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Garrett Gonzales welcomes Zack Heydorn of Brass Ring Media to The Fight Game Podcast for a preview of Wednesday night's head-to-head showdown. AEW presents Dynamite: Blood & Guts from Jacksonville, while NXT goes live on Wednesday because of election coverage, with CM Punk challenging Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship and appearances from John Cena and Cody Rhodes. Garrett and Zack break down how the two shows stack up and what each is doing to win the night. Zack also shares what he thinks is working in wrestling right now, including Will Ospreay's run as AEW World Champion and the rise of Oba Femi in WWE. Along the way, Zack talks about Brass Ring Media, his Substack covering pro wrestling, and what goes into his analysis of the industry. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 Brass Ring Media on Substack: https://brassringmedia.substack.com GG's Substack: https://thecoolcheckin.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode runs a little differently. We start with the actual Street Fighter video game — its 1987 arcade origins, the Street Fighter II revolution that invented the modern fighting-game genre, and the esports history that followed. Then a quick dive into 1994's gloriously campy Van Damme cult classic, including Raul Julia's final performance. From there we go into our full rundown of the new 2026 film now in theaters — and the Fight Game angle on this one is bigger than anything we've covered: Roman Reigns as Akuma, Cody Rhodes as Guile, NJPW's Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, and UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski as Joe, all in one movie. We cover each of their real careers, the film's chaotic path to the screen (two different directors, a distributor swap, a working title called "Punch"), the plot, the box office, and the critical reception — plus a bonus pick on who else from boxing, MMA, or wrestling could have filled out this cast. Find us on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com/ Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast/id1594255707 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=c035985e950142f8 GG's Substack: https://thecoolcheckin.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine rank the biggest stories in wrestling this week, and neither knows the other's list ahead of time. On the AEW side, Kyle Fletcher laid down the challenge for Will Ospreay's AEW World Championship at Full Gear on November 14 in Phoenix after beating Jack Perry on Dynamite, reminding everyone he beat Ospreay at Full Gear 2024. The guys weigh that history against Ospreay's steel cage win at Revolution and debate whether Fletcher is the right challenger, with both men also set for the Blood & Guts match on November 4. On Raw, Bayley tapped out Lyra Valkyria in a no disqualification match for her first singles win since April, and Garrett and Paul look at where a feud that has run all year goes next. Then it's the return of the Wednesday Night War: with The CW's midterm election coverage bumping NXT from Tuesday, WWE is putting a loaded NXT head-to-head with AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts on November 4 in Jacksonville, and the guys break down how the two shows stack up. They also dig into reports that Shawn Michaels could take over Bruce Prichard's role leading WWE's creative writing and talent, what that would mean for NXT and how much of it is still rumor. Finally, they cover WWE Crown Jewel changing venues in Riyadh ahead of its November 7 date and what the move says about WWE's plans in Saudi Arabia. Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 GG's Substack: https://thecoolcheckin.substack.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine are back with another edition of Takedown, each ranking the five biggest wrestling stories of the week without knowing the other's list. Leading the way is Roman Reigns returning on Raw to stand with The Usos and Solo Sikoa against Royce Keys, Carmelo Hayes and The 946, setting up a WarGames war at Survivor Series. The guys break down what Reigns reuniting with The Bloodline means for the biggest story in WWE. Then it's the return of the Wednesday Night War: with election coverage moving NXT to Wednesday on November 4, it goes head-to-head with AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts, where Will Ospreay, Adam Copeland, the Young Bucks, Darby Allin and Steven Borden take on the Don Callis Family. Over in AEW, Garrett and Paul dig into Jon Moxley's babyface turn after The Dogs turned on the Death Riders and joined forces with Jay White and the Bang Bang Gang on Dynamite. They also look at Ilja Dragunov signing with AEW after his WrestleDream debut and what the former NXT Champion brings to the roster. Plus, the guys weigh in on the Nikki Bella and Paige storyline on SmackDown, from the Bella Twins turning on Paige at SummerSlam to Paige getting her revenge on Nikki, and where the feud goes from here. Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 GG's Substack: https://thecoolcheckin.substack.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Garrett Gonzales and Jeremy Finestone recap AEW WrestleDream 2026 from Orlando, starting with the match that stole the show: Jon Moxley vs. Mark Davis for the Continental Championship. Mox wore a Newcastle United jersey in tribute to PAC, bled through a brutal fight with Dunkzilla, and finally choked Davis out after locking in PAC's Brutalizer, then broke down in front of the Death Riders. The guys explain why it was one of Moxley's most emotional performances in AEW. Then it's the Young Bucks vs. Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight, a tag team classic full of near-falls and Don Callis interference that ended with the Bucks retaining the World Tag Team Championship. Garrett and Jeremy also break down the first-ever Clockwork Carnage match, where Will Ospreay held onto the AEW World Championship by pinning Adam Copeland in the closing seconds, and debate whether the format should become a regular part of AEW pay-per-views. They also look at what's next for Ospreay, Moxley and Mercedes Moné, who retained the Women's World Championship against Thekla. Plus, the rest of the card: Hangman Page and Brodido winning the Trios Titles from Swerve Strickland and The New Level, Persephone retaining the TBS Title in a four-way, Andrade El Ídolo beating Tommaso Ciampa, Nick Wayne beating Chris Jericho, the Motor City Machine Guns taking match one of their series with FTR, and Ilja Dragunov's arrival in AEW. Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode lands in your feed, and watch the shows live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine are back with the new Takedown format: each ranks the five most important wrestling stories of the week, and neither knows the other's list ahead of time. Their lists center on AEW WrestleDream this Saturday, October 17 in Orlando, where Will Ospreay defends the AEW World Championship in the first-ever Clockwork Carnage match against Samoa Joe, Mike Bailey and the qualifying-match winners. The guys also cover the rest of the card, including the Young Bucks defending the World Tag Team Titles against Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight, Mercedes Moné vs. Thekla for the Women's World Championship, and Andrade El Ídolo's National Title defense. Next, they react to Kenny Omega laying out IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling, setting up a three-way with Boltin Oleg at Power Struggle on November 3. From there it's WWE Money in the Bank fallout, with Penta and Tiffany Stratton winning the ladder matches, Roman Reigns retaining over LA Knight and Oba Femi beating Bronson Reed. On Raw, the guys break down Chad Gable tapping out Rey Fenix to retain the Intercontinental Championship, and The 946 adding Carmelo Hayes, whose crowbar attack on The Bloodline closed the show. They also look back at TNA Bound for Glory in Tampa, where Leon Slater beat Nic Nemeth to become TNA World Champion on a night when five titles changed hands. That included Indi Hartwell winning the Knockouts World Title and Amazing Red claiming the X Division Championship. Finally, Garrett and Paul debate whether WWE can really take Crown Jewel to Riyadh on November 7 under a Level 3 U.S. travel advisory, and close with Adam Copeland's retirement plans and what his final AEW run could look like. Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Keila Cash of The WRAP joins Garrett Gonzales on The Fight Game Podcast to break down three things working and three things not working in WWE right now. On the plus side, they talk about The 946, Royce Keys' Raw faction with Bronco Nima, Lucien Price, Jaida Parker and Carmelo Hayes, and its war with The Bloodline, plus why Penta keeps getting over and how Oba Femi is being built into a star. On the other side, Garrett and Keila take on Triple H's second-guessing and the creative changes it causes, frustrating booking decisions in the women's division, and a tag team scene that still isn't getting the attention it deserves. Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode lands in your feed, and watch the shows on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine kick off this episode of Takedown with a full preview of WWE Money in the Bank, live Saturday from New Orleans. Roman Reigns defends the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight, Stephanie Vaquer puts the Women's World Championship on the line against Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan, and Oba Femi and Bronson Reed finally settle their grudge. The guys also break down both ladder matches: Bron Breakker, Je'Von Evans, Trick Williams, Penta, CM Punk and Kevin Owens on the men's side, and Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jacy Jayne, Roxanne Perez, Lash Legend and Tiffany Stratton on the women's side. Then it's AEW's first-ever Clockwork Carnage match, coming to WrestleDream on October 17 with the AEW World Championship on the line. Garrett and Paul explain how Will Ospreay's new format works, from the timed entrances to the 15-minute scoring period where the most falls wins, and who has the best shot at leaving as champion. The guys also run through NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling on October 12 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, headlined by Yota Tsuji defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against G1 Climax winner Ryohei Oiwa. They look back at Ospreay finally beating Kazuchika Okada for a championship at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam France, and close by asking whether WWE can really travel to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel on November 7 under a U.S. travel advisory. Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode of Takedown lands in your feed, and catch the show live on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com Fight Game Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Princess Bride is one of the most quotable films ever made — and buried inside it is one of the great Fight Game stories: André the Giant, wrestling's Eighth Wonder of the World, playing Fezzik in what he'd call his favorite role of his career. On this episode of Popcorn & Piledrivers, we go deep on André's full life — his childhood acromegaly diagnosis, Samuel Beckett driving him to school in France, the WrestleMania III turn and "bodyslam heard around the world" against Hulk Hogan, his brief world title reign, and his death in 1993 at just 46. We also cover William Goldman's decades-long fight to get his own "unfilmable" novel made (including Arnold Schwarzenegger almost playing Fezzik a decade earlier), Rob Reiner building a real on-set family with the