The wrestling readers are back for the 10th episode of the show--you can now pick your top 10 favorite episodes! We welcome back friend of the show Tom for a lively discussion on the topic of cage matches. 

 Of all of the numerous types of match formats, perhaps the most iconic is the cage match. A towering structure, with or without a top, the cage promises to allow a bitter feud to culminate in an uninterruptible settlement. The cage can fence a trepidatious competitor in or it can fence out interference from managers, stablemates, and other interested parties.

This episode opens with a Noell's History Corner segment to set the frame. Noell takes us back to the very first cage match, which took place in Caruthersville, Missouri on January 9, 1936. From there, she leads us through the evolution of the cage's construction, from bricolage through elaborate assemblage.  

We start off discussing a key distinction: is the cage intended to fence the wrestlers in or fence interference out? 

We go on to discuss flavors of cage matches from War Games through Hell in a Cell, and we dedicate a good bit of the episode to narrating our favorite cage matches. Dave takes us to Kerry von Erich vs. Ric Flair with Michael "PS" Hayes as the ref. Tom is interested in the 1997 Bad Blood PPV match between the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, which includes the famous introduction of Kane ("that's gotta be Kane!"). Noell's contemporary take on the question brings us to the Lucha Brothers taking on the Young Bucks in September's AEW All Out show. Chris concludes the question with a sojourn into the truly bizarre, WCW's Chamber of Horrors match from Halloween Havoc 1991. 

Cages have made for some of the most memorable moments in wrestling, including the unintended awe of Mick Foley’s storied Hell in a Cell match and the birth of the ultra high-flier in Jimmy Snuka’s daring cage dives. In many matches, to escape the cage is to outdo one’s opponent. Wrestling is filled with images of daring climbs to the top of the cage and thwarted attempts to just walk out the door. We’ll aim to do the same today, as we try to do this topic justice and escape while you’re still wanting more.