I Like Wrestling: Recent Episodes
Rachel Polansky and Matt Vogel
Matt has watched wrestling since before Rachel was born. Rachel has been watching for less than two years. This unlikely tag team dissects everything about wrestling and more.
This week on The Lounge! We give you the highs and lows of Summerslam weekend. It had it all, surprise returns, shocking new champions and a new contender for Match of the Year! And it didn’t stop there as the Raw after Summerslam fired up the crew even more. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! The biggest party of the summer is finally here and the crew brings you all their picks in this Summerslam preview. Are we in for any title changes? Does Oba conquer the beast inside the cell? Which hometown hero gets the victory? Plus a familiar face lights a fire promo on NXT. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! The whole crew is back to talk about a somewhat up and down Saturday Night’s Main Event. Uncle Naitch ponders if that was Bayley’s last match in WWE. Audio Sean is disgruntled by the women’s booking on Raw and Smackdown. Adam calls for the saxophone, but what deserved it from him this week? Plus Matty Ice and Uncle Naitch give you a brief AEW Redemption preview. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! The four horsemen of The Lounge come together and give a temperature check to the 3 announced men’s matches for Summerslam. Uncle Naitch ponders is NXT back after a recent down period. We give our heels in wrestling Mount Rushmore. What has the entire group playing that sax once again? All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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Two of the OG Three return for a super summer special featuring iconic wrestling reality TV moments brought to you by the youtube algorithm and the cultural impact of Dusty Rhodes and Grand Theft Auto.
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This week on The Lounge! The whole gang is back together still in shock at the FOUR shocking title changes across WWE and AEW this last week and what does it mean going forward? We say goodbye to Sheamus and remember our favorite moments from his career. Uncle Naitch introduces a new game as we place certain wrestler on the Concern-o-meter. Plus a look back at the NWO and WWE/WCW Invasion has us considering what would a WWE vs AEW Invasion match look like. That and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean and Matty Freakin Ice look back at the results of a long wrestling weekend with some mixed bag feelings. We discuss the huge matches already set for Summerslam and if it is the right direction for Oba, Roman, Seth and others. How did the first CW PLE for NXT come off as a first impression? Lastly, which TNA and AEW matches shined? All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean and Matty Ice give their predictions for a loaded weekend of wrestling. Are we getting King Oba or will Brock ruin it? Does Cody walk out still champion? Which NXT title has a chance to change hands? And 4 hot minutes from Uncle Naitch on AEW’s Forbidden door. All that and more this week on The Lounge.
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This week on The Lounge! The entire gang is back together as the King and the Queen of the Ring tournaments heat up and start to take shape. Are we getting the right superstars as the winners of the matches? We take the temperature of the group on Roman Reigns and the Bloodline. Is the WWE booking too repetitive all around right now? All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! It is the Uncle Naitch and Audio Sean show as the Two Man Power Trip discuss the latest in the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. Is Chad Gable on the verge of a main event run? We also climb into the dirt sheet bedsheets to see what sort of rumors and behind the scenes news is creating buzz. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean and El Rey del Norte are still on a high after a weekend where OG Grande vs El Grande Americano put on a match for the ages.Where does it rank among the best matches not only of this year, but even all time. Plus a Clash in Italy review that left us largely positive and King/Queen of the Ring early predictions. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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Welcome to The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Matty Freakin Icehausen, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Audio Sean take a look back at an up and down Saturday Night’s Main Event and look ahead to a stacked weekend with Clash in Italy and AAA Noches de Los Grandes. All that and maybe a little AEW talk thanks to Naitch, this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! We put the weekly shows to the side and celebrate all things we love about this great sport. Joined by a special guest back in The Lounge for the first time in a while, we talk about what brought us into watching wrestling, some of our favorite pro wrestling moments that made us laugh and even play a wrestling theme song game. Enjoy this special episode of The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! The whole crew is back together to go over the fall out from Backlash. We take the temperature of where everyone is at with Jacob vs Roman continuing. Did we see the end of Asuka in WWE? What exactly is the John Cena Classic? All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Matty Freakinhausen preview all you need to know about Backlash. Who is Danhausen’s partner? Is Roman vs Jacob just the same old Bloodline story or have a new fresh spin? Does Bron Breakker break through with his biggest win to date on the main roster? All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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In this special edition of The Lounge, we have releases, departures and debuts, OH MY! Uncle Naitch and Audio Sean react to the surprising and not so surprising post Wrestlemania releases and roster cuts from WWE. Plus Matty Ice joins to get excited for the new faces making their way to Smackdown and Raw. All that and more in this surprise episode of The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean and Adam “Yeet” Crawley are coming off Wrestlemania and ready to break it all down. From an in person perspective from someone who was there to the TV audience good, bad and ugly. Find out how this year's Showcase of the Immortals lived up to or let down expectations. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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Rachel and Audio Ben reunite for the first time this year in a special Wrestlemania 42 predictions episode.
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This week on The Lounge! It is Wrestlemania 42 week and the crew breaks down and gives you all of their predictions. Which title changes will happen? What surprises are in store? Are we headed for a new edition of The Corporation? Plus Uncle Naitch gives the highlights of AEW Dynasty. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Matty Ice tackle the latest on the developments in the men’s world title feuds as Pat McAfee insertion has stirred up quite the commotion. We take a spin around the Wheel of Mania and run through an exciting NXT Stand & Deliver PLE. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Matty Freakin Ice give you their hype meter for all the announced Wrestlemania matches. Which ones have us excited? Which ones us saying LET’S DO THIS? And which left us saying I’m bored brother. Plus we give you all the predictions for this weekend’s NXT Stand and Deliver PLE. Don’t miss your chance to hang this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, Matty Freakin Ice and Adam “Yeet” Crawley crank up the heat on the road to Las Vegas for Wrestlemania 42. Did the Bloodline nostalgia hit? Is heel 2009 Randy Orton a problem getting cheered? Who are we worried about not having matches on Wrestlemania? Zaria and Sol shined on NXT but who is the real heel and face in this feud? That and so much more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, Matty Freakin Freakin and Adam “Yeet” Crawley react to how shocking it was to see the return of 2009 Randy Orton. Oba Femi dropped Brock Lesnar, but should he slay the beast at the show of shows? AEW Revolution recap has us asking what’s next? Plus NXT’s women’s roster was on display in full force. Who shined and what is next the likes of Jacy Jayne and Tatum Paxley. All that and more this week on The Lounge! PS stay tuned for some bonus Lounge After Dark.
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This week on The Lounge! The crew looks back on an eventful NXT Vengeance Day PLE. How are we feeling about the CM and Usos promo? AJ Lee gets her first challenger but was it the right call? Uncle Naitch and Matty Ice break down the AEW Revolution card for this weekend. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Matty Freakinhausen, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Audio Sean officially start us on the road to the Wrestlemania and it starts with another Roman vs CM Punk promo. Did CM Punk take it too far? How will Roman answer? Are we starting to come around to Danhausen? Where do some big names slot into Mania? Plus we share our predictions for NXT Vengeance Day. That and so much more this week on The Lounge!
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After an eventful Elimination Chamber PLE, The Lounge fired up the mics to talk about all that went down in Chicago Saturday night. Did the right people win the Chamber matches? We had a somewhat surprising title change, surprise return and we finally found out what was in the mystery crate.
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Adam “Yeet” Crawley, Matty “Freakin” Blizzard and Audio Sean preview the Elimination Chamber PLE, the last stop before the Road to Wrestlemania is really underway. Who walks out with their Wrestlemania title match? Will we see any titles change hands? Plus, a busy week of NXT had us all back the NXT hype train. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Matty “Freakin” Blizzard, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Audio Sean catch up on the who punched their ticket into the Elimination Chamber. What is definitely NOT in the mystery crate? Was AEW Grand Slam a grand slam? That and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Audio Sean are coming in hot with their lemon pepper steppers to debate if The Vision are cursed after the injury bug takes down another top member. Young OG Jevon Evans gives us the spot of the year. We consider if the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches are too predictable. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Matty Freakin Freakin and Audio Sean discuss the Royal Rumble fallout as we begin the road to Wrestlemania 42 in Las Vegas. We say goodbye to the legendary AJ Styles…or is this not the end of the road for him? Monday Night Raw’s explosive ending has the crew excited for the first official match on the Wrestlemania 42 card. WE BELIEVE there is a new men’s NXT Champion! All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This weekend’s Royal Rumble has Rachel and Lachie diving into a hidden gem from past Rumbles: Dolph Ziggler vs. Edge. With Vickie Guerrero adding drama at ringside, this 2011 match fills the spotlight in an era before the women's Royal Rumble began in 2018. Lachie shares his quick picks for the winners in Riyadh, and together they highlight insights from Kit Wilson’s recent podcast interview.
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This week on The Lounge! LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! Uncle Naitch, Adam “Yeet” Crawley, Matty Freakin Ice and Audio Sean recap where we stand coming out of Saturday Night’s Main Event and give you all their predictions for a very anticipated Royal Rumble. Is this it for the Phenomenal AJ Styles? Does Sami finish his story? Who will be your iron man and woman? Who will be your surprise rumble entrants? Which superstar will punch their ticket to Wrestlemania 42? All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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Rachel reunites with her Aussie co-host Lachie for a deep‑cut watchalong that takes Pretty Deadly fans back to the very beginning. Before Kit Wilson and Elton Prince became WWE tag team superstars - and long before Kit Wilson vowed to end Toxic Masculinity - they were Greased Lightning, working small crowds, rough camera angles, and finding their chemistry in real time. Along the way, R&L break down early signs of star power, the importance of character work, and what this match reveals about Kit’s current singles rise.
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean and Adam “Yeet” Crawley look ahead to Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal and discuss early possibilities for the Royal Rumble next weekend. Is this truly the end for AJ Styles or will he succeed in defeating the career killer Gunther? The ladies of NXT shined once again and who is the favorite to walk out with the men’s NXT title? That and so much more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Matty Ice look back at the somewhat shocking title change from Smackdown. The rocket strapped to the back of Trick Williams. What is the end game for Rhiyo? Big changes in NXT leads to a lot of skepticism and patience. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, Adam “Yeet” Crawley and Matty Ice are ringing in the new year with rejuvenation for Smackdown thanks to some old and new faces. Things got strange on Raw, but were they a little too strange? There was a surprising early match of the year contender in NXT and a shocking title change. All that and more the week on The Lounge.
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This week on The Lounge! We roll out the red carpet for the annual Loungie awards! Who takes home Superstar of the year? Which wrestler captivated with their mic work as Trash Talker of the Year? What PLE/PPV had us watching on repeat as best of the year? That and many other awards given out to the best of this year in wrestling in The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch and Audio Sean reflect on John Cena’s last match and the headlines coming out of Saturday Night’s Main Event from the Triple H backlash to which of the young NXT stars shined the brightest. Matty Ice pops in to ask what is next for Gunther and who could be the new “Legend Killer’s” next target. All that and more, this week on The Lounge.
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This week on The Lounge! His time is up and the last time is now. A special episode dedicated to all things John Cena. When did we become a fan of John Cena? We look back at what worked and did not work during this final year retirement tour and what might happen in his very last match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Plus a few surprise appearances in The Lounge. With hustle, loyalty and respect, we salute you John Cena.
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch and Audio Sean bring the two man power trip to your earholes and break down all things War Games and what the future may hold coming out of the last PLE of 2025. The finals of the Last Time Is Now tournament are set, who is going to get that shot to face John Cena. Plus a quick rundown of NXT Deadline, with a spicy take on one match participant. All that and more this week on The Lounge.
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Rachel reunites with everyone's favorite Aussie, Lachie Meloni, for a watch-along of the Undertaker's iconic Survivor Series debut 35 (!!) years ago in 1990. From the Million Dollar Man's iconic gimmick to Dusty Rhodes' unforgettable charisma, this episode offers a fresh perspective on a legendary match. They also delve into the influence of Andy Kaufman on professional wrestling, exploring how his groundbreaking antics paved the way for modern sports entertainment.
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Adam “YEET” Crawley and Audio Sean are in the Thanksgiving festive mood breaking down all things for the upcoming WAR GAMES PLE. What is the latest in the John Cena “Last Time Is Now” tournament? Full Gear brought the blood and the shocking results. That and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! The Last Time Is Now Tournament is underway and the first week was full of surprises. Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, Matty Ice and Adam “YEET” Crawley discuss the exciting returns of old faces and The Ring General Gunther. Week 1 of NXT’s Gold Rush brought the action and saw a shocking title change. What matches are the guys excited for this weekend’s AEW Full Gear PPV. That and more this week on The Lounge!
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This week on The Lounge! Uncle Naitch and Audio Sean begin with talking all things John Cena and what might be in store for the Last Time Is Now tournament. There are some new champions in WWE, but were they the right decisions? Matty Ice jumps in to bring us the highs and the lows from AEW Blood and Guts. Come hang out with us in The Lounge!
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Rachel teams up with fan-turned-friend and everyone’s favorite Aussie, Lachie Meloni, for an engaging NXT Black and Gold classic Takeover fatal four-way watchalong. From Tyler Breeze's standout style to Tyson Kidd’s literal style, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the development of a decade-old match. They also dive into today's wrestling scene, discussing the latest storylines and what keeps (some) fans hooked.
