Mike returns and recaps the last week of wrestling. WWE made a lot of serious moves to stabilize Wrestlemania with a mood change around one World Title match on Smackdown and an Open Challenge being answered on Raw. Mike talks through both shows as well as NXT on CW. 

Catch Shooting Sharp every Tuesday on the North South Connection Podcast Network!

Welcome to WWE WAR: Wrestling Above Replacement, the podcast where WWE history meets hard numbers. JT, Marcus, and Producer Jenny break down every WWE “season” by analyzing each pay-per-view through a consistent, stats-driven scoring system.

In Episode #96, the crew kick off the 2007 WWE PPV season with a full statistical breakdown of WWE Backlash 2007. From bell-to-bell match quality to card structure, star power, and overall event impact, every moment of the show is graded using the WWE WAR formula as the guys continue building their all-time WWE PPV rankings.

Featuring major WrestleMania 23 fallout—including championship rematches and the next phase of several key storylines—Backlash 2007 gets put under the microscope to see how it truly stacks up when the numbers are applied.

Does the post-Mania momentum translate into a strong WAR score?

🎧 Tune in to find out as the WAR ledger grows and another WWE PPV enters the data books.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Full Backlash 2007 statistical match breakdown

Perfect for fans of WWE history, Ruthless Aggression era pay-per-views, and analytical wrestling podcasts that go beyond opinion and into the numbers.

WWE Backlash 2007 review podcast

It’s ChroNoSo 1984! The North-South Connection Podcast Network takes you down memory lane each month by exploring moments from WWE history.

The crew takes a look at the champions heading into 1984 and digs into the early days of January 1984. Along the way, they break down matches and memorable segments from Championship Wrestling, Wrestling at the Chase, and the legendary shows from Madison Square Garden.

Join us as we set the stage for a pivotal year in wrestling history and examine the landscape of the WWF as it begins its march toward the Golden Era.

The NoSo Countdown goes LIVE as JT & Ryan rank the greatest WWE Intercontinental Championship matches in company history based on an initial list comprised of viewer rankings!

The Intercontinental Championship has long been known as WWE’s workhorse title, producing some of the greatest matches and rivalries ever seen inside a WWE ring. From technical classics to show-stealing WrestleMania moments, we’re breaking down the best IC Title matches to ever happen on a WWE PPV.

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/guaWJ9XMoVE

The Ruthless Aggression Era continues as Matt is joined by Tim Slomka to break down WWE Raw (11/3/03) and SmackDown (11/6/03)—two pivotal shows on the road to Survivor Series 2003.

Episode #13 dives into John Cena’s early face turn, a key turning point in WWE history, along with Shawn Michaels headlining the main event during one of the most memorable stretches of 2003 television. From there, the conversation veers into classic Ruthless-style randomness, including Greek mythology references, LeBron James’s questionable cell phone plan, and plenty more unexpected detours.

Blending thoughtful match and storyline analysis with serious fun and nostalgia, this episode captures everything fans love about revisiting the Ruthless Aggression Era.

Topics include:

WWE Raw & SmackDown (Nov. 2003) full breakdown

John Cena’s face turn and character evolution

Shawn Michaels in the main event spotlight

Road to Survivor Series 2003 storylines

Ruthless Aggression Era humor, chaos, and nostalgia

🎧 Ideal for fans of classic WWE, the Ruthless Aggression Era, and deep-dive pro wrestling podcasts.

Check out the companion written piece on that weekend's heat and velocity as well!

Mike returns and recaps the last week of wrestling. NXT had Vengeance Day and Smackdown had a huge World Title match that forges a new clear path to Wrestlemania. Mike also runs down Raw and shoots on the fan reactions to the new Wrestlemania scene. 

Catch Shooting Sharp every Tuesday on the North South Connection Podcast Network!

The WrestleMania Match Countdown continues!

Ryan Gray and JT have already ranked every WrestleMania match from WrestleMania I (1985) through WrestleMania XL (2024) — creating the ultimate all-time ranking of matches from WWE’s biggest event.

Now it's time to update the list.

In this episode, Ryan & JT break down every match from WrestleMania 41 and determine where each one belongs in the all-time WrestleMania Match Countdown.

It’s… ChroNoSo! The North-South Connection Podcast Network takes you down memory lane each month by exploring one match from WWE history. This month on ChroNoSo, the crew dives into Post WrestleMania 7, March 1991. They cover the matches, as well as segments from Superstar & SWS vs WWF WrestleFest.

On episode 167 of No Holds Barred, JT & Aaron wrap up their multi-part rebooking journey through 1995–96 with the big one: WWE WrestleMania XII. After reshaping an entire year of WWF storytelling, it all comes together as the hosts unveil their fully reimagined WrestleMania card—match by match, beat by beat.

Who headlines? Which stars rise? What changes when long-term booking actually pays off? From title paths to undercard surprises, No Holds Barred lays out a version of WrestleMania XII built for maximum impact, continuity, and chaos.

This episode blends fantasy booking, wrestling history, and the signature games-and-lists energy of the show, putting a bow on the 1995–96 project while sparking plenty of “what if?” debates along the way. Whether you lived through the era or are discovering it for the first time, this is a must-listen for fans who love reimagining wrestling’s past.

WWE, WrestleMania XII, WrestleMania 12, Rebooking Wrestling, Fantasy Booking, WWF 1995, WWF 1996, Pro Wrestling Podcast, Wrestling Games, Wrestling Lists, Shawn Michaels Era, Bret Hart Era, Wrestling History, No Holds Barred Podcast, JT and Aaron, WWE What If, Booking Wrestling, Retro Wrestling

Mike returns and recaps the last week of wrestling. From NXT to Smackdown, as well as a full run down of the Elimination Chamber and Raw. Mike also hits on AEW Dynamite and Collision

Catch Shooting Sharp every Tuesday on the North South Connection Podcast Network!