International Object - the art of pro wrestling

Butch Rosser joins Sawyer to talk about great ways to get people into wrestling, moonsaults, e-feds, entrance themes, and more.

Further reading for each question:

Question 1. What got you into wrestling?

• Bushwhacker Butch - Wikipedia
• The Muppet Show - Wikipedia
• Rings and Rings - The New Day: Feel the Power

Question 2. How would you get someone else into wrestling?

• The Bloodline (professional wrestling) - Wikipedia
• Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman - YouTube
• WrestleMania 39 - Wikipedia
• Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey | NXT Great American Bash 2026 highlights - YouTube

Question 3. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

• The MVP of the 2025-26 New York Knicks Is WWE Superstar Danhausen
• 
  

Question 4. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

• Who Has the Best Moonsault? - YouTube
• WWE: Moonsault (Top-Rope Version) - YouTube
• 30 Second Fury - Lita's Moonsaults - YouTube
• Vader (Moonsault compilation. 1993 - 2001) - YouTube
• Muta hits two moonsaults in a row to beat Chono to hold both the IWGP and NWA World's Heavyweight Championships
• Mutoh Flash Elbow - YouTube

Question 5: What kind of stories do you love seeing in wrestling?

• Hangman Page & Swerve Strickland clear the air, Moxley interrupts the show | AEW Collision, 7/10/25 - YouTube
• FULL MATCH: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley — NXT Women's Title Match: NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn - YouTube
• Five-minute Delay Makes Tbs Stand Out – Sun Sentinel

Question 6. How long should a wrestler hold a grudge against another wrestler?

• Inside E-Feds: The Untold Story of Wrestling’s First Online Battleground | by Off Script | Medium
• Quality Championship Wrestling
• ‎Southland Tales (2006) directed by Richard Kelly • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Question 7. Mutantlog, my previous guest, left this as a question: how often do you find yourself willing to pretend it's real?

Question 8. Do you have any questions for next week's guest?

• If you were a wrestler, what would your entrance theme be?

Question 9. What's the match of the year?

• Kazuchika Okada vs Konosuke Takeshita - AEW International Championship | AEW Double or Nothing 2026 - YouTube
• FULL MATCH: El Grande Americano vs. “Original” El Grande Americano | Mask vs. Mask Match - YouTube
• Will Ospreay vs Swerve Strickland | AEW Forbidden Door 2026 Highlights - YouTube
• Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland get INTENSE in HEATED FACE OFF! | AEW Dynamite, 6/17/26 - YouTube
• FULL EVENT: WCW Beach Blast 1992 | Sting vs. Cactus Jack; Steamboat vs. Rude - YouTube
• Sawyer's recap of Rick Rude vs Ricky Steamboat at Beach Blast 92

Mutantlog joins Sawyer to talk about "The Big Event", Bayley vs. Sasha Banks, Sami Zayn's through-the-ropes DDT, Swerve/Hangman, video game storylines, and willingly suspending disbelief.

Further reading for each question:

pre-question notes

Something by Emerson

Question 1. What got you into wrestling?

• The Big Event - Wikipedia
• The unforgettable debut of The Shockmaster - YouTube
• Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat — Intercontinental Title Match: WrestleMania III - YouTube

Question 2. How would you get someone else into wrestling?

• Sasha Banks vs. Bayley — NXT Women's Title Match: NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn - YouTube

Question 3. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

Question 4. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

• Sami Zayn : Suicide Dive Tornado DDT Compilation - YouTube
• RKO Vine Remixes | Know Your Meme

Question 5: What kind of stories do you love seeing in wrestling?

• Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Batista – Triple Threat Match: WrestleMania 30 - YouTube

Question 6. How long should a wrestler hold a grudge against another wrestler?

• Hangman Adam Page confronted Swerve Strickland during AEW Dynamite!

Bonus question: are there stories from wrestling video games you wish could be brought to the "real" show"?

• List of WWE video games - Wikipedia

Question 7. dwkii, my previous guest, left this as a question: what is your criteria for a quality match?

• FULL MATCH - John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar - WWE Title Match: SummerSlam 2014 - YouTube
• FULL MATCH: The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan: WrestleMania X8 - YouTube
• Scott's Blog of Doom! - Daily Wrestling News, Wrestling Reviews and Rants

Sawyer's Stars

1. The performers earn one ⭐ for getting in the ring.
2. The performers earn a second ⭐ for coming close to performing a wrestling match, but some element (timing, chemistry, production, etc), hurt the performance.
3. The performers earn a third ⭐ for performing a wrestling match to a conclusion with no major issues.
4. The performers earn a fourth ⭐ for wrestling a technically impressive match.
5. A match containing an emotionally engaging performance earns five ⭐, even if none of the other criteria are met.

Question 8. Do you have any questions for other wrestling fans?

Mutantlog's question: how often do you find yourself willing to pretend it's real?

• Big Van Vader - VICE TV
• Why Old Sports Photos Often Have a Blue Haze | PetaPixel

Question 9. What's the match of the year?

• AEW Dynasty Post Show Media Scrum | Philadelphia, Pa 4/6/25
• Megan Bayne makes AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm bow down! | 3/29/2025, AEW Collision - YouTube
• Timeless Toni Storm challenges Megan Bayne for a Match at AEW Dynasty | AEW Dynamite - YouTube

David W Kincannon (dwkii on Bluesky) joins Sawyer to talk about Andre the Giant's trophy scene, Lucha Libre and Laughs, Orange Cassidy vs Jon Moxley, and some amazing five star matches.

Further reading for each question:

pre-question notes

• Merlin Mann
• Wrestlespective | Podcast on Spotify
• 
  

Question 1. What got you into wrestling?

• Wrestling at the Chase - Wikipedia
• WrestleMania 2 - Wikipedia
• Andre The Giant appears on Piper’s pit, to receive his trophy for being undefeated for 15 years. : r/SquaredCircle
• Hulk Hogan appears on Piper’s Pit, to receive his trophy for being WWF Champion for three years. : r/SquaredCircle
• WWF WrestleMania IV - "What The World Is Watching"

Question 2. How would you get someone else into wrestling?

• Lucha Libre & Laughs - YouTube

Question 3. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

Question 4. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

• 16 Northern Lights suplexes that will have you seeing stars
• Alicia Fox - All Northern Lights Suplex - YouTube
• King of Trios - Wikipedia

Question 5: What kind of stories are best told by pro wrestling?

• Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy
• Orange Cassidy rocked to sleep

Question 6. How long should a wrestler hold a grudge against another wrestler?

• Zero Hour: AEW Revolution Pre Show

Question 7. Piper, my previous guest, left this as a question: If you had to sit someone down to show them one match to say "this is pro wresling," what would it be?

• Bryan Danielson vs. Swerve Strickland

Question 8. Do you have any questions for other wrestling fans?

• what is your criteria for a quality match?
• Sawyer's stars

Question 9. What's the match of the year?

• Ricochet vs. Zack Sabre Jr. « Matches « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database

Positively Piper and Sawyer talk about scrambled cable, wrestling video games, watching our heroes struggle, submission finishers, and some great wrestling recommendations. Finally, we talk about the long-running storyline running through Wrestlemania 10, 20, 30, and 40.

Further reading for each question:

Question 1. What got you into wrestling?

• Television encryption
• Did anyone else watch PPVs in "scramble Vision"? : r/SquaredCircle

Question 2. How would you get someone else into wrestling?

• Immersion therapy - Wikipedia
• Grapple 64 -A custom wrestling controller for Delta
• Super Smash Bros. - Wikipedia

Question 3. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

Question 4. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

• 18 tornado DDTs that'll drive you into the mat: WWE Fury

Question 4: What kind of storytelling is wrestling good at?

Question 5. Adam, my previous guest, left this as a topic: Only heels should have submission finishers. Discuss.

• Sharpshooter - wikipedia
• Kurt Angle's most thrilling tap outs
• Breaking Down The Rock's (Crappy) Sharpshooter - YouTube

Question 6. Do you have any questions for other wrestling fans?

From Piper: If you had to sit someone down to show them one match to say "this is pro wresling," what would it be?

• Piper's example: Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat — Intercontinental Title Match: WrestleMania III - YouTube 
• Sawyer's example: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley — NXT Women's Title Match: NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn - YouTube

Question 7. What's the match of the year?

• Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Batista – Triple Threat Match: WrestleMania 30 - YouTube

More links:

• Monday Night Fake Fights (@mnffpod.bsky.social) — Bluesky
• Turner bans term "foreign' from CNN broadcasts

Episode edited by Garak Tailor

Adam (LinkedIn) is a previous guest of International Object and a friend of mine. We talk about wrestling icebreakers, generational names, what a "show" is, and match of the year (which might be hockey?).

Further reading for each question:

Question 1. What got you into wrestling?

