Squared Circle Podcast

Marie Shadows
  • 3.9 (7)
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Wrestling conversations we need to have to keep kayfabe, storytelling, psychology, and all teachings alive for wrestlers, fans, and the wrestling industry.

  1. MLW is K*ller Kross! MLW Battle Riot VIII 2026 review with Dos Evil!

    FEB 12

    MLW is K*ller Kross! MLW Battle Riot VIII 2026 review with Dos Evil!

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows! https://patreon.com/marieshadows https://rumble.com/user/marieshadows https://marieshadows.substack.com Please leave a comment, share, and listen! Thank you! ***In this episode of Square Circle Podcast, Evil and I dive into the chaotic excitement of Battle Riot — an event that felt like the Super Bowl of wrestling. With Evil fresh off the event and me soaking in all the drama from home, we’re breaking down the action, surprises, and big moments that went down.Timestamps: [00:00] – Intro Marie Shadows and Dos Evil open the show and set the tone for a full Battle Riot breakdown from start to finish. [03:15] – Overall Feel of Battle Riot First impressions of the event. Did it feel structured? Did it feel like MLW’s tentpole show? Discussion on pacing and presentation. [08:40] – Early Card Match Reactions Quick breakdown of the opening matches, in-ring quality, and what felt like setup versus payoff. [15:20] – Middleweight Championship Match Full discussion of Kushida winning the MLW Middleweight Championship. Why Marie and Dos Evil have been advocating for Kwon to win the title — and how Kushida taking it shifts the division. [23:10] – Kushida Joins Contra The bigger twist of the night. What Kushida aligning with Contra means for the faction, the championship, and especially for Kwon’s trajectory. [30:45] – Kwon’s Position Moving Forward Is this delay building something bigger? What this means politically within the division and how Kwon fits into the evolving picture. [38:00] – The Battle Riot Match Breakdown Structure of the Riot match. Key eliminations. Who gained momentum even without winning. [48:30] – Standout Performances & Momentum Shifts Who elevated themselves on this card? Who feels positioned for the next step? [55:10] – MLW’s Direction After Battle Riot Does this show feel like a reset? Where the major storylines seem to be heading. [1:02:00] – Final Thoughts Closing reflections on Battle Riot, Kushida as champion, Contra’s evolution, and what needs to happen next.

    1h 26m
  2. Gunther's Career K*ller Gimmick & WWE Fanboys Exposed – Royal Rumble 2026 Breakdown

    FEB 2

    Gunther's Career K*ller Gimmick & WWE Fanboys Exposed – Royal Rumble 2026 Breakdown

