Explore every episode of the podcast New to Wrestling Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Game Chaos: Tag Team Truth Bombs with "Miami" Mike Walker & Vinny Talotta | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:49:07 | |
In this New to Wrestling: After Dark episode, hosts Kelsey Silva and Xavier sit down with indie tag team standouts "Miami" Mike Walker and Vinny Talotta, better known as The Post Game, for a conversation that’s part locker room banter, part wrestling masterclass. Mike and Vinny open up about their wrestling origins, training experiences, and the grind of building a name across different territories. They share how their tag team chemistry clicks, their favorite matches, and the challenges — and payoffs — of carving out a reputation in the independent scene. We also get the inside scoop on their recent clash with Shot Through the Heart for the Focus Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championships, their dream to wrestle in Europe and Japan, and the role confidence plays in their in-ring style. Highlights Include:
Whether you’re a diehard wrestling fan or just discovering the scene beyond the big leagues, this episode offers an intimate, unfiltered look at two up-and-coming wrestlers chasing big goals — and having a blast along the way. 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! | |||
| Stone Cold Steve Austin Holds Monday Night Raw Hostage (Raw is War 3/9/998) | 07 Aug 2025 | 01:03:32 | |
This week on New to Wrestling, we’re taking it back to March 9, 1998 — a night where the glow-in-the-dark sticks were out, the People’s Elbow got its official christening, and the Attitude Era served up its usual recipe of chaos, questionable fashion choices, and about three disqualifications too many. From Sable getting humiliated in heels that could outrun Jurassic Park raptors, to Farooq teaching The Rock a little Nation of Domination tough love, to Shawn Michaels swooping in for a superkick with a very broken back — this episode had it all. Oh, and yes, we finally got one full match from bell to bell. Miracles do happen. Match Card:
📚 Book Club Alert: We’re also deep into our Reading the Ring wrestling book club, currently reading There’s Just One Problem by Brian Gewirtz. New videos drop weekly on our YouTube channel — subscribe and read along so you can join the chaos 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! | |||
| Matt Awesome: Music, The Mecca, and the Soul of the Chancla | 12 Jun 2025 | 01:21:22 | |
Wrestling is art—and Matt Awesome lives that truth with every bump, beat, and Bronx-infused promo. In this After Dark session, Matt joins Kelsey and Xavier to talk about everything from his deep-rooted love of music (and how every promo has a secret Easter egg) to surviving a terrifying in-ring asthma attack that nearly ended his career. He shares how that moment lit a fire under him to take his health seriously, train with the best, and reframe what it means to push through—on the mat and in life. We get into the birth of the Uptown Boyz, why nobody hits harder than your best friend, and how tag team chemistry isn’t something you fake. Plus: what it’s like to wrestle your heroes (Savio Vega and Homicide), build a signature weapon blessed by the souls of a thousand abuelitas, and fight for legacy as much as titles. Also, if you’ve ever wanted to know whether Kelsey and Xavier would survive taking a bump… well, we might find out soon. 🎶 Signed chanclas. Chair tattoos. Bronx storytelling. This one hits different. Timestamps
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! | |||
| The Rock wins Gold, Shawn Michaels Relinquishes WWF Title; Bret Hart & Stone Cold at it again; and The Headbangers Debut | 01 Feb 2024 | 01:07:56 | |
On this edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast we review the February 13, 1997 episode Thursday Raw Thursday! We breakdown every Match on the card; Rocky Maivia wins the Intercontinental Championship; Shawn Michaels must relinquish his the WWF Championship due to injury which makes the upcoming Fatal 4-Way between Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vader, and The Undertaker a championship match! Trouble continues for the tag-team champions, Owen Hart and The British Bulldog & The Headbangers make their WWF debut! 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! | |||
| Episode 39: Bret Hart attacks Stone Cold; The Undertaker...No Holds Barred; Royal Rumble Raw | 25 Jan 2024 | 01:24:49 | |
