Grit & Glitter: Recent Episodes
Grit & Glitter
A weekly podcast dedicated to the power of women's wrestling. Hosted by Harley R. Pageot, Emily Fear, and their team of correspondents known as The Glitterati.
Women Of Wrestling? WOW Superheroes? Call it what you want, it's draft day!
Lindsay, Em, and Laz compete to draft their rosters, drawing wrestlers in categories like Poster Girls, Indie Cred, and Crossover with each of them trying to build the strongest all-around roster.
Who will be their #1 draft picks? Which wrestlers will be the most coveted? Which stars will go unclaimed? And who are the wild card fantasy signees?
In spring 2008, a 19-year-old construction worker from South Carolina wins the Powerball jackpot of $35 million and promptly moves to Florida to get into the wrestling business. When he meets former GLOW producer Johnny Cafarella, Wrestlicious is born.
What happens when a washed-up wrestling promoter from the '80s teams with Jimmy Hart to try to recreate GLOW in 2008 using the stars of Shimmer and the cringiest humor you've ever heard, somehow with worse production values than GLOW? You get this. This is what you get. This is what you deserve, America.
In the tenth installment of our "Glitterati primers" series, former Glitterati member Val Quartz (of Daryl Apparyl) returns to the show to choose four matches to get to know her and make Em, Harley, and Lindsay watch them.
Her watch list for this episode:
Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in fall counts anywhere inside Hell In A Cell
WWE Hell In A Cell (10/8/17)
The Young Bucks vs. The World’s Cutest Tag Team in guerrilla warfare for the PWG Tag Team Championship
PWG Eleven (7/26/14)
Hana Kimura vs. Giulia
Stardom Year-End Climax (12/24/19)
Thekla vs. Kris Statlander in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the AEW Women’s World Championship
AEW Revolution (3/15/26)
(Originally exclusive to Patreon on August 21, 2025.)
X Marks The Spot was a Patreon-exclusive 20-episode limited series where Harley and Lindsay covered cult MTV wrestling show Wrestling Society X.
On this first episode, they covered how the show came to be and watched the first episode of television including Jack Evans vs. Matt Sydal, a rumble, and cartoon explosions.
On the season 16 finale, Harley is joined by author, journalist, and former Incredibly Strange wrestler Bob Calhoun!
He discusses competing as Count Dante, Dante The Baptist, and... others... in ISW, where ISW existed within the wrestling ecosystem of the late '90s, finding himself as a commentator, favorite characters, and what he'd like the legacy of Incredibly Strange Wrestling to be.
It's the return of 20 Questions as Harley talks to "The Wicked Witch Of The Ring" Jay Alejandra about vegan food, why they live in North Carolina (and will never live in New Jersey), favorite gear, VHS tapes, untrained opponents, and animals rights activism!
Em, Harley, and Lindsay take a look at three women who surpassed patriarchal expectations to show that being hot doesn't mean you can't also wrestle.
WATCH LIST
Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
WWE Elimination Chamber (2/12/17)
Arisa Hoshiki vs. Tam Nakano for the Wonder Of Stardom Championship
Stardom Shining Destiny (6/16/19)
Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton in an extreme rules match for the NXT Women’s Championship
NXT No Mercy (9/30/23)
In the ninth installment of our "Glitterati primers" series, Brian Bell (host of our sibling podcast, LGBT In The Ring) chooses four matches to get to know them and makes Em, Lindsay, and Val Pancakes watch them.
Their watch list for this episode:
Razor Ramon vs. Goldust w/Marlena for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
WWF Royal Rumble (1/21/96)
Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori
AJW Dream Slam 1 (4/2/93)
Combat Toyoda vs. Megumi Kudo in a no ropes barbed wire current blast deathmatch for the FMW Independent Women’s Championship & WWA Women’s Championship
FMW Fighting Creation (5/5/96)
The Caution (DARK Sheik & Anton Voorhees) vs. The Stoner Brothers (Rick Scott Stoner & Scott Rick Stoner) in a drowning match
Hoodslam Fuck The Fans X (10/4/19)
In honor of Pride 2026, Harley sits Em and guest referee Brie Montoya down to tell them the story of forgotten San Francisco promotion Incredibly Strange Wrestling!
In 1995 a group of untrained wrestlers in a transmission repair shop put on bootleg lucha libre masks and adopt names like The Man From M.O.N.K. and Chango Loco, fighting each other between sets from local punk bands, while fans hurl corn tortillas at their head.
Within a few years they'll be featured in The New York Times and Teen People, tour Europe, attract members of Green Day and Limp Bizkit to their shows, and draw the ire of the Church of Scientology. How did it all happen?
Em and Harley discuss episodes 5-8 of season one of Margo's Got Money Troubles, the complete first season now streaming on Apple TV!
They discuss book plot points that could appear in season two, queer representation, Vegas weddings, tunnels of love, chaotic judges, and GCW references.
It's the fourth annual women's wrestling draft and this year Harley and Em are joined by Danjerhawk and Razorhawk of Power Pro Lucha!
They compete to draft their own rosters, drawing wrestlers and broadcasters of marginalized genders from WWE, AEW, TNA, NWA, MLW, and the indies. Who will be their #1 draft picks? What themes will emerge? Why don't any companies value tag team wrestling? And where our horse girls at??
(Originally aired January 9, 2024.)
Living Legends is a series where Harley and Em deep dive into the careers of active wrestlers to explain why they should be getting their flowers now.
From working as a lifeguard to wrestling for Shimmer, Chikara, and ROH, becoming a mom, running PWA Black Label, ranking #1 on the PWI Female 50, and training Charli Evans, The IInspiration, Steph De Lander, Grayson Waller, and more, this is the life and career of Madison Eagles!
WATCH LIST
Jessie McKay vs. Madison Eagles for the PWWA Championship
PWA Call To Arms (7/11/2010)
Madison Eagles vs. Daizee Haze
Chikara Chaos In The Sea Of Lost Souls (1/23/2011)
A history of Madison Eagles vs. Nicole Matthews
Madison Eagles vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a submission match
Shimmer Volume 101 (4/4/2018)
In the eighth installment of our "Glitterati primers" series, Meg chooses four matches to get to know her and makes Harley, Lindsay, and Mayydayy watch them.
Her watch list for this episode:
Bull Nakano vs. Aja Kong for the WWWA World Championship
AJW Dream Rush In Kawasaki (11/26/92)
Ivory vs. Chyna for the WWF Women’s Championship
WWF WrestleMania X-Seven (4/1/01)
Sasha Banks vs. Bayley for the NXT Women’s Championship
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn (8/22/15)
Manami Toyota vs. Akira Hokuto
AJW Destiny (9/2/95)
Em and Harley discuss the first four episodes of season one of Margo's Got Money Troubles, now streaming on Apple TV!
They discuss differences between the book and the show, the casting of Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, and Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Ford as a plot device, and all the wrestling tie-ins and connections.
(Originally aired January 28, 2025.)
Em and Harley talk to author Rufi Thorpe about her novel, Margo's Got Money Troubles, in which a struggling single mom turns to OnlyFans with the advice of her retired pro wrestler father.
Now an 8-episode TV series from Apple TV, A24, and showrunner David E. Kelley starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.
Val Pancakes was live in Las Vega for Mania week and attended 14(!) different wrestling shows. She shares some of her favorite women's matches from the week with Em and Harley and they break down Effy's Big Gay Brunch 11, main evented by DARK Sheik vs. Nyla Rose.
In which Lindsay takes an 8-hour bus trip to Canada to join Harley for Greektown Pro Wrestling!
Featuring the Toronto debut of B3CCA, The Hex vs. Katie Arquette in a handicap match, Eddie Kingston meet & greets, frat boy fans, Lady Frost, Dani Mo, and begrudging respect to the pizza meme wrestler.
In the seventh installment of our "Glitterati primers" series, Val Pancakes chooses three matches to get to know her and makes Em and Lindsay watch them.
Her watch list for this episode:
ODB vs. Awesome Kong vs. Tara for the TNA Knockouts Championship
TNA Bound For Glory (10/18/09)
Marti Belle vs. Miranda Gordy
Magnum Pro Anniversary Volume X (1/16/21)
Kris Statlander vs. Ashley Vox in last creature standing
Limitless Twilight Zone (11/29/19)
Get ready, cause this is one for the girlypops! Emmi, LBakes & VCakes are together for another episode of glitter! the weekly pod all about our favorite wrestle hunks and dreamy dreamboats!
Ohhh girlies, we got a good one for you this week as our trio chat about their current wrassle crushes, daydream about the perfect wrestling date and redo their rooms with a little helpful horoscopes.
Plus C.R.E.E.P.S. join us to answer your favorite five most important questions! Be sure to give @andeyripley & @irvingwestphd a follow on Instagram!
Living Legends is a series where Harley and Em deep dive into the careers of overlooked women in wrestling to explain why they deserve their flowers.
From Savage Garden stan to pot-smoking hippie, main eventing the first four Shimmer shows, running the ROH and Shimmer dojos, doing yoga on Wrestlicious, and being the first person to wrestle Manami Toyota in America, this is the life and career of Daizee Haze!
WATCH LIST
Daizee Haze vs. MsChif
GCW No Pain No Gain (1/25/2003)
Daizee Haze vs. Rebecca Knox in 2 out of 3 falls
Shimmer Volume 5 (5/21/2006)
A message for Rhett Titus & Age Of The Fall
ROH (12/3/2008)
Marley & Amber Lively vs. The Lunch Ladies
Wrestlicious Takedown (4/21/2010)
Daizee Haze vs. Manami Toyota
Chikara Eye To Eye (9/18/2010), IWTV
In the sixth installment of our "Glitterati primers" series, Laz chooses four matches to get to know him and makes Em, Lindsay, and Don watch them.
His watch list for this episode:
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship & WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
WWE WrestleMania 35 (4/7/19)
Nikita Knight vs. Ray Lyn
Ryse Of A Contender 2 (10/8/21)
Alisha Edwards vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lady Frost vs. Rosemary vs. Tasha Steelz in the first-ever Knockouts Ultimate X match
Impact Hard To Kill (1/8/22)
Riley Krowe vs. Philly Mike in a no ring, no rules match
880 No Ring No Rules 4 (7/17/24)
Em talks to Sara Cannon (director of partnerships for Enjoy Wrestling) and Michael J. Gibson (Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania) about how the Enjoy/Planned Parenthood partnership came to be, the Enjoy cohort program, and why wrestling is for everyone!
(Note: the New Pledge A Picketer form doesn't have a message feature, but you can send messages of support to the PPWPA Instagram.)
In the fifth installment of our "Glitterati primers" series, Don chooses four matches to get to know them and makes Em, Lindsay, and Val Pancakes watch them.
Their watch list for this episode:
Trish Stratus vs. Lita for the WWE Women's Championship
WWE Raw (12/6/04)
Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim in a last knockout standing match
TNA Slammiversary XI (6/2/13)
Kasey Kirk vs. Danny Demanto
ICW No Holds Barred Volume 24 (4/1/22)
*IWTV
Leah Night vs. Amanda Kiss in a falls count anywhere match for the FSPW Jewels Of Wrestling Championship
FSPW WrestleRevival XII (8/30/25)
Lindsay, Harley, Em, and Val Pancakes travel to a post-apocalyptic wasteland to witness monks, cyborgs, shamans, and Russian assassins battle for the richest prize around - nothing.
Kill City Cup (2023). It's sort of a movie, sort of campy, almost fun at points. Starring Natalia Markova, April Hunter, Brian Cage, Jimmy Jacobs, and more. Mortal Kombat meets WWE? Sure, I guess.
It's a new year and that means it's time for TNA to re-premiere once again on another new channel. This time - AMC!
Harley, Mayydayy, and Laz lock in and watch the entire show (not just the women) and discuss The Elegance Brand vs. The IInspiration, technical mishaps, "celebrity" guests, and so many former WWE superstars. It's an altar where sacrifice meets revelation and we're in our NXTNAMC era.
In the fourth installment of our new "Glitterati primers" series, Mayydayy chooses four matches to get to know him and makes Harley, Em, and Lindsay watch them.
His watch list for this episode:
Americana vs. Col. Ninotchka for the GLOW Crown
GLOW S1E26 (12/21/86)
Manami Toyota vs. Aja Kong
AJW Doumu Super Woman Great War ~ Big Egg Wrestling Universe (11/20/94)
Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong in a no disqualification match for the TNA Knockouts Championship
TNA Final Resolution (1/6/08)
Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe in a steel cage for the TNA World Championship & Samoa Joe’s career
TNA Lockdown (4/13/08)
Harley and Em kick off 2026 with their annual wrestlutions!
They're joined by wrestling photographer Jess Skye to check in on last year's wrestling resolutions and see how they fared before making new resolutions for the year ahead including travel goals and podcast goals.
It's the seventh annual Glitter Bombs, honoring the best in women's wrestling in 2025! You voted and now your results are revealed in categories like Favorite Wrestler, Match Of The Year, and Musical Artist Of The Year.
The Runway host! Guest presenters including Anton Voorhees, author Rufi Thorpe, and comedian Melanie Dahling! Special acceptance speeches from winners. And Veda Scott inducted into the Grit & Glitter Hall Of Fame with a little help from her friends and peers. It's our biggest show of the year.
(Originally aired February 2020.)
On the first G&G Valentine's Day special, Harley and his girlfriend, Monika, talked to Veda Scott and "Speedball" Mike Bailey about how they met, managing dating and long-distance in professional wrestling, deciding whether or not to go public with their relationship, and teaming together in the ring.
(Originally aired April 2022.)
Living Legends is a series where Harley and Em deep dive into the careers of active wrestlers to explain why they should be getting their flowers now.
From balancing law school with time in the ROH Dojo, training under Daizee Haze, winning the PWI award for Rookie Of The Year, work in ROH, Shimmer, Stardom, and TJPW, meeting Speedball, and transitioning into commentary, this is the life and career of Veda Scott!
WATCH LIST
Veda vs. Daizee Haze
Horizon Wrestling Alliance (5/15/2011)
“Change Is Coming”, Veda w/Gregory Iron
Absolute Intense Wrestling (9/19/2012)
Veda vs. Athena for the AIW Women's Championship
AIW Girls' Night Out 14 (10/4/2014)
Veda vs. Heidi Lovelace
ROH Women Of Honor (12/2/2015)
Veda vs. Yuki Aino
TJPW The God Of Pro Wrestling - My Arms Fell! - Blurry Confession (12/30/2018)
Bird Law vs. Club Tropicana
Riptide Brighton Spirit (10/5/2019)
“I’m a pro wrestler.”
YouTube (1/6/2020)
Veda vs. Edith Surreal
GCW Effy’s Big Gay Brunch Chicago (9/5/2021)
Don and Val Pancakes chat with Boston wrestler Zoey Cannon about working with MLW, missing five months due to an ACL tear, and teaming with Democracy Rocks!
