WRESTLING SOUP

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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...

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...

0:00 – Intro / Raw Review: Asuka and Iyo Sky’s "Shakespearean" mist segment7:30 – Roman Reigns’ "cry bully" babyface promo and The Usos' return14:45 – Judgment Day rushed booking: Roxanne Perez hits Finn Balor with a hammer20:10 – The wrestling was good, but Seth Rollins' "I don't trust me" promo was terrible24:20 – Joe Hendry confronts Seth Rollins / Logan Paul conspiracy theories28:50 – Rumored 50% pay cuts for undercard talent vs. massive TKO executive raises37:10 – Exploring The New Day's contract buyout and Edge's AEW run44:20 – Match of the night: Otis and Tozawa stepping up to Oba F...

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 curr...

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 "...

Anthony and Joe record from a temporary new space, discussing the transition to a home with an acre of land and the financial sanity of renting versus owning. They explore the "Dead Internet" theory and the prevalence of AI bots, while warning against the dangers of flaunting physical cash on social media. The conversation takes a culinary turn with a breakdown of Gordon Ramsay’s scrambled egg technique and the "exceptional" addition of pesto to breakfast. Turning to wrestling, the guys analyze the latest wave of WWE roster cuts—or "bus flips"—noting reports that these releases are age-related as the co...

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 cl...

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 documen...

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...

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 fir...

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...

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<...

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 Tomorr...

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...

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 / 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 — T...

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

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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 Me...

Anthony and Joe kick off with a wild story about a guy who returned an anime figure to eBay — covered in bodily fluids — and claimed "item not as described." From there the boys riff on WWE's $11,500 pasta dinner package at Clash in Italy, the growing list of AEW women who haven't wrestled in years, Ricochet's social media drama, the Bella Army's toxic fandom response, Willow Nightingale's thoughtful take on fan harassment, foot fetish culture, the Roman Reigns/CM Punk/Jay Uso mess on Raw, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch launching a coffee brand, TKO's private equity stranglehold on WWE storytelling, and...

0:00 – Cold open / Anthony & Joe react to Dave Core; Johnny Ace autograph talk
13:57 – Official show intro: "Wrestling Soup, I'm Anthony Thomas, he's Joe Numbers"
14:10 – WrestleMania season talk
16:12 – AEW's latest PPV: "best PPV ever" discourse & death match wrestling debate
21:25 – WWE Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia — should it happen amid Middle East conflict?
36:59 – **Main Topic: Ricochet's Twitter controversy** — mocking a fan's MS diagnosis
40:30 – What prompted Ricochet's tweets? Full breakdown of the situation
56:29 – AEW's silence on Ricochet;
57:20 – Sean Ross Sapp defends Ricochet;
1:17:28 – **Ted DiBiase Jr. fraud case** — judge denies motion to dismiss; $3M stolen from Mississippi charities...

0:00 — Intro: Joe getting into the DanHausen thing; the show's chaos
0:58 — WrestleMania build losing steam; San Antonio crowd praise
2:15 — Randy Orton as the potential savior of WrestleMania's main event
2:50 — Stone Cold Steve Austin's no-show on 3:16 Day in Texas
5:34 — WWE's 31.6% ticket discount; bad sign for WrestleMania
7:07 — Las Vegas WrestleMania costs; hotel prices skyrocketing
8:18 — WWE slot machines; Whitney Houston jackpot story
10:59 — Road Dogg returning to the ring? OVW referee injury incident
14:43 — RAW recap begins; San Antonio crowd was the best of 2026
15:50 — Seth Rollins opener: henchmen, Brock Lesnar, Oba Femi breakdown
19:15 — Oba Femi vs. Brock: rushed booking...

