In short
Summary of Podcast Episode: WWE Now - The Masked Man attacks Logan Paul, two more qualify for the Elimination Chamber | Raw Recap
Podcast Title What's Your Story? with Steph McMahon
Episode Information
- Episode Title: WWE Now - The Masked Man attacks Logan Paul, two more qualify for the Elimination Chamber | Raw Recap
- Hosts: Sam Roberts, Megan Morant, Big E
- Date: [Insert Date]
- Produced By: WWE & Fanatics Original Production
Episode Overview In this episode, the hosts recap the events of Monday Night Raw, focusing on the exciting developments and dramatic moments leading into the WrestleMania season. Key highlights include the Masked Man's attack on Logan Paul, AJ Lee's psychological play against Becky Lynch, the emotional turmoil of Liv Morgan, and the qualification of Javon Evans and Asuka for the Elimination Chamber.
Key Highlights
Main Events
- Logan Paul vs. The Masked Man
- The Masked Man attacked Logan Paul during Raw, raising the stakes for WrestleMania.
- AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch
- AJ Lee attempts to get inside Becky Lynch's mind, showcasing her desire for a singles match after years.
- Emotional Moment with Liv Morgan
- Stephanie Vaquer’s confrontation with Liv Morgan leads to an emotional breakdown, highlighting the personal struggles behind their rivalry.
- Elimination Chamber Qualifications
- Javon Evans and Asuka qualify for the Elimination Chamber, setting the stage for potential high-stakes matches at WrestleMania.
Commentary on Key Matches
- Gunther's Unexpected Loss
- Gunther, often seen as a favorite, was taken out by Dragon Lee, changing the dynamics of the elimination chamber qualifications.
- The Future of Javon Evans
- Discussion regarding the potential of young superstar Javon Evans as he joins seasoned veterans in the chamber.
CM Punk's Narrative
- CM Punk expresses concerns over the office's dissatisfaction with the current main event dynamics at WrestleMania, hinting at his title's volatility.
Key Concepts Discussed
WrestleMania Season
- The hosts emphasize the unpredictability of the WrestleMania season, highlighting how storylines and character arcs can shift dramatically.
Character Development
- The discussion centers around how characters like AJ Lee, Liv Morgan, and Gunther are evolving, with each facing personal and professional challenges that resonate with fans.
The Impact of Emotional Storytelling
- Liv Morgan's emotional response is contrasted with her previous confident demeanor, showing how character arcs can be developed through personal stakes.
Fan Engagement and Events
- Promotions for upcoming events, including WWE World in Las Vegas and Fanatics Fest, are made, emphasizing the importance of fan interaction and community events.
Key Takeaways
- The episode reveals a blend of real emotional stakes with scripted drama, showcasing how WWE storytelling captivates audiences.
- The hosts explore complex character motivations, such as AJ Lee's vulnerability and Liv Morgan's resilience, making for compelling narratives leading into WrestleMania.
- The unpredictability of match outcomes adds excitement, as evidenced by Gunther's shocking defeat, illustrating the dynamic nature of wrestling.
Conclusion The episode wraps up by teasing future developments and potential rivalries as WrestleMania approaches. The hosts encourage listeners to engage with the content and follow the ongoing stories that make WWE compelling.
For more insights and detailed discussions on wrestling narratives, subscribe to What's Your Story? with Steph McMahon and tune into WWE Now across all audio platforms.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOUnexpected Twists in the Elimination Chamber
0:30 to 1:14
Discussion about the surprising outcomes of the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches.
“in just when we think we know what this road is going to look like.”
Gunther's Unexpected Defeat
1:14 to 2:24
Exploring Gunther's elimination from the match and the implications of his loss.
“Yeah, Dragon Lee, I mean, listen, listen.”
The Consequences of Dragon Lee's Actions
2:24 to 4:12
Analyzing the impact of Dragon Lee's actions on Gunther and the championship landscape.
“guess what's going to happen when you come out and bother Gunther.”
Gunther's Reputation and Future
4:12 to 6:54
Discussion on Gunther's reputation as a 'Career Killer' and what lies ahead for him.
“Now Gunther might not even make it to WrestleMania.”
The Stakes and Consequences of Wrestling
6:54 to 7:39
Highlighting the high stakes of wrestling and the potential repercussions for Dragon Lee.
Dominic Mysterio and the Match Dynamics
7:39 to 9:11
Analyzing the dynamics of the match involving Dominic Mysterio and Javon Evans.
“You kicked him in the head that one time.”
Javon Evans: Rising Star
9:11 to 10:44
Exploring Javon Evans' rise and his unique style of wrestling in the elimination chamber.
“when it comes to these careers, that it gives him some kind of energy, an energy force, and guess what?”
The Unique Skills of Javon Evans
10:44 to 12:27
Delving into the unique moves and skills that make Javon Evans stand out in the ring.
“I wanted to see Javon Evans in the elimination chamber.”
Comparing Generations of Wrestlers
12:27 to 14:01
Discussing the generational clash between Javon Evans and seasoned veterans in the elimination chamber.
“I mean, I think, you know, Javon Evans says that he's bouncy.”
Javon Evans' Rapid Ascent in WWE
14:01 to 17:08
Explore the impressive trajectory of Javon Evans in WWE and his potential future.
“with guys that have been trying to get this spot for almost as long as he's been alive.”
Show all 27 chapters
Randy Orton and Record-Breaking Aspirations
17:09 to 18:08
Discussing Randy Orton's legacy and Javon Evans' ambitions to break his records.
“watching dominic mysterio but wait if you were eight i gotta tell you about these shirts have you heard obafemi showed up on monday night raw he showed up on smack you're interrupting me He showed up on SmackDown.”
Obafemi's Future and Rivalries
18:22 to 21:08
Analysis of Obafemi's potential signings and rivalries in WWE.
“Now, speaking of Obafemi, he was on Raw.”
CM Punk's Controversial Return
21:09 to 23:56
Discussions around CM Punk's return and its implications for WrestleMania.
“well, we saw him in the Royal Rumble, but we saw him at John Cena's retirement match, and he got interrupted by Drew McIntyre.”
Judgment Day Dynamics and Tensions
23:57 to 28:00
Exploring the dynamics within the Judgment Day and their interactions with CM Punk.
“McDonough back, but I was surprised to see them have Finn's back.”
Finn Balor's Emotional Journey
28:00 to 29:29
Explore the emotional stakes for Finn Balor and the challenges he faces.
Guest Big E Joins the Discussion
30:25 to 33:19
Big E shares insights about CM Punk, Finn Balor, and the rivalry dynamics.
“with our special guest here tonight on WWE Now.”
AJ Lee's Impact and Return
33:20 to 38:45
Discussing AJ Lee's significant return and her influence on the women's division.
“think we've seen that from becky even in the slightest what was on display tonight was pure class and sophistication from Becky Lynch.”
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan
38:46 to 42:00
Analyzing the emotional confrontation between Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan.
“I feel like it's a great opportunity for her to stake her claim in the division and show she's truly going to be a player.”
Stephanie Vaquer's Sacrifice and Determination
42:00 to 43:34
Exploring Stephanie Vaquer's journey and her message to Liv Morgan.
“You need to hide behind your boyfriend, but I'm going to tell you something.”
Liv Morgan's Emotional Response
43:34 to 46:07
Discussing Liv Morgan's emotional reaction and the dynamics of her rivalry with Stephanie.
Comparing Paths to WWE Stardom
46:07 to 50:19
A discussion on the different paths wrestlers take to reach WWE stardom.
“Now, obviously, Raquel stepped in the way and kind of made some space.”
