Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard

The WWF's business has never been hotter than it was in 1998. Less than a year after telling Bret that he couldn't afford his contract, Vince bought a casino! Hear the details of that deal plus everything that went into creating SummerSlam on today's look back at the Summer of 1998! Bruce and Conrad will discuss the thinking behind the "baby face main event" and whether or not it was a mistake in hindsight, why Edge was the mystery partner, the pressure behind having a ladder match at MSG at the time, the Insane Clown Posse, what Bruce hated about this show, and so much more! Want FRONT ROW seats to ALL IN? Pre-Order Starrcast on FITE for your chance to win the tickets, round trip airfare to Chicago, three nights in a hotel suite, Platinum Bracelets to Starrcast, and tickets to every Official Meet & Greet! PLUS you get 20+ live shows, over 40 hours of content both live and on demand at FITE.tv/starrcast -- hurry contest ends 8/27! Want more content? Want the shows early and ad free? Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/SomethingToWrestle Only a few tickets remain for our show tomorrow night in NYC! Hurry to BrucePrichard.com for those plus San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, Scotland, Ireland, England, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask a question about SummerSlam 1998 next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle or twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com Take your manhood to the max by trying Ageless Male Max and get your first 30-day bottle FREE – just pay shipping and handling - when you text the word “SLAM” to 79 79 79 Visit BlueChew.com and get your first shipment FREE when use our special promo code WRESTLE (Just pay $5 shipping!) Get a $20 bonus when you make your first deposit on FanDuel. Come play with us at FanDuel.com/PRICHARD

Bruce and Conrad have covered the Mega Powers exploding and Zeus, but what about the rest of Hogan's 1989? Learn more about the script for No Holds Barred, how Hogan taking a dump saved the movie, how the movie nearly didn't make theaters, and all about the Rumble, Survivor Series, and SummerSlam matches that year with fun sidebars on Honky, Schiavone, Bad News, and Sherri. When we get to 1990 you won't believe what Bruce was suggesting but Vince shut down, why Vince shut it down, hear a hilarious Pat Patterson quote, why the switch to Warrior, Hogan's attitude at the time, why Hogan was taking time off, who was against the switch, background on Tenta, something Bruce always thought was funny about Tenta, the reason Tugboat wasn't at ringside at SummerSlam, why the letter campaign from Tugboat for Hulk was done, why SummerSlam 90 wasn't a clean finish, and much more. WHATCHA GONNA DO when Something to Wrestle runs wild on you?! (Oh and "always believe in yourself!") Tonight until midnight (8/10) is your LAST CHANCE to save $20 when you pre-order Starrcast featuring the Roast of Bruce Prichard, the Monday Night War Debate with Bruce & Eric, and 20 other shows! Until midnight tonight you can watch it all live and on-demand for just $79 at FITE.tv/starrcast -- but hurry, offer ends tonight at midnight EST! Want more content? Want the shows early and ad free? Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/SomethingToWrestle New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, Scotland, Ireland, England, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask a question about SummerSlam 1998 next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle or twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com Take your manhood to the max by trying Ageless Male Max and get your first 30-day bottle FREE – just pay shipping and handling - when you text the word “SLAM” to 79 79 79 Get your first three meals free at BlueApron.com/wrestling Get a free hat with your new awesome shorts at birddogs.com and use promo code WRESTLE

