WWE Now - Seth Rollins sets trap for Paul Heyman and The Vision | Raw Recap

10:27Steph McMahon:Saying maybe you're a punk ass Is what he told him But like only calling him Phil And like doing it in a real In a real disrespectful way

10:38Sam Roberts:You want to know a moment That really stood out to me When Roman Reigns called CM Punk as the world heavyweight champion, the backup plan?

10:45Raquel Rodriguez:The backup plan. Yeah. I mean, Roman Reigns knows, I mean, in his word economy, it's how do you send that message home with the fewest words possible? And Roman knows exactly how to do that, talking about how you were brought back for the 30 to 40-year-old virgins, talking about how you were brought back, he's basically saying for the older demographic, that you were brought back to sell some T-shirts, that you were brought back to maybe bring some people in to Chicago and sell some tickets in Chicago. But he called the World Heavyweight Championship above CM Punk's pay grade. He said that he would be completely indifferent to CM Punk, but CM Punk doesn't deserve to wear that championship.

11:30Raquel Rodriguez:Do you think that there really are Roman Reigns cousins

11:33Steph McMahon:that are going to Roman and saying that Punk is not as happy as he seems to be, that Punk is complaining every chance that he gets?

11:41Sam Roberts:Well, you know, this is CM Punk we're talking about. And while he's come back a different person on the surface level, what do we know about CM Punk?

11:50Raquel Rodriguez:You tell me.

11:52Sam Roberts:CM Punk has always been somebody who's...

11:55Raquel Rodriguez:Voiced his concerns?

11:56Sam Roberts:Correct. Voiced his concerns.

11:58Raquel Rodriguez:Yeah.

11:59Sam Roberts:I don't know. It seems like the CM Punk that we see on television has changed. Has he changed backstage? I don't know.

12:07Raquel Rodriguez:Well, every interaction that I've had with him has been pleasant. And I do wonder, too, are Roman's cousins just going to tell Roman what he wants to hear? Who can you who can you trust in any of these scenarios? And who does Roman really have watching his back in a scenario where he's not in the building every week?

12:25Steph McMahon:He's not on television every week.

12:27Raquel Rodriguez:You have to depend on people to give you word from what's going on. I don't think that that's as reliable as actually being there.

12:34Sam Roberts:And also his cousins aren't what they once were. I mean, we're talking about Jey Uso, a former world heavyweight champion. When Jey Uso was telling his cousin, the Big Oose, all the information, he wasn't exactly in the world championship picture.

12:47Steph McMahon:Meaning what?

12:49Sam Roberts:Things change.

12:50Steph McMahon:Mm. Mm.

12:51Raquel Rodriguez:Well, I think that roaming kind of undressing CM Punk, saying, I'm not only going to take the title from you, I'm going to send you on a John Cena retirement tour. and then I'm going to send you down to NXT, and you're going to teach the next generation. And you have to wonder, because you know somewhere in the back of CM Punk's head, he's saying one day I could be a trainer at the Performance Center. We've seen him at the Performance Center. But when that gets brought up to you as like, hey, don't worry, I'm going to end you,

13:28Steph McMahon:and then you'll be a teacher. It'll be great to have you around here. And then Roman, who, and this to me was very technical, a lot of people have wondered what Roman's future is going to be with the WWE long term and what did Roman say? While you're down in the

13:45Raquel Rodriguez:performance center teaching the next generation

13:47Steph McMahon:I'm going to call him up and I'm going to smash all of them. Roman is painting a picture where he is the man in the WWE for a significant amount of time.

13:55Sam Roberts:For the foreseeable future.

13:56Steph McMahon:Which makes me happy, I can tell you that.

13:59Raquel Rodriguez:Of course it does. I can tell you that.

14:00Sam Roberts:Everybody's going to be eating well.

14:01Raquel Rodriguez:Yes, yes, especially the children. Yes. Especially the children. They're growing. Yeah, they are. Yeah, they are. Roman then walking away, and I thought that's what was going to happen. I thought Roman was going to walk away. The music was going to play, and that's the end of the segment. But Punk didn't let it happen because Punk said, okay, you want to cross lines, we'll cross lines. And he says, now I'm not just going to beat you. I'm going to bury you. And he brought up Roman's father, the late, great Sika from the Wild Samoans. And Roman, man, that guy tells a story with his face.

14:36Sam Roberts:Yes, he does.

14:37Steph McMahon:We pointed it out a month ago when he was doing it. The nuances of his face. Roman, in the position that he's in, hasn't had to deal with that level of disrespect. Even the people that want to beat him, even the people that don't like him, even the people that want him gone from the WWE, they still on a level realize who they're sharing space with. They still realize this is a different level and there's a reverence and a respect that goes with that.

15:06Sam Roberts:He's in God mode.

15:08Steph McMahon:Yes. Roman expects that reverence and respect. So to see somebody hit as low as somebody can possibly hit, I don't remember the last time verbally that Roman was hit that low. and I think that in that moment in that sort of breakdown on his face he realizes that like when was the last time he had to deal with that kind of disrespect and that that is the kind of dog fight that we've got going into Wrestlemania

15:37Sam Roberts:we've got seven weeks until Wrestlemania and things are just starting

15:41Steph McMahon:to heat up my gosh my gosh well I'll tell you what with everything heating up and everything I try to make sure that I stay aware of everything going on all the time My day-to-day life is so busy, but I'm listening all the time. You know how? Raycon. Okay, let me tell you about this Raycon, okay? As we head into spring, I've been craving fewer distractions. It's too much for me. More focus throughout my day, whether I'm working, whether I'm commuting, or just taking a moment for myself. That's why I've been using Raycon's Everyday Earbuds Classic. They've become my go-to for daily listening. They have active noise cancellation that blocks out background noise so I can stay locked in, whether I'm listening to music, whether I'm catching up on podcasts, whether I'm maybe I'm taking a phone call, maybe I listen to my own opinions on this podcast going.

16:30Steph McMahon:Great point, Sam. All of it is on the table thanks to Raycon. And I know you. You wear these things while you're running. Is that right?

16:38Sam Roberts:Oh, yeah. It's the only way to run with these Raycon because you can wear them in awareness mode, which allows you to not only hear your music, but you can also hear people walking by. You can hear cars coming. You can hear dogs barking. It's a safe way to go, but it also allows you to enjoy your music while you're experiencing the world around you.

16:59Steph McMahon:And that also is, I mean, that's why both of us can get our Raycons because it really is our personalities. You're sitting there trying to enjoy your audio entertainment but still let the world in. And I'm trying to find a dark corner where I can shut everybody out. And Raycon makes it all possible for both of us. That's right. It's an amazing thing. I've been using these every day especially because, well, you use the awareness mode. I use my noise canceling mode. it lets you hear what's going on around you all the time. The Everyday Earbud Classics are available and they are the perfect gift for refreshing your routine this spring.

17:38Steph McMahon:Go to buyraycon.com slash WWE now to get 20 % off. Thanks Raycon for sponsoring. And I will tell you, we were talking about The Shield and we were talking about roaming coming in and we were talking about where the end of Raw went. Well, the beginning of Raw, we saw, and it's really interesting, this is how impactful The Shield has been on WWE. The end of Raw, we got references to the debut of The Shield. The beginning of Raw,

18:10Raquel Rodriguez:we got references to the end of The Shield.

18:14Sam Roberts:I love it.

18:15Raquel Rodriguez:When Seth Rollins had that chair, I mean, I don't know where Seth Rollins is getting this army of masked men from. But it is the most dangerous I've ever seen Seth Rollins. So the vision comes out, which is now down to Paul Heyman, Austin Theory, and Logan Paul.

18:34Steph McMahon:That's it. And they're calling out Seth Rollins. And Adam Pearce comes out and says, well, I'd like to talk to Seth Rollins too, but he ain't getting in that ring.

18:41Sam Roberts:Paul Heyman called him the biggest thief in the industry.

18:44Steph McMahon:Well, yeah, that's kind of just a way to rephrase. I mean, Paul Heyman used to embrace the idea of the heist and the ruse of the century. Now that they're not on Paul Heyman's side, it's thievery.

18:56Sam Roberts:You know what I mean?

18:57Steph McMahon:It's just different words.

18:58Sam Roberts:Stealing.

18:59Steph McMahon:That's it.

18:59Sam Roberts:Yeah.

19:00Raquel Rodriguez:Exactly right.

19:00Sam Roberts:It's from different perspectives.

19:02Raquel Rodriguez:Exactly right.

19:02Sam Roberts:Same story, different perspective.

19:04Raquel Rodriguez:Right, right. And Paul Heyman has, as he's done before, as they point out in all the 2K games, rewrite history to make it so that he's the one who ends up the winner, except he didn't do that.

19:16Sam Roberts:Not even close.

19:17Raquel Rodriguez:Tonight. So Adam Pearce says Seth is not cleared. Seth hasn't been cleared to wrestle, and he's going to have to be cleared.

19:26Steph McMahon:Except maybe he doesn't have to be cleared because he's got more masked men than you could shake a stick at. Five masked men show up, the fifth being Seth Rollins. I mean, he bought these. He bought a gross of black masks.

19:40Sam Roberts:He was at Costco.

19:41Steph McMahon:That's right. That's 100 % right.

19:43Sam Roberts:Buy them in bulk.

19:44Raquel Rodriguez:One masked guy comes out. No, it's not him. but he gets Adam Pearce and the officials away. Another masked guy comes out. He gets Logan Paul away. Another masked guy comes out. He gets Austin Theory away. Another masked guy comes out. He distracts Paul Heyman. When another masked guy comes out from behind Paul Heyman, rips off the mask.

20:05Steph McMahon:It's Seth Rollins. He's holding a chair. And just as we saw him do to Roman Reigns all those years ago, just as was referenced when Roman Reigns returned the favor on Seth Rollins, but it cost him the WWE championship. Just as it was referenced when Sammy did it to Roman at the Royal Rumble. This all goes back to Seth and that chair shot, and he did it tonight to Paul Heyman.

20:34Sam Roberts:I love seeing Seth holding the chair.

20:36Raquel Rodriguez:Really?

20:37Sam Roberts:It's so nostalgic. It brings you back to all of these different eras, all of these different moments, and it feels bigger. It feels special.

20:46Raquel Rodriguez:I am not nostalgic for Seth Rollins ruining the shield. He betrayed the shield, and he struck the man who would go on to be our tribal chief. Okay, so let's just put that out there real quick. You know I always have to stop you, just like it did at Elimination Chamber, when you brought up the stacking.

21:03Sam Roberts:Well.

21:04Steph McMahon:I said, let's not bring up the tribal chief. Let's not use his.

21:06Sam Roberts:You get very defensive on your tribal chief.

21:08Steph McMahon:I don't want his name used in vain.

21:09Sam Roberts:I just haven't seen a stack like that.

21:10Raquel Rodriguez:No, I know. I know. It was a nice stack. But in this context, it was also nice to see Seth Rollins with that chair, knowing where he came from, knowing what this means, what this does, especially to a guy like Paul Heyman. He knocks Paul Heyman down. The adorable Oracle is now on all fours. And I think if you look at Paul Heyman's face, he knows what's coming. He can't get up. He knows there's nothing he can do here. He's stuck. and Seth Rollins, I think he put a little extra stank on that.

21:43Sam Roberts:He had to.

21:44Raquel Rodriguez:I think he got about 12 feet up in the air.

21:46Sam Roberts:I mean, listen, it's been his shoulder that's injured, not the leg. He's been working on those stomps. You better believe it.

21:52Raquel Rodriguez:Oh, yeah.

21:53Sam Roberts:You can work on your stomps while you're rehabbing a shoulder.

21:56Raquel Rodriguez:He's box jumping left and right. Just getting air, getting air, getting air. And then that boot comes down on the back of the bald head of Paul Heyman. And I can say that.

22:06Sam Roberts:You can because you're bald.

22:07Raquel Rodriguez:Thank you.

22:08Sam Roberts:You're allowed to.

22:08Raquel Rodriguez:Back of the bald head of Paul Heyman. Paul Heyman's face. And Paul Heyman is not a wrestler. Paul Heyman has been in the business forever. He started with Lance Russell, for God's sake. Dusty Rhodes shared a locker room with Paul Heyman. I mean, Paul Heyman's been around.

22:28Sam Roberts:Yeah, he has.

22:30Steph McMahon:And Paul Heyman gets stomped, face making contact with that mat.

22:35Raquel Rodriguez:and a bloody Paul Heyman looks up and has to get helped out of the arena. This is a Paul Heyman. First of all, you laughing at Paul Heyman with blood gushing down from his face.

22:49Sam Roberts:I'm just thinking back.

22:49Raquel Rodriguez:Looking like one of the victims of the penguin in Batman Returns when he bites the nose off. And you're laughing at that. You think that's funny to happen to a person.

22:58Sam Roberts:I'm just thinking back to over the weekend. Paul Heyman shrieking. Shrieking so loud on the west side of Chicago That you could hear him in Evanston, Illinois About Seth Rollins being back

23:12Raquel Rodriguez:Clearly he had a reason to shriek

23:13Sam Roberts:And 48 hours later He has to exit the arena with a bloody nose

23:18Raquel Rodriguez:I mean he had a reason Would you say that he was foolish to shriek? I'd say not

23:23Sam Roberts:Well after calling Becky Lynch Mr. Lynch Paul Heyman got everything that he deserved tonight

23:30Steph McMahon:it is it did feel very reap what you sow it did feel like a situation that paul hayman got himself in because he thought he was smarter than everybody and he just wasn't you know seth rollins was never roman reigns seth rollins was never brock lesnar and we would point that out when we would talk about the vision there was always a different type of chemistry between paul hayman and seth rollins it felt like seth rollins was aware of what a help paul hayman could be, but it never felt like he had drank the whole glass of Kool-Aid.

24:00Sam Roberts:Yeah, it never felt like he fully was letting him in.

24:03Steph McMahon:No, no.

24:05Sam Roberts:He was never fully letting Paul Heyman control his every action.

24:09Raquel Rodriguez:I don't think so. And clearly not anymore. No. As Paul Heyman is now in the back, Logan and Austin Theory are in the back with them.

24:21Steph McMahon:Jimmy Uso shows up. Look at Paul Heyman. I can't tell if when Paul Heyman is in that ambulance, if he is in pain because his whole face is broken,

24:32Raquel Rodriguez:or if he's realizing that he's messed up so severely, that somehow his original two are gone on the injured list. That Seth Rollins, at the worst possible timing, Seth Rollins is back just as his biggest protectors are gone.

24:53Steph McMahon:and now he's in the back of an ambulance with just no sort of relief in sight.

25:01Sam Roberts:This may be as low as Paul Heyman's been since he got put through a table at Madison Square Garden by Solo Sokoa.

25:08Steph McMahon:You may be right by the Bloodline 2.0.

25:11Sam Roberts:Yeah.

25:11Steph McMahon:You may be right. You may be right and I think he would tell you that that's true. But then he's in this ambulance and Jimmy Uso comes out. Now he's attacking the vision I guess Jimmy Uso is of the same mind frame that Adam Pearce is that he thinks the vision's the one who attacked Jay and put him in an ambulance. Don't know if that's true.

25:31Sam Roberts:They did show up on SmackDown and it seemed a little skeptical.

25:36Steph McMahon:Well, Jay may also feel like it's true because, you know, later on in the night, Jay showed up again to help Austin Theory to a 1D. But regardless, Jimmy's back there and then L.A.

25:49Raquel Rodriguez:Knight shows up to help. and just as the vision gets cleared out, L.A. Knight steals the ambulance that Paul Heyman is in, which this feels like a high-level criminal offense. To steal a first responder emergency vehicle, you can see the sirens are blaring, which is the worst thing you can do. I feel like this is kidnapping because Paul Heyman is locked in the back. I feel like this is stealing an emergency vehicle It's probably breaking and entering Because it's not his ambulance And I guarantee He's not sticking to the speed limit No chance So it's speeding as well And I mean listen Here's what I want to know Where on earth did he drive Paul Heyman to Because I guarantee LA Knight did not drive To the nearest medical facility

26:43Sam Roberts:0 % chance

26:44Raquel Rodriguez:LA Knight did not drive to the Indianapolis medical facility to drop off Paul Heyman. Where did he take Paul Heyman?

26:52Sam Roberts:I think Paul Heyman's in massive trouble. I mean, that's an understatement. Understatement of the century. Wherever LA is taking him, it's not to get help.

27:01Raquel Rodriguez:No, it isn't to get help. At all. I mean, LA Knight seems like the type of guy that would probably just park the ambulance on the side of the highway with Paul Heyman in it and just split. Just leave.

27:11Sam Roberts:That's what you get for having your vision put me through a car.

27:13Raquel Rodriguez:Yeah, and it's true. And Michael Cole called it out on commentary.

27:17Sam Roberts:these are all enemies actions have consequences right right these are all enemies that paul

27:23Raquel Rodriguez:hayman made oh he never should have let the bloodline fall apart oh he never should have remember how great that was yeah all it took was one favor you know and ruined everything for paul hayman for a lot of this is a good lesson in life a lot of people are in situations

27:44Steph McMahon:and they go, oh, it could be better. Let me get out of this situation. Let me get out of this situation.

27:48Sam Roberts:Paul Heyman.

27:51Raquel Rodriguez:What's better? The devil you know or the devil you don't? Stick with the devil you know because otherwise you're in the back of an ambulance that LA Knight for some ungodly reason is driving. That's where Paul Heyman is at today.

28:05Sam Roberts:He's on the side of a highway in the middle of nowhere, Indiana.

28:09Raquel Rodriguez:I mean, just as that ambulance door is shutting, I thought it was going to freeze frame. And Paul Heyman, you just hear his voice going, yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here. It was one of those moments for Paul Heyman, only for LA Knight to drive away in that ambulance. I mean, unbelievable chaos as we head to WrestleMania.

28:33Steph McMahon:Same thing is happening on SmackDown side, which we will talk about a little bit later on here on WWE now. But I'd like to get to our guest now. We were able to talk to Raquel.

28:45Sam Roberts:Yes.

28:46Steph McMahon:Just as the announcement was being made for the gauntlet match that is happening next week for AJ Lee's, a shot at AJ Lee's Intercontinental Championship. The winner of the gauntlet match will be the number one contender for AJ Lee's WWE Intercontinental Championship. just as that was being announced before we saw everything that had happened. We saw some tension with the Judgment Day. We hadn't seen the fact that, well, that there was going to be a title change.

29:17Raquel Rodriguez:We won't really get into that. But -

29:19Sam Roberts:I think we have to. I think we got to spend some time on that. It was a pretty big deal.

29:25Steph McMahon:We talked to Raquel. There she is from Indianapolis, Indiana, also coming off of a massive weekend at the Elimination Chamber. Big, sexy Raquel Rodriguez. Raquel, I have to start with the Judgment Day. I have to start with what we saw on Monday Night Raw and Dominic and the Judgment Day. Can we have a clubhouse update? We are concerned.

29:59Megan Morant:The clubhouse wishes to not speak on the subject at this moment in time. Thank you very much for your consideration on that. I would like to just focus on maybe what's going to happen next week and, and how La Familia is going to bring it back next week. All right. That's, that's what we can talk about. How about that?

30:15Raquel Rodriguez:I mean, no, yeah, no, it sounds fair. If there's one.

30:18Megan Morant:All right, great, great. We're all on the same page now. All right. So you can continue with your, your questions.

30:24Steph McMahon:I appreciate that. Well, yeah, I mean, before whatever happened, happened there was a a conversation with you and Liv Morgan about plans on both of you getting to Wrestlemania you know right now it won't be uh uh Raquel in a WWE Women's Championship match because of the Elimination Chamber but AJ Lee throws down the challenge earlier tonight saying she's going to be a fighting champion there's a lot of women in the division that stepped right up And next week, you are part of a, is it a, it's a six person match to determine the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship. Do you feel like this is it?

31:08Steph McMahon:This is the last sort of opportunity that you get to guarantee that you have a match at WrestleMania?

31:15Megan Morant:I mean, that's kind of a given, right? This is the absolute last opportunity I have to have a WrestleMania moment for myself. If I don't get a hold of that IC title, what am I going to do at WrestleMania? What title can I defend? What title can I go after? If I have another, you know, just an opportunity to get a title in my hands to be at WrestleMania with Liv Morgan, that would be great. So, yeah, I do feel like this is a last opportunity. We're six weeks away from WrestleMania. That's really not a lot of time, especially not in WWE world. So we got to make things happen. And that means next week, those women, whoever they are that think they're strong enough to step up to Big Sexy, good luck.

31:53Megan Morant:Because Big Sexy is going to be in that ring. And if you didn't see what happened in Elimination Chamber, then I really feel sorry for you. But that's okay. Because maybe when these fists hit your face, it'll just be a really fun surprise for you, I think. Right? Like maybe that'll be fun for everyone.

32:07Raquel Rodriguez:I don't know. Maybe for you. I don't know if fun's the word. You've got Lyra.

32:11Megan Morant:Well, if it's fun for me, it's fun for everyone. That's how I see it.

32:13Raquel Rodriguez:Look, it's fun for me. That's all. There you go. There you go.

32:16Megan Morant:I knew we were right here. See, I knew you were going to get on the same page as me.

32:20Steph McMahon:That's right. It's Lyra. It's Bailey. It's EO. It's Asuka. It's Ivy Nile. It's going to be swarmed with competition. But, you know, I have to tell you something. On Saturday night, we were watching Elimination Chamber. And we came on here to do our podcast and talk about what had happened. And Megan Moran said something. She said inside the Elimination Chamber. When Big Sexy stacked two women on top of each other. Do you know the comparison that Megan made? She compared it. She compared it to the tribal chief, to WrestleMania 37.

33:03Sam Roberts:That's the last time I saw a stack like that, Raquel.

33:05Steph McMahon:To Roman Reigns, Raquel.

33:08Megan Morant:And look at the power the man has. Look at the position that man is in. You see what a double pin can do for someone? I am on my rise right now. No one is getting in front of the big sexy train, that's for sure. Because if you do, you're going to get run over, okay? That's right.

33:22Sam Roberts:That big sexy train smashes them and stacks them. Well, you know, Raquel, it really, it speaks to the momentum that you've been riding. Something has, seems to me, like it's changed within you. Maybe I'm wrong, but there's just this sort of confidence. The fact that you're stacking women in the elimination chamber. The fact that you approach with a higher level of aggression. The fact that you're willing to enter this gauntlet match to punch your ticket to WrestleMania. Can you pinpoint a moment that a fire was lit within you?

34:01Megan Morant:Um, I can't pinpoint a significant moment, Megan, to be honest with you. There's not one moment that springs to my memory that's like, oh, that was the time I knew I had to change. It's really been a progression over the past year. You know, coming back from my illness, not feeling very confident. But every week I get an opportunity to show everyone why I belong on this roster, why I belong on Monday Night Raw, why I am big, sexy Raquel Rodriguez. And every week someone else has something great to say about me. And I'm just like, well, I mean, it's about time. Everybody just realizes that this is what I've been showing and proving to you guys the entire time.

34:41Megan Morant:I just needed my moment and my opportunity. And now I'm just taking my moments and my opportunity. Elimination chamber, I was in my element. There's nothing more I love than being inside of a cage and throwing women against it. For this six-woman match, member match, I don't know if it's a gauntlet match. I don't know if it's, you know, all six of us at one time. But either way, I thrive in chaos. I thrive when it comes to having multiple women at my fingertips for me to just think of insane things to do to them. and for some reason I've just been fed these perfect moments and these perfect opportunities for me to just eat everyone alive and yeah sure maybe I lost that elimination chamber but at the end of the day I'm standing here ready to go again can I say the same for Rhea Ripley who might be hurting a little bit more than usual can I say the same for Asuka who's also in this multiple women's match but that I Tejana bombed and was part of the double stack of women which by the way, I believe that's a first, uh, first time ever for elimination chamber to have a double elimination.

35:41Megan Morant:So let's make sure we get someone to write that in the history books. All right. Raquel Rodriguez and make sure they spell it with multiple R's at the beginning and for the last name as well.

35:51Steph McMahon:It's very, very important.

35:52Raquel Rodriguez:And I mean, I've got to say that like, I don't recall another person that can come across with more glee and honestly more charm when discussing punching people in the face and just you you just with a smile and just the just a charm like oh that's my best friend Raquel talking about eating women alive I mean it that's that that and that I think that I think is the scariness of being sexy I'll tell you as a fan I'll tell you as a fan what

36:25Steph McMahon:I think was was a moment that at at some point when it's time to kind of reflect and and talk about this era that you're in right now. I feel like at one point, several months back, the internet was doing what the internet was doing and the podcasters were doing what podcasters were doing and the conversation started. Why doesn't Raquel come across more powerful? Why doesn't Raquel come across bigger? And instead of fighting that wave or instead of getting insulted or instead of anything, you said, huh, okay, okay, if that's what you want to see. and all of a sudden, I personally, and maybe I'm wrong, but from my observation, it felt like when that conversation even started to dust up to the surface, you said, okay, I'm gonna take it upon myself to silence that conversation and just smash everybody.

37:16Megan Morant:Well, see, thank you for that. Thank you for noticing that. I've always considered myself a woman of action. You know, words are words, but they only mean so much. When you put action to those words, that's when it has more meaning. That's when it's more believable. And I just let it go. I said, I don't need to open this beautiful mouth. I'm just going to show you guys what this strong, beautiful, powerful, tall, amazing, just great at everything woman can do out there. And that's the kind of confidence I've been carrying into every single match, every single week.

37:48Sam Roberts:And I think it was when Utahana bombed John Cena. That helps. I mean, that certainly will silence any of the doubters on the Internet. Right.

37:59Megan Morant:And I will say that that might be one of those moments, Megan, where my I just went, my confidence just, OK, we can do this. You know, if I could say Hannibal John Cena, I could say Hannibal anyone.

38:10Raquel Rodriguez:It really is. It's one thing to say that's a plan. It's one thing to write it down on a on a vision board. But the moment after on his retirement tour, you to Hannibal John Cena, how long does it take before you allow yourself to go? I just did that.

38:30Megan Morant:Oh, it didn't take me long at all. I make sure I was reminding every single person, even now when I do meet and greets or I see people out in the streets and they got, you know, I asked them who's their favorite wrestler. They got John Cena gear on. I just, I go ahead and say, Hey, you know, I picked him up and I threw him right down. I'd say, Hannah bombed him. Don't forget about that. And if they're like, Oh yeah. I'm like, here, I have the footage. I can pull it up for you on my phone right now. You want to see a picture? You want to see a video? I got it all. And it's not AI. I can promise you that.

38:58Raquel Rodriguez:yeah yeah I mean I mean making impact throughout John Cena's retirement run and you took your spot

39:03Steph McMahon:I will say too and I think this is something I really noticed in the Royal Rumble and this is something I noticed again in Elimination Chamber and this is something I noticed pretty regularly on television these days it's that there's a there's a there's a sound and a feeling that the audience has when you come out and when you are in big moments and it's a feeling that I think is stronger than it has ever been before throughout your career. And it's this feeling that the audience is ready for it. The audience wants you to win. There's a huge portion of the audience that clearly wanted you to win the Royal Rumble, that clearly wanted you to win the Elimination Chamber.

39:43Steph McMahon:Do you feel that difference now that people are buying tickets with the purpose of not only rooting for you, but hoping to see you succeed in those moments?

39:53Megan Morant:Absolutely. I mean, when I was eliminated and I heard the audience boo, they booed my elimination. I said, are we all trying to ride the big sexy train now? Is that what's happening? I see how it is. But I don't let that get to me because I know they're all hypocrites. They cheer for me one second and then they cheer for Rhea Ripley the next. You know what I mean? But that's all right. I get it. I see the comparison. I know that, you know, the people really see something cool when someone does something big and powerful, but it's because they can't do it. They are incapable of those things. They can only relate to the smaller, more insignificant women on the roster like EO Sky and Kairi Sane and Asuka.

40:31Megan Morant:Who can relate to me? Tell me how many of those fans are six foot Mexican, powerful, bilingual, a part of the Judgment Day, best friends with La Guarita and El Sucio Dominic Mysterio. None. None.

40:45Sam Roberts:I am one of one.

40:47Megan Morant:Okay. I am the most unique woman on this roster. You will never find another Raquel Rodriguez. And the fans are starting to notice that. And that's why they want to see me more because I am a spectacle. I am a superstar.

41:04Sam Roberts:But when it comes to the Intercontinental Championship and somebody like AJ Lee, who has made so much history in WWE, no one expects AJ to come back. Well, she's back and she's back now as a champion for this version of Raquel, this powerful version that you just described yourself as one of the most dangerous people on the roster for you to look face to face, go toe to toe with a legend in this industry like AJ Lee. What would that mean?

41:38Megan Morant:Oh, it would just put a stamp on the fact that big sexy is taking over a legend like AJ Lee, someone who has worked with many big women in her history as well. I mean, And let's be honest. I've been compared to Tamina, who was her old tag team partner. Me and Liv get compared to the same comparison of AJ Lee and Tamina all the time. But I think Liv and I are better, to say the least. It would mean the world to get to face AJ Lee. She is obviously amazing in her own right. We've all looked up to her. We're all so excited to have her back in this locker room. She showed us that she has not lost a step at all at Elimination Chamber.

42:13Megan Morant:The battle that she put on with Becky Lynch was phenomenal. but it does make me hungrier and it does make me excited because she won't be the first legend I step into the ring for with remember when I had Trish Stratus in my arms and I ragdolled her until she couldn't even really move anymore and then just threw her right on the mat yeah and no offense to AJ Lee but what is she about the same size as Trish Stratus I'd be happy to ragdoll her and send her home with CM Punk as soon as Dominic Mysterio is done with him again too or maybe even JD if JD wants to take a whack at it yeah and you know and also I don't know if

42:45Steph McMahon:we've mentioned on this interview, but when you talk about legends, you also did to Hana bomb

42:48Raquel Rodriguez:John Cena.

42:49Megan Morant:Yes, that's true. That's right. That's right. And I don't think John Cena is ever going to forget that. And if AJ Lee is smart, she'll call John Cena and ask him for tips, but he won't give her any because he got Tom to Hana bombed. So he's got no tips for her.

43:02Raquel Rodriguez:How do you avoid that? I don't know if I knew I would have tried to avoid it.

43:06Megan Morant:He knew he would have avoided it, but he didn't. I mean, maybe he could tell her how bad it hurts. Maybe she can prep for that.

43:11Steph McMahon:when you okay let's get the crystal ball out let's say okay you are able to win this match on Monday Night Raw you become the number one contender let's say you go on before Wrestlemania and you're able to beat AJ Lee you are walking into Wrestlemania as intercontinental champion who is the woman that you would like to defend that title against at Wrestlemania who do you have your moment with?

43:38Megan Morant:I get a little bit of a choice here.

43:41Steph McMahon:Let's say, let's say.

43:44Megan Morant:Oh, that's a tough one, you know, because there are some women that I still would love to face. And I don't think she'll be back in time for WrestleMania, but Bianca Belair, you know, if she can get that finger back to work and great, I would love to step into the ring with Bianca Belair. She's the only woman at the moment that I can think of who can give me some decent competition in the ring. So when the EST is ready and when Big Sexy is the IC champion, then we'll talk.

44:09Raquel Rodriguez:Unbelievable.

44:10Steph McMahon:Well, Raquel, I, I, I, uh, very much appreciate you, uh, being so generous with your time, especially, you know, when there are other things to figure out with the judgment day and, and, and, and, and where all that's going. Um, don't you worry

44:23Megan Morant:about that because next week when I win this, this multi-woman match gimmick that's happening or whatever, and I get my chance to have that icy title, that is going to bring the family back together. That is what is going to put us back on the map. And judgment day is going to continue to run all of WWE like we have been doing this entire time. La Huerita is going to be champion. Big Sexy is going to be champion. El Sucio is going to be champion. We're all going to be champions. And then we're all going to love because it's going to be amazing. We're going to have a big party and no one will be invited but the Judgment Day.

44:56Raquel Rodriguez:You're not going to invite Danhausen into the clubhouse?

45:00Megan Morant:I mean, maybe if we want some entertainment or something. You know, I want to see the guy do a little dance or maybe if he can make us laugh for some reason. But if he isn't going to bring anything to the table other than his weird makeup and that awkward feeling. No, he's not allowed in the clubhouse. Sorry. In the jar of teeth.

45:17Raquel Rodriguez:The teeth, too. He's got the teeth. Nobody wants that.

45:19Sam Roberts:Megan, you want a jar of teeth? What are you going to do with a jar of teeth? No, keep that far away from me.

45:23Megan Morant:I don't want to get cursed.

45:25Sam Roberts:Yeah.

45:25Megan Morant:So keep. Nobody wants no jar. And whose teeth are they? You know, that's kind of gross and unsanitary. Can we talk about that? No, that's right. How is he taking that through TSA? Does he travel through TSA?

45:34Raquel Rodriguez:I don't know. I thought he'd travel on a broomstick or something. In a box. Yeah. Yeah, he was going town to town in that crate for a while. So maybe he's, I don't know. I don't know what his travel is.

45:44Megan Morant:That's interesting. I don't know where he keeps the jar of teeth in there. It doesn't say fragile anywhere on the box. That thing's going to break easily. He's going to lose all those teeth. That's right. I feel bad if that's his hobby on the side, you know?

45:55Steph McMahon:Yeah. Well, listen, I hope we're a week away. I hope we're a week away from you as number one contender. I hope we're a week away from the judgment day altogether and enjoying everybody's glory. And Raquel.

46:05Megan Morant:We're going to take hope out and we're going to say we are a week away. All right. We are a week away from Raquel winning an opportunity at the IC title.

46:14Steph McMahon:That's what it is.

46:15Megan Morant:That sounds better, doesn't it? That sounds better.

46:18Steph McMahon:It does. Thank you, Raquel.

46:20Sam Roberts:Thanks, guys. Thank you so much to Raquel Rodriguez. We are all looking forward to that gauntlet match next week. but I want to talk to you guys about some new t-shirts that are available. As we all know, Seth Rollins made his return over the weekend at Elimination Chamber, and he returned with a brand new authentic tee. Dan Housen officially arrived in WWE and his new shirt is available right now. AJ Lee celebrates her Intercontinental Championship win with a new winner tee. You don't want to miss out. Shop all the new arrivals now at WWE Shop and Fanatics.

47:04Raquel Rodriguez:And by the way, it's March. I know.

47:07Sam Roberts:It's a great month.

47:08Raquel Rodriguez:I know.

47:08Sam Roberts:Lots to celebrate.

47:09Raquel Rodriguez:Okay.

47:10Sam Roberts:Especially 316 Day. What? It's almost here. What? The official Austin 316 Day t-shirts are available for pre-order right now.

47:23Raquel Rodriguez:What?

47:24Sam Roberts:Don't miss your chance to own the latest 316 release. Pre-order yours today at WWE Shop and Fanatics. I feel like you set me up there.

47:34Raquel Rodriguez:What? I think.

47:37Sam Roberts:Now I walked into that one.

47:38Raquel Rodriguez:Yeah, that one I got you.

47:39Sam Roberts:But you set me up there because this is all about AJ Lee winning the Intercontinental Championship. And I would just like to point out that Becky Lynch filed an appeal with the Illinois State Athletic Commission. So this one's It's far from over

47:54Raquel Rodriguez:She should have just gone to Raw

47:56Sam Roberts:She's got a lot to deal with Right

47:58Raquel Rodriguez:Right Yeah she could have just gone to Raw And maybe gotten involved in the number one contenders match

48:03Sam Roberts:But why would she have to do that if she never really lost the title I was watching her vlog today

48:07Raquel Rodriguez:She really lost the title And it pointed out how crooked Jessica Carr is

48:12Sam Roberts:Oh that's weird

48:13Raquel Rodriguez:Way off How do you know it's not a rerun

48:16Sam Roberts:Wasn't a rerun

48:17Raquel Rodriguez:Do you ever do that Do you ever go like Oh this is so crazy that Becky Lynch is just doing the exact same vlog every single week.

48:24Sam Roberts:It's very different this week.

48:25Raquel Rodriguez:Oh, what was different about it?

48:27Sam Roberts:Your boy Peter Rosenberg was in it.

48:29Raquel Rodriguez:Shout out.

48:30Sam Roberts:Shout out. Also, Jealous Joe Tess was in there. He was very upset that he did not win a Bexie Award.

48:36Raquel Rodriguez:Who's he jealous of?

48:37Sam Roberts:Me. He brought it up.

48:38Raquel Rodriguez:Oh, come on.

48:39Sam Roberts:He brought it up. He said, why did Megan win the Bexie Award?

48:42Raquel Rodriguez:He really, maybe he really is. He brought that up? Jealous Joe Tess. Because what'd you win? Broadcaster?

48:47Sam Roberts:Media personality of the year.

48:49Raquel Rodriguez:Best?

48:49Sam Roberts:The best media personality in the world. Jealous Joe Tess. That's what I'm calling him. Everybody's calling him that.

48:56Raquel Rodriguez:He brought that up. He did. He didn't say, like Becky didn't go, oh, are you jealous? He just brought it up out of the blue. Brought it up. Dog, Joe Tess is jealous.

49:04Sam Roberts:I know. Jealous Joe Tess. He is. You got to start watching these vlogs.

49:08Raquel Rodriguez:I didn't know Jealous Joe Tess was on it.

49:11Sam Roberts:He was.

49:12Raquel Rodriguez:Yeah. Does he know I want a Bexy?

49:15Sam Roberts:I think I want two. He didn't bring you up. He's not jealous of you.

49:19Raquel Rodriguez:Well, mine weren't. insulting Bexies. It's like a Razzie. You won an Oscar. You know.

49:25Sam Roberts:The corrupt KC will be up for one.

49:27Raquel Rodriguez:Oh, that's true. That's true. After KC was working against the Megan agenda.

49:32Sam Roberts:It was.

49:34Raquel Rodriguez:We have a gauntlet match next week to find out who the number one contender, AJ Lee, regardless of Becky Lynch doing God knows what, AJ Lee will be defending the Intercontinental

49:46Steph McMahon:Championship before WrestleMania. I guess being a fighting champion must run in the family there in the Lee Punk household. Because we've got a number one contenders gauntlet match next week. Lyra Valkyria, Bayley, Eoskye, Raquel Rodriguez,

50:09Raquel Rodriguez:Asuka, and Ivy Nile.

50:11Steph McMahon:And I mean, the fact that we are indeed doing it gauntlet style. there are a lot of heavy hitters. I feel like in a match like this, Gauntlet does lean maybe a little bit in Raquel's favor because Raquel's the type that she can put down a couple of power moves and end it quick. I know because I've played Gauntlets in 2K. So I understand the strategy in a Gauntlet match, okay? And the idea is...

50:40Sam Roberts:You're an experienced Gauntlet match-er.

50:43Raquel Rodriguez:That's right. That's right. Performer.

50:45Sam Roberts:Yes.

50:45Raquel Rodriguez:I've performed in many gauntlet matches on 2K. Yes. All of them have been on 2K, but that's besides the point. But I got an advanced copy.

50:56Steph McMahon:I think that Raquel, that's the move that I do. Right. You try to cheese or get somebody with big power moves and do like as few moves as possible to win the match as quick as possible to leave as much energy because otherwise your energy bar goes down. And that's what whoever is in this match doesn't want their energy bar to go down. Raquel does have the offense that she's going to be able to put out the fewest moves to get the quickest result possible, which is very good in a gauntlet match.

51:26Sam Roberts:But for me, it's a motivated Eoskai that has the advantage. She lost her tag team title. Her best friend Rhea Ripley is going to WrestleMania. This is EO Sky, who not only shocked the world and won the title on the way to WrestleMania last year, but then retained the title at WrestleMania. I think EO Sky has a massive chip on her shoulder, and she knows. She sees the writing on the wall. She knows this is her only way to get a match at WrestleMania.

51:53Steph McMahon:Yeah, that's what it is. I don't know if it's a chip on her shoulder or if it's desperation. Either way, it can be effective. But I think that that's a great point that you bring up because I think that— and this is something I've been struggling with. I'm so excited for Rhea Ripley versus Jade Cargill. I'm so excited for Rhea Ripley to be back into singles championship competition. But I'm looking at the tag division. I'm looking at the women's world championship. I'm looking at the women's WWE championship and I'm looking at WrestleMania going, does Io have a match?

52:25Sam Roberts:I know.

52:26Steph McMahon:And this is one of those, like this would be the alternative. And I mean, EO Sky versus AJ Lee would be incredible.

52:34Sam Roberts:Amazing.

52:35Steph McMahon:Raquel versus AJ Lee would be incredible. I mean, who knows? And who knows after that match what even happens to the Intercontinental Champion going into WrestleMania. I think it's going to be very, very exciting. But I'll tell you what's also very, very exciting.

52:51Sam Roberts:What's that?

52:52Raquel Rodriguez:Topps Now making moments. Commemorating moments. Tops Now is going to commemorate Rhea Ripley and Randy Orton's Elimination Chamber.

52:59Steph McMahon:2026 victories with limited cards. Lucky collectors who buy the base cards will have the chance to receive serial numbered parallels and even autographed versions. Tops Now also put cards out to celebrate Seth Rollins' return, CM Punk's victory, and one other card, and I'll give you a hint as to what it is. It is very nice. The card's very nice. but very evil.

53:27Sam Roberts:Dan Housen?

53:28Raquel Rodriguez:Dan Housen has a Topps Now card. Yes, Dan Housen's debut gets a Topps Now card.

53:34Steph McMahon:And Dan Housen, I hope that people got a better indication of who and more what Dan Housen is on Monday Night Raw.

53:46Raquel Rodriguez:Because the conversation around Dan Housen all week, all weekend. Yeah, it's been everywhere.

53:52Steph McMahon:but I think people weren't quite sure what they saw on Saturday. And the haters are going to be out there. And by the way, Danhausen haters, I'm collecting information, and I won't allow them, you know, the grace.

54:06Sam Roberts:You're keeping receipts?

54:07Raquel Rodriguez:All the receipts. All right. I got a backpack full of receipts. They call me Erwin R. Scheister. I got so many receipts. I got them all, okay? But I think people are coming around on Danhausen, who showed up and he talked to Adam Pierce, who I think he thought was not Adam Pierce. I think he called him Cold Steve Austin.

54:30Sam Roberts:Oh, you're wearing the glasses.

54:32Raquel Rodriguez:Yeah, yeah. Disguise. And had his list of demands. And by the way, I'm going to tell you something about Dan Housen. I've been following his career for years. And there's one thing this guy's always wanted. A blimp.

54:45Sam Roberts:People call you Sam Housen.

54:46Raquel Rodriguez:They've called me Sam Housen before. There have been, you know, pairings where that has been the pairing. Yes. But a blimp has always been on that list. He wants the Triple H point picture that everybody gets. You know, he wants to be in the Hall of Fame this year. We've found out today demolition going into the Hall of Fame, which I'm super psyched about. We got Stephanie McMahon. We got AJ Styles. I'm hoping Dan Housen also goes into the Hall of Fame this year via the list that he did, unfortunately, drop in the toilet.

55:17Sam Roberts:Yeah, it was a crumbled up piece of paper.

55:19Raquel Rodriguez:Well, he only had the one.

55:20Sam Roberts:It almost looked like he wrote these items on the list in crayon or something.

55:26Raquel Rodriguez:Well, I don't know what writing utensil he had with him at the time. I don't think that's neither here nor there. And he gave Adam Pearce the list so you don't forget. And I think that that's important.

55:37Sam Roberts:Yeah, you know, if you write things down, people typically remember. Emails get deleted.

55:42Raquel Rodriguez:I don't know if Danhausen has email.

55:44Sam Roberts:No, I don't think so. I don't think so. Text messages.

55:46Raquel Rodriguez:He doesn't text, I don't think. No. No, no.

55:48Sam Roberts:I mean, he lived for, what, two weeks in a box?

55:51Raquel Rodriguez:Yeah, with 15 dancing Danhausen girls.

55:55Sam Roberts:And in a coffin.

55:56Raquel Rodriguez:In a coffin in the box, yeah.

55:57Sam Roberts:With a jar of teeth.

55:58Raquel Rodriguez:Well, he keeps it. That jar of teeth travels with him.

56:01Sam Roberts:Everywhere.

56:02Raquel Rodriguez:He collects them.

56:03Sam Roberts:It's like his binky that he has to bring with him everywhere he goes.

56:06Raquel Rodriguez:I think there are multiple jars of teeth

56:07Sam Roberts:Speaking of collecting, where's Little Sam?

56:09Raquel Rodriguez:Oh, I guess he's taking a nap Yeah, yeah You know what? I think Little Sam should start carrying around a little jar of teeth

56:17Sam Roberts:That would be a nice addition

56:19Steph McMahon:I think so

56:19Sam Roberts:Maybe Nick should make that You could talk to all the Mattel guys

56:23Steph McMahon:But I don't think, by the way, it's not like a binky Because there's multiple jars of teeth, I think Because he didn't He didn't take back He doesn't do take backsies so I think Michael Cole got to keep the jar of teeth that Michael Cole got at Elimination Chamber

56:37Sam Roberts:so he's giving them out now like gift baskets or like candles?

56:40Raquel Rodriguez:I guess so I mean he's got all these jars of teeth what's he going to keep them all? you know what I mean?

56:44Sam Roberts:might be special and he have significance

56:47Raquel Rodriguez:and he did call him Michael Colehausen

56:49Steph McMahon:on Twitter so he probably does maybe he has an affinity for Michael Cole but it seemed like he had an affinity for the Judgment Day he was being very polite because he's very nice but very evil as well

56:58Raquel Rodriguez:and so it seems like see they're calling me Sam Housen already. I have a lower third that's been made up, you know, and I am. I'm like Dan Housen in the sense that I have powers, but all my powers are for lower thirds. You know, that's

57:12Steph McMahon:really where my power is limited to, but I could just create lower thirds, you know, and I mean, as a broadcaster, it is a pretty good power.

57:19Sam Roberts:I mean, I can't think of how else it would be useful.

57:24Raquel Rodriguez:Luckily, I'm a broadcaster.

57:25Sam Roberts:But for a broadcaster.

57:26Raquel Rodriguez:Yeah, it's the best. Very useful. So anyway, Lower third Let's see Oh there it goes

57:34Sam Roberts:See It took a minute

57:37Steph McMahon:If it takes a minute I literally created a lower third out of thin air

57:41Sam Roberts:I can't

57:42Steph McMahon:And you're going eh it took a minute

57:44Raquel Rodriguez:Lower third See I mean that's impressive Amazing

57:49Sam Roberts:Thank you

57:52Raquel Rodriguez:And all the guys in the control room are just sitting there going like I don't know

57:56Sam Roberts:They actually just said to my ear like can you move it along, Megan.

58:00Raquel Rodriguez:Well, yeah, I get it because they're jealous because I create my own lower thirds now. But, but, but I say all that to say Danhausen was very impressed by Dominic Mysterio's championships and asked if he could have one to which, which I thought was very, I mean, at least he's speaking from the heart. Dominic said, no, he can't.

58:21Sam Roberts:He said, this is as close as you'll ever get to one of these. I'm surprised.

58:24Raquel Rodriguez:I was kind of surprised that Dominic didn't hit him with a, that's enough. but he didn't.

58:30Sam Roberts:This is an interesting spot for you because you love Dan Housen so much,

58:33Raquel Rodriguez:but you also love Dominic Mysterio. Dominic Housen would be awesome. But yeah, no, I do, I do. When Dan Housen cursed Dominic Mysterio, I was torn. It was really, really difficult for me.

58:49Steph McMahon:You know, Dominic going out there with the Judgment Day for his match with Penta. Penta has not taken kindly in the past to me being a Dominic Mysterio fan.

58:59Sam Roberts:Every time he sees you, he calls you out for it. He does, every time.

59:02Raquel Rodriguez:Well, and it is what it is.

59:05Steph McMahon:But Dominic Mysterio, at the end of that match, asking for the hammer. Finn Balor and J.D. McDonough are out there just to give him support because he said he wanted to do it on his own. But also, he changed his mind. And people are allowed to change their minds.

59:21Sam Roberts:J.D.'s a real bro. He didn't question for a second. Got up, went and got the hammer, about to give it to him. But Finn wanted to hold Dominic accountable.

59:31Steph McMahon:And it's like, bro, that's not what I'm looking for, bro. Like, hold me accountable some other time. And by the way, because Finn was trying to, you know, be the teacher or something for whatever reason, they both end up getting taken out by Penta. They could have been celebrating with gold. And instead, this happens.

59:47Sam Roberts:Well, there was a moment on Saturday at the Elimination Chamber where Finn stopped and looked for the Judgment Day and then continued to proceed on his own.

59:54Steph McMahon:I don't think he was looking for them. I think he was stopping to consider it and then deciding not to ask for the judgment day.

1:00:02Sam Roberts:That's right. Dominic didn't consider. He asked immediately.

1:00:06Steph McMahon:Well, yeah, because that's what he wanted. That's how he wanted to defend his title. He's a defending champion. And I think that that's fine. If you want to use a hammer, use a hammer. It ain't cheating unless you get caught. You didn't know that? And if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. It's interesting because whenever Becky Lynch tries extra hard,

1:00:25Sam Roberts:you seem to always...

1:00:26Raquel Rodriguez:Well, she loses.

1:00:27Sam Roberts:No.

1:00:29Raquel Rodriguez:Okay, well, Saturday's an example.

1:00:31Sam Roberts:Well, there was...

1:00:32Raquel Rodriguez:Nothing going on.

1:00:33Sam Roberts:There was a crooked referee. Who? Jessica Carr.

1:00:36Raquel Rodriguez:Oh.

1:00:38Sam Roberts:Crooked. I forgot.

1:00:39Raquel Rodriguez:I forgot about that. Dominic Mysterio loses the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Huge moment. By the way, I am a Penta fan.

1:00:46Sam Roberts:It's the first time he defended it since he won it back. He's literally been injured.

1:00:49Raquel Rodriguez:You want him to defend the title while he's not cleared to wrestle. Is that what you want?

1:00:53Sam Roberts:I would like the Intercontinental title It'll be defended, and now it will because Penta is a fighting champion.

1:00:57Raquel Rodriguez:It was defended a lot, and then he was injured, and now it's being defended again. Penta as Intercontinental Champion is cool.

1:01:06Sam Roberts:It's amazing. It's his first title in WWE. I think when Penta came to WWE, it was the second week, I think, WWE's on Netflix? Yeah, second episode. And immediately from the entrance, we were all just, wow. Penta grabbed. I mean, I didn't follow Penta. You've been following Penta's career for a long time. Oh, yeah. But I was introduced to Penta and immediately just had this connection with him. And now to see him in WWE as a champion and as an intercontinental champion, the things he can do in the ring, I'm so excited to see what's next for Penta and what this reign looks like.

1:01:43Raquel Rodriguez:I can't. I think the reign's going to be short. I think Dominic's going to win it back real quick. Of course you do.

1:01:48Sam Roberts:Real quick.

1:01:49Steph McMahon:I mean, let's pour one out one time for the greatest Intercontinental Championship title reign of all time. That was Dominic Mysterio. Thank you in the control room. Alex is pouring one out because he knows. We got to bear witness to the greatest Intercontinental title reign of all time. And you know the only time—

1:02:06Sam Roberts:Was the first reign the greatest? And then he lost it to Cena? And this was the second reign where he never defended it, the greatest.

1:02:13Raquel Rodriguez:Both. It's all kind of one big thing.

1:02:15Sam Roberts:It's all one to you? You don't count the fact that he lost it to Cena?

1:02:18Raquel Rodriguez:No, because he beat Cena.

1:02:20Sam Roberts:Well, he got it back, but...

1:02:21Raquel Rodriguez:I mean, listen. I dare you to try to discredit Dominic Mysterio for beating John Cena. I'm not going to. You know, that's not the... This isn't the only big competition.

1:02:36Sam Roberts:No, no. There's a big competition coming up this summer at Fanatics Fest. Oh, really? The number one sports fan festival is back. It returns to the Javits Center in New York City from July 16th through the 19th. And Fanatics just announced, Sam, this is a big deal, the return of Fanatics games. You and I were a part of that last year. They're bringing back the high-stakes cross-sports competition where everyday fans get to go head-to-head with some of the biggest names in sports. The 2026 Fanatics games introduces an expanded format, a$2 million total prize pool, and new nationwide qualifying opportunities for fans to compete alongside elite athletes.

1:03:22Sam Roberts:The inaugural winner, Tom Brady, as well as reigning fan champion Matt Dennis will be back. And WWE superstars Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Cody Rhodes, and Jey Uso will be joining the competition for a shot at the title. Head on over to FanaticsFest.com to apply to compete or grab your tickets to FanaticsFest. You don't want to miss out.

1:03:45Steph McMahon:No, you really don't. You got to be in New York July 16th through the 19th, but you got to be in Las Vegas April 16th through the 20th. Why is that? Because WWE World is returning to Las Vegas April 16th through the 20th, and it's the can't-miss destination during WrestleMania week. WWE World brings the WWE Universe closer than ever to the superstars, legends, and iconic moments that define WWE. with immersive exhibits, exclusive merchandise and experiences you're just not going to find anywhere else. You can see superstars like Drew McIntyre, Liv Morgan, Jey Uso Dominic Mysterio Tiffany Stratton and many more with even more appearances still to come.

1:04:25Steph McMahon:Who knows? Maybe that Dan Housen will be there. Love that Dan Housen. Tickets are now on sale at WWEWorld.com Save 10 % with promo code WWENow10 Get to WWE World I hope to have the opportunity to be there myself alongside you, Megan Maramp. But before we get there, that's, of course, a big part of WrestleMania weekend. And we are still trying to see what WrestleMania is going to look like. I think hopefully SmackDown paints a much clearer picture.

1:04:56Sam Roberts:Yeah, because the WWE Championship is on the line.

1:04:59Steph McMahon:This is crazy. On Friday night, the match was made official on the post show in a fit of rage by Nick Aldis. Sick of Drew McIntyre interfering in the rumble and interfering in the chamber and interfering in the qualifying matches and Drew McIntyre trying to take his reign in his own hands and not open it up to the field. Nick Aldis showed up on the post show and made it official. This Friday night, Cody Rhodes versus Drew McIntyre. The match that Drew McIntyre did not want to happen is happening. undisputed WWE championship is on the line. Randy Orton won the Elimination Chamber. Michael Cole said it on Raw tonight.

1:05:44Steph McMahon:He said after the Elimination Chamber, he said Drew McIntyre versus Randy Orton is your WWE Championship match at WrestleMania, but it may not be Megan after all this time, after two months with Drew as champion. Cody Rhodes still may walk into WrestleMania as WWE champ.

1:06:07Sam Roberts:I mean, it's insane to think about. It's insane to think about Drew after everything he's been through and his goal of becoming WWE champion, walking into WrestleMania as a champion that could slip through his fingertips if Cody Rhodes is to defeat Drew McIntyre on Friday Night SmackDown. I mean, this is going to be insane. And you also think about other people who have been involved in this. I wonder, you know, Jacob Fatu, he's had issues with Drew McIntyre. He's had issues with Cody Rhodes. It's not about Cody Rhodes, but there's been.

1:06:41Steph McMahon:Well, I think he's going to have something to say about the fact that he has been specifically saying he wants to get his hands on Drew McIntyre. And Nick Aldis has made this match with Cody Rhodes. And I think that there's logic to that. You know, I mean, Jacob Fatu was screwed out of a couple qualifiers. But, you know, I think between Cody, here's the thing. Cody got screwed out of the Royal Rumble. Yes. By Drew McIntyre, who was not in the match. Then he got screwed out of the elimination chamber. Drew McIntyre provided the distraction that allowed Randy Orton, that viper that he is, to strike.

1:07:12Steph McMahon:I think that some will tell you, well, what do you mean? Cody doesn't have a rematch. Cody doesn't have a rematch. This isn't a rematch. No. This is Drew McIntyre who is going out of his way to curate his list of challengers, which a champion should not be able to pick and choose who the challengers are. The people who deserve the matches are the ones that should get the match. And I think Nick Aldis has seen that clearly him saying, hey, Drew, knock it off, is not going to work. No. Cody Rhodes being provided the same opportunities that other superstars are being provided is not going to work.

1:07:50Steph McMahon:So it's time to take matters into his own hands. Settle this once and for all. Oh, and by the way, we get to watch a Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, WWE championship match on a SmackDown. That's awesome.

1:08:05Sam Roberts:Can you imagine if the championship changes on the road to WrestleMania?

1:08:08Raquel Rodriguez:Yes, it's Cody Rhodes. Of course I can imagine that. Of course I can imagine that. And Drew McIntyre is going to be murderous if that happens. But I think it's very possible.

1:08:18Steph McMahon:I think that Cody Rhodes does not lose very often. No. And I think that when he does lose, you can usually trace it back to some kind of interference, some kind of screw job, some kind of whatever it is. So it'll be very interesting to see how all parties get themselves into the ring and what happens Friday night. I cannot wait for Cody and Drew and finding out who walks in to WrestleMania as WWE champion. We'll be here.

1:08:48Sam Roberts:Yeah, we will.

1:08:49Steph McMahon:To talk about it all next Monday, if not before. Make sure you're subscribed across all audio platforms. Make sure you're leaving comments and hitting like on YouTube. And we will see you next week after Raw right here on WWE Now.

1:09:11We'll be right back.