Official 2023 SummerSlam Preview & Predictions

This is WWW Superstar Drew McIntyre, and you're listening to the WWE podcast god Show, the one that everybody wants me Godot three sixteen says, just clifts your ass is more. You're gonna like now a tree. Okay, everybody, it is time for your Summer Slam, your official twenty twenty three Summer

Slam preview and predictions show. I have Anthony Marco with me, who currently is co hosting with me but normally is on the currency a w E every single month to night, but we transferred the night to tonight so you guys could get a dose of us and be able to hear what our thoughts are, previews, predictions, possible returns, all that kind of good stuff that's swirling around the news wire. But and they welcome to the show, and

are you excited for this pay per view? You know what, I've just been conditioned now to be excited for pay per views even when the build doesn't warrant it, because, as we've talked about multiple times, under the Triple H regime, every single pay per view, even with bad builds, has

delivered like the weakest pay per view. I guess you could say under the Triple H regime was the Extreme Rules pay per view, which was what just three months into his run as chief content officer, where you had no World title match. I think the main event of that was the pit fight between Riddle and Rawlins, and then you obviously had the subsequent return of Bray Wyatt,

but even that was a solid, solid pay per view. I think they opened up the card with the six man street fight between the brawling Boots and Imperium. So even the lower end of pay per views have been really good the last twelve or thirteen months under Triple H, and with SummerSlam being one percent one of the top pay per views of the calendar year for WWE and the biggest pay per view since WrestleMania, depending whether or not you count

Grown Jewel or any Saudi Arabia event. I am excited because I think WWE is going to pull out all the stops. It's a good way of looking at it, and because so how many times have you and I and others come out of pay per views going wow, that was so much better than the build. It's just like you said, we've been conditioned at this point. It kind of is a self hype machine, because while some of the programs aren't great, and the go home shows, I think we've kind of

got I mean, I just need to just say this. The Go Home shows for a long time, not just in the Triple H regime, but even prior to that, have never really been the go home shows that we used to get, you know, five, ten, fifteen years ago, where it'd be a boiling point. Things just kind of lollygag into the event and things don't feel like they're at a boiling point anymore. Usually for the Go Home Shows, two events, but after the event we are always left

going wow. And that's a credit to the talent. I mean, that's just that's not a credit to creative. Yeah, well I shouldn't say that, because creative does obviously come up with the outcomes. But the story in the journey to get there is done one hundred percent by the talent. So that's a credit to the talent showing what they can do in the ring. And even when a storyline going in is crappy or really people feel indifferent about it, they come out going that was so much better than I expected.

Now, the one challenge that I would imagine that this plle is going to have that the last three didn't since WrestleMania, is that it's not in front of an international crowd. I mean we're back in the United States. The bar is now lower with the crowd reactions, so it's while the crowd reaction will still be from a United States I guess perspective anyway, will be a little higher the typical plee reaction we've gotten from May and May, June and

July and the pls, it's going to be a lot lower. I mean, we had Saudi Arabia, we had we had the UK, we had London, right, we had a Dominican Republic, we have more Puerto Rico. So these are going to be fans that are lowed. But do you think it's going to take away from the show as we've been conditioned the last three months to hear these just unbelievable crowds. Do you think coming away that we may feel a little bit down on the crowd just based on how how

much insanity we've heard the last three months. I don't think so, because at least with this event, and I guess you could say that about Saudi Arabia and in London where they were in stadiums as well. Typically when it's a stadium show, just the sheer quantity of people will usually make it feel very, very significant, Like it's not like they're doing a pay per view in an arena. And now that I think about it, when was the last arena pay per view that they had in the United States? Was it

Survivor Series? Which Survivor sites held in a stadium? We're in arena. I think it was an arena, so I would imagine it was Survivor Series, the last area in a pay per view they had in the US. Yeah, it doesn't happen often, so you're right, the shoot the volume should make up for it. But also if it's a stadium, a lot of the noise can escape through the roof that doesn't exist. I don't know

if Fordfield has a retractable roof. I don't think it does. But anyway, like, let's just dive into the card because we got eight matches to go through here. Obviously, guys, we're going to talk about possible returns. We know all the names that are floating out there, will get to those as we roll through here. But starting with starting with the Battle Royal, this slim Jim SummerSlam Battle Royal. It's a twenty man Battle Royal.

It doesn't seem and again, guys, we have not seen SmackDown that we're recording this on a Thursday, so if something changes on Friday, we don't know about it. But doesn't look like anything's actually on the line. It just seems kind of one of those Battle Royals, the catch alls for people that don't have anything really going on. That that's what these these men are going to be doing right now. The only confirmed participants are Chad Gable,

Otis Shinsky, Champa Shamus, and La Night. So this one, as as La Knight has been dealing with the last few pay per views where he's the heavy favorite, he has not come out on top in the heavy favorites, this one, I'm gonna say he has to come out on top. I understand I said that the last time, but this one he really does.

Because if if he doesn't, I mean, if he can't win a Battle Royal, the kind of a throwaway match that honestly may actually be put on the pre show, I mean, then I don't know what we're doing here. We have reached that point. We are now as you and I have talked. I think we are now at that point. We're not approaching it anymore. We are at the point where WWE can no longer do the

pushing him by not looking like we're pushing him strategy and routine. We are now here, and I think this will propel La Night, at least in a baby step to the next thing where he could say I won the battle Royal, I want this, or that he has some kind of significant victory under his belt. So what do you think? Yeah, I think so. I think you're at the point where you have to throw the fans a

bone, and it doesn't have to be a massive bone. And I think you and I have kind of been in lockstep with that that you don't have to make them world champion tomorrow or WWE champion tomorrow, but you have to put them on some meaningful path. And you know, just me personally, I think that just the fact that they haven't given La Night a meaningful feud or a meaningful program since the bray Wide stuff back in the winter that wasn't even to you know, benefit or elevate l A Night. That was to

elevate bray Wide. And it's crazy how you know six seven months later, how the two different paths each of those two guys to have taken and La Knight has just kind of been fly by night, no pun intended and just kind of like you know, in this match, losing important matches, winning meaningless matches. And I think that it doesn't even necessarily have to be a title, It just has to be a path And the Battle Row would be

a good start. But what they do after that with that catapultation of them out even if that's the word, but I made it one, But I think giving him that catapult off of a not a big win, but a

more of a significant win at a big time pay per view. I know that Battle Royals don't mean anything typically, but like I don't know if WW could attach something to Battle Royals, like it guarantees you a non world title opportunity, like you can challenge for the tag title or won the mid card titles, just something like that to give their like something of significance on the

line. But it's better than nothing, right, And I heard you mentioned that, like would you have rathered him challenge for the US title on SmackDown or in the Battle Royal on SummerSlam? And it's a valley question. For me. I would have probably rathered the US title just because I think he's in need of a meaningful feud and he really hasn't had a clear cut direction since bray Wyatt. But if he wins the Battle Row, which he should,

that's my prediction. I think he's going to win the Battle Royal, just because I don't think that they could stand or afford to make him lose again, because as you mentioned, they are at that point. But it would be a good stepping stone for him and something they could they could kind of use to have him bounce off into something more significant. This, yes, this is the starting point for Elia Knight. I can't think of a more just, foundational victory than this. This is not a staple victory.

