Roundtable discussions on professional wrestling, evaluating various topics, providing analysis, a varitable thinktank.
Join Liam O'Rourke and Kyle Ross as we begin our journey looking at 1992 in the WWF! Kicking off with January and February, we look at all the major stories, on screen and off, during a tumultuous period of time. Including the media war pitting Superstar Billy Graham and Dave Schultz against Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon, steroids continuing to dominate the headlines as testing begins and bodies start to shrink (or vanish), Ric Flair and the 1992 Royal Rumble, the heel turn of Sid Justice, hot potato with the Intercontinental Title and what it means for Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels throws Marty Jannetty through the Barber Shop window, the tag team division finally plummets all the way into the toilet and what could have been done to save it, as well as all the side stories, debuts, hirings and firings and much, much more.
SCG Radio returns to continue our look at September to December of 1991 in the WWF! This time we're moving away from the main event scene, talking all about the Randy Savage Vs. Jake Roberts feud, the build-up, the all-time memorable angle with the snake bite, This Tuesday in Texas and the aftermath. In addition, we look at all latest issues as the WWF begins steroid testing, the media whirlwind begins to loom large, and of course, we have to look at the newcomers, Ricky Steamboat leaving the WWF in a flash, the introduction of El Matador, Repo Man and others, Bret Hart becoming WWF Wrestler of the Year (!?), Sgt. Slaughter turns babyface (!?!?!?!?!) and tons more in a three-plus hour spectacular to close off our look at 1991. Enjoy, check it out and let us know what you think!
SCG Radio returns to talk September to December of 1991 in the WWF! This time, we're looking at Ric Flair's arrival in the WWF, his initial promos, a memorable angle with Roddy Piper and Vince McMahon, and break down the angle that only came to you in the WWF via your local arena - Ric Flair Vs. Hulk Hogan. In addition, we look at Hogan's four months, ongoing steroid issues, the decision to run This Tuesday In Texas, and The Undertaker becomes a major (and surprising) part of the proceedings. All this and more in a gigantic return, all the insider news and notes of the time as well as our typical analysis - check it out and let you know what you think!
SCG Radio returns to talk more about July and August of 1991 in the WWF! This time, we're looking at Ric Flair's departure from WCW and impending arrival in the WWF, all the insanity that led to it with Jim Herd, as well as evaluating the lead-up to Flair's exit and aftermath. In addition, we're looking at the undercard build to Summerslam 1991 and talking all about the show itself, featuring Bret Hart's IC Title win over Mr. Perfect, the JAILHOUSE MATCH, Virgil's career peak and a great deal more. A ton of fun looking at the TV and news of the period, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke and Kyle Ross for the first part of their look at July and August 1991 in the WWF! The crazy year continues with the fallout of the Dr. George Zahorian conviction, the media puts the pressure on Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan tries to quell the flames on Arsenio Hall in horrendous fashion and more. Additionally, we look at the top angles for Summerslam 91 and the departure of the Ultimate Warrior, looking at how everything fell apart and analysing whether Warrior was truly the failure he was labelled as. A lot of fun to relive - check it out and let us know what you think!
The panel returns this week for our annual Christmas mailbag show! Taking your questions and comments, we talk about the first year of AEW and their standout performers, wrestling adapting to the pandemic, the state of WWE, the Mount Rushmore of wrestlers never to win the big one, favourite TV matches of all time, favourite "bad" matches, the Carny Of The Year award, Rick Rude's cock, Retribution, Undertaker's documentary series, Karl's thoughts on the passing of Zeus and Pat Patterson, Kieran's conspiracy theory on why Vince McMahon looks the way he does, and much, much more. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all!
SCG Radio returns this week to talk April to June of 1991 in the World Wrestling Federation! This week, we're walking through everything in the undercard, from Jake Roberts' snake getting squashed and killed by Earthquake, the failed return of Andre The Giant, Bobby Heenan's managing career ends, the often-forgotten Virgilina angle (!), The Mountie and Big Bossman cross paths, IRS debuts, and the tag team scene goes to hell in a handbasket. On top of that, we discuss the first WBF pay-per-view, as well as detail the trial of Dr. George Zahorian on drug trafficking charges, including to WWF wrestlers, one of which was none other than Hulk Hogan. All the facts, figures and analysis you'd expect, check it out and let us know what you think!