It's a very creepy Christmas as Harley and Em are joined by Andey Ripley & Irving West of Glitter Bomb nominated tag team C.R.E.E.P.S.! They each choose a Christmas wrestling match from a different decade and a different promotion to watch and discuss including:
Lord Steven Regal vs. Dean Malenko for the WCW Television Championship
WCW Monday Nitro (12/23/96)
a 9-Knockout Santa’s Workshop street fight
TNA Impact! (12/20/07)
a 12-Diva Jingle Belles match
WWE Raw (12/23/13)
Timeless Love Bombs vs. The MegaProblems in a hardcore holiday deathmatch
AEW Dynamite (12/3/25)
Harley, Mayydayy, and Val Pancakes take a look at new Philadelphia promotion Power Pro Lucha as they've concluded their first season and look ahead to the season two premiere in January!
With six shows available on IWTV, they watch a handful of matches from women like Shea McCoy, Harleen Lopez, and Erica Leigh and discuss the ongoing stories of PPL, the live experience, and the future plans of the latest home for former Chikara talent.
It's December again and that means two things:
1) Voting is now open for the 2025 Glitter Bombs!
2) It's time for our fifth annual Match Of The Year special! The Glitterati are joined by a slew of guests including Rosie Fingers, Kayla Lopez, Brianna Bandz, and Rozie The Ref to gush about their favorite women's+ matches from 2025.
Em, Harley, and BFF Brian Bell celebrate Friendsgiving by taking at look at the phenomenon that is Wrestle Yr Friends!
What is it? Where did it come from? How does one actually wrestle their friends? And is it just a silly goof or a radical political statement for a community in desperate need of brave spaces to exist in? (Spoiler alert: it's the latter.)
While the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving week, the Canadians gift a special bonus episode to their friends south of the border.
Harley asks 20 Questions to Toronto indie wrestler Wanda Delrey! They discuss life in Toronto, OperaMania, Amelia Earhart, childhood sweaters, and which dreamy WWE star first made her a wrestling fan.
It's list season and Em & Harley are looking at 40 years of People's Sexiest Man Alive!
Oh, and also the 2025 PWI Women's 250.
They discuss Mercedes Moné landing at #1 for the first time after not even ranking the last two years. Plus: Who were this year's biggest debuts and biggest tumbles? Who's ranked the most times over 18 years of lists? Who's had the most top 10 appearances? And which TV show has the highest percentage of their ranking this year?
It's the return of 20 Questions as Harley is joined by "The Iconic Diva" Brianna Bandz to discuss training under Logan Black at T2T Wrestling Academy, wrestling Sonny Kiss, how she spoils herself, what her family thinks of her being a wrestler, and Monster High.
In the third installment of our new "Glitterati primers" series, Lindsay chooses four matches to get to know her and makes Harley, Em, and Mayydayy watch them.
Her watch list for this episode:
Jeff Jarrett w/Miss Kitty vs. Chyna in a good housekeeping match for the Intercontinental Championship
WWF No Mercy (10/17/99)
Mercedes Martinez vs. Eddie Kingston
Rise Gain 1: Stand With Knights (3/25/17)
KZT vs. Janai Kai
GCW Bloodsport 6 (4/8/21)
Lana Star & Krissy Vaine vs. Amber O’Neal & The Lioness
WOW Women Of Wrestling (1/22/22)
Spooky szn activated on another Halloween edition of G&G!
Lindsay talks being live in Shotzi Blackheart's House Of Horrors. Harley talks watching Wario fight Scooby-Doo at the Toronto Wrestling Club. Mayydayy talks meeting GLOW legend Hollywood.
Plus: the mf-ing' Toronto Blue Jays are in the World Series for the first time in 32 years. #WANTITALL
Harley and Em are joined by returning guests Moni Garcia and Zach Funk for the AEW draft!
6 years of elite women are up for grabs as they take turns drafting wrestlers in categories like Gold Standard, Dynamic Duos, and Women Of Honor. Who were the #1 draft picks? Whose roster is the strongest? And which show are you watching?
On September 5, 2025, beloved Oakland promotion Hoodslam disappeared from the face of the Earth. The few who lived to walk away that night are reticent to talk about what happened. But Harley managed to find one survivor to speak on the record.
Over its 15-year history, the ragtag crew of Hoodslammers were preyed on by countless outside forces from aliens and transdimensional demons to evil doppelgangers and fallen angels. How do they all connect? What does it all mean?
Whatever happened to Hoodslam?
This episode originally aired January 24, 2023.
On the fifth edition of Living Legends, Harley and Em chronicled the career of new TNA Hall of Famer Mickie James.
From childhoods in Virginia on her grandfather's horse farm to debuting as Alexis Laree at age 20 in 1999, Trish Stratus stalker, Piggy James, Knockouts Champion, country music singer, mother, NWA producer, and The Last Rodeo, this is what it means to be hardcore country.
In the second installment of our new "Glitterati primers" series, Em chooses four matches to get to know her and makes Harley, Lindsay, and long-lost guest Bridget Clark watch them.
Her watch list for this episode:
The Fabulous Moolah, Velvet McIntyre, Rockin’ Robin, & The Jumping Bomb Angels vs. Sensational Sherri, Donna Christanello, Dawn Marie, & The Glamour Girls in a Survivor Series match
WWF Survivor Series (11/26/87)
Kana vs. Meiko Satomura
Kana Pro Mania (2/25/14)
Trish Adora vs. Lee Moriarty for the Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Wrestling Championship
BCP May The Franchise Reign (5/29/21)
Alex Windsor vs. Charlie Morgan in a loser leaves Eve fight to the finish match
Eve Wrestle (Wo)mania (4/5/24)
Em, Don, & Val Pancakes chat with Pro Wrestling Illustrated editor Kevin McElvaney about all the women who ranked on the 2025 installment of the PWI 500!
Plus: speculation on who could be the first duo to hold the new AEW women's tag team championship.
Harley was live at AEW All Out in Toronto and Meg was watching at home!
They discuss merch opportunities, not knowing how they're supposed to feel about Kris Statlander, who could possibly end Mercedes Moné's title run, and whether Beth Phoenix is here to stay. Plus: Harley explains what tailgating is to our Welsh correspondent.
(This episode originally aired August 18, 2020.)
As part of their season 3 mission to spotlight as many different promotions as possible, Harley and Em prep an entire episode covering Canadian promotion ECCW. Then #SpeakingOut hits, management is accused of years of sexual harassment and bullying, and half the roster quits.
Instead, Em and Harley pivot to focusing solely on one of ECCW's biggest stars and try to answer one simple question - why isn't Nicole Matthews more famous?
It's the sixth anniversary of G&G and the debut of a new segment we're calling "Glitterati primers"! On this edition, Harley chooses four matches to get to know him and makes Em, Lindsay, and returning guest Brie Montoya watch them.
His watch list for this episode:
Marlena vs. Sunny in an arm-wrestling match
WWF Monday Night Raw (2/24/97)
Momo Watanabe vs. Jungle Kyona for the Wonder Of Stardom Championship
Stardom Stardom World In Nagoya (3/3/19)
LuFisto vs. Allysin Kay vs. Priscilla Kelly vs. Cheerleader Melissa
Shimmer/Rise/Smash/Femmes Fatales The Summit (8/10/19)
Masha Slamovich vs. Edith Surreal in an unsanctioned Soviet deathmatch
Camp Leapfrog Matt Makowski’s Frogsport (4/25/21)
It's the return of 20 Questions as Harley chats with comedian, actress, and wrestling ring announcer Melanie Dahling!
She discusses becoming a wrestling fan as an adult, her love of Jody Threat, Can't Hardly Wait, career highlights, and working with the Toronto Wrestling Club.
Harley is joined by Meg and her partner Jim to discuss AEW Forbidden Door 2025!
Meg & Jim talk being live in attendance in the O2 Arena in London, Toni Storm vs. Athena, the TBS Championship four-way, whether Athena will disappear back to ROH now, and early indicators that the first women's Blood & Guts match may be coming.
Em and Harley welcome back Kate Meizner, singer and principal songwriter of Brooklyn power pop band Jobber, ahead of the release of their debut album To The Stars!
They discuss wrestling as a metaphor for slave-wage capitalism, wrestling music videos, wrestling as catharsis, and manifest a collab with B3CCA.
Originally conducted August 17, 2021 for the website Bell To Belles. Never before heard. Harley spoke with British wrestler Chakara on the theme of "momentum."
"What does a goddess do on her time off? 21-year-old Chakara was taking England by storm in the tail end of 2019 after two standout matches against Big Swole for Riptide Wrestling. Then a pandemic hit. For 16 months she was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch the world pass her by. All the momentum gone, through no fault of her own. How do you recover? How do you return into the thick of it? How does the Golden Goddess find her way back on the track to gold?"
On the season 15 premiere, Em throws a summer picnic with Laz and Don joining her to dig into a potluck of summer wrasslin' matches!
They discuss a graduation (of sorts), a trip to the beach, and, of course, when Ants invade the picnic. Plus: Is borscht an appropriate beach treat? What food would you bring to a summer wrestling show? And the enduring impact of Sara Del Rey.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of long-time G&G listener Andy Stowell. Thank you for the years of support, Andy.
On the season 14 finale, it's the return of G&G Film Club! Em and Lindsay are joined by debut guest Peaches to discuss the 2017 film Signature Move.
"Zaynab, a thirty-something Pakistani, Muslim, and lesbian woman living in Chicago, takes care of her TV-obsessed mother Parveen. As Zaynab falls for Alma, a bold and very bright Mexican woman, she searches for her identity in life, love, and wrestling."
Harley, Em, Mayydayy, and Laz discuss the women of NXT Slammi-- sorry, TNA Slammiversary.
It was the 23rd anniversary of TNA and every match save one featured former or current NXT superstars. Jacy Jayne beat Masha Slamovich clean to capture the Knockouts Championship. The tag titles were relegated to the pre-show. And Indi Hartwell picked up a win over someone the crowd loudly believed to be racist. What does all it mean? We've got six letters for ya - lol TNA.
Harley and Meg talk the women's action from All In: Texas including a match of the year candidate from Toni Storm and Mercedes Moné, Athena winning the casino gauntlet, the debut of Syuri, the returns of Harley Cameron and Alex Windsor, and where we go from here.
Up next: Forbidden Door in August in London with Meg in the building, then All Out in September in Toronto with Harley in the building.
As we cross the halfway point for 2025, Em, Lindsay, Laz, and Don tap into their inner clairvoyants to make a series of predictions as to what the state of women's wrestling could look like over the next six months.
On the 300th episode of Grit & Glitter, it's Glitterati origin stories.
Harley, Em, Mayydayy, Val Pancakes, Don, Lindsay, Meg, and Laz share how they became wrestling fans, how they got into making podcasts and zines and art and wrestling championships, early favorites, current faves, and what being a part of this team has meant to them.
Plus: the premiere of the top secret new Grit & Glitter theme song!!
After three long years, it's the return of The Newly-Tagged Game, our game show where tag teams compete to see which duo knows each other the best!
Harley & Em host as Rosie Fingers & Jess Reina Casablanca take on the Stoner Brothers. They're quizzed on food gimmicks, entrance music, road trips, cartoons, and more. Rosie & Jess think they'll get 7. Twins Rick Scott & Scott Rick think they're going to get every single question correct. But that can't possibly happen. Can it...?
Em, Val Pancakes, and Mayydayy are joined by special guest Toddy Tondera to book the BIGGEST GAYEST WRESTLING SHOW EVER!
They each take turns booking a dream match, a "wildcard" segment, and three wrestlers for the Big Gay Rumble (or "Grumble"). With money no object and time and space no concern, find out which LGBTQIA+ icons were enlisted.
Then, share some of your own ideas by finding Grit & Glitter on Instagram, BlueSky or dropping us an email to gritglitterpodcast@gmail.com
Pride 2025 continues as Don welcomes Full Queer Tag Team Champions C.R.E.E.P.S. - Irving West & Andey Ripley!
They talk how their team came to be, starting out in Georgia, and some of the people that have helped them along the way, as well as their move to Pittsburgh, all the great queer tag teams in the area, and constantly learning and trying to be the best tag team they can be.
Em, Lindsay, and Brian Bell kick off PRIDE MONTH with a roundtable chat about their LGBTQI+ milestone moments in wrestling. From Chyna and Billy Gunn as chaotic bisexual gateways to Paris Is Bumping, Golden☆Lovers (of course), and more, we dive deep into what in wrestling has made us feel seen and included as queer fans.
WE WANT YOUR STORIES TOO! Wanna share your LGBTQI+ wrestling milestone moment? Write us an email - or even better, record an audio clip - and send it to gritglitterpodcast@gmail.com Messages via Instagram welcome too! Stories will be shared throughout June to keep the Pride celebration going all month long!
For the entire month of May, Harley & Em present a special four-part installment of "Living Legends." With this series, we present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time it's Jessie McKay & Cassie Lee! From getting released by WWE to starting their own podcast, joining TNA and taking over the Knockouts division, becoming moms, and returning to indie wrestling in 2025, this remains the era of The IInspiration!
Our watch list for this episode:
Peyton Royce shoots
WWE Raw Talk (3/8/2021)
Harley Cameron feat. Jessie McKay & Cassie Lee – “The IInspiration”
YouTube (10/21/2021)
Decay vs. The IInspiration for the Knockouts Tag Team Championship
TNA Sacrifice (10/23/2021)
The IInspiration vs. Nicole Matthews & Kylie Rae
Prestige Nothing To Lose (4/17/25)
For the entire month of May, Harley & Em present a special four-part installment of "Living Legends." With this series, we present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time it's The IInspiration! From celebrating their WrestleMania win to struggling to get any attention, being split up against their wills, and trying to find their footing as solo acts once again, these are the final years of The IIconics!
Our watch list for this episode:
The IIconics celebrate making history
WWE.com exclusive (6/2/2019)
Liv Morgan vs. Natalya
WWE SmackDown (1/15/2021)
The 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble
WWE Royal Rumble (1/31/2021)
For the entire month of May, Harley & Em present a special four-part installment of "Living Legends." With this series, we present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time it's The IInspiration! From first teaming together in NXT to battling body dysmorphia, getting called up to SmackDown, going viral with an unplanned promo, wrestling in their home country, and chasing tag gold, these are the early years of The Iconic Duo!
Our watch list for this episode:
Asuka vs. Billie Kay vs. Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross for the NXT Women’s Championship
WWE NXT TakeOver: San Antonio (1/28/2017)
Charlotte Flair promo
WWE SmackDown (4/10/2018)
Cathy Kelley interviews The IIconics
WWE Royal Rumble (1/27/2019)
The IIconics vs. The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection vs. The Divas Of Doom vs. Nia Jax & Tamina for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
WWE WrestleMania 35 (4/7/2019), Peacock
For the entire month of May, Harley & Em present a special four-part installment of "Living Legends." With this series, we present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time it's The IInspiration! From competing in the halls of their high school for the title of biggest wrestling fan to training under Madison Eagles in PWA, through Shimmer, ROH, and Chikara, signing with NXT, and becoming the femme fatale and the venus fly trap, these are the early days of Jessie McKay and KC Cassidy!