1997 was one of the most important years in WWF history. We will examine the story lines like the USA-Canada angle of course but the real story is what is actually happening within the company. The WWF has greater attendance but ratings and PPV buys are down. We're less than two months away from Vince McMahon coming to Bret to tell him, "I can't afford your contract." We know that the following month, Vince "found the money." But how? We examine what changes the company made to cut costs and raise revenues, some that fans wouldn't have ever even noticed. Of course at the end of this show, Bret would become champion. If he hadn't, would the "screwjob" have ever happened three months later? Why did Vince still go with Bret as champion here? What were people saying about Shawn's knee? What happened before, during, and after Owen piledrove Austin? Of course we examine the love heaped on Whitman for changing the tax situation in New Jersey for the WWF and the silly million dollar contest with calling fans live on the air. Join us on a "State of the WWF" for the Summer of 1997! Pre-Order the Roast of Bruce Prichard, the Monday Night War Debate with Bruce & Eric, and 20 other shows for just $79 at FITE.tv/starrcast -- but hurry, offer ends 8/10! Want more content? Want the shows early and ad free? Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/SomethingToWrestle New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, Scotland, Ireland, England, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask a question about Hogan 1989 next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle or twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com Take your manhood to the max by trying Ageless Male Max and get your first 30-day bottle FREE – just pay shipping and handling - when you text the word “SLAM” to 79 79 79

This is a sleeper episode! Bruce and Conrad discuss the brand split and how it allowed guys to be featured who may not normally have a chance to do so, why the US Title was created, the rumor and innuendo surrounding Zack Gowen, the infamous HBO interview where Vince got frustrated discussing deaths in wrestling, why Hogan left, the original plan for Hogan and what the backup plan was, Chris Bell's brief run backstage, Billy Kidman being the envy of the locker room, why Terry Taylor was out (again), the Sable-Stephanie brawls backstage, the hilarious indecent proposal angle with Noble, why Ultimo Dragon didn't work out, why Crash Holly was let go, why Brother Love was brought back, how Vince got busted open, and why the title was switched at this show! This is another "State of the WWE" in 2003 episode--don't miss it! Want more content? Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/SomethingToWrestle to hear Bruce cover the Undertaker losing at WrestleMania 30 and Mick Foley winning his first world title in January '99! New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, the UK, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask a question about SummerSlam 1997 next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle or twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com Take your manhood to the max by trying Ageless Male Max and get your first 30-day bottle FREE – just pay shipping and handling - when you text the word “SLAM” to 79 79 79 Get a month supply of ForHims for just $5 at ForHims.com/WWE

What were the original plans for the Invasion angle? When did they change? Why did they change? What missteps were made? Was McMahon impatient? The "dream" angle became a nightmare, but why? Bruce and Conrad examine the ins-and-outs of the "Dream Card" that didn't live up to the hype on today's edition of Something to Wrestle! Want more content? Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/SomethingToWrestle New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, the UK, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask a question about the Vengeance 2003 next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle or twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com Take your manhood to the max by trying Ageless Male Max and get your first 30-day bottle FREE – just pay shipping and handling - when you text the word “SLAM” to 79 79 79 Visit BlueChew.com and get your first shipment FREE when use our special promo code WRESTLE - Just pay $5 shipping!

Anti-American "gimmicks" have been done in wrestling for decades but Muhammad Hassan is the only character to ever be banned from television in the WWE. Join Bruce and Conrad as they examine the "how" and "why" of one of the most controversial characters in wrestling history. Who had this idea originally? How was it different than what had been done before? How did they choose who would portray the character? What were the booking plans before the incident? How did the man behind the character handle the success? What REALLY happened with him in "Wrestler's Court" and what was the verdict? What were the choices considered once the incident was already taped but had not yet aired? How did Vince react to the negative mainstream coverage of the angle? Did the WWE ruin a guy's career with one bad decision? The "what if" of this character and a single decision could have changed everything. And of course the guys get it over whether or not they should have done the character in the first place. Enjoy two hours and no one is going to agree about, the story of Muhammad Hassan! Want more content? Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/SomethingToWrestle Rochester, New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, the UK, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask a question about the Invasion PPV next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle or twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com Take your manhood to the max by trying Ageless Male Max and get your first 30-day bottle FREE – just pay shipping and handling - when you text the word “SLAM” to 79 79 79 Get your first three meals free from BlueApron.com/wrestling Consolidate your credit card debt and get a discounted rate at LightStream.com/WRESTLE

