That Sweet Pop is where professional wrestling meets informed, passionate conversation. Hosted by long-time wrestling personality Dion McCracken and veteran sports journalist and broadcaster Brad Lewis, the show dives into the art, business, and culture of pro wrestling with insight, honesty, and humour.
From mainstream events to hidden gems, That Sweet Pop explores what makes wrestling connect. Those electric moments that send crowds to their feet and fans to social media. With decades of experience across media, live events, and wrestling coverage, Dion and Brad bring a grounded, insider-informed perspective that cuts through the noise.
That Sweet Pop brings you interviews with top wrestling talent, delivering raw stories, sharp insights, and real moments from inside the ring and behind the curtain. These are the voices that built the business and are still driving it forward.
This isn't fantasy booking or echo-chamber fandom. It's a thoughtful, entertaining look at wrestling through the eyes of two people who've spent a lifetime around it. Whether you're tuning in for context, commentary, or just that sweet hit of nostalgia, this is the podcast for fans who get it.
Dion McCracken is a veteran of the professional wrestling industry with over 25 years of experience both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. A trusted voice in New Zealand's wrestling community, Dion has built a reputation as a respected and enduring contributor to the sport.
In 1999, he founded NZPWI.co.nz, a pioneering wrestling news website that brought fans together in the early days of the internet. NZPWI became the hub for local and international wrestling coverage, combining interviews, columns, and community engagement. Dion was quickly established as the go-to authority for wrestling in New Zealand. His influence led to collaborations with TV networks, wrestling promotions, and even WWE itself.
Dion hosted multiple televised wrestling specials on SKY and was consulted by WWE's local promoter for the company's first New Zealand live event in 2005, Road to WrestleMania 22. Over the years, he has interviewed dozens of the industry's biggest names, including Sting, Roddy Piper, Kurt Angle, CM Punk, Charlotte Flair, Randy Orton, Batista, Shane McMahon, Sasha Banks (Mercedes Moné), AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, Finn Balor, Paul Heyman and many more. He has also covered major WWE media events, including media scrums and the red carpet at the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame, where he provided content for the official @WWENZ Twitter account which he managed for WWE at the time.
For six years, Dion contracted to WWE, working on their marketing efforts in New Zealand and Australia, handling social media, facilitating media opportunities, hosting meet-and-greets, and acting as a talent handler during press events.
Domestically, Dion has been a long-time fixture in the New Zealand wrestling scene, first as a commentator for Impact Pro Wrestling, and later as a live event personality, Commissioner, and manager to multiple New Zealand Heavyweight Champions. He also promoted two of his own events, the NZPWI Invitational in 2006 and 2007, both of which aired on SKY. He is also a professional event host.
Having followed wrestling since 1988, attending seven WrestleManias and countless local and international events, Dion brings unmatched insight, passion, and perspective to the world of pro wrestling.
With That Sweet Pop, Dion returns to the spotlight, bringing fans fresh commentary, deep-dive interviews, and an insider's view shaped by decades of experience in and around the ring.
Brad Lewis is a respected voice in New Zealand sports media, combining sharp production skills with authentic on-air presence. A lifelong professional wrestling fan and advocate for the sport, Brad brings a journalist's eye and a fan's heart to That Sweet Pop.
Over the past decade, Brad has produced and contributed to some of the country's most recognisable sports radio programmes, including Tony Veitch on Sport, Radio Sport Breakfast, and Newstalk ZB Sportstalk. More recently, he's stepped behind the mic himself — now serving as both producer and on-air personality for Sport Nation New Zealand, where he also oversees radio coverage of the BLACKCAPS.
Holding a Bachelor's degree in Radio and Television, Brad is the co-host of Fight Club Podcast, a weekly look at combat sports that streams on Spotify and airs on Sport Nation in New Zealand.
In 2019, Brad was flown to New York by WWE to cover WrestleMania 35 for Newshub Sport, a trip that doubled as a life milestone when he proposed to his now-wife Colleen (after showing then WWE Women's Champion Becky Lynch the engagement ring backstage at RAW during an interview, before Colleen saw it!).
Brad and Dion's wrestling paths crossed long before they ever worked together, with Brad buying rare VHS tapes from the NZPWI Store in the late 2000's. Now, with That Sweet Pop, they combine their media experience and love of the sport to deliver fresh, thoughtful takes on the world of professional wrestling.
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