Love The Graps: Recent Episodes
Chris & Alan
Love The Graps, or #LoveTheGraps, whatever your poison, is a podcast all about UK wrestling from 2 men on the ground. Chris and Alan are regulars at all sorts of British independent wrestling companies, and through this audio outlet we get the hottest of hot takes. Often recorded late at night, after long long journeys home, each show focusses on a particular event, through the lens of 2 very tired men who insist on letting you know not only why they #LoveTheGraps, but what might also fall under the dreaded #NotMyGraps banner. Expect rambling, opinions, calls to arms, and unbridled love for the weird and wide reaching world of independent wrestling! Hit us up on twitter twitter.com/LoveTheGraps twitter.com/MusclyBabies (Chris) twitter.com/IndySleaze (Alan) www.lovethegraps.com
Episode 160 And so Alan has completed his journey through american indie wrestling's underbelly and the GCW Collective weekend. Is he broken? Probably
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Episode 159 More of alan maybe losing his mind over too much wrestling...
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Episode 158 As is tradition, wrestling has decided that one show is not enough, and this weekend GCW and a group of other weirdo promotions are putting on 12 shows under The Collective banner. Alan is going to watch them all
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Episode 157 Alan made an episode without Chris because Chris hates wrestling right now and Alan is watching plenty for both
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Episode 156 Alan twisted Chris' arm and made him watch a 2 match show that Chris Brookes put together on the other side of the world. One man was dressed as the joker. It was fun.
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Episode 155 NXT goes back to the 90s and digs out an old set for some reason, and also has a match in a carpark
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Episode 154 A big show with a football stadium in Florida but it ain't Vince and his cronies
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Episode 153 We get together for a fun chat about what in the heck we could do to get indie wrestling running again and other nonsense
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Episode 152 WWE go site specific and we watch a documentary about naked men in cowboy boots
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Episode 151 We continue our chats about the Vice Dark Side of the Ring series with an almost quaint topic this week. Also some AEW chat and we do a sweep up on a very good missed question from our 150th episode Q&A
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Episode 150 Can you believe how old we are??? So many questions
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Episode 149 Listen, as 2 ageing men discuss a children's film
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Episode 147 The sun is shining and we are talking about a wrestling show in a warehouse in Florida. Part 1.
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Episode 146 AEW keep doing stuff with no audience and we keep watching, and Vice stop being depressing but keep showing us violent mad men.
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Episode 145 We have junior Northern correspondent Joe Atherton join us to talk about one of our favourite matches of all time. Plus we caught the second part of the Vice Benoit doc, and new AEW
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Episode 144 Chatting about pt 1 of Vice's Benoit documentary, and WWE's profile of FCW
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Episode 142 We continue doing what we need to do to get by
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Episode 142 Still locked in. Still chatting. It seems like Alan will be making me (Chris) watch a bunch of wrestling as a punishment. Here we go. We are living in Boris Johnson's Apocalypse
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Episode 141 In an attempt to put something out there in the world we got together via skype to chat about how we are coping with THE CURRENT SITUATION
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Episode 140 RIP PW Clash, long live B-wood! We headed to Clarsh's final show to pay tribute and lay a wreath at the feet of the short lived promotion.
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Episode 139 Alan went back to Biggleswade for another go round of Ubdub's patented molten rock themed battle royal show. Chris has a bad cold, so sorry for all the sniffling.
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Episode 138 After more than a year and a half away we made it back to ATTACK, but for the first time to their London home in Tuffnell Park.
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Episode 137 Alan went to another installment of 'The Surge's Arthouse Wrestling
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Episode 136 In a break from our usual format, Alan has drafted in his former tag team partner as a substitute for his more recent collaborator to talk about last night's GOOD Wrestling show (the usual Chris was navigating trains into the wee hours of the morning instead)
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Episode 135 Alan went along to Eve's signature showcase, taking place in a new venue for the first time. We also touch on a number of other topics, including the upcoming GOOD No Ring show, and the recent notable Japanese graps stuff.
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Episode 134 Separated by geography, our heroes embark on a new adventure and attempt to continue on with this pointless endeavour. Alan makes his first ever trip to Sacrifice Pro in Leighton Buzzard, whilst Chris went to the PROGRESS mystery show gimmick.
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Episode 133 In our last episode of 2019 LTG comes to the end of an era, with Chris and Alan parting ways, geographically at least. We try and round up a bunch of pressing topics given to us by listeners, and fail miserably.
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Episode 132 I know we are doing less and less right now, but I promise you it is still high quality material. We get together to chat about this past weekends GOOD Wrestling show, Alan liked it I think.
