Podcasts about gfuel

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Episode 191 is headlined by a massive week across WWE, AEW, TNA Wrestling, and NJPW as Night of Champions, Forbidden Door, Slammiversary, and G1 Climax continue to take shape. We begin in WWE, where Sami Zayn's controversial actions as special guest referee have led to a WWE Championship Triple Threat between Cody Rhodes, Gunther, and Sami Zayn at Night of Champions. We break down the fallout and preview the rest of the card, including Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker inside a steel cage, the King and Queen of the Ring Finals, Trick Williams defending the United States Championship against Ricky Saints, and Tiffany Stratton facing Jade Cargill. Over in AEW, we discuss reports that multiple AEW, NJPW, and CMLL talents still don't know their Forbidden Door plans, Gabe Kidd's expected involvement, and the unique way the event continues to come together. We also preview a loaded card featuring Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay, Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World, Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Jon Moxley vs. Bandido, PAC vs. Shota Umino, and more. The women's division remains a major focus as Kris Statlander joins Hikaru Shida and Persephone in the first-ever Survival of the Fittest Match to crown a new TBS Champion following Willow Nightingale's injury. We also discuss Tony Khan naming Thekla, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, and Mercedes Moné among AEW's modern pillars. In TNA Wrestling, we examine the company's ongoing restructuring following the departures of Tommy Dreamer, Sami Callihan, and Tessa Blanchard. We discuss Matt Hardy's defense of TNA President Carlos Silva, the latest creative rumors involving Delirious, Eric Tompkins, and Road Dogg, and whether the promotion is entering a new era. We also preview Slammiversary, headlined by Mike Santana challenging Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship. Over in NJPW, Aaron Wolf and Yuto-Ice officially qualify for G1 Climax 36 as the tournament field continues to take shape. We discuss NJPW's continued investment in its next generation of stars and what it means for the company's future. Plus, Paul Heyman praises AEW's impact on wrestler compensation and the industry at large, Mystery Wrestling's Infinite Rumble sets a new fundraising record, Josh Barnett responds to Bully Ray's criticism of Jon Moxley, and we discuss why Moxley remains one of wrestling's most polarizing figures. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow @TurnbuckleTavern on social media for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Summer showcase season is officially in the books — and Greg, Ty, and Uly have receipts.This week, the crew digs into the data behind all the hype: which games actually won Summer Game Fest according to Steam wishlist numbers and search trends, and why the top three spots all went to remakes and sequels. Code Veronica taking the #1 wishlist spot gets the full breakdown — Ty explains why the game's weird place in Resident Evil canon is exactly the reason people are losing their minds over it, and the crew goes deep on how RE4 and Code Veronica's release timeline essentially screwed Capcom's own franchise order. Ocarina of Time, Persona 6, Insomniac's Wolverine, Gears of War: E-Day, Kingdom Hearts, and Spyro all get their moment.Then things get real when Greg drops the number: Gears of War: E-Day reportedly cost $400 million to make. The crew breaks down why that figure is almost impossible to recoup — comparing it to Spider-Man 2's $300M budget, which needed 7.2 million copies at full price to break even, against Gears of War II's total lifetime sales of 6.75 million copies ever. Factor in that the game launches Day 1 on Game Pass, Xbox's recent price drop, and that Microsoft is quietly aging out its console ambitions — and this gets uncomfortable fast.Also: a full Resident Evil 6 rehabilitation arc, the correct story order to play RE6 (yes, there is one), a debate on whether RE5 deserves a remake, and the moment Greg admits he's never actually played Until Dawn, Detroit: Become Human, or Heavy Rain — despite knowing every detail about all three. Ty does not take this well.Plus — the 8th anniversary of GZ Chop Shop is coming. July 18th. G Fuel is involved. More details dropping in the newsletter soon.Key Topics:Breakdown of Summer Game Fest's top winners and surprises, including Stellar Blade, Gears of War, and Dawn 2.The cultural significance of franchises like Gears of War and Kingdom Hearts.The impact of search trends and search result data on game popularity.Industry analysis: budget estimates, sales figures, and the feasibility of blockbuster hits like Xbox's $400 million exclusive.The debate over remakes: Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and the longevity of classic titles.The complex timeline of Resident Evil remakes and their impact on franchise storytelling.Technical and strategic industry insights, including counterfeit perceptions and hardware shortages.The role of game subscriptions like Game Pass in the financial landscape.Final thoughts on upcoming releases, the state of the industry, and the importance of community engagement.Subscribe to the GZ Press Play Gaming Newsletter for the full written breakdown every Thursday: gz-press-play-gaming-newsletter.beehiiv.com

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Episode 190 is headlined by a major development in Janel Grant's lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, as all parties have received approval to move the case toward private arbitration. We discuss what the canceled June 16 hearing, the July 10 status report, and the potential move to confidential arbitration could mean, not just legally but publicly, as questions grow about whether WWE and TKO may eventually test the waters for a Vince McMahon rehabilitation tour. We also break down CM Punk's expected WWE return. Punk has been announced for FanaticsFest on July 19, reports continue to point toward a return on or before the July 6 Raw near Chicago, and Dave Meltzer reports WWE's current plan is for Punk to join the SmackDown roster. We examine the teased Cody Rhodes program, why creative changes delayed his return, and what it could mean for SummerSlam. Rhea Ripley is dealing with issues both inside and outside the ring. WWE revealed that the Women's Champion is being evaluated for a knee injury suffered in Italy, while Ripley also opened up about fans crossing major boundaries, including showing up at her home and one person obtaining her personal phone number after being unable to purchase SmackDown tickets. On the AEW side, we look at ticket sales for Redemption in Montreal and Grand Slam Mexico, with both events showing encouraging early momentum. Redemption has distributed 4,782 tickets and is already approaching AEW's previous Bell Centre number, while Grand Slam Mexico sits at 5,146 tickets distributed, well above AEW's current 2026 attendance average. We also cover NJPW Dominion 2026, where five championships changed hands. Yota Tsuji regained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Shota Umino captured the IWGP Global Championship, YOH became the 100th IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Aaron Wolf reclaimed the NEVER Openweight Championship, and Great O Khan and HENARE captured the IWGP Tag Team Championships. Plus, Gabe Kidd returned and immediately inserted himself into the title picture. The road to G1 Climax 36 is now set as NJPW finalizes its play in matches. We discuss Aaron Wolf's rapid rise, the final qualifying matches, and how the field is shaping up before the tournament begins July 11 in Chicago. John Cena also shares new details on the planned John Cena Classic, including WWE's version of an All Star Game, a new championship, fan voting, cross brand exhibition matches, and the possibility, however unlikely, of one more match. Plus, UFC Freedom 250 becomes one of the strangest stories of the year. The FBI says it foiled an alleged attack plot targeting the White House event, Dana White publicly criticized Josh Hokit's remarks about Michelle Obama, Roman Reigns, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, Shane McMahon, and Declan McMahon were all in attendance, and Daniel Cormier found himself at the center of a bizarre social media controversy involving Eric Trump. From there, we head to TNA, where the company is undergoing major changes. Tessa Blanchard has been granted her release after reportedly declining an exclusive contract offer, while longtime creative figure Tommy Dreamer has mutually parted ways with the promotion after nearly a decade in leadership and creative roles. We break down the reported wrestling politics involving TNA, WWE, AAA, CMLL, and AEW that may have contributed to Blanchard's departure, discuss Dreamer's exit and his impact on the company behind the scenes, examine the reports linking Road Dogg to a potential role in TNA's creative future, and explore what these departures could mean for the company's direction moving forward. We also preview the week ahead, including Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Championship against Gunther with Sami Zayn as special guest referee, Charlotte Flair facing Liv Morgan in the Queen of the Ring semifinals, Mercedes Moné battling Hazuki in the Owen Hart Tournament, AEW's continued build toward Forbidden Door, and a loaded slate of action from NJPW, TNA, and more. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, a marathon gaming session, or just getting through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Right now, you can save 20% instantly with code TAVERN at checkout at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also proudly powered by the one-of-a-kind Official Dick Lazer — a wild, over-the-top gag gift that's guaranteed to get a reaction. With the flip of a switch, it projects five laser images, and it also features a red-dot laser with over 1,000 feet of range, plus a flashlight and blacklight, all packed into a sleek, USB-C rechargeable pen weighing just 1.4 ounces. It's perfect for pranking coworkers, lighting up parties, college dorm antics, or just being the funniest person in the room. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off your order today. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 189 is headlined by the wild week of rumors surrounding CM Punk's WWE status. We break down the online speculation, Sean Ross Sapp addressing the "reckless speculation," Fightful Select pushing back on claims that Punk wanted out or was asked to take a pay cut, and PWInsider reporting that Punk is expected back on WWE television in the coming months with new merchandise being prepared. We also discuss Ariel Helwani's blunt criticism of WWE under TKO, including his comments calling the current product "soulless," his issues with WrestleMania, his disappointment in the John Cena retirement tour, and his belief that WWE may have creatively peaked with Cody Rhodes defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. From there, we get into the latest legal and business stories surrounding WWE. A settlement agreement in principle has been reached in the WWE shareholder lawsuit, cancelling the Delaware Chancery Court trial that was expected to feature testimony from Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, Mark Shapiro, Ari Emanuel, and others. We also cover WWE moving Money in the Bank again, with the show now set for October 10 in New Orleans, while September 6 will instead feature a special Sunday edition of Saturday Night's Main Event in Atlanta. The road to Night of Champions is also heating up as the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continue. Je'Von Evans, Dominik Mysterio, and Oba Femi have advanced on the men's side, while Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and IYO SKY are moving forward in the women's bracket. We also discuss Cody Rhodes and Gunther running it back for the Undisputed WWE Championship on the June 19 episode of SmackDown, with Gunther set to choose the stipulation. On the AEW side, we look at All In 2026 ticket sales lagging behind previous Wembley Stadium events, MJF's hyperextended knee injury and why AEW still expects to use him, and the growing movement around the vacant TBS Championship with Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Mina Shirakawa, Harley Cameron, Zayda Steel, and Queen Aminata all declaring for Survival of the Fittest qualifiers. We also dive into Stardom's major presence in North America. Syuri, Hazuki, Ranna Yagami, and Fuwa-chan will miss the 2026 5 Star Grand Prix due to excursions, while Syuri challenges Athena for the ROH Women's World Championship at Global Wars Cincinnati and Hazuki prepares to face Mercedes Moné in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament semifinals. Plus, AAA officially announces Verano de Escándalo for July 25 in Aguascalientes, NJPW finalizes a loaded Dominion card headlined by Callum Newman vs. Yota Tsuji, YOH challenging DOUKI, and Konosuke Takeshita defending against SANADA, TNA confirms Nic Nemeth will call his shot at Slammiversary as Steve Maclin and Myla Grace exit the company, Fetty Wap gets involved in light tube chaos at GCW Tournament of Survival, HOOK prepares for his GCW debut and World title shot, and NXT sets multiple title matches for Great American Bash. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, a marathon gaming session, or just getting through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Right now, you can save 20% instantly with code TAVERN at checkout at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also proudly powered by the one-of-a-kind Official Dick Lazer — a wild, over-the-top gag gift that's guaranteed to get a reaction. With the flip of a switch, it projects five laser images, and it also features a red-dot laser with over 1,000 feet of range, plus a flashlight and blacklight, all packed into a sleek, USB-C rechargeable pen weighing just 1.4 ounces. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off your order today. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 188 is headlined by the incredible conclusion to the El Grande Americano saga at AAA Noche de los Grandes as Ludwig Kaiser and Chad Gable delivered a mask vs. mask match that has quickly become a Feud of the Year and Match of the Year contender. We discuss how the story evolved from a comedy gimmick into one of wrestling's most emotionally resonant rivalries and why WWE is now airing the match on Netflix. We also break down the full fallout from WWE Clash in Italy. Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Gunther amid controversy, Roman Reigns defeated Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat, Rhea Ripley survived Jade Cargill thanks in part to Charlotte Flair's involvement, Sol Ruca captured the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship from Becky Lynch, and Brock Lesnar's dominant win over Oba Femi sparked major debate about WWE's long-term plans for one of its brightest young stars. The 2026 King and Queen of the Ring tournaments are officially underway, and we discuss why Oba Femi and IYO SKY have quickly emerged as early favorites. We break down the brackets, SummerSlam implications, and whether WWE is positioning its next generation of main event talent through this year's tournaments. On the AEW side, we analyze the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament semifinals featuring Swerve Strickland, Brody King, Will Ospreay, and Mark Davis. We also discuss AEW bringing ROH's historic Survival of the Fittest match to Dynamite to crown a new TBS Champion following Willow Nightingale's injury. Plus, Mistico's return to CMLL after a knee injury, MLW's new VEEPS partnership and move into quarterly pay-per-view events, the bizarre story of WWE nearly reviving the nWo during the pandemic, and previews of Raw, NXT, Dynamite, Collision, SmackDown, TNA Impact, AAA Noches de Grandes Part 2, NJPW/CMLL Fantasticamania, NWA Powerrr, and the entire week ahead across professional wrestling. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.  

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, a marathon gaming session, or just getting through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Right now, you can save 20% instantly with code TAVERN at checkout at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also proudly powered by the one-of-a-kind Official Dick Lazer — a wild, over-the-top gag gift that's guaranteed to get a reaction. With the flip of a switch, it projects five laser images, plus a red-dot laser, flashlight, and blacklight all packed into a sleek USB-C rechargeable pen weighing just 1.4 ounces. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off your order today. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 187 covers one of the biggest weeks wrestling has seen all year as AEW Double or Nothing completely reshapes the company's championship picture, WWE heads toward its historic Clash in Italy premium live event, major injuries continue piling up inside The Vision faction, and the independent wrestling landscape sees a massive ownership shift. We break down the full fallout from AEW Double or Nothing 2026 from Queens, New York as MJF regains the AEW World Championship in a brutal Title vs. Hair main event against Darby Allin. We discuss the violent structure of the match, Darby's terrifying Coffin Drop off the stage scaffolding, the hardway bleeding controversy under the New York State Athletic Commission, and Kevin Knight's shocking heel turn after attacking Darby while he was strapped to a stretcher. We also look at the end of Darby's chaotic 40-day title reign after seven successful defenses and MJF beginning his third AEW World Championship run. We also cover the massive Stadium Stampede spectacle involving Jericho, The Hurt Syndicate, The Elite, Ricochet, The Don Callis Family, and The Dogs, plus Konosuke Takeshita defeating Kazuchika Okada for the AEW International Championship before Kyle Fletcher returned and betrayed Takeshita to officially end Protoshida. We discuss Jon Moxley retaining the Continental Championship against Kyle O'Reilly, Thekla surviving a four-way Women's World Championship match, Cage and Cope winning the AEW World Tag Team Championship in a violent "I Quit" street fight against FTR, and the latest Owen Hart Cup tournament developments involving Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, Athena, Mina Shirakawa, Samoa Joe, Bandido, Sareee, Persephone, Hazuki, and the mystery Wild Card entrant replacing the injured Willow Nightingale. Outside the ring, AEW officially announced the new AEW Redemption pay-per-view for July 26 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, bringing the company to ten annual pay-per-views for the first time ever. We discuss Tony Khan's comments about Montreal's wrestling history, Mick Foley potentially appearing at the event, and what the continued expansion of AEW's pay-per-view calendar means moving forward. We also break down the major independent wrestling business story of the week as former WWE stars Big Damo and Nikki Cross officially acquire ownership of PROGRESS Wrestling and co-ownership of DEFY Wrestling. We discuss their vision for the companies, expansion plans across the UK, relationships with Pro Wrestling NOAH and other promotions, the future of women's wrestling under Cross' leadership, and why this move could become one of the most important independent wrestling developments of the year. On the WWE side, we preview Clash in Italy, WWE's first-ever premium live event in Italy taking place from Turin at the Inalpi Arena. We break down Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Gunther, Roman Reigns facing Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat for the World Heavyweight Championship, Rhea Ripley defending the WWE Women's Championship against Jade Cargill in a WrestleMania rematch, Becky Lynch defending the Women's Intercontinental Championship against Sol Ruca, and Brock Lesnar returning to face Oba Femi after appearing to retire at WrestleMania 42. We also discuss Saturday Night's Main Event fallout as The Vision retained the World Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits before WWE later announced Logan Paul suffered a torn triceps that will sideline him for months. We cover Bron Breakker replacing Paul as Austin Theory's tag team partner, Theory's brutal chair attack on Joe Hendry, Brie Bella and Paige retaining the Women's Tag Team Championship, Penta retaining against Ethan Page, Jade Cargill pinning Rhea Ripley ahead of Clash in Italy, and Sol Ruca officially earning her Women's Intercontinental Championship opportunity against Becky Lynch. Plus, we discuss WWE officially launching the 2026 King & Queen of the Ring tournaments next week on Raw from Turin, LA Knight declaring himself for the tournament while targeting Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso defending the modern Bloodline, and the increasing likelihood that this year's finals once again culminate at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia. We also preview AAA Noches de Grandes, NJPW/CMLL Fantasticamania, Raw, NXT, Dynamite, Collision, SmackDown, TNA Impact, NWA Powerrr, and the entire week ahead across professional wrestling. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, a marathon gaming session, or just getting through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Right now, you can save 20% instantly with code TAVERN at checkout at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also proudly powered by the one-of-a-kind Official Dick Lazer — a wild, over-the-top gag gift that's guaranteed to get a reaction. With the flip of a switch, it projects five laser images, plus a red-dot laser, flashlight, and blacklight all packed into a sleek USB-C rechargeable pen weighing just 1.4 ounces. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off your order today. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 186 covers one of the busiest weeks wrestling has seen all year as the fallout from John Cena's major WWE announcement, growing TKO criticism, AEW's loaded Owen Hart Cup, and major roster uncertainty across multiple companies all collide at once. We break down the increasingly divided reaction to the John Cena Classic, including criticism from Jeff Jarrett and Lance Storm over WWE replacing wins and losses with fan voting. We also discuss WWE's growing ad issues under TKO after O'Shea Jackson Jr. called the current presentation "almost unwatchable," plus the return of WWE house shows and why the company is suddenly prioritizing more affordable live events again. We also cover Andrew Yang supporting Kevin Nash's push for WWE wrestlers to consider SAG-AFTRA representation, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Asuka's WWE future, and the latest confusion regarding TKO's Arizona partnership after reports involving Survivor Series and Royal Rumble were corrected. Outside WWE, AEW officially revealed the 2026 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament brackets featuring Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido, and a stacked women's field led by Athena, Mina Shirakawa, Sareee, and Willow Nightingale. We also discuss Tony Khan addressing AEW's relationship with Jazwares, confidence in Nielsen ratings, injury concerns surrounding Sareee and Persephone, and the growing speculation that Mick Foley could potentially appear at Double or Nothing in Queens. Plus, we preview ROH Supercard of Honor, Raw, NXT, Dynamite, Collision, SmackDown, TNA Impact, NWA Powerrr, and the full week ahead in wrestling. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, a marathon gaming session, or just getting through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Right now, you can save 20% instantly with code TAVERN at checkout at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also proudly powered by the Official Dick Lazer — a wild, over-the-top gag gift that's guaranteed to get a reaction. With the flip of a switch, it projects five laser images, and it also features a red-dot laser with over 1,000 feet of range, plus a flashlight and blacklight, all packed into a sleek, USB-C rechargeable pen weighing just 1.4 ounces. It's perfect for pranking coworkers, lighting up parties, college dorm antics, or just being the funniest person in the room. So don't settle for boring — bring out the Dick Lazer and make every moment unforgettable. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off your order today. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 185 is a full WWE Backlash preview while also covering one of the most news-heavy weeks wrestling has seen all year. We break down WWE Backlash 2026 from every angle as the company heads into its first Backlash event of the ESPN era in the United States. Roman Reigns defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Jacob Fatu in the biggest match on the card, with the Bloodline story entering a completely new phase after reports surfaced that Reigns is currently not planned for Night of Champions or the June television leading into it. We discuss the family history behind the match, Jacob Fatu's rise from enforcer to true singles star, and why this feels like the biggest opportunity of his WWE career so far. Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker may be the most personal match on the show as the collapse of The Vision finally comes to a head. Seth Rollins opened up this week about creating the faction because of insecurity and distrust toward Roman Reigns and CM Punk, while Bron Breakker continues trying to prove he has completely outgrown his former mentor and is ready to become WWE's next centerpiece star. The WWE United States Championship feud between Trick Williams and Sami Zayn has become one of the strangest stories in wrestling all year. We discuss the reported backstage pushback toward the Gingerbread Man storyline, why several people in WWE reportedly viewed the angle as "hokey and archaic," and Sami Zayn's explanation that he intentionally wanted to experiment with a character shift designed to divide the audience rather than function as a traditional heel turn. We also preview IYO SKY vs. Asuka, Danhausen's mystery partner situation against The Miz and Kit Wilson, and the growing speculation that Jelly Roll could appear at Backlash despite CM Punk remaining the betting favorite internally and externally. John Cena also continues heavily teasing what he calls a "history-making" announcement at Backlash that will "shock the very foundation of WWE." Reports now point toward the possible launch of Club WWE tied to the company's growing ESPN integration, and we discuss why WWE is clearly positioning the announcement as one of the defining talking points of the entire event. Outside WWE, one of the biggest stories in wrestling involves Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods officially leaving WWE after reportedly rejecting TKO restructuring deals. We break down the end of The New Day as an active WWE act, why the situation feels different from a normal release, the AEW interest already surrounding both men, and what their departures say about WWE's changing business structure under TKO. AEW delivered an emotional tribute to Ted Turner following his passing at 87 years old. Sting made a surprise appearance alongside Tony Schiavone to honor the man responsible for keeping wrestling alive on TBS and TNT for decades. We reflect on Turner's impact on wrestling history, WCW surviving because of his commitment to the business, and why modern wrestling television likely looks completely different without him. We also discuss AEW Double or Nothing trending toward one of the company's strongest domestic crowds in years from Queens, New York, while Stadium Stampede officially returns for the first time since 2021. Chris Jericho, Ricochet, The Gates of Agony, and The Hurt Syndicate are all becoming part of one of AEW's signature match concepts once again as the company leans harder into faction warfare and spectacle. Plus, we cover Lei Ying Lee regaining the TNA Knockouts World Championship, Yota Tsuji earning an IWGP Heavyweight Championship rematch against Callum Newman for NJPW Dominion, MLW and CMLL's crossover event from Arena México, and the NWA celebrating the reported audience for Powerrr's return to broadcast television on Comet TV. Then we look ahead to Raw, NXT, AEW Dynamite, TNA Impact, SmackDown, AEW Collision, NWA Powerrr, WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, Double or Nothing, Dominion, and the rest of the upcoming wrestling calendar. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the clean zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer, the ultimate gag gift with laser projections, flashlight, blacklight, and more. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 184 covers a packed week across wrestling, led by WWE reshaping NXT's future. NXT Premium Live Events are moving to The CW in the U.S., with weekly episodes and PLEs also headed to ESPN Unlimited, while next-day episodes will arrive on The Roku Channel this fall. WWE is clearly trying to make NXT more accessible, more sports-adjacent, and easier to find across multiple platforms. We also break down Stephanie Vaquer's legitimate second-degree AC sprain after the Raw angle with Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. Vaquer is expected to be out for the foreseeable future, with hope but no guarantee that she could return by SummerSlam. Talla Tonga is also sidelined with an undisclosed injury but has not been released and is expected back fairly soon. The WWE AI conversation heated up after backlash to an NXT video package for Sol Ruca and Zaria, coming just after Mark Shapiro confirmed WWE has been using AI in connection with storylines, audience data, creative direction, touring, and revenue strategy. The concern is simple: fans do not want wrestling to feel generated, synthetic, or stripped of its human emotion. Outside WWE, Carlos Silva addressed TNA pulling talent from approved indie matches involving AEW stars, including Nic Nemeth vs. MJF and Leon Slater vs. Ricochet. Silva framed the move as protecting TNA's business, while Matt Hardy said the talent were compensated and MJF publicly accused Silva of lying. We also cover SmackDown's yearly format change, with three-hour shows running from January through June before returning to two hours from July through December. AJ Lee's current WWE run appears to be finished for now after WrestleMania 42, though a future return remains possible. AEW may be adding a new July pay-per-view called Redemption, with Montreal reportedly the favorite host city. If finalized, it would bring AEW to ten yearly pay-per-views for the first time. New Japan also heads into Wrestling Dontaku 2026 with major AEW involvement, including Will Ospreay in six-man action, Andrade El Idolo challenging Yota Tsuji, and Konosuke Takeshita defending the NJPW World TV Championship. We also discuss Janel Grant launching an Instagram account tied to the broader conversation around workplace NDAs and Connecticut Raised Bill S.B. 355, ahead of a key June 10 ruling in her case. And we close the news section with a heartfelt acknowledgment of Rebel, Tanea Brooks, who revealed she has been diagnosed with terminal ALS after a long medical journey. Then we look ahead to Raw, NXT, AEW Dynamite, TNA Impact, SmackDown, AEW Collision, AAA on Fox, NWA Powerrr, and the upcoming 2026 PPV and PLE calendar. Episode 184 is about access, control, uncertainty, and change across the wrestling industry. WWE is expanding NXT's reach while facing injury and AI questions. TNA and AEW tensions are spilling into public view. AEW continues to scale. NJPW leans into crossover appeal. And the week reminds us that behind every headline are real people navigating real consequences. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.  

