After Dark: Everything Is Wrestling – A Crossover with Invasion Angle Podcast

In our first-ever crossover event, the New to Wrestling crew links up with the brilliant (and brilliantly unhinged) minds behind the Invasion Angle podcast—Johnny, Jason, and Chris—for a late-night wrestling roundtable that goes way off the rails in the best way.

We cover everything from how these lifelong friends and film school grads bonded over suplexes and storytelling, to how ECW changed their brains forever. We break down three wild matches—Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka, Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon, and PAC vs. Orange Cassidy—and explore everything from chair shots and shooting star presses to why Orange Cassidy is lowkey a comedy genius.

Also on the table: indie wrestling horror stories (yes, there’s blood), the underrated genius of Toni Storm, why Paul Heyman is either your hero or your villain, and how a wrestling podcast became a lifelong group chat with mics.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear five wrestling fans spiral into chaos over Bryce Remsburg, Plexiglas, and the psychology of match time, this is your moment. Welcome to After Dark.

🎧 Check out the Invasion Angle podcast wherever you listen—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more. For indie match breakdowns, wild stories from the front row, and the kind of wrestling commentary you won’t hear anywhere else, follow them at @invasionangle and @invasionanglepodcast on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Timestamps:

• 0:58 – “I haven’t been in a chatroom with this many men since…”
• 3:12 – Origins of the Invasion Angle pod: film school, group chats & wrestling obsessions
• 5:46 – Vintage shirts & finding your people in public
• 8:00 – The wildest places they’ve traveled just to see a match
• 10:27 – Why match length matters more than you think
• 12:02 – Everyone’s gateway into wrestling (feat. banned brothers & secret dads)
• 26:00 – “I took a light tube to the face at a deathmatch show”
• 32:29 – The Kurt Angle vs. Shane match: real glass, real blood, real chaos
• 42:34 – Orange Cassidy, rodeo clowns & the power of comedic wrestling
• 57:02 – Paul Heyman discourse… gets spicy
• 1:00:26 – The nightmare of falling asleep to Busted Open
• 1:03:40 – Evolve Wrestling: why it’s giving “indie show with a budget”
• 1:14:49 – Toni Storm supremacy, and why the women’s divisions are thriving
• 1:16:57 – Wrap-up & where to find the Invasion Angle podcast

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

Transcript

Kelsey Silva [0:27 - 0:58]: Good evening, everybody, and welcome to another edition of the new wrestling podcast, After Dark. We have a special one for you today. I'm really excited. This is our first ever podcast, like, crossover episode. And let me tell you, I haven't been in a chat room with this many men since my days of. Your girl is bringing me back to my youth. But today we have the most incredible. We have Jason, Johnny, and Chris from the Invasion Angle podcast. Welcome, welcome. 

Johnny Horan [0:59 - 1:00]: Thanks for having us. 

Xavier [1:00 - 1:02]: Of course, for coming out, guys. 

Johnny Horan [1:02 - 1:02]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [1:03 - 1:08]: First ever wrestling podcast crossover event, and I'm happy it is the three of you. I'm very excited. 

Johnny Horan [1:09 - 1:09]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [1:10 - 1:20]: So I think we could start if you guys would introduce yourselves, if you would consent to introducing yourselves, how you know each other, just to get the lay of the land for the people. 

Johnny Horan [1:21 - 1:50]: Yeah. So I'm Johnny. And yeah, I. I met both of them in different parts of my life. Jason, I met in a hospital room in 97 and been stuck with him ever since. And. And then Chris ended up going to the same college we're going to, and we're all doing film school, but mostly talking about wrestling and how those are the real directors we like, you know, and that's the real. That's the real art, real storytelling. 

Jason Horan [1:50 - 1:50]: Yeah. 

Chris Farley [1:50 - 1:55]: Wow. I met Fiddles separately and then slowly learned that they were related. 

Kelsey Silva [1:55 - 1:56]: No, you're kidding. 

Johnny Horan [1:57 - 2:02]: Yeah, so we were, like, friends with him and then. Yeah, you had to, like. 

Chris Farley [2:02 - 2:05]: I had to slowly find out that they're both into wrestling. 

Kelsey Silva [2:06 - 2:16]: Well, I feel like that's. We talk all the time about how wrestling fans. There's a lot of closeted wrestling fans. Like, you really have to, like, edge your way in. Like. No, this is a safe space. 

Xavier [2:16 - 2:17]: Yeah, you gotta test the water. Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [2:17 - 2:19]: We can talk about this. Yeah. 

Johnny Horan [2:19 - 2:21]: Yeah. A lot of haters out there. For sure. 

Kelsey Silva [2:21 - 2:22]: A lot of haters. 

Johnny Horan [2:23 - 2:32]: And yeah, in college, we actually, Me and Chris were doing a radio show. So it's kind of like our first little foray into this kind of medium. And then. 

Kelsey Silva [2:32 - 2:33]: Oh, wow. 

Johnny Horan [2:33 - 3:09]: Yeah. And then I. We kind of. I've always been. Just kept on wrestling and we're always talking. We need to do a podcast because it's, you know, our group chat is just our. Basically a wrestling podcast mixed with films and whatever else we're. We're into that week. And. Yeah, so now it's been. I guess that was like December 2023, we kicked it off and. Yeah, it's cool. I mean, because, yeah, with. With pods, you got to be able to just keep going, you know, and just try to be consistent and. Because you see tons of podcasts just kind of fall off after whatever amount of episodes. So it's been cool. 

Kelsey Silva [3:12 - 3:33]: I love that because I. I think I listened to your first episode today just as a refresher, and it's crazy because I feel like I list specifically, I listened to your first episode and then your most recent one on Spotify that came out, I think, yesterday. We're recording this Tuesday. And it's crazy because I think it's interesting, like, because Xavier and I have been friends for, like, 15 years. 

Xavier [3:33 - 3:34]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [3:34 - 3:57]: And that dynamic is so interesting when it's, like, friends who come together. Because it feels like from the first episode all the way to this one, which is over a year later, it's like, the dynamic is still there. Like, it was there from the rip, and it, like, is still there. It's just, like. It's not even. I don't even want to say it's, like, more honed, but it just feels, like, very comfortable, but in, like, such a nice way. And I love that. 

Jason Horan [3:59 - 4:03]: Yeah. When Chris makes fun of me, I don't feel as bad about it anymore. I'm like. 

Chris Farley [4:09 - 4:16]: The first time I found out Jason was a wrestling fan was in our. What class was that? 

Jason Horan [4:17 - 4:18]: Writing for the screen? 

Chris Farley [4:19 - 4:32]: No, no, no. I think it was storytelling. And we were doing it. We were doing an exercise where you had to pick three characters that you felt you were most like. And he said, two people. And then he said razor Ramon. And I was like. 

Johnny Horan [4:33 - 4:34]: What'S going on here? 

Kelsey Silva [4:35 - 4:36]: You're like, wait a minute. 

Johnny Horan [4:36 - 4:37]: Slide it in. 

Jason Horan [4:37 - 4:41]: And I was like, because he's a bad guy or something like that. 

Chris Farley [4:43 - 4:50]: Yeah. Then he saw me wearing a Matt Hardy T shirt and then confronted me. He pulled me to the side. 

Xavier [4:52 - 4:54]: Explain yourself, damn it. We're gonna be fine. 

Jason Horan [4:54 - 4:55]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [4:55 - 5:46]: He's like, I saw you from across the room and loved your vibe. I love that. That's amazing. Especially I was saying that I. In my. Because I am new to wrestling, I have acquired now wrestling merch and, like, shirts and stuff like that. And it's funny. I, like, I'll wear, like, a Stone Cold or an undertaker or whatever. And, like, most people don't say anything to me, but if I wear, like, an ECW shirt, then suddenly people are like, hello. Like, what are you doing? Because I feel like sometimes, like, the more I don't, for lack of a better word, like, mainstream wrestlers, it's almost like when people wear, like, a Nirvana shirt or, like. Like, most people don't Usually clock it or know if it's real, but like, when you wear those, like, kind of different things, people are like, now hold, hold on a second. Where did you get that? Like, and I, I love that. And you just gotta like, find your people. 

Chris Farley [5:46 - 5:52]: Yeah, now they're like vintage is in again, people are wearing just old wrestling shirts. You don't. You can't really tell. 

Kelsey Silva [5:52 - 5:53]: Yeah. 

Xavier [5:55 - 6:30]: And so here in Philly, we had like, they just closed down, but there was the like Suplex Vintage wrestling. Now they're in Orlando, but during WrestleMania week, like last year, we got to interview the owner there. But like just the. How like the focal point of like, of just like wrestling that that became. Because they did like an outdoor show there like that week. It was like, bonkers. But like, you definitely see like, just how much they pushed because I went in like the week after WrestleMania last year and they were like, we. We're wiped out. 

Johnny Horan [6:30 - 6:31]: Yeah, yeah. 

Xavier [6:32 - 6:36]: To go source things. We're actually like going on a road trip to like get cl. So. 

Kelsey Silva [6:37 - 6:40]: Yeah, it makes complete sense. Makes complete sense. 

Johnny Horan [6:41 - 6:57]: Yeah. That's an awesome store. Yeah, I checked it out for like a minute at Mania week last week and last year, I mean. And yeah, it was cool. It reminded me of the. The one store Jason will probably remember, that's in Queens, New York. They have a similar vibe for sure. 

Jason Horan [6:57 - 6:57]: Yes. 

Chris Farley [6:58 - 6:59]: I love wrestling. 

Jason Horan [6:59 - 7:00]: Universe wrestling. 

Johnny Horan [7:00 - 7:02]: Yeah, there's a universe. 

Kelsey Silva [7:02 - 7:03]: Oh, I love that. 

Jason Horan [7:03 - 7:04]: Thank you, Chris. 

Kelsey Silva [7:05 - 7:27]: I love that. Yeah, I miss. I miss Suplex vintage wrestling. And you guys, I feel like at least like, are you. Because it feels like you guys are going to a lot of shows. Like, are you, like, have wrestling will travel? Like, you are willing to like, travel for shows. Is there like anything that inhibits you from traveling to shows? Like, I just feel like you guys are all like the cosmopolitan girls. You're like, all over the world with it. 

Johnny Horan [7:28 - 7:30]: Yeah, there's a period where we were. 

Jason Horan [7:30 - 7:40]: Like, really on a tear. Like, especially me and John, because I live. I moved back to New Jersey, but like, John, we were both living in Georgia. 

Kelsey Silva [7:41 - 7:42]: Oh, okay. 

Jason Horan [7:42 - 7:58]: With that. There's like lots of like, little, like indie, like, spots, but like. Yeah, so many different states that were like, around us. So we're like, okay, let's go to Tennessee. Let's go to, I don't know, Alabama. 

Johnny Horan [8:00 - 8:46]: Yeah, yeah, we have. We had both Caclex, but yeah, I mean, typically I'm going to still at least go into like one show a month. But yeah, I was on a pretty solid spree where like, I don't know, there's really nothing that would really inhibit me. It was kind of because my own page, like, before doing the podcast was just, just getting like footage, you know, and just like splicing with cool music and just not editing it as far as like throwing any colors or like wild, you know, filters or anything. Just like Raw, you know, edits with cool music and. But yeah, like, when CM Punk, I, you know, I found out he was gonna be at the Raw in Nashville. It's like a four hour drive for me. But I was, I don't know, I was like, you know, just a random Monday. And I was like, yeah, I'm doing it. See you later. 

Kelsey Silva [8:47 - 8:56]: Yeah, I love that because I think that you had said your WrestleMania prediction was. You were like, I know that Rollins is going to win, but I can't not pick CM Punk. 

Johnny Horan [8:56 - 9:27]: Yeah, I, that's. I always have to do that in predictions. Like, I don't think I'll ever. I get, if I get 100%, it's because I'm not working with my heart, you know, so, so, so, so I'll give, I'll give that preface of like, yeah, Rollins is probably going to win because that makes the most sense. You know, I called it the, you know, the Kansas City Shuffle. Of know, everyone's looking over here at this whole thing with Roman, Paul and Seth and then, I mean, and CM Punk and then Seth was just kind of doing his own thing, so. 

Kelsey Silva [9:28 - 9:30]: But yeah, and that's the way it goes. 

Johnny Horan [9:31 - 9:31]: Yep. 

Kelsey Silva [9:31 - 9:36]: And then something else. I, Sorry, Xavier from S.C. you. I'm just like, blah, blah, blah, you're good. 

Xavier [9:36 - 9:38]: I come in when the, the matches. 

Kelsey Silva [9:38 - 9:39]: The matches? 

Xavier [9:39 - 9:39]: Yes. 

Johnny Horan [9:39 - 9:40]: The tea. 

Xavier [9:40 - 9:42]: About the minutia of their lives. That's all you. 

Kelsey Silva [9:42 - 10:26]: Yeah. Yes. I'm like, I'm the one deep diving on the Internet for the, for the tea. But something. And I don't know if this is even a question or this is just something like, as someone who is new to wrestling, I'm just generally curious about. After listening to episodes of your show is something that I've noticed that you guys usually are very specific about is the times of the matches. I've never, like, I know when like it's a 16 minute iron match, Iron man match versus like a filler, like for eight minutes. But I feel like you guys are like, how. What was the run time on that? Seven minutes, 22 seconds. Oh, okay. Like, I am so curious as to how like that factors into your analysis of wrestling, like, especially in the context of the show. Does that make sense? 

Johnny Horan [10:27 - 10:28]: Yeah, yeah. 

Jason Horan [10:28 - 10:58]: Well, if I can say, if I could take this one, guys, I think, you know, a time in wrestling is everything, you know what I mean? It's like the amount of screen time you get is how much time you have to try to connect to the audience, you know. So it's like we're trying to see that. We're trying to see like how much the booker is trusting in them, you know, to like be that face for that time and then also like what they're doing with the time, you know? 

Kelsey Silva [10:58 - 11:04]: Yeah, very interesting. I love that. And then do we want to get into the matches? 

Xavier [11:05 - 12:02]: I do. Because I'm also very curious as to like your guys's like, background just with wrestling as far as like, you know, because my, my first intro to like wrestling is like, my dad is. And if you've met a Puerto Rican ever, they will tell you the Puerto Rican, they'll talk about it forever. But he would show me these like, like Carlito's dad cologne, like, and flair matches, like when I was like a little kid, like, those were kind of my first introduction. And then I was, I want to say like 5ish during the attitude era. So like, I got like very weird, like memories of it. And now the show we're like going back and I was like, I remember that completely, not as it was, but that was kind of like my intro, like, to it. But like, I'm always very curious as to like, how you guys like, what was your intro to wrestling, like, who like put it in front of you for the first time. 

Chris Farley [12:04 - 12:56]: I think if. Because I started watching only for a little bit like around 2006, 2007. And I think it was my older brother who's banned from the our podcast. We. He's just. I don't want to get into it. It's ruffles feathers for me. But no, we weren't allowed to watch wrestling in my house, so we'd like sneak it in the basement so we only could watch like bits and pieces of Friday Night Smackdown for a little bit. Never saw a pay per view because we couldn't buy it ourselves. And then we kind of just fell out of it besides like the video games. And I think all of us, all three of us got back into it around the same time in like 2018 and then watched consistently since then. 

Xavier [12:57 - 13:13]: That was a great time to get back into it because it's like right before like AEW pops off and like the independents are even like mentioned like in that same breath. You Know what I mean? Like, it was a good time to jump back in, because before that, it was bleak. It was bleak for a while. 

Johnny Horan [13:15 - 14:53]: Yeah. Well, I'd say for me, I. I kind of. My dad, my. Our dad, me and Jason, he was into it. He was going to, you know, events in Madison Square garden in the 80s and stuff like that, so he always liked wrestling. So growing up in the 90s, I. You know, he would kind of, you know, he would buy me wrestling toys and stuff like that, and I'd see parts of shows and stuff. But, like, for me, the real beginning was kind of probably, you know, six, seven years old in the start of the attitude era. And I, Yeah, watched it every. Every. Every Monday Night Raw, for sure. And would. Would have to, like, sneak it, you know, because I did have a TV in my room, so I had to turn the volume pretty low and just sit, like, right in front of the tv. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So he probably, you know, so. And then. Ruthless progression. I. I love that, you know, and kept watching. And it's. It's funny because growing up, like, I always talk to people about this. Like, pro wrestling's a lot like Santa Claus. Like, when the. Everyone around you kind of like, social attitude error. Everyone loved it. My grade, everyone was crazy about it. And then all of a sudden, like, they get. They hit, like, eighth grade, freshman year of high school, and they're just like, wrestling's not real, dude. It's fake. And it's just like. Yeah. I mean, hello. I'm sorry you ever. Oh, yeah, I'm sorry you ever believe that. You know what I mean? Do you still celebrate Christmas? Like, I'm sorry, you know, So I feel like it's this, like, psychological thing in these people's heads that, like, oh, they. They effed me over with Santa now. Now this, you know, so it's like, there's a barrier there. 

Kelsey Silva [14:54 - 14:55]: How much more? 

Johnny Horan [14:55 - 15:20]: Yeah, yeah. And it's something that parents aren't gonna, like, you know, wouldn't really support, you know, as far as, like, most people, like, yeah, I'm gonna be a pro wrestler. Like, yeah, for sure. No, it's fake, but. But, yeah. So I ripped through Love Ruthless Aggression basically kept watching till it was kind of helpful because, you know, it with Jason, when he really. I'd say ruthless Aggression was his kind of his era, and it kept me going. 

Jason Horan [15:22 - 15:40]: I was super into, like, horror movies when I was young. That was like, my thing. And ECW got bought by wwe and it was on Sci fi, so I was like, okay, like, what's going on here? They got some like, spooky elements and then they got me, you know. 

Johnny Horan [15:41 - 15:49]: Yeah, he was a punk fan from the start and I, I hated punk, actually. When he first went to ecw, I'm just like, yeah, I don't get it. I don't get it. 

Jason Horan [15:50 - 15:53]: Now we're kind of, we've kind of switched polls. 

Johnny Horan [15:53 - 15:58]: Yeah, we switch now. He's, he's not a punk fan, but I'm all about cm. 

Kelsey Silva [15:58 - 15:59]: But. 

Johnny Horan [15:59 - 17:04]: Yeah, so I took a break for a minute. Like, I, I think me and Jason went to a WrestleMania in 2010. Whatever number that was, it was the last. It was 26. 26, yeah. And. And then I kept like kind of watching a little bit after that, but I'd say fell out, you know, kind of during the PG era. And then 20. Yeah. To end of 2017. I saw, I started just like seeing wrestling reels pop up again, you know, on my Instagram and stuff. And I, I was, I was living in California at the time and I moved back and then started just watching the shows and the pay per views again. And then, yeah, I feel like everything aligned because all three of us were kind of watching wrestling at the same time again and then all started getting super into it. So it. The stars definitely aligned for sure. And to Jason's point too. It's funny, I was into monsters a lot my whole life too. And that's why, you know, early on, Undertaker was always my favorite as a little kid and I would have those toys and stuff. So. Yeah, but. And here we are now. 

Chris Farley [17:05 - 17:24]: Like you're saying about the Instagram reels, like, that's kind of what brought me back in. But it was like I saw on Snapchat, it was like Shane McMahon's fighting in a steel cage match. And that was like, Yeah, I don't know what pay per view that was, but it was end of 2017. I was like, oh, my friends. I'm like, he's gonna fall off this. We have to watch it. 

Kelsey Silva [17:24 - 17:25]: We have to see this. 

Johnny Horan [17:26 - 17:27]: Yeah, yeah. 

Chris Farley [17:27 - 17:28]: That's how we got back in. 

Johnny Horan [17:28 - 18:07]: Yeah. And I think for all of us too. Like, you know, even though we, we'd gone to, you know, my parents probably brought me to like the second wrestling show everyone to is the, the mania with Jason. So, like, when we got back into it, like, we're going to WrestleCon for WrestleMania 20 in 2019 and East Rutherford, and it was just so weird because we went around and met, you know, Christian Razor Mount, all these guys from the Attitude Era. And it was just. It was so odd because, like, I. Years later, I'm just meeting these guys and it's. Yeah, it's just been a cool experience and just being. I think that's why I've gone to so many shows because, like, I can. I'm an adult now. I can do whatever I want. 

Chris Farley [18:07 - 18:08]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [18:12 - 18:12]: Tell us. 

Johnny Horan [18:12 - 18:16]: No, you can't stop us. Nice try. 

Kelsey Silva [18:17 - 18:51]: I gave it your all. Parents. I was not allowed to watch wrestling either. In my youth. My mom thought it was extremely violent, whether it was, quote, unquote, fake or not. I only found out from doing this show that my dad used to watch wrestling. Like, it was not even mentioned in our house. Like, I knew nothing about it. And I was like, wait, what? And now we're, like, at the breakfast table, like, and he'll say something to me, and I'm like, what? Didn't know that. Didn't know you liked that. So that's crazy. I love that you guys all got back into it at the same time. And what a great. Like, Xavier said, what a great time to get back into it. 

Johnny Horan [18:52 - 18:52]: Yeah. 

Xavier [18:52 - 19:32]: Which is actually around the same time that Kelsey was getting into it, because she would come over to my house and I had. That's when, like, AEW had, like, just started popping off, and I was, like, eating that up left, right, and center. So I was constantly watching, like, Dynamite and stuff. So she would come over, like, every Wednesday. I was like, we're getting pizza. You're gonna learn today. And so, like, basically, that's kind of, like, how it started. And then I was like, there's so much stuff you just don't know because there's, like, references that they're, like, talking about. And, like, there's a. These, like, stars from somewhere else. And it's like, there's so much you don't know. And that's kind of was like, well, now we're really going to learn today. And that's kind of how the show became what it is. 

Kelsey Silva [19:33 - 19:33]: Yeah. 

Xavier [19:33 - 19:33]: All right. 

Kelsey Silva [19:35 - 19:41]: I was gonna say you literally text me and were like, would you be willing to watch, like, like, four to eight hours of wrestling every week? And I was like, sure. 

Xavier [19:42 - 19:42]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [19:42 - 19:52]: Like, all right. I'm just that nosy. I, like, want to know all the tea. Because when we would watch on Wednesdays, I'd be like, wait, he did. What's it. That's why they're fighting, because he hit. He hit his father. 

Xavier [19:53 - 19:54]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [19:55 - 20:39]: That's fucked up. Like, and then I'd be invested. And also, it is just we just did an interview with Jared Diaz, and I was saying to him, I was like. Because I was like, you're a wrestler. Obviously. I was like, do you know that what you do is so, so insane? Like, I. To me, it's just not lost on me at this point, like, how fucking insane wrestling is. And like, it is. It is the. It's like a telenovela, a stunt show. And I'm like, I'll say to my mom. I'm like, if it's fake, then, like, why are. Do you not want me to watch it? Because it's violent. Because obviously people are really getting hurt and, like, people are really doing these stunts. Like, to me, it's just the most insane medium of artistry that exists. Like. Like you were saying, like, you're talking about getting into movies and TV and writing and radio. 

Xavier [20:39 - 20:41]: It's like it's all happening at once. 

Johnny Horan [20:42 - 20:44]: Like, encompasses it all. Absolutely. 

Kelsey Silva [20:44 - 20:59]: Yeah. People are using their body as the special effects. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, it's just so mind blowing. So. But yeah, like, my. My doorway into wrestling was aew, which I feel like is. I'm so glad we did an AEW match. I'm psyched. 

Johnny Horan [20:59 - 21:00]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [21:00 - 21:01]: Yeah. 

Chris Farley [21:02 - 21:11]: Jason was a sicko and he had to put me in a. A wrestling film he wrote for school, so I had to pretend to be a. I'd pretend to be a Juggalo wrestler. 

Jason Horan [21:11 - 21:13]: A Juggalo backyard wrestling. 

Kelsey Silva [21:16 - 21:20]: And did you thrive? Did you eat up your role or is. Are the awards ending? 

Jason Horan [21:20 - 21:25]: I think he ate for my first. For my first ever short. Yeah, he ate. 

Kelsey Silva [21:25 - 21:45]: He got a B. I need to. I need to see that eventually. One day. Yeah, we can rate it. We can do a film review that'll be my. My movie of the week to watch. So what's the. What first match do you want to get into? Xavier, which I was just gonna go. 

Xavier [21:45 - 21:49]: Chronologically, so it's gonna be the Mike awesome versus Masado Tanaka. 

Kelsey Silva [21:49 - 21:55]: Who picked it, who sent it? Yeah. Love to see ecw. All right. 

Xavier [21:55 - 22:05]: Why. Why this one? And then let's. I'll get into some of the crazy spots and things. I mean, I can. For the people at home. Why? Because if you've seen it, you understand why. 

Kelsey Silva [22:05 - 22:06]: Oh, my God. 

Johnny Horan [22:06 - 22:06]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [22:07 - 22:56]: Yeah. Well, so, like, I don't know, I got into, you know, the. The new version of ecw, you know what I mean? Like, back in that era. But, like, a lot of that hardcore stuff really spoke to me, and it, like, still has. And just looking at, like, the history of, like, ECW and everything. It's like you can kind of see, like, how they planted a lot of the seeds for, you know, the attitude era. And I think that period has sowed a lot of seeds for now even, you know, so. But yeah, I don't know. This is just like, a really cool, like, clashing of styles, like, with, like, some Asado Tanaka with, like, his kind of strong style. Like, oh, he's not tank. Yeah. Just, like, no selling things. Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [22:57 - 22:58]: He's a brick house. 

Xavier [22:58 - 22:59]: That's the one. 

Kelsey Silva [23:02 - 23:03]: He is dense as hell. 

Johnny Horan [23:03 - 23:04]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [23:04 - 23:13]: And Mike Awesome's pretty great, too. Like, for I. I love when, like, a huge individual can, like, do some, like, top rope maneuvers, you know? 

Johnny Horan [23:13 - 23:13]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [23:13 - 23:16]: And he has some. He has some crazy ones there. 

Kelsey Silva [23:16 - 23:37]: We were saying that when we were watching it last night. I was like, this man is literally a sycamore tree doing, like, back flips and, like, just the craze. No business. It's like watching when I first watched Vader do a moonsault, I was like, get down from there. Like, what are you doing? Like, you're scaring me. Like, it's so crazy. 

Xavier [23:37 - 23:38]: Scared everybody else. 

Kelsey Silva [23:38 - 23:41]: Also, I love to man move like that. I mean, what's better? 

Xavier [23:42 - 24:00]: Oh, my gosh. Mess. So. Oh, yeah. So I just call out some of the, like, insane spots in this one. He does. Oh, one there. First of all, Kelsey has a note that says she just loves the sound of the ECW ring. 

Kelsey Silva [24:00 - 24:00]: I did. 

Xavier [24:01 - 24:03]: Sounds like an absolute gunshot for everything. 

Chris Farley [24:06 - 24:07]: I think it felt like one, too. 

Kelsey Silva [24:07 - 24:11]: Oh, I'm sure it definitely did. And I love that. 

Xavier [24:12 - 24:24]: Yeah. Kelsey always brings it up every time they talk about it because we. There's, like, this one clip of, like, Taz explaining, like, how they put together the ring, and I'm pretty sure Kelsey watched that, like, on a loop for, like, a day and a half. 

Kelsey Silva [24:25 - 24:38]: I did. I certainly did. Because again, I say this all the time. Like, I love to hear a man from the Bronx just talk about something they love. Like, it's like, all right, so what you. When you build the ring. And I'm just like, like, I love that. Thank you so much for that. 

Xavier [24:38 - 24:46]: Crazy. The big dive onto, like, the. The I love ECW is like, no, we're not. No mats. We're not even going to bother. 

Kelsey Silva [24:46 - 24:47]: Concrete. 

Jason Horan [24:47 - 24:48]: Yeah. 

Xavier [24:48 - 25:00]: And the power slam that Masato does where he dumps Mike awesome, like, basically, like, high on the top of his, like, head and neck. I was like, this man's done, like. I thought he was like, that was the end of the match, let alone you mean the. 

Jason Horan [25:00 - 25:01]: The table spot? 

Xavier [25:02 - 25:13]: No, before. This is just in the rain. Like a power slam, like, the last minute, like, and it's just it the way Mike awesome lands on his head. I was like, he's. There's no way, like, I think I. 

Kelsey Silva [25:13 - 25:17]: Wrote, like, not sure how Mike awesome is alive. Yeah. I don't know how he is still alive. 

Xavier [25:20 - 25:25]: The. The, like, little, like, lightsaber battle with the chairs on the outside of the ring cracks. Yeah, I eat that. 

Jason Horan [25:25 - 25:27]: So goofy, but, like, so awesome. 

Kelsey Silva [25:27 - 25:28]: Oh, it's incredible. 

Jason Horan [25:28 - 25:31]: You know, it hurt. You know. You know your hands are. Were hurting. 

Xavier [25:31 - 25:36]: Well, because they're going to. They follow it up by, like, absolutely wrapping the chair, like, around each other so it's like. 

Jason Horan [25:36 - 25:40]: And like, zero. Putting their hands up, like, at all. 

Xavier [25:40 - 25:43]: Oh, no, it is. Just grate your teeth and take it. 

Kelsey Silva [25:43 - 25:47]: Yeah. Oh, my God, those chair shots malicious. 

Xavier [25:48 - 25:54]: The springboard plancha he does from the top rope over into the crowd. 

Jason Horan [25:54 - 25:55]: Yeah. Crowd. 

Xavier [25:55 - 26:03]: Yeah. Loses. They all lose their mind. I. I have no. I was like, I wish. I wish a wrestler would land on me now. Like, I want. 

Kelsey Silva [26:05 - 26:08]: I'm like, ready to, like, we were come with props. 

Xavier [26:08 - 26:10]: Like, I would have been that fan. I would have. 

Kelsey Silva [26:10 - 26:27]: No, absolutely. I'm trying to have, like, my. My beer in a plastic cup, like, knocked out of my hand and, like, me get sent in for. We were at an independent show not long ago at the Mecca in Ridgefield park, and the people across from us had, like, a body land on them, and I was like, golly gee, wish that was me. 

Xavier [26:27 - 26:30]: Like, I want to be in the show, damn it. 

Chris Farley [26:30 - 26:34]: John has a horror story about that wasn't a body. It wasn't a body, though. 

Johnny Horan [26:35 - 26:58]: Yeah, no, I. Yeah. So I was at. As I said, I like to check all genres and every wrestling company I can. And one death match wrestling company I liked was icw. And during Mania week last year, they. They had their, like, International Death Match Tournament and whatever they called it, and it was at the H2O arena in. Was that Williamstown, I believe? 

Chris Farley [26:58 - 26:59]: Yeah, I think so. 

Johnny Horan [26:59 - 28:44]: And yeah, so they. They had, you know, they like to use light tubes for sure. Death Match World. It's. It's all. You know, light tubes are a big thing, and I've seen so many, you know, of those matches. Been there live, front row, and I was kind of out in the crowd and they're doing the spot where they were hitting. The guy was in the corner that was, like, facing out towards my direction, and he kept hit, like, picking up life tubes and hitting him and it would break over the guy's head. But the end of the tube kept smashing on the top of the ring post and shooting out into the crowd over and over. And then he does it one last time. And I took a. Took a nice giant shard right to the face and cut my nose, basically. Yeah, basically in half. And they didn't really have. They didn't have an EMS there or anything, which they should have, but. So, yeah, no ems. Yeah. And this place was filled to the brim because it's Mania weekend and everyone's just trying to go to every event, right? Yeah. Small and sweaty in there, and I'm just, like, bleeding everywhere. And just like, I'm looking around. Can, like, someone. I go to the food stand. Can you just give me paper towels? You're like. I'm like, great. So I go outside and I have a couple paper towels. And luckily there is this British lady there who was friends with, I think, like, a few of the, like, the British Death match wrestlers. And she always comes with her little kick because she's an EMS out in the uk. So she had, like. She had, like, the glue. Surgical glue on her. So she. Yeah, she put my nose back together because it went right through in one part, like, so. So I filmed all that too, you know, and then I cut a promo on Danny Dimano and. And for doing that to me. And. 

Kelsey Silva [28:45 - 28:47]: Yeah, fears like that. 

Chris Farley [28:47 - 28:48]: Yeah. 

Johnny Horan [28:48 - 28:49]: Almost lost my. 

Kelsey Silva [28:49 - 28:54]: Cut my nose despite my face while I'm shooting a promo on you, girl. Like, that's crazy. 

Johnny Horan [28:54 - 28:54]: Yeah. 

Chris Farley [28:57 - 28:58]: Afterwards or during. 

Johnny Horan [28:58 - 29:01]: Yeah, at least give me a T shirt or something. 

Kelsey Silva [29:04 - 29:08]: I'm not even. Shake my hand, at least. My favorite. 

Johnny Horan [29:08 - 29:45]: My favorite wrestler, Cruel was like, up in a couple matches. I'm like, just get this to close because blood just kept squirting out. And so I thought I go in there, at least watch that match, and I leave. And then, yeah, I wake. I'm getting ready for NXT sand deliver. The next morning, I just got, like, an Airbnb in some haunted house on, like, the Jersey right across from Philly. And so I'm just in this spooky house all alone. And like, all of a sudden, three in the morning, I wake up because blood is just, like, squirting out again. And I'm like, okay, there must be, like a hospital around, you know? And I look like, no. Yeah. He was like, yeah, I have no service. 

Jason Horan [29:45 - 29:56]: I'm in, like, the middle of nowhere right now. Like, okay, like, what do you see? And then, like, I'm like, looking on the map. I'm like, I think there's a hospital, like, at least 45 minutes from you. 

Johnny Horan [29:56 - 30:38]: Yeah, because I went to the GCW show that night. I'm like, that I'm not missing. I got my GCW shirt on now. I was like, I'm not missing that because these guys went, you know, went into business for themselves and on me. So, like, I get. I get to the GCW parking lot, and, like, I walk out and I try to walk in and it starts, like. Like, bleeding a little bit. And, like, I think from all the blood I lost, I was like. Felt like I was gonna puke or pass out. So, like, I walked in and looked at, like, the crowd and watched, like, literally two minutes, and I just, like, turned around. I was like, yeah, I gotta leave. I gotta. I gotta leave. Yep. And it made me miss NXT deliver also the next morning. But I made it to Mania. 

Xavier [30:38 - 30:39]: There you go. 

Kelsey Silva [30:39 - 30:40]: Thank God. 

Johnny Horan [30:40 - 30:41]: I made it to Mania. 

Jason Horan [30:42 - 30:46]: And if you didn't tell. He has no hard feelings about it. 

Kelsey Silva [30:46 - 30:49]: He's not upset at all. He doesn't even care. 

Johnny Horan [30:49 - 30:51]: Yeah, I did it for the water under the bridge. 

Xavier [30:52 - 30:58]: I did it for the Rock. I did it for the Rock. I did it. 

Kelsey Silva [30:58 - 31:07]: My God. Well, you. You literally successfully survived your first death match, like, participating in one. So, yeah, I'm glad to have known. 

Chris Farley [31:09 - 31:14]: He didn't get any pay, like, a lot of those guys there, so, yeah, he's getting a real experience, so. 

Xavier [31:14 - 31:16]: The real badass. Yeah, that's the scenario. 

Kelsey Silva [31:16 - 31:18]: Free Rhino Posse, though. 

Johnny Horan [31:18 - 32:02]: Yeah. Yeah, I know, right? I mean, Jason actually were on a dynamite episode. Or is it Rampage? It might have been Rampage. We. Because what we always try to do, we go to wrestling shows, especially, like, arenas. Wwe. W. Like, we're gonna creep our way down, you know, we're gonna go from the top and try to find our way to the front row. And we eventually did. And we're, like, on the guardrail and Penta, we saw him getting thrown towards us. And I was like, just hold on, dude, let's take this. And he just, like, slammed into us. And we looked down and, like, where. Because, like, the rubber floor met exactly where the guardrail was. And, like, we looked down, it was like four, like, three or four feet back. And yeah, it was cool. We got to have our little appearance on. On rampage. So. I love you, Penta. Sara Mero. 

Xavier [32:03 - 32:16]: Yeah, because we just went to the last. Aw. Pay per view that was in Philly, and then they're. They just announced their, like, residency that they're gonna do at the ECW arena, so there's definitely pop over for that. 

Johnny Horan [32:16 - 32:17]: So that's gonna be awesome. 

Kelsey Silva [32:18 - 32:21]: We'll be there for sure. By hooker crook. 

Xavier [32:21 - 32:29]: No, honestly. All right, so that one was great. So next we have Kurt angle and Shane McMahon. All right, who picked this one? 

Johnny Horan [32:29 - 35:44]: One? I. I picked that one. And, yeah, this was, you know, attitude. Eric. Yeah, because I feel like it encompasses the attitude so well, and just kind of all wrestling, like, they start out and it's like a technical wrestling match in the ring, and then they start kind of, you know, get. Getting to more, you know, cool, you know, kind of dope moves that they're. Shane's trying to hit, and Kurt's hitting a lot of suplexes. And then once they. And, like, Kurt already gets, like, color early on, which wasn't. What. Wasn't a plan. And then they work their way to the outside, and then it's just. Yeah, it's. It's amazing. And that final. You know, it's definitely, like, perfectly placed three acts, you know, and that. That final act is just amazing. Like, once they start walking up that ramp, because there's tons of kid spots before that, obviously, but when they start walking up. Walking up that ramp, and it really starts with Shane's reversal on angles, like, like, side suplex, he's trying to do into just a normal suplex. And that's when Kurt, like, broke or, like, fractured his tailbone. So, like, this was already, like, the. So that makes it crazier because, you know, he's got that happening. And then their next spot is getting. Trying to get Shane through the glass, right? So, like. So Kurt's first one, he's like, I don't know if we can do that. He's like, his wind was knocked out of him so bad. And, like, I've hit. I've hit my tailbone bad. Like, that, too. And it's just. It's rough. And so the first one Shane just bounces off and just goes head first in the concrete. Concussion for sure. Knocked out. Yeah. And Shane said at the time, like, he's like, you know, Mike. Mike Yoda came up, and he's like. I can see him talking to me. Ask him. Fine, but I can't hear anything. Like, my ears are ringing. And, like. And then he finally gets up, and he's like, all right, Kurt, put me through. And Kurt's like, are you sure? And then, you know, he tries the second time, then he goes through. And then once they're through there, once again, he's just like, it put me through again and then bounces off again and then church and one of the most amazing. I, I think it's one of the most amazing shots in wrestling. The camera shot of like when he goes and throws them through and then he flies like 8, 8 or 9ft out through the glass because they, WWE is so amazing with their camera work. They cut perfectly and you just see Shane just get thrown through and fall out. You know, like he was shot out of a cannon. And, and it's pretty funny because that was supposed to be sugar glass and they mistakenly ordered plexiglass. And that's why you see that bend and he bounces off. And so it's kind of real glass, not the, the real glass that Jungle Jackets was talking about. But it was, but yeah, so that was the issue and that's why I see it bend so much. So like they, they for sure F that up. But. And then just that the, the, the ending is just, you know, and like that's why he had to literally cart Shane down because Shane was literally just like shot and he needed something to hold him up too. Kurt as like they bring him down to the ring and then you know, they do that corner spot to end the match and it was, it was great because Kurt's such a, it's, it's so smart because he was like, there's no way. Because originally he's supposed to do an angle slam with his feet on the ropes. 

Xavier [35:44 - 35:44]: Right. 

Johnny Horan [35:44 - 37:30]: But. And he's like, there's no way I'm going to be able to do that. You know, both of us are dead right now. And so that's where he picks up that piece of wood and starts just beating him with it. So then he could set it up and yeah, then he hits that and it was, it was just, it was perfect. You know, it's just like every single part of that match is. Yeah. And, and then just all the behind the scenes stuff like, of or you know, like Shane doing that because he, he wants to finally get, you know, admiration from his dad. He wants to get admirations from the wrestlers and the fans. He really can put on a clinic. You know, when he goes out there and he's more than just jumping off 60ft, you know, things or cages, you know, he can do a little bit of everything. So I, yeah, it was amazing. And also a little, a little Easter egg there is, you can see Mike Kyota really quick when they're, he's about to do the angle slam off there. The Wood is about to fall off the one rope and he gets. Oh yeah, yeah. And like probably saved them horrific injuries because that would have been rough. They probably both would have went head first and. Yeah, so I, I don't know. That's just. That match is just. It has everything you could, you could want and, and then some more. And you just feel the human element so much because it's like there's nothing fake about, you know, you don't even know their injuries or anything but you just know like you're watching them slam on Concret. Like I think that match was like 29, 30 minutes or something like that. And it's, yeah, it's, it's a, it's a marathon match. And like it was just so fast too. Just like move after move and just like high spots and weapons and Shane O Mack hitting shooting star press, you know, crazy. Like I, you know, I didn't have that on my bingo card in 2001, you know. 

Xavier [37:31 - 38:27]: Absolutely not. No. I actually mentioned like earlier because we were talking about this, I was like one. I forgot how long this match is because I also also like I have been like purposefully steering clear of like the attitude era stuff as we kind of like make our way like through for the most part. So I like haven't seen this stuff in like forever. But it was one really. I don't think Shane ever gets enough credit for how like the matches he has put on because he does not do this all of the time. Like he, this is not his like bread and butter and just giggle every like so often. Just come back. And the quality consistently that he does I don't think he gets enough credit for. And then you what you touched on the like the approval from Vince thing because we watched, we did an episode on the, the Vince documentary also. You really kind of see it like laid out there where you're like, Rose, if you are almost 50, it is time. It is. 

Johnny Horan [38:28 - 38:29]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [38:30 - 38:31]: So yeah. 

Chris Farley [38:31 - 38:33]: Spectacular last match. 

Xavier [38:34 - 38:34]: What's up? 

Chris Farley [38:34 - 38:37]: Yeah, don't solo this. Spectacular last match for Shane live. 

Johnny Horan [38:38 - 38:51]: Yeah. Whoa. That was just the, that was just the pinnacle of a weekend where my nose is falling off. Oh, sorry. That was. Oh, that was in LA when I got Covid during Mania. But I fought through. 

Jason Horan [38:51 - 38:51]: Oh God. 

Kelsey Silva [38:52 - 38:53]: Oh my God. 

Chris Farley [38:53 - 38:56]: He tore his ACL on like the second of the match. 

Johnny Horan [38:56 - 39:08]: No. Yeah, I have a video of that and it's. I think it's like, it's got like well over a million on like Tik Tok and it's just me screaming no. Why? How could you do this to me? You know, so. 

Kelsey Silva [39:08 - 39:09]: Oh, my God. 

Johnny Horan [39:10 - 39:10]: I know. 

Kelsey Silva [39:11 - 39:15]: Wait, so that. That plywood part was improvised? 

Johnny Horan [39:15 - 39:31]: Yeah. Yeah. Because, like, he. With. With Kurt's tailbone and with Shane being mostly dead weight because he doesn't know what planet he's on, like, he's dead. Like, yeah. Kurt just fast thinking on the way down the ring, just thought of that to walking the ramp down, saw it, and just like, yeah, that'll work, I hope. 

Kelsey Silva [39:31 - 39:39]: That is crazy. This is the first time I'd ever seen Kurt angle wrestle, because, again, he hasn't debuted yet. 

Xavier [39:39 - 39:43]: Yeah, like, the early part of 98 right now. So we haven't gotten to Kurt just yet. 

Kelsey Silva [39:44 - 40:01]: So I. I mean, insane to see him wrestle at all. Like. And I had seen, like, bits and pieces of this match because we watched the documentary, and, like, I've seen the. The glass throwing incident, and I did not. I forgot that it was Plexiglas, which is. I didn't even know you could break Plexiglass. 

Johnny Horan [40:01 - 40:02]: Like, no, ne. 

Kelsey Silva [40:03 - 40:13]: That's insane. And it's funny because you mentioned that shot where he comes through, like, the second time, and because you first see it through the back, and I was like, God, I hope they have that through the front. That's crazy. 

Xavier [40:13 - 40:14]: And then it's like, immediate cut. 

Kelsey Silva [40:15 - 40:53]: Oh, it's so insane. But the. The part where I always get people who don't watch wrestling where I'm like, no, you guys don't understand. Like, a lot of it is improvised, and people are always like, what? And, like, no, I'm telling you, because that. That, to me, is one of the craziest things. It's like, not only are they, like, putting their bodies on the line, doing the most insane stunts, whatever, a lot of it is just, like, in the moment, like, based on the chemistry you have with somebody. Like, obviously there are certain points, like the acts that people hit, but I'm like, the part that really gets people. Like, wait, what is. I'm like, no, a lot of things improvise. Like, that is crazy. I did not know that about the wood. Insane. 

