Mat Men S14E29 - The Road to All In Heats Up!

This week, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the guys open the show by reminiscing for a few minutes about where they were and how things have changed since that event. They also talk about Andy Williams, also known as "The Butcher," who tragically passed away last weekend. AEW paid an emotional tribute to Rebel on this week's Dynamite, raising awareness for ALS, which she is battling. The guys praise them for doing that and discuss the highlights from Dynamite as well. They also discuss WWE’s big weekend in Mexico, featuring two nights of Triplemanía and Monday Night Raw in Mexico City. Plus, they cover Liv Morgan’s new movie role, WWE starting more Spanish content, and Andrew wanting to create a cult! All your questions and more!

The guys start out talking about The New Level's debut at AEW All In this weekend and how much WWE offered to pay them on a new contract. They also discuss Bayley's situation, as it looks like she's staying in WWE. NXT Heatwave did poor ratings going up against All In, and the guys question why WWE would run against that show. Finally, the guys give an in-depth review of All In, including one of the best main events of all time between Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega. Plus, speculation on locations of upcoming shows, Meltzer’s ratings, your questions, and more!

Ilja Dragunov is done with WWE, and the guys talk about why it didn't work out and where he might end up. Do pure wrestlers still appeal to a mainstream audience? They discuss ROH Death Before Dishonor and talk about what ROH should be within the AEW landscape. A report came out this week stating that AEW took a massive financial hit on their video game Fight Forever. Will we see another AEW video game in the future, or is that it? Also, the guys share their thoughts on CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens on SmackDown and discuss whether that is the most appealing story in WWE right now. Plus, Batista’s new role, ALL IN ticket sales, Babyface Solo Sikoa, your questions and more!

The guys give their take on the Avery Styles situation after an indie wrestler expressed frustration that Styles didn't help tear down the ring after a GCW show. Was the wrestler justified, or does Styles' name sell enough tickets to excuse him from post-show ring work? They also discuss CM Punk being added to NXT house shows and how his early career parallels what talent is doing on these smaller events. Plus, there is a new Uce as Zilla Fatu debuts on NXT this week. How long will it be before he becomes involved with The Bloodline? As AEW All In approaches and attendance continues to grow, the hosts run down the full card. They also cover Swerve Strickland's return on Dynamite and speculate on whether it could lead to The New Day appearing at All In. Finally, they touch on a potential Vince McMahon return, Bayley's contract status, listener questions, and much more!

The guys start by talking about what made them love professional wrestling in the first place and why wacky gimmicks in wrestling will never get old. They also try to pitch new gimmicks in AEW, including “Detective Lucasaurus.” They also preview All In and talk about highlights from SummerSlam, including Lesnar’s retirement and more. Plus, RIP Dory Funk Jr., Mike Santana’s new name, your questions, and more!

They begin by reacting to Triple H's comments this week about fans taking the product too seriously, leading to a discussion on the current state of wrestling and its target audience. They also review all the upcoming PLEs and PPVs happening this weekend, including Night of Champions, Forbidden Door, NXT Great American Bash, and TNA Slammiversary. Additionally, they provide predictions for some of the featured matches and discuss potential future storylines for AEW. All this, viewer questions, and more!

The guys open the show by discussing the New York Knicks winning the NBA title and the atmosphere in the city over the past week. They also explore the role Danhausen played for the team and how WWE is capitalizing on his newfound crossover fame. With TNA undergoing a major restructuring and several big names departing, the guys discuss whether this signals a potential sale or merger—and if the company holds much value without a domestic TV deal. Ahead of the Forbidden Door pay-per-view next weekend, the guys run through the card and reflect on how the "forbidden door" concept has evolved since its introduction. They also speculate on the major matchups for All In at Wembley Stadium, particularly as ticket sales are currently behind schedule. Plus, an update on CM Punk's status, quick thoughts on the Paramount/WBD merger, your questions, and more!

AEW is running Double or Nothing in the guys' backyard at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, and they will be in attendance. They break down the card, speculate about what might happen in the main event, and discuss Andrew's anxiety over the possibility of MJF losing his hair. They also discuss the latest news, including the arrest of Ludwig Kaiser and Danhausen becoming a pop culture phenomenon after cursing the Cleveland Cavaliers on ESPN, which led to the Knicks' win. Plus, they dive into Mick Foley’s role in AEW, Enzo and Cass's possible WWE return, your questions, and more!

The guys react to the news that WWE has added summer house shows back to the schedule. They discuss how this will benefit the talent by helping them improve and stay fresh, rather than wrestling only once a week. They also react to John Cena’s comments about the "John Cena Classic" being a "work in progress." Should WWE have announced this tournament before having a more solidified concept in place? Additionally, they break down AEW Dynamite as the company builds toward Double or Nothing, including MJF officially putting his hair on the line and the official reveal of the Anarchy in the Arena participants. Plus, they cover notes from Raw, rumors of The New Day possibly going to AEW, listener questions, and more!

The guys begin by reflecting on the passing of Ted Turner and his massive contributions to television, sports media, and professional wrestling—specifically how he pushed Vince McMahon to evolve his product to stay competitive. They also break down this week’s Backlash and question the long-term interest in these "secondary" PLEs. The duo explores the possibility of Jacob Fatu defeating Roman Reigns and speculates on John Cena’s upcoming big announcement. Regarding AEW Dynamite, the hosts discuss Darby Allin’s challenge to MJF, where Darby offered to put his hair on the line for a championship match at Double or Nothing. Andrew makes a personal plea to Max not to accept, citing several specific reasons. Plus, they cover the new season of Dark Side of the Ring, TKO earnings notes, Oro Mensah’s (formerly Evil) new direction in NXT, and take your listener questions!