The Wrestling Archives
Two nerdy librarians aim to preserve the art form that is Professional Wrestling by watching old shows and discussing their place in the lore. They also interview wrestlers and wrestling personalities to share their story and have conversations on topics relating to the pro wrestling community.
Episodes
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Breaking News - WWE History
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
With the shattering news of a possible sale of WWE to a Saudi investment fund, Rich thought it would be a great time to put a short episode together covering the history of WWE, from Vince McMahon's grandfather to the news of this morning! It's a heck of a ride! Thanks for listening!
Friday Jan 06, 2023
This Tuesday in Texas/Taboo Tuesday
Friday Jan 06, 2023
Friday Jan 06, 2023
We decided on this Friday, we'd look at Tuesdays! The first two of WWE's Tuesday Pay-Per-View experiments. We have get to watch the unfolding of the long-forgotten Undertaker/Hulk Hogan feud, and the equally forgotten gem of a cage match between Randy Orton and Ric Flair. Plus, baby vomit! Happy New Year and thanks for listening! Remember to subscribe!
Friday Dec 23, 2022
2022 Year in Review
Friday Dec 23, 2022
Friday Dec 23, 2022
It's been a year of podcasts!
A time to grapple, a time to chopA time to pin, a time to tapA time to face, a time to heelA time to cheer, a time to boo!Join us as we talk about the favorite things we watched and things we didn't like so much. We also talk about things to come and the year that was pro wrestling. Thanks for downloading and happy holidays. See you in 2023!
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Wrestle War ’91
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
We were inspired by WWE reviving the War Games match so we decided to find a good one to watch. One with violence and blood, and Wrestle War '91 did NOT disappoint! Plus, we get blessed with matches featuring Doom, Bobby Eaton, members of the Armstrong family, and some talented Japanese women. Our ears and brains are tickled by the wits of Dusty Rhodes and Jim Ross. But, let's not leave out Rick Steiner rubbing Ric Flair's face across the cage like a fine cheddar on a grater. Thanks for download! Be sure to subscribe!
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Montreal Screwjob - Survivor Series’97
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Friday Nov 25, 2022
It's time for that Thanksgiving tradition! Not just Survivor Series, but talking about controversial things with the people you love. This week we are giving the Survivor Series 97 and it's amazeballs ending the JFK/Oliver Stone treatment...back...and to the left. Was it the best wrestling finish ever? was it real? What even is real? Also, we talk about attending two different AEW Dynamite shows and how much fun that was. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for listening!
Friday Nov 11, 2022
WrestleMania 25 w/ Dr. Jess Krenek
Friday Nov 11, 2022
Friday Nov 11, 2022
She's back! Dr. Jess joins us to talk WrestleMania 25! The Silver Anniversary, if you're bad at math! We talk about wrestling aiding our vocabulary development and the WWE modifying the historical records. We don't understand the placement of the Kid Rock segment, or its length, or its existence. We have a 25-woman battle royal that is won by a man. And of course, we talk about what is possibly the best WrestleMania match ever - Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker. Plus, RICKY STEAMBOAT CAN GO! Thanks for listening!
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Halloween Havoc ’97
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Slim Jim presents: Halloween Havoc 1997! We get into the dated main event, the rickety cage, and Styrofoam tombstones, and all the advertising! Wowza! Rich also talks about his fun at CelebFest 5 and the juicy gossip he got out of Bret Hart and the incredible stories from Jimmy Hart. Tim has a few too many beers and Rich sings to show off his new microphone. Oh, lets not forget the incredible match between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, Jr. Also, there's some cool Japanese matches on here, too. This show is all over the place and was great fun to discuss! Thanks for listening and Happy Halloween!
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Monday Night Raw 1 & 2
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Friday Oct 14, 2022
This week, we are uncooked, uncut, and uncensored! The shows that started it all! We talk how Raw is the template for the modern wrestling presentation. We are baffled by the choice of having Rob Bartlett in the roll of offensive commentary. We marvel at how even from the beginning, the matches didn't matter. We enjoyed Doink making children cry and caused an overuse of the word "bruh." We also have a full change of heart on The Repo Man. Tim also gives us a graphic definition of raw. Thanks for listening!
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Capital Punishment 2011 - We Were There!
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Friday Sep 30, 2022
It's another We Were There episode!! This time, Tim attended the 2011 event Capital Punishment from the then Verizon Center in Washington, DC. We continue to not like Edge. We note that CM Punk and Rey Mysterio steal the show. We complain whenever possible about Michael Cole who is now heel??? Rich also shares the tales of his military service (sic). We also talk about the joys of government work and praise the bureaucracy and proletariat! Plus, special appearance by President Faux-bama! Thanks for listening!
Friday Sep 16, 2022
WrestleMania 24
Friday Sep 16, 2022
Friday Sep 16, 2022
We take the plunge into the beautiful world of High-Definition television! Tim has COVID and in true show fashion, caught it at an indie-wrestling show. We talk John Legend and Jesus Christ Superstar. We discuss Harry Potter a little bit, and how much of a hellhole Orlando can be. Also, we talk about WrestleMania 24. There's a discussion of Edge's ability to be main event potential. We say a farewell to Ric Flair for a minute. We fawn over Big Show and Floyd "Money" Mayweather. We are conflicted over Snoop Dogg's participation, and appreciate Kim Kardashian welcoming us to the Super Bowl. This episode is "like, really big." Thanks for listening!
Who We Are
Co-Hosts Tim "The Hammer" Hackman (Huracan Ramirez) and Rich "The Natural" Sigwald (Prince Puma) met at a library conference in 2015 and bonded over their shared love of professional wrestling and other nerdy interests. In 2020 the pair decided to pursue the epic, some might say quixotic, project of watching All the WrestleManias in order and writing about their experience. When blog writing became too burdensome, they started to podcast about the shows instead. Quickly, they decided to branch out from just WrestleManias and in 2024 decided on a new name to reflect their common goal and love of information, and thus the name "The Wrestling Archives."
Sound editing and original music by Rich Sigwald
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