WRESTLING SOUP

Anthony and Joe kick off the show where they praise Iyo Sky's ring generalship and pacing, while tearing into Seth Rollins' exhausting television presence following his match with Bron Breakker. The guys vent about WWE's creative drought, noting Bill Apter's visible disappointment, the deeply confusing babyface booking of Roman Reigns, and the lack of a proper televised send-off for Asuka. The episode rounds out with a sharp critique of TKO's pricey ESPN streaming model, Backlash booking blunders involving Danhausen and Oba Femi, and a quick check-in on the cast of Jersey Shore. Timestamps:0:0011:1518:4027:3039:2046:1054:451:03:201:11:501:16:15Jersey Shore Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Post WWE Backlash show. Lee Sanders from the RCWR Show hosts Anthony, to run down what the hell happened at WWE Backlash. The Asuka farewell match? Also, the insidious intentions of Club WWE and the John Cena un-retirement invitational for the new John Cena championship belt. Danhausen already jumping the shark, and validating the hater-hausen criticisms on why this guy in WWE is a bust. Jake looking weak and silly, as the entitled babyface in a storyline that no one should want, and the lack of any reaction from Breakker and Seth's Visionary storyline coming to a close with all the fanfare of a dirty diaper. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Anthony and Joe are back to break down this weekend's WWE Backlash: Tampa premium live event! With the dust settling from WrestleMania 42, the guys give their official predictions for the entire five-match card.Can Jacob Fatu dethrone the "cry bully" Original Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, for the World Heavyweight Championship? Anthony and Joe dive into the Shakespearean drama of the Asuka vs. Iyo Sky clash, predict the fallout of Seth Rollins finally getting his hands on Bron Breakker, and debate who will walk out with the United States Title in the Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn rematch. Plus, the guys throw out their wild guesses for who will step up as Danhausen's mystery tag partner against The Miz and Kit Wilson.Tune in for the Backlash booking theories, match predictions, and the usual Wrestling Soup chaos! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:007:3014:4520:1024:2028:5037:1044:2052:1559:30 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Anthony and Joe discuss the fallout of WrestleMania 42, beginning with the shocking departures of New Day members Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, which were reportedly sparked by "insulting" 50% pay cut offers . They critique TKO/Endeavor's pivot away from traditional wrestling storytelling in favor of a celebrity-heavy product, questioning if the company even realizes they are making a television show . The guys riff on John Cena’s constant "Make-A-Wish" style appearances in suits and the "fifth wall" being broken by athletic streamers like IShowSpeed . The conversation expands into a broader social critique of "circular scams" and corporate greed, comparing WWE’s current business model to Walmart weight scams and the Spirit Airlines collapse . The episode wraps up with a look at the "AI-assisted" creative slump in WWE, the polarizing longevity of Danhausen, and a wild theory that Tom Brady might be training for a Lucha Libre debut under a mask .Timestamps: Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Jeff and Lufisto kick off Season 3 of the Legends and Future Greats (LFG) show with a status update on Lufisto’s "titanium" shoulder recovery and a deep dive into the recent wave of WWE releases . They compare the current state of NXT/Evolve talent to The Walking Dead, meticulously analyzing why athletes like Tyra May Steele and Trill London may have struggled despite their high pedigrees . The duo explores the shift in the LFG format, focusing on Shawn Michaels’ need to replenish the roster following call-ups to Raw and SmackDown . The conversation moves from the technical aspects of "professional courtesy" during ring entrances to the psychological drive needed to handle blunt critiques from coaches like Booker T and Kevin Owens . They conclude by breaking down the "phony baloney" of reality-TV-style signings, the importance of "menace" in a wrestler’s presence, and a sharp critique of TKO’s security failures following a recent fan incident. 