With Kelsey off the grid (and possibly packed in a moving box), Xavier holds down the ring solo to cover one of the most chaotic weekends in modern wrestling history — and he’s got thoughts.

The episode dives into three major events:
🔥 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event
👑 WWE Evolution II
💥 AEW All In: Texas

From Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre to Hangman Page’s blood-soaked redemption, Xavier breaks down the key matches, title shifts, and emotional gut punches across both WWE and AEW. He covers standout performances, storyline developments, and what these events mean for the future of both promotions.

Match Highlights Include:
• Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre
• Gunther vs. Goldberg
• Becky Lynch vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria (Women’s Intercontinental Title)
• Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Moné (AEW Women’s World Title)
• Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega
• Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page (AEW World Title – Texas Death Match)

Xavier also dives into WWE Evolution 2’s strongest moments — including Naomi’s unforgettable cash-in, Jade Cargill’s no-holds-barred brawl, and the instant-classic between Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. Then it’s over to AEW, where All In felt like an adrenaline-fueled fever dream: think Ospreay & Swerve vs. the Bucks, Dustin Rhodes' big moment, and Okada rewriting the AEW main event scene.

Plus:
📚 Reading the Ring is officially here — the podcast's new wrestling book club kicks off with There’s Just One Problem... by Brian Gewirtz, with weekly breakdowns hitting YouTube starting July 21.

If you love wrestling, chaos, emotional turns, and pop-up book clubs, you’re in the right place.

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

Welcome to Reading the Ring — the official wrestling book club from the New to Wrestling Podcast!
We’re kicking things off with There’s Just One Problem... by Brian Gewirtz.
📅 First breakdown drops July 21 on our YouTube channel.
Let’s read like champs.

#NewToWrestling #ReadingTheRing #WrestlingBookClub #BrianGewirtz #WWEStories #WrestlingPodcast #ClosetedWrestlingFan #BookTokWrestling

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

We’re back on the road to WrestleMania 14 and the chaos is dialed all the way up. In this week’s episode, Kelsey and Xavier dig into the March 2, 1998 edition of Raw Is War—featuring Mike Tyson’s very unexpected allegiance, Paul Bearer acting like a mafia don, and a casket that gets struck by lightning because sure, why not.

We also get way too much Jeff Jarrett, just the right amount of Chainsaw Charlie chainsawing a car, and the return of the Undertaker in one of the most dramatic, supernatural, and low-key operatic endings in Raw history. Yes, there were actual flames. Yes, we screamed. Yes, you need to watch.

Also:

• Sable vs Luna vs. All of Us
• A dumpster pop-up book from hell
• Stone Cold Austin’s “I’ll fight you in the dark” energy
• Why Paul Bearer is suddenly kinda slaying
• And how Titanomachy is a real word we’re applying to wrestling now

This is what we mean when we say, “We come to this place for magic.”

Welcome back to New to Wrestling.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro and episode overview
• 5:56 DX opens show with provocative promo
• 13:21 New Age Outlaws defend tag titles
• 26:41 Taka Michinoku teams with The Headbangers
• 31:43 Jeff Jarrett returns with new gimmick
• 39:37 Stone Cold confronts DX and Kane
• 51:35 Kane vs Stone Cold main event
• 58:28 Undertaker makes dramatic return

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

He flips. He flies. He bleeds (occasionally on purpose).

This week on New to Wrestling: After Dark, we’re joined by high-flying indie standout and deathmatch up-and-comer Christian Starr, a.k.a. The Starchild.

We get into:

• How GCW reignited his love for wrestling
• Training in Canada and prepping for Japan
• His first-ever deathmatch (featuring barbed wire, thumbtacks, and a dart gun 💀)
• Why he writes out match spots like homework
• The beautiful chaos of planning a match when your opponent shows up 5 minutes before bell time
• What it means to balance show-stealing flips with glass-shattering violence

Christian is thoughtful, intense, and way too calm about skewers to the head—and that’s exactly why we loved this one.

🎧 Stream now on all podcast platforms.

