Wrestlenomics

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover the success of Wrestle Kingdom 20, how WWE’s holiday tour performed, and Netflix strikes a deal for WWE’s library. 

Plus, POST Wrestling’s Karen Peterson speaks about the significance of Wrestle Kingdom, Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement, the debut of Aaron Wolf, the TV-Asahi broadcast, and Saya Kamitani’s breakout year. 

Topics this week ...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover the TKO merger process with new documents unsealed and correspondence among key executives revealed.

Plus, a look back at the biggest news stories of 2025 and ones to watch in the coming year.

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/EZCOw8EBD1s

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover the latest developments in the WWE Ring Boy lawsuit, as a judge rules that most of the plaintiffs’ claims will proceed to discovery.

They also discuss John Cena’s final match and the business impact it generated, along with Mick Foley publicly cutting ties with WWE over Donald Trump.

Topics this week include:

• Warner Bros. Discovery’s ...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston look at the career of John Cena as the longest tenured main eventer in WWE’s history and the fight between Netflix & Paramount.

Topics this week include:

• The legacy of John Cena and his run on top in WWE
• The showdown between Netflix and Paramount for control of WBD
• Lawsuit over Cena’s theme song 
• Cena’s latest comments on Vince McMahon
• Mark Shapiro speaks at the UBS conference 
• Judge issues order ...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston welcome Trish Speirs to discuss her excellent feature on the booking of Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match and TNA’s new media rights deal with AMC. 

Topics this week include:

• TNA inks multi-year deal with AMC
• The booking of Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match
• WWE Raw falls outside the global top ten on Netflix
• More on the WWE share...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston unpack the effect Big Data + Panel is having on the professional wrestling industry, and a blistering response from CW on the new methodology. 

Topics this week include:

• Big Data + Panel reporting by Brandon Thurston, including CW’s response 
• Comparisons using the old and new methods for WWE & AEW 
• Significant updates in the WWE shareholder lawsuit 
• Vince McMahon’s phone given back by the feds 
• A...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston react to Tony Khan’s sit-down chat with Ariel Helwani, TKO’s big week at Madison Square Garden, a “Stunner” of a group chat, and the WON Hall of Fame class.

Topics this week include:

• Tony Khan returns to the Ariel Helwani Show
• TKO runs UFC 322 & John Cena’s Final Raw at MSG
• ESPN and YouTube reach an agreement
• Latest in the ongoing shareholder lawsuit agains...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover WWE’s announcement with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, TKO’s Q3 earnings report, and how TNA Bound for Glory performed.

Topics this week include:

• WWE and MLSE announce long-term partnership
• TKO’s Q3 Earnings Results 
• Mark Shapiro comments on Fox’s performance with UFC
• TNA Bound for Glory’s gate and tickets sold 
• Janel Grant accuses Dr. Carlon Colke...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston share their Observer Hall of Fame ballots and debate who should be inducted this year.

Plus: TKO prepares for its third-quarter earnings, analysis of AEW’s past quarter, Wrestle Kingdom 20 ticket update & a betting scandal rocks the UFC. 

Topics this week include:

• TKO to report Q3 earnings
• AEW’s past quarter performance 
• Market-to-market compa...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss WWE’s enforcement of no-compete clauses involving Andrade and Samantha Irvin, and whether these clauses could withstand legal scrutiny.

Combat sports regulatory lawyer Erik Magraken joins them to break down the legality of these contracts and the push by TKO to pass the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. 

Topics this week includ...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston look at last week’s “Super Tuesday” results, how TNA fared at Bound for Glory, and how best to assess a company’s success in this new era. 

Topics this week include:

• The changing metrics to assess pro wrestling companies
• TNA reports 7,794 attendance for Bound for Glory
• Advance for AEW WrestleDream in St. Louis 
• Location for WWE Elimination Chamber
• Ridge Holland released while injured
• WWE cuts & ID...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss the public funding and attendance figures from AEW All In Texas and react to SmackDown’s all-time low viewership.

Thurston discusses his reporting on AEW All In Texas and the records he has received from the Government concerning the July 11 event at Globe Life Field.

SmackDown falls to an all-time viewership figure under the new Big Data + Panel ...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston chat with Douglas Pucci of Programming Insider about Nielsen’s new method of tracking viewership and the negative impact it has shown for professional wrestling programs.

Pucci explains how the new method differs from the previous model, its impact on other genres of programming, and why pro wrestling has seen significant decreases.

Then, Pollock & Thursto...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover AEW Dynamite’s sixth anniversary, Zuffa Boxing’s deal with Paramount, and Dana White appears on 60 Minutes.

Plus, Josh Nason from the Wrestling Observer returns to the show. 

Topics this week include:

• AEW Dynamite’s sixth anniversary tonight 
• WWE partners with DC Events for John Cena’s retirement match
• Zuffa Boxing signs deal wit...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down the head-to-head showdown between WWE and AEW, with both companies running their biggest shows of the month.

Topics this week include:

• WWE’s debut on the ESPN app with Wrestlepalooza and fan reception
• AEW All Out streaming on HBO Max
• Tony Khan on streaming numbers and running afternoon events
• Key streaming & TV viewership data from t...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover a massive week of news in wrestling, MMA, and sports media. The main story is WWE announcing that WrestleMania will be held in Saudi Arabia, with U.K. journalist Robert Jackman joining the show to break down the logistics and impact of the move.

We also dive into:

• Independent promoters reacting to WWE’s Saudi Arabia strategy
• ESPN’s media call ahead of Wrestlepalooza
• Mark Shapiro’s comments at...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down AJ Lee’s return to WWE and SmackDown surging to the #1 show on Friday, Bryan Danielson speaking on WWE’s counterprogramming strategy, and Bubba the Love Sponge’s response to the Nick Bollea lawsuit.

Also covered on the show:

• John Cena’s upcoming retirement match in Washington, D.C.
• Paul Levesque addresses WWE’s contributions to Saudi Arabia
• Bubba th...

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down WWE Clash in Paris, including the record-setting gate at La Défense Arena, WWE’s international business growth, and the company’s decision to run the venue on back-to-back nights.

Plus, we cover the biggest stories across wrestling this week:

• AEW moves All Out to afternoon, PPVs available on HBO Max
• ROH Death Before Dishonor suffers t...

Neal Flanagan, filling in for John Pollock, and Brandon Thurston discuss AEW’s Forbidden Door event and press conference, WWE PLE starting on ESPN DTC streaming earlier than originally announced, plus recent legal developments.

Also:

• WWE’s PLEs moving to ESPN DTC and reworked NBCU deal
• Notes from the Forbidden Door post-show press conference
• Dr. Carlon Colker briefly discloses Janel Grant’s medical records before filings were seale...