This week: in the news, AEW also goes into the ECW member berries business, in the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM, Survivor Series and Full Gear builds and in Vader Club: Vader and Great Kokina vs. Shinya Hashimoto and Masa Saito

This week: in the news, Kenny Omega returns…to New Japan, in the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM, NXT’s ECW tribute beats AEW and in Vader Club: Vader vs. Salman Hasimikov from New Japan 1989

This week: in the news Odyssey Jones removed from the roster, in the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM, ice cold takes on Bash at Berlin and No Mercy and a preview of All Out and in Vader Club: random Sid ramblings.

By request, we start with some music geekery due to the passing of Christine McVie. Then, we talk WWE's cynical India strategy and the low AEW rating takes us to THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM where we talk the baffling promos of MJF and Jade Cargill, Jeff geeking out to Wrestlecade, the weird Iron Survivor meetings on NXT and the RAW follow up to Survivor Series WarGames.

Recorded mere minutes after Survivor Series, the guys give their thoughts on both Full Gear and War Games with a morsel of NXT in this week's LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM

Full Gear Preview and last night's AEW Dynamite has Jeff going into theories. Like what if the Devil that doesn't exist is CM Punk. Chris humors him. 

In the news: Nick Aldis and if either WWE or AEW is a better fit if either wants to sign him this time around. Then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: ICE COLD TAKES on Crown Jewel; promos from Iyo/Asuka, Xavier and MJF to the Saraya/Britt promo that did more harm than good. The ridiculous lack of telling a story in the Seth Rollins/Bobby Lashley/Austin Theory angle, the lack of planning for Full Gear. PLUS: Chris tells a Gallagher story.

This week: Jeff Jarrett gets another check, the WWE is making bank, NXT is making cuts and booking arenas it can't fill. Colt Cabana makes an appearance as does Shibata, and did they beat Damage CTRL just to make a political statement in Saudi Arabia? Then in the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: we preview Crown Jewel, the greatness of the Bloodline segment last week, the noble attempts on RAW and by Rick Ross and more. Plus: Chris tells us about his day as a professional basketball coach.

This week the guys discuss the newest twist and turns in the CM Punk/Elite story including a new hero in all of this emerging, just ask him. We talk a few signings by both companies then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Jeff re-watched both Halloween Havoc 1989 and 1990 which is full of tag team wrestling; NXT Halloween Havoc ice cold thoughts, could Katana Chance as a heel work, the MJF promo, what the hell was that ending to Raw and we ask the question: is karaoke actually fun? 

This week, we talk Chris Jericho re-signing, Ace Steel departing, and CM Punk possibly being bought out. Karl Anderson is double booked, leading Chris to rant about people who worry about integrity in pro wrestling. Then, the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM. MJF's promo is one of the more fantastic things this year, Halloween Havoc is this weekend, Jeff hates heel color commentators and MORE!

This week the guys talk the signing of Mox and Renee, Warner Brothers Discovery and brand expansion, and the lack of any action post-All Out. Then, THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM. Ice Cold Takes on Extreme Rules including the baffling booking of Damage CTRL and the return of Bray Wyatt, then the week that was as we talk promos from MJF and Nyla and the Daniel Garcia "turn?" The unrepentant stupidity of Serpentico and Brandon Cutler, Sami Zayn as an Uce and Kiana James, who is living in a porn movie with the sex scenes edited out. 

This week Jeff starts by trying to teach Chris about Judy Tenuta. Then we talk about the death of Sara Lee, Rob Fee's hiring, Sammy and Andrade, WWE's new broadcast teams, Dan Lambert, Big Time Wrestling's Thanksgiving weekend, Gable Steveson and Bobby Fish's boxing debut. Then, THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Extreme Rules preview (and the fear of overbooking), Braun Stroman, outlining a wrestling show, the need to protect pure babyfaces, Ring Of Honor as Earth 2 AEW and MORE! Plus, Alexa (not Bliss) does a run in.

News on the death of Antonio Inoki broke as we went to air, so even though he might not be in our wheelhouse, we do have a nice discussion. After that we talk ticket sales and signings, then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM, a lot of talk on Jericho, the Saraya promo and all that was wrong about it, crowd shaming when its the company not doing its job, the body language of Yuta, the awesomeness of Bandido, and MORE! Plus, Jeff does the unthinkable and criticizes Aunt Pam.

In the news the death of Sid Eudy, in the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM, ice cold takes on All In and previews of Bash in Berlin and NXT No Mercy for Vader club: Orient Express vs. The Rockers Royal Rumble 1991.

This week, Logan Paul/Roman at Crown Jewel, War Games at Survivor Series, and Grand Slam doing a million bucks. Plus THE LAZY RIVER OR WRESTLING CRITICISM: the return of Saraya, praise for Smackdown, especially Sami and Liv Morgan, the preposterous first hour of Dynamite, the promos of MJF and Marina Shafir, and MORE! Plus, Nov starts with feud with Joe Lanza.

Nov is traveling, filling in is the creator of Shake Them Ropes, Rob McCarron (@RobFromIndiana). We talk the end of NXT 2.0, his feelings on the state of play in the business, and just meander a bit on the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM. Rob also has the first question someone in that scrum should have asked Tony Khan that nobody has asked (not a bit, this is a legit great question).

This week, the guys start with a new sponsor before going into the "Fall Out from All Out" and we go into Punk, Page, Tony, The Bucks, Kenny, the locker room and Larry the Dog. The LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM sort of pales in comparison, but there was a lot of good wrestling, where we praise Sheamus and Gunther, Meiko and Roxanne, Carmelo and Ricochet. Plus, Jeff's Kiana James theory.

Lots of graps. This week the boys talk Bobby Fish gone from AEW and a few other stories then it's previews previews previews on THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Clash at the Castle, Worlds Collide and All Out. All the matches and anything we noticed on the go homes.

This week, Chris and Jeff had an extra day and watched more. Johnny Wrestling is back in WWE. Jeff Jarrett says goodbye and Road Dogg says hello to management gigs in WWE, Tony Khan has a family meeting before Dynamite, Eddie Kingston got suspended, Thunder Rosa gives her title back, more people are watching week to week and nights are selling out. Then, THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Gargano vs. Starks and performance on promos; Smackdown is a lot of fun to watch; Punk/Mox, Dax/Lethal, and a discussion of All Out; NXT and the character work they do and MORE!

This week: Punk and Page need to have a fist fight. WWE angling for the big money, NXT UK is no more or expanding to all of Europe depending on who you ask. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Was Punk heeling on the crowd, DDT's on concrete, RAW had wrestling, and NXT Heatwave. Bron Breakker is boring as champ, make him a Steiner. All that and not much more.

This week, Internet carnies, then the news: More Vince McMahon hush money, the end of NXT UK? Then the comings and goings of AEW and WWE and injury news. Then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: HHH's interesting ideas, Nov gets skittish about blood, and MORE.

Everyone seemed to have a good week in the graps. AUNT PAM IS BACK! We talk the injury to Becky Lynch, USA wanting an interim Raw champion, Time Warner Discovery and their cost cutting and parlay it all into a discussion as to whether WWE is serving one too many masters and whether AEW goes with one of them or stays. We also talk AEW hiring more talent relations staff. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: the triple threats on RAW and the ascension of Ciampa; the magic simplicity of Jay Lethal/Orange Cassidy, the Women of NXT having a good week, and MORE. Plus, why weren't there more crying children when the NWO broke up.

This week the guys give more tempered takes on the lay of the WWE land including the news that HHH has taken over creative. Plus the fallout from ROH and the Jonathan Gresham/Tully Blanchard situations. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: SummerSlam Preview, Mox/Rush, Danielson/Garcia, promos by Jungle Boy/Wheeler Yuta and Anna Jay (AS) and the implosion of Team Taz

The dangers of recording on Friday. An hour ago, Vince McMahon stepped down from WWE, Brock Lesnar left Smackdown, and HHH is now EVP of Talent Relations. We also talk the Briscoes to ROH, AQA and Biff Busick taking time off and Jake Atlas finishing rehab. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Titus opening Raw, Barbed Wire Everywhere, Tyrus and the NWA, Luchasaurus re-turns? the awesomeness of Brody King/ Darby, the 9:20-9:40 death spot, Fuego Del Sol and Dax's promos and MORE!