SCG Radio returns to look at April to June 1991 in the WWF! In the first part of our look at the quarter, we break down the top feuds in the promotion to look at the tale it tells - Hulk Hogan Vs. Sgt. Slaughter goes up against Ultimate Warrior Vs. Undertaker at the houses, and the results were striking. We talk about the major angles of the period, Warrior gets press for being a gay prostitute (allegedly!), and in perhaps the biggest story of the quarter, WCW's Sid Vicious hands in his notice and sets sail for TITAN! All the facts, figures and analysis you love, check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke and Kyle Ross as they continue their journey examining the WWF in 1991! Today, we look at WrestleMania 7, all the highs and lows of the show, notes on the success or failure of the event (spoiler: it was a failure), moves Vince McMahon made between January and March in the bodybuilding world, a notable doctor gets indicted, and we talk all about the undercard scene for the first three months of the year, all with notes from the Wrestling Observer newsletters of the period. Check it out and let us know what you think!
SCG Radio returns with the first episode of a mini-series covering 1991 in the WWF! In this first part, Liam O'Rourke is joined by Kyle Ross to discuss the absolute disaster that was the Sgt. Slaughter push, leading to and through the Royal Rumble, the shocking decision to put the World Title on him, and the feud with Hulk Hogan. Covering January through to March and discussing all the media fallout, the promos, the presentation of the angle as well as backstage notes on feelings behind-the-scenes, the show breaks down Vince McMahon's terrible decision to exploit the Persian Gulf War so shamelessly, and the impact it looked to have leading into WrestleMania 7. Check it out and let us know your thoughts!
Better late than never! SCG Radio returns this week to cover AEW Double or Nothing 2020! Join us for a show recorded the day after the event as we run through the PPV, talk all about the builds, the Stadium Stampede match, Matt Hardy in AEW, a spirited discussion on cinematic wrestling, AEW in its current form, the current state of the commentary team, the successes and failures of the past three months in AEW, and a look ahead at what might be to come. A very fun show this week as we get back on the saddle, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke and Kyle Ross for Part 3 of our look at the WWF in 1990! Breaking down all the big stories after Summerslam, we talk about the fates of Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior for the rest of the year, the introduction of the Undertaker, an analysis of Sgt. Slaughter at this time with and without the Iraqi overtones, Vince McMahon announces the WBF and pulls a big stunt at Mr. Olympia, some key departures and interesting signings, Dusty Rhodes approaching the end of his in-ring career, everything that did and didn't work and the effect it had on the big picture, as well as all the facts and figures of the period as we move into 1991...and the Ultimate Irony is revealed. Listen, enjoy, and let us know what you've thought of this mini-series!