0:004:30The Walking Dead11:1518:3024:0028:1538:0046:3052:451:04:301:11:001:16:451:21:151:24:00 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Anthony and Joe break down the latest in wrestling news, starting with a wave of retirement announcements including Pat McAfee, Nikki Bella, and Billy Gunn's take on his own career future. The guys discuss the dangers of wrestlers overextending themselves across too many ventures, debate which WWE women could pull off a hardcore match, and riff on the absurdity of The Rock producing a Fighting with My Family stage musical. They also get into the parasocial entitlement of wrestling fans, AEW's merch problems, MJF's ceiling in WWE, Dan Hausen's potential, and the security failures at WrestleMania 42 weekend — including X-Pac's assault claims at the MGM Grand. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro / Three WWE retirements in 24 hours 1:56 – Pat McAfee retirement breakdown 16:32 – The WrestleMania ads controversy 17:13 – Parasocial relationships 24:00 – Back to retirements: Nikki Bella 25:41 – Fantasy booking a hardcore Nikki Bella run 29:27 – Brit Baker at the NFL Draft 31:20 – AEW Boys & Girls Club 37:55 – Billy Gunn's retirement comments & his attitude 57:06 – The Rock producing a musical 1:05:10 – MJF's ceiling in WWE & Dan Hausen's future 1:11:24 – AEW merch problems & fired designers 1:17:59 – X-Pac assaulted at WrestleMania 42 weekend 1:23:17 – MGM Grand security failures & TKO cheapness 1:25:59 – Wrap-up Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:21 – Sol Ruca & Jojo Siwa's brutal moment 2:58 – Is Tony D'Angelo the worst NXT champ ever? 10:27 – Bronn Breaker's future & OBA's momentum 15:57 – Brock Lesnar retirement: Is Summer Slam the final match? 22:58 – Billy Gunn on what's wrong with modern wrestling 25:33 – Fan reactions to Billy Gunn's comments 36:32 – WWE going to Saudi Arabia during a war zone 41:21 – TKO CEO Mark Shapiro audio: "Making enemies is fine" 46:09 – Shapiro celebrates fans paying $1,000/year for sports 59:39 – CM Punk confronts a fan; fan entitlement is getting worse 1:01:43 – TKO is breeding entitled fans 1:05:19 – Booker T's WrestleMania hotel horror story 1:11:54 – Hulk Hogan Netflix documentary review 1:19:33 – Moments of genuine humanity in the Hogan doc 1:33:36 – Stephanie McMahon & Paige's emotional interview 1:42:00 – Dream Legends House cast 1:48:49 – Jim Cornett appreciation & outro Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Joe and Anthony break down Monday Night Raw the night after WrestleMania, covering every match, promo, debut, and storyline development. Topics include Roman Reigns and the Bloodline, CM Punk's move to SmackDown, the Cody Rhodes concussion promo, WWE's corporate ad problem, the Hulk Hogan Netflix documentary, and much more. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro / Tribal Chief talk & Roman Reigns discussion 1:06 – WWE's "Disney Adults" theory & the Roman fanbase 4:43 – Jacob Fatu fed to Roman / USOs back / Jay Uso's failed push 6:11 – Post-Mania roster shuffles, Ethan Page & Sol Ruca debuts 8:11 – CM Punk's goodbye promo & the fan altercation in Vegas 11:03 – Show intro / five days in a row / NXT Battleground pass 13:20 – Bronson Breaker busted open by Seth / hair & look changes 15:08 – Logan Paul & Dom / Austin Theory comparison / A-Town Down Under 16:11 – CM Punk vs. Cody: who's the heel? Crowd confusion breakdown 19:01 – Cody Rhodes concussed promo: best promo he's cut? 35:12 – Sol Ruca debut, Adam Pierce being awesome, women's division depth 38:44 – Only 4 matches in 2 hours 40 minutes / ad overload problem 41:18 – WWE's ad format vs. the old in-show app / Netflix commercial issues 43:33 – Wrestlers in every commercial / Cricket Wireless rant 47:27 – Hulk Hogan Netflix documentary: worth watching? 49:47 – Tony Hinchcliffe / Kill Tony / Netflix WWE deal tangent 55:03 – Finn Balor vs. JD McDonough / Judgment Day fallout 57:59 – OBA show up and say nothing / suit vs. ring gear debate 1:03:58 – Gunther's storyline dead after Brock leaves / Bronson Breaker vs. Gunther 1:08:07 – Jacob Fatu & Roman / crowd not reacting / Bloodline gang colors bit 1:11:53 – Overall show rating: 4 matches, depleted crowd, Vegas departure 1:14:55 – Outro / see you Thursday / shoutout to loyal daily listeners Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Anthony and Joe break down WrestleMania 42 Night Two in full — what delivered, what disappointed, and what it all means going forward. From Brock Lesnar's emotional farewell to OBA FMI, to the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns main event, the guys give their honest takes on every match, the crowd, the booking logic (or lack thereof), streaming issues, celebrity involvement, and much more. Plus, live super chats and listener reactions throughout. 👉 Support the show: patreon.com/wrestlingsoup 💬 Join the Discord 🎵 Check out Jon Draper on Spitball Media @iamjondraper every Wednesday Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro / WrestleMania Night Two first impressions 11:32 — OBA FMI vs. Brock Lesnar (Brock's retirement) 22:59 — Six-Man Ladder Match (IC Championship) — Penta retains 39:39 — Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn (US Championship) / Lil Yachty 48:20 — Finn Bálor (Demon) vs. Dominic Mysterio (Street Fight) 1:05:51 — Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill (Women's Championship) 1:19:33 — John Cena segment / Dan Hausen & the clown car 1:31:32 — MAIN EVENT: CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns (World Heavyweight Championship) 2:06:02 — Final grades, best/worst of the night, closing thoughts Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Wrestling Soup is BACK! Anthony, Joe Numbers E, and Jon Draper of Spitball Media break down WrestleMania 42 Night One LIVE from Las Vegas. From the chaos of iShowSpeed's wrestling debut, to Paige's emotional return, to the disaster of the main event — we cover every match, every moment, and every questionable booking decision. Plus, live Patreon chat reactions, grades for the show, and plenty of tangents you didn't ask for but absolutely needed. 🎙️ Hosts: Anthony, Joe Numbers E, Jon Draper (Spitball Media) 📍 Event: WrestleMania 42 Night One | Las Vegas 0:00 – Pre-show banter / WrestleMania 42 Night One first impressions 5:55 – Introductions: Wrestling Soup with Anthony, Joe Numbers E & John Draper 6:19 – Match 1: USOs & LA Knight def. Logan Paul, Austin Theory & iShowSpeed (6-man tag) 7:32 – Attendance numbers & women being pushed to Night One 9:26 – Bianca Belair pregnancy announcement reaction 12:35 – Match 2: Brie Bella & Paige def. teams in Fatal 4-Way Tag — Paige's massive return pop 21:45 – Live Patreon chat / Yé & sponsor overload on the ring apron 26:23 – Seth Rollins: Will he ever retire? A passionate rant 29:21 – Match 3: Jacob Fatu def. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match) 32:40 – ESPN app disaster: streaming issues all night 35:54 – WWE creative woes & the main event as a sign of Triple H running out of ideas 41:52 – Match 4: Becky Lynch def. AJ Lee — women's IC title (+ Paige backstory deep dive) 59:35 – Match 5: Becky Lynch def. AJ Lee recap continues / AJ Lee match breakdown 1:13:34 – Match 6: Gunther def. Seth Rollins (with interference/fuckery) — IC Title 1:26:48 – Match 7: Liv Morgan def. Stephanie (Women's World Title) — entrance, finish & future 1:35:09 – MAIN EVENT: Cody Rhodes def. Randy Orton — full breakdown & grades 1:46:32 – Best/Worst match of the night & overall show grades 1:56:29 – Wrap-up, Patreon shoutouts & Jon Draper's band Lament Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro / Media Overload Before WrestleMania 0:35 – How's Your Media Intake? Everything Feels Hollow 6:04 – Is WWE in Its Death Throes? 8:44 – Roman Reigns & the Fading Star Problem 3:12 – Dan Hausen Curses Stephen A. Smith 4:25 – Dan Hausen & Stephen A. Smith Interaction 22:21 – WWE Needs to Lean Into Millennial Nostalgia 29:09 – WWE Needs More Athletes 30:51 – TKO / UFC & WWE: A One-Sided Relationship 32:40 – Floyd Mayweather vs. Jelly Roll 33:40 – Paige Returns to WWE: Reaction & Discussion 45:09 – Roman Says He'll Leave If He Loses 1:00:06 – Night Two Card: Omos vs. Brock Lesnar – OBA FEMI HAS TO WIN 1:05:33 – 6-Pack Ladder Match for the IC Title 1:10:18 – Nia Jax vs. Jade Cargill / Women's Division Talk 1:21:43 – Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn 1:24:27 – Dom Mysterio vs. Demon