Radio WWF (partially found professional wrestling radio show; 1993-1994; late 1990s-2000): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:18, 22 February 2024

Gorilla Monsoon and Jim Ross providing commentary for the 1993 Summerslam.

Status: Partially Found

Radio WWF is a professional wrestling radio show. Produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), it provided commentary for its pay-per-views, and discussed news surrounding the wrestling industry as a whole.

Background

In September 1993, the WWF started promoting a radio show that according to owner Vince McMahon, would enable fans to interact and ask unfiltered questions to the company's wrestling personalities.^[1] Entitled Radio WWF, the main host was wrestling commentator Jim Ross. The show would not only provide alternative commentary for pay-per-view events, but was also novel in that it discussed current events in the WWF and in the wrestling industry overall. For instance, the show reported the scissors fracas that occurred between WCW wrestlers Arn Anderson and Sid Vicious, which resulted in the latter being fired from the organisation.^[2]

At the 1993 Summerslam pay-per-view, Ross and Gorilla Monsoon provided alternative commentary for the show, with the show also being briefly promoted during the television broadcast.^[3] By 25th September, Johnny Polo, better known as Raven, took over as regular co-host from Monsoon.^[4] Nevertheless, Monsoon and Ross were also known to have provided alternative commentary for the 1993 Survivor Series event, although they switched over to the television broadcast with McMahon and Bobby Heenan taking over midway through.^[5] It is also possible that Radio WWF lasted long enough to cover the 1994 Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania X too.^[6]

Additionally, a segment on the 16th October 1993 edition gained infamy, featuring Randy Savage discussing Hulk Hogan. Savage made various comments surrounding Hogan's personal life, including steroid usage and his acting career, while also accusing Hogan of causing him and wife Miss Elizabeth to divorce in 1990 because Hogan had flirted with Elizabeth. It has led to discussion on whether the interview ended up being a shoot or a work. Nevertheless, according to the 25th October 1993 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Ross and Polo may have known in advance since they hyped the interview as saying that "Savage was going to make waves", with Ross asking leading questions to him.^[7]

Cancellation and Late 1990s Revival

At some point, Ross would be replaced as host by McMahon himself, with the fan questions now being screened in advance. Ultimately, the original show was cancelled primarily because it was unable to attract enough stations to carry it.^[8] Nevertheless, it did make a return in the late-1990s as an Armed Forces Network show, enabling those serving within the US military worldwide to be informed of the latest events surrounding wrestling.^[9] Radio WWF carried on until at least the 2000 Summerslam, with Michael Cole and Mick Foley as hosts,^[10] before quietly being discontinued.

Availability

Likely due to each version of the show proving unable to attract many stations to carry them, recordings of Radio WWF remain scarce. It is therefore coveted media among those seeking the alternative pay-per-view commentary,^[11] as well as the Savage interview. The Savage interview transcript remains publicly accessible on an archived Miss Elizabeth.com page.^[12]

On 3rd January 2022, commentary from the 1998 Royal Rumble was uploaded to YouTube by Rich Liptak. On 28th January 2022, AdFreeShows announced it had obtained a cassette tape consisting of 40 minutes of commentary from Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon from the 1994 Royal Rumble.^[13] It was originally released as part of its Studio Sessions Patreon,^[13] although it has since been leaked onto YouTube.

Gallery

Videos

Audio from the 1994 Royal Rumble.

Audio from the 1998 Royal Rumble.

OSW Retrospective discussing Radio WWF.

Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard discussing the Savage interview on Radio WWF.

References

↑ Blog of Doom noting that a WWF Superstars of Wrestling broadcast had Vince McMahon promote Radio WWF. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ WrestleCrap detailing the scissors incident. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ KB's Wrestling Reviews mentioning the 1993 Summerslam show with alternative Radio WWF commentary. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ Blog of Doom noting that a WWF Superstars of Wrestling broadcast promoted Polo as co-host of Radio WWF. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ KB's Wrestling Reviews detailing a Radio WWF switchover during the 1993 Survivor Series. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ KB's Wrestling Reviews mentioning a possible Radio WWF commentary of the 1994 Royal Rumble. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ Reddit post containing the the 25th October 1993 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which reported on the Savage interview. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ WrestleCrap detailing WWF Radio and why it was cancelled. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ Ring the Damn Bell detailing both versions of Radio WWF. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ KB's Wrestling Reviews detailing a Radio WWF segment occurring prior to the 2000 Summerslam. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ Twitter post discussing finding the Radio WWF pay-per-view commentary tracks. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ Archived Miss Elizabeth containing the Savage transcript. Retrieved 21st Dec '21
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 AdFreeShows announcing it had received a cassette tape consisting of audio from the 1994 Royal Rumble. Retrieved 24th Jul '22

