Episodios

  • How the RNC turned into a wrestling show

    How the RNC turned into a wrestling show
    Jul 24 2024
    A fascinating thing — from a wrestling fan’s perspective — happened at the Republican National Convention. The final night, which is the big one, was filled with stars from pro wrestling and UFC. Specifically three primary speakers: Hulk Hogan, Linda McMahon and Dana White. Why this matters: It shows the sheer cultural influence of these forms of entertainment.
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    32 m
  • Linda McMahon discusses her life in wrestling and politics

    Linda McMahon discusses her life in wrestling and politics
    Jul 18 2024
    In an unprecedented interview for pro-wrestling podcasts, we’re joined by former WWE owner Linda McMahon, who built the WWE alongside her longtime husband Vince McMahon. But several years ago Linda McMahon stepped away from WWE to pursue a career in politics. Following two failed runs for the U.S. Senate in the McMahon home state of Connecticut, she was tapped by former President Donald Trump to head up the Small Business Administration and served in his Cabinet. Linda McMahon stepped away from the administration midway through Trump’s term to take on other priorities but remained a large financial and political backer of Trump. In this interview, I caught up with Linda McMahon at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where she will be a featured speaker.
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    11 m
  • ‘Hardcore Legend’ Mick Foley discusses his amazing career

    ‘Hardcore Legend’ Mick Foley discusses his amazing career
    Jul 17 2024
    In 1988 no one ever suspected a young man named Mick Foley would be one of the greatest pro wrestlers in history. However, by 1998 the world totally realized he was special. After spending years wrestling around the world in the scariest of hardcore matches — including everything from barbed wire to flaming 2X4s — the beloved veteran captured the hearts of wrestling fans around the world. In fact, his popularity soared so much that he was voted Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1998 by WWE fans who flooded the voting. Time Magazine actually disqualified Foley because they didn’t feel a pro wrestler deserved such an honor. Foley responds to that in this interview.
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    28 m
  • Eric Bischoff was once the most controversial man in pro wrestling

    Eric Bischoff was once the most controversial man in pro wrestling
    Jul 10 2024
    Seldom does one person affect an entire industry the way Eric Bischoff has. When Ted Turner owned World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the early ‘90s he had a few different old-school bookers in charge like Ole Anderson and Bill Watts. But when Turner changed things up and tapped a third-string announcer with a sales background as the new executive in charge of WCW, everything changed for the Atlanta-based promotion. Bischoff’s first major move was asking for a primetime spot to go head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation (today’s WWE). That was unheard of in the industry and quickly Monday Night Nitro was started on TNT. And the “Monday Night Wars” were underway.
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    38 m
  • JoJo Offerman opens up on life after the death of her fiancé, Bray Wyatt

    JoJo Offerman opens up on life after the death of her fiancé, Bray Wyatt
    Jul 3 2024
    On this episode of Going Ringside we’re joined by Bray Wyatt’s fiancée JoJo Offerman. Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda) passed away last summer and Offerman opens up about life without him. Offerman of course was a WWE star herself for many years and is now still recovering after losing her fiancé and father to her children. In this very special interview, Offerman will discuss life now as a single parent and her plans for the future. Also, on this episode we’ll discuss the “Wyatt 6” Clan that has recently arrived in WWE.
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    20 m
  • Wrestling icons Trish Stratus and Lita sit down with Going Ringside

    Wrestling icons Trish Stratus and Lita sit down with Going Ringside
    Jun 26 2024
    In the history of women’s wrestling one feud sits above all others. On the men’s side we had The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin or Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant, but for the women it was Trish Stratus and Lita. The two mega stars redefined what it meant to be a female performer in the world of pro wrestling around the turn of the century. Stratus (real name Patricia Stratigeas) started with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1999. It’s today’s WWE. For much of her early career she was a valet and involved in a lot of on screen storylines with then owner Vince McMahon. But as the years went by her star began to shine and she showed her athletic abilities and truly became one of the greatest wrestlers ever.
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    27 m
  • Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler discusses his career and health

    Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler discusses his career and health
    Jun 19 2024
    On this episode of “Going Ringside” we’re joined by arguably the greatest pro wrestling color commentator in history: Jerry “The King” Lawler. Alongside Jim Ross (who appeared on the first episode of Going Ringside) the two comprised an iconic duo through WWE’s “Attitude Era” when pro wrestling was hotter than it ever had been. But that was all after a lengthy pro wrestling career where Lawler dominated the Memphis territory. Lawler, of course, got the country’s attention on Late Night with David Letterman. In 1982 when legendary comedian Andy Kaufman decided to try his hand in pro wrestling, he feuded with Lawler. That feud ended with the infamous slap where Lawler slapped Kaufman, who was wearing a neck brace, on Letterman’s show.
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    20 m
  • Booker T joins us at River City Wrestling Con

    Booker T joins us at River City Wrestling Con
    Jun 10 2024
    Seldom do you find stars that have been at the top of the industry for 30 years. Booker T Huffman is one of those few. He came to national fame in the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as one half of the team Harlem Heat alongside his brother Stevie Ray. After years of tag team action, Booker T was given a singles push in WCW and it propelled him to five world championships. And that was all before he went to WWE. Then in WWE, Booker T faced all the greats including The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. In this episode, we talk at length about one thing that Booker T is remembered for that really wasn’t a match. That was when Booker T and Austin tore up a supermarket in a brawl. It is a clip from wrestling history that fans still talk about today.
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    39 m