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- [00:08]
Sam Roberts
Welcome to the Crown Jewel Preview show, brought to you by Raw. Recap. It's a, it's a WWE and Fanatics original production. AJ Styles is going to be on the show with myself, Sam Roberts, with Megan Moran and with our guest analyst. That's right. It's, it's, it's. It's a big name show because Crown Jewel is a big name show itself. Ladies and gentlemen, Big E is with us. What's going on, E?
- [00:35]
Big E
Not much, man. It's good to be here to talk about all things Crown Jewel.
- [00:39]
Sam Roberts
Oh, yes. Now, look, a lot of people say a lot of things about title versus title matches and sometimes they just end up being wonderful exhibitions where on this given night you get to watch two of the best, find out who is the better man or woman on that evening. But then sometimes they completely change in meaning. And I think that when you look at this Cody Rhodes versus Seth Rollins match, it goes so far beyond Champion versus Champion. It goes so far beyond the Crown Jewel ring. I mean, and to me, it feels like it's. It's gotten very real in the sense that you pick up on the fact that, that whether this is a story or not, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins both want to be looked at as the guy in wwe, the person that this era revolves around and the person that is leading WWE into the future. And it becomes very hard to go on television and say that about yourself, whether you're saying you're a visionary or a quarterback, if the other guy just beat you at Crown Jewel.
- [01:52]
Big E
Yeah, I, I think, like, let's not forget that Cody's propulsion once he returned to WWE to the main event, was off the back of Seth Rollins. We're talking about his return at WrestleMania, that incredible pectare Hell in a Cell match. And Cody was up three nil against Seth. And, and I think that Seth was kind of a few years ago, he was kind of in this position where, where he was a bit of the bridesmaid and not the bride at the time. Like, he's going on having incredible matches. All these top guys are kind of building their momentum off of his back. Same thing with CM Punk as well. And Seth is kind of looking around as, okay, I'm still the man, but now these guys are getting those opportunities that I was vying for. But now within the last six months or so, we've seen a Seth Rollins now who has Paul Heyman in his corner. He has the Bronze in his corner. We see a rejuvenated Seth Rollins. We see a Seth Rollins who who is no longer the bridesmaid. We see a Seth Rollins who opens Raw, who closes Raw. He is the man. Same thing on smackdown. Even though that's not his show, we see him on smackdown closing the show as well. So I think this is such a great opportunity for Seth Rollins to prove that he is no longer going to be the stepping stone for other top guys. And that's kind of crazy to even frame it that way. As someone who has been a multi time world champion, who has main evented wrestlemanias, he's had all these incredible moments. First ballot, hall of Famer, all those things. Part of the greatest faction of all time, arguably in the shield. But I think at crown Jewel, Seth has a great opportunity to say no more. I'm not going to be the guy who plays second fiddle to Cody Rhodes anymore. And I think a win in Perth is huge for him to prove that he is the guy in this era.
- [03:35]
Megan Moran
Well, Sam, you talk about this getting very real and I think about the story of Cody Rhodes and his return to wwe. You can't tell that story without talking about Seth Rollins. You cannot have Cody winning the championship at WrestleMania 40 without Seth Rollins being his shield. But when you say real and real emotions, I think of the watch, the watch that Cody Rhodes gifted to Seth Rollins After WrestleMania 40, the fact that Seth had never worn the watch. This has been brought up on television, but in a very real way this bothered Cody. He had Becky lynch on his podcast, he was asking her to does your husband still have that watch? We know the deep personal connection that Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins have and the desire to be the face of the industry for the next 10, 15 years and beyond. And to me that's what this match is all about.
- [04:31]
Sam Roberts
Yeah. And you wonder if it goes to E to your point as well when, when you go, it's not, it's not enough for Seth to be involved in these great matches. It's not enough for Seth to be a part of, of some of the absolute classics he has to win them. And it does make me wonder if the watch thing, Cody privately gifted watches to everybody that participated in that WrestleMania 40 main event. And Seth was such a big part of that main event. But if you look at it a certain way and I think, I think Seth has evolved. Yeah. But I think Seth has also decided I need to be selfish. Like, like that is. Sometimes what it takes is being selfish is not sitting there going well, what's best for the company, what's best for the roster, what's best. And I Think the last thing that Seth Rollins wants to be is a supporting player in the Cody Rhodes story. And maybe, and I'm putting words in Seth Rollins mouth and I'm putting thoughts in his head and he may disagree with this entirely. But to me, if Cody Rhodes gives me that watch and I acted as Cody Rhodes shield, to me that watch represents the grand award of being a supporting player in the Cody Rhodes story. And I don't think that that's what Seth Rollins wants to be. I think he may resent it.
- [05:48]
Megan Moran
You don't want to be a supporting actor?
- [05:51]
Big E
Absolutely not.
- [05:52]
Sam Roberts
If I want to be the man, right?
- [05:54]
Big E
No. Like a Best supporting Actor Oscar is incredible, but it's not Best Actor. People don't talk about it in the same vein. You're spot on. And also, I'm so glad you guys brought up the watch because I, I also think when I see Seth talk about the watch and look at the watch, we see a more contemplative Seth Rollins. We see someone, I feel like the bombast, the veneer, the laugh, the cockiness that Seth Rollins, some, for some reason, Cody is able to kind of get by that veneer. And we're able to see more of the man under all of that because we were so used to seeing a very unbothered Seth Rollins who was always in control because. But there is something deep inside that Cody's been able to get into. And I don't know if it's Seth considering his place in the industry, considering his relationship with Cody, or wondering if the sacrifice at WrestleMania for Cody Rhodes was even worth it. I'm not sure what it is, but Cody is able to really tap into a very real part of Seth and I think his humanity as well.
- [06:59]
Sam Roberts
I had thought that the contemplation was because he really only does digital, but you're probably right. I think you're. You're probably more accurate than I was there. I didn't look deep enough into it. And look, I think when you look at this match, Cody has everything to gain here. Cody can't be getting losses if he wants to call himself the quarterback. But at the same time, you go to the Champion vs Champion match. On the women's side, the crown jewel match between Stephanie Vacair and Tiffany Stratton. These are two women who have ascended to a place rapidly where it's time to prove who really is that new force that's representing this generation of the women's roster. I mean, the women's roster moves so quickly. It is. It is, is it Is night and day different than it was a year ago? Which was night and day different than it was a year before that? And the fact is that last time WWE was in Perth, it was only a year and a half ago, maybe. And that's where Tiffany Stratton, I think, rose to this level where you were like, oh, my gosh, I can't believe that the fans are as behind Tiffany as they are at that elimination Chamber show. But now there's a. There's a new wrestler in town. Stephanie Vacair has captured the imagination of the WWE audience. And if you're Tiffany Stratton, you have to be looking at the support that Stephanie is getting and go, well, it can't be. I just started. It can't be over for me yet now. I mean, you can't, like, you can't forget about me now. And to me, that's part of what this match is all about.
- [08:42]
Megan Moran
You know, we talk a lot about the men's division and that championship match and what is the future of the men's division in the. In the women's division. The future is now, right? You talk about Tiffany Stratton. She hasn't even been on the main roster all that long, by the way, undefeated in 2025. But Stephanie Vacair has taken the division by storm and has been undeniable since her arrival in wwe. Go back and watch some of her. Some of her matches in nxt. I mean, from the moment she stepped foot in wwe, she has earned the respect of the audience. She has connected with the audience. Go back to Evolution.
- [09:25]
Sam Roberts
That's exactly what they said about Tiffany Stratton a year ago, word for word, Bar for bar. Exactly what they said about Tiffany Stratton a year ago.
- [09:34]
Megan Moran
There's so. And for Tiffany Stratton, this is her opportunity to level up.
- [09:40]
Big E
Absolutely. No, this is such a huge test for her. I feel like we have so many conversations about how incredible this women's division is. And obviously this is Raw recra. Recap. So we spent a lot of time talking about RAW while we're doing Raw recap. But you know what? I think that Tiffany isn't mentioned enough when we're Talking about the EOs, we talk about even the rise of Naomi, we talk about Rhea, and so many times we're leaving her out of that conversation. And it's such a great opportunity for her to say, no, I belong here. And I think it's also just such a great opportunity for this new era of NXT to say, this is ours. And obviously we had. Stephanie spent some time in NXT as well, but she had already traveled the world. She'd already been doing this thing, working on her craft for many years before she ever got to wwe. Tiffany is homegrown. This is a young, incredible athlete who came from college, who started here, who learned here, and I know what that's like and I know what it's like to have Seth rollins come into FCW 15 years ago and be like, okay, I need to level up. I'm starting from scratch. So. So it's a great opportunity for her to say, I belong with the women who have wrestled all around the world. I'm here too. And really to insert herself in that conversation. She's done incredible things on smackdown, but the pool of women on Raw is so incredibly deep and I'm excited for her to be able to mix it up with the best of the women on Raw.
- [11:04]
Megan Moran
One thing that's really stood out to me about Tiffany Stratton is while she doesn't have the years of in ring experience that someone like Stephanie Vacair has or even Rhea Ripley has, or you go up and down the roster, I mean, we, we could say this all day long, but it doesn't seem to get to Tiffany Stratton one bit. She always performs like she belongs, she always acts like she belongs. You never get a sense of any intimidation or nerves from Tiffany Stratton.
