Episodes

What in the blue hell is going on with Braun Strowman?! After last week's puzzling heel turn by Becky Lynch, WWE followed it up this week with Strowman also turning heel. Things are getting out of hand at WWE and we are here to make sense of it all for you. If you enjoyed the discussion about Lynch's heel turn last week, this is one you aren't going to want to miss. Additionally, we talk more about Becky Lynch's direction, the problems with Hell In A Cell, and end the show discussing the bigge...

The hot topic on the internet this week is WWE turning Becky Lynch heel against Charlotte Flair and the fan's revolting to that script. We break this one down from all angles, including from a historical lens as we look at WWE's past in booking heels against "omnipotent babyfaces." This is a great discussion with a lot of wrestling history thrown in for context that you won't want to miss.Plus, we're talking The Shield's reunion from Monday Night RAW, the New Day winning the SmackDown tag titl...

We went live immediately following WWE SummerSlam on Sunday night to break down the show with our instant reactions, as well as to review Saturday night's NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV event. Full discussion on what worked and didn't work at SummerSlam and TakeOver as well as a look ahead to what is now in WWE and NXT's future. Joining our PPV post show panel this month was Derick Schroeppel of the Oversell Podcast. Subscribe to Top Rope NationiTunes & iOS | Android | Google Play | Spotify | Tu...

One of the biggest wrestling weekends of the year is upon us and we are here to break it all down for you. This week, we give a full preview of WWE SummerSlam 2018 and NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV. Plus, we discuss the death of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and Dave Meltzer's controversial statements regarding Peyton Royce. A beast of a show that you don't want to miss! Oh, and Taco John's, sponsor us. Please. Subscribe to Top Rope NationiTunes & iOS | Android | Google Play | Spotify | TuneIn | Sti...

The second edition of Top Rope Nation Classics is now available in its entirety exclusively over at www.patreon.com/topropenation. We deep dive back in time to 1997 and look at what was perhaps the greatest summer in the history of pro wrestling. Ryan, Justin, and Kyle break down SummerSlam 1997 and all of the news and storylines going on throughout that great time in wrestling history. Hear the first 15 minutes of the show right here and if you want to hear the entire podcast, become a Patron a...

A jam-packed show this week as we discuss the deaths of Nikolai Volkoff and Brian Christopher Lawler, as well as all of the latest from WWE. We break down what did and did not work during the Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns segments on RAW, why crowds give Charlotte Flair a pass even though in many ways she is the female Roman Reigns, Owen Hart's Hall of Fame induction, and a whole lot more. Top Rope Nation has also started a Patreon channel full of exclusive podcasts from us that you won't find...

We've started a Patreon page for Top Rope Nation where we will be providing exclusive content to Patrons including two new shows, Top Rope Nation Classics and Top Rope Nation Free For All. Top Rope Nation Classics will feature us reviewing and exploring old wrestling events, years, storylines, and much more. The show will only be available on our Patreon page and will not be posted to our standard podcast feed or any podcasting apps.That being said, to give everyone a taste of what these shows...

Arguably the biggest wrestling star on the independents, Matt Riddle, appears headed to the WWE. We discuss what this means for both Riddle and WWE, as well as explain why Riddle could possibly be the future of the WWE. Plus, WWE announced an all women's PPV event, titled Evolution, for this October. We break down that news, discuss the women's title pictures on SmackDown and RAW, and where we think the company will be come October.All of this plus thoughts on this week's RAW, SmackDown, and...

We're back with a huge show this week as Liam O'Rourke returns to Top Rope Nation. Right off the bat, Liam addresses comments made concerning his book (Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later) by Eric Bischoff on the '83 Weeks' podcast last week. This is the first time that Liam has addressed this situation publicly so you won't want to miss it. Liam stays with us for the rest of the show as we dissect WWE's direction coming out of Extreme Rules. We break dow...

We went live immediately following WWE Extreme Rules to record a post show with our first reactions to what went down in Pittsburgh. Joining Ryan, Kyle, and Justin this month on the panel was Bill Matz of Broad Street Hockey Radio (broadstreethockey.com).We talk what worked and what didn't work on this show and where it looks like we are going as we get ready for SummerSlam in Brooklyn next month. Plus, Kyle and the rest of the panel give some thoughts on Eric Bischoff's controversial statemen...

A big show this week coming out of a weekend full of newsworthy events in professional wrestling. Ryan and Kyle are here to talk about Brock Lesnar's pending return to the UFC and what that means for WWE and the Universal Title. Plus, we talk about injuries in pro wrestling following Hiromu Takahashi's brutal broken neck at the NJPW G1 Special in San Francisco, whether wrestling is regressing when it comes to safety, our favorite N64 wrestling games, a preview of WWE Extreme Rules, and a whole l...

For the first time in the history of Top Rope Nation, all three of our hosts were in the same place at the same time as the show was recorded live. Rather than recording over the internet from hundreds of miles apart, Ryan, Justin, and Kyle join up in Iowa live to discuss the latest in wrestling. Some of the topics discussed this week include fake news invading wrestling, the ongoing saga with Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, why WCW had the best roster of all time in 1998, Daniel Bryan's contract...

