In our first-ever crossover event, the New to Wrestling crew links up with the brilliant (and brilliantly unhinged) minds behind the Invasion Angle podcast—Johnny, Jason, and Chris—for a late-night wrestling roundtable that goes way off the rails in the best way.

We cover everything from how these lifelong friends and film school grads bonded over suplexes and storytelling, to how ECW changed their brains forever. We break down three wild matches—Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka, Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon, and PAC vs. Orange Cassidy—and explore everything from chair shots and shooting star presses to why Orange Cassidy is lowkey a comedy genius.

Also on the table: indie wrestling horror stories (yes, there’s blood), the underrated genius of Toni Storm, why Paul Heyman is either your hero or your villain, and how a wrestling podcast became a lifelong group chat with mics.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear five wrestling fans spiral into chaos over Bryce Remsburg, Plexiglas, and the psychology of match time, this is your moment. Welcome to After Dark.

🎧 Check out the Invasion Angle podcast wherever you listen—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more. For indie match breakdowns, wild stories from the front row, and the kind of wrestling commentary you won’t hear anywhere else, follow them at @invasionangle and @invasionanglepodcast on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Timestamps:

• 0:58 – “I haven’t been in a chatroom with this many men since…”
• 3:12 – Origins of the Invasion Angle pod: film school, group chats & wrestling obsessions
• 5:46 – Vintage shirts & finding your people in public
• 8:00 – The wildest places they’ve traveled just to see a match
• 10:27 – Why match length matters more than you think
• 12:02 – Everyone’s gateway into wrestling (feat. banned brothers & secret dads)
• 26:00 – “I took a light tube to the face at a deathmatch show”
• 32:29 – The Kurt Angle vs. Shane match: real glass, real blood, real chaos
• 42:34 – Orange Cassidy, rodeo clowns & the power of comedic wrestling
• 57:02 – Paul Heyman discourse… gets spicy
• 1:00:26 – The nightmare of falling asleep to Busted Open
• 1:03:40 – Evolve Wrestling: why it’s giving “indie show with a budget”
• 1:14:49 – Toni Storm supremacy, and why the women’s divisions are thriving
• 1:16:57 – Wrap-up & where to find the Invasion Angle podcast

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

On this episode of New to Wrestling: After Dark, we sit down with one of the sharpest minds—and smoothest talkers—in independent wrestling today: Jarett Diaz. From learning the ropes with a SmackDown writer in summer school, to grinding through the indies with wisdom beyond his years, Diaz brings a rare combo of humility, hustle, and heat.

We dive deep into his start behind the scenes at WWE, why he wrestles with a notebook full of goals (and how he lost it), the pressure of representing his community in a hometown title match, and what it really means to be the face of the franchise. Plus: Full Sail stories, training at Pete Dunne’s school, match psychology against legends like Rich Swann, and the unexpected family drama that unfolds when your mom wants to throw hands with Dan Maff.

This isn’t just an interview—it’s a wrestling masterclass from a rising star who’s not only chasing greatness, but lifting others as he climbs.

🎧 Listen now.

📱 Follow him at @thejarettdiaz

Catch Jarett Diaz in Action! 🥊🔥

• 🗓️ May 17 – Loud East Wrestling
• 📍Rockaway Beach, NY
• 🌊 Jarett takes on the East Coast crowd in what’s sure to be a high-impact showdown.

• 🗓️ May 25 – Shadow Wrestling Alliance x Brii Combination Wrestling
• 📍New Jersey
• 💥 The Uptown Boys (Jarett & Matty) take on the Tag Team Gauntlet at Anniversary 8 – and the New to Wrestling Podcast will be there!

• 🗓️ June 7 – Puerto Rican Weekend with House of Glory
• 🇵🇷 Back by popular demand — Jarett returns for HOG’s second Puerto Rican Weekend event after a standout debut!

