Latest / Real. Guy. Pods. / Cena vs. Orton: The Greatest Rivalry Ever? | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #795 – 05/08/25
Transcript
- 1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,600 It's still real to me, damn it! 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:12,800 What are we doing? 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:17,300 Welcome everybody! 4 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:20,500 Welcome to this week's "A Listen to Still Real" show, 5 00:00:20,500 --> 00:00:24,700 Episode number 795 from May 8, 2025. 6 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:29,300 Welcome to your WWE Backlast preview and predictions edition of "S" 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:31,400 RTU. 8 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,800 I am one half the show, I am Jeff Peckin. 9 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,400 Typically join most weeks by the one of the way, Dr. Franklin. 10 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:47,100 Dr. Trey couldn't be here this week, so this is a solo show edition of "SRTU" my friends. 11 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:51,300 Welcome one and all, welcome to this week's edition of "SRTU" never fear. 12 00:00:51,300 --> 00:00:56,200 We do have Dr. Trey's Backlash predictions that we will cover later on in the show, 13 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:01,600 but this is a solo edition of "SRTU" Dr. Trey having a little bit of a family emergency. 14 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:08,900 Prior to recording this week, everybody is fine, he just could not get the opportunity to sit down and talk with you fine. 15 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:13,300 Folks, he will be back next week as we recap and review everything from WWE Backlash. 16 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:19,100 Hope everybody enjoyed last week's special edition of "SRTU" as we gave you our Ultimate Resmaniac card. 17 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:21,600 Took a little bit of a break following the rest of my new season. 18 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,800 It is a grind for us wrestling podcasters out there, 19 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,000 so it was nice to take a little bit of a time off. 20 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:36,000 For about a week, recalibrate a little bit, then look towards this post-Russellmania 41 World that we now live in. 21 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:41,000 And we're jumping right into it with PLE this Saturday with Backlash. 22 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:46,400 I got to be honest, I'm not a huge fan that WWE is doing this. 23 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,400 I really think that they should space things out. 24 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:55,400 I would be totally fine if they did one in late May, or just jump to money in the bank. 25 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,500 Doing one two weeks after WWE Resmaniac? 26 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:02,800 Like, what are we doing? 27 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:08,600 That, to me, is unnecessary. 28 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:14,100 You know, it's, give it a little bit of time to breathe. 29 00:02:14,100 --> 00:02:20,600 I mean, they do a period of time where, in November, they will run Seriah Series War games, 30 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,200 and then, well, the special they did the Saturday Night's Man event in there, 31 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,400 but they won't run another PLE until World Rumble. 32 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:32,400 And that is nearly two months. 33 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:39,900 The most, it's about two months in between, and it's like, what do we, you know, that, to me, 34 00:02:39,900 --> 00:02:41,800 it gives it a lot of time to breathe. 35 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,800 It helps build up towards one of the biggest PLEs of the year. 36 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,800 I know WWE is gangbusters right now, and now that's, you know, 37 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:54,300 Phil is many arenas as possible, you have people tune into a PLE on a Saturday Night as much as possible. 38 00:02:54,300 --> 00:02:59,800 The paper for you, game is change in WWE's eyes, but it's like, what are we doing? 39 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:07,500 Like, just, maybe use this time to just build up to what's happened post-Rasimani and not shotgun a PLE for the most part? 40 00:03:07,500 --> 00:03:15,700 Because even when you look at the card, it's a card that screams shotgun for the most part. 41 00:03:15,700 --> 00:03:18,800 And we'll run through the card, five matches announced. 42 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:26,800 The one thing that is bringing me to the excitement level for Backlash outside of just being a wrestling fan in general, 43 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,800 obviously is the John Cena Randy Orton match. 44 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:35,900 We had predicted St. Louis Mazzurri that this would be the show that they would probably run the Cena Orton match. 45 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:38,300 And this is what they've gone forward with. 46 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:43,900 And I think, to me, that's another reason why I would have liked to see this PLE in between 47 00:03:43,900 --> 00:03:53,900 WrestleMania and Monday the Bank get a little bit more breathing room because I don't think we're getting a good opportunity to truly understand what we will be seeing this Saturday. 48 00:03:53,900 --> 00:04:10,200 There's been a lot of nostalgia, a lot of good video packages and these are things that I think WWE could have cap it on for weeks and weeks and really build to this and make it really a nice build for what is going to be the last time between John Cena or Andy Orton in a ring. 49 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:28,200 Because quite honestly, when you look at the history of rivalries in World of R Us Entertainment, I don't think that there has ever been a rivalry that is paralleled nearly 20 plus years in WWE like the John Cena Randy Orton feud has. 50 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:45,700 It is the few that basically captures that post WWE Attitude Era, the Ruthis Aggression Era, whatever you want to call it, the coming out of Steve Austin and the Rock and Triple H and Undertaker, the Attitude Era. 51 00:04:45,700 --> 00:05:00,700 As I said, it was John Cena, Randy Orton and Batista that were the flag bears and Batista eventually went away in the late 2010s or early 2010s but it was Randy Orton and John Cena that remained constant at all time. 52 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:09,700 And it always felt like it was those three guys seeing a Batista Orton that were running the show when Batista left and really cemented the importance of Randy Orton. 