The History of Professional Wrestling Podcast

From its early days hosting boxing and hockey to becoming the epicenter of WWE's biggest spectacles, this episode traces how Madison Square Garden became wrestling’s most iconic arena—and why it still matters for promoters, legends, and fans today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode journeys from William Mulduon's 19th‑century carnival wrestling to Sami Zayn’s modern underdog saga and Chris Jericho’s global trailblazing career, exploring how these figures shaped storytelling, spectacle, regulation, and international expansion in professional wrestling.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2005 at TNA’s Unbreakable pay‑per‑view, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe faced off in a no‑weight‑limit triple threat for the X Division title. That match not only redefined independent wrestling’s credibility but also shifted TNA’s business model and fan culture, becoming a watershed moment for modern wrestling.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From her early days trained by Mildred Burke to running Camp Moolah and holding the NWA World Women’s Championship for 28 years, Fabulous Moolah steered the business side of women's wrestling while simultaneously shaping its narrative. Her legacy—both pioneering and controversial—has left a lasting imprint on how female talent is promoted, booked, and perceived in today’s global wrestling landscape.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we follow Mick Foley’s Mankind as he captures his first WWF Championship on January 4, 1999—a win that redefined a tragic hero and pivoted WWE toward deeper storytelling. We examine how this match altered promotion strategies, fan engagement, and the broader cultural impact of wrestling in the late 1990s.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we trace the roots of Japan’s most notorious extreme style—from Atsushi Onita’s barbed‑wire debut to the explosive innovations that defined Frontier Martial‑Arts Wrestling. We’ll explore how FMW pushed spectacle into a new category, influencing both Japanese and American hardcore scenes while navigating business hurdles and fan loyalty.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a manga‑inspired mask to an international icon, Jushin Thunder Liger reshaped the junior‑heavyweight division in New Japan Pro‑Wrestling and beyond. His high‑flying style, tournament victories, and cross‑border influence made lightweight competition a global spectacle.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late 2019, AEW Dynamite and WWE’s NXT went head‑to‑head on Wednesday nights, sparking a new era of televised competition. This episode unpacks the ratings battle, creative responses, and long‑term legacy that redefined how promotions use broadcast slots to build audiences.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we trace how Jim Cornette’s mic work turned a tag team into a cultural icon, how Finn Balor’s injury‑plagued Universal title reign exposed the fragility of wrestling storytelling, and how the Omega–Okada rivalry reshaped global wrestling narratives. From Southern roots to internet‑powered fandoms, discover the forces that have driven modern professional wrestling.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The episode traces the 1963 murder of Japan’s first national sports hero, Rikidozan, and how that tragedy split the Japanese wrestling world into two rival camps led by Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki. We examine the cultural shock, the birth of All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the lasting legacy on puroresu’s style, business model, and global influence.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices