TNA brought Lockdown back after a decade away, but did eight cage matches prove that some concepts are better left in the past?

This week on the Heel Federation, Will, Erik and Danny break down an uneven TNA Lockdown, including the matches that worked, the finishes that didn't, Avery Styles' uncomfortable live debut, Leon Slater invoking Option C and the mystery surrounding the attacks happening backstage.

Plus: Rey Fenix continues to impress, Royce Keys finds new life alongside OTM, we debate the ending of Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk, rank some of our favorite wrestling entrance themes ever and ask why modern wrestling factions rarely feel as dangerous or important as the NWO and Four Horsemen once did.

And in the Three Count Close: All In London, Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker and the strange career of Moose.

Will, Erik and Danny are back on The Heel Federation, and this week they're asking a question wrestling fans have been debating for years: has WWE's Bloodline story finally gone on too long?

The guys debate where the story should have ended, whether Roman Reigns vs. The Rock is still the ultimate payoff, and whether WWE is already rushing Zilla Fatu by putting him directly into the NXT main-event picture.

Plus: Chelsea Green shows a completely different side of herself, Jay White's AEW booking sparks an argument, Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay finally gets the story worthy of the match, Johnny Gargano's never-ending planking continues, Jeff Cobb returns to New Japan, and Will breaks down a G1 final built around old-school wrestling fundamentals.

Then, for halftime, the guys draft fantasy football teams made entirely out of pro wrestlers — and things get ridiculous very quickly.

Before all that: Danny's five-hour flight to Orlando, Epic Universe in 106-degree heat, and why wrestling might not be the only thing trying to kill these guys.

Timestamps
00:33 Intro
02:32 Danny's five-hour flight from hell
06:11 Surviving Epic Universe in 106-degree heat
10:37 Pop of the Week
11:48 Jeff Hardy vs. Nick Nemeth and TNA momentum
16:41 Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay gets a real story
23:51 Is AEW using Jay White correctly?
29:53 Main Event Topics
30:27 Chelsea Green's emotional promo
39:03 The never-ending Bloodline story
50:09 New Japan's G1 final and its next generation
58:44 The Shit, The Shits or Not Shit Yet
59:30 What is WWE doing with Johnny Gargano?
1:05:18 Why Jeff Cobb didn't work in WWE
1:11:39 Is WWE already rushing Zilla Fatu?
1:14:18 Book It Better: Zilla Fatu and Birthright
1:18:56 Wrestling Fantasy Football Draft
1:41:03 Three Count
1:41:52 Ethan Page calls out sing-along wrestling entrances
1:47:43 Looking ahead to TNA Lockdown
1:49:55 Subscribe and outro

SummerSlam dominates the first official episode of Heel Federation — but first, can wrestling fans please stop turning WWE vs. AEW into a full-time job?

Will, Erik, and Danny break down the best and worst of SummerSlam, debate whether the show actually topped WrestleMania, look back at Brock Lesnar's remarkable career and discuss WWE's next generation of stars.

Plus: Is Oba Femi vs. Bron happening too soon? Did WWE miss its moment with LA Knight? What's wrong with the Royce Keys presentation? How would we book him better? Can Danhausen become WWE's next great comedy character? And just how good could CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens get once they start talking?

Wrestling criticism without being miserable about wrestling. Welcome to Heel Federation.

Timestamps
00:40: Welcome to Heel Federation
01:15: Why we had to change the podcast name
05:25: Pop of the Week
06:08: Wrestling tribalism has gotten ridiculous
09:26: Stop comparing every wrestling promotion
13:06: Grayson Waller’s NXT promo
15:57: SummerSlam’s opening match gets disrespected
18:12: SummerSlam review begins
53:18: The Shit, The Shits or Not Shit Yet
53:50: What is going wrong with Royce Keys?
55:27: Book It Better: Royce Keys
1:00:50: Big Cass returns
1:05:10: Should Enzo return too?
1:06:50: Wrestling collectors and Matt Cardona
1:09:23: Erik’s wrestling memorabilia collection
1:19:24: The Three Count
1:29:30: Closing thoughts

In the premiere episode, Will, Erik and Danny introduce themselves, explain what kind of wrestling podcast they want to build and share the stories that turned each of them into lifelong fans. From Hulkamania and the Attitude Era to ECW, Ring of Honor, New Japan, NXT and AEW, the guys look back at how their wrestling tastes have evolved—and why there is now more wrestling to watch than anyone could possibly keep up with.

They also address one of the biggest problems with modern wrestling fandom: Why does everything have to become the worst segment, match or booking decision of all time? The reaction to Joe Hendry and Danhausen sparks a larger conversation about comedy in wrestling, Orange Cassidy, online negativity and why wrestling should be treated like a buffet. You might not enjoy everything being served, but that does not mean it should all be removed from the menu.

The guys reveal their favorite wrestlers and matches, discuss the importance of a great crowd, show some overdue appreciation for women’s wrestling and revisit everything from Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect and Rock vs. Hogan to Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, John Cena vs. RVD and Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson.

Plus, get a preview of the segments coming to the show, including The Shit, The Shits or Not Shit Yet, Book It Better, the Nostalgia Intermission and the Three Count Close.

This is a wrestling podcast for fans who still love wrestling, still want it to be good and can criticize it without being miserable about it.

Follow the Heel Federation Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.