Timestamps:

• [0:00] Viewer discretion disclaimer
• [0:27] Kelsey introduces Jarett Diaz
• [1:45] Jarett shares how an English teacher got him into wrestling
• [3:22] Seeing WWE creative scripts as a kid
• [6:29] Interning at WWE & learning at Full Sail University
• [9:17] How production experience shaped Jarett’s in-ring growth
• [10:22] Transitioning that knowledge into the indies & AEW
• [11:57] Thoughts on WWE’s new ID/Evolve indie scouting programs
• [14:50] Who’s on Jarett’s “must wrestle” list
• [17:38] Shouting out Robert Martyr + their match history
• [20:25] Why Jarett sees wrestling as a variety show
• [22:20] Superman tattoo, his dad, and deep family ties
• [24:47] The match journal Jarett lost (and the heartbreak)
• [26:26] Has he tried the shooting star press yet? Spoiler: no
• [28:13] Cody Rhodes as an inspiration & what “being the guy” means
• [32:31] Losing in his hometown—but thriving in the chase
• [35:04] His mom tried to find Dan Maff after the match 😂
• [37:00] The emotion of wrestling in front of his family
• [40:45] Match psychology: Facing a brawler vs. a high-flyer
• [43:59] Who makes wrestling hard? Wrestlers do.
• [47:06] Leading matches, learning from vets like Rich Swann & Tony Deppen
• [51:12] Tag team dynamics with The Uptown Boys
• [53:32] Social media, personal values, and balancing a public voice
• [1:00:16] Wrapping up with gratitude

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

Buckle up, because this week on New to Wrestling, we dive headfirst into the absolute chaos that was WWF’s No Way Out of Texas: In Your House from 1998. The Road to WrestleMania 14 is rocky, wild, and (apparently) paved with barbed wire, broken chairs, and very dramatic camera angles.

Xavier and Kelsey are covering it all—from the WTF?! moment that was Savio Vega’s surprise substitution, to a surprisingly emotional Vader moment, to Jerry Lawler somehow invoking Lee Harvey Oswald on pay-per-view. We talk Sable’s legendary pop, Goldust’s Marilyn Manson era (we wish we were kidding), and why Terry Funk sounds like your local union rep but fights like an absolute lunatic.

Oh—and yes, someone does get hit in the face with a cartoonishly large wrench. It’s that kind of show.

🗣 Come for the chaos, stay for the commentary. We’re breaking it all down and laughing our way through one of the wildest pit stops on the way to Mania.

Match Card:

• Headbangers vs. Mark Mero & Goldust (with Sable and Luna)
• Taka Michinoku (c) vs. Pantera – Light Heavyweight Championship
• The Godwinns vs. The Quebecers
• Jeff Jarrett (c) vs. Bradshaw – NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
• Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson & DOA vs. The Nation of Domination
• Kane vs. Vader
• Steve Austin, Owen Hart, Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie vs. Triple H, New Age Outlaws & Savio Vega (substituting for Shawn Michaels) – Unsanctioned 8-Man Tag Team Match

Timestamps:

• 0:27 – 🎙️ Intro & Match Card Rundown
• 1:54 – 🤕 No Shawn, All Savio: Setting Up the Main Event
• 5:00 – 🥊 Match 1: Headbangers vs. Mero & Goldust — Sable Finally Snaps
• 15:11 – 🔨 Owen’s Threats & Taka vs. Pantera — Light Heavyweight Madness
• 22:01 – 💻 Chainsaw & Cactus Jack Hit the AOL Chatroom (Somehow)
• 24:06 – 🎻 Match 3: Godwins vs. Quebecers — Fiddles, Funerals & Flops
• 30:43 – 💥 Jeff Jarrett vs. Bradshaw — Chaps, Chair Shots & DQs
• 36:16 – 📞 DX, The Nation & the Road to a Breakup
• 44:01 – 🔥 Match 6: Kane vs. Vader — Moonsaults & Wrench Shots
• 52:50 – 💣 Main Event Mayhem: Austin’s Rampage & China Gets Stunned

🎉 The New to Wrestling Podcast is proud to sponsor…

ANNIVERSARY 8: A Jurassic Celebration — A Tribute to Vince Steele!

Join us Memorial Day Weekend at The Mecca in Ridgefield Park, NJ for a night of high-impact action, unexpected twists, and big-time vibes. Featuring talent from Shadow Wrestling Alliance and Brii Combination Wrestling, this tribute show to the Jurassic Juggernaut himself is a must-see for Northeast wrestling fans.

👀 We’ll be there. Will you?

