Wild NYC Stories, Wrestler Meet & Greets, and AEW Conspiracies!

Before My Head Explodes with Vince Russo

Full Podcast Summary / Show Notes (Timestamped):

00:00:33 – Kicking Off: PFL, Sports Betting & Wrestling Credentials The Coach reps the PFL and sets the stage, celebrating the show's explosive growth thanks to their unique insider expertise. Coach hypes Russo's credibility and their knack for covering sports betting, MMA, and pro wrestling all in one show.

00:01:17 – Vince Russo's Sports Weekend & Parlay Disaster
Vince shares highs and lows from his weekend: his Giants sweep, but a failed Yankees/Mets parlay—thanks to a grand slam. Coach dishes hard betting advice on why parlaying unders and run lines is a bad idea.

00:02:49 – The New York Sports Fan Experience
Vince and Coach marvel at New York's unique sports fandom, reliving the drama of Yankees fans turning on Juan Soto. They bond over the highs and brutal lows of playing and performing in NYC.

00:04:20 – Super Stickers, Conventions & Wrestler Fan Boundaries
Vince introduces Super Stickers and pivots to a hot topic: inappropriate fan behavior at conventions (including a dramatic real-life incident with Saraya/Paige). The hosts reminisce about gross fan encounters, discuss personal boundaries, and workshop advice for respectful meet-and-greet etiquette.

00:11:21 – Wrestling Belt "Marks" & The Hot Chick Conundrum
Light-hearted banter on wrestling superfans who bring replica belts—and why you never see "hot chicks" with wrestling belts at shows. The hosts imagine a fantasy scenario and break down the psychology behind fan and performer behavior at wrestling events.

00:14:38 – Concert Crossovers & Wrestling's Missed Opportunities
Coach spotlights Jelly Roll surprise-bringing Eminem onstage, drawing parallels to wrestling's lackluster cross-promotion and celebrity integration.

00:15:58 – Conspiracy Theories: AEW Collision Sabotage?
Vince dives into a "Max" (streaming platform) conspiracy after AEW Collision suffers a suspicious technical glitch, with The Rock’s "Black Adam" movie mysteriously set to auto-play. The hosts riff on programming snafus and wrestling TV logic.

00:22:00 – Interactive Q&A: Meet & Greet Kisses, Polls, and Baby Russo Debuts!
Super Stickers light up the chat; Vince and Coach react to fans’ questions, including meet-and-greet scenarios and whether they'd let a fan kiss them for a photo. Debut of "Baby Russo" (AI promo parody), with hilarious results and glitch-induced banter.

00:27:06 – Life Differences & Marriage Anecdotes
Vince recounts a "purple rug" shopping disaster with his wife, highlighting classic male vs. female indecisiveness in relationships. Coach offers comic relief about post-divorce life and domestic drama.

00:32:09 – Fan Requests & Wrestling Merch Hunts
A fan appeals for help tracking down a rare John Cena hat; the hosts crowdsource solutions and commiserate about mark culture in wrestling merch.

00:32:39 – Maternity in WWE: Alexa Bliss & Carmella’s Contrasting Stories
Discussion of WWE’s new backstage daycare for Alexa Bliss’ child, contrasted with Carmella’s claims of WWE undervaluing mothers. Insights on past WWE culture and Triple H’s infamous branded tour bus.

00:36:14 – Paychecks, Wrestling Lifestyles, & Outlandish Expenses
Coach and Vince discuss the financial reality of working for WWE, wild spending stories from international tours, and lessons in balancing paycheck size with real-life expenses.

00:40:43 – Super Stickers: Live Event No-Shows & Rising Ticket Prices
A listener recounts attending SmackDown and missing top stars despite their advertisement. Coach and Vince analyze the root causes, from TKO management gaffes to diminished star rosters and the business impact on live event ticketing.

00:44:05 – Who Are Wrestling’s True Ticket Sellers?
Coach and Vince list the short roster of current stars who genuinely move tickets—including Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, Seth Rollins, and discuss the challenge of keeping talent visible when injured.

00:47:38 – Merch Wars: The Battle for Arena T-Shirts
Old-school stories of WWE legends fighting for merchandise sales and spots at arena stands—and the importance of keeping stars at live events for merchandise success.

00:51:32 – Audience Q&A: Storytelling Classes, WWE PLE Scheduling, and More
Vince fields questions about teaching writing; Coach toys with on-camera coaching. Explains why WWE moved PLEs to Saturday nights to avoid clashing with Sunday Night Football on Peacock.

00:54:01 – Saturday Night’s Main Event: Making It Must-See
Inside booking talk: how would Vince book Cena vs. R-Truth to make it truly impactful? The hosts lament lack of long-term storytelling and creative planning in modern WWE writing.

00:57:43 – Backstage Title Changes & Respect: The Chelsea Green Example
Coach and Vince explain why informing wrestlers of title changes in advance is a respect issue, using Chelsea Green’s surprise title loss as a case study in mismanaging talent momentum.

01:04:53 – MJF in WWE: Risk or Reward?
The team weighs MJF’s potential as a WWE megastar and why control over his character could kill his appeal.

01:06:13 – Missed Continuity, Pay-Per-View Hangovers, and Classic Raw Openings
A trip down memory lane: the thrill of immediate PPV fallout on the following Raw, and the nostalgia for shows where consequences and continuity always carried over.

01:08:47 – Finale: Stadium Network Launch & Closing Remarks
Coach and Vince hype their upcoming expansion to the Stadium Network, celebrate new opportunities, shout out their all-star production team, and thank the loyal audience for helping the show grow.