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the clean zero sugar zero crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer, the ultimate gag gift with laser projections, flashlight, blacklight, and more. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 183 breaks down a week where WWE's future started changing fast. The post WrestleMania 42 roster cuts hit every level of the company, with Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Zoey Stark, Alba Fyre, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Bo Dallas, Dexter Lumis, Erik Rowan, Apollo Crews, Santos Escobar, the Motor City Machine Guns, Tyra Mae Steele, and several NXT prospects all gone. Kairi Sane's release is the hardest one to explain. She was active on television, coming off a singles win over IYO SKY on the April 13 Raw, and appeared to be headed toward a bigger story with Asuka. IYO SKY called the timing unexpected, Bayley said she was struggling to process it, and Kairi thanked fans while saying she would "set sail… in my own time." Aleister Black's exit raises similar questions after wins over Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, and Matt Cardona. These did not feel like talents being phased out creatively. They felt like cuts made while stories were still moving. The Wyatt Sicks were also wiped out, with Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas all released. Nikki Cross later called her time as Abby the Witch "the honour of a lifetime," tying the group back to Bray Wyatt, Brodie Lee, the Windham family, the Huber family, and the Fireflies who kept that world alive. The locker room reaction showed how heavy the day was. Alexa Bliss honored Nikki Cross and the Wyatt Sicks. Rhea Ripley called it a sad day. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven praised Alba Fyre. Asuka, Bayley, and IYO SKY supported Kairi Sane. Nathan Frazer gave a heartfelt tribute to Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, crediting the Motor City Machine Guns for helping him during his first year on the main roster. At the same time, WWE is pushing new names forward. Ricky Saints is set for his SmackDown debut next week in Tulsa after one final NXT match against Shiloh Hill. Ethan Page and Sol Ruca already arrived on Raw, while Joe Hendry is set for his official Raw debut with a concert. SmackDown also got a jolt from Fatal Attraction, as Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid attacked Paige, Brie Bella, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and Rhea Ripley. Blake Monroe is also headed to the blue brand after a vignette for "The Glamour," bringing her résumé as Mariah May, Owen Hart Cup winner, former AEW Women's World Champion, and former NXT Women's North American Champion with her. Cody Rhodes used SmackDown to send a pointed message beyond Randy Orton. Still showing the effects of Orton's punt, Cody called out the "outside forces" affecting his WrestleMania path, saying they are "0-3" and telling them to send their best or stay out of his business. The line appears aimed at TKO influence and connects to past WrestleMania shifts involving Roman Reigns, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and John Cena. Tiffany Stratton also turned a missed WrestleMania into momentum, defeating Giulia to win the WWE Women's United States Championship. The win ended Giulia's 112 day reign and gave Stratton her third singles title in WWE. In her interview with Joey Karni, Stratton said missing WrestleMania gave her a chip on her shoulder, and she is determined to make sure it never happens again. Outside WWE, Lucha Underground suddenly resurfaced after years of silence with a "¿Más?" teaser and the caption "soon." Taya Valkyrie, Willie Mack, Ivelisse, Vinnie Massaro, The Butcher, AJ Francis, Shelly Martinez, Chelsea Green, and Brian Cage all reacted, with speculation already pointing to anything from a YouTube library rollout to something bigger. AAA is also teasing a shift of its own. Marisela Peña Roldán confirmed that a new general manager will be revealed on May 23 in Mexico City after Dorian Roldán asked for the role. She made it clear that nothing in AAA will remain the same once the new GM is announced. Episode 183 is about transition everywhere. WWE is cutting major names while elevating new ones. Cody Rhodes is calling out the power above the ring. Tiffany Stratton is forcing her way back into focus. Lucha Underground is stirring again. AAA is preparing a reset. The whole landscape feels like it is moving at once. Be sure to support the show and follow us @TurnbuckleTavern. Until next week, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the clean zero sugar zero crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer, the ultimate gag gift with laser projections, flashlight, and more. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 182 centers on a wrestling landscape that feels like it's shifting in real time, where creative direction, corporate influence, and long dormant brands are all colliding at once. Lucha Underground is suddenly back in the conversation after years of silence, posting a "soon" teaser that follows trademark filings and a reactivated website. This does not feel random. The timing suggests something more deliberate is being built, potentially opening the door for a return of one of the most distinct cinematic wrestling products the industry has seen. At the same time, the fallout from WrestleMania 42 continues to reveal how close WWE came to telling a very different story at the top of the card. CM Punk defeating Roman Reigns was a scenario that was seriously discussed internally, with a follow up title change planned shortly after to keep both protected. Instead, WWE chose a decisive finish, with Reigns winning clean in a match now being viewed as one of the best in WrestleMania history, signaling a preference for finality over extended balance. That decision did not happen in isolation. Backstage, WrestleMania weekend was described as chaotic, with tension tied to celebrity involvement and shifting creative priorities. The presence of TKO Group Holdings loomed large, as executives with final say over creative reportedly stepped in at a critical moment. It is a rare occurrence, but one that highlighted the growing reality that WWE's biggest decisions are now influenced at the corporate level, not just within the wrestling side. Outside the ring, WWE continues to blur the line between performance and reality. Seth Rollins' walk off from Good Morning Football turned out to be a staged angle, executed well enough that even high level figures believed it was real. It is another example of how WWE talent are extending character work beyond traditional programming and into mainstream media. Taken together, this week is not defined by one headline. It is defined by movement. A dormant brand possibly returning. A WrestleMania main event that nearly took a different shape. And a power structure that is becoming more visible and more influential than ever before. Be sure to support the show and follow us @TurnbuckleTavern. Until next week, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.  

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer — the ultimate gag gift with laser projections, flashlight, and more. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 181 focuses on the Raw after WrestleMania fallout and what it tells us about where WWE is heading. Mark Shapiro made it clear that TKO Group Holdings has full control over WWE, leaning into celebrity crossover and bigger media reach while admitting not every fan will be on board with the direction. On Raw, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk teased a future match with the "just say when" moment, while Roman Reigns pushed back on part-timer talk and said he'll be around all summer. Jacob Fatu stepped up and challenged Roman Reigns for Backlash, while Brock Lesnar's status remains unclear after his WrestleMania loss, with no real confirmation on whether he's done. Outside the ring, Booker T called out major security issues during WrestleMania weekend. Elsewhere, Darby Allin wins the AEW World Title, Shotzi Blackheart takes the GCW Clusterf—, Josh Barnett ends Bloodsport, and Callum Newman confirms his NJPW future. Be sure to support the show and follow us @TurnbuckleTavern. Until next week, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.  

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether you're watching late-night pay-per-views or grinding through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer, the ultimate gag gift that guarantees a reaction. With laser projections, a red-dot laser, flashlight, and more, it's built to stand out. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 180 dives into the fallout from WrestleMania 42 across both nights, as Matt from the Extra Cooler Show and JBugz from the Rawdown join Acefield Retro to break it all down. Night 1 saw The Usos and LA Knight pick up the win over Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed in a six-man tag opener. Jacob Fatu defeated Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned match, while Brie Bella and Paige captured the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships with Nikki Bella at ringside. Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee to become Women's Intercontinental Champion, Gunther forced Seth Rollins to submit, and Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer to win the Women's World Championship. In the main event, Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton. Night 2 kicked off with Oba Femi defeating Brock Lesnar. Penta retained the Intercontinental Championship in a six-pack ladder match against Je'Von Evans, Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh, Rusev, and Rey Mysterio. Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship, and "The Demon" Finn Bálor defeated Dominik Mysterio in a street fight. Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women's Championship, while John Cena appeared alongside Danhausen to announce the attendance. The weekend closed with Roman Reigns defeating CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for exclusive content. Follow us @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until next week, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the clean zero sugar energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer, the ultimate gag gift with a red dot laser, flashlight, blacklight and more. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 179 centers on AEW Dynasty fallout and a packed week across the wrestling landscape. MJF retains over Kenny Omega in a main event built on frustration and control, closing the show firmly on top while Darby Allin immediately steps in as the next challenger. Jon Moxley vs Will Ospreay delivers the strongest story of the night, centered on obsession, while Thekla continues to define the women's division even as her finishes become a talking point. FTR's win over Cope and Cage feels decisive, Kevin Knight breaks out with the TNT Title win, and Kamille's return instantly reshapes the TBS picture with Willow Nightingale. We move straight into Dynamite Spring BreakThru with MJF vs Darby Allin, Kevin Knight vs Claudio Castagnoli, and Willow vs Kamille, all with real stakes coming out of Dynasty. Across the week, Raw brings CM Punk and Roman Reigns under the same roof with Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi appearing. NXT is headlined by Tony D'Angelo vs Ethan Page, plus Lola Vice vs Jacy Jayne and Joe Hendry in concert. SmackDown features the Andre the Giant Battle Royal and a loaded roster presence. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.  

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the clean, zero sugar energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer, the ultimate gag gift with a red dot laser, flashlight, blacklight and more. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 178 is a full-scale SUPERSIZED preview of WrestleMania 42 and a Las Vegas week that has taken over the wrestling world. JBugz from the Rawdown fills in for Chad as we break down the entire WrestleMania card, led by CM Punk vs Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton. Both matchups feel bigger than championships, centered around control, legacy, and the direction WWE is heading. We also dive into AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch, Jade Cargill vs Rhea Ripley, the instability surrounding the women's tag division, and how matches like McIntyre vs Fatu and the Logan Paul six-man tag reflect a company leaning into unpredictability and outside influence. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also powered by the Official Dick Lazer — the ultimate gag gift with a red-dot laser, flashlight, blacklight, and more. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Keep it Tavern. Episode 177 centers on a week where creative direction and real-world influence collided. We start with WWE SmackDown, where Pat McAfee's heel turn reshapes the entire WrestleMania build, shifting the focus from a personal rivalry into something much bigger — and far more controversial. From there, we preview AEW Dynasty 2026 in Vancouver, headlined by MJF vs. Kenny Omega, alongside a loaded championship card and strong late ticket movement heading into the final stretch. We also give you everything you need to know about TNA Rebellion 2026 in Cleveland main evented by Mike Santana vs. Eddie Edwards. We also break down NXT Stand & Deliver fallout, as Lola Vice and Tony D'Angelo emerge as new champions, signaling a clear shift in the brand's direction moving forward. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens — stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL—the zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula built for late nights, gaming, and your daily grind. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up and keep it Tavern. We're also powered by the Official Dick Lazer—a USB-C rechargeable multi-function pen with a red-dot laser, flashlight, blacklight, and a signature gag feature. Perfect for pranks and parties. Head to DickLazers.com, use code TAVERN for 20% off, and keep it Tavern. Episode 176 centers on a week where real-life disruption and storyline momentum collided across the wrestling landscape. We start with TNA Sacrifice 2026, where the main event between Mike Santana and Steve Maclin was stopped early due to a legitimate injury, immediately destabilizing the world title picture heading into Rebellion. Eddie Edwards' involvement shifted the finish into an angle, but the bigger story is the uncertainty now at the top of the card. Elsewhere on the show, Leon Slater retained the X-Division Championship in a decisive performance, while Mustafa Ali and Tasha Steelz vs. Trey Miguel and Jada Stone stood out despite interference shaping the result. Across the board, strong in-ring work was consistently influenced by outside factors rather than clean resolution. TNA also introduced 21-year-old Ricky Sosa, a high-upside international prospect, in a segment grounded by Chris Bey's real-life recovery story. We then shift to Global Wars, where ROH and Maple Leaf Pro delivered meaningful crossover momentum. The Good Brothers became inaugural MLP Tag Team Champions, followed by Bishop Dyer turning on Kaito Kiyomiya, while the promotion also announced a new weekly TV deal launching in July. That momentum takes a hit with Josh Alexander confirming a severe knee injury and upcoming surgery, leaving no timetable for return and forcing adjustments across AEW, TNA, and MLP. We also break down Kyle Fletcher's comments about AEW All In stirring internal reaction, highlighting the balance between personal frustration and locker room perspective when injuries impact major moments. On the business side, ESPN has moved to intervene in the WWE PLE lawsuit, aiming to push the case into arbitration, while WrestleMania 42 ticket sales show a more aggressive discount-driven approach despite strong projected attendance. Plus, Sami Zayn forces his way onto the WrestleMania card by winning the United States Championship and setting up a defense against Trick Williams, Chris Jericho files a new "Cornerstone" trademark, Toni Storm's absence shifts into a mystery angle, and NJPW begins rolling out the Best of the Super Juniors field. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month for exclusive content at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens—stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula built to keep you going through late-night shows, gaming sessions, or your daily grind—save 20% now with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. We're also proudly powered by the Official Dick Lazer, a USB-C rechargeable multi-function pen with a red-dot laser, flashlight, blacklight, and a signature gag feature that makes it the ultimate conversation starter. Head to DickLazers.com, use code TAVERN for 20% off, and fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 175 covers one of the most news-heavy weeks across the wrestling landscape. We break down the revelation that Tony Khan submitted a $6.9 billion bid to purchase WWE during the 2023 sale process, what it means for AEW's long-term vision, and how close it actually was to changing the industry. We also dive into the Ricochet controversy that crossed into mainstream coverage, the fallout from his comments, and what it means for his standing moving forward. Plus, Hechicero captures the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship from Claudio Castagnoli, continuing the growing crossover between AEW and CMLL. We also discuss the passing of Dennis Condrey, Mercedes Moné's ongoing title losses, Callum Newman's New Japan Cup win, Jade Cargill's new alliance before WrestleMania, Gunther vs. Rey Mysterio plans in doubt, Ted DiBiase Jr.'s legal verdict, Dennis Rodman's WWE Hall of Fame induction, Ronda Rousey's AEW status, and the latest from AAA Rey de Reyes. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month for exclusive content at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens — stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

