Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
Wrestling tails knock you off your seat, TuneIn.
Now don't you be late. Wrestling Punk has never felt
this great. Tails, ladders, chairs, they
tell it all. From the highest highs to the
lowest fall. Great lower tails from the ring,
(00:27):
Every chain, every chill they'llbring.
(00:48):
Brothers and sisters, welcome back.
Welcome back to another excitingedition of the Devon of the Duke
podcast. This is a limited edition series
hosted by your main man. Duke loves wrestling and of
course, the five time Hall of Famer, one of the greatest of
all time, the man who is the Hardy Boys Slayer.
(01:11):
Brother Devon Dublin, What's going on there?
Devon? Good.
How you doing? You putting a lot of pressure on
me. Listen, man, I, you know, you
know, Matt and Jeff, I see that every every time I talk trash it
because I always put it out there online and stuff and I see
that they're looking at it. I, I, I'm starting to feel like
maybe this is like bulletin board material where they're
just you know, they're, they're,they're playing the audio,
(01:33):
they're looking at the tweets and they're just like, uh huh.
OK, OK, we go, we going to get them.
We're. Not we're going to have.
We're going to have Devon climb up a ladder and have him hang
with Jeff. That'll get him.
And listen, now that they got that Mara, now that they got
that Mara Shardae, you know, leader 2 point O here, you, you
got to worry about her now too, man.
(01:54):
What if, what if she wants to doa, a, a a move on you?
You got to watch out, man. Well, it'll be like old times,
you know, We'll, we'll have to take the girl and put her up on
Bubba's shoulders and put her right through it.
You better watch out. You know she's a friend of the
show now. You better watch out tomorrow.
Just. Stay.
(02:16):
Stay in your place. Stay in that corner.
Leave us alone. Leave us be.
We'll leave you be. I'm going to I'm going to say
something here about her. I feel like it's kind of like a
wrestling glow up as a kids would say.
The, the, the new look in it again, it's a take from, you
know, what leader used to wear back in the day and stuff like
that. She fits in with those Hardy
(02:37):
boys like a glove, huh? Yes, Leader was, you know,
Leader was definitely a perfect fit.
I remember Leader being in ECW and I remember Leader, you know,
doing what she was doing. And Paulie was very high on her
then and, you know, as he shouldhave been.
Lita was very talented. You know, she had the look, She
(02:58):
was young, she was hungry. So by the time she got to WWE,
it was only fitting that she waswith the Hardys.
But she was with Rios, I think. What was his name?
SA Rios at first. SASA Rios when she.
First got there and then they were like, why not put it with
the Hardys? And it was a perfect fit.
You know, her, her, her style and clothing and things like
(03:21):
that. Everything just screaming the
Hardy Boys. So it was the only thing to put
on with them. So now with this young lady, you
know, I don't know too much about her, but I do know that
she could be that definitely that fit, that would, you know,
be that substitute that Lita wasat one point.
Let me tell you something about Mara Shaw day.
(03:43):
If if you and her were standing across from each other and and I
had to put money on it, man, I don't I'm not going to you know,
you're my brother. I don't want to disrespect you,
but my money might be on her, man.
She she's one of those people that she, she got hand to hand
combat experience. She likes to shoot guns in her
free time. She she's basically an action
(04:04):
hero. You know what?
I. Mean.
And I'm. 53 years old and I'm atthat point stage where I ain't
fighting no more. I'm getting a chair and wrapping
it right around your head. Female or not, I ain't taking no
chances. So.
She could be across from me if she want, looking at me.
If I got a chair, you better duck because it's coming.
(04:24):
Wait a second, you're not old enough to be Grand and Gran
Torino yet. You don't remember?
That I'm not there. I'm not there yet.
But with all the greetings and all the crazy shit that I've
been through, hell yeah, I feel like it.
I listen. I ain't got time to be doing
that. Listen, I told my kids at one
point, especially the older boys, I said mess with me if you
want. I got a bat by the side of my
(04:45):
bed and said be cool, bat. Don't be messing with me.
I might be old, but you ain't taking me out.
That's it. Too old to take a ass whip in
these days. I'm with it.
I'm with it. Well, well, shout out to all of
them there. You know, folks, it's, it's
coming. It's coming.
Hardee's versus Dudley's, All right, Somehow, someway, we have
(05:06):
hit the jackpot. We're going to get it one more
time here. You definitely want to be there.
Lowell, MA. I'm telling you right now, it is
going to be a party. It is going to be a good time.
That'll be playing all the greatest hits as, as I say, play
free bird, play, play free bird,you know?
(05:27):
Yeah, well, you know, I'm, I'm. Coming up just a couple weeks.
Yep, I'm looking forward to it. You know, again, we're going to
play the greatest hits. We're going to have a good time
and win, lose or draw, whatever the outcome might be, you know,
we're going to we're going to have fun and you know, I'm going
to, you know, say it's the last time that the Dudley Boys will
probably be together doing theirthing and what fitting way to do
(05:50):
it. Then DNA, you know, people say
what about WWE? That would have been great too.
But TNA got the offer. So, you know, I'm looking
forward to it and you know, I just want to make sure that we
go in there and give a great performance and that's all I'm
worried about. You know, my training has been
great. I've been training, you know, 2,
(06:11):
sometimes three times a day. And the third time is basically
therapy. In other words, I go to a gym
called ES ES Fitness in Florida and their therapy, the ice bed,
that which is called Creole, theCreole bed, the Whirlpool, the
ice plunge and the, oh God, I always get this mixed up.
(06:36):
It's the things for your legs. When you, you, it's like therapy
for your legs. They, they, you put your legs in
these things and you know, you turn it on and it freaking
squeezes it, but it helps the blood to circulate through the
body. So I love the, you know, after
my training is done, I make sureI hit those therapies.
That's one of my major things. Plus, I get on massages too,
(06:59):
twice a week, you know, for two hours, so to speak.
I go in there and I, I really work in my body to try to get it
back to what it used to be. Am I going to be 100% Devon?
Maybe not 100%. I would say more than 95.
I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel.
I'm looking to go out there and put on a great performance with
(07:19):
Bubba and the Hardys, Matt and Jeff.
And that's what we're going to do.
We're going to have fun. We're not going to be, we're not
going to disappoint. We're going to go out there and
do what we do best. We're going to hit the greatest
hits and go home right after that, you know, to be able to
leave for me on this note, this is what I'm looking for.
And you know it. It's one of those things where
(07:41):
you know, it's, it's you know, whether it be passing the torch,
whether it be, you know, having the titles, you know, again for
the 25th time. You know it, it could be one of
those things where, you know, ifwe do win for the 25th time, I
don't know, I may have to reconsider retiring.
I may have to reconsidering going back for one more run.
(08:02):
So you never know what's going to happen after Bound for Glory.
You never know what's going to happen.
Indeed. First of all, Bound for Glory,
October 12th. All right.
Saugus Center in Lowell, MA. So again, it's the 21st event
for Bound for Glory, 21st anniversary year.
(08:23):
So it's a huge event, Hardee's versus Dudley's.
It's going to be huge folks, youdefinitely want to make sure you
get there if you can't be there.And of course you can order it
on pay-per-view, but you got to check it out.
So there's that. And you, you said the, the
fitness place, so EOS Fitness and folks, you can check out
eosfitness.com For more information.
(08:44):
That's pretty cool that they have those leg massagers there
that squeeze the legs. It's kind of like a long boot
basically like that goes up to your to your thigh.
And it's really something, I have a portable one here at the
house, but it's nothing like better than having the one at
the gym because the chairs and everything is just more advanced
than the ones that you have at home.
And I don't know, I like it better.
(09:06):
Again, I've been doing boxing aswell and not boxing to learn how
to box, but the footwork, you know, and you'd be surprised
what boxing can do for you cardio wise and foot placement,
you know, moving side to side, moving forwards and backwards.
You know the trainer, her name is CJ.
(09:28):
She basically is phenomenal. She's an ex MMA person.
I got to sometimes remind her because you know, we'll put the
gloves on and she'll have those pads, you know, right, left,
jab, gab and all that and there she'll go, kick.
I go, whoa, wait a minute. So how are you being kicked?
I'm not UFCI ain't trying to fight UFC.
(09:49):
I'm just trying to get my footwork together.
And she's like, oh, Devon, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Just jab, jab, cross and this and that move left to right.
And that's basically what it is.I'm not taking boxing because I
want to become a boxer. But it's just the training that
you do in boxing can help you. So This is why some people will
not ask me to what have you. They take boxing classes because
(10:12):
the cardio is phenomenal and your balance and footwork, just
walking down the street. It, it's, it, it helps you so
much, you know, instead of, you know, like for instance, I was
told that I walk on the balls ofmy feet.
So I had to learn how to walk onthe heels of my feet first and
then connect to the, then connect to the balls of my feet.
(10:34):
But I've been learning how to just stay on the fields and, you
know, so it's been working great.
It's like being a football as well.
In other words, they got the ladder laying down.
You got to jump in and out of the ladder, you know, move left
to right, backwards and forth. So I'm doing all of that,
flipping tires, doing the rope, you know, and pushing instead.
(10:56):
And again, it's to fire up the legs.
It's to get the legs going. So when you're in that ring, you
know, the first thing that can go on you is your legs.
And when they go, you're done, you know.
So I want to make sure that thatdoesn't happen.
And for the past month, two months, I've been doing it going
non-stop full, and it's been working great.
(11:18):
So I made a comment to you before we went on the air that,
you know, after the back surgeryand everything, sometimes it was
hard to even want to get up and go to the bathroom because
after, you know, coming off the the back surgery, the legs were
a little rubbery. And when you walk very gingerly
and it was, I had to walk very gingerly.
So it was kind of like because the tendons in the nerves
(11:43):
weren't firing up like they should have been.
And so even though I went through two or three rehabs and
things like that, it got to the point where that it was helping,
but not to the degree that I wanted to be.
And so my regular trainer, plus the boxing trainer, which is CJ,
the my regular trainer, which isJay Crutch at, at EOS Fitness as
(12:08):
well, both of them have been doing it with me, making me go
on in and do all that stuff, thefootwork, the sled, all of that.
So and listen, there's times when I'm got snot coming out of
my nose. I'm got my mouth is drooling
from the mouth because I'm so tired.
But yet every time I get throughit, the next session becomes
(12:29):
easier and the legs start to wake up because they start to
fire back. And that's what you need to do,
you know, so anybody who's been off for a while, who's somebody
in the world in professional wrestling and they do a
comeback. That's the way you have to push
your body. You know, you have to push your
body like that. I can't just run on the
treadmill, do the elliptical or what have you and hope that I
(12:49):
get my wind and everything goes right.
I get in the ring now at the school more.
I'm going in the ring today whenI get down there and you know, I
love doing mat work. In other words, chain wrestling
into headlocks, takeovers, you know, head scissor, kick out,
get up, grab the head, arm drag or headlock, takeover again, get
(13:09):
up, make your way to the rope, shoot them off, shoulder tackle,
drop down, hit toss, arm drag, body stand.
Getting that fluidness back intomy steps again, which is really
working and it's really great. I basically am enjoying it and
loving every bit of it. Now, do I want to go back full
time? No, I don't want to go back full
time. But I definitely want to go back
(13:31):
to make sure that these fans know that I'm giving my 110% and
I'm not going to disappoint. I love it, man.
You're taking this so seriously.It's, it's so fascinating to, to
see it and exciting, man. I mean, this is, this is really,
really cool. You know, you're doing boxing,
(13:51):
you're doing 3 days in the gym. You're, you're, you're getting
your, your, your smoothies. Last week everyone popped for
the your Smoothie King recipe. When we were talking earlier,
you were talking about making a,a, a protein shake.
So, so we got to do it now. Devon What's the What's the
Devon Dudley protein shake recipe?
Well, it's one of my sponsors inthis grass fed protein and I add
(14:14):
in, you know, the powdered peanut butter.
You know, I try to stay away from the Jiffy or Skippy or
whatever peanut butter because there's so much sugar in that.
So I try to stay away from that and just use the powdered
protein one, which is great. I put that in there.
I put some of my supplements in there, which is the joint relief
(14:35):
and all of that good stuff. Mix it up.
Does it taste horrible at first?Yeah, it does.
It's terrible, but your taste buds get used to it and next
thing you know, you're ready forthat second shake.
But I tell you what, I can't wait to eat real food.
You know, a lot of a lot of vegetables with chicken, steak,
things like that. I don't, I don't eat seafood.
I don't like seafood, which is weird because I can eat Star
(14:58):
Kiss in the can, love that, but other fish cannot eat it and
don't like it. Yeah, it's very interesting.
I still haven't figured out why that is, but you know, after
going through with DDP and looking at the videos he had me
look at on food is just changed my whole outlook on food, you
(15:20):
know, and at 53 years old, you know, I'm down at the weight
that I want to be and I'm comfortable.
I'm at my ECW weight now so I'm at 2:40.
So I was hoping maybe by October12th to reach maybe 225.
I don't know, that might be too small.
I might just stay at 2:30, but that is probably a goal that
(15:41):
wouldn't mind. But I'd rather maintain that
weight after I'm really said anddone with everything because I
don't need to be a big guy anymore.
I don't need to have all that size, that muscle.
I ain't trying to impress nobody.
I just want to live my life withmy kids and just go on with my
family. Well, certainly, man, you got a
long way to go. And, and, and as long as you
(16:03):
keep doing what you're doing, the DDP Yoga, all this stuff,
man, it, it's, it's inspirational.
Absolutely. I can't, I can't stress enough
to people stop sitting home, youknow, feeling sorry for
yourself. Just go out there, get the app
work. It'll be the best investment you
probably could ever invest in. I mean, it really is good to
show you how to eat and everything.
(16:24):
Stop being lazy and just do it. Just do it.
I love it. Just do you hear that, Nike?
Just do it. You know, Speaking of just do
it. We have had a crazy weekend.
WWE Wrestle Palooza, the first PLE with ESPN and the first PLE
(16:51):
in a very long time in years, not on Peacock.
So before we even talk about thecard, there was some tough
technical difficulties there, Devon and I want to get your
take on this man because folks were essentially led to believe
if they had ESPN, whether it's through their cable provider,
(17:15):
you know, their streaming platform like Sling or something
like that, they were led to believe if they already
subscribed to ESPN through theirpackage, that they would be able
to watch WWEPLES. And unfortunately, folks found
out really quickly that that wasnot the case.
There was something called ESPN Unlimited, which is their new
(17:41):
their new app and it has different requirements.
So just because you subscribe oncable or satellite or through
the streaming services, that does not automatically mean you
get ESPN Unlimited. So for instance, if you have
YouTube TV, you don't automatically get ESPN
Unlimited, which means that's a separate charge, a separate 2999
(18:05):
per month that you're going to have to cough up in order to get
access there. So I did it through Fubo TV and
and just a heads up to everybodyout there.
If you if you download the Fubo app, they'll give you a 5 day
trial free trial and that has ESPN unlimited.
(18:26):
But here's the issue. I downloaded the FUBU app and
and did everything I had to do. So OK, so now I can watch
everything that is part of that package great, including ESPN
great. But Russell Palooza is through
the ESPN app. So I had to actually go back and
(18:47):
activate the ESPN app and then when I go to sign in with my
credentials, I was able to do that.
Then it brings me to Disney and it tells me that I have to sign
in with my Disney credentials and tie it all together.
And then, oh, by the way, then Ihave to go into my ESPN app and
(19:08):
select a special button here that activates ESPN Unlimited.
And then once I did that, that'swhen I finally had access to WWE
programming through the ESPN Unlimited app.
Very, very challenging. It took me all of 45 minutes to
(19:28):
go through all that nonsense. And, and I'm one of the few
people who actually was able to do it and get in and watch the,
the, the PLE. Most people did not have that
experience. It was a lot more difficult for
them and very frustrating, quitefrankly.
So I'm going to put it out thereright now.
(19:48):
This is all on ESPN and Disney, who is their parent company.
This ain't a WWE issue, folks. So just make sure when you're
given your your frustrations outthere, it ain't WWE who's
responsible for how you sign into the app and and your access
and stuff like that. They have nothing to do with
that part of the business. Zero.
(20:09):
And to WW ES credit, they tried all that they they could do to
make it clear how to gain accessto ESPN Unlimited in order to
watch Wrestle Palooza and other PL.
ES coming up. But just from a general
standpoint, Devon, what are yourthoughts on on this whole notion
of having to jump through so many hoops?
(20:30):
You should be able to just pressone or two buttons and you're
in. And unfortunately, that just
wasn't the case for anybody. Again, you know, again, it's one
of those things where, you know,you would hope when companies
change to something that's goingto better, the company would
better, you know, the fans as well, not seeing the WWE didn't
(20:50):
do that, but they were just having problems.
Not anybody can figure it out. I was listening to Bubba and
Lagreca on them Busted Open and they were expressing how many
people were writing in and telling them how it was to try
to download and watch this thing.
Somehow. Another, like I said, you have
to come up with a solution that if this has, if this does
happen, then how do you bounce back from it?
(21:11):
How do you correct your situation with the people?
And I know the Greco was talkingabout how he's tech savvy, he
knows he can get on anything andeverything with no problem, but
he had problems getting on it. So I'm not sure what was going
on in ESPN, but it needs to be corrected faster.
They're going to lose a lot of fans.
(21:33):
Here's my issue with the whole thing, the way that they rolled
out this whole notion you're going to have this new app and
and we we just gave WWE new contracts to PL.
ES immediately coming September 20th, you're going to be able to
watch the first PLE yadda yadda yadda.
They made it seem as if if you already subscribed to ESPN, do
(21:58):
cable or, or other means that you were going to be OK.
It's really kind of a rotten wayto do business to find out in in
the in the end that that's just not the case at all.
And it's a little bit more technical than that.
So, you know, for you, you got the Bishop, you know, I got my
mom how let's say they wanted towatch the PLE.
(22:22):
How the hell were they going to be able to do that?
You know what I mean? And I think this is pretty short
sighted of a lot of companies here.
You forget there is a, a technological gap.
And even, like you said, Dave LeGreco, who's a guy who I would
say is he's an expert on this stuff, e-commerce and all that
stuff. That's what his business is.
(22:43):
He had trouble. I had trouble.
There is a technological gap. So if we have trouble, goodness
gracious, what the hell is it inin an older person who just
wants to sit down and enjoy somewrestling because they're a
lifelong fan, or maybe they're casual and they want to see
what's going on. Why are you making it so
difficult for people to consume what you're what you're selling,
(23:06):
basically, Yeah. You know.
It should never be. It should never be that.
Hard. It's crazy.
It really shouldn't be that hard.
No, no, you know what? No, but I don't think there's
enough cries and phone calls. What have you that were made
that guarantee is going to probably make sure that this
never happens again. I'm almost positive of it.
(23:27):
Well, this, this is the problem,though.
I, I think it's out of their hands, you know what I mean?
So it's it's really it like Disney just has to get their act
together. Is it Disney?
And, and I shouldn't have, yeah,bro, they're the ones who own
ESPN and all that stuff. And, and like I told you, it's
crazy. I, I signed up for the Fubo,
(23:48):
which let's just, let's just saythat that's like a cable
network, right? It's, it's like a cable provider
like Xfinity or something like that, even though it's an app.
So I signed in through them. Then I had to go to the ESPN
Unlimited app and activate that and then sign in there using my
Fubo credentials. OK, no problem.
(24:09):
But then in order to watch the WWE stuff, I had to sign into
Disney. That's where I'm like, OK, this
is a little too much here. Why the hell am I signing in
three times to watch one program?
That doesn't make sense. Right.
You know, doesn't make sense. And if you're somebody who is
(24:30):
not used to having to go throughthese kind of troubleshooting
issues and you get frustrated easily, you're going to give.
Up I also heard which is VPN, I'm sure you know what that is,
which is one of my sponsors on the podcast.
I believe it was also mentioned that if you have VPN, a lot of
(24:50):
people, it was easy, a lot easier for them to look at the
pay-per-view than it was if you didn't have it.
So apparently VPN is something that everybody maybe should look
into if you're a true die hard wrestling fan and you don't want
to miss or have a opportunity like this happen to you again.
(25:11):
So, so let's put that in perspective because you brought
up a good point even Stephanie. I put that over, yeah.
Yeah. So AVPN, essentially it blocks
where you live. So when you're on the Internet
doing anything in it, yes folks,even on your TV, it's connected
to the Internet. If you have a smart TV, the VPN
(25:34):
blocks where you're located. It actually makes it seem like
you're located somewhere else. So in other countries, could be
Canada, could be Mexico, it could be Algeria, like it you
know, it could be anywhere in the world.
But in other countries they don't have the same transition
over to ESPNESPN may not even bein their country.
(25:55):
So the way to watch PL. ES is a little different.
So you could use an ATM seem like you're in the United
Kingdom, for example. Yeah, yeah, I hear that.
I hear that 100%. I hear that 100%.
(26:15):
So, you know, that was an unfortunate kick in the you know
what, for folks who were just trying to enjoy APLE on
Saturday, they had to jump through all these hoops.
With that said, the show was good.
The show was very good. It started off with Brock Lesnar
destroying John Cena. I mean, just beat the hell out
(26:37):
of him like he always does. You know, Brock Lesnar always
beats up John Cena when he comesback.
That's just the way it is. So why not one more time for the
road, but during this this this stage here where Cena only has a
couple more. Matches left do.
You think it was the right idea to have Brock defeat John?
(26:59):
I think you only had it. It's either two or three.
Let's just call it 3. I think John Three matches right
now to where if there wasn't something at the end of all of
this, he wouldn't do it. I mean, not that he wouldn't do
it, but I think he would put himself in a little bit better
position than to be destroyed bythe beast.
(27:20):
You know, especially after everything he's done
accomplished and you know, things like that.
I'm sure he doesn't want to go out as being, you know, and laid
the rest in the way he was. A lot of people are talking
about that. But again, I'm sure John has
something planned for that. I'm sure him and creative have
have done something. I mean it, it could be as simple
(27:50):
as the whole Undertaker streak thing.
You know Brock beats the Undertaker.
He's the most dominant superstarin history.
After that, let's say, right? And then Roman Reigns defeats
Brock. Roman Reigns doesn't get that
run without beating Brock Lesnar, and that run is not as
(28:10):
significant without Lesnar beating the Undertaker.
So is this another one of those situations where Brock in the
long run is about to make somebody else?
You know what I mean? It, I'm hoping that's it's just
as simple as that. Because if that's not the case,
(28:30):
then it's it's it's kind of a screwy thing.
I don't, I don't see you. Brock Lesnar could lose that
match and still be Brock Lesnar.You know what I mean?
So So what was the real point? What did that really accomplish?
But it was a beat down, man. There's no question about it.
Was it was a it was a straight beat down.
(28:52):
AJ Lee made her return her and CM Punk.
They defeated Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins.
You know, I'm a big fan. I'm a big fan of AJ Lee's.
I love the craziness. In other words, I, I do, I I
love because she plays it so well.
You know, like when she got tagged in, I saw this part on
YouTube. She gets tagged in and the way
(29:13):
she gets into the rope and that look she gives with the head
tilted to the side, it's like, it's like Rob Zombie's wife in
Devil's Reject. It's like she's gorgeous, she's
beautiful, but yet there's a sixside to her and you better be
careful. And with AJ Lee, she plays it so
freaking well. You know, even when she came
(29:34):
back on that Monday night roar, she skips around and right
before she gets in the ring, shelooks at Becky and she tilts the
head down and she has that sentenced to look on her.
And it's like fan, I'm looking at like Becky, get out of the
ring and run now because you have no idea what's about to
happen to you. And she gets in the ring and she
(29:55):
just unloads and you know, it's,it's, it's, it's just really,
really cool to see that somebodycould play a character that well
and really get it over. And I think she's doing a great
job of it well. Who the hell says she's playing?
Listen, you said that I didn't. She got a book out that says
crazy is my superpower. I believe her, you know what I'm
(30:18):
saying? I believe her brother, you know,
but but for her to, to, to leavethe company because women
weren't getting the, the opportunities that they are
today, but for her to leave the company.
And right when she leaves, that's when the the women's
revolution happens. And all of these women have
(30:39):
benefited from it. You know, Sasha Banks, Charlotte
Flair, Becky Lynch, Bailey, Alexa Bliss, Bianca Bellaire,
Oscar EO, Sky. When you start going down the
list, you look at all of these women who have benefited from AJ
Lee basically standing up to thecompany and telling them that
they're full of crap and that women deserve more.
(31:03):
And oh, by the way, she was right.
The fact that she gets to come back and put on a match and in
the match is somebody who benefited from her advocacy.
It was just, it was, it was brilliant.
It was fantastic. I loved it.
And shout out to Becky Lynch. She's been getting high marks
for how well she was able to be the ring general in there and,
(31:27):
and brother, she certainly was. I, I, you know, I'm, I'm not
always the biggest Becky Lynch fan.
I usually am rooting against hercuz I, I tend to like her
opponents more than her. But I got to give credit where
credit's due. She really, really bumped her
ass off. She fed well and she made it
believable like that was it was just solid stuff all around in
(31:48):
that match, man. We we, we knew the guys are
going to do what the guys are going to do.
But AJ hasn't wrestled in almost10 years, you know what I mean?
Yeah. So.
A credit to her. I mean she really did a great a
great job. I mean, like I said, you know,
like I said, she comes off as, you know, beautiful girl and
and, you know, whatever. And but then there's a sick side
(32:08):
to her. I mean, the sick side that would
make you wonder and think, I betnot mess with this girl.
Something's up. But you know, yeah, yeah.
And I think she knows that. And I bet you and I can almost
guarantee she probably wants to portray that type of persona
coming from her and the character that she plays, which
(32:29):
is good for storytelling. And I mean, it's, it's, it's
really, really good what she's doing.
Yeah, I agree. I agree.
And I'm glad she's back now. She signed a multi year
contract. So this is not her only match,
which is even better. So we we got some dream matches
ahead. I can't wait to see, quite
frankly. It's fun, man.
It's fun. The match of the night by far EO
(32:53):
Sky versus Stephanie Vicker and you know Stephanie Vicker she
ends up winning the the women's championship.
Keep in mind that Naomi had to vacate the championship because
she's pregnant. So this this Chilean superstar
who tried out for the WWE seven years ago didn't make it and she
(33:14):
ended up going down to Mexico make a name for herself.
She she turned herself into an international star does a deal
with WWE comes in becomes NXT women's champion.
Now she she's AWWE champion on on the main roster there.
What are your thoughts on on Stephanie Becker being the
(33:34):
champion now I. Think it's great, like you said,
she has proven well, the shadow of a doubt that she deserves it.
All the stuff that she had to goup against just to be at this
level is great. She he had to face so much
adversity and now look at her. You know, so I mean, kudos are
and you know, EO Scott, I, I love her.
(33:56):
She is great in that ring. I was listening to somebody and
they said it best. Ever since she's been on TV here
in the States and doing what she's doing in WWE, she has not
had a bad match. Not one.
When you go and watch her matches, every single match that
she does is on point. Her facials are great, how she
(34:18):
reacts to things. I I became a big fan of hers
when her and her and oh God, I hate when I get brain farts like
this. Her and Oscar when her and Oscar
did that that promo in the ring and Oscar was going off on her
in Japanese and he just looked at her and went bitch.
It was. I thought it was great.
(34:42):
I can't rewind that because her delivery was so good and the way
those two playoff each other wasgreat.
I almost hated to see them dry. I almost hated to see them join
forces because they had such good matches that I wanted to
see them actually go at it and do it again.
She has not had a bad match. And Oscar's another one.
(35:04):
Oscar, have you ever watched Oscar's matches in Japan?
She was in there with grown men and they were killing her.
I mean, beating her as if. I mean, you'd want to call the
police. It was so bad.
That's how bad they were hittingOscar and Oscar's bleeding from
every part of her body, everything.
I mean, it was so great to watchit.
It really was. And EO Skye is just another.
(35:27):
She's like, I'm not going to sayshe's another Oscar, but she's a
phenomenal worker. She says great in what she does.
And again, since she's been in the WWEEO has not had a bad
match. And so many people have put that
match over and put her over and said that she is a star before
she became a star. That's a fact.
(35:47):
That's a fact 100%. And it's, it's not a surprise
when you consider Oscar, EO and,and Kyrie sane.
They have basically been intertwined with each other for
a long time. I mean, they were in Lucha
Underground. Oscar was in Lucha Underground,
but Kyrie and and and and EO were.
But these ladies, they've, they've kind of Oscars.
(36:09):
She came before them, but they all they mirror each other in a
lot of ways and they're different, but they have such
great chemistry. Whether they're together as a
team or now they're a part Oscarand and made Kyrie Sane turn on
EO last night on raw and they beat EO up.
So you're about to get those matches right back with Oscar
(36:30):
and EO and and shout out to Oscar.
She had a bust ass match last night with Ria Ripley.
It was incredible that match andit made evented raw, by the way,
on Netflix, folks, if you get a chance, if you haven't seen that
match, go check it out folks, because it was just incredible.
I Oscar's my favorite wrestler on the planet, hands down.
(36:54):
I love everything that she does.And I got to say, EO is a close
second. Like those two.
Oh my God. So I can't wait for them to
battle again, just like you said, because you know it's
going to be a great match. You really do.
And I mean, kudos to these ladies.
And listen, when in the history of pro wrestling being on TV or
just being around period, have the women outdone the men.
(37:19):
And I hate to say it that way, but it's the truth.
I mean, and again, he's got the guys in there.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing the guys and it's not
they're doing a great job as well, but it's just so good to
see the women really step up andbe looked at as athletes and not
just hits. And as they are looking at as
(37:40):
being, they're being respected. And you know, again, when Oscar
and and EO gets in that ring, you know it's going to be a good
match. You know that they're coming to
to put on a performance. Absolutely, absolutely.
And again, we talked about AJ Lee.
AJ Lee left the company because women were not getting these
(38:01):
types of opportunities. The fact that she comes back
into the company and she comes back into this sort of thing.
My God, you know, just man, it almost brings a tear to my eye
to think about it because it's when you and, and Devon, you
could appreciate this as as a, as a black wrestler who came
(38:22):
into the business at a time where the only black world
champion that we had was Ron Simmons.
And that was a couple of years before you started, right?
Yeah, that was a few years before I started, I think.
What, what was it, 98? I mean not 988987.
(38:43):
It was because because Flair hadwent to WWF at the time.
So yeah, you're looking at like 9, maybe 9192, about 9192
somewhere around that, that timeperiod, right.
There. And this is when, you know,
yeah, this, this. This was when Bill Watts took
over. Yeah, that was during that.
Ironic, right. And with the story behind that,
(39:05):
with people who know the historybehind that.
But, you know, Ron becoming the first African American champion,
it was phenomenal. You know, black people in the
audience crying because we neverthought we would see that day.
It's no different than when Obama became the president.
You know, it was like nobody ever thought they would see the
day that that would happen, thatthe United States would get a
(39:26):
black president. And then they tried to downgrade
it. Oh, he's not really American,
number 10. He's not really black, you know.
Yes, he is. Number one.
Stop it, Stop it. Stop trying to water down shit
that you shouldn't be watering down, please.
The man identifies himself as a black man, regardless if one of
his parents is white or not. It doesn't matter if that's what
(39:49):
he says he is and that's what hesays he is.
Stop it already. But you know, it feels.
It felt good to see that. And I remember I was telling I
was just found a story yesterdayabout Tony Atlas and Rocky
Johnson becoming the first African Americans to win the WWE
tag team title. I remember I was I had gotten a
(40:10):
splinter. The story is so bad.
I was about 10 years old and this bench and the area that I
was in was all messed up and allthat, splinters everywhere.
And somebody was playing a joke on me like they were going to
hit me and I kind of jerked out the way.
And when I did, I slid across and this splitter went right up
(40:31):
my ass. I mean, it went straight up in
my skin, right in my ass. So I had to go get it cut out
and everything. And I remember my grandmother
taking me to the hospital. We come back home, I got gauze
and stitches and all of that in my ass because they got the
splinter out. And I remember laying on the
bed, not being able to move in so much pain.
(40:54):
And that match came on because it was a Saturday.
That match came on. Me and my grandmother both were
watching it. My grandmother was a huge
wrestling fan at the time. And when they won, she cried.
I was crying. I had no idea why I was crying.
You know, I was 10 years old. I had no idea why I was crying.
I just saw her crying. And when they panned out to some
(41:15):
of the audience, some of the audience members were crying.
So I just did it because everybody else was doing it.
But I didn't understand how important that was to not only
pro wrestling, but just African Americans in general.
You know, it was almost like, you know, we had overcome for so
long. We have been put, you know, in
the back and and shunned it. But now, you know, it was
(41:35):
starting to come out. And I thought it was great
because again, we have a lot of African Americans that have
basically spilled their blood, sweat and tears in that ring,
but never got the recognition that they deserve.
Because like I always like to say in this wrestling business
nowadays, you know, a lot of thepeople in there that used to
have their their their clan sheets and all that over their
(41:58):
heads, they traded in their sheets for suits.
And so many guys like that, you know, took their sheets off, put
suits on and a pencil in their hand and would write off black
people. And that's what they did.
And, you know, to see that overcome with those two
incidents with Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson winning the titles
against the Wild Samoans and RonSimmons winning it, especially
(42:23):
in the N.W.A, you know, that's the Deep South, you know, back
then. So that was very, very, you
know, wrenching for African Americans back then.
Absolutely. And and again, we don't get the
career, the Hall of Fame career,the five time Hall of Fame
career of Devon Dudley without that right.
And we got Devon Dudley. Yeah, I'm going to, I'm going to
(42:46):
hit you with something here. We don't get Kofi Kingston
without Devon Dudley. Of all the wrestlers that have
come since you, I would say KofiKingston is probably the biggest
example of because Devon Dudley was so excellent for so long and
(43:07):
so consistent, A Kofi Kingston could exist.
Not just he was going to exist anyway as a wrestler, but to
accomplish what he accomplished,to have the confidence that, Oh
yeah, you know, this, this guy could do and what have you.
Because folks, that is how serious the racism is.
It's that serious. No matter how talented you are,
no matter what you do, they weren't putting belts on people
(43:29):
that look like us because of what you accomplished.
That made it possible for Kofi Kingston way before the New Day
to accomplish all that he accomplished.
And then by the time a new Day comes around, he was able to
jump the shark and become world champion and all that good stuff
on top of everything. But brother, you took the baton
(43:51):
and ran the race and got got us to that next point and then
passed it off to to to Kofi and those guys and, and look at
where they are now. Listen, you know what I mean.
Bro, Bro. Brazil, Junkyard dog, Coco.
Beware. You know Tony Atlas, Rocky
Johnson, You know all the African Americans that came
(44:13):
before me? Ron Simmons, Butch.
Reed, Butch Reed. You know all these guys that
came before me that became successful, you know, in this
business, Hey, manager Wise, thedoctor of style, Slick, you know
all these guys that came before me, they said they set the page.
They set it for me, you know, they open the door for me.
(44:37):
So if I did that for anybody going forward, you know, in the
African American community, thenmy heart is overwhelmed.
And I'm, and I'm very grateful to have done that.
You know, I'm just happy, you know, that, you know, African
Americans are now getting the chance to showcase what we could
possibly do. Because I'm going to tell you
right now, there's still, there was still a lot of racism back
(44:59):
then, especially during the Attitude Era, the busty Ric
Flair era, the Hogan and Andre era, There was still a lot of
racism, which you wouldn't thinkit was, but there was.
There were things that the fans don't know about, things that
were being said and done behind the scenes.
And now, you know, these documentaries that are coming
(45:21):
out, a lot of this stuff is being exposed.
And you know, it's only rightfully so because again, so
much wrong had been done that now, you know, African
Americans, they're getting, theyjust do, it's like, well, sit
down and shut up. You get the titles, you do it.
You're getting over and, and wrestling.
So just no, I'm not going to stop.
I'm not going to sit down and shut up because I shouldn't have
(45:43):
to. It shouldn't have been done in
the 1st place. But it was.
Well, some of these people that have done wrong and said things
are still very much active in the wrestling world today.
Whether you think so or not, they are.
You know, there's people in other organizations, you know,
that, you know, that grew up, you know, in an era where, you
(46:06):
know, Black people were secondary citizens, whatever,
you know? And they still believe that this
day. But now they got to keep quiet
about it because cancel culture will cancel their asses quick.
