Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail discusses the value of gaining distance from our emotions when analyzing art.

Topics include:

• The ups & downs of the latest episode of AEW Dynamite.
• How being "in one's feelings" can corrupt one's ability to effectively analyze art.
• How mindfulness practices can help one better appreciate art (and life).
• An exercise to illustrate how overpowering thoughts and feelings obscure our view of reality.
• What does constructive criticism become when it is unmotivated by passing judgment?

And much more!

Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Watch Steve C. Hayes' Ted Talk on psychological flexibility via the following link:

https://youtu.be/o79_gmO5ppg

You can buy his book A Liberated Mind: How To Pivot To Watch Matters here:

https://amzn.to/2xrREfc

Thanks for listening!

Tim Kail and Al Monelli join forces once again to review the weirdest WrestleMania in WWE history!

Topics include:

• The surreal, acid-trip, post-modern, meta masterpiece that is the #FireFlyFunHouse match.
• All the ways in which WWE could have mitigated the loss of the crowd.
• The fundamental difference between the #BoneyardMatch and the #FireFlyFunHouse match...but why it's okay to enjoy them both (or not).
• Did WWE want viewers to believe the #BoneyardMatch was "cool", or did they understand they were making something "so bad it's good"?
• Charlotte being the best, and why.
• Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins becoming an instant "hidden gem".
• Randy Orton vs Edge being one of the few examples of using the lack of a crowd to a story's advantage.
• Whether or not WWE should have done this show at all.
• The real reason why WWE hasn't yet shut down.
• What WWE could do in the weeks ahead if they're forced to shut down by the government.

And much more! This is a great convo between two old friends longtime listeners are sure to enjoy.

Follow Al on Twitter @MonelliFilms and follow his latest feature-length documentary at https://www.facebook.com/marionettelandfilm

Thanks for listening, one and all. See you next week!

Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail reveals what this episode was originally intended to be about...a fun surprise that was undone by a not-so-fun surprise. But all is not lost!

In the midst of his story, he is gets a call from an old friend of the pod, resulting in an impromptu conversation that promises to make us all feel like "everything is going to be all right."

Topics include:

• AEW Blood And Guts being postponed.
• Interactions with customer service ticket vendors in the wake of Covid-19.
• The distinction between being a critic and being a consumer.
• Roman Reigns reportedly dropping out of WrestleMania to protect his health.

And more!

Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Thanks for listening and have a great night!

Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail returns to talk "Empty Arena Wrestling", and answers your questions!

Topics include:

• Modern WWE's default sterility and how "empty arenas" have only brought that into focus.
• The peculiar grimness of WWE commentary during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Refusing to accept WWE's Orwellian perspective (regardless of the global pandemic).
• AEW Dynamite understanding how to provide actual escapism.
• What these "empty arena" circumstances reveal about a promotion's perspective on the art of pro-wrestling.
• Answering listener questions about favorite feuds, Drew McIntyre, 2-night WrestleMania, and more!

Thank you so much for listening, one and all! It's greatly appreciated.

Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Stay safe and see you next week!

Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail is joined by his friend Johny Macy to reconvene and discuss AEW Dynamite after it's been on the air since October 2019!

Topics include:

• Dynamite's strengths & weaknesses.
• Tim & John marking out for Darby Allin.
• The shortcomings of the Women's Division.
• Hangman Adam Page and the nuances of his "drinking problem".
• The "greatest tag match of all time".
• The potential lineage of the AEW Championship.
• The simple reason Tim & John enjoy Dynamite so much.

And much more!

Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail offers a detailed review of WWE's latest pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber!

Topics include:

• The concept of "mattering" on The Road to WrestleMania.
• Daniel Bryan vs Drew Gulak and great pro-wrestling.
• Otis and Tucker eliciting the strongest crowd response in the Elimination Chamber Tag Titles match.
• WWE's terribly scripted promos robbing wrestlers of their ability to 'get over'.
• Aleister Black vs AJ Styles exceeding expectations to become a good match in its own right, and one of the few to advance a WrestleMania story.
• A brief history of how the Seth Rollins vs Kevin Owens feud represents WWE's creative failures and inability to create new stars.
• Why this year's Elimination Chamber PPV should've been dedicated entirely to the women's divisions of WWE.
• The excellent main event which solidified Shayna Baszler as the killer she needs to be on the main roster.
• Why the crowd will turn on Becky Lynch and why that never needed to happen.

Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Thanks for listening!

Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail reviews the latest AEW pay-per-view Revolution!

Topics include:

• Dustin Rhodes forcing himself upon Jake Haggar's wife.
• Darby Allin's organic ascent to AEW-stardom.
• The masterpiece that is The Young Bucks vs Omega & Hangman.
• How Bucks, Omega, and Page explore the realistic nuances and tensions of male friendships in a way film & television haven't.
• Why does Kris Statlander "boop" people?
• Why a specific set of moves would benefit Nyla Rose.
• Why Cody's Sports Entertainment instincts betrayed the seriousness of his feud with MJF.
• PAC vs Orange Cassidy taking the negatives of modern pro-wrestling fandom and transforming them into positives.
• The toughness of Jon Moxley, and his future as Champion.

And much more!

Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Thanks for listening!

This episode of Work Of Wrestling podcast is all about the importance of recommending great art.

Topics include:

• Watching MLW for the first time.
• The ups & downs of the modern wrestling style.
• The positive influence of MMA on pro-wrestling.
• Matt Riddle vs Shane Strickland.
• Hulk Hogan vs Ric Flair for the WCW Championship.
• Quick reactions to a list of matches Tim's watched recently along with the revelations they inspired.
• Ultimo Dragon vs Dean Malenko

And more! Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Thanks for listening!

Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail reviews NXT Takeover Portland!

Topics include:

• Merging the TV-viewing experience with the live-audience experience.
• The spectacle of Keith Lee vs Dominic Dijokovic wearing off.
• The arrival of Dakota Kai, and why she's found her perfect attire.
• Finn Balor delivering his best WWE/NXT performance to date.
• Bianca and Rhea delivering, Charlotte accepting Rhea's challenge.
• The chemistry of the Broserweights.
• What tag team wrestling symbolizes.
• How Ciampa/Cole exceeded expectations, and delivered an excellent match.
• The parallelism of Gargano/Balor & Ciampa/Cole.

Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Thanks for listening!

The Road to WrestleMania has felt especially bumpy in recent years. Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail wonders why that is, and endeavors to find an answer. His search takes him into the past, beginning at the 1993 Royal Rumble and ending at WrestleMania 17.

What he discovers forever changes his perspective on The Royal Rumble and The Road to WrestleMania.

Topics include:

• WrestleManias IX - XVII.
• Royal Rumbles 1993 - 2001.
• Raw from 1993 - 2001.
• Vince McMahon's remarkably consistent perspective on professional wrestling.
• The true purpose of The Royal Rumble.
• The underlying reason modern WWE feels more random and how that affects today's fan.
• The true birth of the Mr. McMahon Character.
• The role fans play in shaping Mania.
• The need to adapt WWE's booking model to the tastes and purchasing habits of the modern era.

Follow Tim on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling

Thanks for listening!