Kris & David are guestless this time as we discuss the week that was May 26th-June 1st, 2002. We talk about changes coming to the newly-renamed WWE’s creative team and how that would affect the new brand split. We also talk about Chris Benoit returning from spinal fusion surgery on Raw in Edmonton despite having been drafted to SmackDown, Tommy Dreamer launching his short-lived Fear Factor gimmick, Steve Austin burying creative on Byte This in THAT interview, and tons more that fills out a long WWE section. We also opine about the greatness of 2002 Japanese wrestling, going through all of the news and results from the many promotions that we were watching heavily at that time. We also talk about a possible name change for AAA, WWC and the IWA in a TV ratings war in Puerto Rico, Jim Cornette spitting in Ed Ferrara’s face in Nashville, the MAW Hardcore Cup, and much more. To close out the show, we have NWA TNA getting their ducks in a row as they prepare for their first show, which is coming in a few weeks. 2002 was one helluva year for wrestling and this show is a great representation of it, so listen now!!!!!!!!

Timestamps:

0:00:00 WWE

2:24:59 Japan: AJPW, NJPW, NOAH, BJPW, DDT, Kageki, Osaka Pro, Toryumon, T2P, WEW, WWS, Pancrase, AJW, Arsion, GAEA, & NEO Ladies

3:11:15 Classic Commercial Break

3:14:10 Halftime/Housekeeping/In-House Notes

3:41:06 Other North America: Stampede, AAA, CMLL, IWRG, Juarez, Monterrey, Tijuana, IWAPR, & WWC

3:58:45 Other USA: UWF (MA), JAPW, MLW, Chikara, Gilbert Memorial, NWA Wildside, USACW/Bert Prentice, RingWarriors, MAW, ETW, PWI, & XWF

4:43:32 NWA-TNA

5:23:37 Patreon Preview: Paul Heyman goes off on Kid Kash & the Torch…IN the Torch!

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