53 00:05:09,700 --> 00:05:19,700 And they ran so many times the John Cena Randy Orton matches and it would feel like every year there would be a John Cena Randy Orton match. 54 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:33,700 There were times where it was like ran into the ground where you couldn't appreciate it as a fan but when they would come back years later, circle back around or what they're doing this Saturday, then you kind of like have the opportunity to really appreciate everything that they did. 55 00:05:33,700 --> 00:05:48,700 Because they carried the flag for WWE for a long time until, I don't know, we got to this Roman Reigns Seth Rollins era of WWE that you've seen since the mid 2000s to now and now they're really carrying the show like they are. 56 00:05:48,700 --> 00:06:02,700 And you have to come to a point, right? The older I get as a wrestling fan, the more I tend to try to appreciate the moments and the matches that I see because the people that you grew up on, 57 00:06:02,700 --> 00:06:10,700 you may not see Russell ever again. I was thinking about this when it came to the John Cena Randy Orton stuff being announced. And this is how I compared it is. 58 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:16,700 I remember sitting on my couch in my living room watching wrestling any 38 live, Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Kevin Owens. 59 00:06:16,700 --> 00:06:26,700 And there was multiple times where I'm like, I can't believe this is happening. And as weird as it may sound or cliches it may sound, I was really just trying to live in the moment. 60 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:35,700 Like I'm watching Stone Cold Steve Austin wrestle in what year was it then? 2022 and I never thought I would see this again. 61 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:43,700 That the last time I saw Steve Austin wrestle was WrestleMania 19. I said the story before I watched that match from the WWE headquarters in Stanford Connecticut. 62 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:48,700 I was blessed with that opportunity to do so. Did not know it at the time that it was Steve Austin's last match. 63 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:57,700 And you just always wondered for those 20, near 20 years, would he ever get back in the ring again? And then from finally do it, you just kind of lived in the moment. 64 00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:06,700 And that's how I kind of compare what's going on with John Cena, Randy Orton stuff this Saturday. It's like, let's just live in the moment a little bit because this is what they're billing. 65 00:07:06,700 --> 00:07:15,700 And it's professional wrestling. They are billing. This is the last time these two will go at it. Do we really ever believe that? No. But I think this one, it's legit. 66 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:27,700 I think Cena has said, I believe him, he's not going to wrestle again after this year. This is it for him. And Randy Orton will continue on for, I think he said in a recent interview, wants to do it for another five years. 67 00:07:27,700 --> 00:07:43,700 So when you look at these two guys coming in around the same time, and I think it was like 2002 that they both came in board WWE and then have carried the company in and out for multiple different periods, good periods, bad periods, dark periods, brighter periods. 68 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:54,700 They've always been the constant. And for a lot of the younger crowd that are listening, if you're 25, 26, 27, 28, you're probably nostalgic this weekend. 69 00:07:54,700 --> 00:08:03,700 I at 38 years old, nearly 39, not as a, as a nostalgic because these were guys that were wrestling when I was in my, my sophomore year of high school. 70 00:08:03,700 --> 00:08:17,700 But it still has that resonating feeling that I have when I would watch Hulk Hogan in the rock wrestle, WrestleMania 18, because I never thought I would see that and I grew up on Hogan or watching the great wrestle one more time. 71 00:08:17,700 --> 00:08:24,700 Even when like Bret Hart wrestled at WrestleMania 26, I was like, this is a really special moment. I don't know how many more of these are going to get an opportunity to see. 72 00:08:24,700 --> 00:08:31,700 And you just want to kind of take it all in. I felt the same way when Shawn Michaels retired, WrestleMania 26, and we do not count that. 73 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:39,700 Was it Crown Jewel, Saudi Arabia and match DX versus the Brothers Discrash destruction, which may be one of the worst wrestling matches of all time. 74 00:08:39,700 --> 00:08:47,700 So as you sit down and you watch CNN or in this weekend, just take it all in as a wrestling fan. Just be like, this is a really cool moment. 75 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:56,700 I don't think we'll ever see this again because you can make the argument that the John Cena Randy Orn rivalry may be the greatest in WWE history. 76 00:08:56,700 --> 00:09:06,700 And for those that are scoffing and they're maybe jumping to like for me, I was like really right, you know, trying to figure out like what rivalries were better than this. 77 00:09:06,700 --> 00:09:13,700 For me, like Austin Rock is up there as a rivalry that I would put on the same level playing field. 78 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:28,700 Shawn Michaels Bret Hart, same level playing field and a lot of that has to do with the stuff that happened behind the scenes, rather than the stuff that we saw on the screen, which is unfortunate that sometimes the behind the scene stuff with those two guys when they were intertwined, overshadowed the great stuff that they were doing in the ring. 79 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:35,700 And it's like, okay, so what other feuds are there that really stood out to me. And it's hard. 80 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:51,700 Because most feuds and rivalries don't last forever. Undertaker Shawn Michaels, was that a rivalry? No, I think that was just kind of built on respect. Undertaker Triple H, rivalry, no, I think that was just built on respect. Those are two guys we wanted to see towards the end. 81 00:09:51,700 --> 00:10:06,700 So it's rare that you get these moments, right? This is Hogan Piper, this is Flair Steamboat, Flair Sting, Rock Hogan, Bret Shawn. This is Cena Orton, and this has been going on for 20 years. 