Johnny Horan [40:53 - 41:11]: That's why I think it should be. Like, wrestling could easily be rated and be an Olympic sport just based off of, like, figure skating or something like that, where it's 2:2. And I mean, yeah, there's the star rating system, you know, and there's certain things that have to be done. The moves have to be clean, you know, but, yeah, the world. 

Jason Horan [41:11 - 41:14]: That's where the whole day. You know what I mean? 

Johnny Horan [41:14 - 41:15]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [41:15 - 41:17]: Can you. Can you judge a painting? 

Johnny Horan [41:18 - 41:19]: Can you what? 

Jason Horan [41:19 - 41:22]: Can you tell me what song's better than another song? 

Johnny Horan [41:22 - 41:51]: Yeah, but I mean. Yeah, but I mean, doubles. You know, ice skating. I feel like it's two people that have to together create, and it's. It's always artistic. I mean, they. They basically dress, you know, in wild costumes like, you know, wrestlers do, and they're trying to hit their moves, and they got whatever wild song they throw little dances in, which is art. You know, the dance moves aren't like, you know, it's just a part of the routine, and they want to see, you know, A, B, and C. You know, tell me if. 

Jason Horan [41:51 - 41:55]: If figure skating had a storyline, you would start watching it with me or. 

Johnny Horan [41:56 - 41:58]: I never said. I never said I don't watch it, dude. 

Chris Farley [41:59 - 42:00]: He loves Blaze. 

Johnny Horan [42:02 - 42:03]: Yes, I do. 

Kelsey Silva [42:03 - 42:04]: Who doesn't? 

Johnny Horan [42:05 - 42:07]: Yeah. Huge Tanya Harding fan over here. 

Kelsey Silva [42:07 - 42:09]: If you can dream it, you can do it. 

Jason Horan [42:09 - 42:10]: Yeah. 

Johnny Horan [42:11 - 42:17]: She was basically a wrestler. She took a lead pipe to someone backstage. How is that not wrestling? 

Xavier [42:18 - 42:22]: I'm pretty sure that is already a storyline. Didn't Edge do that party, like, down some stairs? I don't know. 

Johnny Horan [42:23 - 42:24]: Yeah, exactly. 

Kelsey Silva [42:25 - 42:25]: Correlation. 

Johnny Horan [42:25 - 42:26]: They stole that. 

Kelsey Silva [42:27 - 42:30]: Everything is wrestling, honestly. 

Johnny Horan [42:30 - 42:30]: All of it. 

Kelsey Silva [42:30 - 42:33]: I'm so quickly learning everything is wrestling. 

Xavier [42:34 - 42:41]: All right, so the last one we got Pack and Orange Cassidy@revolution 2020. And thank God for that. 

Chris Farley [42:41 - 42:42]: Oh. 

Xavier [42:43 - 42:55]: So. Because otherwise, you have to do some digging. So this is great. We are already fans. Big fans of Orange Cassidy. So this was so. Yeah. So why. Why this one? 

Chris Farley [42:55 - 43:30]: Yeah, I mean, when it comes to any sort of, like, medium with. It's like, whether it's tv, movies or wrestling, I want to see something comedic. I want to laugh. This is, like, the perfect blend of it being funny. And also when it's funny, they're playing it straight, which it's kind of like, oh, we Sunny does that. Or the righteous gemstones. Like, they're doing ridiculous things, but no one's breaking the whole time. I think one of the easiest ways to get people into wrestling is make it funny. So I think that was, like, the perfect match. That Compass saw that. 

Kelsey Silva [43:30 - 44:51]: Yeah. Oh, for sure. I. Yeah, I love this because I do love, like, the drama. Like, I love, like, the. The stakes are so high and everything is so elevated. But this type of match, like, where it's like, camp and it's funny and it's because it's like. Like you said, like, if it's an always sunny, like, interested development or, like, whatever, it's just. It just makes you giggle and Then. But you're also so invested in, like, the outcome of it because, like, you're just. You're not only, like, waiting for your next laugh, you're waiting for the next move. You want to know what happened? Like, it's just so. And I feel like Orange Cassidy, I think it's interesting in aew, and again, new to wrestling, I love to be wrong. So this could be totally wrong. But I feel like in aew, it's like there's this, like, thing in wrestling now where most people are just like, it's names. It's like the I am the character. It's not like, hearkening back to before the attitude area, where it's like plumbers and clowns and whatever. But in aew, there is this kind of fun pocket of, like, a Toni Storm or an Orange Cassidy, where it's like they are a person, but they are that kind of. There is a character they get to lean into. I feel like that's more present in aew, and I like that, actually. And I think that is what adhered me to AEW when I first started watching, because I was like, what are they doing over here? Like, this is so fun. Like, I just think it's interesting. 

Xavier [44:52 - 44:54]: Yeah, great. Go ahead. 

Chris Farley [44:54 - 45:08]: I was gonna say, like, even, like, where they placed a match on the card was perfect. They put it, like, right before the main event. They said there were five or six just straight wrestling matches then. Or write something to calm the crowd down. Just have a fun time. 

Kelsey Silva [45:08 - 45:31]: Right before, like, the big match, it's kind of like. And not to be, like, derivative about it, but it's like, kind of like rodeo clowns. Like, you know when you have that, like, fun thing before, like, the bull riding and, like, people might get gored and, like, whatever. It's just. It's. It's so, like, there is an incredible skill to it to do something that seems so serious and make it so funny. I love. 

Chris Farley [45:31 - 45:33]: That's where wrestling's from. It's just the carnival. 

Kelsey Silva [45:34 - 45:35]: Yeah, so true. 

Chris Farley [45:35 - 45:36]: It all loops back. 

Xavier [45:36 - 46:18]: And I love wrestling, like, Junior's kind of role in this, because this is like, JR's first exposure to Orange Cassidy. So I think he does a, like, a really good job of being like, okay, like, if you don't know this man, you're going to be skeptical. Like, I think he does a good job of, like, playing the, like, skeptical. Like, all right, like, I'll. I'll let you do your thing, but I don't know if I trust it, which, you know, can be taken as him, you know, aging. But I think it does. It does a service to Orange Cassidy because it's like, oh, hey, like that's. You're meeting the fans where they are. So now it's on like this match to change people's opinions. 

Chris Farley [46:19 - 46:19]: Yeah. 

Xavier [46:20 - 46:39]: Like throughout it. Which is exactly kind of was the game plan was to kind of put Orange on a platform that's like, hey, like, yes, I. I'll make you laugh, but I'm going to go out there and put in the work, which I think is great. Which set up Orange for a lot of his, like the next year after that. 

Chris Farley [46:39 - 46:47]: Yeah, a lot of the wrestlers felt the same way. I know, like, Chris Jericho was confused on why they signed him at first, and then he saw him wrestling. He's like, all right, I get it. 

Xavier [46:47 - 46:55]: Right. Yeah. Because that was his, like Jericho's was Orange's like, first big like, yeah. Kind of feud. 

Kelsey Silva [46:56 - 47:26]: Yeah, I love Orange Cassidy too, because the way that he set up his character, I feel like, because he's so like, nonchalant. And so then when he is shalant, it's like so explosive because he's so like, whatever. And then when he does, like, just let it rip, it feels almost like the saturation gets turned up. Like, it's so intense because he's so like, whatever. So then when he clocks in, he's like clocked the skin like, it's crazy. I love to watch him wrestle. 

Johnny Horan [47:28 - 47:30]: Payoff's amazing with him with that. 

Xavier [47:31 - 47:39]: Absolutely. And do you like to like, typically find yourself more in like the aew, like wheelhouse or like. Oh, God, 100. 

Chris Farley [47:39 - 47:40]: Yeah. 

Xavier [47:40 - 47:50]: Gotcha. And is it more like the. Because of the like the in ringness of it or is it like just you didn't have the exposure before to WWE per se. 

Chris Farley [47:51 - 48:21]: So with WWE, I got into it, like I said 2018 and me and my two friends watched it consistently for about six to eight months. And then we were like, I'm done here. And we took a break. We went to. We watched the Indies for a while and then AW started and we just went full in the award. And then I'll go occasionally watch the WB pay per view. So I'm almost purely watching AW or the Indies. 

Kelsey Silva [48:21 - 48:22]: Yeah. 

Xavier [48:23 - 48:28]: A good perspective, like for the show. I just, I was curious as to like, what you're mainly like in taking. 

Kelsey Silva [48:28 - 48:39]: Yeah. Because I feel like you had mentioned this in the WrestleMania Hangover episode because you're like, I don't really tap into wwe. So it was like, you know, xyz And I was like, oh. I was like, I bet he sent the AW match. 

Chris Farley [48:39 - 48:41]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [48:41 - 48:55]: But this match is awesome. I love. I said. I wrote, like, people screaming, this is awesome. And they had barely done anything yet. It was like, within the first, like, two minutes, people. And I was like. Because it is like. And we haven't even begun. It's so good. 

Chris Farley [48:55 - 49:16]: Yeah, it was nice because before I got to see Orange Cassidy, before AW started, so I was very happy when I saw. I got signed. I think I saw him Wrestling during WrestleMania season of 2019. So it's like right before they got TV. And I saw him at a. I don't know. 

Johnny Horan [49:16 - 49:16]: I don't know. 

Chris Farley [49:16 - 49:31]: I don't think it was tna. I think it was a different indie company. They just ran the same venue. I think it was called Wrestle Pro. So I got to see him live and I was like, I'm all in on this guy. I don't think so. It was. It was with. It was Orange Cassidy. 

Johnny Horan [49:31 - 49:33]: Verse wasn't invited. Whatever. 

Chris Farley [49:35 - 49:44]: I don't know who it was. I don't know. I think it was a canceled wrestler. Yeah, I think. I think it was Ryan. 

Johnny Horan [49:44 - 49:46]: Was it Joey Ryan? Yeah. 

Chris Farley [49:47 - 49:52]: Either way, they both suck, so I don't know. So. 

Johnny Horan [49:53 - 50:31]: But that's what's cool about the Indies is like, you'll see these pro wrestlers before they hit it big. And when they do hit it big, it's like you with them on the. On that journey. You know what I mean? It's like. Yeah, when you. When you see them enter AW or wwe, you're just like. It's amazing. Like, oh, like, I. I met that dude like, a couple years ago and there was 20 people there and it's. Yeah, it's. It's really cool. And that's. I think, you know, the Indies, like, people really need to check it out because it's, you know, future stars. And you got to find the right indie company for sure, because you can go to the wrong indie show and get super turned off by the Indians for sure. 

Jason Horan [50:32 - 50:39]: Stuff, you know, unless they're not doing good business practices. Okay. 

Chris Farley [50:40 - 50:47]: I don't support. Let's just. Orange Cassidy signed. 

Xavier [50:47 - 50:49]: Oh, my God. 

Johnny Horan [50:50 - 50:50]: Yep. 

Jason Horan [50:50 - 50:51]: Me and. 

Chris Farley [50:51 - 50:53]: Were you there John, too, that time? 

