R.A.W Media

We are back with another special edition of 'The R.A.W Report' taking it back to the year 1995!!  That year saw the WWF hit one of it's worst financia, and creative, years ever whilst, it's competitor, WCW continued to build such momentum that they were given a prime time slot on TNT for 'Monday Nitro'!!!  ECW continued to make noise, and shake up the landscape of Pro Wrestling, with both classic hardcore and scientific matches not seen anywhere else at the time (well, except for in Japan but you had to be a tape trader back then to really know that). The world of Rap/Hip-Hop was beginning to go into full battle mode with the 'East Coast vs. West Coast' beef starting to heat up with, Death Row Records CEO, Suge Knight throwing a diss towards, Bad Boy Records CEO, Puff Daddy at that year's 'Source Awards'!!!  But 1995 was more than on stage bickering, between two label executives, as artists such as Raekwon and Mobb Deep were dropping timeless...

When people mention, Rap/Rock band, Limp Bizkit's 'My Way' (especially Pro Wrestling fans) the first thought that pops into their head is, in most cases, the theme song to WWF's 'Wrestlemania X-Seven'.  The song may be remembered as the theme song to one of the greatest Pro Wrestling events of all time but it also has another, often forgotten, moment that most fans don't even think of and its one that makes it a truly defining moment in Pro Wrestling history.  Before going any further for those who aren't overly familiar with Limp Bizkit's 'My Way' here's a quick breakdown for you.  The song was released in early 2001 as the fourth single from Limp Bizkit's, massively successful, 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water' album that came out a few months prior.  Limp Bizkit 'My Way' (Official Video) Whilst the single didn't gain as much commercial success as the album's previous...

It's a new year and, after 6 months away, R.A.W Media is back on Blogger!!! We've switched our format (focusing more on classic Rap/Hip-Hop and Pro Wrestling, profiles and interviews) and what a better way to kick things off than with a special edition of 'The R.A.W Report' taking it back to the year 1994!!! A year that saw New York regain its prominence within the Rap/Hip-Hop landscape and the Pro Wrestling industry being shaken up by Ted Turner's WCW and a little group from Philadelphia called ECW!!! So ladies and gentlemen let's look at some of the releases, and events, that made 1994 such a great year in the worlds of Rap and Wrestling - RAP •  Nas - Illmatic •  The Notorious B.I.G - Ready To Die •  Craig Mack - Project: Funk Da World •  Common - Resurrection •  Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik WRESTLING •  WWF 'Royal Rumble' (Full Match) •  ECW '1994' (Playlist) •  WCW 'Bash At The Beach...

Before we go on our, hopefully, brief hiatus we couldn't go off grid without mentioning the recent passing of one of Pro Wrestling's most iconic, and charismatic, figures Hulk Hogan. To say that Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, didn't have his controversies would be the understatement of the decade however if you grew up watching Wrestling, in the 80's and 90's, it would be difficult to ignore Hogan's impact on the business and his mainstream appeal throughout that time. Seeing people you grew up watching on television, and who played big parts in something you love, pass away is always hard and Hogan's passing is a difficult one for all of us at R.A.W Media. We wish to remember the Hulk Hogan that changed Pro Wrestling forever. The man that main evented the inaugural 'Wrestlemania', slammed Andre The Giant, created the New World Order and had one of the greatest comebacks, of all time, in the early 00...

As he finally ends his in ring career R.A.W Media takes a look back on, the legendary, Sabu's classic 90's run in which he became an underground phenomenon in the world of Pro Wrestling!!! Competing in a number of different promotions (such as ECW, WWF, WCW, NWA, FMW and more) Sabu always took his unpredictable nature with him and had crowds wanting more of the insanity he brought with him!!! Whether you read about him in issues of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, saw his matches through tape traders or caught his brief appearances on national television Sabu's game changing style made you want to dig deeper and in a pre-internet era you really did have to dig deep to find more on him!!! Check out the playlist here -  Underground Legend: The Best Of Sabu (1993 - 1996)

From 1998 to 1999 WWE (back then WWF) had a television show called 'Super Astros' that featured a mix of established luchadors and, underutilised, WWF stars (mostly from the companies 'Light Heavyweight' division) that was aimed at the promotions Latin American audience!!!  The show is, unfortunately, a forgotten footnote in the promotions history (evidenced by its extremely short run) but looking back at the talent showcased it's a real shame that the programme is so overlooked especially with how highly WWE regards luchadors nowadays!!!  R.A.W Media have put together a playlist of some of the shows best matches in the hopes that it might highlight the fact that WWF/E had the opportunity to showcase the 'Lucha Libre' style way before names like Rey Mysterio or Penta came along!!!  Check out the playlist here -  The Best Of WWF 'Super Astros' (Playlist)

The WWE Vault drops another outstanding compilation mixtape this time in the form of classic Terry Funk matches, promos and found footage!!!  This mixtape is literally 4-hours of Funk footage from his tenures in WWF, WCW, ECW and other promotions over his storied career!!!  This is real treat for those, like us, who miss the Pro Wrestling legend, who passed away in 2023, and everything he did for the business!!!  There will NEVER be another Terry Funk!!!  Watch the mixtape here -  WWE Vault Presents Terry Funk: 4-Hours Of Funk Mixtape (Video)

The WWE Vault YouTube channel really is the gift that keeps on giving!!! This time around we are treated to a nice little, hour long, mixtape of some of WCW's wildest brawls from their Hardcore division that reigned from around mid '99 to early '01!!! Though the concept of a Hardcore division was one blatantly taken from the success of WWF/E's (who in fairness stole theirs from ECW) WCW did have a fair few memorable moments with theirs as well!!! They even had former ECW talent on board like The Sandman (or Hardcore Hak during his WCW stay), Mikey Whipwreck, Bam Bam Bigelow and Terry Funk alongside their own stars such as Brian Knobs, Norman Smiley, Crowbar, Fit Finley and more who, to be fair, weren't really doing much else in the company during this time!!! So sit back, hit play and enjoy this dope mixtape of some of WCW's most hardcore brawls -  WWE Vault Presents WCW Gets Hardcore Mixtape (Video)