CM Punk turns Bron Breakker UPSIDE DOWN to retain World Title: Raw Recap, Jan. 5, 2026

Summary

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Raw Recap with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant

WWE x Fanatics Podcast | Episode: CM Punk turns Bron Breakker UPSIDE DOWN to retain World Title

Date: January 6, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Raw Recap" dives into the eventful Monday Night Raw broadcast on Netflix, which was uniquely themed around Stranger Things. Sam Roberts and Megan Morant break down three monumental title matches—including two title changes—and the night’s show-stealing main event between CM Punk and Bron Breakker for the World Heavyweight Championship. The hosts also analyze shifting storylines, major debuts, and the implications for WWE’s championship hierarchy heading into the Royal Rumble. Their discussion is threaded with energy, wrestling banter, and signature WWE humor.

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Main Themes and Segment Breakdown

1. Stranger Things Crossover & Raw’s Unique Vibe

• The episode was Stranger Things-themed, delivering unique chapter markers and set aesthetics that delighted fans and the hosts.
• Quote (Sam, 00:31):
  “A Stranger Things themed episode of Raw. I was very entertained by all the… I thought they did a great job with all the aesthetics.”
• The crossover extended to exclusive WWE x Stranger Things merch.

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2. Main Event: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for the World Heavyweight Title

(Major discussion: 01:20–19:06)

Key Points:

• The match was a physical, dramatic encounter, with Punk barely surviving a relentless, athletic Bron Breakker whose performance outshone prior challengers.
• Punk’s boot was left trailing after a vicious exchange, emphasizing the match's brutality.
• Punk scouted Breakker’s spear attempts with expert timing, countering with knees and landing several "Go To Sleep" finishers.

Analysis:

• Punk’s experience and tactical prowess edged out Bron. Despite months of hype for Bron as “the future,” he fell short but gained legitimacy in defeat.
• Quote (Sam, 01:56):
  “In all the years of watching wrestling, I've never seen a champion leave a match having won the match with his boot trailing behind him via his ankle.”
• Quote (Megan, 10:11):
  “You felt it with every kick out, with every response that he had to Bron Breakker, that he wasn't ready to give up the World Heavyweight Title.”

Implications for Bron Breakker & “The Vision”:

• The loss complicates Breakker’s self-branded status as the future and his team’s (“The Vision”) standing, especially as he was considered “team captain.”

• Megan posits Bron could re-establish himself by dominating the Royal Rumble.

• Quote (Sam, 17:23):
  “I think Bron Breakker's stock has raised significantly… it doesn't dip all the way back down, you know, to the beginning because he lost.”

• Discussion pivots to possible succession within The Vision, eyeing Austin Theory or Logan Paul as possible new leaders or challengers.

• Memorable, lighthearted moment on Megan’s “Stranger Things” puns (18:22):
  Megan: “Stranger things have happened.”
  Sam: “You definitely intended that pun because you thought about it for a second and then you’re like, I'm gonna say it…”

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3. Women's Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch Defeats Maxine Dupree

(Focus: 24:08–34:19)

Key Points:

• Becky Lynch becomes a two-time Intercontinental Champion, notable as the first female to do so.
• Her victory was marked by a clever reversal and rope leverage—a “slick pin”—after Maxine had dominated previous matches.
• The finish raises questions about Maxine’s confidence and how title losses can reshape a wrestler's mindset.
• Quote (Sam, 27:32):
  “She’s ready to take advantage of absolutely any scenario. So the idea that Becky lynch was able to roll back while her ankle was in the ankle lock, realizing, I can survive this thing for three seconds. And then she was close enough to the rope to hook the arm on the rope for leverage… gets the 1, 2, 3.”
• Discussion about Becky’s “morals” and how all top-level wrestlers, even rule-followers, sometimes bend the rules.
• Maxine’s evolution from “just happy to be there” to fierce champion, and her future now that the title is lost.

Humorous Notes:

• Sam accuses Becky of being “without morals” after she hooks the rope, but Megan insists she’s the “greatest female wrestler of all time.”
• Quote (Megan, 31:43):
  “You also have to be ready when you're going up against the greatest female wrestler of all time.”

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4. Women’s Tag Team Title Change: Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY Defeat Kabuki Warriors

(Discussion: 34:19–44:38)

Key Points:

• Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, both top singles stars, successfully functioned as an elite tag team, winning the titles after delivering their finishers in tandem.
• The hosts praise the division’s depth, noting how both these women are arguably the best in WWE.
• Quote (Sam, 39:03):
  “You could make a real argument…that right now, the two best women on the entire roster are the Tag Team champions.”
• A look at other formidable teams: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax & Lash Legend, Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez.
• Despite their rivalry history, Rhea and IYO have found cohesion as “best friends” and champions.

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5. AJ Styles Steps to Gunther (WWE Intercontinental Champion)

(Segment: 48:00–57:12)

Key Points:

• Confrontation between AJ Styles and Gunther after Gunther’s ultra-dominant, disrespectful win over John Cena.
• Gunther taunts AJ as “little AJ,” leading to a slap from AJ and hinting at a future match.
• Quote (Sam, 52:23):
  “And so what does Gunther do? He goes right backstage and tells Adam Pierce, I want a match, and I want it next week. It's going to be very interesting.”
• Discussion about Gunther’s attitude change post-John Cena win—now basking in villainous glory.
• The hosts express anxiety over the possibility of AJ tapping out to Gunther, paralleling fan trauma from Cena’s defeat.
• Quote (Megan, 54:28):
  “Now, as soon as AJ slaps Gunther, I go, wow. Not only does AJ Styles have balls, but finally somebody to step up to Guenther.”

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6. Additional Notes and New Debuts

• Javon Evans Signing (45:03):
  • New NXT standout Javon Evans signs with Raw in a feel-good “passing the torch” moment after John Cena’s retirement.
  • Sam (46:43):
    “This is a guy who…you’re talking about 25, maybe more years that he's going to be able to do this.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Punk’s resilience:
  Sam (10:11): “You felt it with every kick out, with every response that he had to Bron Breakker, that he wasn't ready to give up the World Heavyweight Title.”

• On title match stakes:
  Sam (13:18): “Are we seeing everybody acting as a team player when the leader couldn't get the job done?”

• On Becky’s rope tactics:
  Sam (27:32): “She’s ready to take advantage of absolutely any scenario… gets the 1, 2, 3. And Maxine is befuddled by the whole thing.”

• On Rhea & IYO’s star status:
  Megan (38:47): “When you sit in the crowd as a fan, it is different. It hits you… Iyo is a star.”

• Gunther’s condescension to AJ:
  Sam (51:05): “Then AJ Styles smacks Gunther right across the face… first time, by the way, that Gunther has finally stopped smiling.”

• Summing up the episode:
  Sam (57:24): “It was a tremendous Monday night Raw tonight.”
  Megan (57:26): “Yeah. What a start to the new year.”

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Conclusion & Looking Ahead

• The episode closes with Sam and Megan speculating about Raw’s future as the road to the Royal Rumble heats up, wondering what’s in store for Punk, Breakker, The Vision, and the dramatically shifting women’s and men’s championship scenes.
• The banter about being banned from Barclays Center and Megan’s puns add to their chemistry and the lighthearted yet insightful recap.

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Key Takeaway:
Stranger Things-themed Raw delivered huge title changes and high drama. CM Punk’s gritty win over Bron Breakker, Becky Lynch’s crafty return to gold, and a new dominant women’s tag team have set the stage for an unpredictable WWE new year, with upstarts and legends all jockeying for position on the road to the Royal Rumble.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Three title matches. Two title changes. CM Punk survives. Liv Morgan is back. AJ Styles may be in a lot of trouble. We just went through the Upside Down. This is the Raw recap. A WWE and Fanatics original production. Oh boy. A Stranger Things themed episode episode of Raw. I was very entertained by all the. I thought they did a great job with all the aesthetics. I was hoping that maybe tonight we could broadcast from the Squawk.

[C]

Yeah, I thought you were gonna have this whole place decked out like a van.

[B]

I was planning on it, but I was banned from the Barclays Center.

[C]

Yeah, we gotta talk about that.

[B]

Yeah, we will. We'll talk about that too. We will talk about that for sure. I loved all the chapter markers, you know, that were throughout the show. Each show having a different chapter. Just like Stranger Things. It was so fun. So fun. But we end up the night after seeing two title changes, which we'll get to both of them with the one that I think especially towards the end of the match, nobody knew quite where it was going to land. And somehow, some way, CM Punk not only survives, but leaves still the world Heavyweight champion.

[C]

Down a boot.

[B]

Down a boot. Well, he still had the boot.

[C]

The boat.

[B]

You sounded like Jackie Redmond for a second there. The boot, a boot. But, but CM Punk, yes, the boot literally torn from his ankle. Nuts like hang. I don't even know how it was still attached. It was like trailing off behind him. I've never seen anything like that. In all the years of watching wrestling, I've never seen a champion leave a match having won the match with his boot trailing behind him via his ankle. But I guess that's what happens when you defend against Braun breaker. CM Punk still the champion after Braun goes for the spear, catches the knee. CM Punk obviously watching tapes on tapes on tapes of Spears. Cause they were all very well scouted. Yes, he scouted one on the outside of the ring earlier in the match where he jumped up and hit him with that flying chest out clothesline. The Punk does when Braun was going for the spear. Then he hits him with the go to sleep, it was like the third or the fourth one in the match, and CM Punk is able to win. Megan, what does this do to Brawn Breaker? I think that there was so much riding on this. And the thing about deciding when it's time to realize your potential is that it is a risk. The idea of being the future of WrestleMania, the future main eventer, the future, all of this, at some point, the future has to be the present. Bron Breakker declared this the present last week. We were talking about it. It was a great promo. But regardless of whether Brom Breakker was on a football field instead of wrestling on the Indies, CM Punk's the one that won this match. When Bron Breakker had a shot at the biggest title on Raw, he lost. What does this do to Bron Breaker?

[C]

I mean, it's got to make Bron Breaker angry, hungry. I do think on the big stage, Braun did. While he didn't win.

[B]

I mean, he did.

[C]

I mean, the spot through. I mean, when he went through the table, right? He's standing on the top.

[B]

Unbelievable.

[C]

And there's a moment there where I say, oh, my gosh, he going to make it. Right? And the fact that Bron Breaker hasn't been doing this that long, and he's in this unbelievable match with CM Punk, but it's not just about being there. When you come out and declare yourself as the future of the business and say that the future is now and you don't win the World Heavyweight Championship when you walk backstage, that's tough.

[B]

Let's go back to the football field. Let's go back to the athlete the Bron Breakker is 24 hours ago. I hate to bring it up for fans that may still be reeling. The Baltimore Ravens had one of the best games they've had all season. Right.

[C]

But they didn't win.

[B]

And what's the headline? Not only did they not win, it was embarrassing.

[C]

And they're not going to the playoffs.

[B]

And that's it. That's the whole headline, is that they missed a kick at the end of the game. That was blessed, by the way. The end zone was blessed. That's a whole different story. But they missed a kick. One kick that they missed at the end of a great game cost them the season. And that's the headline. That's the news that gets reported. You. It is very difficult for Brom Breaker to show up to Dusseldorf next week.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And say, hey, I'm the future world heavyweight champion. Because we watched him get his shot.

[C]

And we Watched him not.

[B]

We watched him be maybe the best challenger that Punk has had throughout this reign. One of the great somebody. I would say that Braun Breaker gave CM Punk a better run for his money than just about anybody.

[C]

Yeah, I'd agree with you.

[B]

But Braun Breaker cannot show up to Monday Night Raw and go, hey, you guys, watch out. Cause the minute I get my shot, I'm taking everything. I'm the future. I'm. I'm going to be World Heavyweight Champion. Because we watched him not be able to get the job done. And the only reason he didn't get the job done is because there was one moment, one spear that was scouted just right, and then a final go to sleep. And CM Punk, the guy who is standing in the way of this guy, Bron Breakker, the guy who does not come from the world that Bron Breaker comes from, he's the one that won. He's the one that is the World Heavyweight Champion. It's not like Bron Breakker can show up and go like, okay, well, I'd like another World Heavyweight title match.

[C]

And by the way, the Vision was there to give Bron Breakker a little bit of an assist.

[B]

Well, yeah, but CM Punk apparently is best friends with every luchador.

[C]

Good for CM Punk, because the.

[B]

Look, I'd be best friends with them, too, because the luchadors were right there. I felt like that was even Stevens. You know, you're right. The Vision was there to help out Bron Breaker, but CM Punk had back up, too.

[C]

But Bron Breaker not capitalizing tonight and not becoming the World Heavyweight Champion certainly.

[B]

Impacts the entire Vision in the sense that it's like. Right, because Braun Breaker is, I would argue, the team captain. Yeah, Vision team captain. So it's again, it's not like. It's not like. I mean, does Austin Theory step forward now? Does Logan Paul step forward now? I mean, I kind of feel like if Bron Breaker couldn't get it done, and maybe he just couldn't get it done tonight, but I kind of feel like if Bron Breakker couldn't get it done, then it's like, okay, when does the Vision actually become the Vision? And I think you could see it all over Bron Breakker's face. And he knew it, too. And you saw him, and it was this amazing moment, that moment in the match when he was realizing, all I have to do is hit this spear. Spear. One, two, three. Spear. One, two, three. He smelled it. He sensed it. He was. And you could feel as he was getting ready for that spear going, Please turn around, because I'm not just looking forward to this spear. If I can hit this spear, then I get to call myself the World Heavyweight Champion. Rick Steiner was amazing as a pro wrestler.

[C]

He.

