Top Marks

We shake of the hangover cloud of WhiskeyMania and get back to basics, as the #goodfriends return to break down the top 3 stories in the world of professional wrestling. And this week they are: 1. NXT TakeOver New Orleans! We review NXT's latest. Was it its greatest? And where do we go from here? 2. Raw After Mania! Have our WrestleMania opinions changed with some room to breathe and hints at the next direction? 3. SmackDown After Mania! Breaking down the Carmella cash-in and early returns on the Nakamura heel turn! All that plus listener questions have us drafting international Survivor Series teams, and the triumphant returns of Sunday Night Tweet and Keep It or Kick It! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Support the show at patreon.com/TopMarks, where $5 this month gets you Josh's WrestleMania weekend special Half Marks covering Joey Janela's Spring Break 2, Impact vs LU, and Supercard of Honor! Not to mention an Andre The Giant HBO doc review show and a yet-to-be-determined retro

Your intrepid hosts did a shot of whiskey before every match on the entire card of WrestleMania 34, then sat down to talk about it. This... is their story. Support the show at patreon.com/TopMarks where this week you'll get the debut of Half Marks, as Josh sits down with our friends Brock and Max to go over Lucha Underground vs Impact, Joey Janela's Spring Break 2, and Supercard of Honor. Some time next week we'll have an Andre documentary special, and who knows, maybe something else before April is out as well. We're going all out this month! Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

It's the first annual Top Marks WrestleMania House Party and the #goodfriends are opening the door to all of their good friends to talk up not just the Grand-Daddy of them all, but the entire weekend's festivities! Joining us for this fine party are: Rob Rousseau (@robrousseau) - 0:12:42 Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) - 0:24:26 Andrew Zuber (@the_Zubes) - 0:37:19 Jamison Isaak (@teendaze) - 0:53:29 Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) - 1:09:35 Will Macklin (@WillMacklinShow) - 1:24:40 John Cullen (@cullenthecomic) - 1:38:47 Support the show at patreon.com/TopMarks for access to Bonus Marks, our donors only bonus show that is always a ton of fun. And BE SURE TO ENJOY WRESTLEMANIA, GANG! Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

THANK YOU TERESA AND GARY!!! For the full episode, head to patreon.com/TopMarks

Like Braun Strowman's tag partner at WrestleMania, you just don't know what you're going to get on this week's Top Marks. The #goodfriends are back to break down the top three stories of the week in the world of professional wrestling, and this week they are: 1. Strong Style Evolved! We review the latest foray into the American market by New Japan, and what the end result means going forward for both the Golden Lovers and the Young Bucks! 2. Braun's Mystery Partner! We take a look at the top suspects for who we expect to see tagging with the Monster Among Men at this year's show of shows... Who we'd be disappointed by, and who we can't wait to see! 3. NXT's North American Championship! Does WWE's developmental brand need a secondary title? What should we expect from the match? And who should walk away as the inaugural champ? All that plus listener questions force us to put our differences aside and say something nice about each other, the triumphant return of Sunday Night Tweet, and brand new game: Hall For A

DANIEL BRYAN IS BACK, BABY. What more do you need to know? The #goodfriends are also back to break down the top 3 stories in the world of professional wrestling, and this week they are: 1. Daniel Bryan's return! We reminisce on his career, his retirement, how wrestling has missed him, and the big speech on Tuesday night to announce he's back! 2. The Ultimate Deletion! After months of teasing us with the Broken Matt character, WWE finally let Matthew Hardy run free, off-leash, exactly as he was in TNA. Did the segment(s) succeed? Did the company believe in it? And where does Bray Wyatt go from here? 3. Daniel Bryan's future! We look ahead to Bryan at WrestleMania, and the dream matches we want to see him have with a roster that has loaded up with talent since his retirement. Plus listener questions have us going full Naked Mideon, and our old friend Gil stops by with an update on WWE XP. All that plus the return of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the internet needed: another wrestling podcast. Top Marks is

Vice Sports wrestling contributor ROB ROUSSEAU returns to the show this week for a record-breaking third appearance alongside the #goodfriends, making him an honorary #goodfriend. Rob's here to break down the big story in wrestling this week, as not only did the WWE step in a big mess, they actually made moves to undo the damage done! And that story, as well as the others we tackle this week, is: 1. The Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal is announced and rescinded in just three and a half days. Rob Rousseau joins to discuss Moolah's shady history, exactly why this was so problematic, and if WWE admitting defeat on Moolah's legacy gives hope to the idea they may stop pushing Ultimate Warrior as well. 2. WWE Fastlane 2018 review. The final PPV before WrestleMania is in the books, and we look over the card, its impact on the Mania build, give our thoughts on the matches and a letter grade for the show. 3. John Cena's Road To WrestleMania. Big Match John wants to go through the Undertaker! We got a lot of list

Like Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt, the #goodfriends are here to break down the bad booking on a #broken road to Fastlane! They touch on the NJPW Anniversary show and are visited once again by new friend (and possible roommate?) Gil before settling into the usual three rounds discussing the top 3 stories of the week in the world of professional wrestling. And this week they are: 1. Speculating on All In! After a week where Cody and the Bucks announced the venue for the biggest indie show in history -- and got some major press in The Ringer and Rolling Stone -- we re-assess our hype levels for a show that largely remains a mystery. 2. The Woken Warriors head to the Hardy Compound! We are on the cusp of the make-or-break moment in Matt's Broken run in WWE, and a make-or-break moment in Bray Wyatt's career as a whole. There is every reason to believe this should be good. And whose bottles are those, man? 3. WWE Fastlane 2018 Preview. A PPV we largely don't care about that has had one of the most lacklustre builds in

Like the Beer City Bruiser and Ronda Rousey, the #goodfriends are here to raise some hell! We touch on Brock skipping Raw and Cena moving over to SmackDown, and meet our new friend Gil, before settling into the usual three rounds discussing the top 3 stories of the week in the world of professional wrestling. And this week they are: 1. Elimination Chamber review! A predictable show, but did it entertain? Commentary detracts from a great match, and what's going on with all that Gatorade? 2. Honor Rising review! ROH heads to Japan to join forces with NJPW, as the Golden Lovers make their in-ring re-debut, and Beer City Bruiser steals our hearts and nearly steals the show. 3. Ronda Rousey's role in WWE. Can she stand apart from the women's division without crushing it? And does Stephanie's in-ring ability determine how successful her initial run can be? All that plus listener questions have us imagining a wrestling-based JRPG and debating a presidential race between The Rock and LeBron James, the triumphant retu

In honour of Raw's longest match ever and Seth Rollins setting the record for longest time ever spent in a match, the #goodfriends are back with their longest episode ever! Unless you count the 2017 Best Of as two parts of one episode. Which I guess technically they are, but I don't really think of them that way, you know? We touch on the rumours that WWE wants to sign Rob Gronkowski off the hop before settling into the usual three rounds discussing the top 3 stories in the world of professional wrestling. And this week they are: 1. The end of split-brand PPVs. WWE announces that after the road to WrestleMania, brand specific PPV events will be no more, with one five-hour show per month shared by Raw and SmackDown. But is this a good idea? We discuss. 2. The Gauntlet Match. Though we try not to be a weekly recap show, this week it's hard not be. Raw tried something radically different this week, with nearly two hours straight of nothing but in-ring action that had some fans wondering "What's the point?" We br

Just like Dolph Ziggler, this week the #goodfriends are back for one reason and it's to be the very best. We're back to the usual three rounds this week, though it's debatable as to whether they're the three biggest stories in wrestling. But those rounds are: 1) Dolph Ziggler is back. Is there a path to glory for a once beloved talent or is too little too late for a man whose time has past? Josh and Justin furiously debate. 2) NJPW New Beginning review. The third night has come and gone, and we check in on the big moments, big matches, and the general story direction in New Japan. 3) Defend Your Draft! We drafted rosters over the weekend that sparked some Twitter controversy. We defend our divisive picks and expand the rosters with five more rounds of picks. Does this change your vote as to who picked the better show? All that plus listener questions have us picking our favourite unheralded feuds and which matches one should seek out on NJPW World, the returns of Sunday Night Tweet and Keep It Or Kick It, and

Just like the show that aired after the Super Bowl, we're here, we're on the air, and this is us. And this week we're joined by indie wrestling darling JOEY JANELA for a quick chat about Spring Break 2 and the best post-match liquors. And because we're strapped for time this week, the show only goes two rounds instead of the usual three, and those rounds are: 1. Mixed Bag Challenge: We dive into the Mixed Match Challenge, an experiment for WWE in both style and delivery, and weigh in on some additional women's division topics that we ran out of time for on last week's show. 2. A Better 205 Live: Drew Gulak's been asking for it for months and it's finally happening. Only two weeks into its latest pivot 205 Live has already become must-watch wrestling television. What's changed, and how did we get here? All that plus listener questions have us picking the best wrestler to be roommates with, the return of Sunday Night Tweet, and we (sort of) announce the topic for our first Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. It's

Just like Ronda Rousey at the Royal Rumble, this week's episode makes a point...! ...of discussing the road to WrestleMania. The #goodfriends are right back at it to make a little time for the Golden Lovers reunion (though we'll go more in-depth next week when Justin's finished watching New Beginnings), but mostly to discuss the top (count em) 1-2-3 stories this week in the world of professional wrestling. And they are: 1. Royal Rumble Review! Finally a Rumble match that delivers what fans want from the classic match type. But how was the PPV overall? 2. NXT TakeOver Philadelphia Review! An absolute barn-burner main event, but did it lack the consistency of previous TakeOvers? How do these shows continue to bring the goods every time? 3. Ronda Rousey debuts in WWE! How does change the landscape in the women's division? Are the women right to be annoyed? Why wasn't she on Raw? And is there any way Rousey's WWE tenure could already be described as "exhausting"? All that plus listener questions have us mapping o

