HOW Mania: The 90s Wrestling Podcast

Ash and Paul are this week joined by the amazing Alex McCarthy (TalkSPORT/Wrestling Daily) to talk all things The Rock/Rocky Maivia/The Great One from his debut at Survivor Series 1996 through to the turn of the Millenium. Listen to the HOW Mania crew recall Rocky's start in wrestling, through his days with the Nation Of Domination, The Corporation and ending the decade as one half of the beloved Rock N' Sock Connection. Please do like and share our love letter to wrestling in the 90s and if you like what we do, you can of course subscribe. You can catch us on Twitter at HOWManiaPod, AshRoseUK and HOWPaulB.

Following on from our last episode taking a hatchet to the booking of Survivor Series 1992, Ash and Paul have this week blown up Survivor Series 1998 and tried to piece it back together as a traditional Survivor Series card. The conclusion? Well, it looks like there was a reason Vince went down the tournament route because a team elimination based card in late 1998 ain't all that pretty! Listen to what the guys came up with and then give us your spin on it by getting in touch on Twitter. How Mania: @HOWManiaPod Ash Rose: @AshRoseUK Paul Benson: @HOWPaulB Remember, tickets to Hooked On Wrestling's Royal Rumble viewing parties on Saturday January 29th are available now from our ticket booking site, www.hookedontickets.co.uk

We are back from our late Summer hiatus and with Survivor Series on the horizon, Ash and Paul are here with a new concept where they rebook the card from the 1992 edition of the event. Famously, it was the first Series without a single 'proper' Survivor Series match (Tag team double elimination matches just don't count!) but what would the show have looked like if it featured only 4 vs 4 team battles? Who would main event? Who would survive? Would we see some surprise debuts? Have a listen, mock our dreadful team names and hit us on on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod to tell us which of our matches you liked and what your suggestions would be for matches for the card. Thanks as always for supporting our podcast. Reviews on Apple Podcasts are always much appreciated.

We are back from our short Summer break with a banger of an episode. In the style of the old SilverVision format, we are launching our Tagged Classics theme where we review two related PPVs back to back and where better to start than with the first two SummerSlams of the 90s? In addition, we talk to one of the biggest names of the 90s, Jeff Jarrett about his My World podcast and his reigns as Intercontinental Champion in the 90s. Talking of SummerSlam, we are bringing back our live events with a SummerSlam 2021 viewing party in nine venues across the UK. You can get info and tickets from this link. Please also note our new social media platforms dedicated solely to viewing parties, podcasts and quizzes. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and our username on all three is HOWrestlingUK. Our HOW Mania Twitter feed is unchanged. Please reach out to us and chat wrestling any time on Twitter: Ash: @AshRoseUK Paul: @HOWPaulB

This week marks the 23rd anniversary of the most famous bump in wrestling history during the infamous Mankind vs. Undertaker Hell In A Cell Match at King Of The Ring 1998. Paul and Ash take a look back at this unique time in the Attitude era when Mick Foley used his unique mix of physical skills, charisma and vulnerability to make himself one of the biggest stars in wrestling, with this match being a key part of that. The guys discuss: - How the fame of the big bumps have completely warped the memories of the match as a whole. - Why the thumbtacks are just like a church in Rome. - What did the rest of the card offer behind this match? (Spoiler: Not a lot) - Where were we when we saw this match? This episode marks the end of the first season of HOW Mania. Thank you so much for your support for our first 20 episodes. We will be taking a 5-6 week break before coming back with our new bumper episode 'Tagged Classic: The glorious SummerSlams of 1990 and 1991' Tickets are still available for our massive SummerSlam viewing parties across the UK on Saturday 21st August. Find out your nearest venue and get tickets from www.hookedonwrestling.co.uk/tickets. Until then, stay in touch with us on Twitter with the following @'s @HOWManiaPod @AshRoseUK @HOWPaulB @HO_Wrestling

Welcome back to the latest edition of HOW Mania as Ash Rose and Paul Benson look back at the first ever King Of The Ring PPV in 1993. As this show is dominated by Bret Hart, the team are joined by Rob McNichol, the man who has hosted Bret's live shows in the UK on numerous occasions and even has his quote on the cover of Hart's autobiography! Who better to talk all things Hitman? As well as Bret's epic night we discuss Hulk Hogan and the presentation of the end of his WWF run as well as looking at the state of the company at that point and how this show fits into that landscape. Want to talk to us about 90s wrestling? Catch us on Twitter: HOW Mania - @HOWManiaPod Hooked On Wrestling - @HO_Wrestling Rob McNichol - @RobMcNichol Ash Rose - @AshRoseUK Paul Benson - @HOWPaulB

If you were a wrestling fan in the UK in the 1990s then there is a good chance you will have clutched a SilverVision WWF VHS at some point. From High Flyers, to SummerSlam 1992 to those classic WrestleMania covers, SilverVision releases were the window into wrestling for many of us back in the day. Ash and Paul talk this week to James Gallagher who worked for SilverVision back in the day who talks through the process of getting those titles released and some of the behind the scenes stories about what it took to get them stocked from WH Smith to Azad Video! Thank you for your continued support and we would love to hear your thoughts on our podcast. Reach out to us on Twitter with the following links: @HOWManiaPod @HO_Wrestling @HOWPaulB @AshRoseUK @themainevent00 (James) You can also check out the latest news and info every day at www.hookedonwrestling.co.uk