- [11:32]
Big E
Yeah, she's definitely very self assured and I think her confidence and I could just speak to what it's like to be a Division 1 athlete and to spend that time and you have that confidence of, you know, being able to perform in front of, you know, thousands of people being a name. But this is, this is a different beast right here. This is not college athletics. This is, you're going to be in Perth. The world will be watching. Not just the country, the whole world will be watching. So for me, I think since her time on the main roster, this is her biggest opportunity to say, hey, I'm here and I belong with the very best. She's had the WrestleMania spotlights, she's had the matches with Charlotte, she's had those opportunities as well. But Stephanie, I think, has exploded and you have to keep up every. The women's roster is so incredibly deep. You have to keep up and it's, what have you done for me lately? So this is such a great opportunity for her to say, this is what I've done lately. I belong. I am the very best woman on the main roster.
- [12:27]
Megan Moran
Sam, do you feel a little left out because you're the only non Division one athlete on this podcast right now.
- [12:32]
Sam Roberts
You're a Division one athlete.
- [12:34]
Megan Moran
Listen, I run in straight lines, but.
- [12:36]
Sam Roberts
At the Division 1 level, I'm a Division 1 broadcaster. They call me. And they've also said, I don't know what it means. They say I'm a D1 Glazer when it comes to Roman Reigns. I'm not 100% sure why they say that.
- [12:46]
Big E
The world is full of tours, but.
- [12:51]
AJ Styles
You don't choose a Toyota truck to follow the beaten path. You choose it to find the places in between the detours where each adventure.
- [13:02]
Big E
Pulls you toward the next.
- [13:05]
AJ Styles
And wrong turns turn out right. So why would you ever take a tour when you could take a detour? Toyota trucks.
- [13:16]
Sam Roberts
But I will say this, that when it comes to Division 1 athletes, they do have that confidence and they do have that ferocity. However, there's another thing. When you've been working for 15 years, every time that we've talked to Stephanie Vacair on this podcast, she talks about the years that you just brought up Megan, the years that she was putting into this sport before she was in wwe and the idea that, like, that, that. And that may be what this comes down to. Like is that desire to be great that comes with being a D1 athlete. Can that match the hunger that comes with working on something for 15 years, just putting your entire life aside and having faith in yourself for year after year after year to finally make it to a big stage like this, learning.
- [14:06]
Megan Moran
A new language, moving to a new country. All things that Stephanie Vacair has done to get to this level.
- [14:13]
Big E
Well, listen, I think it's.
- [14:14]
Sam Roberts
No, go ahead, go ahead.
- [14:16]
Big E
I think it's a bit of a new confidence in Tiffany. Like you mentioned, she's been undefeated for so long, she's been running it up on smackdown. And I love, like that. She. She's almost too ignorant to realize that she can lose, which can be a great thing. So there's that new confidence against an earned confidence, a confidence of someone who. Things have gone wrong in the ring for Stephanie and she knows how to deal with it. She's traveled the world. She knows how to deal with it. She. Everything has been thrown at her along the way in her career and it's going to be that. Like that new confidence of Tiffany Stratton, who doesn't even understand that she can take an L against the earned confidence of Stephanie. And I'm really excited to see those two clashes.
- [14:53]
Sam Roberts
Well, how about what happens when you take the athletics of a D1, I mean champion, and combine it with all those years of in ring experience. You put your one up for the tribal chief. Roman Reigns, he is back. He is in Perth and he is. Yeah, there you go, there you go, there you go. I'm happy to see it. And it's Roman Reigns and it's Bronson Reed. One on one this time. No rules, street fight, anything goes. Which I mean, when we've seen Bronson Reed in positions where it's anything goes, he literally tears buildings down. I mean, he crushes cars, he breaks through walls, it's incredible. But you know, there's something different. There's Roman Reigns for so long, I think almost took the victories, I don't want to say for granted, but it was assumed he had a system built between the bloodline, between the wise man. Systems were in place like a CEO where he knew if he just followed the plan, he leaves with the championship and the entire world for him has changed. And since he's been back, especially after the beatdown that he got post match at Clash in Paris, there's a different energy to Roman. There's a different severity that he swings those chairs with when he has a reason to swing those chairs, when he has revenge in his heart, there's a different mode that Roman Reigns slips into. And for me, if it were anybody else, I'd say no rules, anything goes. Street fights, that's, that's, that's Bronson Reed 10 times out of 10. Except this is the 11th time Roman Reigns on a revenge tour is different. And I cannot, I cannot wait to see what Roman Reigns does.
- [16:52]
Megan Moran
I know this sounds wild to say, but as you're laying out the scenario here and given what happened to Roman Reigns in Paris, to me this almost feels like a must win match for the tribal chief.
- [17:05]
Sam Roberts
Yeah, I could agree with that.
- [17:08]
Big E
Yeah, I think the same. Although it's hard to bet against this man. But I also love for the first time in about five years, this year we're seeing a more stripped down version of Roman. There is no advocate in Paul Heyman. There is no bloodline. It is just Roman. And I'm so intrigued to see or understand what his mindset is. The interactions with Jay are really interesting. This mentoring of it almost feels like he's passing down jewels of wisdom. And right now I'm trying to understand for Roman where his mindset is. Is it championships? Is it giving back? Like what for someone who has done so much, what gets you out of bed, what gets you excited? What is your motivation? Now, and I think for Roman, that, for me, is the big question. You're going all the way across the pond to Australia, taking that long, that long flight to fight a devastator and a man who, I think the last time we had a ple scheduled in Australia, Bronson was supposed to be on that ple, but he got injured in that WarGames match and was out. So we're going to see, I think, a man who is not only excited to go home, but he was supposed to go home a year ago to get his big moment as someone who was at the top of the card, as someone who has finally made it. He is someone who.
- [18:26]
AJ Styles
Who.
- [18:26]
Big E
Who closes raws, who closes ples. He is now a hugely important piece of the roster. So I think this version of Roman against a highly, highly motivated Bronson Reed with all the rules thrown out the window, man, these two are. Are both insanely motivated to get the.
- [18:47]
Sam Roberts
W. And I think, too, to your point about what is that motivation for Roman when you've achieved more? Like, you've overachieved on a level that nobody could have predicted. That is unheard of for this generation or really anything in the last two decades. What is the motivation that gets you out of bed? And I think that the answer to that question is probably the fact that he was disrespected, the fact that after everything, somebody had the gall, the audacity to not only knock him out, but to take the shoes. We laugh about the shoes, but he's wearing a tribal thief T shirt. You only do that for one reason. That's to disrespect and to test somebody. Right? That's ultimately a test. If I can get away with doing this to you, you're done. And the rest of the locker room is gonna see that, and the fans are gonna see that and go like, oh, okay, that was an era. That was a Roman era, and we're past that. And I think that now Roman's in this place where he does have something to prove, which is, don't take my sneakers.
- [19:51]
Big E
But, like, you're spot on. And we've never seen Roman on the back foot or on the back shoe like this either. We've never seen people make a fool out of him. We've never seen any of those things. So I think for him, just, like, making sure people know, like, I. You might not see me every single week on every single show, but I am still the guy. And I think beating Bronson Reed in this incredible match, in this very brutal match, I know it's going to be brutal. I think beating Bronson solidifies that he is not in the passing the torch phase. He is not in the let me do my my song and dance and wave goodbye. He made it very clear a few weeks ago that I plan on having a big year this year and a big year next year. There are plans and I think for him to keep those plans in motion, if we expect to see Roman in the title picture again, he has to get it done in Perth.
- [20:40]
Sam Roberts
I also wonder how Bronson Reed is going to react when he's home and he's a main eventer and he's in front of his people and he finally gets to do it. And everybody's cheering for Roman Reigns because Roman is the guy that it doesn't matter what city he's in. It doesn't matter what hometown hero he's fighting. It doesn't matter when the music hits, the fingers are gonna go up. The fans are going to cheer. It's a guarantee. And what does that do to Bronson Reed? That even with him being the guy and how many people come from that part of the world and make it in the wwe? A small handful. And still Roman Reigns has captured the imagination of the audience on a level that, that all of that gets canceled out.
- [21:26]
Big E
It does. But once again we have to make it very clear there are no rules in this match. Will we see Paul Heyman? Will we see Bron Breakker? Will we see Seth Rollins? The deck. The deck, in many, many ways is stacked against Roman.
- [21:40]
Megan Moran
Will we see Jey uso? Will we see Jimmy uso?
- [21:43]
Sam Roberts
Come on.
- [21:44]
Big E
Come on.
- [21:45]
Sam Roberts
Bloodline in Numbers. I do want to tell you one of the things that we're of course looking very much forward to is that match between John Cena and AJ Styles. We are on the John Cena farewell tour and this weekend in Perth, we can all celebrate. If you go right now to WWE Shop and Fanatics, you can check out his brand new Perth collection. It's really, really cool. It's available now. It's the T shirts, it's the sweatbands, it's the towels, it's the hats. It's everything. You can grab everything now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. You don't want to miss out the all this merch is, is history to me for John Cena. I also want to tell you about Tops now. You know, we get very excited when these big shows happen because big shows mean big moments and big moments mean we're going to get new product from Tops. Now Tops now captures major milestones, viral moments from the biggest events like AJ Lee's return, which skyrocketed to the number three best selling Tops Now WWE card ever. And this weekend at Crown Jewel, we have some huge matchups. I'm talking about Cody and Seth. I'm talking about Australia's own Rhea Ripley. I'm talking about John Cena. There's bound to be some memorable and viral moments that will be immortalized on Tops now cards. And keep your eyes out. This Friday, on Friday, Tops now is going to put out their Crown Jewel poster card, which is only gonna be available for 72 hours. Collectors who buy the Crown Jewel poster base card will have the chance to receive rainbow, foil or even gold limited short prints. Sign up now for notifications@tops.com and follow at tops on social. So you don't miss out on any big moment card. That's. I mean, you gotta cherish these moments and have a little something. And when we talk about moments, I just mentioned her. You talk about people coming home to Australia. Rhea Ripley is coming home to Australia. And it's in a match that I don't think up until a couple of weeks ago, any of us would have predicted for multiple reasons, by the way. But we've got a tag match. Ria Ripley and EO sky versus Oscar and Kyrie Sane. And it's interesting, man. You talk about the bloodline and you talk about that family lineage. This match radiates a perceived family lineage and the fact that both Kyrie Sane and Iyo sky look at Asuka as family, as that mentor figure, as that person who kind of opened doors and allowed all of them to prosper in the wwe. But I guess EO has had enough of Asuka's Rampage of Power, if you will.