[B]

He was never WWE World Heavyweight Champion. His uncle, Scott Steiner, amazing as a WWE wrestler, never World Heavyweight Champion. And Bron Breakker was about to bring it home to the family. And in just one instant, he was not able to bring it home to the family. All the while, CM Punk, not by mistake, is wearing U of M colors on his trunks. Everybody's making a big deal about this varsity jacket that he showed up in. You think CM Punk was wearing Michigan colors by mistake?

[C]

No, no.

[B]

He's a student of the game. He ate a Steiner liner in there. He knows who he's dealing with, and he knew who he was dealing with. And the whole. I mean, it was really a pretty remarkable match because the whole first 80% maybe of the match, it was just Bron Breaker with an answer to everything that CM Punk had. But that's Punk, right? Punk is about those moments where it's just when you got this guy counted out, just when you think you got him licked, he's able to just know just the right thing that you didn't see coming. He's just a scrappy enough fighter that he's got that one little thing in him. And sometimes it's just a matter of lifting up that knee at just the right time, because I'll bet there's nobody else on that roster that would have picked up that knee at that exact time. I don't think there's anybody else on that roster that wouldn't have eaten that spear. And if Punk had eaten that spear instead of gotten that knee up, Punk would not be the World Heavyweight Champion.

[C]

You know what I.

[B]

That was Braun's match.

[C]

You know what I kept thinking of the entire time I was watching this match unfold and watching Punk come up with a response, I kept thinking about last week when he said, I'm not ready to give this up.

[B]

Right?

[C]

And that's exactly the energy he took in the ring. You felt it with every kick out, with every response that he had to Bron Breaker, that he wasn't ready to give up the World Heavyweight Title.

[B]

And then he still CM Punk, and that he's not taking it for granted.

[C]

And he can still go.

[B]

I mean, obviously, yes, but. But that's what I mean, that he's not taking it for granted. He's not going based on reputation or coasting on that or Playing the hits or whatever.

[C]

It's not. I was the best in the world. I still am the best in the world actively.

[B]

And I want to be an active defending world Heavyweight champion. And on an episode of Monday Night Raw, where you have sold an incredible amount of tickets in the Barclays center, where you've got all of Netflix watching, because the stranger things are all over the place where the whole world is this title match that has been promoted for a month now, you don't want to be the guy. If you're Punk, who's there to usher in the new guard. Punk's not ready to take on that role just yet. And in order to not take on that role, he had to fight and he fought. So, I mean, listen, I almost feel like if I'm Bron Breaker, I've got to bide my time now and just, you know, because there's not like you can sit there and claim anything was unjustified. And you're right in terms of the highlight reel. Oh, the stuff that Bron Breaker did in this match. Bron Breaker coming off of that top rope. You heard me. We were watching together. I was like, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Because it's like that this could go wrong in so many different ways.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But Bron coming off the top rope and hitting that clothesline all the way onto that commentators table.

[C]

It's a long way to go.

[B]

Incredible. That's the one that I think ripped his boot. CI Punks boot. His boot. But I mean, for me, I'm going, like, look. And I don't know, this is just what pops into my head. I'm looking at the calendar and I'm going, hey, let me not make any bold statements. Let me not act like I was cheated, because I wasn't cheated. I had distractions from Paul Heyman. I wasn't cheated. I lost that match. That one match I lost. If I'm Bron Breakker, I go, okay, don't worry about beating Punk right now. I gotta go beat 29 guys in the Royal Rumble. How do. Because in my mind, like I said, like, there's no justification for a Braun Breaker to go to an Adam Pierce and go, like, okay, well, now I'd like another title match. Theoretically, they're one and one. Bron Breaker pinned Punk in the War Games.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Punk pinned Bron Breaker tonight. Theoretically, that's one and one. But I think that this was a definitive win for Punk.

[C]

It felt that way.

[B]

And I think if you're a matchmaker, I think if you're Punk. I think if you're any of those people, you're looking at, okay, well, who's next in line? And it's not Bron Breaker. He had his turn. If Bron Breaker wants another turn and wants to be undeniable, I think you got to look ahead at matches like the Royal Rumble that are going to put somebody in the position to get a championship match.

[C]

I'm curious about the dynamic within the Vision, because last week you and I sat here and we talked about how the Vision, a group of people who aren't typically described as team players, have become team players within the Vision. Now, Bron Breakker, team captain, if you will, of the Vision.

[B]

I will.

[C]

He doesn't get the job done with the World Heavyweight Championship. Are we seeing such a cohesive unit within the Vision? Are we seeing everybody acting as a team player when the leader couldn't get the job done?

[B]

I don't think you learned anything from Austin Theory last week. He'd be furious if you brought that up.

[C]

Someone's got to point it out, right?

[B]

You're not wrong. But I would say the only thing is, if I'm playing devil's advocate here, because you're right, that could be something right where they're going, wait a minute. You were the guy that was supposed to get this done. You didn't get it done. I would turn around and go, like, okay, but guess what? You guys are the ones that got chased off by Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee and Penta. I watched Braun break, Bronson, Reed get knocked down by the three luchadors. I watched Logan, Paul and Austin Theory. I watched them all get chased out. So it's like, ultimately, you got to go back to the full planning of the Vision and realize that this didn't work on any level. This plan didn't work if those three guys that you're saying might be looking at Bron Breaker and saying, you didn't get the job done. If I'm Bron Breaker, I'm gonna turn around and say, well, you guys didn't either. You guys ran away. What happened to you guys? And do you really want to sit there if you're, say, Logan, Paul and Austin Theory, do you really want to sit there and say, well, you didn't get the job done? It's like, okay, well, apparently you got some beef with Rey, Mysterio and Penta. So before you go throwing stones in this house made of, you know, the thinnest glass that you've ever seen, let's make sure that we take a look at what you're doing.

[C]

Well, we. We know that Logan Paul would love a world heavyweight title opportunity.

[B]

Of course Logan Paul would love a world heavyweight title opportunity.

[C]

So he's got other complicate.

[B]

Based on what? What is Logan Paul done?

[C]

I. I agree. Nothing right now. Nothing.

[B]

Run his mouth.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

You can't scam your way into a world heavyweight title opera.

[C]

Well, Logan Paul has scammed his way into a lot of things.

[B]

I mean, sure, sure, but I don't see it happening. I mean, I just don't see the justification yet. Now look, if Austin Theory and Logan Paul were to get victories over Penta and Rey Mysterio. Now you're talking about big victories. Now you're talking about stuff that could lead you to this other place. But this idea that like CM Punk has to go on this, like, gauntlet mission against everybody in the Vision.

[C]

No, I don't think that. No, I don't think that. I just wonder about Logan Paul.

