Top Marks

Like Shane McMahon on SmackDown this week's episode is going too far! Or at least too long... But Josh and Justin are back to break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling. And they are: 1. Shane McMahon Heel Turn? The SDL Commissioner is feuding with two heels but is still coming off as the villain. What's going on here? Is this headed for a double-turn so soon after Sami turned heel? 2. Matt Hardy has #woken on Monday Night Raw, bringing the Broken gimmick out under a different name, but with all the same fire. Can Matt single-handedly pump up interest in the red brand the same way he did for Impact? And is this Bray Wyatt's last chance? 3. An Abbreviated History of Modern Wrestling. We try to pick the ten matches that encapsulate the modern era, as sort of a Wrestling 101 course syllabus to educate new fans. The ten matches of this decade that both hook and inform newcomers. Plus listener questions have us opening our own wrestling-themed breweries, and the return of both Sunday Night

Unlike Raw and SmackDown, this week's edition of Top Marks is can't miss as Vice's ROB ROUSSEAU re-joins the #GoodFriends to discuss a man who might be WWE's biggest homegrown developmental success, the blue-chip prospect that is Patrick Clark, your Velveteen Dream. This week's three rounds are: 1. Rob Rousseau, on WWE's opportunity to move beyond gay panic heels with the sexually ambiguous and impossibly charismatic Velveteen Dream. Read Rob's fantastic work in Vice: https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/vb3kny/the-velveteen-dream-is-wwes-chance-to-move-beyond-gay-panic And follow him on Twitter: @RobRousseau 2. The Shield reunion. Why does something we've been waiting years for not feel like the big deal it should? And where do they go from here now that Roman has missed most of this reunion with illness? 3. Cody and the Bucks go #AllIn. The indie darlings plan to run a 10,000 seat venue in 2018 independent of ROH and NJPW. Is it possible? What would they have to do to sell the place out? Plus listener qu

Like the call-ups to the women's divisions on both Raw and SmackDown, Josh and Justin are back doing the same thing they just did last week: breaking down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling. And they are: 1. NXT TakeOver War Games review. We go over the card that top to bottom might be the best TakeOver to date. 2. Deja vu in the women's divisions. Paige returns with help from minions. But then...the same thing happens the next night on SmackDown? What's going on here? 3. Survivor Series 2017 review. Running down a disappointing card with a main event focussed entirely on Triple H. Plus it's a jam packed listener mailbag this week, and Sunday Night Tweet returns with its most insane edition to date! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

Like the Raw and SmackDown rosters at Survivor Series, this episode is the only time of the year Josh and Justin get to interact. And they're here to break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, which are: 1. NXT TakeOver: War Games Preview. We run down the card of Saturday's TakeOver with match previews and predictions! 2. James Ellsworth's release. The chinless dog-man got canned this week, and we look back at his year in WWE and the many re-inventions therein. 3. Survivor Series preview. It's a been a bumpy ride to get to this card, but it's got more quality matches on offer than the build would suggest. We predict and prognosticate. Plus listener questions have us pondering the worst gimmicks we're fully on-board with, and the return of DrummerSlam! And reprise appearance of Keep It Or Kick It! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod This episode is brought to you by 12 Kings, the top bar for wrestling PPVs in Vancouver! Come w

Just like Chris Jericho, this week's episode is determined to prove it's the best in the world! So many have claimed to be the best, from Bauer & Pollock, to The LAW, to Cheap Heat when Shoemaker was still around, but they're all gone. And we're still here. Because we are the best in the world. We are the greatest of all-time. We are the alphas of wrestling podcasting. And we're gonna prove it, by breaking down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling. And they are: 1. AJ Styles ends Jinder's reign. We look at the on-the-fly booking of the road to Survivor Series, and measure whether Mahal's run was a success. 2. Austin Aries speaks! The one-time Cruiserweight star speaks to Chris Jericho about his departure from WWE. Do we believe him? And where do Hideo Itami and the UK division fit into 205 Live? 3. Alpha vs. Omega! Chris Jericho is heading to New Japan for a Wrestle Kingdom match against Kenny Omega. Plus listener questions have us drafting our own Survivor Series teams and reflecting

