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WOL: Roman Reigns, AEW vs. NXT vs. RAW, Money in the Bank predictions!

May 8, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Jim Valley is back today with tons to talk about including Roman Reigns talking WWE, AEW and NXT ratings and a big win for AEW, how Tony Khan got the idea to put wrestlers in the crowd, a full preview of Money in the Bank with predictions, and […]

Wrestling Weekly: The curious case of the shrinking WWE ratings

May 8, 2020 - On this week’s Wrestling Weekly, co-host Les Thatcher and I talk WWE ratings and the factors that could be driving their decline: everything from a change in mindset in terms of how to work a match to a change in presentation as a show and why some empty arena sports may prove to be easier to […]

B&V: Bryan and Vinny review AEW and NXT head-to-head!

May 7, 2020 - The Bryan & Vinny Show is back today with our look at the highs and lows — and believe me, there were highs and lows — of both NXT and AEW from this past Wednesday night! All the action, plus notes on Bryan and Vinny going LIVE on Sunday after Money in the Bank if […]

WOL: AEW vs. NXT, COVID testing details, tons more!

May 7, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including AEW and NXT last night, testing for COVID and how to open up all sports again, Sammy and the golf cart, the highs and lows of both shows and tons more, plus calls from everywhere including PAKISTAN! A […]

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The legacy of Mr. T

May 7, 2020 - The DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show continues to add additional content during this era when many people are confined to their homes. Today, I want to give you something from my WhenItWasCool.com archive — a biography on Mr. T! Mr. T was very important to the national expansion of WWF, appeared in the main event […]

WOR: AEW COVID testing, Wednesday Night Wars, ratings, UFC, more!

May 7, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Supreme, AEW testing everyone for COVID before shows, RAW ratings, New Japan cancellations, full reviews of AEW and NXT from Wednesday, UFC this weekend and tons more. A fun show as always so check it […]

WOL: Remembering XPW’s Supreme, Raw ratings, AEW/NXT preview

May 6, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the death of XPW’s Supreme, RAW ratings, AEW vs. NXT tonight, lack of crowds in pro-wrestling, calls and texts and so much more. Remember you can watch this packed show and every WOL live and free on Twitch so […]

Big Audio Nightmare free show: Reviews, previews, NJ World rewatch series

May 6, 2020 - The original alternate is back to take a look at the week that was in Japanese wrestling. Topics include: COVID-19 cancellations and ripple effects which now include Cyber Agent and Bushiroad shows into June As always, our unsolicited advice A meeting of the Shotaro Ashino Appreciation Station Recent empty arena action featuring All Japan, NOAH, […]

Pacific Rim: Bridge of Dreams

May 6, 2020 - Pacific Rim is back with Fumi Saito and Jim Valley. With little new wrestling taking place in Japan, Fumi talks about what some companies are doing to produce content, create new revenue streams, and find work for wrestlers. Weekly Pro Wrestling’s 1995 Bridge of Dreams card featuring 13 promotions on one show was recently uploaded to YouTube. Fumi […]

B&V&C: WWE WrestleMania X7!

May 5, 2020 - It’s the post-Retro Raw and Nitro edition of the Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show, and tonight we are reviewing the end of an era, WrestleMania X7! We’ll run down all the matches and angles on one of the greatest WrestleManias of all time, plus we will reveal the question everyone has been asking for […]

WOL: RAW, Money in the Bank main event, Roman Reigns, more!

May 5, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including RAW from Monday night, more postponements, Money in the Bank and why Bryan is so excited for the main event, the disappearance and stunning reappearance of Roman Reigns, and tons more. A fun show as always so check […]

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: April and May 1981

May 5, 2020 - On this episode of the longform history of pro wrestling series, Karl covers April and May 1981. The months include the quick switch in Georgia of the NWA World title between Tommy Rich and Harley Race. More on the filming of Rocky III, the origins of the IWGP title, Sgt. Slaughter in the WWF, the debut of […]

WOR: RAW, Money in the Bank, AEW and NXT, more!

May 5, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including RAW on Monday night, all the matches leading to Money in the Bank, NXT and AEW this Wednesday, UFC coming up and all the things they’re doing to try to keep everyone safe, mailbag and so much more. […]

F4D: Friday Night Smackdown, ratings, plus semi-finals and finals of BRAWL FOR ALL!