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Episode 131 We touch briefly on last night's big FCP show with all the messy stuff with weapons and a cage, and also talk about what happened in the aftermath of that messy stuff.
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Episode 130 We get together and have a chat about GOOD wrestling's show this past weekend, where the whole line up was thrown out the window and the script was rewritten at the 13th hour.
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Episode 129 On our return to the Electric Ballroom after nearly 2 years we took in the 1 night NPS tournament, normally reserved for the unknown up and comers of the British scene, this time round we had a few faces that are much beloved all over the country. Who would come out on top? Could we ever be satisfied?
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Episode 128 For the first time PROGRESS' Natural Progression Series is a one day tournament, marking our long awaited return to the Electric Ballroom. We chat about our picks and break down each of the competitors.
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Episode 127 It's been a little while since we did an episode so we figured we would have a bit of a catch up. Alan has been to a bunch of shows, Chris hasn't, but we chat about what's been going on in a turbulent few weeks for British wrestling.
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Episode 126 Back we go to Wolverhampton for Fight Club Pro. All the same wrestlers doing wrestling things. Some of it good, some of it not as good.
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Episode 125 Free wrestling happened at The Bull in Newport Pagnell and we found that we had a lot of fun. Somehow, we had a lot of fun.
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Episode 124 Back in Wolverhampton for another show without a strict finish time [insert eye roll emoji] and some fun wrestling. You know the drill by now. We recorded it in the car and it was raining.
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Episode 123 Chris was busy so Alan went to the UBW trainee show BALDOCK BASH on his own, but had a grand old time.
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Episode 122 in coventry you see all sorts of things. Joey Janella, a dragon man, a 15 year old. and more
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Episode 121 yet. another. trip. to Fight Club Pro in wolverhampton, for a show with a bunch of debuts and pretty pretty pretty good main event.
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Episode 120 Chris and Alan hook up on skype to round out the big PROGRESS SSS16 weekend, with added Kaiju!
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Episode 119 There were some good matches today and some silly stuff too. Just listen to it so you can hear me pick on Joe.
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Episode 118 With special guest Joe Atherton of Tables, Athers & Chairs
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Episode 117 We head back to Wolverhampton for the FCP annual 'tag team tournament weekend'. We only managed to make it to one night but we had fun.
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Episode 116 We watched too much wrestling. Here's another podcast. It's free so what.
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Episode 115 So we caught up with NXT, also watched some AIW and more ISW. Mostly this episode involved us promising to talk about stuff on an episode we will record tomorrow. CRYPTIC!
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Episode 114 Today is a day for weird stuff. But then maybe that's what this whole weekend is. I don't know. We watched Chikara and Carling Black Label Pro and a bit of last night's Bloodsport.
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Episode 113 We kick off the worst tradition of all time, our annual Wrestlemania binge of all things streaming and wrestling. In particular we talk about WXW, Family Reunion and Beyond. We also talk about a lot of weird non-wrestling stuff. Sorry.
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Episode 112 Rev Pro come to our yard and bring celebrity Geordie 'Pac' with them.
Please forgive the technical difficulties and wonky sound, we will strive to do better
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Episode 111 After another successful GOOD Wrestling show, we get together to break it down, complete with a bunch of questions from YOU, the faithful and adoring listener.
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Episode 110 It's that time of year, when the borders open, and all the foreign wrestlers wander over to a warehouse in the West Midlands for Fight Club Pro's annual INTERNATIONAL TEKKERS, this year featuring a trio of Japanese folks and a bunch of other tourists.
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Episode 109 We take another trip back to the fancy art gallery environs of the Nottingham Contemporary and Wrestling Resurgence.
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Episode 108 We kick off our season ticket ventures to Wolverhampton and FCP with a cracking show, full of action and some nice storyline stuff.
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Episode 107 And here we break from our usual format to check in with Junior Podcaster Joe Atherton and talk about his trip to Wrestlegate in Nottingham. Expect all the usual LTG nonsense, but with added Joe.
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Episode 106 We took our first ever trip over to the mythical land of Biggleswade for their Floor is Lava rumble, with special guest Speedball Mike Bailey!
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Episode 105 If you were there you already know what happened. If not, this is a chance to catch up on some of the comings and goings of GOOD Wrestling, and get a bit of a behind the scenes glimpse into what goes in to putting together an indie wrestling show.
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Episode 104 We took the short jaunt over to an industrial estate just outside Milton Keynes to partake in a little tournament for the new IPW Jr Heavyweight championship, featuring 4 fellas over from Pro Wrestling NOAH.
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Episode 103 Apparently this was the historical first ever NXT UK Takeover. Apparently. So we decided to watch it and then talk about it. APPARENTLY.
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Episode 102 It's January 4th, and that means it's time for the big Tokyo Dome show from NJPW. We watched it from the comfort of my sofa in Northampton, but enjoyed it all the same. Here's what we thought. We also had a little chat about our plans for 2019.
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Bonus Episode In lieu of a new episode, here is our chat from 2017 about the movie Santa With Muscles. Recorded in a car in Bristol before an ATTACK show, this was released as part of our 2017 xmas charity collection to raise money for local women's charity Eve.
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Episode 101 We take an increasingly rare trip out west to Cheltenham for the annual Christmassy tour, full of fun graps.
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Episode 100c And finally we finish off the 100th triple episode with the dregs of the question bag. We give some big LTGs/NMGs and we talk about what could happen in 2019.
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Episode 100b in our second hour we spend A LOT OF TIME talking about the whole WWE NXT UK thing, and it is the DEFINITIVE word on the whole situation.
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Episode 100a In this, part 1 of a 3 part BUMPER Q&A EPISODE, we celebrate our centinary by chatting about eggs and wrestling.
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Episode 99 In the ongoing assault of FCP, prime villains, The Shadenfreude Boys, have decided to put on their own show, where they make fun of people and also wrestle.
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Episode 98 We are deep in the midst of the Schadenfreude take over of FCP, and it is a dark dark time. A couple of high profile returns, and some weird allegiances. Listen to us ramble on for longer than the ending of this wrestling show.
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Episode 97 Last night was GOOD Wrestling's big 11th show, Gene Munny presents The Tournament of Excellence, featuring a whole big bunch of wrestlers fighting it out for the 'privilege' of facing Gene Munny for the Certificate of Excellence. However, Gene had to face a challenge of his own...
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When Joe met ELP This interview with El Phantasmo took place at a bar in Sheffield city centre, in between a Southside Wrestling double header on Saturday November 10th 2018.
We discuss how he fell into wrestling in his native Canada, leaving a steady television editing job to take a chance on furthering his wrestling career in the UK, his success in RevPro, his multi promotion battles with Will Ospreay and his hopes for the future in the business.
Follow El Phantasmo on twitter at @elpwrestling
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Episode 96 We have come to the end of EVE's She-1 tournament, crowning a new Ace of EVE. BUT we also have a big championship match, some twists and turns, and a lot of snack and beverage talk.
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Episode 95 We returned to Bethnal Green for the 2nd annual EVE SHE-1 tournament, once again to crown the Ace of EVE. It's a long weekend, testing on our feet and bones, but we do it for the love of top level graps.
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Athers & Spike This interview with Spike Trivet took place at the Brighthelm Centre in Brighton, after Riptide Wrestling’s Black Water.
We discuss how he used his acting background to benefit his wrestling career, how he fell into death match wrestling, walking the fine line of antagonising fans but not offending them and a certain appearance as a certain head of state at ATTACK!
Follow Spike on twitter at @SpikeTrivet1
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Episode 94 After a number of months off we return to Wolverhampton and FCP in their new home at the Hangar. We are in the midst of Schadenfreude's reign of terror, causing chaos and making Martin Zaki's life a misery. Can they be stopped?
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Athers and TK Joe Atherton catches up with New Zealander TK Cooper and asks him some questions I guess
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Episode 93 Finally. It is here. After a lengthy stretch of flirtation WWE finally pull the trigger on the much anticipated weekly NXT UK series, featuring a whole bunch of men and women you can see at a whole bunch of wrestling shows around the country already...
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Episode 92 Last week we went back to Bethnal Green and saw some more of one of our favourite promotions in Prowrestling EVE. Headlined by Meiko Satomura v Toni Storm and featuring a whole bunch of Japanese lads, this was a good show. yes. very good indeed.
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Episode 91 The upwards trajectory of British wrestling reaches new heights with PROGRESS Wrestling holding the largest independent wrestling show in Europe in recent memory at Wembley Arena. It's a biggie. With a lot of wrestling over a lot of hours.
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Episode 90 The promotion that Chris runs, GOOD Wrestling, had it's 10th show this past weekend, so we put out a call for questions, comments and memories from the GOOD faithful and beyond. And then we kind of answered them.
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Episode 89 We took a quick jaunt up to Nottingham for our first visit to Wrestling Resurgence. Featuring some local faves and a very unusual hardcore match, what does Spandex Ballet say about wrestling in 2018? Is it art? Who even knows.
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Episode 88 We take our first trip down to Borehamwood for Prowrestling Clash. Only a few doors down from a Winmpy, Clash definitely brings a new flavour to British wrestling, and a lot of new faces for us.
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Episode 87 We head back to Eve for our first visit to the Resistance gallery since Wrestlequeendom back in May. A colourful cacophony of fun and hard hitting action was on show, featuring a game of Connect 4 and a match where the winner earned a day out trampolining with their 'best friend'.
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Episode 86 Wrestling is bck on saturday afternoons on ITV. 4 matches in a TV studio. But how did it go down? Lots of familiar faces and a lot of red and blue lighting.
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Episode 85 A fun time was had, and we talk about it with a bunch of questions from the GOOD Wrestling fan group.
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Episode 84 We return, after a lengthy hiatus, for our first ATTACK show of 2018! On a hot hot day in July we all squeeze into the back of a pub in Cheltenham to see a mix of werewolves, "police", grumpy men, and bigfoot hunters. Seriously.
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Episode 83 This is a biggie. Finally, New Japan bring a weekend of shows to our shores. But are they really what they seem? And does night 1 of the Strong Style Evovled UK shows deliver?
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Episode 82 Some big matches were advertised for this show, but we got a handful of pretty sweet surprises, and some very promising storyline stuff. Also 2 boys came out with the NXT tag belts and pranced around with them.
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Joe & Millie This interview with Millie McKenzie took place after Southside Wrestling’s She’s All That show at Corporation, Sheffield .
We talk about her start in the business, the pressure of juggling wrestling with college, from being a fan in the crowd at FCP Infinity Tournament to competing in it the following year and tagging with her “new best mate” Pete Dunne.
Follow Millie on Twitter at @MillieMcKenzie0
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Episode 81 In a first for us, we have post-show chat about a NJPW show we watched on the telly. Featuring a big main event, lots of twists and turns, and Ray Mysterio Jr. It's worth a watch!
We also do a bit of a preview of the upcoming Strong Style Evolved shows which mark New Japan's debut in the UK later this month, and give you a little taste of the talent announced so far.
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Episode 80 After more than a year of big things from Fight Club Pro we make an unexpected return to the Diamon Banqueting Suite in Wolverhampton for a show headlined by Travis Banks vs Low Ki. What could possibly go wrong?
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Episode 79 Our FIRSTS miniseries returns with a chat about the first episode of the short lived Trans-Atlantic Wrestling Challenge, broadcast in 2000. This tournament pit wrestlers from the USA (and beyond?) against the 'best' Britain had to offer. It was weird.
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Episode 78 Come along! Get some insight into GOOD Wrestling, the wrestling company that Chris runs and Alan attends as we talk about last night's show in the sweaty Craufurd Arms.
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Episode 77 A trip back to Bethnal Green's York Hall was on the cards this evening, where Rev Pro presented another one of their BIG shows featuring a couple of New Japan talents plus the best the rest of the world has to offer. Listen to us gush and grumble in equal measure.
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Episode 76 The May Day bank holiday in London was packed with great wrestling, with a massive tournament of men and the biggest women's wrestling show ever in Europe. Here us attempt to chat 'briefly' about the whole thing (spoiler: it's not as brief as we intended)
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Joe & David ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL!!! This interview with The Product David Starr took place at sun drenched Alexandra Palace, London in day three of PROGRESS Super Strong Style Tournament.
We discuss his Jewish heritage and the anti-semitism he’s had to deal with in wrestling, his love for European crowds, his multi promotion feud with WALTER (all caps) and his love for The Mighty Boosh and Ricky Gervais.
Follow David on twitter at @TheProductDS
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Episode 75 That's right, we didn't go to a single live show in March 2018. Did we recharge our batteries, ready and raring to go for some hot graps action? Or did we find that our lives were better without the pain and inconvenience of wrestling shows? Find out on another episode of LTG.
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Episode 74 We try something new, and hopefully helpful. Here is a comprehensive preview of the upcoming EVE show at York Hall, billed as the biggest women's wrestling show to ever happen in Europe. It is a historical show, and hopefully a whole bunch of new people will be checking this one out, either live or on iPPV. Use this episode as your guide to this big event.
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Episode 73 Not much to say here, you should go and watch the HBO Andre the Giant documentary. It was good. Hear us chat about it.
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Episode 72 Part 4 of our decline into madness had to wait a few days for the damage to really sink in. We talk all about what we loved this weekend, and who our MVPs were.
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Episode 71 We continue to rail on the WWN More Than Mania shows and their setup, but we find some incredibly unique stuff in the form of Joey Janela's Spring Break 2, featuring an invisible man, Alabama Doink, Grado and a walking bruise.
