Down The Middle Episode 70: CM Punk Speaks & Wrestlemania XL Preview!

[00:00:00] Hello everyone and welcome to a very special episode of Down The Middle. This podcast is brought

[00:00:19] to you by our friends at Trophy Smack. We will tell you more about them later but first we're

[00:00:23] going to get right into it. CM Punk has finally spoken and basically confirmed everything that we've

[00:00:32] been saying on this show for the better almost two years now. You hear me, Hicking? Yeah, I hear you're okay.

[00:00:48] So, yeah. That CM Punk interview, man. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Cause when I saw it, what was it? Yes, there are so you said a lot about what happened to

[00:01:04] brawl out and also the reason why he went in to leave. Just AEW in general. Like I mentioned this one we were talking

[00:01:14] in the group chat. I was like, I was laughing for the bulk of listening to his conversation with Ariel Hawani because like, I mean, I don't

[00:01:22] mean I don't mean it was kind of close to what we've been saying and to be fair. A lot of what we were

[00:01:28] saying was in relation to what we'd heard from other people. But my suspicion, even the stuff that we were kind

[00:01:37] of talking about, even really, even really before CM Punk was in AEW. The problems, the root of the problems that they had

[00:01:45] but specifically once punk got there, you know, I was saying very early on that all this is Tony Consval. Yeah, a lot of people say he's not

[00:01:57] a boss. He's more like a friend or he wants to be friends before the rest of us and not really like in control. Yeah, well I

[00:02:05] could tell I could tell at the media scrum. Tony Consval. The Tony con was in charge. And maybe I'm a little bit more

[00:02:13] perceptive because I'll like really honest, I used to be that guy. I mean, I see all the signs. He's afraid of confrontation. He doesn't

[00:02:23] want anybody to be mad at him. He doesn't want anybody to be mad around him. But like when you're in charge of a company, you can't

[00:02:33] you're going to piss people off. It's going to happen. Yeah, it was all the hugging for me. Like yeah, that was like, yeah, that was

[00:02:43] a little creepy, but what this really comfort like I just like even punk laughed a couple of times and you know, he's like it's not a real business. And

[00:02:51] when he was talking about that, I'm like, oh my god, he's like again, we've been talking about this for some time. But it's true. I mean the way AEW is run, the way AEW is

[00:03:02] not looked. It is not run in a way. Brian, which by the way, sorry, I should have preface with Brian will not be joining us live tonight. He is at a medical facility.

[00:03:16] Actually, I take that he I don't know. I didn't really get the it wasn't clear to me, but he may join, but he will be in the comments and he said so what do you want to talk about?

[00:03:29] Oh, yeah, I mean, gosh, I mean, where do we even start? I was also kind of shocked like, won't didn't have a non-compete. Yeah, that was a little shocking. Also didn't have an NDA for Wembley apparently.

[00:03:47] The first one he did, the first brawl. Yeah, which apparently as he put it, he didn't sign an NDA for anything that he did wrong.

[00:03:58] Yeah, it was mostly like I guess Tony told him to do it and maybe you'll give him some more money or something.

[00:04:05] No, I'll tell you I'll tell you exactly what the NDA is for the NDA is because the and I said this at the time I said this after it happened.

[00:04:13] The people that barged in were three of the four EVPs and the number two of the company who also happens to be the head of their legal department bars into addressing room and because of something that happened or was said a physical altercation happened now.

[00:04:33] If my account, if I remember the account correctly it was punk and a steel's wife who had an injured leg and Larry in the room. Yeah, that's what I'm worried.

[00:04:43] And then and then apparently after the fight started a steel came into the room.

[00:04:49] It came.

[00:04:54] And apparently punk punched one of the bucks in the face. I can't remember who I think it was mad. No, I mean sorry, I think it was Nick. Yeah.

[00:05:05] Um, again, my theory based on solely based upon how punk said it and what he said, I'm willing to bet that after everything that happened with between him and hangman.

[00:05:18] And it's pretty obvious by now that yeah, I wasn't like they got punched. I thought that was right.

[00:05:24] It seems to me that when punk got there certain people the elite or at the very least the bucks, I don't know how much Kenny had to do with it.

[00:05:35] But I think the party obvious the bugs at least and their camp did not want CM Punk there because he was going to steal the thunder which he did.

[00:05:46] But that's really stupid because you're also an executive.

[00:05:50] So if punk, if punk makes you money, you make more money like

[00:05:55] That's probably gonna get like he would bring it more eyes and money into the company so why not have him?

[00:06:01] He did though, he did bring it more eyes.

[00:06:04] And not only that, it's called the rub like I'm sorry like okay, would you have pulled the same crap if they brought well they probably would have but I was like if somehow they managed to bring scene in.

[00:06:15] Like you're gonna do the same thing.

[00:06:20] Like really?

[00:06:21] Or are you going to be like look we've got CM Punk in our company which means we all get to work with him.

[00:06:30] And I think the smart people Darby Allen MJF

[00:06:34] FTR, you know and there's more I'm just I'm not going to go through the entire list.

[00:06:40] Yeah, I think there were a lot of people there that understood oh CM Punk is here which means not only do I get the pleasure of working with somebody who's a bonafide legend in my industry but this is somebody that can rob they can help me make more money.

[00:06:58] They can grow my fan base because there were people they're out there. There are people who had not heard of MJF before CM Punk went to AW there were people who had not heard of who else did he work with pretty pretty well.

[00:07:14] Darby Allen yeah Darby the

[00:07:18] And basically there are people who hadn't heard of hangman page before CM Punk went to AW.

[00:07:23] Very much.

[00:07:25] I never heard them well I heard them and bring an owner but that's about it.

[00:07:30] Yeah, but I mean it's in the numbers.

[00:07:34] The monster believe brought more people to the product.

[00:07:38] And I would also like to point out he sold out a building in Chicago based upon the rumor that he was going to be there.

[00:07:47] Not even confirmed.

[00:07:49] And that plays blue and I love how now all the AEW.

[00:07:54] I haven't decided what I'm going to start referring to AW fans. I came up with the idea when I was listening to Punk.

[00:08:01] I can't decide if it's going to be I think dreamers.

[00:08:06] The AEW dreamers.

[00:08:09] And the part I didn't get was like they even like hinted that punk was coming. I thought that was happy he was coming even can't.

[00:08:18] Can you imagine he wore like cookie monster?

[00:08:23] Yeah, yeah. Oh I remember that.

[00:08:26] And then Darby when Darby dropped best in the world in his promo. I was like oh CM Punk's going to be there but I liked how they did it.

[00:08:32] It was very smart.

[00:08:35] Because honestly and Jim is one of the few times I disagree with Jim Cornette is like you got to advertise punk and I'm like

[00:08:41] if you drop enough hints people are going to know and the surprise actor will be worth it because I still like to go back and watch that clip.

[00:08:48] It was an incredible moment.

[00:08:50] It's just too bad that they shit the bed with it literally everything everything after that they screwed up from management manager Tony Khan was happy.

[00:09:00] Clearly.

[00:09:03] I was also shocked how he was saying that they didn't help when he was injured.

[00:09:08] Yeah, that was shocked with that part.

[00:09:12] But that's Tony again that's Tony in his organization because Tony's not going to enforce anything and Tony's to

[00:09:19] it's well it's not just Tony but Tony's to Tony's to a scared to pick up the phone and all punk because heaven forbid somebody yell at him.

[00:09:29] You know, but yeah, that's that's awful. That's that's terrible. It's a good thing punk is wealthy.

[00:09:36] Pretty much yeah.

[00:09:39] Like but again, that's just that's the whole thing because when you give your friends jobs and your friends haven't demonstrated I'm not saying don't give your friends jobs if they've demonstrated that they're competent.

[00:09:49] I mean, yeah, that that whole thing the other thing that I was

[00:09:55] that I don't think I had really heard anyway anywhere else what we kind of suspected or at least I suspected and punk confirmed was the fact that

[00:10:02] collision was basically to keep punk separated from everybody that didn't like him but keep him in a

[00:10:11] yeah, it felt like that.

[00:10:14] Well, and it's weird.

[00:10:15] Yeah, well, and the funny thing is this Tony was kind of halfway asked about it and he said no the network wanted a third show.

[00:10:22] I'm sure they did.

[00:10:23] Yeah, you don't you don't just create a new show and say like hey, who does on your network? No, but they wanted a third show.

[00:10:31] And you engineered it and saw an opportunity and I'll bet you honestly.

[00:10:36] I'll bet money I would bet money on this I bet

[00:10:40] I'm not time Warner Brothers Discovery.

[00:10:43] New obviously knew about what was going on with CM Punk and they probably came to Tony con and said you're not going to fuck this up for us.

[00:10:51] Yeah, because punk is punk is ratings.

[00:10:55] So yeah, now if I'd been Warner Brothers Discovery, I would have been kind of pissed that they put punk's wrestling show on a Saturday, which is not it's not good for ratings.

[00:11:05] But I guess they were probably they were probably hoping that punk would draw

[00:11:09] ratings, which he wasn't around long enough to see if he would he did in relation to other collision episodes since his departure.

[00:11:16] But there's a lot of variables on Saturdays, but I do think punk.

[00:11:20] I was actually excited for collision when it seemed pretty clear that they were going to unofficially split the rosters and that punk was basically going to be in charge, which he also confirmed

[00:11:29] punk was basically in charge of collision, which is why it was good.

[00:11:34] Yeah, I didn't know that part, but I kind of felt that somebody else was in charge.

[00:11:38] Yeah, it certainly felt somebody else was in charge. I mean, the first episode was really good.

[00:11:43] I was shocked. I was like, oh my god, I'm watching a wrestling program.

[00:11:48] The matches make sense. Nothing stupid and like Andrade had a great series of matches in the first few episodes of collision.

[00:11:56] And then all the main events were good.

[00:12:00] CMFTR was great.

[00:12:03] Even the even the theme song grew on me.

[00:12:06] I didn't like it.

[00:12:08] It grew on me though.

[00:12:11] It really did.

[00:12:13] Kind of like FTR's new theme music though, because honestly didn't like it when I first heard it, but same year.

[00:12:18] It's grown on me.

[00:12:20] Basically, I'm easily conditioned if you just repeat something enough times.

[00:12:25] Like I became a I became a fan of the acclaimed.

[00:12:30] Oh yeah, I always kind of liked their theme song.

[00:12:34] Oh, not just their theme song. I criticized it at first because it felt like a John Cena rip off, but I grew I grew to like it.

[00:12:43] I grew to like it.

[00:12:45] That's I kind of went to this is documented too. I went to Max Caster's defense when they got in trouble for the rap on that episode of dark or elevated.

[00:12:54] Yeah, yeah, remember.

[00:12:56] It was with that girl or something that probably was.

[00:12:59] No, I think it was I think it was the whole volleyball team or something like that.

[00:13:03] Yeah, yeah.

[00:13:04] And I'm sorry.

[00:13:05] As again, just a bat for Max Max Caster again.

[00:13:08] Like first of all once again, Tony's fault because Tony had opened his big mouth and said that he edits that show.

[00:13:16] Yeah.

[00:13:17] So I'm like, oh, so nobody had a problem with it until after it aired and people on YouTube.

