Thoughts on AEW's Blood & Guts show from the opening match to the final blood soaked screenshot. I'm going over what worked for me, what didn't, and where I think things might go from here. Plus some thoughts on people who can't seem to get past Jungle Boy's size, the finish of the Blood & Guts match, and the use of weapons in the cage. All that an…

In this episode we pick up pretty much where we left off in Chapter I. Genichiro Tenryu is the new AJPW Triple Crown Champion, but his feud with Jumbo Tsuruta continues. How does it end and where do we go from there are the big questions we answer in this outing. The Four Pillars of Wrestling also make their first appearances in our story and we ch…

Night 2 of WrestleMania is in the books and I have some thoughts. What worked? What didn't? I'm feeling good and ready to share my opinions on the matches, angles, production values, and everything in between.By Sam Fain

Immediate reaction to Wrestlemania 37 Night 1! What do I think of the main event? What about Bad Bunny? Omos? Cesaro? It's all here. Plus, I talk a walk through the last few days of indie wrestling, especially that showcased on IWTV. It's good to be back and talk a little wrestling. Give it a listen and join the conversation on Twitter @kopw72…

Todd and Mike join me to preview the upcoming Filsinger Games Perennial 2021 virtual con. We go behind the scenes a bit, discuss the schedule, and even have a couple of exclusive reveals! We also present our top 5 game cards for 2020 from each game line (CotG, Legends, & Indies). Head to filsingergames.com to sign up for the Perennial - $10 for tou…

Happy New Year! KoPW Style... What does that mean? I'm not 100% sure but it probably involves vulnerability, humor, charm, and the search for perspective on life, love, & death. Oh, and wrestling! Lots of wrestling! Do I succeed? Who knows? What I do know is this past week has been a cathartic experience. I talk about Brodie Lee, AEW's tribute show…

It's the best time of the year! December releases for Filsinger Games have hit. All three major product lines get something unique - from the fantastic Legends Expansion featuring Dynamite Kid, Adrian Adonis, and Gordon Solie - to name a few - to the Women of the Indies 2020 pack and the mammoth Battle Lines: Kronos set; I’ve got Todd Joerchel, Mik…

The fantastic Matt Charlton joins me for another round. This time we're talking about his latest book, J-Crowned: An Illustrated Guide to Champions of Japanese Wrestling, Vol. 2. When last we spoke, volume 1 was hot off the press, and the pandemic was just beginning. We dive into the past 8 months of living, a little bit of parenthood, and a whole …

Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky are back reppin' Filsinger Games. We discuss the latest Black Friday game announcements including the huge name dropped for Legends of Wrestling's next expansion set. Then we turn back the clock to talk GWF Early Classics and the Classics era of Champions of the Galaxy. It's a deep dive as we go character by character…

Back with an epic conversation between yours truly and the Filsinger Games Legends of Wrestling Team! Card gurus Chad and Cory Olson, Tim Dalton, and handbook writer, Stu Lowry, are all on board - albeit in various forms - to chat about their favorite territories, legends, and signings. Plus we go fairly in-depth about card creation - how do you cr…

The Dark Menace himself joins us for this special Filsinger Games episode of KoPW! I loved getting the chance to interview Tom Filsinger, creator of Champions of the Galaxy, as we take a stroll down memory lane to chat about the "Best of" set released to celebrate 50 game editions of CotG! Todd Joerchel rides shotgun and we wrap the show up with co…

Another Filsinger Games edition of KoPW is here and what better time than GalactiCon season! It's a different con this year in light of the pandemic, but it might just be the best chance for lots of fans to attend in the virtual space. I'm joined by Todd and Mike to discuss the con, the newest game editions, and so much more! Plus stay tuned at the…

It's finally here. Any longtime followers of KOPW are aware of my love of 90s AJPW and my desire to chart the decade in podcast form. I have finally taken the plunge and present to you the first part of a series diving deep into the King's Road. In this episode we journey through the beginnings of puroresu, the major players at the genesis of AJPW,…

My immediate thoughts on AEW's Double or Nothing pay-per-view! What's my reaction to Stadium Stampede? What were my favorite matches? Did the PPV provide much needed enjoyment in a time that had been marked by darkness and tragedy in the wrestling community? (Spoiler alert: YES!) Check it out and hit me up with your feedback over on the Twitter @ko…

No intro music, no flash, no script, ho hot takes - just some time spent thinking about Hana Kimura, fatherhood, loss, grief, love, compassion, and community. No anger or hate in here either. Take care and be well. Reach out for help if you need it. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255…

It's time to dive into some of the DVDs I've been watching during quarantine. First up - "Harley Race: The Greatest Wrestler on God's Green Earth" and the superb "Championship Wrestling from Florida: The Story of Wrestling in the Sunshine State". [Ellbow Productions](https://ellbowproductions.weebly.com) and [Highspots.com](http://www.highspots.com…

I had the pleasure of speaking to Matt Charlton again for this episode. We chat about his new - and first - book, "J-Crowned: An Illustrated Guide to the Champions of Japanese Wrestling" - the genesis of the project, favorite bits of art, decisions on the flow of the book, favorite matches, and so much more. It's always a joy to chat with Matt and …

A quick update on the state of KoPW and what you can expect in the future!By Sam Fain

Back with another episode of [Filsinger Games](http://filsingergames.com) Goodness! I'm joined by Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky to discuss all the first quarter releases including the Best of Mexico set with names like Rey Horus, Laredo Kid, Flamita, and Mil Muertes! We also chat about the Legends Ladies 2 set with the Fabulous Moolah, Mildred Buk…

Todd Joerchel and Mike Melesky join Sam again for another slice of Filsinger Games goodness! We're talking about the new Legends V Expansion set that features none other than Big Van Vader and Davey Boy Smith as Headliners! We also cover the Reimagined 2089 set as managers make their first appearance in the CotG universe and the new artwork for the…

Sam is joined again by Todd & Mike from Filsinger Games to wrap-up the annual Galacticon event from last month. Todd also brings a very special interview with the Filsinger Games Legends crew, Chad Olson, Cory Olson, and Tim Dalton, as they report from Waterloo, Iowa (not only the birthplace of your host) site of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Profess…

Sam returns with a special episode and new format spotlighting Filsinger Games' Champions of the Galaxy line! Joined by Director of Ops, Todd Joerchel and author of Future Shock - CWF 2115, Mike Melesky, we talk about all the current Filsinger Games news and go behind the scenes of the latest edition of sci-fi/comic book inspired wrestling action. …

We're back to talk about our namesake show: King of Pro Wrestling! Plus tons of discussion about all the rumors swirling around the backstage situation and contract negotiations. We also devote some time to discussing WWE's Crown Jewel and the controversy stemming from it. It's good to be back and we've got more on the way soon! Hit us up on Twitte…

We are back to talk about the Destruction tour! Plus we've got some interesting news and notes, previews, and the much anticipated return of our Classic Match segment is announced with a match for next episode! All this and more! Special thanks to the Hails for our theme music. Huge shout out to Betsy Frymire for the incredible and much loved logo!…

In this episode we have a fun interview direct from Podcast Row at Starrcast with the 2018 PWG BOLA winner, Jeff Cobb. We talk about his work in NJPW, the transition to working the style, what he likes about it, selling, telling stories, Matt Riddle, and what's next! You won't want to miss a fun, honest, and open interview with a passionate perform…

Here it is: our special All In coverage! We kick off with thoughts recorded at Starrcast, less than 24 hours removed from attending the historic show live. We then move into our thoughts a week later after letting the show sink in a bit. We also tease our NJPW Destruction coverage for next week! And keep your eyes peeled as we'll be delivering spec…

We were live from the [Podcast Movement](http://www.podcastmovement.com) [Westwood One ](http://www.westwoodone.com)Pop-up Studio at Starrcast & couldn't wait to share it with you. We were joined by multiple guests including the one and only, [Amber O'Neal](http://twitter.com/amberoneal1) in her final appearance as the Bullet Babe. We talk NJPW, th…

We've got a jam-packed episode in a short amount of time! We talk to Adrian from Podcast Row sponsor [Buffalo Wild Wings](http://www.buffalowildwings.com), Benjamin Raven from [Court of Nerds](http://thecourtofnerds.com) & That's so Braven, Dave from [Meet Chciago Northwest](http://chicagonorthwest.com) who helped organize the event, & fan Clifton …

We had the pleasure of speaking to the legendary Magnum T.A. for well over an hour and decided to dedicate the entire episode to him. We talk Starrcast, All In, Cody, Tessa, his views on the psychology and artistry of professional wrestling, and so much more! How much of an influence was Bruce Lee? Did Magnum ever want to wrestle in Japan? How does…

Paul & Sam have to resort to take 2 as a technical SNAFU results in the loss of Paul's half of the audio. But you're in for a fun time as the guys preview the big matches announced for Destruction & Fighting Spirit Unleashed! Plus we address the PAC (Neville) situation, potential King of Pro Wrestling matches, and, of course, some Wrestle Kingdom 1…

It's an epic episode as we drop an announcement for Starrcast! In addition to the scheduled G1 Post-Mortem, we've got an interview with Todd Joerchel from [Filsinger Games](http://www.filsingergames.com). We spens some time chatting about the history of the company, the different game lines, ways to play, and even chat a little wrestling. Then we'v…

We have come to the end of the road for this year's G1. Paul, Sam, & Wilfred are on hand to discuss nights 14-18 and, of course, the G1 CLIMAX 28 Finals culminating in a classic (though not everyone agrees) between the Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and the Golden Star, Kota Ibushi. And they do it all in just a little over two hours. Don't be shy to let u…

Paul & Sam are back to discuss the G1 tournament matches for nights 7-13. News & notes, & potential win scenarios for the competitors still alive. Wilfred was unable to join us, but don't forget to check out the [NJPW-US blog](http://www.njpw-us.com) & follow on Twitter @NJPWUS for his thoughts on the latest nights. As always, special thanks to [Th…

Paul & Sam are joined by Wilfred for news, notes, & night 1! Sam has to step away to be a new dad & Wilfred fills in on 2-6 with Paul. But keep listening after the outro music for a quick burst of G1 thoughts from Sam, recorded after a few days of 4 hours worth of sleep... It's the most wonderful time of the year and there's a lot to cover in this …

Paul & Wilfred discuss SSE UK Night 1 before being joined by Sam for night 2, the G1 Special, and some G1 Climax discussion. It's a raucous episode and there's some controversy to discuss. Sam gets salty, f-bombs are dropped, and Paul takes a victory lap. We send our best to Hiromu and there's even some Oasis chat. Don't forget to fill out your G1 …

We welcome Wilfred, the producer of the NJPW-US blog! It's a 3-way dance as we dive into all the news, notes, and previews of what's to come. Listen on as we go in depth with the G1 Special, the SSE UK shows, and begin our preview of the G1 CLIMAX 28! Make sure you check us out on Twitter @kopw72 & @njpwus. Don't forget the [NJPW-US blog](http://ww…

Sam & Paul talk about the passing of Big Van Vader, his work in NJPW, and later career. There's coverage of Lion's Gate Project13, Kizuna Road, and short G1 preview, and other news and notes! We're gearing up for our huge G1 Climax 28 preview next week, too, so don't be shy with your thoughts on the tournament and picks for victory. As always, than…

NJPW Dominion has come and gone! Was it the greatest card ever? Was the main event the greatest match of all time? What do we think of Jericho/Naito, Hiromu/Ospreay, & Omega vs Okada IV? We go in depth on arguably the biggest card of the year. Hit us back with your feedback on Twitter @kopw72 email at kingofprowrestling72@gmail.com…

We're running late, but we've packed a ton in! Paul & Sam cover nights 8-12, the Block Finals, and Tournament Finals. We also preview Dominion in depth and have a trio of classic matches that dovetail perfectly with the main event... Plus news and notes and other shenanigans! As always, shout out to the Hails for use of their song "Bronco". Check t…

Paul & Sam are back to cover nights 3 thru 7 of NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 25! We've got some news and notes (Harold Meij's aspirations for the company, G1 Special news, injuries, & more) and, of course, our classic matches! As always, special thanks to the Hails for our intro and outro music and don't forget to check out our friend, Wilfred, o…

We've got tons of news uprfont and some in depth discussion about the new president of NJPW, Harold Meij, and the future of the company. We also go deep on BOSJ Night 1 & 2. Lots of great discussion and arguments for and against a couple of the bouts! Of course, we have our classic matches, too. And in spite of a slight kerfluffle, we make lemonade…

Sam & Paul were too excited not have a conversation about the historic sell out of All In today! We talk about what this means for the event, for independent wrestling, and, of course, NJPW. Let us know what you think by giving us a shout @KoPW72 on Twitter!By Sam Fain

Paul & Sam give their thoughts on the Best of the Super Juniors tournament with a full preview and predictions of each tournament match! Plus, we're talking All In & Starrcast: the media coverage, the capacity, ticket prices, potential matches, and, of course, CM Punk! All this and our Classic Matches! [Ultimo Dragon vs Great Sasuke 8/5/96](http://…

Wrestling Dontaku nights 1 & 2 in depth, G1 Special at the Cow Palace ticket sales, other news & notes, a t-shirt giveaway, & some big news for the future of the podcast! Plus our classic matches! This week we cover: [Keiji Mutoh vs Shinya Hashimoto 8/15/95 G1 Final](http://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00137_2_1) [Yuji Nagata vs Kensuke Sasaki 1/4/2004…

Sam loves Nagata. Paul loves the junior division. And so much more! Join us as we talk Road to Dontaku 4/23, 4/24, 4/26, 4/27 & Wrestling Hi No Kuni on 4/29. Plus classic matches! Okada/Marufuji 10/10/16, Okada/Shibata 4/9/17, & El Samurai/Koji Kanemoto 6/5/97! Plus we've got news and notes for all the goings ons in and around NJPW. NOTE: We experi…

This special bonus episode from KoPW brings you results and notes from RISE & SHIMMER wrestling which Sam attended live. In addition to his comentary on the events, he scored an interview with Ballsy Badass, Shotzi Blackheart. They sip whiskey, talk Elvis, acting school, character building, and what's next for Shotzi!Interview starts at the 59 minu…

Sam gets the opportunity to chat with Pat Laprade during Shimmer weekend in Berwyn, IL. Pat is the co-author of "Mad Dogs, Midgets & Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling", "Mad Dog: The Maurice Vachon Story", "Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling", & the upcoming Andre the…

It's back to our regularly scheduled NJPW coverage for the KoPW podcast. We're covering Lion's Gate Project 11, Road to Dontaku Nights 1-5, a couple of classic matches in our new segment, and tackling a question from a listener. All that and more! It's a lot of ground to cover, but we're up for it if you are. (Sam's a little under the weather in th…

Wait a minute! This isn't NJPW! Paul and I felt we'd be remiss to not talk about the biggest weekend of the year for North American wrestling. In this episode you'll find our full rundown of not only Wrestlemania, but what may be the best WWE super card ever produced in NXT Takeover: New Orleans. We've got a lot to say, but naturally mentions of ou…

Paul & Sam chat about the (at the time of recording) upcoming Road to Dontaku shows. We also give an overview of the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, SHIMMER 100, and ROH Supercard of Honor. *0:00:00-0:21:17 NJPW News & Notes *0:21:18-1:13:00 WWE HoF Ceremony *1:13:00-1:24:50 Mania Weekend Indy shows & SHIMMER 100 *1:24:50-end of show ROH Supercard of Ho…