[1] Blog of Doom noting that a WWF Superstars of Wrestling broadcast had Vince McMahon promote Radio WWF. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[2] WrestleCrap detailing the scissors incident. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[3] KB's Wrestling Reviews mentioning the 1993 Summerslam show with alternative Radio WWF commentary. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[4] Blog of Doom noting that a WWF Superstars of Wrestling broadcast promoted Polo as co-host of Radio WWF. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[5] KB's Wrestling Reviews detailing a Radio WWF switchover during the 1993 Survivor Series. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[6] KB's Wrestling Reviews mentioning a possible Radio WWF commentary of the 1994 Royal Rumble. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[7] Reddit post containing the the 25th October 1993 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which reported on the Savage interview. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[8] WrestleCrap detailing WWF Radio and why it was cancelled. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[9] Ring the Damn Bell detailing both versions of Radio WWF. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[10] KB's Wrestling Reviews detailing a Radio WWF segment occurring prior to the 2000 Summerslam. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[11] Twitter post discussing finding the Radio WWF pay-per-view commentary tracks. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[12] Archived Miss Elizabeth containing the Savage transcript. Retrieved 21st Dec '21

[ad-13] 13.0 ^13.1 AdFreeShows announcing it had received a cassette tape consisting of audio from the 1994 Royal Rumble. Retrieved 24th Jul '22

