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Artwork for The Work Of Wrestling

The Work Of Wrestling

Tim Kail
Professional Wrestling
WWE
AEW
CM Punk
Wrestling
John Cena
Wrestlemania
Roman Reigns
Mental Health
Cody Rhodes
Royal Rumble
Seth Rollins
The Rock
Sami Zayn
Wrestle Dream
Money In the Bank
Gunther
Hulk Hogan
Alcoholism
Social Media

Professional wrestling is an art. The Work of Wrestling is dedicated to exploring that simple truth. Produced & hosted by Tim Kail.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes356Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsSportsArts

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Artwork for The Work Of Wrestling

Latest Episodes

Is it okay for men to cry?

This is the question that sparked this episode of The Work Of Wrestling podcast. Tim shares some words of wisdom from The Macho Man Randy Savage before offering his own perspective on masculine crying. He explains the val... more

This week Tim Kail reviews WWE's premium live event, Backlash.

Topics include fleshing out the Bron Breakkker character, Trick Williams being grown in a WWE Superstar lab, Sami Zayn's complex (and grim) status in WWE, Kit Wilson as a poor substitut... more

In this special BONUS edition of The Work Of Wrestling podcast host Tim Kail explains why he has decided to purchase, watch, and review WWE's upcoming premium live event, Backlash.

He goes into detail about his hypocrisy, the gradual realization of... more

In this special BONUS edition of The Work Of Wrestling podcast host Tim Kail once again shares what he liked about Monday Night Raw. He examines the Jacob Fatu/Roman Reigns rivalry and why it's emotionally impactful. He discusses some of the new scen... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Michael Cascio
Long-time listener, fellow writer and podcaster who collaborated on a story for the show
The Work Of Wrestling
Episode: The Innocent Wrestling Fan with Michael Cascio
Tom Dean
Writer and PhD researcher at University of York on work shoot confessional storylines
University of York
Episode: Work-Shoot Confessional with Tom Dean
J.J. McGee
Author of Fight Forever: The Ballad Of Kevin and Sami
Hybrid Shoot Publishing
Episode: J.J. McGee, Author of Fight Forever: The Ballad Of Kevin and Sami
Liam Lambert
Listener who submitted a personal story
Episode: Growing Up: A Story By Liam Lambert
Alexander Monelli
Filmmaker and fan favorite
Monelli Films
Episode: Farewell John Cena with Al Monelli
Al Monelli
Filmmaker and friend of Tim Kail, celebrated for his documentaries
Monelli Films
Episode: WOW - EP394 - WrestleMania 41 Review (2025)
John Macy
Podcast host covering pop culture subjects
The B Team
Episode: WOW - EP392 - John Macy Returns To Talk Wrestling (and a little Star Trek)
Daniel Lee
A long-time listener and reader of The Work Of Wrestling, stepping in to host this episode.
Independent
Episode: WOW - EP380 - Daniel Lee Takes Over

Host

Tim Kail
Host of The Work Of Wrestling; leads analysis and storytelling discussions around wrestling as art; brand founder and primary voice.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 94 ratings
  • A more sophisticated take

    Long time listener, first time Apple Podcasts user. I’ve always appreciated the thoughtful analysis by Tim, taking the storylines and the performances equally seriously. It’s never reactionary, never fantasy booking, never histrionics for the sake of it (which virtually every other wrestling pod I’ve tried does on a regular basis). This show finds the art in the nuances. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dkaiserpdx
    United States3 months ago
  • Almost 10 year listener.

    I’ve been listening to Tim’s podcast since 2016 off and on. I first heard of Tim when his name circulated tumblr and his takes were popular. He then found me on Twitter and I learned of this podcast. And he taught me to see a match I had attended live in a way I never would have thought to look at that way. And it was Roman Reigns vs AJ Styles at Extreme Rules 2016. Been a fan of the pod ever since.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    HeartInMelrose
    United States5 months ago
  • Best wrestling podcast

    I got into wrestling a couple of years ago, and this is the only wrestling podcast that I've been able to find that I actually like. It treats it as an art instead of a sport and doesn't have 2 loud bozos trying to make each other laugh. I don't really have anyone to talk to about wrestling, and this works as a pretty good substitute. I just wish it covered AEW more considering how much better Dynamite is than Raw right now.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tatter2323
    United States9 months ago
  • I love this show!