• Royal Rumble 1993 on Netflix
• WCW in Asbury Park, NJ (October 20th, 1990) (handheld) - YouTube
• List of WWE Champions - Wikipedia - You're a "x" baby, where x is whoever was champ when you were born

Question 2. How long should a wrestler hold a grudge against another wrestler?

• Adam Page - Wikipedia

Question 3. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

• Head Drop Highlights Vol. 9 (Poison Rana Clips) - YouTube

Question 4. How would you change wrestling to make it attractive for new fans?

• Civil engineering - Wikipedia

Question 5. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

• Wrestlemania 2000

Question 6. How long will you be a wrestling fan?

• Full Content Listing for WWE Greatest Stars of 80s DVD | Wrestling DVD Network

From Garak's episode, Question 7: Who is your under-recognized performer who was unfortunately saddled with a bad part or gimmick?

• Simon Gotch - Wikipedia

Question 8. Do you have any questions for other wrestling fans?

• Only heels should have submission finishers. Discuss.

Question 9. What's the match of the year?

• Gabe Kidd vs. Kenny Omega « Matches « CAGEMATCH
• Team Canada wins 4 Nations Face-Off in overtime, defeating Team USA

Episode edited by Garak Tailor

Garak Tailor (merch store) hosts Monday Night Fake Fights. We talk about what's causing all this, the meaning of International Object, inclusive language, and much more.

Further reading for each question:

Question 1. What got you into wrestling? Or, as @jayc4life on Bluesky put it, is there a moment where wrestling clicked for you?

• Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin
• Orange Cassidy vs Gentleman Jervis WrestleCircus Encore May 12, 2019 - YouTube

Question 2. How long should a wrestler hold a grudge against another wrestler?

• History of "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland in AEW

Question 3. What's your favourite reason for a wrestling match to happen?

• Royal Rumble - Wikipedia
• G1 Climax - Wikipedia
• Round-robin tournament - Wikipedia
• Mankind vs. The Undertaker - Rivalries Database

Question 4. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

• Abadon Tilt-a-Whirl Headscissors - YouTube

Question 5. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

Question 6. How would you change wrestling to make it attractive for new fans?

From Erika's episode, Question 7: What type of gear does a wrestler need to wear for you to take them more seriously?

• Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart
• Dusty Rhodes shockingly reveals he's part of nWo
• Lockdown 2008: Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle - YouTube
• Kevin Owens - Wikipedia
• Shawn Michaels Entrance Video
• AEW's Orange Cassidy With Mike Jones - YouTube

Question 8. Do you have any questions for other wrestling fans?

• Who is your under-recognized performer who was unfortunately saddled with a bad part or gimmick?

Question 9. What's the match of the year?

• Kris Statlander vs. Mercedes Mone at World's End

Episode edited by Garak Tailor

Sawyer asks fellow bluesky poster Erica a few icebreakers about pro wrestling. Topics include: Yellow Dog, AEW, Eddie Kingston, the lariat, what a wrestler should actually wear, and Kenny in the dome.

Further reading for each question:

Question 1. How long have you been a wrestling fan?

Question 2. How long do you think you'll be a wrestling fan?

Question 3. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

Question 4. What's your favourite reason for a wrestling match to happen?

Question 5. How long should a wrestler hold a grudge against another wrestler?

Question 6. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

Quetion 7, from Rich Thomas: Do you remember the first thing that took you out of a wrestling match?

Question 8. How would you change wrestling to make it attractive for new fans?

Question 9. Do you have any questions for other wrestling fans?

Question 10. What's the match of the year?

Episode edited by Garak Tailor

Sawyer invites longtime co-host and guest of International Object, Rich Thomas on to begin the process of finding great questions to ask wrestling fans.

Further reading for each question:

Question 1. How long have you been a wrestling fan?

Question 2. How long will you be a wrestling fan?

Question 3. When is the best time to tell someone you're a wrestling fan?

Question 4. What's your favourite reason for a wrestling match to happen?

Question 5. How much wrestling should there be on a wrestling show?

Question 6. What's the right length for a wrestling match?

Question 7. How long should a wrestler hold a grudge against another wrestler?

Question 8. What's your favourite wrestling move to see in a match?

Question 9. How would you change wrestling to make it attractive for new fans?

Question 10. How does TV wrestling compare to live wrestling?

Question 11. Do you have any questions for other wrestling fans?

Question 12. What's the match of the year?

Quetion from Rich: Do you remember the first thing that took you out of a wrestling match?

The International Object Wrestling Database ran into a problem: I stopped caring about keeping track of things. Rich and Sawyer unpack trackers, the five star rating system, cagematch.net, and RetroMania Wrestling.