Episode 174 breaks down the fallout from AEW Revolution 2026, a chaotic and violent night that reshaped several divisions across the company. In the main event, MJF defeated Hangman Adam Page in a brutal Texas Death Match to retain the AEW World Championship. The match pushed the limits of violence with glass, barbed wire, light tubes, chains, and some of the most disturbing spots AEW has ever presented. In the end, MJF knocked Hangman out with the Dynamite Diamond Ring and hung him with a chain, leaving him unconscious and unable to answer the ten count. With the stipulation attached to the match, Hangman Adam Page can no longer challenge for the AEW World Championship. Elsewhere on the show, Jon Moxley defeated Konosuke Takeshita in a brutal war to retain the Continental Championship before the shocking return of Will Ospreay, who stormed the ring and attacked the Death Riders after months away recovering from a neck injury. FTR retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks in another instant classic between the two teams. The celebration didn't last long, however, as the lights went out and the chaos escalated with the surprise arrivals of Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, creating a tense standoff that immediately reshapes the tag team title picture. The AEW Trios Championships changed hands as Mistico and JetSpeed defeated the Don Callis Family, followed by the announcement that Mistico is officially All Elite. Other major results included Swerve Strickland defeating Brody King before Kenny Omega returned to stop a post-match assault, Andrade El Idolo defeating Bandido in a standout lucha showcase, and Thekla retaining the AEW Women's Championship over Kris Statlander in a controversial two-falls-to-one match. In the women's division, Timeless Toni Storm defeated Marina Shafir, but the bigger moment came afterward when Ronda Rousey appeared and confronted Storm, creating a tense face-to-face moment that could set up a massive future clash. Plus we run down the full Zero Hour results, preview the week ahead across RAW, NXT, Dynamite, SmackDown, TNA Impact, AEW Collision, and AAA on Fox, and look ahead to the major events shaping the wrestling calendar including TNA Sacrifice, NXT Road Block, NXT Stand & Deliver, WrestleMania weekend, AEW Dynasty, and more. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month for exclusive content at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, marathon gaming session, or just powering through your day, G FUEL's got your back. And right now, you can save 20% instantly with code TAVERN at checkout at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is proudly powered by the one-of-a-kind Official Dick Lazer which is the ultimate gag gift. There's a red-dot laser with over 1,000 ft range, plus a flashlight and blacklight all wrapped into a sleek, USB-C rechargeable pen that's just 1.4 oz. Perfect for pranking coworkers, lighting up bachelorette parties, college dorm antics, or just being the funniest person in the room. So don't settle for boring: bring out the Dick Lazer and shine bright, outrageous, and unforgettable. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off your order today. Light up the room. Get some laughs. And always… keep it Tavern.  

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, marathon gaming session, or just powering through your day, G FUEL's got your back. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also proudly powered by the Official Dick Lazer — the one-of-a-kind gag gift that projects five penises with the flip of a switch. Featuring a red-dot laser with over 1,000 feet of range, plus a flashlight and blacklight, all packed into a sleek USB-C rechargeable pen. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 173 dives into a packed week across WWE, AEW, NJPW, and the global wrestling scene as WrestleMania season continues to take shape. We break down the latest WrestleMania 42 plans, including Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship — and the original pitch that would have seen Rhodes face Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell before WWE scrapped the idea. With McIntyre now expected to face Jacob Fatu, we look at what changed and why. The women's division picture is also coming into focus, with Rhea Ripley set to challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women's Championship, Tiffany Stratton reportedly heading toward a match with Giulia for the Women's United States Championship, and internal discussions around IYO SKY vs. Asuka — possibly with Kairi Sane added to the mix. Meanwhile, one of the biggest mysteries heading into WrestleMania is Gunther, who currently holds the World Heavyweight Championship but reportedly does not have a locked-in WrestleMania program yet. We also discuss the growing WWE–ESPN controversy after reports surfaced that ESPN removed letter grades from WWE PLE reviews following objections from the company. Over in NXT, the road to Stand & Deliver is heating up with a tag team number one contender's tournament announced for the NXT Tag Team Championships. We also look at the surprising distribution change as Stand & Deliver will stream globally on YouTube on April 4 following NXT's exit from Peacock. On the AEW side, we examine the launch of the company's new MyAEW streaming platform, which introduces AEW's first FAST channel and a new international subscription model — a move that could reshape how fans watch AEW content worldwide. We also cover Will Ospreay's progress toward an in-ring return, with reports suggesting a possible spring comeback and hopes that he'll be ready for AEW All In at Wembley Stadium. Across the wider wrestling world, we look at Alex Windsor winning the NJPW Strong Women's Championship, Konosuke Takeshita returning to NJPW for the New Japan Cup Finals, and the latest developments in the New Japan Cup tournament with Yuya Uemura, Shingo Takagi, Ren Narita, and Oleg Boltin advancing. We also preview major WrestleMania week events, including Josh Barnett's Bloodsport XV featuring Yuji Nagata, Timothy Thatcher, Shayna Baszler, and Pete Dunne, Bandido vs. Amazing Red at HOG Culture Clash, and Mark Davis vs. Masato Tanaka at the WrestleCon SuperShow. Plus: AJ Styles' new backstage WWE role, Pat McAfee addressing a potential WWE return, Maple Leaf Pro's Multiverse event lineup, and the reported release of Niño Hamburguesa from AAA following an incident with a fan. WrestleMania season is heating up, streaming platforms are evolving, and major stories are unfolding across the wrestling world. Listen now. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for just $2.99 a month for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for the latest updates.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether you're watching a late-night pay-per-view, grinding through a gaming marathon, or powering through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Save 20% with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. The Tavern is also proudly powered by the Official Dick Lazer — the one-of-a-kind gag gift that projects five images at the flip of a switch. Featuring a red-dot laser with over 1,000 feet of range, plus a flashlight and blacklight, all built into a sleek USB-C rechargeable pen. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. AEW Revolution headlines Episode 172 as AEW returns to Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on March 15. The show is anchored by a Last Chance Texas Death Match for the AEW World Championship, with MJF defending against "Hangman" Adam Page, who puts his future title opportunities on the line. Also set for Revolution: • Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the Continental Championship (no time limit) • FTR vs. The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championships • Thekla vs. Kris Statlander for the AEW Women's World Championship in a two-out-of-three falls match • Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher, and Mark Davis defending the AEW World Trios Titles Plus on Zero Hour, Ricochet defends the AEW National Championship in a 21-man Blackjack Battle Royal. In WWE, the road to WrestleMania 42 shifted when Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre on SmackDown to win the WWE Championship for the third time, officially setting up Rhodes vs. Randy Orton in Las Vegas. Another title change saw Penta defeat Dominik Mysterio on Raw to capture the Intercontinental Championship, capitalizing on tension within The Judgment Day. We also break down the fallout from NXT Vengeance Day, where Joe Hendry retained the NXT Championship against Ricky Saints, Tatum Paxley captured the NXT Women's North American Championship, and new storylines began forming on the road to Stand & Deliver. Plus, we examine reports of a potential Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger, which could combine HBO Max and Paramount+ and potentially reshape the streaming landscape — including what it could mean for AEW's future distribution. AEW's biggest spring pay-per-view approaches, the WrestleMania main event picture takes shape, championships change hands, and the wrestling industry continues to evolve. Listen now. Support the show and join our Patreon at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for just $2.99 a month for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for the latest updates.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL, the clean, zero sugar, zero crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Save 20 percent with code TAVERN at GFUEL.com. We are also proudly powered by the Official Dick Lazer. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20 percent off. Fuel up, light it up, and always keep it Tavern. Episode 171 centers on Elimination Chamber fallout and the way one night in Chicago shifted the structure of WrestleMania 42. Randy Orton outlasted Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, Trick Williams, LA Knight, and Je'Von Evans to secure a WWE Championship match on the biggest stage, but the path there was defined by interference rather than endurance. Logan Paul eliminated three competitors before Seth Rollins returned through an open Chamber door and attacked him, immediately destabilizing the match. That same opening allowed Drew McIntyre to enter and strike Rhodes with the WWE Championship. Orton dropped McIntyre with an RKO, Rhodes answered with Cross Rhodes, and as Rhodes stood, Orton delivered a second RKO to win. In the aftermath, Nick Aldis announced McIntyre will defend the WWE Championship against Rhodes on SmackDown, leaving Orton locked in for WrestleMania while Rhodes remains in pursuit and Rollins reenters the equation. The women's Chamber provided clearer direction. Rhea Ripley defeated Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Kiana James, and Alexa Bliss to earn her WrestleMania match against Jade Cargill. Rodriguez created chaos with a double elimination, Asuka misted Bliss before being eliminated, and Ripley closed with the Riptide to formalize a high level collision at WrestleMania. AJ Lee added another headline by submitting Becky Lynch to win the Women's Intercontinental Championship, her first singles title victory in over a decade, while CM Punk retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Bálor after surviving sustained rib targeting and finishing with the GTS in his hometown. The long teased mystery crate revealed Danhausen, drawing a mixed reaction and existing more as spectacle than structural shift on the road to WrestleMania. Outside the Chamber, AJ Styles formally confirmed his in ring retirement. He will remain with WWE in a non wrestling capacity and enter the 2026 Hall of Fame, closing the door on speculation about a final run elsewhere. We also examine the newly announced Android Inoki project targeting 2027, which begins with an AI model trained on Antonio Inoki's speech patterns and philosophy before integration into a humanoid form. Positioned as legacy preservation, it raises broader questions about likeness rights, commercialization, and how wrestling history will intersect with artificial intelligence moving forward. From a business standpoint, TKO disclosed that WWE generated 1.709 billion dollars in revenue for 2025. The 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh produced 55 million dollars, and WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia is projected to exceed 100 million. WrestleMania 42 will follow a hybrid distribution model, beginning on ESPN and ESPN2 before shifting to ESPN Unlimited domestically and Netflix internationally, reflecting WWE's continued evolution in broadcast and streaming strategy. Across weekly programming, championships changed hands on SmackDown and NXT, Bronson Reed suffered a distal biceps tear that forces creative adjustments, and AEW builds toward Revolution under schedule compression with MJF set to defend the AEW World Championship against Hangman Page in a Texas Death Match with permanent stakes language attached. Internationally, NJPW crowned new STRONG and Television champions, CMLL delivered a high stakes hair match at Arena México, and Mauro Ranallo joins commentary for Global Wars Canada. Episode 171 connects creative fallout, retirement finality, AI experimentation, revenue transparency, and shifting broadcast strategy as WrestleMania season accelerates. Listen now.      

