Much Ado About Wrestling: Recent Episodes
Tyler Ward and Andrew Terrance Kaberline
The Scholars answer 21 questions about WrestleMania 42
The Scholars briefly talk through their WrestleMania worries and plans to watch (or not watch) this year. Then they discuss Darby Allin winning the AEW World Championship on this week’s Dynamite. (3:14).
Then, they focus the rest of the program on Previewing WrestleMania 42. They discuss every match on the card, the muddy build for Cody vs. Randy Orton, the people primed for WrestleMania Moments, what to expect from John Cena hosting, whether or not the rocket will be strapped to Oba Femi coming out of Mania, and so much more! (14:50).
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The Scholars talk about the illustrious history of betrayals in pro wrestling, and their roots in Greek & Shakespearean drama
The Scholars talk shop, looking at news items. They discuss Danhausen in WWE, including why his debut was not well received while his work since is beloved (02:50). Then they talk about the rumor of Brock Lesnar not wanting to lose another match until he retires, and what that means for the roster of monsters in waiting (15:27). They preview the bonkers card of Sunday’s AEW Revolution, and whether we think they will pull the trigger on Hangman being banned from the AEW Championship scene (22:24).
Then, they focus the rest of the program on the word of the day, Betrayal!. They talk about Finn Balor’s exodus from the Judgement Day and Randy Orton turning on Cody on Smackdown. Then they discuss the importance of betrayal to the creation of drama, and what makes for a deep rich betrayal in wrestling versus a lackluster one. Then they look at some of the most famous betrayals in theatre, film, and literature – and answer the question “has pro wrestling done this one before?” (31:32).
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The Scholars perform their annual (and futile) exercise of predicting the WrestleMania card – And yes, there will be BOX TALK!
The Scholars briefly talk about what wrestling entrance music would be great to perform at karaoke, before diving into some AEW NEWS ITEMS — mainly, the decision to move the Women’s World Title to Thekla, and the scary thought of Hangman Page not being able to challenge for the AEW Championship anymore. (03:19)
Then, they focus the rest of the program on Prognosticating the WrestleMania 42 card! They aim to break their two-years-running streak of only getting 4 matches correct. They start by discussing the matches they agreed upon, like the Punk vs. Roman as potential night 2 main event, and the joy of a Grande Americano vs Grande Americano match. Then they transition to the difficulty in booking the WWE Championship match with all the moving parts and potential players involved. They get into a lot of “Box Talk” and “Masked Man” talks, and try to determine if Gunther can afford to lose a match and still maintain his legend killer gimmick. And finally, they attempt to round out the card with matches that are believable but still get as many big names on the show. (19:50).
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The Scholars try to define what a Transitional Champion is and whether it’s a real thing to begin with
The Scholars hunker down from the impending snowpocalypse and talk about some recent news items. They talk about the TNA Impact on AMC debut and how to move forward (8:00), the AJ Styles vs. Gunther match booked for Royal Rumble and the impending doom of AJ’s retirement (in WWE or elsewhere…) (18:00), and then they debate whether AEW’s wrestlers have moved up/down the card in the past few years or if Bryan Alvarez’s claim that there’s stasis is valid (24:45).
Then, they focus the rest of the program on the word of the day; Transitional Champion. They talk about the pejorative usage of the phrase, and how the idea of transitional champions came from early WWE Championship title reign patterns. They debate the importance of title reign length and title defense numbers in determining a transitional champion, and whether you can call someone transitional in real time or only after the fact. They talk through some notoriously good and bad examples of transitional champions. Finally, the scholars settle on a new definition and Tyler acts as judge on a handful of past examples of title changes, labeling who is and isn’t a transitional champ (31:30).
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The Scholars do a belated post-mortem on John Cena’s last match, and make New Year’s Wrestle-utions
After some chitchat about New Year’s Eve and Stranger Things (01:50) The Scholars start by talking through John Cena’s Last Match. They talk about the difference in their opinions in the moment versus with some time to think it over, the controversial finish to the match, the intention to the very theatrical story at the heart of the match, the pomp and circumstance to the whole evening, and little details that rubbed Andrew the wrong way. Then, they discuss the retirement tour as a whole, things they would change, and what’s next for John Cena. (10:00)
Finally, it’s time for the New Year’s Wrestle-utions. They talk about what the bookers Triple H and Tony Khan should focus on in 2026, what is in store for New Japan on the eve of Tanahashi’s retirement, the crazy thing Tyler said about Mercedes Mone, and what is to be done about the state of (checks notes) Wrestler’s Necks! (46:55).
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The Scholars talk about John Cena becoming a Grand Slam Champion, and Preview AEW Full Gear 2025
The Scholars start by talking about the European Championship and Andrew attending tonight’s Full Gear PPV.
Then, they check in on John Cena’s Retirement Tour. They talk through the remaining wrestlers in the Last Time is Now tournament, speculate about who will replace Sheamus, and take a live look at how expensive tickets are for Cena’s last match (10:40)
Then, the Scholars pivot to our mini-word of the day; Grand Slam Champions. They talk about the different title paths needed to be a Grand Slam champ, the way this accolade is used by WWE in the periphery, what wrestling can take from EGOTs or Golf Grand Slams, and determine what the criteria should be for an AEW Grand Slam (26:21).
Finally, it’s time for the Full Gear 2025 Preview. They talk about the trend of assigning cash prizes to matches in AEW, whether Moxley/O’Reilly or Brodido/FTR will steal the show, if Mercedes Mone will win the big one, whether Hangman is going to do a moonsault off the cage, and if Briscoe joining the Don Callis Family would be giant buyer’s remorse. (47:15).
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The Scholars talk about Tournaments in Pro Wrestling History, from the simple to the complicated
The Scholars start by opening a pack of WCW Trading Cards from 1991! The question isn’t whether Andrew will draw a Ric Flair card, but how many Ric Flairs will he draw. (05:40)
Then, the Scholars pivot to taking news items. They contemplate the serious implications on AEW of a Warner Brothers Sale, discuss the strange Andrade Contract situation, debate if CM Punk of Jey Uso should be the next WHC, and speculate what a Broken Hardyz match looks like in 2025. (18:00).
Then, it’s time for the Word of the Day: Tournaments. They talk about the machinations and multiple storylines that can be mined within a bracket format, run through predictions for the upcoming tournament to crown the first AEW Women’s Tag Champions, run through wrestling history to talk about tournaments that worked or didn’t work, and then pitch some new wacky tournament ideas (48:45).
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The Scholars answer totally real listener questions
The Scholars start by briefly talking about, (checks notes) the etymology of the word “palooza” (01:10)
Then, the Scholars pivot to taking listener questions from the Kayfabe Mailbag. They start with questions about the future head of WWE creative, the status of “kayfabe” in 2025, and the underwhelming launch of ESPN Unlimited (06:54).
Then, they pivot to a series of questions about WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia, AEW’s response to this, and the overall TKO strategy of making money over keeping ticket prices affordable for families (27:23).
Next, they discuss nostalgia filled weeks of tv with NXT Homecoming and AEW from the ECW Arena (46:10).
And finally, they answer a series of questions about today’s double big-event day with AEW All Out & WWE WrestlePalooza (55:53).
