That said, next week we have some pretty cool stuff on the way – particularly with another NXT Take Over special incoming! So, here’s your “Lowdown” before then…
What’s New…
Jerry Springer: Too Hot For TV
The only new show of any significance this week was Too Hot for TV which debuted as video on demand following SmackDown. The latest installment looks at moments which are apparently just “too gross for TV”.
Some of those moments we see included are Big Show being sprayed with sewage by Eddie Guerrero, and the Spirit Squad and McMahons’ having a crappy time; thanks to DX. The episode is capped off with some of Tommy Dreamer’s repugnant actions from 2002 — he’s hardcore, don’t you know?
The show provides a fun look back at some memorable (and some less so) moments from WWE’s more colorful past, even Jerry Springer does a good job as host and having Springer over a more standard WWE host gives the show a unique vibe.
Monday Night RAW
Interestingly, with the addition of the December 30, 1996 episode of RAW this week, we stand now where RAW and Nitro are up to the same point. As long-time Network subscribers know, we’ve not had any new Nitro episodes in nearly a year (September in fact).
Could this be a sign that we have more Nitro’s on the way? — by the way, can someone explain why no attempts have been made to tie together RAW and Nitro into a special programming block? That really does feel like a distinct missed opportunity.
In case you missed any new content over the past seven days here is a complete rundown of all the latest additions to the WWE Network…
Tuesday Night Titans: Episode 44 (8/2/85)
RAW Replays: Episode 190 (12/23/96)
RAW Replays: Episode 191 (12/30/96)
Tough Enough: Running with Wolves (5/11/11)
Total Divas: Divas Unchained (9/28/14)
RAW Replays: Extreme Stipulations (4/13/15)
SmackDown Replays: We Are The Champions (4/16/15)
WWE Main Event: Episode 135 (4/28/15)
WWE NXT: Episode 277 (5/13/15)
WWE Too Hot for TV: Too Gross for TV (5/14/15)
WWE Superstars: Episode 318 (5/15/15)
This Week in WWE: Episode 239 (5/16/15)
WWE Quick Hits: Verne Gagne in Memory (5/18/15)
SmackDown Replays: Munchkin Country (4/9/15)
RAW Pre-Show (5/11/15)
WWE Unfiltered with Renee Young: Wiz Khalifa (5/12/15)
WWE Network Exclusive: NXT Championship Match: Zayn vs. Owens [NXT TakeOver: R-Evolution] (5/11/15)
Coming Up…
NXT Unstoppable
NXT is set to Take Over the Network again this coming week, and it looks to be real good! From top to bottom this has the potential to be an awesome, awesome show from the main event with Sami Zayn attempting to recapture his NXT Title from Kevin Owens, all the way to Enzo and Big Cass’ pursuit for revenge and the Tag Team Titles (and EVERYTHING in between).
Plus, with the potential prospect of Samoa Joe’s debut, this is one Take Over you DO NOT want to miss! Catch the NXT Take Over: Unstoppable festivities from 7:30pm EST on Wednesday.
Culture Shock with Corey Graves
While Renee is taking the week off, the other half of team #YoungGraves is stepping up, as immediately following Take Over, Corey Graves will present the third episode of Culture Shock.
In this edition Corey will visit a New York City tattoo parlor.
First Look – Jerry Lawler DVD
Right after RAW concludes on Monday you have the opportunity to get a First Look at the latest WWE Home Video offering – “It’s Good To Be The King”.
As with the previous First Look specials, the 30 minute show will feature a condensed version of the documentary feature. If you want to get your copy of the Jerry Lawler DVD or Blu-ray pre-ordered for Tuesday (with a First Look or not) you can do so RIGHT HERE!
Payback
Tonight, live from Baltimore, Maryland comes the third annual WWE Payback event. Of course in the main event Seth Rollins will defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose in a fatal four-way.
The Royal Farms Arena (formerly the First Mariner and Baltimore Arena) is one of the most famous wrestling venues out there. Baltimore was a big city for wrestling and this arena is one of a few venues used by both WWE and WCW and therefore the site of some historic wrestling action – including the end of Bruno Sammartino’s iconic championship reign.
So, to get us all pumped for Payback, why don’t we take a look at a fatal four-way of past classics from the famed Baltimore Arena, which you can watch prior to the PPV tonight…
World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Big Show vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE TLC – 12/18/2011)
With the sad news this week that Daniel Bryan has been sidelined again (possibly permanently) due to injury, I had to include his very first World Championship victory when he cashed in Money in the Bank at the 2011 TLC PPV.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (Great American Bash – 7/23/1989)
The 1989 edition of the Great American Bash is considered one of the very best wrestling PPVs in history, but the night was headlined by the much hyped showdown between the Nature Boy, Ric Flair and the wily Terry Funk for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
King of the Ring Final: Owen Hart vs. Razor Ramon (King of the Ring – 6/19/1994)
The 1994 King of the Ring also emanated from the Baltimore Arena and will forever be remembered in wrestling folklore for the truly abysmal (yet incredibly awesome) commentary of football legend, Art Donovan.
However, our match here is the finals of the King of the Ring tournament which pit The Rocket against The Bad Guy. The only thing I’m unsure about… how much did those guys weigh? 😉
The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff vs. Corporal Kirchner & George Steele (Prime Time Wrestling – 10/27/1986)
Now we don’t have an awful lot of early ’80s wrestling on the WWE Network, but we do have this little tag team match tucked away. Here, it’s the former WWE Tag Team Champions, The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, taking on the odd ball team of Corporal Kirchner and George Steele at the then Baltimore Civic Center on Prime Time Wrestling.
Question is, will all the turnbuckles survive?
