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I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 33We took last week off to give thanks but the ILW Lounge is open with a never-before-seen trios debut featuring Rachel, Audio Sean, and Matty Ice. Survivor Series: War Games opens the door for new feuds and rehashes existing ones, with some exceeding their limits and testing our patience. Matty Ice cleared his schedule and is ready to watch NXT: Deadline live, Audio Sean , and Rachel celebrates Shinsuke Nakumara’s win as the new United States Champion, THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 INSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod2024-12-071h 07I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 30Rachel, Audio Sean, and Uncle Naitch are fresh off the heels of this week’s Friday Night Smackdown for a late-night recording where we’re still coming down from the high of The Bloodline cinema we just witnessed. Our (well, Rachel and Naitch’s) favorite match at Crown Jewel was an eight-women showcase firing on all cylinders, opening up questions like if Jade and Bianca have reached their peak and where else Iyo Sky can shine her star power. NXT’s ECW crossover show leaves mixed impressions, with former legends appearing lost and out-of-place, but the main highlight for all of us...2024-11-091h 11I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 29Happy Halloween from the I Like Wrestling Lounge! Rachel and the guys unpack last weekend’s NXT Halloween Havoc, new tag team champions MCMG, and the latest Bloodline developments. Uncle Naitch recaps TNA Bound for Glory and some recent AEW updates, opening up a conversation on the debut of The Hurt Business in AEW. Frolf reminds us of the looming presence of The Wise Man Paul Heyman, Adam embraces the chaos of Bronson Reed, and Rachel just realized she forgot to finish the end of this description.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREA...2024-11-021h 25I Like WrestlingIs The Attitude Era Overrated?Rachel and Matt, The OG Duo of “The A Show” are here to answer provocative questions about if The Attitude Era is overrated and how terrible matches can actually magnify the beauty of the art of wrestling. Chainsaw Charlie and Cactus Jack dive into a dumpster match that has us divided on what we think the ending represents, Rachel witnesses a live in-ring proposal at last weekend’s GCW show, and Matt previews his upcoming Halloween wrestling gimmick.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGR...2024-10-2547 minI Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 24Rachel leads a rowdy roster into a new era as we navigate the passing of the torch from Audio Ben to Audio Sean. We dissect the Roman and Cody Friday Night Lights promo and question if its cinematic gravitas hindered or helped their ongoing storyline. Naitch introduces our new Workhorse of the Week segment, Ice finally got to watch a full episode of AEW, Rachel can’t get enough of the Liv/Rhea/Dom love triangle even though Sean would be okay putting it on pause, Adam introduces the idea of Rhea and Bianca as the fu...2024-09-271h 26I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 22Same roster, new week as Rachel is joined by Frolf, Uncle Naitch, and Adam to tear into the weird and wacky world of wrestling. Uncle Naitch questions why we’re living in a world of B Plus matches when we could have all As, Frolf is intrigued by Giulia’s debut and her overall aura, Adam finally catches up on NXT, and Rachel loves 2/3rds of Bret Hart’s shamanic return to Monday Night Raw. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvoca...2024-09-151h 18I Like WrestlingBash in Berlin and NXT No MercyTsunami splash through a car into a jam-packed episode recapping, reviewing, and vibing on last weekend’s plethora of wrestling. Audio Ben met wrestling legend Mick Foley last weekend and got to reunite with his best friend Max Vocal, speaking as his voice on an incredible experience. Rachel questions why Nia Jax didn’t deserve a spot on the Bash at Berlin card and changes her mind when Audio Ben reframes it as main eventing a nationally televised show. Joe Hendry may be gone from NXT for now but we still believe (well, at least Rachel does).THRE...2024-09-061h 04I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 21Rachel is joined by Frolf, Uncle Naitch, and Adam to talk through the plethora of wrestling that we have to consume this week. Naitch fills us in on his favorite AEW moments from last weekend’s AEW All In, Adam books a predictable yet surprising contender for LA Knight’s Open Challenge at Bash at Berlin, Frolf presents the idea of a Women’s Trios Belt, and Rachel still believes in Joe Hendry.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmedia2024-08-301h 29I Like WrestlingRandy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2016)Last week’s episode inspired us to watch Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2016. Audio Ben fills Rachel in on some gaps in Brock’s storyline, Green Shirt Guy may be Back-To-The-Futuring Us and the commentary team sparks some intriguing conversation. The Queen of Wrestling Threads posed the question “Is AEW turning into WCW?” on Threads and Audio Ben comes to AEW’s defense. GCW may have felt more like a house show this time but at least Rachel got a picture with Matt Cardona.BUY AN ILW SHIRT https://www.customink.com/fundraising/i-like-wrestling-frolf?utm_campaign=m...2024-08-221h 12I Like WrestlingTriple H vs. Sgt. Slaughter Boot Camp Match (1997)Listen up maggots! Commissioner Slaughter challenges DX Anti-Authority Triple H in a no-holds-barred Bootcamp Match on 1997’s In Your House Series Finale. It’s Matt’s first time viewing and a recent re-watch for Rachel, with non-stop momentum and conversation from the minute the bell rings. We talk through some preliminary Money in the Bank Predictions, Dark Side of the Ring episodes, and raise our ones in honor of Sika Anoa’i. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpo...2024-06-271h 05I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 12The Wyatt Sicks have nothing on the ILW Five, especially now that Audio Ben has made his triumphant return back to the lounge. Rachel, BSJ, Matty Ice, and Adam talk through the Clash at the Castle Card, wondering if Chad Gable will recover from a seemingly fatal gunshot wound, how Bayley’s championship run could use some more seasoning, and we all shock ourselves with how much we’re digging CM Punk.THREADS @ilwpod X @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @ilwpodcastRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77AUDIO BE...2024-06-211h 03I Like WrestlingClash at the Castle and GCW: Hit ‘Em UpScotland is the birthplace of many famous people: William Wallace, Ewan McGregor, Tilda Sinwton, and two-time Clash at the Castle loser Drew McIntyre. Audio Ben returns from hiatus to discuss last weekend’s Clash at the Castle and Rachel’s latest GCW show experience. We’re hyped about the new debuts, like Uncle Howdy’s Gang, Chelsea Verde and the launch of Talent Name Here, while the “return” of Seth Rollins fails to make an impression. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmed...2024-06-211h 10I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 11The time of the year in between Wrestlemania and SummerSlam is often thought of as the doldrums of the wrestling season but NXT Battleground and Clash at the Castle are giving us plenty to cook with in the past, present, and future. Rachel, Uncle Naitch, Adam, and BSJ gab about their favorite moments (with plenty to choose from) including Kelani Jordan as the inaugural North American Women’s Champion, Jordan Grace’s earlobe tear as a cautionary tale against wearing jewelry in the ring, and Oba Femi’s dream future manager.THREADS @ilwpod X @ilw...2024-06-1853 minI Like WrestlingNXT Battleground 2024Ladders were climbed, inaugural champions were crowned, and earlobes were split at this past weekend’s NXT Battleground and we’re here to run through (most of) the card. After watching a video essay on kayfabe, Rachel ignites a conversation with Matt on Andy Kaufman’s legacy and nuanced understanding of transgressions to use kayfabe to reveal kayfabe itself (how many times can we say kayfabe?). (I guess we just really like wrestling, as well as using parentheses in this description). THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grum...2024-06-1342 minI Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 9Rachel is joined by Uncle Naitch, Adam, and Matty Ice to talk about King and Queen of the Ring highlights, TNA’s burgeoning relationship with WWE, and how the NXT call ups are cooking. Naitch leads us in an AEW Double or Nothing recap and discussion of where the brand is heading. The guys take a trip down memory lane to remind Rachel how lucky she is to be able to consume virtually any PPV at the click of a button. THREADS @ilwpod X @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @ilwpo...2024-06-021h 02I Like WrestlingKing and Queen of the Ring (2024)All Hail Queen Nia and King Gunther, your newest Queen and King of the Ring crowned this weekend in Saudi Arabia. Rachel and Matt run through the card and reveal their favorite moments, matches, and predictions for SummerSlam. Evolution explores how The Great Khali got his SAG membership, Sexxy Red’s guest appearance on NXT, and if the UFC/Endeavor era might actually be a flop.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5...2024-05-3145 minI Like WrestlingRVD vs. John Cena (ECW One Night Stand 2006)Matt attended ECW One Night Stand live way back in 2006 and we’re here for the second time on ILW to talk about this iconic PPV, this time featuring a watch-along of The Spirit of WWE (John Cena) vs. The Spirit of ECW (Rob Van Dam). Rachel finds a compelling reason to convince Matt to give her his commemorative chair from the event, we’re introduced to Goldust’s provocative new look, and a unique direction is predicted for the winners of King and Queen of the Ring. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpod2024-05-251h 04I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 8It’s almost time to crown the King and Queen of the Ring and the lounge is open with our various configurations and speculations of who we think should be crowned. We continue to give the NXT Women’s Roster its proper flowers, with special thanks to Lash Legend and Lola Vice. Rachel poses the question of what The Attitude Era would look like without The Montreal Screwjob and ends up causing quite the divide amongst the ITCOGs. THREADS @ilwpod X @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @ilwpodcastRACHEL’...2024-05-181h 09I Like Wrestling1997 Rewind: The Montreal ScrewjobThe Montreal Screwjob is perhaps the most iconic moment in professional wrestling and Rachel has finally arrived and watched in its full Survivor Series glory. She shares thoughts, vibes, and feelings with special guest co-host Black Sabre Jr. who was lucky enough to watch it happen live 27 years ago. We talk about the legacies and impacts of Rick Roode, Jeff Jarrett, and brand sweepstakes, as well as what the Attitude Era might have looked like if Bret hadn’t been screwed. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BSJ’s T...2024-05-181h 06I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 7Just like the NXT Women’s Roster, the ILW Lounge is cooking on all levels. We’ve got Backlash backlash, a brief update on Jimmy Uso, and endless praise for the best show in wrestling right now (with the exception of Brinley). Rachel guides the guys through a discussion on wrestling graphic t-shirts: then, now, forever, and together and we take a moment to honor Owen Hart’s birthday. THREADS @ilwpod X @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @ilwpodcastRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77AUDIO BEN X @grumphandleslam 2024-05-1156 minI Like WrestlingBacklash Contrecoup and Badd Blood 1997Our ears are still ringing from the French crowds at Backlash and Matt has a lot to say about le public interfering with his ability to enjoy the matches. Rachel wrangles a somewhat one-sided discussion on the 1997 In Your House: Badd Blood PPV. This podcast is unofficially sponsored by Challengers, The Last Match, and definitely not the WWE Draft. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-05-0956 minI Like WrestlingRandy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes (Raw 2013)Cody Rhodes may have defeated Roman Reigns to become the next Universal Champion but 11 years ago, he fought another battle against then-champion Randy Orton and we’re here to watch along live. Rachel mourns the death of Brian Pillman and graciously forgoes her Millennial Mania segment for Matt’s lessons learned in ring announcing while Audio Ben defends Becky’s title win. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpo...2024-04-251h 04I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 5The self-proclaimed premiere female voice of wrestling threads aka Rachel is joined by the ITCOGs for a jangling discussion on all the belt changes and upcoming storyline predictions. We talk about the newly revamped tag team titles and what it means for the draft, the future of Damien Priest’s title reign, how Rhea’s absence could shake up the women’s division, and Chad Gable’s inevitable upcoming singles run.THREADS @ilwpod X @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @ilwpodcastRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77AUDIO BEN X @grumphandleslam 2024-04-1958 minI Like WrestlingTwo Fallouts and Pound Town WrestlingWe’re two weeks post Wrestlemania and still dealing with the fallout while Rachel raves about another kind of Fallout in Millenial Mania. Rhea Ripley’s sudden injury and subsequent vacating of her championship may actually be a positive thing for the women’s division and Audio Ben is fiending for the next stage of Bray Wyatt’s legacy. Plus, an insider look into the indie queer wrestling scene with Pound Town Wrestling!THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @i...2024-04-1749 minI Like WrestlingWrestlemania Night 1 with Danny CageRachel is joined by returning guest and Jason Kelce’s wrestling trainer Danny Cage to do a post-mortem on Wrestlemania Night 1. We analyze the disparity of keeping kayfabe in press conferences, reflect on Damien Priest’s cash-in, and unpack the meaning of The American Nightmare. DANNY’S INSTAGRAM @CoachDannyCageMONSTER FACTORY SOCIALS @4MonsterFactoryTHREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-04-1252 minI Like WrestlingWrestlemania 40 PredictionsWrestlemania is so close we can taste it and we’re here with our final match predictions for both nights. Rachel reaches SummerSlam in her 1997 Raw journey and reacts to Brett Hart’s surprising win thanks to Chippendale Ref Shawn Michaels. Audio Ben thinks about a future where Big Strong Boys and Tiny Dunnes win the tag team belts.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-04-0353 minI Like WrestlingILW Lounge Vol. 2Audio Ben and Rachel welcome the ITCOGs back to The Lounge for more current event conversations about the wrestling landscape. We discuss the Final Boss, if Cody will “assemble his Avengers”, and the state of women’s wrestling across the board. Plug it into your veins, hit the feel spot, crack open your favorite beverage, and join us in The Lounge! THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam INSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @ilwpodcast#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-03-2952 minI Like WrestlingBatista vs. MVP (Smackdown 2008)Rachel invites the other two members of the tag team to watch Batista vs. MVP for the United States Championship and it spurns a discussion on MVP’s unique ring gear, believability of a champion, and if we should care about male ring announcers. Audio Ben tells us about the time Earthquake acknowledged his sign back in the days of yonder past and Matt struggles to keep his limited edition Rob Gronkowski figure in the box.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER...2024-03-281h 08I Like WrestlingILW Lounge Episode 1Welcome to the ILW Lounge! In this new spinoff show, Audio Ben hosts a round tablediscussion of all things in the current wrestling climate from Raw to Smackdown, and from NXT to AEW. This week Matt and Rachel join a slew of ITCOGs (Matty Ice, Adam, Naitch, Ron, and Sean) to talk all things wrestling!THREADS @ilwpodTWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslamMATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-03-2346 minI Like WrestlingWendy Richter vs. Leilani Kai (Wrestlemania I)Wrestlemania 40 is fast approaching and last week’s GOAT Fantasy Wrestlemania Cards inspired a look back at the historic match from the inaugural Wrestlemania featuring Wendy Richter, managed by Cyndi Lauper vs. Leilani Kai, managed by The Fabulous Moolah. Matt and Audio Ben get into a heated debate about where this match ranks among other women’s matches while Rachel experiences the rise and fall of the ring announcer dream. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIK...2024-03-2154 minI Like WrestlingGOAT Wrestlemania MatchesAudio Ben asked us to create our fantasy Wrestlemania cards filled with our favorite matches and his preemptive confidence in his booking may have come back to bite him. Sean AKA The Face of ILW joins us for his takes (including an incorrect one about The Rock) and his recent live experience at Smackdown. Rachel surprises everyone with not only the potentially strongest card of the four but also a shocking reveal about makeup returns. Matt manages to watch more Wrestlemanias than anyone in the past week and is uncharacteristically succinct in his takes. SEAN’S SOCIALS @imb...2024-03-141h 08I Like WrestlingWCW Slamboree (1995)Sting’s final match and the rudimentary Peacock search feature lead Matt to watch the 1995 WCW Slamboree and we’re here to run through the card. Rachel hits Bret Hart’s return at the 1997 Calgary Stampede and questions if The Hart Foundation is better than The Bloodline. Audio Ben inspires a conversation about experiencing live shows without commentary and Millenial Mania flies us home with some hot takes on Masters of the Air.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM...2024-03-071h 11I Like WrestlingStone Cold vs. HBK (King of the Ring 1997)The 90s was full of odd-couple tag teams and unlikely partners Stone Cold and HBK face-off against each other at the 1997 King of the Ring. We watch along live with special guest Uncle Naitch who brings his unique perspective having watched this PPV when it first aired in 1997. Naitch tries his best to spread the Johnny Gargano love, Rachel struggles to adjust to Morrowind, and Matt and Audio Ben round out the usual shenanigans.This episode is dedicated to Jason Richardson AKA Jaws.UNCLE NAITCH’S SOCIALS @uncle_naitchTHREADS @ilwpod TWI...2024-03-011h 11I Like WrestlingDiamond Dallas Page vs. Macho Man (WCW 1997)This week’s main event is a live watchalong of Diamond Dallas Page vs. Macho Man at WCW’s 1997 Spring Stampede. Rachel covets Miss Elizabeth’s sparkly NWO dress, Matt is crushed by the thought of The Rock betraying Roman Reigns, and Audio Ben makes some fresh sandwich bread.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-02-221h 03I Like WrestlingMy Dawgs for RealMatt has a new contender for Match of the Year. Rachel is entranced by Rob Van Dam’s 1997 RAW debut and takes us back to Vader’s arrest in Kuwait. Audio Ben is there via soundboard and spirit.THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-02-1448 minI Like WrestlingGCW Crowds and Evolution 2.0 Booking (Side B)Rachel’s power has returned and she’s ready to talk about her third GCW show experience. Audio Ben loves both sides of the Carmelo Hayes coin. We all book our dream Evolution 2.0 cards and fulfill our fantasies. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-02-0951 minI Like WrestlingRoyal Rumble 2024Rachel is so impressed by this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble that Cody Rhodes’ win almost feels like a let-down. Matt recounts his crazy week talking about life with Matt Riddle and working with Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Audio Ben opens up about his conflicted feelings for his cat. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2024-02-011h 20I Like WrestlingLegion of Doom vs. Owen Hart and British Bulldog (1997)WHAT A RUSH to experience this live watch-along for Audio Ben’s first and Rachel’s repeat viewing of a well-crafted tag team match. Crowd favorite Legion of Doom hopes to win the titles from the shiny brother-in-laws Owen Hart and British Bulldog and this tightly choreographed opening match keeps us on our toes and provides a nice contrast to the tag-team doldrums of Wrestlemania 13. It’s been a wild week in the present - from a long-awaited Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face-off, an unexpected twist in the story for Seth Rollins and Gunther, and The Rock’s move to...2024-01-2554 minI Like WrestlingWrestlemania 13 and 2002 Royal RumbleStone Cold vs. Bret Hart is pretty much the only memorable part of Wrestlemania 13 - in fact, it’s so iconic we already talked about it way back in Episode 18, but Rachel’s sequential viewing lead her to revisit watching the entire card and help fill Audio Ben in on missing storytelling pieces from his own re-watch. We travel five years into the future, which is also still the past, as we talk about the 2002 Royal Rumble and Matt keeps us up to date in the present with some NJPW updates. If you’ve lived in a vault for the pa...2024-01-181h 09I Like WrestlingLast Minute Booking: Threads, NJPW, and Ready to RumbleThis week’s episode has it all: Matt’s rundown of NJPW, Rachel’s thoughts on the film “Ready to Rumble” (2000), and The Internet Wrestling Community took our Threads and wove them with lots of hot takes on what moment they would change in professional wrestling history and what their favorite WWE intro song is. Audio Ben redeems us from our early episode (6, for the record) about our personal picks and everyone’s talking about Aswang. We shake things up with an early Millennial Mania discussing the ubiquitous drink vessel taking the internet by storm and tease some upcoming watch-alongs...2024-01-1250 minI Like WrestlingIf Ya Smell What The ILW Universe Is CookingThe man, the myth, the legend, THE ROCK called out The Head of The Table and it has sent shockwaves across the ILW Universe. We’re joined by fellow ITCOG Uncle Naitch to talk about how The Bloodline storyline compares to The Megapowers, the importance of an intentional ending, and a new path for Wrestlemania. Naitch takes us for a walk down memory lane with his experience living through The Attitude Era, Rachel is back to regularly watching NXT, and we all bask in the community of ITCOGS and ILWers.UNCLE NAITCH’S SOCIALS @Uncle_Nait...2024-01-041h 04I Like WrestlingWWE Boston Live Show and 2023 Yearly HighlightsThe stars aligned when Rachel’s visit back to Boston coincided with the WWE Live Tour and a last-minute decision to go with her dad provided lots of spectacular wrasslin’. From an opening banger between Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark, a Last Man Standing Match between Cody Rhodes and Dominik Mysterio, and seeing Mami defend her title in the flesh, we give you an exclusive look into the full house show experience. Matt revisited the 2014 Royal Rumble and controversial Batista win leading to an even more controversial Wrestlemania that currently remains unknown to Rachel. Audio Ben leads us through our...2023-12-3159 minI Like WrestlingITCOG TakeoverWhile Rachel Polansky is living the gimmick at a live WWE event, Audio Ben and Matt hold it down with an ITCOG Takeover episode feature Sean, Ron, and introducing Shinsuke Blackamura aka Black Sabre Jr! For Evolution this week, we reflect on the year in WWE (past), our current takes on the reigning champs (present), and booking the damn territory entering 2024 (future). THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S THREADS @rpolansky77 MATT’S THREADS @mattrvogelINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2023-12-281h 03I Like WrestlingNXT Deadline and GCW Highest in the Room 2This past week was filled with iconic wrestling moments and personal life updates - Rachel is now a fiancé, went to her second live GCW show, and both her and Matt had a grand ol’ time watching NXT Deadline. The thrilling energy of the GCW show brought back some returning and new favorites, as Rachel takes us through a moment between Santana Jackson and George South and the surprise of seeing John Morrison in arguably the best match of the night. Matt is finally buying NXT’s face, with Deadline surpassing all expectations and delivering killer Iron Survivor matches for b...2023-12-151h 00I Like WrestlingFrom (2023) Dusk Till (1997 Attitude Era) DawnThe dawn of The Attitude Era is finally here as Rachel continues her Raw episodic journey into 1997. Moments like Stone Cold cheating and breaking the rules with his Royal Rumble win and Bret Hart’s unraveling just might inspire Audio Ben to start following along and get inspired to think about questions like is White Goodman from Dodgeball inspired at all by Marc Mero? We have differing opinions on this week’s Raw, Ben updates us on current NXT, and we kickoff the contenders for Match of the Year. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL...2023-12-0759 minI Like WrestlingSurvivor Series 2023The Three ILW Amigos are joined by The Face That Runs the Place to discuss Survivor Series past and present. The timing of Rachel’s Attitude Era Raw watchalong journey coincided with 1996 Survivor Series, bringing fresh perspectives to viewing iconic moments like the debut of Rocky Malvino and The Nation of Domination, as well as The Real Double J lip sync scandal. Mami’s interaction with Daddy Randy Orton sparks a conversation about other memorable reactions between two personal favorites and we all feel some type of way about CM Punk’s return. THREADS @ilwpod TWITTER...2023-11-301h 03I Like WrestlingIt's Time, It's Turkey TimeIt’s all about the past, present, and future in this year’s Thanksgiving Evolution Episode as the OG duo Rachel and Matt spend some time dissecting the meat of 1996 Raw and the stand-out moments. Audio Ben joins the second half to talk about Survivor Series predictions and we all ponder the impact of hypothetically removing one superstar from professional wrestling history. It’s 2023 and we still aren’t tired of talking about Bret Hart, yet the same can’t be said about DIY. Let us know your thoughts on how many shirts make a stack and we hope you enjoy y...2023-11-2355 minI Like WrestlingBrock Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan (Survivor Series 2018)As we gear up for this year’s Survivor Series, Audio Ben introduces Rachel to one of his favorite Brock matches and we shake things up again by putting the last match first. Cue up your Peacock, grab your (non-sponsored) Jimmy John’s, and watch this David and Goliath Main Event in real time with us. The ITCOGs make a compelling case for why NXT is actually the best product right now and we speculate on the next steps for Damage Ctrl and Judgement Day. SummerSlam 1996 makes its way into the boiler room, Rachel reveals the movie that broke her...2023-11-171h 05I Like WrestlingHBK Vs. Owen Hart (Raw 1996)Caught in between The Golden Age of Wrestling and The Attitude Era, 1996 Raw was a unique time with more bad than good, but some of that good includes an underrated match between Owen Hart (RIP) and HBK. Rachel loved it so much she got the rest of the gang to watch along with us and we encourage you to follow along for our play-by-play of a surprisingly top-notch match. We bring you our Crown Jewel Highs, Lows, and Woahs, with Matt filling us in on the JD vs. Sami pre-show match and his controversial thoughts on LA Knight, and...2023-11-091h 13I Like WrestlingThe Halloween EpisodeThis week’s episode is full of tricks and treats, from The Curse of Camp Cornette to Hornswoggle vs. McMahon in a Steel Cage. Rachel offers periodic updates from watching NXT Halloween Havoc live and we book The Crown Jewel Card with some extra-spicy takes from Audio Ben. We find out how much vintage Shawn Michaels merch hats currently go for and speculate the booking for Jade Cargill’s opening run. Audio Ben poses a tough question about today’s commentators, Rachel finds a moment of endearment in Santino Marella, and Lola Vice dances her way into all of our he...2023-11-0159 minI Like WrestlingEvolution PPV (2018)Fresh off of finishing the entire series of Total Bellas and Total Divas, Rachel is finally ready to experience Evolution and recount the first (but hopefully not last) all-women PPV on WWE. Audio Ben and Matt watched live when it first aired and look back five years later on some new and old faces that still hold up today. Roman Reigns returned to Smackdown and in true ILW fashion, we all have different opinions on his face-off with LA Knight. Rachel actually took one of Matt’s suggestions and went to an indie wrestling (GCW) show. She relives the jo...2023-10-191h 29I Like WrestlingLife in the NXT FastlaneIt was a big week for wrestling, from Fastlane to a star-studded episode of NXT, and your trusty ILW team is here to talk about it with you. The surprising new Universal Tag Team Champs Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso prove their buddy-cop status with hilarious chemistry during a yeet-filled press conference, especially in contrast to the stilted awkwardness of John Cena and LA Knight together. NXT’s star-studded episode hits the right mix of cameos and spotlighting new talent, though we can’t say we’ll be tuning in to next week’s Bada Bing Bada Boom Battle Royale...2023-10-121h 00I Like WrestlingRey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Halloween Havoc 1997)Dust off your tombstones, unlock the mausoleum, and get ready to watch along in real time with Rachel and Audio Ben as they revisit WCW’s iconic 1997 Halloween Havoc match