January 8, 2025 • 63 mins
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On this episode we talk about Netflix and the beginning of the WWE on Netflix era as we review the first Monday Night Raw of 2025 on Netflix! NETFLIX!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman.
(00:04):
And as your wise man, I'm here to bestow upon you the wisdom that you're listening
to Punk's Talk Wrestling.
One, two, three, four.
Welcome to Punk's Talk Wrestling.
On this episode, we talk about Netflix and the beginning of the WWE on Netflix era.
(00:29):
As we review the first Monday Night Raw of 2025 on Netflix, Netflix, Netflix.
I am R.W.
Hellborn, the PA Rock Prince, hailing quote unquote from Philly.
And I am one half of the crowd, which is one half of your Punk's Talk Wrestling
(00:53):
Inter-Universal Tag Team Podcast,
champion of the world.
Now, then, and forever by my side,
3,500 miles away in London, England.
(01:19):
He is my Tag Team Podcast partner.
He is the other half of the crown, which is the other half of your Punk's Talk
Wrestling Inter-Universal Tag Team Podcast,
champion host of the world.
(01:40):
Mr. Did you know, Sir King of Reels,
the proper prick, C.J.
Newman.
(02:08):
Did you know, that was a good intro.
So did you know they did say the word Netflix a lot in that episode of Raw,
didn't they?
They just they just kept saying it.
They couldn't help themselves.
Did you actually know, though, did you know that this Netflix and Raw
saw a title change between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan
(02:30):
for the Women's World Championship?
Did you know the first ever title change in the Monday Night Raw
happened only four months into the Raw on May 1993, May 13th, to be exact.
And it was Shawn Michaels lost his Intercontinental Championship
to Marty Janay.
Oh, shit.
(02:51):
Also, how does that sound?
That's not me.
I don't know what that sound is.
Anyway, the first ever World Championship to ever change hands
on the Monday Night Raw was on February 17th, 1997.
Psycho Sid defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Championship.
Nice.
(03:13):
And I'm going to give you a little digibonus,
because I found another little Monday Night Raw fact.
I just thought what better time to do it than when we're speaking about Raw.
Nice.
We all remember when Shawn Michaels lost his smile.
Remember that, right?
When he won the WWE Championship.
Worst time in professional wrestling history.
We all know that happened.
What show did that happen on?
(03:35):
Monday Night Raw.
No, it happened on Thursday Night Raw.
It was the first and only ever episode of Raw
to air on any other day besides the Monday, but besides a Monday.
Oh, shit.
Why?
Yeah.
Why was?
Because Vince McMahon was trying, because they were getting absolutely
obliterated by WCW and the ratings at the time.
(03:57):
And they thought they'd give it a go and see how they'd fare on a night
where they would be unopposed by Nitro.
And it ended up being a really successful episode.
They got a lot of viewers because they weren't going head to head.
It was on February 13th, 1997.
But yeah, this massive moment in WWE history actually
(04:21):
happened on a Thursday Night Raw.
Huh.
How about it?
Sorry.
Yeah, didn't know that.
Now you do?
Yeah, I do.
Hence the did you know part.
Because you didn't.
So I thought I was not aware.
(04:41):
Unaware of it.
Would you look at that?
What?
Well, the Thursday Night Raw was on the 13th, the 13th of February 1997.
And that's when Bret dropped his.
Did he drop the championship?
No, he didn't have the championship.
I was completely wrong on that.
Either way, he he he lost his smile.
(05:02):
And it was the next week of Raw on February 17th where Psycho Sid
defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Championship, the first ever world
title change on on Raw.
How about it?
One week after another.
Yeah.
A lot happened that week.
Yeah, two Raw's actually happened that week.
Yeah, technically.
(05:24):
Speaking of Raw.
Yeah.
How's about we talk about WWE's debut on Netflix?
Yeah.
Netflix.
Yeah, I didn't either.
I just I literally just that was what I the two minutes I went up
(05:47):
and I scarfed down a hard boiled egg.
I did.
I took some I took some took some Beachbody pre-workout Energize.
And I got frickin Shakeology here.
Like I'm stacked with everything I need.
I've got water.
I've got coffee.
I've got generic raspberry lime seltzer from Giant.
(06:07):
I've got the last few icebreakers, ice cubes, spearmint gums in my box.
Oh, damn.
Jesus Christ.
Holy shit, man.
I'm fucking wired and ready to talk about Raw.
Fuck. Yeah.
And what it was.
Holy shit.
Yeah, let's get let's get right into it.
(06:28):
Let's just get right into it.
I mean, I don't even have shit.
I don't even have Wikipedia shout out to Wikipedia page up yet.
But while you start.
I mean, it's so fresh in my memory, I literally watched it less than 24 hours ago.
Right. Right.
Yeah, because I watched it the next day.
First of all, you know, Netflix, it's on Netflix.
(06:49):
It I will say, did you watch this on your TV?
I did. I watched it.
I watched it through Netflix the proper the proper way.
Yeah. So I don't know.
I mean, I don't know if it's maybe my TV is not updated yet, but
that the WWE collection button is not working on the on the app.
So, oh, OK, anyway.
But maybe it just needs updating.
(07:10):
But well, you know, I know I think
I've noticed a few things like
they're showing they're showing like the things like that.
Yeah, the collections that are supposed to be up.
But I just I don't think I think they're just not available yet.
Yeah. And I think like
I think all of mine's most of mine said like coming soon.
(07:31):
Yeah. So you could look for them.
You could see what like they're putting it.
They're basically teasers for all of their old content for new viewers of like,
look, here's a bunch of here's a bunch of documentaries about old guys.
Here's a bunch of documentaries about current people.
Here's the kind of waiting for like because right now it's like
the interface is like it's not wrestling fan friendly.
(07:53):
It's you know, it's no.
And this was the problem.
This was the problem with Peacock.
This was the problem all along is that. Yeah.
Regular because Monday Night Raw
and because professional wrestling is such a unique thing.
Yeah, it doesn't stop.
It doesn't work the same way they have.
I will appreciate that, like with Raw and Smackdown, like
(08:16):
Raw, for example, was broken down into 32 seasons.
Sure. And that makes year is a season.
And that that works for me. It makes sense.
It makes sense.
But the but the crazy thing is like for you to get the full picture.
We've we've said this.
You've said it. I've said it. Dan and the Brain Bowman.
I mean, I even know for I know for certain Nick Tullo, the supermarket
current cow world champion that will shout out.
(08:39):
And him and Dan Black have mentioned it from time before is that
we need a chronological order of things like that's
that's what everyone wants, what every professional wrestling fan and what
you know, we want to just be able to scroll
through it like what happened because
(08:59):
if the times that were raw and Smackdown and things were so intermingled.
There's a lot of times you need to know.
You need to know what happened on Smackdown the next, you know, that week.
You know, I don't want to go. Yeah.
I don't have to go back and scroll through it like Netflix.
You know, this deal is a 10 year deal.
So hopefully, I think they could figure out.
(09:20):
I really think they could figure it out.
I really do think that they could figure it out. Yeah. Yeah.
And if and if they need someone to help them figure it out,
call me, call RW Hellboy.
Yeah, I'll help you figure it out and then call me and then I can help to.
Yeah. Yeah. Call us both.
Call us both. Yeah.
I mean, we are a tag team.
So, you know, we would get hired. We would get hired as a tag team.
(09:42):
Yeah, you can you can work on the you can.
Well, one of us will work on the Netflix side.
One of us will work on the WWE side.
Well, you know, and then and then when the transfer windows open,
we'll switch over and we'll just switch over. Yeah. Yeah.
I'm sure. Yeah, I'm sure that's how the transfer window.
Yeah. It definitely works for two guys
that don't work for either one of those companies. Yeah.
(10:04):
Hey, man. 2025 is a year of making making your dreams reality.
So let's let's go. Right.
Yeah, this was.
This is one hell of a I mean, there have been many special Monday night
Monday night roles in the past when they've done like a thousand episodes
of 30 years of raw. Yeah.
This was unlike any this felt like this felt like a PLE.
(10:27):
It felt well, and it started off like Triple H said in the press conference.
Like it was like a standalone event. Yeah.
Yeah. It it it it sits by itself in.
Yeah. In the in the spot of a episode of Monday night raw.
But it is it was it's unlike anything else.
Be I would say the closest
(10:48):
I would equate this episode to the very first episode of Monday Night Raw.
Right. In that it was we this is starting new for this is new for a lot of people.
It is. Yeah. And it felt that way.
And this is and like yeah, like Triple H said, we're
(11:09):
we're showing the world who we actually are.
You know, I mean, honestly, you could have named that
that show could have been called WWE.
You know, I mean, it it it.
I mean, yeah, literally, it could just have been called. But.
It was it was a great I was speaking to a friend of mine at work
(11:32):
or a bandmate of mine as well.
He yeah, watches wrestling from time to time,
mainly because of me.
And he he's never you know, I said, if you I said now,
like you'll be able to because he didn't have the network.
He wasn't going to pay 10 pounds for like something that he doesn't watch very often.
(11:54):
I'm like, everyone has Netflix.
I was like, now you got Netflix.
You can watch it whenever you want.
He's like, well, I was like, this is no better time to start,
because with that episode of raw, it was perfect.
Every single time a new superstar made their entrance,
Michael Cole or Pat McAfee would explain their entire back story
for the last year or so.
(12:14):
And I want to thank us for it.
And here's why. Right.
Because you because you know what?
Because remember what?
Remember during the during the pandemic?
When I got it, I do.
And I started. Yeah, unfortunately, we all do.
And I started getting into NWA.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
(12:34):
Our because because and who was
and who was champion at the time?
Nick Aldis. It was Nick Aldis.
Yeah, yeah.
And and the very first episode of NWA Power that I watched,
Nick Aldis came out at the beginning of the show.
With the with the title, he told you who he was
(12:55):
and why he's the champion and why it matters. Right.
And and I and and I they they did this exact
they did the exact same thing.
And I'm sure they and I'm sure they noticed it.
And I'm not saying they and I'm saying specifically they noticed me saying it.
But obviously, yes, I do actually think they specifically noticed it.
(13:16):
I'm going to prove it.
There's no fact checkers anymore, baby.
You can't checkers don't exist on social media anymore.
You're wrong right now.
You know, so I'm going to.
Yeah, we're going to pat ourselves on the back for for for being ahead
of the curve and knowing like knowing what this is.
You know, we we get just like he said,
we know we all know what this is, and I'm so happy that the rest of the world
(13:40):
is getting to see what we love and why we love it.
Yeah, it's such a weird, weird.
This doesn't matter in this context.
It's a weird, unique position to be in, actually, because it's quite weird for.
It's like something.
It's so weird when you're really into something and then it becomes
(14:00):
it's like being into a band and you knew them from like when they were in there,
you know, playing in front of no one and in small little bars.
And now they're playing arenas.
It's like shit.
And it's like, you know, the worst thing you could do right now is be gatekeeping.
And obviously it's like you see all these new fans and I know what,
for the most part, I'm looking around and I'm I'm not seeing many people be like
(14:24):
that because it's just like, come on in.
Like, honestly, I really feel like as much as we don't I don't like to talk about.
I don't like to talk about the the online community much because it's toxic to me.
I know.
Yeah.
I try to avoid it, but.
What I'm what I'm yeah, what I'm seeing is more than anything, it's overwhelmingly
(14:48):
positive in the fact that people are enjoying it for what it is.
Yeah.
And the people that are enjoying it for what it is, aren't worried about what
it isn't exactly.
That's that's really that's the biggest key.
Yeah.
Hey, we're the ones that we're the ones that you can come to and know.
(15:11):
Yeah, these are stories.
The other ones and the and other places where it's where it might not be like that.
Like there are people that really don't like each other in smaller promotions.
And that's and they can use they can use that for real.
Whatever it doesn't it doesn't matter what anyone else is doing.
We're loving what we're loving what the WWE is doing because we love this.
(15:35):
That's it.
Yeah.
It's it's crazy.
Like anything more than that.
You it's undoubtedly I think at this point now, after seeing that show on Netflix
and obviously knowing the reach of Netflix, 280 million subscribers worldwide.
I mean, that's that's 280 million subs accounts.
But, you know, some households have, you know, three, five people living in them.
(16:00):
You know, especially especially households with families.
Yeah, exactly.
So, you know, it's it's a massive outreach.
And I think it's safe to say after watching this and this is by this is the biggest
the WWE have ever been straight up.
I mean, the global outreach right now is is is it's just astounding.
(16:24):
And it's it's beyond.
It's beyond any.
I never if you had told me about 10 years ago that this is where
the WWE would be in 2025.
I just that I just wouldn't have believed you.
No, I wasn't even.
No, I wasn't.
(16:45):
Ten years ago, I was really starting to lose interest a little bit like 20.
Like, you know, as it goes, as I can't even remember.
I can't even tell you what was happening in 2015.
To be honest. No, not really.
I wasn't I wasn't paying that much attention to it for and for whatever.
For various other reasons, it was every 10 years.
(17:06):
Things are cyclical and and and however you want to spin.
But it is it's just amazing to see.
I don't I don't want to talk ourselves in circles just just because.
Yeah.
Well, let's start with the start of the show.
The start of the show, the show.
Well, this the opening, the opening video, I act like I sent it to you
(17:31):
and Dan actually the night before. Right.
They released they released it on YouTube.
Yeah, they released it on YouTube as a teaser and shit, man.
That was one of the best.
You know what I liked about it wasn't like an intro to roar
and it was an introduction to the WWE and what it's all about.
Yeah. And and it was just like shit.
That was one of the best video packages.
(17:53):
I think they've released it so good, so fucking good.
And and they and they and they did and they strategically.
I mean, definitely they strategically used specific WCW footage.
Yeah. Yeah.
Which is which is they which they rarely have ever seen in a promo.
(18:14):
Yeah, they don't type into that too much. Yeah, you're right.
No, no, no.
I thought that was great.
Yeah. You know, it was great.
I mean, they used a lot of historic footage from back, I know, in the 40s
and 50s and talking about the fact it went back to the road, like the ancient Rome.
And they're pulling on their beautiful.
Yeah. And they're and they're and they're pulling heavily back on the family things.
(18:38):
They every the the major story for the last several years
has been revolving around family. Yeah. Yeah. You know, and.
This is they're yeah, they're getting back to this is the new era, like I said,
like we said in so, first of all, tangent, I'm just going to put this in there.
(19:01):
I think we should release this episode this week.
Oh, 100 percent. And then release the other two.
Yeah, the other two. 2000 percent. Yeah.
Yeah, that's exactly why it just makes it just makes all the all the sense.
Makes all the sense. Yeah.
Yeah. So we'll talk.
So things in the next episodes might sound a little out of order
because we recorded them yesterday. Yeah.
(19:23):
Yeah. The problem with the intro was amazing.
Like like you said, it.
It told the story of professional wrestling.
Told the story. You know what?
And like it was this came to my mind just now,
and I'm just going to say it's why it's my freshman brain.
The WWE never, ever, ever says what the acronym stands for.
(19:46):
They never say it.
And Michael Cole in during the first match, he said, this is this is
this is the world wrestling entertainment.
Yeah. It was so weird.
I haven't heard him or anyone say that in such a long time.
That was just like, yeah, you caught that.
That was that was a cool moment.
That was very, very smart.
(20:06):
It was, you know, they were being very proper.
Yeah. You know, the whole title. Yeah.
I was not expecting it.
I wasn't expecting to start off with the tribal with tribal combat.
Yeah. Well, he stopped the night started with like his his music
started with a different sound and everything.
So I think everyone was a bit confused. Yeah.
(20:28):
But yeah, yeah, I didn't expect it to start with.
I didn't expect to start with the rock or the tribal combat match, but shit.
I mean, oh, right. Yeah, that's right. The rock.
Yeah, we've got to start with the rock. I mean, Jesus, I just that real.
Let's get to that. Yeah, because I mean, I just saw him on NXT.
Talk about everything that he said.
But the main thing that came out of it, which obviously a lot of people
(20:50):
have been talking about is the fact that obviously he came out of bad blood
not too long ago and did the cutthroat thing towards Cody and Roman.
And he's come out on this show and he's.
Said nice words about Cody and hugged him and nice words about Roman and hugged him.
Everybody was a little confused about it.
And you know what? Yeah, you know what? Still are.
(21:11):
And of course, I won't lie.
I'm still confused about it.
But as we've seen from the last few years of storytelling,
everything happens for a reason at this point.
And there's a definitely a reason that this was done.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
And I mean, he he reiterated on NXT the next night.
(21:32):
I did watch. I don't steps ahead.
Yeah, 20 steps ahead. You know, once again, sit down and buckle in and enjoy the ride.
Like, yeah, no, you're wrong. Shut your mouth.
This way. Yeah, well, pretty much. Yeah. Yeah.
And I, you know, once again, I agree. I agree with that.
We're we're it's much.
(21:57):
There's there. I get it.
There's so much passion. But here. But this is the point of it all.
They've even made a point to mention what Triple H mentioned.
You know, L.A., you guys are in front of the world. Yeah.
Like this is this is your you know, this is your chance to show them who you are.
(22:18):
Like the the amount of service they're actually giving to the fans.
And we'll get to some other things about fans reactions later on, too.
And I think one of the things that has to has to be has to be noted is, yeah,
they're they are they are letting they are letting them they they're not necessarily letting them steer the ship,
(22:46):
but they're certainly letting their they're definitely letting their voices be known.
They're being recognized and it's not just be it's not they're not they're not being ignored.
We'll put it that way. They're certainly not.
And I think the WWE, I mean, especially since Triple H has taken over,
I feel like the WWE audience and as a fan base has more more of a say than a lot of other fan bases, to be honest.
(23:15):
If you think about it in a sense of any other episodic TV show where it has a storyline like
you just kind of have to write, record and film everything and then release it and just hope that everyone likes it.
Yeah. No other no other storylines get to benefit from from.
Yeah, like essentially real time feedback.
(23:36):
Yeah, exactly. And that's how you can always make the best story possible,
because you can always get a vibe from what the crowd actually wants from week to week.
And that's such a unique place to be in.
And another another thing that definitely as a long term, as a long term, you know,
rider of the show, we've seen it.
(23:57):
There's there's a number of people who in recent years,
which probably because they're they're probably relatively new to wrestling,
have picked up on and really can criticize like when a storyline just gets dropped or something.
And that happens all the time.
(24:18):
Like that always happened where something things just get dropped.
You know, it's happened a few times this this past year, but very but very infrequently,
only because the storylines are now so like things might get dropped or seem like they're getting dropped
only to come back around months, if not years later.
(24:42):
Like, yeah, things are do it.
It's like a D&D campaign that spans over years.
Like there are so many side quests, there are so many subplots and everybody's got their
everybody's got their point and they're they're not going to be the main character all the time.
Yeah, I think they I think they've been doing a really, really good job of of rotating the focus.
(25:09):
Yeah. So that not as many people.
So it's not always as it's not always as singularly focused on the one guy or the one person.
It's there. There's a more broad spectrum of there's always there's always a few people right up there at the top.
Instead of you know, it's good with the WWE, especially actually is that they got a lot of especially at the moment.
(25:33):
They've got a lot of guys who are on top and they do a great job of rotating that that main event scene,
but then also keeping everyone on television. Yeah.
The thing that AEW failed to do is like they'll have someone in the main event for like three or four months
and then that that person will lose and then they'll just disappear from TV for like six months.
(25:58):
Yeah. It's so weird. It's so jarring and it's like you just while that person's getting red hot,
whether it's a healer or a face, they take them off TV and then they lose their their heat.
It just goes away. I you know, I understand like I understand a lot of the things why other places do things differently.
(26:24):
There are there are specific there are reasons there are reasons whether whether we think they're good reasons or bad.
Yeah. But when you look at it from a fan's perspective, even even me, I tried to get into it.
I've given I've given them did. Yeah. I mean, I did several chances over the years.
Yeah. I just can't get into it because there's nothing for me to actually grab on to.
(26:47):
Yeah. It's just it's just not what I want. It's OK.
And I feel like when I had when I did watch, you know, at the start and when I was maybe there was a character I was slightly getting into.
I would feel like I'd get into them and then it would be like then they just wouldn't be on.
They wouldn't show up again for months. And I'm like, well, what it turns out.
I mean, here's here's what I've. Here's what it here's the difference.
(27:11):
Here's the real difference that I feel about where where the where the tribalism of professional wrestling kind of splits.
Yeah. It usually comes.
Seems to me it usually comes down to people like us who just who like the show and fans, fans who like the show and fans who like the wrestlers, the performers.
(27:39):
There are guys there. There are certainly people who when Daniel Bryan left WWE, stopped watching WWE and started watching a W because they were Daniel Bryan fans.
And like that was. That was who they wanted to see.
And I totally and I totally get that. Like. That's that's fucking great.
(28:00):
But I think that's I think that's why the divide is always so tenuous with a lot of people in their communities, because we're just you're just valuing one thing over the other.
It's OK that I like the show. No one no one person is going to make me tune into Raw.
I'm always going to tune into Raw. I watch Monday Night Raw. It's the show I watch.
(28:24):
Yeah. It it it really doesn't matter to me. Who's going to be on it.
I'm going to watch it no matter what. I always have and I always will.
Like pretty much. Yeah. I mean, you know, like we said before, we've we've we've been watching wrestling for an awful long time now.
And it's just like I I we I need to watch Raw. There's a TV show I need to watch once a week.
(28:50):
It's going to be raw. I mean, I am I've been I've been so invested in, you know, they have they have me as a lifelong fan.
There's really not there's really not a whole lot.
To be honest, there's really not a whole lot that's going to ever that would ever get me to stop watching WWE unless it became truly heinous and vile.
(29:13):
Oh, which is what we just know is never going to happen.
Yeah. Let's pick this train back up, put it back on the back of the tracks.
Yeah. Fucking so forget the rock. Yeah.
What a great match and what a great way is the fight.
I can see why they did this match first, because he introduced so many characters and so many stories in like a half an hour space.
(29:37):
It is. And not only that, like you're interested if you've got a bunch of new viewers, you're introducing them to the faces of the world.
The face of the company immediately. And this is Roman Reigns. Look at this aura.
This may and this makes perfect again makes perfect sense from the perspective of pitching, pitching our product to everyone.
(29:59):
This is this is a port. This is their portfolio.
And this is a portfolio. And when you go on a job interview and you hand them your portfolio, you put your best piece first.
And the best the best thing they the best thing they have is Roman Reigns. Yeah.
Pretty much. And the second and you put the second best and you put the second best last.
(30:23):
Yeah. Just you know. And that's not to say they're not great.
No, no, no. But that in terms of in terms of your your work as a portfolio, the way you the way you stack it is best first, second best last third best in the middle.
You know, that's that's how you do it. That's how you win people over.
(30:46):
But we had obviously the whole you know, from a new fan's perspective, you got to see obviously Roman Reigns, but you got you got explained the whole bloodline civil war that's been going on.
And the thing is, you had the video package last five years. The video package that went went through the whole, you know, of Roman get get get and given the the the Ula Fala and everything.
(31:12):
It was it was really well done. It was then in that you got to, you know, we got we met Sammy.
We met Jimmy. We we met Tama Tonga and we met, you know, us.
We met Jacob Fatu. Then we saw Kevin Owens. Then we saw Cody. It was just like a great mixed bag of like, you know, just you know, we got to see a bit of everyone.
(31:35):
And on top of that, it was a fucking great match as well.
Yeah, phenomenal. I mean, it could have finished the night of it easily.
And the first time you and I have both been surprised this year.
Yeah, you know, as it should be, as it should be. I mean, we we have been we got surprised the very first the very first raw, the very first match of the match of the very of the year.
(32:01):
Yeah. Yeah. What a way to start it. What a way to start it off for us. Happily surprised.
Yeah. Roman Reigns once again. I say once again, he always was, but he's in possession of the Ula Fala. He is the one true tribal chief.
And what does this mean? What is it? Well, more so, I feel like what does this mean for so less to go? I don't know.
(32:22):
Yeah. Like, does does talk have a tongue go lower and and Jacob Fatu respond to this?
You know, will they dump him at the waist at the waist or what will happen?
No. So it's it's intriguing. We'll see. Because right now, right now, Solos Okoha and his bloodline are completely down on their luck. They've lost a member. They've lost the tag team championships. Yep.
(32:45):
We lost the Ula Fala. They lost Tongoloa. Yeah. So they're just an injury again.
Poor Tongoloa. I cannot wait. I cannot wait for the Tongoloa face turn. That dude. No lie. I see that that dude is going to be a fucking mega baby face because maybe yes.
(33:10):
Here's why. Here's why. Well, here's here's why. Here's what I think is going to happen. Because of the because the bloodline has been so prevalent, it's going to die down a little bit.
But but Tongoloa is adopted. Right. Tonga Tongoloa. And so so there is there is a beautiful baby face turn baby face, you know, turn run where whatever happened if the if the rest of the bloodline turn on Tongoloa for never being there for always getting injured for whatever.
(33:46):
Like he's going to be I foresee him becoming kind of like this fall guy for them. And we would, you know, you know, so as a co-op wouldn't lose wouldn't have lost if you wouldn't have been injured.
You know, they're going to they're going to treat him lesser than everyone else because because he's not blood.
(34:07):
And they're going and they're going to so they can reuse the Sammy lot, the Sammy angle with the new bloodline and they're going to have an entirely different angle where the bloodline that bloodline is going to feud with themselves and Tongoloa is going to come out of it as a as a as a baby face.
That's my fucking 25. I could. Yeah, I could see that happening for sure. Anyway, but yeah, great match.
(34:34):
Second match of the night, we saw Rhea Ripley up against Liv Morgan. Yeah. Once again, capping off the one of the what the probably the the women's story of last year.
Yeah, the entirety of the year in certainly involved Rhea Ripley. Yeah.
(34:57):
And I think now the yeah, I mean, I'm sure this probably will cap off cap off that storyline now.
And I feel like next week, maybe the the judge, Damien Priest versus Finn Balor in a street fight will maybe cap off that story as well.
I think because then we can probably. Yeah, I think then we can start looking towards the fractures inside the Judgment Day.
(35:19):
I feel like that can be more of a focus with Finn and Dominic and everything like that.
So, yeah, they're they know these angles are going to work. They've got the Judgment Day also has another outsider.
You know, Carlitos was always kind of the outside. There's always there's always someone in the Judgment Day that's kind of on the outs.
Yeah, yeah. And there's there's definitely going to be some fractures.
(35:44):
And I and I can't wait to see where it goes because, you know, Finn and JD are going to stick together or likely will stick together.
Likely. Yeah. And you know, yeah. And like Dominic, you feel like Dominic, Liv and Raquel will kind of stick as the three as well.
But I don't know about Carlitos. Probably going to be kicked to the wayside.
(36:06):
I don't even I don't even know. Maybe, you know, Carlito might Carlito might go with with Dom and Liv like.
Yeah, I mean, here's here's another. And here's another part of that whole that that story angle.
Remember, it was it was Rhea Ripley who originally.
Seduced and turned Dominic heel on his dad. Yeah. And Liv got and Liv technically got him away from the woman who at that time did that pretty much.
(36:37):
Yeah, pretty much was there's there is a lot of you know, Rhea Ripley was a heel.
She did dastardly things like and we just sort of forgave her because because we just everybody loves her so much.
I tell you what, moving into 2025, like I I really want to see Dominic win a singles title and I wouldn't mind seeing.
(37:01):
Oh, absolutely. A more a face eventually a face Dominic Mysterio.
Also, the new Judgment Day theme is fucking awesome. I don't care. I don't care.
I don't care. I do. I do not care if anyone disagrees.
That's just a bunch of older bridge fanboys. You can't face the facts that old bridge have been swapped out with a with a WWE with.
(37:23):
Yeah, with the banger music that actually fits them more than more than just a.
Yeah, just let it go, man. Don't be so attached to things like it's all too much.
You don't you guys don't actually like Alter Bridge that much like.
Just let's be honest, you don't really care that much about Alter Bridge and and they don't care.
(37:45):
They got their money. They got it.
They got a pretty good pay payday for it.
And they're still getting paid. Their theme still being the edges still using their song in a W and yes, exactly.
If you really want to go support Alter Bridge, then then show up to AEW events.
If you really care that much like I dare you. And this is my call to everybody else.
(38:06):
The tickets are cheap enough. So yeah, you really you really love Alter Bridge that much.
Go to go to AEW live events and and show your support, you know, do it like there you go.
That's all you that's all you got to do.
Rear it. Yeah. But to say that to say that song, I'm so I'm so fucking fired up about that.
(38:27):
To say that to say that new that new intro is is sucks or is bad is just inherently false.
It's a good song. It's a good song. Yeah.
Yeah. Rear Ripley wins the Women's Championship.
As I say, I feel like this is going to be like tying up the knot in this storyline.
(38:48):
Now we're going to go towards the Royal Rumble.
So this year, it would be quite cool.
I think this would be the first time Rear Ripley will enter a WrestleMania, I hope, as a champion.
I think she should as well. Yeah, quite probably against who knows at this point.
Would it be Becky again? I mean, Charlotte again or someone else?
(39:09):
I don't know. We'll get to Rear Ripley versus Charlotte Flair was great every single time they had it.
Like this would be the I think this would be the third. Right.
This would be the third at WrestleMania, I think.
Yes. So maybe maybe this would be and I think it's one apiece.
So maybe that that's what needs to happen. But yeah, I'm yeah.
I mean, too early to tell.
(39:31):
We'll see who enters the Royal Rumble and we'll when we get near the time, I'm sure we'll make our predictions.
But yeah, for now, that's that.
What else? I mean, we got the next match, but a lot happens between matches, obviously, as well.
Shitloads of celebrities, celebrities everywhere.
Some I know, some I don't. McCoy Culkin was there. That was. Yeah, he was. That was cool.
(39:57):
Yeah. Ashton Kutcher. Yeah, that was cool. Vanessa Hudgens.
I tell you what, Heather was happy.
Heather loves Vanessa Hudgens. She's got loads of terrible Christmas films on Netflix.
And yeah, like my mom.
And she was wearing a T-shirt that she'd made herself because I looked her up on on Instagram
(40:20):
and she was wearing a T-shirt that says hot chicks love professional wrestling.
Yes, it's true. I mean, that is that is true. Yeah.
They also they also love dudes that don't argue about it on the Internet with strangers.
They love dudes that just enjoy professional. They love dudes who just enjoy it.
(40:41):
Just enjoy what they enjoy. And that's all good.
Yeah, that's celebrities, which brings us on, I guess, to the next match, because outcomes.
Travis Scott smoking a blunt. Yeah.
Now, I I highly doubt I highly doubt it was actually there was actually marijuana in that, you know,
(41:02):
that you can it's acting, it's acting.
It was likely a prop blunt, no matter what anybody says.
But he was still smoking.
He's the first person to smoke on raw since our truth turned to heal in like two thousand and fucking nine or whatever it was.
Fuck. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, I think we need I think we need a new our truth drop for every time we mention it,
(41:26):
because we mentioned our truth a lot more than we even mentioned.
Jinder Mahal. That's true.
Also, first Jinder Mahal.
Drop of dead. Yeah, there it was. Yeah.
The drop of the year, because I did it all.
Yeah. Just make editing harder for you.
(41:49):
Jinder Mahal. Yeah, right.
Yeah, I don't have to leave. I have to leave for tour tomorrow.
And oh, yeah. Now I have to pick up a rental car because, yeah.
Long story short, that was more shit I was dealing with earlier today. Anyway.
Anyway. And if you haven't already, this is to you and to anyone that's listening right now.
Listen to the our truth interview of the Chris Van Vliet.
(42:13):
Yeah, it's so amazing. So damn good and really inspirational.
What a dude. Yeah.
But yeah, our truth was near the first episode of all that sucks.
Mm hmm.
They missed a trick.
He could have been like he could have like he could have thought it was the first episode in the USA Network or something.
(42:34):
Oh, man, that would that would have been great.
Well, hey, you know, there was there was a lot going on.
Oh, he could have tried challenge Travis Scott for his 24 seven championship.
Dude, I know he he was carrying that hardcore title, which still we don't.
Said in in the press conference that there's more to come with Travis Scott.
It seems like they signed some kind of deal with him.
(42:56):
I have a I have a feeling he I have a feeling they're going to turn this into a storyline of like that's not a real title.
That's not a real whatever.
And someone will challenge him to challenge him for it.
Yeah. Yeah. And what I mean, just like Bad Bunny, like the matches he's always been involved in are kind of like hardcore style.
Bad Bunny versus Travis Scott.
(43:17):
Oh, man. Come on, man. Come on, man. Just did. Just did.
Now that's actually the first one of the year.
So yeah, that's it is. That's the first Travis Scott versus Bad Bunny in a in a hardcore match.
I give give me that. I mean, let's face it.
(43:39):
Netflix just did Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson. This is the wrestling equivalent.
This is two celebrities facing each other. We just we just wrote it for you.
If you didn't if you didn't already have it, we'll allow you to we'll allow you to say that you've already thought of it.
Make it a triple threat. Throw in Logan Paul as well.
But you have to but you have to but you'll have to acknowledge us that we're calling you out and saying we just booked Travis Scott versus Bad Bunny in a hardcore match.
(44:10):
It would be that real hardcore title. It's like a real life real life celebrity death match.
Yeah, let's go. Let's fucking go. Yeah. All right. That anyway.
Let's go to the match. J is Drew McIntyre. Yeah. Great entrance.
I think everyone yeeted themselves into exhaustion because the crowd are kind of quiet for the good majority of this match.
But by the way, everybody was just what they were watching the match. Yeah.
(44:35):
I know Michael Cole's white and I'm as white as Michael Cole.
Yeah, I'm probably why I've never seen a more white moment than than that moment.
Yeah. With Michael Cole dabbing up. I think that's what it's called.
Now I sound white. Yeah. Travis Scott. But it was a moment. What a moment.
(44:56):
What a moment. Listen, he was having fun and it was fun for everyone.
Fun for everyone. It was undeniable. I'd rather I like happy Michael Cole way more than than hateful Michael Cole.
Yeah. He's back with Pat McAfee soon. He's in his happy place.
Yeah. One thing I just I want to shout it out again because I I love it so much.
(45:20):
Oh, wait. Was it Michael Cole? No, never mind. I have to edit that out.
Those are different. That was different announcers. Oh, damn.
Match was great. I actually thought Drew was going to win this.
I figured that he was just back from his return.
I figured he would they were kind of maybe try to push for him to like try and out like take people out.
(45:43):
But I feel like they are invested in.
Well, while I was watching this match, I was like there's a lot again thinking about the fact there's a lot of new viewers.
I want to like let's think about it. The four people that got wins at this event, Rhea Ripley, J Uso, Roman Reigns, CM Punk.
Like those are four of your biggest names. Yeah.
(46:06):
You kind of surely want them all to get the win and you want your all your faces to get the win as well.
Yeah. Apart from the main event. But like that totally made sense.
So when J Uso won, I was like, this makes sense. Like you want him to look strong in front of all these new people.
Absolutely. So and obviously he got the quick roll up win, but it doesn't matter.
Like he won. And again, man, I'll say you had to give it.
(46:30):
I mean, you had to give everybody a little bit of everything.
And the surprise roll up is a classic fucking thing. It's a classic. Yeah.
It's a fucking classic. Like that's yeah. That's what you want. Yeah.
Especially J being smaller than Drew. It just made, you know, it made sense for it to end in that fashion.
These people, these people don't know. It's the one, two, three. It's the one, two, three kid moment.
(46:53):
That's what that was. Exactly. It's a classic raw moment.
You're giving you're giving them you're giving them all the feels of of all of these things.
And for someone who doesn't know, who is just tuning in for the first time and sees J Uso versus Drew McIntyre,
Drew's bigger, bigger, taller, stronger, look meaner.
(47:14):
Like, yeah, J. How's this how's this dude going to beat this guy?
