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Fanatically Speaking: WWE Rumble Season, Rising Stars & the Road to WrestleMania 42 · Fanatically Speaking with Kent

0:07
Hey, what's up everybody? Welcome to fanatically
0:10
speaking. I am Kent your co -host and today I
0:13
am the host This is a special edition the solo
0:18
episode by me doing a wrestling take If you don't
0:22
know about wrestling and if you're a fan or if
0:25
you are a fan You know that the Royal Rumble
0:29
is coming up. It is officially WrestleMania season
0:33
The the company is is making a shift Right at
0:38
the end of the year John Cena retired First of
0:43
the year. We've already had a couple of title
0:45
matches We thought the the CM Punk Bronc Breaker
0:48
match was gonna be the big one and it was and
0:51
Punk retained Then we had Cody Rhodes drew McIntyre
0:55
in which Drew McIntyre took the title off of
0:58
Cody Rhodes With some shenanigans interference
1:02
wasn't a straight -up There are three stages
1:06
of hell match which ended up including at the
1:09
end with they said the interference of Jacob
1:11
fatu the returning Jacob fatu Who got attacked
1:15
by drew McIntyre some months back? allegedly
1:18
We think it's that we're pretty much sure that's
1:21
who that was. I think he even alluded to it So
1:26
the Samoan werewolf is back He came after McIntyre
1:30
end up Getting tangled up with Cody and then
1:33
while they were tangled up, of course McIntyre
1:36
won that match As of this recording Finn Balor
1:40
and CM Punk just had a match and we see a shift
1:43
in Finn Balor, right? He's judgment day Kind
1:46
of been you know, there's always something going
1:48
on with the judgment day where you're like I
1:50
don't know if they're breaking up or they splitting
1:52
what's gonna happen and and as of right now the
1:56
women in the group are really the the main focus
2:01
because Dirty Dom, the Intercontinental Champion
2:04
is out injured. JD McDonagh is injured. So Finn
2:08
was kind of just floating watching, you know,
2:11
Raquel Rodriguez go after the Women's World Championship.
2:13
And she's involved in this feud with Stephanie
2:16
Vicare. And then you got Liv and Roxanne doing
2:22
the tag team thing, going after the tag team
2:24
titles here coming up. So for Finn, you know,
2:29
he came out to obviously a home crowd there and
2:34
in Belfast and and then the crowd was behind
2:38
him. I think they wanted him to win, which is
2:40
crazy where CM Punk is a fan favorite. But again,
2:43
the shift. So Finn Ballard, you know, they had
2:46
a kind of a mutual respect after the match. And
2:49
I feel like that's going to lead to Finn getting
2:53
out of the Judgment Day, going back to. His his
2:57
usual ways and then we can get maybe something
3:00
finally With Finn and Dom even though you know
3:04
Finn for the title is also a good look So speaking
3:10
of the Royal Rumble speaking of You know who's
3:14
gonna win it all these things I'm gonna get to
3:18
that and I really just want to focus on the main
3:19
event right now but outside of the main event
3:23
there's also You know Again the state of the
3:31
W what does it feel like right now and That's
3:35
that's what I feel like is is what does it feel
3:38
like? They're pushing young stars. You see trick
3:41
Williams is up obi -femi is coming and I told
3:44
you I said he's ready and I actually said that
3:48
obi -femi oba -femi has already done a better
3:50
promo than brawn breaker brawn breakers getting
3:53
better But it's all about how you present Bronbreaker
3:59
I'm not a fan of the vision. I'm not a fan of
4:02
four guys who bronze kind of the leader and he's
4:06
going after the titles and everybody else is
4:08
kind of Austin theory to the vision hasn't added
4:12
anything. I Wasn't a huge fan of Seth Rollins
4:17
in the vision But it was it was what it was because
4:20
Seth Rollins was that star now, you know, this
4:23
is that feeling of You know, remember when Paul
4:25
Heyman had like Curtis Axel? It's not that bad.
4:28
But at least he's, you know, like Logan Paul
4:31
doesn't need this. He's a star on his own. He
4:34
doesn't need the vision. He doesn't need Paul
4:36
Heyman. Again, Austin Theory being revealed the
4:40
way he was revealed, how quick they revealed
4:42
it. It didn't even, you know, kind of play out
4:45
to make you even keep thinking or swerves or
4:49
anything like that. Again, he took the pin on
4:54
Monday, so that shows you what he is. I got my
4:58
own thoughts about Austin Theory. So just getting
4:59
back to my regular point was, the young stars
5:02
are getting the push, the Carmelo Hayes, Ilya
5:06
Dragunov, these guys from NXT getting that push,
5:11
Kit Wilson, but you got a returning Matt Cardona
5:15
who took the L2. Trick Williams. So now you kind
5:18
of see what we're getting at it. It kind of reminds
5:20
me of the 2000s a little of it. We still got
5:25
the big stars, but like Roman's barely on TV.
5:28
Roman is barely, you know, he's going to show
5:30
up for the big, the big PLEs and maybe one or
5:35
two other ones. If it, if it needs to be involved
5:37
in the storyline, Cody's obviously a top guy,
5:41
but obviously just lose loses to Drew McIntyre.
5:44
So now what for him punk? is punk. Rollins is
5:48
hurt. When does he come back? It's all going
5:50
to play into that Royal Rumble WrestleMania.
5:53
Again, who's going to win the and then of course
5:55
the Elimination Chamber. So who's going to win
5:56
the Royal Rumble? What I think is going to happen
5:58
with the what I want to see happen or what I
6:00
think is going to happen for WrestleMania. I
6:03
don't think you know I hear a lot of rumors and
6:05
I'm like yeah let's not make the same mistake
6:08
twice. But anyways all that being said. Again,
6:15
I get the feel that WWE right now is kind of
6:18
ruthless aggression. It's who's the next big
6:23
star. Again, Brian Breaker has kind of already
6:26
been crowned without being crowned. And as much
6:31
as I know, people thought, oh, he's going to
6:33
win the title because Rollins went out. So he's
6:36
the guy now. He's over the vision. He'll win
6:37
the title. You got to give it time. You can't
6:40
just say boom, bam title. Can't make that mistake,
6:43
right? I mean, we all do know, like, it's happened.
6:45
Like, Randy Orton was the youngest champion ever.
6:48
So at the time. So, you know, that can't happen.
6:53
But like Braun, I thought two things have happened
6:56
recently that make you say, yeah, he's a star.
6:59
It's how do you how do you work it? How do you
7:02
put it? How do you how do you make them? How
7:05
do you make them more than just? You know. A
7:10
badass dog, right, the barks. The the stranger
7:17
things might the stranger things were all where
7:19
he wrestled punk for the title He looked like
7:21
a main eventer. He looked like a star The following
7:25
week after the loss where he came running down
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the ramp and the great camera angle from above
7:30
You know with the spear That was amazing things
7:35
like that is where they got to go with Brombreaker.
7:38
But again You know some of the storylines to
7:43
me have kind of been wonky and weird and you're
7:45
like what is going on? Where are we going? It's
7:48
kind of making sense now, but again, let's see
7:53
here Yeah, really just like like again, I think
7:59
one of the big storylines is like Jey Uso He
8:02
was presented as main event Jey Uso he won the
8:05
world championship at WrestleMania making Gunther
8:08
tap. And then, you know, 50 some days later,
8:10
then Gunther, you know, Gunther beats him for
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the title. And then Jay is just kind of in, you
8:17
know, then he's tagging with Roman, then he's
8:19
tagging with Jimmy again, then he's back and
8:23
forth going. Now he's in the tournament for John
8:25
Cena and he's trying to, then he's in the tight,
8:28
you know, once Rollins went out, the vacant title,
8:30
he's against punk. And he came up short and all
8:33
of that. Right. Outside of like maybe a win I
8:37
think they won, you know one tag match on a PLE.
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So and Then of course now they are the tag team
8:42
champions The Usos are back together and it's
8:44
like how did we go from main event Jey Uso winning
8:46
the Royal Rumble in January and then a year later
8:52
Winning the tag team titles. How does he go from
8:54
Royal Rumble WrestleMania man, you know, he wasn't
8:57
main event. He opened the show so I don't want
9:00
that same mistake, but I felt like Don't know
9:04
about like why did you so in a year's time go
9:07
from that? did we really give it a shot did we
9:10
really give it a chance and Obviously the crowds
9:13
the crowd loves them, but you get that happy
9:17
-go -lucky yeet J you so and then you had the
9:20
down -of -the -dumps J you so and he was mad
9:22
J you so and then he was like Romans He was trying
9:25
to decide on what to do with Roman and Jimmy
9:27
and now what is he going to do? He's in this
9:29
thing with LA Knight and Punk and then all of
9:32
a sudden he's like, oh yeah, I'll just be attacking
9:34
with my brother again. But I'm going to still,
9:36
you know, yeah, that that one's the weird one
9:38
for me. But I guess, you know, it is crowded
9:43
at the top, especially we start adding in other
9:45
people. Hard to figure out Cody Rhodes right
9:51
now, obviously at the top and. Is he going for
9:55
a character change? How was this title run versus
9:59
his first title run? People always complain.
10:02
You know, great match to get the title back from
10:06
John Cena at SummerSlam. And then since then,
10:09
you know, some good matches. Was there really
10:12
like any feuds? I don't know. The Drew McIntyre
10:15
feud was pretty good. They put the title back
10:18
on Drew, obviously here at the first of the year.
10:22
I just. I find it like Cody sometimes he is Cody
10:25
and then sometimes he's like angry Cody and I
10:29
I Don't know the direction of Cody either and
10:33
of course that is stuff to to try to figure out
10:36
I'm hitting all my notes here real quick, and
10:39
then I'm gonna get into the the goods the good
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good stuff here You know where to be strat Tiffany
10:45
Stratton she loses and she's just been on you
10:47
know got a vacation Hopefully Royal Rumble. She's
10:49
back Bianca Blair. Where are you at? You're gonna
10:52
come back and challenge jay cargill. That would
10:55
be amazing I am a huge fan of this person and
10:58
here's my idea for her And i'm really really
11:01
mad that you know, and I know titles don't matter
11:04
It's all about other things and I know she doesn't
11:07
care but over anybody right now in the wwe I
11:12
am a huge fan of chelsea green I think she does
11:16
everything right and that means And that means
11:22
everything that is, you know, again, people say,
11:26
oh, she can't, you know, wrestling, whatever,
11:28
like, who cares? It's the presentation, it's
11:32
the gimmick, it's everything, and she's got it.
11:34
And I feel like they've dropped the ball numerous
11:37
times in this past year. From the time she won
11:41
it, to the fact that she wasn't on WrestleMania,
11:45
to losing like, what was it? Three matches to
11:48
Zelina Vega? Never got one win. and then lost
11:51
the US title, the first ever women's United States
11:55
champion. And she loses his Alina Vega, which
11:59
is weird. Also booking again, weird story, weird
12:02
stuff going on with Chelsea Green. She's so great,
12:05
but yet they take the title off of her on a,
12:09
on a smack down. Again, she's not on mania. That's
12:15
just crazy. Um, She never gets the title back
12:19
Zelina Vega has it. I don't know that people
12:22
really cared for her at the time She was a face
12:26
a baby face and I don't know that really people
12:28
even cared and then we got into I think she wrestled
12:33
like Meachin or something and and that was a
12:37
forgettable, you know short feud and then Julia
12:41
comes over and So Julia takes the title from
12:45
Vega So Julia is this presented as a heel and
12:51
Then they later like yeah, she's got to have
12:54
something to maybe help her Obviously Julia is
12:57
a an amazing wrestler But just because you can
13:01
wrestle doesn't mean that you are Should be the
13:04
champion or should be pushed or any of that.
13:06
You got to have a gimmick You got to have a persona
13:08
now give Julia a great her entrance her music
13:11
everything like that Amazing her wrestling amazing,
13:15
but that's it She's like a T move version of
13:21
Oscar right now and Oscar at least can be Animated
13:27
and things like that and she paints her face
13:29
and then Even when you don't know what she's
13:32
saying. She's still entertaining somehow Julia's
13:35
not that So either way, that's my that's my quick
13:42
hit on Julia cuz I'm not happy about this So
13:45
she's champ. Finally, Chelsea Green finally gets
13:48
into a position to get a rematch for that United
13:51
States Championship. We're not even a rematch,
13:54
just another shot at it, right? And she gets
13:59
a quick roll up on Julia to win that. And by
14:03
the way, I skipped over the whole thing that
14:04
Julia needed someone. Yeah, Keanu James, they
14:07
brought her back and she is like the assistant,
14:10
the manager to Julia, the mouthpiece. So I watched
14:14
Keanu James, and obviously in this feud with
14:18
Chelsea Green, they kinda dropped that she was
14:20
looking for a new secret hervist member. She
14:25
has albifire, she had Piper Niven, Niven's out
14:28
with an injury, so she's been looking for another
14:30
one. Funny that she wins the title being down
14:34
a secret hervist member. That's weird. It's also
14:40
weird, it's also to me they need to bring Ethan
14:43
Page up from NXT. They're bringing everybody
14:45
else up. Chelsea and Ethan, the Canadian connection,
14:48
that is just everything about that on NXT is
14:51
amazing and in AAA. Obviously, they're the mixed
14:54
tag champions in AAA. And Ethan Page was the
15:00
North American champion. So, or he is, right?
15:04
Yeah. So Ethan Page needs to be up there also
15:07
with Chelsea and it could go all in with her,
15:10
you know, the the green administration, as she
15:14
calls it, you know, as the United States two
15:15
time now United States champion. But the thing
15:18
I've been saying about this was. Hey, like. You
15:25
got this thing with Julia and Chelsea. Which
15:29
ultimately led to Julia winning the title back
15:32
and the fans not caring one bit. She even had
15:35
a match the next week against Alexa Bliss the
15:38
fans still don't care for Julia There is no pop
15:41
no reaction. It is boredom. It is like no reaction
15:44
whatsoever There's no way they should not be
15:48
just really really pushing Chelsea Greening to
15:52
be the United States champion and to just build
15:54
her administration and That would involve Ethan
15:58
Page any number another Secret Herbis member
16:01
that other Secret Herbis member. I thought Should
16:04
be Kiana James. She fits the bill She kind of
16:07
came in as the assistant with not the suit, but
16:10
she had the skirt and kind of the jacket the
16:12
cutoff We know everything belly showing Her special,
16:16
you know suit so I thought Man if she turned
16:20
on Julia and helped Chelsea. It does a few things
16:25
It helps Chelsea now she's got another secret
16:28
hervist member or call her whatever Since she
16:31
is you know, obviously an athlete and a good
16:33
wrestler Keanu James is and it might help Julia
16:36
become a face But Chelsea is also like being
16:39
cheered and booed slash right? Everybody loves
16:42
her again every time she's on camera. She's amazing
16:45
any backstage segment So that was the idea I
16:47
had I thought they should have Keanu James, you
16:50
know join Chelsea since she was looking for a
16:54
new member, but that kind of died so I don't
16:56
know what happened to that I don't know where
16:57
they're going with it again Julia's champion
17:00
You know, it's a way different than the Intercontinental
17:04
Championship, right? You had Lyra Valkyria then
17:08
Becky Lynch Maxine had it now for a little bit,
17:12
but now Becky's back So at least you at least
17:15
you've had some good storylines and matches with
17:18
that women's Intercontinental Championship It
17:22
feels like ever that the time that Zelina won
17:25
the time Julia won both times Julia won We're
17:28
just kind of like meh, but I mean does anybody
17:31
really care Does anybody really want them as
17:34
champion where Chelsea Green has the gimmick
17:37
the song every presentation? Everything she thinks
17:41
of these terms. So again, I'm good. I'd love
17:44
Chelsea Green You know, obviously I would love
17:47
her to win the Royal Rumble Be at WrestleMania
17:50
wrestle whoever I don't know, you know, we had
17:53
a little bit of a Jade Cargill interaction the
17:56
one time but I really just think hey just let
17:59
her be the United States champion and carry that
18:02
belt and Defend it against anybody and Have have
18:07
her have help from her secret her risk get a
18:09
new member bring up Ethan page build that thing
18:11
on smackdown You have three hours I've seen enough
18:16
of Julia Let her build herself up. Let her kinda,
18:21
the crowd get used to her. But Chelsea Green's
18:24
it, and I feel like they've really dropped the
18:26
ball on her. So, you know, I just wanted to hit
18:31
a few people there, like Austin Theory, The Vision,
18:34
it's just not working. As I said, I am now sold
18:38
on Brian Breaker if they present him the way
18:40
they've been presenting him. I can't wait for
18:43
Oba Femi. Trick Williams has been good. I'm still
18:47
not exactly thrilled he beat Matt Cardona, but
18:51
I wanna see Matt Cardona get up a little bit
18:53
of a push there as well. But yeah, it just feels,
18:59
now I'm trying to, it feels like a different
19:01
era, it feels like different. But I think we
19:04
can't lose track right now that you have to give
19:11
a good WrestleMania. Not saying the last WrestleMania
19:15
was and obviously with the Travis Scott rock
19:18
Cody thing Sina and Then it was a basic match,
19:22
you know and the finish You got to kind of you
19:27
have to kind of make up for that like Triple
19:28
H in them and they have to make up for that this
19:30
year I really think they do They're gonna sell
19:33
tickets. No matter what everyone's gonna watch
19:35
it. No matter what and they're gonna make money
19:37
That's not the point. I think from a fan's perspective,
19:40
which that's what I am I would like to see the
19:44
biggest names battling. But to get into that,
19:49
here's the vision that I have, right? The first
19:55
question is, of course, who wins the Royal Rumble?
19:58
There's two rumors I've heard about WrestleMania
20:00
matches. Now that Drew McIntyre is the champion,
20:03
it is going to be Drew versus Cody, or Drew versus
20:08
Cody and Jacob fight two. I just wanna go ahead
20:13
and get at Jacob Fatu has been great. He is skyrocketed.
20:20
But that would be a huge mistake. I don't think
20:27
Jacob Fatu is the guy you want at WrestleMania
20:31
main event. Will he perform? Hell yeah. Will
20:34
he get some cheers? Yeah. But I mean, we just
20:39
went through this with Jey Uso. And then think
20:42
about a guy like LA Knight. So Fatu is just gonna
20:45
jump LA Knight. Not only did Fatu beat LA Knight
20:48
last year, right? For the United States Championship,
20:52
LA Knight hasn't got that shot. LA Knight hasn't
20:54
got that push to be, you know, main eventing
20:57
of WrestleMania. Think about how popular LA Knight
21:01
is. Think about how good, I mean, he's pretty
21:04
damn good. He's been in some big matches this
21:06
year too. But WrestleMania is the is the match,
21:10
and I'm not saying he should be in this match.
21:13
I'm just saying I don't think Jacob Fatu should
21:16
be involved in the title match at WrestleMania.
21:20
That's not a, as they say, sexy main event, right?
21:26
That would be an opener. You know, we all thought
21:29
we might get Cody Roman Reigns again because.
21:33
Romans only got so much time. And that's where
21:35
I think let's make the most out of Romans time.
21:38
He's already made it known. Like he's not going
21:40
to wrestle to 50. You know, he's got good, I
21:45
would say he's got three to five years. He's
21:48
already a part time. Basically he never, you
21:50
know, he never shows up, but he is the, a huge
21:53
star. He is if not the top star in this company,
21:58
in this business. So when you talk about The
22:04
Royal Rumble How do we get to WrestleMania right
22:07
the same for Bron Breaker? So that was one idea
22:11
right and then you think oh, well, we'll get
22:13
we'll probably get Bron Breaker seeing punk again
22:15
at WrestleMania I don't know that we I don't
22:18
know that that's a good idea And again back to
22:25
Roman real quick, you know, there's rumors as
22:26
well that they don't know that he's gonna be
22:28
involved in a title match That i'm thinking what
22:32
match you know, like is going to be roman and
22:34
bronx and reed Like do we want to see that? Uh,
22:39
no, I don't One key thing in all this and one
22:43
key thing that shifted the everything I think
22:46
On monday night raw was of course the seth roland's
22:49
injury to his shoulder This had a you know trickle
22:53
down effect of now punk's champ and now the vision
22:55
is going to turn on roland's and bron breakers
22:58
being pushed and now we got to build the vision
22:59
with We're gonna add some more guys with Logan
23:02
Paul and Austin Theory. And there's a lot of
23:05
things, we don't know when Seth Rollins will
23:07
be back. So who are my favorites to, when I say
23:14
back, back by WrestleMania. And if that's the
23:16
case, I'm gonna operate like he's going to be
23:18
back for WrestleMania. And that would set up
23:23
two different matches possibly. Now, how do we
23:28
get there right? But I do think it would set
23:30
up a match between Seth and Braun Breaker or
23:35
a title match with Seth Braun Breaker and CM
23:38
Punk That's a triple threat match that makes
23:42
sense. That's a triple threat match because Braun
23:44
has had a little more time to reach the elevate
23:48
And then some would argue if he's ready to main
23:51
event a WrestleMania That's up in the air If
23:56
that's not the case Then then I don't know who
24:01
CM punks Opponent would be but I have a theory
24:04
as well because it could be anybody It literally
24:08
could be anybody So, let's see here Who give
24:16
me you know, I'm just gonna speak right now for
24:18
the men at the moment maybe I may have some thoughts
24:21
on the women But in the men in the men's main
24:24
event in the men's Royal Rumble Who could Realistically
24:31
win the Royal Rumble and It makes sense for them
24:37
to pick their opponent for WrestleMania One's
24:42
an obvious one, right? He just lost his title.
24:43
How does he get back to that point? Like is Cody
24:47
Rhodes, right? He's gonna he's gonna wrestle
24:49
fight Jacob fight to it sirenex main event But
24:52
if he would win the Royal Rumble for the third
24:54
time, then he could choose, right? I'm sure he
24:59
would choose Drew McIntyre or whoever that champion
25:02
is. And then of course you got CM Punk on the
25:05
other side at the moment. And again, we have
25:09
to think about this without the elimination chamber.
25:12
We have to think about the Royal Rumble, who
25:14
could realistically win it and then still main
25:18
event WrestleMania. So they went outside the
25:21
box last year, right? They went with Jey Uso.
25:24
So this year again, I don't know if there's an
25:27
outside the box pick, but again, my first realistic
25:32
option is Cody Rhodes. It all makes sense. Again,
25:36
he wins the rumble to be able to get his rematch
25:39
with Drew as Drew's not given a rematch, right?
25:44
It's a clause in the contract. He doesn't get
25:46
a rematch. Another is I mentioned him is Roman
25:51
Reigns. We've talked about this He's never won
25:55
the Royal Rumble and the fans actually cheered
25:57
him for real, right? He won it and the fans hated
26:00
him because he was so goody -goody and now he's
26:03
your tribal chief and he It would be nice to
26:06
see him get that moment to win the Royal Rumble
26:10
Now if champs are the same AF at the Royal Rumble
26:15
or after it and Roman Reigns would win then he's
26:19
choosing between Drew and Punk, right? I would
26:23
see him choosing CM Punk. And then we get Punk
26:26
and Roman Reigns. Main event, WrestleMania. Last
26:31
year they had to share it with Seth and that
26:32
triple threat with all those twists and turns.
26:37
Reigns has made it kind of known he's not like
26:40
too fond of CM Punk, but after War Games he made
26:43
it really known that he's not fond of Cody Road.
26:45
That was like, yeah, we're not teaming anymore.
26:49
Could you have Now outside of either one Cody
26:54
or Roman winning Say they don't win the Royal
26:57
Rumble Could we get a Cody Rhodes Roman Reigns?
27:02
match it mania but no title I Don't like that
27:08
Obviously, that's a great match and it would
27:12
be the third match between them But without the
27:17
title, I don't think there's meaning in either
27:19
one of them beating the other one and saying
27:21
All right. We both beat each other for the title
27:23
and now I just beat you at mania So I'm I'm better
27:28
than you. Yeah, I think the title has to be on
27:30
the line for that But again, let's not waste
27:33
Roman Reigns Time with us while he's still an
27:37
active wrestler But I think he could realistically
27:41
win the Royal Rumble Another person Again, I've
27:46
said his name a few times already. Braun Breaker.
27:52
Up and coming. You know, he loses to Punk, a
27:55
very hard match, just lost to the veteran. To
27:59
get that rematch, he could win the Royal Rumble.
28:03
And of course he would pick CM Punk. I've got
28:06
other thoughts about that though. I've got other
28:09
thoughts about who would win the Royal Rumble
28:11
and how we get to where we get, right? But I
28:14
think braun breaker is a realistic option now
28:19
I'd have to get clarification on this but you
28:25
know, I know that Gunther and AJ Styles is gonna
28:27
wrestle at the Royal Rumble in a career match
28:31
if if AJ loses he has to retire I Don't at the
28:36
Gunther also declared for the Royal Rumble. I
28:39
think he is a realistic chance With the run that
28:43
he's on to win the Royal Rumble Now again, is
28:48
it time for AJ Styles retire already? We just
28:51
got into 2026 I would imagine I thought he would
28:53
wrestle the whole year Now that is an option
28:59
I think I think still that Gunther is an option
29:02
because Say he loses to AJ How do you make up
29:13
for that loss? You win the Royal Rumble. You
29:16
get to declare, you win the Royal Rumble, and
29:18
now you get to pick your opponent, and he would
29:21
pick, probably CM Punk, the guy who originally
29:26
took the title off of him at Summerslam. So that
29:30
makes sense. That gives you that storyline of,
29:36
yeah, I lost to a legend in AJ, but. Yeah, I'm
29:40
gonna I'm gonna but he'll win the Royal Rumble
29:42
and then he'll get to go on and Main event against
29:46
CM Punk at WrestleMania Is it the sexiest pick
29:53
no, but he did be John Cena and Goldberg and
29:56
he's been kind of this top heel and on the raw
29:59
side if Punk doesn't wrestle You know if he's
30:04
not against Rollins and breaker in them. I could
30:07
see him it like i said i could see it be in roman
30:09
i could see it be in gunther um the other name
30:15
i'm gonna give you one more name because i like
30:17
to do fives three or five normally of realistic
30:21
chances to win the royal rumble and main event
30:24
wrestle mania and again you gotta be a big name
30:27
and it all goes it all it all depends on again
30:31
who is the champion and i keep going back to
30:38
Keep going back to see him like like like Smackdown
30:43
The roster I just don't see outside of Cody I
30:52
Mean I just don't see anybody Winning the Royal
30:57
Rumble So the guy who's kind of been on Raw and
31:01
kind of been missing lately, right? He got injured
31:05
to the vision But he's gonna be coming back for
31:10
the vision. But again, I think this is my outside
31:13
pick would be LA Knight. And then he could get
31:17
his main event at WrestleMania against ACM Punk.
31:22
I don't think I drew McIntyre. Now, I guess I
31:27
could see Roman Reigns and McIntyre. But again,
31:30
that's not a SmackDown superstar. I just don't
31:33
see anyone else on SmackDown. Winning the Royal
31:37
Rumble. I mean Randy Orton but then You know,
31:41
I don't I think they only match at mania like
31:43
that for a title would be Orton versus Rhodes
31:45
that make the most sense And I don't think we're
31:49
getting that So those are the five guys I think
31:53
could win realistically the Royal Rumble Which
32:02
moves me to the elimination chamber It actually
32:08
moves me to what I think will happen. Again,
32:14
I'm hoping that it's no Jacob Phi 2. Man, what
32:23
I really, you know, I hate that they're not including
32:25
Roman. What I really wanted was like a Cody enrollment.
32:29
Then you get like Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu
32:32
because they've got the storyline of the injury
32:34
He took Jacob Fatu out things like that But from
32:40
the looks of it McIntyre, I mean that would only
32:43
change if McIntyre lost at the elimination chamber
32:46
You know say Cody doesn't win the Royal Rumble
32:50
Say that it's say that it's Roman Reigns Maybe,
32:59
maybe Cody doesn't get, you know, maybe Cody
33:04
does, you know, yeah, maybe that's the way we
33:06
go. And there's a way to get there. And the way
33:09
you get there is Roman wins the Royal Rumble
33:12
and he says he's going to choose whatever title.
33:23
And I think somewhere we get that I know the
33:26
elimination chamber we get. Maybe we get two
33:29
men matches at the at the at the elimination
33:31
chamber. One would decide the number one contender
33:34
for punks title and the other drew McIntyre has
33:38
to defend his title because you gotta think drew
33:40
gets you know he feels like he gets cheated by
33:43
management by Cody by the refs. It's always woe
33:47
is me right? If you have that and if you have
33:51
yeah, so if you have the elimination chamber.
33:54
Somehow, right, Nick Aldis makes Drew through
33:59
all his stuff and his arrogance and things like
34:03
that, we still, you know, Cody, you know, he
34:06
doesn't win the Rumble, but say it came down
34:09
to him enrollment or just something like that,
34:11
right? Maybe we get, like, in the elimination
34:15
chamber, he's forced to defend his title. And
34:20
Roman's just waiting on the winner. And punk
34:24
is waiting on the winner of his elimination chamber.
34:29
I like that idea. And then Cody wins. It's down
34:34
to you. You get a Cody and a Drew and Jacob fight
34:37
to end the chamber. Right. And somehow some way.
34:44
Right. We still I don't know who else is in there.
34:47
It doesn't really matter. Long as those three
34:49
are in the chamber and then somehow. Fatu and
34:53
McIntyre have their moments and it could I don't
34:56
know how that works But then Cody of course comes
34:58
out the champ. So now Cody is regaining the title
35:02
And Roman Reigns now knows he's going after Cody
35:08
to reclaim his title That's the only way we get
35:19
there now then you talk about you know punk and
35:25
Rollins and how do we get to who's gonna face
35:29
punk and breaker and Right, so I gave you the
35:32
name most of those they all names were really
35:35
I Gave you Gunther. I gave you breaker and I
35:39
gave you like LA night from raw So we get elimination
35:45
so we say we get an elimination chamber winner
35:48
faces punk right none of those guys won the rumble
35:52
elimination chamber and breakers about to win
35:59
it right because you got the vision they've been
36:03
battling with la night before it comes down to
36:07
la night and breaker and a seth roland returns
36:12
kind of like you know Last year he curbstomped
36:18
punk to lead to Cena win and this time he curbstomps
36:22
breaker. Cost him his chance and you get it like
36:27
maybe you get a LA night to win that and now
36:31
you're getting LA night and see him punk one
36:34
on one WrestleMania for the title. Which would
36:39
also set up a. And again, maybe it maybe it's
36:43
not LA night. I'm I'm just you know. In this
36:45
scenario, it's LA Knight. It could be Gunther.
36:47
It could be whoever, right? But yeah, you get
36:52
that. And now, Punk's got his match. The other
36:57
elimination chamber, again, we're going to get
37:00
Cody Roman. We're going to get Drew Fatu. And
37:03
then also out of that chamber, we're going to
37:05
get Rollins and Breaker at Mania. Everything
37:10
makes sense. Now it leaves out people it obviously
37:17
leaves out a Randy Orton I Don't have anything
37:23
for him at the moment You know for for Gunther
37:26
I'd love for him to wrestle a Brock Lesnar and
37:30
Oba Femi But that would be way soon for him because
37:33
I think Gunther's got to keep being built So
37:37
say he does be AJ at the Royal Rumble. Maybe
37:40
AJ is done Then he does maybe he'd maybe he either
37:44
wins the elimination chamber again by all that
37:46
and he's gonna face punk or You know, maybe I
37:51
don't know how he would lose the elimination
37:52
gym, but It would have to take a lot of shenanigans
37:58
But but again, maybe he's not in the elimination
38:02
chamber. I have no idea But if you got a Brock
38:05
and good there, maybe he retires Lesnar. I mean
38:08
Brock is all over the place poster the commercials
38:11
he's gonna have to have a huge match. Just what
38:14
is it? And maybe it's an up and come, maybe,
38:18
you know, maybe that's the up and come or maybe
38:19
it's the, you know, yeah, maybe it's that, right?
38:25
Maybe it's Owa Femi or someone like that. I don't
38:27
know. But as far as the main event, again, I
38:31
just want to just reiterate that I don't want
38:33
to see Jacob Phi 2 in a title match at WrestleMania.
38:40
Don't think it's time. I think we're You got
38:45
to come out swinging you got a you got a really
38:48
really really really really really really hit
38:50
it out of the park this year Again as I don't
38:54
I don't know which way they're gonna go That's
38:58
what I would like to see I mean I would I Mean
39:02
I threw out some scenarios there But I would
39:07
if you said what Two matches do you want to see
39:11
as the main event? That makes sense and gives
39:15
you the big star power. I would say that somehow
39:19
some way get to Cody Roman for the title. And
39:25
give me punk Rollins and breaker. That's what
39:30
I would like. Again, that's saying that Seth
39:33
Rollins would be ready. Again, a Roman punk would
39:37
be a huge match. if you're doing Cody Drew, then
39:42
don't do triple threats, right? I don't add Fatu
39:45
in there. I just don't. Again, I get it, but
39:49
I also would not get it. I just, like I said,
39:51
I feel like it would be another Jey Uso, and
39:54
you're skipping LA Knight. When is LA Knight's
39:56
time? He's been so popular, so good. Give that
40:00
man a main event. Who would get that main event
40:04
moment? That's a really tough one on who would
40:08
win Between a Cody and Roman unless you're gonna
40:14
do a character change for Cody right where Roman
40:16
wins and But I don't know what character that
40:23
is I don't know which shift You know Cody could
40:27
easily shift right? I mean he's been the baby
40:29
and Obviously depending on what city is in sometimes
40:32
they kind of say and which kind of tire we love
40:34
your song, but You know, what's exactly what
40:37
are your what is your character now? So I Don't
40:41
know what direction they're going. That's what
40:43
I'd like to see and I didn't even mention a possible
40:45
Jericho at Rumble You know, like I said, I really
40:50
just focused on you know, I Really just focused
40:56
on the main event there and and which direction
40:59
we could go and like I said just the The overall
41:02
direction and where we're at right now in wrestling
41:07
You know, on the women's side, I really don't
41:09
know about the world championship. Like, I know
41:12
Stephanie Vicara's in a little thing with Raquel
41:15
Rodriguez. I can't imagine Rodriguez winning
41:18
it. So I think Vicara will be the champion. It's
41:21
just who's going to challenge her. That's a huge
41:26
question, because you got Ripley involved with
41:27
EO Sky, and I think they could kind of, you know,
41:32
continue that on into Mania. Of course, you gotta
41:37
know how when tag teams are put together like
41:39
that, the end game is that they're going to break
41:42
up. And of course, Ripley obviously has never
41:44
beaten Sky. So that would be a good mania match
41:48
that you don't even need a title for. It just
41:56
depends on how quick and how long they wanna
41:58
roll with that tag team before they break them
42:00
up and do something different. Again Tiffany
42:04
Stratton is going to come back. I Could see Every
42:10
you know, I could see Tiffy coming back winning
42:12
the Royal Rumble and then challenging Stephanie
42:16
the care Because the care beat her at wrestle
42:20
Palooza, right? Was that it? One of those not
42:25
Palooza right cuz that's when she won a title
42:28
I'm drawing a blanket. Was it Crown Jewel? Yes,
42:32
right? It was the for the the crown jewel title,
42:36
right champion versus champion. That's right
42:38
Yeah, so give me Tiffy and Stephanie of the care.
42:41
I mean that would be a hell of a match at mania
42:45
and Then maybe you know, like I said, then Tiffy
42:48
wins that title the other the win world's title
42:51
Jade Cargill again my My personal would be where's
42:56
Bianca Belair? Let her come back win the Royal
42:59
Rumble or elimination chamber Same for Tiffany,
43:02
right? She could win the elimination chamber
43:04
as well I just look at who's won it who hasn't
43:08
who's won the title, you know, who's who's won
43:10
a rumble who hasn't I look at things like that.
43:13
And of course for the women it's so spread out
43:17
Obviously, I'd love Chelsea green to do that
43:20
as well But I think again, I think she's a really
43:22
great United States champion and just build that
43:24
up But yeah who is realistically going to be
43:31
there to be the top women for those matches.
43:37
And the two names I got down are the ones that
43:39
are missing. Naomi won't be back, right? She's
43:47
going to, what is it, four, five, six, seven?
43:50
It's close, but I mean, she would have to be
43:53
like, baby, and then wrestle. I don't foresee
43:56
her being back until like later, like a SummerSlam.
43:59
something like that. So I would, again, I think
44:06
Liv Morgan's a really good one, but she's involved
44:09
in tag team right now, which I thought she was
44:11
gonna be the leader of the Judgment Day. But
44:15
yeah, give me Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
44:19
That would be the money match, right? It's got
44:21
the history, it's got the story. Give me that,
44:24
and by the way, Jade Cargill, In my top wrestlers
44:29
at the moment. I like to always like at the moment
44:33
week to week who are my top people? And a lot
44:37
of my top guy people are out Chelsea greens always
44:41
on there Seeing punk is on there which it's hard
44:47
not for him to be Jay Cargill, I like even they
44:51
say oh she hasn't defended her title. It doesn't
44:53
matter You know that that that badass as she
44:59
says I'm that bitch Jade Cargill is a Heal and
45:04
she's way better as a heal Than a face. She was
45:08
an AEW. They're finally doing it here and let
45:11
her continue to be that monster heal and That's
45:15
what I want now again We talked about these teams
45:20
breaking up and I could see Charlotte Flair jumping
45:22
in there too and we get that dream match of Flair
45:25
and Cargill But again, but Bianca Belair where
45:28
she been it's got the story. It's got the history
45:31
But yeah, so Chelsea Punk and Cargill are my
45:34
three top wrestlers right now If I added two
45:43
more to be five it's a really, it's really, really
45:48
tough to add the ones that are on the roster.
45:52
Like, and I go by like, when I watch it, who
45:54
do I enjoy watching? What do I want to see? And
45:59
I don't always go with the champion, but who
46:02
do I enjoy seeing? Who do I think is doing a
46:05
great job? And man, I, you know, Dirty Dom was
46:10
doing great, but he's, Roman Reigns, of course,
46:14
is not on TV. Cody normally is in my group, but
46:18
right now I'm just not feeling it and I'm glad
46:23
Drew McIntyre is getting a chance to be the champion
46:25
in front of a live crowd and as a heel because
46:28
I think he's a great heel and He may slide in
46:32
there Carmelo Hayes is doing really I like him.
46:37
I think he's doing a great job Just I think he's
46:42
a brawn breaker growing on me so if you if you
46:48
just said pick two more two more as your favorites
46:50
right now it would probably man this is a tough
46:57
one I mean I guess it's gotta be Carmelo Hayes
47:06
and then again I think I'm just gonna roll with
47:09
Drew McIntyre instead of breaker even though
47:12
he's growing on me But I really like yeah, I
47:16
really like you know, we'll just give it a Macintosh.
47:18
He's a champion one, man All right, so that's
47:25
really all I have This is a wrestling episode
47:29
really just to kind of go over all kinds of wrestling
47:32
topics that are going on right now I'm just getting
47:34
ready for the Royal Rumble give you my picks
47:37
of who I think have the Legitimate shot to win.
47:40
I gave you a few women, you know, I don't think
47:43
I don't think it's a it's as deeper as a pool
47:46
to win the rumble as the men just because one
47:50
there's not as many but I think again realistically
47:54
who could win the rumble and Challenge and there
47:58
you go. My personal pick is Chelsea Green, but
48:01
Realistically, yes, I could see Tiffy Bianca
48:04
Belair winning And normally Ripley would be right
48:11
there Maybe even EO now. She's really grown on
48:14
me to be one of my one of my favorites but But
48:19
yeah, so we'll see we'll see who wins a rumble
48:21
see if any of my predictions are right But hopefully
48:24
hey, you know again like I used to always yell
48:27
out to whoever's running the NBA MLB NFL I have
48:31
to do a quick, you know, let me do a quick shout
48:33
out to Triple H Paul Levesque and say hey again
48:37
Chelsea green Chelsea green Chelsea green Give
48:41
her Kiana James. Give her someone bring up Ethan
48:43
page build that administration the green administration
48:48
pledge allegiance to Chelsea green Make her a
48:52
huge huge Even bigger star than she is on smackdown
48:58
push push push push push. She is so smart and
49:01
gifted I'd love to see her win the rumble be
49:05
on WrestleMania least letter get on WrestleMania
49:08
but yeah get that title back somehow some way
49:10
from julia that's a disgrace no one can you do
49:15
not see the crowd reactions um so yeah outside
49:19
of that that is a wrestling take here on fanatically
49:23
speaking by me kent the uh co -host but doing
49:26
a solo episode we'll see if this makes the air
49:31
but uh but yeah as always you know we we normally
49:35
do You know me and log off or log off and I correct
49:39
English log off And I do a lot of sports sometimes
49:42
movies mainly football basketball But we definitely
49:45
do some movies and themed episodes. We did the
49:49
Diddy Dock I like to talk wrestling every now
49:52
every chance I get to throw in wrestling takes
49:55
I do to put them on my list of athletes and wrestler,
49:58
you know things like that but I definitely wanted
50:02
to do an episode where I just get to Talk wrestling
50:06
the state of wrestling right now WWE by the way,
50:09
and I know all these people say oh Well, you
50:10
don't like other you're not a real wrestling
50:12
fan. I am a wrestling fan. I just prefer WWE
50:16
Growing up I you know, this is a whole nother
50:19
episode, but again growing up I watch NWA WCW
50:22
and WWF slash obviously WWE now, but Dabbled
50:28
in the TNA It just didn't get it for me, but
50:34
they did a really good job. AEW has gotten my
50:38
attention at times with, you know, CM Punk when
50:44
he came back from his hiatus to wrestling. It
50:48
checked out Moxley a little bit, Sting a little
50:51
bit. I think MJF is great, but they really don't
50:59
do very well to me. With their characters. I
51:04
think sometimes they go back and forth and you
51:06
get lost on on the Storyline and things like
51:10
that. They may put on great matches but if there's
51:14
no story and your gimmick and the Everything's
51:18
got to come together. Not that WWE always gets
51:20
it right. I'm sitting here complaining about
51:22
You know the storyline with Chelsea Green and
51:26
having Julia's the United States champion. So
51:28
But I just really, like I said, I'm a huge WWE
51:30
guy. I don't have time to watch all these other
51:32
wrestling. Again, I'll check them out at times
51:35
just to stay up to date, see what's going on.
51:39
But again, it's kind of like any other league,
51:42
right? I mean, the number one league, the number
51:44
one organization is the WWE. They are running
51:47
wrestling and they always have. Outside of those
51:52
weeks that Bischoff and WCW led the charge. For
51:57
good measure NWO Hulk Hogan that was huge Goldberg
52:00
sting all that fun stuff but WWE is king and
52:04
that's what I watch that's what I try to keep
52:06
up with and Yeah, so One the very first wrestling
52:12
full episode here on fanatically speaking and
52:15
again check us out. We're everywhere On social
52:18
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52:39
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52:49
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52:52
sharing is huge I think the likes are huge as
52:56
well We want to grow and we can only grow with
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more fans for this show and again That is it
53:05
for today ring the bell. This is over