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Episode 70 Continuing our pointless endeavour to try and watch too much wrestling we caught up with a show from yesterday and regretted watching one live. We also watched one of the more bizarre matches to come out of Japan this year.
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Episode 69 Listen as Alan and Chris start on their descent into madness, watching all the wrestling available to stream throughout the night, with some other bonus weirdness thrown in. So far we've watched a show booked by Matt Riddle, an Evolve thing, and a comedy movie featuring 2 very simple sewage workers.
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Mania Weekend Mania returns! Just a little preview of what we are going to be doing over the next few days as Wrestlemania 34 is bearing down upon us. Mostly we will be staying up all night to watch as much streaming wrestling as humanly possible, BUT we are also running a sweet Wrestlemania 34 Pick 'Em competition with a limited edition LTG tshirt up for grabs! Check out the facebook group for details.
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Joe & Jack This interview with The Pansexual Phenomenon Jack Sexsmith took place in extremely glamorous location of the disabled toilets in the Starworks Warehouse before night 1 of Fight Club Pro’s DTTI.
We discuss how he got into the wrestling business, getting to grips with his sexuality, what it means to him being an LGTBQ wrestler, branching out and going full time and what the future holds in store.
Follow Jack on twitter at @TheJackSexsmith and to support his new clothing brand, PROUD by following @ApparelProud or go to http://ContactProudApparel.bigcartel.com
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Episode 68 Back for the 2nd time this March, we are visiting with one of our very favourite promotions, and were gifted a handful of really great wrestling matches. Thanks. Here's a podcast for you to listen to about it. (also, the conspiracy is real)
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Episode 67 Lets talk about some of the interesting stuff that is going on in 2018 including how great GOOD Wrestling is...
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Episode 66 It's our first visit of the year to our Promotion of The Year from 2017, Prowrestling Eve at the Resistance Gallery. Highlighted by a couple of pretty great matches and a whole bucketload of storytelling. Just listen to the podcast please.
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Tables, Athers & Chairs w/ KIP SABIAN In a new feature here on the LOVE THE GRAPS PODCASTING NETWORK our man in the field Joe Atherton grabs some time with rising star Kip Sabian.
This audio is also available on Joe's very own youtube channel if you are that way inclined! https://www.youtube.com/user/tangerinemisfit/
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Episode 65 Another trip to FCP, this time filled with surprise appearances and twists and turns. And it was cold.
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Episode 64 Chris and Alan make their first ever trip to PCW. Up north. It was very cold and very rainy, but there was A LOT of wrestling to keep us occupied as PCW held both a singles and a tag tournament in their home of the Evoque nightclub in Preston.
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Episode 63 The podcast takes it's first trip to Coventry and first trip to Kamikaze Pro. We got a bunch of wrestlers we've already seen and loved, and a handful we were less familiar with.
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Episode 62 In order to get a full picture of the year, we waited until 2017 was well and truly over to give you the results of the inaugural LTG GRAPPY AWARDS! Find out who won in the most important categories! Get our valuable opinions! Disagree if you want to! It doesn't matter!
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Episode 61 It's not all super cool rock and metal wrestling here in the UK. Chris and Alan took a short trip to their local leisure centre for a glimpse into what has long been the backbone of the British wrestling scene.
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Episode 60 The 2nd meeting of Fight Club Pro and ATTACK in the West Midlands saw a trio of fun tag matches, a big cold warehouse, and a long late night.
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Bonus Episode This episode is taken from our charity xmas album for Northampton charity Eve. Please head over to our bandcamp page to help us support this great cause. www.lovethegraps.bandcamp.com
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Episode 59 I know we make this look easy, but sometimes this podcast is really hard work. Particularly when we subject ourselves to something so completely bizarre and unwatchable in the pursuit of 'good podcast material'... please don't pity us, we don't deserve it.
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Mini Episode This bonus episode was originally recorded for Joe Atherton's YouTube channel, TABLES, ATHERS & CHAIRS. Please go and check out the original video https://youtu.be/HOGuqrFRz0s
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Episode 58 We make our return to PROGRESS after a lengthy absence, and we are not the only ones! We love a mystery show, and this one had plenty of fun twists and turns, and an inflatable wolf. This is why we Love The Graps.
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Charity album out now We've been talking about it for a few weeks now, and here it is. OUR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS ALBUM!
https://lovethegraps.bandcamp.com
It's 4 full length LTG episodes, on a variety of topics. All we are asking from you is a small donation, every penny of which will go to a very special charity.