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcat by your host Marie Shadows! Squared Circle Podcast and Discord Notes will be on Patreon and Rumble! Youtube has made my videos stagnat! Join me over at Rumble and Patreon! Any support helps keep me independent! See you in chat! https://patreon.com/marieshadows https://rumble.com/user/marieshadows In this episode, Marie Shadows breaks down WWE's Royal Rumble 2026 from Riyadh, calling out fanboys for blind acceptance, critiquing Gunther's "career killer" gimmick, AJ Styles' retirement match, and John Cena's lackluster final bout. She ties it all to bigger issues in wrestling fandom, nuclear heat in 2026, and why pushing back matters. Plus, promos for Patreon exclusives like Tape Study and Discord Notes. Make sure to like, subscribe, and comment—did AJ's retirement feel wrong to you? Follow on Spotify for more reviews. Support on Patreon (patreon.com/MarieShadows) for unlimited Tape Study, JCW Lunacy breakdowns, and Discord Notes archives. Check uncensored content on Rumble.com/user/MarieShadows. Timestamps: 00:00:02 - Intro: Dislike for WWE fanboys accepting everything without pushback 00:00:47 - Real fans' valid dissatisfaction vs. complainers 00:01:11 - John Cena's final match: Worst ever, full breakdown on Patreon 00:01:37 - Patreon promo: Free follows, $7.50 tier for exclusives 00:02:44 - Welcome to Square Circle Podcast: Royal Rumble review 00:03:00 - WWE's bad decisions tying Cena's match to Rumble issues 00:03:37 - Gunther as "career killer": Doesn't make sense at 38 00:04:44 - No true nuclear heat in 2026 wrestling (except JCW Lunacy) 00:06:21 - Fanboy reactions to Cena's match: Gaslighting valid feelings 00:07:42 - Tournament for Cena's opponent was lame—should've played the hits 00:08:53 - AJ Styles' retirement at Rumble: Not accepting it yet 00:09:28 - Gunther vs. AJ should've been Cena's match level 00:10:04 - Wrestling subject to change—don't accept retirements blindly 00:11:07 - Rumble matches overview: Men's (Roman wins), Women's (Liv wins) 00:12:19 - Saudi Arabia hosting: Fan hypocrisy on human rights 00:15:02 - Gunther doesn't have nuclear heat—boos are superficial 00:17:13 - Don't let fanboys bully you into liking bad booking 00:18:50 - Rumble got a genuine reaction from me—WWE did its job 00:20:33 - Outro: Comments, polls, follow on Spotify 00:21:58 - Promotions: Rumble, Patreon, Substack, YouTube 00:23:26 - Discord Notes promo: Ep 10 on ICE "whitewashing" and Ava tweet 00:26:13 - Patreon value: Honest feedback, no sugarcoating 00:28:37 - Why Discord Notes exists: Uncomfortable conversations for growth 00:30:03 - Final thanks and sign-off

    37 min
  3. NJPW Commentary Gone Woke? Wrestle Kingdom 20 Women's Match & Feminism Rant

    JAN 30

    NJPW Commentary Gone Woke? Wrestle Kingdom 20 Women's Match & Feminism Rant

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows! Visit: https://patreon.com/marieshadows https://rumble.com/user/marieshadows In this episode of the Square Circle Podcast, I break down Wrestle Kingdom 20 (January 4, 2026), focusing on the chaotic NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag "Ranbo" opener and the IWGP/STRONG Women's title match between Syuri and Saya Kamitani. I also go in-depth on why activist commentary (feminism, "women fighting for visibility") feels out of place in NJPW, cultural respect for Japan, why the women's titles feel like an afterthought, and how Stardom can headline the Tokyo Dome on merit—not gender narratives. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & Wrestle Kingdom 20 overview 1:45 - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag "Ranbo" (Zack Sabre Jr., Oiwa & Hartley win) 4:20 - The IWGP Women's & STRONG Women's title match (Syuri becomes double champ) 7:10 - Rant starts: Commentary activism & inserting "woke" narratives 12:30 - Respecting Japanese culture vs. American ideology imports 18:45 - Why the IWGP Women's title exists + Stardom as separate division 25:10 - Merit over gender quotas; Stardom selling out Tokyo Dome on its own 32:00 - Women's wrestling observations: safety, training, storytelling 40:15 - Final thoughts: Retire the titles? Revive NJPW Strong? 45:50 - Outro & call to action If you're tired of forced narratives and want real talk on wrestling, hit like/subscribe/comment your thoughts below. No brainwashing here—just passion for the squared circle.

    48 min
  4. Douki Just Buried Tanahashi's Retirement…And Commentary Had a Meltdown | Despe vs Douki Next! WK 20 review

    JAN 29

    Douki Just Buried Tanahashi's Retirement…And Commentary Had a Meltdown | Despe vs Douki Next! WK 20 review

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows! https://patreon.com/marieshadows https://rumble.com/marieshadows https://marieshadows.substack.com Dive into my raw take on Wrestle Kingdom 20's fatal four-way match for Doki's IWGP Junior Heavyweight contendership: El Desperado vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. Sho vs. Kosei Fujita. Plus, my rant on why commentary (Walker Stewart) is killing kayfabe with lectures and fake outrage. Heels like Doki deserve better—let's talk real wrestling! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro to the Episode and Wrestle Kingdom 20 00:00:32 - Open Mind Warning and Commentary Issues 00:01:36 - Human Nature vs. Utopia Lectures 00:02:50 - Individuality and Why We Don't All Agree 00:03:27 - Rant on Fake Outrage and Woke Commentary 00:04:50 - Doki's Quote and Walker's Lecture 00:06:11 - Heels Being Heels: Kayfabe Explained 00:07:53 - Doki's Confidence vs. Tanahashi's Tour 00:09:17 - Destroying Characters with Lectures 00:10:34 - Why Vince Was in Commentators' Ears 00:12:15 - Japanese vs. English Commentary Preference 00:13:33 - Heels Can't Be Heels Anymore 00:15:03 - Veda Scott Commentary Example 00:16:25 - Commentary's True Job: Storytelling 00:17:21 - Match Breakdown Starts 00:18:58 - Why Not Sho vs. Doki? Storytelling Potential 00:20:54 - Match Action: Attacks, Teams, Shenanigans 00:22:57 - House Interference and Commentary Whining 00:24:10 - Enjoy Wrestling as Escape 00:25:52 - Robbie Eagles & X Help Out 00:26:05 - El Desperado Wins: My Thoughts 00:27:00 - Fantasy Booking Sho vs. Doki 00:29:04 - Elevating House of Torture's Playbook 00:31:02 - Master Wato Deserves a Shot 00:31:37 - Final Rant: No Activists on Commentary 00:33:51 - Respect Individuality 00:34:56 - Outro and See You Next Time

    35 min
  5. Jake Lee Pins Hiromu – Worst Finish Ever? Bullet Club War Dogs With Unaffiliated vs United Empire WK 20 Review

    JAN 28

    Jake Lee Pins Hiromu – Worst Finish Ever? Bullet Club War Dogs With Unaffiliated vs United Empire WK 20 Review

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows! Support: https://patreon.com/marieshadows https://marieshadows.substack.com https://campsite.bio/marieshadows https://rumble.com/user/marieshadows In this episode of the Square Circle Podcast, I break down that chaotic ten-man tag from Wrestle Kingdom 20: Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney) teaming with the unaffiliated LIJ pieces (Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) against a rebuilt United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, HENARE, Andrade El Idolo, Jake Lee). HENARE is completely exempt—he’s a warrior, loyal as hell, and the only one I still fully believe in. The match had wild energy—twisting corkscrews from Andrade, DDTs and suplexes from Shingo, Drilla Killer, stunners, spinebusters, Finlay & Hiromu using each other as human weapons (their classic circumstantial teammate dynamic). But the finish? Jake Lee hits a big boot on Hiromu for the clean pin—abrupt, flat, and one of the weakest endings I’ve seen for a match with this much built-in heat. The story was Callum vs. Finlay—why not let one of them get the decisive fall? That layup was right there. Post-match, Francesco Akira returns in a hoodie, superkicks Hiromu, unmasks… and gets zero pop. It just fell flat. The bigger issue: lost identities. United Empire used to have class, structure, and purpose—Ospreay & Fletcher leaving wrecked it, no real handover, now random additions like Andrade funding and Jake Lee jumping over. What does it even stand for anymore? Callum’s whiny brat heel push has emotion but no control. Bullet Club War Dogs + Unaffiliated are floating too—fractured after Naito/Bushi, Tsuji didn’t seize his moment. Both sides drifting, no direction, no convictions. New Japan needs urgency in storytelling again. If Callum had swung a chair at Ospreay during New Year’s Dash instead of hugging it out? Real teacher-vs-student arc. That’s the fire we’re missing. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Why These 5-on-5 Matches Feel Off 01:20 - HENARE Exempt – Warrior Forever 02:45 - United Empire in Shambles: Ospreay/Fletcher Exit, Drama, Lost Identity 07:10 - Callum Newman’s Heel Turn – Growth or Just Whiny Brat? 11:30 - Bullet Club War Dogs + Unaffiliated LIJ: Floating & Directionless 14:50 - Match Highlights – Chaos, Double Teams, Human Weapons 19:00 - Commentary Rant: Stop Acting Shocked at Finlay/Hiromu 22:40 - The Abrupt Finish: Jake Lee Pins Hiromu – Weakest Ever? 26:15 - Francesco Akira Return Falls Completely Flat 29:00 - Lost Identities: Factions Need Meaning & Convictions 32:30 - Final Thoughts – Faith in HENARE, Frustration with the Rest 35:00 - Call to Action: Comment, Like, Subscribe, Join Patreon What did you think of the finish? Should Callum have pinned Finlay? Drop your thoughts below—keep it civil!

    39 min
  6. Aaron Wolf Beats EVIL for NEVER Championship – Bold Debut or Forced Push?

    JAN 27

    Aaron Wolf Beats EVIL for NEVER Championship – Bold Debut or Forced Push?

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows! Please support via these links! https://patreon.com/marieshadows https://rumble.com/user/marieshadows (I'm trying to reach 100 friends there) Aaron Wolf shocked the wrestling world by winning the NEVER Openweight Championship in his NJPW pro wrestling debut against EVIL at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Olympic judo gold medalist to champion in one match? Bold move... but is it good booking? In this episode of the Square Circle Podcast, I break down why I'm not a fan of Aaron Wolf... yet. From the pre-shaved head twist killing the stipulation stakes, to the kayfabe issues of a newcomer surviving full House of Torture chaos, to EVIL being the ultimate selfless company man — we dive deep. I also discuss the NEVER title's faded relevance in 2026, why the Young Lion system needs rethinking (Tanahashi's WWE envy is telling), and NJPW's bigger problems with faction stagnation and uneven pushes. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & my stance: Not a fan of Aaron Wolf... yet 1:45 – NEVER Openweight history & why it feels outdated now 4:20 – Aaron Wolf's background vs. NJPW's newcomer model 7:10 – The buildup & that hair-shaving stipulation nonsense 9:50 – Match breakdown: House of Torture shenanigans overload 13:30 – Kayfabe problems — how does a debutant survive all that? 17:05 – EVIL appreciation: The Miz of NJPW, selfless vet 20:15 – Young Lion system critique (too long, too rigid) 24:40 – Broader NJPW issues: Factions, loyalty, and pushing the wrong people 28:20 – Final thoughts & hope on the horizon (Tsuji as champ) 30:45 – Upcoming: April 6, 2026 NJPW Las Vegas event 32:00 – Outro & call to comment/subscribe

    25 min
  7. Tsuji vs. Konosuke at Wrestle Kingdom 20 – My IWGP Champion Finally Arrives (And Yes, He Won with the Boston Crab)

    JAN 26

    Tsuji vs. Konosuke at Wrestle Kingdom 20 – My IWGP Champion Finally Arrives (And Yes, He Won with the Boston Crab)