🎟️ Get your tickets now

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

Lights, togas, and a whole lot of backstage chaos—Becoming a Spectacle takes us behind the curtain of WrestleMania IX, and Kelsey and Xavier are here to break down every gloriously bizarre moment. From Hulk Hogan literally stealing the main event to the Undertaker being chloroformed by a 7-foot giant in an airbrushed bodysuit (you read that right), this documentary has everything: backstage betrayal, wild conspiracies, Vegas VIP drama, and a black eye that may or may not have come from Randy Savage’s fist.

We get into the fan-favorite clown attack (or nightmare, depending on your feelings about Doink), the debut of baby Jim Ross in a toga, and a ringside seating price comparison that’ll make your mortgage look like pocket change. Kelsey questions the very origin of Las Vegas, Xavier subtly drags Hulk Hogan, and everyone agrees: Julie Youngberg’s HBK gear deserved its own spotlight.

Plus, we talk about why this doc hits differently now that Triple H is running the show—and how WWE Unreal might be our new obsession. If you love hot takes, deep dives, and chaos in a parking lot turned coliseum, this one’s for you.

TimeStamps:
0:00 – ⚠️ Discretion Advised… And Welcome Back!
0:48 – 🧭 New to Wrestling? Meet Your Hosts
1:37 – 🎥 Becoming a Spectacle – Our Thoughts on WWE’s New Doc
2:10 – 📼 Footage From the Vault: Why Now?
3:51 – 🦸‍♂️ Wait… Is Basil DeVito a Batman Villain?
5:14 – 🕰️ George Germanakis = WWE’s Sacred Timekeeper
6:43 – 🌆 Vegas Before Vegas Was “Vegas”?
8:09 – 🥊 WWE Sells a Boxing Match… Then Sells Out WrestleMania
9:37 – 🏛️ They Turned a Parking Lot into a Roman Coliseum
10:09 – 💸 Meet Dollar Bill: The Budget King of WrestleMania 9
11:18 – 🎟️ Ticket Prices Then vs. Now (Your Wallet May Cry)
13:23 – 🤯 $25 Tickets?! Yes, That Was a Thing
16:07 – 🏆 The First-Ever Royal Rumble to WrestleMania Title Shot
17:18 – 😱 The Giant Gonzalez: Wrestling’s Tallest Horror
18:58 – ✂️ Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake’s Wildest Injury Ever
20:00 – 👎 The Hulk Hogan Agenda and Bret’s Massive Betrayal
25:17 – 🎯 Triple H, Cena, Rock… WWE History Repeating Itself?
30:40 – 🦅 The Undertaker, The Vulture and That Weird Chloroform Spot
34:16 – 🥼 How Hulk Lied to a Doctor and Got Cleared Anyway
36:07 – 💀 Wrestlers Are Built Different – Orbital Bone Edition
39:11 – 🧾 Linda McMahon: From Ticket Ripper to Cabinet Member?!
40:45 – 📣 Jim Ross’ First WWE Gig… In a Toga
43:08 – ✂️ Shawn Michaels’ Gear? Thank You, Julie Youngberg
45:48 – 🤡 DOUBLE DOINK: Wrestling’s Most Chaotic Clown Moment
47:35 – 🔔 Vince’s Ring Bell Meltdown Over Hulk Hogan
51:50 – ❌ Mr. Perfect Forgets the Entire Match?!
55:45 – 🧪 Undertaker vs. Chloroform: The Wildest Match Finish
57:35 – 🔪 A Knife in My Back: Bret Hart’s Realest Quote
1:00:36 – 😤 The Yoko Disrespect and Why This Ending Sucked
1:03:26 – 🌟 From Vegas Usher to WWE President: Nick Khan’s Journey
1:11:05 – 🎬 WWE’s Future: More Docs, More Drama, More Truth

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

The WWE just launched Evolve, and so naturally… we’re D’Evolving.

In the debut episode of our new monthly series, we dive into the chaotic charm of WWE’s newest development brand where indie energy meets billion-dollar production. From mysterious sit-downs to full-on Gen Z tag-team douchebaggery (hi, Ricky Smokes), we’re tracking characters before they blow up—and losing our minds in the process.

Kelsey is still new to wrestling. Xavi’s desperately trying to make it make sense. Together, they break down early standouts like Kali Armstrong (“I’m different”—and it works), the heartbreak of Javier Bernal’s losing streak, and the messy, magnetic energy of Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes.

This is the ground floor. The tea is fresh. And the chaos is just getting started.