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The Scholars recount the life and times of Hulk Hogan
The Scholars start by briefly talking about SummerSlam this weekend, and what is in store for the two night event. (06:00)
Then, the Scholars pivot to the life of the late Hulk Hogan. They try to correctly explain the legacy and impact he had on professional wrestling as an industry and art form while also holding in their hands the flaws of Terry Bollea. They talk about the amazing timing his return to WWF had in the lead up to WrestleMania 1, the disappointing and now final appearance of his career at the Netflix Raw Premiere, and all of the highs and lows in between — including obits and comments from various people in the wrestling industry. (13:06)
They close their episode by breaking out the Tony Atlas Truth Index to, lovingly, revisit some of our favorite wild claims that Hogan said in interviews over the years. What band did Hogan almost play bass for? What other sports star was too afraid to fight Hogan in WCW? Wait, how many days did Hulk say he wrestled in a calendar year??? (59:55)
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The Scholars run down All In 2025 and Saturday Night’s Main Event, and go through the history of counterprogramming
The Scholars start by briefly talking about how they approached this mammoth Saturday of wrestling (spoiler alert; one Scholar elected to see Weird Al in concert instead) then they get into reviewing AEW ALL IN 2025 while touching on Saturday Night’s Main Event. They talk through the nitpicks of the length of the show and missed opportunities in some entrances/pacing of Omega/Okada V, but highlight the strength of the four main event matches. They also speculate the difficulties of producing the Saturday Night’s Main Event card in the wake of Seth Rollins’ injury, and discuss how Bill Goldberg did in his retirement match. They also touch on Adam Cole’s surprise retirement, Cope’s return, and Tyler’s new favorite female wrestler. (01:00)
Then, the Scholars pivot to the Word of the Day: Counterprogramming. They discuss the origins of the practice within wrestling and the past battles between WWF and JCP/WCW. They also talk about counterprogramming in a larger media landscape, mentioning the battle for attention during the Super Bowl halftime show, some strange feuds in Brazilian soap operas, and reverse counterprogramming or “burning off” an unwanted TV show. (50:00)
They close their episode with a discussion about all the recent counterprogramming on WWE’s part, how this has effected the potential success of WWE Evolution, and whether there is a way to do this ethically. (1:06:55)
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The Scholars run down the top matches and wrestlers from the Raw after Mania 40 through night 2 of Mania 41
The Scholars start by briefly talking about Hangman’s Spanish promo, John Cena’s pipebomb and upcoming match with CM Punk, and the possibility of a Ron Killings World Title run (01:00)
Then, the Scholars dedicate the rest of the episode to their Top 10 Matches and Wrestlers of 2024-2025. They begin by running down the criteria for the voting and why we think of the wrestling calendar this way. Then they get into the lists:
Top 10 Matches of the Year (10:50)
Top 10 Wrestlers of the Year (58:15)
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VOTING IS OPEN FOR OUR ANNUAL TOP 10 WRESTLERS/MATCHES OF THE YEAR!
VOTE HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 PRO WRESTLING TEES GIFT CARD!!!
POLLS CLOSE JUNE 13th, 2025
Text Link: https://forms.gle/vC43KmwGgqGukoLk6
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from internet journalism, it’s that everyone loves a list EVEN if they tell you otherwise. With that in mind, we’ve tried to make a respectable list of the best matches and wrestlers each wrestling calendar year, as voted on by the hosts of the podcast and the fans of the podcast.
While other “best of” wrestling lists tend to be promotion-based, or lean heavily on kayfabe strength (like the illustrious PWI 500), the aim of the Much Ado About Wrestling best of lists is to provide a clear picture of who and what was successful critically at the time in wrestling. Who were the big stars? What were the biggest moments? Who took the biggest creative swings? What were the technical classics? All are represented on our lists.
A note about the wrestling calendar: with no off-season in pro wrestling and multiple global promotions, it’s hard to delineate when a year of wrestling truly begins and ends. In this spirit, we mark the beginning of each “wrestling year” at the Monday after WrestleMania, and ending at the conclusion of the following WrestleMania.
Why do we do this? Simply because it’s the largest show from the largest promotion, and one where various storylines build up to and conclude at. It’s the cleanest version of a season finale, a championship game, a gold-medal event as we are going to get.
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The Scholars get BOLD when predicting the next wild turns in the world of Pro Wrestling for 2025
VOTING IS OPEN FOR OUR ANNUAL TOP 10 WRESTLERS/MATCHES OF THE YEAR!
VOTE HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 PRO WRESTLING TEES GIFT CARD!!!
POLLS CLOSE JUNE 7TH, 2025
Text Link: https://forms.gle/vC43KmwGgqGukoLk6
The Scholars start by talking about married life, followed by recent Wrestling Surprises — did the right man win in Hangman vs. Ospreay? Should an NXT Wrestler be TNA Champion? Why is WrestleMania 42 going to moving from New Orleans to Las Vegas? (01:00)
Then, the Scholars dedicate the rest of the episode to their Bold Predictions. They begin by grading last year’s predictions (one scholar is on the honor roll while the other is flunking out), then go through guesses on next first time world champions and “same face, new place” candidates for the year. Finally, they count down their 5 most bold predictions; Where do the scholars think Dom Mysterio might get his first World Title? Who does Tyler have coming out of retirement to try to break a record!? And wait, why are our scholars talking about Vince McMahon and what directly opposing predictions do they have about him!?!?!?!? (28:01)
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The Scholars review WrestleMania 41 immediately after the end of Night 2
The Scholars set the clock for 30 minutes and discuss their hot takes immediately following the end of Cody vs. John Cena in the night 2 main event of WrestleMania 41. They discuss the fall out of both main events, the surprises (Becky Lynch, Joe Hendry, the Steve Austin ATV Wreck!), the highlights and lowlights, what might be next for the Raw after Mania, and whether or not Andrew was right with his wild prediction of LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu being the match of the weekend. (01:00)
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The Scholars preview WrestleMania 41 from top to bottom!
The Scholars start things off with some chatter about Triple H’s interview comments this week and WrestleMania being on Easter – then a John Cena Heel Turn Press Conference where Tyler delivers a prepared statement, then answers follow-up questions about how the long awaited John Cena heel turn has gone. (09:06)
Then, the Scholars dedicate the rest of the episode to previewing the WrestleMania card. Which match did Andrew say was going to be the match of the week? What does Tyler think will be the final image of WrestleMania? What are the myriad of options that the Scholars cooked up for competitors to answer Randy Orton’s open challenge? Why was Raw Roulette mentioned!? (20:30)
Finally, very briefly, the Scholars attempt to redeem themselves from their poor WrestleMania prognosticating by breaking down the card for next month’s Backlash PLE! (1:27:45)
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The Scholars do their annual tradition of predicting the WrestleMania card, which forces them to figure out tonight’s Elimination Chamber PLE.
The Scholars start things off by talking through Elimination Chamber, the number of matches on the card, what the card order will be, how long will the segment over Cody’s Soul be, and what is going on with The Rock in general? (03:06)
Then, the Scholars dedicate the rest of the episode to predicting the WrestleMania card. They’ve got to save face after a historically bad run of predictions last year. They start with the two hardest decisions, who faces Cody and who faces Logan Paul, and they end with trying to figure out which WWE Championships get left off the card and how to fit in multiple women’s division storylines into 2 or 3 matches. (20:05)
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Get ready for a history lesson, as the Scholars run down the different eras of professional wrestling, and recap a surprising Royal Rumble.
The Scholars start things off by giving their reactions to the 2025 Royal Rumble. They start with the winners, the eventful final minutes of the men’s rumble, and the long betting odds. They also talk their favorite performers and pops from the night (Chelsea Green, Alexa Bliss, Bron spearing people!), and John Cena’s amazing media scrum promo. Finally, they look ahead to Elimination Chamber and chat about the rumble bottomline news ticker. (02:20)
Then, the Scholars dedicate the rest of the episode to the history of Wrestling Eras. They take us from the Golden Era all the way to today, looking at the characteristics of each other and what storyline and outside factors should be remembered as the first/last moments of each era. They close this out by talking about the latest era we’re entering now, who we think will define it, and what could possibly happen down the line to END this era.(37:05)
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Welcome to the streaming age of wrestling! The Scholars preview Raw’s Netflix debut by revisiting other Raw “network debut” episodes.
