Recent WWE PLEs haven’t landed — ESPN even said they “stunk,” which is rough considering the billions being spent on new deals.
The product isn’t bad, but it’s clearly missing a defining story like the Bloodline era or Cody’s chase.
Feels like a rebuilding or resorting phase while TV moves shake things up.

Full #WMS985 episode:
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
John points out that many of the worst personalities in wrestling simply left the business — and in his view, that’s a good thing.
He compares the toxic environment of CZW training a decade ago to the far healthier scene at 880 Wrestling today, plus the impact of Speaking Out clearing out dangerous people.
Also clarifies: no actual issues with Rob Black, just different approaches to booking.

Full #WMS985:
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Reports say WWE talent no longer receives friends & family comps.
CJ Perry claims wrestlers now must pay for loved ones at every show.
Liv Morgan bought a full luxury box for her return.
Rusev/Miro spent over $5,000 for WrestleMania seats.
Some wrestlers even arrive to find their seats had been pulled and resold.
That’s a serious morale hit.

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
A true “Welcome to West Virginia Wrestling” moment:
A guardrail drops out of nowhere and lands right on Avalanche Adams after he thought he escaped it.
We also got Super Oprah & Felix Cox’s ringside relationship, allyship jokes from Leaders By Example, and the sad news that CM Punk’s dog Larry has passed away.

Full ep (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
The Hilltop venue brings back the train-set vibes — the T passes right next to it, and the old freight train behind the previous venue literally shook production.
John even says he “kept his word” by getting 880 out of the Southside after predicting it on day one.

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
It’s wild seeing 1–2 year wrestlers performing at a higher level than veterans — but reps matter.
Weekly shows mean match counts older wrestlers never had access to.
Cowboy Paul chasing record-breaking totals on Cagematch is the perfect example.
And it’s raising the bar for everyone.

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
880 Wrestling’s wild night:
Marco beats CPA, Reese Hayes chases off “fraud lawyer” David Wallace, and Leaders By Example defeat Effy & Billy Dixon.
Penn Brewery nearly breaks attendance records.
Then the crowd chants for John & Clayton to KISS…
Effy rejects it, saying John “wasn’t gay enough.”
Absolute chaos.

Full #WMS985:
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Leaders By Example vs. Effy & Billy Dixon turned into a full character manifesto.
John says the queer wrestling world “needed new heroes,” and LBX declared themselves gay enough to fill that role.
They pinned Effy, claimed a GCW title shot, and even got a nod from Billy Dixon — who’s headed into a steel cage divorce match at Enjoy Wrestling.

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Iyo Sky’s trash-can moment is now an action-figure accessory — because wrestling is all about being toyetic.
Wrestlers change face paint or gear just to justify more figures: Dustin Rhodes, Joaquin Wilde, Rey Mysterio, and many more.
It’s merch science.

Full #WMS985:
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
NXT’s early WarGames experiments were wild — including a 47-minute version with staggered entrances and three full teams.
Total trial and error, total chaos, and totally unforgettable.
It summed up the era when indie, ROH, and TNA stars were flooding NXT and raising the bar.

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Tournaments are where wrestling becomes unpredictable again.
Face vs. face, heel vs. heel, round robin blocks, partners fighting — it breaks the formula and gives us fresh matchups.
880 Wrestling, AEW’s Continental Classic, New Japan’s system… all proof that variety matters.
Even Cena let every young wrestler get their moment.

Full #WMS985:
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
880 Wrestling’s Thursday Night Fights is shifting into a brand-new era.
No more South Side — the show moves to the Hilltop, inside “The Warehouse” at 829 Industry Street, where Enjoy Wrestling filmed seasons and Fight Underground once ran.
More parking, more bathrooms, better energy for fans.
Plus, Top Rope Tabletop returns next Friday.

Full ep (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
880 Wrestling outgrew the South Side — and now the new venue is ready for bigger, higher, louder wrestling.
High ceilings mean no more low-boy ring and a LOT more aerial offense.
Some Guy Named John promises the return of “all the classics” — swantons, moonsaults, and more.

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Indie wrestling is tapping into a brand-new audience:
Fans who never leave the city and only knew WWE/AEW.
Now they’re seeing Enjoy Wrestling deliver: Paul London vs. Mikey Montgomery, Sonny Kiss vs. Billy Dixon in a steel cage, MV Young vs. Mad Dog Connelly, and a WarGames match with BBB vs. Runway & Holiday.

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Cena’s nostalgia run might be over — because the most logical next match is Cena vs. Gunther.
LA Knight could get his big night, but WWE has been leaning into unpredictability:
• Face-vs-face & heel-vs-heel on Raw
• Tournament chaos after Penta’s injury
• Solo vs. Gunther becoming the matchup nobody expected

Full ep (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Vince McMahon’s WWE had many flaws, but he did understand the company was built around families.
TKO is looking at WWE like a corporate asset — and we believe they’ll sell it as soon as it turns a profit.
The bigger concern?
AEW could end up in a WCW-style situation where a future buyer doesn’t want wrestling at all.

Full #WMS985:
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Dominik Mysterio’s rise is incredible to watch.
Rey’s Players’ Tribune story, the Eddie Guerrero homage, the WrestleMania crowd turning toward him — he’s becoming one of WWE’s most complete performers.
A WrestleMania main event? Very realistic.

Full #WMS985:
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
WWE teasing a full “Maxine Payne” makeover rules — and comparing her training path to the old Hart Dungeon is spot-on.
Also: Cena selecting Deadline competitors, NXT building a big weekend, and ROH Final Battle (assuming Honor Club behaves 😅).

Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
AEW announcing a tag team death match mid-tournament is peak AEW energy — and yes, we’d all watch Tony Storm vs. Jon Moxley in a heartbeat.
Meanwhile, WWE gave us John Cena taking pop rocks, Judgment Day shining again, and Liv Morgan dropping a full Cena cosplay on IG.
What a week.

Full ep (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
Seeing Survivor Series advertised on Disney+ is surreal — and maybe the clearest sign that WWE is becoming a media commodity, not just a wrestling brand.
With Batgirl shelved, the Wile E. Coyote film rescued by a new buyer, and UFC shifting platforms… it feels like WWE could be next.
Full episode (#WMS985):
https://www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com/wrestling-mayhem-show-985/