Our watch list for this episode:
Jessie McKay vs. KC Cassidy
PWA King Of The New School (11/6/2010)
Jessie McKay promo
Chikara Small But Mighty (10/7/2011)
KC Cassidy vs. Kellyanne
Prairie Wrestling Alliance(5/12/2012)
Jessie McKay vs. Kana
Shimmer Volume 54 (4/13/2013)
It's the third annual women's wrestling draft and this year Harley and Em are joined by Charity Davis and Carrie White of Queens Ring Podcast!
They compete to draft their own rosters, drawing wrestlers and broadcasters of marginalized genders from WWE, AEW, TNA, Japan, and the indies. Who will be their #1 draft picks? Which controversial picks will warrant debates? Why is Harley being cancelled? What is SUF? And what did poor Nic Nemeth do to deserve this?
Harley is joined by Val Pancakes and Don to reflect on another WrestleMania week on the indies! Val was live in Las Vegas and attending 13(!) shows while Don watched close to that many from the comfort of their home.
They talk highlights from shows like Effy's Big Gay Brunch, Asé Wrestling, and Clusterfuck Forever, standout performances from wrestlers like Johnnie Robbie, Brittnie Brooks, Lena Kross, and Zoe Lucas, and tears from Effy and DARK Sheik's speeches.
Harley and Em are joined by returning fav Rich Fann and debuting guest Jewell Brown to break down the gender divide in professional wrestling!
They play three games where they add wrestlers of different sexes to established teams (Sasha Banks in The Shield??), make some new pairings for a new season of Mixed Match Challenge (Orange Cassidy & Bayley!), and build teams solely off of a random name (Beefy Biz Inc.). Goodbye gendered wrestling divisions!
It's the start of an all-new, all-different Grit & Glitter!
With Harley and Em saying goodbye to G&G for personal reasons, new hosts Mayydayy and Lindsay kick off our next era, taking the show back to its roots in focusing solely on women's wrestling and the family-friendly action of WOW Superheroes.
This week they look at how season 10 has been going so far, potential challengers for the trios titles, and how the Beastification of WOW has been holding other women back.
Em and Don talk to two-thirds of The Matriarchy, "No Mercy" Zeke Mercer and Amanda Maslow!
They talk competing for 880 Wrestling, how The Matriarchy formed, representation in wrestling, the influence of Maria Kanellis-Bennett, and chasing the 880 tag titles.
Harley and Em are joined by Hoodslam's own Anton Voorhees and DARK Sheik for a wrestling media draft!
They compete to select some of their favorite wrestling books, movies, songs, t-shirts, and merchandise. Which wrestler will land two books on the chart? What body part makes the list? Did Stone Cold and Shawn Michaels walk so Santino Marella and Nikki Bella could run? Whose selfie made the list?
Listen, find out, and cast your vote for the winner over on our Instagram!
Harley flew from Toronto to Pittsburgh to join Glitterati members Em, Laz, and Don in attending Enjoy Wrestling's Dearly Beloved!
Harley and Em talk his weekend in Pittsburgh and spoiler-free thoughts on DARK Sheik presiding over the wedding of Billy Dixon and Sonny Kiss, MV Young vs. Jack Pollock in career vs. career, and more.
Plus: Harley sits down with Jordan Blade and Eel O'Neal to discuss intergender wrestling, what makes them so unique, and why now was the right time for the Best Business Bureau to reform.
Harley's back with another round of 20 Questions and this time he's joined by “The Nϋ Thing” Elle Valentine!
She discusses life in Boston, starting out with BLOWW, The Substance, career highs and lows, what her family thinks of her being a wrestler, and meeting Gangrel.
It's the season 14 premiere and we're (finally) talking about customs matches!
Em finally chases down a dream as she gets Ray Lyn and Kayla Carroll to sit down and talk about the stigma and misconceptions around customs. They discuss working for New England Female Wrestling, the opportunities customs afford, networking, and the sisterhood of wrestling. And, yes, Ray's got some stories about the bad apples in the bunch as well.
On the season 13 finale, love is in the air because it's time for Valentine's Vavoc! We redecorated our Halloween wheel and turned it into a shimmering circle of love, romance, and sexiness. Harley, Em, Val Pancakes, and Lindsay take turns spinning for options like unwrapped, bound by love, boy/girl party, and holy matrimony. Which match types will they get? And how much time will they spend talking about their taxes?
WATCH LIST
The Terror Twins (Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley) vs. The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan)
WWE Bash In Berlin (August 31, 2024)
Peacock
Victoria vs. Molly Holly, title vs. hair for the WWE Women’s Championship
WWE WrestleMania XX (March 14, 2004)
YouTube
TNA Knockouts Championship #1 Contender Battle Royal
TNA Impact! (February 6, 2025)
YouTube
Kimber Lee vs. Masha Slamovich
Beyond Fête Forever (December 5, 2021)
IWTV
The Glitterati check in for our court-mandated, once-a-year WWE coverage as we break down the 2025 women's Royal Rumble!
We talk Charlotte Flair winning, Roxanne Perez setting records, where Jordynne Grace goes from here, the WWE/TNA partnership, and potential WrestleMania matches.
Em and Harley talk to author Rufi Thorpe about her latest novel, Margo's Got Money Troubles, in which a struggling single mom turns to OnlyFans with the advice of her retired pro wrestler father. Soon to be an 8-episode TV series from Apple TV, A24, and David E. Kelley starring Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nicole Kidman.
Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on how David Lynch and Twin Peaks influenced her aesthetic and style as a wrestler.
It's the return of 20 Questions as Harley sits down with international pop star/professional wrestler B3CCA.
She dishes on her current fixations, greatest fears, the worst moments of her career, and how she spoils herself. And we play her latest single, "Best In Da West." (By the way, you're fired, Producer Steve.)
Em and Don check in with the riot grrrls of wrestling for Pro Wrestling Eve's Wrestle Queendom VII!
Eve Champion Nina Samuels and Eve International Champion Yuu both defend their titles in the one-night She-1 tournament against Alex Windsor, Rayne Leverkusen, Emersyn Jayne, Millie McKenzie, and Safire Reed. Plus: new tag champs, Debbie Keitel has lost her smile, and a big name announced for February's Multiverse Rumble.
Harley, Em, and Meg kick off 2025 with our annual wrestlutions!
First, we check in on last year's New Year's resolutions to see where we succeeded and where we fell short. Then, we make some goals for the year to come including wrestling watching, podcast plans, and thinking ahead about our impending 300th episode.
It's the sixth annual Glitter Bombs, our year-end award show honoring the best in women's wrestling!
Harley, Em, and the rest of The Glitterati are joined by a surplus of special guests to reveal your picks. Effy hosts! Edith Surreal is presented with our inaugural Flowers award! Who was your favorite wrestler of 2024? What was your match of the year? Find out on an emotional, surprise-filled edition of The Glitter Bombs.
Harley & Em present the tenth installment in G&G series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time they are joined by the legendary DARK Sheik to cover Edith Surreal! From watching ECW at a farmer's market as a child to becoming a living work of art, through Chikara, Camp Leapfrog, and Enjoy, wrestling Masha Slamovich in the snow, and winning the Cassandro Cup, this is the story of the Ephemeral Queen.
Our playlist for this episode:
Still Life With Apricots And Pears vs. Penelope Ford
Chikara National Pro Wrestling Day (2/10/2019), IWTV
Still Life With Apricots And Pears vs. BLANK
Chikara King Of Trios (10/5/2019), IWTV
Still Life With Apricots And Pears vs. DARK Sheik
GCW Effy’s Big Gay Brunch (10/10/2020), Triller
Edith Surreal vs. Masha Slamovich in an unsanctioned Soviet deathmatch
Camp Leapfrog Matt Makowski’s Frogsport (4/25/21)
Edith Surreal vs. Ziggy Haim – mask vs. hair
Enjoy Night Moves (10/8/2021)
Originally aired June 2023. In honor of DARK Sheik topping the 2024 QWI 200, revisit our seventh installment of "Living Legends," the series where we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
Follow us as we trace her journey from wrestling at age 14 as Persian Tiger to being typecast as a Middle Eastern heel, founding Hoodslam, transitioning in a public space, appearing in Superman comics, and starting the Church of Wrestling.
Em and Harley return to Boston and check in with the Boston League Of Wicked Wrestlers, talking with Pammmmmmmmmmmmy and Shitty Wizard!
They discuss how they came to BLOWW and found their characters, the philosophies behind the organization, trading in gym mats on bar floors for a professional wrestling ring, and approaching the silly and the stupid with heart and soul.
With voting now open for The 2024 Glitter Bombs, it's time again for our annual Match Of The Year special!
The Glitterati are joined by friends Missy, Brian, Megan, Zach, Moni, Lizzy, Tess, and Adriana to share their favorite women's matches from this year including Toni Storm vs. Mariah May, Jordynne Grace vs. Masha Slamovich, and a whole lot more.
As the 2024 Glitter Bombs approach, Em & HARL3Y take a look at some of the top potential vote-getters in our forthcoming sixth annual year-end awards.
Was Mercedes Moné the top signing of the year, or has Mariah May had a bigger impact? How does Giulia compare? Are Damage Ctrl the #1 faction? Will Renee Paquette ever best Veda Scott? And can AEW capture Match Of The Year for the first time?
Em and Don take a look at the career of our favorite pop star, B3CCA, including her Basic early days in BLOWW, traveling The Road during the pandemic, her music career, and her year-long disappearance and recent return.
Our watch list for this episode:
B3CCA vs. Alec Price – fans bring the weapons
Beyond Heavy Lies The Crown (12/31/22)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQdxc7qQo9I
Best Hoes vs. Bird Law
Fight Life Still Standing (6/14/23)
Triller
Gay Best Friends vs. Miracle Generation for the IWTV tag titles
Beyond Americanrana ’23: Perfect Day (8/13/23)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnveLjWvPy8
Y2Kuties vs. The Savage Gnomes
Beyond Pop Culture (11/9/24)
IWTV
Lindsay welcomes back KZT a.k.a. Karen Tran a.k.a. Exodus!
Karen talks going to art school, moving from Australia to America, getting into wrestling, her time as Exodus in WOW Superheroes, wrestling in Bloodsport, working backstage for NWA and AEW, and the future of her in-ring career.
It's Election Day in the USA so Harley turns our attention to Canada, just in case.
He takes a look at the relaunch of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and their two-night debut, Forged In Excellence, with a history of the original Maple Leaf Wrestling, thoughts on all the women's matches, and questions about the murkiness around what exactly is the new MLP brand.
Harley & Lindsay celebrate the 10th anniversary of Lucha Underground by re-watching the first episode from October 29, 2014!
They discuss Prince Puma vs. Johnny Mundo, the incredible Dario Cueto, the vibes of the Temple, their use of intergender wrestling, and Robert Rodriguez's influence on the aesthetic.
Happy Halloween! Harley, Don, and Val Pancakes celebrate spooky season by spinning the Halloween Havoc wheel once again. They each land on a different gimmick stipulation and then find a women's wrestling match to share with the party.
Our watch list:
Natalya vs. Chelsea Green w/Piper Niven in a trick or street fight
WWE Monday Night Raw (10/30/2023)
Jessica Troy vs. Steph De Lander in a steel cage match for the PWWA Championship
PWA Black Label Rick South For The Boys (2/15/2020)
Tara vs. Daffney in a first blood match for the Knockouts Championship
TNA Impact (3/29/2010)
Mickie James vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a Texas deathmatch for the Knockouts Championship
TNA Hard To Kill (1/8/2022)
Harley, Em, and Mayydayy are joined by guest Sienna Chanel for the TNA draft!
22 years of TNA women are up for grabs as they take turns drafting Knockouts in categories like Gold Standard, Dynamic Duos, and Surprise Return. Who were the #1 draft picks? Whose roster is the strongest? And which show are you watching?
Harley asks 20 Questions to New Jersey up-and-coming wrestler Stevie Brooks!
She talks training at the Monster Factory, wrestling in front of her family, meeting Lisa Marie Varon, gauntlet matches, and her fear of birds.
Em and Harley are joined by forever Glitterati member Val Quartz and first-time guest Moni Garcia to debate a hot button topic of our era: AEW wrestlers as Chappell Roan songs.
They go through the entire Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess album track by track to discuss who's a femininomenom, who's been naked in Manhattan, whose kink is watching you ruin your life, and which men are probably guilty of wearing fugly jeans.
Harley is joined by debut guest Auntie Collins to discuss the first episode of The Queen Of Villains, the new Netflix miniseries about the life of '80s AJW star Dump Matsumoto.
They discuss Dump getting the spotlight, the treatment of kayfabe on the show, the AJW principles, and how Japanese architecture factored into Kaoru pouncing her father through a wall.
It's the return of G&G Film Club as Em and Harley watch Below The Belt, an overlooked kitchen sink drama from 1980.
Rosa Rubinsky is a New York City waitress who gets her big break when a wrestling promoter sees her beat the tar out of a guy trying to get fresh with her. After he sends her to train with Mildred Burke (playing herself!), Rosa heads out into the world of 1970's women's wrestling and discovers all of the heartbreak, confusion, and long car rides that it entails.
Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on date night ideas!
It's our five-year anniversary and we're adding two new Glitterati members!
Harley and Em are joined by new correspondents Laz and Meg James for a listeners' choice special. You told us which matches you wanted us to watch and we're talking all about them:
Chigusa Nagayo vs. Dump Matsumoto, hair vs. hair
AJW (8/28/1985)
Laura Di Matteo vs. Jordynne Grace
Pro-Wrestling: Eve Wrestle Queendom 2 (6/30/2019)
Rosemary vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Lady Frost vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Chelsea Green in an Ultimate X match
TNA Hard To Kill (1/8/2022)
Covey Christ vs. Justine Ward
Kaizen Pro Wrestling Writing On The Walls (5/7/2022)
On the season 12 finale, Harley and Em convince three wrestling fans to watch weekly television from a promotion they normally don't. TNA fan Mayydayy watched NXT, WWE fan Tom Stoup watched AEW Dynamite, and AEW fan Adriana watched TNA. What did they think? Will they watch again? And what were their first impressions of the respective women's divisions?
Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on wearing glasses and adjusting to change.
Harley is joined by returning guests Ella Jay and Lizzy Flanagan to discuss the women of AEW All In! Jamie Hayter is back and we're excited. Who could be first in line for a crack at women's champion Mariah May? Will this lead to a new Toni Storm? What went wrong with Britt Baker vs. Mercedes Moné? And what stipulation will Willow Nightingale choose for her All Out match against Kris Statlander?