Eve is a Northampton based charity who work to help transform the lives of women and families affected by domestic abuse. They have long provided a safe place in the form a family refuge here in Northampton, as well as therapeutic work and ongoing programmes to support women who are victims of domestic abuse in rebuilding their lives.
You can find a whole bunch more information on the work that Eve do on their website www.eveda.org.uk
Please give generously and enjoy these stupid episodes as much as we have enjoyed making podcasts for you all year. And please share this we've as many people as humanly possible, and make a difference this Christmas.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 57 ATTACK close out what has been a fantastic year for them with yet another fantastic, and emotional show, featuring one of the best main events we've seen all year! Plus secret santa fun and Sexy Santos Jr.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 56 We continue our FIRSTS series by looking at the first episode of the short lived MTV series Wrestling Society X, a weird mix of athletic indy wrestling and established older 'stars' with a backdrop of MTV-style rock n roll. It's an odd one.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 55 The winter nights are creeping in and it's chilly in the small hours, but your boys are still up and fulfilling their noble duty by recording a podcast about a wrestling show. This time it's the 2017 edition of FCP's annual Infinity tournament, this year heavy on talent from the Fight Club wrestling school. Also, we get a good dose of dastardliness from Eddie Kingston, The Notorious 187 Homicide Kingston, and Low-Ki(ngston)
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 54 Through the wonders of modern technology we were able to watch one of our favourite promotions from 100+ miles away tonight, all whilst enjoying the comfort of tea and sofas. What a world we are living in.
nb. Please go buy our new tshirt from www.lovethegraps.bigcartel.com thanks
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 53 We finish up our 5 show weekend with another day with Pro Wrestling Eve, where we get to witness the climax of their inaugural She-1 tournament. We loved it. However, someone on the Eve roster has rubbed us up the wrong way, who could it be?
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 52 After a little break we are back at Eve for their BIG weekend to crown the Ace of Eve in their She-1 round robin tournament. We muddled with our format a bit because that's our perogative and if you don't like it, tough.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 51 First part of a long weekend for Chris and Alan and we went to see Rev Pro host a whole bunch of talent from New Japan in Walthamstow, the home of East 17. Enjoy.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 50 The podcast is 50 episodes old and we have opened up our letterbox to the LTG facebook group and given you beautiful people free reign to ask us whatever the heck you like! It's a bumper edition!
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 49 We went to ATTACK Pro Wrestling's Halloween themed Goosebumps show, with lots of dressing up (either side of the ropes) and lots of, say it quietly, fun.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 48
Chris and Alan are back at it again, delving into the dark and spooky world of Halloween graps with FCP and their Dios del Muertes. Expect grumblings and groans from two crusty old zombies as they try and work out what to make of the world of British wrestling.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Here's the main even you've all been waiting for, the latest installment of our FIRSTS series, this time taking in the 2002 debut show for Ring Of Honor. And it's weird. The ROH show and our show, both extremely weird. Expect lots of muddle and mixed up talk about a pretty muddled and mixed up show.
Just a short jaunt over to MK for some midweek graps. Chris and Alan take in a show from IPW, now under new management and in a period of flux and transition. Featuring a couple of surprises, some wrestling and a bunch of familiar faces.
We recorded this in the car on the way home in an attempt to get to bed at a reasonable time! We were driving back from out first ever trip to Riptide Wrestling in Brighton, a fun show with all your faves including CCK, Pete Dunne, Will Ospreay and the rest. And a fire alarm. And craft beer. And loads of Lykos masks.
After a bit of an ordeal, we have managed to record another episode of our FIRSTS series, touching on notable wrestling debuts. This one is the first 'ECW' TV show. Way before Paul Heyman arrived on the scene Tod Gordon and co were already making a scene in Eastern Championship Wrestling, whatever that is...
We went back for more, and saw night 2 of FCP's Project Mayhem VI. AND IT WAS DEAD GOOD! No death matches, but lots of absolutely top wrestling. Chris and Alan chat loads about The Japanese Lads, Omari and Millie, and some nice words about British Strong Style.
Another late night podcast after another late night Fight Club show. Listen to Chris and Alan chat about scramble matches, Jordan Devlin (and his head), some Japanese lads and the big old mess of a death match!
Errrr, so, Chris and Alan didn't go to PROGRESS' big show at Alexandra Palace, but decided that they had OPINIONS anyway. I can only apologise for how unnecessary this episode is, but maybe you'll enjoy it. Who knows?
Join us for the second in our FIRSTS miniseries. This time we talk about the first episode of the rebooted WWE NXT series. This is the first outing for what we now know as NXT, the first introduction to a big audience for many future WWE stars, and this episodes features lots of people you might know from going on to be marginally more successful. Enjoy.