On this installment of The New to Wrestling Podcast we watched the February 3, 1997 edition of Monday Night Raw. Raw has switched to the 2-Hour format we know and love! We review every match on the card; Bret Hart Seeks revenge against Stone Cold and Shawn Michaels; Tag- Team and Intercontinental Championships on the line; The Undertaker teams with Ahmed Johnson to take on Farooq and Mankind in a NO HOLDS BARRED tag-team match! 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! | |||
| Episode 38: In-Ring confrontation between Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Vader, & Stone Cold Steve Austin | 18 Jan 2024 | 01:04:30 | |
On this week's episode we reviewed the January 27, 1997 edition of Monday Night Raw! We review every match on the Card. Ahmed Johnson's feud with the Nation of Domination continues leaving us with a new view of Ahmed, Shawn Michaels interview ends with chaos when Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Vader, and Stone Cold come out to give the champion a piece of their mind, Turmoil ensues between the tag-team champions and the unlikely combo of Mankind and Vader team up to take on the Godwins! We respond to a viewer/listener comment & More! 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! | |||
| Episode 37: Bret Hart Quits the WWF; Stone Cold Steve Austin has a lot to say; and Royal Rumble '97 Fallout | 11 Jan 2024 | 00:55:29 | |
On this episode of the New to Wrestling podcast we covered the January 20, 1997 edition of Monday Night Raw. We review every match on the card; Bret Hart is not happy with the results of the Royal Rumble Match; Tag-team Champions Owen Hart & The British Bulldog in Action; Blockbuster Fatal 4-Way Announced for the #1 Contendership & More!! 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! | |||
| Episode 36: Stone Cold Steve Austin wins the 1997 Royal Rumble; Ahmed Johnson Seeks Revenge; Did Shawn Michael's regain the WWF Championship | 05 Jan 2024 | 01:24:32 | |
On this edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast we enjoyed the 1997 Edition of the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View. We review every match on the card; Does Goldust extract revenge against Triple H for laying hands on Marlena?; Ahmed Johnson and the Nation of Domination feud deepens; Paul Bearer gets the better of the Undertaker...Again; Stone Cold wins the Royal Rumble in controversial fasion; and HBK looks to regain the WWF Championship in his hometown. 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! | |||
| Episode 35: Stone Cold Steve Austin sends Bret Hart a message; Goldust is pissed; The final Raw before the Royal Rumble '97 | 28 Dec 2023 | 00:48:27 | |
On this week's edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast we discuss the January 13, 1997 edition of Monday Night Raw. We review every match on the card, Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid exchange promos, Hunter Hurst Helmsley leaves his tag-team partner out to dry, Goldust is focused on Hunter and the intercontinental title, Stone Cold Steve Austin isn't done messing with Bret "The Hitman" Hart, & More. 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! | |||
| Episode 34: Marlena Flashes the Audience; Sports Podcast Awards; ECW Explained; The Road to the Royal Rumble Continues | 21 Dec 2023 | 01:08:19 | |
This week we watch the January 6, 1997 edition of Monday Night Raw. We breakdown every match on the card; Marlena uses her feminine wiles to help Goldust; We discuss the importance of ECW to the Attitude Era; The Undertaker sends a message to Vader; and the Road to the Royal Rumble is getting WILD! 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! | |||
| Episode 33: Shawn Michaels & Bret Hart Face-to-Face; HHH Kidnaps Marlena?; Royal Rumble Build up. | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:44:30 | |
On this edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast, we watched the December 30, 1996 edition of Monday Night Raw! We review every match on the card; Stone Cold Steve Austin in Tag-Team action; The World Title picture gets a little muddier when The Undertaker and Vader are added to the mix; Bret " The Hitman" Hart and "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels exchange words in a face-to-face interview! Stay Tuned for next when Kelsey gives us her prediction for the 1997 Royal Rumble (Shhh....Don't tell her) 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! | |||
| Episode 32: Royal Rumble | 07 Dec 2023 | 00:23:37 | |
