Explore every episode of the podcast The Fight Game Podcast: Pro Wrestling, MMA & Boxing

Garrett Gonzales welcomes Zack Heydorn of Brass Ring Media to The Fight Game Podcast for a preview of Wednesday night's head-to-head showdown. AEW presents Dynamite: Blood & Guts from Jacksonville, while NXT goes live on Wednesday because of election coverage, with CM Punk challenging Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship and appearances from John Cena and Cody Rhodes. Garrett and Zack break down how the two shows stack up and what each is doing to win the night.

Zack also shares what he thinks is working in wrestling right now, including Will Ospreay's run as AEW World Champion and the rise of Oba Femi in WWE. Along the way, Zack talks about Brass Ring Media, his Substack covering pro wrestling, and what goes into his analysis of the industry.

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This episode runs a little differently. We start with the actual Street Fighter video game — its 1987 arcade origins, the Street Fighter II revolution that invented the modern fighting-game genre, and the esports history that followed. Then a quick dive into 1994's gloriously campy Van Damme cult classic, including Raul Julia's final performance. From there we go into our full rundown of the new 2026 film now in theaters — and the Fight Game angle on this one is bigger than anything we've covered: Roman Reigns as Akuma, Cody Rhodes as Guile, NJPW's Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, and UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski as Joe, all in one movie.

We cover each of their real careers, the film's chaotic path to the screen (two different directors, a distributor swap, a working title called "Punch"), the plot, the box office, and the critical reception — plus a bonus pick on who else from boxing, MMA, or wrestling could have filled out this cast.

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Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine rank the biggest stories in wrestling this week, and neither knows the other's list ahead of time.

On the AEW side, Kyle Fletcher laid down the challenge for Will Ospreay's AEW World Championship at Full Gear on November 14 in Phoenix after beating Jack Perry on Dynamite, reminding everyone he beat Ospreay at Full Gear 2024. The guys weigh that history against Ospreay's steel cage win at Revolution and debate whether Fletcher is the right challenger, with both men also set for the Blood & Guts match on November 4.

On Raw, Bayley tapped out Lyra Valkyria in a no disqualification match for her first singles win since April, and Garrett and Paul look at where a feud that has run all year goes next. Then it's the return of the Wednesday Night War: with The CW's midterm election coverage bumping NXT from Tuesday, WWE is putting a loaded NXT head-to-head with AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts on November 4 in Jacksonville, and the guys break down how the two shows stack up.

They also dig into reports that Shawn Michaels could take over Bruce Prichard's role leading WWE's creative writing and talent, what that would mean for NXT and how much of it is still rumor. Finally, they cover WWE Crown Jewel changing venues in Riyadh ahead of its November 7 date and what the move says about WWE's plans in Saudi Arabia.

Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel.

Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia

The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707

The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68

GG's Substack: https://thecoolcheckin.substack.com/

Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine are back with another edition of Takedown, each ranking the five biggest wrestling stories of the week without knowing the other's list.

Leading the way is Roman Reigns returning on Raw to stand with The Usos and Solo Sikoa against Royce Keys, Carmelo Hayes and The 946, setting up a WarGames war at Survivor Series. The guys break down what Reigns reuniting with The Bloodline means for the biggest story in WWE. Then it's the return of the Wednesday Night War: with election coverage moving NXT to Wednesday on November 4, it goes head-to-head with AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts, where Will Ospreay, Adam Copeland, the Young Bucks, Darby Allin and Steven Borden take on the Don Callis Family.

Over in AEW, Garrett and Paul dig into Jon Moxley's babyface turn after The Dogs turned on the Death Riders and joined forces with Jay White and the Bang Bang Gang on Dynamite. They also look at Ilja Dragunov signing with AEW after his WrestleDream debut and what the former NXT Champion brings to the roster.

Plus, the guys weigh in on the Nikki Bella and Paige storyline on SmackDown, from the Bella Twins turning on Paige at SummerSlam to Paige getting her revenge on Nikki, and where the feud goes from here.

Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel.

Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia

The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707

The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68

GG's Substack: https://thecoolcheckin.substack.com/

Garrett Gonzales and Jeremy Finestone recap AEW WrestleDream 2026 from Orlando, starting with the match that stole the show: Jon Moxley vs. Mark Davis for the Continental Championship. Mox wore a Newcastle United jersey in tribute to PAC, bled through a brutal fight with Dunkzilla, and finally choked Davis out after locking in PAC's Brutalizer, then broke down in front of the Death Riders. The guys explain why it was one of Moxley's most emotional performances in AEW.

Then it's the Young Bucks vs. Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight, a tag team classic full of near-falls and Don Callis interference that ended with the Bucks retaining the World Tag Team Championship. Garrett and Jeremy also break down the first-ever Clockwork Carnage match, where Will Ospreay held onto the AEW World Championship by pinning Adam Copeland in the closing seconds, and debate whether the format should become a regular part of AEW pay-per-views.

They also look at what's next for Ospreay, Moxley and Mercedes Moné, who retained the Women's World Championship against Thekla. Plus, the rest of the card: Hangman Page and Brodido winning the Trios Titles from Swerve Strickland and The New Level, Persephone retaining the TBS Title in a four-way, Andrade El Ídolo beating Tommaso Ciampa, Nick Wayne beating Chris Jericho, the Motor City Machine Guns taking match one of their series with FTR, and Ilja Dragunov's arrival in AEW.

Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode lands in your feed, and watch the shows live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel.

Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia

The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707

The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68

Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine are back with the new Takedown format: each ranks the five most important wrestling stories of the week, and neither knows the other's list ahead of time.

Their lists center on AEW WrestleDream this Saturday, October 17 in Orlando, where Will Ospreay defends the AEW World Championship in the first-ever Clockwork Carnage match against Samoa Joe, Mike Bailey and the qualifying-match winners. The guys also cover the rest of the card, including the Young Bucks defending the World Tag Team Titles against Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight, Mercedes Moné vs. Thekla for the Women's World Championship, and Andrade El Ídolo's National Title defense.

Next, they react to Kenny Omega laying out IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling, setting up a three-way with Boltin Oleg at Power Struggle on November 3. From there it's WWE Money in the Bank fallout, with Penta and Tiffany Stratton winning the ladder matches, Roman Reigns retaining over LA Knight and Oba Femi beating Bronson Reed. On Raw, the guys break down Chad Gable tapping out Rey Fenix to retain the Intercontinental Championship, and The 946 adding Carmelo Hayes, whose crowbar attack on The Bloodline closed the show.

They also look back at TNA Bound for Glory in Tampa, where Leon Slater beat Nic Nemeth to become TNA World Champion on a night when five titles changed hands. That included Indi Hartwell winning the Knockouts World Title and Amazing Red claiming the X Division Championship. Finally, Garrett and Paul debate whether WWE can really take Crown Jewel to Riyadh on November 7 under a Level 3 U.S. travel advisory, and close with Adam Copeland's retirement plans and what his final AEW run could look like.

Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel.

Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia

The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707

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Keila Cash of The WRAP joins Garrett Gonzales on The Fight Game Podcast to break down three things working and three things not working in WWE right now.

On the plus side, they talk about The 946, Royce Keys' Raw faction with Bronco Nima, Lucien Price, Jaida Parker and Carmelo Hayes, and its war with The Bloodline, plus why Penta keeps getting over and how Oba Femi is being built into a star.

On the other side, Garrett and Keila take on Triple H's second-guessing and the creative changes it causes, frustrating booking decisions in the women's division, and a tag team scene that still isn't getting the attention it deserves.

Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode lands in your feed, and watch the shows on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel.

Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia

The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707

The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68

Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine kick off this episode of Takedown with a full preview of WWE Money in the Bank, live Saturday from New Orleans. Roman Reigns defends the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight, Stephanie Vaquer puts the Women's World Championship on the line against Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan, and Oba Femi and Bronson Reed finally settle their grudge. The guys also break down both ladder matches: Bron Breakker, Je'Von Evans, Trick Williams, Penta, CM Punk and Kevin Owens on the men's side, and Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jacy Jayne, Roxanne Perez, Lash Legend and Tiffany Stratton on the women's side.

Then it's AEW's first-ever Clockwork Carnage match, coming to WrestleDream on October 17 with the AEW World Championship on the line. Garrett and Paul explain how Will Ospreay's new format works, from the timed entrances to the 15-minute scoring period where the most falls wins, and who has the best shot at leaving as champion.

The guys also run through NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling on October 12 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, headlined by Yota Tsuji defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against G1 Climax winner Ryohei Oiwa. They look back at Ospreay finally beating Kazuchika Okada for a championship at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam France, and close by asking whether WWE can really travel to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel on November 7 under a U.S. travel advisory.

Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel.

Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia

The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707

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The Princess Bride is one of the most quotable films ever made — and buried inside it is one of the great Fight Game stories: André the Giant, wrestling's Eighth Wonder of the World, playing Fezzik in what he'd call his favorite role of his career. On this episode of Popcorn & Piledrivers, we go deep on André's full life — his childhood acromegaly diagnosis, Samuel Beckett driving him to school in France, the WrestleMania III turn and "bodyslam heard around the world" against Hulk Hogan, his brief world title reign, and his death in 1993 at just 46.

We also cover William Goldman's decades-long fight to get his own "unfilmable" novel made (including Arnold Schwarzenegger almost playing Fezzik a decade earlier), Rob Reiner building a real on-set family with the cast, Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin training for weeks with Star Wars' own swordmasters, what happened to the rest of the cast, how the book's ending differs from the film's, and which current wrestling stars could ever play Fezzik.

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This episode of Takedown is almost entirely given over to Pac. Paul Fontaine runs down his top five Pac moments across a career that spanned Dragon Gate, WWE, and AEW, while Garrett Gonzales shares a story about seeing Pac live in person just recently. The guys also go back to the very beginning of their own fandom, remembering the first time they each watched him wrestle.

Along the way, Garrett and Paul work through his overall career — the high-flying independent scene run, his Adrian Neville/Neville years and Cruiserweight Championship reigns in WWE, and the AEW run that made him a two-time double champion and a fixture of Death Triangle and later the Death Riders — celebrating what made him one of the most respected in-ring workers of his generation.