Our third and final episode from Chikara King of Trios 2017, covering our feelings about night 3 and the weekend as a whole. Chris and Alan talk all about an amazing main event, a sweet squash and mutant ice cream halfbreeds!
It's night 2 of our trek to Wolverhampton for the annual Chikara King of Trios tournament. We chat all about a great main event, the Fan Conclave, and an apology to a sad police officer.
Another trip down the M6 and another podcast from Chris and Alan. This time we cover Night 1 of this landmark King of Trios tournament from Chikara. It's the 10th edition of KoT, and the first hosted outside of the US, bringing wrestling's biggest weekend tournament to the UK. Listen to us rave about Whitewolf and generations of British wrestling, and grumble about strange smells...
We kick off a new ongoing miniseries, FIRSTS, focussing on the first appearances, episodes, shows or big events in recent wrestling history. Our first episode in this series focusses on the 1986 debut episode of GLOW, the inspiration for the Netflix hit of the same name.
Another very late one post-ATTACK after a drive home from Cardiff. Chris and Alan talk about funny faces, twists and turns, and problematic characters, in and out of the ring.
Alan and Chris talk on another trip to East London for Pro Wrestling Eve's sold out show, Fearless. Topics include new talent, exciting growth, Satan, art and burlesque. Enjoy.
Chris and Alan are back to recording ridiculously late podcasts about Fight Club Pro. This time talking all about Keith Lee, Omari, Session Moth and loads more. I dunno. Just listen and find out I guess.
'twas a rainy day in that London but we had a pretty special time at the Resistance Gallery for XWA. We talk all about Sekimoto, Basking, tea bags, Lion Boy and much, much, much more.
Chris and Alan are back with another episode with a live perspective on the ATTACK! Wrestling show in Bristol. Expect facts, unwanted opinion, and some very questionable content. The episode also touches on the recent Eve and GOOD Wrestling shows which Alan made a day of. Thanksssss.
Another miscellaneous episode and Alan is asking Chris all about GOOD Wrestling, the promotion that Chris runs based in Milton Keynes.
Another entry into Chris and Alan's ongoing quest to make podcasts about wrestling that have very very niche appeal. It's the Glossary of Graps, an ongoing series (maybe) where we attempt to define some of the esoteric terms used around the world of British wrestling.
After a couple of weeks of miscellany Chris and Alan are back to the usual routine and a late night podcast all about a trip to Fight Club Pro. Hear chat about Chris Brookes being a rotter, a couple of Australian lads, and Dan.
We opened up to you, our "lovely" listeners, to tell us what wrestling related film we should watch. You chose poorly. We hate you.
It's the day of yet another UK General Election, and rather than sit and fret about the future of the country at large, Chris and Alan have endeavoured to put together a condensed #GrapsManifesto, focusing on the things we love to see in wrestling, things we'd be grateful to see more of, and maybe a few things that are #NotMyGraps. VIVE LA REVOLUCION!
A very special episode of Love The Graps, because we recorded it on the motorway. We had a fantastic time at the traditionally video game themed, but somewhat skewed, Press Start show from ATTACK. It got real weird guys
It's the final part of our series of podcasts on the PROGRESS Super Strong Style 16 weekend. We talk about the winner and the great story which was told, some bad social media and the fantastic and fun weekend we've had with all you beautiful creatures. This episode was recorded on location on the streets of Camden, so please excuse the ambient street noise, 'unwelcome' interlopers and loud sirens.
Here we are, again, in an airbnb in Camden, talking about the second night of PROGRESS Wrestling's 2017 Super Strong Style tournament. If this sounds crappy, blame Alan. Again.
Here we are, in an airbnb in Camden, out of our comfort zone, talking about the first night of PROGRESS Wrestling's 2017 Super Strong Style tournament. If this sounds crappy, blame Alan.
A long and very warm day is over and the Love The Graps boys are here to ramble incoherently about the Lucha Forever show from Birmingham. Listen to us talk about Trent and Joel, begrudgingly compliment CCK, and grumble about some other things. Also, a moment of genuine mild peril happened during the recording of this episode.
Episode 20, what a fantastic landmark, a number with a zero on the end! And a fantastic way to end a great weekend of graps with Day 2 of Pro Wrestling Eve's 'Babes With The Power' featuring a tournament of top women's wrestling to crown a new champion.
Positively fresh as a pair of wind damaged daisies, Chris and Alan manage to start recording a post-FCP episode before 1am. Expect lots of raving about Drunken Child Ref Shay Purser, 'wrestling jesus' Travis Banks, top tag wrestling, and loads more.