Plus: Dear Ziggy with eyeliner tips from Ziggy Haim.
In the aftermath of Mission Pro Wrestling going on hiatus, Em and Don discuss four promotions where women's wrestling is beginning to thrive: Exodus Pro Wrestling, Mega Wrestling, Empire State Wrestling, and Dreamwave!
Harley and Em talk to Billy Dixon (Paris Is Bumping, For The Culture), Rosie Fingers (Full Queer), and Milhouse Malott (PrideStyle) about creating queer-centric wrestling shows, finding new wrestling fans, and what we can do to help ensure the continued success of more queer and diverse shows in our own cities.
Em is joined by returning guest Scarlett Harris to discuss Margo's Got Money Troubles, the newest novel from American writer Rufi Thorpe. In the book, Margo is a 20-year-old unemployed single mother who decides to start an OnlyFans using advice from her retired pro wrestler father.
Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on how non-wrestlers can get a start working in pro wrestling.
Harley, Em, and returning guest Laz discuss the women's action at ROH Death Before Dishonor including the case for Athena being the best wrestler going today, Leyla Hirsch and Diamanté showing out, who's possibly in line for a shot at Final Battle, and whether the women's division could survive Athena getting called up to AEW.
Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on her favorite graphic novels.
Em, Harley, and Mayydayy talk the knockouts of TNA Slammiversary including Jordynne Grash vs. Ash By Elegance in a standout performance, what's next for the tag division, which NXT wrestlers they'd like to see in TNA, and who could possibly challenge Grace at Bound For Glory, our next and biggest pay-per-view of the year.
In an era when so many of the tag teams in the top companies are two directionless singles wrestlers slapped together, where are the real team teams at? That's the assignment Harley and Em gave to The Glitterati.
Lindsay, Don, Val, and Mayydayy returned with four of their top picks featuring matches from Las Cochinas, King Bees, The Goons Of The Scenic City, and Pretty Empowered:
The Last Call vs. Stephy Slays & Jennifer Florez
WOW Superheroes (7/24/23)
King Bees vs. Vert Vixen & Jazmin Allure
New Texas Pro Gorgeous (5/11/24)
The Goons Of The Scenic City vs. Pretty Empowered
New South We Love Pro Wrestling (2/3/24)
Pretty Empowered vs. M95
NWA 75 (8/27/23)
Harley is joined by first-time G&G guest Megan Ambers to discuss the women of NXT Heatwave. Harley was live in the building to see hometown faves Arianna Grace & Karmen Petrovic in tag action, Kelani Jordan and Sol Ruca show out, and former G&G guest Roxanne Perez remain champion.
Plus: Em is joined by Brian Bell to discuss The Life Of... DARK Sheik, streaming now on IWTV.
For its 20th anniversary, Harley and Don revisit IWA Mid-South's Volcano Girls, a landmark show in the history of American women's wrestling.
On May 30, 2004 Dave Prazak booked Becky Bayless, Traci Brooks, Lexie Fyfe, Daizee Haze, Mickie Knuckles, Lacey, Mercedes Martinez, MsChif, Rain, and Sumie Sakai in a one-night tournament to crown the first IWA Mid-South Women's Champion. The show would prove to be such a success that it led to the creation of an entire promotion: Shimmer Women Athletes.
On our 250th episode, it's the premiere of our new game show, Gimme Brains!
Harley hosts as Em, Lindsay, and stand-up comedian Zach Funk compete to answer women's wrestling trivia questions in categories like Monster Of The Weak, Here Comes The Bride, and That's A Shoot with the winner walking away with fabulous prizes. Who will make history as the first Gimme Brains! winner ever?
It's the return of G&G Film Club as Em and Lindsay watch the 1968 lucha libre film The Batwoman!
When luchadors begin disappearing en masse, mild-mannered socialite/luchadora/crimefighter Batwoman is on the case. It's a trail that leads her to Dr. Eric Williams and his nefarious plot to... do something with the pineal gland... that results in him creating a race of gill-men. Batwoman must battle the gill-men, train the next generation of luchadoras, and outshine her incompetent cop boyfriends all while dressed in nothing more than a Batman mask and a small bikini.
Two days out from the biggest show in Enjoy Wrestling history, Harley, Em, & Don preview the Immaculate card and make their predictions. Who will face Sonny Kiss for the vacant Enjoy Championship? Which of the four teams will walk out with the tag titles? How screwed is David Lawless when he's locked in a steel cage with Mr. Grim?
Plus: last-minute thoughts from MV Young, Billy Dixon, Darius Carter, The Runway, Mr. Grim, Mikey Montgomery, David Lawless, referee Nick Shin, and photographer A.J. Small ahead of the big show!
And: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on coping with loss.
Harley is joined by debuting guests Jasmine and Courtney to dive into the women's action at NXT Battleground.
They discuss Jordynne Grace taking a clean pin, Tatum Paxley trying to steal the TNA Knockouts title, Kelani Jordan becoming the first North American champion, Shayna Baszler losing to Lola Vice, who's next for Roxanne Perez, and the next step in the NXTNA relationship.
Pride 2024 kicks off with Harley asking 20 Questions to trans Tennessee wrestler Sigrid, Daughter of Tyr! Sigrid discusses wrestling at Effy's Big Gay Brunch, learning to trust through wrestling, and what she'd buy if she won the lottery.
Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim giving advice on how to care for goldendoodle puppies.
Harley and Em talk all the women's action at AEW Double Or Nothing including Mercedes Moné winning the TV title, Kris Statlander turning on Willow Nightingale, the crowd turning on Serena Deeb, big reactions for Deonna Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa, and the continued struggle for TV time.
Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on keeping older dogs active. And listener mailbag on the the best women's rivalries of all time.
Harley is joined by returning guest Kristen Ashly and first-time guest Adriana to discuss the debut show from new joshi promotion Marigold!
Fields Forever saw Rossy Ogawa's first show since leaving Stardom and they discuss all the matches including thoughts on Bozilla, who will be in the title pictures, differences between Stardom and Marigold, and possibilities of a Marigold-WWE relationship.
Em talks to labor and heavy metal journalist Kim Kelly about her new wrestling fandom, attending Joey Janela's Clusterfuck Forever in person, and her article for The Nation: "The Glorious Proletarian Theater Of Pro Wrestling."
Plus: another installment of Dear Ziggy sees Ziggy Haim giving tips to maintain bright hair colors!
And Harley and Em answer listener mail on overlooked North American women's matches that should have received 5 stars from Dave Meltzer.
It's the special premiere of two brand-new recurring G&G segments!
20 Questions sees people answer a 20-point questionnaire covering topics ranging from wrestling to music to day jobs to hopes and fears. To test out the new segment, Em and Harley put themselves to the test.
Plus: it's the debut of our new advice column, Dear Ziggy! Every week Ziggy Haim answers your questions and dispenses advice and guidance on a variety of topics. This week, Ziggy tackles the art of self-confidence and faking it 'til you make it.
This summer your favorite women's wrestling podcast will be hitting a landmark 250 episodes. As we continue our trek toward that destination, let's take this week to revisit another landmark - our 100th episode from August 2021.
On the 100th episode of G&G we took you on a journey through the history of this podcast, from conception to execution and the assembling of The Glitterati.
It was a double-header weekend of women's wrestling from two of the big three.
Harley, Em, and Mayydayy discuss the Knockouts action at TNA Rebellion including Jordynne Grace and Steph De Lander being overrun by a bunch of men, Decay's greatest hits tour, the disappearance of Killer Kelly, and the slow build of Ash By Elegance.
Then: Em and Harley talk the ladies of AEW Dynasty including Willow Nightingale clobbering Julia Hart in six minutes, Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa wrestling a good match, Mina Shirakawa, and whether Mercedes Moné will actually win the TBS title.
On the season 12 premiere of Grit & Glitter, it's the 2024 women's wrestling draft!
This year Harley and Em are joined by Tess Schmucker (Women's Wrestling Watch) and Meg James (Gravy Bowl) to compete to draft their own rosters, drawing wrestlers and broadcasters of marginalized genders from WWE, AEW, TNA, Japan, and the indies with each of them trying to build the strongest all-around roster.
Who will be their #1 draft picks? Which wrestlers will be the most coveted? Which top stars will go unclaimed? And which promotion will prove the hardest to draw from?
On our season 11 finale, The Glitterati take Philadelphia! Harley, Em, Don, Lindsay, Mayydayy, and Val Pancakes all descended upon the city of brotherly love for a WrestleMania-less WrestleMania weekend.
With the aid of Lindsay's cousin (and brand-new wrestling fan) Rebekah and friend of the show Laz, they discuss their personal highlights from shows including Effy's Big Gay Brunch, For The Culture, Spark Joshi, TJPW, ThrashElvania, Stardom, CFU, Progress, GCW/JCW, and Joey Janela's Clusterfuck Forever.
Harley talks to PWI editor-in-chief Kevin McElvaney about running his first show, this Saturday's ThrashElvania.
They discuss surprises found in running your first show, raising funds for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, and putting together matches like Shazza McKenzie vs. Delmi Exo, Rhio vs. Hyan, and Laynie Luck & GPA vs. Brandon & Kasey Kirk in the Kirks' couple invitational.
Harley, Lindsay, and Don cover Kanpai, the second(?) show from American joshi promotion Kitsune Women's Wrestling.
Unagi Sayaka vs. Janai Kai for the Kitsune Championship! Jordynne Grace vs. Yuu! 26 other women in 7 other matches!
Plus: The Glitterati are heading to Philadelphia for a WrestleMania-less WrestleMania weekend. insert Michael Scott it's happening gif
Harley & Em are joined by very special guest Edith Surreal to present the ninth installment in their series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Kimber Lee! From being the first female graduate of the CZW Academy to the only woman to hold the Chikara Grand Championship, through going viral with Chris Dickinson, showing out in the Mae Young Classic, and wrestling in the final Shimmer match ever. This is the story of the princess who saved herself.
Our playlist for this episode:
Kimber Lee vs. Nevaeh
CZW Super Saturday (2/4/2012)
She’s A Wrestler: A Kimber Lee Documentary (12/8/14)
Kimber Lee vs. Chris Dickinson in a no disqualification match
Beyond King Of Arts (3/1/2015)
Princess KimberLee vs. Heidi Lovelace for the Chikara Grand Championship
Chikara The Secret Of The Ooze (3/19/2016)
Kimber Lee vs. Kris Statlander in a steel cage
Beyond Americanrana (7/28/2019)
Lindsay and Mayydayy travel to the sacred purple mat of WOW Superheroes to talk to two members of Team Exile!
Genesis (Selena O'Sullivan) and Exodus (KZT) discuss how they came to WOW, finding their characters, forming Team Exile, and advancing to the semi-finals of the ongoing trios tournament with their new protégé, Ice Cold.
Harley is joined by returning friends Kristen Ashly and Mr. Warren Hayes to discuss the women's action at AEW Revolution!
Does the character work of "Timeless" Toni Storm hinder her ability to wrestle to her full potential? Where does Deonna Purrazzo go from here? What are Stokely Hathaway's intentions? Could increasing the number of pay-per-views give women like Thunder Rosa, Hikaru Shida, and Serena Deeb actual things to do? Will the imminent arrival of Mercedes Moné change anything with the booking of the women's division? Is Skye Blue the Igor of the House Of Black?
Two months into 2024, Em is joined by Glitterati members Don and Val Pancakes to put together a scouting report on potential breakout stars to keep an eye on as the rest of the year unfolds.
Gabby Forza! Rebecca J. Scott! Brittnie Brooks! Sigrid, Daughter of Tyr! And more. Get in with us at the ground floor on some of the next great wrestlers.
Still reeling from the Janel Grant and Ashley Massaro revelations, Harley and Em turn to their Patreon podcast Women's Wrestling Entertainment. Over 11 episodes, they've traced the history of women in WWE from the very beginning.
This week we present an abridged version of those first 30 years (1963-1993). The monstrous legacy of The Fabulous Moolah, the tarnished careers of Mad Maxine, Wendi Richter, and the Jumping Bomb Angels, missed opportunities with Sensational Sherri and Luna Vachon, and WWE's first female referee falling prey to Vince McMahon.
30 years in 70 minutes, proving that nothing is new and all of today's evils are just part of a larger pattern that's existed since day one.
Don talks to Missy Sampson of the Monster Factory, a 25+ year veteran of the wrestling business who is taking her wrestling and training experience to a new level with her brand new, all-women's promotion Belle 2 Bell.
Debuting this March, B2B promises exciting, dynamic match-ups between women talent both well-established and up and coming. Don and Missy talk about the conception of B2B, the influence of various colleagues inside Monster Factory, and run through many of the names on the Ring The Bell card.
In the aftermath of more disgusting Vince McMahon revelations, we continue to spotlight the power of women in wrestling.
Em and Don cover Effy's Big Gay Brunch 8 including BUSSY vs. MxM, Sawyer Wreck vs. Lindsay Snow, and the wrath of Parrow.
Then: Harley and Jacqui discuss the women's Royal Rumble match including Bayley winning, Jade Cargill debuting, and a shocking appearance from TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace.
Grit & Glitter Wrestling proudly presents the first-ever Royal Grumble!
Harley, Em, and friend of the show Brian Bell each hired their own personal cadre of independent wrestlers to compete in a 20-woman, over the top rope battle royal. The winner walks away with some sort of cup-shaped prize.
Who will walk through the curtain when the buzzer goes off? Which alliances will form inside of the Grumble? #westcoastbestcoast??
BUT: Before the Grumble even begins, Harley drops a bombshell surprise on Em and the whole G&G universe. You won't want to miss this historic episode of Grit & Glitter!
Harley, Em, and Mayydayy cover the re-rebranding of TNA Wrestling! Going down like a cold glass of New Coke, they were Hard To Kill and we talk it all - Dana Brooke arrives, Trinity departs?, the Death Dollz re-Decay, Xia Brookside and Dani Luna sign, MK Ultra get squashed, Mickie James is nowhere to be found, and Jordynne Grace capitalizes on Deonna Purrazzo’s exit to become the new face of the Knockouts division.
Harley & Em present the eighth installment in their series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Madison Eagles! From tap-dancing at the Olympic Games to starting her own wrestling school, running PWA Black Label, wrestling in Australia, America, England, and Japan, and training people like The IIconics, Charli Evans, and Grayson Waller, all while raising four kids. This is the story of the longest-reigning Shimmer Champion of all time.
Our playlist for this episode:
Jessie McKay vs. Madison Eagles for the PWWA Championship
PWA Call To Arms (7/11/2010)
Madison Eagles vs. Daizee Haze
Chikara Chaos In The Sea Of Lost Souls (1/23/2011)
A History of Madison Eagles vs. Nicole Matthews
Madison Eagles vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a submission match
Shimmer Volume 101 (4/4/2018)
Harley and Em are joined by friend of the show Laz to kick off 2024!