The Mystery of the Crate
51:19 to 56:03
Speculating on the contents of a mysterious crate delivered to WWE.
“A wise man once said, if you come out of a box, you're automatically over.”
Logan Paul's Unusual Life
57:03 to 58:22
Explore the highs and lows of Logan Paul's life as a celebrity.
“and speaking of cards, can you, I just, I can't imagine the pace and the emotional highs and lows that some people live their lives at.”
The Mystery of the Masked Man
58:23 to 1:00:13
Delve into the identity and motivations behind the masked assailant.
“Not showing up to work would be one of them.”
Debate Over Grande Americano
1:00:14 to 1:02:38
Discuss the two versions of Grande Americano and their popularity.
“The idea of him sitting on that and not letting the whole world know that he was up to it.”
Elimination Chamber Predictions
1:02:39 to 1:04:50
Make predictions for the upcoming Elimination Chamber matches.
“And so when the original comes back, well, maybe it's not yours anymore.”
AJ Styles Tribute Announcement
1:04:51 to 1:07:58
Anticipate the tribute planned for AJ Styles and its significance.
“for the elimination chamber on the women's side we have uh after tonight oscar and then alexa bliss Tiffany Stratton and Rhea Ripley are in this thing.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01Javon Evans is going to the elimination chamber. Asuka is going to the Elimination Chamber. AJ Lee terrifies Becky Lynch. Is CM Punk putting the WrestleMania main event in jeopardy? This is the Raw recap on WWE Now, a WWE and Fanatics original production.
0:29Boy, oh boy, it is unpredictable. It is WrestleMania season. in just when we think we know what this road is going to look like. An OG cutter shows up and changes everything. Megan Morant. It is official. Javon Evans. And we had both, I think, locked in that our pick was Gunther, whether we liked it or not. The question is not, who do we want to win this thing? The question is realistically, who's going to win this thing? And that was Gunther. It's inevitable, right? Yeah, we've been conditioned. If Gunther's in the match, he's winning the match. except Gunther was in this match, and Gunther did not win this match.
1:08Taken out by Ray Phoenix. Good for Ray Phoenix. Dragon Lee, I think, took him out. Dragon, excuse me. Yeah, Dragon Lee, I mean, listen, listen. Good for Dragon Lee. Well, I don't know. Especially after a couple weeks ago, what Gunther did to Dragon Lee. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Okay, all right, we have our first problem of the day. Dragon Lee had nothing. Dragon Lee put his nose into Gunther's business. Dragon Lee came out because he didn't like what Gunther had said about AJ Styles. Or what he did to AJ Styles. What, retire him? Yes. Well, listen. Gunther offered AJ Styles the opportunity to have the Gunther match at the Royal Rumble, PLE, under one condition.
1:50I've already beaten you once. Put your career on the line. AJ Styles decided to put his career on the line. This is an adult sport where people make adult decisions. AJ Lee did it. I'm sorry, AJ Styles did it. We are all kinds of confused. We got Ray Phoenix, AJ Lee, Dragon Lee. All of them we will discuss later on. But AJ Styles put his career on the line. AJ Styles had his career ended by a guy named the Career Killer. What did you think was going to happen? Dragon Lee came out and he decided to get in Gunther's business. Gunther put him to sleep six feet off the ground and then dropped him.
2:28It was horrifying. Like a second. guess what's going to happen when you come out and bother Gunther. And now. So you're saying that he deserved it. To get put to sleep? Yeah. A thousand percent I am saying he deserved it. If you come out and you interrupt Gunther. And by the way, you don't interrupt him verbally. You know how Dragon Lee interrupted Gunther? By kicking him in the head. If you walk out and you kick Gunther in the head, odds are he's going to put you to sleep. Now listen. full credit to dragon lee like you were saying he did come out there and he did show up he's not laying down he's not letting that be the end of the story he grabbed that ring bell he jumped about 15 feet up in the air and he landed plate first across the dome of gunther he cost gunther an opportunity to be in that elimination chamber.
3:25Gunther, I feel like, had shaped out what this year was going to look like. And it comes right off of the John Cena retirement. And it starts with ending AJ Styles' career. And the next step is the elimination chamber because it leads to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. And Gunther thought that once that groundhog's prophecy had been filled and spring was officially here, that Gunther would be walking into the warm weather, the WWE champion. And once Gunther is the WWE champion, who's going to take it away from him? No one. Except we don't have to deal with that inevitably. No, we don't. Because thank you, Dragon Lee, for costing Gunther an opportunity at WrestleMania.
4:16Now Gunther might not even make it to WrestleMania. Oh, let me tell you something. Gunther not making, I think it's more likely that Dragon Lee doesn't make it to April than that Gunther doesn't make it to WrestleMania. Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever thought about that? That actions have consequences? Yeah. We learned this. And Gunter learned that tonight. Okay, well, guess what? When he got the ring bell thrown right at his noggin. Do you honestly, Megan, I know you're happy. I'm thrilled. I know you're in a state of bliss. You got your little Becky Lynch award. You got Gunther laid out.
4:46Everything is coming up Morant. I understand. can you honestly look at me in the face and don't tell me what you want tell me what you think do you think that gunther who has a timekeeper's bell imprint on his forehead right now is gonna go is that what you think it's so good to think about you're satisfied by that i am you are i really looked at that graphic heading into tonight and i went oh this is gonna be gunther oh no and then i looked at everybody else in the elimination chamber and i go oh no was going to be Gunter. And I was having nightmares for weeks about how Gunter might end Randy Orton's career.
5:26I've been replaying that Royal Rumble elimination over and over. And then Gunter came here in the studio. We talked to him. He was in Saudi Arabia. And you asked him about eliminating Randy. And he gave us that weird smirk and said, maybe, or I don't know. Was that when he told you to get a life? I think it was after that. He said, what's her problem? Yeah. Yeah. So, yes, I am. You looked at me tonight while we were watching Raw with like a tinge of bitterness when you said, oh, you love Gunther. You do love Gunther. There is something I love about Gunther because I love. You're a bad guy. I'm not a bad guy.
6:01I'm a great man. But I love truth. I love justice. I think there is so little fairness in the world, but I love dependability. I love something that you can count on. I love that when the sun goes down, you know the sun's going to come back up. when tax season rolls around I go goody goody gumdrops that's how we know there are things that we can count on death and taxes and Gunther and I go somebody I can depend on somebody who's gonna make a promise and I go that guy means exactly what he says you like consistent people I love consistency I think consistent people are the best types of people on this planet it but i also love chutzpah i love when somebody won't take no for an answer i love somebody like dragon lee the problem is that those stories always end up poorly in real life because real life is not a fairy tale what did i tell you about all the fun and all the great stories and about all the happy endings about all of it you told me that gunter ruins them yes and guess what can you honestly this is what I was getting at can you look at me in the face right now and can you tell me not what you want but what you think you think with the imprint of that timekeeper's bell in his forehead the Gunther's like well I deserve that and I guess we'll just move forward after this or do you think Dragon Lee has a receipt that looks like when you're at CVS and it's the end of the month and that thing just keeps printing and printing and printing and printing a lot of I mean, the biggest receipt that you've ever seen in your life.
7:38Can you imagine? You embarrassed Gunther. You kicked him in the head that one time. Now you jumped up 200 feet in the air and came down with a ring bell on his head. And you cost him an opportunity in the elimination chamber. It doesn't matter what Gunther does. Once the elimination chamber is done, both of those title matches are spoken for. It ain't happening for anybody else, including Gunther. you don't think that dragon lee is going to pay dearly dearly for what he did i will pay dearly for a security escort 24 7 for dragon lee all right because i am concerned for his safety we saw what happened when he interrupted gunter kicked him in the head by the way was it just a interruption.
8:27Yeah, but this I mean, getting kicked in the head, it's not great, but getting kicked in the head didn't cost him a Wrestlemania match. It didn't leave an imprint of a bell on his forehead. Right. I see what you're saying. I mean, he tried to, I guess you could say, humiliate Gunter. He didn't. But this time he did. And that means trouble. Yeah. Yes. Yes. I mean, so I'm concerned for I think Dragon Lee is as good as retired. Dragon Lee should leave the mask in the ring next week and save himself a lot of heartache because the career killer, like Corey Graves so eloquently described him. I haven't seen color commentary like that since I watched Booker T on Tuesday.
9:10But Corey Graves saying that Gunther was like a vampire when it comes to these careers, that it gives him some kind of energy, an energy force, and guess what? If Dragon Lee wants to question that, Maybe Gunther needs to retire Dragon Lee. Why are we only looking at people that might be, you know, near retirement? I'd say anybody that messes with Gunther, he retires them. Watch out, Dragon Lee. Leave him in the ring. Take the mask and the boots off. Leave him in the ring next week. It'll save you. It'll save you. It'll save you. It's kind of a tough day for you because not only do you love Gunther, but you also love Dominic Mysterio.
9:47You also lost. To be fair, I love Javon Evans, too. You know this is true. Yeah, it is true. You do. I mean, I guess I just love wrestling. But I mean, Dragon Lee kind of saved Dom because Gunter was picking up that hammer that is used to ring the bell. Dom would have gotten out of it, I think. As a matter of fact, if Dragon Lee hadn't interfered, Dom probably would have won. There was a moment where I looked at you and said, is Dominic really going to win this thing? When it was down to Javon Evans and Dominic Mysterio. After Dominic hit the 619, he goes up for the frog splash. And that's why I think he was midair with the frog splash.
10:20He goes, Dominic going to win this thing? But Javon Evans is too quick. Dominic misses the frog splash. Javon goes for that OG cutter. Hits him. One, two, three. And you get that reaction from Memphis. And I think that that reaction was similar around the world. Where it was like, this is the thing that we wanted. But none of us thought was going to happen. That's exactly how I felt. Yeah. I wanted to see Javon Evans in the elimination chamber. But you didn't think it was a possibility? No. Right. Not with Gunter. Right. Or Dominic. Two titles, by the way. Mainly Gunter. Okay. Well, whatever. Whatever.
11:00Two titles that he doesn't defend. I believe. Well, first of all, he does. He defends them plenty. He defends them plenty. Plenty, plenty, plenty. But this is what you're looking at right now. When was the last time he defended one? What am I, a historian? Yeah. This is what. You are. Well, I don't know. This is the graphic you're looking at, okay? This is like a legendary Elimination Chamber match. You got L.A. Knight. Unchosen L.A. Knight. Yeah. Who is, I mean, the fans pick of all the fans pick. The one guy who you talk about a guy who just keeps going, who gets knocked down but will not stop.
11:39That's L.A. Knight. Randy Orton, who has been world champion so many times and people are just waiting for that one more. Cody Rhodes, who I think people still can't believe is not the WWE champion right now. Cody Rhodes, who I think it's, there are a lot of people surprised, including Cody Rhodes himself, that here we are mid-February and he doesn't have a clear path to the main event of WrestleMania. For the first time since WrestleMania 38, when he returned, Cody Rhodes does not have a guaranteed ticket to the main event of WrestleMania. and that's what he's fighting for. And now you add to that field the young OG, Javon Evans.
12:22And can you imagine what an OG cutter is going to look like off the top of one of those chambers? Wow. I mean, I think, you know, Javon Evans says that he's bouncy. I think that the elimination chamber is going to be the ultimate test. Not ready for that type of bouncy. Yeah, how bouncy is he? I don't know if we've ever seen someone like Javon Evans in an elimination chamber. I don't know if we've ever seen someone like Javon Evans, period. Yeah. Yeah. I don't yeah I think that that's right that's the thing wherever you put Javon Evans you're gonna get something very very unique and that's the thing throughout watching the match tonight Javon does certain moves where we just look at each other like what yeah what is happening and then he does another one okay well I mean it's just an amazing like you I you don't understand how a human body yeah do those things and and make it look like it's so sort of I have no clue what I'm doing, but there's also, there's a level of chaos under this level of, or over, I would say probably, this level of full, unbelievable control of where he's taking his body, where every time he goes in there, like he was with Gunther, diving from the ring all the way to the outside, where it looks like this guy is completely out of control, but somehow lands directly on target every single time.
13:41It's remarkable. I love it. And I think we're going to see that inside the chamber. It's just going to be really interesting to see how this superstar, who I would call a kid, who's 21 years old, is going to be in there now with veterans like Cody Rhodes, like Randy Orton, with guys that have been trying to get this spot for almost as long as he's been alive. Like L.A. Night. I mean, can you imagine L.A. Night? Can you imagine as long as he's worked for this, as hard as he's worked for this, as long as it's taken him to get this opportunity to look at a 21-year-old who's out here maybe being the one who's going to stop you?
14:22I mean, there is so much story just amongst the four that we know. And not only that, but think about the year that Javon Evans has had, right? Yes. You know, making his way to the main roster, having the match at John Cena's retirement show. Yeah. I mean, it's been crazy for Javon Evans. And then going into the Royal Rumble for the first time, now going into the Elimination Chamber for the first time, potentially going to his first WrestleMania. This year, I think the amount of foundation that Javon Evans is getting this year is going to make him so good. I mean, I just don't know that there has ever been a WWE superstar that has had the opportunity to get all of this done at such a young age so that by the time you get to 10 years down the road when you're in your early 30s, you've got a foundation like nobody in the business has ever seen to wrestle on this level when you are 21.
15:28And we've interviewed him before to have the specific intention of being like, Like, no, I'm in this wrestling thing for life. It's scary the potential that Javon Evans has if what we're getting now is only the very, very beginning. I have to ask you, because you look at the elimination chamber graphic and who has secured their spots. One of them, obviously, is Randy Orton. And Randy Orton is somebody obviously much different than Javon. He's somebody who knows all too well about what it's like to get those opportunities at such a young age. He at one point was the youngest world heavyweight champion.
16:05And we talked to Javon and Javon has his eyes set on breaking that record. Yes, he does. And you got to, you got to, and that's a great point you bring up because realistically, you know, Randy doesn't want that broken. No, who wants their own record broken? You know, Randy wants as much as like that's in the past and Randy's looking forward. He wants to be able to say, yeah, I did something very few have been able to do. He doesn't want that broken. I mean, this isn't even remotely close to anything in WWE, but I still hold the high school two-mile record, and you better believe every couple years I make sure it's not broken.
16:37That's right. I mean, listen, the only person who has had a major WWE career that has started before Javon Evans in terms of age is Dominic Mysterio, who at his age is already 20 years in the game, and look how good he is. He's got two titles, so that tells you something. Of course, it always has to get brought back around to your guy, Dom. he was involved in a ladder match with ray mysterio and eddie guerrero and he was like eight that's i mean what were you doing you were eight not that nothing absolutely nothing nope not that you know dom was already achieving greatness what were you doing at eight watching dom watching dominic mysterio but wait if you were eight i gotta tell you about these shirts have you heard obafemi showed up on monday night raw he showed up on smack you're interrupting me He showed up on SmackDown.
