May 16, 2025
The Wrestling Bubble Exposed: Sabu’s Story, Rhea Ripley’s Rant, & WWE’s Shocking Business Moves
Before My Head Explodes with Vince RussoAbout this episode
00:00:48 – Welcome and What Makes This Show Different Coach opens with the show’s unique focus on wrestling’s bigger business storylines—skipping the usual segment-by-segment reviews. Vince Russo joins, joking about tech issues and their show's growth, including a huge new stadium network deal launching May 28. 00:04:01 – Reflecting on Success and Purpose Coach and Vince share gratitude for the show’s rise over the past year, emphasizing their honest, expertise-driven takes aimed at making viewers smarter wrestling fans. 00:05:14 – The Sabu Story: The Dark Side of Wrestling Culture Vince recounts Sabu’s alleged health crisis—bleeding feet before a match—and the wrestling industry’s risky tendency to push talent through pain. They analyze the kratom controversy, reading FDA warnings and discussing the history of painkiller and drug use in the business. 00:11:15 – Wrestling’s Changing Locker Room Culture Russo and Coach note major improvements in today’s locker rooms (less drug use, talents playing video games) but admit old habits die hard for older wrestlers, sharing personal stories of addiction, cold-turkey recovery, and why pro wrestling is so hard to leave. 00:19:12 – Fan Interaction & Super Chats Begin Listeners get acknowledged—Coach and Vince encourage questions via super stickers/donations, promising in-depth answers throughout. 00:19:51 – Rhea Ripley vs. Internet Wrestling Community Coach reads Rhea Ripley’s viral tweet calling out toxic fandom and AI rumors. Vince breaks down the repetitive accusations all wrestlers face online (favoritism, bias, hate), arguing it’s an IWC-wide issue—not gender specific. Coach warns about the risks of wrestlers engaging negatively with fans, and offers smart strategies for handling social media criticism. 00:27:27 – Fan Q&A: WWE’s Live Event Strategy & Booking Questions pour in: Is WWE making Raw and SmackDown into “house shows”? Why are AJ Styles and Finn getting more airtime over talents like Karrion Kross? Vince and Coach pull back the curtain on lazy booking, commercial break strategies, and TKO’s financial mindset. 00:31:14 – WWE’s Skyrocketing Ticket Prices International fans share how much it's costing to attend events now. Coach and Vince empathize—discussing WWE’s limited live schedules, family sacrifices, and the real financial squeeze for average fans. 00:40:28 – WWE’s Creative Under Triple H & Ego Watch They dissect Triple H’s approach to creative, new faction names, comparing his focus on self-image with Vince McMahon’s more “for-the-business” philosophy. The guys debate management’s disconnect from fans and why it matters. 00:45:40 – Booking On the Fly: The Zelina Vega Controversy Coach explains why last-minute title decisions undercut storylines, using Zelina Vega’s recent win as a cautionary tale for how champions and stories should be planned and protected in advance. 00:51:16 – Cross-Industry Creative Lessons Drawing parallels to the NFL schedule reveals, Coach suggests WWE could benefit from more collaborative creativity and long-term storytelling. 00:53:09 – Inside WWE’s Boardroom Coach and Vince imagine what it’s like for wrestling “lifers” like Triple H and Bruce Prichard now that corporate execs (who don’t understand wrestling) call the shots. They consider the pressures and frustrations of working under TKO’s entertainment-first vision. 00:55:00 – Sharing the Wealth: Who’s Really Winning in WWE? Coach points out that Triple H, despite running creative, isn’t in the top earners’ list—raising questions about power, recognition, and corporate realities. 00:56:12 – Wrapping Up with More Fan Questions Fans inquire about Karrion Kross (and Scarlett’s underused talent), worst booker debates, and Cardi B’s buzzworthy hosting of SummerSlam. Coach and Vince weigh in on how WWE’s chasing “virality” and mainstream moments. 01:01:00 – WWE’s Ticket Pricing Explained & The Fan Squeeze Coach reads a revealing Mark Shapiro quote loaded with corporate jargon—translating it into real talk about how WWE views live events, ticket prices, and the potential danger of ignoring the actual wrestling fan experience. 01:05:09 – Sign-Off and Stadium Network Reminder The show wraps with Coach hyping the move to Stadium Network, promising more honest, fan-first wrestling analysis twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.