The Story of Wrestling

Alasdair takes another sidestep out of the usual discussion to explore how wrestling compares with other kinds of collaborative performance like improv and Dungeons and Dragons. And who better to do that with his own Dungeon Master? Gideon Bautista is a writer, actor, wrestling fan, and longtime D&D player, and he joins Alasdair to discuss how putting together a campaign is like booking a wrestling show. Is playing Dungeons and Dragons like being a wrestler, or is it like being an audience member, liable to take over the show at any point? All that plus plenty of love for WWE's newest Hall of Fame inductee, Dave "The Animal" Batista, or Hollywood star Dave Bautista, if you prefer. Is he the most talented actor to ever come out of a wrestling ring? Gideon explains how his fellow Bautista made use of classic Meisner technique in his famous promo on the road to this year's WrestleMania, which Shakespeare character the Animal most reminds him of, and how his 2009 heel turn on Rey Mysterio is absolutely chilling. It's a fun, free-ranging conversation about the mechanics of acting and storytelling in wrestling, so come listen!

Alasdair and Kyle do something they have been putting off for far too long and turn their attention to SmackDown Live, whether SmackDown Live wants it or not. We start positive by looking at the fiery promo battle between the Usos and the New Day, and we're still insistent that, whatever else you might say about it, the actual match between Charlotte and Ruby Riott ought to be pretty good. Bobby Roode vs. Randy Orton is the rare bout where somehow both faces need to turn heel. Is Shinsuke Nakamura doing anything before WrestleMania? And don't worry, we have plenty to say about the six-pack challenge for the WWE Championship, with a little side conversation about the Elimination Chamber thrown in!

We kick off with a couple announcements! Alasdair is looking to enlist some of you lovely wrestling fans to help predict the event of SummerSlam for Inverse, while Kyle is getting back in the WWE reviewing game at Real Sport 101! We've got all the details on both of those at the top of the episode. Next up, Kyle was in the building for SmackDown Live, and we discuss the rare thrill of being live in the building for Mahal-Orton IV. We also discuss some Wyatt Family members and what kinds of stories would best bring out their characters. Finally we run down the card for Progress Wrestling's New York show this Saturday night (which, incidentally, we recorded before the late-breaking news that Pete Dunne is out of action for the show).

We take a quick look at the state of the SummerSlam card after an exciting SmackDown, wondering just what the future holds for new number one contender Shinsuke Nakamura. (We're really feeling the Baron Corbin cash-in, but maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves.) But the real focus of today's episode is a look back at two recent classic matches, both of which involve your pal and mine, the Big Dog himself, Mr. Roman Reigns. First up, we look at the contemporary match that cemented Alasdair as a fan forever, Reigns vs. A.J. Styles at Extreme Rules 2017. Then Kyle tries to show Alasdair just why he can't give up on Bray Wyatt with the Elimination Chamber 2014 six-man tag between the Shield and the Wyatt Family. It's very, very good... but Alasdair might just mark for Luke Harper anyway.

It's SummerSlam week! And, more importantly, it's "What the hell is going on with Baron Corbin?" week! We look at Tuesday's failed cash-in from every possible storytelling angle we can figure, as we try to work out what the Lone Wolf has to offer after this insane development. In happier news, we take a look at this weekend's activities, with a particular focus on the truly excellent NXT Takeover card. Plus we consider when Carmella should cash in and what a return to the Attitude Era would mean for modern-day WWE!