It's a Hogan it's a Hogan versus Andre kind of thing. It's a surprise.
You know, it's a it's a Daniel Bryan versus Brock Lesnar kind of situation.
Yeah, it's yeah, it's it's it's the David and Goliath.
It's the classic David and Goliath thing. Yeah.
(47:35):
So whereas the other matches were kind of on par with each other.
Well, they were. Yeah, they were. They told different stories. But this. Yeah. Yeah.
But yeah, anyway, it was and it was and it was perfect.
It was absolutely perfect. Great finish. Yeah, I enjoyed it.
And then, oh, let's not forget John Cena, obviously doesn't say too much.
(47:58):
We didn't know. But he declares and stuff for the Royal Rumble. No, but he got.
But he got the entire crowd to cheer for him saying I should win the Royal Rumble.
Yeah. Like how how good is he still at like at just keeping the crowd in the palm of his hands?
He is. I mean, he's one of the best on the microphone without a shadow of a doubt.
(48:20):
And it's funny, actually, when people speak about
the best people on the microphone in the business, like he I feel like he never really he doesn't.
Well, he doesn't get mentioned as much as he should.
No, of course he doesn't, because people hate because people hate the best the most.
Yeah. They hate to talk about people like The Rock and Austin and Rick Flair and Dusty Rhodes.
(48:43):
And like, I feel like it's because John Cena comes across like he's not playing a character like that.
They don't want to because, yeah, I don't I just don't think they want to admit they, you know,
for the same reason they for the same reason the people that hate it on Roman Reigns.
I know, because I was one of them for a while. We all were. We all went along.
(49:04):
Yeah. We all need to be heel and face fans from time to time.
Yeah. But there is but there's a bit of a difference, you know.
There's a there's a there's a difference between being a heel and a face as a fan and also and just being nasty to other fans
(49:25):
because of because of how they want to enjoy it. It's you know.
But I mean, it's intriguing if seen, you know, we'll get more into this, I'm sure, towards the Rumble.
But with Cena winning the Rumble, like with him, I mean, could we see Cena win the 17th World Championship at WrestleMania?
(49:47):
Like, who knows? We certainly could. And we should. And we probably should.
And I think at this point, yeah, I think at this point, like people would be fine with seeing that happen.
Like and it's crazy. Again, I think it'll be the I think it'll be the the Raw World Championship.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. One, because because it's the it's it's a belt that he hasn't had.
(50:12):
He'll be on if it's still on Raw, then he'll be on Raw the next night after WrestleMania with it for sure.
Yeah. And that way, it's not the undisputed title and we can have something going on there with Cody and Cody and the Rock or more or whatever.
Yeah. I mean, it's great. I mean, normally around this time coming up to the Rumble,
(50:36):
I can start envisioning what the WrestleMania is going to start looking like.
But I really couldn't tell you where I literally have no idea.
So that was that. And then we had to the main event. We did see him punk and stuff.
Yeah, we did. Do we want to do we do we want to talk about the segment between them?
(50:57):
The segment with Hulk Hogan. Do we want to talk about? Oh, that's Hulk Hogan comes out and gets booed like motherfucker.
Yeah. OK. Yeah. And you know him. Yeah. I'll be you know, and I'll be perfectly honest. I
I genuinely understand certain people on both sides of it like it it really does unfortunately suck.
(51:30):
It sucks that it sucks that he had to get booed. You know, I think you know what it is.
And I think because people booed him, I don't think I don't think you should be mad at the people booing him for very legitimate
and understandable reasons why you would want to boo that person.
I think it was is with Hulk Hogan. And obviously, yes, it's very politically fueled.
(51:55):
But let's look at this for a second. We all know that Hulk Hogan who decided to make it politically fueled.
Yeah. Hogan. Let's look at this for a second, because Hogan, we know his stance on with politics and who he supported in the last election.
But I think we also know who the Undertaker supported in the last election.
Yet he got an amazing reaction and cheers from the crowd. Yeah. Hogan didn't. I think the reason Hogan didn't is because Hogan not only with his his political stance,
(52:26):
but he is had such a shitty track record for the last 15 years. Yeah, it's just the racist remarks.
And exactly, it's not one thing. It's just we're tired of it. Yeah, we're just tired of it.
Here's where here's where here's where the hypocrisy starts. Yeah. Is if you're upset that people.
(52:54):
Used their voice and their freedom of of speech to boo him for reasons that they believed he should be booed, which I agree.
And you say you shouldn't make it political, then you should be holding Hulk Hogan, then you should be holding Terry Bollea accountable for the one who made it political by endorsing a political candidate.
(53:24):
You can't be mad at the people reacting to him when he is the one who chose to have a political stance, when he could have just shut the fuck up this whole fucking time,
kept his fucking old ass mouth shut and just signed autographs for fans and took pictures and said, eat your vitamins, say your prayers, eat your vitamins, brother.
(53:47):
I just think Terry Bollea is the one who made it political so everybody can shut the fuck up about it themselves.
Undertaker obviously had the same stance, but I think the deal is, as I said, I don't think it's just down to the politics.
I do think that it's that. I think that I think the politics was the last straw for a lot of fans.
(54:08):
It's like, oh, well, fuck. I now fully reserve you as a piece of shit.
So I'm going to boo you. And I think with Undertaker, it's like, OK, you don't have the same political view as me, but you don't seem like a piece of shit.
So I'm still going to cheer you. So I think, yeah, I think that's kind of where that L.A. crowd was coming from.
Yeah. And they have and and by every measure of anyone else's bullshit that they want to talk about, they had every right to do it.
(54:35):
Yeah. And. You have you have every right to say whatever you want to say about it.
It's not going to make you right. Yeah.
But that's probably one of the last times wherever is going to see Hulk Hogan showing up.
It probably won't. No, it won't be. I'm sure it won't be.
You know, because also people are people are thick.
(54:57):
Eventually, eventually, eventually it's all going to blow.
It's all going to blow it. All of the shit's going to blow over.
Yeah, it always does. Whether you want whether you like it or not, there's always going to be somebody new to be mad at later.
And people will forget and you'll weigh it.
You'll weigh it one way or another. I mean, do I do I think him saying some racist shit is bad?
(55:22):
Yeah. Do I think he's done a lot of shitty things to a lot of people?
Yeah. Do I think he do I think him being the guy what like being able to be Hulk Hogan did a lot of great things for the industry?
Yeah. But you know what else? Someone else would have been that guy.
There was going to where it ends for me is thinking that the industry wouldn't be be where it is because of one guy.
(55:50):
That's just fucking wrong. There would have been another guy.
If Terry Balea, the person wasn't around, somebody else would have become Hulk Hogan.
Yeah. You know, because there's all you know. Yeah.
But you know what I'm saying? Like there's there's always going to be some there. There was a void that needed to be filled and someone was going to fill the void.
(56:14):
Yeah, definitely. Moving on to the main event. Anyway, fuck. I told you I was going to be fucking out.
God damn. You know, God damn. I actually fucking love this match. I thought this was a great fucking match. Yeah, it was wonderful.
It delivered. It got the result I didn't expect. I did what I wanted CM Punk to win. But I think with in fact with Punk winning this match,
(56:38):
I say first match because I feel like there's going to be much more between them.
I just feel like this with Punk winning this match, it kind of it's going to rile up Seth Rollins.
And in fact, it may turn Seth Rollins heel. In fact, very well. Yeah, because obviously he's been he's like he'll just probably have the
reaction is like, I don't fucking understand. Why are you cheering for this guy? The shit on this company the whole time was gone while I was here,
(57:04):
you know, through the hard times. Yeah, you're still cheering. I don't understand it. That's definitely a stance that Seth Rollins can come from.
But oh, yeah. Yeah. This match was fucking stellar because because you know what? Because CM Punk is the guy just like he did for 2023 RW Halbourne.
And just like he'll probably hopefully do for everyone else, he makes you look at yourself.
(57:34):
And he just he just he challenges you to prove what you say you believe that.
So that's really all it is, is if you say you're the man, then prove to prove it. And you're certainly not proving it by losing.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. But yeah, I don't know.
(58:01):
Who, man. And that was that was the first ever Monday Night Raw on Netflix. Yeah, it was it was wild. It was wild.
And everyone's fired up. I'm fired up for this year. Yeah, this this is definitely set the tone and I'm looking forward to to see what to come.
You know, obviously, there's just a whole new vibe. I know when they start like a new era, move to a new network, like it's like, OK, cool.
(58:27):
But this feels like a brand new fresh coat of paint. Yeah. And, you know, and just real quick, the sponsors in the ring.
No problem with it. It looks fine to me. I literally forgot about it within like half an hour.
I don't care. I don't care about the sponsors in the ring. I literally face it. WWE is the last contact sport to do this.
(58:48):
And and listen, I even I even even though I was upset about the ads live, like I get it.
You need advertisers to be you need advertisers to be able to put on the quality, the level of quality that these guys are doing.
I'll deal with it. I really don't. I will say, though, because obviously worldwide, we're not getting these ads.
(59:09):
So they literally the show just continues for us. That's kind of even even with commentary as well, which blew my mind.
I really hope I really hope that I haven't tried to watch it back after it's live. Yeah, maybe it would be disappointing.
It'd be disappointing to know that they don't have to put these ads in.
But I don't know, man. You know, whatever, whatever I do. It's the world. It's the world we live in.
(59:33):
I'm dealing with what we got. You know, yeah. I mean, I live in I live in the United States.
I'm used to dealing with this. I'm used to being disappointed by a lot of things.
I wasn't disappointed by this raw. That's that's the bottom line. I wasn't disappointed by by anything about it.
I'm disappointed with a lot of fans. I'm disappointed with a lot of people on the Internet that, you know, I'm disappointed.
(01:00:00):
They are the minority. Let's always remember those. I'm disappointed with myself when I get sucked into it, you know, because I shouldn't.
But let's let's focus on our little bubble. Yeah. Yeah.
Down the down down in the brain. Bowman. We got, you know, all these listeners right here.
We just you know, we do. We just enjoy. We just enjoy what we enjoy.
We sit down, sit down, buckle in and enjoy the ride they're taking us on, man.
(01:00:24):
Fucking bright.
Shout outs. Go shout outs to Wikipedia. Support Wikipedia.
Shout out to Al and 2K 2K 20. Oh, shit. I'm just going to do that again.
Shout out to Alan 2K 25. WWE 2K. Fuck. Third time. I'm not used to the new plug.
(01:00:48):
This is probably the first I think we're probably the first podcast to officially plug the new game.
WWE 2K 25 coming soon.
Roman Reigns called out January 27th as a date to look out for.
That is the direct quote I got that I'm allowed to say.
(01:01:11):
So I love it. That's so that's it.
I'm also playing a flag that we're so that we are officially the first podcast to shout out WWE 2K 25.
And shout out to Paul Heyman for the intro. Shout out to Paul Heyman.
Thank you very much. We owe you a favor, as we have said as well.
Feel free to call that in any time. Yeah. Any time.
(01:01:35):
Yeah. So shout out to Alan 2K. Shout out to Kale 2K UK.
Shout out to Wikipedia. Support Wikipedia. That's where we get most of the information from all of this stuff.
What else? Yeah. Next week is going to be a 2024 wrap up or our 2024 top 12, whichever one comes out first.
(01:01:57):
That's completely up to you. Yeah, that's completely up to me.
So I guess we'll all see. Anyway, thank you very much.
Thanks, everybody who's been listening, who's been with us for the year and a half so far.
We are really looking forward to a wild 2025. Enjoy wrestling.
Oh, yeah. Follow us. Oh, yeah. So I can follow us on Instagram threads at Punk's Dog Wrestling.
(01:02:22):
Yeah, we're on Facebook to a punk star wrestling.
But kind of not. But we're definitely on Instagram. You can find me at RW Hellborn 6 6 9.
You can find Chris Newman at It's Chris Newman. That's me. CJ Newman.
Why do I call you Chris? Anyway, well, we're here now.
We never really could pretty good the two and two together.
Yeah. Your name is pretty sure.
(01:02:43):
Well, you know, we're not going to insult your intelligence. You can figure it.
You can figure it out. I think we're done. I think that's it.
