Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows!

Season 7 kicks off going backwards through Wrestle Kingdom 20, starting with the main event: Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match against Kazuchika Okada (January 4, 2026, Tokyo Dome).

Why this felt like NJPW coming back (even a little), why Okada still delivers elite psychology when motivated, the weird commentary dynamic nobody’s talking about (marching orders for Chris Charlton?), Tanahashi as the most powerful man in wrestling, why he could’ve called Nakamura but chose Okada, post-match brotherhood, the creepy ten-bell salute, and why wrist control & body-part work still matter more than flips.

I go in on AEW’s lazy Okada run, the failing NJPW-AEW partnership, bad yen excuses, immigration/culture takes, IWC negativity, and why Tanahashi retiring means he can finally president properly.

Substack: https://marieshadows.substack.com

Patreon: https://patreon.com/marieshadows

Timestamps!

00:00 – Welcome to Season 7, Happy New Year, January 24 2026

00:46 – Where to find the podcast + what’s coming in 2026

01:14 – IWC negativity, wrong labels, Marty Scurll correct story

03:29 – Cyber bullying still alive, be open-minded

04:35 – Wrestle Kingdom 20 make-or-break for NJPW, Tanahashi retirement

05:52 – Economy/yen excuses vs real issues

09:49 – Sold out because of Tanahashi, Okada wins

12:01 – Why Okada over Nakamura, Tanahashi power

13:37 – AEW partnership not benefiting NJPW (Twitter thread proof)

14:47 – Dual contracts discussion coming soon

16:39 – Tanahashi could’ve called WWE for Nakamura

19:12 – Match breakdown: wrestling, wrist control, psychology

27:54 – Why struggle > flips, working body parts

30:50 – Finish, post-match mic, brotherhood parade

32:04 – Commentary dynamic: Charlton marching orders, tension

37:00 – Walker indie/woke insertions, respect Japanese style

42:41 – Storytelling lost art in commentary

51:02 – Final thoughts, brotherhood, ten-bell creepy

53:05 – Plugs: like/share/comment/poll, Patreon, Tape Study, consultations

Welcome to Season 7 of the Squared Circle Podcast, with your host Marie Shadows!

https://patreon.com/marieshadows

https://marieshadows.substack.com

https://rumble.com/user/marieshadows

Damn, January 2026—wisdom tooth out, cold recovery, but Season 7 of the Square Circle Podcast is here! We're closing 2025 (burnout, reflections, cesspool Twitter) & charging into 2026: chasing conversations, tape study breakdowns, calling out wrestling community BS. No trendy voice—real talk on partnerships (WWE/TNA good, AEW/NJPW slimy), content creator fakeness, women's "equity" nonsense (merit over gender/skin color—fuck feminism ruining minds), and more.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro: Happy New Year, Season 7 Kickoff, and Episode Overview

00:00:51 - Reflections on 2025: Building Over Six Years, Burnout, and Looking Ahead

00:01:07 - January Update: Wisdom Tooth Recovery, No NJPW Reviews, and Smooth Healing

00:03:19 - Back to Normal: Diet Changes, Solid Foods, and Tweeting Wrestling

00:03:31 - Wrestling Community Critique: Kayfabe vs. Real Analysis, Partnerships, and True Voices

00:07:07 - Partnerships Breakdown: AEW/NJPW (No Boost, Overpaid) vs. WWE/TNA/Noah (Done Right)

00:08:51 - Content Creators: Drop Fake Voices, Longevity Over Trends, Standalone Episodes

00:11:52 - Avoiding Burnout: Balance Streaming with Essays, Mental Health Real Talk

00:13:41 - Anti-Drama Farming: Stop Clowning Meltzer/Russo/Bischoff, Debunk with Sources

00:15:40 - Original Content: Value Perspectives, Not Bullying—When Does It Stop?

00:18:19 - Cyberbullying Flip: From "Bad" to Normalized, Need a Facelift in 2026

00:19:24 - Season 7 Vision: Chasing Conversations, 30-45 Min Topics, No Overwhelm

00:20:21 - Topics Tease: Women's "Equity" BS (Merit Over Gender/Color), Fuck Feminism

00:22:46 - Men/Women as Units: Help Isn't Weakness, Destroyed Minds from Ideology

00:23:25 - Tape Study Focus: Match Breakdowns, Psychology, Under Square Circle Umbrella

00:24:45 - 2025 Burnout: Hogan/Charlie Kirk Losses, Cesspool Twitter, Lost Friends

00:26:02 - Branding Shift: Ditch Ringology, Stick with Tape Study—Open to Pros for Consults

00:26:30 - Patreon Revival: Discord Notes for Off-Topic (Current Events, Frustrations)

00:32:52 - Discord Notes Examples: Minnesota Anarchy, EBT Misinfo, Denying the Obvious

00:35:10 - JCW Lunacy Exclusives on Patreon: YouTube Copyright Issues Suck

00:37:00 - Money in Content: Transparency on Splits, Memberships, Support Options

00:39:46 - More Patreon: Tape Study Reviews, Submit Ideas (No Guarantees)

00:40:59 - Fantasy Booking/Reviews: Slow Down, Add Elements, Showcase Untouched Areas

00:42:32 - Community Building: Create Original Lanes, Confidence, Adaptability

00:50:00 - Recap: Season 7 Plans, Chasing Conversations, Tape Study Sessions Interviews

00:57:02 - Spotify 2025 Wrapped: Growth Stats, Top Episode, Awards, Partner Program Goal

01:01:07 - Content Plans: Mini Episodes, Reviews, Live Streams on Patreon/Rumble/Twitch

01:05:22 - Substack Shift: Newsletter for Write-Ups, Links to Content

01:06:30 - Wrestle Kingdom 20 Tease: New Directions, Contracts Rumors (Evil to WWE?)

01:07:54 - Timeline BS: Engagement Farming on "Who Is Evil?"—Tag Knowledgeable People

01:09:09 - Algorithm Rant: Negativity Wins, But Try Positive/Educational

01:11:47 - Community Frustrations: Unload Negativity, No Productivity, Want Authority

01:13:16 - Marty Scrull Me Too Clarification: Story Wrong, One-Time, Victim Forgave—Facts Over Emotion

01:25:06 - Outro: Thanks, Links, Support, Tease Next Episodes (Wrestle Kingdom, Tsuji)

Over on youtube.com/squaredcirclepodcast we are reacting to JCW Lunacy. This is the VOD, please have a look!

JCW Lunacy is wild.

Please consider supporting all I do!

https://patreon.com/marieshadows

https://marieshadows.substack.com