wrestling, he was a football fanatic, a basketball player, a shot-putter, a swimmer, a baseball kid, and eventually a serious amateur wrestler. He talks about clashing with a high school football coach, falling in love with wrestling after first hating it, and growing up in a household where watching sports with his father helped shape the rest of his life.

The strongest part of the interview may be the story of Takedown. Maxx explains that he ignored the early casting calls because he was focused on wrestling, then suddenly found himself reading for the role of Bobich. That movie didn’t just give him an acting credit it changed the direction of his life.

The Japan material is another highlight. Maxx talks about training with Red Bastien, heading to Japan with Chris Benoit, living in the New Japan dojo, doing the brutal daily workouts, and learning from veterans by asking what he did wrong instead of fishing for compliments. He also tells a very funny Dick Murdoch story after slipping off the ropes in Japan, with Murdoch advising him to take two weeks off and quit.

For Memphis fans, there’s some great material on how the Maxx Payne character started coming together. He talks about wanting to be the dark, heavy metal, Alice Cooper style monster of wrestling, then explains how Memphis was brutally hard but also one of the places where he truly learned the business. He gives Jerry Lawler a lot of credit, saying that working with Lawler was easy as long as you listened and knew when it was time to sell.

The WCW and music discussion is fascinating, too. Maxx says the guitar element truly took off in Germany after Dave Finlay and Rip Rogers told him to make it part of the act. That success helped lead to Bill Watts bringing him into WCW, where he debuted in early 1993 and played guitar at SuperBrawl. From there, he tried to create a band made up of wrestlers, with Brad Armstrong originally planned as the singer before Brian Armstrong stepped in.

The Man Mountain Rock section is blunt. Maxx says the WWF “de-rocked” him, that he should have pushed back harder creatively, and that the version of the character he wanted — black, white, skulls, heavy metal, and edge got softened into something he didn’t believe in. He also previews a documentary project using footage he shot during that period, which he says will show the behind the scenes tension from his point of view.

For fans of Maxx Payne, Man Mountain Rock, Memphis Wrestling, WCW, WWF New Generation, New Japan, Chris Benoit, Jerry Lawler, Bill Watts, Red Bastien, Brad Armstrong, Brian Armstrong, and wrestlers who tried to bring something completely different to the table, this episode is loaded.

Maxx Payne wasn’t just a big man with a guitar.

He was an athlete, actor, wrestler, musician, filmmaker, and one of those creative wrestling minds who may have been 30 years ahead of the room he was standing in.

Check out more great stuff from Rick Del Santo on his YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRickDelSanto

Follow him on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/theprofrickdelsanto

On Episode #10 of Beyond Wrestling w/Robb, Robb Helt returns to the Neutral Corner Lounge with Gene Jackson and special guest Scottie Wince of the RWR WCCW Podcast for Part Two of the deep dive into the sale of the USWA, Larry Burton, Jerry Lawler, XL Sports, Mark Selker, and the lawsuit heavy mess that helped bring down wrestling’s last true territory. After Part One ended with the merchandising problem, Part Two digs into the bigger sales pitch: Larry Burton’s three step plan and the part of the story that was never actually proven.

The heart of the episode is the difference between a plan and proof. Burton’s story only works if there is real value at the end of the rainbow specifically, a WWF/Vince McMahon payday. But Robb makes the legal distinction clear: even if McMahon gave an opinion that the USWA might be worth six to eight million dollars, that is not the same thing as saying, “I will buy it for that price.”

That becomes the running theme of the episode: potential is not proof. Robb explains that in litigation, potential future value can quickly turn into speculative fiction if there’s no enforceable commitment, no completed deal, and no hard evidence showing that money was actually waiting on the other side.

Basically, this episode is about peeling back the legend and asking the questions that usually get skipped. Was Burton working Selker? Was Lawler & Burton working together to work Selker? Was Lawler working Burton? Did Burton every really meet with Vince McMahon? Did Burton actually believe he had found hidden syndication money? Did Jerry Jarrett see the storm coming and take the safest way out? And the most obvious question that Mark Selker apparently never asked, if the USWA really had a six to eight million dollar value, why didn’t Jerry Lawler simply sell it directly to Vince McMahon himself rather then sell to to them two million??

