Christmas Recap/New Japan Presser/WWE Covid

x seven podcast. We're streaming on Twitch, We're on YouTube. Just want to say thank you for spending a little bit of time with us today. Hopefully your Christmas was well. Hopefully you're boxing day one is well too. Hopefully went better than Brian Alvarez's traveling plans which kind of went sideways.

In case you're wondering why I'm here again in the main hosting chair, that is because Brian Alvarez and his family are stuck in Florida, which is a good place to be stuck when you're trying to go back to Seattle, Washington, and a ton of snow apparently taking place in the the Washington state region, apparently north Seattle got about five or six inches of snow that was enough to shut down the airport and stop Brian and his family from coming home. So he is scheduled to return very early

Tuesday morning. There is the most minuscule chance in the world that he will be back for the show tomorrow, but I seriously doubt it. Uh and more likely he's going to be back on Wednesday, and you will have once again myself and filthy Tom Lawler hosting this show giving you all of the raw review that you need coming up tomorrow on the show. But we got a lot to get into today and unfortunately need to start

it off on a sad note. Marcus Crane thirty three years old, passed away independent wrestler, probably best known for his work in death matches Game Changer Wrestling, went to the g CW tour of Japan. Was trained by Danny Daniels and also is very notable for being in the Chicago area and the A a W Pro shows. Apparently passed away took a nap, did not wake back up again. He has had head issues. He was trying to return from skull surgery that he had back in two thousand

and nineteen. When he had a craniotomy after they found out there was an affection in his skull that was leaking into his brain. So a very sad situation there. Marcus Crane passes away at the age of thirty three years old. Going to get into a whole lot of what's taking place on the wrestling scene when we get back Wrestling Observer Live. You are listening to Wrestling Observer Live with Brian Alvarez and Mike Semberviv on the Sports

Byline Broadcasting Network. Back on the show, Mike simber Vv here, whether you Wrestling Observer Live. We do this show every day for an hour, but if you want us seven you might be able to do it on Twitter. That's

usually the easiest way. I am at semper vv, the website for this podcast at w O n F four W the broadcaster at Sports Byline USA, the handsome and amazing co host at Filthy, Tom Lawler, and uh Brian Alvarez is at Brian Alvarez if you if you want to talk to him or see pictures of him being upset that he's got to go back to snow but Filthy with Brian being gone, of course, that gives us more than ample chance to get into all of the things that actually make us happy, which could be any

number of things today on a on a Monday afternoon, it could be uh going to the Raiders game. It could be Christmas, it could be catch wrestling rules, could be any number of things filthy. What do you want to get into the start? Well, let's talk about Christmas, right. We're coming off of the holiday this past weekend. Mike. Is there any thing that you received for Christmas that you'd like to tell the listeners about. I would love to tell the listeners about what I received, but I

can't do that because of FCC violations. But one of the gifts that I gave was a this Sharper image uh foot massage or it's got like to to my wife, these five different rollers in there and all these heat temperatures and everything. So I got her that, which made her very happy. Offset the fact that I got a Ninja Blender Slash food processor for her her as well too, because you know, I like Wacomo Lee, so that's what

that's about. So you know, I gave that to her two so it's something that I can use and plus something that she can use. So that went well. The boy is happy, so big success in the simper vv family. Awesome. I myself, Mike, I gotta. I got a gift that I cannot share with virtually anybody, A super super sexy calendar my wife gave me, which I can either hang up nor show anyone. Uh. I also got this wool raizor ramon as a shoot. By the way, h g

figure here. Did you get that from someone? Or was that the gift to yourself from being such a great new japan strong open weight champion. That was a gift to myself. Uh, and the best gift of all, I must say, a gift I'd never thought I would receive. Despite crying out on Twitter, I woke up the next

day over Christmas night, not even Christmas Day. The next day, I woke up to five discs of Doink the Clown in my box and my email in box, and I've been watching Doink lighted up, I guess you could say, back in the early nineties for the past day, and I'm loving it. Somebody's probably thinking you're lying about this, and I can say for sure he is not lying about this. We what brought on this whole like we

gotta rewatch Doink thing. Well, there was a discussion between Granny Brian's granny and Vincent ver High Uh the the grid the gladsome giant of the gridiron himself. Uh. Speaking about Doink the Clown, Granny asked, was he a wrestler? And Vinny said, oh, he was a great wrestler. And I decided I needed to find out if Doink the Clown was indeed a great wrestler. Um, I don't know if i'd say that, but I am enjoying the first

disc of Doink that I've dived into. There. Now is there a see Now, there's going to be a break in this though. You're gonna have to actually start being studious about this, aren't you. Because he goes from Matt Bourne to Steve Kern at some point, and then I don't know Steve Lombardi and I don't know who the hell else belieyed all the Doinks and Dinks and such. But uh, I mean, doesn't it go from weren't the current?