It's not one that we're going to remember, per se. There's nothing on the line other than pride and that's it. But if if Eli Knight doesn't win this, I don't I don't know what they're doing. I really don't. To me, if he doesn't win this, they're trying to get too cute. I think that they're trying to stretch this strategy of him getting over without trying to get him over is going to run out of steam. And this, to me, is it not that things are going to crash and

burn, but I think you will. You've we've reached that crossroads. And if they don't do it, I think fans are going to get angry, disinterested and maybe turn cold on this. And I don't want that to happen. Nobody wants that to happen. So this is the starting point, the starting blocks for La Night to get to that next level. You said us title perfect. I thought that he should have been there. You thought he

should have been there to begin with. But perhaps this is the one that gets him to say, you know, talk to Adam Pearce on the following Friday and say, hey, I want the Battle Royal. You know, I should be getting something out of this. There's a way to do it. And this is the starting point for La Night. There's just no other person that needs it. Shamus doesn't need it, Champ it doesn't need it Nowkamer doesn't need a Otis Gable, whoever the hell else? The other sixteen

people are fifteen people are don't need it. There is no one else here that needs it other than La Nights. So all right, I'm gonna mention the next match and then toss it to you, Ronda Rousi, Shana Baesler, MMA rules match go ahead. Not really sure what they mean by MMA rules. I guess they're going to try and mimic what they did with Kane Velaska's and Brock in twenty nineteen. I mean, look, I think they're

both good workers. Obviously, these two know each other. I think that they've done a good job building it, which is a far cry from what I would have said a few weeks ago. I think they did a hell of a job with those video packages. Both of them have legitimacy behind their names as real life badasses in pro in amateur wrestling, and in mixed martial arts. I'm gonna say it's Shana Basler. You know, there's a lot of rumors floating around about what the future holds for Ronda Rousy and whether or

not this is her swan song in professional wrestling. So I'm saying Shane Basler, and I'm actually looking forward to it because of the bill that they've had, Not sure how the result is going to be, because of the complexity of having an MMA rules match in WWE. Obviously, now that they're owned by the same company UFCNWWE, that is, it probably will allow them some

more I guess intel from the MMA side of endeavor. But I really am looking forward to this surprising enough, and I think Shana Bilisler is going to come out on top. I'm with you on that. Now. If this is a multi month program, I might lean Rowsy. But the problem is that this does seem to be, at least for the time being, Ronda Rousey's you know, final match for the foreseeable future. That's the reports coming

out. Of course, those are just you know, what we're hearing from the major sites, and it could be that Ronda Rowsy is going to return towards WrestleMania forty. I don't know how she, you know, as you get towards SummerSlam, you're already kind of peeking down the road a little bit to WrestleMania forty. I don't know how she, you know, wouldn't want to be a part of that and finally get to Becky Ronda one on one. For God's sake, she need they need to have that before she goes

away. But I mean that's just my own personal preference. So this match um, yeah, I don't know what they mean either. I was thinking they were gonna do a fight pit match like they did with Rollins and Riddle last late last year. I was thinking that's where they were going. But yeah, this MMA rules match. I don't like when they try to bring in, you know, a sport in which you're actually trying to hurt your

opponent into a sport where you're trying to work with your opponent. It's it's oil and vinegar or oil and water rather as I say it, I just this could be disastrous. I continue to say that. I hope it's not.

I'm not rooting for it to be a disaster. But when you're actually trying to make the gimmick of the match the opposite purpose of a professional wrestling match, and try to make it look like they're hurting each other when they're really not and you can see they're pulling punches, but then calling it MMA, it has the potential to be disastrous. I mean, of course, I'm thinking of Cane Valaska as a brock Lesner. That was just an absolute

abomination. It was bad. It was embarrassing Cane Valaska as I mean, it looked like my you know five year old son could have kicked his ass. I mean, he just didn't look good, even though I mean he's legit badass, we know that. But the visual wasn't good that he was taking down Brock and it just wasn't my favorite. So I am worried about the quality of this match from just a logistical standpoint of how are you gonna it would be like them putting in pro wrestling rules in a UFC fight and

trying to do like it's just is. It's two things I understand, endeavor, it's all under the same umbrella, but it doesn't mean you need to mix them. It's a dangerous. It's a dangerous thing to do. Maybe they'll pull it off. But are you worried about that at all? Oh? Yeah, one hundred percent. With the execution, this is a weird thing, kind of like the reverse under the Triple H era where I'm more worried about the execution than I am about the build. And I think that

the build has been good. I think the legitimacy behind both of these women is making me look forward to this match and maybe give it the benefit of the doubt in the meantime. But no, honestly, we saw what we saw from Kane velaska As and Brock back in twenty nineteen, and both of those guys are real life badasses. And Brock is an incredible worker, arguably the most underrated worker in the history of professional wrestling and underrated, not best

underrated. And I think that their execution and their results was, you know,

satisfactory at very best. And I am worried about that with Ronda and Shana, But like I said, I think with the build that they've got, me given them the best for the doubt in the interim, I think, what's gonna happen if I'm if I'm gonna be realistic here when they say MMA rules, what that really means I would imagine is they're gonna do rounds, right, They'll probably do like, you know, however, whatever the round three minute rounds or whatever they are in UFC, and there's just gonna

be a lot more punching and kicking and striking like that. That's probably like takedowns and and mound like pounding what are they what are they call it? Ground and pound like, there's probably gonna just be more punches and kicks that are all just pulled punches and kicks, and again, this is no different really than a pro wrestling match. You're just using punches and kicks more than you would actual souplexes and you know, ankle locks and that kind of thing.

So there's I don't know if there's really going to be any difference here other than just oh, okay, they're gonna do rounds and that's it. Like, they didn't say it's going to be in an octagon, they just said MMA rules. It's a very vague term to use, so that's probably in my mind what it's going to look like. Is that, Sony, any other thoughts before we get to the ICY title. No, I think

that's pretty much. We kind of gave it a good coverage going into it, and now we've just got to hope that the execution is as good as the bill. That's the only thing that we could really do. Agreed, And I'm also going SHANEA. By the way, I didn't make my pick. Shane is also my pick. Okay, Intercontinental Championship Gunther versus Drew McIntyre

for the IC title. I'm not gonna get my pick other than to say this is the first real true threat to Gunther's run as Intercontinental Champion with Drew

here. Tough pick, but I'll let you choose. You know, this is probably the toughest time I had with my predictions, because, as you said, Drew McIntyre is a legitimate threat to Gunther, and I don't know if he's had a legitimate threat before maybe Shamus and Drew back at WrestleMania, but even at that it never really felt like his run was in jeopardy. Riddled In threatened it or the likes of we're going back a bit now,

but Ricochet didn't threatened it, Shamus didn't threatened it. But Drew, you know, he's still looking for that big win, that big win that was taken away from him because of COVID three and a half years ago at Wrestling at thirty six. And it isn't a world title, but they have done a hell of a job building up the Intercontinental Championship, and Drew's a history with that title during his first run with the company, and I really do

think that he would be an amazing Intercontinental champion. But in this instance, I'm going with Gunther just because I think he's in within striking distance of the honky tonk Man for the longest running Intercontinental champion of all time. I don't know how far away he is. I feel like we went over this and it's sometime during the fall, maybe in October. So I'm picking Gunther.

That being said, and this is kind of like an asterisk beside it, I do think Drew McIntyre will will eventually be the guy to dethrone him as their conne champion. I think this is a program you could probably string across three or even four pay per views, So I think Gunther gets this victory, but I do think eventually Drew is the one to strip of that IC title when Gunther does eventually pass Honckey tong Man, I'm gonna go Gunther two.

And I could see w W E getting tempted by Drew. He've just returned, He's hot, he feels a little I mean, he doesn't feel a little fresh. He feels much more fresh than he did prior to his exit from his injury and getting healed up. So I'm gonna stick with Gunther as I look at the actual number of days, and this is the only reason that I'm choosing Gunther, and not only not the only reason because there's also rumors of a Gunther brock Lessner match at WrestleMania forty. That seems to

be what they're eyeing. And if that's the case, you you know, you want to kind of start to make Gunther look unbeatable, and you know that that's another another reason why. But right now, okay, this is as of July twenty eighth, so we'll have to add a few days to this, but as of July twenty eighth, we had Gunther at four hundred

and fourteen days. Now that means that the Honky Tonk Man is at this point thirty five days ahead of Gunther at four hundred and fifty three days, So really he only has to get to the next pay per view I think pretty close to that. So we're getting very close now to the point where all they have to do is keep the belt on gun Through for another month and then we could claim he is the longest running intercondinal champion of all time.

They probably are going to choose that path. Instead of Drew winning, we'll have Gunther. I mean, I'm sure Giovanni Vinci or Ludwig Keiser are going to get involved cost gun Through the match. Or cost Drew the match. I just think, for the biggest reason being, there's this close to

having Gunther being able the claim that he's the longest running Intercontinental champion. It's too tempting, and honestly, it's a hell of an accolade, hell of an accolade to be able to say that now that four hundred and fifty three days seems puny in comparison to Roman Reigns, who was overshadowing every record that everyone is is compiling right now. But still, I think that would be a really great thing to put on Gunther's resume for his entire career, that

he's the longest running ic champion of all time. Yeah, And like, I don't know if you feel the same way, but could you see Drew dethroning him as Intercontinental champion after he surpassed his Honckey talk man? Yeah, dude, Drew's an excellent candidate. I could also see if Biggie eventually returns here, and I think if there were going to be a return from Biggie

at some point that he would fit nicely into the intercontinental title picture. Obviously he's been WWE champion before, but you know, if they if they don't go Withdrew, I could see if Biggie comes back then next month or two he could be the one to take it from Gunther as well. So yeah, either Drew or Biggie, Yeah, I think so, but it really

depends with Biggie. But I do feel like they owe Drew a big victory because for some reason, like well, obviously we know the reason as to why he probably hasn't gotten that victory since, but I don't think he's held a singles championship since losing the w w E Championship in early twenty twenty one. So eventually I want Drew to get that, but get that victory, but just SummerSlam isn't the right fit. But I do think that this is

a program you could string across several pay per views. Absolutely, and Drew does deserve that victory. He his timing constantly gets to him. He has the worst possible timing and not of his own, you know, his own fault, but being able to get that victory in front of fans, which he has yet to get. Yeah, So all right, so we both are still in the same boat here as we look at the intercounital Championships. So right now we are. We've picked the same people for the Battle Royal,

the MMA Rules match, and the Icy title. Let's see if that continues here with Ricochet and Logan Paul. Go ahead, it's Logan Paul. This one's very easy for me. Like, I love what Ricochet has done here. I think you've mentioned it. He's been built up more in two or three weeks than he has in two or three years prior. But Logan Paul hasn't won a match since Summer Slim of last year. I believe against them is and since then he's had how many singles matches? I want to

say two against Roman and Seth rightfully lost both of those. But Logan Paul, as bad as it is to say, is the bigger star here, has more tread left on the tire, has a higher ceiling. You know, you can go down and down the list. I really like what Ricochet has done here. I think the match is going to be phenomenal, But it's a slam dunk. It's gonna be Logan Paul. It should be Logan Paul. It has to be Logan Paul. Yeah, no, I'm still I'm with your pick. I'm going to also choose Logan Paul to win,

but as not as confidently. And the reason I say that is a couple of reasons. Number One, Logan Paul got the best of Ricochet going into the pay per view. Now that is certainly not a hard and fast rule, but I'd say the majority, not the overwhelming, but the majority of the time the person getting the advantage going into the event doesn't win. Certainly not a rule of thumb, but it's you know, it's prominent. So

there's that. Also, Ricochet has gotten more support and caught more fire over the last two weeks in the last two years, so perhaps they're thinking they have something here with him. And Ricochet is you know, he's not an old man either. I mean he's he's still he's certainly not as young as Logan Paul. But he's got a lot more mileage on his body, yes, but he still can perform at the highest of levels. He doesn't show any signs of wear and tear. So I'm still going with Logan Paul.

I agree, but I could see them being tempted by Ricochet. And there's gonna be a lot of holy s chance for this one. A lot of this is awesome, chance a lot, maybe a fight forever chance. This could be that. And honestly, I'm more not even concerned about the quality. We know what the quality is going to be. I'm concerned about the actual health and safety of these men, like because they know what level they've

taken this too for expectations. We've seen what they can do, and seeing Logan Paul nearly break his neck the last time they met, was that was a scary I mean, yeah, sure, I don't like Logan Paul in a personal level either. I don't. I don't, you know, there's a lot I don't like about him, but I think he's a great heal and I have no problem with him being in this in WW. But that

all aside. I mean, there are two human beings, and I'm genuinely concerned that they're gonna take risks that they don't need to take just to raise the bar to that next level and give something the crowd will never forget. Like, if that's the mentality, I'm genuinely gonna be worried about, like just the health and safety of these two men. Do you think that that's a concern or do you think that that is not something you're gonna be looking at, going, yeah, they'll be fine, Honestly. I mean with

Ricochet, I've seen enough to just assume that he's gonna be okay. And after that spot that they both took and money in the bank, I think Logan Paul has earned that bev hitted out too. Like he may be the most natural gifted at and naturally gifted athlete I say, I mean steps seamlessly into wrestling. Ever, it's absolutely insane how athletic that guy is and how much of a natural he is. So honestly, I'm gonna give them both

the benefited doubt. I'm not worried for either of their health. Well, I am worried for their health, but I'm not worried that they're going to mess up and hurt themselves, if that makes sense. I just think that you can make the argument argument that they are the two most natural athletes in WWB right now. That's crazy to say when you have the likes of seth rawlins and ag styles and so on and so forth. Agreed, Yeah, no, and they are professionals. They you know, ww wouldn't be putting

them together. They actually feared for the health and safety of both of these men. But inherently, I don't care how good you are. Inherently they are going to be performing at a higher risk and the wrestler than the rest of the card because of the moves they're doing. Gravity doesn't discriminate. I

mean, gravity doesn't discriminate. The laws of physics don't discriminate. You can be as talented in the world as you want to be, but you're inherently taking more risk the way in the style that these men are going to perform at. So that is just my concern. I'm just gonna be keeping a keen eye on this with a little bit of a little bit of an air of safety on my mind just because of what happened before and the way that both men wrestle is. So anyway, I'm looking forward to it. We

all know what it's going to be. It's gonna be a highlight reel, which again it's been built around them having a viral match, instead of them talking about caring about winning, which I don't. Any time that that happens, I'm never a fit. It should be about hey, I'm gonna beat you, I'm gonna win. Instead they're talking both about just putting on a great show. Not my favorite narrative going in that should be a byproduct of what they do. I never like when it's the focus. It's like pulling

back the curtain a little too much for me. But I don't know. Maybe does that bother you at all? Um? I guess yeah, because it's kind of like when didn't Sasha Banks I used to say, I want to tear the house down that, Yeah, we're gonna make history history history. It's like, no, what about winning? Yeah? And I agree, like, why are you guys here? Is it not to win? Because that's when he kind of exposes the business as like a spectacle like cert

disilate. Right, So I try and just bypass that, and I just I try and ignore it. But when you really break down, like the actual comment, it does bother me for sure. Yeah, it's again, Yeah I too. I just shut it off and I go just just shut up and can we talk about winning? Right? But anyway, all right, let's get to a few more matches here. Let's talk about the tribal combat for the undisputed w W Universal Championship. This is also on the line.

Here is the recognition of who the travel chief is Roman Rains versus JAU, So I will just give my pick and then I'll toss it to you. I think this is also no doubt or kind of a slam donc Juso loses and I think Roman Rains retains. But there's a lot of X factors here and I'll just let you have the floor. Yeah, you know what. I kind of went back and forth a little bit because I've seen reports of Roman Reigins taking a hiatus post SummerSlam and that I think he's only advertised

for one PLI Being Survivors series between now and twenty twenty four. And it's really parton a shame that that's the case, because if you really think about it, he hasn't been head to head with anyone but his fellow Bloodline members since WrestleMania with Cody Rhodes, and I really think that I'm I'm craving like a Roman Rains feud other than just the civil war within the Bloodline. I think you mentioned it on your weekend review that while this has been awesome,

the civil war war angle, enough is enough. We have to move on.

We have to move on to bigger and better things. And it feels like, while it will be that it will be the end of the civil war angle with the bloodline, that we still will have to wait to see the next step for Roman Reigns. So that's why I kind of thought for a bit, will they give it to Ja because j will maybe stick around and then he could have a short run with the title and then maybe drop it to an La Night, or drop it to a returning Randy Orton,

or drop it to a Bobby Lashly or an AJ Styles or whoever. That's the only, only, only reason why I even given Jusso a slim of hope, just because he could have a short title reign and then drop it at the very next pay per view to one of the guys I just mentioned. But it just makes more sense to keep it on Roman Reigns. You still have tread left on that tire. What's happening with who with Voldemort?

Is he going to come back? You know, there's still a lot of storytelling to be had with this version of Roman Reigns as the underst to Champion. It just sucks that it feels like we're going to have to wait till Survivors series, if not later, to see the next chapter in Roman reigns his career in his next chapter as Industry Champion and see his first program with

someone not directly within the Bloodline since WrestleMania. We are now Yeah, I mean, as we talked about this is this is four months now since he's defended his title, last four months. And that's not to say, as we've all known, the television storytelling between the Bloodline and the Civil War and

all that has been really good. But now we're in a post We're in a post Bloodline era, and that means Roman has to go outside and finally go outside of his bubble of the family, unless Dwayne comes back, which yeah, I'm still torn on if there's a possibility of that happening at Summerslimon, I'm leaning no. I'm leaning no on that. I think that Grayson

Waller is going to be the connection that brings him in. He continues to talk about him, and Grayson Waller continues to talk about him in almost talk about or do the People's Elbow. I mean, like Grayson Waller right now seems to be that connection that's keeping this whole thing alive. But I don't think that the rock appears here at at Summers Slam. I'm saying no, but not not an absolute no. Um, but Roman retains. I'm with you there. Tribal combat obviously, is just a fancy way to say no

DQ. Uh. I mean, it's just tell me what the differences between tribal combat and no DQ and and you know you can't. It's it's all just talking about a street fight. I mean, there's so many ways to say no disqualification. This is just a new way to say it, which is fine, it's marketing makes sense. But Roman Rains retains. And there

is an argument that you laid out which where Jay could win. But if Roman Rains is going to take time off here and do what he does and not compete for or put his title on the line till Survivor series, that's what another three months because that's in November. So now, I mean that would mean that Roman Rains would defend his title twice in six months, and

that's just I mean, that's just as it's just ridiculous. I understand that he's the heel champion and that he don't want him to be overexposed, but I mean, you've just taken it to the other extreme and inflated his numbers that we've talked about countless times here, but it is what it is. We've accepted at this point, we're gonna have to eat it whether we like it or not. I guess my question to you is, if it's not

Dwayne, do you think anyone does come out well? While Roman Reigns is celebrating that we all anticipate holding up his championships, the fireworks are going off. It's the same old thing we've seen for three years. Now. Do you see anyone, Randy Bray, anybody that maybe I'm not thinking of coming out and identifying who Roman's next opponent is. I mean, there's several candidates you could go with, and I think that's why it makes more sense to

have Roman Reigns keep the championship. Among authors you just brought up to Bray and Randy, I really think Bobby Lashley is a good one. Bobby Lashley would probably pose the most serious threat during his title reign, with the exception of Drew and Cody Rhodes. I mean, he's forming what seems to be a new version of the Hurt business with the street profits, so he would have some backup to counter to kind of counter set or offset to Solo Sakoa.

But honestly, this is my other fear here is that nobody's going to come out and Roman Reigns is just going to ride off into the sunset until November and then, as we've said, going back, what fifteen months now, that we're just going to artificially tack months and weeks and days on to

his title reign and like you said, six months to title defenses. You know, I don't like this at all, and I think that's the only reason why I've tried to tap myself into picking j even though I know it doesn't make that much sense, just because I don't want the WWE champion Ship to disappear, and it feels like until Survivors Series it will like I mean, maybe they could set something up with a Bobby Lashley, but I mean

Bobby Lashley hasn't really been a part of SmackDown since being drafted there in April, So are you going to have him confront Roman Reigns and not have an in ring match until Survivor Series? Are you gonna have a returning Randy Orton confront Roman Reigns and not have a match until Survivor Series. Ditto for bray Wyatt. I mean, it's like it's damned if you do if damned if

you don't. Because if you take the belt off of Roman Reigns, you're ending the most historic title run arguably ever and certainly in the last decade, decade and a half, two decades. But if you keep the bells on him, yeah, down the road you're gonna get some really good matches, some really good segments, some really good stories. But in the interim and in the short term, there's gonna be nothing going on in the main events

scene. So I mean, it's weird. I'm looking forward to the match, but no matter what the result is, I'm not looking forward to it because there just really seems to be no positive unless the rumors are wrong and

he isn't going on hiatus post SummerSlam. But assuming that the rumors are true, and historically going back fifteen months, that has been the case with Roman Reigns post winning the Undisputed Championship against Brock at WrestleMania in twenty twenty two, I fear that even if he help wins the championship he retains it, it will be several months before we see him against a fresh opponent. Yeah.

See, that's the thing. We're just going on assumption that these reports are true, that he's not actually going to compete again until Survivor Series and challenge anybody for the title. But here's the thing. It doesn't mean that, for example, Dwayne, if he comes out and stares down at Roman, gives him a rock Bottom or it doesn't do anything physical. Just you kind

of just have that final interaction of hey, here's what's to come. They can easily just kind of talk about it over the next couple of months and then eventually Roman will address it. Rock doesn't show up again for a little while again, because you have what seven months, eight months until the next time that they have to build it, or then until they actually have their matchup Mania. So again, that's all there's a lot of assumptions going on

here. But that's how you could do it. I mean, just because somebody returns big, big name, whether it's Randy or Rock and then just kind of give Roman like a warning shot and give him time to prepare. They certainly have no issues stringing out Roman's programs at all. This doesn't need to be at payback. They could do it at what's the next one fast Lane and then Survivor Series, so they could easily do that. Even if a big name returns, it doesn't exempt somebody from returning. It's Roman Reigns

is run is not a traditional run. See. That's the thing too, is like this is a very unique run, and that means that if someone returns, it doesn't mean that that person has to be facing Roman at the next pay per view. We all know that's not Reigns his schedule anymore. So I don't know. I guess I'm trying to talk myself into something exciting happening at the end of SummerSlam, as we kind of imagine him standing there,

Paul Hammond's got the two belts holding that up. Romans got his one Universal Universal Championship, and you know, maybe the show ends there, But I don't know. I can't imagine them ending the WrestleMania of the summer with just that visual that we've seen countless times before. So no, I agree

with you. It's just I really hope that he doesn't disappear completely, Like if you don't want him have it, if you don't want him to have a match until Servar series that sucks in and of itself because you have what two pay per views between now and then the next one is Payback, and then you have fast Lane, and I don't know if there's a crowd Jewel somewhere mixed in. Usually there seems to be one in late October or early

November. But I mean, if you're gonna just leap frog three pay per views and he's not going to wrestle again until late November, I don't know. It's it's kind of again old. Like he hasn't had a singles match since WrestleMania. Think about that. Okay, there you had the singles match in Mexico against Ray Mysterio. I have a show, but I'm not counting that. He hasn't had a televised singles match since WrestleMania. Yeah, it didn't happen on television. It didn't happen. I mean, it's just the

way it is. And not only that, but no one on SmackDown is even talking about the Universal Championship, Like, no one on SmackDown's even trying to chase it. Yep. It's it's like nobody has cross passed with Roman Reigns other than his fellow Bloodline members since the Raw after WrestleMania when they when they started the Brock and Cody Rhodes angle, Like nobody has acknowledged him.

