As a follow-up to the previous episode titled 'The Crimson Mask,' Alexa chats with Phil Schneider, wrestling critic, and author of book "Way of the Blade: 100 of the Greatest Bloody Matches In Wrestling History." Alexa asks him how he got interested in wrestling, what drew him to bloody matches, and his favorite bloody women's match. Digressions include: a Saudi Prince, AEW Revolution, World War Z, video stores, Trump/McMahon parallels and more.

If you want to hear more from Phil Schneider:

His podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/way-of-the-blade/id1568518302

His book: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Blade-Greatest-Matches-Wrestling/dp/173494594X

In today's episode, Alexa takes us through what is known as the crimson mask in professional wrestling. Through doing so, she discusses some history of bloody wrestling matches, important moments in wrestling history, and just how career shifting one bloody match can be. She also talks about the women who subvert expectations by shedding their own blood...on purpose or on accident.

Aja Kong is a Japanese wrestler who's career spans almost four decades. Alexa discusses her childhood and family, and how wrestling became important to her at such an early age. To look at the career of Aja Kong is to look at the evolution of women's wrestling. She along with some of her comrades, changed wrestling for the better. Still wrestling today, she continues to stir people out of their seats, and make them scream her name.

Today, Alexa talks about the life of Ashley Massaro. A once model made wrestler, Ashley was a ray of light that exuded every time she was on the stage. Through her employment with the WWE, Ashley ran in to systemic and situational issues that held her back, resulting in her having a short lived career. This did not mean the fans forgot her though, no, she spent the rest of her life still in the eyes of fans. She unfortunately passed away in 2018, leaving the world a little bit darker.

Today, Alexa discusses the history of the legalization of women's wrestling, and the role wrestler Titi Paris had in lifting the ban. Mentioned are the people who attempted before her, the folks who held them back, and those who supported them. Placing a ban on women's wrestling made it so combat fighters by trade could not have experience, opportunity, or employment.

Nyla Rose is a star with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Loving wrestling since childhood, Nyla watched with her grandmother, hoping to do it herself one day. Throughout her career, she has competed within independent circuits in the United States, and Japan. Being the first Native American and first transgender woman to be a champion at a major promotion exclusively, Nyla Rose is changing the scenery of what wrestling is for those coming in after her.

In this episode, Alexa breaks down the tag-team known as the Pretty Mean Sisters (PMS) within the World Wrestling Federation. The team was made up of Terri Runnels and previous Queen of Our Ring, Jacqueline Moore. Topics include salacious storylines they were privy to being involved in, the other wrestlers they worked with, and the inspiration for the groups creator. Additionally, Alexa dives in to some more recent news, discussing the Vice TV show Dark Side of the Ring, and Runnels' questionable commentary.

For this extra-special Halloween episode, Alexa is discussing the life of the Extreme Queen, Megumi Kudo. She set the standard for the caliber that wrestling exists at today. Kudo brought women into the emerging hardcore, death match wrestling scene in the 1990s. Suffering burns, lacerations, chains, barbed wire and explosions, she set the boundaries for where wrestling could go and was more than ahead of her time.

On this season finale, come along while Alexa discusses the history of bra and panty matches within professional wrestling. From the days of apartment wrestling in the late 1970's, to the Attitude Era in the WWE, feminine sexuality is consistently an important ingredient for wrestling's overall commercial success.

This week, Alexa talks about Jacqueline Moore, a retired professional wrestler with a vast history of working within different promotions over more than two decades. Jacqueline's story overlaps with so many of the greatest wrestlers of all time. She is one of the most decorated women wrestlers in history who came up through the independent scene, and became one of the biggest names in the business. Through her career, Jacqueline inspired so many women wrestlers behind her and paved a way for them to follow in her stead.