Mania
The Work Of Wrestling
Warning: This episode contains descriptions of thoughts of suicide. Why is WrestleMania the perfect name for...well...WrestleMania? Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail answers that question as only he can, with a moving story about his second manic-depressive episode in the Fall of 2020. Tim's story reveals the unvarnished reality of clinical mania, how his enthusiasm for life felt like a psychedelic high, why he became obsessed with ancient religions, and what led to this shorter, milder experience of psychosis. If you are in need of emotional support call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at...
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Sending A Message
The Work Of Wrestling
For the first time in eleven years Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail will not be watching or reviewing WrestleMania. In this special bonus edition of the podcast he explaines why, in detail. He also examines the divisive nature of WWE's business practices, how the company has transformed into a boutique tourist trap, and the destructive role social media plays in nudging us toward political and philosophical polarization. Follow on social media @WorkOfWrestling. Music provided by Premium Beat.
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WrestleMania Preview
The Work Of Wrestling
Your ears do not deceive you - this is a special BONUS edition of The Work Of Wrestling podcast. In this episode host Tim Kail previews WrestleMania 42, going through every match and allowing each participant to inspire deeper thoughts. He discusses the evolution of Bayley (currently in her adolescence in Tim's head-canon), why "The Road To WrestleMania" simply doesn't matter anymore, why exactly Tim isn't going to watch WrestleMania even though he wants to, and the ways in which Cody Rhodes might improve in his performance. Support WOW by purchasing a tee-shirt at Follow on social media...
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The Cosmic Collaboration
The Work Of Wrestling
This week Tim Kail announces a return of the music to the podcast! Why he's bringing it back and how he had help from a longtime listener. He's also reopened his Pro-Wrestling Tees store. Visit to shop the collection and show your support for the podcast. Tim also discusses framing the term "Sports Entertainment" as a specific genre in professional wrestling, how the idea that professional wrestling is an art has become more commonplace over the past decade, why it's important to state "pro-wrestling is an art" without ego, and how the human soul wants to express itself in myriad ways. In the...
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Here's How To Fix WWE, But Also Why They Won't Do It
The Work Of Wrestling
It’s clear WWE creative is in a woeful state when Raw and SmackDown start cannibalizing their own product. Unable to generate interest through carefully considered narratives with logical emotional beats, WWE smashes the cheat code button and has Pat McAfee and CM Punk start talking about “the forgotten wrestling fan”, how much WWE sucks today, and lowering WrestleMania ticket prices. This admission sparks discussion (mostly for, ) in the pro-wrestling community, but that seems to be all it does. Did WWE suddenly move tickets because McAfee said Randy Orton would “save the fucking...
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A CM Punk Pipe Bomb?
The Work Of Wrestling
For this special bonus episode of The Work Of Wrestling podcast host Tim Kail examines CM Punk's promo from the April 6th, 2026 episode of Monday Night Raw. Is it a true "pipe bomb"? Did CM Punk "torch" TKO, The Rock, Roman Reigns, and Pat McAfee? Or is he merely a cog in a corporate machine, his subversion nothing more than the appearance of being anti-establishment? Tim asks and answers these questions! Follow on social media @WorkOfWrestling. Give the podcast a five star rating and review in Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
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Where Does Inspiration Come From?
The Work Of Wrestling
This week host Tim Kail asks (and answers) "Where does inspiration come from?" Is it the result of committing to a daily creative habit like writing 500 words a day or is it something delivered from the muse, a divine spark that uses the artist as a medium to express itself. Is it both? Or is it something a little more particular than either dynamic. Tim describes how he stays inspired through a blend of constant preparation and deep immersion in his lived experience - a blend of staying in the moment and allowing the texture of one's particular sensory experience to inform their work. ...
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The Unforgiving Algorithm
The Work Of Wrestling
This week Tim Kail discusses the complexities of modern social media, how it drives us toward discord and pollutes the way we discuss and analyze professional wrestling. Tim shares what he's learned from AI about how modern social media works, and describes how he'd fundamentally have to change aspects of his personality in order to see social media success. He also talks about the importance of withholding judgment on a work of art until one experiences it for themselves, and how he got an encouraging follow from wrestling analyst Jack The Jobber. Follow on social media @WorkOfWrestling. Give...
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A Bland Build To WrestleMania
The Work Of Wrestling
This week Tim Kail returns to the here and now with a blunt assessment of WWE's current road to WrestleMania. Tim analyzes the CM Punk/Roman Reigns drama - how it's straining for emotional complexity and is failing to generate interest in the process. Tim dissects Austin Theory & Logan Paul, one being an "angry child" while the other is an "immature teenager". He discusses the unintentionally funny nature of Seth Rollins' masked minions, and the ever-reliably committed Paul Heyman. He praises the Raw segment between Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar, explaining the unappreciated value of...
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Signs
The Work Of Wrestling
Tim Kail has an update about his book The Work Of Wrestling: A Book About Art. He shares details about the submission process, crafting a proposal, and writing a cover letter. He just received his first response from a publisher and he reads the email for the listener. Listen to find out whether it's an acceptance or rejection letter! Follow on social media @WorkOfWrestling. Give the podcast a five star rating and review in Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
info_outlineTim Kail has an announcement...he's writing a book! Inspired by J.J. McGee's Fight Forever: A Ballad of Kevin and Sami, Tim is endeavoring to distill his decade's long analysis of pro-wrestling into a single project. This book, The Work Of Wrestling: A Book About Art, will be a combination of his best writing with all new writing on the subject of wrestling being an art.
Follow on the social media gimmicks @WorkOfWrestling to stay tuned on his progress.
Give the podcast a five star rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
Email questions, thoughts, or suggestions to wrestlingworks@gmail.com.