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Squared Circle Podcast

Squared Circle Podcast

Auteur(s): Marie Shadows
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À propos de cet audio

Marie Shadows breaks down pro wrestling with insider knowledge and unfiltered opinions. From the highs to the lows, she dissects matches, promos, and character work, all while elevating the craft with her experience as a former WWE worker, MLW press contributor, and indie commentary/interview talent. She also helps out talent, providing insight and guidance from within the industry. Tune in for a fresh, insightful take on the wrestling world.Marie Shadows
Épisodes
  • Why Wrestling “Tropes” Aren’t the Enemy — Ignorance Is - Reacting to Wrestling Observer
    Oct 31 2025

    Join me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/marieshadows

    This Halloween episode is a fiery deep dive into the viral tweet that had wrestling Twitter on fire — and an honest breakdown of how fans, media, and content creators have stopped using their words correctly.

    Marie starts the show with Halloween greetings and a quick reminder that the grind doesn’t stop — even on spooky season. From there, she recaps how one tweet about WWE’s triple threat booking went viral and turned into a full-on literacy test for wrestling Twitter.

    The core debate? The misuse of the word “trope.”
    Marie defines it clearly — a recurring theme — and then exposes how The Wrestling Observer twisted the term just to fuel anti-WWE sentiment. She then contrasts that bias by showing how AEW uses the same tropes — weekly multi-man matches borrowed straight from New Japan — but never gets called out.

    From there, she gets into storytelling psychology:
    Dominic Mysterio hiring mercenaries isn’t “stupid booking,” it’s character consistency. WWE tells stories rooted in motivation, consequence, and payoff — not chaos for chaos’s sake.

    Marie also explains how she used her viral moment to teach about rhetoric, logic, and honesty — because the problem isn’t the “tropes.” The problem is that fans and media don’t understand definitions or context anymore.

    She ends the episode with free advice for Tony Khan on how AEW could use Twitter Spaces and social media to actually build stories, while urging all fans to think more critically about wrestling and stop hiding behind tribal labels.

    This episode isn’t just wrestling talk — it’s a lesson in media literacy, independent thinking, and keeping wrestling discussions honest and informed.


    Time stamps

    00:00 – 02:00
    Halloween greeting, show intro, talk about making two podcasts in one day.

    02:00 – 05:00
    Explaining the importance of Patreon, creator economy, and independent voices.

    05:00 – 10:00
    The viral tweet breakdown — Wrestling Observer calls WWE’s triple threat booking a “bad trope.” Marie defines “trope.”

    10:00 – 15:00
    Storytelling psychology of Dom, Rusev, and Penta — why this is proper storytelling.

    15:00 – 20:00
    Observer’s anti-WWE bias vs. AEW’s constant multi-man match reliance.

    20:00 – 25:00
    AEW’s New Japan influence; how Tony Khan could use Twitter Spaces for story hype.

    25:00 – 32:00
    Social media bias, media literacy, and how the creator economy punishes independent truth-tellers.

    32:00 – 40:00
    Marie reacts to viral tweet replies — AEW defenders, bad-faith arguments, and misuse of “rhetorical.”

    40:00 – 45:00
    Debunking “booking pattern = trope.” Literary clarity meets wrestling education.

    45:00 – 50:00
    Closing thoughts: consistency, education, honesty. “Make honesty great again.”

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    1 h et 25 min
  • MLW Symphony of Horrors: From Lucha Chaos to Contra Rebellion | Square Circle Podcast
    Oct 28 2025

    https://patreon.com/marieshadows


    Join Marie Shadows and Dos Evil as they break down MLW Symphony of Horrors — a night filled with legends, chaos, and cross-promotion questions. From Blue Panther’s lucha legacy to Brock Anderson’s emotional promo and the mysterious attack on Shotzi, this episode goes deep into storytelling, booking logic, and where MLW fits in the wrestling landscape.

    Timestamps:

    • (00:00) Intro & show setup — MLW in Long Beach

    • (00:01:00) César & Salina open; Matt Riddle’s confusing Lesnar jab

    • (00:04:20) National Openweight Championship: Blue Panther retains — title confusion and lucha culture

    • (00:12:00) Prestige vs. Money: MLW, AEW & CMLL partnership talk

    • (00:17:00) Contra Unit analysis — Mads Krüger’s rise and MLW’s faction identity

    • (00:23:00) Shotzi vs. Brittany Brooks — lightning match breakdown & mystery attacker theory

    • (00:27:00) The Good Brothers’ promo — Marie’s honest take on their MLW arrival

    • (00:34:00) Brock Anderson’s promo — emotion, family legacy & bunkhouse match setup

    • (00:39:00) Scramble match — Diego Hill’s win, Akira Kwon’s frustration

    • (00:43:00) Tag division & Hammerstone’s commentary brilliance

    • (00:50:00) Final thoughts — MLW’s consistency, Contra’s future, and what fans should look forward to

    Call to Action:
    🎙️ Subscribe for MLW coverage
    💬 Leave a comment: Do you want prestige or payday to drive MLW’s future?
    🔔 Follow Marie Shadows everywhere @Marie_Shadows

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    1 h et 21 min
  • Super Junior Tag League 2025: Teams, Stories, and What NJPW Needs to Do Next
    Oct 25 2025

    https://patreon.com/marieshadows

    Hey friends,

    Today, I want to break down the Super Junior Tag League 2025 with you—every team, every potential story, and the bigger picture of where New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is right now. We’re going to talk about everything: from Hiromu and Gato’s wild mismatched team to the missed opportunities with AEW and other promotions.

    First off, the tag teams:

    • Hiromu and Gato: Honestly, this is one of the strangest pairings in NJPW history. I love what both do in the ring, but I just can’t take them seriously as a team. That said, they’re the sleeper team to watch. Don’t be surprised if they steal a few moments of the show.

    • Ichiban Sweet Boys – Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita: Returning champions, last year’s winners. They’re going to be dominant, fun to watch, and could carry most of the tournament’s spotlight. Robbie and Kosei always amplify the energy.

    • Bullet Club War Dogs – Taiji Ishimori and Robbie X: Taiji is solid as ever. Robbie X? I feel he tries too hard with flashy moves that sometimes look cartoonish. Still, as a duo, they’ll likely steal the show in the Tag League.

    • El Desperado and Kukai: Debuting team with strong chemistry. El Desperado consistently picks quality partners, so this is one to keep an eye on.

    • Tiger Mask and Yamato: Another debut pairing. Tiger Mask is heading into retirement, so this could be a fun send-off, though I’m not expecting them to win.

    • Kushida and Yuki Yoshioka: Debuting as well. Kushida is incredible, but I don’t see this team advancing far.

    • House of Torture – Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Dick Togo: Expect chaos. Anything can happen here, and shenanigans will be guaranteed.

    • IWGP Junior Tag Champs – Doki and Sho: These veterans always have tricks up their sleeves.

    Beyond the matches themselves, I want to talk about the bigger picture of NJPW:

    • We need fresh storytelling. Repeating the same faces over and over is stifling. The Super Junior Tag League could have been an opportunity to bring in new teams from All Japan, Pro Wrestling NOAH, TNA, and even AEW. Instead, we’re seeing missed opportunities for collaboration and growth.

    • The AEW partnership is not serving NJPW well. Wrestlers aren’t being utilized to maximize storylines, and money is being left on the table. For example, Jack Perry as a potential House of Torture member could’ve been huge for Super Junior, but it never materialized.

    • The Dojo system is still strong, but it’s no longer clear who the “next big stars” are. NJPW used to cultivate talent visibly and create a sense of legacy. That clarity is gone, and it affects fan engagement.

    • NJPW must start building slowly, branching out, and taking control back. Partnerships are fine, but they shouldn’t dictate who wins titles or who represents NJPW.

    Constructive criticism is key here. I love NJPW, and I will continue to use my voice to advocate for story growth, collaboration, and giving fans the chance to see new talent thrive. Blind positivity doesn’t help anyone; we need balance—acknowledging flaws while celebrating strengths.

    I want to hear from you: how excited are you for the Super Junior Tag League 2025? Which teams do you think will shine? Let’s keep this conversation thoughtful, honest, and constructive.

    Thanks for reading, engaging, and helping me keep independent wrestling commentary alive.


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    51 min
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