[00:13:24] Yeah.

[00:13:25] People on Twitter complain and then you throw Max Caster under the bus saying like, oh, well we didn't know he was going to say that.

[00:13:30] I'm like, you're mean to tell me that you let your wrestlers go out on television or in this case the internet.

[00:13:37] In front of a live audience without knowing full well what they're going to do.

[00:13:41] I don't necessarily mean word for word, but when you're doing when your gimmick is offensive wrapping, you're probably going to want to know what he's going to say.

[00:13:50] Yeah, yeah, he's going to be surprised by it and then say all oops.

[00:13:54] But I'll tell you exactly what happened Tony was like, he's going to wrap some more. It's going to be great.

[00:13:59] And then people got mad and then instead of being an adult and saying, you know what?

[00:14:04] You know what shame on us because we didn't see a problem with it.

[00:14:09] It's always too late blah blah blah blah. Talk to Max. We're going to tone it down.

[00:14:13] But you know what I would have told him I'd have told him to stop. I would have told them to change their tampon.

[00:14:17] Like come on.

[00:14:19] Yeah, it was not really.

[00:14:21] It wasn't that offensive. It's like there was more offensive stuff in many of his other wraps.

[00:14:29] Yeah, I was like what that's what you have a problem with.

[00:14:35] MJF can go out and call an entire audience of bunch of bunch of virgins but you've got a problem with like alluding to something that happened that was quasi scandalous.

[00:14:45] Yeah, I think it's that part they picked that one to fight against him.

[00:14:49] But that's what happens when you cater to the outrage mob and now like an honestly it.

[00:14:56] Hony Con just over the years has.

[00:14:59] It's funny for a guy who will argue with internet trolls. He really didn't stand up for this wrestler there.

[00:15:07] Yeah, that's true. It's like when it counts he's not there.

[00:15:12] That basically encapsulates Tony Con's entire running of a W.

[00:15:16] When it counts he's not there.

[00:15:19] Wish he wouldn't be there I still I still laugh that Tony Con is one booker of the year awards.

[00:15:27] Right pay for it.

[00:15:29] Well, I'm not going to say who's it but it rhymes with cave Schmelzer.

[00:15:37] Yeah, yeah, I don't understand it but hey and it's the same because early AEW which again you have to remember we're comparing it to WWE of 2019.

[00:15:50] But early AEW was really good stuff for the most part there was there was always goofy shit like the fact that Chuck Taylor was hired.

[00:16:01] Yeah, yeah, I forgot who it was for a second.

[00:16:05] Oh, imagine that.

[00:16:08] Like I just I discovered Trent Beretta when he was tag teaming with rockier mayor. I've never had a problem with Trent but when he started hanging around with the best friends which I know they were thing on the Indies and MPWG but

[00:16:21] OK, controversial statement. I can't stand PWG. I know that makes me a hair tick.

[00:16:28] I've seen it but I have no it's like that.

[00:16:33] Well, it's my problem with PWG is you'll have one match where two guys will beat the living hell out of Candace LaRae.

[00:16:45] And then the next and then the proverbial next match you have guys thumb fucking each other.

[00:16:52] Oh, I actually seen both of those. Yeah, I forgot there was the same organization.

[00:16:58] And I'm just like and then the next match you have a fake invisible grenade that works apparently and I'm just.

[00:17:10] Oh Brian Vince voice that was good shit.

[00:17:17] I think he said that when you took the dump on. Oh, he had to at least one.

[00:17:23] Like, shit.

[00:17:25] Leave that there. I'm going to show.

[00:17:29] I don't believe punk talked about that.

[00:17:33] I was shocked. Yeah.

[00:17:36] Especially said when what he said about it.

[00:17:40] I think he gave probably the most politically correct answer without being Tony con about it.

[00:17:48] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:17:49] What I mean at the same time.

[00:17:52] I don't I don't think he's going to get any flag for it because he kind of he answered the question but didn't dwell on it.

[00:17:58] And I mean what else are you going to say? You know, it's not like Vince is there anymore who cares.

[00:18:05] And it's not like he has any reflection on W the current WWE anyway. It has a lot of invocations for.

[00:18:11] The way WWE was.

[00:18:14] But it's it's not anymore which speaking of which we're going to touch on WrestleMania a little bit later, but.

[00:18:19] I was reading because I always pull up the Wikipedia for the match orders when we do these previews.

[00:18:25] And it reminded me this is the first WrestleMania under the TKO banner.

[00:18:30] And it will be the last WrestleMania so I'm going to actually read this part because we were curious because there was the announcement that.

[00:18:38] Raw would be moving to Netflix.

[00:18:41] Oh yeah, I read that here.

[00:18:44] So this will also be the final WrestleMania event to livestream on the standalone WWE network that is still available most countries outside of the United States as beginning in January 2025.

[00:18:54] The service in those countries will shut down.

[00:18:56] Okay, so they're talking about the independent WWE network in other countries. So okay I did miss reading.

[00:19:02] But yes, so apparently many other countries your premium live events will also be on Netflix.

[00:19:08] So that's cool.

[00:19:10] One convenient location.

[00:19:12] Yeah, more people have Netflix to anything.

[00:19:15] Right.

[00:19:16] Yeah, I actually think that's a really, really cool and smart move.

[00:19:20] It's going to be interesting to watch but.

[00:19:22] It's also going to be really interesting to watch with what WWE does with CM Punk over the years because Ariel, Hawani also asked him if he would.

[00:19:29] Be interested in doing like a managerial or backstage role.

[00:19:33] I think he will.

[00:19:34] I would love to see CM Punk put in charge of NXT, not immediately but you know when he decides to retire from in ring.

[00:19:41] I think NXT would be a very nice place for him.

[00:19:44] It would be.

[00:19:45] Because I actually I thought he was going to be like in that role, leaning back a little bit more than I actually like full time.

[00:19:54] I know he's gone down to NXT a couple of times.

[00:19:59] And I think they'll ease him into that because I think he would be extremely useful and I mean they trade he was trying to do that for AEW as was Cody which Cody is I kind of imagine in my mind that once punk was back in WWE he and Cody sat down for a cup of coffee and went.

[00:20:16] Fuck dude.

[00:20:18] Yeah, I could imagine.

[00:20:20] Imagine you write a book together.

[00:20:23] I would take my money.

[00:20:26] I want to read that so mad and one of these days we will eventually find out what happened at Brawl.

[00:20:33] I imagine one of the bucks will actually probably shoot their mouths off or mega when she finally gets tired of dealing with Tony Khan shit.

[00:20:42] Yeah, go somewhere else.

[00:20:44] I think it'd be hilarious if WWE hired her except I wouldn't because based on what I've seen legally from AEW I.

[00:20:52] I mean I'm not a lawyer so I can't really comment on her legal abilities but just based on what I've seen.

[00:20:59] I don't know that I want her in charge of anything in my organization based upon what I've seen.

[00:21:06] I think of this leads to more trouble or conflict and layer on.

[00:21:12] I mean once again the fact that she was with three executives from the company when they stormed into a talent stressing room.

[00:21:23] And no one said no, this is a bad idea.

[00:21:26] I'm not a one of them and especially head of legal wasn't like the head of legal was like yeah I'll go with you.

[00:21:33] We'll tell him what for.

[00:21:36] I'm all Tony's having his and CM Punk said what I've been saying the old time the media scrubs are dumb.

[00:21:43] They're so stupid.

[00:21:46] It's a fake press conference.

[00:21:49] Yeah, it's like it's a fake press conference with fake journalists about a fake sport.

[00:21:55] I mean, it's like a fake and dumb.

[00:21:58] And like he even said he said sometimes when there's like a legitimate happening like the rock coming back.

[00:22:05] Yeah you might want to hold a press conference but after a paper after every single paper view and at least when WWE does it they're kind of in on it.

[00:22:12] Like they do their pre shows but we all it's like they do like talking smack and WWE backstage like but it's all part of like the fake little world.

[00:22:21] Talking to fake journalists about it, you know.

[00:22:26] So I kind of get that but I also didn't watch any of that but you almost had to watch the AEW scrubs because you just never knew what was going to happen.

[00:22:36] It was good for being bad.

[00:22:39] Yeah, it was and plus you just got to see Tony con in his cocaine induced element.

[00:22:48] I'm not saying that.

[00:22:50] I don't know if Tony con does cocaine or infetimines but I'll put it to you this way much like the Vince things coming to light.

[00:22:58] If Tony cons toxicology report came out, I don't think I'd be surprised with the results.

[00:23:03] Absolutely.

[00:23:04] I don't think no one would be.

[00:23:05] It's like I'm not saying he does.

[00:23:09] What if it came out that he did?

[00:23:10] I wouldn't be shocked.

[00:23:14] Let's see what else it just pumped up to.

[00:23:16] I was kind of surprised how long punk talk to.

[00:23:19] It was a hour or so, I think.

[00:23:21] Yeah, I think it might have even been a little bit over.

[00:23:24] Yeah, but Ariel, Hawani is good and they kind of poke fun at Tony again because he was like I'm actually going to answer questions because I don't know if you heard that just ring inducing interview.

[00:23:35] I didn't.

[00:23:37] Like I was like get up to leave at one point like he got an interviewing left.

[00:23:43] I think he did.

[00:23:44] I think it ended.

[00:23:45] I think it ended abruptly but you could hear Ariel, Hawani getting you could hear him getting frustrated.

[00:23:50] Yeah, yeah.

[00:23:52] It's like and I'm listening to it.

[00:23:54] I'm like, jeez, just slap him please.

[00:24:00] Oh and all the viewers will be proud of me.

[00:24:02] I actually did watch Raw this week and I will watch Smackdown tomorrow in anticipation.

[00:24:08] I got my WrestleMania planned.

[00:24:10] I got all the ingredients I need to make sliders at home, sliders, tater tots.

[00:24:16] I like I'm in for it.

[00:24:19] I'm in it.

[00:24:21] Yeah.

[00:24:22] I'm excited.

[00:24:23] Yeah and it actually so that that lead card that we had outside of the matches that it already been planned.

[00:24:30] Apparently it was fake.

[00:24:32] I see it.

[00:24:33] Although some were close so maybe some plans changed but I think it might have been bogus from the beginning.

[00:24:39] I think so too, but it was really close, especially like the semi-zing.

[00:24:43] Yeah, it was and maybe and maybe you like we all know how plans change and like punk pretty well and punk pretty well confirmed.

[00:24:52] We were right again.

[00:24:54] It was supposed to be punk and Seth at WrestleMania.

[00:24:57] Yeah, it had to be.

[00:25:00] It just it just made sense what I didn't know is that punk didn't resign until right before he went out as survivor series.

[00:25:09] Yeah, that's why I'm that's wild.

[00:25:12] I think they anticipated it because he even said he was talking with Nikon and he was like, yeah man Saturday's the business so we got to make it happen for Saturday.

[00:25:19] So I think they all knew it was just a little bit here a little bit there but again, punk also doesn't need the money but at the same time.

[00:25:28] I think it's not that punk is worth the money so yeah, let's just making sure nobody's getting screwed which I don't think this time around WWE was looking to screw anybody.

[00:25:36] It's like I said it's a totally different organization and Nick con.

