Straight Shooters

This week, Larry Dallas of SiriusXM Busted Open Radio joins the guys as they discuss the biggest missed opportunities in pro wrestling history. With the ending of last Sunday's women's Money in the Bank pay-per-view being a missed opportunity, Nick, Vaughn and Larry discuss their thoughts on the match and list their biggest missed opportunities in wrestling.

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This week, Nick and Vaughn dive deep into the 1997 WWF King of the Ring.

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On June 23, 1996, the World Wrestling Federation invaded the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for their annual King of the Ring pay-per-view. This would be the first year where only semifinals and the finals took place on the actual pay-per-view, with  more stacked matches than ever before. It certainly was, to date, the greatest WWF King of the Ring card ever:

King of the Ring Semifinal: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. "Wildman" Marc Mero (w/ Sable)

King of the Ring Semifinal: Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Vader

WWF Tag Team Championships: Smoking Gunns (c) (w/ Sunny) vs. The Godwinns (w/ Hillbilly Jim)

Ultimate Warrior vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler

Mankind vs. Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Goldust (c) (w/ Marlena) vs. Ahmed Johnson

Brian Pillman promo

King of the Ring Final:Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Jake “The Snake Roberts

WWF Championship: Shawn Michaels (c) (w/ Jose Lothario) vs. British Bulldog (w/ Diana Smith and Jim Cornette) with Mr. Perfect as a special guest referee … on the outside of the ring.

There certainly were seeds planted well before the Federation would head into the Attitude Era more than a year later, and many of them were seen during this show. So join us and dive deep into the 1996 King of the Ring!

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Follow us on Twitter [piccone_] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

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It's a Patreon request!

That's right ... you can become a Patron and request your own deep dives for $2/month! patreon.com/shootersradio.

This week, we dive deep into Vengeance 2005, but not before covering the latest round of WWE cuts. What is going on here? The following people were released:

Braun Strowman

Aleister Black

Ruby Riott

Lana

Santana Garrett

Buddy Murphy

Why? Is WWE cutting costs to prepare for an eventual sale? We talk about it.

At the 48:35 mark, we dive deep into WWE Vengeance 2005! The card:

• WWE Intercontinental Championship: Carlito (c) vs. Shelton Benjamin

• Victoria vs. Christy Hemme

• Kane vs. Edge (w/ Lita)

• Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle II

• Lillian Garcia proposes to Viscera ... but The Godfather makes an appearance to change course!

• Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Chris Jericho vs. Christian 

• Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Batista (c) vs. Triple H

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Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

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A severe storm and a Sixers playoff game couldn't keep us from recording this week, and it's a good thing. Another great episode was had as Nick and Vaughn dove deep into WCW's May pay-per-view from 1997, Slamboree.

There was an NFL invasion of sorts, as football greats Steve "Mongo" McMichael, Kevin Greene, and Reggie White all danced inside the squared circle at this event on May 18, 1997, live from the Independence Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina ... aka Horsemen Country. This would also be Ric Flair's first match in months after returning from injury. This pay-per-view surprised us... in a good way.

We're obviously keeping track of the Sixers' playoff game and the Phillies in action, so we have some commentary on the goings on in those respective games, but we promise it doesn't take up too much time.

The card:

• WCW Television Championship: Steven Regal vs. Ultimate Dragon (c) (w/ Sonny Onoo) 

• Madusa vs. Luna Vachon 

• Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Yuji Yasuraoka 

• Glacier vs. Mortis (w/ James Vandenberg) 

• WCW United States Championship: Dean Malenko (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra)

• Death Match: Meng vs. Chris Benoit (w/ Woman)

• The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) vs. Konnan/Hugh Morrus (w/ Jimmy Hart)

• Steve "Mongo" McMichael (w/ Debra) vs. Reggie White (w/ Kent Johnston) 

• Six-Man Tag Match: Ric Flair/Roddy Piper/Kevin Greene vs. nWo (Kevin Nash/Scott Hall/Syxx) 

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Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

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Busy week. First, we discuss NXT's releases, highlighted by conspiracy theorist Drake Wuertz's dismissal. We discuss what led to his specific release, the release of other talent, and more.

