Wrestling Is Real Wrestling Podcast

Wrestling Is Real Wrestling Podcast

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of professional wrestling since 2012, the Wrestling Is Real Podcast, with your host @KingOfPodcasts, offers in-depth, bold, and uncensored commentary. We go beyond the surface to analyze the intricate storylines, pivotal TV moments, and creative directions across all major promotions including WWE, AEW, TNA, MLW, NWA, and more. Expect insightful critiques, passionate debate, and a commitment to exploring why some angles captivate us and others fall flat. If you're looking for a podcast that truly understands the psychology and spectacle of wrestling and isn't afraid to speak its mind, you're in the right place. We're here for the highlights and the low blows, because wrestling needs us! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-is-real-wrestling-podcast--1559158/support.

Episodes

October 16, 2025 48 mins
While wrestling fans and others online have been captivated and disturbed by a recent trend of AI-generated wrestling videos, the WWE is facing its own set of internal issues, from a murky championship picture to dwindling viewership, creating a "blurry vision" for the company's future.

The rise of OpenAI's Sora has led to a surge in viral, and often bizarre, videos depicting real and deceased public figures in WWE matches. These AI...
Mark as Played
TNA's biggest event of the year, Bound For Glory, suffered from a profound and detrimental influence from WWE and NXT-style booking, resulting in a confusing, over-booked, and ultimately frustrating night of action. The pay-per-view, which should have been TNA's chance to shine, instead felt marred by questionable decisions, unnecessary complexity, and a lack of faith in its own roster and storytelling.
Over-Exposed NXT Talent and C...
Mark as Played
In the wake of WWE's high-profile pivot to streaming platforms like Netflix and ESPN, the company's business model has emerged as a paradoxical behemoth—raking in unprecedented revenue through lucrative media deals and inflated live event pricing, yet teetering on the brink of creative insolvency that alienates talent and fans alike. 

Since the Netflix era kicked off in January 2025 with the exclusive streaming of *Monday Night Raw*...
Mark as Played
WWE's NXTNA—a snarky shorthand for the NXT-TNA-AAA mashup—smells like a calculated middle finger to AEW, cloaked in cross-promotional chaos. 
Ricky Starks, rebranded as Ricky Saints, went from AEW's midcard darling to NXT's dual-title kingpin in six months, snagging the North American belt from Shawn Spears in April and toppling Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at No Mercy.
 NoDQ.com crowed the Femi match as WWE's "F.U." to AEW, spi...
Mark as Played
WWE’s much-hyped WrestlePalooza, the first Premium Live Event (PLE) streamed on ESPN Unlimited, landed with a thud, earning a scathing “C” grade from ESPN combat sports writer Andreas Hale. The Indianapolis event, meant to kick off 

WWE’s blockbuster five-year, $325 million deal with ESPN, promised “epic moments” and "surprises" but delivered a lackluster card that left fans and critics underwhelmed. Hale praised the Women’s World C...
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AEW All Out 2025 delivered  a stacked card with five championship matches, intense stipulation bouts, and the emergence of new stars. Headlined by AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page defending his title against TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher.

“The Protostar,” stepped into the spotlight as a main event contender, challenging Hangman Adam Page for the AEW World Championship. Fletcher’s performance, however, showcased his potential as a...
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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. 

Me...
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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 Grou...
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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 pod...
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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 s...
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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 ...
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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 ...
Mark as Played
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 corporat...
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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, an...
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WWE's recent maneuvers suggest a calculated strategy to dominate the industry, often at the expense of fostering genuine growth or collaboration. 
Under the leadership of Triple H and with TKO Group's backing, WWE has been accused of leveraging its resources to undermine rivals like AEW, while exerting influence over smaller promotions such as AAA and TNA. This approach not only involves aggressive counter-programming but also subtl...
Mark as Played
AAA's Triplemania 33 event as one of the year's best wrestling shows, highlighting its use of over-the-top, character-driven performances. Memorable moments included the match between Omos and Microman and a puppet version of Finn Bálor's "Demon" character. The speaker suggests that WWE, under Triple H's leadership, could benefit from adopting AAA's "make-believe," campy, and fun approach to storytelling to energize its own product...
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KOP argues that the TKO Group's business strategy, which combines the assets of WWE and UFC, is focused on securing maximum television and streaming dominance at the expense of talent and competition. 

New UFC Deal with Paramount+We look at the recent, historic seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights deal between TKO Group and Paramount for UFC content, beginning in 2026. This agreement is seen as a major power play, as it moves all U...
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In a landmark move for professional wrestling, WWE, under the umbrella of TKO Group Holdings, has secured a five-year, $1.625 billion media rights agreement with ESPN, positioning the sports entertainment giant’s Premium Live Events (PLEs) on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platform starting in 2026. This deal, valued at an average of $325 million annually, marks a significant shift from WWE’s current streaming partne...
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In a night of unexpected turns and high-stakes championship matches, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious over John Cena in a brutal street fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship. 
The night also saw Naomi successfully defend her Women's World Championship in a triple-threat match against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, replicating the surprise pinfall strategy used at a previous event.
The Wyatt Sicks, consisting of Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy,...
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SummerSlam 2025 starts up following a plot twist in a highly anticipated rematch between two of WWE's biggest stars: the returning hero John Cena and the "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.

The main event of SummerSlam Night 1 saw CM Punk dethrone Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. The celebration was short-lived, however, as Seth Rollins, who had won the Money in the Bank contract, appeared with his briefcase. With CM Pu...
Mark as Played

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