Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Squared Circle Podcast
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Squared Circle Podcast
By Marie ShadowsSports
Squared Circle Podcast episodes
- Marie Shadows Breaks Down Wrestle Kingdom 19: Matches, Predictions & Insights
Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!
In this episode, I break down all the matches for Wrestle Kingdom 19, including the chaotic Ranbo, the high-stakes retirement and hair loss match between Tanahashi and Evil, and the Junior Tag Team Titles ladder match. I also delve into why Yota Tsuji vs. David Finlay for the Global Heavyweight Championship feels mistimed. Wrestle Kingdom is NJPW's WrestleMania, and while I want it to deliver, NJPW needs to solidify its identity apart from AEW.
47 min - Anime Villain vs Madman: Kenny Omega vs Gabe Kidd Promo Breakdown for Wrestle Dynasty Match (Tape Study Chatter)
Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!
Welcome to Tape Study Chatter!
We are breaking down the promo between Kenny Omega and Gabe Kidd for their upcoming Wrestle Dynasty match!
Introduction:
- Breaking down the mixed reactions to the build-up of the Kenny Omega vs Gabe Kidd match at Wrestle Dynasty.
Omega’s Heel Turn:
- Sudden shift from babyface to "Anime Villain" feels forced and unearned.
- Omega’s promo is overly dramatic, but lacks logical buildup, making it awkward.
Kidd’s Promo:
- Kidd delivers an authentic, raw promo with clear, believable motivations.
- His aggression and intensity match his in-ring style, making him come across as genuine.
Key Moments in the Promos:
- Omega’s claim that Kidd destroyed Bullet Club feels hollow, as Omega hasn’t been part of the faction since 2018.
- Omega’s sense of entitlement over Bullet Club seems forced, making him look like a desperate heel.
- Kidd’s promo stands out with his raw delivery, positioning him as the true protagonist in this feud.
Storytelling Breakdown:
- Omega’s heel turn feels jarring, while Kidd’s motivations are grounded and clear, giving him an edge.
Conclusion – Why the Match Doesn’t Work:
- Omega’s motivations are unclear, and his heel turn lacks depth.
- His health issues and rushed character shift weaken his heel persona.
- Kidd is miscast as a babyface, distorting the feud’s dynamic.
- The lack of narrative momentum results in a shallow build-up, leading to a match that struggles to make an impact.
54 min - Supporting NJPW’s Future: WWE, NJPW, and Hard Truths
Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!
When "jokes" fall flat, and truths are blocked - a twitter story
In this episode, Marie Shadows dives into the intricacies of professional wrestling and the ongoing issues within major companies like New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW. While defending New Japan's unique position in the wrestling ecosystem, Marie explores how different cultures have shaped pro wrestling across the world. The discussion also touches on the importance of constructive criticism and honest debate in wrestling fandom. Marie stresses the need for professionalism online and highlights a key Twitter moment involving WWE's Netflix move, urging the wrestling community to keep it classy.Marie Shadows defends New Japan Pro Wrestling while exploring cultural influences on the wrestling world. She discusses the importance of constructive criticism, professional conduct on social media, and calls for honest wrestling debates in this latest podcast episode.
Bullet Points Summary
Marie Shadows defends New Japan Pro Wrestling despite its flaws.
Discusses how different cultures (Japan, America, Mexico) created unique wrestling styles.
Stresses the importance of constructive criticism in wrestling fandom.
Emphasizes the need for professionalism when engaging online.
Recaps a controversial Twitter moment involving WWE's Netflix move.
Calls for keeping debates about wrestling authentic and honest.
Extra context pulled from my YouTube Community Tab & my own Twitter:
Telling the truth gets you blocked. What are these plenty of "incentives" to actively support NJPW? I've supported & still no incentives. I've actively told my fans to sign up for NJPW World - no incentives. Why do fans never *fully* explain themselves? They say things & block. NJPW stars - who haven't yet signed to AEW - get secondhand treatment & become jobbers to AEW stars. Ishii is a prime example of this treatment despite TK saying: I LOVE ISHII! ISHII IS GREAT! No one cared about Ishii. No reaction. No understanding of his character or move set.
The flip side: DDT Pro/AEW wrestler, Konosuke got the STAR treatment during the G1 this year by defeating ESTABLISHED NJPW wrestlers. Yeah, he lost later but that does damage to main roster of NJPW by changing fans PERCEPTION of those wrestlers.
https://youtu.be/_Uq9WqpM60Q
You don't need to watch a full episode of AEW to understand the issues - very SOLVABLE issues - that are playing out in REAL TIME. Contextual clips & research work fine to get a conclusion. I work in the business, I LOVE THIS - I can spot the issues & WANT wrestling to improve.
Extra context: https://x.com/Marie_Shadows/status/18...
Extra extra context: https://x.com/Marie_Shadows/status/18...
Links:
marieshadows.substack.com
https://discord.gg/McABYC3c39
https://marieshadows-shop.fourthwall.com
45 min - Tony Khan’s Excitement vs. Reality: Not Creating Stars in Pro Wrestling – Do Not Just "Enjoy All Wrestling"Summary
In this episode of the podcast, Marie Shadows discusses several key issues affecting AEW and the wrestling community. She critiques Tony Khan’s approach to building new stars in AEW, arguing that the company relies too heavily on established talent and former WWE wrestlers rather than nurturing fresh, homegrown talent. Shadows highlights the disconnect between AEW’s claim of focusing on the future of wrestling and its reality—filled with pre-packaged stars with minimal investment in new, developing talent. She also criticizes the lack of genuine promotional effort from AEW wrestlers, citing the missed opportunity at the All In Texas press conference.
The episode also explores the rebranding of the acronym IWC, emphasizing how the phrase “I Will Complain” reflects a larger issue within the wrestling community—how negativity is often rewarded on social media over authentic, constructive discourse. Marie shares practical tips for curating your Twitter timeline to filter out negativity and focus on content that truly reflects what fans want to see.
Marie wraps up the episode with a reflection on the unrealistic expectation for fans to “Enjoy All Wrestling,” stressing that every community and fandom has the right to critique and demand more from their favorite promotions and wrestlers. She also hints at a future project, Tape Study, where she plans to help wrestlers improve by analyzing matches and promos.
Tony Khan’s Press Conference for AEW All In Texas: Discussion of Tony Khan’s excitement for the future of pro wrestling, juxtaposed with concerns about AEW’s reliance on established stars and former WWE talent.
AEW’s Hiring Model and Creating New Stars: Shadows critiques AEW’s approach to talent development, emphasizing that many wrestlers on the roster come pre-packaged with their established personas and skillsets.
Missed Promotional Opportunities for AEW: Shadows reflects on the underwhelming turnout for the All In Texas press conference and the lack of engagement from wrestlers in promoting the event.
IWC Rebranding: A look at the transition from Internet Wrestling Community to I Will Complain, and the impact of social media algorithms that reward negativity. Marie offers tips for curating a more positive Twitter experience.
“Enjoy All Wrestling” Critique: Shadows argues against the common phrase used by wrestlers to dismiss constructive criticism and stresses the importance of genuine engagement with fans.
Future Projects and Upcoming Content: Marie announces a new project, Tape Study, aimed at helping wrestlers improve through match analysis and promo breakdowns.
Leave a spotify comment!
Links:
Merch: marieshadows-shop.fourthwall.com
YouTube: youtube.com/squaredcirclepodcast
Newsletter: marieshadows.substack.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/McABYC3c39
1 hr 6 min - Meeting Eric Bischoff while working MLW One Shot in NYC!
Listen, in my wildest dreams, I would have never thought that I’ll be meeting Eric Bishoff and creating wrestling content over the past six years as we approach January 2025.
Hello everyone! Thank you for being patient with me and delivering content to your inboxes. For the quickest way to keep with me and my journey in wrestling is through Discord and YouTube as I post in the community tab. I would love to utilize Substack Chat more and will be testing out the new feature of posting new articles directly from the Substack app on my phone.
Happy Monday!
So let me back up a bit. On December 5, 2024, MLW returned to New York City to host MLW One Shot at the Melrose Ballroom. However, this wasn’t any other MLW One Shot from previous winters ago. This one was special. We had the honor of having special guest and booker for one night: ERIC BISCHOFF! You all know you love Eric. lol.
In the podcast episode, I tell my experience working the MLW One Shot event. I talk about helping talent with the meet and greets. I talk about helping seat charting. I talk about how great everyone was and the professionalism, and all the great helpers we had. It was a team effort the whole night.
Links:marieshadows.substack.com - has extra pictures, extra content.
youtube.com/squaredcirclepodcast
Discord
55 min - Jon Moxley - AEW Hard Reset! + Mox Interviews commentary - Full Gear 2024
Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host, Marie Shadows.
This episode is named: Jon Moxley - AEW Hard Reset! + Mox Interviews commentary - Full Gear 2024
Marie Shadows took a break due to a family member needing surgery. The family member is now recovering, and she has been aiding in their recovery. But now she's back, bringing the controversial talking points for AEW and Jon Moxley.
This entire podcast episode is dedicated to Jon Moxley, Jon Moxley's crew Death Riders, and his buildup with Orange Cassidy. Marie also discusses Twitter/X drama regarding Claudio tossing Orange Cassidy around like a rag doll.
Marie Shadows provides social commentary on recent interviews featuring Jon Moxley. These include:
A snippet from the NY Sports Post (nicknamed "Sunglass Hut").The full TV Insider interview, which featured varied questions, with Moxley appearing undecided about whether he was in character or not.
Marie also talks about the importance of social media and how to effectively block, mute, and move forward. She explains that while social media is (unfortunately) the future, people need to understand and use it properly. Instead of blaming the toxicity they see on their timeline—which they haven’t yet cleaned up—some fans unfairly label others as toxic or criticize those who genuinely want the AEW product to improve.
For any names mentioned in this episode, please do not harass anyone! Thank you for respecting this.
Please support the Squared Circle Podcast through these links:
YouTube.com/squaredcirclepodcast
Twitter.com/marie_shadows
marieshadows.substack.com
https://marieshadows-shop.fourthwall.com/
https://discord.gg/98yPc2k8zF
1 hr 35 min - NJPW United Empire Faction History Lesson (audio)
Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am you host Marie Shadows! This is an audio only recording where I go in depth into the NJPW United Empire Faction History Lesson. AEW wants you to belive something different and no one is pushing back against it except for me.
1 hr 46 min - AEW Has Decided United Empire Is No More! (youtube livestream)
Hi! Marie Shadows here! Today we're talking more about the United Empire and AEW's lack of good logical storytelling. I wish the "writers" weren't lazy for this. This United Empire "civil war" is so rushed or trying to be rushed or just not logical. Join me!
2 hr 54 min - Future Stars & Failing Strategies: WWE’s ID Program vs. AEW’s Ticket Troubles
Title: Future Stars & Failing Strategies: WWE’s ID Program vs. AEW’s Ticket Troubles
Host: Marie ShadowsPodcast: Squared Circle Podcast
Episode Overview:In this episode, Marie Shadows discusses WWE’s latest initiative, the WWE ID program, which scouts and mentors indie wrestlers with the potential to join WWE. Discover how WWE is paving a sustainable path for the next generation of talent.
Meanwhile, Marie shares her critical insights on AEW and NJPW’s current challenges, from ticket sales to storytelling mishaps, and how their strategic missteps could be alienating casual fans and dragging NJPW down.
Marie also explores why NJPW's previous independence (with NJPW Strong) had more success in building buzz than its current AEW partnership.
Key Topics Covered:
- WWE ID Program: How WWE’s mentorship for indie wrestlers is shaping the future of pro wrestling talent.
- AEW Ticket Troubles: Analysis of AEW’s discounted ticket prices and struggles with attendance.
- NJPW’s Position: Why NJPW’s shift away from NJPW Strong might be detrimental and how the AEW partnership could be impacting its growth.
- Fan Connection Issues: Why AEW and NJPW are struggling to connect with casual fans and how it’s affecting their shows.
- AEW Fan Behavior: A callout to AEW’s low-IQ fanbase, addressing the need for mature discussion on wrestling’s bigger picture.
Takeaways:
- WWE is investing in the indie scene and building a pathway to long-term success.
- AEW and NJPW are facing challenges that require a stronger focus on fan engagement and storyline quality.
- Wrestling fans need honest conversations about industry trends and the future of promotions like WWE, AEW, and NJPW.
Call to Action:Want more behind-the-scenes wrestling analysis? Subscribe to Squared Circle Podcast for deep dives, insider stories, and pro wrestling critiques.
Subscribe: YouTube.com/squaredcirclepodcast
Join the Discord Party: https://discord.gg/98yPc2k8zF
Sign up to the newsletter: marieshadows.substack.com
Check out Fourthwall: https://marie-shadows-shop.fourthwall.com/
***
Future Stars & Failing Strategies: WWE’s ID Program vs. AEW’s Ticket Troubles - Join host Marie Shadows as she dives into WWE's new WWE ID program, which scouts top-tier indie wrestlers and offers mentorship, creating pathways to potential WWE careers. Marie also critiques AEW and NJPW’s approach to ticket sales, storytelling, and fan engagement, explaining why AEW’s and NJPW’s partnership may be hindering growth. If you’re interested in wrestling’s biggest debates on industry strategy and indie development, this episode’s for you!
50 min - AEW Rewrites NJPW History on WHY Kyle Fletcher Betrays Will OspreayDelve into the controversial storyline as we discuss AEW Rewriting NJPW History through the lens of Kyle Fletcher's betrayal of Will Ospreay. In this episode, I explore the intricate history of NJPW and the significant relationship between Ospreay and Fletcher, highlighting how their past should shape their current narrative. I provide insightful suggestions on how AEW could have crafted a more compelling and authentic storyline that honors their history. Join the conversation and discover how wrestling storytelling can evolve, and why understanding these dynamics is crucial for fans and writers alike.
Join the discord: https://discord.gg/McABYC3c39
Join the youtube Squared Circle Podcast family: https://youtube.com/squaredcirclepodcast
Join the newsletter: https://marieshadows.substack.com1 hr 4 min
About Squared Circle Podcast
From the publisher's feed
A labor of love for professional wrestling hosted by Marie Shadows.