    I love this show. I can’t remember how I originally heard about this show but I was immediately hooked by how different it was. In its presentation and outlook. There wasn’t and isn’t anything like it. Tim bears his soul on here. It doesn’t take long to see how sincere and genuine he is. Even if I don’t agree with him on everything, I always enjoy his honest take on wrestling and life. I’ll probably aways listen as long as he is producing content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boffin224
    United States3 years ago
  • Professional wrestling is an art

    Tim Kail knows that so much goes into wrestling beyond what we see on the surface. His thoughtful analysis makes me feel like wrestling could be taught in schools alongside great works.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scott the Human
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Accessible yet deep, appeals to longtime and new fans.
Promotes wrestling as art and community.
Thoughtful, art-minded wrestling analysis that stands out from typical pods.
Premium, podcasting-level insights into storytelling and culture.
Host is intelligent, thoughtful, crafts well-argued takes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sending A Message
Q: Before the WWE Network came into play, weren't fans expected to pay $30 for the pay-per-views each month? They may have even been higher than that by the time actual pay-per-views were completely phased out.
The host recalls the shift from per-event purchases to a streaming model, noting that the consumer relationship has changed from selective buys to ongoing subscriptions, and expresses how that affects perceived value and fairness.
Sending A Message
Q: Jeff writes, legit question, not trying to antagonize or be an ass, which I always like when people do that because I think it's really hard to understand or interpret tone in comment sections on posts.
The host acknowledges the concern, explains the price model, and argues that the issue is about accessibility and the consumer's ability to engage with the product without being priced out.
Work-Shoot Confessional with Tom Dean
Q: How do you balance writing with your freelance work and personal life?
Tom describes a flexible routine, prioritizes early morning writing blocks, and stresses the importance of balance between creative work, academic work, and personal life to sustain output and avoid burnout.
Work-Shoot Confessional with Tom Dean
Q: What inspired you to pursue this wrestling-based creative project?
Tom explains it started as a desire to write a novel about wrestling, using constructed reality to bring wrestling tropes into everyday life, and it evolved into a PhD project about work shoot confessional storylines.
Work-Shoot Confessional with Tom Dean
Q: Where are you in the world today?
Tom is in York, United Kingdom, at the University of York, where he is pursuing his PhD.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Work Of Wrestling

What is The Work Of Wrestling about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on professional wrestling as an art form, featuring thoughtful, essay-like analysis of storytelling, character work, and cultural context within wrestling. Host Tim Kail guides conversations about wrestling's artistic dimensions, creative writing, and personal growth, frequently reframing matches and promos as literature or theatre. Episodes often mix deep dives with personal anecdotes, mental health reflections, and discussions about the industry's broader impact, appealing to listeners who crave intellectual, craft-focused takes on wrestling beyond traditional hype. A notable strength is the host's clear voice, rigor in argument, and willingness to explore wrestling through philosophy, art criticism, and social commentary... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Work Of Wrestling?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Work Of Wrestling. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Work Of Wrestling and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Work Of Wrestling get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Work Of Wrestling?

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How many subscribers and views does The Work Of Wrestling have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Work Of Wrestling has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Work Of Wrestling?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Work Of Wrestling:

1. My World with Jeff Jarrett
2. Grilling JR
3. Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard
4. The Ringer Wrestling Show
5. Letters from an American

How many episodes of The Work Of Wrestling are there?

The Work Of Wrestling launched 11 years ago and published 356 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Work Of Wrestling?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Work Of Wrestling?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Work Of Wrestling from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Work Of Wrestling?

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What guests have appeared on The Work Of Wrestling?

Recent guests on The Work Of Wrestling include:

1. Michael Cascio
2. Tom Dean
3. J.J. McGee
4. Liam Lambert
5. Alexander Monelli
6. Al Monelli
7. John Macy
8. Daniel Lee

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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