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Garrett Gonzales and Jeremy Finestone break down every match from AEW All Out 2026, headlined by Will Ospreay retaining the AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley. Ospreay finally beat Mox, but a main event full of Death Riders, United Empire and Brawling Birds run-ins had its critics, and Garrett explains the two things that took him out of it.

The guys also discuss Steven Borden's scary injury after a midair collision with Kevin Knight ended his tag match with Darby Allin, including the latest update on his condition. They talk about the brutal three-way ladder match that saw the Young Bucks become the first four-time AEW World Tag Team Champions over Copeland and Christian Cage and FTR, and how much all six men put their bodies through.

Plus: Dani Luna's "surprise" debut against TBS Champion Persephone, Thekla earning a WrestleDream shot at Mercedes Moné, Okada vs. Ciampa, the Chicago Street Fight, the Trios Title match, Andrade vs. PAC and where AEW's storylines are focused coming out of All Out.

Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode lands in your feed, and watch the shows on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel.

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GG on Twitter/X: https://x.com/roheblius

Garrett Gonzales is back with another update about this feed. It's now The Fight Game Podcast back on Fight Game Media. He's bringing back the show to the home base and he gives you a little insight into when it's coming back and what he plans to do with it.

GG is back with an update on the Fight Game Media podcast feed.

Make sure you're subscribed to the YouTube feed here: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia.

Jeremy Finestone and Steven Conway preview NJPW's Blue Justice XIX and the road to it on New Japan World, then break down AEW All In and Dynamite with a close look at United Empire's role in Will Ospreay winning the title.

They also cover Young Lion Yushin Hatazawa's debut on September 9, and close with a debate on Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat — and why so many modern critiques of that match, and matches like it, amount to bad-faith arguments.

In This Episode:

• Previewing Blue Justice XIX and the road to it on New Japan World
• Jeremy recaps AEW All In and Dynamite, including United Empire's role in Will Ospreay's title win
• Young Lion Yushin Hatazawa's debut on September 9
• Flair vs. Steamboat, and why today's critiques of the match are bad faith

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins are back to talk about everything that happened on Sunday's All In pay-per-view, then dig into the fallout episode of AEW Dynamite that followed.

Will Ospreay delivered his first promo as AEW World Champion, and The New Level made its TV debut teaming with Swerve Strickland to defend the World Trios Championship against the Rascalz. Mercedes Moné's championship celebration got interrupted by Thekla, and the show closed with a 10-man tag main event pitting United Empire against The Dogs and the Demand. Looking ahead, Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley is now signed for All Out in September.

In This Episode:

• Recapping Sunday's All In pay-per-view
• Will Ospreay's first promo as AEW World Champion
• The New Level's TV debut, teaming with Swerve Strickland to defend the World Trios Championship against the Rascalz
• Mercedes Moné's championship celebration interrupted by Thekla
• United Empire vs. The Dogs and the Demand in a 10-man tag team main event
• Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley signed for All Out in September

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Paul Fontaine and Garrett Gonzales debate just how high Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega ranks on this year's best-matches list, and what made it stand out beyond the wrestling itself — the pageantry and emotion around it.

From there they turn to the tag team scene: The New Level's arrival and what it means for AEW's tag division, then Penta vs. Fenix as a case study in why WWE badly needs stronger midcard wrestling. They close out on WWE's Bloodline storyline, working through where Royce Keys and OTM actually fit into it.

In This Episode:

• How high Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega ranks on the all-time best-matches list
• What made the match stand out — the pageantry and emotion around it
• The New Level and the state of AEW's tag team scene
• Penta vs. Fenix, and why WWE needs stronger midcard wrestling
• Where Royce Keys and OTM fit into the Bloodline storyline

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Garrett Gonzales and Jeremy Finestone take on Raging Bull (1980), Martin Scorsese's boxing classic starring Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta — how the film got made, and the wild true story of the fighter it's based on.

They dig into De Niro's two-way physical transformation for the role, the making of the film with Scorsese, Paul Schrader, and cinematographer Michael Chapman, and then go deep on Jake LaMotta himself: his six-fight war with Sugar Ray Robinson, the fixed Billy Fox fight he later admitted to under oath, his middleweight title run, and his chaotic life after boxing. They also stack Raging Bull up against Rocky, cast the film with today's boxing, wrestling, and MMA stars, and hand out final grades.

In This Episode:

• The making of Raging Bull — De Niro's obsession with the role, Scorsese coming aboard, and De Niro's dramatic weight transformation
• The real Jake LaMotta: his six-fight rivalry with Sugar Ray Robinson, the fixed Billy Fox fight, and his 1949 middleweight title win
• LaMotta's life after boxing — the nightclub, his arrest, and his Kefauver Committee testimony
• Raging Bull vs. Rocky: the deal that got Raging Bull made, and the two films' very different philosophies
• Casting Raging Bull with today's boxing, wrestling, and MMA stars
• Final grades: how the film holds up as a character study, an adaptation, and a piece of fight-game history

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Garrett Gonzales and Jeremy Finestone break down the entire AEW All In card, headlined by Will Ospreay finally becoming AEW World Champion in an incredible match against Kenny Omega.

They also cover Mercedes Moné's ring-general performance in her win over Willow Nightingale, The New Day's surprise transformation into The New Level, and Britt Baker's return to AEW. Plus, AEW drops a huge announcement: Dynasty is heading to Liverpool in 2027.