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Welcome to The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean and Matty Ice fight their way through dodgy internet connections and bad weather to bring you a recap of the highs and lows of Halloween Havoc. Who has surprised them so far this year? Plus who could be a surprise title winner at Saturday Nights Main Event? That and more this week on The Lounge.
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Welcome to The Lounge! Uncle Naitch asks the gang which wrestling tournament is their all time favorite. Audio Sean is back to combat Matty Ice’s hot take on John Cena vs AJ Styles. Adam is keeping the Yeet Movement alive after Jey Uso’s big Monday night win. Matty Ice is lukewarm on another match of the week contender. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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Welcome to The Lounge! This week on The Lounge, Uncle Naitch leads us through the week of wrestling and shares his experience at a NXT house show. Matty Ice gives us a shocking take on the AJ Styles vs John Cena match from Crown Jewel. Adam Crawley shares what is going on this week in the As The Bloodline Turns soap opera. Don’t miss your chance to hang out another week in The Lounge!
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Welcome to The Lounge! This week Uncle Naitch takes us into the week of pro wrestling and asks the important question, did the TNA NXT Showdown live up to the hype? Matty Ice tells us his greatest tag team of all time. Audio Sean is concerned about WWE live events after he took the Bored clan to Raw. Adam “Yeet” Crawley explains why he is with the no build for the anticipated final match between AJ Styles and John Cena. All that and more this week on The Lounge!
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The I Like Wrestling express keeps rolling as Rachel and Audio Ben fire up a live watch-along of the chaotic Cena vs. Lesnar vs. Rollins triple threat from the 2015 Rumble. They get into why this match still rules, what made each guy shine, and debate the letter grade it deserves.. Plus, a check-in with 1994 Smoky Mountain Wrestling, 1996 WCW, and 2025 NXT No Mercy.
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Welcome to The Lounge! Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean and Matty Ice are flying as high as Jevon Evans with excitement coming out of No Mercy and ready for next week’s TNA NXT Showdown. Is the Jey Uso metamorphosis continuing? Who do we point the finger at for the end of the Women’s World Championship match? Which Raw story has us coming back for more? Find out this week on The Lounge!
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AJ Lee returns to the ring for the first time in a decade, so Rachel and Audio Ben throw it back to the Divas Championship match that put her and Paige on the map. We revisit Paige’s iconic 2014 debut, compare it to Fighting with My Family (including that Vince Vaughn performance), and ask what makes wrestling stories hit—or miss—in film. Plus, why Cena getting destroyed by Brock Lesnar was the best thing that ever happened to him.
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Welcome to The Lounge! Uncle Naitch is joined by the usual crew of Adam, Audio Sean and Matty Ice to talk about the highlight moments and matches from Wrestlepalooza and All Out. Who is going to be the opponent at Crown Jewel against Stephanie Vaquer? John Cena vs AJ Styles is made official via social media, but are we excited or skeptical of the matchup? That and more this week on The Lounge.
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Rachel and Audio Ben reunite once again for a time-traveling episode through the decades. We’ve got something for everyone this week - a look into 1994 Smoky Mountain Wrestling, a live watch-along for an extremely underrated match from 2008, and a raving review for Donny Osmond’s Vegas show.
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Adam, Matty Ice and Audio Sean join Uncle Naitch in The Lounge to give their Wrestlepalooza locks of the night. Which matches are we looking forward to for All Out? Did NXT Homecoming hit us in the feel spot? Where in the world is Bianca Belair? And Uncle Naitch asks the burning question we all want to answer, who is excited for a Saudi Arabia Wrestlemania?
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Uncle Naitch, Matty Ice and Audio Sean are back in the Lounge and ready to mark out over the monumental return of AJ Lee. When is the CM Punk vs Seth Rollins feud going to reach its end point? Are we seeing a Jey Uso heel turn? Is John Cena going to put over a young, up and coming star or go out against an old familiar foe? What is going on in the world of AEW these days? That and so much more on The Lounge.
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The Boys are Back in Town on this week’s episode of the Lounge as the OGs recap Triplemania and preview NXT’s Heatwave and AEW’s Forbidden Door on another wrestling-filled weekend. Also, what does the move to ESPN mean for our viewing pleasure? What has gotten into Raquel Rodriguez lately? Who will Stephanie Vaquer eventually face for the Raw Woman’s Title now that Naomi has announced her pregnancy? And what the hell Sami Zayn is thinking these days?!?!?
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What if Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar was recast today—with professional wrestlers? This week, Rachel drags Audio Ben into her latest hyperfixation: an unhinged, era-spanning fantasy booking that pulls from every corner of the wrestling timeline to stage the most chaotic and eclectic version of Superstar you never knew you needed.
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There are many iconic weddings in wrestling history: Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Vickie Guerrero and Edge. Rachel recruits Ben to join her for a super special I LIke Wrestling episode breaking down every moment of the wedding of the century. The dynamic duo discuss why its ridiculousness resonated so much with at least one of us, parallels between superstars in 2008 and today, and the layers of kayfabe in the Unreal docuseries.
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Fresh off her win as SummerSlam Prophetess of Prediction, Rachel is joined by Adam and Audio Sean. TKO’s latest “business move” announcement about PLEs switching to ESPN+ spurns strong reactions among the group and might even be the nail in the coffin on at least one of our relationships with the WWE. Tonight’s burning questions include: Where does Jelly Roll rank in celebrity matches? How soon until Alexa Bliss turns on Charlotte Flair and can Charlotte maintain the face cheers? Does Becky Lynch’s new music have the potential to become this generation’s “Voices”?
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The ILW Lounge is jam-packed with almost all of our members as Rachel and the OGs run through predictions for this weekend’s double dose of SummerSlam. Is it time for Jade Cargill to be crowned champ or does she need some more time before she’s ready to shine? Which storyline deserves to main event night one? Are Adam and Sean cosmically aligned on all of their picks? Should Dominik Mysterio be the next double-belt champion? All these questions and more answered only in The Lounge!
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This week on ILW Lounge, everything's going through changes — from Rachel’s major life announcement to the shocking death of Ozzy Osbourne. We reflect on how sudden change can make even the strangest wrestling storylines feel like fate, including Jacy Jayne’s second straight upset and the bizarre Becky/Lyra/Bayley triangle. Hop on board the crazy train as Adam finds meaning in Roman’s first yeet and Audio Sean climbs back onto the Trick Williams hype express.
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Surprise! With so much wrestling last weekend, we couldn’t fit it all into just one pod! Uncle Naitch jumps back in the hosting chair with the OGs to discuss All In, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Great American Bash. Also, could the Seth injury be a work? And we all let our feelings about Goldberg be heard. Sit back and join us in the lounge!
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Evolution 2.0 blew away expectations and outshined nearly every PPV in recent memory, prompting the ILW Lounge crew to dedicate a full episode to the all-killer, no-filler event. Despite a rocky build and a cringey toy-centric opening that left Rachel nervous, every match delivered—and then some. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die, and Evolution 2.0 might've just made a few new ones. Adam breaks down the chaos and brilliance of the triple threat’s multiple false finishes, while Uncle Naitch can’t stop gushing over Lash Legend’s Royal Rumble star turn.
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This weekend is stuffed to the brim with wrestling and just like Mercedes Mone, sometimes it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on each day. We all share what match we’re looking forward to this weekend, opening up the door for a conversation on tournaments vs. feuds as a path to the championship. Uncle Naitch introduces an interesting theory about Beyonce’s impact on Evolution ticket sales, Adam educates us about Solo’s childhood relationship with the Usos, Audio Sean sets a new record for live shows attended in one week, and Rachel is rizzing for Ricky Starks.
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Rachel, Adam, and Audio Sean swing open the ILW Lounge doors to discuss what’s up in wrestling this week and an analysis into who is and isn’t on the Evolution 2.0 poster. Other top-of-mind questions include: Is the on-screen product suffering from the age-old issue of quantity over quality? What if Cena’s Retirement Tour is just The Hero’s Journey in disguise? Was Jade Cargill’s Queen of the Ring overshadowed by Raquel’s showcase against Rhea Ripley?
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Rachel poses an important question: What’s the ideal length for an indie wrestling show? Adam reminds us that Cena’s Pipebomb Parody Promo pays homage to more than just CM Punk, Uncle Naitch is mollified that Damage Control’s breakup was announced during a Netflix commercial, and rumors of Ron’s retirement have been greatly exaggerated.
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It’s not about the briefcase, it’s about what you do with it. This weekend’s Money in the Bank winners Naomi and Seth Rollins elicit mixed reactions among the ILW Roster and we’re already thinking about how they’ll shake up future storylines. Rachel shares exclusive moments from attending both events live, Adam experiences a rollercoaster of emotions as he comes to terms with Jey losing the championship, Audio Sean celebrates Becky’s Intercontinental Championship win over Lyra, Matty Fried Rice briefly drops by, and Ron (Killings) returns.
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Rachel, Audio Sean, and Matty Fried Ice tag-team this week’s episode of the ILW Lounge to run through Money in the Bank and Worlds Collide predictions. We mull over the implications of R-Truth’s sudden release and how John Cena continues to ruin wrestling, find compelling reasons for each woman to win Money in the Bank, look way into the future for some Wrestlemania 42 fantasy bookings, and ponder if the Secret Hervice has created a vortex around the US Championship.
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Our prayers have been answered and Alexa Bliss finally returns to dropping fire promos. Who’s taller: The Rizzler or Zelina Vega? Is the team of John Cena and Logan Paul poised to actually ruin wrestling? Does
Bronson Reed’s return signal a new inning in The Bloodline saga? Is Jacy Jayne defeating Stephanie Vaquer for the NA Women’s Title one of the worst decisions in recent wrestling history or a smart move to open up more championship contenders? Rachel, Adam, and Audio Sean explore all of these questions and more, only on the ILW Lounge!
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With so much wrestling coming up this weekend, we power through predictions for Saturday Night Main Event, AEW Double or Nothing, and NXT Battleground. Rachel, Naitch, Ice, and Audio Sean speculate about the possibility of Trick Two-Straps, spray-tanned hands, AEW’s Howie Mandel look-alike, and The Roxy of It All.
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The Queen of Wrestling Threads returns to her court as a newly married lady and is joined by Adam, Sean, Matty Ice and Uncle Naitch to discuss some of the hard hitting questions in this week’s wrestling buffet. Has Backlash lost its mojo or found a new identity now that it’s no longer just a WrestleMania encore? Is this the best version of Becky Lynch we’ve seen and is she secretly one of the greatest in-ring performers? How long until Paul Heyman betrays Seth for Bron Breakker? The Lounge also remembers and pays tribute to the late great Sabu.
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The I Like Wrestling Train is back on the tracks as Rachel and Ben reunite on the “A show” to delve into the evolution of Paul Heyman’s career, Jacob Fatu’s rizz meter, the missing Wyatt Sicks and mysteriously silent Alexa Bliss, and broken Charlotte Flair. Plus a bonus conversation on The Last of Us!I
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Uncle Naitch holds down the fort one more week as Sean and Matty Ice are back from the Queen’s wedding to discuss the shocking and some not so much shocking WWE releases, review the week of Raw, Smackdown and NXT and give us predictions sure to go wrong for a Backlash PLE that came out of nowhere faster than a RKO.
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Uncle Naitch steps in for our soon to be wedded Queen of Wrestling Threads in this week’s episode of the Lounge. Sean, Matt, and Adam join Naitch to discuss the incredible Smackdown after Mania, NXT and its apparent weakening of factions, and what the influx of women to Monday Night Raw means going forward.
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Wrestlemania 41 had more ups and downs than a Six Flags roller coaster and the ILW Lounge is along for the ride. Rachel, Uncle Naitch, Audio Sean, and Matty Ice attempt to make sense of how John Cena selling his soul to the rock tied into him winning his 17th title, find common ground in the men’s and women’s triple threat matches taking home our favorites of the weekend, and come to heads over the shocking upset at Stand and Deliver.
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Heroes get remembered but legends never die. The OG ILW Trio reunites for one final(?) time to recap what went down at Wrestlemania 41 this past weekend.
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Then, now, forever, together. The ILW Lounge’s Wrestlemania 41 and Stand and Deliver Predictions are officially in the books.
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We’re in the single-digit days away from Wrestlemania and matches are coming out of the woodwork, promos are blurring the line even more between work and shoot, and AEW keeps on keeping on. Uncle Naitch gives time, space, and thanks for Kevin Owens’ work, Adam is all in for the cattiness between Charlotte and Tiffany after last week’s off-the-rails promo, Audio Sean thinks the implications of CM Punk’s favor are more crucial than the reveal itself, Ice realizes he might be older than Swipe Right’s parents, and Rachel reminds us all to reflect on how far women’s wrestling has come since the first Wrestlemania 42 years ago.
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Tons of promos and pivotal moments dropped on every brand this week and we’ve got a full roster in the ILW Lounge to talk about why we like wrestling! Uncle Naitch pontificates why neither Royal Rumble is main-eventing Wrestlemania this year, Adam yeets his way back to being emotionally invested in an A+ feud between Gunther and Jey Uso, Audio Sean pokes holes in CM Punk’s emotional contract signing promo, Frolf royally fumbles a former champ’s name while preaching about La Primera, Rachel’s love for Pretty Deadly fails to pierce through her disdain for Hank and Tank, and Matty Ice wants to see Cena one more time.
