September 5, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode, we discuss the incredible return of AJ Lee, Review WWE Smackdown, and get an update on the contract status of AJ Styles.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Podcast, What What What.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Who podcast?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
That's what anything there? God letswers.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I take the question.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Who immuta to don ol Dan because this guy is
a serious profession.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
And im.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Savage mock the thong wearing buddy, I sat w W
E s dand for.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Eck me, I'm dad.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I will never retire. A bunch of consideration paidful by
the following.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Hey, yo forro Wrestling podcast listeners, Welcome to the show
where we don't sing it, we bring it.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Help us out and click subscribe to show your support.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Are you sick and tired of dropping sixty tow one
hundred dollars for the latest and greatest wrestling video game?
Stop immediately go to Wrestler Unstoppable, available now totally free
to Facebook users to Wrestler, sign contracts, get into the storylines,
headline pals, even build your own corporation, all included in
Wrestler Unstoppable, available now to all Facebook users, totally free.
(02:09):
If you want to become a member of the Froestling
podcast family. Want your name in the shout outs like
my good buddy John down in Texas, then pop over
to our Patreon page at Patreon dot com. Slash for
wrestling podcast. Sign up today. We've got loyalty rewards fifteen
dollars month. Contributors, you get to co host a show
with me seven to fifty month. Also entered into a
drawing to co host an episode with myself and like
(02:30):
my good buddy John and Texas, we will get Patreon
exclusive content. John and I are working on a multi
part series. We've got to finish wrapping up in the
next couple weeks and getting that out there for our
Patreon listeners.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Check that out.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
Go over there, sign up today Patreon dot com slash
foristing podcasts. We'd love to have you over there and
be a member. Hello everybody, Welcome to this episode of
the Forestling Podcast. If you've got question, comments, something you
want me to touch on in a future episode, give
us a call, give us.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
A shout for wrestling sound offline two six.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Seven sixty four to two eleven sixty and we will
get to those in a future episode. Had to do
a snap reaction show tonight on the heels of SmackDown,
Big Night, Big Show, and how can we not start
with the most important story of the night, not that
there's not more than one, but the return the highly
anticipated worst kept secret in the history of professional wrestling,
(03:20):
other than maybe CM Punk coming to a W. Aj
Lee returning tonight to SmackDown to confront Becky Lynch. And
let's be honest, it's not just about aj Lee coming back,
because if we're being fair, wwe clearly wanted us to
know this. They wanted us to know she was coming back.
(03:40):
If they didn't want us to know, Big E would
never nor would Jackie Redman, have ever mentioned aj Lee's
name at the Clashes to Castle pay per view. That's
just the first hint, because every line they say is
going to be cleared by somebody, and Creative follow that
up with the CM Punk looking at the aj Lee signs,
follow it up with what happened on RAW, with Becky
(04:02):
Lynch getting physical with the aj Lee chance and her
directly responding to them about her not even working there,
and then the revelation that Punk was going to be
in Chicago and coming to smack Down. There's no other
reason when his beef is with seth Rollins on RAW
to come to Chicago unless it's something big. And when
he shows up, we all knew aj Lee was going
(04:23):
to be there. Now that takes nothing away from the
fact that their marketing department, somebody put out a tweet
asking about where they could get aj Lee gear to
wear to SmackDown tonight Eve earlier this week, and the
person from the marketing department responding with, you know, having
stuff available for her big return, obviously letting the cat
of the bag. I think that was done intentionally so
we all knew she would be there, so they could
(04:43):
do two things one pop tickets, two pop rating. And
I hope they killed it tonight because how incredible is
that ovation When Punk says to Becky Lynch, everybody knows
that I would never hit a woman, but thankfully.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I've got some who would.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
And the hit the music and aj Lee comes out,
and it's not just that she was there, it's that
she comes out, She skips, she comes to the ring,
goes around, same mannerisms. Hasn't changed it all in the
last ten years. Michael Colean commentary said, it's been over
thirty eight hundred days since she's been there, and she
comes to the ring, sits on the ropes, leading to
(05:21):
a stare down with Becky Lynch, which erupts into her
spearing Lynch taking her down pummeling her, Lynch pushing her off,
getting whipped by the hair back to the ground, more
punches after a Luthez press, and eventually, as things keep progressing,
we see that she grabs and slaps Becky Lynch, saving
any of the serious move set for an eventual match
(05:44):
at the Russell Palooza pay per view. We all know
it's coming, Becky Lynch seth rollins versus c M Punk
and aj Lee, And what a reaction from the Chicago crowd.
When I listen to it the first time, I get
the impression that maybe it's television production or whatever they
purposely when Punk says I know somebody who will then
(06:05):
the audi, the audio of the track actually seemed to
get quieter because I think they were just waiting for
the music to hit and the pop. And what I
thought was really cool is as she comes to the ring,
not only is there the pop, but you can audibly
hear where people start chanting aj Lee over the sound
of the.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Entrance music, which is awesome.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
It's kind of reminiscent of when Punk came back to
wrestling in aw when they did a very similar situation.
Same kind of thing happened the huge pop for Punk. Well,
his wife got the same welcome tonight, and that's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
It's wonderful.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
She and I loved even the fact that she did
this stare on the edge of the ring when she
got into the ring, the way she was hopping around
and sitting on the ropes when she and when it's
all over, jumping into the arms of her husband see
him Punk like she always did. This was not just
nostalgia for those of us who knew aj Lee in
the past. This is also something very very special for
(07:00):
all the people who are just being introduced to her now.
Over the last week, the people who anticipated her return,
many younger fans who were not huge wbe people ten
years ago going into YouTube look at the videos of
Ajlee's matches getting huge pops this week in views, the
WWE offering on Peacock, tons of people going and screening
(07:21):
all these opportunities to see Ajlee from the past that
happened for a reason new fans.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Wanted were like, what is this all about?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
I gotta see her in action before she shows up
at SmackDown, And they were rewarded with someone who came
out exactly the way they went out.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
It is phenomenal. Congratulations to Ajlee and Cmpunk.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
What a beautiful opportunity for two talents who when it
went down back in twenty fourteen, twenty fifteen ish for
depending on which one you're talking about, the unceremonious exit
from the company, the way they were treated, probably a
lot of us thinking they would never come back to
WWE again, and instead Punk first now Ajlee both getting
the opportunity to come home and really be accepted by
(08:01):
not only the fans, but in the back. The relationship
that is obvious from WWE unreal, no matter how much
you think that may have been scripted or not, the
relationship between Punk and Triple H is clearly monumentally better.
The rest of the WWE executives clearly very on board
with CM Punk, and obviously it's been so good that
(08:23):
Punk felt comfortable in aj Lee more importantly, felt comfortable
coming back to the company and coming home and being
able to have another run with the company. What an
awesome night for professional wrestling fans, an injection of life
into the WE roster when many people were feeling like
WWE was slowly dwindling in terms of its quality. SmackDown
(08:43):
ratings last week at an all time low. Well, guess what,
We're going to rebound this week, guaranteed with one of
the biggest numbers that they've had in quite some time.
Absolutely loved it. Can't talk about just aj Lee as
much as we'd love to, because there was other huge
monumental stuff on the show, show fantastic booking on the show.
Let's go with the small stuff, right, Juliet beating Meechin,
(09:06):
we kind of expected furthering a Keana James Meechin thing,
the Damien Priest, Alistair Black stuff, I'm okay with that, and.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
It keeps that few going in.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Let's be honest, this is a week where all of
that stuff was just filler. Nobody tuned in tonight to
see Julia versus Meechin. Nobody tuned in to see Alistair
Black and Damien Priest. And that's not a knock on
any of those four people. They're all amazingly gifted performers.
And I love watching him in a ring. I love
that Alistair Black got a win. But the only other
(09:37):
thing of relevance tonight, and let's be honest, was the
fact that John Cena comes out for his final SmackDown
appearance of his WWE career as an active performer, and
he is interrupted by the United States Champion, Sammy Zain.
How poetic that when Sammy Zain comes to the ring,
(09:57):
he talks about ten years ago when John Cena was
the United States Champion offering the John Cena United States
Championship Open Challenge, which was when Sammy got his first opportunity,
and that from there on, now that he's United States Champion,
he sought the approval, the permission of John Cena to
(10:18):
bring back the United States Open Challenge, but the Sammy's
Ain version, which John Cena happily endorsed and encourage people
to look at that as being such a respectful thing
for that championship. They do that, they run that angle,
and before John Cena can leave the ring, it leads
to Sammy Zain telling John Cena that for everything he's done,
(10:38):
for all the stuff that happened in the past, he
wanted the opportunity to face John Cena. If this was
indeed John Cena's last appearance on SmackDown not a month
from now, not a week from now. Tonight in Chicago,
Sammy Zain a throwback to ten years ago, offering John
Cena the opportunity for the open challenge for the United
(10:58):
States Championship.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Talk about the nostalgia.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
I thought it was absolutely mind blowing, very emotional to
watch that. Thank you to WWE for putting together something.
It makes so much sense. Even on commentary. While Sena
and Zane are exchanging, there's a moment in the match
where sammy' z ain lands awkwardly on his shoulder, and
right away Corey Graves goes into his past where when
they had that match ten years ago, Sammy z Ain
(11:21):
tore his shoulder up in the match with John Cena,
and when he was like celebrating his entrance to the ring,
they had a callback to that, which is awesome storytelling.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Bring that back. Talk about that and then the what
I think some of us who read.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
The dirt sheets kind of expecting, but we you never
know until you actually see it happened. Word came out
earlier today that brock Lesner was scheduled to be in
Chicago today. You hit the music when both men are
down and brock Lesner comes out and attacks first Sammy Zain,
giving him an F five, and then attacks John Cena,
laying him out. Great setup for the match coming September
(11:56):
twentieth at Wressell Palooza. This is going to be an
absolutely stacked lineup. The show is going to be amazing.
WWE knows what they're doing this counter programming for whether
you no matter what your opinion of it is, it's purposeful.
We're doing counterprogramming for a reason because aw is competition,
and so when they are competition, it is every business's job.
(12:17):
I don't care what business, your endeavor you're in, to
make sure you do everything you can.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
To prosper as your product and.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
Take away anything you can from your opponent. This has
been done in every business venture out there, whether it's
fast food to big corporate businesses to retail establishments, whether
it's Kmart versus Walmart. Do you think that Walmart's pricing
strategy wasn't intentionally put there to put Kmart out of business?
Of course it was, and many others, just like Amazon
(12:45):
is trying to put everybody else out of business.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
That is what you do.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
Counter Programming is no different than creating a competitive market,
trying to eliminate your competition, and that's what WWE's doing.
And when you stack the card like it looks like
this pay per view Wressell Palooza is going to be.
It should be a fun nomenal, phenomenal show. The matches
are gonna be stacked top to bottom. We're gonna probably
see the USOS reunite up pay per view or pl E,
(13:08):
whatever you want to call it. Versus the Bronze. We're
gonna see probably John Cena Wressell against brock Lesard because
it's technically not announced. We're going to see the cmpunk
aj Lee versus seth Rons at Becky Lynch. We're going
to see Cody Rhoads and Drew McIntyre. I saw today
a post online on Twitter with Rickosche going back and
forth with fans talking about some criticisms Bully Ray had
(13:29):
on Busted Open and on Twitter about the way aw
is being booked. And somebody through a comment about look
at the feuds that are going on in that company
right now, and they listed the litany of feuds and
I'm sorry. The match card for Russell Paluza, for me,
does it for me a whole lot more than seeing
another multi man match with the Death Riders and Darby
Allen's team. It does a lot more for me than
(13:49):
the don Kallis family going after Hangman page it does.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I'm sorry. I'm not dumping on those talents. I think
they've been aw has been killing it.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
This year, and I love their talent pool, I really
really do. But WWE is the apex and this card
I get it. It's there for a reason to make
this launch of the partnership with ESPNB as successful as
humanly possible.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Well, guess what it's working.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
WWE has made it so we have must see programming
for September twentieth. I hope everybody takes the opportunity to
do that tonight. This is one of the best episodes
of Smack, not necessarily in terms of all the matches
being amazing, but the entire show made sense. Five stars show,
great performance, sets everything up perfectly, The physicality was where
(14:37):
it needed to be. Awesome, awesome show one last time,
seeing scene it go out there and using all these
moves that are a throwback to all of these legendary
opponents of his It's just everything about it. The show
tonight was perfect, and of course the headline of the
return of aj Lee one.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Last thing before we head out tonight.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
A report from Fightful select Aj Styles contract update, go.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
To throw it in there because I don't want to forget
to say it.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
The update is that he's currently signed through February of
twenty twenty six. WW is hoping to keep him through
WrestleMania forty two in April and sign a short term extension.
But it sounds very, very clear that Aj Styles has
been open about the idea of retiring in the near
future and he wants to spend more time with his family.
Puts post on social media about that, hinting it to
(15:24):
possibly retiring, and that's that's where he's at. I mean,
he's had that illustrious career guaranteed Hall of Famer, but
it sounds like February is the only guarantee we have,
and then after that maybe WrestleMania, But that sounds like
aj will be done at that point. He's always said
that this was going to be his last contract. We
know aw is probably gonna want to make a run
(15:46):
at him even if he does leave WWE and things
of that match. You know, people have talked about will
Ospray versus Styles, or Kenny Omega versus Styles, you know,
being dream matches. I don't know if we'll ever see
those if he leaves WWE, because I don't think he'd
want to burn that bridge. I think he would love
the Hall of Fame induction and maybe worked in a
backstage role for them in some capacity.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Taking him out.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Of having to be in the gym all the time
and traveling all the time as much as he does.
Should be interesting to see what aj does in the future.
But in the end, congratulations to Ajstyle getting that contract
extension through February and hopefully going out on his own terms.
That's all the time we have.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
For this episode.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Check back with us next episode we run down the
latest wrestling news and rumors. Special thanks as always souno
AI for generating the music and sound effects I use
in the show. Today's show sponsored in part by Beesel Games,
bringing a new friend to family Game Night is easy
with sketchy people. Showcase your artistic side in this game
from Beesel Games by going to the gamecrafter dot com
and pick up your copy today. If you're looking for
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(16:41):
or maybe you just need some formal training for your
next career decision, go to our website at frolife Planning
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with FRO Life. I'm Fred Frolick, better known as Doctor Fro.
Want to thank you for taking some time with us today.
Until next time, take care everybody, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Bassy, but lest I do as
Podcast, What What What.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Who podcast?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
That's what anything there? God letswers.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I take the question.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Who immuta to don ol Dan because this guy is
a serious profession.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
And im.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Savage mock the thong wearing buddy, I sat w W
E s dand for.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Eck me, I'm dad.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I will never retire. A bunch of consideration paidful by
the following.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Hey, yo forro Wrestling podcast listeners, Welcome to the show
where we don't sing it, we bring it.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Help us out and click subscribe to show your support.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Are you sick and tired of dropping sixty tow one
hundred dollars for the latest and greatest wrestling video game?
Stop immediately go to Wrestler Unstoppable, available now totally free
to Facebook users to Wrestler, sign contracts, get into the storylines,
headline pals, even build your own corporation, all included in
Wrestler Unstoppable, available now to all Facebook users, totally free.
(02:09):
If you want to become a member of the Froestling
podcast family. Want your name in the shout outs like
my good buddy John down in Texas, then pop over
to our Patreon page at Patreon dot com. Slash for
wrestling podcast. Sign up today. We've got loyalty rewards fifteen
dollars month. Contributors, you get to co host a show
with me seven to fifty month. Also entered into a
drawing to co host an episode with myself and like
(02:30):
my good buddy John and Texas, we will get Patreon
exclusive content. John and I are working on a multi
part series. We've got to finish wrapping up in the
next couple weeks and getting that out there for our
Patreon listeners.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Check that out.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
Go over there, sign up today Patreon dot com slash
foristing podcasts. We'd love to have you over there and
be a member. Hello everybody, Welcome to this episode of
the Forestling Podcast. If you've got question, comments, something you
want me to touch on in a future episode, give
us a call, give us.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
A shout for wrestling sound offline two six.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Seven sixty four to two eleven sixty and we will
get to those in a future episode. Had to do
a snap reaction show tonight on the heels of SmackDown,
Big Night, Big Show, and how can we not start
with the most important story of the night, not that
there's not more than one, but the return the highly
anticipated worst kept secret in the history of professional wrestling,
(03:20):
other than maybe CM Punk coming to a W. Aj
Lee returning tonight to SmackDown to confront Becky Lynch. And
let's be honest, it's not just about aj Lee coming back,
because if we're being fair, wwe clearly wanted us to
know this. They wanted us to know she was coming back.
(03:40):
If they didn't want us to know, Big E would
never nor would Jackie Redman, have ever mentioned aj Lee's
name at the Clashes to Castle pay per view. That's
just the first hint, because every line they say is
going to be cleared by somebody, and Creative follow that
up with the CM Punk looking at the aj Lee signs,
follow it up with what happened on RAW, with Becky
(04:02):
Lynch getting physical with the aj Lee chance and her
directly responding to them about her not even working there,
and then the revelation that Punk was going to be
in Chicago and coming to smack Down. There's no other
reason when his beef is with seth Rollins on RAW
to come to Chicago unless it's something big. And when
he shows up, we all knew aj Lee was going
(04:23):
to be there. Now that takes nothing away from the
fact that their marketing department, somebody put out a tweet
asking about where they could get aj Lee gear to
wear to SmackDown tonight Eve earlier this week, and the
person from the marketing department responding with, you know, having
stuff available for her big return, obviously letting the cat
of the bag. I think that was done intentionally so
we all knew she would be there, so they could
(04:43):
do two things one pop tickets, two pop rating. And
I hope they killed it tonight because how incredible is
that ovation When Punk says to Becky Lynch, everybody knows
that I would never hit a woman, but thankfully.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I've got some who would.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
And the hit the music and aj Lee comes out,
and it's not just that she was there, it's that
she comes out, She skips, she comes to the ring,
goes around, same mannerisms. Hasn't changed it all in the
last ten years. Michael Colean commentary said, it's been over
thirty eight hundred days since she's been there, and she
comes to the ring, sits on the ropes, leading to
(05:21):
a stare down with Becky Lynch, which erupts into her
spearing Lynch taking her down pummeling her, Lynch pushing her off,
getting whipped by the hair back to the ground, more
punches after a Luthez press, and eventually, as things keep progressing,
we see that she grabs and slaps Becky Lynch, saving
any of the serious move set for an eventual match
(05:44):
at the Russell Palooza pay per view. We all know
it's coming, Becky Lynch seth rollins versus c M Punk
and aj Lee, And what a reaction from the Chicago crowd.
When I listen to it the first time, I get
the impression that maybe it's television production or whatever they
purposely when Punk says I know somebody who will then
(06:05):
the audi, the audio of the track actually seemed to
get quieter because I think they were just waiting for
the music to hit and the pop. And what I
thought was really cool is as she comes to the ring,
not only is there the pop, but you can audibly
hear where people start chanting aj Lee over the sound
of the.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Entrance music, which is awesome.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
It's kind of reminiscent of when Punk came back to
wrestling in aw when they did a very similar situation.
Same kind of thing happened the huge pop for Punk. Well,
his wife got the same welcome tonight, and that's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
It's wonderful.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
She and I loved even the fact that she did
this stare on the edge of the ring when she
got into the ring, the way she was hopping around
and sitting on the ropes when she and when it's
all over, jumping into the arms of her husband see
him Punk like she always did. This was not just
nostalgia for those of us who knew aj Lee in
the past. This is also something very very special for
(07:00):
all the people who are just being introduced to her now.
Over the last week, the people who anticipated her return,
many younger fans who were not huge wbe people ten
years ago going into YouTube look at the videos of
Ajlee's matches getting huge pops this week in views, the
WWE offering on Peacock, tons of people going and screening
(07:21):
all these opportunities to see Ajlee from the past that
happened for a reason new fans.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Wanted were like, what is this all about?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
I gotta see her in action before she shows up
at SmackDown, And they were rewarded with someone who came
out exactly the way they went out.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
It is phenomenal. Congratulations to Ajlee and Cmpunk.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
What a beautiful opportunity for two talents who when it
went down back in twenty fourteen, twenty fifteen ish for
depending on which one you're talking about, the unceremonious exit
from the company, the way they were treated, probably a
lot of us thinking they would never come back to
WWE again, and instead Punk first now Ajlee both getting
the opportunity to come home and really be accepted by
(08:01):
not only the fans, but in the back. The relationship
that is obvious from WWE unreal, no matter how much
you think that may have been scripted or not, the
relationship between Punk and Triple H is clearly monumentally better.