In This Episode:

• Will Ospreay finally becomes AEW World Champion, defeating Kenny Omega in an incredible match
• Mercedes Moné's ring-general performance in her win over Willow Nightingale
• The New Day becomes The New Level
• Britt Baker returns to AEW
• AEW announces Dynasty will take place in Liverpool in 2027
• A full breakdown of the rest of the All In card

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Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone run through all the latest NJPW news, starting with a full title status check across the promotion — who holds each championship and who their most likely next challenger is.

They also debate which AEW stars deserve a spot on the Wrestle Kingdom card, weighing the cases for Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, and Gabe Kidd. The episode closes on two tributes: remembering Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and others who passed away recently, and Steven's final look back at Hiroyoshi Tenzan's career.

In This Episode:

• Title Status Check: every NJPW championship, the current champion, and their most likely next challenger
• Which AEW stars should be part of Wrestle Kingdom — cases for Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, and Gabe Kidd
• Remembering Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and others who recently passed away
• Steven's final look at the career of Hiroyoshi Tenzan

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins kick off with a big-picture look at what really separates AEW from WWE, then dig into the go-home episode of AEW Dynamite ahead of Sunday's All In pay-per-view.

Jon Moxley and Nigel McGuinness both punched their tickets to the Continental Cup final at All In. Will Ospreay delivered his final promo before challenging Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship at Wembley Stadium, and Mercedes Moné laid out Willow Nightingale backstage with a promise to take her championship. In the main event, Swerve Strickland picked up a win over Jack Perry, and in trios action, Persephone pinned TBS Champion Maya World.

In This Episode:

• AEW vs. WWE: the big differences between the two promotions
• Jon Moxley and Nigel McGuinness both advance to Sunday's Continental Cup final
• Will Ospreay's last promo before facing Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship at Wembley
• Mercedes Moné lays out Willow Nightingale backstage, vows to take her championship
• Swerve Strickland beats Jack Perry in the main event
• Persephone pins TBS Champion Maya World in a women's trios match

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B.J. Bethel joins Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine to break down his SEScoops report on the WWE-ESPN relationship, and it isn't pretty. Bethel details how ESPN won't be renewing its five-year, $1.6 billion deal to air WWE premium live events on the ESPN Unlimited app once the current contract expires — despite the app only launching a year ago. Bethel walks through the "culture and synergy" issues between the two companies, cable providers refusing to absorb the app's cost for subscribers, and the price hikes now hitting customers directly.

Then Garrett and Paul preview AEW All In at Wembley Stadium on August 30, sorting the entire nine-match card into "matches we care about," "matches we don't care as much about," and everything in the middle:

- Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay — AEW World Championship

- Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Moné — AEW Women's Championship

- Kyle Fletcher vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada — AEW International Championship (Three-Way)

- Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. The Young Bucks — AEW World Tag Team Championship

- Megan Bayne & Lena Kross vs. Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor — AEW Women's Tag Team Championship

- Kevin Knight vs. Darby Allin — TNT Championship, Falls Count Anywhere

- Hangman Page, Bandido & Brody King's Trios Championship open challenge

- Continental Challenge Cup Final for the AEW Continental Championship

- Casino Gauntlet Match for a shot at the AEW World Championship

Paul also weighs in on CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens from last week's SmackDown in Toronto, where Sami Zayn turned on Owens to help Punk retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

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B.J. Bethel's WWE-ESPN report: https://www.sescoops.com/article/latest-on-wwe-espn-relationship-espn-price-hike

Special guest Chris Samsa joins Jeremy Finestone and Steven Conway to break down Ryohei Oiwa vs. Yuya Uemura's G1 Climax 36 final — a match they call an instant classic that felt ultra-modern while still nodding to New Japan's history.

They dig into how Yuya Uemura came out of the loss elevated rather than diminished, and what Callum Newman, Yota Tsuji, Hirooki Goto, and Konosuke Takeshita each did along the way to help set up the Finals storyline. Plus: Hiroyoshi Tenzan's retirement, and a new Young Lion set to debut in September.

In This Episode:

• Chris Samsa joins the show to discuss the G1 Climax 36 final between Ryohei Oiwa and Yuya Uemura
• How the finalists built a match that felt ultra-modern while still paying tribute to NJPW's past
• Why Yuya Uemura came out of the loss elevated, not diminished
• What Callum Newman, Yota Tsuji, Hirooki Goto, and Konosuke Takeshita each contributed to setting up the Finals storyline
• Hiroyoshi Tenzan's retirement
• A new Young Lion set to debut in September

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins break down a supersized Dynamite from Baltimore that delivered one shocking moment after another heading into All In. Kenny Omega laid out Will Ospreay with a One Winged Angel through a table, and a heated interview segment boiled over into an out-of-control brawl between Mercedes Mone and Willow Nightingale.

The Continental Cup tournament saw Jon Moxley and Nigel McGuinness both advance with wins over Jay White and Hechicero, keeping the field narrowing toward All In. Maya World retained the TBS Championship in a four-way match before accepting a challenge from Willow Nightingale for her AEW World Championship, setting up a massive showdown. The night closed with Kevin Knight laying out Darby Allin with a Van Terminator, and in the aftermath, Steve Borden Jr. made his on-screen debut.

Paul and Jeff give their full breakdown of a stacked Baltimore Dynamite as the road to All In heats up.

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Paul Fontaine and Garrett Gonzales dig into the Kevin Owens and CM Punk feud ahead of their August 21 Undisputed WWE Championship match in Toronto. The promos have leaned hard into 20 years of legitimate independent-scene history between the two, with Owens airing out how Punk treated him back in their ROH days — but the guys ask the real question: can the actual match live up to that level of personal, shoot-style promo work, or is this a case of the build outpacing the payoff?

From there, they head to NJPW, where first-time finalists Ryohei Oiwa and Yuya Uemura closed out the G1 Climax 36, with Oiwa submitting Uemura to win it all and immediately call his shot for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro-Wrestling in October. Garrett and Paul debate whether crowning two new names in the final is a real sign NJPW can finally build fresh stars.

Next up, AEW's brand new Continental Challenge Cup — the blind-draw tournament feeding into the Continental Classic, with a stacked field including Jon Moxley, Orange Cassidy, Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong and Nigel McGuinness, wrapping at All In London on August 30. The guys ask whether bolting a qualifying tournament onto the front of the Continental Classic dilutes what made the original round robin feel special.

They close on WWE Raw, where Solo Sikoa turned on Roman Reigns and The Bloodline to align with LA Knight, spiking Reigns and helping demolish the group on the August 17 go-home show after the trio's win at SummerSlam. Garrett and Paul weigh in on whether Solo and LA Knight actually have what it takes to be legitimate babyface main eventers on the Raw side, or if this is a short-term rub before the next swerve.

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Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone break down the final block action of the G1 Climax, debating whether New Japan advanced the right wrestlers into the semifinals. They trace every contestant's journey through the tournament, weighing who came out helped and who left hurt by their performance.

The conversation also turns to speculation around a possible Wrestle Kingdom main event featuring a former NJPW star, and how realistic that scenario actually is. Plus, Steven continues tracking Hiroyoshi Tenzan's career as his retirement match draws near, and one wrestling move's name leaves Steven questioning his own sanity.

New Japan Pro Wrestling news, G1 Climax semifinals, and Wrestle Kingdom speculation — all in this episode of Speaking of Strong Style.

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins recap a loaded AEW Dynamite from Las Vegas, where MJF punched his ticket to the number two spot in the Casino Gauntlet at All In. The Continental Cup tournament also saw Jon Moxley and Jay White both advance, keeping their paths toward the tournament alive.

Swerve Strickland made his return, confronting the newly crowned Trios Champions in a moment Paul and Jeff break down for what it means going forward. Kevin Knight retained the TNT Championship against Chris Jericho, only to be challenged immediately after by Darby Allin to a falls count anywhere match at All In. Elsewhere, Kenny Omega made the save for Will Ospreay after an attack from the Don Callis Family.

Paul and Jeff give their full breakdown of a Dynamite that set the stage for even more heading into All In.

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Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine open by asking a question that might be a little early to ask: is the Bloodline story dead? Solo Sikoa's loss to Jey Uso means he's forced back into the fold, and with Zilla Fatu reportedly on the way to join Roman Reigns, Jacob Fatu, and the Usos, the guys debate whether WWE is smartly evolving the saga or stretching a well past its best days.

From there, they shift to AEW, where Will Ospreay just battled Mark Davis in a brutal street fight at Grand Slam Mexico off the back of his Owen Hart Cup win at Forbidden Door — and the hosts ask whether AEW is running him into the ground before his AEW World Championship shot at All In. They also spotlight Solo Sikoa's surprising comedic turn, from the "Solo Dolo" nickname to mocking Jey's Yeet at SummerSlam, and why it's landing so well with fans and locker room alike.

The show also breaks down the logjam atop SmackDown's men's division, with Kevin Owens emerging as the new number one contender to CM Punk's WWE Championship and Randy Orton's shocking return crowding the top of the card with former World Champions ahead of their showdown in Toronto on August 21. They close by putting MJF's All In build to the test — after attacking Andrade El Idolo at Grand Slam Mexico and setting up a Casino Gauntlet qualifier, Garrett and Paul debate whether it's enough of a spotlight for AEW's most valuable heel.

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Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone dig into the latest from New Japan Pro Wrestling, starting with a tribute to Dory Funk Jr. and what his legacy meant to wrestling in Japan. From there, the G1 Climax takes center stage: Konosuke Takeshita, Oleg Boltin, and Gabe Kidd have separated themselves at the top of the standings, and Steven and Jeremy debate who has the best shot at catching them for a semifinal spot. They also work through the full field, breaking down where every contestant stands as the tournament heads into its final stretch.

Steven also continues his career retrospective on Hiroyoshi Tenzan, tracing his rise through the singles ranks.

New Japan Pro Wrestling news, G1 Climax standings, and a look back at a wrestling legend — all in this episode of Speaking of Strong Style.

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins dig into the spectacle of Grand Slam Mexico from Mexico City, a show scheduled for two and a half hours that ran just under three as the card delivered moment after moment. Kyle Fletcher retained the International Championship against Speedball Mike Bailey in what both hosts call an amazing match, and Will Ospreay closed the show with a bloodbath street fight win over Mark Davis in the main event.

The night carried extra weight as Adam Copeland and Chris Jericho each wrestled in Arena Mexico in what could be the final matches of their careers there, with both visibly emotional in the moment. Paul and Jeff also break down the shocking return of MJF, who attacked Andrade El Idolo immediately after Andrade won the number one spot in the Casino Gauntlet at All In, setting up new intrigue heading forward. Elsewhere, the newly formed team of Brodido and Hangman Page captured the AEW World Trios Championship from The Demand.

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AEW's brand new Continental Cup is here, and Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine break down the loaded 16-man field for the FA Cup-style, single-elimination tournament — headlined by Jon Moxley, Jay White, Claudio Castagnoli, Katsuyori Shibata, Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy, and more, all fighting toward All In London where the winner leaves Wembley as Continental Champion.

From there, the guys dig into the feuds SummerSlam left behind. Randy Orton's shocking return and RKO on Cody Rhodes reopens a rivalry that could carry WWE's title picture for months, while Kevin Owens emerging as the next challenger sets up a fresh CM Punk program. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins appear to have found closure to their years-long rivalry, and new titleholders in Chad Gable, Baron Corbin, and Chelsea Green shake up the Intercontinental, United States, and Women's Interim scenes.

They close the show with a preview of AEW Grand Slam Mexico from Arena México, including Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis in a street fight, Kyle Fletcher defending the International Championship against Mike Bailey, and Mercedes Mone's Divine Dominion running through Mexico City. Plus, Paul gives his quick thoughts on SummerSlam weekend as a whole.

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Jeremy Finestone and Garrett Gonzales run through a rollercoaster SummerSlam Night 2, opening with the surprise return of Kevin Owens, which gave the kickoff show a genuine spark. From there, things got shaky fast — Baron Corbin dethroning Trick Williams for the United States Championship nearly tanked the crowd's goodwill right out of the gate, and Jeremy and Garrett dig into whether that call made sense. The Interim WWE Women's Championship ladder match doesn't escape criticism either, with both hosts agreeing the execution fell short, even though Chelsea Green climbing the ladder to win the title gave the match a satisfying finish. They also can't help but rag on the Human Monies in a Pole match between Danhausen and Dominik Mysterio, calling it one of the most skippable segments of the weekend. On the brighter side, Chad Gable dethroning Penta for the Intercontinental Championship delivers one of the best matches of the night, even if it gets shortchanged on time. Garrett and Jeremy save their highest praise for the main event, where Roman Reigns turns back Seth Rollins to retain the World Heavyweight Championship and send SummerSlam weekend out on a high note.

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Keila Cash and Salty Scott break down a loaded SummerSlam Night 1, starting with the show-stealer: Oba Femi taking Brock Lesnar apart inside Hell in a Cell in a statement win that instantly raises his stock. They dig into Liv Morgan defending the Women's World Championship against Iyo Sky and debate whether the match lived up to the moment, then spotlight Solo Sikoa's continued turn into a legitimate babyface — a shift Keila and Salty think WWE is finally getting right. The tag team undercard doesn't escape scrutiny either, as the two dissect how Fatal Influence vs. The Bella Twins and Paige got buried in the death spot on the card, with booking and execution both falling flat. They close with the Undisputed WWE Championship main event, Cody Rhodes challenging CM Punk, a match both hosts agree underwhelmed given the buildup. Full reactions, grades, and where WWE goes from here — all on this episode of WWE Postgame Live.

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Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone run through everything happening in New Japan Pro Wrestling this week. They start with a review of the week's G1 Climax action, spotlighting standout performances from Shingo Takagi and Hirooki Goto while calling out a rough outing from Great O-Khan.

From there, the conversation shifts to Bushiroad's ongoing business issues and why the company's struggles could still ripple into New Japan's operations. Steven and Jeremy also preview the week's upcoming tournament schedule before Steven kicks off a new deep dive into the career of Hiroyoshi Tenzan and what his legacy means to the promotion.

New Japan Pro Wrestling news, G1 Climax reviews, and Bushiroad business talk — all in this episode of Speaking of Strong Style.

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins are back on the post-AEW Redemption episode of The Dynamite Show.

Paul Fontaine just finished watching AEW Redemption, and he and Garrett Gonzales break down the fallout live: Kenny Omega surviving Kevin Knight to retain the AEW World Championship, the Young Bucks turning on Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay to blow up the Death Riders, Maya World dethroning Hikaru Shida for the TBS Championship, Kyle Fletcher holding off Bandido, Christian Cage and Adam Copeland fending off Claudio Castagnoli and PAC, and the Double Chain Match fallout between The Dogs and the Bang Bang Gang. Paul gives his honest first reaction to how Montreal delivered.

Then the guys shift into SummerSlam mode, ranking every match across both nights of the two-night blowout in Minneapolis purely on how interested they are to see it play out:

Night 1 (Saturday, Aug. 1):

- Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY — WWE Women's World Championship

- Gunther vs. Nick Aldis

- The Usos & Jacob Fatu vs. Royce Keys, LA Knight & Solo Sikoa

- Fatal Influence vs. The Bella Twins & Paige

- Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi — Hell in a Cell

- CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes — Undisputed WWE Championship

Night 2 (Sunday, Aug. 2):

- Penta vs. Chad Gable — Intercontinental Championship

- Trick Williams vs. Baron Corbin — United States Championship

- Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio

- Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn — Undisputed WWE Championship #1 contender's match

- Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia vs. Lash Legend — Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match

- Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins — World Heavyweight Championship

Expect some hot takes on what's actually the top match on each night.

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Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone are back with a full rundown of the latest from New Japan Pro Wrestling. They open with a deep dive into the current G1 Climax standings, breaking down every participant's block position and title odds, before previewing the week's coming tournament action.

The Gabe Kidd–Shota Umino angle gets a rewrite, as Steven and Jeremy lay out how they think it should have been booked. Plus, Steven reveals his surprisingly petty reason for rooting against Shingo Takagi, and Jeremy detours into his love of giant robots — yes, really.

New Japan Pro Wrestling news, G1 Climax standings, and Gabe Kidd vs. Shota Umino talk — all in this episode of Speaking of Strong Style.

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins dig into a go-home Dynamite that struggled to build real heat for a Redemption card that already felt like a lame duck event heading in. Kevin Knight put the TNT Championship on the line against Darby Allin ahead of Sunday's world title match, and Divine Dominion defended their tag team titles against Sisters of Sin in a no-disqualification brawl.

The trios picture saw Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, and Kenny Omega team up against the Don Callis Family, with the night taking a sour turn as Omega was laid out by Kevin Knight in the aftermath of the main event — a moment Paul and Jeff break down for what it might signal heading into Sunday. Thekla and Willow Nightingale also came face to face ahead of their women's world title clash at Redemption.

Paul and Jeff give their honest, unfiltered take on why this go-home episode fell flat and what it means for a Redemption card still searching for momentum.

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Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine dig into WWE's premium live event booking patterns, tracking every PLE over the past two and a half years to see who WWE actually leans on. Cody Rhodes has worked 23 of the last 30 PLEs, and the promotion's true main-event tier hasn't dipped below 14 appearances each in that stretch. Garrett and Paul break down what that concentration says about WWE's trust in its top of the card — and whether it's smart star management or a warning sign of thin depth behind the leading names.

From there, the guys turn to Sunday's AEW Redemption at the Bell Centre in Montreal, running through the entire card top to bottom:

- Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Knight — AEW World Championship

- Thekla vs. Willow Nightingale — AEW Women's Championship

- Kyle Fletcher vs. Bandido — AEW International Championship

- Mark Davis vs. Andrade El Idolo — AEW National Championship

- Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Pac — AEW World Tag Team Championship

- Hikaru Shida vs. Maya World — TBS Championship

- Will Ospreay & Jon Moxley vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

- "The Painmaker" Chris Jericho vs. Tommaso Ciampa — No Holds Barred

Predictions, dark horse picks, and what a win means for each title picture heading out of Redemption.

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Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine question why Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Knight is main-eventing Redemption, a match that's landed on a card with little buzz behind it. They unpack whether AEW has set this main event up to underwhelm and what the lack of momentum says about the promotion's current direction.

The pair then shift to WWE, calling out the continued elevation of Austin Theory and Maxxine despite neither proving they belong in top spots, while a true main-event talent in Bron Breakker gets left on the shelf. Garrett and Paul break down the pattern behind WWE's booking choices and what it would actually take to get Breakker the push he's earned.

Jeremy Finestone rounds out the episode with a full G1 Climax breakdown, walking through the block standouts before all three make their picks for who takes home the tournament.

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New Japan Pro Wrestling's G1 Climax is underway, and Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone dive straight into the fallout from opening night. The two hosts finally crossed paths in person at the G1 Climax's Chicago show, and they bring that firsthand energy into a full breakdown of how the tournament kicked off — who impressed, who's already facing an uphill block, and what the results signal for the rest of the summer.

The conversation turns to Shota Umino's injury, digging into what it means for his tournament run and the bigger question hanging over the promotion: what is NJPW getting right in how it's handling the situation, and where is it falling short? Steven and Jeremy break down the fallout as the G1's biggest stretch approaches.

They close by looking ahead to the G1 Climax's return to Japan, previewing the shows that will define the tournament as the block stages heat up.

New Japan Pro Wrestling news, G1 Climax results, and the latest on Shota Umino's injury — all in this episode of Speaking of Strong Style.

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins kick off the show discussing why AEW isn't selling more tickets to recent shows and whether the company is really as hot as people assume. Then they break down a card that seemed to come together last minute but delivered one of the longest overruns in company history. Kyle Fletcher retained his International Championship over Komander, setting up a PPV title defense against Bandido. Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay set the table for their All In main event while also introducing Kevin Knight as a title challenger for Redemption. Cope and Cage defended the tag titles against Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta in a match that ended in a brawl involving the Dogs, more Death Riders, and the Bang Bang Gang. Mercedes teamed with the Divine Dominion to beat Willow Nightingale, Hyan, and Maya World in the main event, and the Brawling Birds declared for the AEW Women's World Tag Team titles.

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Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone break down the latest from New Japan Pro Wrestling. They review two Korakuen Hall shows headlined by Tiger Mask's retirement and Gabe Kidd's brutal beatdown of Shota Umino, then debate whether Hiroshi Tanahashi is building toward one last run or letting ego steer NJPW's booking. The back half is a full G1 Climax preview, mapping out each competitor's role in the tournament and weighing who's best positioned to hand IWGP Champion Yota Tsuji a loss - and whether that win could set up a title shot.

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins dig into the biggest story in AEW: Kenny Omega dethroning MJF for the AEW World Title with an assist from Will Ospreay. Why did the title change hands now, where does Omega go from here, and what's next for MJF? Paul and Jeff break it all down.

Then they run through a newsworthy episode of AEW Dynamite from Clearwater, including Willow Nightingale's returning from injury to win the Casino Gauntlet match and earn a shot at Thekla's AEW Women's World Title, Mercedes Mone aligning with the Divine Dominion, Kyle Fletcher dethroning Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Title, and Tommaso Ciampa picking up a win over Chris Jericho in their first-ever match.

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Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine break down the biggest stories in wrestling this week. Did CM Punk beating Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship hit as hard as it should have? They dig into the crowd reaction and the build leading up to it, then contrast how WWE handles its veteran stars versus AEW's approach to legacy talent. Plus: is Kenny Omega actually walking out of his next title match as AEW World Champion, or is this all just a setup for a rematch at Redemption?

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Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone cover the latest from New Japan Pro Wrestling. Jeremy reports live from Forbidden Door, including meeting Tony Khan and a full match-by-match breakdown of the show. Steven wraps up his career-spanning bio series on Tiger Mask. The pair preview two upcoming Korakuen Hall shows loaded with title matches, G1 qualifiers, and Tiger Mask's retirement match, then close things out reminiscing about the early days of their wrestling fandom.

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Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins recap Sunday's Forbidden Door PPV and dig into the rumors of a potential AEW Stadium show going head-to-head with WrestleMania next year. Then they break down a stacked PPV fallout episode of Dynamite: MJF retains the world title against Mark Briscoe and puts Kenny Omega's future title shots on the line for next week, Jon Moxley extends a Death Riders offer to Will Ospreay and gives him time to decide, Hikaru Shida wins the vacant TBS Championship in a Survival of the Fittest match, Jay White returns and declares war on the entire roster, and Kevin Knight defends the TNT title against Lio Rush.

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Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine break down the biggest wrestling weekend of the year. Sami Zayn wins the WWE Championship at Night of Champions — and what that means going forward. Oba Femi wins King of the Ring and immediately turns down his title match in favor of a Hell in a Cell with Brock Lesnar. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns is set for SummerSlam. Plus: where does Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay land in the Match of the Year conversation? The Mercedes and Maya World discourse explained. And Paul makes his case for why Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. didn't hit for him the way it did for everyone else.

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Jeremy Finestone and Garrett Gonzales were live at SAP Center in San Jose for AEW x NJPW x CMLL x Stardom Forbidden Door 2026! They break down every match from the night, share their live reactions from inside the arena, recap the post-show press conference, and give you the highlights from their much smaller scrum with Tony Khan after the show.

Full card recap:

• Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament Final: Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland
• Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament Final: Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World
• AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Bandido
• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Shota Umino (c) vs. PAC
• AEW World Tag Team Championship: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage (c) vs. David Finlay & Clark Connors
• AEW Women's World Championship: Thekla (c) vs. Starlight Kid
• Steel Cage Match: Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita & Darby Allin vs. MJF, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada & Andrade El Idolo
• Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

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Fight Game Media on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=24304a735a124815

Fight Game Media on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-game-media-network/id1594255707

Jeremy Finestone and Keila Cash recap WWE Night of Champions 2026 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! Seth Rollins defeats Bron Breakker, Oba Femi wins the King of the Ring, and in a massive moment — Sami Zayn is the new Undisputed WWE Champion! They also dig into the Women's division, Bayley's future, and the bigger question of whether WWE's Saudi Arabia shows have just quietly become normalized — and why there's been so little pushback.

Full card recap:

• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther vs. Sami Zayn ⭐ NEW CHAMPION
• King of the Ring Final: Oba Femi def. Jey Uso
• Queen of the Ring Final: IYO SKY vs. Liv Morgan
• Steel Cage Match: Seth Rollins def. Bron Breakker
• WWE United States Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Ricky Saints
• Women's United States Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Fight Game Media Website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia

Fight Game Media on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=24304a735a124815

Fight Game Media on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-game-media-network/id1594255707

Steven Conway and Jeremy Finestone cover all the latest from New Japan Pro Wrestling. They break down a fun Korakuen Hall show highlighted by a junior heavyweight contenders match and two G1 qualifiers, discuss Aaron Wolf's standout performance and why separating him from House of Torture is essential, and mourn the absence of Taichi from this year's G1. Jeremy previews Forbidden Door, while Steven reviews Fantastica Mania Mexico and its moving tribute to Tiger Mask — including a deeper look at Tiger Mask's storied career, his classic rivalries with the Black Tigers, and his lasting ties to Lucha Libre.

Fight Game Media: https://www.fightgamemedia.com

Fight Game Media on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=24304a735a124815

Fight Game Media on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-game-media-network/id1594255707