How Wrestling Explains the World

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the never-ending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For their fourth episode, Phil and Nick two of their favorite matches: For Nick, it's Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard against the Road Warriors at Starrcade '87 and from Phil Los Brazos vs. Super Astro/El Dandy/Popitekus (Arena Coliseo, 5/3/1991) . Be sure to check out our Patreon for Phil's weekly 3-Count columns and Nick's mediocre drawings of both incredibly famous wrestlers and those you (and he) may have heard of in passing. And if you, for whatever reason, LIKE Nick's mediocre drawings, you can purchase some (in sticker form) on our Etsy shop.

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the never-ending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For their second episode, Phil and Nick two of their favorite matches: For Phil, it's Necro Butcher vs. Low Ki from IWA MID SOUTH's BIG ASS CHRISTMAS BASH and from Nick it's Cactus Jack vs. Triple H at Royal Rumble 2000. Be sure to check out our Patreon for Phil's weekly 3-Count columns and Nick's mediocre drawings of both incredibly famous wrestlers and those you (and he) may have heard of in passing. And if you, for whatever reason, LIKE Nick's mediocre drawings, you can purchase some (in sticker form) on our Etsy shop.

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the neverending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For their second episode, Phil and Nick two of their favorite matches: For Nick, it's WrestleMania VII's "classic" between The British Bulldog and The Warlod, while Phil has chosen a NJPW/WAR interpromotional tag match between Riki Choshu & Shinya Hashimoto and Genichiro Tenryu & Takashi Ishikawa from 1993. Be sure to check out our Patreon for Phil's weekly 3-Count columns and Nick's mediocre drawings of both incredibly famous wrestlers and those you (and he) may have heard of in passing. And if you, for whatever reason, LIKE Nick's mediocre drawings, you can purchase some (in sticker form) on our Etsy shop.

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the neverending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For this inaugural episode, Phil and Nick break down a BattlARTS tag team match featuring Yuki Ishikawa & Alexander Otsuka vs. Carl Greco & Daisuke Ikeda from April of 1998 (Phil's pick) and WrestleMania I's main event between Mr. T and Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Nick's).

Nick Bond and Andy Miller kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of How Bret Hart in Canada Explains Wrestling. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - How did the New Hart Foundation and Bret Hard in Canada "soft launch" the Attitude Era? - What made the Canadian Stampede match so effective? - Was Bret Hart the last WWE performer to become as big as the brand? - Did being a god in Canada ruin Bret Hart? - Where have all the Canadian heroes gone? - Who is the best Canadian wrestler, non-Bret division? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Andy on Twitter: @AndyMillerJMS

Nick and Mark Macyk kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of Infinite Jest & David Foster Wallace. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What kind of universe(s) do the Teleputer and WWE Network create? - The self-torture of Bret Hart and David Foster Wallace - The weight of influence on future generations - How does palpable greatness works to warp our understanding of a person's legacy? - Who is WWE's Don Gately? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMacyk

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of the WWE Network. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What it was like in a land before time/the WWE Network - How did the WWE Network change the very foundation of the WWE? - Why Vince McMahon was so ahead of his time - Does the Network make the WWE worse? - Which lesson learned from the WWE Network was the most important? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Andy on Twitter: @AndyMillerJMS

Nick is joined by a very special guest this week: Dylan Roth, member of The Hell Yeah Babies and writer of the Gotham City Book Club series of critical essays on the Caped Crusader's catalog. Dylan and Nick dissect the connections between Batman and Shane McMahon, discuss the intersection of art and commerce and try to decide how much Batcontent is too much Batcontent. (Spoiler Alert: this podcast and Dylan's blog are all the Batcontent you could ever need.) Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dylan on Twitter: @DylanRoth

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of the Shane McMahon. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What made Shane one of the boys? - Why do promoters trust their family more than their performers? - How could Andy bring himself to wear a Shane O Mac jersey? - Did Shane change the industry for the best or the worst? - Would Shane have made it without his family name? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dave on Twitter: @AndyMillerJMS

Nick is joined by a very special guest this week: Mark Macyk, author of Kaboom and K2B22M from Mouse House Books. Mark and Nick dissect the connections between Kaboom -- the harrowing tale of Stan "Thunder Man" Parker, a weatherman who winds up in a web of conspiracy, racing against the clock to the save the world (or at least Western PA) from catastrophe, all while maintaining the rugged handsomeness that you've come to expect from meteorologists -- and professional wrestling, the meteorology of entertainment. They breakdown Mark's writing process, discuss what wrestling can learn from "Thunder Man" and plot the future of the Mark Macyk Literary Universe. Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMacyk

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of the Money in the Bank ladder match. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What made Edge the ultimate opportunist? - Why don't you want to be Shelton Benjamin in a Money in the Bank ladder match? - How did they botch Damien Sandow so bad? - Has the Money in the Bank replaced the Royal Rumble? - Who is the worst case in of all time? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveWritesJunk

Nick is joined by two special guests this week: NYWC's Rich Kasin and WWE Studios' Daron Jackson to attack the Hobbs and Shaw trailer from every angle. Rich and Nick breakdown the connections between last week's topic, Cesaro, and Deckard Shaw himself, Jason Statham. Then Nick spend some time with Daron to dissect the trajectories of WWE's Hollywood hopefuls and the future of the studio after the success of Fighting With My Family. Then we bring back around with recently-single (wrestler) Rich to discuss the concept of "Can they Co-Exist" and the pure joy of the hot tag. Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Rich on Instagram: @Embrace_The_Kasin

