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Pro Wrestling 17 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:56.679 Torch weekly newsletters over two decades, a podcast on demand 18 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.640 dating back to the mid two thousand, starting with pay 19 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:02.719 per view roundtables of fascinating retro radio shows, including many 20 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:05.439 that I hosted in the nineteen nineties and an AD 21 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:09.040 free website. Exclusive content on that website only for VIP 22 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:12.879 members written and audio, and a lightning fast, smooth, AD 23 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:16.000 free VIP mobile site for all of our content. Don't 24 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.480 miss out on all the benefits. Treat yourself to a 25 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:22.920 VIP membership. PW torch dot com, slash Go VIP, go 26 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:26.239 all the Way, Go VIP, PW torch dot com, slash 27 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:44.000 Go VIP. 28 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:42.560 Now, PW Torch and Spreaker bring you the Wade Keller 29 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.879 Pro Wrestling Podcast. 30 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:49.239 Ten years ago. 31 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:52.200 This week on the Flagship I was joined by Jasonpollofrompro 32 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.920 Wrestling Dot Matt. We talked about an excellent episode of 33 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:58.079 Raw from the night before and also Newsworthy and explained 34 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:00.359 why we thought it was excellent. So we had a 35 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:02.560 lot of questions from callers and emailers. We looked ahead 36 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:04.920 to smack Down on whether it could deliver a show 37 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:07.799 that competed with how good Raw was. Then, in the 38 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:10.919 previously VP exclusive after show, we answered more email questions, 39 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:14.680 including the new Lowgraffenbalor's potential of winning the Universal title 40 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:17.159 at SummerSlam, what was the deal with Sasha Banks beating 41 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:18.560 Charlotte for the title so quickly? 42 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:19.039 And more. 43 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:21.360 So let's get to it again. This originally live stream 44 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:24.639 on July twenty six, twenty sixteen. It is today's Wade 45 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:27.639 Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast ten years ago flake Ship flashback 46 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:30.280 for Sunday, July twenty six, twenty twenty six. 47 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:30.759 Here we go. 48 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.199 Welcome to the p W Torch Live Cast. I am 49 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.520 Way Keller, editor and publisher of the Pro Wrestling Torch 50 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.960 week Reeners letter since nineteen eighty seven, and also PW 51 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.800 torch dot com, the website, mmatorch dot com. The website 52 00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:54.960 and our pre apps in the iPhone and Android app stores. 53 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:56.599 The search PW Torch. 54 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.479 And MMA Torch to download the free apps packed with 55 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:04.039 daily news, commentary, TV results, paper for results, exclusive features, 56 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:08.840 access to podcasts and more. Again, just search PW Torch 57 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.400 and MMA Torch in the app store and get your 58 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:14.319 free apps, or visit our mobile friendly pages and desktop 59 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:18.919 friendly pages at mmatorch dot com and PW torch dot com. 60 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:21.439 We have a lot to talk about, raw. 61 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:26.319 Last night was quite the new beginning, a ton of 62 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:30.759 newsworthy things to talk about, and I'm excited to talk 63 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:34.240 about them with you, the listeners and the callers. So 64 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:37.599 let me see if Jason is here, will bring him 65 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:40.159 into the program, and uh, while I do that, I 66 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:41.639 just want to let everybody know you can call us 67 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:45.960 six four six seven two one nine eight to eight. 68 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:51.520 That is six four six seven two one nine eight 69 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:55.319 to eight, and let's get some conversations going on raw, 70 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:59.000 we have h one of our SummerSlam main events set up. 71 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:03.520 It is Finn Balor, who won two matches last night 72 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:06.879 in his raw debut, a fatal four way and then 73 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:10.039 clean win over Roman Reigns. An interesting story to delve 74 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:16.519 into there. I'm very interested in seeing where they go 75 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:20.519 from here with both Roman Reigns and Finn Balor. On 76 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:27.079 top of that, we have an interesting symme, interesting developments 77 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:31.560 on the roster split front intern or the new kind 78 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:34.800 of raw format front in terms of new announcer positioning, 79 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:39.439 new logo, new opening theme, kind of a new format 80 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:40.000 to the show. 81 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:41.120 A lot less talking. 82 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:42.959 It might have been just a one time I don't 83 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:44.879 know if it's a lot less, but I think noticeably 84 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:48.680 less talking, but more short interviews in ring interviews, out 85 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:51.560 of ring interviews at ringside right before and right after matches. 86 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:54.639 And we had the return of basically three squash matches 87 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:57.680 that I thought, we're all thoroughly entertaining and helped enhance 88 00:04:57.879 --> 00:05:00.480 the wrestlers who were winning them and we had a 89 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:04.800 major title change with Sasha Banks, surprising I think everybody 90 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.519 with a win over Charlotte. We have a live SmackDown 91 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:12.319 tonight and we'll see what Snackdown has in store for us. 92 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:14.199 But I'm excited about what I've seen so far. I'm 93 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:17.079 encouraged by what I've seen so far. Let's bring Jason 94 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:19.040 Powell from Progressing Dot Need into the conversation. 95 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:19.839 Jason, how you doing? 96 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:22.040 Hey good? How are you waiting? 97 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:23.879 Doing well? It's all you know. 98 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:27.439 It's always fun when I go to sit down to 99 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.560 start the show and end up with munch of technical problems. 100 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:32.759 But everything seems to be up and working right now. 101 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:37.079 So we just had some ill timed issues. But let's 102 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:40.439 focus on what matters most, and that is last night's Raw. 103 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:45.519 Pretty universal thumbs up for this show, and fact about 104 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:48.560 is strong of a positive response to any wrestling show 105 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.680 that I can remember. The number of people giving this 106 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:52.879 a strong thumbs up and calling it excellent in our 107 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:55.439 poll is almost unprecedented. 108 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:57.639 Are you in that category, Jason? 109 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.639 I definitely am. Yeah. This was a show that you 110 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.360 wanted to see what WWE was going to do that 111 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:07.000 was new, fresh, and innovative. They didn't make as many 112 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:10.199 big promises for Raw as they did for SmackDown, and 113 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:12.279 so my fear going in was that this was going 114 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:14.959 to be more of the same, you know, it would 115 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:17.959 just be half the crew working the usual three hour 116 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:20.560 formatted Raw and SmackDown would kind of get the fresh 117 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:23.279 coat of pain. Raw really wowed me, you know, they 118 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:27.360 shook things up, and I think the key thing I 119 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:29.399 listened to your audio and I said the same thing 120 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:32.439 in mind is that they can't do this every week. 121 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:35.240 But I also feel like they made enough tweaks and 122 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.639 enough changes that they have the outline there to make 123 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.639 this equality show going forward. 124 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.839 The one concern that I have coming out of this 125 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.519 program last night, Jason, is sustainability. Is there a way 126 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:54.079 for a show to be as newsworthy and refreshing and 127 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:59.879 high quality wrestling newsworthy angles I just am concerned that 128 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:02.480 this might be setting us up for a letdown in 129 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:03.040 future weeks. 130 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:03.560 I hope not. 131 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.600 I haven't had a chance to fully kind of process 132 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:10.600 the how I think the show can be paced and 133 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:13.639 what the cadence can be going forward. But that's my 134 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:16.399 one concern is they got really excited this week, put 135 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.160 a lot on that show, and we're going to find 136 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:22.639 some diminished returns in future weeks because I just don't 137 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.439 know if you can put this much quality content and 138 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:28.519 newsworthy happenings into a show on a weekly basis, or 139 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:30.319 even eighty percent of this to keep us at least 140 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:32.079 at a seven or eight out of ten instead of 141 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:33.319 a nine out of ten score wise. 142 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:37.240 No, And again you know the outliner is there, though. 143 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:42.240 I think with just the freshness of the show creating 144 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:45.480 some new stars, you're not going to I don't see 145 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:47.600 them topping this show for a long time. I don't 146 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:49.680 think you can give away that much on television on 147 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:52.519 a weekly basis. But now you have Sash in a 148 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:54.879 position to shine, you have Ben Balor in a position 149 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:58.519 to shine. You've given the show that that fresh code 150 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:00.639 of pain, you have the broadcast team in a different places, 151 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:02.879 you have the new logo, even you're just kind of 152 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:06.800 a new look to things. It's week one was great 153 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:08.759 and now we kind of wait and see how it 154 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:09.399 settles in. 155 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.560 If you're like me, you got come. We invite your 156 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:16.480 calls and we have a bunch of people on hold. 157 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:18.759 Let's uh, let's just go to a phone call and 158 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:21.319 and try to get some some listener feedback on this. 159 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:23.319 Let's go to eight one three. First state your name 160 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:24.160 in the city you're calling from. 161 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.000 Please, Hey, it's Jay from Tampa. 162 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:26.639 How y'all doing. 163 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:28.319 I'm doing good? Good for me? J has always what 164 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:29.279 have you got for us? 165 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:34.039 Awesome? First and foremost battleground and Raw was I will 166 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:36.919 say excellent. I don't know who would give it anything 167 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:41.440 under eight in my opinion, great movement. I guess my 168 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.399 two questions is UH. 169 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.360 First, would you say. 170 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:51.159 That now separating that the given the UH another championship 171 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:55.000 to Raw? It was a necessary evil because it seems like, 172 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.639 I know we were talking about floating champions before, but 173 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.240 then we kind of also talked about trying to have 174 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:05.320 that division. Having to give a total separation between the 175 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:08.840 two brands and to flow the champions seems like you 176 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:13.120 then you have to get the writers and created creative 177 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:16.480 team in to calibrate, Okay, where's the champion going to 178 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:18.559 be this time? And then I don't know how they 179 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:22.200 could do a full show and still have to worry 180 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:25.080 about who the champion is on the other show, and 181 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.840 who to send over and who to fuel with. I 182 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:31.159 think that part did create a confusion, but even more 183 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.919 confusion now because then what do you do with the 184 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:39.000 tag teams division or the women's division. So it's kind 185 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.519 of I'm interesting to see how that's going to play out. 186 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:47.320 And then my second question is where do you think 187 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.840 they go from here with Roman Reigns? As far as 188 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:54.399 who to feel with next? I think that's one of 189 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:57.960 the bigger questions. They bring someone new in with the 190 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:01.639 little Samoan comment he made the see Joe come up 191 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:04.840 or you know, just in general, what do you see 192 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.799 them do next with with Roman? And that's all I got. 193 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:10.679 Excellent Thanks Jay Good one of the good A topics 194 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:14.879 on the program, Roman Reigns. Jason not a great forty 195 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:18.080 eight hours for Roman Reigns in a in a if 196 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:21.240 in us from a perspective of if wrestling were real 197 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:23.240 and Roman has a big match, he loses, he comes 198 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:26.639 back as a chance to redeem himself. He uh lose it, wins, 199 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:27.679 but then loses again. 200 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:28.639 Uh. 201 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:32.759 He seemed to take it in stride. He seemed to 202 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:36.120 be gracious in losing while looking over his shoulder at 203 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:38.799 finn Balor celebrating and you know, just kind of said, hey, 204 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:42.320 I hope I get another chance to uh to make 205 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:47.440 this to to fix what didn't go right today and yesterday. Jason, 206 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:49.000 what what do you think? What do you think they're 207 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:50.240 doing with Roman rains at this point? 208 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:56.519 Business as usual? Unfortunately, the fact that Stephanie called him 209 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:59.279 a loser to start the show and then with him 210 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:02.840 being gracious defeat, I mean, hey, I'd like to think 211 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:05.879 that these losses are adding up, It's building up the frustration. 212 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.039 I think you may see that with the USO Brothers. 213 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:10.679 I think the Ussos may end up turning heal. And 214 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:13.039 part of it is with American Alpha coming in and 215 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:15.559 being on the same brand on SmackDown, that can be 216 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:18.519 a really good feud. But with Roman, I think it's 217 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:22.559 just a little bit of punishment by having him lose 218 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:24.679 on some be the one to take the pinfall on Sunday. 219 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.679 But also, if you look at it, Seth is the 220 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.279 guy that is in the main event, so that that 221 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:35.360 finish makes sense. I mean, yeah, you could have Stephanie 222 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:38.840 still put Seth in there, but I think it served 223 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:41.240 a purpose to have him lose the triple threat and 224 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:44.360 last night it really helps end the message of change 225 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.600 because had that show ended with Roman beating Balor, even 226 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:51.440 in some hard fought match and he endorses Baler afterward, 227 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:54.480 it still would have been we would not be talking 228 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:58.799 about the show as positively today, and so the losses 229 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.679 were needed. I think they actually help him more than 230 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:02.639 they hurt him. 231 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:05.559 Do you have any idea if they keep Roman Array's 232 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:11.120 business as usual as a top tier babyface, what who 233 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:11.919 will he feud with? 234 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:12.519 Like? 235 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.679 Who is there for him to if they go to 236 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:17.200 Finn Balor and Seth rawlins as a full fledged feud 237 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:20.240 and that fills several months of both Seth and Finn. 238 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.919 Finn is a baby face and Seth is a heel, 239 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:23.879 and that's that's presumptuous. There could be a lot of 240 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:25.639 things going on with Finn. He came out to a 241 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:30.000 Baler club worldwide as a logo in the club, Anderson 242 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.720 and Gallows might be looking for a new leader. 243 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.080 I mean, who knows what can happen. 244 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:36.480 But if that's what happens, is there somebody who jumps 245 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:38.159 out as a good opponent for Roman to kind of 246 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:39.720 fill up the rest of summer and fall? 247 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.919 I think he's a guy right now who does need 248 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.559 some wins. You know, it was okay to have him 249 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:47.000 lose these matches, and so now I'm guessing he starts 250 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.159 to get some wins back, not just on the House shows, 251 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.559 but Kevin Owens needs a dance partner. His Fast Program 252 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:55.679 with Sammy has concluded. Jericho looks like he's tied up 253 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.480 with Boaler on the House Show, so I'm guessing we'll 254 00:12:57.480 --> 00:13:00.399 start to see that play out a little bit. So 255 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:03.360 that's just one. I mean, they can't go back to Seamus, 256 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:06.080 can they. They can't possibly think Roman Rains and Seamus 257 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.440 is a good idea. I'll say this, I don't care. 258 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:13.639 I enjoy watching Romans matches his bigger matches, like last 259 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.799 night and on Sunday, but I can't say that. I'm 260 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.639 just on pins and needles waiting to find out what 261 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:21.960 happens next with Roman Rain's character. It's just it's been 262 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:24.120 a failure and if they're not going to turn him, 263 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:26.639 I just feel like apathy is going to start to 264 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:30.320 set in. Evince is just so determined. Boy. When Valor 265 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:35.080 made that comment last night about how luck I invented luck, 266 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.559 I'm irish. And then Roman. I like Romans comeback and all, 267 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:39.919 but I was really worried when Finn made that comment 268 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:41.720 that it was so cocky and they were going to 269 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:44.799 reunite the club. I don't want to see that. You've 270 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:48.840 already had aj Styles turnheel. You've had Seth Rawlins turn 271 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:52.080 heel directly because they refused to budge on Roman Rain. 272 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.759 Seth could be in a much better place than he 273 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:55.840 is right now. And had they made the same mistake 274 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.720 with Finn Balor or if they do, I'm just gonna 275 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.480 throw my hands up. 276 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:03.919 The biggest concern I think anybody should have regarding the 277 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:09.320 roster split is not the initial phase of it, because 278 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.720 you can match everybody up once with a dance partner, 279 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:14.559 and you know on the roster split, they certainly looked 280 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.360 at it and planned for Okay, we're gonna split the rosters. 281 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:20.559 Here is our first phase, our first chapter of feuds. 282 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.360 The issue is, once you get past that first phase, 283 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:25.440 how do you reshuffle the deck to have fresh matchups 284 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.879 with everybody. The women's division is thin, the tag team 285 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:31.840 division isn't very deep to begin with, so that to me, 286 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:34.879 the biggest concern kicks in when we get a little 287 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:38.279 deeper into the into the roster split. But the fact 288 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:41.159 that we're already struggling to come up with a suitable 289 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:45.879 opponent for a babyface Roman reigns is an issue that 290 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:49.759 I think needs to be kind of underlined and highlighted. 291 00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:52.960 What if Roman stays babyface? Who do people want to 292 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:56.679 see him against? Do they punish him and make an 293 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.639 example out of him by having him job twice? Coming 294 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.799 out of the failure and feud with Bronz Stroman Jason. 295 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:05.240 I mean, looking at the lineup, there's not soon, not 296 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:07.320 a lot of it. Yeah, yeah, I agree, But I'm 297 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.000 just I'm looking going, well, maybe it's it's Kevin Owens. 298 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:10.639 Then I don't know. 299 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:14.360 Yeah, that's my guess. Is Owens? I mean I'm a 300 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.600 rocher in front of me? 301 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:18.600 Or who Nya Jacks? Does she look good? 302 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:23.360 That would be fun well against one another. I don't 303 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.519 know if that's allowed in WW. 304 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.039 Yeah, we can have a feud for the biggest badass 305 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:28.120 simoent On Raw. 306 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.960 Yeah he'd lose. 307 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.200 Yeah. 308 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:37.039 Hey everyone, longtime PW George commist Sean radikin here to 309 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:40.279 let you know I've rebamped and renewed the Raticant Worldwide 310 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:45.120 podcast for twenty twenty six a weekly VIP exclusive. Every week, 311 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.519 I break down four or five of the biggest trending 312 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:51.600 topics in pro wrestling. I also present my analysis, providing 313 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:54.440 insight that helps you understand the story better or see 314 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:57.559 it another way. Then maybe is the controversial takeout there? 315 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.799 Then I bring on a special guest for the second 316 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:03.200 half the podcast. Sometimes it's a wrestler or someone else 317 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:05.559 who works in the business. Other times it's a guest 318 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:08.480 analyst who brings their specialized point of view out a 319 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:11.919 particular key topic in the news. Recent guests have included 320 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:15.120 Bronson Reid from WWE and PCO. One of my areas 321 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:17.799 of specialty is the Japan wrestling scene, so I often 322 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.919 cover a big topic from Japan with PW Torch's own 323 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:24.679 Alan Farrell, Kelly Wells, and Chris Lansdell. I don't just 324 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:27.039 cover the news. I don't just riff on the news 325 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:29.559 or give a standard hot take. I'll bring my decades 326 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.000 of studying this industry and talking one on one with 327 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.679 dozens of wrestling promoters to each week's show so you 328 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:38.960 understand not just what's happening, but the context of why 329 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.519 get ahead of the news get ahead of the pack 330 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:46.159 with racking Worldwide only at PW Torch vip. 331 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:50.399 Jason before we get to another call, what'd you think 332 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.080 of the presentation of Finn Baller. 333 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:56.200 I thought it was good, you know. I mean I 334 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:59.879 was worried initially his very first appearance on Raw with 335 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.720 him just walking out behind a group of other wrestlers 336 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.559 on the stage, and I'm like, that's not what I 337 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.640 had in mind. But you know, the key is the 338 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.640 story they told throughout the night, and by the end 339 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:12.079 of the night he came up like a star. I thought, 340 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.759 I don't know if you noticed this way, but they 341 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:17.480 showed the wide arena shot you can see a lot 342 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:21.680 of people leaving, like right away, and that worried me 343 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:24.279 a little bit that maybe this isn't as hot as 344 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:26.240 we think it is. I mean, it sure seemed to 345 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.960 be with the live crowd. But then when they showed 346 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:31.519 that and people are just racing for the exits. I mean, 347 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:34.079 usually if it's a guy who's super over like like 348 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:36.279 he seemed to be, they stick around for the post 349 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.480 mac celebration, don't they. 350 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:40.680 Yeah, that's one of the one of the note notes 351 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.480 that I made in watching the conclusion of the show 352 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.119 last night is this is another example of raw at 353 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:47.440 three hours and ten minutes is too damn long. And 354 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:50.079 remember the crowd gets there even true for that, and 355 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:52.680 I don't I mean Daniel Bryan spoke about how nobody 356 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.160 wants to be in that third hour, you know, I 357 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.960 mean when he was an active wrestler, he was like, 358 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:58.039 when you look at the format sheet, you dread ending 359 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:00.279 up in that third hour. Even Daniel Bright at the 360 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:02.759 peak of his popularity, he didn't want that. This is 361 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:08.279 a problem. It happens constantly that there are wrestlers, feuds, outcomes, matches, 362 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:11.519 title changes that should look like it's it's a hot 363 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:14.599 territory back in the eighties and the seventies where crowds 364 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:16.640 ald go nuts or something, but by the time something 365 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:19.240 big happens, they're exhausted. I don't want this to be 366 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.720 a complaining show because it was one of my favorite 367 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:25.119 rods ever last night, but I can't underline enough, and 368 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:27.480 I just it's I think it needs to be said 369 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:30.079 and not just put on the back burner and accepted. 370 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:33.079 Three hours and ten minutes, three hours and five minutes, 371 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:35.839 it's too long for a wrestling show. It's a money 372 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:39.680 grab in the short run, that is killing a lot 373 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:42.039 of things that should come across as really hot and 374 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:45.000 or kill damaging. Maybe he's a better word. Finn Balor 375 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:47.759 was celebrating in front of a crowd that wasn't reacting 376 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:49.799 like a World Series victory. They weren't reacting like a 377 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:53.599 Daniel Bryan victory. They're reacting like a tired crowd who 378 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:57.160 weren't quite sure exactly what they saw. You know, every 379 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.720 Aragna is going to be different, but you know that's 380 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:02.640 the problem with hot shotting. With a new wrestler and 381 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:04.480 a new format and kind of a new era and 382 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:07.119 you want to shake things up, that journey isn't there. 383 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.960 People haven't been along for the ride, so there's not 384 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.240 that exhilaration. 385 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.960 Of finally achieving something. 386 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.319 I'm not again shooting people to the top, though I 387 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.640 think that you have to do that, and I think 388 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.920 the sacrifice is sometimes fans aren't on board yet and 389 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:20.799 you're just telling them get on board. This guy is good. 390 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:25.319 And I think that's what they were going for with this, and. 391 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:27.079 I do think it worked. I think people are going 392 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:28.920 to be excited if they didn't know if Finn Balor 393 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:31.759 coming into this or had little exposure to him. They 394 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.720 have to come out of this being pretty excited. I 395 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:35.920 thought the video packaged did a nice shot. It wasn't 396 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.559 sure if they would show the Demon, but they basically 397 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:42.119 showed every NXT incarnation of I believe, and I think 398 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:44.039 people have to be so if you're not familiar with Fin, 399 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:46.279 you're like, what is that? And that's going to be 400 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:48.000 a fun moment when he builds up to that point 401 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:50.200 where he comes out as the Demon, even though he's 402 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:55.039 challenging for the WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam. I hope 403 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.240 that's not it. I hope they really do save that 404 00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:00.200 moment for just a key point in the program. He 405 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:02.880 builds up to a feud and it's the blow up 406 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.160 as he's done in n xty when he's brought that out. 407 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:07.240 On the other side of our first break here, we'll 408 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:11.640 talk about the Universal Championship and our thoughts on that. 409 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:15.400 Also coverage of not only the draft, the launch of 410 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:19.000 the new Raw, the launch of the new SmackDown Live Battleground, 411 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:22.319 but also a really fun Hall of Fame weekend that 412 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:26.400 Bruce Mitchell, Todd Martin, Travis Bryant and I took part in. 413 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.720 In Waterloo, Iowa. 414 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:31.680 It is a major pro wrestling hall of Fame and museum, 415 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:35.519 the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum, the George Tregos luth thes 416 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.759 Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame had their annual convention and 417 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:45.839 awards ceremony. Bob Beckland, Iron Chic, Alex Luger via video screen. Well, 418 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:50.160 that's a whole other story, and JJ Dillon getting a 419 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:53.039 prestigious award getting emotional on stage, Tully Blanchard and his 420 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:56.079 daughter Tessa Blanchard getting emotional and accepting an award on 421 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:58.640 behalf of their late father and grandfather respectively. 422 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.319 It is. 423 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.039 It was a really fun weekend and we talked a 424 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:07.839 lot about that, including the first ever torch rye along audio. 425 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:10.960 On the ride back north from water to Waiowa to 426 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:16.400 Minneapolis Saint Paul on Sunday, Bruce Mitchell, Travis Bryant, Todd 427 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:18.839 Martin and I talked for nearly an hour on the 428 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:21.839 car ride about our weekend and shared our thoughts on it. 429 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:24.799 It was a lot of fun. We also almost left 430 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:27.680 Todd in a cornfield in Iowa. It's a practical joke 431 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:29.759 and then we thought better of it. Lots of fun 432 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:32.839 stories from the weekend amazing time. Bruce and I did 433 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.119 long audio shows like seventy five minutes a second night 434 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.519 and close to an hour the first night, recapping everything 435 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:41.079 that was happening, really taking you behind the scenes on 436 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:45.400 our interactions with the wrestlers and you know, little controversies 437 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:49.400 here and there, and just great, really fun observations of 438 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.160 a tremendous weekend. And that all comes instantly when you 439 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.880 go VIP for a dollar, So we'll talk about that 440 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:57.920 also right after the break. But first a word about 441 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.839 our homepage for this show and the way that you 442 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.319 access shows on demand and listen to past shows in 443 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:10.720 our archives. I'm joined by Jason Powell from Pro Wrestling 444 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:13.640 dot Net, and it's always great to have Jason with us, 445 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.839 and this is a great week to have him with 446 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:17.319 us because there's so much going on that is new, 447 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:23.279 and one of them is the Universal Championship. Bill Watts 448 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:26.799 For people who are familiar with nineteen eighties wrestling, when 449 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:28.519 he did what a lot of promoters at the time 450 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:30.720 were doing, which is trying to shed the regional name 451 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:36.000 of his promotion in the mid eighties, and he was 452 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.759 the mid South wrestling promoter and he was very proudly 453 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:42.720 the promoter of Mid South wrestling until the WWWF started 454 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:45.920 expanding and they had the name World Wrestling Federation. They 455 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:49.519 were building themselves as a worldwide organization, not just regional. 456 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:53.440 The NWA had the name National Wrestling Alliance to work with, 457 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.920 so they had that national name world Class Championship Wrestling 458 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:00.400 regional promotion that was expanding their syndication across the country. 459 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:00.920 UH. 460 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.240 They were based in Dallas, Texas, but their name inherently 461 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:08.240 wasn't regional world Class Championship pressing. It didn't say Texas Championshipressing, 462 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:11.359 so that that didn't peg them as being overly regional. 463 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:14.039 Same with a w A on ESPN and national syndication 464 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.319 American Wrestling Association. Even though they were mainly a Midwest 465 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.240 based territory, they had a name that played nationally better. 466 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:24.119 Mid South wrestling didn't play nationally very well. So he 467 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:27.000 changed the name of his company to the Universal Wrestling 468 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:32.400 Federation and his champion was the Universal Champion, not a 469 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:37.880 world champion. He didn't overlap the term world with his 470 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:40.319 own world title, as everybody else had done a w 471 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:43.519 A and w A and heck, even World Class got 472 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:45.920 in the game on that he called his champion the 473 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:49.119 Universal Champion, Jason Paul, this had been done before. 474 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.880 Do you like this? 475 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:55.160 If there's going to be two major singles champ two 476 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:58.640 major singles heavyweight champions, one on raw, one on SmackDown, 477 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.680 do you like the w W you champion and the 478 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.839 World Champion better? 479 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.359 Or does this work for you? 480 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:06.920 A Universal champion and a world champion on competing brands 481 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:09.960 And for you to answer, I need to turn your 482 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.279 mic back on, and I just did, so there you go. 483 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:16.799 Yeah, I think I do prefer WWE World Heavyweight. But 484 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:18.200 I also, I mean, as much fun as I had 485 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.960 mocking WWE Universal last night, I think it's going to 486 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:24.079 be doll Stigler like when the first few times you 487 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:26.319 hear it, it's going to sound awkward, and overtime it's 488 00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:28.200 going to be fine. I mean, the World Wrestling Council, 489 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:32.240 that's what they've used for their championship for many years. 490 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:35.000 I mean, that's their biggest championship in Puerto Rico, and 491 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:38.920 so it's been done before. I guess my question for 492 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:43.039 you is do you think that in time that title 493 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:46.920 just sounds more significant than the WWE Championship gets SmackDown, 494 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.440 Even though they have the lineage. Did they long term 495 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:52.000 get the shaft? You think they benefit from getting the 496 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:55.920 main championship in the long comes the WWE Universal Championship. 497 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:56.960 I think it's good. 498 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.599 I think what's going to matter most to fans is 499 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.640 how the title is treated and who holds it and 500 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.039 new challenges for it, and how it's positioned on the cards. 501 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:08.000 I think both names work. I think that World Wrestling 502 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:12.960 Entertainment or WWE Heavyweight Champion is less wordy than WWWE 503 00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:15.640 World Heavyweight Champion, And considering world is what the first 504 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:18.039 w stands for it, it was always somewhat redundant. I 505 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:20.000 think they wanted to give the impression, hey, these are 506 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:22.680 two unified titles, and they wanted to run with that 507 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:25.279 for a couple of years. I don't mind them shortening it. 508 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.720 I think the fact that the SmackDown based title has 509 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:31.880 the lineage of the history of WWE on its side 510 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.559 that works in its favor. 511 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:36.319 But you know, really, ultimately. 512 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:39.720 Stuff like this matters, but what matters more is how 513 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:42.160 it's positioned, how it's treated, who the champion is, and 514 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:46.680 in what regard it is presented to the fan base. 515 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:49.400 So I think this works for me and it also 516 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:52.000 just sheds. It's feeling like just a rerun of what 517 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.400 they did last time. You know, why did you unify 518 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:56.000 the titles if you're just going to split them up again. 519 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.799 Now it's like this whole new championship, And I think 520 00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:02.039 they started off with nine good contender seth as a 521 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:04.119 number one draft pick and the most recent champion who 522 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:07.960 never lost his title, and eight more qualified wrestlers, including 523 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:09.559 a new hot star and Finn Balor. 524 00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.000 They hope. 525 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.720 I think that they've set up a foundation for it 526 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:16.559 seem like a legitimate title to fans. But again, once 527 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:18.680 we get past this phase, it really is just going 528 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.119 to be do people want to watch the show and 529 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:23.200 watch the title matches on the network, The backstory will 530 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:26.279 mean a little bit less, sort of like Vince mcmanthought 531 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.799 of the Monday Night War, the legacy of the Raw 532 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:30.960 brand would mean everything, and almost instantly people were willing 533 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.960 to abandon the legacy of Monday Night Raw for this 534 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:35.519 new shiny toy called Monday Nightro. So it really just 535 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:37.640 it's it's whatever is. If it's done well, they'll watch. 536 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:40.839 Let's go on a Jason. 537 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:45.319 Well with you have the universal title on Raw? What 538 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.599 in God's name. Do they call the what I assume 539 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:50.440 will be the SmackDown tag titles and women's title. I mean, 540 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:52.720 I don't think they're just going to label it SmackDown. 541 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:57.240 Is it worth rebranding the women's and tag titles that 542 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:59.920 are on Raw Universal as well? Just for consistency. 543 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:03.599 If they have two women's titles, then I think they 544 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.759 probably should be consistent. If they only have one, I'm 545 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:07.839 not really I think they can have the w W 546 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:11.000 Women right that it's a mood point, yeah, But if 547 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:13.640 they have two tag championships then yeah, I mean, I 548 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:15.799 think they should probably stay consistent on Raw with the 549 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:18.720 Universal Championships, unless they think they're going to be flipping 550 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:21.039 the titles around in some sort of you know, weird 551 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:23.240 trade or something like that, at which case that will 552 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:25.960 get really confusing. If you know, at one point all 553 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.319 the Universal Championships are on Raw, but then one of 554 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:31.279 the championships switches, and now it just becomes a mass. 555 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:33.920 So it might be better just keep them identified with 556 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.319 the division that they're in. 557 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:39.319 All right, I've already cast my vote for WWE Intergalactic 558 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:41.039 Planetary Tag Team Championships. 559 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:42.359 You've always called yourself that. 560 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.279 That's true. 561 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:46.359 Yeah, yeah, going way back. All right, let's go to 562 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:48.759 our next call. Let's go to four or four next 563 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:50.759 four A four. Please state your name and where you're 564 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.200 calling from. 565 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.359 Jam from Atlanta? 566 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.279 Hey, Jamal, what have you. 567 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.680 Got for us? 568 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:58.079 You know, I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon. It was 569 00:27:58.119 --> 00:28:02.880 a pretty good show and Monday Night Raw everything mattered 570 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:05.759 to kind of remind me of like like late like 571 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:10.000 ninety nine, two thousand, like raw, like everything made sense, 572 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:16.480 everything slow, you knew why everything was happening. I just 573 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:23.119 have two things. First about Roman Rings, how much do 574 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:27.160 y'all think that it's like it's more of a punishment 575 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:32.039 to him or is it more of like them moving 576 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:36.960 Finn Balor and you know, solidify him as a star. 577 00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:39.720 Do you think it's a little bit of both? Which 578 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:42.839 one do y'all think is more about? And do you 579 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:46.799 think that like you know, if that didn't happen with 580 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:50.960 him getting suspended, with this happened with Finn Balor? And 581 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:53.799 also I just wanted to get your thoughts of like 582 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:57.359 the people that didn't get drafted, like the injured, the 583 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:02.119 injured stars, like like Nikki Bella and like Typhon Kidd 584 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:04.440 and go to the two that come to my come 585 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:06.880 to my, what do yall think that they're going to do, 586 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:09.680 like if when or if they come back. Do you 587 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:11.119 think they're going to have like a big deal. Do 588 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.680 you think they just going to just put them on 589 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:14.160 a show or do you think they're gonna have like 590 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:20.079 a big like free agent signing thing about it. 591 00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:23.759 Or yeah, I said something like that, that's all great, yeah, Joe, 592 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.519 good good topics. 593 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:27.759 I think that if if Roman had not been suspended, Jason, uh, 594 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:31.039 maybe the ratings would have scared them away anyway. But 595 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:34.400 I think we probably would be looking at Roman raigns 596 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:36.400 against Seth Rowlins a summer slign for the championship. I 597 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:39.599 think this is a change of course, uh, based on 598 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:43.440 in part TV ratings, struggling and wanting to create a 599 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:46.359 spark for things, but also yeah, sending a message to 600 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:49.559 the locker room that you know, and and to Roman 601 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:52.680 you know, be careful. We got a wellness policy and 602 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.759 we want you to adhere to it. 603 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:56.960 Jason, your thoughts and here comes brock Leisure. 604 00:29:57.559 --> 00:30:00.480 But with Roman, I think it's a game chang. He 605 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:04.279 probably doesn't drop the championship when he did, certainly, and 606 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:07.119 I don't know that he would have dropped it at Battleground. 607 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:10.119 That might mean, for all we know, Finn Balor may 608 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:12.480 have ended up on the SmackDown side. They may have 609 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:15.720 been giving him this push on that side of the 610 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:20.240 brand split instead it. I do think it's kind of 611 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:23.839 a combo that, hey, we're going aggressively with Balor and 612 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.119 we're going to use Roman to some extent to help 613 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:29.839 get there. It may be a game changers far as 614 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:33.000 what they do with Roman's character. I mean, you've talked 615 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.799 about it. Wait, I've talked about this is a potential 616 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:37.839 out for Vince McMahon too. He can say face now 617 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:40.319 and now you know. I was gonna it would have worked, 618 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:43.319 but now that he got this wellness policy, I needed 619 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:45.599 to turn him. I don't think that's going to happen 620 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:47.559 based on what we saw last night, but I can't 621 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:49.880 say for sure that it won't. So yeah, that's a 622 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.319 big one. 623 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:55.440 I think that the change, the change of course with 624 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:57.599 Finn Balor. I just want to slip this in is 625 00:30:57.799 --> 00:31:00.559 something that WWB needed with a struggling rate. I mean, 626 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:03.680 I think that creating a new star with the brand 627 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:06.640 with a roster split out of the gate is really 628 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:08.599 valuable and so I don't think it should and that 629 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:11.039 might have been the attitude of Vince mc mann that, 630 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:13.119 you know, it's not so much punishment for Roman, as 631 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:15.319 here's a story that we can tell, but mostly we 632 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:18.079 need to get somebody new over and get them over 633 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:23.200 fast and create more depth on the raw roster by 634 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:27.519 creating a star and making them a star coming right 635 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:29.759 out of the gate. And so as we talk about 636 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.920 you know, Roman and punishment and how that works, I 637 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:33.519 think part of it has to just be seen as 638 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:36.079 you know, this is just a desire to deepen the 639 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:37.960 roster by creating a new star right out of the gate. 640 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:41.640 I think that when Shinsky and a Kamura or an 641 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:43.799 injured wrestler, and I hope Tyson Kid can come back, 642 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:46.880 but I'm not convinced he will, that we will see 643 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:53.440 a kind of an announcement by the Commissioner or the 644 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:58.160 GM saying, well, we've been in a negotiating battle and 645 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:59.680 we are proud to wnen ounce that we have signed 646 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.960 free jin shins Kan Nakamura. 647 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:03.200 Something to that degree. They could also do it where 648 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:04.000 wrestlers choose. 649 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:08.640 You know, we are thrilled that chins Kannakamura has chosen 650 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:11.960 our brand, our show as where he wants to wrestle 651 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:14.440 as a new signing who got promoted from XT Jason. 652 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:16.039 How do you think they'll handle it? How do you 653 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:17.240 hope they handle it well? 654 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:20.319 I think it was very smart not to load up 655 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:24.480 the draft with a lot of surprises. I don't know 656 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:26.359 that it would have gone any differently. I mean, they 657 00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:28.000 could have peased that there were going to be some 658 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.839 of that might have helped a little bit. I know 659 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:31.880 on the pre shows they had kind of a wild 660 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:35.880 card where you could pick someone outside of the established roster, 661 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:37.400 and I was wondering if that would carry it over 662 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:39.799 to the draft. And I know there's some disappointment that 663 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:42.240 they just stuck with the people that were listed as 664 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:44.680 eligible that ain't go outside. Save that, you know, you 665 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:47.880 have all these weeks of programming. I think it's smart too. 666 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:52.000 If there are any big names coming up, to introduce 667 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:54.079 them at a later date, I think it's okay that 668 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:56.279 you staggered that. So if they do bring in some 669 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:59.160 free agents, as it sounds like they're going to, I 670 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:02.200 think you do doesn't have to be stars, it can 671 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:04.400 just be guys are going to help out. If they're 672 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:06.240 a big enough name, if they have a little bit 673 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:08.960 of name value from the past, then yeah, you make 674 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:12.279 a fuss over them. Either you put it on the 675 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:15.920 talent that chose to go to SmackDown over Raw, or 676 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:19.799 you'd say that they get a hot free agent signing 677 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:21.720 and you make it just kind of a surprise. There's 678 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:23.640 different ways of doing it. It depends on the person. 679 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.759 But yeah, I don't think they're gonna there's gonna be 680 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:27.880 like a I don't think there's gonna be like some 681 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:30.960 moreitorium on signing talent. I think if they want to 682 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:35.039 introduce a new talent on SmackDown Tonight, even they could 683 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:37.440 They could have Shane say that he's been working to 684 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.960 sign this person do a deal, and they could go 685 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.559 ahead and do it. 686 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.039 Yeah, I agree with that. 687 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:43.440 How would you like to get all your favorite sports 688 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:48.359 teams merchandise delivered straight to your Doorstepfanessentials dot net is. 689 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.440 Where you want to go for you. 690 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:54.319 Did you know that you can enjoy commercial free versions 691 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.680 of all of your favorite weight color podcasts and people 692 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:59.799 you towards daily casts on Spotify. Just go to patroon 693 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:03.759 dot com, search pw Torch and subscribe to a vip 694 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:06.039 membership tier, you get a seven day free trial by 695 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:07.720 the way to kick the tires a bit and see 696 00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:09.960 if you like the service, and then sync it with 697 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:12.519 Spotify and you can listen to commercial free versions of 698 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:15.920 our free shows like the Waykeller post shows, the Weaightkeller Podcast, Flagship, 699 00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:18.480 our flashbacks, and also the pw Torch Day The cast 700 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:22.039 lineup again all commercial free and nice streamline listening experience. 701 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:24.559 But with third tier membership you can also unlock all 702 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:27.480 the VIP podcasts, including Everything with Rich and Wade, The 703 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:29.440 Fix with Todd Martin that I host with Todd every week, 704 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:33.280 the Wadkeller News bulletins, post pay per view roundtables, and 705 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:36.760 an array of other VIP exclusive podcasts with different hosts 706 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:40.280 and different themes. Check out the lineup, go to Patreon 707 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:44.039 and search pw Torch and subscribe and sync it up 708 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:47.719 with Spotify or stay within the Patreon ecosystem. Either way works. 709 00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:51.000 Go to Patreon and start your seven day free trial. 710 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:55.360 So again, all the details available on the main pagereopro 711 00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:57.639 wrestling dot net. If you have any questions, feel free 712 00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:59.880 to hit me up on Twitter at pro wrestling Net. 713 00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:04.920 Excellent Jason, Let's go to our next phone call, continued 714 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:07.639 talking about mostly predominantly last night's Row. 715 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:08.239 I'm excited. 716 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:12.840 We're just about six hours away from the debut of SmackDown, 717 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:15.079 and that is going to be interesting what they do 718 00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:20.400 in terms of camrangles presentation, the new logo, the new 719 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:23.800 intro song, but also what they do to set up 720 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:26.559 some new feuds and how Danny Brian and Shane McMahon 721 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:29.400 respond to in excellent Raw. I thought it was interesting, Jason. 722 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:32.480 They talked about viewership numbers. Vince McMahon had kind of, well, 723 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:35.480 not kind of, he had outright said that the commissioners 724 00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:38.480 the gms would be judged on ratings and viewership and 725 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:41.440 social media and all that stuff. And Michael Cole and 726 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:45.920 Corey Grays are breaking about not breaking actually talking about 727 00:35:46.320 --> 00:35:48.920 how SmackDown beat Raw last week in the ratings, and 728 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.719 then Corey Grave said, yeah, but that's because all the 729 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:54.519 Raw superstars were on SmackDown. That changes this week. Jason, 730 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:57.400 He's probably right, it probably does. But do you think 731 00:35:57.519 --> 00:36:00.960 last night's Raw got people more excited to tune in 732 00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:02.920 and watch SmackDown Live? And did they do a good 733 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:05.760 job with I know three or four commercials throughout the 734 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:08.559 show really stressing that SmackDown goals live next, because if 735 00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:12.039 they're competing, you don't want the announcers on Raw overtly 736 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:14.519 promoting SmackDown. So they got a little bit of a 737 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:16.360 challenge there in terms of promoting. You know, the show's 738 00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:18.440 cross promoting each other. They have to kind of stick 739 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:20.519 to the pre recorded commercials coming in and out of 740 00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:20.920 the brakes. 741 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:23.800 Yeah, and there weren't a lot of them last night. 742 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:27.039 I didn't like that they didn't give away anything in particular. 743 00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:29.199 It was just kind of the same I believe, any 744 00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:31.679 of the same kind of generic video. It was a 745 00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:35.239 fine commercial, but just pretty random. You know, you could 746 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:37.440 run that commercial pretty munch any week, it seemed like. 747 00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:41.719 But I think, yeah, Raw, I would It left me 748 00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:44.880 more excited. Battleground left me more excited about seeing Raw, 749 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:47.239 left me more excited about being smacked Down. I don't 750 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:49.039 know that that's going to be their case every week, 751 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:51.239 but yeah, I really want to see what they have 752 00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:53.639 in mind for SmackDown. I was more excited about SmackDown 753 00:36:53.679 --> 00:36:56.320 this week than Raw going in again because they didn't 754 00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:59.239 make a big foss about giving Raw there's big makeover 755 00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:01.599 as much like Annuel Brian and Shane McMahon. We're spending 756 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:04.119 so much time talking about all the changes that we're 757 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:06.400 coming to SmackDown and Shane got control and all of that. 758 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:09.360 And now that you know, now that we've seen what 759 00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:12.960 Raj's done, I'm very anxious to see just what they 760 00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:16.039 can do differently. I mean, it's amazing that Bence mcmahnon 761 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:18.719 Kevin Dunn kind of broke from their pattern on Raw, 762 00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:21.159 and so now you have to think that they've got 763 00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:24.000 some other ideas for SmackDown too. Wow, what's going on 764 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:27.039 with those two ways? This is a This is a shocker. 765 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:29.800 I talked on the way Keller Hotline asterday for VP members. 766 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:33.320 They hit every checkbox that I had almost for what 767 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:36.239 to do to improve and tweak and freshen up Raw. 768 00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:38.960 I mean, think about the last, you know, six and 769 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:40.480 a half years of this live cast. I think it's 770 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.920 six and a half years now that we've been doing this. 771 00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:46.760 I've asked for squash matches, a fresh approach in terms 772 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:51.000 of the positioning of the announcers, fresh announced teams, squash matches, 773 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:55.400 pre match in ring or some ringside promos or backstage rolls, 774 00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:56.760 leaning into it video. 775 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:57.599 I haven't talked about a lot. 776 00:37:57.639 --> 00:37:59.760 I haven't talked about this as much, but I'm a 777 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:04.400 p opponent of having short video packages on the wrestlers 778 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:07.000 competing in the main events. USC does this, you know, 779 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:09.079 they show you a video package and some so I'd 780 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:11.000 like to I'd like to have seen Roman Reigns and 781 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:13.880 Fin Baler warming up backstage, kind their boots, you know, 782 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:16.679 doing you know, stretching whatever kind of a locker room 783 00:38:16.760 --> 00:38:19.360 camp type thing like UFC does. But that little interaction 784 00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:23.440 with them backstage helped. And the the I mean, I 785 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:26.199 could go on really. I mean, there's this long list 786 00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:28.559 of things that they did, and I like just about 787 00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:32.079 every change that they made. Every one of them lines 788 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:35.519 up with things that I've advocated. The squash matches, the 789 00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:39.559 one sided jobber matches that we saw with Curtis Axel 790 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:43.119 and in the women's match too, and the the adorable 791 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:45.159 beating that Bronz Stroman's opponent did. 792 00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:46.320 I can't think of his name right off. 793 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:49.239 He was a great James Elsworth wrestling God. 794 00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:51.199 That was fantastic, Jason. 795 00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:55.119 I mean, this is what I've been pushing for, and 796 00:38:55.519 --> 00:38:57.519 I've been pushing back against people going who would ever 797 00:38:57.559 --> 00:39:00.679 watch a squash match because it's short and you get 798 00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:03.480 to see the entrance, and you get to see James 799 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:06.880 Ellsworth type characters take a beating, and you get to 800 00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:09.280 see wrestlers do their signature moves. I don't know if 801 00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:10.920 this will keep up, but I would love to see 802 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:15.920 one squash match per hour on Raw every week. It 803 00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:18.679 gives wrestlers again, this was a case where they're trying 804 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:21.960 to debut new wrestlers, or or I don't debut new wrestlers, 805 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:25.039 you know, give a fresh start to bron Strowman, debut 806 00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:28.119 Naya Jacks. To a degree, maybe there's not a reason 807 00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:30.599 for squashes every week, I'm still for it. I would 808 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:34.119 love to see two, if not three squashes per Raw, 809 00:39:34.280 --> 00:39:36.559 basically one per hour, to kind of break up the 810 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:39.360 format of just having even Stephen matches with second tier 811 00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:41.760 wrestlers wrestling longer matches that nobody cares about. 812 00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:45.679 Your thoughts on that aspect, Jason, I just. 813 00:39:45.840 --> 00:39:49.119 Give me more squash matches that involve people other than 814 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:51.840 the social outcast. Give me real job ors, you know, 815 00:39:52.360 --> 00:39:56.199 bring in bringing Ellsworth types. I mean, I don't know 816 00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:58.159 if you can strict Gold like he did with Ellsworth 817 00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:00.039 every week I mean that guy was just a a 818 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:02.360 complete piece of work with such a great throwback. 819 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:04.559 He'll do autographs. We grew up on Jason. 820 00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:06.760 He can do autograph shows for like a decade based 821 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:07.519 on that one appearance. 822 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:11.079 I don't want anyone's autograph and wrestling would I would 823 00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:11.880 stand in line for it. 824 00:40:12.159 --> 00:40:15.599 Yes, yep, Oh we got an email related so let 825 00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:17.920 me bring this up Jason. Hugh James of Glasgow, Scotland 826 00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:20.639 says simple things make a difference. The pre match interview 827 00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:23.519 with James Elsworth was great, as was the post match 828 00:40:23.559 --> 00:40:27.440 with Roman. No memorized scripts with stupid phrases. Nobody uses 829 00:40:27.800 --> 00:40:30.280 real talk with guys who are in the moment. Wade, 830 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:32.280 You've been an advocate of enhancement talent matches for a 831 00:40:32.360 --> 00:40:33.880 long time and I think it appeals to all types 832 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:37.400 of fans. Casual fancy talent looking dominant and impressive, whereas 833 00:40:37.719 --> 00:40:39.880 the smart fans find them fun and intriguing to watch 834 00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:43.400 because they have these goofy, awkward characters without the great 835 00:40:43.400 --> 00:40:46.480 physiques and good bodies. Why is it one of the 836 00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:48.679 only things I remember from Bound? Why is one of 837 00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:50.519 the only things I remember from Bound for Glory twenty 838 00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:51.960 thirteen is norv. 839 00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:52.639 Furnham. 840 00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:55.519 At the same time, though I didn't enjoy the Naya 841 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:58.480 Jacks match. There's something about female size mismatch enhancement matches 842 00:40:58.519 --> 00:41:00.440 I don't like. Guess I'm more concerned about a green 843 00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:03.000 woman hurting a female jobber than the male equivalent. Thanks 844 00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:05.800 and keep up the great work. So anyway, Yeah, I 845 00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:07.679 mean su positive feedback on the squash for man, I 846 00:41:07.719 --> 00:41:10.960 feel wwe did a good job representing what I've been 847 00:41:10.960 --> 00:41:13.639 advocating about that and I really really hope they continued. 848 00:41:13.719 --> 00:41:13.960 Jason. 849 00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:17.800 Yeah, I can't remember the brit something was the woman's 850 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:21.239 name that they used, and I'd look at her as 851 00:41:21.239 --> 00:41:25.400 an enhancement wrestler. I look at the Great James Elsworth 852 00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:27.760 as a job or to me, in my mind only 853 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:31.480 there's a difference, and I thought it was fine. I 854 00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:33.840 thought it was an effective showcase for Naya. I love 855 00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:36.519 that she picked her up in old school heel fashion. 856 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:38.960 I'd like to see her even taking a step further 857 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:41.920 when she's squashing people initially to ask for a five 858 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:43.760 count like King Kong Bundy used to. I think that 859 00:41:43.760 --> 00:41:47.360 would be a lot of fun. But the difference to 860 00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:49.639 me between there's not a whole lot of different between 861 00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:54.239 the Naya and Bronze Stroman matches other than you know, 862 00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:58.559 Ellsworth just had the amazing charm. But the key to 863 00:41:58.679 --> 00:42:02.320 me is these were more effective than Neville beating Curtis Axle. 864 00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:05.840 That doesn't mean anything. Everyone beats Curtis Axel. And yeah, 865 00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:07.840 you know that, you knew NYA was going to win, 866 00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:10.119 You knew bron Strowman was going to win, and especially 867 00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:12.679 with Elsworth in there, you couldn't take your eyes off 868 00:42:12.760 --> 00:42:15.599 the screen. You know where Curtis Axle comes out. Believe me, 869 00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:16.719 I can take my eyes off. 870 00:42:16.679 --> 00:42:19.519 The screen absolutely, all right, I mentioned it earlier. 871 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:22.800 Let's get a full plug in here for the lukekrate service, 872 00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:26.039 who are part of that community that luke crate talks about. 873 00:42:26.039 --> 00:42:28.000 It's pretty cool. Check it out luke crate dot com. 874 00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:32.880 Coupon code pw torch saves you three bucks back to 875 00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:35.079 the phone lines we go. You can also send us 876 00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:37.880 an email during the live cast. Pw torch live cast 877 00:42:38.119 --> 00:42:41.760 at gmail dot com is our email. Tomorrow Pat McNeil 878 00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:44.800 will be talking SmackDown and more, and then I'll be 879 00:42:44.920 --> 00:42:48.599 back on Thursday with a new live episode of Interview 880 00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:51.519 Thursday and then Friday. Bruce Mitchell let Travis Bryant, who 881 00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:56.320 were with me for nine or ten straight days, let's 882 00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:59.360 see seven, eight, ten straight days we saw each other 883 00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:03.519 until drove them to the airport yesterday. They'll be on 884 00:43:03.639 --> 00:43:05.639 the live cast to talk about a busy weekend wrestling 885 00:43:05.639 --> 00:43:08.519 and I'm sure share some of their experiences from over 886 00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:11.760 the Hall of Fame weekend. Also really really fun time 887 00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:16.320 Kyle Klingman and the whole crew over at the Dan 888 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:19.800 Gable Museum and the Trego Stays Hall of Fame in Waterthough, 889 00:43:19.840 --> 00:43:25.280 Iowa just did a spectacular job with a really putting together, 890 00:43:25.360 --> 00:43:27.719 really fun weekend for wrestling fans. I met so many 891 00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:31.880 pw torch dot com readers, PW torch live cast listeners, 892 00:43:31.880 --> 00:43:33.840 people who have heard me on the Steve Austin Show. 893 00:43:35.360 --> 00:43:39.239 I was as a member of the Hall of Fame. 894 00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:42.239 I was inducted last year with the Jim Melby Award 895 00:43:42.320 --> 00:43:45.880 for Excellence in writing on Professional Wrestling. Dave Melcher, the 896 00:43:45.880 --> 00:43:48.840 Wrestling Observer, inducted this year. We were next to each 897 00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:52.639 other sitting in the autograph line and just it was 898 00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:55.760 great just taking pictures with readers and listeners and getting 899 00:43:55.800 --> 00:43:57.440 to meet so many of you from around the country 900 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:00.400 and Big Ee was there. Had a chance chat with 901 00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:05.480 him about the New Day gimmick and his connection now 902 00:44:05.519 --> 00:44:07.639 to the museum and what a pleasure it was to 903 00:44:07.719 --> 00:44:11.079 have him make the trip to Waterloo to support the 904 00:44:11.159 --> 00:44:13.840 museum and be part of that. Stan Larry Hanson might 905 00:44:13.880 --> 00:44:15.400 have been the highlight for me though Jason, of the 906 00:44:15.400 --> 00:44:19.079 whole weekend. It was bar closing time. We both had 907 00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:20.840 a little bit of a buzz and he was all 908 00:44:20.920 --> 00:44:24.280 smiles as I gave him a hard cell. A hard 909 00:44:24.320 --> 00:44:27.079 sell to appear on the Paw Torch Live cast. He's 910 00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:29.320 one of the wrestlers I haven't had a chance to 911 00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:31.599 interview who I would love to have on this show 912 00:44:31.719 --> 00:44:34.840 or do a torch talk with. He was one of 913 00:44:34.920 --> 00:44:37.119 my favorite wrestlers in the nineteen eighties. He was one 914 00:44:37.159 --> 00:44:40.199 of the all time greats overall in the work he 915 00:44:40.239 --> 00:44:42.599 did in Japan in the nineteen nineties was phenomenal to 916 00:44:43.360 --> 00:44:45.400 really cool guy. I got to meet him and his son. 917 00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:49.599 I had some fun giving him the hard cell as 918 00:44:49.679 --> 00:44:53.719 he was saying goodbye to family and friends and heading 919 00:44:53.800 --> 00:44:57.119 to the elevator at the hotel. There's pictures up by 920 00:44:57.119 --> 00:44:58.840 the way of that, on my Twitter feed, you can 921 00:44:58.880 --> 00:45:02.239 follow me at the Wade and you can also friend 922 00:45:02.320 --> 00:45:06.239 me on Facebook. It's Facebook dot com slash Wade Keller 923 00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:11.119 Torch and there's some really cool pictures from the whole weekend. Again, 924 00:45:11.159 --> 00:45:14.519 that's Facebook dot com slash Wadekeller Torch if you want 925 00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:16.480 to friend me on Facebook. Some good conversations about the 926 00:45:16.519 --> 00:45:22.400 weekend are up on the site. Also, Alex Luger received 927 00:45:23.320 --> 00:45:26.840 a prestigious award at the Hall of Fame, but couldn't 928 00:45:26.840 --> 00:45:29.599 be bothered to show up because after agreeing to be 929 00:45:29.639 --> 00:45:32.039 inducted and go to the Hall of Fame, he got 930 00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:35.000 a better offer to go somewhere else and get paid 931 00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:37.760 more money, and so he sent in a video. And 932 00:45:39.079 --> 00:45:41.960 I think it speaks for itself what I think of 933 00:45:42.119 --> 00:45:45.639 that decision on his part. I think for his reputation, 934 00:45:46.039 --> 00:45:49.679 for his marketability to the fans who want his autograph, 935 00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:53.400 I think he would have been better off for going 936 00:45:53.559 --> 00:45:56.840 a brief a one time payday and fulfilling his commitment 937 00:45:56.920 --> 00:46:00.800 to a museum that is not a nonprofit that bestowed 938 00:46:00.880 --> 00:46:02.960 upon him and honor that quite frankly, he didn't deserve, 939 00:46:03.239 --> 00:46:06.079 as in terms of his accomplishments in the ring, his 940 00:46:06.280 --> 00:46:11.000 association with Luthes or George Tregos or that museum. I 941 00:46:11.159 --> 00:46:13.639 kind of tilted my head at from the beginning, but 942 00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:15.360 I thought, well, you know what he's been through some 943 00:46:15.480 --> 00:46:19.199 tough times and he's rebounded from it, and if he's 944 00:46:19.239 --> 00:46:21.679 got a story to tell, and it fits the spirit 945 00:46:21.880 --> 00:46:26.480 of that award, and it's an inspirational story, and he's 946 00:46:26.519 --> 00:46:28.599 willing to come in and, as a big name from 947 00:46:28.639 --> 00:46:30.840 the nineteen nineties and late eighties, be part of a 948 00:46:30.880 --> 00:46:36.559 four horseman panel. Because Tully Blanchard, JJ Dillon and Magnum 949 00:46:36.599 --> 00:46:39.679 Tia were part of a four horseman panel talking about 950 00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:41.679 the four Horseman days, Lex Luger was supposed to be 951 00:46:41.719 --> 00:46:44.239 part of that and I thought, well that that makes 952 00:46:44.280 --> 00:46:45.559 some sense. You don't have him come in as one 953 00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:47.840 of the horsemen. And nope, he took a bigger pay 954 00:46:47.880 --> 00:46:50.760 day somewhere else and left the museum hanging. So I 955 00:46:50.880 --> 00:46:53.320 want to thank Lex Luger for continuing to be the 956 00:46:53.360 --> 00:46:57.519 class act that he was always say full of sarcasm. 957 00:46:57.679 --> 00:46:59.840 I know a lot of people were really disappointed with 958 00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:02.039 with his decision, and I think he'll he'll pay a 959 00:47:02.119 --> 00:47:08.199 price in immeasurable ways, but it was disappointing and if 960 00:47:08.239 --> 00:47:11.159 I if I'm missing any side of this story, I 961 00:47:11.280 --> 00:47:14.119 welcome Lex Lucur to explain himself. But he was kind 962 00:47:14.239 --> 00:47:17.400 enough to send in a one or two minute video 963 00:47:17.480 --> 00:47:19.440 talking about how much the award meant to him, which 964 00:47:19.480 --> 00:47:21.039 I think a lot of people just kind of groaned at. 965 00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:22.960 And we're waiting for everyone to move on. 966 00:47:23.159 --> 00:47:24.280 So there I go. 967 00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:26.159 I had to get that off my chest because I 968 00:47:26.280 --> 00:47:27.920 believe in this museum and I know all hard Clyle 969 00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:30.239 Klingman and the whole team work there, and I thought 970 00:47:30.280 --> 00:47:32.880 that was a real lame snub on his part and 971 00:47:33.239 --> 00:47:37.480 very selfish, and he deserves to take a blow to 972 00:47:37.599 --> 00:47:40.599 his reputation for the choice that he made. All right, well, 973 00:47:40.880 --> 00:47:43.119 now go to the phone lines and continue talking about 974 00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:44.920 whatever it is you want to talk about. I suspect 975 00:47:44.960 --> 00:47:46.719 it'll be Battleground ron smackedun related. 976 00:47:48.719 --> 00:47:51.719 Need an extra dose of positivity in your wrestling podcasts, 977 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:54.559 will come join me Alan four l Over in the 978 00:47:54.679 --> 00:47:58.519 Progress Paradise at Pedi georch VIP as we mask on 979 00:47:58.599 --> 00:48:01.239 the bright side of wrestling and focus on some of 980 00:48:01.360 --> 00:48:04.239 the great matches and shows from around the world, be 981 00:48:04.360 --> 00:48:08.679 it the US, Japan, Europe or Mexico, there's always a 982 00:48:08.719 --> 00:48:11.440 place for restlings past in the Paradise two. And we've 983 00:48:11.519 --> 00:48:14.320 done fun historical shows such as the We Love Liger 984 00:48:14.440 --> 00:48:18.800 series celebrating the glorious career of Jusian Thunderlinger and our 985 00:48:18.880 --> 00:48:21.159 Eye was there when shows where our guests will join 986 00:48:21.239 --> 00:48:23.559 me to talk about a classic bout that they were 987 00:48:23.599 --> 00:48:26.960 in attendance for. We love variety and you can expect 988 00:48:27.039 --> 00:48:30.719 lots of it at the Progress Paradise. Detailed pw torch 989 00:48:30.840 --> 00:48:34.199 VIP subscription information and a list of all the VIP 990 00:48:34.400 --> 00:48:38.960 benefits is available at pterwrew torch vipinfo dot com. And yes, 991 00:48:39.320 --> 00:48:43.159 all VIP podcasts are compatible with popular podcast apps on 992 00:48:43.280 --> 00:48:46.840 iPhone and Android devices, or you can stream them directly 993 00:48:46.880 --> 00:48:50.119 from our ad free VIP mobile site. See you in 994 00:48:50.199 --> 00:48:50.800 the Paradise. 995 00:48:54.199 --> 00:48:56.320 Let's go to ericode nine one two, next nine one two. 996 00:48:56.360 --> 00:48:57.920 Please state your name and where you're calling from. 997 00:48:59.480 --> 00:49:01.679 Michael Gorgeous, Hey Michael, thanks for Colin. 998 00:49:01.760 --> 00:49:02.719 What have you got for Jason to me? 999 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:04.159 Roy? 1000 00:49:04.239 --> 00:49:06.800 Last night was a great show. Everything Mattered, which doesn't 1001 00:49:06.800 --> 00:49:10.440 have it in a while, and both the Fatal four 1002 00:49:10.519 --> 00:49:14.119 Ways that were pretty good, except that they did like 1003 00:49:14.199 --> 00:49:17.880 the suicide, eyed out over the rope and just took 1004 00:49:17.880 --> 00:49:18.400 out everybody. 1005 00:49:18.440 --> 00:49:19.079 But I like how the. 1006 00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:21.840 Announced tables weren't there so they couldn't use them and 1007 00:49:22.079 --> 00:49:24.360 had a difference. They're just like you throwing someone's head 1008 00:49:24.400 --> 00:49:28.440 on it. I thought it fine in the crowd. I 1009 00:49:28.480 --> 00:49:29.920 don't know if you saw it, but it's had Biggie 1010 00:49:29.960 --> 00:49:32.920 Stout diving because apparently, like during all his ABBY matches, 1011 00:49:32.960 --> 00:49:35.880 he does something almost hurt himself every time. Yeah, I 1012 00:49:35.920 --> 00:49:36.920 don't know if you've noticed that. 1013 00:49:38.039 --> 00:49:41.320 I was scared for him on Sunday it was looking Yeah, 1014 00:49:41.360 --> 00:49:42.800 that was he doesn't need to do it, you know, 1015 00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:45.079 didn't need to do the moon salt. I mean, there's 1016 00:49:45.119 --> 00:49:48.719 certain he's a power wrestler. He doesn't need to prove 1017 00:49:48.840 --> 00:49:51.639 that he's a high flyer, and he's gonna hurt himself. 1018 00:49:51.679 --> 00:49:55.280 He's going to derail New Day and all their momentum 1019 00:49:55.480 --> 00:49:58.719 for a completely needless spot just to try to prove 1020 00:49:58.840 --> 00:50:01.440 some something that doesn't need to be proven. He should 1021 00:50:01.440 --> 00:50:05.000 be the power wrestler and not the guy who's diving 1022 00:50:05.079 --> 00:50:08.920 over and through ropes. So I actually like that fan sign. 1023 00:50:09.480 --> 00:50:11.960 And by the way, somebody like Biggie doing a big spot. Yeah, 1024 00:50:11.960 --> 00:50:14.480 it makes him look good, but it also diminishes the 1025 00:50:14.559 --> 00:50:18.320 smaller wrestlers and what they do that sets them apart. 1026 00:50:18.639 --> 00:50:22.119 You know, Biggie has power. That's that's his niche, that's 1027 00:50:22.159 --> 00:50:24.239 his forte. That's what should get him over if he 1028 00:50:24.320 --> 00:50:27.079 starts doing you know, crazy dives. It actually, I think 1029 00:50:27.159 --> 00:50:29.320 undercuts a little bit what what wrestlers like Neville and 1030 00:50:29.400 --> 00:50:31.920 Finn Balor and aj Styles do so for for lots 1031 00:50:31.920 --> 00:50:33.599 of reasons, Mostly I just don't want to see Biggie 1032 00:50:33.599 --> 00:50:35.360 get hurt because I'm really enjoying what he's doing right 1033 00:50:35.400 --> 00:50:37.400 now with New Day on the mic and in the ring. 1034 00:50:37.840 --> 00:50:40.719 You know, I hope WWE takes heat of that sign 1035 00:50:40.840 --> 00:50:43.320 and it just says, you know, stop it. 1036 00:50:43.559 --> 00:50:44.320 You don't need to do this. 1037 00:50:46.719 --> 00:50:49.880 But if he wants to buster at once a year Mania, okay, 1038 00:50:49.920 --> 00:50:52.719 we can talk. But yeah, I mean this has become way, 1039 00:50:53.159 --> 00:50:55.800 it's just part of his act now, it's unnecessary. 1040 00:50:56.000 --> 00:50:57.760 Yeah, I agree, We'll go ahead. I jumped in while 1041 00:50:57.760 --> 00:50:58.440 you were talking, Michael. 1042 00:51:00.719 --> 00:51:03.559 Another thing is like with like New Days world record 1043 00:51:03.639 --> 00:51:05.519 title reign, it kind of annoys me how they only 1044 00:51:05.599 --> 00:51:06.760 like defend it every other. 1045 00:51:06.760 --> 00:51:07.519 Month, so. 1046 00:51:09.679 --> 00:51:13.000 They would have done it like a week before or 1047 00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:16.639 a couple of days before I defended their titles before 1048 00:51:16.679 --> 00:51:18.079 they would have broke the record. I feel like a 1049 00:51:18.079 --> 00:51:21.719 little bit more, especially if they did break in instead 1050 00:51:21.760 --> 00:51:23.519 of just oh, we're not defending our title for a 1051 00:51:23.559 --> 00:51:27.880 whole month saying we got the record. Who my final 1052 00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:30.639 thing is? The main event was pretty good. I just 1053 00:51:30.840 --> 00:51:32.440 the only thing that annoyed me was hav they not 1054 00:51:32.480 --> 00:51:33.880 forget saying Roman. 1055 00:51:33.760 --> 00:51:34.320 Is so strong? 1056 00:51:34.360 --> 00:51:38.039 Well, of course, since Valor's like have this size. I 1057 00:51:38.159 --> 00:51:40.800 like how they made Valor star. If they made Roman win, 1058 00:51:40.880 --> 00:51:42.480 I would have like quit wrestling or something. I don't know. 1059 00:51:42.760 --> 00:51:45.320 That's all I got, Michael, don't hang up. You got 1060 00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:47.559 a little muffled and said what you didn't like about 1061 00:51:47.559 --> 00:51:50.199 the main event? What was the aspect that you said? 1062 00:51:51.199 --> 00:51:51.320 Oh? 1063 00:51:51.519 --> 00:51:54.440 Was that uh annals? You kept saying, looks how strong 1064 00:51:54.559 --> 00:51:58.719 Roman is, this sheer power, But Valor is half his size, 1065 00:51:58.760 --> 00:52:00.880 so of course you can gotcha. 1066 00:52:01.400 --> 00:52:04.960 Yeah, Jason, I gotta say I almost started to feel 1067 00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:08.320 bad for Roman almost because they in that four way 1068 00:52:08.400 --> 00:52:10.800 match that he was it was designed for him to 1069 00:52:10.880 --> 00:52:13.599 get over and he couldn't even get cheered against Seamus, 1070 00:52:14.039 --> 00:52:16.639 they were booing him, and he's beating up Shamous. Nobody 1071 00:52:16.639 --> 00:52:19.880 gets booed beating up Shamus. And also when he was 1072 00:52:20.159 --> 00:52:23.960 working with Jericho, Jericho's done an amazing job getting himself 1073 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:25.920 over as a real heel. I thought his highlight reel 1074 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:28.079 with Randy Orton was one of the highlights of his career. 1075 00:52:28.599 --> 00:52:29.920 I was such a fan of what he did with 1076 00:52:30.039 --> 00:52:33.719 Randy on Sunday at Battleground and he couldn't get he 1077 00:52:33.880 --> 00:52:35.559 couldn't get any cheers, he couldn't get a break. And 1078 00:52:35.599 --> 00:52:38.639 then of course against Finn Balor, who's a babyface, that's 1079 00:52:38.679 --> 00:52:40.960 probably not gonna happen either. Roman Rans is doing good 1080 00:52:41.000 --> 00:52:43.559 work in the ring. I felt like that post match 1081 00:52:43.679 --> 00:52:47.880 interview with him was the most real that he's come across. 1082 00:52:48.519 --> 00:52:51.440 And I just whether it's as a fac or a heel, 1083 00:52:51.599 --> 00:52:54.079 I want him to find his lane, find his groove, 1084 00:52:54.920 --> 00:52:57.559 have somebody writing for him, who's who's better in tune 1085 00:52:57.599 --> 00:53:00.639 with who he is, or even even more ideally, break 1086 00:53:00.719 --> 00:53:03.400 away completely from scripted promos and just give him bullet 1087 00:53:03.440 --> 00:53:05.440 points and let him be the guy that we see 1088 00:53:05.719 --> 00:53:08.440 when he's hanging out with Rene Young on ww MEAN 1089 00:53:08.480 --> 00:53:11.800 Network Now that said, when he's been let loose on 1090 00:53:11.920 --> 00:53:15.199 media interviews, sometimes he's make some boneheaded statements that undercut 1091 00:53:15.280 --> 00:53:19.039 his character. That's made me convinced that he's going to 1092 00:53:19.119 --> 00:53:20.880 be much better as a heel when that day comes. 1093 00:53:20.960 --> 00:53:26.840 But but yeah, did you have even an inclination Jason 1094 00:53:26.880 --> 00:53:28.800 to feel a little bad for Roman by the end 1095 00:53:28.800 --> 00:53:29.159 of the show. 1096 00:53:29.679 --> 00:53:32.440 No. The only time I really did was Stephanie when 1097 00:53:33.320 --> 00:53:38.440 during her promo when she called him a loser, because I, yeah, 1098 00:53:38.599 --> 00:53:41.039 it's the heel, Stephanie, but it's also like the first 1099 00:53:41.079 --> 00:53:43.320 time that you've seen him on raw since the suspension, 1100 00:53:43.400 --> 00:53:45.400 and it just felt like it was a bit much, 1101 00:53:45.920 --> 00:53:49.559 especially if he's the guy you're mad at. Why are 1102 00:53:49.599 --> 00:53:51.719 you turning around and giving him and yet another chance 1103 00:53:51.760 --> 00:53:54.320 to win the title. You know, it's a new title, 1104 00:53:54.679 --> 00:53:58.000 but it didn't even make sense from his consistency standpoint, 1105 00:53:58.440 --> 00:54:02.440 elevating Seth to the main event and did I didn't 1106 00:54:02.599 --> 00:54:04.360 like it. I was not a fan of it. I 1107 00:54:04.519 --> 00:54:06.199 just say, go ahead and let set to earn his 1108 00:54:06.280 --> 00:54:08.159 way too. But once you saw it, okay, they're going 1109 00:54:08.239 --> 00:54:12.559 with four waves, I kind of understood it, but it's 1110 00:54:12.719 --> 00:54:15.199 I don't I just yet, You're trying to get over 1111 00:54:15.239 --> 00:54:17.559 a new championship, and we're already playing the heel general 1112 00:54:17.639 --> 00:54:18.480 manager games with it. 1113 00:54:19.360 --> 00:54:21.840 Absolutely all right, we got to get our third break 1114 00:54:21.920 --> 00:54:24.360 in our first hour. Here the programmer right around the 1115 00:54:24.360 --> 00:54:26.199 one hour mark, So let's go to our third break. 1116 00:54:26.199 --> 00:54:28.599 When we come back, we're going to take more phone calls, 1117 00:54:28.639 --> 00:54:32.960 more emails, and comment more and everything going on in wrestling. 1118 00:54:32.960 --> 00:54:35.239 A very big week so far, with a really fun 1119 00:54:35.840 --> 00:54:38.360 evening to come. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what 1120 00:54:38.360 --> 00:54:40.559 they do with SmackDown. As you mentioned, Jason, what are 1121 00:54:40.559 --> 00:54:42.480 they gonna do to make SmackDown seem fresh? Because to me, 1122 00:54:42.960 --> 00:54:45.119 Ross stole all the ideas I had. Have the announcers 1123 00:54:45.159 --> 00:54:46.920 on the stage stand with their back to the ring, 1124 00:54:47.800 --> 00:54:51.000 new camera angles, new music, in ring interviews. It's all 1125 00:54:51.039 --> 00:54:53.480 the stuff that I thought they would do to differentiate SmackDown. 1126 00:54:53.559 --> 00:54:56.719 So I'm curious if they have anything new that will 1127 00:54:56.760 --> 00:54:58.760 look different than the old SmackDown but also different than 1128 00:54:58.840 --> 00:55:02.800 last night's Raw. I hope they do, and I'm curious 1129 00:55:02.800 --> 00:55:04.800 to see what they come up with to differentiate the 1130 00:55:04.800 --> 00:55:07.159 shows and make them seem like the same production team 1131 00:55:07.199 --> 00:55:09.519 didn't come up with changes for both shows. I'm not 1132 00:55:09.559 --> 00:55:10.920 sure we're going to get that back down. 1133 00:55:12.079 --> 00:55:14.280 I think I think their new calling card is going 1134 00:55:14.320 --> 00:55:16.119 to be it's the only weekly television show where you 1135 00:55:16.159 --> 00:55:18.039 can see a wrestler be put through a broadcast table. 1136 00:55:18.599 --> 00:55:19.039 That's true. 1137 00:55:19.079 --> 00:55:21.480 With the mounts of the art ring side, that might 1138 00:55:21.679 --> 00:55:23.760 be the case. At least they no one can They 1139 00:55:23.800 --> 00:55:26.320 won't be subject to fans with cameras taking pictures of 1140 00:55:26.320 --> 00:55:27.800 the script over their shoulders anymore. 1141 00:55:29.159 --> 00:55:30.920 But anyway, all right, let's go to our break. When 1142 00:55:30.920 --> 00:55:31.679 we come back, more calls. 1143 00:55:35.679 --> 00:55:38.239 We're back with Jason Powell from Pro Wrestling dot Net, 1144 00:55:38.480 --> 00:55:42.719 and we are taking your phone calls. Let's go to 1145 00:55:43.000 --> 00:55:45.400 our next call on the phone banks, We've got Erico 1146 00:55:45.480 --> 00:55:47.119 three or five, three or five things for calling. 1147 00:55:47.159 --> 00:55:48.599 Please take your name and where you're calling from. 1148 00:55:49.880 --> 00:55:52.039 Hey, guys, DJ from Miami adj. 1149 00:55:52.119 --> 00:55:52.760 What have you got for us? 1150 00:55:53.679 --> 00:55:57.360 I got two things. My first thing is the title. 1151 00:55:57.480 --> 00:56:00.440 I don't know abouue you guys, but I cringed name. 1152 00:56:01.079 --> 00:56:03.840 I don't know how many jokes I saw on Twitter already, 1153 00:56:03.920 --> 00:56:07.360 but why do you think they picked that name? Of 1154 00:56:07.480 --> 00:56:11.480 all names? And my second thing is hold on. 1155 00:56:12.159 --> 00:56:14.920 I don't know what's wrong with it as Jason pointed out, 1156 00:56:14.960 --> 00:56:17.960 if you know your wrestling history, the Universal Championship was 1157 00:56:18.000 --> 00:56:21.840 Puerto Rico's main title. Bill Watts had the Universal Championship 1158 00:56:21.880 --> 00:56:24.239 when he changed his name from Mid South to the WF. 1159 00:56:24.599 --> 00:56:26.760 It's it's just a name for a title. I don't get. 1160 00:56:26.800 --> 00:56:29.280 I don't get I don't understand the resistance to it, 1161 00:56:29.360 --> 00:56:31.000 and I'd like to know what a better option is. 1162 00:56:33.039 --> 00:56:35.480 I just I mean that name. I don't know why, 1163 00:56:35.800 --> 00:56:39.760 but like it just doesn't stick out. Maybe it's SmackDown, 1164 00:56:39.800 --> 00:56:42.800 but now Raw, Like maybe the Raw should be the 1165 00:56:42.840 --> 00:56:46.079 heavyweight champion and then SmackDown should be that, you know 1166 00:56:46.119 --> 00:56:49.079 what I mean, because Raw main show. I guess maybe 1167 00:56:49.400 --> 00:56:50.960 I'm thinking, you know what I mean, I don't think 1168 00:56:51.039 --> 00:56:53.800 that title sounds a good name for Raw compared to 1169 00:56:54.559 --> 00:56:57.239 you know, SmackDown or you know, NXT. 1170 00:56:57.360 --> 00:56:57.880 You know what I mean. 1171 00:56:58.119 --> 00:57:02.400 Yeah, all right, Well, hopefully the wrestlers are the angles 1172 00:57:02.400 --> 00:57:04.400 are good and none of that really matters all that much. 1173 00:57:04.440 --> 00:57:05.480 I mean, I think it's acceptable. 1174 00:57:05.559 --> 00:57:09.440 Yeah, yeah, And I mean I was really refreshed on 1175 00:57:09.559 --> 00:57:11.719 the announced team. I'll I'll just put that out there. 1176 00:57:11.760 --> 00:57:13.360 I'm I've been watching this for a year. 1177 00:57:13.480 --> 00:57:16.760 Then was great, Hey, j I want to take one 1178 00:57:16.800 --> 00:57:20.480 thing out time here, Jason you quick review for Corey Graves. 1179 00:57:20.480 --> 00:57:22.920 I thought he was really refreshing to hear him for 1180 00:57:22.960 --> 00:57:23.440 three hours. 1181 00:57:24.599 --> 00:57:26.719 Big thumbs up. And I got to say Michael cole'sm 1182 00:57:26.719 --> 00:57:28.280 been better the last couple of nights. I thought he 1183 00:57:28.320 --> 00:57:30.239 had a nice night at Battleground. I thought he was 1184 00:57:30.320 --> 00:57:33.400 better last night. Byron is the problem. And it's not 1185 00:57:33.519 --> 00:57:35.800 even so much what he says during the matches. Always 1186 00:57:35.920 --> 00:57:39.519 it's that weird need they have to make him look 1187 00:57:39.559 --> 00:57:42.079 like a jackass. I don't know what it is, but 1188 00:57:42.199 --> 00:57:44.639 they always have him do something when he's on camera 1189 00:57:45.320 --> 00:57:47.760 that he it's like they think it's endearing, and it's 1190 00:57:47.840 --> 00:57:50.280 just a huge turn off. It kills his credibility. It 1191 00:57:50.400 --> 00:57:51.000 has to stop. 1192 00:57:52.079 --> 00:57:55.039 Yes, I agree, it's it's kind of the push. It's 1193 00:57:55.079 --> 00:57:58.159 it's the Ron Elcer version to push someone into the pool. 1194 00:57:58.199 --> 00:57:58.360 You know. 1195 00:57:58.400 --> 00:58:01.280 It's just Evince does just seem like he can't not 1196 00:58:01.840 --> 00:58:03.960 be picking on somebody. And I mean, I think it's 1197 00:58:04.039 --> 00:58:05.840 like this Jock Thermmel, We're all getting along and we 1198 00:58:05.920 --> 00:58:07.800 pick on somebody, and friends do that with friends. But 1199 00:58:08.199 --> 00:58:10.920 I think it just undercuts any kind of anything that 1200 00:58:11.280 --> 00:58:13.760 Byron has going for him in terms of people taking 1201 00:58:13.800 --> 00:58:14.280 him seriously. 1202 00:58:14.360 --> 00:58:16.280 It gets a little much. I'll go ahead, DJ. 1203 00:58:17.360 --> 00:58:19.639 Out kept put my comment that I really fee would 1204 00:58:19.639 --> 00:58:22.000 have had Jerry Lawler because I think that Jerry Lawler 1205 00:58:22.320 --> 00:58:24.719 and Graves could have bounced wrestling things off each other 1206 00:58:24.920 --> 00:58:28.079 and then made Michael colemore hype. I think that that 1207 00:58:28.199 --> 00:58:30.719 has been great compared to you know back you know 1208 00:58:31.639 --> 00:58:33.320 that's the same thing. I think the same thing that 1209 00:58:33.559 --> 00:58:35.440 that that you know he's the main one. 1210 00:58:35.360 --> 00:58:37.239 He even needs to leave yep. 1211 00:58:37.440 --> 00:58:41.599 But my second thing is real quick is I just 1212 00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:43.760 don't know where they're gonna go and snack down. I 1213 00:58:43.880 --> 00:58:47.000 feel like right after I don't know, do you guys 1214 00:58:47.119 --> 00:58:50.679 think that they don't know what's gonna go on and 1215 00:58:50.760 --> 00:58:53.360 they're still deciding what's good about Do you think it's 1216 00:58:53.400 --> 00:58:57.239 gonna be a three way uh and SummerSlam or do 1217 00:58:57.320 --> 00:59:01.079 you think that right after Summers it's gonna be a 1218 00:59:01.280 --> 00:59:02.480 j and and. 1219 00:59:04.079 --> 00:59:09.519 And Dean that's it, Jason, what do you think if 1220 00:59:09.559 --> 00:59:11.559 we're talking title mess? They could I mean, I don't 1221 00:59:11.599 --> 00:59:13.320 know what's next for Dean Ambrose. That's one of the 1222 00:59:13.400 --> 00:59:15.639 things that intrigues me about Tonight's show is figuring out 1223 00:59:15.679 --> 00:59:18.639 what that is. Because you look at John c and 1224 00:59:18.679 --> 00:59:21.239 AJ Styles, you would think they would be having their 1225 00:59:21.599 --> 00:59:23.400 rubber match, if you will, because seeing it did beat 1226 00:59:23.440 --> 00:59:26.039 Styles in the six man tag. I didn't like that 1227 00:59:26.159 --> 00:59:27.920 by the way. I thought it was kind of the 1228 00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:30.119 reason you had a six man tag was to avoid 1229 00:59:30.239 --> 00:59:32.159 having John cen to get his win back. And you 1230 00:59:32.239 --> 00:59:34.719 say it for SummerSlam. But maybe the fact that they 1231 00:59:34.760 --> 00:59:36.920 are even now means that somehow they will come up 1232 00:59:36.960 --> 00:59:40.599 with a triple thread with Dean Ambrose defending against both guys. 1233 00:59:40.639 --> 00:59:41.320 I'm not quite sure. 1234 00:59:42.960 --> 00:59:45.119 Yeah, we gotta wait and see DJ any closing comment, 1235 00:59:45.159 --> 00:59:46.639 We got to get to other callers with the time we. 1236 00:59:46.599 --> 00:59:47.079 Got left here. 1237 00:59:49.519 --> 00:59:50.320 That's pretty much it. 1238 00:59:50.760 --> 00:59:54.039 You just I hope they really, you know, will find 1239 00:59:54.039 --> 00:59:56.119 out tonight if you know if they can. 1240 00:59:56.199 --> 01:00:00.599 Top braw or be Let me ask you did you guys. 1241 01:00:00.480 --> 01:00:04.239 Say, what's what the rating is going to be for SmackDown. 1242 01:00:04.079 --> 01:00:08.199 And for a good, good, good time Jason to predict 1243 01:00:08.320 --> 01:00:10.639 we got two point two ratings for nine second? 1244 01:00:12.119 --> 01:00:13.679 What do you what do you think? What do you 1245 01:00:13.719 --> 01:00:14.239 think this week? 1246 01:00:15.280 --> 01:00:18.679 Two point two? Last week? I will say that and 1247 01:00:18.920 --> 01:00:22.440 I don't think there's as much much interest in the 1248 01:00:22.559 --> 01:00:26.320 early part of the Democratic Convention as there was Republican 1249 01:00:26.440 --> 01:00:29.000 last week. I'll say Raw the night after a pay 1250 01:00:29.039 --> 01:00:32.039 per view, I'm gonna go all the way. I think 1251 01:00:32.079 --> 01:00:35.719 they can get to a two seven. I really do SmackDown. 1252 01:00:35.960 --> 01:00:37.840 I don't know. I don't have a strong feel for 1253 01:00:37.920 --> 01:00:41.320 that sixty second. I think there's a good chance that 1254 01:00:42.519 --> 01:00:45.079 I think they stay around the same, which I think 1255 01:00:45.239 --> 01:00:48.840 is fine because I last week it was about the draft. 1256 01:00:48.880 --> 01:00:50.800 You know, it's funny what they actually said was true, 1257 01:00:51.320 --> 01:00:54.360 the rating that SmackDown God was actually about that. But 1258 01:00:55.199 --> 01:00:58.559 Battleground was good. Raw was good. Raw left me wanting 1259 01:00:58.639 --> 01:01:01.320 to see SmackDown, and so maybe that carries over and 1260 01:01:01.360 --> 01:01:03.719 they do get that. They do bring up most of 1261 01:01:04.360 --> 01:01:06.719 last week audience back to see what the new SmackDown 1262 01:01:06.800 --> 01:01:07.239 is all about. 1263 01:01:08.679 --> 01:01:12.559 I'll predict two point four something for Raw and a 1264 01:01:12.679 --> 01:01:16.719 two point zero something for SmackDown. That's those all right, 1265 01:01:16.840 --> 01:01:18.719 those are my numbers. We'll see, we'll see. 1266 01:01:18.599 --> 01:01:18.920 How we do. 1267 01:01:20.480 --> 01:01:22.400 You know that last segment you're just listening to and 1268 01:01:22.519 --> 01:01:24.559 the next one that you're waiting to listen to, those 1269 01:01:24.679 --> 01:01:27.119 can be one second apart. With a VIP membership, you 1270 01:01:27.119 --> 01:01:30.000 can unlock our commercial free versions of our shows. Pw 1271 01:01:30.199 --> 01:01:32.760 torch dot com slash go vip tells you how to 1272 01:01:32.840 --> 01:01:35.920 do it. That's pw torch dot com slash Go VIP 1273 01:01:36.320 --> 01:01:39.800 options exist within the Apple podcast app using your Apple 1274 01:01:39.840 --> 01:01:42.079 account through Patreon, which, by the way, you can sync 1275 01:01:42.159 --> 01:01:45.400 up with Spotify or just about any iOS or Android app. 1276 01:01:45.519 --> 01:01:48.360 With a full VIP membership, you can customize the feed 1277 01:01:48.440 --> 01:01:51.639 for individual shows and clusters of shows and themes. Go 1278 01:01:51.760 --> 01:01:54.679 to pw torch dot com slash go vip for full 1279 01:01:54.760 --> 01:01:57.559 details on all the options to listen commercial free and 1280 01:01:57.679 --> 01:02:01.559 with upper tier options unlock our the IP exclusive podcast 1281 01:02:01.800 --> 01:02:02.960 run throughout the week every week. 1282 01:02:04.880 --> 01:02:06.480 All right, Tom, do we know yet? 1283 01:02:06.679 --> 01:02:08.559 And we figured out when they brag about the rating, 1284 01:02:08.599 --> 01:02:09.880 are they bragging about viewership? 1285 01:02:10.320 --> 01:02:13.719 Well, they breaked about both. The viewership is in a 1286 01:02:13.760 --> 01:02:14.239 weird quirk. 1287 01:02:14.960 --> 01:02:17.360 Last week for SmackDown was higher than rob but the 1288 01:02:17.480 --> 01:02:19.360 rating for Raw was higher than SmackDown because they were 1289 01:02:19.400 --> 01:02:22.320 so close and not for I don't want people's eyes 1290 01:02:22.360 --> 01:02:25.400 to glaze over. But my understanding is that viewership includes 1291 01:02:25.920 --> 01:02:29.039 everybody who watches for a few minutes, and the rating 1292 01:02:29.239 --> 01:02:34.000 is the average number of people watching at any given 1293 01:02:34.079 --> 01:02:36.760 time that's translated into a percentage of all people with 1294 01:02:36.840 --> 01:02:39.719 access to the show, So there's a slightly different formula 1295 01:02:39.800 --> 01:02:42.000 for each. So a rating can be lower, but the 1296 01:02:42.079 --> 01:02:45.000 viewership can be up because it means more people watched 1297 01:02:45.320 --> 01:02:49.280 for a short amount of time. So nevertheless, but it 1298 01:02:49.360 --> 01:02:51.000 was basically a tie last week, I mean really within 1299 01:02:51.039 --> 01:02:53.199 the margin of error. So they braked about both, or 1300 01:02:53.199 --> 01:02:53.519 they weren't. 1301 01:02:53.559 --> 01:02:53.840 In brag. 1302 01:02:53.960 --> 01:02:57.920 They acknowledged both last night, most week, most weeks, it 1303 01:02:57.920 --> 01:03:01.800 won't matter. Cole said that SmackDown had a bigger rating 1304 01:03:01.880 --> 01:03:03.840 last or more viewers last week. And then I think 1305 01:03:04.159 --> 01:03:06.400 I think it was Corey who said, yeah, we drew 1306 01:03:06.400 --> 01:03:08.559 a bigger rating than them, and it's just one was true, 1307 01:03:08.599 --> 01:03:12.760 one wasn't. But they essentially tied. So all right, nine, 1308 01:03:13.360 --> 01:03:15.079 thanks for holding. Please state your name and where you're. 1309 01:03:14.960 --> 01:03:15.280 Call it from. 1310 01:03:16.639 --> 01:03:17.800 Guess my name is Casey. 1311 01:03:17.840 --> 01:03:21.079 I'm cutting from Laredo, Casey from where Laredo, Texas? 1312 01:03:22.480 --> 01:03:22.679 Yeah? 1313 01:03:22.880 --> 01:03:24.239 Oh cool, excellent what you got for us. 1314 01:03:24.840 --> 01:03:29.519 I just had a few comments on one. Since Raw 1315 01:03:29.719 --> 01:03:32.079 is getting a new championship, do you believe that they're 1316 01:03:32.079 --> 01:03:34.360 going to split up the tag team champions? 1317 01:03:34.519 --> 01:03:35.760 Sorry if we already. 1318 01:03:35.519 --> 01:03:36.159 Spoke about this. 1319 01:03:37.039 --> 01:03:42.519 And two is that, since SmackDown has a small roster, 1320 01:03:43.119 --> 01:03:45.920 do you believe that they will have their pay per 1321 01:03:46.000 --> 01:03:49.400 views on Sunday as like rawwood or do you think 1322 01:03:49.440 --> 01:03:54.480 they'll have their like pay per view themed matches on Tuesdays? 1323 01:03:54.760 --> 01:03:55.960 And those are my two questions. 1324 01:03:57.039 --> 01:03:57.840 All right, thanks? 1325 01:03:59.039 --> 01:04:02.199 Yeah, I think smack Down, Jason won't do what Impact 1326 01:04:02.280 --> 01:04:04.079 has done, you know, where they basically have pay per 1327 01:04:04.159 --> 01:04:05.800 views on their TV shor or anything like that. I'm 1328 01:04:05.840 --> 01:04:08.159 not quite sure if I fully understand that that question. 1329 01:04:08.320 --> 01:04:10.880 But what Jason, what's the latest on the pay perview 1330 01:04:10.920 --> 01:04:14.280 schedule and brand or show specific pay per views on 1331 01:04:14.400 --> 01:04:14.840 the schedule. 1332 01:04:16.000 --> 01:04:18.920 There's a schedule that got out a while back that listed, 1333 01:04:19.159 --> 01:04:20.920 you know, other than the big four pay per view 1334 01:04:21.000 --> 01:04:23.400 months so everything. It was just for the remainder of 1335 01:04:23.440 --> 01:04:26.039 the year, but it was a two pay per views 1336 01:04:26.159 --> 01:04:29.079 per month aside from what must be November for Survivor 1337 01:04:29.159 --> 01:04:33.039 series and obviously August with Summer Slam, so starting in September, 1338 01:04:33.679 --> 01:04:37.280 and someone in WWE, I'm under I was told kind 1339 01:04:37.320 --> 01:04:40.079 of yeah, that's pretty close, and so I think you're 1340 01:04:40.079 --> 01:04:42.880 going to get separate Raw and separate SmackDown pay per 1341 01:04:42.960 --> 01:04:46.119 view events. They are both listed for Sundays, nothing saying 1342 01:04:46.159 --> 01:04:48.440 they can't change that going forward if they feel like 1343 01:04:48.519 --> 01:04:50.840 they can do something on a different night. I kind 1344 01:04:50.880 --> 01:04:52.679 of wish they would experiment with another night. It would 1345 01:04:52.679 --> 01:04:54.559 be fun, but they're going to it looks like they'll 1346 01:04:54.559 --> 01:04:56.880 stick with Sundays, and so you'll get a raw pay 1347 01:04:56.880 --> 01:04:58.679 per view on one one Sunday. A couple of weeks 1348 01:04:58.719 --> 01:04:59.719 later you'll get a Smacked Down. 1349 01:05:00.320 --> 01:05:02.679 The tag titles, Stephanie did not say we need to 1350 01:05:02.719 --> 01:05:06.719 have our own Take Team Championship. Well, we're wait a second. 1351 01:05:06.559 --> 01:05:07.719 Are they already have them? 1352 01:05:07.760 --> 01:05:09.480 They already have them, So that's right. So we're going 1353 01:05:09.519 --> 01:05:12.400 to see tonight if Daniel, Brian and Shane say we 1354 01:05:12.519 --> 01:05:15.679 need to have Take Team champions and if they do, 1355 01:05:15.800 --> 01:05:18.400 do you think it'll be Intercalactic tag titles as you mentioned. 1356 01:05:18.239 --> 01:05:21.960 Jason, Intergalactic Planetary Tag Team Champions because they have the 1357 01:05:22.000 --> 01:05:24.519 best boys reunite to come out and introduce these titles. 1358 01:05:25.559 --> 01:05:28.400 I think you will see SmackDown get its own set 1359 01:05:28.440 --> 01:05:29.079 of tag titles. 1360 01:05:29.079 --> 01:05:29.559 I think they. 1361 01:05:31.159 --> 01:05:33.199 I'll lead the door open slightly. I think we're also 1362 01:05:33.199 --> 01:05:34.880 going to get a women's championship. I'll lead the door 1363 01:05:34.920 --> 01:05:37.800 open slightly that Sasha as a babyface wants to be 1364 01:05:37.840 --> 01:05:39.639 a fighting champion and go back and forth if they 1365 01:05:39.679 --> 01:05:41.639 feel like there's a depth issue. But I think you're 1366 01:05:41.639 --> 01:05:43.800 just going to see SmackDown get its own Women's Championship, 1367 01:05:43.840 --> 01:05:45.880 and I guess we'll have to wait and see what 1368 01:05:46.039 --> 01:05:48.599 the name is. That's why if they do this, that's 1369 01:05:48.639 --> 01:05:51.599 why I'm in favor of just rebranding everything on Raw 1370 01:05:51.760 --> 01:05:54.920 Universal as far as the world titles are concerned, and 1371 01:05:55.000 --> 01:05:57.320 if SmackDown has its own Stepper one, just go with 1372 01:05:57.440 --> 01:05:59.519 whatever they're going to call it, rather than well, there's 1373 01:05:59.559 --> 01:06:02.400 the w WE Universal Championship and the w w E 1374 01:06:02.559 --> 01:06:05.440 Tag Team Championship on Raw, but on SmackDown there's the 1375 01:06:05.599 --> 01:06:08.599 WWE Championship and then some weird game for the women's 1376 01:06:08.639 --> 01:06:11.039 and you know, it's just it's too much. They need 1377 01:06:11.079 --> 01:06:11.760 to simplify that. 1378 01:06:12.159 --> 01:06:14.079 I totally agree with that. All right, let's go to 1379 01:06:14.119 --> 01:06:16.119 irego two one o x two one. Oh, thanks for 1380 01:06:16.159 --> 01:06:17.000 calling to state your name and. 1381 01:06:16.960 --> 01:06:17.639 Where you call it from. 1382 01:06:18.519 --> 01:06:20.719 Hey guys, James and Santonio, Hey. 1383 01:06:20.639 --> 01:06:22.039 James could do from you? What have you got for us? 1384 01:06:23.559 --> 01:06:23.719 Hey? 1385 01:06:23.880 --> 01:06:24.079 Yeah? 1386 01:06:25.000 --> 01:06:27.719 So, I think pretty much everything about the shows it's 1387 01:06:27.760 --> 01:06:28.639 pretty much been said. 1388 01:06:28.679 --> 01:06:29.400 I really enjoyed it. 1389 01:06:29.480 --> 01:06:29.840 Of course. 1390 01:06:30.400 --> 01:06:33.639 The easiest thing I could say is is kind of 1391 01:06:33.760 --> 01:06:36.079 what what's old is new again? That's kind of how 1392 01:06:36.119 --> 01:06:37.920 it felt to me. Is they they you know, went 1393 01:06:38.039 --> 01:06:41.960 back in time a little bit by moving the uh moving, 1394 01:06:42.280 --> 01:06:45.239 moving the announcers to where they were, and making it 1395 01:06:45.320 --> 01:06:47.480 more about the entering product. I felt so I feel 1396 01:06:47.519 --> 01:06:50.039 like they were pushing less stuff down our throats like 1397 01:06:50.519 --> 01:06:52.679 than they normally do. I feel like they're always, you know, 1398 01:06:52.800 --> 01:06:55.320 throwing out all these different twitters and and all these 1399 01:06:55.320 --> 01:06:56.960 different things, but like they did less of that. 1400 01:06:57.599 --> 01:07:01.119 One thing it was missing to me was Vince McMahon. 1401 01:07:01.519 --> 01:07:05.039 I felt like this show like he took the week off. 1402 01:07:04.960 --> 01:07:07.840 Or something, and like his fingerprints, I couldnt see him 1403 01:07:07.880 --> 01:07:10.360 on this show at all. It just really seemed like 1404 01:07:10.440 --> 01:07:13.079 it was like, this does not seem like a show 1405 01:07:13.159 --> 01:07:16.719 that he would approve of or put out and just 1406 01:07:16.920 --> 01:07:18.320 want to see your guys take on that. 1407 01:07:18.679 --> 01:07:19.360 See. Here's the thing. 1408 01:07:19.400 --> 01:07:22.039 I've been an advocate for the roster split because I 1409 01:07:22.119 --> 01:07:25.480 felt that it would give SmackDown a chance to if 1410 01:07:25.559 --> 01:07:28.199 Vince McMahon was willing to let some other ideas that 1411 01:07:28.880 --> 01:07:31.639 same with Kevin Dunn and the normal people with all 1412 01:07:31.639 --> 01:07:33.840 the influence on Ron' SmackDown. You give them a chance 1413 01:07:33.920 --> 01:07:36.960 to step away Jason and let somebody else have a 1414 01:07:37.039 --> 01:07:39.079 vision and tweak some things that Vince just would. 1415 01:07:38.920 --> 01:07:41.239 Think wasn't worth the trouble or why would you do that? 1416 01:07:41.599 --> 01:07:44.199 Or that stupid and be free of that kind of 1417 01:07:44.639 --> 01:07:47.920 criticism or gofying and just instead let someone do it. 1418 01:07:48.400 --> 01:07:52.559 And if SmackDown Jason had been what Raw was last night, 1419 01:07:52.719 --> 01:07:56.800 I would have felt vindigated, vindicated from the criticism or 1420 01:07:56.880 --> 01:07:59.719 the skepticism or the cynicism that this could be possible. 1421 01:08:00.079 --> 01:08:02.039 And then Raw went and stole all the SmackDown's thunder. 1422 01:08:02.320 --> 01:08:05.039 I mean, this really did feel like a show with 1423 01:08:05.239 --> 01:08:06.159 a different vision. 1424 01:08:07.639 --> 01:08:07.760 You know. 1425 01:08:08.000 --> 01:08:09.719 Yes, we had a talking segment at the beginning with 1426 01:08:09.800 --> 01:08:12.159 Stephen Hunt and Foley. I could not believe people were 1427 01:08:12.199 --> 01:08:13.719 complaining we didn't see more of them as a show 1428 01:08:13.760 --> 01:08:17.560 went on. My god, no, thank you that they're I mean, yes, 1429 01:08:17.640 --> 01:08:20.239 we saw them on Battleground, and I mean they're going 1430 01:08:20.279 --> 01:08:22.640 to be a presence, but don't we don't need a 1431 01:08:22.680 --> 01:08:23.079 lot of them. 1432 01:08:23.119 --> 01:08:23.800 This was a show. 1433 01:08:24.239 --> 01:08:27.720 After they did the necessary setup of announcing the championship 1434 01:08:27.760 --> 01:08:29.800 and the Fatal Four Ways and the Summer Slam Step. 1435 01:08:30.079 --> 01:08:31.720 They got out of the way and we let the 1436 01:08:31.720 --> 01:08:34.000 announcers be announcers, and the wrestlers be wrestlers, and the 1437 01:08:34.079 --> 01:08:36.399 interviewers be interviewers, and it worked. 1438 01:08:37.560 --> 01:08:37.840 Jason. 1439 01:08:37.880 --> 01:08:40.359 If this had been SmackDown, I'd have been like, this 1440 01:08:40.520 --> 01:08:42.239 is what I said the day that we talked about 1441 01:08:42.239 --> 01:08:44.920 the roster split. Let somebody with a different vision really 1442 01:08:44.920 --> 01:08:47.600 differentiate the shows. It's why I'm really really intrigued by 1443 01:08:47.640 --> 01:08:50.520 what they do with SmackDown tonight. I don't know what 1444 01:08:50.640 --> 01:08:54.119 goun invincement man in either allowing somebody to change things 1445 01:08:54.199 --> 01:08:56.600 up this much, but I would call that the biggest 1446 01:08:56.680 --> 01:08:59.680 overhaul to Raw in a lot of little ways that 1447 01:09:00.039 --> 01:09:03.000 added up visually and format wise, the biggest change that 1448 01:09:03.079 --> 01:09:05.600 I could remember. I guess since they, you know, kind 1449 01:09:05.640 --> 01:09:08.199 of upped their game up against Nitro when they had 1450 01:09:08.239 --> 01:09:11.239 to after having a pre taped one hour format and 1451 01:09:11.359 --> 01:09:15.399 they went live and really kind of changed things. I'm yeah, 1452 01:09:15.479 --> 01:09:17.840 I'm intrigued as we hear more about the behind the 1453 01:09:17.880 --> 01:09:20.840 scenes aspects of what went into Raw, and I hope 1454 01:09:20.840 --> 01:09:24.680 they are, as I said, able to differentiate SmackDown equally exactly. 1455 01:09:24.960 --> 01:09:27.239 This has to be an exciting time in WWE for 1456 01:09:27.359 --> 01:09:30.680 people and creative for people in production, because you know, 1457 01:09:30.840 --> 01:09:33.199 they've had a lot of ideas that have just been 1458 01:09:33.680 --> 01:09:35.800 ignored because they were so set in their ways and 1459 01:09:36.399 --> 01:09:39.199 everything was just so formula. But now all of a sudden, 1460 01:09:39.319 --> 01:09:42.439 apparently Vince Pickman is open to change, and Kevin Dunn, 1461 01:09:42.479 --> 01:09:44.560 whether he wanted to he or not, he has to 1462 01:09:44.600 --> 01:09:46.680 be open to change based on what we saw last night, 1463 01:09:46.720 --> 01:09:49.039 And for all I know both guys are responsible for 1464 01:09:49.479 --> 01:09:52.520 everything we saw, I doubt that's the case. It just 1465 01:09:52.560 --> 01:09:57.279 seemed like they were finally open to a major overhaul. 1466 01:09:57.600 --> 01:10:00.600 It was needed, it worked, and the interesting thing is 1467 01:10:00.680 --> 01:10:03.600 they weren't really promoting that for Raw. Raw was just 1468 01:10:03.680 --> 01:10:06.199 a Stephanie and Mick, and Mick was kind of echoing 1469 01:10:06.279 --> 01:10:08.880 what Daniel Bryan had to say, and so I was 1470 01:10:08.960 --> 01:10:10.760 I was like, Okay, we're going to get a new logo, 1471 01:10:11.000 --> 01:10:12.840 and that's all I really knew. I didn't know we 1472 01:10:12.920 --> 01:10:15.720 were getting this big overhaul like they did, And so 1473 01:10:16.520 --> 01:10:19.039 I went in with my guard down and was came 1474 01:10:19.079 --> 01:10:20.000 away Barry pleased. 1475 01:10:20.960 --> 01:10:22.880 I do want to mention MMA torch dot com as 1476 01:10:22.920 --> 01:10:25.279 our sister brand and there's big news coming out of 1477 01:10:25.319 --> 01:10:29.880 the Fox event over the dot com and pwtorch dot com. 1478 01:10:31.159 --> 01:10:36.039 Jason the enhancement line at Battleground by Randy Orton and 1479 01:10:36.079 --> 01:10:39.800 brock Lesner. Speaking of brock Lesner here, Romeo says, was 1480 01:10:39.840 --> 01:10:42.079 the enhancement line for Morton on Sunday scripted? Will brock 1481 01:10:42.119 --> 01:10:45.159 Lesner care about it? And we'll WWB book Lessner any 1482 01:10:45.199 --> 01:10:47.880 differently against Orton because of the drug tests? Will Randy 1483 01:10:47.920 --> 01:10:49.760 get in more offense than he would have before? Might 1484 01:10:49.840 --> 01:10:50.560 he even win? 1485 01:10:52.119 --> 01:10:53.479 Good email? What do you think of that, Jason? 1486 01:10:54.920 --> 01:10:56.880 Does brock Lesnar know about it? If you think crock 1487 01:10:56.920 --> 01:11:01.640 sitting at home watching the network WWE network, I. 1488 01:11:01.640 --> 01:11:04.199 Think he has a cell phone and self service in Saskatchewan. 1489 01:11:04.239 --> 01:11:05.960 I think they have self service up there. I bet 1490 01:11:06.039 --> 01:11:08.039 he's heard. Paul Hayman probably called him antill. 1491 01:11:08.119 --> 01:11:10.000 He may have heard. I mean, if possible, somebody gets 1492 01:11:10.039 --> 01:11:11.520 some worked up about but he has to know this 1493 01:11:11.680 --> 01:11:15.039 is a possibility. If they didn't talk to him about 1494 01:11:15.039 --> 01:11:17.520 it ahead of time, I mean, it's all over the place. 1495 01:11:17.680 --> 01:11:23.119 He should be thankful that WWE isn't turning him into 1496 01:11:23.920 --> 01:11:26.520 as I feel like they should. They should be suspending 1497 01:11:26.560 --> 01:11:29.800 this guy, and he should be if nothing else, needs 1498 01:11:29.840 --> 01:11:32.680 to be thankful that all right, UFC probably isn't an 1499 01:11:32.680 --> 01:11:35.800 option for a couple of years, and it's probably the 1500 01:11:35.920 --> 01:11:39.720 end of his UFC career, so he has WWE they're 1501 01:11:39.760 --> 01:11:43.319 not turning this into a big spectacle to promote their 1502 01:11:44.079 --> 01:11:46.880 own wellness policies. I mean, I just think they should 1503 01:11:46.880 --> 01:11:49.159 do the right thing on this. But no, I think 1504 01:11:49.199 --> 01:11:52.439 the line was very scripted, and I actually like the 1505 01:11:52.560 --> 01:11:54.640 setup more than the actual line. I know that's the 1506 01:11:54.680 --> 01:11:57.199 one that got everyone going ooh, but I thought it 1507 01:11:57.279 --> 01:12:00.800 was great. They don't take fifteen twenty suits Suplexers to 1508 01:12:00.800 --> 01:12:03.239 get to Supplex City, and it takes one RKO to 1509 01:12:03.279 --> 01:12:05.560 get to Biberville. I thought that was that That was 1510 01:12:05.640 --> 01:12:08.159 the line to remember, not the ooh he said enhancement. 1511 01:12:09.079 --> 01:12:12.800 Yeah, I thought that was a great I said it earlier. 1512 01:12:12.840 --> 01:12:15.560 I mean, Jason, what a great promo from Randy Orton. 1513 01:12:15.800 --> 01:12:17.600 You know, we talk about people with you know, raw 1514 01:12:17.680 --> 01:12:20.760 having a fresh look and introducing new talent. I really 1515 01:12:20.880 --> 01:12:24.520 liked what Randy Orton showed on Sunday. He just felt 1516 01:12:24.600 --> 01:12:28.600 looser and more comfortable, less in that narrow lane. And 1517 01:12:28.680 --> 01:12:30.439 I'm that's one of the reasons I'm eager to see 1518 01:12:30.479 --> 01:12:34.199 where they go with him starting tonight on SmackDown. Good 1519 01:12:34.279 --> 01:12:37.079 good stuff. Thanks to our callers. If we didn't get 1520 01:12:37.079 --> 01:12:38.760 to your call, you can drop us an email right 1521 01:12:38.800 --> 01:12:40.520 now for the VP after show that Jason and I 1522 01:12:40.720 --> 01:12:44.319 will be recording momentarily for not only PW Torch VP 1523 01:12:44.439 --> 01:12:47.119 members but also his Pro Wrestling dot net members. That'll 1524 01:12:47.159 --> 01:12:50.359 go up a little later this afternoon as some bonus 1525 01:12:50.479 --> 01:12:56.359 content beyond this edition of the live cast. The email 1526 01:12:56.359 --> 01:13:01.439 addresses PW Torch Live Cast at gmail dot com. Uh, Jason, 1527 01:13:01.600 --> 01:13:05.039 any any closing words, anything that you want to that's 1528 01:13:05.079 --> 01:13:06.479 on your jetta to talk about in the after show. 1529 01:13:06.520 --> 01:13:07.399 It's a little teaser here. 1530 01:13:09.039 --> 01:13:11.279 Maybe, I mean, I think we'll talk a lot of WWE, 1531 01:13:11.439 --> 01:13:13.000 but one thing I kind of want to talk about, 1532 01:13:13.079 --> 01:13:15.319 whether you think that WWE gets on a roll with 1533 01:13:15.479 --> 01:13:17.920 Rawn SmackDown, if that's going to have a negative effect 1534 01:13:18.039 --> 01:13:20.600 or positive ones on all these shows that air later 1535 01:13:20.680 --> 01:13:23.239 in the week, and just any promotions and everything else. 1536 01:13:23.600 --> 01:13:26.840 Good topic, Very good, All right, thanks everybody. We're gonna 1537 01:13:26.880 --> 01:13:27.720 close with a plug. 1538 01:13:27.800 --> 01:13:28.720 What for VP. 1539 01:13:28.800 --> 01:13:30.479 Don't always good to have you on the show and 1540 01:13:30.560 --> 01:13:33.760 we'll talk to you after the closing music and. 1541 01:13:33.760 --> 01:13:36.600 Commercial Here sounds great. Good to be back with. 1542 01:13:47.560 --> 01:13:49.600 Hey stuff. Do you ever watch WWE and think it 1543 01:13:49.800 --> 01:13:50.439 used to be better? 1544 01:13:50.680 --> 01:13:52.520 I don't know, josh Sometimes I think it used to 1545 01:13:52.560 --> 01:13:53.479 be a whole lot worse. 1546 01:13:53.760 --> 01:13:55.439 I mean, whether it's WrestleMania main. 1547 01:13:55.399 --> 01:13:59.199 Events, old dudes at the top, too many titles, or 1548 01:13:59.279 --> 01:14:00.920 Women's wrestle We're here. 1549 01:14:00.880 --> 01:14:03.880 To answer the big question, is it worse or better? 1550 01:14:04.039 --> 01:14:04.199 Now? 1551 01:14:04.720 --> 01:14:08.840 Join me Joshua White and me Stephanie Cheese for Worse or. 1552 01:14:08.920 --> 01:14:11.960 Better part of the PW Torch Daily castline I'm dropping 1553 01:14:12.000 --> 01:14:12.920 on Monday nights. 1554 01:14:13.239 --> 01:14:16.199 Sech PW torch in your podcast apps such as Apple 1555 01:14:16.279 --> 01:14:19.720 Podcasts or Spotify to subscribe for free or get a 1556 01:14:19.720 --> 01:14:23.560 commercial free version with the PW Torch VIP membership. Check 1557 01:14:23.600 --> 01:14:27.039 out pw torch dot com slash go vip for details 1558 01:14:27.079 --> 01:14:28.880 and going vip Worse. 1559 01:14:28.720 --> 01:14:31.720 Or Better Finally something for wrestling fans to do on 1560 01:14:31.880 --> 01:14:32.560 Monday nights. 1561 01:14:38.760 --> 01:14:41.800 All right, we're here on the VIP after show portion 1562 01:14:41.960 --> 01:14:45.159 of today's PW torch live cast on Tuesday, July twenty six, 1563 01:14:45.239 --> 01:14:50.760 twenty sixteen. Jason, I know we're not you know twenty anymore. 1564 01:14:52.800 --> 01:14:56.159 But I was a little taken aback at how difficult 1565 01:14:56.199 --> 01:14:57.920 it was to get in and out of my car 1566 01:14:58.600 --> 01:15:02.199 that the forty eight hours following our bowling marathon session 1567 01:15:02.279 --> 01:15:02.840 last Thursday. 1568 01:15:04.880 --> 01:15:09.159 Yeah, that was I planned ahead in the sense that 1569 01:15:09.399 --> 01:15:13.359 I knew from a previous bowling outing that you got 1570 01:15:13.479 --> 01:15:16.840 to stretch the hamstrings a little bit. For me, it's 1571 01:15:16.960 --> 01:15:20.560 the plant leg. I once was limping around the house 1572 01:15:20.600 --> 01:15:23.640 for like three days afterward. I was more concerned about 1573 01:15:23.680 --> 01:15:26.720 my back, but yeah, my hamstring once. I don't know 1574 01:15:26.720 --> 01:15:29.199 if I must have just strained it, but yeah, it 1575 01:15:29.319 --> 01:15:32.199 was in incredible pain. This time around, it was the 1576 01:15:32.239 --> 01:15:33.920 back which has been flaring up a little bit. But 1577 01:15:34.680 --> 01:15:36.720 it was a blast, and I am proud to say. 1578 01:15:37.239 --> 01:15:39.159 I don't want to make a big fuss for this way, 1579 01:15:39.159 --> 01:15:41.119 but I did beat you by one pin in four games. 1580 01:15:41.640 --> 01:15:44.560 That's the thing that we put together. Because it was 1581 01:15:44.920 --> 01:15:46.760 Jamie Pennock from mmatorch dot com. 1582 01:15:47.279 --> 01:15:51.279 Doesn't count. What's that doesn't count? He finished higher than I. 1583 01:15:51.560 --> 01:15:53.720 Oh yeah, I'm not talking about people to finish. I'm 1584 01:15:53.720 --> 01:15:57.359 just talking about the people who were there, because anybody 1585 01:15:57.359 --> 01:15:59.760 who scored more than we were not talking about exactly. 1586 01:15:59.560 --> 01:16:00.840 Other than which we'll get to. 1587 01:16:02.279 --> 01:16:04.680 But there's Jamie who is doing all kinds of trick shots, 1588 01:16:05.680 --> 01:16:09.600 and then Bruce Mitchell and Todd Martin and Travis Bryant 1589 01:16:10.319 --> 01:16:12.720 from the Torch, and so we had a good three 1590 01:16:12.840 --> 01:16:16.119 on three series of games, going on four games in 1591 01:16:16.159 --> 01:16:18.960 a row, kind of played teams, and in the end 1592 01:16:19.880 --> 01:16:23.079 the grand total of all my games and the grand 1593 01:16:23.159 --> 01:16:27.199 total of all of your games was one pin different. 1594 01:16:27.720 --> 01:16:30.720 That meant you what you You scored on average one 1595 01:16:30.880 --> 01:16:33.399 fourth of a point more than me over the course 1596 01:16:33.439 --> 01:16:35.119 of four games. I did not know that we were 1597 01:16:35.159 --> 01:16:36.960 both equally so awesome at bowling. 1598 01:16:37.039 --> 01:16:38.439 Jason, Oh, it's just it too. 1599 01:16:38.560 --> 01:16:41.680 Yeah, I mean our one twenty something average I think 1600 01:16:41.760 --> 01:16:44.720 would shock and awe a lot of people there. There's 1601 01:16:45.359 --> 01:16:47.239 I don't know about you. I've I've already received request 1602 01:16:47.319 --> 01:16:48.479 to join the Pro Bowling Tour. 1603 01:16:49.119 --> 01:16:49.239 Now. 1604 01:16:49.399 --> 01:16:54.399 Travis Bryant averaged in games one, two and four, I 1605 01:16:54.520 --> 01:16:57.239 think around he averaged like sixty four. 1606 01:16:57.880 --> 01:17:01.560 Okay, I don't even think I'm exaggerate. He awful. 1607 01:17:01.800 --> 01:17:06.199 Sorry, Travis, Games one, two and four, Game three one 1608 01:17:06.319 --> 01:17:09.359 eight seven, I mean I might be on by a 1609 01:17:09.359 --> 01:17:09.760 fit or two. 1610 01:17:10.000 --> 01:17:10.920 He topped one ninety. 1611 01:17:11.079 --> 01:17:11.399 He was. 1612 01:17:11.920 --> 01:17:13.159 Yeah, it was. It was insane. 1613 01:17:13.239 --> 01:17:17.199 He had answer full two hundred and the last ball 1614 01:17:17.319 --> 01:17:18.079 just didn't work out. 1615 01:17:18.159 --> 01:17:19.319 But yeah, it was. 1616 01:17:19.760 --> 01:17:21.399 And then I told him the next game because he 1617 01:17:21.439 --> 01:17:23.760 came down to the final frame and I think he 1618 01:17:23.840 --> 01:17:26.800 needed like five six pins to get a hundred. I'm like, 1619 01:17:26.840 --> 01:17:29.000 you have to top one hundred or the last game 1620 01:17:29.079 --> 01:17:31.520 was complete fluke, and he ended up with ninety nine. 1621 01:17:31.800 --> 01:17:33.079 You're right, because he was. 1622 01:17:33.520 --> 01:17:36.239 He was actually aiming at the end there for for 1623 01:17:36.359 --> 01:17:37.960 a two hundred game and came really close. 1624 01:17:38.279 --> 01:17:39.279 He did. Yeah, that was. 1625 01:17:39.479 --> 01:17:41.880 I mean, he just couldn't miss. It was four strikes 1626 01:17:41.920 --> 01:17:44.680 in a row, which I know three strikes as a turkey. 1627 01:17:45.079 --> 01:17:46.880 I don't know what four strikes is, and I think 1628 01:17:46.960 --> 01:17:49.039 we all agreed that it's just four strikes. I don't 1629 01:17:49.039 --> 01:17:51.880 think there's a cool name for like after turkey, you 1630 01:17:51.960 --> 01:17:53.600 think they just move up in the bird world, but 1631 01:17:53.720 --> 01:17:54.119 they don't. 1632 01:17:55.159 --> 01:17:57.199 But yeah, there's nowhere up from Turkey. 1633 01:17:57.520 --> 01:18:00.600 No, apparently not. He just other than perfect. There there's 1634 01:18:00.640 --> 01:18:02.600 nothing in between. There's a Turkey and then there's a 1635 01:18:02.640 --> 01:18:05.079 perfect game. You'd think they'd have some other milestones in there, 1636 01:18:05.079 --> 01:18:05.520 but they don't. 1637 01:18:05.560 --> 01:18:07.439 But yeah, that was. That was awesome. I just was 1638 01:18:07.560 --> 01:18:08.079 cheering them on. 1639 01:18:09.359 --> 01:18:12.560 I'm trying to find the uh, the photo of the 1640 01:18:12.680 --> 01:18:16.600 final scorecard here. I took so many photos this weekend. 1641 01:18:16.680 --> 01:18:17.399 What wait was? 1642 01:18:17.800 --> 01:18:22.239 Oh that's not Oh there's bowling u Oh that's confusing. 1643 01:18:22.439 --> 01:18:25.279 Oh there's the scores all right, so let's see here. 1644 01:18:26.520 --> 01:18:26.880 All right? 1645 01:18:27.000 --> 01:18:30.239 So my, oh, come on, phone, stop rotating on me. 1646 01:18:30.640 --> 01:18:33.560 So my totals, I did one thirty one, thirty six, 1647 01:18:33.680 --> 01:18:36.119 one on one and one oh four. Really, that's terrible. 1648 01:18:37.640 --> 01:18:39.800 And then you did one twenty seven, one fifteen, one 1649 01:18:39.800 --> 01:18:45.039 twenty four, one oh two worth Travis here ninety nine, Okay, 1650 01:18:45.079 --> 01:18:47.680 so I exaggerated. He did score sixty on game four, 1651 01:18:48.039 --> 01:18:50.760 but it in ninety nine, and oh his second game 1652 01:18:50.840 --> 01:18:52.840 was a good one, one ninety five. So and from 1653 01:18:52.920 --> 01:18:54.960 ninety nine to one ninety five and then ninety six 1654 01:18:55.079 --> 01:18:57.239 and sixty. Although I might have these in reverse order 1655 01:18:57.239 --> 01:18:59.600 because it's just chicken scratches, as somebody else wrote down 1656 01:18:59.600 --> 01:19:01.680 to the score. But yeah, so as low with sixty, 1657 01:19:01.880 --> 01:19:04.720 his high was one ninety five. That's freaking ridiculous. 1658 01:19:05.319 --> 01:19:07.359 It well, I mean he looked like a pro that 1659 01:19:07.520 --> 01:19:09.920 that game that he did so well he I mean, 1660 01:19:10.079 --> 01:19:11.760 the guy could admit, if you just walk in and 1661 01:19:11.840 --> 01:19:13.720 saw that game, you'd think like, Wow, this guy's an 1662 01:19:13.720 --> 01:19:14.520 amazing bowler. 1663 01:19:14.640 --> 01:19:15.800 And he was for one game. 1664 01:19:16.159 --> 01:19:19.880 I know, yes, unbelievable. Yeah he had he had forty 1665 01:19:19.960 --> 01:19:24.640 eight points in game one. Through eight frames he had 1666 01:19:25.039 --> 01:19:30.800 zero and then a spare and yeah he had a 1667 01:19:31.000 --> 01:19:34.720 double double gutter ball in frame six, three on the 1668 01:19:34.800 --> 01:19:38.479 following frame and three another frame player. I mean, just 1669 01:19:38.560 --> 01:19:40.880 an awful game and then one hundred and ninety five 1670 01:19:40.920 --> 01:19:43.720 on the next game. There's It's not like he said, 1671 01:19:43.760 --> 01:19:45.960 oh I need to change my ball or wear my 1672 01:19:46.079 --> 01:19:48.119 glove or stretch like it just happened. 1673 01:19:49.039 --> 01:19:51.159 Well, was he drinking? I mean that helped me. 1674 01:19:51.399 --> 01:19:53.760 I just to get a couple of beers in me 1675 01:19:54.039 --> 01:19:55.560 and then all of a sudden my score went up 1676 01:19:55.560 --> 01:19:56.039 a little. 1677 01:19:55.880 --> 01:19:58.079 Bit, apparently as a very small window to be great. 1678 01:19:59.520 --> 01:20:02.159 Maybe maybe it was like he had just enough beers 1679 01:20:02.279 --> 01:20:04.279 or whatever he was drinking for that game, and then 1680 01:20:04.600 --> 01:20:06.680 he exceeded the limit after that and just went went 1681 01:20:06.720 --> 01:20:08.319 in the tank. I think you should work at it, 1682 01:20:08.359 --> 01:20:11.000 because I've gone I like to go bowling, I don't 1683 01:20:11.039 --> 01:20:13.199 know three four times a year or something like that. 1684 01:20:13.520 --> 01:20:15.880 I don't think I've ever scored as high as he did, 1685 01:20:15.960 --> 01:20:18.319 so he has it in him. Greatness is there, he 1686 01:20:18.439 --> 01:20:19.319 just needs to work at it. 1687 01:20:19.640 --> 01:20:20.720 The very last game. 1688 01:20:22.119 --> 01:20:24.560 I played, Todd and I had a little rivalry going 1689 01:20:24.560 --> 01:20:27.439 at the Todd Martin, and we were really really competitive 1690 01:20:28.119 --> 01:20:31.560 in that last game. I ended with one hundred fourteen 1691 01:20:32.079 --> 01:20:35.920 and he ended with one hundred fourteen. It was like 1692 01:20:36.239 --> 01:20:38.199 it was like it was a we were the last 1693 01:20:38.279 --> 01:20:40.920 bowlers of the whole evening and it was like a 1694 01:20:41.000 --> 01:20:41.920 double count out finish. 1695 01:20:42.479 --> 01:20:43.439 Nobody was happy. 1696 01:20:43.680 --> 01:20:46.560 There was there was no confetti, there was no ring 1697 01:20:46.760 --> 01:20:50.399 music or no no celebration music, there were no high fives. 1698 01:20:50.439 --> 01:20:51.880 It was we kind of looked at each other like, 1699 01:20:53.239 --> 01:20:56.279 all right, that's all nothing. So but a really really 1700 01:20:56.319 --> 01:21:00.239 fun time. So glad even though Verus was there. Yeah, 1701 01:21:00.279 --> 01:21:05.920 that was fun, absolutely all right. So let's talk some wrestling. Jason, 1702 01:21:05.920 --> 01:21:08.840 you went to asked you brought up an intriguing question, 1703 01:21:08.920 --> 01:21:12.000 which is, no matter what Ron SmackDown do ratings wise, 1704 01:21:13.079 --> 01:21:16.800 will it help or hurt especially? I guess he and 1705 01:21:16.880 --> 01:21:20.399 I impact Moving to Thursday Nights, they had a pretty strong, 1706 01:21:21.600 --> 01:21:26.279 a solid debut last Thursday. Yeah, and now they have 1707 01:21:26.359 --> 01:21:28.319 a replay again, I guess on late Thursday nights. I 1708 01:21:28.359 --> 01:21:29.479 don't know if that's going to be. Is that a 1709 01:21:29.520 --> 01:21:31.520 regular thing now? Jason replays on Thursday nights again. 1710 01:21:31.560 --> 01:21:33.239 Oh the first I'm hearing of it. I didn't even know. 1711 01:21:34.039 --> 01:21:36.279 Yeah, I think so. I think, let me actually bring 1712 01:21:36.359 --> 01:21:40.319 the ratings up if I can pull them up here quickly, 1713 01:21:40.359 --> 01:21:44.680 because last week, there we go July twenty first, the 1714 01:21:45.119 --> 01:21:48.319 first airing from eight to ten Eastern did three hundred 1715 01:21:48.319 --> 01:21:52.439 and sixty two thousand, which is above their average and 1716 01:21:52.960 --> 01:21:54.560 a good number. But they had forty eight thousand on 1717 01:21:54.640 --> 01:21:57.600 a one am to three am replay, so they ended 1718 01:21:57.680 --> 01:22:00.119 up with about four under ten thousand viewers total. But 1719 01:22:00.279 --> 01:22:04.039 three sixty two is a bump from even where they were. 1720 01:22:06.199 --> 01:22:08.079 Well actually for a new night, that's that's nice. It 1721 01:22:08.159 --> 01:22:10.640 was a bump from their average. They were at four 1722 01:22:10.680 --> 01:22:16.079 to ten on their last on the show, right after 1723 01:22:16.960 --> 01:22:20.159 the final deletion episode. 1724 01:22:20.239 --> 01:22:20.840 So I don't know. 1725 01:22:20.880 --> 01:22:23.000 I just think three sixty two is encouraging on a 1726 01:22:23.079 --> 01:22:27.279 Thursday night up against the Republican Convention. So yeah, I'm 1727 01:22:27.279 --> 01:22:29.079 eager to see what they do. I think if people 1728 01:22:29.239 --> 01:22:32.640 like wrestling and feel good about it on Monday and Tuesday, 1729 01:22:33.159 --> 01:22:35.159 I think Thursday T and A can benefit from that, 1730 01:22:35.279 --> 01:22:37.640 and it could help. I think ultimately TNA is gonna 1731 01:22:37.640 --> 01:22:39.359 have to earn their own viewership, but I think it helps. 1732 01:22:39.880 --> 01:22:43.479 I think the buffer helps. I think Wednesday night is 1733 01:22:43.560 --> 01:22:46.399 super fan night. If you're not burned out from Ron SmackDown, 1734 01:22:46.479 --> 01:22:49.920 you're watching NXT, you're watching a Cruiserway Classic and Luca 1735 01:22:50.000 --> 01:22:51.840 Underground before its season just ended. 1736 01:22:53.039 --> 01:22:55.640 That to me, you're a super fan, you really. I mean, 1737 01:22:56.239 --> 01:22:58.359 not that you can't pick one to watch or something, but. 1738 01:23:00.000 --> 01:23:03.840 I think the more casual audience, and who knows, maybe 1739 01:23:03.880 --> 01:23:05.119 T and A at this point has made up of 1740 01:23:05.199 --> 01:23:09.119 super fan viewers too. But I think that night in between, 1741 01:23:09.199 --> 01:23:11.600 so even if we're on some backdown stink now, you 1742 01:23:11.760 --> 01:23:13.960 just avoid wrestling on Wednesday, but by Thursday night you 1743 01:23:14.039 --> 01:23:16.079 might be up for it. The big problem, of course, 1744 01:23:16.239 --> 01:23:18.119 is that, well, they're going to be running into some 1745 01:23:18.239 --> 01:23:21.199 serious network competition, they're going to run into NFL competition, 1746 01:23:21.239 --> 01:23:23.199 They're going to run into a lot of NBA competition, 1747 01:23:23.800 --> 01:23:27.319 and so it's kind of enjoy it well last I mean, 1748 01:23:27.359 --> 01:23:30.319 I hope good things come on Thursdays for them. It's 1749 01:23:30.399 --> 01:23:33.199 a good night for television as far as overall, viewership. 1750 01:23:33.319 --> 01:23:36.039 That's been the pattern over the years. But it's also 1751 01:23:36.199 --> 01:23:40.039 a really strong night for competition. And my biggest fear 1752 01:23:40.079 --> 01:23:42.119 weight is that now that they're back on Thursdays, they'll 1753 01:23:42.119 --> 01:23:43.680 think it's a good idea to bring back the damn 1754 01:23:43.720 --> 01:23:44.800 Turkey suit on Thanksgiving. 1755 01:23:44.840 --> 01:23:46.199 I am not covering the Turkey suit. 1756 01:23:46.239 --> 01:23:49.880 Oh god, No, just pre empt them. Well, I'll just 1757 01:23:49.920 --> 01:23:53.880 pretend like it didn't exist exactly. Yep. All right. 1758 01:23:53.920 --> 01:23:55.800 Well, let's go to our emails, Chase. We've got some 1759 01:23:56.199 --> 01:23:58.439 good emails. A lot of emails came in today. The 1760 01:23:59.000 --> 01:24:01.800 first question on the email list with Raw pulling out, Oh, 1761 01:24:01.840 --> 01:24:04.359 this is from Gervard m. With Raw pulling out all 1762 01:24:04.439 --> 01:24:07.079 the stops hot shot booking last night, what can SmackDown 1763 01:24:07.159 --> 01:24:10.000 do to one Uproar other than say an IC title change? 1764 01:24:10.039 --> 01:24:12.399 And also, how can Ron SmackDown have floating champions while 1765 01:24:12.399 --> 01:24:18.079 still maintaining a separate feel between the brands. Yeah, Jason, 1766 01:24:18.640 --> 01:24:22.000 they don't have floating champions right. I don't think the 1767 01:24:22.039 --> 01:24:24.159 women's or tech titles will float. I think they would 1768 01:24:24.159 --> 01:24:24.800 have said that by now. 1769 01:24:25.119 --> 01:24:25.319 Yeah. 1770 01:24:25.720 --> 01:24:27.920 And I think if you were gonna have floating champions, 1771 01:24:27.960 --> 01:24:29.720 it would have started with the World champion, and like 1772 01:24:29.800 --> 01:24:32.399 I say, you know, maybe Sasha, that's just because the 1773 01:24:32.520 --> 01:24:35.039 number of women. I don't think that's going to be 1774 01:24:35.119 --> 01:24:37.439 the case. But again, leaving the door open just a 1775 01:24:37.520 --> 01:24:39.479 crack that they'll have the women's champion float, but I 1776 01:24:39.560 --> 01:24:44.159 doubt it if they had. I mean, I was in 1777 01:24:44.279 --> 01:24:48.159 favor of that. I just don't like having a ridiculous 1778 01:24:48.239 --> 01:24:49.520 number of champions in wrestling. 1779 01:24:49.560 --> 01:24:50.199 We're already there. 1780 01:24:50.279 --> 01:24:52.239 I would have merged the US and IC titles and 1781 01:24:52.359 --> 01:24:55.479 just had all champions float even and I think you 1782 01:24:55.640 --> 01:24:58.520 could have kept that separate identity. It's just you have 1783 01:24:59.039 --> 01:25:01.119 the same way that tear ories did back in the day. 1784 01:25:01.159 --> 01:25:04.039 Now they weren't really competing with one another. But I 1785 01:25:04.119 --> 01:25:06.359 still think there was a there's a way to do it, 1786 01:25:06.760 --> 01:25:08.079 and there's a way to make it feel like a 1787 01:25:08.119 --> 01:25:10.960 big deal when your guy is challenging the champion. You 1788 01:25:11.000 --> 01:25:13.439 don't have to have the champion on every single show either, 1789 01:25:13.720 --> 01:25:14.760 So I think they could have done it. 1790 01:25:15.720 --> 01:25:20.439 The hotshot aspect of Raw, as I talked about at 1791 01:25:20.479 --> 01:25:23.239 the top of the live cast that we did earlier Jason, 1792 01:25:23.520 --> 01:25:25.279 does concern me. You know, have they set the bar 1793 01:25:25.359 --> 01:25:27.479 too high? Can they follow up on this that does 1794 01:25:27.560 --> 01:25:32.159 apply to SmackDown tonight and will smackdoone. You know, is 1795 01:25:32.239 --> 01:25:34.319 the writing team and the talent ready to deliver, And 1796 01:25:34.479 --> 01:25:39.399 I think they're probably over at Smackdone right now as 1797 01:25:39.439 --> 01:25:43.680 we speak. There's already a legit competitive vibe going on 1798 01:25:43.800 --> 01:25:46.359 in that locker room that did not exist when SMACKDOWNE 1799 01:25:46.479 --> 01:25:51.319 was just the morning leftovers from Raw. And now you 1800 01:25:51.479 --> 01:25:53.399 have a set of wrestlers who didn't work last night, 1801 01:25:53.760 --> 01:25:56.199 who have one opportunity on national TV this week to 1802 01:25:56.279 --> 01:26:01.039 get themselves over, not a second opportunity to just go 1803 01:26:01.199 --> 01:26:03.640 through the motions. I think there's got to be excitement 1804 01:26:03.760 --> 01:26:06.840 about being live tonight and trying to one up Run 1805 01:26:06.920 --> 01:26:08.880 the ratings and build on the momentum from last week. 1806 01:26:08.920 --> 01:26:11.279 I mean, this is not Roversus Nithrol. They're not head 1807 01:26:11.319 --> 01:26:14.199 to head, it's not the same thing. But I think 1808 01:26:14.239 --> 01:26:18.199 this is pretty It's pretty cool that if you imagine 1809 01:26:18.239 --> 01:26:19.840 right now, the wrestlers are sitting there in the locker 1810 01:26:19.920 --> 01:26:21.760 room and the riders trying to think of a way 1811 01:26:21.880 --> 01:26:24.119 that they can break next week about one uping Raw 1812 01:26:24.119 --> 01:26:25.960 on the ratings, which would be a huge upset for them, 1813 01:26:26.279 --> 01:26:28.439 although they have the advantage of only being two hours 1814 01:26:28.479 --> 01:26:31.479 and not three. So I just think we're going to 1815 01:26:31.520 --> 01:26:34.359 see a really good effort on the part of most 1816 01:26:34.399 --> 01:26:36.640 of the wrestlers. Yeah, there'll be somebody cynical rolling their 1817 01:26:36.640 --> 01:26:38.239 eyes at this idea that they're going to be goaded 1818 01:26:38.279 --> 01:26:40.520 into caring, But for the most part, I think there 1819 01:26:40.520 --> 01:26:43.159 will be some brand pride that will make the shows better. 1820 01:26:43.840 --> 01:26:44.319 I think so. 1821 01:26:44.560 --> 01:26:47.399 I just question when their SmackDown has the horses to 1822 01:26:47.680 --> 01:26:49.359 pull this off. I don't think they have a lot 1823 01:26:49.399 --> 01:26:53.079 of depth. It's they're going to have, and it'd be 1824 01:26:53.119 --> 01:26:55.159 different if it was. Well, I see a lot of 1825 01:26:55.199 --> 01:26:58.239 guys that have been underutilized and that they can turn 1826 01:26:58.319 --> 01:26:58.800 into start. 1827 01:26:58.840 --> 01:26:59.960 I don't see a lot of those guys. 1828 01:27:00.560 --> 01:27:04.199 It doesn't mean they can't have a good launch point tonight, 1829 01:27:04.279 --> 01:27:05.840 they can't come out of the gate with a good, 1830 01:27:05.920 --> 01:27:09.479 strong show, but just over the long haul, I think 1831 01:27:09.560 --> 01:27:12.439 they need to bring in some people. I wish SmackDown 1832 01:27:12.479 --> 01:27:14.520 would have been the home for the cruiser weights instead 1833 01:27:14.520 --> 01:27:16.720 of RAW. I think they need it more than Raw does. 1834 01:27:16.880 --> 01:27:21.159 Raw has enough depth. SmackDown is lacking. They did okay later. 1835 01:27:21.279 --> 01:27:23.159 I mean there's a couple of there's an Apollo cruise 1836 01:27:23.199 --> 01:27:25.239 that you can do more with her there. There's some people, 1837 01:27:25.880 --> 01:27:28.800 but I'm just not excited by the SmackDown roster like 1838 01:27:28.920 --> 01:27:31.159 I am, like I thought I would be. I really 1839 01:27:31.199 --> 01:27:34.119 thought we'd see Kevin Owen, Sammy's a you know, it's 1840 01:27:34.119 --> 01:27:37.239 cizarro at least one, if not two of those guys 1841 01:27:37.319 --> 01:27:40.399 over there, and they're on Raw and I kind of 1842 01:27:40.439 --> 01:27:42.520 feel they're going to get lost in the shuffle where 1843 01:27:42.520 --> 01:27:44.399 if they were on SmackDown that they could be doing 1844 01:27:44.439 --> 01:27:47.079 a lot more. And so I still hope I'm holding 1845 01:27:47.119 --> 01:27:48.199 out hope for some trades here. 1846 01:27:48.960 --> 01:27:51.760 Yeah, I'm just holding out hope that we're pleasantly surprised 1847 01:27:51.800 --> 01:27:55.319 by what they do with Dean Ambrose, John's Sina, Dolph Siegler, 1848 01:27:55.439 --> 01:27:58.880 Randy Orton, Callisto Apollo Cruise on the baby face side, 1849 01:27:59.199 --> 01:28:01.800 and aj Miz and Bray Wyatt and Alberto de Rio 1850 01:28:01.880 --> 01:28:04.479 and Baron Corbin on the heels side. Not a lot 1851 01:28:04.520 --> 01:28:06.880 of depth as far as the women in Tay teams go. 1852 01:28:07.119 --> 01:28:11.119 But uh yeah, I mean I'm intrigued. I'm intrigued by 1853 01:28:11.279 --> 01:28:13.520 all of this, and it's a lot more fun than 1854 01:28:14.479 --> 01:28:16.880 it had been. But SmackDown has something to prove for 1855 01:28:16.960 --> 01:28:18.680 all the reasons you just said, Jason. Let's go to 1856 01:28:18.720 --> 01:28:22.359 the the next email and go to Anna, who says, 1857 01:28:22.359 --> 01:28:24.119 I don't watch NXT, but I've heard about Finn Balor 1858 01:28:24.159 --> 01:28:26.199 from your podcast. I was excited to see him wrestle 1859 01:28:26.640 --> 01:28:28.640 for the first time on RAW last night. See there 1860 01:28:28.680 --> 01:28:31.560 are I think people who watch YouTube and New Japan 1861 01:28:31.840 --> 01:28:35.199 and NXT just assume everybody's seen him. And there were 1862 01:28:35.239 --> 01:28:37.159 a lot of people who saw Finn Balor for the 1863 01:28:37.199 --> 01:28:38.000 first time last night. 1864 01:28:38.000 --> 01:28:38.800 I mean absolutely. 1865 01:28:39.119 --> 01:28:41.199 I mean there's people who would assume that I would 1866 01:28:41.239 --> 01:28:45.119 see the star, the star rookie running back on the 1867 01:28:45.239 --> 01:28:48.199 Tennessee Titans by week and nine of the NFL season, 1868 01:28:48.640 --> 01:28:51.039 And I watched the Vikings, And if the Vikings haven't 1869 01:28:51.079 --> 01:28:56.079 played the Titans, and and and I'm busy on Monday 1870 01:28:56.119 --> 01:29:00.920 nights watching Raw and they haven't been on Monday Night 1871 01:29:01.000 --> 01:29:02.920 Orunday Night football, there's a really good chance I haven't 1872 01:29:02.920 --> 01:29:04.359 seen him, and I might not even know his full 1873 01:29:04.439 --> 01:29:05.199 name like that. 1874 01:29:05.560 --> 01:29:07.640 I remember a couple of years ago when Jimmy Graham 1875 01:29:07.720 --> 01:29:09.720 was traded from the Saints. You weren't sure who he was, 1876 01:29:09.840 --> 01:29:11.840 and he was pretty much at his peak at that point. 1877 01:29:12.000 --> 01:29:13.119 I still don't even know who he. 1878 01:29:13.159 --> 01:29:16.079 Is, sure, Well, I think he got injured last year, 1879 01:29:16.079 --> 01:29:16.760 but still. 1880 01:29:16.840 --> 01:29:18.760 Yeah, No, I mean I'm that kind of NFL fan. 1881 01:29:18.920 --> 01:29:22.039 Like I listened to sports talk radio. I look forward 1882 01:29:22.079 --> 01:29:25.520 to Viking games. When they're doing well, it's destination TV. 1883 01:29:25.680 --> 01:29:27.119 When they're not, you know, I can still keep an 1884 01:29:27.119 --> 01:29:29.720 eye on them, but it's just something I've sacrificed in 1885 01:29:29.800 --> 01:29:31.880 my life, you know, something I just haven't haven't invested 1886 01:29:31.920 --> 01:29:35.399 in a ton of time in over time, I've kind 1887 01:29:35.399 --> 01:29:38.000 of pulled back from following it week by week, and 1888 01:29:38.079 --> 01:29:39.760 you know, because I'm not in fantasy leagues and stuff. 1889 01:29:39.760 --> 01:29:41.640 So my point in that is, you can be a 1890 01:29:41.680 --> 01:29:44.920 wrestling fan who's really into raw and listens to wrestling 1891 01:29:45.000 --> 01:29:47.039 podcasts and not have seen Finn Balor. 1892 01:29:47.600 --> 01:29:49.079 You know, I listened to sports radio. 1893 01:29:49.119 --> 01:29:51.039 I watch the Vikings every week, but I don't know 1894 01:29:51.159 --> 01:29:53.039 a lot else that's going on in the NFL unless 1895 01:29:53.039 --> 01:29:56.520 it's just something I get a quick brush up session 1896 01:29:57.039 --> 01:29:59.520 right before the Vikings play them on a Sunday or Monday. 1897 01:29:59.600 --> 01:30:02.439 So she's that type of fan. So she said he 1898 01:30:02.520 --> 01:30:04.279 lived up to the hype for me, will it be 1899 01:30:04.399 --> 01:30:07.479 difficult for WWW to push someone who isn't known to 1900 01:30:07.560 --> 01:30:10.039 those people who don't watch NXT, and do you think 1901 01:30:10.079 --> 01:30:12.119 Balori will beat Seth for the belt? 1902 01:30:12.199 --> 01:30:12.520 Personally? 1903 01:30:12.560 --> 01:30:14.279 He seems like a breath of fresh air from Seth 1904 01:30:14.359 --> 01:30:19.800 and Roman. Jason, I think that wrestlers entered territories throughout 1905 01:30:19.800 --> 01:30:22.279 all of wrestling history where fans didn't know who they were, 1906 01:30:22.640 --> 01:30:24.479 and within a week or two or three you get 1907 01:30:24.520 --> 01:30:26.960 to know him and it's up to them and the 1908 01:30:27.000 --> 01:30:29.199 bookers to get them over. And I think the Wayfin 1909 01:30:29.239 --> 01:30:31.319 Balor was book last night, I think he got over 1910 01:30:31.399 --> 01:30:33.359 in the ring. I don't know that on the microphone 1911 01:30:33.600 --> 01:30:37.880 he was all that impressive. I didn't really I didn't 1912 01:30:37.880 --> 01:30:40.000 know what they were going for with the Roman interaction 1913 01:30:40.640 --> 01:30:42.840 and so but I think the music video they did 1914 01:30:42.880 --> 01:30:44.520 for him, I hope they keep doing music videos for 1915 01:30:44.800 --> 01:30:47.279 the two main event at the two scheduled main eventers. 1916 01:30:47.439 --> 01:30:48.560 I think that's a cool format. 1917 01:30:49.359 --> 01:30:51.079 But I think Finn's got to show that he's more 1918 01:30:51.159 --> 01:30:54.239 than a cool ring entrance in high spots and a 1919 01:30:54.359 --> 01:30:57.199 good unique look. Overall, we got to know who he 1920 01:30:57.359 --> 01:31:00.159 is and what he's all about, and so there's all 1921 01:31:00.199 --> 01:31:02.119 some work to be done. But after the big week 1922 01:31:02.159 --> 01:31:04.560 he had last week, I'm sure they'll do interviews with 1923 01:31:04.640 --> 01:31:05.479 him on Raw next week. 1924 01:31:07.079 --> 01:31:07.960 Just a reminder you can. 1925 01:31:07.920 --> 01:31:10.640 Reach us at Wade Kellerpost Show at gmail dot com 1926 01:31:10.680 --> 01:31:13.279 if you're interested in contributing to the Flagship or Wadekeller 1927 01:31:13.359 --> 01:31:15.520 Post Show at gmail dot com if you're interested in 1928 01:31:15.840 --> 01:31:18.119 submitting a question or a topic or even a rant 1929 01:31:18.239 --> 01:31:20.520 on the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling post shows. 1930 01:31:22.720 --> 01:31:25.039 Yeah, I'm curiously where they go with him because he 1931 01:31:25.359 --> 01:31:27.520 was the humble guy when he kind of emerged from 1932 01:31:27.560 --> 01:31:30.439 the big group on the stage and walked out to 1933 01:31:30.520 --> 01:31:33.239 the front early in the show, and then he was 1934 01:31:33.399 --> 01:31:36.439 very cocky with Roman Reigns and in their segment, So 1935 01:31:36.760 --> 01:31:39.880 I don't think that's been established. But he can work 1936 01:31:40.640 --> 01:31:43.560 as a top player on Raw, whether he has the 1937 01:31:43.640 --> 01:31:45.840 title or not. They may give it to him to 1938 01:31:45.920 --> 01:31:47.720 kind of signify that this is a new error to 1939 01:31:47.760 --> 01:31:49.319 can't kind of continue that theme. 1940 01:31:50.439 --> 01:31:51.640 Seth may need it more. 1941 01:31:52.119 --> 01:31:54.000 I'm kind of torn there because there's part of me 1942 01:31:54.079 --> 01:31:56.520 that wants to see Balor go on that chase, but 1943 01:31:56.640 --> 01:31:58.560 I'm really bored by Seth as a heel right now. 1944 01:31:59.199 --> 01:32:03.079 I liked last week's empty arena promo, but when it's 1945 01:32:03.520 --> 01:32:06.680 just Seth rawlins, they made a mistake. I don't think 1946 01:32:06.720 --> 01:32:10.960 there's much debate. I mean, some people will my donn 1947 01:32:10.960 --> 01:32:12.880 At Stafford will prove it, but I think he's still 1948 01:32:12.880 --> 01:32:15.000 among them who will. He feels like they made the 1949 01:32:15.079 --> 01:32:16.720 right call in bringing him back as a heel, and 1950 01:32:17.079 --> 01:32:19.479 I will just continue to argue it because I feel 1951 01:32:19.560 --> 01:32:21.800 like I'm watching a rerun with Seth Rawlins right now. 1952 01:32:21.840 --> 01:32:23.319 As great as his matches. 1953 01:32:23.000 --> 01:32:25.119 Are, it's different when he's in the ring and he's 1954 01:32:25.239 --> 01:32:27.159 you know, having a pay per view mane event, but 1955 01:32:27.279 --> 01:32:30.920 the act feels tired and repetitive, and now that he's 1956 01:32:30.960 --> 01:32:34.279 back aligned with Stephanie favoring him again, it feels even 1957 01:32:34.319 --> 01:32:37.600 more repetitive. And so I don't know whether you give 1958 01:32:37.760 --> 01:32:40.840 Rawlins the championship and run the risk that we've been 1959 01:32:40.880 --> 01:32:43.680 there and done that before, or if you deprive people 1960 01:32:43.760 --> 01:32:45.880 of Finn Balor's chase. I'm not which which direction do 1961 01:32:45.880 --> 01:32:46.520 you think they go with? 1962 01:32:48.720 --> 01:32:50.399 I think Finn Balor. 1963 01:32:52.079 --> 01:32:55.319 Man I've been I've been hedging on this because if 1964 01:32:55.359 --> 01:32:58.199 he wins, If he if he wins a championship at SummerSlam, 1965 01:32:58.800 --> 01:33:01.439 you've you've cement that you've shot him to the top 1966 01:33:02.199 --> 01:33:06.279 and he's sort of your you know, he's everybody's different, 1967 01:33:06.319 --> 01:33:07.960 but he can be your kind of agent style Sammy's 1968 01:33:08.000 --> 01:33:11.560 and Daniel Bryant ciampunk, the guy with indie cred, respect 1969 01:33:11.600 --> 01:33:13.680 from the fans, and he can go in the ring. 1970 01:33:14.000 --> 01:33:17.119 He can give you good matches and he's a he's 1971 01:33:17.119 --> 01:33:19.479 a fresh act that people would be into. And then 1972 01:33:19.520 --> 01:33:22.159 you don't kind of have him get kind of touch 1973 01:33:22.760 --> 01:33:25.520 the the the main events but then drop back down 1974 01:33:25.560 --> 01:33:27.239 again and get to find down kind of like Kevin 1975 01:33:27.239 --> 01:33:29.479 Owens did, and they do it too many guys. My 1976 01:33:29.680 --> 01:33:33.239 vote is for him to be the centerpiece, lead babyface 1977 01:33:33.279 --> 01:33:35.079 act and that go all in with him for a while. 1978 01:33:35.399 --> 01:33:36.600 I just think every once in a while you got 1979 01:33:36.680 --> 01:33:37.600 to do that, and I don't think they have the 1980 01:33:37.640 --> 01:33:42.479 talent depth to be picky about that. And then it's 1981 01:33:42.560 --> 01:33:45.920 just it also comes down to what kind of rotation 1982 01:33:46.039 --> 01:33:48.319 of heels can then you put against him on that 1983 01:33:48.479 --> 01:33:50.800 raw roster. We saw teasers of a good number of 1984 01:33:50.840 --> 01:33:53.640 them with Kevin Owens, and I mean, the heck you 1985 01:33:53.680 --> 01:33:55.760 can even do a face face matchup with with Czarro. 1986 01:33:55.840 --> 01:33:57.720 But there's also the chance in this kind of why 1987 01:33:57.760 --> 01:34:01.000 aheadge that they could end up turning balor and if 1988 01:34:01.079 --> 01:34:04.640 Balor's a heel, and he came across a little heel 1989 01:34:04.720 --> 01:34:07.479 ish on on raw. He worked a squash match on 1990 01:34:07.600 --> 01:34:08.960 NXT a couple months ago where I thought it was 1991 01:34:09.000 --> 01:34:10.880 a rehearsal to show Vince Hey, I can work heel. 1992 01:34:11.520 --> 01:34:14.560 But he's so undersized and so flashy, and that ring 1993 01:34:14.720 --> 01:34:19.399 entrance with the arm extension going out is so positive, 1994 01:34:20.359 --> 01:34:24.399 is so just. I mean, the fan participation of at 1995 01:34:24.520 --> 01:34:26.600 ring entrance, and that's a big part of what's the 1996 01:34:26.640 --> 01:34:29.239 appeal of WWE and go into live shows and watching 1997 01:34:29.279 --> 01:34:31.960 people is being into the act. I just think even 1998 01:34:32.000 --> 01:34:33.640 though he could be a good heel, I think he's 1999 01:34:33.680 --> 01:34:36.640 in the wrong promotion for that, and they need somebody 2000 01:34:36.720 --> 01:34:39.680 to be that undersized, underdog, athletic guy who has that 2001 01:34:39.760 --> 01:34:42.720 great exciting ring entrance. So yeah, I kind of lean 2002 01:34:42.760 --> 01:34:44.840 towards they should put the belt on him. I'm not 2003 01:34:45.159 --> 01:34:48.199 sure that they that they will, and part of that 2004 01:34:48.479 --> 01:34:50.840 has to be. Part of what goes into that calculation 2005 01:34:50.960 --> 01:34:52.800 is where are they with Roman reigns right now? And 2006 01:34:53.000 --> 01:34:54.920 I'm still not one hundred percent sure how committed they 2007 01:34:54.920 --> 01:34:57.399 are to him long term. I do know that Romans 2008 01:34:57.399 --> 01:34:59.560 had a chance to establish himself as a top baby 2009 01:34:59.600 --> 01:35:03.279 face and hasn't worked. So I mean, I'd like to reshuffle, 2010 01:35:03.319 --> 01:35:06.079 as you said, some of the face and heel slots 2011 01:35:06.159 --> 01:35:08.640 that they're in. But I vote for I vote for 2012 01:35:08.720 --> 01:35:10.479 fit going all the way with Finn Balor and keep 2013 01:35:10.479 --> 01:35:11.560 it a babyface. 2014 01:35:11.560 --> 01:35:13.880 Okay, yeah, I mean to me, he has to be 2015 01:35:13.960 --> 01:35:17.159 the top babyface. It's and I think he needs to 2016 01:35:17.199 --> 01:35:21.560 win the championship by the end of the year. I 2017 01:35:21.680 --> 01:35:24.560 think I'm not saying it's wrong to put it on 2018 01:35:24.680 --> 01:35:26.000 him right away because it's not. 2019 01:35:27.840 --> 01:35:28.079 For me. 2020 01:35:28.159 --> 01:35:29.760 It's do you give it back to Seth and have 2021 01:35:29.880 --> 01:35:31.840 Finn chase him for a few months, maybe he wins 2022 01:35:31.840 --> 01:35:34.279 it at Survivor Series or something like that. And I 2023 01:35:34.399 --> 01:35:36.840 bring this up in part because I felt deprived last 2024 01:35:36.920 --> 01:35:40.199 night watching Sasha Bangs win that championship. I don't think 2025 01:35:40.199 --> 01:35:42.239 they've done a good job of telling her story on RAW. 2026 01:35:42.319 --> 01:35:44.359 It's great, she has dreamed of this since she was 2027 01:35:44.399 --> 01:35:47.840 ten years old. She's very cocky and there's an edginess 2028 01:35:47.920 --> 01:35:50.880 to her and it can be a babyface character. But 2029 01:35:51.000 --> 01:35:54.039 I don't think it got over great with the live 2030 01:35:54.119 --> 01:35:57.239 crowd last night. I think had they done a better 2031 01:35:57.359 --> 01:35:59.880 job and they hadn't been so focused on telling everyone 2032 01:36:00.039 --> 01:36:01.960 this is a new era last night, or if they'd 2033 01:36:02.000 --> 01:36:03.800 just done a much better job in the months leading 2034 01:36:03.880 --> 01:36:06.000 up to this of telling her story, it would have 2035 01:36:06.039 --> 01:36:08.840 been even bigger. It's something that people weren't buzzing all 2036 01:36:08.920 --> 01:36:11.520 that much our callers, and it's a small sample size, 2037 01:36:11.560 --> 01:36:14.000 but as well as that came off last night, Waite, 2038 01:36:14.239 --> 01:36:16.840 I do feel a bit cheated that they just raced 2039 01:36:16.880 --> 01:36:19.199 into this. You know, I thought SummerSlam was premature, but 2040 01:36:19.399 --> 01:36:21.199 just because of the job that they the poor job 2041 01:36:21.239 --> 01:36:24.359 they've done here. She I don't know what we're supposed 2042 01:36:24.359 --> 01:36:26.640 to make of her. I guess she's a baby face 2043 01:36:26.680 --> 01:36:31.079 even though she comes off comes across very cocky. Any 2044 01:36:31.119 --> 01:36:33.159 thoughts on her? I mean, I thought it was a 2045 01:36:33.319 --> 01:36:35.520 cool moment that just could have been better had they 2046 01:36:35.600 --> 01:36:37.680 done that, had had they done a better job leading 2047 01:36:37.760 --> 01:36:38.039 up to it. 2048 01:36:38.439 --> 01:36:41.520 Well, we have an email question related to this, and 2049 01:36:43.159 --> 01:36:44.840 let me bring this up as a ticket This is 2050 01:36:44.840 --> 01:36:47.119 from Romeo. He goes as a ticket older for Summer Slam. 2051 01:36:47.520 --> 01:36:50.479 I selfishly feel robbed of the Sasha Banks Championship win. 2052 01:36:50.760 --> 01:36:52.560 Hey man, do you agree with their move. 2053 01:36:52.439 --> 01:36:54.359 To randomly give it away on raw without promoting it 2054 01:36:54.399 --> 01:36:56.079 ahead of time. I suppose it does make the potential 2055 01:36:56.119 --> 01:36:59.720 rematch at SummerSlam more hard to predict. I mean, have 2056 01:36:59.880 --> 01:37:02.159 we heard any news Have you seen anything Jason today 2057 01:37:02.199 --> 01:37:05.880 on IF Charlotte, If there was some reason that behind 2058 01:37:05.920 --> 01:37:08.000 the scenes that led to the kind of out of 2059 01:37:08.039 --> 01:37:08.800 nowhere title change. 2060 01:37:09.000 --> 01:37:09.039 No. 2061 01:37:09.159 --> 01:37:12.039 I had somebody last night, you know, jokingly, we're gonna 2062 01:37:12.079 --> 01:37:14.000 wake up and find out that she a wellness violation. 2063 01:37:14.399 --> 01:37:16.600 The thought, blieve me, the thought crossed my mind watching 2064 01:37:16.680 --> 01:37:18.479 that play out. I really think they just wanted to 2065 01:37:18.560 --> 01:37:20.960 send a message of change and they got caught up 2066 01:37:21.000 --> 01:37:21.239 in that. 2067 01:37:22.720 --> 01:37:22.800 Ye. 2068 01:37:22.920 --> 01:37:25.039 I mean, it wouldn't if we found out like she 2069 01:37:25.239 --> 01:37:28.039 had to have has to take time away for whatever reason, 2070 01:37:28.520 --> 01:37:30.680 it wouldn't shock me because it did feel that way, 2071 01:37:30.760 --> 01:37:33.880 and whenever you feel that way, it's just it's a 2072 01:37:33.960 --> 01:37:36.119 sign that something was missing. Even though it came off 2073 01:37:36.279 --> 01:37:38.399 very well and the crowd was behind it, I gave 2074 01:37:38.439 --> 01:37:40.680 it a hit today for that reason that you know 2075 01:37:40.760 --> 01:37:43.399 that live crowd loved it. But I still felt like 2076 01:37:43.680 --> 01:37:45.800 this could have been better had they just built up 2077 01:37:45.840 --> 01:37:49.119 to this, And I hope they didn't do some long 2078 01:37:49.239 --> 01:37:51.039 term damage for some short term gain. 2079 01:37:51.880 --> 01:37:54.319 Yeah, I mean, Bailey at some point is going to 2080 01:37:54.359 --> 01:37:56.279 be brought up and be added to the mix, and 2081 01:37:56.880 --> 01:37:58.720 I just I don't know what's I don't know that 2082 01:37:58.840 --> 01:38:00.680 Sasha is going to be somebody that fans are going 2083 01:38:00.720 --> 01:38:03.479 to be willing to boom. Maybe against Bailey, they will. 2084 01:38:03.600 --> 01:38:06.560 But part of the part of the problem with Sasha 2085 01:38:06.680 --> 01:38:12.039 is she is so even when she's a heel, she 2086 01:38:12.239 --> 01:38:14.840 doesn't stay in heal character, you know, like on Twitter, 2087 01:38:14.960 --> 01:38:18.720 she doesn't after victory, she doesn't. I don't think that 2088 01:38:18.920 --> 01:38:22.479 she's believable and consistent in portraying herself as a heel, 2089 01:38:22.520 --> 01:38:25.560 and fans just see her as somebody who loves the business, 2090 01:38:25.640 --> 01:38:28.319 works really hard, has great matches, and they just are 2091 01:38:28.399 --> 01:38:31.279 naturally drawn to her and her cool factor and her 2092 01:38:31.640 --> 01:38:34.119 appreciation for Eddie Guerrero and all of that. I just 2093 01:38:34.199 --> 01:38:37.760 don't know that you can successfully make her a heel. 2094 01:38:38.039 --> 01:38:39.960 I like Charlotte as a heel. I like Nia Jackson 2095 01:38:39.960 --> 01:38:43.079 as a heel. But I think Bailey and Sasha ideally 2096 01:38:43.119 --> 01:38:46.439 would be on separate brands and the co lead, you know, 2097 01:38:46.520 --> 01:38:49.119 lead babyfaces on separate brands. So there's part of me 2098 01:38:49.159 --> 01:38:52.479 that thinks, Okay, they had their tag match but now 2099 01:38:52.560 --> 01:38:55.359 Bailey should strengthen the SmackDown roster. And maybe that's why 2100 01:38:55.359 --> 01:38:59.399 the SmackDown roster is so weak to begin with with Natty, Becky, 2101 01:38:59.479 --> 01:39:02.880 lynch Me, Alexa Bliss, even Marie and Carmela. That's not 2102 01:39:03.000 --> 01:39:06.000 a loaded women's lineup. Maybe it's weak because they do 2103 01:39:06.119 --> 01:39:09.680 plan to have Bailey good Land there and feud Bailey 2104 01:39:09.720 --> 01:39:12.720 against Natalia, and that works for me. And then at 2105 01:39:12.800 --> 01:39:16.399 least you keep Sasha as a lead face on Raw 2106 01:39:17.359 --> 01:39:22.840 sharing that spotlight with Page and then you have then 2107 01:39:22.880 --> 01:39:27.159 you have Bailey as the lead babyface act on SmackDown. 2108 01:39:27.279 --> 01:39:28.800 I guess that that works for me better, so that 2109 01:39:28.840 --> 01:39:30.239 that's kind of how I'd like things to play out 2110 01:39:30.239 --> 01:39:30.920 as far as that goes. 2111 01:39:31.239 --> 01:39:34.239 I actually wish wish that Sasha and Charlotte were on 2112 01:39:34.319 --> 01:39:39.159 opposite brands because I think that Sasha playing the heel 2113 01:39:39.279 --> 01:39:40.960 role is what brought her to the dance, and I 2114 01:39:41.039 --> 01:39:44.920 think the elements of her not playing into that twenty 2115 01:39:45.000 --> 01:39:47.560 four to seven can be corrected if they want to 2116 01:39:48.279 --> 01:39:52.520 stay on top of that. Charlotte, I mean, Charlotte basically 2117 01:39:52.640 --> 01:39:55.840 came up and played a version of Sasha Banks and 2118 01:39:55.960 --> 01:39:59.439 NXT is the heel in a strange way, and that's 2119 01:39:59.439 --> 01:40:01.000 why I always want, how are they going to slot 2120 01:40:01.079 --> 01:40:04.039 Sasha and if they can, if they can start to 2121 01:40:04.479 --> 01:40:08.439 tell Sasha's story more effectively, she'll be a fine babyface champion, 2122 01:40:08.520 --> 01:40:11.840 she really will. But I just don't know where you 2123 01:40:11.960 --> 01:40:16.560 go with Charlotte from here. They spent what the top 2124 01:40:16.680 --> 01:40:19.119 five draft pick on her and she loses right away, 2125 01:40:19.800 --> 01:40:22.520 and it just it caught me off guard, and I 2126 01:40:22.600 --> 01:40:25.119 think that was by design that they wanted to surprise 2127 01:40:25.239 --> 01:40:27.920 people with this. But again, I feel like there was 2128 01:40:28.039 --> 01:40:30.279 part of the story missing. We talked, You talked about 2129 01:40:30.680 --> 01:40:35.319 Roman Reigns or the emailer who wasn't familiar with Finn Valor. 2130 01:40:35.399 --> 01:40:38.000 Aside from reputation, I think there's a lot of people 2131 01:40:38.119 --> 01:40:41.680 like that. I don't know what the non NXT viewer 2132 01:40:41.880 --> 01:40:44.279 is cheering right now about Sasha Banks, because the story 2133 01:40:44.319 --> 01:40:46.319 has been very generic. She dreamed of this and she 2134 01:40:46.479 --> 01:40:48.960 was ten great. I'm sure a lot of wrestlers did too. 2135 01:40:49.800 --> 01:40:54.359 But beyond that, she again, she's very cocky and we've 2136 01:40:54.560 --> 01:40:57.199 seen her come and go. There was no journey with 2137 01:40:57.319 --> 01:40:59.199 her on the raw end of things. So if you're 2138 01:40:59.199 --> 01:41:01.439 an NXT fan and you're happy, I get it, but 2139 01:41:01.520 --> 01:41:03.399 put yourself in the shoes of somebody who only had 2140 01:41:03.439 --> 01:41:05.479 seen her on the main roster, and I don't know 2141 01:41:05.560 --> 01:41:08.000 what there is to really celebrate other than good someone 2142 01:41:08.079 --> 01:41:09.159 beat Charlotte. 2143 01:41:09.319 --> 01:41:12.319 Right, you know I agree? Okay? 2144 01:41:12.439 --> 01:41:16.560 Next question, Devin from Iowa City says WWB started Bronz 2145 01:41:16.600 --> 01:41:19.319 Stroman's repackaging. If his match last night is any indication 2146 01:41:19.840 --> 01:41:22.039 he still needs some mentoring in the ring, would it 2147 01:41:22.119 --> 01:41:24.159 be beneficial if they were to put him with a 2148 01:41:24.239 --> 01:41:26.479 veteran big man like Big Show. I know that Undertaker 2149 01:41:26.560 --> 01:41:30.000 mentored Big Show early and chose WWW career on screen 2150 01:41:30.039 --> 01:41:34.359 and backstage. It could be very beneficial to Stroman. Jason 2151 01:41:35.319 --> 01:41:40.199 Bronze Stroman is limited. I think there's room for a monster, 2152 01:41:40.600 --> 01:41:43.520 dominant power heel who has a who hits a certain 2153 01:41:43.880 --> 01:41:47.640 threshold of competence in the ring, hopefully somewhere higher than 2154 01:41:47.720 --> 01:41:50.720 you know Jeep Swinson did in World Class in the 2155 01:41:50.800 --> 01:41:54.039 nineteen eighties or Bill Casmier. Oh, he was some baby 2156 01:41:54.079 --> 01:41:57.880 face powerlifter, but he was green and rough. You know, 2157 01:41:58.119 --> 01:42:01.960 Dad got his autograph on it. But you you want Braun. 2158 01:42:02.760 --> 01:42:04.439 If you're gonna have bron on the roster, you want 2159 01:42:04.479 --> 01:42:06.760 to see him get better, but you know the role 2160 01:42:06.840 --> 01:42:08.159 that he's in. I mean, I don't think it's the 2161 01:42:08.239 --> 01:42:10.279 end of the world if he just squashes a munch 2162 01:42:10.319 --> 01:42:13.800 people and then it ends up in a feud with 2163 01:42:13.880 --> 01:42:16.680 somebody where, you know, you tell a little story arc 2164 01:42:16.720 --> 01:42:19.159 where a finn Balor overcomes somebody much bigger than him 2165 01:42:19.199 --> 01:42:21.920 and you use him as a role player. I Braun 2166 01:42:22.000 --> 01:42:24.039 doesn't strike me as somebody who's gonna be around in 2167 01:42:24.079 --> 01:42:26.000 five years. You know, he strikes me as a big 2168 01:42:26.000 --> 01:42:27.520 guy who comes in for a cup of coffee. You 2169 01:42:27.560 --> 01:42:29.199 get a little bit out of him, and unless he 2170 01:42:29.199 --> 01:42:31.000 improves dramatically, you send him on his way. 2171 01:42:32.920 --> 01:42:33.279 Admit it. 2172 01:42:33.359 --> 01:42:35.039 You love Nick bar Batty when he co hosts with 2173 01:42:35.119 --> 01:42:36.960 me on the Wadekeller Post shows. Well, now you can 2174 01:42:37.039 --> 01:42:39.279 listen to him every week on The Nickys Club, a 2175 01:42:39.439 --> 01:42:42.279 VP exclusive podcast. Here's Nick to tell you more. 2176 01:42:42.399 --> 01:42:44.760 Hey, wrestling fans, It's Nick Barbatty and I'm back with 2177 01:42:44.800 --> 01:42:47.000 the Nickys Club, the place where the family of Nickys 2178 01:42:47.039 --> 01:42:49.800 comes together for big laughs and Shark takes on WWE 2179 01:42:49.960 --> 01:42:52.039 for WrestleMania rumors to surprise returns. 2180 01:42:52.159 --> 01:42:52.920 I got you covered. 2181 01:42:53.000 --> 01:42:55.279 The Nickys Club where the wrestling feels like the coolest 2182 01:42:55.279 --> 01:42:55.840 club in town. 2183 01:42:56.039 --> 01:42:57.920 Nick Barbatty wants to be part of your pro wrestling 2184 01:42:57.960 --> 01:43:00.760 life every week, so why not let him go vip 2185 01:43:01.000 --> 01:43:04.279 PW Torch dot com slash go vip for full details 2186 01:43:04.319 --> 01:43:07.760 on signing up. We're compatible with Patreons, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 2187 01:43:07.840 --> 01:43:10.199 and just about any other iOS or Android app out there. 2188 01:43:10.279 --> 01:43:13.039 You also stream directly from our ad free VIP website. 2189 01:43:13.039 --> 01:43:15.359 The Nikki's Club waiting for you every week at PW 2190 01:43:15.600 --> 01:43:16.399 Torch vip. 2191 01:43:19.640 --> 01:43:20.560 I'll finish that quick. 2192 01:43:20.640 --> 01:43:24.239 My dad got the autograph at Packers training camp because 2193 01:43:24.279 --> 01:43:26.640 the Bill Kasmi actually tried out for the Green Bay Packers. 2194 01:43:26.680 --> 01:43:28.319 My dad doesn't give Yeah, he doesn't care at all 2195 01:43:28.319 --> 01:43:30.720 about wrestling, but he did meet him there and was 2196 01:43:30.960 --> 01:43:32.720 just in awe of how big this guy was and 2197 01:43:32.880 --> 01:43:33.760 also what a nice. 2198 01:43:33.600 --> 01:43:34.000 Guy he was. 2199 01:43:34.119 --> 01:43:38.079 But anyway, Strohman, I thought the look was much improved, 2200 01:43:38.079 --> 01:43:39.640 you know, now that he's out of the wyat gear. 2201 01:43:40.000 --> 01:43:42.920 He kind of looked like the biggest member of War 2202 01:43:43.039 --> 01:43:44.560 Machine in a way, but it was. 2203 01:43:46.039 --> 01:43:47.560 I liked the change. 2204 01:43:49.439 --> 01:43:52.439 As far as Big Show being the mentor, a lot 2205 01:43:52.520 --> 01:43:55.479 of that depends on where Big Show's head is at, 2206 01:43:55.760 --> 01:43:57.520 because Big Show has been a guy over the years 2207 01:43:57.560 --> 01:43:59.880 who was very protective of his spot as a giant. 2208 01:44:00.319 --> 01:44:04.159 He's made life miserable for some people who had similar size. 2209 01:44:05.000 --> 01:44:06.960 And if he is going, if he's at a place 2210 01:44:07.039 --> 01:44:10.000 in his life now where he knows the end is near, 2211 01:44:10.079 --> 01:44:12.520 he's not nearly as protective, and hopefully. 2212 01:44:12.159 --> 01:44:12.560 They know that. 2213 01:44:12.720 --> 01:44:14.399 And then yeah, I don't want to see the match 2214 01:44:14.479 --> 01:44:16.840 on TV. I have no interest in seeing it. But 2215 01:44:16.960 --> 01:44:18.680 if you want to pair them up on the house 2216 01:44:18.720 --> 01:44:21.680 shows and I don't have to see it, cool, But 2217 01:44:21.760 --> 01:44:24.079 I mean, that's not about Caine's another guy they could 2218 01:44:24.119 --> 01:44:27.600 do that with. Neither match is attractive, and I almost 2219 01:44:28.119 --> 01:44:29.960 I hope that some of this was happening when they 2220 01:44:30.000 --> 01:44:32.640 were having tag matches with the Wyatts, because I don't 2221 01:44:32.640 --> 01:44:34.439 know what you do with Big Show and Kane, but 2222 01:44:34.560 --> 01:44:37.600 I think anytime you put them with somebody like Braun Strowman, 2223 01:44:37.600 --> 01:44:39.840 if you're trying to get Stroman over, I think it's 2224 01:44:39.880 --> 01:44:41.840 going to halt their progress as far as. 2225 01:44:41.800 --> 01:44:42.920 Getting over with the fans. 2226 01:44:43.000 --> 01:44:45.000 It may help them as wrestlers, but it can halt 2227 01:44:45.319 --> 01:44:48.119 It can just bring down any type of interest level 2228 01:44:48.159 --> 01:44:49.000 there is in these guys. 2229 01:44:49.640 --> 01:44:51.800 He also says, do you think WWE might attempt to 2230 01:44:51.800 --> 01:44:54.159 make the club a faction that it's on both Raw 2231 01:44:54.159 --> 01:44:56.760 and SmackDown. It would only take AJA recruiting two to 2232 01:44:56.840 --> 01:44:58.800 three people on SmackDown and one to two people on 2233 01:44:59.000 --> 01:45:01.000 Raw make the cl a bigger deal and could lead 2234 01:45:01.039 --> 01:45:03.479 to some great stories in the future thanks to keep up. 2235 01:45:03.479 --> 01:45:04.039 The good work. 2236 01:45:05.199 --> 01:45:11.439 Just looking at SmackDown, I don't know who would match 2237 01:45:11.560 --> 01:45:16.079 up with with AJ, what what story could they tell? 2238 01:45:16.159 --> 01:45:19.399 Looking at the SmackDown roster, Jason, uh that that would 2239 01:45:19.439 --> 01:45:22.800 make sense to add to AJ to replace Matterson and Gallows. 2240 01:45:23.119 --> 01:45:24.520 Yeah, I'm pulling it up here. 2241 01:45:28.680 --> 01:45:33.119 Boy, I'd be careful with this, I because I'm with 2242 01:45:33.279 --> 01:45:36.079 you in that I don't really see anyone that fits 2243 01:45:36.199 --> 01:45:41.199 the club feel. I mean, Delf Ziggler needs to be repackaged. 2244 01:45:41.199 --> 01:45:42.199 I don't know if you want to put them with 2245 01:45:42.279 --> 01:45:50.479 AJ styles though, And yeah, just those I mean, yeah, yeah, 2246 01:45:50.479 --> 01:45:52.239 and I'm hoping they do. But I want that to 2247 01:45:52.319 --> 01:45:54.680 be more about the usos. I want I don't need 2248 01:45:54.720 --> 01:45:57.039 to see them as sidekicks anymore. I want to see 2249 01:45:57.039 --> 01:45:59.800 the usos develop their own personalities. So I'm not really 2250 01:46:00.000 --> 01:46:03.560 being anyone for AJ on the SmackDown side. I've said, 2251 01:46:03.600 --> 01:46:05.640 I'd much rather see and I don't think this is 2252 01:46:05.680 --> 01:46:07.399 going to happen now at the club kind of establish 2253 01:46:07.439 --> 01:46:10.359 their feud with New Day. I was hoping Anderson, Gallows 2254 01:46:10.399 --> 01:46:12.359 and AJ would all just say screw you when it 2255 01:46:12.439 --> 01:46:15.279 came to the brand split and force the trade where 2256 01:46:15.279 --> 01:46:16.800 they they're going to show up when they want to 2257 01:46:16.840 --> 01:46:19.199 show up, and people would complain that you're ignoring the 2258 01:46:19.359 --> 01:46:20.840 rules of the brand split right out of the gate, 2259 01:46:20.880 --> 01:46:22.760 but it would be done for a storyline purpose, and 2260 01:46:22.960 --> 01:46:26.800 it would make them stand out as just defiant. And then, 2261 01:46:27.000 --> 01:46:29.199 like I say, for whatever, if you want to send 2262 01:46:29.279 --> 01:46:33.000 Anderson and Gallows over to SmackDown, they just they get 2263 01:46:33.039 --> 01:46:35.359 their way. They you know, Stephan mcmhon throws her hands up. 2264 01:46:35.399 --> 01:46:37.760 She's tired of them interfering in matches, and she trades 2265 01:46:37.800 --> 01:46:38.479 them to SmackDown. 2266 01:46:39.319 --> 01:46:42.640 What what if Aiden English and Simon Gotch between become 2267 01:46:43.039 --> 01:46:48.439 change their names to Anderson English and Luke Gotch and 2268 01:46:48.920 --> 01:46:51.359 they dress like Anderson and Gallows and they become kind 2269 01:46:51.399 --> 01:46:53.520 of the new the new Cane or the new uh, 2270 01:46:53.640 --> 01:46:56.720 the new fake Diesel and Razor, and AJ just pretends 2271 01:46:56.760 --> 01:46:59.079 that or you know, just brings on two guys to 2272 01:46:59.159 --> 01:47:00.840 be as Lackey's and just try to live up to 2273 01:47:00.920 --> 01:47:02.760 the reputation of Anderson and Gallops. 2274 01:47:03.199 --> 01:47:07.880 Well, Vince Russo, No, I mean that's where you have 2275 01:47:07.960 --> 01:47:08.279 to go to. 2276 01:47:08.439 --> 01:47:10.279 Like fine, I mean when you talk about the SmackDown 2277 01:47:10.319 --> 01:47:13.479 depth chart, there's not a lot to work with where 2278 01:47:13.520 --> 01:47:16.239 you would feel safe. Like you could say, oh, Apolo Cruz, 2279 01:47:16.760 --> 01:47:19.159 turn him heel and have him be with AJ, and 2280 01:47:19.199 --> 01:47:20.600 maybe that gives him an edge. Yeah, but can you 2281 01:47:20.640 --> 01:47:23.000 afford to lose him on the Babyface side, which has 2282 01:47:23.079 --> 01:47:25.479 a part timer in John Cena at best for the 2283 01:47:25.560 --> 01:47:26.279 next several months. 2284 01:47:26.800 --> 01:47:29.239 Uh So you got Dean and. 2285 01:47:30.720 --> 01:47:33.359 You can take the makeoff makeup off the Ascension and 2286 01:47:33.479 --> 01:47:36.319 repackage them. But I mean, I know, I don't think 2287 01:47:36.359 --> 01:47:38.920 it's I don't really nothing grabs me as like, oh, 2288 01:47:39.000 --> 01:47:41.920 this has potential as far as like being in the club. 2289 01:47:42.000 --> 01:47:44.960 If they want to put new people with AJ but 2290 01:47:45.159 --> 01:47:47.119 not have the club on both brands and it's just 2291 01:47:47.199 --> 01:47:50.239 kind of a newer faction, Okay, then then maybe we 2292 01:47:50.319 --> 01:47:52.079 can maybe we can talk, But I'm not seeing like 2293 01:47:52.159 --> 01:47:53.720 anything with real club potential here. 2294 01:47:54.199 --> 01:47:55.359 Yeah, I agree. 2295 01:47:55.800 --> 01:47:58.800 After watching Okay, this comes from Jerry Jerry R. After 2296 01:47:58.840 --> 01:48:01.760 watching Battle Ron and Raw. I saw my favorite sign ever, 2297 01:48:01.880 --> 01:48:05.239 Biggie stop diving. Should the roster be taking big bumps 2298 01:48:05.279 --> 01:48:08.079 like that on Raw SmackDown Network specials? I understand, but 2299 01:48:08.119 --> 01:48:09.880 in the past two nights yet Biggie looked like almost 2300 01:48:09.880 --> 01:48:12.159 broke as a neck, Sammy landhard on the apron, Sasha 2301 01:48:12.159 --> 01:48:15.399 overshooting and almost breaking her neck and not a big bump, 2302 01:48:15.439 --> 01:48:17.960 but the women's title almost overshot. Dana and my wife 2303 01:48:18.000 --> 01:48:21.439 thought it was gonna land in the crowd. I'm not, Jason. 2304 01:48:21.479 --> 01:48:24.359 I don't think like you said. You know, maybe Biggie 2305 01:48:24.399 --> 01:48:27.359 does something big at WrestleMania, and I understand, you know, 2306 01:48:27.399 --> 01:48:29.520 trying to do something big at Mania, but I sort 2307 01:48:29.520 --> 01:48:32.439 of just think wrestle in a way that fits your character. 2308 01:48:32.840 --> 01:48:34.920 And you know, now that the table's away from ringside 2309 01:48:34.920 --> 01:48:37.560 at Raw, it's a good excuse for wrestlers to just 2310 01:48:37.800 --> 01:48:40.359 slow down the risk taking and so that when there 2311 01:48:40.439 --> 01:48:43.119 is a big dive spot, it's the one dive spot 2312 01:48:43.199 --> 01:48:46.640 you remember for the week, as opposed to having multiple 2313 01:48:46.680 --> 01:48:48.760 ones over two nights where it just becomes kind of 2314 01:48:48.800 --> 01:48:51.920 a blur to people. It seems like enough of a risk. 2315 01:48:51.960 --> 01:48:54.159 We've seen people catch their foot on the ropes people 2316 01:48:54.239 --> 01:48:57.239 in a bad position, you take a flight, people aren't 2317 01:48:57.239 --> 01:48:59.399 really expect them to be. To me, it's sort of 2318 01:48:59.439 --> 01:49:01.279 like I think you if you're a wrestler and you 2319 01:49:01.359 --> 01:49:03.199 want to do a big dive, I think you go 2320 01:49:03.319 --> 01:49:06.600 to management and the producers and they make sure that 2321 01:49:06.720 --> 01:49:09.840 nobody's doing more than one per show and it really 2322 01:49:09.920 --> 01:49:12.600 stands out and means something, and then maybe that risk 2323 01:49:12.720 --> 01:49:13.399 is worth the reward. 2324 01:49:14.079 --> 01:49:14.560 Oh for sure. 2325 01:49:14.640 --> 01:49:16.680 Yeah, I want to see them scale back now. Some 2326 01:49:16.800 --> 01:49:20.720 of the examples he gave I don't think were all 2327 01:49:20.920 --> 01:49:23.880 that risky. It just happened to be examples of moves 2328 01:49:23.960 --> 01:49:27.119 gone wrong, you know. And I mean there's a lot 2329 01:49:27.199 --> 01:49:29.640 of risk and wrestling in general, but like the Sami 2330 01:49:29.680 --> 01:49:32.880 spot was just I don't know if he hit it wrong. 2331 01:49:33.520 --> 01:49:35.600 I'm not even to pretend to know what happened there 2332 01:49:35.680 --> 01:49:40.399 with the flip off the top rope. Risky, yeah, but 2333 01:49:40.720 --> 01:49:44.079 it's something we've seen him execute hundreds of times, if 2334 01:49:44.119 --> 01:49:46.680 not thousands of times and be just fine. So things 2335 01:49:46.800 --> 01:49:49.840 like that can happen. Someone overshooting someone on a dive 2336 01:49:49.960 --> 01:49:53.199 can happen. But believe it or not, they've pulled back 2337 01:49:53.279 --> 01:49:55.680 on the suicide dives. That was I mean you could 2338 01:49:55.680 --> 01:49:58.479 sit there and drink every time they'd have one on 2339 01:49:58.840 --> 01:50:01.119 a Monday night and and you'd be hammered by the 2340 01:50:01.199 --> 01:50:04.920 second hour. It just was suicide, die of hell. Now 2341 01:50:05.039 --> 01:50:07.800 it's exploder supplexus. Can can they pull back on those 2342 01:50:07.840 --> 01:50:10.159 a little bit? It seems like every other match now 2343 01:50:10.239 --> 01:50:13.239 someone's hitting two or three exploder sueplexes. They kind of 2344 01:50:13.279 --> 01:50:15.159 go through spurts with this. For a while, they were 2345 01:50:15.239 --> 01:50:18.079 running people into the ring post leading into every commercial break. 2346 01:50:18.600 --> 01:50:19.000 They just go. 2347 01:50:19.239 --> 01:50:21.600 They have these weird patterns where all all of a sudden, 2348 01:50:21.600 --> 01:50:23.720 they'll just run something into the ground, and I think 2349 01:50:23.840 --> 01:50:27.159 that's the agents or producers that need to step in 2350 01:50:27.239 --> 01:50:29.000 and go. We can't have nearly as much of this, 2351 01:50:29.119 --> 01:50:31.199 but I have a bad feeling that like they're actually 2352 01:50:31.279 --> 01:50:32.520 encouraging it for some reason. 2353 01:50:32.600 --> 01:50:32.800 Why. 2354 01:50:33.239 --> 01:50:35.640 One other thing I don't want them to overdo is 2355 01:50:36.079 --> 01:50:38.760 the taking a big move and then popping up and 2356 01:50:38.800 --> 01:50:41.640 delivering their own big move as oh yes, now I 2357 01:50:41.720 --> 01:50:42.920 get every once in a while, you can tell the 2358 01:50:43.000 --> 01:50:45.359 story there's an adrenaline rush, he got hit, he used 2359 01:50:45.359 --> 01:50:46.520 every last verse of energy. 2360 01:50:46.800 --> 01:50:49.560 They're both down. But that to me is sort of like, 2361 01:50:49.640 --> 01:50:51.760 you know, you do that at Wressemania. 2362 01:50:51.880 --> 01:50:54.279 You do it, you know, four times a year, grand 2363 01:50:54.399 --> 01:50:57.159 total in the entire company, and we're seeing it become 2364 01:50:57.479 --> 01:50:58.520 a nightly staple. 