IF YOU’VE BEEN following wrestling on the Emerald Isle in 2022, there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed the performances of one Debbie Keitel. The five-year Irish ring veteran has reigned as the champion of Dublin’s Over the Top Wrestling (OTT) since March, when she defeated the dominant Emersyn Jayne for the honors.

In addition to her impressive run at OTT, Keitel has also held gold in Glasgow, Scotland’s Fierce Females promotion, and previously reigned as tag team champion at Pro Wrestling: EVE—as one-half of The Woke Queens with NXT U.K.’s Aoife Valkyrie.

Today, Keitel is perhaps best recognized as a coffee-toting, preening presence on cards across Ireland, as well as British promotions such as EVE, PROGRESS Wrestling, and RevPro. It hasn’t always been the easiest journey: Between a global pandemic shutting down BritWres (and Irish wrestling) and the fraught power dynamics and abusive behavior that led to her being a force for change within the #SpeakingOut movement of 2020.

Through it all, Keitel remains upbeat and resilient. And, by most objective standards, she’s now reaching the next level in her career at age 33, with multiple championships on her CV (along with a brief experience at NXT U.K.).

Now, for the first time, she’s spoken at length with Pro Wrestling Illustrated, discussing her career journey, developing as a professional wrestler, and much more with PWI Contributing Writer Jason McVeigh.

Follow Debbie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbieKeitel

Pro Wrestling Illustrated is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The PWI Podcast, Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon are joined by our magazine's Art Director, Laura Brubaker, for a peek behind the scenes of the design side of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Then, Editor-in-Chief Kevin McElvaney stops by to discuss the retirement of Vince McMahon and what that might mean for WWE.

Buy Brian's book: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fire-Unbelievable-Real-Life-Wrestlings/dp/1770415807/ 

Subscribe to PWI: https://prowrestlingillustrated.secure.darwin.cx/I21APWIP 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

This week, there is once again quite a bit to talk about in the land of WWE. The bulk of this episode focuses on the latest reporting from the Wall Street Journal around NDAs and allegations against Vince McMahon. Al Castle and Brian R. Solomon discuss whether these allegations might lead to any changes, structurally or culturally, within the wrestling industry leader (and what sort of responsibility wrestling media might take in these situations). Plus: lighter conversation about this year's Money in the Bank results and collecting VHS tapes.

Buy Brian's book: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fire-Unbelievable-Real-Life-Wrestlings/dp/1770415807/ 

Subscribe to PWI: https://prowrestlingillustrated.secure.darwin.cx/I21APWIP 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

It's the landmark 200th episode of The PWI Podcast. To celebrate, Al Castle and Brian Solomon are joined by a very special guest in Al's former cohost, longtime PWI writer Dan Murphy. Dan talks about his latest projects—including his relationship with wrestling since stepping away from the magazine—before jumping into a discussion of a particularly busy period in pro wrestling news. Topics covered include the latest Vince McMahon scandal, the current triumphs and struggles of WWE and AEW, Cody Rhodes' incredible performance at Hell in a Cell, and more.

Buy Dan's book: https://www.amazon.com/Wrestlers-Masters-Craft-Professional-Wrestling/dp/177041553X 

Buy Brian's book: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fire-Unbelievable-Real-Life-Wrestlings/dp/1770415807/ 

Subscribe to PWI: https://prowrestlingillustrated.secure.darwin.cx/I21APWIP 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

Mere days from the highly anticipated Pride & Vibe Weekend at the Knights of Columbus in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Kaia & Kevin are joined by promoter/wrestler Billy Dixon, who organized the two-day event and will be competing in this final match during the festivities. Billy discusses the importance of LGTBQ+ representation, running shows during a pandemic, and gives reluctant praise to their final opponent Darius Carter. Then, Twitter's favorite wrestler Candy Lee checks in from "Hotlanta" with a conversation that ranges from the deeply irreverent to the truly profound.

Follow Billy: https://twitter.com/TheBillyDixon 
Follow Pro Wrestling Vibe: https://twitter.com/PWVibe 
Follow Candy: https://www.instagram.com/leibarbie777/ 

Buy tickets for Pride & Vibe Weekend: https://shopiwtv.com/products/pride-vibe-weekend-2022 

Follow Kaia: https://twitter.com/KaiaMcK 
Support Kaia's "Good Witch" Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KaiaMcK 

Subscribe to Pro Wrestling Illustrated: https://prowrestlingillustrated.secure.darwin.cx/I22APWIP

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

JPQ returns with the third and final part of his "Snapshot" of the current state of women's wrestling in Japan. This week, he's joined by prolific podcast and journalist Scott E. Wrestling for a "Mid-Season Review." JPQ and Scott select their best and most improved wrestlers, top performers, breakout stars, and big moments of 2022 from Stardom, TJPW, Ice Ribbon, WAVE, NOMADS, Sendai, Marvelous, Seadlinnng, and the field of freelancers.

 

Follow JPQ: https://twitter.com/Bigpawsonapup 

Follow Scott: https://twitter.com/ScottEWrestling 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

Ahead of GCW's Tournament of Survival 7, Kaia McKenna and Kevin McElvaney are joined by two of the entrants, who will be facing off in the first round: Hoodfoot and Rina Yamashita. First, Hoodfoot discusses his preparation for that round one encounter, how his past experiences in wrestling have informed his approach to deathmatches, and what it's like traveling after the most brutal matches possible. Then, Rina Yamashita (with translations by Mr. Haku) shares her thoughts on Hoodfoot, competing in Japan's FREEDOMS promotion, Ice Ribbon, and much more.

Follow Hoodfoot: https://twitter.com/HoodFoot418 
Follow Rina: https://twitter.com/wryyyyna66 
Follow Mr. Haku: https://twitter.com/misterhakusan 
Follow NOMADS: https://twitter.com/NOMADS_fs 

Follow Kaia: https://twitter.com/KaiaMcK 
Support Kaia's "Good Witch" Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KaiaMcK 

Subscribe to Pro Wrestling Illustrated: https://prowrestlingillustrated.secure.darwin.cx/I22APWIP 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

On the latest PWI Podcast, Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon discuss the potential issues that led Sasha Banks and Naomi to walk out during Monday Night Raw, and whether or not WWE will eventually come to regret the way it handled the situation. Plus: Is Ric Flair's upcoming "last match" a good idea?

All that, plus Al shares the audio version of his full "Hotseat" interview with NWA promoter Billy Corgan from the August 2022 "Supercards" edition of PWI, which hits stores next week (and subscriber mailboxes soon thereafter).

Follow Al: https://twitter.com/alcastlepwi
Follow Brian: https://twitter.com/BrianRSolomon 

Subscribe to Pro Wrestling Illustrated: https://prowrestlingillustrated.secure.darwin.cx/I22APWIP 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

JPQ is back with part two of his "Snapshot" of the current state of women's wrestling in Japan. This week, he's joined by good pal Parker Klyn (Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline) for a discussion of joshi at home and abroad, with multiple Japanese wrestlers making scheduled appearances this season on American soil. Plus, JPQ & Parker get into the weeds with Ice Ribbon, NOMADS, Color's, and more.

 

Follow JPQ: https://twitter.com/Bigpawsonapup 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe

JPQ returns with another edition of his popular Just Joshi podcast. This time, he's joined once again by Alex Richards (Last Word On Sports, Stardom Quest podcast) for part one of a series of "Snapshot" episodes about various Japanese women's wrestling promotions. This week's show includes heaps of analysis of Stardom, including its recent Cinderella tourney. Plus, Pro Wrestling WAVE, Actwres girl'z, the possibility of another joshi supershow featuring multiple promotions, and much more.

 

Follow JPQ: https://twitter.com/Bigpawsonapup 

More from PWI at pwi-online.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prowrestlingillustrated.substack.com/subscribe