WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:07.320 This is w w E Superstar Drew McIntyre and you're listening to the w w 2 00:00:07.559 --> 00:00:24.879 E Podcast, the show, the one that everybody wants me God Step three 3 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:30.399 sixteen says, I just quist your ass is my art. You're gonna acknowledge 4 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:37.159 me. All everybody, welcome to the w w Podcast. It's time to 5 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:42.399 talk Payback, which is going to be taking place tomorrow night, and uh, 6 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.039 lots of talk about you know, when you look at this card, 7 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:52.560 it's not one that overly strikes you as the heavy on the star power side, 8 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:56.479 but it's one that makes you look at it and go, this could 9 00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:02.479 overachieve. There could be some surprises. Payback has historically not exactly been a 10 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:07.400 landmark event either. You know, I can't recall anything monumental happening at a 11 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:12.079 Payback pl e, but we certainly could have some surprises. And you know, 12 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:19.280 I know that SmackDown took place tonight. I did see something that occurred 13 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.480 on SmackDown. So if you don't want to hear anything spoiler alert, you've 14 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:27.599 been warned. So let me just start with John Cena, who's going to 15 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:33.599 be hosting Payback. That's what I'm gathering. No, I didn't see SmackDown. 16 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:38.239 I just saw that part of it on social media, so you'd imagine 17 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:46.200 that's going to be some kind of interaction with Seth and maybe his opponents of 18 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:51.040 Imperium that are coming up on the Superstar Spectacle in India on September eighth to 19 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:56.239 build to that match. I can't imagine anything else happening until September eighth, 20 00:01:56.239 --> 00:02:00.359 because don't forget, John Cena is on every SmackDown from here till September or 21 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:05.519 I'm sorry, October twenty seven, so he is here for quite a long 22 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:10.240 time, likely the longest streak in the last five plus years for John Cena 23 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:15.479 consistently appearing on ww television. Now it is interesting to know what it is 24 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:19.879 SmackDown, so you know, all the draft rules go out the window when 25 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:24.360 it comes to having the other three guys that are in this match that are 26 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:29.879 from Raw up here on SmackDown. You know, just because I also did 27 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:37.680 see a picture and I'm really hoping it's not true of John Cena and Cody 28 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:43.599 Rhodes holding up each other's arms or something, and if Cody Rhodes was on 29 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:47.560 SmackDown, I mean, let me just save that for another time. But 30 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:54.120 I have a feeling that you know that that is a legitimate picture of John 31 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:59.080 Cena and Cody Rhodes holding each other's arms up and as if giving the stamp 32 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:02.840 of approval. Again, it's just all right, yeah, I'm by the 33 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:07.199 way, I'm officially off the Cody Roads bandwagon when it comes to his baby 34 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:12.000 face character. I'm done, done, alrighty, moving on. Let's start 35 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.879 with the matchups here and then we'll get to any potential returns or surprises. 36 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:23.319 Let's start with the Tag Team Championship Steel City Street Fight, and that gives 37 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:27.719 us of Kevin Owns and Sammy Zane versus the Judgment Days, Damian Priests and 38 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:31.080 Finn Balor. Now you know what you're gonna get here. We've seen it 39 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:38.439 many many times before. These these two, these four men have been fighting, 40 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:42.520 but it seems like multiple months, and you know you're gonna get a 41 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:47.319 high quality match, probably going sixteen seventeen minutes, and it's gonna end with 42 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:58.560 some form of miscommunication between Damian and Finn Or. It could also end with 43 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:06.680 j D mc dona inadvertently costing them the matchup or purposefully causing them the matchup, 44 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:12.319 and that leads to more tension between Finn and Damian because JD is Finn's 45 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:15.079 friend, and therefore, what does shin or what does Finn do? Not 46 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:18.800 shin, We'll get to him, but what does he do? So it's 47 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:26.399 either miscommunication which causes further tension or Jane d mcdonnah purposefully or accidentally quote unquote 48 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.680 costing them the matchup, and the Kevin Owens and Sammy's Ain tag team title 49 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:36.000 run continues. Now even if that wasn't the case, you know, even 50 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:41.240 if even if Kevin and sam were going against some kind of legendary team right 51 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:44.800 like, I don't care if it's the Road Warriors back in the early nineties, 52 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.000 late eighties, I don't care because right now they have a championship match 53 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:55.319 booked for September eighth in India. With the end of Sheer, you talk 54 00:04:55.399 --> 00:05:00.000 about completely foreshadowing or giving away the ending of this matchup terms of who's retaining 55 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:04.399 and who's not. That all but solidifies it. So, yeah, there's 56 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:10.000 just no chance, zero, that Kevin and Sammy lose this match. None, 57 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:13.319 or I should say they could still lose the match, but the titles 58 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:19.720 aren't changing hands Alrighty, the United States Championship, Raymstereo versus Austin Theory. 59 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:27.000 You know, this one seems like a slam dunk that Raymisterio is going to 60 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:32.360 retain, but there's a small hint that Austin theory could okay. The reason 61 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:42.240 is if you're on the bandwagon of Austin theory winning back the United States Championship, 62 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:50.759 here are twofold one. Maybe Santos Escobar gets involved here and it's it 63 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:57.279 looks like he maybe he turns heal and he costs Raymsterio the matchup, giving 64 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:04.079 the belt back to Austin theory or the other idea here, or theories that 65 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:11.959 support no pun intended Austin theory winning back the belt is La Night And why 66 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.920 do I say that? I know he hasn't match in the card. We'll 67 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:19.240 get there. But the reason is that Austin theory is a heel. Duh, 68 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:24.879 right, La Night cannot take the belt from Raymisterio. If you want 69 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:30.079 his first major title victory to be against a baby face, I think it's 70 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:35.199 a mistake. You want it to be against a heel. Take the US 71 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:39.720 title off a heel. It would not have the same impact if it was 72 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:43.639 off of a baby face, and especially a beloved one like Ray Mysterio. 73 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:48.600 Now you could still have Ray retain and then Austin Theory and inject himself in 74 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:53.319 there, and that's actually more of that's the easier solution because you don't put 75 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:56.319 the belt back on Theory, which nobody wants, even if it's to put 76 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.040 it on La Night. I think right now, Austin Theory is just so 77 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:02.240 cold you don't want it on Theory. It was so nice when he got 78 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.720 his career has actually been helped by the title being lifted off of him. 79 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:12.680 So I think Raymsterio retains. But you know, this one, this one's 80 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:18.120 a scary one because they could go that road of Austin versus Austin versus La 81 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:23.720 Night one on one. But I believe in my mind that it's going to 82 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:28.360 be probably a fatal four way or a triple threat at fast Lane for the 83 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:30.360 US title. Ray will still be champion, I think, so. I 84 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:34.040 think he'll retain here, but it's it's probably gonna be La Night versus Austin 85 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:40.160 Theory versus Raymisterio versus Santos Escobar in a fatal four way for the US title. 86 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:46.639 Next to the next PLI that's my guest, with La Knight likely picking 87 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:49.879 up the title victory there, and he can do it by pinning a heel 88 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:54.959 without directly pinning the baby face. It's kind of a creative way to get 89 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:59.399 Raymisterio another four weeks of a run, have a nice quick run with the 90 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:05.120 belt, and also not have La Night pin a baby face to win it 91 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:07.199 off of him. So I think that's probably how it's going to go. 92 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:13.120 Other than that match quality here, I mean, as as with a lot 93 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:18.079 of these matches at Payback, this one doesn't. You know, this one 94 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.920 doesn't particularly stand out to me that it's going to be a blockbuster. I 95 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:26.160 just I mean it's not. Raybsterio can still go Austin Theory, is more 96 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:31.439 than capable and obviously has the physical tools to have a great match, But 97 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:37.519 I don't expect this one to stand out from an emotional standpoint where the fans 98 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:41.480 are with every maneuver. I expected just a solid match, two and a 99 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:46.480 half stars out of five if you're on that scale, or five out of 100 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:48.240 ten, or maybe a three out of five star or something like that. 101 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:56.080 Nothing crazy, but solid, and it ends with Raybsterio retaining and maybe it's 102 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:03.480 uh Santo's helping him. Maybe right. Alrighty, let's get to steel cage 103 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:07.320 match here, Becky Lynch for Stress Stratus, the match that all of us 104 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:15.559 can say hallelujah. You know this program is ending, it has to write. 105 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:18.080 I think that's sad. They actually marketed it, so they can't go 106 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:24.320 back on it, can they. This match is being built as well, 107 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:26.240 it's the it's the finale. No one can interfere, which is hilarious with 108 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:30.639 every steel cage match being sold that way, because every single steel cage match 109 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:35.720 in fact, almost attracts more outside interference because you know, the referee just 110 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:41.960 opens doors. Nothing's locked, there's there's no roof. They want us to 111 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:46.159 believe there's some kind of mystical force that will keep people out. But this 112 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:50.639 program, you know, I'm trying to enjoy it. I'm making an effort, 113 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:54.840 which is always a bad sign. When you're trying to enjoy something that 114 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:58.120 you have to consciously try, never a good thing, right, But this 115 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:05.919 match I expect to be very physical. I think this match honestly will overachieve 116 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:11.039 your expectations. Now that's all proportional or relative, I should say, because 117 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:15.799 if your standards for this match are in the ground. Then if they even 118 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:18.840 have an average match, it's gonna blow you away. Right. But if 119 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:20.720 you think they're gonna have an average match, and they have an average match, 120 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.799 then you're gonna say, what are you talking about? It's exactly what 121 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:26.440 I thought it was going to be. So I guess depends on where your 122 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:31.600 expectations stand as to when I say it's going to exceed expectations. But I 123 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:35.799 think what most people believe, it's going to be a good just a standard 124 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:39.440 wrestling match. Obviously, they're going to use the steel cage, take some 125 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:43.039 big bumps, but I think the drama will be there more than we think. 126 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:48.240 That's where are I am. I'm putting my money is that they'll exceed 127 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:54.559 from a physical standpoint, and they'll also exceed from an emotional investment standpoint. 128 00:10:56.279 --> 00:11:01.159 That's what I think. I think that is what's going to be a surprise 129 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:07.600 here where both women are giving it their absolute all and they should because they 130 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.799 know, hey, this is even though the fans weren't really into this, 131 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:13.840 maybe in the final chapter and the final page of the chapter, we can 132 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:16.039 hook them and go, you know what, that wasn't such a bad program. 133 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.679 So I don't think they're going to phone it in, and I think 134 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:22.480 it's going to be It's one of those matches we're gonna come back and go, 135 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:24.039 huh, yeah. That was much better than I thought. You know, 136 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:28.480 it didn't blow me away, but better than I thought given the expectations 137 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:33.840 and the build. So next Ellen Knight miss This one is not going to 138 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:37.919 blow us away from any I don't think it's going to be Match of the 139 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:45.919 Night or anything, but this one I think is all about continuing the momentum 140 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:50.759 for La Night. The most overused word in all of We's announcing history, 141 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:56.639 the word momentum will apply actually correctly in this case because La Night has a 142 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:03.080 lot of momentum behind him. I see LNA winning if he doesn't. You 143 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.559 know, I gotta say, I don't need any funky stuff going on. 144 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:11.879 I don't need anybody interfering to cause La Night to lose, which extends the 145 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:15.720 program with them is it's possible, And I'm gonna throw that out there. 146 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:20.759 It's possible because everyone expects La Night to win, and WWE has been outside 147 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:26.919 of the Battle Royal has been very swervy with La Knight's victories. Every time 148 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:31.440 you think he's a lock, he'd isn't, so I would I would proceed 149 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:35.559 with caution on this one. And if they think they can get more mileage 150 00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:39.039 out of La Night versus them is too fast Lane, than they may have 151 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:43.279 La Night lose here. So what's my official pick? Oh, by the 152 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:48.000 way, my official pick for Becky Lynch tris stratus is Becky Lynch. So 153 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:52.120 let me recap. Sammy and Kevin retain Ray Mysterio retains Becky Lynch wins. 154 00:12:52.960 --> 00:13:00.559 I'm gonna go I'm gonna go out on a limb here, gonna say the 155 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:05.360 Miss wins because I think they feel that there's more value in this program that'll 156 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:13.080 eventually end with La Knight getting the blowoff victory at fast Lane or Survivor Series 157 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:15.639 if they want to go that far. I don't think they will. But 158 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:24.000 that's what my guess is. The Miss will steal a victory here and it'll 159 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.559 continue La Night's momentum without actually having him wine. He doesn't always have to 160 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:31.480 win to keep the momentum going. I think that's the let's see, that's 161 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:37.039 the thing I'm forgetting. And I think this is the one where most people 162 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:41.320 look at this and go out to you know, LNA wins. I would 163 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.279 say Lnight wins, though if it's a one off, if there's no program 164 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:48.600 with La Knight and the Miss at fast Lane, then sure LNA wins. 165 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:52.720 But I think they're looking at this going the MS in La Night has more 166 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:58.240 gas left than the tank. So if that's the case, then La Night 167 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.039 loses and I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go with them Miss in a shocking 168 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:05.799 victory, of course, not clean. The Miss is gonna lose win by 169 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:09.399 some kind of interference and it could lead to Ellenett's next opponent too. But 170 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:16.759 all right, so Miss wins. Alrighty, let's go to the Women's World 171 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:22.840 Championship match of Ria Ripley versus Raquel Rodriguez. Now, this this matchup, 172 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.080 you know, with this program, I have to say before we get the 173 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:30.519 actual matchup here, the program itself has been a long time coming. This 174 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:31.960 is the matchup we thought we're going to get a Summer slim and we didn't. 175 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:37.799 The narrative here that's going to sell you if you're interested in this is 176 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:41.840 size and power. You know that that's that's what the selling point is of 177 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:48.679 this, because there's not really a deep story other than Rea injuring Ripley or 178 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:54.720 I'm sorry Rea injuring Raquel injuring her knee and having Raquel try to sell it 179 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:58.440 for a while, and then Raquel this past week telling Ripley to stop using 180 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:03.320 her size and strength to her advantage. What that's like saying to ray Masterio, 181 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:07.440 you know, well, when you stop using your speed and your agility, 182 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.039 you know, that's when you become a real man. Like what are 183 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:15.919 you talking about? Who is not using what they're good at to win matches 184 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:20.200 and be dominant? Like very weird Now went over this on the Monday Night 185 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:24.879 Rob Review with Thomas Franco. You guys should check it out. Very weird 186 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:28.919 promo, and it honestly is very hard for Raquel to stay baby face. 187 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:35.919 They are clinging to the baby face character with Raquel, and I'm very interested 188 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:41.120 also from a crowd perspective, how people react to this match, because it's 189 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:45.000 yes, Ria Ripley has met her match from a physical standpoint, Yes, 190 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:52.320 in some respects, Raquel maybe stronger, right, but rias moreover, and 191 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:56.320 all Raquel has going for her is that she's physically imposing. That's it, 192 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.639 and she's she's she's a good look a woman, of course, but that's 193 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:04.759 like not even on my top ten list of things that I'm concerned about for 194 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:11.080 her. But her baby face character is clinging to It's on life support, 195 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:15.679 not her career, her baby face character. She has a lot left in 196 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:19.279 the tank. I think Raquel is going to be a massive player when she 197 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:25.240 becomes a heel. And it's just it's going to be very fun to hear 198 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.840 the crowd and maybe they go along and they could just continue with the mild 199 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:32.600 support for Raquel. It's it's not booing her, but it's kind of like 200 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:36.799 me, all right, we'll cheer you. It's kind of that resistant, 201 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:41.960 forced cheer that you know, you can't really hate her, but you're not 202 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:45.200 buying into this baby face stuff. It doesn't fit her at all. So 203 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:48.320 I think that's what the reaction is going to be. I don't think it's 204 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.000 gonna be out right booing Raquel. But that's the only thing selling this thing, 205 00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:55.399 guys, is the physical part. That's it, because you're like, 206 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:59.879 wow, Ria can't just toss this woman around. So the end of the 207 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:03.960 of course, re Ripley retains end of story case closed, slammed the book 208 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:10.559 shut, throw away the key, right, lock it up, because sure 209 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:14.319 Riquel is has you know, is as strong or maybe stronger than Rea, 210 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.599 So what you know? Okay, so Rea's not gonna be able to dominate 211 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:23.559 her by tossing her her around, But so what Ria is mega over? 212 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:30.160 She's not anywhere near her run being over. I could see Riquel, or 213 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:40.119 rather Rea Ripley going through WrestleMania forty and retaining at WrestleMania forty. So honestly, 214 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.680 this is a slam dunk. This to me is the most slam dunk 215 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:47.200 match on the whole on the whole card, up and down the card. 216 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:52.799 So this one's interesting to me from a fan perspective. And if there are 217 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:56.640 any moments that make me go wow, maybe, but this is all about 218 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:02.160 Ria Ripley and it should be Rick Cal has no chance of winning this. 219 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:06.920 The crowd would if I'll tell you if if we Ridley won or lost, 220 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:11.119 I think the crowd would boo. But what I would like to come from 221 00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:17.759 this is a string of actual opponents, like this is her first real opponent 222 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:25.240 since WrestleMania. Okay, for real, not only but real. No disrespect 223 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:29.519 to Natalia or to Zelena, but you look at that. You looked at 224 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:33.279 them immediately go, yeah, this is this is a nothing burger. You 225 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:36.519 know. If they have a good match, that's all you can expect from 226 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:40.200 it. There's no chance that they win. Raquel, you know, is 227 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:44.400 the first real challenger in the sense that it's a different dynamic with the strength 228 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:47.559 and power. But you're still looking at this going no chance, right, 229 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:52.519 So it's the closest to a real opponent that she's had. Now, after 230 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:56.359 this, they could go right to Becky Lynch. They could, I hope, 231 00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:00.359 you know, maybe they're gonna wait, but I think that eventually Bianca 232 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:03.839 Bellair and re Ripley are gonna tie it up. You know, Bianca bell 233 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:07.880 Air and re Ripley were teased the Monday nett Row after WrestleMania, and it's 234 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:12.240 really kind of fascinating that haven't got to that match yet. So Becky Lynch 235 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:15.279 could be the next opponent after Becky Lynch because she's gonna need someone to work 236 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:19.519 with after Trish, So don't forget that. And if we're Rea Ripley beats 237 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:22.559 Riquel, I don't know if we're gonna want to see where cal part two. 238 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.880 That means that both of them finish up their programs and we get to 239 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:34.759 Becky Lynch interrupting re Ripley tomorrow night on RAW, or rather not tomorrow night, 240 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:41.519 this coming Monday night on RAW. So all right, let's continue on 241 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.759 here with the grill. Let's go with the Grayson Waller Effect. Special guest 242 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:51.720 Cody Rhodes. I don't really care about this, and I say from the 243 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:55.160 perspective of you know what you're gonna get from Cody. It's a way to 244 00:19:55.200 --> 00:20:00.559 get him on the show, and it's a way to also give the rub. 245 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:03.400 Thank God, I know what that means. Thanks thanks to Cody this 246 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:07.799 past Monday, I can actually use that word and feel smart. Thank you, 247 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:11.839 Cody. I would have been lost. And you're you're expanding my vocabulary 248 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:15.200 by the week. Cody, thank you so much. If there's anything else 249 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:18.839 that you want to ingratiate us with, and uh, you know, maybe 250 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:23.559 bless us with with some vocabulary. We all need to expand our vocabulary. 251 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:32.240 We really appreciate it. So I really don't care about this because it's about 252 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:37.960 Cody getting an entrance, getting his stupid catchphrase that's never going to catch on, 253 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:41.279 and uh, you know, eventually, maybe maybe it'll lead to a 254 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:47.640 match with Grayson. But is Grayson Waller versus Cody Rhodes really a program they 255 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:51.319 want to stay with right now? Maybe it is to give you know, 256 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:56.240 uh, Grayson Waller more rubbed from Big Stars, but he's lost almost every 257 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:00.319 single match he's been in, so he would inevitably lose to Cody. So 258 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:03.079 we'll continue that string of losses. So I don't know how much longer you 259 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:07.039 want to do that with Grayson Waller, but you could sell it by saying, 260 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.599 well, he's lost, but look who he's lost to, right there's 261 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:11.480 no shame of that. But eventually you have to give the guy some wins. 262 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:15.359 So we'll see, you know, what we will see. We will 263 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:21.400 see, but I don't know, perhaps we you know, perhaps we get 264 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:26.359 a surprise in this somebody else interrupts and it's not just Grayson Waller and Cody 265 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:30.079 having an actual match or battling it out. I would imagine it's not a 266 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:36.400 match because Cody Rhodes comes out in like a you know, his business suit, 267 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:40.559 like he's about to attend a you know, an upper management meeting. 268 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:44.960 So that's my thought. I mean, I really care less about this segment 269 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:51.039 because the Cody Rhodes is a massive turnoff from you right now, all right, 270 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:56.880 last match here, the World Heavyweight Championship Seth Rollins versus Shinskin akham Or, 271 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:00.799 a match that I didn't think I'd care about out as much as I 272 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:04.160 do. When I saw Shinsky Turn three weeks ago whatever it was, I 273 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:08.000 said, oh, okay, this is interesting for shin But you know this 274 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:14.839 is there's gonna be no promos. It's just you know, one word interviews 275 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:18.319 and he's just gonna, you know, maybe look meaner. No, they 276 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:23.839 have done an outstanding job for at least from the expectations of what this build 277 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:29.480 is or was going to be to what it actually was and what they executed 278 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:38.640 was just it was just downright impressive, mainly due to the Shinska nakamer video 279 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:45.680 packages and the subtitles and Shinskate is the way he's delivers those promos and the 280 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:51.079 content of those promos and the attacks from behind and the watch your back and 281 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:56.519 then getting personal with his family, I mean, unbelievable. And I hope 282 00:22:56.519 --> 00:23:00.119 this continues for Shinska even if he moves on from Seth after this. I 283 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:03.400 hope that he continues on with his heel character, and he doesn't just go 284 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:11.880 back into obscurity in some kind of mid card meaningless program with who was he 285 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:17.640 feuding with before this? Was it? Oh? It was Tamasel Champa and 286 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.359 Bronson Reid. I hope he doesn't go into that again, right, he 287 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:22.480 just goes back to that and we forget all this. No, they have 288 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:30.759 something here, so perhaps perhaps Seth retains here, but they have part two 289 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:36.119 at fast Lane. I wouldn't hate that. I think that there was a 290 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:37.480 case to be made for that while they looked at this is maybe a one 291 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:41.559 off, there is a case to be made given the fan reception to this, 292 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:48.400 given you know, the overall execution, and if their match at Payback 293 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:56.119 delivers, maybe they think twice about this being a one off. So we 294 00:23:56.160 --> 00:24:00.000 will see. But this match, I expect this match to be a match 295 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:03.400 to the night candidate. You're gonna see Shin's get Kamara to the level that 296 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:06.359 we haven't seen him in a while. Again, if they give them enough 297 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.759 time, If they only give him like eight to ten minutes, I'm concerned. 298 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:11.559 If they give him fifteen to seventeen minutes, that's kind of where I 299 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:17.079 think they should live here, And I expect a lot of near falls. 300 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:21.039 I expect the back to be targeted, as that was part of the story 301 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:25.839 going in. You're gonna see the back being targeted, the announcers talking about 302 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:30.480 his family and how Shinsgate wants to end Seth's career and take the burden of 303 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:33.680 being world champion off of him and all that. It's gonna be a fun 304 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:38.519 story to tell. And it's it's just interesting. It's not. It is 305 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:44.640 interesting, but it's simple to understand. There's nothing to really think about here. 306 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:49.119 But you're gonna see a lot of a lot of back targeting by Shinsgate 307 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:56.880 Akamura as he should in this matchup, and there's gonna be moments where we 308 00:24:56.920 --> 00:25:00.720 wonder, hey, wait a minute, could he win? And even going 309 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:03.640 in, they have done a masterful job of making you think, well, 310 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:07.880 this is a real injury. Maybe Seth wants to get it cleaned up before 311 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:11.160 WrestleMania season, and I keep saying that week after week, But if the 312 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:17.799 recovery time isn't significant, meaning like more than six months, perhaps he does 313 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:21.359 decide to kind of bite the bullet and maybe make it back in time for 314 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:23.160 WrestleMania season, or maybe he doesn't risk it and realize this. Nope, 315 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.160 the docs said it's going to be eight to twelve months. I don't want 316 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:29.640 to do that. I want to wait till after wrestle Mania forty, drop 317 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.799 it there and then go off into the sunset until you know, the following 318 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:37.559 year. I would imagine that again, if he's been dealing with this pain 319 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.960 for this long, and it's a true injury, he's been dealing with for 320 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.920 this long, he has to know that the recovery and he's I mean, 321 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:47.200 I'm sure he's going to a doctor. The doctors have probably told him what 322 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:49.480 the recovery time is and all that, and you know that maybe it is 323 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:53.000 a more risky procedure that couldn't end up with him not wrestling again and all 324 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:56.960 that. Perhaps that's what the doctors told him, which is why there's got 325 00:25:56.960 --> 00:26:00.640 to be a reason why he's held off on this, especially if it's giving 326 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:04.400 him that much pain on a daily basis. So this is a hell of 327 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:11.200 a story. This is a great story, great narrative, wonderful and the 328 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:15.960 just the different emotions that Sinsky has all of a sudden been able to show 329 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:18.759 on camera, the change of clothing, the attacks from behind, as I 330 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:23.279 said, we're just they're brilliant. The things he's whispering, and Seth here, 331 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:27.799 the watch your back thing. It's all been great. It's been a 332 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:34.440 plus. Not complicated, easy, but different and exceeds what you expect. 333 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:41.599 It's just it's it's great. So I expect this again fifteen to seventeen minutes, 334 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:44.759 some moments where you go, oh my god, this could be it. 335 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:48.480 Ultimately, Seth rawlins, I think we'll come out on top. So 336 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:52.279 there's my prediction. I think Seth Rowlins does retain, but I wouldn't, 337 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:56.480 I really really wouldn't look at this and go, you know, I'm betting 338 00:26:56.519 --> 00:27:00.160 the farm on this. Seth wins. He probably will. Yes, he's 339 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:04.480 still a heavy favorite. But what www set out to do is put that 340 00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:07.440 seed of doubt, and for so much more than just a seed, but 341 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:11.440 for the majority of us at least, there is that little seed of doubt 342 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:15.839 that Shinskate could win. And that's all you can ask for in this program 343 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:21.240 that came out of nowhere against an opponent that was essentially doing nothing since twenty 344 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:26.880 eighteen. So this has been a pleasant surprise and I think the match will 345 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:32.680 deliver and deliver big time. From but just a pure wrestling perspective in drama 346 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:36.440 and all that stuff during the match. So there you go, seth Roland's 347 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:40.000 retains. But I'm not I'm not one hundred percent on that. I'd say, 348 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:45.839 like, you know, ninety percent. That said, what about surprise 349 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:49.119 returns? You know this will be the one pay per view where I don't 350 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:55.680 predict returns and Randy Orton comes back. I guess Randy Orton could come back, 351 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:59.599 you know, if you're asking me, does Randy come back? And 352 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:02.000 sad? You know, this would be one that I'd say, bray Wide 353 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:06.559 can come back and all that. You know, I think that if Randy 354 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:11.079 comes back, maybe he attacks Cody Rhodes on the Grayson Waller effect. How 355 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:15.039 about that? Randy Orton versus Cody Rhodes is a lot of history there with 356 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:18.839 their legacy group and all that. There's some history there. But do they 357 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:25.440 want to immediately turn Randy Orton heel? And I don't know. But also 358 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:27.440 there's no Roman on this program or on this match, on this match, 359 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:33.039 this card, There's no Jimmy Uso at least the most best of my knowledge, 360 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:41.240 So hey, things could change, But I would say Randy Ortons still 361 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:45.000 doesn't return here. I think maybe if he is coming back, it's at 362 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:48.720 a bigger time, at a bigger event. Do I expect anybody else to 363 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:53.559 come back? Biggie? Maybe? Maybe Biggie. He's floating out there, 364 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:57.759 although he's getting the same from what I understand, the same recommendations from his 365 00:28:57.880 --> 00:29:03.960 doctors as Randy as don't wrestle again and all that. I don't think that's 366 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:07.519 going to be the case. But that said, do I expect we're big 367 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:11.319 returns? No, which means w W probably will deliver them because it's a 368 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:14.759 pay per view you look at and go in to be pay per view, 369 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.799 you know, a c pay per view. Some good matches will be some 370 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:22.160 good wrestling, but ultimately no big returns. They could surprise us, but 371 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:26.039 I'm going to say no straightforward wrestling. Some you know, some heel victories 372 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:33.599 here, especially with the the the what match was the La Night losing? 