Johnny Horan [50:54 - 50:55]: Was that Real Rumble? 

Chris Farley [50:55 - 50:57]: I don't think it was the first real rumble. Yeah, yeah. 

Johnny Horan [50:57 - 51:03]: I got. I got an 8 by 10 signed by him. Had to wear masks and stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Chris Farley [51:04 - 51:08]: I don't know if you guys know the indie company. It's Lehigh Valley Wrestling. 

Xavier [51:08 - 51:09]: Yeah, I know. 

Chris Farley [51:10 - 51:29]: So they run a show in Lee Height in Pennsylvania at the Mahoney Drive in every year. So we went. I think it was 20, 21 real rumble and Orange Cassidy was there. So I got something signed by him and it was right before his. His match with Kenny Omega Impact at a double or nothing. 21. 

Kelsey Silva [51:30 - 51:31]: Wow, that's awesome. 

Jason Horan [51:33 - 51:44]: Bryce Remsburg was there. I got to take the picture. So I got to meet Cassidy. I was like, I only bought enough for a corn dog. 

Johnny Horan [51:47 - 52:06]: Yeah, great. I'm so happy Bryce was there. I have heat with, like, the majority of referees. That's how I get heat with, you know, that's fair. I let myself KFAB and, you know, kfab with all the refs, I gotta. I got tired of all of them. 

Chris Farley [52:07 - 52:10]: I got John a Bryce cameo for his birthday. So. 

Johnny Horan [52:11 - 52:12]: Yeah, beautiful. 

Kelsey Silva [52:12 - 52:14]: Yeah, I love that. 

Xavier [52:14 - 52:17]: Every now and again, just pull it out and watch it sigh a little bit. 

Johnny Horan [52:18 - 52:32]: Yeah. I made a short vid with it because, like, I. I posted that and then something from like, our pod of talking about it. And then at what pay per view was that in North Carolina? Jason. It was. Was that revolution? Revolution, yes. 

Chris Farley [52:32 - 52:33]: What? Sting? 

Johnny Horan [52:34 - 52:55]: Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, I screamed at Bryce during that. Like, who's this guy? Just talking about the referees the whole time. But it's like a sport, you know what I mean? When. And Bryce always just happens to be looking the other way. Like. Like he is. He is up so many times and ruined so many matches for me. I'm tired of it. 

Chris Farley [52:57 - 52:57]: It's fun. 

Kelsey Silva [53:00 - 53:06]: I love that. I love to be on the ground floor of the Beef. I love to know she really does. 

Xavier [53:06 - 53:13]: Yeah. I wish that was an exaggeration at any point. Kelsey often describes. I love, like, other people's problems. 

Kelsey Silva [53:14 - 53:18]: I don't want to actually beef with anybody. I love to be adjacent to the beef and be like, no. 

Johnny Horan [53:19 - 53:20]: Yeah. 

Xavier [53:20 - 53:30]: It's like when I go to, like. Like when I go to the rock show, I don't want to be, like, in the mosh pit. I want to be, like, right behind it or right in front of it because the crowd has cleared, so. And I can see the band the way I want to see the band. 

Johnny Horan [53:30 - 53:38]: Yeah. And he's like, such a sweetheart too, so he makes it so hard, but I think he's just patronizing me. I don't believe it. There's an even work. 

Kelsey Silva [53:39 - 53:41]: There's a sinister undertone there. 

Chris Farley [53:41 - 53:50]: It was. Yeah, it was great because the cameo he first sent, he was backstage at a dynamite in his ref gear, which is cool. Yeah. Which is cool. And then he sent it over, but. 

Johnny Horan [53:50 - 54:09]: It had no audio because he was on me. He on me. And then. And then he knows I was pissed about that. And then the next video, it's like, him and his kitchen table with his little kid. I'm like, oh, yeah. How am I supposed to talk about that? Or be mad? You know, just like, cute little video. Like, how dare you, Bryce. I know what you're doing. 

Kelsey Silva [54:09 - 54:13]: Yeah. The child. I hate when they do that. 

Johnny Horan [54:13 - 54:19]: And don't even get me started. Don't get me started on Aubry. Don't even get me started on her podcast. 

Chris Farley [54:20 - 54:22]: Elon Musk learned it from Bryce Remsburg. 

Johnny Horan [54:25 - 54:26]: Exactly, dude. 

Kelsey Silva [54:26 - 54:27]: Oh, my God. 

Johnny Horan [54:27 - 54:28]: Yeah. Great. 

Kelsey Silva [54:30 - 54:33]: So. So sinister. Children on my spine. 

Johnny Horan [54:36 - 54:37]: Dude. I'm over it. 

Kelsey Silva [54:37 - 54:44]: That's crazy, because we always talk about how we would love to have a ref on the show, because I'm always, like, fascinated. Bye. 

Xavier [54:44 - 54:45]: All your secrets. 

Kelsey Silva [54:45 - 55:03]: Yeah. I'm just. Again, I want the tea. Because I. I think it was Earl Hebner said, like, you know, you actually are thinking for three people. Like, you're thinking for you. You're thinking for both of them. And depending on how many people are in the match. So I was like, I'd always love to, like, pick a ref's brain. And I, like, now I'm like, I don't know. 

Johnny Horan [55:05 - 55:05]: I love. 

Xavier [55:05 - 55:20]: And I love this concept of, like, the body cam they got going on. We're still very early days on that, because it looks like. Yeah, but the conc. Like, I'm curious. I want to know. Like, I. I'd watch a match from that perspective. 

Kelsey Silva [55:20 - 55:23]: Like, at some point, it'd be like, Cloverfield. I feel like I would barf. 

Johnny Horan [55:23 - 55:24]: Yeah. 

Xavier [55:28 - 55:28]: Bonkers. 

Kelsey Silva [55:28 - 55:31]: Oh, my God. Wait, what else? I feel like we gloss, like, right over this. 

Xavier [55:34 - 55:35]: Paul Heymon. And why. 

Kelsey Silva [55:36 - 55:40]: Yeah, we have to talk about this. Why do we hate Paul Heymon? Go ahead. 

Johnny Horan [55:40 - 55:42]: Do we hate Paul Heyman? 

Chris Farley [55:42 - 55:43]: It was me. 

Kelsey Silva [55:43 - 55:49]: Yeah. Somebody. I was like, somebody said it. We need to air. We need to clear the air. 

Johnny Horan [55:49 - 55:50]: Yeah. 

Chris Farley [55:50 - 55:58]: I'm just sick of Paul Heyman. I don't know. It's just, like, he's always in the middle of all these main story lines. I'm like, I don't care about this fat idiot. 

Johnny Horan [56:00 - 56:00]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [56:00 - 57:02]: And it is funny because you sent the only match that does not have Paul Heyman influence in it, because the ECW match, obviously. And then he's on. On commentary for the Kurt Angle match. I have my. My eyes on Paul Heyman, girl. I will. Because I like I am fascinated by him as just a person. Like, it's because we watch, like, the ECW documentary. Like, we did the whole thing, and I was like, paul Heyman is just crazy. Like, the shoots that he does, like, whatever. But I also don't know him in the context of, like, modernity, like, other than him being with, like, the tribal chief, him, like. Like, I really don't know much about him in this day and age other than, like, we watched, obviously, WrestleMania 40, his hall of Fame acceptance speech. Like, we did stuff like that. But to me, like, at this time, again, like, ecw, like, Paul Heyman to me is just, like, a genius. And again, if we're talking about, like, cherry picking from ecw, like, he was a huge. Obviously part of that, but I was like. I was like. I didn't know we had Paul Heyman haters. Except I definitely did. I was like, a lot of people be like, girl, what? 

Xavier [57:02 - 57:05]: Like, well, I mean, he's got a. He's got a history, but. 

Kelsey Silva [57:05 - 57:07]: But don't we all? 

Johnny Horan [57:07 - 57:12]: I don't know now, he didn't like paying people that much, but that's true. 

Kelsey Silva [57:12 - 57:13]: Very true. 

Xavier [57:14 - 57:15]: Name a business owner that does. 

Johnny Horan [57:16 - 57:31]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Have you guys reached the point where, like, you know, on your WWWE journey, where ECW's doing crossovers on Raw and stuff, and they'll bring Paul on the. On the announce table, like, the whole Jerry Lawler angle and stuff and. 

Kelsey Silva [57:31 - 57:32]: Yes. Yeah, we did that. 

Xavier [57:32 - 57:38]: Yeah. So, yeah, because that's, like, popped in and out of, like, the, like, 97. Like, happened. 

Johnny Horan [57:38 - 57:39]: Yeah. 

Xavier [57:39 - 57:56]: And then we. What I want to do now is get on the, like, the flips, the ECW side where Jerry actually goes over there and show her that. Yeah, yeah, because you get a lot of the, like, setup over on Raw, but the payoff is on ecw, because, you know, that was the deal. 

Kelsey Silva [57:57 - 57:58]: So true. 

Xavier [57:58 - 58:04]: Yeah, but. Oh, yeah, that's definitely, like, stuff I. I need to show her next. Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [58:04 - 58:14]: Wait. My other question is, I haven't listened to it, but why is Tommy Dreamer's podcast terrible? Okay. 

Johnny Horan [58:14 - 58:16]: We're talking about Busted open. 

Kelsey Silva [58:16 - 58:20]: I. That's what you said, right? Is that his with Sandman? Right. 

Johnny Horan [58:20 - 58:23]: I think it's him and Bubba. Or they have a separate podcast. 

Jason Horan [58:23 - 58:24]: Bubba Ray. 

Kelsey Silva [58:24 - 58:25]: Bubba Ray. 

Johnny Horan [58:26 - 58:26]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [58:27 - 58:31]: I think I like Tommy Dreamer. Chris doesn't like Tommy Dreamer. 

Chris Farley [58:32 - 58:34]: Fine. No, I don't. I don't. 

Johnny Horan [58:34 - 58:34]: Dislike. 

Chris Farley [58:37 - 58:50]: There was just, like, a period where every indie show I went to, like, I saw one in the show, he was there, and like, two times in a row Some guy couldn't make it. And they're like, guess who's here? It's Tommy Dreamer. And I'm like, I don't. I don't care. 

Johnny Horan [58:52 - 59:14]: I. I thought you would like him because, you know, you hate Paul Hammond. And he went to literally go murder Paul Heyman. I don't know if you guys know that story, but yeah. And then he literally told Paul about it, and they did some, like, smackdown Talk Live after where they, like, talked it out about, like, yeah, it was gonna murder you, dude. And they both, like, cry and hug. I'm just like. I don't know if this was, like, the place you talk about that, but. 

Chris Farley [59:14 - 59:14]: No. 

Xavier [59:14 - 59:15]: Yeah. 

Johnny Horan [59:16 - 59:17]: All right. 

Xavier [59:18 - 59:18]: But. 

Johnny Horan [59:18 - 59:19]: All right. 

Xavier [59:20 - 59:21]: That could be a promo. 

Johnny Horan [59:22 - 59:29]: Yeah, right? Yeah, let's make it a promo. The time I planned on murdering you, I think that's. Ecw. 

Jason Horan [59:31 - 59:41]: I think we mostly have an issue with, like, Bubba Ray and how, like, you know, like, opinionated and critical he is of certain things, you know? 