Finn Bálor 1:30:03 – Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk – Main Event Preview 1:38:43 – Outro / Get Out of Here Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Anthony and Joe kick off their WrestleMania 42 preview with a full breakdown of Night One — but first, they can't help diving into Roman Reigns' scathing video promo on CM Punk, Triple H's revisionist history tour, Nick Khan's bold WrestleMania 43 claims, and the looming question of WWE's Saudi Arabia deal as geopolitical tensions rise. Predictions, hot takes, and zero corporate slop. 0:00 — Cold Open: Where was this Ronda Rousey 10 years ago? 3:41 — Intro / WrestleMania 42 Breakdown Show 0:33 — Roman Reigns Calls CM Punk a Mark 6:20 — Roman vs. Punk: Two Very Different Career Paths 23:24 — Triple H on Fan Criticism & "Thinking About Tomorrow" 34:41 — "Philanthropy Is the Future of Marketing" — Stephanie McMahon 47:17 — Nick Khan: WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia Is Happening 52:54 — WrestleMania 42 Night One Predictions Begin 53:10 — Vision (Logan Paul & iShowSpeed) vs. USOs & LA Knight 57:46 — Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre (Unsanctioned Match) 58:58 — Stephanie vs. Liv Morgan (Women's World Championship) 1:03:08 — AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch (Women's IC Championship) 1:05:01 — Fatal 4-Way Women's Tag Match (Bellas, Charlotte & Bliss, Bailey & Lyra, Lash & Naya) 1:11:58 — Seth Rollins vs. Gunther 1:16:20 — Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton (Undisputed WWE Championship) 1:23:05 — Wrap-Up / Night Two Preview Tomorrow Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Joe and Anthony break down the chaos surrounding WrestleMania as ticket sales continue to struggle, TKO takes heat from the fanbase, and Monday Night Raw delivers a go-home show that leaves a lot to be desired. From Vegas hotel mini-bar horror stories to the state of WWE's booking, no stone is left unturned. Plus full Raw recap including the Brock/OBA FEMI contract signing, CM Punk and Roman Reigns' go-home promo, Charlotte vs. Bird Girl, Stephanie Vaquer, Liv Morgan's music video, IShowSpeed, and more. 0:00 – Intro / WrestleMania Season Chaos 0:47 – WrestleMania Ticket Sales Are a Disaster 1:49 – TKO's Saudi Arabia Problem 3:30 – TKO vs. The Fanbase / Ticketmaster Squeeze 6:17 – Would Saudi Fans Even Come to WrestleMania Right Now? 7:49 – The Card in a Vacuum / WM Going Cheap 8:35 – Roman's Promo Acknowledges the Failure 9:03 – Live Ticket Numbers: 3,000+ Still Available 11:24 – Vegas Hotel Mini-Bar Horror Story ($400 Gone) 27:39 – Raw Recap Begins 28:20 – Brock Lesnar / OBA FMI Contract Signing 30:45 – OBA FMI's Breakout Promo 32:23 – IYO SKY Overworked / Women's Division Thin 33:21 – Nikki Bella Possibly Out of WrestleMania 45:55 – IShowSpeed, Austin Theory & Logan Paul Segment 57:19 – Charlotte vs. Bird Girl (Bayley) 1:04:36 – Stephanie Vaquer Promo / Liv Morgan's Music Video 1:16:09 – Usos & LA Knight vs. MFTs 1:19:07 – IYO SKY vs. Kairi Sane / Jade Cargill Discussion 1:25:51 – CM Punk & Roman Reigns Go-Home Promo 1:29:24 – Outro / WrestleMania Coverage Schedule Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Joe and Anthony kick off with a deep nostalgia dive into classic arcade games, Sega vs. Nintendo rivalries, and the evolution of gaming culture — from beach arcades and LAN parties to streamers and speedrunners. From there, the guys shift into wrestling talk: WWE's creative direction under TKO, the internet's reaction to the worst-rated SmackDown in history, the Jelly Roll/Pat McAfee rumor, the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns buildup, and a full breakdown of the leaked WrestleMania 42 two-night card. Plus: Jade Cargill's PED controversy, Finn Bálor's future, and why WWE keeps putting celebrities over logic. Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro & Chucky Doll bit 1:02 — One Piece, live action anime, and Michael Bay's Transformers crime 4:43 — Sega history: Alex the Kid, Sonic, Altered Beast & Streets of Rage 6:42 — The return of arcades & the "third space" crisis 18:15 — Watching streamers & gaming content creators 19:53 — Chris Chan, internet culture & the cancel cycle 20:57 — Pat McAfee's WWE debut reaction & booking confusion 33:47 — Jelly Roll reportedly added to the McAfee/Orton feud 36:36 — Show intro (better late than never) + responding to comments 43:16 — Worst SmackDown ever? YouTube dislikes & fan backlash 53:07 — WrestleMania 42 Night One card breakdown 1:08:04 — WrestleMania 42 Night Two card breakdown 1:43:10 — CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns preview & final thoughts Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 — Intro / Io Sky & WWE's censorship problem 1:55 — Tiffany Stratton, Maxine, and chasing the Mandy Rose dragon 4:59 — WWE's Puritan censorship on Netflix & the self-inflicted PG problem 11:02 — CM Punk's Raw promo: breaking down what worked and why Roman can't respond 15:27 — The Pat McAfee SmackDown segment: death rattle wrestling 16:55 — Roman Reigns' limitations: prepped but can't improv 20:46 — What Roman SHOULD say to get real heat on Punk 29:14 — Cody Rhodes crowd backlash & the Randy Orton/Pat McAfee pairing problem 37:17 — Why Cody needs to turn heel & the Stephanie McMahon missed opportunity 44:29 — Gunther being criminally misused — the Larry Bird analogy 51:28 — TKO inserting themselves into creative? Celebrity overload in WWE 55:41 — The celebrity problem: Logan Paul, IShowSpeed, Tom Brady & more 1:05:52 — AJ Lee's return: is this the right version of her character? 1:09:00 — Kairi Sane & Asuka/Damage CTRL situation 1:15:24 — Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar: WrestleMania's real main event? 1:18:20 — The Goldberg/Brock problem — will they screw up Oba's moment? 1:25:47 — Gunther interference theory: Brock puts over two guys on the way out? 1:28:35 — How does Seth Rollins ruin the Brock/Oba match? 1:32:20 — Pat McAfee's SmackDown ratings bomb & the Ari Emanuel/Stallone comparison 1:35:47 — Wrap-up / Alberto Del Rio arrested again Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 — Intro / The Egg Bit 1:55 — Breaking Down the New Janelle Grant Filing 6:05 — The May 2020 Incident (COVID Timeline) 21:59 — Brock Lesnar's Alleged Involvement Begins 25:38 — The Beating & What Vince Did to "Prepare" Her 32:33 — WrestleMania 3 Weeks Out — What a Mess 44:57 — "Hi, This Is Polish Joe" — The Texts Begin 1:00:46 — The Suicide Attempt & Vince's Response 1:09:21 — Chris Jericho Returns to AEW 1:19:08 — John Cena Called Back to Host WrestleMania Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Joe and Anthony break down a chaotic Monday Night RAW, tearing into WWE's last-minute WrestleMania card-building in Madison Square Garden. From Dan Hausen's "merch goblin" gimmick to the rushed Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar build. They also dig into the Seth Rollins/Gunther pairing that came out of nowhere, Cody Rhodes getting embarrassed by Stephanie McMahon, CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns feeling backwards, and the overcrowded celebrity situation at WrestleMania. Plus, a tribute mention for Kevin Castle. 0:00 – Intro & WWE Building the WrestleMania Card Last Minute 0:54 – Is There a Reason WWE Holds the Card Back? 1:52 – Dan Hausen / The Merch Goblin Debate 5:01 – Dan Hausen as a Meme Wrestler & Internet Crossover 5:58 – WWE Signs Ricky Starks & Ethan Page 13:31 – MSG Raw Recap: Half the Mania Card Announced in One Night 14:32 – The Names on the Ring Canvas Stunt 17:50 – John Cena as WrestleMania Host — Desperation or Strategy? 20:16 – Seth Rollins vs. Gunther: Where Did This Come From? 42:17 – Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar: Rushed & Poorly Built 43:30 – "Obama vs. Barack Lesnar" & OBA's Potential Wasted 48:34 – Penta & Kofi / The WrestleMania Ladder Match Clusterfuck 49:27 – The Vision vs. The Usos & LA Knight Getting Buried Again 56:06 – Jelly Roll at WrestleMania: Does It Make Sense? 56:23 – Bad Bunny vs. Celebrity Wrestlers: Who Actually Works? 58:40 – The Celebrity Royal Rumble Idea 1:04:18 – Cody Rhodes Segment: Stephanie McMahon Slaps & Embarrasses Him 1:12:14 – Finn Bálor vs. Dominic Mysterio Promo 1:15:31 – CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns: Who's the Heel Here? 1:17:29 – Roman Should Be Younger to Sell the "Old Man Punk" Angle 1:20:39 – Raquel Rodriguez & Eo Sky Scare Moment 1:25:43 – Outro & Kevin Castle Memorial Tribute Mention @iamjondraper Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.