[B]

Let me ask you this. There's four guys in the Vision, right? Not counting Paul Heyman. One of them pinned Roman Reigns.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

What if that's the guy that wants to step up? You know, I mean, you're not wrong about this stuff. I just think that, like, especially now in the space that we're in, as competitive as everything is, these title matches have to be earned.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'm sure there are people outside of the Vision, they're like, hey, what about me? What about something over here? You know what I'm saying? So, yeah, I'm very interested to see. I'm interested to see what the dynamic of the Vision is after this, to your point, like, do they have to retool? Do they have to get on the same page again? And I'm very interested to see what the story of CM Punk as the World Heavyweight Champion is going forward. Because Bron Breakker has been this cloud that's been looming over the head of CM Punk. Now look, I think. I think the last month of everything that we've seen between Bron Breakker and CM Punk, I think Bron Breakker's stock has raised significantly.

[C]

Yes. Even before tonight. And then after tonight, what he did in the match, I think his stock rose significantly. Yes.

[B]

And I don't think it dips all the way back down, you know, to the beginning, because he lost. I just don't think. I think momentum, it's a real thing. You know what I mean? And we might have a little jerk stop in the momentum and what you've gotta do now is figure out how to regain that momentum. Figure out how to make the audience believe that what happened at Raw at the Barclays center, at Netflix one year anniversary, at Stranger Things Raw. What happened there? Make me believe that that was the outlier. Make me believe that that was the fluke and that the next time you're gonna get it. Because, like, it was a great match and it felt like it came to a result that was deserved by the end of it. So how are you gonna make me believe. Make me believe that that was a fluke.

[C]

Bron Breakker wins the Royal Rumble.

[B]

That's one way to do it.

[C]

And comes after CM Punk.

[B]

And by the way, if.

[C]

Or whoever the World Heavyweight Champion is.

[B]

By then, I mean, if you're not losing a Bron Breaker in that match, I don't think CM Punk's losing that type of.

[C]

I don't think so either. But listen, no pun intended. Stranger things have happened.

[B]

You definitely intended that pun because you thought about it for a second and then you're like, I'm going to say it, but I'll say, no pun intended so people don't think I'm a cheeseball.

[C]

Well, I think a lot could happen before we get to the Royal Rumble. A lot could happen before we get to Wrestlemania, but I hope it's not pun. How does. How does Bron Breakker get back? Now you got all in my head CM Punk. No. Now how does Bron Breakker get back to that momentum? He wins the Royal Rumble possible and comes after the World Heavyweight Champion.

[B]

Easier said than done. You're telling me we're talking about stranger things. That's why Megan was dropping her puns that she's been working on all night. She was writing down all these puns.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

All night. She got her first one off. You're gonna have to listen to the whole show. She's got half a dozen ready to go in the chamber. But Raw went stranger things in the crossover. Well, it doesn't stop on Monday night Raw. WWE has teamed up with Stranger Things for an exclusive new T shirt collab. Yeah, look at these things. Available now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. You can rep your favorites like John Cena, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and more with this new collection. Look at that. That's an Undertaker logo mixed up in the. In the upside down. Check them all out right now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. The WWE Stranger Things collab. Two great tastes that taste even better together. Unbelievable.

[D]

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[C]

You're the first person I've ever met that says collab. I always say collab.

[B]

No, collab.

[C]

Collab.

[B]

Because I'm one of the coolest people you've ever met.

[C]

Collaboration. So you say collaboration.

[B]

Collaboration. Actually, the word is based on collaboration. I think that's how it's pronounced. That's what you come across right now.

[C]

I do not. Yes, you do sound like that.

[B]

Everybody at Northwestern State.

[C]

I'm not nearly that nasally.

[B]

It's a little nasally, to tell you the truth. But. But. Okay, let's talk about it. You want to talk about it? We'll talk about it. Another title match. Let's talk about the intercontinental title match.

[C]

Well, before we get there, can we talk about a bigger issue? I've actually had a lot of conversations about this today with everybody behind the glass there, RAW tonight.

[B]

Even Casey.

[C]

Even Casey. I mean, Gavin is so mad about it. He just didn't show up to work today.

[B]

He's mad. At who? You, You, Me?

[C]

You. RAW tonight is in Brooklyn. We, Stanford, Connecticut, just a stone's throw away. We should have been there tonight for raw, but unfortunately everybody's trying to work out these details and Becky's lawyers called and they said RAW recap show cannot attend because of you.

[B]

I'm too associated with the show.

[C]

That's right. So we couldn't go. So we had to go here. And I've been talking to all the guys about how I think you're holding me back in my career.

[B]

That's what you've been saying to them.

[C]

And they agree I've been hold.

[B]

They think I'm holding you back.

[C]

Yes, they all do.

[B]

I'm not holding you back. It's unreasonable, by the way.

[C]

And I do think I could have been a Stranger Things raw.

[B]

No, I wish he'd gone.

[C]

I do, too. I couldn't.

[B]

Because of me.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

That's the power that I have. Well, just because I'm the one who does the cold opens. Yeah, I did see that. I said I Couldn't believe this when.

[C]

I saw I was welcome.

[B]

I know, I saw it in the tweet. Becky lynch tweets out that I can't go to the Barclays Center.

[C]

No.

[B]

And I go, well, this is ridiculous. And I call up the crew. I go, what time are we going to Brooklyn? They go, no, no, no. Get back in the Stanford basement, Sam. That's where we're doing the show from. The word has come down. I go, who said this? They go, we're not going to say. I go, I hope it wasn't. They go, we're not going to say. But I mean you're not wrong. We're not in Brooklyn. And there was a tweet that went out that said under no false pretenses am I allowed in Brooklyn? And now I'm not in Brooklyn. But for you to blame me for that instead of an unreasonable two time intercontinental champion.

[C]

What is with the tone? And two times. It's a historic moment. I know another two time intercontinental champion that you came in dancing and said, oh, a two time intercontinental champion, Dominic Mysterio. But when Becky wins it twice, you go two time.

[B]

Dominic Mysterio didn't ban me from an arena yet. Why would Dominic Mysterio ban me?

[C]

I don't know. When he gets worried about how you're stifling others careers, maybe he's want to keep an arm's length distance away from you. Scam Robert.

[B]

Stop calling me that. All I do is try to give people opportunities. Okay, that's it. And then all of a sudden somehow I become the villain. It's ridiculous. We are in Stanford.

[C]

We are.

[B]

There are a lot of context clues here. I don't know how it happened. I don't make those decisions. They're above my pay grade. But I'm so sorry that you had to go to WWE HQ instead of the Amazing Barclays center in the Upside Down.

[C]

I could have had boots on the ground to witness history.

[B]

And I wish one of them had ripped off your ankle.

[C]

Female wrestler of all time become a two time Women's Intercontinental Champion. No one's ever done that before.

[B]

Liv Morgan.

[C]

She'S never been Women's Intercontinental Champion.

[B]

That's why I was confused for a moment. Well, Becky lynch, regardless of tweets, I thought she was not going to win the match because I thought she'd been ignoring it because she'd been tweeting so much. But apparently somehow she's also been, I don't know, doing tape study or whatnot. Becky Lynch. And look, what can I say it was. It was a. It was a slick pin.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

It was pretty slick. And I say that because I'm a reasonable person who can call it like I see it. Unlike the Intercontinental champion.

