Bron Breakker STEALS the ring from Roman Reigns: Raw Recap, July 28, 2025

Summary

Raw Recap with Sam Roberts & Megan Morant

Episode: Bron Breakker STEALS the ring from Roman Reigns (Raw Recap, July 28, 2025)
Air Date: July 29, 2025
Podcast: WWE x Fanatics Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into all the must-see moments from the July 28, 2025 episode of Monday Night Raw on Netflix, just days before SummerSlam. Sam Roberts and Megan Morant are joined by Booker T as they break down Bron Breakker's explosive assault on Roman Reigns, dissect high-stakes promos by CM Punk and Gunther, recap a standout 8-woman tag match, sit down with rising star Stephanie Vaquer, and build SummerSlam hype with Big E. The conversation is fueled by both passionate analysis and trademark WWE humor, with numerous memorable quotes and insider observations.

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Main Topics & Discussions

1. Bron Breakker Lays Out Roman Reigns & The Stolen Shoes Incident

(00:31–04:40, 08:06–13:33)

• Bron Breakker’s Attack: Bron Breakker double speared both Jey Uso and Roman Reigns through a barricade. The disrespect culminated when Bronson Reed stole Roman’s sneakers—an act both literal and symbolic of taking the “throne.”
• Cultural Weight: Booker T, as a sneakerhead, emphasizes, “You come to school with a nice pair of sneakers on and you get in a fight and you lose the fight… If somebody took your shoes... move to a different town, you’re done. There’s no coming back from that.” (02:34)
• Analogy to Roman’s Old Promos: Booker T draws direct lines between Bron Breakker declaring “it used to be yours, now it’s mine” and Roman’s past signature claims of ownership over “my ring, my fans, my camera.”
• Bron Breakker’s Transformation: Megan and Booker T are fascinated by Bron showing a new strategic side, planning tactics backstage while traditionally being seen as “the Executioner” or “the soldier,” now taking on more of a leadership/strategist role.
• Paul Heyman’s Role: Heyman adopts a passive, perhaps opportunistic position, affirming Bron’s ascension: “If anything, when Bron Breakker is saying, ‘it’s mine now,’ Paul Heyman is saying, ‘yes, it is.’”
• Bloodline’s Fractured State: Discussion of family betrayal and leadership vacuums adds layers to Roman’s fall, both emotionally and narratively.

Memorable Quote:
“As somebody who went to New York public school, that's offensive… If you lost the fight and somebody took your shoes… transfer schools, move to a different town, you’re done.” —Booker T (02:34)

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2. CM Punk & Gunther Promo War: “There’s Levels to This, Kid”

(16:47–23:27)

• Expectations vs. Reality: Megan anticipated a promo masterclass from Punk with Gunther’s nonchalance but was surprised by Gunther’s early confidence and the dynamic shift.
• Promo Breakdown: Punk reignites his “Straight Edge” ethos, connects it to his addiction to wrestling, and invokes need—not want—for the World Championship.
• Tense Confrontation: Punk physically silences Gunther with a hand over the mic, leading to the pivotal line, “there’s levels to this, kid,” a direct verbal shot.
• Nuances & Easter Eggs: Sam notes Punk’s odd habit of calling it “the SummerSlam”—a “Bret Hart-ism”—possibly an intentional homage or simply an emotional slip.
• Gunther’s Defeat (on the mic): While Gunther wins physical battles, tonight he lost the war of words. The question becomes which arena will truly define the rivalry.

Memorable Quote:
“There’s levels to this, kid.” —CM Punk, discussed by Booker T (19:35)
“And I thought that's when it started to go bad for Gunther. But you are right. When he said there’s levels to this kid, you were like, oh boy, somebody... just called Gunther kid.”—Booker T

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3. Stephanie Vaquer Interview: Rise of a Future Champion

(24:52–39:10)

• Big Win & Teamwork: Stephanie celebrates pinning a top opponent in a star-packed 8-woman tag match, emphasizing teamwork and gratitude.
• Journey to WWE: She reflects on rapid successes: winning the NXT championship at MSG, moving to the main roster, and now approaching a Women’s title shot in Paris. She reveals her journey took a full 10 years, not just the visible past year.

Quote:
“Wrestling is my life. It’s my language and my everything... I sacrificed a lot for my dream and my dream is now in WWE.” —Stephanie Vaquer (26:34)

• Connection with Fans: Stephanie credits her quick connection to the WWE universe to pouring her soul into every match and the universal language of genuine effort in the ring.
• Signature Move: The “Devil’s Kiss” finishes and Booker T’s penchant for leading the crowd in chanting “ah, ah, ah” vs. the crowd’s “1, 2, 3” counted pin—discussed with warmth and humor.
• Emotional Adjustment: She opens up about the challenges of living far from home, her adaptation to Orlando, and finding a “new family” with supportive peers and fans.
• Dream Realized: Vaquer shares her story of being rejected from WWE 7 years earlier, then traveling the world to refine her skills before finally returning and achieving her goal.

Quote:
“My first Royal Rumble, I remember exactly when my entrance the crown [crowd] crazy. And I need to say thank you because people really make me feel so happy here...” —Stephanie Vaquer (28:30)

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4. Women’s Division Updates: Bailey, Becky Lynch & Naomi

(39:53–48:36)

• Bayley’s Downturn: Bayley, after missing WrestleMania and now missing SummerSlam following her failed tag bid with Lyra Valkyria, seems despondent and possibly lost. Megan notes, “That didn’t look like someone who’s…trying to figure it out. That looks like someone who was hopeless.” (45:18)
• Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria: Tension escalates as Lyra attacks Becky, raising questions about Becky’s ability to handle chaos. The kendo stick incident becomes a talking point.
• Naomi’s Reign: Naomi is praised as “the chaos that the division needs” and is predicted by both Sam and Megan to retain at SummerSlam.
• Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky Dynamic: Rhea is dubbed the division’s top star ("the GOAT"), while IYO is called possibly the best women's wrestler in WWE. “Rhea Ripley has never defeated IYO Sky. She has to respect her.” (46:44)

Notable Quotes:
“Naomi is operating on a different level than everybody in the locker room.” —Megan Morant (48:29)

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5. Tag Team Shenanigans, El Grande Americano & New Day

(49:13–54:07)

• Lighthearted Bickering: Big E joins and the crew riffs on New Day’s “midlife crisis” thigh-baring attire, with Booker T and Sam poking fun at Xavier and Kofi’s reactions.
• Bodyscouting Mystery: Discussion about the identity of masked luchador "El Grande Americano," with Sam jokingly guessing Pete Dunne and some confusion about language and heritage. The banter highlights the playful side of their analysis.
• Tag Team Division Recognized: Big E and Sam give props to the underappreciated SmackDown tag scene, with anticipation for the upcoming 6-team TLC match, expecting the hungry teams to “steal the show.”

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6. SummerSlam Hype: Cena vs. Cody, and Main Event Stakes

(57:04–63:42)

• Cena vs. Cody Street Fight: Big E unpacks Cody’s explicit call for “the John Cena of old” for his final SummerSlam, recognizing the moment as pivotal for both men and the fans.
• Cody’s Legacy & Pressure: Big E frames Cody’s story—he must win or risk fading from main-event relevance: “If Cody loses at SummerSlam, I don’t know where he goes? I don’t know who he is…” (57:04)
• Virtue vs. Winning: The team tackles Cody’s line, “sometimes doing the right thing does not look like the right thing,” speculating that Cody must set aside moral reservations to win.
• Championship Reigns & Legacy: The value of long title reigns is stressed—being champion once is not “finishing the story”; it’s about multiple runs and sustained dominance, as exemplified by John Cena.

Quote:
“Truly to me, finishing that story means not just becoming WWE Champion, but having a reign that people talk about for a very long time.” —Big E (61:05)

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7. Other Noteworthy Moments

AJ Styles & Dominic Mysterio

• Debate about whether AJ will gain respect just for hanging in with Dominic at SummerSlam or if a loss will be damaging.
• Humorous interplay as Booker T and Sam feign confusion over the outcome, with E passionately defending AJ as a “Mount Rushmore” talent.

Crowd Energy & Superstar Aura

• Roman Reigns’ treadmill videos and his various “walks” to the ring get detailed breakdowns, with Megan lustily observing, “I don’t want the camera to ever cut away from him.” (13:18)

General Banter & Inside Jokes

• Numerous running jokes about action figures, shoe collections, and WWE crowd chants, maintaining a lively, insider tone throughout.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:31–04:40 | Bron Breakker attacks Roman Reigns, steals his shoes | | 08:06–13:33 | Bloodline, Paul Heyman, and the consequences of Reigns being laid out| | 16:47–23:27 | CM Punk & Gunther promo battle | | 24:52–39:10 | Stephanie Vaquer interview | | 39:53–48:36 | Women’s Division (Bailey, Becky, Naomi, Rhea, Iyo) | | 49:13–54:07 | Tag Team banter with Big E, El Grande Americano mystery | | 57:04–63:42 | Cena vs. Cody, SummerSlam stakes, Cody’s legacy | | 66:59–69:38 | SmackDown Tag Team TLC preview |

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Standout Quotes

• Booker T (02:34): “If you lost the fight and somebody took your shoes…move to a different town, you’re done. There’s no coming back from that.”
• Stephanie Vaquer (26:34): “Wrestling is my life. It’s my language and my everything...I sacrificed a lot for my dream and my dream is now in WWE.”
• CM Punk, discussed by Booker T (19:35): “There’s levels to this, kid.”
• Big E (61:05): “Finishing that story means not just becoming WWE Champion, but having a reign that people talk about for a very long time.”

