I Hate Wrestling

It's become a ubiquitous question in wrestling fandom -- who's on your Mount Rushmore? What group of four wrestlers are the absolute best of all time? We answer that question with about 376 wrestlers, split into maybe a dozen sub-categories of "best." Also" Rick Rude's hot son! Don't miss it!

This time we've got a real treat for you: a riveting live game of pro wrestling trivia! Things get heated! Also: arranged marriage! Don't dare miss it!

Join us as we explore the life, death and rebirth of Ring of Honor, which spent decades as the crown jewel of indie wrestling in North America. Now that it's back under the aegis of AEW, what does the future hold for the promotion that helped usher in the modern era of wrestling? Also: Eminem's contributions to the Pakistani community! Don't dare miss it!

It's an extra-long deep dive on the protagonist of AEW's phase one: "Hangman" Adam Page! We trace his career from ROH also-ran to anxious millennial cowboy to world champion, and all the bumps along the way. Also: a meditation on the nature of work friends. Don't miss it!

Join us in saying hello -- and goodbye -- to the Bad Guy. Whether as Scott Hall or as Razor Ramon, he was a huge part of the 1990's wrestling boom -- and instrumental in both of our fandoms. We cover the highs and lows of his landmark career, as well as discussing the ways his personal approach to wrestling changed the business forever. Also: why all wrestlers need to dress like absolute weirdos outside the ring. Don't miss it!

Sometimes, a wrestler has all the tools and all the talent, but just can't seem to make the final leap from star to superstar. In this episode, we try to figure out what happened in cases where big pushes seemed to derail just before the finish line. Also: mouth ska! Don't miss it!

WTF is going on with Cody Rhodes? Nobody knows, and we definitely don't, but that didn't stop us from getting an super-sized episode out of it. We trace Cody's trajectory from naked-kneed WWE ingenue to failed face of AEW to try and figure out what happened -- and what will happen -- with the ol' Roller Codester. Also: a Kizarny reference! Don't miss it!

It's time for a spooky, scary dive into the supernatural side of wrestling as we strive to uncover who is magic and who isn't in the annals of grappling. Some guys have powers, sure, but what about other guys who are possessed or ensorcelled? Was Doink magic? Was Hornswoggle? All this and more! Don't dare miss it!

2021! What a year! We relive all its highs and lows, and even some from 2020, because time is fake and we can't tell the difference! Don't dare miss it!

In part 2 of our deep dive into the art of pro wrestling debuts, we cover the many hits and misses of AEW's first few years. From Jon Moxley to the Dark Order to Matt Sydal, we go from the sublime to the ridiculous. Also: AEW LEGEND MEL! Don't miss it!

First impressions are a precious commodity -- so what's the best way to introduce a new wrestler to your audience? What about an old wrestler with a new character -- how to emphasize the fresh coat of paint without drawing attention to what's familiar underneath? This week we look at some of the great debut successes and failures in WWE and WCW history.

This time we relive the long, strange journey of NXT, WWE's once-beloved developmental program. We cover it all -- from a weird showcase for televised workplace bullying to the hottest wrestling show around to a shell of its former self. And after all that, what's nxt for NXT? Also: Eli Cottonwood! Don't miss it!

This week's all about defections -- those moments when stars from one promotion leave for greener pastures in another. We cover the 1990's WCW to WWE exodus, and the current influx of WWE talent into AEW. Also: the Muhammad Hassan theme! Don't miss it!

Episode two is here! This time we're discussing the Face Who Runs the Place, the Champ That Runs the Camp, the very protagonist of WWE: the top babyface. We do a complete historical rundown from Rogers to Reigns, and explore what it means for your roster when your promotion has a main character. Also: Aleister Brown becomes Scott Halal, and "Big Beef" Buff Boyardee makes his debut. Don't miss it!

From the host of I Hate Wrestling, it's the first episode of your new favorite podcast. Why start small? For the first episode, we decided to tackle one of the biggest spectres hanging over pro wrestling today: the very specific way WWE has come to book their shows and stars, and what that insistence means for the art form as a whole. Plus: the man who would become Scott Halal searches for a new identity. Don't miss it!

IHW is back to explore the intricacies of WWE's recent masterpiece, the Firefly Funhouse Match from WrestleMania 36. It will forever be remembered as the first WrestleMania held during quarantine, but also as the first WrestleMania where John Cena had to battle a shadow clown inside his own psyche.

The saga of the Rhodes family continues --or rather begins, as Nicole joins me to travel back to the 80's, where patriarch and blue collar hero Dusty Rhodes does battle with his blood rival, the white collar champion Ric Flair. Along the way, Dusty cuts what's often called the greatest wrestling promo of all time.

