Current State of WWE: Final Look Ahead to 2024

This is WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre, and you're listening to the WWE podcast,
the show, the one that everybody wants me God tell stand three sixteen,
So your ass is miner. We're gonna acknowledge me. Welcome everybody to the
Current State of WWE. It is time now, after a couple of weeks,
to get back in the saddle here with Anthony DeMarco, to get on
the post holiday edition of the Current State of WWE. As we look towards
twenty twenty four, we are already in it first day of it. I
hope everyone is recovering nicely. And we're gonna give you guys some of our
thoughts here. You've heard mine, we're gonna hear Anthony's as we move on
in the show here, but an welcome to the show and Happy New Year.
Happy New Year to you as well, and happy holidays, Merry Christmas.
I know we haven't spoken in two weeks or so, but we were
just kind of talking about how as awesome as the holidays are. Once you
kind of get to January two, which I imagine is the day that most
people will be listening to this show, it's an abrupt it's an abrupt shifting
of gears back into the real world. And for guys like you and me,
you and north, I guess northeastern at the United States, I guess
that's how you describe it. And me just living in Canada, sen you
Uary all the way until April is kind of a slog with the weather.
Yeah, you're north of Northeast. We're just northeast. We're just regular old
Northeast. Yeah, So that's it. I mean, it's timed route now
really strap in. This is the dog days of winter. Now, as
you know, we were talking earlier, as't we haven't got much snow here.
But I think looking at the weather in the next couple of weeks,
it probably will change and even things out, and we'll be dealing with ice
and scraping our cars. And you know, everyone's south of you know,
Pennsylvania and Virginia have no idea about any of this. They don't care.
But for us, here we go. And it's also time for WrestleMania season.
This is also the time that I look towards I look really much.
I look forward really much, or very much every single year too, the
very first raw of the new year, because you're through all the reviews of
twenty three. You know, WWE did their two shows for SmackDown and Raw
doing the reviews, and it's time to really kick it into gear for Rumble,
which is by proxy, WrestleMania season. So I'm looking forward to this
year. This should be a wild year for WWE. Is as crazy as
twenty twenty three was. I think twenty twenty four could match it or supersede
it with match potential matchups, potential massive title changes, big matchups, rumored
matchups, debuts from aw I mean, there's so much to discuss, and
really this is not going to be so much about my predictions, as you
guys have heard them already, but rather just kind of seeing where you land
and let's start with the big one. Let's just start with the big one
and get it out of the way, and that is title changes and specifically
Roman reigns. I have predicted that he will drop the belt, but it
won't be until after he beats Hogan's record in September, and I gave a
litany of people who I thought he could drop it to. It could be
Set, it could be Cody, it could be See I'm punk, it
could be Randy Orton still, but those are kind of where I land.
And I want to get your opinion on the twenty twenty four prediction for Roman
Reigins's title reign. Well, I do think he'll drop it, but I'm
still I guess being optimistic, depending on which way you look at it,
that he'll drop it between now and WrestleMania, just because I understand the whole
Hogan thing, but it was kind of thing about this before, like,
before I go into it, do you happen to know who is number two
on the list and how many days that is? I know Bruno San Martino
is number one with like twenty five hundred or something, but who's number two?
And what's the day count? Do you up? And to know that?
I think it's Bob Backland. Hold on, I can google this really
easily. So Hulk Hogan, let's see at number nine, number eight five
four. Here we go. So Bruno San Martino was number four at twelve
hundred and thirty seven days, Hulk Hogan is number three at fourteen seventy four.
Number two. Yeah, it's Bob Backland at two thousand, one hundred
and thirty five days. And obviously Bruno San Martino again at twenty eight oh
three at number one two thousand, How many for Backland Bob Backland at number
two, two thousand, one hundred and thirty five days. Okay, so
that would be like another what like two years at this point? Yeah?
Okay, So if you get to Hogan of fourteen seventy four, which would
take him till September I believe, yep. Like my thing with that is
like how many more times are they going to be like Okay, well,
we're just going to get to that. Okay, We're just going to get
to this because whenever we're gonna have another chance, and like, once we
get to Hogan's record, are we gonna start talking about Bob Beglin's record,
Because at that point you'll be I guess you'll still be like a little under
two years away. I would have to really look at the math there,
But like, at what point does it kind of stop? Right? Because
we all kind of said like, okay, well he's gonna get to a
thousand days and then all bets are off. But now it's kind of like,
well no, now he's for sure gonna get to Hogan's record, and
then all bets will be off, but I'm just like, but they never
go to stop. And then this time next year he will have reached four
years as champion, and like, could you not see them saying like,
oh yeah, but what if we could say, like for decade running as
champion, Like you could see it the marketing in that. So for me,
I think eventually you just have to stop worrying about those milestones and those
I guess achievements and all the legacy and branding that you could really market the
you know what out of. So I'm gonna say he's gonna drop it before
WrestleMania, just because if you keep going with the ideology, and look,
I could be totally wrong. I'm just maybe giving Triple H to benefit it
oubt I just can't. I just think that at a certain point you have
to stop chasing those milestones, because you can make up any kind of milestones
in almost an arbitrary fashion to prolong this thing. Well, we're gonna find
out really quickly now how much they value those milestones, because if we get
past Mania, I think it's pretty safe to say, like we get past
what April six fourth, whatever WrestleMania is this year, we get pass that
date, we get past Wresselmania forty in Philly, he's beating Hulk Hogan's record,
Like, I mean, let's be honest, because look at what he
did last year. He didn't defend the belt till SummerSlam and then it was
like another few months, like we kind of know the schedule now, so
it's really WrestleMania is the last chance for Roman to drop it. But like
he said, you're right, it's like, okay, we've come this far.