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Tone & Language

The episode is laced with lively WWE banter, warmth, and humor, mixing in passionate analysis and nostalgia (e.g., Bret Hart references, pop culture nods). The hosts freely switch between critical insight and fan exuberance, blending English and light WWE terminology. Interview segments with Stephanie Vaquer and Big E maintain a celebratory, aspirational, and sometimes vulnerable tone, capturing the excitement of both life-long fans and dedicated performers.

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Summary

This Raw Recap episode is a whirlwind of excitement, intensity, and anticipation leading to SummerSlam. It encapsulates the shift in WWE power dynamics with Bron Breakker’s ascendance, highlights the importance of narrative in promos (Punk/Gunther), showcases women’s wrestling and international stars, injects playful humor with New Day and mysterious masked men, and ramps up the stakes for SummerSlam’s biggest matches. Ideal for diehards and casual fans alike, it’s an energetic, insightful, and fun tour through the world of WWE as only Sam Roberts, Megan Morant, and their guests can deliver.

Transcript

[Sam Roberts]

David. Yes.

[Booker T]

Have you ever noticed that the way we use our phones is ironic? Phones are for connection, but we look.

[Sam Roberts]

At them more than we look at each other.

[Booker T]

That's ironic. Griffin, it's like rain on your wedding day. Listen. That's ironic. So U.S. cellular created U.S. mode to help us reconnect, you and I.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right.

[Booker T]

A phone company wanting people to use their phones, less ironic. A phone company wanting people to use.

[Sam Roberts]

Their phones, less ironic.

[Booker T]

But let's find US again with US mode from US Cellular. Visit uscellular.com built for us to get started. What are the other things that are ironic? CM Punk beats Gunther on the microphone. Big E is going to be on the show. Stephanie Vacair is going to be on the show. Roman Reigns get left laying and his shoes get stolen. This is the last Raw recap before SummerSlam and it's a WWE and Fanatics original production. I'm telling you right now, I am telling you right now, I am not going to MetLife Stadium walking through the turnstile, having my ticket torn, sitting down in my chair so I can watch Roman Reigns not destroy people I did not like. See, I mean, listen, listen, I. I'm not prepared to see my tribal chief get laid out in any situation, and I'm not happy to see my tribal chief get laid out in any situation.

[Megan Morant]

But you better buckle up because Bron Breaker has a plan.

[Booker T]

Well, apparently his plan was to double spear Jay USO and Roman Reigns through a barricade. And by the way, if that wasn't enough, here's the. It's the disrespect. The message was sent. And then Bronson Reed takes the tribal chief's shoes off his feet.

[Megan Morant]

And as a sneaker head, that was. That was offensive to you.

[Booker T]

Listen, as somebody who went to New York public school, that's offensive to me because there's two things that happen, okay?

[Megan Morant]

Listen, the people can see all of the action figures, but they can't see all of the shoes.

[Booker T]

Sneakers as far as the eye can see. And the fact is that if you come to school with a nice pair of sneakers on and you get in a fight and you lose the fight, okay, you lost the fight. You come back tomorrow. If you lost the fight and somebody took your shoes, if you don't get those sneakers back and that guy's wearing your shoes, transfer schools, move to a different town, you're done. There's no coming back from that. It was like. It was like the full on message was, not only are we taking out Roman Reigns because it started with Brom Breaker after taking out Roman Reigns. Sighting that Roman Reigns no microphone promo that I've talked about before. I don't know if it was here or on Sirius or on the Not Sam podcast. Maybe it was everywhere. Because I love to talk about it. Roman Reigns on his way to face Logan Paul, saying, this is my ring. These are my fans. That's my camera.

[Megan Morant]

That's right.

[Booker T]

Braum Breaker tonight on Monday Night Raw, saying, it used to be yours, now it's mine.

[Megan Morant]

But did it in an insulting way.

[Booker T]

Oh, yeah, Like I'm. Not only am I declaring because. Because you're right. You're right. It's an insulting way. Because he's not just saying it's all mine now he's saying, I've taken it from you, Roman Reigns. When he said this is all mine.

[Megan Morant]

He said he built it.

[Booker T]

And he backed it up through numbers. He backed it up through metrics. I make a difference. I'm the difference maker. If you put me on a show, more tickets get sold. If you put me on television, there's more eyeballs on the screen.

[Megan Morant]

I put us on Netflix.

[Booker T]

Yes. Straight up. Business metrics. What Bron Breaker is saying is not now. What was once true for you is true for me. What Bron Breaker is saying is it's mine.

[Megan Morant]

That.

[Booker T]

Because I've taken it from you. I've taken the role from you, and I've taken everything that comes along with that role from you. And there's nothing you can do about it as you're laying in a heap.

[Megan Morant]

Over the last three weeks, it's been fascinating to watch Bron Breaker even before Seth Rollins was out with an injury. I mean, we saw that interaction. It was Heyman, it was Bron Bron, and it was Seth Rollins in the ring. And Bron Breaker asked for the microphone, and Seth looked shocked by it.

[Booker T]

I don't even know if he asked for. He went for it.

[Megan Morant]

The microphone.

[Booker T]

Yeah, yeah.

[Megan Morant]

And then we see him tonight in this leadership role. We see him backstage saying that he has a plan. We see him cutting the Roman Reigns which, by the way, promo.

[Booker T]

When has that been a strength of Bron Breakers? When have you ever heard. No, no, no. He's the guy who comes up with plans. Bron Breaker is the Executioner.

[Megan Morant]

He's the guy that spears people and cuts them in half.

[Booker T]

He follows orders. He's the soldier. Now all of a sudden, he's like, no, no, I got the plan. And Heyman. I don't know if Paul Heyman is just in survival mode. Because there's nobody who survives in this world of professional wrestling the way Paul Heyman survives. But he's not remotely stopping it. If anything, when Bron Breaker is saying, it's mine now. Paul Heyman is saying, yes, it is. Yes, it is. And that's the. What was the word? Because he's the oracle now.

[Megan Morant]

Oh, he said that he's the oracle. And it's. That's not a prediction, that's a prophecy.

[Booker T]

A prediction. Prophecy. So he starts the show telling Jay uso, you can't count on your family.

[Megan Morant]

Family.

[Booker T]

Family, shmamily. That's right, is what he says.

[Megan Morant]

Yes. He said, your family is always going to get you in trouble.

[Booker T]

Right?

[Megan Morant]

They're always going to let you down.

[Booker T]

They're going to let you down. They're going to lie to you. And he tries to bring up the past of J uso. But here's the thing. This is what I. I think the thing about family is it has to be real egregious for it to stick. Usually, yeah, you know, you're gonna have family members that'll let you down here or there, but you know who you forgive?

[Megan Morant]

Your family.

[Booker T]

Right? And then they got your back. At the end of the day, when it's all said and done, your family has your back. Now. Paul Heyman saying. And then Paul Heyman going through step by step to Jay uso, talking about how this wasn't like, your family's not gonna have your back. He said, your family is going to lie to you. And then he says, and I'm telling you this because, Jay, I love you like family. And you're like, you rat. What do you mean, like. So what are you. What are you saying? Read between the lines. Are you just saying, straight up, you're lying to him? But it didn't affect Jay at all. Jay goes, no, I had to go back on my own, man. And he's explaining.

[Megan Morant]

He's like, family. Well, where's yours?

[Booker T]

Where's your family at, dude? We let you into ours. Where's your family at?

[Megan Morant]

Your family.

[Booker T]

It's not your family. No, no. It's Sammy's family, Jimmy and Jay's family. It's Solo's family, not your family. So. But. But. And it seemed like in that moment when Jay got the better of them, that they had it all. And, like, even the idea of this plan, it's like some plan. Roman Reigns comes out and destroys everybody. That's what he does. He dismantles everybody. Roman Reigns is the guy who went to WrestleMania 37 in a triple threat and stacked his opponents on top of each other. I mean, just went wrestlemania to wrestlemania to wrestlemania. Just destroying Legends. SummerSlam. To SummerSlam. To SummerSlam. Destroying Legends. Brock Lesnar tipped a ring over.

[Megan Morant]

It had a tractor.

[Booker T]

Wasn't enough.

[Megan Morant]

Not for Roman Reigns.

[Booker T]

No. And now we're in this position. And maybe it's because there's no wise man. And. And maybe it's because the full bloodline isn't intact, but Jay's there. And still the numbers were evened. And Roman Reigns and Jey USO are left laying Roman in his socks while Braum Breaker stands triumphantly. And Bronson Reed holds those shoes over his head in victory. And I'm telling you this, this better be a gateway to absolute pure and utter vengeance from Roman Reigns, because this isn't. I'm not ready for this. This isn't what I want.

[Megan Morant]

Roman has, what, five days to figure this out?

[Booker T]

Yeah, he's at Summer. I was listening to this great podcast called the SummerSlam match reveal show.

[Megan Morant]

Oh, I forgot.

[Booker T]

On the Raw recap podcast feed. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I saw. Yeah. Saturday from. I found out from those two is when. Is when the match is. Yeah. Five days. Five days till Saturday. And I. Maybe it's one of those situations where Roman is not like he's. He's so used to being the best that he hasn't fully gotten to a place yet where he's like, oh. Because here's the thing about leaving. And that's the one thing about Roman. He will leave and he'll. You know, and he doesn't feel guilty about it. He'll go, no, I go. And I do. What I need to do to be.

[Megan Morant]

Is raising the bloodline, the future bloodline.

[Booker T]

And. And as, by the way, as long as you're the man, doesn't matter. You get to do whatever you want when you're the man, you get to set your own rules. Like, unless what you're saying I'm not doing is stopping me from being the man, you just need to get out of my way. Except when you're gone for periods of time, dynamics change. Things change.

[Megan Morant]

I mean, Jay USO is a totally different person. Yeah.

[Booker T]

Yeah.

[Megan Morant]

Roman was there.

[Booker T]

Yeah. Luckily, Jay's on Roman's side.

[Megan Morant]

You know, I mean, Roman needs people on his side at this moment.

[Booker T]

Yeah.

[Megan Morant]

Now, I just wonder. Bron said that he has a plan. We saw that backstage. Obviously he had a plan for tonight and it worked in his favor. I wonder if. If the plan that he was speaking of was specifically for tonight in Detroit on Monday night raw. Or if the plan extends SummerSlam.

[Booker T]

I don't. I mean, if the plan is just like, we'll let him get a couple shots. Like, it felt like a rope, a dope situation. If the plan is just we'll let him get a couple shots in, and then I'm going to spear him real hard, and then you're going to tsunami him real hard. If that's the plan, it's probably the SummerSlam plan as well. It seems like it's a plan that, like, historically has worked. If that is the plan, it's. That felt like that's what the plan was tonight.

[Megan Morant]

It worked.

[Booker T]

And it did work. I mean, no notes, but no, no. I mean, 10 out of 10 for what it was. I'm telling you. I'm not watching shows to see Roman reigns get laid out. I'm watching shows to see Roman reigns wreck people.

[Megan Morant]

We did get a treadmill video of Roman reigns this past week, which I love. I love the treadmill videos.

[Booker T]

Because then you realize, like, what if he's just in this zone all the time? You know what I mean? What if he's just in tribal chief mode constantly because you want to believe? You know, he leaves and he's just like, maybe you'll see him at the. At the. At the publix. You know what I mean? Maybe you see the grocery store. Maybe you get a pub sub. Maybe you'll see him at the wawas wherever. And it's like, no, no, no. He's still in pure and utter beast mode. He's in God mode still.

[Megan Morant]

Even just the way he. Like, the treadmill was literally created to be a torture device, and Roman's walking on it.

[Booker T]

That's why the treadmill was created.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, it was a torture device.

[Booker T]

Not, like, just like, for fitness.

[Megan Morant]

No, they used it, like, in the medieval days in prisons, they had treadmills. I don't know medieval, but they use. It was created to be a torture device.

[Booker T]

I mean, I believe it. That's how it's felt to me. But, you know, people call me names when I say stuff like that.

[Megan Morant]

Well, anyways, Roman makes walking on the treadmill have aura for sure.

[Booker T]

He makes the treadmill super cool.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Booker T]

Like, most of the time, you need, like, if you want to be cool in the gym, you just need, like, plates and bars and stuff like that. Roman's like, no, no. I mainly do calisthenics. And you're like, that's so cool.

[Megan Morant]

He doesn't even need to put it on an incline to be cool.

[Booker T]

No, he doesn't. No, he doesn't. It's just flat.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Booker T]

And he's like, but look at me. Look at how I walk. You were saying something when Roman walked in and just commenting on, like, how still just in the walk. And it's a different walk to the ring depending on what mission he's on. Right. Like, this week's walk to the ring was very, very different from last week's walk to the ring, which was different from the week before his walk to the ring. But there's just something in the way that he presents himself that there is. From the minute he passes through the entryway, there's a story being told. There's. There's an attention that you need to. To. To stare at this person. Regardless of what kind of action is going on in the ring, there's an attention that is commanded when that guy shows up.

[Megan Morant]

It's the way he carries himself. I mean, he was certainly walking with more of a purpose today. But there was also a pacing to it. Right. When he. When he entered. Yeah. It's all of the nuances.

[Booker T]

Right.

[Megan Morant]

With Roman.

[Booker T]

Yes.

[Megan Morant]

It's just. I don't want the camera to ever cut away from him.

[Booker T]

No. Unless people are stealing his shoes. Then film something else. I don't want to see it. I don't want to see it. I'm not interested in that. That's not something.

[Megan Morant]

They were pretty cool shoes, too.

[Booker T]

I know, I know. And he probably had. I doubt he had doubles.

[Megan Morant]

But don't you worry because I know you're going to be excited for Saturday. Roman's been. He's been walking on the treadmill, so we know he's in excellent shape.

[Booker T]

He's always in excellent shape. He's in God mode.

[Megan Morant]

Haven't seen the shirt off yet.

[Booker T]

Oh, and you know, that's when you're in for it. That's when you're in. You know, I was at Comic Con and I was in the Mattel booth, you know, looking at the new action figures. They literally, I'm not kidding, they made a Roman Reigns action figure where they had to make a brand new torso to fit. Roman Reigns.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah. I mean, he's in shape.

[Booker T]

That's the level of greatness that this guy's on. Guys, we'll get right back to it. But first, I want to tell you about surf shark. I love surf shark. I love that surf shark lets me use the Internet the way I want to use the Internet. The Internet's working for me. How do I mean? Well, first of all, what do I want on the Internet? What do I want? I want content. I want to be able to have access to content. And surfshark makes it all possible. So much of this content ends up getting geo blocked here or censored based on location over there. Never again. Surf Shark takes care of all of that. It's also going to take care of your online security and privacy. People who shouldn't know what you're doing on the Internet aren't going to know what you're doing on the Internet. Surf Shark will put that wall up for you so that you can know that all your web surfing is completely secure. You're also going to be able to put it on unlimited devices, which means the whole family is going to have access to all this content and all of this safety and security. You're even going to have access to Surf Shark Search, which is a search engine that's optimized to help you not only find everything that you're looking for, but do it without bombarding you with like, ads and trackers. It's time to take control of your online security. Try Surfshark today and enjoy their 30 day money back guarantee. Secure your digital world now visit the link below and start surfing securely. Stay tuned and stay safe with Surf shark. Go to surfshark.com RAW recap and use code RAW recap at checkout to get four extra months of Surf Shark vpn. The world is full of tours. But 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 pulls you toward the next. And wrong turns turn out right. So why would you ever take a tour when you could take a detour? Toyota trucks. You were telling me that you were very much tonight looking forward to CM Punk and Gunther. That's also, by the way, part of SummerSlam Saturday. That is going to be a loaded Saturday. Not only do you have this tag match that was set up for tonight, but your CM Punk Gunther World heavyweight championship match is also a Saturday match. And we got to see it starts with Gunther in the ring.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah. And so I walked into your house today and I said, I'm so excited to hear Punk on the mic tonight.

[Booker T]

By the way, you should have said, I walked. Wait, I walked in your house. Because then it would have been like the show in your house.

[Megan Morant]

All right, let's. Okay, everybody cut this. Alex, you got it. You can cut it. All right, ready? Three, two. So Sam, earlier today I walked in your house.

[Booker T]

Oh, that's so cool. Like the pay per view.

[Megan Morant]

That's right. And I said, I cannot wait to see Punk in the ring. I want him to cut a 15 minute promo and I want Gunter to walk out and just look at him smirk and walk away. That's what I thought was going to happen.

[Booker T]

We wanted to see it.

[Megan Morant]

So when Gunter started in the ring, I go, this is going way different than, than I had imagined.

[Booker T]

Gutter was feeling good at first. He was, he was checking to see if it was clobbering time on his watch and he wasn't getting any messages.

[Megan Morant]

What was the moment it went bad? When Punk called him kid.

