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Welcome to Episode 169 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro and Chad are back, and this week we are pulling on threads that could reshape how you look at the entire industry. We open with the story that quietly shifted the business conversation. CNN confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery owns a minority stake in All Elite Wrestling. Not rumor. Not speculation. Confirmed. For years, Tony Khan has emphasized that he controls one hundred percent of AEW's decision making while declining to confirm outside equity. Now a Warner Bros. Discovery outlet has acknowledged ownership outright. What does that mean for AEW's future? For media rights negotiations? For leverage and perception? And why is this confirmation being framed inside a broader cultural conversation? We break down what is confirmed, what is still unknown, and what it signals long term. From there, we move into AEW Grand Slam Australia, a show that clarified the top of the card while leaving deeper storylines open. MJF retained the AEW World Championship against Brody King. Hangman Adam Page secured number one contender status. Jon Moxley and Konosuke Takeshita went to a time limit draw. Kyle Fletcher retained the TNT Championship. Wheeler Yuta lost his hair. The direction at the top is clear. The layers underneath are still shifting. Was this a defining moment for the spring? Or a stepping stone toward something bigger? We then pivot to WWE, where the numbers tell their own story. WrestleMania 42 ticket distribution currently sits at 36,964 for Night One and 36,737 for Night Two, roughly 18 percent behind last year's pace. Allegiant Stadium is advertising a 25 percent discount. Only CM Punk versus Roman Reigns is officially locked in. Brock Lesnar still does not have a confirmed opponent. Internal discussions have reportedly included LA Knight and Oba Femi. Lesnar returns on February 23. Is the board being carefully shaped, or is urgency creeping in as sales lag? We close with the 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards, where several results sparked immediate backlash. John Cena versus Cody Rhodes was voted Worst Match of the Year. Booker T was voted Worst Television Announcer. AEW Collision ranked ahead of WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown. Bryan Alvarez publicly disagreed with multiple categories. Meanwhile, Mistico won Wrestler of the Year nineteen years after his first victory, and CMLL dominated across major awards. Are these results reflective of industry consensus, vocal fan sentiment, or deeper bias within the voting pool? Episode 169 is not just about results. It is about ownership, optics, ticket momentum, creative positioning, and perception colliding at the same time.

The week we are joined by The Rawdown's own, JBugz! Join us as we ask is it a good idea to do a blackout of WrestleMania broadcasts in Vegas; was it the right move for Matt Cardona to make a WWE return; and who will be the next 3 AEW tag champions? It's going to be a fun week here at The Tavern, so to make sure you do not miss anything, go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

Welcome to Episode 168 of Wrestling Tonight, a mini episode powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down a weekend where AEW reinforces one of its most important global brands. This Saturday, February 14, AEW presents Grand Slam Australia 2026 live from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. For U.S. viewers, the event airs at 8:00 PM Eastern on TNT and streaming on Max. Because the show takes place Sunday afternoon local time in Australia, the American broadcast will air on tape delay in prime time. The episode opens with the evolution of Grand Slam. What began in 2021 as a post-pandemic statement at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York — AEW's first stadium show in the largest media market in the United States — quickly became an annual tentpole. For four years, Grand Slam meant Arthur Ashe, championship implications, and major television moments. Then in 2025, the brand pivoted. Grand Slam Australia in Brisbane and Grand Slam Mexico at Arena México transformed the event from a New York tradition into a portable international showcase. The identity shifted from venue-based prestige to global expansion. Now Sydney becomes the next chapter. From there, the preview turns to the stakes without giving the outcomes away. MJF defends the AEW World Championship against Brody King after King pinned him in a World Title Eliminator. It's manipulation versus physical dominance, and Sydney becomes a defining checkpoint in MJF's reign. Jon Moxley defends the Continental Championship against Konosuke Takeshita in a rematch rooted in last year's Continental Classic. Pride and positioning collide. Kyle Fletcher and Mark Briscoe escalate their rivalry into a TNT Championship ladder match, raising the risk factor under Grand Slam lights. Hangman Page and Andrade El Ídolo battle for a future World Title opportunity, with long-term ripple effects tied directly to Revolution. The Women's World Tag Team Titles are on the line as the division continues to establish its identity on an international stage. And a mixed tornado tag with a hair-shaving stipulation guarantees visible consequence — the kind of moment Grand Slam has become known for. Episode 168 is a focused preview of a brand that started as a declaration in New York and has matured into a recurring global platform. From Arthur Ashe to Brisbane to Arena México and now Sydney, Grand Slam mirrors AEW's trajectory. Saturday night at 8:00 PM Eastern, the next chapter airs.

It's Thursday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from The Two Bad Chads! This week we talk AEW and all the happenings of the week! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

The RAWDOWN boys discuss all of the news coming out of RAW and Smackdown and get you caught up on all of the news happening inside and outside the ropes in WWE. Everything is on the table. This is just the tip of the iceberg with all of the stories and news going on in the WWE. Let's talk about it and everything else in the WWE Universe! WWE RAW, WWE Smackdown, NXT... It's all there! Come get your best weekly fix for all things WWE on The RAWDOWN, right here at The Turnbuckle Tavern! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, SHARE, & CLICK THE BELL! TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern to join our Patreon for only $2.99/mo! 

The week we are joined by The Ace Of The Tavern, Acefield Retro and our very own Colton! Join us as we ask Is CM Punk/Roman Reigns the best option to main event WrestleMania 42 in Vegas; did the Saudi Rumble quell anxiety of having WrestleMania there or make it worse; and is AJ Styles really retiring? It's going to be a fun week here at The Tavern, so to make sure you do not miss anything, go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

Welcome to Episode 167 of Wrestling Tonight, a mini episode powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down the week in pro wrestling. We open with AEW Dynamite and a result that immediately changed the landscape at the top of the card. Brody King defeated MJF in decisive fashion. We break down why the finish felt intentional, how it repositioned King from a short term challenger to a more credible threat, and how the result cleanly sets up their AEW World Championship rematch at Grand Slam Australia. From there, we circle back to the broader context of the main event, including a pre bell crowd chant involving ICE that moved beyond wrestling coverage and into wider media discussion. We look at why that moment drew attention, how uncommon it is for an unscripted crowd reaction to be picked up outside the wrestling space, and why AEW choosing not to immediately move past it allowed the moment to register more clearly. The episode then shifts to WWE, starting with confirmation that John Cena will not be inducted into this year's Hall of Fame class. We discuss why the timing is notable, why WWE may be holding Cena's induction for a future year, and how Hall of Fame moments are increasingly planned with long term presentation in mind. We close with a backstage story tied to WrestleMania season involving Bron Breakker being considered to win the Royal Rumble at one point. Using recent reporting, we examine how injuries and creative changes altered those plans, what that shift suggests about WWE's priorities, and where Breakker currently fits as the company moves into its biggest stretch of the year. Episode 167 focuses on moments that were not scripted, including match finishes that altered perception, crowd reactions that drew outside attention, and behind the scenes decisions that influenced the direction of WrestleMania season.  

It's Thursday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from The Two Bad Chads! This week we talk AEW and all the happenings of the week! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

The RAWDOWN boys discuss all of the news coming out of RAW and Smackdown and get you caught up on all of the news happening inside and outside the ropes in WWE. Everything is on the table. This is just the tip of the iceberg with all of the stories and news going on in the WWE. Let's talk about it and everything else in the WWE Universe! WWE RAW, WWE Smackdown, NXT... It's all there! Come get your best weekly fix for all things WWE on The RAWDOWN, right here at The Turnbuckle Tavern! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, SHARE, & CLICK THE BELL! TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern to join our Patreon for only $2.99/mo! 

