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  • A WWE Wrestlepalooza of Inferior Improv and Match Match Match
    2025/09/18

    We look into the intersection of corporate influence and creative execution within WWE's programming. The "Match Match Match" podcast trope is used to critique what is described as "inferior improv" and "corporate suffocation of creative," leading to generic and uninspired storylines. This is exemplified by a "tedious" go-home promo for a mixed-tag team match involving CM Punk & AJ Lee against Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch.

    Meanwhile, this creative direction coincides with a significant new partnership between WWE and ESPN. A media call with ESPN executives Matt Kenny and JT Lasker took place ahead of the Wrestlepalooza Premium Live Event, which will be the first WWE event to stream exclusively on the ESPN app.

    The executives expressed excitement about the deal and, according to multiple news outlets, are open to adding more WWE Premium Live Events to their schedule in the future. The new partnership aims to integrate WWE further into mainstream sports coverage.

    WWE Wrestlepalooza marks a new era as the first Premium Live Event to stream on ESPN. Taking place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, the card features several high-profile matches with major storylines.

    The main event features a long-awaited mixed tag team match as two of wrestling's most iconic couples collide: Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch taking on CM Punk and the returning AJ Lee. The rivalry between Rollins and Punk has been simmering for months, and with the surprising return of AJ Lee, this mixed tag team match is poised to be an all-out battle.

    Another major bout on the card is the highly anticipated showdown between John Cena and Brock Lesnar. This is billed as one of the final matches on Cena's retirement tour, and the feud was ignited when Lesnar made a shocking return to attack Cena after his loss to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.

    The Undisputed WWE Championship will also be on the line as Cody Rhodes defends his title against Drew McIntyre, who has been a thorn in the champion's side. Additionally, a new Women's World Champion will be crowned when Iyo Sky battles Stephanie Vaquer for the vacant title, which was recently relinquished by Naomi.

    AEW All Out 2025 will be held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and features a card filled with intense rivalries and high-stakes championship matches. "Hangman" Adam Page will defend the AEW World Championship against Kyle Fletcher in a highly anticipated main event. The AEW Women's World Championship will be contested in a four-way match as "Timeless" Toni Storm puts her title on the line against Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander, and Thekla.

    Other notable matches on the card include a Coffin Match between Jon Moxley and Darby Allin, a feud that has been brewing for nearly a year. The AEW TBS Championship will also be on the line when Mercedes Moné defends her title against Riho.

    In a tag team grudge match, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage will reunite in their hometown to face off against FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler). Also confirmed for the event is a singles match between MJF and Mark Briscoe, adding another layer of drama to a stacked card.


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    55 分
  • TKO's Global Power Play Puts WWE Toxic Fandom Into Tailspin
    2025/09/15
    WWE made a controversial announcement that WrestleMania 43 in 2027 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks the first time WWE's flagship event will be hosted outside of North America, and it's a decision that has sent shockwaves through the fan base.
    The move, which is reportedly part of a massive new deal that includes the 2027 Royal Rumble and at least one other major event in the same year, is a clear signal of TKO Group Holdings' focus on maximizing global revenue, with reports suggesting these events could earn the company upwards of $50 million each night.
    The outrage is palpable, with many fans feeling that WWE is "selling out" and prioritizing huge sums of money from foreign governments over the traditional fan base that has supported the company for decades. This sentiment is amplified by comments from TKO COO Mark Shapiro at the recent Communacopia tech conference, where he spoke candidly about a new strategy to maximize "ticket yield" and raise prices, further alienating fans who feel they are being priced out of attending live events.

    Compounding the corporate-driven controversies are recent creative and talent-related developments that have left a bitter taste in fans' mouths. The Friday night AAA Worlds Collide event, a crossover show with WWE, saw the promotion's top prizes go to two of WWE's most polarizing figures: Dominik Mysterio and Natalya.
    This mirrored the recent success of Trick Williams and Jacy Jayne in the promotion, leading to frustration from a fan base that feels a handful of "chosen" stars are being force-fed to them.
    Finally, the recent and sudden release of Andrade has added fuel to the fire. The talented star's departure has left many fans fuming, especially given his recent return to the company and his lack of television time.
    This move, combined with Triple H's own recent comments about the "internet following" not being "real life," has created a deep chasm between the company's leadership and its most vocal supporters.
    The collective frustration over the WrestleMania announcement, the rising ticket costs, the perceived favoritism in inter-promotional partnerships, and the perplexing talent release of Andrade, has created an environment where fans feel unheard and unvalued in the TKO era of WWE.