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Wrestlemania is mere weeks away and storylines are ebbing, flowing, fraying, and growing. Ron wonders if Roman’s promo on Friday suffered from being rushed due to timing constraints, Uncle Naitch is scared that Cena might actually beat Flair for a new record, Audio Sean comes up with a clever way to unmask El Grande Americano at Wrestlemania, Matty Ice shows up late, and Rachel pops for the return of Lexis King’s sliding chair entrance.
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Rachel, Adam, and Audio Sean are all hit right in the feels with Cena’s return and phenomenal promo in Brussels, but special guest Just Ben still feels like something is missing. Women are the continual focus and highlight of our week, as we dive into the three-way perfection of Bianca, Rhea, and Iyo, Charlotte’s post-match brawl with Tiffany finally heating up their feud, Sol Ruca’s title possibilities, and the Cabinet of Inaugural Women’s United States Championship.
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Naomi confessed to pushing Jade but does this lay deeper roots for Bianca’s mastermind heel turn? What does John Cena’s return to RAW on Monday look like for his character? Is NXT: Roadblock the best PPV of the HBK era? Rachel, Audio Sean, Adam, Ron, and Uncle Naitch dive into these questions and more on this electrifying episode of the ILW Lounge.
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The ILW Lounge is packed to the rafters as we congregate to catch up on the plethora of wrestling highs, lows, and woahs from the past week. Uncle Naitch stands behind Sami Zayn appearing on the upcoming Wrestlemania card, even though Ron thinks Tozawa has better odds, Adam shouts out Alexa Bliss’ Elimination Chamber performance, Matty Ice makes it onto the soundboard, Audio Sean thinks John Cena’s heel turn will eventually be the most memorable wrestling moment of all time, Frolf didn’t watch but we’re glad he and his stache showed up, and Rachel applauds Bianca Belair’s improved acting skills.
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Rachel and (No Longer Audio) Just Ben reunite for a very special episode to converse about John Cena’s heel turn, Iyo Sky’s surprise championship win, and the Rhode to Wrestlemania as it stands right now.
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It’s the final pod before Elimination Chamber and the ILW Roster are still trying to figure out if we smell what The Rock is cooking. Rachel fantasizes about a Pretty Deadly Wrestlemania win, Uncle Naitch pontificates if Street Profits or The New Day have a bigger ceiling as heels, Matty Ice learns the difference between induce and induct, Audio Sean wades through the midcard muck on the weekly shows, and Ron returns to the table.
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The OGs are back! Rachel aka The Queen of Wrestling Threads has been taken out by the flu and Unc is in! Naitch holds down hosting duties as he, Matty Ice, and Audio Sean discuss all the big moments in wrestling this week. We recap NXT Vengeance Day, AEW GrandSlam, walk down the road to Mania, and kick off the show with BREAKING NEWS! Come hang with us. Like, rate, and subscribe @ILWPOD
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YES BOY, Pretty Deadly have finally scored a win! The news of last week’s roster releases inspires a new game “Where To Next?” where we book the fantasy futures of the dearly departed wrestlers. Rachel embraces the 2K MY GM mode when thinking about AJ Styles’ transfer to RAW, Audio Sean is ready to celebrate Rusev Day at any moment , Adam wants to know what Uncle Howdy has been whispering in Alexa Bliss’ ear, and Uncle Naitch comes to the defense of Charlotte Flair. This episode is not sponsored by Kit Wilson or Elton Prince of Pretty Deadly.
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YEET. WOO. Charlotte Flair and Jey Uso are our 2025 Royal Rumble winners and the Road to Wrestlemania is officially underway. Uncle Naitch is still raising his hands days after attending RAW live, Frolf recounts the Rumble moment that almost made him spit out his beer, Audio Sean finds multiple opportunities to showcase his disappointment in the Women’s Rumble Winner, Ice is now a Jey Guy, Adam pokes holes in Becky Lynch’s return theories, and Rachel delivers a GOAT transition discussing the possibility of John Cena’s final run as a heel.
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Let’s get ready to rumble in the ILW Lounge as we point toward that Wrestlemania sign predicting the outcomes of this weekend’s Royal Rumble. Uncle Naitch fantasy books a parallel timeline where Karron Kross wins, Ice is ready to talk about wrestling again, Adam foresees Roxane Perez’s Final Four potential, Sean gives us another weekly live show recap, Rachel compares 2020’s Rumble to today’s card, and Frolf and his mustache are just happy to be here.
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Rachel, Matt, and Ben, the OG Three, are back for their first episode of the New Year. It’s too sweet to hear Evolution Drop as we dive into 2008 Backlash, last weekend’s SNME, this weekend’s upcoming Rumble, and the Rhode to Wresltemania.
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(Most of) The ILW roster has always believed in Joe Hendry and now the rest of the world gets to experience his glory too. Sean gives us the rundown on his weekend of live shows, overflowing with TNA gems, Adam raises a good point about the history of Women’s Royal Rumbles, the Original Host of the A Show makes a cameo from his car, Uncle Naitch poses an unexpected Wrestlemania opponent for Sami Zayn, and Rachel argues vehemently against media scrubbing.
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What does the official TNA and WWE Partnership mean for the future of both promotions? Do championship belt tiers and hierarchies still matter or can they be overlooked for storytelling? How can Pretty Deadly score a win? We explore these questions and more on this week’s four-cornered episode of The ILW Lounge!
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We’re back to our regularly scheduled programming this year and ready to dive into the historical RAW on Netflix Premiere and plethora of recent title changes. Rachel shares her experience attending NXT New Year’s Evil and seeing The Rock live, Audio Sean throws out some early Wrestlemania predictions, Uncle Naitch comes to the defense of Lexis King, Frolf celebrates the wins of two favorites Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer, Matty Ice says something of medium value at some point, and El Grumpo makes a special cameo appearance.
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We’re kicking off the new year by honoring 2024’s superstars at the First Annual I Like Wrestling Loungie Awards. Whether the results are obvious, shocking, or surprising, you’re guaranteed to have a great time at the hottest wrestling awards show in town.
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While most of the world slows down during the holidays, the gift of professional wrestling keeps on giving us treats like NXT: Deadline and Saturday Night Main Event. We’d like to honor Fraxiom not just as Workhorse of the Week but Tag Team of the Year. Uncle Naitch revisits the 10th Anniversary of NXT R-Evolution, Adam almost has to change his theme music, Frolf is impressed top-to-bottom by the Women’s Iron Survivor Match, Audio Sean has one small nitpick about Piper Niven vs. Bianca, and Rachel might have to start paying attention to Myles Borne.
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We took last week off to give thanks but the ILW Lounge is open with a never-before-seen trios debut featuring Rachel, Audio Sean, and Matty Ice. Survivor Series: War Games opens the door for new feuds and rehashes existing ones, with some exceeding their limits and testing our patience. Matty Ice cleared his schedule and is ready to watch NXT: Deadline live, Audio Sean , and Rachel celebrates Shinsuke Nakumara’s win as the new United States Champion,
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We’re the ILW Lounge, we bring the pod to you, it’s what we do. There’s so much to be thankful for with War Games on the horizon, a new women’s tournament off to a promising start, and one of the best Smackdown endings in history. Uncle Naitch celebrates B-Fab’s debut match, Audio Sean foresees a feud with LA Knight in Shinsuke’s future, Matty Ice discovers a new nickname, Adam is shocked by Rachel’s Workhorse of the Week, and The Queen of Wrestling Threads has some things to say about AEW.
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This week’s ILW Lounge is filled with five feisty members ready to run the ropes on what went down in the WWE recently. Matty Ice finds a new hope in Damien Priest after his latest promo, Adam’s anxiety is rising as The New Day’s anniversary and breakup inch closer, Audio Sean fantasy books Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer for next year’s NXT Stand and Deliver, Frolfa Tonga questions if The Wyatt Sicks still have legs, and Rachel covets a Treacherous Trios action figure set.
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Rachel, Audio Sean, and Uncle Naitch are fresh off the heels of this week’s Friday Night Smackdown for a late-night recording where we’re still coming down from the high of The Bloodline cinema we just witnessed. Our (well, Rachel and Naitch’s) favorite match at Crown Jewel was an eight-women showcase firing on all cylinders, opening up questions like if Jade and Bianca have reached their peak and where else Iyo Sky can shine her star power. NXT’s ECW crossover show leaves mixed impressions, with former legends appearing lost and out-of-place, but the main highlight for all of us was the twelve current superstars showcasing the power of the women’s division.
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Happy Halloween from the I Like Wrestling Lounge! Rachel and the guys unpack last weekend’s NXT Halloween Havoc, new tag team champions MCMG, and the latest Bloodline developments. Uncle Naitch recaps TNA Bound for Glory and some recent AEW updates, opening up a conversation on the debut of The Hurt Business in AEW. Frolf reminds us of the looming presence of The Wise Man Paul Heyman, Adam embraces the chaos of Bronson Reed, and Rachel just realized she forgot to finish the end of this description.
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This week’s ILW Lounge explores some deep and nuanced questions about the longevity and importance of The Attitude Era, what a non-2k WWE video game would look like, and if we can make Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson Workhorse of the Week every time. Rachel is pumped for NXT Halloween Havoc hijinks, Uncle Naitch provides the proper excitement for the Motor City Machine Guns debut, Adam delivers a eulogy for Jey Uso’s title run, and Audio Sean analyzes every smile in The Bloodline.
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Rachel and Matt, The OG Duo of “The A Show” are here to answer provocative questions about if The Attitude Era is overrated and how terrible matches can actually magnify the beauty of the art of wrestling. Chainsaw Charlie and Cactus Jack dive into a dumpster match that has us divided on what we think the ending represents, Rachel witnesses a live in-ring proposal at last weekend’s GCW show, and Matt previews his upcoming Halloween wrestling gimmick.
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The temperatures may be cooling outside but it’s heating up with some wild takes in this week’s ILW Lounge. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson win Workhorse of the Week by a landslide and we debate if Carmelo Hayes’ lack of winning matches equals a real loss when it comes to superstar power. Rachel unwraps the new layers of Roman Reigns’ return, Ice raises some eyebrows with a controversial booking on Tiffy’s cash-in, Naitch takes us through the latest AEW updates and botches, and Sean finally figures out the live audio drops.
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Special guest El Benerico makes his ILW Lounge debut joining Rachel, Frolf, Adam, Sean, and a late-to-the-party Ice to mull through the remnants of Bad Blood. We review the pros and cons of the first two-hour RAW and question if weekend’s PPV highlights or hinders the downsides of long-term storytelling during the Paul Levesque era. We all wanted more from the Rhea and Liv match but at least expectations were exceeded in the feud-culminating Punk vs. McIntyre Hell in a Cell match. D’Fangelo’s rise up for a new NXT North American Men’s Champion.
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Are shark cage matches a cursed gimmick? Matt dredges up a cage match from the past for a watchalong where Enzo dangles from above as Big Cass and The Big Show duke it out at SummerSlam 2017. Rachel is all in for The Rock’s instagram live promos and eyebrow raising. We run through our roses and thorns from last weekend’s Bad Blood, check out Legends’ House, and take some tangents down fondant and Chappel Roan Road.
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From Bad Blood to the Mr. McMahon doc The CW Premiere of NXT, the ILW Lounge is poppin’ and ready to dive into some wrestling! Rachel poses the question of what the perfect match length is, Sean finds new love and inspiration as a father from Shane McMahon, Naitch champions Naomi for Workhorse of the Week after her Speed match, and Ice tries out a new accent.
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Rachel leads a rowdy roster into a new era as we navigate the passing of the torch from Audio Ben to Audio Sean. We dissect the Roman and Cody Friday Night Lights promo and question if its cinematic gravitas hindered or hindered their ongoing storyline. Naitch introduces our new Workhorse of the Week segment, Ice finally got to watch a full episode of AEW, Rachel can’t get enough of the Liv/Rhea/Dom love triangle even though Sean would be okay putting it on pause, Adam introduces the idea of Rhea and Bianca as the future hottest Wrestlemania match, and Vogel finally shows up for his first lounge episode.
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The entire roster (except for BSJ) reunites for Audio Ben’s rambunctious final episode send-off. Smackdown kicks things off with a steel cage match between Solo and Cody but the roster is divided on if the current Bloodline/Cody Rhodes/OTC story is enough to push things into A+ territory. There’s no question on how much we loved RAW, from Iyo and Bianca giving us a PPV-level match to big meaty men brawling backstage and NXT’s back with so many shining stars it’s almost impossible to go wrong.
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WOOO! Strut on into this week’s episode with a massively entertaining watchalong featuring a mixed tag match between Ric Flair and Lil Naitch vs. Madusa and Randy Savage. Charles Robinson is one of the greatest refs in the biz and also now the greatest Ric Flair impersonator we’ve seen, with all four of these legends firing on all cylinders (well, mostly). Rachel did her homework and checked out Walter vs. Pete Dunné, Matt reveals which wrestler Becky Lynch calls out in her autobiography, and Audio Ben stares up at the lights.
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Same roster, new week as Rachel is joined by Frolf, Uncle Naitch, and Adam to tear into the weird and wacky world of wrestling. Uncle Naitch questions why we’re living in a world of B Plus matches when we could have all As, Frolf is intrigued by Giulia’s debut and her overall aura, Adam finally catches up on NXT, and Rachel loves 2/3rds of Bret Hart’s shamanic return to Monday Night Raw.
