The best wrestling show on television these days isn’t on the USA Network. Nor is it on the CW, Spike TV or Sci Fi Channel. In fact, it isn’t even on network television or basic cable.

It’s called Legends of Wrestling and it is exclusive to WWE 24/7 On Demand. For those who are unfamiliar with the program, it is hosted by Jim Ross and features a panel of legendary wrestling figures discussing a specific topic about the business and telling great road stories. Classic footage is shown in between all the dialogue. I’m not doing a commercial for WWE here, but as far as I’m concerned, this show alone is worth the $7.99 a month that Comcast charges for the channel.

If you’re an old-school fan like I am, you’ll hang on every word during the 75-minute episodes. And if you’re a younger fan, the show will “smarten you up” about the inner-workings of the wrestling industry and what things were like during the territorial days.

The topic for discussion on the most recent episode was wrestling’s greatest rivalries. Joining Ross on the panel was Jerry Lawler, Michael Hayes, Mick Foley and Eric Bischoff. As much as I think I know about wrestling, I heard some stories during this show that I had never heard before – most of which were told by Hayes, the former leader of The Fabulous Freebirds who now is the head writer on Smackdown.

Foley’s favorite rivalry – Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka vs. Magnificent Muraco – is one of mine as well. Seeing clips of the confrontation between the two at a television taping that started the feud, and Snuka’s subsequent intense interview with then-announcer Vince McMahon in an empty arena brought back some good memories.

Muraco was one of the all-time great heels and I always thought he should have gotten a run as WWF champion, but McMahon and his father, Vincent J. McMahon, favored babyfaces holding the title. So Muraco got the consolation prize – the Intercontinental title – and he made it almost as important as the federation’s world title. Fans loved to hate Muraco and they bought tickets in the hopes that they would see him get his comeuppance.

Foley pointed out that fans today are still talking about the cage match at Madison Square Garden in 1983 when Snuka leaped from the top of the cage onto Muraco, yet nobody remembers that night’s so-called main event of WWF champion Bob Backlund versus Masked Superstar.

I’ll discuss some more of my favorite rivalries in a future post.