Category Archives: Podcast

Podcast

Episode 153: Lou DiPietro

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #153 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian welcomes his former WWE colleague Lou DiPietro to the show!

Lou has worn many hats for WWE over the years, but some of the most fascinating stuff he worked on took place in the early years of the WWE Network. If you’ve ever wondered how and why things got uploaded, this is an interesting look at the inner workings of the home of so much classic wrestling footage.

Plus there’s lots of talk on what made ’80s wrestling great, the importance of music, and why The Wrestling Album is STILL a classic.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 152: Fumi Saito

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #152 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian welcomes leading Japanese wrestling historian Fumi Saito to the show!

Brian and Fumi’s conversation focuses on a little-discussed topic: Gorilla Monsoon’s wrestling career in Japan, and the significance of Japan to his legacy.

Plus there’s more on Japanese wrestling history, including the Baba and Inoki NWA/WWF title switches of the ’70s, and other topics!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

The Best of Shut Up and Wrestle, Vol. 2

Hello, wrestling fans! Join Brian R. Solomon this week for the Best of Shut Up and Wrestle, Vol. 2!

To kick off 2025, Brian has once again pored over the archives of SUAW to bring you more of his favorite moments from the past three years.

* RVD talks wrestling psychology and training with The Sheik
* Brian and Mike Sempervive pay tribute to Ole Anderson
* Gary Cappetta reminisces over being a young wrestling fan
* Mike Chapman discusses the legacy of Frank Gotch
* Mike Edison on why Andy Kaufman was the greatest wrestler of all time
* A roundtable of former WWE employees remember Eddie Guerrero and Owen Hart
* Brian relates the NSFW origins of the WWF scratch logo to John McAdam
* A clip from Brian’s unforgettable archive interview with the late, great Terry Funk

It’s another trip down memory lane this week on Shut Up and Wrestle! Stay tuned for a new episode next week.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 151: Sidney Bakabella

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #151 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian welcomes independent wrestling manager and wrestling history buff Sidney Bakabella to the show!

Sidney and Brian get into the weeds on the timeless psychology of drawing heat, the origins of wrestling managers–including memories of Bobby Davis–plus how wrestling nostalgia brings us all together.

Man Mountain Dean! Carlos Colon! The Von Erichs! Gary Hart! Name-drops galore this week on Shut Up and Wrestle!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 150: Dave Meltzer

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for the landmark 150th episode of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

To honor the occasion, Brian welcomes the pioneering wrestling journalist and indispensable wrestling historian himself, Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter to the show!

It’s a one-of-a-kind conversation that focuses on Brian and Dave’s love of the great wrestling of yesteryear, and how it made them lifelong fans, and you don’t to miss it.

From Dave’s opinion of that classic Hackenschmidt footage, to the aura of Bruno, to growing up a fan of the territories, to some reappraisals of the past, some Vince stories as well as the Hall of Fame question of Gorilla Monsoon, it’s all here and more.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 149: Bruce Tharpe

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #149 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian welcomes former NWA President Bruce Tharpe to the show!

Bruce has spent a lifetime in the business, including living through the last glory years of the territorial era! Listen in for a conversation covering his memories of Florida, Houston, Japan and much more.

From Cowboy Luttrall and Eddie Graham to Big Van Vader and Stan Hansen and all points in between, it’s all here this week on Shut Up and Wrestle.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 148: Jeff Bowdren

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #148 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, Brian welcomes Jeff Bowdren of the Breaking Kayfabe with Bowdren and Barry podcast!

Listen in for some convo on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, as well as Jeff and Brian’s takes on some of the major territories and promotions of the past, including ECW, the AWA, GLOW, World Class, SMW, and others!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 147: Kerby Strom

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #147 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, we head back to the Pacific Northwest with a visit from collector, historian and longtime listener, Kerby Strom!

Brian and Kerby’s conversation goes all over the place, starting in Portland and Tacoma, heading to New York, and all places in between. It’s a rose-colored journey through territorial wrestling nostalgia–plus learn about Kerby’s involvement with preserving rare Don Owen wrestling footage.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 146: The Blue Meanie Returns

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #146 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, one of Brian’s earliest guests, “Blue Meanie” Brian Heffron, returns to the show!

It’s a conversation covering ECW, Paul Heyman and Meanie’s experiences in the WWF, as well as many of Brian’s memories of encountering legends like Fred Blassie, Arnold Skaaland, Lou Thesz, Ernie Ladd and others during his own time with the company.

Get ready for a blue-pendous experience this week on Shut Up and Wrestle!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Podcast

Episode 145: Joe Marotta Returns, Part 2

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #145 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon!

This week, it’s the finale of Brian’s epic two-part conversation with the returning Joe Marotta of the Our Vantage Point podcast!

Get ready for more unpacking of the classic 1980s/1990s WWF/WCW announcers, including the Art Donovan debacle, the underrated Stan Lane, and Heenan/Schiavone heat, plus Hulk Hogan on the Merritt Parkway, and so much more.

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download