Latest / Real. Guy. Pods. / Roman Reigns Is Overrated?! Punk & Owens Get Personal | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #861 – 8/13/26

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Roman Reigns Is Overrated?! Punk & Owens Get Personal | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #861 – 8/13/26 · Real. Guy. Pods.

• 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,760 It's still prudent to be damaged in this! 2 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:11,760 [Music] 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:17,080 Welcome everybody! 4 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:20,080 Welcome to this week's This Is Still Realest Show, 5 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:24,520 Episode 861 for August 13th, 2026. 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:29,320 Welcome to this week's edition of S.R.T.U. 7 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,920 I am one episode show, I am Jeff Packard. 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:34,880 Typically joined every single week. 9 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,360 I might also only Dr. Trey Franklin, 10 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:41,640 and typically asked here, "Dr. Trey, what makes up my friend?" 11 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,440 We are Dr. Treyless, a little bit of a family emergency going on 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:50,080 with his dog this evening, wishing him and his family nothing but the best. 13 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,080 But when we sat down here to record tonight, 14 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:58,080 Dr. Trey had to handle stuff at home, which is most important. 15 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:02,240 So just keep him in his family and your thoughts right now 16 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:07,600 is as they navigate issue with the family pet right now. 17 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,680 And anybody who has a dog, I'm a dog lover, I have a dog. 18 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,160 Actually, she barked about two seconds before I hit the record 19 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:14,920 on this entire thing. 20 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:20,760 Notice that pets are just as equally important to a family structure 21 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:22,760 than anyone else. 22 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,720 And I always say this all the time with my own dog that I wish 23 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:28,720 there were more dogs. 24 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,800 Or actually that I wish that dogs lived longer than people 25 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,560 because we just have them for such a short amount of time 26 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,160 and they're very, very special parts of the family. 27 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,880 And just nothing but the best of Dr. Trey and family right now. 28 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,360 No easier way to segue into a wrestling conversation 29 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,840 after a pretty interesting and serious family matter 30 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,920 going on with one of our own, Dr. Trey, 31 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,120 then to try to transfer this over to professional wrestling 32 00:01:59,120 --> 00:01:59,920 talk this week. 33 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:02,720 So it's going to be a solo dole show. 34 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,080 And we're going to break it all down from this past week, 35 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:06,320 some of the news and notes that have come out 36 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,200 of the world professional wrestling. 37 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,040 And yeah, just kind of give my thoughts 38 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,240 for the next 30, 45 minutes, however long this takes. 39 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,880 It's been a couple solo shows that I've done as of late. 40 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,320 So yeah, I talked to myself typically. 41 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,880 So why not just talk to myself now here in the microphone. 42 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,800 Let's start things off here where Friday of last week, 43 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:33,800 Conrad Thompson got a lot of wrestling discourse going. 44 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,880 Conrad Thompson, as I'm sure all of you know, 45 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:41,160 famous wrestling podcast host, something to wrestle with, 46 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,920 with Bruce Pritchard, 83 weeks with Eric Bischoff, 47 00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:48,480 JR show, Jeff Cherichow, Conrad Thompson basically 48 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,680 become the godfather of wrestling podcasting. 49 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,000 And he has some great takes. 50 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,240 I always enjoy stuff when I listen to his shows. 51 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,360 And he put it out there that he thinks, 52 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,280 Conrad Thompson called Roman Reigns potentially 53 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,600 quote the most overrated main eventer in WWE history, 54 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,840 and then doubled down by arguing that Paul Heyman 55 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,720 deserves enormous credit for changing how fans perceived 56 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,680 Roman back in starting in 2020. 57 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,720 Conrad specifically pointed to the hostile reactions 58 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,320 Roman received before the travel chief, 59 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,840 era and asked what Roman's career looks like without Paul Heyman. 60 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,480 So Roman was unquestionably rejected as WWE's 61 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,200 hand-picked babyface for years from 2014 to, 62 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:30,720 I would say, 2020, right? 63 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,920 And heading to the pandemic. 64 00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:35,840 But does finally, finding the right character actually 65 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,120 strengthen his legacy rather than weaken it? 66 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,480 Because I think we could all agree that the travel chief 67 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,840 character that he has found is extremely entertaining, 68 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,840 extremely fun, and more him than anything 69 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:49,240 we've ever seen before. 70 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:50,880 And I think a lot of people may think 71 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,520 that this is like a creation of Triple H and the current creative team. 72 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,520 But this was going on when Vince was still at the helm. 73 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,000 So they made the change from the big dog to the travel chief 74 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,120 and ran with this bloodline storyline. 75 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,520 I would debate, I think, that the bloodline storyline 76 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,600 got better once the Triple H and company 77 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,080 took over creative from 2022 onwards. 78 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:12,640 But it has. 79 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,560 It has strengthened his legacy, I should say, 80 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,320 because as a babyface, he was not any good at all. 81 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:20,880 I mean, Codratatops and Points Outdo, 82 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,360 do we remember the WrestleMania is that fans 83 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,120 were walking out of the one specific one, WrestleMania 34. 84 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,440 I wish he was here on the podcast tonight, Dr. Trey. 85 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,000 He was in attendance. 86 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,560 And he has spoken several times that he walked out 87 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,680 on the Brock Lesnar Roman Reigns event. 88 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,320 You don't do that at a WrestleMania. 89 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,400 They tried really hard from WrestleMania 31 90 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:45,640 to, cheese 34 to really get Roman going. 91 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:50,320 Roman had a real serious issue, medical issue 92 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,160 with his cancer returning and came back in 2019. 93 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:58,160 And after an outside in 2018, and he wrestled Drew McIntyre 94 00:04:58,160 --> 00:04:59,480 at WrestleMania. 95 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,160 And I think people weren't as vitriol. 96 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,200 There was not as much vitriol towards Roman Reigns 97 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:06,760 as there typically was. 98 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,520 2020 happens with the pandemic. 99 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,360 You set the face goal bird backs out because of health reasons. 100 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:12,760 Braun's Roma takes a spot. 101 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,280 Then we don't see Roman come back until just around. 102 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:18,680 Was it at SummerSlam 2020? 103 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:19,680 I think so. 104 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,160 Then they had that match like a week later on payback 105 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,360 paper view, which I found very weird. 106 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,280 Defeated Bray Wyatt, late Bray Wyatt, and Braun's 107 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:30,000 Roman to win the then universal championship. 108 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,440 And then he held on to that for four plus years at that point. 109 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:38,320 And it just kind of begs the question. 110 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,200 I mean, he found the right character. 111 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,240 And that did strengthen his legacy to me. 112 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,760 I mean, there's similar parallels to Hogan in a way. 113 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,680 Hogan was responsible for the wrestling boom in '85. 114 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,320 One of the major reasons for the wrestling boom in '85, 115 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,280 rock and wrestling. 116 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:58,520 He was starting to get very stale in the early '90s. 117 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,920 And by the time he got in the WCW, I mean, it was like 118 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:01,440 pulling teeth. 119 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,560 People did not enjoy Hulk Hogan matches. 120 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:05,600 If you watch any of those old nitros on the WWE 121 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,840 fall through whatever club WWE's got going on right now, 122 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:12,880 you could see how much people were rejecting Hogan. 123 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,520 And then the Hollywood Hogan character revitalized him, 124 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:22,480 rejuvenated him, gave him more legs for his character moving forward. 