At some point? It does? And you know, Mike, and that's I think that's a perfect segue because watching these early Doink matches, Matt or Matt Boorne was a tremendous, tremendous matt wrestler. He was out there shooting single legs ankle picks on typhoon. He was grabbing two holds of his uh. He tried to have a dog in a couple of years ago before he passed away. They got

into it on the Nindie show like for Real, for Real. Well, watching him in the squared circle as Doink in those early matches leads me to believe he would have been a great candidate to face Cat's Yours Shabata under these Now I guess now that's out there catch wrestling rule set that cats Her Shabada will be competing under at

the Tokyo Dome. Yeah, so New Japan held there Russell Kingdom sixteen press conference today in Tokyo, and as Tom mentioned, the most relevant thing for this show is the fact that CATSI Orady Shabbata uh in his match against the mystery opponent now has rules attached to it. Catch wrestling rules. Stretches and submissions will be in use as well as throws, which is really like a regular wrestling match. Do you

have the finish is gonna come the same way? You could be counted out, disqualify, pen or submission, but no punches, no open hand strikes, no fists, no nothing like that.

So in that way going to be a lot closer to what he did with Zach Saber Jr. Uh The last time around, Shabbata talked a little bit about what he wanted to do during the press conference, and this is up on the New Japan site if you wanted to take a look at not only this, but several videos that took place from throughout the press conference with

everybody facing off with each other. What Shabbata said was quote, he wanted to give this a different name to the grappling exhibition match I had was Zach Saber Jr. And set it apart as something else. Grappling rules as a concept that has already common in mm A were strikes for band well, you know, catch wrestling rules is something that I think can be specific to pro wrestling, and that's why the name changes. Is there to explain those

differences with grappling rules. More specifically, I think it allows for moves using the ropes or more pro wrestling styled three dimensional if you will, In expression, victory to a pro wrestler comes down to skill and technique in this environment, and it strips pro wrestling down to its essentials, to go to the roots of wrestling. A bit pro wrestling sprung out of what we call the Lancashire style in England,

and that's something we mustn't lose sight of. I want a fusion in New Japan pro wrestling that brings the base fundamentals to the fold. This is something that's just beginning, and I think these rules, match times and things of that nature can change the concept as it evolves. That's it. That's all he had to say, and he was done talking.

Tom Uh. We talked about this a little bit last week when we talked about a number of men, including yourself, that you know, really bringing matt wrestling back into the four front much like a De Malenko and other people. You can make this style exciting, you can make the essentials of pro wrestling and of wrestling at its core. Uh,

fun to watch and very interesting to watch. And obviously that is something Shabata his entire career has been based on from day one, and UH, something that he's obviously feeding into his students. What do you think about what what he said here, which was basically a long flower your way to get around too. We're not gonna have strikes in this grappling match, But what do you think about this? And can you see anybody if you thought about anybody else, they could step in and be a

good opponent for Shabata. Well, if you've listened to recent comments that he's made about the future of wrestling and especially in New Japan, it seems as if he is uh nonplused. I guess would be a term that could use with the style that he currently sees and was hoping for a change, you know, some sort of revolution when it comes to the style of wrestling in New

Japan for the future. And you know, obviously he's a guy who's deeply rooted in the fundamentals, deeply rooted in legitimate techniques that would work in mixed martial arts or you know, amateur wrestling contests, and I obviously am a mark for that sort of style. And I think there's a number of guys, and we talked about this last week. As you know, mixed martial arts has kind of become more prevalent. I think the audience is a little bit more open to submission wrestling, and I think a lot

of the workers, UH see a benefit in it. You don't need to kill yourself getting dropped on your head repeatedly. You can save that for key moments. If you can work on the mat, if you can tell a story, uh, with your motions and with your holds. And I think there's a number of guys who have put in the time and the work and have really you know, kind of like cult began to cultivate this style. Once again,

