What If.....Hulk Hogan Went to ECW? Chapter Five: The Angle with Raven (July-September 1995)

As the summer of 1995 wore on, Hulk Hogan's reign as ECW World Heavyweight Champion continued to face new challenges. A new rival emerged in the form of Raven, the brooding and intense wrestler who had been making waves in ECW. Raven's dark and poetic style was a perfect fit for the ECW audience, and he quickly became a top contender to Hogan's title.

What If.....Hulk Hogan Went to ECW? Chapter Four: The Hostile City Showdown (April-June 1995)

As the spring of 1995 wore on, Hulk Hogan's feud with Cactus Jack continued to intensify. The two men had been trading victories and insults for months, and the tension between them was palpable. On April 8, 1995, Hogan faced off against Cactus Jack in a hardcore match at the Hostile City Showdown event. The bout was a chaotic, action-packed affair, featuring tables, chairs, and other foreign objects.

What If.....Hulk Hogan Went to ECW? Chapter Three: The Feud with Cactus Jack (January-March 1995)

As the new year dawned, Hulk Hogan's reign as ECW World Heavyweight Champion continued to gain momentum. He had established himself as one of the top champions in the promotion's history, and his matches were consistently delivering on the promise of high-energy entertainment. However, a new challenger emerged in the form of Cactus Jack, the hard-hitting, no-nonsense wrestler who had been making waves in ECW.

Music Special: Jonathan William Radbourne 1961-2026

One week ago today my brother, Jonathan William Radbourne, passed away at the age of 64. Jon was one of the people responsible for shaping my musical tastes when he introduced me to heavy metal and hard rock back in the early 1980s. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't listen to most of the music I do today.

This show is my personal tribute to him, playing some of the bands he saw play live at the old West Runton Pavilion, as well as others he introduced me to back in the day.

Rest in peace big brother. Love you. 

What If.....Hulk Hogan Went to ECW? Chapter Two: The Main Event Era (July-December 1994)

As the summer of 1994 wore on, Hulk Hogan's ECW career continued to gain momentum. He had established himself as a top player in the promotion, feuding with the likes of Shane Douglas and Sabu. The ECW fans, known for their passion and dedication, had taken to Hogan, appreciating his willingness to adapt to their unique style.

The Thursday Rock Show: Even More From David Bowie

It's time for The Thursday Rock Show again, and time for the final part of our mini-series where we look back at the UK chart hits of the late great David Bowie, who passed away ten years this month. This week we're looking back at his hits from the second half of the 1980's.

What If.....Hulk Hogan Went to ECW? Chapter One: The Shocking Departure (February-June 1994)

If you’re a long-time reader of my blog you’ll know that I’ve been toying around with various AI apps for a while now. I used Gemini to help me convert my old Civil War stores so I could post them here on this blog, and I’ve also used these apps to help with some stories based on a few ideas I had, such as the story of Deep Purple’s 50^th anniversary concert, and a story based on the rumour that Metallica asked Hulk Hogan to become their bass player.

Julian's Social Media Discoveries Episode 48: Robert Velvet, Dr. Rony, Staffan Ofwerman, Symphony of Sweden and More!

Episode 48 of the Social Media Discoveries series sees us taking another trip around Europe, with a couple of sojourns across the pond, as we feature yet more music we've discovered online over the past few years. We've even got an NHS doctor for you this week!

Rest in Peace Big Brother

 

Rest in peace big brother Jon. 1961-2026.

The Thursday Rock Show: Yet More From David Bowie

It's time for The Thursday Rock Show once again, and we're continuing our look at the UK chart hits of the late great David Bowie, who passed away ten years ago this month. This week we're looking back at his hits between 1980 and 1984.

Clash of the Comics 2025 - TV Review

So…..

It’s been nine years since I’ve watched and reviewed a full wrestling show. Nine long years. I was never tempted to go back into the wrestling world at all during that time, not even when the country went into lockdown when people suddenly found themselves with a lot of time on their hands.

