Marie Shadows dives into the heated final promo exchange between Gabe Kidd and Kenny Omega leading up to their clash at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th. Here's what we unpack:

Gabe Kidd: A Self-Made Madman

• Gabe Kidd has had a breakout year in 2024, carving his path in NJPW and proving his worth.
• At the press conference, he demanded respect, calling out Omega for AEW’s perceived undermining of NJPW and its talent.
• Kidd’s intense energy and raw passion captured what many NJPW loyalists feel about their promotion.

Kenny Omega: The Disrespectful Mentor

• Omega dismissed Kidd’s pandemic struggles, comparing them to his own NJPW tenure a decade ago.
• His patronizing tone framed him as a disappointed “father” figure, offering Kidd a supposed "opportunity" while taking credit for NJPW’s growth.
• Omega’s claim that NJPW’s success is built on his name neglects the promotion’s long-standing legacy and history with international stars.

A Familiar Pattern: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay

• This confrontation echoed Omega’s feud with Will Ospreay, with a strikingly similar narrative.
• Both Kidd and Ospreay have spoken openly about their mental health struggles during the pandemic, only to be met with Omega’s dismissive and diminishing responses.
• While Omega’s “heel” persona may justify some of his behavior, these comments feel unnecessarily out of pocket, given the real-life hardships endured.

Does This Match Even Make Sense?

• Despite the hype, the match between Omega and Kidd feels perplexing, with no clear storyline or *true* stakes driving the confrontation.
• The press conference seemed to manufacture drama rather than build on organic tension, leaving fans questioning the purpose behind this pairing.

NJPW vs. AEW Culture Clash

• The conversation also highlighted the tension between NJPW’s tradition and AEW’s modern influence, raising questions about Wrestle Dynasty’s true identity.
• Is this event a genuine NJPW production or more of a Tony Khan-backed AEW showcase?

Why This Feud Feels Hollow

The Omega vs. Kidd showdown lacks the depth and stakes needed to make it compelling, despite the heavy-handed press conference drama. Don’t miss this must-listen breakdown of the dynamics and questions surrounding Wrestle Dynasty!

Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!

In this episode, I break down Wrestle Dynasty, a rushed, disjointed PPV thrown together after the last NJPW Strong event. Tony Khan’s booking pattern lacks cohesion, with no storylines or follow-through, even though he claims to love NJPW. I discuss the puzzling matchups like Ricochet vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP Championship, despite them not having faced each other in eight years. The Young Bucks' inclusion raises concerns about unnecessary title opportunities. I also touch on the cultural impact of this multi-promotion spectacle, especially in Japan, where fans face financial strain from the packed schedule. Tony Khan fails to understand the business and spending habits of Japanese fans, forcing them to choose between attending Wrestle Kingdom, Wrestle Dynasty, or New Year's Dash, making this a disappointing show overall.

Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!

In this episode, I break down all the matches for Wrestle Kingdom 19, including the chaotic Ranbo, the high-stakes retirement and hair loss match between Tanahashi and Evil, and the Junior Tag Team Titles ladder match. I also delve into why Yota Tsuji vs. David Finlay for the Global Heavyweight Championship feels mistimed. Wrestle Kingdom is NJPW's WrestleMania, and while I want it to deliver, NJPW needs to solidify its identity apart from AEW.

Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!

Welcome to Tape Study Chatter!

We are breaking down the promo between Kenny Omega and Gabe Kidd for their upcoming Wrestle Dynasty match!

• Introduction:

  • Breaking down the mixed reactions to the build-up of the Kenny Omega vs Gabe Kidd match at Wrestle Dynasty.

• Omega’s Heel Turn:

  • Sudden shift from babyface to "Anime Villain" feels forced and unearned.
  • Omega’s promo is overly dramatic, but lacks logical buildup, making it awkward.

• Kidd’s Promo:

  • Kidd delivers an authentic, raw promo with clear, believable motivations.
  • His aggression and intensity match his in-ring style, making him come across as genuine.

• Key Moments in the Promos:

  • Omega’s claim that Kidd destroyed Bullet Club feels hollow, as Omega hasn’t been part of the faction since 2018.
  • Omega’s sense of entitlement over Bullet Club seems forced, making him look like a desperate heel.
  • Kidd’s promo stands out with his raw delivery, positioning him as the true protagonist in this feud.

• Storytelling Breakdown:

  • Omega’s heel turn feels jarring, while Kidd’s motivations are grounded and clear, giving him an edge.

• Conclusion – Why the Match Doesn’t Work:

  • Omega’s motivations are unclear, and his heel turn lacks depth.
  • His health issues and rushed character shift weaken his heel persona.
  • Kidd is miscast as a babyface, distorting the feud’s dynamic.
  • The lack of narrative momentum results in a shallow build-up, leading to a match that struggles to make an impact.

Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast! I am your host Marie Shadows!

When "jokes" fall flat, and truths are blocked - a twitter story

In this episode, Marie Shadows dives into the intricacies of professional wrestling and the ongoing issues within major companies like New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW. While defending New Japan's unique position in the wrestling ecosystem, Marie explores how different cultures have shaped pro wrestling across the world. The discussion also touches on the importance of constructive criticism and honest debate in wrestling fandom. Marie stresses the need for professionalism online and highlights a key Twitter moment involving WWE's Netflix move, urging the wrestling community to keep it classy.Marie Shadows defends New Japan Pro Wrestling while exploring cultural influences on the wrestling world. She discusses the importance of constructive criticism, professional conduct on social media, and calls for honest wrestling debates in this latest podcast episode.

Bullet Points Summary

• Marie Shadows defends New Japan Pro Wrestling despite its flaws.

• Discusses how different cultures (Japan, America, Mexico) created unique wrestling styles.

• Stresses the importance of constructive criticism in wrestling fandom.

• Emphasizes the need for professionalism when engaging online.

• Recaps a controversial Twitter moment involving WWE's Netflix move.

• Calls for keeping debates about wrestling authentic and honest.

Extra context pulled from my ⁠YouTube Community Tab⁠ & my own Twitter:

Telling the truth gets you blocked. What are these plenty of "incentives" to actively support NJPW? I've supported & still no incentives. I've actively told my fans to sign up for NJPW World - no incentives. Why do fans never *fully* explain themselves? They say things & block. NJPW stars - who haven't yet signed to AEW - get secondhand treatment & become jobbers to AEW stars. Ishii is a prime example of this treatment despite TK saying: I LOVE ISHII! ISHII IS GREAT! No one cared about Ishii. No reaction. No understanding of his character or move set.

The flip side: DDT Pro/AEW wrestler, Konosuke got the STAR treatment during the G1 this year by defeating ESTABLISHED NJPW wrestlers. Yeah, he lost later but that does damage to main roster of NJPW by changing fans PERCEPTION of those wrestlers.

⁠https://youtu.be/_Uq9WqpM60Q⁠

You don't need to watch a full episode of AEW to understand the issues - very SOLVABLE issues - that are playing out in REAL TIME. Contextual clips & research work fine to get a conclusion. I work in the business, I LOVE THIS - I can spot the issues & WANT wrestling to improve.

Extra context: ⁠https://x.com/Marie_Shadows/status/18...⁠

Extra extra context: ⁠https://x.com/Marie_Shadows/status/18...⁠

Links:

⁠marieshadows.substack.com⁠

⁠https://discord.gg/McABYC3c39⁠

⁠https://marieshadows-shop.fourthwall.com⁠

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.

Leave a spotify comment!

Links:

Merch: marieshadows-shop.fourthwall.com

YouTube: youtube.com/squaredcirclepodcast

Newsletter: marieshadows.substack.com

Discord: https://discord.gg/McABYC3c39

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.

Links:

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

youtube.com/squaredcirclepodcast

Discord

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:

⁠⁠YouTube.com/squaredcirclepodcast⁠⁠

⁠⁠Twitter.com/marie_shadows⁠⁠

⁠⁠marieshadows.substack.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://marieshadows-shop.fourthwall.com/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://discord.gg/98yPc2k8zF⁠