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The OG Three unite again to talk about the yays, nays, and okays of what’s going on in wrestling right now. Rachel digs into the treasure trove of WWE Network streaming series and uncovers Swerved and the bizarre animated show Camp WWE. Matt introduces his new favorite segment comparing storylines in professional wrestling to hot dog and topping combinations. Audio Ben is blown away by the Wyatt Sicks vs. American Made street fight.
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Tsunami splash through a car into a jam-packed episode recapping, reviewing, and vibing on last weekend’s plethora of wrestling. Audio Ben met wrestling legend Mick Foley last weekend and got to reunite with his best friend Max Vocal, speaking as his voice on an incredible experience. Rachel questions why Nia Jax didn’t deserve a spot on the Bash at Berlin card and changes her mind when Audio Ben reframes it as main eventing a nationally televised show. Joe Hendry may be gone from NXT for now but we still believe (well, at least Rachel does).
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Rachel is joined by Frolf, Uncle Naitch, and Adam to talk through the plethora of wrestling that we have to consume this week. Naitch fills us in on his favorite AEW moments from last weekend’s AEW All In, Adam books a predictable yet surprising contender for LA Knight’s Open Challenge at Bash at Berlin, Frolf presents the idea of a Women’s Trios Belt, and Rachel still believes in Joe Hendry.
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Audio Ben is back in The Lounge with the boys. This week they talk about the impact of the Ula Fala on those that hold it, along with discussing the more important inanimate objects of wrestling’s past. Other topics include the work rate feud of Andrade and Melo, the presentation since Kevin Dunn’s departure, AEW’s All In card this weekend, and of course we say his name…well, he didn’t appear but his theme certainly gets played. So pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage, smoke a tree, and hang out in The Lounge.
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Last week’s episode inspired us to watch Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2016. Audio Ben fills Rachel in on some gaps in Brock’s storyline, Green Shirt Guy may be Back-To-The-Futuring Us and the commentary team sparks some intriguing conversation. The Queen of Wrestling Threads posed the question “Is AEW turning into WCW?” on Threads and Audio Ben comes to AEW’s defense. GCW may have felt more like a house show this time but at least Rachel got a picture with Matt Cardona.
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Audio Ben wrangles the ILWroster into a divisive conversation on none other than clap clap Joe Hendry. Rachel questions the naming choice of Pure Fusion Collective and the future of the women’s tag division Big Ron manages to set his alarm correctly and drops some controversial opinions on Our Tribal Chief. Sean gives us an exclusive insider look into the dark matches after Smackdown last Friday.. Uncle Naitch pays his respecst to the city of Cleveland, Matty Ice manages to keep his camera on the whole time (not that anyone cares), and Frolf designed us some shirts for sale!
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The much anticipated, long-awaited hundredth episode of I Like Wrestling is finally here to grace your feeds. Rachel, Matt, and Audio Ben reminisce about their early days on the pod and the evolution of our show. We introduce a new segment called “Lemme Talk to Ya!” which brings up three differing opinions on Joe Hendry and have a grand ol’ time being back together again!
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than a week since SummerSlam and we already have so much we want to talk about with Audio Ben, Rachel, Adam, and BSJ. We’re all hyped for what we foresee to be an iconic match in Berlin with Daddy Randy vs. Da Ring General Gunther and how this new iteration of The Judgement Day will evolve with Liv instead of Rhea. Bronson Reed finally makes a splash, The Wyatt Sicks hit Audio Ben right in the feels, and WE BELIEVE IN JOE HENDRY clap clap.
GOOD LOOKIN’ WRASSLA VID https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIkR3pYSVEU
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Audio Ben and the boys are throwing a bonus pod in your feed to discuss SummerSlam. Uncle Naitch and Adam are hot off attending the amazing PLE, while BSJ and Sean bring their opinions as well. Fire it up!
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With SummerSlam just days away and NXT’s Great American Bash in full force, the ILW Lounge pulls out a hefty roster of 8 members led by flagship hosts Rachel and Audio Ben ft. the long-awaited debut of a new member. We believe in Joe Hendry but is he good enough to maintain his gimmick? Most match predictions normally have us divided but hopefully it isn’t too late to say “YEAH!” as we’re all rooting for LA Knight. Plenty of time is rightfully spent in the flower shop filled with bouquets that is NXT Women’s Wrestling, from the opening tag match to Roxane Perez and Thea Hail’s championship match.
NAITCH’S SOCIALS @UncleNaitch (X) and @Uncle_Naitch (THREADS AND INSTA)
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Citizens, rejoice… the Queen of Wrestling Threads returns from Greece and has a lot to catch up on.. Rachel joins Audio Ben, Naitch, BSJ, Matty Ice, and Sean BoredBrother to talk about which feuds are heating up going into SummerSlam, from Logan Paul destroying LA Knight to Rhea, Liv, and Dom heading to a boil, and which wrestlers are thriving and floundering. Our episode packs in more than the RAW and NXT Hulu replays, so grab a snack and get ready to dive on in to everything happening in wrestling, only in the ILW Lounge!
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Audio Ben is back with the OGs for nearly 2 hours talking about everything from the main roster of WWE, the development of new talent in NXT, and the big bouts of AEW. How are we feeling about Bayley’s reign? What impact is Jacob Fatu making? Which talent shined on the mic this week? How were AEW stacked matches this week? All of this and much more at The Lounge.
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Good thing we got two hosts to fill each of Rachel’s shoes while she’s out, because Audio Ben and Matt are barely keeping it on the rails this week. In the past they talk about wrestling watching habits and past MITB moments. The present brings out Matt’s takes on Tiffany Stratton and Ilja Dragunov, while a deep discussion is had about Bloodline 2.0. The future brings SummerSlam predictions and whether Charlotte is still a factor in WWE. For the Main Event, the boys revisit their current takes on their personal Mount Rushmore.
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Audio Ben hosts a great roster of OGs once again and they are covering everything from WWE to AEW! What’s Oba Femi’s ceiling? Could Rhea’s return have been better? Is Mercedes Monè just a Go-Bot version of Sasha Banks? Are Liv Morgan and Toni Storm the best stories in women’s wrestling today? All of this and our reactions to John Cena’s retirement tour announcement! So sit, relax, have some shrimp cocktail, and welcome to The Lounge.
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This week on ILW, Audio Ben and Matt hold it down while Rachel is on vacation. MITB fallout is the topic of the week as the boys discuss everything from Drew/Punk/Seth to Bron Breakker’s rise, along with the quality of women’s wrestling we are seeing that doesn’t involve the 4 Horsewomen. Also, watch your back…Uncle Howdy is always listening….
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Audio Ben asked us to think about our favorite storyline in each decade from the 80s-now and we uncover new depths in Matt’s worldview when he questions what makes a story. Rachel realizes that the 2010s may have been the most transformative decade for women’s wrestling, recalling her Total Divas binge watching days. We talk through our Money in the Bank Predictions, merch opportunities for the winners, and the latest Wyatt Sicks spooky shenanigans.
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The ILW Lounge: Taylor’s Version is back with a stacked roster and even more stacked discussions on Raw, Smackdown, and NXT. Hot takes on Cody’s post-Wrestlemania Championship and comparisons to Bret Hart bring up some unresolved feelings with the lounge divided on if a true babyface is what the WWE needs right now. Is CM Punk and Drew McIntyre’s feud the most compelling story in years without a single match between them? Was the Uncle Howdy/Bo Dallas interview released too soon? We ponder these questions and more in this bonus episode of I Like Wrestling!
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Listen up maggots! Commissioner Slaughter challenges DX Anti-Authority Triple H in a no-holds-barred Bootcamp Match on 1997’s In Your House Series Finale. It’s Matt’s first time viewing and a recent re-watch for Rachel, with non-stop momentum and conversation from the minute the bell rings. We talk through some preliminary Money in the Bank Predictions, Dark Side of the Ring episodes, and raise our ones in honor of Sika Anoa’i.
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The Wyatt Sicks have nothing on the ILW Five, especially now that Audio Ben has made his triumphant return back to the lounge. Rachel, BSJ, Matty Ice, and Adam talk through the Clash at the Castle Card, wondering if Chad Gable will recover from a seemingly fatal gunshot wound, how Bayley’s championship run could use some more seasoning, and we all shock ourselves with how much we’re digging CM Punk.
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Scotland is the birthplace of many famous people: William Wallace, Ewan McGregor, Tilda Sinwton, and two-time Clash at the Castle loser Drew McIntyre. Audio Ben returns from hiatus to discuss last weekend’s Clash at the Castle and Rachel’s latest GCW show experience. We’re hyped about the new debuts, like Uncle Howdy’s Gang, Chelsea Verde and the launch of Talent Name Here, while the “return” of Seth Rollins fails to make an impression.
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The time of the year in between Wrestlemania and SummerSlam is often thought of as the doldrums of the wrestling season but NXT Battleground and Clash at the Castle are giving us plenty to cook with in the past, present, and future. Rachel, Uncle Naitch, Adam, and BSJ gab about their favorite moments (with plenty to choose from) including Kelani Jordan as the inaugural North American Women’s Champion, Jordan Grace’s earlobe tear as a cautionary tale against wearing jewelry in the ring, and Oba Femi’s dream future manager.
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Ladders were climbed, inaugural champions were crowned, and earlobes were split at this past weekend’s NXT Battleground and we’re here to run through (most of) the card. After watching a video essay on kayfabe, Rachel ignites a conversation with Matt on Andy Kaufman’s legacy and nuanced understanding of transgressions to use kayfabe to reveal kayfabe itself (how many times can we say kayfabe?). (I guess we just really like wrestling, as well as using parentheses in this description).
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We’re rich in PPVs and predictions, with the ILW Lounge opening up to discuss NXT Battleground and which female superstar we see having the most success in the next 10 years. We also speculate if there will be a title change during Sami Zayn and Chad Gable’s Clash at the Castle match and what it means for the future of Alpha Academy. Some fascinating statistics about how the NWO stacks up to the Judgement Day sparks a conversation about what makes a faction matter.
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Legends, friends, father and uncle Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero put their skills to the test at 2005 SummerSlam in a ladder match to determine custody of young Dominik Mysterio. The mustached and mulletted Dominik Mysterio of today has nothing on the puppy-dog eyed child from the past but it doesn’t matter what his age is when he’s doing such great work. We speculate if Logan Paul’s baby will be part of his story, run through some preliminary Clash at the Castle predictions, and finally finish the In Your House series.
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Rachel is joined by Uncle Naitch, Adam, and Matty Ice to talk about King and Queen of the Ring highlights, TNA’s burgeoning relationship with WWE, and how the NXT call ups are cooking. Naitch leads us in an AEW Double or Nothing recap and discussion of where the brand is heading. The guys take a trip down memory lane to remind Rachel how lucky she is to be able to consume virtually any PPV at the click of a button.
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All Hail Queen Nia and King Gunther, your newest Queen and King of the Ring crowned this weekend in Saudi Arabia. Rachel and Matt run through the card and reveal their favorite moments, matches, and predictions for SummerSlam. Evolution explores how The Great Khali got his SAG membership, Sexxy Red’s guest appearance on NXT, and if the UFC/Endeavor era might actually be a flop.
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Matt attended ECW One Night Stand live way back in 2006 and we’re here for the second time on ILW to talk about this iconic PPV, this time featuring a watch-along of The Spirit of WWE (John Cena) vs. The Spirit of ECW (Rob Van Dam). Rachel finds a compelling reason to convince Matt to give her his commemorative chair from the event, we’re introduced to Goldust’s provocative new look, and a unique direction is predicted for the winners of King and Queen of the Ring.
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It’s almost time to crown the King and Queen of the Ring and the lounge is open with our various configurations and speculations of who we think should be crowned. We continue to give the NXT Women’s Roster its proper flowers, with special thanks to Lash Legend and Lola Vice. Rachel poses the question of what The Attitude Era would look like without The Montreal Screwjob and ends up causing quite the divide amongst the ITCOGs.
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The Montreal Screwjob is perhaps the most iconic moment in professional wrestling and Rachel has finally arrived and watched in its full Survivor Series glory. She shares thoughts, vibes, and feelings with special guest co-host Black Sabre Jr. who was lucky enough to watch it happen live 27 years ago. We talk about the legacies and impacts of Rick Roode, Jeff Jarrett, and brand sweepstakes, as well as what the Attitude Era might have looked like if Bret hadn’t been screwed.
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Just like the NXT Women’s Roster, the ILW Lounge is cooking on all levels. We’ve got Backlash backlash, a brief update on Jimmy Uso, and endless praise for the best show in wrestling right now (with the exception of Brinley). Rachel guides the guys through a discussion on wrestling graphic t-shirts: then, now, forever, and together and we take a moment to honor Owen Hart’s birthday.
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Our ears are still ringing from the French crowds at Backlash and Matt has a lot to say about le public interfering with his ability to enjoy the matches. Rachel wrangles a somewhat one-sided discussion on the 1997 In Your House: Badd Blood PPV. This podcast is unofficially sponsored by Challengers, The Last Match, and definitely not the WWE Draft.
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You’ve got questions, and we have the answers! We start off with our AEW takes this week, then proceed to discuss the discourse of Becky Lynch’s current title win. Is this a good decision? What’s going on with the factions of WWE? How is The Bloodline still one of the hottest stories in wrestling? Is Sami Zayn a faction homewrecker? What’s the Bonk of the Week? All of these questions and more are answered by Audio Ben and the roster of OGs this week! Welcome….to The ILW Lounge!
