The Lapsed Fan

The Lapsed Fan 30-week Wrestlemania journey heats up this week as your co-chairmen go deep on the greatest match in Mania history, Bret Hart v. Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 13.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro dissect what makes the match the best, the precise moments where Austin turns the corner into a beyond-the-pale babyface primed to revolutionize the business, and the rich back story to how Hart crafted the match and a heel turn that was arguably the Hitman’s finest career work.This week’s TLF installment also includes:- The dark overtones of the show and its messaging, hints of the Attitude that was on the horizon- Why this was merely the sixth most-bought wrestling PPV of 1997- How the legendary blade job in Austin/Hart went down, and why Vince McMahon apologized for it- JR exclaims about sausages and BLTs as the Godwins go to work in the opener- The Wrestlemania debut of The Rock, and why it was less than pretty- Fears for Marlena’s health after Chyna grabs hold- The entrance to end all Mania entrances: the glass shatters- The greatest chair shot in WWF history?- The underrated Nation of Domination entrance theme- Spirited debate on whether HBK on commentary added or detracted from the head-scratching Undertaker v. Sid main event.Plus, Wrestling Observer boss Dave Meltzer returns to detail how the magic of Austin and Hart was the results of a series of happy accidents, and detailed thoughts on the Montreal screw job that capped a trying 1997 for the WWF. It’s a can’t miss discussion on a can’t miss Mania as The Lapsed Fan continues to soldier through 30 years. Download now.

Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart may have went Broadway at WrestleMania 12 in 1996, but the Lapsed Fan has been doing that since WrestleMania 1, and ain’t nothing changed for the 12th installment of our 30-week, 30-WrestleMania journey.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro journey to the Anaheim Pond this week to dissect the memorable Iron Man Match in ludicrous detail, and render judgment on whether the match is appropriately remembered.The show also tackles:- The WrestleMania debuts of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Sable, and Triple H, and how the debuts didn’t at all portend what was to come- Why Warrior had to be “kept strong” (a dramatization)- What difference it would have made if there were multiple falls in the main event- The stiffness and other commendable aspects of the Hollywood Backlot Brawl- The sense of unpredictability in the air a month after Kevin Nash and Scott Hall gave notice they were leaving for WCW- Billionaire Ted, and the pysche of Vince McMahonPlus the latest (and far-reaching) installment of the Lapsed Fan conversations with Dave Meltzer, assessing the profound change in the industry that was to come after WrestleMania 12.Take that deep dive as The Lapsed Fan digs into the second decade of WrestleMania by downloading today’s show!

The Lapsed Fan enters the second decade of its 30-week, 30-Wrestlemania review this week with a trademark deep dive into Wrestlemania 11, an inauspicious installment that asked the WWF fan to accept Diesel and Lawrence Taylor as the new Hogan/Mr. T combination.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro cover all bases on the 1995 Mains, which took place at a time of particular strain on the WWF’s balance sheets and on the precipice of great change in the industry with the jumps of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage to WCW and the impending debut of Nitro. Is this the worst WrestleMania? The co-chairman perform autopsy to find out.Topics broached include:- Salt n Peppa’s shadow presence in the WWE Network version of the show, save for a handsy scene with a shirtless Bret Hart- The Stridex blimp- Undertaker goes 4-0 over Bundy- Backlund and Jonathan Taylor Thomas play chess as a launching point for a Backlund treatise on what’s wrong with the youth of America- The false promise of Bam Bam Bigelow’s agreeing to do the honors to L.T. in the main event- The Diesel as WWF champion experiment, complete with attempting to Hulk Up as Shawn Michaels bumped all over Hartford and thoroughly out-shined him- Why the Bret v. Backlund I Quit match ended up as pure comedy, and Roddy Piper’s culpability in it all- Pam Anderson and Jenny McCarthy break kayfabe over allegiances in the Diesel v. HBK match, if such a thing was even explained to them at all before they took center stage in one of the show’s key contests- The worst Jacknife- L.T. hits Bam Bam with forearm after forearm after forearm after forearm after forearmThat and another probing chat with Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer on the behind-the-scenes dynamics at the play on the show, in the WWF, and in the wrestling industry writ large at the time.Stay Lapsed, and leap into the second decades of WrestleManias by downloading the latest TLF!