We're struttin' and cuttin' this week on Something to Wrestle as we do three hours on Brutus the f'n Barber Beefcake! That's #BTFBB for short! We discuss who came up with the name Brutus Beefcake, the original gimmick, how it became a barber, whose idea that was, how it was received, who helped Brutus see how to get it over, why he never won the IC title in 88, why he was chosen to be by Hogan's side in 89 vs. Zeus/Savage, what the plans were at SummerSlam 90, all about the accident and the recovery, the run-in experiment, the return in 93, why he left, his legacy, whether or not he's a Hall of Famer, and much more! Want more content? Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/SomethingToWrestle Rochester, New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, the UK, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask a question about Hussan next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle or twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And don't miss our CM Punk episode next Wednesday on the WWE Network! Support our sponsors and , just pay $5 shipping and handling Visit BlueChew.com and get your first shipment FREE when use our promo code WRESTLE - just pay $5 shipping!

Rochester, New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Watch Bruce answer your Sable questions LIVE next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Ask questions for the "King of the Ring 1998" episode right now: twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And don't miss our "Big Evil" Undertaker episode next Wednesday on the WWE Network! Support our sponsors and visit lightstream.com/wrestle to get .5% off of your next loan and text SLAM to 79-79-79 for a FREE 30 day supply of Ageless Male Max, just pay shipping and handling

The Sable story is unlike any other. There's an old saying about keeping your wife away from the business but Marc Mero didn't listen. He brought her to meet Vince McMahon in 1996 and nothing was ever the same. Perhaps no one could have predicted the star she would become when she debuted at WrestleMania 12 with Hunter Hearst Helmsley. We can't help but cover the story of Marc Mero's push, IC run, and the horrible timing of his ACL injury. But that ACL injury presented an opportunity for Rena Mero to become the biggest female star in the company. What night does Bruce think "made" Sable in 1997? Fast forward a year later and she's making her debut as a wrestler at WrestleMania! Who has their first ever match at WrestleMania? SABLE! Of course that decision would come back to haunt the WWF when Sable sued them a year later. We discuss the way the "boys" treated Sable, her relationship with the other ladies (specifically Luna and Jackie), the heat that Mero took for his wife's push, whether or not it hurt Marc to take her powerbomb, the way the first Playboy deal came together, the controversial TSN appearance, the second offer from Playboy and how it changed everything, Sable asking for her release the first time, her demand to stop wrestling, her refusal to drop the belt, the unbelievable handwritten note, the conditional terms that the company granted for their release, her lawsuit in great detail, her appearance on Nitro and how it complicated things, the root of the lawsuit and why Vince didn't back down, a guess as to how it was settled, how Rena came back, why Mero did not, her relationship with Brock, the silliness of Vince and Sable, the crazy angles involving Linda and Stephanie, and how the relationship ended a second time. We also examine the many times Meltzer "buried" Sable, what Sable said no one wanted to "boo," which Vince was responsible for her initial push, who really made room for her to be the top lady in the business, her legacy, why she isn't featured more in the WWE packages today, and whether or not she deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Rochester, New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Watch Bruce answer your Sable questions LIVE next week: facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Ask questions for the "King of the Ring 1998" episode right now: twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And don't miss our "Big Evil" Undertaker episode next Wednesday on the WWE Network! Support our sponsors and visit lightstream.com/wrestle to get .5% off of your next loan and text SLAM to 79-79-79 for a FREE 30 day supply of Ageless Male Max, just pay shipping and handling