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Cody Rhodes may have defeated Roman Reigns to become the next Universal Champion but 11 years ago, he fought another battle against then-champion Randy Orton and we’re here to watch along live. Rachel mourns the death of Brian Pillman and graciously forgoes her Millennial Mania segment for Matt’s lessons learned in ring announcing while Audio Ben defends Becky’s title win.
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The self-proclaimed premiere female voice of wrestling threads aka Rachel is joined by the ITCOGs for a jangling discussion on all the belt changes and upcoming storyline predictions. We talk about the newly revamped tag team titles and what it means for the draft, the future of Damien Priest’s title reign, how Rhea’s absence could shake up the women’s division, and Chad Gable’s inevitable upcoming singles run.
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We’re two weeks post Wrestlemania and still dealing with the fallout while Rachel raves about another kind of Fallout in Millenial Mania. Rhea Ripley’s sudden injury and subsequent vacating of her championship may actually be a positive thing for the women’s division and Audio Ben is fiending for the next stage of Bray Wyatt’s legacy. Plus, an insider look into the indie queer wrestling scene with Pound Town Wrestling!
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Rachel is joined by returning guest and Jason Kelce’s wrestling trainer Danny Cage to do a post-mortem on Wrestlemania Night 1. We analyze the disparity of keeping kayfabe in press conferences, reflect on Damien Priest’s cash-in, and unpack the meaning of The American Nightmare.
DANNY’S INSTAGRAM @CoachDannyCage
MONSTER FACTORY SOCIALS @4MonsterFactory
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Welcome back to the Lounge where Audio Ben and the roster of OGs bring all of the takes about their experiences of Wrestlemania 40! This week Audio Ben is joined by Sean, Matty Freakin Ice, Big Ron, and Adam Crawley, so grab your favorite flavor of Prime, put a steak on the grill, and inject this wholesome goodness into your feel spot!
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It’s Wrestlemania weekend and Audio Ben brings a roster of ITCOGs to the Lounge to discuss their takes, predictions, and territory booking. We go through the entire Wrestlemania 40 card starting with the first match of Night 1 all the way to the highly anticipated main event of Night 2. Grab your bottle of Prime and join us in The Lounge!
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Wrestlemania is so close we can taste it and we’re here with our final match predictions for both nights. Rachel reaches SummerSlam in her 1997 Raw journey and reacts to Brett Hart’s surprising win thanks to Chippendale Ref Shawn Michaels. Audio Ben thinks about a future where Big Strong Boys and Tiny Dunnes win the tag team belts.
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Audio Ben and Rachel welcome the ITCOGs back to The Lounge for more current event conversations about the wrestling landscape. We discuss the Final Boss, if Cody will “assemble his Avengers”, and the state of women’s wrestling across the board. Plug it into your veins, hit the feel spot, crack open your favorite beverage, and join us in The Lounge!
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Rachel invites the other two members of the tag team to watch Batista vs. MVP for the United States Championship and it spurns a discussion on MVP’s unique ring gear, believability of a champion, and if we should care about male ring announcers. Audio Ben tells us about the time Earthquake acknowledged his sign back in the days of yonder past and Matt struggles to keep his limited edition Rob Gronkowski figure in the box.
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Welcome to the ILW Lounge! In this new spinoff show, Audio Ben hosts a round table
discussion of all things in the current wrestling climate from Raw to Smackdown, and from NXT to AEW. This week Matt and Rachel join a slew of ITCOGs (Matty Ice, Adam, Naitch, Ron, and Sean) to talk all things wrestling!
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Wrestlemania 40 is fast approaching and last week’s GOAT Fantasy Wrestlemania Cards inspired a look back at the historic match from the inaugural Wrestlemania featuring Wendy Richter, managed by Cyndi Lauper vs. Leilani Kai, managed by The Fabulous Moolah. Matt and Audio Ben get into a heated debate about where this match ranks among other women’s matches while Rachel experiences the rise and fall of the ring announcer dream.
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Audio Ben asked us to create our fantasy Wrestlemania cards filled with our favorite matches and his preemptive confidence in his booking may have come back to bite him. Sean AKA The Face of ILW joins us for his takes (including an incorrect one about The Rock) and his recent live experience at Smackdown. Rachel surprises everyone with not only the potentially strongest card of the four but also a shocking reveal about makeup returns. Matt manages to watch more Wrestlemanias than anyone in the past week and is uncharacteristically succinct in his takes.
SEAN’S SOCIALS @imboredbrother
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Sting’s final match and the rudimentary Peacock search feature lead Matt to watch the 1995 WCW Slamboree and we’re here to run through the card. Rachel hits Bret Hart’s return at the 1997 Calgary Stampede and questions if The Hart Foundation is better than The Bloodline. Audio Ben inspires a conversation about experiencing live shows without commentary and Millenial Mania flies us home with some hot takes on Masters of the Air.
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The 90s was full of odd-couple tag teams and unlikely partners Stone Cold and HBK face-off against each other at the 1997 King of the Ring. We watch along live with special guest Uncle Naitch who brings his unique perspective having watched this PPV when it first aired in 1997. Naitch tries his best to spread the Johnny Gargano love, Rachel struggles to adjust to Morrowind, and Matt and Audio Ben round out the usual shenanigans.
This episode is dedicated to Jason Richardson AKA Jaws.
UNCLE NAITCH’S SOCIALS @uncle_naitch
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We interrupt your feeds for a very special Elimination Chamber bonus episode with foreign correspondent and ILW’s Biggest Fan Lachie Meloni. He talks about his experience at the chambah down undah, what it was like to see Mami in her hometown, and reveals which action figure of The Bloodline he refuses to buy.
LACHIE’S SOCIALS @lachiemeloni
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This week’s main event is a live watchalong of Diamond Dallas Page vs. Macho Man at WCW’s 1997 Spring Stampede. Rachel covets Miss Elizabeth’s sparkly NWO dress, Matt is crushed by the thought of The Rock betraying Roman Reigns, and Audio Ben makes some fresh sandwich bread.
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Matt has a new contender for Match of the Year. Rachel is entranced by Rob Van Dam’s 1997 RAW debut and takes us back to Vader’s arrest in Kuwait. Audio Ben is there via soundboard and spirit.
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Rachel’s power has returned and she’s ready to talk about her third GCW show experience. Audio Ben loves both sides of the Carmelo Hayes coin. We all book our dream Evolution 2.0 cards and fulfill our fantasies.
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Matt and Audio Ben drop their origin story on Side A of this week’s ILW. We cover what everyone wants to talk about with Rock/Roman/Cody, head overseas for some NJPW action, and break the news of a bro-tacular guest interview for next week.
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Rachel is so impressed by this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble that Cody Rhodes’ win almost feels like a let-down. Matt recounts his crazy week talking about life with Matt Riddle and working with Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Audio Ben opens up about his conflicted feelings for his cat.
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WHAT A RUSH to experience this live watch-along for Audio Ben’s first and Rachel’s repeat viewing of a well-crafted tag team match. Crowd favorite Legion of Doom hopes to win the titles from the shiny brother-in-laws Owen Hart and British Bulldog and this tightly choreographed opening match keeps us on our toes and provides a nice contrast to the tag-team doldrums of Wrestlemania 13. It’s been a wild week in the present - from a long-awaited Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face-off, an unexpected twist in the story for Seth Rollins and Gunther, and The Rock’s move to the TKO table proves he’s more important to professional wrestling than Roman Reigns.
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Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart is pretty much the only memorable part of Wrestlemania 13 - in fact, it’s so iconic we already talked about it way back in Episode 18, but Rachel’s sequential viewing lead her to revisit watching the entire card and help fill Audio Ben in on missing storytelling pieces from his own re-watch. We travel five years into the future, which is also still the past, as we talk about the 2002 Royal Rumble and Matt keeps us up to date in the present with some NJPW updates. If you’ve lived in a vault for the past 10 years or you’re over the age of 40, you might be asking “Who or What is a Gypsy Rose Blanchard?”. Don’t worry, Millennial Mania has got you covered!
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This week’s episode has it all: Matt’s rundown of NJPW, Rachel’s thoughts on the film “Ready to Rumble” (2000), and The Internet Wrestling Community took our Threads and wove them with lots of hot takes on what moment they would change in professional wrestling history and what their favorite WWE intro song is. Audio Ben redeems us from our early episode (6, for the record) about our personal picks and everyone’s talking about Aswang. We shake things up with an early Millennial Mania discussing the ubiquitous drink vessel taking the internet by storm and tease some upcoming watch-alongs.
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The man, the myth, the legend, THE ROCK called out The Head of The Table and it hassent shockwaves across the ILW Universe. We’re joined by fellow ITCOG Uncle Naitch to talk about how The Bloodline storyline compares to The Megapowers, the importance of an intentional ending, and a new path for Wrestlemania. Naitch takes us for a walk down memory lane with his experience living through The Attitude Era, Rachel is back to regularly watching NXT, and we all bask in the community of ITCOGS and ILWers.
UNCLE NAITCH’S SOCIALS @Uncle_Naitch
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The stars aligned when Rachel’s visit back to Boston coincided with the WWE Live Tour and a last-minute decision to go with her dad provided lots of spectacular wrasslin’. From an opening banger between Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark, a Last Man Standing Match between Cody Rhodes and Dominik Mysterio, and seeing Mami defend her title in the flesh, we give you an exclusive look into the full house show experience. Matt revisited the 2014 Royal Rumble and controversial Batista win leading to an even more controversial Wrestlemania that currently remains unknown to Rachel. Audio Ben leads us through our yearly highlights and memorable moments, spotlighting his favorite match between Gunther and Drew McIntyre at Wrestlemania, and we all want more Bad Bunny.
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While Rachel Polansky is living the gimmick at a live WWE event, Audio Ben and Matt hold it down with an ITCOG Takeover episode feature Sean, Ron, and introducing Shinsuke Blackamura aka Black Sabre Jr! For Evolution this week, we reflect on the year in WWE (past), our current takes on the reigning champs (present), and booking the damn territory entering 2024 (future).
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This past week was filled with iconic wrestling moments and personal life updates - Rachel is now a fiancé, went to her second live GCW show, and both her and Matt had a grand ol’ time watching NXT Deadline. The thrilling energy of the GCW show brought back some returning and new favorites, as Rachel takes us through a moment between Santana Jackson and George South and the surprise of seeing John Morrison in arguably the best match of the night. Matt is finally buying NXT’s face, with Deadline surpassing all expectations and delivering killer Iron Survivor matches for both the men and women. We reveal a secret Wendy’s fast food hack, acknowledge Masha Slamovitch, and traverse the Mojave Desert on the way to New Vegas.
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The dawn of The Attitude Era is finally here as Rachel continues her Raw episodic journey into 1997. Moments like Stone Cold cheating and breaking the rules with his Royal Rumble win and Bret Hart’s unraveling just might inspire Audio Ben to start following along and get inspired to think about questions like is White Goodman from Dodgeball inspired at all by Marc Mero? We have differing opinions on this week’s Raw, Ben updates us on current NXT, and we kickoff the contenders for Match of the Year.
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The Three ILW Amigos are joined by The Face That Runs the Place to discuss Survivor Series past and present. The timing of Rachel’s Attitude Era Raw watchalong journey coincided with 1996 Survivor Series, bringing fresh perspectives to viewing iconic moments like the debut of Rocky Malvino and The Nation of Domination, as well as The Real Double J lip sync scandal. Mami’s interaction with Daddy Randy Orton sparks a conversation about other memorable reactions between two personal favorites and we all feel some type of way about CM Punk’s return.
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It’s all about the past, present, and future in this year’s Thanksgiving Evolution Episode as the OG duo Rachel and Matt spend some time dissecting the meat of 1996 Raw and the stand-out moments. Audio Ben joins the second half to talk about Survivor Series predictions and we all ponder the impact of hypothetically removing one superstar from professional wrestling history. It’s 2023 and we still aren’t tired of talking about Bret Hart, yet the same can’t be said about DIY. Let us know your thoughts on how many shirts make a stack and we hope you enjoy your (vegetarian friendly) Thanksgivings!
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As we gear up for this year’s Survivor Series, Audio Ben introduces Rachel to one of his favorite Brock matches and we shake things up again by putting the last match first. Cue up your Peacock, grab your (non-sponsored) Jimmy John’s, and watch this David and Goliath Main Event in real time with us. The ITCOGs make a compelling case for why NXT is actually the best product right now and we speculate on the next steps for Damage Ctrl and Judgement Day. SummerSlam 1996 makes its way into the boiler room, Rachel reveals the movie that broke her cinema drought, and Audio Ben gets really into Threads.
33:52 Fan Corner
~Evolution~
41:46 Past
48:38 Present/Future
1:01:45 Millennial Mania
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Matt aka Max Vocal took the time to interview wrestler and fellow podcaster Big Trouble Ben Bishop during Matt’s last ring announcing gig for Vermont Pro Wrestling!
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Caught in between The Golden Age of Wrestling and The Attitude Era, 1996 Raw was a unique time with more bad than good, but some of that good includes an underrated match between Owen Hart (RIP) and HBK. Rachel loved it so much she got the rest of the gang to watch along with us and we encourage you to follow along for our play-by-play of a surprisingly top-notch match. We bring you our Crown Jewel Highs, Lows, and Woahs, with Matt filling us in on the JD vs. Sami pre-show match and his controversial thoughts on LA Knight, and Audio Ben introduces a new gimmick.
