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.”

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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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.

https://patreon.com/marieshadows

Hey friends,

Let’s get into it. I need to be honest: right now, Konosuke is not my IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and it’s not just about him. There’s a bigger picture here—how NJPW operates, how talent is booked, and how the prestige of the belt has been handled.

Konosuke is strong, can hit hard, and he knows how to get a reaction. He can point at the hard cam, call himself the alpha, and fans will respond—but fans don’t always know why they like him. They see power moves, muscles, and flashes of “charisma,” and that’s enough for them to cheer. But that’s shallow. Being a champion isn’t just about looking cool or generating hype; it’s about storytelling, psychology, and committing to the company and its audience.

Right now, Konosuke’s matches are mediocre at best. He relies on power moves, strikes, and big spots, but he no-sells, doesn’t work psychology, and doesn’t evolve over time. He claims he wants to “enhance the value of professional wrestling through battles” and show unprecedented fights—but we’ve seen it before. He’s doing the same things, and there’s no improvement. It’s not being an antagonist to stay stubborn; it’s just being stuck in your ways.

Fans on the fence want to see growth, want to become fans because they can watch someone improve, adapt, and become a complete wrestler. Konosuke has time to do this, but right now he’s just doing the same stuff with no nuance or selling. That’s why he’s not my champion.

Let’s talk about the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship itself. This is supposed to be the pinnacle of professional wrestling, and historically, it’s earned respect through commitment and storytelling. Moxley tried to carry it; it failed because he didn’t have that commitment. Zack Sabre Jr. held it; he’s technical, committed, and embodies the craft. But Konosuke? He wants to take the belt everywhere globally, which is fine—but it can’t replace commitment to NJPW and its fans.

The cheers and boos he gets in Japan are not endorsements of greatness—they’re reactions to the system. NJPW relies on ticket sales, attendance, and fan engagement across the Japanese tour circuit. A champion who isn’t committed to the company undermines that structure, and the numbers reflect it. If your IWGP Champion isn’t fully present, the whole ecosystem suffers.

It’s not just about Konosuke. Finlay is one example of a proven wrestler who gets overlooked despite delivering quality matches and having the skill to hold the title. Goto is another—he had the chance to elevate the belt globally, but NJPW’s booking and media priorities sidelined him. The choices to put the belt on someone who hasn’t earned it on a deeper level have real consequences for the promotion, its storylines, and its fans.

Evil is a case study in contrast: committed, company-minded, proven over time. If he had won the G1, the title would have been in the hands of someone who understands what it means to carry it responsibly. Konosuke? Not yet. He has flashes of potential, but the foundation isn’t there.

This all comes back to commitment. AEW, NJPW, and the global wrestling ecosystem are very different. You can make money and hype elsewhere, but the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship requires allegiance, storytelling, and respect for history. Being flashy isn’t enough.

Konosuke can still change and earn it. There’s room for improvement—selling, psychology, pacing, character work—but right now, he’s just powerful, loud, and inconsistent. That’s why he’s not my champion, and why fans, myself included, are hesitant to call him a legitimate IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

Fans, this is your space to weigh in. Tell me:

• Can Konosuke evolve into a true champion?

• Should NJPW reconsider how titles are awarded in AEW crossovers?

• How do you feel about Finlay and other overlooked talent?

We need discussion that goes beyond the hype, beyond the AEW spotlight, and really examines what makes wrestling meaningful.

Can we make honesty great again?

This isn’t a slogan or some political tagline. It’s a real question — one that’s been sitting heavy with me lately. After six years of doing The Square Circle Podcast, I’ve seen a lot — in wrestling, online spaces, and life itself. I’ve seen how fast people throw away their morals, how quick they are to scream about decency while showing none.

This episode — this post — is my honest reflection on where I’ve been, what I’ve learned, and where we’re headed next.

🎙️ The Square Circle Podcast: From Ring Talk to Real Talk

When I first started, it was all about wrestling — the matches, the stories, the industry. I loved breaking down the art of it, calling out the fake outrages, the hypocrisy in fandoms, and the way the industry handles talent.

But over time, something shifted. Wrestling stopped being the only story. The world around it started bleeding in — morality, outrage culture, freedom of speech, how social media manipulates what we see and feel.

That’s why this episode feels different. I’m not just talking about wrestling — I’m talking about us.⚖️ The Moral Shift — And What We’ve Lost

Let’s be real: the morality of online culture has dropped off a cliff.

People preach empathy and decency until it no longer fits their narrative. Then it’s open season — no compassion, no context, no respect. That’s what’s been breaking my heart about social media and even the wrestling community.

We’ve lost the art of nuance. We’ve lost the ability to just have a conversation without needing to “win.”

So when I say make honesty great again, I mean bringing that back — being real without being cruel.

💭 Discord Notes — My Unfiltered Space

This is why I created Discord Notes. It’s the sidecast that lets me be freer, rawer, and more open.

On Discord Notes, I talk about everything — culture, politics, burnout, authenticity, and yes, wrestling when it ties into real life. It’s where I process the world outside the ring.

And I moved it all to Patreon because I want everything in one space — away from the noise, away from algorithms, and closer to the people who genuinely care about the conversation.

I’m not chasing numbers. I’m chasing honesty.

🌱 Looking Forward — The Future of The Square Circle Podcast

Six years in, I’m proud of the growth — the good, the bad, the fiery. I’m grateful for everyone who’s supported me, challenged me, and believed in this space for real talk.

Moving forward, I’m centralizing everything:
🎧 The Square Circle Podcast → still wrestling-based, still storytelling.
💬 Discord Notes → unfiltered conversations exclusive to Patreon.
🎥 More live streams → right on Patreon and YouTube.
🛍️ New merch → over at Fourth Wall.
🗣️ Group chat → no more Discord servers, just real conversations.

I’m embracing the imperfections — because that’s where the truth lives.

💝 Join the Conversation

If you’re tired of performative outrage… if you still believe in decency, in nuance, and in seeing both sides of a story — this community is for you.

Thank you for six years of conversations, disagreements, laughter, and growth. Here’s to the next chapter — and to making honesty great again. 💫

You can follow everything I do here:
👉 patreon.com/marieshadows

Welcome to the Squared Cirlce Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!

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Please visit the following:

https://patreon.com/marieshadows

https://campsite.bio/marieshadows

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Wrestling legend Mick Foley addressed an open letter to the President, warning about societal chaos, terrorism, and fear. But does his message capture the realities Americans face every day? In this video, Marie Shadows breaks down the letter, providing context, nuance, and a perspective that emphasizes personal agency and real-world understanding.

Key Points Covered:

• Leadership is a networked effort, not a solo act – “The president… is a face for what happens… it is his team that gets everything done.” (00:36:38)

• Separating fear from reality – Foley’s claims of absolute power and societal collapse are unpacked. (00:35:50)

• Immigration & choice – Legal immigrants vs. undocumented workers, and the real challenges of employment and opportunity. (00:55:17)

• Media perspective matters – Why relying on a single source can distort understanding. “Ground News… shows how headlines are made and how propaganda is shaped.” (00:51:17)

• Chaos does not equal progress – True progress comes from action, effort, and informed decision-making. (00:45:04)

Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!

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Support the brand and channel:

https://patreon.com/marieshadows

https://campsite.bio/marieshadows

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In this episode of the Square Circle Podcast, we dive into the latest development in the Raja Jackson case. Raja, son of former UFC champion Rampage Jackson, recently pled not guilty to felony and misdemeanor battery charges, despite clear video evidence of the incident.

I explain why this decision might not be in his best interest:

• Everything was live streamed, leaving little room for doubt.

• A guilty plea could have led to a reduced sentence and possible therapy, which he clearly needs.

• Streaming culture and “chat hoppers” may have contributed to the incident, but they do not absolve his responsibility.

We also touch on the wider context: the indie wrestling scene, fan interactions, and the challenges of navigating social media while live streaming. Finally, I weigh in on California’s legal system and what Raja might face moving forward.

📅 Raja Jackson is due back in court on November 24th, 2025, for a preliminary hearing.

I want to hear your thoughts: should Raja have pled guilty? Do you think he will serve the full seven years if convicted? Leave your thoughts in the comments, and let’s keep the discussion civil and thoughtful.

Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!

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Check this out - https://patreon.com/marieshadows

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In this episode, Marie Shadows and Dose Evil review MLW Slaughterhouse 2025 — the barbed wire, the electric chair, the tequila, and the tombstones. From the chaotic Chamber of Horrors to Shotzi’s horror show debut, this review balances comedy, critique, and passion for independent wrestling.

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Intro: Marie’s cold and Dose’s dwarf jokes 😂

• 02:00 — Opening Cage Match: “Chamber of Horrors” Breakdown

• 05:00 — Mr. Thomas’ rise and MLW’s booking puzzle

• 07:00 — Face vs. Heel confusion — who’s who in MLW?

• 12:00 — The Shotzi Segment: “The Graveyard Shift” debuts

• 14:30 — Priscilla Kelly returns — Hellfire vs. Halloween

• 18:00 — Don Gatto’s tequila chaos & Kwon’s revenge

• 23:00 — Podcast crossover dreams & Halloween talk

• 28:00 — The Opera Cup Begins: Star Jr. vs Volador Jr.

• 34:00 — Kojima vs. Bishop Dyer — the big man clash

• 40:00 — The MLW tombstones and Marie’s refusal to be buried

• 42:00 — Reflections: indie wrestling, fan connections, and future hopes