The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast

WWE kicks off 2026 with its first full weekend of live action, and The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast is here to break down everything that happened.

We discuss Kit Wilson’s new entrance and what it could mean for his momentum going into the new year, before reacting to the return of Matt Cardona and where he fits into WWE’s 2026 landscape.

The women’s divisions delivered big moments as Giulia regains the US Women’s Championship, Becky Lynch becomes a two-time Women’s Intercontinental Champion, and Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. We debate what these title changes mean as WWE sets the tone for the year ahead.

We close out the episode by analysing CM Punk retaining the World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breakker, and whether this was the right way to headline WWE’s first major weekend of 2026.

Weekly WWE storytelling, opinions, and debates — shovel optional.

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The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast concludes our 2025 WWE Awards Series with Part 3, featuring the biggest and most debated awards of the year.

This final episode covers Men’s Wrestler of the Year, Match of the Year, Breakout Star of the Year, and Moment of the Year, as we reflect on the performances, matches, and moments that defined WWE in 2025.

The discussion includes top Men’s Wrestler of the Year contenders John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Dominik Mysterio, and Gunther, classic match candidates like Cena vs Cody at SummerSlam, Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn’s Unsanctioned Match, and Iyo Sky vs Rhea Ripley featuring Naomi’s Money in the Bank cash-in, plus breakout stars such as Sol Ruca, Je’Von Evans, Lyra Valkyria, Dominik Mysterio, and Stephanie Vaquer.

We close out the awards by reliving WWE’s biggest moments of the year, including both Money in the Bank cash-ins, Cena’s shocking heel turn, his retirement and tributes, and Paul Heyman’s betrayal of Roman Reigns — followed by CM Punk.

Thanks for listening to the full Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast 2025 Awards series.

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

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The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast returns with Part 2 of our 2025 WWE Awards, featuring the award that inspired the name of the show — the Golden Shovel Award.

This award is handed out to the worst booking decision or storyline of 2025, and this week’s episode is a full open discussion on the moments that left fans frustrated, confused, or outright annoyed.

Topics on the chopping block include the SmackDown US Women’s Title, the handling of Giulia, the struggling Raw Tag Team Division, John Cena’s heel run, and the controversial moment of Cena tapping out to Gunther.

We debate whether these were creative misfires, long-term ideas gone wrong, or just outright bad decisions — and decide which one truly deserves the Golden Shovel.

Part 3 of the 2025 Awards drops Wednesday 31st.

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

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The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast officially begins our 2025 WWE Awards Series with Part 1 of 3.

This week, the lads hand out awards for some of the most hotly debated categories of the year, including Women’s Wrestler of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Best Feud, and Best WWE PLE/Event.

From career-defining moments to rivalries that carried WWE through the year, we look back at what truly stood out and argue over who earned top honours. Expect bold takes, disagreement, and plenty of laughs as awards season gets underway.

📅 Part 2 releases Saturday 27th
📅 Part 3 releases Wednesday 31st

Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the rest of the Golden Shovel Awards series.

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Which WWE matches from 2025 truly belong in the conversation for best of the year?

This week on The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast, we take a loaded longlist of standout WWE matches from 2025 and battle it down to a final shortlist of four. From WrestleMania epics and SummerSlam wars to shocking cash-ins and tag team TLC chaos, we break down the matches that defined the year — and the ones that just missed the cut.

It’s a mix of storytelling, work-rate, crowd reaction, and legacy as we argue, debate, and inevitably disagree on what makes a match unforgettable.

Join the conversation and tell us which four matches you would keep.

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

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On this episode of The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast, we take a deep dive into John Cena’s retirement, reflecting on his final WWE run and how his farewell will be remembered by fans and the industry alike.

We also discuss what’s next for Gunther, including the intriguing tease involving AJ Styles and where WWE could be heading with The Ring General after recent developments.

The conversation continues with thoughts on Rhea Ripley teaming up with Damian Priest once again, what it means for their on-screen dynamic, and how it fits into the wider WWE landscape.

Finally, we break down CM Punk’s powerful promo aimed at Bron Breakker, analyzing its impact and whether it signals a major future showdown.

As always, expect honest opinions, lively debate, and plenty of wrestling passion from the Golden Shovel crew.

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

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https://www.linktr.ee/thegoldenshovel

Saturday Squash Podcast – Special Episode: “Looking Back at Our Favourite John Cena Moments”

In this special edition of Saturday Squash, we raise a toast to one of the most iconic careers in sports-entertainment history. As John Cena hangs up his boots (on the night of release), we dive into the moments that made us cheer, cringe, and laugh — from promos to ring entrances, surprise returns, and unforgettable matches.

Join us for:

• A countdown of our top John Cena moments and why they still hit home
• Hilarious banter, nostalgia, and surprise takes from the team
• What Cena’s legacy means for the industry — and why he’ll always be one of the greats

Whether you grew up watching Cena dominate the ring, or you’re revisiting his best moments now — this episode is for fans of heart-stopping comebacks, memorable catchphrases, and larger-than-life personas.

Hit play, then tell us: what’s your favourite John Cena moment?

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, follow us on socials (links below), and drop a comment — we love hearing your thoughts!

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

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This week on The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast, we dive into one of the biggest stories in modern WWE — John Cena’s last ever match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event. We break down the build, what it means for both men, and the legacy Cena leaves behind.

We also chat through all the major happenings from Raw and SmackDown, including:

• LA Knight’s position on the card – is WWE cooling him off, or is a major push coming?
• Has Lyra Valkyria’s momentum been wasted? We look at her booking, her upside, and what needs to change.
• The Usos return to the tag division – what this means for the landscape, potential feuds, and long-term direction.
• Why isn’t Jade Cargill getting enough heat? We talk character, presentation, and how WWE can unlock her full potential.

As always, expect big opinions, weekly storytelling breakdowns, and plenty of golden shovel moments.
 Subscribe and join the conversation every week!

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

Let us know how you folks at home see it via our fan mail link, or tweet us or comment on Tiktok!

https://www.linktr.ee/thegoldenshovel

This week on The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast, we’re ranking the Top 10 Male WWE Stars of 2025 — and then cutting that list down to our Final 4 to determine our official Wrestler of the Year nominees.

We cover all the major names: Cody Rhodes’ huge year, Seth Rollins’ cash-in chaos, CM Punk’s emotional return to championship gold, Gunther’s monster run, Roman Reigns’ dominance without a belt, and more.
 Plus: surprise picks, tough eliminations, and plenty of heated debate.

Who makes the shortlist? Who gets snubbed? And who had the BEST 2025 in WWE?

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

Let us know how you folks at home see it via our fan mail link, or tweet us or comment on Tiktok!

https://www.linktr.ee/thegoldenshovel

This is our 50th episode of The Golden Shovel Wrestling Podcast, and we’re celebrating with a full review of WWE Survivor Series: WarGames — a PLE that left us confused, disappointed, and unsure where WWE storytelling is headed.

We examine both the Men's and Women's WarGames matches, explore the next steps in the AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch feud, and question whether Roman Reigns is being lined up to win the Royal Rumble and chase another world title.

We also break down Dominik Mysterio defeating John Cena to reclaim the Intercontinental Title, Liv Morgan’s return, and the Women’s World Title match featuring Stephanie Vaquer vs Nikki Bella.

Aside from Roman’s likely direction, WWE’s creative roadmap feels foggy — so for our 50th episode, we’re digging into what worked, what didn’t, and where things might go next.

Drop us a message with your thoughts on the WWE!

Let us know how you folks at home see it via our fan mail link, or tweet us or comment on Tiktok!

https://www.linktr.ee/thegoldenshovel