Much Ado About Wrestling

The Scholars react to one of the best WrestleManias of all time, but question the direction of the Bloodline storyline after the main event.

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher or Spotify

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

Hot off the presses, the Scholars give their immediate reactions to WrestleMania 39 minutes after the end of Night 2. They talk about the surprising end of the night and what it means for the future of Roman and Cody, then they talk about the slew of fantastic matches on Night 1 and the unfortunate injuries and wonky bits of Night 2. They talk about the difference in presentation from product placement to special entrances and the amazing set. Then they speculate if WrestleMania will look different next year as a rumored sale of the company might finally becoming official this week.

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

The Scholars are ready to celebrate the best week of the year for wrestling fans by answering 39 burning questions about WrestleMania 39!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher or Spotify

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

The Scholars run through everything we can expect during WrestleMania Week. They start by addressing non-WWE things they’ll be checking in on (11:30), then they look at the bits of interest in WWE’s pre-Mania events like Smackdown, the Hall of Fame, and NXT Stand & Deliver (24:00).

Then, it’s time to talk about the showcase of the immortals itself, WrestleMania 39! They start with the talking points for Night 1, including why Cena/Theory was picked as the opener, what the crowd reaction will be to Charlotte/Ripley, and what should main event the evening (46:00). Then, they transition to Night 2 where they talk about the future of the Bloodline and Cody, what to expect from a Hell in a Cell match that is in the midcard, and why we expect some surprises. (1:14:00)

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

An annual tradition at the pod, the scholars attempt to predict all 14 matches on the card 44 days out from WrestleMania 39!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher or Spotify

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

The Scholars get things started by recapping the highs and lows from the Royal Rumble (Highs include the post main event angle and bar raffles, lows include the Pitch Dark match and the Kevin Owens Chicken Fingers). Then they talk about the build to Elimination Chamber this Saturday, how to transition the main protagonist of the Bloodline Saga from Sami to Cody, and why this normally transitional show is a must-watch with huge implications this year. (06:30)

Then, the scholars spend the rest of their time methodically predicting the card for WrestleMania 39. They ponder what their initial agreement on the card says about WWE’s recent storytelling changes, then try to ruminate on how a Sami Zayn title win could blow up 3 to 4 matches on the card. Then, they talk about why they believe we’ll see Brock vs. Bobby again even with a rubber match happening this weekend. They discuss the Ronda Rousey of it all and the delicate balancing of egos in constructing the women’s matches on the card. Finally, they try to round out the bottom of the card, including finding an opponent for Braun, scheduling anything for the Miz, and getting a match for Dom’s custody onto the show! (46:48)

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

The Scholars talk about the penultimate joys of the pro wrestling Go-Home show! Then they preview this weekend’s Royal Rumble!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher or Spotify

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

The Scholars get things started by recapping the fantastic Raw segment The Trial of Sami Zayn, while connecting it to their word of the day; Go-Home Show. They discuss the two theories about how this nickname was devised, look at what needs to be accomplished in a Go-Home show, and recall some of the best and worst examples in recent history (06:30)

Then the Scholars look ahead to this Saturday’s Royal Rumble premium live event. They talk favorites, expectations, and wild predictions for the titular Rumble matches, they ponder what Sami Zayn’s final test might be, and they try to get to the bottom of what exactly is a Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match. (46:48)

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

The Scholars break down the insane week since Vince McMahon returned to the executive board of WWE

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

The Scholars list all the events that have happened since Vince announced his return to the WWE executive board last week, including his coup to regain chairman status, the new company bylaw he wrote, Stephanie McMahon’s resignation, and the late rumor of a sale of WWE to the Saudi Public Investment Fund (05:28)

Then the Scholars discuss the lingering questions about the uncertainty of the business side of WWE. They talk about what a Saudi-controlled pro wrestling landscape would look like, what Vince’s motivations are in coming back, who else might step up and buy the company, and what famous villain Vince is most similar to. (20:41)

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

The Scholars discuss the history and logic of Tag Team Wrestling

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

The Scholars welcome us with some life updates including Andrew’s current very real strike going on. Then they recap a few recent wrestling news items including MJF vs. Ricky Starks from Winter is Coming, the NXT Women’s Championship title change and subsequent release of Mandy Rose, and the PWI 2022 list of top Tag Teams. (01:30)

Then the Scholars discuss the word of the day, Tag Teams. They define what the rules of a tag team wrestling match is, and look back at the earliest tag matches on record. Then they go over the “casting” of tag teams and how they are constructed. They go through the general storytelling arc of the life of a tag team from inception through breakup, and then look at some of the most notable tag teams in history including the Fabulous Freebirds, the Mega Powers, the Rockers, the Road Warriors, The Hardy Boyz, and more! Then they wrap up their tag team discussion by looking into the future to see what can be done to keep a tag team division strong, and ponder what could be a potential WrestleMania main event tag match. (27:31)

And finally, Tyler boots up the Kayfabe 7000 and questions are answered including what is the best tag team finishing move? What is the best way to win a tag team match? Who will eventually beat the Usos for the Tag Titles? And More! (1:23:55)

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

Tyler shows his “Ironman” abilities by doing a full solo review
of AEW Full Gear 2022

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

Tyler welcomes the audience by giving an update on our future legal episode, and then running down the show match by match in chronological order. Tyler talks about the Zero Hour matches answering questions like who should be the next number one contender and who is Cole Karter??? (03:00). Then Tyler dives into the main Full Gear card! He explores the undercard, including explosive opening matches, the return of The Elite, The ROH four way, Saraya’s return to the ring, and more! (10:00). Finally, Tyler gets to our main events, discussing Jamie Hayter’s win and whether she is an interim champion, the third in the Acclaimed vs. Swerve in our Glory series, the AEW World Championship title change, and the storyline swerves (pun-intended) in each (36:45).

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

The scholars regroup to discuss the lackluster summer inside and outside the ring for AEW.

The scholars start things off by looking at the life and career of the recently departed Antonio Inoki. They dig a little deeper into the life of the man they both mostly knew as the creator of New Japan Pro Wrestling, and explore his life as a politician, pioneer of mixed martial arts, hostage negotiator, and more! (04:00)

Read the Ringer article about Inoki that our hosts reference multiple times

Then, the scholars talk about the AEW’s very bad summer. They talk through all the incidents that plagued them; CM Punk’s media scrum and backstage fight, Sammy Guevara’s multiple backstage incidents, injuries galore, and lackluster storytelling. They discuss Andrew’s experience attending AEW Grand Slam, and identify issues they think Tony Khan needs to change and address in his company. Then they talk about their confidence in some headline-grabbing statements about the state of AEW. (20:10)

Finally, the scholars throw off the bad vibes and talk about all the things on the wrestling horizon that they are excited for and feeling positive about. They talk about how quickly WWE has changed direction after the departure of Vince McMahon, if Sami Zayn could be the one to dethrone Roman Reigns, and why we expect AEW’s console video game to be a crossover hit. (1:04:13)

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

The scholars react to Ric Flair’s Last Match, both the event and the match – and look at the lengthy career and complicated legacy of the Nature Boy. WOO!!!

Before diving into the meat of the episode, the scholars react to SummerSlam, focusing on the Last Man Standing match between Roman and Brock, and the Becky and Bianca match and the subsequent fallout. They discuss early changes in WWE’s post-Vince era, and why it has them excited for what’s to come. (00:35)

Then, the scholars talk about Ric Flair – who he is, what he means to wrestling in and out of the ring, his gimmick, the things he credited in creating, and why it’s unsurprising that this isn’t his first retirement match. (22:15)

Then our scholars do a career retrospective on the life of Ric Flair; from his beginnings as part of an illegal adoption agency, to his early wrestling years and plane crash, through his ascent to best in the world status in the 80s as the Nature Boy, to his brief but memorable run in WWE in the 90s, to why he wasn’t used properly in WCW, to his role in Evolution and critically acclaimed retirement match, to his disastrous run in TNA, and all the pitfalls and tragedies along the way. (36:20)

Finally, the scholars review the good, bad, and ugly of Ric Flair’s Last Match- fake heart attacks included. They discuss how and if it changes his legacy, and why his post-match comments were troubling. (1:32:10)

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale

The scholars react to the most shocking wrestling news in their lifetime; the retirement of Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon has retired from the world of pro wrestling. The Scholars discuss this bombshell, how it is likely prompted by the misconduct allegations and potential further news to come, what might change in how WWE looks and feels in the immediate and the future. (01:13)

Then, the scholars touch on what they had originally planned to talk about this episode, the upcoming Ric Flair’s Last Match pay per view event. (48:00)

Be on the look out for our upcoming episodes:
– A look at the Vince McMahon scandal from a legal eye
– A retrospective of the complicated career and life of Ric Flair

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Follow us/ leave us a question for the Kayfabe 5020 on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

Listen to Tyler’s band TURBO MANSION

Check out Andrew’s WRITING

Listen to Andrew pitch a Simpsons Series Finale