The rest of the WWE executives clearly very on board
with CM Punk, and obviously it's been so good that
(08:23):
Punk felt comfortable in aj Lee more importantly, felt comfortable
coming back to the company and coming home and being
able to have another run with the company. What an
awesome night for professional wrestling fans, an injection of life
into the WE roster when many people were feeling like
WWE was slowly dwindling in terms of its quality. SmackDown
(08:43):
ratings last week at an all time low. Well, guess what,
We're going to rebound this week, guaranteed with one of
the biggest numbers that they've had in quite some time.
Absolutely loved it. Can't talk about just aj Lee as
much as we'd love to, because there was other huge
monumental stuff on the show, show fantastic booking on the show.
Let's go with the small stuff, right, Juliet beating Meechin,
(09:06):
we kind of expected furthering a Keana James Meechin thing,
the Damien Priest, Alistair Black stuff, I'm okay with that, and.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
It keeps that few going in.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Let's be honest, this is a week where all of
that stuff was just filler. Nobody tuned in tonight to
see Julia versus Meechin. Nobody tuned in to see Alistair
Black and Damien Priest. And that's not a knock on
any of those four people. They're all amazingly gifted performers.
And I love watching him in a ring. I love
that Alistair Black got a win. But the only other
(09:37):
thing of relevance tonight, and let's be honest, was the
fact that John Cena comes out for his final SmackDown
appearance of his WWE career as an active performer, and
he is interrupted by the United States Champion, Sammy Zain.
How poetic that when Sammy Zain comes to the ring,
(09:57):
he talks about ten years ago when John Cena was
the United States Champion offering the John Cena United States
Championship Open Challenge, which was when Sammy got his first opportunity,
and that from there on, now that he's United States Champion,
he sought the approval, the permission of John Cena to
(10:18):
bring back the United States Open Challenge, but the Sammy's
Ain version, which John Cena happily endorsed and encourage people
to look at that as being such a respectful thing
for that championship. They do that, they run that angle,
and before John Cena can leave the ring, it leads
to Sammy Zain telling John Cena that for everything he's done,
(10:38):
for all the stuff that happened in the past, he
wanted the opportunity to face John Cena. If this was
indeed John Cena's last appearance on SmackDown not a month
from now, not a week from now. Tonight in Chicago,
Sammy Zain a throwback to ten years ago, offering John
Cena the opportunity for the open challenge for the United
(10:58):
States Championship.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Talk about the nostalgia.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
I thought it was absolutely mind blowing, very emotional to
watch that. Thank you to WWE for putting together something.
It makes so much sense. Even on commentary. While Sena
and Zane are exchanging, there's a moment in the match
where sammy' z ain lands awkwardly on his shoulder, and
right away Corey Graves goes into his past where when
they had that match ten years ago, Sammy z Ain
(11:21):
tore his shoulder up in the match with John Cena,
and when he was like celebrating his entrance to the ring,
they had a callback to that, which is awesome storytelling.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Bring that back. Talk about that and then the what
I think some of us who read.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
The dirt sheets kind of expecting, but we you never
know until you actually see it happened. Word came out
earlier today that brock Lesner was scheduled to be in
Chicago today. You hit the music when both men are
down and brock Lesner comes out and attacks first Sammy Zain,
giving him an F five, and then attacks John Cena,
laying him out. Great setup for the match coming September
(11:56):
twentieth at Wressell Palooza. This is going to be an
absolutely stacked lineup. The show is going to be amazing.
WWE knows what they're doing this counter programming for whether
you no matter what your opinion of it is, it's purposeful.
We're doing counterprogramming for a reason because aw is competition,
and so when they are competition, it is every business's job.
(12:17):
I don't care what business, your endeavor you're in, to
make sure you do everything you can.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
To prosper as your product and.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
Take away anything you can from your opponent. This has
been done in every business venture out there, whether it's
fast food to big corporate businesses to retail establishments, whether
it's Kmart versus Walmart. Do you think that Walmart's pricing
strategy wasn't intentionally put there to put Kmart out of business?
Of course it was, and many others, just like Amazon
(12:45):
is trying to put everybody else out of business.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
That is what you do.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
Counter Programming is no different than creating a competitive market,
trying to eliminate your competition, and that's what WWE's doing.
And when you stack the card like it looks like
this pay per view Wressell Palooza is going to be.
It should be a fun nomenal, phenomenal show. The matches
are gonna be stacked top to bottom. We're gonna probably
see the USOS reunite up pay per view or pl E,
(13:08):
whatever you want to call it. Versus the Bronze. We're
gonna see probably John Cena Wressell against brock Lesard because
it's technically not announced. We're going to see the cmpunk
aj Lee versus seth Rons at Becky Lynch. We're going
to see Cody Rhoads and Drew McIntyre. I saw today
a post online on Twitter with Rickosche going back and
forth with fans talking about some criticisms Bully Ray had
(13:29):
on Busted Open and on Twitter about the way aw
is being booked. And somebody through a comment about look
at the feuds that are going on in that company
right now, and they listed the litany of feuds and
I'm sorry. The match card for Russell Paluza, for me,
does it for me a whole lot more than seeing
another multi man match with the Death Riders and Darby
Allen's team. It does a lot more for me than
(13:49):
the don Kallis family going after Hangman page it does.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I'm sorry. I'm not dumping on those talents. I think
they've been aw has been killing it.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
This year, and I love their talent pool, I really
really do. But WWE is the apex and this card
I get it. It's there for a reason to make
this launch of the partnership with ESPNB as successful as
humanly possible.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Well, guess what it's working.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
WWE has made it so we have must see programming
for September twentieth. I hope everybody takes the opportunity to
do that tonight. This is one of the best episodes
of Smack, not necessarily in terms of all the matches
being amazing, but the entire show made sense. Five stars show,
great performance, sets everything up perfectly, The physicality was where
(14:37):
it needed to be. Awesome, awesome show one last time,
seeing scene it go out there and using all these
moves that are a throwback to all of these legendary
opponents of his It's just everything about it. The show
tonight was perfect, and of course the headline of the
return of aj Lee one.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Last thing before we head out tonight.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
A report from Fightful select Aj Styles contract update, go.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
To throw it in there because I don't want to forget
to say it.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
The update is that he's currently signed through February of
twenty twenty six. WW is hoping to keep him through
WrestleMania forty two in April and sign a short term extension.
But it sounds very, very clear that Aj Styles has
been open about the idea of retiring in the near
future and he wants to spend more time with his family.
Puts post on social media about that, hinting it to
(15:24):
possibly retiring, and that's that's where he's at. I mean,
he's had that illustrious career guaranteed Hall of Famer, but
it sounds like February is the only guarantee we have,
and then after that maybe WrestleMania, But that sounds like
aj will be done at that point. He's always said
that this was going to be his last contract. We
know aw is probably gonna want to make a run
(15:46):
at him even if he does leave WWE and things
of that match. You know, people have talked about will
Ospray versus Styles, or Kenny Omega versus Styles, you know,
being dream matches. I don't know if we'll ever see
those if he leaves WWE, because I don't think he'd
want to burn that bridge. I think he would love
the Hall of Fame induction and maybe worked in a
backstage role for them in some capacity.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Taking him out.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Of having to be in the gym all the time
and traveling all the time as much as he does.
Should be interesting to see what aj does in the future.
But in the end, congratulations to Ajstyle getting that contract
extension through February and hopefully going out on his own terms.
That's all the time we have.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
For this episode.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Check back with us next episode we run down the
latest wrestling news and rumors. Special thanks as always souno
AI for generating the music and sound effects I use
in the show. Today's show sponsored in part by Beesel Games,
bringing a new friend to family Game Night is easy
with sketchy people. Showcase your artistic side in this game
from Beesel Games by going to the gamecrafter dot com
and pick up your copy today. If you're looking for
your next career move, you're considering college, your university life,
(16:41):
or maybe you just need some formal training for your
next career decision, go to our website at frolife Planning
dot Com for all your higher education needs. As FRO Life,
educational planning is for today, for tomorrow and for life
with FRO Life. I'm Fred Frolick, better known as Doctor Fro.
Want to thank you for taking some time with us today.
Until next time, take care everybody, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Bassy, but lest I do as
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