The Scholars start things off with some quick discussion of the new streaming era of wrestling with AEW’s launch on MAX and the contraction of WWE content from Peacock, and highlight the recent AEW and New Japan barrage of shows including World’s End, WrestleKingdom, and Wrestle Dynasty.(03:15)
Then, it’s time to look at the three “debut” episodes of RAW in its history of changing networks. They look at the very first episode of RAW on USA in 1993 – running down what WWE programming was like before Raw, who and why was Rob Bartlett there, and what glimpses of success were in that pilot. Then they move on to the cash grab move to TNN in 2000, and how that revolved around Steve Austin playing detective to try to find out who ran him over with a car 10 months prior. And finally, they look at Raw Homecoming from 2005, with the move back to USA, a reliance on legends segment, and the Raw vs. Smackdown of it all. (19:30)
Finally, the scholars talk about the history of RAW’s theme music and build expectations for the first Netflix Raw. They talk about which matches on the card should open or close, how and why the aesthetics might change, and whether John Cena will be appearing and who he should first feud with on his retirement tour. (57:24)
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Don’t you dare be sour, as the scholars recap the unique career of The New Day, and talk fallout from their 10 year anniversary episode of Raw.
The Scholars start things off with the “now” heard round the world! Big E returned to RAW to help get Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods back on the same page, and he succeeded! But at what cost!?(06:30)
Then, it’s time for the career retrospective of The New Day. What makes them the most atypical (and best?) tag team in WWE history? What are our favorite moments of their story, and how did they manage to turn bad ideas into good ideas. What kind of value do they have going forward and is their success repeatable? (24:43)
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The scholars speculate over the new WWE ID program, and chat about independent wrestling.
The Scholars start things off by exploring all the hypothetical positives and negatives for WWE’s latest recruiting program, WWE ID – which gives a pipeline from the Indies to WWE. They try to parse corporate speak to determine what “financial opportunities” and “mentorship” mean, while contemplating what doors could open and close for any wrestler who signs one of these deals. (04:00)
Then, it’s time for the Word of the Day: Independent Wrestling. They try to differentiate the indies from the territories, talk about incidents that birthed the indies like the NJ Athletic Commission deregulation and the creation of Ring Of Honor through RF Video, and go through the ins and outs of how to stand out as an indy promotion in a crowded landscape. (36:00)
Finally, the scholars come back to everyone’s new favorite segment, the Tony Atlas Truth Index, looking at the truthfulness of some comments about WWE ID from indy promoters, wrestling journalists, and QT Marshall. Plus, Bully Ray said what!? (1:01:50)
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The scholars talk all about the Netflix documentary Mr.McMahon
The Scholars start things off with a new segment, The Tony Atlas Truth Index. They go through statements and designate how truthful they are, such as CM Punk and Drew’s Hell in a Cell match deserved five stars, it is ethical to add injury time to a wrestler’s expiring contract, and The Rock won’t be on the WrestleMania card this year. (04:15)
Then, it’s time for a post mortem on the six part Netflix documentary series Mr. McMahon. They share their initial reactions to watching the documentary, the ethical and non-ethical ways the documentary approached editing & showing a filmmaker’s point-of-view, and what to do when your documentary subject doesn’t want to open up in their interviews. They also discuss what the main questions of the doc are, and if it is successful in answering them. They talk about the most juicy bits from Vince’s statute of limitations remark, Phil Mushnick calling Vince a scumbag, Richard Belzer getting choked out, Stephanie McMahon getting the bad news about Mike Tyson in real time, Tony Atlas getting his pecker touched, Bruce Prichard’s review of the doc, and so much more. They also talk about who they wish got interviewed, and the questions left on the cutting room floor. (26:34)
Finally, the scholars roll with a second helping of the Tony Atlas Truth Index, looking at the truthfulness of some of the biggest quotes from the documentary. (1:08:20)
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The scholars talk about AEW ALL IN 2024, and remember the career of Sid.
The Scholars start things off by discussing the recently passed Sid Eudy, known in the wrestling world as Sycho Sid, Sid Vicious, and Sid Justice. They talk about his look and who he influenced, why he doesn’t come up more casually in conversations of world champions, how his success in wrestling was always a start/stop and lived on the fringes of some of the more infamous political wrestling moments. They also touch on all the powerbombs, the WrestleMania main events, the gruesome leg injury, and unpacking Sid’s personality. (04:15)
Then, it’s time for a post mortem on AEW ALL IN 2024. They start by talking about the most well-told stories on the show, Danielson vs. Swerve & Toni Storm vs. Mariah May. They roll through what worked at the top of the card (Ospreay/MJF), what didn’t work (Mone/Baker), and what didn’t get enough time (Perry/Darby). They dissect the magic that is the AEW Casino Gauntlet match, get giddy about ALL the surprises and returns on the card, and air some gripes about the opening of the show. Finally, they look ahead to the next few months and feuds in AEW. (25:25)
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The scholars talk about SummerSlam fallout, and explore their word of the day: Ace!
The Scholars start things off by discussing SummerSlam. They talk about the title changes, the hell turns, the returns, the friendship bracelets!!! What is the best squad to take on the Bloodline? How did we feel about Ref Cam? Will Rhea Ripley be allowed to do some inter-gender wrestling in a WWE ring? Will SummerSlam be 2 nights going forward? All of these questions and more are answered (05:20)
Then, it’s time for the Word of the Day: Ace. They talk about the origins for the top guy term coming from baseball, why we associate Tanahashi with the term ace, explore just how close New Japan was to closing its doors, and talk about the US Ace John Cena and his upcoming retirement tour. (32:37)
Then, we take a page out of The Ringer’s playbook, and try to determine the lineage of the Pro Wrestling Ace Championship Belt! We start at WrestleMania 1 and go year to year trying to determine who the Ace was, who challenged them, and when the title was vacant. (49:40)
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The scholars make their annual bold predictions, plus talk Wyatt Sicks & preview Forbidden Door!
The Scholars start things off by discussing the big debut of the Wyatt Sicks faction led by Bo Dallas. They talk about the One-er film shot in their debut, and the sit down interview from this week. They try to answer the two big questions in keeping the momentum with this group: What do the Wyatt Sicks want? and how do you tie what makes this group interesting back to a wrestling ring? (06:00)
Then, the Scholars talk AEW Forbidden Door. They take sides in the debate for who should walk out as AEW Champion, Swerve or Ospreay. They also talk about incorporating CMLL, if an AEW wrestler will drop a title to a wrestler from another company, and the magic that is Mariah May being listed as in the corner for both Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa. (26:11)
Then, it’s time for the annual Bold Predictions! The Scholars knock out the superlatives with some safe (and wild) predictions for first time world champs, most over acts, and same face new place (Andrew gets wild here, ngl). (37:45)
Then, they move on to the countdown of 5 bold predictions (from possible to bonkers). How much is TNA going to factor into WWE’s plans for this year? How does Andrew think David Zaslav will respond to TNT losing Inside the NBA and how does it relate to wrestling? And, man oh man, does Tyler have a doozy with what he thinks Vince McMahon will be up to.(56:15)
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The scholars look at Post-Story-Finished WWE and New-Elite AEW, and count down their top 10 Wrestlers & Matches of the 2023-24 Wrestling Calendar!
The Scholars talk about the summer plans for WWE, including the hottest angles (Liv & Dom, Drew vs Punk), the impending departure of Becky Lynch, and Bloodline: The New Class! (06:11)
Then, the Scholars talk AEW Double or Nothing. They recount all the ways this bonkers show reminded them of peak ECW PPVs (fire, chaos, weird table breaks!), look at the future of the Elite vs. other random factions, and Andrew embarrassingly admits that he’s into Jericho’s new Learning Tree character. (19:15)
Then, it’s time for the annual best of lists! The Scholars explain the wrestling calendar (WrestleMania to WrestleMania) and start with the top 10 Matches of the year, highlighting things like the great international crowds this year, the scorn of performers when a match is bumped from the card, and the star ratings of it all. (34:25)
Then, they move on to the top 10 Wrestlers of the year, touching on how many matches a wrestler needs to have in a year to be in consideration, why no tag teams appeared on the list, and how to rate kayfabe performance vs work rate vs consistency. (1:08:00)
Finally, the scholars announce the winner of the Pro Wrestling Tees gift card giveaway!(1:29:20)
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It’s that time of year again to vote for the 7th annual Much Ado About Wrestling Top 10 Matches and Wrestlers of the Year Lists!!!
