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SummerSlam Preview: Draft Style · The 3Ts: Tables, Tailgates, and Toploaders

• TB: What's up friends? We are back with another episode of the Three Ts podcast. That's right, tables, tailgates, and top loaders. Now, my co-host Sydney isn't here this week. She's traveling for work, but I'm bringing back my buddy Mike because we're doing a special summer slam preview. So if you're ready, I'm ready. Let's dive in. I see you came prepared because you are rocking the SummerSlam shirt. Mike: I am. It's my SummerSlam shirt from Cleveland from I think it was two years ago. TB: That's two years back. So that was the last year before they went to the two night event, correct? Mike: Correct. TB: So what was your favorite match on that card? Mike: Cody I I think the main event was Cody and Solo. And Roman Reigns made his grand return. So I I think it took him about five minutes to get down to the ring. but I I thought that was kinda cool. TB: Ha ha ha. Now how is the crowd in good old Cleveland for Summerslam? Mike: It was actually really good. the the weather was pretty nice, it wasn't too hot. so I i it was it was a br pretty good car out. TB: So are you ready for this year's two night SummerSlam event? Mike: I like the one night better. but I I'm ready for it, yes. TB: 'Cause I was gonna ask, do you consider SummerSlam to be on par with WrestleMania or what where where do you rank it among the the top, let's see, the main the main four? So if you're looking WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, SummerSlam, what what do you think? Mike: I I think it's number two. it's kinda like the the mid season So I think everything builds off of SummerSlam. So I think we have money in the bank is the next big one after this. So that'll build off of SummerSlam. So TB: Yeah, it's weird 'cause they moved money in the bank to after SummerSlam this year. I I wasn't really sure why they did all that. Mike: I I heard it was a some kind of scheduling. TB: Yeah, it it's very strange. But how are you liking the road to SummerSlam so far? Mike: I actually think it's been kind of blackluster. especially TB: Really? Mike: with s s some of the the mid carters. I th I think the the CM Punk Cody Rhodes could be built up a lot more. There there's a lot of storyline behind there and I think they're just relying on it's a big match because who's in it? But th they really haven't TB: Yeah. Mike: told much of a story behind it. TB: Well, that'll be interesting to see your thoughts as we go through this card then, because I thought the build's been okay, but I I kind of agree with you so far on the the CM Punk match. I'm not really sure what my my f my thoughts are on that one thus far, but are you all caught up? Are you familiar with what's going on with Raw and SmackDown and all that stuff heading into this weekend? Mike: Yeah, for the most part I am. if I haven't been able to watch the whole episode, I'll watch some kind of recap. just to make sure I'm on top of things. TB: No, awesome. Awesome. Well, I appreciate you jumping on. Obviously, you're doing me a huge favor. good old Sydney had to take a work trip and now she's out in Vegas partying and up. So here we are, you know, the working class over here on the East Coast, Mike: Mm. TB: trying to get the folks ready for their summer slam because it's not just one day, it's two days and the people need their previews. So here we are. So I appreciate you hopping in and and and helping me out. Mike: I'm happy to be here. I'll anytime you need me I'll step in. TB: Well, I love it. You're always ready to go when we need the old lefty in the bullpen. So awesome. So I figured we would do this a little differently instead of just running through each match one at a time, Saturday and then Sunday. I thought we would kind of spice it up a little bit. I thought we would do this like a draft. And what I figured we would do, we would alternate, we would go back and forth. Obviously, you're the guest here on the three T, so I'm gonna give you the first pick. And you could pick whatever match of the twelve that are currently listed for the two night show that you want. But I say we pick in the order of how excited we are or how much like fire is going into these matches heading into the weekend. So what do you think? Mike: I'm in. TB: All right, so you are on the clock with the first overall pick in the twenty twenty-six SummerSlam two-night preview spectacular. Who you got as your number one match that you're looking forward to? Mike: So by far the the biggest match I'm looking forward to is Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. I I I think there's a lot of unfinished business there. ever since they had their match back in twenty twenty two, I think it was at Royal Rumble where Seth came out in the the Shield year. but TB: huh. Mike: it ended it ended up in a DQ and they never picked up after it. It was when Roman Reigns was during his big run there and they just they just never returned to it. it Seems like it it's lacking and I I was waiting for to come back to this. TB: So how have you liked the build thus far heading into cause this is gonna be this is gonna be the number one event. So main event Sunday night. How have you liked the build thus far? Mike: I like it. I I like how they've gone through their history. and I don't think this is gonna be the end. I hope it's not the end. but I I I've really enjoyed the build-up to this match. TB: Yeah, I I think it's been great. I love the little vid vignette. What how do you say it? Vignettes, vignettes Mike: Yeah. TB: that they are putting together. I think they've what showed six or seven of them so far. I think they're great. They're only what 30, 40 seconds apiece, and they highlight some of the tumultuous paths that they've crossed out obviously through the last, geez, when when did they debut as the shield to help? CM Punk, I don't know. It's been what 13 some plus years ago. I don't even know at this point. It's been Mike: Yeah, it's it's been been a lot, fourteen may maybe. TB: Fourteen years. Yeah. obviously the SHIELD personally, I think the Shield is one of my favorite factions of all time. and it kind of was bittersweet when they broke up because for me, I loved each and every one of those guys, but I knew it was time that they all had to kind of see how they could, you know, survive on their own and and succeed on their own. And but yeah, they they haven't really had a lot of crossing of the paths. over the next, I don't know, four, five, six years. So to see these guys finally square up. And one of the biggest questions I had is, well, why now? obviously SummerSlam is a huge event. now that it's two nights, it's it's really on par with WrestleMania if if a notch below. and these guys are headlining night two, but I I feel like they had to do this match now, at least Because you never know what could happen. These guys aren't getting any older. And with Seth Rollins' injury history, you got to kind of pull the trigger when when it's it's in your lap. So so I'll I'm gonna do this for each and every match. I'm gonna ask you, who do you want to win? And then who do you think is gonna win? So we'll start there. Who who do you want to win between Rollins and Reigns? Mike: I've always been a big Seth Rollins fan, so I I really want him to win. but I don't see it happening. TB: yeah, you think you think Reigns is gonna keep it? Mike: I think I think there's gonna be some shenanigans and I and I I think he ends up keeping. TB: what do you think? Do you think there's gonna be a return? Do you think there's gonna be interference? What what do you how do you see this playing out? Mike: I think it's a little odd that Ron Breaker isn't scheduled to be on this. And he I know he's part of a tag team right now, I I I foresee him maybe coming out and having some interference. but I I I think there's g definitely gonna be there's not gonna be a clean finish, I don't think, in this match. TB: Yeah, it it is interesting seeing as how they are your tag team champs, that they're not on a two-night card. I guess we'll start there and kind of branch off for a second, but why are the tag champs not on our two night SummerSlam card? Mike: And and that was one thing that really stuck out to me that it's just weird. it's there a reason why I could think of is the they're gonna appear at some point and I I would think it's gonna be during this match. TB: are they gonna align with Reigns and kind of join the bloodline or are they just so against Seth that it's, you know, the the enemy of my enemy is my friend type of deal. What do you what do you think? Mike: I I think they're just out there to mess with stuff. TB: I agree with you. I would love to see Seth win, but the way they've been setting this up with at the end of every show, he's kind of getting the upper hand on Roman. I think he lured him into the chair shot last week and then he turned around and and curb stomped him, hit him with the stomp on the chair, and he left him, you know, lying on the mat. And this is back to back weeks now that Ronald has got the upper hand. And it seems to me that they are just playing into this idea of Rains never beating Rollins so far. Mike: Mm. TB: So I I don't know. But at the same time, I'm a big believer in you don't lose your job to injury. The old Drew Bledsoe, if if I could throw it back to my most hated quarterback of all time, Tom Brady taking over for Drew Bledsoe because he lost his job to injury. It's kind of garbage. So Seth had to give the belt up because he got. hurt. not sure if you saw that episode of Unreal on Netflix, but it was very telling how how the whole story had to change. But but here we are fast forward to SummerSlam. And now he's going after the belt that technically he never lost. So I don't know. I I I really want to see him get that belt back. But with Reigns only having it since he beat Punk at night two of WrestleMania, we're only talking what? What is that? what three roughly three months. That's not a very long title range. So I don't I don't know. I could see it playing out. Do you think the bloodline's gonna get involved in this in any way, shape, or form? Mike: I I I think so, definitely. I think I I think there's gonna be some surprise members, you know, that interfere as well that furthers that storyline. TB: If you had the choice of straight wrestling match or schmazola and everybody is involved, which way would you rather this play out? Mike: I I'd rather a a straight wrestling match. I think these two are good enough to put on a good show without having any interference. And I I think it would be entertaining. They they they can go a long time too, so I I'd like it like it just to be a straight wrestling match, but I don't think it's gonna be. TB: So you don't think there's any chance we see that on Sunday night? Mike: No. TB: Yeah, it's tough. I would love to see it, but I think there's just too many other players involved in this. and I was trying to think of outside of the vision, outside of the Usos, who else could we see come back? Who else would interfere? And I'm just not sure because I think the one returning superstar. That I foresee coming back, which I won't say here because I don't want to give up my my my pick. I just don't see him being a part of this match. But hey, stranger things have happened. so Mike: Mm. TB: you got any other thoughts on this or are we ready to move on to pick number two? Mike: I I think we're ready for your pick. TB: All right. Well, normally I would most people would probably go right for Punk and Cody, but not me. I am going for Oba versus Brock, Hell in a Cell, Oba Brock number three. This is one of the ones I am super psyched for. I can't wait to see this match. Now, full disclosure, I was there in person for Oba Brock One, and it was awesome. Just awesome. Now I know these are short. Car crashes, they are over. The entrances last longer than the match. I totally get that. And historically, most of Lesnar's matches are rinse and repeat with Suplex City and F5 after F5. I get it. But you put these two into the cell, and I love Oba. His new shirt, by the way, I gotta order that. I think that's fire. I think Oba is the real deal. I think he's a future champion. I want to see this because I think it's going to be. Well, I think it's gonna be what it was supposed to be at WrestleMania, which is Brock's retirement. because I see him losing in his hometown in Minnesota, and then kind of that's gonna be his swan song. So that's the one I'm excited for. Now this is gonna be Saturday night. And I don't know where is this? Do you think this is gonna start the show on Saturday night? Mike: I think so. I I I think you've got to start out with a bang. and and I th th there's no better way than this map. TB: So how do you think the cell plays into this with the fact that these two guys usually have very short matches? They're very hard hitting, very powerful, explosive move. How do you think the cell is going to play into this match? Mike: I think someone's either gonna go through it or rip of the walls off. I I I I I think that's really the only way the cell really plays into it. it seems like a a weird match to have a hell in a cell. Like you said, they're they're they're normally very short matches. They're not high flyers. So hell in a cell match seems little weird for these two. TB: Now, did you see the opening of Monday Night Raw to set this match up? Mike: I did. TB: So the whole time I'm watching it, I thought at some point Oba was going to rip one of the walls off to get at Lesnar. And a Mike: Mm. TB: lot of people were disappointed with this segment because the cell separated them and they they thought it was boring. I thought it was kind of a foreshadowing of what we may get on Saturday, which to your point, I totally agree. I think at some point, I I'm not so sure that both of these guys are gonna get in the cell at the beginning of this match. I think it's gonna be a repeat of what we saw Monday. And then literally Oba's gonna rip one of the walls off to get him in the cage. And then they might do some patchwork type of thing before the match even starts. I bet you will see shenanigans at the front end of this match just before the bell even starts. Cause Br Brock Lesnar is gonna play some games like he did on Monday night with the whole key and locking it and that kind of deal. I really don't think he wants to be locked up in the cage with with Oba. And his his tactics have been very like hit and run esque over the last couple months. So yeah, I I totally agree with you. I see that some some way, shape, or form, a wall of this cell. I don't see them doing the Mick Foley Mankind throw off the top thing, nor through like power power bomb. my gosh, can you imagine if Oba hits his power bomb through Brock at the top? I mean, they'd both be Well, I don't want to talk about it. That would be insane. But no, I I think like one of the lower walls will get ripped off in in one way or or another. And I think it's gonna be crazy. What what are your thoughts on this match? Mike: I think something like that is gonna happen. I think that that's the only way you can make this match last more than three to five minutes is by having something like that happen to extend the match. but if if you have just the two of them in the cell by themselves, it's gonna be a very quick match 'cause that seems to be the way Brock's matches go. So I think that's a good prediction that that that's gonna be the way that they lengthen this match. TB: So I I want Oba to win. I think Oba's gonna win. Who you got in this one? Mike: I got Oba in this one. it's been kind of put out there for probably six six months or so. This was gonna be Brock's last match. They haven't said anything about it, but I'm curious to what you think. You you witnessed the the WrestleMania where Brock took off his boots and you know it showed that he was gonna retire then. What are your thoughts with him coming back after doing that? TB: Honestly, honestly, I think he was pressured into coming back. I think that that moment, and that's kind of why this whole neck the last three months have been a little disappointing. I thought WrestleMania was a perfect ending to his career. Mike: Yeah. TB: He kind of went out on his own. It was shocking. It was heartfelt the way he was losing it. He was in tears. He was almost inconsolable. And he was hugging Paul Heyman, and it was. the perfect fit ending to his career. And that's why when the whole nonsense came back, I was like, this doesn't really seem legit to me. I think the plan on WWEN end was to have him leave at SummerSlam. And he kinda called an audible on night night two of of WrestleMania and just like, nah, this is it. I'm done. There's no better way to put this new guy over. than for me to be done right now. And I think that money and pressure and Triple H was a big I I I think they hashed it out and convinced him to come back. But you know, as as someone who was there in the building, I'm not sure how it translated on TV, but it was it was crazy. It was just crazy to see that happen because it was so out of nowhere. You had no Concept that that was gonna happen. I'm not upset that they're having number three right now. but I think it was perfect and now it it's never gonna be that good. So we shall see what happens. But that's kind of that's kind of how I I feel about that. Do you think Paul Heyman is involved in this in any way, shape, or form? Or I I really don't see any other outside interference. Mike: No, I he'll be there and he'll be, you know, doing his facial reactions and yelling and stuff, but TB: Yeah. Mike: I I don't see h any interference. TB: Yeah, this is probably gonna be the first of I think there's three wrestlers over the weekend who are from Minnesota. So him, Tiffany Stratton and Chad Gable. So we'll see. we'll see if any any of them are manage to to squeak out a W. I'm not so sure, but we'll get to those other matches soon. So yeah, I think that's good for that one. That that was my number one pick. But all right, you're back on the clock for round two. Who who you got at as the third pick? Mike: you just mentioned it. I'm I'm gonna kinda go out on a on a on a limb here. I I'm really looking forward to seeing Penta and Chad Gable. I think that is gonna be a s TB: is this is this your second pick? Mike: I I think this is gonna be as if as far as a wrestling match, this is gonna be a banger. TB: Wow, you do you think this could steal the weekend as far as like straight wrestling match of the weekend? Mike: I I think straight wrestling, y you got these two in the ring, I think it's gonna be really good. I I I think it could be the best straight up wrestling. TB: Wow, you I was not prepared for that one. Mike: Yeah. TB: The second second round pick. Wow. Mike is bringing the fire on the three T's. All right. Mike: Yeah. TB: Hit me up. Tell me what what do you like about this build so far? Mike: I'm a big Chad Gable fan. I I think the the stuff he did with the lucha libre, no one else could do that, could just jump in and do that. he he he's got more talent than most of this roster. it's just unfortunately he's one of the smaller guys, but you match him up with Penta and I I I think this is just gonna be just nonstop. the both of these guys can really go. And I I think this they're really gonna put on a show. TB: Do you think they're gonna be given a good amount of time? Where as far as like match match length, how much time do you think these guys are gonna be given for this match? That's my one concern. Mike: I'm hoping twenty five minutes. That's my hope. TB: Wow. You have high hopes for this match. Twenty five minutes. Mike: I I do. but but I mean eliminate some of the the advertisements they have i in between every single match, we could do it. Well it's is it it's it's terrible, yes, I agree. TB: Have you watched a P L E in the last two years? Twenty-five minutes. Okay. All right. So you're a big fan of Chad Gable. Do you like the new theme song number one? And do you like the skull clapping? I don't know what it what is that what we're calling it? Is it the skull clap? I I I don't I don't know what he's doing. So can you explain this to me? Mike: I hate it. I I hate TB: Okay. Mike: the song, I hate the clap, but I I like him as a wrestler, so I didn't really like his old old theme music, but w we gotta change at some point here. TB: Is there any chance he can adopt Kurt Engels theme music? Mike: That would be great. TB: Ha ha ha. I mean, who who would know? I mean, because there Mike: Yeah. TB: are I I think he has the trajectory. Look, I'm never gonna say he's going to be Kurt Angle. Kurt Engel is probably one of the best I've I will ever see. But I think he has the ability because I do think he has many sides to him. I think he has the ability to adopt kind of that badass side, but also the comedic aspect to his character. And I think if if given the leeway to pursue these different sides of of him, I think he could kind of round into form into like a Kurt Engel light. And I think his Mike: Mm. TB: skill set is very similar to Kurt Engle, obviously from the amateur wrestling background. Obviously he never wrote wrestled on a broken freaking neck, but the the parallels are, you know, they're they're ridiculous. So I I agree with you. My my one thought about this match is Penta is like Insane when it comes to merch. And this was the Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: only thing that kind of put me on pause. obviously, Chad Gable is in his hometown. He's from Minnesota, but he's wrestling, probably one of the most popular wrestlers on the whole roster. He's had the belt for quite some time. In fact, I can't even remember when he got the belt. It's been a while. Do you do you remember? I would have to look this up, but. Mike: I I can't remember. Like you said, it's it's been a long TB: The amount of penta merch when I went to Elimination Chamber and when I was at Mania, the amount of people rocking Penta gear is insane. Just crazy. Shirts, the the mask stuff, the the face, they I mean all kinds of crazy stuff. Penta people love penta. So that's my only hang up with this. Not saying that he he can never lose the belt. Do you think that the story arc of Gable leads him to be a good I see i see champion Mike: I think he could be a good IC champion and and he'll he'll be one of those fighting champions too that will fight anybody that comes around. So I he can do it. TB: Yeah, and I think he can fight anybody. So he can go toe to toe with the the big guys because he has the ridiculous raw power and he can fight Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: obviously clearly he he could fight Lucha style. some of those matches are ridiculous and he's just so quick and powerful at the same time. It it's it's crazy. So you are you going with with Gable? Both you want him to win and you think he's gonna win? Mike: Yes I am. I I'm going both Jad Gable all the TB: Okay. I I want Chad Gable to win, but I'm gonna go out on a limb. I'm gonna say Penta retains, unfortunately, for all the Minnesotans in the crowd. All right. So and you got anything else on this one before we move on to my second pick? Mike: Nope, you're up. TB: All right, I I would love to go punk Cody, but I'm not gonna do it because the one I want to see next is Gunther versus Nick Aldous. Like, call Mike: Yeah. TB: me crazy. Gunther, I freaking love Gunther. He is one of my favorite characters. He's been one of my favorite characters for the last couple years. I love the story they have told with him, the career killer. Taking care of AJ Styles. Obviously, John Cena, he was supposed to be, at least if you follow the rumors, he was supposed to be the one to go against Brock Lesnar. And then this whole Oba thing went completely crazy. I bet, I bet if if Brock hadn't done the fake retirement in WrestleMania and Oba had just won, I think Brock would have gone and transitioned into this Gunther story if you believe the rumors. But I kind of like where we're at because I think this is gonna be the sneaky good match of the weekend. I I love what you're saying about the the Chad Gable special. I'm not sure they're gonna get 25 minutes. If they get 15 to 17, I would be ecstatic. but this match, listen, same, same with Gable, obviously completely different type of wrestler, but Gunther can wrestle anybody. He he is awesome. The reason I think I like him so much is because he reminds me so much of the 80s villains when I was a kid. Like your Nikolai Volkovs and your Iron Sheeks and all those like just bad, bad foreigners, if you Mike: Yeah. TB: will, right? You you weren't ever, you were never supposed to root for the guy that wasn't for the United States. Like and and he just reminds me so much of that. And he taps into just kind of the mind games of his opponent, and he I don't know. I I I love Gunther. I actually don't know what they're gonna do with this match. And that's kind of one of the reasons why I'm so looking forward to it. Look, if you are playing this straight, like there's no chance a general manager is going to beat Gunther, who just took out your biggest cash cow in the last twenty plus years. So I kind of see there being some sort of schmaz involved in this. I just don't know what that looks like. So what are your thoughts on this match and the the buildup and the whole setup leading to it? Mike: I like the fact that they're not portraying Nick Gullis as just a general manager. They're they're they're showing his accolades as a wrestler. So it's it's not like a Mr. McMahon going in there and wrestling. You know, he he's just the the the CEO and coming in to wrestle for the first time. He th he he's got some pedigree behind him. So I I I think this isn't gonna be there there's gonna be some wrestling into this. I think it's gonna be surprising too. I I I think Nick all this is gonna I they're not gonna just have him get sm smashed. TB: Yeah. Yeah. And this dude is like jacked. I mean, I think people are going to be shocked when he gets in in the ring on is this let me see. Let me look this one up. yeah, this is Saturday. So this is gonna be Saturday night. What do you think his ring attire is gonna be? Mike: I'm waiting for him to walk down in a suit and just like rip it open and have wrestling trunks underneath. TB: So you think straight trunks like Finn Balor size trunks, or are we gonna go a little bigger? Mike: I I'm joking about the suit thing, but I think he's gonna show off his physique with what he's wearing. So I mean you can you can tell he's a big dude under the suit, but I I I think he's gonna he's gonna open some eyes when he comes out there. TB: Any chance he wrestles in attire similar to IRS? Mike: Ha ha ha TB: I mean, is there any chance? Mike: I think you're the only one making that assumption. TB: Because look, I would love to see that he wrote he he rocks an homage to the late great Barry Bray Wyatt's father, Mike Rotunda. I think that would be fantastic. Like Mike: Yeah. TB: a shout out to IRS. I mean, come on, that would be great, but you don't so you don't see that happening. Okay, fair Mike: I d I don't see it happening. Like the idea, but I I don't think anybody's thought of that. TB: fair enough. Yeah, see, I'm torn on this one because I don't think you you make such an investment in Gunther, the character, and just taking all these people out and then have them lose to Nick Aldous, a a general manager who hasn't wrestled in years. I don't see that happening. The only way that Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: works is if somebody else comes back to challenge him. And I'm kind of on the fence here with my one return. I'm not sure if it happens in this match. Or the punk Cody match, but I could see, and I'm just gonna go with it. I could see Randy Orton coming here into this match and wrecking havoc and going after Gunther and hitting him with an RKO out of nowhere. And that's the only way Aldous has any chance of pulling out the W. What what are your thoughts? Mike: I don't think this is a one and done. I I think this is a a two two or three match story. especially with them saying how Nick Aldous is taking a a leave as GM. I I thought that was kind of surprising when they were doing the contract signing and they said he's he's not gonna be GM for a little while. so I I I think that might lead into him may maybe wrestling him a couple times. I don't foresee him joining the main roster and just wrestling other matches. so I I I think he's gonna surprise a lot of people with his abilities. I agree, I think Randy Orton's coming back, but I don't think it's for this match. TB: Okay, okay. I just see this having to be I I don't see this being straight up. There has to be some sort of schmazz at some way, shape, or form. I don't know. Does Pat McAfee come back as a good guy? Cause the last time was an epic disaster. I don't know. Somebody has to get involved with this to continue the story. Otherwise, look in in in the real world, right? Gutter destroys him. You can't have Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: a guy that's been wearing a suit for two years suddenly beat one of your most powerful villains. It just doesn't doesn't make sense to me. and people would probably be like, Okay, this is ridiculous. So I don't know. I don't know. I I would love to see actually no. I want Gutho to win. I want and I hope he wins. So there's my pick. Who you got winning this one? Mike: I I think I I think I think Nick Aldous wins it. like I said, it's it's it's the only way that they they continue this story. I I don't see anybody else lined up for Guther at this point. 'cause he's just he just destroyed everybody so far that he wrestles and I don't see anybody for him to retire anytime soon. So TB: Yeah. Mike: I I th I think this goes on for a couple months. TB: you got any other surprises that you wanna, you know, throw out for this match or are we good? Mike: I think we're good. TB: All right, you're on the clock. You got the third pick. Round three. Here you go. Who you taking? Mike: Well, I I I think one of us has to pick it eventually, so I'll I'll go with the CM Punk Cody Rhodes match since we've both been avoiding it. TB: I was seeing how long and how far it would drop on the draft board. So it Mike: Ha ha ha. TB: made it to what? This is pick five? Okay, pick five. Here we go. We got to finally talk about it. You go ahead. You picked it. Number three. Go for it. Mike: I think this match could have been built up a lot better with the history between these two. I think it's gonna be a good match on its own. I think that's what they're kind of standing on is we we got our two biggest superstars here. we really don't have to build this up. I I think I think it's gonna be a good match. I I would imagine that's gonna be the main event for Saturday. TB: Yes, it will be. How interested are you in this match? Because I gotta tell you, I'm watching these promos and I'm just like, What what the hell are you all talking about? This doesn't make any sense. And okay, he mistakenly hit him with the strap of the belt. And then Cody drops the microphone and they're playing these games. And I'm just like, What is going on here? This doesn't even make sense. And then Cody the other night, he's like, I love you, but I don't like you. And we're friends, but we're not friends, and I don't trust you. And I I'm like, This is dumb. It's just dumb. And I have no interest in this match whatsoever. I don't know. That's just me. It it makes no sense to me. To your point. They have such history here and they didn't tap into a single thing about it. It was like they were tiptoeing around the whole thing and dancing around it and just speaking in riddles. And I'm like, y'all sound like idiots. Like complete idiots. Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: And it just doesn't make any sense to me. And it I it left me completely disinterested in this match. Abs Absolutely, I have no interest in this match. Mike: And and to tell you the truth, I I really don't even care who wins. I really don't like Cody anymore. It's just he's it's it's old, it's I hate every every show that he's on. He walks in with that really giant smile on his face and you're like, What what are you TB: Yeah. Mike: smiling at? And then the the the whole he points at, you know, he'll point down a hallway and act like there's someone down there he's pointing at. I I'm just I'm done with this happy good guy persona. I I think he could be a really good heel. my only hope for this match is that he loses in turns heel somehow. TB: Do you think that's ever gonna happen or is he the next John Cena? Mike: I think he's the next John Cena. I I I don't see it happening. I mean we we all we wanted John Cena to turn heel for ten years and he finally did it really didn't go that well. I mean TB: Yeah. Mike: the the heel turn itself was awesome. And TB: Right. Mike: then then it kind of just went downhill from TB: I mean, the way the last promo went, it made it seem like Punk is going to turn heel, which okay. We've we've seen that before. so here here's the thing: the ball's in your court. You picked this dumpster fire. You are triple H. You have to convince me of why I should be interested in this match. So put your triple H hat on. Speak to the general public who might not want to tune in Saturday. Convince them why they should care about this match. Mike: You got me. I I I'm I I'm at a loss for this one. TB: Come on, Trips. You gotta sell this. Mike: there's really nothing there for this. Like I said, they they haven't built this up at all. And they they had time to do that and they just they just said, Hey, we got two our two biggest stars here and the the whole like the whole, you know, hitting him in the in the face accidentally with the belt when he put it over his shoulder. I'm like I'm like, you are really grasping at straws here. It's this is this wasn't that hard of a build up. and they they they really swung and missed on this one. TB: The only thing I could think of, and I'll play devil's advocate for a second because hey, it's it's it's the three T's. I gotta at least try, try to salvage this this dumpster fire of a match. But you're like to your point, at the very beginning, you said these are two of your biggest superstars and they're fighting over the top prize. That's it. End of story. And I think that the promo package, hopefully they actually have promo packages before the match. But if they play the promo package, they should take out all the other crap. and cut cut the promos down to basically you and I both want this belt. We're we're at the top of the game. You're great, I'm great, let's have a match. That's it. Get rid of the rest because the rest doesn't make any sense. Logically, nothing they're saying makes any sense and no one cares. So cut and paste, trim down 90% of the nonsense, get rid of all the noise and just say, hey, I'm good, you're good, I want your belt, you want to keep it. Let's fight Saturday night. That's it. What do you think? Mike: I I I think that's the best way to do it. I got a question for you. Do you think there's any shenanigans in this match? TB: I mean this was the only other spot that I saw Randy coming back. And why why has he not been on TV? I mean he w Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: Go ahead. Mike: He hasn't been injured. I I heard that he came out and said, No, I'm I'm just kinda relaxing at home. TB: he wins the elimination chamber in which was awesome and shocking, goes to Mania, and then that you never hear you don't see from him, hear from him for three months. So I'm like, okay. And and to your point, I'm I'm looking, I'm like, where's Randy? What the hell is going on? So why would he not come back? Because as far as I'm concerned, he can insert himself into this and they could do a triple threat and or or Or go after Punk or go after Cody or who whomever. And and that's an instant we're off and running feud. So I I don't know. Do you think that's a that's a possibility in this match, or do you think that this is the one spot where it's a pretty clean, straightforward, no nonsense mono emano match? Mike: I think this is the time that Randy Orton comes back. what I think would be awesome is if Randy Orton attacks Cody Rhodes before the match, making it where he can't wrestle TB: okay. Mike: again, and then somehow Randy Orton wins, and then they they end the night with Sami Zang losing his mind again about someone else just coming back off the bench and winning. TB: man, that's all sort all sorts of stuff going on. my gosh. And then they suddenly add a money in the bank ladder match and then he wins that. So who you got? You this is your third pick. Who do you want to win and who who do you think's gonna win? Mike: I really don't care who wins. to me it's a toss my I I I could really I could I TB: You gotta pick somebody. Mike: could care less who wins. I I think it's gonna be CM Punk though that wins. TB: Okay. Yeah, I I think I agree with you. he really hasn't had the belt that long. Not that it matters if you're Sammy Zayn, but I don't know why they take the belt off Sammy if you just put it on punk to lose immediately to Cody, a few weeks Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: later. That doesn't make any sense to me. so yeah, the the only I I could see him retaining and whether it's via interference from some outsider, who knows. But yeah, I think I think I agree with you. I think I think punk retain. So you got any other awesome words of wisdom about this banger that's coming up? So shout out to Seamus on Saturday night. Mike: No, I I think we're good with this one. Let's move on. TB: All right, my third pick, and this is tough because I'm really looking forward to both these matches. I am actually gonna go with the three on three, the bloodline light versus the the sorta bloodline with LA Knight, yeah, and Royce Keys. Listen, I will come out and tell you this right now. Solo Sokoa is awesome, and I want to see him. Take it to a whole nother level. The comedy stuff that he does when he, I don't know if you saw Monday when he's making fun of the his brothers from the crowd. my gosh. Dude, I was laughing hysterically. When he is allowed to just go, I think he is one of the funniest. And he he doesn't even try. That's the great thing Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: about him. He doesn't have to try, and I think he's absolutely hilarious. And I would love to see Solo get elevated to the next stage, wherever that is. So I'm kind of really interested in this. I like Jacob Fatu. I was pushing hard for him to beat Roman a couple months back when they were having that whole thing. Obviously, that didn't work out. So now he joined the bloodline. look, at some point, this LA Knight versus the Usos and the Bloodline story, You gotta do something with it. And we can't keep running this back over and over. I love how Royce Keyes has been added to this. I think he's I think he's really good. I thought he was underused in AEW as powerhouse Hobbs. I love his moveset. I think sometimes you just need to have these larger than life dudes who can just beat the living crap out of you. And I think we need to see more of that. So I love the the the dichotomy of the team there. Now can they all fight for you know, can they all agree and actually get on the same page to go against the the bloodline? Who knows? But that's kind of what I'm I'm looking forward to because I really don't know what way this is gonna play out. And that again is kind of exciting to me. What what are your thoughts on this one? Mike: this one kind of confuses me. I'm not I'm not sure what to think of it. I I mean on paper looks like a great match. solo to me is the wild card 'cause TB: Yeah. Mike: you don't know which way he's gonna go. Is is he gonna get along with LA Knight in the Royce Keys or is is this been a whole ruse to put him back in the bloodline? That's kind of my fear. TB: The only thing that I was thinking about today is the placement on the card. So this match is going down on Saturday, and then your main event, Reigns versus Rollins, is Sunday night. Is it possible that every one of the six in Saturday's match somehow get involved in the main event on Sunday? Mike: K kind of like a WrestleMania with reins and roads. TB: Well, not only that, Survivor Series is right around the corner. I mean, we're probably what two months off from it. So if you want to do the OG bloodline plus Jacob versus the cast offs, if you will, led Mike: Yeah. TB: by Seth and Solo and LA Knight, I mean, You could convince me that that's going to be a hell of a war games match, and I would be all about it. maybe Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: you just keep it four on four, maybe you find a way to add a fifth member to each family. I don't know. Is it wishful thinking? Maybe, but I'm always thinking, okay, well, where are they actually trying to set this up for four or eight weeks from now? And that's the only thing I could see. I don't even know if this match on Saturday is gonna have a winner. I'm not sure it even matters, but at some point. LA Knight has to get something from this constant interaction. I just don't know what that is. Do you see him and this kind of a side note, do you see him as world champ material? Mike: I do. I I think he's got all the tools. It just is he ever gonna be given that opportunity? I mean thus far they've they've given him few championship opportunities. It's been th those mid card championships that he's had. But I I I don't know if they ever give him that opportunity to to get the world title or the WWE championship. TB: Yeah, I mean, could you ever see or imagine a world where it's Reigns versus night for the title? Like a legit chance. Mike: if it was it would be on some kind of minor it'd be like Saturday night's main event or something like that. And I I don't think he's ever gonna beat Reigns. It'll be you know, it'll be someone like Sammy who wins the championship and he beats someone like that. TB: Yeah, I I think I kind of agree with you. And it's a shame. I mean, it I I don't know what else he needs to do, but again, like if you look at wrestling like it's a tr a traveling circus and and you know there's all sorts of roles that everybody has to play. You you you can only have so many Roman Reigns in the company. You can only have so many guys carry the belt. And I don't know if long term LA Knight is the answer. A lot of people want to see it. A lot of people are getting mad that they're not giving him a chance. So yeah, I I totally I'm looking forward to this match. I I don't even know. I want to see I want to see him and solo and Royce win. Do I see that happening? I think some way, shape, or form, the bloodline gets the win. So that's gonna be my official pick. What who you got on this one? Mike: I think somehow LA Knight and Royce Keys Solo pull it out. I don't know how. I think there there's there's gonna be shenanigans in this match, I think. but I I I think somehow that that they they they win and it's gonna continue that story. TB: So you think it's LA night versus the bloodline for the rest of the time. Mike: At least for the for foreseeable future. TB: No. Yeah, I I'm hoping they give this match a little time. That's my one concern that they rush this and it's like eight, nine minutes. Cause we've seen that kind of thing before. And yeah, I I I don't know. But that's my third pick. So you are on the clock. Fourth round, fourth pick. Who you got? We are halfway through. Mike: All right. my next pick, I'm gonna go with Sami Zayn and Finn Baylor. I I TB: Okay. Mike: I really I really want them to give Finn a big push. I I think he's been kind of just lurking with the the these jobber matches, he he just hasn't been pushed at all since he won the title. And then that was like ten years ago. And since TB: Yeah. Mike: then he he he never got a push and he's got all the talent in the world. plus I wanna see another meltdown from Sammy, so TB: Didn't Finn win the one time at SummerSlam? Or was did I get that wrong? Where he held it, got hurt, and then lost it the next night, you had to give it up. Wasn't it Summerslam? Mike: When it win the title? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I t I was that the one where he was the demon was that one the the Rollins match? TB: Maybe I got that wrong. Yeah, he d wasn't he f Yeah. Mike: Yeah. TB: And then the next night he had to give up the belt because he had Mike: Yeah. TB: torn his shoulder apart or something, and then he never Mike: Yeah. TB: never got another chance ever again. Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: Yeah, Finn Balor's one of my favorites. Rocking the Balor Club T. he's awesome. Actually, seeing him versus Punk in Chicago at that elimination chamber match, I knew he had no chance. But to be in the crowd and see that match, and they made it seem like he had a chance. And I was on the edge of my seat thinking he's gonna beat the champ in his Mike: Yeah. TB: hometown. And I'm like, what a loser I am. Complete moron. Mike: Mm. TB: He's never gonna beat CM Punk. In Chicago, and sure enough, he didn't. But I I love Finn Balor. I I want to see. I thought they they were gonna pull the trigger a couple months back, and I I keep thinking they're gonna give him this mega mega monster push, and it never happened. So it's tough though, because with the whole Sammy thing having it for nine days, he found himself right back in the title picture again now with this number one contendership match. I don't know. Do you do you think Finn's gonna gonna emerge victorious? Mike: I think so. I I I think it's just gonna be constant pushing Sammy down, not giving him you know somehow he's gonna get screwed or thinks he gets screwed. And he he eventually he's gonna be not the good guy anymore. He's he's got the that t shirt that he's the the last good guy. I I don't think he's gonna be a good guy for long. TB: Is this a reverse Daniel Bryan scenario? Mike: Yeah, I I I TB: Do you remember that whole story where it was him versus the authority in Triple H and Stephanie? Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: And he finally wins at S at SummerSlam versus John Cena. And then immediately Batista runs out with the briefcase and cashes in. And then he it took Mike: I I I don't TB: him a whole nother what, six months to get back to the to the top, and he had his WrestleMania moment. Mike: I I think he's a fan favorite. I I I think people support him. So I I I I could see that TB: You're talking Sammy? Mike: happening. Yeah. I I I could see people feeling bad for him kinda like they did with Daniel Bryant and I I could see that happen. TB: Yeah. So you you got Finn winning this one? Mike: Yes. TB: So play it out then. He wins, he's the number one contender. You got four choices. Who's he going against? Mike: think this is the for the number one contendership for the WWE championship. So I'd be the winner of TB: Okay. Okay. Mike: CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. I I think that's the way they played it. so I see him with a going against CM Punk. TB: So you think they're gonna run back that title match from Elimination Chamber? Punk Balor Mike: I think so. TB: again? Mike: I think so. I I think you could you could tell a story from it, so TB: Okay. I mean, obviously they they put on great matches together. I think they have really good respect for each other. Like I said, that match was awesome. I l I loved I loved that elimination Mike: Mm-hmm. Yeah. TB: chamber match. So glad that I got to see that. yeah, I I just don't know. it'd be tough because you're gonna have to turn one of I'm not sure what you do there. but if Sammy wins and he's the bad guy and he has this whole attitude about, you know, him being the last good guy when he's really a bad guy. I could see th them Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: playing that angle either against Cody or Punk. It seems to be a better fit, but I I don't want to see that. I I I I want to see I want to see Finn at least have gold one more time. Cause he's not getting any younger. Mike: Mm. Yeah. TB: But Mike: I agree. TB: No, that's good. That's a good match. I'm definitely looking forward to that one. And that one's on Sunday night. But if my I'm on the clock and I'm going with my fourth pick, I'm going with the women's world championship. Liv Morgan versus EO Sky. EO is one of my favorite wrestlers in the whole company. not just female. but I see this playing out because I think that this is where Liv Judgment Day. What's her name? my gosh, just slipped my mind. Not Raquel. Mike: Raquel. Raquel Rodriguez. TB: She just won the I C belt. Who's the other one? Mike: Yes. TB: my gosh. This just throws my whole thing off because Mike: I know you're talking well, I can't remember her name. TB: she's kind of been Liv's been crapping on her for the last six months. what is wrong with me? What? Roxanne Mike: yeah. Rock Rox Rock Roxanne Perez, is that it? TB: Pared, Roxy, yeah, yeah, yeah. my gosh, that was a disaster. How well do you know your wrestlers? Apparently not that good. Mike: Yeah. TB: But I see this as being this is where Roxanne turns on her. And causes her the match. I don't know. Maybe I'm it's wishful thinking because I think Roxanne really hasn't had too much of a chance to shine since she joined the Judgment Day. She did a little bit when Morgan was on the shelf when she was hurt. but I think I think Roxanne is awesome. And since she kind of got called up from NXT, she's kind of been bit player, kind of pushed to the background. And I would love to see a feud with her and Liv going at it for like control the judgment day. I think that would be awesome. And watching the whole unreal behind the scenes stuff and the live stuff. I don't know. Go go take time on your farm with all your animals. I don't know what to tell you. She's like, it's weird with Liv because when she first came into the company, she was terrible. And then she got awesome. And you could see how much she's improved. And now she's too good and like too much of a focal point that now I don't really like her anymore. So I'm like Completely flipping sides when it comes to Liv Morgan. And now I just want to see her downfall. So I don't know. But I'm really looking forward to this match. They usually have a really good match, a real good chemistry together. EO always shows up in these s circumstances. She puts on just absolute clinics in the ring. She can go against anybody. And I think this is going to be a really good match. Mike: I'm I'm looking forward to this one too. I I kind of forgot that Liv Morgan was even champion 'cause I don't think she's I don't think she's defended it since she's got it. TB: Yeah. Mike: but I I I think this is gonna be a really good match. They they always put on a good show. TB: Yeah, and I thought on Monday Raquel winning was the right call against Sol Ruka. So I don't know whether that plays into this at or not. But I thought it was interesting that they chose the Monday before SummerSlam to bring gold into the judgment day. And now that kind Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: of solidified it for me in my mind, like, okay. Well, now that she's got gold, they're gonna get the belt off Liv and they're gonna have that power struggle and she's gonna be jealous and then How is that gonna how is that like gonna affect the whole family atmosphere and yada yada? So that's kinda how I saw this playing out. But I I want to see EO Sky win and I think she's gonna win. So that's gonna be one of my title changes. Mike: I have to agree with r Raquel winning gold. and that was a really good match too, where she she busted her nose and was bleeding all over the place. It it was just a it was a really good win and you know, with her holding the belt up all bloody, it was just really cool. TB: Yeah, it was an awesome visual. It looked great, translated great, and she has improved a ton in the last year. she's just sh I want to see these powerhouse wrestlers just come in and beat the hell out of people. That's great. Cause we don't see that too often. I don't I don't need these 15, 20 minute matches every week. I want to bring back the jobbers and the squash matches because it's great. So Just let me see the obas, let me see the Raquels, just beat the hell out of people for 30 seconds and move about your day. Like Mike: Yeah. TB: But that's all I got on that one. You got anything else? Mike: No, I'm good. TB: All right, you're back on the clock. I think what? This is your fifth pick. We're we're getting down to Mike: This is my fifth pick. TB: the nitty gritty here. So who you got? Mike: you you can never go long wrong with a ladder match. So I'm I'm going go with the the women's interim WWE championship match on the ladder. you got Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Chelsea Green, and I think there's still a mystery one. I th TB: Yeah, they're fighting for that entry on SmackDown Friday. It's either gonna be Lash Legend or Julia, I believe. Mike: Yeah. So I I mean I I I think it's gonna be entertaining. You you get that many talented wrestlers in a in a ladder match. It's gonna be cool to watch. TB: Does Minnesota's own Tiffany Stratton get the dub? Mike: I don't think so. TB: okay. Well number one, who do you want to win? Mike: I'd like to see Chelsea Green w win. I she she she TB: Let's go. Mike: is so entertaining. you know, the the more you have her on camera, the the the more entertaining it is. TB: Agree one hundred percent. I also would love to see Chelsea Green win. Not sure if they pull the trigger on this or not. but yeah, I I'm totally agreeing with you on that one. So who do you think's gonna get the the title at this one? Mike: I think it's gonna be Jake Cargill. I really don't want it to be, but I think it sets up a really good match with Rhea Ripley. TB: The injured Rhea Ripley returning to claim the belt she didn't lose. Mike: Yeah. I because they're they're claiming this is for the interim WWE championship. So eventually, TB: Okay. Mike: you know, whoever has this title is gonna face Rhea Ripley when she goes back. So I think that's what they're setting up. TB: Now I didn't really do much research on the Ripley injury. Do you have any idea what her timeline is or what what we're looking at here with her? Mike: I I I I thought it was gonna be significant at the time, but I don't know how much time she's got left. TB: Okay. But yeah, I I I could see that. I like your choice. I was also looking at this today, going, I don't think it's gonna be Chelsea. As much as I want that to happen, I I don't think it's gonna be her. So then you kind of go process of elimination. is Charlotte gonna win? I mean, what would this be? Her eighteenth championship? I don't know. I don't remember Mike: Mm. TB: what number she's on, but she's kinda I don't want to say she's gotten worse, but she definitely hasn't been the focal point she used to be. And there's fine because it's you know, it's a a new crowd, a new group coming up. Tiffany Stratton, I don't know. I don't really want to see her with the belt right now. And I don't see Lash Legend winning this, I don't see Julia winning this. So then it either comes down to Jade or Or Tiffany and I I think I think you're right. I I'm gonna go with Jade as well. But yeah, yeah, to your point, setting up that match, her and Rhea, that makes sense. anything else on this one? Do you think you think there's any c sort of schmaz? How much how much time do you think these these women get for this ladder match? Mike: I mean, you you gotta give at least fifteen minutes for having this many people in a ladder match. I mean you you you can't make a a five minute ladder match with that many people in it. So I i I think they're gonna get a decent amount. TB: Yeah, I was going back and forth with who's gonna win between Julia and Lash Legend to get that last spot. And usually historically they put one of these powerhouses in the match just to do some really insane looking stuff, which means it's gonna be Lash because can you see her like well, although Jade's pretty much a powerhouse too? I don't know. I I think either one of them will be a a pretty cool addition and kind of round the field out nicely. but yeah, I I could see some some crazy stuff going on in this match. It would not shock me to see some some blood in this match. Mike: No, TB: So we both agree. Yeah, Mike: I I I think it's gonna be entertaining. TB: agree. So we both agree on that one. So we have what? We have two picks to go. No, we have three picks to go. man, this is getting down to it. I know what I do not want. man, you are putting me in a very tough, tough spot here. So okay. I am going to go human monies on a poll match, the Danhausen Mike: Yeah. TB: versus Dominic Mysterio. Because you didn't leave your boy T B with much left to pick from. Mike: Yeah. TB: and one of the last two, I'm definitely not picking. So yeah, yeah, let's go. I thought Monday, to be fair, Monday's raw segment was a it went on about Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: it went on about five minutes too long. Look, I have loved everything they've done with Danhausen so far. I get the character. What I don't get is the people that Complain about Danhausen because if you complain about Danhausen, then you don't understand wrestling, as far as I'm concerned. Because Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: I've I've actually talked about this on the podcast before. You have to have wrestlers like this because it fills a very specific role. And it's almost a palette cleanser. As look at this card. This card is ridiculous. It is top to bottom, a stacked card. If you don't have some sort of palette cleansing comedic break, then people are gonna be exhausted by the time they get to the main event. I mean, look, you and I went to the last WrestleMania before it split in half to two nights. And that show was seven and a half hours long. And by the time the women's triple threat match, Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, by the time that match started, my God, I just wanted a pillow. I wanted to go home. I want to go to sleep because I was just exhausted. And so you have to have these matches that break up the intensity of the show. And I think that's the r role Danhausen plays. Obviously, he's a insane merch seller. His look is out of out of this world. It it's awesome. The kids love him. He moves a lot of merch. He sells a lot of stuff. And so I get it. Did the segment on Monday with with your boy and the the guitar playing and the I did like the organ thing. Did you see that? Where Dan Houser pretends he's playing this really crazy organ solo and then he lifts one hand in the air. I thought that was pretty funny. But then when all the dancers came out, it went it went Mike: I TB: way too long. Mike: It w it was one of the worst segments they've had in years. TB: Yeah, yeah. I I've I've heard I've heard that take. I don't wanna say worst. because I think that there was some good okay, maybe it was one. Mike: Yeah. TB: I know you're a big Joe Henry fan. Clearly he's gonna get involved in this match in some way, shape, or form. Clearly JD McDonough's gonna get involved in this match in some way, shape, or form. I love the stipulation of putting this human monies on a poll. We haven't seen a good Mike: Yeah. TB: blank on a poll match in quite some time. In fact, I can't remember the last time we had one of these. Okay, the thing that just popped into my head are the what what word are we calling them? Midget wrestling? I mean, because that's I I don't know what's Mike: Yeah. TB: appropriate. Little people wrestlers, are they going to stack one on top of the next and form like a totem pole of mini Danhausens in order to reach the human monies? Is that how this match is gonna end? Mike: I I can't get enough of the Mini Housens though. I mean I I I I I love the Mini Housens when they come out and do their thing. TB: Did you appreciate the Saturday night's main event Danhausen sketch? Because I or match, I I thought it was brilliant. Mike: I I agree, yes. That w that was that was really good. TB: Because for what, a week he had been carrying around that stuffed cat in the in the cat carrier. And I'm like, why the hell does this guy carrying this stuffed animal around with him? And then when he puts it in the cloning machine and out comes Carl Anthony Towns, I thought it was just off the charts, like, okay, you all got me on that one. That was fan freaking tastic. Mike: No one was predicting that one. TB: No. And then the way Mysterio and McDonough sold those chokeslams, man, Mike: Mm. TB: that was brilliant. That was brilliant. I don't know if this match will live up to that segment just because of the whole atmosphere, Madison Square Garden, the whole Knicks angle. I thought that was great. I have enjoyed outside of the original reveal, which when when the Dan Mike: Yeah. TB: House character was revealed at Elimination Chamber, it was one of the strangest. Biggest letdowns. I think all 20,000 of us in the arena were like, what the hell just happened? Not that like Mike: Mm. TB: I knew Danhausen was, but I wasn't, I didn't know like his whole backstory and all that stuff. But I think they've used him brilliantly. I love the backstage little videos they do that with the whole Miz and and shocking everybody. it's great. It's great. So I have no complaints with how they're utilizing him so far, other than the few extra minutes on Monday. But I if I have to pick, I think Dan Housen's gonna win this because or I want him to win number one. And I think he's gonna win too because he hasn't lost yet. And the only the only thing I go back to is wow, how far has Dominic Mysterio fallen in the last six months? Mike: The problem is he he is one of the best wrestlers. He can he can wrestle anybody and he's he is very sound as a wrestler. it's just kind of sad that he's fallen to this point, but I I I think there there's something on the horizon. TB: Yeah, I agree. I could see them I could see him coming out of this and being at like an all-time low. And then they spend the next six months building him back up and kind of telling the the the story of him climbing the mountain again, whether it's, Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: you know, through his real father lying and cheating and stealing his way back to the top. Who knows? Right. Mike: Yeah. TB: But I think that story, like if he loses, which I think he will, telling that story of like Worst to first, could could be pretty pretty cool. It could be like the Happy Corbin scenario story all over again, which I you're on the clock for the next pick. Are you going to pick him? Mike: You know what? I kinda have to. TB: I'm sorry, before we jump to that one, who who do you got winning this? Who do you got winning the human monies on a poll match? Mike: I it's gotta be dead. yeah, I I my my next match is Trick Williams and Baron Corbin. I I don't know how this match even came about. Baron Corbin just kind of came out of nowhere and inserted himself in the match. you would think there's a lot of other other people that are more deserving of this. I I think this is gonna be Trick Williams winning pretty quickly, I think. TB: Really? Mike: Yeah. TB: You think they bring Baron Corbin back and have him get squashed? Mike: I I never was a really a big fan of and it just seems like a weird place to throw in. TB: Interesting because number one, I love I love me some lemon pepper steppers. In fact, I probably say Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: that line more in the course of my day than I do any other line. Just ask my wife. She will tell you that I'm annoying with how much time I tell Mike: Yeah. TB: I say about the lemon pepper steppers. I think it's great. I love Trick Williams. I actually don't think he's going to win this match. whether it's Mike: Really? TB: yeah, whether it's because of an interference or something. but yeah, I I Actually, like Baron Corbin, I think his end of days is one of the sickest finishers on the whole roster. And I Mike: I agree. TB: love seeing it. I love when he does the what the when he used to slide under the the corner turnbuckle and do whatever that Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: move was. I don't even know what that was called. That was fire. I love the different characters he's had through his career. So I'm happy that he's back and I would love to see him take the belt. and start kind of a on and off feud with with with Trick. I think it would be great. And if we could get like the gingerbread man to get back involved in this, the gingerbread man versus Baron Corbin, who would not want to see that? Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: So yeah, I'm I'm actually going opposite with you because we can't agree on every match. I think the return of happy go lucky Baron Corbin is going to win this. Mike: Okay. TB: So we we shall see. But yeah, I I don't know if they're gonna have a ton of time. I could see that one getting probably cut a little shorter than you think. But the match that I think is going to be cut ridiculously short is the one you left me to pick last. And that's none other than the Bella twins, Nikki Brie, and Pai versus Fatal Influence. Look, nothing against any of these ladies. I think they I think Fatal Influence. can really have a positive impact on this roster. I like what they have done in NXT. I love the call-up. And I think they have a long-term great run ahead of them as a dominant faction in the women's division. What I I'm tired of already is the the Bell is coming back. I didn't need to Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: see it at WrestleMania. I I'm kind of happy Paige was back, but now the the pairing with with Bree It doesn't do anything for me. I wasn't really huge fans of them what, ten, twelve, fifteen years ago. And I'm really not now. So it's nothing against them. They just it it's whatever. I don't see this match going very long at all. I see no world where fatal influence does not does not win this match. What what do you think? Mike: I I'm in agreement with that. I there's you do them no favors by having fatal influence lose this when the Bellas and Page might stick around for a while, but I I don't see the Bellas stick around for very long. I think they're just there to kind of put over fatal influence. TB: Yeah, agree. I agree. So that's all twelve matches. I'm gonna give you a chance to to pick one that you are absolutely sure of the outcome with. Which match are you going to? You gotta bet your mortgage payment that this one's gonna this this is the right victor. Who who are you picking? Mike: you know, I'll go with Danhausen. I think that's that's an easy one. TB: You're not going with your boy Chad Gable. You hyped him up. He said you're giving him twenty-five minutes to wrestle. He's in his home state. What what are we doing? You're picking you you didn't even pick the human monies on a poll match and you're going Dan Housen. I I I'm very disappointed in you. I Mike: Mm. TB: mean, if if I had to bet my mortgage on the neck on the the winner, it's gotta be Oba. I I just don't see any way Oba Femi loses to the to to Brock Lesnar on on Saturday. I just don't. I don't. That's that's my lock. whatever you want to call it. You're you're going with with Dan Helsin. I'm going Oba Femi. What do you think of the overall card for the two nights? Mike: I I think it's pretty stacked. you got a mix of matches in there, but I I I think it it's gonna be a pretty good couple of nights. TB: Yeah, so normally after the show, I usually rank these things on a scale of one to four turnbuckles as far as how I rate the review rate the the P L E, the pay per view afterwards. But if you had to do a preview rating on a scale one to four turnbuckles, what's your hype level overall for SummerSlam? Mike: I'll go three and a quarter. TB: Three and a quarter turnbuckles. Okay, I'm feeling that. I'll I'll I see you and I raise you half a turnbuckle. So I'm going 3.75. I think this card is stacked from top to bottom. even the fatal influence match, which you stuck me with, I still think has the ability to be fine. I think it could be a and if that's the worst match on this card, look, if they give these guys and girls time to wrestle, I think this could be fantastic from the start of Saturday all the way to the end of Sunday. I think the ability to sprinkle a few returns in or surprises here and there, I think this could be one of the best shows we see for twenty twenty six. What do you think? Mike: I agree. do you you have any other people we haven't discussed who you think might make an appearance? TB: that's tough. Yeah. The only one I was really kind of locking in on was was Randy. I do think Joe Hendry obviously takes part in the the Danhausen match. maybe we see a return. You mentioned Braun Break. Maybe we see Bronson Reed come back. We haven't seen him in quite some time. So maybe this Mike: Mm-hmm. TB: is the the time that Bronson Reed comes back because apparently, allegedly, this dude is jacked to the gills now. He's lost a bunch of weight. I've always been a big Bronson Reed fan. So maybe I just don't know where you put him. I mean, does he go again? I mean, is this are you really bringing back Bronson Reed in your main event on Sunday? I I don't know. It's it's like I said, if it's gonna be a Schmaz, it's gonna be a Schmazz and there's gonna be like a whole crap ton of people come back in that match. And I just I I don't know. I don't know. I would love to see that match be straight up and have the Schmaz happen Saturday night in the Cody and punk match, but I just I'm not sure. I'm not sure. But yeah, I'm I'm going three point seven five. I'm super excited. Do you see any other returns? Mike: I wonder if I I I don't know if she's actually injured or not, but the Alexa Bliss, I wonder if she makes an appearance during the ladder match. TB: any other omissions that you think should be wrestling this weekend? I I could think of one. Mike: I mean, other than Braun Breaker and Austin Theory not being there, it's it was all I I really kinda thought of beforehand. TB: Yeah. My question is, where is the man? Where's Becky Lynch? What is she doing? What what is what's going on with her? I I don't know. So I'm a little confused with with what they're doing with her with her. but again, I mean, twelve matches, two nights. Usually they try to run what three and a half hours each night. So this is an AEW. They're not gonna run for six hours on on a show. but I get so I guess you can't have everybody. But I all in all I think it's gonna be a great show. I c I cannot wait Mike: It is TB: till Saturday. are you gonna be on your couch at three PM for the three hours of the kickoff show? Mike: Probably not. TB: Will you be watching this live? Mike: Yes, I will. TB: Yeah, it's gonna be great. And I don't know if you've heard because Michael Cole Cole has said it a hundred times, but the new radio, WWE Radio Sirius Station is coming your way. So God forbid you gotta run to the store for milk at six o'clock. Mike: Yeah. TB: You could turn on the Sirius satellite WWE station and hear play by play of Booker T going crazy. during during the show. Do we see speaking of Booker T, do we see a returning Stephanie Vacquer by any chance? Mike: I thi I think it's a good possibility year. Haven't heard anything about her lately, so TB: That's another one where I don't know the status of her injury. Sometimes I used to dive into the dirt sheets and try to figure all this out. And I found it's more fun to just be surprised. Mike: Yeah, I agree. TB: Well, I think that's gonna wrap it up. You got anything else or any anything else that we didn't hit on for for SummerSlam? Mike: No, I I'm I'm looking forward to good card and being entertained. TB: Awesome. Well, listen, I appreciate you stuh you stepping in and and helping your boy out on this episode, this special SummerSlam preview episode of the three T's. But I think that is gonna wrap it up for Mike. I am your boy TB. Thank you very much for stopping in and checking out the podcast. If you could do us a favor, hit that follow, hit that like, tell somebody who loves wrestling, the Buffalo Bills, or card collecting that this is the one and only place to hear all of those awesome hobbies in the same location. And as always, we appreciate you all very, very much and we will see you later.