Phil Strum
@UnderTheRing
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Pro wrestling host/whisperer, Glass Half Full Guy for lohud, USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow @PJStrum for things outside pro wrestling.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Joined June 2009
My podcast, Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, was canceled today, effective immediately. Thanks to everyone who worked on the show, came on the show, suggested guests, or supported the project. It means a lot to me. Catch you later.
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If I’m Tony Khan, I’m uncomfortable with the direction Punk decided to take this scrum. Tony should be in charge here while Punk buries his wrestlers and EVPs. What is happening?.
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Her passion and dedication have gotten her to this historic moment . tonight @ReneeYoungWWE becomes the first woman to ever call an entire episode of Monday Night #Raw. Congratulations! #WellDeserved
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@CodyRhodes @WWE @WWEShop @The_BigLG @MachineGunKA @BrianRDJames One of the coolest parts of the Barclays show on Monday was the crowd singing along with "Kingdom" and not just the "woooooooah" part. So fun. Enjoy this.
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Great to catch up with @YaOnlyLivvOnce this afternoon for the latest episode of Under The Ring launching Monday. She is so much fun. Here's us in Nov. 2016 after she (with pizza) & @SonyaDevilleWWE faced @JessicaMcKay & @CassieLee at The Theatre at MSG.
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As part of my Under The Ring interview, I asked Liv Morgan (@YaOnlyLivvOnce) about the importance of @TJWilson and @NatbyNature to WWE, and specifically the women's division she currently sits atop. Check out the whole interview here:
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JR to host show w/'rambunctious' Heyman @JRsBBQ @HeymanHustle @LarryDallasSXM @BustedOpenRadio @davidlagreca1.
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Had another interview with @HeymanHustle today. We talked Mania, Taker, Brock, @WWENXT, @WWENetwork and even @ReneeYoungWWE. Will post soon.
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To compare Lesnar and Punk's reigns is to miss the point on what an attraction is in pro wrestling. If Punk came back now, he'd be one and also likely wouldn't wrestle as often. Brock didn't make part-time Brock Universal champion, WWE did.
Fascinating infographic breaks down Brock Lesnar's disappointing WWE title reign
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If Brock wrestled full time, he would be presented differently. It would also be harder to keep him special and retain his mystique, which is why you see him as often as you do. I also doubt Brock, at this stage of his life and career, is interested in being on the road full time.
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If Brock's not your cup of tea, that's understandable. But to say that a big-money draw who wrestles on huge shows in the main event is unsuccessful is, to me, a stretch.
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Seasoned pro @ReneeYoungWWE rebounds from slightly going off rails on Raw Talk by singing Lionel Richie. 😂 Amazing.
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As a business, WWE needs to find talent, in all locations, full and part time, who help them reach their goals. Lesnar is one of the most unique talents ever and he helps them achieve that. If it was a failure, it would have ended a long time ago.
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Strangely while this match is Adam vs. Adam, on real names, it’s actually Steve-Austin.
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Roman Reigns is very smart about wrestling.
August 19, 2021:. "Sami Zayn has an intangible where you can't stop looking, even in real life you want to have a conversation with him.". "If you can get @SamiZayn on TV more that's a good thing.". @WWERomanReigns always knew who the Honorary Uce was 👆. 🎙 @arielhelwani
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Coming Monday on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, Anna Jay! (@annajay___ ). You can find that here Monday, as well as catch up on past episodes in the meantime.
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@CeeHawk 'WWE insider' while people who aren't actually have consistently better access to accurate information. He is the ultimate bad faith actor.
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@NatbyNature That emoji selection seems like the Anvil laugh. Hope you heard it that way too.
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@davemeltzerWON I respect everyone in this crazy exchange very much, but I learned from you that wrestling is always about time and place. Comparing 5,400 then to 5,400 now isn’t apples to apples because it’s a very different landscape.
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You know you'll want to listen to @RaquelWWE and I chatting on Monday morning. We even managed to talk about a little old-school wrestling!