Shot of Nostalgia: Shuffle continues with your host Acefield Retro, and this week we revisit April 4, 1993, WrestleMania IX from Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada. The first fully outdoor WrestleMania. The World's Largest Toga Party. A Roman coliseum theme complete with live animals, trumpeters, and commentators fully committed to the presentation. But beyond the spectacle, this event represents a pivot. This episode traces the road into WrestleMania IX through the March and April 1993 Wrestling Observer Newsletter coverage, capturing a company navigating lawsuits, scrutiny, roster instability, and mounting pressure. Bret Hart entered as WWF Champion. Yokozuna had been elevated as the dominant Royal Rumble winner. Hulk Hogan had returned, but his long term direction was fluid rather than locked in. The structure of the card reflects that instability. Shawn Michaels versus Tatanka opens with an Intercontinental Championship match that creates movement without definitive closure, immediately signaling protection over payoff. The Steiner Brothers versus the Headshrinkers provide one of the night's most cohesive in ring performances, reinforcing how effective the tag division could be when execution was clean. Doink versus Crush leans heavily into character psychology and spectacle, highlighted by the double Doink finish. We examine the originally planned mechanical stunt that was scrapped and what that decision says about the era's emphasis on visual moments. Razor Ramon secures a direct win over Bob Backlund, continuing his steady rise. The Tag Team Championship match between Money Inc. and the Mega Maniacs unfolds through referee bumps, disqualification tension, and spectacle driven pacing. We revisit the reported late reshuffling that removed the originally planned tag title blow off and centered Hogan more prominently on the card. Lex Luger's WrestleMania debut against Mr. Perfect introduces rope leverage controversy and is layered with behind the scenes anecdotes that contribute to the uneven rhythm of the night. The Undertaker versus Giant Gonzalez becomes one of the most criticized finishes in WrestleMania history, prioritizing theatricality over decisive resolution. The championship picture ultimately defines the event. Bret Hart versus Yokozuna is framed as a generational collision until Mr. Fuji's salt interference shifts the WWF Championship. Moments later, Hulk Hogan enters, accepts an impromptu challenge, and captures the title in approximately twenty seconds. With three decades of hindsight, this episode examines whether that closing decision reflects creative confusion or calculated business pragmatism. The Observer context suggests urgency. The optics suggest an audible. The result reshaped Bret Hart's reign, altered Yokozuna's trajectory, and placed Hogan back on top during a volatile moment for the company. WrestleMania IX is remembered for its ending. It deserves to be studied for what it reveals about transition, pressure, and how quickly direction can change when stability becomes the priority. Shot of Nostalgia: Shuffle premieres Saturday wherever you listen. Like, subscribe, and leave a review to support the continued growth of the series. Visit TurnbuckleTavern.com for merchandise, archives, and the full network schedule. Support the project at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content and extended deep dives. Powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN at checkout to save twenty percent on your entire order.  

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Welcome to Episode 170 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro and Chad return this week with a focused, comprehensive look at WWE Elimination Chamber: Chicago, and the broader business and legal context surrounding the event as WrestleMania 42 approaches. Elimination Chamber is not simply a February premium live event. The 2026 edition marks WWE's first televised event at the United Center since SummerSlam 1994, the first U.S.-based Elimination Chamber since 2021, and the final structural checkpoint before WrestleMania 42. With title implications and WrestleMania main event positioning attached to multiple matches, this show operates as a pivot point in WWE's calendar. We break down the full card in detail. The World Heavyweight Championship headlines in Chicago as CM Punk defends against Finn Bálor in Punk's hometown. What began as professional respect shifted into hostility after Bálor was excluded from the Royal Rumble match and responded with a direct assault on the champion. Despite reported hesitation from management within storyline, Bálor forced the issue and secured the title match. A Bálor victory would immediately reshape the WrestleMania 42 main event picture. The Women's Intercontinental Championship match between Becky Lynch and AJ Lee is built on competitive imbalance. Since returning, AJ has submitted Becky twice in non-title settings, creating a dynamic where the champion is defending not just a title but her standing within the division. This is less about opportunity and more about restoring hierarchy before WrestleMania season locks into place. Both Elimination Chamber matches will determine WrestleMania challengers. On the men's side, the field includes Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, Sami Zayn, Bron Breakker, and Damian Priest, with one final qualifying spot to be decided on the go-home edition of Raw. Historically, the Chamber has either elevated a rising star or reinforced an established main event presence. With a mix of veteran credibility and emerging power, WWE appears to be actively testing which direction serves WrestleMania best. The women's Chamber features Bayley, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Jade Cargill, and Shayna Baszler, with one final entrant pending. Complicating the stakes is Rhea Ripley's pending WrestleMania decision as Royal Rumble winner. The eventual Chamber victor will not know their WrestleMania opponent until Ripley makes her choice, adding strategic uncertainty to the structure. Beyond the in-ring narrative, we examine WWE's reported restriction of public Elimination Chamber watch parties within the Chicago market. Multiple local venues were allegedly informed they could not host public viewing events. With ticket distribution reportedly below configuration and entry prices exceeding $260, the move appears connected to protecting live gate revenue. We discuss the business rationale, the optics in a historically strong WWE city, and the long-term implications for fan goodwill. We also address the week's most significant off-screen development. Janel Grant appeared publicly at a Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence briefing, where she discussed the impact of non-disclosure agreements in workplace misconduct cases and referenced the NDA central to her lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. Grant spoke about the mental health toll of being publicly identified, her SEC whistleblower status, and directed remarks toward TKO leadership. As WrestleMania season accelerates, we analyze the corporate, legal, and reputational implications for WWE and its parent company. Additionally, reports indicate uncertainty regarding Chris Jericho's AEW contract status, with speculation that his deal may be paused or frozen during his television absence. While AEW has not confirmed details, the timing raises legitimate questions about contract structure, injury clauses, and potential movement in 2026. Inside the Chamber, WrestleMania challengers will be determined. Outside the ring, issues of access, optics, and corporate accountability continue to shape the broader conversation. Episode 170 examines both dimensions with clarity and depth as WrestleMania season moves into its decisive phase. Listen now.      

Shot of Nostalgia: Shuffle rolls on with your host Acefield Retro, and this week we revisit October 2, 2019, the night AEW Dynamite debuted live on TNT and officially stepped into national competition. We trace the road from the January 2019 press conference to the WarnerMedia deal, the Double or Nothing launch, and WWE moving NXT to USA in the same time slot. By the time Dynamite hits the air from Washington, D.C., this is not just a premiere. It is the opening shot of the Wednesday Night Wars. The show wastes no time establishing tone. Cody vs. Sammy Guevara opens with a 20 minute statement built on pacing and credibility. PAC submits Hangman Page in a result that reshapes the early hierarchy. Riho defeats Nyla Rose to become the first AEW Women's World Champion, signaling the company's international lean. In the main event, The Elite fall to Chris Jericho, Santana, and Ortiz before Jake Hager debuts and The Inner Circle forms to close the night. Dynamite wins the ratings battle with 1.409 million viewers and doubles NXT in the key 18 to 49 demographic. More importantly, it establishes identity. The founders do not stand tall. A heel faction does. The message is clear. Long term storytelling over short term celebration. With 2026 hindsight, we examine who from that night became pillars, who evolved, and how this debut became the blueprint for everything that followed. Shot of Nostalgia: Shuffle premieres Saturday wherever you listen. Like, subscribe, and leave a review to help the show grow.  Support the project at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for just $2.99 a month to keep these deep dives going. Powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN at checkout for 20 percent off your entire order.

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Welcome to Episode 169 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro and Chad are back, and this week we are pulling on threads that could reshape how you look at the entire industry. We open with the story that quietly shifted the business conversation. CNN confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery owns a minority stake in All Elite Wrestling. Not rumor. Not speculation. Confirmed. For years, Tony Khan has emphasized that he controls one hundred percent of AEW's decision making while declining to confirm outside equity. Now a Warner Bros. Discovery outlet has acknowledged ownership outright. What does that mean for AEW's future? For media rights negotiations? For leverage and perception? And why is this confirmation being framed inside a broader cultural conversation? We break down what is confirmed, what is still unknown, and what it signals long term. From there, we move into AEW Grand Slam Australia, a show that clarified the top of the card while leaving deeper storylines open. MJF retained the AEW World Championship against Brody King. Hangman Adam Page secured number one contender status. Jon Moxley and Konosuke Takeshita went to a time limit draw. Kyle Fletcher retained the TNT Championship. Wheeler Yuta lost his hair. The direction at the top is clear. The layers underneath are still shifting. Was this a defining moment for the spring? Or a stepping stone toward something bigger? We then pivot to WWE, where the numbers tell their own story. WrestleMania 42 ticket distribution currently sits at 36,964 for Night One and 36,737 for Night Two, roughly 18 percent behind last year's pace. Allegiant Stadium is advertising a 25 percent discount. Only CM Punk versus Roman Reigns is officially locked in. Brock Lesnar still does not have a confirmed opponent. Internal discussions have reportedly included LA Knight and Oba Femi. Lesnar returns on February 23. Is the board being carefully shaped, or is urgency creeping in as sales lag? We close with the 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards, where several results sparked immediate backlash. John Cena versus Cody Rhodes was voted Worst Match of the Year. Booker T was voted Worst Television Announcer. AEW Collision ranked ahead of WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown. Bryan Alvarez publicly disagreed with multiple categories. Meanwhile, Mistico won Wrestler of the Year nineteen years after his first victory, and CMLL dominated across major awards. Are these results reflective of industry consensus, vocal fan sentiment, or deeper bias within the voting pool? Episode 169 is not just about results. It is about ownership, optics, ticket momentum, creative positioning, and perception colliding at the same time.

Welcome to Episode 168 of Wrestling Tonight, a mini episode powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down a weekend where AEW reinforces one of its most important global brands. This Saturday, February 14, AEW presents Grand Slam Australia 2026 live from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. For U.S. viewers, the event airs at 8:00 PM Eastern on TNT and streaming on Max. Because the show takes place Sunday afternoon local time in Australia, the American broadcast will air on tape delay in prime time. The episode opens with the evolution of Grand Slam. What began in 2021 as a post-pandemic statement at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York — AEW's first stadium show in the largest media market in the United States — quickly became an annual tentpole. For four years, Grand Slam meant Arthur Ashe, championship implications, and major television moments. Then in 2025, the brand pivoted. Grand Slam Australia in Brisbane and Grand Slam Mexico at Arena México transformed the event from a New York tradition into a portable international showcase. The identity shifted from venue-based prestige to global expansion. Now Sydney becomes the next chapter. From there, the preview turns to the stakes without giving the outcomes away. MJF defends the AEW World Championship against Brody King after King pinned him in a World Title Eliminator. It's manipulation versus physical dominance, and Sydney becomes a defining checkpoint in MJF's reign. Jon Moxley defends the Continental Championship against Konosuke Takeshita in a rematch rooted in last year's Continental Classic. Pride and positioning collide. Kyle Fletcher and Mark Briscoe escalate their rivalry into a TNT Championship ladder match, raising the risk factor under Grand Slam lights. Hangman Page and Andrade El Ídolo battle for a future World Title opportunity, with long-term ripple effects tied directly to Revolution. The Women's World Tag Team Titles are on the line as the division continues to establish its identity on an international stage. And a mixed tornado tag with a hair-shaving stipulation guarantees visible consequence — the kind of moment Grand Slam has become known for. Episode 168 is a focused preview of a brand that started as a declaration in New York and has matured into a recurring global platform. From Arthur Ashe to Brisbane to Arena México and now Sydney, Grand Slam mirrors AEW's trajectory. Saturday night at 8:00 PM Eastern, the next chapter airs.

This week for our last episode we all got together to hang out for the last time to talk about our time with UPP, reminisce, and talk about what's next. JOIN OUR COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/unsignedpoppunkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsignedpop...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsignedpoppunkDiscord: https://discord.gg/gVtQ3Ngy3zWebsite: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/unsignedpoppunkTwitter: https://twitter.com/unsignedpoppunkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unsignedpoppunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsignedpoppunk__________LISTEN AND WATCH EVERYONE:https://linktr.ee/portisdedivehttps://linktr.ee/thecardinalsummerhttps://laurencecrowillustration.com/https://thedrugstorecowboys.band/NEED SOME NEW MERCH?Stop by the Unsigned Pop Punk Merch Store and pick up a new shirt, hat, hoodie, or one of our awesome compilations. All proceeds go back into helping us continue to do this full time!__________Big thank you to GFUEL!Go to www.GFuel.com and pick of some amazing drinks! Use our code at check out to save 20% your order! That's a good freakin deal!Use code: UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKhttps://www.gfuel.com/UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKThank you so much to Chattanooga Beard Co. for sponsoring todays episode! Use our code "UNSIGNEDPOPPUNK" at checkout to save 15% off of your order!www.chattanoogabeard.co

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Welcome to Episode 167 of Wrestling Tonight, a mini episode powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down the week in pro wrestling. We open with AEW Dynamite and a result that immediately changed the landscape at the top of the card. Brody King defeated MJF in decisive fashion. We break down why the finish felt intentional, how it repositioned King from a short term challenger to a more credible threat, and how the result cleanly sets up their AEW World Championship rematch at Grand Slam Australia. From there, we circle back to the broader context of the main event, including a pre bell crowd chant involving ICE that moved beyond wrestling coverage and into wider media discussion. We look at why that moment drew attention, how uncommon it is for an unscripted crowd reaction to be picked up outside the wrestling space, and why AEW choosing not to immediately move past it allowed the moment to register more clearly. The episode then shifts to WWE, starting with confirmation that John Cena will not be inducted into this year's Hall of Fame class. We discuss why the timing is notable, why WWE may be holding Cena's induction for a future year, and how Hall of Fame moments are increasingly planned with long term presentation in mind. We close with a backstage story tied to WrestleMania season involving Bron Breakker being considered to win the Royal Rumble at one point. Using recent reporting, we examine how injuries and creative changes altered those plans, what that shift suggests about WWE's priorities, and where Breakker currently fits as the company moves into its biggest stretch of the year. Episode 167 focuses on moments that were not scripted, including match finishes that altered perception, crowd reactions that drew outside attention, and behind the scenes decisions that influenced the direction of WrestleMania season.  

Welcome to Episode 166 of Wrestling Tonight, a mini episode powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down Roman Reigns officially selecting CM Punk as his WrestleMania 42 opponent, a decision driven by long-standing personal history rather than championships or accolades. On Monday Night Raw, Reigns—fresh off his Royal Rumble victory—made his choice clear. He did not present the match as an opportunity or a legacy play. He stated plainly that he chose Punk because he hated him. That framing immediately shifted the segment from promotion to explanation. This mini episode examines why that moment worked. Punk entered the exchange as the World Heavyweight Champion, positioning Raw as his domain and revisiting familiar critiques of Reigns' schedule and WWE's historical protection of him. Reigns responded by addressing an issue WWE had largely avoided for over a decade: Punk's 2014 podcast comments, which helped shape public perception of Reigns before his singles push fully began. We revisit those remarks, why they mattered at the time, and why WWE acknowledging them now signals a more historically grounded approach to building WrestleMania 42. The episode also touches on Punk's role during The Shield era, the tension between influence and resistance, and how both men have evolved since their first professional overlap. Episode 166 focuses on intent over spectacle—why Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk feels rooted in reality rather than construction, and why WWE's willingness to incorporate real history gives this WrestleMania match added credibility.

This week we hung out with Sunday Morning to chat about their new album and about their career as artistsJOIN OUR COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/unsignedpoppunkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsignedpop...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsignedpoppunkDiscord: https://discord.gg/gVtQ3Ngy3zWebsite: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/unsignedpoppunkTwitter: https://twitter.com/unsignedpoppunkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unsignedpoppunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsignedpoppunk__________LISTEN AND WATCH SUNDAY MORNING:https://linktr.ee/sundaymorningNEED SOME NEW MERCH?Stop by the Unsigned Pop Punk Merch Store and pick up a new shirt, hat, hoodie, or one of our awesome compilations. All proceeds go back into helping us continue to do this full time!__________Big thank you to GFUEL!Go to www.GFuel.com and pick of some amazing drinks! Use our code at check out to save 20% your order! That's a good freakin deal!Use code: UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKhttps://www.gfuel.com/UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKThank you so much to Chattanooga Beard Co. for sponsoring todays episode! Use our code "UNSIGNEDPOPPUNK" at checkout to save 15% off of your order!www.chattanoogabeard.co

Welcome to Episode 165 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20% at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down Royal Rumble: Riyadh, WWE's first traditional Royal Rumble held outside North America, with a full recap of what happened and why it happened. We start with the Men's Royal Rumble, won by Roman Reigns after lasting 58 minutes. The focus here is on structure more than surprises — Oba Femi's early dominance, some jarring eliminations involving major players, the Bloodline-heavy finish, and why this Rumble leaned into timing, hierarchy, and direction instead of pure chaos. From there, we go back to the Women's Royal Rumble, a match that got off to a rough start thanks to production issues and uneven pacing, but steadily improved as it went. Liv Morgan picked up the win with a smart, controlled performance. Lash Legend led everyone with five eliminations, Sol Ruca continued to look like a long-term piece, and Rhea Ripley still felt like the biggest presence in the match, even without the victory. We then break down Gunther vs. AJ Styles, a 24-minute match that was the closing chapter of AJ's WWE run. Styles stayed competitive throughout, but Gunther's patience and late-match execution decided it, leading to a bigger conversation about what this loss means for Styles moving forward.  The episode also covers Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship. McIntyre retained after a physically demanding, emotionally heavy match that leaned hard into Zayn's toughness and McIntyre's increasingly ruthless edge as champion. Episode 165 is about results, structure, and intent — what worked, what didn't, and what Royal Rumble: Riyadh tells us about where WWE is heading on the road to WrestleMania.

Welcome to Episode 164 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN for 20 percent off. Acefield Retro and Chad are back, and this week is built around the road to Royal Rumble: Riyadh, while also zooming out to examine how WWE, AEW, TNA, AAA, NJPW, Stardom — and the global wrestling economy itself — are all adjusting direction at the same time. We open with a full preview of Royal Rumble: Riyadh, taking place January 31, 2026 at the King Abdullah Financial District as part of Riyadh Season. This marks the first traditional Royal Rumble ever held outside North America, the first Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, and the first of WWE's "Big Five" events to take place in the Kingdom. We break down why this Rumble matters more than usual, with both the men's and women's winners earning world championship matches at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, the event's return to its traditional January slot, and the shift in distribution with ESPN streaming the Rumble in the U.S. for the first time while Netflix carries most international markets. From there, we dig into what's already locked in for Riyadh: the Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, Drew McIntyre defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against the winner of the Saturday Night's Main Event four-way, and Gunther vs. AJ Styles in a career-threatening match where Styles must retire if he loses. We also run through the early betting odds, where Roman Reigns and Bron Breakker sit at the top of the board, followed by Sami Zayn, Gunther, and Cody Rhodes, and discuss what those numbers tell us about WWE's short-term and long-term thinking. We cover the growing list of announced entrants on both the men's and women's sides and how the field is already beginning to take shape. We then pivot into Saturday Night's Main Event fallout from Montreal, breaking down Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu, AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, the Women's Tag Team Championship defense with Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY against Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez, and the massive four-way number one contender's match featuring Damian Priest, Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, and Trick Williams, with the winner stepping directly into McIntyre's title picture at the Royal Rumble. From there, we widen the lens to WrestleMania season planning. We discuss WWE's current reluctance to turn Cody Rhodes heel, how WrestleMania 42 plans remain fluid, and why AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch is shaping up as one of the most locked-in matches on the card. We also look ahead to WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia, with The Rock openly addressing his excitement for the event and internal speculation swirling about possible appearances from Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin as WWE enters its busiest stretch of the year. We then shift fully into the global business of wrestling, as Dave Meltzer reports that Místico has headlined 13 consecutive sellouts at Arena Mexico in 2026, a venue that holds approximately 16,000 fans. Meltzer called the run unprecedented, noting that sustained, high-frequency sellouts in the same building represent a business pattern rarely seen in wrestling history. We contextualize the streak against past drawing eras, the legacy of El Santo, and why comparisons to Japan or North American touring models often miss the structural realities of how wrestling draws actually function. We also discuss the growing push for Místico to capture a major championship currently held by talent from All Elite Wrestling, and what that would signal about CMLL's place in the current power structure. Outside WWE, AEW remains in a moment of transition. We break down Powerhouse Hobbs officially signing with WWE, the company parting ways with longtime executive Nik Sobic, and what those exits say about AEW's current phase. We also cover Will Ospreay's next step toward a return as he undergoes a medical evaluation, Hikaru Shida being backstage in Orlando as she edges closer to U.S. competition, and clarity emerging on AEW's streaming future as reports indicate the promotion is expected to remain aligned with Warner-backed platforms rather than moving to Netflix. TNA continues to operate within a shared ecosystem, as we revisit the fallout from Genesis and Impact's AMC debut amid lingering visa issues, the accidental TNA+ audio leak revealing No Surrender plans, Trey Miguel's emotional return, and the Knockouts Tag Team picture coming into focus with ZaRuca crowned as new number one contenders. We also hit international headlines, including AAA's FOX era officially beginning, Dominik Mysterio's accidental AEW belt graphic during a promo, El Hijo del Vikingo emerging as number one contender for the Mega Championship, NJPW seeing TMDK lose the NEVER Six-Man titles at Korakuen Hall, and Stardom keeping its options open following an alleged intellectual property violation involving trading cards. Episode 164 is a full-scale snapshot of the wrestling industry at a turning point — Royal Rumble season underway, WrestleMania plans coming into focus, media rights shifting, talent moving, and promotions everywhere adjusting direction rather than delivering final outcomes as the calendar heats up.  

This week we hung out with Galactic Empire to chat about their new album and about their career as artistsJOIN OUR COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/unsignedpoppunkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsignedpop...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsignedpoppunkDiscord: https://discord.gg/gVtQ3Ngy3zWebsite: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/unsignedpoppunkTwitter: https://twitter.com/unsignedpoppunkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unsignedpoppunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsignedpoppunk__________LISTEN AND WATCH GALACTIC EMPIRE:https://linktr.ee/galacticempireNEED SOME NEW MERCH?Stop by the Unsigned Pop Punk Merch Store and pick up a new shirt, hat, hoodie, or one of our awesome compilations. All proceeds go back into helping us continue to do this full time!__________Big thank you to GFUEL!Go to www.GFuel.com and pick of some amazing drinks! Use our code at check out to save 20% your order! That's a good freakin deal!Use code: UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKhttps://www.gfuel.com/UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKThank you so much to Chattanooga Beard Co. for sponsoring todays episode! Use our code "UNSIGNEDPOPPUNK" at checkout to save 15% off of your order!www.chattanoogabeard.co

Welcome to Episode 163 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN for 20 percent off. Acefield Retro and Chad are back, and this week focuses on how multiple promotions are adjusting direction rather than delivering final outcomes. We begin with TNA Genesis, where several championships were defended and key moments shaped the current hierarchy. The event took place amid confirmed visa issues that affected both Impact's AMC debut and Genesis, requiring multiple card changes and substitutions. Those adjustments highlighted the degree to which TNA is currently operating within a broader, shared wrestling ecosystem. WWE made notable changes at the top of the card. WrestleMania 42 plans have been revised, Drew McIntyre is the current WWE Champion, and the direction toward WrestleMania remains fluid. On Raw, a confrontation involving management and top talent escalated into a suspension, adding another layer of uncertainty to the weekly product. AEW saw movement in both directions. FTR learned their next challengers for the AEW World Tag Team Championships, while The Rascalz were confirmed as new signings as were Jordan Oliver & Alec Price. At the same time, Powerhouse Hobbs appears to be nearing the end of his AEW run, with WWE expected to be his next destination. NXT continues its transition following the NXT Championship being vacated, with a multi-man ladder match scheduled to determine a new champion. Meanwhile, AAA began its new FOX television run, crowned a new number one contender for the AAA Mega Championship, and featured the return of a familiar name. The promotion also outlined a broadcast model centered on periodic live events rather than weekly live television. Episode 163 centers on how these developments fit together across the industry, as companies make adjustments and set short-term direction heading into a busy stretch of the calendar.

This week we hung out with Lift The Curse to chat about their new music and about their career as artistsJOIN OUR COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/unsignedpoppunkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsignedpop...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsignedpoppunkDiscord: https://discord.gg/gVtQ3Ngy3zWebsite: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/unsignedpoppunkTwitter: https://twitter.com/unsignedpoppunkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unsignedpoppunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsignedpoppunk__________LISTEN AND WATCH LIFT THE CURSE:https://linktr.ee/liftthecurseNEED SOME NEW MERCH?Stop by the Unsigned Pop Punk Merch Store and pick up a new shirt, hat, hoodie, or one of our awesome compilations. All proceeds go back into helping us continue to do this full time!__________Big thank you to GFUEL!Go to www.GFuel.com and pick of some amazing drinks! Use our code at check out to save 20% your order! That's a good freakin deal!Use code: UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKhttps://www.gfuel.com/UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKThank you so much to Chattanooga Beard Co. for sponsoring todays episode! Use our code "UNSIGNEDPOPPUNK" at checkout to save 15% off of your order!www.chattanoogabeard.co @chattanoogabeardco ​

Welcome to a bonus episode of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN for 20 percent off. Acefield Retro with a focused breakdown of TNA's AMC debut, a show that looked professional, sounded historic, and still felt unsure of what it wanted to be. This was not a loud failure. There were no disastrous matches or segments that collapsed in real time. That is exactly why it matters. This was a failure of priorities, not execution. A failure of conviction, not talent. On the night TNA needed to be decisive, it hesitated. The framing told the story. From the opening seconds, commentary, graphics, celebrity shots, and symbolism worked overtime to declare the moment historic. Wrestling does not build momentum by saying something matters. It builds it by showing it. When action is rationed, importance feels manufactured. AJ Styles opening the show worked emotionally. He is the most iconic figure in company history, and the goodwill is real. But it also exposed the core issue. TNA still seeks legitimacy through validation rather than assertion. Styles blessed the era, promised wrestling, and what followed leaned far more on legacy than identity. Three matches in two hours on a live network debut for a company called Total Nonstop Action is indefensible. Wrestling is the clearest language a promotion has, especially for new viewers. When talking outweighs bell to bell action, the message is simple. TNA did not fully trust wrestling to carry the show. That is the irony. The roster clearly can deliver. The six man tag warmed the crowd but felt disposable. The Knockouts Tag Title match was overbooked to the point of undercutting what has historically been TNA's strongest division. Production choices and celebrity cutaways weakened the illusion the broadcast was trying to sell. The TNA Plus outage compounded everything. On a night this big, reliability is not optional. New viewers do not contextualize failures. They leave. The clearest vision of what TNA could be came in the main event. Mike Santana versus Frankie Kazarian was physical, focused, and credible. For stretches, it felt like a mission statement. That is why the cluttered finishing stretch was so frustrating. Santana winning was the right call. One strong match was not enough. This episode is not about piling on. It is about recognizing the pattern. TNA's AMC debut did not collapse. It stalled. The talent is there. The platform is there. Until TNA commits fully and unapologetically to wrestling as the centerpiece rather than the accessory, moments this big will continue to feel smaller than they should.  