I wouldn't say it's reached nearer its apex whatsoever. I think you know, as time goes by, you're gonna see guys like John Gresham, like all of the young lions that are coming up out of the New Japan system. Uh, really show that Matt Wrestling is the strongest New Japan, be strongest, progress the strongest. Since they used to say, I still believe it, filthy believes it. You should believe it too. Of course you believe it. That's why you're

listening to this show. It is Wrestling Observer Live. Will be right back back on the show, Mike Summer vv here with your filthy Tom Lawler, feel me flow. Look at that. You know, it's like a nice summertime song, except it's not summertime here. It's cold. It was like summer on Christmas. It was like sixty degrees. I'm at on the del Marvel Peninsula east of the Briscoes. Was beautiful. Now it's all rainy and pathetic and sad. How was it yesterday at the Raider game? Was it awesome? I

didn't see any of that Raiders Broncos game. Yeah, the game was awesome. I told you before we went on the air. I was all pumped up about watching during the clown and then I get to the game and there's some other clown, Bruce Buffer doing the introductions. It's time for the Raiders to go out there and squeak out of victory over the Broncos. But it was a

bunch of fun. I had a blast. Were you sitting with the people or were you like up in a box, like being pretentious and all that, getting getting the good food and whatnot. I was in the eight hundred dollar club level seats, Buddy, I look at you. Yeah, where you're still sitting neck to neck with some peon and paying thirteen dollars for a beer? Well, actually, you know, it's that's about average I guess we're an NFL same now.

It's completely ridiculous. I lived close to the that Redskins stadium is the dirt worst and about a zillion different ways. Or the Washington football team just the absolute worst, including the dirt bag owner and the prices, they're absolutely brutal. Obviously a Falcon fan, we have a good owner that offers up nice pricing for all the fine people of Atlanta who go to the game and then root for the Cowboys and other teams. But yesterday was a successful

day against the Detroit Line, so I will take it. Yeah, I have actually been to that stadium and I rooted against the Falcons. You are correct. There were more people when I was coming up to and you know, I'm glad they were the old uniforms yesterday, like when Dion was there and everything, Chris Miller, Jerry Glandville gets there. They were like the only team that wore black. They could not sell any merchandise whatsoever. And it's like you go to games the Redskins and the Cowboys and whoever

else they play. Those two teams especially would just kill Atlanta in their own stadium. Was pathetic. Yeah, there were a lot of Broncos fans actually at the game yesterday and I was told, I guess they traveled with a pretty heavy fan base. But they're not a good football team. So those people are wasting their money because I know the Raiders are not good. It's very tough to share for the Raiders after comments that their owners make after you know, well das nefarious, deadly deeds that some of

the players do. I mean, it's tough being a new Raiders fan. But at least the stadium was cool. It's still very pro wrestling though, to be a Raiders fan, I mean, they still operate. I mean Mark Davis for the fact that he's got a crappy hair do. I mean he still tries to carry on some of the swaggering lags his father, even though it's in a ridiculous way. But like Otis is drunk and all the all the maniacs that the Raiders have given us over the years,

it's still better to have them than to be. Imagine what could have moved to Vegas. You know, you could have got the I don't know, we could have got the Vikings. Weren't they like trying to move out of Minnesota? There for a while, Birmingham and all these other places good and now I'm good at her cousins in Sin City. I don't think it would have worked, man, I was

just hoping for an XFL team. Hey, you know, there's there's still time, you know with the rock buying that thing again and one thing I guess too, well, how what was the crowd like? Were there any COVID scares? Was anybody scared to go there as they apparently were to Madison Square Garden? Well, interestingly enough, Uh, if you are vaccinated, well, you have to be vaccinated to get into the stadium. However, if you've only had one of the shots, you must wear a mask, so you don't

have to be fully vaccinated. It to be halfway vaccinated. And I'm pretty sure they're not checking throughout the game to make sure that you're wearing your masks. So that was quite questionable. Um, you know, the guy making you know, eleven fifty has already got enough on his plate. I don't think he's you know, gonna be there at the end of the row like, hey, you know, pull that up now to like, you know, the black hole. I

don't think that's the best idea. It was a little bit questionable, much like the match making for Rising, which we have upcoming in a few days. Mike, we talked about Shabbata earlier, but we also have Shipatar who also like catch your shibata, Uh should stay away from the striking arts for the foreseeable future as he's he's a YouTuber who does m M A and he's fighting the utah utah Cobo you Takubo um And we also have the biggest fight in Rising history, Tension Nasakawa taking on Takarou.

