The High Risk Wrestling Podcast

With the purchase of AAA, the rumors have started swirling about WWE's attempt at global expansion. It's inevitable. I'm saying it here. That's what we're going to be talking about today. Going all the back to when they started buying territories to their future partnerships, today's show is going to be a journey.

• Previously - ep. 232: WWE's Pettiness
• Today - ep. 233: WWE's Inevitable Global Expansion
• Ep. List - The Promotions You Should Be Watching
• Spotlight - "Hangman" Adam Page

The WWE has in a not so subtle way acknowledged that AEW is competition. On more than one occasion, they've gone out of their way to counterprogram them. Has it worked? Well, that's what we're going to be talking about today.

• Previously: ep. 231 - Money in the Bank '25
• Today: ep. 232 - WWE's Pettiness
• Episode List: The Most-Anticipate Upcoming Shows
• Superstar Spotlight: Ron "The Truth" Killings

It's that time of the year again. Money in the Bank is here. That magical briefcase that can change ones career is hanging above the ring and who is going to grab it? The WWE is bringing us another small card but who cares at this point? Let's get into it.

• Previously - ep. 230: Failing the King and Queen of the Ring
• Today - ep. 231: Money in the Bank '25 Preview

Match Card

• Lyra Valkyria [c] vs. Becky Lynch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship
• John Cena and Logan Paul vs. Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes
• Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match - Seth Rollins vs. Andrade vs. El Grande Americano vs. LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa vs. Penta
• Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match - Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Rhea Ripley

Once again the later Spring and early Summer season is here and once again it's without the King and Queen of the Ring Tournament. What's up with the WWE's failure to keep something so beloved, legendary, and respected from happening? Where's the login in not having this event? That's what we're going to discuss today.

• Previously - ep. 229: Double or Nothing '25 Preview
• Today - ep. 230: WWE's King and Queen of the Ring Failure
• Ep. List - The Best Modern King's and Queen of the Ring
• Spotlight - Carmelo Hayes

One of the biggest wrestling shows of the year is here and it brings with it the Owen Hart Finals and Anarchy in the Arena. This is a loaded show. You know how we do with these shows -- how did we get here, who's winning, who's losing, and everything in between. Let's do it.

Match Card

• Buy In - Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay and Harley Cameron
• Owen Hart Cup Women's Final - Jamie Hayter vs. Mercedes Mone
• The Hurt Syndicate [c] vs. The Sons of Texas for the AEW World Tag Team Championship
• FTR vs. Daniel Garcia and Nigel McGuinness
• Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet in a Stretcher Match
• Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Mike Bailey for the AEW Continental Championship
• The Paragon vs. The Don Callis Family
• Toni Storm [c] vs. Mina Shirakawa for the AEW Women's Championship
• Anarchy in the Arena - The Opps, Swerve Strickland, Willow Nightingale, and Kenny Omega vs. The Opps and the Elite
• Owen Hart Cup Men's Final - Adam Page vs. Will Ospreay

This question has been posed time and again - does the man make the title or does the title make the man? It's s very valid one. Once again we're going to examine it, but this time with a focus on the WWE because they're the ones whose booking made this arise. From Jey Uso to Lyra Valkyria, it's all on the table.

• Previously: ep. 227 - Backlash '25
• Today - ep. 228 - The Champ or the Championship
• Ep. List - The Top Champions Right Now
• Spotlight - Michin

The inevitable post-Wrestlemania PLE, Backlash is back again and it comes too soon. The schedule is all jacked up. This time around we're in St. Louis so you know who's main eventing. Let's dive into the show.

• Previously - ep. 226: The Failure of Factions
• Today - ep. 227: WWE Backlash '25 Preview

Match Card

• Dominik Mysterio [c] vs. Penta for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
• Jacob Fatu [c] vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest for the WWE United States Championship
• Gunther vs. Pat McAfee
• Lyra Valkyria [c] vs. Becky Lynch for the WWE Women's United States Championship
• John Cena [c] vs. Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship

Factions are a beautiful thing. They're a big part of professional wrestling. When done right, they can push the careers forward of everyone involved. Then there are times that they can fail and that's what we're on today. What happens when a faction fails and nothing comes of it. This is definitely show can be revisited in the future.

• Previously - ep. 225: 2025 First Quarter Review
• Today - ep. 226: The Failure of Factions
• Ep. List - The Top Factions Today
• Spotlight - Brian Cage

Wrestlemania 41 is in the books and I thought that'd be a good stopping point to look back on this first quarter. What were the big stories? The top matches? The top stars? We'll discuss all of it and more.

• Previously - ep. 224: Wrestlemania 42 Review
• Today - ep. 225: 2025 First Quarter Review

The Showcase of the Immortals. The Granddaddy of Them All. Wrestlemania 41 has come and gone. Taking place in Las Vegas, how will this show be? Are you hyped for it? The card looked good but was it be a good show? That's what we're here to discuss.

WrestleMania 41 night one match card

Matches not in order

• World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso
• World Tag Team Championship match: The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) (c) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
• Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
• United States Championship match: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
• Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano
• WWE Women's Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
• Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins

WrestleMania 41 night two match card

• Triple threat match for Women's World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley
• Sin City street fight: Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre
• Fatal four-way match for Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
• Randy Orton Open Challenge
• AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul

• Women's Tag Team Championship match: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria
• Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena