Ranking the best Pro Wrestling Podcasts
Wrestling is a form of entertainment like no other. In the ring it has storytelling, and incredible athletics. Behind the scenes, it get’s even more interesting. Combine such a layered business with the recent boom in podcasts as a form of media, and you get wrestling podcasts. There are quite a few really good wrestling podcasts by fans and by people that were actually there. However, I have looked at the cream of the crop and narrowed it down to my top 5 wrestling podcasts.
#5 – 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff
We kick off 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff at #5 on my list of the best wrestling podcasts. Admittedly, I haven’t been listening to 83 Weeks for very long, but I have loved every episode. It has only been around for almost a year, but in that year they have easily become one of the best wrestling podcasts out there. The podcast is named 83 weeks because that’s how long WCW beat WWE in the ratings during the Monday Night Wars, which is clever.
83 Weeks follows the same formula as the Something to Wrestle Podcast which we will talk about later. Eric and The Podfather Conrad Thompson pick certain shows or situations from WCW and Eric provides insight on what was going on backstage. The rise and fall of WCW is one of the most interesting things in wrestling history, so to hear about it from the guy that was in charge of it for a long time is super interesting.
As I mention later, I love this behind the scene stuff and Eric comes across very likeable, telling it how it is, and Conrad is amazing at what he does. If you grew up a big WCW fan or are just interested in the wrestling business, you need to subscribe to 83 Weeks!
#4 – Cultaholic
Jack, Sam, Ross, Adam Pacitti are probably most recognized for their work at Whatculture. However, in 2017 the group announced their shocking departure, that group along with Adam Blampied. They left to start their own YouTube channel, and they would call it Cultaholic. Then on January 12, 2018, they started doing a weekly video podcast where they discuss the week that was professional wrestling, news, show reviews, and generally just a fun 60-90 minutes.
I have been a fan of those guys since they were working for Whatculture, so I love this weekly podcast. It very much comes across as three friends having a chat and a laugh. This is truly a highlight of my week every Friday and I often count down the hours until it drops. Often times if I am having a rough week at work, looking forward to this podcast get’s me through. I think Cultaholic as a brand and all of those guys will only keep getting bigger and It could not happen to a better group of guys.
If you do not subscribe to them, you are truly missing out.
#3 – Going in Raw
This might be the podcast that I am most invested in and if this was a list of my favourite podcasts, this would easily be #1. Going in Raw is a YouTube channel and podcast created by former Machinima employees Steve and Larson. I have been watching Steve and Larson since roughly July 2017, and I absolutely love everything they do. They usually post a new podcast Monday – Friday, and not only are their uploads extremely consistent, but I have never once been disappointed by the episodes. They review every single weekly WWE show (Raw, Smackdown, NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live), they also review every single WWE PPV throughout the year.
Many YouTubers that cover WWE have a tendency to generally be negative and personally I can not listen to negative podcasts. Steve and Larson have found a middle ground of being critical of the current product without being negative which makes it so enjoyable to watch. On top of their very good content Steve and Larson as a duo and as people are what puts this show at the level that it is. The two have been friends and have worked together since college, the longevity of their relationship really shows during their shows. They also treat their fans better than anybody on YouTube, and it isn’t even close.
I can tell you their podcast has gotten me through some hard times personally. When it comes to podcasts run by fans, you will not find a better podcast than Steve and Larson’s, Going in Raw.
#2 – Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard
Much like 83 Weeks, this podcast provides some of the best backstage insight on the internet. I love hearing about the behind the scenes stuff in wrestling, some of it is super interesting, some of it is really stupid, but it’s always fascinating. I watch WWE’s weekly programming and don’t get me wrong, I love listening to reviews but any fan can get online and review a wrestling show. There are very few people out there that can talk about behind the scenes stories and give insight on famous wrestling shows and events. I also really enjoy listening to Bruce Prichard. This podcast is long, episodes can last up to 3 hours. However, Bruce’s natural personality, and Conrad’s ability to moderate the conversation makes the episodes fly by.
Bruce has a perspective that very few have had, Bruce was literally Vince’s right hand man for years. If there is anybody that knew first hand the ins and outs of the business during that time period, it is Bruce. Bruce’s seemingly endless stories and Conrad’s conversation skills makes these podcasts fun, informative and at no point do they seem as long as they are. I have never listened to an edition of Something to Wrestle and not come out with at least one nugget of information, or story that is funny and/or interesting.
If you are interested in fun backstage stories and knowledge that is incomparable, there is no better podcast for you than Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard.
#1 – Talk is Jericho
I changed this number one spot several times before I finalized my list, but at the end of the day, the best wrestling podcast is Talk is Jericho. Talk is Jericho hosted by Chris Jericho and was started all the way back in 2013. Chris has had guests like Diamond Dallas Page, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ricky Steamboat, and The Elite just to name a few. Chris Jericho’s podcasts doesn’t come across as interview-like some do. His podcasts come across as conversations which makes the podcast flow and makes it extremely enjoyable to listen to.
It is not just his interviewing skills that make his podcasts so good but it is Chris himself. It’s no secret that Chris Jericho is one of the best talkers in wrestling and has a such an entertaining personality. Chris was one of the first to get into podcasting, now it seems like every retired wrestler has a podcast. It’s crazy to me that Chris can be one of the best wrestlers ever, a very talented musician, and have one of the best podcasts on the market. His podcast is generally very positive and he never really runs anybody or anything down which I love.
He’s a bit like Joe Rogan because his guests vary so much. His guests have ranged from Steve Austin, to Paul Stanley, to a ghost hunter. His podcast is fun, insightful, and you never know who he will have on next. I thoroughly recommend Talk is Jericho, and in my opinion, it is the best wrestling podcast out there.
Which podcasts do you listen to? Let us know in the comments below!
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