VegasMania Again, AEW's Shocking Direction & TNA’s Bold Move | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #798 – 05/29/25

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,600
It's still real to me, damn it, damn it!

2
00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:12,800
[music]

3
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,000
[music]

4
00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,200
Welcome everybody!

5
00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,400
Welcome to this week's NIST in this To Real A Show,

6
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:25,000
Episode number 798 for May 29, 2025.

7
00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:30,000
Welcome to this week's edition of SRT New.

8
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,000
I am one after show, I am Jeff Becht,

9
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,000
joined every single week's on-going show

10
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,000
for the long-only Dr. Trey Franklin, Dr. Trey.

11
00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:44,000
We are not going back to the Silver Dome, my friend.

12
00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,000
We're going back to the Silver Dome.

13
00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,000
I'm totally fuzzled like I thought they blew that place up,

14
00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,000
which they should have.

15
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,000
It was a train wreck.

16
00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,000
Wait a minute, I'm at the Super Dome, not the Silver Dome.

17
00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:58,000
I'm sorry.

18
00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,000
I got confused, I thought you also met the Thunder Dome,

19
00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,000
and we were going to see all those people on TV again,

20
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,000
picking their nose and scratching themselves

21
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000
like they did during the pandemic.

22
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,000
Or like Chris Benoit, just being in the crowd,

23
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:12,000
randomly on the Monday night, raw.

24
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,000
No, no Thunder Dome, no Silver Dome,

25
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,000
and in fact, no Super Dome, folks,

26
00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,000
Dr. Trey, unprecedented news,

27
00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:26,000
came out last week as WrestleMania 42 back in early March.

28
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,000
I want to say, the rock comes out in New Orleans.

29
00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,000
I think it was before the Libernei Shabre.

30
00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:33,000
It's the early February.

31
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,000
Comes out and now it's as WrestleMania 42 in New Orleans,

32
00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,000
Louisiana, in the Super Dome.

33
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,000
A place that you watched WrestleMania 34

34
00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,000
and left early during the Roman Reigns Brock Lesnar Main Event match.

35
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,000
And it was all like, okay, great.

36
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,000
The dates are announced for 2026.

37
00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,000
WrestleMania 42, the road to the Super Dome three times.

38
00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,000
And like the last, it would have been 12 years

39
00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,000
that New Orleans had hosted a WrestleMania.

40
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,000
And then news started trickling out late last week

41
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,000
that it was no longer going to be in New Orleans, Louisiana.

42
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,000
And a new location was going to be announced.

43
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,000
There were some rumblings very briefly

44
00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,000
that it was going to be an international location,

45
00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,000
which had me pretty much excited.

46
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:17,000
I got it in mid.

47
00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,000
I was like, wait a minute, what they're not doing New Orleans now.

48
00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,000
It may be international.

49
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,000
I remember reading not too long ago,

50
00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,000
London was making a gigantic push to have a WrestleMania come there.

51
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,000
I was like, this could be it, that crowd's going to be lit.

52
00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,000
And then, either later that day,

53
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,000
early the next morning,

54
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,000
it started saying that Las Vegas was in the running

55
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,000
for back to back WrestleMania.

56
00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,000
Triple H releases a video before Friday,

57
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,000
Smackdown announcing that WrestleMania 42 was no longer going to be in New Orleans,

58
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:49,000
Louisiana.

59
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:50,000
And they would instead be hosting

60
00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,000
"Money in the Bank" in late August,

61
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,000
a paper read that will be in June now will be in late August.

62
00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,000
So now you can kind of get an idea where maybe things are heading for

63
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,000
in for the 2020-66 PLE schedule.

64
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:07,000
And the Las Vegas announcement that we had heard the rumors about

65
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:12,000
is currently not released as the time of this recording.

66
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,000
You and I record this on Wednesday afternoon before releasing it on Thursday.

67
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:20,000
Well, there is no WrestleMania 42 date announced from New Orleans, Louisiana.

68
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,000
Excuse me, Las Vegas Nevada yet.

69
00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:29,000
There are some news reports out there that the weekend that WWE wants,

70
00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,000
there is a major musical act that's supposed to be performing at a Legion Stadium in Las Vegas

71
00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,000
that is refusing to move.

72
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:39,000
The convention center where WWE World was being held,

73
00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,000
they could only get like 75% of the building in one of the full access.

74
00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:49,000
So there's a lot of moving parts right now as they potentially or will eventually

75
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:55,000
announce the return to Las Vegas Nevada, which could be like, well then why did we move it anyway?

76
00:03:55,000 --> 00:04:03,000
But here we are, Dr. Dre, for the first time since WrestleMania 4 and 5 in Atlantic City, New Jersey at Trump Plaza.

77
00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:12,000
Reportedly, WrestleMania will be in the same venue in the same city, state location as it was the year prior.

78
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:18,000
Your thoughts on all these moving parts here as WrestleMania 42 no longer New Orleans, Louisiana,

79
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,000
and will now be in Las Vegas Nevada.

80
00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:27,000
I mean, for me, a little disappointed because currently from where I live right now,

81
00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,000
New Orleans is not that far away, it's about a five hour drive.

82
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:36,000
I was actually trying to make plans to attend WrestleMania next year.

83
00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,000
Base because we had a really good time going to WrestleMania last time.

84
00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:48,000
So, I mean obviously, Sammy Franklin was born because of that WrestleMania weekend.

85
00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,000
So, disappointed with the city of New Orleans because it's always a big draw.

86
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:57,000
It's really good for the region financially.

87
00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:06,000
The move to back to Las Vegas on one hand is surprising because, like you said, we haven't done this in 33 years.

88
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:14,000
Something like that, 42 minus 5, 37, there you go, they're in done in 37 years and we've had back to back venues.

89
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,000
But they're in TKO.

90
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,000
Their main base of operations is Las Vegas Nevada.

91
00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:35,000
The gate for WrestleMania 41 was huge. The draw was huge. The atmosphere, the energy, all the stuff that you look into for WrestleMania type venue was there.

92
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:47,000
My question then is going to be, is it going to, you know, hinder tickets out slightly just because one of the draws to traveling to WrestleMania is going to different cities, going to different places you haven't been before.

93
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:55,000
If you just went to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, it is WrestleMania enough of a draw without all the other stuff around it.

94
00:05:55,000 --> 00:06:03,000
Vegas of course, ton of stuff to do. But if I just spent a week there last year, didn't I hit most of stuff?

95
00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:11,000
So, it's a little, I don't know if it's good news, bad news is bad for New Orleans, good for Vegas, but on the wrestling front.

96
00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:21,000
It kind of lands in the middle because it's not the traveling extravagance. I agree, I think London would have been fantastic.

97
00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:27,000
But with all the new regulations on the star IDs and all that stuff, could you make, is it an easier trip?

98
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:39,000
So, it's just kind of confusing how this is all kind of shaking out, especially against the New Orleans, you said they had just made the announcement three months ago.

99
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:45,000
So, what happened in that three months to make them pull the plug and change course completely?

100
00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:53,000
It seems like it's a big financial move for WWE that the most revenue, highest-gather they've ever had was the WrestleMania in Las Vegas.

101
00:06:53,000 --> 00:07:01,000
There are reports out there that WWE wants to be going to Las Vegas more regularly.

102
00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:09,000
At one point, it was, one of the things I read, it was written that WWE wants to have WrestleMania there every single year.

103
00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:15,000
And I was like, oh my god, this is not good at all. I mean, WrestleMania needs to be a roadshow.

104
00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:25,000
If you want to bring, rotate a rumble, Survivor Series, elimination, Chamber, Summer Slam, what have you?

105
00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:31,000
And then, I have the big four, five, money in the banks and put them in Las Vegas and Allegiance Stadium.

106
00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:38,000
Once a year that I'm here for it. If you're looking at doing WrestleMania every single year in Las Vegas, not here for it.

107
00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:46,000
I guess they want to have some sort of ten pull in Las Vegas similar to the Super Bowl Final Four they want, something they're regularly each year and rightfully so.

108
00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:52,000
I mean, that's what Las Vegas was birthed on was entertainment and getting people out there.

109
00:07:52,000 --> 00:08:10,000
That's what they're based off of. This isn't putting into Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it's actually a town that's, there's working class and office buildings and residential homes like Las Vegas definitely has that.

110
00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:19,000
But its whole attraction is being an attraction itself. So going to Las Vegas every year regularly makes sense. I can understand that.

111
00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:26,000
I don't want to see the WrestleMania be there permanently for a period of time. I think that would be very bad.

112
00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:33,000
And the old school in me and I know you, Dr. Trey, personally you wanted to go to WrestleMania again because it's nearby you.

113
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:42,000
It's one of the closest venues that you'll be able to see WrestleMania. But I didn't like that WrestleMania 42 was going to be in the Super Dome for the third time in 12 years.

114
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:58,000
I did not like that. I am an old school for wrestling fan who the first WrestleMania he watched in full was WrestleMania 10 and Madison Square Garden and liked having WrestleMania 10, 20, 0, 10 or WrestleMania 1, 10, 20.

115
00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:04,000
And I was hoping 30 in Madison Square Garden personally. That's kind of selfishness as well.

116
00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:14,000
Being from the Tri-State area. But nonetheless, I come from the world where I like seeing WrestleMania different venues each year.

117
00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:22,000
I liked when it would go from Orlando, Florida one year to Houston, Texas the next to San Francisco, California the next.

118
00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:28,000
Like I liked it there was good space. It seemed like after...

119
00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:38,000
WrestleMania 22 was like the last arena, WrestleMania because then 23 was in Ford Field in Detroit and 24 was in Orlando.

120
00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:49,000
25 was in Houston, 26 in Arizona, 27 was Georgia, 28. Miami, 29, New York, New Jersey, 30 was Super Dome in New Orleans.

121
00:09:49,000 --> 00:10:03,000
22 was the last arena, WrestleMania. And then once they got over the hump of WrestleMania 30, they were like traveling to places that rightfully so was offering them the right money.

122
00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:10,000
As a business standpoint, I cannot discredit that whatsoever. Like it makes total sense. That's why they're hitting up New Orleans multiple times.

123
00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:17,000
That's why in a way you could say they hit up Orlando multiple times in less than a 10 year span.

124
00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:31,000
They went back to New Jersey area at 35. Like they were doing the WrestleMania in the same locations over and over and over again.

125
00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:35,000
Or in places they had been to not too far out.

126
00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:45,000
I hate that that's happened. I liked when there was an opportunity that I could come to your town or go to a location that you would least expect.

127
00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:52,000
Like I love that Survivor Series 2025 is going to be in San Diego, California, Pitco Park, or the Padres play.

128
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:57,000
One part being a wrestling fan, second part being a baseball fan, third just want to see what it looks like.

129
00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:06,000
When they were in Seattle, not too recently, I was like one of my favorite WrestleMania's WrestleMania 19 was at Safeco Field with the Mariners play. I would love to see them back in Seattle.

130
00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:14,000
And they have not returned there since WrestleMania 19. So I liked when it was a roadshow where it would go around. I liked the idea of it going to international.

131
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,000
If it wasn't going to go to New Orleans, it going back to Las Vegas.

132
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:28,000
I don't like that, but that's the old school fan of me that's not me thinking as a business person, that's not me thinking as someone who is thinking of the business of WWE Dr. Try.

133
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,000
But I think those days are long gone, just like the days of the Aruners are long gone.

134
00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:41,000
The days of who is going to be the highest bidder, where is WWE going to get the most revenue is where this is most going to be coming from.

135
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:50,000
So if they go back to Las Vegas, which I think they do in 2026 or 42, and then they feel like, well, we need to go back for 43, 44 and 45.

136
00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:56,000
That's the world we live in. We may not like it, but that is the world of professional wrestling.

137
00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:08,000
And is that the right direction? Because we're in business standpoint, I think it makes sense. But is it the right direction as a product and as a business for the fans looking into the company?

138
00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:15,000
It's interesting when you look at business models and look at what long company is doing versus another company.

139
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:24,000
And you look at the NFL where the giraffe was always held in New York City for 40 years, 50 years.

140
00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:32,000
And then the last few years, they've taken it on the road. And we've seen it in Green Bay, we've seen it in Nashville, Philadelphia.

141
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:42,000
And they've made that an event so people can bid on it. It is weird that this is this other company, WWE is going, yeah, we're just keeping in Vegas this year.

142
00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:51,000
And it's like, well, we're the offers out there, not as good in Vegas stepped up was the offer just that much better than New Orleans.

143
00:12:51,000 --> 00:13:07,000
Because I'm with you like I love the traveling nature of wrestling. I have always kind of question and if you remember when it came to MetLife Stadium, I was like, you know, New York New Jersey in April can be kind of funky weather.

144
00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:18,000
Many apples Minnesota in April can be funky weather, you know, Chicago in April can be funky weather like there's still baseball games that are getting snowed out because of the weather.