Johnny Horan [59:41 - 59:42]: Oh, yeah, I can. 

Xavier [59:42 - 59:57]: I definitely see that. It feels, at times very much like my day. And I was like, yeah, you're obviously going to be partial to the things you worked in and made your living in and blah, blah, blah. 

Chris Farley [59:58 - 1:00:02]: Jason got tortured by Busted Open when he was trying to sleep one night. 

Xavier [1:00:02 - 1:00:03]: Oh, God. 

Johnny Horan [1:00:05 - 1:00:05]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [1:00:06 - 1:00:10]: Me and John have a good friend that is a. He's a wrestler. 

Johnny Horan [1:00:10 - 1:00:11]: He's made an appearance in. Aw. 

Jason Horan [1:00:12 - 1:00:26]: Yeah. And we went. We would go to some shows with Leroy, and he needs to have Busted Open podcast playing all night long or he can't sleep. 

Kelsey Silva [1:00:26 - 1:00:27]: We. 

Jason Horan [1:00:27 - 1:00:35]: We would go over. I'll creep over, press pause, or just, like, lower the volume. And he'd be like, turn it back up. It was a nightmare. 

Xavier [1:00:35 - 1:00:37]: Not the dulcet tones of Bubba. 

Kelsey Silva [1:00:40 - 1:00:41]: Oh, my God. 

Johnny Horan [1:00:41 - 1:01:14]: And I don't mean to go here either, but it's called Busted Open, and they're like emblem, you know, kind of looks like semen. I don't get it. You get it. So for me, they're just a bunch of perverts, but. Yeah, because I see, right. I see, right, Bubba. All right. But yeah, look at the emblem that you're just not gonna. It's like when you. When you first, like, someone tells you there's an arrow in the FedEx on, you're just like, oh, yeah, my whole life has changed. Yeah. So how dare you, Bubba, Keep your perversions to yourself, okay? 

Kelsey Silva [1:01:14 - 1:01:17]: Oh, my God. Sinister motives all around. 

Jason Horan [1:01:18 - 1:01:21]: He's so Alex Jones of wrestling. 

Chris Farley [1:01:21 - 1:01:23]: He just looks like him. 

Johnny Horan [1:01:23 - 1:01:23]: Yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [1:01:24 - 1:01:26]: Good meta, like, correlation. 

Johnny Horan [1:01:27 - 1:01:27]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [1:01:28 - 1:01:31]: I mean, I liked Alex Jones in the 90s. He was kind of cool then. 

Johnny Horan [1:01:32 - 1:01:33]: Yeah. And then. 

Kelsey Silva [1:01:33 - 1:01:35]: And then. And then. 

Xavier [1:01:35 - 1:01:42]: Well, that's a lot of, like, the show is us, like, watching things. And then I'm like, don't. Don't be too complimentary. Just. Just wait. 

Jason Horan [1:01:46 - 1:01:48]: This whole copy. Hogan guy's really cool. 

Chris Farley [1:01:52 - 1:01:54]: I can wrestle well. 

Kelsey Silva [1:01:54 - 1:02:17]: It's funny. Xavier put me up on the Chris Benoit lore, like, immediately. He was like, if you're coming in here, you have to. You have to know about this right away. And I was like, okay. But it's funny in, like, the very first episodes, because this was two years ago, and I knew nothing about Vince McMahon. And I was like, Vince McMahon. Commentary is pretty good. Like, an Xavier would be like, yep. 

Xavier [1:02:18 - 1:02:20]: I was like, I don't want to ruin it for you. 

Kelsey Silva [1:02:20 - 1:02:21]: I know. And then it was like. 

Xavier [1:02:21 - 1:02:25]: Then I was like, wait till anybody else on commentary comes on, and then you'll. 

Kelsey Silva [1:02:25 - 1:02:25]: Oh, girl. 

Xavier [1:02:26 - 1:02:29]: Understand that what a maneuver. Is not commentary. 

Kelsey Silva [1:02:31 - 1:02:34]: Yeah. And then just here comes the hurricane. The whole thing. 

Chris Farley [1:02:35 - 1:02:42]: So the cap off the busted open things, like, our favorite. My favorite ECW Podcast is a Ravens podcast. 

Johnny Horan [1:02:42 - 1:02:45]: So he's a Raven Mark. 

Chris Farley [1:02:46 - 1:02:56]: His whole podcast is his two co hosts trying to talk about wrestling and Raven telling them to stop and then just nonsense. They ramble about Nothing for about 60 minutes and then go away. 

Jason Horan [1:02:56 - 1:02:59]: That's kind of the role Chris plays on our pod. 

Johnny Horan [1:03:01 - 1:03:01]: Yeah. 

Xavier [1:03:01 - 1:03:03]: So really just taking an inspiration. 

Kelsey Silva [1:03:05 - 1:03:10]: I love that. Wait, also, I had another question to like. Oh, sorry, go ahead. 

Johnny Horan [1:03:10 - 1:03:11]: No, I just said, what about Raven? 

Kelsey Silva [1:03:11 - 1:03:12]: I'm sorry. 

Johnny Horan [1:03:14 - 1:03:15]: No, that's it. 

Kelsey Silva [1:03:16 - 1:03:41]: I was gonna say I had another question, because you guys really do seem to cover a lot. Like, you guys cover a lot of wrestling. And I'm curious if you guys have dipped into Evolve, because we were dipping into Evolve, and I, like, I said, listen to your most recent episode, and I feel like you talked about, like, who was let go of certain companies recently, and I know a few of those people were evolved, but have you guys, like, sampled the merchandise? Thoughts, Feelings? 

Johnny Horan [1:03:42 - 1:03:44]: I saw the. The new titles they made. 

Jason Horan [1:03:45 - 1:03:46]: Yeah, I've seen one match. 

Johnny Horan [1:03:49 - 1:03:56]: I saw. I saw some clips of. Yeah, they're where they have the new titles and everything, but, yeah, it's something I definitely want to check out more. 

Jason Horan [1:03:57 - 1:03:59]: Yeah, I like Jack Cartwheel a lot. 

Kelsey Silva [1:04:00 - 1:04:00]: Love that. 

Xavier [1:04:00 - 1:04:30]: Good time. Yeah, he's. So far, has not been too successful just yet, but. Yeah, but no, yeah, we're enjoying it a lot. I think it's fun like. Like, going out and, like, indie shows. And then, like, like seeing them pop up and evolve, you're like, oh, okay. And it does, like, make sense because nxt, like, since it is its own, like, it has its own, like, it's on tv, but it no longer can really be, like, as developmental like, as it once was, you know? 

Johnny Horan [1:04:31 - 1:04:31]: Yeah. 

Xavier [1:04:31 - 1:04:52]: Because you do have to have some polish if you're going to be on a network every week. So. Yeah, I. I mean, I feel like they kind of had to do something, but I don't know. I'm enjoying it so far. It. Me and Kelsey talked about it. It does feel very much like an indie show with a budget, how it plays out. 

Johnny Horan [1:04:53 - 1:05:08]: Yeah, yeah, I definitely want to check it out. I. Because, yeah, I say I. I probably have the most psycho wrestling schedule of the pod because I do watch all wwe, including nxt. And yeah, I'll probably add it on for sure. 

Kelsey Silva [1:05:09 - 1:05:32]: I think for me it was just because, like, I'm coming in at, like, we're watching the attitude area and, like, I'm not. There's so much to intake. It's cool to come in at the ground floor of something, like, where I didn't expect that would ever happen for me, like, I could just like, come in right at the beginning of the something because, like, there's so much lore even for AEW at this point, even though it's newer. 

Xavier [1:05:32 - 1:05:34]: Yeah, we're five years in now, so. 

Kelsey Silva [1:05:34 - 1:05:47]: So, like, you know, it just. It's cool to see people from, like, the very beginning of something in terms of wrestling. So that's why the. Was the appeal. For me, like, very personally, it was just like, oh, yeah. I think to see it from the red. 

Jason Horan [1:05:47 - 1:06:06]: I think that's why we got, like, super into aew, like, in the beginning, because, like, we. They did, like, their, like, little announcement when they first, like, announced it happened. And we were all in school together and we were like, dude, this is gonna be something crazy. It's like they only had Jericho and, like, a couple other people, you know, but Janella. 

Johnny Horan [1:06:06 - 1:07:46]: Yeah, yeah, we're big Joey fans, but, yeah, and also at that time, too, WWE was getting so stale. It was just like Baron Corbin versus Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, like, every single week. And it was just like, Vince was just like, I don't know what he was doing anymore, and I don't think he knew. But so it came at a perfect time. And, you know, as someone that's an Attitude Era fan, like, aew, a lot of their wrestlers are Attitude Era fans. The Jacksons, Omega, all of them. So, like, A lot of that stuff they do hardcore match and stuff like that is like very, you know, attitude ERA esque and like the backstage promos and kind of everything else they do. So like that drew me in right away and then I started really getting more into the, you know, the art of, of you know, the move sets which Jericho hates. But I don't know what else to call it. Sorry, Jericho. And just see, just seeing and it really brought me, you know, connect me with NJPW and Japanese wrestling and then got me more connected into Lucha. So it got me watching that stuff and then seeing those styles all form with, you know, American Indies. It's. It's amazing. It's literally just, you know, AW has its own, its own form in ring, you know, that you really can't see anywhere else. And that's why it's funny when the AW wrestler goes to WWE and you know, the Pentas of the world or even, even Cody for somebody like they'll do a move that they've never seen before that's just like another Wednesday night or collision and the whole crowd's like, oh, oh my gosh. Oh, you know, Mexican Destroyer, like, you know, you know, on the, on the, on the side apron or like and they're just blown away and it's just like so funny because it's just like, you know, maybe watch AW then guys. 

Kelsey Silva [1:07:46 - 1:07:47]: Because I don't know, girl, we've been doing that. 

Johnny Horan [1:07:49 - 1:07:49]: You know. 

Jason Horan [1:07:49 - 1:07:53]: ECW fans felt in the 90s when they're like watching. 

Kelsey Silva [1:07:53 - 1:07:53]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [1:07:54 - 1:07:54]: You know. 

Johnny Horan [1:07:55 - 1:07:55]: Yeah. 

Jason Horan [1:07:56 - 1:07:58]: WCW and wwf. 

Chris Farley [1:07:58 - 1:08:05]: Yeah. Biggest turn offs when I was watching WB was how many matches just ended in the DQ every night. 

Xavier [1:08:05 - 1:08:06]: Oh yeah. 

Johnny Horan [1:08:06 - 1:08:07]: Yes. 

Chris Farley [1:08:07 - 1:08:10]: AW just rarely does that and I like that a lot. 

Kelsey Silva [1:08:11 - 1:08:36]: I love that. I complain about that all the time. I'm like, well my. Could my boy Undertaker get one clean match? Like just one can. My. My good, good friend and brother underneath. But I like, it is so true. I do get so frustrated but sometimes I'm like. And another like flip the table. Like, please just let this man get a pinfall or anybody for that matter. Yeah, yeah, so yeah, I could totally see that. 

Johnny Horan [1:08:37 - 1:08:46]: Yeah, it can be. It's just lazy storytelling sometimes. And then also you have. You'll get two guys that are like, don't want to put the other guy over and like, all right, we'll just do a DQ finish for sure. 

