Episodes

The first-ever edition of WWE Day 1 took place on Saturday night in Atlanta. Ryan and Kyle review the full show, which featured Roman Reigns being pulled from the card at the last minute due to a positive COVID-19 test, Brock Lesnar winning the WWE Championship, Edge vs. The Miz, and a lot more. Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ Sign up to support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/topropenation - exclusive bonus content and access to all of our s...

Kyle checks in with this week's 'Top Rope Nation Extra' bonus show, presented here as our monthly 'Extra' freebie on the main feed. He quickly previews this Saturday's WWE Day 1 PPV event. We'll be back on Sunday morning with a full review of the show. Like the show? Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/topropenation to sign up to hear our "Extra" bonus shows every week! There was actually another edition this week with Ryan and Justin talking about their favorite Christmas wrestling memories...

As a Christmas present to all of our listeners this year, we are releasing, in full, our Patreon-exclusive bonus podcast from February 2021 looking back at the Feb. 5, 1988 edition of WWF's The Main Event, the most-watched WWF/WWE event in history. Prior to today, this podcast has only been heard by our Patreon supporters. Now, hear one of these bonus podcasts in its entirety for yourself and see what you've been missing out on! If you liked this full episode and want to hear every single editio...

Kyle checks-in with our weekly 'Top Rope Nation Extra' bonus podcast that is presented exclusively for our Patreon supporters. Hear the first 10 minutes of the show as a teaser, free for everyone, as he talks about Wednesday night's edition of AEW Dynamite, including some positives (and flaws) with AEW's current direction. Like the show? Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/topropenation to sign up to hear our "Extra" bonus shows every single week in full! You get access to this bonus podcast...

Three years ago tonight on WWE Monday Night RAW, the McMahon family (Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Triple H) came out on and acknowledged that the product had been disappointing and they weren't listening to their fans. They promised change, but what has really happened since then? We look at the last three years and whether the company is better or worse off, creatively, since that time. Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ ...

We catch up on all of the latest news in the wrestling world this week, including Jeff Hardy's release, Johnny Gargano's future, Blackjack Lanza's death, AEW and NXT ratings, and even a difficult trivia question! Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ Sign up to support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/topropenation - exclusive bonus content and access to all of our shows early and ad free, a free gift for signing up, access to our bonus monthly podc...

This is a special free preview of this month's Patreon-exclusive 'Top Rope Nation Classics' podcast. We go back in time and look at WWF Survivor Series 1996. The show featured Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, Sid vs. Shawn Michaels, and the debut of Rocky Maivia (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson). Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/topropenation to sign up and hear the rest of the show (which clocks in at 2 hours and 10 minutes)! We'd be honored to have your support. Patrons receive five full-length, b...

With the WWE Survivor Series having occurred last weekend, we examine the history of the show itself. This is a selection from a podcast we recorded back in November 2016, a real deep dive on what led to WWE creating the event in 1987 (their second-ever yearly PPV, only behind WrestleMania). The rivalry between Jim Crockett Promotions and the WWF is examined in depth. If you enjoy this selection on the origins of the Survivor Series, check out the full podcast (Episode 13) from November 2016 as ...

Ryan and Kyle check-in to review Sunday night's divisive WWE Survivor Series PPV event in Brooklyn. We discuss The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, not showing up on the show despite WWE leaning heavily into that direction by building the event around his 25th anniversary with the company, Roman Reigns vs. Big E, Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch, and much more. For the best WWE retro t-shirts, check out our friends at Homage! https://homa.ge/TopRope Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.c...

Ryan and Justin attended AEW Full Gear live this past Saturday night in Minneapolis at the Target Center (as well as Rampage the night before in the same venue). The two of them give their account of the show from the audience in-person, while Kyle compares this to what he noticed watching live on television. It's our AEW Full Gear review! For the best WWE retro t-shirts, check out our friends at Homage! https://homa.ge/TopRope Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/...

Kyle and Justin check in with this week's bonus show on the Spotify Greenroom app. Immediately following Wednesday night's AEW Dynamite, we discussed that show and previewed this Saturday night's AEW Full Gear PPV event. Full match by match breakdowns of what should be a tremendous PPV in Minneapolis at Full Gear. Like the show? Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/topropenation to sign up to hear our "Extra" bonus shows every week! You get access to this bonus podcast each week, unedited, in...

It's a jam-packed show this week with the TRN crew covering a multitude of topics. We talk about how Bianca Belair has been put in unwinnable situations by WWE, the 2022 WWE PPV calendar, plus a massive mailbeg segment with questions on Classic WWF, the Attitude Era, WCW, AEW, the Survivor Series concept, and a lot more. For the best WWE retro t-shirts, check out our friends at Homage! https://homa.ge/TopRope Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ Si...