Timestamps:

• [00:01:21] – How GCW reignited Christian’s love for wrestling
• [00:03:11] – Learning flips on instinct, not gymnastics
• [00:07:40] – Wild match story: accidental nose break leads to a shoot finish
• [00:09:58] – What it’s like stepping into a deathmatch for the first time
• [00:12:43] – Plans for more deathmatches—with light tubes next
• [00:14:52] – “I’m a spot monkey”—leaning into high-flying chaos
• [00:19:40] – Prepping to train in Japan with TAKA Michinoku
• [00:22:11] – Dream match types: steel cage, no-rope deathmatch
• [00:24:07] – On turning up the volume on your real self in the ring
• [00:26:25] – “Pro wrestling is mental and physical”—why it’s the hardest sport
• [00:32:38] – Big goals: GCW, Tournament of Survival, Best of the Super Juniors
• [00:33:40] – “Deathmatch guys are the nicest”—backstage camaraderie

📲 Follow @cprstar on [Instagram/Twitter/etc.]

🎟️ Catch him at a show near you. You’ll know him when the barbed wire comes out.

📲 Follow us @N2WPodcast for more chaos every week.

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

This week on After Dark, we’re joined by indie wrestling standout and certified harvester of sorrows, Sammi Chaos—our first-ever female guest and instant icon. From the Mecca to the middle of a triple threat she wasn’t even booked for (until 10 minutes before bell time), Sammi brings the chaos, heart, and eyeliner.

We talk about growing up an Attitude Era kid, falling into wrestling after a very honest drunk epiphany, and balancing a 9-to-5 with throwing bodies on weekends. She shares how she’s carved out space for herself in the intergender scene, why she trains like Rey Mysterio but throws like Bam Bam, and what it’s like cutting promos on your real-life best frenemies. Also: eyeliner symmetry, kids calling her an a**, and why indie wrestling is the real land of misfit toys.

It’s chaotic, it’s emotional, it’s funny as hell—and it’s everything we love about wrestling and the weirdos who make it worth watching.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 – Intro & Guest Reveal: Sammi Chaos joins as the first female guest
• 00:02:23 – Wrestling Origins: Drunken epiphanies, desk jobs, and jumping in
• 00:04:00 – Social Anxiety & Performance: Overcoming fear and finding power through wrestling
• 00:06:20 – In-Ring Psychology & Influences: Learning from ROH, Kurt Angle, and Rey Mysterio
• 00:10:30 – Hard-Hitting Style: Sammi’s love for physical matches and making them feel like fights
• 00:13:28 – Improv & Adaptability: Last-minute bookings and the value of in-ring chemistry
• 00:15:20 – Intergender Wrestling: Storytelling dynamics and flipping the usual power narrative
• 00:17:54 – Full Circle Moments: Wrestling her trainer Brother Greatness
• 00:20:24 – Promos & Character Work: Her chaotic feud with Brian Baum and the power of creative freedom
• 00:21:32 – Pride Shows & Representation: Why inclusive shows matter
• 00:24:25 – The Persona vs The Person: Sammi Chaos as armor for social anxiety
• 00:27:42 – Makeup, Gear & Rituals: How visual identity enhances confidence
• 00:31:04 – Balancing Wrestling & Work: The physical toll and emotional reward of the grind
• 00:32:56 – Favorite Collaborators: Locker room love and tag team chaos
• 00:35:11 – Tough Coaching & Growth: Getting pushed beyond physical limits
• 00:40:53 – The Beauty of Indie Wrestling: Diversity, gimmicks, and true creative freedom
• 00:43:01 – Hopes for Intergender Wrestling: Acceptance, visibility, and booking without boundaries
• 00:45:09 – What’s Next: Upcoming shows and staying busy

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

What happens when two hungry, hard-hitting tag champs take over the mic? You get a whole lot of honesty, hustle, and heat.

This week on New to Wrestling, we sit down with Da Prospectz—Collin Parker and Jayy Alfredo—the reigning LoudEast Tag-Team Champions, to talk about what it really takes to break through on the indie scene. From overlooked grind to in-ring brotherhood, nothing’s off the table in this no-filter conversation.

🔥 We get into:

• Their unlikely tag team origin story (and the group chat moment that started it all)
• Being LoudEast’s “Most Wanted” while still overlooked
• The indie hustle no one sees—including working, training, and self-promoting 24/7
• Who they want next—and why it’s personal
• What being champions actually means to them

If you’re into tag team storytelling, rising talent, or just straight-up real talk, this one hits hard.

🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

#NewToWrestling #DaProspectz #LoudEast #TagTeamChampions #IndieWrestling #WrestlingPodcast #WrestlingInterviews

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

Wrestling is art—and Matt Awesome lives that truth with every bump, beat, and Bronx-infused promo.

In this After Dark session, Matt joins Kelsey and Xavier to talk about everything from his deep-rooted love of music (and how every promo has a secret Easter egg) to surviving a terrifying in-ring asthma attack that nearly ended his career. He shares how that moment lit a fire under him to take his health seriously, train with the best, and reframe what it means to push through—on the mat and in life.

We get into the birth of the Uptown Boyz, why nobody hits harder than your best friend, and how tag team chemistry isn’t something you fake. Plus: what it’s like to wrestle your heroes (Savio Vega and Homicide), build a signature weapon blessed by the souls of a thousand abuelitas, and fight for legacy as much as titles.

Also, if you’ve ever wanted to know whether Kelsey and Xavier would survive taking a bump… well, we might find out soon.

🎶 Signed chanclas. Chair tattoos. Bronx storytelling.

This one hits different.

Timestamps

• 00:25 – Matt Awesome joins the show!
• 01:57 – Favorite movies: The Crow & The Lost Boys
• 03:19 – Music in promos: Matt’s secret sauce
• 06:46 – The Fabolous promo and the asthma scare
• 08:59 – In-ring medical emergency and fitness comeback
• 13:00 – His mom’s impact and strong women in his life
• 17:09 – Sister’s cancer battle and staying motivated
• 20:12 – “Your best friend hits hardest”: Wrestling Jarett Diaz
• 22:32 – Brutal match with Steve Peña: Teacher vs. Student
• 28:49 – The chuncla origin story (and merch hustle)
• 33:36 – Forming the Uptown Boys tag team
• 42:08 – The feud with Jay Bougie and Bronx intensity
• 46:37 – Tagging with Savio Vega: Dream come true
• 53:12 – Homicide tributes and the power of storytelling
• 55:28 – Why Eddie vs. Rey (Halloween Havoc ‘97) still hits

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!

This week on New to Wrestling: After Dark, we’re joined by “The Prospector” Wes Barker—independent wrestler, old-school soul, and walking masterclass in how to grind with grace.

From training under Chris Knight to Reality of Wrestling with Booker T, Wes takes us through a journey built on passion, adaptability, and a little chaos (like debuting in front of the puppeteers from Fraggle Rock—yes, really). We talk about learning to work a crowd with no camera to save you, what it means to be character-first in a world chasing clout, and why sometimes the most important thing you can do is listen to the silence between moves.

We get into the difference between TV wrestling and indie madness, the art of staying present when the match goes off-script, and how Wes manages to keep it real even when the bookings get weird. There’s talk of Kentucky, camaraderie, and keeping territory-era authenticity alive in 2025.

Whether you’re deep in the indies or just getting your boots laced, this one’s for the folks who know wrestling’s about more than spots—it’s about stories, heart, and showing up better every time.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro: Welcoming The Prospector Wes Barker
• 5:41 Wrestling's simple storytelling: conflict and resolution
• 12:08 The Prospector's origin and wrestling philosophy
• 24:32 Training with Booker T, childhood hero
• 37:04 Creating authentic wrestling content on social media
• 46:27 Differences between TV and indie wrestling
• 58:03 Social media's impact on independent wrestling
• 1:04:52 First match for Fraggle Rock cast
• 1:07:22 Upcoming wrestling tour in Kentucky

The New To Wrestling Podcast follows two friends who enjoy wrestling but are in different stages of their fandom. Xavier Cruz serves as your guide through generations of professional wrestling while Kelsey Silva experiences these matches for the first time. Climb into the ring weekly to relive the famous matches beginning with the Attitude Era!