A noteworthy week in pro wrestling for both good and bad reasons. To start things off, the tragic death of Leon "Vader" White has saddened the wrestling community. We spend the first half of the show reliving some of the highs of his career while also discussing the lows. We're at our best sometimes when we get nostalgic, and we think this Vader career retrospective will give you a good sense of why the man was the greatest super heavyweight in wrestling history.On the good side of the coin, W...

We went live immediately following WWE Money in the Bank to talk about one of WWE's best PPV shows in quite some time. Ryan, Kyle, and Justin are here to catch you up on a tremendous weekend of wrestling, with our thoughts on TakeOver Chicago and Sunday night's Money in the Bank show.We discuss Alexa Bliss' big night, Braun Strowman winning the briefcase, an outstanding match between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, perhaps Elias' best match yet against Seth Rollins, Ronda Rousey's great perfo...

A wild show this week as we hit on all of the biggest topics going around the world of professional wrestling and WWE. First and foremost, we have one of the best debates on the show in many months as we discuss Daniel Bryan's ongoing discussions with WWE over a new contract, as well as theorize on what could happen if he does not sign with the company and what could motivate that decision.Additionally, we talk NXT and debate the direction of Gargano vs. Ciampa following TakeOver Chicago and w...

WWE Money In The Bank is still two weeks away, but on this week's show, the guys get into an intriguing discussion on whether or not one of WWE's marquee matches has run its course. Is the luster still there or has the gimmick become played out? Not only that, but how easy is this year's match actually going to be to predict? We also discuss the card for NXT TakeOver: Chicago and why Velveteen Dream vs. Ricochet could be the match of the weekend.All of this and much, much more!Subscribe to...

We're back to discuss a newsworthy last couple of weeks in the world of pro wrestling. FOX Sports is absolutely throwing money at Vince McMahon to bring SmackDown to their network, and we discuss why this is a period in pro wrestling that is unparalleled in history. Also on the show, Ryan, Justin, and Kyle talk about the (bad) Bobby Lashley segments over the last couple of weeks, whether or not WWE is doing right by Daniel Bryan since his return, and we start to talk about the directions WWE may...

The guys are back this week with some more thoughts on WWE doing business with Saudi Arabia, whether or not legislating morality is a good thing, where we go with Roman Reigns now after yet another failed attempt to win the Universal title, where WWE lost their way with Reigns, and a full preview for this Sunday's WWE Backlash. A jam-packed show full of some great discussion with the Top Rope Nation crew. Subscribe to Top Rope NationiTunes & iOS | Android | Google Play | Spotify | TuneIn | St...

We are back with a great show this week. By the time you are listening to the show, WWE's Greatest Royal Rumble is probably already in the books. However, the controversy from this show will be long lasting. Ryan, Justin, and Kyle debate the merits of WWE doing business with the Saudi Arabian government. if you're looking for a good debate on humanitarian issues, this is about as close you will get on a professional wrestling podcast.We also talk Shinsuke Nakamura's new entrance music and pres...

Ryan, Justin, and Kyle have a big show in store this week as they discuss the life of the legendary Bruno Sammartino and then discuss the results of this week's WWE Superstar Shakeup. Which brand came out on top? Which women's division is superior? Should Kevin Owens be a babyface? There's a ton to talk about and this is one of our most entertaining shows in a long time. Subscribe to Top Rope NationiTunes & iOS | Android | Google Play | Spotify | TuneIn | Stitcher | Mac & PC | RSSSupport Us...

We're back from New Orleans and debriefing after what has been an incredibly newsworthy week. Ryan, Justin, and Kyle recap their time together hitting Bourbon Street, taking in the sights, and attending seven different wrestling shows. Progress, ROH, NXT, WWN, WrestleCon, Joey Janella's Spring Break, and of course WrestleMania. We're talking them all! Plus, we deep dive on the direction WWE looks to be taking (or should take) over the next few months with Roman Reigns, Rusev, Shinsuke Nakamura, ...

The biggest week of the year for wrestling fans is upon us as WWE presents WrestleMania 34 this Sunday night. Not only that, but we've got a gang of great independent events in New Orleans as well. We cover them all and preview every single match on the WrestleMania card. All the winners, what we think will be the biggest surprises, the match of the night, the most disappointing match of the night, and much more. This is the only WrestleMania podcast that you need!Subscribe to Top Rope Nationi...

This week we welcome Liam O'Rourke, author of the critically acclaimed biography "Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later" to talk about his process in writing the book and Pillman's career in general. A great discussion as O'Rourke and the Top Rope Nation crew share some of their favorite Pillman memories, discuss what Pillman's career might have been had he lived, the process of writing such a detailed book on the life of the "Loose Cannon," and much more.Y...

We're back this week to talk about what everyone in the wrestling world is talking about - Daniel Bryan's return to active wrestling (just as we had predicted on Episode 49). Ryan and Justin are joined by Derick from the Oversell Podcast to talk about one of the most exciting moments in WWE history, and we look ahead to WrestleMania, Bryan's full time return and what that means for WWE, feuds we could be seeing for Bryan on the horizon, and much more.Subscribe to Top Rope NationiTunes & iOS |...