Join Liam O'Rourke and Kyle Ross for Part 2 of their look into 1990 in the WWF, this time covering from WrestleMania 6 to Summerslam 90, tackling all the big issues of the summer that brought Vince McMahon his first major slump since the dawn of Hulkamania. Looking at all the notes, facts and figures from the time, the decision to go with Warrior Vs. Rude and Hogan Vs. Earthquake over the summer and how things played out at the house shows, bad television, some major intros and exits to the company, Vince continues to make news in bodybuilding, a masterclass of performances from Hulk Hogan, changes being made to the Ultimate Warrior, and an attempt to rebook the top of the card to heat things up at a time that, as it turns out, badly needed a shot of adrenaline. A really fun show this week, check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke and his very special guest, from the Top Rope Nation Podcast, Kyle Ross from Cleveland, Ohio, for part one of a three-part series examining the year 1990 in the WWF. In part 1, we look at the WWF's struggles entering the year, the decision to go with Hulk Hogan Vs. Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 6, and go through the timeline of events that turned what was thought to be the biggest money match in three years to a colossal disappointment. Featuring all the facts and figured you'd expect, we break down the problems with the build to the show, issues with pay-per-view providers, Vince McMahon's initial foray into the bodybuilding world, problems with the heel side of the company, Vince's battle with Ed Tunney and the Canadian legal system, the WWF signing Mike Tyson to be a special referee in 1990 and the media fallout, and analyse the decision to move to the Ultimate Warrior as the top guy in the company and what the early indications were, as well as when the momentum started to crumble. A really in-depth look at the first third of 1990, check it out, enjoy, and stay safe!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and G. John Chase for the latest episode of our Monday Night War Timeline series, covering March and April 2000! Breaking down all the big stories of the period and covering every Raw, Nitro and PPV, we discuss topics such as: The curious build to WrestleMania 2000, the hideous Uncensored event, Steve Austin's return at Backlash, Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo's return to power in WCW and subsequent formation of the New Blood angle, Hulk Hogan still being an arsehole, Mike Awesome jumps from ECW, WWF Vs. WCW for the ECW Title, Chris Jericho wins the WWF Title (not really), David Arquette wins the WCW Title (really), and a shocking statistic rears its head to contextualise just how bad things have gotten in Atlanta. Of course, we have all the facts, figures, ratings and buyrates, as well as notes from the Wrestling Observer Newsletters of the time - a blast as usual, check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we're returning to our 5 For 5 concept - reviewing five matches that were rated five stars by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer! This week we analyse and break down all about the things that make the performers, matches and wrestling itself the greatest thing since worcester sauce, as it pertains to the following contests: *Sting's Squadron Vs. The Dangerous Alliance (War Games) - WCW Wrestle War 92 *Manami Toyota Vs. Aja Kong - AJW Douma Super Woman Great War *Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Toshiaki Kawada - Budokan Hall 3.6.94 *Kazuchika Okada Vs. Kenny Omega - G1 Climax 27 *Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk (I Quit) - WCW Clash 9/New York Knockout Enjoy!
We're back! Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we talk all about AEW Full Gear - every match, every angle, overall thoughts on the show, as well as an in-depth look at the promotion in general at this stage in the game, with thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of Dynamite, the greatness of Chris Jericho, hot stars and cold prospects, what's good and bad about all things AEW. A fun jump back into things, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Luke Edwards and Kieran O'Rourke as we break down the first show of All Elite Wrestling - Double or Nothing! After attending the show live in Vegas, all three watched the show back on PPV, and get together to talk about what worked and what didn't, live versus television, thoughts on the promotion, the matches, star power, production elements, and some hard hitting truths about WWE and the current lay of the land. In addition, we talk about AEW's future, reflect on attending Starrcast, and Liam comes face to face with Eric Bischoff. All this and more this week on SCG Radio!
Join Liam O'Rourke, G. John Chase and Kieran O'Rourke as we return to the Monday Night War Timeline to discuss January and February 2000! Covering every Raw, Nitro and PPV of the period, complete with notes from the insider newsletters of the time, we break down all the big angles and stories, including the ousting of WCW head writer Vince Russo, the attempted replacement of Kevin Sullivan and subsequent mutiny, the Radicalz entry to the WWF, the debut of Tazz, the sudden ascension of Too Cool, WCW behavioural issues with Scott Steiner and Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan being a prick, The Rock being incredible, Cactus Jack's last stand, the greatness of Kurt Angle, THAT ten man tag, a megapush for Sid and the Harris Boys, some fascinating ratings statistics, and much much more. A lot of fun this week, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Kieran O'Rourke and....G. John Chase (!) as we talk all about the biggest weekend of the year in pro wrestling, covering NXT TakeOver: New York and WrestleMania 35! Breaking down all the matches, the outcomes, the big issues surrounding the shows and the promotion in general, we discuss Kofi Kingston's rise to prominence, the absolute greatness of NXT, formatting a seven hour show, the first women's Mania main event, Velveteen Dream ruling the world, Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole's brilliance, major defeats for Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey, and title changes galore. We also dip into some brief thoughts on the G1 Supercard, a true tale of two shows wrapped into one. A lot of fun and a great way to cap off Mania week, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we discuss the Best and Worst WrestleMania Builds Ever! Taking your nominations and feedback, we discuss the standout hype jobs on either end of the spectrum, from the dizzying highs of WrestleMania 14, 5 and 3, to the horrifying lows of 9, 11, 31 and 18, and even the creamy middles that stood out to you such as 20, 21, 17 and 8, we look at all the hot angles and promos going in, break down the make up of what makes a great build that stands the test of time, and look at the issues WWE was dealing with in each instance. A really fun show and a great way to celebrate Mania week - check it out!