Business was down for the WWE in 2003 compared to 2002, but why? Bruce Prichard and Conrad Thompson discuss "the State of the WWE" for two hours this week and it's based around Bad Blood 2003, which exceeded expectations. Was it the Hell in a Cell that was responsible for the bump in business? Was it the return of Mick Foley? The show also featuring a burping contest, a poontang pie eating contest, and a singing contest -- who booked this?! Nobody was asking that for Flair-Michaels, a full five years before the famous retirement match. You'll also hear details about the beginning of Evolution, how Vince got Christian to cut his hair, why Rocky Johnson didn't last in developmental, why Sahadi left, why Jamal left, how Sable and Mero were doing, Nowinski's career, the spot with Steiner that everyone talks about on this show, how Test went into business for himself, the rib that McMahon played during this show, what Goldberg veto'ed in his match with Jericho, and what this show led two just two weeks later. On the exact 15 year anniversary of this show, don't miss another "sleeper episode" filled with hours about a very interesting time for a company in transition, it's all about the WWE in 2003! Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rochester, New York, San Antonio, Winston Salem, LA, and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask questions for the "Sable" episode right now: www.facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Vote in our upcoming polls: www.twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And don't miss our JEFF HARDY episode next Wednesday on the WWE Network!

The Summer of 1993 might be one of the most interesting times in the history of the WWF. With the Federal investigation looming, Vince McMahon steps down as President of Titan Sports after 12 years in the role, Tom Cole's story and the "ring boy scandal" continues to twist in the media, Hulk Hogan is working with NJPW but he's the WWF Champion and he wants to leave to do TV full time, Bret Hart feels like his opportunity to be the top guy was taken from him by a "half-in" Hogan, Yokozuna is the monster heel Vince loves, and somebody needs him at SummerSlam. But wasn't Hart-Hogan the plan at SummerSlam? What subtle hints were dropped on this broadcast and what "out" did Vince leave himself with the booking? Of course Bruce discusses the incredible performance by Bret Hart, a rusty Mr. Perfect who doesn't look rusty at all, a hot angle with Lawler to finish the show. the silly photographer outfit, and the weird transitional period within the company where stars from the "golden era" like Hacksaw Duggan are still in the company when guys like Razor, Diesel, and Shawn are coming into their own. And oh yeah, the guys discuss that "European tour" that got them into the worst fight in show history back on the WrestleMania IX episode. Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rochester, New York, San Antonio and LA on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask questions for the "Bad Blood 2003" episode right now: www.facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Vote in our upcoming polls: www.twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And find out if we still have a video show next Wednesday on the WWE Network!

You won't believe what Bob Holly thought of working for Jerry Jarrett in Memphis, or maybe you will, but his story doesn't stop there. Nobody has a story like Bob Holly. From quitting his job to wrestle to quitting wrestling to get a job and back again, he got his big break out of nowhere and felt like he was going nowhere as "Thurman 'Sparky' Plugg" for Vince McMahon. Bruce discusses Bob's claims of poor pay from the company in 1994, dropped Thurman for Bob, the real life racing situation that wasn't just a gimmick, his brief IC situation with Jarrett, why the Waltman tag title win happened, his run-ins with the Kliq, the JOB Squad, the Hardcore Championship, Crash, BB, Molly, Kurt Angle breaking his arm, Brock Lesnar breaking his neck, when and how the Tough Enough situation happened, the fall out from that both good and bad, being recruited by Eric Bischoff, the huge gash on his back on ECW TV, the rumored fight with Rene Dupree, standing up to Vince, the pill rumor involving Ken Anderson, his heat with Cody, and his legacy in the business! I GOT AN IDEAL! Why don't you listen to over three hours of Hardcore Holly! Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rochester, New York, San Antonio and LA on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask questions for the King of the Ring 1993 episode right now: www.facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Vote in our upcoming polls: www.twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And bro, don't miss "Something ELSE to Wrestle" covering WWECW this Wednesday on the WWE Network!