The new guys on SmackDown haven't acknowledged him, Shamus hasn't acknowledged him, Bobby Lashley, aj Styles La Night, nobody like Ray Mysterio Center, Like it's like he doesn't exist. I know, he's in his own There's there's the Roman Rain Show, and then there's just everyone else on SmackDown and everyone just pretends you're right, like Roman doesn't exist. Yeah, And I don't want

to crap on this because I love the blood Line. I do think it's gotten a bit monotonous now with Jay and this and that, But again that's only because like the blood Line kind of just lives in their own bubble, aside from when the USOS fights someone from the outside. You know, Solo was doing that from for a bit, but now he's been attached with Roman

Ragins at the hip. And I do like the content. It's great storytelling, it's phenomenal, but it's just gotten a bit redundant because it's the same thing and we know that in less you're solo or Paul Hayman or the USO's You're not going to be seen with Roman Reigns on television. It's like he has like, like I don't know, it's like he has like a three hundred foot long meter stick like and he's just walking around and they have to

keep that radius from him like other wrestlers like. And it sucks because I like Roman Reigns. I think he's awesome. He's must watch television. He's one of the best promos in WWE right now. And I don't say that lightly. His facial expressions, he's epic, but it's just like it has to be a bit different. And the fact that he hasn't had a singles match since WrestleMania is just it's non negotiable. I'm sorry, it's non negotiable.

I'm not saying that he has to fight every single SmackDown or every second SmackDown, even like I do think there should be some benefit to being champion and that should be a reduced work schedule. Don't tell that seth rawlins though, But I mean, I don't know, the fact that he hasn't had his singles match since WrestleMania is absolutely insane to me. There is a lot to be desired with the run. As good as a story, no, as great as a storytelling has been in credit to all involved, the wrestlers

and the writers and in production everybody. But it's time to trying to change things up. It's time to move out of the family. It's time to give Roman Reigns a real opponent. And fine, you want to skip Payback, We've kind of been We've been a customed to Roman skipping every other pay per view. But when you go multiple pay per views in a row now where he doesn't have a match of any of any any note, and then doesn't have a singles match and he's not defending his title, and no one

on SmackDown is talking about it, it's a little much. So it's funny because those on SmackDown that were with Roman Reigns during the time that Raw didn't have a title, we're probably like, well, you know, even though we have a champion here, we might as well not have a champion here because he's in his own world. Like it doesn't you know, it's it's it's he's here, but he's not. So like, sure, Raw doesn't have a champion, for all intents and purposes, not either, do we

That's how I'd feel if I was on SmackDown. But so anyway, Yeah, the dynamic needs to change. And I'm not saying like he said, Roman needs to compete at every house show and be there at every SmackDown. M No, no, no, no, I don't mind that he's there every three smackdowns. I really don't, or even more to that degree. But if he just disappears off the face of the earth between now and Survivor

stories, that's inexcusable. No, that cannot happen. But all right, any any final thoughts as we get to the last couple of matches here, No, I'm Roman Rainstowe, Right, let's go. All right, So the Women's Championship triple threat Oscar Charlotte Bianca. Who's your pick? You know it's crazy to say, but I'm going to Oscar and I don't think there's gonna be a cash and I think there's gonna be a failed cash in. She's gonna keep the briefcase, but shots he'll get involved. Um, here's

the here's my reasoning. And it's crazy because I'm not a big fan of Oscar, the character but I just think it's because if you put the belt on Charlotte, it's just like another I don't want to say meaningless title run for Charlotte, but it feels like it would just be kind of forced. And I just I don't think you could put the smack Down or SmackDown the w w E Championship back on her or the Women's whatever they're calling it.

They can't put that belt back on Charlotte right away because she just dropped it not too long ago at WrestleMania, although that was the old World Championship, but it was on SmackDown. Kind of confusing how to follow the lineages, as we talked about a few weeks ago. But I just don't think the time is right for Charlotte with Bianca. I mean, she just dropped it out too long ago after holding it for well over a year. So I mean, I don't think you have to let that breathe a bit. You

have to keep Bianca and chaseboad for a bit. And as far as Eo skycashing in, I just think you need a lengthy kind of run with a woman holding the briefcase because aside from Carmela, who was the first ever woman's money in the bank holder, and I think she held it until the SmackDown after WrestleMania in twenty eighteen, so she held it for about I think it was eight months or so. Every other woman has cashed it in in like two months or less, like Alexa Bliz cashed it in on the same night

in twenty eighteen. In twenty nineteen, it was who won. In twenty nineteen, it's escaping me now. But in twenty twenty Oscar won the briefcase and then was awarded the women's championship. In twenty twenty one, oh yeah, and twenty nineteen, Bailey won the briefcase and cashing in on the same light as well. Then you got Oscar winning the championship with because Becky Lynch was pregnant, she had to step away. So then when she opened the

briefcase she became the women's champion. Twenty twenty one, it was Nicky ash and she cashed it in several weeks after all, in the briefcase last year, you had Lived Morgan cash it in soon after weighing the briefcase. So I mean, I just think that Yoski should keep the briefcase for several months, if not well past six months, just because there's a story to tell

with her and Bailey. They have the shotsy thing going on. So it's almost like a process of elimination with me, not so much because I think Oscar should hold onto the bill, but more because all the other options don't make sense right now. So your pick is Oscar retaining, I'm gonna go Charlotte winning, but the reason is okay, so she's my first pick, but a very close second is Oscar retaining. Bianca Belair winning is a distant

third. I think there's almost no chance of Bianca Belair winning, probably next to zero. But the reason I say Charlotte Flair wins is that I think that her being a fourteen time champion, they want to get it to fifteen quickly so that they can eventually get to sixteen. And when would that sixteenth happen? Maybe towards WrestleMania season, where they could actually, you know, put on a celebration, maybe her dad comes out, all that kind of

thing where her dad and her are also their co sixteen time champions. They like that kind of thing that that shouldn't be the sole reason that you change championships, but it is a strong reason with Charlotte Flair there. But of course the at X that X factor that you mentioned EO Sky and the Bailey

thing, and does she cash it in quickly? As women cash a women's money, the bank holders cannot hold out more than like five seconds to cash in, and actually having a woman hold on to it longer than you know, like like you said, for such a short time, I'm gonna say, Charlotte, but then I'm gonna say that, uh, you know, EO Sky tries to cash in and maybe doesn't even have the bell ring because Bailey screws her over or screws over you know, her screws over EO before

or as she cashes in her cash in's official and then Bailey ends up screwing her over, and then you get a Bailey EO program, and Charlotte is working with you know, still working with Oscar and uh, you know, I've heard rumors also too of her Nia Jack's return. I don't know if that's true or not. If Nia Jax gets injected in here. She did come back for what the Rumble or something this past year, so she is

floating out there in the ether as a discussion. But you know, I still think she does Charlotte does win, but boys is a slim margin of confidence, and that's what I think. So yeah, no, I just on the EO Sky front, I would like her to keep that briefcase pass WrestleMania, Like I think the art of holding the briefcase for like eight to nine months is a lost one. I don't even remember the last person to hold it that long, maybe like on the women's side it was Carmela who

was the first ever women's money in the bank holder. Even on the men's side, like who was the last guy to hold it that length? Like I can't even remember something like I guess the miss but he wanted away from Otis, So does that even really count? You know? Everyone else has cash it in typically by the fall after winning it sometime during the summer, So I don't know. And I think that with EO. Sky they could

use the next eight to nine months to build up her character. And we talked about it last week or the week before, two weeks ago actually because we haven't been current State in a few weeks, but we've spoken about it recently. That the women's division is in good shape. Right now. They have a lot of top heavy talent, So there is absolutely no rush to

shoehorn EO Sky into the women's championship picture before she's ready. And as you mentioned, there's a story to tell with Bailey, there's a story to tell with whatever shots he's gonna whatever role she's gonna play in this presumably when Dakota Kai comes back, there's a story to tell between Dakota and EO. Like, I think that if you play this right, the next eight months could

be a really good build for EO. You have the top talent on the women's side in the meantime to tread water and then some it's not even trading water. You have some good programs that you could have with Osca, with Charlotte, with Bianca, if Nia Jackson returns, there's no reason to rush it with EO. Oh yeah, no, I'm all for it. And what I would also like, and this goes for the men's side of things too, what the briefcase is, don't carry it around all the time.