2365 01:50:59.159 --> 01:51:01.600 So it seems I get started with Dean Ambrose where 2366 01:51:01.640 --> 01:51:03.760 he would get hit and then he'd stagger into the 2367 01:51:03.840 --> 01:51:06.159 ropes and come back with that clothesline, and now it's 2368 01:51:06.239 --> 01:51:07.880 just starting to spread yep. 2369 01:51:08.319 --> 01:51:10.920 So I'm kind of against that trend right now. Okay, 2370 01:51:11.039 --> 01:51:13.319 Steven Taylor from Saint Louis Proud VIP Member of the 2371 01:51:13.359 --> 01:51:14.920 Torch says, Hey, guys, first off, let me say thanks 2372 01:51:14.960 --> 01:51:16.720 for a great value in service you provide. VIP member 2373 01:51:16.720 --> 01:51:19.479 is absolutely worth it. After viewing last night's revamp, New 2374 01:51:19.520 --> 01:51:21.640 Era Rod does it seem as if ensis slowly and 2375 01:51:21.720 --> 01:51:24.279 begrudgingly coming to terms with what the modern fan wants 2376 01:51:25.479 --> 01:51:28.760 from the talent being utilized. The dialing back on backstage content, 2377 01:51:28.880 --> 01:51:32.039 Michael Cole actually saying professional wrestling and referencing other promotions 2378 01:51:32.359 --> 01:51:35.680 to the camera and production revamps. We talked about a 2379 01:51:35.720 --> 01:51:37.479 lot about this, Jason, but I pulled this up because 2380 01:51:37.720 --> 01:51:43.399 the backstage segments and skits were also reduced, and this 2381 01:51:43.600 --> 01:51:47.479 was a show where Okay, opening segment, big match squash 2382 01:51:48.680 --> 01:51:52.039 big match, another segment to talkie segment or something in 2383 01:51:52.039 --> 01:51:54.800 another squash fills a second hour, and then the third 2384 01:51:54.800 --> 01:51:56.560 hour starts with a big match. You have one or 2385 01:51:56.600 --> 01:51:58.119 two segments in the middle of a match or two, 2386 01:51:58.439 --> 01:52:00.960 and then your main event. I can live with that, 2387 01:52:01.279 --> 01:52:04.000 and I would really like it if we every time 2388 01:52:04.079 --> 01:52:07.359 a wrestler talked there was somebody holding a microphone and 2389 01:52:07.399 --> 01:52:10.239 asking them a question. If they went to that, I 2390 01:52:10.319 --> 01:52:12.800 don't think there's a downside. And because to me, the 2391 01:52:12.880 --> 01:52:16.199 weakest segment on Raw last night was Finn Balor and 2392 01:52:16.279 --> 01:52:20.880 Roman rains. It felt although Charlotte sounded, you know, the 2393 01:52:21.000 --> 01:52:23.880 puns that she was using, it didn't feel real natural. 2394 01:52:25.000 --> 01:52:25.880 But the. 2395 01:52:27.560 --> 01:52:30.479 Camera happening to be there when wrestlers cross paths, I 2396 01:52:30.680 --> 01:52:33.079 like it better when there's an announcer standing there ready 2397 01:52:33.119 --> 01:52:35.279 to ask a question of Roman, and Finn Baller walks 2398 01:52:35.359 --> 01:52:37.520 up and says, oh, excuse me, sorry, I didn't know 2399 01:52:37.520 --> 01:52:39.880 there's an interview going on, and you have this happened 2400 01:52:40.199 --> 01:52:42.720 instead of happenstance. You have Okay, there was a reason 2401 01:52:42.800 --> 01:52:45.119 the camera was filming that moment and then a wrestler 2402 01:52:45.159 --> 01:52:47.760 interrupted it. I'd like to see them do that but 2403 01:52:48.239 --> 01:52:50.680 cut back on where in the locker room, where in 2404 01:52:50.760 --> 01:52:53.880 the office there's this conversation. They're much better about conversations 2405 01:52:53.920 --> 01:52:55.520 going on when the people pretend they don't even know 2406 01:52:55.560 --> 01:53:00.279 the camera's there. But overall, I do think that there's 2407 01:53:00.359 --> 01:53:03.840 encouraging changes. Again, I don't I mean most people, a 2408 01:53:03.880 --> 01:53:06.119 lot of people will be hearing this after SmackDown tonight. 2409 01:53:06.159 --> 01:53:07.960 I'm really excited to see what they do with SmackDown 2410 01:53:08.000 --> 01:53:09.640 and if we see more of some of the same changes. 2411 01:53:09.720 --> 01:53:13.399 But maybe Vince is trying to is willing to go 2412 01:53:13.520 --> 01:53:15.239 with a more sports like approach. I just don't want 2413 01:53:15.239 --> 01:53:17.119 to read too much into one week. Jason and be let. 2414 01:53:17.079 --> 01:53:19.520 Down, Yeah, because it's just launch point. You know, this 2415 01:53:19.720 --> 01:53:20.680 was their statement show. 2416 01:53:20.760 --> 01:53:23.079 They wanted to send a message of change, and once 2417 01:53:23.119 --> 01:53:25.359 you get through that, you know it's going to take 2418 01:53:25.359 --> 01:53:28.119 a month or so to kind of let things settle in. 2419 01:53:28.319 --> 01:53:30.079 Next week is going to be a really telling show. 2420 01:53:30.960 --> 01:53:33.079 I mean, they're already giving you the a the announcement 2421 01:53:33.079 --> 01:53:35.920 of brock Lesner being there, and I like that they're 2422 01:53:36.000 --> 01:53:38.039 following up the next week. It's not Raw related, but 2423 01:53:38.119 --> 01:53:41.439 after Raw you have the Austin Podcast with Dean Ambrose 2424 01:53:41.520 --> 01:53:43.479 and so it looks like they've mapped this out a 2425 01:53:43.520 --> 01:53:48.199 little bit, and that's encouraging, it certainly is. But we 2426 01:53:48.359 --> 01:53:49.800 need to see it, you know, we need to see. 2427 01:53:50.640 --> 01:53:53.239 You can't give away everything they did last night on 2428 01:53:53.520 --> 01:53:56.239 a weekly basis, You just can't. And so what happens 2429 01:53:56.359 --> 01:53:59.520 when you slow down, when you start to settle in, 2430 01:53:59.720 --> 01:54:03.640 when event starts to become a little complacent or just 2431 01:54:03.840 --> 01:54:06.039 you know, does he start to ignore the brand rules? 2432 01:54:06.960 --> 01:54:11.439 Brands flit rules? And so it was a great one night, 2433 01:54:11.920 --> 01:54:14.359 But as I wrote today in the Hitlers, chaerish it 2434 01:54:14.479 --> 01:54:16.439 because you're not going to see this every week. 2435 01:54:16.479 --> 01:54:17.000 You just can't. 2436 01:54:17.600 --> 01:54:18.079 I agree. 2437 01:54:18.560 --> 01:54:20.960 More on the production, Ted from Sacramento emailed and said, 2438 01:54:20.960 --> 01:54:22.760 Wade and Jason, did you notice the new camera angle 2439 01:54:22.800 --> 01:54:24.680 which were used last night, including one where the camera 2440 01:54:24.720 --> 01:54:26.760 seemed to hover over the ring and almost made it 2441 01:54:26.800 --> 01:54:27.640 look like a video game. 2442 01:54:27.840 --> 01:54:29.199 Well, I'm not sure. I liked the angle. 2443 01:54:29.239 --> 01:54:31.239 I did like it being new and different and a 2444 01:54:31.439 --> 01:54:34.760 change from the weekly sameness. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks, 2445 01:54:34.800 --> 01:54:38.039 and I appreciate the great commentary. That's the thing about this, Jason, 2446 01:54:38.079 --> 01:54:40.680 it's not every change are we're gonna love, but change 2447 01:54:40.720 --> 01:54:44.039 for the sake of change, just to kind of have 2448 01:54:44.199 --> 01:54:45.840 us kind of take notice. Oh, I haven't seen that 2449 01:54:45.880 --> 01:54:47.319 angle before me. I loved every time they went to 2450 01:54:47.359 --> 01:54:49.439 the announcers and they were standing in front of the 2451 01:54:49.520 --> 01:54:50.960 desk with the ring of the background. It was so 2452 01:54:51.039 --> 01:54:53.039 much better than going to them sitting at ringside and 2453 01:54:53.439 --> 01:54:56.119 you know, slouching JBI with that smile on his face. 2454 01:54:56.880 --> 01:54:59.319 It's just like I was. I mean, that's the best 2455 01:54:59.359 --> 01:54:59.920 part about Raw. 2456 01:55:00.000 --> 01:55:02.000 It was three hours of Corey Grays calling long matches 2457 01:55:02.039 --> 01:55:04.039 and there's potential the worst part of SmackDown is going 2458 01:55:04.079 --> 01:55:06.720 to be JBL undercutting Marrow Ronalo. There's a chance they 2459 01:55:06.800 --> 01:55:08.840 make a good team too, because JBL has some positives 2460 01:55:08.880 --> 01:55:10.119 and I'd like to see him see this as a 2461 01:55:10.159 --> 01:55:12.880 fresh start too for his character. Not just picking on 2462 01:55:13.000 --> 01:55:16.079 Byron and David Atungua is a big X factor to 2463 01:55:16.279 --> 01:55:19.640 production wise tonight. How does he present himself and play 2464 01:55:19.720 --> 01:55:25.720 off Ofmorrow and Jbl. iPhone users, if you're listening to 2465 01:55:25.840 --> 01:55:28.520 us on the Native podcast app on your iPhone, you 2466 01:55:28.600 --> 01:55:32.159 can unlock our commercial free versions of our free shows 2467 01:55:32.319 --> 01:55:35.760 by searching PW Torch in Apple Podcasts. You'll see a 2468 01:55:35.800 --> 01:55:38.199 charcoal grade logo that says PW torch VIP on it. 2469 01:55:38.319 --> 01:55:40.800 Click on that, there's some free samples of VIP shows 2470 01:55:40.960 --> 01:55:44.159 and you can unlock the entire VIP lineup, which includes 2471 01:55:44.239 --> 01:55:47.239 VIP exclusives plus commercial free versions of the free shows, 2472 01:55:47.399 --> 01:55:50.520 by searching PW Torch in Apple Podcasts and clicking on 2473 01:55:50.560 --> 01:55:52.920 the PW Torch and VIP logo and then activate your 2474 01:55:52.960 --> 01:55:54.960 three day free trial and after that you can become 2475 01:55:55.079 --> 01:55:57.399 a VIP member using your Apple account. 2476 01:55:57.479 --> 01:55:58.000 It's that easy. 2477 01:55:58.159 --> 01:56:01.199 Enjoy a streamline listening experience into our free shows and 2478 01:56:01.520 --> 01:56:04.199 unlock all the VIP exclusives, including our post pay per 2479 01:56:04.279 --> 01:56:07.119 view round tables, the wad Keller news bulletins, Everything with 2480 01:56:07.239 --> 01:56:09.840 Rich and Wade, the Fix that I host with Todd Martin, 2481 01:56:10.079 --> 01:56:13.119 and a variety of other VIP exclusives. Just search pw 2482 01:56:13.319 --> 01:56:15.000 Torch in your Apple podcast app. 2483 01:56:16.920 --> 01:56:18.239 Hopefully not as the clown. 2484 01:56:18.359 --> 01:56:20.279 I mean that's what byron play is for them on 2485 01:56:20.479 --> 01:56:22.399 raw and that we don't need that, we don't need 2486 01:56:22.479 --> 01:56:25.520 jbl picking on somebody else, and I really fear that's 2487 01:56:25.560 --> 01:56:27.199 how it's going to be. Hopefully they make it a 2488 01:56:27.279 --> 01:56:29.279 point to have a tounguas stand up for himself to 2489 01:56:29.479 --> 01:56:33.119 establish it is some level of equality with with JBL, 2490 01:56:33.479 --> 01:56:34.840 even if it's completely scripted. 2491 01:56:35.239 --> 01:56:36.079 I'd be fine with that. 2492 01:56:36.560 --> 01:56:39.359 JBL's got to I mean, if it's not just about 2493 01:56:39.439 --> 01:56:41.960 JBL and Morrow, and JBL needs to know that. I'm 2494 01:56:42.000 --> 01:56:43.920 not a big believer in three men, but if you're 2495 01:56:43.920 --> 01:56:46.119 going to have one, make sure all three guys serve 2496 01:56:46.239 --> 01:56:48.600 some purpose. And I still don't know what purpose Byron 2497 01:56:48.640 --> 01:56:51.439 serves other than helping Michael Cole out with some live reads. 2498 01:56:51.880 --> 01:56:52.319 Exactly. 2499 01:56:52.760 --> 01:56:55.479 All right, we'll wrap up here with just one or 2500 01:56:55.479 --> 01:56:57.680 two more topics here. Craig from Scotland says, do you 2501 01:56:57.720 --> 01:56:59.479 think it's an issue that Finn Balor's being build a 2502 01:56:59.479 --> 01:57:01.039 one undred nine pounds and is going for what is 2503 01:57:01.119 --> 01:57:03.680 essentially the heavyweight title? To me, the only weight class 2504 01:57:03.760 --> 01:57:06.319 based on titles can work is if all wrestlers fight 2505 01:57:06.399 --> 01:57:08.520 for the title within their weight limit, and the divisions 2506 01:57:08.560 --> 01:57:10.319 are pushed based on how over the stars of each 2507 01:57:10.359 --> 01:57:12.800 division are. I personally feel a cruiserweight division is a 2508 01:57:12.880 --> 01:57:15.800 totally outdated concept. See on Punkers heavyweight champ He's about 2509 01:57:15.800 --> 01:57:17.680 to fight in UFC at one hundred and seventy pounds. 2510 01:57:18.000 --> 01:57:21.720 This division is also likely to limit Ibushi's potential in WWE. 2511 01:57:22.239 --> 01:57:24.359 You know, the idea that if you become a big 2512 01:57:24.439 --> 01:57:26.520 enough star, they move to the heavyweight division bugged me 2513 01:57:26.560 --> 01:57:31.159 back when Raymistereo was eager to leave the cruiserweight division 2514 01:57:31.159 --> 01:57:33.279 and go to the heavyweight division. I thought Ricky Steamboat 2515 01:57:33.279 --> 01:57:35.640 should have been This goes way back. I thought when 2516 01:57:35.800 --> 01:57:39.199 ww established a cruiseweight championship, Ricky Steamboat, who had heavyweight 2517 01:57:39.239 --> 01:57:42.680 title credibility, should have gone after that title to establish 2518 01:57:42.760 --> 01:57:46.119 from the beginning that there is prestige in fighting within 2519 01:57:46.159 --> 01:57:48.000 your weight class, no matter no matter how big of 2520 01:57:48.039 --> 01:57:50.039 a star you are. And if you send the message 2521 01:57:50.079 --> 01:57:52.760 that the cruiserweight division is for guys without personality or 2522 01:57:52.880 --> 01:57:56.119 name value or upward potential to be headliners, and it's 2523 01:57:56.199 --> 01:57:58.279 just for small guys who are only there because they're small, 2524 01:57:58.680 --> 01:58:00.840 the division is doomed. And think Craig brings up some 2525 01:58:00.920 --> 01:58:05.199 good points. Is there a chance that that Finn Valor 2526 01:58:05.479 --> 01:58:08.720 ends up Jason being the cruiserweight champion after coming up 2527 01:58:08.760 --> 01:58:12.279 short against Seth No and they just decide to go 2528 01:58:12.359 --> 01:58:14.239 all in with cruiserweights by having a guy of Finn's 2529 01:58:14.279 --> 01:58:19.279 caliber be the the cetter piece of that division. I'm 2530 01:58:19.279 --> 01:58:21.439 eager to hear your answer. Oh wait, I just did. 2531 01:58:22.279 --> 01:58:23.439 I don't think it's going to happen. 2532 01:58:23.680 --> 01:58:26.000 I think they have Balor cast as a top star 2533 01:58:26.079 --> 01:58:28.359 and cruiserweights are going to play a part. Doesn't mean 2534 01:58:28.399 --> 01:58:30.000 there's not gonna be stars that come from it. But 2535 01:58:30.079 --> 01:58:32.359 he is a heavyweight. I don't think there's anything wrong 2536 01:58:32.479 --> 01:58:34.239 if it's handled the right way of a guy who 2537 01:58:34.319 --> 01:58:39.199 is cruiserweight size choosing to go after the heavyweight championship. 2538 01:58:39.239 --> 01:58:40.800 There's a way to make that seem like it's a 2539 01:58:40.840 --> 01:58:44.319 cool thing that he's doing that They don't always, you 2540 01:58:44.399 --> 01:58:46.840 know they. I mean, my biggest fear is that you're 2541 01:58:46.880 --> 01:58:50.039 gonna see big show choke slamming cruiserweights and it's gonna 2542 01:58:50.039 --> 01:58:54.680 be ridiculous. But if they're serious about this, a couple 2543 01:58:54.720 --> 01:58:57.359 of just small things. So I don't think the average 2544 01:58:57.399 --> 01:58:59.000 fan cares about Finn Balor's weight. 2545 01:58:59.079 --> 01:58:59.359 For one. 2546 01:59:00.479 --> 01:59:02.279 I don't you know, maybe some will pick up, oh 2547 01:59:02.359 --> 01:59:06.039 he could be a cruiserweight. It's very simple. List Finn 2548 01:59:06.079 --> 01:59:08.640 Balor as two hundred and ten pounds. I don't care 2549 01:59:08.680 --> 01:59:11.840 if NXT fans or super fans notice that his weight 2550 01:59:12.000 --> 01:59:15.119 magically jumped and make the cruiserweight cut off two hundred pounds. 2551 01:59:15.359 --> 01:59:18.359 Get rid of this stupid weigh in. Why does pro 2552 01:59:18.479 --> 01:59:22.239 wrestling need a frickin weigh in for a make believe tournament. 2553 01:59:23.119 --> 01:59:25.960 They're already you know, they're they're fighting weight cutting. They're 2554 01:59:26.000 --> 01:59:28.680 taking steps to get rid of that or improve it 2555 01:59:28.920 --> 01:59:32.479 in MMA, and now pro wrestling from make believe tournament 2556 01:59:32.920 --> 01:59:35.359 is having freaking weigh ins where you have to have 2557 01:59:35.479 --> 01:59:38.680 guys losing ridiculous amounts of weight to just to make 2558 01:59:38.760 --> 01:59:40.800 this tournament. To me, it's ridiculous. 2559 01:59:41.720 --> 01:59:43.479 Let me let me get in a comment from rich 2560 01:59:43.520 --> 01:59:45.680 in Pittsburgh who was at RAW last night, and we'll 2561 01:59:45.680 --> 01:59:46.439 wrap up on this note. 2562 01:59:46.479 --> 01:59:47.520 This is good comments. Here he goes. 2563 01:59:47.560 --> 01:59:49.039 Being at the Arena live for RAW last night was 2564 01:59:49.119 --> 01:59:52.359 quite illuminating the set and pace of the show. Having 2565 01:59:52.399 --> 01:59:54.760 a crane attached to the set itself instead of moving 2566 01:59:55.560 --> 01:59:57.279 I think a crane on wheels for those of them seen, 2567 01:59:57.279 --> 01:59:59.439 it allowed really cool angles quickly without having a run 2568 01:59:59.479 --> 02:00:01.560 over and around the fans on the floor every other 2569 02:00:01.680 --> 02:00:03.720 Raw was an exercise in cattle herding to even get 2570 02:00:03.760 --> 02:00:05.840 the machinery in place. For most of the show, the 2571 02:00:05.920 --> 02:00:08.640 fans were pretty into the matches without tuning out early 2572 02:00:08.720 --> 02:00:11.119 on and the Sasha Charlotte match, there were see on 2573 02:00:11.239 --> 02:00:13.800 punk chance uh and we want angle chance, but they 2574 02:00:13.840 --> 02:00:16.720 quickly died Finn balor Finn's and I to me completely 2575 02:00:16.840 --> 02:00:19.399 undozz the WWE mantroeve it takes six months to make 2576 02:00:19.439 --> 02:00:21.359 a wrestler in one night. Finn went from a guy 2577 02:00:21.720 --> 02:00:23.199 that folks on the floor next to we didn't know 2578 02:00:23.279 --> 02:00:25.319 to someone they wanted to see more of and would 2579 02:00:25.359 --> 02:00:28.560 not root for against seth Rawlins and finally Roman had 2580 02:00:28.640 --> 02:00:30.600 really good matches and I was encouraged by his behavior 2581 02:00:30.640 --> 02:00:33.800 against his smaller opponent Finn and his postmatch reaction. After 2582 02:00:33.840 --> 02:00:35.560 three years of not being pinned in singles or most 2583 02:00:35.560 --> 02:00:38.319 take situations, to lose three main events in a row, 2584 02:00:38.399 --> 02:00:40.640 Money in the bank Battleground Raw gives Hi an opportunity 2585 02:00:40.720 --> 02:00:42.479 to finally appear to be human to the audience. My 2586 02:00:42.560 --> 02:00:44.520 hope is the heel turned, but I won't get my 2587 02:00:44.640 --> 02:00:46.800 hopes up. Thanks as is always and have a great week. 2588 02:00:46.880 --> 02:00:51.159 Richard Pittsburgh, five year peoblete torch VIP member Jason. We 2589 02:00:51.239 --> 02:00:52.960 talked about the crowd reaction for Finn at the end 2590 02:00:53.039 --> 02:00:54.800 not seeming to be what it was but I don't 2591 02:00:54.800 --> 02:00:56.520 think that should mean he's not over. It just means, 2592 02:00:56.920 --> 02:00:58.840 as we talked about, there wasn't this long journey that 2593 02:00:58.920 --> 02:01:02.720 they went on. But I do think next money is 2594 02:01:02.760 --> 02:01:04.520 not make or break for Finn. But they can certainly 2595 02:01:04.920 --> 02:01:08.680 with a really good promo and framing his week his 2596 02:01:08.960 --> 02:01:11.359 debut on RAW really well, can can frame him as 2597 02:01:11.399 --> 02:01:13.760 a big star and give him every chance to get over. 2598 02:01:15.479 --> 02:01:17.560 But the again, I read this mostly for kind of 2599 02:01:17.600 --> 02:01:20.119 the in person reactions from being there any anything that 2600 02:01:20.199 --> 02:01:21.960 jumps out to you. Do you want to reply to 2601 02:01:22.039 --> 02:01:22.760 that Rich brought. 2602 02:01:22.600 --> 02:01:26.119 Up, Well, I'll just repleat it. The Finn Balor promo 2603 02:01:26.199 --> 02:01:28.399 that you mentioned next week. I hope he has it 2604 02:01:28.520 --> 02:01:28.800 in him. 2605 02:01:29.159 --> 02:01:30.159 You know I haven't. 2606 02:01:30.239 --> 02:01:32.279 That's one area of his game and NXT that I 2607 02:01:32.359 --> 02:01:35.840 haven't been wowed by. They need to be careful with that. 2608 02:01:36.439 --> 02:01:38.760 It's asking a lot of him to go out there 2609 02:01:38.800 --> 02:01:41.520 and deliver some big live promo or even to have 2610 02:01:41.680 --> 02:01:44.760 some exchange with someone. I think the more realistic you 2611 02:01:44.840 --> 02:01:48.199 can keep his exchanges where it's more a sports like 2612 02:01:48.279 --> 02:01:51.479 like you see in NXT, like he's had with Samoa Joe, 2613 02:01:51.680 --> 02:01:54.159 the better. He's not the guy who's gonna go out 2614 02:01:54.199 --> 02:01:57.560 there and pull an Endzo or even a John Cena. 2615 02:01:57.640 --> 02:02:00.399 You know that's not his style, but yeah, I mean 2616 02:02:00.479 --> 02:02:02.359 it's gonna I'm looking forward to the next time Raw 2617 02:02:02.479 --> 02:02:05.640 or SmackDown comes to town just to see this whole 2618 02:02:05.680 --> 02:02:08.079 production set up in person and what they're doing and what, 2619 02:02:08.319 --> 02:02:11.960 you know, because everything was so ordinary before, so it 2620 02:02:12.079 --> 02:02:13.840 is kind of cool to hear just you know, some 2621 02:02:13.920 --> 02:02:14.560 of the details. 2622 02:02:15.560 --> 02:02:19.039 Uh yeah, yeah, the the in person perspective on on 2623 02:02:19.159 --> 02:02:21.359 SmackDown tonight I'll be interesting too, and in how things 2624 02:02:21.439 --> 02:02:24.359 are are different for the live experience. Jason will wrap 2625 02:02:24.479 --> 02:02:26.680 up on that note. Good to have you on to 2626 02:02:26.800 --> 02:02:29.439 talk about, uh what everything going on on a big 2627 02:02:29.520 --> 02:02:33.640 forty eight hours preceding us and another another big evening tonight. 2628 02:02:33.720 --> 02:02:35.840 And I'm excited to see what what T and A 2629 02:02:35.880 --> 02:02:38.720 Impact does on Thursday and their new time slot and 2630 02:02:38.880 --> 02:02:41.000 a little bit of maybe encouraging momentum as far as 2631 02:02:41.079 --> 02:02:44.319 viewership goes coming out of the final deletion and not 2632 02:02:44.439 --> 02:02:46.880 to mention Cruiserwey Classic and and any thoughts on the 2633 02:02:46.920 --> 02:02:49.800 presentation Cruiserway Classic besides the wig ins that you hate 2634 02:02:49.840 --> 02:02:52.279 with with utter utter passion. 2635 02:02:52.880 --> 02:02:56.800 Yeah, I do well. I mean, just gimmick them work 2636 02:02:56.840 --> 02:02:58.760 the It's fine. You want to make it sports so 2637 02:02:58.840 --> 02:03:00.840 I can show away in but this is pro wrestling. 2638 02:03:00.920 --> 02:03:03.399 If a guy weighs two hundred and six pounds and 2639 02:03:03.720 --> 02:03:05.880 say he weighed two hundred and five pounds, I mean, 2640 02:03:06.359 --> 02:03:09.239 you don't make people cut weight for a make believe tournament. 2641 02:03:09.439 --> 02:03:10.039 It's silly. 2642 02:03:10.399 --> 02:03:15.560 But even though there's a real WCW worldwide look to 2643 02:03:15.840 --> 02:03:19.800 the Cruiserweight Classic, at the same time it works. It 2644 02:03:19.960 --> 02:03:24.920 does feel unique. I've enjoyed the format so far. I've 2645 02:03:25.039 --> 02:03:28.239 enjoyed the matches. I like the commentary. Daniel Bryan adds 2646 02:03:28.239 --> 02:03:30.239 a lot. I think they can get more use out 2647 02:03:30.239 --> 02:03:32.359 of Corey Graves, but I liked it. They're always going 2648 02:03:32.439 --> 02:03:36.880 to the brackets of this thing. It's yeah, it's a 2649 02:03:36.920 --> 02:03:39.840 slick show. I want to sneak in one thing with 2650 02:03:40.640 --> 02:03:43.279 Does anyone care that brock Lesner should not be appearing 2651 02:03:43.279 --> 02:03:46.159 at SummerSlam. It just seems like no one's talking about it. 2652 02:03:47.560 --> 02:03:50.039 I just think there's sort of in a weigh and 2653 02:03:50.159 --> 02:03:53.359 see jaw dropping mode, you know, like wwb's acting like 2654 02:03:53.439 --> 02:03:55.600 it didn't happen. It's like George Constantra's showing up at 2655 02:03:55.680 --> 02:03:59.079 work when he quit the previous Friday. You know, it 2656 02:03:59.199 --> 02:04:01.760 just shows hey everybody and they're like, you quit. It's 2657 02:04:01.800 --> 02:04:03.880 like Brock shows up money and it's like, dude, you 2658 02:04:04.159 --> 02:04:07.319 you failed the drug test. You you you're banned from 2659 02:04:07.439 --> 02:04:10.039 USC or you know. I mean, I don't know, Jason. 2660 02:04:10.079 --> 02:04:12.760 I don't think the average fan gives a Dan Well. 2661 02:04:12.760 --> 02:04:13.680 I think that's the thing. 2662 02:04:13.800 --> 02:04:18.840 I think that that WWE is thinking, well, that was 2663 02:04:19.239 --> 02:04:21.760 a drug testing done for MMA competition. 2664 02:04:22.000 --> 02:04:24.920 Brock is in sports entertainment. He's a performer. 2665 02:04:25.439 --> 02:04:29.359 The substance test at four doesn't really We didn't catch 2666 02:04:29.439 --> 02:04:31.760 him on it in our testing, and if we do, 2667 02:04:32.119 --> 02:04:34.640 if he fails, our testing will apply our punishment. If 2668 02:04:34.680 --> 02:04:38.359 he doesn't and he's allowed to wrestle, then in Brooklyn, 2669 02:04:38.439 --> 02:04:40.960 then he'll wrestle. I guess the key question is is 2670 02:04:41.039 --> 02:04:44.039 does the New York State Athletic Commission intervene in Brock 2671 02:04:44.119 --> 02:04:47.359 performing Since that's a regulated state. He might be under 2672 02:04:47.359 --> 02:04:49.279 suspension by the time SummerSlam comes around. 2673 02:04:49.039 --> 02:04:51.159 And that's it sounds like that's not the case. They 2674 02:04:51.279 --> 02:04:52.760 they won't go there with a wrestler. 2675 02:04:53.399 --> 02:04:55.520 Oh okay, all right, well that's that's that's new. 2676 02:04:55.600 --> 02:04:58.239 So if that's the case, then I would say they 2677 02:04:58.479 --> 02:05:00.479 they're going to pretend it didn't have But other than 2678 02:05:00.720 --> 02:05:03.119 the little wink and naw that Randy Orton gave. 2679 02:05:03.000 --> 02:05:04.800 It, you don't think Stephanie McMahon is going to call 2680 02:05:04.880 --> 02:05:08.840 him a loser next week. No, I don't, And I'll say, 2681 02:05:08.840 --> 02:05:12.359 you know, hey, I don't think. I fear this is 2682 02:05:12.359 --> 02:05:14.600 going to come back to haunt them. There's no guarantee 2683 02:05:14.600 --> 02:05:16.439 it will, but this is one of those things that 2684 02:05:16.479 --> 02:05:18.159 if they get away with it now, but if something 2685 02:05:18.239 --> 02:05:22.560 happens down the road and their whole policy comes into question, 2686 02:05:22.720 --> 02:05:24.279 this is going to be something that people are going 2687 02:05:24.359 --> 02:05:24.960 to look back on. 2688 02:05:25.079 --> 02:05:25.439 For sure. 2689 02:05:25.560 --> 02:05:28.479 He's a huge star, and their approach to this is 2690 02:05:29.000 --> 02:05:33.479 very suspect. That said huge deal, but he's appearing on RAW. 2691 02:05:33.560 --> 02:05:34.720 I mean it would have been a big deal to 2692 02:05:34.760 --> 02:05:37.600 get him two nights after he won at UFC two hundred. 2693 02:05:38.000 --> 02:05:40.000 Next to that, though, I mean his first public appearance. 2694 02:05:40.239 --> 02:05:42.520 This is bigger to me than Brock appearing at SummerSlam. 2695 02:05:42.880 --> 02:05:45.600 Because Brock appearing at SummerSlam is a match. He doesn't 2696 02:05:45.640 --> 02:05:47.840 have to address it. Paul Hammond doesn't have to address it. 2697 02:05:47.840 --> 02:05:50.600 Assuming Paul Hamon's with him, and he may not address 2698 02:05:50.640 --> 02:05:52.840 it next week, but we know it's not brock Lesner 2699 02:05:52.920 --> 02:05:55.319 showing up on raw or a match. So there's the 2700 02:05:55.439 --> 02:05:57.560 intrigue of what are they going to say about this? 2701 02:05:57.680 --> 02:05:59.800 How is this going to be handled? That's a pretty 2702 02:05:59.800 --> 02:06:00.319 big deal. 2703 02:06:00.800 --> 02:06:04.560 Do you want to see Rady Orton stay babyface and 2704 02:06:04.680 --> 02:06:07.039 brock Lesnar be just brock or do you want to 2705 02:06:07.079 --> 02:06:10.760 see their Do you want to see them define one 2706 02:06:10.800 --> 02:06:12.439 as someone you should probably be cheering for and the 2707 02:06:12.479 --> 02:06:14.760 other you should probably be doing long term? 2708 02:06:15.079 --> 02:06:16.840 You know, hey, I really liked what I saw from 2709 02:06:16.920 --> 02:06:20.560 Randy on Sunday. I was impressed that Randy Orton. It 2710 02:06:20.800 --> 02:06:23.479 was like the happy, go lucky baby face they wanted 2711 02:06:23.560 --> 02:06:25.880 him to be early in his career and he wasn't 2712 02:06:25.920 --> 02:06:29.039 ready to be that guy. And if he's faking it, 2713 02:06:29.079 --> 02:06:30.199 this is the guy who always wanted to be a 2714 02:06:30.279 --> 02:06:32.760 heel and cringes it thought of being a baby face. 2715 02:06:32.800 --> 02:06:34.640 But maybe he's in a different place in life. He 2716 02:06:34.880 --> 02:06:38.479 just felt natural he is, which is unlike what he 2717 02:06:38.560 --> 02:06:40.279 did early in his career. He just seemed like he 2718 02:06:40.439 --> 02:06:43.000 wanted he was happy to be there. So either he's 2719 02:06:43.039 --> 02:06:45.199 doing a hell of a job of acting and making 2720 02:06:45.279 --> 02:06:48.439 it seem like he's into this character or he's being genuine, 2721 02:06:48.479 --> 02:06:51.199 which is great, but it was just a he was 2722 02:06:51.319 --> 02:06:53.560 not the Randy Orton I expected. I think you have 2723 02:06:53.680 --> 02:06:55.319 to keep him a baby face if they want to 2724 02:06:55.359 --> 02:06:58.079 make this kind of a showdown WrestleMania style match where 2725 02:06:58.479 --> 02:07:01.199 doesn't matter if they have, you know, let the fans choose. 2726 02:07:01.479 --> 02:07:03.960 I'm okay with it, but long term, I'd like to 2727 02:07:04.000 --> 02:07:07.119 see Brocket back to being a heel. I don't know 2728 02:07:07.199 --> 02:07:10.039 if it will, if they're going to go in that direction, 2729 02:07:10.239 --> 02:07:12.640 but I think that's when brock is most effective, even 2730 02:07:12.680 --> 02:07:13.600 though the fans cheer them. 2731 02:07:13.600 --> 02:07:18.359 Anyway, Let's get ready for SmackDown. Jason, Yeah, looking forward 2732 02:07:18.359 --> 02:07:20.520 to it. Always great talking to you, and we'll talk 2733 02:07:20.560 --> 02:07:23.119 to you again probably in three weeks. Sounds great, excellent, 2734 02:07:23.159 --> 02:07:24.880 Thanks everybody, and until next time. I'd be off for 2735 02:07:24.920 --> 02:07:35.560 Jason Powell wad Keller signing off. Your time is valuable. 2736 02:07:35.760 --> 02:07:38.760 Go vip and listen to our show's commercial free a 2737 02:07:38.880 --> 02:07:42.680 nice streamline listening experience. Pw torch dot com slash go 2738 02:07:42.800 --> 02:07:45.960 vip for full details on a commercial free listening experience, 2739 02:07:46.239 --> 02:07:48.800 and with a full VIP membership, you can create custom 2740 02:07:48.880 --> 02:07:51.720 feeds for individual shows or groups of shows by theme, 2741 02:07:52.000 --> 02:07:55.239 and also unlock nearly four decades of archives and access 2742 02:07:55.319 --> 02:07:59.279 our ad free website with VIPP exclusive content. Pw torch 2743 02:07:59.319 --> 02:08:01.880 dot com slash go VIP. 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