Welcome to Episode 166 of Wrestling Tonight, a mini episode powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20 percent at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down Roman Reigns officially selecting CM Punk as his WrestleMania 42 opponent, a decision driven by long-standing personal history rather than championships or accolades. On Monday Night Raw, Reigns—fresh off his Royal Rumble victory—made his choice clear. He did not present the match as an opportunity or a legacy play. He stated plainly that he chose Punk because he hated him. That framing immediately shifted the segment from promotion to explanation. This mini episode examines why that moment worked. Punk entered the exchange as the World Heavyweight Champion, positioning Raw as his domain and revisiting familiar critiques of Reigns' schedule and WWE's historical protection of him. Reigns responded by addressing an issue WWE had largely avoided for over a decade: Punk's 2014 podcast comments, which helped shape public perception of Reigns before his singles push fully began. We revisit those remarks, why they mattered at the time, and why WWE acknowledging them now signals a more historically grounded approach to building WrestleMania 42. The episode also touches on Punk's role during The Shield era, the tension between influence and resistance, and how both men have evolved since their first professional overlap. Episode 166 focuses on intent over spectacle—why Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk feels rooted in reality rather than construction, and why WWE's willingness to incorporate real history gives this WrestleMania match added credibility.

The week we are joined by Ella Jay! Join us as we ask what WWE brand should Powerhouse Hobbs debut on; can TNA take the #2 spot, and will AJ Styles retire after the Royal Rumble and should he? It's going to be a fun week here at The Tavern, so to make sure you do not miss anything, go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

Welcome to Episode 165 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL, Dick Lazers, and Code TAVERN. Use code TAVERN to save 20% at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com. Acefield Retro breaks down Royal Rumble: Riyadh, WWE's first traditional Royal Rumble held outside North America, with a full recap of what happened and why it happened. We start with the Men's Royal Rumble, won by Roman Reigns after lasting 58 minutes. The focus here is on structure more than surprises — Oba Femi's early dominance, some jarring eliminations involving major players, the Bloodline-heavy finish, and why this Rumble leaned into timing, hierarchy, and direction instead of pure chaos. From there, we go back to the Women's Royal Rumble, a match that got off to a rough start thanks to production issues and uneven pacing, but steadily improved as it went. Liv Morgan picked up the win with a smart, controlled performance. Lash Legend led everyone with five eliminations, Sol Ruca continued to look like a long-term piece, and Rhea Ripley still felt like the biggest presence in the match, even without the victory. We then break down Gunther vs. AJ Styles, a 24-minute match that was the closing chapter of AJ's WWE run. Styles stayed competitive throughout, but Gunther's patience and late-match execution decided it, leading to a bigger conversation about what this loss means for Styles moving forward.  The episode also covers Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship. McIntyre retained after a physically demanding, emotionally heavy match that leaned hard into Zayn's toughness and McIntyre's increasingly ruthless edge as champion. Episode 165 is about results, structure, and intent — what worked, what didn't, and what Royal Rumble: Riyadh tells us about where WWE is heading on the road to WrestleMania.

It's Thursday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from The Two Bad Chads! This week we talk AEW and all the happenings of the week! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

The RAWDOWN boys discuss all of the news coming out of RAW and Smackdown and get you caught up on all of the news happening inside and outside the ropes in WWE. Everything is on the table. This is just the tip of the iceberg with all of the stories and news going on in the WWE. Let's talk about it and everything else in the WWE Universe! WWE RAW, WWE Smackdown, NXT... It's all there! Come get your best weekly fix for all things WWE on The RAWDOWN, right here at The Turnbuckle Tavern! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, SHARE, & CLICK THE BELL! TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern to join our Patreon for only $2.99/mo! 