- [24:31]
Megan Moran
Wouldn't you have enough of Oscar's. Oscar's Rampage of Power after she misted Iyo?
- [24:37]
Sam Roberts
Well, she gave Iyo 30 seconds to apologize. And when the apology didn't come within the 32nd window, it was poison mist once again.
- [24:44]
Megan Moran
And prior to that, Oscar had been demanding and controlling over Iyo and who she could be friends with.
- [24:51]
Sam Roberts
You mean to tell me if Oscar.
- [24:53]
Megan Moran
Started yelling, I would listen to.
- [24:56]
Sam Roberts
That's what I thought most people would.
- [24:58]
Megan Moran
I would. I would be just like Kyrie Sane who is listening to Oscar. But we've seen Kyrie have a little bit of an emotional response to that as of late. We saw her backstage talking to EO sky, telling Iyo they can still be a family, and really tugging at the heartstrings. Of Iyo Sky. And then there was that moment on Raw where we saw Ria questioning if she can trust IO in this situation. And I think Rhea has every right to question that, given how deep this relationship is between Kyrie, between Oscar, and between Iyo Sky. But we're talking about some of the best wrestlers on the face of the planet that are going to be in this match, and Iyo, Sky, Rhea, Ripley, Asuka, and Kairi Sane. Right. I just wonder if Iyo can check her emotions at the door and execute when push comes to shove.
- [25:51]
Big E
I don't think there will be any checking of emotions at the door. I don't know how there could. Like, I think the sisterhood between the three of these women runs so deep. And again, we don't. I don't know if we spent enough time talking about how hugely important Asuka is in opening the door to all these incredible women in Japan who saw what Asuka became in nxt. The talent was already undeniable. But to see her undefeated streak in nxt, to see her come to the main roster and know, like, oh, if I come to wwe, I can be in good hands. She opened the door. I don't know if we get Kyrie or Iyo or so many of the incredible women from Japan if it wasn't for Asuka. So, like, it's hard for me to not, like. Of course I understand why Iyo's so torn up about this. She means so much to women's wrestling, to Japanese wrestling. She means so much to IO and in many ways, like you said, Megan, this family is being ripped apart. But in the same vein, like, Iyo is here to blaze her own path, to figure out her own direction. It feels, in many ways, obviously, they're much closer in age, so. So I don't want to lean too far into that, but it feels much like a parent who has opened doors for you and has paid for your school and has allowed you to live the best life, who is telling you this is the job you need to take, this is the career you need to take. And it's okay, Mom, I get it. I know you want the best for me, but I have a dream of my own. I have a path that I need to take. And there's so much deference for that parent, because without them, I would never be where I'm at right now. But at some point, I need to live my own life. And I think that's. That's kind of what the relationship between Iyo and Asuka is right now. Is Asuka says, I am the one who has opened these doors. Listen to me. Without me, you wouldn't be here right now. Without me, you wouldn't be world champion in wwe. That's how I think Asuka feels right now. But Iyo has had such an incredible year and has proven that she can blaze a path of her own. So there's this big push, pull, but between those two, and Kyrie, unfortunately, is stuck in the middle.
- [27:55]
Megan Moran
And everything you said about Asuka is a thousand percent right and what she's done for Japanese wrestling and for women's wrestling. But do you think at all she's abusing this power and the predicament that she's put Iyo sky in?
- [28:09]
Big E
Absolutely. Like, of course she is. But who's. Who's to tell her no? Who's the one to stand up to Oscar and say, this isn't right. What you're doing is wrong?
- [28:17]
Sam Roberts
I know. I know.
- [28:17]
Big E
Obviously, I know.
- [28:18]
Sam Roberts
I know.
- [28:18]
Big E
Who?
- [28:19]
Sam Roberts
Iyo Sky.
- [28:19]
Big E
Who?
- [28:20]
Sam Roberts
Iyo Sky. Iyo sky is the one to say it's wrong. Look, there's a thing that happens. This is like mentor mentee relationships can get toxic in a hurry when at one point you're mentoring and at one point you're opening doors. And then you watch somebody succeed, and instead of letting them fly out of the nest like a mama bird should, you tie a rope to their ankle and say, no, I want you to fly. But not too far. Not too far. There's a point where once you. Once the door's been opened for somebody, you gotta let them walk through without saying, thank you so much for opening this door. Thank you so much for opening this door. Thank you so much for opening this door. Like, I don't think that when Kyrie Sane and Iyo sky got to the wwe, that they realized, like, yes, they should show gratitude to Oscar and also forever be indebted to Oscar, without question, because of what she did in the past.
- [29:18]
Big E
I think you're spot on. But I could also see Oscar's mentality of she's done so many incredible things. Does she maybe fear that Iyo will. Her legacy in WWE will surpass what Asuka's done? I think in many ways, as someone who has opened the door, who has been the pioneer, you want people to always remember your name as the forebearer, as the foremost important women, foremost important woman in WWE to come from Japan. And maybe she fears that the plaque that has her name on the wall is going to be removed and it's going to be replaced with Iyo. And then in five, 10 years, are we talking about the importance of Asuka? Maybe we're just talking about Iyo. So I think a lot of it is also this legacy. While Asuka was out with injury, while she was working on rehabbing, here's IO just continuing to climb and climb and climb and build and have world title opportunities. So I get it. Sam, I think you're spot on, but I don't think Oscar sees it that way.
- [30:13]
Megan Moran
And then we have to talk about the dynamic of the team of Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky. Now, this is a team that six months ago, if we would have said IYO and Rhea are going to be teaming together, I would have said, how? How?
- [30:25]
Sam Roberts
Rio Ripley, you were a hater as soon as they started getting along.
- [30:28]
Megan Moran
Well, because IYO sky has been preventing Rhea Ripley from getting back her Women's World Championship, IYO sky won the title win when nobody expected it. On the road to WrestleMania, Iyo sky has never been pinned by Rhea Ripley. We know Rhea Ripley wants that title back. We all thought that Rhea Ripley would be in a position to win that title back in Australia. Guess what? She's not. And who's she teaming with? IYO Sky. I know their friends. I know right now they need one another. But it's an interesting relationship between the two of them, given that they both want that Women's World Championship. Eventually they do.
- [31:16]
Big E
But I also think there is a level of deep respect that is forged from your greatest rivals. I can. I can talk about my own experience. The USO's and the new Day became thick as thieves. We were so close. Because when you have your metal tested that way, when you have someone beat the hell out of you time and time again, and you turn around and you beat the hell out of them and you sweat together and you put on classics together, there is a level of respect that I don't think people can really understand. You might be trying to take someone's head off out there for 25, 30 minutes, but once you go to the back, you realize you two painted a canvas of violence that is beautiful, that will be remembered. And in those moments, that bond is something that I think a lot of people who don't go through that struggle to understand. And I think you're spot on, Megan. Like, obviously, it's still about championships. It's not. This is not about friendships or holding hands. Like, this is still about Ria trying to be the very best and EO being the very best. But. But I think their match At Evolution, their match at WrestleMania, what those two have done every time they step foot in the ring, a level of respect and admiration has been forged that I think few people can truly understand.
- [32:29]
Sam Roberts
I also think that when you look at everything that's gone on and like the conversations that we're having right now going, well, Oscar did this for this person. Oscar did that for that person. And now it's time, Oscar. Something's awakened in Oscar where she's like, wait a minute, are you talking about me in the past tense? Did you think I was done? Do you think I'm. Do you think I'm done? Do you not realize that to this day I'm one of the best current active women's wrestlers? And I think she's got that fire back under her, that fire. That said, like, nothing's changed since I decimated the NXT roster. Nothing's changed since nobody was ready for Oscar. And if you've forgotten that, that's on you. But I might need to remind you.
- [33:15]
Big E
And look at her in the ring, she hasn't lost a step, she hasn't slowed down. She is just as brutal. So of course she's here to remind people, like, I deserve to be the very best. I still, I just, I should have been the main event of evolution. I should have been the main event of the next. Like, I get it. And I think she still has so much that she is trying to prove to people that I am not willing to take a back seat to eel. I'm not taking a backseat to anyone. I am still that badass, you know, and love and fear.
- [33:41]
Sam Roberts
Well, there is one more match that we got to talk about and it's a big one. It's one that I think many of us questioned whether or not we were actually going to get to see it, but we're going to get to see it. With only five appearances left in John Cena's career, one of them is used in Perth against our guest at this time, the phenomenal one, A.J. styles. A.J. i we were there for the. The. The beat up John Cena run that I am so happy is is is getting its flowers right now. The, the. The. The this match has. Has brought everybody back to that place that in that period of time, it was like the best thing on television and resulted in the best matches between you and John Cena. When you find out that John Cena is doing this retirement run, was having another match with him a priority for you or is it something that you realized may or may not happen?
- [34:45]
AJ Styles
All right. Well, let's. Let's just be honest about the whole thing. I don't know that if you guys noticed, haven't been in the main event pitcher lately, so I just assumed that I wasn't that important. But it sounds like to me, the fans wanted this match. And at the end of the day, when it comes to John Cena's retirement tour, we're going to give them what they want. So I'm happy to have the opportunity to face John one more time. And I can tell you this, it'll never happen again. I don't care how much money they offer us. We're probably still. I said probably. We're not going to Saudi Arabia. You know, this is it. And I know in my heart it's. It's the right thing. And. And John's going to be retiring soon, and I'm going to be right behind him. It's just the reality of two guys who have busted their butt for so many years and busted their bodies at the same time. You know, it's time.
- [35:39]
Sam Roberts
So when you. When you go. I was. I was going to ask real quick. When you go into this and you talk about the fact that, like, John Cena's only got to the end of this calendar year and you've been pretty public about it being close to the end of your run, but also been public about the fact that you haven't been in the main event scene for some time, do you go into this looking to prove people wrong? Is this. Is this the match that. When you put it in that context, do you realize that it's time to use absolutely everything that's in the tank because maybe there's no tomorrow.
- [36:12]
AJ Styles
Well, I'm going to do that anyway, regardless of the match. I can tell you this. When we're done, you will know that we'll be left all out in the ring. If this is what the fans want, we're going to give it to them and there'll be nothing left. It's that kind of match for me, and it doesn't matter, like, again, who I'm in the ring with. I'm going to give you my best every time. It just. There's something about John Cena and AJ Styles for some reason, and I can't explain it to you, we're very different almost every kind of way, except for when our feet step into that ring. It's very similar, and we have unbelievable matches. I've never had a bad match with that guy. I don't care if you say, oh, he's jinxing it. No, I'm telling you, it's going to be good.
- [36:52]
Big E
Aj, can you talk about just in your incredible list of greatest rivals, greatest programs, where does the rivalry with Jon Rank and what does it mean to you? Because I always go back to your debut at the Rumble and you wondering if fans would pop for you, if people. And of course you got an incredible reaction. But I always think, like, your rivalry with John, I think really catapulted you to the top of the card and demonstrated that you were the best of the best, not just in tna, but also in WWE as well.
- [37:31]
AJ Styles
But that was it. That's what I feel like a lot of people cared about that match because it was two guys who started at a company and was building it. It was almost AJ Styles was the TNA guy and John Cena was the WWE guy and similar routes. You know, they were. They were coming up through the ranks and it was two companies, so they always kind of compared us to each other, you know. And then what, 15 years later, you finally get to see these two guys step in the ring together. And you never thought you'd see it, and it was amazing. But the fans made it amazing, of course, because they've seen something that they never thought they'd say, nor did I. So it's just. That's what it is, you know, it's just something different. And because we spent so much time apart, it was special when we came together and had that match and matches in wwe.
- [38:24]
Megan Moran
Aj, you've had so many incredible rivalries, so many incredible matches throughout your career. But do you feel like it's John Cena that brought out the best in AJ Styles?
- [38:36]
AJ Styles
And just to continue on with John and what you asked, he definitely made me. There's no question in my mind that he helped make AJ Styles. He put me on a different level, and some of my best matches have been with John. That is also no question. So I don't know where I would be exactly on the charts right now if it hadn't have been for John, but it certainly did help being in the ring. And as far as bringing out the best in each other, that's what it is. It's in each other. We bring out the best in each other. We know it's going to be good because we trust each other. It's just. I don't know how to explain it. Again, opposites attract, I guess.
- [39:17]
Sam Roberts
Yeah. I think in the. In the original AJ Styles, John Cena rivalry, for me as a fan walking in, it was this question Right. Because I think people forget what a closed system WWE was for a very long time and that AJ Styles was one of those guys that maybe is the best wrestler in the world, but may never be in wwe, because I don't know if he's a WWE Superstar. And at the same time, John Cena was the biggest WWE Superstar, but I don't know if he could hang with the best in ring wrestlers in the world. And then something happened where you combine those two worlds and you realize that they, they weren't so different. That the reason John Cena was able to be the best WWE Superstar was because he had the potential to be the best pro wrestler. And the reason that AJ Styles was the best pro wrestler is because he had the potential to be the best WWE Superstar. For me, that's what brought it together. When you look at it today and both those things have been established, I mean, nobody questions whether or not John Cena can go and nobody questions whether or not AJ Styles is on that list of best WWE Superstars. Is there a motivation for you to go in there and say, if I perform this the right way, it's going to be impossible to not remember that AJ Styles belongs in that main event conversation?
