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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
Sami Zayn
Cody Rhodes
Seth Rollins
Royal Rumble
The Rock
Pro Wrestling
Social Media
Art
Wrestle Dream
Money In the Bank
Gunther

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes356Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArtsSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Work Of Wrestling

Latest Episodes

This week on The Work Of Wrestling podcast host Tim Kail gives an update on his current artistic projects as well as his reason behind his recent social media rebrand.

He reads two recent articles from The Work Of Wrestling Substack:

Storming Th... more

This week on The Work Of Wrestling podcast, host Tim Kail examines a mysterious new pro-wrestling promotion, Tazmaskar.

What is The Labyrinth? What are "The Tunnels" and why should we fear them? Who are the Pawns and why are they trapped in Tazmas... more

This week on The Work Of Wrestling podcast we are joined by longtime friend of the pod, Liam Lambert.

Liam and Tim discuss discovering wrestling through Action Man and video games, writing novels, Batman the animated series, the problem with modern... more

Tim Kail just saw the latest Tom Cruise film Digger, and it moved him greatly. Inspired by the excellence of the film as well as the negative reception it has recieved, Tim fired up the microphone and recorded a monologue about the real purpose of co... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Liam Lambert
Creative writing and media studies graduate, content writer, and novelist
Episode: Liam Lambert | On Writing For What Culture, Corporate CM Punk, and Morality in Wrestling
Brian Ariotti
Friend and fellow creator, host of projects including The Bravo Power Ranking
The Work Of Wrestling (guest on this episode)
Episode: The Legend Of Wyatt Maddox | A Wrestling Conversation With Brian Ariotti
Rob Bonnette
Pro wrestling writer and podcaster
Self/Independent
Episode: The Adult Wrestling Fan | An Interview With Rob Bonnette
Granny Franny
Tim Kail's mom, recurring guest on the podcast
Personal guest
Episode: Days Like This
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
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)

Host

Tim Kail
Host and creator of the show; producer and primary writer guiding the thoughtful, art-focused analysis of wrestling as a narrative form.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 96 ratings
  • A Fantastic Listen!

    Such a great podcast to listen to! Passionate, detailed, and genuinely entertaining. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AK Gallant
    Canada10 days ago
  • 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 States8 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 States10 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 Statesa year 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 States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners describe the host as thoughtful, articulate, and as treating wrestling as art rather than sensationalism.
Fans praise the show for being informative and not reactionary like many other wrestling pods.
Listeners value the long-form, essay-like approach and often cite personal resonance with storytelling insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Liam Lambert | On Writing For What Culture, Corporate CM Punk, and Morality in Wrestling
Q: Do you think the moral binary of heel and baby face still has value or do you prefer narratives with morally ambiguous characters?
Lambert says clear alignments still work when characters are written well and remember their shared history, even if their roles as heroes or villains shift.
Liam Lambert | On Writing For What Culture, Corporate CM Punk, and Morality in Wrestling
Q: How do you remain engaged with the pro wrestling community and the critical analysis, particularly of someone you like, without it polluting your own analytical mechanism?
Lambert recommends assessing whether criticism feels authentic, questioning where opinions come from, and listening to trusted voices with differing perspectives rather than staying in an information bubble.
You Ask, Tim Answers | A Q&A Episode of The Work Of Wrestling Podcast
Q: What's a dream version of Seth Rollins' character, based on a hypothetical big-budget project?
Tim imagines a grittier, edge-driven Seth Rollins who endures brutal, screwball matches over a few months to prove his mantle, including a narrative arc involving his daughter, and contrasts this with a modern showcase of character gravitas rather than pure athleticism.
You Ask, Tim Answers | A Q&A Episode of The Work Of Wrestling Podcast
Q: If given a huge budget for a wrestling movie, how would you handle kayfabe and on-screen conflicts?
Tim envisions a show that respects the separation between work and reality, arguing against blends that imply wrestling is real; he would rather depict wrestling as work with clear delineation, and he even pitches a hypothetical film focusing on Mick Foley as The Hardcore Legend, exploring intense, brutal storytelling while maintaining clear work/real boundaries.
You Ask, Tim Answers | A Q&A Episode of The Work Of Wrestling Podcast
Q: Why is cheating so pervasive in wrestling, and could it be done differently?
Tim suggests cheating is a simple, easy trope to generate heat and story momentum, but he expresses a desire to see new, more violent or brutal forms of conflict that still deliver heat without relying on traditional cheating tropes.

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 treats professional wrestling as an art form and centers on thoughtful, analytical takes rather than hype or hot takes. Episodes frequently dissect storytelling, character psychology, and the craft of promotion, often blending literary or cultural reference points with a writer's eye for structure, pacing, and meaning. A consistent thread across episodes is a careful, reflective approach to wrestling narratives, with long-form solo monologues, guest conversations, and meta-commentary on fandom, data, and the business side of the art. Noteworthy strengths include a distinctive emphasis on storytelling as the driving force of wrestling, accessibility to both longtime fans and newcomers, and regular calls to engage listeners through w... more

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How many listeners does The Work Of Wrestling get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Work Of Wrestling, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

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. The Rewatchables
2. The Big Picture
3. The Bill Simmons Podcast
4. Podcast UFO
5. My World with Jeff Jarrett

How many episodes of The Work Of Wrestling are there?

The Work Of Wrestling launched 12 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. Liam Lambert
2. Brian Ariotti
3. Rob Bonnette
4. Granny Franny
5. Michael Cascio
6. Tom Dean
7. J.J. McGee
8. Alexander Monelli

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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