17:28And here's the bigger news. Obafemi merch is here. You can finally change that gross Becky shirt you've been wearing every single week. Obafemi merch is here. The Ruler shirt is available now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. And they have it cut in such a way that you can strut just like he does as you're walking down the aisle at the grocery store, as you're walking into work, wherever you're going. And you know what? It looks a little silly when I do this in this plaid. But if I had that ruler shirt on, you'd be like, there he comes, the ruler. And of course, WWE and Civil Regime are bringing the legends back.
18:08The new gear features bold designs celebrating icons like Triple H, HBK, and more. Don't miss out. Grab yours now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. That dude loved. They all look so, so cool. You got to pick them up. Now, speaking of Obafemi, he was on Raw. Do you have any inclination? Look, this is not only have we gotten a taste on Raw and SmackDown of how much these GMs want to sign Obafemi, but we've also gotten a taste of what on the roster might be waiting for him. On Friday, Nick Aldis showed a great deal of interest in Obafemi, so much so that he, which I don't think a general manager should do, he stole Kit Wilson's poetry book.
19:00Diary. His diary right off that bookmark that Kit Wilson wears around his shoulder, which is really stylish. Yeah, it's engraved in everything. It's really cool. And he read Kit Wilson's poem to Obafemi, which wasn't overly flattering, but also maybe not overly false either. You see what I'm saying? maybe Kit Wilson is waiting on Smackdown for Obafemi at the same time tonight on Raw Adam Pearce showing great interest in Obafemi said that he made him a better deal he doesn't know what Nick Aldis' deal was but he knows his was better I don't know how he could possibly know that but it sounded like a used car salesman to me but then Rusev is right there waiting for him meaning on Smackdown he's got enemies like kit wilson who is the topic by the way and on raw he's got enemies like rusev do you have any inclination as to where this guy may sign i think that rusev is very toxic you do rusev yeah yeah okay and i think uh you know oba also displays some toxic traits as well okay so it kind of and forgive me if i'm putting words in your mouth it kind of feels like you're skewing my question and turning it back around into let's just talk about kit wilson well he is the topic i didn't even think about that but you're right he's the topic you're right but you don't know where i mean listen when you rather share would you who'd you rather share a locker room with who would you rather have to fight if you're obafemi kit wilson you'd rather fight kit wilson yes because you want to you just want to be a part of the movement that's going on just look at size alone right right okay Wilson's a smaller guy than Rusev Rusev's mean yeah you know yeah I can I could see I could see that you get into the ring with Rusev before he even touches you your chest hurts because you know those chops they're gonna sting they're gonna sting he's gonna start kicking yeah I could see it although Oba loves a fight Oba went to Raw a couple weeks ago and decided to take out two Vikings at the same time so well don't forget But also, when we saw Oba Femi last have a match at John Cena, well, we saw him in the Royal Rumble, but we saw him at John Cena's retirement match, and he got interrupted by Drew McIntyre.
21:21Shove Drew McIntyre to the ground. Who is the champion on SmackDown. Drew McIntyre. I'd like to see Oba on SmackDown. You want Oba on SmackDown. I do. I love it. I love it. Well, listen, we had CM Punk come out on Monday Night Raw, and CM Punk shows up, and he makes a big deal. And I've got to tell you something. I do not like the narrative going into this. CM Punk talks about how the office is not happy about this main event. And my beef is not with CM Punk here. Because CM Punk is just talking about what's going on. But CM Punk is basically saying that the office is unhappy with this because it puts the main event of WrestleMania in jeopardy.
22:03so what you're telling me the reason that the main event of Wrestlemania would be put in jeopardy is because CM Punk might lose the title right that's right if CM Punk is if it's an easy win for CM Punk no jeopardy right correct so the office quote-unquote Adam Pearce mainly doesn't want to give Finn Balor a title shot because he could win the title which is the reason somebody is owed a title shot. The fact that the WrestleMania main event may be put in jeopardy is not the reason to not give Finn Balor a title shot. It's the reason to give Finn Balor a title shot. It's infuriating hearing how like there are suits that don't think that Finn Balor should get a shot at the title because he might win it.
22:51That's crazy. Can you imagine having to deal with that as a superstar? be like no actually if it were less likely that you were going to win no problem because you wouldn't put the Wrestlemania main event in jeopardy but because this main event's going to be in jeopardy we don't want to put you in the match hey the suits were all watching the match when Finn Balor reminded us all who Finn Balor is and they reminded him too or he reminded them and tonight when Finn Balor's music played in Memphis Tennessee the old school music wow the office has to be shaken in their boots okay but that's right michael dwight jim all of them pam pam oh pam is terrified don't get me started on on kevin but oscars uh i will say and luca is luca's in there himself can i tell you something luca did he dropped his mug and he loves that mug he loves that mug but i'll tell you i'll tell you that's one for that's a long-running joke uh i will tell you this the old school music yes a thousand percent the spreading the arms out and everything but then he came out with the judgment day Dominic Mysterio had Finn Balor's back which that's strong for Finn Balor JD McDonough makes his return is out there with Finn Balor has Finn Balor's back and don't forget just I think a week ago maybe it was two weeks ago Dominic said to Finn look man I think they've moved on yeah it's gonna be Roman CM Punk because he was listening to the office listening to the office oh we don't want to jeopardize the main event I was sort of surprised I have to admit to see Dominic Mysterio and J.D.
24:42McDonough. I was surprised to see J.D. McDonough back, but I was surprised to see them have Finn's back. Because people are haters. They act like the judgment day isn't the judgment day, and they've been doing that for years. They, meaning you. Go on. I mean, in fairness, if Dominic's really Finn's bro, why is he going to say to him, hey, man, I mean, I think they've moved on. Does he not believe in Finn? and then also in fairness there's but they've moved on it's they it's they it's not Finn he never said Finn you can't do it no he didn't say that he knows the environment that they're in but don't you want your bro pumping you up no I'll figure it out man no because I have real friends that tell me the truth like Dominic Mysterio okay I'm sorry okay that's what I want you're you know what I mean you know what I mean I don't want friends that are gonna tell me yeah you're gonna win this marathon when it's like you're not gonna win the marathon well you know what I mean you might get a better time you're not gonna win it come on you know what I mean There's only one winner.
25:39You're not going to win. You're making a better time. You didn't win. But in fairness to these haters that don't believe in the Judgment Day, we're living in a world where Liv Morgan intentionally eliminated Raquel Rodriguez from the Royal Rumble. Every lady for themselves in the Royal Rumble. Isn't that right? Isn't that right? Aren't those the rules? Yeah. Come on. Why are you a hater? They got to, I mean, they were all hanging out with Dominic at Valentine's Day. having a heart-shaped chicken nuggets. They did look pretty happy. See? And they looked pretty happy today, too. That's right. Except there was a little moment when CM Punk, and I think this was brilliant psychology on the part of CM Punk, I think he was deep in the Judgment Day's kitchen tonight.
26:24When CM Punk goes straight up, go ahead. He turns his back to him, and he says, jump me. You want to beat me down? Beat me down. I knew this was going to happen. Go ahead. Do the thing. It was Finn Balor. that said, stop right there. Dom was ready to go. Yeah, you took one of his belts off. I was like, he's going to clock CM Punk in the head with that belt. Yeah, like a Rottweiler Dom. J.D. McDonough was ready to go, too, because CM Punk had said that thing about his big head. Yeah, and the crowd was chanting bobblehead. Can you imagine that? Your first night back on Raw, they're calling you bobblehead.