It was 10 years in the making when the WWF staged WrestleMania X at Madison Square Garden in 1994, and it’s been 10 weeks in the making on The Lapsed Fan podcast’s 30-week WrestleMania sojourn.This week hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro blast off into the next decade of the WWF’s evolution, as Titan presents its first Hogan-less Mania and definitively turns the limelight over to go-getters like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, and Owen Hart.Get Lapsed across the face with the deepest dive you’ll find on the X, including:– The winding road to Bret Hart’s crowning – yet, in ways, bittersweet – achievement, as he’s hoisted up on the shoulders of his contemporaries as champion, Vince McMahon beaming below as all is seemingly forgotten– Little Richard makes surprising noises during “America the Beautiful”– The Hair Club for Men guy gets a face full of Doink water– A Zapruder-film-esque breakdown of HBK v. Razor in the ladder match that changed the industry and moved the art form three or four paces forward– Owen’s phlegm, and how it symbolized the perfectly-honed Bret v. Owen brother v. brother story line– Bill Dunn gives Fink a run for his money (not really)– The Lex Express finally runs out of steam– The curious, seamless assimilation of Burt Reynolds into the carny wrestling world– Vince meets with Ray Apollo about the future of Doink (Dramatization)That and so much more, including guru Dave Meltzer recapping what it was like to live through and cover a dramatic transition period for the WWF. You want it. You need it. We’ve got it.

The world’s biggest toga party was hardly the world’s biggest success for the WWF, but WrestleMania IX in 1993 did bring with it twists and turns that will echo in the annals.The Lapsed Fan wrestling podcast donned their sandals and grabbed their goblets for a deep dive into a parking lot next to Caesars in Las Vegas for the latest landing on this jet flight known as 30 weeks, 30 WrestleManias.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro assess:- Vince lays out for Bret Hart what Hogan would like to see happen in the main event (Dramatization)- The unique, fleeting combination of Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan, a flow that is frequently hijacked by the non sequiturs of Randy Savage, including: What if Sherri were to beat Shawn Micahels for the Intercontinental title one day?- The debut of Luna, rocking a haircut that was repulsive in 1993 but today can be on girls in nightclubs all over America- The story behind Hogan’s black eye, and how his surprise title win was received then and is received now.- Undertaker goes 3-0, in a Chloroform-induced stupor- A creative imagining of Vince pitching Doink to Matt Osborne, and how Osborne proceeded to make lemonade- Backlund v. Ramon, the weirdest match in WrestleMania history- A detailed accounting of the steroid trial that had Vince paranoid the walls were listening, and how that anxiety permeated throughout 1993Plus guru Dave Meltzer weighs in on all the backstage goings-on as the Hulkster resumes the throne in the august Roman environs. It’s a podcast befitting Caesar, the TLF take on the ninth Mania, the last gasp of an era (call it a “lapsed gasp.”).

It’s the approach of the Hulkster’s swan song, and the end of the golden period for true Lapsed Fans. WrestleMania 8 is next on TLF’s 30-week, 30-WrestleMania journey, and for your hosts, Hogan’s bout with Sid Justice signals the close of a cast of characters that defined the first WrestleMania era.Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro go deep into the Hoosier Dome for a breakdown of this 1992 extravaganza, which also featured a brilliant tilt between Randy Savage and Ric Flair for the WWF Championship as part of a double main event.Get Lapsed on:- The last word on why Flair and Hogan didn’t face each other on the card, including a first-hand account of guru Dave Meltzer’s conversations with Flair at the time- Undertaker goes 2-0 as a heel Jake Roberts is planted on the floor, after the dreaded DDT fails to get the job done- Jubilation over Bret Hart’s innovative kick-off sleeper hold counter, and why Hart v. Piper shows us again that baby face versus baby face can and should be done- Lex Luger snaps his fingers and milk is delivered to him- Ray Combs hits one out of the park, and his tragic demise- Why Flair’s WWF theme is superior to the “2001” version- The return of the girl who was crying when Savage was defeated in the WM7 retirementmatch- The emotions – phony or real? – of the Vince McMahon/Hulk Hogan heart-to-heart retirement tease in the run up to the event, and the behind-the-scenes, steroid-related dramas that informed it- One last vintage, electrifying Ultimate Warrior entranceThat and so much more, as The Lapsed Fan continues to give you what you need on an epic 30-week, locomotive-esque journey. All aboard!