Introducing a new concept for SCG: 5 For 5! Reviewing five matches that were given the lofty five star rating from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, we talk about all the things that makes the performers, the matches and wrestling in general, the greatest thing since an egg-white omelette. In the debut episode, we look at Jerry Lawler Vs. Terry Funk from 1981 (the match that launched the five star system), Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr Vs. Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen from 1984, Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat from Chi-Town Rumble in 1989, Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Jumbo Tsuruta from 1990, as well as Shawn Michaels Vs. Undertaker from Hell In A Cell, at Badd Blood 1997. A stacked show breaking down and analysing what made these classics classics, with a ton of analysis and lessons learned along the way. Let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we return to the Monday Night War Timeline, covering December 1999! Talking all the big stories of the month and covering every Raw and Nitro, Armageddon and Starrcade, we break down all the big topics of the month, including the heel turn of Stephanie McMahon, Vince Russo bringing the Montreal Screwjob and nWo 2000 to his vision of WCW, the latest with L. Brent Bozell III and the PTC starting a war with the WWF, Vince McMahon blows up at Chris Jericho backstage, WCW begins a showdown with Standards and Practices, as well as all the facts, figures and backstage gossip from the insider newsletters of the time. A blast as always, check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as they discuss NXT Takeover, the 2019 Royal Rumble and discuss the immediate future of WWE on the road to WrestleMania 35! Breaking down the big stories of NXT, such as the dynamic hindering Tommaso Ciampa and Aleister Black, the greatness of Johnny Gargano and the immediate future of the top angle, before diving into the match-by-match of the Royal Rumble with some hideous booking, mind-boggling decisions, a Brock Lesnar tour de force, a tirade on the Women's Royal Rumble, issues with WWE trying to deal with the modern audience, and Seth Rollins' big victory, and finally giving a wide-angle lens look at what things look like for WrestleMania and the problems with the proposed addition of Charlotte to the headline Rousey Vs. Lynch match. A lot of fun discussion this week, check it out!
Happy New Year! Join Liam O'Rourke and Karl Jones as they break down Wrestle Kingdom 13, talking all the matches, the winners and losers, the greatness of Hiroshi Tanahashi, Switchblade as top heel, issues with the show, the outlook on the future and the big stories coming from the landmark event. From there, they discuss the apparent departure of Kenny Omega and the Elite, the impact it has, and the possibilities behind All Elite Wrestling. A look at the rally, the roster and whispers around the television deal are gone into, as the insanity of 2019 begins in grand fashion. A fun show, check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones, Kieran O'Rourke and Matt Holt for the 2018 SCG Radio Christmas Show! In our annual free format spectacular we're taking your mailbag questions, taking The Great UKFF Survey, as well as announcing the winner of our giveaway for a copy of Liam's award-winning biography on "Crazy Like A Fox - The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later". On the show we're talking all about favourite wrestlers, matches and promos, moments we loved and hated wrestling the most, favourite shows we've attended, as well as talking WrestleKingdom on January 4th, modern WWE, cheesiest use of music in WWF history, the new XFL, Marty Jannetty's ankle, the movies we're looking forward to the most next year, All Elite Wrestling, WCW's last chance and much, much more. A fun show, check it out, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we return to our Room 101 series to discuss Pay-Per-View and episodes of wrestling television! Taking your nominations, we debate whether or not a series of events deserve to be banished to oblivion, including One Night Stand 2006, Starrcade 1997, Uncensored 1999, Great American Bash 2004, TNA Lockdown 2007, WWE Crown Jewel and Evolution, Halloween Havoc 1995, In Your House 4, the WCW Simulcast and ECW Invasion episodes of Raw from 2001 and many many more. A very fun show, check it out and let us know what you think!