But now, with access to Netflix (thanks to big brother Mark, he’s a DJ you know), to ITVX, and to countless hours of free wrestling courtesy of YouTube, I’ve decided to dip my toes into the waters once again. Who have I watched, I hear you ask?

Have you watched the most recent episode of Monday Night Raw? Have you watched AEW for the first time? Or perhaps you’ve gone into the past and looked at the WWE or WCW Vaults over on YouTube? Or have you even turned your attention to those guys you used to hang around with in Norwich?

No. None of that. I headed over to the U&Dave catch-up service to watch a bunch of comedians.

Immortals: Civil War III - The Unfinished Story

Simon Callow would have made a great Captain Watt.

What you are about to read is the prologue to the fourth story of Civil War III, a story titled "Immortals". The idea was to look at the history of the Immortals, characters "borrowed" from the Highlander film and television series and used in the Anglo-Force/Valkyrie Chronicles universe, how they came to be, and why they fought for the ultimate prize in the Gathering.

That story was never written. I never added to the Civil War story that I had begun four years before in 1996. By the time this prologue was written in 2000 work commitments, and the beginning of The Two Sheds Review wrestling column online meant that the story was never written.

It's taken me since over five years to get all of my old stories online. The purchase of a new scanner and the advent of AI apps sped up the process no end in the past few months. I've enjoyed going over what was a very creative part of my life, and it's reminded me of the grand plans I had for Civil War.

So is there anything else I could add to Civil War? Will there be any more stories? All I will say is never say never.

Here's the prologue of "Immortals" for you.

The Soul of a Rainbow: Man on the Silver Mountain

A promotional appearance for my AI-related album "The Soul of a Rainbow", reinterpreting classic Rainbow songs as soul music.

You can listen to the album at https://open.spotify.com/album/1YhhhAR0ZMMOKl9gnuDYub?si=rzPnNJEBTIaQAMmbwCHJ4A (as well as other streaming services)

PS - you do realize that this is AI-generated, don't you? 😉I wish I could sing this well!

Julian's Social Media Discoveries Episode 47: The Mizzerables, Natalia Tsupryk, Natasha Hardy, No King No Crown & More!

It's time for episode 47 of Social Media Discoveries, and with the big number fifty show approaching, we're once again giving you a variety of tunes from around the world.

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Nine

As Caesar led the way, he studied his device intently.

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Eight

Thrawn began to look around as they walked through the ship.

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Are you crazy?" said Bel Iblis. "You're going to the Borg's base camp, and you're going to knock on their door? You're a fool!"

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Six

Caesar now led the way as the ape party, as well as Thrawn, made their way into the countryside outside Ape City. Suddenly, with great speed, Thrawn ran forward and blocked Caesar's path.

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Five

Caesar, Cornelius, Zaius and Virgil, as well as Zeera and Urko, now found themselves in the main council chamber. It was the only part of the building that hadn't been attacked in any way since the arrival of the new invasion force. With the apes kneeling before him, Thrawn began to pace up and down in front of them, blaster raised towards them, so they wouldn't try anything.

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Four

Thrawn pounded his fist into the main control panel. For what seemed like ages, he had tried to contact his command ship, but to no avail. Something had gone drastically wrong with this operation. What had been the invasion of a simple backward world was now turning into a disaster for his forces. Try as he might, he just couldn't get a clear signal through to his ship. Something was blocking all of his transmissions on all available frequencies. He knew that there was only one way he could find out what was going on.

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Three

Magus sat in his quarters, deep in thought. It had been partly his fault that the primitive apeworld had fallen into Imperial hands, and now, he wanted to atone for that act. As he began to gather his thoughts, the door buzzer sounded. Seconds later, the chimp, Galen, entered. Galen still looked upon the Dreadnought cruiser with wonder. He had never seen anything like it before, but that wonder was clouded with sadness. Magus could detect Galen's sorrow.

Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Two

Urko was scared, and fear was not something he was used to. As a proud member of the gorilla race of apes, it was his duty to strike fear into the hearts of the other races. He had never thought that he would ever feel such a fear. It had all started when the human from another world arrived, in his strange clothes and with his strange powers. He had found the astronauts and now, they were all gone. And shortly afterwards, they arrived.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-One

With the Jem'Hadar troop soon defeated, Watt's party had gained control of the habitat ring. Moments later, he activated his communicator.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Twenty

Chakotay was getting suspicious. Not only had there been just one guard at the back entrance to the shield bunker, but his team had encountered virtually no resistance whatsoever. His suspicions grew when they found the control room. They had expected to find it full of Imperial technicians. All they found was a single Vorta, an "old friend" of theirs, Eris. Kira pointed her phaser rifle at her.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Nineteen

Sisko was getting tense. The runabout was getting nearer and nearer, its proton beam scanning the area directly ahead. It wouldn't be long before the runabout was directly in front of them. Their detection was imminent.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Eighteen

Travis showed Borath the disrespect the Vorta would have considered as he entered the commander's office by staying seated as he entered. That was the second thing that annoyed the Dominion ambassador. The first was the way he had been summoned by Travis, getting one of the Jem'Hadar to escort him to Ops.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Seventeen

It had been six hours since Janeway, Chakotay, and Sisko had returned to their ships. Shortly after they had returned, they had been contacted by Hudson, who told them to expect the Maquis fleet within the next few hours. The phrase meant that they had no idea how long they would have to wait for the fleet.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Sixteen

To the surprise of Sisko, Janeway, and Chakotay, they had to wait just two hours before Hudson returned. Upon entering the room, he took the seat he had occupied previously.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Fifteen

The planet the Maquis had chosen to make their new base didn't even have a name, and this suited them fine. But perhaps the reason they chose this planet in particular was simple. The climatic conditions were hardly hospitable, sandstorms circling the planet on an almost hourly basis, and its twenty-seven hour days were spent mostly in darkness.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Fourteen

As the final preparations began, Captain Watt sat in the command chair of the Valkyrie, pondering over his thoughts. To him, it seemed like just five minutes since he had returned from the Delta Quadrant and made contact with the Rebel Alliance. Now he was being told to help free a world with just a handful of ships and the help of a few disgruntled colonists from a disputed territory.

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Thirteen

            "The plans on here are astounding!" said Wesley.

"I can't believe anyone has the power to reconstruct a wormhole!"

The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Twelve

Palpatine was a far from happy man. His recent defeat at the Time of Legends left a most unsavory taste in his mouth. Never before had he had such a defeat. Never before had he miscalculated on such a plan. Now, the Imperial forces and their allies were looking for something—something to inspire them. As he entered the chamber of what used to be the Free Federation Council, he looked around at his insipid council members.

The Thursday Rock Show: More From David Bowie

It's time for The Thursday Rock Show once again, and as we had so much fun playing the songs that propelled the legendary David Bowie up the UK charts from 1969 to 1974 we're going to carry on in the same vein, looking back at his hits from 1975 to 1979.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Eleven

Palpatine was enjoying his stay at what used to be Starfleet Command in San Francisco. The only thing that had spoiled the enjoyment of his visit was the news from the Time of Legends. His invasion attempt had failed. His land forces hadn't even fired a shot, and they were easily defeated. And some unexpected visitors from the Delta Quadrant helped defeat his ships.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Ten

Thrawn looked at the situation on the viewscreen in front of him. What he knew to be Viper fighters had now entered the fray, and a lone X-wing pilot had just taken out an entire squadron of Jem'Hadar fighters on his own. The ship shook with another impact as the Galactica rained down blast after blast on them.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Nine

The space-faring Imperials were faring far better than their land-faring counterparts. Already several parts of the Pegasus station were under Imperial control. However, the brave men and women of the Free Federation were not going down without a fight.