[00:25:41] I will say this much Nick con knows what the hell he's doing man.

[00:25:45] At first I didn't think he would but Conn got used to it and I think he's he's going to put it in the right direction more now than never events.

[00:25:55] Oh and then Brian said and Randy or actually called punk about coming back.

[00:25:59] I don't know what you're talking about buddy.

[00:26:02] I know that they did I know that they did a watch along with one of their old matches.

[00:26:06] Yeah, I have not I have not watched yet but apparently they talk about how at the time they legitimately did not like each other which that was I believe that was back before Randy kind of pulled off.

[00:26:18] And that and that was back when punk was offended by his own shadow.

[00:26:23] And his you know, I mean there was a time you know there was I've always been a CM Punk fan but I will be the first to admit that he's got he's got a temper and especially back in the day it seemed like it was pretty easy to get on his bad side but I digress still a fan.

[00:26:43] It's nice to be vindicated you know because when all that was going down I was like you know what and at the same time I don't really care what happened with the specifics because at the end of the day it's Tony cons fall.

[00:26:55] And they screwed up and it's an unfortunate truth I said this before too top guys get more leeway it is a double standard it's not fair but it's the world we live in like you're not going to tell John Cena the same things you're going to tell.

[00:27:09] Somebody who just joined NXT roster yeah you're not if Cena is going to see that can go over five minutes if he wants he's John Cena punk can go over five minutes if he wants.

[00:27:22] Who's going to stop them exactly you know well not only that here's the difference though you when punk is on screen he's making money when Roman is on screen he's generating money right now when Cody roses on screen he's generating money.

[00:27:38] When the rock is on screen he's generating money when Akira toza was on and I'm not picking on Akira but you know there's a better example when Nick Wayne is on screen you're spending money trying to convince people that you should watch.

[00:27:54] I was going to say who I arrest my case.

[00:28:02] So it actually here's a here's a fantastic example of how you do that right and I'm even going to praise AEW for this.

[00:28:11] Because hook went out there with team taz a few times that was like who's this hook oh it's taz is saying okay but he's not wrestling so what's his deal you know he was included with the money making act so that you became acquainted with them and then when he had his debut match on rampage I believe it was.

[00:28:29] Yeah more likely you actually wanted to watch it.

[00:28:34] I know I did and I was impressed hook deliver.

[00:28:38] Yeah really like I don't think he's going to grow that much more in AEW now no but it's it's a very good place for him to be right now though oh yeah absolutely yeah.

[00:28:51] I mean hook's already good but he's just going to get more reps in he's going to get more practice.

[00:28:57] He strikes me as the kind of guy who will try to wrestle more than once a week which pung also confirms that there are people in AEW who don't even want to wrestle once a week and honestly after that I was on the fence about Jack Perry for a couple of reasons and now I'm kind of like yeah fuck that guy.

[00:29:18] I actually like to him at first I did too but it seems like a different person now you know well I I first started to have my doubts when I heard more than a couple of people talk about how he was at like fan meeting reads.

[00:29:33] Yeah yeah and I'm just kind of and I'm just kind of like bro like I believe me I can understand it you know I can understand how it can be frustrating and annoying people always shoving stuff in your face want you to sign it want to talk to you you get.

[00:29:47] The same questions a thousand times but you get paid a lot of money to be on TV once a week once one to three times a week and you get to travel and I understand travel can be grueling I get it but it's one it's one to three times a week and you're getting paid that much and then occasionally you have to sit through an interact with fans.

[00:30:10] What are you complaining about? It's really yeah it seemed like he didn't really actually want to be there but he wanted to be there I don't know for the fame only but not anything else for the people.

[00:30:28] Yeah well there's there's a few hundred guys on the indies that would gladly take your spot for half a year absolutely.

[00:30:36] And would love to have people asking for their autographs.

[00:30:41] And so.

[00:30:42] And so.

[00:30:43] Corressive better.

[00:30:44] See that's the thing I don't I don't I don't think he's necessarily yeah tell a better story yet although he was getting better.

[00:30:51] I actually kind of I actually kind of liked him as FTW champ.

[00:30:55] He wasn't right there yet in terms of acting like I still felt like he was acting but he was getting there.

[00:31:04] Yeah it was better than the jungle boy gimmick which I it was funny when he joined the company I said at the time I'm like this is going to work now but eventually he's going to have to become jungle man.

[00:31:16] Because the the boy gimmick and then they actually I said before they did it but I was like eventually.

[00:31:23] I don't remember the middle part of this but I think I predicted it they were going to start calling him jungle jack Perry.

[00:31:30] Yeah and then just and then just jack Perry which they did.

[00:31:34] And I think it was Jim Ross referring to him as jungle jungle boy Jack Perry or something like that he was referring to him by his name that's got JR written all over because he probably came in there on day one of us like kid you can't be jungle boy forever.

[00:31:49] Pretty much yeah you gotta be Jack bear why don't you I can understand the logic of not wanting to coast on your family name at first but once you've gotten there like it is your.

[00:31:59] Like it is your name you know but I don't know that may or may not ever be confirmed but boy speaking of Jack Perry.

[00:32:07] What he wanted to do on collision was even dumber than I thought it was oh yeah yeah yeah like I thought well I thought he wanted to use like real glass on someone you know what I mean yeah yeah which you what you don't get me wrong that's stupid but.

[00:32:26] To bust the windshield of a rental car with a pipe why yeah it made no sense and what punk said was right you know it messes up the rental car the company in everything else the image of the company too.

[00:32:45] Well but not so there is that and that's very very important just also the fact that why like what possible good could come from that and plus the risk of injury like the doctor said it could get in your eye you can get somebody else's eye it will cut you if it touches you.

[00:33:05] You know and it's a car windshield it's not like you can tap it you're going to have to eat it hard and pretty much that came out wrong you're going to have to hit it you're going to have to get it extremely hard with that pipe to get it to break which like I could just imagine his arm going through it and getting cut you know like this is no no good is going to come out of this if it got on hook because I'm assuming hook would be in the car I like I don't.

[00:33:35] Yeah I hope to get cut like when you went through I don't believe he think I got really bad I pointed I pointed that out we were talking about it I was like and hook got caught yeah real glass imagine that there's a reason they use fake glass.

[00:33:52] It's like there's there's stuff that's worth the risk and then there's dumb shit.

[00:34:03] And to me the fake glass actually looks better because it's less effort you know well if you're guaranteed it will break because like my favorite my favorite thing is how people think that glass bottles will shatter if you hit something they might they probably won't they're very hard to break and they usually don't shatter they usually just break and one to four pieces like if you've ever if you ever taken like an empty glass bottle of anything and thrown it it usually doesn't shatter

[00:34:32] yeah yeah yeah and that's dangerous that's hugely dangerous but yeah so and then I'm convinced that CM Punk talks to Jim Cornette but they do it on the download because punk didn't like Jim Cornette didn't want to get punk in trouble because the account of what I had heard at Wimbley on the Jim Cornette show was exactly what punk said happened.

[00:34:59] Okay it was yeah like to the letter so they either talk to punk or actually know what it's probably FTR and don't have the same lawyer I thought they have the same you know what I think I think they do yeah but and punk and punk was rightfully trying to say and like I'm not going to name names because I don't want anybody getting trouble but I'm like it was FTR.

[00:35:23] You were totally hanging out with FTR it's fine you were hanging out with FTR in day and housing.

[00:35:32] And I'd say the AWROSSER was probably split about 50-50 as to who was happy punk was there and those that were in the camp of the Bucca Rooz and which I just don't get it man I don't understand it like if CM Punk came to my company it was going to work for my company like what?

[00:35:53] Like wow you're going to make me a shit ton of money.

[00:35:57] Yeah I think a lot of people were as happy as just that they were friends with the Bucs so they couldn't be happy no outlawed without a firm in them so I think most of them weren't happy he was there just that they couldn't be like oh yeah punk if you're glad he's here with the friends with the Bucs.

[00:36:16] Well best of luck to Okata.

[00:36:19] Oh yeah he'll be fine he's friends with the Bucs but hopefully he just doesn't get crippled or anything.

[00:36:27] And then I read an article saying that I don't know if this is legit or not so it's pure speculation but there I read an article saying that Matt Hardy is entertaining a return to WWE once his AEW agreement is up.

[00:36:42] Yeah I can see that happening.

[00:36:44] I can see a lot of people wanting to go back to WD I see Brian Danielson going back although I think to be fair I think Brian Danielson is having fun he's having fun right now yeah but yeah I can see I don't see Mox going back though.

[00:37:03] I think he's done I think this is where he's going to retire.

[00:37:07] Well yeah because he gets to go out there and have his blood and guts matches.

[00:37:14] Which hey you know that's another thing I don't get it but I had a number of conversations with another people that are like big time deathmatch wrestling fans and I'm just like a man I'm not one of them I don't get it I don't see why you would like not against having a death match when it's appropriate

[00:37:31] but every single show every single time yeah to me is a little overkill and it's like well it makes everything it makes everything less although I get speaking of deathmatch deathmatch King Matt Cardona was on is he officially an AEW I'm not sure.

[00:37:45] I'm having no idea.

[00:37:48] I'm going to look that up real quick because I want to say I seem to remember checking the roster page but I might be eat wrestling.

[00:38:04] Although there might there might be hope I saw a clip right before we started of Trent Burretta giving a shining wizard to orange Cassidy so

[00:38:16] they might actually I and then plus to all I'm wow I'm glad I remembered this AEW had some releases the company that doesn't release people had a list of releases.

[00:38:30] Here it happened I think after the interview while like yeah sure and I think that was coincidence but maybe maybe not he's like I'll be a real boss today.

[00:38:43] Well they got a new CFO or see I'm sorry they got a new COO.

[00:38:49] Oh yeah I did see that so I think that might have had something to do with it well if your website would load here we go.

[00:39:02] Let's see where would you be.

[00:39:05] I go all the way down to the ends.

[00:39:14] Still don't know why luchosaurus is kill switch.

[00:39:19] Yeah he's still wearing a fucking dinosaur mask.

[00:39:25] It's not the name that bothers me it's the fact that he's still wearing the dinosaur mask.

[00:39:31] I don't when he like turn hill it was done for you know and he was like going to rip it off but nope they doubled down on it.

[00:39:43] Okay no Matt that cardona is not officially on.

[00:39:48] I never heard this guy slim J.

[00:39:51] Slims him.

[00:39:53] Oh if you got the list.

[00:39:56] I think that's the name.

[00:40:01] This is the name.

[00:40:03] The boys.

[00:40:06] I released the boys.

[00:40:08] Here just them.

[00:40:11] Stu Grayson for the second time.

[00:40:17] I'm sorry I do legitimately apologize for that.

[00:40:24] I don't.

[00:40:27] I don't mean so I'm not making light of the misfortune of somebody losing their employment but when you said the second time I was just like why'd you hire back.

[00:40:41] I don't know.

[00:40:44] I don't know.

[00:40:47] Gravity.

[00:40:50] Oh really?

[00:40:53] Yeah.

[00:40:55] Also Parker or doe.

[00:40:58] Oh that's the Brock lesser look alike.

[00:41:02] They find out.

[00:41:04] Yeah you look too much like Brock Lesnar kid we can't have that.

[00:41:09] Yeah but now that that triggers too many people in their audience.

[00:41:16] Yeah I guess.

[00:41:19] Well I don't know where he's going to go.

[00:41:23] He can go to Japan and be fine for a while and then end up in WWE.

[00:41:28] You got anything that there's so much we could talk about with CM Punk but we do want to get to WrestleMania.

[00:41:34] But anything you want to add I'm trying to rack my brain and see.

[00:41:38] I mean CM Punk he didn't so much tease the return of AJ Lee but he pretty much said no it's not going to happen but he would like it to happen.

[00:41:46] It's not much I can't remember the most I was shocked about they didn't pay for his like surgery or helping with that part.

[00:41:54] Yeah that was shocking.

[00:41:56] Yeah that was wild.

[00:41:58] Yeah because initially Dave W kept counting like you know yeah we're going to give health insurance and we're not going to do releases.

[00:42:05] And you know we're going to we're going to love a lot we're going to have employees and not and then all that when sports based presentation and that all went out the window.

[00:42:15] Immediately plus is like when he first make when he first came to me was talking about how injured he was in WWE.

[00:42:23] How they help him so it's like I found the same as totally a different administration.

[00:42:27] But yeah I do find it funny because I've listened to this interview a couple times because it's just entertaining and I also did the same thing when Punk was on Colt Cabana's podcast and kind of did the tell wall of when he left WWE the first time.

[00:42:41] Yeah and it's interesting I can tell which punks older than me so take this with a massive grain of salt you can hear it in the way he talks though punks a lot.

[00:42:51] Not to say he was immature at the time but just compared to then to now.

[00:42:56] You can tell he's a lot more laid back.

[00:43:00] And he's more reserved like he's letting things go in a way not when he was talking to Colt you could tell he was still getting mad about situations and stuff.

[00:43:11] That that tells me though because Punk has buried the hatchet with a lot of people that tells me that some really wild crap went down.

[00:43:18] And I don't know what happened but what I do know is that oftentimes when a lot of money gets involved in a situation one way or another it changes a lot of people.

[00:43:28] That's true.

[00:43:29] It's very and I'm not even necessarily faulting those people because it's very hard to say no to a few million dollars.

[00:43:38] It's very difficult to say no to and when it's when it's a real thing it's easy to say no when it's not a real possibility.

[00:43:46] But also when you owe a lot of money and you think you have a way to get it, you know I'm not even in I'm not implying anything I'm just saying like that is very very scary especially in that sort of context and I'm sure Colt Kovanna felt like he was this is just my theory.

[00:44:04] I'm sure Colt Kovanna felt like he was just along for the ride for this and didn't really understand why he was part of these legal proceedings in a defamation lawsuit.

[00:44:13] And probably felt that punk should have paid for a lot a lot if not all of the legal fees involved blah blah blah blah.

[00:44:21] I know that was the major bone of contention between the two of them.

[00:44:26] I don't know what else happened and we probably never will but I digress yeah.

[00:44:35] But yeah it was wild so we found out we were confirmed that Tony Khan is not a boss.

[00:44:40] That company has not run with the goal of making money.

[00:44:45] It doesn't seem to be around like the next 10 years I don't think it's going to well he said something that was very telling he said it'll be around as long as Tony Khan is there.

[00:44:55] And wants to put money into it.

[00:44:58] Yeah which means they lose the money so I don't even know I won't even go so far as to say they're losing money per say although they probably are but even if they weren't like let's just assume they are making a profit like let's say they're making a $10 million profit annually.

[00:45:13] It could it could be a hundred because they just.

[00:45:21] Wrestling is so counterintuitly simple like case in point wwe right now.

[00:45:28] If you have the right talent which a w's got all the talent in the world they've got it they've got a great roster.

[00:45:35] And they've got young hungry people and you just have to put them together in the right combination they had CM Punk they had Cody roads and they fucked it up both times.

[00:45:44] I guess that's probably the most frustrating thing when it comes to punk I even said this at the time I was like you didn't even screw up the deal I mean you had him in your company.

[00:45:54] You had him signed to a contract and you screwed that out by not being the adult in the room that's surely what happened I'm not even saying you had to fire the box but or Kenny or the elite but just just sit down and listen.

[00:46:10] You guys made me a million dollars this guy is going to make me a hundred million dollars so shut up and get on the ride or get out.

[00:46:27] And even was edge was saying that a lot of people just don't take his advice and they don't want his no talent or expertise which is this where he's at you know when when Adam Copeland tells gives you advice for professional wrestling you shut up and you listen.

[00:46:50] Yeah it's edge I don't get that hard.

[00:46:56] Like I mean jeez even the Brooklyn brawler gave me advice I would listen.

[00:47:03] Pretty much.

[00:47:05] Hey say what you will I mean I have mad respect for the Brooklyn brawler.

[00:47:10] I mean he was in WWE for what 30 years yeah and dependable Colt command of played him in young rock by the way fun little Easter egg.

[00:47:21] Yeah young rock is one of those shows where they either get the actors playing people to either get it 100% or like not at all.

[00:47:33] The only exception might be stone cold where they got the voice right but not the actor was not as resilient.

[00:47:42] Yeah I saw like clips of it was like that's not stone cold.

[00:47:45] Yeah I know what it was like anything likes don't go.

[00:47:52] Well before we hop over to WrestleMania.

[00:47:57] I'll Brian said no to something I don't know what he was referring to.

[00:48:04] Before we hop over to WrestleMania he came have you ever wanted to commemorate an accomplishment in your life but just didn't know exactly how how you should do it you felt like it deserves some.

[00:48:14] Kind of I don't know an award or trophy or even a championship belt to commemorate it.

[00:48:21] Absolutely well thanks to our friends at trophy smack if you have such an occasion they've made it more they've made it easier than ever to do just that case in point.

[00:48:35] The podcast of the year belt.

[00:48:39] That any that anyone in the R.A. podcast network can win if you went podcast of the year and you're in our network you get a customized championship belt with your podcast design and colors as you can see this once the R.A.

[00:48:53] Podcast which I was very flattered to win I did not vote for myself.

[00:48:58] And made that no I did not swear.

[00:49:02] I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure I know who did vote for me one of which the humanly denies it but I know him he's a he's a softie art.

[00:49:12] And I mean look how shiny that is.

[00:49:14] I know that's awesome look at that.

[00:49:17] I'm not going to give you a minute.

[00:49:20] But they don't just do custom belts they also do custom trophies trophy plaques and if you're into fantasy football they have a lot of pre made non custom fantasy football awards that you can get including awards for the losers so everyone can be a winner with trophy smack.

[00:49:37] And if you are interested in checking them out please use the link in the description it helps the podcast out and check out what they have to offer.

[00:49:46] If you'd like to win a podcast to the year award reach out to me on Instagram and we can make that we can see if we can make that happen for you.

[00:49:52] But I guess while we're talking about trophy smack all that everybody on this podcast no two if you're not familiar.

[00:49:58] We did an old kind of fun championship which I'm not going to lie I totally ripped off the being the elite championship in the concept but we retired that championship when our friend Benji died because he was the last champion and it didn't feel right to take away from so we made a new one.

[00:50:15] Also thanks to our friends at trophy smack so we're going to actually revive this and make this competitive in the very near future we're basically waiting on my other co host Eric to get over his ailment to make that happen but this will be available for competition for basically everyone.

[00:50:35] So that'll be fun.

[00:50:38] Those things are heavy those belts are every bit of six pounds.

[00:50:42] Yeah I'm on the website right now they're pretty good.

[00:50:46] I will say this and when you make your custom belt it's actually really fun to do because there's a lot of customization there.

[00:50:53] And I mean I knew it was going to look good but I was legitimately surprised when I got the belts how good these look.

[00:50:59] And everything's full color too you can do black and white images or like I said you saw this bill this is full color.

[00:51:07] Every bit of that.

[00:51:10] I'm impressed with the black and white part because it came out so well it looks like it did yeah and they're very very fast too I was surprised how quick it was.

[00:51:22] And then of course I had little plaques made which testament to the affordability when I did the first ever the first ever are RIT media awards were in January this year and I told everybody it came together at the last minute in December so I told everybody it was just going to be digital awards.

[00:51:38] But honestly they were so inexpensive I went ahead and got everybody award plaques that won so.

[00:51:46] So trophy smack dot com definitely check them out there are very cool company very very helpful if you have any questions they're easy to get old if I can't speak highly enough form which is why their sponsor of this podcast but now.

[00:52:00] It's wrestle many a time.

[00:52:05] And once again the same general disclaimer I do not know if this is the order in which the matches will be in.

[00:52:11] But this is how they are listed and honestly here lately they kind of they have been in this order so we we shall see.

[00:52:20] So night one the first match.

[00:52:25] They have rear ripply defending her women's world championship against Becky Lynch.

[00:52:32] Not going to lie think Ria is going to keep it.

[00:52:37] I would hope so yeah she's she's too hot right now.

[00:52:43] If she loses it like well just next for her then like exactly what you know yeah I agree yeah 100% and Becky doesn't need a belt but she's a great opponent so this seems Taylor made to just elevate rear Ripley more.

[00:52:59] I wonder though I wonder who they are going to have eventually because rear Ripley will eventually lose that title.

[00:53:07] I was thinking Jay but she's too fresh to know.

[00:53:14] Maybe I don't so okay so what we'll touch on Jade later but I have thoughts because we did see Jade in action on a smack down.

[00:53:24] So we'll definitely touch on that a little bit later but yeah I'd like you I think rear Ripley is going to keep it.

[00:53:34] I think it will be a killer match though absolutely.

[00:53:37] I think you're all able to vote for them you know like and he too see her.

[00:53:44] Yeah 100% she's gonna make both of them look even better.

[00:53:47] Next match we have in a very disappointing change of events.

[00:53:51] We have Gunther defending his intercontinental title against Sammy Zane.

[00:53:56] I really wanted it to be dumb maybe maybe next pay for you but that being said I think Gunther is going to keep it.

[00:54:07] Oh yeah like honestly I didn't want him to like have a match that's why I'm like the skipper of the boat or like throw at them.

[00:54:15] Yeah we talked about that last time which they might do I would still like that to be the case which actually I think that would be better for Gunther because we talked about how Oscar did it.

[00:54:28] I think that should happen more with the lower titles because we talked about it back then you know it never really made sense where somebody loses a match and then gets promoted.

[00:54:38] You know but yeah I think Gunther which again it'll be a good match because I mean I'm not not.

[00:54:46] Craping on Sammy Zane at all.

[00:54:49] No but I mean this was barely built up so we'll see.

[00:54:55] This next match honestly this feels like it was thrown together which we have a six and so the fact that this is a ladder match means this isn't going to annoy me because I hate tornado tag team matches.

[00:55:10] I mean I'm senior I hate the rules don't make any sense it's so bad but since as a ladder match it's basically just going to be a free for all but we got the judgment day consisting of Finn baller and Damian priest defending the WWE tag team champion.

[00:55:24] Ships against DIY awesome truth new day a town down under a town down under.

[00:55:36] As what it says it's a town down under which is Austin theory and Grayson waller versus new catch for public which is Pete Dunne and Tyler Bay which congratulations.