125 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,880 And he kind of still had that Hollywood Hogan type character 126 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:27,920 when he was wrestling when he came back to WWE. 127 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,760 And obviously, certainly with the NWO stuff, 128 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:31,200 but even beyond that. 129 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,880 And then when he would periodically return here and there. 130 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,960 And he kind of embraced more that Hollywood Hogan-esque 131 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,880 character than the white, babyface that we were accustomed to 132 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:47,400 pre-1996 for the rest of his career. 133 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,800 So I don't think that finding the right character is a bad thing. 134 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,200 I don't think it weakens it at all. 135 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,880 And I think it did strengthen his legacy. 136 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,040 So I don't understand why overrated main event 137 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,640 during WWE history for that period of time. 138 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:02,960 I think you could certainly say that. 139 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,680 But it changes his legacy and the main aim and influence. 140 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:07,720 I'm not sure. 141 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,160 Because then we ask ourselves, how much credit should Paul 142 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,960 Hamon get versus Roman himself for making the tribal chief work? 143 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:15,480 It goes hand in hand, right? 144 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,440 I think Hamon was from what we're told him. 145 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,360 And I believe Michael Hayes were like the people that were set 146 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,200 as the creative team for Roman's work during that tribal chief 147 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:26,160 era. 148 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,360 But you still need to execute it, right? 149 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,880 I mean, that's the thing with, I'm a baseball fan. 150 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:32,320 You know, Barry Bonds took steroids. 151 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,040 Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in the season. 152 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,120 But if I took steroids today, I can't go to the major leagues 153 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,200 and hit a 104 mile per hour from Jacob Mizorowski, 154 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,000 the Milwaukee Brewers and hit 73 home runs in a season. 155 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,120 Plus, like I just don't have that talent and credit to do that. 156 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,360 Like it definitely takes something to, 157 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,080 you still have to execute what's going on. 158 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,880 And Roman wasn't just this board of wood that showed up 159 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,280 and was like, show me what to say, Paul Hamon. 160 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:02,880 It worked both ways. 161 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:04,880 I think Hamon was a great sounding board for him. 162 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,360 I think Hamon helped validate the tribal chief character. 163 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,040 But I think Roman deserves a ton of credit 164 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,000 for making the tribal chief work. 165 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,640 And people have just kind of eaten that up. 166 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,880 And when you look at other things as well, 167 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,800 like could anyone have turned that opportunity 168 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,600 into one of WWE's defining runs or did Roman still 169 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,120 have to deliver once the pieces were finally right? 170 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,560 I don't think anyone could have delivered it. 171 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,440 And yeah, sure, he had the right pieces. 172 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,840 But the reason why the Blon-Lide worked 173 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,640 is because they were legitimately their bloodline. 174 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,920 Like I don't understand why we would try to take that away 175 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,760 and say that he's overrated. 176 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,200 And then the ultimate test in his entire things 177 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,240 is if you take Paul Hamon out of the Roman Reigns career 178 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,920 in 2020, where does Roman Reigns historically today? 179 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,840 I don't think that he could launch as the tribal chief 180 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:54,320 without Paul Hamon. 181 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,160 What we're seeing right now with Roman Reigns on his own 182 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,120 without Paul Hamon is how can he run with the ball? 183 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,560 And if there's any doubters out there 184 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:05,080 about this clearly Conrad Thompson as one with them, 185 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:06,960 that he needs Paul Hamon to be successful, 186 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:08,880 how successful can he be? 187 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,400 Is he as successful as he was from 2020 to 2024? 188 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,440 Absolutely not, I don't believe so. 189 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,200 But there's something about this current error 190 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,680 of the tribal chief that is refreshing, 191 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,560 rejuvenating and fun as well. 192 00:09:21,560 --> 00:09:25,560 But what I will say is it does feel a little bit recycled, 193 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:29,000 which is something we see often professional wrestling. 194 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,440 But I think he is proving that he could still run 195 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,040 with that character and be successful. 196 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,880 He is not just kind of like out in La La Land. 197 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,960 Was there a weird transition phase with Paul turning 198 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:39,800 on Roman? 199 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:40,640 Absolutely. 200 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,800 Was there a weird transition phase where Paul wasn't around 201 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:45,600 when Roman finally came back and like confronted 202 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:46,920 Sagoa? 203 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:48,160 Absolutely. 204 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,080 But eventually Roman Reigns made it work. 205 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,760 There's been plenty of superstars, wrestlers in the history 206 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:55,640 of professional wrestling that when they first lose 207 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,920 that mouthpiece that we are associated them with, 208 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:00,200 that there's a little bit of a struggle 209 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,760 because you see them as a pairing, you see them as an act, 210 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,040 you see them as something that you find entertaining. 211 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:09,560 So it's just, it's not like, 212 00:10:09,560 --> 00:10:12,960 well, what if, you know, would have Andre the Giant been successful 213 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:14,640 as a heal without Bobby the Brain Heenan? 214 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,000 Absolutely not. 215 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,280 But was Andre the Giant successful as a heal once? 216 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:19,080 He did turn. 217 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:20,440 Absolutely. 218 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,640 You know, there's some comparables as there. 219 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,200 And you know, would, oh, you're going to have been S successful 220 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,880 as a heal without Hall and Nash. 221 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:28,240 Absolutely not. 222 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:29,880 But was he successful as a heal? 223 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:31,000 Yes. 224 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,680 So it just, you know, sometimes it takes a little bit 225 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:35,160 to make things work. 226 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:40,040 So, you know, I think to say what he accomplished 227 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,600 in the Travel Chief Era is just solely on Paul Heyman, 228 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,120 I just kind of disagree with. 229 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,160 And then just like lastly here is, 230 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,240 if Roman Reigns is overrated or are people now, 231 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,280 is Roman Reigns overrated or are people now underrated 232 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,360 Roman because they're giving Paul Heyman too much credit, 233 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,440 I don't feel Roman is overrated. 234 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,520 I don't feel he's underrated at all. 235 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,080 I think there's a case of the underrated more than overrated 236 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,560 if you're looking at both things because Paul Heyman's not involved 237 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:11,560 because we are seeing how well he is as a character. 238 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:14,400 But I don't think Roman is overrated at all. 239 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:19,280 I think his run from 2020 to 2024 is one of the most recent 240 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,280 errors of professional wrestling that rejuvenated people 241 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:23,800 that got people to watch wrestling. 242 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:25,120 Has it fallen off a little bit? 243 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:26,240 Absolutely. 244 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,680 But people were really invested in what he was doing. 245 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:30,680 And that was because he was part of it. 246 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:33,440 And he was like watching a mafia movie, 247 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:34,760 the way the bloodline was operating, 248 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,640 the way that he was, he was the godfather of WWE at that point. 249 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:40,320 And you wanted to see somebody, anybody, 250 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:41,480 finally take him down. 251 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,240 And when it finally happened, 252 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,440 it's taken about two years to rebuild everything. 