Well now we're not so far from this, Like where does it end?
It's got to I mean, they have to pull the plug at some
point there. They have to be understanding and there's really no argument against this
is like what do you what's what are you sacrificing for all of this time?
And you know we've dug into this so much. I don't want to
again, but I they have to just at some point say, okay,
guys, cool, we did it. You know, we made it.
I don't know how much more marketing we could get out of vote being number
two and then being number one, because if you're going to go to number
two, why not just go to number one? Like I mean, because
at that point, you're okay, seven hundred days away, that's a year,
and you know, just under two years, so like, yeah,
it's you, you pass Hogan and then it's a it's another big gap,
Like from Hogan to number two is another two years. That is that's a
significant amount of time, and I don't think they'll do that. I even
I don't think they will, as much as they love their milestones and they
have four gone a lot and and really put a lot on the line and
sacrificed a lot just for these stupid milestones that they feel are going to be
the biggest things that you know, that they can produce and more important than
anybody who could have come along to have a great match or have the belt
help make them into a bigger star or whatever. So I really believe I'm
gonna stick with my prediction. I hope you're right, but I think we
both agree that if he passes Mania as champion, he's beating Hogan's record and
going all the way to September. Well for sure, because I think you
mentioned it on one of your shows last week where if we just use kind
of like the uh, I guess the maybe not platforms the right word but
like the playbook to how he defended the championship in twenty twenty three, well,
he's only gonna defend it at SummerSlam after WrestleMania. He's not going to
defend it at any pay per view between Mania and SummerSlam like he did this
year, because there really are no significant pay per views. You really hit
a lull from Postmania all the way to SummerSlam in WWE. So if he
just is gonna get to SummerSlam, well then at that point you just have
to kick the can a month and a half down the road and you've gotten
there. But I just I don't know, like I could just see them
getting to next year and beating Hogan's record and just like oh yeah, but
like, you know'd be really cool if we could say that he's been champion
for five years and then you take him into August of twenty twenty five.
But then at that point, you're what a year and a bit away from
Bob Backland's record, and it's just like, well, I mean, when's
the next time that we could get to two years away? And like you
could very easily if you're WWE and Triple h and creative trick yourself into thinking
that getting him to Bob Blacklan's record is doable and attainable. And if you
just keep artificially and playing the numbers and he's only defending the title what five
times every year, I don't know, like it's it's gonna do well.
It's oh, we've already gone to a point of diminishing returns with him him.
But I just think at a certain point you have to stop chasing milestones.
You've got a thousand days, You've got him into the top three or
the top four of all time. It's a hell of a feat. So
I'm just for the benefit for now. I'm giving them the benefit of the
doubt that he will drop it by WrestleMania. But if he walks out of
WrestleMania as the champion still, then I agree with you one hundred percent that
he will be beating Hal Coogan's record. Well on that, I want to
ask your prediction for Roman Reigns' opponent at WrestleMania forty as I had predicted.
You know, it could be a number of people. And now the Rock
rumor has suddenly re emerged, if you've noticed over the last twenty four hours,
because the Rock was two hours away from San Diego tonight, and that
he's in the area, and that he could be the one Triple h is
referring to as a former WWE champion who's going to be on Raw this on
tonight's Raw, which again, guys, we haven't watched, so I really,
you know, I still think it could be Rock Roman. Obviously,
if the Rock appears any time between now Mania, it's to set up Rock
Roman. What do you think is going to be Who do you think is
going to be Roman Reigns as opponent for WrestleMania forty Well, I'm still sticking
with Cody Rhodes just because I'm not buying into the Rock stuff yet, and
it's kind of at the point where it's just like I'm gonna assume that's not
happening until it does, just because even when he did return, he didn't
have one single interaction with Roman Reigns or any member of the Bloodline, Like
even if it had just been like a look with Solo or like a quick
chat with Paul Hayman, at least some seed planting, But as far as
WWE programming has gone, there has been no planting of seeds like I know
they've planted seeds with like outside and just like pure speculation, the Rock has
done it himself and his shows and whatever, but they've done nothing to hint
at it on their actual programming, at least in the last two years.
I think the last time they did it was the whole egg thing at Survivor
Series in twenty twenty one, I believe it was or twenty twenty whenever the
hell that was. So I just really believe here that it is still Cody
Rhodes. But on the off chance that The Rock is coming back, well,
then if he's coming back for a match, it has to be against
Roman Reigns. So I mean, I guess we're gonna have some more clarification
on what happens tonight or after what happens tonight, But for now, I'm
still sticking with Cody Rhoads. Yeah, I think it's the very solid,
safe choice, but one that makes total sense, and I think that,
you know, we'll discuss the options of what could happen there if they were
to dare have Cody lose again. My prediction was that it's going to be
Cody and that you were going to have Randy Orton screw Cody at WrestleMania,
and then you're off to a Randy Orton and Cody Rhods program that would be
a lot of fun, a lot of history there, obviously, and Randy
heel is always honestly more fun than him as a babyface. So that's my
prediction for a early call at a main event that doesn't even exist yet,
on top of a heel turn that doesn't even exist yet. So we're like
three layers deep. But that's my call right now, you know, three
months out now when it comes to you know, other returns. And I
have made this very clear, and I've been hammered on Twitter for it or
x on it. And I know you don't follow the AW product as much
as a lot of other people do, and I followed about as much as
you do. But the one name that keeps coming up, and the one
name that has been coming up for a couple of years is MJF, who
is now removed from the AW roster, at least on their website, which
could be a work. It could be just to get people going. He
could have signed silently behind the scenes with AW. Ice have made the prediction
that he will debut in WWE in twenty twenty four. It may not be
at the rumble, but I think that he is smart enough to realize that
he has done everything there is to do in AEW and that his career can
accelerate at a much higher rate in WWE. He's worked with almost nobody here
almost and that he has a bigger pond and a bigger pool of talent to
work in. And so you know, I don't know this for it to
be a fact, but I would imagine that Mjfbuts and WWE in twenty twenty
four. What are your thoughts? I mean, I keep going back and
forth on this, because right before we came on here, I saw the
whole thing that he was removed off the roster and said, oh, this
is a work tony Khan, who I despise by the way. I cannot
weird guy. He is so bizarre. Did you see the way he was
like what he was wearing, Yes, when he answered like the very serious
allegations regarding Chris Jericho, yes, like and like how like I saw someone
say like he's a rich mark who wants to be buddies with his talent.