That’s the question that hangs over the whole thing.

For fans of USWA, Memphis Wrestling, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Larry Burton, XL Sports, Mark Selker, wrestling lawsuits, territory business, and the strange legal rabbit holes that swallowed up the final days of Memphis studio wrestling, Part Two is where the story gets even murkier.

***WATCHALONG WITH BRANDON & GENE AT THIS LINK***
https://rumble.com/v7evq76-rwr-ecw-podcast-ep.-11-61593-too-violent-for-sports-channel.html

On Episode #11 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View ECW Podcast, Gene Jackson and Brandon Wheeler are finally on the doorstep of Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular, and this June 15, 1993 episode of Eastern Championship Wrestling feels like the real “go home show”. After last week’s heavy Rockin’ Rebel bonus episode, the boys come into this one looking for some forward momentum and ECW actually gives them plenty to work with.

The show is built around the final push for Eddie Gilbert vs. Terry Funk in the Texas Chain Match Massacre to crown the official “King of Philadelphia”, but there’s a lot more happening: Road Warrior Hawk challenging Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka for the ECW TV Title, the Suicide Blondes and Super Destroyers continuing their issue, Sandman and Rockin’ Rebel heading toward their street fight/catfight chaos, and The Dark Patriot (Doug Gilbert) makes his ECW debut stepping into the main event against the living legend, Terry Funk.

The biggest strength of this episode is the Eddie Gilbert/Terry Funk build. Eddie gets multiple segments: the outdoor promo, the crown, the Texas chain demonstration, and the final attack. Funk answers with a promo that makes Philadelphia feel special, telling the fans they are “hardcore fans” before that word becomes permanently attached to ECW’s identity.

The main event with Terry Funk vs. The Dark Patriot gives ECW the kind of finish it wants heading into the big show: Funk fights, Paul E. interferes, Funk goes for the mask, Eddie Gilbert hits the ring with a chair, and then the broadcast cuts away under the idea that the footage was too violent for Sports Channel! It’s a simple trick, but it does a good job making the upcoming chain match feel like something out of control.

By the end, Gene and Brandon both seem encouraged. The show feels better paced, the format feels different, Stevie Wonderful is settling in on commentary, and ECW feels like it is changing fast. The early awkwardness is still there, but now you can see the pieces starting to move toward something bigger.

Super Summer Sizzler is next.

And Eastern Championship Wrestling finally feels like it’s heating up.

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Get Your Bell Rung Pro Wrestling Podcast host KG Landry sits down with professional wrestling writer Vince Russo to discuss his book, Total Nonstop Agony: The Rise and Fall of TNA. But this is far more than a conversation about the wrestling business.

Russo opens up about some of the most difficult and personal chapters of his life, including the loss of his mother and friends such as Daffney. He discusses the emotional weight of grief, how those experiences changed his perspective, and what it means to find peace after devastating loss.

The conversation also turns to faith and how Russo's Christian beliefs have helped him navigate some of life's most difficult moments. He shares how his faith has given him perspective, purpose, and a different understanding of what truly matters.

While Total Nonstop Agony focuses heavily on Russo's time in TNA, he explains that professional wrestling was ultimately a job for him and a means of providing for his family. He discusses his frustrations with critics and the internet wrestling community, particularly those who treat scripted entertainment as something far more serious than he believes it should be.

Russo also speaks candidly about getting older, his concerns about cognitive decline and dementia because of his family history, and his determination to keep his mind active through writing. He discusses the possibility of eventually stepping away from the public eye and reflects on what he wants his life to mean beyond wrestling.

Throughout the interview, KG Landry and Vince Russo connect over shared experiences and the importance of family, health, faith, and recognizing what truly matters in life.

The conversation ultimately comes down to legacy. When Russo reflects on how he wants to be remembered, his answer is not about championships, television ratings, wrestling storylines, or professional accomplishments. He wants the people closest to him to remember one thing above everything else: how much he loved them.

This is Vince Russo like you've rarely heard him before. Honest, emotional, reflective, and completely personal.

Watch, listen, and join KG Landry and Vince Russo for a conversation that goes far beyond professional wrestling.