[00:55:50] For Pete Dunne getting his name back.

[00:55:56] Honestly looking at this I think judgment day will retain.

[00:56:03] I would think so or what kind of hope they'll like keep judgment day strong well all these other all these other tag teams were kind of thrown together.

[00:56:13] I mean new days been around but they haven't really been a part of anything DIY is often on awesome truth re joined not that long ago I think a town down under just got together yeah and new catch for public within a few months like.

[00:56:33] So if it do lose I think it's going to be our truth they do lose actually yes because the only reason they might lose is because they're kind of hinting at some fracturing in judgment day because the whole business with Dom and LWO try yeah.

[00:56:50] So we'll see but yeah I think I think that storyline will be a thing but I think it'll be a thing later so yeah I see judgment day and then we have a match that might be the sleeper hit of the night Jay versus Jimmy Uso oh that's going to be great this is this is going to be awesome.

[00:57:11] And we've already talked about this I could see either one winning it in my own head what I would like to see is Jay decisively win the match would not be able to bring himself to hurt his brother and then solo or somebody old.

[00:57:25] Yeah yeah I haven't felt it's going to be that way but he has him down or something and like the rough takes a bump and then solo comes it also maybe like a change for solo he may side with.

[00:57:40] Jay yeah because Jimmy's week now or something what I would honestly if I had my brothers I would have liked to have seen these guys fight previously and then the WrestleMania match be a last man standing match yeah.

[00:57:54] But you know it'll still be good like I'm not taking anything away I do like I said I predict Jimmy will win but in the manner that we previously talked about either by cheating or Jay simply not being able to.

[00:58:09] You bring himself to her his brother yeah I guess you that I'm like holding up a chair or something yeah not being able to do it.

[00:58:20] So next we said we were going to talk about Jade Cargill we've got Bianca Belair Jade Cargill and Naomi versus damage controls Dakota Kai Oscar and Kyrie saying.

[00:58:31] How do I okay so I want I want to kind of bring up something that I've noticed but I want to put it delicately because I hope I'm reading it wrong.

[00:58:41] Is it just me or is WWE making a lot of stables that are how should we say.

[00:58:47] Ratially homogenous.

[00:58:50] Absolutely like it seems to be happening more and more because not only that like honestly when I saw Bianca Naomi and Jade in the ring together I was just like again because it already seen it because it already seen that way with damage control with Oscar and Kyrie joining now I know Dakota and Bailey were there too at the time but it was just yeah but they did kick out barely.

[00:59:15] And I think Dakota is not long for that world and then I mean the I will which again that kind of makes sense but yeah it does.

[00:59:26] But there's other examples to like you have what are the what are the called Bobby last week new team now the pack.

[00:59:33] I have no idea which I guess before that.

[00:59:36] Well just saw that earlier and I'm like really and then before that they had the business I'm just kind of like yeah.

[00:59:43] I don't know I hope I hope I'm reading that the wrong way but no you're not you know that's how it's been for a while.

[00:59:51] I'm seeing it happen which I guess historically I mean the nation of domination you know I guess historically it's not that odd it just seems like there's a lot of these groups popping up at the same time.

[01:00:04] It was it reminds me that I was it was like Bruce live and shameless and see I love that though yeah I know but it's like the evil you in something.

[01:00:19] I love because honestly because that was so on the nose it was just funny what did they called themselves it wasn't the United Nations.

[01:00:28] No it wasn't but that's funny I actually like the evil you in the you in empire something.

[01:00:40] That was good shit.

[01:00:47] But yeah so who set this match up we did get to see Jade not in a proper match but I find this so funny because I expressed not concerned but I basically said if Jade can do her finishing move jaded effectively she'll be in a match at WrestleMania and what did she do.

[01:01:10] She did her finishing move the best I've ever seen it she did her push kick the best I've ever seen it everything looked substantially better and I was like okay she might actually be ready.

[01:01:28] Yeah you can tell she put the work in my practice and she's in a tag match so it's not like she's going to be in there the whole time so.

[01:01:37] But yeah I'm there for it so I predict we will see Bianca Jade and Naomi take the victory on this one.

[01:01:50] Yeah I agree just because Jade and Bianca are in there so they're building Bianca back up for something I think this is laying the groundwork for the Bianca Jade match I really do.

[01:02:04] I think they'll win and then like turn on each other afterwards I don't even know that they'll do it that early yeah I think you're going to see what starts out as a friendly rivalry.

[01:02:16] Yeah yeah like warm up each other and then you know and it might be fun like I don't know if you were watching wrestling them but when MVP and Matt Hardy were doing their kind of rivalry thing.

[01:02:30] I briefly remember that that was so much fun yeah the closest to that I remember it was Sierra deep and Mercedes or I've got name it was from AEW.

[01:02:45] Oh Serena D band down Serena D.

[01:02:49] Was it a card or she did oh yeah yeah well she was she was kind of Mercedes Martinez yeah but yeah that was Serena

[01:02:58] D was kind of doing something similar to that I agree that Mercedes was better there they're better but she was something similar with the car or she know which that wasn't bad it was some of serena it was good work you're right you're right I remember.

[01:03:12] It was weird for me seeing Serena D be a heel though at the time yeah now now I'm now I'm not on with it but yeah I predict team Jade because again it's pretty obvious they're building Jade up it makes sense to do it.

[01:03:27] So look at her like but we shall we shall see but that's what I predict which moves us on to the other racial group the LWO is Ray Mysterio and dragon Lee are fighting Santos Escobar and dirty Dominic Mysterio.

[01:03:54] Ray and my prediction is Ray and Lee will lose but because judgment day will interfere.

[01:04:01] Yeah I think it's obvious they have to lose.

[01:04:06] But dragon Lee I mean I've been a fan of dragon Lee since I first saw him in New Japan so it's cool to see him here even though I don't hold the fact that he almost killed Takahashi you know I don't hold that against him that was it that was a freak accident.

[01:04:22] I just remember watching that match I was watching that match live and when that happened I went oh.

[01:04:27] I saw it after the fact but still some reaction yeah I was like oh.

[01:04:33] Or to quote Shane Gillis oh.

[01:04:37] But yeah so I predict that will be the case and then the main event for night one which I would like to remind everybody WrestleMania night one only seven matches with an actually high for WW pay per view.

[01:04:51] Yeah this is this is midway through an AW paper.

[01:04:57] This is halfway there with the scrum honestly it is.

[01:05:05] We have the bloodline to sit God the people are going to be losing their get for this the rock and Roman reigns representing the bloodline versus totally roads and set freaking Rollins.

[01:05:17] If roads and Rollins win all the members of the bloodline will be barred from ringside during the universal championship match on night two if rock and reigns win the championship match on night two will be held under bloodline rules which means the bloodline can do whatever they want.

[01:05:32] Yeah the rock wins yeah which we predicted that even before the situation because it's it sets up even if you're going to have your baby face lose right.

[01:05:43] The heels cannot go in at a deficit exactly the baby face has to go in at a deficit and this is perfect because if it's good storyline no matter what the ending is because of Cody wins he overcomes more odds.

[01:05:58] If they keep the championship on Roman Cody saves face because well I mean it was bloodline rules man.

[01:06:05] That's true they have out yeah and say well they had to cheat to win yeah they can be honestly and this honestly could be very good because those of you that watch the show.

[01:06:15] You know that we've already kind of hashed out at least my my changed feelings on the outcome of this match the main event on night two.

[01:06:23] Yeah I think Roman should win but this could be a really really cool storytelling opportunity for Cody.

[01:06:29] Because there were there were speculation that they were going to be repeating the hard time storyline with his dad well they didn't they didn't quite do that all the way they're hinting at it though.

[01:06:41] Yeah you notice I don't know how Cody managed to make sure the blood got over his eye when he was doing that business with the rock.

[01:06:52] Oh yeah but I'm telling you right now he I don't know how but he did it on purpose because you know what I saw when I when I was watching that I saw dust I saw dusty yeah absolutely.

[01:07:07] I saw dusty roads and I don't mean that is like a knock off I mean that's what I saw I was like oh I think they're.

[01:07:15] I think they might really be going for the hard time storyline because yeah if you're gonna go for hard times Cody has to hit rock bottom he's got it's gotta be so bad that he wonders why did I even come back.

[01:07:27] I think this could be really really good.

[01:07:31] It will be I'm scaring to be.

[01:07:35] Yeah but here's the and this is this is the best part if Cody wins right.

[01:07:41] I'll still be happy it'll be cool Cody will live on the big one I'm fine with it I'm fine either way for obvious reasons of legacy I think that Roman should win but again I'm not going to be like mad or anything.

[01:07:55] What I have learned from WWE as of late and specifically with Cody roads is I no longer assume that WWE is dumb.

[01:08:07] I assume I'm dumb.

[01:08:11] I assume they have like a few talented people mainly for the main story in that's about it.

[01:08:19] Yeah let's not get carried away.

[01:08:23] But what I mean by that is every time I was like oh over the past at least the past year every time I've been like oh they really screwed this up.

[01:08:31] Little bit down the road I'm like oh no they didn't.

[01:08:35] This is this is even better than what I thought so would WWE I've kind of learn they have let me be able to just be a fan again and just enjoy this and just enjoy the ride which is what I've been doing.

[01:08:47] It's so great because now like the rock is back and I get to enjoy the rock and it doesn't really matter what he's doing seeing punks back I get to enjoy I just get to enjoy watching what they're doing.

[01:08:59] Yeah every time go in there's the same way like I'm loving it.

[01:09:03] Yeah he is my one my new favorites now I can't wait to see how he grows and he comes grow champion one day.

[01:09:10] I just can't believe they're getting away with some of the imagery that they use with go through but again.

[01:09:16] Oh yeah yeah that's true.

[01:09:19] I mean like if you know you know yeah yeah.

[01:09:23] But the reason that's got to be the reason they're able to get it in like okay not to get on to history change it but I mean guys.

[01:09:33] Gunther is from Austria but he's the leader of the imperial.

[01:09:41] He is Kaiser is German and even has Kaiser in his name and then the other guys from Italy but he's kind of the joke of the three like yes I mean.

[01:09:53] Yeah once up away just named the guy Mussolini and you're there right.

[01:10:00] I mean and I mean the imagery they use even the even the poses the coats.

[01:10:07] The coats right like I see them before.

[01:10:13] I mean the haircut to a certain extent.

[01:10:17] I mean if go through a little mustache would be a little too close for comfort.

[01:10:23] And I'm not saying they are I'm saying that they know what they're doing.

[01:10:28] And they're toe in that line man because it's one of those things where if you know you know but if you don't know they're still imposing they're still a force to be reckoned with they're all European from that general area.

[01:10:39] Yeah if this was the 90s and they wait.

[01:10:45] I really think they would push it a little further.

[01:10:52] If this were the 80s they'd be in trouble.

[01:10:55] Yeah actually no if this were the 80s Hulk Ogan would come out and.

[01:11:00] Doesn't work for me brother.

[01:11:07] Mr. Peter.

[01:11:10] But I mean I love watching it though because every time they get a little closer and I'm just like.

[01:11:22] Oh no fellas.

[01:11:25] But so wait wait night to.