It's the 33rd Anniversary of Top Marks and we look back with a bloated episode littered with the people we've met along the way. Okay, not actually. The #goodfriends are back in the saddle to break down the top three stories of the week in professional wrestling, and this week they are: 1. Raw 25 review 2. NXT TakeOver Philadelphia preview and predictions 3. Royal Rumble preview and predictions Plus, we address the Enzo Amore situation, talk about our experience and ECCW Ballroom Brawl 9, and promote a new wrestling destination in Vancouver. And listener questions have us booking our all time fantasy WrestleMania card. All that plus another edition of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the internet needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

Just like Raw returning to the Manhattan Center on Monday, this week's Top Marks gets back to basics: no guests, no overtime, just the #goodfriends breaking down the top three stories of the week in the world of professional wrestling. And they are: 1. Raw 25 Preview. We run down the list of returning legends and theorize on how they might interact with the current roster. And how much wrestling is even going to be on this show? 2. NXT signings! Ricochet, War Machine and Candice LeRae are all headed to the Performance Center! Ethan Carter III has signed as well! Where do we see these talents ending up, and how much do we even like them? Plus: should Bobby Lashley return to the Fed as well? 3. Paige's rumoured retirement! The pale one suffered another injury last week, truncating a brief return to the ring after a long road of recovery. Should she have ever returned? And where does she fit in the annals of women's wrestling? All that plus listener questions have us ranking our Top 5 favourite entrances! And th

Josh and Mike are fresh off the plane from Japan and just like WrestleKingdom 12 they're set to deliver an unforgettable show. The #goodfriends are reunited for the first time in 2018 and sparks fly as the boys gush at length about the incredible show they witnessed both live in (and broadcast from) the Tokyo Dome. Time limits fly out the window as we give this card the in-depth breakdown it so justly deserves. But we still break down the top three stories of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WrestleKingdom 12 Review. Our thoughts on the surefire show of the year. 2. Alpha vs. Omega: How Kenny and Jericho lived up to the hype, delivering an instant classic. And what comes next for both men as the New Japan schedule rolls on. 3. Bullet Club in WWE. As New Japan rises as a viable threat to WWE, Stanford realizes they're sitting on one of the company's most historic American acts, as Gallows and Anderson join the Balor Club. We discuss. All that plus Keep It or Kick It, and listener questions

We're once again discarding the usual format for the second half of our year-end look back at the 2017 that was in professional wrestling. And for a second consecutive week we are joined by the delightful CAITLIN HOTCHKISS to hand out the hardware. We'll get back to normal next week after Josh returns from Japan, but in the meantime, here are the Awards handed out on today's show: Eulogy for a Career That Died in 2017 Tag Team of the Year Worst Feud Best Feud Worst PPV Main Event Most Improved Wrestler Women’s Match of the Year Spot of the Year Best PPV of the Year Worst PPV of the Year Wrestler of the Year Best Use of Chekov’s Table Match of the Year Co-Host’s Worst Take of the Year All that and the return of Josh & Justin's Rumour Corner! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod Follow Caitlin on Twitter: @criseyde

We're switching it up this week, discarding the usual format for a year-end look back at the 2017 that was in professional wrestling. And we are joined to do so by friend of the show and wonderful wrestling tweeter CAITLIN HOTCHKISS! Part 2 of the 2017 Year In Review is coming later this week, but in the meantime, here are the Awards handed out in this first half: Most Shocking Moment Best on the Mic Best Grasp of Character Most Likely to Succeed in 2018 Best Worst Promo Most Underrated Wrestler Best Use of a Weapon Most Insulting to Intelligence Worst Push All that and the final Keep It Or Kick It of 2017! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod Follow Caitlin on Twitter: @criseyde

Ho ho ho! Merrrrrrry Christmas! This week the Top Guys are back, joined by Justin's roommate Mike Noble, as well as the Big Guy himself, Santa Claus! Our three topics are: 1. WWE Clash of Champions review. 2. Women's Royal Rumble. 3. Wrestle Kingdom preview. Plus listener questions, Sunday Night Tweet, and Keep It or Kick It. Happy holidays, folks! Thanks for listening this year.

Like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn on SmackDown, this week's episode is getting serious about injustice! Friend of the show and excellent wrestling tweeter CAITLIN HOTCHKISS joins the program this week for a sombre chat, but don't worry, she'll be back in a few weeks for a ton of fun, just you wait! But this week Josh and Justin are breaking down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling. And they are: 1. Clash of Champions preview! The final WWE PPV of the year goes down this Sunday, and we look over the card and predict the winners. 2. Michael Elgin and Rich Swann are outed as awful men as the #MeToo movement hits the wrestling world. In an industry largely built on toxic masculinity can we really be surprised by this? And is this just the tip of the iceberg? Caitlin Hotchkiss joins to discuss. Find her on Twitter: @criseyde 3. Roman Reigns claims to be the best in the world in a shoot interview with Corey Graves. We investigate the validity of his claim. Plus listener questions have us fantasy