The weekend has finally arrived in Southern California and we’ve been privy to a handful of really stellar audio programming featuring some of the biggest names in Professional Wrestling. We’re here to Countdown the Top 5 Wrestlecasts of the Week. Now before we get going, I want to remind everyone to go to iTunes, subscribe to your favorite podcasts, and give the shows you listen to a 5-star review. It’s because of fans like you and me that they continue doing what they do, and our minimal efforts can make a world of difference to them. Now let me step off my soap box, and start the countdown…
5. Talkin’ Shop
Our list kicks off at #5 with newcomers to the ‘Cast Countdown, it’s “Talkin Shop” with ‘Machine Gun’ Karl Anderson, Luke ‘ the Doc’ Gallows and producer Rocky Romero. Now before you Bullet Club Connoisseurs and AzГєcar-Aficionados start scowering iTunes in search of your favorite New Japan gaijin, I’ll tell you that they are members of the “Major League Wrestling Network,” an independent-centric station that also hosts Jim Cornette’s “Jim Cornette Experience.” The ‘Shop Talkers’ are joined this week by the Young Bucks who share more stories about traveling to and from the ‘States as well as what it’s like planning a match 10-minutes out with Jeff Hardy. This show is great, not just this week but every week. I’m among the majority of fans who wish it would extend beyond the strict half-hour format it adheres to, but I understand the need to set limits. It’s truly one of the funniest wrestling podcasts I’ve ever heard, which can be attributed to Gallows and Anderson’s natural creative chemistry. Gallows dead-on-depictions of Howard Finkel and Steve Austin frequently cause me to hit the “back 15 seconds” button. Casual wrestling fans might not enjoy their tongue-in-cheek, inside-baseball banter, but the honest knowledge hidden amongst the jests and jabs could prove to be invaluable to aspiring wrestlers or even super fans like anyone who’s actually reading this. I could go on and on about what I love about “Talkin Shop”, about the guests, the impromptu Japanese language-lessons, but I’ll leave it up to you to discover this half hour of power available each and every week via the “Major League Wrestling Network” on iTunes. Oh and if you’re trying to figure out who “Hoot” is–it’s everybody. Everybody is Hoot.
4. Voices of Wrestling
Our friends at the “Voices of Wrestling” have returned this week and moved up to number four on the Countdown. This week Joe and Rich talk for nearly four hours on everything under the wrestling sun, all the while Rich alternates between a warm tea and a cold beer. I always recommend this show to my WWE Universe-friends who don’t necessary like to live outside their sports entertainment bubble, because it examines what’s right and what’s wrong with the WWE in an honest and unbiased manner. This week they spoke on the ‘Network numbers in regards to the most recent WWE Quarterly Call and Vince’s sudden appearance on Raw. In addition to covering mainstream American “sports entertainment”, the guys at Voices of Wrestling also help to provide a deep and colorful context for independent and international wrestling promotions. I’m a big puroresu fan and supporter of most every major indie promotion, but I don’t necessarily have the time for reading or watching or what-have-you to understand every element going into an iPPV. That’s where Joe and Rich come in to provide a greater understanding of who these Japanese stars are, and why I should care about them. The 3 hour and 40 minute format was a little long and took me a couple of separate sittings to finish. Plus I did a bit of skipping through the Dragon Gate-talk toward the end. But all-in-all a really good episode as is the norm from one of the most reputable names in wrestling writing and reporting, “The Voices of Wrestling.”
3. The Wrestling Compadres Slamcast
Despite the gaping void left by Dale’s absence this week, the Compadres are back toward the top of our countdown with another knee-slapping yet thought-provoking podcast. This weeks show is highlighted as always with a weekly shoot from the 5-Time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and “Godfather of Reality of Wrestling” Booker T! Booker is gearing up for his pose down at Survivor Series with fellow Raw Preshow co-hosts Byron Saxton and Alex Riley. The interviews are on point from the Compadres this week. First there’s a phone call conversation with Christopher Daniels. The Fallen Angel echoes my own sentiments on comics, cartoons and the new Fox Original Series “Gotham”. Christopher Daniels is such a genuine guy who really seems to love living every day he’s got. It’s nice to hear such a positive disposition from someone who’s been so embedded in the business for such a long time now. Following Daniels, 2-time ROH Champion Austin Aries hits the studio for some amazing stories that you’ve got to hear to believe. If you haven’t yet, go hit subscribe and give these guys the 5-star treatment they deserve. Give their most recent show a listen for exclusive information you can’t get anywhere else on the one and only Dan “Casual” Sexon. Enjoy.
2. The Ross Report
Boomer Sooner, Good Ol’ JR has not only survived 7 days of podcasting competition, but he’s maintaining his stronghold on the penultimate position of our podcast countdown. Jim is back with another episode of what I’ve deemed the most consistent podcast in wrestling. This time, JR is on the phone with the Hall of Fame manager of the Four Horsemen, JJ Dillon. In addition to his more memorable on-screen roles, Dillon served as Jim’s predecessor in the WWF Office of Talent Relations. Dillon was responsible for the hiring and firing of New Generation and Golden Age stars, just the same as JR was responsible for much of the Attitude Era roster. JJ is full of hilarious Horsemen stories, and talks who he would carve into his personal ‘Manager Mount Rushmore.’ If you haven’t been listening to “The Ross Report,” what are you waiting for? Jim serves up every episode in a unique, yet familiar way that fans old and new can easily gravitate toward. Go subscribe to JR’s show on iTunes and then head over to WWE Shop for some of JR’s chipotle ketchup and barbeque sauce.
1. Talk is Jericho
Number one this week goes to the Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla, Chris Jericho and his twice weekly podcast, “Talk is Jericho.” First of all, welcome to the countdown Chris and what better way to make your debut than in the number one spot. But then again, you do know something about making an impact upon arrival. While Y2J’s show is honestly a hit-or-miss with me, I’m more often than not pleased with the outcome. This week was one of the best shows since Jericho started down his podcasting path, as the First Ever Undisputed Champion sat down with WWE Doctor Chris Amman and his travel partner, the current WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler. Y2J has two shows, one released Wednesday and another on Friday, and minus a couple of non-wrestling phone calls at the beginning of each show, both episodes this week were dedicated to Dolph and ‘The Doc.’ It’s always awesome to hear Jericho share stories with superstars from the current era because it allows them to contrast and compare experiences they’ve had working in the industry. It’s always cool to hear how a guy like Dolph broke into the business, versus how Jericho was forced to make a name for himself in the early 90s. Dolph is more reserved than one might expect from a stand-up comedian with a nickname like, “The Show Off,” but still manages to provide analytical anecdotes and laugh-out-loud one-liners. My one major qualm with Chris’s show usually, and it’s the same issue I have with Roddy Piper, is he insists on booking guests outside the realm of wrestling. Now, perhaps that’s shortsighted of me–in fact, I know it is. But the reason I subscribe to Chris Jericho’s podcast is the same reason I subscribe to “Steve Austin Unleashed”… I’m a wrestling fan. I understand that Jericho is a musician and something of a pop culture icon, but I don’t need to hear a Fozzy song at the beginning of every show, and I don’t enjoy listening to interviews with people like Kevin Smith or Corey Tyler from Slipknot. I’m sure there are people out there who enjoy listening to Chris converse on topics far removed from the ring, but I compile a list of wrestling shows each week, so if anyone is ever curious as to why I omit various ‘casts from time to time, now you know.
A good week overall as far as content. Honorable mentions this week go to: “The Jim Cornette Experience,” “Steve Austin: Unleashed,” and “Wrestling Observer Radio.” Thanks again to all of the wrestlers, writers, producers, hosts and special guests that provided hours of entertainment this week, and will continue to do so in the future. Until next time, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty, and it was an honor to deliver another Top 5 Wrestlecasts of the Week.