Instead of a single topic in long form this week, Conrad lets YOU ask Bruce the questions! The result is questions about anything and everything including Adam Bomb, Bruce's "WCW Dream Team" for the Invasion, Bruce's WCW gimmick as a manager, why Shamrock left, why Joey Styles wasn't on WrestleMania, babyfaces being clean shaven, Windham's "Widowmaker" gimmick, Vince as a heel in Memphis in 1993, the custody match with Rey & Eddie, the Warrior Award, Jericho's secret meeting with Vince, 02 compared to 03, Heyman negotiating for talent on SmackDown, the "do not view" tapes in the WWE library, Martel not being in the HOF, McMahon versus God, booking a Rumble, Austin's original WM13 opponent, what if Sting signed in 87 instead of Warrior, a WWF Casino, Kung Fu WWE, Brawl for All in 2018, Karelin and Gardner in the WWE, Vince living in a bubble, WWF in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Freddie Prinze Jr. in the WWE, Patterson's relationship with Savage, Saba Simba silliness, the hate from Simon Dean, the JBL-Joey Styles fight, the Tim White suicide skits, exploding death matches in the WWE, and more! Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rochester, New York, San Antonio and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask questions for the Bob Holly episode right now: www.facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Vote in our upcoming polls: www.twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And bro, don't miss "Something ELSE to Wrestle" covering John Cena this Wednesday on the WWE Network!

It's all about Davey Boy Smith with more than three hours on the "British Bulldog!" Of course Bruce and Conrad discuss Dynamite's injury, the infamous ribs from the Bulldogs, the Rougeau fight, why the Bulldogs left the WWF, how Davey wrangled the Bulldog name, his relationship with Dynamite, all of the feuds through 90-91, the May 1992 suspension, the famous SummerSlam 92 match with Bret, why Bret was disappointed in Davey heading into that match, how Davey responded to dropping the IC to Shawn, more details about the phone call between Vince and Warrior that got Davey fired in late 92, his 1994 return, the lawsuit that hung over him like a black cloud, his classic matches with Bret in 95 and Shawn in 96, what story line really curtailed his potential, his negotiation tactics in 1996 and how he frustrated Vince, the tag team with Owen, the first European title run, how Meltzer described Bulldog's fandom in Europe, tons of details behind the heat at One Night Only in 1997, the contract buyout after the Screwjob, when and how Vince brought him back, the less-than-steller run in 99, the silly dog food angles, why his run ended with Vince, and not "if" but "how" Bruce thinks he should go into the WWE Hall of Fame! Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rochester, New York, San Antonio and Phoenix on sale now: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask questions for the "#LoveToKnow episode" right now: www.facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Vote in our poll for the 6/1 episode right now: www.twitter.com/PrichardShow Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And bro, don't miss "Something ELSE to Wrestle" covering Vince Russo this Wednesday on the WWE Network!

The 1992 Royal Rumble is regarded as being THE best Royal Rumble of all time. Bruce wasn't there so as a special bonus episode, Bruce and Conrad provide alternate commentary! So fire up the WWE Network, press mute and list to the guys cover all of the news and notes from the WWF at the time. Of course no one can hold a candle to Bobby Heenan's commentary so the guys talk about Ventura's lawsuit, Billy Graham trashing the company on TV over steroids, why Elizabeth came off the road, how the house shows were doing with Flair-Hogan on top, the time the Nasty Boys got into a fight at a red light, Bret trying to jump to WCW in 1992, why the IC title was switched to the Mountie at a house show, Art Barr and Konnan's try outs with the WWF, Kerry's arrest, the Rocker's split, Tatanka coming in, SummerSlam 92 in Maryland (?!), Snuka being fired, the out of the ring problems with Hawk, and much more about the WWF in 1992! Come see us LIVE in Chicago, Rochester, Pittsburgh, New York: www.BrucePrichard.com Ask questions for the "British Bulldog episode" right now: www.twitter.com/PrichardShow Catch up with the Morning Deuce with Bruce every morning: www.facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle Tees are at BrucePrichard.com and everything else is at BoxOfGimmicks.com Save Yourself Some Money: www.SaveWithBruce.com And don't miss "Something ELSE to Wrestle" covering Roddy Piper this Wednesday on the WWE Network!