Ep. 273: Has WWE Lost Its Smile? (w/ Mike Bessler)

This special episode of the #PWIPodcast offers a glimpse behind the pages of the 36th annual #PWI500 issue. Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon are joined by two other members of the ranking committee, Kevin McElvaney and birthday boy Jason McVeigh. Together, they review the criteria used to compile the list, explain the rationale for the top 10, and give their predictions for who might top next year's "500."

Former PWI Senior Writer Dan Murphy joins Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon to share his fond, personal memories of Andy Williams (AEW's The Butcher). Then, the trio reflects on the career of Bill Dundee and AEW's recent "Rebel Heart" edition of Dynamite (featuring "Rebel" Tanea Brooks). Plus: Should Penta have defeated Roman Reigns for the WWE World heavyweight title? Was Sami Zayn becoming World champion again the right call?  Thoughts on Stephanie Vaquer's success in Chile/house show title changes Concerns about the use of fire in pro wrestling (and dangerous stunts that may go too far)

On the heels of a packed wrestling weekend in London, Pro Wrestling Illustrated Editor-in-Chief Kevin McElvaney checks in with Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon to discuss all things All In Wembley: Will Ospreay and Mercedes Mone finally claiming AEW World championships Was Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega really Match of the Year? (or AEW's greatest match?) Overall thoughts on the show, including some hidden gems Brief discussion of satellite events from RevPro and Pro Wrestling: EVE  All that and so much more on this edition of the PWI Podcast!

On this edition of the #PWIPodcast, Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon are joined by fellow PWI contributor Cameron Hawkins, the author of the Trick Williams cover story in the September 2026 edition of #ProWrestlingIllustrated. They discuss this year's two-night SummerSlam in Minnesota, including what the event might mean for key names such as Williams, Cody Rhodes, Oba Femi, CM Punk, and more.

Still recovering from that last big pro wrestling weekend? Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon have got you covered, as they join fellow PWI writer Jason McVeigh to reflect on the biggest stories from WWE Night of Champions and AEW Forbidden Door. What's next for Oba Femi, Sami Zayn, and Jacob Fatu? Who should Will Ospreay face at All In: Wembley Stadium? You'll find the answers to these questions (along with some fun SummerSlam nostalgia and reminiscences) in this episode of the #PWIPodcast.

Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon catch up with Alfonso Lopez, PWI's lead Mexican lucha libre correspondent, to parse through the latest wrestling happenings in his home country. The recent mask-vs.-mask match between El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and Grande Americano Original (Chad Gable) is discussed at length, as is the larger topic of WWE's influence on AAA. Plus: the continued AEW/CMLL relationship, MJF's return to the main event picture, and more.

On this episode of the PWI Podcast, Senior Writer Al Castle is joined by PWI Editor-in-Chief Kevin McElvaney to catch up on a variety of big news stories, including the passing of Ted Turner, the premiere of the Hulk Hogan documentary on Netflix, the return of Brock Lesnar, and the possibility of MJF losing hair in his latest AEW World title bid.

Once again, Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon are joined by the Steve "Mongo" McMichael of the #PWIPodcast, Jason McVeigh, to pick up right where they left off last week. The guys offer an exhaustive, no-holds-barred review of WrestleMania 42, including the occasional bursts of wrestling that took place between the omnipresent commercials. Thankfully, there will be no ads in this episode (save for a few quick plugs at the beginning and end). Instead, the PWI crew dissects WM 42 in Las Vegas, the Raw after WrestleMania, the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, and more before undertaking an important conversation about the boundaries between pro wrestlers and wrestling fans.

A few days before "The Grandaddy Of Them All," PWI's Al Castle, Brian R. Solomon, and Jason McVeigh gather 'round the proverbial card table to make their official predictions and share their final thoughts about #WrestleMania42 in Las Vegas. Plus: a look at the progress of MJF and the upward trajectory of AEW.

Are we living in a pro wrestling version of Groundhog Day, where we have this same conversation every year, or has WWE's creative team done a lackluster job of building excitement for WrestleMania 42? PWI Contributing Writer Mike Bessler joins Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon for a review of how the card is shaping up, plus a critical look at ticket prices and the perception that the company has "turned heel" against its loyal fans (among other topics).