And I saw the way he like embraced Tony Storm and I was just thinking
about and this isn't me being like, you know, like tribalism for WWE
or like a me hating on AW because it's cool, but like just think
of the way Tony Khan acts aid press crumbs versus Triple Ah. I know,
but like on a side note, man, like we're on AW guys.
But like for me, the reason why I won't even give them a
chance is because of how Tony Khan conducts himself. He conducts himself. He
okay, he's got a lot of money. That doesn't matter to me because
what he's showing the public is he's not He's a very unserious person. And
you know, he's like he's he's got a lot of money and he's trying
to be like one of the boys. It's like that doesn't work, and
it comes across very immature and very unserious. And I can't take him seriously.
It seems like he doesn't have a set I'm sorry. I mean,
look at the way cmpunk treated him a couple of years ago at that press
conference. I forget after all in or whatever it was, and cmpunk just
basically hammered the company in front of him, and Tony Khin's just sitting there
like a like a child, and I'm like, this is your company,
and like your own talent is disparaging your own company in front of you.
What does that say about you? So he's again I don't know him on
a personal level, but if I did, and this is all I had
to judge him on, I would say he's an unserious clown that it wants
to play in the sandbox and be one of the boys, but doesn't know
how to really run a company that that of the from a professional standpoint that
is required to be successful. Yeah, he just he's And on top of
it, he's weird. He is very weird. The way he speaks.
He's always his eyes are like, you know, four inches big, and
he's always like staring into space. And I'm like, I'm like, is
he is he human being? Is he a human? I mean, I
don't know that he's He's very strange, obviously very successful. I can't take
that from him. I don't know him on a personal level, but from
what I've seen, just the dude is he's he's off his rocker and I
don't think he's a serious guy. Because he's obviously just a super fan.
Because imagine creating a company, a wrestling company, appointing a bunch of talent
as like prominent like you know, like dring polers and decision makers behind the
scenes, and you appoint yourself as like the head of creative and the on
screen authority figure. Like it's just like if you were serious about this,
like not to say that you would appoint someone else to run the entire thing,
but like would not make more sense if you were like the chairman and
then you appointed like an actual booker to be like head of creative, like
I don't know, like Tony Shavani or Jim Ross or some one of these
guys you know, or like I actually heard I know Jim Cornett hates him
now, but apparently like he tried to get Jim Cornette in originally, and
then a point an on screen authority figure like just whoever, like you brought
in William regal to aw he would have been like the perfect guy to fit
any of those those positions, if not both. And it's just like he
just he he rubs me like a guy, or like he strikes me as
a guy rather that just wants to have fun with like real life action figures,
and you kind of see that it's all wrestlers who are over the hill
who have like the most success there save for cm Punk in a way because
Cmpunk maybe for him, he's not over the hill because he missed ten years
of wrestling, so he's trying to actually like I don't know, like he's
looking for something different. But you see like how much Edge loves it and
Christian loves and Samoa Joe's your world champion now, and you see like how
much Jericho you know, dut loves it and John Moxley. I'm just like
these are all guys who pretty much had their heyday or Daniel Bryan, Like,
these are all guys who are their primes are behind them. They're in
like that maybe not the twilight of their career like John Moxley stelf tread left
on the tires, but like they are all guys who, like, you
know, you're probably only have a handful of years left. And it's because
he caters to old school wrestling stars. And I don't know, like I'm
not saying like it's completely black and white, but like it just strikes me
as a place where like for like superhero like for like old time wrestlers to
go and have fun and fantasy book themselves. And he's been fantasy booking himself
as to head, a creative and an on screen authority figure, and like
maybe people will be like, oh, well, you know Vince was an
on screen authority figure and had a creative and all this stuff. But it's
just like, well, for he wasn't an on screen authority figure until the
Attitude era where he had already owned the company for fifteen years, and you
know, his dad and his grandfather had been in the business for decades upon
decades, so he learned it and he started as an announcer. So like
it's not apples to apples and not for anything. But Vince was a physical
like was an imposing guy, and Tony Kahn looks like a TOWRP. So
I mean, I don't know, I don't want to turn this into ad
W bashing, which I know I'm not an ADW guy, and sometimes it
comes off as it. But if you just objectively look at how AW is
run by Tony Kahan, like there are so many wards in it. Yeah,
it's it does it just screams unprofessional. But I'm sure the guys love
it, and I'm sure if I was employed by that company, it would
feel much more liberating as a talent because you're not, you know, micromanaged,
and your promos can be whatever you need them and want them to be
within reason. And it just feels like it's you don't have someone always breathing
over your shoulder. And I appreciate that. I that's you know, I
would imagine most of us, even in you know, our day to day
work, like wherever you may work, you don't want to be micromanaged.
