Planet Tyrus – “Jeff Dye: Comedians Are Done With Wokeness”

Podcast: Planet Tyrus
Host: Tyrus
Guest: Jeff Dye
Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively episode of Planet Tyrus, host Tyrus, a former pro wrestler and Fox News contributor, sits down with fellow comedian and die-hard wrestling fan Jeff Dye. The two exchange stories, debate the state of modern comedy, “wokeness,” and the evolution of entertainment, and deep-dive into their mutual love of professional wrestling. With sharp wit, good-natured banter, and plenty of nostalgia, the conversation veers from media representation to childhood struggles, cultural shifts, and memorable botched wrestling moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Comedy, Wokeness, and Audiences

• Comedy in the Age of Wokeness

  • Jeff shares how audiences in Australia are just now experiencing a backlash against “wokeness” similar to what happened in the U.S. years ago, and his style is “heroic” to them for its common sense and truth-telling.
    • "They're starting to go, maybe this is annoying. Maybe this woke stuff is... My comedy there was, like, heroic to them." – Jeff Dye (07:10)
  • Both agree that audiences crave raw, honest comedy, and while comics are pressured to be sensitive, audiences actually want to hear the real deal.
  • Tyrus notes that Jeff’s “nice-guy” persona makes his humor more approachable, even when daring:
    • "Your shit is punchy, but it’s a very polite punch you in the mouth." – Tyrus (09:55)
  • The two reflect on heckling, cancel culture, and how even diverse crowds will defend comics they trust:
    • “He's so likable that they crossed tent lines to defend you.” – Tyrus (11:53)

• Common Sense as Comedy

  • Jeff discusses sticking to “everyday guy” humor:
    • “Maybe a guy wearing a dress shouldn't compete against my fifth-grade daughter… that's common sense.” – Jeff Dye (10:44)
  • They both express frustration at being labeled bigoted for expressing obvious truths or making jokes about any group, men or women, underscoring a major shift in social expectations for humor.

Life Stories, Dyslexia, and Making it in Comedy

• Personal Journeys & Overcoming Challenges

  • Jeff reveals how being funny was his way to make friends due to his dyslexia and lack of athletic prowess.
    • “Everyone’s funny… but not everyone could be a comedian.” – Jeff Dye (22:47)
  • Both share stories of childhood struggles, familial expectations, and how unique brains (like dyslexia) lead to a different, sometimes funnier, worldview.
  • Tyrus recounts being pushed into drama class to channel energy positively, discovering a love for Shakespeare and performance that shaped his future comedic and wrestling persona.

• The Big Breaks & Writing Process

  • Jeff describes the moment someone from his church encouraged him to pursue his dream, supporting him through his first gigs and writing routines at 23 (39:49–42:21).
  • Both comedians reflect on their writing styles:
    • Jeff writes daily at coffee shops and crafts on-stage; Tyrus works from outlines and life experiences.
    • “You already knew who you were before you became a comedian… I started in comedy before I knew who I was.” – Jeff Dye (42:55–43:24)

Wrestling: Fandom, Characters, and Behind-the-Scenes

• Accents, Language, and Internationalism in Wrestling

  • Both agree that wrestlers should speak their native languages (with subtitles) for authenticity, rather than struggling with English promos:
    • “Let the Kabuki Warriors just speak in Japanese and put subtitles… it’s great heat if your top heel refuses to speak English.” – Jeff Dye (04:19–05:03)
  • Tyrus argues that “broken English” takes away a wrestler’s monster credibility, while Jeff jokes that it makes them come off as childlike (05:43).

• Favorite Eras, Ruining of Good-Guys/Bad-Guys

  • They reminisce about the eras of wrestling they grew up with and agree on the impact of figures like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who blurred good guy/bad guy lines and changed wrestling’s moral center (17:12–18:39).
    • “Stone Cold Steve Austin ruined it for wrestling for sure… he whooping your boss... we all cheer for it!” – Tyrus (17:16–18:05)

• Importance of Character & Story over “Workrate”

  • Jeff says he remembers personalities, stories, and promos more than technical matches; compelling characters and Shakespearean storytelling make wrestling memorable (47:08–48:08).
  • Both share nostalgia for “larger-than-life” personas from the 80s and 90s and critique today’s frequent recycling of pop culture gimmicks (68:03–70:49).