Welcome to D’Evolve—where WWE talent levels up, and we slowly lose our minds trying to keep up.

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

Dumpster dives, DX chaos, and a heel turn 20 years in the making? Buckle up, because this week’s New to Wrestling episode is pure carnage—in the best possible way.

Kelsey and Xavier break down the February 2, 1998 edition of Raw Is War, an episode so unhinged it’s basically a fever dream with steel chairs. From Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie getting literally dumped off the Raw stage in a locked dumpster (yes, you read that right), to Sunny sobbing, wrestlers storming the ring, and Jim Ross losing his mind on commentary—this one is a ride. And that’s just the first hour.

We dig deep into why this episode, for all its chaos, may actually be one of the best examples of cohesive storytelling in the Attitude Era, with one narrative thread driving almost the entire show. DX pushes boundaries (and network censors), Austin keeps barreling toward Shawn Michaels, and somehow, Sable’s outfit still manages to hijack the spotlight. Oh, and did we mention Chainsaw Charlie shows up in a hospital gown wielding a chainsaw?

PLUS:

• 🚨 Kelsey gets the full breakdown of WrestleMania 41 from Xavier—Travis Scott’s cameo, John Cena’s controversial heel turn, and a title change that left everyone confused (and a little mad).
• 👀 WWE buys AAA and announces a new Worlds Collide event.
• 🎬 A WWE writers’ room reality show is in the works—and you know we’re going to cover it.
• 🎙️ We preview our upcoming Evolve recap episodes and our exclusive interview with indie standout Jarret Diaz.

This is the perfect episode for diehards and new fans alike. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the drama—and as always, a little shade.

Timestamps:

• 0:27 – Intro + Match card rundown
• 2:10 – WrestleMania 41 results & reactions
• 6:38 – Seth Rollins, Paul Heyman, and the controversial main event
• 7:20 – Women’s Triple Threat & other WrestleMania highlights
• 12:12 – John Cena’s 17th title win (with help from Travis Scott)
• 17:25 – Las Vegas crowd vibes & branding overload
• 22:30 – WWE acquires AAA + “Worlds Collide” event announced
• 23:16 – WWE’s upcoming writers’ room reality series
• 24:31 – Start of Raw recap: DX’s State of the Union
• 29:28 – DX’s in-ring campaign for Tyson vs. Austin
• 33:28 – Cactus Jack vs. Chainsaw Charlie chaos
• 36:46 – Locker room fallout & real-time reactions
• 42:00 – Owen Hart vs. Billy Gunn + DX beatdown
• 46:32 – Mosh vs. Mark Mero (with Sable & “Marilyn”)
• 52:12 – Bradshaw vs. Barry Windham + Jeff Jarrett
• 56:09 – Chains (DOA) vs. Faarooq & Nation implosion
• 1:01:24 – Flash Funk & Bradshaw vs. Windham & Jarrett (Handicap match)
• 1:01:58 – Kane attacks Wink Collins + Vader returns
• 1:04:35 – Kane vs. Vader set for No Way Out
• 1:05:11 – Stone Cold vs. Road Dog main event
• 1:08:26 – Chainsaw Charlie & Cactus Jack return from the hospital
• 1:11:40 – Upcoming: Evolve recap series + interview with Jarret Diaz

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

On this week’s New to Wrestling, Kelsey and Xavier dive headfirst into the madness of the January 26, 1998 episode of Raw is War — and oh, it’s a ride.

From VaderDust to DX drag, and one of the wildest “main events” in recent memory (spoiler: it’s not Triple H), the episode delivers pure Attitude Era chaos. The hosts break down Kane’s absolute rampage, the unexpectedly touching friendship of Terry Funk and Mick Foley, and a DX beatdown that had way too many guest stars.

Plus, in the spirit of WrestleMania season, Kelsey and Xavier share their predictions for this year’s two-night spectacle — with all the sass, heartbreak, and hot takes you’ve come to expect.

Will Owen Hart finally force Triple H to face him? Is Vader really fearless? And why exactly was Goldust wearing that nose? You’ll have to listen to find out.

🎧 Stream now and get caught up on all the chaos, comedy, and commentary that only New to Wrestling can deliver.