They check in on last year's wrestling resolutions to see if they passed or failed, make new wrestolutions for this year, and discuss the year in women's wrestling to come. Who will win the Royal Rumble? Could Mercedes Moné appear in TNA? Will women ever get two matches on an episode of Dynamite?
It's the fifth annual Glitter Bombs, our year-end award show honoring the best in women's wrestling!
Harley, Em, and the rest of The Glitterati are joined by a crew of special guests to reveal your picks. RJ City returns as host. B3CCA performs her new Christmas single "Silent Night" live for the first time. Who was your favorite wrestler of 2023? Which tag team topped the rest? Who did you deem the future of wrestling? Find out on a historic edition of The Glitter Bombs.
It's Christmas week and Harley is joined by 2023 Glitter Bomb nominee for Future Star, "The Adventuress" Lara Frazier!
They discuss the pitfalls of December birthdays, wrestling for Hoodslam, working at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, competing in the Lingerie Fighting Championship, and which Disney song most speaks to their gender identity.
Em and Harley talk the second show from new American joshi promotion Sukeban. Arisa Nakajima vs. Unagi Sayaka to crown the first Sukeban World Champion. The debuts of Sareee and Rina Yamashita. A makeover for Konami.
How can they afford all this? Is this the first wrestling promotion to get covered in Vogue? Which current promotion is Sukeban perhaps most closely in line with? Why aren't we getting five-star bangers, and is it purposeful?
It's our third annual Match Of The Year special!
December has arrived and voting is now open for the 2023 Glitter Bombs. But before you vote, get some last-minute watch recommendations from a bunch of our friends as they shout out their favorite matches from the year including action from WWE, Impact, ROH, GCW, & more.
Em and Lindsay are joined by first-time guest Alex to watch the sixth episode of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans! entitled "The Ugly Ladies Of Wrestling Rematch!"
They analyze a drag reality competition's take on wrestling, rate each of the queens' wrestling gimmicks and matches, and continue the ongoing G&G saga of deep-thinking about the intersection of drag and pro wrestling.
Em and Harley are joined by returning guest Shay Sawyer to discuss the women's action at AEW Full Gear including "Timeless" Toni Storm capturing the women's title, where she goes from here, Julia Hart capturing the TBS title, whether Skye Blue is actually evil or not, the increased number of AEW pay-per-views, and the absences of Britt Baker, Thunder Rosa, Taya Valkyrie, and Nyla Rose, amongst others.
Harley and Don chat with Montreal wrestler "The Sweetest Pea" Kristara about being the first woman to hold tag gold in IWS Hardcore history, teaming with Alex Maze as Amazingly Sweet, and training under "Speedball" Mike Bailey.
Plus: from the archives, Harley chats with Abby Jane in May 2021 about summer vacation.
On the season 11 premiere, it's our Daylight Saving special! Harley and Mayydayy turn back the clocks and embrace the darkness with some of the darkest matches in the history of women's wrestling:
- B3CCA vs. Love Doug in a blindfold match
- Meiko Satomura vs. Isla Dawn in a world of darkness
- The Bunny vs. Su Yung in a casket match
- Session Moth Martina vs. B. Cool in a blindfold match
- Tiffany Stratton vs. Wendy Choo in a lights out match
On the season 10 finale, it's Halloween again! Harley and Em are joined by Glitterati member Don and new friend Traci McFace to spin the old WCW Halloween Havoc wheel and make some deals.
They each land on a gimmick and then seek out a women's match from that type to watch. Will they get a lumberjill match? Princess of darkness? Coal miner's glove? Which wrestlers will be chosen to represent this Halloween? Which matches will abandon their gimmicks halfway through? Find out on another spooktacular edition of G&G.
Harley and Em are joined by PWI contributor Candace Cordelia to break down the first-ever PWI Women's 250!
They discuss the #1 ranked Rhea Ripley, biggest climbs and debuts, Natalya being the only woman to rank every year since the list's inception, and which promotions had the most roster representation.
Harley is joined by new friend of the show Von and Pennsylvania wrestler Journey Burke to talk about their favorite TV series - Gilmore Girls!
They discuss their favorite episodes, why they're all #TeamJess, which characters would make good pro wrestlers, which wrestlers would be right at home in Stars Hollow, and ship some new wrestler love interests for Lorelai and Rory.
The Glitterati help Harley celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving!
Harley watches an episode of NXT for the first time in four years. Em and Don attend Enjoy Killing In The Name. Jacqui fundraises for Lehigh Valley Girls Rock. Don checks out Pro Wrestling Revolver. And Mayydayy finishes final prep work on the forthcoming CFU Fight Night.
Em is joined by "The Unwilting" Tatiana and "The Bearcat" Keith Haught to discuss the intersection of pro wrestling and Dungeons & Dragons.
They talk about their time with Top Rope Table Top, why things like D&D seem to be so popular among wrestlers, how character work in table-top gaming translates to character work in wrestling, and moments from memorable campaigns.
Harley and Em are joined by old friend Kelly Wells and new friend Shay Sawyer to draft NXT women, past and present, into creating their own new all-women NXT brand.
Who will be their #1 draft picks? Which tag teams will make the cut? Who are their favorites of the current era? Which missed opportunities will be given a second chance? And who will they choose to offer an NXT contract to for the first time ever?
Back to school month continues with Harley and Em joined by new Canadian friend Erika to deep dive into her home promotion, IWS Hardcore!
They chart the history of IWS from a street fight on a college campus in 1998 to one of the longest-running promotions in Canada, with names like LuFisto and Vanessa Kraven leading into current stars like Kristara, Melanie Havok, and Dani Leo.
It's the fourth anniversary of Grit & Glitter and back to school month rolls on! New friend Emily joins Em, Harley, and Lindsay to travel back to 1986 and watch the pilot episode of the infamous Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling.
They discuss the history behind GLOW, Matilda The Hun vs. Tammy for the GLOW crown, songs about raw meat, multiple racist characters, so many double entendres, the power of a little brother's thumbs up, and the first match ever from future WWE Women's Champion Ivory. Grab your weekly banana split and celebrate four years of G&G!
It's back to school month at Grit & Glitterand we're committed to making some new friends! Harley is joined by Lizzy Flanagan to break down the AEW women's division coming out of All In, their biggest show to date.
They discuss all 35 women listed on the AEW roster including The Outcasts' reign of boredom, why they bothered giving Hikaru Shida the gold for three weeks, normie Kris Statlander, the underserved Willow Nightingale, Nyla Rose having the worst record of any woman in 2023, the muddiness between the AEW and ROH rosters, and the disappearances of names like Jade Cargill, Abadon, and Red Velvet.
Em and Don chat with "Red Hot" Charles Stunning about their first year in wrestling, training at the T2T Wrestling Academy, what first drew them to wrestling as a fan, and the intersection of wrestling and burlesque!
The HarEm is back together with Harley and Em reunited to discuss Wrestlers' Lab 7 Years Of Science and Uncanny Attractions Drags & Dropkicks 3 including Heel O'Neal, the Chikara effect, The WOAD's unbreakable rear end, Billy Dixon's heel turn press release, and Edith Surreal risking her shot at capturing the Glitter Bomb for Favorite Wrestler for the third year in a row.
Em and Don chat with fellow yinzers Nix Wilde and Rozie The Ref about their involvement with MV Young's two burgeoning Pittsburgh foundations: 880 Wrestling and the T2T Wrestling Academy.
Harley, Don, and the returning Val Quartz talk the women's action that was and wasn't at WWE SummerSlam 2023.
They discuss Ronda and Shayna's makeup choices, the triple threat for a women's championship, Iyo Sky cashing in Money In The Bank, how long Iyo will hold onto the title for, how long until Bayley turns on her, Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus getting struck from the card, and Rhea Ripley spending more time valeting for men than wrestling.
Em chats with award-winning playwright, screen writer, and author Gina Femia about their debut YA novel, the queer teen wrestling title Alondra!
Gina talks about their own wrestling fandom, which wrestlers influenced the fictitious wrestlers in their novel, queer and nonbinary representation, and which indie wrestling promotions they love and frequent.
Harley, Em, and Don are talking honor with women main eventing an ROH pay-per-view for the first time ever. It was Death Before Dishonor with MOTY candidate Athena vs. Willow Nightingale and Leyla Hirsch vs. new Infantry member Trish Adora. They also talk how flat weekly ROH has been, who's left after Athena's already beaten everybody, and the reinvention of Athena.
Plus: Em and Don were live at Wrestlers' Lab for their seventh anniversary show!
Celebrating 21 years of Impact Wrestling, it's Slammiversary!
Harley and Mayydayy discuss Trinity tapping out Deonna Purrazzo to capture her first singles gold in six years, Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly taking off the dog collar to put on some gold, Jody Threat hanging out with Death Dollz, and Gisele Shaw's embarrassing performance on The Amazing Race Canada. We are bound for Bound For Glory and it all starts here.
Em and Lindsay discuss the legendary deathmatch wrestling of Megumi Kudo, focusing on several matches from her iconic run in FMW.
This episode really has everything: barbed wire rings, tiny hatchets, hair drags & powerbombs into more barbed wire, accidental pins, and more. And at the heart of it, an all-time great joshi whose name deserves ranking among the very best of the best.
Our watch list for this episode:
Combat Toyoda vs. Megumi Kudo for the FMW Women’s Championship in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Current Blast Death Match
FMW Fighting Creation ‘96 (5/5/1996)
Megumi Kudo & Bison Kimura vs. Lioness Asuka & Shark Tsuchiya in a Scramble Bunkhouse Match
FMW Winning Road 1997 (3/28/1997)
Megumi Kudo vs. Mayumi Ozaki in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Barricade Mat Double Hell Death Match
FMW Fighting Creation (4/18/1997)
Shark Tsuchiya vs. Megumi Kudo for the FMW Women’s Championship in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Current Explosion Barricade Double Hell Death Match
FMW Fighting Creation (4/29/1997)
It's the 200th episode of Grit & Glitter!!
Harley drives from Toronto to Pittsburgh to meet up with Em and go backstage at Enjoy Wrestling's Something To Write Home About. They chat with a cavalcade of stars including Enjoy Champion Edith Surreal, Ray Lyn, GummiBoar, and The Runway as well as Enjoy staff members AJ Small and Maxx Gregg.
Thank you everyone for helping guide us to 200 episodes. We love you more than words can say. Here's to 200 more!
Harley and Em are joined by returning guest Brian Bell to present the seventh installment in G&G series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s DARK Sheik! From starting training at age 14 to playing heel Sheik Khan Abadi in a post-9/11 world, founding Hoodslam, dying and being reborn, being replaced by an evil robot, training wrestlers like Shotzi and Mansoor, transitioning in front of the world, teaming with The Caution and Thrussy, founding the Church of Wrestling, and palling around with Lita, this is the story of the master mold, the mother brain, the DARK Sheik.
Our playlist for this episode:
Sheik Khan Abadi vs. Wild Storm
Big Time Wrestling (10/21/07)
The Joker & Harley Quinn vs. Bat Manuela & The Cereal Girl Hoodslam Femmed Out: Total DIVAstation (2/5/16)
DARK Sheik vs. Still Life With Apricots & Pears GCW Effy's Big Gay Brunch (10/10/20)
El Chupacabra vs. DARK Sheik w/Pollo Del Mar for the Golden Gig Championship Hoodslam Fights Into Dreams (6/3/22)
Thrussy vs. Cole Radrick & Brat Pack GCW Scene Of The Crime (4/22/23)
Jacqui chats with one half of MSP, The DangerKid!
DangerKid talks how he came to his genderfluid nonbinary identity, performing drag for the first time, parallels between drag and wrestling, escapism through art, and his new home away from home at Deadlock Pro Wrestling.
Harley, Em, and Mayydayy discuss Impact Against All Odds including Masha Slamovich vs. Killer Kelly in a... let's say... provocative?... dog collar match, the return of Nevaeh, Deonna Purrazzo and Trinity teaming together ahead of facing each other at Slammiversary, and speculation on who could be next in line to challenge The Coven for the tag titles.
Season 10 kicks off with blood and SURVIVAL, as Em and Don talk GCW's deathmatch weekend duo of Tournament of Survival 8 & Cage of Survival (NOT DEATH!) 2.
This year's ToS featured a record number of women competing, including current GCW Ultraviolent champion, Rina Yamashita, plus Sawyer Wreck & Kasey Kirk. Join us as we breakdown the breaking glass, light tubes, soda cans, barbed wire, blades and more.
On the season 9 finale, Harley and Em discuss the three (sort of) women's matches from AEW Double Or Nothing!
Jade Cargill's undefeated streak comes to an end. The Outcasts stay outcasting people. Are we going to get Blood & Guts or not? What will unfold in Wembley Stadium? What could a brand split mean for the women's division? Gather your witches and aliens and let's go quintuple or nothing.
Don talks to "The Vaporwave Vixen" Juniper Gates about the power of unicorns, trans rights, wanting to be a role model, and ranking on the QWI.
Plus: from the archives, Harley chatted with "The Midnight Mermaid" Aspyn Rose in the summer of 2021 about momentum, winning over kids, PolyAm Cult parties, and anime.
Harley, Em, and Don dive into West Coast Pro and the first annual Queen Of Indiestournament. They discuss the continued dominance of Masha Slamovich, the promise of Promise Braxton, an increased joshi presence on the American indies, too many streaming services, and the legend of Chigusa Nagayo.
Harley is joined by guest Jon Manning of Lost Sound Tapes to shine a spotlight on Vancouver promotion Nation Extreme Wrestling.
In less than two years, NEW has taken over Canadian west coast wrestling with a thriving women's division featuring names like Nicole Matthews, Cat Power, Liiza Hall, and Bambi Hall. They dive into the origins of NEW, changes over time, and Jon's live perspective from attending numerous NEW shows.
Our watch list for this episode:
Nicole Matthews vs. Artemis Spencer in a quarter-final tournament match for the NEW Championship, NEW 3 (12/2/21)
KC Spinelli vs. Nicole Matthews vs. Chelsea Green in a TLC match for the NEW Women’s Championship, NEW 4 LIFE (6/24/22)
Nicole Matthews vs. Miyu Yamashita for the NEW Women’s Championship, NEW 12 (3/24/23)
Cat Power vs. Maki Itoh, NEW 12 (3/24/23)
Liiza Hall vs. Bambi Hall in a no DQ tables match, NEW 12 (3/24/23)
Harley and Em present the sixth installment in G&G series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Emi Sakura! From debuting as a teenager in 1995 to holding gold in AJW, founding Ice Ribbon and Gatoh Move, training future superstars like Riho and Hikaru Shida, conquering Pro Wrestling Eve, and working as a player-coach in AEW, this is the story of Tokyo Sports' 2009 Joshi Wrestler Of The Year.