between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. The iconic props and backgrounds immediately captivate us, and the high-flying acrobatics and electric chemistry between two legends proves why this is such a legendary match. After watching The Godfather for the first time, Rachel has some thoughts on how the Corleone Family parallels The Bloodline and we book the damn family. Audio Ben has a Tiffany Epiphany after watching NXT No Mercy an...2023-10-051h 08I Like WrestlingMike Hollow Likes WrestlingWhat do Kofi Kingston, Damian Sandow, and Tommaso Ciampa have in common? They were all trained by legendary coach Mike Hollow, who joins the ILW Team today to talk about his coaching career, the independent wrestling scene and how it has and hasn’t evolved throughout the years, and what gets him to tune in on a weekly basis. He weighs in on the divisive Roman Reigns vs. Rock debate and the effects of shows like Monster Factory and Wrestlers. Rachel watched the Andre the Giant documentary and realizes things like the importance of cable TV in de...2023-09-291h 28I Like WrestlingThe Shield vs. The Wyatt Family (Elimination Chamber 2014)Grow out your beards, lather yourself in grease, and get ready to watch along in real time with the ILW trio as they revisit The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family. Audio Ben keeps us on track with the proper times, while Matt is derailed by ads and Rachel overzealously fast forwards a couple of minutes ahead. We talk about the trajectories and tragic endings of the iconic trio's careers and The Shield’s fashion choices spark almost as many tangents as Seth’s vest pockets. The Rock’s return to Smackdown has us torn on whether or not he should...2023-09-211h 16I Like WrestlingPierre Noujaim Likes WrestlingNothing brings people together like wrestling and thanks to a friend of a friend (hi, Addy!), sports reporter and broadcaster Pierre Noujaim joins the ILW team for a discussion full of surprises and hot takes. He takes us through experiencing The Attitude Era as a teenager, seeing the iconic Kurt Angle Milk Truck incident live, and shocks us with his favorite interview experience. Pierre thinks about Jeff Hardy on a daily basis and we attempt to understand why. Audio Ben revisits his own WWE action figure collecting past and Rachel finally appreciates Tropic Thunder.PIERRE’S TWITTER @th...2023-09-161h 34I Like WrestlingPayback Playback 2023Lower the steel cage chamber and get ready for a new episode of ILW reacting, recapping, and proselytizing about last weekend’s Payback PPV. Rachel and Audio Ben are your tag team representatives this week and they rave about Becky vs. Trish, celebrate the new Undisputed Tag Team Champions, and try not to get too excited when discussing Rhea vs. Raquel. Amidst a discussion about mid-2000s action figures, Rachel makes a purchase live on-air with Audio Ben’s encouragement, and Producer Jason quickly stops by to discuss his future booking for Rhea Ripley. TWITTER @ilwpodRAC...2023-09-081h 20I Like WrestlingFriday Night Frenemies: MVP and Matt Hardy (2007-2008)Stone Cold vs. McMahon. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart. MVP vs. Matt Hardy. Feuds between superstars is an ancient tenent of professional wrestling, a storyline as old as time, and we’re here to revisit an underrated, nuanced feud between Montell Vontavius Porter and Matt Hardy. The wacky antics of this odd couple gave us iconic moments like a boxing match with Evander Holyfield, beer drinking contest with Stone Cold, and an eventual dissolution with one of the most eccentric losses in wrestling history. Producer Jason joins us to recount his experience watching the story unfold back wh...2023-09-021h 24I Like WrestlingThe Legacies of Bray Wyatt and Terry FunkThe professional wrestling community lost two legends this week and we pivot our Main Event to honor their impact and legacies. Producer Jason joins Rachel and Ben to recount the many stages of Terry Funk’s career and his parallels with iconic figures like Jake the Snake. We discuss the importance of Bray Wyatt’s promo skills and creativity and look back on what was far too short a run. Millennial Mania caps things off with R&J’s review of Twisted Metal and Rachel tries her best with transitions. TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S TWITTER @rpolansky...2023-08-2556 minI Like Wrestling“Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Goldust Hollywood Backlot Brawl (1996)Rev up your engines and get ready to race down the 405 as we travel from the backlot of Universal to the stage of Wrestlemania 12 in an epic, multi-part brawl between “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Goldust. The ILW Trio discuss why this match still holds up almost 20 years later, the importance of Goldust’s character, and how OJ Simpson might have played an even bigger role in Wrestlemania. It doesn’t matter if Jey is quitting the WWE - we know he’ll still be there, but can’t say the same for Lacey Evans as Matt salutes her departure. We talk abou...2023-08-191h 12I Like WrestlingChad Kultgen Likes WrestlingRachel is joined by Chad Kultgen, renowned Bachelor expert and co-host of Dudesy, to discuss the parallels between reality TV and wrestling, why he’s able to go all in for The Bachelor community but not for WWE, and how both universes are really all about the game and how you play it. FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S TWITTER @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumphandleslam MATT’S TWITTER @maxvocalmediaINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod#ilikewrestlingpod #ilwpod2023-08-1620 minI Like WrestlingSlim Jim SummerSlam 2023Fresh off their live in-studio episode with THE Brian Campbell, the ILW Team and guest co-host/face of the pod ImBoredBrother are here to bring you their highs, lows, and woahs of Summer Slam 2023. They celebrate LA Knight’s Slim Jim Battle Royale win and subsequent promo with The Miz, reveal some fun facts about Cody Rhodes that may or may not be true, and Iyo Sky’s MITB Cash-In literally brings tears to Rachel’s eyes. Who should break Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship Streak? Was that Brock and Cody hug actually unscripted? And how much Bloodline is too much Blo...2023-08-121h 15I Like WrestlingTHE Brian Campbell Likes WrestlingIt’s Episode 50!!! And what better way to celebrate than by opening the new I Like Wrestling studio headquarters with an exclusive interview featuring THE Brian Campbell! Audio Ben and Producer Jason join us on the mics for a hot fire discussion about professional wrestling, combat sports, why stupidity and levity are just as important as violence, and what it might take to get Brian to relapse back into that secret sauce. We’re all in for the importance of community and This Corner OG’s (ITCOGs) give their flowers to the OG of OG, The BC. Matt is...2023-08-061h 23I Like WrestlingThe One With the FIBsRachel is Lost in LA with her family so the FIBs (Matt, Ben, and Ron) linked up to discuss The Bloodline, New Japan, and more. Ron drops a surprising take that makes a ton of sense and we book the Elders as Jey gears up to take on our Tribal Chief at SummerSlam. Ben steers us through the past, present, and future in our Evolution segment and Matt stays back on his BS as usual. The boys finish off the pod with a frank talk about violence in pro wrestling and why strong style resonates with some but not...2023-07-2857 minI Like WrestlingBobby Matthews Likes WrestlingThe first official I Like Wrestling x I Like to