373 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:36.799 I think that could be one that is surprises a lot of people, and 374 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:41.799 Anger's people, but that'll probably be the shocking moment is Lnnight losing. And 375 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:48.559 That's kind of where I'm going with here. And shins Kanakamura ends up losing 376 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.640 but coming very close and you know what, here's what I'll say too. 377 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:59.640 If they're continuing Shinzka and Seth even after shinsk loses this match, maybe it's 378 00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:07.559 a situ where I'm thinking back to Triple H and HBK two thousand and two 379 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:12.039 Summer Slam. Those of even that remember that match offhand know what I'm talking 380 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:18.559 about. It's when HBK came out of retirement since nineteen ninety eight. Was 381 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:25.839 he was out of wrestling for four years. Massive back injury that happened at 382 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:29.680 a casket match with the Undertaker well documented, but the end of that match, 383 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:33.119 HBK won. But at the end of that match, Triple H took 384 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:37.799 a sledgehammer to his back, and the story was that, you know, 385 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:41.279 if HBK wasn't gonna be able to wrestle again the old there as you're out, 386 00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:44.319 but if he can, well you can explain that. The doctors said 387 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:47.680 he's fine, he'll be cleared this and that after a month, and he 388 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:51.519 ended up being able to go on, you know until twenty what was a 389 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:57.480 twenty eleven when he retired after WrestleMania twenty six, so you know he went 390 00:30:57.480 --> 00:31:03.599 on for several more years. But my point is is that this could be 391 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:10.319 a Shintskinakamura attack on Seth after the match, where maybe Seth and Shintskin look 392 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:14.759 it's going to shake hands and he gives him a low blow and then hits 393 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:18.480 him in the back with a chair repeatedly. I don't think he'd go sledgehammer, 394 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:21.599 you know, but he could do something to make it look like he's 395 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:25.279 injured Seth and Seth may have to relinquish the belt and they continue their program 396 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:32.480 through through fast Lane, so that's possible too. So all right, well, 397 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:36.079 there you have it my official preview and predictions for the payback event that's 398 00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:38.640 coming to you tomorrow night. I did not see smacked Down outside of the 399 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:44.960 little John Cina hosting Payback thing, which should be fun and it'll be uh, 400 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:48.000 you know, right into right into the program he's going to be having 401 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:52.720 on September eighth, and then whoever he's facing after that so fun. It 402 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:56.000 kind of feels like a throwback a month or so, right for those of 403 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:59.960 us that you grew up watching the Attitude while the Ruthless Aggression or John Cina 404 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:06.359 one of the major faces of that era and the most consistent run he's had 405 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:09.160 and quite a long time. So guys, if you want to join Patreon, 406 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:12.960 good time to do it, because you get to join all the other 407 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:17.440 fans of this show in a special discord server to talk about whatever's going on 408 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:22.559 and wrestling. It's open twenty four to seven, and it's particularly interesting during 409 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:27.119 live events and during pay per views, So this is going to be an 410 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:30.799 opportunity you don't want to miss. It's accessible to all levels of Patreon, 411 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:35.200 which means you can get it for a dollar, including every show we've done 412 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:39.000 AD free for a dollar. Can't beat that, And you can also check 413 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:44.640 us out on Apple Podcasts. There's an AD free seven day free trial there, 414 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.519 or as I said, Patreon is offering a seven day free trial too, 415 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:52.559 which means you get to hear all of our reviews and previews for Payback 416 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:58.240 and Raw and Smack then and the weeknd review. All of that happens in 417 00:32:58.279 --> 00:33:01.599 a week and you get it all AD free for free on Patreon at a 418 00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:06.319 one week free trial, so check that out. You also head to ww 419 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:12.480 podcast dot com for an AD free VIP experience or WWE podcast shop dot com. 420 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:15.400 So alrighty guys, thanks so much for listening. Enjoy payback. I 421 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:22.640 will be doing a review show, probably Sunday if I'm feeling frisky Saturday night, 422 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:25.880 but we all know how that goes. Sleep usually wins the battle, 423 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:31.359 so I'm predicting Sunday morning. But you know, hey, maybe maybe you'll 424 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:36.519 get inspired and have some kind of divine intervention and do it Saturday night. 425 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:38.720 But all right, everybody, enjoy the show, take care, and I'll 426 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.519 talk to you next time.