And it feels like that is where people go and and and they speak about
that. We've heard about that from talent and saying that they love that part
of it. But then you there's the drawback of it feels unorganized and it
feels like you said, he's just this grown man playing with action figures,
but enough money to make them real. And it does. And I mean,
I'll be honest, he looks like a tool. I mean he does.
He kind of looks like a tool, but a tool with a whole
bunch of money and a much more successful businessman than I'll ever probably be like.
But let's let's be fair here for one second. Like it's his dad's
money. Yeahrue, his dad owns the Jacksonville Jaguars. His dad owns a
foot well, I guess a football team in England or a soccer team where
we come from in North America. Like it's not like he's like this self
made like billionaire. Like he's not like he was born into money and his
dad was nice enough to lend him a bunch and let him work for the
Jaguars and all this stuff like that. It's like, I don't they don't
have respect for him. But it's like and look a year ago or whenever
it was when Sampunk had that that embarrassing press corum and he was eating the
muffins and he was old and tired and beat up. Like I thought Sampunk
looked so bad coming off of coming away from that, But now I'm thinking,
like, man, like, he must just be disgusted that he came
out of retirement for this. And you see the way that Aw has gone.
Like look, Aw had dynamite in Montreal a few weeks ago, and
I was with my cousin earlier today and he said, you could have gotten
floor seats for seventy dollars, like ringside seats for seventy bucks. Monday night
Raw, it's like two hundred and fifty bucks. Yeah, and I'm not
trying to like crap all over it, but like there's clearly and these came
out hot out of the cannon. I really liked it right out of the
cannon. But it just quickly struck me as like, Okay, you're just
catering to like old school guys because it's like you're playing with real life action
figures. But at the same time, I mean, there's an audience for
it. Was it last week Dynamite beat Raw, not that they go ahead
to head and it was a holiday week, which holiday weekend week ratings you
can kind of throw in the trash. I mean, they're just, yeah,
they're kind of irrelevant, but if you want to say that they beat
Raw, then they beat Raw in the ratings. And it does seem like
Aw's up and down and oh my god, there's nobody like you see video
of AEW and you see like the live events have almost like a couple hundred
people there and it's just awful. It's embarrassing. And then the next you
know, a couple of weeks you'll see the dynamites full and it's like,
what is going on? Like I can't figure out what what is going on?
From a not just creative but like from a business standpoint with AW,
I'm like, is this is this? Is this a Is this a company
that's we're watching it tank live or is this a company that's just going through
growing pains and eventually it's going to be that's maybe in the next five to
ten years a real competitor to WW. I mean, I don't know what
we're watching right now. It feels like a transition here for AW. But
trying to focus back on and maybe this is a topic for us to discuss
at some point. Is A just as a whole? This seems it's a
topic you and I haven't really explored together. But focusing back on MJF.
Now that we've said all that we've said, and that Tony Kahan, obviously
his pockets are super deep. I've made the prediction that he'll debut in WWE,
But I've also said at the same time that that AEW needs him way
more than WWE does, and I think they're willing, especially with Tony's deep
pockets. He is willing to spend more to keep him because the need to
keep him is greater, and that he'll just pay whatever and outbid whatever WWE
gives him. And so there's a strong chance that he still stays with AW.
But what do you what's your take? It's I'm so back and forth
on it, and just one last thing on AW and then we'll move on
quickly. Everyone's praising Edge Verses Christian for the TNT Championship, which is basically
the equivalent of like the I C or the US title. If this was
happening in WWE, would people not be complaining about them leading leaning on stars
of yesteryear. They would, But you got to remember that people still look
at this as kind of a as a newer company that is still using older
stars as a crutch, and they're accepting more of that than it's been around
for generations. I think that's the that's the lens they're looking at it through.
But yeah, I don't know, I just find it whatever. But
to MJF, I keep going back and forth on it. I do think
he'll come to w W just because of a he dropped the championship to Samoa
Joe and just the way both companies have been trending. And look, I'm
not sure if MJF will ever be the face of WWE or as prominent of
a figure as he is in AEW just because of how many just loaded,
like just how loaded the roster is, especially with Orton coming back and AJ
Styles coming back and CM Punk is back and Roman reigns when he's there,
and if the if the Rock shows up and Brock like but MJF a is
let's say, like a fringe main eventor in WWE or as the face of
ae W, where is he going to lead more of a legacy? I
would still say the former in WWE, because like you said, he's kind
of done all he could do, Like he's been the world champion AW for
what a year at this point, he had prominent programs with I think,
well, I think he had one with Punk. I think obviously Joe,
he had something going on with Adam Cole or whatever. But like you just
look at who's left over there and just where the companies are heading, and
he's I think he's younger than me. I think he's like twenty five years
old or whatever. Like they're the options are so like limitless in WWE as
opposed to AEW. It's like he's already conquered the mountain, and I'm sure
he could. I guess you can make the case that he could stay in
AW and he can continue to build his legacy and maybe be the greatest AW
star ever or the hul Cogan of that company, like the first big,
major homegrown star. But I'm just looking at him just like man like if
I don't just putting myself in his shoes and take away my like my my
preference of WWE over AW, take that allway and just be completely impartial.