82 00:10:06,700 --> 00:10:13,700 And not a lot of rivalries have been able to do that, say that, accomplish that, and make people still want to watch. 83 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:28,700 And in times where maybe two rivals got back in the ring at a later point in their careers, those matches were not up to snub. This match on Saturday, I fully expect because these guys are still in great shape, will be up to snub. 84 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:42,700 And those are those moments where just take a step back. And I think it's kind of controversial to be like, Cena Orton is maybe the greatest rivalry of all time, if not one of the greatest rivalries in WWE history of all time. 85 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:54,700 Because of just the longevity of it. And it's just time to appreciate it this Saturday because we will never see it again. I wish they had more time to build this. 86 00:10:54,700 --> 00:11:00,700 I wish Cena was on television more as I record this. It's before Friday night SmackDown when Cena is supposed to be back on there. 87 00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:07,700 I'd love the video packages this week, but I just wanted to see more coming into it because I think this feud really deserved it. 88 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:19,700 And it certainly still tickets to St. Louis, Missouri. And if it's the last time that these two go at it, it's been a great run. There's been ups. There's certainly been downs with the feuds. 89 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:34,700 Most importantly, sometimes they ran out a little bit too much, but most importantly, folks, as you sit down this Saturday, you put on backlash, you watch it live Saturday night, you watch it on Sunday, Monday, whenever you tune in to watch the Cena Orton match, just enjoy it. 90 00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:51,700 Oh, too often we sit here. We critique five star four star 3.3, 2.2, whatever we want to do for our rating systems. And I think these are the one of those moments where you could just take a step back and enjoy what's going on because this is a closing of a chapter. 91 00:11:51,700 --> 00:12:09,700 And this is where the John Cena farewell tour now feels real because they are saying that for the last time, John Cena versus Randiorn is happening and it just so happens to be for the WWE championship in 2025, which is absurd to think. 92 00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:26,700 And 10 years ago, me would be very upset that this is happening 10 years later, it's like these guys have really shown us why they were important professional wrestling. Renasots men at points in their career, the United States Open Challenge of John Cena was some of my favorite stuff that he's ever done. 93 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:35,700 Randi Orton's run from like, WrestleMania 30 onwards, I think has been maybe the best of his career and he hasn't held the championship. 94 00:12:35,700 --> 00:12:46,700 I think at all during that, maybe, I don't know, he held the title after at WrestleMania 33 after defeating Brey Y and maybe had one more run in there. 95 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:56,700 But this is like potentially the best Randy we've ever seen. And it seems like both guys are a really good place personally, professionally, physically, mentally. 96 00:12:56,700 --> 00:13:06,700 And there are peace with their careers. So they don't have anything to prove this Saturday night. They're not trying to move the ball forward for the company. 97 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:14,700 This is kind of just an ode to everything that they've done, everything that this rivalry has brought professional wrestling. 98 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:22,700 They're almost paying tribute to it. This Saturday night as they close out this major chapter in both their careers because, I mean, think about it. 99 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:33,700 Who else in John Cena's career has been a big rival than Randi Orton? I don't think anybody. Who in Randi Orton's career has been a big rival than John Cena? 100 00:13:33,700 --> 00:13:41,700 I think some people may say edge, I think that's a good call, but it's still nowhere near what John Cena was to Randi Orton. 101 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:51,700 And maybe Triple H gets thrown in there for Randi Orton as well. But again, I think he and John Cena were the face of the company, carried it through some really good times and then some really bad times. 102 00:13:51,700 --> 00:13:58,700 And this is again an ode and attribute to everything they've done for professional wrestling. 103 00:13:58,700 --> 00:14:08,700 As you sit down this Saturday, I implore you all as wrestling fans when you watch backlash, whenever you watch backlash, just take it all in because this is a really important time for professional wrestling. 104 00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:23,700 And this is again really the first time that John Cena farewell tour has felt real. So I'm very, very excited for the match on Saturday. And I'm happy that it's happened. And my only drawback is like I wish we had more of a bill towards this because I think it would be phenomenal. 105 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:35,700 And they could, you know, rely a little bit more on the history between these two and really, really exploit and show the importance of this feud and its impact on WWE and professional wrestling as a whole. 106 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:45,700 And make it that much of a bigger deal than like a two week build or maybe three was it three week build at this point? Yeah, three week build. So I think there was three smack downs in there because. 107 00:14:45,700 --> 00:15:02,700 Or an arcade od, Cena on raw after many, many, and then maybe was two weeks. I don't know. As you get older, you lose track of time as well. But anyway, just enjoy what's taking place this Saturday between John Cena and Randi Orton at backlash in St. Louis, Missouri. 108 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:18,700 In other WWE news, unfortunately, there were several releases. Some of those released, well, the releases include Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, Shannon Bayzler, Quarjay, Gigi Dolan, Eddie Thorpe, Katie Carter, Katana Chan, Shakar Jackson, 109 00:15:18,700 --> 00:15:34,700 Javier Bernal, Joe Coffee, Mark Coffee, Wolfgang, Oral Menta, Riley Osborne, and Danny Palmer. So let's run through the list here. Braun Strowman, former World Heavyweight Champion, Universal Champion, excuse me, getting released for the second time. 110 00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:47,700 I saw a report at their Bill Aptor reporting that the, I think Meltzer and Alvarez reported this as well was that the contract, the salary that they're paying Braun Strowman wasn't, they weren't getting a good return of investment. 111 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:59,700 Essentially, as him as a full-time wrestler, then I think Bill Aptor recently came out and said that they look at him more now as a part-time star, which Braun is okay with, is run as a full-timer. 112 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:07,700 Is it gonna, is it one that's gonna be anymore at this point? You know Braun Strowman suffered a really bad hamstring injury. 113 00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:15,700 I think the last time we saw him on WWE television, he was really favorin as well. And I saw some reports on just how bad the injury is. 114 00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:25,700 I haven't seen that to verify it, so I don't want to say anything, but it's pretty significant. And it's, he's basically never gonna be the performer that he was ever again because of that injury. 115 00:16:25,700 --> 00:16:37,700 And, you know, there's a lot of miles on those tires and, and I guess he and WWE according to reports that Bill Aptor are saying, have come to an agreement that, you know, they want to use him later in the year and short-term programs, help somebody get over. 116 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:43,700 That's when Braun Strowman will return and he's fine with it and they left on, on good graces, which is great. 117 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:49,700 Because at one time, if you're a long time listener of the show, I was fully in on Braun Strowman to be, you know, a major player in WWE. 118 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:56,700 And he had those moments, he had those opportunities to shine most notably during the pandemic era. But I think injuries caught up to him. 119 00:16:56,700 --> 00:17:04,700 And, you know, he got slowed down and it wasn't something that WWE felt like that they could really capitalize on as a full-timer, former moving forward. 120 00:17:04,700 --> 00:17:10,700 But nonetheless, disappointing and for Braun Strowman that are getting released. 121 00:17:10,700 --> 00:17:20,700 The Dakota Kai being released is a major bummer to me. I have been a big fan of Dakota Kai since the first time I saw her on the May Young Classic on WWE television. 122 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:28,700 I was not, did not know of her work, previous two coming to WWE and I've just always been impressed with her ability in the ring. 123 00:17:28,700 --> 00:17:37,700 And injuries definitely caught up with her, which you have two torn ACLs. She's been on the shelf here and there from time to time. 124 00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:51,700 But just such a talented worker. I was so happy a couple months ago when I think she made the finals of the Women's Intercontinental Championship tournament against the Liberalki area because I really felt like Dakota Kai could be someone that could really benefit from a championship like that. 125 00:17:51,700 --> 00:18:03,700 There were ports out there that a lot of organizations are very interested in her and as they should be Dakota Kai was released once before brought back to be part of damage control during that first run. 126 00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:15,700 Of Triple H taking over creative around summer of summer of 2022, I believe. And yeah, just overall I was, that was one that was the most surprising to me was Dakota Kai being released because I just think she's so talented. 127 00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:19,700 And as unfortunate that she's not continuing WWE moving forward. 128 00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:25,700 The next name here again, long time list of the show, you know during that annex here of Shane and Basin, I was a huge fan of hers. 129 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:34,700 I thought she was going to be a major player in the company, essentially she had that elimination, timber victory in February 2020 where she eliminated all five other women. 130 00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:45,700 The most talented performance in elimination, her history went on to take Becky Lynch on a restaurant in 36 in the pandemic era, which is probably often forgotten about. 131 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:56,700 And then really never got things going the NXT Shane of Bay so that we saw did not parallel to the main roster of Ron smack down which is unfortunate. 132 00:18:56,700 --> 00:19:02,700 She's highly talented, but they just were not using her well. 133 00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:11,700 So I think she's obviously another person, another name that will benefit from being out on the independent circuit or in another wrestling promotion because I do think she's very talented. 134 00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:22,700 And can be a massive appeal and weapon as one of the top women in the brand because whatever brand she signs with because she's legitimately a badass. 135 00:19:22,700 --> 00:19:27,700 Core Jade and GG Dolan were huge surprises more core than GG. 136 00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:37,700 I always felt like Core Jade was on the tip of being one of the faces the women's division of NXT than an injury would happen or she would disappear for a little bit. 137 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:52,700 It was mostly injuries I think again she tore ACL twice. And I just, you know, most recently I thought that they were setting it up where core Jade was going to be the one that took out Roxanne Perez in her final match in NXT and allow core J to then move forward. 138 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:59,700 As one of the top female acts on the NXT brand and that obviously did not come to fruition. So Core J was a massive surprise. 139 00:19:59,700 --> 00:20:14,700 GG Dolan, it just kind of felt like she was floundering a little bit NXT for a while. She's too good to be working in tag teams and that's no shot at Taden Paxley, Taden Paxley is very talented as well. 140 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:22,700 But there was a period of time when you look back at the fatal attraction days of JC Jane. 141 00:20:22,700 --> 00:20:32,700 Mandy Rose and GG Dolan and GG Dolan was like the most popular person in that group that was dominating NXT time and it looked like she was always on the verge of breaking out and it just unfortunately never happened. 142 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:48,700 So she's an on the one I think is greener pastures sometimes are great for some people and I think the people I just named Dakota Kai Shane and Bayes are core Jade and GG Dolan are people that can can really benefit that from that whether it be a TNA MLWA W they will benefit from a new place. 143 00:20:48,700 --> 00:20:56,700 Any thought was disappointed because I think he was getting over as a heel towards the end of 2024 in the early stages of 2025 on NXT. 144 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:58,700 So that was a surprise. 145 00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:05,700 Would have liked to see them given the ball at a more because I think he was really, really actually despised by the fan base in NXT, which is a great thing. 146 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:12,700 Kidding quarter, Katana, Kidding Carter and Katana chance very talented, but they weren't really doing much on television lately. 147 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:19,700 So unfortunately not much of a surprise Katana chance is extremely talented and go back to the May on classic. 148 00:21:19,700 --> 00:21:25,700 I mean they were talking her up as as a female version of Rey Mysterio, we just really got that opportunity to see that take place. 149 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:34,700 Jacara Jackson was part of metaphor and the metaphor recently broke up and then gets released a couple days later just like Oral Mensa who was released. 150 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:38,700 Jacara Jackson very talented, enjoyed her stuff with Lash Legend. 151 00:21:38,700 --> 00:21:52,700 I don't know if the in-ring work was there per se, but she certainly had a character and yeah worst case scenario she came off as someone that would make a great valet or a great manager someday if the whole in-ring stuff did not play out. 152 00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:58,700 Javier Bernal for those of you watching NXT level up like myself, you're one of those sickos in the world. He is very talented. 153 00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:01,700 It seemed like he could get over had a great theme song. 154 00:22:01,700 --> 00:22:05,700 Forever reason never correlated on to NXT television, which is unfortunate. 155 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:10,700 All three members of Galas, Joe Coffee, Mark Coffee Wolfgang. 156 00:22:10,700 --> 00:22:14,700 There's like a love hate for me on the NXT UK brand. 157 00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:29,700 I never really got sold to Joe Coffee as one of the top heels of the brand, but as time went on as the act that those three guys did, especially in those early days of NXT 2.0, I think about the feuds that they had with like breaks and gents and it was enjoyable. 158 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:38,700 They were enjoyable trio, but it just seems like that they plateaued in NXT and I think most recently they were being used on evolve, which is not a good sign. 159 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:48,700 Ormets are very talented. Again, someone that I do at NXT UK once, Noam Dorwin away, they try to give or own opportunity. 160 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:54,700 Feed it with Ethan Page for a little bit and then basically is disappeared, which is unfortunate for him. 161 00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:59,700 Riley Orsborn, born was a very talented high flyer for Chase U. I enjoy it as work. 162 00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:02,700 It just never seemed like that they could get behind him. 163 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:12,700 So it's funny because those in the 2000s era of WWE, like a high flyer like Riley Orsborn, I think would be very successful in the company. 164 00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:20,700 Danny Palmer had some injuries and I guess based on her last match she was injured and then she is an outs online that she is retiring for professional wrestling. 165 00:23:20,700 --> 00:23:25,700 So all the best of her and her next steps in professional wrestling. 166 00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:32,700 And then lastly, Shotzi Blackheart or Shotzi in WWE was it was revealed that her contract will not be renewed. 167 00:23:32,700 --> 00:23:39,700 That is a huge bummer, another name. I put up there with Dakota Kai, Shayna Bayes, her core Jade, Gigi Dolan types. 168 00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:42,700 That I felt like Shotzi could have been a major star in the company. 169 00:23:42,700 --> 00:23:50,700 And I think they gave her opportunities and then an injury would happen and then opportunities were taken away from her and then she kind of got lost in the shuffle. 170 00:23:50,700 --> 00:24:00,700 I really hope she gets on the independent circuit like Dakota Kai does and really truly succeeds in making WWE their words that they put her out on and allowed her to be released. 171 00:24:00,700 --> 00:24:05,700 So those were the releases or people who are not being renewed. 172 00:24:05,700 --> 00:24:15,700 It's definitely an interesting time for the WWE roster because we've seen this influx of AW talent most recently with Penta, Ray Phoenix. 173 00:24:15,700 --> 00:24:20,700 And then the returning Rusev and Allerso Black to the company. 174 00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:26,700 And there's some rumblings that may be on her way to WWE at some point when her contract runs out of AW. 175 00:24:26,700 --> 00:24:31,700 You know, they just recently signed Jordan Grace, Julian, Stephanie Falkour on the brand. 176 00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:35,700 The WWE roster is very competitive right now. 177 00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:38,700 There are people coming on the N.I. 178 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:41,700 What is it? The evolve deals, those ID deals. 179 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:46,700 They've got people signed at N.I.L. And you just can't keep everybody. 180 00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:50,700 And unfortunately, that's the things that I've learned here as we've podcasted all these years. 181 00:24:50,700 --> 00:25:02,700 As much as I would love to have all the people I just named remain on the WWE roster, have a job, have an opportunity to watch the meet you every week of an opportunity to grow, blossom as characters, have a feud here, a great PLE match there. 182 00:25:02,700 --> 00:25:04,700 It just is impossible. 183 00:25:04,700 --> 00:25:09,700 It's such a competitive world in WWE right now that you have to be on your A game in all times. 