This week on the New to Wrestling Podcast we are talking all things Royal Rumble! Our Lovely co-host has fallen ill and with the Royal Rumble Rapidly approaching both in our spot in the podcast and in real time. We thought it would be as good a time as any to take a deep dive into the Royal Rumble match. Xavier goes over the history of the Royal Rumble, shares his favorite rumble moments, and his predictions for this year's winners! Stay tuned to the end for some bloopers from the inception of the show! 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! | |||
| Episode 31: Where was Stone Cold!?; We meet the Honky Tonk Man; WWF has Attitude | 30 Nov 2023 | 00:50:29 | |
This week we discussed the December 23, 1996 Edition of Monday Night Raw! We review every match on the card; Marc Mero challenges HHH for the intercontinental championship; Rocky Maivia continues to impress; Kelsey gets introduced to the Honky Tonk Man; Several Superstars get called out for their "attitude" & MORE! 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! | |||
| The Prospector's Path: Wes Barker's Wrestling Journey | 05 Jun 2025 | 01:10:50 | |
This week on New to Wrestling: After Dark, we’re joined by “The Prospector” Wes Barker—independent wrestler, old-school soul, and walking masterclass in how to grind with grace. From training under Chris Knight to Reality of Wrestling with Booker T, Wes takes us through a journey built on passion, adaptability, and a little chaos (like debuting in front of the puppeteers from Fraggle Rock—yes, really). We talk about learning to work a crowd with no camera to save you, what it means to be character-first in a world chasing clout, and why sometimes the most important thing you can do is listen to the silence between moves. We get into the difference between TV wrestling and indie madness, the art of staying present when the match goes off-script, and how Wes manages to keep it real even when the bookings get weird. There’s talk of Kentucky, camaraderie, and keeping territory-era authenticity alive in 2025. Whether you’re deep in the indies or just getting your boots laced, this one’s for the folks who know wrestling’s about more than spots—it’s about stories, heart, and showing up better every time. Timestamps:
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! | |||
| Episode 30: Bret Hart Puts Stone Cold in Sharpshooter TWICE; Goldust called Queer; The WWF Christmas Carolers? | 23 Nov 2023 | 00:58:03 | |
On this Episode we watched the December 16, 1996 edition of Monday Night Raw! 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! | |||
| Episode 29: In Your House: It's Time; Bret Hart vs. Sycho Sid, Ahmed Johnson Returns, Mankind in a straight jacket | 16 Nov 2023 | 01:19:10 | |
On this edition we watched the In Your House: It's Time (1996) Pay-Per-View! We review every match on the card, Stone Cold Steve Austin makes his presence felt in multiple matches, Owen Hart and the British Bulldog defend the tag-team championships, Ahmed Johnson returns to the WWF, Referee Earl Hebner throws his weight around, & the WWF championship match ends in controversy. 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! | |||
| Episode 28: Mankind & The Undertaker No Holds Barred, Bret Hart has choice words for Sycho Sid, Champion vs. Champion | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:43:22 | |
On this week's episode of the NEW TO WRESTLING PODCAST we watched the December 9,1996 edition of Monday Night Raw. We review every match on the card, Sycho Sid takes on Hunter Hurst Helmsley in a Champion vs. Champion match, Bret Hart addresses the Champion ahead of their world title bout, No love lost between the Gunn Siblings, and Mankind and The Undertaker tear each other apart in a no hold barred match! 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! | |||
| Episode 27: Shawn Michaels Doesn't Care Anymore, Chaos ensues between Bret Hart; Stone Cold; Sycho Sid; and the British Bulldog | 02 Nov 2023 | 00:42:14 | |
This week we watched the December 2, 1996 Edition of Monday Night Raw. We review every match on the card, Kelsey and Xavier Dress as The Undertaker and Sting! The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels is done apologizing, chaos ensued at a London live event that involved 6 superstars, More matches announced for In Your House PPV, and much more on this Halloween Edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast 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! | |||
| The Rock's Monday Night Raw Debut | 26 Oct 2023 | 01:00:24 | |
On this week's edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast we are discussing the November 25, 1996 edition of Monday Night Raw, We discuss every match on the card, Rocky Maivia debuts on Raw and Sonny is obsessed, Shawn Micheals speaks for the first time since losing the title, Stone Cold sends a message to Bret Hart, and Triple H is not done with Marc Mero by a longshot. 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! | |||
| Shawn Michaels and 90's Masculinity | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:56:33 | |
On this week's edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast we are discussing the November 18, 1996 edition of Monday Night Raw, We discuss every match on the card, Mankind and Stone Cold fight all over the arena, We do a little "Where are they now" with Sonny, Sycho Sid addresses the fans for the first time as the World Champion, and we go in depth on Shawn Michaels brand of masculinity and how it ruffled feathers in the 90's, all that & MORE! 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! | |||
| The Debut of The Rock (Survivor Series 1996) | 12 Oct 2023 | 01:11:01 | |
On this week's edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast we are discussing the Survivor Series '96 Pay-Per-View! We see the debut of The Rock as well as the formation of the Nation of Domination. Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin put on a wrestling clinic, The Undertaker and Mankind continue their feud, and Shawn Michaels puts his championship on the line against the impressive challenger in Sycho Sid & more on this week's edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast! 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! | |||
| Stone Cold Steve Austin confronts Bret Hart? | 05 Oct 2023 | 00:45:44 | |
On this week's edition of the New to Wrestling Podcast we make our final stop on the road to The Survivor Series '96 with the November 11, 1996 edition of Monday Night Raw! The Tag-Team Champions, The British Bulldog & Owen Hart defend against WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and the #1 Contender, Sycho Sid, Stone Cold Steve Austin is hellbent on sending Bret Hart a message, and The Undertaker continues his mind games...All that and MORE! 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! | |||
| Stone Cold Breaks into Brian Pillman's Home | 28 Sep 2023 | 01:06:43 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the November 4, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, The Undertaker has a message for Paul Bearer and Mankind, Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid meet face to face a head of their match at the Survivor Series, Stone Cold Steve Austin pays Brian Pillman a house call and lets just say he is no doctor. All that and much more on this weeks edition! 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! | |||
| Stone Cold's New Attitude | 21 Sep 2023 | 01:06:51 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the October 28, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, Stone Cold is done waiting for his turn, Shawn Michaels is a master story-teller, A Marc Mero Promo we loved, and who is Jessie James?! All that & MORE! 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! | |||
| The Rock's Self-Portrait & We Went to Anniversary 8 (Raw is War: 2.16.1998) | 29 May 2025 | 01:09:53 | |
This week, we dust off the VCR and jump back into the chaos of the Attitude Era with the February 16, 1998 episode of Raw Is War—and y’all, it’s a MESS in the best way. Kelsey remembers the Quebecers just in time, Xavier’s stressed about the Legion of Doom’s ongoing dumpster trauma, and we all agree that Jackyl’s “intellectual intercourse” is a war crime. PLUS: We talk about our trip to Anniversary 8: A Jurassic Celebration, give major love to Vince Steele Jr. and the Mecca crowd, and try to process The Rock giving out Rolexes… and a framed portrait of himself. Match Card Highlights:
🪩 Sable’s still THAT girl. 🪓 Chainsaws are swinging. 📸 And Kane may or may not have sent Doc to the underworld. We’re back on the road to WrestleMania 14 and trying (emphasis on trying) to keep our sanity. 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! | |||
| Bret Hart Returns & Triple H Steals the Intercontinental Championship | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:45:32 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the October 21, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, Sycho Sid and HBK's Friendship looks strained, The Smoking Gunns are unraveling as a team, Owen Hart gets a new look, and Bret "Hitman" Hart makes return to the WWE & More 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! 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! | |||
| Buried Alive | 17 Aug 2023 | 01:14:26 | |