We're back (at last)! Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we break down November 1999 in our Monday Night War Timeline! Talking every Raw and Nitro, Survivor Series and Mayhem, complete with backstage news and notes from the Observer and Torch Newsletters of the time, we tackle every big story of the month, including Steve Austin's career-threatening neck injury, a shameless Survivor Series bait-and-switch, Test & Stephanie's wedding, the debut of Oklahoma and Seven on one side compared to Kurt Angle on the other, mind-numbing television on Nitro with amateur hour every hour, Bret Hart becomes WCW Champion, HHH finally starting to feel like a main eventer and Kevin Nash exposed as being utterly awful in every way. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as they discuss the biggest independent wrestling show of all time - All In! A week removed from the hoopla and hyperbole of the moment, the crew takes to the Oaken Table to not only review the show, the performers and the totality of the night, but a wider look at what the show really means for professional wrestling, and the perspectives that need to be used going forward. A really fun show talking about an extremely unique event, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as they break down NXT TakeOver Brooklyn, WWE Summerslam 2018 and Beyond! Breaking down every match, every angle and the current vibe of the product, the crew looks at what feels like it's working and what doesn't, the best performances, stars and pitfalls, modern day booking, as well as diving into sidebar topics such as the Dave Meltzer/Peyton Royce controversy, Hulk Hogan's views on brotherhood, ITV's World of Sport and much more. A fun show, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones, Luke Edwards and Kieran O'Rourke, as they attempt their loftiest Rebooking show yet, this time WCW in July 1998! Tackling all the major issues of the time, the panel looks to hash out a plan to tackle the rising momentum of the WWF, one week following Goldberg's title win at the Georgia Dome. What happens to the nWo, and how do we deal with Hulk Hogan? Who on the enormous roster do we cut? Who do we push? What happens to the titles? What major matches do we build for Starrcade 1998? In addition, we have suggestions from you, the loyal listeners, on what you'd have done to keep the ship on track. An entertaining and thought-provoking show as always, check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke for the latest in our Monday Night War Timeline series, this time covering October 1999! Talking every Raw, Nitro and PPV of the month with backstage notes from the Observer and Torch Newsletters of the time, we break down every major story, including the shocking defection of WWF lead writer Vince Russo to WCW, all the fallout and implications of Russo's first WCW television shows, IC Champion Jeff Jarrett makes the jump as well after a huge conflict with Jim Ross when his contract expires the day before No Mercy, "real life" politics used on air in storylines with Hulk Hogan laying down for Sting at Halloween Havoc, Ric Flair gets benched, Bret Hart and Chris Benoit do battle in the famed Owen Hart Tribute match, the Hardyz and Edge and Christian tear the house down in a landmark ladder match, the WWF continues to struggle with depth on the heel side, and both sides air some hideous angles. This, and all the facts, figures, ratings and gossip you know and love - check it out and let us know what you think!