253 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,040 And I think he's getting there right now. 254 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:49,040 I certainly do. 255 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,560 Certainly my complaint about Roman Reigns 256 00:11:51,560 --> 00:11:54,080 isn't if he is overrated. 257 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,560 My complaint about Roman Reigns is when he is at the top, 258 00:11:56,560 --> 00:11:57,920 when he is the champion. 259 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,560 It does kind of keep things at a level that, 260 00:12:00,560 --> 00:12:04,520 I don't find it entertaining previously. 261 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,160 I guess I should say, because I would love to see 262 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:08,280 oboe family break out. 263 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,600 I would love to see Bronbbreaker break out. 264 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,960 And we can't get that right now in the month of August 265 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,920 because it just feels like Roman's gonna be holding on 266 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:16,600 that title until WrestleMania. 267 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,200 And the payoff may be amazing and it may be great, 268 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:20,760 but in the time frame right now, 269 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:25,120 I mean, there's just, it just kind of hold water at that point. 270 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,400 All right, if they're aiming for LA Knight versus Roman Reigns, 271 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,840 which reportedly may be happening Louisiana, 272 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,560 I believe it is, New Orleans. 273 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:33,880 For money in the bank in October, 274 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,000 I don't sit here today on October 13th. 275 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,160 I think that LA Knight could pull one out. 276 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,520 So yeah, that would probably be my biggest complaint. 277 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:43,600 It's just kind of Roman, his creative, 278 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:44,840 keeping people down. 279 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:49,680 But being overrated as a professional wrestler presently, 280 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:52,120 no, I don't think he's overrated. 281 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,160 Was that period of time 2014, 282 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:55,880 it's 2000, early 2020, 283 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,480 one of the most overrated main eventers in WWE history? 284 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,720 Absolutely, but he saved face, he saved his legacy. 285 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:03,680 And I think he has proven himself as the travel chief 286 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:06,360 to prove that he is not actually overrated. 287 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:07,560 He's a good in-ring worker. 288 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:10,720 I know Conrad went into about his in-ring work. 289 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:12,560 I've never watched Roman Reigns match 290 00:13:12,560 --> 00:13:14,400 and felt like this is boring as hell. 291 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,960 I don't think it's five moves of doom, anything like that. 292 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,800 So I was surprised though, 293 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,760 but everybody's entitled to their opinion. 294 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:23,760 And that is one that we certainly want to hear from all of you. 295 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,120 If you want to comment below, hereover at patreon.com/srtupodcast. 296 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:29,480 We would love to hear your thoughts. 297 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,880 Or even at facebook.com/thestorealtheschel. 298 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,200 If you feel Roman Reigns is overrated or not. 299 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,120 Switching gears to Friday nights back down this pack 300 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,240 past week, we had CM Punk and Kevin Owens 301 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,600 in the ring for a felt face to face. 302 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:44,680 And I felt uncomfortably real, 303 00:13:44,680 --> 00:13:46,920 because I think a lot of it was. 304 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,240 That punk Owens face to face was easily one of my favorite 305 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:51,560 things WWE did this week, 306 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:53,960 because it stopped feeling like two wrestlers performing 307 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:55,440 a wrestling promo. 308 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,600 It felt like Phil Brooks and Kevinstein 309 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,640 finally getting to say things they probably wanted 310 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:01,040 to say for years. 311 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,600 WWE leaned directly into their history, Owens called 312 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,560 Punk and Eric and sociopath. 313 00:14:05,560 --> 00:14:08,080 Punk argued that he helped pave the road that allowed wrestlers 314 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:09,440 like Owens to reach WWE, 315 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,680 and Owens ultimately portrayed Punk as someone 316 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:14,000 whose ego had made him miserable. 317 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,600 There is some real life facts right to this. 318 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,560 Punk and Owens history goes back to Kevin scenes 319 00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:19,480 earliest ROH appearances. 320 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,680 There's a famous 2005 incident involving Punk 321 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,280 criticizing Steam for wanting to wrestle on a t-shirt 322 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,640 and later dressing him down backstage. 323 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,680 Owens has referenced that story periodically over the years. 324 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,720 There are enough genuine historical ingredients here 325 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,080 that WWE doesn't have to manufacture animosity. 326 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,280 There's also the story that's been floating out there. 327 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:38,560 Previously, I think it was on Reddit, 328 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,280 but like Meltzer talked about on the wrestling 329 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,720 observer newsletter over the weekend. 330 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,440 That when Punk and Kabbana, 331 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,360 Cole Kabbana were going through their stuff with WWE 332 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:47,720 and they were being sued. 333 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,560 Punk basically had an edict not to talk to anybody from WWE. 334 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:52,000 He cut them off all cold. 335 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,040 He talked about it, right? 336 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:54,920 Cut off Jericho, cut off Kofi Kingston, 337 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,480 and he was friends he did not speak to. 338 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,720 Well, NXT was in town, 339 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,880 and this is when Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens were on NXT. 340 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,320 They were doing a loop through Chicago 341 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:05,240 and they hit up Cole Kabbana 342 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:06,240 who they're very good friends with 343 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,160 and said, "Hey, you wanna grab some pizza?" 344 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:09,800 According reports, Punk found out about it, 345 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,840 and that is what set off Cole Kabbana 346 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,960 being acts from the friendship of one CM Punk, 347 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,200 which then you can make a case catapulted 348 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:19,400 a lot of things in AW. 349 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,920 That pizza dinner changed the course of wrestling history 350 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:24,760 for a lot of people. 351 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,200 Would CM Punk be back in WWE right now? 352 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,240 Had that pizza dinner ever taken place, 353 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,960 taking place in what, 2014, 15? 354 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,160 It's amazing, I never heard that story before 355 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:36,400 and then I did a little more digging out. 356 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:37,240 I was like, "Oh, this has been something 357 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,040 that's been going around for some time." 358 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,640 So we can't know how much genuine personal animosity 359 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:43,640 exists between them today, 360 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:45,440 but the history of their mining is real, 361 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,520 and that's exactly why that segment worked. 362 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:49,760 The big question coming out of this 363 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,960 was this a work shoot promo, 364 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,880 or were we watching two guys finally get permission 365 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,360 to settle a 20 year argument on WWE television? 366 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,560 I hate to ride the fence here. 367 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:00,720 I think it's a little bit of both. 368 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,960 I think it's 75% work shoot promo. 369 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,040 I think it's 25% getting the ability to get some things 370 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,120 off their chest that they've been meaning to. 371 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,400 It was great, it was a great segment. 372 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,120 And if you go back and you watch it 373 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:14,880 and I was really in for all of it 374 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,320 because punk and Kevin Owens are some of my favorite wrestlers 375 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,840 of all time, love those guys. 376 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,120 I mean, as long as I'd be doing this podcast, 377 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,720 those two guys have really defined this generation 378 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:26,880 that we've covered in professional wrestling. 379 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,440 As I'm watching it, I could tell two things. 380 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:34,360 One, if Kevin Owens, if he is, 381 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:36,240 if he has a great wrestling bitch face, 382 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,720 he should go into acting, right? 383 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:42,200 'Cause it did not look like he was having any fun 384 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:43,640 with the promo. 385 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,640 Punk on the other hand, I think he loved 386 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:50,600 that Kevin Owens went where he went with the promo 387 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,200 and reacted as such because it made things fun 388 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,320 and it made things interesting. 