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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 ArtsArtsSports

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Artwork for The Work Of Wrestling

Latest Episodes

Tim Kail has something he needs to get off his chest when it comes to the "Fu%! ICE" chants at AEW Dynamite, more specifically how they're praised on social media.

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It's been a difficult week with a variety of trials and tribulations that Tim needs to get off his chest.

Support The Work of Wrestling by giving it a five star rating and review in Apple Podcasts, buying a tee-shirt at www.prowrestlingtees.com/wor... more

This week Tim Kail reviews WWE's latest premium live event, Clash In Italy. Tim discusses what makes Gunther such a perfect heel, why Cody Rhodes is being rejected by a contingent of the WWE fanbase, Rhea Ripley's excellent display of vulnerability, ... more

This week Work Of Wrestling host Tim Kail reviews AEW's latest pay-per-view, Double Or Nothing. Tim explains why he thought this was an uneven show with a couple really high highs, but a few unfortunate lows.

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Key Facts

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

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
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
Al Monelli
Filmmaker, documentarian, and editor
Monelli Films
Episode: WOW - EP371 - Summer Slam Review with Al Monelli

Host

Tim Kail
Host and creator of The Work Of Wrestling; dedicated to analyzing wrestling as an art form and storytelling medium.

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 States4 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 States6 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 States10 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.

Critics note the show's intellectual, reflective approach may be less about “hot takes” and more about craft and storytelling.
Fans highlight the show as essential listening for those who want deeper context beyond matches and headlines.
Audiences value the authorial voice, long-form essays, and willingness to challenge mainstream narratives.
Listeners praise the show for treating wrestling as art and for thoughtful, non-hyperbolic analysis.

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 Work Of Wrestling centers on treating professional wrestling as a form of art and storytelling, with a heavy emphasis on analytical, essay-style discourse. Episodes frequently examine character development, booking decisions, and the emotional resonance of matches, while also weaving in personal reflections on fandom, economics, and the broader cultural context of wrestling. The host often challenges conventional pro-wrestling tropes, explores the art of performance, and occasionally discusses the business side, such as pricing models, subscriptions, and merch. This combination of rigorous analysis, introspection, and accessible storytelling likely attracts listeners who value thoughtful critique and narrative depth over traditional hyp... 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. The Big Picture
2. Letters from an American
3. Weird Little Guys

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. John Macy
7. Daniel Lee
8. Al 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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