May 4, 2020 - Filthy Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back today with tons to talk about including our usual weekly Friday Night Smackdown on FOX review, why the Smackdown rating is actually worse than anyone has talked about so far, and the semi-finals and finals of the Brawl For All. A packed and […]

WOL: Stuff you should watch, RAW, AEW and WWE going live, more!

May 4, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including RAW tonight, Money in the Bank, AEW and WWE going live, tons of calls and texts on a variety of topics, stuff you should watch if you have free time and more. A fun show as always so […]

WOR: My Dad Is A Heel Wrestler, Smackdown, ratings, history, more!

May 4, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including My Father Was A Heel Pro Wrestler starring Hiroshi Tanahashi, Smackdown, NXT and AEW ratings from Wednesday, history questions about Curt Hennig and Hulk Hogan, how Dave inadvertently led to the Nancy Argentino investigation, and tons more. A […]

B&V&G: Granny, March 3 1986 Saturday Night’s Main Event!

May 3, 2020 - The Bryan & Vinny Show is back today with tons to talk about including our weekly visit with Granny, a new contest, her Weekly Wrestling Report, and more. Then, Bryan and Vinny review the March 1, 1986 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, a show Bryan totally loved. A fun time as always so check […]

WOL: Smackdown ratings, Money in the Bank in-depth, plus Thunder Rosa!

May 3, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the horrible Smackdown number on Friday, the full line-up for Money in the Bank plus a bunch of wacky ideas about what they might do, and then in the final segment we will be joined by Thunder Rosa, […]

DragonKing Dark: A look at Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men

May 3, 2020 - We continue our look at complex movie villains with a dark or supernatural aspect to them and this week on DragonKingDark, we examine one of my favorites: Anton Chigurh from the movie No Country For Old Men. Upon first viewing in 2007, the film became one of my favorite movies and much of that was […]

WOL: SmackDown ratings, Dark Side of the Ring, TNA nostalgia

May 2, 2020 - It’s Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley. Friday Night Smackdown experienced its fourth ratings drop in a row and for the first time in the Fox era, the show fell below two million viewers for both hours on a night when virtually every other network show saw increased ratings. What does this mean for […]

Portland Wrestlecast: Johnny Mantell on Roddy Piper, funny ribs and more

May 1, 2020 - The Portland Wrestlecast is back with even more stories from the Pacific Northwest wrestling scene that you have never heard before. This week’s guest is Johnny Mantell, the former wrestler probably best known for working in World Class, Mid South, and Los Angeles while hIs brother, Ken, booked in Dallas. Johnny wrestled in Portland in […]

WOL: AEW ratings, live wrestling in Florida with fans, Gary Benfield, more!

May 1, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Jim Valley is back with tons to talk about including AEW and NXT ratings, AEW running live on Wednesday, Florida’s governor talking about fans returning and what that would entail, and more, then Gary Benfield joins us to talk High Velocity Wrestling and more! A fun show as […]

Wrestling Weekly: David Schultz ‘Dark Side of the Ring’ discussion

May 1, 2020 - On this week’s Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and I talk about the men discussed on this week’s episode of Dark Side of the Ring: David Schultz, Eddy Mansfield and Jim Wilson. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!

Portland Wrestlecast: Johnny Mantell on Roddy Piper, funny ribs and more

May 1, 2020 - The Portland Wrestlecast is back with even more stories from the Pacific Northwest wrestling scene that you have never heard before. This week’s guest is Johnny Mantell, the former wrestler probably best known for working in World Class, Mid South, and Los Angeles while hIs brother, Ken, booked in Dallas. Johnny wrestled in Portland in […]

B&V: Bryan and Vinny review AEW and NXT head-to-head!

