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!