[C]

Look, Becky picked up a win tonight. It goes down in the record books as a pinfall victory for Becky Lynch. She. She did what business called for her to do.

[B]

You saying Becky lynch was standing on business in Brooklyn?

[C]

That's exactly what Becky lynch was doing. And I'm glad that there was no referee corruption.

[B]

Who is the referee? Danilo.

[C]

That cheap ass Danilo.

[B]

He probably got paid off.

[C]

You know what? Honestly. Because finally we had no corruption in a match. He should get a raise.

[B]

Oh, now they got the tweet. They were worried. You know what? They were upset about it, cuz. Why would they have the tweet?

[C]

We were all supposed to go to Brooklyn.

[B]

This is what Becky lynch wrote. I've asked my lawyers to ensure crooked reporters and so called quote, wrestling media be barred from Barclays tomorrow. This was sent yesterday. Awful Ariel Helwani scam Roberts.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

I wonder where she got that nickname from. I don't know. DeLulu, Dave Legreca and Pip Squeak Peter Rosenberg.

[C]

That one got you.

[B]

Just calling a grown man a pip squeak is a totally different deal. You know what I mean? They're not welcome. Oh, wow. This is horrible.

[C]

This is great. This is the best part. Keep going.

[B]

Marvelous Meghan Morant. I thought she was going to talk about Marvelous Marc Merrow for a second. Marvelous Megan Morant. Parentheses, who has pledged her loyalty to me as a Becky believer.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

Is the only news source the WWE Universe can trust. Why does she think everybody that talks about wrestling is a journalist? I'm not reporting. It's a podcast. I'm not reporting. This is scoops, Roberts. I'm not here to give you the scoops. I just watch the show and tell you what happened. And usually it's Becky lynch being an unreasonable human being.

[C]

Not tonight.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Not tonight.

[B]

I will say.

[C]

Oh, you're about to compliment Becky Lynch.

[B]

Maybe not fully complimented. Okay. Certainly not on her social media game, quote unquote. I am concerned with all this training that Maxine Dupree was doing. I'd love to hear what Daddy has to say. Because the idea of putting Becky lynch in that scenario. Becky lynch is crafty. You know what I mean? She's a bit of a sneak. She's ready.

[C]

She's got a few tricks up her sleeve.

[B]

Oh, yeah. She's ready to take advantage of Absolutely any scenario. So the idea that Becky lynch was a. And it was a very. It was slick. Was able to roll back while her ankle was in the ankle lock, realizing, I can survive this thing for three seconds. And then she was close enough to the rope to hook the arm on the rope for leverage, which somehow Danilo, as cheap as he is, should buy himself contact lenses or something so he can see what's going on in the ring. Doesn't see Becky lynch scooping that rope and gets the 1, 2, 3. And Maxine is befuddled by the whole thing. That's another one we go, you know, we were talking about Bron Breaker. Maxine has been on this trip ever since winning the Intercontinental Championship. You remember what her vibe was like when we interviewed her when she first won that title in person? You did not want to do the interview, but I insisted at Madison Square Garden. It was a big deal. And I feel like ever since then, she's been all fight. She's been ready for anything. It's been a totally different Maxine than the one that was, you know, kind of like, oh, gee, I don't know.

[C]

Just happy to be there. Yeah.

[B]

Learning Maxine, it's like, okay, go train. You got the title. You got three victories over Becky. Go train. Go do your thing. Get better, get better, get better. When you get a. When you get hit with a loss like this, where you lose your title, it's on the premiere for Netflix, and it's in another borough of New York City. Didn't she win the Intercontinental title in Manhattan?

[C]

She did.

[B]

Right? So, like, does Maxine now have to go back to the drawing board completely? Like, does this shake her confidence to the point where it's like, oh, like I said about Braun Breaker, it's a momentum stopper. Does it shake her confidence to the point, oh, maybe I'm not as good as I thought I was. Maybe I'm not ready for the matches that I thought I was. Or does she go, no, she. Becky hooked the rope. I'll be able to get her next time.

[C]

You know, there is the argument to be made about the fact that Becky did hook the rope. But then you take a look at the way that Maxine won the title from Becky.

[B]

How's that, A.J.

[C]

Lee? Interference? Well, she was giving Aisle giving Maxine the opportunity.

[B]

That's not interference.

[C]

To catch the man off guard. Very rare that she's ever off guard.

[B]

It couldn't be that rare. I mean, AJ Lee didn't even make it to the ringside area.

[C]

Well, Becky Is a very. We all know this about Becky. Rule follower. Rule Following Rebecca is what I believe they call her.

[B]

She hooked the rope to win the title.

[C]

You have to do what you have to do. Stand on business.

[B]

That's against the rules.

[C]

Well, when she was. She's learned since then.

[B]

Right.

[C]

Because she's always evolving. Because that's what the greats do, is they evolve.

[B]

I've been kind of.

[C]

And so when Rule following Rebecca was taken advantage of at Madison Square Garden by no managers. Licensed A.J. lee.

[B]

Is that what they're calling her?

[C]

That's it.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

I think Becky has a couple other names from her. They're not coming to me at the moment, but I'm sure they're all over the Internet. So Becky had to take a page out of A.J. and Maxine's book.

[B]

Look the same way I thought realistically, Becky lynch, look at her chest.

[C]

Look at that Star Trek gear.

[B]

I mean, she can't believe how happy she is. She really accomplished something really great. She's like she did. And look, two time intercontinental champion. I think Maxine should have been ready for Becky to hook the rope. That's how I feel watching that match. All personal feelings aside, Maxine should have been ready. Becky does not have scruples. She is scrupulous.

[C]

Well, and the other thing is, is Becky, we knew how desperate she was to get this title back.

[B]

Well, she's a. She's a. Without morals.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Is how she lives her life.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Right. She's of a low character.

[C]

Well, you're going a little far.

[B]

It's a low character person.

[C]

I. I wouldn't say that.

[B]

Which is why you have to be ready when you're dealing with somebody that's like soulless.

[C]

You also have to be ready when you're going up against the greatest female wrestler of all time. I don't know about this. Soulless and lacking morals and all of that character. I don't know about all of that. But I do know you need to be ready when you step in the ring with Becky Lynch.

[B]

And Maxine was not ready for that moment tonight. That was the story of these title matches. Right. Are you ready for that moment?

[C]

And for Maxine and Bron Breaker, the answer was no.

[B]

That is correct. You go to the tag team championship match and you go to Rhea and IO versus the Kabuki warriors. And of course, the whole. You look at Maxine Dupree, she can't believe it either. She can't believe what's happened. But is that disbelief in the idea that Becky hooked the rope and got away with it? Or is it disbelief that is in herself? I can't believe I didn't see that coming.

[C]

I think the latter, and I also think disbelief and wow, I held this title and it just slipped away from me.

[B]

Right? Yeah, I think that's the whole thing. Who am I? Who am I?

