Grit & Glitter

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.

Plus: Dear Ziggy with Ziggy Haim on post-workout recovery options.

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)