Beyond The Beermat

Storytelling is a complicated process when it comes to wrestling. Due to it's organic nature, irregular structure and the fragile nature of the active participants, the same rules that would normally hold up the tale you want to tell don't apply. None of that is an excuse for the lazy – and at times insulting – writing we sometimes see from the WWE. It's one thing to have an extra set of eyes on a problem, it's entirely another when that set is multiplied by a significant proportion of your watching audience. While there are valid criticisms to be made regarding the at times glaring errors that are made within Raw, Smackdown or any of the PPVs because of the very nature of the business, the notion that we as fans have all the answers is far too simplistic. This episode we're going to take a look at what fundamentals make for good writing in regard to wrestling storylines, as well as the aspects of the WWE writing process that ultimately frustrate us and why maybe – just maybe – our solutions and fantasy booking might not be the salvation we think it is.

Major changes rarely happen in an instance. What usually happens is that a series of small – almost imperceptible – events build up to a point where something big becomes inevitable. This is the point we're at now with women's wrestling in the WWE. Evolution in the truest sense of the word. It's not about the newly announced all female PPV as it is both the journey up until this point and also the foundation from which it will build. We also have to look at certain individuals along the way who have helped lead the way, as well as a rather exceptional group of current day superstars primed to shatter preconceptions of days gone by. What these women could stand for in future generations means a lot. The wider world looks on. How sincere a part WWE looks to play in this modern context is unclear. We can only look on right now with hope. In the meantime, we can raise a glass and record a podcast to the ladies that broke the Diva mould.

All of us have our own preferences and tastes. Often they aren't limited to a specific individual. It doesn't matter that they may be two wildly different characters, or even that they are separated by not being in the same company. The idea that they could one day – under the right circumstances – square off against each other is enough to ignite the imagination. A match made in your own personal wrestling heaven. This internal checklist of potential excitement is what drives our anticipation. But as the years go by – after a decade of seeing more or less every conceivable combination – what do we have left? Are the Wrestlemania encounters of our past now impeding the choices left for the future? Every wrestling fan at one time or another has put some thought into it. Some will even have notepads full of entire events. Beyond The Beermat takes a trip to dreamland as we explore how the saturation of wrestling content has affected this as well as our own personal all time potential match ups.

It doesn't matter where you got over, or how you got over, does it? No promoter in their right mind would have a childish and ridiculous prejudice against the guys he didn't personally break through, surely? They'd be leaving bags of money potentially on the table for the most pedantic of reasons, they'd have to be mad. Oh yeah no that does sound like Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Though the landscape may have changed somewhat from the Monday Night Wars and the immediate aftermath, still that old perception remains. But without a platform the size of WCW, we first have to ask ourselves whether the current influx of TNA talent – both into the main roster and peppered throughout NXT – actually has that same kind of star power that Vince would have spurned back in the day. Settle into another serving of sublime sozzled wrestling commentary, comfortable in the knowledge that our only real competition is a race against last orders.

In attempting to completely cover the world of professional wrestling – something that we in spite of it's flaws we actually love – there comes a choice. When a story like this breaks, we could choose to ignore it. To pass it on over to those that are better equipped to say what needs to be said. We come from a place of light heartedness and this is very much not that, carrying with it a weight that it would be easy for us to be buried under. But we choose to step up and add our voices to the crowd because – no matter how loud or how quiet – it still means something to try and do the right thing. To make it clear that racism should not, will not and cannot be tolerated. There aren't that many all encompassing figures in their respective sports that quite have the same historic significance quite like Hulk Hogan. We're going to take you through our personal perspectives from beginning to this most horrible of ends.

