I Like Wrestling

Rachel asked Matt to watch last week’s episode of NXT without having watched first, leading to a nuanced discussion of a subpar episode (November 29, 2022) without any Pretty Deadly in sight. The Audio Ben era continues as they look into the past as Rachel opens her eyes to the world of Howard Stern and his interviews with WWE Superstars. Matt finds connections between The White Lotus and the inte...

Rumors of Matt’s death have been greatly exaggerated and he has risen from the grave to reunite with Rachel for this week’s episode. The ILW Tag Team debuts their new Evolution segment where they revisit the past (5:26), marinate on the present (12:10), and ruminate about the future. A partial re-watch of 2007 No Mercy, Survivor Series: War Games reactions and Bautista’s new horror movie segway in...

Join Rachel and special guest co-host Ben aka GrumpHandleSlam as they enter the stable of one of professional wrestling’s most iconic factions. Evolution is a little bit less of a mystery as Ben provides his perspective on watching the formation and dissolution of The Modern Day Four Horsemen in real time since Rachel’s primary background on them comes in the form of an hour-long WWE documentary....

The Monday Night War is alive and well as the ILW tag team travels back to April 26,1999 to compare and contrast WCW and WWF. Rachel gains insight into the origin of Charles Robinson aka Lil Naitch and Matt tells us about his DDP Yoga experience. Is there a connection between Swifties and wrestling fans? How is Vampire the Masquerade related to The Attitude Era? And are we Falling for Christmas? T...

Rachel watched ECW One Night Stand 2005 under the impression that Matt attended it live 17 years ago. Halfway through their rundown, Matt reaches an astonishing conclusion causing a rift in the time and space continuum. The ILW Tag Team reacts to Crown Jewel, as Rachel renders Matt speechless with her Brock Lesnar takes, and Matt recounts his trials and tribulations trying to watch the main event....

Jesse Brisendine, renowned professional speaker and author, joins the I LIke Wrestling tag team to talk about why he likes wrestling. He articulates the importance of promos, takeaways from wrestling that apply to professional skills, and why he still loves Hulk Hogan. Rachel learns about the history of Eugene, Matt gets sandbagged by a lack of Tribal Chief acknowledgement, and they all divulge th...

We’re feeling a little ucey for this week’s episode predicting Saturday’s Crown Jewel card. Rachel and Matt wonder if it’s time for The Head of The Table to be dethroned by Logan Paul, ponder the trajectory of Bray Wyatt’s return, and speculate how Bayley and Damage Control could shift allegiances. Rachel baffles Matt with how she’s consumed a lot of her wrestling media as they run through some un...

Choose your own adventure and follow us down the path to escaping The Undertaker, as Rachel regretfully experiences Netflix’s interactive special per Matt’s recommendation. They also analyze the “A Day in the Life of Pretty Deadly” promo frame by frame, lamenting the continual lack of Pretty Deadly merch and captivating promos in general. Rachel introduces Matt to Eric Bischoff’s 2018 Ted Talk, wh...

It’s Title Thursday on ILW Podcast as Rachel and Matt discuss the current AEW roster and find much to kvetch about: the storytelling (or lack thereof), unmemorable trios, and whether William Regal and MJF really had the best promo of the year. Rachel watches NXT for the first time and can’t stop raving about the incredible charisma and starpower of Pretty Deadly and Matt actually agrees. They ques...

Grab your chairs, ladders, and straps because this match is all about Extreme Rules! Rachel and Matt recap last weekend’s amazing and interesting pay-per-view, reveling in the developing factions and theatrical storytelling in the WWE Universe. Rachel regales Matt with some Tales from the Territories Memphis Wrasslin anecdotes, Matt continues to question why Johnny Gargano has a spot on the roster...

Rachel and Matt are back and better than ever and this week they are all about the game and how you play it. Triple H’s reign as the new king of RAW is firing on multiple cylinders as R&M analyze the current programming and the level of mass appeal. Rachel finds new appreciation for Dominik Mysterio and Sami Zayn while Matt vibes out on the classics of 1987 Antonio Inoki vs Dr Death Steve Will...

Rachel finally convinces Matt to watch 2007 WWE, starting off a 2007 SummerSlam PPV re-watch. Matt is absolutely appalled at the quality of the party decorations in Mr. McMahon’s office and the looming shadow of Chris Benoit. They walk through all of the matches, with Rachel providing her watching background on previous rivalries and storylines to a bewildered Matt. They’ve never been more divided...

Luigi Primo gives us an exclusive look at the promo AEW would have shown if he wasn’t  kicked in the face. He delves into the details of Nonna’s weeklong sauce and his opinions on delivery and pizza topping. Rachel and Matt learn about Luigi’s relationship with his son Pastaman and Luigi drops some sage words of wisdom on fatherhood. He reveals his connections to Nunzio and what the future holds f...

Rachel and Matt are all about intro music this week: what their underrated favorites are, the importance of the opening needle drop, and if a song can transcend the wrestler. Rachel shows off her vocal chops as she attempts to share her picks with Matt after some real-time audio botches. Matt recounts his 1998 Jamaica Spring break trip and watching Zach Gowen live and the ILW community weighs in o...

Rachel and Matt are all about screwjobs this week: Moolah, Montreal, and CM Punk. They kick-off the episode with a Clash at the Castle recap and Rachel’s first PPV live watching experience. Rachel breaks down the oft-forgotten Moolah vs. Wendy Richter screwjob and the impact on both of their careers, as well as the future of women’s wrestling. They talk through the infamous Montreal ScrewJob and c...

Matt and Rachel break down what makes for a “perfect” wrestling match and they revisit some of the contenders from classics like Steamboat vs. Savage and Nakamura vs Zayn to underrated gems like Molly Holly vs. Victoria in a Hair vs Hair at Wrestlemania. The ILW universe weighs in with their picks as well! Matt has a new favorite wrestler in Luigi Primo, Best Pizza Chef and he is appalled to hear...

Rachel and Matt dissect Barry Blaustein’s pivotal 1999 documentary “Beyond the Mat” and the lives of Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake the Snake. Matt delves into his perspectives watching wrestling as a father, and desperately tries to work in Johnny Gargano hot takes to pull us out of Rachel's Kafka-esque outlook on our doomed existence. A bonus history lesson explores the parallels between...

Rachel isn’t a fan of Sami Zayn, Pat McAfee, Santino Marella, or Elias/Ezekiel. Matt abhors Edge, The Hardy Boys, and Shawn Michaels. Rachel caught up on some current programming and is impressed with the women’s division, and Matt is finally invested in the Intercontinental Title. FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS: TWITTER @ilwpod INSTAGRAM @ilwpod TIKTOK @mattvogel5 #ilikewrestlingpod

The kickoff episode of I Like Wrestling is here. Promos from The Attitude Era and now. Matt reminisces about Jericho’s first live WWE appearance and Rachel breaks down Logan Paul’s kayfabe wedding.  Follow us on socials: TWITTER @ilwpod INSTAGRAM @ilikewrestlingpod TIKTOK @mattvogel5 #ilikewrestlingpod