Vote at the following links:
Match of the Year
Wrestler of the Year
By voting for each respective list, you gain one entry to our random draw for a $50 Pro Wrestling Tee’s gift card!!! Must be a US Resident
Voting is open now through May 3rd.
About the Wrestling Calendar:
With no off-season in pro wrestling and multiple global promotions, it’s hard to delineate when a year of wrestling truly begins and ends. In this spirit, we mark the beginning of each “wrestling year” at the Monday after WrestleMania, and ending at the conclusion of the following WrestleMania.
Why do we do this? Simply because it is the largest show from the largest promotion, and one where various long storylines build to a head. It’s the cleanest version of a season finale, a championship game, a gold-medal event as we are going to get.
Criteria for Match of the Year:
- Storytelling (In the entire lead up to the match, during the match, and after the match)
- Platform (Did this get eyeballs or happen at important venues?)
- Originality (Was there a finish or move we haven’t seen before? Did they find new ways to highlight a weapon or gimmick?)
- Work Rate (The athletic performance of the wrestlers)
- Moment (Was the match memorable? Did it leave us with an image that will go down in wrestling history?)
Wrestler of the Year Criteria:
- Kayfabe Accomplishments (In storyline were they winning and defending titles, or at the top of the card?)
- Usage (Were they consistently on the show, headlining pay per views, and getting dedicated on-screen time to develop character or storylines?)
- Work Rate (Did they provide consistently great matches through in-ring athletic prowess? Were they turning out five star matches no matter who they worked with?)
- Popularity (Did they get the best pops, did they achieve crossover appeal, were they tapping into great TV by evolving their character?)
- Moments (When we think of 2023-2024 in wrestling history, will we see their faces? Will we think back to their spot, or their match, or their tv segment?)
The scholars talk the highs and lows from a huge week of professional wrestling.
The Scholars take the minimum amount of time possible to talk through their feelings about Tony Khan’s decision to show backstage footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s fight from ALL IN. (03:15)
Then, the scholars give their thoughts on WrestleMania XL. They break down the careful bits of storytelling from the warm night 2 main event, including assigning which wrestler fit which superhero from Avenger’s Endgame. They talk about what felt different in this year’s WrestleMania than in years past. They talk about the non-literal winners of the weekend (Michael Cole, Samantha Irvin, Bayley & Iyo, cinematography) and the losers (bad weather, live musical performances, a total and disgusting lack of Gritty!). (27:00)
Finally, the scholars look ahead to WWE’s post-Bloodline future. They talk about how Cody can avoid cooling off now that he’s finished his story, what the next steps are for the likes of Roman Reigns and The Rock, they talk about who should be the focal point of the next batch of longterm WWE storytelling, and fantasy book SummerSlam, The Royal Rumble, and WrestleMania XLI.(1:05:48)
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The scholars answer 40 burning questions about WrestleMania XL!
The Scholars rundown the entire WrestleMania week by answering 40 questions in a marathon recording sesh! But first, Andrew talks to Tyler a bit about WWE Next Gen on RokuTV. (05:00)
First, they look at the CM Punk- Ariel Helwani interview, contemplate the place of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale, look at the WWE Hall of Fame lineup, and talk about the early start time of NXT. (08:45)
Then, the scholars look at night 1 of WrestleMania. They talk about the second year in arow with a tag team main event, the layers of Rhea vs Becky, how to keep Dom vs. Rey going, and pitch some new traditions for WrestleManias in the future. (36:12)
Finally, the scholars look ahead to night 2 of WrestleMania. They talk ALLLL about the possible outcomes of the main event, how they expect night 1 to preview night 2, how extreme the Philly street fight will be, what The Rock will do next, and what we will be left with once the event is over.(1:06:50)
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The scholars react to AEW Revolution, then recount the unique and enduring career of Sting!
The Scholars talk about how life is getting in the way of their wrestling fandom, and preview what the pod’s WrestleMania schedule will be like. (00:35)
Then the scholars recap AEW Revolution, including talking about Tyler’s attendance at the event, the stellar undercard, the joys of watching Will Ospreay in person, the perils of high spots involving glass, and the perfection of Sting’s farewell match. (04:00)
Then, the scholars look at the outstanding career of Sting. They talk about the dumb luck that got Steve Borden to try wrestling, the early attempts at ripping off the Road Warriors, the early promise of Surfer Sting in the transition from NWA to WCW, becoming the Crow, turning down WWE to become TNA’s ICON, the eventual WWE run, and the surprise AEW farewell tour. They talk about what made Sting so popular, and why Steve Borden feels like a one of one in wrestling. Tyler is put on the spot to try to rank Sting in the hall of greatest wrestlers ever. (31:43)
Finally, the scholars look at what is to come in this soft reboot of AEW. Should the next champ be Okada or Swerve? Is the impending arrival of Mercedes Mone what the women’s division needs to take off? Is now the time for Bryan Danielson to get gold in AEW, and who should he take a title from? Is Dynasty one too many PPVs for the company? And is its name a hint at an MJF return? (1:16:10)
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The scholars react to all the shocking Vince and WWE news from last week, plus they do their annual prediction of the WrestleMania card.
The Scholars quickly hit on all the news from the past week, including the good (Royal Rumble), the interesting (Raw to Netflix), and the truly awful (Vince). (03:48)
Then the scholars use the rest of the episode to prognosticate the WrestleMania XL card! It’s a way too early set of predictions they never get right. They talk about how much they believe the card changed in the last three days, and why they disagreed on the top of the card matches. Then they consolidate the midcard matches and find the best ways to get trending superstars like Jade Cargil, LA Knight, and Dominik Mysterio on the card. (31:30)
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The scholars give their review of The Iron Claw, and talk about the weird history of Wrestling-Centric films and why the quality is all over the place.
The Scholars preview their Iron Claw talk, then chat about the prediction that Amazon will win the TV rights to Monday Night Raw, and what it would mean in terms of changes in audience, content, and length of the program. (05:54)
Then the scholars talk about their experiences seeing Sean Durkin’s Von Erich family drama film The Iron Claw. They chat about the quality of the actual wrestling in the film, how it deftly tackled the idea of kayfabe, and where it took creative liberties with reality. They also talk about the film’s artistic merits including how Durkin’s former films gave Andrew interesting expectations going in and informed the “dream sequence” towards the end of the film. They also rank the performances (these can always change!) (15:53)
Finally, the scholars look at the history of pro wrestling on film. They talk about addressing kayfabe, what happens when wrestling companies themselves produce films (No Holds Barred and Ready to Rumble), and the more artsy fare that attempts to find truth in wrestling (The Wrestler). They also explore hidden gems about wrestling that neither were aware of like a nihilistic noir film from the master of the heist film, or a Sly Stallone movie that totally isn’t at all like Rocky. (43:00)**
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The scholars recap what’s been a busy wrestling schedule around the winter holidays, and then create hypothetical “new year’s wrestle-utions”
The Scholars talk about AEW Worlds End, New Japan’s WrestleKingdom 18, and the New Year’s Revolution edition of SmackDown leading to the Royal Rumble. They talk about why PPV quality might be more important for AEW than other companies, who the next year of New Japan should be built around, and whose story needs finishing soonest in WWE. (02:22)
Then the scholars look at 10 people, places, and things related to Pro Wrestling and wax on what their new year’s resolutions – pardon, wrestle-utions should be. Tony Khan has a lot on his plate, but what issue do the scholars think he should focus on first? How should TNA follow through on their rebranding? What should the ethos of the major women’s divisions be? Mercedes Mone, Kota Ibushi, Kevin Dunn (), Chris Jericho () – what should their next moves be! (45:02)
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The scholars answer 10 burning questions about CM Punk’s return to WWE, and then look at the historical importance of Networks in wrestling.