389 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:57,800 If there's anything that we've learned 390 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,360 from the CM Punk return to WWE in the last, 391 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:05,480 was it three years now that when there's real life animosity 392 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:09,840 surrounding CM Punk, we as fans benefit from it. 393 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,360 The Drew McIntyre feud is one of the best feuds 394 00:17:12,360 --> 00:17:13,680 we've covered in the last five years. 395 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,200 This stuff with Seth Rollins would have been amazing. 396 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,160 Had this moment, the injury's kind of derailed everything. 397 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,720 But those things is what made it important 398 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,800 and they're going to that well again. 399 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,120 I was quasi bashing them going back to the well 400 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:28,320 with the bloodline, but here they are going back to the well 401 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,200 again with CM Punk animosities, issues we have 402 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,000 with certain wrestlers and I'm eating it right up 403 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,880 because the realness of it makes it all worthwhile. 404 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,640 I mean, this is a dream match scenario in general. 405 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,000 Let these guys pan out a little bit more. 406 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,640 Let them play a little bit now. 407 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,040 Let this feud go on. 408 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:47,520 I think that's something that I hopefully 409 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,080 that they've learned from this because I think Owen said, 410 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:51,200 I want a challenge for the title. 411 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,480 I think on from Friday in two weeks in Toronto, 412 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,240 which makes it so a week from this Friday 413 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,280 we get Punk versus Owens. 414 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,200 For the title, like, man, push this out a little bit now. 415 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:02,160 We've got something here. 416 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:03,000 This is fun. 417 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:04,720 This is entertaining. 418 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,400 So I think it was a work shoot promo. 419 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,800 I think that both guys put a lot of asses and seats 420 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,200 and I think they sold some tickets 421 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,600 and I cannot wait for CM Punk versus Kevin Owens 422 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,320 two of the best Mike workers, two of the best in-ring workers. 423 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,120 We've covered here in the history of the show. 424 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:22,000 It is a dream match scenario and they really catapulted it off 425 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,200 perfectly this past Friday on SmackDown. 426 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:31,280 Talking about setting up some for some future matches 427 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:32,680 here in World Wrestling Entertainment. 428 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,600 Another one that I'm looking forward to going to Monday Night Raw 429 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,080 is Oba Femi versus Braun Breaker 430 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:43,200 because I feel like we may be watching WWE's next John Cena/Betista 431 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:43,960 generation. 432 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:45,480 I feel like it's that Cena Batista 433 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,680 and I throw in Randy Orin generation in there. 434 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,880 After Oba Femi and Braun Breaker came face to face again 435 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,840 on Monday, I am increasingly convinced WWE is showing us 436 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:55,440 its two potential franchise players 437 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,840 for the post-Roman Punk Cody generation. 438 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,560 You can throw Seth in there as well. 439 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:01,400 WWE deliberately separated the two 440 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,960 during Monday's confrontation rather than giving them way, 441 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:05,920 the fight immediately. 442 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:09,560 But all things considered, I almost don't want Oba versus Braun yet 443 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,080 because I want us to go back to 2005. 444 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,080 Batista became the guy on Raw. 445 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,240 John Cena became the guy on SmackDown 446 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,040 coming out of WrestleMania 21, 447 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,000 Cena defeats JBL, Batista Feats Triple H. 448 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,040 Those were the guys. 449 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,400 They came down to the final two Royal Rump 2005, 450 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,640 as we know, Vince tears his quad, 451 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,840 they had the perfect botch of all time when they both won, 452 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,120 and then ultimately Batista won that match. 453 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:34,600 WWE allowed both men to develop independently, 454 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:39,520 rather than immediately defining one against the other. 455 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,360 And think about it. 456 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:42,600 So if WrestleMania 21 was the long point, 457 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,280 where they had their first WrestleMania match 458 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,680 was WrestleMania 26, five years later. 459 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,200 Prior to that, I think they had one match at Summerslam, 460 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,200 which may have been maybe a year, 461 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:52,920 year and a half beforehand, 462 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:54,720 but they really kept them separated apart 463 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,800 as the guys that were the faces of each brand. 464 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,960 And that's what I would have loved for Braun and Oba. 465 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,640 Put one on wall, Raw, put one on SmackDown, 466 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:05,640 give both world championships, 467 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:07,880 let them build their separate legacies. 468 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:09,520 And then several years from now, 469 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,360 when they finally collide, it feels enormous. 470 00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:15,520 But given the situation that I just talked about 471 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,760 with someone like Roman Reigns at the top of the championship, 472 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:21,680 and I also see him punk, that just cannot happen, which stinks. 473 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,440 WWE is not a transition era like they were, 474 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:25,680 or even that transition era that were, 475 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,400 they were desperately seeking for in 2004, 476 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,040 where they needed to pass the torch. 477 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:31,920 They needed to find the next top star 478 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,320 after several years away from the Stone Cold Steve Austin 479 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:35,240 and Rock Air. 480 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:36,840 They needed to find someone, 481 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,080 and they chose John Cena and Batista. 482 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:40,360 They don't have that problem right now. 483 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:41,280 We're in the midst. 484 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:42,240 This isn't the tail end. 485 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,600 We're not searching for a new face of the company. 486 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:46,960 We have Roman Reigns, we have Cody Rhodes, 487 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,200 we have Seth Rollins, we have CM Punk, we have Kim and Owens, 488 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,120 we have Drew McAttire, we have plenty on the men's side. 489 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:55,400 So it's not the same thing in a way, 490 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,400 but I wish it was, because I think it could be something special, 491 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,320 in just a few years, basically. 492 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,520 So then that poses the WrestleMania 43 question that I have. 493 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,880 Is Oba Femme poised to become the defining star 494 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,400 of WWE's next era at WrestleMania 43? 495 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,240 Or should that position ultimately belong to Braun Breaker? 496 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,000 And maybe the better answer is, 497 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,120 why does WWE have to choose? 498 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:19,960 Right? 499 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:21,280 You have two brands. 500 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:22,600 You have four brands overall. 501 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,200 You got raw, you got SmackDown, you got NXT, 502 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,160 you've got Triple A, right? 503 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,160 Why do we need to choose? 504 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,600 Between these guys, why can I not be the co-faces 505 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,880 like Patisse and John Cena or? 506 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,200 And when we get to WrestleMania 43, 507 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,640 I truly believe that maybe these next several months 508 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:43,200 are going to be Oba Femme versus Braun Breaker. 509 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,440 Money in the bank maybe is that match in October. 510 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:47,800 And then from that point forward, 511 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:49,560 how long does that feud go on for? 512 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:51,480 Because when we get to Royal Rumble season, 513 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,400 I truly believe Oba wins that rumble. 514 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,400 Oba chooses Roman Reigns, we get Oba versus Roman at WrestleMania. 515 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,880 There's a reason why we are not getting 516 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,680 Oba versus Roman at Summer Slam after Oba won the King of the Ring 517 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:06,320 where he had that right to face a World Champion. 