This week on The Mount Rushmore of Wrestling, we went full Steve Irwin (too soon?) Marlon Perkins (too late?) National Geographic (too litigious?) wildlife documentary.

From psychologically weaponized reptiles to beloved avian sidekicks, we built our definitive Mount Rushmore of actual non-human animals in wrestling history.

No Road Warrior Animal. No Dave "The Animal" Bautista. Not even Mr. Iguana.

Just real animals, real chaos, and real human emotion. About animals. Come sink your teeth into this episode!

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SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS

Bobby Heenan's wildlife rant

Boogeyman’s scariest moments: WWE Top 10, Oct. 24, 2021 - YouTube

WWE Hall of Fame: Koko B. Ware

Frankie's FindAGrave

Koko B. Ware on Frankie's death

Jake the Snake Roberts and Damien

Jake The Snake Roberts on the Many Different Versions of Damien

Earthquake squashes Damien

Jake Roberts on Earthquake crushing Damien!

All of Eric's links on Matilda:

DEBUT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCAXFUIQcNo

HEENAN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtwrFx1OWQE

DOGNAP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfrkEBewv94

PLEA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HOnkI1Q9wU

UPDATE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lOqef0ekUc

UPDATE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-zrQTt_dfk

PROMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XT_npqvWXc

PRESS CONF: https://youtu.be/HG75o0NZLgc?si=9_vQsJYjO1v72eh9&t=259

UECKER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP-zbOU7Erg

PROMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdeDQqnSE9c

DOLL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkpugDOKc9c

A special feature on rats

* A gorilla and a weasel talking about rats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPlQebt9HAw

* Jim Cornette and Percy Pringle talking about rats at the Sportatorium: https://youtu.be/LMXTkDdjwig?si=mGV8oD5EEkDZrn1j&t=1545 (end at “ready to see rasslin’”)

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WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA & EMAIL

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Email: 123@themountrushmoreofwrestling.com

When pro wrestling and Hollywood collide, the results can be… ugly. But when it works, it creates iconic characters, endlessly quotable lines, and moments that live forever in pop culture.

In this episode of The Mount Rushmore of Wrestling, Eric and Nate debate the four greatest movie performances by professional wrestlers—not just cameos, but roles that worked, mattered, and didn’t embarrass the business.

They also welcome Chris Owens, the foremost Andre the Giant historian, for an all-time deep dive into The Princess Bride, Andre’s physical limitations, and why Fezzik might be the most important crossover role a wrestler has ever had.

Do YOU have time to bleed? Of course not! But do you have time to listen? We certainly hope so.

The Big Debates

• What separates a great wrestler in a movie from a great movie performance?
• Do cameos count—or should they be disqualified entirely?
• Which performances helped wrestling… and which hurt it?

As always, the arguments are passionate, informed, and very loud.

The Doctors of Podanomics are back to wrap up their convo on the Mount Rushmore of John Cena! What match did Eric try sneaking up the side of his mountain? How did Nate take the news? Which of Cena's possibly greatest all-time opponents gets a nod, and which match does Eric think is Cena's greatest of all time? You can't see us, but you can hear us, so listen up, fools!

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BOB COOK GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-cooker-bob-cook-recover

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SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS

FULL MATCH: Randy Orton vs. John Cena | WWE Title WWE Iron Man Match: Bragging Rights 2009

His time is up, but our time is NOW! Time, that is, for Nate and Eric to discuss the Mount Rushmore of John Cena. Over his 23-year WWE career, yes, he's had his ups and downs in the ring--and with the crowd--but the ups were HUGE, and we're here to discuss them. Which matches were not just high quality, but high drama, high stakes, high crowd involvement, and probably even surprised us in some way? These are the matches that might make the cynical fan think, "I didn't know he had it in him!" Well guess what: He did, and we can see them. This is a two-parter leading up to John Cena's last match vs. GUNTHER at Saturday Night's Main Event on Dec. 13; enjoy this episode and keep an eye out for part two.

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BOB COOK GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-cooker-bob-cook-recover

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SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS:

CM Punk - WWE Raw 06-27-11 Epic Promo Pipebomb

The Rock and John Cena agree to meet at WrestleMania 28: WWE Raw

"F You Cena, You Can't Wrestle, Boo Yay Boo Yay": https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/playback/vod/GMO_00000000375171_01/65b3abd2-ea3b-3119-a358-7c145de2260a

Happy Thanksgiving! Your two favorite turkeys talk about the most amazing two on two matches--some might call tag team matches--in pro wrestling history. The context, the drama, the players, the historical significance, the matches we still talk about today because they're the standard bearers of the sub-genre of tag team wrestling within the genre-genre of professional wrestling. For whom would you need to overseas to watch their best matches? Or have ordered a low-buyrate pay-per-view? Or been alive 70-plus years ago? Or been a smelly ROH fan 18 years ago? (Hey, we were both that.) Tag, you're in--listen and find out!

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SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS:

From the New York Times itself: https://www.nytimes.com/1957/11/20/archives/wrestling-ends-in-riot-at-garden-2-policemen-hurt-as-fans-storm.html

Future friend of the show Javier Ojst writes this: https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/1957-msg-riot/

Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (THE HOLY DEMON ARMY) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi (June 9, 1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2OLvGT5ROU

El Hijo del Santo & Octagon vs. Eddy Guerrero & Love Machine Art Barr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603U_62GeSg

No Mercy 2002: Tag Team Championship Promo - YouTube

FULL MATCH: Briscoes vs Kevin Steen & El Generico LADDER WAR! 9/15/2007 ROH Man UP | Hidden Classics

Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs. Mayumi Ozaki & Dynamite Kansai 2/3 Falls Match (AJW 11/26/92) match

(Don't forget to rate and review our show, wherever you get our show!)

