Between The Sheets
Every Monday, Kris Zellner and David Bixenspan go over how a given week in professional wrestling history was covered by the wrestling media, primarily in the "dirt sheet" newsletters. The deepest dive into wrestling history that you can find.
Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #28: August 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles for another episode of Center Stage Chronicles. This time, we discuss the month that was August 1991 in the World Championship Wrestling and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:
WCW making roster cuts as the Great American Bash tour comes to a close.Differing thoughts from WCW personnel regarding a possible steroid testing policy.WCW hooking up with Marvel Comics for a comic book.Deidre Hall returns as Dr. Marlena Evans on "Days of our Lives."Johnny B. Badd and Steve Austin start a beef...Ep. #556: August 24-30, 1993 with Scott Passner
Kris and David are joined by Scott Passner to discuss the week that was August 24-30, 1993, which Scott picked for us to do as a perk for dropping $50 on our Patreon, allowing him to not only request a week, but also sit in for a segment, which Scott does for the WWF section. Topics of discussion include:
SummerSlam ’93 and how the show was considered a disappointment overall despite a huge crowd.The greatness of Jerry Lawler in the Hart Family feud, featuring a feisty Bruce Hart guest appearance.The Heavenly Bodies giving the Steiners a WCW-style Steiners match in...Ep. #555: August 16-23, 1994
Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was August 16-23, 1994. Topics of discussion include:
Hulk Hogan giving a very candid interview to the Gainesville Sun newspaper talking about Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Vince McMahon, joining WCW, and more.The greatness of the Rhodes family vs. Stud Stable feud in Summer 1994.Jesse Ventura having issues as Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.Antonio Inoki & George Foreman negotiating for a super fight in North Korea in 1995.Super Vader winning the UWFi World Title from Nobuhiko Takada in one of the most famous bouts of the era.Konnan...Ep. #554: August 10-16, 2005
Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was August 10-16, 2005. Topics of discussion include:
WWE being in a total lame duck state with Spike TV as their contract is running out soon.SmackDown featuring the Eddy Guerrero/Rey Mysterio/Dominik Mysterio soap opera, guest starring MISS CRABTREE.Raw in Montreal, as Shawn Michaels is having the time of his life being the old HBK in front of a raucous crowd mocking Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan.Ashley Massaro winning the Diva Search over Leyla Milani.Ken Anderson becoming Mr. Kennedy.Masahiro Chono winning the...Ep. #553: August 4-10, 1987
Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was August 4-10, 1987. Topics of discussion include:
Gordon Solie's 26½ year tenure as the lead announcer for Championship Wrestling from Florida comes to an end after a pay dispute with Jim Crockett.Ric Flair and Ronnie Garvin have one of the most epic exchanges possible on TV in front of a molten hot Spartanburg crowd.Terry Taylor's highly entertaining for the wrong reasons “press conference" from UWF TV.The greatness of Brian Pillman as a rookie.Owen Hart does his first pinfall job in 1987 on TV to Gama Singh, los...Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #27: July 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of July 1991 in World Championship Wrestling and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:
The entire show is bookended by Ric Flair being fired at the beginning of the month and then WCW basically offering him the booking position at the end of the month.Ric Flair refusing to drop the title not just to Lex Luger but Barry Windham as well, as they were trying to get Flair to do business before he left.Flair's departure totally screwing up...Ep. #552: July 29-August 4, 1999 with Beau James
Kris and David are back this week with Beau James (@kingofkingsport) joining us to discuss the week that was July 29-August 4, 1999. Topics of discussion include:
"Curtis Comes Home" as Shane Douglas and Cody Michaels promote a benefit show for Brian Hildebrand in Rostraver, PA featuring long-time friends of Brian's — including Beau — working the show. Beau gives us a full rundown of the show, his relationship with Brian, and his eyewitness view of Bruno Sammartino's confrontation with Mark Madden.Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff's vision for WCW is not working in the slightest as their ideas regarding the main even...Ep. #551: July 20-26, 1990
Kris and David are back this week to discuss the week that was July 20-26, 1990. Topics of discussion include:
Jesse Ventura's departure from the WWF over making a deal with Sega to lend his name and likeness to a wrestling video game that would be in direct competition to the WWF games.Sgt. Slaughter debuts on a heel on WWF TV as we discuss how different his whole run goes if Iraq doesn't invade Kuwait…plus his final AWA TV appearances are still airing.The Legion of Doom also makes their WWF TV debut with a little bit of...Ep. #550: March 15-21, 1993
Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was March 15-21, 1993, the last of our “backlog” shows. Topics of discussion include:
WCW’s tour of the UK and Ireland, where they changed the WCW World Heavyweight Title twice in a week with Big Van Vader flipping the belt back and forth, plus why this really didn't get talked about much on TV.Ric Flair goes “Up Close” with Eric Bischoff on TV, talking about his return to WCW and Barry Windham being NWA World Heavyweighht Champion.The Cole Twins get a fan club.The Big Bossman returns to...Ep. #549: March 7-12, 2003
Kris and David return to discuss the (almost-)week that was March 7-12, 2003. Topics of discussion include:
Kurt Angle delaying his neck surgery and dropping the WWE Heavyweight Title to Brock Lesnar at a SmackDown taping in Pittsburgh weeks before WrestleMania so they can have their title match at Mania proper.We also go into the rash of neck injuries that ravaged WWE in the early 2000s.The Triple H-Booker T feud with its constant racial overtones.Just why did The Rock wrestle Hurricane on Raw instead of Booker T?Triple H vs. Maven totally tanking the ratings...Ep. #548: April 28-May 5, 1986
Kris and David are back this week to discuss the week-plus that was April 28-May 5, 1986, a show requested by Joe Finnerty on our Patreon with a $25 pledge. Topics of discussion include:
The final gasp of the glory days of World Class, as we talk about the 3rd Annual David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions at Texas Stadium, featuring the end of the Freebirds basically as they depart for the UWF, plus the return of Chris Adams from his "blindness" angle and much more.Hell freezing over as Harley Race makes his WWF debut in Toronto just days...Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #26: June 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we go back in time to the discuss the month of June 1991 in the world of World Championship Wrestling and pop culture at large in another installment of CENTER STAGE CHRONICLES!!! Topics of discussion include:
WCW getting their own newsstand magazine with London Publishing in charge of the project.A new United States Heavyweight Title Belt being made to replace the one Nikita Koloff busted up as part of his feud with Lex Luger.The background on Johnny B. Badd.Jim Ross going after WWF...Ep. #547: April 1-7, 2013
Kris and David are back as we continue to catch up on our backlog of shows, with this episode covering the week that was April 1-7, 2013, show requested by Tim Ostrander with a $25 pledge on our Patreon. Topics of discussion include:
The first true "modern" WrestleMania weekend, complete with the first Wrestlecon, all sorts of indie shows at Wrestlecon, and PWS being the first promotion to claim the Thursday night slot.ROH running Supercard of Honor at the Hammerstein Ballroom, featuring Jay Briscoe winning the ROH Title for the first time from Kevin Steen. Wrestlecon’s indie lineup fea...Ep. #546: March 24-29, 1998
Kris and David ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! with the main show, and we are making up for lost time with our Patreon picks, so this week we are discussing the (almost)-week that was March 24-29, 1998, a show that was requested by BTS Patron Michael Otts with his $25 pledge. Topics of discussion include:
Wrestlemania XIV in Boston, featuring Mike Tyson as a ringside enforcer for the Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels main event. We talk about the match and how injuries affected it, plus Tyson's involvement and whether or not Tyson shot his own angle after the show to explain...FREE WITH SPECIAL UPDATE INTRO — Patreon Ep. #117: Destination Cancellation (Part 1)
It's Monday. You know what that means. Sort of. As a very special taster, we're offering up the first part of our new Patreon series, Destination Cancellation, for free this week so non-patrons can sample it and have it serve as a bridge to next week's return of the regular free show. (This first episode of Destination Cancellation dropped for Patrons this past Friday.) After an intro previewing the Patreon show and next week's regular show, you get the entire first part of what will be a seven week series covering the disaster that was TNA Wrestling from the...
Ep. #545: February 28-March 6, 1989
New new free shows will be back very soon, but remember that we've been back doing weekly content on our Patreon page for a while during the free show hiatus, covering the Jerry Lawler/Stacy Carter 2001 WWE departure and eventual divorce, the WWE Network launch, and the "Clique Curtain Call." We're also starting an in-depth series on TNA getting cancelled by Spike TV and Destination America this week, which promises to be epic. In the meantime, though, here's the unreleased episode from three months ago. Will episode #544 ever be fully re-edited and re-released? We don't know. But enjoy episode #545...
Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #25: May 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of May 1991 in the world of World Championship Wrestling and pop culture at large. Topics of discussion include:
The WWF trying to get dates at The Omni at a time when WCW was having some major issues drawing crowds at house shows.The wrestlers having a meeting about being overworked, hoping that their schedule will ease up soon.Rickey Henderson breaking the MLB stolen base record while Nolan Ryan throws his 7th no-hitter on the same day.TV season finales featuring “Ni...Press Row with Jordan Breen featuring David Bixenspan: The Complete Collection
We lost our dear friend Jordan Breen a year ago today. As a special tribute, courtesy of TJ De Santis at The Rounds Podcast, here's a special compilation of all five episodes of the Sherdog Radio Network's Press Row that our own David Bixenspan appeared on with Jordan. For more of Jordan's audio output, check out not just the archive at The Rounds, which has the remaining archives of the SRN shows (including David's appearances with Jordan and Jack Encarnacao on The Roundtable and Beatdown After the Bell), the shows we did with Jordan that are available right here...
Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #24: April 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month that was April 1991 in the world of World Championship Wrestling and pop culture at large. Topics of discussion include:
Sid Vicious and his decision to leave WCW for the WWF, including how it went back and forth throughout the month.The looming influx of wacky new gimmicks being talked about in the newsletters as WCW is about to undergo a massive change.Duke wins their first ever National Championship in college basketball, led by top heel Christian Laettner.The birth of Comedy...BTS Extra April 21, 2026: KRULE, WrestleMania week, & more
Well, this is a week we had to do something like this. We start by talking about the fake stabbing of THE ATROCITY KRULE and how it culminated in him being booted from all reputable indies during WrestleMania week after he cost everyone the Berwyn Eagles Club as a venue. Then we move on to WrestleMania week and this may have been a huge mistake! David keeps having to mute to cough as the show gets way too long! Kris loves him some Double Double E! Adam Weitsman: Scrap Metal King of Owego, New York is discussed in detail...
Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #23: March 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of March 1991 in World Championship Wrestling and pop culture at large. Topics of discussion include:
Barry Windham kinda sorta teasing leaving the Four Horsemen.The greatness of Buddy Landel shining through right as he gets fired by the promotion for being Budro.The NEVER-ENDING Z-Man vs. Terrence Taylor goes on for yet another month.Bobby Eaton finally turning babyface.The debut of the Mr. Hughes gimmick.Marc Mero makes his debut, getting killed by Sid Vicious.Rodney King gets assaulted by...Status Update April 8, 2026
Here's the text update we posted on Patreon eartlier; we get more detailed on the audio. (Where we also congratulate Steve Corino on his recent nuptials.) Plus we get into more details on how soon the banked Patreon show will come out, as well as Center Stage Chronicles among other things. But just listen to the audio to get the full update.
First off: Apologies for forgetting to post this here previously. But based on the numbers, it looks like you guys mostly saw the social media updates, and we greatly appreciate the continued support, especially under...
Ep. #544: February 17-23, 1990
Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was February 17-23, 1990.Topics of discussion include:
The WWF's third live prime time The Main Event" special airs on NBC on 2/23, with Buster Douglas replacing Mike Tyson as the special referee in the Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage main event and the story of why Tyson pulled out.We also talk about the Ultimate Warrior/Dino Bravo match on the show and how that further built up to Hogan/Warrior at Wrestlemania.Randy Savage makes an epic appearance on the Arsenio Hall show to plug The Main Event. Learn...Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #22: February 1991
Center Stage Chronicles is back and Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month that was February 1991 in World Championship Wrestling and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:
Jim Herd going on the record with Steve Beverly in MATWATCH on a number of topics ranging from Dusty Rhodes as announcer, Terry Gordy possibly coming back, doing a live Saturday Night TV show, the amount of titles in WCW, and more. Diamond Dallas Page makes his WCW debut and hoodwinks Teddy Long into giving a match to his "new y...Ep. #543: February 13-19, 1999
Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was February 13-19, 1999, a show that was requested by Tim Ostrander by dropping $25 on our Patreon page: Topics of discussion include:
Ric Flair being left in the farmlands of Florida being the main story of what was was, up to that point in time, the worst episode of WCW Monday Nitro in it's history. Also on Nitro, we get Bret Hart vs. then “Mad TV” star Will Sasso in a shockingly cromulent match, Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper in a HORRIBLE match, Torrie Wilson as “Samantha" seducing an off...Ep. #542: February 2-7, 1996
Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was February 2-7, 1996. Topics of discussion include:
Vince McMahon getting particularly vindictive towards Ted Turner as he airs the latest Billionaire Ted skit “despite threat of legal action from Turner Broadcasting” and takes out an ad in the New York Times business section warning stockholders of Ted’s "predatory practices.”All of this overshadows a very good Raw show featuring the first televised Bret Hart vs. Undertaker match.WWF taking a tour of India with Bret Hart getting a total rock star reaction from local school children.Davey Bo...Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #21: January 1991
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of January 1991 in not only World Championship Wrestling, but also the world of pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:
The greatness of Buddy Landel.Bobby Eaton coming into his own as a singles wrestler.Paul E. Dangerously and Missy Hyatt kickstart their feud that would last many months.\Konnan, Steve DiSalvo as THE MINOTAUR, and Larry Cameron appear on TV in “blink and you’ll miss it” runs.Dusty Rhodes officially taking over as the head booker and making his bi...Ep. #541: January 29-February 4, 2002
Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was January 29-February 4, 2002. Topics of discussion include:
The XWF trying to get a TV deal with various outlets.Brian Knobbs and Greg Valentine cozying up to the big money backers of the XWF to try to milk them.Andrew McManus' WWA PPV in Las Vegas has its onsale delayed due to promoter’s license issues.More on the aftermath of Keiji Muto and friends leaving New Japan for All Japan and how NJPW is trying to navigate the situation.The IWGP Heavyweight Title tournament begins in Sapporo.News on...Ep. #540: January 16-22, 1997 with Dominic Garrini
Kris and David are joined by Dominic Garrini (@dgarrinibc) to discuss the week that was January 16-22, 1997. Topics of discussion include:
Royal Rumble ’97 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, featuring a flu-ridden Shawn Michaels winning the WWF Title from Sycho Sid, a weirdly booked Royal Rumble won by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, lots of AAA wrestlers on the show despite the fans having no idea who they were, and lots more.Raw the next night featuring a very angry Bret Hart as he "quits" before coming back later to attack Austin, as the tone of the company is...Ep. #539: January 6-12, 2010
Kris and David are back as we discuss the week that was January 6-12, 2010. Topics of discussion include:
The immediate aftermath of TNA going head-to-head with WWE on January 4th and the politics behind the scenes regarding pushing Spike TV to give TNA a live weekly Monday night time slot.Jeff Jarrett's role in TNA being up in the air again.TNA airing a replay of the January 4th show in it's normal slot, which featured a bunch of both expected and unexpected edits changing the presentation from the live broadcast.Brian Kendrick explaining why he was fired f...Ep. #538: January 2-7, 1988
Kris and David ARE BACK!!!!! after our battles with the epic Winter 2025-2026 Flu and discussing the (almost-)week that was January 2-7, 1988. Topics of discussion include:
Andre the Giant attacking Hulk Hogan after his match with King Kong Bundy on an otherwise not very newsworthy episode of Saturday Night's Main Event to heat up their match in prime time on The Main Event a month later.King Kong Bundy and his job as the celebrity spokesman for Vendex Head Start Computers, which allowed him to more or less retire from wrestling Curt Hennig defending his AWA World T...Patreon Flashback — John Collins' MECW Supercut with Beau James
Later than we intended thanks to the flu, here’s what was supposed to be stopgap content over the holidays. Make sure to check out the latest Patreon shows, and be on the lookout for the return of the weekly show this Monday. Now, for the original show descriptions:
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Part 1:
It’s Thanksgiving, and you know what that means: A new Patreon deep dive, this time looking at the first ridiculous startup promotion of the post-WCW era, John Collins’ Main Event Championship Wrestling. And since he was right in the thick of things, we’re jo...
Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #20: December 1990
Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles as we discuss the month of December 1990 in the world of the newly-renamed World Championship Wrestling and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:
Ole Anderson's last TV as booker of the NWA/WCW scoring surprisingly very good Nielsen ratings.Ty Detmer winning the Heisman Trophy.The TV shows all dropping the NWA name and becoming WCW-branded shows.Konnan, The Minotaur, and Larry Cameron make their debuts working TV tapings.The power of The Simpsons as Christmas rolls around.Ric Flair being attacked by Teddy...Ep. #537: December 17-24, 2000
Kris and David are back to discuss the week-plus that was December 17-24, 2000. Topics of discussion include:
Raw and Smackdown featuring a TON of Vince McMahon soap opera with neither show having much wrestling of note, all while ratings are declining.The Rock and The Undertaker becoming WWF Tag Team hampions for a one day title change that nobody remembers.Road Dogg being extremely thin ice due to his personal issues.New Japan and all of their political issues with both Shinya Hashimoto and Motoko Baba.NOAH having its best match to date in the form of Jun A...Ep. #536: December 10-17, 1993 with Beau James & Robert O'Connor
Kris and David are joined by Beau James (@KingofKingsport) and Robert O'Connor (@ghostofquinones) to discuss the week-plus that was December 10-17, 1993, our annual holiday spectacular dropping just in time for Chanukkah!!!! Topics of discussion include:
Ted Turner giving a state of WCW speech to the company staff for the first time ever.WCW officially firing Sid Vicious and Davey Boy Smith and how that affected creative plans.Terry Funk and potential assistant Eddie Gilbert being rumored to be coming in to replace Dusty Rhodes as WCW’s head booker(s).Paul Roma turning heel on Erik Watts to jo...Ep. #535: December 4-8, 1998
Kris and David are back to discuss the (almost-)week that was December 4-8, 1998. Topics of discussion include:
The WWF running their second UK-only PPV. Capital Carnage, featuring crazy promos from the McMahons, special ringside enforcer Vinnie Jones being A Hard Man, and evem some nudity.Jim Ross finding out about his mother’s death while in England, stressing him to such a degree that he suffered his second attack of Bell's Palsy during the PPV.Steve Austin getting "crucified" (symbolified?) by The Undertaker on a wild episode of Raw.AJPW and NJPW finishing off their annual tag le...Ep. #534: November 27-December 1, 1986
Kris and David are back as we discuss the partial week that was November 27-December 1, 1986 which means THANKSGIVING WEEK!! Topics of discussion include:
Starrcade ’86 with a full rundown of everything that went down in both Atlanta and Greensboro, featuring Ric Flair vs. Nikita Koloff, the Midnight Express vs. Road Warriors scaffold match, Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard in a first blood match, Paul Jones becoming a BALD-HEADED GEEK, and so much more.“Bullet” Bob Armstrong making his return to WTBS after 2 years away to help his son Brad against Bill Dundee and Jimmy Garvin.Bruiser Brody issuing a grands...Center Stage Chronicles Ep. #19: November 1990
Center Stage Chronicles is back as Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month of November 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:
How pending Turner Broadcasting cutbacks will affect the wrestling division.Graffiti Bridge being the true sequel to Purple RainRic Flair putting up his yacht and Rolls Royce against Doom's tag titles.The end of the NWA name being used on TV.Just who the hell is the real Magnum Force, anyway?Madonna releases Justify My Love and the controversy is...Ep. #533: November 19-25, 2004
Kris and David are back to discuss the week that was November 19-25, 2004. Topics of discussion include:
Two years into their ownership of TNA, Panda Energy is facing major losses and may have to sell the company.Jerry Jarrett reportedly winning a power battle over his son Jeff and replacing him as the head booker with Dusty Rhodes in a move that also means that Vince Russo's power diminishes in the promotion as well.Johnny B. Badd and Randy Savage both showing up on TNA Impact in a wild time in the promotion's history.Some wacky Vince Russo...Ep. #532: November 9-17, 1991
Kris and David are back to discuss the week-plus that was November 9-17, 1991. Topics of discussion include:
WWF tests for steroids for the first time at a TV taping right before a big pieces about the steroid scandal were set to air on Entertainment Tonight and two Inside Edition.The end of Ric Flair using the “Big Gold Belt” on WWF TV.Hulk Hogan getting attacked by The Undertaker in the Funeral Parlor as the top feud is shifted from Hogan-Flair to Hogan-Undertaker.The stacked list of teams in AJPW’s Real World Tag League.Ultimo Dragon and Americ...