26:56I mean, I can't, but that might hit a little close to home for you. No, they wouldn't say that about me. Why would they say that about... Anyway, my head's a regular size. But anyway... Finn Balor, he stopped him. He said no. And I don't know. I mean, for me, I felt like CM Punk was trying to like get into Finn Balor's head. Go, oh, don't you want to be the old Finn Balor? Don't you want to be? I mean, Finn Balor has had backup before. Finn Balor had backup in Japan. Finn Balor has had backup. There's nothing wrong with having backup. There's nothing wrong with having people that like you, that want to have your back.
27:36Okay? the winners tell the stories that's it and CM Punk I think is protecting his World Heavyweight Championship he's doing a pretty brilliant job Finn Balor keeps the Judgment Day back and CM Punk is able to walk off and then we get backstage they're trying to play 2K Kane's on the TV and Finn Balor is telling them keep playing as Kane on 2K I'm going to do this on my own and I go listen if anybody's capable of doing it it's Finn Balor but I don't know why you would take any sort of advantage that you have and leave it at home just doesn't make sense to me he didn't exactly say it in a calm we're all cool manner though what do you mean why are you being a hater again i mean he was he was tense he was fired up well he just had an altercation with cm punk the world heavyweight champion so the dominic looked around he's like emotionally drained from the day and he says and i still have a match tonight yeah well there's a i mean this is a highly emotional thing you're talking about tippity-top performance level athletes of course on a monday night of course emotions are going to be high that's just the way it is okay that's the way champions play trust me that's the level that they operate at and you have to be able to compartmentalize and put that away but that's why the judgment day has been able to survive they all know what it is to be to be uh dealing with each other at these high emotional levels i just don't know if i'm finn balor if why i'm having the judgment day step out i don't know must have struck a chord he must have he must have and i'll tell you this you're gonna have the opportunity to uh strike a chord on your own hey who knows maybe you'll be able to ask these superstars some of these questions yourself because WWE World is returning to Las Vegas this April 16th through the 20th and it's the can't miss destination during Wrestlemania week.
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30:14You can save 10 % with promo code WWENOW10. That's wweworld.com. Save 10%. Promo code WWENOW10. And Megan, I think it's time to continue to break some more of this down with our special guest here tonight on WWE Now. Yes, indeed. Big E joins us. E, first of all, how are you doing? I'm doing well. I am doing well. I'm excited to talk to you all about all things Monday Night Raw. Yes, yes. Well, we were just talking about CM Punk and Finn Balor and the Judgment Day and everything, but that wasn't the only. First of all, there's something going on because not only was that the only altercation in the punk family that happened on Raw, but is there some kind of rivalry between Chicago and Ireland that I am unaware of?
31:08Because for some reason, the two superstars that represent Chicago more than anyone else are going into Chicago. and the Irish have banded together with an all-time level of hate and animosity. That they have. And Becky has been open about her dating Finn back in the day a long time ago, refers to Finn as her first love. So maybe she's going back into the Wayback Machine to find some allies to destroy the Punk and AJ family. You might be onto something, actually. There's something. There is something there because we did see that. AJ Lee coming back to Monday Night Raw again and grabbing that microphone and breaking down the fact that she wants to see what she's got as a single superstar, somebody who hasn't had a singles match in over 10 years.
31:56And I think really wants to see what it's like to, in this era, go into WrestleMania as a champion, which I can completely understand. Becky Lynch comes out. She takes a severe objection to that, has the opportunity to punch AJ Lee in the face. AJ Lee goes back to, you know, a little bit of that crazy AJ Lee that we all know and we all love very, very much, who's willing to let Becky Lynch have the first shot. And I mean, you can always tell when somebody is like, I'm gonna pretend I'm gonna let you have the first shot, but really it's a trick. And when somebody's like, oh, no, no, no. you can have the first shot because the second one is going to hurt so much worse and that's where AJ was at I think Becky read the situation because she retreated she made us some weird excuse and then got absolutely out of there and out of Memphis I don't fight in Memphis well first of all I mean you have to respect Becky Lynn she is not just the greatest female wrestler of all time she is also 11 time bexie award winner so congratulations to becky it was a big a big day for her winning 11 bexie awards has never been done before by anyone and then also sam you've referred to has been you have referred to becky lynch before as a nasty woman i don't think we've seen that from becky even in the slightest what was on display tonight was pure class and sophistication from Becky Lynch.
33:33She could have slapped AJ. She could have punched AJ. She didn't because she's classy and sophisticated. E, do you generally think that the wrestling awards that are just doled out on the internet out of nowhere with very few people voting on them or something that anybody should take seriously in general? I would question these awards. I do feel, though, I don't know if, Megan, you have disclosed your bias regarding these awards because you were granted an award, which I want to say I think you were given that award because you have been biased. And you have been someone who you have stood on the pulpit, the Becky pulpit, and you have preached the gospel of Becky Lynch, whether she was right, whether she was wrong.
34:21you are a steadfast loyalist as well and i think that's why you're getting the treatment you're getting so i don't know if you're in a position to really question any of becky's actions um because of that bias yeah he's saying your critiques are valueless and i'm saying that you're spreading misinformation i don't know how you could possibly say that me sitting here right now and have a bias for becky lynch i just did you not get an award you got an award from becky Sam also got an award. I fail to see how it's an award. Oh, so modest. What was the name of the award? I didn't even pay attention.
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35:00What was the name of the award that I was given? I wasn't happy about it. I believe it was the Bexie Award for the best nickname. Let's see these awards. Let's take a look. Do we have these awards that were doled out on the internet earlier today? because I mean again my app mentions start to blow up my Instagram my Twitter everything it's harassment it's annoying it's it's it's it's a nuisance is what it is yes see this is people have people have been saying I gave I give great nicknames and I agree I don't know who's been saying that very proud of this one the best nickname award for 2026 goes to Sam Scam Roberts It's a good one.
35:46It's not a good one, and it's inaccurate. People love it. Well, I can't speak to people. I can tell you how I feel about it. I'm so sorry, Sam. I really feel like it's an affront to journalism. You know, she's trying to silence you in many ways. She's someone, obviously, she's a friend, but I have to call it how I see it, and I feel like this is an attempt for you not to use your voice. So keep speaking up, Sam. I appreciate that. I appreciate that because sometimes I do feel like that. Like it's an attempt to discredit me so that whatever. All right, enough about you. Let's see my award. I didn't realize.
36:15Enough. it's fine when you do it for dominic what are you talking about oh the next bexie award goes the most unbiased and best media personality in the world congratulations megan morant for winning best media personality i mean they even took a they used a cornball picture too cornball look at that look at that goofball smile on your face hey i'm the media personality of the year best in the world apparently apparently you're wearing i mean and e she's sitting here saying i don't see how you could say i have bias she's wearing this shirt it's a wearing a becky shirt it's a great becky don't get me wrong but uh yeah you are are is she paying you are you on the take no i actually i bought this with with my own money like i didn't even uh i didn't even reach out to the company be like hey can i get some shirts for the show no like i paid sucker cold hard cash for this one i I just really believe in everything that she's doing and the movement that she's pushing forward.
37:16So, look, I mean, you guys don't have to agree with me, but that's the way I see it, okay? I mean, E, I can't imagine how it would feel for you to see, after 10 years plus without a singles match, AJ Lee walking into Elimination Chamber in Chicago and getting that Intercontinental title. Yeah, that would be huge, man. And just her being back, especially in Chicago, her new, not new, I guess it's been her hometown for quite some time. But seeing her in Chicago getting the reception against arguably the greatest of all time, regardless of the Becky spin or not, truly one of the best to ever do it.
37:59I am so excited for this match. I think the build is going to continue to be incredible. but I think I love that AJ talked about how much she's influenced wrestling, the women's division. And she, she is right in many ways in that the landscape of the women's division looks so different, even when she left 10 years ago than it does now. And, and the pool is so much deeper. There are so many, this, we talk about the women's division and all the time and how I think a lot of oftentimes like the men need to catch up because the women are lapping y 'all. The women's division is so deep. And for her to really make a statement that she's here and not just a novelty act, not just someone who's here to remind you that she was around for a little bit, but someone who is here to win titles, to climb to the top of the division again.
38:44This match at Elimination Chamber is really massively important for AJ. So I'm going to be glued to that one. I'm really excited. I feel like it's a great opportunity for her to stake her claim in the division and show she's truly going to be a player. because you start to wonder, like, okay, when AJ announced that she was signed, are we going to see her every week? And we spent a few months really not seeing much of her, but now with WrestleMania season really heating up, we see her in the thick of things. So I'm really excited about what we're going to see in Chicago. And with all the circus and carnival-like antics of Becky Lynch, you almost forget for a second that this is a super fight.
39:22This is a dream match. This is a massive, massive moment for fans, for AJ Lee, for Becky Lynch to get to see Becky Lynch at this point in her career versus AJ Lee at this point in her career. Two of the best going at it for a title that, you know, a couple of years ago didn't even exist, was something that people wanted for that division. I think that this is a much bigger match than people realize. And part of that is because Becky Lynch is a walking distraction. Well, and throw all the hate you want, but this title did exist. And then Becky became the women's intercontinental champion. And she's elevated this title to another level.
40:07Yeah, it's an important title. It's an important title. And I agree. I think what Becky's done, the lineage of this title, Becky has done so much incredible work to make this title meaningful. You know, when we have new titles, it really is about the way it's introduced. It's about the people who hold it. It's about the rivalries we see. And this thing has been hot, I feel like, from day one. What we got to see with Lyra, what we got to see with just everyone who's held it and competed for it, even seeing, like, Maxine step up and have her best performances holding this title and competing for it.
40:39This is—honestly, I think this is my favorite mid-card title right now. It almost feels disrespectful to call it a mid-card title because we're seeing so many future Hall of Famers hold it, so many all-time greats hold it. And I do think, Becky, if you pick out one singular superstar who has elevated this title, it's clearly Becky Lynch. There's four matches right now on this show, and one of them is a Women's Intercontinental Championship match. That kind of tells you what the importance of this thing is. I mean, AJ Lee coming back to the WWE for this singles match. She didn't enter the Royal Rumble.
41:13she didn't go after the elimination chamber. She came for the women's intercontinental championship and she could have probably had her pick of the litter. And that's what she went for. So I think it says a lot when you're talking about women and you're talking about championships though, we also had this altercation with Michael Cole there again, second week in a row, Michael Cole tries to interview CM Punk last week. Here comes Finn Balor. All hell breaks loose this week. Michael Cole tries to interview live Morgan. Stephanie Vaquer shows up all hell breaks loose but in a different way on a much more emotional way where Stephanie Vaquer I feel like got right into Liv Morgan's face and it was almost like we got the translations here Dominic, I mean multifaceted that that incredible performer is Dominic was there to translate for her but Stephanie was basically saying to Liv You've sacrificed nothing WWE gave you everything You started your career here You were given the best trainers The best medical You were given everything You want to talk about sacrifice?
42:23You want to talk about sacrifice I was born in Chile A country where wrestling doesn't exist And now I've traveled all over the world Japan, Mexico, Latin America, Europe I've conquered everything Everything I should be ashamed to hide behind Judgment Day to hide behind a man. You need to hide behind your boyfriend, but I'm going to tell you something. I went through hell and made it mine just to get to WWE to be champion. This title to me means more than just a title. It's for all the little girls, all the women who never got the opportunity but succeed anyway. Liv, if you pick me, you won't win because I'm going to show you what a real champion is.
43:09which thems is fighting words. Those, and that's serious and that's real too. It is. Right? That's where that line goes from, we're telling stories to no, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is the story that I'm telling is my story, the story of my life. This is what you're dealing with here. We're not, this isn't fun and games for me. And Liv obviously leaves this interview in tears. you know it hits unless it's some kind of mind game and performance on the part of Liv Morgan which is always possible she ends this thing in tears Dominic is trying to console her Liv has still not chosen who her Wrestlemania opponent is going to be do you think that this makes Stephanie Vaquer a more likely candidate or do you think that this is one where Liv stays clear I I think it's personal now it's it's really personal uh i i love stephanie's boldness i love that she talked about coming up in chile and trying to make it and and how tough that road was but this this is this is for me this has got to be the wrestlemania uh match this this is it this is the title match this is the one i i'm so invested in this uh you know live live and jade would be a lot of fun as well but i'm i'm here for this i need to see this pay off on the grandest stage of them all and i will say not not to take anything away from stephanie but i will say as far as live being handed anything if you know her story if you saw her rise in nxt a lot of people you know there was time where people were calling her a carmella knockoff where she was trying to find her footing in nxt in many ways she was an afterthought she comes up on the main roster with riot squad and she's she's not plummeted right to the top she doesn't she doesn't skyrocketed to the to the top of the uh division she isn't she is someone who worked very hard she put in time uh at the dungeon as well working out and natty and tj's trying to get better so and not to take anything away from stephanie and her story and how hard she's worked coming from chile to make it so big and to become a champion here in wwe but i also don't want to discredit liv you could talk a lot about her hiding behind dom and the judgment day and a lot of the more questionable tactics that she's been up to recently but uh she's someone who's worked very hard to be in this position she's someone who has grinded who has dealt with a lot of uh nose a lot of rejection a lot of you're not good enough you're not this enough so let's not take away from Liv in that regard uh but I am I'm truly for like I said for me this this is the match that I need to see uh I am excited for what we have uh about a couple months uh left for for this thing to continue to to stay on the stove and heat up and for all those ingredients in the pot to start to simmer and boil but man it's already a hell of a gumbo it's already a great dish that we're about to be served but I'm truly excited for this one and you could really tell that Stephanie Vaquer's words struck a chord with Liv Morgan because we haven't seen this version of Liv Morgan get that level of emotional I mean when we saw her on Smackdown and you know she was standing there having her Valentine's Day party with Dominic Mysterio and Raquel was there kind of acting as as the bodyguard I was so amazed by the confidence that Liv had standing there, you know, going nose to nose with Jade Cargill.
46:32Now, obviously, Raquel stepped in the way and kind of made some space. But, you know, you look at Jade Cargill and she's so imposing and you look at what she's done to other women that she's been in the ring with and just the confidence that Liv Morgan has. And then today on Monday Night Raw, Liv Morgan is brought to tears. we haven't seen her get that level of emotional in a long long time but i think too i mean a plate full of heart-shaped chicken nugs is going to give you a level of confidence it's true when you have dom yeah not not just the person the champagne that's right a little dom too i think for sure but but but to go back to kind of what stephanie was saying to live morgan and and your reaction to that I mean you got a pretty unique perspective right you came into WWE taking your own road and I think WWE is a very unique place more so than the wrestling industry has been historically in the sense that you have a lot of people who come in in a lot of different ways you have somebody like Liv Morgan who kind of came in in a more like okay you're going to spend years in our developmental system we're going to train you from the ground up whereas as Stephanie Vaquer comes in and travels the world before she even gets to sniff what WWE has to offer.
47:50I mean, when you go back to your days as a WWE superstar, you rised up the ranks as far as one can rise. You were the WWE champion, but at the same time, you didn't come in with a massive professional wrestling pedigree, and you came in at the same time that there were people, the Finn Balor's of the world, the whoever, the Kevin Owens's of the world who came in having to make the towns, having to prove themselves as professional wrestlers for years before they even sniffed. When you were in that locker room, was that an insecurity of yours or did you kind of take umbrage with the idea that you had your own sacrifices and that maybe they weren't being respected by people who thought there was only one way to get to the top?