In a guy in your mid twenties, where would you rather go? And
it's like you're asking it's almost like like you want to be the best,
best undisputed player in the CFL, like the most the most upstanding, the
face of the CFL. Or do you want to be a middle of the
pack quarterback in the NFL? Like, sorry, I still want to go
be a middle of the pack quarterback in the NFL. Be great to be
the face of the CFL, But unfortunately not many people know what the CFL
is. Do you know what the CFL is as an American? Right?
Like and as much as wrestling people know what aw is. If you ask
any non wrestling fan, hey, do you know what WWE is? They'll
be like, yeah, yeah, for sure. If you ask any non
wrestling fan what AW is, they'll be like, no, what's that?
And that's how I look at it. Yeah, That's why I've made the
analogy. It's a big fish in a small pond, and they just are
right now, and I really do wish them to success. I don't.
I hope they become competitive to WWE truly one day. I really do,
because that means that everyone will be lifted to a higher level in theory when
they have true competition, feel threatened. Everything should get better because they feel
the heat. And it's also gives the guys another place to go. We've
heard that thing too, which is which is fine. But the thing is
now that I'm I'm hearing you talk about this with from a business perspective,
put our feelings about AEWs side, which again I don't hate. I think
that you look at this and if I'm MJF, that dollar amount on the
contract can't be the only thing that I'm looking at. He's already got enough
money probably even if he retired today to probably set himself up for the rest
of his life. I mean, he's made probably multimillions already. So that
said, if I look at the dollar amount and it's you know, within
reasonable reasonable range of what ww's offering me and then AEW is offering me,
I have to look at this and say, Okay, AEW is gonna pay
men more, But what about what about exposure? What about my legacy?
What about merchandise sales? WWE has a much larger platform, a much larger
reach. Their cable or their network contract is something that you don't have to
really worry about with WWE. With AEW, it's influx. They don't know
if they're going to get a big contract with the network in the next year.
Things could go awry. The ratings have been up and down. That's
not good for negotiations on aw's front. You know, you look at this
and say, I could be a big star or like you said, even
a mid range star in WWE, or maybe even higher. Or I could
be this big fish in a small pond and continue to do what I'm doing.
And maybe that's what he wants to do. But I really believe he's
looking at this saying there's a whole massive pool of guys I haven't worked with
yet, and I keep thinking about the matchups we haven't even seen. Okay,
John Cena would be me the promos alone. I would empty my bank
account to see the sea on punk if we want to revisit that again.
I keep saying the mis believe it or not, because he's been I guess,
compared to the miz throughout his entire career. I think they would have
a hell of a program together. Just you know, thinking about the things
he could do would be really just mind blowing to me. But obviously I
don't know if only the money matters to him. It can't. The money
can't be the only thing. As much as he said it's the bidding War
of twenty twenty four, I truly believe there's more to it than that.
He's a smart businessman. But he sees the forest through the trees, I
believed, and he's looking at this and going, okay, yeah, they
may pay me a little bit more, but ultimately, long term, way
better, way better to be over here in the big pond than over here,
as you know, the big guy on campus at a small place.
So any final thoughts that I'm Jeff Ford. Move on, No, I
think I think that pretty much covers it, and we could talk, we
could spin around in so until we actually find out like what happens here,
because is it a work the roster thing or is it real? But I
guess we're gonna find out one way or another in a month's time. Yeah,
we're gonna find out real quick. Unless he signs into a short term
deal and you see him at WrestleMania. I mean, like we don't know.
We could see him follow up with this whole Devil reveal of Adam Cole
and him, you know, screwing over MJF and beating him down and all
that. Like we could see a follow up to that, and he's back
with AW But maybe it's not long term. We don't know, all right,
Well, moving on here. You know, I haven't really touched on
the women's division here, and you know, the women's division has been I
think kind of a I don't know, it feels like a lost ship on
both divisions. It feels like it hasn't really found its way back in a
while. Obviously, the Charlotte Flair injury didn't help Becky Lynch being subjugated to
kind of I don't want to see irrelevant programs, but programs that have not
exactly lived up to her previous you know that she's had and you know,
being with Trustratus for it seemed like fourteen months it was just forever didn't help
things. But she's had some good matches and NXT, you know, and
there's the looming Jade Cargill out there who has yet to debut. You know,
you have the women's tag team champions who have been very underwhelming, or
the championships themselves have been very underwhelming and continue to be very underwhelming and cursed.
So I'm looking at this and saying, you know, Ria Ripley's out
there, She's this female superstar of the year deservingly. So what do you
see just I mean, you can kind of pick and choose things here,
but I'll leave it to you. What do you see for the women's division
in twenty twenty four, either with the Women's World title or the WWE Women's
title debuts. What do you see coming? Well, I think you're going
to see a major shakeup in the rosters at some point or another. And
I think if we look at Monday night Ry to start. I think that
Isrie Ripley's vision, and I think you're right when you mentioned that she should
go on like many maybe a many Roman Reigns esque run, because I do
think she's one of the more dominant women we've seen and is right now head
and shoulders above everyone. And I think the closest one to her at this
point is biancabell Air, But Bianca bell Air has lost a lot of steam
since WrestleMania, I would say so. I think Real Ripley is going to
continue to dominate Monday Night Raw, but they're going to have to find a
way to get a more just more incredible wrestlers to combat her. And I
think what they obviously without trying to give to actually, I think they did
a great job of trying to push Naya Jackson that direction at the day one
Monday Night Raw, and you know Jake Fargill's coming, is Sasha Banks going
to return? But I think they have to find a way to establish main
event stars beyond the ones that have just kind of been recycled at the top
of the division for years. At this point, like it's kind of been
beyond Riha, Charlotte and then like a rotation of like a Bailey and an
Oscar for the last two years or so, and you have to find a
way to really build these stars. Like I thought that they were doing a
nice job with Roquel Rodriguez, Like she wasn't there yet, but I thought
that she to this point, if not just for the visual alone, has
been Ria's best opponent. But then I'll know, like we just haven't seen
her, probably since Crown Jewel. I don't think we've seen Roquel Rodriguez,
and I think she was one that they were really on the right track with
her. I think on SmackDown you have more quantity but lack in the way
of quality. I obviously think they're fast tracking to Bailey versus EO. I
think getting Bailey back into the main event scene in a consistent way as a
babyface is imperative to it. And I think you have to revent Bianca bell
Air's gimmick a bit, just because it's so stale and it hasn't changed since
she moved up to the main roster what like three four years ago at this
point, and she has all the talent in the world, Like I between
like between Rhea and Bianca I think that talent wise, it's a toss up
as to who's the better in ring competitor. But the character development of Ria
Ripley has been so much better than Biyonca specifically over the last twelve twelve to
eighteen months. And you know, Ria at this point to me, like
it's not even about the women's division anymore. Like she's one of the best
stars they have period, Like I would put her top five, if not
higher in terms of like money drawers right now. And you hear with the
crowd like they're inching. They have such a big itch to cheer for her
right now, and when she's not associated with the judgment date, they do
just kind of facto cheer for her, like they were cheering her and booing
the hell out of who did she face? Set to Survivor series, the
SHANEA. Beslaer crony Zoe starts, they were booing Zoe start. They wanted
Ria Ripley to win, And I think that just kind of goes to show
what kind of star Riha Ripley is. So I think that they really just
need to establish new stars in the main event scene. Refresh Bianca Belle air
because she still is one of the best athletes and best women's stars they have
to offer, and I think just continuing to build Rhea Ripley into one of
the bigger stars male or female that the company has to offer. Yeah,
there's it's not like the women's divisions plural are in disrepair. There's a lot
they could do. It is it is about reshuffling, and like you said,
it is kind of the same women cycling in and out of the main
events picture. But I, you know, I look ahead and I'm thinking,
sure they even if they signed Sasha Banks or not, I don't think
that's going to be a make or break for the women's division. You know,
we've heard conflicting reports. It was all, yeah, she's sure going
to be returning, and then we saw even her Sasha Banks or Mercedes Monette.
She posted on Instagram pictures of her outside in the arena where she was
we had a live event that night, and then having a picture of her
in a ring with Triple AG's picture behind her and all this stuff, and
then the next day it's like, oh, no, talks have fallen through,
and it's like it's so it's so frustrating as a fan, it's like,
well, well then which one is that? Are we just being played?
You know? And I talked about this to us. I don't know
if this is just a red herring where we're going to make the fans think
I'm coming and then we're going to put out a false report that'll spread like
wildfire that Oh yet, if talks have fallen through so that one I debut,
it is a surprise, I mean, or if it's like some kind
of weird triple reverse psychology, I don't know, But honestly, whatever the
case is, having her back would be a big deal. But I don't
think they're going to die without Sasha Banks. I know a lot of people
want her back, but if she lands in aw good for her. But
when you look at kind of the up and coming women too, I mean
Alba Fire and Elid Dawn who have been out there, I know they they
recently just came back. You know, they're a tag team, But it
doesn't seem like they're still taking the women's tag team division. Seriously, they
haven't done that since its inception. They created a belt before the A division.
I can't remember the last time or if ever that has happened. Where
a belt was created before a division was. It's bizarre, and since that
time, it's just been a completely cursed championship where either you get them and
you get injured, or you get them and then you're off TV for six
months. It's really weird. So I have no faith in the Tag team
Championships until they prove me otherwise. But when it comes to the women's singles
Championships, EO Skuy's got to drop that belt. It's got to be to
Bailey. We've been waiting for that for like six months now. I feel
like and Bailey going on a babyface round will be a lot of fun.
I think that's something that will happen in twenty four And then, of course
you look at the women's side of things on the wrong side, and I
don't think Rio's gonna drop it at WrestleMania forty I don't think she's gonna drop
it at SummerSlam. I think again, I said this in my predictions.
It probably could be a year from now we're saying, well, who's Ria's
opponent going to be for WrestleMania forty one, Because at that point you're thinking,
okay, that person will have a real chance I really think we could
have that long of a run for Rhea, and I'm not said about it
either. You know, really, any run after Roman reigns is run whenever
this ends, is gonna feel like, you know, really short in comparison.
So I'm excited for the women's divisions on both brands. It's just a
matter of kind of reshuffling the deck a bit, as you said, Yeah,
and it's just it feels a little stale on SmackDown and on Raw.
It's just a lack of star power. That that's the way it kind of
And you know, I said before that SmackDown lacks the star power, but
I think it's because I just see Rhea, Ripley and b and Becky Lynch
and how big of stars they are. But then after that there's a steep
jop off. But if you continue to build Naya Jacks into like a monster
type of heel, if you do some good work with rock Kel Rodriguez,
Zoey Stark, like I think there's a more promise on Raw SmackDown. It's
it's very like I know that they've tried, like hell to push what's your
face Shotzi, I get it, she just doesn't do it for me.
The characters just a bit off. I see that. I think they're giving
Meechin a shot at the Women's Championship on this SmackDown coming up, and I
think that there is potential with Mechin. You obviously have Zelena Vega, who
you've been very vocal about with untapped potential. I just feel like the top
talent, especially with Charlotte Flair not there, lacks on SmackDown. And that's
not to say that they don't have the talent there, it's you know,
Bianca is a talent, is a top tier wrestler. Bailey's probably my favorite
woman wrestler on the roster. You have Osca, but it's just it's stale,
and they need to do some big face lifting with the women they have
on SmackDown because it just feels like very stale in that division. And it
may be as simple as just turning a couple heel a couple baby face.
