I'm sick with a bad cold. I've missed a couple days of work. Sore throat, congested, hacking up phlegm as my nostrils turn raw. It's incredibly unpleasant. All I've done is drink tea and sleep. I'm starting to feel better - it's been about six days since the symptoms began. I've tested negative for Covid. The biggest casualty of this sickness is this week's RAW Review. Try as I might I couldn't summon the strength to give much detail or fully fleshed out "takes". I'm exhausted and occasionally in pain. I apologize to anyone who was hoping for more. I figured what I did manage to produce was better than nothing at all. I'll bounce back next week.

JOURNAL ENTRIESTim KailFebruary 21, 2025tim kail's wrestling journal, tim kail, wrestling, work of wrestling, podcast, blog, cm punk

Tim Kail's Raw Review, 2/10/25

RAW kicked off once again with Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso. Only just when you thought this would be a repeat of last week's YEET-fest, Gunther appeared and wrecked the party. He pulled Jey's legs out from under him as he stood on the announce desk, eliciting boos from a raucous crowd. Gunther then beat down and power-bombed Jey, and just when you thought the segment was over, a winded and wounded Jey suddenly had a microphone. "I shouldn't say this..." Jey exhaled. "Me and you at WrestleMania". His choice solidified, the words felt appropriately epic, Jey's Cool Hand Luke like swagger adding to the strength of the phrase "Me and you...". Jey then dove over the top rope onto Gunther and a pile of security officers before the potential brawl was broken up and both men separated.

Good. Now we know one of the WWE's main title matches, which brings the rest into focus. It was wise to have Jey make his decision with weeks left until the Elimination Chamber because it raises the stakes for that match, limiting the choices of the contestants to Cody Rhodes and his WWE Undisputed Championship. CM Punk, John Cena, Logan Paul, and Drew McIntyre are all in the Chamber with two more opponents to be named in the weeks ahead. Now that the Mania main events are taking shape, it's up to WWE to keep things interesting between now and April. I recommend using the full breadth of narrative devices at the company's disposal.

RAW REVIEWSTim KailFebruary 14, 2025raw, Monday night raw, raw review, Tim kail, Tim Kail's raw review, wwe, Seth rollins, cm punk, lyra valkyria, bayley

Tim Kail's Raw Review, 2/3/25

RAW began with a montage of wrestlers arriving to the arena, Sami Zayn and Charlotte among them. It’s nice dash of realism and a logical way to convey the idea that “this party is getting started”. A recap of The Royal Rumble played next, recapping the premium live event for those who missed it or were in need of a refresher. Then Jey Uso emerged through the crowd, celebrating with a widespread “YEET!” While I’ve been asking for RAW to begin with a match, preferably one already in progress, it made sense to start this episode with the men’s Royal Rumble winner. Jey delivered an emotional address about overcoming self-doubt. The crowd cheered him as his voice wavered and tears appeared in his eyes. There’s nothing more powerful in the arts than a human being vulnerable. Jey’s vulnerability brought out the best in him, an honest gratitude for the support of the fans. Then, as expected, Gunther interrupted him and said he’s going to “put Jey down like a diseased dog”. What could be a hokey, overwritten phrase resonated because of Gunther’s palpable disdain for Jey. The question hanging over the scene was whether Jey would choose Gunther, the World Champion, or Cody, the Undisputed Champion, to face in the WrestleMania main event as is his right as Rumble winner. He did not make a choice, instead opting to “holler at Cody” on Friday.

Tim Kail's Raw Review, 1/20/25

Why is Monday Night Raw restraining itself?

We're three weeks into the Netflix Era and very little of import has occurred.

Let’s set basic narrative development aside and just focus on the pomp and circumstance WWE loves to throw at “occasions”. Where are the fireworks and stunts we crave when christening a new era? No one has lifted something really heavy. No one has crashed through a window or a wall or a table. No one's car has been crushed nor blown up.

Not even my base wrestling instincts are being satisfied.

RAW REVIEWSTim KailJanuary 24, 2025raw, raw review, wwe, Seth rollins, drew mcintyre, cm punk, promo, royal rumble

Tim Kail's Raw Review, 1/13/25

I could easily write a RAW review where I describe this episode as superior to last week’s efforts while still lacking genuine ingenuity. I could go on at length about each match (all good, five in total), lament the arrival of “I’m in the Royal Rumble” promo-season, loath the use of “Promo trains” to push narratives forward, commend the WWE for its earnest representation of debuting Superstar, Penta, laud Lyra Valkyria v Dakota Kai (the best match of the night), explain why I think Rhea Ripley adheres too closely to a script and how doing so limits her, extol Sami Zayn’s use of The Blue Thunder Bomb as a finisher, and praise Damian Priest for hoisting himself out of midcard obscurity and securing a spot as a main event player.

I could do all that and we’d be left with a fine RAW Review of a fine RAW.

But that would betray the true purpose of this article; affect real change in professional wrestling by offering the medium the arts criticism it deserves. And what does that mean to me?

RAW REVIEWSTim KailJanuary 17, 2025cm punk, wwe, netflix, Monday night raw, raw, Triple H

10 Ways Pro-Wrestling Changed My Life

I’m thirty six years old and I’ve been a wrestling fan for about twenty four of them. In that time, pro-wrestling has played a pivotal role in my life, serving as more than mere entertainment. Pro-wrestling has inspired me to be a better writer, a better podcaster, and a better person.

It has enlightened me on the role art plays in our lives, and it’s made me appreciate the craft that goes into constructing a wrestling match. I’ve gained friends and colleagues through pro-wrestling, people I trust and admire. Put simply, I can’t separate my growth as a person from my fandom of pro-wrestling. Realizing that, I decided to create this list, Ten Ways Pro-Wrestling Changed My Life.

Let’s begin…

Work Of Wrestling Podcast - EP95 - Role Models

Roman Reigns And The Dangers Of Deserve

Almost every day I see comments from frustrated professional wrestling fans claiming that Roman Reigns "doesn't deserve" all of the opportunities WWE has given him. This comment is incredibly reliable regardless of how Roman Reigns evolves and regardless of how his booking changes.

At this point, if a pro-wrestling fan is reciting the same laundry list of criticisms that have been leveled at Leati Joseph Anoaʻi over the past two years, I tend to question their true intentions as it relates to their love of professional wrestling.

THE RAW REVIEW

I was twenty-five when I first started writing THE RAW REVIEW in 2012. I was a typical angsty young writer - single, pissed off at the world, envious of “better” generations, and certain that my work was the best in the world. I would tap away furiously at the keyboard, churning out long, irony-laced, condescending, thoughtful critiques of RAW. These early write-ups reflected my state of mind and my state of life.

THE WORK OF WRESTLING PODCAST - EP 8 - HEY COLT CABANA, THANK YOU!

THE PODCASTTim KailFebruary 16, 2015podcast, work of wrestling, cody deaner, colt cabana, cm punk, professional wrestling, sports entertainment, marc maron, wtf, monday night raw, nxt, bret hart, wrestling with shadows

MICK FOLEY: A WRESTLER FOR ALL MANKIND

EDITORIALSTim KailOctober 16, 2014cactus jack, chris jericho, cm punk, daniel bryan, dude love, dwayne johnson, ecw, i am santa claus movie, mankind, mick foley, professional wrestling, the rock, triple h, wcw, wwe

The Writings