New to Wrestling Podcast

New to Wrestling Podcast
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Wrestling
  • Updated Weekly

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. 3d ago

    WWF Fully Loaded 1998: Rock vs Triple H, Austin & Undertaker Win Gold

    Viewer discretion is advised—we are officially back in 1998, and I dragged Kelsey with me to WWF Fully Loaded 1998. After spending some time in the Temple, we returned to the Attitude Era for a three-hour, nine-match pay-per-view that had us recording at midnight, questioning several life choices, and standing on business because we said we were going to watch it. And honestly? For a show I kept putting off, this one kind of delivered. Fully Loaded 1998 is a very strange mix of genuinely great wrestling, very 1998 nonsense, and moments that remind you nostalgia can be cute—but she is not always correct. I walked Kelsey through Val Venis making his pay-per-view debut against Jeff Jarrett, D’Lo Brown and X-Pac putting together a sneaky fun mid-card match, a completely bizarre tag situation with Terry Funk, Scorpio, Faarooq and Bradshaw, and a Vince McMahon-approved meat spectacle between Vader and Mark Henry. But the real pillars of this show are easy. Owen Hart and Ken Shamrock have a Dungeon Match in the Hart family basement that feels less like a wrestling match and more like found footage from a crime scene. The Rock and Triple H go nearly 30 minutes in a two-out-of-three-falls Intercontinental Championship match where you can feel two future stars fighting to steal the show. And in the main event, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker challenge Kane and Mankind for the Tag Team Championships, despite the fact that Austin and Taker absolutely do not trust each other. Beautiful nonsense. Exactly what we came here for. We also, unfortunately, have to talk about the Sable and Jacqueline bikini contest, Jerry Lawler being on his absolute worst behavior, and the parts of the Attitude Era that people love to conveniently edit out when they talk about how great everything used to be. ### In this episode: - I bring Kelsey back to the Attitude Era after our New to the Temple detour - We break down the full WWF Fully Loaded 1998 card - Val Venis makes his pay-per-view debut against Jeff Jarrett - Yamaguchi-san joins commentary and calls Jerry Lawler “Hamburger King” - D’Lo Brown and X-Pac have a solid mid-card match with Chyna looking incredible - Terry Funk, Scorpio, Faarooq and Bradshaw end up in one of the strangest tag pairings imaginable - Vader and Mark Henry collide in a true big meat spectacle - LOD and DOA continue fighting over Paul Ellering for reasons we are still trying to understand - Owen Hart and Ken Shamrock have a Dungeon Match that feels fully illegal - The Rock and Triple H wrestle like two future main-eventers trying to prove they are next - We suffer through the Sable and Jacqueline bikini contest so you do not necessarily have to - Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker challenge Kane and Mankind for the Tag Team Championships - We continue asking the only question that matters: are they in cahoots? If you’re going back to watch **Fully Loaded 1998**, my three match recommendations are simple: **The Rock vs Triple H**, **Austin & Undertaker vs Kane & Mankind**, and **Owen Hart vs Ken Shamrock in the Dungeon**. Everything else? We’ll guide you through 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!

  2. Sep 24

    New to the Temple: Big Ryck Destroys Johnny Mundo | Lucha Underground S1E4

    Lucha Underground episode four, “The Thrill of the Hunt,” opens with a live band and the Temple absolutely lit. Honestly, if we could travel back to one wrestling show, this might be the one. Sexy Star and Ivelisse kick things off by slapping the entire taste out of each other’s mouths. Fénix and Pentagon Jr. then give us another impossibly fast match between two brothers who seemingly communicate through flips, violence and complete trust. Somewhere in the middle, King Cuerno hunts tonight—or, as we immediately decided, c*nts tonight—before making his debut against Drago. Meanwhile, Dario Cueto has paid Big Ryck a generous bounty to put Johnny Mundo in the hospital. Prince Puma is warned to stay out of it, but Cortez and Cisco make that decision for him before helping Big Ryck leave Mundo underneath a broken table. Highlights include: The Temple transforming into the hottest party in Los AngelesSexy Star promising to destroy the Guerrero family nameIvelisse introducing Sexy Star to her MMA backgroundDario demanding that Drago impress himPentagon Jr. demanding the respect he deservesFénix and Penta moving faster than our notes can handleA Penta Driver that nearly stopped the showKing Cuerno’s completely unhinged hunter video packageThe tallest taxidermy deer entrance gear imaginableDrago folding King Cuerno into an expedited Christmas packageKonnan warning Prince Puma to mind his businessBig Ryck wrestling in his comfies and still looking terrifyingJohnny Mundo selling like Big Ryck actually ran him overCortez and Cisco ensuring Mundo’s evening ends underneath a tableThe bounty has been collected, Johnny Mundo may need a hospital and Dario Cueto remains one deeply satisfied supervillain. 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!

    New to the Temple: Big Ryck Destroys Johnny Mundo | Lucha Underground S1E4

  3. Sep 17

    New to the Temple: Fenix Flies, Penta Arrives | Lucha Underground S1E3

    We’re still cheating on 1998 Raw with Lucha Underground—and frankly, we have never felt more alive. Season one, episode three, “Crossing the Border,” introduces us to Fénix, Pentagon Jr. and Drago before throwing all three into an absolutely ridiculous main event. Somewhere between Penta’s showmanship, Drago’s unique offense and Fénix launching himself from the roof of Dario Cueto’s office, this became our favorite Lucha Underground match yet. Elsewhere, Mascarita Sagrada runs circles around El Mariachi Loco, Chavo Guerrero continues his violent spiral and Vampiro conducts an interview with all the restraint of a Housewives reunion. Konnan warns Chavo to disappear, Katrina promises that he will eventually belong to Mil Muertes, and Johnny Mundo fights his way into Dario’s office to demand Big Ryck. Highlights include: Dario Cueto giving the people “more lucha”The triumphant return of short-boy propagandaMascarita Sagrada reminding us why everyone is the same height on the matChavo Guerrero explaining why he’s done living in his family’s shadowVampiro abandoning journalistic objectivity—and being incredible at itKonnan delivering the line of the night in a dimly lit hallwayKatrina appearing from the darkness and licking another man’s faceThe earthquake origin story of Mil MuertesJohnny Mundo turning a backstage fight into a full action sequenceDario paying Big Ryck to put Mundo in the hospitalPentagon Jr., Drago and Fénix making unforgettable Temple debutsFénix taking a completely reasonable 30-foot dive from Dario’s officeAnother mysterious ending that immediately has us begging for the next episodeThe wrestling is incredible, the drama is delicious and every person responsible for this show’s lighting, editing and sound design deserves to be filthy rich. 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!

    New to the Temple: Fenix Flies, Penta Arrives | Lucha Underground S1E3

  4. Sep 10

    New to the Temple: Chavo Guerrero Turns Heel | Lucha Underground S1E2

    We apologize for any audio or visual issues in this episode. The technical demons were working overtime, but we pushed through because the Temple waits for no one—and this episode was simply too good not to release. After spending entirely too much time wading through the racism and sexism of 1998, we’re returning to our favorite elective: Lucha Underground. Episode two wastes no time reminding us why we love this show. Johnny Mundo and Prince Puma put their differences aside to face Cortez Castro and Cisco, delivering ridiculous athleticism and an immaculate double 450. Ivelisse makes her debut in an intergender tag match that lets the women be wrestlers—not attractions or afterthoughts. Then Mil Muertes arrives with Catrina and enough supernatural energy to make us deeply concerned about whatever she’s carrying in that stone. Highlights include: Big Ryck smoking the fattest cigar imaginable from the Temple stairsPrince Puma doing things that should not be physically possibleJohnny Mundo and Puma casually inventing tag-team offenseIvelisse making an immediate impressionSexy Star getting her revenge on Son of HavocCatrina delivering a “taste before a thousand deaths”Mil Muertes making his terrifying in-ring debutVampiro continuing to be everything we want from a commentatorChavo Guerrero betraying Blue Demon Jr.Chavo handing out chair shots to referees, luchadors and even Sexy StarThe Temple crowd telling Chavo exactly how they feelWe came for the lucha, stayed for the drama and left with one question: Chavo, girl…what was that? 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!

