No Bret Hart this week.

The podcast week in review, brought to you by Helix Sleep (or our Amazon and WWEShop affiliate links).

They Said It…

  • “If you’re a drummer, you’re crazy. If you’re a goalie, you’re crazy. And if you’re a drummer and a goalie, you’re out in left field.” – Chris Jericho

The Usual Suspects

Eastern Lariat (6/4/16): Strigga and Dylan return after only 7 days, but have plenty to discuss, including Muhammad Ali’s legacy in Japan, the finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, and All Japan’s recent big show in Kouraken Hall. Some good discussion, including on whether or not there are too many gaijins in New Japan. And someone must have read last week’s column, as this show will indeed rotate Saturdays with the Tiki Bar. THUMBS UP

VIP Lounge (6/12/16): The show opens with MVP offering some very nice thoughts on the passing of Kimbo Slice, since they went way back to bouncing in clubs in Miami. The story of how both men went from obscurity to sizable fame in their respective industries is actually fairly inspiring. The discussion of the passing of Muhammad Ali and his legacy is also very thoughtful. The rest of the show, about coming book movies and weed stories, is a lot less interesting. THUMBS IN THE MIDDLE

The Card is Going To Change #2 (6/13/16): AIW co-owners Chandler Biggins and John Thorne dedicate episode #2 to the history of their big annual Absolution event. You get to hear about the early days when Kamala no showed due to wearing the wrong pants and New Jack then just started booking himself on shows, up to more current shows involving fighting with building owners and fun with Vader. A hysterical show, and one that shows that even when you get a clue about being a promoter, things don’t get any easier. THUMBS UP & BEST OF THE WEEK

Steve Austin Show #333 (6/14/16): BRO, Vince Russo is back. He and Austin discuss the Attitude Era (go figure), especially the Undertaker/Austin main event program. He rails against the current WWE creative process and makes a few good points, but ends with an odd strawman argument against wrestlers saying they’re evolving wrestling. If you’re dying to hear Vince Russo’s thoughts you have plenty of other opportunities on his own show. THUMBS DOWN

MLW Radio #230 (6/7/16): Nor surprisingly given MSL’s proximity to the situation, the Orlando tragedy gets a lot of talk to open the show. Then everyone gets into Billy Corgan buying into TNA, the 25th anniversary of Ric Flair jumping to the WWF, the negative effects WWE vignettes can have on a wrestler (and using Razor Ramon as an example of them doing it right), Raw, Alberto Del Rio’s future, the Cruiserweight Classic, split PPV’s, and more. A bit of a ramshackle show, jumping from past wrestling to the present, but an entertaining listen. THUMBS UP

The Ross Report #122 (6/14/16): New Japan star Kenny Omega is the guest this week. He and JR talk about being a Canadian, his short stint in WWE developmental, having New Japan’s first ladder match, psychology, that match he worked with a 9 year old, and whether he’d ever go back to the WWE. Omega seems like a bad fit for JR’s show, but he’s very level headed and well spoken and it’s a good listen. But apparently it was taped a while back, and JR was still under the impression the ladder match was still against Tanahashi. [Omega’s interview starts at 19:11] THUMBS UP

Talk is Jericho #256 (6/15/16): Aaron Stevens, the former Damian Sandow, is here to talk about his recent release from the WWE. He and Jericho get into whether Sandow felt it was coming, the Mizdow gimmick and how he started dressing up as different characters, winning the MITB match and how proud he was of the match, the origin of the Damian Sandow name, getting a great reaction at WrestleMania, his future plans, and a lot more. Sandow comes off well here when he could have been extremely bitter, and while there won’t be any “SANDOW RIPS INTO WWE” style headlines emerging from this show, it is an enjoyable listen. [Sandow’s interview starts at 9:19] THUMBS UP

Art of Wrestling #305 (6/16/16): UK wrestler Jimmy Havok has a sit down with Colt. They talk about his recent injury in Australia, how he became a wrestling fan, the burgeoning UK scene, the hardcore style he has worked and whether he regrets it, being a part time teacher (!), his shot in TNA, and a lot more. The show is fine but not great; it has some good moments but is overall fairly forgettable. THUMBS IN THE MIDDLE

The Steve Austin Show – Unleashed! #334 (6/9/16): Steve has his second show based around a Navy SEAL, with this time Jocko Willink doing the honors. They talk about how he got into the program, the toll being a SEAL takes on your family, Hell Week, his tours in Iraq, trying to train Iraqi soldiers, how he got into public speaking, his new book, and more. It would be hard to make a show about Navy SEALS completely boring, but the interview is overlong and runs out of steam near the end.  THUMBS IN THE MIDDLE

Jim Cornette Experience #133 (6/16/16): No guest this week, as Jim just vents after the Orlando shooting in a 50+ minute rant that involves guns, Trump, organized religion, Republicans, and more. Brian is here too, although he says about 20 words the entire show. Not going to rate this one, as it feels odd to grade something born out of such a tragedy based on its entertainment value, but it’s a Jim Cornette rant and you can approach accordingly.

Marty & Sarah Love Wrestling #1 (6/16/16): Chicago comedians Marty DeRosa (well known from his association with Colt Cabana) & Sarah Shockey move their show to MLW as part of that network’s new era. It’s basically two friends just goofing around, talking about their trip to Ring of Honor, do wrestler voices, talk Money in the Bank, and play F/M/K with various wrestlers. None of this was really my bag, but if you like a lighthearted approach to your podcasts you may enjoy it. THUMBS DOWN

Talk is Jericho #257 (6/17/16): Chad Smith, drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, sits down with old friend Y2J. The talk about the RHCP’s new album, how he got into the band and their crazier days, having DangerMouse produce the new record, Flea’s broken arm, drumming for Johnny Cash, being a Will Ferrell lookalike, playing against Jericho in a charity hockey game, and a lot more. I’m not the biggest RHCP fan, but I found the stories interesting and this might be Jericho’s best music-based podcast. [Smith’s interview starts at 6:06] THUMBS UP

MSL & Sullivan Show (6/17/16): Kevin went on a lengthy trip and we get all the details, including Sullivan returning to the ring. After that it is current events, including WWE expanding into China and the amount of current wrestling on TV. Then we get a review of the 10/21/96 Nitro, including Jimmy Grafitti and why Teddy Long had no luck as a manager. The mailbag closes with questions about baseball players hanging out with wrestlers and the viability of the Irish whip. The show was a few hours later than usual but worth the wait. [The Nitro review starts at 35:14] THUMBS UP

Bauer & Pollock (6/17/16): A full docket this week sees B&P discuss Jerry Lawler’s legal woes, the sale of UFC, Netflix and how they operate compared to the WWE Network, WWE making inroads in China, WWE and Lucha Underground’s rating woes, TNA’s wacky week, Dominion, the passing of Gypsy Joe and the guy who sang the DX song, and Ring of Honor’s return to the Hammerstein Ballroom. A nice ending to the week. THUMBS UP