Welcome to episode 1 of Watching the Underground! The internet’s only podcast binging, recapping and annotating AwesomenessTV's The Underground. Your hosts are the boys of This is Awesome? - Joaquin, Frank and Chuck. In this episode we are discussing The Underground episodes 1-4. Covering Act 1 of the season, we learn about the origins of the show, the basic premise of the series, and meet all of the colorful characters vying for control of the Underground. Find every episode of The Underground HERE to follow along. Let us know what you think of the series on twitter @TIAPOD or at [email protected]  

Another off-season episode ahead of the premiere of season 10 of the program. First, Joaquin delights his co-hosts with details of his enlightening lucha libre adventure with his tag team partner. THEN, its show and tell time in the Muscle Temple as Chuck introduces the boys to the wonderful world of Manor Pro Wrestling -- the ONLY pro wrestling dinner theater show. If you or anyone you know has attended a Manor Pro Wrestling show PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE hit us up @TIAPOD on twitter.

It is the off-season again, so that means it is time for more silly games and nonsense talk. Joaquin kicks things off by hosting a fresh round of Muscle Temple Jeopardy. It's just like normal Jeopardy, but just about wrestling! Joining Frank and Chuck to play the game is a very special guest: Geoffrey Golden (@geoffreygolden)

Season 9 mercifully reaches its end with another classic finale episode! As is tradition, your croix boys have gathered 'round the microphone to get to the business of tying up loose ends.  This season produced FOUR tie scores derived from our *patent pending* STAR Rating system. Votes will be cast and matches will either slide up or down the big board of match rankings.  ALSO, each host will present their "big idea" from the season - and Frank will gush about Dabba-Kato. See you in the off-season!

Put that cigarette out! The longest TIA season of all time creeps ever closer to the its end with (predictably) the longest TIA episode of all time.  With the World's Heavyweight Title held in abeyance, WWF President Jack Tunney has decided that the only way to determine the next champion is via the greatest gimmick match in the history of wrestling, the Royal Rumble. They say to be the man you have to beat the man. But for one night in January of 1992, you had to beat 29. As promised many years ago, we are joined by the first person in TIA history to ever hand out a ZERO during their STAR Ratings session: Mikey McManus! [The 1992 Royal Rumble,  WWF, January 19 1992]

Crank up the AC, pour yourself a cold beverage, and maybe wear something that breathes because you've found yourself smack dab in the middle of a Heat Wave 1998.  We're checking out a standout match from that show that features the odd couple tag team champions, RVD and Sabu, defending their titles against the "Japanese Contingent" from FMW, Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinsaki.  Will our champions be able to get along long enough to retain their belts? Will the amount of cargo shorts in the crowd be higher than the number of shirtless men? Will Bill Alfonso ever stop with that damn whistle? Well you'll have to listen to find out! Special thanks to one of our favorite guests, the returning Ana Espinoza! [Rob Van Dam and Sabu vs Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki, ECW Heat Wave 1998, August 2 1998]

Our "long" hiatus has finally ended! (I mean, sure it was a long time but its not like it was a whole year or anything, jeez. This show is free! Get all up off my back about it.) We return to Lucha Underground to have a look at the bloody, brutal, fire-filled Cero Miedo match that sees the arm-breaking Pentagon Jr challenging a thurible-toting Vampiro. Will Dasha's daddy be able to turn the clock back and rise to the challenge of the man looking to please his Master? Or will Ian Hodgkinson become yet another victim to the dark luchador? Also, who the heck is this Master fella and what's his deal? You have to assume that's going to resolve up at some point, right? Joining your croix boys to break down all the action and apply the (patent pending) STAR Rating system is Joel Bednarz! [Pentagon Jr vs Vampiro, Season 1 Episode 39 "Ultimate Lucha 1" August 5 2015]

Well folks, we're in for a delightful night of gentlemanly pugilism as we turn our sights on an exciting exhibition matchup between two champions! Competing under Admiral-Lord Mountevans with 8 five minute rounds and two falls to a finish... In one corner, Johnny Saint, the Lightweight Wrestling Champion of the World - and across him Steve Grey, your British Lightweight Champion.  Which of these two technical masters will emerge victorious this evening on World of Sport? And of course, somersaulting into the studio to join your hosts is special guest Steven Screws! [Johnny Saint vs Steve Grey, February 2nd 1980, Joint Promotions/World of Sport]

It is night 4 of the 23rd G1 Climax. 5th match on the card. In one corner: The Stone Pitbull. The other: The Wrestler. Each man with a reputation. Each man with something to prove. This instant classic only lasts 12:17 seconds bell to bell, but when it's over you'd think these men had wrestled for an hour. 8 years later, does the shortest match to to ever earn five stars from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter still hold up? Or does it come up...er, short? Huge thanks to our guest Nico Bartoli! (Nothing Box) [Tomohiro Ishii vs Katsuyori Shibata, NJPW G1 Climax 23 Night 4, August 4 2013]

Frank, Chuck and Joaquin (yes, Joaquin is back on WTE once again) break down all of the action from this year's Double or Nothing PPV. Did AEW deliver a solid four hours of wrestling action or did the show fizzle out like so many botched exploding rings? Come for the takes, stay for the references to the classic 2009 Michael C. Hall and Gerard Butler vehicle "Gamer" Send in your feedback @TIAPOD on twitter or at [email protected]