WWE Now - Randy Orton STRIKES to shake up the WWE Title picture | SummerSlam Recap

29:31You're the onscreen general manager. You're a producer offscreen. That's the gig. And it's and you're good at it and you like your gig and that's what you do. And then, I mean, I've got to believe this whirlwind starts where you're like, first, you find out you're going to have a match. then you find out how invested the company is in this match because the amount of segments the fact that like you know you're in that main event spot on saturday night's main event yeah yeah the thing at the garden to gauge that interest and then you get the theme song and everything i mean i mean have your feet touched the ground they're just sort of doing that now yeah like over the last month yeah like i think i did get a bit overwhelmed early on because i was a couple of times like i i think it was probably about a week after i found out like the the next the next time we were smackdown um and uh and it was sort of now obviously people are starting some of the some people know that we're doing it some people don't and so then i've sort of got you know michael hayes and people that kind of going like hey you just do whatever you need to do to get ready and you know and you know and uh but because most people still didn't know i was sort of keeping it under wraps and like but then i remember going back to the hotel and just going like what are you doing like can i even do this like like like what like it's in three weeks you know so sort of thinking of myself in gorilla and thinking oh god i get quite you know i get i get I get nervous just going out to do GM stuff.

31:12Of course. Adrenaline and everything. Yeah, sure. And then I was like, wait a minute. I'm going to be in my gear and I have to go and have a match. A big match. I haven't done that in three years. Whoa. And there's the other, I'm sure, wrestler thing, which is I don't even believe it's going to happen until it happens. Did that ever occur? Once the thing was said, it was like, oh my God. Yeah, I wasn't concerned. You know what's funny? When it was first, like I said, first time out in Saudi, and Ed did sort of go, well, you know, card's subject to change. And I kind of went, I'm like, Ed, I'm going to have to just work on the basis that it's happening.

32:01Because I have to go and get ready. So I said, tell you what, I'll just work on the basis that it is happening. and then if it isn't, at least I'll be in better shape. Yeah, worst case scenario. Right, at least I'll have better cardio. All right, you know, but yeah, I think that's just a sort of default thing that I probably have to do when they tell talent, like, you know, concept is going to change. When did you go and get new gear made? Rick Michaels does my gear. He's done my gear for years and years. so once he sort of saw what was happening he texted me and was like, are we doing some new gear?

32:42I was like, yeah, of course, yeah, let's do it I mean, it's not it's the same design just new, fresh stuff yeah, yeah but it's me, right? it is Nick Aldis from it's the same Nick Aldis I mean, that's you, the story of this happening over the course of 30 days is insane to me because I remember, you know, a few years ago, you came over to my basement to talk about, you know, the fact that you were moving on from one company and to really have a conversation about where you want to go in the business. And I think then you were the, I think you pointed out then, you know, I wouldn't mind seeing a Gunther against Nick Aldis match.

33:28Is that right? I think I... It's so funny. I think he was NXT champion at that time. Yeah, maybe. And I think we were discussing like, what if he showed up at NXT? And I was like, that's some great guy. And you were like, oh, I could see you working with Gunther. Is that what's going on? Is that what we're saying? But I mean, I find it so amazing because part of that conversation, we had it off the air too, is like, you know, when you're talking about the things that you would like to do, that's a delicate thing, right? And I think it's really remarkable that like you come to the wwe you have this incredible other life this other part of your career and i would think i speak for a lot of fans when and i'm sure you hear it all the time people are very fond of you in the general manager role yeah you know they i mean you do a great job at that but the idea that this thing that's always been a goal which is to wrestle on a high level for the wwe right when you're not sort of campaigning for it yeah when you're not bringing it up to people you know i could still go you know i could still go when you're never never ever once did that and i sort of take quite a lot of pride in that like i never ever lobbied never went to hunter or bruce or michael and said you could put me in an angle and trust me there were many times where i and this is not to throw shade at anyone but you know there were many times where I would see certain talent, you know, and sort of go, how do you, like, I could have nailed that, you know?

35:03Like, what are you doing? You know, like, have some intensity, you know, or something, right? I know what went wrong there. I could have done that better. And I said, you know, I'm my own biggest critic, so as far as the match goes, I'm just going to have to sort of take people's word for it. And look, standing ovation from a stadium, you know, at the end and like my family being there and everything like, you know, that's a can't can't manufacture that. So to a certain extent, I obviously did something right. Having said that, you know, for my own, I always can I think every wrestler does this.