Coming up this Monday on @UnderTheRing: #WWE star Raquel Rodriguez (@RaquelWWE) discusses finding her style in the ring, Hispanic and Latino culture in wrestling, WarGames, and more. Make sure to tune in and catch up on all episodes of #UnderTheRing:
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Available today on Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, my discussion with Anna Jay (@annajay___ ). Here, I ask about the recent line about 🍑 and bad attitude and if she expected it to take off like it did.
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Kazuchika Okada is the first Japanese wrestler to be selected No. 1 in the PWI 500 @officialPWI. Seems like an incredibly logical choice.
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Available now: My interview with @MercedesVarnado ahead of her match at @njpwglobal Battle in the Valley against @KAIRI_official tomorrow night on @FiteTV. Hear about future plans and more. Also read on @WrestleJunkie:
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I’m watching Sean Paul perform Temperature on the Thanksgiving Day parade broadcast with my 98-year-old grandmother. I’ve peaked.
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What an unbelievably bad stance by Satin. Not every wrestling fan needs to be consumed with ratings data, but it's literally what you need to measure success, ad rates and especially feedback to what works in the pandemic era.
A guy really understanding the business he covers. Showbuzz has been down for weeks, yet we've actually gotten the same and more media news since it's been down.
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Coming soon to Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations, "The Man" Becky Lynch. @BeckyLynchWWE . Catch up on all past episodes including two with her WrestleMania opponent Rhea Ripley here
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How crazy is it that this Christmas Raw from 1997 featured the lead announcers from SmackDown (@michaelcole), All Elite Wrestling (@JRsBBQ) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (@realkevinkelly) as we head into 2020!.
12/22/97: Great green screen, or GREATEST green screen?
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My guest on this week's episode is one of my favorite wrestlers, @itsBayleyWWE. She says she's going to win the Royal Rumble this Saturday. Here, we discuss what it was like going into her signature match with @MercedesVarnado at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn.
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@MATTHARDYBRAND Lord Alfred with Broken Matt would have been something else. (I was born in 1979 and I'm not 50!).
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Available today, my conversation with @davemeltzerWON about Endeavor, the UFC-WWE merger, Vince McMahon and AEW.
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Paul Heyman is so good. Speaking Samoan. Talking about riding with Afa & Sika. Tugging at heartstrings. Best part is I'd think there are probably photos of teenage Heyman with the Samoans. @HeymanHustle.
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Really happy to have @davemeltzerWON on this week's show. "Do you really think WWE is going to sell?". Dave is the top journalist who's ever covered wrestling, so it was great to hear his perspective. Full episode here:
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There is one wrestling "news" site labeled as news that is clearly not. They are thinly veiled attempts at aggregating Twitter takes into carefully crafted SEO headlines to earn ad money, while simultaneously spewing venomous hate. They have a voice, but they're not worth time.
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Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) discusses his longevity in wrestling and how he stays in the game. You can see him every week on #aew and in @newwrestling1 this Sunday in Waterbury, Conn. with brother Jeff vs. @real1 & @TheCaZXL. Full interview:
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AVAILABLE TODAY: @MATTHARDYBRAND joins me on Under The Ring. We discuss reforming the Hardys tag team with Jeff, his new podcast @matthardypod with @JonAlba, and his thoughts on the tag team scene in 2022. (Photo by @RebyHardy). Listen here and subscribe:
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@MATTHARDYBRAND I work in media and lost my dad to COVID. Don’t paint everyone with a broad brush.
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We are back! It's season two of Under The Ring: Pro Wrestling Conversations with @WrestleJunkie!. On the first episode, we're joined by @TrueKofi, who speaks about his Royal Rumble saves.
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I had the chance to ask @Carmelo_WWE about some recent positive posts about him that I saw via @wallflowerperry and the Wrestling Club. Here's what it means to him to be a positive influence.
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I’m pretty sure @HeymanHustle just made a Rocky Horror Picture Show reference “antici. pation.”.
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The more I watch @SonnyKissXO wrestle, the more I realize Sonny Kiss can absolutely go, bell to bell. Seems to also be improving in every outing. Explosive, agile, great footwork, great timing.