The Scholars talk about CM Punk returning to a WWE Ring and all the messy questions that come with it. Questions like, who should he feud with? How was it kept a secret? And will CM Punk fulfill all 3 years on his new contract? (07:15)
Then the scholars look at the word of the day, Network. They talk about the history of wrestling during the early TV era through syndication and how Vince McMahon’s shrewd business practices positioned WWE to usurp the NWA as the king of cable. They discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being a wrestling company with a national weekly television partner, highlighting the journey that TNA took to stay on TV and the contentious relationship between ECW and TNN. Finally, they talk about how NXT fits in with the CW, and speculate about where Raw and Smackdown will air after the next media rights negotiations. (43:30)
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The scholars run-down Edge becoming Adam Copeland, Brian Pillman Jr. becoming Lexis King, and more history of Ring Names and Trademarks!
The Scholars talk about the upcoming wrestling films The Iron Claw and Cassandro, before delving into some book club picks. Then they talk about Adam Copeland joining AEW, and Brian Pillman Jr. becoming Lexis King in NXT. (04:30)
Then the scholars look at the word of the day, Ring Name. They talk about the differences between ring name changes and repackaging. Then they discuss the legal reasons why a wrestler might not be able to keep them name across companies, and why other wrestlers built their brand up enough to be able to have that freedom. They discuss the wrestling fan meme “What’s BLANK doing in the Impact Zone?” and some of the stranger TNA ring name conventions. They also talk about some hypothetical ring name changes for current wrestlers like Alexa Bliss and The Acclaimed. (32:26)
Finally, our scholars jump into the Kayfabe 5000 to answer burning questions like What is Jade Cargill’s ceiling in WWE, What made Paul Heyman’s hair change colors, and is Toni Storm stuck in a time vortex??? (1:14:06)
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The scholars run-down recent wrasslin news like CM Punk’s AEW Departure, The Rock’s WWE return, and more!
The Scholars dedicate the entire show to recapping 6 newsworthy events in the past few weeks as the Squared Circle turned. They start with the passing of Terry Funk and Windham Rotunda, touching on their legacies (2:48). Then they talk about the matches and disputed attendance numbers for AEW ALL IN, followed by the unfortunate backstage events and termination of CM Punk, and then AEW ALL OUT, which was surprising in both its quality and the reaction it garnered from the Chicago fans (17:00).
Then the scholars get into the business side of things, contemplating how the WWE/UFC merger as TKO will change the presentation of the show in the immediate and how Vince McMahon will react to finally having a boss (47:17). And finally… FINALLY, The Rock has returned to WWE!!! The Scholars talk about the real reason this is happening (the SAG/WGA strike), the news that at some point Rock/Roman was on the table for last year’s Mania, and if this is the last realistic chance we will get for a singles match between them (55:17).
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The scholars return from Summer vacation to preview AEW All In from Wembley, and do their annual bold predictions The Scholars talk about what they’ve learned after doing 100 episodes of the podcast. Then they preview AEW All In 2023. They talk about what the vibe of the show will be, how to make All […]
The scholars count down their top ten wrestlers and matches of the year lists.
The Scholars start off by giving their thoughts about the upcoming announcement of the location of the first AEW Collision, eulogizing the late Superstar Billy Graham, discussing Seth Rollins being cast in the MCU, and the upcoming Double or Nothing and Night of Champions cards. (07:24)
Then, we run down the top ten wrestlers of the 2022-23 wrestling calendar (27:30), followed by the top ten wrestlers of the year (1:05:00) and we reveal the second winner of the $50 Pro Wrestling Tees gift card!
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It’s that time of year again to vote for the 6th annual Much Ado About Wrestling Top 10 Matches and Wrestlers of the Year Lists!!!
Voting is open now through May 12th.
By voting for each respective list, you gain one entry to our random draw for a $50 Pro Wrestling Tee’s gift card!!! Must be a US Resident
Vote at the following links:
Match of the Year
Wrestler of the Year
About the Wrestling Calendar:
With no off-season in pro wrestling and multiple global promotions, it’s hard to delineate when a year of wrestling truly begins and ends. In this spirit, we mark the beginning of each “wrestling year” at the Monday after WrestleMania, and ending at the conclusion of the following WrestleMania.
Why do we do this? Simply because it is the largest show from the largest promotion, and one where various long storylines build to a head. It’s the cleanest version of a season finale, a championship game, a gold-medal event as we are going to get.
Criteria for Match of the Year:
- Storytelling (In the entire lead up to the match, during the match, and after the match)
- Platform (Did this get eyeballs or happen at important venues?)
- Originality (Was there a finish or move we haven’t seen before? Did they find new ways to highlight a weapon or gimmick?)
- Work Rate (The athletic performance of the wrestlers)
- Moment (Was the match memorable? Did it leave us with an image that will go down in wrestling history?)
Wrestler of the Year Criteria:
- Kayfabe Accomplishments (In storyline were they winning and defending titles, or at the top of the card?)
- Usage (Were they consistently on the show, headlining pay per views, and getting dedicated on-screen time to develop character or storylines?)
- Work Rate (Did they provide consistently great matches through in-ring athletic prowess? Were they turning out five star matches no matter who they worked with?)
- Popularity (Did they get the best pops, did they achieve crossover appeal, were they tapping into great TV by evolving their character?)
- Moments (When we think of 2022-2023 in wrestling history, will we see their faces? Will we think back to their spot, or their match, or their tv segment?)
The Scholars speculate about the rumored return of CM Punk, addition of a Saturday AEW show, and roster split.
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The scholars start things off with a News Round-up, focusing specifically on the trio of developments in AEW. They talk about the return of CM Punk and what they means for the current status of the AEW locker room. They also discuss what a Saturday programming addition would do for the brand, and how a potential roster split could be incorporated. (03:59)
Then it’s time to do our own AEW Brand Split Fantasy Draft. The scholars go over some ground rules, and then try to accurately draft as if they were The Elite and CM Punk. Who will Tyler take with the number 1 pick? What shocking youngster will Andrew reach for in an early round? (43:00)
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The Scholars react to one of the best WrestleManias of all time, but question the direction of the Bloodline storyline after the main event.
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Hot off the presses, the Scholars give their immediate reactions to WrestleMania 39 minutes after the end of Night 2. They talk about the surprising end of the night and what it means for the future of Roman and Cody, then they talk about the slew of fantastic matches on Night 1 and the unfortunate injuries and wonky bits of Night 2. They talk about the difference in presentation from product placement to special entrances and the amazing set. Then they speculate if WrestleMania will look different next year as a rumored sale of the company might finally becoming official this week.
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The Scholars are ready to celebrate the best week of the year for wrestling fans by answering 39 burning questions about WrestleMania 39!
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The Scholars run through everything we can expect during WrestleMania Week. They start by addressing non-WWE things they’ll be checking in on (11:30), then they look at the bits of interest in WWE’s pre-Mania events like Smackdown, the Hall of Fame, and NXT Stand & Deliver (24:00).
Then, it’s time to talk about the showcase of the immortals itself, WrestleMania 39! They start with the talking points for Night 1, including why Cena/Theory was picked as the opener, what the crowd reaction will be to Charlotte/Ripley, and what should main event the evening (46:00). Then, they transition to Night 2 where they talk about the future of the Bloodline and Cody, what to expect from a Hell in a Cell match that is in the midcard, and why we expect some surprises. (1:14:00)
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An annual tradition at the pod, the scholars attempt to predict all 14 matches on the card 44 days out from WrestleMania 39!