Match Card:

• Ken Shamrock vs. Mark Henry
• Barry Windham & Jeff Jarrett vs. The Legion of Doom (Animal & Hawk)
• Vader vs. TAFKA Goldust (with Luna Vachon)
• The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn & Road Dogg) vs. Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie – WWF Tag Team Championship Match
• El Pantera vs. Brian Christopher
• The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) vs. The Quebecers (Jacques & Pierre)
• Owen Hart vs. TAFKA Goldust – WWF European Championship Match

Timestamps:

• 0:27 – Welcome + Match Card Overview
• 2:03 – WrestleMania 41 Predictions (Night 1 & 2)
• 15:53 – New Sponsor Announcement: Anniversary 8 – A Jurassic Celebration
• 17:24 – Raw Recap Begins: Mike Tyson/Stone Cold Fallout
• 21:04 – Ken Shamrock vs. Mark Henry
• 23:33 – Kane vs. The World: Video Package & Recap
• 26:35 – Barry Windham & Jeff Jarrett vs. Legion of Doom
• 28:03 – DX Locker Room Antics (Mini-Promo)
• 31:11 – DX Promo: Shawn Michaels Plots for WrestleMania
• 32:55 – Vader vs. Goldust (as “Vader Dust”)
• 35:10 – Kane’s Post-Match Attack on Vader
• 36:20 – Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie vs. New Age Outlaws (Tag Title Chaos)
• 40:22 – Post-Match Brawl + Terry Funk Moonsault
• 40:32 – Taka Michinoku Video Package
• 41:02 – Brian Christopher vs. El Pantera
• 45:40 – Jerry Lawler Betrays El Pantera
• 46:10 – Cactus & Charlie Backstage Interview + DX Attack
• 48:00 – The Headbangers vs. The Quebecers
• 50:33 – Owen Hart vs. “Triple H” (aka Goldust in Drag)
• 56:01 – Owen Hart Awarded the European Championship
• 57:43 – Don King’s Promo About Mike Tyson at WrestleMania
• 58:22 – Steve Austin Closes the Show with a Warning to Tyson

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

On this week’s New to Wrestling, we’re diving into the January 19, 1998 episode of Raw is War—a post-Rumble fever dream packed with betrayal, barbecues, and bald accusations.

Paul Bearer gaslights us all (again), DX gets campy with some cosplay, and Mike Tyson shows up with everyone he’s ever met just to get flipped off by Stone Cold. Meanwhile, Kelsey mourns Kane’s villain turn, Xavier stans Chainsaw Charlie, and we both try to figure out what the hell those girls were doing sitting quietly in a hearse.

Here’s the stacked match card:

• DOA (Chains, 8-Ball & Skull) vs. Nation of Domination (Farooq, Kama Mustafa & D’Lo Brown)
• Marc Mero (with Sable & a boxing robe) vs. Tom Brandi (who we guess is Italian now?)
• The Quebecers vs. Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie
• Jeff Jarrett (c) vs. Blackjack Bradshaw for the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
• Owen Hart, Taka Michinoku & The Headbangers vs. Los Boricuas
• The Rock (c) vs. Ahmed Johnson for the Intercontinental Championship
• New Age Outlaws (c) vs. The Godwins for the WWF Tag Team Titles

Also featuring:

• A DX/Undertaker segment so unhinged it involves sala
• And the chaotic, era-defining Tyson/Austin confrontation that changed wrestling forever

We laughed, we yelled, we screamed “not the bald!” more than once. Tap in.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:27 Intro
• 4:44 We Went To AEW Dynasty
• 8:33 Cold Open Discussion
• 12:33 Kelsey's Frustration and Hope
• 16:23 Wrestler's Heel Turn Discussion
• 20:52 Wrestling Match Dynamics
• 29:41 Television and Wrestling Segment
• 32:58 Marc Miro's Insecurities
• 37:42 DX Investigates Hearse
• 41:32 Mike Tyson's Entourage and Quebecers' Return
• 46:58 Terry Funk's Match Antics
• 50:27 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship Match
• 55:18 DX Backstage Segment
• 58:23 Iconic DX Segment
• 1:02:18 Triple H's Space Mountain Comment
• 1:06:41 Eight-man Tag Match Discussion
• 1:11:13 Main Event Setup
• 1:15:01 The Mike Tyson Segment
• 1:18:17 Chaos with Mike Tyson's Team
• 1:22:31 Outro

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!