35:41You compare your performance to like your peak, like best performance. Like for me, that probably would have been like the two out of three falls match with Cody or something like that. like you know and so in my you know that like then i was i didn't blow up i was just like on my just you know everything was crisp and tight and like the timing was perfect i was you know but i've been i was working all the time and all that kind of thing so i'm sort of comparing everything to that so to you know this match is you know i think oh god i felt like i was in quicksand and i was yeah oh god i was like so tired and oh that was uh bonked my head on the ring post but um you know overall yeah like to to uh to sort of to to get that sort of moment you know that that sort of um oh wow like i really like manifested uh something in that that was a moment that the entrance and all it was like something i manifested from you know for like 20 years probably maybe more yeah yeah it's kind of wild it's amazing dude it's amazing what was it like today for you to put your gear on and to warm up and to get ready the way you know the boys yeah yeah yeah get ready um i've had a i've had a uh camera following me around all day and so i've been sort of articulating my thoughts on some of that and i said this earlier uh I wasn't really sure how that was going to go.

37:20But actually, once I sort of got here and went, everything, my sort of normal routine sort of kicked back in. Like, what was weirder was packing my gear again and stuff like that. Because I was like, well, what do I need? Right? Because that sort of thing used to, you have a sort of, okay, right. boots, ankle braces, knee wraps, pads, tights. Like you went there walking around like you're on the Indies going, you guys got any tape? Can I borrow some tape? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Duh, like tape, baby oil, you know. That's the best at WWE. They have all that stuff. That's perfect. Towel. Yeah. That's a big one.

38:02Like, oh, s***, I forgot a towel from the hotel. Duh. Like, oh, they've got a whole, they've got a stack of them and they didn't. so spoiled yeah yeah that's true but now you get to use it rolls and rolls of tape yeah but you've never so much oil you've been yeah but you've been a GM so long GMs don't need oil and tape I know for you to go in and be like can I also do I get to use these I can use this stuff I've seen this stuff lying around I can have some yeah yeah I need it I need it from where we're at I mean man and by the way all the guy following you around is part of a vlog that the digital team is doing which I can't wait to see because they've been doing amazing stuff this weekend I felt like I wasn't necessarily giving the most compelling content maybe some during some parts of the day because i'm just you know just like at some point i was just sort of like i gotta concentrate i don't know what to say you know yeah luckily they're magicians they're gonna make it look right but but to your point to your earlier question um it did i'll tell you what what big boost my confidence was the reaction to last night at SmackDown.

39:07Like, really strong reaction. And then as soon as I came out of the ring, I just sort of showered, got in the car, and started driving to Minneapolis from Green Bay. And I, you know, didn't sleep particularly well, more just from a sort of adrenaline and stuff, but like, you know, I got okay. But then today I was, you know, I was just sort of dialed in. And then, you know, it's like, right, time to go to work. Like, no more overthinking anything. Just get to it. I mean, I think, too, the thing about it is that you can be, I'm sure, far overcritical about yourself and thinking about the cardio or feeling that you're in quicksand or whatever it is.

39:48But with wrestling, from a fan perspective, it's the story. The only thing that matters is the story. and I think that what's been what I'm, I mean it makes me happy for you is how much people have just clung on to this story and I told you, I think when I saw you around Fanatics Fest, that the reaction that you got at Saturday Night's Main Event, to me it was not the easiest position in the world, it was a make or break position, because you are interrupting this match that people are invested in and there were people going you know what it should be a four-way that would be the better finish and you've got to be it's like okay here i am do you want to see me in this match or not new york right new york you have to tell the world how much do you care about me getting a receipt on gunther right yes yeah and they cared a lot and then to your point both last week and this week on smackdown they cared a lot and then in that i mean dude the entrance from the time you walked out on that stage tonight everybody was like we're getting it to the you've got the standing ovation afterward with your family i mean we were all on board with this story and i think it says a lot about you because i would imagine that most of the people in this stadium did not follow the nwa right we're not watching tna when you were there right a lot of fans have not been watching for a decade if they if they know it's more it's more a sort of passing knowledge just or maybe they've seen a clip or right yeah they sort of know but they didn't you know they didn't really actually they weren't there right but they were completely on board with the story and it was it was a good guy versus a bad guy and everybody wanted to see this moment for you and i think it's a very rare thing and wrestling it is it's it's rare in 2026 especially because it's like a lot of shades of gray and probably everyone's probably a little bit overexposed social media and all the auxiliary you know ancillary content and all that kind of thing just that it's a little bit hard to create a sort of mystique and a demand and a curiosity and we were able to get all that and that's obviously it like i say you you have to sort of um i always say in wrestling you have to play the hand you get dealt you know i think i'm a testament to that certainly and you have to sort of look at the look at the pros and cons that come with all the different opportunities that come your way and And while yes, okay, oh, like, yeah, it was maybe a little disappointing at times or frustrating that like, oh, you know, I get to be this, but I don't get to be that, you know, like.

42:42But because I was this for this amount of time, it built this curiosity and it built this intrigue and this kind of – and so then now I do get to be that and it's special. And it creates a moment that is so unique to you. Yeah. That's your moment. That's not one of the Nick Aldis moment. And it was me, right? It was me. It was my name. Mickey told me, and I think she tweeted about this too, that last night in Green Bay when they were chanting, like, let's go Aldis. Like, my son, you know, he's grown up around wrestling. He's been around wrestling his whole life. So to him, it's just sort of like mom and dad's work.

43:20But he's going, oh, he goes, mom, they're chanting for our family. You know? like and she was kind of like oh yeah you're right you know yeah as it is kind of yeah right right yeah right and it's for him it's that's probably it is surreal for him to hear like a whole arena chanting his oh that's my name that's kind of right right man well i can't say congratulations enough i think it is so cool to know that we went from my basement with you trying to figure out how are we going to figure out what's next to sitting here in a WWE locker room in a stadium with you in your gear after a standing ovation from tens and tens of thousands of people that were all on board for this journey are we is this a one and done in the ring or are we I don't know I I said they said from I've said from me I came in with no expectations I come out with none so we don't know you know if it's there it's there yeah yeah you think you have more in you sure in the right circumstances yeah i love it nick man thanks congratulations and thank you so much thank you

44:33so close you can almost taste it what you're gonna walk away time to bring the juice

44:44never leave a fit behind rip it rip it and bring the juice

44:53That flavor's just out of reach. Drop the leg, Oost, and bring the juice. Gee.

45:03If the world were like a Sleep Number mattress, everything would adapt for your comfort. Your coffee would never get cold. Your flight would always be on time. And your mattress would always respond to you and your unique sleep needs. Sleep Number mattresses are designed to respond to your body and shift with your changing life, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. To experience a whole new world of comfort, visit a Sleep Number store or go to sleepnumber.com. Sleep Number, to a good life's sleep. If the world were like a Sleep Number mattress, everything would adapt for your comfort.

45:38Your coffee would never get cold. Your flight would always be on time. and your mattress would always respond to you and your unique sleep needs. Sleep Number mattresses are designed to respond to your body and shift with your changing life, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. To experience a whole new world of comfort, visit a Sleep Number store or go to sleepnumber.com. Sleep Number, to a good life's sleep. If the world were like a Sleep Number mattress, everything would adapt for your comfort. Your coffee would never get cold. Your flight would always be on time. And your mattress would always respond to you and your unique sleep needs.

46:18Sleep Number mattresses are designed to respond to your body and shift with your changing life, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. To experience a whole new world of comfort, visit a Sleep Number store or go to sleepnumber.com. Sleep Number. To a good life's sleep. Ah, bike's sputtering on me. nah that's not what you want on a cross-country trip yeah you're telling me looks like my journey ends here no mate you ride with geico motorcycle insurance and got their 24 7 emergency roadside service they'll fix your bike right up where you headed anyways oh i'm going to chromehenge you ever been no i can't say i have it's like stonehenge but shiny it feels good to ride with help it feels good to geico emergency roadside service is optional coverage huge thanks to nick Aldis for stopping into the Now studio immediately following his match with Gunther.

47:12You know, SummerSlam brings the biggest party of the summer to WWE Slam with an action-packed release celebrating one of WWE's most iconic premium events inspired by the bright lights, unforgettable moments, and larger-than-life superstars who have defined SummerSlam throughout the years. This box features an incredible lineup of cards, including Golden Hour signatures, Summer Blockbuster Duel signatures, Scorched, and of course, Big Kahuna. That's my favorite. Experience the excitement of SummerSlam and start collecting these incredible cards now in Topps WWE Slam. I mean, X-Pac, for you who has, you know, I mean, done everything there is to do as far as being a competitor in the ring, to see after three years, Nick Aldis not only return to the wrestling ring, but to wrestle a high profile match in the WWE, which is something that he dreamed of and something that he never got to do.

48:12How did, how did you feel watching him? I've been a big Nick Hall supporter, like since before, since he was trying to come here. Right. You know, and just to see him finally get, get the step in the ring from people here, you know, If you're in this industry and you're a pro wrestler and you've never stepped in a WWE ring in front of people in a match, man, it's just something else. And for him to be able to say, yeah, I had a big pay-per-view moment. P-L-E moment. That's right, P-L-E. Yeah. P-L-E. And I came out and I looked amazing. Yeah. And people were invested in his story. yes you know what i mean he's the he's a he's a good guy who got cheered and that's not you can't take that for granted in this day and age but people loved him and they gave him a standing ovation at the end of the thing it was really yeah they were in on it the people were like going on on that and you know they're not if they don't like it they're not going to cheer it right right exactly right man exactly right people you know it's not like it used to be no that's right that's right yeah yeah it can't be dictated you can't just announce hey he's a good guy now yeah you know yeah i think that that's i think that's a great point i also think this was big for gunther in the sense that like you know he's got this opportunity to break hearts again i think gunther is at his best when he's breaking people's hearts that's what makes him that absolute super villain.

49:53Gunther the heartbreaker. Just the absolute, like, you know what would be fun? To see Nick Aldis win. Oh, that would be fun. Luckily, I'm here. I'm not going to let it happen. You know? And I think that, I mean, to the point of good guy, bad guy, like, Gunther, in this day and age, being a bad guy that you believe is a bad guy, is remarkable. It's really great. You don't see it much. You don't. As a matter of fact, it's difficult to do. He might be the only one right now. I would agree with that. You know? You know? I would agree. I mean, the fans are more educated than ever. There's been more wrestling than ever.

50:29And it's harder than it ever has been with, like, social media and the desire to be liked and just everything. Yeah, and you just want to get over and be, like, over. And it's hard to do that these days. Yeah, absolutely. Especially as that type of heel. Yes, yes. I'll tell you you talk about getting over it has been an incredible time for I think Solo Sokoa watching the rise of that guy has been so fun and when the wonderful folks here at WWE now reached out to me and said who do we want to try to grab you know after their matches I said I would love to talk to Solo Sokoa and we got him immediately after that six-man tag, Solo sat down with us to talk about the match, but also kind of the whole career.

51:23It was a great conversation. And just like there's a different side of him coming out. Yes, absolutely. Personality and like, you know, something that I didn't see before. I didn't see him before. Right. Yeah, there's a range as a performer that's coming out. It's really good to see it. I love his whole family. They've always been very good to me. They have? Oh, yeah. I was like the original. Honorary use? Yes. Yeah. I'll talk to you about that. Let's throw the solo and then I want to talk to you about that. Okay. Fresh off of a victory in a six-man tag. Solo, dolo, sekoa. That's right. Welcome to the SummerSlam recap.

52:07Fresh out of the arenas. Fresh out of the. No, no, no. I'm sorry. Not arena. Stadium. That's right. How do you feel? I feel great. You do feel great. I felt great. I get to beat my older brothers up. Yeah. All the times they broke my wrestlers, you know what I'm saying? I got my get back. That's it. You've been waiting for your entire life for that moment. 33 years. Wow. That's a long time. That's a long time to wait. That's a very long time. That's a long time to wait. Yes. And that's why it felt so good. It felt great. Okay, so let me ask you this. I've noticed that there's this side in you.

52:37I mean, I've talked about your range. Maybe that's the wrong way to phrase it, but the fact that we've seen so many different sides of solo Sokoa in a relatively short period of time. I feel like people don't even really remember that when we first got to know you, you were the strong silent type. You didn't say a word. And then all of a sudden, you started opening your mouth and started getting entertaining and started getting, you know, manipulating people. All of a sudden, that manipulation gene that exists within your bloodline, it was strong within you. And I feel like just now, and you were doing it the whole time, you were with the MFTs, you even started seeing it popping up in Bloodline 2.0, but I feel like just now is the moment that fans, and I mean within the last two weeks, have started to go, ooh, Solo might be my guy.

53:29Have you felt that? I did, man. You know, it's been a long journey, you know, from coming from the silent assassin, you know, from not talking for two years to transforming over to playing the tribal chief character, right? You got to see a little bit of personality. And then, you know, being the leader in the MFTs, you're starting to see a little bit more. And then, you know, I got to be myself two weeks ago. But, you know, a lot of people don't want to, I'm sorry, a lot of the fans don't understand. Man, when you're going from not talking for two years, you're sitting under the learning tree from one of the greats, Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.

54:06And, you know, I would sit there and I would study, like, how he would, you know, talk and cut the promos. So a lot of people think that I'm just not talking, but I was actually learning over those two years. So I knew when it became my time to shine, man, it's like I, you know, like I've been doing it for years. Because every lesson that's being taught, every conversation that's being had. you're in the room, you're hearing it you're taking it in that's big man that's scary in a way, in a good way because it's like you're sitting under one of the greats man and I'm learning and you have those moments where it's like, it's one thing to learn it's one thing to realize oh, I understand what's being said there and I understand what's being said there but I think it's another thing to execute and to do it and to feel that's what it was that's what they were talking about To feel natural, man, like, that's hard to come across.

55:00I didn't talk for two years. Yeah. I didn't know how to talk. Yeah. But then, you know, after WrestleMania 40, you know, they give me the, all right, now you're going to cut a promo. I'm nervous, man. But, like, I knew, like, all the training and sitting by Roman and Paul Heyman, man, I was like, man, I got this. This is my time to shine. And I think that's the other thing, too, right, is that, and that's maybe why it's taking fans kind of a whole process to re-get to know solo because we all knew and accepted this one way. This is the guy that put 12 Samoan spikes in John Cena's neck. This is the guy who can't.

55:34Oh, I forgot about that. Yeah, you did that too. John, if you're out there, I like to settle the beef. I'm good now. You know, I'm a good guy now. Give me a call. Let's hang out. But, I mean, man, I don't know that I've ever seen. I mean, I guess it's happened before. it's rare that there's like one singular thing that happens that kind of shifts everything like one singular you can zero in and go that's it and I mean it was literally last week when you show up and you just say pew pew everybody goes wait wait what is this and you have to and I mean also and you I'm sure you felt this when after Wrestlemania 40 but it stands more true now than ever that when that bloodline is coming back together and it's going back to being the force that is I mean the nucleus of this entire company when it's your role to stand outside of it and to command that attention on your own that's a very difficult thing to do especially to do it in a unique way.

56:45In a natural way too. I was just like man you know what I get to pick on my brothers. I get to make fun of them. Who gets to do that? On the biggest stage of them all. And on TV. In front of millions and millions of people. I was like, you know what? I'm going to make fun of them. And it was just, man, I just felt it in the moment and then boom, it took off. Pew, pew, bow. It became a thing. It did. All day today in my meeting, we had the photo ops and taking pictures, man, and signing autographs. All I kept hearing was pew, pew, pew. It kept getting a little bit overwhelming because they were overdoing it.

57:18Every once in a while. Yeah, every 10 or 20 people maybe. Yeah, man. So, man, just like you said before, there's a lot of layers in the character. Yes. Could you imagine if I was to do this when I first started, it probably wouldn't have worked. No. It's like when you go to eat dinner, right, you don't order the dessert first, right? You got to get your drinks, your appetizer, and you get the entree, then you get the dessert. Now, you know, I'm giving the fans the dessert, but something, another layer that they've never seen before. I agree. I'm just getting started, man. And I also think that, like, as fans accept this, then you start having the option of being like, maybe one day we will remind them that I got this other side.

57:59Like, maybe one day that more aggressive, meaner, oh, no, I'm taking it all. The song says it. Maybe that guy's going to come back, too. Like, it all becomes, I feel like, tools in the toolbox. There you go. And in my toolbox, I got a lot of tools, man. I can jack of all trades. That's how I look at it. yeah you know little by little showing them showing them that that different side of solo solo dolo became a thing i'm just i'm just saying stuff off of my head man i'm like you know as it goes when do you get comfortable enough to go like no no no i mean i'm sure those conversations that you sat under the learning tree for helped but when you get that confidence to go i can trust my instincts out here i know what i'm doing i can trust in myself to go like yeah if i think it's a good idea it's worth trying if i think it's funny like if i'm making my brothers laugh and my cousins I was like, if they're laughing, I know they're going to laugh.

58:50I know the fans are going to be entertained. And I think that's, man, so far it's been working. I mean, it's also like this thing, right, where you are on this team opposing the bloodline. L.A. Knight is on that team. That's right. There are very few superstars that are more popular than L.A. Knight. So for you to be able to build momentum next to somebody that's already got that kind of reaction is massive. How did you make the decision to go, no, no, no, no, no. Solo is going to go forward just embracing L.A. Knight. L.A. Knight is going to look at Solo crooked and Solo is going to sit there and go L.A.

59:35and become the biggest L.A. Knight fan in the building. You know, everybody has to remember, he was against the bloodline for a while. I was a part of that group. We didn't like each other, you know, back then. Again, back then, I didn't know. You know, I was brainwashed. You know, I got caught up. But as I started to realize, like, man, what the bigger picture is, we can get on the same team here, you know. We might not like each other, but there's one thing that we do not like is the bloodline. So I think tonight we came together as a team. Absolutely. And I love my favorite moment. I was standing out there on the stadium floor and hearing the reaction when you got him to give you that hug.

1:00:16Yeah. I thought he was going to walk by me. Yeah. Almost. The old solo almost came out. Let me put this down. Let me put this down. Yeah. You know, we won the match. I'm not going to spike you behind your back. But, you know, I think that's what brought us apart was the win. That's right. Finally gave me a hug, man, after all these years. You've been waiting for one. I've been waiting for it. You've been waiting for that hug. I've been waiting for it, man. I get you. I get you. And also, you can't be disrespected. The fun that you're having can't be mistaken for weakness. Exactly. You can't have people disrespecting you.

1:00:46You can't have people walking right by you. But you don't want them to bring the old solo. You like this solo. I like this one. I like where I'm at. Exactly. Everybody here in Minneapolis loves our solos. I'm not going back. I don't want to go back. When did you start realizing that something you want to do is wear velvet suits? Not that many people pull off a velvet suit, especially with a turtleneck. There you go. Not many people can wear it, especially with a 275-pound Samoan guy with blonde hair. It doesn't work for a lot of people. Velvet? No. Can't nobody do it like Solo. That's right. That's right.

1:01:21Did you wear the velvet and then decide, I need to add the leather gloves? Or was it always worn back? Yeah, man. I was just like, man, something's missing. I need, right? I got to feel like a mob boss. Something's missing. What do they do? What do they wear? What do hitmans wear? When they get their hands dirty, they wear gloves, so the evidence doesn't show. Right, no prints. And then the jewelry came, and then the swagger, the confidence came. And that's how that character became a part. How do you get through those years, well, years, I guess, but the year or so in the beginning when it's like you're tasked with restructuring the bloodline?

1:01:59Immediately after this has been the most successful faction, I would argue, in the history of the company. and it's like okay now you got to do a new one yeah and a lot of fans are going like it's not the bloodline i don't know why they're doing this isn't the bloodline like how do you kind of weather that storm man i think when i took control of the bloodline i think you know when i was playing this character when roman went away i think i had to step in right to take charge when the group wasn't given to me right i took the ulafala i took the wise man and i think like in the movies where the king dies and it gets passed down to the...

1:02:37You know what I mean? But nobody likes the prince. I felt like when I was playing that role as the tribal chief, as one of the biggest hills on SmackDown and carried SmackDown when Roman was gone, I felt like nobody could have done that better to set up his return. I felt like you need... I felt like I played the role the best I could and we set up his return and it man it was great I felt like I did a good job at the tribal chief character is that a is it difficult for you because I agree and I've been I mean you know I hope that I've been singing the praises of solo and the bloodline forever yeah but I also think that it takes a level of patience and when you're living when you're when you're performing in a medium where the feedback is is instant yeah we want it now wrestling fans we want it now we want it what are we doing right now what do we want this now they're impatient right they don't realize the long play that's a long you know the end game right right if i can't give them this i can't give them that and that and they're gonna be tired of it gotta build up to those to those big moments man right like what happened two weeks ago like that's you know now everybody's happy they wanted that like way before but like no if you got that solo way before it wouldn't have worked and do you feel like that's something that you picked up from like Roman and Paul Heyman just patience and like man the end game always think about the end game what's the bigger picture you know the bigger picture was we all break apart just to come back together right it'll be bigger at the end man it's it's been a hell of a ride man you know just very thankful for where I'm at.

1:04:19It's a cool thing, man. And it's a cool thing to not only think about the bloodline from the beginning in that group and where it's gone, but everybody involved as individuals in the journey that every individual, I mean, we could do a show about the bloodline, but we could just as easily do separate shows about every single member and the evolution that that character has gone on throughout because of the way this story has been told and is still here we are five six years later still being told you know what's funny man everybody talks about like you know when when the when the bloodline thought that you know thought it ended right then we go away and then it's like and when we bring it back the bloodline like when we come back everybody still complains you know what i'm saying right like they're happy you know we're left but then they always complain but like man this is the greatest story ever told man like I just god there's so much more to this group not even a group we're a family and that's what's the fun part about it like we we get to do this on the biggest stage of them all man like my brothers and my cousin you know we might not see eye to eye you know lately but when I'm in the ring with them man we we always create magic but that's what also to me makes this thing such a special you know and different story is that just as much as it's a story it's real life as well and it goes back to the wild Samoans and it goes back to Umaga and Yokozuna and all.

1:05:44And, and, and to see, it really is ultimately this story of a family that has always been here, finally taking what's theirs and still here. And we ain't never going to leave. We ain't never leaving. Right. We're, we're going to be here forever. And I believe that our kids, man, our kids, kids, it's in our blood to do this. Man, it's cool. I get goosebumps, man. It's cool. I wish I could wrestle forever, man. But when that time comes, hopefully the younger generation beneath us, man, they can step up and fulfill our shoes. They'll always have a path here. But I think for Roman, man, he set that standard in our family.