Welcome to Episode 161 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN for 20 percent off. Acefield Retro and Chad are back this week, and there is a lot to talk through as WWE, AEW, NXT, and TNA all continue to feel like they are in the middle of major transitions rather than arriving at clean conclusions. WWE drives most of the conversation again, not because of one isolated moment, but because of how many significant pieces are moving at the same time. Drew McIntyre capturing the WWE Championship in Berlin, CM Punk surviving a defining title defense on Raw's Netflix anniversary, and the looming Royal Rumble in a stadium that is still under construction all point to a company comfortable operating under pressure. Between Raw, SmackDown, and the way NXT talent is being elevated, WWE feels less interested in overexplaining its choices and more focused on letting outcomes speak for themselves as the road to WrestleMania comes into view. NXT, in particular, feels like it is clearly handing the keys to the next era. Oba Femi vacating the NXT Championship, titles changing hands, and open acknowledgment of roster movement make it clear this is not a quiet reset. It is a deliberate handoff. Established names are moving on, new names are being asked to step up immediately, and the brand is leaning into the uncertainty that comes with that shift. The instability is intentional, and it is creating urgency across the show. AEW approaches the week from a different angle. Instead of accelerating everything at once, the company leans into timing and restraint. Mercedes Moné stepping away, Jay White remaining sidelined, and stories being allowed to pause rather than peak all at once give the product a different rhythm. Absence becomes part of the narrative, and patience is treated as a feature rather than a flaw. TNA also finds itself at a meaningful crossroads. The company's debut on AMC marks a major step forward in visibility, while Genesis looms as a test of whether that momentum can carry through on a bigger stage. With championships on the line and long-running threads converging, Genesis feels less like a standalone event and more like a statement about where TNA sees itself heading in 2026. Episode 161 is not about chasing headlines or ranking moments. It is about reading the landscape as it exists right now. It is about recognizing where WWE is applying pressure, where NXT is opening doors, where AEW is choosing to wait, and where TNA is attempting to grow. It is a conversation about direction, tone, and trust during a week that did not rely on shock, but still managed to move the industry forward.  

This week we hung out with Fire Sale to talk about their new split EP with Pulley and about their career as an artist!JOIN OUR COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/unsignedpoppunkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsignedpop...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsignedpoppunkDiscord: https://discord.gg/gVtQ3Ngy3zWebsite: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/unsignedpoppunkTwitter: https://twitter.com/unsignedpoppunkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unsignedpoppunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsignedpoppunk__________LISTEN AND WATCH FIRE SALE:https://linktr.ee/firesaleNEED SOME NEW MERCH?Stop by the Unsigned Pop Punk Merch Store and pick up a new shirt, hat, hoodie, or one of our awesome compilations. All proceeds go back into helping us continue to do this full time!__________Big thank you to GFUEL!Go to www.GFuel.com and pick of some amazing drinks! Use our code at check out to save 20% your order! That's a good freakin deal!Use code: UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKhttps://www.gfuel.com/UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKThank you so much to Chattanooga Beard Co. for sponsoring todays episode! Use our code "UNSIGNEDPOPPUNK" at checkout to save 15% off of your order!www.chattanoogabeard.co @chattanoogabeardco ​

This week we hung out with A New Violet to talk about their new single and what is to come for the band!JOIN OUR COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/unsignedpoppunkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsignedpop...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsignedpoppunkDiscord: https://discord.gg/gVtQ3Ngy3zWebsite: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/unsignedpoppunkTwitter: https://twitter.com/unsignedpoppunkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unsignedpoppunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsignedpoppunk__________LISTEN AND WATCH A NEW VIOLET:https://linktr.ee/anewvioletNEED SOME NEW MERCH?Stop by the Unsigned Pop Punk Merch Store and pick up a new shirt, hat, hoodie, or one of our awesome compilations. All proceeds go back into helping us continue to do this full time!__________Big thank you to GFUEL!Go to www.GFuel.com and pick of some amazing drinks! Use our code at check out to save 20% your order! That's a good freakin deal!Use code: UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKhttps://www.gfuel.com/UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKThank you so much to Chattanooga Beard Co. for sponsoring todays episode! Use our code "UNSIGNEDPOPPUNK" at checkout to save 15% off of your order!www.chattanoogabeard.co @chattanoogabeardco ​

Season 5 Finale! Brett and Patrick chat about the year, the goals, the best albums, favorite show moments, and what's in store for 2026JOIN OUR COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/unsignedpoppunkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsignedpop...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unsignedpoppunkDiscord: https://discord.gg/gVtQ3Ngy3zWebsite: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.comTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/unsignedpoppunkTwitter: https://twitter.com/unsignedpoppunkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unsignedpoppunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsignedpoppunk__________NEED SOME NEW MERCH?Stop by the Unsigned Pop Punk Merch Store and pick up a new shirt, hat, hoodie, or one of our awesome compilations. All proceeds go back into helping us continue to do this full time!__________Big thank you to GFUEL!Go to www.GFuel.com and pick of some amazing drinks! Use our code at check out to save 20% your order! That's a good freakin deal!Use code: UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKhttps://www.gfuel.com/UNSIGNEDPOPPUNKThank you so much to Chattanooga Beard Co. for sponsoring todays episode! Use our code "UNSIGNEDPOPPUNK" at checkout to save 15% off of your order!www.chattanoogabeard.co

Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era rolls on with your host Acefield Retro, and this week we're stepping into one of the heaviest, most emotionally loaded chapters of the whole project. Episode 7: The Legacy Run covers January through March 2004 — the stretch where the SmackDown Six philosophy stops being "just" a great TV formula and becomes the backbone of WWE's entire main-event scene. Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, the two workhorses who defined this era between the ropes, finally break through the ceiling and hit the very top of the industry at the exact same time. We start at the 2004 Royal Rumble, a one-match show that actually delivers exactly what WWE needed. Paul Heyman stacks the deck, forces Benoit into the #1 slot, and dares him to fail. Instead, Benoit puts together a marathon performance: 61 minutes, six eliminations, and a finish built around pure will, dragging Big Show over the top rope in a head-and-arm choke that feels earned instead of cute. Along the way we hit all the key beats that made this Rumble feel alive in the building — Orton's elevation through the Foley feud, Goldberg getting robbed by Brock, Big Show as a real "final boss," and the sense that for once, the obvious story actually got the right payoff. From there, we turn to No Way Out 2004, where Eddie Guerrero walks into San Francisco with three weeks of build… and a lifetime of baggage. We walk through how a thrown-together title program becomes a full redemption story: the SmackDown Rumble that sends Eddie to the title shot, the promo duel where Brock mocks his addictions and Eddie weaponizes his own past, and the infamous mariachi "celebration" that starts as comedy and turns into something dead serious. Then we break down the match itself as a heavyweight title fight built on structure and psychology — Brock's 2002 monster template, Eddie chopping down the base, the STF that flips the crowd from hopeful to believing, Goldberg's spear that protects the champion without stealing Eddie's moment, and the DDT-onto-the-belt into Frog Splash finish that still plays as one of the most cathartic three-counts WWE has ever produced. After that, we head to Madison Square Garden for WrestleMania XX, where the World Heavyweight Championship closes the show for the very first time. We don't ignore the reality of Benoit's crimes or how impossible it is to watch his work the same way after 2007 — that context lives with this match forever. But we also walk honestly through what this main event represented in 2004: the SmackDown Six template blown up to world-title scale. We dig into how the triple threat with Triple H and Shawn Michaels turns a format that usually feels cheap into a 24-minute clinic — the "Let's Go Benoit" crowd, the rotating pairings, the Crossface spot where Hunter literally grabs Shawn's hand to stop the tap, the table bump that buys time for the final act, and the visual of Triple H tapping clean in the middle of MSG. It's the one time in that era where the finish matches the story they told for months. We keep rolling with Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle from that same night — maybe the most "pure SmackDown" match on the card. This is where we zoom in on everything that made Eddie special at this stage of his career: the improvisation, the timing, the creativity that compensated for a body that had taken way too much punishment. Angle tries to strip the magic away and turn it into a straight amateur wrestling lesson — grinding holds, targeted rib and ankle work, suplexes on a loop — and for most of the match, he succeeds. Eddie's comeback isn't about overpowering him; it's about surviving just long enough to create one opening. We break down the boot spot in detail, why it works as psychology instead of a cheap gag, and how that final small package stacks up as the perfect "lie, cheat, steal" finish without burying Angle for a second. And then we close with the image that defined this era at the time: confetti falling in Madison Square Garden as Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit celebrate together, both holding world titles, both representing a version of WWE where skill and heart could overcome size and politics. Today that shot is complicated, even haunting, because of what would happen in the years that followed — Eddie's death, Benoit's actions. We sit in that discomfort instead of pretending it isn't there, but we also talk about what that night meant in 2004 for fans who had lived through the entire arc of the SmackDown Six: the B-show workhorses finally standing on top of the company they had quietly carried. By the time we're done with early 2004, the SmackDown Six era isn't just about a tag formula or a handful of TV classics. It's a storytelling blueprint — athletic, grounded, character-driven — that bleeds into both brands, reshapes what a WWE main event can look like, and influences everything from peak-era NXT to how AEW builds its big match payoffs today. Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era Episode 7 — The Legacy Run — premieres Saturday, December 13, 2025, wherever you listen. Like, subscribe, and leave a review to help the show grow. Visit TurnbuckleTavern.com for merch, archives, and the full network schedule, and support the project at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for just $2.99 a month to help keep these deep dives going. Powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers — use code TAVERN at checkout for 20% off your entire order.  

Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era rolls on with your host Acefield Retro, and this week we're diving into one of the most transformative stretches of the entire project. Episode 6: The New Standard covers August through December 2003 — the moment when SmackDown didn't just outperform Raw, it redefined what WWE television could be. The original SmackDown Six formula sharpens into something faster, more ambitious, and more confident, and the blue brand starts carrying itself like the true flagship. We open with the match that shattered expectations for what a TV main event could look like: the 60-minute Iron Man Match between Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle on September 18, 2003. With no September PPV, WWE hands them an entire hour on network TV, and they deliver a masterpiece of strategy, pacing, and physical storytelling. Lesnar wrestles like a cold, calculating monster, even sacrificing a fall early to inflict damage he cashes in later, while Angle brings textbook precision and furious comebacks. It's chaotic, logical, brutal, and brilliant. Brock's 5–4 win establishes him as SmackDown's apex predator and cements the match as one of the greatest in TV wrestling history. From there, we hit the Parking Lot Brawl between Eddie Guerrero and John Cena on August 28, and this week's episode is paired with a full Shot of Nostalgia watch-along of that match. Eddie weaponizes an entire parking lot with the same creativity he brings to a wrestling ring — seatbelts, hoods, roofs, doors — while Cena bumps and sells like a young star fighting to earn his stripes. Eddie bleeds, Cena crashes through a windshield, and the Frog Splash off one car onto another remains one of the defining images of the Guerrero legacy. It's gritty, stylish, violent, pure SmackDown identity — and being able to watch it back together in real time adds a whole new layer to how we talk about its impact. We also revisit Rey Mysterio vs. Tajiri from No Mercy 2003, a match that captures exactly why SmackDown's in-ring output was blowing Raw out of the water. Tajiri's heel turn, complete with red and black mist plus the arrival of Akio and Sakoda, gives the Cruiserweight division the villain it had been missing. Rey brings the explosiveness, Tajiri brings the strikes and swagger, and together they deliver a crisp, high-velocity title match that resets the entire division going into 2004. The rest of this episode is about how the entire brand evolves beneath the surface. Injuries pile up, Heyman's creative voice gets quieter, Goldberg's Raw run exposes WWE's stylistic confusion, and Evolution stumbles behind the scenes. Yet SmackDown stays true to itself — athletic realism, character-driven drama, and a match quality that feels years ahead of the WWE main-event formula. Even as the original SmackDown Six pairings splinter and reform in new combinations, their philosophy — built by Eddie, Edge, Benoit, Angle, Rey, and Chavo — pulses through every show. By December 2003, SmackDown isn't the "other" brand anymore. SmackDown is the new standard. Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era — Episode 6: The New Standard premieres Friday, December 13, 2025, wherever you listen. Like, subscribe, and leave a review to help the show grow. Visit TurnbuckleTavern.com for merch, archives, and the full network schedule, subscribe to the Shot of Nostalgia newsletter for bonus writeups and deep-dive extras, and support the project at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for just $2.99 a month to keep these deep dives alive. Powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers — use code TAVERN at checkout for 20% off your entire order.