    New to the Temple: Chavo Guerrero Turns Heel | Lucha Underground S1E2

  5. Sep 3

    Stone Cold Battles Kane & Mankind & D’Lo Brown Wins Gold | WWE Raw Is War 7/20/98

    We’re six days away from Fully Loaded 1998, which means Raw should be firing on all cylinders. Instead, the July 20, 1998 go-home show earns a generous five out of ten and has us considering another emergency trip to the Temple. Vince McMahon opens the night with a presentation on reflection, respect and retribution before ordering The Undertaker to face Kane and Mankind. The Undertaker responds by leaving the building, so naturally Stone Cold Steve Austin inherits the handicap match—and proves once again that he may be the most effective employee in the entire company. Highlights include: D’Lo Brown and Triple H delivering the match of the nightD’Lo becoming the new European ChampionDr. Death nearly committing a televised crime during Brawl for AllVal Venis rescuing Kyoko from a deeply uncomfortable public punishmentOwen Hart reminding everyone that he is not a nuggetJacqueline and Sable escalating their Fully Loaded bikini-contest feudEdge appearing from the crowd to attack Marc Mero—and the cameras missing the whole thingShawn Michaels returning to commentary and repeatedly calling a referee a narcThe Rock and X-Pac tearing it up over the Intercontinental ChampionshipStone Cold stunning everyone in sight, whether they were technically helping him or notThe word “cahoots” continuing to hold this company in a chokeholdWas The Undertaker trying to help Austin? Was he trying to hit him with a chair? Is he secretly working with Kane? We still have no answers, but Stone Cold isn’t waiting around to find out. 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!

  6. Aug 27

    We Are So Back, Baby | Are The Undertaker and Kane in Cahoots? | WWE Raw Is War 7/13/98

    We’re back from summer vacation and returning to the Attitude Era with the July 13, 1998 edition of Raw Is War—and honestly, New Jersey welcomed us home with absolute chaos. Shawn Michaels returns with a Lord Farquaad haircut and a seat at the commentary table, Kane and Mankind capture the Tag Team Championships, and The Rock’s star power becomes impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, Brawl for All continues to make us ask why there’s so little wrestling on our wrestling show. But the question of the evening is simple: Are The Undertaker and Kane in cahoots? Stone Cold Steve Austin would also like an answer, especially before he has to team with The Undertaker at Fully Loaded. Highlights include: Shawn Michaels returning to Raw—and immediately doing entirely too much on commentaryKane and Mankind becoming the new Tag Team ChampionsStone Cold investigating some deeply suspicious brother behaviorThe Rock, Owen Hart, Triple H and X-Pac continuing the DX–Nation warX-Pac debuting the X-FactorSable and Jacqueline serving looks, tension and an incoming bikini contestVal Venis debuting his latest “film” on the TitanTron, because apparently that was allowedTwo rounds of Brawl for All reminding everyone why they came to see wrestlingA chaotic main event featuring approximately the entire rosterThe word “cahoots” being used more times than any serious situation should permitCahoots: it’s the word of the week. Use it in a sentence. 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!