[01:11:31] Night two apparently the first match is going to be which actually this makes sense.

[01:11:36] It's going to be involved in the main event which is another reason why I know Roman and rock are going to win because set this defending his title against Drew McIntyre in the first match of night two.

[01:11:48] Which I'll be honest I'm not sure I honestly don't know who's going to win this one because it could go either way and be fine in my opinion.

[01:11:58] I would say Drew 100% Drew.

[01:12:01] So I agree but here's why and this is this is this is assuming that Cody wins the belt.

[01:12:08] So Seth loses the drew right there and in sets mine he's not going to say this been in sets mine he's going to say this if things pan out the way I'm laying out here.

[01:12:18] This is what Seth is going to do opening promo on Monday night raw the following day.

[01:12:23] So he's thinking it's like I lost my title because I was busy screwing around with all this Cody bloodline crap.

[01:12:29] I should have just stayed in my lane Drew was right I should have just kept focus on my things so.

[01:12:36] Oh no I'm sorry this isn't of Cody wins so this is it from oh I think I know what's going to happen.

[01:12:43] So Seth's going to lose to Drew.

[01:12:46] Oh Damien?

[01:12:48] No Seth's going to lose to Drew and then it's going to be bloodline rules and Cody's match.

[01:12:55] Seth's going to come out and help get rid of the bloodline but then when Cody's about to pin Roman Seth's going to curb stomp him.

[01:13:07] And then Roman is going to Roman's going to pin him and what would be really great as if Seth dragged Roman on top of Cody.

[01:13:16] But I don't I think now that makes Roman look too weak so yeah I oh I think that's what's going to happen man.

[01:13:23] That would be good.

[01:13:24] That's going to be awesome if that is what happens that's going to so great that place is going to riot.

[01:13:32] Dude I want to do I want it to be honest I want it to be I'll be honest with you though if that happens and people aren't throwing garbage in the ring I'm going to be a little disappointed.

[01:13:43] Yep or a chicken man or somebody throws a gobbledy gook goll and there gobbledy gook or doll.

[01:13:52] Oh man that would be so that would be sick dude.

[01:13:58] Great now I'm going to be watching every match being like uh huh it's going to happen.

[01:14:04] So yeah in order for that to happen Drew McIntyre is the winner and I think that's a good Seth did a really good job honestly better than I expected of getting that title as a running start.

[01:14:15] And I think Drew can keep that momentum going.

[01:14:19] Yeah I do.

[01:14:20] And eventually and eventually lead to punk winning it and giving it even that much more like they can make this belt legit and thus far and thus far they're doing it right.

[01:14:31] So the next match is supposed to be EO sky defending hurt women's championship against Bailey we've known this was coming for a long time.

[01:14:39] This has played out almost exactly the way we said it.

[01:14:43] I said somebody commented on I posted the short where I said Bailey was going to win so hard on TikTok and somebody was like I was actually proud of my rebuttal somebody said how can somebody win hard and I replied back the same way you can turn a phrase.

[01:14:57] I was proud of that.

[01:15:02] But yeah Bailey's going to win so freaking hard.

[01:15:08] She is it's going to be a great match though.

[01:15:12] Yeah I'm happy for belly to yeah it's time you know she can but way they woven the story coming back from injury with damage cool which again this is just evidence of the new WWE as far as I'm concerned.

[01:15:25] The damage control will still be a thing but I think it will slowly become a Japanese only stable.

[01:15:32] Oh yeah it's fun sorry almost there.

[01:15:37] Yeah I still maintain even though they've hinted at the opposite happening to me this just seems like a bait and switch.

[01:15:42] I think you're going to see Dakota Kai because Dakota Kai is supposed to be this the referee isn't she although they didn't list that.

[01:15:51] I think she is yeah I think she is they didn't they didn't list that in the stipulations though but I remember that.

[01:15:57] I think you're going to see Dakota ultimately side with Bailey.

[01:16:02] What's just for just for justice you know.

[01:16:06] Yeah that kind of thing.

[01:16:08] But yeah like I said we think Bailey's going to win.

[01:16:14] This is where the card changes a bit so we now have a singles match between LA night and AJ styles which I don't hate.

[01:16:24] I think it'll be good.

[01:16:27] I think it'll be okay I think it'll be like the biggest match so far maybe but still want to see it.

[01:16:35] Yeah I still want to see it. I'm curious that I honestly think LA night will win but it'll be good just because of how they've been building him up if it was stone together it could be anybody's night.

[01:16:48] But it's going to be LA's night yeah yeah has to be yeah yeah.

[01:16:55] Next we've got Logan Paul defending the US title against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens.

[01:17:04] This is another one I kind of never mind I see the AJ match Logan.

[01:17:13] It'll be a good match and I'm going to call a spot.

[01:17:16] We're going to see Logan Paul do some kind of jumping maneuver into an RKO it's going to happen.

[01:17:21] Yeah because I mean it's there it's gift wrap for you.

[01:17:27] I don't really know nor do I particularly care who wins this match but if I had to.

[01:17:34] Yeah.

[01:17:37] No I'm going to say Kevin really?

[01:17:40] I don't know why this they've been hinting at Kevin and Logan having a thing.

[01:17:45] Yeah yeah that's that's the only reason like I said I wouldn't and I think it's time that Logan loses that title.

[01:17:54] I just don't seem much more what he can do with it.

[01:17:59] Plus Logan's Logan's Logan's got the fight coming up in July.

[01:18:04] Oh yeah yeah which I forgot about that.

[01:18:08] So even the fight coming up well okay so it's my understanding that the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

[01:18:18] I'm seeing a more than one place there's a stipulation that Jake can tag in his brother.

[01:18:24] I don't know if that's real but I've read it more than one place and some of them are legitimate sources so to me that sounds really well let's but let's be let's be real here it's the only prayer Jake Paul has a winning that fight.

[01:18:43] Yeah yeah.

[01:18:45] That's it and honestly I don't want to see Mike Tyson knock him both out.

[01:18:52] Like I'm sorry why would you get into a boxing ring with Mike Tyson?

[01:18:58] I mean that's yeah.

[01:19:01] Yeah like in both win he gets money and Mike gets money and supplements they he sell or something like that.

[01:19:11] So yeah I'm calling I'm calling Kevin Owens but I mean I'm barely calling Kevin Owens.

[01:19:19] I'm sorry this this name makes me laugh so hard.

[01:19:24] Bobby Lashley's group the pride not the pack it was the pride.

[01:19:30] I just see that I just like I just imagine Bobby Lashley with with them to walk from being like we're fans.

[01:19:40] Yeah.

[01:19:43] I don't think there's something else.

[01:19:48] The pride consisting of Bobby Lashley and private party before private party with B Fab.

[01:19:59] Oh, I'm just sitting here is it Montess Ford is married to Bianca Belair?

[01:20:05] Yeah.

[01:20:06] Yeah.

[01:20:07] Why the fuck is B Fab there?

[01:20:10] It doesn't make any sense like literally the only thing B Fab hasn't common with the other guys is the fact that they all just happen to be black.

[01:20:20] That's exactly that's it and I'm just kind of see I'm I'd be the guy in the writers from being like guy I'm not saying it is racist.

[01:20:28] But it kind of feels racist.

[01:20:31] Like why everybody has to be put in that group.

[01:20:36] Yeah, it's kind of like how we need a group.

[01:20:39] A group where they all have something in common.

[01:20:44] It's like well we got Bobby Lashley and let's put him together with the street profits.

[01:20:49] Yeah.

[01:20:50] Okay, yeah like I get it.

[01:20:51] They're all like their champions, former champions.

[01:20:54] Yeah.

[01:20:55] B Fab and their hold on a minute.

[01:20:58] I didn't know that was the thing that was in common.

[01:21:03] Yeah.

[01:21:04] To be honest, I'm shocked you still there.

[01:21:07] She's she's she's she's she's.

[01:21:10] She doesn't need Russell.

[01:21:12] You know, like to be fair neither did top dollar, but.

[01:21:16] I'm not a flop dollar.

[01:21:22] Over never quote top.

[01:21:24] You said it.

[01:21:27] There has one.

[01:21:29] Apparently he injured himself doing a basing move in Jim Cornad just could not keep his composure when he was talking about it.

[01:21:36] Yeah.

[01:21:37] I was a foot.

[01:21:42] But yeah, and they're facing the final testament which this group actually makes sense.

[01:21:51] Carrying cross and the authors of pain with Scarlett and Paul Lering.

[01:21:58] This actually makes sense like this is working.

[01:22:04] I don't really.

[01:22:09] Don't really know who's going to win this one.

[01:22:11] I'm going to it's a Philadelphia Street fight though, so I'm going to have to say the final testament.

[01:22:15] Yeah, yeah, it looks like it.

[01:22:17] They don't know too much.

[01:22:19] Not in a way and my like I this is a hot take and I know a lot of people disagree with me.

[01:22:24] I don't get the street profits.

[01:22:26] I don't get it.

[01:22:28] I like it done somewhat but my first time was like why?

[01:22:33] It was like we got crime time.

[01:22:36] We got.

[01:22:38] They were there were, but it's like it's like they tried to recreate that again.

[01:22:44] Yeah, but it's but it's soft.

[01:22:47] It's soft.

[01:22:49] It's soft.

[01:22:50] Crime time.

[01:22:51] Yes.

[01:22:52] And I'm sorry crime time was the shit man.

[01:22:54] I mean, I don't know what the fuck was that.

[01:22:57] I'm just going to say it like God, that should not have been as entertaining as it was.

[01:23:02] Seven stuff like this.

[01:23:06] I got.

[01:23:10] I said it was.

[01:23:11] It was just fun.

[01:23:12] Like offensive as hell, but it was fun.

[01:23:16] Yeah.

[01:23:17] I mean, but like, I mean, come on, remember Eugene.

[01:23:23] And I feel back as I know his name, his real name, and I'm spacing it.

[01:23:27] But he basically tells the story of how Eugene happened.

[01:23:30] And he was like sitting in the room and he's like, are you guys fucking serious?

[01:23:38] Like what was that conversation like?

[01:23:42] Actually, I imagine.

[01:23:44] Yeah.

[01:23:46] I imagine it went very much.

[01:23:48] I'm thinking of two other conversations, both of which I've heard the behind the scenes stories.

[01:23:52] I'm thinking of when Dustin Rhodes recounts the conversation that would become Gold Dust.

[01:24:00] And he was like, oh, yeah.

[01:24:03] And he's like, I didn't know what that was.

[01:24:06] So I just said, yes, that sounds good.

[01:24:09] And oh God, you want to talk about offensive?

[01:24:11] I still and I'm like, maybe I'm an asshole.

[01:24:14] I am an asshole.

[01:24:16] But I still watch old Gold Dust when he had air quotes, Tourette's

[01:24:21] and that's still some of the funny shit.

[01:24:23] It's because he committed to it.

[01:24:26] So he just didn't let up.

[01:24:30] That's why it was funny.

[01:24:34] And I mean, it wasn't actually Tourette's like you can't be offended by that

[01:24:38] because that's not how Tourette's works.

[01:24:41] He didn't have Tourette's.

[01:24:43] He was crazy.

[01:24:46] I'm like, oh, car, car, vehicles.

[01:24:49] That shit was funny.

[01:24:50] And then the other one, which this is so Luke Gallows has a gift for storytelling.

[01:25:00] For those of you who don't remember Jesse and Festus.

[01:25:04] Oh, yeah.

[01:25:04] I had no idea that was who Gallows.

[01:25:08] Man, I remember because I actually went to a Smackdown when they were just

[01:25:13] starting to get on TV and they were advertised for that night.

[01:25:17] The crowd was chanting we want Festus.

[01:25:20] I'm not even joking, but he recounts.

[01:25:22] He recounts the story because if you remember, Jesse wore a very, very

[01:25:26] prominently yellow single.

[01:25:27] Yellow, yeah, I remember.

[01:25:29] And he talks about the stories like we were sitting in with Vence.

[01:25:32] He was like, what's your favorite color?

[01:25:35] And Jesse goes, uh, yellow.

[01:25:37] And he's like, this guy a yellow singlet.

[01:25:41] And then and then apparently later he was like, I don't even really like yellow that much.

[01:25:46] He's like, what the hell?

[01:25:50] And he was like, I want you to make your thumbist face.

[01:25:53] He makes it dumber.

[01:25:56] Dumber.

[01:25:57] That's it.

[01:25:58] And when the bell rings, you turn into a raging maniac.

[01:26:03] Which it was fun.

[01:26:05] It was actually worth one.

[01:26:08] I mean, because again, but again, he owned it.

[01:26:11] He literally was like this until the bell rang.

[01:26:13] Yeah.

[01:26:15] Very much.

[01:26:16] Is there a bell rang in the bell rang and he was just.

[01:26:20] She was great.

[01:26:22] I remember wanting to turn to the guy.

[01:26:24] Well, I remember I remember they did this more than once, but a couple times during the middle of a match.

[01:26:29] Something like somebody else in the tag and the other tag team would go and ring the bell to turn him off.

[01:26:34] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[01:26:36] That was that was great.

[01:26:37] That was hilarious.

[01:26:40] But then match six, the main event of night two, Roman Reigns defends the undisputed universal championship against the American

[01:26:50] nightmare Cody Rhodes.

[01:26:55] I mean, we've been over this so many times.

[01:26:57] I think we both have repeatedly said what we think will happen and I just laid out what I think will happen on a

[01:27:03] open for it.

[01:27:04] And what match was punk supposed to punk is doing commentary, which we also called punk is doing commentary on the Seth Rollins, true Mac and

[01:27:12] Tire match.

[01:27:14] Yeah.

[01:27:15] That's going to be good.

[01:27:17] And we'll also see if Conor McGregor hosts, which they didn't mention it not that I saw.

[01:27:24] But that was another rumor.

[01:27:26] Oh, yeah, I see.

[01:27:27] Yeah, we'll see.

[01:27:29] I finally did watch Roadhouse though.

[01:27:33] If you want just dumb popcorn entertainment, it's the movie for you.

[01:27:38] I got to watch it.

[01:27:40] I mean, Conor McGregor's role kind of comes off a little bit funnier than it should in my opinion.

[01:27:46] But it's because he's just hamming it up and he's having a blast.

[01:27:50] But we'll see.

[01:27:56] But yeah, I'm excited for WrestleMania.

[01:28:00] Same will be a good one.

[01:28:03] But now I got to go watch a dynamite and see what happened with all pockets and a pudding gang.

[01:28:09] See what caused that.

[01:28:13] I know what caused us for while, dude.

[01:28:17] I'm not even.

[01:28:18] I just honestly, it's not that I don't want to watch it.

[01:28:21] It's just that it's no longer must watch television for me exactly.

[01:28:27] And I'm a busy guy.

[01:28:30] I got stuff to do.

[01:28:32] And I just it just flies under my radar and I just don't feel the need to catch up.

[01:28:38] I always say, I'll catch you next week.

[01:28:41] And this builds up and it's been a couple of months.

[01:28:46] And before I know it, I'm like, oh God, yeah, I haven't watched AEW in a minute.

[01:28:52] It's been, I think it's been over two years since I purchased an AEW pay-per-view.

[01:28:57] Oh, yeah, same for me.

[01:28:59] Oh, yeah, same.

[01:29:01] I just watched clips on YouTube.

[01:29:03] That's why it's.

[01:29:04] Which again, I've complained about that too.

[01:29:06] It's like you wonder why you're not selling pay-per-views and you're not getting TV ratings because

[01:29:12] 10 seconds after something happens, you put it up on social media, which WWE does this to.

[01:29:17] So why would I watch?

[01:29:19] Why would I pay to watch?

[01:29:21] Particularly a pay-per-view TV.

[01:29:22] It's kind of who cares?

[01:29:24] It's already happened.

[01:29:26] Oh, man, a pay-per-view.

[01:29:27] Why?

[01:29:27] Why?

[01:29:28] Why?

[01:29:29] You don't even have to buy the damn pay-per-view anymore.

[01:29:33] You really don't.

[01:29:34] You can just watch clips and videos of it and mess about it.

[01:29:38] And within an hour you see it.

[01:29:41] Yeah, you've seen the whole show.

[01:29:47] I don't know.

[01:29:50] Just they're not doing it the way I would do it, but

[01:29:54] I don't know.

[01:29:56] It makes sense of it.

[01:29:59] Very much so.

[01:30:00] I do.

[01:30:01] I do hope they pull it out, man.

[01:30:02] I do.

[01:30:03] I don't want AEW to go away.

[01:30:05] I want AEW to be around.

[01:30:07] I want AEW to be good.

[01:30:08] And I want New Japan to be around.

[01:30:10] Although New Japan historically is decent at the very least and excellent at its best.

[01:30:15] Although they're losing talent too because WWE is having a bit of a resurgence.

[01:30:20] I don't even know what you would call this.

[01:30:22] I mean, honestly, this might be the renaissance of wrestling.

[01:30:28] But truly, it's hot.

[01:30:30] It's hot right now.

[01:30:31] It's not as hot as it was, but it's it's getting there.

[01:30:34] It's getting there.

[01:30:34] This feels this feels suspiciously like late 96.

[01:30:42] It always.

[01:30:43] Like it feels like it's going to explode.

[01:30:47] Now the difference now is brands are bigger than individual talents.

[01:30:53] So I don't I think that's part of the reason why you won't see.

[01:30:56] I don't think you'll ever seen the Monday night wars level of popularity again,

[01:31:00] where they're pulling like five to eight million viewers.

[01:31:03] It's just technology is different, but culturally speaking.

[01:31:08] WWE at least is doing everything right.

[01:31:10] Like they're bringing the rock in and he's he's part of the board.

[01:31:16] Yeah, and but it's not yeah, but it's not PG rock.

[01:31:20] Like I'm getting vibes of rock from again, like 97 rock, you know.

[01:31:27] Oh, yeah, my first song.

[01:31:28] Like yeah, this is more like attitude rock, you know, yeah, this is this is

[01:31:32] going with rock.

[01:31:34] Yeah, this is good stuff.

[01:31:36] Now I just even as presence feels a little bit different.

[01:31:38] Like not to say he was phoning it in, but

[01:31:42] like when it when he'd come back before when he did the punk thing and he was a good baby face.

[01:31:46] And yeah.

[01:31:49] And they'd brung they brought him in sporadically to kind of like do a bit

[01:31:53] of a boost, but the product was and so it didn't do a lot.

[01:31:56] Yeah.

[01:31:57] I mean, Rocco, the rock always moves in the needle.

[01:31:59] So like let's not let's not pretend like that didn't happen.

[01:32:02] But man, when he they brought him in and everything was just so serious and

[01:32:07] raw and like even the wrestling beat up segments are sometimes can feel really

[01:32:13] phony.

[01:32:13] And in the back of our minds, we all know it is.

[01:32:15] But that be down of Cody actually felt a lot more visceral than any I've seen in a

[01:32:21] long time.

[01:32:22] It did.

[01:32:23] And even they did the bit and it's one of those things where

[01:32:27] to quote DBC of bridge Vegeta, you know, I know you're playing me right now.

[01:32:31] But like somebody behind the camera is like, okay, we're off air guys and the Rocks

[01:32:36] like I don't give a shit.

[01:32:39] I'm like see, I know what's fake, but that just the way he committed the way

[01:32:43] he did that makes sense.

[01:32:45] It makes sense.

[01:32:46] It feels more real, you know, it's that's just it even though I know it's not.

[01:32:53] And ironically another company that did that super well, which this is going to

[01:32:56] sound wacky until I explain myself was lucha underground.

[01:33:01] Oh no, not all not all wacky.

[01:33:04] It didn't really did.

[01:33:05] Even though it was like because the heroes almost in a way.

[01:33:08] Yes, but in the in the universe they created because the way they presented it.

[01:33:14] And it was constant.

[01:33:15] It was an ever present feeling until Dario's dad came.

[01:33:22] That's when I started to be like, it's the same guy wearing a wig.

[01:33:27] Yeah, that's when that's when the crack started to show.

[01:33:30] But up to that point, like I was like, this is wacky as hell.

[01:33:36] It feels real in their universe.

[01:33:39] It does this does not feel phony and it was great.

[01:33:44] Like I said, I would love I would love for lucha underground to come back in some capacity.

[01:33:50] They can't just do it, please.

[01:33:53] I wish but I don't ever come down or it won't be as good as they used to be.

[01:33:58] Yeah, somebody else will be in charge of it.

[01:34:00] And I wonder what happened.

[01:34:01] Actually, I know what happened.

[01:34:02] They got sued because they were doing some really goofy deals and I'm not defending that.

[01:34:06] That was bullshit.

[01:34:08] Like to have people locked in the contracts for 26 weeks when they worked for like eight.

[01:34:14] That's that's that's that's dumb.

[01:34:16] Yeah, that's dumb as shit.

[01:34:18] Well, especially since the bulk of them were under masks.

[01:34:22] And they didn't normally rest like ricochet didn't normally wrestle under a mask.

[01:34:28] I sure.

[01:34:28] Like everybody knew it was him because of the tattoo, but I mean, really?

[01:34:35] And you're telling yeah, like they I'm sure they told Ray Mysterio he couldn't wrestle anywhere else.

[01:34:40] Like come on.

[01:34:43] Whatever.

[01:34:44] Well, at least in the United States, right?

[01:34:45] Because they were all a lot of their wrestlers were so active in Mexico.

[01:34:50] But.

[01:34:50] Oh, yeah, that's true.

[01:34:51] Yeah, that was dumb.

[01:34:52] That whole mess was dumb.

[01:34:54] So yeah, that part sucked.

[01:34:56] But the rest of it was awesome.

[01:34:59] And it seemed like they were getting ready.

[01:35:01] That's why I said it was probably the lawsuit because it seemed like they were getting ready to start touring because they did a handful of live events to test the waters.

[01:35:10] And I don't remember exactly when the lawsuit happened, but I think that's what quashed it and ultimately they said screw it.

[01:35:17] This isn't worth it.

[01:35:20] Yeah, I think it was like going under already in the lawsuit just.

[01:35:25] No.

[01:35:25] And the lawsuit I want to clarify, the lawsuit was completely justified.

[01:35:30] Oh yeah, absolutely.

