New to Wrestling Podcast

New to Wrestling Podcast

Lifelong wrestling fan takes his best friend through, the joys, the action, and all the drama that is professional wrestling! Starting with The Attitude Era and Beyond! 

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    King of the Ring 1998 Review | Undertaker vs Mankind Hell in a Cell & Kane Wins the Title

    Viewer discretion is advised… seriously. This week, we finally made it to King of the Ring 1998 — and somehow, it still exceeded the hype.  From top to bottom, this might be the most chaotic, intense, and unforgettable pay-per-view we’ve watched yet. We get:  A surprisingly strong King of the Ring tournament (with a HUGE final payoff)  The Rock and Ken Shamrock leveling up in real time  Peak Attitude Era chaos across the entire card  And a main event that completely changes everything But let’s be real… This episode is defined by one match. Undertaker vs Mankind — Hell in a Cell. We’re talking:  Mankind getting thrown off the top of the cell  Then somehow getting back up  Then going THROUGH the cage  Thumbtacks. Blood. Absolute insanity  And a moment that genuinely had us questioning what we were watching This isn’t just a match.  It’s a moment that changed wrestling forever. And somehow… they still had to follow it. Because in the main event:  Stone Cold fights Kane in a brutal First Blood Match  Chaos erupts (again)  And Kane walks out as WWF Champion for the first time We’re still processing all of it. This is Attitude Era wrestling at its most unhinged — and we break it all down in real time, reactions and all. 🍼 Community Reminder: We’re also in the final days of our diaper, formula, and baby essentials drive 💜 We’re collecting:  Diapers  Formula  Gently used baby clothes  Feminine hygiene products All donations go to Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, NJ. 📍 Drop-off: DollyMoo, Montclair, NJ If you’re local, anything helps — thank you so much to everyone who’s already contributed. 🌐 More from New to Wrestling 👉 newtowrestling.com The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 13min
  2. 1 MAY

    From Ringside to Real Talk: Crit on Bray Wyatt Legacy, WWE Frustrations & Why the Indies Aren’t Dead

    What happens when you put one of the most outspoken voices in indie wrestling in the same room as New to Wrestling? You get honest takes, deep dives, and zero filter. In this episode, we sit down with Crit (Ringside Chat)—a true boots-on-the-ground voice in the wrestling world—to talk about everything from the state of independent wrestling to the frustrations with WWE’s current direction, and why storytelling still matters more than ever. We get into: Why the indies aren’t dying—they’re evolvingThe real impact of social media and virality on wrestling careersWWE’s biggest issues right now—from booking to pricing to prioritiesThe importance of characters, creativity, and connection in wrestlingAnd a powerful reflection on Bray Wyatt’s legacy and why he still resonates Plus, Crit brings the energy with bold opinions, wild fantasy booking, and a perspective that comes from actually being ringside, watching it all unfold in real time This one is for: The fans who care about the why behind wrestlingThe ones frustrated with where things areAnd anyone trying to understand where wrestling is going next 🎙 Whether you’re new to wrestling or a lifelong fan—this is the kind of conversation that makes you see it differently. The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 36min
  3. 16 APR

    Raw Is War June 22, 1998 Review | Kane Covers Stone Cold in Blood Before King of the Ring

    Viewer discretion is advised — because this Raw is WAR. This week, we’re breaking down the June 22, 1998 episode of Raw Is War, the final stop before King of the Ring… and somehow, things get even more unhinged.  This is a full-on go-home show — and it delivers: Vince McMahon introduces a First Blood Match between Kane and Stone Cold (because why not stack the odds even more?)Undertaker takes things way too far… tracking Paul Bearer down at home and absolutely destroying himKane promises to set himself on fire if he loses (???)Mankind is out here cutting Civil War promos inside Hell in a CellDX vs Nation continues to escalate into full chaosAnd Edge officially debuts… in the most chaotic way possibleBut the moment that defines the episode? Stone Cold accepts Kane’s challenge…  Kane raises his arms… …and absolutely drenches Austin in blood. No warning. No build. Just pure Attitude Era insanity. This is how you sell a pay-per-view. 🍼 Diaper Drive Reminder: We’re also currently running a diaper, formula, and baby essentials drive through Mother’s Day 💜 We’re collecting: DiapersFormulaGently used baby clothesFeminine hygiene productsAll donations will go to Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, NJ, supporting moms and families who need it most. 📍 Drop-off locations: DollyMoo (Montclair, NJ)Yoga Mechanics (Montclair, NJ)If you’re local and able to help — it truly makes a difference. 🌐 More from New to Wrestling:  Full episodes, clips, and everything we’re building:  👉 newtowrestling.com The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 9min
  4. 9 APR