Xavier [1:08:48 - 1:09:05]: So yeah, yeah, I'm enjoying like aw very like recently. I feel like they're kind of like. I think I want to say like 20, 24. I feel like they kind of like took like a knocking as far as like WWE kind of like getting their feet back under them, you know? 

Johnny Horan [1:09:05 - 1:09:05]: Yeah. 

Xavier [1:09:05 - 1:09:29]: Where now I feel like they're kind of like settling into like, what AW is going to look like for the next, like, couple years. And I'm kind of enjoying it a lot because it's like. Oh. Like when you like, think about it, it's like you got like your Ospreys, your Baileys, like those people that are going to be around for a minute and they really like this style. So it's like I'm excited for like them. 

Johnny Horan [1:09:29 - 1:09:29]: Aw. 

Xavier [1:09:29 - 1:09:43]: Kind of feeling like they're, I don't know, not on like the defensive so much as I felt like they kind of were in 2024. At least that's how I felt like they were reacting to things that were happening like in the wrestling. Wrestling world. 

Johnny Horan [1:09:43 - 1:09:44]: Yeah. 

Xavier [1:09:45 - 1:09:59]: So I don't know. I'm excited. I think it's cool. And I think like, people make too much about like wrestlers going back and forth, but just like, it's gonna happen. It happens all throughout the 90s. It's. What do you. They have places to work. Why are we mad? 

Johnny Horan [1:10:00 - 1:12:34]: I know it's like, I love it because then like, I love WWE and AW. You know, I'm a 50, 50 guy and like, it's, it's just great because then I get dream matches like nxt. So, you know, know, it's just, you know, all these AW guys coming in. I loved Ethan Page, loved, you know, Brian Pillman Jr. Okay, Alexis King and then, you know, Sean Spears, whatever. But he sees 10. Sorry, we'll do 10. He's, he's a part of our rapid fire. Usually we do the tens for him and. But yeah, but it's, it's awesome. You know, when Cody came over and you see him versus Seth, it was just like, I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to watch this. This is like, I didn't see know, like, so it's amazing. And I loved, I love Pentas. To seeing him over there and do these matches that I felt like would never happen almost, you know, so it's, it's awesome. And then obviously the reverse when you have, you know, anyone going for wwe. Aw. Like when Moxley first went over, like, that was insane, you know, like, you know, and obviously even Punk came back too. But like, yeah, it's, it's, it's awesome. And I wish people would, you know, kind of just enjoy both sides because I would say obviously in ring, fantastic tastic for aw, that's their high point. And wwe, they've been doing fantastic storytelling. That's longer programs. Like my biggest issue at aw, which are I feel like they got the juices back and they're pushing like just not having long programs and feuds between people, it's just kind of. Then they kind of just sizzle out and you're just like, wait, like what happened? Like what, Like I'm supposed to forget about this, you know. And that's why I think Toni Storm, Mariah May last year, that's one of, you know, one of the best feud build ups and story lines all going all the way into this spring. And it was, it was fantastic. And I think that was a huge part, like Tony Storm, huge part of kind of giving AW that energy back and kind of. Yeah. Reviving things a bit and because if you look at ratings, where they started, they went, they shot up last summer and that was during Bryan Danielson's kind of push. And then all of a sudden the second he, he left and after that you watched him drop like about, you know, 50 to 100, 000 like right away. So like they needed someone to kind of, you know, take the reins over. And yeah, Toni Storm did it and just there's. She's, you know, one of the best wrestlers in the world. To me, male, female, just hits everything amazing and ring and just awesome matches and just the best, you know, the best character. That's her right now. You know, she's in that macho man realm. You know what I mean? 

Kelsey Silva [1:12:34 - 1:12:36]: Yeah, yeah. 

Johnny Horan [1:12:36 - 1:12:38]: It's just so next level. It's. It's amazing. 

Xavier [1:12:39 - 1:12:47]: Yeah, we don't like commit like that anymore. Like, you know what I mean? We love to commit to the bit. So like someone's really known for it. Like. 

Johnny Horan [1:12:47 - 1:12:47]: Yeah. 

Xavier [1:12:47 - 1:12:57]: Nowadays it's like that special because it's like everybody like has kind of like thrown their hands up as far as like. Yeah, everybody knows. So it's like. But it is fun when someone's like, I know. You know, I don't care. 

Kelsey Silva [1:12:58 - 1:12:59]: Yeah. Oh, completely. 

Xavier [1:12:59 - 1:13:02]: I'm just gonna just do this anyway, so go ahead. 

Kelsey Silva [1:13:02 - 1:14:02]: And we, we. When we watched her, I was like, what's so interesting about her character is that when you initially see it, it's like you feel like she could have gotten boxed in by it. But she really like is so versatile with it where it's not like away from what like the core of the character is, but she moves in it so well, like adapts in different ways. And I feel like some people are afraid to get into that kind of commitment of a character because they feel like they'll get boxed in. But again, it's like an orange cassidy where you can like move in it if you let yourself like, if you like really commit to what the. If you're going to talk about like movies or acting or whatever, like the psychology of what that character is, like you can find ways to like move with it or like in it or around it or whatever. Like, and it still be intentional and well executed. And I feel like she is like the pinnacle of that. Like she's just. And she's also so talented to boot, like as an athlete. So it just really she's the whole package for me. I love watching her. 

Johnny Horan [1:14:03 - 1:14:49]: I feel like she had a huge influence on Harley Cameron's like kind of character as well, you know, because I see some of that Tony in her when she's kind of cutting promos and you know, her things obviously singing. She's got like the puppets and you know, but she's got great one liners that are on point and kind of her energy is kind of reminded me of that. And I think she definitely drew some influence from her but obviously made her own thing. Harley for sure. But yeah, it's, it's been great to see for sure. The, the women's division is super healthy in aw NW right now. Which, which we love and talk about match times. Like that's a huge thing that would piss us off. Like we're looking at the card and like, you know, maybe one or two women's matches on it and they're giving like 11 minutes or seven. It's just like what is, what is this? Come on, Tony. 

Xavier [1:14:49 - 1:14:50]: Yeah, yeah. 

Johnny Horan [1:14:50 - 1:14:54]: You know, but because we saw the. 

Xavier [1:14:54 - 1:15:27]: It was Tony versus like the Megan Bain like live and that was just like the psychology of like her just get like her being Tony, like just getting her ass handed to her for like 98 of that match and just squeaking out just by being like the more intelligent. Like, like old school. Like it's, it's so good and because it one you're, you know, you're building Megan to be like this like bull of a wrestler. Just like absolutely tearing through people. But it's like at the end of the day it was like Tony's just a little, just a little too smart for you and I love that. 

Johnny Horan [1:15:27 - 1:15:29]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Kelsey Silva [1:15:30 - 1:15:30]: Fantastic. 

Johnny Horan [1:15:30 - 1:15:52]: And just, and just unmatched in promos right now. It's, it's insane. I feel like she took over for mj. MJF as the best on the stick. Honestly, there's. There's no one that's doing it better. And it's always clean, doesn't mess up and just. Yeah. Just goes on these rants and just has just amazing one liners and like, you know where she's going and she hits you with it and it's just. It's just so good. 

Kelsey Silva [1:15:53 - 1:15:53]: Yeah. 

Xavier [1:15:53 - 1:16:00]: I feel like MJF is like, I'm waiting for, like, what is the next. The next iteration or the next thing, you know? 

Johnny Horan [1:16:00 - 1:16:01]: Yeah. 

Xavier [1:16:01 - 1:16:09]: I feel like since losing the title, it's just kind of like, where are we? We're going with this. 

Johnny Horan [1:16:09 - 1:16:33]: He's been at a standstill for sure. And like, that's what I was saying on our last pod. Like, you know the stuff with the Hurt Syndicate, it's just like, I feel like they could have figured this out like three or three or four weeks ago and it's just still like, oh, he's gonna meet with them in the ring again. But this. So this Wednesday on Dynamite, hopefully we. We get some type of answer or Cedric Alexander jumps out. Yeah. And sends him to Dick kick City or something. I don't know. 

Chris Farley [1:16:35 - 1:16:37]: Yeah. I just want to see him wrestle, right? 

Kelsey Silva [1:16:37 - 1:16:38]: Yeah. 

Chris Farley [1:16:38 - 1:16:39]: He doesn't do it, so. 

Kelsey Silva [1:16:39 - 1:16:41]: Yeah, very true. 

Johnny Horan [1:16:41 - 1:16:44]: Let her boy cook, I'm saying. 

Xavier [1:16:46 - 1:16:47]: All right. 

Kelsey Silva [1:16:48 - 1:16:49]: Do you have any other questions? 

Xavier [1:16:49 - 1:16:52]: No, I'm good. I've asked all the questions I have. 

Kelsey Silva [1:16:52 - 1:16:54]: I think I'm good too. Yeah. 

Xavier [1:16:54 - 1:16:56]: Cool. All right. You want to take us home? 

Kelsey Silva [1:16:57 - 1:17:15]: Sure. Then this has been another edition of the new wrestling podcast, After Dark. Thank you so much to our incredible guests. I'm so happy that you guys were the first, like, podcast crossover. I'm so happy it was you guys. What a great conversation. I'm very grateful. We will be at the I got. 

Xavier [1:17:15 - 1:17:43]: You always anniversary Jurassic celebration tribute to Vince Steele. That's going to be Memorial Day weekend in Jersey at the Mecca in Ridgefield Park. That show is put on by Shadow Wrestling alliance and Bree Combination Wrestling. If you find yourself in Jersey, Pennsylvania, the whole surrounding area, come hang out. We're sponsoring a match. So we'll be there and it'll be a. It'll be a great time and it's for a good cause, though. 

Kelsey Silva [1:17:43 - 1:17:47]: Yeah. So thank you all so much for joining us and we'll see you on the next one. 

Xavier [1:17:47 - 1:17:50]: Oh, wait, before we do that, where can we find you all? 

Kelsey Silva [1:17:50 - 1:17:53]: Oh, yes, please. Oh, my God. Duh. Please. 

Johnny Horan [1:17:53 - 1:18:18]: Yeah, you can find us basically everywhere. So YouTube invasion angle and invasion angle podcast so you can get wrestling vids and Invasion Angle and then podcast is all of our podcast stuff. Same thing with Tick Tock, Invasion Angle, Invasion Angle podcast, and then, of course, Instagram and Spotify, Apple, and a bunch of other ones like Spreaker that I don't know anyone listens to. But, hey, we're on all of them. 

Kelsey Silva [1:18:19 - 1:18:31]: Yeah, run it all up. Yeah. Bring your fun drinks, bring, like, your snacks and enjoy. Invasion Angle is such a great show, and we're so happy you guys came to join us. And yeah, we'll see you guys on the next one. 

Johnny Horan [1:18:32 - 1:18:36]: Yeah. Thank you for having us. Yeah, we're gonna have to have you guys on our podcast. 

Kelsey Silva [1:18:37 - 1:18:39]: Yeah, we would love that. We would love that. 

Johnny Horan [1:18:40 - 1:18:40]: Yep. 

Xavier [1:18:40 - 1:18:42]: Guys, we'll see you on the next one. 

Kelsey Silva [1:18:42 - 1:18:43]: By. 

Xavier [1:18:47 - 1:18:59]: Sam.