[01:35:31] Like they they won, they deserve to win because now you said that was some bullshit.

[01:35:39] Like you can't pay somebody for eight or five to eight weeks worth of work and then tell them they can't work for 26 weeks.

[01:35:46] That's horseshit.

[01:35:48] Like no.

[01:35:50] And especially when you're talking about likenesses that aren't there because like I know Thunder Rosa was one of the people that filed the sue.

[01:36:02] And she was and she was wrestling under a mask as co-broom moon.

[01:36:06] And she was not well known by this point.

[01:36:08] So she was still doing indies and she was being told she could appear on television, like shut up.

[01:36:15] Now, to make sure themselves holy shit man.

[01:36:19] How I would I would really like you know who I'd like to see come to WWE under Rosa.

[01:36:29] Yeah, I would too.

[01:36:31] Brett Baker as well.

[01:36:33] But because oh yeah, definitely Brett, definitely Brett.

[01:36:35] Brett Breaker could make an impact and now I don't think the WWE schedule work for her though.

[01:36:40] If she wants to keep her dental practice.

[01:36:42] Oh, she's still doing that.

[01:36:44] As far as I know.

[01:36:46] Yeah, well she only if she works for a W she's only wrestling one night a week right?

[01:36:52] Yeah, that's true.

[01:36:53] So I don't know maybe and again if the money's right, you know, I don't mean this disparagingly but everybody has a price, you know.

[01:37:02] Oh, yeah, absolutely.

[01:37:05] And then I mean, nobody said she had to close her practice.

[01:37:07] She just wouldn't be practicing for the bulk of the time, you know, but she can still have her practice because she's not the only doctor that works there aren't the only well yeah, she's a doctor of medical dentistry.

[01:37:17] So yeah, she would be doctor doctor of dentistry dentist doctor, doctor dentist, one of those combinations.

[01:37:27] I don't know what to call it.

[01:37:30] Because when you say doctor, you think like medical doctor but yeah, you're.

[01:37:36] But she is a lent.

[01:37:39] She is a doctor so I don't know.

[01:37:46] But hey, she'd be handy that she I got it.

[01:37:49] She has a touring practice with WWE.

[01:37:51] She comes, she not only wrestles, but she's WWE's official dentist.

[01:37:56] It could work.

[01:37:59] That could work.

[01:38:00] Hey, man, all I'm saying is if you lose the tooth in an AW ring, you're covered.

[01:38:07] Actually, that would be that would be so funny if somebody actually did just print Baker runs out and hands him her card.

[01:38:13] Right.

[01:38:15] That'd be a funny bit they can do.

[01:38:18] That would be pretty good.

[01:38:21] You hear just you know call me call me tomorrow.

[01:38:25] What's a mice on that?

[01:38:27] I don't know why she's not there no more like an NAW all she says she's okay.

[01:38:31] She's cleared is that they have nothing for her.

[01:38:34] Like, they have nothing for anybody because there's no creative.

[01:38:38] Yeah, sure.

[01:38:40] I mean, I'm sorry, not sorry and I'll be the first to admit the orange Cassidy thing was cute when they first started it.

[01:38:48] But if orange, if orange Cassidy gets TV time they've got time for legitimate stars.

[01:38:54] They're just choosing not to.

[01:38:56] Yeah.

[01:38:58] Hey, they have so much talent there but it's like they wasted it.

[01:39:05] Who know why?

[01:39:06] Because they like the internet Mark should.

[01:39:09] Yeah.

[01:39:11] Which maybe I'm just getting older and grumpier but like this stuff that I thought was not I'm not even going to say I thought it was cool.

[01:39:17] But this stuff that made me chuckle like when AW first started I now can't stand it.

[01:39:22] And I kind of feel ashamed for laughing at orange Cassidy the first time I saw him because like now I look at him just like this is so stupid.

[01:39:30] Now see where else sees.

[01:39:33] Right.

[01:39:34] Like why do you like this guy?

[01:39:39] They do.

[01:39:40] But they're really are they really are it seems to me. They really are two kinds of wrestling fans.

[01:39:45] There are the ones that view it as kind of like a silly joke and I'm not disparaging them for that necessarily.

[01:39:53] But if you like that stuff, go support your goofy wacky in these right.

[01:39:58] For a television show it needs to be portrayed a certain way as we've seen.

[01:40:04] Because the minute W almost the minute W to B stop doing all that goofy wacky crap ratings went up.

[01:40:11] Yeah, it's true.

[01:40:13] It just doesn't work on like why TV?

[01:40:16] It doesn't work for the wider audience.

[01:40:19] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[01:40:20] The wider audience wants to see stone cold drinking a beer and knocking out his boss.

[01:40:26] You know they don't want to see a guy who's allegedly a good wrestler slow motion kicking people in the shit.

[01:40:33] And somehow winning matches at the same time.

[01:40:36] Yeah, sure.

[01:40:40] But you know it's Tony's company there is action figures he can do whatever he wants with them.

[01:40:47] Just don't complain when nobody's watching your indie rific show that costs a hundred billion dollars in episode.

[01:40:55] It's all the same.

[01:40:56] It's all the same.

[01:40:57] Mercedes like she's been there for about what three weeks now or so and now it's like yeah.

[01:41:04] It's almost the month.

[01:41:08] It's almost it's almost there.

[01:41:13] I'm pretty sure she's going to be back in WWE in the next two years or so.

[01:41:19] I probably I mean, but.

[01:41:22] And I'm not I'm not trying to like throw anything at willow nightingale, but.

[01:41:32] It sucks because sometimes you can't say it without sounding like a dick, but.

[01:41:36] Like you're bringing in one of the hottest female talents in the world and your first feud is with willow nightingale.

[01:41:45] Yeah, I was gonna get that like.

[01:41:48] She's okay, but she's not.

[01:41:51] Yeah, but she's not there yet.

[01:41:53] She's.

[01:41:54] I mean.

[01:41:57] Oh, how do I say this and not sound like a jerk?

[01:42:02] I just don't I don't see.

[01:42:04] I don't see the mass appeal.

[01:42:07] I understand why some people might really like the low nightingale I get it.

[01:42:10] But I don't see massive.

[01:42:12] I don't see.

[01:42:13] Yeah, I don't I don't even see mass appeal because like for example, we're at Baker.

[01:42:18] I see massive not everybody likes Brit Baker, but I see mass appeal.

[01:42:22] Absolutely.

[01:42:23] What's another example?

[01:42:24] You know, like even Hikaru Shita if marketed right.

[01:42:27] I see mass appeal.

[01:42:29] Even Tony Storm.

[01:42:31] I don't get it, but there's mass appeal there.

[01:42:34] Yeah, I like her more now than ever.

[01:42:37] I think it's not far.

[01:42:39] I think they're I think they're dangerously close to beating a dead horse with it, but they are.

[01:42:44] It's only because they take it too far sometimes.

[01:42:47] I think the black and white thing for vignettes is kind of cool.

[01:42:50] It's different.

[01:42:51] But to do it when she comes out to the ring as a little silly.

[01:42:56] Yeah.

[01:42:58] I left the first time she did the watch out for the shoe thing.

[01:43:05] Now it's kind of.

[01:43:08] Yeah.

[01:43:09] Tits out.

[01:43:12] Watch out for the shoe.

[01:43:13] It was funny the first time.

[01:43:15] Now it's getting a little stale.

[01:43:17] I was actually intrigued when he first started doing it because I was like, oh, okay.

[01:43:21] But now it feels like it's being because it's not going to be a good deal.

[01:43:25] But now it feels like it's being because that's another thing AW does is they.

[01:43:30] They can't do anything reserved or sparingly.

[01:43:34] It's like we have to do it a hundred more times.

[01:43:37] Yeah, like it got over once.

[01:43:39] Let's keep on doing it over and over again.

[01:43:42] It's two thousand year old.

[01:43:44] Yeah, until people are sick of it.

[01:43:46] Yeah.

[01:43:48] As Jim Cornette is always fond of saying, how can I miss you if you never go away?

[01:43:54] Yeah.

[01:43:55] But then they take that too far because apparently, like, Miro moved back to Bulgaria.

[01:44:01] Yeah, I think he.

[01:44:04] Oh no, he got divorced.

[01:44:05] I was going to say he left.

[01:44:07] Yeah.

[01:44:08] That was the biggest thing.

[01:44:10] Now I'm hoping that that's he just went home to recharge but.

[01:44:16] I wonder if Tony got new.

[01:44:18] I'm trying to get him.

[01:44:20] Jim Cornette Jim Cornette brought that up.

[01:44:24] He's like, does Tony know if one of his wrestlers moved out to fucking Bulgaria?

[01:44:31] Probably not he's probably going to get the airline ticket prices and be like, what the

[01:44:36] shit?

[01:44:37] We've been paying this guy to fly two and from Bulgaria each week.

[01:44:45] I think he's probably going to get the rest of the money.

[01:44:48] I think he's probably going to get the rest of the money.

[01:44:51] It would be funny.

[01:44:52] Well, you got anything else to add for WrestleMania or.

[01:44:59] Not so much that was anything.

[01:45:01] Pretty much recover everything.

[01:45:03] Yeah, regrettably Brian.

[01:45:05] Regrettably Brian couldn't join us because like I said, yeah, he's he's currently at the

[01:45:11] top of the world.

[01:45:12] But he's okay.

[01:45:14] But yeah, unfortunately I did feel that tonight was really it was best not to postpone

[01:45:21] because I did advertise that we were going to go live at seven.

[01:45:26] Yeah, these things happen but.

[01:45:29] The show must go on.

[01:45:30] Brian will join us next time.

[01:45:32] I'm sure and like I said, he was active in the comments there, but he's busy.

[01:45:36] You know, you got to do what you got to do.

[01:45:38] Nothing wrong with that.

[01:45:40] Nothing wrong with that at all, but hopefully which I'm sure WrestleMania will be very good.

[01:45:46] And you should all enjoy it and this and list your predictions in the comments below if you're watching this and.

[01:45:54] Like I said, be sure to check out our friends at Profi smack.

[01:46:00] And get yourself a cool belt like this one.

[01:46:05] Everyone can everyone can be a champion.

[01:46:09] Everyone can be a champion with trophy smack.

[01:46:13] And please like, share and subscribe helped the podcast grow which we had a nice surgeon subscribers.

[01:46:20] A little bit earlier on this week and just check out the videos help the channel grow and tell your friends.

[01:46:27] And always join in the conversation.

[01:46:29] We like talking about wrestling.

[01:46:30] That's why we do this whole thing.

[01:46:33] And until next time where we'll be probably just going over and see where we were right and wrong in WrestleMania will see into that one.

[01:46:42] That's what that one's going to be fun.

[01:46:44] I'm just literally gonna.

[01:46:48] I have a feeling it's going to be a lot of I told you so.

[01:46:53] It's like the last paper view we actually were perfect.

[01:46:57] Yeah, yeah.

[01:46:58] That was that was I was pretty proud of that although that one did seem like a placeholder so I don't give us too much credit but.

[01:47:05] But we will see you guys next time until then watch wrestling except AEW because no, watch AEW.

[01:47:15] So especially if you like it watch AEW but we will see you guys next time.