Welcome to Episode 154 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers — G FUEL keeps us awake for those late-night edits with zero sugar and zero crash, and you can save 20% at GFUEL.com with code TAVERN. Dick Lazers is the official chaos device of The Tavern — a rechargeable red-dot pen with a flashlight and blacklight all in one. Hit DickLazers.com, use code TAVERN, and keep it Tavern. This week we break down the Netflix–Warner Bros situation and the wild overreactions swirling around AEW. Netflix is bidding for the studio side — not the networks that house TBS and TNT — and AEW's deal remains locked in through 2027 with an option for 2028. Tony Khan addressed everything on the Final Battle call, reiterated AEW's strong relationship with WBD, and reminded everyone he already works with Netflix, Paramount and Comcast through the NFL. The only real unknown is how Max simulcasts evolve after the corporate shuffle. We also hit WWE's emotional centerpiece: John Cena's final match, locked for December 13 on a retro-styled NBC primetime special. Gunther earned the spot, the legal noise is swirling, and Cena is openly confronting the realities of age, legacy and family as he closes the book. On the TNA front, the AMC move resets the entire company. Final Resolution felt like the final page of the AXS era before a massive 2026 pivot. A wild card of debuts, title chaos, crossover moments and a dramatic closing angle set the tone for what this next era will look like. ROH Final Battle delivered the usual in-ring consistency while its future waits for the right TV deal — something Tony Khan emphasized he's in no rush to compromise on. NXT Deadline fallout is coming, with the brand navigating crossover talent, shifting title pictures and a marquee NXT Championship outcome that now points toward a major showdown on NBC. We'll go match by match next episode and look at who steps into Cody's orbit as the road to the new year takes shape. AEW's Continental Classic continued with injuries reshaping the Gold League and both blocks tightening at the top. Holiday Bash sets up a new Dynamite Diamond path, and the next few weeks will determine the world title picture heading into 2026. We also talk PPV pacing, retirement teases, big men looking for one more run, and WWE's internal pressure as the new PLE deal shifts expectations. The week ahead is stacked across every promotion — major specials, tournament twists, international cards, big-brand build toward January, and the first real momentum toward WrestleMania season. This is Episode 154 of Wrestling Tonight — let's get into it.  

Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era rolls on with your host Acefield Retro, and this week we are stepping into one of the most important stretches of the entire project. Episode 5, titled Eddie Ascending, covers February through July 2003. This is the moment when SmackDown did more than outperform Raw in the ring. It found its emotional core. WrestleMania XIX proves that the blue brand is the company's true in-ring backbone. The United States Championship returns and gives the midcard real purpose. Eddie Guerrero moves out of the tag ranks and becomes the heart of WWE. We begin at No Way Out 2003. Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit are placed in a 2 on 3 handicap match after Edge's sudden neck injury forces him off television. The entire structure of SmackDown changes overnight, but from that uncertainty comes a turning point. Lesnar and Benoit fight from underneath, Team Angle grows into something special, and the rivalry between Lesnar and Kurt Angle begins to intensify just weeks before WrestleMania. From there we head into WrestleMania XIX, a main event that almost collapses before it happens. Kurt Angle is wrestling with a severe neck injury that should have kept him out entirely. Brock Lesnar nearly lands on his head attempting the Shooting Star Press. Somehow the match still becomes one of the most dramatic finishes of the era. Brock leaves as champion. Angle proves again that he is superhuman. Despite injuries and constant reshuffling, SmackDown stands tall as WWE's true wrestling showcase. After WrestleMania, the story shifts to Eddie Guerrero. The booking becomes chaotic, but Eddie thrives when things get messy. His partnership with Tajiri looks random at first, but it quickly becomes inspired. We take a closer look at their Tag Team Championship run, including a complete watch along of the June 26, 2003 Madison Square Garden match against Roddy Piper and Sean O'Haire. The match captures everything special about this period. Nostalgia, comedy, wild character energy, and athleticism all blend together. Holding the titles gives Eddie the opportunity to show every piece of who he is. The humor, the intensity, the timing, and the emotion are all there. The second half of the episode focuses on the return of the United States Championship. Stephanie McMahon brings the title back to SmackDown, instantly giving the midcard a new sense of identity. The tournament becomes a showcase for Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. Their Vengeance 2003 final is a 20 minute battle filled with technique, grit, creative shortcuts, and a major surprise from Rhyno. Eddie wins the championship with the Frog Splash, and the title immediately feels meaningful again because Eddie makes everything he touches feel important. We also explore the early signs of tension between Eddie and Chavo. Chavo's frustrations build quietly as Eddie's star begins to rise even higher. These small moments begin the emotional story that eventually leads to Chavo's turn later in 2003. It is layered and human and exactly the kind of storytelling that defined this era. Alongside the on screen events, we take a wider look at the company through the Wrestling Observer newsletters. Paul Heyman is quietly removed from creative. The injury list grows longer every week. WWE struggles to commit to a consistent style. Evolution never forms the way it was intended. Goldberg arrives and immediately loses momentum. Nostalgia and shock television fill airtime, while SmackDown continues to stand out through strong wrestling and grounded, character driven stories. Eddie's rise, the renewed importance of the United States Championship, and the remarkable depth of the midcard give the brand stability during a turbulent period. By the time we reach the summer of 2003, SmackDown is no longer simply the house that the SmackDown Six built. It becomes the place where Eddie Guerrero's redemption arc turns into the emotional heartbeat of the entire Ruthless Aggression era. Fans begin to see him not only as a great performer but as someone who could eventually lead the company. Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era Episode 5, Eddie Ascending, premieres Friday, December 5, 2025, wherever you listen. Like, subscribe, and leave a review to support the project. You can visit TurnbuckleTavern dot com for merchandise, archives, and the full network schedule, and you can join Patreon dot com slash The Turnbuckle Tavern for $2.99 a month to help keep these deep dives going. Powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN for 20 percent off your entire order.

Welcome to Episode 153 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers — code TAVERN saves you 20%. Let's get into it. WWE delivered a historic Survivor Series: WarGames from Petco Park — the first outdoor Survivor Series ever, a stadium show under the Netflix/ESPN banner, and John Cena's final Survivor Series appearance. The Men's and Women's WarGames matches brought major spots, shifting alliances, and WrestleMania-season implications, while title bouts like Cena vs. Dominik Mysterio and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Nikki Bella pushed long-term stories forward. From surprise appearances to heel turns, injury updates, and post-show press conference fallout, Survivor Series shaped the next six weeks of WWE television. Meanwhile, the Last Time Is Now tournament is officially down to its final four. After Jey Uso outlasted Rusev and LA Knight put away The Miz — who manipulated his way into the bracket as Sheamus' injury replacement — the semifinals are set: Gunther vs. Solo Sikoa and Jey Uso vs. LA Knight. With Penta removed due to a legitimate shoulder injury and Carmelo Hayes falling to Gunther earlier in the week, the path to Cena's last opponent is clearer than ever. Both semifinals land on December 1 Raw, with the tournament final on December 5 SmackDown — and Cena's final match set for December 13 at Saturday Night's Main Event. AEW's week was no quieter, as the Continental Classic opened with upsets and instant storylines. Kyle Fletcher stunned Kazuchika Okada in the Gold League, Kevin Knight beat Darby Allin, and PAC debuted with a win over Mike Bailey — putting all three atop the standings. In the Blue League, Jon Moxley submitted Mascara Dorada, Claudio Castagnoli powered through Orange Cassidy, and Konosuke Takeshita defeated Roderick Strong to join the early three-point pack. Week 2 arrives with Moxley vs. Claudio, PAC vs. Okada, and Fletcher vs. Knight — plus the Women's World Tag Team Tournament semifinals in a Hardcore Holiday Death Match. Outside the rings, the industry is spinning. Claudio Castagnoli became CMLL World Heavyweight Champion in Mexico City. WWE reportedly made Chris Jericho a retirement storyline offer as his AEW contract nears its end. Andrade is negotiating his non-compete. Rush and Dralistico face surgeries. NXT Gold Rush delivered two major title changes. Seth Rollins outlined his WrestleMania-season comeback timeline. AEW and WWE are juggling schedule shifts, network demands, sponsorship deals, legal battles, backstage politics, injury updates, and new recruits — from high-level athletes entering the Performance Center to departures, surgeries, and reality-era conflicts reshaping locker rooms. And the week ahead is stacked: Moxley vs. Claudio, PAC vs. Okada, an AEW hardcore semifinal, NXT's Iron Survivor summit, The Culling explaining their betrayal, Briggs vs. Heights, TNA Impact fallout, Friday's SmackDown push toward December 13, and a wave of December tent-pole events — ROH Final Battle, NXT Deadline, AEW Winter Is Coming, TNA Final Resolution, AAA Guerra de Titanes, and Cena's farewell match.  

Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era continues with your host Acefield Retro as we revisit the stretch where SmackDown quietly became the best wrestling show in the world. Episode 4: The Golden Age of Tag Team Wrestling covers November 2002 through January 2003, the period when Paul Heyman's system reached perfect balance. Every story connected, every match mattered, and SmackDown had evolved into a complete wrestling ecosystem that thrived on craft, chemistry, and trust. It begins on the November 7 episode of SmackDown when Edge and Rey Mysterio finally defeated Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a two out of three falls match for the WWE Tag Team Titles. The match ran twenty four minutes and delivered a level of teamwork and precision that elevated the entire division. Just ten days later at Survivor Series 2002, Los Guerreros seized the spotlight by outsmarting both teams in one of the most celebrated triple threat tag matches of the decade. Their victory represented everything that made this era special. Eddie and Chavo's mix of wit, charisma, and timing made them the emotional center of SmackDown. This week's episode includes a special watch along of that match as we relive every moment of how they captured gold and redefined tag team storytelling. From there the show only gained momentum. On December 5, Angle, Benoit, Edge, and Eddie Guerrero met in a fatal four way elimination match that tied every rivalry together and showed how deeply Heyman's creative system was working. By the end of December, Team Angle had arrived. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin debuted on December 26 as Kurt Angle's chosen proteges, a pair of amateur wrestling standouts who brought a new layer of technical excellence to the brand. That arrival carried the SmackDown philosophy into the next year. The run reached its peak in January when Benoit and Edge faced Team Angle and Kurt, leading directly into the Royal Rumble 2003 where Kurt Angle defended the WWE Championship against Chris Benoit in a match that remains one of the most respected in company history. We also look at the wider picture through the Wrestling Observer newsletters from late 2002 that captured just how different SmackDown's approach was compared to Raw. While Raw was relying on shock segments that turned viewers away, SmackDown was earning loyalty through clarity and consistency. The Observer also documented the behind the scenes chaos surrounding Hulk Hogan's negotiations with Vince McMahon. Hogan had been planned to return for Survivor Series against Brock Lesnar but refused to lose to him again. The standoff left Lesnar without his expected opponent and forced creative to shift focus, which in turn gave SmackDown's tag division more room to shine. It was the kind of unintended consequence that helped the blue brand rise even higher. Fans made their preference clear. Ratings climbed, crowd reactions intensified, and SmackDown became the heartbeat of WWE's weekly television. By early 2003, SmackDown was not competing with Raw anymore. It had become its own force. Every match carried meaning, every performer felt essential, and every story flowed naturally. This was the golden age of tag team wrestling, a time when structure, emotion, and athletic storytelling defined an entire generation of WWE television. Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era Episode 4 premieres Saturday, November 29, 2025, wherever you listen. Like, subscribe, and leave a review to help the show grow. Visit TurnbuckleTavern.com for merch, archives, and the full network schedule, and support the project at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for just 2.99 a month to keep these deep dives alive. Powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers, use code TAVERN at checkout for 20 percent off your order.