After a couple of weeks off Alan and Chris are back with some hot chat all about ATTACK's latest show in Cheltenham. Get ready for a whole bunch of talk about men kissing, happy birthdays, and the number of acceptable sleeves on a leather jacket.
Chris and Alan finish off their bank holiday weekend with a trip to Birmingham for the debut show from Lucha Forever. We talk conga lines and potentially public nudity, as well as pondering on what exactly 'Lucha Forever' even is!
It's another late one! We are home from another trip to Fight Club Pro in Wolverhampton and ready to chat all about the massive supershow featuring The Elite versus them off the telly! There was a bunch of other stuff too. Have a listen.
Episode 15 We finish our ManiaWeekendMania miniseries with a bang rather than a whimper, as Alan finally loses the plot. We talk for way to long about Wrestlemania, but still manage to miss out important matches, and cover off a few highlights from the most intense weekend of live graps viewing possible (almost). Thanks for all your support gang!!
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 13 And we are into part 4 of our Wrestlemania weekend adventure, this time Chris and Alan talk all about Bob's Burgers, burger monsters, boxing shrimp and THE REST. Enjoy.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
OMG it's already part 3 of our Mania Weekend Mania podcast miniseries. We've had a rough day, but we chat about not watching some stuff, struggling to watch some, and we talk for a real long time about the WWE Jetsons crossover movie starring The Big Show
It's part2 of our stupid series of podcast detailing our descent into madness trying to stay up all hours and watch the sum of all streaming wrestling across this most hallowed of graps weekends. Join us won't you?
A quick miniature podcast all about our plans for Wrestlemania weekend, which mainly involve pushing our wrestling viewing to it's (il)logical conclusion, and watching more streaming graps than the human body is built to withstand. Join us on this incredible journey.
Less than 24 hours after our last sleep deprived episode, we follow up with a hot sequel, talking all about our time at 'The First Female of Fight Club PRO', the second of a weekend double header from FCP. Listen to us ramble on about how wrestling makes us feel, how much we love Nixon Newell, and the greatness of Travis Branks.
A quick little episode recorded in the wee hours in the aftermath of a St Patrick's Day Fight Club PRO show. We give all our thoughts on the end of a beautiful intergender rivalry, the joy of observing new fans, and Chris being tired and grumpy and a little bit delirious.
Another late night chat between Alan and Chris, this time all about XWA's show in Colchester. Find out their feelings on the match between one of the finest wrestlers on the planet, Kota Ibushi, and his rotund little best friend, Goto Ihashi, and the reimagining of The Artist Formerly Known as Thomas Dawkins.
After a brief car nap (for Chris, not Alan, we would be dead if Alan napped) we are back with another round of #LoveTheGraps, talking all about our experience of wrestling on a school night at part 2 of Progress Wrestling's Freedom's Road tapings. So settle in and listed to Alan gush all over Matthew Riddle and Chris be generally tired and grumpy. ENJOY.
Episode 5 An incredibly tired Chris and Alan chat all about what they loved (or maybe didn't) about their trip to Bristol for Attack Pro Wrestling's 'Gorilla Pressed and something the kids know about'. So sit back, open your earholes and listen to us praise the evil ref, accidentally refer to Alan as a man in his 30s, and gradually get tired as we finish recording at 1:30am. yes yeah.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 4 Chris and Alan give their hottest of hot takes on the afternoon and evening double header of shows from Pro Wrestling Eve at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London. With raving about Meiko Satomura, Emi Sakura, Nixon Newell, Samii Raine and Martina the Session Moth, plus the usual curmudgeonly grumblings (and hopefully constructive criticism). We love the graps, and we love women's wrestling.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 3
Yes yeah! Chris & Alan are back with a second episode of the weekend, this time tackling all the big subjects, such as Kurt Angle's knees, shouting 'Chris Benoit', free stuff and A WHOLE LOT MORE, all because they went to see WCPW's iPPV presentation in Milton Keynes. Give it a listen, i dunno, if you want. I don't care.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
Episode 2 So Alan & Chris are back with another TOTES FRESH take on the graps - this time from Fight Club: PRO's All The Best 2017. Recorded late, uploaded even later, this is where the feels are.
Find out more at https://love-the-graps.pinecast.co
From the people that brought you... ...Is how these things usually start, right? Yeah, well, this is Chris & Alan, giving you the HOTTEST TAKE on the shows they go to, starting with the Wrestling Institute of Northampton's Beauties & Beasts on February 4. Recorded right after they got home, so it's all FRESH & ON FLEEK (is that right?), you should add it to your list of stuff you like because you will like it.