That fight will be over the suburb because in a couple of days, Tension Nasakawa will face the man who showed up to the press conference in a tack room mask, and that is Taka Noriri Gomi, the fireball kid who's probably in his forties, forty two years old. Forty two years old. Takanori Domi, your former deep champion, your former rival of b J Penn, your your introduction for a

lot of people to Pride's Bushito series. When health Grace, he ran across the ring with his head down and go Me just basically lifted up his knee and delivered a ny strike, knocking him dead in six seconds in a highlight real knockout for the ages the Fireball Kid,

who's not a kid anymore. In true Rising Pride Never Die fashion, they announced a couple of fights days before New Year's Eve, including this one against Tension, who so he fights at one he's he fought Mayweather it whatever weight it was that went the way that it did. What is this What is this going to be at? Because Gomi was like walking around like one five or something like that the last time he had fought, So like, are there even weight requirements to this or is this

just an open weight deal? I mean, I seriously doubt there's some sort of weight requirement. It wouldn't be New Year's Eve if there was. I think, yeah, certainly not. There's always gonna be some something bizarre going on in Japan a New Year's We don't have a I don't think we have a Bobby Oligan fight on this show, although I'd be trying to capitalize off of his big

win at the last show. But yeah, we have Tension, Gomi, rain of Kubota, uh, most marketable women they have, you know, rough fault one time on Bella Tour, ended up losing. Got revenge for that fight over in Japan where she is a far a star against Seawoo Park. So who is a you know, a deep fighter of you know, relative repute. So I would assume Koboda is coming out

of this. Uh, but again just again to fight fights thrown up at the last minute, here with no and again with no real except for you know, ship Atar. There no real freak show fight. I mean they have five hours and forty five minutes is apparently what's been scheduled on Fuji TV for the New Year's Eve show. And I you know, where is the forget about Acabono, but where are the only guns or somebody like that

to bring the mainstream appeal? Well, you have the Osakara brothers, who are um, I mean I guess there's I guess they're stars in Japan. But yeah you don't, I mean you have Shipatar. Uh you've got I mean, go mean intention is a freak show fight to a certain degree, but I mean they could use they could use a super hulk fight. I mean Cozy against yallow Man is gonna be the thing. Although I now I want to

see yah Man to see what that's about. Yeah, maybe I should be over there Why aren't I defending that strong belt. You should attack him after mask and be nah man like whatever he does, you just knock his ass out like nah man. They gotta catchphrase and everything. If I show up over there, I'm showing up in the thong like Takata. Who was that? H oh God Aca hera go no with Aca Hero's gonads when they did the shot of him in a thong, which I was also at the show, and you there was the

ufc C show in Newark. Somebody wore a thong? Was it? Who was it? Joe Riggs? Was Dennis Hallman, Yes, Dennis Hollman And he was defeated by Brian Eversoul and Dana White gave him a special bonus forgetting the thong off of his television. There was at one point I believe Brian Eversol his toes got caught in the thong of Dennis Harman head expose exposed his Oka Hero gonads to

the audience. It's like it worse when Gary Goodridge the story of him telling using his toes too against J. T. Kass and he just said it felt like mush his toes into his um crotrio region. He said it felt like crunchy peanut butter, which pride never die, kids filthy

the extension of pride. Uh. Somehow, some way, I have no transition away from this back to COVID or anything like that, So I'll just I'll just go ahead and go to this and the fact that uh, w W E, just like everywhere else, has been getting pounded uh by COVID Bowl games obviously falling out. The NHL season has not restarted yet, It's supposed to be Tuesday. Whether that happens or not, who knows what's going to be the