April 30, 2020 - The Bryan & Vinny Show is back today with tons to talk about in our look back at NXT and AEW from Wednesday night! All the matches and angles, the highs and lows, which show we thought was better, plus a quick look at what appear to be a settled-in set of ratings. A fun […]

WOL: AEW vs. NXT, Darby vs. Cody, Keith Youngblood interview

April 30, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including AEW and NXT from Wednesday night, thoughts on Darby Allin coming close to beating Cody, a bunch of calls, and then Keith Youngblood joins us to talk winning tag titles with Jerry Lawler, handing David Arquette a beating, Northeast […]

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Saga of Ric Flair jumping to WWF while WCW/NWA Champion

April 30, 2020 - This is a massive show with tons of stuff — including a lot of things you might not know. Karl Stern covers the entire story of Ric Flair quitting WCW to jump to WWF in 1991 while still WCW/NWA World Champion. Karl discusses what the NWA was during that time. Could Flair have jumped as […]

WOR: AEW vs. NXT, RAW ratings, Dark Side of the Ring history, more!

April 30, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including RAW ratings, Dark Side of the Ring thoughts with a long history lesson from Dave, and then full recaps of both AEW and NXT from Wednesday night with tons of notes. A fun show as always so check […]

WOL: Raw ratings, Apollo, Sidney Bakabella, more!

April 29, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including RAW ratings from Monday night, what WWE is doing now that Apollo is out of the Money in the Bank match, tons of calls and more, plus Sidney Bakabella joins us to talk Chikara’s SATURDAY MORNING ARCADE which […]

Big Audio Nightmare: NOAH & BJW tournaments, 2AW empty arena, AJPW

April 29, 2020 - The Big Audio Nightmare is back as Adam and Mike guide you through the pandemic-affected Japanese wrestling scene. Still no NJPW, but there is plenty else to talk about including: some head-scratching booking decisions in recent NOAH and BJW tournaments, 2AWs recent no fans show, who is putting on the best empty arena shows, and […]

B&V&C: Retro Raw and Nitro GRAND FINALE!!!!~!~!~~!~!!~!

April 28, 2020 - The Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show is back today with a HISTORIC SHOW. After six long arduous years, it’s the end, the grand finale, of Retro Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week. What a grand finale it is. Hawaiian shirts. Drinks. A big party. Love for all of you. And more. […]

WOL: Raw, WWE canceling tours, Adam Abdalla on Orange Crush, more!

April 28, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Jim Valley is back today with tons to talk about including RAW from Monday night, WWE not going to Australia and New Zealand, a drive-in idea, and more, plus Adam Abdalla joins us to talk his Orange Crush wrestling magazine that you can grab right now! A fun […]

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: From the Pages of the Observer – Kerry Von Erich

April 28, 2020 - Between this and my Saga of David Von Erich and the NWA World title I did recently at When It Was Cool, you’ll basically be an expert on the life and times of the Von Erich family. This is Dave Meltzer’s obituary for Kerry Von Erich, who took his own life at age 33, which […]

WOR: Cain Velasquez gone, Gerald Brisco, RAW, more!

April 28, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including RAW from Monday night, Cain Velasquez and Gerry Brisco getting released and furloughed respectively, mailbag and tons more. A packed show as always so check it out~! Timestamps: Start: Cain Velasquez released, Gerald Brisco furloughed 12:26: BTE, inclduing […]

F4D: Smackdown and the first round of Brawl for All!

April 27, 2020 - Filthy Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including a full review of Smackdown with that Vince McMahon main event segment, and then we break down the entire first round of BRAWL FOR ALL through 2020 MMA eyes. A fun show as always so check it […]

WOL: Vince McMahon, SmackDown, plus Matthew Justice interview

April 27, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including SmackDown, Vince McMahon, this week’s lineups for both WWE Raw and SmackDown, and tons more. Then, Matthew Justice joins us to talk independent wrestling, metal and more. Stream live every day on our Twitch channel. A fun show […]

WOR: Smackdown, WWE and AEW ratings, investor’s call notes, more!

April 27, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including Smackdown from Friday night, the horrible numbers for that show and what it means or doesn’t mean, WWE investor call highlights, AEW vs. NXT ratings and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~! Timestamps: […]

B&V&G: Granny, January 4 1986 Saturday Night’s Main Event!