1:06:27They just got to live up to that level. do you think at all about like what your mindset was when you first started in nxt when you were one of the nxt 2.0 people i mean you must have been a completely different human i mean none of this information i mean you grew up in this business obviously but that this what we're talking about here this like elevated storytelling no you couldn't have known that walking no man i I thought I knew it all, man, NXT. You did? I didn't know nothing. Wow. I didn't know nothing, man. You know, at that time when I came into NXT, you know, Bloodline was running red hot.

1:07:05And then they just had got Sammy on their side. So, you know, I was doing my own thing in NXT. And at that time, the character was solo. Like, he fights on his own. His family left him. His brothers left him. Right. He got a bandit. All right, so I was like, man, let me see if I can do something with that. And then, you know, not even a year, man, I was down in NXT. got the call to come up. I wasn't even down there a whole year. And I debuted in front of 70 ,000 people at Clash of the Castle in, you know, hometown where Drew McIntyre was. He believed that. Man, just you saying that, it is such a crazy thing.

1:07:44Less than a year in NXT. Yeah, I debuted in October. I got caught up in August. And I was hurt. I got hurt in June. Right, of course. So I took the whole July off. Right? I took the whole July off. And I just remember they kept saying, August 3rd, August 2nd, we got to get you ready. I'm like, man, what the hell is August 2nd? Yeah. There's no pay-per-view on August 2nd. In the week of, I got cleared. I got cleared on Tuesday. I hopped on the jet with Roman. I flew out there. And the rest was history, man. I mean, you think about it, right? Less than a year in NXT. You go to the main roster. you're in the main event immediately in the most important storyline on the show in the role of the enforcer and that role isn't there yet like you become an essential part of that story you go top of the card story the entire time as soon as it ends it's like okay now it's on you to do it let's give it to solo like it's never it's it's been a ride you've had seven yeah seven months in nxt and then everything after that has been like do it to the top man like when you when you say that when you say it out loud seven eight months in NXT in developmental and then on the main roster straight to the top in the top spot like hello guys that's not easy to do but I knew I was in the right place at the right time because I had my family to guide me that's amazing man I do want to tell you it's time for a new segment let's do it you ready for a new segment we call it the finishing move and it's presented by Minute Maid Bow Bow.

1:09:17Pew, pew, pew. That's right. Pew, pew, pew. Okay. Solo. If you could hit your finishing move, that Samoan spike, on one thing in real life, not a person, a situation, if you could take that Samoan spike and finish a situation, like an overactive group text or something like that, what would be the situation that would eat that spike? Oh, that's a hard question. If I could use the spike in this situation, probably bills. Bills. Yes. Mortgage. Bills, bow. Phone bill, bow. Sorry, Conant. Yeah, electricity's too high. Okay, bow. That's a great answer. I think we can all relate to that. Nobody wants to pay a bill, right?

1:10:07That's right. But we have to. So shout out to Minute Maid for bringing that energy because sometimes all you need is something bold, refreshing and unapologetically you to get through the day that's how you bring the juice and i gotta tell you bold refreshing and unapologetically you that's me that sounds like solo dolo sekoa man that's why i say that one more time that's right sam that's like solo dolo sekoa that's right and it only takes a minute to say it that's fantastic come on guys that is sponsor me I don't see how they can say no I have we're wrapping up here but I have said about you the thing that is great about Solo Dolo Sacoa is you watch the show and you're like I recognize that that's a guy that would try to sell me a used car and I recognize that I wouldn't buy I shouldn't buy that car from that man but you know what you're gonna buy it I know you're gonna buy it I'm good at talking baby that's just what I do Look at you.

1:11:07Yeah. I can sell you that car, too. I'll sell you everything in it. Yeah. My man right here, you got the 22-inch rims. You know what I'm saying? They look like tans, but they're 22s. You know, go ahead. Yeah. Honey, I need the rims. Yeah, I got you. Bow. Solo, thank you so much, man, and congratulations on tonight. Man, thank you for having me. Sorry. This is my first time doing an interview, man. It's an honor to be on here, man. Come on, man. So thank you for having me. It's our pleasure, man. Thank you. Can I close it out with one more thing? Yeah. Pew, pew. Wow.

1:11:39Man that was great Solo Sokoa in here And I mean I loved hearing him Talk about not only what's Going on now but the Realization that it hasn't been an easy road for him But before we were playing that interview You were saying that you felt like even before Sami Zayn that you were An honorary oos Probably I think so how so Head Trinkers versus Big Daddy Cool Diesel and Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. And you knew those guys. I did. Diesel and Shawn. I did. And so that was the tag team around the horn at that time. Was that around the time they won the titles from them at like a house show? Kevin and Shawn were the tag champs.