deal with that. But today just breaking uh. Over the weekend there were several wrestlers that have either come down with COVID or or or being put in a bubble by w W too try to protect them and keep them as healthy as possible going into day one, but apparently is also going through the producer's ranks, which again not a surprise, was something like this. P w I Insider is reporting that while a typical raw taping would have around a dozen or so producers, the company is

down to quote about half of that. Now. This now makes a story yesterday about Pete Williams having to be pulled off a card because WW needed him. That will now make some more sense there. That was in the update from yesterday, so that probably has something to do with this. It's a tough situation because of the producers workload that they have on them already. The Raw is tonight in Detroit. There's also a SmackDown House show in Orlando that they need to worry about as well too.

They were in Tampa in Madison Square Garden over the weekend. The show at Madison Square Garden when all up into the air, Kevin Owens and seth Rollins against Biggie was changed to Kevin Owens and Edge, who wasn't even supposed to be there. They called him up to be on the show. They got Natalia up to switch brands to be on the show. Becky Lynch Bianca Belair title play match didn't take place, so it was just a mess

over the weekend. We can get into a little bit more about that as well as what's coming up on Raw tonight and many other things when we get back from Break Wrestlings over Alive. Back on the show, Wrestling Observer Live, a better version of Mike semperviv and Brian Albarez is Mike Simperviv and Brian's Chop and Roll Express partner. You hear the music of the Midnight Express Filthy, Tom

Lawler Filthy. We were talking about COVID before the break Here Sean ross Sap of fightful dot Com reporting that Select has learned that w w E has informed their talent that COVID testing is no longer required. So I believe it goes like this, like, you know, I can't hear you, I can't see you. If I don't know that you have COVID, then you don't have it. Maybe they just assume everyone has it at this point herd immunity within w w E. So there's that. So that

also breaking on the heels of news about producers being out. Um. So yeah, it's been a a long weekend for w w E as they go into this day one pay per view. I did not watch SmackDown filth. He did because he's a uh, you know, good at his job, I guess, and uh passionate. I didn't think he'd watch it, to be honest with you, but he did. I watched

Rampage though. We got that in common. I am professional wrestling journalist, Thomas Lawler or as you say that several times, by the way, on the Christmas show, which you should be uh mettled for because for all of the heat that you take about throwing up over Brian's couch, I don't know. I think you actually, single hand to LEAs saved that show and kept it moving along there and it's and it's darkest moments, which was most of the show. I asked repeatedly Brian, why am I on this show?

And he said, I need you to hold it together. So I tried to do my journalistic best uh to do so. Uh But Mike, I watched SmackDown over the weekend, and the thing that they pushed the most heavily was the idea that Paul Hayman's career is going to be over. That he he said that what's he gonna do now? It's gonna find a new talent, start over again. He said, that's not what's gonna happen. He has to face the

facts that his career is most likely over. They even played a video package with clips from w c W and The Dangerous Alliance. They had clips from e c W. It was basically a Paul Hayman career retrospective as I pushed this idea, so my sad music somewhat triumphant in a way. My guess is that he will help Roman Reins retain. You know, they usually don't push this hard in one direction, uh, without some sort of swerve coming

at you. Uh. There was also a title match between Charlotte Flair and Tony Storm in which Charlotte Flair one with a pinfall, she reversed a small package and got the three count win. I also have a measure of advice for anybody who faces Charlotte Flair in the future when she goes up top and she decides she's going to do the moon salt roll towards the turn buckle because then she cannot do a double moon solve she does, well, there's gonna be no one there, so there you go.

That is the key to defeating Charlotte Flair, which Tony Storm did not do on SmackDown. And in the main event, we had the Miracle on thirty fourth Street fight between Drew Day, which I thought was cute, uh as they they took on and defeated the team of the usso's and Mad Cap Moss's. Main event, Mad Cap mad Cap one of the future pillars of the w w uh here eating the pinfall loss to Drew McIntire getting he and Happy Corbin getting eggnogged repeatedly by Drew Day leading

to the finish. Not a bad show, easy to watch, easy to digest on that Christmas edition, unlike the Feast of Seven Fishes I had that earlier that day. Wow, look at you going full Catholic. It's just and not even an Italian to be seen in that whole equation there, and you still went with the seven fishes. I'm impressed. I mean, my wife is Catholic. Well yeah, but you know Polish, you know, I didn't know they did that

in Poland. I thought they had like, I don't know, like whatever they have in Poland, like a lot of a lot of fish. We had a lot of like pickled herring and you know, uh, whitefish and sauce. It's speaking sauce fish, Mike. What do you use most of the time on the end of the pole to catch a fish? That would be uh, that would be a worm. I believe that's the traditional way to do it, correct.