SCG Radio returns this week to the Monday Night War Timeline, covering September 1999! Running down every Raw, Nitro and PPV of the month with backstage news notes from the Observer and Torch newsletters of the time, we tackle every major story, including the firing of Eric Bischoff as Executive Vice President, Vince McMahon returning from a six week retirement to become WWF World Champion, the shocking signing of Taz to the WWF, the heel turn of Sting, Shawn Michaels being sent home for pissing off the wrong guy, Triple H being booked shockingly poorly, illogical booking, nonsensical television and crazy backstage politics. As always, we have all the facts, figures and ratings to provide the ultimate insight on a fascinating period - check it out!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we return to the Monday Night War Timeline to talk August 1999! Covering every Raw, Nitro and PPV of the month, complete with notes from the Observer and Torch Newsletters of the time, we discuss every big story there is, including controversy around Steve Austin and the Summerslam main event, the awkward crowning of a new WWF Champion, WCW's dipping into the 2's for Nitro ratings, Bischoff pissing money away on KISS, Hulk Hogan returning to the red and yellow, the final (yet still awful) Road Wild PPV, Raven walking out on WCW, the WWF debut and fast demotion of Chris Jericho, Sid "Millenium Man" Vicious dominating Nitro, and all of the insane backstage politics, facts and figures you've come to know and love from the Timeline. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we debate the Worst Turns in Wrestling History! Taking nominations from you, the loyal listeners (!), we discuss everything from the obvious and glaring candidates, such as Steve Austin at WrestleMania X7, Rikishi doing it for The Rock, Goldberg at GAB 2000 and the disasterous Hogan/Flair double-turn of 1999, to the personal and obscure choice that have plauged your wrestling fandom, including Tatanka joining the Million Dollar Corporation, Dusty Rhodes joining the nWo, Eugene's two week stint as the hateable special needs grappler, Heel Godfather from 2002, Ahmed Johnson joining the Nation before being booted out weeks later, Brother Bruti becoming The Butcher, "Nature Boy" AJ Styles, Michael Cole and so many more. A fun show as always, let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we discuss WrestleMania 34 Weekend and Beyond! Covering all the big topics of discussion from the biggest weekend of the year in pro wrestling, we discuss all things NXT TakeOver New Orleans and Mania itself, looking at Ronda Rousey's blowaway debut match, mind-boggling decision, a crowd that needs to look in the mirror, the fate of Daniel Bryan, the ongoing trials and tribulations of Roman Reigns, and some spectacular rants at The Undertaker, Paige and yes, the crowd the night after WrestleMania on Raw. Breaking down the show to its pro and cons, big picture and nuances, check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones, G. John Chase and Kieran O'Rourke for the first in a four part series, dubbed "2002 By The Quarter". Looking at an extremely turbulent year in the WWF/WWE, we first break down January to March, hitting all the big talking points and breaking them down, discussing the return of Triple H as the top babyface, the debut of the New World Order, the struggling Undisputed Title run of Chris Jericho, WrestleMania X8 and the bizarre dynamic the company found themselves in, the growing discontent of Steve Austin and the launch of the Brand Extension, featuring the first ever WWF Draft show. All this and more within the space of three months, and of course we have comments from you, the loyal listeners! Check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we return to the Monday Night War Timeline to talk all about July 1999! Covering every Raw, Nitro and PPV, we discuss all the big stories on the month, including the build-up to The End of an Era at Fully Loaded, the developing elevation of Triple H, the continued failure of Billy Gunn, Steve Austin shooting down plans to work with Jeff Jarrett, assholes crapping on Bret Hart, WCW's utter desperation with the return of Hulk Hogan to take the World Title, a dreadful Bash at the Beach show, Megadeth performing live on Nitro, Goldberg returning unadvertised, Dennis Rodman in a terrible feud with Randy Savage and an awful lot of Sid Vicious. With all the facts, figures and backstage scoops from the Observer and Torch Newsletters of the time, we relive a very foreboding month in the war. A huge, jam-packed show, check it out and let us know what you think!