Our playlist for this episode:
Emi Motokawa vs. Sumie Sakai for the AJW World ChampionshipIWA Japan Spring Breeze Tour ’98 (3/13/98) Emi Sakura & Masa Takanashi vs. Riho & Kenny OmegaIce Ribbon New Ribbon #81 (5/9/09) Riho vs. Emi Sakura for the ICEx60 ChampionshipIce Ribbon New Ribbon #180 (5/3/10) Kaori Yoneyama vs. Emi Sakura in a hair vs. hair match for the JWP Openweight ChampionshipJWP Revolution 2010 (9/19/10) Emi Sakura & Nanae Takahashi vs. Best Friends (Tsukasa Fujimoto & Arisa Nakajima)Ice Ribbon New Ribbon #724 ~ 10th Anniversary Show (5/4/16) Jamie Hayter vs. Emi Sakura in an AEW Women’s World Championship eliminator matchAEW Rampage (1/27/23)
It's the start of a new annual tradition. It's the 2023 women's wrestling draft!
Harley and Em are joined by Kristen Ashly (Bell To Belles) and Brian Bell (LGBT In The Ring) to draft their own women's wrestling rosters, drawing talent from WWE, AEW, ROH, Impact, NWA, the indies, and Japan with each of them trying to build the strongest all-around roster.
Who will be the overall #1 draft picks? Which wrestlers will get stolen out from other people's grasps? Which champions will go undrafted? And what Stardom match result will Harley spoil for Kristen?
Harley, Em, and Mayyday discuss the Impact RebellionPPV including Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace for the vacant Knockouts Championship, The Coven vs. Death Dollz for the tag titles, Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly in a predominantly-male hardcore war, and what's next for a division lacking in top heels.
In honor of Billie Starkz signing with AEW and Roxanne Perez holding gold in NXT, let's take a look back at a classic episode of Grit & Glitterfrom August 2020.
Harley, Em, Roxanne, and Billie discuss wrestling as teenagers, balancing their careers with attending high school, future aspirations, and what their teachers and classmates think of their celebrity.
Em & Don shake off their post-Wrestlemania weekend wrestling binge haze to discuss, in the afterglow of GCW's Collective Weekend, the state of women wrestlers in GCW. From a forgotten women's championship to growing their women's roster from a singular feline phenom, we talk Allie Katch, Rina Yamashita, Masha Slamovich, Sawyer Wreck, Dark Sheik, Billie Starkz, Maki Itok & Steph De Lander.
After a jam-packed WrestleMania weekend, Harley and Em are joined by Don, Lindsay, and the long-lost Emily Pratt to discuss a sampling of the great women's wrestling that took place at ROH Supercard Of Honor, NXT Stand & Deliver, Effy's Big Gay Brunch, TJPW Live In Los Angeles, and more.
Ahead of 2023 Collective weekend, it's a look back at a classic episode of Grit & Glitter.
From October 2020, it was the big gay brunchcast edition! Em, Val Quartz, Meg Fair, Val Pancakes, Hannah Harkness, and Bridget Clark cover assorted women's action from various Collective shows as well as the very first Big Gay Brunch including Sonny Kiss vs. Cassandro El Exotico, Edith Surreal vs. Dark Sheik, Allie Kat vs. Jamie Senegal, and the twink gauntlet.
Val Pancakes chats with "wrestling's Swiss army knife" Stepstool Sarah Rose about how they got into wrestling, working various jobs, and future aspirations.
Plus: from the G&G archives (June 2021), Harley chats with Sam Leterna about her approach to interviews, Wrestle Tea, and summer vacation.
Lindsay gets Harley to watch WOW Superheroesfor the first time! Season 8 Episode 24 features Miami's Sweet Heat defending the tag titles against Coach Campanelli & Randi Rah Rah plus former G&G guests colliding with Chantilly Chella vs. Reina Del Rey.
Plus: Don watches their first full Pro Wrestling Eve show when they and Em tune in for Women Behaving Badly 2023! They talk Nina Samuels vs. B3CCA, Miyu Yamashita vs. Lizzy Evo, and more.
Harley, Em, and Don discuss all the women's action at AEW Revolution! All... one match. It was Jamie Hayter vs. Saraya vs. Ruby Soho. Sides were chosen. Iconic stables were copied. Other champions were absent.
They discuss a lack of direction for Jade Cargill, potential Blood & Guts teams, and whether the women's division is any better today than it was three years ago.
Em and Don are joined by Pro Wrestling GRIND co-owner and the God Queen herself, Delmi Exo!
They chat about her recent signing to MLW and starting a wrestling promotion with her partner in late 2021. From forging a promotion identity right from the start to banning the bullies in the locker room to hiding professional nerves from a joshi icon, this is a fun, must-listen chat with one of the top rising stars of women's wrestling.
Em and Harley dissect Mercedes Moné's first match post-WWE, challenging Kairi for the IWGP Women's Championship at NJPW Battle In The Valley! They discuss her new moves and nicknames, her Hana Kimura tribute gear, and ponder where she goes from here.
Plus: with their LGBT In The Ringpodcast on temporary hiatus, Brian Bell returns to the show for a special segment of his own discussing PW Vibe Braumatica! Brian was live in the building for an emotional final Vibe show and talks about the card and the life and legacy of Vibe.
It's a Galentine's Day, Val-entine's Day special!
Val Pancakes chats with wrestling broadcaster Val Capone about her 2022 Glitter Bomb nomination for Outstanding Performer In A Non-Wrestling Role, how she got into wrestling, her love of Chyna, roller derby injuries, and the importance of Effy’s Big Gay Brunch.
It's an interview double-header! First, Jacqui chats with referee Gina Monti about how she came to her position, working with IWTV, and the perils of death match wrestling.
Then, Harley and Em talk to Joanne Starer, writer behind the new comic book miniseries The Gimmick. They talk about the origins of the comic and how it draws on her time in 2002 running the all-women's promotion Kiryoku Pro in conjunction with Chikara.
"I Ran A Women’s Pro-Wrestling Company When I Was 21"
Harley, Em, & Don discuss the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble!
They discuss record-setting Rhea Ripley, runner-up Liv Morgan, unfinished business with Beth Phoenix, evil clown Asuka, spooky playground girl Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch vs. Bayley, the overlooked women's tag titles, and if and when Brandi will ever appear in Cody's corner.
Harley & Em present the fifth installment in G&G series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Mickie James! On part 2, we follow her arrival in TNA to her country music career to NXT to NWA to The Last Rodeo.
Our playlist for this episode:
Mickie James vs. Madison Rayne in a Last Knockout Standing match for the TNA Knockout Championship, TNA Against All Odds, 2/13/11
Impact Wrestling
"Somebody's Gonna Pay" music video
YouTube
Dr. Pepper promo
Vimeo
NXT return promo, WWE NXT, 10/26/16
Peacock
Mickie James vs. Asuka for the NXT Women’s Championship, WWE NXT TakeOver: Toronto, 11/19/16
Peacock
Mickie James & Alicia Fox w/Alexa Bliss vs. Trish Stratus & Lita, WWE Evolution, 10/28/18
Peacock
Mickie James vs. Kylie Rae, NWA 73, 8/29/21
DailyMotion
Harley & Em present the fifth installment in G&G series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Mickie James! On part 1, we follow her from Alexis Laree to The Gathering to Trish Stratus stan to WWE Women's Champion to Piggy James.
Our playlist for this episode:
Alexis Laree vs. Trinity, NWA Total Nonstop Action #39, 4/2/03
YouTube
Mickie James has a present for Trish Stratus, WWE Raw, 3/20/06
Peacock
Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus for the WWE Women's Championship, WWE WrestleMania 22, 4/2/06
Peacock
Michelle McCool & Layla throw a party, WWE SmackDown, 1/22/01
Peacock
Impact Wrestling proves impossible to kill with a banger pay-per-view to kick off 2023. Harley, Em, and Mayydayy discuss Hard To Killincluding Mickie James' emotional Last Rodeo, Masha Slamovich becoming #1 contender again, a MOTY candidate between James and Jordynne Grace, and plenty of ponderings on where things go from here. Giddy up!
We're not done ringing in the new year at Grit & Glitter! This week, Em Fear is joined by brand new Glitterati correspondent, Don Halliwell, as well as Mayydayy and ValPancakes to make some predictions for women's wrestling in 2023. Plus: we do some manifesting of our hopes & dreams, from big years for our big favorite wrestlers and wrestling promotions to the desire to see a greater love for women's wrestling on the whole.
What are your women's wrestling predictions for 2023? What do you hope to see happening this year? Tell us all your hopes & dreams by finding Grit & Glitter on Twitter, Instagram, and Patreon.
In the season 9 premiere, it's 2023! Harley and Em are joined by new Glitterati member Lindsay Baker to make some wrestling resolutions, check in on last year's resolutions, and speculate on what this year could have in store.
Where will the former Sasha Banks show up? When will Mickie James retire? Who will be Saraya's mystery tag partner? What will WrestleManialook like without Vince McMahon in charge?
It's the fourth annual Glitter Bombs, a year-end award show honoring your favorite wrestlers of marginalized genders in 2022!
Harley, Em, and the rest of The Glitterati are joined by some extra friends to reveal your picks in ten categories including Favorite Wrestler, Favorite Tag Team, and Match Of The Year.
One week before Christmas, Harley and his wife drive six hours from Toronto to Pittsburgh to attend Enjoy Wrestling's Enjoy Odyssey and meet Em Fear in person for the first time ever. Merry Christmas, yinz!
Harley and Em discuss the 2022 PWI Tag Team 100 and cover the women's action at ROH Final Battleincluding Willow Nightingale vs. Trish Adora and Mercedes Martinez vs. Athena. Streaming services! Fans undercutting heel heat! Googly eyes!
And don't forget to vote in the Glitter Bombs if you haven't yet - http://tiny.cc/glitterbombs
It's our second annual Match Of The Year special!
The Glitterati are joined by a bunch of our friends to tell you about our favorite women's+ wrestling matches from 2022. 16 people chose 16 matches. From WrestleManiato a steel cage in Stardom, from a Last Knockout Standing match to an all-trans women main event, from a brewery to a church. These are our #MOTY
And vote now in the 2022 Glitter Bombs! - http://tiny.cc/glitterbombs
Harley presents the fourth installment in G&G series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Gail Kim! From masked luchadora La Felina to WWE to TNA, back again and back again, this is the story of the first Knockouts Champion ever, the longest-reigning Knockouts champ, and the first woman inducted into the Impact Hall Of Fame.
Our playlist for this episode:
La Felina training video
Gail Kim vignette, 6/9/03
YouTube
battle royal for the WWE Women’s Championship, WWE Raw, 6/30/03
Peacock
Victoria vs. Gail Kim vs. Trish Stratus vs. Lita for the WWE Women’s Championship, WWE Bad Blood, 6/13/04
Peacock
Gail Kim vs. Jackie Moore in a steel cage, TNA Lockdown, 4/15/07
YouTube
Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong in a no disqualification match for the Knockouts Championship, TNA Final Resolution, 1/6/08
YouTube
Awesome Kong w/Raisha Saeed vs. Gail Kim for the Knockouts Championship, TNA Impact!, 5/15/08
YouTube
Gail Kim, Daniel Bryan, & The Bella Twins, WWE Raw, 1/24/11
YouTube
Gail Kim vs. Tara for the Knockouts Championship, TNA Against All Odds, 2/12/12
Video
Gail Kim vs. Tigre Uno in the TNA World Title Series, TNA Impact!, 12/2/15
DailyMotion
Gail Kim is inducted into the TNA Hall Of Fame, TNA Bound For Glory, 10/2/16
DailyMotion
Gail Kim vs. Tessa Blanchard, Impact Rebellion, 4/28/19
Em and Jacqui cover AEW Full Gear including three (3) women's matches!
They discuss interim championships, the ring return of Saraya, the rise of Jamie Hayter, Nyla Rose getting to show her personality, a bloody Toni Storm, and Jade Cargill's thunder-thunder-thunder-Thundercats gear. Hooo!
In honor of Becky Lynch's debut as Cyndi Lauper on Young Rock, we thought we'd take this week to make a special presentation of our Patreon podcast Women's Wrestling Entertainment.
Women's Wrestling Entertainment is a series where Harley and Em trace the history of women in the WWE from the very beginning. On this episode, they take a look at the WWF women's division from May 1984 to March 1985 including Cyndi Lauper's arrival, WWF and MTV joining forces, the debut of Wendi Richter, and the first WrestleMania.
Support us on Patreon at https://patreon.com/gritglitterpod for just $5/month to receive instant access to the first eight episodes of Women's Wrestling Entertainment as well as archival episodes of Grit & Glitter and Talking Honor!
It's been three months since Triple H has taken over head of creative for WWE so Harley and Em do the unthinkable - they watch every single women's match and segment from Raw, NXT, and SmackDown. Damage Ctrl defend the tag titles! Mandy Rose celebrates one year as NXT Champion! Liv Morgan battles Sonya Deville in a No DQ match!
Who do Em and Harley think will be the participants for Survivor Series WarGames?
What did Em think was a very Chris Jericho segment?
Which characters feel like they stepped out of an episode of WOW?
Were the segments on this week's NXT enough to turn Harley into a regular viewer again?
Harley and Em are joined by Pro Wrestling Illustrated contributor Kristen Ashly to break down the 2022 PWI Women's 150.
They discuss Syuri landing at #1 without an American résumé, the biggest debuts, the biggest drop-offs, what percentage of different promotions' rosters ranked, and who is currently the top woman on the American indies.
https://pwi-online.com/
Harley is joined by guest Lindsay Reagan to chat with two of the stars of WOW: Women Of Wrestling! Ray Lyn plays EDM raver Chantilly Chella. Ruby Raze plays chicana warrior Reina Del Rey.
They discuss how they were cast on WOW, leaving their established characters behind to take on new names, the backstage camaraderie among the women at WOW, and establishing a new generation in the GLOW lineage.
https://wowe.com/
Harley and Em talk to Kate Meizner (guitar/vocals) and Mike Falcone (drums/vocals) of Brooklyn power pop band Jobber. They discuss the formation of the band, their wrestling fandom, which wrestlers they'd love to write entrance themes for, and their debut EP Hell In A Cell - out this Friday from Exploding In Sound Records!
https://twitter.com/jobbertheband/
"Hell In A Cell" music video
Harley chats with "The Fallen Flower" Kikyo about the evolution of her character, differences between the California and Washington wrestling scenes, and why all-women promotions are still important in 2022.
Plus: Em and Mayydayy discuss Impact Bound For Glory including VXT vs. Death Dollz, Mickie James vs. Mia Yim, and the greatest Knockouts match of all time? in Jordynne Grace vs. Masha Slamovich.
https://twitter.com/FallenKikyo
It's a historic crossover as Emily and Harley are joined by Karen Peterson (POST Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Illustrated). Karen uses her Japanese fluency to cover Stardom and New Japan and provide a window into how these promotions are viewed in their home nation without things getting lost in translation.