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 |image=Radiowwf1.jpg
 |imagecaption=Gorilla Monsoon and Jim Ross providing commentary for the 1993 ''Summerslam''.
-|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
+|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
 }}
 '''''Radio WWF''''' is a professional wrestling radio show. Produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), it provided commentary for its pay-per-views, and discussed news surrounding the wrestling industry as a whole.
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 At the 1993 ''Summerslam'' pay-per-view, Ross and Gorilla Monsoon provided alternative commentary for the show, with the show also being briefly promoted during the television broadcast.<ref>[https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2021/07/24/summerslam-count-up-summerslam-1993-2013-redo-celebrate-anyway/ ''KB's Wrestling Reviews'' mentioning the 1993 ''Summerslam'' show with alternative ''Radio WWF'' commentary.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref> By 25th September, Johnny Polo, better known as Raven, took over as regular co-host from Monsoon.<ref>[https://blogofdoom.com/index.php/2019/05/28/wwf-superstars-of-wrestling-september-25th-1993/ ''Blog of Doom'' noting that a ''WWF Superstars of Wrestling'' broadcast promoted Polo as co-host of ''Radio WWF''.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref> Nevertheless, Monsoon and Ross were also known to have provided alternative commentary for the 1993 ''Survivor Series'' event, although they switched over to the television broadcast with McMahon and Bobby Heenan taking over midway through.<ref>[https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/10/25/survivor-series-count-up-1993-harts-attacking/ ''KB's Wrestling Reviews'' detailing a ''Radio WWF'' switchover during the 1993 ''Survivor Series.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref> It is also possible that ''Radio WWF'' lasted long enough to cover the 1994 ''Royal Rumble'' and ''Wrestlemania X'' too.<ref>[https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2021/01/04/royal-rumble-count-up-1994-original-how-man-of-them/ ''KB's Wrestling Reviews'' mentioning a possible ''Radio WWF'' commentary of the 1994 ''Royal Rumble''.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref>
-Additionally, a segment on the 16th October 1993 edition gained infamy, featuring Randy Savage discussing Hulk Hogan. Savage made various comments surrounding Hogan's personal life, including steroid usage and his acting career, while also accusing Hogan of causing him and wife Miss Elizabeth to divorce in 1990 because Hogan had flirted with Elizabeth. It has led to discussion on whether the interview ended up being a shoot or a work, although according to the 25th October 1993 edition of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'', Ross and Polo may have known in advance since they hyped the interview as saying that "Savage was going to make waves", with Ross asking leading questions to him.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/5bul27/wrestling_observer_rewind_dec_27_1993_final_post/ Reddit post containing the the 25th October 1993 edition of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'', which reported on the Savage interview.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref>
+Additionally, a segment on the 16th October 1993 edition gained infamy, featuring Randy Savage discussing Hulk Hogan. Savage made various comments surrounding Hogan's personal life, including steroid usage and his acting career, while also accusing Hogan of causing him and wife Miss Elizabeth to divorce in 1990 because Hogan had flirted with Elizabeth. It has led to discussion on whether the interview ended up being a shoot or a work. Nevertheless, according to the 25th October 1993 edition of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'', Ross and Polo may have known in advance since they hyped the interview as saying that "Savage was going to make waves", with Ross asking leading questions to him.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/5bul27/wrestling_observer_rewind_dec_27_1993_final_post/ Reddit post containing the the 25th October 1993 edition of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'', which reported on the Savage interview.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref>
 ==Cancellation and Late 1990s Revival==
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 ==Availability==
-Likely due to each version of the show proving unable to attract many stations to carry them, no recordings of ''Radio WWF'' have ever publicly resurfaced. It is therefore coveted media among those seeking the alternative pay-per-view commentary,<ref>[https://twitter.com/maskedwrestlers/status/1021419260718067712 Twitter post discussing finding the ''Radio WWF'' pay-per-view commentary tracks.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref> as well as the Savage interview. Nevertheless, the Savage interview transcript remains publicly accessible on an archived ''Miss Elizabeth.com'' page.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070401002604/http://www.misselizabeth.com/extra/interview4.html Archived ''Miss Elizabeth'' containing the Savage transcript.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref>
+Likely due to each version of the show proving unable to attract many stations to carry them, recordings of ''Radio WWF'' remain scarce. It is therefore coveted media among those seeking the alternative pay-per-view commentary,<ref>[https://twitter.com/maskedwrestlers/status/1021419260718067712 Twitter post discussing finding the ''Radio WWF'' pay-per-view commentary tracks.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref> as well as the Savage interview. The Savage interview transcript remains publicly accessible on an archived ''Miss Elizabeth.com'' page.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070401002604/http://www.misselizabeth.com/extra/interview4.html Archived ''Miss Elizabeth'' containing the Savage transcript.] Retrieved 21st Dec '21</ref>