Yeah, Like I want to kind of forget that you're the money the bank briefcase holder, where you know, you go several months and then they don't have the briefcase, but they're still the minding in bank briefcase holder and they only cash it in when they're you know, they're running out to cash it in. I just think, you know, out of sight, out of mind, and if they do it for a longer period of time, that would be good. They don't need to carry her is it Are they obligated

to carry it around all the time, like every time? You know what I mean? Like, is it part of the part of the package deal? I don't understand it. I just think it's a missed opportunity where you could just kind of put it out of the minds of fans and they just don't have to carry it around with every place they go. Like it's just I don't know. I know that they're trying to remind the fans, but

at the same time reminding the fans it takes away the surprise element. So anyway, Yeah, so again, I think Oscar is a strong, very close second at least in my opinion and Charlotte Flair. But again, Oscar is a boring champion. I'm sorry. I think you said that too. She's so boring, and I hate saying that because she's trying. She's like the face paint, the new outfit, the new haircut. She actually had a dialogue on SmackDown this past week that was more that she said in two

minutes than in like five years. So she can speak more English than w W WE allows her to say, which is the extent of nobody's ready for Osca. It's the only thing we ever know of what she says. So she can speak a little more English than at least WW leads on and I think that that is a massive limiting factor for her, that they're not allowing her to do it. And maybe they loosen up on that, but either way, if they keep Osca as she is, she's so boring. I

understand she's healed, but she's just hates. It's weird to say, but she's a snooze fest because you know what you're gonna get with her. We've seen every version of her that we could possibly see. There's no more layers of the onion to peel back with her. Because I think of promos, not being able to cut promos is a massive problem. I don't care who you are, so other way, last thing I'll say, I think this match has the potential to be in the conversation for Match of the Night.

I think we're kind of sleeping on that too. Which the talent involved in this matchup is top tier, So I think this could be really a match that a lot of people are looking at going but it could be Match of the night. It could be could I don't think it will be, but it maybe in top three. All right, let's get to the last two here, Seth Rollins Finn Balor. This is another not so easy one for

the World Heavyweight Championship. Go ahead. I'm picking Finn Balor just because I think there's more of a story to be told, and I think in the triple h WWE or Triple hs w W, EA should say that's typically been the way that they book, that they always do what's best for the long term story outlook. And I don't know if it's I don't know if Seth Seth Rawlins is stale, but for me, I think that they could do a lot more with Finn. Let's be honest, the Judgment Day is the

best thing of that Monday Night Raw has going right now. And that's crazy to say, and it's insane what a world title could do for a show because I don't know if it's must watch because it is three hours and it is tough to get through. But since they reshuffled the deck and brought in a world title and switched up the rosters, Raw has been that much better.

You have Gunther and Drew McIntyre feuding over the Interconnal Championship, you have the tag team titles predominantly living on Monday Night Raw, and you have a world title to chase. And the Judgment Day have had their fingers in that

pie since its inception back in May. And I think that because of the history of Finn Balor and seth Rawlins at SummerSlam seven years ago over a world Championship, the title reign that was robbed from Finnbalor, I think it just makes all the sense in the world for Finn Balor to dethrone seth Rawlins. And I think that there's such a story to be told with Finn Balor and

the Judgment Day all kind of holding gold in some capacity. Obviously, Damian Priest just has the briefcase, but that does presumably will or will presumably translate into gold and then you can continue down the path of the fracture between Damian Priest and Finn Balor, and they can drag this on if they play their cards right all the way into Royal Rumbull season between Finn Balor and Damian Priests. And I just think that that would be amazing storytelling and amazing theater on

Monday Night Raw if you just had Judgment Day dominating. But every week, bit by bit, with each passing night, you see that fracture going thicker and thicker with Finn Balor finally having his world title reign that was taken away from him seven years ago, but Damian Priests lurking in the weeds with that briefcase chomping at the bit for his first ever run as a world champion,

and seth Rowns, you know, could take a long deserved break. It is been what two years running now that he's been one of the bigger workhorses in WWE, has been the top guy on Monday Night Raw, going back to last year round this time when they didn't have a world title to defend off. And then you can move on to bigger and better things. So I mean, I don't know, I hate saying to take the world title off of Seth Rawlins just two plus two months and change after winning it.

But I just feel like there's such better of a story to be told with Finn Balor. This is difficult. This is really difficult. There are strong cases for both. You're right, the Judgment Day is an absolute shining star of Raw. There may not be another opportunity to put gold on nearly all

the members of Judgment Day. The Judgment Day have never been hotter. The fracture did start again on Raw between Damian and Finn, with Finn doing that one to two second hesitation that costs Damian the cash in on Rollins to beat

him for the world title Raw. So there's that that started again. So the question is does Damien return the favor and give Finn a receipt during his match with Seth where you know, a momentary hesitation by Damian costs Finn the match and there's no cash in, but there's a you know that that hesitation

that costs Finn the match and Seth Rollins retains. There's there's that argument, and to be honest or to be fair, Seth hasn't had exactly a long reign with that championship yet, if I mean he wanted what back in May, so he's only had it for two and a half months or so. So there's you know, it's not exactly a long reign by any any standard.

So there's that. And then also we already have a massive heel champion on SmackDown, and the argument of well, the world heavyweight title was created for a baby face to counter that, of which I think they've gone way too far to the other other extreme. But it was designed to have a champion that's a fighting champion and all this nonsense. So if you have a heel champion, while they'll be there much more than a Roman reins is on

SmackDown, it's still a heel champion and you got that same dynamic. So there's that argument against it. Now the argument for it is the one you laid out, which I'm not gonna, you know, repeat piece by piece. But Finn winning a world title is no problem here. The symmetry of seven years ago. I think they'll try to replicate that spot that injured Finn. I don't think they'll they'll do it, or if they do it, I'm sure they they'll do it a little bit safer this time, you know,

as WW likes to reenact things. I think that may be the very spot that Seth tries to or you know, do and the announcers remind us that that was the spot the buckle bomb, but it was on the outside barricade, I believe, is what tour Finn Boaler's shoulder. So maybe they do that as kind of a memorium to seven years ago. And I love them bringing up the history of seven years ago. I love when they do that stuff because it brings things full circle. And Finn has really been shining

lately. He reminds you how damn good he is on the mic when the crowd isn't trying to go into business for themselves, you know, the backstage promos, the locker room promos, all of it is so good. Finn is so good that I have no problem with him winning the World Heavyweight Championship. So ultimately, what's my pick? This is really tough. I'm going to say Finn Balor does win. Here I'm going to also agree with you, But my god, is this difficult because both men have such strong arguments.

So you're going with Balor, Yeah, Balor, but by a hair, you know what. It's so tough because you laid out a good argument for the other way, But I mean it just I don't know what how much more they could do with Seth as world champion right now, not forever, but just right now. He was the right guy at the right time to legitimize that World championship. But I just feel like, given the landscape on Monday Night Raw, like they could do so much more with Finn Balor.