145
00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:31,000
So I can understand them wanting to kind of keep it in the south or near the coast or stuff like that where the weather typically is better because we saw it a couple years ago when we thought WrestleMania might get rained out.

146
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:41,000
But in this situation like if you're doing it in a dome, it doesn't really matter. So you could travel around from dome to dome and still get those same kind of things.

147
00:13:41,000 --> 00:14:07,000
I like the nature of the traveling show like I like seeing the different, you know, scenic shots and when they tailor the show to the, you know, WrestleMania 34 that went to they had a very New Orleans feel to the set design, you know, MetLife Stadium very, you know, New York New Jersey vibe to it like if you're going back to Vegas.

148
00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:23,000
You just did kind of the gambling vibe. What else are you going to do for 42 like that's pretty much all Vegas is known for so I like the traveling nature because it kind of keeps WrestleMania fresh and if you start repeating venues, I mean it's probably going to get stale up for a long.

149
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:38,000
Not only that, but like these are people's vacations. This is like what they do for vacation, Dr. Tray is is a lot of them look forward to where WWE is going to hold WrestleMania and that is where they set up their vacation time.

150
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:53,000
So if I'm someone who I have made a lifestyle of yeah, for four or five days, yeah, WrestleMania is going to be my vacation, my family vacation, whatever, buddies trip, wrestling fans trip. Awesome. I want to see different places.

151
00:14:53,000 --> 00:15:01,000
I want to go to Minneapolis, Minnesota, even though it will be cold at time in the year because I want to check out the new arena. I want to go back to Ford Field. I want to hit up Texas again.

152
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:11,000
I want to go to Florida, hit up California, go back up to Seattle. I want to go to places that haven't held a WrestleMania before. I think going back to Vegas over and over and over again.

153
00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:30,000
Well like again can understand the business standpoint. You don't want to get stale and you don't want people not to go because that's what that's the thing I'm thinking about is how often are people going to want to go to WrestleMania if it's at the same location and back to back years or even like hey we're going to do the next three years of this quote.

154
00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:42,000
Residency for WrestleMania are people going to be excited to go to Las Vegas if it was me and I was like all right, they're going to be going to WrestleMania for three years. They've just announced this in Las Vegas.

155
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:50,000
I may go year one, but I don't need to go back year two or three. I've done the Vegas trip before. I don't think that there's anything for me personally that's going to make me go.

156
00:15:50,000 --> 00:16:00,000
I got to get back to Vegas. That was so much fun and I get to do WrestleMania. I got to get back to Vegas. I've never been to Vegas to have to trade. I believe you have family that live out in Vegas area.

157
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:09,000
I mean if you visit out there, you were the guy that traveled the country, the first 10 plus years of the show. You've been from coast to coast north to south.

158
00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:17,000
Is this a place where you could see people wanting to go back to regularly and building the WrestleMania vacation out to seen?

159
00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:30,000
I mean, there's enough stuff in Vegas that at two years stint, you can still see some stuff you haven't seen, but for me, my family grew up building casinos. That's what we did.

160
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:41,000
My grandfather has come to be built. Most of the casinos in Reno about half the ones in Vegas and even quite a few in Atlantic City.

161
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:49,000
For us, we don't gamble. We don't do, we know where our money came from, our money came from people spending you know gambling, so we never did it.

162
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:58,000
Once you get out of that, yeah, there are shows you can see there are a little different things you can do that you can do over a two year period.

163
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:05,000
But, you know, if you're saying, hey, we're going to be here for three years, you're losing the sense of urgency.

164
00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:13,000
And that's a big thing when it comes to sales and marketing is it's an event. It's a one time only thing.

165
00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:18,000
Like, how many times are we going to come to Seattle? How many times are they going to come here?

166
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,000
If you're setting it up, we're like, hey, we're going to be here for the next three years.

167
00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:28,000
You lose that sense of urgency, so the people who went year one, are they going to come back in your two and year three?

168
00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:42,000
The people who come year two, are they going to come back year three? Or are people just going to wait for the third year? Like, you lose that sense of you have to get your tickets now, because you don't know when the next time we'll be back in this area again is going to be.

169
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:53,000
So, it's a weird choice on a business model end to pick a residency type situation for an event you hold once a year.

170
00:17:53,000 --> 00:18:00,000
It's different if you're a singer, an actor, a show, and you're performing it multiple times throughout the year.

171
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:11,000
This is a one time event once a year, and now you're setting it up that it's not as special because it's just repeating itself for two or three years.

172
00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:22,000
If the Super Bowl did it, Jeff, NFL fans would go nuts if the NFL's a chance and said, hey, we're going to host the NFL Super Bowl in Orlando for the next four years.

173
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:30,000
People would be up in arms about it, and I'm amazed that wrestling fans aren't a little bit more taken aback by this decision.

174
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,000
Yeah, I think a lot of that has to do because nothing is official. Everything is being reported right now.

175
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:42,000
So, hopefully here in the next couple weeks we get some clarity. The dates for WrestleMania are very intriguing and interesting because we'll have to see where they're going to be.

176
00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:53,000
They had said it was going to be like that second weekend in April, which I think nuts. It's the weekend following Eastern X-X, it's like the 12th and 13th and 11th and 12th.

177
00:18:53,000 --> 00:19:02,000
So, and they're saying they may go later in the month of April. I remember reading not too many years ago where there was discussions of moving WrestleMania to early May.

178
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:20,000
So, I guess we'll have to wait and see if things change. I will say if they do return to Vegas, if part of Vegas is there's an announcement that the Friday Smackdown, Stan Deliver Monday's Raw is going to take place at the sphere in Las Vegas, I may be in.

179
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:37,000
That is bad ass. So, if they're going to do something like that where there's this gigantic Titan Tron with CM Punk all over the place and all the Seth Rollins, S and the Fire burning, then yeah, maybe I'm in at that point.

180
00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:58,000
Yeah, while news is WrestleMania 42 moving from New Orleans and we're reportedly going to Las Vegas again for back to back year, something will be keeping eye on here as the weeks and months of follow because they'll want to make announcements soon so people could start getting ready to buy all those on demand ticket packages and start planning their trips out to the next location.

181
00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:09,000
That's bad for all the independent wrestling promotions, the WrestleCons of the world that had already booked New Orleans for those weekends because they're going to lose money because they probably can't get out of their contracts.

182
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:19,000
And if WWE did that purposely to do that to those types of groups and that is sincerely messed up and I hope that is not the case.