In the news Ricochet signs with AEW, in the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM we preview all in and for Vader club: Kidman vs. Mikey Whipwreck from WCW Uncensored 1999

STR this week, Jeff gives a mostly positive update on his cancer battle, and Chris is tired of him milking it. Then after Jeff declares war on mom and pop convenience stores, we talk Raw going TV-14 and what our jaundiced view tells us, All Out instantly sells out, and the Grizzled Young Veterans get new names. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: the Cora Jade turn, having friends in wrestling storylines and why its a good thing, a mild debate over Wardlow and Orange Cassidy, do title elimination matches make champions less special, sandbags, and we end with a discussion about the ROH ppv within AEW's business plan.

This week, Jeff got a little stir crazy post-cancer surgery so with all apologies to being a bit low energy, why not do a show? He shares an update on his health, and the heartfelt song Chris wrote for him while recovering. Then we jump into Vince McMahon and NDAs, NJPW in America, talent and injury updates and a LAZY RIVER OF PRO WRESTLING CRITICISM: ICE COLD TAKES on Money in the Bank, Christian Cage promos, NXT Great American Bash, quick hits on things Jeff liked, the Matt Menard promo and the Wardlow title win.

This week as Jeff tries to give an update of health, Chris gets his plugs in, and then we talk WWE signings and AEW goings. Then a long LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Cold takes on Forbidden Door, review of Blood and Guts, and a preview of Money in the Bank.

This week we celebrate air conditioning. In the news, Tim White, more on Stephanie becoming acting CEO, HHH "is back," Muto's retirement tour, Ric Flair's "retirement" match and more. Then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Forbidden Door, Christian Cage, Elias/Ezekiel, Omos/Riddle and more! 

This week, Vince McMahon. A lot of Vince. the Wall Street Journal reports on Vince and his NDAs, stepping down except still running creative, Vince and Oliver Luck. Jeff Hardy's drunk driving arrest, Dave Hebner passes away, Tony Khan blows off media opportunities, and Mutoh wants five final matches. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Is Forbidden Door a supercard? What's the story told? And a lot of meandering, but Jeff watched Starrcade 85 this week so he liked something.

This week we ask who wants to be a main eventer, as CM Punk and Cody go down with injuries and Roman won't be on yet another PPV. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Good Wrestling and Bad Storytelling, NXT having a good upside but bad storytelling, AEW having bad storytelling. Sense a theme?

This week we talk the MJF promo to start, and why everything it did overshadowed what should have been Wardlow's coming out. Then the news including Sammy and Tay getting engaged, a Ric Flair documentary, wrestlers getting cast in movies and of course our LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Ice Cold Takes on Double or Nothing, what's entertaining Jeff in WWE, and previews of Hell in a Cell and NXT: In Your House. Also, Chris makes a pitch for "The Whacker."

This week, we have parking grievances, then get into the news: Naomi/Sasha vs. WWE, MITB gets downsized, Kota Ibushi isn't happy and weddings! Then, the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: NXT 2.0 ends with constructive criticism, the Page/Punk go home: are people making sense in their heads and the Double or Nothing preview

This week, we talk Sasha and Naomi walking out, Stephanie taking a sabbatical, Nicole Savoy retiring, television upfronts, the in-ring return of Ric Flair and PWG booking Chris' favorite wrestler and their first women's match since 2011. Plus, the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM in which we talk of all the things the Patriotic Wrestling Federation, and a lot of AEW Dynamite: The perfection of Wardlow/MJF, the great match of Page/Takeshita, Serena Deeb and JAS/Regal promos and why, contrary to public opinion, the Jokers in the Owen Hart Tournament were well done. Plus, what do you mean they canceled a Wonder Twins movie?

This week the boys talk Roman Reigns new deal, Kota Ibushi wanting out of his deal, goings on in Turner, and more in the news. Then, THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Backlash ice cold takes; WWE's good wrestling but bad storytelling; great stuff on AEW; Dax Harwood's very good year; Lacey Evans' story being a swerve; was Darby/Hardy in poor taste given who was in the audience, and more deep questions about a not so deep subject.

In the news: AEW goes All In somewhere else in 2025, in the Lazy River: Jeff enjoyed Dynamite, Vader Club: The Tower of Doom match from the Great American Bash 1988.

This week we talk George Perez and MULTIVERSES! NXT Cuts, contracts expiring, Freddie Prinze Jr, Tessa Blanchard, WWE Q1, injury updates and tv deals. Then a Backlash preview, then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Trent's promo on Rampage, the really good of W Morrissey and Adam Page, the bad of Dynamite: presentation of women, Jeff Hardy; Jeff watched DEFY, the good and bad of NXT Spring Break and the ugly of NXT UK. Plus as the title says, Chris hates farmers.

We record early on a Friday as it's Jeff's birthday (and then the NXT cuts came, so we'll get to that next week). So instead we talk Bret Hart might still be part of the Owen, COVID hits NJPW and WWE, Discovery and if AEW, and Becky Lynch's thoughts on AEW's women's division. We then transition into the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Was Dynamite a bit formulaic? WWE's character shifts with no explanation, Cash/Dax, Sky/Sammy, Gacy and his Druids, W. Morrissey, Shida/Deeb and more!

This week the guys talk Tony Khan's Forbidden Door, Bret Hart re-signing with WWE, talent leaving WWE and AEW, new names, and a discussion of what is the point of NXT 2.0 if they aren't doing the mission statement? Then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: A discussion of hate in promos, and why WWE's characterization of babyfaces forces the issue to turn them heel; Jade vs. Marina; the randomness of NXT character choices, good comedy and bad promos in wrestling this week, and MORE!.

This week the boys talk all the news including Shinjiro Otani, the UK Stadium show, and Vince issues a memo about names. Then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Week two of the Cody Rhodes story in WWE and Wheeler Yuta in AEW; is Marina Shafir the person to dethrone Jade after her debut on Wednesday; the greatness of the MJF/Dean match; did NXT lose sight of what made Cameron Grimes popular and much much more.

This week we talk the release of Nash Carter, Tony Khan's campaign about online criticism, then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM! This week: the boys gush about FTR, then ICE COLD TAKES on Wrestlemania weekend and the NXT show, talking about the terrible follow ups on television.

This week Chris and Jeff discuss the death of Rocky King, the WWE/Fanatics deal, the Steiners going into the Hall of Fame and then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Toni Storm, FTR as babyfaces, Vince McMahon's merchandise, Mania ticket sales and previews of NXT: Stand and Deliver and both nights of Wrestlemania. Plus: artists whose work you hate but you think are great human beings, and what exactly is The Burlington Trip?

This week we talk AEW star building, HHH retiring from the ring, and Toni Storm's OnlyFans. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM about the Mania build, acting notes on the promos this week, opining on cheap heat, and a moment of silence for Duke Hudson's chest (and more!)

This week, the boys talk the life of the late Scott Hall and opine on his complicated legacy; Tony Khan wanting to bring back ROH as a television show, and WWE meets MLW in court about Court. Then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: The build to Wrestlemania, Happy Brock, Austin Theory, Sports Entertainers, the Butcher, and sheer competency being welcome on NXT 2.0

This week the guys give an update on Big E, talk the Hall of Fame inductions of Sid and Vader, and other minor news. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Revolution, FTR/Tully, the Pat McAfee video and more! Plus, yes, we talk about Pete Dunne.

This week we discuss AEW buying ROH, WWE and Russia, and compare the problems with AEW Media Call and the Pat McAfee and Vince McMahon interview as being the two sides of whatever the hell "wrestling media" means (go listen to Lanza's rant on the Flagship). Then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: AEW Revolution Preview with our analysis of Dynamite, what the hell is NXT letting their women do each other, and Jeff gushes about the tag team of Gordy and Snuka.

This week, in the news, our remembrances of Kevin Sullivan, in the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: ice cold takes on Summerslam and more, and for Vader Club: The Steiner Brothers vs. The Faces of Fear from Nitro 1997.

The boys talk all the comings and goings in WWE and AEW, then THE LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: the awesome MJF promo, the debut of Nikkita Lyons, and how JR almost tanked the House of Black.

This week, we talk all things Cody Rhodes. Well, Jeff does and Chris tries to be made to care. But, Jeff makes the case that it's a loss for AEW and why some of the popular narratives of what Cody is going to do may not make sense. Then, we preview the show in Saudi Arabia, which devolves in tasteless jokes. Then the LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: The Creed Brothers, the two Adams, John Creese, GUNTHER, and more!

This week we celebrate the 500th episode and 8th anniversary of Shake Them Ropes. Candy Devine, Rok-C and AEW signings are the news, so we do a lot of LAZY RIVER OF WRESTLING CRITICISM: Naomi/Charlotte, Grizzled Young Veterans, Heel Celebrations, FTR vs. Moxley and Punk! A show plagued by a demon in Chris's computer that would not relent, but we got through it.