Like, look, I'll take away from what we've talked about or you've mentioned, and even Roman Reigns mentioned on SmackDown. If Roman Reiins loses, he goes back to being Roman Reigns. But then Jay Usso loses, and who is he? What's he gonna do? And for me, I'm saying like, if Finn Balor loses here, like not to say that he's nothing, but like it feels like all the wind will be taken out of his sales. It feels like this is the final chance that you can finally give

Finn Balor his world championship run. Seth Rollins loses and he'll be fine. He'll probably take a few months off, well deserved, he'll come back, He'll still be super over. He'll immediately be a top contender for the World Championship, he won't lose his plays. I feel like if Finn Balor loses here, you will not be able to relegitimize him as a top contender for

the World Championship. And it took them a hell of a hike to get him to beat back into this position because when he returned in twenty what was a twenty seventeen, He's been a lot of time in the mid card, feuding for the Intercontinental Championship, going to SmackDown, coming back to Raw, then he went down to NXT, came back up, Like this has been a long hike to get Finn Balor back as a true threat to a World

championship and in the main event scene. And I just think that if you decide to have him lose here, you will never ever get a chance again to put him back in the main events. And maybe that's the case, Like maybe they just feel like he's never going to be a main event player

for them. I just look at the landscape of Monday Night Raw, with the judgment day, the other competitors that could face him in the interim, Like maybe you have Sammy and Kevin dropped the tag team titles to the Indus year whoever, and they each take a turn feuding with him for the world title as opposed to seth Rawlins. You would imagine that after SummerSlam, his

program with them with the judgment date is going to be wrapped up. And I just can't really see a path for him with that world title right away. So I don't know, it just feels like everything is pointing towards Flynn right now, and also outside chance. I mean, if if Seth drops it, I mean, what about that infamous seth Rawlins Roman Reigns program that we know we possible right Like I keep proposing that trade that like Blockbuster trade

announcement, Seth going to Smackdowns and and then Raw gets whoever. We could we could figure that out. But um, I don't know. I'm I'm such a big proponent of Seth in Roman that you know, that's another opponent that I would love Roman to get into, uh you know, in late twenty twenty three here. But anyway, all right, let's get to the final match here. Let's get to Cody Rhodes. Let's get to brock Lesner in a match that I believe does does this have a stipulation or is this

wrestling just plain old wrestling Match number three? I think it's plane match number three, And to be honest, it's the match I'm looking forward to the least, and that is because I have it. And I'm sorry if you hear my cats fighting in the background. They're very being, very annoying right now. But I would bet a solid chunk of change that they are going to make Cody Rhodes win. And I know everyone loves him, but I cannot stand the guy right now. I can't. And it's not him,

it's the character. He's a great worker, he knows the business. I wouldn't want m to be fired or anything. I just I cannot take the pandering, holier than thou character. And I know that they're going to push him for a victory. He hasn't won clean since coming back to the company in eighteen months. And I really don't think that brock Lesner should be a stepping stone. And I know that brock Lesner is in the twilight of his

career and he's done all he's had to do and then some. But I just think that brock Lesner is a valuable commodity and should keep his mystique and should keep his aura and should keep his legitimacy. And I you know, maybe I'm wrong, and I hope to God I'm wrong, but I'm so certain that they're going to make Cody Rhodes get the victory here, and I

just can't stand. I mean, I know it's subjective, and I know from an objective point of view it makes sense, and he has more tread left on the tire and talk baby face and this and that and the other thing, and then he could be a challenger to Finn Balor. Finn Balor actually does win the world title. I get all that, I understand. I just subjectively, personally, biasedly cannot stand Cody Rhodes. So I'm dreading

this match because I think he's gonna win. Yeah, you're not being very clear about your position, So I think so Cody Rhodes has to win this. I especially if Brock takes his a little bit of a hiatus, which is rumored to be happening. And again all rumors and innuendo, we'll see. But Cody Rhodes is much more of the future of w w E than Brock is. We all know that. And even if Brock competes to WrestleMania

forty or whatever. It's the fact that Cody Rhodes is the top baby face on Raw and competing with Seth of course, but Cody Rhodes right now needs that little bit of a push, even if he support love his character or not. And I'm leaning more towards your side as well that the whole well, I'm gonna put the you know, I'm gonna turn my back on everyone at home so I can see the faces of the people here, like, shut up, bro like you know what I mean, like that kind of

stuck. He sucks. I'm sorry, he sucks. And I know that everyone loves him. I know that everyone bows at his altar. I'm sorry, cut you off. But it's just like it for me personally, it's channel changing. If I find it, like if I know that, or if I get a sense that Brock isn't coming out, I just don't listen because it's always the same garbage. It's just the same thing in his shoe, his theme song pisses me off. His ring gear pisses me off.

His bleach blonde hair pisses me off. His neck tattoo pisses me everything about him, aside from his in ring work and promobility, pisses me off. I don't. I'm sorry, Like I thought I was coming around on him for a bit, but maybe it's because I'm just a big Brock guy. And I like the mystique that Brock Lessner has and I like the aura and the legitimacy he brings. And even though he's in the twilight of his career, I think you have to keep that legitimacy with one of the best of

all time. And like it or not, Brock is one of the best of all time. And I find it absolutely infuriating that their positioning Cody Rhodes is someone that could beat him like main event or sure future World Championshure, but he's not Like I would never think that Cody Rhodes should be able to come back and be Triple H Rock or Austin or whatever. And maybe Brock isn't pardon me in that here, but he's scratching the surface of it.

I don't know. It's I'm literally getting red in the face right now. I just I cannot stand Cody Rhodes, and I what I can't understand is why people love him so much. I don't get it. He you remember when John Cena called Roman Reigns a cheap bootleg off of him. He is a bootleg off of John seen it except the worst. That's the end of my rant. I'm sorry, that's good, No, I absolutely so.

Here's the thing. I have softened a little bit on the Cody Rhodes a little bit, but then he's whatever, Like you said, anytime he starts to like you're softening on him, going okay, like all right, I mean he is good on promos and all that, but the suits and the bleachmall hair, the neck tattoo, now that you mentioned it, that does kind of piss me off too. I just I don't know, it's like

he's trying to be a tough guy when it just doesn't suit him. But nonetheless, I M I don't like the pandering stuff about trying to he's pretending he's just one of us, Like, dude, you're not. We know what you're doing here. Stop, you know. I think it has a lot to do with the way w w WE envisions how they think baby Faces should be an act instead of having an edge and and not always trying to be buddy buddy with the crowd. Fans respect you more when you're not trying

to do that and just being yourself. And Cody Rhodes is taking the you know, let me, you know, let me tuck you into bed and give you a kiss good night to approach to the crowd. And I can't that. I don't like, I hate, I don't care who you are. When you pander to the crowd, It's just it turns me off instantly. It's uh for I don't know why or what that's why that turns me off, but it does. And that's not to say Cody Rhodes is an

exceptional in the ring. He is. And I think this match with Brock is going to be very good, and I don't know how long it's going to go. It could be a surprise ending. Hell, Randy Orton could come out in r K Okay, Cody Rhodes, there's a lot of history there, you know, as we think he's going to interfere or possibly challenge Roman, what about Randy Orton? You know, going on to Cody Rhodes, there's again it's just a wild thought. But um, yeah, as

far as this match goes, I'm I'm with you. Cody Rhodes wins uh in a hard fought match. I don't know if he's gonna hit you know, eighteen cross Roads to do it, but probably he'll. He'll do it and then do it multiple times as he does with his finish, and you know, lose, and brock Lesner will go into the you know, back into his forests and through the trees and and hide in his home for for several months and come back around, you know, probably Survivor Series or Rumble

Time is my guess. Maybe he sticks around, but I have my doubts. So, uh, this is gonna be a fun match. If you're just looking at it from a pure wrestling perspective and not character perspective, it's gonna be awesome. Oh yeah, it'll be awesome. You take the personal feelings about Cody Rhodes out of this, and I think that it'll make it much more enjoyable. And I think also, like you said, if you change the opponent for Cody, I don't think you'd have such visceral hate for

his character, at least a little bit less. Yeah, it's I don't I don't know what it is, to be honest, because I didn't hate John Cena this extent. I was very indifferent on John Cena. I actually grew to like him more as I got older, which is weird. But with Cody, I think because with John Cena, I guess I just felt like that was him, Like even though I wasn't a huge fan of it, it felt genuine. It doesn't feel genuine with Cody Rhodes. I don't

understand how to explain it. It's like I feel patronized when he's talking. I don't know, yeah, but he's trying to act cool, Like it's like he's trying to act nice, but like he's talking down to me. I'm being condescended, but like he's respecting me, but he's not. And his and he has sparkles on his pants and I'm like what why? And I'm looking at his tattoo. And even the biggest Cody Rhodes Mark Jim Cornette talks about how much he hates his tattoo, so that just goes to joy.