The Lapsed Fan 30-week train stops this week at Wrestlemania VII, and a Hulk Hogan v. Sgt. Slaughter main event that took place against the backdrop of international and internal turmoil, as Sarge dons the bullet proof vest in his quest to vanquish an American icon in tribute to Saddam Hussein.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro bring you yet another deep dive, and lapse you across the face with moments like:- The Wrestlemania debut of the Gorilla/Heenan commentary duo- Undertaker goes 1-0- Warlord again fails to lock the fingers in the full nelson- Anvil takes the metaphor of “cracking the foundation” to absurd, bellowing heights- Why the Jake Roberts/Rick Martel blindfold match is underrated, and in a way brilliant- Randy Savage creates ever-lasting memories in his epic retirement tussle with Warrior, split from Sherri, and embrace of Elizabeth- Hogan tries to work Arsenio as part of a particularly rough 1991 for him- The Koji Kitao story, and why he’ll never forget the name “John Tenta.”- “Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, Sgt. Slaughter…,” Hulk HoganPlus a fascinating glimpse into the politics and media storm over the Slaughter/Iraqi sympathizer angle with guru Dave Meltzer. It’s all here, so get Lapsed for Wrestlemania VII!

This week on The Lapsed Fan, your co-chairmen accept the Ultimate Challenge by tackling Wrestlemania VI from Toronto’s Sky Dome, the historic night that Ultimate Warrior didn’t so much assume the throne as mortgage it from Hulk Hogan, heretofore our Wrestlemania hero.It’s the latest installment of TLF’s 30-week Wrestlemania journey, and it’s as intergalactic as the promos that preceded the main event event. Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro take an accounting of, among other things:- Why Hogan v. Warrior proves that all it takes is a little effort and attention to detail to present a babyface v. babyface headliner without diluting either principal- Steve Allen cracks wise, and makes fun of pro wrestling in a way that is somehow not off-putting- The unique ring wizadry and unintelligible exclamations of Sweet Sapphire- Jesse Ventura’s last Wrestlemania stand in the commentary booth, and his masterful burns of the hot-dog-eating Monsoon- A creative imagining of the meeting in which Vince McMahon assigns Lanny Poffo the Genius gimmick- Roddy Piper in half black face, and the pop artist whose song inspired it- The eerie parallels between Hogan’s final promo on Warrior and what turned out to be Warrior’s farewell speech the night before he died- What Longfellow couldn’t have said better, according to Mean GenePlus more tremendous guest insight from Dave Meltzer, Lapsed recollections galore, and TLF’s unique brand of excruciating review. Take the challenge, download stop No. 6 in our Wrestlemania journey.

The Lapsed Fan has reached week five of its 30-week Wrestlemania trek, and thus your hosts come to the conclusion of one the most perfectly-told stories in WWF history, as Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage collided – nay, exploded – after an unforgettable, drawn-out tension.Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro take a deep – too deep? – dive into the gritty environs of Atlantic City for the second consecutive year, assessing what made Hogan v. Savage the apex of pro wrestling storytelling, and why the feud was so powerful it would engulf both legends’ careers forever.Revisit the 1989 extravaganza from all angles, including:- “Jealous eyes”- Randy Savage’s obsession with Hulk gets so bad he actually puts out a diss track- The extra dimension the feud gave to the, up to that point, flat Hogan hero character- Rockin Robin doesn’t quite rock it- Rick Rude takes Ultimate Warrior to the next level- The Wrestlemania debut of Mr. Wrestlemania; let the missile dropkicks commence- The best clothesline in Wrestlemania history- Bushwackers chow down, lick the nervous sweat off Sean Mooney’s head- Curt Hennig v. Owen Hart- Why the Run DMC and Morton Downey Jr. appearances didn’t work- The relative merits of No Holds Barred- Just why Donald Trump saw fit to bring in a team of seismologists for this nightThat and so, so, so, so, so, so much more, including reflections from wrestling guru Dave Meltzer, on the fifth installment of The Lapsed Fan’s Wrestelmania journey. Do you dare download?