Jinx Strange returns to the show to discuss the life and adventures of Bobby Heenan, pro wrestling's greatest insult comic. We fawn over his trash talk, marvel at his ability to make audiences love to hate him, and pitch an Oscar bait drama film about his forbidden passions.

It's a very special episode of IHW as I'm joined by Dan Roman of the Spook Squad podcast to talk about the impact and legacy of The Undertaker, pro wrestling's all-time champion in terms of cribbed horror movie tropes. We also discuss the blurring of lines between performers and characters, the nature of copycats in film and wrestling, and more!

Jason Berk returns to the show for another new episode concept: an exploration of some of the wildest and strangest theme songs in wrestling history. We've got Sexy Boys, Ass Men, Real Men's Men, All American Boys, and the finest bootleg Evanescence 2005 had to offer!

Boo! I Hate Wrestling is back and spookier than ever with this Halloween spectacular. It's got everything you could ask for: Goth Hulk Hogan, tiny Bostonian Satanists, statues that come to life, a monster truck sumo battle, and, of course, fountains that aren't hot. All this and an important update on the future of the show!

Cesaro is 6'5", cultured, talented, super handsome, impossibly athletic, absurdly marketable, and employed by the biggest wrestling promotion on the planet, so why haven't you heard of him? Join Tara and myself as we attempt to figure out why WWE decided to hide this beautiful demigod's epic battle with a monstrous super hillbilly on a third-string syndicated show.

Stephen "The Train" Graham is here, and we're fixing to talk about two men who were hugely influential to our own fandom, and for that matter, to the performers at the center of today's wrestling zeitgeist. Kurt Angle was a legit Olympic gold medalist and maybe the quickest study in pro wres history. Shawn Michaels was the consummate performer who turned show theft into an art form. All that talent, and a personal rivalry ten years in the making? It's a legitimate dream match.

Ahmad returns to the show to discuss a guy we've been watching for years with no particular interest, who recently reinvented himself as a performer by way of a WWE exodus: "Death Rider" Jon Moxley. Also: Hot dog combat! Flower children! Jeremies!

Katy returns to the show to support her childhood favorites, the cargo-pantsed, opera-gloved Hardy Boyz as they attempt to capture the tag team championships in a match also featuring furniture-obsessed maniacs and a pair of weird Canadian Jeff Spicollis.

Julian returns to cap off our epic trilogy of episodes featuring Mil Muertes and Fenix, as the two eternal rivals go to war over the Lucha Underground championship in an absolute bloodbath. Join us as we determine whether life really does trump death, what the true nature of time is, and Burt Ward's truly repugnant dog food graphic design.

Extreme Championship Wrestling enjoys a reputation as a wrestling product that was revolutionary, transgressive, and before its time; but how well does it hold up 20 years later? Hambone joins the show to watch Rob Van Dam -- the ECW Star with the biggest mainstream appeal -- battle his archnemesis Jerry Lynn in what's usually called the best match in the promotion's history.

LaToya and Tara return to the show to discuss the meteoric rise of Becky Lynch from a popular undercard wrestler to a molten-hot main eventer capable of matching the star power of second-generation prodigy Charlotte Flair and the most famous female combat sports athlete of all time in Ronda Rousey. Also: Pro wrestling fantasy-casting! How to drive a car with no hands! A whole bunch of archaic sitcom catchphrases!

Variety is the spice of life, and also of pro wrestling podcasts. To that end, this special episode doesn't focus on a match. Instead, it's an extended meditation on the inexplicable feature film, 'Scooby-Doo's WrestleMania Mystery." Aside from general "How Did This Get Made?"-adjacent content, get hype for Scooby-Doo fantasy casting and the secret origin of the whimsical green elf known as The Heffergon.

Ahmad joins me to discuss a match that served as the catalyst for a lot of what eventually became a full-blown renaissance of women's wrestling in WWE. Bayley and Sasha Banks put on an absolute clinic in terms of wrestling as narrative art, and it's a perfect example of the beautiful simplicity that wrestling can be capable of. Also: Fake Avengers Endgame spoilers, proceed with caution.

Tara return to the show as we continue our extended look at women's wrestling. This time we're back in NXT, with four huge personalities that could have come straight from the cast of G.L.O.W. Also: The Mariana Trench! A bird gets stuck in a wall! Gratuitous Frasier references intensify!

Our extended feature on women's wrestling continues as LaToya joins the show to discuss Chyna, the Attitude Era icon who wrestled men, won their championships, and stole their spotlight. Also: Mandy Moore, extensive Frasier fantasy casting, and important (untrue) information about Chavo Guerrero!

Nicole is back for the first in our series of episodes spotlighting women's wrestling. This time, it's a deep cut from mid-90's WWE as midwestern-fitness badass Alundra Blayze travels to Japan to defend her championship against the impossibly cool-named Bull Nakano. Also: Dildo nunchucks! A vomiting Garfield! MEDIUM TALENT!

