Season 2 kicks off with Grapple City Rewind diving headfirst into Royal Rumble 1991, a bizarre time capsule of early-90s WWF packed with war-era patriotism, Hulk Hogan propaganda, and some truly questionable booking. Bradley Palermo and Aaron Fink break down the entire card, from the Rockers’ polarizing opener to the shocking title change that sacrificed Ultimate Warrior, all the way through a Royal Rumble match where America apparently wins if Hogan wins. Along the way, they debate bear hugs that never end, creepy Macho King segments, confusing Rumble rules, forgotten entrants, and why this show feels aggressively “of its time.” Plus: current wrestling talk, listener mail, and the announcement of next week’s rewind—Royal Rumble 1998.

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.

In this special Grapple City Rewind Bonus Episode, Bradley Palermo and Aaron Fink head back to NXT TakeOver: London (2015) to revisit one of the defining matches of peak-era NXT: Demon Finn Bálor vs. Samoa Joe.

This is a classic David vs. Goliath clash—cut-to-the-bone athleticism versus raw power and brutality. The hosts break down Bálor’s demon persona, the crowd-driven entrance that helped redefine modern wrestling presentation, and why this version of Finn feels so distant from his current main-roster role. They also dig into Samoa Joe’s prime-era performance, highlighting his speed, physicality, and why this match stands above much of his later work.

From the indie-style crowd reactions to standout spots like Joe’s full-speed dive and the ever-looming Muscle Buster, this episode explores why NXT in 2015 felt like the closest thing WWE ever got to a true indie product—and why this match remains underrated a decade later.

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.

In this Grapple City Rewind bonus episode, Bradley Palermo and Aaron Fink jump back to December 29, 1995, to break down one of the strangest matches in ECW history: Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) vs. Sabu from ECW Holiday Hell. What begins as an absurd “Olympic Rules” challenge—complete with an NCAA referee and point deductions—quickly collapses into pure ECW chaos once 9-1-1 destroys the official and takes over.

Recorded at the cramped, smoky Lost Battalion Hall in Queens, this match captures everything fans loved about mid-90s ECW: hostile crowds, sarcastic Joey Styles commentary, broken chairs, reckless dives, and total disregard for the supposed rules. Foley tries to prove he’s more than just hardcore, Sabu throws himself at anything in sight, and the whole thing spirals into violent absurdity before a surprisingly flat finish.

A focused, single-match rewind that highlights ECW’s attitude, humor, and brutality at its peak.

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.

In this special holiday bonus episode of Grapple City Rewind, Bradley and Aaron jump back to NXT TakeOver: London (2015) to revisit a standout match for the NXT Women’s Championship: Bayley vs. Nia Jax. With a red-hot UK crowd, peak black-and-gold NXT energy, and Bayley in full “hugger” babyface mode, this match captures a unique moment in modern wrestling history.

Aaron breaks down why this bout stood out to him—its December timing, Bayley’s first encounter with the now-iconic “Hey Bayley” chant, and a performance that showcased both Bayley’s underdog resilience and an early-career Nia Jax looking genuinely intimidating. The hosts dig into the crowd atmosphere, the storytelling, the submissions, and the enduring charm of Bayley’s character during this era.

It’s a short, festive rewind packed with nostalgia for black-and-gold NXT fans and a warm lead-in to Season 2 coming in January.

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.

Join Bradley Palermo and Aaron Fink for a festive dive into the hilarious and chaotic 2011 WWE "All-I-Want-for-Christmas" Battle Royale! In this special bonus episode of Grapple City Rewind, we break down this over-the-top match featuring Sheamus, Hornswoggle, and a wild mix of WWE stars. From the strange holiday vibes to the unforgettable moments with Mick Foley as Santa, we discuss everything that made this match a memorable and lighthearted WWE moment. Tune in for some laughs, nostalgia, and surprising facts from the world of professional wrestling!

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.

WCW spent eighteen months building to Sting vs. Hollywood Hogan… only to trip over their own feet at the finish line. In this episode of Grapple City Rewind, Brad and Aaron break down the spectacular chaos of WCW Starrcade 1997—from the overhyped “greatest night ever” promises to the infamous not-fast fast count that derailed the biggest payoff in company history.

Brad also opens the show with a full recount of attending WWE Survivor Series 2025 live at Petco Park, describing the nightmare seating, the hours-long entry lines, the obstructed views, and how the Dominic Mysterio injury angle worked the entire stadium in real time.

Then it’s back to 1997, where confusion reigned backstage, referees and managers looked like they’d been handed new script pages seconds before going live, NWO interference suffocated half the card, and Bret Hart wandered into the main event like he wasn’t sure why he was even there. We also cover the matches that quietly stole the show, the production choices that aged like milk, and the moment many fans consider the beginning of WCW’s collapse.

If you’ve ever wanted a blueprint on how to ruin an 18-month storyline in 18 seconds, this is the one.

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.

Travel back to Thanksgiving night 1985 as Bradley and Aaron dive deep into Starrcade: The Gathering, a split-venue NWA mega-event overflowing with blood, Russians, rule-breaking, cage mayhem, and one unbelievably annoying drunk fan who somehow made it into the subtitles.

This episode covers:

• Rock & Roll Express vs. Ivan & Nikita Koloff in a cage match that’s somehow no-DQ and still worked like a tag match
• Endless blood, heel chaos, and wild Cold War heat
• Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes in a classic NWA main event complete with interference, cops escorting wrestlers, a massive blade job, and the original Dusty Finish
• Dave Meltzer’s ratings vs. what Bradley and Aaron REALLY think
• A mailbox segment with Frank checking in about Royal Rumble season
• The official GCR rating: Fast Forward, Play, or Rewind
• Announcement of the next PPV: Starrcade 1997 – Hogan vs. Sting

If you love gritty 80s wrestling, crimson masks, or just want to hear two guys yell about a drunk dude screaming “DUSTY RHODES! WOO!” for twenty minutes straight — this is your episode.

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.

Step inside the Ruthless Aggression era as Bradley Palermo and Aaron Fink break down WWE Survivor Series 2002, live from Madison Square Garden. This show has everything: broom-based hardcore weapons, the debut of the Elimination Chamber, Victoria beating Trish with a fire extinguisher, Matt Hardy’s “low-fat chocolate milk” Matt Facts, and way too much Saliva… the band, not the bodily fluid (though honestly, there’s both).

Brad and Aaron compare the women’s wrestling landscape then vs. now, talk Big Show’s shock title win and Heyman’s inevitable betrayal, celebrate the SmackDown Six putting on a clinic, and relive Shawn Michaels returning with the most unfortunate bob haircut in WWE history.

Plus:
• Current product talk — John Cena’s IC title shocker, Sheamus’ case for Cena’s last match, Full Gear predictions, and Mercedes Moné’s 13-belt world tour.
• Why the Elimination Chamber looked insane in 2002.
• How many times can WWE force Saliva on the audience in one night? (Too many.)

Another chaotic, nostalgic, butt-rock-heavy trip through one of the most stacked cards of the early 2000s.

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Music by Bradley Palermo & The Shadow Queens.

Created by Bradley Palermo & Aaron Fink.