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You’ve heard from some of his students (Lucas “Twitch” DiSangro, Bobby Buffet) and now it’s time to hear from the master. We’re joined by Danny Cage, owner and head coach of Monster Factory Professional Wrestling Training Center to discuss how professional wrestling has shaped his life and career. He talks about his experience filming the Apple TV show Monster Factory, how to embrace the entertainment and theatrical elements of pro wrestling, and the real skills you need to succeed inside and outside of the ring.
MONSTER FACTORY WEBSITE https://www.monsterfactory.org/
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This week’s episode is full of tricks and treats, from The Curse of Camp Cornette to Hornswoggle vs. McMahon in a Steel Cage. Rachel offers periodic updates from watching NXT Halloween Havoc live and we book The Crown Jewel Card with some extra-spicy takes from Audio Ben. We find out how much vintage Shawn Michaels merch hats currently go for and speculate the booking for Jade Cargill’s opening run. Audio Ben poses a tough question about today’s commentators, Rachel finds a moment of endearment in Santino Marella, and Lola Vice dances her way into all of our hearts.
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Spooky season continues on ILW as we travel deeper into the past and revisit the electrifying Chamber of Horrors match between eight legends on WCW’s 1991 Halloween Havoc. We question the origin of Cactus Jack’s leopard print pants, how Abdullah the Butcher can bleed so much and still be alive, Sting’s tight bod, and the shocking ending to a chaotic match. In true Everything Everywhere All At Once Fashion, Evolution is all over the map: starting with Stone Cold’s origins at 1996 King of the Ring, to Cena vs. Orton at 2008 No Way Out, to 2010 heel Michael Cole on NXT, and 2023 NXT Halloween Havoc. Badabing BadaBeSure to Rate, Review, and Subscribe!
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Fresh off of finishing the entire series of Total Bellas and Total Divas, Rachel is finally ready to experience Evolution and recount the first (but hopefully not last) all-women PPV on WWE. Audio Ben and Matt watched live when it first aired and look back five years later on some new and old faces that still hold up today. Roman Reigns returned to Smackdown and in true ILW fashion, we all have different opinions on his face-off with LA Knight. Rachel actually took one of Matt’s suggestions and went to an indie wrestling (GCW) show. She relives the joy of seeing electrifying performers like iconic gay wrestler Effy, Michael Jackson impersonator Santana Jackson, Dark Sheikh, and more in the beautiful Ukrainian Cultural Center. We discuss our favorite karaoke songs and Audio Ben discloses the last song he remembers performing.
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It was a big week for wrestling, from Fastlane to a star-studded episode of NXT, and your trusty ILW team is here to talk about it with you. The surprising new Universal Tag Team Champs Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso prove their buddy-cop status with hilarious chemistry during a yeet-filled press conference, especially in contrast to the stilted awkwardness of John Cena and LA Knight together. NXT’s star-studded episode hits the right mix of cameos and spotlighting new talent, though we can’t say we’ll be tuning in to next week’s Bada Bing Bada Boom Battle Royale. Rachel reflects on her experience as she approaches the final few episodes of Total Bellas, Matt finds parallels between important losses for Shinsuke and Sami, and Audio Ben successfully battles Covid.
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Dust off your tombstones, unlock the mausoleum, and get ready to watch along in real time with Rachel and Audio Ben as they revisit WCW’s iconic 1997 Halloween Havoc match between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. The iconic props and backgrounds immediately captivate us, and the high-flying acrobatics and electric chemistry between two legends proves why this is such a legendary match. After watching The Godfather for the first time, Rachel has some thoughts on how the Corleone Family parallels The Bloodline and we book the damn family. Audio Ben has a Tiffany Epiphany after watching NXT No Mercy and Trick Williams wins us both over.
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What do Kofi Kingston, Damian Sandow, and Tommaso Ciampa have in common? They were all trained by legendary coach Mike Hollow, who joins the ILW Team today to talk about his coaching career, the independent wrestling scene and how it has and hasn’t evolved throughout the years, and what gets him to tune in on a weekly basis. He weighs in on the divisive Roman Reigns vs. Rock debate and the effects of shows like Monster Factory and Wrestlers. Rachel watched the Andre the Giant documentary and realizes things like the importance of cable TV in developing the WWF while Audio Ben recounts his experience tuning in as a child. As always, we continue to remain #EltonStrong.
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Grow out your beards, lather yourself in grease, and get ready to watch along in real time with the ILW trio as they revisit The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family. Audio Ben keeps us on track with the proper times, while Matt is derailed by ads and Rachel overzealously fast forwards a couple of minutes ahead. We talk about the trajectories and tragic endings of the iconic trio's careers and The Shield’s fashion choices spark almost as many tangents as Seth’s vest pockets. The Rock’s return to Smackdown has us torn on whether or not he should have acknowledged The Bloodline, and we book a fictional Brawl at the Mall PPV. Listen now to find out how Matt is connected to Dink the Clown, Audio Ben’s throwback to Limewire days, and which action figure Rachel added to her collection this week!
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Nothing brings people together like wrestling and thanks to a friend of a friend (hi, Addy!), sports reporter and broadcaster Pierre Noujaim joins the ILW team for a discussion full of surprises and hot takes. He takes us through experiencing The Attitude Era as a teenager, seeing the iconic Kurt Angle Milk Truck incident live, and shocks us with his favorite interview experience. Pierre thinks about Jeff Hardy on a daily basis and we attempt to understand why. Audio Ben revisits his own WWE action figure collecting past and Rachel finally appreciates Tropic Thunder.
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Lower the steel cage chamber and get ready for a new episode of ILW reacting, recapping, and proselytizing about last weekend’s Payback PPV. Rachel and Audio Ben are your tag team representatives this week and they rave about Becky vs. Trish, celebrate the new Undisputed Tag Team Champions, and try not to get too excited when discussing Rhea vs. Raquel. Amidst a discussion about mid-2000s action figures, Rachel makes a purchase live on-air with Audio Ben’s encouragement, and Producer Jason quickly stops by to discuss his future booking for Rhea Ripley.
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Stone Cold vs. McMahon. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart. MVP vs. Matt Hardy. Feuds between superstars is an ancient tenent of professional wrestling, a storyline as old as time, and we’re here to revisit an underrated, nuanced feud between Montell Vontavius Porter and Matt Hardy. The wacky antics of this odd couple gave us iconic moments like a boxing match with Evander Holyfield, beer drinking contest with Stone Cold, and an eventual dissolution with one of the most eccentric losses in wrestling history. Producer Jason joins us to recount his experience watching the story unfold back when it first aired, Audio Ben feels all the feelings from LA Knight’s promo tribute to Bray Wyatt, Matt provides color commentary from the car, and Rachel analyzes the 2011 WWE Documentary “Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator”. This episode of ILW is brought to you by Sikk the Shokker.
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The professional wrestling community lost two legends this week and we pivot our Main Event to honor their impact and legacies. Producer Jason joins Rachel and Ben to recount the many stages of Terry Funk’s career and his parallels with iconic figures like Jake the Snake. We discuss the importance of Bray Wyatt’s promo skills and creativity and look back on what was far too short a run. Millennial Mania caps things off with R&J’s review of Twisted Metal and Rachel tries her best with transitions.
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Rev up your engines and get ready to race down the 405 as we travel from the backlot of Universal to the stage of Wrestlemania 12 in an epic, multi-part brawl between “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Goldust. The ILW Trio discuss why this match still holds up almost 20 years later, the importance of Goldust’s character, and how OJ Simpson might have played an even bigger role in Wrestlemania. It doesn’t matter if Jey is quitting the WWE - we know he’ll still be there, but can’t say the same for Lacey Evans as Matt salutes her departure. We talk about our current favorite in-ring talent, with Audio Ben spotlighting Ilya Dragunov, and Rachel provides a close analysis of the next lyric in “Line in the Sand”.
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Rachel is joined by Chad Kultgen, renowned Bachelor expert and co-host of Dudesy, to discuss the parallels between reality TV and wrestling, why he’s able to go all in for The Bachelor community but not for WWE, and how both universes are really all about the game and how you play it.
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Fresh off their live in-studio episode with THE Brian Campbell, the ILW Team and guest co-host/face of the pod ImBoredBrother are here to bring you their highs, lows, and woahs of Summer Slam 2023. They celebrate LA Knight’s Slim Jim Battle Royale win and subsequent promo with The Miz, reveal some fun facts about Cody Rhodes that may or may not be true, and Iyo Sky’s MITB Cash-In literally brings tears to Rachel’s eyes. Who should break Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship Streak? Was that Brock and Cody hug actually unscripted? And how much Bloodline is too much Bloodline? All this and more, only on I Like Wrestling!
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It’s Episode 50!!! and what better way to celebrate than by opening the new I Like Wrestling studio headquarters with an exclusive interview featuring THE Brian Campbell! Audio Ben and Producer Jason join us on the mics for a hot fire discussion about professional wrestling, combat sports, why stupidity and levity are just as important as violence, and what it might take to get Brian to relapse back into that secret sauce.
We’re all in for the importance of community and This Corner OG’s (ITCOGs) give their flowers to the OG of OG, The BC. Matt is happy for a super duper Summerslam. It’s Producer vs. Producer as Jason responds to Audio Ben’s takes on Roman Reigns. Does Rachel break Brian with her final question? Listen (and rate, review, subscribe) to find out!
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Rachel is Lost in LA with her family so the FIBs (Matt, Ben, and Ron) linked up to discuss The Bloodline, New Japan, and more. Ron drops a surprising take that makes a ton of sense and we book the Elders as Jey gears up to take on our Tribal Chief at SummerSlam. Ben steers us through the past, present, and future in our Evolution segment and Matt stays back on his BS as usual. The boys finish off the pod with a frank talk about violence in pro wrestling and why strong style resonates with some but not with Ron. Next week: The 50th Episode featuring THE BRIAN CAMPBELL! Download, rate, review @ilwpod @ilwpod @ilwpod
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The first official I Like Wrestling x I Like to Read collab is here as journalist Bobby Matthews joins Rachel to discuss his book “Living the Gimmick”. Bobby shares tales from the territories he’s watched and worked in, thoughts on Cody Rhodes, and what it means to fully live the gimmick.
BOBBY’S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/bamawriter?lang=en
BUY “LIVING THE GIMMICK”: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Gimmick-Bobby-Mathews-ebook/dp/B09XFDLRQK
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Bang your cymbals, play your trombones, it’s time for The New Day vs. The Usos in the electric opening match from 2017’s Hell in a Cell. The first and only tag team match in a cell is deservingly iconic of its many dramatic spots, fluid choreography, and electric tension between two of the most important tag teams in history.
Evolution takes us back to the dark side of Adrian Adonis’s past through booking the end of the Roman’s reign in the future. Meanwhile in the present it’s G1 season and Matt takes us through what he’s loving in current NJPW from A (Alex Coughlin) to Z (Zach Sabre Jr). Ben ate Little Caesar’s in the Navy and drops and in this week’s Millennial Mania Rachel watches “Apocalypse Now” for the first time; does it compare to the Bloodline? More importantly, is Rick Rude proud of his son Bobby? Find out on this week’s I Like Wrestling!
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Foley Week continues on ILW as our Main Event centers on the man, the myth, the legend - Mick Foley! From Cactus Jack to Mankind to Dude Love and back again, we revisit iconic matches like Cactus Jack vs. Sting at Beach Bash, Cactus Jack vs. Triple H, and the revolutionary Mankind/JR Interview. We may disagree if he’s a heel or a face but either way, we’re having a nice day. Rachel revists a romantic date between Jamie Noble and Michelle McCool, Audio Ben connects with a custodian on Alice in Chains, and Matt shows off his Kabuki Warriors shirt to the invisible viewers.
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Watch along live for Rachel's first reactions and Matt/Audio Ben's reliving of Mick Foley vs. Edge at Wrestlemania 22 (2006). Queue it up on Peacock at 1:02:18 and let the hardcore madness begin!
Ronda Rousey may not give a damn about her reputation but all eyes were on her during Wrestlemania for her mixed tag-team match with Kurt Angle against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Does the ILW Team buy her face? Rachel watches the full match for the first time after seeing teasers on Total Divas and the ILW Team recalls their experiences watching live and the reverberations of Ronda’s career. We cash in on Evolution, spending a good chunk of change discussing last weekend’s Money in the Bank PLE and we discover a surprise comedian on Celebrity Family Feud.
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Matt takes a hot minute for a hot take about what Ronda Rousey and Shayna Bayszler’s feud could mean for the future of combat sports. He projects the upcoming Endeavor era and makes a strong case for why it will be better than anyone thinks.
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The following episode is scheduled for one-fall, brought to you by KFC and Cricket Wireless. Natty’s claws are out and ready to pounce onto Naomi’s Smackdown Women’s Championship during arguably one of the best matches on the card of a rough SummerSlam 2017. Rachel brings her Total Divas context and insight into the history of their feud and whether or not there was real animosity in that slap. Matt is fresh off meeting Mick Foley after his live show recounting the famous Hell in a Cell Match and Audio Ben gets a new mic. It’s glow time baby!
