DRUG ABUSE, NDA's, AND RETIREMENTS: THE MUSICAL (Frank & Gus 4.24.26)

Anthony and Joe break down the latest in wrestling news, starting with a wave of retirement announcements including Pat McAfee, Nikki Bella, and Billy Gunn's take on his own career future. The guys discuss the dangers of wrestlers overextending themselves across too many ventures, debate which WWE women could pull off a hardcore match, and riff on the absurdity of The Rock producing a Fighting with My Family stage musical. They also get into the parasocial entitlement of wrestling fans, AEW's merch problems, MJF's ceiling in WWE, Dan Hausen's potential, and the security failures at WrestleMania 42 weekend — including X-Pac's assault claims at the MGM Grand.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro / Three WWE retirements in 24 hours1:56 – Pat McAfee retirement breakdown16:32 – The WrestleMania ads controversy17:13 – Parasocial relationships24:00 – Back to retirements: Nikki Bella25:41 – Fantasy booking a hardcore Nikki Bella run29:27 – Brit Baker at the NFL Draft31:20 – AEW Boys & Girls Club37:55 – Billy Gunn's retirement comments & his attitude57:06 – The Rock producing a musical1:05:10 – MJF's ceiling in WWE & Dan Hausen's future1:11:24 – AEW merch problems & fired designers1:17:59 – X-Pac assaulted at WrestleMania 42 weekend1:23:17 – MGM Grand security failures & TKO cheapness1:25:59 – Wrap-upBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.