Who will walk away with a giant cinderblock with “TOUGH ENOUGH” etched into it? Will Tazz slide in one more breath-takingly odd moment? Will Jim Ross unnecessarily say a catchphrase during the awards ceremony? Tune in, if you’re Tough Enough #wrestling #wrestlingacademy #podcast #clip #wrestlinghistory #prowrestling #vintagewrestling #podcasting #recap #realitytv #realitycompetitionshow #mtv #wwf #toughenough #toughenoughseasonone #tazz #alsnow #missjackie #tori #maven #wrestlingteaching #showre...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Wrestling Academy’s Summer School continues their recap of WWE + MTV’s Tough Enough Season 1 Headmaster Michael and Homecoming King Samee hit the road and eat 15 pound of raw potatoes while recapping “Lessons From The Road” and “Beware Of Rattlesnakes” The contestants are taken along for a week of shows on the road including Backlash 2001. They showcase their promo cutting skills and Ivy League Chris gets in trouble for what he says about The Undertaker. Stone Cold Steve Austin visits the Tough ...
Aug 15, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Wrestling Academy’s Summer School continues their recap of WWE + MTV’s Tough Enough Season 1 Headmaster Michael and Homecoming King Samee flex their circle game muscles and lose their smile breaking down “Yale’s Number One” and “Have A Nice Day” Al Snow introduces the contestants to The Circle Game and creates a humiliating bet for Ivy League Chris and Maven. Stone Cold Josh and Ivy League Chris are visited by their girlfriends and SPOILER ALERT: It got weird! Mick Foley swings by the training f...
Aug 08, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Wrestling Academy’s Summer School continues their recap of WWE + MTV’s Tough Enough Season 1 Headmaster Michael and Homecoming King Samee take some sunglasses out of manila folders and immediately hurt themselves diving in to “Bahamas or Bust” and “Injuries Start Piling Up” The great Kurt Angle visits the contestants at Trax and treats them to a huge vacation in The Bahamas. And you know what they say, “What happens in the Bahamas is that Ivy League Chris is a big jerk.” After returning from The...
Aug 01, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Wrestling Academy’s Summer School continues their recap of WWE + MTV’s Tough Enough Season 1 Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) visit the grocery store to break down “Dinner With Mr. Patterson” and “A Walk on the Wild Side”. The contestants cook dinner for a surprise WWE guest that causes a heated debate between Bad Boy Darryl and Ivy League Chris, let off steam at famous drag restaurant, “Lucky Chengs”, and we finally see the first two eliminations within the rank...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Wrestling Academy’s Summer School continues the recap of WWE + MTV’s Tough Enough Season 1. Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) peek through a hole in some shorts and breakdown “The Rules of The Game” and “The Billionaire Princess” We sit down and endure an intense visit from Triple H, let off some steam with some rough housing that causes a fire, and we say goodbye to a few contestants. Stay tuned to Wrestling Academy as we get deeper and deeper into the series and...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 31
It’s time for Summer School at Wrestling Academy and we’re breaking down the first season of WWE+ MTV’s 2001 reality competition show, Tough Enough. Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) recap the first two episodes, “Are You Tough Enough”, and “Down and Dirty” We step through the grueling audition process held at WWF New York, a WWE-themed Hard Rock Cafe-style restaurant and the first few days (including a poorly-planned surprise mud wrestling challenge) of the VERY ...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 30
The Empire of Barbed Wire | Mick Foley WWE 2003 & 2006 Wrestling Academy’s Month of Mick concludes with a look into Mick Foley’s later career in WWE with two comeback rivalries that ended in hardcore matches: Randy Orton and Rated R Edge. In our most spit-in-my-face episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) explore two matches of Mick Foley’s later career that were instrumental in lifting up the careers of his younger opponents. Matches mentioned: Monday ...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Wrestling Academy’s Month of Mick continues lovingly with a deep dive into Mick’s often overlooked persona, Dude Love and his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin. In our most groovy episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) fall in love with The Loved One, Dude Love. We get into how Mick came up with Dude Love (and summarize his 1985 home movie about it ), how Dude Love ended up in WWE, and his run with Stone Cold Steve Austin that ended only weeks before Manki...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Wrestling Academy’s Month of Mick continues with coverage on Mankind’s debut in 1996 and his ‘98 - ‘99 feud with The Rock In our most She’s All That episode, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) breakdown the creation of Mick Foley’s Mankind, the psychology behind the character, and where that creepy mask came from. We also get into Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels at In Your House: Mind Games in 1996, an epic battle that occurred mere months after Mankind’s debut, and Man...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Wrestling Academy’s Month Of Mick kicks off with his most diabolical, twisted, hardcore persona Cactus Jack. In our most demented episode yet, Headmaster Michael Klasek (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) slither into the dark history of Cactus Jack at WCW, IWA, and ECW. We also break down how Mick lost his ear, the Cane Dewey promo that changed his life forever, and Wrestling Academy makes a big announcement. Matches mentioned/watched: WCCW 1989 Loser Leaves Town Match Cactus Jack Ma...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Professional Wrestling Referee Eddie Furth joins Wrestling Academy as the first visiting professor to talk all about being a referee. In our most interviewiest episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) jump into the mind of Eddie Furth and his experience as a professional wrestling referee. Eddie let us in on how he ended up becoming a referee, his life-long love of wrestling, and what he wants to do next in the ring. Eddie Furth is an LA-based stand up, prod...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 25
WWE’s Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have a deep connection going all the way back to their beginnings in wrestling, and as any close friendship that spans many years, they have butted heads… In our most honorable episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) put their friendship on the line and go through Kevin Steen and El Generico’s feud at Ring Of Honor, that ends in a literal bloodbath. We also cover a little bit of the origin of Ring Of Honor. Shout out to Mithe...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 24
We take a stab at untangling and demystifying the ultra-violent exploding barbed wire deathmatch. In our most explosive episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) remove the ring ropes and replace them with barbed wire to get deeper into exploding barbed wire deathmatches. Atsushi Onita, founder of Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW), created exploding barbed wire deathmatches, thus providing us with the most intense, scary match stipulations in professional...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Seth Rollins, before the freakin’ was a man possessed with seeking revenge on Triple H. In our most conniving episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) go back and take a look at the last time Michael enjoyed a Seth Rollins storyline. Will the headmaster trust Seth ever again? Did the academy succeed in bringing The Architect back into Michael’s heart? Matches watched/mentioned: Meaningful eye contact photo: https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery_img_l/public/p...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Hangman Adam Page: Bullet Club member, former tag team partner of Kenny Omega, and super lonely guy? In our most cowboy shit episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) chug a bunch of beers and cheers Hangman Adam Page’s road to becoming AEW World Champion (2019-2021). The long-form storytelling between Hangman, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega was incredibly compelling and effective, both in-ring and in promos. Audiences found an unlikely babyface in the anxi...
May 02, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Current WWE Women’s Champion Bayley debuted with the company at NXT in 2013 and was a huge part of changing professional wrestling for the better. In our most huggable episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) put their hair up in side ponytails and go through Bayley’s wrestling career at NXT. Bayley started out with awkward promos, wacky waving inflatable tube men, and hugs! So many hugs! Are we about to see super babyface Bayley again now that she’s WWE wom...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 49 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In our most finishing the story-est episode, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) return to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for the exciting conclusion of Wrestlemania 40 XL. Check out our night 1 recap here: https://youtu.be/X7V7pR0dO1E Match card: World Heavyweight Championship Match: #drewmcintyre vs. #sethrollins Philadelphia Street Fight w/ Special Guest Referee #BubbaRayDudley The Pride (#bobbylashley & #streetprofits ) vs. The Final Testament (#Kar...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In our most in person and current episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) go to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for the historic Wrestlemania XL. We were lucky to also catch Effy’s Big Gay Brunch 9 on Saturday and we breakdown that whole event. Make sure to look into all the wrestlers (listed below) we mention during that segment and support your local indie promotion! Wrestlemania XL at Lincoln Financial Field Match Card: Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lync...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 47 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In our most colossally tussled episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) take a double decker bus tour of Wrestlemania 21 Goes Hollywood. We take a brief detour to the flashy, star-studded beginning of Wrestlemania in 1985 before reviewing the movie parody-filled Wrestlemania of 2005. This classic Wrestlemania featured the tag team of Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio wrestling each other, the FIRST money in the bank, Triple H and Batista, and a show-stopping m...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 17
The Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka had an unstoppable 914 undefeated streak spanning across NXT and WWE. In our most undefeated episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) roundhouse kick through the trail of foes Asuka left behind. Asuka’s wrestling career started in 2004 when she debuted as Kana at AToZ. Nearly a decade later her massive winning streak starts in 2015 the night she debuts at NXT. We unpack what winning streaks mean to us and make connections to 20...
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In our most polarizing episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) unpack their feelings on the man they can’t see, John Cena. They focus on Bray Wyatt’s attempt to crack John Cena’s porcelain smile from January - June in 2014. Throughout the episode we try to untangle why John, despite being a very capable wrestler and a great actor, rubs us both the wrong way. Bray Wyatt, on the other hand, is complex, hypnotizing, and we have no issue praising him. FOLLOW TH...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In our most needlessly complicated episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) put on their singlets and bootcut jeans and jump into the six-sided world of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) to cover Christian Cage's run with the ill fated faction Christian's Coalition from 2007-2008. Despite his excellence in the ring and on the mic, Christian Cage was locked in as a mid-carder in the WWE until he bet on himself and moved over to TNA in 2005. During his time...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In our most powerfully positive episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) pull out a trombone named Francesca and horn on about The New Day and their feud with The Shield in 2017. The New Day is one of WWE's most popular and beloved factions consisting of Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E. The group started off a little misunderstood but soon sky-rocketed straight into the audience's hearts. There is something extra special about this team that Michael f...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In our most loving-iest episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) celebrate Valentine's Day the only way they know how, by diving in to the captivating love storyline between Mandy Rose and Otis that spanned from 2019-2020 The romance storyline between Mandy Rose and Otis penned by former WWE writer Andrea Listenberger took the WWE Universe by storm through pure sweetness. The She's All That, Never Been Kissed vibes were strong and Mandy Rose, Otis, Tucker, S...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In our most SHOOTING STAR PRESSIEST episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) put on power ranger-esque costumes and masks and flip off the top rope for the high-flying Jushin Thunder Liger. Jushin Thunder Liger’s incredible career spanned from 1984 - 2020 (THAT’S 36 YEARS and 4000+ matches!). They cover a few 90’s WCW matches and really dig in to Jushin’s nearly end of career feud with Murder Grandpa himself, Minoru Suzuki. What will get Michael to REVEAL hi...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In our most BARBED WIREY episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) fight through injuries and cover Terry Funk, all for the love of the fans. They cover Terry's retirement match from New Japan ("FOREVER!"), his involvement in the birth and success of ECW, and the time Terry wrestled Ric Flair with a freshly broken tailbone. SHOULD Samee start going by Sam E. Dangerously? Is Michael the Terry Funk of Wrestling Academy? Will we WRAP ourselves in barbed wire for...
Feb 01, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In our most UNPREDICTABLE episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) are ready to take on 28 other contestants as they break down WWE's annual event, Royal Rumble. They talk about the creation of Royal Rumble (we love you Pat!), Michael lists out some royal GOOFS that have happened, and they breakdown the 2008 Royal Rumble. How long would YOU last in a Royal Rumble? Did Hornswaggle actually WIN this match? Have you ever been so angry that you TORE your quads? ...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In our most MOST DEADLIEST episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) are still locked in a steel cage, covering the brutal match between former best friends Bayley and Sasha Banks at Hell in a Cell 2020 before delving into the blood feud between Triple H and Mick Foley that culminated at No Way Out 2000. Would YOU have helped Bayley out with the duct tape? When will YOU switch from pants to trunks? Did Samee do a good Triple H impression? Watch episodes of Wr...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In our deadliest episode yet, Headmaster Michael (he/him) and Homecoming King Samee (they/them) LOCK themselves in a 20 foot tall, 2 ton cage to talk about the history of Hell In The Cell matches. We briefly cover the first two Hell In The Cell matches (Shawn Michaels v. Undertaker 1997, Undertaker v. Mankind 1998) and fully breakdown The Usos v. The New Day 2017 and Undertaker v. Randy Orton 2005. How many times did Mick Foley die in THAT Hell In a Cell? Would a trombone hurt more or less than ...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 7