2:00 – State debates: Oklahoma, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Idaho
8:00 – Mortgage situation & refusing to give up that 2% COVID rate
12:00 – BlackRock's rent-to-give-back communities / modern sharecropping
16:00 – Wrestling Soup intro
17:00 – Sol Ruca on Stephanie McMahon's podcast; toxic masculinity & male vulnerability in wrestling
24:00 – WWE's boomer creative problem & Kirsten's promotion to Raw writer
30:00 – Ricky Saints' concert segment pulled from YouTube (w/ clip)
37:00 – Zoe Stark promo comparison; conspiracy theory: creative sabotaging indie darlings
43:00 – WWE's financial machine vs. creative bankruptcy; WrestleMania apathy
50:00 – Nostalgia as WWE's only product (Blink-182 analogy, Reese's cups lawsuit)
55:00 – UFC vs. WWE audience divide; WWE trying to be Applebee's
1:0...

0:00 - Intro & Seth Rollins' Ninja Army Discussion
6:30 - Seth's Henchmen: Power Rangers or Wrestling School Students?
13:00 - Logan Paul vs Austin Theory Storyline
29:00 - CM Punk Confronts The Usos
42:00 - Dead Uncle Drama & Family Feuds
57:00 - Seth Rollins Figure Eight Choreography
1:18:00 - Judgment Day Turns on Finn Bálor
1:29:00 - Oba Femi vs Rusev Match
1:42:00 - Dan Hausen T-Shirt Sales Segment
1:57:00 - Raw Women's Gauntlet Match
2:10 - Penta vs El Grande Americano
2:23:00 - WrestleMania Build Criticism
2:42:00 - Rusty Loads Country Character Pitch
2:58:00 - Wrap Up & Final Thoughts

LA Knight's elimination chamber slip and Logan Paul's comments about dangerous ring conditions
WWE uses cheap screen printing instead of proper dye sublimation to save $81K/year
Ring canvas ads generate $14-36 million annually
One wrestler injury costs more than the entire yearly savings
WWE monetizes every canvas piece: $29-150 plaques, $400 name printing, charity donations, Panini trading cards
10% of one canvas generates $288K in merchandise alone
ESPN partnership struggles and WrestleMania 42 ticket concerns


0:00 - Intro & Road Dog's WWE Departure
1:31 - WWE Creative Shakeup: Alexandra Williams Joins Raw
6:04 - Zoe...

• The Vision falling apart & Seth Rollins' new role
• CM Punk vs Roman Reigns WrestleMania build
• Rhea Ripley's breakup with Iyo Sky
• Jade Cargill's backstage heat & Twitter drama
• Gunther vs Dragon Lee - great match, wrong timing
• Dan Hausen's WWE debut & mixed reactions
• Penta wins North American Championship!
• WrestleMania card concerns


0:00 - Intro / Demolition Theme Parody
2:43 - Raw Recap Begins / WrestleMania Road Concerns
5:30 - The Vision Falls Apart / Seth Rollins Turn
11:02 - Roman Reigns vs CM Punk Promo Analysis
25:58 - Restaurant Analogies (Denny's vs Bob Evans)
38:58 - Logan Paul & A...

0:00 - Intro & Snake Song
0:58 - Show Begins: Initial Thoughts on Elimination Chamber
1:32 - Women's Elimination Chamber Match Discussion
3:46 - Tiffany Stratton Problems & Kiana James Debut
7:40 - Raquel Rodriguez & Rhea Ripley's Size Discussion
13:10 - Champion Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee (Women's IC Title)
22:42 - AJ Lee's Legacy & Career Retrospective
31:06 - CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor (World Heavyweight Championship)
38:47 - Judgment Day's Future & Storyline Direction
46:20 - Dan Hausen's Box Debut Disaster
54:26 - Masked Man Reveal: Seth Rollins Returns
59:36 - Men's Elimination Chamber Match
1:03:32 - LA Knight's Botch & Push Discussion

Join Joe and Anthony for another unfiltered episode of Wrestling Soup! This week we're diving into:

🚗 Vince McMahon's wild Bentley crash and police encounter
🤝 Saudi Arabia's growing relationship with WWE
💰 Netflix vs Paramount Skydance battle for Warner Brothers Discovery (and what it means for AEW)
📺 AEW's uncertain future and declining ratings
👨‍👧 Eddie Guerrero's daughter calling out Vickie over memorabilia sales
📝 AJ Styles signs new WWE deal to coach young talent
🤳 Austin Theory's cringe "critics" promo and Paul Heyman's defense
🏆 Full WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 predictions

Plus: Dan Hausen rumors, Tony Khan's glory, Julia Hart's my...

0:00 Intro - Seth Rollins Curse & CM Punk Promo
1:05 Vince McMahon Saudi Buyback Rumors
5:45 Price Gouging & WrestleMania Tickets
9:55 Bronson Reed Injury & Learning Limitations
15:31 The Vision Falling Apart
22:30 Brock Lesnar Emergency Break Glass
29:00 Atlanta Crowd Dead All Night
38:25 AJ Styles Tribute Show & Missing Kurt Angle
48:25 Jade Cargill Standing Around
1:00:45 Prices vs Quality Debate
1:18:45 The Last WrestleMania Theory
1:24:15 WrestleMania 18 Ticket Prices Comparison
1:29:05 Too Big To Fail Problem

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Join Anthony and Joe for another episode of Frank and Gus! In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Chicago weather, real estate nightmares in Gary Indiana, the Bears stadium controversy, Boston development projects, and plenty of wrestling talk including WWE's creative direction, Tony Khan speculation, and listener voicemails.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro & Weather Talk
5:30 - Gary, Indiana Real Estate Discussion
15:45 - Bears Stadium Controversy
22:30 - Boston Development & MLS Stadium
32:15 - Illinois Ghost Towns & Infrastructure
40:20 - Maine Travel Plans
45:50 - Listener Voicemail: VPN & Original Content
50:10 - Listener Voicemail: Brett the Hitman on Barbecues<...

Joe and Anthony discuss wrestling news, celebrity culture, and random tangents in this wide-ranging conversation. Topics include Mercedes Mone's controversial fan subscription service, WWE's new wrestler trademarks, bad bunny's WrestleMania appearance, chain restaurant quality decline, baby naming trends, and a domestic violence case involving wrestler El ReAro and Stephanie Faher. The hosts also dive into Logan Paul's Pokemon card controversy, regional differences in fast food quality, and AEW's handling of the Brody Lee tribute merchandise.

Timestamps
0:00 - Intro banter and Mercedes Monet discussion
1:14 - Mercedes Monet $100/month text service controversy
2:54 - Wendy's closing 360 locations
4:42...

Join Anthony and Joe on Wrestling Soup as they break down the latest WWE Raw episode! This week we're diving into:

🔥 Raw's main event featuring Jovan Evans, Gunther, and Dominic Mysterio
🎤 JBL and Corey Graves' commentary chemistry
💬 Mercedes Monet's controversial $99.99 texting service
🏆 The Intercontinental Championship picture with AJ Lee and Becky Lynch
🤼 El Grande Americano storyline developments
👊 CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor tensions heating up
🎭 Liv Morgan's emotional sit-down interview with Michael Cole
📰 Dave Meltzer Awards fallout and Booker T's response

Plus: Ava's WWE departure, Logan Paul's heat, the women's chamber match...

2:00 - WrestleMania Ticket Pricing Controversy Analysis of WWE's expensive WrestleMania packages in Las Vegas
5:00 - Vegas Travel Costs & Accessibility Issues How expensive flights and accommodations are affecting WrestleMania attendance
10:00 - WWE's Disconnect with Fan Base Discussion of WWE being out of touch with their core audience's economic reality
15:00 - Physical Media Comeback DVDs, records, and CDs returning due to streaming concerns
20:00 - WrestleMania Package Breakdown Detailed look at the $37,500 premium packages and what they include
30:00 - Economic Reality Check Comparing ticket prices to actual fan income levels and affordability
38:00 - The 2025 Dave Meltzer Wrestling...