That's right, we're back! Join the panel as we return to our RuView format to breakdown and analyse another piece of Vince Russo written and produced pro wrestling - this time tackling the April 17th 2000 episode of WCW Nitro, a show jam-packed with everything you love about Vinnie Ru. From inside jokes, smarky bullshit, WWF references, turns, nonsense, vehicle driving into things, angles that make no sense and false drama, get a whiff of Russo's cheesy broth one day after Spring Stampede 2000, seven days into the run of Russo and Bischoff. Featuring Hogan Vs. The Law, 99 Red Balloons, God helping Terry Funk win a match, Vampiro being bloody awful, and NO DISQUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE NOBODY TUNES IN TO SEE THAT SHIT (followed by three DQs in a row). It's wacky, it's fun, it's crazy, it's outrageous, it's Vince Russo's Fun House!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we break down NXT TakeOver Philly and the 2018 Royal Rumble! Talking all the matches, angles and outcomes, the panel discuss the greatness of Johnny Wrestling, the brilliant production of Shayna Baszler, the future for Adam Cole, Aleister Black and Velveteen Dream (D-R-E-A-M), as well as all the big talking points of the Rumble PPV, looking at the debut of Ronda Rousey, some strong takes on the Women's Royal Rumble, the rise of Shinsuke Nakamura, Brock Lesnar punching Braun Strowman in the face and much, much more. We also give a live reaction to the Smackdown graphics used this past week, discuss potential WrestleMania directions and of course, take your feedback on WWE's second biggest show of the year. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones, Kieran O'Rourke and G. John Chase as they look to rank the Top 25 Matches and Moments in the history of Monday Night Raw to commemorate the 25 year milestone of the show. Narrowing 25 years of matches, promos, angles and show-long stories into around 150 options, the panel sent their own rankings, which were then scored up, producing the totals that form the definitive SCG rankings. Listen in as we debate some of the best segments WWE ever produced, questioning their placement, justifying their positions and, in some cases, holding them to scrutiny. We won't ruin the list here - check out the show and let us know what you think!
AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back today with special guest Liam O'Rourke to talk his new book on the life and times of Brian Pillman! Tons to discuss including Brian's life growing up, his time in WCW during a very volatile period, the amazing story of getting his release from WCW to negotiate with WWE, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones, Kieran O'Rourke and G. John Chase as they talk all about New Japan Pro Wrestling's biggest show of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 12! Talking through all the matches, the panel discusses (among other things) the greatness of Minoru Suzuki, the brilliance of Kazuchika Okada, the not-so-cutting-edge debut match for the Switchblade character, the difficult balancing act New Japan has with Tetsuya Naito, the fantastic Jericho/Omega production, and speak of New Japan's phenomenal standing in the wrestling world as it looks ahead to a very interesting 2018. So much to discuss, check it out and let us know what you think!
Our fourth annual Christmas show, join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones, Luke Edwards and Kieran O'Rourke as we delve into the mailbag to take questions and comments from you, the loyal listeners! With you steering the ship, we discuss all manner of wrestling topics, such as the women's Royal Rumble, Vince bringing back the XFL, The Okada Vs. Omega series, dream matches that fell short or hit expectations, an inspired-debate about the current indy wrestling boom, 2017's surprises and fuck-ups, talking Chris Jericho, Jinder Mahal, Shinsuke Nakamura, Joey Ryan, potential Mania matches and future top WWE stars and everything in between. Get out the mince pies and mulled wine, kick back, and have a Merry Christmas with us!
Join us for a very special episode of SCG Radio, as Matt Holt takes to the hosting chair to talk to Liam O'Rourke about his newly released and highly touted book on Brian Pillman: 'Crazy Like A Fox - The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later'. Holt quizzes Liam on all things to do with the conception, construction and execution of the book, the major lessons learned along the way, key insights into why the book turned out the way it did, and delving into the mindset and mentality of Pillman, one of professional wrestling's most captivating stories. A fireside chat talking about the book Dave Meltzer has dubbed "the best biography of a wrestler ever done", check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, G. John Chase and Karl Jones as we return to the Oaken Table to discuss all things NXT WarGames and the 2017 Survivor Series. Spitballing about both shows as well as taking your feedback, we discuss everything from the flawed presentation of the main event to the greatness of Styles Vs. Lesnar, issues with Raw Vs. Smackdown, the birth of a star in the Velveteen Dream, the strengths and weaknesses of the revived War Games concept, as we as cover the current lay of the land as WWE looks to embark on their biggest period of the year. A lot of fun, check out the show and let us know what you think!