[C]

I just became the IC champ when.

[B]

Maxine Maxine chasing the Intercontinental Championship was a completely different individual than Maxine as Intercontinental Champion. So this was similar to what Jey USO dealt with when he lost the World Heavyweight title. Once I've had that title and it's gone now, do I go back to the Maxine Dupree that was chasing for that title, that was just trying to figure out if she even belonged in this, in this, you know, stratosphere? Or am I now an evolved Maxine who has held the title and can carry that confidence with me even though I lost it? I think that's a tough thing.

[C]

And once you get that taste for gold, it changes you.

[B]

It does.

[C]

In my opinion, there's no going back.

[B]

Hopefully for the better. But I think that for people who might have at first wondered if it was a fluke and then based. Sometimes people base their confidence on the championship. Wow. I couldn't have this by mistake. Well, now I've had this for a week. Well, now I've had it for two weeks, three weeks. It's not an accident. Except once it's gone, if you're basing your confidence on that title, does the confidence go away with you? I think that's going to be interesting to see with Maxine Dupree and if she tries to get it back from Becky lynch or like we just said, with Braun, because I bet. I'll bet Becky's not going to want to give her a title shot anytime soon.

[C]

No chance. Becky did you a big solid, though.

[B]

Me?

[C]

Yeah. I saw on the Internet. And since it's on the Internet, it must be true that after her intercontinental historic, after her historic Intercontinental Championship win, she was on the phone with the mayor of New York, New York City. They wanted to have a parade to celebrate. Becky lynch closed down all of the streets.

[B]

Five days, he's doing parades.

[C]

Well, he offered one to Becky lynch closed down all of the streets. Your commute to work Tomorrow, you would 1000% be late. Cause I know you, and you're not planning for parades. You're not planning for that level of traffic at that hour of the day.

[B]

Right.

[C]

But Becky has so many media appearances, so many interviews to do that she politely declined the parade. So she did you a big.

[B]

A big solid from the new mayor. Mamdani.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

Doesn't sound like something he would do, but okay.

[C]

It was on the Internet. It has to be true.

[B]

It was.

[C]

Yeah. She tweeted.

[B]

She. So when you say it was on the Internet, you mean her Twitter?

[C]

Yes. She put it out there that she just got off the phone with the mayor.

[B]

Well, I tell you what, you don't believe it? No. But if you want to bring home a little piece of Becky Lynch.

[C]

I do.

[B]

I'll bet you she's a part of Tops Universe wwe. You can step into the ring with the debut of Topps Universe wwe. It's making its hobby debut. It's a bold, cosmic, inspired take on WWE collecting. It features a massive 300 base card set. That's hall of Famers, current champions, rising prospects, stunning galactic patterns, vibrant color, parallels that bring every superstar to life. Every hobby box, by the way, guarantees two autographs and one relic. Big hits in every rip. Imagine you get a Roman Reigns autograph. With memorabilia, you get a stone cold Steve Austin autograph. Every box guarantees two autographs. One relic. You get chase short printed inserts that that highlight iconic storylines, rivalries, and unforgettable WWE moments. So whether you're hunting grails or building a rainbow, Topps Universe WWE is your ringside seat to the hobby's next heavyweight release. You can find Topps universe WWE on tops.com and in stores on January 30th. So I'm very, very excited about all that. I would also like to say I'm excited for the new women's tag team champions. Rio, baby Rio does it. Rhea Ripley and IO sky are the tag team champions. I think the big question here was, are they going to be. We know they're besties. We know they have an incredible respect for each other. We know how great the two of them are. Singularly, can they beat a tag team as cohesive as the Kabuki Warriors? Especially with two people as good as Asuka and Kyrie Sane. And after a rip tide and an over the moon salt, they did it.

[C]

They beat the Kabuki.

[B]

Rhea Ripley gets the pin.

[C]

Teamwork of Rhea Ripley in EO Sky. And heading into this one, we thought, can they be as cohesive as the Kabuki Warriors? They proved that it was the teamwork that the effort by both Rhea and IYO sky that ultimately led to their victory.

[B]

You know, and I was telling you about this, you know, I was talking. I feel like Two weeks ago here on the recap podcast about just like. Just like realizing what a. What a massive star that Rhea Ripley really, really, really is. And that aura that she carries with her and just the fact that she is absolutely at the top of her game right now. And I was talking earlier today about the fact that you and I both got to go to the holiday tour, the WWE Live event in Bridgeport, Connecticut over the weekend.

[C]

Yeah, great show.

[B]

And IYO sky was there wrestling, and when IYO came out, it was just like, star radiated off iyo and the people went nuts for her. And everybody was going crazy pointing at their heads. My kids were pointing at their heads. Everybody was doing it.

[C]

That was one of my biggest takeaways when I got home. I said, wow, IYO is star. A star.

[B]

A star.

[C]

And I knew that going in. But when you sit in the crowd as a fan, it is different. It hits you, experience it different, and you see the reactions around you, and you see all the kids in Bridgeport, Connecticut, putting their fingers to their head and doing the Iyo sky, and they.

[B]

Also happen to be like the best wrestlers. IYO sky, who people will have conversations with about where she ranks men or women in ring wrestling in the wwe. It's high on the list. I just had Chelsea Green on the radio show today, and she's out of nowhere, just brought up how when it comes to matches in the ring, Rhea Ripley is one of the best people to watch. She's just so good in the ring. And I'm sitting there, right, and I'm looking at these two with the Women's Tag Team Championship and thinking about how this division, the women's Tag team division, has grown a lot, tons over the last few months. And I am thinking you could make a real argument. I think that right now, the two best women on the entire roster are the Tag Team champions. And I think that that is a wild thing to realize. And that doesn't. That only speaks to how much talent is on this roster, because you've got four singles champions as well. But to me, the reality is, if you're asking my opinion on who are the two best women on the entire roster in the wwe, it's the Tag Team champions. It's IO sky and Rhea Ripley. They are your two top women, and now they're the Tag Team champions.

[C]

And it's so crazy because you think about what happened 11 months ago when Iyo sky shocked the world and beat Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship on the way to Wrestlemania. And we. We watched it Together with our jaws on the floor, unable to comprehend what had just happened. And then you think about the match that they had at Evolution that completely stole the show. The one where Naomi ended up cashing in the money in the bank briefcase. And when these two got together as a tag team, I'm thinking, this is not going to be able to work because EO sky has been the thorn, the one thorn in Rhea Ripley's side.

[B]

I remember that because that's the day I pointed out you're a hater.

[C]

Well, and I think since they became a tag team, myself and a lot of others have questioned, okay, everybody at.

[B]

The Player Haters Ball, everybody at the.

[C]

Player Haters ball has questioned, how is this going to work? How are these two going to stay together when both want to be on top? And even throughout tonight's match. I was sort of waiting for a moment. Is there going to be a miscommunication? Is there going to be a moment where Iyo realizes that Kyrie and Asuka are her family?

[B]

Because you're negative.