cast, Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin training for weeks with Star Wars' own swordmasters, what happened to the rest of the cast, how the book's ending differs from the film's, and which current wrestling stars could ever play Fezzik. Find us on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com/ Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast/id1594255707 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=c035985e950142f8 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode of Takedown is almost entirely given over to Pac. Paul Fontaine runs down his top five Pac moments across a career that spanned Dragon Gate, WWE, and AEW, while Garrett Gonzales shares a story about seeing Pac live in person just recently. The guys also go back to the very beginning of their own fandom, remembering the first time they each watched him wrestle. Along the way, Garrett and Paul work through his overall career — the high-flying independent scene run, his Adrian Neville/Neville years and Cruiserweight Championship reigns in WWE, and the AEW run that made him a two-time double champion and a fixture of Death Triangle and later the Death Riders — celebrating what made him one of the most respected in-ring workers of his generation. Fight Game Media on our website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast-pro-wrestling-mma-boxing/id1594255707 The Fight Game Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=37d71307660d4e68 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Garrett Gonzales and Jeremy Finestone break down every match from AEW All Out 2026, headlined by Will Ospreay retaining the AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley. Ospreay finally beat Mox, but a main event full of Death Riders, United Empire and Brawling Birds run-ins had its critics, and Garrett explains the two things that took him out of it. The guys also discuss Steven Borden's scary injury after a midair collision with Kevin Knight ended his tag match with Darby Allin, including the latest update on his condition. They talk about the brutal three-way ladder match that saw the Young Bucks become the first four-time AEW World Tag Team Champions over Copeland and Christian Cage and FTR, and how much all six men put their bodies through. Plus: Dani Luna's "surprise" debut against TBS Champion Persephone, Thekla earning a WrestleDream shot at Mercedes Moné, Okada vs. Ciampa, the Chicago Street Fight, the Trios Title match, Andrade vs. PAC and where AEW's storylines are focused coming out of All Out. Follow The Fight Game Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so every new episode lands in your feed, and watch the shows on the Fight Game Media YouTube channel. Website: https://www.fightgamemedia.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fight-game-podcast/id1594255707 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IpirI4FyHQA3BRMhwei5X?si=c035985e950142f8 GG on Twitter/X: https://x.com/roheblius Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Garrett Gonzales is back with another update about this feed. It's now The Fight Game Podcast back on Fight Game Media. He's bringing back the show to the home base and he gives you a little insight into when it's coming back and what he plans to do with it. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

GG is back with an update on the Fight Game Media podcast feed. Make sure you're subscribed to the YouTube feed here: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMedia. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeremy Finestone and Steven Conway preview NJPW's Blue Justice XIX and the road to it on New Japan World, then break down AEW All In and Dynamite with a close look at United Empire's role in Will Ospreay winning the title. They also cover Young Lion Yushin Hatazawa's debut on September 9, and close with a debate on Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat — and why so many modern critiques of that match, and matches like it, amount to bad-faith arguments. In This Episode: Previewing Blue Justice XIX and the road to it on New Japan WorldJeremy recaps AEW All In and Dynamite, including United Empire's role in Will Ospreay's title winYoung Lion Yushin Hatazawa's debut on September 9Flair vs. Steamboat, and why today's critiques of the match are bad faithFollow the show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMediaX: https://x.com/fightgamemediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fightgamemedia.comWebsite: https://www.fightgamemedia.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Paul Fontaine and Jeff Hawkins are back to talk about everything that happened on Sunday's All In pay-per-view, then dig into the fallout episode of AEW Dynamite that followed. Will Ospreay delivered his first promo as AEW World Champion, and The New Level made its TV debut teaming with Swerve Strickland to defend the World Trios Championship against the Rascalz. Mercedes Moné's championship celebration got interrupted by Thekla, and the show closed with a 10-man tag main event pitting United Empire against The Dogs and the Demand. Looking ahead, Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley is now signed for All Out in September. In This Episode: Recapping Sunday's All In pay-per-viewWill Ospreay's first promo as AEW World ChampionThe New Level's TV debut, teaming with Swerve Strickland to defend the World Trios Championship against the RascalzMercedes Moné's championship celebration interrupted by TheklaUnited Empire vs. The Dogs and the Demand in a 10-man tag team main eventWill Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley signed for All Out in SeptemberFollow the show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FightGameMediaX: https://x.com/fightgamemediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fightgamemedia.comWebsite: https://www.fightgamemedia.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy