Raw Recap - Was Cody Rhodes lucky to remain champion?: Wrestlepalooza Recap, Sept. 20, 2025

30:44Maybe we're in trouble? Who writes these scripts? Yeah, yeah, yeah, never. What the hell? Never once. We're full of confidence. We're the vision. Like I said, each and every member of the vision is top-tier talent. I understand the Uso's accomplishments, but like I said, we've been speaking about him for far too long. In yesterday's news, we got the future. Wherever he went, he obviously got angry at your broadcast partners. He's gone now. We got the future, and we have, of course, the thief. And we're just going to keep rolling through anyone you put in front of us. It's easy. I'm going to be honest.

31:20I'm offended. That had to be a leftover from, what's his name? Sam. Sam, right. Jim Norton. Sam Norton. The holdover from Jim Norton. Because the question itself, to be blunt, with all due respect to you and all of your many talents, the question was a joke. And the reason why the question was a joke is it goes on the presumption that the Usos were not at 100 % tonight, that they weren't on the same page, that somehow the victory by Mr. Bronson Reed and Bronbreaker was not as impactful, was not as impressive, was not as historic as it could be because the Usos weren't on the same. Usos were 100%.

31:57In fact, I don't think the Usos have ever been better. Yeah, I agree. The Usos, at their very best, were beaten, victimized, and bloodied by Bronson Reed and by Braun Breaker, who simply proved that they are better and greater than the Usos. I'm not taking anything away from the Usos. I'm not out here making a fool of myself where the people that I represent by saying the Usos suck. They don't suck. they don't suck. They are the greatest tag team of all time until tonight when it was proven otherwise and perhaps one day way deep into this century someone will prove to be greater but for their foreseeable future I just don't see that happening.

32:48Me either. Well Mr. Heyman I would be remiss if I didn't ask you two questions. First of all what were you doing out there with Brock Lesnar tonight? Oh, that is a very good question, and here is an answer for you. I was introducing Brock Lesnar. Yeah. What did it look like I was doing? On Monday night, did you get any phone calls? Can you be more specific? I get a lot of phone calls. I get a lot of texts. I get a lot of DMs. Yeah. I could poll on Monday night. Oh, yes. So, I'll answer that. Yes. Yes, I got many phone calls. One from Bronson Reed. Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, is there something more specific that you'd like to know?

33:31No, I'm serious. I'm not, you act like I'm busting your chops or that I'm breathing down your neck or something over here, and I'm being a perfect gentleman with you. What specific phone calls are you asking me about? Well, it's just on Monday night, Jey Uso made a phone call. He told Jimmy not to worry about it, and I couldn't help. And that's the manner in which you asked me? Why not just come out and bluntly say, did Jey Uso call you on Monday night? Did Jey Uso call you on Monday night? Why would you ask me such a question like that? Why would you ask me that? Think. Why don't you ask Jey Uso?

34:02He made a phone call. He makes lots of phone calls. That's the yeet man himself. Oh, wait, wait, wait. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Tupali pali pukalola, hey, hey, hey. Ah, ah, ah, ah. Talo for malo. Hey, I'm a white you fatu Uso, hey. Right? Come on. How many phone calls do you think the man makes in a night? We haven't been to catch them one time on camera, and it has to be to Paul Heyman. These conspiracy theories are way out of whack, okay? Don't host the show with Jim Norton over there. Host the show with Charlemagne, and just go all the way with the conspiracy theories. I feel like I'm being interviewed by Rosenberg tonight.

34:36Yeah. Could be worse, right? He has much more hair than Rosenberg. Does that make you a better person? I didn't say that. You've got much more hair than me. Does that make you a better person? I didn't say that. What did you say? It's like the comparison. Anyways, Brock Lesnar told you last night on Smackdown that he had some things to talk to you about. Indeed. Was it just introducing him? What, do you think I have a freaking death wish? I'm going to talk about Brock Lesnar's business in public? That's a good point. Thank you very much. Oh, that's a good... I like how... You know, that's another thing.

35:11Why do people have to sit there and tell me that my answers are good? Like, that's a good point, Mr. Heyman. Like my other answers are not good points Like everything else I said up to this point Was bad and that one Happened to be good Good answer Paulie Oh Paulie got an answer good Thank you woman with the hair Any more questions Man Brinko is right This place is too much I'm an intellect damn it And a WWE Hall of Famer and your questions accuse me of conspiracy theories and they're very upsetting to me I'm such a grand night you know if I came up with the name Russell Beluso but did you give me any credit about that no Brock Lesnar the Usos are not on the same page so they will suck right did Jey Uso call you on Monday night why'd you just call me fat too now you have one member of the vision left so you better make your question good because you got one left the oracle's gone, the dog's gone just me Uso when you saw Jey Uso all bloodied and went up to hit the tsunami way good, way good thanks out of here thank you for the time, congratulations thank you to Paul Heyman Brunson Reed and Brumbraker for joining us for the show for forcefully removing me from the show for almost injuring one of our producers Megan you did a great job and I did not leave you hanging by the way when Brombreker just decided I don't even think I even asked anything inappropriate and also I don't think you asked anything inappropriate but like when Brombreker just decided oh I want to end Sam Roberts his life it did look like he was That's how he was looking at me.

37:13I was like, I don't know what to do here. And then he told me to leave. And then he almost threw a bottle of water through my head. Yeah, but once you were all in the clear, you just left me out there. No, I'm not coming back. The threat of a tsunami and Paul Heyman, you just left me out there. You don't think Bronson Reed would have backed up Braum Breaker if I'd walked back on that set? I wasn't coming anywhere near that set. I was gone. I went back on the floor, watched the rest of the show. I'm not needed here anymore. I got to escape quick. Well, we both survived. It wasn't easy, but. No, no, but thank you.

37:45Look, it was a massive victory. It was against the greatest tag team ever. All of it true. I mean, Jey Uso. Jey Uso, I caught what you had. Getting busted open in that match. You know, and I was not saying L.A. Knight let everything go. Like, L.A. Knight just allowed tables. He allowed chairs. He allowed it all. Yeah, pretty early on. At one point, he saw the chair and said, you know what? Screw it. Yeah, yeah. Well, I guess LA Knight's not a narc. So, you know, he's just going to let it. He's going to let it go. But maybe that's what Adam Pearce wanted. Now, there were a couple moments where it looks like LA Knight, you know, got a little too close to comfort.

38:27Well, yeah, all the moments that Jey Uso almost hit him with stuff. Yeah. Jey Uso stopped himself. But there were, I mean, if I'm LA Knight, I'm like, okay, but this is like the third time it's happened in this match. How do I know you're not doing it on purpose? So I definitely don't think that that Jey Uso LA Knight story is over at all. And again, this was something that I talked about with The Miz on the road to Wrestlepalooza. That as fun as it is to see the Usos back together, are they focused on the tag team? Or are they really kind of focused on their individual careers and just coming back together because it feels normal?

39:06because I tell you, you know, Brombrink and Bronson Reed focused on their mission as a team. Yeah, and the entrance was so much fun, right? Everybody has their phones up and everybody's yeeting. Hearing the old song? Yeah, it was day one-ish. Right. And then we go to the new song. It's not paranoia. It's the Usos. I'm glad you put some stank on that. But it's a great song. That's what I meant. We see them. We have this scene where you're yeeting, I'm yeeting, we're out there in the audience. I mean, Sam, you spent a whole week on multiple platforms, multiple podcasts, dissecting the psychology that's going into Jey Uso because he's dealing with trauma.

39:49When you see Jey Uso up there with his brother Jimmy having a great old time, is there part of you that goes, am I crazy? Because I was like, Sam told me a trauma. This does not look like trauma. It goes right back to what I was saying at the beginning of this show. when I go like, I don't care about any of it. I don't care about the tension. I don't care about the trauma. If you just go ahead and tell me, I mean, you asked Paul Heyman about the phone. Like if you go back and you tell me all this stuff about the phone doesn't matter. Jimmy's comments. And Miz had a good point when he said sometimes when brothers talk to each other, to an outsider, it sounds more severe.

40:25That's true, that's true. Because they cut through the fat because they're brothers. And I go, okay, if you just tell me everything's fine, the last thing in the world that I want to do is add any tension to Jey Uso because he's a party. But it's not fine because that's the greatest tag team of all time, and they just lost. No, you're right. You're right. Well, we'll see where it goes. I'm very, very excited because we were talking about Topps earlier. When I was dying. Huh? When I was dying. You were unfortunately, yeah, but you kicked out. You kicked out at two and three quarters, and I was happy about that.

40:54But speaking of coming back like you came back from the dead, Topps Finest is back finally. Finally, Finest WWE is coming back to the hobby on September 26th. You know all about Finest. I've been telling you about it. It's a high-energy tribute to sports entertainment built for collectors who crave vibrant designs, premium tech, and chase-worthy pulls. It's all about the chase. Every box delivers a thrilling mix of content. Two autographs, two autos per box. A full spectrum of base and parallel cards, rare refractors, and inserts that highlight the biggest names and moments in WWE today. The 300-card-based set is a collector's challenge packed with common, uncommon, and rare tiers, each available across a rainbow of parallels.

41:43Plus, each case, you get a case of boxes, guarantees one major case hit. You know it's dark energy, you know it's double exposure, and you know the one I'm searching for is that Ula Fala card. Mm-hmm. Whether you're chasing your favorite superstar, prospecting new talent, or going for the full rainbow, 2025 finest WWE brings the action. That's a guaranteed, and a match that brought the action tonight was AJ Lee and CM Punk versus Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. Now, I was watching Becky Lynch on ESPN this morning, and she said she was the greatest women's wrestler of all time. And Megan, I know that you've heard her say it, apparently it's not just her saying it and it's it's not just sports illustrated either no bleacher report also saying it and now and she said espn espn said it too a lot of people are starting to say this this match i mean you talk about brock lesnar killing dreams you talk about the vision killing dreams well paul hayman wasn't out there for this match and this match delivered on all fronts.

42:52Just, I mean, maybe the feel-good match of the entire year. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch come to the ring with just as spectacular an entrance as they possibly can. With probably the coolest gear of all time. Very purple. My favorite color. Purple's your favorite color. That's right. They must have known. I know. Or is it your favorite color now? Does it matter? No, it doesn't. No, it doesn't. I don't need the backstory. CM Punk and AJ Lee come out as only they can. Both of them, both teams with the mashup theme music that's gonna have fans debating as to which mashup was better and zm punk wearing a jacket that says aj's husband with the thing on the back he had instead of the five chicago stars it was like the stars and then the little aj logo on the back of his trunks as well these two and we talked about it very much in love little peck on the cheek here a little makeout sesh for seth and becky which i wasn't that comfortable with but love is great We love love.

43:47Now, when you're talking about the match, oh, I mean, you talk about a beautiful three-act story structure. Just that whole first act, waiting for AJ Lee to finally hit the ring. And, you know, the fascinating thing about a mixed tag is that usually in these tag matches, you're waiting for that hot tag. You're waiting for the good guy to tag his good guy partner so you can have that explosion, and accept in a mixed tag. If Seth were to tag Becky, AJ Lee becomes the legal participant. So Seth's job is not only to keep CM Punk from tagging AJ, but to also stay in the ring himself, to stay strong himself because he can't tag his partner.

44:31And to watch that kind of play itself out over the course of the first part of this match, I thought was brilliantly done. And the amount of falses and almost, and we're going to see it. No, we're not going to see it. Oh, he made the tag, but the referee didn't see it. We finally get it. AJ Lee gets in the ring, and after 10 years, it is insane how much of a step she has not missed. And for a lot of fans tonight, myself included, this is my first time watching AJ Lee. Yeah, you've never seen her. You didn't watch her live. You weren't watching 10 years ago. No, I wasn't watching live. You can go back and watch the old matches.

45:09But it's not the same. It's not the same. You don't feel it the way you felt it tonight. And you love Becky, but you feel what you feel. Yeah. And you felt it. Yeah, the whole crowd felt it. You were all lighting it up. That's what they call that. That's why the music says that. AJ going out there, not missing a step. And then like, I mean, going for like all the different moves on each other from Becky putting CM Punk in the sharpshooter. That was probably my favorite part. AJ Lee putting Seth in the Black Widow to just like move after move. And I mean, and the make out session that I was uncomfortable with being interrupted by a tope from CM Punk.

45:52And I will say this. We talked about LA Knight just throwing the rules out the window. We love Jessica Carr as a referee. But I mean, she just decided to let bygones be bygones in this one. There was a lot going on, right? Yeah. And maybe she, too, got overwhelmed in the emotion that it was AJ Lee's first match in over 10 years. As a fan, I appreciate that she let everything go. I do wonder if a general manager is going to be like, hey, there are rules in matches. What were you doing out there? Oh, my bad. But that's what I would say. As a fan, I was like, this is great. Just watching him go at it.

46:29I've seen that moment where it's like, we thought we were going to see the double table crash with Becky and AJ on one table and Seth and Punk on the other table. And then they switched around. And then you got to the point where you saw

46:48Punk was going to throw Seth through the table, but Becky was still in charge of AJ. So she threw AJ and they all just crashed through the table. Did it shock you? When we get to the end of this epic, epic match, and what happens, the Black Widow is applying. No slickness, no nothing, straight up. Becky Lynch, the women's intercontinental champion, the woman some say is the best women's... Some? Some. A lot of people are saying it. Such as? Sports Illustrated. Really? ESPN. Oh. bleacher report okay all right i didn't know all those were saying it but regardless she tapped out to the black widow becky lynch tapped out tonight and cf punk no it doesn't surprise me you want to know why it doesn't surprise me oh my god i really becky lynch's intercontinental championship was not on the line and she has so much respect for the title and defending the title with honor that she just that she had to do what she had to do because she needs to be back on monday night raw to defend the women's intercontinental title and be a fighting champion.

48:02So she lost. Sometimes you have to take losses. What? That's not how this works. You have to lose so that you can go defend your title again? What, do you want her to just get hurt and not be a fighting champion? No, I want her to escape the submission hold. And if she can't escape the submission hold, then she taps out because she lost the man. Listen, she's slick, but maybe tonight she wasn't slick enough to escape AJ Lee's hold. It's hard to be that slick that deep into the match. You know what I mean? Especially because, let's be honest, she probably didn't have the largest expectations going in.

48:31She didn't know AJ Lee was still so good. No, she didn't. She was all hung up on the neck. Yeah. For 10 years. Didn't seem like AJ Lee had a problem at all. Okay, as a Becky Lynch fan, but you still see that moment. You see CM Punk looking proud as he's laying, beaten and broken across that table. He's still looking up and smiling because AJ gets this moment. It did make you feel kind of good. Yeah, and it's hard because I do. Like, I see Becky Lynch tap out, and I go, no, I won't accept that. There has to be a reason. So I come up with this reason that it's because her title wasn't on the line, and she did what she had to do to keep herself healthy so she could defend the title.

49:08But I see CM Punk, and I see AJ, and I hear the reaction, and I feel what everybody else feels for AJ, too. It's incredible. It's amazing. This is what it's all about. It's all about emotions, and we felt a ton of emotions in the match to declare the new women's world champion. That title vacated after Naomi went away to have a baby Oose. The match is made. EO Sky. That's what she's having. EO Sky. They were looking at me like I'm crazy. That's what she's having. EO Sky versus Stephanie Vaquer for the women's world championship. Stephanie Vaquer comes out on top and guess where the first place she went was with that championship.

49:54right here to Club Wrestlepalooza. She joined us back here, and we'd like to share that with you. Oh, here she is. Come on in. Please sit down. The new... Yeah, yeah. Wherever you're comfortable. Please take a seat. Champion. Keep your microphone and tell me how this sounds. Don't be sorry about anything. Oh, don't talk. Yes. the new WWE Women's World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer. How do you feel? Wow. I, thank you. Yeah, no. I can't explain a word. I say this is the dream of my life. The dream of my life. I can't believe today is like finally. Yeah. Finally. And we saw, you know, we saw during the countdown show, the video package and so much of your story and how this really has meant everything to you.

51:01And we talked to you here on the podcast a month or two ago about the journey that you've been on and the fact that there were tryouts earlier and the fact that this did take as long as it took. And even when Megan and I asked you about how quickly you've been able to rise through the ranks to go through NXT to now become the women's world champion, you said, you know, it feels quick maybe to you. But to you, this is something that you've worked for for years and years and years. Does this feel like the sort of acknowledgement of what you've done and the fact that it was all worth it? I dream with this for the last 15 years every day, every day.

51:48I have a long career and really difficult career because I was born in a country where the pro wrestling no exists. So it's so hard for me to move, learn new language, new style, I started to learn wrestling. But every day, I'm starting in wrestling, and every day say, one day I will be champion. Look, I did it. And what's it like for that match to be the match that we saw? First to be WWE's first PLE on ESPN, which, I mean, you can feel the energy. This is so important for this company, and this company is clearly putting their best foot forward and kind of showcasing the best of what WWE has to offer and for it to be in a match, not to take anything away from Naomi, but for it to be in this match with Io Sky, who is widely acknowledged as potentially the best female wrestler on the planet.

52:51I think you could argue that based on your championship, but does that make it more special? Yeah, I know. So for me, this is really special because I am La Primera. La Primera means the first one because I did many things the first time. So now it's the first time ESPN with WWE, Wrestling Palooza. So we started a new history, and now I started, I made a new history with my championship. so together this is not just something amazing for my career it's amazing for my family WWE and it was also the first time that your father got to see you wrestle yes and happy birthday happy birthday to dad my dad so it's his birthday it's the first time he sees you wrestle live and it's the night that you win yes the championship sometimes the fates everything just aligns sometimes.

53:53We talk about that today with my dad because when I was, I don't know, maybe 12, I had WWE big fan and watched TV and my dad say, ah, you watch the wrestling and say, yeah, okay. And he watched with me and always said like, ah, practice, like I'll play with suplex. And yeah, so he saw my dream, And every day he saw my sacrifice. So it's the first time he here can see me, my match in life. So my dad is like crazy now. He's like, wow, and Chuck. But I go and say, dad, happy birthday. Yeah, he's so happy. And for me, it's special. The thing happened for one reason. It's weird because when I know when WWE say, you not go for a crashing party, I feel so sad.

55:01But now I know why. Why reason? Because now my dad can come here and see me. Yeah, that's... Yes. So, and make history with my family, WWE, ESPN, Wrestling Palooza. So I'm happy. I'm blessed. I can't describe in one word. That is wild, huh? That's even more. All the twists and turns. I mean, we saw you. We talked to you just after you won the match at Evolution that guaranteed you a title match, which was supposed to be maybe against Naomi in Paris. And all the twists and turns led to this championship moment with your father in the audience. could you have ever imagined, as big of a dream as this was for you, could you have ever imagined that it would feel like this?

55:49This is better than my dream. Yeah, I always dreamed with this title, but now it's better than my dream. Because now it's with my dad and with my family, WWE here, Wrestling Palooza, it's better. It's better than my dream. Have you thought at all about the fact that now, like that dream has come true? that that journey that chapter ends here but now this other journey starts this new journey this separate you know life and you see this with with champions in the wwe sometimes where it's like you work and work and this is the goal except now everything's only just begun now you have to not only defend the title but you have to prove night after night that you deserve to be the top person in this women's division and you know better than anybody how amazing this women's division is yeah and sometimes this takes a lot of time because uh i did uh try out for wwe seven years ago and i'm not ready and they say you're not ready and i understand but i go for other country i learn new style i go for all the discipline i train in heart every day and i i buy here after seven years and say okay i say one day i go to wwe and seven years later in wwe so yeah sometimes the dream take a lot time and many people can say okay i have now and in wwe have just one year yeah but believe me this is not big yeah i know you want to enjoy this and you should you really should enjoy this but i do have to ask we've seen you on monday night raw backstage with rhea ripley a few times she's a superstar who you know she she had quite the run with that title have you thought at all about defending the title have you thought at all about rhea ripley I mean, it's not just Rhea.

57:52The entire roster on Raw is stacked. Yeah, I know. I need to start saying I really want a match with Naomi. I'm so happy she's pregnant. Good news. I'm waiting for Naomi. But I'm so happy because this match is with Io Sky, one of the best in the world. And now, of course, I want to defend this with everyone. And when I say everyone, my dream, like, big match with Rhea, that's what, that will be amazing. So when I say I like big challenge and I'm brave, so I'm here, championship, everyone. I defend my championship with everyone. What about the sort of locker room component of this that now you just said it's your first year in WWE.

58:52There was a period of time where I'm sure not very long ago at all, whether or not you've been doing this 15 years or not, you walked into a locker room with a lot of faces that hadn't seen you before. You were getting to know them for the first time. And now you lead this locker room. Yeah, I know. I mean, what does that feel like? Is that a pressure that you want? It's amazing because the women's division, WWE Women's Division, is the best women's division. And here I have respect because they know about my career before WWE, and I have a lot of respect for everyone because I know everyone amazing, amazing wrestlers.

59:41and not just that also many I grew up with I don't know Trish status so now it's like wow same locker room and for me amazing legends the woman started this they made the way for us so I don't know it's amazing it's the best locker room And my career is my family because it's my family. But now, I mean, I think in this 15 years is what you need to do this because these people that you had all this admiration for now all of a sudden are looking at you with admiration, with, wow, I can't believe what she's bringing to the ring and what she's bringing into these matches and the way she's captured the audience.

1:00:37I mean, that's part of it, right? You can have the best matches in the world, but if the audience doesn't care, it just doesn't matter. You're not in that boat. I mean, the audience is riding with you. Every move that you make, everything that you do from entrance to exit, they've got your back. The devil's kiss, of course, is something everybody waits for. Have you heard two questions? How do you feel and are you surprised at how quickly the audience jumped on with you? And second question, have you heard from Booker T? I miss and I love Booker T. Yeah, really. I really miss Booker T. Okay. I'm surprised and people really support me.

1:01:24And I need to say thank you because people really know about my career. And I know for me, when I say wrestling is my first language, is because English is not my first language, of course. And I can't, maybe sometimes I can't say good.

1:01:47So wrestling is my first language. And anyway, if I can't speak really good English yet, people really can see me in the ring and really can feel with me because I put my soul in the ring every time. So for me, the people support for me is motivation because it's like, thank you. I really push myself and learn everyday English. But if I can talk anywhere, they can see my soul in the ring and my first language, wrestling. Yes, she makes us feel. I mean, from the moment your music hits to, I mean, the entire time we see you, you just, you make us all feel. And congratulations. Thank you so much.

1:02:38Yeah, I mean, well-deserved. What a moment. I can't wait to see the moments that follow this and follow this because that's what else that championship is. It's a license to continue to create moments on the biggest scale imaginable. Thank you for sharing some of your time with us tonight. And go celebrate. Yeah. Go enjoy yourself. Enjoy. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I mean, how do you not root for Stephanie Vaqueror after seeing that? Stephanie Vaqueror, like, and you could feel it as she was answering these questions, that this really is, like, something that she's worked for for all these years.

1:03:17And to see her have this success and to see it all feel deserved and to see the, it seems like, based on her answers, that the locker room supports her. You didn't have to be in Indianapolis, but we were to see that this building supported her. And how many people online and watching on the ESPN app and Netflix internationally are supporting this move to see this injection of fresh blood in the WWE women's division. I mean, it's great, isn't it? I just love seeing the stars align for it to happen on a night like tonight. Because we talked to her before about her journey to get here. It was 15 years.

1:03:54but just zoom in a little bit and talk about the journey of the last several months going from evolution that moment in the ring confetti falling down women's all pay-per-view she earns an opportunity to have a championship match but then that has all kinds of twists and turns she doesn't even know when the match is going to be so the fact that it happened tonight her family in the audience I think it was a dream scenario That was a nuts part of the interview when she pointed out that, like, she was supposed to get the match at Clash in Paris. And it seemed like, oh, well, we're not going to do it.

1:04:32But don't worry, we'll do it down the road. And a lot of times that's like, oh, no. If you miss your opportunity, it's not going to happen. But to know, like, that as it turned out, it couldn't have been more perfect. It's really, really cool. Speaking of really cool, Fanatics won. It's really, really cool. Have you heard about Fanatics won? Oh, I've heard about Fanatics won. Yes, for all that you give to the game. Now there's a loyalty program that gives back to you because being a fan deserves to be rewarded. Only Fanatics One members can earn fan cash and all that comes with it. Exclusive apparel, iconic experiences, and rewards tailored to your fandom better than anyone else in the game.

1:05:09You can join now on the Fanatics app and enjoy member benefits from day one, free shipping and returns, exclusive access to product drops, and the ability to earn and redeem fan cash whenever you shop and play with fanatics. It's great. It's the best. Speaking of the best, speaking of moments, speaking of the feels, Undertaker comes down on his bike. And I go, Undertaker's here. This is amazing. I love when the Undertaker's here. He sits down next to Stephanie McMahon and he says something I've always wanted to do. And I'm like, what's going on? Like, I don't even understand what we're doing here.

1:05:50And he goes, are you ready? And I go, what'd I say? He said, Undertaker's joining DX. I was so psyched. I was like, this is so cool. Undertaker's joining DX. I never thought we were going to get here. I know as a kid, it was 98. I'm like, you know, it'd be awesome if Undertaker was in DX. And all my friends would be like, no, it wouldn't. That wouldn't be awesome at all. And I'm like, oh, I'm going to tell them all. He's in DX. He's doing the Hunter thing right now. But he wants to join. You were right on that one. You were right. He wasn't joining DX. I was wrong. It's so funny how quickly you get carried away.

1:06:23I know. I know. Because the thing. And I'm like, oh, my God. This is so great. It was something else. Also great, though. He announces that Stephanie McMahon is the first inductee that is going to be going into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2026. And seeing Steph react the way she reacted. and and then like whenever these hall of fame announcements get made i get so reflective on the performers they get announced for stephanie is so much more than a performer i mean she's a she's a mcmahon she's stephanie mcmahon she her whole life has been this company she was in the catalog ads when she was a little kid selling rockers t-shirts as soon as she was in a she's she was a performer and like evolved into being this like, oh, Stephanie McMahon's on TV.

1:07:18She's getting, you know, she's in trouble with The Undertaker and she's getting involved in this and getting involved with that. And now Triple H is marrying her on television and what on earth is going on and becomes, like elevates in a way to the point that she becomes like the blueprint for a heel in the role that she was in. I mean, what's the first thing that people said when Becky revealed herself as the person to help Seth retain the world championship at Clash in Paris. They said it's a power couple, like the McMahon-Helmsley regime. It is the blueprint for all of this, and for her to be as big a part of wrestling history as she has been throughout the eras.

1:08:02But then also, you know, be this influence behind the scenes. You hear so many people doing these interviews, whether they're in WWE or after they leave WWE, and they start talking about what was really going on behind the scenes and this and that and who influenced them and who helped them. And they all have these stories about Stephanie McMahon and how important she is and has been and continues to be. And I mean, just as a fan who was going back to thinking about high school and The Undertaker and Stephanie and all these stories that were told to see them here on ESPN in Indianapolis and go, yeah, I'm the guy who's telling you you're going into the Hall of Fame, which is such an awesome, special moment.

1:08:50And I'm just, I'm happy for me as a fan, but so happy for Stephanie as well. Thrilled for Stephanie. Loved the emotion. I mean, not that anybody's, like, we all knew Stephanie was going to get in the Hall of Fame at some point for WWE, right? She's so deserving of it. but I did not think it was going to happen tonight. When The Undertaker first came out, and he's talking to Stephanie, nowhere, anywhere, did anybody think this is a Hall of Fame announcement. No, I had a different thought entirely. Yeah, we know. I had no idea what was going on. Congratulations to Stephanie. Yes. Looking forward to all the festivities in Vegas.

1:09:31And if there is, now that we put it out in the atmosphere, if there is sort of a thought of like, aside from this as like okay like we're done to like if there is a position to like put undertaker in dx at some point that could also be we're doing big things in wwe right now we're all about the moment so that could be a cool thing as well this is about stephanie all right we don't need no we i'm just saying because it was two separate i don't want to one doesn't overshadow the other but it just also could be cool uh we're gonna see so much fallout from this show not just that But so much fallout from this show with Heyman, especially after we saw him in here.

1:10:09He almost destroyed our whole studio, by the way. He had to bring it up again. That whole group did. But he's going to be on Raw. He's going to be on Raw, and I'm anxious to see what he's going to be saying, what he's going to be doing on Monday Night Raw. Of course, we're going to be there to recap the whole thing. Make sure that you're subscribed across all audio platforms, Apple, Spotify, to the Recap Podcast. Make sure you're watching on YouTube. leaving comments, hitting like, and we will see you right after Monday Night Raw to figure out where we are in a post-Wrestlepalooza world.