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    39 分
  • Triple H: Master Manipulator or AJ Lee: Agent of Fandom Healing (ep. 958)
    2025/09/11
    In the face of historically low wrestling ratings and a strategic gamble with Raw's start time, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H is being cast as a master manipulator, deftly using the "juvenile delusional fandom" as putty in his hands.
    Rather than a genuine philosophical shift toward transparency, his public defense of the WWE: Unreal docuseries is portrayed as a calculated mind trick.
    He cleverly called out the hypocrisy of podcasters and online critics who consume backstage gossip, while simultaneously giving them exactly what they crave: the illusion of having the curtain pulled back. By providing a sanctioned glimpse into the business, he both validates their obsessive interest and maintains control over the narrative, making them feel special and "in the know" without actually relinquishing any real power.
    This sophisticated form of fan manipulation is further evidenced by the highly marketable WRESTLEPALOOZA 2025 card. The event is a perfect example of molding fan desires into reality, featuring a dream match that pits Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch against CM Punk and the returning AJ Lee.
    The return of AJ Lee is framed as a key part of this grand deception, with her prancing around as their agent of healing. Her powerful and emotional quote about her mental health journey and turning "mental chaos into my superpower" is seen not as a genuine moment of vulnerability, but as a carefully curated narrative deployed to garner positive press and connect with a specific, emotionally invested segment of the fanbase.
    Her comeback provides the perfect feel-good story to distract from broader business challenges, proving that Triple H's genius lies not in his creative vision, but in his ability to give the fans the specific kind of "authenticity" they believe they want.

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    1 時間 10 分
  • AJ Lee WWE Return Riles Frenzied Fandom For Wrestlepalooza Hype
    2025/09/06
    WWE Smackdown pulled out all the stops with "hot shot" booking to set the stage for their upcoming Wrestlepalooza event.
    The surprise return of AJ Lee, who came to the aid of her husband, CM Punk, in a heated confrontation with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. While the toxic portion of the WWE fandom is ecstatic over Lee's comeback, gloating online about how it proves WWE's superiority over a struggling AEW brand that is reportedly seeing its TV ratings and viewership numbers sink to record lows, her return is ultimately a red herring.
    It's designed to generate a quick, immediate buzz to distract from the real long-term narrative. The real story of the night, which will have a more lasting impact leading into Wrestlepalooza, was the shocking return of Brock Lesnar.
    He brutally attacked John Cena, who had just delivered a heartfelt retirement-tour speech and was engaged in a fantastic United States Championship match with Sami Zayn. Lesnar's assault on Cena not only ended the match in a no-contest but immediately set up a massive, high-profile bout between the two at Wrestlepalooza, confirming the match for the premium live event.
    The rest of the show furthered other key storylines, with Aleister Black defeating Damian Priest and Giulia retaining her WWE Women's United States Championship against Michin, but the focus remains squarely on the CM Punk/Becky Lynch and John Cena/Brock Lesnar feuds heading into the major event in two weeks.

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    22 分
  • AEW Avoids WWE Chess Move. Wrestlepalooza Now Competing with College Football
    2025/09/04
    Time to dissect the latest chapter in the WWE bullying tactics to counter AEW, arguing that WWE's decision to counter-program AEW All Out with their new ESPN-backed Wrestlepalooza event was a major unforced error.
    This move, driven by a clear case of "Tony Khan derangement syndrome," aimed to disrupt AEW's business but instead provided them with the perfect opportunity to make a brilliant strategic pivot.
    We break down how AEW not only sidestepped a pointless head-to-head conflict by moving their event to an earlier time but also leveraged the situation to secure a groundbreaking pay-per-view deal with HBO Max.
    This maneuver not only validates AEW's business model but also highlights their focus on long-term growth over petty rivalries.
    Adding a new layer of context, WWE's Wrestlepalooza will debut on the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 20.
    However, AEW's switch to a 3 p.m. ET start time for All Out strategically positions them to avoid a direct conflict and leaves WWE in competition with the most-watched time slot in sports: primetime college football.
    On that very evening, WWE will be vying for eyeballs against significant matchups on the ESPN family of networks and other major platforms, including Auburn at Oklahoma, Illinois vs. Indiana, and Miami vs. Florida
    These games, along with numerous other televised college football matchups, present a formidable challenge to WWE's attempt to make a splash on their new platform, highlighting the shortsightedness of their booking decision.