1:12:19Yeah, yeah. And Samu didn't make the show. And I already just so happened to have some beads and a lava lava of my own. No! Yeah, so I put on the lava lava one, two, three, kid at the time, in the beads. And I came out and I got down on my knees like Jimmy Snuka. That's awesome. Did they go nuts for it? People enjoyed it. Yeah. Yeah. It worked. And you can find it on YouTube, like on somebody's handheld. Isn't that funny? I think Roy Lucere. Something, really? Roy Lucere has it somewhere. I love that, like, something like that that you did in, like, 94, 95. It was just, like, a fun thing to do that night.

1:13:01It's all forever. Yeah, a great match, too, yeah. Of course you did. Of course you did. I was hoping to. When you said honorary use from back in the day, I was hoping it was a head shrinker story. That's great. That's great. And it goes to Solo's point and what we were talking about, about the fact that that's what makes the bloodline such a special story, is that it's real. And it was like, it goes back to the head shrinkers and Yoko, Umaga after that, the Wild Samoans before that. Like, this is a family that has been a part of the WWE since it was a territory. It's a really cool thing. We also saw tonight, speaking of a family that's been a part of the WWE for a long time, the Bellas.

1:13:43That's right. Turn on Paige. Hey, it kind of needed to happen. You think so? I just feel like the Bellas, they shine more as heels. I agree, especially in this era. Yes. Especially in this era when it's like, who do all you think that you are? Exactly. Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah, like, I got psyched for the Bellas when I saw them turn. Because I think it could get, like, that, there's going to be meat on that bone. Yes. You know, and them coming in and, like, not stepping aside for the newer generation. I want to see that. Me too. Because, I mean, I remember when I was the newer generation, be it hot at those people that wouldn't step aside.

1:14:27We had to try to make them go, right? Yeah. So, yeah. I mean, that's, so, yeah. I get it. Yeah, absolutely. And then, of course, I think... And also, not to interrupt, I've been part of a group of people that maybe was accused of not stepping aside for the younger people, too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look, man, you didn't work that hard to get it taken away from you. You know what I mean? You're going to hang out as long as the getting's good. But at least you know that. And then to me, I mean, I think maybe the match ending that surprised me the most, with all due respect, was Io getting hit with that oblivion.

1:15:11I was surprised. And ending clean, Liv Morgan beats Io. Yeah. And a lot of people going into this were like, you know, Liv Morgan hasn't defended the title since WrestleMania. Like, we're ready for Io. I was one of those people going, wow, Io can get the championship, and then we can get a ton of great championship matches with Io. That's right. But Liv Morgan, ultimate spoiler that she is, comes in and goes, no, I'm not done. I'm not done. And I feel like, I mean, they were chanting, this is awesome, 10 minutes into the show. Of course they were if they start the show off with that match. With Eos guy.

1:15:43Yes. Yes. But I felt like Liv stepped her game up. She did. And was like, you know what? Maybe you've forgotten. I'm Liv Morgan. I can do this. It was really, really great. Really, really great. Amazing night. By the way, night two. Tomorrow, we will be here. recapping the whole thing. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, of course, for the World Heavyweight Championship. We've got that giant women's championship ladder match for the interim women's championship. Sammy Zayn and Finn Balor we talked about a little bit earlier. Baron Corbin versus Trick Williams for the United States Championship. I saw Baron Corbin pulling into the hotel last night.

1:16:21He looked fantastic. Yeah. Great shape. And you know what he said to me? and this is just him talking to me off the record. He said, talk about not stepping aside. That's right. He goes, I'm back for me this time. Good. And you love to hear it. Good, because he was a team player guy. Yes. Like, yeah, man. He said, no, he goes, this time I'm back for me. Do your thing, man. Yes. Do your thing, Barry. Yes, and I hope he does it tomorrow. Yeah. I mean, I love Tricks, but I hope he does it tomorrow. Time to be selfish. Yes. Penta defending against Chad Gable, which that match is going to be, I mean, it's just amazing.

1:16:56And then, of course... Listen to me over here. Ooh, like a little one-word. That's why we brought you on. I told you he had great insight. And then, of course, human money's on a pole. Dominic Mysterio versus Dan Housen. Human money's on a pole. You looking forward to that? I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to the little Dan Housens, too. They gotta come back, right? We need them. We need mini Dan Housens. X-Pac man thank you so much for jumping in here and helping us analyze these matches this is great we did an amazing job you do? mainly you thank you guys don't forget to subscribe don't forget to hit like and comment on YouTube listen to us on WWE radio on Sirius XM and we will be back tomorrow for a WWE now recap of SummerSlam night 2

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