Special Edition The State Of Our Sport Roundtable

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So it is season 6, it is episode 32, 337 times.
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My name is Rob.
I am the executive producer of the clubhouse podcast, and this episode is going to be
something we've never done before, and I'm going to explain that here in just a moment.
But I'm not doing this by myself, because that would be really boring.
So joining me across the desk in the co-host chair for this particular episode is a man
who took his nickname from another man who's going to be in a ladder match.
Four days after we record this, you may know I miss Fondongo, but his mom and even
Don Ford, I'm going to call him Don Ford, welcome sir.
He's back on TV, and so is your leader.
Really?
Stand out back.
You'll be involved in the under the giant Memorial Battle Royale.
Also, we also got a couple of special guests joining us for this.
Some guys that really know what they're talking about as it pertains to tonight's discussion.
First and foremost, fresh off a plane from the Northeast, a man who's had less sleep than
it took me to say this sentence.
He is Steven Zimmerman.
Welcome back to the show, sir.
It's been too long.
It's pleasure.
It's nice to be back.
You are mainlining Kathy over there.
I had that I had to do like three Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks runs, and now he's like
four hours.
Joining the order in IV, you're going to be okay.
Now I'll be right.
All right.
Also joining us is a man that joins us more often than not for the paper views and we do
our WWE unofficial official pre-shows.
He is LA welcomes sir.
Yo, yo, American.
It's good to have you back.
All right.
All right.
So.
Do you do?
Yes.
This is morning.
Easy done.
He's on the plane.
If you listen to this show with any regularity and you know the players at the table
right now, you probably have figured we're going to talk about something professional
wrestling related.
On the night that we record this, it is WrestleMania week.
Really right now, it is Wednesday night, March 30th.
I guess you could call it the column before the storm, both for WWE and what's going
on outside the studio as well.
But I've been thinking a lot in the last couple of weeks and something that I thought
would be a really good thing for us to do is just to have a round table where we talk about
the state of our sport.
And I've got the people in the room that I think are some of the best people that we
can to have to discuss this.
So let's start with, there's a reason I'm picking this music right here because I really
want to ground this in the right mind frame.
If you listen to the Steve Austin show or the Steve Austin show unleashed, whenever he
has someone in the business on the show, he asks a question right off the bat.
And I'm going to ask this question of all three of you.
Steven, let's start with you.
Is it sports entertainment or is it professional wrestling?
It depends on the company at this point in time now.
It used to be professional wrestling with entertainment.
Right.
Right.
Entertainment, but on other companies, it's wrestling.
Okay.
LA.
It's professional entertainment.
All right.
Don.
WWE sports entertainment.
ROH.
Pro Wrestling.
See, for me, and maybe it's just because I'm old and set in my ways, and all you kids are
the clothes in the hair can get off my lawn, it's always going to be pro wrestling.
It always will be.
This is what it's founded on.
This is what it is.
And I know the WWE kind of is allergic to that term, and they like sports entertainment.
And I get why, but for me, it will always be professional wrestling.
And the reason I ask that question is, it really kind of shapes the lenses that you look
at the business through.
And I really want to start with, I want to start kind of from, I don't want to call
up the bottom, but I want to start basic and work our way upwards.
So my first thing I want to ask is, actually, the next thing is I've already asked a question.
There are a lot of indie promotions that are out there, living in the Dallas Fort Worth
area, one of the mech is a professional wrestling, friend of the show, weapon access
he is known locally in an indie promotion.
Are indie promotions still a viable thing, are they living on life support or can anything
come of this?
I'm just going to open it to the floor.
In the indie promotions, I think, are very, um, blue collar, just, you know, organic.
The thing with them is they do it for the love of it, and I don't think most of them
have the aspirations of going further even though they want to.
I think it's because they know it's, it's a whole different animal because with the professional
wrestling industry, anything that's marketable, you have to be a giant.
And a lot of the indie guys are not these big massive men who pump iron 90 hours a week.
You know, it's like, they, they just love the, the technique and everything of professional
wrestling.
So I think it's actually better, um, in the independently that it is in the professional wrestling
scene now that the major companies are kind of fizzling out.
Oh, go ahead.
I love the excitement that the indie's bring because it's, it's raw.
It's something that they same the engage more of the fans into, um, it seems like they
actually care about, you know, the state of developing talent, getting them to a certain
level.
I just feel like it's such a cookie cutter, I guess, so to speak with the WWE and the
bigs because, you know, they pretty much have a shelf life that they've put every
wrestler on.
And you have to do something extremely dynamic to step outside of what they already
have set for you.
Uh, for instance, you know, everything's a 15 minute of fame with them.
You know, you got, um, I don't know where Seth Rollins, for instance, career would be to
this date if he wasn't injured.
You know, he might have ran his course and they'd have moved on to the next big thing.
But I just think that they need, they say that they're doing what's best for business,
which is kind of like an ironic play on words, because you really are trying to call
yourself more for the fans, but you're really not, you, you got your set formula and
I think Vince is still in control big time and he has what he wants to do with wrestling
for the next.
Don't anything you want to add to that on the Indies, like you take a theme that here
in MPX because I'm, I'm glad you mentioned it, because all three of you, I'm the only
person in the room that has not ever attended at MPX events.
So that's really why I wanted to talk.
Start to show with this because the three of you have actually been fairly entrenched in
local wrestling.
Phil, but yeah, but the thing is you take a theme as she's now an NXT, and she was
one of the top dogs here.
You're going to get a couple of top dogs who are going to possibly be able to go to what
he used to be called wrestling in TNA, if that's still company anymore, which will
probably end in later.
We will.
Yeah.
But that's where NXT's the minor leagues, or they move them up.
That's what I think is going to be a discussion point later.
And let's say we're like something like AJ Styles, who's been proven, you know, but
all these other people like New Day and stuff, they were named NXT, but before then they're
probably the Indies before then, or somewhere else.
So these Indies people, you know, they want to get to NXT, get to new things.
So are they viable?
Yeah.
The one in the red for their MPX, which I went to for a long time, which I loved, great
wrestling.
They did it for the love for a lot of them.
Now a lot of them who have no chance of making it, think that they're going to get
that call from that's ain't going to happen, but there's a couple who have a shot possibly
of making it there, but you take, that's just one promotion or two or three people like
Athena's getting moved up, you times that by around the whole nation, they look at
these independent things because they're going to be the guys who are going to be going
to NXT.
Well let me, let me add a wrinkle to it.
Yeah.
How does it change the dynamic of an indie wrestling promotion when you add somebody like
a book or tea or the Dudley boys who have wrestling schools?
Having a name like that does that tend to give those people more of a leg up or does
it, does it hinder them because there's an expectation there that may be unrealist?
I think that it helps them because they got the name and book or tea is already in there.
You know what I'm saying?
Book or tea could go to the scouting people the WWE and say hey look at this guy in this
guy and show him the tapes and you're actually going to listen to him versus you take
somebody who's here in Dallas or a scout from the in it from WWE or NXT may come in once
every two years or maybe once a year and they try sending the tape in him.
Why not even make the light of day out of the envelope before it hits the trash?
Book or tea?
Hey Johnson, I want you to look at this guy here.
I want you to look at this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy, see if they see if they
have it for NXT.
They have an edge up because there's somebody in the business who you know.
Oh, I agree.
I also with that thing that similar to the music industry, I think that the bigs are now
looking for complete package.
It wants you to have a fresh gimmick and want you to have some fresh ideas, some I guess
some moves that maybe you've been working on and it looks like they're looking for more
of a complete deal versus you know.
And do you feel that having somebody like a book or tea or a WWE or just Shawn Michaels
at one point had a school?
Yeah.
Do they have a better shot of having that complete package because they might have that
leg up if they know what the agents for WWE are looking for?
Absolutely.
And I think that you know what, they're not as impactful anymore.
I don't think.
No pun intended.
No pun intended.
Because of the fact that you know, there's so much out there on social media and all
of that.
So it's kind of like they can just study that way, you know.
They don't necessarily need to buy into tuition and all of that stuff.
They can possibly just look, I mean, me as is the perfect example of that.