I mean, like Bailey babyface, Bianca heel. That's a big change right
there. And then when you get Charlotte back in the June July apparently that's
when she's coming back June July timeframe, that'll be in time for SummerSlam,
you could give a big match to whoever the champion is Charlotte, And so
I think that you're you're yeah, it's not damaged beyond repair, as we
just said. I think it's just a little bit of tweaking here and there,
and then for sure you can bring up something talent, introduce Jade Cargill
and then you're off to the races and I think they'll be just fine.
But all right, Well, in the final segment of the show here as
we wrap it up, I'll give you the stage too if you have anything.
Obviously, there's so much more we could talk about in predictions and possible
returns, impossible matchups, rock rom and all all this stuff. But like,
what do you think or that that is possible in twenty twenty four that
you're looking for that we haven't discussed yet, men, women, whatever,
championship gun there, I mean whatever. I think that we're probably going to
see maybe not the end of the Judgment day, but a major defection from
the Judgment Day. And I think that twenty twenty four is probably going to
be the year of Damian Priest. I really think that Damian Priest has been
on under the Raidar probably the best and most nicely built Star two of the
year. And you know, I was watching the elimination chamber match from the
pay per view last year in Montreal, and I remember that he was one
of the guys in that chamber match for the US Championship and how he was
kind of an afterthought because it was all about Austin Theory, ver seth Rawlins
and the breakout performances of Montese Ford and Bronson Reid, and like just how
much of an afterthought he was. And then at WrestleMania, like, did
he have a match? I'm trying to I think he did, but I
really don't remember. Like I know Finn Baalor had the prominent match of any
Judgment Day member aside from Bria Ripley when he had the Hellna selvers edge and
Dominic went against Ray. But I'm trying to think if Damian Priest had a
match, and I can't think of it. And then you look at where
he's gone since he won the Money in the Bank, and I'm saying,
like, this guy is just on a collision course with the main event,
and I think that he will cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase to
win the world heavyweight title. And you know what I mean, I'm saying
this now, but he could be the one to cash in on Roman reigns
and then that could kind of lead to a judgment da versus baby Face bloodline
thing, maybe late in twenty twenty four, but I think Damian Priest will
be the biggest star of twenty twenty four. Maybe not the biggest star,
but the biggest breakout star. And I think he's going to cement himself beside
the likes of you know, Randy or in La Night, like atop the
food chain in creative. That's a pretty interesting prediction because as you're talking about
it and you're telling me, yeah, he's kind of been a nice,
almost under the radar bild. Yeah. I mean I've almost forgotten the times
that he's mister money in the bank. I mean I've and that's what they
want you to do. And I's a good thing. Yeah, And it's
great because I keep thinking, I keep, you know, looking at this
going on, Drew's got to win. But I'm like, well wait a
minute, I keep forgetting about it. Damian Priest is like seven eight months
and now to his money in the bank win, like we're getting towards the
end, he's going to cash in in the next three four months. So
he keeps looming out there, and I keep forgetting him completely as an option.
But I mean, you look from where he was to where he is
now as kind of well really second in command to Rhea, even though they
don't quote unquote have a leader. He has done a nice He's always solid
on the microphone, he's always solid in the ring. He's got a great
voice. I mean, just like from a just a pure sound perspective,
he sounds just so just dominant when he speaks. I think that you're right,
it could be the year of Damian Priest as world champion, world heavyweight
champion, or as you said, he could cash in on Roman reigns.
I don't believe that that restricts him just to Monday Night Raw. I don't
think so absolutely he could be the one to do that. But I think
at some point it will be on on the Monday Night Ros side of things
for the world title. I still think it'll be that, but ah sure,
I don't really care who beats Roman at this point. As you just
said, I don't give a damn I don't care, and that's sad,
but uh yeah, absolutely that this could be a very fun year. And
we didn't even touch on some of the other things. Like we said with
Gunther, I mean, who could defeat him if he gets If he drops
the belt, I still think he will this year. Quick I got to
ask you then, just very quickly, do you think gun Thro will drop
the belt in twenty four? I think he'll drop it before WrestleMania, and
I think it's going to be it's one or two guys. For me,
it's either sammy' z ain to finally give him a prominent singles championship victory,
but the low hanging fruit to me, and I think one that'd make a
ton of sense is jay u So that's yes, I was just gonna say
that, and I think that jay us This also could be a big year
for jay Uso, who has gotten over more than I think anyone expected to
at this point. Obviously yeat, but the ring he has proven he doesn't
need a tag partner, even though I still think he could be the one
to face Jimmy at WrestleMania. They could go Jimmy j at WrestleMania if they
have an interaction in the rumble, but if not, I would actually prefer
him to be the one to de throne Gunther at WrestleMania, and then you
have Gunther at that point and maybe he'll have a rematch, but thrust right
into the world title picture in the spring of next year. So I think
that just having a demotion for Gunther is really a promotion because that tells you
he's going into the next level. So I have no problem with that,
And it's also a great win for Jay Usso and that title. Whoever wins
that. I think the Intercontinental title would mean more than Roman dropping the belt
to whoever, just based on how much Gunther has done with that championship,
as you and I have said. So I'm thinking it's like, if Jay
Uso wins the IC title, imagine a triple threat match with Solo and Jimmy
with that title on the line at WrestleMania. I would have a lot more
interest in that than just Jimmy versus Jay with nothing on the line just pride.