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows! https://patreon.com/marieshadows https://marieshadows.substack.com In this episode of the Square Circle Podcast, I break down Yota Tsuji defeating Konosuke Takeshita at Wrestle Kingdom 20 to become double IWGP World Heavyweight & Global Heavyweight Champion in front of 46,913 in the sold-out Tokyo Dome. We go match psychology, storytelling, why Tsuji targeted the gut, the stinger spot that almost derailed him, why the Boston Crab finish was perfect NJPW essence, Konosuke actually being decent for once (thanks to Tsuji leading), post-match Jake Lee attack (now United Empire), and Tsuji's NJPW interview insights on philosophies clashing, Young Lions, and keeping the Dome sold out every year.No AEW coattails needed. Tsuji earned this. He's my champion. Timestamps below 0:00 – Intro & Wrestle Kingdom 20 attendance / no two-night nonsense 2:00 – Why Tsuji has always been my guy (since Sonata days) 4:30 – My issues with Konosuke (no-selling, no psychology, "alpha" talk) 7:00 – Match breakdown starts: chain wrestling, dare spot, early equality 10:30 – Brain buster stinger – Tsuji hurt, pace thrown off 13:00 – Konosuke advantage, apron spots (stop apron bumps!) 15:30 – Tsuji comeback, Gene Blaster double down (allowed this time) 18:00 – Gut work psychology – weaken the core 21:00 – Big spots: reverse Canadian Destroyer, Blue Thunder Bomb, Guerrero Special 24:00 – Finish: Boston Crab on hurt gut – Tsuji wins! 27:00 – Post-match Jake Lee big boot, United Empire angle 29:00 – Tsuji NJPW interview key points (philosophies, stinger, Boston Crab meaning) 33:00 – Unbound Co. explanation & Bullet Club thoughts 37:00 – Tanahashi loyalty, AEW partnership rant, future Dome sellouts 41:00 – Wrap-up, Patreon plug, love you guys

    44 min
  8. Tanahashi vs Okada Wrestle Kingdom 20: "Never Tired" Ace Retires to Rainmaker – NJPW Retirement Match Breakdown & Why It Hit Hard

    JAN 25

    Tanahashi vs Okada Wrestle Kingdom 20: "Never Tired" Ace Retires to Rainmaker – NJPW Retirement Match Breakdown & Why It Hit Hard

    Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows! Season 7 kicks off going backwards through Wrestle Kingdom 20, starting with the main event: Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match against Kazuchika Okada (January 4, 2026, Tokyo Dome). Why this felt like NJPW coming back (even a little), why Okada still delivers elite psychology when motivated, the weird commentary dynamic nobody’s talking about (marching orders for Chris Charlton?), Tanahashi as the most powerful man in wrestling, why he could’ve called Nakamura but chose Okada, post-match brotherhood, the creepy ten-bell salute, and why wrist control & body-part work still matter more than flips. I go in on AEW’s lazy Okada run, the failing NJPW-AEW partnership, bad yen excuses, immigration/culture takes, IWC negativity, and why Tanahashi retiring means he can finally president properly. Substack: https://marieshadows.substack.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/marieshadows Timestamps! 00:00 – Welcome to Season 7, Happy New Year, January 24 2026 00:46 – Where to find the podcast + what’s coming in 2026 01:14 – IWC negativity, wrong labels, Marty Scurll correct story 03:29 – Cyber bullying still alive, be open-minded 04:35 – Wrestle Kingdom 20 make-or-break for NJPW, Tanahashi retirement 05:52 – Economy/yen excuses vs real issues 09:49 – Sold out because of Tanahashi, Okada wins 12:01 – Why Okada over Nakamura, Tanahashi power 13:37 – AEW partnership not benefiting NJPW (Twitter thread proof) 14:47 – Dual contracts discussion coming soon 16:39 – Tanahashi could’ve called WWE for Nakamura 19:12 – Match breakdown: wrestling, wrist control, psychology 27:54 – Why struggle > flips, working body parts 30:50 – Finish, post-match mic, brotherhood parade 32:04 – Commentary dynamic: Charlton marching orders, tension 37:00 – Walker indie/woke insertions, respect Japanese style 42:41 – Storytelling lost art in commentary 51:02 – Final thoughts, brotherhood, ten-bell creepy 53:05 – Plugs: like/share/comment/poll, Patreon, Tape Study, consultations

    56 min
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About

Wrestling conversations we need to have to keep kayfabe, storytelling, psychology, and all teachings alive for wrestlers, fans, and the wrestling industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Marie Shadows
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    438
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marie Shadows
  • Show Website
    Squared Circle Podcast