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Wipe off your shoes before you step into the ring, because Matt’s here to tell us all about his official in-ring professional wrestling debut last weekend at Vermont Pro Wrestling Entertainment. From an eye-opening interaction with Punk (no, not that one) to an impromptu catering business, we’ve got a maple-soaked behind-the-scenes peek into the wood and steel of the indie wrestling scene. Rachel tries the new McDonald’s Grimace Shake, Audio Ben recalls his solo White Stripes concert experience, and we are officially approved by the cast of Jury Duty!
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It’s Matt’s week to choose our match from the past and we were forced to suffer through the atrocity that is the Midcard Maharaja vs. The Not-Yet-Tribal Chief. It may not be the worst thing ever but it’s certainly not good and we talk through why, along with the absurdity of the rest of the four hours and counting that is Money in the Bank 2018. At least we had Alexa Bliss.Audio Ben considers Triple H’s plans with the new belts, Matt gets ready for his in-ring announcing debut this weekend, and Rachel finally gets to talk about the parallels between “Jury Duty” and professional wrestling.
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1-2-3 Kid, Shawn Waltman, X-Pac, Syxx… it doesn’t matter what your name is when you face the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be, Bret Hart. This week’s match from the past is brought to you courtesy of Audio Ben and Rachel took approximately one note on the actual moves, though there’s still plenty of discussion to be had surrounding this 1994 diamond in the rough. Is LA Knight’s character too derivative of the past? Which woman from Total Divas set a groundbreaking precedent with her entrance? And does Matt make an appearance on this episode? You’ll have to listen to find out!
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Catch Matt LIVE for his in-ring announcer debut at World of Hurt Wrestling presented by Vermont Entertainment Wrestling on Saturday, June 17 in Burlington, VT! Buy tickets at: https://sevendaystickets.com/events/vermont-pro-wrestling-entertainment-presents-world-of-hurt-wrestling-6-17-2023/tickets
From Night of Champions to NXT Battleground, last weekend was filled with premium live wrestling, and the ILW Team is here to recap, review, and share their hot takes. Matt takes us for a spin on commentary for a live watch-along of Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya’s match. Evolution is as strong a segment as ever, with another heated discussion on the merits of 2007 Smackdown to the futures of Mustafa Ali and Baron Corbin in NXT. Rachel explains Barbiecore to the clueless guy, we predict the future for Ilya Dragunov, and Audio Ben considers Brock Lesnar for his Mount Rushmore.
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What happens when you take away a wrestler’s signature move? It’s not quite the Chekhov’s Gun comparison Matt claims, but taking away Shawn Michael’s Sweet Chin Music at his Survivor Series match against Randy Orton adds a unique level of storytelling and finesse to this oft-forgotten banger. Rachel finally impresses Matt and Audio Ben by redeeming the so-called “unwatchable era” as the gang talks through the blood, guts, and pretzel of it all. We react to Pretty Deadly’s cheeky debut on Friday Night Snackdown, Rachel watches a 2014 Lana/Rusev and Jack Swagger/Zeb Colter promo, Audio Ben made some nice tables, and Matt turns heel on GCW.
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Get ready to feast and eat eat eat with the one and only Bobby Buffet! Bobby joins Rachel to talk about his experience on Apple TV’s hit show “Monster Factory”, the moment he discovered wrestling wasn’t real, and the origins of his name. He revisits some of his career highlights, including headlining the iconic 2300 arena and composing his intro music.
BOBBY’S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BobbyBuffetMFPW
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MONSTER FACTORY YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCanPPFoWc0pxyNgmJ_WtzaA
WATCH MONSTER FACTORY ON APPLE TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/monster-factory/umc.cmc.38kf4x2lvqiqdb0up8kcptnd
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Chambea, ¡jala! We can still hear the crowd cheers reverberating through our ears over a week later as the I Like Wrestling trio returns to react to Backlash. Shawn Michaels may have lost his smile but Rhea Ripley could barely contain hers during Zelina Vega’s entrance, just one of many memorable moments in a night filled with blood and Bad Bunny. Matt and Ben are feeling the “Jury Duty” vibes as they introduce Rachel to Wrestler’s Court. Matt further emphasizes the importance of a hot crowd as he recounts his experience attending a GCW live show in Brooklyn, Rachel enjoys more of 2007 Smackdown, and Audio Ben keeps us afloat.
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Luke “Twitch” DiSangro joins Rachel to discuss mental health in professional wrestling and his experience filming the hit Apple TV show “Monster Factory”. Rachel puts Twitch’s publicity training to the test when bringing up a polarizing topic and discovers a potential mob connection.
LUKE’S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lucastwitch318
LUKE’S INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lucastwitchdisangro/
MONSTER FACTORY YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCanPPFoWc0pxyNgmJ_WtzaA
WATCH MONSTER FACTORY ON APPLE TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/monster-factory/umc.cmc.38kf4x2lvqiqdb0up8kcptnd
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We’re blasting back to the past again, landing on the countdown to Eric Bischoff’s firing and quest to sign Stone Stone Cold on Monday Night Raw from February 2003. Rachel, Audio Ben, and Sean discuss the disappearing art of on-location promos, the fast-paced storytelling and development of Booker T and Goldust, and why Molly Holly would thrive today. They question the presentation of the recent draft and Sean tells us what it was like to hear the choral next-level crowd booing of Domink Mysterio. And if you haven’t watched Jury Duty yet, what are you waiting for??
SEAN’S TWITTER: @Imboredbrother
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This week’s main event is brought to you Solo-Sikoa style as Rachel reacts live to her second viewing of the recently discovered Victoria vs. Trish Stratus Chicago Street Fight from 2003 Raw. She’s witnessing the formation of Evolution in real-time and praises the new TV show “Jury Duty”. Matt joins for the second half and they both agree that the Pretty Deadly trunk match almost makes up for their terrible shirt. Is Bad Bunny the most important celeb to ever join professional wrestling? Does the new championship belt matter? And how did bread and butter pickles get their name? We answer these questions and more, only on ILW!
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The first official Pretty Deadly shirt finally dropped and Rachel is underwhelmed to say the least. We provide some constructive criticism for the current lackluster WWE merch (shruggies and hairbrushes, anybody?) that would make this a “Yes, Boy!” in Rachel’s book. Audio Ben enlightens us with some background on the deceptively titled Main Event. Matt declined to join us after failing to finish Wrestlemania for the third week in a row and we question Ric Flair’s social media presence.
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Step into the ring for this week’s main event with indie wrestler Hunter Gallagher aka Jet Jameson. He shares stories about his career and training with Rikishi, developing a unique character and wrestling style, and how LGBTQ representation in professional wrestling has shifted over the years. Rachel threw a dart into the multiverse and stumbled upon the quietly iconic WCW Superbrawl 8, Matt bemoans AEW’s burying of Jay White, and Ben questions if Matt is living inside a U-Haul. Live from two basements and one apartment, it’s ILW!
HUNTER’S INSTAGRAM: @hunterjgallagher @jetjamesonwrestles
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Love him or hate him, Roman Reigns is still your undisputed champion and Rachel might finally be ready to acknowledge him after his divisive win over Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania Hollywood. Matt and Ben voice their disappointments over the Cena/Theory match and they all agree that the family matters match with Dom and Rey sponsored by Cinnamoji Toast Crunch was the highlight of the weekend. Rachel runs through the Stand and Deliver card, having been April Fooled on a live Pretty Deadly experience, and discusses the differences between that crowd and the RAW after Wrestlemania. Plus, a deep-dive into how Paul Heyman may be orchestrating the entire Brock betrayal and a theory on the future of Solo Sikoa.
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We’re just a few days away from the biggest wrestling weekend of the year and the ILW Team is stoked to predict what will go down in the ring. Matt has a hard time getting behind the opening match of John Cena vs. Austin Theory, Ben thinks that Gunther vs. Drew vs. Sheamus could be the biggest sleeper match, and Rachel loves the idea of Rhea and Bianca as dual champions. They time travel back to the 1980s as Rachel discovers “Tuesday Night Titans” and we can’t believe it’s been 22 years since WWE bought WCW.
Wrestlemania is coming to Hollywood next week and the ILW Team is main eventing an iconic moment in Wrestlemania History, Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston at Wrestlemania 35. The world went crazy for Kofimania and the ILW is joined by Ron Wilson to discuss the road to Kofimania and the emotional journey leading to his much-deserved championship win. Rachel is mesmerized by the odd-couple match-up of Mick Foley vs. Coachman refereed by Hornswoggle on 2007 Smackdown, Audio Ben talks about the internet discourse surrounding the KO/Sami Zayn hug, and Matt weighs in on some directly from the sewers of NYC.
RON’S TWITTER: @ronwil96
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Rachel and Matt are joined on the bimah by long-awaited guest Andrew Goldstein to break down the biggest moment in Jewish wrestling history, MJF’s Re-Bar Mitzvah. Andrew takes us back to his time writing for WWE in 2006 and provides insider knowledge on the catering services and shocks The ILW Team with a connection between the VonErichs and Israel. We climbed the corporate ladder for a Super Sized Super Pandy Party re-visiting Money in the Bank 2020 and the unique production that gave us an insider look into the WWE Headquarters. From the Zoom promos to fake Doink cameo, this MITB PPV is one worth cashing in on.
ANDREW’S TWITTER: @AngeGold
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Sometimes in wrestling (and life), we have to pivot, and that’s exactly what the ILW team does when presented with guest-turned-main-event Ron Wilson. We’ll bring you Pandy MITB next week, but this week, the ITCOG’s very own Nostradamus joins Rachel, Matt, and Audio Ben to talk about Cody Rhodes. They examine his trajectory leading up to his match against The Tribal Chief, bemoan the eyesore of his infamous neck tattoo, and how Sami Zayn’s entire Bloodline path may have been forged from The American Nightmare’s pec injury. Natalya meets Grumpy Cat on Total Divas and we graciously allow an alternate perspective on Pretty Deadly.
RON’S TWITTER: @ronwil96
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The 1998 King of the Ring PPV is peak Attitude Era – mannequin heads, sexually ambiguous cowboys, and a supernatural family feud. The infamous Mankind and Undertaker Hell in a Cell match could be a main event in itself, but we supersized our episode to bring you a run-through of the whole card. Ben laments the All-Star booking of Wrestlemania Hollywood, Matt praises Pandy Era Asuka, and Rachel disovers “How Low Will America Go?” with Tiger Ali Singh on Sunday Night Heat. What do Terry Funk and Squishmallows have in common? Who is Dick Togo? We explore these questions and more, only on ILW!
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The road to Wrestlemania is fully paved with the blood, sweat, and tears of Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns in last week’s Elimination Chamber. The ILW Trio reunites to discuss the implications of Roman retaining and long-term storytelling for Sami and The Bloodline, and Rachel might finally be ready to start acknowledging the Tribal Chief. We trace Roman’s heel line back to the beginnings of Pandemic Wrestling as Matt enlightens us with unabashed passion for a unique time not just in wrestling but in overall society. Rachel questions if Total Divas might just be fool’s gold, but immediately digs to find solid gold in the layers of reality. Audio Ben can’t get over Karl Frederick’s new name and introduces the other 2 members of The Hart Foundation to NXT Level Up.
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Rachel, Audio Ben, and returning guest co-host Sean AKA I’mBoredBrother are here to draft the first (and probably only) ILW Tag Teams! We’re all over the board, from odd couples to memorable gimmicks and quite a few that Rachel has never even heard of. They contemplate the history of Daniel Bryan and the virality of The Yes Movement and what worked (and what didn’t) for them in The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles Boneyard Match from Wrestlemania 2020. We’re the only podcast to take you from the 2015 John Cena in Trainwreck to John Cena in 2023 Ricky Stanickity, ending in the 1500s Bavarian Swiss Alps with the revelatory new adventure game Pentiment.
SEAN’S TWITTER: @imboredbrother
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The energy was electric at NXT’s first touring PLE in over two and a half years and all 3 members of The ILW Team are ready to discuss their favorite moments. Matt and Audio Ben re-contextualize the importance of Charlotte Flair’s opening, Rachel finds new appreciation for Toxic Attraction, and Pretty Deadly continue to dominate despite not winning the belts sadplate check. Rachel thinks Batista is the best actor to ever come out of the WWE and each member of the ILW Team weighs in on their Roman vs. Sami Elimination Chamber finisher predictions.
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While the rest of the world shut down in March 2020, WWE pivoted their crowds but not their content and delivered one of the most unique Wrestlemania’s in history. Rachel and Matt analyze the surrealism of John Cena’s swan song farewell match vs. Bray Wyatt (The Fiend) and why pandy wrestling is so divisive. They’re joined by special guest @ImBoredBrother to recap his experience attending the Royal Rumble live last weekend and future booking predictions for The Bloodline. Rachel’s accelerating her way through season two of Total Divas and Matt already forgets things from the beginning of the episode.
SEAN’S TWITTER: @ImBoredBrother
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The stars have aligned to bring the entire ILW team together to celebrate the upcoming Royal Rumble and Raw’s 30th anniversary. We start things off with the Bloodline and predictions for Sami Zayn’s future but are diverted away before Audio Ben can make Rachel cry. They all agree that Raw failed to acknowledge the importance of women in professional wrestling, make a case for Paul Heyman’s spot on the Mt. Rushmore of wrestling, and reveal the recent scams of Ted DiBiase.