It's been a while since Prince encouraged us to party like it's 1999 but the tiny purple pop prince was right on the money, at least in wrestling sense! Ahead of this week's Throwback SmackDown, Ash and Paul go back to 1999 to the year the show was born to relive some of the highs and lows of a year that was packed with more action than any other in wrestling history. From the high's of the debut of Chris Jericho in the WWF to the lows of Kennel From Hell, this was a year for building new stars and keeping wrestling fans guessing throughout. Thank you for your support for HOW Mania and we hope you enjoy this week's rambling trip back in time. Let us know your 1999 highlights and what topics you would like to see us cover by reaching out on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod now.

After a WrestleMania enforced break, Ash Rose and Paul Benson are back with the latest episode of HOW Mania and it is time to go EXTREME! ECW was unarguably one of the most defining creative forces in 90s wrestling with their ideas stemming from a bingo hall in Philadelphia to reverberate around the world. But what of the talent that spent time in ECW during that period? Once they left the clutches of Paul Heyman, did they use their ECW experience and exposure as a springboard to fame and fortune? Or did they crash and burn once taken out of their natural environment? The guys look back on the biggest ECW names to discuss exactly how their time in the company influenced their later careers. In addition, Paul talks to one of the major names who found strong success due to his time in ECW, the one and only Al Snow! You can purchase Al Snow merchandise now from his Collar x Elbow store on Wrestle Merch Central. Thank you for continuing your support for us each week. Please do reach out and talk to us about all things 90s wrestling on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod and don’t be shy about leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Ash and Paul are back with the latest episode of HOW Mania: The 90s Wrestling Podcast. With WrestleMania being just a few weeks away, the guys look back of two of the most well remembered WrestleManias of the 90s – WrestleMania 8 & 9. No two back-to-back WrestleManias have ever contrasted so much. From venue, to match quality to names on the card. The gap between the two represents a true generational shift in WWE history. We even stick up for WrestleMania IX. Said by many to be the worst ‘Mania of all time. We attempt to illustrate why that isn’t even close to true! Join us every other week for the best 90s wrestling podcast out there and share your thoughts with us on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod. And remember…..#KeepIt90s!

Since we started HOW Mania in 2020, we made no secret of the fact our dream guest was Adam Bomb. Having dropped off the grid and without doing any interviews in 20 years, we thought this was an impossible goal. But we were wrong... Ash and Paul tracked down Adam Bomb himself, Bryan Clark to talk all about his start in wrestling, his time in WWE, his unique style, his career in WCW as Wrath and one half of Kronik and then his short-lived return to WWE. This is first ever podcast interview and he spoke exclusively to us at Hooked On Wrestling. We were delighted to find that Bryan is as good fun as he was great in the ring and we can't wait to get our hands on the first new Adam Bomb/Kronik merch in 20 years when his European store opens soon on Wrestle Merch Central. If you enjoy our interview with the leader of The Bomb Squad, please drop us a like or a subscribe or even a five star review wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can also find us on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod. And remember, always..... #KeepIt90s

We are firmly on the road to WrestleMania and when the big event comes round in April, unless we see Todd Pettengill dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow swinging down from a pirate ship to interview Drew McIntyre, we riot! Join Ash Rose and Paul Benson for our first of three dedicated 90s WrestleMania episodes. This week we take a general look back at the events in the 90s. How did they change through the decade? What were the high points? What are their favourite memories? As many of us grew up as WrestleMania grew up through the 90s, we often use the event as a measuring stick not just in wrestling but in our lives in general. If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you consume your podcasts. It is truly appreciated and helps us grow. You can give us your Feedback on Twitter by reaching out to us at @HOWManiaPod. Remember, always #KeepIt90s

HOW Mania: The 90s Wrestling podcast is back and this week Ash Rose and Paul Benson welcome their first guest as they discuss the immensely popular Hasbro range of WWF action figures, covering everything from Jake's rubber snake to Skinner's disappointing feet and the Holy Grail that is Diesel. To help them along the way, the boys are joined by wrestling, film and TV journalist Tom Fordy, one of the UK's foremost experts in all things WWF Hasbro. What's more, we also have an extra special interview with one of the legendary tag teams of the 90s....Luke & Butch, The Bushwhackers! As always, you can share your thoughts on the episode with us on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod, @HO_Wrestling, @HOWPaulB and @AshRoseUK. You can also follow Tom at @TheTomFordy. As always, you can purchase your HOW Mania merch from Wrestle Merch Central at our Hooked On Wrestling online store. Tom's in depth Hasbro article is available in the current issue of Inside The Ropes, released this week. See their website for availability.

