Squared Circle Spotlight

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

The Plane Ride From Hell Was Even Worse Than You Remember | Make It Make Sense

This week marked the anniversary of one of the wildest—and darkest—stories in wrestling history: The Plane Ride From Hell. From Brock Lesnar and Mr. Perfect nearly fighting through the plane… to Ric Flair walking the aisle in nothing but his robe… to Goldust singing over the intercom while Scott Hall passed out in his seat… this flight sounded less like a WWE charter and more like complete chaos at 30,000 feet. In this episode of Make It Make Sense, we break down: * what actually happened on the infamous flight * how the locker room culture spiraled out of control * why so many people treated this insanity as “normal” * and how the story became one of wrestling’s most controversial legends 🔥 Topics Covered: * Brock Lesnar vs Mr. Perfect * Ric Flair controversy * Goldust’s drunken singing * Scott Hall during the flight * WWE locker room culture in the early 2000s * Dark Side of the Ring’s Plane Ride From Hell episode 💬 Let us know in the comments: What’s the craziest Plane Ride From Hell story you’ve ever heard?

How Did WWE Slam Attax Have More Personality Than Jack Swagger?

Jack Swagger had the push, the look, the “Real American” gimmick… and somehow it still never clicked. In this episode of Bad Gimmicks, Better Merch, we break down why WWE’s attempt to turn Jack Swagger into the next big patriotic star completely fell flat—and why the WWE Slam Attax card game somehow had more personality than the gimmick itself. We also open up a pack of WWE Slam Attax cards and revisit one of the weirdest and most nostalgic pieces of WWE merch from the 2010s. 🔥 In this episode: * Why the “Real American” Jack Swagger gimmick failed * WWE trying to force Swagger into the main event scene * The history of WWE Slam Attax * Opening WWE Slam Attax cards live * Why the merch was honestly more entertaining than the character 💬 Let us know in the comments: What’s your favorite weird piece of WWE merch… and was Jack Swagger ever going to work?

Make It Make Sense: What Went Wrong With The Wyatt Sicks?

WWE had something special with the Wyatt Sicks… so how did it fall apart so fast?In this episode, we break down everything that went wrong—from confusing storytelling and lack of direction to the impossible expectations tied to Bray Wyatt’s legacy. This wasn’t just another gimmick that failed… this was something that should have worked.So what happened?Welcome to Make It Make Sense—where we try to figure out why wrestling does the dumbest things possible.🔥 Topics Covered:Why the Wyatt Sicks never found a clear identityWWE’s obsession with mystery over payoffThe pressure of following Bray WyattHow inconsistent booking killed the momentum💬 Let us know in the comments:Did WWE drop the ball with the Wyatt Sicks… or was this doomed from the start?