Welcome to Episode 164 of Wrestling Tonight, powered by G FUEL and Dick Lazers. Use code TAVERN for 20 percent off. Acefield Retro and Chad are back, and this week is built around the road to Royal Rumble: Riyadh, while also zooming out to examine how WWE, AEW, TNA, AAA, NJPW, Stardom — and the global wrestling economy itself — are all adjusting direction at the same time. We open with a full preview of Royal Rumble: Riyadh, taking place January 31, 2026 at the King Abdullah Financial District as part of Riyadh Season. This marks the first traditional Royal Rumble ever held outside North America, the first Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, and the first of WWE's "Big Five" events to take place in the Kingdom. We break down why this Rumble matters more than usual, with both the men's and women's winners earning world championship matches at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, the event's return to its traditional January slot, and the shift in distribution with ESPN streaming the Rumble in the U.S. for the first time while Netflix carries most international markets. From there, we dig into what's already locked in for Riyadh: the Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, Drew McIntyre defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against the winner of the Saturday Night's Main Event four-way, and Gunther vs. AJ Styles in a career-threatening match where Styles must retire if he loses. We also run through the early betting odds, where Roman Reigns and Bron Breakker sit at the top of the board, followed by Sami Zayn, Gunther, and Cody Rhodes, and discuss what those numbers tell us about WWE's short-term and long-term thinking. We cover the growing list of announced entrants on both the men's and women's sides and how the field is already beginning to take shape. We then pivot into Saturday Night's Main Event fallout from Montreal, breaking down Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu, AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, the Women's Tag Team Championship defense with Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY against Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez, and the massive four-way number one contender's match featuring Damian Priest, Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, and Trick Williams, with the winner stepping directly into McIntyre's title picture at the Royal Rumble. From there, we widen the lens to WrestleMania season planning. We discuss WWE's current reluctance to turn Cody Rhodes heel, how WrestleMania 42 plans remain fluid, and why AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch is shaping up as one of the most locked-in matches on the card. We also look ahead to WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia, with The Rock openly addressing his excitement for the event and internal speculation swirling about possible appearances from Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin as WWE enters its busiest stretch of the year. We then shift fully into the global business of wrestling, as Dave Meltzer reports that Místico has headlined 13 consecutive sellouts at Arena Mexico in 2026, a venue that holds approximately 16,000 fans. Meltzer called the run unprecedented, noting that sustained, high-frequency sellouts in the same building represent a business pattern rarely seen in wrestling history. We contextualize the streak against past drawing eras, the legacy of El Santo, and why comparisons to Japan or North American touring models often miss the structural realities of how wrestling draws actually function. We also discuss the growing push for Místico to capture a major championship currently held by talent from All Elite Wrestling, and what that would signal about CMLL's place in the current power structure. Outside WWE, AEW remains in a moment of transition. We break down Powerhouse Hobbs officially signing with WWE, the company parting ways with longtime executive Nik Sobic, and what those exits say about AEW's current phase. We also cover Will Ospreay's next step toward a return as he undergoes a medical evaluation, Hikaru Shida being backstage in Orlando as she edges closer to U.S. competition, and clarity emerging on AEW's streaming future as reports indicate the promotion is expected to remain aligned with Warner-backed platforms rather than moving to Netflix. TNA continues to operate within a shared ecosystem, as we revisit the fallout from Genesis and Impact's AMC debut amid lingering visa issues, the accidental TNA+ audio leak revealing No Surrender plans, Trey Miguel's emotional return, and the Knockouts Tag Team picture coming into focus with ZaRuca crowned as new number one contenders. We also hit international headlines, including AAA's FOX era officially beginning, Dominik Mysterio's accidental AEW belt graphic during a promo, El Hijo del Vikingo emerging as number one contender for the Mega Championship, NJPW seeing TMDK lose the NEVER Six-Man titles at Korakuen Hall, and Stardom keeping its options open following an alleged intellectual property violation involving trading cards. Episode 164 is a full-scale snapshot of the wrestling industry at a turning point — Royal Rumble season underway, WrestleMania plans coming into focus, media rights shifting, talent moving, and promotions everywhere adjusting direction rather than delivering final outcomes as the calendar heats up.