Julian's Social Media Discoveries Episode 46: Ian Pont, Kiba, Kite, The Swinging Belles and More!

Normal service resumes after the Christmas and new year period here at the Social Media Discoveries show as we bring you a mixture of genres from around the world. But if you're looking for one of those tracks where someone screams down the microphone at you than that's missing this week.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Eight

Command of the station was transferred to the engineering section, and it was there that Larin gave them the bad news.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Seven

With the next round of talks between the two parties due to begin within the next few hours, Spock found himself taking a brief tour of the station. Along the way, he met up with Princess Leia.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Six

G'Kar sat in the center of the room, more annoyed than he had been for a long time. Magus himself had asked him to become the Free Federation's ambassador on Babylon 5, an appointment that entitled him to be a delegate to the Pegasus conference. And now, he was accused of being a saboteur and a bomber.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Five

Although Spock had considered cancelling the reception held in honor of the Rebel Alliance dignitaries, Duncan had persuaded him otherwise. The Highlander had told Spock that it would provide the perfect opportunity for Lyta to carry out her task.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Four

There were many raised voices at the emergency meeting of the Free Federation council. The problem that Spock had was that all of these voices tried to speak at once. Each had their own point of view about the current situation. Each wanted to be heard, but all at the same time. Finally, Spock had had enough.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Three

"Are you sure it's a Federation fighter?" asked Connor.

Unification: Civil War III Chapter Two

Han Solo was beginning to wonder what he had let himself in for. Sure, joining up with the Rebel Alliance seemed like a good way of keeping Jabba off his back, but in the end, what's the difference? Getting shot at by Jabba's band of cut-throats, or by Palpatine's band of cut-throats? Or could it be any worse having his pride and joy toyed with, a new engine installed into his only means of income, and then being dragged across the other side of the known galaxy on some damn diplomatic mission to meet up with a bunch of people just like the Rebel Alliance, calling themselves the Free Federation?

Unification: Civil War III Chapter One

As Captain Dorgon sat in the command chair of the freighter Tiberius, he began to ponder his choice of career. He had once considered enrolling at Starfleet Academy, but with a little help from his father, he soon set up in business, carrying all kinds of legal, and some illegal, freight all around the Alpha Quadrant.

The Thursday Rock Show: A Tribute to David Bowie

This week's edition of The Thursday Rock Show sees us paying tribute to one of the legends of the music business, David Bowie, as we near the tenth anniversary of his passing in 2016, and as there was so much we could have included here we're focusing on his early UK chart hits, spanning the years 1969 through to 1974.

Breakaway Rebellion: Civil War II Chapter Eighty-Eight

After Magus had beamed aboard the Peregrine, he had spent a frantic few minutes searching the hangar deck. After a few minutes, he did, and watched silently for a few minutes as the final X-wing came back aboard.

Breakaway Rebellion: Civil War II Chapter Eighty-Seven

As Kane continued to direct his efforts, deep down he knew that Vader was perhaps his tactical equal, and secretly, he commended him for it. Never before had he faced such a worthy opponent; in a way, it had been a pleasure doing battle with him. But he had not counted on Vader using his trump card.

Breakaway Rebellion: Civil War II Chapter Eighty-Six

As Watt and Bel Iblis entered the control room of the Peregrine's Nest, Irenz tried to get their attention.

Julian's Social Media Discoveries Episode 45: The First to Eleven Experience

Happy New Year! 2026 is finally upon us, and the first Social Media Discoveries show of the year sees us paying tribute to one of the greatest cover bands currently doing the rounds on social media, the Artist of the Year award winner, First to Eleven!

Breakaway Rebellion: Civil War II Chapter Eighty-Five

As Drathro sat at the helm position aboard the Lord of the Isles, his panel suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree.