Episode 021 - SmackDown!, July 18 2002

Sunday, 25 August 2002. For something new to truly stand on its own feet, it has to cast off the shackles of that which came before. WWE Champion The Rock was one of the company's greatest stars of the Attitude Era. But with Rock's Hollywood career beckoning, perhaps on this night Brock Lesnar represented the Ruthless Aggression Era, the need for it to stand on its own, and the importance of change. L. T. is joined by John Porter for a look back at one of WWE's most highly-regarded events of all time.

Saturday, 10 August 2002. As part of an effort to expand the WWE's reach, the company decided to return to a region starved for wrestling, hoping to cultivate a new market they could make profitable. The resulting tour led to this stop in Melbourne, Australia, which began a relationship which would pay great dividends ever since. L. T. is joined by fellow newLegacy member and certified Australian duel to take a look back at WWE's jaunt to the land down under.

Thursday, 25 July 2002. With Stephanie McMahon assigned to play the role of SmackDown!'s on-screen General Manager, the show would now need a new identity. To achieve that, the writers had to decide who they would place their faith in for the future. To that end, they chose a home grown star, an up-and-comer and someone jumping out the sky from their former competitor... L. T. is joined by Mark Goddard of Bloody Good Reads for the WWE debut of Rey Mysterio!

Monday, 22 July 2002. With the introduction of Eric Bischoff as Raw's General Manager, steps were to about to be made to help ensure both brands of WWE had their own identity. In addition to some new faces about to make a stir in their debut, there would begin a trimming of the fat over the coming weeks and months that kicked off with a championship unification match on this episode. L. T. is joined by Katy Lawson for a look back at the European Championship's end and the beginning of the WWE careers of a memorable tag team.

Sunday, 21 July 2002. With the General Managers now in place, WWE set about setting them- and their respective shows- against one another. The first shot in the war between Raw and SmackDown would be fired here tonight, before a legendary main event between three of the all-time great performers. L. T. is joined by stand-up comedian and podcaster Eddie O'Keeffe to take a look back at one of the best wrestling matches of all time... and, you know, a promo that never seemed to end...

Thursday, 18 July 2002.   Now that Raw had a General Manager assigned to the position of authority, SmackDown! would be needing a counterpart. A change was soon to come to the WWE landscape as this episode would kick off a long-standing war between the two brands- but first, the fans had to meet SmackDown!'s new boss and see how they were all grown up now...   L. T. is joined by Mark Goddard of the Bloody Good Reads podcast for a closer inspection of the appointment of SmackDown!'s first ever General Manager.

Monday, 15 July 2002.   With Kevin Nash injured and the nWo dead in the water, it was full panic stations for WWE. Raw was in need of a quick shake-up. Luckily, the company had just the thing. In order to freshen things up, a new General Manager would be appointed to both Raw and SmackDown, given total control over their respective brands... and the WWE faithful were about to be rocked to their core when they met the new boss on Mondays...   L. T. is joined by Alex O'Keeffe for this look back at the appointment of the first ever General Manager in WWE history, specifically the first Raw General Manager.

Monday, 8 July 2002. Not every moment in wrestling history is remembered for the most favourable reasons. On this particular evening, the WWE would be struck by two calamities. The fallout from one of these events would require a company-wide pivot to counteract. As for the other? It would go down in wrestling fandom legend... L. T. is joined by stand-up comedian and podcaster Eddie O'Keeffe to take a look back at the night wrestling fans worldwide bore witness to THAT Jackie Gayda Match.

Sunday, 7 July 2002. As Trish Stratus' star continued to rise, the sudden derailment of her feud with Jazz due to the latter's unforseeable injury meant the WWE Women's Division needed a new foe to occupy the top babyface in addition to Molly Holly. With this in mind, it was time to call up yet another new star in the form of one Victoria... L. T. is joined by Demo Darby to watch as one of their favourite female WWE performers makes a strong showing in her first appearance.

In this episode, L. T. takes you through the process of how he makes an episode of Ruthless Aggression Relived! PLUS, an entire former paid-exclusive episode co-hosted by Lewis Clark of SegaDrive.com in which he joins L. T. to review the WWF Forceable Entry music album!