48:37No, I think initially there definitely is that feeling of insecurity. because you're, like you said, you're sharing a locker room. There are some guys who told me, like, I'd spent 10 years trying to get here, trying to get to developmental, not even the main roster. Like, I've been on the independent scene for a decade, putting my body through God knows what, you know, oftentimes not making a ton of money, having to travel 400, 500 miles to maybe get an opportunity on a show. So I don't want to ever discredit anyone like Stephanie, who has really known that this is what they want to do and has gone out on the indies, has traveled the world, just to try to get to the grand stage.
49:13So I will never say that my rise was as difficult as theirs was. And I think the same thing for Liv. You know, there are a lot of people who had to go through a lot more to get where Liv is, but that doesn't mean she was handed a golden ticket by any means. She's someone who had to work very hard. And just because you have no experience when you get signed to WWE, that doesn't mean it's a breeze. You still have to adjust. You have to learn the culture, even the behind-the-scenes stuff of how to handle yourself, how to carry yourself how how to deal with the politics of the locker room there's a lot of that and i i didn't spend live wasn't in fcw when i was but i got to watch as i was coming up seeing her in nxt and seeing her run and seeing her rise so i know she's someone where you can argue that other people had harder roads to getting to the main roster and getting to wwe but uh by no means was was she just gifted this opportunity and handed everything and maybe things got a little bit easier along the way for her.
50:09But I know she worked incredibly hard, and I know she's someone that's deserving of this opportunity. Now, you can take a lot of umbrage with the way she decides to move with Judgment Day and with Dom currently, but let's take nothing away from her and her journey. And, you know, people are going to be jealous when you have the coolest boyfriend ever, but speaking of superstars, the world's number one sports fan festival, Fanatics Fest, is making its return to New York City. Yes, Fanatics is bringing you closer to the leagues, teams, and superstars that you love across four, four action-packed days in July.
50:44Meet your favorite WWE superstars like Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, EO Sky, Liv Morgan, Jey Uso, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Randy Orton, Stephanie Vakere, Tiffany Stratton, and Bianca Belair. They'll all be in attendance as well as big names across sports like WWE superfan Cam Scadabo. You'll also be able to get your hands on exclusive merch and catch live WWE podcasts. Tickets are on sale now at fanaticsfest.com. Use code WWENOW for 10 % off at checkout. Now, the question on everybody's mind. A wise man once said, if you come out of a box, you're automatically over. The question is a crate. A crate.
51:33was delivered to WWE. It said you cannot open it until 2-28, the date of the Elimination Chamber. And Adam Pearce said, I don't want to deal with it. Send it to Nick Aldis on SmackDown. I think the word who is a little too presumptuous for me. You could be dealing with a what that's in that box as well. I think anybody that has any type of historical lens knows that there could be a giant human turkey hybrid that busts out of there. It could be a new mascot for the WWE, like the gobbledygooker. You know what I mean? It could be an egg in there. It could be Chainsaw Charlie. I mean, who's to say, when I look at that, and you wonder too, could the Grandes have anything to do with it?
52:26Maybe it's another Grande. Maybe it's another seven Grande Americanos that are locked up in that crate? I mean, do you have any idea on God's earth, Big E, as to what that crate could be? Well, I'm with you on, like, let's not dismiss this being a what instead of a who, because I need some more, I need help with the logistics of this. If someone, if there is a person in there or a living thing, are they allowed, like, an opportunity for an hour to get some exercise? Is there a hole in there for air or for food or for water? How are they using the restroom? If a person emerges from that box, I need a long explanation about what they did.
53:11I want a journal, a diary of sorts. Maybe there's a little camera we can place in there because I have a lot of questions. So I'm leaning towards the what because transporting people in crates is not ideal. It's not a good idea. And there are many days left until the end of February. many many days you I mean you would have to believe today is not the first day in the and plus it just says deliver to WWE I'm surprised didn't would it end up here in Stanford or something like that it just goes from arena to arena but you're right E if it's if it's a who that's two full weeks 14 days inside that box that's a Valentine's Day probably you would think they would have to pack up by Saturday probably missing Valentine's Day with a loved one you know who knows what else is going down in those two weeks i'm sure that there is a much more uh uh speedy maybe even more affordable method of transportation than just going building to building in a giant crate for for for two full weeks i mean maybe it is a what maybe it's that uh greatest wrestler that ever lived trophy that that used to exist a long time ago right right Can you imagine the stench?
54:27If that's a human in there for two weeks, you don't want them in a ring. You don't want them anywhere near you. Two weeks with no shower? You're not brushing your teeth? Oh, God, the breath. Just think of the breath. And you have that dry mouth, too. Oh, the dry mouth is terrible. Terrible. Terrible. I hope it's a what. I really hope it's a what now. And God forbid it's a poor animal in there. Can you imagine? That's just sad. No, I don't want that at all. It was screwed up. Why'd you go there? Well, if it's an ant. Why'd you have to take it there? Because I don't know what's in that crate. It could be anything.
55:00You have to bring it up. It could be anything. You know, I don't know. It could be Hornswoggle in there for all I know. It's a little tall for Hornswoggle. You're wasting a lot of crate if it's Hornswoggle. You're right, but maybe there's like a, it could be a second story, you know? Oh, a place for him to sleep. Yeah, a little duplex. It could be a duplex inside that crate for Hornswoggle. Yeah. No, I think it's, but also, you know what struck me? was Adam Pearce not being remotely sort of moved by it. He was just kind of like, I don't know, send it to SmackDown. I don't know what it is. He's stressed.
55:31He's a very stressed man. He doesn't really have, like, it's like, let me deal with one thing that I have to deal with right now. It's like, I can understand that. He's got Masked Man. He's got Paul Heyman. He's got the vision. He's stuck in this never-ending game of FAFO. That's right. You know? I mean, he's winning, but still, you're right. It's got to be very stressful. Well, at some point, hopefully, whatever and whoever and why ever is in that crate is, well, I just hope it's safe. But WWE fans, where else can you experience the thrill and excitement of ripping Topps card packs with the instant gratification of having your collection conveniently on your phone?
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57:03and speaking of cards, can you, I just, I can't imagine the pace and the emotional highs and lows that some people live their lives at. I need, you know, I like a high and a low and to experience all that is in life, but I need pockets of peace too. I need calm. I need this. And the idea of living the type of life where one day you are selling a single Pokemon card for 16 and one half million dollars 16 and one half million dollars and not 48 hours later you're getting stomped on michael cole's table by a masked man i just don't understand the life that logan paul is is is living right now i mean on some level as difficult as it is to give that man any respect no matter whether he deserves it or not is a different question he makes it very difficult to give him any respect but can you imagine two nights after you sell a 16 million dollar card you're back to work and you're getting stomped at the on the table and you're not just like you know what i'm done if i had 16 and a half i don't know if you guys would ever see me again you make a good point you know yeah like i would never tell anybody i made that money but there would definitely be signs.
58:27Not showing up to work would be one of them. Life comes at you fast. It comes at you real fast. You know, and shout out to Tyler Breeze who put me onto the world of not just trading cards, but Pokemon. Several years ago, I had no idea that the market was this lucrative. And my God, is it? That is a number that I didn't think was possible for any. I thought, you know, the old Honus Wagner? Like that for me, I thought that was the standard for for cars a little and and uh apparently and i don't remember what that went for but this this one is this is ridiculous yeah it toppled it it's the it's the highest uh highest anybody's ever paid for a single card uh but then here we are two nights later he can figure out how to sell a card for 16 and a half million dollars he has no idea who this masked man is that keeps stomping his head into stuff i mean unbelievable at least we know for sure that he is not the masked man and there was a while where at least i thought i thought he was i thought at the rumble i thought Logan Paul was the masked man.
59:25Now I don't. I did. At the Royal Rumble, I thought Logan Paul was the masked man. I thought he was being selfish. I thought he was getting Braun Breaker out. I thought he was going to try to position himself to win the thing. And then here we are a few weeks later. He's getting his head stomped into Michael Cole's table. Because I'm still getting used to the fact that Logan Paul is a full-timer. I mean, argue it if you want. It's getting very difficult to argue. You can't argue it. But when Logan Paul said before the Royal Rumble, backstage to all the Vision members, We got to work together as a team and we're all going to help Bron Breaker.
59:57That was very out of character for a selfish Logan Paul. So when this masked man appeared and took Bron out of the Royal Rumble, I thought it's got to be Logan Paul. It's not. But knowing Logan, Logan is someone, though, who wants all the credit. You know, I can't imagine him. It's true. The idea of him, even if they're like, OK, I'll reveal after a month. The idea of him sitting on that and not letting the whole world know that he was up to it. I don't know if he he's not built like that. That's a great point. He needs to brag about everything immediately. Absolutely. Absolutely. But I keep thinking about the locker room or potential free agents.
1:00:33And unless this is Seth Rollins, who has returned earlier than any of us could have imagined, I'm not sure who this could be. Megan thinks it's Tom Brady. Well, it was like a gimmick for the radio show on Syria. She thinks it's Tom Brady. No, I... I heard her on the radio today. She said it could be Tom Brady. because I don't think Tom Brady's taking any bump, all right? And just for the record, if it was Tom Brady, I'd be cheering for Logan Paul, all right? Got it? That Tampa move messed you up. That's right. You know what? I don't have a dog in the race, so what does it even matter? I know what that means.
1:01:07I understood that reference. How about this? Speaking of masked men, I want to know. Who's your grande? Is it grande original? Because I don't think. I even think in WWE. I think the thought was that Grande original would come back and everybody across the board would just go, Oh, he's the one. He's who we, he's the beloved original Grande Americano. We don't like the other guy now, but depending on what show you watch and what town you're in and triple a loves contemporary Grande Americano. And it feels as though America prefers original Grande Americano. He, when you, if, who do you think is the true Grande?
1:01:51That is a great question. Here's my issue. You know, usually I root for the original, the guy who really started it off, the pioneer. But man, the second version, the contemporary version of Grande is super swaggy, man. He just got it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He attacks a lot of my favorites, a lot of people I love and root for. But man's got style. And seeing him in Mexico, he is, like you said, he is truly beloved. it is uh it is a really a sensation i feel like we need to maybe like find a border town like uh el paso or something you know something right along the border that'll be or laredo yeah i feel like that'll be your true marker let's let's have a match right on the border and i feel like that'll give us the best determination of how the people feel because you're right in america the original is received much better uh in mexico the contemporary is beloved um i i i enjoy them both i the original is super jack which as a i'm a big body guy you know i can't help it i'm a meathead at heart as much as i try to run from it so i love that but um contemporary grande he's got style man and it's undeniable i love that contemporary grande is becoming a thing i should have trademarked that but i also will say that i think too in the traditions of lucha they might be a little bit more comfortable with the idea of okay this character does get passed along to different athletes because that is something that happens in lucha i mean we we saw la parka in the the royal rumble just this year and that is a character that's been passed down penta is a character that comes from a different penta like that is something that in lucha libre like there sometimes is a new person who has taken ownership of the identity and that identity becomes their own.
1:03:43And so when the original comes back, well, maybe it's not yours anymore. Maybe you let it slip through your fingertips and now it belongs to this other Grande. I didn't even think of that. I'm a big fan. Not that I'm not a fan of original, but I currently am identifying more with contemporary Grande. Wow, that's huge. And contemporary, I think online, contemporary Grande did talk about old Grande's use of AI. and you know as someone who is not a fan of ai and art you know that might be the tipping point for me look this this guy's out here um you know uh trying to to save us from millions of gallons of water just being used for for slop you know no that's true hero he's a hero that is true you don't want the slop but he's jacked he is jacked you're right i love the term slop i'm glad that it's that's tough it's like it's like when you got a big jack dude who's like contributing to slop right yeah that's right that's right it's a real tug of war well listen we got a huge huge raw already in store for next week based on what's announced first of all we have two more qualifiers for the elimination chamber on the women's side we have uh after tonight oscar and then alexa bliss Tiffany Stratton and Rhea Ripley are in this thing.
1:05:06They're going to be joined by either Raquel Rodriguez, EO Sky, or Kyrie Sane after next week. Real interesting because both EO Sky and Kyrie Sane have tag team partners that are in this elimination chamber already. So it'll be very interesting to see how that goes. Do you have, Megan, do you have an early favorite? I got to go with EO. It's hard not to ever go with EO E? It's hard not to go with EO but man Raquel has had an incredible year and if anyone can upset EO in this match I think it's Raquel I was hoping we'd see some love for Raquel and then over on the men's side right now after tonight you've got Javon Evans with LA Knight, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton they get joined by either Bronson Reed Jey Uso or the original El Grande Americano.
1:06:07Megan? I think it's got to be Jey Uso. Really? Yeah. I mean, listen, it's been a year since he won the title at WrestleMania. It's been a year since he was the Royal Rumble winner. He's got to find his way back to WrestleMania, and this is how he does it through the Elimination Chamber. I think Jey Uso, his way back to WrestleMania, is defending the Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania because I don't think there's any way either of those two guys are getting past Bronson Reed. not on this planet e yeah i don't think it's happening as much as i love jay uso stay off the shore because you're going to see a tsunami i love that oh that was so smooth so smooth and then of course massive night we saw a video package play we were wondering why it was playing we have not heard or seen from this man except on the stephanie mcmahon podcast what's your story which for some people left more questions than answers.
1:07:02Next Monday night in Atlanta, Georgia, it's a tribute to AJ Styles. Who knows what that means? Hopefully that means he will be there, but if there was ever anybody that deserved a tribute on Monday Night Raw, I think a lot of people were wanting to see it in Philly the night after Royal Rumble. It was conspicuous by its absence, but Atlanta makes a lot of sense AJ Styles tribute in Atlanta next Monday night what do you make of this he one of the greatest to ever do it uh I'm so glad he's getting this send off I hope we get to see him uh one last time in a WWE ring uh but so deserved man uh and and the way he handled everything so humble so gracious uh I'm really looking forward to this and grab your Kleenex man it's probably gonna be a little emotional yeah it's gonna make me feel things that I haven't felt in a very long time.
1:07:57I can't wait for it. I cannot wait for the whole thing. E, we thank you so much for joining us on the show and helping us break down everything that needed breaking down for Megan Morant. I am Sam Roberts. Don't forget to subscribe to WWE Now across all audio podcast platforms. Hit like, leave comments on YouTube, and we will see you next week, if not before, here on WWE Now.
1:08:25We'll be right back.
From the publisher
Logan Paul gets stomped by The Masked Man, AJ Lee attempts to get inside Becky Lynch's head, Stephanie Vaquer makes Liv Morgan cry, and two more qualify for the Elimination Chamber. Sam Roberts, Megan Morant and former WWE Champion Big E bring you WWE Now: Raw Recap, a WWE & Fanatics Original Production.
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