Until next time, enjoy tonight’s Payback show and NXT Take Over on Wednesday! 🙂
All of this content and more can be seen on WWE Network for just $9.99 per month, now with no commitment so you can cancel anytime. Click here for a FREE trial of WWE Network.
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“can someone explain why no attempts have been made to tie together RAW and Nitro into a special programming block? That really does feel like a distinct missed opportunity.”
I don’t know what special means in this context, but if by that you mean one block where it’s one show/date after another, I think it’s because it’s 2 different shows, 2 different companies. And WWE wants to keep them separated into their own respective blocks for that reason.
NXT Unstoppable was awesome. I love these TakeOver events because those NXT specials really do TAKE OVER.
I paid my Hard Earned $$$$ to see WRESTLING Not Bullsh** TV.If WWE EVER NEW KNEW WHAT’S BEST FOR BUSINESS WITH THIS NEW CRAP WITH SHOWS LIKE JERRY SPRINGER THEN PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE GONNA CANCEL this CRAPPY SHOWS.WE WANT WRESTLING NOT A HUGE JOKES THAT WE ARE WASTING OUR MONEY ON.
Why don’t they have”New Classic Programs”from CLASSIC WRESTLING from”80’s-90’s PLEASE??? I Didn’t get this WWF/E NETWORK for a bunch of JOKES OF NON WRESTLING OR BASICALLY Repeated SHOWS IN ANOTHER LAZY SHOWS.I WANNA SEE MORE WWE,WCW,ECW,MORE THAN 10 WCCW SHOWS,AWA,SMW,USWA,& NWA.AND ALL CLASSIC TV WRESTLING NWA/WCW SATURDAY NIGHT & OTHER SHOWS WWF,EARLIER AWA ETC…
I wonder if RAW Bowl will be uploaded eventually, but seems like WWE might have issues with the copyrights with NFL and Superbowl so likely won’t be so 1996 is still incomplete.
I read June WWE will do another bulk Nitro upload with 1997 and likely 1998.
Seems like starting next week 1997 RAW will start to unload…can’t wait for that!
Honestly, I don’t think the reason the Raw Bowl episode is missing has anything to do with the NFL. They didn’t use any NFL logos or anything like that. And music can always be dubbed over. I just think whoever is in charge of uploading the episodes didn’t realize that the episode aired on January 1st, 1996. When they first started uploading old Raws, the dates were off by 1 day(I have no idea why some still are) so they probably thought the January 8, 1996 episode was the first episode of that year because the date would’ve been listed as January 7, 1996. And since it’s been so long since they uploaded the January 1996 episodes they’ve probably forgotten all about it by now.
Or maybe I’m just giving this way more thought than it deserves.
to lp 1 – and all other wrestling dvd-bluray fans: don’t downplay your thoughts.. while we some times might not be on the same page, you should definitely keep bringing your knowledge to the daylight, thank you.. #keepthethoughtsflowing 😉
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“can someone explain why no attempts have been made to tie together RAW and Nitro into a special programming block? That really does feel like a distinct missed opportunity.”
I don’t know what special means in this context, but if by that you mean one block where it’s one show/date after another, I think it’s because it’s 2 different shows, 2 different companies. And WWE wants to keep them separated into their own respective blocks for that reason.
NXT Unstoppable was awesome. I love these TakeOver events because those NXT specials really do TAKE OVER.
Somebody should tell Springer that these “Too Gross for TV” moments happened on…TV.
more like telling it to the Network producers
I paid my Hard Earned $$$$ to see WRESTLING Not Bullsh** TV.If WWE EVER NEW KNEW WHAT’S BEST FOR BUSINESS WITH THIS NEW CRAP WITH SHOWS LIKE JERRY SPRINGER THEN PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE GONNA CANCEL this CRAPPY SHOWS.WE WANT WRESTLING NOT A HUGE JOKES THAT WE ARE WASTING OUR MONEY ON.
Why don’t they have”New Classic Programs”from CLASSIC WRESTLING from”80’s-90’s PLEASE??? I Didn’t get this WWF/E NETWORK for a bunch of JOKES OF NON WRESTLING OR BASICALLY Repeated SHOWS IN ANOTHER LAZY SHOWS.I WANNA SEE MORE WWE,WCW,ECW,MORE THAN 10 WCCW SHOWS,AWA,SMW,USWA,& NWA.AND ALL CLASSIC TV WRESTLING NWA/WCW SATURDAY NIGHT & OTHER SHOWS WWF,EARLIER AWA ETC…
I wonder if RAW Bowl will be uploaded eventually, but seems like WWE might have issues with the copyrights with NFL and Superbowl so likely won’t be so 1996 is still incomplete.
I read June WWE will do another bulk Nitro upload with 1997 and likely 1998.
Seems like starting next week 1997 RAW will start to unload…can’t wait for that!
Honestly, I don’t think the reason the Raw Bowl episode is missing has anything to do with the NFL. They didn’t use any NFL logos or anything like that. And music can always be dubbed over. I just think whoever is in charge of uploading the episodes didn’t realize that the episode aired on January 1st, 1996. When they first started uploading old Raws, the dates were off by 1 day(I have no idea why some still are) so they probably thought the January 8, 1996 episode was the first episode of that year because the date would’ve been listed as January 7, 1996. And since it’s been so long since they uploaded the January 1996 episodes they’ve probably forgotten all about it by now.
Or maybe I’m just giving this way more thought than it deserves.
to lp 1 – and all other wrestling dvd-bluray fans: don’t downplay your thoughts.. while we some times might not be on the same page, you should definitely keep bringing your knowledge to the daylight, thank you.. #keepthethoughtsflowing 😉
and I really was’nt aware of that raw bowl, so always nice always in here to learn about “new” stuff.
NXT keeps upping it’s game with each Takeover event. I cannot wait for the triple threat.