The Work Of Wrestling

Tim Kail has an announcement: he's going to produce new, free, weekly articles on his Substack. These articles will be about pro-wrestling, art, and writing. He also shares some thoughts on best practices with podcasting, not stretching himself too thin, and the importance of commitment and patience. Get a tee-shirt at https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/workofwrestling Subscribe to WOW's Substack at...

Work of Wrestling host Tim Kail explains the strange emotional space he's in following CM Punk's defeat of Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship. He also briefly shares his thoughts on the July 6 episode of Monday Night Raw. Get a tee-shirt at https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/workofwrestling Subscribe to WOW's Substack at https://workofwrestling.substack.com Thanks for listening!

What will professional wrestling be like in 100 years? That's the question at the heart of this episode where Tim explores the roles technology, social upheaval, climate change, shifts in government, and cultural consolidation all play in the production of pro-wrestling. Get a tee-shirt at https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/workofwrestling Subscribe to WOW's Substack at https://workofwrestling.subst...

Work of Wrestling host Tim Kail explains how and why Sami Zayn's Championship victory has so thoroughly inspired and uplifted him. He waxes philosophic on the signficance of being alive at this particular point in history, and how it's incumbent upon us to cherish being alive here and now. Listen to The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 . Visit Mith Gifs Substack: https://mithgifs.substack.com Visit WOW's Su...

Tim Kail watched the first and last segment of the latest episode of Raw, and he has some constructive criticisms for WWE. From attempting to book the "perfect" Oba Femi push to Seth Rollins sudden involvement in the main event title scene as we head toward Summer Slam, Tim offers a few simple thoughts on how to maximize the good and minimize the bad. Get a tee-shirt at https://www.prowrestlingtee...

In this bonus edition of the podcast host Tim Kail talks a little bit more about what it means for Sami Zayn to have achieved his goal of becoming WWE Champion. Get a tee-shirt at https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/workofwrestling Subscribe to WOW's Substack at https://workofwrestling.substack.com Thanks for listening!

Tim Kail reviews WWE's latest premium live event, Night of Champions.  He critiques Jey's "soft" offense, praises Iyo Sky's selling, examines how Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker over-delivered in their non-title match, skewers Michael Cole and Corey Graves' statements about Jade Cargil and Tiffany Straton, and then basks in the joy of Sami Zayn's championship victory. Subscribe to WOW's Substack at...

A question has been nagging Tim Kail for several days: why do I make art? He explains why this question is not necessarily helpful to the artist. In the interest of unberdening himself he arrives at a surprisingly simple answer to the question, rooted in practicality rather than some higher purpose. Subscribe to WOW's Substack: https://workofwrestling.substack.com Get a tee-shirt! https://www.prow...

Tim Kail journeys back to his childhood when, in elementary school, he was asked to write down what he wanted to be when he grew up. Inspired by the film As Good As It Gets , he wrote down that he wanted to be a writer who lived in New York. In reflecting upon that goal, he realized how he managed to make it not far off the mark. He explores how he hasn't yet attained what he initally meant in wri...

It's June 19th, 2026 and Tim Kail is now forty years old. He reflects upon this milestone, charting the decades of his life through the lens of art, friendship, pain, and love. Subscribe to Tim's Substack: https://workofwrestling.substack.com Get yourself a tee-shirt: https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/workofwrestling Thanks for listening!

It's time for another real-time match commentary! This week, host Tim Kail provides commentary to the modern classic, Sami Zayn vs Johnny Knoxville at WrestleMania 38. Tim discusses Knoxville's sincerity, Sami's focus, and the fascinating way this match exists as an advertisement for a movie and great art simultaneously. Then, in the outro, Tim examines why he belives "no one is over today", and w...

Tim Kail has something he needs to get off his chest when it comes to the "Fu%! ICE" chants at AEW Dynamite, more specifically how they're praised on social media. Are you registered to vote? If not go here: https://www.rockthevote.org Check your registratoin status here: https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/ Start a subscription at your local newspaper. Support organizations like PETA, Pl...

It's been a difficult week with a variety of trials and tribulations that Tim needs to get off his chest. Support The Work of Wrestling by giving it a five star rating and review in Apple Podcasts, buying a tee-shirt at www.prowrestlingtees.com/workofwrestling , or subscribing to WOW's Substack at www.workofwrestling.substack.com .  

This week Tim Kail reviews WWE's latest premium live event, Clash In Italy. Tim discusses what makes Gunther such a perfect heel, why Cody Rhodes is being rejected by a contingent of the WWE fanbase, Rhea Ripley's excellent display of vulnerability, the explosiveness of Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar, understanding what they're going for with Sol Ruca but not really feeling it, and the results of Tribal...

This week Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail reviews AEW's latest pay-per-view, Double Or Nothing. Tim explains why he thought this was an uneven show with a couple really high highs, but a few unfortunate lows. Subscribe to The Work Of Wrestling Substack at www.workofwrestling.substack.com .  Follow on social media @WorkOfWrestling. Get a tee shirt at www.prowrestlingtees.com/workofwrestling .

Greetings, one and all. Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail has an announcement - he's created a Work Of Wrestling Substack! Listen to him explain how he's going to create a monthly newsletter for WOW's most ardent fans. Subscribe to his Substack here: https://workofwrestling.substack.com  

Is it okay for men to cry? This is the question that sparked this episode of The Work Of Wrestling podcast. Tim shares some words of wisdom from The Macho Man Randy Savage before offering his own perspective on masculine crying. He explains the value of being in touch with one's emotions, really allowing one's self to feel things, and why men are so angry all the time. Show your support for The Wo...

This week Tim Kail reviews WWE's premium live event, Backlash. Topics include fleshing out the Bron Breakkker character, Trick Williams being grown in a WWE Superstar lab, Sami Zayn's complex (and grim) status in WWE, Kit Wilson as a poor substitute for Tyler Breeze, Danhausen simply not being a character that appeals to Tim's tastes, why Asuka vs Iyo Sky felt like it was missing something, John C...

In this special BONUS edition of The Work Of Wrestling podcast host Tim Kail explains why he has decided to purchase, watch, and review WWE's upcoming premium live event, Backlash. He goes into detail about his hypocrisy, the gradual realization of his values, and the moment of clarity he experienced when he watched Roman Reigns vs CM Punk after purchasing a $45/month bundle to ESPN, Disney, and H...

In this special BONUS edition of The Work Of Wrestling podcast host Tim Kail once again shares what he liked about Monday Night Raw. He examines the Jacob Fatu/Roman Reigns rivalry and why it's emotionally impactful. He discusses some of the new scenes WWE is producing like the sit down exchange between Asuka and Iyo Sky. And then he contemplates buying Backlash (seeking insight from listeners on...

This week Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail examines the role of motivation in the artist's life. First, he argues why you should stop listening to motivational speakers, successul celebrities, and social media gurus about motivation. Next, he explains how he's baked his artistic practice into his daily life thus removing the need to stay constantly motivated. Then he argues the artist examine their...

For this special bonus episode of The Work Of Wrestling podcast Tim Kail dissects various scenes, matches, and moments from the latest Monday Night Raw that he genuinely enjoyed. Topics include Roman Reigns being a master of his character, WWE trying new things with "scenes" throughout Raw, the welcome simplicity of Jacob Fatu's motivations, why three-dimensional characters are more important than...

This week Work of Wrestling host, Tim Kail, is joined by longtime listener and fellow podcaster Michael Cascio. This is a great conversation between two passionate wrestling fans about an assortment of wrestling-related issues. Topics include feeling obligated to watch WWE, protecting one's fandom of wrestling, not following wrestling journalists to dismantle the joy inherent in the medium, the th...

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...

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 phil...