    Raw Is War June 15, 1998 Review | Undertaker Destroys Paul Bearer & Hell in a Cell Chaos

    Viewer discretion is advised — because this Raw is WAR. This week, we’re breaking down the June 15, 1998 episode of Raw Is War, and things officially spiral as we barrel toward King of the Ring.  From the jump, the chaos is undeniable: Vince McMahon continues his all-time gaslighting runUndertaker refuses to be manipulated… and makes someone pay for itKane and Mankind stack chaos on top of chaos (and somehow become #1 contenders again)DX and The Nation push their rivalry deeper into full-blown gang warfareAnd the night ends with Stone Cold and Kane fighting on top of the Hell in a CellBut the real moment? Undertaker locking himself inside the cell… with Paul Bearer. And absolutely unleashing. This episode is peak Attitude Era energy — messy, violent, hilarious, and somehow still moving every storyline forward at full speed. The road to King of the Ring isn’t just heating up… It’s boiling over. 🍼 Diaper Drive Announcement: We’re also proud to announce our next community initiative: We’re hosting a diaper, formula, and gently used baby clothes drive now through Mother’s Day to support families in need. All donations will go to Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children, an incredible organization providing essential resources and support for women and children in Paterson, NJ. Drop-off location:  📍 Dolly Moo – 217 Glenridge Ave, Montclair, NJ We’ll also be sharing additional drop-off locations soon. The wrestling community showed up BIG for our last drive — let’s do it again. 🌐 More from New to Wrestling - For full episodes, clips, and everything we’re building: 👉 newtowrestling.com 🧘 Restorative for Wrestlers: We’re also continuing to build out something special: Restorative for Wrestlers — a free restorative yoga program designed specifically for wrestlers to recover, reset, and take care of their bodies. We’re currently finalizing details (looking like Fridays 👀), and it will be completely free for wrestlers. Because what you put your body through deserves real recovery. The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 19min
  5. 27 MAR

    Raw Is War June 8, 1998 | Kane Buries Stone Cold & Vince’s Fake Award Backfires

    This week, we’re breaking down the June 8, 1998 episode of Raw Is War… and somehow things get even more chaotic on the road to King of the Ring.  Vince McMahon kicks things off by presenting himself as Humanitarian of the Year (??), which immediately tells you everything you need to know about how this episode is going to go. Meanwhile:  DX is unleashed on New York City… and yes, it’s exactly what you think it is  The King of the Ring qualifiers are in full swing  Undertaker spends the entire night hunting Vince like a horror movie villain  Al Snow continues to be the most over man in the building… without wrestling  And the show ends with a full-blown setup as Kane and Mankind ambush Stone Cold in one of the wildest closing segments yet This episode is pure Attitude Era energy — chaotic, unhinged, and somehow still pushing every major storyline forward at once. We’re officially on the road to King of the Ring… and you can feel it building. 🌐 More N2W For full episodes, clips, and everything we’ve got going on:  👉 newtowrestling.com 🧘 Restorative for Wrestlers We’re also launching something new: Restorative for Wrestlers — a free restorative yoga class designed specifically for wrestlers to recover, reset, and take care of their bodies. If you’re a wrestler (or know one), we’d love to have you join us.  We’re currently locking in dates — likely Fridays — so stay tuned or reach out. Because taking bumps is part of the job…  Recovering properly should be too. The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 1min
  6. 5 MAR

