How Wrestling Explains the World - podcast cover

How Wrestling Explains the World

The podcast which answers the question: What if How Soccer Explains the World and Stuff You Should Know had a baby who was super into wrestling?
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Episodes

Phil and Nick Explain Wrestling ... To Each Other - Episode 4, Starrcade’87 & Children’s Day

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the never-ending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For their fourth episode, Phil and Nick two o...

Sep 15, 20231 hr 8 minEp. 81

Phil and Nick Explain Wrestling ... To Each Other - Episode 3, IWA MID SOUTH and Royal Rumble 2000

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the never-ending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For their second episode, Phil and Nick two o...

Jul 19, 202354 minEp. 80

Phil and Nick Explain Wrestling ... To Each Other - Episode 2, WrestleMania VII and WAR

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the neverending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For their second episode, Phil and Nick two of...

Jul 05, 20231 hr 6 minEp. 79

Phil and Nick Explain Wrestling ... To Each Other - Episode 1, Battlarts and WrestleMania I

Phil Schneider is a widely respected wrestling historian. Nick Bond is a useful idiot. And at least once (sometimes as many as twice!) a month, they get together to talk about professional wrestling the way it was meant to be discussed: each picking a match from wrestling history, presumably as a way to work out feelings about their childhood and the neverending creep of time. Or, like, talk about how much fun it is to see people beat each other up. For this inaugural episode, Phil and Nick brea...

Jun 14, 20231 hr 7 minSeason 3Ep. 1

How Bret Hart in Canada Explains Wrestling

Nick Bond and Andy Miller kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of How Bret Hart in Canada Explains Wrestling. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - How did the New Hart Foundation and Bret Hard in Canada "soft launch" the Attitude Era? - What made the Canadian Stampede match so effective? - Was Bret Hart the last WWE performer to become as big as the brand? - Did being a god in Canada ruin Bret Hart? - Where have all the Canadian heroes gone? - ...

Jul 04, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 78

How Wrestling Explains Infinite Jest & David Foster Wallace

Nick and Mark Macyk kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of Infinite Jest & David Foster Wallace. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What kind of universe(s) do the Teleputer and WWE Network create? - The self-torture of Bret Hart and David Foster Wallace - The weight of influence on future generations - How does palpable greatness works to warp our understanding of a person's legacy? - Who is WWE's Don Gately? If you dig the show, be sur...

Jun 19, 201959 minEp. 77

How the WWE Network Explains Wrestling

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of the WWE Network. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What it was like in a land before time/the WWE Network - How did the WWE Network change the very foundation of the WWE? - Why Vince McMahon was so ahead of his time - Does the Network make the WWE worse? - Which lesson learned from the WWE Network was the most important? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twi...

Jun 11, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 76

How Wrestling Explains Batman

Nick is joined by a very special guest this week: Dylan Roth, member of The Hell Yeah Babies and writer of the Gotham City Book Club series of critical essays on the Caped Crusader's catalog. Dylan and Nick dissect the connections between Batman and Shane McMahon, discuss the intersection of art and commerce and try to decide how much Batcontent is too much Batcontent. (Spoiler Alert: this podcast and Dylan's blog are all the Batcontent you could ever need.) Follow Nick on Twitter: @THEN1CKSTER ...

Jun 03, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 75

How Shane McMahon Explains Wrestling

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of the Shane McMahon. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What made Shane one of the boys? - Why do promoters trust their family more than their performers? - How could Andy bring himself to wear a Shane O Mac jersey? - Did Shane change the industry for the best or the worst? - Would Shane have made it without his family name? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Tw...

May 28, 201949 minEp. 74

How Wrestling Explains Kaboom!

Nick is joined by a very special guest this week: Mark Macyk, author of Kaboom and K2B22M from Mouse House Books. Mark and Nick dissect the connections between Kaboom -- the harrowing tale of Stan "Thunder Man" Parker, a weatherman who winds up in a web of conspiracy, racing against the clock to the save the world (or at least Western PA) from catastrophe, all while maintaining the rugged handsomeness that you've come to expect from meteorologists -- and professional wrestling, the meteorology o...

May 20, 201952 minEp. 73

How Money in the Bank Explains Wrestling

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of the Money in the Bank ladder match. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What made Edge the ultimate opportunist? - Why don't you want to be Shelton Benjamin in a Money in the Bank ladder match? - How did they botch Damien Sandow so bad? - Has the Money in the Bank replaced the Royal Rumble? - Who is the worst case in of all time? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains...

May 13, 20191 hr 16 minEp. 72

2.16 - How Wrestling Explains (the) Hobbs and Shaw (trailer)

Nick is joined by two special guests this week: NYWC's Rich Kasin and WWE Studios' Daron Jackson to attack the Hobbs and Shaw trailer from every angle. Rich and Nick breakdown the connections between last week's topic, Cesaro, and Deckard Shaw himself, Jason Statham. Then Nick spend some time with Daron to dissect the trajectories of WWE's Hollywood hopefuls and the future of the studio after the success of Fighting With My Family. Then we bring back around with recently-single (wrestler) Rich t...

May 03, 201947 minEp. 71

2.15 - How Cesaro Explains Wrestling

Nick and Andy kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of The Swiss Cyborg, Cesaro. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - When does Andy first meet Cesaro? - Why did it take so long for Cesaro to get signed? - How is he not more successful as a single competitor despite his matches with Sami and Cena? - What makes The Bar work? - Who would have made the perfect manager for Cesaro? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explains on Twit...

Apr 26, 201952 minEp. 70

2.14 - How Wrestling Explains Baseball

Nick Bond of Juice Make Sugar and Andy Miller of NYWC hit for the cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of Baseball. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - What made Booker T a five-tool player? - How much do Mike Trout and Booker T have in common? - Is AEW AAA or the mid-00s NL West? - When should WWE use more numbers in the presentation of their show? - Which baseball player would make the best wrestler? If you dig the show, be sure to follow How Wrestling Explai...

Apr 20, 201946 minEp. 69

SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE: The Pod Beyond, Episode 1 4.6.1985

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE -- AND A WAY TO MARKET OUR NEW PATREON-ONLY PODCAST -- THE GOOD FOLKS AT JUICE MAKE SUGAR PRODUCTIONS PRESENT: THE POD BEYOND. The Pod Beyond is a journey through the wonderful world of World Championship Wrestling during the Jim Crockett Era. We're starting with the very first episode of the JCP-produced version of NWA's flagship show from April 6, 1985, as Dave and Nick are hopping in the time machine to bring you Dusty, Flairs and Russian Bears (Oh my!) as well as ...

Apr 06, 201959 minEp. 68

2.13.AHKB - How Booker T Explains Wrestling

Nick and Dave jump back into our survey of the legendary career of soon-to-be two-time (two time!) WWE Hall of Famer, Booker T., with a focus on his post-WCW run in WWE, as King Booker and in the Main Event Mafia during his time in TNA. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - Where does his SummerSlam match with the Rock rank on the list of best bouts in both their careers? - What does his grocery store fight with Stone Cold Steve Austin's have to do with Japanese hair commerci...

Apr 05, 20191 hr 20 minEp. 67

THE POD BEYOND, EPISODE 0: HOW DID WE GET HERE AND WHO IS GOING TO BE THERE WHEN WE ARRIVE?

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE -- AND A WAY TO MARKET OUR NEW PATREON-ONLY PODCAST -- THE GOOD FOLKS AT JUICE MAKE SUGAR PRODUCTIONS PRESENT: THE POD BEYOND. The Pod Beyond is a journey through the wonderful world of World Championship Wrestling during the Jim Crockett Era. Although the show proper will start with the very first episode of the JCP-produced version of NWA's flagship show from April 6, 1985, Dave and Nick are hopping in the time machine a little early to bring you all up to speed on ...

Apr 04, 20191 hr 10 minEp. 66

2.13.WCW - How Booker T Explains WCW

Nick and Dave kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of WCW's most accomplished performer and a soon-to-be two-time (two time!) WWE Hall of Famer, Booker T.. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - Which two performers were the most influential in his storied career? - When should WCW have realized that he was the future? - Why did it still take them so long after that to figure it out? - Was WCW actually good at developing talent (and just bad at a...

Apr 03, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 65

2.12 - How Wrestling Explains Star Trek (w/ Dylan Roth of the Hell Yeah Babies)

Nick and Dave finish out this infinitely diverse cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of Star Trek featuring (Deadshirt.net founder) Dylan Roth of The Hell Yeah Babies . WE ALSO HAVE A MAJOR, EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! This week’s edutaining banter breaks down ... - Why was the Ruthless Aggression era so bad for both WWE and Star Trek? - How does the act of fans making the product change the product? - What do CM Punk's #pipebomb promo and the JJ Abrams Star Trek movies have in common? ...

Mar 27, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 64

2.11.EV - How the Intercontinental Championship Explains Wrestling, Essential Viewing

The Wrestling Estate 's David Gibb and Juice Make Sugar's Nick Bond are here with their off-cycle supplement to the pleasantly in-depth discussion on what makes professional wrestling, well, professional wrestling (and, at least every other week) what that means for the world. For today's essential viewing of the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, Nick and Dave break down the ever-evolving legacy of the title through the prism of the following matches: Pat Patterson vs. Ted DiBiase (MSG ...

Mar 21, 20191 hr 19 minEp. 63

2.11 - How the Intercontinental Championship Explains Wrestling

Nick and Dave kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of one WWE's most prestigious championships, the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - The brazenness of pre-internet/pre-Meltzer professional wrestling's promotional tactics - Why Savage is the definitive Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion (OHHHH YEAAAAHH) - What changed with the legacy of the belt during its Golden Era (the New Generation) - How th...

Mar 20, 20191 hr 23 minEp. 62

2.10 - How Wrestling Explains A Fish Called Wanda

Nick and Dave finish out this sensational cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of A Fish Called Wanda. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - The parallels between Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Sherri Martel, as femme fatales and physical performers - How does Otto (Kevin Kline) relentless shit-heelishness helps to define the central themes and values of the movie? - Why is his comeuppance so important to the movie? - What did John Cleese do to "pop smart marks" of...

Mar 14, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 61

2.9.EV - How Sensational Sherri Explains Wrestling, Essential Viewing

The Wrestling Estate 's David Gibb and Juice Make Sugar's Nick are here with their off-cycle supplement to the pleasantly in-depth discussion on what makes professional wrestling, well, professional wrestling (and, at least every other week) what that means for the world. For today's essential viewing of the "Sensational" Queen Sister Sherri Martel, Nick and Dave break down her transcendent work in some of the worst (and one of the best) matches of the Hulkamania era in WWE and WCW. Sherri vs. M...

Mar 07, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 1

2.9 - How Sensational Sherri Explains Wrestling

Nick and Dave kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains with a discussion of one of the greatest workers of her era, "Sensational" (Queen/Sister) Sherri Martel. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - The reverberating damage of Fabulous Moolah's reign over Ladies' Wrestling in the mid-century - Why Sensational Sherri walked so Becky Lynch could run - What place in the pantheon of Hulkamania era performers - How to deal with Elizabeth's legacy in the context of Sherri -...

Mar 06, 20191 hrEp. 60

2.8 - How Wrestling Explains The Beatles: Yellow Submarine

Nick and Dave kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains (sponsored by One of the Greatest Heroes in the History of Our Pod, Michael Montalbo) with a discussion of the seminal animated film The Beatles: Yellow Submarine. This week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... - The importance of knowing your audience - Liverpudlian accents - The oddness of voice actors playing "The Beatles" playing ""The Beatles"" - Why Ringo works so well as a babyface - What "Only a Northern Song" has t...

Feb 27, 20191 hr 18 minEp. 59

2.7.EV - How the bWo Explains Wrestling (Essential Viewing)

The Wrestling Estate 's David Gibb and Juice Make Sugar's here with their off-cycle supplement to the pleasantly in-depth discussion on what makes professional wrestling, well, professional wrestling (and, at least every other week) what that means for the world. For today's second part of our look at the bWo, Nick and Dave break down the most important matches in the history of the faction, what happened to them after ECW and what they would be able to do in 2019 if invited back to WWE. Meanie ...

Feb 21, 20191 hr 7 minEp. 58

2.7 - How the bWo Explains Wrestling

Nick and Dave kick off the next cycle of How Wrestling Explains (sponsored by One of the Greatest Heroes in the History of Our Pod, Michael Montalbo) with a discussion of ECW’s answer to the nWo, the Blue World Order. The episode explores how three lovable goofballs (Stevie Richards, the Blue Meanie, and Nova) turned a game of dress-up into one of the all-time achievements in wrestler-audience resonance. High-concept talk aside, this week’s edutaining banter features discussion of... Nerd Comedy...

Feb 20, 201947 minEp. 57

2.6 - How Wrestling Explains Black Panther

The Wrestling Estate ‘s David Gibb and Juice Make Sugar 's Nick Bond are here bi-weekly to provide a pleasantly in-depth discussion on a specific subject wrestling explains in ways you may not have realized. This week, we're looking at the MCU film Black Panther. The boys start off with a focus on the history of positive representation for black performers in professional wrestling history, the parallels between NXT and Wakanda as well as the role both played in the development of, respectively,...

Feb 13, 201959 minEp. 56

2.5.EV - How The New Day Explains Wrestling, Essential Viewing

The Wrestling Estate 's David Gibb and Juice Make Sugar's here with their off-cycle supplement to the pleasantly in-depth discussion on what makes professional wrestling, well, professional wrestling (and, at least every other week) what that means for the world. This week, along with "The Whole Afinshou" Daron Jackson, Dave and Nick explain the impact of The New Day in the 20th entry of their ever-expanding wrestling compendium of things that explain wrestling. For today's Part 2, we are joined...

Feb 07, 20191 hr 12 minEp. 55

2.5 - How The New Day Explains Wrestling

The Wrestling Estate 's David Gibb and Juice Make Sugar's here with their off-cycle supplement to the pleasantly in-depth discussion on what makes professional wrestling, well, professional wrestling (and, at least every other week) what that means for the world. This week, along with "The Whole Afinshou" Daron Jackson, Dave and Nick explain the impact of The New Day in the 20th entry of their ever-expanding wrestling compendium of things that explain wrestling. For today's Part 1, they'll start...

Feb 06, 20191 hr 3 minEp. 54
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