- [40:34]
AJ Styles
I've got an ego, man. It's all or nothing when I step through those ropes. I mean, I'd rather hurt myself than take it easy. That's just the way I'm made. And I believe John Cena is very similar to that. I'm not saying that we can do everything that we used to do when we were in our 20s, but we're smart enough to know where to put what. Everything you know, needs to be in the right places. And, and I'll give you, man, John Cena is a genius in that ring. I know that's hard to believe. I'm not saying these most the most athletic, but the stuff that he comes up with on the spot and he's so quick witted, it's unbelievable. It's a pleasure to be in the ring with him. You know, this guy is a ring general. He's in control. Trust me, if you've ever been the ring with him, you know what I'm talking about. So it's always been a pleasure to be in the ring with him. I mean, I honor every one of the matches that we've ever had.
- [41:32]
Big E
Uncle, you talk a lot about following right behind Cena and you know, this being the end for you as well. Is there? What do you want out of this? This last run?
- [41:46]
AJ Styles
I just want out of my run or out of this run with John. I mean, but I can tell you what I want out this match with John. I want people to go, oh, my gosh, that was unbelievable. We got every thing that we wanted in that match. This is exactly what we paid for. And in that sense, everybody wins. Everybody wins. And that's what I'm hoping to get out of this match. I just want everybody to win.
- [42:16]
Sam Roberts
What did you think on the retirement tour when John Cena whipped out that Styles clash? When you saw in the match with Logan Paul, all of a sudden you start seeing familiar moves and boom, a Styles clash gets. Gets hit. What goes through your mind?
- [42:31]
AJ Styles
He didn't call me. He didn't ask if he could use.
- [42:33]
Big E
It.
- [42:36]
AJ Styles
But, you know, with everything that he's done for me, I took it as a compliment. And even he said it on the interview, you know, it was, you know, showing how appreciation. And so, mind you, it's. It's never going to be an AJ style, Styles class. So I think it'd be pretty easy.
- [42:57]
Sam Roberts
I love that. What'd you think when you saw John Cena do it? It was good. I could have done it.
- [43:03]
Megan Moran
I mean, aj, you said it yourself. You didn't think that this match would happen on Cena's retirement tour. So when you see all the fans tweeting about it and you hear the, you know, the desire of the WWE Universe to have this match, what are you thinking? Because, like. Like I just mentioned, you said you didn't think this match was going to happen.
- [43:26]
AJ Styles
Well, you know, I thought it was just people on my Twitter or X page that they were like, we want you and Johnson. I'm like, of course, like, you like me. You know, of course you want that. I get it. But it's not going to happen. And there was almost a time where it was. It was said so much. I was like, it's.
- [43:43]
Big E
I was almost.
- [43:44]
AJ Styles
I had my phone out. It's not going to happen. Just chill out, you know, but here we are giving the people what they want. And little did I know that those same. And maybe other people had to be. Obviously, we're doing the same thing on, you know, to John, you know, like, we want this match, we want this to happen, and here we are making it happen.
- [44:06]
Sam Roberts
Well, man, I can't wait for it. I can't tell you how much we appreciate you taking some time out of your day to talk to us as we preview this show. I mean, there's a. There's an excitement for it, and I mean, you guys doing this one more time adds a super fight to this card, the likes of which, yeah, we're lucky to see. So I appreciate the time and I appreciate the fact that I believe you when you tell us that we're going to get the match that fans like myself are, are. Are wanting to see.
- [44:37]
AJ Styles
Hey, man, I promise you this. When it's all said and done, you go, holy crap, did you just see what they did? Yes, but it won't be on the level of what I'm just saying it. I don't know how to explain it to you, but you'll understand it after the match.
- [44:52]
Sam Roberts
That's so cool, aj, thank you so much, man.
- [44:56]
AJ Styles
Hey, thanks, guys. Appreciate it.
- [44:57]
Sam Roberts
Awesome. AJ Styles the best. I cannot wait to see that match. Rapid fire Megan match you're looking forward to the most at Crown Jewel.
- [45:07]
Megan Moran
It's the tag team match, the women's tag with the Kabuki Warriors, Rio Ripley and Eos guy.
- [45:12]
Sam Roberts
E, what's the one we should be watching?
- [45:15]
Big E
I know we just had him on, but it's. It's AJ and Cena, man. I, I love the match. They had damn near the match they had damn near a decade ago. And especially after getting to talk to aj, hearing like how much he's like, you guys are gonna walk away saying that was incredible. So I, I'm really excited for that one.
- [45:32]
Sam Roberts
Who do we walk away talking about between John Cena and AJ Styles? Who is running the WWE between Cody Rhodes and stuff, Seth Rollins. What does the tribal chief look like going into quarter four of 2025? I cannot wait for this show. E. Appreciate you joining us as always. I can't wait for Crown Jewel, man. Thank you everybody for tuning in to the Raw recap. Crown Jewel preview.