April 26, 2020 - The Bryan & Vinny & Granny Show is back with tons to talk about including Granny’s usual Q&A and Weekly Wrestling Report, then Bryan & Vinny review Saturday Night’s Main Event from January 4, 1986, which includes Hulk Hogan having a very good championship match with Terry Funk and more. A fun show as always […]

WOL: Smackdown, ratings, Jerry Lawler ramen noodle moonsault, more!

April 26, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Smackdown ratings, Smackdown from Friday night, Jerry Lawler and the Ramen Noodle Moonsault and more, then Joe Dombrowski joins us to talk rare lost footage of some of wrestling’s biggest stars! A fun show as always so check […]

DragonKing Dark: The rise of Bane from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

April 26, 2020 - This week, I take a look at another movie villain who is more than a one dimensional brute: Bane from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, the finale of the Nolan Batman triology and what many feel is the worst of the three. However, the lead antagonist is an extremely interesting character. At first examination, Bane is a […]

WOL: Triple H is a total winner

April 25, 2020 - It’s Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley. “Triple H is a total winner,” Tweeted the president in honor of “The Game’s” 25th Anniversary in professional wrestling. In a normal time, that would be a completely positive thing to happen. It is not a criticism of the president to acknowledge that he hasn’t had positive press […]

Portland Wrestlecast: Jimmy Snuka’s early career in the Pacific Northwest

April 25, 2020 - On this week’s Portland Wrestlecast, we dive into “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka’s Pacific Northwest career. You probably know about his national career and the very serious allegations revisted against him recently on the Dark Side of the Ring documentary. While he didn’t start wrestling in Portland, Oregon, the Northwest territory played an important role in Snuka’s career. […]

WOR: UFC 249, WWE Q1 earnings call, AEW’s TV taping schedule

April 25, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Dave Meltzer and myself, guest co-host Garrett Gonzales, is back. We first talk about UFC Fight Island as well as their upcoming UFC 249 card and dates for upcoming cards. We talk about the safety of running shows and how fans may feel about fighter safety. We then go over the […]

WOL: WWE finances, ratings, AEW going live, Rachel Patti on Fight Like A Girl!

April 24, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Jim Valley is back today with tons to talk about including WWE finances, the highs and lows and whether they should have fired anyone (no), AEW vs. NXT ratings, AEW going live every other week, and more. Plus, Rachel Patti joins us to talk working with WWE on […]

Wrestling Weekly: Dick Steinborn, Joe Pedicino, traveling the territories

April 24, 2020 - On today’s Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and Vic Sosa share stories about Dick Steinborn, Joe Pedicino, trying to get a wrestling TV show off the ground, hanging out at the most famous spot in Minneapolis, and more. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!

B&V: Bryan and Vinny review AEW and NXT head-to-head!

April 23, 2020 - The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about today in our look back at AEW and NXT from Wednesday night! We’ll talk the ratings, the highs and lows of each show, vote on our personal favorite, and more. ALL SPONSORED BY DRAKKAR NOIR. A fun show as always so check it […]

WOL: WWE finances, AEW vs. NXT, Dustin Starr interview, more!

April 23, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back today with tons to talk about including WWE finances, AEW and NXT from last night, WrestleMania being a two-day show going forward and tons more. Then, Dustin Starr joins us to talk a ton of different subjects all Memphis Wrestling-related! A fun show as […]

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: American Gladiators

April 23, 2020 - American Gladiators was a weird hybrid athletics show that combined a game show with basically pro wrestling style entertainment. There were even crossovers between the two, and American Gladiators was clearly marketed toward pro wrestling fans. On this retro episode, Karl Stern takes a look back at this quirky game-sport.

WOR: AEW vs. NXT, WWE earnings, Vince McMahon lawsuit, more!

April 23, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including WWE’s earnings report coming Thursday, the interesting timing of it, Vince McMahon being sued by Oliver Luck, Dark Side of the Ring, ratings, UFC moving it’s show AGAIN, AEW vs. NXT and more! A fun show as always […]

WOL: WWE ratings, Gronk, Coastal Championship Wrestling, more!

April 22, 2020 - Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez is back today with tons to talk about and tons of technical issues, but as always we BARREL ON THROUGH because the show must go on. WWE ratings, Gronk back to the NFL, we finally figure out how to connect Jim Valley, and more, plus Nelio Cuomo Costa joins […]