Austin opens up about the colorful personalities he has encountered in independent wrestling, along with a less glamorous side of the business: tribalism. He discusses the tension that can develop between promotions, the pressure of navigating different groups, and why he believes collaboration can ultimately make wrestling better.

The conversation then moves beyond the wrestling ring and into Austin’s expanding broadcasting career. He shares his experience contributing Pittsburgh Steelers reports for radio, reflects on interviewing established Pittsburgh sports broadcasters, and talks about his long-term goal of traveling and working in broadcasting on a larger stage.

Jim and Austin also explore changes in sports culture, including NIL, fantasy sports, sports gambling, and the increasingly common sight of fans watching their phones instead of the event happening directly in front of them.

That observation leads directly back to mindfulness. Austin describes himself as someone who wants to live in the moment, and when Jim asks what advice he would give someone pursuing a dream, Austin’s answer is simple: put yourself out there.

Growth rarely happens by waiting for the perfect opportunity or remaining completely comfortable. Austin reflects on going from a shy student to working across sports, wrestling, radio, television, and journalism by accepting opportunities that pushed him beyond what felt familiar.

It’s a conversation about ambition without losing awareness of where you are right now—and having the courage to enter uncomfortable spaces in order to discover what you can become.

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Topics include WWE’s streaming-first presentation, the growing importance of short-form highlights, and the impact fewer house shows have on wrestler development and the industry as a whole.

The show features a special guest appearance by recently retired “The Gavel” David Lawless, who reflects on his career, memorable moments, and the role adaptability and reliability played in his longevity.

The episode closes with What We Learned, connecting industry trends with personal lessons from a life in wrestling.

Listen now at www.wrestlingmayhemshow.com

We discussed the recent AEW Full Gear pay-per-view, including the bloody "Hell of War" match between Adam Page and Swerve Strickland. There was debate around how violent/extreme the match was.

We previewed the upcoming WWE Survivor Series event, including the WarGames matches. There was excitement for the women's WarGames in particular.

We made hand turkeys in honor of Thanksgiving and shared what we are thankful for in wrestling right now, including the variety of promotions and content available.

We talked about some recent or upcoming appearances/matches featuring names like Necro Butcher, Ronda Rousey, Michael Cole, etc.

There was discussion around the commentary teams in WWE and AEW, appreciating when the commentators are having fun and being "unhinged."

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**A special shout out to our Manager Level Patreon supporter Bradley Ruthers (@HeelBradley)

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Thanks to Basick Sickness (@basicksickness) for the awesome intro for the show