I was thinking more along the lines of a hook. Uh. Look at you when you put the worm on the hook and you know what that worm is gonna do, sell it unlike Hook, who ain't selling a damn thing. And that created a bunch of controversy. And this is Rampage apparently that's the name of the show. That's what they say and the music. I didn't really notice that before, but this is Rampage was on a w or was

on Saturday night on t n TEA. Wasn't on Friday night because they got to re do show Christmas Story nine trillion billion times over and over again. But this was night too of the Holiday Bash. And all anybody is talking about coming out of this thing really is the fact that Hook faced Bear Bronson. And from what I saw, I don't know. Bear Bronson's got big thighs, and apparently that's what it was, big thighs against muscular traps. Hooke didn't sell the Rakishi driver gimmick that he did.

He hits the Northern Lights uh t bone tas Plex smacks him around with his dad's forearms and well not his real dad's forearms, I mean, you know, just at the same time down casts and whatever and and doing all that there. But he gets the victory after putting him in the Red Rum Tas mission. And that's that and all the controversy over should Hook not have sold

or should he have sold for Bear Bronson? Well, that was one of taz his gimmicks, much like Hawk impervious to the Pilo driver, you know, So what do you think about that? Because Kaz obviously has tweeted about saying like was gonna kill the business. He showed a clip actually of Brett Hart and Tiger Mask where Heart hits Tiger Mass and Mass pops immediately back up kicks him in the head, and it's like, you know, you don't

want to see everybody doing it. And I can take the case for why somebody why he should not have sold for a Bear bronze or why he should have, but it's like, if it happens once in a while, it becomes a part of this guy's gimmick and character. I don't know if it's the end of the world here, I mean, is it is this that big of a

deal here? No one is gonna look at Bear Bronson and think any less of him because he hit that Pilo driver and Hook popped up, You know what I mean, Guy, it's not as if he's a you know, a top level contender. He's a part of a tag team which is mostly on Dark or Elevation. Uh, and they do win matches, but they're not featured, you know. And it's obvious that Hook is getting a bigger push that he is has the people more behind him than Bear Bronson does at this point. So I don't really see the

big hullabaloo. I don't see a big issue with it. Um. There was another bit of controversy, a lot of other controversy coming out of the show. Mike as Cody Rhodes also retained or I guess regained the TNT Championship over Sammy Guavara. He ends the TNT era of Dynamite as the champion, much like he carried Dynamite as the champion throughout the past few years, and a lot of people both online and in the crowd seemed to be unhappy

with the term of events. As Cody hit, I believe it was it was at least three crossroads, three in a row and then following it up with a tiger driver to get the pinfall, and uh, the Spanish Gods title reign has been ended. Yeah, Sammy looked fantastic. Has always tried for a six thirty, and Cody got his knees up on it and used two crossroads actually and went for a third, but then set up look to be a pedigree, and the fans as soon as he started setting up for it, if they weren't booing before,

they were certainly cascading down them upon Cody there. But he didn't do a pedigree. It was a tiger driver of all things, and he gets the victory. David Crockett comes into the ring afterwards to present Cody with the t NT Championship. Yes, how dare I talked about hook coming out of this thing is the biggest deal where there are many people very upset over Cody Rose having the t NT Championship, but well, you know, I'm not

really surprised by this. I mean also too, I don't know what what you're where you're supposed to do with Sammy is the TND champion. Yes, he could have a lot of great matches, but unless you're gonna have him in a feud, I don't know. To me, it's still there's advantages to to Cody with that title and bringing in different people to work against him. But you know, if they didn't have a plan for Sammy here kind

of what's the big deal? You know, some of those belts are gonna have to change hands, you know occasionally. You know that's they only have a world title, so the other belts and they want to protect that one. And I'm fine with, you know, protecting belts to a point, but it's not like title changes to take place, you know, even if it's a month later, are that big of a deal. It's a TV championship, So I don't know

how long Cody is gonna have this thing. But I don't think it's really the end of the world or anything either. It's just a good prop for Cody to have as people lose their minds over him. Yeah, And I mean, if you watch the show, what's kind of been a bigger story, it's been this deal with Cody, you know, with the fans essentially hating him against all odds. You know, it hasn't been the story of Sammy Guevara.

