This week on W2M, we discuss the two things everyone is still talking about, which are the emotional retirement of one of the most beloved wrestlers of all-time in Daniel Bryan and a weird announcement that came due to something that happened at the end of that speech involving Vince McMahon and Titus O’Neil.
We give our feelings on how Daniel Bryan Retired, Bryan’s speech, his legacy, where his place in wrestling history is, and we wonder if he ever wrestles again. Then there’s the other thing people can’t stop talking about, which is Titus O’Neil being suspended 60 days for what seems like an ill advised hug of his boss. What could be the reason for this? Has Vince finally lost it? Or was this the right call?
Of course, we start things by discussing the wrestling news in “Quick Hits,” WWE released their Q4 financials on Thursday, revealing some interesting metrics about the WWE Network among other things. There’s also the ROH referee Kevin Keenan being fired, Mark Nulty passing away, and quite a few news and notes.
We move on to answer our questions about WWE RAW and then move onto this week’s NXT.
After that, we go through the NJPW New Beginning 2016 in Osaka from yesterday discussing what we liked and what we didn’t, and we also preview the second New Beginning 2016 show in Niigata that happens on Sunday.
Finally, we review this week’s Lucha Underground, take a look at this week’s ROH TV, we discuss Impact on POP TV, and end on our W2M Power Rankings (yes, we are actually ranking them this year.)
——– Time Stamps ——-
(8:50-1:13:00) Daniel Bryan retires, Titus O’Neil Suspended, CM Punk injured & more Wrestling News
(1:13:00-1:33:39) WWE RAW 02/08/16
(1:33:39-1:48:55) WWE NXT 02/10/16
(1:48:55-2:11:05) NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2/11/16 Review
(2:11:05-2:21:45) NJPW The New Beginning in Niigata 2/14/16 Preview
(2:21:45-2:31:33) Lucha Underground 2/10/16
(2:31:33-2:39:23) Ring of Honor TV 2/6/16
(2:39:23-2:58:30) TNA Impact Wrestling 2/9/16
(2:58:30-End) Superstar of the Week
Wrestling 2 the MAX: Daniel Bryan Retired, Titus O’ Neil Suspended, NJPW New Beginning in Osaka Review & More
Wrestling 2 the MAX is the “Every Wrestling Fan” Pro-Wrestling podcast because it covers everything from WWE, NXT, TNA Impact, and ROH to other global entities like Lucha Underground and New Japan Pro Wrestling. This show is informative, fun, and meant for every kind of pro-wrestling fan out there. Wrestling 2 the MAX airs live on early Friday mornings at 1AM EST (on Spreaker.com) and then is available immediately after airing on-demand via I-Tunes, Stitcher, LAST WORD RADIO on I-Tunes and Stitcher, Tune-In Radio, Youtube (Via W2M Network) the PodBean App, The Spreaker App, Player FM, VOC Nation Radio Network, Bluburry, Downcast, and other podcast hosting locations. W2M also has a Facebook group you can join and listeners can follow them on twitter @wrestling2max
Sean Garmer: studied Journalism at the University of North Texas. Sean loves pro-wrestling so much that he even trained to be a wrestler at the age of 17. Though he eventually had to quit wrestling to go to college, he still returned to do play-by-play commentary, help write storylines, and most of all, to watch matches. Sean started his love of pro-wrestling at the age of five after watching a Hulk Hogan match. Due to his family hating sports-entertainment, there were many years he missed. However, he returned full-time to being a fan in the late 1990’s. Since then, Sean has gone on to write for various wrestling websites in a number of capacities, but he discovered his true passion, Podcasting, two years ago when he and Gary started the Wrestling 2 the MAX Podcast.
Gary Vaughan: is a native North Texan with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas. His time in college actually rekindled his love of pro wrestling he had lost somewhere along the way. Gary’s enjoyment of the sport began around 1996. As a fan, he has become a student of the wrestling business and gains knowledge through many platforms. WCW is dear to his heart because of it being his introduction to the scene. Now, Gary is a proud podcast host, as well as a writer for wrestling columns.
Paul Leazar: is a recent college graduate from the University of North Texas who has a History degree, but works at a Comic Book store. He was born an’ raised in the great state of Texas, and began his love affair with pro wrestling at the tender age of five after watching WWF’s Summerslam 1993 pay-per-view. The relationship turned serious with the growth of independent wrestling and the internet in the early 2000’s, which has seen the love affair turn into a full blown addiction that led him to write about it sporadically for various websites, and co-host the Wrestling 2 The Max podcast.
