About this episode
00:00 – 02:15 | Opening Banter & The Saudi Takeover Anthony and Joe open the show discussing Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in sports and entertainment, poking fun at recent high-profile purchases and the ethics of “selling out.” 02:15 – 03:45 | Call-In Chaos & The Return of the Soup Hotline Reminiscing about the old call-in number, random callers, and plans to bring back live audience interaction. 03:45 – 06:00 | Comedy, Contracts, and the Price of Fame A sharp, funny discussion about comedians like Bill Burr and Kevin Hart taking big-money Saudi gigs, and the moral gymnastics of the entertainment industry. 06:00 – 08:55 | Bill Burr, Anthony Cumia, and the Ethics of Friendship A deep dive into the Bill Burr/Anthony Cumia drama, cancel culture, and the shifting lines of loyalty and morality in comedy and wrestling. 08:55 – 15:00 | John Cena’s Retirement: Hype, Ticket Prices, and WWE’s Strategy Breaking down the upcoming John Cena retirement event, wild ticket prices, and WWE’s marketing moves. Includes a hilarious riff on what $11,500 gets you at a wrestling show. 15:00 – 22:00 | Dave & Buster’s, Human Crane Games, and Arcade Hustles Anthony shares a story about dominating arcade games, winning prizes, and the weird world of human crane machines. 22:00 – 27:00 | TNA, Kurt Angle, and Wrestling’s Wildest Years A nostalgic and irreverent look at TNA’s “Beautiful People” era, Kurt Angle’s drug-fueled run, and the tragic history of wrestling’s biggest stars. 27:00 – 33:00 | Generational Grief, Social Media, and Wrestling Tragedies Reflecting on how wrestling fans process loss, the impact of social media, and the generational divide in mourning wrestling legends. 33:00 – 40:00 | Andrade’s Return, Rumors, and Wrestling’s Drug Culture A candid discussion about Andrade’s WWE release, wellness policy violations, and the ongoing issues of drugs in wrestling. 40:00 – 50:00 | WWE’s Global Expansion, Crown Jewel, and Branding Oddities Riffing on WWE’s international branding, the oddity of “Crown Jewel” in Australia, and the future of global wrestling events. 50:00 – 1:10:00 | Reality TV, Coaching Drama, and the Next Generation A lively debate about WWE’s reality shows, coaching changes, and which legends should be mentoring the next crop of wrestling talent. 1:10:00 – 1:30:00 | Lacey Evans, Copyright Crusades, and Wrestling’s Internet Age Wrapping up with a wild segment on Lacey Evans’ DMCA takedowns, the challenges of erasing your past online, and the absurdity of wrestling’s digital drama. 1:30:00 – End | Listener Shoutouts & Plugs Listener shoutouts, plugs for Frank & Gus, and a reminder to check out Spitball Media and the Wrestling Soup Patreon! — Want more? Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, and join the Patreon for bonus content and live shows! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support .