It is Royal Rumble week and for two 90s wrestling nerds with a podcast to record, that means only one thing... Royal Rumble 1992. With a tear....in our eye...This is the greatest Royal Rumble match of not just the 90s but of all time. Ash and Paul take a look back at the event and dissect the match itself. Who do you think the top three longest entrants in the match were? Probably not the three you would guess! Enjoy the podcast and let us know your thoughts on Twitter at @HO_Wrestling. If you like our pod, please leave us a review and some stars on Apple Podcasts. And always remember....#KeepIt90s

It is January folks, and that can mean only one thing. No, not dry Januarys being broken on a daily basis, it means that the Royal Rumble is on the horizon! Ash and Paul are back with the first HOW: Mania of 2021 and this week they construct their dream Rumble card. They pick the best opener, tag match, Intercontinental Title Match, World Title Match and Rumble match of the 90s to make their dream card. The only rule is they couldn't pick the 1992 Rumble match as that would basically be a cheat code (And because we are covering it in detail in our next episode) Why don't you put your own dream 90s Rumble together and share it with us on Twitter at @HO_Wrestling Don't forget to grab your HOW Mania merch from our store at Wrestle Merch Central.

Dear Santa, We have been such good boys this year. We have barely even mentioned Mantaur! Although we probably did sneak in a few too many Adam Bomb References. But for this week's HOW Mania pod, we have put together our list of 10 goodies from 90s wrestling we want you to bring back. Some are naughty, some are nice. Some we don't think you can fit in your sleigh but please have a read and if you then insist on bringing us a lump of Michael Cole, please make sure he has his 90s frosted tips. Merry Christmas, From Ash & Paul **Merry Christmas to you too listeners. Thank you for listening to our 90s wrestling rambling every other week. We hope you all get a Hulk Hogan Wrestling Buddy in your stocking on December 25th. Please do remember to share your lists with us on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod and keep an eye on Hookedonwrestling.co.uk for news and features. If you did want a last minute gift for that special someone, HOW Mania merch is now available from Wrestle Merch Central....

After a few weeks of topical diversions. Ash Rose and Paul B strap on their matching Kickers and FUBU jeans to delve once again into the tag teams of the 90s. This time, they look at those teams that were prominent in the second half of the decade. Who was Mr Tag Team Wrestling in that time period? Which iconic team(s) defined the era? Which teams could have been so much bigger and most importantly... Why were Tekno Team 2000 never the tag team champions? Thank you for listening to our latest episode. If you haven't already, please subscribe and give us a nice five star review. You can reach us on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod. Check out the Hooked On Wrestling website for daily news and features. Purchase HOW Mania and Hooked On Wrestling merch from our own store at Wrestle Merch Central. And always, always....#KeepIt90s!

Episode 8 of HOW Mania: The 90s Wrestling Podcast is here and this week, Ash and Paul change pace a little bit to look at the five Survivor Series PPVs from the second half of the decade. Whereas the first five events in the 1990s were super fun, but throwaway events, these five Survivor Series are some of the most pivotal events in the history of WWE. They're not all good shows (1997 is awful!) but they each have such massive implications for the entire wrestling industry. It is fascinating to look back at just how pivotal they were. Enjoy the podcast and #KeepIt90s If you enjoy our podcast, please do leave us a five star review and few kind words. Also, feel free to reach out about all things 90s on Twitter with the handle @HOWManiaPod Finally, HOW Mania merchandise is now available from Wrestle Merch Central at this link: https://www.wrestlemerchcentral.com/collections/hooked-on-wrestling-store

Episode 7 of HOW Mania: The 90s Wrestling Podcast is here and this week, Ash and Paul jump in their metaphorical phone box for a far from Bogus Journey back to the Survivor Series PPVs in the first half of the decade. Beloved by some, forgotten by others, these Survivor Series PPVs in the first half of the decade are choc full of unique matches, huge stars and historic happenings. Most importantly, they are So. Much. Fun! The boys chew over some of the greatest teams of the early decade, why it isn't a proper Survivor Series team unless it has a name, whether it should be four or five on a team and most importantly, would Mr Blobby have made a good member of a 90s pop culture Survivor Series team??? Please do leave us a five star review and few kind words if you like our podcast. Also, feel free to reach out about all things 90s on Twitter with the handle @HOWManiaPod Finally, HOW Mania merchandise is now available from Wrestle Merch Central at this link: https://www.wrestlemerchcentral.com/collections/hooked-on-wrestling-store

No wrestling organisation in the 90s held a draft. But what if they had? What if the talent of the WWF, WCW and ECW in the 90s were pooled and the companies were forced to pick? Who would be the top picks? Wonder no more as Ash Rose (Gorilla Position, WWE Kids) and Paul Benson (Hooked On Wrestling) conduct their own draft where they pick their top 10 keepers to form the bedrock of Monday Night Paul and AshDown! Who will be the top pick? Who would be your choice? Let us know on Twitter at @HOWManiaPod If you enjoy our podcast, PLEASE leave us five stars and maybe a short review on Apple Podcasts and help us spread the word. You can also keep up to date with the wrestling news that matters on the Hooked On Wrestling website.