I mean, that's really what would be on the line is pride.
That's it. Yeah, So after all the things Jay especially is done in
Jimmy, who has been kind of just lost in the fog since he rejoined
the judgment or the bloodline, I mean, yeah, I have really have
no interest in that anymore. The Civil War stuff is used you and I
have said, it's just kind of like it was great, but it's over
so all right, Well, any final thoughts before we wrap up here?
No, I think we covered a lot here, especially I guess the final
thought would be like, because I kind of spilled my guts on how I
feel about AW, how do you overall feel about it? You mean as
a company, Yeah, just like when you think about it as a product,
if you'd spend money on it, if you go your way to watch
it, Like I know, we could probably do it a two hours show
on this, but just like quickly, very quick. I think that First
of all, I have nothing against AEW. Do I think they are unprofessional
at times? Absolutely? Do I think Tony Kahan is unprofessional at times and
trying to be too. He's a big goof Yes. Do I think he's
a bad human being? No, But I think that it's a it's a
it's a promotion that's still trying to find its legs and its identity because it's
got all of these ex WWE stars that it's so funny when you hear them
debut into AW. They get these massive pops, and at the same time,
those very same fans will tell you they're not WWE fans. Yet those
people would not know who these guys are if they didn't watch WWE's product.
There's always it's always funny to me that AW fans tell me they're not ww
fans, but in terms of like where those stars came from and recognizing that,
clearly you watch the product to know who these guys are. But nonetheless,
I think it's a company that needs to as we have talked about,
needs to stop relying on and so is w W stars of yesteryear. There's
no issue with having stars come in and play play fight with each other for
a while. I mean really, there's no if you guys want to,
you know, have a little play fight and have your fantasy matchups like Christian
and Adam Copeland do great. I mean cool they and I saw some of
that match they busted for the age and mileage on their bodies. They did
do a nice job. MJF. I still want WWE Samoa Joe as champion
in World Champion AEW. I have no issue with that. I think Samoa
Joe was underutilized to a criminal degree in WWE. The match with brock Lessari
had in WWE was I think something that could have really ran with and made
even a WrestleMania match out of it. But as far as AW goes,
I don't have nothing against it. I really don't. I think that I
for me, I don't think it's fair to give a full analysis without actually
diving into the product and watching it on a weekly basis. I mean,
I see clips on YouTube and on TikTok and on Instagram, and I,
you know, I get my analysis from there. And I see tips clips
of Tony kannakt in like you know, a clown in press conferences and things.
So we get all those bits and clips, But honestly, I don't
think it's fair for me to give a full, conclusive analysis of like this
is how I feel about AEW and this is where they're going to go without
actually watching the product. But honestly, I wish the best for them,
I really do. It's good for every one, fans and talent to have
another company. So yeah, well, I think that's all fair to say,
and this isn't dunking on it. It's just that it's really not my
cup of tea and he annoys me in his press conferences. But aside from
that, I think it's a great place. Yeah, other than that,
right, yeah, yeah, So all right, well, very good,
And we will be kicking off the twenty twenty four year at the end of
this week with another show from Anthony, which is the after Dark Show.
You guys can catch that on Apple. You guys can catch that on the
Patreon side of things. And I know you you usually don't have a topic
rather prepared yet until maybe a day or two before, so I won't ask
you unless you have something in mind that you're going to talk about. But
I would imagine it's going to be coming off of a big day one RAW,
You're probably gonna have a thing or two to talk about, I would
imagine, because this is gonna be a big RAW. So yeah, no,
I imagine I'll do a review for this and probably a preview for New
Year's Resolution or Revolution, which will be the SmackDown branded show. And you
know, it's it's pretty cool that they're doing this, But I do think
one way another you should bring back a pay per view between Survivor series and
Rumble, like whether that be again or New Year's Revolution, because it feels
like they did it last year and then they tried to do it again this
year with no pay per view, and they realized that, oh, there's
just so much story to tell and you can have significant moments happen right before
the rumble, like Evolution's Night to Shine and Arm Again three or the first
every Money in the Bank cash and a show you were at it New Year's
Revolution in two thousand and six, Like this is a very pivotal time right
before you head into the right rumble. And I think not having a pay
per view is really a detriment. It's like they're half pregnant here. It's
we I've never seen them do this where they're it's like they made the schedule
and then three weeks out there like crap, we probably should have done a
pl What do we do. Let's split the differ for Insan, it's Day
one edition of Raw, It's the New Year's Revolution edition of SmackDown. It's
kind of like they just felt like they made a mistake and they tried to
half ass it. And I'm not saying that's actually what happened. They probably
are experimenting here with rebranding a special edition of Raw and a special edition of
Smack, nown with making it feel special because of the name. But I
think that they're looking at this going. I think we could have squeezed a
pay per view out of this, and I think they could too. I
like the pay per view on day one, or if they want to call
it New Year's Revolution, either's cool with me. But I like that because
it's like a fresh start to the new year. You don't have to wait
another four weeks for the Rumble. It's a nice stop gap. I don't
know so anyway, all right, well we'll wrap it up here, but
we'll looking forward to the show on Friday, as we'll drop that probably later
in the day. And I hope you guys take a listen. But thanks
so much for joining me, and we'll be chatting in a week. Yeah,
man, looking forward to it. Take care you too. Thanks for
listening to the WWE podcast. Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast app
so you don't miss a show, or head to wwepodcast dot com and for
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Podcast. Until then, we'll see you next time.