WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:13.359 This is WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre, and you're listening to the WWE podcast, 2 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:25.519 the show, the one that everybody wants me God tell stand three sixteen, 3 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:34.039 So your ass is miner. We're gonna acknowledge me. Welcome everybody to the 4 00:00:34.039 --> 00:00:37.560 Current State of WWE. It is time now, after a couple of weeks, 5 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.359 to get back in the saddle here with Anthony DeMarco, to get on 6 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:46.679 the post holiday edition of the Current State of WWE. As we look towards 7 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:49.560 twenty twenty four, we are already in it first day of it. I 8 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:53.759 hope everyone is recovering nicely. And we're gonna give you guys some of our 9 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:57.920 thoughts here. You've heard mine, we're gonna hear Anthony's as we move on 10 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:02.280 in the show here, but an welcome to the show and Happy New Year. 11 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:06.120 Happy New Year to you as well, and happy holidays, Merry Christmas. 12 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:08.159 I know we haven't spoken in two weeks or so, but we were 13 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.680 just kind of talking about how as awesome as the holidays are. Once you 14 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.319 kind of get to January two, which I imagine is the day that most 15 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:19.680 people will be listening to this show, it's an abrupt it's an abrupt shifting 16 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:23.560 of gears back into the real world. And for guys like you and me, 17 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:29.400 you and north, I guess northeastern at the United States, I guess 18 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:33.439 that's how you describe it. And me just living in Canada, sen you 19 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:36.599 Uary all the way until April is kind of a slog with the weather. 20 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:40.359 Yeah, you're north of Northeast. We're just northeast. We're just regular old 21 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:44.159 Northeast. Yeah, So that's it. I mean, it's timed route now 22 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:48.159 really strap in. This is the dog days of winter. Now, as 23 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:51.280 you know, we were talking earlier, as't we haven't got much snow here. 24 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:53.920 But I think looking at the weather in the next couple of weeks, 25 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.680 it probably will change and even things out, and we'll be dealing with ice 26 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:00.319 and scraping our cars. And you know, everyone's south of you know, 27 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:05.040 Pennsylvania and Virginia have no idea about any of this. They don't care. 28 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:08.400 But for us, here we go. And it's also time for WrestleMania season. 29 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:12.319 This is also the time that I look towards I look really much. 30 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:15.039 I look forward really much, or very much every single year too, the 31 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:20.639 very first raw of the new year, because you're through all the reviews of 32 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:23.360 twenty three. You know, WWE did their two shows for SmackDown and Raw 33 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:29.400 doing the reviews, and it's time to really kick it into gear for Rumble, 34 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:32.319 which is by proxy, WrestleMania season. So I'm looking forward to this 35 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:37.000 year. This should be a wild year for WWE. Is as crazy as 36 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:39.680 twenty twenty three was. I think twenty twenty four could match it or supersede 37 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:46.479 it with match potential matchups, potential massive title changes, big matchups, rumored 38 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:51.759 matchups, debuts from aw I mean, there's so much to discuss, and 39 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:54.120 really this is not going to be so much about my predictions, as you 40 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:59.360 guys have heard them already, but rather just kind of seeing where you land 41 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:01.599 and let's start with the big one. Let's just start with the big one 42 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:07.120 and get it out of the way, and that is title changes and specifically 43 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:10.080 Roman reigns. I have predicted that he will drop the belt, but it 44 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:16.319 won't be until after he beats Hogan's record in September, and I gave a 45 00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:19.960 litany of people who I thought he could drop it to. It could be 46 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.560 Set, it could be Cody, it could be See I'm punk, it 47 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:25.800 could be Randy Orton still, but those are kind of where I land. 48 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:30.360 And I want to get your opinion on the twenty twenty four prediction for Roman 49 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:34.479 Reigins's title reign. Well, I do think he'll drop it, but I'm 50 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:37.560 still I guess being optimistic, depending on which way you look at it, 51 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:42.919 that he'll drop it between now and WrestleMania, just because I understand the whole 52 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:45.759 Hogan thing, but it was kind of thing about this before, like, 53 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:51.879 before I go into it, do you happen to know who is number two 54 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:54.680 on the list and how many days that is? I know Bruno San Martino 55 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:58.599 is number one with like twenty five hundred or something, but who's number two? 56 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:00.680 And what's the day count? Do you up? And to know that? 57 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:05.199 I think it's Bob Backland. Hold on, I can google this really 58 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:11.120 easily. So Hulk Hogan, let's see at number nine, number eight five 59 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:14.680 four. Here we go. So Bruno San Martino was number four at twelve 60 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:18.879 hundred and thirty seven days, Hulk Hogan is number three at fourteen seventy four. 61 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:23.759 Number two. Yeah, it's Bob Backland at two thousand, one hundred 62 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:28.000 and thirty five days. And obviously Bruno San Martino again at twenty eight oh 63 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.600 three at number one two thousand, How many for Backland Bob Backland at number 64 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:36.560 two, two thousand, one hundred and thirty five days. Okay, so 65 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:43.600 that would be like another what like two years at this point? Yeah? 66 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:47.920 Okay, So if you get to Hogan of fourteen seventy four, which would 67 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:53.600 take him till September I believe, yep. Like my thing with that is 68 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:57.120 like how many more times are they going to be like Okay, well, 69 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:59.920 we're just going to get to that. Okay, We're just going to get 70 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:02.639 to this because whenever we're gonna have another chance, and like, once we 71 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:06.519 get to Hogan's record, are we gonna start talking about Bob Beglin's record, 72 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:13.079 Because at that point you'll be I guess you'll still be like a little under 73 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:15.639 two years away. I would have to really look at the math there, 74 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.639 But like, at what point does it kind of stop? Right? Because 75 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:23.680 we all kind of said like, okay, well he's gonna get to a 76 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:27.279 thousand days and then all bets are off. But now it's kind of like, 77 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:30.040 well no, now he's for sure gonna get to Hogan's record, and 78 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:32.360 then all bets will be off, but I'm just like, but they never 79 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:36.279 go to stop. And then this time next year he will have reached four 80 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.240 years as champion, and like, could you not see them saying like, 81 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:45.480 oh yeah, but what if we could say, like for decade running as 82 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:48.560 champion, Like you could see it the marketing in that. So for me, 83 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:54.839 I think eventually you just have to stop worrying about those milestones and those 84 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:59.680 I guess achievements and all the legacy and branding that you could really market the 85 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:02.480 you know what out of. So I'm gonna say he's gonna drop it before 86 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:08.759 WrestleMania, just because if you keep going with the ideology, and look, 87 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:12.360 I could be totally wrong. I'm just maybe giving Triple H to benefit it 88 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:15.319 oubt I just can't. I just think that at a certain point you have 89 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:18.800 to stop chasing those milestones, because you can make up any kind of milestones 90 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:24.920 in almost an arbitrary fashion to prolong this thing. Well, we're gonna find 91 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:30.480 out really quickly now how much they value those milestones, because if we get 92 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:35.160 past Mania, I think it's pretty safe to say, like we get past 93 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:39.959 what April six fourth, whatever WrestleMania is this year, we get pass that 94 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:44.079 date, we get past Wresselmania forty in Philly, he's beating Hulk Hogan's record, 95 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:45.720 Like, I mean, let's be honest, because look at what he 96 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:47.639 did last year. He didn't defend the belt till SummerSlam and then it was 97 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:51.160 like another few months, like we kind of know the schedule now, so 98 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:57.720 it's really WrestleMania is the last chance for Roman to drop it. But like 99 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:59.560 he said, you're right, it's like, okay, we've come this far. 100 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:01.360 Well now we're not so far from this, Like where does it end? 101 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.560 It's got to I mean, they have to pull the plug at some 102 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:10.879 point there. They have to be understanding and there's really no argument against this 103 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:15.199 is like what do you what's what are you sacrificing for all of this time? 104 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:18.160 And you know we've dug into this so much. I don't want to 105 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:21.600 again, but I they have to just at some point say, okay, 106 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:24.920 guys, cool, we did it. You know, we made it. 107 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:28.360 I don't know how much more marketing we could get out of vote being number 108 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:30.240 two and then being number one, because if you're going to go to number 109 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.439 two, why not just go to number one? Like I mean, because 110 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:38.319 at that point, you're okay, seven hundred days away, that's a year, 111 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:42.319 and you know, just under two years, so like, yeah, 112 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:46.439 it's you, you pass Hogan and then it's a it's another big gap, 113 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:49.959 Like from Hogan to number two is another two years. That is that's a 114 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:54.560 significant amount of time, and I don't think they'll do that. I even 115 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:57.920 I don't think they will, as much as they love their milestones and they 116 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:01.399 have four gone a lot and and really put a lot on the line and 117 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:07.439 sacrificed a lot just for these stupid milestones that they feel are going to be 118 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:11.360 the biggest things that you know, that they can produce and more important than 119 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:15.839 anybody who could have come along to have a great match or have the belt 120 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:20.480 help make them into a bigger star or whatever. So I really believe I'm 121 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.360 gonna stick with my prediction. I hope you're right, but I think we 122 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:28.519 both agree that if he passes Mania as champion, he's beating Hogan's record and 123 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:31.800 going all the way to September. Well for sure, because I think you 124 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:35.960 mentioned it on one of your shows last week where if we just use kind 125 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.399 of like the uh, I guess the maybe not platforms the right word but 126 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:46.080 like the playbook to how he defended the championship in twenty twenty three, well, 127 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:50.799 he's only gonna defend it at SummerSlam after WrestleMania. He's not going to 128 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:54.080 defend it at any pay per view between Mania and SummerSlam like he did this 129 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:58.000 year, because there really are no significant pay per views. You really hit 130 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:03.320 a lull from Postmania all the way to SummerSlam in WWE. So if he 131 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:07.320 just is gonna get to SummerSlam, well then at that point you just have 132 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:09.000 to kick the can a month and a half down the road and you've gotten 133 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:13.120 there. But I just I don't know, like I could just see them 134 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:18.519 getting to next year and beating Hogan's record and just like oh yeah, but 135 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:20.840 like, you know'd be really cool if we could say that he's been champion 136 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:26.360 for five years and then you take him into August of twenty twenty five. 137 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:30.399 But then at that point, you're what a year and a bit away from 138 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.399 Bob Backland's record, and it's just like, well, I mean, when's 139 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:35.840 the next time that we could get to two years away? And like you 140 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:43.240 could very easily if you're WWE and Triple h and creative trick yourself into thinking 141 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:48.080 that getting him to Bob Blacklan's record is doable and attainable. And if you 142 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:52.440 just keep artificially and playing the numbers and he's only defending the title what five 143 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:56.519 times every year, I don't know, like it's it's gonna do well. 144 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:00.200 It's oh, we've already gone to a point of diminishing returns with him him. 145 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:03.919 But I just think at a certain point you have to stop chasing milestones. 146 00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:07.399 You've got a thousand days, You've got him into the top three or 147 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:11.000 the top four of all time. It's a hell of a feat. So 148 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:13.320 I'm just for the benefit for now. I'm giving them the benefit of the 149 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:18.320 doubt that he will drop it by WrestleMania. But if he walks out of 150 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.840 WrestleMania as the champion still, then I agree with you one hundred percent that 151 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:26.919 he will be beating Hal Coogan's record. Well on that, I want to 152 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:33.679 ask your prediction for Roman Reigns' opponent at WrestleMania forty as I had predicted. 153 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:37.919 You know, it could be a number of people. And now the Rock 154 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:41.360 rumor has suddenly re emerged, if you've noticed over the last twenty four hours, 155 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:46.039 because the Rock was two hours away from San Diego tonight, and that 156 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:50.240 he's in the area, and that he could be the one Triple h is 157 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:54.840 referring to as a former WWE champion who's going to be on Raw this on 158 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:58.120 tonight's Raw, which again, guys, we haven't watched, so I really, 159 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:01.279 you know, I still think it could be Rock Roman. Obviously, 160 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:05.879 if the Rock appears any time between now Mania, it's to set up Rock 161 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.600 Roman. What do you think is going to be Who do you think is 162 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:13.480 going to be Roman Reigns as opponent for WrestleMania forty Well, I'm still sticking 163 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:18.200 with Cody Rhodes just because I'm not buying into the Rock stuff yet, and 164 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:22.679 it's kind of at the point where it's just like I'm gonna assume that's not 165 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:26.519 happening until it does, just because even when he did return, he didn't 166 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:31.639 have one single interaction with Roman Reigns or any member of the Bloodline, Like 167 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:35.600 even if it had just been like a look with Solo or like a quick 168 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:39.559 chat with Paul Hayman, at least some seed planting, But as far as 169 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.200 WWE programming has gone, there has been no planting of seeds like I know 170 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:48.679 they've planted seeds with like outside and just like pure speculation, the Rock has 171 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:54.080 done it himself and his shows and whatever, but they've done nothing to hint 172 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:56.960 at it on their actual programming, at least in the last two years. 173 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:00.679 I think the last time they did it was the whole egg thing at Survivor 174 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.759 Series in twenty twenty one, I believe it was or twenty twenty whenever the 175 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:11.240 hell that was. So I just really believe here that it is still Cody 176 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:16.399 Rhodes. But on the off chance that The Rock is coming back, well, 177 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:18.919 then if he's coming back for a match, it has to be against 178 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:22.519 Roman Reigns. So I mean, I guess we're gonna have some more clarification 179 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:28.000 on what happens tonight or after what happens tonight, But for now, I'm 180 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:31.919 still sticking with Cody Rhoads. Yeah, I think it's the very solid, 181 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.240 safe choice, but one that makes total sense, and I think that, 182 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:39.039 you know, we'll discuss the options of what could happen there if they were 183 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:43.440 to dare have Cody lose again. My prediction was that it's going to be 184 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:46.080 Cody and that you were going to have Randy Orton screw Cody at WrestleMania, 185 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:50.799 and then you're off to a Randy Orton and Cody Rhods program that would be 186 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.639 a lot of fun, a lot of history there, obviously, and Randy 187 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:58.039 heel is always honestly more fun than him as a babyface. So that's my 188 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:01.759 prediction for a early call at a main event that doesn't even exist yet, 189 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:03.720 on top of a heel turn that doesn't even exist yet. So we're like 190 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:07.519 three layers deep. But that's my call right now, you know, three 191 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:13.919 months out now when it comes to you know, other returns. And I 192 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:18.120 have made this very clear, and I've been hammered on Twitter for it or 193 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:22.360 x on it. And I know you don't follow the AW product as much 194 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:24.879 as a lot of other people do, and I followed about as much as 195 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:28.759 you do. But the one name that keeps coming up, and the one 196 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:31.360 name that has been coming up for a couple of years is MJF, who 197 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:35.919 is now removed from the AW roster, at least on their website, which 198 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.159 could be a work. It could be just to get people going. He 199 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:43.440 could have signed silently behind the scenes with AW. Ice have made the prediction 200 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:46.039 that he will debut in WWE in twenty twenty four. It may not be 201 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:50.240 at the rumble, but I think that he is smart enough to realize that 202 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:52.840 he has done everything there is to do in AEW and that his career can 203 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:58.000 accelerate at a much higher rate in WWE. He's worked with almost nobody here 204 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:03.799 almost and that he has a bigger pond and a bigger pool of talent to 205 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.759 work in. And so you know, I don't know this for it to 206 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:11.159 be a fact, but I would imagine that Mjfbuts and WWE in twenty twenty 207 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:16.279 four. What are your thoughts? I mean, I keep going back and 208 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:20.559 forth on this, because right before we came on here, I saw the 209 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:22.120 whole thing that he was removed off the roster and said, oh, this 210 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:26.000 is a work tony Khan, who I despise by the way. I cannot 211 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:31.240 weird guy. He is so bizarre. Did you see the way he was 212 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:35.360 like what he was wearing, Yes, when he answered like the very serious 213 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:39.720 allegations regarding Chris Jericho, yes, like and like how like I saw someone 214 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:43.480 say like he's a rich mark who wants to be buddies with his talent. 215 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:48.279 And I saw the way he like embraced Tony Storm and I was just thinking 216 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:52.919 about and this isn't me being like, you know, like tribalism for WWE 217 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:56.679 or like a me hating on AW because it's cool, but like just think 218 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:01.320 of the way Tony Khan acts aid press crumbs versus Triple Ah. I know, 219 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:05.200 but like on a side note, man, like we're on AW guys. 220 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:09.639 But like for me, the reason why I won't even give them a 221 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:15.039 chance is because of how Tony Khan conducts himself. He conducts himself. He 222 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:18.480 okay, he's got a lot of money. That doesn't matter to me because 223 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:22.039 what he's showing the public is he's not He's a very unserious person. And 224 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:26.639 you know, he's like he's he's got a lot of money and he's trying 225 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:30.279 to be like one of the boys. It's like that doesn't work, and 226 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:35.879 it comes across very immature and very unserious. And I can't take him seriously. 227 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.519 It seems like he doesn't have a set I'm sorry. I mean, 228 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:41.360 look at the way cmpunk treated him a couple of years ago at that press 229 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:45.279 conference. I forget after all in or whatever it was, and cmpunk just 230 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:48.039 basically hammered the company in front of him, and Tony Khin's just sitting there 231 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:52.200 like a like a child, and I'm like, this is your company, 232 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.320 and like your own talent is disparaging your own company in front of you. 233 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:58.240 What does that say about you? So he's again I don't know him on 234 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.759 a personal level, but if I did, and this is all I had 235 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:06.639 to judge him on, I would say he's an unserious clown that it wants 236 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:10.519 to play in the sandbox and be one of the boys, but doesn't know 237 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:15.159 how to really run a company that that of the from a professional standpoint that 238 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:19.720 is required to be successful. Yeah, he just he's And on top of 239 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:23.120 it, he's weird. He is very weird. The way he speaks. 240 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:26.120 He's always his eyes are like, you know, four inches big, and 241 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:30.720 he's always like staring into space. And I'm like, I'm like, is 242 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:33.240 he is he human being? Is he a human? I mean, I 243 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:37.000 don't know that he's He's very strange, obviously very successful. I can't take 244 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:40.480 that from him. I don't know him on a personal level, but from 245 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:45.200 what I've seen, just the dude is he's he's off his rocker and I 246 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:49.519 don't think he's a serious guy. Because he's obviously just a super fan. 247 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:56.879 Because imagine creating a company, a wrestling company, appointing a bunch of talent 248 00:16:56.039 --> 00:17:02.200 as like prominent like you know, like dring polers and decision makers behind the 249 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:07.480 scenes, and you appoint yourself as like the head of creative and the on 250 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:14.200 screen authority figure. Like it's just like if you were serious about this, 251 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:17.480 like not to say that you would appoint someone else to run the entire thing, 252 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:21.599 but like would not make more sense if you were like the chairman and 253 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:26.599 then you appointed like an actual booker to be like head of creative, like 254 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:30.640 I don't know, like Tony Shavani or Jim Ross or some one of these 255 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:33.680 guys you know, or like I actually heard I know Jim Cornett hates him 256 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.759 now, but apparently like he tried to get Jim Cornette in originally, and 257 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:42.119 then a point an on screen authority figure like just whoever, like you brought 258 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.799 in William regal to aw he would have been like the perfect guy to fit 259 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:51.519 any of those those positions, if not both. And it's just like he 260 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:56.799 just he he rubs me like a guy, or like he strikes me as 261 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:02.960 a guy rather that just wants to have fun with like real life action figures, 262 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:07.799 and you kind of see that it's all wrestlers who are over the hill 263 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:14.720 who have like the most success there save for cm Punk in a way because 264 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:18.640 Cmpunk maybe for him, he's not over the hill because he missed ten years 265 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:22.960 of wrestling, so he's trying to actually like I don't know, like he's 266 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:27.039 looking for something different. But you see like how much Edge loves it and 267 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:33.119 Christian loves and Samoa Joe's your world champion now, and you see like how 268 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:36.759 much Jericho you know, dut loves it and John Moxley. I'm just like 269 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:40.960 these are all guys who pretty much had their heyday or Daniel Bryan, Like, 270 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:44.759 these are all guys who are their primes are behind them. They're in 271 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:48.599 like that maybe not the twilight of their career like John Moxley stelf tread left 272 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:51.960 on the tires, but like they are all guys who, like, you 273 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:55.839 know, you're probably only have a handful of years left. And it's because 274 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:59.640 he caters to old school wrestling stars. And I don't know, like I'm 275 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:03.480 not saying like it's completely black and white, but like it just strikes me 276 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:08.519 as a place where like for like superhero like for like old time wrestlers to 277 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:14.519 go and have fun and fantasy book themselves. And he's been fantasy booking himself 278 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.319 as to head, a creative and an on screen authority figure, and like 279 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.960 maybe people will be like, oh, well, you know Vince was an 280 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.519 on screen authority figure and had a creative and all this stuff. But it's 281 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:29.119 just like, well, for he wasn't an on screen authority figure until the 282 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:33.920 Attitude era where he had already owned the company for fifteen years, and you 283 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:38.599 know, his dad and his grandfather had been in the business for decades upon 284 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:44.319 decades, so he learned it and he started as an announcer. So like 285 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:48.400 it's not apples to apples and not for anything. But Vince was a physical 286 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:52.799 like was an imposing guy, and Tony Kahn looks like a TOWRP. So 287 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.279 I mean, I don't know, I don't want to turn this into ad 288 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:59.599 W bashing, which I know I'm not an ADW guy, and sometimes it 289 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:04.279 comes off as it. But if you just objectively look at how AW is 290 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:10.839 run by Tony Kahan, like there are so many wards in it. Yeah, 291 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:15.920 it's it does it just screams unprofessional. But I'm sure the guys love 292 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:18.400 it, and I'm sure if I was employed by that company, it would 293 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:22.920 feel much more liberating as a talent because you're not, you know, micromanaged, 294 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.720 and your promos can be whatever you need them and want them to be 295 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:30.440 within reason. And it just feels like it's you don't have someone always breathing 296 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:33.440 over your shoulder. And I appreciate that. I that's you know, I 297 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:36.519 would imagine most of us, even in you know, our day to day 298 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:40.200 work, like wherever you may work, you don't want to be micromanaged. 299 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:44.519 And it feels like that is where people go and and and they speak about 300 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:47.799 that. We've heard about that from talent and saying that they love that part 301 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:52.079 of it. But then you there's the drawback of it feels unorganized and it 302 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:55.079 feels like you said, he's just this grown man playing with action figures, 303 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:59.119 but enough money to make them real. And it does. And I mean, 304 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.920 I'll be honest, he looks like a tool. I mean he does. 305 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:03.759 He kind of looks like a tool, but a tool with a whole 306 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:07.319 bunch of money and a much more successful businessman than I'll ever probably be like. 307 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:12.720 But let's let's be fair here for one second. Like it's his dad's 308 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:18.319 money. Yeahrue, his dad owns the Jacksonville Jaguars. His dad owns a 309 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:22.240 foot well, I guess a football team in England or a soccer team where 310 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:26.559 we come from in North America. Like it's not like he's like this self 311 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:30.720 made like billionaire. Like he's not like he was born into money and his 312 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:34.960 dad was nice enough to lend him a bunch and let him work for the 313 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:40.519 Jaguars and all this stuff like that. It's like, I don't they don't 314 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:45.240 have respect for him. But it's like and look a year ago or whenever 315 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:48.319 it was when Sampunk had that that embarrassing press corum and he was eating the 316 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:52.079 muffins and he was old and tired and beat up. Like I thought Sampunk 317 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:56.759 looked so bad coming off of coming away from that, But now I'm thinking, 318 00:21:56.839 --> 00:22:00.319 like, man, like, he must just be disgusted that he came 319 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:06.839 out of retirement for this. And you see the way that Aw has gone. 320 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:10.880 Like look, Aw had dynamite in Montreal a few weeks ago, and 321 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:14.079 I was with my cousin earlier today and he said, you could have gotten 322 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:19.680 floor seats for seventy dollars, like ringside seats for seventy bucks. Monday night 323 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:26.359 Raw, it's like two hundred and fifty bucks. Yeah, and I'm not 324 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:30.799 trying to like crap all over it, but like there's clearly and these came 325 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:33.240 out hot out of the cannon. I really liked it right out of the 326 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:37.240 cannon. But it just quickly struck me as like, Okay, you're just 327 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:42.279 catering to like old school guys because it's like you're playing with real life action 328 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:45.839 figures. But at the same time, I mean, there's an audience for 329 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:51.200 it. Was it last week Dynamite beat Raw, not that they go ahead 330 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.519 to head and it was a holiday week, which holiday weekend week ratings you 331 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:56.319 can kind of throw in the trash. I mean, they're just, yeah, 332 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:00.559 they're kind of irrelevant, but if you want to say that they beat 333 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:03.319 Raw, then they beat Raw in the ratings. And it does seem like 334 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:06.839 Aw's up and down and oh my god, there's nobody like you see video 335 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:11.279 of AEW and you see like the live events have almost like a couple hundred 336 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:14.359 people there and it's just awful. It's embarrassing. And then the next you 337 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.799 know, a couple of weeks you'll see the dynamites full and it's like, 338 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:19.599 what is going on? Like I can't figure out what what is going on? 339 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:23.720 From a not just creative but like from a business standpoint with AW, 340 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.920 I'm like, is this is this? Is this a Is this a company 341 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:30.640 that's we're watching it tank live or is this a company that's just going through 342 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:34.279 growing pains and eventually it's going to be that's maybe in the next five to 343 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:37.599 ten years a real competitor to WW. I mean, I don't know what 344 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:41.440 we're watching right now. It feels like a transition here for AW. But 345 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:45.319 trying to focus back on and maybe this is a topic for us to discuss 346 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.000 at some point. Is A just as a whole? This seems it's a 347 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:53.039 topic you and I haven't really explored together. But focusing back on MJF. 348 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:57.039 Now that we've said all that we've said, and that Tony Kahan, obviously 349 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:02.480 his pockets are super deep. I've made the prediction that he'll debut in WWE, 350 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:07.160 But I've also said at the same time that that AEW needs him way 351 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:10.880 more than WWE does, and I think they're willing, especially with Tony's deep 352 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:15.000 pockets. He is willing to spend more to keep him because the need to 353 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:18.480 keep him is greater, and that he'll just pay whatever and outbid whatever WWE 354 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:22.319 gives him. And so there's a strong chance that he still stays with AW. 355 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:29.839 But what do you what's your take? It's I'm so back and forth 356 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:33.440 on it, and just one last thing on AW and then we'll move on 357 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:40.240 quickly. Everyone's praising Edge Verses Christian for the TNT Championship, which is basically 358 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:42.799 the equivalent of like the I C or the US title. If this was 359 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:48.759 happening in WWE, would people not be complaining about them leading leaning on stars 360 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:52.920 of yesteryear. They would, But you got to remember that people still look 361 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:56.680 at this as kind of a as a newer company that is still using older 362 00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:00.119 stars as a crutch, and they're accepting more of that than it's been around 363 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:03.880 for generations. I think that's the that's the lens they're looking at it through. 364 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:07.440 But yeah, I don't know, I just find it whatever. But 365 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:15.200 to MJF, I keep going back and forth on it. I do think 366 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:21.079 he'll come to w W just because of a he dropped the championship to Samoa 367 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:26.559 Joe and just the way both companies have been trending. And look, I'm 368 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:30.640 not sure if MJF will ever be the face of WWE or as prominent of 369 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:36.960 a figure as he is in AEW just because of how many just loaded, 370 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:41.559 like just how loaded the roster is, especially with Orton coming back and AJ 371 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:47.599 Styles coming back and CM Punk is back and Roman reigns when he's there, 372 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:52.759 and if the if the Rock shows up and Brock like but MJF a is 373 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:57.119 let's say, like a fringe main eventor in WWE or as the face of 374 00:25:57.160 --> 00:26:02.279 ae W, where is he going to lead more of a legacy? I 375 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:07.240 would still say the former in WWE, because like you said, he's kind 376 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:10.680 of done all he could do, Like he's been the world champion AW for 377 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:15.519 what a year at this point, he had prominent programs with I think, 378 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:18.279 well, I think he had one with Punk. I think obviously Joe, 379 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:22.440 he had something going on with Adam Cole or whatever. But like you just 380 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:26.759 look at who's left over there and just where the companies are heading, and 381 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:29.400 he's I think he's younger than me. I think he's like twenty five years 382 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:37.279 old or whatever. Like they're the options are so like limitless in WWE as 383 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:40.799 opposed to AEW. It's like he's already conquered the mountain, and I'm sure 384 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:42.319 he could. I guess you can make the case that he could stay in 385 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:47.640 AW and he can continue to build his legacy and maybe be the greatest AW 386 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:51.920 star ever or the hul Cogan of that company, like the first big, 387 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:56.359 major homegrown star. But I'm just looking at him just like man like if 388 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:02.559 I don't just putting myself in his shoes and take away my like my my 389 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:07.160 preference of WWE over AW, take that allway and just be completely impartial. 390 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:12.359 In a guy in your mid twenties, where would you rather go? And 391 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:18.480 it's like you're asking it's almost like like you want to be the best, 392 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:26.039 best undisputed player in the CFL, like the most the most upstanding, the 393 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:29.319 face of the CFL. Or do you want to be a middle of the 394 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:33.400 pack quarterback in the NFL? Like, sorry, I still want to go 395 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:37.240 be a middle of the pack quarterback in the NFL. Be great to be 396 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:41.839 the face of the CFL, But unfortunately not many people know what the CFL 397 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:45.079 is. Do you know what the CFL is as an American? Right? 398 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:51.480 Like and as much as wrestling people know what aw is. If you ask 399 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:53.920 any non wrestling fan, hey, do you know what WWE is? They'll 400 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:56.359 be like, yeah, yeah, for sure. If you ask any non 401 00:27:56.400 --> 00:28:00.279 wrestling fan what AW is, they'll be like, no, what's that? 402 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:04.160 And that's how I look at it. Yeah, That's why I've made the 403 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:07.599 analogy. It's a big fish in a small pond, and they just are 404 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:10.519 right now, and I really do wish them to success. I don't. 405 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:14.200 I hope they become competitive to WWE truly one day. I really do, 406 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:18.880 because that means that everyone will be lifted to a higher level in theory when 407 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:22.799 they have true competition, feel threatened. Everything should get better because they feel 408 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:26.000 the heat. And it's also gives the guys another place to go. We've 409 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:29.759 heard that thing too, which is which is fine. But the thing is 410 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:33.519 now that I'm I'm hearing you talk about this with from a business perspective, 411 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:37.519 put our feelings about AEWs side, which again I don't hate. I think 412 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:41.359 that you look at this and if I'm MJF, that dollar amount on the 413 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:45.400 contract can't be the only thing that I'm looking at. He's already got enough 414 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:49.359 money probably even if he retired today to probably set himself up for the rest 415 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:55.000 of his life. I mean, he's made probably multimillions already. So that 416 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:57.480 said, if I look at the dollar amount and it's you know, within 417 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:03.680 reasonable reasonable range of what ww's offering me and then AEW is offering me, 418 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:06.680 I have to look at this and say, Okay, AEW is gonna pay 419 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:11.240 men more, But what about what about exposure? What about my legacy? 420 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:15.960 What about merchandise sales? WWE has a much larger platform, a much larger 421 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:22.160 reach. Their cable or their network contract is something that you don't have to 422 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:26.640 really worry about with WWE. With AEW, it's influx. They don't know 423 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:29.400 if they're going to get a big contract with the network in the next year. 424 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:32.960 Things could go awry. The ratings have been up and down. That's 425 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:37.559 not good for negotiations on aw's front. You know, you look at this 426 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:41.400 and say, I could be a big star or like you said, even 427 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:44.559 a mid range star in WWE, or maybe even higher. Or I could 428 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:47.440 be this big fish in a small pond and continue to do what I'm doing. 429 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.920 And maybe that's what he wants to do. But I really believe he's 430 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:53.759 looking at this saying there's a whole massive pool of guys I haven't worked with 431 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:57.680 yet, and I keep thinking about the matchups we haven't even seen. Okay, 432 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:02.279 John Cena would be me the promos alone. I would empty my bank 433 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:04.480 account to see the sea on punk if we want to revisit that again. 434 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:10.319 I keep saying the mis believe it or not, because he's been I guess, 435 00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:12.599 compared to the miz throughout his entire career. I think they would have 436 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:17.880 a hell of a program together. Just you know, thinking about the things 437 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:22.880 he could do would be really just mind blowing to me. But obviously I 438 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:26.680 don't know if only the money matters to him. It can't. The money 439 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:29.720 can't be the only thing. As much as he said it's the bidding War 440 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:33.039 of twenty twenty four, I truly believe there's more to it than that. 441 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:37.119 He's a smart businessman. But he sees the forest through the trees, I 442 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:40.000 believed, and he's looking at this and going, okay, yeah, they 443 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:42.000 may pay me a little bit more, but ultimately, long term, way 444 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:47.480 better, way better to be over here in the big pond than over here, 445 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:51.559 as you know, the big guy on campus at a small place. 446 00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:53.960 So any final thoughts that I'm Jeff Ford. Move on, No, I 447 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:57.240 think I think that pretty much covers it, and we could talk, we 448 00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:03.400 could spin around in so until we actually find out like what happens here, 449 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:07.119 because is it a work the roster thing or is it real? But I 450 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:11.519 guess we're gonna find out one way or another in a month's time. Yeah, 451 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:14.480 we're gonna find out real quick. Unless he signs into a short term 452 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:17.039 deal and you see him at WrestleMania. I mean, like we don't know. 453 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:19.759 We could see him follow up with this whole Devil reveal of Adam Cole 454 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:23.960 and him, you know, screwing over MJF and beating him down and all 455 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.799 that. Like we could see a follow up to that, and he's back 456 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:30.000 with AW But maybe it's not long term. We don't know, all right, 457 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:33.599 Well, moving on here. You know, I haven't really touched on 458 00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:37.880 the women's division here, and you know, the women's division has been I 459 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:41.519 think kind of a I don't know, it feels like a lost ship on 460 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:45.119 both divisions. It feels like it hasn't really found its way back in a 461 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:51.000 while. Obviously, the Charlotte Flair injury didn't help Becky Lynch being subjugated to 462 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:56.200 kind of I don't want to see irrelevant programs, but programs that have not 463 00:31:56.319 --> 00:32:00.759 exactly lived up to her previous you know that she's had and you know, 464 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:06.759 being with Trustratus for it seemed like fourteen months it was just forever didn't help 465 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:09.559 things. But she's had some good matches and NXT, you know, and 466 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:15.559 there's the looming Jade Cargill out there who has yet to debut. You know, 467 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:19.640 you have the women's tag team champions who have been very underwhelming, or 468 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:24.319 the championships themselves have been very underwhelming and continue to be very underwhelming and cursed. 469 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:29.240 So I'm looking at this and saying, you know, Ria Ripley's out 470 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:34.039 there, She's this female superstar of the year deservingly. So what do you 471 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:37.440 see just I mean, you can kind of pick and choose things here, 472 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:42.079 but I'll leave it to you. What do you see for the women's division 473 00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:45.440 in twenty twenty four, either with the Women's World title or the WWE Women's 474 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:51.519 title debuts. What do you see coming? Well, I think you're going 475 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:54.759 to see a major shakeup in the rosters at some point or another. And 476 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:59.119 I think if we look at Monday night Ry to start. I think that 477 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:02.640 Isrie Ripley's vision, and I think you're right when you mentioned that she should 478 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:07.240 go on like many maybe a many Roman Reigns esque run, because I do 479 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:12.079 think she's one of the more dominant women we've seen and is right now head 480 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:15.920 and shoulders above everyone. And I think the closest one to her at this 481 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:19.640 point is biancabell Air, But Bianca bell Air has lost a lot of steam 482 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:23.799 since WrestleMania, I would say so. I think Real Ripley is going to 483 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:27.680 continue to dominate Monday Night Raw, but they're going to have to find a 484 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:32.960 way to get a more just more incredible wrestlers to combat her. And I 485 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:37.200 think what they obviously without trying to give to actually, I think they did 486 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:42.440 a great job of trying to push Naya Jackson that direction at the day one 487 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:47.240 Monday Night Raw, and you know Jake Fargill's coming, is Sasha Banks going 488 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:52.400 to return? But I think they have to find a way to establish main 489 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:55.359 event stars beyond the ones that have just kind of been recycled at the top 490 00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:59.559 of the division for years. At this point, like it's kind of been 491 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:06.240 beyond Riha, Charlotte and then like a rotation of like a Bailey and an 492 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:08.840 Oscar for the last two years or so, and you have to find a 493 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:12.519 way to really build these stars. Like I thought that they were doing a 494 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:15.360 nice job with Roquel Rodriguez, Like she wasn't there yet, but I thought 495 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:20.199 that she to this point, if not just for the visual alone, has 496 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:24.960 been Ria's best opponent. But then I'll know, like we just haven't seen 497 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:30.119 her, probably since Crown Jewel. I don't think we've seen Roquel Rodriguez, 498 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:32.599 and I think she was one that they were really on the right track with 499 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:37.039 her. I think on SmackDown you have more quantity but lack in the way 500 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:44.239 of quality. I obviously think they're fast tracking to Bailey versus EO. I 501 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:47.400 think getting Bailey back into the main event scene in a consistent way as a 502 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:52.639 babyface is imperative to it. And I think you have to revent Bianca bell 503 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:57.599 Air's gimmick a bit, just because it's so stale and it hasn't changed since 504 00:34:57.880 --> 00:35:00.360 she moved up to the main roster what like three four years ago at this 505 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:05.039 point, and she has all the talent in the world, Like I between 506 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:09.440 like between Rhea and Bianca I think that talent wise, it's a toss up 507 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:14.199 as to who's the better in ring competitor. But the character development of Ria 508 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:19.360 Ripley has been so much better than Biyonca specifically over the last twelve twelve to 509 00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:22.840 eighteen months. And you know, Ria at this point to me, like 510 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:28.119 it's not even about the women's division anymore. Like she's one of the best 511 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:31.280 stars they have period, Like I would put her top five, if not 512 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:36.039 higher in terms of like money drawers right now. And you hear with the 513 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:39.800 crowd like they're inching. They have such a big itch to cheer for her 514 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:44.960 right now, and when she's not associated with the judgment date, they do 515 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:47.519 just kind of facto cheer for her, like they were cheering her and booing 516 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:52.239 the hell out of who did she face? Set to Survivor series, the 517 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:58.880 SHANEA. Beslaer crony Zoe starts, they were booing Zoe start. They wanted 518 00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:02.159 Ria Ripley to win, And I think that just kind of goes to show 519 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:06.559 what kind of star Riha Ripley is. So I think that they really just 520 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:10.559 need to establish new stars in the main event scene. Refresh Bianca Belle air 521 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:14.840 because she still is one of the best athletes and best women's stars they have 522 00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:19.079 to offer, and I think just continuing to build Rhea Ripley into one of 523 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:23.199 the bigger stars male or female that the company has to offer. Yeah, 524 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:29.320 there's it's not like the women's divisions plural are in disrepair. There's a lot 525 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:31.360 they could do. It is it is about reshuffling, and like you said, 526 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:35.519 it is kind of the same women cycling in and out of the main 527 00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:38.519 events picture. But I, you know, I look ahead and I'm thinking, 528 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:42.440 sure they even if they signed Sasha Banks or not, I don't think 529 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:45.159 that's going to be a make or break for the women's division. You know, 530 00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:47.119 we've heard conflicting reports. It was all, yeah, she's sure going 531 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:52.000 to be returning, and then we saw even her Sasha Banks or Mercedes Monette. 532 00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:55.639 She posted on Instagram pictures of her outside in the arena where she was 533 00:36:57.679 --> 00:37:00.440 we had a live event that night, and then having a picture of her 534 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:02.559 in a ring with Triple AG's picture behind her and all this stuff, and 535 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:06.360 then the next day it's like, oh, no, talks have fallen through, 536 00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:09.400 and it's like it's so it's so frustrating as a fan, it's like, 537 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:13.079 well, well then which one is that? Are we just being played? 538 00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:15.079 You know? And I talked about this to us. I don't know 539 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:19.079 if this is just a red herring where we're going to make the fans think 540 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:22.559 I'm coming and then we're going to put out a false report that'll spread like 541 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:25.159 wildfire that Oh yet, if talks have fallen through so that one I debut, 542 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:28.320 it is a surprise, I mean, or if it's like some kind 543 00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:31.360 of weird triple reverse psychology, I don't know, But honestly, whatever the 544 00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:36.559 case is, having her back would be a big deal. But I don't 545 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:38.400 think they're going to die without Sasha Banks. I know a lot of people 546 00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:42.599 want her back, but if she lands in aw good for her. But 547 00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:45.119 when you look at kind of the up and coming women too, I mean 548 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:47.920 Alba Fire and Elid Dawn who have been out there, I know they they 549 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:52.480 recently just came back. You know, they're a tag team, But it 550 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:55.760 doesn't seem like they're still taking the women's tag team division. Seriously, they 551 00:37:55.760 --> 00:38:00.639 haven't done that since its inception. They created a belt before the A division. 552 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:02.760 I can't remember the last time or if ever that has happened. Where 553 00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:07.800 a belt was created before a division was. It's bizarre, and since that 554 00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:12.960 time, it's just been a completely cursed championship where either you get them and 555 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:15.800 you get injured, or you get them and then you're off TV for six 556 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:20.079 months. It's really weird. So I have no faith in the Tag team 557 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:22.639 Championships until they prove me otherwise. But when it comes to the women's singles 558 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:28.039 Championships, EO Skuy's got to drop that belt. It's got to be to 559 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:30.719 Bailey. We've been waiting for that for like six months now. I feel 560 00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:34.960 like and Bailey going on a babyface round will be a lot of fun. 561 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:37.960 I think that's something that will happen in twenty four And then, of course 562 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:39.639 you look at the women's side of things on the wrong side, and I 563 00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:44.679 don't think Rio's gonna drop it at WrestleMania forty I don't think she's gonna drop 564 00:38:44.679 --> 00:38:47.079 it at SummerSlam. I think again, I said this in my predictions. 565 00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:51.440 It probably could be a year from now we're saying, well, who's Ria's 566 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:53.679 opponent going to be for WrestleMania forty one, Because at that point you're thinking, 567 00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:57.679 okay, that person will have a real chance I really think we could 568 00:38:57.719 --> 00:39:00.679 have that long of a run for Rhea, and I'm not said about it 569 00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:04.480 either. You know, really, any run after Roman reigns is run whenever 570 00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:07.679 this ends, is gonna feel like, you know, really short in comparison. 571 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:12.760 So I'm excited for the women's divisions on both brands. It's just a 572 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:15.800 matter of kind of reshuffling the deck a bit, as you said, Yeah, 573 00:39:15.840 --> 00:39:21.519 and it's just it feels a little stale on SmackDown and on Raw. 574 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:24.199 It's just a lack of star power. That that's the way it kind of 575 00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:28.800 And you know, I said before that SmackDown lacks the star power, but 576 00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:34.079 I think it's because I just see Rhea, Ripley and b and Becky Lynch 577 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:37.719 and how big of stars they are. But then after that there's a steep 578 00:39:37.800 --> 00:39:42.559 jop off. But if you continue to build Naya Jacks into like a monster 579 00:39:42.679 --> 00:39:45.360 type of heel, if you do some good work with rock Kel Rodriguez, 580 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:51.360 Zoey Stark, like I think there's a more promise on Raw SmackDown. It's 581 00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:55.559 it's very like I know that they've tried, like hell to push what's your 582 00:39:55.559 --> 00:40:00.519 face Shotzi, I get it, she just doesn't do it for me. 583 00:40:00.599 --> 00:40:04.079 The characters just a bit off. I see that. I think they're giving 584 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:07.360 Meechin a shot at the Women's Championship on this SmackDown coming up, and I 585 00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:13.119 think that there is potential with Mechin. You obviously have Zelena Vega, who 586 00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:16.599 you've been very vocal about with untapped potential. I just feel like the top 587 00:40:16.760 --> 00:40:22.840 talent, especially with Charlotte Flair not there, lacks on SmackDown. And that's 588 00:40:22.840 --> 00:40:27.119 not to say that they don't have the talent there, it's you know, 589 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:30.519 Bianca is a talent, is a top tier wrestler. Bailey's probably my favorite 590 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:35.800 woman wrestler on the roster. You have Osca, but it's just it's stale, 591 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:38.360 and they need to do some big face lifting with the women they have 592 00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:43.239 on SmackDown because it just feels like very stale in that division. And it 593 00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:45.960 may be as simple as just turning a couple heel a couple baby face. 594 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:50.679 I mean, like Bailey babyface, Bianca heel. That's a big change right 595 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:53.840 there. And then when you get Charlotte back in the June July apparently that's 596 00:40:53.880 --> 00:40:57.679 when she's coming back June July timeframe, that'll be in time for SummerSlam, 597 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:00.719 you could give a big match to whoever the champion is Charlotte, And so 598 00:41:00.840 --> 00:41:05.480 I think that you're you're yeah, it's not damaged beyond repair, as we 599 00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:07.119 just said. I think it's just a little bit of tweaking here and there, 600 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:10.800 and then for sure you can bring up something talent, introduce Jade Cargill 601 00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:14.639 and then you're off to the races and I think they'll be just fine. 602 00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:16.559 But all right, Well, in the final segment of the show here as 603 00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:20.599 we wrap it up, I'll give you the stage too if you have anything. 604 00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:23.760 Obviously, there's so much more we could talk about in predictions and possible 605 00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:28.079 returns, impossible matchups, rock rom and all all this stuff. But like, 606 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:32.760 what do you think or that that is possible in twenty twenty four that 607 00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:37.000 you're looking for that we haven't discussed yet, men, women, whatever, 608 00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:44.559 championship gun there, I mean whatever. I think that we're probably going to 609 00:41:44.679 --> 00:41:49.559 see maybe not the end of the Judgment day, but a major defection from 610 00:41:49.559 --> 00:41:52.719 the Judgment Day. And I think that twenty twenty four is probably going to 611 00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:59.760 be the year of Damian Priest. I really think that Damian Priest has been 612 00:41:59.840 --> 00:42:06.639 on under the Raidar probably the best and most nicely built Star two of the 613 00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:10.400 year. And you know, I was watching the elimination chamber match from the 614 00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:15.760 pay per view last year in Montreal, and I remember that he was one 615 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:19.719 of the guys in that chamber match for the US Championship and how he was 616 00:42:19.800 --> 00:42:22.880 kind of an afterthought because it was all about Austin Theory, ver seth Rawlins 617 00:42:22.960 --> 00:42:29.760 and the breakout performances of Montese Ford and Bronson Reid, and like just how 618 00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:34.239 much of an afterthought he was. And then at WrestleMania, like, did 619 00:42:34.280 --> 00:42:38.199 he have a match? I'm trying to I think he did, but I 620 00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:43.039 really don't remember. Like I know Finn Baalor had the prominent match of any 621 00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:46.760 Judgment Day member aside from Bria Ripley when he had the Hellna selvers edge and 622 00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:52.719 Dominic went against Ray. But I'm trying to think if Damian Priest had a 623 00:42:52.760 --> 00:42:55.960 match, and I can't think of it. And then you look at where 624 00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:00.559 he's gone since he won the Money in the Bank, and I'm saying, 625 00:43:00.679 --> 00:43:07.079 like, this guy is just on a collision course with the main event, 626 00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:10.280 and I think that he will cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase to 627 00:43:10.360 --> 00:43:15.159 win the world heavyweight title. And you know what I mean, I'm saying 628 00:43:15.159 --> 00:43:19.000 this now, but he could be the one to cash in on Roman reigns 629 00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:25.760 and then that could kind of lead to a judgment da versus baby Face bloodline 630 00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:31.599 thing, maybe late in twenty twenty four, but I think Damian Priest will 631 00:43:31.760 --> 00:43:36.000 be the biggest star of twenty twenty four. Maybe not the biggest star, 632 00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:39.639 but the biggest breakout star. And I think he's going to cement himself beside 633 00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:44.440 the likes of you know, Randy or in La Night, like atop the 634 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:50.639 food chain in creative. That's a pretty interesting prediction because as you're talking about 635 00:43:50.639 --> 00:43:52.679 it and you're telling me, yeah, he's kind of been a nice, 636 00:43:52.360 --> 00:43:55.719 almost under the radar bild. Yeah. I mean I've almost forgotten the times 637 00:43:55.719 --> 00:43:59.960 that he's mister money in the bank. I mean I've and that's what they 638 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:04.079 want you to do. And I's a good thing. Yeah, And it's 639 00:44:04.119 --> 00:44:07.199 great because I keep thinking, I keep, you know, looking at this 640 00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:08.239 going on, Drew's got to win. But I'm like, well wait a 641 00:44:08.280 --> 00:44:12.079 minute, I keep forgetting about it. Damian Priest is like seven eight months 642 00:44:12.159 --> 00:44:15.000 and now to his money in the bank win, like we're getting towards the 643 00:44:15.079 --> 00:44:17.000 end, he's going to cash in in the next three four months. So 644 00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:22.039 he keeps looming out there, and I keep forgetting him completely as an option. 645 00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:24.800 But I mean, you look from where he was to where he is 646 00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:29.639 now as kind of well really second in command to Rhea, even though they 647 00:44:29.639 --> 00:44:32.360 don't quote unquote have a leader. He has done a nice He's always solid 648 00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:36.920 on the microphone, he's always solid in the ring. He's got a great 649 00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:39.599 voice. I mean, just like from a just a pure sound perspective, 650 00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:45.719 he sounds just so just dominant when he speaks. I think that you're right, 651 00:44:45.159 --> 00:44:49.360 it could be the year of Damian Priest as world champion, world heavyweight 652 00:44:49.440 --> 00:44:52.760 champion, or as you said, he could cash in on Roman reigns. 653 00:44:52.800 --> 00:44:54.559 I don't believe that that restricts him just to Monday Night Raw. I don't 654 00:44:54.639 --> 00:45:00.840 think so absolutely he could be the one to do that. But I think 655 00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:05.840 at some point it will be on on the Monday Night Ros side of things 656 00:45:05.880 --> 00:45:07.880 for the world title. I still think it'll be that, but ah sure, 657 00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:10.199 I don't really care who beats Roman at this point. As you just 658 00:45:10.199 --> 00:45:14.320 said, I don't give a damn I don't care, and that's sad, 659 00:45:15.119 --> 00:45:17.079 but uh yeah, absolutely that this could be a very fun year. And 660 00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:20.320 we didn't even touch on some of the other things. Like we said with 661 00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:23.039 Gunther, I mean, who could defeat him if he gets If he drops 662 00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:25.840 the belt, I still think he will this year. Quick I got to 663 00:45:25.840 --> 00:45:29.079 ask you then, just very quickly, do you think gun Thro will drop 664 00:45:29.119 --> 00:45:31.679 the belt in twenty four? I think he'll drop it before WrestleMania, and 665 00:45:31.719 --> 00:45:35.440 I think it's going to be it's one or two guys. For me, 666 00:45:35.960 --> 00:45:39.840 it's either sammy' z ain to finally give him a prominent singles championship victory, 667 00:45:40.599 --> 00:45:44.599 but the low hanging fruit to me, and I think one that'd make a 668 00:45:44.599 --> 00:45:50.039 ton of sense is jay u So that's yes, I was just gonna say 669 00:45:50.039 --> 00:45:52.519 that, and I think that jay us This also could be a big year 670 00:45:52.559 --> 00:45:57.280 for jay Uso, who has gotten over more than I think anyone expected to 671 00:45:57.280 --> 00:46:00.960 at this point. Obviously yeat, but the ring he has proven he doesn't 672 00:46:00.960 --> 00:46:05.119 need a tag partner, even though I still think he could be the one 673 00:46:05.280 --> 00:46:08.800 to face Jimmy at WrestleMania. They could go Jimmy j at WrestleMania if they 674 00:46:08.800 --> 00:46:13.119 have an interaction in the rumble, but if not, I would actually prefer 675 00:46:13.199 --> 00:46:15.480 him to be the one to de throne Gunther at WrestleMania, and then you 676 00:46:15.480 --> 00:46:20.519 have Gunther at that point and maybe he'll have a rematch, but thrust right 677 00:46:20.559 --> 00:46:24.039 into the world title picture in the spring of next year. So I think 678 00:46:24.079 --> 00:46:29.800 that just having a demotion for Gunther is really a promotion because that tells you 679 00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:31.480 he's going into the next level. So I have no problem with that, 680 00:46:31.559 --> 00:46:37.480 And it's also a great win for Jay Usso and that title. Whoever wins 681 00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:40.119 that. I think the Intercontinental title would mean more than Roman dropping the belt 682 00:46:40.159 --> 00:46:44.559 to whoever, just based on how much Gunther has done with that championship, 683 00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:46.599 as you and I have said. So I'm thinking it's like, if Jay 684 00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:52.360 Uso wins the IC title, imagine a triple threat match with Solo and Jimmy 685 00:46:52.480 --> 00:46:55.000 with that title on the line at WrestleMania. I would have a lot more 686 00:46:55.079 --> 00:47:00.320 interest in that than just Jimmy versus Jay with nothing on the line just pride. 687 00:47:01.039 --> 00:47:02.920 I mean, that's really what would be on the line is pride. 688 00:47:02.960 --> 00:47:07.360 That's it. Yeah, So after all the things Jay especially is done in 689 00:47:07.400 --> 00:47:10.480 Jimmy, who has been kind of just lost in the fog since he rejoined 690 00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:15.079 the judgment or the bloodline, I mean, yeah, I have really have 691 00:47:15.159 --> 00:47:16.480 no interest in that anymore. The Civil War stuff is used you and I 692 00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:19.800 have said, it's just kind of like it was great, but it's over 693 00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:22.320 so all right, Well, any final thoughts before we wrap up here? 694 00:47:23.320 --> 00:47:27.679 No, I think we covered a lot here, especially I guess the final 695 00:47:27.719 --> 00:47:30.960 thought would be like, because I kind of spilled my guts on how I 696 00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:35.360 feel about AW, how do you overall feel about it? You mean as 697 00:47:35.400 --> 00:47:38.199 a company, Yeah, just like when you think about it as a product, 698 00:47:38.239 --> 00:47:40.679 if you'd spend money on it, if you go your way to watch 699 00:47:40.719 --> 00:47:44.039 it, Like I know, we could probably do it a two hours show 700 00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:47.880 on this, but just like quickly, very quick. I think that First 701 00:47:47.880 --> 00:47:52.239 of all, I have nothing against AEW. Do I think they are unprofessional 702 00:47:52.239 --> 00:47:54.400 at times? Absolutely? Do I think Tony Kahan is unprofessional at times and 703 00:47:54.679 --> 00:47:58.960 trying to be too. He's a big goof Yes. Do I think he's 704 00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:01.480 a bad human being? No, But I think that it's a it's a 705 00:48:01.559 --> 00:48:06.000 it's a promotion that's still trying to find its legs and its identity because it's 706 00:48:06.039 --> 00:48:08.840 got all of these ex WWE stars that it's so funny when you hear them 707 00:48:08.840 --> 00:48:13.519 debut into AW. They get these massive pops, and at the same time, 708 00:48:13.559 --> 00:48:15.760 those very same fans will tell you they're not WWE fans. Yet those 709 00:48:15.800 --> 00:48:20.840 people would not know who these guys are if they didn't watch WWE's product. 710 00:48:20.840 --> 00:48:23.039 There's always it's always funny to me that AW fans tell me they're not ww 711 00:48:23.199 --> 00:48:30.760 fans, but in terms of like where those stars came from and recognizing that, 712 00:48:30.880 --> 00:48:35.320 clearly you watch the product to know who these guys are. But nonetheless, 713 00:48:35.840 --> 00:48:37.880 I think it's a company that needs to as we have talked about, 714 00:48:37.960 --> 00:48:43.239 needs to stop relying on and so is w W stars of yesteryear. There's 715 00:48:43.320 --> 00:48:47.000 no issue with having stars come in and play play fight with each other for 716 00:48:47.039 --> 00:48:51.079 a while. I mean really, there's no if you guys want to, 717 00:48:51.119 --> 00:48:54.239 you know, have a little play fight and have your fantasy matchups like Christian 718 00:48:54.400 --> 00:48:58.840 and Adam Copeland do great. I mean cool they and I saw some of 719 00:48:58.880 --> 00:49:01.000 that match they busted for the age and mileage on their bodies. They did 720 00:49:01.000 --> 00:49:07.239 do a nice job. MJF. I still want WWE Samoa Joe as champion 721 00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:09.519 in World Champion AEW. I have no issue with that. I think Samoa 722 00:49:09.599 --> 00:49:15.320 Joe was underutilized to a criminal degree in WWE. The match with brock Lessari 723 00:49:15.360 --> 00:49:17.880 had in WWE was I think something that could have really ran with and made 724 00:49:17.880 --> 00:49:22.280 even a WrestleMania match out of it. But as far as AW goes, 725 00:49:22.719 --> 00:49:25.360 I don't have nothing against it. I really don't. I think that I 726 00:49:25.480 --> 00:49:29.280 for me, I don't think it's fair to give a full analysis without actually 727 00:49:29.320 --> 00:49:31.360 diving into the product and watching it on a weekly basis. I mean, 728 00:49:31.400 --> 00:49:35.559 I see clips on YouTube and on TikTok and on Instagram, and I, 729 00:49:35.719 --> 00:49:38.880 you know, I get my analysis from there. And I see tips clips 730 00:49:38.880 --> 00:49:44.320 of Tony kannakt in like you know, a clown in press conferences and things. 731 00:49:44.320 --> 00:49:47.360 So we get all those bits and clips, But honestly, I don't 732 00:49:47.400 --> 00:49:52.840 think it's fair for me to give a full, conclusive analysis of like this 733 00:49:52.880 --> 00:49:55.079 is how I feel about AEW and this is where they're going to go without 734 00:49:55.199 --> 00:50:00.000 actually watching the product. But honestly, I wish the best for them, 735 00:50:00.159 --> 00:50:02.800 I really do. It's good for every one, fans and talent to have 736 00:50:02.880 --> 00:50:07.360 another company. So yeah, well, I think that's all fair to say, 737 00:50:07.360 --> 00:50:10.079 and this isn't dunking on it. It's just that it's really not my 738 00:50:10.159 --> 00:50:14.480 cup of tea and he annoys me in his press conferences. But aside from 739 00:50:14.480 --> 00:50:16.599 that, I think it's a great place. Yeah, other than that, 740 00:50:16.800 --> 00:50:20.920 right, yeah, yeah, So all right, well, very good, 741 00:50:20.920 --> 00:50:24.280 And we will be kicking off the twenty twenty four year at the end of 742 00:50:24.280 --> 00:50:28.960 this week with another show from Anthony, which is the after Dark Show. 743 00:50:28.960 --> 00:50:30.400 You guys can catch that on Apple. You guys can catch that on the 744 00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:36.280 Patreon side of things. And I know you you usually don't have a topic 745 00:50:36.360 --> 00:50:38.960 rather prepared yet until maybe a day or two before, so I won't ask 746 00:50:39.039 --> 00:50:43.159 you unless you have something in mind that you're going to talk about. But 747 00:50:43.679 --> 00:50:46.440 I would imagine it's going to be coming off of a big day one RAW, 748 00:50:46.519 --> 00:50:50.480 You're probably gonna have a thing or two to talk about, I would 749 00:50:50.480 --> 00:50:53.679 imagine, because this is gonna be a big RAW. So yeah, no, 750 00:50:53.800 --> 00:50:58.400 I imagine I'll do a review for this and probably a preview for New 751 00:50:58.480 --> 00:51:02.840 Year's Resolution or Revolution, which will be the SmackDown branded show. And you 752 00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:07.760 know, it's it's pretty cool that they're doing this, But I do think 753 00:51:07.880 --> 00:51:12.199 one way another you should bring back a pay per view between Survivor series and 754 00:51:12.360 --> 00:51:16.199 Rumble, like whether that be again or New Year's Revolution, because it feels 755 00:51:16.280 --> 00:51:21.079 like they did it last year and then they tried to do it again this 756 00:51:21.159 --> 00:51:22.960 year with no pay per view, and they realized that, oh, there's 757 00:51:23.039 --> 00:51:28.880 just so much story to tell and you can have significant moments happen right before 758 00:51:28.880 --> 00:51:34.400 the rumble, like Evolution's Night to Shine and Arm Again three or the first 759 00:51:34.480 --> 00:51:37.199 every Money in the Bank cash and a show you were at it New Year's 760 00:51:37.199 --> 00:51:43.079 Revolution in two thousand and six, Like this is a very pivotal time right 761 00:51:43.119 --> 00:51:45.960 before you head into the right rumble. And I think not having a pay 762 00:51:45.960 --> 00:51:49.880 per view is really a detriment. It's like they're half pregnant here. It's 763 00:51:49.920 --> 00:51:53.440 we I've never seen them do this where they're it's like they made the schedule 764 00:51:53.519 --> 00:51:57.519 and then three weeks out there like crap, we probably should have done a 765 00:51:57.559 --> 00:52:00.840 pl What do we do. Let's split the differ for Insan, it's Day 766 00:52:00.880 --> 00:52:05.239 one edition of Raw, It's the New Year's Revolution edition of SmackDown. It's 767 00:52:05.320 --> 00:52:07.880 kind of like they just felt like they made a mistake and they tried to 768 00:52:07.880 --> 00:52:12.719 half ass it. And I'm not saying that's actually what happened. They probably 769 00:52:12.800 --> 00:52:16.400 are experimenting here with rebranding a special edition of Raw and a special edition of 770 00:52:16.440 --> 00:52:20.440 Smack, nown with making it feel special because of the name. But I 771 00:52:20.480 --> 00:52:22.400 think that they're looking at this going. I think we could have squeezed a 772 00:52:22.400 --> 00:52:25.000 pay per view out of this, and I think they could too. I 773 00:52:25.159 --> 00:52:29.679 like the pay per view on day one, or if they want to call 774 00:52:29.679 --> 00:52:31.880 it New Year's Revolution, either's cool with me. But I like that because 775 00:52:31.920 --> 00:52:35.440 it's like a fresh start to the new year. You don't have to wait 776 00:52:35.519 --> 00:52:38.000 another four weeks for the Rumble. It's a nice stop gap. I don't 777 00:52:38.000 --> 00:52:40.760 know so anyway, all right, well we'll wrap it up here, but 778 00:52:42.679 --> 00:52:45.039 we'll looking forward to the show on Friday, as we'll drop that probably later 779 00:52:45.079 --> 00:52:49.239 in the day. And I hope you guys take a listen. But thanks 780 00:52:49.239 --> 00:52:52.480 so much for joining me, and we'll be chatting in a week. Yeah, 781 00:52:52.559 --> 00:52:55.800 man, looking forward to it. Take care you too. Thanks for 782 00:52:55.880 --> 00:53:01.320 listening to the WWE podcast. Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast app 783 00:53:02.079 --> 00:53:07.440 so you don't miss a show, or head to wwepodcast dot com and for 784 00:53:07.519 --> 00:53:13.519 all of these shows, add free head over to Patreon dot com Slash WWE 785 00:53:13.840 --> 00:53:17.039 Podcast. Until then, we'll see you next time.