[Booker T]

I think the moment it went bad was when Gunther said, enough, I'm tired, you need to sh. And CM Punk put his hand over Gunther's mic because then it was like we saw the look in Punk's eye. Listen. Gunther said, he started by saying that the so called best talker in the world is CM Punk. And last week I beat him on this microphone. So Punk came out and first he explained where he's coming from. He doesn't want the world title, he needs the world title. He took it back to his straight when WWE relaunched ECW and this brand new character called CM Punk appeared on our television sets for the very first time. CM Punk said, I'm straight edge. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs. My addiction is wrestling. It's something that we revisited in that amazing entrance at WrestleMania 41. Love that, that, that OG promo. And he any reminded again that as much as, as things change, as much as CM Punk has changed over the years, he's still CM Punk. He's still addicted to this. He's addicted to wrestling. He's addicted to making sure the fans know that he appreciates.

[Megan Morant]

Especially after they changed his name for.

[Booker T]

10 years when he wasn't even here. And so he's saying that he needs that World Heavyweight Championship. And that's when Gunther tries to interrupt him and Punk puts his hand over the microphone. And I thought that's when it started to go bad for Gunther. But you are right. When he said there's levels to this kid, you were like, oh boy, somebody.

[Megan Morant]

Just called Gunther kid.

[Booker T]

I thought CM Punk first I was like, he's going straight into Terry Funk mode.

[Megan Morant]

Well, it was funny because, you know, you open this show and you said, Punk beats Gunter on the mic. And to me I'm like, yeah, but Gunter doesn't care about the mic. What does Gunther care about? Winning.

[Booker T]

Winning. Except if you're not com. If you're not in the ring, that. That's for Saturday.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Booker T]

Tonight. This is a win or lose scenario.

[Megan Morant]

And he lost.

[Booker T]

And he lost. And Gunther started. That's right, he lost. And Gunther started by saying, I beat the best in the world. CM Punk is known for being the best talker. And I beat him. And then Gunther lost on the microphone. Now, this is a battle in the war. It's not the war. But Gunther doesn't like. Doesn't like that taste. And I even saw. And I don't know if CM Punk did this on purpose. This is one of these little details that I just go nuts for. You know how I love these little details. I don't know if Punk did this on purpose or it was whatever, but CM Punk said that at the SummerSlam, I'm going to beat you, Gunther. He didn't say @SummerSlam. He said @ the Summer Slam. Right? And I'm not calling him out for it because there's one person, there's one person in history that always said the SummerSlam. And I mean, and I watched it as a kid and I would go, why does he always say that? And there wasn't ever any reason. It was just how he said it. Except if you watch this person and he built up multiple Summerslams saying the SummerSlam. I'm talking 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95. Like, I mean, 96, 97. He won the title in 97. Brett the Hitman Hart. Every SummerSlam promo, go back and watch him. If you've never noticed it, every promo for SummerSlam. Brett the Hitman Hart always said, at the SummerSlam, the Summer Slam. At the SummerSlam, it's going to be me and you. And he's the only person that's ever said the SummerSlam. And I couldn't help but wonder if maybe it was just a slip and it was just a coincidence, which is totally possible. You know, you're in the ring, your live tv, there's emotions are flowing. And I'm not critical of a slip like that. But also, what if it wasn't a slip and it was just a little nod to be like. Because Megan, when Bret Hart would go into a SummerSlam, I mean, ask Mr. Perfect about Bret Hart at SummerSlam. Ask the British Bulldog about Bret Hart at SummerSlam. Ask the Undertaker about Bret Hart at SummerSlam. Bret Hart was a different beast at SummerSlam.

[Megan Morant]

So you're thinking we're going to see a different Punk potentially.

[Booker T]

I'm saying I don't know any bigger Brett the Hitman Hart fan than CM Punk. I'm saying he may have put that the SummerSlam in there on purpose. And I'm saying that Gunther would have been a perfect opponent for Brett the Hitman Hart and CM Punk would probably see himself in that role.

[Megan Morant]

Not too long ago, we saw Punk call out Brett the Hitman Hart saying that it was a second favorite wrestler after Bill Goldman.

[Booker T]

You mean Gunther?

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Booker T]

You said CM Punk called him out.

[Megan Morant]

Gunter.

[Booker T]

I was like, wait, what did I miss?

[Megan Morant]

Gunter called out, yes, at the Hitman Heart not too long ago.

[Booker T]

And look, maybe CM Punk is sitting there with an iPad going, and I took that personally. You know?

[Megan Morant]

You know that's true.

[Booker T]

We don't. I don't know. I know that he has a love for that for. For Brett the Hitman Harden and who could blame him? But I don't. I don't know. And again, I have been accused of. Of looking into things.

[Megan Morant]

You.

[Booker T]

Yeah, here and there, here and there. Noticing details here and there. But I swear I heard him say the SummerSlam. And as soon as I heard him say the SummerSlam, it's literally written down right there.

[Megan Morant]

I see it.

[Booker T]

I said he. He said the SummerSlam. That's Brad's a Bret hard ism.

[Megan Morant]

I love it.

[Booker T]

It's crazy.

[Sam Roberts]

It's nuts.

[Booker T]

Okay, so everybody counts. He shut. Everything does count. He shut down Gunther. So we go into SummerSlam. Punk has shut down Gunther Braun and Braun Brahman have shut down Roman Reigns and Jey uso. That's how we leave Monday Night Raw for those two matches going into SummerSlam. It is going to be nuts. However, we saw. Before we get there, before we get to our guest real quick, I do want to tell you that when we're talking about CM Punk, we got new CM Punk merch and there is some. CM Punk has the best merch I've. I've gone through over the years. So many different CM Punk T shirts. But CM Punk has two new designs available at WWE Shop and Fanatics, available in men's, women's youth and tank tops for the summer. Sun's out. Guns out, baby. Yes. So all new CM Punk shirts are up now on WWE Shop and Fanatics as well. SummerSlam is right around the corner. You can get official event merchandise, tees, hats, pro sphere shirts and jerseys. And those are up now at Fanatics and WWE Shop. You know that the superstore is going to be loaded for SummerSlam. So if you can't get there or if you want to get it now, if you want to make sure that it is secured, go to WWE shop or fanatics. Get that SummerSlam merch on Monday Night Raw tonight there was an amazing 8 woman tag team match.

[Megan Morant]

I loved it.

[Booker T]

And our first guest on tonight's Raw recap welcomes us now, coming off of a remarkable eight woman tag match, Stephanie Ver. Welcome. And I've got to say, we were just watching. You are in the ring with seven of the best women, not just in wwe, but across the world. And I mean that was represented by that entire match. There was, there was, there was so much. The roster has become such an international roster, but for you to be in there with the best and at the end of the night, you're the one who gets the pinfall, you're the one who gets the 1, 2, 3. You're the one who stands tall. What was it like?

[Stephanie Vaquer]

A great victory today and I'm so happy because you said big Superstar and I think tonight is really important teamwork. So I'm so happy with this great victory.

[Booker T]

It's been a whirlwind for you this year and, and this calendar year, but really, like in the last year, all of this has kind of happened. It was only months ago that you were at Madison Square Garden winning the NXT championship and since then you've made it onto the main roster. You've accelerated to the point that at the end of the summer in Paris, you're getting a shot at the Women's championship. Have you had time to kind of take all this in or is it just been go, go, go, go.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

I love challenge, so sometimes I don't have time for things a lot and, but I enjoy a lot my work. I enjoy a lot wrestling. Wrestling is my life. It's my language and my everything. So yeah, maybe you think last year is a lot, but my career, 10 years, and I sacrificed a lot for my dream and my dream is now in wwe. So I really enjoy everything. Every day, every class, every promo, every match, every, every day. I enjoy a lot here in WWE is my home now. And I'm excited for future and I'm excited for my next matches and I'm, I keep in, work hard, so I'm so happy. I'm really enjoying now.

[Booker T]

How confident were you walking into WWE and the connection that you were going to be able to make with the audience? Because like you said, you've had this amazing career and you've made a name for yourself around the World before you got to wwe. But the reality is that there are a lot of people that watch wwe, that that's really all that they watch. And there have been people that have come in from other promotions, other countries that for whatever reason don't connect with the WWE audience. But for you, in front of an audience that I would imagine a large portion had not seen you wrestle before, you've instantly connected with the audience. You instantly connected when you were in nxt. And then for the people that didn't watch nxt, you instantly, instantly connected when you got to the main roster. Is that a surprise or do you think that there's something about the way that you wrestle that kind of speaks internationally?

[Stephanie Vaquer]

I think I need to say thank you. Thank you for everyone because I remember that my first Royal Rumble, I remember exactly when my entrance the crown crazy. And I need to say thank you because people really made me feel so happy here, so excited and support me, love me. I'm so happy. I can say I'm so happy with that. The crown really support me and motivation for me for training every day. It's a big motivation. People really support my work, my job in the ring. And I think, yeah, and in the beginning I think maybe people don't know about me, but when you go to the ring and you or you solve in the ring and you really, I don't know the word in English, sorry, but it's like you really try to experience person or really you pour your soul and wrestling people appreciation that. So I think for that reason the crown really support me because they can see I my hundred percent in the ring always.

[Booker T]

And I think too that there's an authenticity to you that is coming through in this conversation. But also, and it's interesting because there's so much presentation in Stephanie Vaccaire, the music and the smoke and the horns and the and and the everything. But in reality there is this kind of human connection I think that's made and that that goes beyond language. And I think fans connect with that. I also think they connect with what you do in the ring. And I think specifically having a move like the Devil's Kiss, it's our favorite.

[Megan Morant]

Right here on the Rob recap show. The Devil's Kiss is our absolute favorite all of wrestling. Yeah, it is. I mean, it's mine. I think it's yours too.

[Booker T]

You love it?

[Megan Morant]

I absolutely love it. But Stephanie, you know, we're introduced to you at nxt. You do the Devil's Kiss. Booker T. Has the entire crowd at the performance center in. In Orlando. And they're going.

[Booker T]

And. And everyone thinks their car alarm is going off.

[Megan Morant]

It was incredible, right? So you come up to the main roster and all of a sudden you do the Devil's Kiss. And I couldn't help but notice the crowd started counting and I found that very disrespectful to Booker T. Now, tonight it seemed like Detroit, Michigan was reacting properly.

[Booker T]

What were they doing?

[Megan Morant]

They were doing ah, ah, ah. Is that the proper way to embrace the Devil's Kiss?

[Stephanie Vaquer]

I really miss Booker T. Me too. I love Booker T. And I love this because he just feel. And ah, ah, ah. And people now really feel that. So I love it. And in nxt, the crime all the time remember that and hear people remember that. So I love it.

[Megan Morant]

My favorite was when you pointed to Booker T as you were about to hit the Devil's Kiss.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

Yeah, Yeah. I really miss Booker T. Yeah.

[Booker T]

I mean, there has to be something about like you hear Booker T do that the first time and you're like, what is he doing? But then within a week, I mean, one week later, it's caught on like that. But when you hear people, right, Cuz sometimes there's two different responses. I think that's what you were saying, Megan, that sometimes instead of saying ah, the crowd starts going, 1, 2, 3. When you're doing that, right, when you're in the middle of the Devil's Kiss and you're attacking your opponent with your. With. With all the muscles in the legs and you're hearing the fans chant, is there part of you that's going, no, no, no, no, no, no. That's not how you do it. You got to I. You got to I.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

I love when people start to 1, 2, 3. Because I calm down. 1, 2. With the people. Yeah. I love when it will appear to you say ah, ah. Because it's different expression. And I think people love that. So I like to.

[Megan Morant]

Well, Stephanie, you've been doing this for 10 years. WWE's the dream for you. You get signed by WWE. Did you ever think all of this would happen so quickly? That you would have a title opportunity at the end of the summer in Paris, that you would be on the main roster, that you would be a double champion and make history in N nxt? I mean, it all happened so fast.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

I understand because I have one year here in wwe, but really for me, it's no fast because I made a tryout for WWE seven years ago and I'm so green. And this time, like, not ready. I know I'm not ready in that time. And, and it's okay. I think after the tryout say, okay, I go to Mexico training, I go to Japan training, I go to London training for all the world, training with different teacher and coach and different style, different in seven years. So in seven years prepare for wwe. So for me it's not fast. I'm here and when I'm here in wwe, for me it's like, okay, seven years later I did it. So now for me it's not fast, but I understand. People think that because I have just one year here, but really I, I training hard every day for 10 years for this dream, dream. So not just enjoy my dream. I really, I really know I, I can do a lot here. So for me, no fast and, but I understand people and people look that last year, but support me a lot. So I'm so happy.

[Booker T]

What was it, Was it the dream? What was it about WWE that made you know that was the right move because you got to a place in your career where all of a sudden you weren't green anymore. It wasn't seven years ago anymore. And you were in a position where you could have pretty much gone wherever you wanted to go. How did you know WWE was the spot?

[Stephanie Vaquer]

Because WWE always my dream. When I was a kid, I, my first time I watched TV and I watched WWE and say, okay, I know when I was, I don't know, 15, I say, I know what I, what I do forever wrestling.

[Booker T]

So.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

I'm, I'm sure for my dream I'm just keep going hard, working hard because long time. But I'm, I'm just, I want to be the best and I want to be the best in wwe.

[Megan Morant]

Well, you know, Stephanie, we talk a lot about like the transition coming over to wwe, what you did in nxt, then coming up to the main roster, two totally different things. But we also have to remember that you're adjusting to life, I assume down in Orlando, and that's a big adjustment for you as well. Who has helped you around the PC handle, you know, all of the changes that you've sort of been thrust into in the last year.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

Yes, a lot change. But I think for me, when I was 19, I go out for my country, so. And my life changed a lot. I live in Japan, I live in Mexico, so I know wrestling you need to sacrifice the family sometime. Your culture, your language. So change everything. If for wrestling, for me it's okay because wrestling is my life. Now I live in Orlando and I feel really good because close to PC NXT people. I love NXT and my home too. And really I meet really nice people here. So I have new family here and American people really support me and help me a lot. So, yeah, it's, I think big, big change, big change. I change everything. My, my home, my place and my language. I change everything. But I, I'm, I'm happy. I'm enjoy a lot. Many people help me all the time. So thank you. Thank you, everybody. What's it make me feel at home?

[Booker T]

Yeah. What's it been like to work over the last couple weeks with a legend? With Nikki Bella for you.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

She's amazing. She's so nice. She's so funny. So I'm so happy. We talk a and she speaks Spanish, so now we try to speak in Spanish and this is really nice. She's amazing.

[Booker T]

That's awesome. Well, Stephanie, I mean we, we appreciate you making some time for us on this, on this busy evening, but a victorious evening nonetheless. And man, I can't wait. You know, everybody's counting down the days till SummerSlam, but the reality is you're looking past SummerSlam and realizing that in Paris, you know, everybody's talking about how much you've accomplished already, but there's something that you haven't accomplished and you get the opportunity to do that in Paris. And, and I can't wait to see it. I'm, I'm, I'm so happy for you. We're fans of you here and we appreciate you giving us some time.

[Megan Morant]

I can't wait till all of Paris is going. Ah, ah, ah. Let's go.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

Yeah, soon.

[Megan Morant]

Thank you, Stephanie.

[Booker T]

Excellent.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

Thank you so much. Thank you.

[Booker T]

Oh, what a great conversation. That was awesome. Big thanks again to Stephanie Vacair. Hey, I did want to tell you that Fanatics Casino is partnering with WWE for the ultimate tag team. Yes. Play exclusive WWE slots and table games like Raw multiplier melee and WWE Blackjack. Win fan cash to use on exclusive merch, WWE memorabilia and more. New customers sign up. Wager $10. Get $75 in fan cash and $25 in casino credit. I know that's where I'm going to find you, at the casino. Oh, yeah.

[Megan Morant]

Gotta get ready. WrestleMania countdowns on. We're back in Vegas.

[Booker T]

That's right. That's right. I. I can't wait. So, yes, definitely. Check it out. Fanatics casino partnering with WWE as we. Speaking of, of WrestleMania, we saw a sullen I'll say Bailey on Monday Night Raw who after missing WrestleMania is now also missing SummerSlam and now actually I wonder, right? Because. So she missed WrestleMania because Becky lynch took her out before a match. And I mean, there's no show. She did do that.

[Megan Morant]

She did. Yeah.

[Booker T]

Okay. All right, good. Yeah, yeah, she did it.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Booker T]

I haven't even. I haven't even cast judgment on it. I just. Nothing just. She did that.

[Megan Morant]

She did.

[Booker T]

You know how I know she did it?

[Megan Morant]

Because she told us. She did.

[Booker T]

She said it.

[Megan Morant]

She did.

[Booker T]

Okay. But she missed, right? Bailey missed WrestleMania.

[Megan Morant]

She did.

[Booker T]

Because of that. Now she's missing SummerSlam because, A, she lost to Lyra Valkyria.

[Megan Morant]

Yes.

[Booker T]

In the number one contenders match. And then, baby, she didn't win the Tag Team championship with Lyra Valkyrie. The women's Tag Team Championship last week, which would have brought her into the match with, I guess, Charlotte Flair.

[Megan Morant]

I was waiting for you to try and blame Becky for this again, but thank you for not doing that.

[Booker T]

Well, I want you to know. You were waiting for me to do that because you're a negative person and I'm not like that. So, like, for you to just, like, wait to be like, oh, I'm going to just wait because there's going to be conflict instead of just a nice conversation is negative.

[Megan Morant]

I just have to have my guard up. You don't, because you always come after my girl, Becky Lynch.

[Booker T]

She's imperfect. She's great. And Happy Gilmore, too.