183
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:35,000
A week in a professional wrestling that started on Saturday with this past recent edition of Saturday and it's main event on NBC. Some major news that came out of that one Dr. Shrely Bronson Reed is now signing with Seth Rollins and Ron Breaker and Paul Hamon, something we discussed on the show not too long ago.

184
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:46,000
This event was awful, on the program was completely out of touch, was very upset that Damien Pricett and I climb out of the ring, did not understand the rules for the Steel Cage match.

185
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,000
And I would have cut his mic off and Cody Rhodes is back.

186
00:20:50,000 --> 00:21:03,000
He makes the save a post match for Jay Uso, who the Jay Uso Logan Paul match that was squeezed very, very late into the show that looked like there was some major time constraints there.

187
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:15,000
John Cena makes the save for the pin count. It goes to no contest, DQ would have you and sets up Cody's return so that it'll be Cody and Jay Uso tagging at money in the bank against John Cena and Logan Paul.

188
00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:22,000
Your thoughts on Saturday nights main event, Bronson Reed signing with Ron Breaker and Hamon and Cody's return and anything else.

189
00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:31,000
You'd like to say maybe like a botched 619 that happened to break Chelsea Green's nose, but very fun show. Top to bottom, Dr. Andrew, this past Saturday's edition of Saturday nights main event.

190
00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:40,000
Yeah, it was a fun show. It did. It felt squeezed, which I don't understand because if you're broadcasting on peacock, what time constraints do you have?

191
00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:49,000
But you know, it's it is what it is. I think that has to do more with the NBC side of things because they are airing live on NBC.

192
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:59,000
That might be because I don't really watch NBC's, but I don't really have regular television for the most part. It's all streamed now. So yeah, that makes sense.

193
00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:13,000
But the whole show itself did feel kind of rushed like the first match felt like it got the proper amount of time and maybe went a little long at points, but the rest of the show like everything kind of felt rushed.

194
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:19,000
But yeah, like Bronson Reed signing or signing with Seth and Braun Breaker.

195
00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:33,000
It's a good move. Like I saw somebody post like this is basically kind of like evolution 2.0 Paul Heyman's the Ric Flair, Seth is triple H and then you got Braun and Bronson being the Randy and Batista of that stable.

196
00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:43,000
So it works because we talked about the show like you they needed some numbers because it felt like a times they were outgunned by the good guys.

197
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:55,000
So this kind of even those tables and dear God Bronson Reed is biggest two guys anyway. So it's almost like having a fourth and fifth, a third and fourth member on the team in a lot of ways.

198
00:22:55,000 --> 00:23:01,000
I like Zalina Vega. I hate it that match. I mean Chelsea Gray should be your United States champion for a while.

199
00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:15,000
Like her character so dislikable for casual fans it makes the US women's title interesting and dear God can the ladies and I don't mean just Alina but Stephanie Vacur is well stop doing the 619.

200
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:24,000
Like nobody else hits it as good as right even Dominic does not hit it as good as is dead. Can we stop letting everybody do it?

201
00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:36,000
Like the John Cena our truth match a little short but fun like our truth interest was great. I love that the match itself. I liked as well.

202
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:52,000
The steel cage match was really good. I enjoyed it but you're right. Jesse Ventura has not watched the product in 30 years and you can tell because they're like Michael Coles explaining how the match can be won by pinball submission or escaping the cage.

203
00:23:52,000 --> 00:24:06,000
And then Jesse just kind of ignored the fact that pinballs and submissions count and I didn't hate his analysis of priest walking out. I don't I don't like when the baby face walks out the ring.

204
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:17,000
It doesn't make him look strong to me. I like them going on the top rope or getting the pinball. I don't like them going out the door but and then Logan Paul J. Uso fun match.

205
00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:28,000
The John Cena insertion into this is kind of a cool dynamic. Are we getting John Cena J. Uso at night of champions if are they doing night of champions this year. Do you know.

206
00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,000
They are late June back in Saudi Arabia I believe.

207
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:43,000
Okay so are we getting John Cena J. Uso night of champions then champion versus champion for the like the ring. That is crown jewel. Is that but that's in purpose here right?

208
00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:51,000
Okay so I mean are we doing the the the the the ring thing again. I think they will do it at crown jewel in Perth.

209
00:24:51,000 --> 00:25:00,000
Okay so I mean that kind of leads into that and you got the Cody factor not to mention. I I think I about this Cody and J are former tag team champions.

210
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:12,000
So you're getting former tag team champions teaming up against the greatest wrestler of all time arguably and the YouTube guy so it's a really cool kind of cross section there.

211
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:20,000
But then you got the Gunther factor Gunther is getting a world title shot here coming up on Monday night right before one so this whole thing might get blown up.

212
00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:26,000
We might get John Cena and goother at crown jewel so it's going to be interesting to see how this whole thing kind of lays out.

213
00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:37,000
Yeah it is it's it's I thought it was a really good start for some WWE creative. I thought wrestling as a whole I thought I had a really good weekend.

214
00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:51,000
But specifically the WWE stuff that I watched over the weekend and on Monday and then the stuff with the next see that we'll get to hear momentarily as well was really really solid stuff so has me excited for the summer months and maybe this is that normal lag time.

215
00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,000
Dr. Drake coming out of WrestleMania that we typically see with WWE were.

216
00:25:54,000 --> 00:26:08,000
There's starting a reset and now we're starting to build towards some bigger papers for you is like money the bank and leading up to some bigger stuff to take place at summer slam so solid addition of Saturday nights made event highly recommended for those who did not check it out.

217
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:18,000
Lots of decisions were made over the last several days of professional wrestling when it comes to the direction of several promotions one being all elite wrestling Dr. Trey.

218
00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:34,000
And the big decision that was made a double or nothing was hangman Adam Page defeating will osprey in the finals of the men's own cup he will now be the number one contender to the AW World Heavyweight Championship at all in against John Moxley in Texas.

219
00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:43,000
There were some reports out there that hangman was first off creative did not tell who was going to win until that day which I really like that honestly.

220
00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:56,000
And hangman was making a push for Will Ospreay to win and will Ospreay was reportedly making a push for hangman to win and then I guess John Moxley's choice reportedly was hangman to win the match.

221
00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:06,000
Nonetheless it will be hangman Moxley we've seen this before I think you can make cases for both hangman and will Ospreay to be the guy for this position.

222
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:18,000
Nonetheless Dr. Trey did AEW make the right call by putting hangman Adam Page as the normal container to be taken on John Moxley for the AW World Championship at all in Texas.

223
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:29,000
All in Texas and you got a cowboy fighting basically I don't know what you call John Moxley but he's basically the modern day Terry Funk in a lot of ways.