    Raw Is War June 1, 1998 Review | Kane Becomes #1 Contender & Undertaker Explodes

    Viewer discretion is advised — because this Raw is WAR. We’re breaking down the June 1, 1998 episode of Raw Is War, coming off the chaos of Over the Edge — and somehow it gets even messier. Vince McMahon opens the show as an unreliable narrator (because of course he does), verbally dismantles Mick Foley in one of the most brutal dressing-downs we’ve seen, and then immediately starts manipulating the board behind the scenes. Meanwhile: Undertaker shows up in sweats and sunglasses and chooses violence.Kane earns a #1 Contender’s match… by defeating his own brother.Mankind returns (and immediately makes us question our loyalty).DX and The Nation tear into each other in elimination chaos.Mark Henry vs Terry Funk is somehow both insane and underrated.Val Venis continues to terrorize Chicago’s signage.And yes… we are officially on the road to that Hell in a Cell.This episode is a tonal shift. The stories are tighter. The rivalries are sharper. The Vince vs Austin war is happening on commentary while Kane and Undertaker are literally fighting in the ring. And for the first time, it really feels like the pieces are locking into place for King of the Ring. We’re inching closer. You know what match we’re talking about. Let’s get into it. The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 10min
  7. 26 FEB

    Over the Edge 1998 Review | Stone Cold vs Dude Love Falls Count Anywhere

    Viewer discretion is advised… and honestly, so is emotional preparedness. This week on the New to Wrestling Podcast, we dive into Over the Edge 1998 — and this one might be a top-to-bottom heater. From LOD 2000 vs. DOA chaos…  to Kai En Tai delivering one of the most underrated handicap matches we’ve seen…  to Sable getting absolutely done dirty in a “custody battle”…  to Kane vs. Vader in a mask vs. mask showdown… And that’s before we even get to the main event. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Dude Love with Vince McMahon as referee — Pat Patterson as ring announcer — Gerald Brisco as timekeeper — and The Undertaker lurking at ringside as enforcer. This wasn’t just a match.  It was controlled chaos. Falls count anywhere.  Cars in the stage set.  Blood.  Chair shots.  Table spots.  Vince’s lifeless arm being used to count the three. And somehow, it all works. We break down: Why Kai En Tai instantly revitalized the light heavyweight divisionThe Rock vs. Farooq chemistry finally clickingThe growing war between DX and The NationVader’s emotional post-match momentAnd why Austin vs. McMahon might be the most perfectly constructed power feud in wrestling historyThis pay-per-view isn’t always the first one people mention from 1998… but maybe it should be. For Kelsey and Xavier, this one was goop.  It was gag.  It was wrestling. The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 19min
  8. 19 FEB

    Vince McMahon Gets Arrested?! | Raw Is War May 25, 1998 Review (Go-Home to Over the Edge)

    Viewer discretion is advised… and so is Vince McMahon’s judgment. This week on New to Wrestling, we break down the May 25, 1998 episode of Raw Is War — the chaotic go-home show before Over the Edge — and things spiral immediately. Vince McMahon opens the show bragging about assaulting Stone Cold Steve Austin… and accidentally confesses in front of “police.” What follows? An arrest. Beer. Handcuffs. Public humiliation. And that’s just the first segment. We dive into: Stone Cold forcing Vince to apologize — twiceThe Undertaker choke-slamming the boss without warningKane and Undertaker’s explosive pre-PPV brawlTriple H vs. The Rock in a future-feud preview classicSable manipulating Mark Mero into a career-defining stipulationThe surreal debut of The Oddities (yes… that happened)DX escalating their war with WCW via skywriting and cartoon fighter jetsPlus:  Taka Michinoku steals the show.  Vader and Kane continue their monster collision course.  Farooq and The Rock’s tension reaches a boiling point.  And Vince names himself special guest referee because of course he does. This episode is peak Attitude Era chaos — arrests, run-ins, corporate power trips, and the kind of unhinged storytelling that only 1998 could deliver. And with Over the Edge looming, the stage is set for one of the most overbooked main events in WWF history. The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

    1hr 7min

About

Lifelong wrestling fan takes his best friend through, the joys, the action, and all the drama that is professional wrestling! Starting with The Attitude Era and Beyond!