Zone-casts: Heel Turn

Casual Friday returns from its shallow grave as John, Oscar and Owen reconvene to predict this weekend’s two WWE PPVs, SummerSlam and NXT TakeOver XXX. Also this is secretly an episode of The Idiot’s Guide to New Japan, don’t tell anyone.

In our last episode before going on summer break, Heel Alternative goes out with a bang by breaking down a theory we’ve bandied about the show for the past several months about how in order to truly get a handle on how deep the rot of abuse runs in the wrestling industry, we may need to take a closer look at one of AEW’s top executives. Plus: the latest new on positive coronavirus tests in WWE; the industry’s response to #SpeakingOut and Night 1 of AEW Fyter Fest.

As we discuss throughout this episode, Heel Alternative and all other ProWrestling.Cool content will go on hiatus until after Labor Day (September 7). Details here: https://prowrestling.cool/prowrestling-cool-is-taking-a-break/

Oscar and John return to the Main Stage for more discussion of the best wrestling show on television, RuPaul’s Drag Race. After a brief check in on the current state of All Stars 5, our hosts live out the ultimate fantasy booking experience by writing an entire season of Drag Race where the drag queens are replaced by wrestlers. Who makes the cut and will body slam their way to being crowned “America’s Next Top Drag Superstar?”

CW: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault (including of minors) and physical abuse.

The deluge of bad news continues as John, Oscar and Trace try to make sense of where the wrestling industry goes in the wake of the #SpeakingOut movement that has completely changed the landscape, taking a deep dive into the myriad of accusations and which companies are taking the correct actions. (Spoilers: very few.) Also: several WWE personnel have tested positive for COVID, two AEW wrestlers have been exposed and everything is about to get even worse. Remember when this used to be the positive-vibes show?

Patreon-exclusive show notes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38619257

As we discuss at the end of this episode, Heel Alternative and all other ProWrestling.Cool content will go on hiatus starting July 4, until after Labor Day (September 7). Details here: https://prowrestling.cool/prowrestling-cool-is-taking-a-break/

/!\ WARNING: MAJOR STORY SPOILERS FOR MORTAL KOMBAT 11 AND MK11: AFTERMATH ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE. /!\

It’s a Kasual Friday for the ages, as Oscar begins his new series on retelling his favorite stories by returning to familiar territory, as he tests Owen’s might by explaining the story of Mortal Kombat 11’s story expansion, Aftermath. Will Oscar be able to pull off a Friendship, or will Owen’s total confusion prove to be a fatality?

We recommend that you listen to the previous episodes in this series before listening to this one:

Story Time: Mortal Kombat 9 – http://zonecasts.com/podcast/story-time-mortal-kombat-9/
Story Time: Mortal Kombat X – http://zonecasts.com/podcast/story-time-mortal-kombat-x/
Story Time: Mortal Kombat 11 – http://zonecasts.com/podcast/story-time-mortal-kombat-11/

CW: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.

Owen joins Trace, Oscar and John to for an in-depth discussion on the two biggest stories of the first half of the week: WWE having a positive coronavirus case, and David Starr being an abuser and making excuses for it.

NOTE: This episode was recorded on Wednesday night, before the deluge of allegations against a large swath of the industry began. Suffice it to say, we stand with everyone coming forward to make their truth heard.

John and Oscar are two philistines who don’t follow “real wrestling” like New Japan Pro Wrestling and only have a vague knowledge of its wrestlers and storylines. Join them as they run down New Japan’s return to action after their COVID-19 hiatus, including the 2020 New Japan Cup tournament, and give their “expert” predictions on who’s going to win. Will the Idiots remember anything about New Japan after four months away? Tune in to find out!

With Trace on assignment, Oscar and John are left to cover this week in PLURfessional wrestling, including the fact that Charlotte appears on every show ever and a Dynamite where Cody and the Young Bucks may be teasing going to the dark side. Also: a brief interlude into what can only be called “RuThless Aggression Episode 1.5”.

John, Oscar and Trace discuss the week in NXT and AEW. But quite frankly there are far more important things going on in the world right now than professional wrestling.

Instead of worrying about Patreon-exclusive show notes, why not donate to one of your local community bail funds to support protestors that have been arrested? Check this link to see a directory of community bail funds: http://communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfm-directory

In this special Monday edition of Casual Friday, Oscar and John discuss the most “professional wrestling” topic of all: RuPaul’s Drag Race. Join then as they break down how Mama Ru is basically just Vince McMahon and the Fabulous Moolah combined; give a final review of the endless and kind of awful Season 12; and preview the upcoming All Stars 5 with Oscar’s true love, Derrick Barry. Also, we somehow end up talking about Keith Lee vs. Dominick Dijakovic.