224
00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:44,000
So styles wise like it's going to be a brutal match in Texas loves brutal matches so that part makes sense I understand also why Mox picked page because like I said style wise those two guys can really put together and if.

225
00:27:44,000 --> 00:28:05,000
If page or Ospreay is not the guy to end the death right or run and you're saving it for Darby and makes a lot of sense you don't want to waste will Ospreay in this spot and losing a losing a second World title match you know and saving that for later saving it for down the road.

226
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:34,000
So I think they made the right call overall what confused me was Ospreay's entrance kind it was a lot was different and it kind of made him look like the new face of AEW to then have him go out and lose this match like save that for when you know he's going to be the guy and establish it then save it for when it matters it almost took away from the change and entrance having him lose this match.

227
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:52,000
But overall as a fantastic match in a really great show so AEW is kind of clicking you know getting back up to pace and getting back in gear because that was a really really fun show and hangman and Mox is it's going to be brutal so and we all love this kind of matches.

228
00:28:52,000 --> 00:29:15,000
It's funny that you you focus on the location for this paper view all in Texas and I agree with you I think when you look it from that standpoint it makes sense you'd rather go with that blue collar all American guy when it's going to be in Texas rather than the highly talented easily likeable British wrestler in all in Texas.

229
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:44,000
I still believe from a wrestling promotion standpoint that I would have gone with will Ospreay I fully expect that the storyline that they tell now from now until all in will be very captivating because the stuff with hangingman and a page the little the slow burn and turn back to his regular self has been really well done over the last several weeks it's been one of the best creative things at AEW done in in some time and.

230
00:29:44,000 --> 00:30:02,000
Of course it comes with a guy that is easily likeable and someone that can already connects with the fans which begs the story that this is what AEW should have been doing when when they were at their their downtime is like go to the guys that people can connect with and one of those people is certainly hangman and page people love hangman and page and rightfully so.

231
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:22,000
What I will say is when I saw will Ospreay sign with all the wrestling in the fall of 2023 I think it was full gear 2023 in LA when Ospreay announced that he was signing with AEW once his new Japan contract was up in February 2024.

232
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:40,000
I was like will Ospreay is is set to become one of like the AEW world champion in 2024 like face the company this is a guy that I'm like okay here's the literal bring truck let me back it up and dump this boatload of cash into his bank account because this is guy want to invest in.

233
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:49,000
I am shocked that as you and I sit here on February of 2025 will Ospreay does not have a an AEW world championship title run under his belt.

234
00:30:49,000 --> 00:31:18,000
This is a guy that could carry that belt for you for like the next 8 to 12 months a good portion of the calendar year and really help elevate his game elevate your game as a company put on some top notch matches and and bring people to the yard it's the same way that I feel about kusuchko kata as well it's like it's amazing to me how many talented folks are on the roster that I've not had a run with the title that I think should have over a couple of other people like most notably no disrespect look at the title.

235
00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:38,000
I think that should have you know Ospreay kata should have that before him I think swarves should have a title for a while I do not think John moxley should have the championship presently like those are those are guys I would have invested in and and put as the face of your company whether they were working as heels or baby faces.

236
00:31:38,000 --> 00:32:03,000
So to me doctor trade that's what shocking because I can understand the direction of hangman in page I like the hang the direction of hangman in the page but I hate to see it come at the hands of will osprey because now as a will osprey fan is a fan of w it's like where do they go now the rest of the year specifically with him like I cannot see will osprey be in an AEW world champion in 2025 at any point at this time right now.

237
00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:27,000
Yeah it's interesting in so a couple things on that like I get the direction if if the death writer angles continuing on and you want moxley to stay on top if you haven't be at him page with the help of the bucks it makes sense you don't want to sacrifice will osprey spot for for that you want to save that for something bigger.

238
00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:39,000
You know my my question coming out is when the guys are in the back and hangman pushing for you know osprey to get the match with moxley and ospreys you know saying hangman should get it.

239
00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:49,000
It's weird to me because like I grew up in an era where like winners want the ball like there's a great line from the replacement gene hack me winners want the ball.

240
00:32:49,000 --> 00:33:01,000
Like if your osprey or page shouldn't you want the ball like shouldn't you be like no it should be me let me have the match i'll make a great instead of pushing for the other guy.

241
00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:17,000
As far as the osprey where do you go from here like I feel like in a lot of ways he's kind of RVD ask in the sense of we can stick him anywhere you'll have great matches he's a great character and.

242
00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:29,000
You know it the fuge don't matter as much to you in a lot of ways like we say that but you know hangman you know hangman swear was great mjf Jericho but for the most part.

243
00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:36,000
Like this whole death right or angle who have they been feuding with the entire time nobody like it's it's costly evolving changing so.

244
00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:46,000
They don't buy into the few angles like wwe does so you just throw them out there then you know the great match in the and they're fine with that that's kind of what their fans.

245
00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:51,000
Are more into the guys like you me like we want the stories we want.

246
00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:56,000
The future we want to feel we want to still feel real to us.

247
00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:03,000
That's kind of not what their fan base wants their fan base for the most part we just want really great.

248
00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:08,000
High flying matches and you know for some time stories be damned so.

249
00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:15,000
Osprey in this role can fill that spot for a lot of the you know those guys who want that kind of wrestling and.

250
00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:24,000
Not worry about the fact that he hasn't had the belt yet so I guess in a sense we have to kind of look at the way they book their shows differently.

251
00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,000
And what guys like you and me typically go for.

252
00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:31,000
Yeah it's it's an interesting direction because.

253
00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:39,000
There's a lot of ways that this could be played we talked about last week show I've always felt like Darby Allen was going to be the guy that would.

254
00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:47,000
De throw in the death writers and help take AW back from their rain hangman and a page is certainly someone that could be that.

255
00:34:47,000 --> 00:35:00,000
Go back to late two thousand twenty four will osprey was cutting promos saying that when he was done I forget who he was feuding with at the time was a call of Fletcher when he was done with Kyle Fletcher.

256
00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:08,000
Yeah I think it was called Fletcher and Don Cal's family when he's done with them he is going towards the death writers never did that they never pick that up.

257
00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:13,000
And it's like what are we doing and that's the part of the death writers angle that.

258
00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:23,000
Doesn't make a lot of sense to me the death writers angle should be used as a catalyst to help elevate your next big star that was what the NW always doing.

259
00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:30,000
And WCW by helping elevate sting as a bigger star than he presently was he was established at the time.

260
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:42,000
Could you make a case that hangman is that person when you look at it from that comparisons already in a saboteur a formal world champion was beaten down and battered for many things like Stingley.

261
00:35:42,000 --> 00:36:00,000
And now he is rising up from the ashes and finding himself again and can be that person to carry the banner from a W or should it in fact be someone that is elevated to be the next top star Darby Allen will osprey what have you Dr. Trey.

262
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:27,000
I mean once again it kind of goes back to what is your what what's your focus for the company like what do you want to be in and it feels like a lot of times a W has this tug or from where we were like we want to be a wrestling show and then we want to be an entertainment storyline show and they go back and forth but the death writer angle is supposed to be built like the end of the other sense of like you said elevate.

263
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:47,000
Baby faces to the next level like you you you mentioned Sting I we brought up Lex Luger a couple months ago because you and I say I said I remember what Lex Luger beat Hulk Hogan and you know he had the belt for like a week is still elevated Lex Luger to the next level elevated diamond dials page up elevated goal burger.

264
00:36:47,000 --> 00:37:11,000
They do you know they really I don't think you can look at what this whole death writer angle that any baby face has really been elevated by this like it's like they get beat down and then something else pops up to take them away from the death writer angle like you look at like we just had this the robber between the ops and death writers and now.

265
00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:38,000
They're on is something else and they just kind of like what and that was just a few weeks ago that that rifle re ended but there's no follow and that's that's where the frustration lies because your baby faces have to overcome obstacles which means once they lose they either keep fighting up to get that next chance or something else dramatic has taken them away to move their focus off and we really haven't had that like every time

266
00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:58,000
or time actually beat somebody they just go away for a while and we don't ever see a follow up to it and that's why people are down on the death writer angle because you're not elevating anybody up to make it look like that's the guy this is the guy we're going to follow even Austin and DX you know it was Austin

267
00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:19,000
and then the big man Austin versus DX like that's what kept building Austin up was overcoming those obstacles and right now he's like the baby face has an obstacle he loses and then he just gives up and walks away and moves on is something easier and that's why these baby faces aren't super over other than maybe offspraying pages those are probably

268
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:31,000
two guys right now that are currently on the roster that is they are like everybody gets behind swarve so three you got three baby faces that everybody loves everybody else they lose and they just kind of disappear for a while.

269
00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:43,000
Yeah or yeah like in the case of Orange Cassia it was not well booked if any got injured and how he's gone for a while that's the name I immediately think of when I think of like the purpose of the death writer's angle.

270
00:38:43,000 --> 00:39:12,000
It's interesting it's it's going to be a very intriguing build I expect it to be very well done for someone who has been down on a W as of late especially creatively I think the stuff that they've done with hangman and a page of some of their best work in the recent recent year so but that's a thing it's like there's this group of guys that AW can always rest their hat on help carry the company it's it's Kenny Omega hangman it's the box it's MJF it's swarve now I'd really like to see some new faces get in the way.

271
00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:18,000
I'd like to see some new faces get in there I'd like to see will Osprey get in there I'd like to see Darby Allen get in there.

272
00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:29,000
I'd like to see guys that that are working their way of the chain get get to that point as well I'd love to see Kyle Fletcher get up that way I'd love to see will hops get up that way.

273
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:41,000
So I mean that's what these angles should be doing is is doing that is establishing new stars and I thought the death writers angle the most should have been that angle that is doing that now that is not saying.

274
00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:56,000
That all in Texas happens and hangman and page walks out as world champion I think that's a direction that they should go but I have been completely wrong with a lot of the bookings of this death writers angle doctrine I would not be surprised if John moxley walks out of there as the world champion but.

275
00:39:56,000 --> 00:40:08,000
We will talk about that the closer that we get and the closer that we get to all in one thing that involved a company and their world championship that was shocking this past weekend as well was.

276
00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:37,000
I can't believe I'm saying these words we've been doing this podcast for 15 years and when this podcast first started these two companies were on separate sides of the aisle they were one in two in the United States never thought that there would be a day that they would be working together and never thought there would be a day that I'd be saying this but here we are a WWE contracted talent is the current TNA world champion as trick Williams defeated Joe Hendry at WWE Battleground PL Lee this past weekend.

277
00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:47,000
Was this a smart move by TNA or is WWE over shadowing TNA by this booking decision dr. Try.

278
00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:51,000
Can it be both like I think it's a brilliant move.

279
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:52,000
Oh thanks for.

280
00:40:52,000 --> 00:41:06,000
Yeah so I think it's a brilliant move by TNA because as you saw in NXT Tuesday there's your TNA world title on television then you get Santana showing up you got Santino there.

281
00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:20,000
Like there's a good 20 minutes of TNA conversation on NAC programming which still draws more viewers than AEW some weeks.

282
00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:35,000
It definitely draws more viewers in TNA so you're getting your company talked about on a much bigger platform which then if people like trick or they like what Santana does or they like Joe Hendry now they're going to search out your product to watch more.

283
00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:53,000
So I love that move but the flip side is is that does it devalue your title when a guy who lost the NAC world title was struggling in some middle fudes now is your TNA world champion.

284
00:41:53,000 --> 00:42:16,000
Like is trick the top guy you could probably argue say he's still the top guy in NXT just for what he's done for T or what he's done for NXT in his position in the company and that's okay but if you go off recent booking maybe tricks the third or fourth guy on that on that total pull and now your fourth guy is beating their number one guy.

285
00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:28,000
So there's a little bit of give and take but I think for my opinion for TNA I think it's a fantastic move because it is drawing more people to check out their product whether it's.

286
00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:32,000
Excuse me live when they do it or on YouTube or whatever it is.

287
00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:45,000
I'm more invested now in TNA than maybe I have been in quite a while because we're seeing those crossovers not to mention it gets the WWE guys more time on TV when they're crossing over TNA as well.

288
00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:52,000
So I think this is a much better working relationship than we ever saw with the AAUT and a partnership.

289
00:42:52,000 --> 00:43:14,000
So that's what's pretty wild is that WWE right now is one they own one of the companies and the other they are working very closely with in the last what three to four years Kenny Omega was a triple A mega champion and a TNA world champion and then three to four or five years later that title is now going to be defended on WWE television multiple times.

290
00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:25,000
Which I never thought I would say and be held by people who are contracted talent by WWE nonetheless I think this is smart move by TNA I do not think WWE is over shadowing TNA I agree with you doctor.

291
00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:36,000
I think that this partnership has worked out beneficially for both companies WWE is is letting some of the other talent that may not be focused too much on NXT television go over to TNA and shine.

292
00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:48,000
And in the same turn TNA is sending over some of their top guys and girls to perform on WWE's network and you're checking it out you're seeing Mike Santana on WTV and you're like man I really enjoy this work in NAW.

293
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:56,000
I'm going to go check about now on on TNA I'm going to go watch TNA on Thursday you're adding it to your rotation of shows which is the whole purpose of this.

294
00:43:56,000 --> 00:44:10,000
So I like the move I think the move makes sense it's a good business decision and it's putting eyes and buzz around the TNA product that they've not seen so I do not know how this is correlating for viewership.

295
00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:20,000
I hope I think I read that one of the reasons why TNA is like stop bleeding and and slaps and stuff like that is because they are starting to look for a new TV deal.

296
00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:34,000
I hope they get a TV deal maybe get some help from WWE in the TV deal and are able to capitalize on this partnership even more because I think they they should be on a television network that gets more eyes on it.

297
00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:42,000
So that has me excited for them and again yeah I just think that this is a really good move for TNA wrestling.

298
00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:58,000
It has me excited to see how this plays out on both the WWE and TNA television and it was shocking it was it was a shocking week for annexed dr. Trey because on Sunday night you've got not only that before we get into I get into this tangent.

299
00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:14,000
The TNA World Heavyweight Championship match was headlining the WWE Battleground PLE so it was above the annexed championship match so take that into account how WWE is viewing the partnership so I don't think WWE is over shadowing it by one of the contract talent on there.

300
00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:28,000
But Sunday's Battleground PLE ends with trick Williams-Holenty and a World Championship. On Tuesday's annex T Ricky Saints drops the North American Championship to Ethan Page which has me already thinking that okay maybe Ricky Saints is getting called to roar smack down a little bit quicker.

301
00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:42,000
Ethan Page will defend it in a fatal four way at Worlds Collide against Javon Evans, Laredo Kid and Ray Phoenix and then to close the show complete shock as Ceph D'Vacore dropped the NXT Women's Championship to JC Jain.

302
00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:51,000
There were reports out there after annexed television early Wednesday morning that Ceph D'Vacore is set to go to Raw or Smackdown.

303
00:45:51,000 --> 00:46:03,000
I think she is set to go to Raw and Jordan Grace is reportedly set to go to Smackdown so there's going to be some major changes in the NXT Women's division and even with the loss of Roxanne, Julia and reportedly Stephanie Vacore and Jordan Grace.

304
00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:20,000
That annexed women's division is still really really strong so it was a shocking week for the NXT Brand Doctor Trey and I would say their last two shows the Battleground PLE and the show on Tuesday was some really really good stuff and has me intrigued to see where the NXT Brand goes heading to the summer months.

305
00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:31,000
Yeah, it kind of shook everything up. I mean, not only Oba Femmy Miles board match is really good. The stuff with stacks and dimes are assuming it was stacks and Tony Dees is still really good.

306
00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:49,000
Like, they got some really good programming that the change up. I mean, a lot of ways I thought the move to take the belt off Stephanie is also because we have the evolution paper you coming up in a couple of months and it allows Jordan Stephanie to get on the main roster and get some other eyes on them.

307
00:46:49,000 --> 00:47:05,000
Before the evolution pay-per-view and it felt like for a while like the NXT Women's division which was super talented was a little not top heavy but you weren't seeing the depth really get a chance to shine now.

308
00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:15,000
You know, the Saul Rookas, the Kalani Jordan, the JC Jains, the Fallen Henley's like all of those people get elevated up another step so it makes a ton of sense.

309
00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:34,000
The crazy thing to me Jeff was not only JC J winning but if you go back three years, if you had told me out of the three members of toxic attraction who would be most likely to be the NXT Women's Champion and still be on the roster, JC was not one of my first three picks.

310
00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:41,000
Agreed. It's crazy that she's the last one standing and she's the one standing right now with the NXT World Championship.

311
00:47:41,000 --> 00:47:54,000
Yeah, no, it is shocking stuff so props to JC Jain. Some major changes going on over the NXT brand which is exciting and I'm pumped for where things go.

312
00:47:54,000 --> 00:48:07,000
Last thing I want to talk about in regards to the NXT brand doctor Trey from time to time on this podcast over the years I have always enjoyed like Haggin my hat on someone and saying that I think they're going to be the next star.

313
00:48:07,000 --> 00:48:14,000
It's like that. Vince McMahon, I guarantee it, it is the Paul Heyman, not a prediction, not a spoiler.

314
00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:25,000
That has kind of been my thing and I do it from time to time. Sometimes I completely shit the bed. It's Ezekiel Jackson, it's who was Lars Sullivan.

315
00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:27,000
Lars Sullivan, yes. That's my go to one.

316
00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:33,000
It's a big one. And rightfully so. And then there are some times where I hit it out of the park.

317
00:48:33,000 --> 00:48:43,000
I'm going to have a fair and Bianca Belair. Well, I'm going to have my hat on somebody right now that I think is going to be a major star in the next one to three years.

318
00:48:43,000 --> 00:48:49,000
Soul Ruka is going to be a major player in WWE doctor Trey. You disagree?

319
00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:59,000
No, no, no, I'm laughing because there's something I said a year and a half ago and I think you completely forgot I said that.

320
00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:09,000
You go back to that. Well, you go back to that first NXT North American women's title match. And I came out of that match saying, Sal Ruka's a star.

321
00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:18,000
Like even though she didn't win, I'm like, no, she's got everything WWE looks for in a future women's feature detraction.

322
00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:33,000
She was in to me, she was kind of like a mix of like a blonde surfer, Lita, like she's just cool energy. She can move the soul snatcher is a fantastic finisher that will get people excited.

323
00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:41,000
And she just checked all the boxes and that was like one of her first featured matches she ever had in NXT. And I saw that match.

324
00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:48,000
And I was like, that's who I was going to bank on to be able to break out star out of that six women ladder match.

325
00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:57,000
Yeah, for me, I think the first match, you always knew she had the talent. I watched her on NXT level up. She seemed a little bit of clunky in the ring and she had the injury.

326
00:49:57,000 --> 00:50:03,000
So she was gone for a while. It wasn't until the Iron Survivor challenge back in December and you and I were both raving about her.

327
00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:15,000
And then the ladder match happened to understand and the liver weekend, I was like, she's going to be star. And then I watched the match with Colony Jordan and I'm like, she is getting really, really good and they have something here.

328
00:50:15,000 --> 00:50:23,000
And I'm excited to see her grow, Dr. Trace. So even though we're upset to see people like Julia, Roxanne Perez, Stephanie Vaakor, Jordan Grace, leave.

329
00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:36,000
If this opens up the door for Soul Rookas, Colony Jordan, who's very talented, JC Jane, Fallon Henley, Lash Legend to start climbing the ladder and be more prominent in NXT than I'm all for it.

330
00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:39,000
But I think Soul Rooka is going to be a major player.

331
00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:45,000
Yeah, there's somebody else that you always bring up on NXT and I haven't seen again is the Jada Parker.

332
00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:47,000
Oh, I love Jada Parker. Yes.

333
00:50:47,000 --> 00:51:00,000
You do. And I watch her and I'm like, there's still something missing. I can't quite put my finger on it. I think Colony is always going to be that kind of cute, bubbly baby face.

334
00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:10,000
Like she's a lot like Sasha Banks was before Sasha went into her CEO mode that we the boss mode. Like she's very early in the that mark.

335
00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:20,000
Lash Legends got a little bit of Bianca Belair factor to it. So they always been like they all have tremendous talent and but Soul's always been the one that kind of stood out to me.

336
00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:28,000
Yeah, there's something about her. She has a little bit that the it factor that you can't quantify.

337
00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:32,000
Like I see people were even about low level vice. I don't see it yet.

338
00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:43,000
Like there's certain people I just I can't I don't see them be like I see them being on raw or smack down being in the middle of pack but sometimes you see somebody and you go that's it.

339
00:51:43,000 --> 00:51:51,000
That's the person right there and you know, Saul Ruka out of the maybe the mid card under card women's division.

340
00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:54,000
That's the money person I would fill my money on as well.

341
00:51:54,000 --> 00:52:03,000
Yeah, absolutely. I mean she's she's got something different about her there aren't she is not like anyone. I mean you could say there's a little bit of rain stereo there's a little bit of rain.

342
00:52:03,000 --> 00:52:16,000
You're in there's a little bit of RV D in there but it's also Ruka and she's starting to get the confidence building and it's exciting to watch and she is someone to keep an eye on because I've been seen somebody that talented in NXT since probably Bianca Belair.

343
00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:34,000
That's the way that different that that that soul snatcher the top rope was really cool. But that was mostly her opponent getting into that spot like 100% she do her ass off to make that look good.

344
00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:44,000
Absolutely. Clonney Jordan is extremely talented. I mean there you could go on and on. I agree with Jada Parkers and other one that I like I would say sol Ruka is number one.

345
00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:57,000
There's Karin Petrovic. I mean they have a very talented female roster. It's exciting to watch and rare are you like upset not upset about changes to the NXT roster.

346
00:52:57,000 --> 00:53:05,000
But when you move some of the top talent from NXT women's division and you realize like okay this is going to open up doors for a lot of other girls who are extremely talented.

347
00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:20,000
That's really exciting because those four women were kind of create a little bit of a log jam on the NXT women's division side and it was it was derailing to people we haven't seen on television a while like a low device so Ruka is someone that I am hanging my hat on for sure.

348
00:53:20,000 --> 00:53:29,000
By the way real quick just want to throw one thing there. Shout out to deputy for also allowing netty night hard to go work NWA crocker.

349
00:53:29,000 --> 00:53:42,000
Okay getting in the ring with Kansi page. Kansi page. Like I like everybody around here knows her. She's from Tennessee just like 19 20 years old already in the world champion.

350
00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:53,000
But for WWE to allow nadi to go to NWA jump in the ring with Kansi who's probably going to be in NXT within the next two years and beyond.

351
00:53:53,000 --> 00:54:08,000
She's literally probably the next rocks and parades if they go that route. But just it was really cool to see nadi and a different version of nadi in the ring NWA crocker cup that was really cool of WWE to let her do that as well.

352
00:54:08,000 --> 00:54:15,000
Yeah WWE is doing a lot of cool shit right now and it's the right thing to do and the only reason why they're doing that is because AW open that door you cannot lose sight of that.

353
00:54:15,000 --> 00:54:34,000
I don't think this world's collide at AAA TNA WWE partnerships buying whatever is taking place if there were no forbidden doors and what AW was doing right now so they they are still the ones that I feel like change the game to make WWE change their best model to doing things that fans wanted to see and like and that's what we're seeing on WWE television right now.

354
00:54:34,000 --> 00:54:39,000
It's like what ECW did in the mid 90s to help usher in the attitude era.

355
00:54:39,000 --> 00:54:52,000
With that said let's close up shop on this week's edition of SRTU got a couple plugs and spots are the way you can download show every Thursday or Friday real guy media dot com Russell Chatton on X and the store will show feed on Apple Spotify wherever you download this podcast.

356
00:54:52,000 --> 00:54:59,000
I forget to rate review and subscribe as the algorithm is king for us to keep climbing the charts in those podcast platforms.

357
00:54:59,000 --> 00:55:12,000
You could follow us individually on X for myself at SRTU Jeff and for Dr. Franklin the Dr. Tre and of course so for good fall show on X at SRTU podcast with that being said what is going on the wonderful world of Dr. Franklin this week.

358
00:55:12,000 --> 00:55:26,000
Well like Jeff said you can follow me on X at the Dr. Tre you can find me on Facebook and Instagram Dr. Tre Franklin which Jeff I was told that actually works because somebody actually look at me and say hey man I found you on Instagram that was pretty cool.

359
00:55:26,000 --> 00:55:37,000
Well you're on Facebook go be sure you go check out Rockets City Championship Wrestling we have our next show is June 7th so be sure to keep an eye out for all the fun exciting stuff we do with Rockets City.

360
00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:44,000
But most importantly just go out and check out your local independent wrestling shows you don't know who's gonna pop up on your show.

361
00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:54,000
A bunch of people got released in their their timelines are coming to an end I've already seen cord jades only fan page out there for a GG Dolan's already out on the Indy.

362
00:55:54,000 --> 00:56:09,000
Go out there and find your stars go find those people that you can make connections with because that's how you end up becoming a lifelong wrestling fan as you watch that person grow from wrestling in front of 45 people in a middle school gym to being featured on AWW or WWE down the road.

363
00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:19,000
So there you go support all the great things that support SRTU and join us next week as we get you ready for WWE money in the bank weekend we'll get you will preview predict money in the bank.

364
00:56:19,000 --> 00:56:28,000
We'll take a look at World's Collide and everything else that is going on in the world of professional wrestling so until next week for Dr. Tritray Franklin I am Jeff Pack.

365
00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:34,000
Thank you for making this part of your week. Thank you for downloading and this has been the stirrula show.