518 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,920 It's because they want to hold it off for something bigger. 519 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:11,440 Let's do it in Saudi Arabia. 520 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,200 Let's do Oba versus Roman, let's pass that torch. 521 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,840 And that may be the year of the Tribal Chief Era. 522 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,640 And we could sit here and say maybe in essence, 523 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:23,040 I'm asking for WrestleMania 21 launch now. 524 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,600 But maybe WrestleMania 43 is that launch. 525 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,080 Because who's to say, right? 526 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:28,520 It felt like an earlier this year, 527 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:31,000 Braun Breaker could have gone to WrestleMania 528 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:33,160 and challenged the Ampunk for the World of the Way Championship. 529 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,680 And one, I've not watched this season unreal, 530 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,400 but from what I gather, there was some discussion about that 531 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,160 that Braun Breaker could either enter 532 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,960 WrestleMania's World Champion or become a World Champion 533 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:43,800 at WrestleMania. 534 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,920 They wanted him in that spot and they didn't do it. 535 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,600 So maybe we are on the verge of that. 536 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,080 Maybe we get that teaser match at Money in the Bank. 537 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,920 Or maybe both of them are just in the Money in the Bank match, 538 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:55,520 which I would be all in favor for. 539 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:57,120 Keep the one-on-one match off to the side. 540 00:22:57,120 --> 00:22:59,280 Let's save this for something when it counts 541 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,760 and let it grow organically and let the build be fun. 542 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,400 So I just want to see it to be the next petite John Cena 543 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,560 because I think we could really, really benefit it 544 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:09,960 as professional wrestling fans. 545 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:11,240 And the more I think about it, 546 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,840 maybe WrestleMania 43 is this generation's 547 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:15,960 WrestleMania 21 launch. 548 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaking of young stars, 549 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:20,840 young and up in coming stars, 550 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,400 there is a young gentleman out there named Avery Styles, 551 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,200 son of Hall of Famer AJ Styles, 552 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:28,440 who I believe just wrestled his second match. 553 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,800 And I believe he did so at Game Changer Wrestling, 554 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:33,360 GCW, if it wasn't his second, 555 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:35,400 it's like third or fourth professional match. 556 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,240 And there's a big discussion right now about pain or dues, 557 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,440 or if it's an outdated wrestling gap keeping. 558 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,800 And I really wish Dr. Trey was here with his experiences 559 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:44,800 on the Southern Independent Wrestling scene 560 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:47,840 and get his two cents on where this stands. 561 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:49,600 Because this story has become way bigger 562 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,880 than somebody helping put away chairs. 563 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:53,640 Veteran Independent wrestler Eric Cannon, 564 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,400 who actually just got shouted out by CM Punk recently, 565 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,720 during one of the post shows from Summerslam. 566 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,920 Publicly criticized AJ Styles 19 year olds on Avery 567 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,120 after a GCW appearance, alleging Avery, 568 00:24:05,120 --> 00:24:06,880 avoided helping with tear down, 569 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,520 and AJ Styles fired back on X on Twitter. 570 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:11,240 That's where we have our normal discourses 571 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:12,680 human beings nowadays. 572 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,680 That his son was booked and paid to wrestle, 573 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,080 not dismantle the ring and argued that a veteran should 574 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:18,440 have approached him privately instead 575 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:20,600 of embarrassing a teenager publicly. 576 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,960 Cannon later claimed Avery had specifically been asked 577 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:24,680 twice to help with chairs. 578 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:26,240 GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale, 579 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,480 subsequently defended Avery, saying he's still a teenage 580 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,840 rookie who will make mistakes in arguing that Avery 581 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,760 earned his bucking because of his natural ability, 582 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,840 not nearly because he's AJ Styles son. 583 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:38,120 So the big question coming out of this, 584 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:40,880 should Avery Styles have to quote pay his dues, 585 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:42,920 exactly like an unknown rookie, 586 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:46,320 or has professional wrestling outgrown that mentality? 587 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:48,000 So I'm gonna come into this twofold. 588 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,560 One, let's start from the way that it was taken place. 589 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:51,960 Erickan and getting on X, 590 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,160 getting on Twitter and blasting Avery Styles. 591 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,080 This guy is still 19 years old, 592 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:59,280 and the last thing he needs is the internet to come at him. 593 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:01,360 He's already going to have that problem 594 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:04,120 in professional wrestling and being a figure 595 00:25:04,120 --> 00:25:06,000 with the way that people are online. 596 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,040 Like he did not need this added story, 597 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,360 pressure to now follow him around. 598 00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:14,600 There's certainly an obviously a big opportunity here 599 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:15,800 to make some money off of this. 600 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:17,960 I would not be surprised if Avery Styles 601 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:19,960 makes some money off of this and makes a joke of it. 602 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,200 The next several independent wrestling shows 603 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,160 where he folds a chair and puts it away, 604 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,360 or even if it leads to a match with Eric Cannon 605 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:27,640 at a GCW show. 606 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,280 This is professional wrestling controversy creates cash, 607 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,960 and this is controversy that can make some money 608 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,120 very early in the career of Avery Styles. 609 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:36,920 And who knows, we may be all getting worked 610 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:40,520 because here we are talking about a young rookie 611 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,720 on a wrestling podcast because it's newsworthy. 612 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:45,320 Newsworthy is, yeah, he made his debut. 613 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:46,160 He looked pretty good. 614 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:47,360 Everybody has had some rave reviews, 615 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,520 but this is newsworthy. 616 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:50,960 That's the first part. 617 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,280 The second part, I just turned 40 years old, 618 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:58,120 and I come from the mindset that when I was growing up, 619 00:25:58,120 --> 00:25:59,880 you had to pay your dues. 620 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:04,160 Whether it be on a sports team or in a company 621 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:07,280 or in the military, whatever you came from, 622 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,720 you needed to pay your dues and show that you belong 623 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,400 and that you were just as equal as everyone else. 624 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:18,040 And I feel like nowadays that mentality has been lost. 625 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,120 I deal with a lot of younger folks. 626 00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:23,120 And what you're teaching them nowadays is, 627 00:26:23,120 --> 00:26:24,920 like when they're in that high school, 628 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,400 and that college air is still a young college, 629 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:29,280 and they're getting closer and closer to the workforce 630 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,240 that they've been extremely coddled. 631 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:32,960 Sorry, if you're in that age group, 632 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,440 you've been extremely coddled. 633 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:37,640 They cannot take being yelled at. 634 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,280 They cannot take being reprimanded. 635 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,520 If you give them constructive criticism, 636 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,720 and the only reason why somebody gives someone, 637 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:44,880 at least in my perspective, 638 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,160 constructive criticism is to help make them better. 639 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:50,160 I'm not in the business of tearing anyone down. 640 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,840 I'm not in the business of making someone look bad 641 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:54,680 or think that they're stupid or make them feel stupid. 642 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:58,200 However, if you show me in what I do 643 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,960 that you give a damn, I want to help you out. 644 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:02,960 If you have that thing where you give a damn, 645 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:04,080 I will help you out. 646 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,400 The only thing is, is that if I tell you something 647 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,320 and you don't listen or you give me attitude, 648 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:12,160 there will be receipts and repercussions 649 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,280 for that type of behavior 650 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,080 because that is how I learned, 651 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,120 and that's what made me a stronger 652 00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:19,120 and tougher, thick-skinned individual. 653 00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:23,160 I had to pay my dues in professional broadcasting. 654 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,680 Back in 2009, I went on a whim 655 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,640 and started getting into broadcasting with Mike Bauer. 656 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,720 And we started hosting this radio show called The Wheelhouse. 657 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,840 And I would go on to a train into New York City, 658 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:38,040 do a two-hour round trip to go downtown, 659 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,400 get into the office about 6.30, 660 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,680 go live on blog talk radio at seven o'clock 661 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,000 and by eight o'clock the show was over. 662 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:46,600 I'd stay for a couple of minutes, 663 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:49,360 pack up, leave, get on the train and do it all over again, 664 00:27:49,360 --> 00:27:50,960 and I was getting home at 11 o'clock. 665 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:52,240 Then I was going to bed. 666 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:54,120 It's going to bed shortly thereafter. 667 00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:56,160 I was getting up at 6 a.m. for my job. 668 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:58,320 I'd get off my job, get on a train at five o'clock, 669 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:00,960 get in there by 6.30 and do it all over again. 670 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:01,800 And why did I do that? 671 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,440 Because I believed in the mission of what was going on. 672 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,360 I was cutting my teeth, I was paying my dues, 673 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:09,160 I was doing something that would have cost thousands 674 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:10,000 of dollars to do. 675 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,280 You could go to a broadcasting school, 676 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:12,720 you could go to college and do it, 677 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:14,960 but I wanted to get some real world experiences 678 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:16,680 to what was going on. 679 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:17,880 And that was in 2009. 680 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:22,880 In 2012, I got hired in a radio station. 681 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,600 Over at 97.9 ESPN Hartford Connecticut 682 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:26,800 Bauer had a show. 683 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:28,400 He thankfully brought me on. 684 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:29,760 I earned my way onto that. 685 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:31,600 I wasn't getting paid for the first seven months. 686 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:33,560 And then even when I did, 687 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,720 finally start getting paid in the year and a half, two years, 688 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:37,560 I was getting paid. 689 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:39,000 I was getting paid part-time salary. 690 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,760 We had to carry over my hours. 691 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:41,920 So I went away on vacation. 692 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:43,160 I was getting PTO. 693 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,400 That way that I heart radio, 694 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,480 whenever the company is nowadays, 695 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:48,840 they didn't hire somebody full-time 696 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:49,880 or they needed health insurance. 697 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:50,880 And why did I do that? 698 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,000 Because I was earning my keeping cutting my teeth. 699 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:54,600 And what did that lead to for me? 700 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:55,880 When the show ended in March, 701 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,280 I let Bauer go. 702 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,720 Shortly thereafter, I got hired at ESPN Radio 703 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:00,840 in Bristol, Connecticut. 704 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:02,040 And I was there for four months. 705 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,440 When I shortly thereafter found out 706 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:05,880 and thought I had a great opportunity, 707 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,320 a full-time opportunity closer to home 708 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:10,720 that I could make in completely a different structure 709 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:12,560 outside of the broadcasting field. 710 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:15,240 And what I learned in that period of time 711 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,200 is if you continue to work hard, 712 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:18,600 I got to my dream job, 713 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:19,840 or if the ESPN Radio, 714 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:22,800 whether it be for four weeks or four months, four years, 715 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:24,760 I was able to say that I did that. 716 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,320 And it all started in 2009 by cutting my teeth 717 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:28,160 and earning my keep. 718 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:29,360 And I think that is something 719 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,520 that a lot of people don't do nowadays. 720 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:32,560 And it's unfortunate. 721 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:33,840 And I think it has made for weaker, 722 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,120 mind-ery, younger folks to be in the workforce. 723 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,680 And I'm concerned about how long the last. 724 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:41,840 So it's twofold. 725 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,520 If Avery was legitimately asked to help out with chairs, 726 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:45,480 he should have done it. 727 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,480 He should have shown I'm not a J's kid. 728 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,280 There is more to me than this. 729 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,080 I am as equal as you are, 730 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:52,200 and I will earn my keep. 731 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:53,040 I will cut my teeth. 732 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:54,640 Will he get opportunities that no one else 733 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:55,680 absolutely get? 734 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:56,800 100%. 735 00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:58,960 There was a photo of him backstage at the WWE PC 736 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,640 for the NXT taping this week, I believe, with Birthright. 737 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:02,800 Talking about the folding chairs 738 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,800 and a bunch of second-generation stars that were with him. 739 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:07,680 He's going to get those opportunities. 740 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,200 But in the meantime, when you're on the road, 741 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,280 or you keep showing them, pay your dues. 742 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:13,920 This is what you're gonna do. 743 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:15,880 Would not surprise me if Avery Styles 744 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:17,720 is under a WWE contract in the next year, 745 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:20,160 and he never has this experience whatsoever. 746 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:23,040 But while you're there, 747 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,160 or you keep, pay your dues. 748 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:28,120 With that said, again, I preface this all by saying, 749 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,040 you don't blast someone online publicly. 750 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:32,400 I hate that when people do that. 751 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,160 I always do it privately if I've ever had those conversations 752 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:36,840 because I think it means something more. 753 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:38,200 You're doing it privately where you like, 754 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:39,880 hey, this is what you're doing wrong. 755 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:41,200 You should try this. 756 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:43,120 And you're showing them that you give a shit. 757 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,680 In this situation, I think Eric Cannon 758 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:47,120 was in the complete wrong, 759 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:50,160 and could have done it and handled it a completely different way. 760 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:51,760 As could Avery Styles. 761 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:53,600 It's a very odd thing that's taking place 762 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:54,600 in the world of professional wrestling 763 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:56,040 that we're here we are talking about it. 764 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:57,520 Just folding chairs. 765 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,120 But paying your dues is important, 766 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:01,840 but also giving off that message 767 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:03,600 is just as equally important 768 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,760 because you don't want to lose the message in S to I, 769 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:07,560 pull them aside, pull the kid, listen. 770 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:08,480 You got to target on your back. 771 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:10,200 You're AJ Styles kid, right? 772 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:11,520 You're going to be very, very successful. 773 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:13,400 You're probably going to make more money than me, 774 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:14,640 so be it. 775 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:16,040 But while you're here, 776 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,080 show everybody back there like who you are. 777 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:20,600 You know, you're at the bottom, 778 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:21,840 work your way up to the top 779 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:24,400 because as you go back down the ladder, 780 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:26,120 you're going to see those same faces. 781 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:27,480 So I think there's anything wrong with that. 782 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:30,480 Again, it's just the delivery that I had the issue with. 783 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:31,680 And then lastly here, 784 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,800 we're talking a little bit about AW. 785 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:38,120 We've got AW has all in coming up here in London. 786 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:41,040 I think it was 18 days they said on Dynamite. 787 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:45,800 So it's now 17 and we are as record on Thursday night. 788 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,920 And I wonder if AW is making Omega versus Osprey 789 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,960 bigger or over complicating it 790 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,680 because with only 17 days remaining for all in London, 791 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,400 AW put multiple pieces of its world championship picture 792 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:58,560 into motion on Wednesday night. 793 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:00,680 We'll Osprey called out Kenny O'Mega, 794 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:03,440 the Don Cal's family attacked Omega made a save, 795 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:05,680 but then essentially told Osprey that that was the last time 796 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:07,440 he was helping him. 797 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:09,600 Meanwhile, MJF won the number two position 798 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,520 at the casino gaula while continuing to proclaim himself 799 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:15,280 as quote the one true champion. 800 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:19,400 Omega versus Osprey should theoretically sell itself. 801 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,720 Does AEW actually need MJF and Don Cal's orbiting the story? 802 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:23,880 Absolutely not. 803 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:25,960 Let them sell the story itself. 804 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:27,600 You're over complicating it. 805 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:29,800 MJF having the number two casino gaula position 806 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,400 gives him enormous potential role at all in. 807 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,800 Does that intrigue enhance Omega Osprey or distract from it? 808 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:39,560 I don't think it does either, honestly. 809 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,440 I think even mentioning MJF and the spread makes me think, 810 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:44,600 so if he wins the casino gaula, 811 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,280 could we not close with Will Osprey getting that moment 812 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:49,520 at all in in London where he's the world champion? 813 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,240 Because that's how I feel like it's going in. 814 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,680 And MJF decides to come out and cash it. 815 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:55,560 I think that's starting to, this is some foreshadowing 816 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:58,840 that could be a very, very real possibility. 817 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,920 AEW has rarely had trouble delivering the match itself. 818 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:04,040 The bigger question has been whether the television 819 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:08,160 makes you need to see the match before bell time. 820 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:09,680 And I think that's a really good question. 821 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,840 Does the television make you need to see it? 822 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:15,760 On paper, Osprey versus Omega is a dream match, right? 823 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:17,160 But we've seen it before. 824 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:21,080 My issue, by the way, I did not think that I might 825 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:22,920 this past Wednesday was a solid episode. 826 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:26,520 I thought it really, really lacked build towards all in. 827 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:29,240 And I think it's too centered and too focused right now 828 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,200 on the continental challenge cup. 829 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:33,440 I guess they can't call it the continental cup anymore 830 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:34,880 because of maybe some trademark 831 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:36,640 to copyright infringements. 832 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,160 Like you need to build all in more. 833 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,960 And they had three matches on this past Saturday's collision. 834 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:43,960 They had three matches on Dynamite 835 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,040 and it's just completely overshadowing everything else. 836 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:48,440 Good opening segment with Osprey, 837 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:49,880 good opening segment with Omega, 838 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:51,680 but I would like to see more. 839 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:56,480 So I do think that they need to make the television deliver 840 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:58,200 making me want this, right? 841 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,120 I mean, that's the issue with AW. 842 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:01,880 If you want to really like zone in and go, 843 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,040 why is AW not a successful WWE? 844 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,160 It has always been their entertainment in the creative. 845 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:07,520 The match stuff is there. 846 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:10,320 There is no question, Omega and Osprey 847 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,760 are gonna deliver a great match at all in London. 848 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,400 But give me the build that makes me give a shit. 849 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:18,160 You can't always just go off on the history. 850 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:19,240 You can't just go off and say, 851 00:34:19,240 --> 00:34:20,680 these are two great superstars. 852 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:22,040 These are great technicians. 853 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:23,800 You gotta have the entertainment. 854 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:25,360 And that's something that I think really AW 855 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,400 really needs to sort of hone in on. 856 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,360 And it makes me wonder if the entertainment aspect 857 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,640 of this entire thing is that MJF hovering around 858 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:34,560 the Omega Osprey situation. 859 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:35,960 And if it is, that's not great. 860 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:39,800 Make Omega Osprey entertaining just outside of like, 861 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,640 yeah, I expect these guys to deliver a five star match. 862 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,040 So here's the prediction question then. 863 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,440 Who should leave all in as AW world champion? 864 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,680 Omega Osprey or somebody else? 865 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:51,440 For me, it's Osprey. 866 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:52,720 Give him that moment. 867 00:34:52,720 --> 00:34:54,600 Give him that moment in his hometown 868 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:56,760 in his home country in front of his people 869 00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:58,640 where he is celebrating fireworks to Laura 870 00:34:58,640 --> 00:34:59,960 and we go off the air. 871 00:34:59,960 --> 00:35:03,040 I don't need to see MJF become a four time AW world champion. 872 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:05,000 Will that add to some heat for MJF? 873 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:05,840 Absolutely. 874 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:06,920 Does MJF need that heat? 875 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:07,800 No. 876 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:09,920 Is that gonna add some intrigue for Will Osprey 877 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:10,760 because he couldn't, you know, 878 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:12,880 he wins a big one and then drops it immediately? 879 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:14,720 Absolutely, interesting storyline. 880 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:16,040 But does MJF the right guy for that? 881 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:17,560 Absolutely not. 882 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:20,160 Like we don't need that at all. 883 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:22,400 So it makes me wonder man, the more I think about it, 884 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:24,760 like are they with this one true champion? 885 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,520 Oh, do you see a storyline with MJF 886 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:28,360 bringing out the title? 887 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,000 I know people are saying that this is basically 888 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,000 what they wanted to do with CM Punk. 889 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:34,920 When he was saying that he was the real world champion, 890 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:35,800 they're doing it again. 891 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:37,920 They're rehashing out now with MJF. 892 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:40,600 I just don't think they need to do it right now. 893 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:41,600 He could call himself that. 894 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:44,040 Don't hold the championship when they can see him gauntlet 895 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:47,040 and then go face each other at all out in Chicago 896 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:49,200 in September. 897 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,160 Like just give me the Osprey Omega moment. 898 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:52,960 I don't need that stuff kind of hovering around 899 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:55,600 and it'll be interesting on all in day. 900 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:56,960 Like as we watch it, if MJF wins, 901 00:35:56,960 --> 00:35:57,960 I can see no gauntlet match. 902 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:00,880 I'm like, oh boy, there's a possibility he may execute this 903 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:03,280 to close out the show and that's how we close out. 904 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:05,720 And there could be a near ride in London that night 905 00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:07,280 if it's Will Osprey winning the championship 906 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,080 and then immediately drops it to MJF. 907 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:11,720 Last thing I want to talk about here 908 00:36:11,720 --> 00:36:12,960 in regards to this topic here, 909 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:15,200 last question for this week's edition of the show 910 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:17,640 is does AEW finally have genuine intrigues 911 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:18,920 surrounding its world championship 912 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:21,320 again heading into all in? 913 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:22,560 They absolutely do. 914 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:25,120 I mean, Omega and Osprey are some of the best. 915 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:28,000 But to that point, I don't wanna see MJF again 916 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,560 involved here with the world championship at all in, 917 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,920 but I will argue that the most entertaining 918 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,200 the world championship has been since MJF won the championship 919 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,960 from December, dropped the title to Darby Allen in April, 920 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:41,440 won it back and then dropped it again to Kenny Omega. 921 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:42,840 I think that was one of the better runs 922 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:44,520 with the AEW world championship I've seen 923 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:47,880 from any superstar, any wrestler on the AEW roster 924 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:50,400 on the men's side since its inception. 925 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:52,160 I thought it was a really, really good run 926 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,520 with the championship that he had. 927 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:58,120 But overall, I mean, look at the names 928 00:36:58,120 --> 00:36:59,320 that are involved with it right now. 929 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:00,160 That's been the issue. 930 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,040 When AEW was in its down year, 931 00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:03,760 look back at that roster and see how many people 932 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:06,880 were on the injured list, Omega Osprey. 933 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:09,280 They lost a lot of guys, Adam Copeland, 934 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:11,360 people that we care about were hurt. 935 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:16,280 MJF was not on television and it was a little bit boring 936 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:17,200 at that period of time. 937 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:19,800 And once all those guys came back and they were healthy, 938 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:23,120 here we are again with a really, really strong AEW. 939 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:27,280 Right now, it's just basically Omega Osprey 940 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:28,680 and MJF hovering around it. 941 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:31,280 I'd love to see some more people just kind of 942 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:34,440 be on the periphery, is on Draw Day on the periphery. 943 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:35,840 It's worth struggling on the periphery. 944 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:37,640 We know Hangman Page cannot be. 945 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:39,560 Who else could be lingering around out there? 946 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:41,400 Because how they come out of all in London 947 00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:43,680 is gonna be very, very, very intriguing. 948 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:45,960 I truly believe we get Osprey versus MJF 949 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:47,680 because if on Draw Day wins though, 950 00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:49,040 I can see him on Gotland Match. 951 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:51,720 Like is that a match at all out that sells 952 00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:55,600 as tickets as much as MJF versus Will Osprey? 953 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:58,080 Probably not as much as I like on Draw Day right now. 954 00:37:58,080 --> 00:37:59,560 So I think that's the direction they go. 955 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:01,640 Keep going that well, keep going to that heel, MJF 956 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:04,360 because he defeats his mentor. 957 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,280 Will Osprey in Kenny Omega, 958 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:11,800 but then he gets that heel, then he needs an MJF. 959 00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:12,840 And then the entire thing of like, 960 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:14,160 where's the death writers play a role 961 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:15,520 into this entire situation? 962 00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:18,440 Because there were nowhere near the Will Osprey 963 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,480 infrastructure in Bubble this past Wednesday 964 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:23,360 on Dynamite, which just makes the whole death writers 965 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:25,080 Will Osprey thing weird. 966 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:26,680 I can't wait to see like a month from now 967 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:29,280 when we look back at everything to place it all in 968 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:31,400 and the stuff with Will Osprey and the death writers 969 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:33,320 if it actually ended up making sense 970 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,640 because if it didn't end up making sense 971 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:37,320 and we just basically got a month of him 972 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:39,160 and the death writers, there was a pretty good build 973 00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:40,840 to him joining for all of a sudden 974 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:42,000 and just to go away. 975 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,640 I think it's gonna be a little bit confusing 976 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,520 and go, okay, well, what the hell was the point of that? 977 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:49,360 Which we said from here from time to time 978 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:53,160 when it comes to the creative and all elite wrestling. 979 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:57,880 With that said, that will do it for this week's edition 980 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:01,400 of the Sto Realta Show, a solo edition of the Sto Realta Show. 981 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:04,720 Hopefully I entertained you guys for the last 35 to 40 minutes 982 00:39:04,720 --> 00:39:07,200 talking professional wrestling here by myself. 983 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:10,320 Hopefully everything's okay with Dr. Trace Family again. 984 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:12,280 He will be hopefully back here next week 985 00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:13,800 and we'll be talking about professional wrestling 986 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:17,480 as we get closer and closer to AW all in London. 987 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:19,960 We're a close up shop on this week's edition of the show. 988 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:22,120 Let's get a couple plugs and sponsors out of the way 989 00:39:22,120 --> 00:39:25,640 you can download the show at patreon.com/srtupodcast 990 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:27,760 and the Sto Realta Show feed on Apple Spotify 991 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:29,320 or wherever you download this podcast. 992 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:31,240 Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe. 993 00:39:31,240 --> 00:39:34,280 You can follow us individually on X for myself at SRTUJF 994 00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:36,680 and for Dr. Trace Franklin at the Dr. Tray. 995 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:41,480 And of course, don't forget to follow show on X at SRTU podcast. 996 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:42,920 Usually I say, with that being said, 997 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:45,440 what's going on over the world of Dr. Trace Franklin this week. 998 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:47,560 However, what I will say is a little bit of a call to arms 999 00:39:47,560 --> 00:39:49,400 to all of our diehard listeners out there. 1000 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:51,320 First and foremost, thank you for listening to the show 1001 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:53,040 each and every week. 1002 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:55,480 Now the reason why we do this 861 straight weeks 1003 00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:58,440 is for people like you that tune in and want to hear 1004 00:39:58,440 --> 00:39:59,640 what Dr. Trace and I have to say. 1005 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:01,280 And if you've been on this ride for us 1006 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:04,720 with us since February 2010 or even a little bit later on, 1007 00:40:04,720 --> 00:40:05,560 thank you. 1008 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:07,280 Thank you for making us part of your regular, 1009 00:40:07,280 --> 00:40:08,800 I say that every single week, but thank you 1010 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:10,280 for making us part of it. 1011 00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:13,360 What I ask all of you is that if you are, 1012 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:17,160 if you could please tell your friends that are wrestling fans 1013 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:18,920 to check out our Patreon page. 1014 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:20,480 Just follow the page. 1015 00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:21,320 It doesn't cost a thing. 1016 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:22,360 If you're somebody that listens to the show 1017 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:24,360 and you don't listen to the through Patreon, 1018 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:25,200 it doesn't cost a thing. 1019 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:27,160 If you just sign up, you get the show immediately 1020 00:40:27,160 --> 00:40:30,040 when it's done like literally 15 minutes after I am done recording. 1021 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:31,760 This show will be available to you. 1022 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:35,040 And that is where it's ad-free and you can get it. 1023 00:40:35,040 --> 00:40:37,400 You can continue to get it on Apple Spotify again, 1024 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:38,680 wherever you download those podcasts. 1025 00:40:38,680 --> 00:40:40,920 But what I'd love for you to do is tell your friends 1026 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:43,200 who are wrestling fans to just check us out. 1027 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:44,320 Check us out for the next month. 1028 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:46,360 Check us out for the next two months. 1029 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:48,040 Join in on the conversation. 1030 00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:50,320 Let's help make a community possible 1031 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:51,480 over at the Patreon page. 1032 00:40:51,480 --> 00:40:55,400 It would mean a lot to us if we can help continue 1033 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:57,600 to grow and expand this great community. 1034 00:40:57,600 --> 00:41:01,240 So if you can grab five of your friends that are wrestling fans 1035 00:41:01,240 --> 00:41:03,560 and have them just tune in and check this out, 1036 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:04,720 we'd really, really appreciate it. 1037 00:41:04,720 --> 00:41:06,760 And we could start doing some pretty cool stuff together 1038 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:09,040 as a wrestling fan community. 1039 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:11,000 So that's a little bit of call to our arms 1040 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,120 here as we go in the weekend and get some support 1041 00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:13,960 from all of you. 1042 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:15,800 Great listeners that tune in each of your week 1043 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:20,120 and are part of that die-hard core of SRTU each and every week. 1044 00:41:20,120 --> 00:41:23,080 So until next week for Dr. Ray Franklin, 1045 00:41:23,080 --> 00:41:25,240 I'm Jeff Pack. Enjoy the weekend. 1046 00:41:25,240 --> 00:41:27,720 This has been The Stillerless Show.