Read collab is here as journalist Bobby Matthews joins Rachel to discuss his book “Living the Gimmick”. Bobby shares tales from the territories he’s watched and worked in, thoughts on Cody Rhodes, and what it means to fully live the gimmick. BOBBY’S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/bamawriter?lang=enBUY “LIVING THE GIMMICK”: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Gimmick-Bobby-Mathews-ebook/dp/B09XFDLRQKFOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodRACHEL’S TWITTER @rpolansky77 BEN’S TWITTER @grumpha...2023-07-271h 02I Like WrestlingThe New Day vs. The Usos (Hell in a Cell 2017)Bang your cymbals, play your trombones, it’s time for The New Day vs. The Usos in the electric opening match from 2017’s Hell in a Cell. The first and only tag team match in a cell is deservingly iconic of its many dramatic spots, fluid choreography, and electric tension between two of the most important tag teams in history. Evolution takes us back to the dark side of Adrian Adonis’s past through booking the end of the Roman’s reign in the future. Meanwhile in the present it’s G1 season and Matt takes us through wha...2023-07-201h 02I Like WrestlingThe Many Faces of Mick FoleyFoley Week continues on ILW as our Main Event centers on the man, the myth, the legend - Mick Foley! From Cactus Jack to Mankind to Dude Love and back again, we revisit iconic matches like Cactus Jack vs. Sting at Beach Bash, Cactus Jack vs. Triple H, and the revolutionary Mankind/JR Interview. We may disagree if he’s a heel or a face but either way, we’re having a nice day. Rachel revists a romantic date between Jamie Noble and Michelle McCool, Audio Ben connects with a custodian on Alice in Chains, and Matt shows off his...2023-07-141h 11I Like WrestlingRondamania and Money in the Bank 2023Ronda Rousey may not give a damn about her reputation but all eyes were on her during Wrestlemania for her mixed tag-team match with Kurt Angle against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Does the ILW Team buy her face? Rachel watches the full match for the first time after seeing teasers on Total Divas and the ILW Team recalls their experiences watching live and the reverberations of Ronda’s career. We cash in on Evolution, spending a good chunk of change discussing last weekend’s Money in the Bank PLE and we discover a surprise comedian on Celebrity Family Feud...2023-07-071h 21I Like WrestlingShawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton (Survivor Series 2007)What happens when you take away a wrestler’s signature move? It’s not quite the Chekhov’s Gun comparison Matt claims, but taking away Shawn Michael’s Sweet Chin Music at his Survivor Series match against Randy Orton adds a unique level of storytelling and finesse to this oft-forgotten banger. Rachel finally impresses Matt and Audio Ben by redeeming the so-called “unwatchable era” as the gang talks through the blood, guts, and pretzel of it all. We react to Pretty Deadly’s cheeky debut on Friday Night Snackdown, Rachel watches a 2014 Lana/Rusev and Jack Swagger/Zeb Colter promo, Audio B...2023-05-271h 10I Like WrestlingBacklash BunnyChambea, ¡jala! We can still hear the crowd cheers reverberating through our ears over a week later as the I Like Wrestling trio returns to react to Backlash. Shawn Michaels may have lost his smile but Rhea Ripley could barely contain hers during Zelina Vega’s entrance, just one of many memorable moments in a night filled with blood and Bad Bunny. Matt and Ben are feeling the “Jury Duty” vibes as they introduce Rachel to Wrestler’s Court. Matt further emphasizes the importance of a hot crowd as he recounts his experience attending a GCW live show in Brooklyn...2023-05-191h 01I Like WrestlingLuke "Twitch" DiSangro Likes WrestlingLuke “Twitch” DiSangro joins Rachel to discuss mental health in professional wrestling and his experience filming the hit Apple TV show “Monster Factory”. Rachel puts Twitch’s publicity training to the test when bringing up a polarizing topic and discovers a potential mob connection. LUKE’S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lucastwitch318 LUKE’S INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lucastwitchdisangro/ MONSTER FACTORY YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCanPPFoWc0pxyNgmJ_WtzaA WATCH MONSTER FACTORY ON APPLE TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/monster-factory/umc.cmc.38kf4x2lvqiqdb0up8kcptnd BUY...2023-05-1742 minI Like WrestlingShootin' the Shit with Rachel and Audio BenThe first official Pretty Deadly shirt finally dropped and Rachel is underwhelmed to say the least. We provide some constructive criticism for the current lackluster WWE merch (shruggies and hairbrushes, anybody?) that would make this a “Yes, Boy!” in Rachel’s book. Audio Ben enlightens us with some background on the deceptively titled Main Event. Matt declined to join us after failing to finish Wrestlemania for the third week in a row and we question Ric Flair’s social media presence.FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod2023-04-2138 minI Like WrestlingRachel Goes Live at the Raw After WrestlemaniaLove him or hate him, Roman Reigns is still your undisputed champion and Rachel might finally be ready to acknowledge him after his divisive win over Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania Hollywood. Matt and Ben voice their disappointments over the Cena/Theory match and they all agree that the family matters match with Dom and Rey sponsored by Cinnamoji Toast Crunch was the highlight of the weekend. Rachel runs through the Stand and Deliver card, having been April Fooled on a live Pretty Deadly experience, and discusses the differences between that crowd and the RAW after Wrestlemania. Plus, a deep-dive...2023-04-071h 22I Like WrestlingWrestlemania is Coming to HollywoodWe’re just a few days away from the biggest wrestling weekend of the year and the ILW Team is stoked to predict what will go down in the ring. Matt has a hard time getting behind the opening match of John Cena vs. Austin Theory, Ben thinks that Gunther vs. Drew vs. Sheamus could be the biggest sleeper match, and Rachel loves the idea of Rhea and Bianca as dual champions. They time travel back to the 1980s as Rachel discovers “Tuesday Night Titans” and we can’t believe it’s been 22 years since WWE bought WCW. 2023-03-301h 10I Like WrestlingElimination Chamber 2023The road to Wrestlemania is fully paved with the blood, sweat, and tears of Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns in last week’s Elimination Chamber. The ILW Trio reunites to discuss the implications of Roman retaining and long-term storytelling for Sami and The Bloodline, and Rachel might finally be ready to start acknowledging the Tribal Chief. We trace Roman’s heel line back to the beginnings of Pandemic Wrestling as Matt enlightens us with unabashed passion for a unique time not just in wrestling but in overall society. Rachel questions if Total Divas might just be fool’s gold, but im...2023-02-241h 05I Like WrestlingTag Teams DraftRachel, Audio Ben, and returning guest co-host Sean AKA I’mBoredBrother are here to draft the first (and probably only) ILW Tag Teams! We’re all over the board, from odd couples to memorable gimmicks and quite a few that Rachel has never even heard of. They contemplate the history of Daniel Bryan and the virality of The Yes Movement and what worked (and what didn’t) for them in The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles Boneyard Match from Wrestlemania 2020. We’re the only podcast to