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    55 分
  • World Title Goes Bonnie and Clyde in Contemptuous Clash in Paris
    2025/09/01
    The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, secured a decisive victory over Bronson Reed. The Wyatt Sicks, with the eerie presence of Uncle Howdy, successfully defended their WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits.
    Becky Lynch, emerged victorious, retaining her WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship against Nikki Bella. Later in the evening, in a crucial Fatal four-way match for the World Heavyweight Championship, Seth Rollins retained his title.
    The win came with a twist, in the true style of Bonnie and Clyde Becky helped Rollins defeat CM Punk to retain. The event also featured Rusev overpowering Sheamus in a Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook match, while John Cena triumphed over Logan Paul in a singles bout.

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    31 分
  • WWE Fixed on Crushing Competition and Fueling Toxic Fandom
    2025/08/28
    The competition between WWE and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has been characterized by what many consider to be a series of petty and anti-competitive actions, particularly on the part of WWE. This approach appears to be rooted in a desire to prevent any competitor from reaching the level of success once achieved by WCW, which forced WWE to work harder and innovate. The modern-day parallel of this rivalry extends from the top corporate level down to the fan base.

    Corporate Anti-Competition
    The business tactics of WWE and its parent company, TKO, have been described as intentionally disruptive. Reports suggest that WWE has scheduled its own premium live events (PLEs) on the same weekends as major AEW pay-per-views, a strategy seen as an attempt to undercut their competitor and divide the audience.

    This move is allegedly aimed at monopolizing the market, which would allow WWE to dictate prices for its products and, as seen with TKO's other assets like the UFC, potentially reduce wrestler salaries by minimizing the need for competitive compensation. A protest by a stagehands union outside an AEW event, alleging that workers were being paid below standard rates, further highlights the economic tensions within the industry. While AEW has distanced itself from the protest, this incident draws attention to the broader struggles over worker compensation and unionization in professional wrestling, an area that could be affected by a lack of genuine competition.

    Fanbase and Body Shaming
    The rivalry's pettiness is not limited to corporate boardrooms; it has also seeped into the fanbases. Fans of both companies, particularly those who are highly loyal to WWE, have engaged in what is described as "juvenile" and "delusional" behavior. A prime example of this is the body shaming directed at AEW wrestlers.

    One AEW star recently opened up about facing "ruthless" body-shaming comments from fans, highlighting how this online harassment goes beyond typical wrestling critiques. This behavior stands in stark contrast to AEW's reported efforts to support its talent, which includes offering a tuition reimbursement program to wrestlers. This benefit is a significant step toward providing performers with long-term stability and is considered a rarity within the wrestling industry, showcasing a different corporate philosophy.

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    1 時間 12 分
  • AEW Forbidden Door London: MJF and Toni Storm Excel in Exhibition-Heavy Card
    2025/08/25
    AEW Forbidden Door London highlighted MJF and "Timeless" Toni Storm as top main event stars through stellar booking. MJF’s gripping AEW World Championship loss to "Hangman" Adam Page showcased his magnetic presence, while Toni Storm’s submission win over Athena for the AEW Women’s World Championship reinforced her dominance.

    Beyond the intense Lights Out Steel Cage main event, where Golden Lovers, Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Will Ospreay defeated Death Riders, The Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd, most championship matches—like Kyle Fletcher’s TNT title defense, Mercedes Moné’s TBS four-way, Zack Sabre Jr.’s IWGP title bout, Kazuchika Okada’s Unified Championship win, and BrodiDo’s tag title victory—served as exhibition-style showcases, emphasizing AEW’s global star power over deep storytelling, with MJF and Storm shining brightest.


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    40 分