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3 years ago today, we lost the great Roddy Piper. This is us 10 years ago. It's always great when the wrestlers you admire as a kid turn out to be gentle, kind, caring souls when you meet them. His legacy should carry on forever. One of a kind.
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There's no point to discrediting all of wrestling journalism when you're mad about one report. It would be like me saying all wrestlers are terrible because I disliked one match.
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Here's my article on @newwrestling1's card Friday at @MidHudsonCC on @DavidArquette & @AnthonyArmy facing @JerryLawler & @Youngblood_RB
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What's it been like fitting into @IMPACTWRESTLING for @MattTaven? He breaks down the current landscape here.
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Announcing my new pro wrestling podcast with the USA TODAY Network! It will be weekly conversations with myself and someone from the world of pro wrestling. First episode drops Monday and my guest is WWE superstar Rhea Ripley! Hope you'll check it out and enjoy. More to come.
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@PlatinumMax @Newsweek @AEW @Bowens_Official I thought he was doing scissors in the pic for a moment. Probably did it later.
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If you haven't yet, check out @JRsBBQ Ross Report this week. Thanks to JR for being the best, considering all he's been through.
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We also discuss @TrueKofi's cause he is working on with his mother, Click for Quality Education Foundation, which you can find information about here:
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Pentagon Jr. vs. Jon Moxley announced for August 16 @newwrestling1 “Prison Break” at Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center, formerly @MidHudsonCC.
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For those wondering, this is the 15th week of an Emmalina vignette. The first one was Oct. 3.
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Was such a thrill for me to interview @davemeltzerWON for an episode coming out on Monday. We chatted about the future of Vince McMahon, WWE and pro wrestling.
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Available today, my conversation with WWE's Santos Escobar (@EscobarWWE). Here, Santos discusses who some of his favorite Luchadors were growing up and why Lucha Libre culture is so important to him.
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Regardless of your opinions of his opinions, @TheJimCornette is a stellar commentator and a great contributor for any organization in pro wrestling. Bottom line is that he cares.
BREAKING | Jim Cornette joins the NWA studio show as the series color commentator. Join Jim in Atlanta, GA on 9/30 & 10/1 .We've opened limited General Admission .Cornette will do the VIP experience on 10/1 only!. Tickets - @TheJimCornette
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I had the great opportunity to connect with @JoshLBarnett about the upcoming @JBBloodsport X card as part of the @GCWrestling_ Collective in Philadelphia on April 4. How did @QoSBaszler vs. @mashaslamovich end up on the bill? Here's Josh on that.
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@NatbyNature @YaOnlyLivvOnce @TJWilson It's great to have people invested like you all who believe in the potential, growth and future of women's wrestling in the U.S. and globally.
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I don't think it can be emphasized enough how strongly Paul Turner, Mike Sampson, Jon Moxley and Tony Khan acted in the best interests of Hangman Adam Page and his family.
Agreed. Absolutely great job by @RefTurnerAEW & @DocSampson13 - positive energy & prayers to @theAdamPage 🙏.
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@SteveFeitl @CodyRhodes @WWE @WWEShop @The_BigLG @MachineGunKA @BrianRDJames It made me feel like I needed to brush up on them, stat.
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@CeeHawk One misnomer I've seen a lot lately is "don't recruit football players instead of indie wrestlers." But some of the best of all time actually came from football. If you don't put yourself in one box and only one box, the answer you have provided here, is very clear.
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Generational knowledge abounds in this awesome photo. Must have been a heck of a day for @HeymanHustle.
Paul Heyman interviews Andy Kaufman in a restroom in 1982, as Fred Blassie stands nearby. Heyman would have been a high school junior here. The amount of wrestling history in this photo is quite ridiculous. (Sorry for not knowing the photog. maybe @Starshot9 ?)
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Coming Monday, @davemeltzerWON and I discuss the Endeavor-WWE-UFC merger and its many, many impacts. Always a pleasure to talk to Dave!
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If @THETOMMYDREAMER ever faces @ShinsukeN it would be the innovator of violence vs. the innovator of violins.