[Megan Morant]

Fantastic.

[Booker T]

Okay.

[Sam Roberts]

All right.

[Booker T]

Everything. It's all good.

[Megan Morant]

Okay. We're good.

[Booker T]

I mean, she got the. You know what kicked out of her with that kendo stick today.

[Megan Morant]

Attacked her for.

[Booker T]

No, she's the one who brought out the. Becky brought out the kendo stick. She was holding it, and Lyra broke it across her wrist. Lyra destroyed Becky with. She Even at a moment, right. She tried.

[Megan Morant]

She used them completely unhinged. This Lyra wearing her Becky stompers.

[Booker T]

She did wear those Becky stompers. They work, too today. Yeah, today she took that, she said. And just when Becky thought she had the kendo stick back, which I wouldn't have wanted to trap that kendo stick under my arm the way Becky did because it had already broken. That's going to pinch you and stuff. That's gonna be very painful. Right. But Lyra was still able to get her up and send her flying right out of the ring.

[Megan Morant]

Well, she's the bird lady. Flying is Becky specialty.

[Booker T]

Well, yeah, but Becky's the one who went flying.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, Becky did go flying, but it was. It was an unprovoked attack. I mean, Lyra standing out there and looking for Becky And Becky just standing. Lyra completely goes nuts.

[Booker T]

Well, she snuck up behind her with a kendo stick.

[Megan Morant]

Didn't. Did she use it?

[Booker T]

She didn't have the opportunity to use it.

[Megan Morant]

She was just out there to check in, see how everything was going. You have to have a weapon of self defense these days. I mean, you don't know.

[Booker T]

Oh, it's just. It's more of a. It's a societal thing, not a Becky Lynch.

[Megan Morant]

Listen, there's a lot of. As Naomi told us, there's a lot of raggedy heifers back there in the locker room.

[Booker T]

Lyra.

[Stephanie Vaquer]

What?

[Booker T]

What?

[Megan Morant]

Who? I don't know. Naomi said there's a lot back there. I don't know who she's talking about.

[Booker T]

I mean, she said. She did say that she brought up the heifers again tonight. She did so. And I'm sure. But that's like. But listen, you think it knocked Becky off her game a little bit, the fact that her strategy failed?

[Megan Morant]

It's been a big week for Becky, you know, and she was like, movie premiere. Yeah. And now she's got a defender title. It's a big week, so.

[Booker T]

But yeah, but like you said, you think all champions should be just defending their titles all the time. Otherwise you're very critical.

[Megan Morant]

Well, especially the intercontinental championship. You know, it's like the. The workhorse title.

[Booker T]

It'll be defended. Both. Both of them are being defended at SummerSlam.

[Megan Morant]

They are.

[Booker T]

So you were fine. We're fine. By the way, the men's intercontinental champion didn't have a great night either. However, he ended up with a switch too. So whose night was better?

[Megan Morant]

Would. Would you rather win or get a.

[Booker T]

Switch when neither one of them. Well, it depends. Is it non title? I'll lose non title if I get a switch after it. Non title.

[Megan Morant]

Wow.

[Booker T]

Because then you get a title and the switch. Otherwise, what do you got? A victory.

[Megan Morant]

But you're talking no switch.

[Booker T]

You see what I'm saying? I think it was played actually pretty well in Dominic Spart myself. Pretty well. And what a. What a bro. Finn Balor is just setting up Dominic like that.

[Megan Morant]

Had a nice tan tonight, that Finn.

[Booker T]

Balor successful tag team championship defense. But let's get back to Bailey. She's now not at SummerSlam. She's at a loss for words.

[Megan Morant]

She looked completely heartbroken.

[Booker T]

Completely heartbroken. But remember last week we were talking and I was like, why is Bailey all of a sudden friends with Lyra Valkyria? Why does she so badly want to win the tag team championship with Lyra? Valkyria. I think that that question was answered.

[Megan Morant]

Tonight because she wanted to find a.

[Booker T]

Way to get on SummerSlam. Yeah, I think that's what it was. It was like, oh, she was like.

[Megan Morant]

Desperate at that point.

[Booker T]

My options are running dry, and so I got to get on here and. But. But it didn't. It didn't succeed. So I don't know. Do you think Bailey will find a way to get into that building with.

[Megan Morant]

The demeanor that I saw tonight? Yeah, I don't think so. I mean, that didn't look like someone who's, you know, trying to figure it out. That looks like someone who was hopeless.

[Booker T]

Submitted.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Booker T]

Yeah. I mean, look, it's one of. Like I said about Roman, I said earlier, you know, people have to change. People have to evolve because everything changes around them. Maybe that's a lesson Bailey's learning. I know that that's a lesson Naomi learned. Who's no longer passive aggressive. She's aggressive aggressive.

[Megan Morant]

Proceed with caution.

[Booker T]

That's right. That's right. She said the match tonight, the eight woman tag, was going to be a cautionary tale. Unfortunately for her, her team was not successful. She was not successful alongside Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervis, but a big win nonetheless. Now, it was interesting, though, that RIA and EO do have, and I'm sure it was built over evolution, but they do have a respect for one another.

[Megan Morant]

Of course, because Rhea is arguably the best women's wrestler in the division. IYO is one of the best wrestlers.

[Booker T]

In the world, I think many would say, and maybe myself included, Rhea Ripley is the biggest superstar in the women's division.

[Megan Morant]

I would agree with that.

[Booker T]

And iyo, sky might be the best wrestler in the women's division.

[Megan Morant]

Yes, I would agree with that as well. And Rhea Ripley has never defeated IO Sky.

[Booker T]

No.

[Megan Morant]

She has to respect her.

[Booker T]

No. But I wonder if IYO knows, had it not been for the cash in, evolution would have been it. You know what I mean? Yeah, it wasn't. But I wonder if. I wonder if she's aware. How about Nikki Bella doing the. Doing. Doing the EO thing.

[Megan Morant]

So much fun. And then Piper Niven doing it in a mocking way.

[Booker T]

Yeah.

[Megan Morant]

For both of them.

[Booker T]

No, it's. It's. It's a contagious thing to do.

[Megan Morant]

It was great to see Nikki Bella have. Have the match that she did tonight. We talked to her right here on the Raw recap show a couple of weeks ago and. And things didn't really go her way. She was. She was bummed out, open about it and she was, and I love seeing it. I mean, she talked to us a little bit about how important this was, coming back for her, having her son watch her. I think there's a lot of narratives. It's like, you know, once you become a mom, it's like, maybe you can't compete at that level, but she's really starting from the bottom and she's working her way back up. She's continuing to grow. And this is all, in a way, it's not new, but it is new.

[Booker T]

That's right.

[Megan Morant]

Right.

[Booker T]

Yeah.

[Megan Morant]

I mean, she's a new Nikki Bella, so I'm. I love watching her continue to go on this journey.

[Booker T]

Who do you think leaves SummerSlam as the Women's World Champion, especially after everything that went down tonight? Because that's the thing. And I know you on one end, you're like, oh, my God, Eos guy's the best. On one end, you're like, Rhea Ripley, she's the goat. And then, what's better than Naomi right now?

[Megan Morant]

Yeah. I mean, my initial reaction. You asked me, who's leaving? My brain just instant.

[Booker T]

Instinctively says ria, because it's a title match on a. On a ple.

[Megan Morant]

Yes.

[Booker T]

And that's what happens.

[Megan Morant]

But when I really take more than five seconds to think about it, I think it has to be Naomi.

[Booker T]

I don't think Naomi's losing the title.

[Megan Morant]

I don't think so either. I think Naomi is operating on a different level than everybody in the locker room.

[Booker T]

I also think that Naomi is the chaos that the division needs right now. Naomi is that thing that, like, just when you think you've got it all figured out, here's Naomi in complete control of this division. Well, there's a lot going on at SummerSlam, and why don't. What. What do you say we bring in another guest to help us break it all down?

[Megan Morant]

Let's do it.

[Booker T]

Yes. Our great friend Big E is back on Raw. Recap E, first of all, I was. How are you? Is the greeting question. But I do need to tell you that you got me into a little bit of trouble here on. On. On the recap show.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, you did well.

[Booker T]

Well, you know, sometimes I don't know when, you know, conversations are just between us, and I don't need to share them, but I might have asked you, or we. I don't remember which one of us, but we asked you, like, a. Maybe two, three weeks ago whenever you were last on, about your former teammate wearing short shorts instead of long tights in the ring, you know, and you Might have said, you know, I don't know what he's thinking, and kind of made reference to some kind of a midlife crisis scenario. And I then was like, oh, okay, you know, well, now I know. And then we had them the new day. We had them on the show last week, and they had been. Well, they had not been terribly polite to me the entire interview. So I did ask if it was indeed a midlife crisis. And both. Both Kofi and Xavier were really upset about the question.

[Sam Roberts]

It's because the truth hurts. Yeah, that's right. That's why.

[Booker T]

Good.

[Sam Roberts]

That's why.

[Booker T]

Good.

[Sam Roberts]

He knows. He knows. He's going through some things, and this is not the man that I once knew. But look, he's. He's got the thighs out the hoochie mama. Trunks are a thing now. But it. It. It's. It's because there's a lot going on in his life, and I think he just needs to realize that he is going through this transitionary period in life, and he'll be okay. Maybe he just needs to buy a Corvette or something. I hear a lot of older men like doing that once they hit that point in life. I don't know.

[Booker T]

I feel so much better now.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay. You were not wrong.

[Booker T]

Okay, great.

[Megan Morant]

We have a lot to talk to you about, but I feel like we're just. We're taking care of some housekeeping right now. You are the expert on body scouting in the men's locker room.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I was waiting for this conversation to come up.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah. There's. El Grande Americano was spotted today in the audience, and I couldn't help but notice it was much shorter than El Grande Americano that, that. That we saw over the weekend.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Megan Morant]

As the body expert. Who is it?

[Booker T]

What's the grande.

[Sam Roberts]

Great question. That is a great question. I. My guess is I'm going Pete Dunn.

[Booker T]

What?

[Sam Roberts]

But I think so. That's. That's just a wild guess. It's a wild guess. The last El Grande Americano that we saw come out was. It was hard because he was pretty covered up. You know, he had long sleeves. We haven't seen Pete done in a while. I'm going with Pete, AKA Butch. That's my guess.

[Megan Morant]

Don't call him.

[Sam Roberts]

But I'm so. I'm so sorry. But that's how I knew him. We were in the ring together, and I knew him as Butch, but I. I don't have a good lead on this. I need to see more skin. I need to. I need a more revealing outfit next time. But I'll keep working on this, okay? I'll keep working on this one.

[Booker T]

This feels very disrespectful. Grande Americano is a traditional luchador. He's gonna. He's gone for the Triple A Mega Championship at Triple Mania. I mean, they wouldn't just let some random wrestler in a mask, you know, you're throwing around name wrestling.

[Sam Roberts]

We would never do that. By the way. Did. Did we go over your. You saw the. It was referenced on Raw. The Chad Gable interview at the baseball game. What are your thoughts, Sam?

[Stephanie Vaquer]

Here's the thing, though.

[Megan Morant]

Like, Chad Gable's injured, so in Grande Americano is not injured. So clearly it can't be.

[Sam Roberts]

That's because he can do better. Do better.

[Booker T]

No, I think. Listen, listen. I think, you know, I don't know if it's a pharmaceutical issue, if there was. I think it was a confusion thing. You know what I mean? I don't know if maybe because Chad's a big fan of Grande and maybe there's a vicarious, vicariously living. Because to my knowledge, Chad Gable has not actually had a one on one WrestleMania match, as was cited, you know, while he was sitting up in the stands. But I mean, I'm sure you can shed light on this, you know, I mean, when you're fresh, when you were first fresh out of the ring, you know, just dealing with what you were dealing with, I'm sure you were just saying crazy stuff.

[Sam Roberts]

No, my mental. He didn't have a head injury. That's not the reason he's out.

[Megan Morant]

Okay, Maybe it was a dark match.

[Sam Roberts]

Dark match at WrestleMania.

[Megan Morant]

I don't know. I mean, I didn't see Chad Gable on the card.

[Sam Roberts]

We do the pre show. We. We have a clear view of the ring. We know there was no dark match at WrestleMania. Okay?

[Booker T]

There was no.

[Sam Roberts]

In fact, if the two of you were detectives in my local town, I would never report a crime, a murder, nothing. Because it would never get solved. I would lay all the facts in front of you and you say, I don't know, maybe it's the guy that. Look, no, no, no. We all know it. And I won't. I won't put up with this anymore. All right? Stop it.

[Booker T]

Plus, Pete Dunn's British.

[Sam Roberts]

We didn't hear the man speak.

[Booker T]

Okay, well, Grande Americano is from the Gulf of America.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, I did. I. I heard him cut a promo in Spanish over the weekend, so.

[Sam Roberts]

Spanish, right? There are people who are. Who are not born in Mexico who can speak Spanish. And in case that's. There's any confusion there?

[Booker T]

See, that's true. I mean, Stephanie Vicar is very born. She's Chilean.

[Megan Morant]

That's right.

[Booker T]

You know, that's you. You know. Anyway, SummerSlam summer slave. You're right about the dark match thing though. This is a three hour pre show, you know what I mean? Like you think you'd know that's a huge window to have a dark mansion. But, but listen, I feel we're getting way off track. Biggie, you're saying some wild stuff. I think most people are going to hear this and go, man, Biggie was, was really nuts on broad recap this week. But I, I will say, and by the way, I mean, you're still making an impact on the show. Grayson Waller, Big G getting into contact, a reference to the Seamus, your pal Seamus, who you've done such a wonderful job of shouting out here on Raw recap multiple times. Shouting you out with a big meaty man slapping meat reference on Monday night Raw. That had to, that had to warm your heart a little bit.

[Sam Roberts]

No, it was lovely. I sent him a text and we had a brief convo. Very lovely. So, so interesting too because Seamus and I, I feel like early in his career when he was riding high, I don't know if you always saw eye to eye, but we got to share the ring together. And there really is something beautiful about getting to share the ring with someone. You get to understand each other by beating the hell out of each other. But there's a kinship that's formed and he and I have built quite the kinship. So I appreciate that shout out. But I don't know where this new day Grayson Waller thing is going. I wasn't mad at the shirt though. That like that black lace shirt. You like that sucker for black lace usually on women, but in the lace. He was in the lace.

[Booker T]

It works. He fully did. He pulled it off. I will say that. I will say he pulled it off with Biggie. Yeah, man. Well, Biggie is an appreciator. You know what I mean? Like if he sees, if you see something you like, you appreciate it. Let. Let's talk about SummerSlam. Okay. Let's talk about a match that we haven't really gotten to talk about much because it's a smackdown match. But while we're talking about SummerSlam, John Cena, Cody Rhodes, you've got this match where Cody Rhodes has made it a street fight. You've got this match where now Cody Rhodes is asking for the old John Cena. He's asking for talking to Stu. John Cena. He's asking for running down the aisle. John Cena colorful, you know, Tron going crazy, cartoons over here. He wants the real John Cena to be there for the real John Cena's last SummerSlam. What do you make of what direction this Cody Rhodes John Cena match could go in?

[Sam Roberts]

Look, I get where Cody's head is at. That's the John Cena that we have known to be Super Cena. That's the Cena that we've known to be at the top of his game, at the top of the industry. And also, I just think for fans, this is the last year we're ever going to see Cena wrestle in a WWE ring. This is. This is it. And. And I've known Cena for as long as I have. I'm not going to claim that we're the best of friends, but, you know, we've known each other fairly well for quite some time now. And I will say I think he's a man of his word. So if this is the last run for us as fans, and I think that's what Cody's alluding to is give us the Cena we have relied upon. Give us the Cena that has main evented ple and pay per view after pay per view. That's the version that we want to see. This. This version is unrecognizable. And for better or worse, that's not the scene that people want to see. And I think that Cody beating anyone to become WWE Champion, to be a world champion is amazing, but you want to beat the Legends when they're at their very best. And I think that version of John Cena that Cody is alluding to, that's the version of Cena that's at his best, that isn't looking for a Travis Scott to come down the ramp, that isn't looking for a rock. He is locked in and he's like, his mindset is, I'm the best at my craft. I'm going to beat you one on one. I'm not looking for a shortcut. I'm not looking for a way out. That version of John Cena I think is the most laser focused, I think he's the most determined, and I think that's the version that all of us would like to see as well. So I like where Cody's head is at. I hope we get that John Cena again. But, man, time is ticking. And I also think that this match is so vitally important for Cody. If Cody loses at SummerSlam, I don't Know where he goes? I don't know who he is. Is he a guy? Now that is just kind of a plug and play guy. We see him in fun tag matches, we see him go after mid card titles. Or is he going to reassert himself as the face of the Company? That's the Cody that I want to see. I think he's the guy that, that we put the Company on his back and we send him around the world to be the. And he's still doing that, don't get me wrong. But it has a different feel when you're wearing that world Championship and you're, you're doing Fallon, you're doing Late Night, you're doing, you know, just all the things that he is doing and that's the, that's what I hope, I hope that at SummerSlam we see the John Cena of old and I hope that we see Cody at his very best because I don't know if there's any coming back for Cody if he loses at SummerSlam.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, Sam, you brought this up. You know he's still wearing the QB one.