At the 25:50 mark, we start discussing AEW heading to TBS in January 2022, and the introduction of a new one-hour TV program called "Rampage."

At the 44:00 mark, we pay our respects to Jerome Young, aka New Jack, who passed away last week.

At the 1:01:05 mark, we take a deep dive into WWF's In Your House: Beware of Dog 1 & 2 from May 1996. It was a ridiculous storyline from the start, but it got even weirder as Shawn Michaels was served before his match against the British Bulldog. We'll talk all about it.

The card(s):

"Beware of Dog 1"

• Marc Mero (w/ Sable) vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley

• WWF Championship Match: Shawn Michaels (c) (w/ José Lothario) vs. The British Bulldog (w/ Clarence Mason, Diana Smith, and Owen Hart)

"Beware of Dog 2"

• Caribbean Strap Match: Savio Vega vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (w/Ted DiBiase)  

• Vader (w/ Jim Cornette) vs. Yokozuna

• Casket Match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship: Goldust (c) (w/ Marlena) vs. The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) 

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Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

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SHOOTERS CLASSIC!

Becky Lynch is pregnant! We found out on Monday night's edition of Raw that "The Man" is going to become "The Mom"! Our congratulations to both Lynch and Seth Rollins on the exciting announcement.

While Lynch is preparing for motherhood, WWE decided to give Asuka the Raw Women's Championship, as the Money in the Bank briefcase she won on Sunday night was actually the championship itself. The segment at the beginning of Raw was heartwarming.

From there, we discuss Mike Tyson's involvement with All Elite Wrestling. While he's not headlining a main event pay-per-view as a special guest enforcer, he'll be awarding the TNT Championship to either Cody Rhodes or Lance Archer at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on Saturday, May 23. But is that all he'll be doing? Nick and Vaughn disagree as to how AEW should utilize Tyson, and what might come of his involvement with this angle. Is it just a one-off? Will it turn into something more? Should it turn into something more?

May 14 is the 25-year-anniversary of the very first In Your House pay-per-view. And, while we don't live commentate the entire event, we begin watching Bret Hart vs. Jerry Lawler, the WWF awarding a family from Nevada a house in Orlando (with full audio), and the main event of Diesel defending the WWF Championship against Sid to round out the episode.

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Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

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Nick Piccone joined The Line Change with Jon Jansen on Fox Sports The Gambler Friday night to discuss the passing of New Jack, and WrestleMania Backlash prop bets.

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Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

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The guys dive deep into Extreme Championship Wrestling's Wrestlepalooza '98, which took place May 3, 1998 at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, Georgia.

Shane Douglas would wrestle with four separate fractures, but that doesn't mean the match was good. New Jack just flies everywhere. RVD and Sabu had a great botchfest. The pay-per-view was great!

We also include the unedited audio of Douglas' shoot promo before Taz comes out to confront him. It was... wild.

The card:

• The bWo (The Blue Meanie and Super Nova) vs. The F.B.I. (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers) (w/ Tommy Rich)

• Justin Credible (w/ Jason and Chastity) vs. Mikey Whipwreck 

• ECW World Tag Team Championships: Chris Candido/Lance Storm (c) vs.  The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten) 

• Bam Bam Bigelow vs. New Jack

• Tommy Dreamer/Sandman (w/ Beulah McGillicutty) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) (w/ Joel Gertner, Big Dick Dudley and Sign Guy Dudley)

• ECW World Television Championship: Rob Van Dam (c) (w/ Bill Alfonso) vs. Sabu (w/ Bill Alfonso)

• ECW World Heavyweight Championship: Shane Douglas (c) (w/ Francine) vs. Al Snow

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Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

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This week, Brian Isley and Derek Badichek join Nick and Vaughn once again as the guys preview Sunday's Backlash pay-per-view highlighted by Randy Orton defending the WWE Championship against Jinder Mahal and AJ Styles vying for Kevin Owens' United States Championship.

Then, the guys live commentate the main event of Backlash 2000 with Triple H defending his championship against The Rock with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee and a big return from Stone Cold Steve Austin. Originally recorded on May 19, 2017.

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Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]

You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: 

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Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]

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