• Hilarious and Humbling Wrestler Moments

  • Tyrus shares a botched finish story involving Hornswoggle and Dolph Ziggler, illustrating how one mistake on live TV led to the abrupt end of a gimmick, but that’s just wrestling (51:46–55:41).
  • Jeff recounts being roasted by Paul Heyman at WrestleMania, marveling at Heyman’s commitment to staying in heel character post-roast (59:33–61:30).
  • They discuss the reality of on-the-fly improvisation in the ring and how inexperienced wrestlers struggle if something goes wrong (55:53–56:39).
  • On the controversy of Paul Heyman moving a fan:
    • “He just picked him up and moved him. But again, he made a decision… It’s context.” – Tyrus (62:16–64:39)

Cultural Commentary

• Generational Shifts & Cancel Culture

  • Tyrus and Jeff reflect on how the things they did and said growing up would never fly today, but express hope for a coming backlash and return toward common sense in comedy and society.

• Kayfabe, Social Media, and Magic Gone

  • Both lament the decline of in-ring “kayfabe” and how constant social media exposure makes surprise and showmanship nearly impossible (77:03–78:19).
    • “Breaking of kayfabe is maybe the worst thing that could have happened to wrestling… the internet killed wrestling.” – Jeff Dye (76:42–76:58)
  • Still, they optimistically note, “Wrestling and comedy are like roaches. You can't kill them.” (78:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Comedy Style (09:55):
  • Tyrus: "Your shit is punchy, but it’s a very polite punch you in the mouth."
• On Common Sense (10:44):
  • Jeff Dye: "Maybe a guy wearing a dress shouldn't compete against my fifth-grade daughter… that’s common sense."
• On Language in Wrestling (04:19):
  • Jeff Dye: "Let the Kabuki Warriors just speak in Japanese and put subtitles... it’s great heat if your top heel refuses to speak English."
• On Stone Cold (17:16–18:05):
  • Tyrus: “Stone Cold Steve Austin ruined it for wrestling. He whooping your boss, flips everyone off—even a woman comes out, he’ll stun her, and we all cheer!”
• On Kayfabe Breaking (76:42):
  • Jeff Dye: “Breaking of kayfabe is maybe the worst thing that could have ever happened to wrestling. The internet killed wrestling.”
• On the Irrepressibility of Comedy & Wrestling (78:29):
  • Both: "Wrestling and comedy are like roaches. You can't kill them."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:11 – Introduction of Jeff Dye and the premise of the episode
• 04:19–05:17 – Wrestling, accents, and authenticity
• 07:10–11:05 – Comedy, wokeness, and Australian audiences
• 12:45–15:50 – Hecklers, bubble audiences, and the value of diverse comedy lineups
• 22:38–25:17 – Dyslexia, humor, and pathways into comedy
• 39:49–42:21 – Jeff’s journey to becoming a comedian
• 47:08–48:16 – Why stories and characters matter in wrestling
• 51:46–55:41 – Botched wrestling finishes and handling mistakes live
• 59:33–61:30 – Paul Heyman’s roast and steadfast kayfabe
• 62:16–64:39 – Discussing Paul Heyman’s controversy, context, and outrage culture
• 76:42–78:19 – Kayfabe's death, social media, and the future of wrestling surprise

Tone and Style

The conversation throughout is casual, fast-paced, and colored by mutual respect and authentic affection for standup and pro wrestling. Both men embrace self-deprecating humor, unapologetic honesty, and a nostalgic longing for the magic and boundaries of the past—even as they deftly lampoon the foibles and obsessions of today’s culture. There’s plenty of razzing, mid-conversation callbacks, and warmth underlying the tougher takes on contentious issues.

Conclusion

This episode of Planet Tyrus offers a dynamic, entertaining exploration of where comedy and wrestling intersect in the modern world. Tyrus and Jeff Dye blend inside-baseball wisdom with universal truths, showing how the best humor—and the best wrestling—transcend generational and cultural divides by focusing on common sense, storytelling, and not taking oneself too seriously. Even in a world obsessed with outrage and identity, laughter and the love of spectacle endure.