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of The Swiss Cyborg, Cesaro. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - When does Andy first meet Cesaro? - Why did it take so long for Cesaro to get signed? - How is he not more successful as a single competitor despite his matches with Sami and Cena? - What makes The Bar work? - Who would have made the perfect manager for Cesaro? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveWritesJunk

Nick Bond of Juice Make Sugar and Andy Miller of NYWC hit for the cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of Baseball. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What made Booker T a five-tool player? - How much do Mike Trout and Booker T have in common? - Is AEW AAA or the mid-00s NL West? - When should WWE use more numbers in the presentation of their show? - Which baseball player would make the best wrestler? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Andy on Twitter: @AndyMillerJMS

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE -- AND A WAY TO MARKET OUR NEW PATREON-ONLY PODCAST -- THE GOOD FOLKS AT JUICE MAKE SUGAR PRODUCTIONS PRESENT: THE POD BEYOND. The Pod Beyond is a journey through the wonderful world of World Championship Wrestling during the Jim Crockett Era. We're starting with the very first episode of the JCP-produced version of NWA's flagship show from April 6, 1985, as Dave and Nick are hopping in the time machine to bring you Dusty, Flairs and Russian Bears (Oh my!) as well as all the exciting action from the Major Leagues of Professional Wrestling, the NWA. If you are interested in getting your ears on the show going forward, you'll want to head right over to Patreon.com/hwetw and sign up at the corresponding benefit tier (THE POD BEYOND-ERS) to join us on what should be a fantastic journey. Err, sorry, wrong decade: to join us on what should be a "Don't Stop Believin' by" Journey.

Nick and Dave jump back into our survey of the legendary career of soon-to-be two-time (two time!) WWE Hall of Famer, Booker T., with a focus on his post-WCW run in WWE, as King Booker and in the Main Event Mafia during his time in TNA. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - Where does his SummerSlam match with the Rock rank on the list of best bouts in both their careers? - What does his grocery store fight with Stone Cold Steve Austin's have to do with Japanese hair commercials? - How fucking racist was the infamous "people like you" feud between he and HHH in the lead up to WrestleMania XIX? - Why does King Booker work so well? - Was his time in TNA actually kind of great or at least worthy of RESPECT? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveWritesJunk

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE -- AND A WAY TO MARKET OUR NEW PATREON-ONLY PODCAST -- THE GOOD FOLKS AT JUICE MAKE SUGAR PRODUCTIONS PRESENT: THE POD BEYOND. The Pod Beyond is a journey through the wonderful world of World Championship Wrestling during the Jim Crockett Era. Although the show proper will start with the very first episode of the JCP-produced version of NWA's flagship show from April 6, 1985, Dave and Nick are hopping in the time machine a little early to bring you all up to speed on what's perhaps the most volatile era in professional wrestling history and, once we've arrived at the studios in Atlanta, GA, who we will meet when we get there. If you are interested in getting your ears on the actual show, you'll want to head right over to Patreon.com/hwetw and sign up at the corresponding benefit tier (THE POD BEYOND-ERS) to join us on what should be a fantastic journey. Err, sorry, wrong decade: to join us on what should be a "Don't Stop Believin' by" Journey.

Nick and Dave kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of WCW's most accomplished performer and a soon-to-be two-time (two time!) WWE Hall of Famer, Booker T.. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - Which two performers were the most influential in his storied career? - When should WCW have realized that he was the future? - Why did it still take them so long after that to figure it out? - Was WCW actually good at developing talent (and just bad at almost everything else)? - Is Booker T the best WCW performer of the post-Crockett era? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveWritesJunk

Nick and Dave finish out this infinitely diverse cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of Star Trek featuring (Deadshirt.net founder) Dylan Roth of The Hell Yeah Babies. WE ALSO HAVE A MAJOR, EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! This week’s edutaining banter breaks down ... - Why was the Ruthless Aggression era so bad for both WWE and Star Trek? - How does the act of fans making the product change the product? - What do CM Punk's #pipebomb promo and the JJ Abrams Star Trek movies have in common? - The parallels between the kinds of stories both rely on to articulate their worldviews and achieve their narrative goals - Who but Q could be Vince McMahon? - Which Star Trek character would be the best manager? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveWritesJunk

The Wrestling Estate's David Gibb and Juice Make Sugar's Nick Bond are here with their off-cycle supplement to the pleasantly in-depth discussion on what makes professional wrestling, well, professional wrestling (and, at least every other week) what that means for the world. For today's essential viewing of the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, Nick and Dave break down the ever-evolving legacy of the title through the prism of the following matches: Pat Patterson vs. Ted DiBiase (MSG - 10/22/79) Pedro Morales vs. Don Muraco (MSG - 12/28/82) Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior (SummerSlam 8/28/89) Razor Ramon vs. Jeff Jarrett (Royal Rumble 1/22/95) Rob Van Dam vs. William Regal (WrestleMania X-8 3/17/02) Randy Orton vs. Edge (Vengeance 7/11/04) Ric Flair vs. Triple H (Taboo Tuesday 11/1/05) Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler - Title vs. Career (No Mercy 10/9/16) If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twitter at @HWETWPod and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, How Wrestling Explains the World. If you could find it in your heart to rate and review the show, that’d be a mitzvah as well! For those who are just discovering the show, check out our previous episodes in the archive: https://howwrestlingexplains.podbean.com/ Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveWritesJunk