WWE WrestleMania 38 Roundtable - 04/01/22

Jon Jansen, Jason Fanelli, Vaughn Johnson, and Nick Piccone preview WrestleMania 38!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Broadcasting from the Top Dog Law Studio. Get top dollar for your accidents at
topdog Law dot com. That's topdog Law dot Com. We are one
O two point five at Down theGambler. It is finally here the Showcase

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of the Immortals, the stupendous wrestlingshow of the year. It is wressel
Mania thirty eight. And of coursewhen we have a big show in WWE
on the line change, we gottaget together the roundtable and we have them
all together. Joining me John Jansenat Jay Jansen thirty four on the Wrestling

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Mania round Table today is Jason Finelli. You can check out his podcast here
on Fox phol Gamblers and Controller VonJohnson joining me as well as Nick Pecone
and those two are the hosts ofShooters Radio, the best wrestling podcast in
the world, on the planet,in the universe, and actually any universe

(01:15):
that has wrestling. It is thebest wrestling podcast. So go check it
out Shooters Radio and you can followVaughn at Von m Johnson and Nick Picone
at Underscore at Underscore. Pecone andVon Johnson, by the way, is
the only one of us verified,so his opinion matter is certainly more than
more than mine. Mine does,damn straight, damn straight. Absolutely,

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I'll go real quick just about theexcitement level. We don't have much time
because there there is a lot togo over here on these shows. There's
two nights big cards. So I'llstart off with you, Jason, just
what is your excitement level for thesetwo nights of WrestleMania this weekend or not.
I am one on the pulse ofWWE wrestling at any given time,

(02:00):
and considering how many different directions Iget pulled every single day, admittedly I
am not. I am sort ofkind of caught up to this though,
but you have to be excited forWrestleMania. You don't know what's going to
happen, which makes it so intriguing. There are a couple of things that
we will talk about that could goone of two ways, each one glorious
in its own regard. There's reallynothing like it. There really isn't.

(02:23):
There's it's it's wrestling fans super Bowl, It's our weekend, and it truly
is now an entire weekend of madnessif you include the independent wrestling scene as
well. Only a matter of timebefore AW decides to pull on a show
WrestleMania weekend in the same city.It's just if you're a pro wrestling fan,

(02:45):
this is your paradise from Thursday untillet's say Tuesday, just wrestling across
the board and I can't wait.Yeah, if you're a sickle like me,
you're basically watching wrestling as it's ifif it's March Madness First Round weekend,
that's how I'm watching wrestling. I'mwatching it and consuming it literally noon

(03:05):
to about one am every single night, and that is how I love to
watch my wrestling during WrestleMania. Yeah, it's a great weekend. And even
right, Jason, like, ifyou're not paying attention every week, the
thing is like the rumor mill isgreat. Like you're hearing all these names
being thrown around. There's so muchin the dirt sheets to read over.
It's it's just fun to kind ofget that buzz surrounding WrestleMania, and that

(03:27):
is always there no matter how muchyou're paying attention. Von your excitement level
for WrestleMania it's high, you know, because this is the first like kind
of like authentic WrestleMania week and weekendwe've had since twenty nineteen. So I'm
happy for just a wrestling scene ingeneral to be able to descend upon the
city and they can go out toall the shows, like you said,

(03:49):
and they can do wilee Mania,and of course you get the two night
WrestleMania, but like, it's justit's cool to see wrestling come together for
that. This is this is ourtime. You know what E three was
for video games, or what thesuper Bowl is for the NFL and stuff
like that. For that one singularevent where the whole industry depends upon,
descends upon one city, that's whatWrestleMania is. And I think that's really

(04:12):
cool. You know, regardless ofhow you feel about the card or WrestleMania
or this person shouldn't be in thismatch or this main event, blah blah
blah, if you're not hot onWWE at the moment, you could at
least appreciate everything else is happening aroundthat show, which I think is cool.
That's cool for a lot of thewrestlers. They get the exposure of
being on WrestleMania weekend on some ofthese shows, or maybe multiple shows if

(04:39):
you're not on the shows this weekendor in Dallas. The wrestlers out there
who are pining for that. Theywould love to be at one of these
shows. So it's not just ww'sbiggest show, it's pro wrestling's biggest week
a weekend. I'm sure a lotof independent guys make a lot of money,
whether it's on shows itself, wrestlingor selling merch or whatever the case
may be. Wrestling benefits from thisweekend and it's nice to have it back

(05:02):
in full fours after you know,twenty twenty it didn't happen. In the
twenty twenty one. It did happen, but not to the level it usually
is. And now twenty twenty twowe're kind of back to the way it
was before, sort of you know, getting closer and closer. So it's
cool to see it. I've seena lot of people on Twitter tweeting them
photos of themselves at events stuff likethat, and you know clips out there

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different shows, and John Chansen,you've been on it. I've been watching
all the shows, so it's aright, right, But it just brings
us mill to my face to seethe community coming together, hanging out and
having a good time and enjoying wrestling. That's dope. Yeah, I love
it, and it is You're right, too. It's like a celebration of
wrestling too, So there's there's literallya little bit for everybody, Like if

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you only liked nineties wrestling, likethere is something here for you. They
are going to celebrate that in someway, whether it is bringing either somebody
back, but they always celebrate itwith the Hall of Fame and they usually
give them their time at WrestleMania aswell. It's just one big celebration of
wrestling. So I always think there'ssomething a little bit there for everyone.
Nick Bacone the best four last excitementlevel for WrestleMania. I know sometimes we

(06:12):
can be hot and cold on theproduct, but WrestleMania are we excited though
I'm miserable. I can't wait.Miserable. You know what's at the expectation
low, then you'll be blown awayby anything they do well. I gotta
say, on the scale of oneto ten, probably about an eight eight
and a half. It always amso especially the few days before WrestleMania.

(06:35):
I'm more excited now than I wasMonday on roll you know, like tonight
we got SmackDown coinciding with the Hallof Fame, so that'll be kind of
exciting to watch I think that thisis like the very this is the first
WrestleMania, like a two night WrestleManiathat feels normal. You know, last

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year it was the first two nightWrestleMania, but he still had you know,
percentage of the crowd allowed in andit was still like WrestleMania Knight one
outshined WrestleMania Knight two clearly, butyou still don't know if that happens this
year. You got Johnny Knoxville inthere against Sammy's ain who credit to Sammy's
Ain, he's been literally carrying thatstoryline along with like, hey, Johnny
Knoxville has been doing a good jobtoo. Uh, that's entertaining. Like

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I didn't expect it. I didn'texpect Johnny Knoxville to go as all in
as he has, which is awesome. This is exactly It reminds me of
bad Buney last year. He kindof yeah, you know, that's kind
of what I didn't expect it.So that was kind of like refreshing in
a way. Going all in seemslike Johnny Knoxville style. Though the guy
jumps off a cliff, shoots himselfout of cannon. Johnny Knoxville going in

(07:46):
hard or something like. That's justkind of what he does. And honestly,
making that match and we'll talk aboutthis when he comes to it,
but making that match anything goes Ithink was genius because then you can get
the rest of them involved. AndI wasn't putting Sammy's ain in. It
was genius. Sammy Zamers the rightperson to do this with. He is
he gets WWE more than any otherwrestler, I think, at least right

(08:07):
now. He just completely gets thatcrazy, over the top, like weird
style of it. So Nick,yeah, I think you're right that stuff,
that stuff adds to it. Iknow people hate it. There are
some that like don't like it atall, especially the bad Bunny thing last
year. Exactly understand that, andit's it's the people that than wrestling.

(08:28):
It's a celebration of wrestling, butit's bigger than right, Right, It's
always been about entertainment. WrestleMania oneliterally have mister T and Cyndi Lauper and
like Wendy Richter like really like comeon, like this is what WrestleMania is.
So you gotta you gotta take it. And if you don't like it,
just be like Okay, well,at least be happy for like Lon
said, the wrestlers that come indo it. You know, these shows

(08:52):
get paid probably more than they doaround the rest of the year. That's
literally what WrestleMania created. So havingthat ability as a wrestler to go to
the city to Dallas this year makemoney that they might not make otherwise like
that, that's also good for thewrestling community that you guys mentioned earlier.
So I mean wrestle Maydia. Iget a w A lot of people are

(09:18):
turned off by it nowadays, butthis is kind of what it is,
and this is why we get excitedfor something like this. It's a two
night thing, Like I'm looking forwardto it. I'm seeing how they do.
You got both women's champion mission matcheson the first night. I'm interested
to see like how they just howlike what happens, you know, Like

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I'm just more interested in how theybook it versus you know, I don't
know coming out of it whatever,because I don't know. We're interested in
how they go about the winners ofthe first night, the winners of the
second night. If we're still goingto be subjected to the same old crappy
book that we've had for years,or maybe this is a turning point.

(10:03):
I don't know, you always sincemaybe there's a turning point coming and that
really hasn't died for me. LikeRoyal Rumble is always a turning point for
me, SummerSlam is always a turningpoint for me, and WrestleMania is always
a turning point for me. Sothat's why I'm probably out at eight and
eight and a half. Yeah,and the two night thing, I know,
last year for me, at leastwhat night one was great and the

(10:24):
night too, it just felt likea dragon that could have been a little
bit of like the first night ofWrestleMania. It's a lot like we like
to celebrate it. You know,it's still a long show. It's not
completely long, but it's still along night. And then you got to
do it all over again. Howare we feeling with the two night thing.
We'll just go real quick, maybejust a yes or no, Jason,
yes or no? In the twonights of WrestleMania now it was a

(10:46):
necessary change. Wrestle Kingdom could gotwo nights. Other big events can go
two nights. This one can too. Because WrestleMania thirty five, I believe
twenty nineteen was seven hours. Theywere getting very long, and only one
person I know is still doing that, and that's you John Y. Yeah,

(11:07):
so I am perfectly fine with twonights. Yeah, background I am.
I'm watching both nights on in oneday because I have to work Saturday
night, thank you Villanova. Andalso my brother was Saturday night. So
we are going to do an allday marathon Sunday for WrestleMania. So I
like the Allday marathon days. Ilike one day, but it sounds like
everybody else doesn't. Everybody likes twodays. Well, no, I prefer

(11:31):
one day just from the standpoint ofthat it's the one day a year.
It makes it feel more special.Yeah, pat everything into that one day.
However, I am on I donot want to watch seven hours of
wrestling. Also, like so andI prefer I do like having a Saturday
night show. We and Nick havetalked about it on The Straight Shooters.
Is that we like the Saturday nightpay per views. UFC has done it

(11:56):
for years. Nobody complains. Ilike having to hang out with my homies
or whatever, and you know,watch the show and I have to worry
about getting up for work. Thenext day where WrestleMania when it's one night,
that show ends at twelve thirty.Oh, by the way, you
gotta be at work tomorrow at nineo'clock. Like, that's not fun.
So I see both sides of it. If I could do one night,

(12:16):
a four hour show on one nightof WrestleMania on a Saturday, that would
be good for me. I understandthat you want to get as many people
on the show as possible. Sothat's how two nights solves that issue as
well. Even though they're still notdoing the Battle Royal one WrestleMania technically on
WrestleMania proper. That's happening on SmackDowntonight. That's weird. It's still weird.
However, I understand why two nightswork. I'm cool with it.

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It's fine. I'm gonna enjoy iteither way. I'll watch both nights anyway,
So I'm assuming you're as well,okay with the two nights? Yes,
okay, I saw you know what, you know what, I kind
of wish they did more. Iwould enjoy it more because I think vone
is right. I love like thebig the big day, like the one
you know is a big show nightone. Obviously do a bunch of big

(13:01):
things, but why not have thingsfrom Night one move over into Night two.
I felt like New Japan, ifanybody watches that, they kind of
did that, like the winter ofNight one, you know, would go
on for the championship at Night two, and it made the Night one main
event feel big, but then theNight two main event feel even bigger.
And I kind of like that ideaof making it an all weekend thing,
but having it all come together insteadof feeling like separated shows, which that

(13:24):
I don't like. I don't feelI feel like there's a disconnect between the
two nights, and I don't likethat. I wish there was a little
bit more of a consistency and muchmore of a togetherness than those two nights.
But I understand why everybody likes thetwo nights. I get it.
If they feel like they have togo that long just started at four o'clock,

(13:45):
then you know what, I actuallybe fine with that. I'm literally
there all day anyway, Like myentire day on WrestleMania is to literally just
watch WrestleMania. And if I'm notwatching WrestleMania, like this s uff before
I'm watching either past media's I'm watchingindie show. That day is dedicated to
literally watching wrestling till the moment Iwake up to the moment I fall asleep
at the end of Mania. Solike you look at go ahead, go

(14:07):
ahead. I mean you look atthe super Bowl and it's one night obviously
and one day. But they startthe game at like six, yes,
like they start a lot of thepregame stuff even before that, Like I
know they have a game stuff atlike like two o'clock. That that's fine
because I I you're right, myday during super Bowl Day is just watching

(14:31):
super Bowl. That's all I'm goingto do. That's I'm planning my entire
day around this. Make it theentire day. It's fine. I could
see that, but yeah, definitelystart to show earlier if you're going to
do a one day type of thing. Super Bowl gets one hundred million viewers
every year with one day starting atlike six to six thirty. The game
is over about ten and ten thirtyfor the winning team. You get to
go out and celebrate the rest ofthe night and you're good, Like you're

(14:52):
fine. So most people ain't goingto work the next day anyway, So
either way, yeah, I agreewith that as well. It started to
start to show I have a fouro'clock WrestleMania. Nobody's going to complain,
No, not at all. Idon't think they will. By the way
you're tuned into the line Change FoxSports the Gambler. I'll present it by
Curre Auto Insurance. This is thespecial edition of the line Change with the
wrestle Mania round Table. Even thoughI spelled WrestleMania wrong, I just saw

(15:15):
that in our recording. So I'moff to a great start this weekend Ladies
and Gentlemen, joined by again JasonBonelli, Von Johnson and Nick Pecone.
Let's get into it because it's twonights, so let's try and get Night
one done before you have to goto a break and go over Night two.
The first one because this isn't technicallyon the card, it's not technically
a match, but it's the bigthing happening potentially Night one, right is

(15:37):
stone Cold and Kevin Owens? Whenis that happening? That's night too one?
Night one. That has to bethe end Tonight one, doesn't it,
Yes, it has to be especiallyokay, so it is report it's
the main event. So if that'sthe case, what are we expecting here?
I'll go to the opposite. I'llstart with Nick, what are we
expecting from stone Cold? Because everybodykind of he's like, all right,

(16:00):
we're getting stone Cold and we knowhe's probably gonna do a little bit,
maybe a stunner or two, buthow much are we getting a stone Cold?
And there's a lot of anticipation justto see that, like how much
are we going to see? Ithink we're gonna be surprised. I've already
saw a couple pictures of him floatingaround out there this weekend. He looks
a great shape. I think obviouslyhe's gotten in shape for this moment,

(16:23):
and I think he's going to surprisesome of us. I know it was
also reported it's not going to bejust like a kick stunner and that's it
that there's gonna be like a quoteunquote fight sequence. So I'm looking forward
to see how that unfolds, whetherit's like, you know, maybe they
go through the crowd or something.Because all stone Cold Steve Boston was his
matches were famous for going through thecrowd because he can't wrestle, you know

(16:48):
anymore. So that was great sayingthat like nineteen ninety eight, nineteen ninety
nine, so I could see somethingsimilar and then maybe a high spot.
I don't know if they would theywould do something like Kevin Ellen's stopping off
something. He's been doing it thelast you know, a few of his
big matches he was jumping off things. But I don't know if we'll see
that. But uh, I thinkthis could plan a seed for a possible

(17:11):
match down the road, but Idon't necessarily, you know, I think
it's gonna be a tech one toone technical match, not a bell But
yeah, and you're right, stoneCold matches weren't really too much anyway.
It was very like if you watcha stone Cold match like every single time
in that early two thousands run,like it was the same match every time.

(17:32):
It was the same exact thing,doing the same exit in the crowd.
But yeah, always in the crowds, right. It's just like a
luth as pressed do a couple ofthings off the road. Like it's it's
very much was segmented into like certainthings that he could do and made things
easier. So it's not like we'reexpecting Stone Cold to like do top a
suicida or something like that. Likehe's not gonna do it, but like

(17:52):
if he if we gonna do itright, Yeah, we're not gonna see
Yes, we're not gonna see thatif we can see the normal like U
s press bro the Stunner, Bostinpulls off a Canadian Destroyer and twenty twenty
two. I would lose my mindjust so, just just for the word,
I have to just quit. Idon't know if by the way,
like even if the whole podcast aboutit, like even if somebody did that

(18:15):
move, like made a stone coldcharacter and had him do a Canadian Destroyer,
I I just it would look weird. I'd actually I would be confused.
I would not be able to likeI don't know if my mind be
able to wrap my head around that. But I have a question. He
may not do a Kadan Destroyer,but would he take a Commity Destroyer?

(18:36):
I would vote would get because like, I don't think I'm going to see
a pop up. I don't.I would say that it's still something your
old man with neck issues. Heretired because of his neck issues. Listen
man. I went to a localPhiladelphia show where I watched Ricky Morton do
a Canadian Destroyer nothing. Hum Whartonis not Steve Austin. Steve gonna get

(19:04):
paid. He paid. I'm justgonna get paid so much to do so.
But that's that's the thing. He'searned that, uh Vaughon. I
mean, we're not expecting much herefrom Stilkoll, right or are you like?
What what is that? I thinkstone cold. I've watched an interview
he did with Rich Eisen a coupleof weeks back, and he made it
seem like he's getting in shape forlike a lot of physicality. So I'm

(19:26):
expecting a little especially if you're inthe main event, if you're the last
segment of that of Night one,which is either that or Charlotte and Ronda,
Right, So if you're not gonnaif you gotta do something major to
top Charlotte and Ronda, if that'sclosing Night one and a segment where they
do a punching kick and a stunner, that's not enough. I don't think

(19:48):
Steve Austin would go through all ofthis if that's all he was doing.
So what he was talking is likehe's getting in shape, like he's in
getting in ring shape, you know, And Okay, that means he's gonna
do some stuff. And if thatmeans I don't, like Nick said,
fight through the crowd or whatever,yeah, I'm I don't know. Maybe
I'm in being a goofy by havingmy expectations kind of higher for this,

(20:14):
but I feel like I got thissneaky suspicion that like he's gonna do a
lot Saturday, especially if they're closingthe show. You got it in the
show with a bang. We biggerbang to do that than with Steve Auston,
like coming out probably in the trunksand then the vest. And that's
what I'm saying, like, ifyou coming out, if you gotta close
night when the wrestleminta with the bang, it's gotta be as big as possible.

(20:38):
And it might start off as theKO Show and and Kevin Owens and
Steve Alston talking to each other backand forth, or it may not come
to that because Steve Austin might justbe too in story. It might be
Oh, I'm pissed off that you'vebeen talking about Texas this whole time.
It just gets right to it.But yeah, I'm expecting a lot out
of this, and maybe maybe you'llcome back and you know, next week

(20:59):
on a straight shooter and I'll beI'll be look stupid. But as of
right now, now, look ifthat's the thing though, if like you're
setting your expectation like that you wantto get ready for it, I'm fine
with it because I'm excited. Man, Like I, I don't know if
we're gonna do the whole thing likeAustin comes out and braces and two knee
braces and tights and some boots.I don't know, but like I,
I would love it, and justit doesn't Again, it doesn't have to
be much, man, it couldbe what Steve Austin and Eric Bischoff was

(21:22):
in like two thousand and three,just like beat the hell out of him,
do a bunch of moves, endit in five minutes, and walk
the hell out of there like perfect. But Jason are like, what's what's
your expectation? Like do we dowe even see Steve Austin take a bump?
Oh yeah, I think I thinkthat's going to devolve into an actual
match. I'm all about the youknow, going through the crowd. Crowd
would get so hyped if they're like, you know what, ring the damn

(21:45):
bell and the bell rings, ohman and listen, and I think that
the tone will be set when thisis gonna come out. He's gonna talk
his stuff about Texas. They're gonnagive him three or four minutes to just
build that nuclear heat in the Texascrowd. In the nuclear heat, let's
say, and then uh, theglass is gonna shatter. The crowd's gonna

(22:07):
go crazy for that, and thenthey're gonna go crazy again when he walks
out, his neck going, trunksfest and knee brace, all of it.
I can see it happening. Ido not think he comes out in
street closed and then he has histrunks underneath. I think that's too cumbersome.
It's just not Stone Cold's way.If he's gonna come out and take
off the take off the George orwhatever the short no, no, if

(22:33):
he's just gonna Steve Wilson had everbeen that straightforward, ever been that.
If he's coming out in the George, I could definitely see him wrestling in
that. He's George, Baby,let's do it underneath the way he wore
that suit during the when he cameto the corporate champion, like a few
weeks after wrestling in fourteen, andthen he's ripped it off and he had
this yeah. Yeah, ripping offthe suit took forever. I don't think

(22:59):
he's just I don't think he's gonnawa same time. I think he's just
gonna come out in the vest,do the whole thing, and then Kevin's
gonna be like, oh okay,and then they're gonna have like a I
don't know, five or six minutematch, maybe a little longer. I'm
not expecting a thirty minute classic,but I'm also not expecting you or I
would put this, to be honest, the kind of match that I'm expecting,
maybe not with as much physicality,but as far as like the feeling

(23:22):
of the match and the way thatit's gonna progress Lessner Goldberg IWO from twenty
seventeen. That's sort of like eightminute car crash sort of brawl with Austin
going over. I do think that'sit's gonna be that sort of like just
a spectacle, not technical, notno, no five stars. Like that's
exactly all the nostalgia stuff again,the luthez PRIs, like the stunner and

(23:47):
all that go out in the crowd. Like Nick said, maybe not usually
those bumps he would take when therock would like put him over his shoulder
like that, maybe don't do thatbump on the ramp. I remember you
used to see that as like,oh, that looks terrible every single time.
But play the hits you. You'reabsolutely right. You did mention one
thing though that I've I really don'tlike and this has all like been a
feud about Texas, and Texas isn'treally something that I would be wanting to

(24:11):
defend at this point, So Ilike that part of it. Like I
just kind of was like, that'snot so. But my whole world is
watching exactly, and the LGT andmost of the people in the crowd aren't
from Texas and like that that communitytoo, the LGBT plus community, like
they they are very much involved inwrestling too, and to I don't know
too, to be celebrating Texas likethat. And the thing is like it's

(24:34):
not their fault, Like, howhow could they have known like doing this
that hey, Texas is going todo something really you know, terrible,
Uh, to a community like that, So yeah, it is. It
sucks. But once I was seeingthat as a man that that's not something
I would really want to be doing, and it kind of turned me off
a little bit, but right,and also again, there are people from
all over the world watching the show. People in UK don't give a damn

(24:56):
about the sanctity of Texas, rightexactly, is one of these of Austin
we don't care what? Yeah,that's that's that's the idea y'all came up
with. You talk trash about Texas, I know exactly, Like that's really
what's getting stone cold out. Idon't know. He could have talked trash
about beer or something. I don'tknow. Yeah, right, talk trash
about his beer something. Yeah,absolutely old time coming back stupid? Yeah,

(25:18):
tell him is beer stupid? LikeKevin Owens tasted his beard and said,
this is the most disgusting th gameI've ever seen. Take that,
or he's just saying, hey,old time wrestlers, I need to sit
down somewhere. Don't come back,and then Steve Austin comes back. Yeah.
See that's always the easy one.They do it all the time,
and now this is the time theydon't do well. Okay, whatever,
All right, let's go in Pennsylvania. I care for Texas, go to

(25:40):
so let's go through the night onecard really quick because We're not gonna have
a lot of time to go overall of these matches, which is a
shame. So I'll just go through. Jason will be first ball, and
then Nick. We'll just say thewinners. The first one, Ray Mysterio
Dominic Mysterio against the Mizz and LoganPaul. I'm not a big fan of
this. I like celebrity like youknow instances, but Logan Paul like who

(26:00):
asked for this? Nobody did.I'm sorry, I'm gonna go Ray Mysterio
and Dominic Mysterio in that one.Uh Miss and Logan Paul. Dominic turns
on Ray. Oh that's a that'sa good one. I agree with Jason
Miss and Logan Paul. And thenI can see to begin the Dominic Grand

(26:21):
Mysterio split here, which would suckthe was because you know they're actual done.
But yeah, they planted the seedswith Michael Cole saying that Dominic hasn't
earned his mask yet on commentary.It's like a throwaway line that some people
picked up up. And also LoganPaul has made it sound like he wants
to stick around, and based onthis training video with the Miz that was
on YouTube, this week. Itsounds like he's kind of taking it seriously,

(26:42):
so I'm willing to give him aslight. If this opens Mania and
Logan, no, I would Iwould probably have a tough time watching Mania.
I think Backy Bianco opens Ney,to be honest, but we'll get
well. If Charlotte ro this onnight one, I will put back at
night too. That's just we're bothon night one already confirmed. Oh they

(27:04):
they both better be like, Idon't know, that's what How can you
put them both on night one?Yeah? That's how much? Come on
one night two? Either way,Nick, I probably won't pay attention to
this. Well, you guys,I just have to get some things.
I'm sorry. Well, it's funny. A little recent podcast, I mentioned

(27:27):
something after a match we deep doveon. It was like I just said
that, so we got to doit for each other. So I'm not
gonna go to the opposite way here. I'm gonna say not yet. We're
not gonna see the materials break upyet, but we could. I could
see miss and Logan Paul start alittle riff and a little feud offshoot after

(27:48):
this match, So I'll go mystereosand then the mis and Logan Paul.
Maybe they have a little tiff inone of those Why in the bleep is
this on a WrestleMania car to DrewMcIntyre against Happy Corbin? Does anyone care?
Does anyone care enough to even givea winner in this match? Drew
in a squash right, Drew mcintirelandsure to beat the happy out of him.

(28:10):
SmackDown Tack Team Championships. This isa decent one. The Ussos against
uh Shinsky, Knackamoora and Rick Boogs. Bogs. I always forget how to
say his name, and that's justterrible. But he plays guitar and it
sounds really cool. So Shinsk andBoogs, I'm going with them. Sorry,
I think USO's retained. I'm justhappy to see Rick Boogs get a
wrestle Medium match because I've always hada soft spot for him. He's just

(28:33):
a goofy guitar playing Yeah, FreddyMercury looking, I love it. I
don't know. I want a goodMania moment for knakamoor and Boogs and not
saying Verister is like bad. Iwould I would want to see it off
of them. They're honestly one ofthe best tag teams we've seen in the
last like two decades. But yeah, I would. I would want them
to win just to have that moment. It'd be cool. It's a sad

(28:55):
sight of affairs when we got tohope Shinsk gets a good manium moment.
Boogs, Like, think about whatShinski was before he signed with w W.
If you had told me back onwas at twenty sixteen, that he'd
be an attack team with Rick Boogsgoing against the USOS on it, that
would be like his media moment,right, a SmackDown title match, and
that's his manium moment, not theone against aj Styles. Well, he

(29:15):
should have won the title back intwenty eighteen. Whatever the USO should win.
I'm off the Yeah, i'd befair though, I like I obviously
like the USO. So Nick,I'll say knackabora books u usso's uh,
you know, well we'll see alittle dissension. Ooh, a little foreshadowing,

(29:40):
all right, I like that imagine, I unfortunately again really don't care
about because I don't really give acrap about Seamus and Riddy Holland and Butch.
It's brutal. The new day,right, the new Day. Let's
just all see the New Day,move on with that, the New Day
beat Speaky Blinders and in order ofthe Peaky Yeah, okay, Nick,

(30:03):
great show, by the way,great never watched. My roommate goes around
all the time saying in order ofthe Peaky Blinders. So, yeah,
the Peaky Blinder is a great,great show. Watch that. I heard
good things, tremendous. Well,would you rather watch that or a New
Day in Seamus and ridgeld Uh?Probably the New Day in Seamus and Richel.
No, I'm watching Peaky Blinders allday. Yeah, a shame again.

(30:26):
The New Day is great, butI gotta you gotta subject me to
a bleeping shamous match. Come on, man, Thomas Shelby over Seamous every
day? Come on? Oh wow, yeah, you know, I don't
even know who that is, butyeah, you'll find out if you watching
Peaky Blinders. Take Thomas Shelby overhim. I already I don't even know
who he is, what he lookslike. I like him already better than

(30:48):
Seamus so Nick, he looks likePete. Nick. Here you going New
Day? Okay, Well, Iguess the pick here In the next one,
seth Rollins against Heba. Who wouldit be other than Cody Rhodes.
Who is the rumor here. It'srumored to be Cody. Is it Cody
Rhoads. Yes, I think it'sCody Rhodes, but I think Shane McMahon

(31:11):
comes out first for a swerve becausethey talked about Shane McMahon coming back.
I would like that, I wouldlike him, and they start the bell
and then comes out and be like, you know what, I'm gonna make
the executive decision. This is atriple threat match, and there's another there's
another reason too, all of themerch no, not a triple threat.
I think Cody just comes down smacksShane and it's one one wild. I
think there's a lot of I thinkthey're already planning. So the big rumor

(31:33):
was Cody debuts here and his firststoryline is against the McMahon's, and all
of the McMahon merch at WrestleMania callsmc vince himself an a hole. There's
one that's just a burning piece ofburning one hundred dollars bill or whatever with
Vince's face on it and it saysmillion dollar a hole. And there's another

(31:55):
a shirt that just says I'm ana hole. It's the weirdest merch of
all time. Unless that's where Codyis going with the right where they're going
to and to see Rollins come out, Shane comes out first, Cody beats
him up, takes the match,and that starts their feud after WrestleMania.
I think that makes the most senseto me. Uh, if it should

(32:22):
be Cody, probably will be Cody. If it's not Cody, it probably
will be shammc Man, I guess. But that what your theory is sounds
intriguing. And if they start afeud by selling the merchandise and the superstar
superstar before WrestleMania, that's pretty wild. Wild, It's kind of wild.
So I'll go with Cody, andit is if it is Cody, Cody

(32:44):
wins all right, tour Nick realquick, I'll go gold bird. Oh
and thanks for joining us, sono, no, no, we'll talk
to you next time. Nick.Thank you so much. He did that
just to troll me. You.So we got the two women's matches and

(33:07):
again we gotta unfortunately wrap up Nightone pretty quick. Becky Lynch, Bianca
Blair. Bianca Blair gets your revenge, doesn't she like this? This is
it? This is the spot,yes, but I know it is gotta
win. Yeah, I think sotoo. Butlair's gotta win absolutely. I
just hope that Becky Becky doesn't getto like cut Bianca's hair. Maybe that

(33:28):
happens after this something like that,but that shouldn't happen before Bianca wins the
title. I know that much.It shouldn't happen at all because that's part
of Bianca's like the hair. Waitlike two or three four years down the
road. If they get to dothat, we'll do it right now,
but also get a match out ofit, like hair versus hair type of
thing. So, but Bianca shouldwin easily, not easily, but she
should win. She should win.Yeah, you know what, I'm kind

(33:50):
of like easy, you know,make it just kind of get revenge again
all the way back. Jason Bianca, right, Bianca, and I would
love to see a quick swash justlike Becky did to Bianca at SummerSlam,
just complete reversal. Fortune gets herwin back goes into it would make it
everybody, I mean, it wouldbe huge, it'd be great. Yeah.
Charlotte Flair Ronda Rousey. Rowsey's backlooked pretty good when she came back

(34:16):
Charlotte Flair though obviously a lot oftitles she is been winning all the time.
Are we going Rowsy or Flair here? So this is where as you
said, you admitted you haven't watcheda lot of roller smackdowns. He're not
quite go You're just going into WrestleMania. This is where that becomes painfully clear,
because Ronda Rowsey's promos are god awfuland if you had, if you've

(34:39):
heard them, then you would knowthat she can't speak for craft. She's
gonna win, of course, andwe're gonna have to be dealing with this
for the next month, month anda half, maybe even all the way
to Summer Slam. But I justhad to get that off my chest.
She doesn't know how to talk.She needs someone to talk for make her
a Paul Hyman girl. I don'tcare, help me, help me help

(34:59):
her stopped talking. Ronda wins though, yeah, uh, this is a
match I do not care about eitherway. Also true. Also, I
don't understand why WW put both ofthese women's title matches on the same night.
I don't get that. But I'mgonna go with Charlotte. I think
this will be for them another wayto put another feather in Charlotte's cap,

(35:21):
and Ronda she's here for WrestleMania,but she might go away after WrestleMania if
if she does win. Putting upwith Paul him and would be dope.
But I'm gonna go with Charlotte.Charlotte's got so many feathers in their cap,
shows like a turkey at this point. Though they don't step, they'll
find a space, They'll find aroom, this spot boom, here we
go. I agree with my cohosts. I'm going Charlotte because I'm not

(35:45):
convinced that shop the rockets Ronda.So they did that before and nothing really
came out of it except that theydid the pay per view and they did
the main event at WrestleMania. They'renot done the pay per view this time
around. That not in the mainevent of WrestleMania either night. So what's
the point of Ronde at this point? Like after WrestleMania at least, I

(36:12):
guess I'm going with Charlotte. I'mgonna go. I don't know. I
just think they they're gonna just continueto Charlotte made Osca tap out and Wresslemania,
so I'm gonna probably so I guesswe see some return like that too.
I would imagine maybe that's gonna happenduring the week, but yeah,
we see something like that. Allright, we do need to take a

(36:34):
break. There was a long segment. We'll be back with Night two of
WrestleMania thirty eight, so we're gonnabe breaking it down here on the line.
Change a special WrestleMania Roundtable edition.Right here on the Gambler. I'll
present it by Caro Auto Insurance.Every hole, every player, every event,
nobody does PGA toward coverage. Likethe crew from swing It and dig
It. We have the Great Frog. The Gambler presented by Curato Insurance,

(37:07):
comes crashing down and hats inside thestand, don't heads. Welcome back to
the WrestleMania Round Table. Here onthe line chains Fox Sports the Game.
We are all presented by your AutoInsurance and probably check out all of these

(37:28):
over at Fox dot com. It'llbe podcasting, so check it out before
night two or at night one andNight two. We're talking about Night two
right now, and just want toget this one first. The WWE Women's
Tag Team Championship match, So wehave queens Alina and Carmela against Sasha Banks,
Naomi, Rare Ripley and Live Morgan, and then Natalia and Shana Basler,

(37:52):
who is coming out the tag teamchampion in the women's division. We'll
go to the opposite direction this time, opposite order, Nick Pacomb, We'll
start with you. Let's go toSasha Banks and Naomi. Agreed, Sasha
Banks and Naomi, that's the onlychoice in mine. We're consensus here.
It's Jason, is it, SashaMaks Naomi? Because I am yes,

(38:13):
I definitely agree with that, theonly one with history. They call themselves
Team Bad. Just do it.Uh, Then get the other tag team
Championship match out of the way.RK Bro, Andy Orton and Riddle against
the Street Profits and Alpha Academy StreetProfits. Actually I'm going there, Nick
same, I'd like to see RKObroke it up at some point. Yeah,

(38:35):
Streets. I'm actually not feeling themat all anyway, so I'd rather
at that end as as soon aspossible. Agreed, Street Profits and r
K bro have to break up atsome point. I'm surprised they haven't broken
up before this, and they givethem a match of WrestleMania, but uh,
be it as it may. Streetprofits win. Maybe offer either way,
rk bro loses the title. Yeah, I agree, you know what,

(38:55):
I agree with that? Just penme down for that sharpie down.
R Capro is not gonna come out. R Capro is retaining because they get
the loudest pops on roll every week. I hate you just putting that out
there. Now you're you're out.It's just me. It's just want not
now for the rest of the show. All right, So let's get into
the good stuff. First. Let'sstart with Pat McAfee and Austin Theory.

(39:17):
Just because of the Pat McAfee thing, how are we feeling on McAfee not
only in the ring he was inthe ring in NXT, but now in
WrestleMania against Austin Theory. This seemslike such a weird match to put together
because, like I don't know,I guess Pat McAfee does have a lot
of following, but it just feelslike, a Wow, this is a
WrestleMania on the on the WrestleMania card, like it's it's one of those for

(39:39):
me, which I don't know ifI should feel like it. No,
the one that looks out of placein this match isn't Pat McAfee. It's
awesome theory. No, you're right, absolutely right, Yeah, you're one
hundred percent right. Pat McAfee isa big, big deal and he can
he can work so and he's gonnawin. By the way, awesome theory.
This is a good thing for awesometheory. Though he's in a big
spot. I guess a big namelike not. I'm not talking about Sean

(40:01):
McMahon big was big to the McMahonfamily. No, I'm talking about mainstream
media big. Pat McAfee is probablythe most popular person on the show.
I'm one of the most popular likemedia members at this point, like Steve
Austin and Ronda Rowsey. It's PatMcAfee. So big spot for Austin theory.
But Pat McAfee wins agree that Iam Nick, Are you not feeling

(40:28):
this match? I'm kind of good. I mean, like it is what
it is. But Pat McAfee wasactually pretty good at NXT. But he
also had Adam Cole opposite him,so you know, having Austin theory opposite
him isn't exactly the same. SoI'm kind of surprised they put him in
a one on one match. ButI think Pat McAfee is good enough that

(40:49):
this will be passable for a WrestleManiamatch. Yeah, I think this is
giving what Pat McAfee can do inthe ring to a more audience because,
while I agree that he is notat Austin, theory is not Adam Cole.
They have similar abilities, I wouldsay, or a similar style,

(41:09):
high flying, that sort of style. So if Pat can work with Austin
the same way he worked with Adam, the general wrestling audience can then say,
hey, maybe Pat can go andthey use them a little more often.
I don't want them to take himoff a commentary though, I will
say, though I do. ActuallyI don't like him. I like Pat
McFee at all. He's true,he's too much. I don't know.

