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!

We’re back with another New to Wrestling pay-per-view deep dive—this time, we’re heading into the chaos that was Royal Rumble 1998! Kelsey is angry (rightfully so), Xavier is ready to defend Stone Cold’s Sharpay energy, and we’re both absolutely reeling from the main event madness.

💥 Match Card Includes:

•Vader vs. The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust (with Luna)

•Max Mini, Mosaic & Nova vs. Battalion, Tarantula & El Torito (Minis Tag Match)

•The Rock vs. Ken Shamrock – Intercontinental Championship

•Legion of Doom vs. New Age Outlaws – WWF Tag Team Championship

•The 30-Man Royal Rumble Match

•The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WWF Championship Casket Match

We get betrayal, exploding feuds, full-on Nut Goozles™, and the legendary triple appearance from Mick Foley. The Rumble is pure chaos and we’re here to break it all down—tangents, thirst, and unfiltered feelings included.

👀 Was this the wildest Royal Rumble yet? Did Shawn really wrestle with a broken back? And why are Road Dogg’s braid extensions haunting Kelsey’s dreams?

Press play and we’ll see you there.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:27 Match Card Overview
• 4:47 Mike Tyson's WWE Involvement
• 9:12 Goldust's New Look and Antics
• 12:21 Rave Fashion Trends Discussion
• 15:58 Austin's Arrival in Skull Truck
• 20:37 Mini Tag Match with Sunny as Referee
• 24:22 Stone Cold's Dressing Room Segment
• 28:17 Wrestling Match Discussion
• 32:58 Feud and Backstage Hunt Discussion
• 42:29 Royal Rumble Video Package
• 45:43 Suplex on Steel Chairs Discussion
• 50:27 Sable's Appearance and Stone Cold Connection
• 54:48 Jeff Jarrett's Entrance and Elimination
• 1:00:32 Royal Rumble Final Moments
• 1:03:54 Wrestling Feuds and Alliances Discussion
• 1:07:39 Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels Casket Match
• 1:11:14 Wrestler's Back Injury Discussion
• 1:14:57 Triple H Assists Shawn Michaels
• 1:19:30 Kane's Entrance and Attack on Undertaker
• 1:23:53 Burying Alive Scene Discussion

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!

This week on New to Wrestling, Xavier and Kelsey dive deep into a WILD episode of Raw is War from January 12, 1998, and y’all… there is chaos from start to finish. We’ve got fatal four-way tag team madness, DX running a frat house out of a limo, Stone Cold driving trucks and stunning the entire roster, and Goldust entering his Sable drag era—and honestly? He slayed. The wig was laid.

Plus, your fave tag team (Kelsey and Xavier, obviously) hit up their first live indie wrestling show and accidentally crashed the locker room. Oops. Story time included.

We also cover:

• 🔥 Owen Hart going full vigilante
• 💔 The Rock staging a Nation of Domination takeover while Farooq was out getting snacks
• 🔥 Kane & The Undertaker’s family therapy session… via pyro
• 🎭 Goldust discovering the power of camp
• 🚨 Jerry Lawler being gross again (someone get this man off commentary)

And listen… that final Kane/Taker moment? TEARS. CINEMA. SYMPHONIC WRESTLING ART.

Buckle up, besties. It’s the last stop before Royal Rumble ‘98 and we are SCREAMING.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – 3:05: Welcome + Independent Wrestling Weekend Adventures
• 3:05 – 8:10: Accidentally Backstage: Lost at Indie Wrestling
• 8:10 – 12:34: Elimination Chamber Reactions + Modern Divas Talk
• 12:34 – 14:19: DX in a Limo (Again) + Opening Segment
• 14:19 – 17:43: Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Title Match
• 17:43 – 20:23: Austin Arrives—With Chaos
• 20:23 – 21:31: Austin Promo: “I’m a Marked Man?”
• 21:32 – 25:01: Kurrgan Squashes Jobbers + Helmet Destruction
• 25:01 – 26:57: Owen Hart Sunroof Attack!
• 26:57 – 29:05: Marc Mero’s Mic Issues + Sable Drag Reveal
• 29:05 – 35:17: Goldust in Full Drag vs. Vader (and Coconuts)
• 35:17 – 36:10: Austin Stuns Vader Again?!
• 36:10 – 39:02: Mark Henry Turns on Shamrock—Joins The Nation!
• 39:02 – 41:11: Rocky’s “Know Your Role” Promo on Farooq
• 41:11 – 44:45: DX Gets Gross + Owen Hart’s Fiery Comeback
• 44:45 – 47:55: DX’s Wild Promos + Fashion Notes
• 47:55 – 50:18: DOA vs. Rock and Roll Express (Jim Cornette Chaos)
• 50:18 – 53:31: Cactus Jack’s Promo + Deathmatch Daddies
• 53:31 – 57:01: Mankind vs. Goldust (as Dude Love) + Austin Interruption
• 57:01 – 58:22: Vince’s Big Mike Tyson… Announcement of an Announcement
• 58:22 – 1:00:00: Sunny’s Chaotic Cheerleading Intro
• 1:00:00 – 1:03:31: Taka Michinoku & Scott Taylor vs. Los Boricuas
• 1:03:31 – 1:04:56: Owen Hart Attacks with a Crutch!
• 1:04:56 – 1:08:29: Kane Joins DX? Not So Fast—Undertaker Showdown
• 1:08:29 – 1:10:19: Emotional Kane/Taker Moment of the Year™
• 1:10:20 – 1:13:01: Chaos Before the Rumble: Number Draw Beatdowns
• 1:13:01 – 1:15:10: Final Thoughts + What’s Coming Next

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!