take you from the 2015 John Cena in Trainwreck to John Cena in 2023 Ricky Stanickity, ending i...2023-02-171h 17I Like WrestlingV Is for Vengeance DayThe energy was electric at NXT’s first touring PLE in over two and a half years and all 3 members of The ILW Team are ready to discuss their favorite moments. Matt and Audio Ben re-contextualize the importance of Charlotte Flair’s opening, Rachel finds new appreciation for Toxic Attraction, and Pretty Deadly continue to dominate despite not winning the belts *sadplate check*. Rachel thinks Batista is the best actor to ever come out of the WWE and each member of the ILW Team weighs in on their Roman vs. Sami Elimination Chamber finisher predictions.FOLLOW US ON S...2023-02-101h 07I Like WrestlingPandemic Wrestling: Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena (Wrestlemania 2020)While the rest of the world shut down in March 2020, WWE pivoted their crowds but not their content and delivered one of the most unique Wrestlemania’s in history. Rachel and Matt analyze the surrealism of John Cena’s swan song farewell match vs. Bray Wyatt (The Fiend) and why pandy wrestling is so divisive. They’re joined by special guest @ImBoredBrother to recap his experience attending the Royal Rumble live last weekend and future booking predictions for The Bloodline. Rachel’s accelerating her way through season two of Total Divas and Matt already forgets things from the beginning of the e...2023-02-031h 03I Like WrestlingThe Gang Wrestles for the TroopsIt’s Always Sunny in I Like Wrestling land as the two-man power trip of Rachel and Matt revisit an iconic episode from the series. They talk about other TV show/wrestling crossovers, why it matters that Ben the Soldier is given denim shorts, and the gang’s development over the years. Rachel catches us up on Total Divas and wonders why Fandango is even a thing. Matt lives out his Eva Marie Dream gimmick and we chat with Vinny from TikTok.VINNY’S TIKTOK: @vacvcs FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodINSTA...2023-01-131h 01I Like WrestlingNJPW First ImpressionsThe ILW Tag Team is back for the New Year and celebrating over six months of podcasting with a recap of their favorite moments and yearly highlights. They talk about how to deal with family and friends who are quick to dismiss the pros of sports entertainment and react to John Cena’s Smackdown appearance. Special guest Pickle Pete from TikTok joins them to talk about why he likes wrestling and how to be a rational, well-informed wrestling fan. Rachel watched NJPW for the first time, reacting to one of Matt’s favorite matches Tanaka vs. Nagata 2009 and Wrestle King...2023-01-061h 12I Like WrestlingILW End-of-Year Blind BagWhat happens when Matt steps on a toy block, leaving Rachel and Audio Ben to fend for themselves in an unplanned end-of-year episode? You enter Rachel’s East Coast Fun House, with a special guest segment where her sister Emily tries and fails to reason why hockey and wrestling have nothing in common. Spur-of-the-moment questions like favorite wrestlers, matches, and WTF moments of the year are pondered and tangents, twists, turns, and tales aplenty await you in a wild episode. We hope that WWE’s New Year Resolution is to finally release some Pretty Deadly merch early next...2022-12-311h 05I Like WrestlingStone Cold Hart: Wrestlemania 13Wrestlemania 13 (1997) brought us one of the greatest matches of all time: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret “The Hitman” Hart. Rachel was 3 years old, Audio Ben was a senior in high school, and they both celebrate the importance of a storyline that set the stage for the beginnings of The Attitude Era. NXT Deadline PPV is a surprise hit for both and the lads of Pretty Deadly exceed expectations despite losing the belts. Rachel looks forward to watching her first live WWE John Cena appearance, Ben explains why it should always be Vader Time, and does the future of spor...2022-12-161h 08I Like WrestlingNXT and MeRachel asked Matt to watch last week’s episode of NXT without having watched first, leading to a nuanced discussion of a subpar episode (November 29, 2022) without any Pretty Deadly in sight. The Audio Ben era continues as they look into the past as Rachel opens her eyes to the world of Howard Stern and his interviews with WWE Superstars. Matt finds connections between The White Lotus and the intentionality of storytelling and Rachel reveals what popular TV show she’s never watched. The ILW twitter community sounds off on their NXT thoughts and the reactions may surprise you. Millennial Mani...2022-12-081h 08I Like WrestlingThe Cena AngleRumors of Matt’s death have been greatly exaggerated and he has risen from the grave to reunite with Rachel for this week’s episode. The ILW Tag Team debuts their new Evolution segment where they revisit the past (5:26), marinate on the present (12:10), and ruminate about the future. A partial re-watch of 2007 No Mercy, Survivor Series: War Games reactions and Bautista’s new horror movie segway into a discussion about the legacy and impact of John Cena on the Ruthless Aggression Era (50:00). What 2009 reality TV show caused a creative reckoning for Rachel (63:38) and what non-sponsored beverage is Matt sipping on thi...2022-12-011h 13I Like WrestlingEvolution and Why Batista Walks AloneJoin Rachel and special guest co-host Ben aka GrumpHandleSlam as they enter the stable of one of professional wrestling’s most iconic factions. Evolution is a little bit less of a mystery as Ben provides his perspective on watching the formation and dissolution of The Modern Day Four Horsemen in real time since Rachel’s primary background on them comes in the form of an hour-long WWE documentary. Rachel drags Ben into her 2007 Smackdown world as they mull over Teddy Long and Kristal’s wedding, and Millennial Mania caps things off solving the mystery of who wrote the Disney Channe...2022-11-2453 minI Like WrestlingECW One Night Stand 2005 (?)Rachel watched ECW One Night Stand 2005 under the impression that Matt attended it live 17 years ago. Halfway through their rundown, Matt reaches an astonishing conclusion causing a rift in the time and space continuum. The ILW Tag Team reacts to Crown Jewel, as Rachel renders Matt speechless with her Brock Lesnar takes, and Matt recounts his trials and tribulations trying to watch the main event. Rachel teaches Matt about A24 movies, H3’s Frenemies Podcast, and the legacy of Zac Efron.FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @il...2022-11-1156 minI Like WrestlingBizarre Matches and Crown Jewel PredictionsWe’re feeling a little ucey for this week’s episode predicting Saturday’s Crown Jewel card. Rachel and Matt wonder if it’s time for The Head of The Table to be dethroned by Logan Paul, ponder the trajectory of Bray Wyatt’s return, and speculate how Bayley and Damage Control could shift allegiances. Rachel baffles Matt with how she’s consumed a lot of her wrestling media as they run through some unorthodox match types and The Gimmick of All Gimmicks. Matt learns about Love is Blind and Rachel gives herself a new nickname. Download and rate the World’s...2022-11-0355 minI Like WrestlingEric Bischoff’s Ted Talk and Escape the UndertakerChoose your own adventure and follow us down the path to escaping The Undertaker, as Rachel regretfully experiences Netflix’s interactive special per Matt’s recommendation. They also analyze the “A Day in the Life of Pretty Deadly” promo frame by frame, lamenting the continual lack of Pretty Deadly merch and captivating promos in general. Rachel introduces Matt to Eric Bischoff’s 2018 Ted Talk, which articulates many of the parallels between news, politics, and wrestling and the emphasis on targeting feelings. Halloween Havoc may be over but spooky season continues on ILW as Matt discloses one of his biggest fears – do...2022-10-2744 min