Like Braun Strowman, Josh and Justin have climbed out of the garbage for another edition of Top Marks! The #GoodFriends are joined by Vice's Rob Rousseau to discuss a man whose legacy belongs in the garbage: Ultimate Warrior, the improbable face of WWE's charitable division. This week's three rounds are: 1. Rob Rousseau, on WWE's white-washing of the Warrior's problematic past. Read Rob's excellent piece in Vice: https://sports.vice.com/en_ca/article/59y3nb/wwe-is-whitewashing-the-ultimate-warriors-bigoted-past And follow him on Twitter: @robrousseau 2. Braun Strowman's babyface turn. The return of the Monster Among Men, and his future now that they've finally embraced his crowd reaction. 3. The latest round of roster cuts. Summer Rae, Emma and Darren Young were all let go last Sunday. We project their futures in and out of the ring. Plus listener questions have us exposing our least popular wrestling opinions, and our first exposure to ECW. All that and another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what t

It's our Halloween Spooktacular, as Josh and Justin dress up as each other and play each other's roles on the podcast... What could be spookier?? But the boys are mostly here to break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WWE TLC Review. Our reactions to a radically different show than what was previewed last week. Were the changes for the better? 2. SmackDown invades Raw! WWE delivers a big moment, but at what cost? Was there proper motivation and care for character here? Does it even matter? 3. Finn Balor. The Demon King had an up-and-down week that only further cements that WWE has not known what to do with this guy since returning for injury. What can be done to win Josh over on a wrestler he openly does not like? Plus listener questions have us contemplating which matches to use to introduce wrestling to a significant other, and "Hey Guy, What's That All About?" returns with a segment aimed squarely at sex creeps. All that, and Justin takes control of Sunday Nigh

Like the Bullet Club storming Monday Night Raw, this week's episode is invaded by an outsider. Ian Williams to be precise, who joins Josh and Justin to discuss his recent article in Waypoint on Jimmy Jacobs' end with WWE and the real threat the indies pose to Vince McMahon's corporate hegemony. This week's three rounds are: 1. Ian Williams, on the rise and lure of the indies. Read Ian's excellent piece in Vice's Waypoint: https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/qvjgav/how-a-simple-selfie-could-represent-a-real-threat-to-wwes-dominance And follow him on Twitter: @brock_toon 2. TLC 2017 Preview. Examining and predicting the matches at Sunday's pay-per-view 3. Field Report. Justin and Josh report back after their trips out in the field this week, with Justin taking in a house show in Abbotsford on Monday, and Josh making the trek down to Seattle for SmackDown. Plus listener questions have us reminiscing over celebrity involvement and Josh debuts an all-new segment called WrestleMommia! It's just what the world

Like Neville and Jimmy Jacobs in WWE, this week's episode is finished. Josh and Justin are here to break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WWE Hell In A Cell wrap-up. How was it? And how did we fare in our predictions? 2. The SmackDown Tag Division! The Usos and the New Day are leading the charge, but is this the best tag scene WWE has seen in ages? 3. Neville & Jimmy Jacobs are done in WWE. The Cruiserweight star and writer/producer both exited the company this week for different reasons. We mourn their departure and consider the larger context of their exits. Plus listener questions have us look back on the history of TLC matches, and Justin debuts a new segment. And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

Like Kevin Owens challenging Shane-O-Mac, the Top Guys are about to do something they can't come back from: releasing their best episode yet! Josh and Justin are here to break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WWE Hell In A Cell preview. How fired up are we for SmackDown's upcoming PPV? 2. The Shield is reuniting. Is it the right time for this? And who are the natural trios for them to feud with? 3. Sami Zayn. After months of being criminally underused on SD Live, he feels like an important part of this main event feud. Does he get involved in the match? Is a heel turn coming? Plus listener questions have us running down our wrestling bucket lists! And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

Just like Neville, the Top Guys know exactly what they're doing and it's the best episode of their lives! Josh and Justin are here to break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WWE No Mercy review. Did a card with two WrestleMania calibre matches come anywhere close to delivering the goods? 2. NXT has broken through to another level. Is it back to being the best product WWE has to offer on a weekly basis? And what's changed to get it here? 3. Neville! The Man Whose First Name Vince McMahon Forgot had a heck of a week. Is he ready to graduate out of the Cruiserweight division? And how high can he go before gravity remembers him? Plus listener questions have us reminiscing over old favourites that would not fly in 2017! And a very special round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

Like the late Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, it's unforgettable episode of Top Marks that will be talked about for generations! TheTop Guys are back tackling the top stories, as Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WWE revives Starrcade, with plans for more WCW PPV names in the future. Are the Rhodes right to have beef? Which names do we want to see come back? 2. Jinder Mahal gets racist on SmackDown in the hunt for heat in his feud with Shinsuke Nakamura. Did he go too far? Are these subjects off limits to a company that might not properly handle them? 3. 2017 WWE No Mercy preview! Our thoughts and predictions for every match on the card. Plus listener questions have us drafting our own fantasy Gimmick Battle Royal! And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

Just like Vince McMahon, the Top Guys are back for another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. 205 Live! Is this show actually good now? We weigh in on the State of the Cruiserweights as the division takes some big strides towards consistency. 2. The Mae Young Classic! Was this tournament a success? Did the binge format help of hurt it? And who are the names to look out for coming out of it? 3. Vince McMahon returns! The Chairman made his first appearance on the blue brand in four years, to get bloodied and beaten by Kevin Owens. We loved every second of it. Plus listener questions have us plotting out our own Network tournament. And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

After a brief hiatus, the Top Guys are back to pop the crowd on another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wresting, and they are: 1. The Cena/Reigns worked shoots. Have these promos done more harm than good? Do they really even accomplish anything? Weighing the pros and cons of breaking the fourth wall. 2. The state of the broadcasts. With Corey Graves pulling double duty on Raw and SmackDown, we look at the commentary tables across all WWE platforms and assess how they could improve. 3. What to do with Dolph? After his re-debut fell flat on its face, Ziggler seems like a man at the end of his rope. Can he be saved? Plus listener questions have us trying to save Impact, while Justin cuts the promo of his life on Anthem's Ed Nordholm. And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

The Top Guys are back for another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. SummerSlam 2017 Review. Highlights, lowlights, and are these big four-show weekends proving to be too much to take in? 2. NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III Review. Why are TakeOver specials so much better received than main roster PPVs? 3. The future of Enzo Amore. With Cass on the shelf, and Enzo on 205 Live, has any of this been worth it? Was the break-up a mistake? Where do both men go from here? Plus listener questions have us reflecting on our first live wrestling experiences. And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

The Top Guys are back for another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wresting, and they are: 1. WWE SummerSlam Preview on the Raw side. 2. The G-1 Final. Match highlights, Shibata's return, and the perks of tournament wrestling. 3. WWE SummerSlam Preview on the SmackDown side. Plus the returns of DrummerSlam and Sunday Night Tweet, and listener questions have us reminiscing over old Create-A-Wrestlers and the best theme songs by real bands. It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

The Top Guys are back for another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wresting, and they are: 1. The Revival have suffered a major injury. Again. Will the injury-prone tag stop them from becoming the greatest tag team in WWE history? And where does their absence leave the rest of the division? 2. Breezango's Fashion Files is firing on all cylinders. What makes it so good? And how do they translate their backstage success into in-ring legitimacy? It's a short one this week as your boys are crunched for time. But we get deeply silly about Chris Benoit and ISIS, plus listener questions have us yearning for more WWE UK title matches and reminiscing about classic mid-carders. All that and another round of Sunday Night Tweet, plus the return of the drum game -- which has a name this time! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

The Top Guys are back for another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topic of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. Jon Jones challenges Brock Lesnar. What does it mean for the UFC, and do we want to see Brock return to MMA? 2. Shane McMahon has been added to the AJ/KO blow-off. Where is this going, and does he belong in these big programs? 3. Shinsuke Nakamura will fight for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam. We track his run in the fed and muse on how the match might go. Plus listener questions have us reflecting on grotesque injuries, and which wrestling legends should return to claim their illegitimate children. And another round of Sunday Night Tweet, and an all-new musical guessing game! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

The Top Guys are back another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WWE Battleground 2017 review. 2. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and long-term storytelling. 3. The cancellation of Talking Smack and the state of the WWE Network. Plus listener questions have us contemplating the worst finishers, and who should swap gimmicks. And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod

The Top Guys are back for another round of Top Marks! Josh and Justin break down the biggest topics of the week in professional wrestling, and they are: 1. WWE Battleground 2017 preview/predictions. 2. NXT Live / ECCW Ballroom Brawl 8 reviews from the live shows we went to. 3. Jason Jordan is Kurt Angle's son. Where does he go from here? Plus listener questions have us revealing wrestling moments we thought were real, and the greatest feel-good moments of all time. And another round of Sunday Night Tweet! It's just what the world needed: another wrestling podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @TopMarksPod