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The Scholars get things started by recapping the highs and lows from the Royal Rumble (Highs include the post main event angle and bar raffles, lows include the Pitch Dark match and the Kevin Owens Chicken Fingers). Then they talk about the build to Elimination Chamber this Saturday, how to transition the main protagonist of the Bloodline Saga from Sami to Cody, and why this normally transitional show is a must-watch with huge implications this year. (06:30)
Then, the scholars spend the rest of their time methodically predicting the card for WrestleMania 39. They ponder what their initial agreement on the card says about WWE’s recent storytelling changes, then try to ruminate on how a Sami Zayn title win could blow up 3 to 4 matches on the card. Then, they talk about why they believe we’ll see Brock vs. Bobby again even with a rubber match happening this weekend. They discuss the Ronda Rousey of it all and the delicate balancing of egos in constructing the women’s matches on the card. Finally, they try to round out the bottom of the card, including finding an opponent for Braun, scheduling anything for the Miz, and getting a match for Dom’s custody onto the show! (46:48)
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The Scholars talk about the penultimate joys of the pro wrestling Go-Home show! Then they preview this weekend’s Royal Rumble!
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The Scholars get things started by recapping the fantastic Raw segment The Trial of Sami Zayn, while connecting it to their word of the day; Go-Home Show. They discuss the two theories about how this nickname was devised, look at what needs to be accomplished in a Go-Home show, and recall some of the best and worst examples in recent history (06:30)
Then the Scholars look ahead to this Saturday’s Royal Rumble premium live event. They talk favorites, expectations, and wild predictions for the titular Rumble matches, they ponder what Sami Zayn’s final test might be, and they try to get to the bottom of what exactly is a Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match. (46:48)
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The Scholars break down the insane week since Vince McMahon returned to the executive board of WWE
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The Scholars list all the events that have happened since Vince announced his return to the WWE executive board last week, including his coup to regain chairman status, the new company bylaw he wrote, Stephanie McMahon’s resignation, and the late rumor of a sale of WWE to the Saudi Public Investment Fund (05:28)
Then the Scholars discuss the lingering questions about the uncertainty of the business side of WWE. They talk about what a Saudi-controlled pro wrestling landscape would look like, what Vince’s motivations are in coming back, who else might step up and buy the company, and what famous villain Vince is most similar to. (20:41)
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The Scholars discuss the history and logic of Tag Team Wrestling
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The Scholars welcome us with some life updates including Andrew’s current very real strike going on. Then they recap a few recent wrestling news items including MJF vs. Ricky Starks from Winter is Coming, the NXT Women’s Championship title change and subsequent release of Mandy Rose, and the PWI 2022 list of top Tag Teams. (01:30)
Then the Scholars discuss the word of the day, Tag Teams. They define what the rules of a tag team wrestling match is, and look back at the earliest tag matches on record. Then they go over the “casting” of tag teams and how they are constructed. They go through the general storytelling arc of the life of a tag team from inception through breakup, and then look at some of the most notable tag teams in history including the Fabulous Freebirds, the Mega Powers, the Rockers, the Road Warriors, The Hardy Boyz, and more! Then they wrap up their tag team discussion by looking into the future to see what can be done to keep a tag team division strong, and ponder what could be a potential WrestleMania main event tag match. (27:31)
And finally, Tyler boots up the Kayfabe 7000 and questions are answered including what is the best tag team finishing move? What is the best way to win a tag team match? Who will eventually beat the Usos for the Tag Titles? And More! (1:23:55)
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Tyler shows his “Ironman” abilities by doing a full solo review of AEW Full Gear 2022 Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Tyler welcomes the audience by giving an update on our future legal episode, and then running down the […]
The scholars regroup to discuss the lackluster summer inside and outside the ring for AEW. The scholars start things off by looking at the life and career of the recently departed Antonio Inoki. They dig a little deeper into the life of the man they both mostly knew as the creator of New Japan Pro […]
The scholars react to Ric Flair’s Last Match, both the event and the match – and look at the lengthy career and complicated legacy of the Nature Boy. WOO!!! Before diving into the meat of the episode, the scholars react to SummerSlam, focusing on the Last Man Standing match between Roman and Brock, and the […]
The scholars react to the most shocking wrestling news in their lifetime; the retirement of Vince McMahon Vince McMahon has retired from the world of pro wrestling. The Scholars discuss this bombshell, how it is likely prompted by the misconduct allegations and potential further news to come, what might change in how WWE looks and […]
The scholars return to the podcast with a plethora of big wrestling news waiting for them, plus they dive into the history of Worked Shoots! The Scholars react to the potential changes in WWE following the Vince McMahon hush money scandal (and preview an upcoming episode all about the legal implications). (01:00). Then, the scholars […]
The scholars reveal the results of our annual top ten wrestlers and matches of the year lists, plus they discuss Sasha Banks and Naomi’s walkout on Raw. The Scholars start things by reacting in real time to the news of Stephanie McMahon stepping away from her role in WWE. Then they talk about the biggest […]
And then, there were two… Time to settle this bracket and determine for all time who is the greatest WWE World Champion ever! The Final Four matches saw some hotly contested bouts, and left us with an intriguing revisiting of one of the most important rivalries to the timeline of WWE’s progression between eras. It […]
The Scholars provide bold predictions for the year to come in pro wrestling, and discuss the Forbidden Door AEW/NJPW SuperShow! The Scholars talk about who they are voting for in the finals of our Title Unification Madness bracket. Then they also remind the listeners to also vote for our annual Top 10 Matches and Wrestlers […]
So many fights, so many hall of fame matches, have led us to this: The FINAL FOUR to determine who is the greatest WWE World Champion of All Time!!! There was such an even balance going into the elite 8 of eras and seeds, but things narrowed considerably going to the final 4. We’re left […]
And then there were 8. It wasn’t easy. In fact, this round saw two matches decided by less than 1% of the vote – which is saying something, with over 4,000 votes cast. Those who remain are a class that lives up to the moniker of the round; Elite. Half of the 8 are WWE […]
The scholars gives their thoughts on night 1 and 2 of WWE WrestleMania 38! The Scholars talk all things WrestleMania 38 from Stone Cold, to Cody Rhodes, to (checks notes) Wee-Man body slamming Sami Zayn? Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on […]
The Scholars answer 38 burning questions about WrestleMania 38 The Scholars talk about the Sweet 16 of the Title Unification Madness bracket. We need YOU, the listeners, to vote for who you think are the best WWE World Champions of all time. Plus, enter for a chance to win a $50 Pro Wrestling Tees gift […]
WrestleMania week has arrived. On Sunday night, the WWE Universal and WWE Championship titles will merge into one World Title when Roman Reigns goes up against Brock Lesnar – their 3rd (and final?) WrestleMania main event as competitors. But I think we can all agree, what really matters in the mind of pro wrestling fans […]
As we inch closer to the showdown between Roman and Brock at Mania to unify WWE’s world titles, we also move to the second round of what is really important when it comes to the identity of the one true world champ – our Title Unification Madness Bracket! The first round was very chalky, but […]
The Scholars react to the death of Scott Hall, and do quick hits on the various news across WWE and AEW since our last recording The Scholars hype the new Title Unification Madness bracket. We need YOU, the listeners, to vote for who you think are the best WWE World Champions of all time. Plus, […]
The Scholars react to the shocking news that one of the main people behind AEW’s creation, Cody Rhodes, is leaving the company The Scholars quickly look at the other big rumor that was around the watercooler this week, the potential return of Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania. They talk about how much he has […]
An annual tradition, the scholars take this time post-Royal Rumble to predict all 14 matches on the WrestleMania 38 card! The Scholars run down all the action from the Royal Rumble. They discuss why the women’s rumble worked better than the men’s rumble. They talk about the focus of the entire event on building one […]
The Scholars talk about the history of cross promotion with the news of WWE being the latest game in town to open the “Forbidden Door” The Scholars talk the unfortunate fiasco with the renaming of WALTER to Gunther and if they think WWE knew what they were doing in making references to a Nazi commander […]
The Scholars get pumped for Hangman vs. Danielson 2 by looking at the history of time limit draws, iron man matches, and curfew limits! The Scholars spend the first half of the show running down all the wrestling supercards that existed in the New Years week. They gush about the very bloody hardcore match between […]
The Scholars get Extreeeeeeeme, by diving head first (through a flaming table) into the history of pro wrestling’s most notorious and violent style. The Scholars spend a little time with the wrestling news, like Hangman Page’s AEW World Championship victory and upcoming defense against Bryan Danielson, WWE getting into the world of collegiate athletics through […]
The Scholars run down the card for Saturday’s AEW Full Gear PPV, and look the growing free agency landscape in the wake of WWE and ROH releases. The Scholars spend a little time looking at the news of a hiatus from Ring of Honor and what the chances are of this being the end for […]
The Scholars do a deep dive on the career of one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, the American Dragon, Bryan Danielson. The Scholars spend a little time talking about WWE Crown Jewel, focusing on what’s next for the new King and Queen of the Ring. Then Andrew shares his experience attending AEW […]
The Scholars digest the storytelling and economical successes of All Out 2021, and preview what to expect from Grand Slam The Scholars spend a little time talking about WWE, focusing on the positive and morale-boosting WWE Championship win for Big E, and the less inspiring supposed plans WWE had in store for Adam Cole (1:00) […]
The Scholars review the most important weekend of the pro wrestling summer, touching on CM Punk, Becky Lynch, Brock Lesnar, Adam Cole, and more! The Scholars start on Friday night, talking about CM Punk’s return to the ring on AEW Rampage. They discuss the decision to not protect the surprise, Punk not saying the letters […]
To celebrate his return to wrestling, the Scholars look at the career of the Doctor of Thuganomics himself, John Cena. The Scholars start with some news items. Why was Dominos at the forefront of the wrestling conversation last week? Should wrestling fans be allowed to throw trash at heel performers? Should we have seen the […]
The scholars celebrate the wild re-start of wrestling in front of fans by running down which wrestlers have changed brands, and which are heavily rumored to be doing so soon! The Scholars start things by running down the highlights from Money in the Bank, and the past few episodes of Dynamite, Raw, and Smackdown – […]
In honor of the end of the pandemic era in wrestling, the scholars look at the history and purpose of House Shows. The Scholars start things by remembering the life of Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff, and looking at the possible directions for WWE and AEW creatively now that they’re back on the road (01:00) Then, […]
The scholars look at the possible reasons behind this unexpected third round of WWE releases, plus they review AEW’s Double or Nothing The Scholars start things by looking at the situations of the six recently released WWE superstars, and address the rumors that Vince McMahon is preparing to sell the company. But, to what end? […]
The scholars reveal the results of our annual top ten wrestlers and matches of the year lists, plus they get a visit from their AEW correspondent Sarah! The Scholars start things by running down some news items like Daniel Bryan the free agent, the NXT releases, AEW’s move to TBS, and the death of New […]
The scholars explore the recent round of WWE releases, and make increasingly bold predictions about the next year in wrestling Stop! Before you do anything else, go vote for Match and Wrestler of the year so that you have a chance at winning a $50 Pro Wrestling Tee’s Gift Card!!! The Scholars start things off […]
The scholars gives their thoughts on night 1 and 2 of WWE WrestleMania 37! The Scholars talk all things WrestleMania 37 from the rain delay, through Bad Bunny and Bianca Bel Air, finishing with The Head of the Table! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for […]
The scholars gives their thoughts on night 1 and 2 of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION Check out Andrew’s WRITING Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale
The scholars answer 37 questions about the week of wrestling that will culminate with WrestleMania 37! The scholars do a quick roundup of non-WrestleMania News Items including the dissolution of The Hurt Business, the end of the Wednesday Night War, and the shocking finale of NJPW Sakura Genesis (01:00) Next, the scholars answer 37 burning […]
With time to digest and reflect on the match in question, our scholars take a stab (pun intended?) at figuring out what went wrong with AEW Revolution’s Death Match, and grade the storytelling fallout. The scholars do a quick roundup of News Items including changes to the WrestleMania card, what to make of Bobby Lashley […]
Our scholars go through the history books to highlight the best and most important black wrestlers in history, and try to make sense of the shocking WWE Championship title change. The scholars do a quick roundup of their good and bad picks from last week’s episode concerning the WrestleMania card and the AEW Women’s World […]
Our scholars do their best Nostradamus impressions, and try to predict the WreslteMania 37 card and the outcome of the AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator Tournament! The scholars do a quick roundup of Bullet Club News with the arrival of Kenta in AEW. How deep do we think the working relationship is with NJPW? Listen […]
Our scholars blow the dust off some cartridges and discuss the history of pro wrestling video games, then preview this weekend’s Royal Rumble! The scholars do a quick roundup of news items like WWE Network moving to Peacock, Sting being booked for an AEW match, and The Undertaker’s controversial comments about the modern locker room […]
Our scholars celebrate the career of the late Mr. Brodie Lee. The scholars do a quick roundup about WrestleKingdom 15, and salivate at the potential Kota Ibushi vs. Kenny Omega match to be had for ALL the world titles down the line (02:30). Then, we dedicate the rest of the episode to the memory and […]
Our scholars do a rundown of the Intercontinental Title from it’s usage as a starbuilder to its reputation as the workhorse championship. The scholars do a quick news round up to talk about wrestling babies, AEW getting a demo victory over Raw, and more (02:30). Then, it’s time for a comprehensive look at the INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP. We […]
Our scholars do an emergency episode to talk about Sting’s return, Kenny Omega as AEW Champion, and the Impact working relationship! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION Check out Andrew’s WRITING Listen to Andrew pitch […]
Our scholars are joined by our AEW correspondent Sensational Sarah to discuss the highs, lows, and future aspirations of women’s wrestling. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK The trio does a News Round Up – going through items like the break-up […]
Tyler and Sarah give their thoughts on AEW’s All Out event, running from the highlights through the botches and predicting what comes next for the company. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION Check out […]
Our scholars answer 20 burning questions about WWE SummerSlam and NXT TakeOver XXX, and talk bold moves from WWE like the move to the Thunderdome, Raw Underground, and the plans for Retribution. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Andrew and […]
Our scholars go through the history of wrestlers who wear masks and the artistic and economic reasons for their use inside the squared circle! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Andrew and Tyler touch on a few recent wrestling items […]
Our scholars address #SpeakingOut and WWE’s safety measures, then look at the risks and rewards for taping big shows and matches in advance. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Andrew and Tyler address the systemic issues of sexual abuse within […]
Our scholars look at the news we’ve missed in our absence, and take the temperature on AEW as an organization one year in. To be an ally in the fight against racial intolerance in our country, we ask that you please consider donating to the funds below, and register to vote: Donate to Black Lives […]
Our third annual top matches and wrestlers of the 2020 “Wrestling Calendar Year” as voted on by the fans and our hosts, are revealed! Plus, one of our lucky listeners is winning a $50 Pro Wrestling Tees Gift Card! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for […]
After a sad week in the world of pro wrestling, Andrew and Tyler try to make sense of the mass releases of the WWE roster, and why this happened. VOTE FOR WRESTLER AND MATCH OF THE YEAR HERE Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the […]
Our boys talk about everything that just happened at night two of WrestleMania 36, from Cold-Blooded Con-chair-tos to Career Retrospective Lynch-ian Nightmares! Subscribe to our show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION Check out Andrew’s other PODCASTS
Our boys talk about everything that just happened at night one of WrestleMania 36, from Braun Strowman to Boneyard Matches! Subscribe to our show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION Check out Andrew’s other PODCASTS
Our annual WrestleMania preview show sees our hosts go through 36 questions for WrestleMania 36 – the first two-night WrestleMania with no fans in attendance! Subscribe to our show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Andrew and Tyler debate why count-outs were 20 […]
After a cold open talking about breaking WrestleMania news, Tyler and Andrew are joined by Ollie Corchado to talk about the good, bad, and ugly of celebrity involvement in pro wrestling. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Watch Olllie’s web series En Route and follow him on instagram Follow us/ leave us […]
Tyler runs down the exciting AEW Revolution card in this special solo preview mini-episode. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Tyler looks at this Saturday’s pay-per-view AEW REVOLUTION. He ponders who might be the exalted leader of the Dark Order, […]
Our scholars talk up the history of grapplers being locked inside an unforgiving steel cage! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Andrew and Tyler recap NXT TakeOver Portland, look at some rumored WrestleMania matches featuring legends like John Cena and […]
Our scholars recount the history of retirement matches in pro wrestling, cry through some of the best legit retirement speeches, and try to tabulate how many times Terry Funk has retired. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Andrew and Tyler […]
Our scholars look at how the position of booker has changed over time, and what it means for performers like Marty Scurll to become bookers in their prime. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK Andrew and Tyler recap some important […]
Our scholars Tyler and Andrew look at the history of championship belts in pro wrestling history and how they’re used to build characters and advance storylines.