I hate his entrance, Like every entrance he has is like a WrestleMania main event entrance, like singing along to his own theme song, the Coordinated Pyro, the dry Eyes, you know, like he comes out like it's like he sings along to his own theme. It's just everything about it. It's just so heroic, like everything is just so furs and it's just like, dude, like come like, I don't know it's I guess I know that you thought you did. It's like Cody Rhodes, but I and I

thought I was coming around on him, honestly. But for me it was mostly because he can't take a clean lage. Just have him take a clean loss because seth Rawlins took fifty five clean losses in a row, including three to to Cody Rhodes, and he's fine. He's one of the most over guys in the company. No, it either has to be by like Solo Sakoa interfering or him passing out from pain of the Camora logue. He can't

just take a pin. Why who is he? Superman? Like I don't know who he is, Like like we're supposed to just assume that he's like God's gift to wrestling because he went to a e W and kicked around on the indies for a bit, and because he's Dusty Rhodes' son, all those things together make him unstoppable, Like I I'm sorry, I'll stop now. He's undeniable. What are you talking about? Yeah, it's nuts. I

didn't really think that I would get this heated vote. Cody Robe, Well, I think this is the best way I can describe it, because I know the feeling you're feeling. It's not as intense, but it's there. It's like he's so self aware of how he looks at every moment that he's thinking about how he looks in every moment, if that makes sense. It's like he's always thinking about himself in a mirror, like yeah, like how does this affect me? Yeah? Like he's so calculated in every move he

makes. He's just two produced. He's so two thousand, if that makes sense. Yeah, like everything like you said, the coordinated, the whoa, all that lich you know the crowd loves. I mean, not going to convince anybody not to like that. It is. You know, I

get it. It's a very singalongable song. I understand, but it is it's like he's so self aware of himself, like like where he Yeah, he's you can tell that in his mind he's thinking about how how he looks in that moment instead of just being himself, and that he the pandering I agree, and the just so produced in every movement he makes. That that's the best way that I can possibly describe the feeling about that. Um So, now we're gonna have all these people like, oh, you guys hate

Cody, Well, no, we respect him never. He is a absolute asset to the roster. He's really really good in the ring. He obviously knows how to cut promos. It's just simply that his character belongs to be I think a he'll I mean, it's just I just I continue to say that when he turns, he'll eventually in his career, hopefully he's gonna be more effective I think than as a baby face, just because he's hiding it

very well to most fans. But he's inherently unlikable and he sucks, and like you know, like I even have buddies who like are more casual fans now, but we're really big fans, like you know, twenty years ago,

and like they'll always watch like pay per views. Like one of my best friends he's gonna watch Summer's Line with me, and he always like keeps tabs on like the current stuff, but like doesn't watch every show religiously and even he's just like, why do people like Cody Rhodes like and you know what as a as a heel, he would be so over as a heel with me, I would want to see I just for me, if he would just to be quite honest, to be quite honest, if he took

a clean loss to Brock on Saturday, I would probably be that much more invested to see him get humbled and then build his way back up, like he could not beat Brock and he has to find himself. And that is the Cody Rhode story between now and WrestleMania. If he just took a clean loss to Brock on Saturday, and I know he won't, we both predicted Cody Rhodes, but I think that that personally for me, I would be like, Okay, now, I really want to see where they go with

Cody Rhodes, because he is a talented a wrestler. He's talented on the mic, he knows the business, he has all the natural abilities. It's

just this character that he has envisioned for himself drives me insane. It drives me nuts because it's so like you said, Forrest and contrived, and I just think that if they would take a more traditional approach by seeing the character actually build itself from the ground up, as opposed to just jumping on a moving train at two hundred miles an hour and just pushed to the moon,

I think that would fix a lot of things for me. I'm surprised the fan stuck with him through being number thirty in the rumble and winning the rumble and then claiming he beat twenty nine other men and then just immediately getting injected into the main event like that. I can't believe the fans didn't turn on w doing that. I mean, I just that still baffles me. It was just I don't want to go down that road. But I don't understand

that decision. Obviously. Here's the thing WWE, if they were sitting across the table from us, trying to debate us, they'd be like, well, listen to the reactions, like, you know, what's their success, listening to the merch all that, and I'd be like, you know what, that's true, But here's the other side of the coin for the people that obviously have an issue with it. But yeah, I mean it would

be kind of we wouldn't win that argument. Because of all the metrics and the crowd reactions, and he is arguably the top two baby faces on raw so and I know I'm in the minority, and that's what drives me nuts. And I can't I just don't understand what people see to love him to this X. That's what I don't get because in ae W and I'm not a big AW guy. I actually tried to watch Dynamite the other night. I'm just like, this just really isn't for me. But in AW,

by all accounts, they hated his baby face character. So is it just because there's that many more like children in the audience with their families at w W reevents? Like I just I don't understand how stark of a contrast there could be. Yeah, I don't know. Uh. And I was thinking, well, you take his entrance music away and maybe that would do it. I don't know. I mean, people love his entrance music. It's a very participatory, you know, part of his part of his character,

the whole what do you want to talk about? Thing? Every time he says that, I really want someone to punch him in the mouth for real, I mean, TikTok. I see what his first ever TikTok oh god, yes, yeah, oh my god, oh my god. Uh, it's just that that to me, if I was to boil everything down to that where he just tries to be cute and and and and talk, you know, come up with the catchphrase, which I understand. You know, you want to be a baby phace, you gotta come up with a catchphrase.

But how does it make sense to come up with a catchphrase as a baby face that the crowd can't participate in, like they should know what the answer is. Why would you ask the crowd an open ended question. That's the stupidest thing you could do. And uh, you know, he thinks it's just gonna catch on. And it also is just like he always has to say it with a smile on his face, and like I really just I want to just punch him right in the mouth. He just is He's

like trying to be so cute about it. That part of it is annoying to me. I know, some people don't care whatever that if I was to boil it down to my frustrations with him is trying to be cute with his catchphrases and his self awareness that I think is off the charts. But anyway, all right, all right, so we'll close it up there. But any final thoughts on SummerSlam or things that we didn't mention that you want to bring up, No, I just I didn't mean to go on two

rants. I think I went on a mega Cody Rhodes diet tribe and kind

of a rant about Roman reigns. But I do. All I want to say is that I am actually all joke inside looking forward to this card, and I'm looking forward to the pay per view because it actually feels for since last year, pay per views are fun again, and it feels like every single pay per view is delivering, and it's a pretty cool feeling that Like when there's a pay per view now on the weekend, I'm actually excited and I have friends over and like it's the way it felt for me like fifteen

twenty years ago as a kid. But I'm an adult, so I get to have my fiance tell me how they give a loser. I am, Oh, I know, the feeling. It doesn't go away, but and I do like the shift to Saturday. I really love it. It's so much better again. If you're a football fan NFL fan, obviously, coming up in the next month of the seasonal start doesn't really interfere too much with that come in college football and all that happens. But you know, it's

better. I'm sure the production team in w and the wrestlers everybody loves it because instead of just packing things up and going to the hotel at eleven o'clock eleven thirty at night and then having to fly out to whatever city the next day, they get that buffer day, that buffer day. I mean like it just makes all the sense in the world to make Saturday the pl e night. So I hope this stays forever. I mean I really do so.

All right, well, very good, and any final plugs or social media you want to share, well, there's no plug this week because it is a pay per view week, so no retro. Obviously, my Twitter handle or x handle whatever it's called now is Ada Mark or twenty five. And my retro last week was Batista and Ramis Here against Kingdom Big show from two thousand and five, kind of paying homage to my old show Rivalries, and I hope you guys were able to check that out. Very good,

yeah, very much a retro show about a retro show. So yeah, exactly right, so very good, and well you enjoy SummerSlam, trying not to watch the Cody Rhodes match or maybe step away for fifteen minutes or something so you don't have an aneurysm, and because we all, I think know the outcome of that one. So all right, well enjoy the event and we'll be talking probably in a little less than a week. Yeah, man, looking forward to it on Monday. All right, take care, Thanks

for listening to the WWE podcast. Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss a show, or head to WWE podcast dot com and for all of these shows add free head over to Patreon dot com slash WWE podcast. Until then, we'll see you next time.