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The 1999 Royal Rumble has it all: peak Austin/McMahon feud, Sable vs. Luna Strap Match, Rock vs. Mankind I Quit, and plenty of DX. Rachel royally stumbled upon it late at night and was soon royally riveted by peak Attitude Era work from some of wrestling’s greats. Matt “claims” he watched it live and comes to a powerful realization about how watching matches from the past can be so transcendent. We go way back to the past discovering Andre the Giant’s wrestling roots in Burlington, VT, check in on Total Divas and Pretty Deadly merch, and briefly dive into “Titanic Fever”. We give respect and honor to Jamin Pugh (Jay Briscoe) and talk about how to stay well during grief.
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It’s Always Sunny in I Like Wrestling land as the two-man power trip of Rachel and Matt revisit an iconic episode from the series. They talk about other TV show/wrestling crossovers, why it matters that Ben the Soldier is given denim shorts, and the gang’s development over the years. Rachel catches us up on Total Divas and wonders why Fandango is even a thing. Matt lives out his Eva Marie Dream gimmick and we chat with Vinny from TikTok.
VINNY’S TIKTOK: @vacvcs
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We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a very important bonus episode. Vince McMahon, the man, the myth, the legend, is returning to WWE and Matt is here to break it all down for you.
The ILW Tag Team is back for the New Year and celebrating over six months of podcasting with a recap of their favorite moments and yearly highlights. They talk about how to deal with family and friends who are quick to dismiss the pros of sports entertainment and react to John Cena’s Smackdown appearance. Special guest Pickle Pete from TikTok joins them to talk about why he likes wrestling and how to be a rational, well-informed wrestling fan. Rachel watched NJPW for the first time, reacting to one of Matt’s favorite matches Tanaka vs. Nagata 2009 and Wrestle Kingdom 2017.Which Disney character does Kenny Omega’s entrance remind Rachel of? Was there more to the story of Matt tripping on a block? Find out only on the I Like Wrestling Podcast!
PICKLE PETE’S TIKTOK: @pickle.pete
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What happens when Matt steps on a toy block, leaving Rachel and Audio Ben to fend for themselves in an unplanned end-of-year episode? You enter Rachel’s East Coast Fun House, with a special guest segment where her sister Emily tries and fails to reason why hockey and wrestling have nothing in common. Spur-of-the-moment questions like favorite wrestlers, matches, and WTF moments of the year are pondered and tangents, twists, turns, and tales aplenty await you in a wild episode. We hope that WWE’s New Year Resolution is to finally release some Pretty Deadly merch early next year and see y'all in 2023!
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Internet fame comes in all shapes and sizes and this week the bug bit Matt when one of his old Tiktoks went viral. The ILW team reacts to the funniest comments from twitter and reflects on internet trolling, AEW fan rage, and if Matt is really as tired as he looks. Rachel finally watched the first episode of Total Divas, deconstructing the multiple layers of reality within the show, and enjoyed catching the latest Raw live. They tease out some potential Wrestlemania Hollywood Storylines, debate the pros and cons of dispensaries, and the dark side of Barney.
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Wrestlemania 13 (1997) brought us one of the greatest matches of all time: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret “The Hitman” Hart. Rachel was 3 years old, Audio Ben was a senior in high school, and they both celebrate the importance of a storyline that set the stage for the beginnings of The Attitude Era. NXT Deadline PPV is a surprise hit for both and the lads of Pretty Deadly exceed expectations despite losing the belts. Rachel looks forward to watching her first live WWE John Cena appearance, Ben explains why it should always be Vader Time, and does the future of sports entertainment lie in a Youtube Chess Boxing Tournament? All this and more, only on ILW!
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Rachel asked Matt to watch last week’s episode of NXT without having watched first, leading to a nuanced discussion of a subpar episode (November 29, 2022) without any Pretty Deadly in sight. The Audio Ben era continues as they look into the past as Rachel opens her eyes to the world of Howard Stern and his interviews with WWE Superstars. Matt finds connections between The White Lotus and the intentionality of storytelling and Rachel reveals what popular TV show she’s never watched. The ILW twitter community sounds off on their NXT thoughts and the reactions may surprise you. Millennial Mania is more like Boomer Bonanza this week highlighting Monty Python’s “Almost the Truth” documentary and the ultimate kayfabe band Steel Panther.
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Rumors of Matt’s death have been greatly exaggerated and he has risen from the grave to reunite with Rachel for this week’s episode. The ILW Tag Team debuts their new Evolution segment where they revisit the past (5:26), marinate on the present (12:10), and ruminate about the future. A partial re-watch of 2007 No Mercy, Survivor Series: War Games reactions and Bautista’s new horror movie segway into a discussion about the legacy and impact of John Cena on the Ruthless Aggression Era (50:00). What 2009 reality TV show caused a creative reckoning for Rachel (63:38) and what non-sponsored beverage is Matt sipping on this week? All this and more, only on the I Like Wrestling podcast!
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Join Rachel and special guest co-host Ben aka GrumpHandleSlam as they enter the stable of one of professional wrestling’s most iconic factions. Evolution is a little bit less of a mystery as Ben provides his perspective on watching the formation and dissolution of The Modern Day Four Horsemen in real time since Rachel’s primary background on them comes in the form of an hour-long WWE documentary. Rachel drags Ben into her 2007 Smackdown world as they mull over Teddy Long and Kristal’s wedding, and Millennial Mania caps things off solving the mystery of who wrote the Disney Channel theme song.
BEN’S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/GrumpHandleSlam
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The Monday Night War is alive and well as the ILW tag team travels back to April 26,1999 to compare and contrast WCW and WWF. Rachel gains insight into the origin of Charles Robinson aka Lil Naitch and Matt tells us about his DDP Yoga experience. Is there a connection between Swifties and wrestling fans? How is Vampire the Masquerade related to The Attitude Era? And are we Falling for Christmas? The answers to these questions and more only on this week’s episode of I Like Wrestling.
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Rachel watched ECW One Night Stand 2005 under the impression that Matt attended it live 17 years ago. Halfway through their rundown, Matt reaches an astonishing conclusion causing a rift in the time and space continuum. The ILW Tag Team reacts to Crown Jewel, as Rachel renders Matt speechless with her Brock Lesnar takes, and Matt recounts his trials and tribulations trying to watch the main event. Rachel teaches Matt about A24 movies, H3’s Frenemies Podcast, and the legacy of Zac Efron.
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Jesse Brisendine, renowned professional speaker and author, joins the I LIke Wrestling tag team to talk about why he likes wrestling. He articulates the importance of promos, takeaways from wrestling that apply to professional skills, and why he still loves Hulk Hogan. Rachel learns about the history of Eugene, Matt gets sandbagged by a lack of Tribal Chief acknowledgement, and they all divulge their Mt. Rushmores of Wrestling.
JESSE’S WEBSITE: https://www.jessebrisendine.com/
WATCH JESSE’S TED TALK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJCMnjXPdos
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We’re feeling a little ucey for this week’s episode predicting Saturday’s Crown Jewel card. Rachel and Matt wonder if it’s time for The Head of The Table to be dethroned by Logan Paul, ponder the trajectory of Bray Wyatt’s return, and speculate how Bayley and Damage Control could shift allegiances. Rachel baffles Matt with how she’s consumed a lot of her wrestling media as they run through some unorthodox match types and The Gimmick of All Gimmicks. Matt learns about Love is Blind and Rachel gives herself a new nickname. Download and rate the World’s #1 Pretty Deadly Podcast today!
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Choose your own adventure and follow us down the path to escaping The Undertaker, as Rachel regretfully experiences Netflix’s interactive special per Matt’s recommendation. They also analyze the “A Day in the Life of Pretty Deadly” promo frame by frame, lamenting the continual lack of Pretty Deadly merch and captivating promos in general. Rachel introduces Matt to Eric Bischoff’s 2018 Ted Talk, which articulates many of the parallels between news, politics, and wrestling and the emphasis on targeting feelings. Halloween Havoc may be over but spooky season continues on ILW as Matt discloses one of his biggest fears – don’t let the answer escape you!
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It’s Title Thursday on ILW Podcast as Rachel and Matt discuss the current AEW roster and find much to kvetch about: the storytelling (or lack thereof), unmemorable trios, and whether William Regal and MJF really had the best promo of the year. Rachel watches NXT for the first time and can’t stop raving about the incredible charisma and starpower of Pretty Deadly and Matt actually agrees. They question if Baron Corbin is really the Modern Day Wrestling God and Matt drops an incredible heifer impression.
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Grab your chairs, ladders, and straps because this match is all about Extreme Rules! Rachel and Matt recap last weekend’s amazing and interesting pay-per-view, reveling in the developing factions and theatrical storytelling in the WWE Universe. Rachel regales Matt with some Tales from the Territories Memphis Wrasslin anecdotes, Matt continues to question why Johnny Gargano has a spot on the roster, and they both debate whether or not they would rather be stuck in an elevator with John Cena or The Undertaker. Rachel fires off on Roman Reigns and Matt is in shock of her hot take that The Head of the Table just doesn’t have that “it factor”.
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Rachel and Matt are back and better than ever and this week they are all about the game and how you play it. Triple H’s reign as the new king of RAW is firing on multiple cylinders as R&M analyze the current programming and the level of mass appeal. Rachel finds new appreciation for Dominik Mysterio and Sami Zayn while Matt vibes out on the classics of 1987 Antonio Inoki vs Dr Death Steve Williams, lamenting Johnny Gargano’s midness in contrast. Plus, the first ILW appearance as we reveal Rachel’s cat’s gimmick!
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Rachel finally convinces Matt to watch 2007 WWE, starting off a 2007 SummerSlam PPV re-watch. Matt is absolutely appalled at the quality of the party decorations in Mr. McMahon’s office and the looming shadow of Chris Benoit. They walk through all of the matches, with Rachel providing her watching background on previous rivalries and storylines to a bewildered Matt. They’ve never been more divided on why they like wrestling, but they find common ground through their dissection of what many may consider “trash”. Trisha Paytas had her baby and Matt’s shock continues as Rachel reveals the baby’s name.
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Luigi Primo gives us an exclusive look at the promo AEW would have shown if he wasn’t
kicked in the face. He delves into the details of Nonna’s weeklong sauce and his opinions on delivery and pizza topping. Rachel and Matt learn about Luigi’s relationship with his son Pastaman and Luigi drops some sage words of wisdom on fatherhood. He reveals his connections to Nunzio and what the future holds for this impressive and talented professional wrestler/pizza chef!
BUY LUIGI’S MERCH https://luigiprimo.bigcartel.com/
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Rachel and Matt are all about intro music this week: what their underrated favorites are, the importance of the opening needle drop, and if a song can transcend the wrestler. Rachel shows off her vocal chops as she attempts to share her picks with Matt after some real-time audio botches. Matt recounts his 1998 Jamaica Spring break trip and watching Zach Gowen live and the ILW community weighs in on their favorite intros. They kick things off with a rundown of Rachel’s experience playing WWE2K GM Mode and find many comparisons to Matt’s fantasy football league. Millennial Mania caps off a music-filled episode as Rachel awes Matt with a brief (well, as brief as Rachel she could make it) history on the social media icon.
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Rachel and Matt are all about screwjobs this week: Moolah, Montreal, and CM Punk. They kick-off the episode with a Clash at the Castle recap and Rachel’s first PPV live watching experience. Rachel breaks down the oft-forgotten Moolah vs. Wendy Richter screwjob and the impact on both of their careers, as well as the future of women’s wrestling. They talk through the infamous Montreal ScrewJob and contemplate its parallels and connections to today. Matt finally unleashes his dark side and revels in the train wreck that is the CM Punk/Tony Khan AEW “Presser From Hell”. They debate whether or not it was a work and a seltzer side tangent. Millennial Mania rounds out the episode with a brief look into the similarities behind the “Don’t Worry Darling” drama and whether or not Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine.
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Matt and Rachel break down what makes for a “perfect” wrestling match and they revisit some of the contenders from classics like Steamboat vs. Savage and Nakamura vs Zayn to underrated gems like Molly Holly vs. Victoria in a Hair vs Hair at Wrestlemania. The ILW universe weighs in with their picks as well!
Matt has a new favorite wrestler in Luigi Primo, Best Pizza Chef and he is appalled to hear Rachel refer to The Rock as “the epitome of 90s era grunge.” Rachel educates Matt about Cherry, they finally agree on a mutual dislike of Johnny Gargano and Rachel tells us who is the Jane Austen of professional wrestling.
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Rachel and Matt dissect Barry Blaustein’s pivotal 1999 documentary “Beyond the Mat” and the lives of Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake the Snake. Matt delves into his perspectives watching wrestling as a father, and desperately tries to work in Johnny Gargano hot takes to pull us out of Rachel's Kafka-esque outlook on our doomed existence. A bonus history lesson explores the parallels between Diane Arbus’ photography and humans as visual spectacles, plus a Doink reference!
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Rachel isn’t a fan of Sami Zayn, Pat McAfee, Santino Marella, or Elias/Ezekiel. Matt abhors Edge, The Hardy Boys, and Shawn Michaels. Rachel caught up on some current programming and is impressed with the women’s division, and Matt is finally invested in the Intercontinental Title.
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The kickoff episode of I Like Wrestling is here. Promos from The Attitude Era and now. Matt reminisces about Jericho’s first live WWE appearance and Rachel breaks down Logan Paul’s kayfabe wedding.
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