(41:31):
Maybe that shouldn't be a thing,but I think he's just too much.
I will say, awesome theory is, like you said, not Adam Cole,
not just from a They're different people, obviously, but also different levels
of experience. Awsome theory is stillrelatively new to the wrestling business. That's
true. That's something to look outfor, because you know, Pat McAfee
is obviously very green, but heworked with Adam Cole, who could lead

(41:52):
him through. Can Austin theory dothat? There's a big showcase for Austin
theory, not just from a ohit's a WrestleMania match, you know,
and and a lot of people haven'thad one on one matches at WrestleMania.
Awestome theory already has. That's abig better than his cap But it's a
big showcase for him to see ifhe can actually be kind of like a
ring general. And yeah, IPat mcafeel long to put on a good

(42:13):
match. It's gonna be really interesting. Obviously, we're all going Pat McAfee
wins, right, no, yes, no, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Okay, Johnny Knoxville, Sammy's Ain, anything goes match. This has
been more entertaining than it needed tobe. I think Sammy's Ain has done
an excellent job. Does that endin a reward as him winning against Johnny

(42:35):
Knoxville? That has to ask gotIt's got to and he will live off
that the rest of the year intothe fall, like he'll just be like,
I'm the guy that beat Johnnyknoxville WrestleMania. I can't wait. He's got
to win and then he can liveoff that for his current character and it
will be some of the greatest stuffwe see on WTV the rest of the
year. Yeah, and Johnny knoxviillis not her athlete. You know,

(42:57):
Pat McAfee is an is an wrestler, but he's an athlete. He's been
athlete at a high level too,so it is a little more feasible.
Johnny Knoxville is a stunt man.He can't His job is to get disaster
woled every night, so it'll getbeat up every day. So sam Zein
has to go over. Now see, I think Sammy's Ain could lose here

(43:17):
and it could build his character asthe you know, conspiracy against me because
it's anything goes and you can bringin the entire Jackass crew and they can
do an entire segment where they gobackstage. Maybe if it's even pre taped
and all this Jackass stuff happens toSammy's Ain. I would love to see
Sammy's Ain Johnny Knoxville chase Johnny Knoxvilledown the hall, come around the corner

(43:40):
and the big hand from Jackass twoor three, whatever it was, just
to do that. Yeah, becausehe's a promotional for the Jackass movie,
which is already out I watched iton Paramount Plus, like last weeks,
I wasn't good. It was fine. Is exactly what Jackass. So you

(44:00):
do all this and then he canyell conspiracy, conspiracy and carry that into
whoever his next feud is, maybeeven parlay it to another icy title shot
or or god forbid the the maintitles. But I don't think that's happening.
But that I just I think thereare there is enough story there if
he loses that he could eat thisloss and uh yeah, you know I

(44:21):
want to add on to that too, because you're right, eat the loss
and like, but I like theyJohnny Knoxvill brings a backstage to like this
Jackass like playground. It's just likeall this stuff from the Jackass movies.
And Johnny Knoxville looks in the camerasays, is Sammy's ay, and my
name is Johnny Knoxville. Welcome toJackass, and then do all this crazy
stuff like I would love it.That would make me laugh so damn hard.

(44:43):
I think I could do that.Yeah, So I am gonna go
Johnny Knoxville here for that reason,and then I can see them be beating
Sammy and then the Jackass crew joinshim in the ring and they all pose
fade to the next match, allright, moving on to maybe the good
stuff. We got to Bobby Lashleyand Omas. This was a late edition
to the card and basically big giantBeast against well the immovable object. I

(45:07):
don't you can. I don't knowwhich one is which, but you can
figure that out for yourself. I'lllet you do that. Lastly, and
Omas, I mean, it's it'sgonna be great because just two big dudes.
And lastly, he's gonna do theyou know, can I pick up
Omas thing and all that. It'sgonna be fun, but fun enough to
uh to really enjoy this one.And also, who do you think wins?

(45:28):
I think they gave away one ofthe biggest things about this match already
because they were hyping up how noone has even knocked Omas down? Uh,
And then Bobby Lashley went and didit on Ross. What was the
point? Why would you not savethat? Jesus? That'd be like,
that'd be like Andre to John gettingbody slam by Hogan. Didn't the body

(45:52):
slam door on the show. Andeverybody's like, wait, we saw this
Titans Russell Mania, And because ofthat, I honestly don't know who wins.
Maybe Omas is so angry that hebeats Bobby Lashley and gets that feather
in his cap. Or Lashly takesthat momentum and beats the crap out of
Omas, which is what should happen. So I don't, I don't.
I don't know, Like I reallydon't. This is the only match with

(46:14):
the card, but I'm like,eh, coin flip, I have no
idea what. I struggle with thisone as well, but I'm gonna go
Omas. I think they have tohave him get a really big win at
some point, and this is it. Bobby's hurt anyway, I mean he's
he's back, But like, Idon't know, I think Omas has to
has to win here. Make thisguy a big, strong guy that he

(46:35):
had to beat Bobby Lashley. Yeah, I think they've rebuilt Lastly enough to
where he can afford to lose thismatch. Yeah, like like even when
Leisure loses, he still Yeah,So I'll go Across just because I think
he could use the rub at thispoint and Lastly can always bounce back from
it. I love it. That'sa really good call with Bobby Lashley,
So yeah, I go Omas aswell, uh, Edge and AJ Styles

(46:59):
and I'm a big Edge fan,so you guys know where I'm going,
even though it's probably not gonna happen. I've actually I've quite liked the promos
leading up to this, especially withEdge definitely doing He's He's one that,
like if you pay attention to wrestlingor like, have a somewhat deep knowledge
of wrestling history, especially his likehe always has nice callbacks and I do
usually enjoy that stuff. But thisshould be a fun matchup. Edge and

(47:22):
AJ Styles both very good. Edgea great storyteller. AJ can do anything
he wants in a wrestling ring.I have big expectations for this, and
I know AG's probably gonna win,but I'm gonna pick Edge because that's what
I do on this podcast. Nobodyhas anything to say about that. Thank
you, Thank you everybody for beingsilent and be like, yeah, okay,
John, Yeah, I'm going AYeah, I'm going AJ two.

(47:45):
He's gonna get you guys are alldead. He's gonna get revenge for his
shoulder from the Royal Rumble twenty twentythat knocked him out of action for six
weeks. And also too, Ithink this is a candidate a sleeper candidate
for Match of the Weekend. AndI say match specifically because I think I
can't wait for the spear. Aftera se he goes up for the elbow,

(48:06):
the springboard elbow. Yes, that'sdefinitely gonna happen. Oh, I
killed, definitely going to happen.I have very high expectations for this match,
uh, considering because of who wasinvolved, and like, uh,
everyone said, like AJ has towin my opinion, even though Edge is
kind of taking a turn into adifferent character, but a J. I

(48:27):
think a J wins. He wasthe least time AJ had like a really
big WrestleMania win. I mean hisbiggest win is probably over Shane I guess
Knockamore. That matches. I stillcan't believe every time I watch that match
how good AJ styles and Shaye McMahonwas. I could not believe that.
Yeah, and it probably is.This is bigger than the Shamee match.

(48:49):
This is bigger than the Knockamore match. So I think AJ needs. This
is a good feather in AJ's cap. So AJ styles all right? Main
event time, brock Le Roman reigns. By the way, your tune into
the line change Fox Sports and gavelpresented by Care Auto Insurance. It's the
WrestleMania Round Table. We're on tonighttoo. We're onto the final match.
A winner takes al for the WWEChampionship and WWE Universal Championship. That's stupid

(49:14):
to me. I still hate it. Don't know why it needed it.
This didn't even need one belt,and they have two belts on the line.
I don't get it. There isa pool here for DraftKings, but
it's gonna be maybe a little bittoo much, and I don't know if
we have enough time to go throughall of it, but you can definitely
check that out, and maybe withsome of the things we say, you'll
be able to figure out that.But Roman reigns brock Lesner, who do

(49:36):
we have winning this one? Takingaway all the gold at nick pecoone.
We'll start with you gotta be Roman. Yeh, It's gotta be Roman.
It's gotta be and that I alsobelieve that having it both titles on the
line is kind of silly. ButI'm also a proponent of one championship to
rule them all, so to speak. So I don't think it's gonna be

(49:59):
a permanent unification. I think atsome point they will separate the titles again,
especially because we talked about this ona straight shoot. Is that you
know, you've got billionaire networks atplay that probably both won a championship.
You know, Fox isn't just gonnago without a champion, and the USA
is not going to just go withouta championship. So they will probably split
these titles up again. But RomanReigns should be the man to unify them.

(50:22):
Yeah. Roman Romans is gonna definitelyI think avenge both of his previous
losses at WrestleMania and brock Lessner matches, although one of them he did not
lose to brock Lesner. I thinkhe holds. I think the bloodline keep
all the gold at the end ofthe night, and we go into yet
another year of Roman with the title. At this point, I think they're

(50:45):
going for San Martino's record until heloses that I understand, but they'll probably
try it, but I think he'llI think he'll eventually lose at SummerSlam to
bron Breaker, but order to hearfirst. So I think last thing about
this match, and that's where we'llwrap up. Obviously, it's the main

(51:07):
event of the entire weekend. It'sthe biggest match. Obviously, there's usually
some window dressing to it, likethey'll they'll add some things to it.
I'm sure we're gonna see some Shenanigan. So how does this thing sort of
unfold, whether that's during the match, after the match we see something,
you know, how does this allunfold? Interferences, maybe a surprise or
turn, whatever the case may be. What are we expecting? And we'll

(51:29):
start with Nick again. I thinkwe'll see some callbacks to their Crown Jewel
match. Whoso is trying to interferemaybe the Royal Rumble match and Brock with
the title belt brought kind of countersthat, but that eventually Roman counters that
gets to win. So there's gonnabe a lot of false finishes here that
they're always are in w main events. But Roman, will you slay the

(51:51):
beast? Seth should just run outwith a briefcase just just because, just
run around, run around with it. May if he kept the laughing at
the top of the stage exactly so, But no, I don't know.
I think it's gonna be. Ifyou call it the most important match in
the WrestleMania history, I don't thinkyou should have a whole lot of bells

(52:13):
and whistles around it, and Ithink Roman and Brock up both capable of
putting on a match that's of qualitywithout all the bells and whistles. Obviously
you're expecting the USOS to get involvedand Paul Hamman to get involved. Yeah,
I can see that, But outsideof that, I don't want anything
else. This is the most,like you said, the most important match
of the most stupendous WrestleMania in history. Don't overdo it, don't overthink it.

(52:37):
The hard work has been done andbuilding up this match already, the
WrestleMania itself. That when the match, when the bell rings, that's the
easy part. Let Roman and Brockdo their thing and show people why they're
the best. Jason, I,I just think they're gonna beat the crap
out of each other. That's allI needed to do. I don't need

(52:58):
any bells or I don't need anyof it. Just kill each other.
Just beat the absolute crap out ofeach other. And they're more than capable
of doing that. Yes, theygot it. Yeah, all right,
that is it for the most stupendousWrestleMania roundtable in the history of the world
again. My name is John Jansen. Follow me at Jay Jansen thirty four.
Jason Fanelli as well. Thank youfor joining us. You can follow

(53:20):
him at big Man Finelli on Twitterand check out again his podcast Cheese Steaks
and Controller. Also Von Johnson NickPiccone. They are the two hosts of
Shooters Radio. You can follow atShooters Radio and also follow Vaughn at Von
m Johnson and Nick Picone at UnderscorePacone. That is it for us.
Enjoy WrestleMania weekend and we'll be backagain for the next big show. We're

(53:45):
always gonna be there, you know. The roundtable is following the next big
event that's happening in wrestling. Butthat is it for us. Stay tuned
for more here on the Gambler.I'll present it by Cure Auto Insurance.