They discuss how Stardom has changed under Bushiroad, the forthcoming IWGP Women's Championship, and why Japanese fans were shocked to see Karen get a photo with L.I.J.
https://twitter.com/heykarensensei
Karen's Historic X-Column at New Japan World
One week late but all the wiser, Em and special guest Lindsay RaeGun discuss episode one of the new season of WOW Superheroes. While WOW's syndication deal may give the show access to markets nationwide, does a TV-only deal work in the modern age of streaming? More importantly, was WOW's premiere episode worth the wait (and the scramble to find it)?
Be sure to follow and support Lindsay on Twitter and Instagram @LindsayRaeGun and get even more from G&G by supporting us on Patreon.
This week, while we wait patiently for the new season of WOW to hit streaming, we offer our listeners another previously-exclusive episode from the G&G Patreon - Grit, Glitter & GLOW, Episode Two, covering the second episode of Netflix's GLOW, Season One. Val & Em explore the meaning of sisterhood, exploiting pregnancy trauma, and the special bond between Sam & Debbie.
Remember, all G&G bonus podcasts are available to our Patreon subscribers at $5 a month, so visit www.patreon.com/gritglitterpod to subscribe for more Grit, Glitter & Glow, plus Women's Wrestling Entertainment, where we trace the history of women in the WWE.
Next week, Em will be joined by Lindsay Rae Gun to talk about the new season of Women of Wrestling!
Harley, Em, and Val Pancakes surf the world wide web up to the Pacific Northwest for Casgaydia! Brian Bell, host of our sister podcast LGBT In The Ring, joined up with Washington promotion Without A Cause to present a night of wrestling including Sandra Moone vs. Max The Impaler, Keita vs. Ashton Starr, Dark Sheik, Kikyo, tiny tables, & more.
Em, Mayydayy, and friend of the show Kristen Ashly discuss the women's action (all three matches of it) from AEW All Out 2022. From ACTUAL intergender wrestling to underwhelming feud finishes to a fabulous four-way for a (sigh) interim women's champ, they discuss the current state of the division, the strengths of its roster, and the continuing weaknesses of its booking.
Remember to check out the G&G Patreon for bonus podcasts, weekly newsletters, and more! Subscribing at the $1, $5, or $10 tier not only gives you access to bonus content but allows us to put more money into the hands of promotions that create the independent wrestling you love.
Harley & Emily present the third installment in their series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Jazz! From ECW to NWA, through WWE, Shine, and WSU, through starting her own promotion, birthing twin daughters, and becoming the final WWF Women's Champion. This is the story of the 50-year-old Female Fighting Phenom.
Our playlist for this episode:
Jazz vs. Jason, ECW Heat Wave, 7/18/1999
Peacock
Jazz vs. Trish Stratus vs. Lita vs. Ivory vs. Mighty Molly vs. Jacqueline for the WWF Women’s Championship, WWF Survivor Series, 11/18/2001
Peacock
Jazz vs. Trish Stratus for the WWF Women’s Championship w/special referee Jacqueline, WWF Royal Rumble, 1/20/2002
Peacock
Jazz vs. Trish Stratus vs. Lita for the WWF Women’s Championship, WWF WrestleMania X8, 3/17/02
Peacock
Jazz vs. Victoria vs. Jacqueline vs. Trish Stratus for the WWE Women’s Championship, WWE Judgment Day, 5/18/03
Peacock
Jazz vs. Sara Del Rey, Shine Shine 1, 7/20/12
YouTube
Team Original Divas Revolution (Jazz, Mickie James, & Victoria) vs. Team Shimmer (Candice LeRae, Solo Darling, & Crazy Mary Dobson), Chikara King Of Trios, 9/2/16
IWTV
Jazz & Jordynne Grace vs. Killer Kelly & Renee Michelle in the Knockouts Tag Team Championship tournament, Impact Impact On Axs, 12/1/20
YouTube
Harley talks to promoter Spice Spiegel about her new show, Black Girl Magik 2, ahead of it arriving on streaming services this week. She discusses how this one came together, the main event of Trish Adora vs. Karen Bam Bam, storytelling in wrestling, and the un-retirement of Faye Jackson.
https://twitter.com/SpiceSpiegel
https://twitter.com/CatchMagik
Megan and Jacqui take a look at the career of the original #girlboss, Stephanie McMahon.
We’re living in a post-Vince McMahon world and it’s not Shane-O-Mac who took over his grandfather’s business. They highlight the many hairstyles and child bride attempted-marriages of the billion-dollar princess, following her from Authority figure to CBO to becoming the most powerful woman in professional wrestling.
Emily and Harley discuss all the matches at Wrestle Queerdom including Edith Surreal vs. Veny, Candy Lee vs. Gisele Shaw, and Kidd Bandit vs. Don't Die Miles as well as rumbles, foot races, doors, and trans guys.
Plus: Brian Bell (LGBT In The Ring) drops by to help unpack all of the baggage surrounding the show that drew attention away from the hard work of the performers themselves.
Harley, Em, and Mayydayy spotlight brand-new New Jersey promotion Garden State Pro Wrestling and watch their debut show, Welcome To Eden.
Where did this promotion come from? How did they book names like Josh Alexander and Davey Richards on their first show? We attempt to answer these questions and watch Taya Valkyrie vs. Trish Adora, Miyu Yamashita vs. Janai Kai vs. Billie Starks, and more. You gotta hear this one episode. It will change your life, I swear.
Season 8 kicks off with G&G running on backup power but we persevere! Harley talks to Alyssa Marino about commentating for promotions like Women's Wrestling Army, her past lives as Kat Marino and Kathy Campanelli, finding her bearings again after getting released by NXT during a pandemic, and which cereal mascot is the best.
Plus: Em is joined by G&G first-timer Don Halliwell to discuss their live experience at MV Young's Backyard BBQ!
https://twitter.com/ayy_marino
https://twitter.com/donhalliwell1
https://youtube.com/c/AlyssaMarino
https://www.pwponderings.com/author/donhalliwell/
On the season finale of Grit & Glitter, it's Glitterati x Glitterati when Chuy talks to Meg about ring announcing and conducting interviews for Enjoy Wrestling, which wrestlers they love to interact with, their music podcast Dog With A Mullet, and a riveting game of Fight/Roadtrip/Worship.
Plus: Jacqui does a tarot card reading to peer into the future of Sonny Kiss in AEW!
Em and Jacqui are joined by first-time G&G guest and photographer of ultraviolence, Ami Moregore, to discuss the women of DEATH MATCH WRESTLING. They talk TLC matches, light tube headbutts, staple guns to the crotch, exploding barbed wire, and the painful allure of the 'Danish Death Block' among other details of this bloodfest.
Need to see the color for yourself? Check out Ami's playlist for all five matches discussed on this week's pod!
It's our 150th episode! 2022 is half-over! In honor of the occasion, we flip the tables to discuss the oft-overlooked demographic of men's professional wrestling.
Harley, Emily, and JR polled our Patreon supporters and the rest of The Glitterati to find out their favorite dudes and they break them down into categories like Favorite Wrestler, Favorite Tag Team, Best Heel, and Best Babyface. Who are the men that the women's wrestling fandom loves most?
Harley & Emily present a special Pride edition of your favorite wrestling game show... The Newly-Tagged Game!
This time around it's two-on-two with The Runway (Tyler Klein & Calvin Couture) vs. Sazzy Boatright & MV Young. The Runway have been teaming together three years and live together. MV trained Sazzy. How will this affect their chances? And which Power Ranger is the best? Find out!
Pride & Vibe 2022! Chuy's live on location, recapping two nights of queer wrestling and chatting with friends and personal heroes. Harley and Val Pancakes are watching from home and sharing their thoughts on the second Cassandro Cup and Paris Is Bumping: The Legends Ball.
Plus: Emily and Mayydayy discuss Impact Slammiversary, their 20th anniversary pay-per-view, featuring the Knockouts tag titles on the line and the Knockouts Championship contested in a Queen Of The Mountain match!
JR chats with professional film critics Erica Leigh and Big Dust about the origins of their YouTube film review series Birds On Film, this weekend's upcoming Pride & Vibe festival, which summer blockbusters to seek out in cinemas this year, and the timelessness of the minions.
Harley & Emily present the second installment in their new series "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
This time: it’s Mercedes Martinez! From NECW to AEW, through Shimmer, Shine, and Stardom, from Maria Toro to Retaliation, through casket matches, no rope submission matches, and 75-minute iron matches. We go deep into the 22-year career of the Latina Sensation.
Our playlist for this episode:
Mercedes vs. Sumie Sakai, date & promotion unknown
YouTube
Mercedes vs. Sara Del Rey, Shimmer Volume 1, 11/6/2005
YouTube
Mercedes vs. Victoria, WWE Heat, 6/12/2006
Peacock
Maria Toro vs. Tyler Texas, Wrestlicious Takedown, 4/14/2010
DailyMotion
Mercedes vs. Meiko Satomura, WWE Mae Young Classic, 10/3/2018
Peacock
Mercedes vs. Kylie Rae in a no ropes submission match for the Phoenix Of Rise Championship, Rise Legendary, 3/29/2019
IWTV
Retribution promo, WWE Raw, 9/14/2020
YouTube
Mercedes vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the ROH Women's Championship, AEW Dynamite, 5/24/2022
Harley and Emily put the spotlight on "The Non-Binary Nightmare" Max The Impaler. Where did they come from? How have they mutated over the past three years? And what could the future hold?
Plus: AEW Double Or Nothing featured women in four matches. And one of them was pretty good! They discuss concerns for Athena, Julia Hart's pigtails, go-away heat, and The Britt Baker Show.
Harley and Emily discuss the first episode from Maria Kanellis-Bennett and Bobby Cruise's new promotion, Women's Wrestling Army!
WWA Episode 1: The Journey Begins lays the groundwork for what WWA will be and features Trish Adora vs. Big Swole and Miranda Alize vs. Laynie Luck. Your hosts give their thoughts on the matches, the presentation, streaming details, and what comes next for WWA moving forward.
Harley and Emily are joined by G&G friends Ella Jay, Tom Stoup, Brian Bell, Sofie Vasquez, Kristen Ashly, and Mr. Warren Hayes to take a look at some of the brightest rising stars of 2022 so far. Who's made an impact already this year? Who should you be keeping an eye on this summer? From Willow Nightingale to Mei Suruga to Indigo and Tatum Paxley, these are your wrestlers to watch!
Emily chats with Jessie "Bonesaw" Brooks about dropkicking depression, fighting inside a steel cage, and entering a wrestlers' laboratory.
Plus: Jacqui was live at LVAC Bash At The Brewery! and she has a mug full of details to share.
Em & Harley pledge their loyalty to the army... the Women's Wrestling Army that is! They're joined by Maria Kanellis-Bennett to talk about this exciting new women's wrestling promotion, including her partnership with Ring Of Honor announcer Bobby Cruise, what and who inspired this project, and just what goes into creating a new promotion from the ground up.
https://womenswrestlingarmy.com/
https://twitter.com/MariaLKanellis
In honor of their arrival onto IWTV, Emily, Harley, & Mayydayy dive into the world of All Japan Women's, arguably the greatest women's professional wrestling of all time. Emily traces the history of AJW from its formation to 1989 and then our illustrious trio watch and discuss Wrestlemarinepiad '89. Lioness Asuka vs. Madusa in the main event! Chigusa Nagayo's retirement gauntlet! Two matches in two different rings at the same time! It's a lot.
Val & Harley are back to present your favorite wrestling game show... The Newly-Tagged Game!
It's our Easter special and we're putting three of your favorite independent tag teams to the test to see which duo knows each other the best. It's Abby Jane & Pancakes vs. Shea McCoy & Weber Hatfield vs. Sid & Eden Von Engeland!
Harley & Emily kick off a new series we're calling "Living Legends." With this series, we strive to present a definitive look at the lives and careers of some of your favorite active independent wrestlers. Where did they come from? How did they get to where they are today? And why are they so beloved?
Up first: it’s Veda Scott! We’ll be tracking Veda’s journey from law school to ROH Dojo to Japan to commentator extraordinaire while also pulling select matches from her career.
Our playlist for this episode:
Veda vs. Daizee Haze, May 2011 – HWA
YouTube
“Change Is Coming”, Veda w/Gregory Iron, September 2012 – AIW
YouTube
Veda vs. Athena, October 2014 – AIW
IWTV – AIW Girls Night Out 14
Veda vs. Heidi Lovelace, December 2015 – ROH
YouTube
Veda vs. Yuki Aino, December 2018 – TJPW
free online
Bird Law vs. Club Tropicana, October 2019 – Riptide
YouTube
“I’m a pro wrestler”, January 2020
YouTube
Veda vs. Edith Surreal, September 2021 – Effy’s Big Gay Brunch Chicago
Fite TV
We're in a post-Collective haze and that's just those of us watching from home! Val Pancakes calls in live from an airport in Dallas to talk to Emily about everything she attended in person including Effy's Big Gay Brunch and MPW Bangerz Only.
Plus: Harley and Mayydayy discuss Bloodsport 8 and Impact's Multiverse Of Matches.
After a four-month hiatus and under the new management of Antony Khan, Ring Of Honor returns this Friday with Supercard Of Honor XV. But what will the new women's division look like going forward? Former Talking Honor co-hosts Harley & Emily speculate and present to you... 15 Women Who Could Appear In The New ROH.
Photography month continues as JR chats with Christina & Antoine Keels of JayLee Photography.
They discuss their journey to shooting portraits and ringside for some of the biggest wrestling promotions around, their favorite wrestlers to capture, and life in the DMV.
https://twitter.com/JayLeeAC
Grit & Glitter steps outside of the ring for a look at reality(?) television and the infamous... Total Divas.
Total Divas superfans Megan and Jacqui give Emily a crash course into the world of the WWE divas while breaking down three episodes of the series: S1E01 - "Welcome To The WWE", S2E03 - "On Brie's Bad Side", and S7E06 - "Divas Gone Wild."
Slaps! Cabo! Compost toilets! Breast milk! All this plus an angry threat of nudity. Buckle up, we're heading back, back, back to the top of the world.
Harley and Emily chat with author Jason Norris about his new book, The Women Of WrestleMania, and being in attendance live at Pro Wrestling Eve's Women Behaving Badly.
Plus: Em, Harley, and Val Quartz discuss all the women's action at AEW Revolution including possible future directions for Thunder Rosa, Kris Statlander, and Britt Baker.
Welcome, Grit & Glitter listeners, to a brand new Patreon-exclusive show where Em Fear and Val Quartz discuss the Netflix series GLOW episode by episode.