[C]

But the. As the match unfolded, I said, these two, not only are they great, but they are best friends. They complement each other so well. And they're two of the best wrestlers on the planet.

[B]

No, the two best.

[C]

The two best.

[B]

The two best. And guess what? They are at the top of the game. They're the women's tag team champions. They're at the top. And it's like I'm looking and this would be like when Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold had the tag championship together, but they didn't get along. And like, so it couldn't ever work if those two had actually gotten along. This is like, this is like the good guy version.

[C]

There is no tension right now between eo.

[B]

This is like the good guy version of the two man power trip when Triple H and Stone Cold just decided, we're taking it all. Like, so was Hikawa. Like, they just came for everything, you know? And for a hot second there, it was like, whoa, this is what happened is the Undertaker and Kane being the brothers of destruction. And it gets to a point where it becomes this thing where it's like, yeah, it's really cool that this tag team is here, but what tag team could ever beat this team? And I feel like as Ria and IO just like blend together and become this team, the reality is now, now I don't think that there have. There has ever been a situation where there are more high level teams in this division. Because knocking on the door are two other women who are Singularly two of the best in the division, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, that have figured out a way, again, to your point, to somehow find that cohesion to be that team. And I think with both Rhea and IO and with Charlotte and Alex, that teaming up has actually made both better.

[C]

And then don't forget you have Nia Jax, who's so experienced and so accomplished in the ring, and the upstart Lash legend who is shown in the.

[B]

You talking about the bougie bully?

[C]

That's who I'm talking about. Who's shown in just a short time how destructive she can be as well.

[B]

And Bailey and Lyra Valkyria are knocking on that door. As long as Lyra keeps smacking Bailey in the face to wake her up.

[C]

And I know Liv Morgan was in singles action tonight, but she and Roxanne Perez are a force to be reckoned with.

[B]

Forget about it. This is a deep division. This is a deep division.

[C]

But it is so crazy. Like, you know, you bring up Triple H and just there's no tension between IO and Rhea.

[B]

No. Nope, nope.

[C]

Who's going to stop them?

[B]

I don't think anybody right now. I don't think anybody. I don't think any of those teams that we just mentioned are sitting there going like, okay, yeah, that's the Roadblock. I don't think so. It's a wild thing. It's a wild thing to consider. I'll tell you. I don't think anybody can stop them and I don't think anybody can stop you from meeting your favorite athletes this summer. Oh, how do you like that?

[C]

I love that.

[B]

How do you like that? Because the big news for WWE and sports fans is that the world's number one sports fan festival, Fanatics Fest, is making its return to New York City. Fanatics is bringing you closer to the league's team superstars and athletes you love across four action packed days in July. Meet your favorite WWE Superstars, get your hands on exclusive merch, catch live podcasts and interact with the biggest names in sports. Tickets are on sale now and Raw Recap fans will. You can get 10% off by using code RAW RECAP10 at checkout. That's RAW RECAP10. Get those fanatics Fest tickets now. Hopefully we will see you there. Do want to mention quickly this video made it onto social. It happened during one of the Netflix breaks, but Adam Pierce made it official tonight. Javon Evans signed his deal. There's a photo of Javon and Triple H in the Stranger Things upside down infused gorilla position. But Javon Evans officially a Raw superstar. Massive, massive news that Javon Evans has not only been called up to the main roster, but just as we saw on smackdown, Trick Williams.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Matt Cardona, all the new faces showing up on smackdown. On Monday Night Raw, we got Javon Evans. And I loved the video that they played before with Javon talking about, I guess you guys are gonna see me grow up. He is, I mean, 20. What? 20? Is he 21?

[C]

Maybe?

[B]

Like he's. It's incredible what he can already do. The connection he's already made with the audience. And you look at guys right now, the fact that, like, and this is just a wonderful cycle that is professional wrestling, that to close out last year, we get the retirement of John Cena, and then to start this year, we get Javon Evans entering the Monday Night Raw roster. And this is a guy who, I mean, realistically you're talking about 25. I know, maybe more years that he's going to be able to do this. It's unbelievable. I can't wait for it. And for anybody that hasn't seen Javon Evans, you're in for a treat. You probably saw him at Saturday night's main event, the John Cena Saturday night's main event in December with a tag match with him and Leon Slater against AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. But if you haven't, man, he's going to be a force on Monday Night Raw.

[C]

Yeah. And I can't wait to see what, what, what Javon does. It's really exciting, you know, as, as, as two fans of, of NXT to see.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

All of these NXT superstars get their, their opportunity.

[B]

I feel like saved by the bell and Bayside's graduating. We're about to get into the college years and that's an underrated show. So that's good news.

[C]

That's great news.

[B]

Yeah. So speaking of A.J. styles, do you think he should just retire now? A.J. style?

[C]

Like, I mean, when Gunter said, What is little A.J. going to do about it?

[B]

Down, he bent down.

[C]

He got to eye level.

[B]

But I mean, condescending on, he bent down to talk to him. So first, like Gunther comes out. I don't know what Adam Pierce is thinking. He tells Gunther, if you're gonna go out there, be respectful. Oh, okay. Thanks, Adam Pierce. Oh, I'll definitely do that. Thank you, Adam Pearce. You know what? I wasn't being respectful, but it's only cuz nobody told me to be respectful. Now that I've been told to be respectful. Thanks, Adam Pierce. I hadn't thought of that now I'll definitely be respectful. I definitely won't make it worse because.

[C]

I love to do what people tell me to do.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. I want to make sure that everybody's pleased. I'm a people. Gunther is a well known people pleaser.

[C]

Yeah, that's what everybody says about Gunther.

[B]

People pleaser is this one flaw. He's too much of a people pleaser.

[C]

He cares too much.

[B]

I mean, you talk about anybody that doubts the level of hated that Gunther is going back to that live event that we went to. Wow. Bridgeport hates him. I'll tell you that. He's booed out of the building. It was nuts. But he gets booed out of the building in Brooklyn as well as he's been booed out of the building and every building that he's been in since he made John Cena tap out like. Well, as he puts it, like a.

[C]

Little B. Yeah, he had a shirt.

[B]

With it and he got. Yeah, he did have a shirt made, the whole thing. So he gets asked to be respectful. He's not respectful. And AJ Styles interrupts and I go, okay, yeah, look, I mean, just. And he smiles. Gunther, he smiles as he holds the T shirt up, almost like, look what I did. That's how. That's how. That's how when my 6 year old daughter paints a picture, she holds it up and she shows it to me. That's what she looks like. Look what I did, daddy. Look what I did. And that's Gunther showing the fans his T shirt of making John Cena tap like ellipses. That's. Look at what I did. Look at what I did. Guys, why are you booing me? Look what I did. I ruined John Cena for you. You know, this, the match that you guys are all, you know, I ruined your hero.

[C]

And there's a nice picture of it taking place too, just in case you wanted to forget. Now you can't.