184 00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:14,700 And I'm not saying any of these people are, but if you fall out of flavor with the creative, which most of these people did, 185 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:18,700 it's tough to scratch and crawl your way back. 186 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:28,700 And I'm sure there's names that people are thinking of right now that are kind of just floundering a little bit in WWE, where you think if there's another round of cuts that those names could be up there, and that's not something you want to see. 187 00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:35,700 Because you never want to see anybody lose a job, but it's just such a competitive world in World of R Us Entertainment right now. 188 00:25:35,700 --> 00:25:41,700 It's good for us wrestling fans, it's good that the professional wrestlers have these opportunities, but they got to seize that opportunity. 189 00:25:41,700 --> 00:25:49,700 And I don't know how you do that with the characters and getting driven by creative and battling these new signies here, new signies there. 190 00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:57,700 It's tough. My heart goes out to them, but there's this major influx on the WWE roster right now where things are really taking over. 191 00:25:57,700 --> 00:26:08,700 And it's not what it used to be, it's highly competitive and you've got outshined. But the people I just name, they get all signed to TNA Wrestling tomorrow. 192 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:14,700 Their TNA Wrestling just got better. They all get signed MLW tomorrow, their MLW just got better. 193 00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:21,700 They get all signed to AW. They'll probably be used for a little bit and put on the shelf and then may not be used at all. 194 00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:29,700 And yes, that is a direct shot at AW, but at least they have a place to go. So it's very, very unfortunate. 195 00:26:29,700 --> 00:26:42,700 This AW influx into WWE is really intriguing because these are some major names and major players in the company, Penta Ray Phoenix, Alcer Black, Rusev All Wrestling and WWE All Leaving AW in the last year. 196 00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:53,700 Names that were mainstays for the most part with the exception of Rusev/Miro who would come and go as he please. I think Alcer Black is wrestling now more matches, single matches in WWE recently. 197 00:26:53,700 --> 00:27:01,700 And that's just one that he did and able to AW in the last eight months. And then Penta Ray Phoenix or extremely talented, you know, with Ray on the shelf. 198 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:08,700 They really didn't use the lucha brothers all that much, especially once they realized that the lucha brothers are going to be going to WWE. 199 00:27:08,700 --> 00:27:23,700 So highly competitive roster right now, tough to keep everybody, you can't make everybody happy, but yeah, it was a tough week to hear these releases and hopefully they get back on their feet a little bit sooner, sooner rather than later. 200 00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:33,700 All right, with that said, let's get to our WWE backlash preview and predictions for this Saturday from the Empire Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. 201 00:27:33,700 --> 00:27:41,700 And the first match here, we've had Dominic Mysterio defend the Intercontinental Championship against Penta, both Dr. Train I have Dominic Mysterio in this one. 202 00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:52,700 I had a tough time calling this one because I really felt like if there was an opportunity for Penta to turn on Dom and give the title to Penta who is Red Hot right now, now would be the time to do it. 203 00:27:52,700 --> 00:28:01,700 But I think it's really difficult to get the Intercontinental Championship off of Dominic Mysterio right now because he is super over, the crowd is enjoying his stuff, they're enjoying Penta as well. 204 00:28:01,700 --> 00:28:14,700 I think the longer he has the championship the better, I would also like to see a finish where Finn tries and air quotes to have Dom lose, but it ultimately actually backsfires on him and he helps Dom win. 205 00:28:14,700 --> 00:28:19,700 And they all celebrate his judge of day and all that stuff because obviously something is brewing there because we saw behind the scenes. 206 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:31,700 If you had an eagle eye on raw this past Monday, you would see Finn ball in the background talking it up with Roxanne press in the backstage area. So kind of wonder what's going on there is Finn going to be doing his own offshoot edition of the Judgement Day. 207 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:34,700 Roxanne press will be a great addition for the Judgement Day. 208 00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:39,700 So both Dr. Train I taking Dominic Mysterio to retain the Intercontinental Championship in this one. 209 00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:47,700 Next one is a fatal four way match for the WWE United States Champion, Chip is Jacob about two defense against LA night, Damien Priest and Drew McIntyre. 210 00:28:47,700 --> 00:29:04,700 We both have Jacob fought two in this one. This is interesting because you start to you're starting to see on smack down this past week where Anna Pierce call out so let's echo as trying to screw over Jacob fought two, fought two is kind of getting a little bit aware of it as well. 211 00:29:04,700 --> 00:29:16,700 And you're wondering like, okay, win again, this is like the Domic Mysterio situation. Could they use this match as an opportunity to get the championship off of the World Cup. 212 00:29:16,700 --> 00:29:27,700 Off of Jacob fought two to start a feud with Soloskova. I mean they could put the title on LA night in LA night and I could go off again and feud with somebody differently with the United States Championship. 213 00:29:27,700 --> 00:29:33,700 Or could Damien Priest or Drew McIntyre capture the title and then that belt is in the middle of their feud. 214 00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:43,700 I could see any of those playing out. I think the most likely is still keeping the championship on Jacob fought two because I think if you keep the United States Championship on fought two for a long time. 215 00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:56,700 I would give them a Gunther like Intercontinental title reign like run here with the United States Championship. I think it helps build the excitement, a lore and growth of Jacob fought two over time. 216 00:29:56,700 --> 00:30:01,700 So that's why I'm taking him Jack Jacob fought two in this one. I really want to see him hold on to the championship for a really long time. 217 00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:05,700 I'd love to see a Gunther like I see title runs I mentioned before. 218 00:30:05,700 --> 00:30:14,700 And speaking of Gunther, he'll be taking on Pat McAfee this Saturday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. We both have Gunther in this one. 219 00:30:14,700 --> 00:30:24,700 Pat is a hell of an athlete. I fully expect that this is going to be competitive match. I think if anybody watched his stuff if a man XT or if you haven't, go out and check it out. 220 00:30:24,700 --> 00:30:31,700 Pat McAfee can wrestle. I think the last time we saw him wrestle was WrestleMania 38. 221 00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:41,700 I think it was 38 against Austin Theory. I don't think he's wrestled since then. So for him to wrestle Gunther and they've always kind of had like this quasi weird tension between one and um. 222 00:30:41,700 --> 00:31:00,700 One another is pretty big. Sometimes it's very comical now obviously with storyline purposes. It's big and I don't think it's coincidence that WrestleVotes has shared on their show has tweeted out today that the name Goldberg is starting to get some traction behind the scenes under doing creative. 223 00:31:00,700 --> 00:31:14,700 And I think Goldberg potentially plays a role in this one and it can go one of two ways. Goldberg, well the reason why let me backtrack here is because Gunther is rumored to be the last opponent for. 224 00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:17,700 For Bill Goldberg in this retirement match. 225 00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:26,700 So Goldberg can it can just get up in one of two ways right Gunther beats the living hell out of Pat McAfee beats him down and one two three gets the victory. 226 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:34,700 He beats a crap out of him Pat McAfee doesn't do raw this Monday when Pat eventually returns he says he's not coming alone. He's a guy to avenge his loss of avenge what's going on. 227 00:31:34,700 --> 00:31:42,700 And that is one Bill Goldberg you got the NFL tie right. Pat McAfee former puncher for the Indianapolis Colts. 228 00:31:42,700 --> 00:31:50,700 Bill Goldberg I think a former defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons. They work together and that leads us to Gunther versus Bill Goldberg. 229 00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:58,700 And that's why I actually think ultimately this match leads to that. I can also see a situation where Bill Goldberg somehow gets involved. 230 00:31:58,700 --> 00:32:10,700 Costs Gunther the match and helps Pat McAfee get the victory. Like that could be a scenario no matter what the scenario is I think this match on Saturday is leading to the eventual return of Bill Goldberg. 231 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:20,700 And I think that match should take place at Summerslam. I can't see take a place at the into a dome at money the bank right now I think it deserves a football statement. 232 00:32:20,700 --> 00:32:28,700 I think you put it in that life Summerslam week and then you let Bill Goldberg go out that way. I think that's the right thing to do for Bill Goldberg's Hall of Fame career. 233 00:32:28,700 --> 00:32:34,700 Next bad shares live without curious take it on Becky Lynch for the WWE women's are on the continental championship. 234 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:46,700 Yeah, being chip. I think this is a situation that we saw play out recently with Chelsea Green getting the United States championship removed and put in on Selena Veya which I was not a fan of that move. 235 00:32:46,700 --> 00:33:00,700 However, I think it's time to get the I see title off of a Lyra help elevate that championship a little bit more and then basically do the booking that they did in NXT with Lyra and Becky Lynch and carry that over here on to the main roster. 236 00:33:00,700 --> 00:33:12,700 And then I think that's what Becky wants to do on the main roster she did in NXT and I think that's what's going to carry over here soon as well. 237 00:33:12,700 --> 00:33:20,700 So I'm taking Becky Lynch as a doctor trade to win the Intercontinental Championship for a little bit longer helps build up her resume. 238 00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:42,700 And then finally we talked about it here at the top of the show John Cena defends the atmosphere of the WWE Championship against Rainy Jordan both Dr. Trenon and I in this one have John Cena. 239 00:33:42,700 --> 00:33:54,700 This is an easy one to call because I think you don't take the title off Cena right now. I mean that defeats the whole purpose of the storyline thinking he holds onto the championship for the majority of the year towards the end of his final run with the company. 240 00:33:54,700 --> 00:34:04,700 It's final couple matches with the company final couple appearances with the company. So that's what I think takes place. I think the only thing that can be discussed on this one outside of that is. 241 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:20,700 Is there any involvement with Cody Rhodes Cody Rhodes just been some reports out there there's been some pitches made that should Cody return this Saturday at backlash I don't think he should I think you keep him off a little bit longer and allow some more time to breathe and make the hard grow fond of for the fan base because I think he was. 242 00:34:20,700 --> 00:34:29,700 He was running into those booze again that he saw an AW and I don't think that's a good thing for one Cody Rhodes here during the John Cena farewell tour. 243 00:34:29,700 --> 00:34:57,700 I would not bring him back I think this matches a great nostalgia act I hope it's a classic hope it's one that we can look back on fondly and again everybody is sit down and you walk to match on Saturday just sit back relax and enjoy the show legitimately just enjoy the show because this is the last time we will see two greats in one of the greatest rival reason WWE history go at it one last time in WWE so again both John Cena are our picks here for WWE backlash and that is our WWE backlash preview and predictions. 244 00:34:57,700 --> 00:35:12,700 We will recap the show all on next week's edition of SRT on May the 15th and yeah that will that will do it for this week edition of the show it's a little bit shorter than normal it doesn't help it's just a solo act. 245 00:35:12,700 --> 00:35:24,700 But you know we get through we hope you get through backlash this Saturday and then we'll recap it all and Dr. will back here on next week's edition of show so with that said let's get a couple plugs and spots out of the way. 246 00:35:24,700 --> 00:35:40,700 If you download the show every Thursday or Friday at realguymedia.com, wrestle chat net on X and a so real the show feed on Apple spot of our wherever you download the podcast don't forget to rate rate review and subscribe to as the algorithm is king for us to keep playing the charts on those podcast platforms. 247 00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:45,700 You can fall into the video on X for myself at SRT you Jeff would bring up a straight frankly a the doctor tray. 248 00:35:45,700 --> 00:35:57,700 And of course don't forget to follow show on X at SRT podcast one last thing I want to mention your folks is we've been really towing with this I've been really towing with us I should say so this is episode number 795. 249 00:35:57,700 --> 00:36:14,700 We are coming up on our 800th episode next month and we're in a bit of a cross wrote here because I think the podcasting game has changed we're getting older family life work life it's harder to sit here and do the podcast each and every week but we want to continue doing we want to continue grow the community. 250 00:36:14,700 --> 00:36:20,700 And we want to give you guys some really good content and one of the things that I threw out there heading to wrestle any weekend. 251 00:36:20,700 --> 00:36:24,700 Was the idea of like a subscription based model something on let's say patreon. 252 00:36:24,700 --> 00:36:39,700 And you would get the show ad free you would get the moment it was done being recorded it would be up on that patreon page wherever we go for a platform offer the subscribers I don't think it would be an astronomical fee in my mind I was thinking like $99 a month even. 253 00:36:39,700 --> 00:36:58,700 Nothing crazy to something to support the show and then also give us an opportunity to do some other types of shows bring back SRT you watch maybe do some interviews gets people that are resting friends of ours and interview them and get their thoughts of professional rest of the whole maybe do some recap shows after raw smackdown AW done my collision. 254 00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:19,700 What have you NXT wraps up and have those shows outside of this but we want to do more we want to do community want to give an opportunity for people to talk to other rest and fans enjoy the show and make the show better and help us put a little bit of financial backing into it to make it better maybe make it on on a YouTube basis. 255 00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:37,700 Or as a YouTube show and give us the opportunity to develop from there but you know we've been doing the show for 15 years it'll be 800 straight weeks soon of episodes we've not missed an episode of this entire time right a bit of a crossroads I think we need to get with some of the changes that are going on the podcasting world so. 256 00:37:37,700 --> 00:37:39,700 I leave you with this. 257 00:37:39,700 --> 00:37:53,700 I want you to think about what we're saying here I want you to tell us your thoughts would you be on board with us what would you support what would you like to see with the show would you be a subscriber when you respond on Facebook dot com slash story of the show hit us up on X add 258 00:37:53,700 --> 00:38:08,700 us or do podcast and let us know give us a rating or review make a comment on the show let us know if you want to continue to support the shows we move forward because we would love to have you and we love to take that next step forward and we hope that we have all of your support is 259 00:38:08,700 --> 00:38:23,700 so there's a little bit of homework for our great listeners here on this week's edition of SRT you enjoy the weekend enjoy WWE backlash we will be back next week Dr trail we backs next week and we will help you get through everything that happened in WWE back 260 00:38:23,700 --> 00:38:38,700 the week after review all for you and get you through everything to place the most special lesson so until next week for Dr. Fred I am Jeff Beck thank you for downloading this has been the story of show 261 00:38:38,700 --> 00:38:55,700 open home the most pose that is true strong pulls it off where I like it a shoes yeah better be where is it y'all look in there please and jump walk into the ring this time I really fail 262 00:38:55,700 --> 00:39:07,700 I'm a lot of new to a little wrong fact we will never be close well is always be flat actually see shop but who's checking he even knows where the hippas knows that 263 00:39:07,700 --> 00:39:31,700 the guy he really want to know what he want to do I said over there I was there I was one that I picked on the way all of your pretenders were you better beware take this 264 00:39:31,700 --> 00:39:47,700 yeah I'm sorry I had a snake all the worry had paint on his face I have to do it and I do by phone we're still like this man you don't need no more 265 00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:58,700 I got a lot of friends I got a lot of phones I've been clicking in the boots where I be bouncing up the road lots of people talking 266 00:39:58,700 --> 00:40:12,700 you know you gotta have a tell you want to make that though who was that sitting over there I was 267 00:40:12,700 --> 00:40:15,740 ♫ Flew him吹 in an epic on the way 268 00:40:15,740 --> 00:40:17,600 ♫ Oh, where'd I go? ♫ 269 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:24,000 ♫ I hold God's hands, I beg your pardon, we'll be with you ♫ 270 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:31,320 ♫ Survive the shame cry, survive the struggle I've been in, only drive the finest God 271 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:37,440 ♫ And that's the final dynamic, give him justice, don't better than a wish country 272 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:44,440 ♫ Give him a young man's success by the length of his melody ♫ 273 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:45,440 ♫ Woo! ♫ 274 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:53,440 ♫ ♫ ♫ 275 00:40:53,440 --> 00:41:02,440 ♫ ♫ ♫ 276 00:41:02,440 --> 00:41:06,440 ♫ Bro, let's wear a style bouffard, and I get it, but it's never seen better 277 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:15,440 ♫ Absolutely not commercial fly, I'm not dancing, I'm not looking, he's stealing, stealing, selling the home 278 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:19,740 ♫ Such a man, he can be only one, hey! ♫ 279 00:41:19,740 --> 00:41:27,440 ♫ Woo! Who's that? I shouldn't know that, I'm a hero, spouting that thing on the way 280 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:29,740 ♫ Woo! Woo! ♫ 281 00:41:29,740 --> 00:41:36,240 ♫ Oh, sorry, it's not in the hand, I'll do your ten, where you'll never be away 282 00:41:36,240 --> 00:41:38,240 ♫ Woo! ♫ 283 00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:41,240 ♫ Woo! ♫ 284 00:41:41,240 --> 00:41:43,240 ♫ Woo! ♫ 285 00:41:43,240 --> 00:41:46,240 ♫ Woo! ♫ 286 00:41:46,240 --> 00:41:50,240 ♫ Woo! ♫ 287 00:41:50,240 --> 00:41:56,240 ♫ Come on, sing it a whole, and it's just for the future! ♫ 288 00:41:56,240 --> 00:41:59,240 ♫ ♫ ♫ 289 00:41:59,240 --> 00:42:03,240 ♫ ♫ 290 00:42:03,240 --> 00:42:07,240 ♫ ♫ ♫ 291 00:42:07,240 --> 00:42:10,240 ♫ ♫ ♫ 292 00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:13,240 ♫ ♫ ♫ 293 00:42:13,240 --> 00:42:15,240 ♫ Woo! ♫