Summary

In this episode of the podcast, Marie Shadows discusses several key issues affecting AEW and the wrestling community. She critiques Tony Khan’s approach to building new stars in AEW, arguing that the company relies too heavily on established talent and former WWE wrestlers rather than nurturing fresh, homegrown talent. Shadows highlights the disconnect between AEW’s claim of focusing on the future of wrestling and its reality—filled with pre-packaged stars with minimal investment in new, developing talent. She also criticizes the lack of genuine promotional effort from AEW wrestlers, citing the missed opportunity at the All In Texas press conference.

The episode also explores the rebranding of the acronym IWC, emphasizing how the phrase “I Will Complain” reflects a larger issue within the wrestling community—how negativity is often rewarded on social media over authentic, constructive discourse. Marie shares practical tips for curating your Twitter timeline to filter out negativity and focus on content that truly reflects what fans want to see.

Marie wraps up the episode with a reflection on the unrealistic expectation for fans to “Enjoy All Wrestling,” stressing that every community and fandom has the right to critique and demand more from their favorite promotions and wrestlers. She also hints at a future project, Tape Study, where she plans to help wrestlers improve by analyzing matches and promos.

Tony Khan’s Press Conference for AEW All In Texas: Discussion of Tony Khan’s excitement for the future of pro wrestling, juxtaposed with concerns about AEW’s reliance on established stars and former WWE talent.

AEW’s Hiring Model and Creating New Stars: Shadows critiques AEW’s approach to talent development, emphasizing that many wrestlers on the roster come pre-packaged with their established personas and skillsets.

Missed Promotional Opportunities for AEW: Shadows reflects on the underwhelming turnout for the All In Texas press conference and the lack of engagement from wrestlers in promoting the event.

IWC Rebranding: A look at the transition from Internet Wrestling Community to I Will Complain, and the impact of social media algorithms that reward negativity. Marie offers tips for curating a more positive Twitter experience.

“Enjoy All Wrestling” Critique: Shadows argues against the common phrase used by wrestlers to dismiss constructive criticism and stresses the importance of genuine engagement with fans.

Future Projects and Upcoming Content: Marie announces a new project, Tape Study, aimed at helping wrestlers improve through match analysis and promo breakdowns.

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Listen, in my wildest dreams, I would have never thought that I’ll be meeting Eric Bishoff and creating wrestling content over the past six years as we approach January 2025.

Hello everyone! Thank you for being patient with me and delivering content to your inboxes. For the quickest way to keep with me and my journey in wrestling is through Discord and YouTube as I post in the community tab. I would love to utilize Substack Chat more and will be testing out the new feature of posting new articles directly from the Substack app on my phone.

Happy Monday!

So let me back up a bit. On December 5, 2024, MLW returned to New York City to host MLW One Shot at the Melrose Ballroom. However, this wasn’t any other MLW One Shot from previous winters ago. This one was special. We had the honor of having special guest and booker for one night: ERIC BISCHOFF! You all know you love Eric. lol.

In the podcast episode, I tell my experience working the MLW One Shot event. I talk about helping talent with the meet and greets. I talk about helping seat charting. I talk about how great everyone was and the professionalism, and all the great helpers we had. It was a team effort the whole night.

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marieshadows.substack.com - has extra pictures, extra content.

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Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host, Marie Shadows.

This episode is named: Jon Moxley - AEW Hard Reset! + Mox Interviews commentary - Full Gear 2024

Marie Shadows took a break due to a family member needing surgery. The family member is now recovering, and she has been aiding in their recovery. But now she's back, bringing the controversial talking points for AEW and Jon Moxley.

This entire podcast episode is dedicated to Jon Moxley, Jon Moxley's crew Death Riders, and his buildup with Orange Cassidy. Marie also discusses Twitter/X drama regarding Claudio tossing Orange Cassidy around like a rag doll.

Marie Shadows provides social commentary on recent interviews featuring Jon Moxley. These include:

A snippet from the NY Sports Post (nicknamed "Sunglass Hut").The full TV Insider interview, which featured varied questions, with Moxley appearing undecided about whether he was in character or not.

Marie also talks about the importance of social media and how to effectively block, mute, and move forward. She explains that while social media is (unfortunately) the future, people need to understand and use it properly. Instead of blaming the toxicity they see on their timeline—which they haven’t yet cleaned up—some fans unfairly label others as toxic or criticize those who genuinely want the AEW product to improve.

For any names mentioned in this episode, please do not harass anyone! Thank you for respecting this.

Please support the Squared Circle Podcast through these links:

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Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am you host Marie Shadows! This is an audio only recording where I go in depth into the NJPW United Empire Faction History Lesson. AEW wants you to belive something different and no one is pushing back against it except for me.

Hi! Marie Shadows here! Today we're talking more about the United Empire and AEW's lack of good logical storytelling. I wish the "writers" weren't lazy for this. This United Empire "civil war" is so rushed or trying to be rushed or just not logical. Join me!

Title: Future Stars & Failing Strategies: WWE’s ID Program vs. AEW’s Ticket Troubles

Host: Marie ShadowsPodcast: Squared Circle Podcast

Episode Overview:In this episode, Marie Shadows discusses WWE’s latest initiative, the WWE ID program, which scouts and mentors indie wrestlers with the potential to join WWE. Discover how WWE is paving a sustainable path for the next generation of talent.

Meanwhile, Marie shares her critical insights on AEW and NJPW’s current challenges, from ticket sales to storytelling mishaps, and how their strategic missteps could be alienating casual fans and dragging NJPW down.

Marie also explores why NJPW's previous independence (with NJPW Strong) had more success in building buzz than its current AEW partnership.

Key Topics Covered:

1. WWE ID Program: How WWE’s mentorship for indie wrestlers is shaping the future of pro wrestling talent.
2. AEW Ticket Troubles: Analysis of AEW’s discounted ticket prices and struggles with attendance.
3. NJPW’s Position: Why NJPW’s shift away from NJPW Strong might be detrimental and how the AEW partnership could be impacting its growth.
4. Fan Connection Issues: Why AEW and NJPW are struggling to connect with casual fans and how it’s affecting their shows.
5. AEW Fan Behavior: A callout to AEW’s low-IQ fanbase, addressing the need for mature discussion on wrestling’s bigger picture.

Takeaways:

• WWE is investing in the indie scene and building a pathway to long-term success.
• AEW and NJPW are facing challenges that require a stronger focus on fan engagement and storyline quality.
• Wrestling fans need honest conversations about industry trends and the future of promotions like WWE, AEW, and NJPW.

Call to Action:Want more behind-the-scenes wrestling analysis? Subscribe to Squared Circle Podcast for deep dives, insider stories, and pro wrestling critiques.

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***

Future Stars & Failing Strategies: WWE’s ID Program vs. AEW’s Ticket Troubles - Join host Marie Shadows as she dives into WWE's new WWE ID program, which scouts top-tier indie wrestlers and offers mentorship, creating pathways to potential WWE careers. Marie also critiques AEW and NJPW’s approach to ticket sales, storytelling, and fan engagement, explaining why AEW’s and NJPW’s partnership may be hindering growth. If you’re interested in wrestling’s biggest debates on industry strategy and indie development, this episode’s for you!

Delve into the controversial storyline as we discuss AEW Rewriting NJPW History through the lens of Kyle Fletcher's betrayal of Will Ospreay. In this episode, I explore the intricate history of NJPW and the significant relationship between Ospreay and Fletcher, highlighting how their past should shape their current narrative. I provide insightful suggestions on how AEW could have crafted a more compelling and authentic storyline that honors their history. Join the conversation and discover how wrestling storytelling can evolve, and why understanding these dynamics is crucial for fans and writers alike.

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