[B]

Right? Like, what's the context of tap? Oh, is it referring to the photo? Okay, okay, yeah, that's that thing that bummed everybody out to the point that they're still arguing about it on the Internet.

[C]

I'm just going to remind you.

[B]

Yeah, I did that. That's my fault. Yeah. Aren't you guys happy? Oh, no, I am. I'm very happy. So AJ Styles interrupts him, but AJ Styles can't get a word out because Gunther is enjoying allowing AJ Styles the space to speak. And as soon as AJ opens his mouth, Gunther interrupts him. I made him tap out like a. Like. Then he stops well, Gunther, like a little. And then he goes for it. And then he goes for it again. I passed out just like Little Sam just did. I couldn't believe it. Yeah. And he was enjoying it. And then he calls him Little AJ when he bent down and said, what are you going to do about it, Little aj?

[C]

And then did the. You can't see me right in AJ's face. And that's not the first time he's done that in AJ's face. No, AJ, you talk about respect. He has the most amount of respect for John Cena in his career.

[B]

And match of the year with John Cena last year. That's the thing. Everybody's like. Like, we're looking at two guys who had John Cena matches in John Cena's retirement run. One did it the right way, in a way that, win or lose, it's not about the result, it's about what the match was. Every wrestling fan came out of John Cena vs. AJ Styles, and they went like this. I love this.

[C]

We're all better.

[B]

This is why I love wrestling. This is why I love this thing. I got to show it to everybody. And every fan came out of Gunther versus John Cena going, why do I watch this? Why? It hurts me. All it does is cause me pain. Why do I. Why do I keep watching this? And Gunther's like, I did that.

[C]

Me.

[B]

I did that. I made you feel that way. Is that great? Oh, you don't like it? I did. I thought it was great.

[C]

I'm going to keep reminding you of it. Yeah, this is great.

[B]

And so they couldn't be more polar opposite. So he bends down, he. He calls little aj. But then AJ Styles smacks Gunther right across the face.

[C]

And I'm thinking to myself, wow, AJ has some balls.

[B]

Yeah, dude. And it's the first time, by the way, that Gunther has finally stopped smiling. Gunther got mad. I have seen that guy has been smiling ever since the evening of December 13, about 10:15pm Eastern Standard Time on 13 December, a smile was plastered on Gunther's face and it was not removed until, I don't know, about 9pm Eastern Standard Time on January 5th. That's how long that smile was on his face. But AJ Styles smacked it right off his face. It's not something. And I don't know, maybe Gunther thought that after he did what he did to John Cena, he. He was going to be able to say whatever he wanted and nobody was going to touch him, nobody was going to mess with him. But aj, Styles Smacked him hard right across the face and said, what are you going to do? Exactly Nothing. Just like he had stood up to a bully. And so what does Gunther do? He goes right backstage and tells Adam Pierce, I want a match, and I want it next week. It's going to be very interesting.

[C]

I don't even want to think about it.

[B]

Well, it's going to be very interesting to see, too, what the reaction that Gunther gets in Germany is.

[C]

I know.

[B]

Like, I mean, John Cena is beloved worldwide.

[C]

So was AJ Styles not like John Cena. No, not like John Cena. Nobody is like John.

[B]

But that's my point. That will Germany, who has historically loved Gunther, will they cheer for Gunther? Will they be the one crowd that will cheer Gunther, or will they also boo Gunther because of what Gunther did to John Cena and how he's behaved since? What Gunther did to John Cena, I don't know.

[C]

I think what he did to John Cena puts him in a whole different category.

[B]

It does. It 100% does.

[C]

I don't even want to think about this AJ Styles match.

[B]

That's the problem with Gunther.

[C]

Now, as soon as AJ slaps Gunther, I go, wow. Not only does AJ Styles have balls, but finally somebody to step up to Guenther. And if anybody can do this, maybe it's aj.

[B]

Come on.

[C]

And I know I can't think like that.

[B]

I don't want Gunther to have any matches anymore because all he's going to do is upset people.

[C]

I know.

[B]

And me, I'm thinking about me. I'm not thinking about people. I'm thinking about myself.

[C]

And then AJ doubles down and he runs into Guenther backstage when Guenther's demanding a match with Adam Pearce.

[B]

Well, listen, I mean, maybe there's this idea, right? Because I believe that you point. You, I believe, were the one who I was talking to that was talking about how Gunther is always just business. And I was like, not anymore.

[C]

Not anymore. No. Ever since he came back for John Cena's retirement tournament.

[B]

Well, I think in the tournament, he was about business because the business was getting to John Cena and getting to enjoy the fruits of his labor. The business was getting that match with John Cena and getting John Cena to tap out, like, you know, like a little bee. That's exactly what I was thinking. Once he did that, then it was about antagonism. Then it was about something else. It was about enjoying the fact that he had ruined this for people basking in it. Yes. So I wonder if there is any hope in this idea that that change in Gunther has maybe left him with his guard not being quite as open and that potentially AJ Styles, who now has this chip on his shoulder, who just got done with a tremendous tag team title reign with. With Dragon Lee, Does AJ Styles step up? A more aggressive AJ Styles and AJ Styles that knows that the clock on his own career is winding down. Because again, you know, for tonight, we were talking about Bron Breaker, we were talking about Maxine. If AJ Styles goes down to Gunther, especially bro, AJ Styles can't tap out to Gunther. No, but he might tap out to Gunther.

[C]

I think Gunter is going to do everything in his power to make AJ Styles tap out.

[B]

Oh, I hope AJ Styles does not tap out to Gunther.

[C]

Gunter is going to do everything in his power to make sure that AJ Styles can't leave Dusseldorf.

[B]

I know. I. But the. I really hope I don't see AJ Styles tap out to Gunther. I mean, that's why I don't want.

[C]

To think about this match.

[B]

I know, I know.

[C]

And then there's also that sliver of hope where you go, well, if anybody, it's aj, of course.

[B]

But are we going to fall into that trap again?

[C]

I don't know.

[B]

I think our emotions are going to lead us there.

[C]

It's already starting.

[B]

I think that's the beauty of pro wrestling. Our emotions are going to lead us there. Well, we'll see, man. We shall see. It was a tremendous Monday night Raw tonight.

[C]

Yeah. What a start to the new year.

[B]

A big start to the new year. I think that now we're on the road, we're headed out on the European tour. Headed towards the Royal Rumble. Headed towards Elimination Chamber. Headed towards. It's all.

[C]

We aren't headed anywhere because we're stuck in the basement here.

[B]

And whose fault is that?

[C]

That's yours.

[B]

All right.

[C]

You're holding the show back.

[B]

Well, I'm not trying to. I don't know where these tweets come from, but it's not something that I'm trying to do. Make sure you subscribed to the Raw recap podcast everywhere. You get podcasts across all audio platforms, across YouTube. What a night. We will see you next week. Week after Raw in Dusseldorf. Have a good one, everybody. I hope AJ doesn't tap.

[C]

You got that friend in Dorf?

[B]

I do.