In our intro ep, we discuss the pilot episode of the series and its focus trio of Ruth, Debbie, and Sam. How does a theatre nerd become a pro wrestler? How much pure rage is fueling Debbie? How is Sam charismatic while being an undeniable POS? And does this episode have the worst sex scene ever captured on screen?
Plus: we take a look back at the source material, the original Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling, discuss women's wrestling in 2017 - the year the Netflix GLOW premiered, and highlight segments of the 2012 documentary GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, which we will be highlighting throughout this series.
If you enjoy this first episode, be sure to subscribe to the Grit & Glitter Patreon to hear future episodes, follow and support Val, and don't forget to rate and review Grit & Glitter on the podcast app of your choice!
Harley and Emily talk with photographer Sofie Vasquez about traveling America to document the wrestling indies, her buzzy article in The Cut, and future goals.
https://sofievasquez.squarespace.com/
https://sofievasquezphotography.bigcartel.com/
It's the season 7 premiere and we still love indie wrestling!
This week Harley and Emily profile Oregon promotion Prestige Wrestling and break down their first show in two years including BUSSY vs. Paxxx Americana and a surprise appearance from Athena.
Plus: JR and Mayydayy were live at F1ght Club Pro's In Grapitol We Trust and gush in a spoiler-free manner about Trish Adora vs. Big Swole and a whole lot more.
It's our sixth season finale and it's Valentine's Day! (And also there's a football game?) Em and Harley discuss Rok-C signing with NXT, Jade Cargill's booking in AEW, and more. Then: Em and Val Pancakes discuss WWR+ Galentine's Day Massacre. We love you for supporting us through 130 episodes!
This week, Em revisits a conversation from December about body dysmorphia in pro-wrestling. She is joined by Meg Fair to chat with wrestlers Ariela Nyx & Keith Haught about their journeys with body dysmorphia, the difficulties of being openly vulnerable about these issues as a wrestling professional, and personal evolutions as informed by the wrestling world.
Was it a Royal stumble? Harley, Em, Megan, and special guest Whitney Bell discuss all the women's action at the 2022 WWE Royal Rumble including Becky Lynch vs. Viper, a wife special, and the Rumble match itself including fabulous gear, missing names, and a boring, terrible winner. Doupdrop in and join us for the one time a year we discuss sports entertainment.
Harley, Emily, & Mayydayy are joined by special guest Ella Jay (A Wrestling Gal Podcast) to discuss "New Wave", the debut show from new Houston all-women promotion Vixens Wrestling Revolution.
They discuss the history of VWR and the entire card including Raychell Rose vs. Laynie Luck, Delilah Doom vs. Raché Chanel, and Amber Rodriguez becoming the #1 contender to Vixens Champion Nyla Rose.
Jacqui launches the first installment of "Bleeders", a new series looking at the intersection of pro wrestling and menstruation.
She talks to Camp Leapfrog standout The Crusher about how a lifetime of bleeding prepares wrestlers for the blood and pain of pro wrestling.
JR talks to 2021 Glitter Bomb award winner for Future Star, Sazzy Boatright!
They go in-depth on her infamous Twitter account as she explains about her love of mayonnaise, which Bachelor/Bachelorette contestants are her favorite, and why she thinks Rey Mysterio Jr. may have had some cosmetic surgery.
Harley, Emily, and Mayydayy discuss Hard To Kill, Impact's first pay-per-view of 2022.
The first all-women Ultimate X match! Mickie James vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a Texas Death Match in the first all-women's Impact PPV main event! Plus: how can Mickie James not win WWE's Royal Rumble without hurting her stock as Knockouts Champion? Will we still see Rok-C vs. Deonna for the ROH and AAA titles? Are Kimber Lee and Brandi Lauren dead?
It's 2022! To kick off the new year, Harley and Emily are joined by Brian Bell, writer for Outsports and host of LGBT In The Ring. Together they make their New Year's wrestling resolutions and discuss a number of the events and things they're looking forward to in wrestling this coming year.
It's the third annual Glitter Bombs, a year-end award show honoring the best wrestlers of marginalized genders!
You voted in ten categories including Favorite Wrestler, Favorite Tag Team, and Match Of The Year. Harley and Emily reveal the results with the help of a slew of guest presenters.
It's Christmas week and our last episode of 2021 before next week's big Glitter Bombs award show extravaganza so we're taking a quiet one to reflect back on this year. Join Harley, Mayydayy, Jacqui, Val Pancakes, and Meg as they discuss Impact, CFU, Enjoy, traveling for indie shows, and Macaulay Culkin.
Plus: 'Twas The Night Before Wrestle Christmas with JR.
Harley and Emily discuss ROH Final Battle, a potential future for Rok-C and her women's championship, and the significance of Deonna Purrazzo's surprise appearance.
Then: a technical mishap leads to Em running an impromptu edition of Ask Me Anything!
It's Val's birthday and her birthday wish was for Harley and Emily to watch the 2015 WWE Studios film Santa's Little Helper!
They do, and the three of them discuss Miz's performance as selfish businessman Dax Hardwick, Paige as conniving elf Eleanor, and everything else involved in this wonderful mess of a film. Buckle up, normies, and have yourself a Mizzy little Christmas.
It's the Match Of The Year special!
On the eve of voting opening for the third annual Glitter Bombs, join The Glitterati and a number of our friends as we tell you about 14 of our favorite matches from 2021. What were they? Where you can watch them? And, most importantly, what made these matches so special for us?
We've got a special, spicy two-parter for you this week as Grit & Glitter dives into the world of wrestler-run subscription sites like OnlyFans.
On our second part, Em and Val Pancakes are joined by Sarah The Rebel and Matt Brannigan to discuss the good, the weird, and everything in between, from getting started to finding community amongst the kink.
https://www.patreon.com/SarahTheRebel
https://onlyfans.com/matt_brannigan
We've got a special, spicy two-parter for you this week as Grit & Glitter dives into the world of wrestler-run subscription sites like OnlyFans. Em and Val Pancakes are joined by Brooke Valentine and Solo Darling to discuss the good, the weird, and everything in between, from getting started to finding community amongst the kink.
Part two will be released on Thursday morning. More fun, sexy wrestling content for your listening pleasure? Happy Thanksgiving indeed.
https://onlyfans.com/solodarling
https://onlyfans.com/queenbeebrookev
Harley, Emily, & Jacqui discuss the state of women's wrestling in AEW with a look at the Full Gear match between Britt Baker and Tay Conti and the TBS Championship tournament.
Have we made any gains? Who will be the first TBS Champion? What could take the women's division to the next level? And why aren't Emi Sakura, Lulu Pencil, and Mei Suruga wrestling on television?
From G&G Productions, it's a brand new game show - The Newly-Tagged Game!
On the premiere episode, pairs of wrestling podcasters compete to determine which duo knows each other the best. Join hosts Harley R. Pageot and Valerie Quartz as they put six of your favorite podcasters to the test:
- PWT Talks NXT (Kelly Wells & Tom Stoup)
- Bell To Belles (Kristen Ashley & Mr. Warren Hayes)
- The Glitterati (Emily Fear & JR Harris)
Who will walk away the winners of the first edition of The Newly-Tagged Game?
Emily, Harley, & Val Pancakes discuss the third season of Beyond's Uncharted Territory in relation to this week's Ring Of Honor news. Could a per-appearance indie version of ROH make sense in a world where places like Beyond and GCW are already doing similar things in an arguably more progressive way?
Plus: The Glitterati check in with some of their favorite past Halloween costumes!
The first-ever PWI Women's 150 is out and we've got the numbers! Harley compares with last year's 100 to break down the biggest climbs, biggest falls, highest debuts, and a whole lot more.
Then: Harley and Emily chat with PWI editor Kevin McElvaney about how the list comes together each year, how long until we might hit 200 names, and what it would take for a woman from outside of WWE to top the list again.
https://pwi-online.com/
Em, Harley, & Val discuss the Dark Side Of The Ring episode "The Many Faces Of Luna Vachon", with a look at the career of Luna as well as strengths of the episode and things they felt were missing.
The Glitterati expands! Emily, JR, and Molly share their thoughts on the live experience at Enjoy's Night Moves. Harley and Mayydayy discuss Impact's Knockouts Knockdown.
It's the season six premiere and Val Quartz and her co-host Hana check in with some life and Daryl Apparyl updates.
Then: Emily is joined by Val Pancakes, Bridget Clark, and Molly Reed to discuss wrestlers and Disney World, astrology, and an illuminating game of Would You Rather?
On the season finale of Grit & Glitter, Harley and guest Jacqui Pratt take a state of affairs of women wrestling's in the big money American promotions.
AEW, WWE, Impact, NWA, ROH, and MLW. Where do things stand? How optimistic are they about their respective futures? Who has the best division going today?
The 2021 PWI 500 is out and Harley, Emily, and Meg discuss the 31 wrestlers of marginalized genders who ranked on this year's list and what it means for the future of intergender wrestling.
Then: Em talks to Ziggy Haim about ranking on the PWI 500 for the first time.
Plus: CFU crowns its first champion.
Em & JR talk to Janai Kai about her breakout 2021, teaming with Yoya in YoKai, competing for the CFU Championship, and ranking on the PWI 500.
Em & Harley get emotional about new ROH Women's Champion Rok-C and her incredible match against Miranda Alize at Death Before Dishonor.
Val Pancakes was live in Chicago for Effy's Big Gay Brunch and AEW All Out. She discusses all the Brunch shenanigans with Emily and the two AEW women's matches with Em and Harley.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Daffney.
One weekend, two shows, all-women!
Harley & JR chat about the return of Pro Wrestling Eve after 18 months of lockdown and the new status quos set following Wrestle Queendom 4.
Emily & Mayydayy chat about Mickie James laying down the gauntlet with the near-perfect NWA Empowerrr show.
Emily & JR talk to Pro Wrestling Eve Champion Rhia O'Reilly about the return of Eve after a 17-month lockdown and defending her title in a 30-woman battle royal this Friday at Wrestle Queendom 4.
Plus: JR talks to Alaskan wrestler Freya The Slaya about life in Alaska and wrestling on AEW Dark.
Emily and guest Molly Reed discuss Paris Is Bumping: Solid Gold '21 and compare Em's perspective watching the show on IWTV and Molly's perspective attending live in person.
Plus: JR talks about black representation in wrestling and what it means for Pro Wrestling Illustrated to acknowledge Trish Adora's Pan Afrikan World Diaspora Wrestling Championship as a verified world title.
Harley and Emily chat with legendary cartoonist Jaime Hernandez about his new book of women's wrestling-themed artwork, Queen Of The Ring, as well as women's wrestling in general and 40 years of Love & Rockets.
On our 100th episode, The Glitterati (Harley, Emily, Val, JR, Meg, Megan, Pancakes, & Mayydayy) reflect back on how we found one another and some of our favorite moments from our first hundred episodes.
Harley, Emily, and JR investigate the Boston League Of Wicked Wrestlers. Are they a promotion? An improv troupe? Who are Shitty Wizard and Pammmmmmmmmmmmy? What about Rat King, seemingly the only trans man currently competing in pro wrestling? They seek to answer all these questions by researching the history of BLOWW and watching their 2019 show The Nether Regionals.
https://www.bloww.org/
Wrestling surprises! Meg, Harley, & Emily discuss season two of Enjoy Wrestling's Canned Heat including the Enjoy Odyssey and the surprise inside the briefcase.
Then: Mayydayy, Emily, & Harley discuss Impact Slammiversary with Mayydayy's thoughts on being live inside the building and the surprise appearances of Thunder Rosa, Mickie James, and Chelsea Green.
Val tells Emily and Harley about the live experience of Paris Is Bumping: Solid Gold '21. The group ponders what events like these can mean for the future of pro wrestling, especially in terms of creating new wrestling fans.
Harley & Megan interview trans wrestling pioneer Mariah Moreno about her 12 year career, main eventing Paris Is Bumping this coming Saturday, and what's left on her bucket list as she enters the final chapter of her in-ring career.
Plus: Harley, Emily, & Val Quartz discuss MV Young's PolyAm Cult Party 4 with backstage details from Val about how it all came together and a couple surprise cameos.
Emily is "talking honor" as she chats with Maria Kanellis-Bennett about the future of the new Ring Of Honor women's division.
Plus: Em, Harley, and Val Pancakes discuss CFU Shoot To Thrill with Combat Fights Unlimited promoter Mayydayy.
https://www.rohwrestling.com/
https://twitter.com/CombatFightUltd
Emily and JR talk to Jordan Blade about intergender wrestling, returning from injury during a pandemic, and being pigeonholed as a shooter.
Plus: Harley talks to Taye Norman about her new promotion ProUnapologetic and her debut show, Black Girl Magik.
https://twitter.com/Jordan_Blade92
https://twitter.com/ProUnapologetic
Mayydayy returns to the show to talk to Harley & Emily about their new promotion, Combat Fights Unlimited, and debut show Shoot To Thrill, premiering June 24 on IWTV.
Plus: Megan and Meg discuss nonbinary representation in wrestling and spotlight some of their favorites working today.
Also: JR, Em, Harley, and Val Pancakes ponder on what their cards might look like if they could book their own indie show.
Harley & Emily rifle through old newspaper articles and scour social media pages to compile a timeline of transgender professional wrestlers: 1995 - present. (Requested by Patreon supporter Brendon in honor of their birthday.)
Plus: JR raves about how much they loved The Life Of Edith Surreal.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/gritglitterpod if you too want to be able to request a segment for a future episode of Grit & Glitter!
Emily, Val, and JR kick off Pride 2021. Harley talks with Ryan Levey about his forthcoming documentary film Out In The Ring.
Harley & Val discuss the laughter and tears of Matane, the Hana Kimura memorial show. Harley & Emily head into the Wrestlers' Lab for the season one premiere of Alchemy, their new weekly series airing on IWTV.
In this free introduction to the G&G Patreon spin-off podcast, Emily talks ...All The Marbles (1981) with The Great Bambina!
Find out how this lost gem from the post-Rocky era of sports films inspired Bambina's wrestling journey, how the character study of the tag team, The California Dolls, and their managercompares to other popular depictions of pro-wrestling and if baking a pie for a promoter counts as bribery.
Future episodes of The GRITerion Collection can be found via the Grit & Glitter Patreon at the $5 and up tier.
Harley, JR, & ValPancakes discuss WWR+ Let's Talk About Wrestling. Emily shares details of her new podcast The GRITerion Collection. Stay safe and support women's wrestling!
Emily & Val chat with Pollo Del Mar and Washington Heights about the intersection of drag culture and pro wrestling. Harley & Megan look at the career of Mariah Moreno. Rate, review, and subscribe!
The season 5 premiere! Emily talks with Hannah Harkness about Brooklyn Battle Comedy, Grit & Glitter launches a Patreon, and Harley and Emily discuss women's wrestling returning to Ring Of Honor.
https://www.brooklynbattlecomedy.com/
https://www.patreon.com/gritglitterpod