The Must See Matches All-Star Panel of Eamonn Bell, Sarah Parkin and Matty Edwards join Kieran and Mark for our final episode, the most nominated match on the list: the Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin No Holds Barred, Submission match from WrestleMania 13 on March 23, 1997. PLUS: our feelings on the project and show in general, (some of) your questions …

A bonus amuse bouche before our final, most-nominated match next week: Eamonn Bell returns with his concept for drafting the 104 into supercards, with the twist that once a match has been picked, all other matches with all participating wrestlers are eliminated. Listen now for all the twists, turns, intrigue, drama, discussion and lunacy! PLUS: nov…

If there’s ever a match worth of lengthy discussion, it’s arguably Kazuchika Okada vs. Katsuyori Shibata from Sakura Genesis, April 4, 2017. Globetrotting Eamonn Bell returns to talk the build, action, story, fallout, legend and legacy. PLUS: brain swapping, Jimmy vs. Jey, Mania without Mania, engagement, Matt Tremont’s toilet, wild stats, the curs…

Dave Ryan & Lee Malone from the excellent Days of Thunder return to discuss THE Crusierweight classic and a fair shot for the best match WCW ever put on as Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Eddie Guerrero go Mask vs. Title at Halloween Havoc on October 26, 1997. PLUS: Goldberg and Gillberg, DSF, throwing people under the bus, WCW stats, Raw vs. Nitro ratings, L…

Kieran & Mark enlist MOJ’s help one more time to cover the highest ranked tag match on the list: Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue from June 9, 1995.PLUS: potential unemployment, Nick Jackson, three Zacks, Bridge of Dreams, Japanese handhelds, THE YETI, cool T-shirts, DAN, Austin Powers, toy cars on the commentary de…

It's brother versus brother, brother! Veteran wrestler RJ Singh joins Kieran and Mark to talk the build, action, details and legacy of Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart from WrestleMaina X on March 20, 1994.PLUS: a rolled up magazine to the eye, RJ’s fandom and journey into wrestling, the FWA, correcting a Cagematch error, watching wrestling matches via Twit…

Do we have your attention now? Kieran and Mark are joined again by GRAPPL founder and co-host of BRETRO, Gareth Hodgson, to get into everything surrounding CM Punk vs. John Cena from Money in the Bank on July 17, 2011.PLUS: Taboo Tuesday: Text Message Edition, Nickelback, anonymous General Managers, Mason Ryan, dance contests, The Nexus, the highly…

The excellent (and disgustingly young) Squill returns as two broken down old men talk about two broken down old men having the fight of their lives: Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi from March 1, 2003.PLUS: youth, the All-Japan/NOAH split, injuries, Jake Lee, Takeshi Rikio, Count Binface, Vermin Supreme, SEM, Grand Sword by the pool, NOAH video g…

You’ve got to be kidding us! Garrett Kidney returns to discuss the importance, build, action and legacy of THAT TNA three-way: Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles from Unbreakable on September 11, 2005.PLUS: Pratchett, bad reasons, Air Raid, bootleg VHS, Florida, Flo-Rida, autocorrect woes, Simon Diamond, Konnan being dogshit, Shark Boy…

Pro-Wrestling Torch columnist and podcaster Rich Fann returns to help us finish a rivalry at the beginning as we talk the first Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega singles match, from Wrestle Kingdom 11, on January 4, 2017.PLUS: car mould, sealing kids in tubes, Wrestle Kingdom on the treadmill, voting patterns, Ezio Ospreay, Low-Ki 47, HORIPRO, baseba…

Mark & Kieran fire up the podcycle and sidecar for a two-hander to tackle "the perfect match": Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada from June 3, 1994.PLUS: a bad week with no mint tea, “choppy-choppy your peepee”, When Worlds Collide, Kieran’s VHS collection, “how much does this guy weigh?”, Eddie Kingston, Champion Carnival, Joseph Montecillo, an …

Kieran and Mark are joined by the COO of wXw, Tasslio Jung, to talk Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness from ring of Honor Unified on August 12, 2006, as he provides his unique perspective on the match... PLUS: Ring Warriors, the Dungeon of Doom, Alessandro Del Piero, Tiger Mask, the day-to-day of a wrestling company COO, Ryanair, Desmond Wolfe, t…

The Noted Raconteur, Sean Orleans returns for a magical night in Sendai: Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. The Can-Am Express of Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat from May 25, 1992. PLUS: a fiesta, Makoto Hashi, the differences between the All-Japan and New-Japan Junior divisions, indoor gardening, world records, a 40in vertical leap, Ladder matches, th…

Wrestling historian and author Patrick W. Reed returns to help us talk the history, context, details and legacy of Katsuyori Shibata and Tomohiro Ishii beating the piss out of each other on August 4, 2013.PLUS: Classic G1, the rise of Ishii, RevPro, Stone Pitbull factoids, descriptions of fabulous violence, opposing wrestling philosophies, Unchaine…

On loan from POST Wrestling, the incomparable Karen Peterson joins Kieran & Mark to discuss the highest-ranked women’s match in the project: Sarah Banks vs. Bayley from NXT Takeover Brooklyn on August 22, 2015.PLUS: paperwork in Japan, the Stephification of WWE women’s wrestling, “Divas”, main eventing in the semi-main event spot, Gail Kim vs. Amaz…

It's the Summer of 69(-minute long matches) as Mark and Kieran tackle the epic, seven-star, Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega No Time Limit 2/3 Falls match from June 9, 2018.PLUS: it’s far too cold, match length, Kota Ibushi’s magic feather, How2KennyOmega, trousers, callbacks, balloons, Winnipeg shovel hands, “CHOTTOMATTECHOTTOMATTECHOTTOMATTE!!”, h…

Author, podcaster, Mastermind contestant and mahjong master, George Twigg joins us to deconstruct The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge & Christian in TLC II from WrestleMania X-7 on April 1, 2001. PLUS: a live book review, Mark’s vast wrestling physical media collection, a quiz, ICW, the WWF booking of 1999, the milestones that led to the ma…

One of our great joys in doing this show has been talking classic joshi with Sarah Parkin, so lets’s do it one last time for Akira Hokuto vs. Shinobu Kandori from AJW Dream Slam I on April 2, 1993.PLUS: books, heat, Eastenders booking, the history of LLPW and its battles with AJW, Kandori hates everybody and they hate her, Tom Magee vs. Bret Hart, …

Comic writer and artist, and big wrestling fan, Daniel Warren Johnson joins us to give a live perspective on Kenny Omega & Hangman Page vs. The Young Bucks from AEW Revolution 2020 on February 29, 2020.PLUS: the G1, Jushin Liger, what it’s like being a “new” wrestling fan in this day and age, finisher larceny, AEW’s positioning within the MSM proje…

Captain of the good ship GRAPPL, Benno joins us to talk about Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi from October 1, 2005, including his experience of being there live, and the crazy year 2005 both men had.PLUS: Matty, kayfabe cousins?, a Rashomon holiday, International Showdown, a fateful raffle, getting what one is owed out of Alex Shane, fandom of the time…

***Our friend and frequent guest Eamonn Bell's partner recently lost their home in a tornado. If you can help, their GoFundMe is https://bit.ly/GFMD Thank you*** wXw CEO Felix Kohlenberg returns to finish what he helped us start a full year ago: the Terry Funk vs. Ric Flair I Quit match from Clash IX on November 15, 1989.PLUS: Terry Funk vs. Eddie …

All-Japan expert Joseph Montecillo returns to help us with the lead up to, and fallout from, the pivotal Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta match from June 8, 1990. PLUS: Christmas talk, Philippine Time, Asian traffic, Misawa’s tinfoil jacket, Jumbo’s scoop slam, sporting referee Kyohei Wada, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King, 80s British wrestling…

The Peak of The Streak? The marvellous Kefin Mahon of How2Wrestling, The Attitude Era Podcast and Cinema Swirl joins Kieran and Mark to talk everything Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker from WrestleMania 25 on April 5, 2009, including the experience of being there live.PLUS: broken hearts, the better brother, Doink the Clown, burning down the house…

The only person we could call to talk about the March 17, 2000 Atlantis vs. Villano III Mask vs. Mask match was The Cubs Fan. He brings all the context and history as we get into our final lucha libre match on the list.PLUS: lucha fever, Arez, Mascara Dorada 2.0, RevPro, Dragon Lee goes boxing, an honourable villain, Kieran’s misspent youth, Conan …

Bang bang, he's back! Matty Edwards tears off the mask and shirt to discuss the Triple H vs. Cactus Jack Streefight match from Royal Rumble 2000.PLUS: Stranger Things, ratings rivalry, the “phony” Mankind, WWF on Channel 4 and its influence, Heat, Brock Lesnar, WCW Worldwide, The Radicalz, the taxi, STORY, butts in seats, chefs, a ghost that’s defi…

Might-as-well-be-the-third-man, Eamonn Bell joins Mark and Kieran once again to debate the merits of Bryan Danielson vs. KENTA from Glory By Honor V - Day 2, from September 16, 2006.PLUS: RevPro at the 229, Gadge, Ian Hamilton, show-off heels, technical difficulties, Baldur’s Gate, D&D, Lykoses, Kamala, FIP, Cyber Kong, Hideo Itami, interpromotiona…

The marvellous Sarah Flann returns to discuss a dream collision for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke MNakamura vs. Kota Ibushi from Wrestle Kingdom 9 on January 4, 2015.PLUS: more Cardiff ramen chat, Tetsuya Naito, Jeff Jarrett, not that Kevin Sullivan, “wobby-wobby dubstep”, metaphorical hats, Transformers, Kieran channels Leonard …

Kieran and Mark go tandem to talk the most epic chop battle in pro-wrestling history... oh, and the rest of the match around it: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Kenta Kobashi from NOAH Destiny 2005 on July 18, 2005. PLUS: suspect mathematics, the handling of the GHC Heavyweight title, highly dated references, Heavies and Juniors, The Wrestling Channel, Coventry…

Even the flu couldn't stop Eamonn Bell from joining Mark and Kieran on their first BONUS episode, as all concerned decided Fuminori Abe vs. Takuya Nomura from Kakuto Tanteidan: We are the Fighting Detectives on October 12, 2023 needed to be talked about.PLUS: the live experience, encounters with a mysterious western wrestler, Hipster Pro-Wrestling,…

The incomparable MOJ joins Kieran and Mark once again, this time for the “fierce battle” of Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi from AJPW Fan Appreciation Day on April 20, 1991. PLUS: an immediate tangent, Mark’s trip to Japan, the history of Fan Appreciation Day, Taue’s hair, cardigans, …

It's every man for himself as Kieran, Mark, Andy Ogden and Eddie Sideburns get to grips with the 1992 Royal Rumble from January 19, 1992.PLUS: other Rumbles we love, This Tuesday in Texas, the rest of the card, Steve Keirn, Jack Tunney, all-time great commentary, a legendary promo, Play Your Ages Right with some shocking results, more cowbell, more…

Kieran and Mark seek solace in the arms of Andy Ogden and Eddie Sideburns to escape the unrepentant violence of WALTER vs. Ilja Drgunov from NXT UK TV on October 29, 2020.PLUS: Gardening, Covid era wrestling, Rhea Ripley, E. Honda, corned beef, Hajime no Ippo, gurning, enormous hairdressers, Nigel vs. German and several other languages, immigrant d…

Kieran and Mark revisit the "can't miss" period of New-Japan Pro Wrestling as Strigga returns to talk Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada from Invasion Attack on April 7, 2013.PLUS: no crying over spilt pepper, potential credit card fraud, burning Christmas trees, a “triple main event”, card games, Michael Nakazawa, Don Fujii, Flair/Steamboat, Th…

Parm Singh Mann is back to help Kieran and Mark talk about a match twice as old as he is! The classic Hair vs. Hair match between MS-1 and Sangre Chicana from EMLL's 50th Anniversary show on September 23, 1983. Also, big thanks to The Cubs Fan (@luchablog) for helping us source the show image.PLUS: excessive heat, serial killers, Lucha Underground,…

This time we’re-a stand up and shout with the returning Dave Ryan as he and Kieran tell Mark why they both put Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock from WrestleMania X-7 (April 1, 2001) on their Must See Matches lists, and of course we talk about THAT video… PLUS: the insanity that was US wrestling at this time, the WrestleMania 19 match, the overa…

Fiery underdog Kenta Kobashi takes it to wild veteran foreigner Stan Hansen on July 29, 1993, and returning guest MOJ helps Kieran and Mark with history, context and insight. PLUS: John Cena, running over title belts, Pete Roberts, Caswell Martin, The Destroyer, Kieran is an idiot, rubbish masks, Marvel comics, Kenta Kobashi’s vigilante justice, th…

The Power Slam Man, Fin Martin from Inside The Ropes goes to WAR WAR WAR WAR with Kieran and Mark as they talk about the Sting’s Squadron vs. Dangerous Alliance War Games match from WCW WrestleWar ’92 on May 17, 1992.PLUS: VERY brief All In chat, Superstars of Wrestling, Power Slam, World of Sport, Strike Force vs. Demolition, Mickey Rourke, WCW re…

The English language voice of Dragon Gate, Jae Church, joins Kieran and Mark to talk the history, the action, the legacy and the importance of Toryumon's first-ever four-way trios match: DoFixer vs. Shin M2K vs. CrazyMAX vs. Italian Connection from August 30, 2003. PLUS: piracy, “Quick Draw” Rick McGraw, a dial that only goes to 10, the DreamCast, …

The best place to end a trilogy is in the middle. The man behind No Context Flair, Jack Milner, jumps in at the last moment to help Kieran and Mark talk Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair from Clash of the Champions VI, on April 2, 1989. An excellent match that famously drew very poorly, for reasons we shall discuss.PLUS: other wrestlers bereft of conte…

Unfortunately, we have to talk about Chris Benoit again. Feel free to skip this one if that still feels icky. This is the last time.Kieran & Mark saddle up the tandem for their obligatory coverage of Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit from the Royal Rumble on January 19, 2003.Apologies for Mark sounding a bit RoboCop this week; technical difficulties. We’…

Rewinding almost exactly 40 years from last week, wrestling historian, author, referee and promoter, Patrick W Reed joins Mark and Kieran to talk the oldest match to make the 104: Andre The Giant vs. Stan Hansen from September 23, 1981. PLUS: wrestling in Jersey, Drew Gulak, George Hackenschmidt, how tall was Andre really, Samuel Beckett, Pat Roach…

The bendiest of boys, Parm Singh Mann makes his long-overdue return to talk the I-can't-believe-they-put-this-on-free-TV match, Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson from AEW Dynamite Grand Slam on September 22, 2021. PLUS: Mark’s escapades with suits of armour, 1PW, Fight Forever, Jim Ross, CM Punk, Team Taz, “the Duggan button”, The Suzuki Incident, th…

Yes, the one with the eye... Plucked from Guerrilla Island, Sarah Flann comes to talk about Bryan Danielson vs. Takeshi Morishima from Ring of Honor's Manhattan Mayhem II on August 25, 2007. Unfortunately, Sarah’s audio had a habit of dropping out mid-sentence. The options were to spend a lot of time editing around it, trying to keep as much of wha…

For "the match to change All-Japan", Misawa vows to go all out, and so does our guest. Former ring announcer and podcaster, MOJ, joins Kieran and Mark to break down the epic Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa Triple Crown match from January 20, 1997. PLUS: cartoon WWF goes hardcore, VHS (again), hair chat (again) Atsushi Onita crying (again), “The …

Wrestling video essayist Squill joins Mark and Kieran to discuss a classic of the modern New-Japan golden age: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki from King of Pro-Wrestling on October 8, 2012.PLUS: DDT, rain, Pancrase, nerdy details, Suzuki and New-Japan history, Ayumi Nakamura and Kaze ni Nare, dubious hair decisions, One Piece, John Cena, Yoshia…

In a change to scheduled programming, FMW historian Bahu (Bret) joins Kieran and Mark to talk through the history, action and legacy of the first ever women's No-Rope Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match: Megumi Kudo vs. Combat Toyoda from FMW's 7th Anniversary on May 5, 1996. PLUS: PowerSlam, Fire Matches, VHS, dubious production values, the mystery …

GRAPPL Spotlight's Matty Edwards joins Kieran & Mark once again to mark the 25th anniversary, and talk the on- and off-screen build-up, legend and legacy of the original wild stunt match: Undertaker vs. Mankind from King of the Ring on June 28, 1998. PLUS: cavemen, angry beard trimming, Trainer Talk, BJW, horrible injuries, and more than one shocki…

Guard your larynix and other fictitious bodyparts! In a change to the scheduled progamming, Mark & Kieran traverse the aisle in their little ring cart to discuss one of Kieran's nominations and a true 80s classic: Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat from WrestleMania III on March 29, 1987. PLUS: Rain, sausages, DDP, accidental VHS theft, Dynamite Kid …

To celebrate the 18th anniversary, Eamonn Bell returns to discuss one of his favourite matches and a true must-see: Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher from IWA: Mid-South Something to Prove on June 11, 2005. PLUS: The Wrestling Channel, does long equal good, who or what is a “Necro Butcher”, Sylvester Terkay, RoH vs. CZW, The Wrestler, laying it in, IWA: …

Were you there? With wrestling at Wembley Stadium currently a hot topic, Allan Cheapshot is in the guest seat - whether he wants to or not - to talk the history, build-up, dynamics, action and fallout of Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith from SummerSlam '92 on August 29, 1992.PLUS: Elton Welsby, Video+, anime on the Sci-Fi Channel, Landover, WWF home c…