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@davemeltzerWON No clue why Madden thought stirring up the cancel culture brigade was a good idea on this and attempting to include a reporter who literally reported the exact opposite of Mitchell. Lazy.
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Happy to announce my next episode (likely Thursday) will be with the Main Character, @Madi_Wrenkowski. I really enjoyed getting to chat with one-half of the @nwa champions today. I think you'll enjoy it too.
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@WWEAleister Ha, I have one of those too. I was doing the selfie wrong and you moved my phone before I hit the button. Poughkeepsie, NY.
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Keith Hernandez just mentioned seeing Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens in his youth at Cow Palace on the Mets spring broadcast @davemeltzerWON.
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If you have time this week, take some and read about Jay aka The Great Fowler. It’s great what he’s doing, it’s fantastic to see him recognized this way and, really, it’s always good to look at the positives we can take out of things. Way to go, Jay. Always rooting for you.
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@MATTHARDYBRAND The quick Twitter shoot-downs also end up discouraging the exchange of ideas. I was glad we were able to interact the other day. Seeing the differences should bring us closer. Listen, don't divide. And be understanding.
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One of @MLW's recent goals was to improve its in-ring presentation. A match @courtbauer praised was a recent bout between @RichardsWesley and @alexhammerstone. Full episode of Under The Ring available here: Match here:
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Had the pleasure of interviewing @realfredrosser tonight ahead of the @njpwglobal cards in NYC at the Palladium next week. Will be available on Monday where you get your podcasts. Great interview and should be some very fun shows.
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I had the pleasure of interviewing @NJPWofAmerica Strong Openweight champ @realfredrosser ahead of @njpwglobal running cards in NYC at the Palladium Thursday and Friday. Here's his thoughts about eventually wrestling in Japan.
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Had the pleasure of speaking to @MickieJames of @IMPACTWRESTLING ahead of her match vs. @TheTrinity_Fatu for the Knockouts championship at Bound For Glory. #BoundForGlory . We discuss how Impact is again becoming a destination for wrestlers to work in.
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@Zack_Heydorn Matt running around a ring didn’t cause a man in his 40s to have physical conflicts with multiple people in the workplace. Not saying everyone is innocent, but let’s keep what Punk did in one box.
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Coming up today, my conversation with the @ringofhonor champion, Claudio Castagnoli! (@ClaudioCSRO).
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Of note off the Bron Breakker-Von Wagner match: their dads actually faced in the opener of Royal Rumble '93 in Sacramento in the Steiners' first WWF PPV. Neither Bron nor Wagner were born yet.
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Was so honored to have Mike Johnson (@MikePWInsider) from @PWInsidercom on the podcast this week. Here, he discusses his friend, superfan Vladimir Abouzeide. It would be great if WWE released the documentary they made about Vladimir already.
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It's incredible to me that often when people in the wrestling industry say that journalists know nothing about their industry, those same people usually know nothing about how journalism works. And usually much less.
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Things I dislike in getting back into wrestling media in 2022: toxic tribal fandom and clickbait headlines.
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A wrestler beating a championship level tag team by himself is dumb.
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Adam Cole (@AdamColePro) also confirmed this week that people in AEW root for WWE and people in WWE root for AEW.
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This Monday, we'll be alwayz ready with @TheMattCardona. CC: @nwa . Fun episode, recorded before his unfortunate injury, but still some great stuff from the self-made man.
#NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion @TheMattCardona joins @UnderTheRing’s Phil Strum this Monday and talks about the upcoming #AlwayzReady PPV + much more. Listen to all episodes of #UnderTheRing:
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If Dom takes out Cinnamon Toast Crunch, does he go to prison for being a cereal killer?.
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Available today! My interview with @swerveconfident!.
AEW star Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) talks about the success of Swerve In Our Glory tag team with @RealKeithLee. 🎧 Listen to the full episode on @UnderTheRing:
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@RealMickFoley @SamiZayn He reminds me of your likability in 1998 and how the fans gravitated toward you.
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