Under the Ring

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, Wrestling Junkie managing editor Nick Tylwalk joins us to discuss hot topics in wrestling. We discuss the impacts of the Endeavor merger on WWE, most notably Vince McMahon not being involved in creative. We theorize what the main event of WrestleMania might be. We discuss the ups and downs of AEW coming off the Wembley show and what they might look at doing to generate another buzz.

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by Father James Mitchell, who will host the NWA PPV, "NWA Samhain" on Oct. 28 in Cleveland on FITE.TV. The good father discusses how he evolved from Smoky Mountain Wrestling to the collector of oddities, James Vandenberg, to ECW's Sinister Minister to what he became in TNA/Impact working with Raven, the Disciples of the New Church and Abyss. He also discusses where he draws some of his creative spirit from.

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by Swerve Strickland of AEW ahead of his big match vs. Hangman Adam Page at AEW WrestleDream in Seattle on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Climate Pledge Arena. Swerve talks about the segments with Hangman that led to their rivalry and their match and also discusses his interactions with The Elite on the independents. He discusses his history in the Pacific Northwest, wrestling for Defy and facing current rivals like Darby Allin and Nick Wayne before he made his way to AEW. He also discusses his own growth, as well as what he's got coming up in his music career.

This week, we're joined by the No. 1 contender to the NXT championship, Ilja Dragunov. Dragunov is challenging NXT champion Carmelo Hayes for the title in the main event of the NXT premium live event, No Mercy, in Bakersfield, California on Sunday, Oct. 1 Dragunov discusses his current NXT run and also talks about his origins in pro wrestling as well as how he feels the crowd and reacts to them as he performs. He also discusses his classic NXT UK match with the man formerly known as Walter, the Intercontinental champion Gunther, which received widespread praise from fans and critics alike.

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by AEW TBS champion Kris Statlander. She talks about her title win and her matches with Jade Cargill over the championship, after she was coming off knee surgery. She also talks about her unique ring gear from All In, which was inspired by the Ben Stiller film, Zoolander, and what it was like when Stiller himself endorsed it. And she talks a bit about how she entered the wild world of wrestling and who she'd like to see across the ring from her in the future.

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by one of the top free agents in pro wrestling, Richard Holliday. He discusses his journey back to the ring from a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis and how he's feeling today. He discusses the possibility that he could end up in one of the big international companies. He also discusses the origins of his career, how he's progressed and what it was like teaming with MJF and Alex Hammerstone in The Dynasty in MLW.

This week, we're joined by the heart and soul of ECW, the Innovator of Violence, Tommy Dreamer. Impact Wrestling's Victory Road and the 1,000th episode of Impact are coming to  the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. We discuss his match vs. Kenny King with his career at stake and how Impact has bucked the odds to be where they are today. We also discuss some of his memories with his wrestling mentor, the legendary Terry Funk. Also, Dreamer discusses what some of his behind the scenes work in wrestling has entailed.

This week on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by the former AEW TNT champion Powerhouse Will Hobbs. Hobbs will face "The Redeemer" Miro at All Out in a battle of two big guys who know each other very well. He also discusses what makes him stand out in pro wrestling and also how the way he was raised and where he was raised, being fully aware of the legendary Cow Palace wrestling influences what he does.

This week om Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, we're joined by veteran pro wrestler Greg Gagne. He discusses the legacy of the AWA, as well as that of his father, the legendary Verne Gagne, and also discusses his own training and career in that legendary promotion. Gagne is also involved in the development of the new Powertown wrestling figures, which celebrate wrestling's history and Gagne talks about how that came about and what his role is. Gagne also had a hand in discovering and training NXT women's champion Tiffany Stratton and he talks about how that was.

This week, we're joined by Adam Cole (bay bay). Cole is headlining vs. MJF for the AEW world heavyweight title on All In at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, August 27, one of the biggest wrestling cards in recent memory. We discuss how well his rivalry and partnership vs. MJF have gone, what it means to him to be in AEW as it grows considerably and what it was like being in NXT, ROH and PWG during very unique times for those promotions.