+On 3rd January 2022, commentary from the 1998 ''Royal Rumble'' was uploaded to YouTube by Rich Liptak. On 28th January 2022, AdFreeShows announced it had obtained a cassette tape consisting of 40 minutes of commentary from Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon from the 1994 ''Royal Rumble''.<ref name="ad">[https://twitter.com/adfreeshows/status/1487108962050785281 ''AdFreeShows'' announcing it had received a cassette tape consisting of audio from the 1994 ''Royal Rumble''.] Retrieved 24th Jul '22</ref> It was originally released as part of its Studio Sessions Patreon,<ref name="ad"/> although it has since been leaked onto YouTube.
 ==Gallery==
+===Videos===
+{{Video|perrow  =2
+  |service1     =youtube
+  |id1          =Ort7eIeuwrU
+  |description1 =Audio from the 1994 ''Royal Rumble''.
+  |service2     =youtube
+  |id2          =UaU0m3OApCE
+  |description2 =Audio from the 1998 ''Royal Rumble''.
+}}
 {{Video|perrow  =2
    |service1     =youtube
@@ Line 31: / Line 42: @@
 ==See Also==
+*[[AJ Styles vs Kenny Omega (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2006)]]
+*[[Alberto Del Rio vs CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler vs Jack Swagger vs John Cena (partially found master tape footage of untelevised Hell in a Cell match; 2011)]]
+*[[Awesome Kong vs Melissa Anderson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2009)]]
 *[[Bill Longson vs Whipper Billy Watson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1947)]]
+*[[Blood Circus (partially found Santo Gold film; 1985)]]
 *[[Braden Walker's "Knock Knock" promo (lost original pre-tapes of WWE backstage segment; 2008)]]
 *[[Bradshaw vs Christian (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2001)]]
@@ Line 41: / Line 56: @@
 *[[Collision in Korea (found professional wrestling event in North Korea; 1995)]]
 *[[Collision in Korea wrestler sketches (lost North Korean pencil sketch portraits of professional wrestlers; 1995)]]
-*[[Cultaholic (lost debut video of professional wrestling YouTube channel; 2017)]]
+*[[Cultaholic (found debut video of professional wrestling YouTube channel; 2017)]]
 *[[ECW Anarchy Rulz (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 port of professional wrestling game; existence unconfirmed; 2000)]]
 *[[ECW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)]]
@@ Line 48: / Line 63: @@
 *[[The Game (partially found Disturbed cover of professional wrestling theme song; mid 2000s)]]
 *[[GFW Amped (partially found unaired professional wrestling show; 2015)]]
+*[[The Giant's moonsault (lost footage of professional wrestling move; existence unconfirmed; 1990s)]]
 *[[Girls Gone Wild: Live from Spring Break (found WWE/Girls Gone Wild crossover special; 2003)]]
 *[[GLOW (lost unfinished final season of Netflix comedy-drama series; 2019-2020)]]
+*[[Goldberg's pre-television debut matches (lost footage of professional wrestling dark matches; 1997)]]
 *[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1908)]]
 *[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1911)]]
 *[[Jake "The Snake" Roberts DDTs Hulk Hogan (lost Snake Pit segment; 1986)]]
+*[[Johnny Gargano vs Velveteen Dream (lost footage of alternate finish to professional wrestling match; 2019)]]
+*[[Kurt Angle vs Owen Hart (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1999)]]
 *[[The Last Battle of Atlanta (found untelevised professional wrestling steel cage match; 1983)]]
-*[[Lita (partially found training videos of professional wrestler; late 1990s-2000)]]
+*[[Lita's training matches (partially found training videos of professional wrestler; late 1990s-2000)]]
+*[[Low Ki & Mercury vs Ric Blade & TCK (partially lost footage of hardcore wrestling tag team match; 2000)]]
+*[[Mark Jindrak in Evolution (partially found unaired vignettes of professional wrestling stable; 2003)]]
+*[[Pat Tanaka vs Rocco Rock (lost footage of "Body Count" professional wrestling match; 1993)]]
 *[["Plane Ride From Hell" (lost photographs of drunk wrestler incidents; 2002)]]
 *[[Screwed: The Bret Hart Story (lost unfinished wrestling documentary film; 2005)]]
@@ Line 61: / Line 83: @@
 *[[Strange Kentucky People (lost recording of Chris Jericho "tribute"; 1994)]]
 *[[TNA Impact! 2 (lost build of unfinished professional wrestling game; 2009)]]
+*[[TNA International and TNA Wrestling Collection (completely lost pro-wrestling TV shows; 2006)]]
+*[[TNA Xplosion (partially found TV series; 2002-2016)]]
 *[[WCW 2000 (lost work on unfinished PlayStation 2 game; 2000)]]
 *[[WCW All Nighter (partially lost professional wrestling compilation show; 1994-1995)]]
@@ Line 68: / Line 92: @@
 *[[WWE 24x7 (lost professional wrestling compilation show; 2007)]]
 *[[WWE Brawl (lost build of cancelled fighting game based on professional wrestling; 2012)]]
+*[[WWE Crush Hour (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of vehicular combat game; 2002)]]
 *[[WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online (lost build of cancelled online professional wrestling PC game; 2010-2011)]]
+*[[WWE Wrestlemania 36 (lost footage of alternate finishes to professional wrestling matches; 2020)]]
 *[[WWF Attitude (lost professional wrestling recap show; 2001-2002)]]
 *[[WWF Backlash (non-existent unfinished Nintendo 64 professional wrestling game; 2001)]]
@@ Line 83: / Line 109: @@
 [[Category:Lost audio]]
 [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
-[[Category:Completely lost media]]
+[[Category:Partially found media]]