On this week's episode we watched the In Your House: Buried Alive PPV. Listen to us review every match on the card, Everybody's got a bone to pick with Mr. Perfect, Ahmed Johnson extracts some revenge on Faarooq, We get a new #1 Contender, and WHO GETS BURIED ALIVE?!? 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! | |||
| Handcuffed to the Ring!?! | 10 Aug 2023 | 00:58:18 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the October 14, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, Mankind and The Undertaker give their final promos leading up to their Buried Alive Match, Jake "The Snake" Roberts gets his revenge on The King, Ahmed Johnson and Faarooq feud on air, & More 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! | |||
| Which Giant will be the #1 Contender!? | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:46:53 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the October 7, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, Mankind and The Undertaker give promos leading up to their Buried Alive Match, Fake Diesel makes his in-ring debut, The identity of the real Double "J" revealed, & More! 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! | |||
| The Debut of Fake Razor Ramon and Diesel | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:47:40 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the September 30, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, Mankind and The Undertaker give promos leading up to their Buried Alive Match, Fake Razor Ramon has his in-ring debut, Jim Ross is fueding with the WWF & More! 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! | |||
| Sunny and Sable Catfight | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:52:41 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the September 23, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, the Intercontinental Championship Tournament concludes, Sonny and Sable get into a catfight, Razor Ramon and Diesel Return, and Jim Ross is unhinged, & More! 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! | |||
| In Your House: Mind Games | 13 Jul 2023 | 00:53:03 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched In Your House: Mind Games (1996). Listen as we review of every match on the card, our reaction to the shocking announcement of the Buried Alive Match, Mankind brings a coffin to his match, ECW Invades?, & MORE! 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! | |||
| Jim Ross is a Liar?!? | 29 Jun 2023 | 00:33:05 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the September 16, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, The Intercontinental Championship tournament semi-finals, the debut of The Sultan, Sycho Sid plays 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! | |||
| The Undertaker Returns! | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:33:02 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the September 9, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, The Intercontinental Championship tournament continues, Shawn Michaels has some choice words for Mankind, The Undertaker Returns to action and MORE! 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! | |||
| The Intercontinental Championship Tournament | 15 Jun 2023 | 00:34:29 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the September 6, 1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, The Intercontinental Championship tournament is heating up, We discuss why Stone Cold Steve Austin wears all black, the return of Big Daddy Cool Diesel and Razor Ramon? & MORE! 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! | |||
| After Dark: Everything Is Wrestling – A Crossover with Invasion Angle Podcast | 22 May 2025 | 01:18:59 | |
In our first-ever crossover event, the New to Wrestling crew links up with the brilliant (and brilliantly unhinged) minds behind the Invasion Angle podcast—Johnny, Jason, and Chris—for a late-night wrestling roundtable that goes way off the rails in the best way. We cover everything from how these lifelong friends and film school grads bonded over suplexes and storytelling, to how ECW changed their brains forever. We break down three wild matches—Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka, Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon, and PAC vs. Orange Cassidy—and explore everything from chair shots and shooting star presses to why Orange Cassidy is lowkey a comedy genius. Also on the table: indie wrestling horror stories (yes, there’s blood), the underrated genius of Toni Storm, why Paul Heyman is either your hero or your villain, and how a wrestling podcast became a lifelong group chat with mics. If you’ve ever wanted to hear five wrestling fans spiral into chaos over Bryce Remsburg, Plexiglas, and the psychology of match time, this is your moment. Welcome to After Dark. 🎧 Check out the Invasion Angle podcast wherever you listen—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more. For indie match breakdowns, wild stories from the front row, and the kind of wrestling commentary you won’t hear anywhere else, follow them at @invasionangle and @invasionanglepodcast on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Timestamps:
