Squared Circle Spotlight

El Grande Americano: From Bad Gimmick to Match of the Year? | WWE Hasbro Figures

On this episode of Bad Gimmicks, Better Merch, we're taking a deep dive into WWE's most unlikely success story: El Grande Americano.What started as one of the most ridiculous gimmicks in recent WWE history somehow evolved into a storyline that delivered a critically acclaimed Mask vs. Mask Match that many fans are calling one of the best matches of the year.We break down:🔥 The original Chad Gable version🔥 Ludwig Kaiser's takeover of the mask🔥 Why the storyline lasted WAY longer than anyone expected🔥 The Match of the Year debate🔥 Whether El Grande Americano is still a bad gimmickPLUS...🧸 We take a nostalgic trip back to the 90s and look at the legendary WWF Hasbro action figures, one of the most beloved wrestling toy lines ever created.Were they the greatest wrestling figures of all time? We discuss our favorites and revisit a piece of wrestling history.👇 Let us know:Was El Grande Americano a bad gimmick?And what's your favorite WWF Hasbro figure?🎙️ Subscribe for more wrestling nostalgia, weird gimmicks, forgotten stories, and collectibles every week! #WWE #ElGrandeAmericano #BadGimmicksBetterMerch

No Holds Barred: The Craziest Wrestling Movie Ever Made? | Hulk Hogan vs Zeus

Hulk Hogan. Zeus. Tiny Lister. Exploding TV sets. The infamous "DOOKIE!" scene.This week on Make It Make Sense, we're diving into No Holds Barred—the 1989 wrestling movie that somehow became a cult classic despite critics absolutely destroying it.Want to watch the movie before or after listening to our discussion?👉 Watch No Holds Barred here:https://youtu.be/V9VOkwjWh90?si=jNGoQN4LbwJ4AGDrWas this movie a disaster? A masterpiece? Or both?Join the Squared Circle Spotlight crew as we break down the wildest moments, the over-the-top characters, the ridiculous plot, and why wrestling fans still can't stop talking about it decades later.💩 What's that smell?💪 Hulk Hogan at peak Hulkamania😡 Zeus terrorizing everyone📺 Mr. Brell losing his mind🎬 Wrestling movie madness at its finestLet us know in the comments:Is No Holds Barred a terrible movie... or a wrestling masterpiece?🔔 Subscribe for weekly wrestling discussions, bad gimmicks, bizarre wrestling stories, and everything happening in the world of professional wrestling.#WWE #HulkHogan #NoHoldsBarred #Zeus #WrestlingMovies #SquaredCircleSpotlight

The Tragic Downfall Of WWE’s First Diva | Sunny | Make It Make Sense

This week on Make It Make Sense, we cover one of the most tragic stories in wrestling history:The rise… and complete downfall… of WWE’s first diva, Sunny.Before the Divas era, before social media influencers, and before WWE fully understood the power of personality and sex appeal, Sunny became one of the biggest stars in wrestling — and one of the first true internet celebrities.But over the years, the story spiraled into arrests, addiction, controversy, public meltdowns, and eventually real-life tragedy.How did one of wrestling’s biggest success stories become one of its darkest cautionary tales?💬 Let us know in the comments:Was Sunny failed by wrestling culture… or were the bad decisions ultimately her own?

How Ricochet Became Wrestling’s Most Hated Man | Bad Gimmicks Better Merch

This week on Bad Gimmicks Better Merch, we dive into one of the weirdest stories in modern wrestling:How did Ricochet — one of the most athletic wrestlers on the planet — become one of the most polarizing and hated names in wrestling discourse?From his rise as an untouchable indie superstar and Prince Puma in Lucha Underground… to the awkward promos, internet backlash, AEW/WWE tribalism, and nonstop social media discourse… we break down how Ricochet somehow became wrestling’s favorite punching bag.Is the hate deserved?Or did Ricochet become a victim of modern wrestling fandom?🔥 Topics Covered:Ricochet’s indie/NXT risePrince Puma and Lucha UndergroundWhy fans turned on RicochetAEW vs WWE discoursePromo criticismModern wrestling fandomSocial media backlash“Great wrestler, no character?” debate

WWE Actually Thought This Was A Good Idea?! | Make It Make Sense

In 1998, WWE decided to take scripted wrestling… and turn it into a real fighting tournament.What could possibly go wrong?In this episode of Make It Make Sense, we break down the infamous Brawl For All tournament — the backstage politics, the real knockouts, the injuries, Vince Russo’s role in creating it, JBL’s involvement, Bart Gunn accidentally ruining WWE’s plans, and the infamous Butterbean fight that somehow made the entire thing even worse.This wasn’t just a bad idea…It may have been WWE’s dumbest idea EVER.🔥 Topics Covered:Why Vince Russo created the Brawl For AllJBL and backstage “tough guy” cultureDr. Death Steve Williams being the planned winnerBart Gunn shocking everyoneReal knockouts and injuriesThe Butterbean WrestleMania disasterWhy the tournament completely backfired