From Bigger, Badder, and Bette – to just plain Longer.The Lapsed Fan wrestling podcast continues its 30-week, 30-Wrestlemania journey this week with a deep dive into Wrestlemania IV, night of the inaugural WWF championship tournament culminating in the breakthrough of Macho Man Randy Savage as a touchstone name in the WWF annals.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro hunker down and cover it all as the WWF rolled the dice in conjunction with Donald Trump in Atlantic City, including:- Robin Leach’s wonderfully overwrought tournament proclamation, in its entirety- More DQ finishes than there should ever be at a Mania- Brutus scalps tickets, not his opponent; also, rhymes “Done” with “Champion”- Dibiase bumps like he’s in it to win it, which he at one point was scheduled to- The WM debut of Demolition, and why their beat down of Strike Force was just what the bored Atlantic City crowd needed- Steamboat’s inauspicious WWF farewell, complete with Gorilla Monsoon reading his newborn son’s mind- The Hulk Hogan promo that literally includes the line, “Thank God Donald Trump’s a Hulkamaniac.”- What it’s like when Hogan does his posing routine but didn’t win his matchThis plus a series of great audio contributions, including reflections on WM4 and the war with Jim Crockett Promotions and the first Clash of the Champions with grappling guru Dave Meltzer.It may be your Lapsed chance. Get on board with the historic 30-week Wrestlemania journey with Wrestlemania IV!

The latest Lapsed Fan is bigger, it’s badder, and it’s better. Anything less would be inappropriate.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro dive into the cavernous environs of the once-mighty Pontiac Silverdome for a wall-to-wall breakdown of Wrestlemania III, a banner night for professional wrestling and a true milestone on the Lapsed Fan’s 30-week, 30-Wrestlemania journey.We cover all bases, from Aretha Franklin to Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant, with a tremendous assist from wrestling guru Dave Meltzer. The show covers:- The real 78,000 attendance figure for show, and how we can be sure- A sentimental sojourn to the Silverdome’s parking lot in 2007- What there is to learn about a perfect wrestling payoff from Piper v. Adonis- Steamboat v. Savage, and why it’s annoying to pretend it wasn’t an all-time classic- Recollections of whether or not Andre got the 3 on Hogan’s first botched slam attempt - Bundy squashes a midget (commentators’ term, not ours)- Alice Cooper’s strange combination of apprehension and stubbornness while wielding Jake’s snake - Your hosts take tremendous artistic liberties envisioning the conversation between Vince McMahon and Andre on the set of “The Princess Bride,” trying to sell the big man on working the big show- And laughing. So much laughing you’ll tell yourself you’re going to stop listening (but you won’t)Get on board that Lapsed Fan locomotive, as we make our third stop in Pontiac, 1987, the big one, Wrestlemania III.

The Lapsed Fan continues its 30-week, 30 Wrestlemania journey with what the world had come to in 1986, Wrestlemania 2.It’s the deuce, in perhaps more ways than one, as the WWF aims too high in trying to push the same buttons that made the first Wrestlemania such a success – a litany of celebrities and Mr. T mixing it up – while trying to basically have three Wrestlemanias at once. One city wasn’t enough – this had to play out in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.Hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro – with another enlightening contribution from the guru Dave Meltzer – journey and lampoon their way through the second Grand Daddy of them All, including:- The New York Athletic Commission’s insistence that they regulate Mr. T versus Roddy Piper in a worked boxing match, only to stand idly by as Piper threw a stool at T in between rounds and committed a litany of other heinous breaches without consequence- Fans are left asking “where’s the beef?” when a mic fails- The Wrestlemania debuts of event icons Jake Roberts and Randy Savage- Susan St. James brings her … perspective to the color commentary chair- Dynamite Kid and Terry Funk’s one real chance to strut their stuff on the WWF’s grand stage- The NFLer who had heat with Andre leading into the Battle Royal- Big John Studd no-sells Bill Fralic- The debut of the blue cage- Hogan slams Bundy and victimizes Heenan- Check your drawers, it’s G. Gordon LiddyJump on this speeding locomotive that is The Lapsed Fan’s 30-week Wrestlemania mission!