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! | |||
| The Boiler Room Brawl | 08 Jun 2023 | 00:31:33 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the August 19,1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, we discuss the Boiler Room Brawl and the main event from Summerslam 1996, a new #1 Contender is crowned, and we begin the Intercontinental Championship tournament! 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! | |||
| The Bikini Beach Blast Off | 01 Jun 2023 | 00:34:30 | |
On this episode of The New Wrestling Podcast we watched the August 12,1996 edition of raw. Listen to review every match on the card, we discuss sexism in WWF, Kelsey get introduced to Bret Hart, and more on the final stop before SummerSlam 1996! 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! | |||
| Battle Royal | 25 May 2023 | 00:31:08 | |
This week on the New To Wrestling Podcast, Xavier and Kelsey discuss Monday Night Raw from August, 1996! Tune in to hear a review of each match on the card, a discussion around a Shawn Michaels interview, we get an update on the mystery wrestler and more! 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! | |||
| Undertaker VS. Stone Cold Steve Austin | 18 May 2023 | 00:34:16 | |
This week on the New To Wrestling Podcast, Xavier and Kelsey discuss Monday Night Raw from July 29, 1996! Tune in to hear a review of each match on the card, we get a sneak peak of a mystery wrestler, and we discuss how Mankind creates chaos ahead of the boiler room brawl. 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! | |||
| Farooq's Debut | 04 May 2023 | 00:31:53 | |
This week on the New To Wrestling Podcast, Xavier and Kelsey discuss Monday Night Raw from July 22, 1996! Tune in to hear a review of each match on the card, we learn about jobbers, Shawn Michaels' Birthday, and the debut of Farooq! 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! | |||
| International Incident (1996) | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:29:43 | |
This week on the New To Wrestling Podcast, Xavier and Kelsey discuss our first Pay-Per-View Event, International Incident (1996). Tune in to hear a review of each match on the card, a discussion on Shawn Michael's story telling abilities, An explanation of the upcoming Boiler Room Brawl between the Undertaker and Mankind, and more! 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! | |||
| Undertaker Vignette | 20 Apr 2023 | 00:30:28 | |
This week on the New To Wrestling Podcast, Xavier and Kelsey discuss Monday Night Raw from July 15, 1996! Tune in to hear a review of each match on the card, a review of an Undertaker vignette, a wrestling plumber and a confrontational conclusion leading up to In Your House: International Incident (1996)! 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! | |||
| Where are the Women Wrestlers? | 13 Apr 2023 | 00:31:45 | |
This week on the New To Wrestling Podcast, Xavier and Kelsey discuss Monday Night Raw from July 8, 1996! Tune in to hear a review of each match on the card, Kelsey gets introduced to The Ultimate Warrior and a discussion on the role of women in wrestling and how it changes over time. 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! | |||
| Kelsey Meets Mankind. | 06 Apr 2023 | 00:27:56 | |
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! | |||
| The Attitude Era Begins | 29 Mar 2023 | 00:26:20 | |
"The first thing I want to be done, is to get that podcast uploaded and shared with the world!" 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! | |||
| After Dark: The Face of the Franchise - Jarett Diaz Interview | 15 May 2025 | 01:02:02 | |