All right. All right. See you. Bye. Bye.
(01:03:22):
Bye.
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman.
(00:04):
And as your wise man, I'm here to bestow upon you the wisdom that you're listening
to Punk's Talk Wrestling.
One, two, three, four.
Welcome to Punk's Talk Wrestling.
On this episode, we talk about Netflix and the beginning of the WWE on Netflix era.
(00:29):
As we review the first Monday Night Raw of 2025 on Netflix, Netflix, Netflix.
I am R.W.
Hellborn, the PA Rock Prince, hailing quote unquote from Philly.
And I am one half of the crowd, which is one half of your Punk's Talk Wrestling
(00:53):
Inter-Universal Tag Team Podcast,
champion of the world.
Now, then, and forever by my side,
3,500 miles away in London, England.
(01:19):
He is my Tag Team Podcast partner.
He is the other half of the crown, which is the other half of your Punk's Talk
Wrestling Inter-Universal Tag Team Podcast,
champion host of the world.
(01:40):
Mr. Did you know, Sir King of Reels,
the proper prick, C.J.
Newman.
(02:08):
Did you know, that was a good intro.
So did you know they did say the word Netflix a lot in that episode of Raw,
didn't they?
They just they just kept saying it.
They couldn't help themselves.
Did you actually know, though, did you know that this Netflix and Raw
saw a title change between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan
(02:30):
for the Women's World Championship?
Did you know the first ever title change in the Monday Night Raw
happened only four months into the Raw on May 1993, May 13th, to be exact.
And it was Shawn Michaels lost his Intercontinental Championship
to Marty Janay.
Oh, shit.
(02:51):
Also, how does that sound?
That's not me.
I don't know what that sound is.
Anyway, the first ever World Championship to ever change hands
on the Monday Night Raw was on February 17th, 1997.
Psycho Sid defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Championship.
Nice.
(03:13):
And I'm going to give you a little digibonus,
because I found another little Monday Night Raw fact.
I just thought what better time to do it than when we're speaking about Raw.
Nice.
We all remember when Shawn Michaels lost his smile.
Remember that, right?
When he won the WWE Championship.
Worst time in professional wrestling history.
We all know that happened.
What show did that happen on?
(03:35):
Monday Night Raw.
No, it happened on Thursday Night Raw.
It was the first and only ever episode of Raw
to air on any other day besides the Monday, but besides a Monday.
Oh, shit.
Why?
Yeah.
Why was?
Because Vince McMahon was trying, because they were getting absolutely
obliterated by WCW and the ratings at the time.
(03:57):
And they thought they'd give it a go and see how they'd fare on a night
where they would be unopposed by Nitro.
And it ended up being a really successful episode.
They got a lot of viewers because they weren't going head to head.
It was on February 13th, 1997.
But yeah, this massive moment in WWE history actually
(04:21):
happened on a Thursday Night Raw.
Huh.
How about it?
Sorry.
Yeah, didn't know that.
Now you do?
Yeah, I do.
Hence the did you know part.
Because you didn't.
So I thought I was not aware.
(04:41):
Unaware of it.
Would you look at that?
What?
Well, the Thursday Night Raw was on the 13th, the 13th of February 1997.
And that's when Bret dropped his.
Did he drop the championship?
No, he didn't have the championship.
I was completely wrong on that.
Either way, he he he lost his smile.
(05:02):
And it was the next week of Raw on February 17th where Psycho Sid
defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Championship, the first ever world
title change on on Raw.
How about it?
One week after another.
Yeah.
A lot happened that week.
Yeah, two Raw's actually happened that week.
Yeah, technically.
(05:24):
Speaking of Raw.
Yeah.
How's about we talk about WWE's debut on Netflix?
Yeah.
Netflix.
Yeah, I didn't either.
I just I literally just that was what I the two minutes I went up
(05:47):
and I scarfed down a hard boiled egg.
I did.
I took some I took some took some Beachbody pre-workout Energize.
And I got frickin Shakeology here.
Like I'm stacked with everything I need.
I've got water.
I've got coffee.
I've got generic raspberry lime seltzer from Giant.
(06:07):
I've got the last few icebreakers, ice cubes, spearmint gums in my box.
Oh, damn.
Jesus Christ.
Holy shit, man.
I'm fucking wired and ready to talk about Raw.
Fuck. Yeah.
And what it was.
Holy shit.
Yeah, let's get let's get right into it.
(06:28):
Let's just get right into it.
I mean, I don't even have shit.
I don't even have Wikipedia shout out to Wikipedia page up yet.
But while you start.
I mean, it's so fresh in my memory, I literally watched it less than 24 hours ago.
Right. Right.
Yeah, because I watched it the next day.
First of all, you know, Netflix, it's on Netflix.
(06:49):
It I will say, did you watch this on your TV?
I did. I watched it.
I watched it through Netflix the proper the proper way.
Yeah. So I don't know.
I mean, I don't know if it's maybe my TV is not updated yet, but
that the WWE collection button is not working on the on the app.
So, oh, OK, anyway.
But maybe it just needs updating.
(07:10):
But well, you know, I know I think
I've noticed a few things like
they're showing they're showing like the things like that.
Yeah, the collections that are supposed to be up.
But I just I don't think I think they're just not available yet.
Yeah. And I think like
I think all of mine's most of mine said like coming soon.
(07:31):
Yeah. So you could look for them.
You could see what like they're putting it.
They're basically teasers for all of their old content for new viewers of like,
look, here's a bunch of here's a bunch of documentaries about old guys.
Here's a bunch of documentaries about current people.
Here's the kind of waiting for like because right now it's like
the interface is like it's not wrestling fan friendly.
(07:53):
It's you know, it's no.
And this was the problem.
This was the problem with Peacock.
This was the problem all along is that. Yeah.
Regular because Monday Night Raw
and because professional wrestling is such a unique thing.
Yeah, it doesn't stop.
It doesn't work the same way they have.
I will appreciate that, like with Raw and Smackdown, like
(08:16):
Raw, for example, was broken down into 32 seasons.
Sure. And that makes year is a season.
And that that works for me. It makes sense.
It makes sense.
But the but the crazy thing is like for you to get the full picture.
We've we've said this.
You've said it. I've said it. Dan and the Brain Bowman.
I mean, I even know for I know for certain Nick Tullo, the supermarket
current cow world champion that will shout out.
(08:39):
And him and Dan Black have mentioned it from time before is that
we need a chronological order of things like that's
that's what everyone wants, what every professional wrestling fan and what
you know, we want to just be able to scroll
through it like what happened because
(08:59):
if the times that were raw and Smackdown and things were so intermingled.
There's a lot of times you need to know.
You need to know what happened on Smackdown the next, you know, that week.
You know, I don't want to go. Yeah.
I don't have to go back and scroll through it like Netflix.
You know, this deal is a 10 year deal.
So hopefully, I think they could figure out.
(09:20):
I really think they could figure it out.
I really do think that they could figure it out. Yeah. Yeah.
And if and if they need someone to help them figure it out,
call me, call RW Hellboy.
Yeah, I'll help you figure it out and then call me and then I can help to.
Yeah. Yeah. Call us both.
Call us both. Yeah.
I mean, we are a tag team.
So, you know, we would get hired. We would get hired as a tag team.
(09:42):
Yeah, you can you can work on the you can.
Well, one of us will work on the Netflix side.
One of us will work on the WWE side.
Well, you know, and then and then when the transfer windows open,
we'll switch over and we'll just switch over. Yeah. Yeah.
I'm sure. Yeah, I'm sure that's how the transfer window.
Yeah. It definitely works for two guys
that don't work for either one of those companies. Yeah.
(10:04):
Hey, man. 2025 is a year of making making your dreams reality.
So let's let's go. Right.
Yeah, this was.
This is one hell of a I mean, there have been many special Monday night
Monday night roles in the past when they've done like a thousand episodes
of 30 years of raw. Yeah.
This was unlike any this felt like this felt like a PLE.
(10:27):
It felt well, and it started off like Triple H said in the press conference.
Like it was like a standalone event. Yeah.
Yeah. It it it it sits by itself in.
Yeah. In the in the spot of a episode of Monday night raw.
But it is it was it's unlike anything else.
Be I would say the closest
(10:48):
I would equate this episode to the very first episode of Monday Night Raw.
Right. In that it was we this is starting new for this is new for a lot of people.
It is. Yeah. And it felt that way.
And this is and like yeah, like Triple H said, we're
(11:09):
we're showing the world who we actually are.
You know, I mean, honestly, you could have named that
that show could have been called WWE.
You know, I mean, it it it.
I mean, yeah, literally, it could just have been called. But.
It was it was a great I was speaking to a friend of mine at work
(11:32):
or a bandmate of mine as well.
He yeah, watches wrestling from time to time,
mainly because of me.
And he he's never you know, I said, if you I said now,
like you'll be able to because he didn't have the network.
He wasn't going to pay 10 pounds for like something that he doesn't watch very often.
(11:54):
I'm like, everyone has Netflix.
I was like, now you got Netflix.
You can watch it whenever you want.
He's like, well, I was like, this is no better time to start,
because with that episode of raw, it was perfect.
Every single time a new superstar made their entrance,
Michael Cole or Pat McAfee would explain their entire back story
for the last year or so.
(12:14):
And I want to thank us for it.
And here's why. Right.
Because you because you know what?
Because remember what?
Remember during the during the pandemic?
When I got it, I do.
And I started. Yeah, unfortunately, we all do.
And I started getting into NWA.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
(12:34):
Our because because and who was
and who was champion at the time?
Nick Aldis. It was Nick Aldis.
Yeah, yeah.
And and the very first episode of NWA Power that I watched,
Nick Aldis came out at the beginning of the show.
With the with the title, he told you who he was
(12:55):
and why he's the champion and why it matters. Right.
And and I and and I they they did this exact
they did the exact same thing.
And I'm sure they and I'm sure they noticed it.
And I'm not saying they and I'm saying specifically they noticed me saying it.
But obviously, yes, I do actually think they specifically noticed it.
(13:16):
I'm going to prove it.
There's no fact checkers anymore, baby.
You can't checkers don't exist on social media anymore.
You're wrong right now.
You know, so I'm going to.
Yeah, we're going to pat ourselves on the back for for for being ahead
of the curve and knowing like knowing what this is.
You know, we we get just like he said,
we know we all know what this is, and I'm so happy that the rest of the world
(13:40):
is getting to see what we love and why we love it.
Yeah, it's such a weird, weird.
This doesn't matter in this context.
It's a weird, unique position to be in, actually, because it's quite weird for.
It's like something.
It's so weird when you're really into something and then it becomes
(14:00):
it's like being into a band and you knew them from like when they were in there,
you know, playing in front of no one and in small little bars.
And now they're playing arenas.
It's like shit.
And it's like, you know, the worst thing you could do right now is be gatekeeping.
And obviously it's like you see all these new fans and I know what,
for the most part, I'm looking around and I'm I'm not seeing many people be like
(14:24):
that because it's just like, come on in.
Like, honestly, I really feel like as much as we don't I don't like to talk about.
I don't like to talk about the the online community much because it's toxic to me.
I know.
Yeah.
I try to avoid it, but.
What I'm what I'm yeah, what I'm seeing is more than anything, it's overwhelmingly
(14:48):
positive in the fact that people are enjoying it for what it is.
Yeah.
And the people that are enjoying it for what it is, aren't worried about what
it isn't exactly.
That's that's really that's the biggest key.
Yeah.
Hey, we're the ones that we're the ones that you can come to and know.
(15:11):
Yeah, these are stories.
The other ones and the and other places where it's where it might not be like that.
Like there are people that really don't like each other in smaller promotions.
And that's and they can use they can use that for real.
Whatever it doesn't it doesn't matter what anyone else is doing.
We're loving what we're loving what the WWE is doing because we love this.
(15:35):
That's it.
Yeah.
It's it's crazy.
Like anything more than that.
You it's undoubtedly I think at this point now, after seeing that show on Netflix
and obviously knowing the reach of Netflix, 280 million subscribers worldwide.
I mean, that's that's 280 million subs accounts.
But, you know, some households have, you know, three, five people living in them.
(16:00):
You know, especially especially households with families.
Yeah, exactly.
So, you know, it's it's a massive outreach.
And I think it's safe to say after watching this and this is by this is the biggest
the WWE have ever been straight up.
I mean, the global outreach right now is is is it's just astounding.
(16:24):
And it's it's beyond.
It's beyond any.
I never if you had told me about 10 years ago that this is where
the WWE would be in 2025.
I just that I just wouldn't have believed you.
No, I wasn't even.
No, I wasn't.
(16:45):
Ten years ago, I was really starting to lose interest a little bit like 20.
Like, you know, as it goes, as I can't even remember.
I can't even tell you what was happening in 2015.
To be honest. No, not really.
I wasn't I wasn't paying that much attention to it for and for whatever.
For various other reasons, it was every 10 years.
(17:06):
Things are cyclical and and and however you want to spin.
But it is it's just amazing to see.
I don't I don't want to talk ourselves in circles just just because.
Yeah.
Well, let's start with the start of the show.
The start of the show, the show.
Well, this the opening, the opening video, I act like I sent it to you
(17:31):
and Dan actually the night before. Right.
They released they released it on YouTube.
Yeah, they released it on YouTube as a teaser and shit, man.
That was one of the best.
You know what I liked about it wasn't like an intro to roar
and it was an introduction to the WWE and what it's all about.
Yeah. And and it was just like shit.
That was one of the best video packages.
(17:53):
I think they've released it so good, so fucking good.
And and they and they and they did and they strategically.
I mean, definitely they strategically used specific WCW footage.
Yeah. Yeah.
Which is which is they which they rarely have ever seen in a promo.
(18:14):
Yeah, they don't type into that too much. Yeah, you're right.
No, no, no.
I thought that was great.
Yeah. You know, it was great.
I mean, they used a lot of historic footage from back, I know, in the 40s
and 50s and talking about the fact it went back to the road, like the ancient Rome.
And they're pulling on their beautiful.
Yeah. And they're and they're and they're pulling heavily back on the family things.
(18:38):
They every the the major story for the last several years
has been revolving around family. Yeah. Yeah. You know, and.
This is they're yeah, they're getting back to this is the new era, like I said,
like we said in so, first of all, tangent, I'm just going to put this in there.
(19:01):
I think we should release this episode this week.
Oh, 100 percent. And then release the other two.
Yeah, the other two. 2000 percent. Yeah.
Yeah, that's exactly why it just makes it just makes all the all the sense.
Makes all the sense. Yeah.
Yeah. So we'll talk.
So things in the next episodes might sound a little out of order
because we recorded them yesterday. Yeah.
(19:23):
Yeah. The problem with the intro was amazing.
Like like you said, it.
It told the story of professional wrestling.
Told the story. You know what?
And like it was this came to my mind just now,
and I'm just going to say it's why it's my freshman brain.
The WWE never, ever, ever says what the acronym stands for.
(19:46):
They never say it.
And Michael Cole in during the first match, he said, this is this is
this is the world wrestling entertainment.
Yeah. It was so weird.
I haven't heard him or anyone say that in such a long time.
That was just like, yeah, you caught that.
That was that was a cool moment.
That was very, very smart.
(20:06):
It was, you know, they were being very proper.
Yeah. You know, the whole title. Yeah.
I was not expecting it.
I wasn't expecting to start off with the tribal with tribal combat.
Yeah. Well, he stopped the night started with like his his music
started with a different sound and everything.
So I think everyone was a bit confused. Yeah.
(20:28):
But yeah, yeah, I didn't expect it to start with.
I didn't expect to start with the rock or the tribal combat match, but shit.
I mean, oh, right. Yeah, that's right. The rock.
Yeah, we've got to start with the rock. I mean, Jesus, I just that real.
Let's get to that. Yeah, because I mean, I just saw him on NXT.
Talk about everything that he said.
But the main thing that came out of it, which obviously a lot of people
(20:50):
have been talking about is the fact that obviously he came out of bad blood
not too long ago and did the cutthroat thing towards Cody and Roman.
And he's come out on this show and he's.
Said nice words about Cody and hugged him and nice words about Roman and hugged him.
Everybody was a little confused about it.
And you know what? Yeah, you know what? Still are.
(21:11):
And of course, I won't lie.
I'm still confused about it.
But as we've seen from the last few years of storytelling,
everything happens for a reason at this point.
And there's a definitely a reason that this was done.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
And I mean, he he reiterated on NXT the next night.
(21:32):
I did watch. I don't steps ahead.
Yeah, 20 steps ahead. You know, once again, sit down and buckle in and enjoy the ride.
Like, yeah, no, you're wrong. Shut your mouth.
This way. Yeah, well, pretty much. Yeah. Yeah.
And I, you know, once again, I agree. I agree with that.
We're we're it's much.
(21:57):
There's there. I get it.
There's so much passion. But here. But this is the point of it all.
They've even made a point to mention what Triple H mentioned.
You know, L.A., you guys are in front of the world. Yeah.
Like this is this is your you know, this is your chance to show them who you are.
(22:18):
Like the the amount of service they're actually giving to the fans.
And we'll get to some other things about fans reactions later on, too.
And I think one of the things that has to has to be has to be noted is, yeah,
they're they are they are letting they are letting them they they're not necessarily letting them steer the ship,
(22:46):
but they're certainly letting their they're definitely letting their voices be known.
They're being recognized and it's not just be it's not they're not they're not being ignored.
We'll put it that way. They're certainly not.
And I think the WWE, I mean, especially since Triple H has taken over,
I feel like the WWE audience and as a fan base has more more of a say than a lot of other fan bases, to be honest.
(23:15):
If you think about it in a sense of any other episodic TV show where it has a storyline like
you just kind of have to write, record and film everything and then release it and just hope that everyone likes it.
Yeah. No other no other storylines get to benefit from from.
Yeah, like essentially real time feedback.
(23:36):
Yeah, exactly. And that's how you can always make the best story possible,
because you can always get a vibe from what the crowd actually wants from week to week.
And that's such a unique place to be in.
And another another thing that definitely as a long term, as a long term, you know,
rider of the show, we've seen it.
(23:57):
There's there's a number of people who in recent years,
which probably because they're they're probably relatively new to wrestling,
have picked up on and really can criticize like when a storyline just gets dropped or something.
And that happens all the time.
(24:18):
Like that always happened where something things just get dropped.
You know, it's happened a few times this this past year, but very but very infrequently,
only because the storylines are now so like things might get dropped or seem like they're getting dropped
only to come back around months, if not years later.
(24:42):
Like, yeah, things are do it.
It's like a D&D campaign that spans over years.
Like there are so many side quests, there are so many subplots and everybody's got their
everybody's got their point and they're they're not going to be the main character all the time.
Yeah, I think they I think they've been doing a really, really good job of of rotating the focus.
(25:09):
Yeah. So that not as many people.
So it's not always as it's not always as singularly focused on the one guy or the one person.
It's there. There's a more broad spectrum of there's always there's always a few people right up there at the top.
Instead of you know, it's good with the WWE, especially actually is that they got a lot of especially at the moment.
(25:33):
They've got a lot of guys who are on top and they do a great job of rotating that that main event scene,
but then also keeping everyone on television. Yeah.
The thing that AEW failed to do is like they'll have someone in the main event for like three or four months
and then that that person will lose and then they'll just disappear from TV for like six months.
(25:58):
Yeah. It's so weird. It's so jarring and it's like you just while that person's getting red hot,
whether it's a healer or a face, they take them off TV and then they lose their their heat.
It just goes away. I you know, I understand like I understand a lot of the things why other places do things differently.
(26:24):
There are there are specific there are reasons there are reasons whether whether we think they're good reasons or bad.
Yeah. But when you look at it from a fan's perspective, even even me, I tried to get into it.
I've given I've given them did. Yeah. I mean, I did several chances over the years.
Yeah. I just can't get into it because there's nothing for me to actually grab on to.
(26:47):
Yeah. It's just it's just not what I want. It's OK.
And I feel like when I had when I did watch, you know, at the start and when I was maybe there was a character I was slightly getting into.
I would feel like I'd get into them and then it would be like then they just wouldn't be on.
They wouldn't show up again for months. And I'm like, well, what it turns out.
I mean, here's here's what I've. Here's what it here's the difference.
(27:11):
Here's the real difference that I feel about where where the where the tribalism of professional wrestling kind of splits.
Yeah. It usually comes.
Seems to me it usually comes down to people like us who just who like the show and fans, fans who like the show and fans who like the wrestlers, the performers.
(27:39):
There are guys there. There are certainly people who when Daniel Bryan left WWE, stopped watching WWE and started watching a W because they were Daniel Bryan fans.
And like that was. That was who they wanted to see.
And I totally and I totally get that. Like. That's that's fucking great.
(28:00):
But I think that's I think that's why the divide is always so tenuous with a lot of people in their communities, because we're just you're just valuing one thing over the other.
It's OK that I like the show. No one no one person is going to make me tune into Raw.
I'm always going to tune into Raw. I watch Monday Night Raw. It's the show I watch.
(28:24):
Yeah. It it it really doesn't matter to me. Who's going to be on it.
I'm going to watch it no matter what. I always have and I always will.
Like pretty much. Yeah. I mean, you know, like we said before, we've we've we've been watching wrestling for an awful long time now.
And it's just like I I we I need to watch Raw. There's a TV show I need to watch once a week.
(28:50):
It's going to be raw. I mean, I am I've been I've been so invested in, you know, they have they have me as a lifelong fan.
There's really not there's really not a whole lot.
To be honest, there's really not a whole lot that's going to ever that would ever get me to stop watching WWE unless it became truly heinous and vile.
(29:13):
Oh, which is what we just know is never going to happen.
Yeah. Let's pick this train back up, put it back on the back of the tracks.
Yeah. Fucking so forget the rock. Yeah.
What a great match and what a great way is the fight.
I can see why they did this match first, because he introduced so many characters and so many stories in like a half an hour space.
(29:37):
It is. And not only that, like you're interested if you've got a bunch of new viewers, you're introducing them to the faces of the world.
The face of the company immediately. And this is Roman Reigns. Look at this aura.
This may and this makes perfect again makes perfect sense from the perspective of pitching, pitching our product to everyone.
(29:59):
This is this is a port. This is their portfolio.
And this is a portfolio. And when you go on a job interview and you hand them your portfolio, you put your best piece first.
And the best the best thing they the best thing they have is Roman Reigns. Yeah.
Pretty much. And the second and you put the second best and you put the second best last.
(30:23):
Yeah. Just you know. And that's not to say they're not great.
No, no, no. But that in terms of in terms of your your work as a portfolio, the way you the way you stack it is best first, second best last third best in the middle.
You know, that's that's how you do it. That's how you win people over.
(30:46):
But we had obviously the whole you know, from a new fan's perspective, you got to see obviously Roman Reigns, but you got you got explained the whole bloodline civil war that's been going on.
And the thing is, you had the video package last five years. The video package that went went through the whole, you know, of Roman get get get and given the the the Ula Fala and everything.
(31:12):
It was it was really well done. It was then in that you got to, you know, we got we met Sammy.
We met Jimmy. We we met Tama Tonga and we met, you know, us.
We met Jacob Fatu. Then we saw Kevin Owens. Then we saw Cody. It was just like a great mixed bag of like, you know, just you know, we got to see a bit of everyone.
(31:35):
And on top of that, it was a fucking great match as well.
Yeah, phenomenal. I mean, it could have finished the night of it easily.
And the first time you and I have both been surprised this year.
Yeah, you know, as it should be, as it should be. I mean, we we have been we got surprised the very first the very first raw, the very first match of the match of the very of the year.
(32:01):
Yeah. Yeah. What a way to start it. What a way to start it off for us. Happily surprised.
Yeah. Roman Reigns once again. I say once again, he always was, but he's in possession of the Ula Fala. He is the one true tribal chief.
And what does this mean? What is it? Well, more so, I feel like what does this mean for so less to go? I don't know.
(32:22):
Yeah. Like, does does talk have a tongue go lower and and Jacob Fatu respond to this?
You know, will they dump him at the waist at the waist or what will happen?
No. So it's it's intriguing. We'll see. Because right now, right now, Solos Okoha and his bloodline are completely down on their luck. They've lost a member. They've lost the tag team championships. Yep.
(32:45):
We lost the Ula Fala. They lost Tongoloa. Yeah. So they're just an injury again.
Poor Tongoloa. I cannot wait. I cannot wait for the Tongoloa face turn. That dude. No lie. I see that that dude is going to be a fucking mega baby face because maybe yes.
(33:10):
Here's why. Here's why. Well, here's here's why. Here's what I think is going to happen. Because of the because the bloodline has been so prevalent, it's going to die down a little bit.
But but Tongoloa is adopted. Right. Tonga Tongoloa. And so so there is there is a beautiful baby face turn baby face, you know, turn run where whatever happened if the if the rest of the bloodline turn on Tongoloa for never being there for always getting injured for whatever.
(33:46):
Like he's going to be I foresee him becoming kind of like this fall guy for them. And we would, you know, you know, so as a co-op wouldn't lose wouldn't have lost if you wouldn't have been injured.
You know, they're going to they're going to treat him lesser than everyone else because because he's not blood.
(34:07):
And they're going and they're going to so they can reuse the Sammy lot, the Sammy angle with the new bloodline and they're going to have an entirely different angle where the bloodline that bloodline is going to feud with themselves and Tongoloa is going to come out of it as a as a as a baby face.
That's my fucking 25. I could. Yeah, I could see that happening for sure. Anyway, but yeah, great match.
(34:34):
Second match of the night, we saw Rhea Ripley up against Liv Morgan. Yeah. Once again, capping off the one of the what the probably the the women's story of last year.
Yeah, the entirety of the year in certainly involved Rhea Ripley. Yeah.
(34:57):
And I think now the yeah, I mean, I'm sure this probably will cap off cap off that storyline now.
And I feel like next week, maybe the the judge, Damien Priest versus Finn Balor in a street fight will maybe cap off that story as well.
I think because then we can probably. Yeah, I think then we can start looking towards the fractures inside the Judgment Day.
(35:19):
I feel like that can be more of a focus with Finn and Dominic and everything like that.
So, yeah, they're they know these angles are going to work. They've got the Judgment Day also has another outsider.
You know, Carlitos was always kind of the outside. There's always there's always someone in the Judgment Day that's kind of on the outs.
Yeah, yeah. And there's there's definitely going to be some fractures.
(35:44):
And I and I can't wait to see where it goes because, you know, Finn and JD are going to stick together or likely will stick together.
Likely. Yeah. And you know, yeah. And like Dominic, you feel like Dominic, Liv and Raquel will kind of stick as the three as well.
But I don't know about Carlitos. Probably going to be kicked to the wayside.
(36:06):
I don't even I don't even know. Maybe, you know, Carlito might Carlito might go with with Dom and Liv like.
Yeah, I mean, here's here's another. And here's another part of that whole that that story angle.
Remember, it was it was Rhea Ripley who originally.
Seduced and turned Dominic heel on his dad. Yeah. And Liv got and Liv technically got him away from the woman who at that time did that pretty much.
(36:37):
Yeah, pretty much was there's there is a lot of you know, Rhea Ripley was a heel.
She did dastardly things like and we just sort of forgave her because because we just everybody loves her so much.
I tell you what, moving into 2025, like I I really want to see Dominic win a singles title and I wouldn't mind seeing.
(37:01):
Oh, absolutely. A more a face eventually a face Dominic Mysterio.
Also, the new Judgment Day theme is fucking awesome. I don't care. I don't care.
I don't care. I do. I do not care if anyone disagrees.
That's just a bunch of older bridge fanboys. You can't face the facts that old bridge have been swapped out with a with a WWE with.
(37:23):
Yeah, with the banger music that actually fits them more than more than just a.
Yeah, just let it go, man. Don't be so attached to things like it's all too much.
You don't you guys don't actually like Alter Bridge that much like.
Just let's be honest, you don't really care that much about Alter Bridge and and they don't care.
(37:45):
They got their money. They got it.
They got a pretty good pay payday for it.
And they're still getting paid. Their theme still being the edges still using their song in a W and yes, exactly.
If you really want to go support Alter Bridge, then then show up to AEW events.
If you really care that much like I dare you. And this is my call to everybody else.
(38:06):
The tickets are cheap enough. So yeah, you really you really love Alter Bridge that much.
Go to go to AEW live events and and show your support, you know, do it like there you go.
That's all you that's all you got to do.
Rear it. Yeah. But to say that to say that song, I'm so I'm so fucking fired up about that.
(38:27):
To say that to say that new that new intro is is sucks or is bad is just inherently false.
It's a good song. It's a good song. Yeah.
Yeah. Rear Ripley wins the Women's Championship.
As I say, I feel like this is going to be like tying up the knot in this storyline.
(38:48):
Now we're going to go towards the Royal Rumble.
So this year, it would be quite cool.
I think this would be the first time Rear Ripley will enter a WrestleMania, I hope, as a champion.
I think she should as well. Yeah, quite probably against who knows at this point.
Would it be Becky again? I mean, Charlotte again or someone else?
(39:09):
I don't know. We'll get to Rear Ripley versus Charlotte Flair was great every single time they had it.
Like this would be the I think this would be the third. Right.
This would be the third at WrestleMania, I think.
Yes. So maybe maybe this would be and I think it's one apiece.
So maybe that that's what needs to happen. But yeah, I'm yeah.
I mean, too early to tell.
(39:31):
We'll see who enters the Royal Rumble and we'll when we get near the time, I'm sure we'll make our predictions.
But yeah, for now, that's that.
What else? I mean, we got the next match, but a lot happens between matches, obviously, as well.
Shitloads of celebrities, celebrities everywhere.
Some I know, some I don't. McCoy Culkin was there. That was. Yeah, he was. That was cool.
(39:57):
Yeah. Ashton Kutcher. Yeah, that was cool. Vanessa Hudgens.
I tell you what, Heather was happy.
Heather loves Vanessa Hudgens. She's got loads of terrible Christmas films on Netflix.
And yeah, like my mom.
And she was wearing a T-shirt that she'd made herself because I looked her up on on Instagram
(40:20):
and she was wearing a T-shirt that says hot chicks love professional wrestling.
Yes, it's true. I mean, that is that is true. Yeah.
They also they also love dudes that don't argue about it on the Internet with strangers.
They love dudes that just enjoy professional. They love dudes who just enjoy it.
(40:41):
Just enjoy what they enjoy. And that's all good.
Yeah, that's celebrities, which brings us on, I guess, to the next match, because outcomes.
Travis Scott smoking a blunt. Yeah.
Now, I I highly doubt I highly doubt it was actually there was actually marijuana in that, you know,
(41:02):
that you can it's acting, it's acting.
It was likely a prop blunt, no matter what anybody says.
But he was still smoking.
He's the first person to smoke on raw since our truth turned to heal in like two thousand and fucking nine or whatever it was.
Fuck. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, I think we need I think we need a new our truth drop for every time we mention it,
(41:26):
because we mentioned our truth a lot more than we even mentioned.
Jinder Mahal. That's true.
Also, first Jinder Mahal.
Drop of dead. Yeah, there it was. Yeah.
The drop of the year, because I did it all.
Yeah. Just make editing harder for you.
(41:49):
Jinder Mahal. Yeah, right.
Yeah, I don't have to leave. I have to leave for tour tomorrow.
And oh, yeah. Now I have to pick up a rental car because, yeah.
Long story short, that was more shit I was dealing with earlier today. Anyway.
Anyway. And if you haven't already, this is to you and to anyone that's listening right now.
Listen to the our truth interview of the Chris Van Vliet.
(42:13):
Yeah, it's so amazing. So damn good and really inspirational.
What a dude. Yeah.
But yeah, our truth was near the first episode of all that sucks.
Mm hmm.
They missed a trick.
He could have been like he could have like he could have thought it was the first episode in the USA Network or something.
(42:34):
Oh, man, that would that would have been great.
Well, hey, you know, there was there was a lot going on.
Oh, he could have tried challenge Travis Scott for his 24 seven championship.
Dude, I know he he was carrying that hardcore title, which still we don't.
Said in in the press conference that there's more to come with Travis Scott.
It seems like they signed some kind of deal with him.
(42:56):
I have a I have a feeling he I have a feeling they're going to turn this into a storyline of like that's not a real title.
That's not a real whatever.
And someone will challenge him to challenge him for it.
Yeah. Yeah. And what I mean, just like Bad Bunny, like the matches he's always been involved in are kind of like hardcore style.
Bad Bunny versus Travis Scott.
(43:17):
Oh, man. Come on, man. Come on, man. Just did. Just did.
Now that's actually the first one of the year.
So yeah, that's it is. That's the first Travis Scott versus Bad Bunny in a in a hardcore match.
I give give me that. I mean, let's face it.
(43:39):
Netflix just did Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson. This is the wrestling equivalent.
This is two celebrities facing each other. We just we just wrote it for you.
If you didn't if you didn't already have it, we'll allow you to we'll allow you to say that you've already thought of it.
Make it a triple threat. Throw in Logan Paul as well.
But you have to but you have to but you'll have to acknowledge us that we're calling you out and saying we just booked Travis Scott versus Bad Bunny in a hardcore match.
(44:10):
It would be that real hardcore title. It's like a real life real life celebrity death match.
Yeah, let's go. Let's fucking go. Yeah. All right. That anyway.
Let's go to the match. J is Drew McIntyre. Yeah. Great entrance.
I think everyone yeeted themselves into exhaustion because the crowd are kind of quiet for the good majority of this match.
But by the way, everybody was just what they were watching the match. Yeah.
(44:35):
I know Michael Cole's white and I'm as white as Michael Cole.
Yeah, I'm probably why I've never seen a more white moment than than that moment.
Yeah. With Michael Cole dabbing up. I think that's what it's called.
Now I sound white. Yeah. Travis Scott. But it was a moment. What a moment.
(44:56):
What a moment. Listen, he was having fun and it was fun for everyone.
Fun for everyone. It was undeniable. I'd rather I like happy Michael Cole way more than than hateful Michael Cole.
Yeah. He's back with Pat McAfee soon. He's in his happy place.
Yeah. One thing I just I want to shout it out again because I I love it so much.
(45:20):
Oh, wait. Was it Michael Cole? No, never mind. I have to edit that out.
Those are different. That was different announcers. Oh, damn.
Match was great. I actually thought Drew was going to win this.
I figured that he was just back from his return.
I figured he would they were kind of maybe try to push for him to like try and out like take people out.
(45:43):
But I feel like they are invested in.
Well, while I was watching this match, I was like there's a lot again thinking about the fact there's a lot of new viewers.
I want to like let's think about it. The four people that got wins at this event, Rhea Ripley, J Uso, Roman Reigns, CM Punk.
Like those are four of your biggest names. Yeah.
(46:06):
You kind of surely want them all to get the win and you want your all your faces to get the win as well.
Yeah. Apart from the main event. But like that totally made sense.
So when J Uso won, I was like, this makes sense. Like you want him to look strong in front of all these new people.
Absolutely. So and obviously he got the quick roll up win, but it doesn't matter.
Like he won. And again, man, I'll say you had to give it.
(46:30):
I mean, you had to give everybody a little bit of everything.
And the surprise roll up is a classic fucking thing. It's a classic. Yeah.
It's a fucking classic. Like that's yeah. That's what you want. Yeah.
Especially J being smaller than Drew. It just made, you know, it made sense for it to end in that fashion.
These people, these people don't know. It's the one, two, three. It's the one, two, three kid moment.
(46:53):
That's what that was. Exactly. It's a classic raw moment.
You're giving you're giving them you're giving them all the feels of of all of these things.
And for someone who doesn't know, who is just tuning in for the first time and sees J Uso versus Drew McIntyre,
Drew's bigger, bigger, taller, stronger, look meaner.
(47:14):
Like, yeah, J. How's this how's this dude going to beat this guy?
It's a Hogan it's a Hogan versus Andre kind of thing. It's a surprise.
You know, it's a it's a Daniel Bryan versus Brock Lesnar kind of situation.
Yeah, it's yeah, it's it's it's the David and Goliath.
It's the classic David and Goliath thing. Yeah.
(47:35):
So whereas the other matches were kind of on par with each other.
Well, they were. Yeah, they were. They told different stories. But this. Yeah. Yeah.
But yeah, anyway, it was and it was and it was perfect.
It was absolutely perfect. Great finish. Yeah, I enjoyed it.
And then, oh, let's not forget John Cena, obviously doesn't say too much.
(47:58):
We didn't know. But he declares and stuff for the Royal Rumble. No, but he got.
But he got the entire crowd to cheer for him saying I should win the Royal Rumble.
Yeah. Like how how good is he still at like at just keeping the crowd in the palm of his hands?
He is. I mean, he's one of the best on the microphone without a shadow of a doubt.
(48:20):
And it's funny, actually, when people speak about
the best people on the microphone in the business, like he I feel like he never really he doesn't.
Well, he doesn't get mentioned as much as he should.
No, of course he doesn't, because people hate because people hate the best the most.
Yeah. They hate to talk about people like The Rock and Austin and Rick Flair and Dusty Rhodes.
(48:43):
And like, I feel like it's because John Cena comes across like he's not playing a character like that.
They don't want to because, yeah, I don't I just don't think they want to admit they, you know,
for the same reason they for the same reason the people that hate it on Roman Reigns.
I know, because I was one of them for a while. We all were. We all went along.
(49:04):
Yeah. We all need to be heel and face fans from time to time.
Yeah. But there is but there's a bit of a difference, you know.
There's a there's a there's a difference between being a heel and a face as a fan and also and just being nasty to other fans
(49:25):
because of because of how they want to enjoy it. It's you know.
But I mean, it's intriguing if seen, you know, we'll get more into this, I'm sure, towards the Rumble.
But with Cena winning the Rumble, like with him, I mean, could we see Cena win the 17th World Championship at WrestleMania?
(49:47):
Like, who knows? We certainly could. And we should. And we probably should.
And I think at this point, yeah, I think at this point, like people would be fine with seeing that happen.
Like and it's crazy. Again, I think it'll be the I think it'll be the the Raw World Championship.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. One, because because it's the it's it's a belt that he hasn't had.
(50:12):
He'll be on if it's still on Raw, then he'll be on Raw the next night after WrestleMania with it for sure.
Yeah. And that way, it's not the undisputed title and we can have something going on there with Cody and Cody and the Rock or more or whatever.
Yeah. I mean, it's great. I mean, normally around this time coming up to the Rumble,
(50:36):
I can start envisioning what the WrestleMania is going to start looking like.
But I really couldn't tell you where I literally have no idea.
So that was that. And then we had to the main event. We did see him punk and stuff.
Yeah, we did. Do we want to do we do we want to talk about the segment between them?
(50:57):
The segment with Hulk Hogan. Do we want to talk about? Oh, that's Hulk Hogan comes out and gets booed like motherfucker.
Yeah. OK. Yeah. And you know him. Yeah. I'll be you know, and I'll be perfectly honest. I
I genuinely understand certain people on both sides of it like it it really does unfortunately suck.
(51:30):
It sucks that it sucks that he had to get booed. You know, I think you know what it is.
And I think because people booed him, I don't think I don't think you should be mad at the people booing him for very legitimate
and understandable reasons why you would want to boo that person.
I think it was is with Hulk Hogan. And obviously, yes, it's very politically fueled.
(51:55):
But let's look at this for a second. We all know that Hulk Hogan who decided to make it politically fueled.
Yeah. Hogan. Let's look at this for a second, because Hogan, we know his stance on with politics and who he supported in the last election.
But I think we also know who the Undertaker supported in the last election.
Yet he got an amazing reaction and cheers from the crowd. Yeah. Hogan didn't. I think the reason Hogan didn't is because Hogan not only with his his political stance,
(52:26):
but he is had such a shitty track record for the last 15 years. Yeah, it's just the racist remarks.
And exactly, it's not one thing. It's just we're tired of it. Yeah, we're just tired of it.
Here's where here's where here's where the hypocrisy starts. Yeah. Is if you're upset that people.
(52:54):
Used their voice and their freedom of of speech to boo him for reasons that they believed he should be booed, which I agree.
And you say you shouldn't make it political, then you should be holding Hulk Hogan, then you should be holding Terry Bollea accountable for the one who made it political by endorsing a political candidate.
(53:24):
You can't be mad at the people reacting to him when he is the one who chose to have a political stance, when he could have just shut the fuck up this whole fucking time,
kept his fucking old ass mouth shut and just signed autographs for fans and took pictures and said, eat your vitamins, say your prayers, eat your vitamins, brother.
(53:47):
I just think Terry Bollea is the one who made it political so everybody can shut the fuck up about it themselves.
Undertaker obviously had the same stance, but I think the deal is, as I said, I don't think it's just down to the politics.
I do think that it's that. I think that I think the politics was the last straw for a lot of fans.
(54:08):
It's like, oh, well, fuck. I now fully reserve you as a piece of shit.
So I'm going to boo you. And I think with Undertaker, it's like, OK, you don't have the same political view as me, but you don't seem like a piece of shit.
So I'm still going to cheer you. So I think, yeah, I think that's kind of where that L.A. crowd was coming from.
Yeah. And they have and and by every measure of anyone else's bullshit that they want to talk about, they had every right to do it.
(54:35):
Yeah. And. You have you have every right to say whatever you want to say about it.
It's not going to make you right. Yeah.
But that's probably one of the last times wherever is going to see Hulk Hogan showing up.
It probably won't. No, it won't be. I'm sure it won't be.
You know, because also people are people are thick.
(54:57):
Eventually, eventually, eventually it's all going to blow.
It's all going to blow it. All of the shit's going to blow over.
Yeah, it always does. Whether you want whether you like it or not, there's always going to be somebody new to be mad at later.
And people will forget and you'll weigh it.
You'll weigh it one way or another. I mean, do I do I think him saying some racist shit is bad?
(55:22):
Yeah. Do I think he's done a lot of shitty things to a lot of people?
Yeah. Do I think he do I think him being the guy what like being able to be Hulk Hogan did a lot of great things for the industry?
Yeah. But you know what else? Someone else would have been that guy.
There was going to where it ends for me is thinking that the industry wouldn't be be where it is because of one guy.
(55:50):
That's just fucking wrong. There would have been another guy.
If Terry Balea, the person wasn't around, somebody else would have become Hulk Hogan.
Yeah. You know, because there's all you know. Yeah.
But you know what I'm saying? Like there's there's always going to be some there. There was a void that needed to be filled and someone was going to fill the void.
(56:14):
Yeah, definitely. Moving on to the main event. Anyway, fuck. I told you I was going to be fucking out.
God damn. You know, God damn. I actually fucking love this match. I thought this was a great fucking match. Yeah, it was wonderful.
It delivered. It got the result I didn't expect. I did what I wanted CM Punk to win. But I think with in fact with Punk winning this match,
(56:38):
I say first match because I feel like there's going to be much more between them.
I just feel like this with Punk winning this match, it kind of it's going to rile up Seth Rollins.
And in fact, it may turn Seth Rollins heel. In fact, very well. Yeah, because obviously he's been he's like he'll just probably have the
reaction is like, I don't fucking understand. Why are you cheering for this guy? The shit on this company the whole time was gone while I was here,
(57:04):
you know, through the hard times. Yeah, you're still cheering. I don't understand it. That's definitely a stance that Seth Rollins can come from.
But oh, yeah. Yeah. This match was fucking stellar because because you know what? Because CM Punk is the guy just like he did for 2023 RW Halbourne.
And just like he'll probably hopefully do for everyone else, he makes you look at yourself.
(57:34):
And he just he just he challenges you to prove what you say you believe that.
So that's really all it is, is if you say you're the man, then prove to prove it. And you're certainly not proving it by losing.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. But yeah, I don't know.
(58:01):
Who, man. And that was that was the first ever Monday Night Raw on Netflix. Yeah, it was it was wild. It was wild.
And everyone's fired up. I'm fired up for this year. Yeah, this this is definitely set the tone and I'm looking forward to to see what to come.
You know, obviously, there's just a whole new vibe. I know when they start like a new era, move to a new network, like it's like, OK, cool.
(58:27):
But this feels like a brand new fresh coat of paint. Yeah. And, you know, and just real quick, the sponsors in the ring.
No problem with it. It looks fine to me. I literally forgot about it within like half an hour.
I don't care. I don't care about the sponsors in the ring. I literally face it. WWE is the last contact sport to do this.
(58:48):
And and listen, I even I even even though I was upset about the ads live, like I get it.
You need advertisers to be you need advertisers to be able to put on the quality, the level of quality that these guys are doing.
I'll deal with it. I really don't. I will say, though, because obviously worldwide, we're not getting these ads.
(59:09):
So they literally the show just continues for us. That's kind of even even with commentary as well, which blew my mind.
I really hope I really hope that I haven't tried to watch it back after it's live. Yeah, maybe it would be disappointing.
It'd be disappointing to know that they don't have to put these ads in.
But I don't know, man. You know, whatever, whatever I do. It's the world. It's the world we live in.
(59:33):
I'm dealing with what we got. You know, yeah. I mean, I live in I live in the United States.
I'm used to dealing with this. I'm used to being disappointed by a lot of things.
I wasn't disappointed by this raw. That's that's the bottom line. I wasn't disappointed by by anything about it.
I'm disappointed with a lot of fans. I'm disappointed with a lot of people on the Internet that, you know, I'm disappointed.
(01:00:00):
They are the minority. Let's always remember those. I'm disappointed with myself when I get sucked into it, you know, because I shouldn't.
But let's let's focus on our little bubble. Yeah. Yeah.
Down the down down in the brain. Bowman. We got, you know, all these listeners right here.
We just you know, we do. We just enjoy. We just enjoy what we enjoy.
We sit down, sit down, buckle in and enjoy the ride they're taking us on, man.
(01:00:24):
Fucking bright.
Shout outs. Go shout outs to Wikipedia. Support Wikipedia.
Shout out to Al and 2K 2K 20. Oh, shit. I'm just going to do that again.
Shout out to Alan 2K 25. WWE 2K. Fuck. Third time. I'm not used to the new plug.
(01:00:48):
This is probably the first I think we're probably the first podcast to officially plug the new game.
WWE 2K 25 coming soon.
Roman Reigns called out January 27th as a date to look out for.
That is the direct quote I got that I'm allowed to say.
(01:01:11):
So I love it. That's so that's it.
I'm also playing a flag that we're so that we are officially the first podcast to shout out WWE 2K 25.
And shout out to Paul Heyman for the intro. Shout out to Paul Heyman.
Thank you very much. We owe you a favor, as we have said as well.
Feel free to call that in any time. Yeah. Any time.
(01:01:35):
Yeah. So shout out to Alan 2K. Shout out to Kale 2K UK.
Shout out to Wikipedia. Support Wikipedia. That's where we get most of the information from all of this stuff.
What else? Yeah. Next week is going to be a 2024 wrap up or our 2024 top 12, whichever one comes out first.
(01:01:57):
That's completely up to you. Yeah, that's completely up to me.
So I guess we'll all see. Anyway, thank you very much.
Thanks, everybody who's been listening, who's been with us for the year and a half so far.
We are really looking forward to a wild 2025. Enjoy wrestling.
Oh, yeah. Follow us. Oh, yeah. So I can follow us on Instagram threads at Punk's Dog Wrestling.
(01:02:22):
Yeah, we're on Facebook to a punk star wrestling.
But kind of not. But we're definitely on Instagram. You can find me at RW Hellborn 6 6 9.
You can find Chris Newman at It's Chris Newman. That's me. CJ Newman.
Why do I call you Chris? Anyway, well, we're here now.
We never really could pretty good the two and two together.
Yeah. Your name is pretty sure.
(01:02:43):
Well, you know, we're not going to insult your intelligence. You can figure it.
You can figure it out. I think we're done. I think that's it.
All right. All right. See you. Bye. Bye.
(01:03:22):
Bye.
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