I Like to ReadOpen with Rachel KrantzSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQX-nWBQWKL3lnx52f3AuCwBUY OPEN: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646533/open-by-rachel-krantz/RACHEL’S WEBSITE: https://www.racheljkrantz.com/FOLLOW ME ON…GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/58041478-iliketoreadpodINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/iliketoreadpod/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/rpolansky77FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/iliketoreadpod2022-10-2637 minI Like WrestlingThe Pretty Deadly PopIt’s Title Thursday on ILW Podcast as Rachel and Matt discuss the current AEW roster and find much to kvetch about: the storytelling (or lack thereof), unmemorable trios, and whether William Regal and MJF really had the best promo of the year. Rachel watches NXT for the first time and can’t stop raving about the incredible charisma and starpower of Pretty Deadly and Matt actually agrees. They question if Baron Corbin is really the Modern Day Wrestling God and Matt drops an incredible heifer impression.FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodINST...2022-10-2050 minI Like WrestlingFestus in the Fight CellGrab your chairs, ladders, and straps because this match is all about Extreme Rules! Rachel and Matt recap last weekend’s amazing and interesting pay-per-view, reveling in the developing factions and theatrical storytelling in the WWE Universe. Rachel regales Matt with some Tales from the Territories Memphis Wrasslin anecdotes, Matt continues to question why Johnny Gargano has a spot on the roster, and they both debate whether or not they would rather be stuck in an elevator with John Cena or The Undertaker. Rachel fires off on Roman Reigns and Matt is in shock of her hot take that Th...2022-10-1354 minI Like WrestlingReya Rhea Potato PotahtoRachel and Matt are back and better than ever and this week they are all about the game and how you play it. Triple H’s reign as the new king of RAW is firing on multiple cylinders as R&M analyze the current programming and the level of mass appeal. Rachel finds new appreciation for Dominik Mysterio and Sami Zayn while Matt vibes out on the classics of 1987 Antonio Inoki vs Dr Death Steve Williams, lamenting Johnny Gargano’s midness in contrast. Plus, the first ILW appearance as we reveal Rachel’s cat’s gimmick!FOLLOW US ON SO...2022-10-0657 minI Like WrestlingSummerSlam (2007) SadnessRachel finally convinces Matt to watch 2007 WWE, starting off a 2007 SummerSlam PPV re-watch. Matt is absolutely appalled at the quality of the party decorations in Mr. McMahon’s office and the looming shadow of Chris Benoit. They walk through all of the matches, with Rachel providing her watching background on previous rivalries and storylines to a bewildered Matt. They’ve never been more divided on why they like wrestling, but they find common ground through their dissection of what many may consider “trash”. Trisha Paytas had her baby and Matt’s shock continues as Rachel reveals the baby’s name....2022-09-2255 minI Like WrestlingI'm All About Cool (Intro Songs)Rachel and Matt are all about intro music this week: what their underrated favorites are, the importance of the opening needle drop, and if a song can transcend the wrestler. Rachel shows off her vocal chops as she attempts to share her picks with Matt after some real-time audio botches. Matt recounts his 1998 Jamaica Spring break trip and watching Zach Gowen live and the ILW community weighs in on their favorite intros. They kick things off with a rundown of Rachel’s experience playing WWE2K GM Mode and find many comparisons to Matt’s fantasy football league. Millennial Mani...2022-09-151h 00I Like to ReadI’m All About Cool (Intro Songs)Rachel and Matt are all about intro music this week: what their underrated favorites are, the importance of the opening needle drop, and if a song can transcend the wrestler. Rachel shows off her vocal chops as she attempts to share her picks with Matt after some real-time audio botches. Matt recounts his 1998 Jamaica Spring break trip and watching Zach Gowen live and the ILW community weighs in on their favorite intros. They kick things off with a rundown of Rachel’s experience playing WWE2K GM Mode and find many comparisons to Matt’s fantasy football league. Mill...2022-09-141h 00I Like WrestlingScrewjobs and SchadenfreudeRachel and Matt are all about screwjobs this week: Moolah, Montreal, and CM Punk. They kick-off the episode with a Clash at the Castle recap and Rachel’s first PPV live watching experience. Rachel breaks down the oft-forgotten Moolah vs. Wendy Richter screwjob and the impact on both of their careers, as well as the future of women’s wrestling. They talk through the infamous Montreal ScrewJob and contemplate its parallels and connections to today. Matt finally unleashes his dark side and revels in the train wreck that is the CM Punk/Tony Khan AEW “Presser From Hell”. They debate w...2022-09-081h 16I Like WrestlingThe (Mr.) Perfect MatchMatt and Rachel break down what makes for a “perfect” wrestling match and they revisit some of the contenders from classics like Steamboat vs. Savage and Nakamura vs Zayn to underrated gems like Molly Holly vs. Victoria in a Hair vs Hair at Wrestlemania. The ILW universe weighs in with their picks as well!Matt has a new favorite wrestler in Luigi Primo, Best Pizza Chef and he is appalled to hear Rachel refer to The Rock as “the epitome of 90s era grunge.” Rachel educates Matt about Cherry, they finally agree on...2022-09-0156 minI Like WrestlingBeyond the MattRachel and Matt dissect Barry Blaustein’s pivotal 1999 documentary “Beyond the Mat” and the lives of Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake the Snake. Matt delves into his perspectives watching wrestling as a father, and desperately tries to work in Johnny Gargano hot takes to pull us out of Rachel's Kafka-esque outlook on our doomed existence. A bonus history lesson explores the parallels between Diane Arbus’ photography and humans as visual spectacles, plus a Doink reference!FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5 and @ilwpod2022-08-2543 minI Like WrestlingYou Think You Know MillennialsRachel isn’t a fan of Sami Zayn, Pat McAfee, Santino Marella, or Elias/Ezekiel. Matt abhors Edge, The Hardy Boys, and Shawn Michaels. Rachel caught up on some current programming and is impressed with the women’s division, and Matt is finally invested in the Intercontinental Title.FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:TWITTER @ilwpodINSTAGRAM @ilwpodTIKTOK @mattvogel5#ilikewrestlingpod2022-08-1854 minI Like to ReadBritney Spears, Victorian Women, and Second Marriages: A Conversation with Rachel Vorona CoteWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aUxfImnkc3oBUY RACHEL’S BOOK “Too Much: How VIctorian Constraints Still Bind Women Today”https://www.therippedbodicela.com/book/9781538729700FOLLOW RVC ON TWITTER @RVoronaCote AND INSTAGRAM @RachVCoteFOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AND GOODREADS @ILIKETOREADPOD TWITTER: @rpolansky77FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/iliketoreadpodMEDIA MAVEN BLOG: https://rpolansky77.wixsite.com/website2020-10-181h 04