On this episode of New to Wrestling: After Dark, we sit down with one of the sharpest minds—and smoothest talkers—in independent wrestling today: Jarett Diaz. From learning the ropes with a SmackDown writer in summer school, to grinding through the indies with wisdom beyond his years, Diaz brings a rare combo of humility, hustle, and heat. We dive deep into his start behind the scenes at WWE, why he wrestles with a notebook full of goals (and how he lost it), the pressure of representing his community in a hometown title match, and what it really means to be the face of the franchise. Plus: Full Sail stories, training at Pete Dunne’s school, match psychology against legends like Rich Swann, and the unexpected family drama that unfolds when your mom wants to throw hands with Dan Maff. This isn’t just an interview—it’s a wrestling masterclass from a rising star who’s not only chasing greatness, but lifting others as he climbs. 🎧 Listen now. 📱 Follow him at @thejarettdiaz Catch Jarett Diaz in Action! 🥊🔥
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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! | |||
| No Way Out - 1998 | 08 May 2025 | 01:00:52 | |
Buckle up, because this week on New to Wrestling, we dive headfirst into the absolute chaos that was WWF’s No Way Out of Texas: In Your House from 1998. The Road to WrestleMania 14 is rocky, wild, and (apparently) paved with barbed wire, broken chairs, and very dramatic camera angles. Xavier and Kelsey are covering it all—from the WTF?! moment that was Savio Vega’s surprise substitution, to a surprisingly emotional Vader moment, to Jerry Lawler somehow invoking Lee Harvey Oswald on pay-per-view. We talk Sable’s legendary pop, Goldust’s Marilyn Manson era (we wish we were kidding), and why Terry Funk sounds like your local union rep but fights like an absolute lunatic. Oh—and yes, someone does get hit in the face with a cartoonishly large wrench. It’s that kind of show. 🗣 Come for the chaos, stay for the commentary. We’re breaking it all down and laughing our way through one of the wildest pit stops on the way to Mania. Match Card:
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🎉 The New to Wrestling Podcast is proud to sponsor… ANNIVERSARY 8: A Jurassic Celebration — A Tribute to Vince Steele! Join us Memorial Day Weekend at The Mecca in Ridgefield Park, NJ for a night of high-impact action, unexpected twists, and big-time vibes. Featuring talent from Shadow Wrestling Alliance and Brii Combination Wrestling, this tribute show to the Jurassic Juggernaut himself is a must-see for Northeast wrestling fans. 👀 We’ll be there. Will you? 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! | |||
| After Dark: Becoming a Spectacle (WrestlemMania: 9 Documentary) | 01 May 2025 | 01:13:46 | |
Lights, togas, and a whole lot of backstage chaos—Becoming a Spectacle takes us behind the curtain of WrestleMania IX, and Kelsey and Xavier are here to break down every gloriously bizarre moment. From Hulk Hogan literally stealing the main event to the Undertaker being chloroformed by a 7-foot giant in an airbrushed bodysuit (you read that right), this documentary has everything: backstage betrayal, wild conspiracies, Vegas VIP drama, and a black eye that may or may not have come from Randy Savage’s fist. We get into the fan-favorite clown attack (or nightmare, depending on your feelings about Doink), the debut of baby Jim Ross in a toga, and a ringside seating price comparison that’ll make your mortgage look like pocket change. Kelsey questions the very origin of Las Vegas, Xavier subtly drags Hulk Hogan, and everyone agrees: Julie Youngberg’s HBK gear deserved its own spotlight. Plus, we talk about why this doc hits differently now that Triple H is running the show—and how WWE Unreal might be our new obsession. If you love hot takes, deep dives, and chaos in a parking lot turned coliseum, this one’s for you. TimeStamps: 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! | |||
| D’Evolve: WWE Evolve Is Here and It’s Already Unhinged | 28 Apr 2025 | 01:14:38 | |
The WWE just launched Evolve, and so naturally… we’re D’Evolving. In the debut episode of our new monthly series, we dive into the chaotic charm of WWE’s newest development brand where indie energy meets billion-dollar production. From mysterious sit-downs to full-on Gen Z tag-team douchebaggery (hi, Ricky Smokes), we’re tracking characters before they blow up—and losing our minds in the process. Kelsey is still new to wrestling. Xavi’s desperately trying to make it make sense. Together, they break down early standouts like Kali Armstrong (“I’m different”—and it works), the heartbreak of Javier Bernal’s losing streak, and the messy, magnetic energy of Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes. This is the ground floor. The tea is fresh. And the chaos is just getting started. Welcome to D’Evolve—where WWE talent levels up, and we slowly lose our minds trying to keep up. 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! | |||