Holding the top prize in any promotion is a balancing act of faith and expectation. Quite literally carrying the hopes for the future. As far as the WWE is concerned one man above all others shoulders all of that, almost by default. His name is Brock Lesnar. We rarely see him. The ultimate dilemma within all of this is a different kind of balancing act. Title reigns become prestigious through a variety of means, one of which involves the champion actually being there. Yet his absence makes him feel like a much bigger star. Going one step further, with a watered down unclear lineage over the years, what do the current top titles in the WWE even mean in modern wrestling? It's time for Beyond The Beermat to pour out a few cold ones and get to the bottom of this whole scenario. Not only is this episode going to be fully worth it's weight in gold, it is also a landmark piece of broadcasting and in fact a hallmark moment in wrestling history for one very simple logistical fact. What's that? You'll simply have to tune in and find out for yourself.

What makes a legacy? How do you add to one? How do you ruin it? Anyone answering Manu to any of those questions, give yourself a nice big pat on the back from us. Deciding to hang up your wrestling boots is usually a decision that's made for you. As such it's not the kind of choice that tends to stick. With a wave of speculation regarding Shawn Michaels and the potential for him donning those leather chaps one more time, we thought it was only fair to send our own leather chaps (the sun has been rather abrasive this year) down to the local drinking establishment to have a right good ponder. Join us and take a look back at the often revolving door of wrestling retirements, as well as going through the possibilities that might present themselves should Mr. Wrestlemania bring himself back for one more run. All the while safe in the knowledge that our legacy as lager loaded commentators will last forever.

Let's face it, there are certain rules to wrestling that you have on choice in whether you want to abide by them or not. At the very top of that list is that no matter how good you think you are, if Vince McMahon doesn't see it, you may as well be invisible. We're not sure how this applies to John Cena. Times have moved on. For a generation now, that stereotypical bodybuilding type (we've all see the gif) isn't as prevalent as it once was. On the face of it at least, that mass ceiling appears to be no more. Fans have grow up seeing the smaller guys mixing it up with those with bigger body types. It's allowed for a better type of wrestler – from a purist standpoint – to step into the main event level and challenge for the top prizes. Not only that, the big men themselves have had their roles changed and how they've had to adapt over the years to a more faster, technical style. The question we are then left to ask, has it gone too far the other way? For the record, Beyond The Beermat may be by far the biggest and best wrestling podcast out there right now as we furiously deny any allegations of performance enhancing drugs. The beers we consume during every podcast have been rigorously tested by the relevant authorities to ensure that they do in fact contain alcohol.

To have made such a lasting impact in a short space of time is a mark of true quality. For once we're not even talking about ourselves, although there are some obvious parallels in terms of innovating and reinvigorating wrestling at the top level. From its inception as a concept to the PPV that bears its name. How it helped make certain stars and even begin to define an era, the Money in The Bank briefcase has become one of the most important pieces of the WWE jigsaw in recent years. But as with everything, as it's evolved over the years, have the WWE managed to keep the same kind of shine it had? Did removing it from part of Wrestlemania start to take away from it's allure? What options are there on the table for this years edition? Past, present and future; if it's briefcase shaped we've got you covered. You don't have to scale a twenty foot ladder in order to get your hands on this truly priceless edition of podcast audio. The only great heights you have to worry about are the truly impressive feats that can be accomplished when you're recording several drinks in. Jericho himself would be proud of us.

It's good to be back! When you're ahead of the game such as we are, taking a short break to allow a chance for all the other – inferior – wrestling podcasts to catch up is only fair. We've seen first hand what happens when you destroy all your competition to a point where you're the only game in town and it isn't great. To ease you all back into our wonderful podcast world, we're going to take a look at some of the stories bubbling under the surface of pro wrestling, as well as some off the cuff thoughts regarding a certain Dustin Rhodes gimmick that perhaps should never have see the light of day. It's not eve that faux Golddust one from TNA with the rat either. If we were't blocked by him on Twitter before the start of this series, we certainly will be after this one. Additionally, we go over the merits of ridiculously over the top bumps and get curious about the level of disguise you'd need to be a WWE employee and not recognise Stephanie McMahon. So relax and rejoice as we get back to what we do best, breaking down the wonderful world of sports entertainment, one pint at a time.