On this episode of Chewin’ The Fat with Chubby Dudley, Bay Ragni sits down with ECW Original “Ironman” Tommy Cairo for a extensive, wide open conversation about old school wrestling fandom, bodybuilding, powerlifting, breaking into the business, early Eastern Championship Wrestling, Eddie Gilbert, Paul Heyman, The Sandman, the Singapore cane feud, and the real life toughness that made Cairo one of the most believable guys in early ECW.

This isn’t just a “remember ECW?” interview. Tommy goes all the way back to being a kid watching Heavyweight Wrestling from Washington, D.C., falling in love with Bruno Sammartino, sneaking late-night wrestling with his grandmother, reading the magazines, riding trains and buses to shows, and becoming one of those fans who knew the buildings, the wrestlers, the aliases, and the business long before he ever stepped into a ring.

The ECW material is the centerpiece, especially Cairo’s version of the Singapore cane feud with The Sandman. Cairo says Paul Heyman came into the locker room looking for two volunteers for an angle built around the recent Michael Fay caning story, warning everyone that it would involve a lot of blood and not just from the forehead. According to Cairo, the room went silent until he and Sandman looked at each other and stepped up.

Cairo makes it clear that he believes that year-long program with Sandman was a major piece of ECW becoming “hardcore” before Tommy Dreamer became the face most associated with the cane. In his view, he and Sandman did the work, took the punishment, and helped prove the concept before the cane was essentially moved from his hand to Dreamer’s.

The interview is also loaded with strong opinions. Cairo doesn’t hold back on Paul Heyman, saying he wasn’t a fan and accusing Paul of taking credit while changing the locker room around his own guys. He also talks about the NWA title incident with Shane Douglas, saying he felt bad for Dennis Coralluzzo and thought throwing down the belt was disrespectful and against the rules of the business.

For fans of early ECW, Eastern Championship Wrestling, The Sandman, Todd Gordon, Eddie Gilbert, Paul Heyman, Little Guido, Johnny Hotbody, Jimmy Snuka, Manny Fernandez, and the rough, physical indie scene that fed into ECW’s rise, this episode is a must listen.

Tommy Cairo doesn’t just tell old wrestling stories.

He tells them like a man who lived every bump, every mile, every fight, and earned every scar.

Subscribe on YouTube: @chubbydudleyofficial

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/ChubbyDudley

On Episode #20 of the RWR Power Pro Wrestling Podcast, Gene Jackson, Robb Helt, and BT return for another Saturday morning ride through 1998 Power Pro Wrestling and this week, the show is officially celebrating 20 weeks of Power Pro Wrestling from the studios of WMC-TV 5. Randy Hales is still somehow the center of the universe, the bodyguards are still hanging around, the Stacy/Brandon Baxter/Jerry Lawler drama keeps getting trashier, and BT’s 79 year old mother may have delivered the most accurate scouting report of all: “Randy Hales looks nerdy”.

The biggest storyline remains Randy Hales vs. Jerry Lawler, with the Stacy/Brandon Baxter situation wrapped around it like a bad soap opera storyline that even Vince Russo might roll his eyes at. Stacey sends in a taped statement from Florida denying everything, Randy produces a postcard that somehow made it from Sanibel Island to Memphis overnight, and Lawler keeps getting more and more fed up with Randy dragging his personal life onto television.

The best actual wrestling of the episode appears to be Derrick King vs. Kid Wikkid, which Gene, Robb, and BT all put over by the end. Derrick King continues to look good in the ring, Kid Wikkid keeps getting protected enough to matter.

The funniest disaster of the week is the Brian Christopher vs. The Streak promo. The Streak stumbles into a line so awkward that Brian Christopher breaks on camera, which causes Corey Maclin to crack up like Mean Gene during an 1987 Ken Patera promo, and the whole thing becomes one of those Power Pro moments that may not be “good,” but it’s absolutely unforgettable.

Episode #20 is still messy, still confusing, and still loaded with questionable decisions, but it also has a little bit of life to it. Derrick King looks sharp, Lawler and Randy have momentum, Corey Maclin is unintentionally hilarious, and the ending gives the guys something to enjoy.