Ah, the pro wrestling referee. Often vilified, rarely vindicated, frequently blamed for not catching the heel wrestlers cheat... but in reality, the unsung heroes--the heartbeat--of professional wrestling. If it weren't for the referee, how would wrestlers know to throw an opponent out of the ring and mug for the hard camera right before a commercial break? Who would throw up the "X" when a wrestler breaks his ankle? Even more, who would ask a wrestler if they want to submit, count them out of the ring, disqualify them for breaking the rules, or count a wrestler's shoulders to the mat--1, 2, 3? Referees play an important role in the drama of a wrestling match. But who were the best of the best? Which referees were trusted with the money-drawing main events? Who were on our television sets for years if not decades due to their skills? Who created their own memorable moments or trademarks? (Or who infringed on trademarks and sold knockoff T-shirts in the parking lot?) Nate and Eric count down their Mount Rushmores of Referees... make a clean break and listen!

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SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS:

When Earl Hebner Fought Back!

The Rock & Earl Hebner Vs DX Part 1 - SMACKDOWN!

Tony Schiavone accuses Referee Nick Patrick of being in the NWO! 1996 (WCW)

Nick Patrick On Being The nWo Heel Referee

The greatest run in WrestleMania history

Charles Robinson: WWE's GOAT Referee On Brutal Bumps, His Viral Ramp Run, Iconic Matches, John Cena

Red Shoe Unno Diaries

Jim Cornette on Tommy Young: https://youtu.be/vtVG7ulUMdo?si=Sookunvxvopy6JE-&t=95

Arn Anderson on Tommy Young: https://youtu.be/NBT57Kv_uBk?si=OQjXcpZiAwky2vgi&t=31

Ric Flair on Tommy Young: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DwKVUmO6Tw

Shawn Michaels paying tribute to Earl Hebner: https://youtu.be/TTArBJAVZog?si=sELvKXvw5F5uqYQl&t=230

Bret Hart on Earl… oops! https://youtu.be/U9ob-BZnhBQ?si=sSpJI4lEvsGam8XB&t=4309

Steve Austin on if Earl Hebner should go into the Hall of Fame: https://youtu.be/JiUTwJP-7mE?si=u28X9gNg_cyALs2F&t=19

Hello, boys and ghouls! (Not sure any ghouls listen to this show.) It's Halloween, so Eric tricked Nate into giving you listeners this treat: It's the Mount Rushmore of Scariest Wrestlers! But as psychotic, blood-thirsty, and stark-raving mad as these wrestlers were, our guests this week are anything but:

• Barbara Goodish, none other than the wife of Bruiser Brody, joins us to talk about her beloved husband.
• Brian R. Solomon, author of "Blood and Fire," talks about that book's subject matter, The Sheik.
• Evan Ginzburg, associate producer of "The Wrestler" and "350 Days," joins us to reminisce about Ox Baker.
• Tony Richards, all-around historian and host of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel, talks "The Madman from the Sudan," Abdullah the Butcher.

If Nate and Eric didn't already scare you out of your pants, these guests will. Tuuuuuuune iiiinnnnnn.... if you dare!!!!!!!!!!! Muahahahahahaha!!!!

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SHOW NOTES:

"Brody" by Barbara Goodish: https://amzn.to/3LCLy1h

"Blood and Fire" by Brian R. Solomon: https://amzn.to/4nz8z2F

"Irresistible Force" by Brian R. Solomon: https://amzn.to/43MT5km

"Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets" by Evan Ginzburg: https://amzn.to/3LemZI0

Tony Richards' Substack - "Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel" - https://tonyrichards4.substack.com/

Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyRichards

Before first-class flights, before tour buses, and before chartered planes, professional wrestlers spent hours and hours traveling miles and miles on the road. What would it have been like to be a passenger in those cars? Listening to guys rebook the territory... passing them cans of beer... getting pulled over and the boys being recognized by the cops who suddenly mark out and want to get pictures with their favorite wrestlers... who would make the best road trip buddies in pro wrestling? Nate and Eric discuss, so let us take the wheel while you listen in!

Order "Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon" by Brian R. Solomon: https://amzn.to/3WT8fAI

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SHOW NOTES AND SPOILERS

Steve Austin Shoots on Dallas Page - YouTube

The Very Best Of Bobby The Brain Heeenan Wrestling Commentary Gold #WWF #WCW

Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov host a tea party with Sheamus in England: Raw, Nov. 8, 2010

Santino Marella On Mispronouncing Names, Stone Cold, The Cobra, Comedy Wrestling, TNA

Sting joins the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016: Raw, January 11, 2016

Jim Cornette at Dairy Queen: https://youtu.be/qVZAa1kxngw?si=Hk_voOzuFN4DIChg&t=80

Cornette and Percy Pringle 1: https://youtu.be/o7Cg1N4AMFw?si=V8FYlpHwyAtbPn9b&t=223

Cornette and Percy Pringle 2: https://youtu.be/kzMe_6UUod8?si=2-4iGKZn5mtULP0S&t=267

JBL tells road stories about him and Ron Simmons: https://youtu.be/R__wy1Z2IF0?si=htCK_CELlBhZj9bu&t=30