WOW - EP426 - This Too Shall Pass
The Work Of Wrestling
Trigger Warning - this episode contains discussion of thoughts of suicide, depression, and mental illness. Tim Kail shares a story he's been holding onto for years. What happened to Tim when he stumbled upon a podcast that "lambasted" him for an article he's written? How did he process it and attempt to maintain control of the situation (and his emotions). Listen to this frank, personal story to find out.
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Enlightenment In I Am Santa Claus
The Work Of Wrestling
"Helping children be better is relatively easy. Fixing broken adults is a lot harder." With these words, Rob Figley, the "Swinging Santa", gets at the heart of what is all about. The film chronicles the year of five men who perform the beloved mythological holiday hero, Santa Claus, during the Christmas season. Their lives revolve around this eagerly anticipated time of year, those precious two months essential to their financial and emotional livelihoods. With honesty and respect (and a great sense of endearing humor), director doesn't simply give viewers a glimpse behind the...
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How To Treat The Ruthless Depression Era
The Work Of Wrestling
WWE is creatively stagnant. A lack of interesting characters, a non-existant mid-card, prescriptive weekly television, increasing ticket prices, and more frequent Saudi-shows has inspired many fans to dub this the "Ruthless Depression" era. While meant partially as a joke, the popularity of the phrase/meme is indicative of where WWE is at today. Every Monday begins with the same twenty minute promo. Every episode features poorly filmed and poorly acted backstage segments. The mid-card is a cast of feckless buffoons who battle one another in a sprint toward the bottom. Yes, CM...
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WOW - EP425 - Bonus Q&A
The Work Of Wrestling
Your ears do not deceive you - this is a special BONUS episode of The Work Of Wrestling podcast. You sent in more questions so Tim answers them. Why doesn't he talk about where he works? What role can house shows and indie wrestling play in our lives as wrestling fans? Has Tim ever tried to write for WWE? Learn the answers to all these questions and more! Follow on the social media gimmicks @WorkOfWrestling.
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WOW - EP424 - Wiseman's Question
The Work Of Wrestling
This week host Tim Kail asked for your questions. One of them was so good he had to devote an entire episode to it. Tim articulates his frustrations with WWE and AEW, pondering whether there will ever be fundamental changes to the way fans relate to and understand the art of professional wrestling. Share this episode with a friend, post it on your social media, and spread the word. Follow on the social media gimmicks @WorkOfWrestling, and give the podcast a five star rating and review in Apple Podcasts.
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WOW - EP423 - A Conversation
The Work Of Wrestling
This week Tim Kail covers not watching WWE, falling back in love with AEW, updating The Work Of Wrestling website, and why he'd rather President Trump not attend John Cena's last match.
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WOW - EP422 - Survey Results!
The Work Of Wrestling
Tim Kail lifts the hood on The Work Of Wrestling podcast and gives you a glimpse inside by sharing the results of the latest WOW survey! How do you feel about the format of the latest episodes? How does Tim make you feel? Why haven't you submitted your story?! Would you be upset if Tim didn't review The Royal Rumble or WrestleMania? All this and more in a fun episode you're sure to enjoy.
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The Architects of the Attitude Era
The Work Of Wrestling
The Attitude Era wasn't great because it was raunchy, sleazy, blood-soaked, extreme, and testosterone-fueled. In fact, all those segments, matches, and angles from The Attitude Era that weren't good were the ones that could be easily reduced to a set of trendy adjectives. The assertion many modern professional wrestling fans make is that The Attitude Era was "so much better" than today's TV-PG Era, without offering a worthwhile explanation as to why. This noisy group of armchair critics likes to cite "better promos", "getting color", "more interesting characters", "cooler...
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Divest From WWE
The Work Of Wrestling
I am divesting from WWE. What does that mean exactly? It means I refuse to buy merch or tickets to shows. I don't watch RAW, NXT, nor SmackDown, and I do not subscribe to ESPN Unlimited. I don't even "put RAW on in the background" because I don't want to give them my view. More than these practical choices, I'm electing to stop caring about WWE. I'm disentangling my concearns as a wrestling fan from the very idea of WWE. They are not the only game in town. There's plenty of wrestling elsewhere. Wrestling that's better and more accessible, if I want to get my fix. Why am I doing this?...
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WOW - EP421 - AEW Wrestle Dream Review
The Work Of Wrestling
Host Tim Kail reviews AEW's latest pay-per-view, Wrestle Dream.
info_outlineIn this epic Work Of Wrestling podcast, host Tim Kail reviews the premiere episode of AEW Dynamite!
He begins at the end, sharing his thoughts on the "surprise" appearance of Jack Hager, Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega crashing through a glass table, and the three basic reactions he imagines a fan could have after watching the entire show.
Other topics include:
- The signature at the start of the show, along with its generic "Dynamite" theme song - how to make an intro video that's modern and inviting
- How the addition of Tony Shivani gave commentary greater focus and purpose throughout the night
- The subliminal implications of Cody diving into Brandi
- The decision-making behind the reveal of the tag division
- The positive function of familiarity
- How Riho & Nyla Rose delivered the match of the night
- Why AEW needs to be more aware of the optics of some of their choices (i.e. why was Kenny Omega involved in the post-match beatdown of the first ever women's championship match?
And much more, along with a closing monologue that represents the culmination of years-worth of podcasting and pro-wrestling analysis - where Tim arrives at a deeper understanding of and appreciation for professional wrestling.
Follow on Twitter @WorkOfWrestling and www.facebook.com/theworkofwrestling