Let us at The Lapsed Fan wrestling podcast be the first to say … The Road to Wrestlemania 31 starts now!That’s right. The first week of September.That’s because for the next – count em – 30 weeks, Lapsed Fan hosts Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro will embark on a quixotic journey through each and every Wrestlemania, in order, in their signature fashion. They begin, of course, with the Wrestlemania 1, March 31, 1985, in Madison Square Garden, a momentous night to say the least.And the table is expertly set by the expert himself, as Wrestling Observer newsletter editor Dave Meltzer chimes in to talk about living through Wrestlemania 1 and, over the next several months, reporting on wrestling as each Wrestlemania dawned, including never-before-told stories.Journey this week with Jack and JP through the short-lived, but incredibly successful, Rock n Wrestling connection, including:- Which superstar Gene Okerlund – with a straight face – said on MTV weeks before the show “combines compassion, brute strength, intuition, and the latest in wrestling science.”- The story behind the very first WM match, The Executioner v. Tito Santana- Who the real main attraction was in the building that night, and how it foreshadowed a blueprint Vince McMahon would use over the years to spark interest in his product- The true MVP of this show. Hint: Roddy Piper.- The Gorilla Monsoon “It’s a happening!” Wrestlemania 1 drinking game- Richard Belszer desperately tries to convey the Hulk Hogan choke-out incident wasn’t a work- Andy Warhol desperately tries to convey that wrestling is a work, ironically of course- Andre the Giant’s leg kicking game- An incredibly nervous Al Hayes- The historical curiosity that is Wendi RichterAll that, and so … much … more. Get Lapsed across the face with the damnedest Wrestlemania 1 review you’ve ever heard, with 29 more coming your way. It’s exhaustive. It’s exhausting. It’s worth it.

With the latest WWE Summerslam installment upon us, The Lapsed Fan looks back at one of the most stacked, yet confounding summer spectaculars in history. The 1993 Summerslam featured the culmination of the skyrocket push of Lex Luger as an All-American crusader looking to take the belt off Yokozuna, who had just sent Hulk Hogan packing from the WWF.The Lapsed Fan co-chairmen Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro chop it all up in a sizzling Slam review, including:- Why Shawn Michaels v. Mr. Perfect is one of the most underwhelming WWF PPV matches ever- A strained attempt at making sense of Lex Luger winning via count out instead of winning the strap and then celebrating like he struck gold- Owen Hart’s befuddling wardrobe, including a necktie and leather pants- The debut of Joe Fowler as an announcer fresh off Mean Gene’s departure, and the immediate regret of all involved- One of the most ingenious gags Bobby Heenan has ever pulled off in commentary, as he whips out the Brain Scan on a replay of IRS’ victory over the 123 Kid.- Who would you rather watch: Giant Gonzalez or Great Khali?- Ludvig Borga’s PPV debut, and his punch-heavy offense- Jimmy Del Ray’s incongruous flying abilityThat and so much more. Get Lapsed for a Summerslam that had more riding on it than few ever, by downloading the latest edition here.

An invasion was upon WCW at the 1996 Great American Bash, and The Lapsed Fan podcast is recalling what it was like just before the levees breached and one of the great angles in wrestling history – the nWo – flooded WCW and changed the wrestling business.Your co-chairmen Jack Encarnacao and JP Sarro take a look at the 96 Bash in the latest episode, recalling and analyzing:- Just how WCW was able to create the mood that just two guys in street clothes could put an entire company under siege- The role Tony Schiavone played in getting the nWo concept over- The WCW debut of Rey Mysterio, and one of the great instances of rising to the occasion in major league wrestling against Dean Malenko- The merits and demerits of The Giant- Chris Benoit and Kevin Sullivan take it to the bathroom, a crazy scene made even crazier by choice words from Dusty Rhodes on commentary- Sting’s odd insistence that Steven Regal might be gay- Bobby Heenan in the managerial role one last time, leading Flair and Arn against those “pigskin buffoons” Mongo and GreeneRevisit a moment that changed the business and matches that left a lasting impression with The Lapsed Fan’s review of the 1996 WCW Great American Bash, available for download here