And they know now they're hiding.
Now they're hiding like the cowards that they are.
And they know who they are. And if you're listening to this,
you know who you are. Yeah, I'm right.
(46:29):
Damn right. You know what?
You know something, Devon, if ifyou debut today, if Devon Dudley
debuted today, I don't even think you'd be A tag team
wrestler. I think you would be similar to
old be Femi. Obviously, you know, his his
gimmick is is part of his culture and what have you.
He is African and all that. So that's part of it.
(46:51):
But just a guy who's taken seriously, who's an ass kicker,
who he's going to deliver. So because of that, you can
trust him with the championship,you know, NXT championship or
what have you know, old is definitely going to be in the
main roster main event in WrestleMania someday.
All that. I I truly believe you would be
like a Oba Femi in that regard if you debut today.
(47:13):
Well, you know, again, what would have happened today about
a debuted as opposed to when I did debut in 99, I'm sorry, at
96th, April 13th at the Lost Battalion Hall in Queens Blvd.
the ECW, everything in my opinion happens for a reason.
And the timing that I was brought into the business
(47:36):
happened exactly where it shouldhave played out.
But I understand where you're coming from.
What type of person would I havebeen if I would have debuted
now? I don't know.
I would love to have seen that, you know, but.
You would have different opportunity, you would have had
different opportunity. That's the that's the point I'm
making you, you would literally be looked at as somebody who
(47:58):
could be, should be, will be theface of the company.
And again, we don't get there without the contribution of
everyone that you mentioned before you, and we don't get
there without the contribution of you and then the guys that
you inspired like Kofi and what have you.
So it's, it's, it's very, very interesting.
(48:19):
And I know we, we, we took a path there, folks.
But my main point is again, to see AJ Lee come back to the
company and see the fruits of her labor bloom and literally be
this, this, this, you know, this, this huge, beautiful
Arboretum. That's exactly what it's like.
(48:41):
Devon can relate to that and what have you.
It's, it's a beautiful thing. And thank God that we were all
around the witness, you know, because it's, it's special, man.
It's, it's really, really special to overcome those types
of challenges, racism, sexism, what have you.
Because that's another thing. AJ Lee is a Latina.
Don't think for one second that didn't play into some of these
(49:03):
issues too, but now when you take a look at these women and
you see who's main event and stuff like that, the diversity
is through the roof. Yes.
You know, so it's, it's, it's really cool, man, Really
special. I love it.
Let's end on this note here. WWE just announced that
WrestleMania in 2027 is going tobe in Saudi Arabia.
(49:27):
We, we had heard whispers about it.
We knew that eventually they're going to have to do it because
the Saudis are already giving them too much money to not get a
big events like come on, guys, give us the premier event.
Finally they they managed to figure it out and I believe $200
million for that event. That's so much WWE is getting
(49:48):
paid $200 million. So what to even say that and
think about it. I'm, I'm just shaking my head
because that's such a fascinating that you literally
can, can fund Raw and smack downeach for two years with that
money. Listen, let me just say this.
(50:08):
The person who's going to be themain event that Saudi Arabia
show is going to be paid something lovely.
I mean, good God. Listen, I retract what I said
earlier. I'll come out of retirement if
I'm going to be on that show, just just be the opening match.
I can only imagine what the opening match is going to be.
(50:31):
Listen, the Hardys and the Duddys one more time.
After one more time, Good God, Ican only imagine because.
The merch, the merch sales alone, give me a break.
Listen. Some of the some of the guys and
that went to Saudi Arabia that did the battle royal.
(50:51):
One person, I don't want to tellhis business, but one person
told me he went in there and that battle way he was in there
for about like 30 seconds. He got paid I think almost close
to $100,000 and I'm like. That's just battle royal.
That's just battle royal. So the Hardys and the Duddys
again, the nostalgia, even though we had did it for glory
(51:16):
one more time. For that kind of buddy.
Yeah. One more time, please.
Well, Devon. You probably Devon, you probably
break a leg or something one more time.
You'll be able to pay for it. You'll be able to pay for it.
It's OK, bro, $200 million. I mean, whoa, for one event,
(51:40):
right? For one event, $200 million
listen. Let's go to Saudi Arabia for the
next 10 years. Yeah, bro, that's it.
That's it. And listen, you see the
knuckleheads online because you know people will always going to
complain. If you tell somebody that it's
raining outside, they complain. If you tell them it's sunny
outside, they complain. People just complain to
complain. But people are complaining.
(52:00):
How dare they? They're bringing it to Saudi
Arabia. They shouldn't do that and this
and that. Give me a break.
Give me a break. Guarantee you one thing, I
guarantee you one thing, the people who are going to be
wrestling on that card at that WrestleMania ain't complaining
and ain't saying how big. So for you people that are home
that are sitting up there makingcomments like that because you
(52:22):
want to go or what have you, take your ass in Saudi Arabia if
you want to. I mean, but hell, don't deprive
somebody for making money because you want to be selfish
because you want it in your own country.
If they go over there safe and get back and get brought home
safe and they can make a boatload of money like that,
leave them people alone. Let them do what they got to do.
Mind your damn business. Damn right, damn right.
(52:46):
And you know, of course some of these indie promotions, you
know, dirt sheets are hyping them up and stuff.
They're upset because they won'tget WrestleMania week, which,
you know, these indie promotionslike to run and they, they like
to suck at the back of WWE. You know, they, they, they want
to get some of that. So your brother Bubba on Busted
(53:08):
Open proposed that Tony Khan should run an event that week in
the United States and help theseindie promotions out by running
an event. So, so literally put a premiere
event someplace, how all the Indies come around and still run
that week would have you and kind of fill that void.
(53:28):
What do you think of that idea? I mean, would it have the same
as a WrestleMania? That's the only, that's the only
question I would ask. Can he put it?
Can he put something on like that that would give that type
of deal? I don't know if he could have
not. Well, who's he going to get?
(53:49):
That's the question. It like, does he?
Does he have the creative? I mean, you got enough time now
we're in 20/25/2027. Is is is a while away here?
Can you build your creative wellenough to have at least two
marquee matches that will make people want to partake in
something like that? If Tony was listen to Bubba and
(54:12):
actually do something like that,Tony, call your father and tell
him to bring out that checkbook.That's that's just on tape.
Call your daddy, call your daddy, tell them, make that
checkbook happen. Because that's exactly what it
would take. Because if you don't think WWE
is going to be smart enough to take people to Saudi Arabia with
them, that if they got an ounce to hear that he was doing that.
(54:39):
If you don't think they're goingto take money to bring them to
Saudi Arabia just for them not to be on Tony's show, you crazy.
WWE will do whatever it takes. Great point, great point.
Listen, whatever shape he's in, Stone Cold Steve Austin, the
Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, you all are going to be on the card.
Somehow, someway it's going to happen.
You know what I'm saying? You guys are on the card.
(54:59):
So you better you better start getting on the D the D Von
Dudley program right now. You got a little bit over a
year. Start training now, fellas,
because your ass is going to be,you're working.
You're working OK, I'm just telling.
You that type of money, that type of money will make anybody
come out of retirement. Yeah, yeah, You know what I'm
(55:21):
saying? We we listen, we might have to
resurrect Andre the Giant or something, but for that kind of
money, something's got to give, bro.
Something's. Got to give, you know, because
they want listen and and they deserve it because they're
paying for it, but they deserve the absolute greatest event in
the history of of pro wrestling,not just WWE in pro wrestling
(55:41):
history. They deserve the greatest event
that ever happened. Yeah, pretty much.
So, so so do you do The Rock andCody?
Do you do the Rock and and and Roman?
Like what? What special attraction match do
you put on something like that? You know, because the Rock has
to wrestle on that. There's no way he can't wrestle.
(56:02):
I think The Rock said he wasn't going to wrestle anymore.
I think he said he was. Done, I'm not mistaken.
Going to Saudi Arabia, he. I'm sure he's going to Saudi,
but I'm sure he doesn't listen. If anything, I don't know.
Rock don't need the money, but you know, but Devon does.
So I'm just saying Devon will come out.
Devon will do it. I'm not.
I may not have the same qualifications as The Rock or
(56:25):
Stone Cold Steve Austin, but I'mjust letting you know, if you
want to give a brother a shot and see how it would turn out,
I'm available. Brock, Brock Lesnar deep on
Dudley is next. All right, come on.
There you go, There you go. No, no, that there's an
exception to the rule. Money can't buy everything and
(56:46):
that's one thing I'm not doing. I forgot to bet you Lesnar and
Heyman pretty much reunited, at least for one night, Heyman
announced. Lesnar at at Russell Palooza.
At Russell Palooza. Yeah, I saw that.
Yeah, I saw that. Yeah, so could you imagine
Heyman's cutting promos on you? No, and I don't even want people
(57:10):
to even get that even as a thought in their head that that
would have No, hell no, no, because see, at least John Cena
walked out of the ring on his own.
He was messed up, but he walked on his own.
I would not walk out of the ring.
OK, I'm too old to be doing thatshit.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not trying to go to Suplex
(57:30):
City or get F files. No.
No, no, no, no, no. You don't want that.
My God, I can't even imagine, you know?
Yeah, neither can I. Did you ever see Brock pick up a
referee by by his pants and just.
Yes, yes, Jesus, I believe it was Charles.
Robinson. Robinson, yeah.
(57:53):
Just pick him up by his pants and just stole him.
It's like, damn, Can you imaginethat you're a grown man?
Brock has strength that no one else can even imagine to have.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's a bad dude.
He's a bad dude. So I feel sorry, hold on.
I feel sorry for his daughter's boyfriend, the football player.
(58:14):
I just saw pictures on Twitter. I'm like, man, if, if that girl
has to be home at midnight, you better bring her home at 11:30.
Just saying. Oh shoot, she looked like she
could kick his ass her own damn self.
I'm. Sure, but if you don't think
Brock, listen, if you don't think Brock's going to take the
opportunity to scare him in the ass, then you're crazy, Yeah.
Yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure. I know, I know, Brock.
(58:38):
I, I hope, I hope his daughter ends up coming into the business
because she looks incredible. I mean, she's powerful just like
she's powerful just like her father.
Oh my God. Especially with this woman's
roster we have right now. Can you imagine her being the
shark in that? In that water?
Oh my God. Listen, I can only imagine what
would happen if she did decide to want to come in professional
(59:00):
wrestling, hey, And she's young enough to make that decision
even 10 years from now, so you never know.
That's a good point. That's a good point.
Yeah. That that would be something
exciting, man. I hope it happens anyway.
What's the best way to keep up with you big man?
All right, we'll testify Devon on on Instagram.
Of course, I always put that over and also my YouTube video,
(59:23):
my YouTube podcast. So you can check me out there as
well. Like and subscribe to the
channel and leave your comments below.
And don't forget folks, if you want to chase your dreams,
hopefully become the next superstar in the pro wrestling
industry, then you definitely want to check out Devon Dudley
Academy. Why not be trained by the best
(59:44):
you know? Why not?
Forget about the rest. Of course folks.
As always, Duke loves wrestling.On Facebook, on
twitter.dukeloveswrestling@gmail.com.Let me know what you think of
the show. Get in your shout outs, the
whole 9 yards. There, Bound for Glory is around
the corner. The fact that you're getting
this, this step by step guide, hearing Devon talk about his
(01:00:05):
journey leading up to this historic match is just special.
So we thank you for tuning in asalways folks.
All right brother, it's that time, Word of the week.
What do you got for us? Oh man, I don't know, I usually
have them ready if I have one for this week.
But I can say this, make sure ifanybody messes with you, you put
their ass to a table and mean it.
(01:00:30):
How about that? Testify.
My brother. In your unique way, pants and
(01:00:50):
colours so defined, all about the perfect life.
Be yourself. Let your spirit lie.
In this fashion, you'll touch the sky strictly for the culture
(01:01:12):
and so fine dress. Visit
(01:01:36):
www.strictlyfortheculture.ca. Backstage whispers and the
crowds roar from matching giantsto legends of your Divan's
(01:01:58):
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brand new, divided and Duke bring the heat.
Wrestling tails knock you off your seat.
TuneIn Now Don't You be late Wrestling podcast never felt
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