This is a special preview of this month's Patreon-exclusive 'Top Rope Nation Classics' podcast. We go back in time and look at WWF Smack 'Em, Whack 'Em. This is a legendary Coliseum Video, featuring a profile on Bret Hart that showcased the first-ever WWF ladder match (Hart vs. Shawn Michaels), as well as Bret Hart's first WWF title victory against Ric Flair. Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/topropenation to sign up and hear the rest of the show (which clocks in at 2 hours and 15 minutes)...

With WWE NXT scheduled to bring back Halloween Havoc once again this week, we look back at some of the greatest matches and moments from the original events. We examine the full history of NWA/WCW Halloween Havoc from 1989-2000, and what we ended up with here is one of our favorite historical podcasts that we have ever done. Note: This show was originally released in October 2020 (Ep. 180) and is presented once again here as a bonus this week. For the best WWE retro t-shirts, check out our frien...

Kyle is joined on the pod by award winning author and good friend of the show Liam O'Rourke to review Thursday's WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia. Seth Rollins vs. Edge. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns. King Xavier Woods. Queen's Crown winner Zelina Vega. It's all covered here, only the way that Top Rope Nation can. For the best WWE retro t-shirts, check out our friends at Homage! https://homa.ge/TopRope Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ Sign...

With WWE King of the Ring (and Queen's Crown) happening right now, we decided to look back at the history of the tournament. A history full of some big misses (and a few hits, too). We look at the King of the Ring as it began (house show events), then cover the PPV shows, and look at the television-centric tournaments of recent years. In the end, we're left debating which ones worked, as well as why the majority of the King of the Ring tournaments were a failure. For the best WWE retro t-shirts,...

Drafts are in the air! With the WWE Draft occurring this past week, as well as discussion of where Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega from a couple of weeks ago ranks historically, we decided to bring back our fantasy draft format. This time, we're changing it up and making it auction style as we count down the greatest television matches (cable/broadcast) in pro wrestling history. We're joined by PWTorch Assistant Editor Zack Heydorn. The show ends up being a great discussion of the best matches t...

This is a special preview of this month's Patreon-exclusive 'Top Rope Nation Classics' podcast. We go back in time and look at WWF One Night Only from 1997. On the pod, we're joined by award-winning author Liam O'Rourke (who attended the show). Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/topropenation to sign up and hear the rest of the show (which clocks in at 2 hours and 15 minutes)! We'd be honored to have your support. Patrons receive five full-length, bonus podcasts each month (1 'Classics' sho...

We went live immediately after the conclusion of WWE Extreme Rules 2021 on Sunday night. We're here to talk about that (terrible) ending, Roman Reigns vs. Finn Balor, Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss, the Street Profits vs. The Usos and much more. Plus some general comments about WWE creative and the narrative surrounding this show. Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ Sign up to support us on Patreon at www.patreon.co...

We recapped AEW Dynamite Grand Slam immediately after the show ended. The event, which aired live from the Arthur Ashe Stadium in NYC, will go down as one of the great wrestling television broadcasts of all time. Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson went to a time limit draw in one of the best TV matches ever. Cody Rhodes was back in action. Britt Baker and Ruby Soho were put in the main event slot. And Sting impressed. We break it all down! Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.co...

Ryan and Justin check in with this week's bonus show on the Spotify Greenroom app. Immediately following Wednesday night's AEW Dynamite, we discussed that show, the loaded lineups for the next three AEW television shows including NYC next week, Big E's title win on Raw Monday night, the NXT relaunch, and much more. Like the show? Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/topropenation to sign up to hear our "Extra" bonus shows every week! You get access to this bonus podcast each week, unedited, i...

We discuss WWE's recent troubles at creating stars (and keeping talent in the promotion). We also look at the reasons for these failures and Vince McMahon's legacy with star-making. AEW has become the promotion that young talent are now aspiring to -- we look at why. Plus, AEW defeated WWE RAW this week in the key 18-49 demo for the very first time. Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ Sign up to support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/topropenati...

We attended AEW All Out 2021 and what a night it was. Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole debut with AEW, as did Ruby Soho earlier in the show. One of the greatest tag team cage matches of all time. Chris Jericho's career continues. Kenny Omega retains. And so much more! We hit record when we got back to the hotel room to record only our second podcast ever where all of our hosts were in the same room at the same time. Enjoy! Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/29097149...

We return early this week to preview this Sunday's AEW All Out PPV in Chicago. We look at each and every match on the card, predict the victors, and talk about the creative direction of the company moving forward. Plus, some exclusive news on Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson and when WWE is expecting him to debut. Join our Facebook discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290971494637440/ Sign up to support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/topropenation - exclusive bonus content and access ...