[Booker T]

Well that's, that's exactly right. Like, and that's what I think is really interesting that both of you are right on the money about this. Cody is that like for the longest time he was defined as the person trying to finish his story. His pursuit of the WWE Championship was how he defined himself. And then once he got that championship he defined himself as the guy, as the captain, as QB1. So you're right, if he can't wear that title, if he can't get the title back, then you go, well then who is he? Do we need to redefine who and what Cody Rhodes is? What did you make? Because I know you pay attention to all the details like we do. What did you make of Cody saying sometimes doing the right thing does not look like the right thing.

[Sam Roberts]

I, you know, I think there that has a lot of people talking about what Cody does at SummerSlam and look, this is, this is a match that's not going to have, there's no dq so he can do dastardly things and that's all within the rule set. But it makes me wonder if we see, we've seen Cody in the past be gun shy on like using the chair or using the title in a match. We've seen a virtuous Cody and him being virtuous has actually hurt him. It has caused him to lose titles, it has caused him to lose in main events. So I think Cody realizes he needs to put that aside. If he wants to be the guy, he's got to get his hands dirty. And I think oftentimes in this industry you do your best to stick to your guns, to stick to your principles, to be the kind of person that you can look yourself in the mirror day in and day out and be proud of who you are. But the problem is, far too often, as you both know, our industry does not reward virtues. It does not reward you being the very best. It does not reward you being someone who women and children and families can all look up to. At sometimes doing the thing that people see as immoral or as a shortcut, that's what allows you to stay at the very top. And you referenced the QB one and I love that he has that mindset. But I think of actual football and I think they oftentimes they tell you as a backup quarterback, you need to Prepare like your QB1. You might be QB2 or 3, but when you go into camp, you need to have studied tape like you're the starting quarterback. You need to have been on the field before and after practice, you need to put those reps in. If you want to be the guy, you need to prepare like you're already the guy. But the problem is if you never take a snap in the game, it doesn't matter how well you prepare, how much you put QB1 on your shirt or on your jacket, none of that matters. And in many ways we talk about Cody finishing his story, and to a degree he has. But there have been many champions like me who hold that title. One time it's gone and that's it. Truly to me, finishing that story means not just becoming WWE Champion, but having a reign that people talk about for a very long time. It means staying there. Getting there is very hard. It is so hard to get there there. But legendary status, the way they talk about you being amongst the greats, is holding it not for a month, not for two months, but for years. Being the guy for years and years. And that's what made the John Cena that we know and love and some people boo right now, but the John Cena that we speak so highly of, that we talk about as the greatest of all time, he is marked as that because he's not a guy who just had one great world title run and then that was it. He was a guy who stayed at the very top. So that to me is finishing the story. When Cody's done with his career, we're talking about a guy who was a six time World Champion. A seven time world champion. He had a run like Punk did for over 400 days. That's what to me truly finishing the story is. And that's what I think. Cody, he's that caliber of talent. That's what I want for him is to be a guy who stays at the top for a very long time and he's yet to do that.

[Booker T]

And when you talk about legacy, I'm sure it's on Cody's mind now more than ever that we've lost Hulk Hogan and everybody's talking about that legacy as a, as a WWE Superstar and what he did and the fact that he's so closely associated with that championship. I think that's a lot of good points. E as much as you know about WWE Championship matches, you also know about tag team championship matches quite a bit. And smackdown put down a huge one at the end of the show on Friday. Six team TLC match Wyatt's Motor City Machine Guns, DIY Street Profits, Fraxium and Andrade and Ray Phoenix. What, what are your thoughts on that one?

[Sam Roberts]

Just purely from a bell to bell standpoint, I, that might be my most anticipated. That's at least like my, my Dark horse match, I'm telling you. I mean we, we saw the Post Mania a TLC match they had on Smack. My I love that match. That's probably my favorite men's match of the year so far. And, and I know those guys have been killing it week in and week out, but I think too often we don't, we don't talk about that, we don't talk about the work that they're putting in. And, and I love that they're finally getting the stage, they're getting this platform to go out there. I feel like all six of those teams, we have a lot of very hungry guys who feel like they have yet to get their due, they have yet to get the real spotlight. And I feel like they're going to go out there and work with that chip on their shoulder. I look at the work that Montez has put in, the work that Dawkins has put in for, you know, time and time so many people have clamored for like when are you guys going to get that big push? When are you guys going. Whether it's singles titles, whatever it is, and I feel like that's what I think of when I think of the SmackDown tag team division. I think that way of the Motor City Machine Guns. So talented. But it is, you know, it is a, a pool of sharks getting TV time Getting the acclaim, getting spotlights. We, unfortunately, we haven't seen the tag teams really be spotlit on these ples. So that's what I'm really excited for is because I know all six of those teams will go in with a big chip on their shoulder and they'll have that mentality of I'm going to show you. Like, I think of the USO's. We wrestled them on a SummerSlam pre show, right? And our, our, our rivalry was already cooking then. And as soon as we found out we were on the pre show, we were all, we were all upset. Like it's an opportunity, so we're grateful for it. But we always, we all thought like, this is, we are main event Caliber talent. We have a main event Caliber Feud and we're going to show you. So we went out there with that, with that chip on our shoulder. We went out there with that. Y' all gonna see. And I feel like that smackdown tag team division, which has not gotten enough love, which has not been talked about enough, which they have just quietly been working and working and working. I feel like a lot of, a lot of their work has not been through. You know, tons of time to talk or tons of time to get who they are over on the microphone. It has been, let's put the work in in the ring week in and week out. And I love that hunger. And I feel like because of that, they're going to really show a lot of people who haven't been paying attention what they can do.

[Megan Morant]

Sam, you and I watch a lot of nxt.

[Booker T]

We love it.

[Megan Morant]

I'm excited for the world to see what Frazier and Axiom are all about.

[Booker T]

Yeah, Fraxio. Really good in a multi team ladder match. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. E, one more thing. Do you think for AJ Styles that the loss will be something that really sets him back, or do you think that AJ Styles will get credit just for being able to hang in there with one of the greatest ever do it.

[Sam Roberts]

So are you already. You're already checking the box?

[Megan Morant]

AJ won tonight.

[Booker T]

No, I'm talking about Summer one. I'm talking about SummerSlam. Do you think it'll be enough that it's like, well, like have that respect because look at the way he hung in there with one of the best ever.

[Sam Roberts]

I need you desperately to put some damn respect on this. We're talking about aj.

[Booker T]

Oh, I know. No, yeah, but I mean, and for.

[Sam Roberts]

You just to automatically check the oh, Dom's going to win box. Wow. Find some shame immediately. We're talking about on the, I think on my Mount Rushmore of in ring workers.

[Booker T]

Okay, now we're talking the same language.

[Sam Roberts]

He's someone that needs to be at least considered, if not like a shoe in AJ Styles is one of the best to ever do it. We're not talking about Dom. Okay.

[Booker T]

Okay. We were confused.

[Sam Roberts]

That was as much as I love Dom and I look, I was there at WrestleMania on that Countdown desk after he won the IC title. Seeing the adoration he got. This dude is a superstar. Seeing the pop that he got in triple A. Incredible. Incredible. I am not taking anything away from Dominic Mysterio, but I'm saying AJ Styles has done this for decades now. He is a master of his craft. And for you, to someone who is supposed to be a trusted voice that people are. Fans are supposed to listen to you for top tier analysis. For you just to, to write him off like, like, like it's already over.

[Booker T]

Only in this, I mean just in this scenario, not most scenario, you're right about it. But it's just his opponent is, you know.

[Megan Morant]

Well, Sam was actually saying this could be like the, the miracle on ice but of wrestling because Dominic's coming back from this injury, you know, one of the biggest shows of the year, feel good story for a long time and going against one of the best wrestlers in the history of the business as well.

[Booker T]

So I mean feel good story coming to, coming to New Jersey.

[Megan Morant]

Except the fact that it's a fake injury.

[Booker T]

That's not true. There was a doctor's note.

[Sam Roberts]

From who?

[Booker T]

Doctor. I don't know. I'm not. That's a HIPAA thing. I wouldn't know. I would, I would never violate somebody's hipaa HIPAA rights like that. I wouldn't, I wouldn't know. Those details are very, very private.

[Sam Roberts]

Human.

[Booker T]

Well, Biggie, I can't wait to catch even more analysis like this from you on the SummerSlam Countdown show and I'm sure you'll be all over the place. SummerSlam weekend. It is always a pleasure having you here on RAW recap, sir.

[Sam Roberts]

I appreciate it. Thanks for having me.

[Booker T]

Of course. Anytime. And that's going to be it, Megan. The next time the fine folks will see us recapping it will be Saturday night. As of course we will be recapping both Saturday and Sunday of SummerSlam before we get to next Monday's RAW recap. I cannot wait. It's going to be a tremendous weekend and to, to be there for all of it is going to be outstanding.

[Megan Morant]

Biggest party of the summer, baby.

[Booker T]

I can't and Cardi B. Maybe get Cardi B on the recap. We're trying to get Cardi B on the recap. We'll see what happens. Tune in on Saturday, tune in on Sunday, tune in next Monday. We'll see you guys soon.