  7. Jul 9

    Dr. Sleep Anthony Gangone on Horror, Reinvention, Making Wrestling Uncomfortable & the Austin Aries Dream Match

    Viewer discretion is advised—because this week, Dr. Sleep is in the building. We’re joined by Anthony Gangone, one of the most versatile and compelling performers on the independent wrestling scene. Whether you know him from House of Glory, CZW, The Mecca, Respect Wrestling, his no ropes matches, his championship runs, or his current evolution as Dr. Sleep, Anthony has built a career on refusing to be put in one box. In this conversation, Anthony talks about staying connected to wrestling from childhood, building a career through persistence, and why the current Dr. Sleep version of himself feels like the most complete version yet. We get into his horror influences, the psychology behind making an audience uncomfortable, the mandible claw, submissions, brawling, and why sometimes putting someone to sleep can be a peaceful experience. Naturally, Kelsey handles this information in the most Kelsey way possible. We also talk about Anthony’s ability to adapt to different promotions and audiences, his time as a cornerstone for multiple independent companies, his relationship with Amazing Red, the importance of no ropes matches, intergender wrestling, and what it means to become a veteran presence in locker rooms without necessarily setting out to be one. Plus, Anthony previews his upcoming Respect Wrestling main event against Austin Aries, a match he describes as one of the only true dream matches he has ever wanted. We discuss Aries’ influence, what makes Ray Sanchez such a strong voice in wrestling, and why Respect has become such an exciting new space in the independent scene. In this episode: Anthony Gangone explains how the Dr. Sleep character came togetherWe talk horror movies, unsettling characters, and finding inspiration outside of wrestlingAnthony breaks down what it means to be a true hybrid wrestlerKelsey asks about the mandible claw and immediately regrets understanding how it worksWe discuss brawling, submissions, and why discomfort is such a powerful tool in wrestlingAnthony reflects on being a reliable veteran presence across multiple independent promotionsWe talk House of Glory, CZW, The Mecca, Respect Wrestling, and the changing indie landscapeAnthony looks back on his no ropes matches and his history with Amazing RedWe discuss intergender wrestling, realism, and the “final girl” energy of Dr. SleepAnthony previews his Respect Wrestling title defense against Austin AriesWe get into support systems, confidence, V for Vendetta, They Live, and why Dr. Sleep probably cannot be killedThis is a conversation about longevity, reinvention, horror, professionalism, and the strange peace that comes after someone puts you to sleep. Anthony Gangone is not interested in doing the same thing twice. And Dr. Sleep is only getting started. 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!

  8. Jun 25

    New to The Temple: Lucha Underground Has Kelsey Hooked After One Episode

    Viewer discretion is advised—Kelsey has officially entered the Temple. This week, we’re taking a brief detour from the chaos of 1998 and beginning a brand-new journey through Lucha Underground, a wrestling show that combines lucha libre, mythology, cinematic storytelling, unforgettable characters, and enough drama to make Kelsey feel immediately at home. From the opening scene, it is clear that this is not a traditional wrestling show. We are introduced to shadowy figures, ancient warriors, underground fight-club energy, and Dario Cueto—a promoter who promises opportunity, money, and glory while somehow looking less trustworthy every time he speaks. The Temple itself immediately becomes part of the story. The concrete, the stairs, the intimate crowd, Dario’s office, and the cinematic camera work give the show a true home base. It feels less like a weekly wrestling broadcast and more like entering a fully realized world. In this episode: Kelsey enters the Temple for the very first timeWe break down Lucha Underground’s cinematic opening and mythologyDario Cueto establishes himself as wrestling’s newest deeply suspicious promoterMatt Striker and Vampiro immediately become one of our favorite commentary teamsBlue Demon Jr. and Chavo Guerrero open the series with generations of lucha history behind themSexy Star makes an instant impression against Son of HavocKonnan explains Prince Puma’s connection to the seven Aztec tribes and the deeper meaning behind the luchador’s maskJohnny Mundo and Prince Puma deliver a main event so good that Kelsey stops taking notesDario proves that the promised $100,000 may never have been anyone’s to winWe become extremely excited—and slightly concerned—about the Temple’s stairsThe cinematography feels like a prime-time drama. The wrestling feels fresh. The lore already runs deep. The characters are larger than life, and this is only episode one. Welcome to New to The Temple. 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!

    New to The Temple: Lucha Underground Has Kelsey Hooked After One Episode
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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! 

Information

  • Creator
    New to Wrestling Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    183
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 New to Wrestling Podcast
  • Show Website
    New to Wrestling Podcast