Brandon joins the show to dive into the Rocky-ass story of Johnny Gargano, who worked his way up from rock bottom to challenge Andrade "Cien" Almas, a third generation, born-to-greatness champion. Also: Dragon Ball metaphors! A truly weird intro where a slip into an old-timey boxing announcer voice!

Ahmad returns for an IHW first: a match that neither I nor my guest has seen before. But that doesn't mean we aren't invested, because the wrestlers involved are our current favorites, Pete Dunne and Pentagon Jr. Despite being a thuggish brawler from England and a skeleton ninja from Mexico, these two are kindred spirits when it comes to malice, and their meeting (hopefully!) won't disappoint.

It's a Stephen "The Train" Graham joint as we delve into the ups and downs of of the career of Mark Henry, and try to explain why there were so many downs considering how incredible Henry could be. Despite being a strong candidate for the strongest man who ever lived, Dude spent YEARS as a comical sex maniac. Here, after almost 15 years of trying, he finally finds himself challenging for a world title.

Nicole and the Velveteen Dream both make triumphant IHW returns as our noble, Prince-impersonating hero continues his journey of pro wrestling self-actualization, this time by challenging the frankly unmatchable athleticism of Ricochet. Also: Camelids! Dick smashing! Naked Hulk Hogan! I promise none of those are related!

Jason (no, a different Jason) joins the show to discuss the time Eddie Guerrero's feel-good redemption story ran directly into the human brick wall that is Brock Lesnar. Also in this episode: fight choreography! Unfrozen vikings! Why the X-men film franchise should probably just stop!​

Renee returns to the show (and we return to the Temple) for another jaunt into Lucha Underground. This time, pro wrestling becomes psychodrama as Sexy Star must battle her way through trauma and PTSD by beating up a butterfly lady and her giant goofy moth brother.

Stephen "The Train" Graham chugga-chugs around the bend to tackle one of the most legendary cage matches of all time. Consummate shithead Tully Blanchard is forced to face not only the stalwart Magnum T.A. but also his own insecurities in a literal bloodbath that shows both men for what they truly are.

Thrill as Ahmad and I tackle the career, legacy, and legendary undefeated streak of one William Scott Goldberg. We grapple with his status as one of the most sensationally popular wrestlers who ever lived, and try to reconcile that with his not being very good. Also: Tasers! Hamburgers and red wine! Howie Mandel!

It's a family affair as my dear old dad joins the show to discuss the generational clash between eternal champion Nick Bockwinkel and hungry young challenger Curt Hennig. Also: Bobby Heenan! Youth vs. experience! Underpants!

Julian makes his long-awaited return to discuss the second part of the epic trilogy of matches featuring the high-flying Fenix and the merciless Mil Muertes. Also featured in this episode: me dunking on WWE's writing and then asking them for a job!

Jason calls in to discuss the legendary clash between maybe the most recognizable stars in the history of pro wrestling. Also: the nature of celebrity, performance art, the power of nostalgia, and the importance of listening up, slap nuts.

Katy Lees makes a long-awaited return to the show to revisit our old friend Mick Foley, as well as explore the Rock at the height of his powers as WWE Champion. Also: Wrestling as slapstick comedy! Brand new international Christmas greetings! BEEF MACHINES!

Part one of our three part series chronicling the wrestling career of Dwayne Johnson! Our story begins as The Rock sheds his goofball rookie persona and weaponizes his outsized personality against angry, sub-Stallone beef slab Ken Shamrock.

Tara returns to revisit the time that an episode of Monday Night Raw revolved around breathless updates about the health of Santa Claus after he got hit by a car. Santa Claus definitely isn't Mick Foley in disguise! It's a Christmas Miracle!

With winter nearly upon us, Nick joins the show to discuss the chilling exploits of Glacier, pro wrestling's best-ever bootleg Mortal Kombat character. Despite alarming amounts of cheese, it turns out that Glacier and his karate pals were maybe pretty dope?

It's another Ahmadventure as his current favorite Pete Dunne is in action against Tyler Bate in a thrilling example of what's known as British Strong Style.

Shawn returns to the show as Randy Savage's mid-life crisis collides with the career upswing of one of wrestling's great unsung heroes, Diamond Dallas Page. Also in this episode: embarrassing dad gangs, the value of hard work and self-improvement, and Randy Savage's ill-fated rap career!

It's a 3-on-3 tag match, so what better time to bring on two guests for the first time ever? Shannon and Jay drop in to discuss The Shield, the Wyatt Family, regional cuisine, the mechanics of hillbilly swamp magic, and little wooden John Cenas hand-carved by the Amish.