Steven, anything you want to add?
I agree with both gentlemen, just in the simple fact that when you have a name that
can generate revenue on its own.
So let's say, yeah, they have a school or something.
So people are going to automatically align them with that person now depending on who
it is.
We had a Lance Hoyt here in Dallas and obviously he's a no name to most big name people.
So I remember him from both our OHN from T and A.
Yeah.
So people are going to see, oh, there's a great wrestler with Lance Hoyt.
Oh, but there's a great wrestler with, you know, Lance Storm or Sean Michaels or something
like that.
And so yeah, they have the link up, does it mean that their work is better?
No.
But I mean, they're going to get looked at nine times out of ten just by simple name recognition
and the familiarity.
I'm glad you brought that up because it's such a weird double-edged sword because
on one hand, you wind up with a guy like Daniel Bryan who comes out of Sean Michaels
wrestling school.
But on the other hand, you wind up with a Mahabali Shira who came up through the
Delhi Boys School.
So it's such an interesting dichotomy when you look at that.
Now that's going to bring this into our my next point and I want to talk a little bit
about Ring of Honor.
Ring of Honor in the last, I would say, a couple of years has gotten a little bit more
aggressive.
And what I mean by that is they're getting into more markets for years and the Dallas
Market, we didn't have Ring of Honor because they lost the deal with HDNet.
To me, they were, when that deal ended, they were really starting to gain some steam.
But now they're on the Sinclair Broadcasting System.
You have to look and see if it's available in your market.
If not, I believe a lot of those are going online too, right?
There's a chance it could go hit like they'll have half a year's work as replayable footage
on either Hulu plus or Netflix coming up and same with Lucha Underground.
They're going to have a whole scene.
I really hope so.
On Netflix because I don't get the L-rated network so I don't want to check out their
product.
It's ROH where they need to be and what I mean by that is question one and L-A I'll
start with you is ROH Viable Competition right now.
Six months, eight months ago, absolute.
Okay.
Now, I'm not seeing Steven, not at all.
The reason why they're positioned where they are today is not by their wrestling.
They took advantage of a Sinking Ship which was TNA.
You compete with the dying of brands you can succeed.
But how do you think they got even their like foot in the door?
Because ROH was very under the table, under the counter type wrestling.
You had a pro wrestler, he had a mouth on him, say the name a couple times and then tricked
people.
But see, they're not brought up by their towns.
You were referring to young Phil Brooks.
Yes, they're not brought up by their town.
They brought in because someone brought their name up and it was like I really do like ROH.
They're not where they need to be.
And there has nothing to do with production or anything like that.
But because they got the TV deal and L.A. kind of mentioned it, the product takes a
gun down because there's a higher expectation and there's more pressure on these wrestlers.
So they're not themselves like Christopher Daniels.
I think because it's more of a live thing instead of taped, he lost a lot of his edge.
The British edition is a very interesting case study in that because it's still the
spirit of who they were in TNA.
But you're right, there's something weird about it.
The thing is not many of those guys are built for live recordings, they're not built
for that.
They're done.
Anything you want to add here?
I disagree on that.
Okay.
Go ahead.
Pissed with all the respect.
That's why this is a roundtable.
Yes, exactly.
My thing with is ROH competition events, no.
Happy.
Yes.
Because it is wrestling.
As soon as I got in there, I was hooked.
Let's talk because that's going to segway in my next point.
Give it.
Like, I was hoping TNA for years has kept a please give Vince competition so we can actually
get these wrestling.
But once I can start watching ROH, there are things wrong with it.
The syndicate, which I love, it's on TV and I can see it.
It's fine, but it's so delayed.
And all that stuff, I think if they really kick it up and go live, do a show every week
that's alive or something close to it, instead of these multi, you know, things that
are really taped through your foreshows and run it for two or three weeks and stuff.
And I think that's where we're going to run, yeah, that's where I think it hurts them.
But if they were able to kick up the game, they'd be competition because do what it's
wrestling.
And some of that wrestling is wrestling that you want.
It's incredible wrestling.
And I'm glad you mentioned TNA and Steven, you did have your hand up.
Could this kind of the enemy of my enemy is my friend thing?
Because at one time, both of these two companies were fairly close knit and that distance
has gotten a lot bigger, I would say within the last 18 months.
Would them joining forces a little bit more, would that elevate both or is it, is it
too far gone for the second half of that deal that it might drag our awaits down?
I agree with the, it will drag our awaits down because you, I agree with you with the
conspiracy of Hulk Cogan, turn his company up, and then it got so well documented on
the show.
I agree with that 100% in Dixie is just like, you know what, hey, let me try
making a cake and let me put on the barbecue outside was, you know what I'm saying,
instead of eating.
But get the point though, she's given so much opportunity and just let it squat.
If RH was going to go with him and help TNA, but it would ruin our wait.
Let's go see because he wanted to say he had a point.
Yeah, no, I think, and I agree with you, Dawn, on the wrestling aspect and everything
with RH, and we both mutually agree, they're not ready to compete.
And I think the reason why they're taking a huge step back though is like I said, they're
not built for like live television yet, is the fact that they're trying to hard to not
be ROH anymore.
They're trying to be like a TNA at WWE because they have to market to the television.
So they can't market to a wrestling fan, they're like, oh, what can we put on television?
What can we market for a brand that way?
Now, I think the production value has gotten better, but I don't think that maybe this
is all a logic that can't, that hasn't been applied yet, but you don't have to sacrifice
quality for production.
And I totally agree with you guys, when you tape three weeks at a time, especially when
that three weeks overlaps one of your paper views, which I want to talk about here in just
a second as well, that hurts your product because if you give away, like let's say
Jay Leithel drops the title, and you're filming what going to be the episode of ROH
after the paper view, and somebody else walks out with the title, well, then you've shot
your paper view and no point.
At least, Dixie had enough of a little bit of force side where she would only tape
up to her paper view, even though they don't even have them anymore.
Wood, my other thing with ROH said, really, and I don't even know how to approach this,
but I feel like just as I'm getting settled into ROH, it's over.
Yeah.
And I don't know if two hours is the solution, but a little bit more time, maybe an hour
and a half, give, so you can give me a little bit more depth because we're not doing
inside ROH anymore as a segment, which I enjoyed, which there might be some underlying
reasons why that's happening, and it's not a theory I'm willing to put out there in
public, but we can talk about that off air.
So you're not really getting the backstory on a lot of these, because they're trying
to work a lot of angles.
They really are, but it's like we could only concentrate on two angles a week, and then
you won't hear anything about that angle for a month and a half.
And I'm going to make the point though, they don't say one thing real quick, on Friday
night.
I want to go to NXT.
I want to see ROH, because that's going to be wrestling.
I'm going to go to ROH over the NXT fair enough, and he's got so much going on this
week and he's like, I can't do a whole week.
And it's not that he doesn't want to do ROH, he just literally cannot.
Another thing that I wonder, that I think hurts ROH, and thank God they're doing
paper views now versus eye paper views, because I remember during the Axis TV, which
was HD net is now, all of their paper views were eye per views.
I think except for final battle, was the only one that wasn't, why are you doing your
paper views on a Friday night?
That's a weird thing for me, because that's a horrible programming time, unless you're
in the building, you know, I'm not going to think to call everybody together and say,
hey, it's Friday night.
Let's watch a wrestling paper view.
I think they're terrified of trying to budge, because you think about what Saturday
night is.
Sundays are usually carry overnight, but Saturdays you either have UFC, which, you know,
that runs pretty regularly, but you have Saturday night fight, which is any boxing
paper view that can get fair enough, and you know, that's also kind of a nod to boxing
came first, let them have their respect, let them have their Saturday night paper
views.
Sunday's Sunday is a Sunday.
Most people are tapped out by mid afternoon, that's why shows, you know, it's hard
for shows to succeed on Sundays, and I've already had, yeah, but they haven't done that.
Yeah, and so it would take a long time for them to even get that.
All right.
So is there a solution here, um, no, I mean, I don't have one, that's why I don't have
a sleep thing.
No, that to your point, right, when you get into an angle, you have to wait a couple
weeks for that angle again, and I think that's to the fact that you have to understand
your roster.
You have to know when is to say, when on your roster, or, you know, do as the WWE
did.
I totally agree with you.
You know, the WWE split, literally split the roster in half, and let's smack
down and roll.
And one of the things that WWE has always done well is every week is a jumping
on point every week, as much as those of us that have watched this product for years,
get absolutely destroyed by all the replays, every week is a jumping on point, even within
the same episode, it's a jumping on point.
So if you're somebody that's just clicking through the channels, you're like, oh, let me
see what this is, you're not lost, but with ROH, it's hard to find a jumping on point
because you really have to concentrate till you can remember who's who and what angles
are what?
Now, let me float another thing out there, and then to that fact, when one of their
guys leave for the beages or something like that, you don't close it out, at least that's
one thing impact was always great about when the guy was leaving, they would close this
book shut and you'd see it.
Now the flip side of that coin though, one thing I think ROH does well is they're not
afraid to acknowledge their past.
Yeah.
Well, watch the opening of the show, you've got Sam Punk, you've got AJ Styles, and they'll
put out new DVD sets of the best of these guys, and I respect that about them.
But let me pose this, does ROH benefit if they just did an extra show every week?
Because here locally, it airs at three o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday.
Why not air another show, you know, you can skip the Fridays of your paper view, but do
a Friday night show, or a Saturday night shot, if we remember shot gun Saturday night, those
of us that are open up the remember that, but something of its ilk, so that could give
them more time, and I'm not saying they have to take away from the wrestling, because
that's what makes ROH, but you could invest more time, and your fan base could invest
more time in the roster that you have.
Does that help or does that dilute the product?
Absolutely, the hell's, but the problem is, is that if that's going to cost more money
in the book if they have, then it's going to take a lot more out than what they have to
give for the sponsors and the commercials and all of that, then they need to take a page
from circa 96 TBS, and do the way WCW did, and the match was 878 minutes long, that's
it, couldn't the commercial, and some bills will come back with a new match.
And then see their commercial breaks are weird to me too, because especially as you get
closer to the end of the show, there's like two commercials and more back, I'm trying
to fast forward, don't, would another hour, separately, instead of doing two hour block
with that helper hurt, I think it would help, because I, one hour a week that's so cut,
but they have to get it more today without the, you know, three, four weeks at a time.
It's my thing.
And then somebody like we talked about, to me that especially when you're overlapping your
paper view, that hurts you, because especially your, your crowd, your live crowd, they're
just going to go, it's going to air sometime, you know, even like, if you remember when
they would do superstars and stuff back, but back when I was in college, my, my girlfriend,
my first year in college, she actually, I went to the University of South Florida, she actually
worked at the Sundo as an usher, and when WW would come to town on a Saturday, they would
do four tapings in a Saturday, but it was never, like, it was never all in order, so
you'd have like a couple of superstars matches, a couple of wrestling challenges, and
they could use those whenever, because it was always, you know, Dino Bravo versus the Brooklyn
Brewer.
You know who's going to win, you know how this is going to go, but it was enough that you
could have stuff in the bank if you needed it, which kind of does move, I want to move
away from our way to then move into the company that I don't think any of us in this
room can actually watch, because we literally can't, I mean, I know I can't because I have
viewers, what does TNA have to do to get noticed again, because this movement to pop
TV has been disastrous, when you're viewing two weeks ago before we take this, they're
viewing audience with 200,000 people, worst ratings in the history of TNA wrestling, even
when they were on Fox Sportsnet, they were getting better ratings than this, and
this even, you, you, you and I are kind of on a way, because I can see the look on your face,
what do they have to do?
I mean, is it going to take a complete regime change or are there things that they can
tweak and fix?
I mean, what's going to fix this company?
They have the right idea with what they're doing with their talent.
First thing they do is release Jeff Hardy.
He's taking three-fourths of the payroll that not many people understand, why do you think
Eric Young, Bobby Rue, these well-respected men who've been wrestling there, their entire
life, basically, who aren't getting that pay increase, obviously they don't have the
way to do it either, but you know, if they're not going to get a pay increase, because they
have this guy who's not even wrestling, he's just there for...
Are they just going to just come back like this week?
Yeah, he had like one match in the last maybe year and four months or something, and
both Bobby and Rue and Eric Young have said in interviews, you don't just leave because
you want to.
Yep.
You get rid of Jeff Hardy, and then you can switch up the regime, I totally agree with
that, because I really like what they're doing with the talent.
Unlike how they're bringing the guys who weren't given the chance in WWE, because
the political reasons, the opportunity to run with the ball.
You had your easy three-fourth match in your entire career.
Let me go back a year and give you 50 to one odds that Drew Dalloway is going to be their
world champion.
You're still not taking that bet, which I thought that was a very bold choice to put
a strap on that guy.
But like you said, they're giving the chance.
Now I don't know, do you get rid of Jeff or do you get Jeff to restructure his deal?
Because I don't know...
Jeff's such a weird thing to me.
You cut him off.
Do you?
LA?
I kind of, I hate saying that to me.
And disagree with Steven.
Only on the strip that he's right about maybe half of the T&A roster that they're pushing
him the right way.
The other half there are absolutely not those guys at times have their heads up through
rear ends and on the witch end is up.
And I think like I said, they're putting a lot of emphasis on Kurt Angle or Tyre.
Okay, got that.
But I've never seen a wrestling company have a retirement tour that the guy names all of his
matches.
I mean, you would think that you would change that whole gimmick up to where it's a Russian
rule that a who you're going to face.
You know, I wouldn't much rather this day.
How much rather you do that versus tell me what to expect.
Now, you guys may be a little young for this.
Do you guys remember the lethal lottery that WCW used to do?
I heard of that.
Is that when a, not like slimmer.
Oh, totally went brand it on who it was.
Don't you know what I'm talking about?
Yeah.
What they would do is they just had a fishbowl for the names and it was basically a tag team
tournament.
And whoever they drew out, those were your tag team.
you could have like Scott Steiner and you know one of the guys from the Rock and Roll Express
versus George the Animal Steel and Gilbert. I mean it was it was so wheels off and and I
to what you're saying I like that for me a lot of TNA's problem is when booking starts to look
like it's not gonna work we kill it and the rising is a prime example of that. I thought that
was a great faction. Now I couldn't have picked these other two guys out from a line up
but at least you're developing guys and they had they were warring with MVP and those guys.
And then all of a sudden I was like no we're done wait wait wait wait wait. And then the heel turn
from ELI Drake doesn't happen to four months later. And I like the ELI Drake heel turn because
he actually surprisingly is one of the few guys has got with personality.
Has he stopped dressing like he men yet? He just wears charts that he man thing because again I
haven't watched the show in what three or four months because it hasn't gone. Yeah but they got
look what they they're doing the same thing that I think that we haven't got to them yet but they're
doing the same thing with him that I guess okay the way that I guess I have to go back a little bit.
The way Triple H was fighting Eugene is like why that's what they're doing. He's like draped against
greato. It's like why if you're going to push ELI Drake is this mega heel and is it
real greato and isn't he wrestling under a mask in some other four months or so with the reverse
name. Yeah but he got he got found out about that and so I haven't watched it in three weeks.
It's not like the dude's got a body type that you can catch up to and he's speaking. Speaking
of it's kind of hard to make out who's who. Well you're not even on freaking HD. That's that station
is not in high definition. Not in high definition. Not in high depth. Not in high depth. Not in high
did. And Steven you miss it when we were over at LA's house for a paper view last year. He's got one
of those nice really big curved screens so you know standard definitions going to look that much worse
at a screen. That's pretty done. TNA is dead. I honestly think because that was the big thing
before you know you got to me on this we're talking TNA. I was so pulled for it. I was hoping because
like you said Vince is his when his back is against the wall. He's always he's always best when he
has true competition. Exactly. That's been proved. Please start building this. Start building this.
I kept on watching and hoping the numbers get up and get up and yep and then what happens
maybe Vince kind of screws some side things to screw him over whatever. But then start watching TNA
then realize what they're doing. Getting rid of sting. Getting given Hardy three quarters of the
budget for his salary. That's him. That floor. I realize it was that bad. What has Dixie done
right when she's been given so much opportunity? You know, she's like a great tragedy. Well it's
almost like what do you think about it? With the dealings that their upper management are doing
first of all why is Billy Corgan booking? I mean, I trust me. Secondly, every time you
want to lash out at somebody that might make you look better, you do something that pushes you
three steps backwards. You know, she wants to lash out at WWE for getting ahold of AJ Styles
and then everybody goes, well wait a minute. When you were talking to him, he was under contract.
So you might want to back off because they could probably sue you. You know, it's just it blows
my mind the way this thing is working. And then you decide you're going to go to a station
that alienates two thirds of your audience because they can't get it. And now we're going to find
out it's not even in high definition, which they're probably filming it that way, which then
makes it look even worse. Yeah, Don's right. It's dead. But before you, I want to say some
that turn into suicide. The turn of it. The 64th thing, turn of it. Oh, that was, I mean what
that was just, let's fill time for three months. Well, and not only some of her street,
some of her street two years ago when we went together, you sent me the pictures. Yeah, we
we went, it was packed. Yeah, we packed everything. I was that was the 10th anniversary. Yeah,
some like that. Then two years later, same thing, same show, same place. And half the arena
was literally roped off. I remember you sent me those pictures. Yes. I mean, what could they just
do wrong? What did, it's like, do something right? But what can they do to write the ship?
Yeah, I mean, if they're anything, if they're in a taxi, if they're in a Corbin,
get some of it. Give her this GWF and in Jeff Nyer. No, that's a whole different deal.
Jeff, remember Jeff owns no piece of TNA anymore. As of last fall when they had that big
thing with the big angle, when that was over, he sold off the rest of his shares. He watched
his hand go under in the top dog's go to ROH, it put everything in ROH, give it a run,
make it a real company and give Vince competition. So in your opinion, there's nothing they
can do with this. Get rid of the taxi, get rid of Corbin, get rid of the outside of blowing it up
and starting over. Yeah, there's nothing like that. I really, really just, and I'm going to let
Steve go here, but they are ready, rebranded it under pop every time they switch stations,
he gets a rebrand. If you were, if you were Mark Cuban or somebody rich, would you invest in that
company? Yes. You have unlimited potential there. Not with TNA. No, no, no, that's what I'm saying.
Yeah, I think what he's saying is he would if he could have the community. Oh, no, he wasn't just
you get, you're, you're just a checkbook. Oh, no, no, no, no, I don't invest. No, unless you get like,
you know, you get your hands in the pot, you know, but I agree, I think it's dead. The way you can
somewhat save it is somewhat what Dawn said. You kind of have to blow it up. But LA's right,
they rebrand it. So it's not like, oh, hey, let's repackage this thing again for like the seven
time. I almost wonder, you get somebody in there that can really kind of write the ship. Go off
television for five or six months and just do how shows build this thing back up again on a grassroots
level, almost on an ECW like level, which is kind of what ROH was doing for a while. And then
get this thing where you have a decent, even if you do like ROH and go to some independent network,
my network, they carry something down for the better part of five years. You know, why not?
Now, that's going to lead me into my next thing, because I really want to take some time on
I want to talk about NXT. Okay, where they're all right. Yeah, I'm going to mute it to my
crazy. Let me know what you're done. Okay. NXT, which first of all, I just more, I'm going to say it.
Kudos to Triple H. Yeah, because he has got NXT firing on all seven and he's doing it right.
But my question is, first and foremost, is NXT growing too fast? Or is it, because it's, to me,
it's kind of right about the right speed, but it's kind of like you're kind of picking up the
pace and I'm a little worried. But they don't have a choice. I mean, what else is that there?
I mean, they're, they're, in my opinion, and it's hard for them to do this, they're killing
all the way. And they're not even on TV, they're not even trying really, they're just being who they are.
They're demolishing every other bit of competition. And here's going to be the sad part.
NXT, given another eight months, they're going to give the brand WWE a run for its money.
And the reason why, look at how thin the roster is now, what do you need? Oh, we need talent
where do you start dipping your hands in NXT? People are like, oh, where they come from? Where they come from?
It starts pulling eyes from the main brand to the minor brand. I'm sure they thought about that.
No, it's going to come in hot, probably in the next column. I'll tell you what worries me about NXT,
especially in the last year. A lot of that talent's getting pulled up to the main roster.
And I feel like they need to pace that a little bit better. Like, let's back fill before we fill up,
because I think when they did the divas revolution, I think you really hurt the NXT women's division.
Absolutely, you did. You know, what does it like, maybe three, maybe four?
I mean, you've got, I can name you four off the top of my hand. Probably the only four that is.
You know, outside of the girls that you're trying to bring from tough enough, which that's a whole
different subject for a whole different podcast. But they're doing well. But I think the problem is
you've got so much talent there that they want to beef up that main roster. Well, first of all,
your roster is too deep now. Way too deep. Secondly, you need to keep some of those people like
Finn Bower has gone on record to say, I like it here. I'm good here. Now, ready. Well, he may not
have a choice before too much longer with the way things are going done. You've been kind of quiet.
NXT. I like the NXT. Now, I really, it's a proving ground. Now, here's the thing that they need to
do. Isn't that the name of their show? There's a breaking. What did you do? It's a breaking ground. I'm
sorry. I was confused. But here's my thing. What they got to do is like with the networking.
They have to put on my regular TV. And that's actually going to be my next question. But here's
here to think about the network is for me. Well, let's let's hold on to the network itself because
the network itself is going to be an actual topic I want to talk about. But I've ran into the
bounce of NXT for the people who can't get the network. I think that it would be so much better
if they give it a slot and still like the superstars or something like that. Give it a minor slot
somewhere in a Wednesday night. Well, they're on Wednesday night now. I'm talking like USA. Okay.
That's what you're spiked or whatever. No, I agree. I think the NXT brand. It's growing a little
too fast. They're pulling the talent too fast. But I think it needs to stay on the network for
right now. I don't think you would put it on TV. I think it would hurt raw too much. It would hurt
everything else too much. And I honestly think that, I mean, that's the back to the whole, you know,
meaning potatoes of this discussion. That's the state of, you know, the company is it's getting to the
point where the only thing worth watching. And if you, if you are to, you know, this back to internet
wrestling fans, but if you were to look NXT's where everyone's eyes are. And not only that,
if you think about what the WWE is trying to do, they're trying to put more money back in their own
pocket. They already got a multi-year deal with USA, which USA, excuse me, USA keeps trying to renew
more than Tony Rommel's deal with the Cowboys and Jerry Jones. So you're never going to get raw
to go all the way out. You're never going to get mad down to do it. That, that, that ad revenue alone.
And I was inside of the contract, the ad, but could, could you have your cake and eat it too?
NXT airs live every Wednesday night on the network. Saturday morning, we'll show Wednesday,
night's episode because I don't know, but see, see, if you do that, yes, I agree that way,
basically, yes, on TV or I will in the app. If you were, and again, I'm an old man, I'm an old man here,
but when I was coming up, USA had a Sunday show at New Eastern and it was like a superstars,
but it was called all American wrestling. And you got one like marquee match at the end,
and you've got a couple of job romatches in there. You could go somewhere, because what's USA
doing it new on a Sunday? Another law and order SVU rerun? You can throw this out there,
even, or even on a Saturday morning, even because there's no good kids programming on Saturday
morning anyway. I was going to say Saturday morning, you had velocity and confidential that
people would wake up at like 7 a.m. to come watch. It was a great show. And because what do you
remember of the very first episode of confidential? That was where Sean admitted that he knew about
the screw job. That was the very first episode of that show and that was a two-part interview.
I loved that show and I think that's a viable thing because she would still have your people
that your hardcore fans that would watch it on the network, but she would give your your
non-network fan base that a chance to experience it. And plus if it's going to be live on the
network anyway, the spoilers were going, there's no spoilers involved because I'm watching it live
on the network, right? Speaking of the network, and I know Don's, Don's,
chopping up the bit to talk about the network. I really want to take a couple of a couple of
questions about the network. Question number one, it's been, gosh, two years now? Yeah.
We're two years in a paper view in because it wasn't a elimination chamber was the first one. Yeah.
Two years ago. Quick side note, it should be four years old, but I know. Agreed. Agreed. It should
be a lot older than that if you really go back and deep enough into how this thing was supposed to
happen. But has it lived up to expectations, Don? Yes, it no. Then of course there's still
losing money. I'm not talking about, from a business standpoint, from a Don Ford standpoint,
as it lived up to the best person to answer this. And you know why? Because I don't have the
network because they don't have it by the bowl where I could put it on my blue ray or something like
that, watch it like I do Netflix. Okay. That's a biggest mistake. I'm not going to pay a four
road coup. I'm not going to pay for a smart TV just for the network. Okay. I have a Samsung.
I have a Samsung blue ray player with the, which we were told they were going to be available last
summer for Samsung. But it's not. I can't, like Netflix. I could just turn on my blue ray player
and hit Netflix start watching from my big TV. I'd have to watch from my little phone or computer.
In happening. I like the network I, I'll speak from this. I'll speak from the angle of where
Don was at, then I'll speak from this. I definitely agree that it, what they say they're going to
deliver, which is bringing this network to all the homes all across America, they need to do.
Agreed. Agreed. Feel those words, those promises, those ridiculous, Michael Cole commercials
that we had to hear for the whole year. I still don't know how to download now. I mean, they
need to do that. Next thing, next thing they need to do is they, that I don't know Don about what
you said. I mean, I have a smart TV and I got the app, but it depends on the brand of the smart
right, right. I agree with that. That's why I was saying I didn't know, you know, but the next thing
is is make it more of a, like, dump, but a more of a Netflix app where I don't have to start over
NXT's last week, episode, because I stopped to app for a minute and no, you have the option to continue
to continue where you sometimes it doesn't do it. It's, it's picking to choose what it decides
to do. Because I binge the Monday night wars. Yeah, I stopped it. Sometimes I stopped it and you're right.
There were times where I had to kind of start with that. My, my thing I don't like is when I'm fast
forwarding, I can't see what I'm fast forwarding. Right. It's like I have to stop it and go, okay,
that's where we are. Steven, has it lived up to your expectations? No, I think the, the problem with
is is they have a great marketing play with it. The problem is it's, it's shooting themselves in the
foot. And I think we had this discussion when the network first came about. I think they put the
paper views on paper view. So people, you know, because I think they're really losing a lot of money
that way. But I feel like I don't think that's their fault. Because, and that's one of the questions I
have in this section is it's not them that made that choice. It was all the providers that bailed
and direct TV was the first. Now, the only way you can get the paper views right now. I believe.
Um, no, you've first doesn't carry them direct TV has said they will not carry
WrestleMania dish network might. But how long can these providers hold out? Because we, we did the
research one day. And it's actually revenue. It's a 60 40 split in favor of the provider.
So, sure, my paper view buys are probably going to take a hit. But some revenues better than
no revenue. I'm not putting any production costs into this. Oh, I'm doing this pushing a button.
And that's going to transmit because he's going to, because Vince is going to do all the work.
Yeah. But is the network? I know we're two years in and two years is a good run. Is this a
viable sustainable long-term model? And this is a two-part question.
Because I have no doubt in my mind that Dana White is watching this model like a hawk.
If this is a sustainable model, can Dana White translate this over to the UFC? Because if that
happens, paper view is dead in my personal opinion outside, and because boxing's not drawing like
it used to, unless it's a huge fight done, I think it might be valuable. But they have to
not do the mistakes that the WWE did. Maybe we could throw a network or they could have enough
thing. Here's the thing. The WWE. Yes, they have a lot of bit in firm the stuff on the network.
The past paper views, but the shows are adding. But there are a lot of more filler shows when you think
about it. You know, family, family, whatever stuff on there. I think if they do a network like UFC,
make sure they have enough content to have a network. Oh, they've done almost 200 paper views.
Yeah, plus all the else. Yeah, if they have enough content, but they have to do it right.
And not this family, friendly. Well, Mickey Mouse stuff that we're seeing with the do the
difference you're going to have with UFC is you won't see the it'll be at least what two or three
more years before they can even consider it because this Fox deal that they're in, they're locked
into this bad boy. That's why you've gotten such an UFC overload in the last three years. It's because
of this Fox sports deal. I think that it is a viable thing because UFC has such a following
if you said to your fans, because they do a thing now called fight pass, which is like on their
app, which is a pay app. But if they did the same business model, because I think even the UFC
could probably viably charge more than the WWE network does. I agree. Now, if I'm Vince, or I'm
whomever is running this, because it may not be Vince. He, of course, he has the final say,
but I'm sure they have achieved marketing officer and everything else, which I believe Stephanie
is pretty entrenched in that. She does a lot of the branding. Yes, she does. Is, you know,
because we know that you can go to Walmart right now and buy a three month subscription to the
WWE network for what, like, 15 bucks. And that's like half price. I didn't know you do that. Oh, yeah,
they started out over a Christmas time. Oh, okay. Maybe I'm somebody like Roku and I go, hey,
buy our Roku model, and we'll throw in a three month subscription to the WWE network for you.
Because now you're selling the hardware, and I think that pulls more for somebody like Don who doesn't
have a device that can support it. If I said to you, Don, for 50 bucks, you can buy a Roku, and you
can have three months free of the WWE network. Yeah, I do it. I mean, I mean, I don't live by Roku,
and I've got my Xbox One, which actually served us really well, because we couldn't get a paper
of you to come up one month, and I just went to my Roku, and it was fine. But I wonder if that's
that's how you do this. You marked, you maybe you marketed a little bit differently. Get it,
get into, get into Kahuts with some of these, these players. Yeah, and I, I think, I think this
goes back to the first question. I think you could re-brand. I think, anyways, I think you could
re-brand the network. I feel like they should do a seasonal thing. I feel like people will start
pulling out of the network because, oh, hey, for like a month and a half, I can watch everything.
I feel like, oh, maybe this month, you get WCWF 97, whatever you want. And then, you know, just keep
it rotating, have like a rotating door of things, different shows that they have on, like the
position is positioned very well. I like how they're doing that. And so, in NXT again,
but like, their vault should be seasonal, I think. And that way, kind of like Netflix does.
Yeah, so that way, people are like, oh, I want, hey, you need to buy the, uh, you know, the network.
Like, this month, it's going to be all this. You want to check it out instead of,
on the network. And I did, did that in the beginning. And they kind of went away from that.
Whereas, like, this whole month, we're going to feature, you know, the stars of the 80s and
their best matches. And they did that for a while. And that's an excellent point. Yeah, no,
and I, because I know a lot of people who canceled their subscription, they're like, oh, I
watched everything I want to do from like 98, 99, and I'm done. And so they canceled it. They're like,
oh, my 10 dollars, but I'm going to need to go back. And I know it's, it's probably hairy with this,
but because of all the content that they have because that tapes. I think that got to be
sure in my living. Yeah, I think that they actually would benefit more by doing
contracts. Because if you think about it, yeah, okay, Netflix doesn't really, I'm from my understanding.
And, you know, I'm, I'm a little bit like little dicky with my next flicks account. I pretty much
just got it, but I was using my cousins for about, but allegedly. So I'm not sure if there's a
contract that goes with Netflix. I think you just, no, you can, you can cancel any time. Yeah,
and WWE's that way now, too. But that's what I'm saying. I think that something like that
with as much content as you're getting, you don't benefit from doing a month, you benefit
from locking a man. And, you know, that's the same way, electric companies work, that's the same
way your, your cable provider works. I mean, yeah, you can get all the content somewhere on YouTube
and all that, but I think they force you into those contracts. But I think the reason they went away
from that was when they tried to get people to lock it in, they lost a lot of subscribers.
And now that was the three month plan and everything, and now the most peat, remember when they
first came out, it was a six month commitment. Right. That you could pay, like you could pay. And you
actually paid a little bit less if you just paid it all at one time. But they lost a lot of
subscribers that way. And because, well, to people were doing this, they'd cancel and then they
come back and get the free month and then they can't sell them. But the reason why they lost a lot of
subscribers, too, this goes hand in hand, they weren't offering all of that stuff on the network
when you, when they first rolled out those six month commitment. There were stuff that you couldn't even
watch that they told you, oh, you can watch unlimited hours of blah, blah, blah, but you couldn't
pay. The pitch was at 15,000 hours right up the path. Yeah, and they didn't have nearly that type of
well, luckily they've been able to write this ship. I mean, a lot of their original programming,
like I said, I love the edge and Christian show. Yeah, that's true. I'm a big fan of,
what are they called on that outside the ring? Yeah, I see, uh, WWE 24 beyond,
big fan of 24. Those are great. Those are great. Oh, watch. And I like how they've, they've
agreed to pull back that curtain so you can see what's going on in these people's lives. I'm
a big fan. Now, let's get to the elephant in the room. The whole reason that we are doing this
roundtable, it is WrestleMania week. WrestleMania 32 is about 96 hours away. We're inside 96
hours now because it's an hour earlier than the normal paper views are. WrestleMania 32 is going
to be a very interesting thing. Because you're dealing with a lot of injuries to the roster right
now. Some is recently this last week that you've got guys out. Um, I'm my first, my first impression
about WrestleMania is first of all, why do take 32 years for this town to get one? You're holding
them in a lot smaller venues, not even 15 years ago. You could have done, you could have done the old
stadium. How is this one going to measure up? And for me, I'm really going to be looking at the
bang-to-hype ratio here. I don't think they delivered. I think they were close. But we don't know
yet because the paper view hasn't happened. They hadn't happened. I don't even think they said the flip,
they said the full card finally didn't they? There are 11 matches on the card. Three will be on the
pre-show. Yeah. I'm speaking from an optimistic viewpoint. This is one of those paper views.
I think they're going to have to show me to have me feel like. Okay. Yeah. It's not the automatic
cell like it's been in certain years. And that's not, you only think a lot of it you can pin to my
city, man. Yeah, you're handle is all everyone's down. And we get the worst one at the rate
it's going. I don't know. There have been some pretty rough ones. 29 was bad, but this might be worse.
Do you think force of that? Yeah. You've got a two-hour pre-show with three matches. And we're
going to talk about this on our normal show this coming Sunday because we are going to do a pre-show for it.
You know, we talked about USA carrying the pre-show. They're only carrying the second hour. What?
So if you want to watch the whole pre-show, you have to be on the network. Rest awake.
I read that the other day and it was like, wait, wait, let me make sure I'm perfectly clear on this.
You're pitching that you're doing the pre-show, which you're only doing half of the pre-show.
So are you only going to do one match? Are you going to do the under the giant bottle
royal in the first match? And then the first hour and then do the other two matches in the second hour?
Or are we going to join the divas match in progress? I got to be honest. Some of the matches in the pre-show
should switch places with some of the matches in the actual card. I think you could put the
better royal on the main show. And the reason why it's right now is, no, it's not so.
The battle royal, the divas tag, and the deadly boys match are all in the pre-show.
And poor deadly boys. I'm going to say that with bias. Because I mean, honestly,
how much I know you can't do it. I'll never mind. Sorry. I was going to give you guys one, but
I'm not the new day needs to stay on the main card. Hey, and from what? Yes, the rumors are,
the rumors are the two entrances to watch this year are going to be Sasha Banks and the new day.
I also wonder, have we possibly bitten off more than we can chew with a venue like AT&T Stadium?
Because we've heard the reports about live non-football events at the stadium that rely on
things like music and talking as much as WWE does that have been rough. Now, I'm sure they're
figuring all that out. They've already started constructing everything. They let a WWE just today
put a picture out of the construction that's going on and then setting up the stage and everything.
The WrestleMania signs up. The seats are already down because Monday, two days before we
record this, Dean Ambrose took a picture at the stadium sitting in the chairs.
So everything's set. I worry about the venue itself, but you go back and you watch WrestleMania 3.
If you were in the upper level there, I mean, it would have looked like I could have put the ring in my hand.
With AT&T Stadium, you had that advantage of the screen that ridiculously big and stupidly big.
I'm going to be interested to see how they deal with the dynamic of this venue.
I mean, that walk that they normally do when in stadiums, it's going to be quite a journey
now that they're in AT&T. Actually, I remember the thinking because of how big the venue is,
I believe they're shortening the ramp. Just for the simple fact of, let's get more people in
money, hungry people. There is, you do have the undertaker on this card. So you can't make the ramp too long
or we're going to have to put an hour, just take a picture. They could cut away for commercial.
I do. I am interested. I'm sorry. Go ahead, Don.
Um, they're going to hate me. I've been quiet for about the last 10 minutes because here's my thing.
And I apologize for this, but you'll have to take it or leave it. Take it or leave it. Okay,
take it for what you pay for it. They're getting the stage set and everything. So they're able to open
more tickets. I just got my ticket, 14610101, which is like, right, that's right off the floor.
Yeah, for how much? 140 with delivery fee and everything. Take it, Master. Whoa.
Now, what's the whole thing? Is that camera sight or TV? I think it's going to be, I'm not sure.
All I know is that I'm going to look forward. The entrance is going to be to my right.
Is what the entrance is to your right? That means you're on TV side. Yeah, but I mean,
I'm going to be right by the cost of the entrance. I might, if I look probably 10 feet to the
right left or right, I'm going to be by the entrance. Wow. Let's go 140 bucks. Let's hope that's not
one of those like a screw job seats that they were that they did not leave you. Yeah, the, the
Levi stadium. There's people who were right behind the letters that you had to like, oh yeah.
No, that's just by. Yeah, I'm sure he looked it up. I mean, yeah.
Because they're going to get, they're going to get, and they're going to get their attendance record.
It's going to happen. They've already, they've already said what it was like a week and a half ago.
This is going to get parking for 60 bucks. I got parking for free.
If you take it. I'm going to be with you. Join. We'll go. My God. One word. Seriously. Uber.
I was thinking the same thing, but I've got to talk about the, uh, wait. I don't have the new wheels.
Dude, I have the new wheels. Well, and plus you also have to work in the factor of
what's the day after WrestleMania? Oh, God. It's opening day for the range. And you've
still got raw to deal with on Monday. Are there any matches on this card that you see
and you go, this is a WrestleMania match. Should we run it down for the sake of the show or
I'm not going to run the whole car. We're going to do that Sunday. Okay. Um, for the sake of
WrestleMania, you know what, man? I'm going to hate myself for saying this, but for this type of
a WrestleMania, you want your Hulk Hogan to come out for this one. And I understand, you got the rock.
You got the rock. You've got Austin. You've got Sean. You've got. You've got Foley. You have seen.
Oh, do you? Yeah. He, he leaked part of his entrance. He's getting a phenomenal entrance. And
here's what I'm thinking is going to happen. I mean, well, I'm not going to discuss that, but he's, he's, he's,
he's going to be in a match. He's not. No, he's not. He's not physically booked for a match. But he's
there. He's in a match. Leave it at that. Oh, no. Who's that? You know what that means? So then let's change
the question a little bit. Let's change the question just a little bit. Let's talk about it off
air because I really want to hear what you have to say, but I want to do it off air. As the card stands
right now, are there any matches that can steal this card? Because your main event, triple
actually triplet Roman reigns. That's your main event. The biggest match of the, of the paper view.
What do you mean? Don't leave your new day by a sentence. Don't tell you when they come out there.
Okay. They should be defending the belts. Let's just, let's put, let's call it for what it is.
They should not be a three on four match. This is WrestleMania last year wearing gold or in their
case bronze, you are defending it. That's my problem. Last minute, they'll throw it on.
Because they're doing the face turn. So last minute, they may throw it out there.
And you like the face turn. I don't, because they, they ton them down. It's fun for me.
And don't we, I love the videos? I love how they ripped the audience. Hey, hey, they make sure
you're not booty. And I ain't booty because I like my booty. Oh, it's, but the only thing
I, I, I was so, I love them so much. Oh, I hated when I was booty. I hated when the first came out,
but when they came out and changed to the new day. The only thing I didn't like is when they did the
terrible tell thing, which I cannot forgive me. But that's the thing. I know, that's the one thing.
But beyond that, I love them. But now when they turn the club, the, you know, the crowd favorite,
they ton it down. That's what Vince is known for. Vince, they see what's to do. It's best for business.
Shane made the point correctly when he said this on that when he came out that first time on that
he said, are you happy with the job your kids are doing ratings are down. People are hurt. All that stuff
revenues down. You think they're really happy getting a two or three rating when they're getting seven or eight.
But that brings me back to the question. Is there a match on this card that right now you can say,
this is a WrestleMania match or what match maybe can't be seen that way, but could steal the card.
Let's, that, that's not, this is going to be so predictable. I worries me. It's going to be like that
WrestleMania that that was just so horrible. Was it a land or New Jersey, the one that was 20 or 20?
Yeah, 29 jersey. Yeah, 29, which was just horrible. We all hated it. You know, okay,
Reigns is going to win. Everybody in her dog knows that. If it doesn't happen, I'm going to be shocked.
Brock's going to win. Do you think takers going to job twice now to Shane? See, that match to me is the, is the biggest
variant. It is. It is the biggest variant. The devious who cares. Do you think I think that
Devious triple match triple threat is going to shock a lot. The only one that's going to steal the show honestly
is the one with Kevin Owens in the wider match. I thought that was, that was this to me,
that was a stroke of brilliance because it really breathed life into an intercontinental angle.
That's been getting a little stale, but I was a huge fan of that announcement. Now, I think that
Woo, Woo, Woo is going to be the intercontinental champion. I would love it, but it's probably not going back.
He had it if he gets that intercontinental belt. I'm like, you know, who killed Zach Ryder's momentum?
No, we're not going to launch it.
See the one killed. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, this market 105, the first John Cena.
Yeah, I will say this though. This is probably going to be the best WrestleMania over 10 years
because one chain is not wrestling. Well, WrestleMania, he's not going to work. We're going to
talk about Steven's theory off air, but I'll say this. I'll say this. I'll say this. I'll say this.
I do agree that I think Shane's going to bring it. I think there's going to be a match.
Well, after raw Monday nights, yeah, even though they shot that elbow at the exact right angle
because if you really looked it might have not been as close as it was, but the fact that he
still got it in him to pull those spots. And you know his wife is at the house going,
really, are we going to do this again? You know, what a long-time nurse to every week.
One of my favorite memes was the day after Shane showed up and it was a picture of the scoreboard
at the stadium and it just him pointing and the meme was, I'm jumping off that. Yeah.
I think that this, this match to me is the biggest question mark because the way the
Undertaker's gone the last couple of years, this really could go either way. Here's the thing.
This, if they would have done it right, I know it's dinged possibly, but he would have done it.
If it came down to it, take her with the streak on the line versus sting. That would have been
the match of the decades since HBK tickled. He would watch me cry like a child watching that match.
But no, let's do it. Well, but you know what, it's not like I didn't really feel like this
was booking on the fly. I really felt what's given the injuries that you're dealing with on your
roster right now. And who in this room saw that coming? Right. No one saw that coming.
When they hit, here comes the money. That place exploded, which also proves to me that even in
this day and age, you can pull off that kind of booking without it leaking to the internet. Right.
And you know what? I'll say this. But as HBK tickles as predictable as this WrestleMania is going to
see, I'm actually more interested in what RAW is going to play. Because the RAW after WrestleMania,
we know as always the most wheels off show that I think that this RAW this year with as predictable
it is is right now. It beats Brooklyn's crowd. I think Brooklyn was on fire. Were they not?
Holy cow. That's hard though. That's it. It's been 29. Does it beat 29's RAW?
And really, that's the one that set the bar. But even Brooklyn this past Monday night, that building was on fire.
I don't know because Dallas is a very face-friendly crowd. They don't really know how to take to heels.
And I think that the RAW is going to be a big night for heels. That RAW,
they don't matter. They weren't Dallas. No. It could be anywhere. This is an international crowd.
This is going to be, yeah, he's got a point there. It's probably going to be 75% people not from the DFW
area. Yeah, he carries a point because you have to think. Okay. Is everybody that's going to
Russell Mania Sunday night flying out Monday morning? Heck no. They're flying out Tuesday or Wednesday,
which also, that's why I'm taking which also pitches the problem of the Ranger so pretty.
You got 60, you're going to have 100,000 people, Russell Mania. And you're only going to get
12,000, 12,000, 12,000 in AAC. I think with a WWE set, it's like 18,000. Well, whatever. But still,
that's still 80,000 people. Yeah, that's not going to go. That's literally 18% of one and every
no people are going to get in for RAW. They would really have people from every continent except
an article come to Russell Mania every year now. There might be penguins, you don't know.
But literally, when you see, you could say an event like that. And these people,
they come. They're not going to just go the Mania. They know what RAW's turn is. Absolutely.
They're still going to be tough, man, because it's going to be Brooklyn crowd. I don't know.
That was, it's going to be at the bottom. It's going to be 15, 20% DFW crowd and it can be the
hardcore. This can be 80% of the international crowd in Vince knows that. That's the one that's always
the show that even if you're there, you're rolling DVR because you're going to burn it to TV and
if you're painting on what we talk about off air, I think it's going to be pretty epic though.
Okay, so let's, let's, let's, I'm going to wrap this up with one question. And this question
might even take a few minutes. I didn't even tell you what the highlight of the paper. Oh,
sorry, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. Jake, no, I'm just going to go ahead. No, honestly, as,
and we were talking about a match that lives up to what Russell Mania standard, right?
What, what match for you is the Russell Mania match, which one do you think is going to surprise people?
You know, we have the shock value with a ladder match. And of course, there has our favorites in there.
So we're going to buy a sleeve say that. That's what I'm saying. But as, as weird as this is,
because I hate both general, well, I don't hate. I just dislike their characters very much. And
I think that there will be great storytelling, but H versus Roman Reigns can live to potential.
Hey, hey, no, no, no, no, no, I'm with you. No, you were right here. Hey, remember the last time
Roman Reigns was supposed to win. He didn't, he didn't walk out with that boat. We don't know
because booking has been so off the wall. And nothing has really been built up the proper way.
This is the only thing that has been built up the proper way. And I think they're giving it away
the same way they did Brock Lesnar Roman Reigns. Roman Reigns was guaranteed to beat Brock Lesnar.
And we saw what debacle that was into a great shock about you. So we can be there's nobody in the bank though,
but that doesn't necessarily. Here's my, here's my one. I agree that I think the match is going to be
the latter match. And when it comes down to the WrestleMania match, but I want to say the one point,
I still think it's unpredictable. We could hope and pray. The rock is going to come out to
be able to haul the fame all that yaddi yaddi yaddi. But here's my big thing. This company
does not care when it comes down to what the fans really think and get what they want. It's done.
Here's one thing before you finish the statement. Think of all aspects right now. There's one
curveball. You don't have any of your main series guys like Cena or Rollins on the card for
or match or match. But they have Shane McMahon who's a complete wild card in a main storyline
plot with with the company on the line. Take all that into consideration. It's not going to be cooking
up. I'm hoping there's going to be the shock value, but we'll have to say it to the point.
This company does not care what the people think, but if they would, they would have dumped
Roman Reigns six months ago. They're trying to shove Roman Reigns down our throats,
then roster. I'm not that. I don't know why Roman Reigns in roster.
I still think that they should listen to the crowd more. I'll leave it at that. Yeah.
So here's the final question. Who is the next big thing? And do they don't necessarily have
to work for the company right now? Who is the next big thing and are they even with the company?
LA. Yeah. I'm going to say they're going to play it. They've been playing it fast and loose
with a lot of the new guys, but I think the next big guy is going to be AJ Styles. I think they're
I think his quit pro quo for that guy to carry this torch. I think AJ's overdue. Yeah.
I just worry about the way they're booking him right now. That's why I think AJ Jericho nine.
I mean, I agree. He came just below radar and then money in the bank is what I think his future.
Yeah. And see when I actually talked about this, he wins money in the bank. When Steven said that to me,
I'm like, I can see for miles right now because you're absolutely right. I would bet money on that.
So pun in tandem. And you know what? He's going to become the, our finished Robledge finish. He's going to become
the scene of Weedlite though. The guy who finds a way to retain that bill that we actually like to see
because he can wrestle. And he's it's it's it's AJ 10 years ago and yeah. It is amazed me how this
move for him has rejuvenated not only his career, but him personally. Yeah. I still think he needs a
haircut, but that's beyond me. He'll get one. Steven. Next big thing is and L.A. put the hammer on
hit with AJ styles. And I mean, he's perfectly positioned right now to where no one can invest too much
to where they can set up for failure. That's prime that's perfect booking for him. Even though it is
Jericho 9, it's on on the money. Just how you want it with a guy like that. I have two other names.
Okay. I do believe Bobby Roob can come in hot. I want beer money. And you put him
well, you're not going to get that. But you put him straight to the main roster.
And you make him storm get out of the game. You make him the role he was made to beat. And that's
heal. He's got to bring them all up back to storm. Do something to get you fired.
To bring back beer money. They would tear it up. Who's your other one, Steven? The other one.
And he's he's sitting there playing his day. Okay. But, you know, he's going to have that one year
rough two years. Kevin Owens. I put I don't lie. I'm not buying into him just yet.
But he's hot. He's he's the guy who they're they're tinkering with just enough to see where
he can find position because they brought him in at the right time. Yeah, of course. You know what?
We have our triple H off the list and he's your top heal right now. Yeah. I mean, he's and he's doing
everything he can with what he's given. And I agree with you on a certain level because I think
Sunday is going to be his chance. How this ladder match goes for him is going to find the next six months.
Honestly, the guy who the bell is is not coming out. I don't say Zan or Or Owens because that's
what's going to shoot them both in the start of them is they don't win that belt because they
cost each other by personal grudges. Now, it could and you can carry that angle. Yeah. And
at least you're slow. You don't need a better that one of them gets the belt and they find it back
and forth. I don't need a belt with these guys though. I think that that's just going to surprise a lot
of you. And I think you're going to wind up. Hey, and you know, your your leaders in the in the
under the giant battle room, you never know. But we know who's going to have it for the second time
because guess who was just spotted at DFW with his Duffer bag in no swing. Hold on a second.
Hold on a second. Hold on a second. I can fix that for you. I'd like to sound a lot down.
Don't discard right here. Hold on. Don't click. Please.
Yes, sir. He arrived at DFW about a couple hours ago. No sling two Duffel bags ready to
buy. I'm a fan. He's a guy. I can also see get his. Who's your guy that right now is on your
radar. That is the next big thing. Here's the thing which I hate about the DFW. And let me give
a little intro on this is how they will get these people and not rotate them out. It's the top
people all the time. Okay. It's tough to get a shot. Okay. I'm just being honest. I know, I know,
but so it's tough to get in those top spots because people there don't want to give them up.
You know, as well as I do. No, I hear. I mean, that's in a bit. Yeah. I see your thing with AG
but I think they're given that midcard, AG, they're going to keep them there. Unfortunately, as much
as I think you need to go up and all that other stuff, Cesaro. I would love to see him try to
build, but he's always injured a lot. Unfortunately, that's where I think Faire has the issues.
Duffer's a girl. They should have carried him. But he got, he got, you know, yeah. But my thing
but one future, we're talking a year or two from now or three from now. That guy from NXT in that
tag team match. We saw that huge tall money. Did you, did you, did you catch roadblock? You didn't
make it over the house. They've got a guy. I saw him though. He was, they were in the, because NXT had a tag
title match. And by the way, that next stole that entire card. Absolutely stole the card. Go back and
watch roadblock for that match alone. To find, and we've found out at the last minute,
wait a minute, the NXT tag team titles are in the line. This guy is probably what six, seven,
six, eight, jacked and works like Ray Mysterio in his prime. The Hernandez. He's, he's not as big as
Hernandez. But, but I can see where you're going with that, because you know how many huge
Hernandez fan and why he's not in the company is still beyond me. But you stole my thunder
because big cast was my answer. This guy is insanely talented. He runs around like he's a
lightweight. And you know how much Vince loves the big man. And you've got a big man. That's
it. Yeah, and that's a guy that's that size and that agile. You're going to see him on the main roster
soon. I believe you guys are right. Just by the description of this guy, like I'm, I'm not even
going to argue with that. Like that, that was the person I haven't seen. Yeah, I didn't see roadblock.
That's a guy you guys might have just hit hit hit hit. That's all in the head.
Watch, go. Choose that up when you get to the house just for that match. Because that match
all four guys in that match worked. The Vod Villions, that's all, but I know what's not the
Vod Villions, who the other guys, the tag champs, the Vod Villions used to have the Vow.
Yeah, I know you, but that rap guy, the revival, is that their name? The rap guy, hate him.
Well, you saw my his tag team. Yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, the
the revival. They're great. Yeah. I mean NXT's tag division has been strong consistently, but it's
weird that it doesn't seem to translate like the ascension. Amazing tag team has not translated
well, but they also have some pretty wheels off gimmicks, because the Vodavillians, although it's a
funny bit, I don't think it translates on to the big stage. You know, it's Adam. Okay, what's
really talking about the weekend? Speaking of cash though? Okay. Cash? I think I'm going to
get the wheel. So that's why I said, I don't know. Oh yeah, they're going to turn into the chosen one,
and then it disappears. All right, my thing is, you look at the Hall of Fame. You look at the whole thing.
And you look where this is at, and this could break the tenets record and all that. Right.
Are you happy with what they're giving us? I'm worried. The Hall of Fame, of course,
the free birds and sting, yes, but the rest of the, the Godfather and a bunch of the, in
the, in the, in the, you're all with fame class, and I don't want to spend a ton of time in this,
because we're already running almost an hour, 20. Are there other people that I would like to have
seen in the Hall of Fame this year? Absolutely, but you know what? I got sting, and I got the free bird.
Yeah, they deserve it. So, and you know what? I think Jackie deserves the P.M. Yeah, that's Dallas.
I think there should put Mark Cuban over Snoop Dogg. You've got, I was going to say you got the Snoopy dog dog.
I think there should put Mark Cuban over him because he's a Dallas guy. He's done some WWE WWE.
But the Snoopy dog dog has done a lot more with it. Yeah, because he's not really a Dallas guy.
Mark Cuban is. Yeah, but you're going to be in Orlando next year. He's on Orlando guy either.
Well, but you look at celebrities, Mark Cuban, and I think it'd be a perfect fit. And maybe Cuban didn't
want it. Yeah. I, he doesn't want to be on the same list. Trump. I'm just kind of sad, because I,
I would love to sing sting, take off the street gun online. I, I, you're telling, but you know,
but, but some, some like that you can't control. I know. Like, I would have loved to have seen it,
but I know it's not going to happen just because of what happened at night at champions, which was
nobody's fault. It was a freak accident. But now, Sting, but he may not be retired. Yeah.
So, and my thing is if the street was in one line and there we do, he would make it somehow.
It might not be the match of the year, but he would've done it. I think overall, the presentation
WWE is bringing to town. Excuse me, I got my throw a little dry throw it there for a minute.
That's what she said. Hey, now. I think it's, I'm not going to say it's the greatest thing that's
ever hit from a WrestleMania standpoint, but I think it's going to be successful. It's going to be
well-liked overall. So, it'll be ahead of the curve. It's not going to knock anybody's socks off,
but it's still going to be wrestling. It's not going to be 29. It's not going to be 29. It's not going to
be 20. Well, that never happened. It never happened. I have a DVD. But our work for what is going to be
all right. Gentlemen, shall we wrap this thing up? We've been running our Yaps for an hour and
20 minutes now. All right. Let's do the plugs. I love this song so much.
Visit our website, www.theclubhousepodcast.com. Find out everything you need to know and some stuff you
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Daniel Bryan will not. Well, this paper view would be better if it was Shane versus Steve
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