And if you're going to try to capitalize on something that the fans are, you know, making uh an important part of the show, then now's the time to do it. You know what I mean, what do they do have Sammy beat Cody here and then where does Cody go from there? He gets you know, did you get a little bit of sympathy? I don't know. I think he's better off in this role as a you know, quasi heel champion who's gonna get booed against probably anyone face

or he'll uh seemingly at this point. And you know, I think it's just a better role. I think the belt is you know, better used in this situation than fuge that they had lined up for Sammy. Maybe I'm missing something or forgetting something, but um, you know, I think it was a good good change, good change. I can't even say her name from Robin hood menut Tits, but uh it got changed to Latrine. Good change. That's

oh God, I gotta watch that movie again. Um. Cody is also going to be facing off against Dan Lambert and Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky, and I wish I wish aw cared about their tag team division more because I love the idea of Scorpio and Page as a team much more than separately in the environment there right now, and they have so many great tag teams. I would love to see more action, but that's probably not gonna happen. But from what you've seen, you know, Scorpios guy's got

that thing. He's beaten Chris Jericho twice. Ethan Page is probably he keeps winning matches, maybe due for something here. Can you see Cody being a transitional guy here? As well as just your opinion as a fan, who do you think comes out of this getting booed? How do you think those matches are gonna go? Do you think Cody, Yes, he's the de facto baby face in those matches, but do you think they actually end that way? No? I

actually think the men of the Year would get cheered. Um. Ethan Page is very he's hateable, but he's very charismatic, you know what I mean. He's very he's very charming. He's got a punchable face. But yeah, so, um, you know I would have I mean, I guess I would have be surprised if they use Cody as sort of a transitional champion. But I think he'll keep the belt. Um after one of these guys get their shot, and then we'll see some more baby face challengers coming the way.

We have had perfect timing going to break. We're gonna get no credit for this at all. Producer Dom is going to lie about us Brian and he gets back. But we have been perfect with these things. Yeah, I'm patting myself on the back like Barry Harrow. It's Tom can watch doin? Maybe it's time did I go back and watch and Perry Harror's matches from both of the years. Mike Semperviv Filthy Tom will be back Wrestling Server Live, back on the show. Mike semper Viv here with you,

Filthy Tom, Lawler, Philamin for Brian Albarez. This is Wrestling Observer Live and we're about to put a bow on this thing. But of course Monday Night means it is Raw Night on USA. The Ms and Maurice bringing their romance back into the raw ring as they prepare to renew their wedding vows live in from the w W Universe tonight, plus Randy Orton squares off against Otis, the Street Profits, Battle Ray and Dominic Mysterio and the Forgotten About r k BRO Tournament Finals and more. That's all

they got right now. Covid I guess uh uh in play tonight for the Raw Show, Tom aj Style is supposed to take on Omas. But maybe that's almost not gonna happen, not being spoken about. What is though, Dolph Ziegler, who has been in a mini feud with Damien Priest

over the United States Heavyweight Championship. He gets a shot at that title tonight with his dirty dog partner somewhere Robert Rude around ringside and apparently to Austin Theory, will get one more chance to impress the Boston Mince McMahon. At this point, Tom, what would you suggest to impress events? What I if I was as the theory, I would just probably walk around shirtless and flex To be honest, I think he tried that. Do you think maybe he

should go bottomless? You think that might work for Vince? Uh? Mike, We've got to go, But you know what, verr Mihn is still coming m the Peter north of w W thereright, I just had to save your Mohan always coming to raw. We'll see if he actually makes his first appearance tonight. If maybe possibly, I'll be back tomorrow. Certainly filthy Tom Lawler will be And we thank all of you for

joining us again. This is Wrestling Observer Alive. Talk to you after a while, you have been listening to the Wrestling Observer Daily podcast on the Eight Side Network