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/maw.titlebelt.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler start the show with a look at WrestleKingdom 14 – Who looked good? Where does New Japan go forward? And should WrestleMania copy the two-night format? (5:00)
Then, our scholars give a vocab lesson with the word of the day, World Title. They talk about the history of belts as a prize in combat sports going all the way back to the beginning of our country, the oldest belts in pro wrestling, and why they came into existence. Then the boys transition from history to current day, talking about how titles are best used to improve the stock of wrestlers and storylines, whether the more recent WWE trend of not having the World Title in the main event devalues titles, and ways that the prestige of titles can be pumped-up in the future. (18:20)
Finally, Professor Tyler Ward dusts off the Kayfabe 5000, and reveals the new and possibly improved, Kayfabe 5020! To ring in the new year, the scholars contemplate what the 2020 resolutions should be for a number of superstars including Brock Lesnar, Tessa Blanchard, MJF, and more! (1:04:50)
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Our scholars Tyler and Andrew look at the past, present, and future of the straight-edge superstar turned Fox Sports talking head, CM Punk.
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/maw.cmpunk.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler start things off by checking in on this Sunday’s Survivor Series and how the integration of NXT into brand wars is going, how AEW pulled off reviving Bash at the Beach, and proof that Jeopardy James Holzhaueris a Scott Steiner fan (08:30)
Then, our scholars transition to the return of CM Punk. They talk about who his character is and what his lasting legacy on the modern trends of WWE superstars are. They talk about his most memorable matches, promos, and moments. Then they chat about why his return to pro wrestling is such a big deal, even if it’s just as a studio analyst. Then finally, they dare to fantasy book what a return to in-ring action would look like, including the low odds of such a venture. (29:00)
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Our scholars Tyler and Andrew go through the history of modern wrestling’s most creepy supernatural superstar, Bray Wyatt.
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/maw.wyatt_.halloween.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler start things off by checking in on the Wednesday Night Wars, briefly chatting up Crown Jewel and grading the Bayley heel turn (01:00)
Then, our scholars transition to Bray Wyatt , taking a DEEP DIVE into the creation of the character, the highs and lows on the main roster with the Wyatt family, and what the booking might look like going into the future with The Fiend (20:20)
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Our scholars Tyler and Andrew go through the week chronologically looking at NXT’s first two hour USA show, Smackdown’s move to Fox, and the Hell that was Hell in a Cell.
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/maw.bigweek.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler start things off by comparing AEW and NXT’s first head-to-head night, focusing on the ratings disaster for NXT, what AEW could’ve done to better highlight how it’s different, and if Finn Balor or Matt Riddle are big enough names to draw in casual or lapsed fans. (02:00)
Then, our scholars transition to Smackdown on Fox chatting up the fallout of Brock Lesnar and Kofi Kingston, the heavy MMA presence on the show, how The Rock helped elevate Becky Lynch, and why some advertised stars didn’t appear. (27:45)
Finally, Andrew and Tyler disagree about the controversial main event of Hell In A Cell. Spoiler alert, one of the scholars is with the fans in thinking it was an unmitigated disaster, the other thought it was a pretty great wrestling version of a horror movie. (42:00)
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Our scholar Tyler is joined by Sensational Sarah to give their immediate thoughts after being in attendance for the inaugural taping of AEW Dynamite on TNT!
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/maw.dynamite.mp3
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Check back on Wednesday for a second episode this week, recapping the biggest week in wrestling, including NXT’s big surprise and low rating, Smackdown’s MMA-focused main event, and the Hell that was Hell In A Cell
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Our scholars have an emergency check-in to discuss all the things we know and don’t know about NXT’s move to the USA Network and the impending Wednesday Night War!
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/maw.nxtspecial.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler preview NXT’s move to USA Network and chat for an hour about everything we know, speculate on the direction of the show, and how AEW will respond.
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Our scholars go through the history of wrestlers being repackaged into new characters, with good and bad results!
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/maw.repackaging.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler go through some news in the wrestling world, including the Seth Rollins/Becky Lynch engagement, the return of The King Of The Ring tournament, and NXT’s move to 2 Hours on USA Network. (01:30)
Then, the scholars give us the Word of the Day; Repackaging. They go through the reasoning behind repackaging a wrestler, examples of it in other entertainment forms, and recall some of the best and worst repackages in history. (19:30)
Finally, our hosts Fantasy Book some repackages of current roster wrestlers. Who should lose every match due to odd circumstances? Who should join back up with a particular Club? Who should add a new number to their name? All will be answered! (1:03:00)
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Our scholars unpack the history of the 24/7 rule in wrestling and all its applications, plus they look ahead to SummerSlam and the end of the G1 Climax.
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/twentyfourseven.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler go to the Word Of The Day; 24/7 Rule. They discuss its inception within the WWF Hardcore Title, how the rule changes the complextion of an entire televised event, and who’s benefiting from the new 24/7 Championship. Plus, they take a look at the craziest 24/7 title in history, the DDT Pro-Wrestling Ironman Heavymetalwight Championship (07:30)
As mentioned in this episode Then, the scholars get ready for SummerSlam 2019 by previewing the card, looking at the buildups on a short calendar lead up, and contemplate why there are so many singles matches. (31:45)
Finally, our hosts doing some bracket busting and look at the possible outcomes for New Japan’s G1 Climax tournament, and what that means for WrestleKingdom (1:01:40)
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Our scholars welcome Legendary Action Wrestling Advantage Champion, “The Ace” Dante Jayce to discuss the use of patriotism and foreign heels in wrestling.
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/maw-patriotism.final_.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler welcome Dante Jayce, who talks about his double life as an actor and wrestler, why botches hurt so much in the ring, his work with Legendary Action Wrestling, and more. (01:55)
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Then, the scholars discuss the hiring of Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff to creative roles in WWE. They chat about why these men are infamous, and if this is a step forward or a nostalgia play. (23:40)
Then it’s time for the Word of the Day, Foreign Heel. They run through the history of this gimmick, how to make it work most effectively, who some of the notable foreign heel/patriotic wrestling combos are, and how this gimmick works in a modern sense. (40:25)
Finally, our hosts hop in the Kayfabe 5000 and answer important questions about VAR in wrestling, Mark Cuban to the Bullet Club, and more! (1:09:00)
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Our scholars reveal the top ten wrestlers and matches of the year, announce the winner of our contest, and recap AEW’s Double or Nothing and Jon Moxley’s thoughts on WWE creative.
https://muchadowrestling.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/maw.matchaew19.mp3
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Andrew and Tyler recap what worked well and not-so-well at AEW’s Double or Nothing.* Which match did they think was an instant classic? How did the visual presentation compare to WWE? Did AEW deliver on its promises? (05:00)***
Then, the scholars discuss Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose) and his interview with Chris Jericho about his decision to leave WWE. Is there a problem with WWE’s creative process? What exactly should be the role of a WWE writer?(25:00)
Finally, our hosts reveal your voted on list of top ten wrestlers of the year (36:20), top ten matches of the year (1:09:00), and the winner of a $50 Pro Wrestling Tees gift card*! (1:42:30)***
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