We are back! Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones, Kieran O'Rourke and G. John Chase as we return to the Monday Night War Timeline to talk June 1999! Covering every Raw, Nitro and PPV from the period, we discuss every major story with notes from the Wrestling Observer and PWTorch Newsletters of the period. Talking fallout from the death of Owen Hart, Sable leaving the WWF and suing them for over a million dollars, WCW's hiring Master P and Dennis Rodman, the push of Buff Bagwell, the reveal of the Greater Power, the dismal efforts of the Undertaker, Mr. Ass winning the King of the Ring, Steve Austin becomes the new WWF CEO, the horrible signings by WCW of Sid Vicious and Swoll, the infamous WHITE HUMMER, and Chris Jericho finally signs with the WWF. Talking all the facts, figures, ratings and buyrates of the month as well as walking through the shows, join us for a fun trip down memory lane. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as we return to the Oaken Table for the latest installment of the Monday Night War Timeline! Tackling every episode of Raw and Nitro this month, we look at all the backstage stories in the WWF and WCW with notes from the Wrestling Observer and Pro Wrestling Torch newsletters of the time. Of course, the biggest news story of all is the tragic passing of Owen Hart at the Over The Edge pay-per-view, and we talk about the show, the incident, Raw is Owen, the immediate fallout, the media coverage, the WWF's decision to continue the show, and McMahon's actions at the funeral. In addition, we're discussing everything from the God-awful direction of WCW, banking on Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and Roddy Piper at a time the company stigma is in the toilet, the confusing writing leading to the reveal of the Higher Power in the WWF, the formation of The Union, Corporate Ministry all over WWF TV, the WWF's determination to find new top heels leads to big pushed for Triple H, Billy Gunn, and having a surprising meeting with a big star in ECW, Bischoff returning to television and losing his mind with insider comments galore, admitting on Nitro that WCW is in second place, and the latest attempt to work the boys and the newsletters. So much to discuss, and of course we have all the facts and figures of the month that tell the real story. A very interesting month to revisit, check it out and let us know what you think!
It's here. Seriously. Join the SCG panel for the funeral, wake, celebration, whatever you will, of the Death of "TNA". Talking the dizzying highs, the terrifying lows and the creamy middles, we broach every major topic and plenty of minor ones in the history of the company under Dixie Carter's watch. In addition, we take your "eulogies", ranging from delightful poems to thoughtful analysis, to one-liners to appear on the tombstone, a barrage of tremendous takes from the loyal listeners. So pour yourself some shots, find yourself a rose and listen in, as we commemorate fifteen years of Total Nonstop Action. Enjoy!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke as they return to the Monday Night War Timeline to tackle April 1999! Covering every Raw, Nitro and PPV of the month, the panel looks at all the big stories with notes from the Wrestling Observer and Pro Wrestling Torch newsletters of the time. Covering topics such as: Davey Boy Smith being fired by WCW while being in intensive care, the untimely passing of Rick Rude, WCW's last great pay-per-view Spring Stampede, WWF's counter in Backlash, a new look Nitro, DDP wins his first (and second) WCW Title, The Rock turns babyface, Ric Flair is sent to the mental home, Hulk Hogan takes another hiatus, and the Ministry of Darkness being all over television. With all the facts, figures and breakdowns that tell the real stories of the month, this another interesting episode of our successful series. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!
Join Liam O'Rourke, Karl Jones and Kieran O'Rourke, as we discuss the most shocking title changes of all time! Taking your nominations, we look at some of the most jarring moments in wrestling history, and analyse the execution and follow-up of title changes such as Bret Hart beating Ric Flair, Chris Jericho becoming Undisputed Champion, Big Show beating Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2002, Shawn Michaels winning the World Title on the same show, Sheamus dethroning John Cena at TLC, the title victories of David Arquette, Vince McMahon and Vince Russo, Jinder Mahal and JBL's rapid ascensions to the top, the Honky Tonk Man defeating Ricky Steamboat, the incident on The Main Event with Hogan and Andre, Edge cashing in Money in the Bank, the Summers Of Punk, and many many more. A really fun show this week, check it out and let us know what you think!