📅 Air Date: 11-01-26

This week on The Wrestling Rewind, we react to one of the biggest and most unexpected moments in recent WWE history as Drew McIntyre finally captures the WWE Championship in front of a live crowd. We break down why this win feels long overdue, how it corrects years of missed opportunities, and why Drew’s run could represent a genuine reset at the top of the card.

We dive deep into the Three Stages of Hell match, the return of Jacob Fatu, and how WWE suddenly went from having a “Cody problem” to multiple fresh, intersecting main-event feuds. We also discuss SmackDown’s return to three hours, why this episode justified the format, and how WWE seems to be learning when to pull the trigger instead of forcing the plan.

The conversation expands into the wider roster: Carmelo Hayes’ rise, Jordynne Grace’s WWE future, Jade Cargill’s exposed limitations, Chelsea Green’s unexpected momentum, and what WWE’s women’s divisions are still getting wrong. We also touch on Mark Cardona’s return, the Wyatt Six, CM Punk vs Bron Breakker, Netflix-era WWE presentation, and why this felt like a statement week for the company.

We close by hopping back into the time machine to review Royal Rumble 2012, revisiting Sheamus’ win, CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler, forgotten booking decisions, and how different WWE felt — for better and worse.

00:00 Intro & Drew McIntyre title win reaction

02:10 Why this is Drew’s real championship run

06:30 Three Stages of Hell match analysis

10:40 Jacob Fatu return & future feuds

15:20 WWE’s Cody Rhodes problem revisited

20:10 SmackDown’s three-hour test

24:30 Carmelo Hayes & the US title scene

28:20 Jordynne Grace arrival & Jade Cargill criticism

34:10 WWE women’s division depth issues

39:40 Mark Cardona’s WWE return

43:10 Wyatt Six vs Bloodline comparisons

47:30 CM Punk vs Bron Breakker main event

52:10 Netflix-era WWE production & pacing

55:40 Royal Rumble 2012 review

58:30 Final thoughts, plugs & sign-off

#TheWrestlingRewind #WrestlingPodcast #DrewMcIntyre #WWE #SmackDown #ProWrestling #WrestlingAnalysis #WWENews #RoyalRumble #NetflixWWE #WrestlingCommunity

The new year kicks off with big franchises, bold predictions, and one extremely large snake as Darragh, Cian and Kev return for the first Nerd To Know Basis of 2026.

We dive into Stranger Things, discussing what lies ahead for Netflix’s flagship series and whether the hype can survive the long wait. From Hawkins, we head back to Pandora to unpack Avatar: Fire and Ash, breaking down what we know so far and whether James Cameron is about to dominate the box office once again.

Things then take a sharp turn into creature-feature territory with a review of Anaconda, revisiting the cult classic to decide if it’s dumb fun, misunderstood chaos, or just pure nonsense.

Finally, the NTKB Box Office Game returns, as the lads lock in their predictions for the biggest movies of 2025 — setting themselves up for glory, ridicule, and receipts later in the year.

📅 Air Date: 03-01-26

📻 Phoenix 92.5 FM & wherever you get your podcasts

📅 Air Date: 06-01-26

This week on The Wrestling Rewind, we kick off 2026 by taking a hard look back at WWE in 2025 which was a a year defined by transition, contradictions, and an industry searching for its identity. With a new co-host joining the show, we reflect on a year that felt less like a reset and more like a vibe check for modern wrestling.

We break down the arrival of the Netflix era, TKO’s growing influence, and how corporate priorities continue to reshape WWE’s creative direction. The discussion centers on John Cena’s retirement tour; his long-awaited heel turn, why it felt historic in the moment, and why it ultimately fell apart. From Cena’s final matches to the missing payoff involving The Rock, the run became a perfect snapshot of WWE’s ongoing struggle between nostalgia and progression.

The conversation expands to the bigger picture: WWE’s acquisition of AAA, the ongoing search for the next true top star, the lingering effects of the “John Cena problem,” and whether rotating faces at the top is the only way forward. We also dig into CM Punk fatigue, Paul Heyman’s latest betrayal, Becky Lynch passing the torch, AJ Styles’ emotional return to TNA, and one of the most chaotic TLC tag matches in recent memory.

We close with honest reflections on Goldberg’s unnecessary farewell, WWE’s increasing reliance on Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas, and what all of it says about where the business is really heading.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro, New Year & Martin stepping away

02:20 Welcoming new co-host Christopher Fanning

04:40 Christopher’s background, fandom & WWE gaps

10:40 2025 as a “vibe check” year

13:50 John Cena’s retirement tour & heel turn

17:40 Comparing Cena’s turn to Hogan & Taker

21:20 Why the heel run fizzled out

26:10 Cena’s matches, IC title & finality

29:40 The Rock’s role & missing payoff

33:20 WrestleMania fallout & Travis Scott confusion

36:20 WWE acquiring AAA

38:30 WWE’s next top star debate

43:20 The “John Cena problem” explained

46:40 CM Punk, Rollins fatigue & Heyman turn

49:40 Becky Lynch, torch-passing & acting

52:10 AJ Styles, TNA return & Cena classic

54:40 Match of the Year: SummerSlam TLC

57:10 Goldberg retirement rant

58:20 Saudi Arabia, Vegas & WWE money moves

59:00 Final thoughts, plugs & sign-off

Christopher's Podcast: The Josh Zodiac Podcast

YouTube: youtube.com/@THEJoshZodiacPodcast

TikTok: tiktok.com/@thejoshzodiacpodcast

X: x.com/joshzodiacpod

#TheWrestlingRewind #WrestlingPodcast #WWE #JohnCena #NetflixWWE #ProWrestling #WrestlingAnalysis #WrestlingHistory #BestOfTheYear #WrestlingCommunity

The new year kicks off with big franchises, bold predictions, and one extremely large snake as Darragh, Cian and Kev return for the first Nerd To Know Basis of 2026.

We dive into Stranger Things, discussing what lies ahead for Netflix’s flagship series and whether the hype can survive the long wait. From Hawkins, we head back to Pandora to unpack Avatar: Fire and Ash, breaking down what we know so far and whether James Cameron is about to dominate the box office once again.

Things then take a sharp turn into creature-feature territory with a review of Anaconda, revisiting the cult classic to decide if it’s dumb fun, misunderstood chaos, or just pure nonsense.

Finally, the NTKB Box Office Game returns, as the lads lock in their predictions for the biggest movies of 2025 — setting themselves up for glory, ridicule, and receipts later in the year.

📅 Air Date: 03-01-26

📻 Phoenix 92.5 FM & wherever you get your podcasts

📅 Air Date: 24-12-25

This week on The Wrestling Rewind, we cut through the nostalgia and tackle one of the most divisive moments in modern wrestling: John Cena’s final match and the fallout that followed. We break down the outrage, the unhinged fan reactions, and why Cena passing the torch to Gunther wasn’t just the right call in fact it was long overdue.

We dig deep into how Cena’s 20-year run reshaped (and arguably damaged) the wrestling business, why WWE fans struggle with the idea of legends losing, and how nostalgia has warped people’s understanding of how wrestling is supposed to work. From Super Cena and the Nexus burial, to Vince McMahon revisionism and the dangers of endless retirement tours, nothing is off-limits.

We also explore what this moment means for WWE’s future, the lack of truly established next-generation stars, and whether today’s wrestling wars will be won by building talent or simply selling memories.

#TheWrestlingRewind #WrestlingPodcast #JohnCena #Gunther #WWE #ProWrestling #WrestlingAnalysis #PassingTheTorch #WrestlingHistory #NoNostalgiaGlasses #WrestlingCommunity

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro, Christmas Eve broadcast & why this isn’t a festive episode

02:10 – AEW Dynamite in Manchester & Triller streaming issues

06:40 – Streaming services rant (Triller, Victory+, GAA app comparisons)

12:30 – Wrestling access, nostalgia & how fans used to find wrestling

17:10 – John Cena’s final match discussion begins

20:00 – Cena tapping out & immediate fan backlash

23:45 – Death threats, online derangement & misunderstanding wrestling logic

28:30 – Why Cena had to lose & how retirement matches should work

33:20 – Super Cena era, Nexus burial & long-term damage

38:40 – Why a Cena heel turn should’ve happened years ago

42:30 – Gunther as the correct opponent & nuclear heel heat

47:00 – WWE nostalgia culture & endless retirement runs

51:30 – Vince McMahon revisionism & rewriting wrestling history

55:30 – Final thoughts on Cena, the future, and closing remarks

59:22 – End

This week on The Wrestling Rewind, we dive headfirst into the biggest talking points shaping professional wrestling today. The Continental Classic returns — once again proving why pure wrestling still matters. We break down why AEW’s C2 has become one of the most legitimate and refreshing tournaments in modern wrestling, standing out in an era overloaded with gimmicks.

We also discuss the latest John Cena retirement tour news, including backstage rumors of a potential heel turn, celebrity involvement, and how WWE is handling the final chapter of one of the biggest stars in wrestling history.

The conversation turns critical as we review WarGames and Blood & Guts, questioning whether these once-special matches have lost their impact through overuse and questionable timing. Plus, we tackle WWE’s spiraling live event ticket prices, the long-term damage being done to the fanbase, and what this strategy says about TKO’s future plans.

Finally, we break down the industry-shaking news involving Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix, WWE, and AEW, discussing what a potential mega-deal could mean for the future of wrestling, streaming exclusivity, and whether the next wrestling war will be fought in boardrooms instead of rings.

🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation.

#TheWrestlingRewind #WrestlingPodcast #AEW #WWE #ContinentalClassic #C2 #JohnCena #WarGames #BloodAndGuts #WrestlingAnalysis #ProWrestling #StreamingWars #NetflixWWE #AEWOnTV #WrestlingCommunity

This week on The Wrestling Rewind, we dive headfirst into the biggest talking points shaping professional wrestling today. The Continental Classic returns — once again proving why pure wrestling still matters. We break down why AEW’s C2 has become one of the most legitimate and refreshing tournaments in modern wrestling, standing out in an era overloaded with gimmicks.

We also discuss the latest John Cena retirement tour news, including backstage rumors of a potential heel turn, celebrity involvement, and how WWE is handling the final chapter of one of the biggest stars in wrestling history.

The conversation turns critical as we review WarGames and Blood & Guts, questioning whether these once-special matches have lost their impact through overuse and questionable timing. Plus, we tackle WWE’s spiraling live event ticket prices, the long-term damage being done to the fanbase, and what this strategy says about TKO’s future plans.

Finally, we break down the industry-shaking news involving Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix, WWE, and AEW, discussing what a potential mega-deal could mean for the future of wrestling, streaming exclusivity, and whether the next wrestling war will be fought in boardrooms instead of rings.

🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation.

#TheWrestlingRewind #WrestlingPodcast #AEW #WWE #ContinentalClassic #C2 #JohnCena #WarGames #BloodAndGuts #WrestlingAnalysis #ProWrestling #StreamingWars #NetflixWWE #AEWOnTV #WrestlingCommunity

This week, Kev, Cian and Darragh go from Europa Park blowing Disney out of the water and what Ireland’s theme parks can learn, to Universal Studios finally eyeing the UK with Lord of the Rings, Jurassic World and more.

The mood shifts as the lads unpack the brewing media apocalypse—Netflix, Paramount and Warner Bros battling it out, what it means for cinemas, streaming, and why consolidation is bad news for everyone.

Plus: Doctor Who returns without the Doctor, Wicked divides stage and screen opinion, and a surprisingly heated showdown erupts over the Late Late Toy Show—national treasure or cultural embarrassment? Strap in and leave your comments below.

📅 Air Date: 14-12- 25

#NerdToKnowBasis,#Podcast,#PopCulture,#ThemeParks,#EuropaPark,#Disney,#UniversalStudios,#StreamingWars,#Netflix,#WarnerBros,#Paramount,#DoctorWho,#Wicked,#LateLateToyShow,#IrishMedia,#FilmTalk,#TVTalk,#GeekCulture

This week, Cian and Kev dive into the beginning of the end for Stranger Things, breaking down the first half of the final season — what works, what doesn’t, and whether Netflix’s last true monoculture can stick the landing.

From there, Kev introduces Pluribus, the unexpected and deeply strange new sci-fi series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, starring Rhea Seehorn — a bold creative swing that’s flying under the radar.

The conversation then turns sour as Amazon is caught using AI-generated English dubs for anime, sparking a wider discussion about AI, voice acting, and why this tech keeps making everything worse.

A thoughtful, opinionated episode about endings, originality, and why supporting real artists matters more than ever.

📅 Air Date: 06-12-25

📻 Phoenix 92.5 FM & wherever you get your podcasts

#NerdToKnow,#StrangerThings,#Pluribus,#VinceGilligan,#AIDebate,#AnimeNews,#StreamingCulture,#Podcast,#GeekCulture,#TVTalk

We break down Wicked: For Good, discussing the risks and rewards of splitting the beloved musical in two, whether Act Two can live up to expectations, and how the film handles its darker themes. From there, it’s on to Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited Frankenstein — a visually rich, emotionally grounded take on the classic monster that puts empathy and tragedy front and centre.

Finally, we hit the dystopian arena with Edgar Wright’s The Running Man, asking whether this slick reimagining delivers Wright’s trademark energy or feels restrained by the source material.

Big adaptations, iconic monsters, and modern takes on classic stories — it’s a packed episode of films worth arguing about.

#NerdToKnowBasis,#Podcast,#PopCulture,#Wicked,#WickedForGood,#Frankenstein,#GuillermoDelToro,#TheRunningMan,#EdgarWright,#MovieReviews,#FilmPodcast,#SciFi,#Fantasy,#GeekCulture